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Page 47
"A perilous adventure," observed Warner, as Kinnison concluded his
narrative.
"It was," replied Davenport. "It seems rather strange how Capt. Lee
could so disguise himself and impose upon the enemy. But he knew a thing
or two more than common men, and I shouldn't wonder."
"The British had many useful friends in every part of the country,
during the war, and were enabled to do many such deeds," remarked
Colson.
"Fill up, my friends, another glass of ale, and drink the health of
Capt. Lee!" added Hand, rising. The company filled their glasses and
drank the toast. The veterans were not as deep drinkers as their young
and vigorous friends, and therefore they merely sipped their ale and sat
it aside.
GENERAL DANIEL MORGAN.
"Speaking of brave men," observed Colson, "I suppose there is not one of
the company who will doubt the bravery of Gen. Morgan, the hero of so
many fields."
"The man who does doubt it knows not what courage is," remarked Ransom,
taking another sip of the ale.
"Well, I'm going to tell you something about his bravery," said Colson.
"Men have different ideas of that particular thing."
"This 'thunderbolt of war,' this 'brave Morgan, who never knew fear,'
was, in camp, often wicked and very profane, but never a disbeliever in
religion. He testified that himself. In his latter years General Morgan
professed religion, and united himself with the Presbyterian church in
Winchester, Va., under the pastoral care of the Rev. Dr. Hill, who
preached in that house some forty years, and may now be occasionally
heard on Loudon Street, Winchester. His last days were passed in that
town; and while sinking to the grave, he related to his minister the
experience of his soul. 'People thought,' said he, 'that Daniel Morgan
never prayed;'--'People said old Morgan never was afraid;'--'People did
not know.' He then proceeded to relate in his blunt manner, among many
other things, that the night they stormed Quebec, while waiting in the
darkness and storm, with his men paraded, for the word 'to advance,' he
felt unhappy; the enterprise appeared more than perilous; it seemed to
him that nothing less than a miracle could bring them off safe from an
encounter at such an amazing disadvantage. He stepped aside and kneeled
by the side of a cannon--and then most fervently prayed that the Lord
God Almighty would be his shield and defence, for nothing less than an
almighty arm could protect him. He continued on his knees till the word
passed along the line. He fully believed that his safety during that
night of peril was from the interposition of God. Again, he said, about
the battle of the Cowpens, which covered him with so much glory as a
leader and a soldier--he had felt afraid to fight Tarleton with his
numerous army flushed with success--and that he retreated as long as he
could--till his men complained--and he could go no further. Drawing up
his army in three lines, on the hill side; contemplating the scene--in
the distance the glitter of the advancing enemy--he trembled for the
fate of the day. Going to the woods in the rear, he kneeled in an old
tree-top, and poured out a prayer to God for his army, and for himself,
and for his country. With relieved spirits he returned to the lines,
and in his rough manner cheered them for the fight; as he passed along,
they answered him bravely. The terrible carnage that followed the deadly
aim of his lines decided the victory. In a few moments Tarleton fled.
'Ah,' said he, 'people said old Morgan never feared;'--'they thought
Morgan never prayed; they did not know;'--'old Morgan was often
miserably afraid.' And if he had not been, in the circumstances of
amazing responsibility in which he was placed, how could he have been
brave?"
[Illustration: GENERAL MORGAN.]
"We seldom hear of a man admitting that he was ever afraid," observed
Hand. "But the man who never knew fear must be possessed of a small
degree of intelligence and no sense of responsibility; neither of which
are creditable. Great generals, and soldiers, in all ages, have boasted
of their freedom from dread under all circumstances. But it is a mere
boast. Fear is natural and useful, and I have ever observed that the man
of most fear is the man of most prudence and forecast."
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