Rising Sun Times, Volume 3, Number 118, Rising Sun, Ohio County, 13 February 1836 — Page 1

TTOTTTT 11 Hi

SUN

TIMES

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' rLElMj 1".1 TO NO PARTY S ARBITRARY SWAY, WELL FOLLOW TRUTH WHEREE8 IT LEADS THE WAY."

BY ALEX. E.

K1M1XU JL'A, 1AD1AAA, SATIRMY, EBRllKY 13, t8

VOJLOSR 15S.-AO. 1 & g.

SONG OF Till: A31EH1C AN GIHL. Our hearts are with our native land, Our song is for htr glory ; Her warrior's wreath is in our hand, Our lips breathe out n r story. Her lofty hills and valleys green Arc Janhnt: bright before us ; And like a rainbow-sign i seen Her proud flag waving oVr us. And there are smiles upon our lips For those who meet her foemen, For glory's star knows no eclipse When smiled upon by w oman. For those who brave the mighty deep. And soorn a threat of danger, We've smiles to cheer and tears to w eep For every ocean ranger. Our hearts are with our native land, Our song is for her freedom ; Our prayers arc for the gallant band Who strikes where honor '11 lead "em. We love the taintless air we breathe, 'Tis freedom's endless dower, We'll twine for lain a fadeless w reath Who scorns a tyrant's power. They tell of France's beauties rare, Of Italy's proud daughters; Of Scotland's lases Iceland's fair, And nvmphs of Shannon's waters; We heed not nil their boasted charms, ThoMch lords around them hover; Our glory lies in Freedom's arms, A Freeman for a lover!

BIOGRAPHY AND HISTORY.

gex. nitiii mkhckk.

General Mercer was a Scotchman by

hirth, but at an early age emigrated to

Virginia, where he continued to reside,

and became a practising physician.

General Wilkinson relates the fallow

ing interesting incidents in bis lifer-

He served in the campaign of 1756,

with Gen. 13raddo k, and was wounded through the shoulder in the unfortunate action near Tort l)u Quosne ; unable to

retreat, he lay down under the cover of

ji large fallen tree, and in the pursuit, an Indian leaped upon his covert imme

diately over him, and alter locking a-

bout a few secondi for the direction of

the fugitive., he sprang oil' without observing the wounded man who lay at

his feet. So soon ns the -Indian had

killed the wounded. - i the dead,

lined the baggag , r.'ai chared the lit I I, flie iiRjbrttiitato M-.rccr, finding I imstlf exceedingly taint and thirsty, from loss of blood, crawled to an adjacent brook, and after di inking plentifully, found himself so much refreshed, that ho was able to walk, and commenced his return bv the. road the army

had advanced; but being without subsistence, and more than a hundred miles from any Christian settlement, he expected to die of famine, when he obcrved a rattle snake on his path which he killed and contrived to skin, and throwing it over his sound shoulder, hsubsisted on it as the claims cf nature urged, until he reached Tort Cumberland, on the Potomac. Gen. Mercer at the commencement of the revolution, heartily engaged in the cause of American liberty, lie was one of those gallant spirits who adhered to the American cause "in times that tried men's souls,'5 and bravely supported the commander-in-chief in his disastrous retreat through the Jerscv s. lie was present at the battle of Princeton, wlieie he greatly distinguished himself, and was mortally wounded. Oa the night of the 1st of January, Gen. Mercer, Col. C. Biddle, and DoctorCochran spent the evening wilhGencral St. Clair. Fatigued wilh the duties of the day, 1 had lain down in the same apartment, and my attention was attracted by the turn of their conversation, on the recent promotion of Captain William Washington, from a regiment of infantry to a majority of cavalry. General Mercer expressed his dis approbation of the nieaMire; at which the gentlemen appeared surprised, as ii was the reward of acknowledged gal Jantry; and Mercer, in explanation observed: "We arc not engaged in a war of ambition: if it had been so, I should i.everhaveaccopted a commission under . man who had not seen a day's service, ( illmlisig to the great orator, and distinguished patriot, Patrick Henry:) we serve not lot ourselves, but for our country, and every man should be content to till the place in which he can be most useful. I know Washington to be a good captain of infantry, but 1 know not what sort of a rnajor of horse he may make; and I have seen good captains made indifferent majors; for rm own part my views in this contest are or hi tned to a single object, that is, the. success of the cause; and God can witness how cheerfully I would lay down my life to secure it. In Gen. Mercer wc lot our chief, who for education, experience, talent, deposition, integrity and patriotism,

