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'WE OO M'HERE DEMOCRATIC PRINCIPLES POINT THE WAY; WHEN THEY CEASE TO LEAD, WE CEASE TO FOLLOW."
BY JOHN G. GIVEN.
EBENSBURG, THURSDAY, DECEMBER. 19, 1850.
VOL. 7. NO. 11.
ill
MISCELLANEOUS
From tlio N. Y. Universe.
LEAVES FI10M HISTOKY.
Paoli and Slony-Poiiif.
We are not about to jubilate the san
guinary exploits of a tyrant to subjugate
or enslave his fellows we are not about
to sing of embattled hosts called together
to feed carrion crows, at the word of des
pots and autocrats we arc not about to
pay homage to kings, or to their battle
fields filled with ignorant and mercenary
legions, whose issue either way, but leads
to rivitting the chains of tyranny on their
own country but to speak remembering
ly of one of Nature's nobles, heading a
handful of our frugal, hardy, daring, suf
fering, and valiant forefathers, who suc
cessfully defended our plains and moun
tains from the enslavement, of a powerful
and mighty tyrant, and sounded the res
unection ot Liberty, the emancipation of
mankind, the regeneration of the world,
and the life of the Future! Something
id due to the memory of those whose il
lustrious achievements won this unmatch
jible legacy, whether on the battle-plain of
Lexington, or who sunk under the merci
less bayonet of the ruthless Hessian in
the deathly night-massacre at PAOLI !
whether they stood in the ctevation of
patriotic pride at the surrender of Eng
land's proudest generals and armies, or i
died by inches on boaJ the terrible, tor
tuous, and revengeful 'Old Jersey Prison
Ship, on Long Island's shore something
we say, is due, always due, to that band,
who gallantly struck for that Independence
which we enjoy the full benefit of, and of
whose harvest we have the complete fuU
iilment.
A dark cloud once shaded our quarter
of the globe. ' Consternation for a while
agitated our inhabitants. War desolated
our fields, and hurried our vales in blood.
Longing lover3 of liberty, and young and
ardent sons of freedom, fell into bloody
graves, uncoffined and unknelled, as at
Paoli, ere they awakened even from slum
ber. Dut the glittering portals of the day
opened. The Angel of Liberty dropped
on the brow of every patriot the wreath
of victory, and stamped with the seal of
independence the omnipotence of free
men, and the eternal banishment of the
foe. With what thrilling interest, there
fore, should we then regard the events of
the Past! with what profound emotions
dwell upon the character of the Present !
and speculate upon the boundless prospects
of the future 1 Let us while treading
proudly the spot of earth where political
equality dwelleth, ever keep green in the
glory immortality, the myrtle that wreath
ed the swords of the patriots.
Anthony Wayne, Major-General of the
American" Army, was born in the "year
1745, in Chester County, State of Penn
sylvania. His father, who wasa a farmer
was many years a representative for the
County of Chester, in the General Assem
bly, before the Revolution. Anthony
Wayne succeeded his father as represent
tative for the county, in the year 1773,
and from his first appearance in public
life, there could be no mistake about his
patriotism. He opposed with much abil
ity and Spartan energy the unjust demands
of England, and was of material service
in preparing the way for the decisive part
which Pennsylvania took in the general
contest.
In 1775, he was appointed to the com
mand of a regiment, which his character
enabled him to raise in a few weeks, in
his native county. In the following year
he was serving under General Thompson,
in the irruption into Canada. In the de
feat which followed, General Thompson
wti made prisoner; and Col. Wayne,
though severely wounded, displayed great
gallantry and good conduct in bringing otT
the scattered and broken bodies of troops,
and annoying his pursuers with many a
gallant fire.
In the campaign of 1776, he served un
der General Gates, at Ticonderoga, and
was highly esteemed by that officer for
both his bravery and skill as an engineer.
At the close of that campaign, he was
created Brigadier-General.
At-the battle of Brandy wine, he be
haved with his usual bravery, and for a
long time, opposed with a small force the
progress of the English at Dhad's Ford.
