Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-07-06

they were indicated more by the thin
nairs of silver that lay scattered over
his wrinkled brow, than by any ap-
parent failure of his system. His
frame was meager and bent, but II
was the attitude Of habit, for his
sinews were strung with the toll Of
half century. His dress was mean,
and manifested the economy Of its
owner by the number and nature of
it's repairs. on his back was a scan
tily furnished pack that had led to
the mistake in his profession. A few
words Of salutation and on the part
of the young men, of surprise, that
one so aged should venture so near
the whirlpools Of the cataract, were
exchanged when the old man in
quired with a voice that began to
manifest the tremor of age, the news
from the Contending armies.
We whipped the red coats here
the other day, among the grass on the
Chippewa Plains" said the one who
was called Mason; since when, we
have been playing hide-and- go-seek
with the ships, but we are now
marching back from where we start
ed, shaking our heads, and as sure
ly as the devil"
Perhaps you have a son among
the soldiers" said his companion,
with a milder demeanor, and an air
Of kindness; III so, tell me his name
and regiment, and l will take you to
him"
The old man shook his head, and,
passing his hand over his silver locks,
with an air of meek resignation, he
answered:
mo, I am alone in the world"
you should have added, Captain
Dunwoodie," cried his careless COM
rade, IF you could find either, for
nearly half our army has marched
down the road. and may be, by this
time, under the walls Of Fort George,
for anything that we know to the
contrary"
The old man stopped suddenly, and
looked earnestly from one of his COM
panions to the other; the action be-
ing observed by the soldiers, they
paused also
Did hear right?" the stranger
uttered, raising his hand to screen
his eyes from the rays of the setting
sun; what did he call your
my name is Wharton Dunwoodie,"
replied the youth, smiling.
The stranger motioned silently for
him to remove his hat. which the
youth did accordingly. and his fair
hair blew aside like curls Of silk, and
opened the whole of his ingenious
countenance to the inspection Of the
other
The reply OF the stranger was in
terrupted by sudden and heavy ex-
plosions of artillery which were i'm
mediately followed by continued vol
leys OF small arms, and in a few min
utes the air was filed with the tumult
of a warm and contested battle.
The two soldiers FASTENED with pre-
cipitation toward the camp, accompa-
MED by their new acquaintance.
Everything in the American camp
announced an approaching struggle.
At distance OF p few miles the sound
OF cannon and musketry was heard
above the roar of the cataract. The
troops were soon in motion, and a
movement made to support the divi-
sion Of the army which was already
engaged Night had set In before the
reserve and irreguars reached the
foot Of Lundy's Lane. a road that d.
verged from the river and crossed a
conical eminence, at no great distance
from the Niagara highway. The sum-
NIT of this hill was crowned with the
cannon Of the British, and in the fiat
beneath was the remnant Of SCOTS
gallant brigade, which for a long time
had held an unequal contest with dis
tinguished bravery. new line was
interpreted. and one column of the
Americans directed to charge I'D the
hill, parallel to the road. This COL
umn took the English in flank. and,
bayoneting their artillerists, gained
possession of the cannon.
They were Immediately Joined by
their comrades. and the enemy was
swept from the hill But large rein
forcements were joining the English
20 rt1 ~
we're too brave to rest easy under the
defeat. Repeated and bloody charges
were made to recover the guns. but
in all they were repulsed with slaush-
ter. During the last Of these struR-
giles the ardor of the youthful captain
whom we have mentioned urged him
to head his men some distance in adj
vance, to scatter daring party Of the
enemy. He succeeded. but in re-
turning to the line missed his lieu
tenant from the station that he ought
to have occupied. Soon after this re-
pulse, which was the last, orders were
given to the shattered troops to re-
turn to the camp The British were
nowhere to be seen, and preparations
were made to take in such of the
wounded az could be moved. At this
moment Wharton Dunwoodie. i'm
PEELED by affection for his friend
seized a lighted fusee, and taking tvs
OF his men, went himself In quest Of
his body where he was supposed to
have fallen. Mason was found on the
side of the hill, seated with great
composure, but unable to walk from a
fractured leg. Dunwoodie saw and
few TO the side Of his comrade, ex-
claiming:
"Ah! dear Tom, knew would find
you the nearest man to the enemy"
Softly, softly; handle me tenderly."
replied the lieutenant; no. there is a
brave fellow still nearer than myself,
and who he can be I know not. He
rushed out Of our smoke, near my
platoon, to make a prisoner or soma
such thing, but, poor fellow, he never
came back; there he lies just over
the hilloCk. I have spoken to him
several times. but fancy he is past
answering"
Dunwoodie went to the spot. and to
his astonishment beheld the aged
stranger.
1T is the old man who knew NV
mother" cried the youth: for he.
sake he shall have honorable burial;
lift him, and let him be carried in: his
bones shall rest on native soil"
The men approached to obey. He
was lying on his back, with his face
exposed to the glazing light of the
fusee; his eyes were closed. as II in
slumber; his lips, sunken with years,
were slightly moved from their nat