wassesond to no man save the comman

der in-chief, and was qualified to (ill the highest trusts in our country. The

manner in which he was wounded, is an evidence of the excess to which the

common soldiery are liable in the hea

cf action, particularly when irritated bv

the loss of favorite officers. Being ob

structed when advancing bv a post and

rail fence in front of the orchard, it may

ne presumed liie general dismounted voluntarily, for he was on foot when the

troops gave

in exerting himself

to rally them he was thrown into the

rear, and perceiving he could not cs

cape, he turned and surrendered, but

was instantly knocked down, and bay-

onetted thirteen time?, when feignin"-

to be dead, one of his murderers ex

claimed, "Damn him, he is dead, let us

eave turn. Atter the retieat of the

enemy, he was conveyed to the house of

I nomas Clark, to whom he pave this

account, and languished until the 12th.

vt hen he expired.''

BATTLE OF PIIIXCETOX. BY A SERGEANT.

Three or four days after the virtorv

lemon, uie .American army recrossed the Delaware into New Jersey.

-vi tnis time our troops were in a destitute and deplorable condition. The

attached to our cannon were

wnheut shoes; and when passing over

the ice they would slide in every direc

won; a:u could advance onlv by the

assistance of the soldiers. Our mm

too were without shoes or other com

fortable clothing, and as traces of our march toward Princeton, the ground was literally marked with the blood of

the soldier's feet. Though my own feet did not bleed, they were so sore that their condition was little better.

While wc were at Trenton, on the ist of December, 177G. the time of

which I anil the most nf mv t-oirimnnt

iad cniisted, expired. At this "trying

moment, General Washington, having

now but a handful of men, and many

ot ihem new recruits in which he could

dace but little confidence, ordered our I looked about for the main body of the

ed on by the British commander, and were cut down until the dead lay in heaps by the bridge. They retired,

and we were lei t undisturbed lor the

night.

Leaving our fires kindled, to deceive

the enemy, we decamped that night,

and by a circular route took up our

line of march for Princeton. Gen. Mer

cer commanded the front guard of

which the 200 volunteers composed a part. About sunrise on the morning of the 3d of January, 1 777, reaching the summit of a hill near Princeton, we observed a light-horseman looking towards us, as we view an object when the rising sun shines directly in outface. Gen. Mercer, observing him, gave orders to the riflemen to pick him off. Several made ready but at that instant he wheeled about and was out

of their reach.

Soon after, as we were descending a hill through an orchard, a party of the

enemy, who were entrenched behind a

bank and furze, arose and bred upon

us. lheir first shot passed over our

leads, cutting the limbs of the trees

under which we were marching. At this moment we were ordered to wheel. As the platoon which 1 commanded were obeying the order, the corporal w ho stood at mv left shoulder, received

a oau ana tell dead on tne spor. jte

seemed to bend forw ard to receive the

ball which might otherwise haveende

my life. Wc formed, advanced an

tired upon the enemy. Thev retreat

ed about 3 rods to their packs, which

were laid in a line. I advanced to the

fence on the opposite side of the ditch which the enemv had just left, fell on

one knee, and loaded my musket with

all and buck shot. Our firing was

most destructive; their ranks grew thin,

md the victory seemed nearly complete,

w hen the British were reinforced. Ma

ny of our bravest men had fallen, and

wc were unable to stand su

numbers of fresh troops.