In this action, the iufeiiority of the Ameri
cans in numbers, discipline, and arms,
gave them little chance of success; but
the peculiar situation of the public mind
was supposed to require a battle to be risk
ed. . The ground was bravely disputed
the few millitia determined gallantly to
second the inflexible resolution of the Gen
eral, and the enemy's loss was at least
: equal to their own. As it was the inten
tion of the Commander-in-Chief to haz
ard another battle on the first favorable
opportunity. General Wayne was dis
patched with his division to harrass the
enemy by every means in "his power.
The British troops were encamped at
Tedyffrin, and General Wayne was sla
lioned about three miles iu the rear of
their left wing, near the Paoli Tavern,
and which place became the theatre of a
sanguinary scene, called the
MASSACRE OF PAOLI.
Washington, having decided upon a
dopting the offensive, reached Philadel
phia, where he received reinforcements,
and took the route along the Lancaster
road to meet Lord Howe. Meanwhile,
Gen. Wayne, with his division, awaited
in silence, at Paoli, for reinforcements to
be forwarded under Major Smallwood,
and imprudently believing himself secure
from any attack, had not taken all the pre
cautions necessary at such a critical mo
ment. On the night of the 20th of Sep
tember, 1777, Major General Grey cau-
uousiy tea a Dana ol untisli and Hessians
1 ft I 1 T - w
led
with fixed bayonets, into the camn of i
camp
v ayue s smaii iorce, ana commencea a
most terrific slaughter. The Americans
were completely taken by surprise; the
most of them were iu a sound slumber,
from which they only awoke by the loud
yells of the remorseless Hessians, to find
a gory bed. As there was no resistance
indeed, in the hurry, confusion, dark
ness, and dismay, there could be no de
r ii.
fence the cries of the half-naked, unar
med men, for mercy and quarter, were
perfectly unheeded by men whose trade
was butchery, and whose desire was ex
teviination. Wayne, with some cavalry
galloped to the rescue, and endeavored to
stem the torrent, and ultimately succeeded
in drawing off the remnants of his bri
gade. That night sleep had been mur
dered' effectually, and morning dawned
on a multitude of corpses, bathed in blood;
the earth covered with clotted gore here
and there horses and riders together pros
trate, and in one red burial blent;' while
the butchers rioted in the success of a
slaughter that had cost them so little. At
least one hundred and fifty were massacred
on the spot, and all the camp equipage
fell into the hands of the British.
Much blame was attached to General
Wayne, for allowing himself to be sur
prised in this manner, and he demanded a
coun-martial, which acquitted him honor
ably. A neat marble monument has been erec
ted on the ground, to the memory of the
unfortunate patriots who fell on this mel
ancholy 20th of September, 1777.
Many accounts have been given of this
disastrous affair, all of which tend to
screen our hero from blame. But a tc
gard for truth constrains us to state, that
Anthony Wayne was not only a gallant
soldier, but a gallant man, and instead of
watching over the safety of the troops
committed to his care, he was fulfilling an
affair of gallantry, at some distance from
the camp, at the time of the assault. His
torians have treated him with unusual le
nity, for his noble conduct immediately
afterwards, at the battle of Germantown;
and, indeed, he never forgave himself for
this dereliction of duty, and it burst from
his heart, in the midst of his onset at the
storming of Stony
Point, when he cried
out to his men "Remembep. Paoli
Boys !"
This massacre had no other effect than
to rouse to such a pitch of frenzy both
General Wayne and his soldiers, that in
the battle of Germantown, fought shortly
after, he and they signalized themselves
in such a manner as to reflect credit on
themselves.
But the next exploit of gallantry and
prowess, which shed a lustre on the fame
of our levolutionary army, but especially
on that of General Wayne and his com
patriots from Pennsylvania, was the storm
ing of Stony Point, always admitted to
be one of the
most brilliant that evergra-
ced the annals of war.
To Gen. Wayne, who commanded the
light infantry of the army, the execution
of this coup de main was intrusted. Se
crecy was deemed so much more essentia
to success than numbers, that it was
thought unadvisable to add to the force
already in the lines. One brigade was
ordered to commence its march, so as to
reach the scene of action in time to cover
those troops engaged in the attack, in case
of any unlooked for disaster; and Major
Lee, of the light dragoons, who had been
eminently useful in obtaining the intelli
gence which led to the enterprise, was
associated with General Wayne, at least
as far as cavalry could be employed in
such a service.
