The Columbia Democrat. (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, May 02, 1840, Image 1

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    WM IB
I havo sworn tipon thd Altar of God, eternal hostility to every form of Tyranny over the MI"1 of MonThomas Jefferson.
Hi
Volume SV.
0FF1CK OF THE DEMOCRAT,
OprosiTE St. Paul? Ciitmcir, Main-st.
TUEMS : .
The COLUMBIA DEMOCRAT will be
published even Saturday morning, at
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LETTERS addressed on business, must
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THE BATTLE OP MONMOUTH.
JUNE 28, 1778.
From the Custis Recollections andrivate
Memoirs of the Life and Character of
ffaslnngton.
The commnnder.'In chief (Washington)
having completed Ins arrangements for
bringing tho enemy to a ceiieral action.
proceeded slowly towards Monmouth court
house, early on the morning of tho twenty
eighth June.
In tlio council of war, thero wero but
two;vojces for risking an engagement
Cadwallader, a gallant fellow, ind- devot
ed in his attachment to his Chief; and
Anthony Waye, who always said
when fighting was to bo had upon
terms
ayo,
any
Washington certainly assumed s great
responsibility in risking an engagement
contrary to the opinions of a large majority
of his goncrals. npd notwithstanding the
vast disparity of his forces, when tomnar-
tcd with those of his adversary the dispsr-
ty consisting more in tho materials of
which the respective armies were composed
than in their numerical estimates. - But it
is to bo remembered that the two principal
actions of tho preceding campaign, though
bravely contested, had resulted tinfortu-
nalcly. Since the close of the campaign of
77,3ti alliance nau uocn lormed with i1 ranee
whose fleets and armies were hourly expec
ted on our costs, whilo the demands of the
Ticople.dnmands too,oftcn loudly expressed,
were for battle. ,
Urged lij these considerations, tho A
mcrican Chief determined, happen what
.would, to flight Sir Henry Climon, bo that
Jio should not evacuate Philadelphia, and
each his strong hold in New York un
itched. Crossing the Delaware, the A
J lican approached his formidable foe, who
J u ng in his superiority of numbers, dis-
clpjine,and appointment, was lfciaircly woh
dirg his way towards Slaton Island, the
pWV o embarkation for New York,
Ajs a soldier, Washington was by nature
tlis pry soul of enterprise ; but, fortunate
ly fir his fame and for his country.this dar-
in l.nrit was tempered by a judgment and
I prwliice most happy in their character and
ill cfels. And yet an illustrious patriot and
i" .. . . i : . -w
yiiw ic J'alrta' was rather the Fubius than
t ii f
iiarcenus 01 war, ins extreme caution
jtnL' liim liottiir for the cool and incthodi-
qperniioiis of siejre, than for thi darinr
I n4gy of surprise, or the close and stub-
flconflict ol the fluid. Neve: was there
a misconception of the great soldier's
ptes. Did not this modern Fahius, in
M Jpry depth of winter, and after over
c'nung miglity obstacles, surprise his ene
ijVBit Trenton, and recall "ictory to his
jJEiarulard when hope was almost sinking in
1 vtaaiid mighty inarch, surprise his ene
hjn Princeton, and add yet another laurel
. BfliB garland acquired bv the capture of
nenstwis i urn lie not, witn an army
lily raised and defeated at Brandauine,
wcntylhrec days thereafter, surpriso
ft1 A . - . 1 . ..I '
enemy at Ucrmtihtown ? And, though
t lory Was denied him by a course of cir-
h istances un human power could have
i itrolled vet the boldness of tho entornriss
It! tlio success attending it in tho onset,
AiifitA ck.1i n nnnfiilnnnn altmnil in iiir
forces anil courage as to lead to our alii-
fa vjith a powerful nation.
lid !hc not surprise me enemy at mon-
Ruth t And although untoward events
ivctl to cripple the operations of the early
t ol the day, Yel 11,3 selling sun snonc
9 n the battlefield in tho possession of
I Americans ; the enemy retreating, and
'r 'load anJ wounucu ten as iropuics 10
victors.
jBOQMSIsrocCOjLIJMBlA COUff-ffY, 5 A. SATURDAY, MAY 2," 1840
Sucli wero tho memorial instances in
which Washington,with troops newly rais
cd, and badly provided with ovory necessa
ry of war, struck at the veteran and well
appointed (oe, when least expected, produc
ing the happiest influences upon the Amer
ican cause, botlt at homo and abroad ; for it
is peneetiy well known that tho battle of
uermantown decided tho ministry of France
to form tho allegiance that so 'maloiially
y.:L..i...1 i 1.. f
tuiiiiiaiuuu in me conclusion ol lue war.
ana tlio cunsumation; of our independ
enco. J
As the Commanderin Chief, accompani
ed by a numerous suit; approached tho yi
liiimjr ui iiiuiiiiKiuui uouri iiouso lie was
met oy a little liler boy who nrcblv observ
ii r ... -
eu. uuy aru an coming tins way, your
uuiuir.
