Morning journal and courier., 1890-05-02
of tho village. Iu his later years he became

of tho village. In his later years he became somewhat addicted to intemperance, and did not always maintain, 1t is to be feared, that dignity and sobriety of manner becoming to one of his age. Tradition ayers that not un- to the great scandal of Dr. Trum- bull, Captain Andrews, Justus Bishop and others of his orthodox neighbors, he would don his worn war regimentals and bestriding an old white horse would Rallop furiously up and down the common, marshailing imagin- ary hosts of veterans, the while yelling like Comanche warrior.
 Occasionally, when under the influence, Tilla would be cunningly dispatched with various messages, and the whole village would surprisingly find itself "rounded up" at the pseudo doctors door, only to find the summons of the most trivial importance, but, neverthless, managed with the utmost solemnity. In his later years he obtained pension, but his partner appointed herself treasurer thereof. to the disgust of the old gentleman. It is related that on one occa- sion while this pension money was being counted the ex-warrior, through whose ser- vice 1t had been obtained, suddenly seized and swallowed silver piece. Old "Granny Ralph" as she was named toward the close of her life, and whose seventy years had . stood her in for nothing, was equal to the emergency, and by the prompt administra- tration of will and castor oil received the coin in due season. The couple lived in the old Isaac Thorpe house, which stood upon the corner now owned by the Rev. W. T. Reynolds. This was large unpainted lin- ter roof structure, which many of our older citizens remember. MT. Ralph died in 1893 and his widow in 1894.
 There lies before the writer an autobio- Rraphy, old and time stained, that 50 well expresses personal experience in "the days that tried mems souls" as to demand publi- cation. By the kindness of the owner ex- tracts are permitted to be made as pertinent to these papers. Samuel Blakeslee was born in the town of Wallingford, Conn.,, Novem- Der 23, 1759. He was one of family of twelve children. His father was Joseph, his grandfather was Samuel, his great grand father was Ebenezer and his great great grandfather was Samuel, the early settler in the New Haven colony. This in his story: - The revolutionary war broke out when l
 was about fifteen years old, our country be- ing in uproar and confusion. Volunteer companies. were raised. The boys caught the military flame, and boy companies with
 wooden guns were being raised. In one of these companies was chosen captain, this
 being in 1775. In the year 1776 conceived notion of going into the army as a soldier. My father took me to Captain Cook for for enlistment, who made the remark l looked like good spry boy but as he thought too small for soldier, but if could measuye four feet four inches, he would take me; to my modification could not measure but five feet four aud one-half inches and of course was denied enlistment.
 In the June following 1776, there was @ company raised by Captain John Thatcher
 of New Haven, with Ephraim Chamberlain
 of Wallingford, as one of the lieutenants. Chamberlain agreed to take me as soldier and enlisted under him July 1, 1776. joined my company at New Haven. re- | ceived my equipments and marched to the northward as far as Conesboroush (now Whitehall), Vermont. We joined the army
 there under command of General w Waterbury. Here our forces became sickly with fever and ague and other disorders and suffered
 stationed down the lake at Ticonderoga
 and all of us that wore effective were ordered to join the forces there. At this time was so sick with ague could scarcely help myself. was de- termined, though, to go down, and my off.
 a galley and was landed at what was called "Old T, but the same day crossed the lake to Mount Washington with my regiment This place was wild forest and l lay sick with the ague on the ground night and day for some time. At this time the American feet commenced moving down the lake. My captain and his company were among them. An engagement followed, the fleet was de-
 stroyed and my captain and his company all taken prisoners and afterwards released | on parole. The rest of us escaped to Ticon' deroga, and remained there till about tho | first of December and was discharged.
 started for home on foot, and after lonl
 and wearisome journey arrived home il | Wailingford worn out and sick.
 | In 1777 they were enlisting two months
 and half men to go to White Plains, N
 Y. I conceived the notion of trying anothe
 campaign. enlisted for ten weeks, June 1 TIT, under Lieutenant Dan Johnson O
 Wallingford. I joined my regiment (Secont
 battalion, Thaddeus Cook ColoneD at Nev
 Rochelle, N. Y. In this campaign as in tn
 other I was too tender and young for
 soldier, however, bore them with militar.
 fortitude.
 In the spring of 177s I was drafted iron the militia and stationed at New Haven. A
 this time the standing army was rising ant five Connecticut regiments were rendezvous ing there. The old familiar sight so raise,
 my feeling resolved to become soldier ii
 the standing army.
 | gurrDoN R Tuoppu