Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1898-09-29
EARLY VIRGINIA HISTORY.
COLCHESTER ON THE OCCoQUAN.
NJ 81
(Concluded.)

(Concluded.)
The interesting incidents and sssc-
Citations connected with the early day.
of our hero when in the long ago
mere boy he drove his team in the
aeighborhood of Colchester seem to
oriug him very near to Us, and make us
feel as if we had very large right in
him. in his great fame and renown.
For the time, We stand in his noble,
commanding presence and the light OF
mis- frank aud winning counlenance is
upon US. Many of us have often trav-
ersed the roads he plodded over in HE
obscurity before the mantel of grea'-
ness fell upon his shoulders. The wa
.ers of the Occoquan still hurry On In
their seawsrd course as they did when
Braddock and Dinwiddie and Keppel
crossed them that April morning
hundred and fifty years ago. AS then,
ne birds still carol their springtime
lnd summer lays; as then, the skies
nill bend lovingly, and bouRhs and
i lids are green with natures life, but
colchester with its busy streets, its
varehouses, its landings, and coming
nd going ships has disappeared save
pnlv here and there lonely house
Anding ghost-lke in the solitude
'nese with the remnsnts of the ''old
urnace and forge of Ballendine," and
10 grass grown heaps OF ore and slap,
.ud the almost obliterated wagon road
f the olden time are all eloquent anu
impressive reminders of our gallant
Morgan.
Here was man all untaught OF the
choos, friendless, unaided and with
ut encouragement in his aims until he
al climbed high on the ladder OF sue
SO, and fully demonstrated his intul
We capabilities of faithfully serving, or
uccessfully directing 10 any and all
nergencies. His place Was always in
ne midst of dangers. He Was al
.oys at the head OF forlorn
,ope, always cheering and animating
Is troops by encouraging words, and
aspiring them to heroism by his ex
.tnple. He always shared with his
.eu 10 their ex,remities and never
,ked sacrifice OF one of them he was
1t ready to make himself. Iu discl-
,ilue lie was rigid, even severe. Iu
Tue camp he was well spring of kind
.rss TO his comrades and he Was ever
.atchful of their welfare. He drew
hem to him by his intense magic ic
nature and they confidently follow cd
aim wherever he led. Ia action he OK
Jected everything of them and Was
never disappointed. He was impetu-
,us in battle, but his impetuosity was
born OF judgment and certain calcula-
zion. 10 stature he was tall and mas
i've, very Ajax in presence, and his
voice was heard like trumpet above
he din of strife. 10 the home circle he
vas gentle and afiectionate. Like that
valiant and knightly soldier, Sir Philip
Sidney, bleeding, faint, and tnirstlng
rom The fatal wound OF musket bali
IN the battlefield of Zutphep, Offering
ne cup of water just raised " lis owu
,vered lips TO dying soldier of the
auks who implored it with wishtul
lance, he would in in this same e1-
remty have forgotten his own press
lug necessities aud denied himsels the
,rcffsred boon. His magnsnimlty was
ii high type. 1t was this trait which
andeared hIm to his command. An lg-
aoble act he scorned. Wrong and in-
Justice he never tolerated toward his
men; for once on time that sword had
most cruelty cloven his own noble spir-
1t aud he had not forgotten 1t. He
neVer vsuuted of his exploits.
Even after the decisive battle
Of the Cowpeus, when if ever
ne had cause for self adulation the time
was then. In his official account OF
mat action he had no veni, vidi, vici for
himself, but praised his officers and
men and regretted that he could not
particularize the soldierly behavior OF
each one of them. His size made him
n conspicuous figure in combat. The
| Indians said he bore 8 charmed life.
| Doubtless Gods Invisible angels were
round about him to snield and preserve
him for the work he had 10 do.
General Morgan was a soldier born.
To MIN the soldiers art was intultive.
He needed not the years of instruction
| of West Point aud Lexington. Brad
docks expedition was his fl ST school in
mlllGAfV SCleuGc dbQ LIZ hSAO 'N@ =
ronyter one. 1t may be that he had
never even seen squad of soldiers on
dutv before. Here were regulars OF
the world renowned British army,
| thorough in tactics and discipline, many
nj them veterans of Dettingen, Preston
pans. Culloden and other great Europe
an b.ttles. Ali to him was new ana im'
pressive and we can readily imagine
that A1st' he e. neglected no opportunity as h he
plo lded along with mis- team in tne e4- @
pedition to familiarize himself with Ine
daily routine of military duties, suen as a.
guard mounting, drilling ana parauins, 9I
That his remarkable faculty OF resoy
comprehension, so characteristic OF nlm
sll through his career, seized upon their to- III
possibilities, though all unwittingy OF
the great service they we're to % To
him in after years. .
His arm of service was the infantry
la this he showed himself won
| .eiI oroHoinnt He would have