The night of the 15th of July, 1779,
was fixed upon for the assault; and it be
ing suspected that the English garrison
would be more on their guard towards day,
twelve o'clock was the hour chosen for
the attack, , Wayne and his comrads in
arms, who had suffered at Paoli, had they
died previous to the attack, would, like
Queen Anne, have been found to have the
word Paoli written on their hearts.
Stony Point is a commanding hill, pro
jecting far into the Hudson, which washes
three.fourths of its base. The remaining
fourth is, in a great measure, covered by a
deep marsh, commencing near the river oh
the upper side, and continuing into it be
low. Over this marsh there is but one
crossing-place, but at its junction with the
river is a sandy beach, passable at low
tide. On the summit of this hill was erec
ted the fort, which was furnished with a
complement of heavy pieces of ordnance.
Several breastworks were advanced in
front of the principal work, and about half
way down the hill, were two rows of
abattis. The batteries were calculated to
command the beach and crossing-place of
the marsh, and to rake and enfilade any
column which might be advancing from
any point towards the fort. In addition
to these defences were several vessels in
the river, manned and armed to defend all
approaches to the fort, and to fairlv sween
tliP i.nh oml ik fnm nf ih. k;u
The fort was garrisoned by upwards of
seven hundred men, under the command
of Lieut. Col. Johnson.
At noon of the day preceeding the night
of the attack, the light infantry commenc
ed their march from Sandy Beach, dis
tant fourteen miles from Stony Point, and
( passing through an excessively nigged and
mountaneous country, arrived about eight
o'clock in the evening at Spring Steel's,
one and a half miles from the fort, where
the dispositions for the assault were made.
It was intended to attack the works on
the right and left flanks at the same instant
At half-past eleven the party formed into
two columns, and moved, silent as the
death which was soon to be the fate of
many a healthy, gallant soul, the van of
each column with unloaded muskets and
fixed bayonets. They were each prece
ded by a forlorn hop of twenty men, the
one commanded by Lieutenant Gibbon,
and the other by Lieutenant Knox, whose
duly it was to remove the abattis and oth
er obstructions, in order to open a passage
for the columns which followed close in
the rear.
Proper measures having been taken to
prevent any information of the attack
reaching the English, the Americans reach
ed the marsh undiscovered. But unex
pected difficulties having been experienced
in surmounting this and other obstructions
in the way, the assault did not commence
until half-past twelve. Both columns,
burning with the inspiration of hatred, not
at the courage, butatthe recent devastating
and merciless cruelty of the British, they
rushed forward, amid a tremendous cross
fire of musketry and grape-shot. Sur
mounting every obstacle, and surrounded
by the most dreadful slaughter, they en
tered the works at the point of the bayo
net, and without having fired a single
piece, obtained complete possession of
the post. Wayne, not content to exercise
the functions of a general, and shamed by
his defeat at Paoli, galloped through the
thickest of the fray, and marked with an
eagle eye where an advantage was to be
irained, or a an omission to be rectified. It
was a very critical movement also in the
Revolution the people were ready to be
thrown into a paroxysm of dread or hope
the beam ot the ballance was vibrating,
and the miserable truckling of toryism
awaited the episode of the period. Indeed
it would hardly be possible, in looking
through the long vista of centuries, to dis
cover any period of history more fraught
with the fate of human liberty, than was
the United Slates, at the moment of this
eventful conflict of raw militia-men with
soldiers trained to war bronzed in the
heat and smoke of battles perfect in
every equipment officered by men they
knew and esteemed, and enclosed behind
by an all but impregnable fort! Yet these
raw militia proved themselves capable of
the most difficult enterpises, while all dis
tinguished themselves, whose situation
enabled them to do so. The loss of the
British was sixty-three, including two offi
cers, and five hundred prisoners, besides
the military stores taken in the fort, which
were very considerable.
The Americans suffered severely, but
by no means proportioned to the danger
of the bold aud hazardous enterprise.
Wayne was wounded, but did not leave
the head of the column. Col. Hay was
also among the wounded.
The humanity displayed by the con
querors was not less conspicuous, nor
less honorable than their courage, and
stood out in bold relief to the British.