'Who ato coming jmy littlo man ?' naked
ucn anox
"Why, onr boys, tour honor, our boys
anu the Untish right faftcr them," replied
itiu.imio musician.
"Impossible!" exclaimed Washington
uiiu giving wio spur 10 ins onarger, proceed
ed at full gallop to an (eminence a short dis
tance ahead. I here.ito his cxlremo pai
and niorAiJliciition, it ,was discovered that
tuB"udy s intellinencq was too true. Tim
very elito of tho American army, fivo thou
sanu picueu ohicera and men, wero in full
retreat, closely pursued by the enemy.
The fir3t inquiry of tho commander
chief was for Major Geneial Lee.who com
manded the adancc, and who soon annoar.
cd, when a warm conversation ensued, that
enaeci ny the major general being ordered
io iiib rear.
During this interview an incident t
rare and chivalric interest occurred. Lieu
Hamilton, aid to the commande.
..i.ir i u : i i , .
m.ijicu iiuiii ins iigrsu ana urawin
Ins sword, addressed tho general with
" o aru betrayed vour excellency an
. t. : . i
una iirmy aru oeirayeu i and the moment
hasarrfved when every true friend of Amer
ica and her cause must be ready to dio
their defence."
nrt.r ...
in
u3iimgion, consumed witii'tlie pener
uus ciiuiusiasni oi pis lavorue aid, yet
deeming the same ill timed, pointed to the
colonel's horse, that was cropping tho her-
.... .1 : r . .. . .rJ
uage, unconscious ol the great scene that
was enacting around him. ca mlv obsorvin
ii"'.. I I if ! . .
uuiunui (luiuiuou, you win tune your
uorso.'
The general in chief now set himself
earnest about restennff the fortunea of dm
day. He ordered Col. Stewart and Lieut
Col. Kamsey.with their regiments to check
the advance of tho enemy, which service
was gallantly performed ; wjiile the general
in person, proceeded to form his second
line. He rode, on the inorniiicr of tho 28ih
June.and for that time only, during tho war
a wuiib cuargcr mat uau oeen presented to
mm. from tho ovcrpowonnir heat of the
day, and tho deep and sandy na'uro of the
soil, tho spirited horse sank under him and
expired on the spot. The chief was in
stantly remounted on a chesnut blood mare
with a flowing mane and tail. It was im
on mis Deautuui animal, covered with loam
that the American general flew aloncr the
lino, cheering tho soldiers in tho familiar
and endearing language ever used by tho of-
ncer to tno soldiers ol the revolution o
'Stand fast, my boys, and receivo your en
emy, tlio southern troops are advancing to
support ye,"
The person of Washington alwaysVracc
ful, dignified, and commanding, showed to
peculiar advantage when mounted ; it ex-hibited-inderd
the very beau ideal of a per
fect cavalier.
The good Lafayette, during his last visit
to America, delighted to discourse of the
"Times that tried men's souls." From
that venerable friend of our country wo de
rived a most graphic description of Wash
ington and iho field of battle. Lafayette
said :
"At Monmouth I commanded a division,
and it may bo supposed, was pretty well
occupieu ; sun l luoic time amid the roar
and confusion of the conflict to admire our
beloved chief, who, mounted on a splendid
charger, rode along the ranks amid the
shouts ofthc soldiers, cheerinar them by
his voico and example, and restoring to our
standard the fortunes of the fight. I thought
then, as now, Lcontinued the good Lalay
cllo. that never had I beheld so superb ?
man."
Among tho incidents of this memorable
day may be recorded, on tho part of the
iiniish, the death of tho Hon. Colonel
Motickton, a brother of Eail Galway. It
is said that this gallant an( accomplished
nflicer had greatly injured his fortune by
tho dissipations incident to a long sojourn
in city quarters, and that, in consequence
ho exposed himself recklessly on the 8ih
.Tune. Ho was much regretted in the Brit
ish army.