I soon heard General Mercer com

mand, in a tone of distress, 'Retreat.'

;h superior

regiment to be paraded, and personally

udressed us. ursrini? that we should sf.-iv

' c c - J month longer. He alluded to our

recent victory at Trenton, told us that our services was greatly meded, and

that we could do more for our country and in the most affectionate manner than wc ever could at any future period ; entreated us to stay. The drums were beat for volunteers, but not a man turned out. The soldiers, w orn dow n with fatigue and privations, had their hearts fixed on home and the comforts cf the domestic circle, and it was hard to forego the anticipated pleasure of the society of our dearest friends. The general whet led I. is horse about, rode through in front of the reciment; and addressing us again, said. 'My brave fellows, you have done all I ever asked you to do, and more than could be reasonably expected; but your country is at stake, your wives, your houses, and all that you hold dear. Voa have worn yourselves out with fatigue and hardships, but we know not how to spare you. If you will consent to stay only one month longer, you will render that service to the cause of liberty and to your country, which you probably never can do under any other circumstances. The present is emphatically the crisis which is to decide our destiny."' The drums beat the second time. One said to the other, 1 will remain if you will. Others remarked, wc cannot go home under such circumstances. A few stepped forth, and lheir example was immediately followed by nearly all w ho were fit for duty in the regiment, amouning to ahout 200 volunteers. An officer inquired of the General if these men should be enrolled. He replied "No: Men w ho will volunteer in such a case as tlii, need no enrollment to keep them to their duty."' When we were about commencing our maich for Providence, lord Cornwallis left that place wilh the intention of attacking, and at one blow culling off the rebel army. He appeared near Trenton, at Wood creek, or the Assumpsit river, where a skirmish took place at a bridge over the creek. The Hessians were placed in front of the

Briiih troops and endeavored to force

bridge. 1 hey were repuiseu aim

.t t .

the

driven baik three times by the Amer

ican r annon. The Hessians were push-

arm v. which I could not discover, dis

charged my musket at a party of the enemy, and ran for a piece of wood at a little distance, where I thought 1 might

tind shelter. At this moment v ashing

ton appeared in front of the American

armv, riding towards those of us who

were retreating, and exclaimed, 'Par

ade with us, my brave fellows; there is

but a handfu of the enemv. and wo will

have them directly.' 1 immediately joined the main body, and marched over the ground again.

O. the barbarity ot man: Un our

retreat we had left a comrade of ours,

whose name was Loomis, from Lebanon, Vt., w hose leg was broken by a musket ball, under a cart in a yard, but on our return he was dead, having received several wounds from a British bayonet? My old associates were scattered about, groaning, dying and dead. One officer, w ho was shot from his horse, lay in a hollow place in the ground, rolling and w rithing in his own blood, unconscious of any thing around him. The ground was frozen and all the blood that was shed remained on the surface, which added to the horror of this scene of carnage. The British were unable to resist this attack, and retreated into the college, where they considered themselves safe. Our army was there in an instant, and cannon was placed before the door, and after two or three discharges, a white flag appeared at h window; when the British surrendered. They were a haughty crabbed set of men, as they fully "exhibited w hile prisoners in their march to the country. In this battle, my pack, which was made fast by leather strings, was, as I suppose, shot from my back, and with it went all the little clothing I had; it was however, soon replaced by one which had belonged to a British officer, and was well furnished.