Not a single individual suffered after re
sistance ceased.
Immediately after the surrender of
Stony Point, General Wayne transmitted
to the Commander-in-chief the following
laconic letter:
"Stony Point, July 16, 1779,
2 o'clock, rf. M.
"Dear General : The fort and garrison,
with Colonel Johnson, are ours; our offi
cers and men behared like men determined
to be free.
"Yours, most sincerely,
"Anthony Wayne.
"General Washington."
In the campaign of 1781, in which
Lord Gornwallis, and a British army
were obliged to surrender prisoners of
war, Wiiyne bore a conspicuous part. In
the State of Georgia he fought with suc
cess some very sanguinary engagements,
for which the State presented him a farm.
On the peace which followed he retired
into private lifc; but in 17S9, we find him
a member of the Pennsylvania Conven
tion, and ore of those in favor of the Feder
al Constituiion of the United States.
In 1792 he succeeded General St. Clair
in the command of the army engaged
against the Indians on our Western fron
tier. His extraordinary decision and ex
emplary discipline, soon rendered his
troops veterans, with which he soon des
troyed the enemies' power, and compelled
them to conclude a definitive treaty of
peace.
A life of peril and glory was terminated
in December, 1796. Wayne had shielded
his country from every enemj' to the best
of his ability, and he never regarded de
liberately with indifference whatever had
a tendency to promote the public good.
lie beheld his country triumphant, rich
in arts, potent in self-government. He died
in a hut at Presque Isle, at about 51 years
of age, and his bones now rest within the
. r c? n ri i ri
County, Pennsylvania.
Doing a Dandy.
As the cars were about leaving a village
in the interior of Massachusetts, rather a
verdant looking specimen of human nature,
in the shape of a tall Vermonter, was seen
making large tracks for the depot, which -he
reached just in time to jump aboard
the train as it departed. Walking boldly
into one of the cars, he seated himself by
the stove, and after taking a long stare at
the passengers, commenced warming
himself. Among the passengers in the
car, was a young city dandy. His person
was small and thin, yet he was dressed in
the extreme of fashion, and his upper lip
was covered with sandy colored hair,
while a stiffly starched collar reached
nearly to the top of his head. Indeed he
had a most exquisite air, and when he
spoke his words were peculiarly mincing.
The dandy sat looking listlessly out of
the window as Jonathan entered the car.
Turning round and observing the charac
ter of the intruder, he seemed convinced
that there was a rare chance for fun,
which he determined not to let pass, and
Jonathan suddenly found himself the sub
ject of the dandy's wit. But he bore
calmly the jeers, and seemed, in fact, un
conscious of what was going on, uutil the
latter had nearly exhausted his fountain
of blackguardism, when Jonathan for the
first time looked surprised, his face grew
radiant, and relaxing his bronze features
into a sort of grin, he arose and strode
across the car towards him.
"Wall, I swow !" commenced the Ver
monter, as he grasped the dandy's skinny
hand within his own, and gave it a tre
mendous squeeze "who'd a thought it !
didn't hardly know you at first. I say,
old feller, how d'ye du ? I'm really glad
to sec you !"
Here a 6hriek from the dandy followed
by a volley of curses, as he drew his now
almost crushed hand from his grasp,
caused Jonathan to halt in his exclama
tions, and he commenced apologizing for
his rudeness.
"I swow, I didn't mean to hurt your
hand, but it does seem good to meet old
acquaintances among strangers ; perhaps,
though, you don't remember me, but I do
you, and that's just the same."
"What do you mean, you impudent
pup ?" exclaimed the dandy, his sallow
face crimsoning with anger.
'Oh, Mister, there's no use in flashing
up ! you can't deny it."
"Deny what?" demanded the dandy.
"I say Mister," continued Jonathan,
with a knowing wink, "how long is it
since you got out?"
"Do you mean to insult a gentleman ?"
shouted the dandy, springing to his feet.
"Be quiet, friend," said Jonathan;
"didn't they use you well there didn't
they give you good fodder, eh ? or warn't
your cage large enough ?"
"Begone, you scoundrel!" shouted the
dandy huskily.