On the part of the Americans, tho fate
of the young and bravo Captain Fauntleroy,
pf the Virginia line, was rcnjarlsable, JJ0
PllINTED AND PUBLISHED BY II. WEBB.
was on horseback, at a well near a farm
house, waving his turn while tho fainting
soldiers consumed by a thirst arising from
their exertions on tho hottest day supposed
ever to havo occurred in America, were
rushing, with irantio cries, to tho well im
ploring for water. Tho captain, with the
point of his sword rcstin? on his booti his
arm leaning on the pummel, continued to
wave uis mm, wnen a cannon shot( bound
ing down the lane that led to tho farmhouse)
siruci; me untortunate ofucer near the hip
and hurled him to the ground a lifeless
corpse. 1 he lamented Fauntleroy was de
scenueu irom one ot the old and highly re
spccled families of Virginia- Leaving the
comforts of home and the deliirhts of a I arra
circle of friends, this gallant young soldier
repaired to the standard of his country ear
ly in tho campaign of '70. Ho was highly
respected in his grade, and his untimely
iaio waa ueopiy mourned in the Amorican
army.
ii ii ..i
xiueuiess oi me remonstrances and en
treaties of his oflicers. the commander in
chief exposed his person to every danger
iniuuguuui wie acuon oi ine aath June.
The night before tho battle f Monmouth
a party of the general oflicers assembled
and resolved upon a memorial to the chief,
praying that ho would not expose his per
son in thd approaching conflict. His hinh
and chivalric daring and contempt for dan
ger at the battle of Princeton, aud, again at
Germantown, where his oflicers seized the
bridle of his horse, made his friends the
more anxious for the preservation of a life
so uear io an, anu so truly important to the
success of the common cause. It was de
termined that the memorial should bo pre
sented by Craik, the companion in arms of
Lolonel Washington in the War of '55;but
Craik, at once, assurod the memorialists
that, whilo their petition would be received
as a proof of their affectionate regard for
their general's safety,, it would not weigh a
feather in preventing tho exposure of his
persou, should tho day go agsinst them and
mo presence ot the duel bacoine necessa
ry at the post of danger. Dr. Craik then
related the romantic and imposing incidents
oi ine old Indian s prophecy, as it occur
red on the banks of the Ohio, iu 1770. ob
serving that-bred as lie himself was, in the
rigid dicipline of the Kirk of Scotland.
Ho possosscd as litilo superstition ns any
one, but that really there was a somethinsr
in the air aud manner of an old savage chief
deriving his oraclo amid the Jepths of the
forest, that time nor circumstances could
never erace from his memory, and that he
believed with the tawny prophet of tho wil
derness that their beloved Washington was
tho spirit-protected being described by the
savage, mat the enemy could not kill him.
and that while he lived the glorious cause
of the American Independence would never
die:
On the folio win? da while the comman
der in chief attended by his oflicers, was
reconuoitering the enemy from an elevated
part of tho fluid, a round shot from the Brit
ish artillery struck but a little way from his
horse's feet, throwing up tho earth over his
person, and then bounded hanncdly away.
i no Darren bteuben,shrus:irinir up his shou
ders, exclaimed, " that vast verv near.'
while Dr. Craik', pleased with this instanco
confirmatory of the Indian s prophecy, nod
ded to (ho oflicers who had composed tho
patty of tho proceeding evening, and then
pointed to heaven, as much as to say in the
woids of the savage prophet " The Great
Spirit protects him he cannot dio in bat
tle." A ludicrous occurrence varied the inci
dents of the 28th of June. The servants
of tho general officers wero usually well
armed and mounted. Will Lee, or Billy
the former huntsman, and favorite boy ser
vant of tho chief, a square muscular figure.
and capital horseman,, paraded a corpso of
vanciu, unu naing pompously ai meir head,
proceeded to an eminence crowned by a sy
camore tree, from 'whence treo could bo
seen an extonsivo part of the field of battle.
Hero Billy halted, and having unslung the
largo telescope that he always carried in a
leathern case, with a martial air he applisd
it to his eyo and reconneitered the enemy.
ivasnington, having observed these ma-
nouvrcs of the corps of valets, pointed
mem out to his officers, observing, "Bee
those fellows collected on yonder height;
the enemy will firo on them to a certain-
Meantime, tho British were not unmind
of the assemblage on the height, and
perceiving a burley figure well mounted,
and with a telescope in hand, they deler
rainod to pay their respects to the group.
A shot from tho six pounder passed through
the tree, cuttin? away the limbs, and pro
ducing a scampering among tho corps of
vallets, that caused oven the grave counten
ance of the commander in chief to dissolvo
into a smile.
