"To the sages who spoke to the heroes who bled To the dark days and noble deeds--strike the harpstrings of glory, And the tongue of the eloquent hallow the story. Be that story long told, And on Fame's golden tablets their triumphs enroll❜d, 'Twas for us and our children, to conquer or die, Went a shout through the land, As the rainbow of peace their fair heritage spann'd; They are gone-mighty men' and they sleep in their fame, Keep the theme ever young Let their deeds thro' the long line of ages be sung, CHAPTER XIV. Sometime after the execution of Major Andre, I was again ordered by Colonel Humpton to Van Zandt's.Here was the last place and last time I recollect of seeing Miss Elizabeth, the Colonel's Niece. From Van Zandt's, I was transferred by the orders of the Colonel to Princeton, where I remained until about the close of the year 1780. When the mutiny took place in the Pennsylvania and Jersey lines, although (and as will shortly appear,) I was not of the mutiny party, I claimed a discharge at the hands of Colonel Humpton. I thirsted for a more noble theatre of action in times of high and heaven-approbated duty than that of truckling at the heels of, and to the will and mandate of a woman. This, I state with due deference to the sex, and I think I will be considered as doing so in all sincerity when my readers are informed, (as I intend they shall be,) that I have been many years blessed with the presence and companionship of the fourth woman with whom I have lived in the capacity of husband, for I have had four wives. I had been disappointed in being in many enterprises, skirmishes and battles in which my whole soul was enlisted, and once patriotically fired thus, it was gall to me when I was not suffered to participate in the conquests and the glories pertaining to them. When I claimed a discharge of Colonel Humpton, it was not for the purpose of getting out of the army, and abandoning that post it was glory to me to fill. No! But it was in order that I might get properly into the army and follow its destinies. Notwithstanding I was left by the Colonel with his niece, I was at many military posts. With her I fared very well, I had enough to eat and was better provided for in this respect and for cloathes than I was when in the camp, but a soldier's glory was my delight, even with the pinchings of hunger as its accompaniment. When I claimed a discharge of Colonel Humpton at Princeton, he refused to grant me one, but gave me a furlough to go on to Philadelphia. He had drawn all my pay, a part of which he paid me when he gave me a furlough. This however he refused to do too, until I declared in a peremptory, manner that I would leave him. The Colonel (I may state) had always treated me very well. But in this instance, I believed I had cause to complain, for he had promised me my discharge. This promise he had made to me before the soldiers had gone, but after they had departed he refused it, saying, that I was better in the army than out of it. Had I obtained my discharge, I could and in all probability would have done as thousands did-enlist again. At the instance of Major Greer, after my arrival at Philadelphia I joined (I believe) the 10th Regiment.— Major Greer having tendered me an invitation to come and live with him in the capacity of a waiter, and I being destitute of friends and having but a small sum of money in my possession I readily accepted it, and commenced at once the labours incident to my new department. In a few days after attaching myself to him, we rode up to Carlisle, Pa., where the Major was in attendance at all balls given in Carlisle, Shippensburg, Chambersburg and at other places. I was favored with (as I and others considered) the best horse, and enjoyed myself very well. The Major would attend a ball in Chambersburg on one evening; ride back to Carlisle on the next day, and be in attendance at another on that evening in Carlisle. I was always in the habit of carrying different kinds of liquor at his instance to the room on these occasions, and always had an opportunity of taking my toll, interest or freight-pay before starting with my loads. Apple toddy was a great drink in those days, and I was no way backward in tasting as much as I considered necessary, or it pleased me to drink, my will in this matter was my only sovereign. From Carlisle we were ordered on to Lebanon to join our Regiment. Here I was regularly attached to the regiment in the capacity of fifer. Major Greer complimented and commended me highly upon my performing so well, and when we drew our clothing he carried out his preference for me in his action, for whilst the rest of the young musicians drew their coats of coarse, red cloth, he drew for me a fifer's scarlet coloured fine cloth coat. I was not in the capacity of waiter to Major Greer whilst in Lebanon, except when he went upon fishing excursions, then he was sure to call for me and press me into his service. Whilst we lay at Lebanon, a circumstance transpired worthy of notice, and which I here record as a prelude to the horridly great tragical event, of which the individual now bearing a part was one of the number that was made to suffer the awful penalty annexed to their crimes, if crimes they may be said to have committed. A Sergeant who was known by the appellation of Macaroney Jack, a very intelligent, active, neat and clever fellow had committed some trivial offence. He had his wife with him in camp who always kept him very clean and neat in his appearance, she was washerwoman to a number of soldiers, myself among the number. She was a very well behaved and good conditioned woman. The officers for the purpose of making an impression upon him and to better his conduct, ordered him to be brought from the guard-house, which done, he was tied up and the drummers ordered to give him a certain number of lashes upon his bare back. The intention of the officers was not to chastise him. When he was tied up he looked around and addressed the soldiers, exclaiming at the same time, "dear brother soldiers wont you help me." This in the eyes of the officers savored of mutiny and they called out, "take him down," "take him down." The order was instantly obeyed and he was taken back to the guard-house again and hand-cuffed. At this time there were two deserters confined with him. On the next or second day after this we were ordered on to York, Pa., where upon our arrival we encamped upon the common below the town. Upon our arrival, our three prisoners were confined in York jail. In a few days after we arrived at York, a soldier of the name of Jack Smith, and another soldier whose name I do not now remember, were engaged in playing long bullets. Whilst thus engaged some of the officers were walking along the road, where they were throwing the bullets. The bullets passing near to the officers they used very harsh language to Smith and his comrade, who immediately retorted by using the same kind of indecorous language. A file of men was imme diately despatched with orders to take Smith and his comrade under guard and march them off to York jail." In three or four days after these arrests were made, a Sergeant of the name of Lilly, who was also a very fine fellow and an excellent scholar, so much so, that much of the regimental writing fell to his lot to do, and for which he received a remuneration in some way. This Sergeant having became intoxicated had quarrelled with one or more of his messmates, and upon some of the officers coming around to enquire what the matter was, found him out of his tent. The officers scolded him and bade him to go into his quarters. Lilly having been much in favor and knowing his own abilities and the services rendered, was (although intoxicated) very much wounded, and could not bear to be thus harshly dealt with and used language of an unbecoming kind to his superior officers. The officers immediately ordered him to be taken to York jail. On the next day in the morning we beat up the troop. After roll call we were ordered to beat up the troop again. The whole line was again formed, and I think the orders were, for every soldier to appear in line with his knapsack on his back, I suppose that at this time there were parts of three regiments, in all 800 or 1000 men laying at York, the whole of which was commanded by Colonel Butler. The whole body (sentinels, invalids, &c. excepted,) when formed were marched to the distance of about half a mile from the camp, and there made to stand under arms. Twenty men were then ordered out of the line and formed into marching order and all the musicians placed at their head. After remaining a short time in a marching posture, the order of forward was given. We were then marched direct to the jail, door. The prisoners six in number were then brought out and their sentence (which was death) was read to them. At this time it was thought, that none in the line save the officers knew for what the provo-guard was detached, but it appeared afterwards that previous to the firing |