"I say, Mister, have you got that ring
off your neck yet ?" continued Jonathan,
seizing hold of the stiffly starched collar
of the other, and pulling it back to exam
ine the neck, with such force as to start it
to hang by one corner down the dandy's
back.
This was too much; the dandy could
not endure it; trembling with anger, he at
tempted to speak, but his words failed
him.
"Look 'ere, friends," said Jonathan,
addressing the amazed passengers, while
he took the dandy by the arm, and turn
him around two or three times, so as to
expose him to their view, "perhaps you
don't know: but this is th vrrv smo
Ourang Outang that was exhibited in the
f r ..J
menagerie mat came to Vermont a spell
ago."
The roars of laughter that rung through
the cars at this announcement were really
alarming; every one was seized with con
vulsions; and the conductor, startled by
the universal noise, rushed in to see what
was the matter. The train stopped at this
moment at a way station, and the last
seen of the crest-fallen dandy he was
clearing the train, muttering curses too
fearful to repeat.
Anrcitolc of Jalia C. Ca'hor.a.
I was in Yale in 180t 5 and 6, and I
think it was in 1805 that John C. Cal
houn took the degree of Bachelor of Arts.
Calhoun, even at that lime, was looked
upon by his fellow students as an extraor
dinary young man. In his classical studies
and attainments, he was not so very su
perior to some of his mates; but in general
literature, and in those studies relating to
politics, he was unrivalled. I do not now
speak of party politics, as it is too often
understood and practiced in these days,
but of that kind of policy and politics
which teaches us how to promote the
good, and avert the evils incident to na
tions. In this science, Calhoun had no
competitor.
At that period, our ideas of membeas of
Congress were more exalted than at pres
ent, and they were presented to us with
gray hairs and sedate, dignified faces, and
not unfrequently with powdered heads.
They were not so numerous then as they
have since become.
On one occasion, Calhoun was seen by
a familiar friend, long since dead, pouring
over Malthus, while at his elbow lay
Smith's Wealth of Nations.
"Why," said his friend, "why, Cal
houn, will you waste your time over these
works, which you cannot bring into use
for twenty years to come, at the soonest?"
"Not bring into use ?" said Calhoun.
"And why not?"
"Why not ?" replied his friend, "why.
because you cannot apply the knowledge
you gain from them, except as statesman,
or member of Congress ; and that station
you cannot expect to attain for the next
twenty years.''
"Twenty years ! twenty years !" re
turned he. "Why, my friend, if I did not
believe that before ten years have passed
away, I should be in Congress, I pledge
you my word I would leave college this
moment."
The declaration, though it excited a
smile of incredulity on the lips of his
friend, was more than fulfilled, for I be
lieve in about eight years afterwards, he
was eloquently sustaining his country in
the then war with Great Britain.
Charleston Mercury.
THE LAST NEW WRINKLE.
In the Lancaster Gazette of last week
we find the following extraordinary ar
ticle ;
Those who have an antipathy tolchurch
going, and yet are desirous of hearing
sermons and prayers, will be pleased to
paarn that there is good news in store for
them. A man may now enjoy a sermon
in his own parlor, while puffing a fragrant
Havana or sipping the contents of a nog
gin' of punch. This most desirable ob
ject is accomplished by means of Gutta
Percha tuber, extending from the pulpit in
any desired direction to the residence of
individuals, and through which, whatever
the parson may utter in an ordinary tone
will be heard with as much distinctness
at the other end of the tube as if the hea
rers were face to face with him. The
anticipated advantages of this discovery
are immense. It is supposed that Church
building, (a big item by the way,) will be
dispensed with the trouble and expense
of diessing expressly for church going
will be obviated it will secure prosy and
dull pastors from such mortifying sights
and sounds as yawning and sleeping audi
tors, crying babies, &c. The only loss
sustained will be the parson'sgesticulation,
which, however, in nine cases out of ten
will be regarded as a great improvement.
The tubes are to Le supplied with slop
cocks like the common gas pipes to let off
and on the sound of the minister's voice
at the pleasure of the hearer. The great
est difficulty with which the inventor was
called to contend, was how to accommo
date the singers. Most of the choirs in
the churches in which it is proposed to
introduce the tubes, positively objecting
to sitting there, and singing apparently to
empty benches, when a happy thought
suggested a remedy for the difficulty.