ANECDOTE Or THE BATTLE OF NEW ORLEANS. A daring Tennesseean with a blanket tied round, and a hat wilh a brim of enormous breadth, who seemed to be lighting 'on his own hook,' disdaining to raise his rifle over the bank of the earth and fire, in safety to his person, like bis more wary fellow soldiers, chose to spring, every time he fired, upon the breastwork, "where, ballancing himself, he would brim? his rifle to his cheek,

About half ofthete volunteers were killed I ,i.

in the battle of Princeton, or died of the small , fi ,unu cK.Jncr nt a hprd of

pox oon utter. "b" i,ivui,i,ij

deer; then leaping down to the inner side, he would reload, mount the works, cock his beaver, fake aim, and crack again. 'This he did,' said the English officer, w ho was taken prisoner by him, and who laughingly related it as a good anecdote to captain D;, my informant above alluded to, 'live times in rapid succession, as I advanced at the head of my company; and though (he grape whistled through the air over our heads, for the life of me I could not help smiling at his grotesque, deuii-savage, derni-quaker figure, as he throw back the broad (lap of his castor to obtain fair sight deliberately raised his rilie shut his left eye, and blazed away at us. I verily believe he brought down one of my men at eveh shot.' As the British resolutely advanced, though columns fell like the tall grain before the sickle at the fire of the Americans, this same officer approached at

the head of his brave grenadiers, r.rr.i i I. 1 I . I At

tne roiling ure oi musketry lioni llie

lines of his unseen foes, undanuted an

untouched. 'Advance mv men!' he

shouted, as he reached the ede of th

fosse 'follow me!' and, sword in hand

lie leaped the ditch, and turning, amid;

the roar and name of a hundred mu

kefs, fo encourage his men, beheld to

his surprise but a single, man of his com

pany upon his feet more than fifty

brave fellow s w horn he had so gallantly

leu on to the attack, had been shot down

As he was about to lean back from his

dangerous situation, his sword was shiv

ered in his grasp by a ride ball, and at

the same instant the daring I ennessea:

sprang upon the parapet and leveling

Ins deadly weapon at his breast, calmly

observing: 'Surrender, si ranger or,

may perforate ye '.''Chagrined,' said the officer, at the close of his recital, 'I was

compelled to deliver to (he bold fellow

my mutilated sword, and pass over into

tne American lines. The Sotitu-tcrst, hy a Yankee.

i o

KESPLCTACIL1TY OI' MECHANICS.

The following sentiments, from a high literary source, deserve the attention of

every mechanic of what kind soever.

I hey are said to be from a new work

of the Misses Sedgwick, dedicated to

farmers and mechanics, but which we

have not seen:

"It is certainly a false notion in a dem

ocratic republican, that a law yer has a

ny higher claim to respectability gen

tility, it you please Hum a tanner,

goldsmith, a painter or a builder. It is the fault of the mechanic, if he lakes the place not assigned to him by (he gov

ernment and institutions of his country.

He is of the lower orders, only w hen

he is self degraded by the ignorance

and coarse manners which are associ

ated with manual labor, in countries

where society is divided into castes, and

have therefore come to be considered

inseparable from it. Rely upon it, is is not so. The old barriers are down.

Time has come when ''being mechan

ics," we may appear on "laboring days

as well as holidays, without the "sign

of our profession." Talent and worth

tre the only eternal grounds of distinc

tion, i o these trie Almighty has ailix

ed his everlasting patent of nobility,

and these it is which make bright "the

immortal names to which our children may aspire as well as others. But we

must secure, by our ow n efforts, the el

evations that arc accessible to all.

ItEI.lGIO.Y. Relitrion, whether natural or reveal

ed, has always the same beneficial in

fluence on the heart. In youth, in

lealth and prosperity, it awakens feel

ings of gratitude and sublime love, and purities at the same time that it exalts.

But it is in misfortune, in sickness, and

in age, that its effects arc most truly

and beneficially felt, when submission

in faith and humble trust in the divine

w ill, from duties become pleasures and

sources of consolation. It then creates

powers which were thought to be extinct, and gives freshness to the mind

w Inch was supposed to have passed away forever, but which is now reno

vated as an immortal hope. Then docs it become Pharos, guiding the wave

tossed mariner to his home; or as the

reen and dewy spot gushing with foun

tains to the exhausted and thirsty trav

eler. Its consolations and enjoyments

ecotno stronger as our frame dissolves.