Nor must wo omit among the incident
of the battle of Monmouth, to mention tho
aclieavment of tho famed Captain Molly, a
nom de guerre given to the wife of a mat-
ress in Proctor s artillery.
( At ono of the guns of" Proctor's battery,
six mon had been killed or wounded. It
was deemed an uulucky gunj and murmurs
arose that it should be drawn back a.id a
bandoned. At this juncture, while capUin
Molly was serving some water for the re
freshment of her men, her husband receiv
ed a shot in tho head, and fell lifeless under
the wheels of the piece. The heroine,
throwing down the pail of water, and cry
ing out to her doad consort, " lie thero my
darling while I revenge ye," grasped the
ramrod, the lifeless hand of the poor fellow
had just relinquished, sent home the charge,
and called to the matresses to prime and
fire. It was done. Then, entering the
spongu into the smoking muzzle of the can
non, the heroine performed to admiration
the duties of tho most expert artilleryman,
whilo loud shouts from the soldiors rang
along tho line, the doomed gun was no lon
ger deemed unlucky, and the fire of the
battery became more vivid than ever.
The Amazonian fair one kept to her post
till night closed the action, where she was
introduced to Gen. Greene, who compli
menting her upon her courage and conduct,
the next morning presented her to the com
mander in chief. Washington received her
graciously, gave her a piece of gold, and
assured her that her services should not be
forgotten,
This remarkable and" intrepid woman
survived the devolution, never for an in
stant, hying asido tho appellation she had
so 'nobly won, and levying contributions
upon both civil and military people, when
ever she recounted the tale of the doomed
gun and the famed Captain Melly at the
battle of Monmouth.
On the nighc of this memorable conflict,
Washington laid down upon his cloak un
der a tree, in the midit of his bravo sol
diers. About midnight.an officer approach
ed cautiously, fearful of awakening him
when tho chief called out to him, " Ad
vance, sir, and deliver your message. I laid
here to think and not to sleep.
In the morning the American made nrep
aration to - rsney th'e conflict, but the ene
my had retired dunn? the nicht. leavinc
their dead and many of their wounded to
tho care ot the victors. Morgan's moun
taineers pursued on their trail, and mad
some captures, pa tetelaily the coach of
.nn.l Hi n . '
I he British grand iwmy embark'
il r.
ora
Staten Island. The nainber, orCand
regularity ot the boats, atVl the spJ " 8, ap
pearanco oi me iroopt, renderei;, w 'cm
oarnauon bub oi his in-'j DrnilX, ''"j im
posing spectacles Lte itet, " nary
war. ,,i l- r
ninanima,, ""He
o
thanks to the General
t ChieCf,:-'0
cers
and soldiers, for the
march from Valley v
uoicai oi ino enoi
fired by the who
ifor the
victoiy of Mono.
s ryrmancntiir, anc
Siit'inesa in this t)W
77ie Schoolman general assortmcnfis Balti
more Ulipper tells , f-,
the following is the t'n
"School Coramissior.Vy
f which
board of
tcumber
ed a consequential littl (aij
land, being in want of TO
Mary
dvertised
in ino newspapers lor a pii
sod mor
di man, iiu uaa udiai iVCTf 111
dead languages, and whufijgfi (
iiicntng mo
.1
chew to
bacco or drink whiskey. $Fi'M.
fortnight
ol tins advertising had ,5.,
borated,
rawDonea lannee
1. i.i.v.i".nnnrancR.
with a knifo and p.
a Cape Cod Proldcr.'-janaJt cake of gin
J1UUU,UI1U
r- r MJdp v" - w b
gerbread, in the other, a)S oU'ld the follow
ing dialogue with the comntntee aforesaid :
' Well, sir, 3atd the Ohairmon, eyein?
tho candidate trom head to loot, " do veu
possess the necessery requisites for a pub
lie school teacher
' I guess I do," answered Slick, whit
tling his stick.
' Do you understand Latin ? asked one
of tho Committee men, a Dutch farmer.
1 guess 1 do," replied ancle acain
rounding'the end of his stick with his knife.-
" Well, let's hear some of your Latin,"
stud the Churman.
" Ruambo hie sqnashicum, et punkini
turn lingum," said Slick, drawing.his coat
sleeve slowly under his nose,
" Humph I" exchtimed tho Dutchman,
"'ish dat Latin ? Who's the author !"