The preacher announcing through the
tubes the hymn and tune to be sung, and
giving the proper pitch, the whole congre
gation sing back to him through the same
channel. The effect it is presumed, will
be overpowering. From the very imper
fect description we have given of the wen
derfnl discovery, some idea of its vast
importance may Le gleaned. Next to tha
Telegraph this is claimed to be decidedly
the greatest invention of the day.
A Yoncg Jajihtt.
"My son, can you take a trunk for me
up to the hotel ?" said a passenger, step
ping from a boat on to the levee, to- a
ragged looking youngster, who sat balan
cing himself on the tail of a dray.
"Your son ?" cried the boy, eyeing him
from head to foot. "Well, I'll be dod
drabbed if I ain't in luck. Here I've been
trjing to find out my daddy for thres
years, when all of a sudden up comes the
old boss himself, and knows me right off.
How arc you ?" flretching out a muddy
looking paw.
The'traveller was non nlusscd. Between
a smile and a frown, he inquired:
"What is your name, sir?"
"My name ? So you don't know ?
Well it's nothing for people in these parts
to have so many children that they don't
know their names. My name's Bill, but
seme folks call me William for short.
What the other part is I reckon you know.
If you don't you must ax the old 'otnan."
And shouldering the trunk, he marcheJ
off towards the hotel, murabing to him
self: "Well, this is a go. The old gemman
come home at last. Good clothes, big
trunk; must have the tvt. AVcll, I am in
luck."
Can Eat Anything.
Lake Mohopac was so much crowded
the past season, or rather, the Hotels in
its immediate vicinity were, that the farm
houses were filled with visitors. One of
the worthy fanners residing there, it ap
pears, was especially worried to death
with boarders. They found fault with
his table that this thing was bad; and
that "wasn't fit to ea! and at last the old
fellow got so tired of trying to please
them that he undertook as the last resource
to reason the matter with them.
"Darn it," said old Isaac one day,
"what a fuss you're making; 1 can eat
anything."
"Can you cat crow ?' said one of the
boarders.
"Yes, I kin eat crow," replied old
Isaac.
'Bet you a hat," said his guest;
The bet was made, a crow caught and
nicely roasted, but before serving up, they
contrived to season it with a good doso ol
Scotch snuff.
Isaac sat down to the crow. He toot
a good bite, and began to chew away.
"Yes," he said, "I kin eat crow," (anoth
er bite and an awful face.) "I kin eat
crow," (symptoms of nr.usea,) "I kin cat
crow, but I'll be darned if I hanker arter
it.
Isaac bolted.
A Eiss.
"Ah, Sally, give me a kiss and be dons
with it."
"I won't, so there now."
"I'll take it, whether or no."
"Do it, if you dare."
So at it we went rough and tumble. An
awful destruction of starch now commen
ced. The bow of my . cravat was squat
up in half a shake. At the next bout,
smash went 6hirt collar, and at the same
time some of the head fastening gave way,
and down came Sally's hair like a flood
in a mill dam broke loose, carrying away
a half dozen combs. One dig of Sally's
elbow, and my blooming rallies wilted
down to a dish cloth. But she had no
time to boast. Soon her neck tackling
began to shiver, parted at the throat; and
whoorah came a string of white beads
scampering and running races every way
you could think of about the floor.
By hokey, if Sally Jones ain't the grit
there's no snakes. She fought fair, how
ever, 1 must admit, and neither tried to
bite nor scratch; and when she could fight
no longer for want of breath, she yielded
handsomely. Her arms fell down by her
side her hair back over the chair, her
eyes closed, and there lay a little plump
mouth all in the air. Lord! did you ever
see a hawk pounce o:i a robin? or a
bumble bee upon a clover top ? I fay
nothing.
E3?The mists arise from the earth, and
in fertilizing showers return again into his
bosom; even so the love that man shed
deth abroad upon his kind is repaid by
happiness showered abundantly upon his
head.
Wit. Dr. Henicker being one day in
conversation with Earl Catham, was ask
ed by his lordship to define wit. "Wit,"
replied the learned doctor, "is what a pen
sion would be, given by your lordship to
your humble servant a good thing well
i off lied.'' ' '
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