It appears as that evening star, in the hnrizrm of life, which throws is radiance

through the gloom and shadow of death,

tnd which will rise a origin mumms . .1 1

star, to usher us into another anu a

better world.

UEf.'S. the commilfee of the. Konnthr

s County Agricultural Society,nppointed to award premiums on honey, hives of bees, dec. Having entered my name for a premium on honey and cn hives of bees, I will inform you how I have managed them for a few years past. I kept them in boxes my boxes are 13 inches square on the outside, and from six to seven inches high, with thin slats across the top about an inch wide, with

just space enough to let the bees pass Iml I,

wv.ict-ii nu m. r or a young swarm I fasten two boxes together with a board on the top, put in the swarm, and when 1 set them on Ihe bench put under ns many more as I think thc-y will fill a large early swarm will (ill four more. 1 had some this season that filled three in aboutafortnighl, and then swarmed, and the young swarm have filled four

boxes. After my old hives have swarmed once, I usually put under one or more boxes. 1 prefer that course, to Idling Ihcin swarm again, for second swarms aie generally worthless. When the weather becomes cool, if the hive is well filled with honey, the bees will leave the upper Lox, it can then be taken eff without disturbing the bees in the hive. I usually take from my old hives and early swarms one box containing from L20 to 24 lbs., and leave enough for the bees to live on through the winter, or! can take a part, and return the box if I think the remainder is insufficient for them. If my bees grow lazy after the swarming season is over, and hang out on the hive, which is in consequence of the hives being full, I add more boxes. I had a few

small swarms which I have taken up otherwise. I have not destroyed nnv

bees. I have taken up on my own farm

this season, 280 pounds of good honey in the comb, and I own, including those that I have taken up twenty-six hives.

JOHN GILMORE. Leeds, Dec. 1j, 1834.

PCXCTtALITV. President Washington was the most punctual man in the observance of appointments. He delivered his commu

nications to Congress at the opening of

each session in person. He always ap

pointed the hour cf twelve at noon for

this purpose, and he never failed to enter the hall of Congress while the state house was striking that hour. His in

vitations for dinner were always given for four o'clock, P. M. He allowed five

minutes for the variation of time pieces:

and he waited no longer for any one.

Certain lagging members of Congress

sometimes came in when dinner was

nearly half over. The writer has heard

the President say to them with a smile,

Gentlemen, we arc too punctual for

you; I have a cook who never asks

whether the company has come, but whether the hour has come.'

The people of providence, R. I., 'are

contemplating to pass laws that no fe

male have more than six yards of cloth

in each sleeve so says the Winchester

ind Putman Herald.

The law did not pass; the manufac

turers and shop keepers voted it down more than ten to one, and the usual pattern of sixteen yards is still maintained.

1 he proposition now is, to widen the

side walks, and the necessity for this measure is so imperious that it will

irobably pass without opposition.

Fixdino Stoke. A chap from the

'bush," was patrolling the streets of

Boston, a short time since, with a sheet

of gingerbread under his arm, and gazing at the signs, when one which

was labelled "General binding Store,"

attracted his attention. He entered, chewing at his gingerbread, and after

severe ellort at sw allowing, like a hen

ating dough, he exclaimed, I wow!

you must be darned lucky chaps to

find all these here things I spose you

tint found my umbrella nor nothing,

are you?" Xotfulk Advertiser.

Mr. A. Brunson, of Meadville Pa.

ays, from fifteen years' expeiience, lie

finds that an Indian meal poultice: cov

ered over wilh young h)Son lea, softened with hot water, and laid over burns and frozen llesh, as hot as it can be

borne, will relieve the pain in five minutes; that if blisters have not arisen before, they will not after it is put on, and that one poultice is generally sufficient

to effect a cure.

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