" Josephus," replied Slick; " he says in
bis life of Governor Hancock, "Sic tiansit
gloria Monday morning Haacockibus
quad erat demonstrandum.
Dat's good l" exclaimed tho Dutchman,
rubbing his hands, "'tere never vas better
Latins 1"
"Now, sir," said tho Chairman, "I sup
pose you understand Geography ?"
"I guess I do," said Slick; sharpening
tho end of his stick.
"How far have you been I"
Number 1.
"As far as the Deestrict of Columby."
"What state is hint"'
','A state Of desparation."
"What latitude are we in 1"
"According to the thermometer we'ijp tiii
degrees below zero."
"Which is the most western point ef
North America ?"
"Cape Cod.'
"Good. Now, sir, let us knew how far
you studied mathematics. What's the area1
of a square acre of land ?"
"That depends upon the quality," repli
ed Slick .snapping tho blade.of his knife.
"Well, suppose it to be pood com
land!" t B
"Why it depends upon the number of
hills.'' .
"Say five hundred." ,
"Quess you might as well tell a foliar
how inany grains to the hil! t
"Five."
"Then accordin' to Elucid, it would hi
712 feet horizontally perpendicular."
"Excellent ! Pray, sir, where are veil
from i"
"Staunton, down in the Bay State and
I can do 'most any thine" .
"No doubt, but there is ono thing youi
cannot do, you cannot humbug us, Youosri
go."
A Mississippi Romance. AcrrespoV
dent of the Natchez Courier, writing from;
the seat of government of Mississippi, in a
long latter about banks and banking, gives
currency to the following adveuture:
I turn from the legislature to give an item
which smaeks of romance and aevelty. To
day there arrived in the stage, in company
with Judge Bodley, a fair faced and Juve
nile passenger in pantaloons arrayed and
on stopping at the mansion of Madame Dix
on, the passengers Were consigned to s
room in company with Senator Thomas B.
ltives.
In a few minutes suspicioup were est a.
float that tho stianger was a woman, where,
upon Mrs. Dixon in curious trepidation, re
paired to the presence ef our new guest.
"You aru.a woman," said MrsVD.MTinbilr
I am," replied the stranger," "but listen to
my story." She then related an adventure
that far eclipsed the dangers braved by the
lover ef Orlando; she had been cruelly trea
ted, her husband had fled the country and
resolved to find him she changed iter dress
and went to the Mississippi River, whsra
she secured a birth on one of the steamboats
as cabin boy ; this life she followed up and
down the western waters for eight month
despairing of the object of her anxious pur
suit she is now on her way to the boson
of her family in one of the eastern counties
of Mississippi.
When her sex was discovered several la
dies and gentlemen recalled her acquain
tance, and by the kindntss of her friends,
she was soon transformed and conducted Hi
the parlor glittering in all the splendor of her
sex. ino stories she told were interesting
and all true while a cabin boy she had
two or three fights, in all of which she
came off victorious 1 Who will say the-
Mir sissippi ladies are hot brave and do not
love ? We intend to write the history of
this Iftdy for one of the annals ; the materi
als are ample, her beauty,chivalry,devotioa,
and other heioic qualities ! Look, out for
the story of the "cabin boy wife;"
An article in Blackwood concerning Iho,
Jewish nation refers to their statistics of
population as one ef the most singular cir
cumstances connected with the history of
that remarkable people. While other ra
ces have gone on increasing and multiply
ing, Europe in general having doubled its
population within tho last hundred years,
and England having nearly tripled hers with
in the last half century, the ratio of increase
in America being still greater, the number
of the Jowish people do hot seem lo havo
been enlarged; It is estimated that about
three millions entered Palestine from tho
wilderness the population of Jddea prob
ably never exceeded four millions. Accord
ing to the computation of the German stat
ists, the aggregate of the race now is about
the sane as in tho time of Moses that is
about three millions, The writer adds 1
" This extraordinary fixedness in the"
midst of almost universal increase, isdoubt-
ss not without a reason if we are even
to look for it among the mysterious opera
tions which havo preserved Israeli a sepa
rate race, through eighteen hundred years.
May we not naturally conceive, that a peo
ple thus preserved without advance or ret
rocession; dispersed, yet combined; broksn,
vet firm: without a country, yet dwelle's ia
all; without a nation, yet united as no 11 a
lion ever was before or since hts not been
ppeintcd to offer this extraordinary contra-'
diction to the common laws of society, and
even the common progress of nature, with
out a cause, one of final benevolence, univ
ersal good, and divine grandeur '
(1.