Camden gazette and mercantile advertiser. (Camden, S.C.) 1818-1822, July 08, 1819, Image 4
PO ETRY.
From the Srattleborou^h (Vt.) Reporter,
PARAPHASE OF THE 137th PSALM.
WHERE the cold flood of Bal*el rolls,
And sweeps along its heathen shores?
There mighty sorrows fill'd our Souls,
That Zion's spires were seen no more.
Remembrance wak*d the silent tear,
While far away she sped her flight*
And hoverM o'ei^lhat land so ?leav,
Now veil'd in dark oblivion's night.
Our harps, oft tun'd to heavenly lays,
On dreary willows silent hung;
Once they coul^^ant Jehovah's praise,
And strike tlM? strains which angels
sung. -
The heathen cry, Come, raise that song,
So often heard on Judah's plain!
O, can we, in this land ot wrong, i
Wake sorrows harp to Zion's strain ?
0 lovely ruins, beauteous piles!
While years their courses wheel away,
V- hile heaven's high arch in beauty smiles,
Our souls shall m4pfn your falling dajd
When fainting on this captive shore,
And sinking in the shades of death,
Still Zion's downfall we'll deplore,
? And speak her name with dying breath.
*
Forever shall her image rise,
? And dwell in fancy's mid-dav beam,
?Or when night's mantle veils the skies*
^ thiuugh the sullen darkness gttiam.
p God ! who rolls the wrathful cloud,
? And wakes the angry lightning's flame >
J^Jast with thy ttorm the impious proud,
Who dare defy the Eternal name !
Let war's dr^ar tempest waste their land,
-And raise* the wall above the dead |M
w1'Cy fthal1 know ,hc av*nS?r,? hand,
When desolations round them spread !
BA*D OF THE MOUNTAINS*
miscellaneous.
Extract from Dr. Caldwell's Me
moien of the life of Gen. Greene.
[This work, on the eve of issuing from the
press will doubtless possess a high de
gree of interest. We owe to the polite
? ness of the author, the permiauon to
make the following extract.]?.rfnafcerte
Magazine
Battle of Ram*aour>s Mill.
Equally, perhaps, unknown, to
more of the inhabitants, and singu
larly neglected in the history of our
country, is another very gallant par
tizan adventure achieved on the ?3d
of June, 1780. Neither American
regulars, nor llritish soldier;) having
any concern in this spirited aflhir. it
was fought entirely by raw militia
Iben, of the whig and tory parties.
About twelve hundred of tiie latter,
saving assembled under Ihe com
mand of Col. Moore, encamped in n
?trong position at Itamsaour's Mills,
k few miles westward from the Ca
tawba river, and in Hie vicinit> of the
line which separates North from
South Carolina. In which of th?
two States the encampment wae situ*
?ted, is not at present distinctly re
collected, although the writer of this
narrative has been frequently on tbe
?pot. ,
In addition to rapine, and the pro
duction of general distress, a favorite
object of the party was to overawe
an 1 weaken tbo adjacent country, by
capturing and carrying within the
British lines, a number of its most in
fill1 ntial inhabitants. Besides being
thus prevented from taking a lead in
active measures of resislauce, these
were to he held as hostages for die
good couduct and neutrality of their
friends.
1 <? defeat the mischievous purpos
es of this party, and to dislodge tliero
fl ora wCir strong hold. Die most spir
ited W the Whigs from Iredel, a
neighboring county, assembled to the
amount ot three hundred men, undei
the command of Col. Locke. These
Co,;- ,R.,i principally of foot} but in
Pari, ot small corps of mounted in
fancy, ..t ned with rifles, pistols an.i
t'apt. Kills, Ml nfi'iMM
ol peculiar gallantry and worth.
The hasty lew of soldiers, pre
<::oitictr?; interest
i.rv ,? iresh tioui their
tti'- i \>: i \ \U habits unbroken,
t?i concert of action
wotig them, ju?d nil V eir domestic
?..Tm^s clinging around their hearts.
They were in tlie true sense of the
expression, a baud of friends and
neighbors, heiii? all from the same
settlement, ntu! perfectly known to
f*:?ch other in private life. In the
* hote party there w as not an indi
v'dual who had not repeatedly united
.vith the others, in rural sport aud
social eiyoyment. As citizens, they
were all of the same rank, and all
respectable* They were masters of
the soil they had assembled to defend.
Of this corps of patriots, the mili
tary prowess was* entirely untried ;
not one of them, with the exception
of Capt Falls, having ever confront
ed an enemy in the field. Their on
ly warlike acquirement, was great
experience and skill in the use of ilic i
rifle. In that qualification they hadj
few superiors.
Being all dressed in their common
apparel, they exhibited no uniformi
ty of appearance. To remedy this,
and to distinguish them from thfe to
ries, who were known to be dressed
in the same nfray, they fastened over
the crowns of their hats, from back to
front, descending to the rims on each
side, strips of white pa|>er, about two
inches broad. Bach one brought to
the place of rendezvous his own rifle,
fifty rouuds of powder and ball, a
week's provision, and a li^ht blanket,
-?That they might lie perfectly unen
cumbered, neither Itaggage waggon
nor pack horse was attached to the
party*
Thus accoutred, eaget fot- battle
and panting for glory, without wait
ing for a considerable force that wa?
assembling in Rowan, a neighboring
country, under General Rntheford,
to join them, they moved in haste and
silence towards the scene of action.
The second day's march brought
them to the immediate vicinity of
their object* They encamped for the
nighty determined to strike, am) hop
ing to surprize the enemy hi the
morning. But in this they were dis
appointed*
On advancing to the attack, about
break of day* they found the foe on
the alert, and ready to receive them.
1?They therefore resolved to wall
until it should be completely light,
that the aim of their rifles ought be
the more deadly.
The morning opening, disclosed
to them a preparation for defence ami
resistance, much more formidable,
than they expected to ftnd. The)
enemy were [Misted on the top of a
hill, covered w ith timber* which af
forded them a shelter. Their flanks
were protected on one side by a mill
ilaiis and on the other by a swamp,
a small stream of water flowing in the
rear, in front of their encampment,
was erected, of stake and bru .liwood,|
a breastwork so compact, as to be
proof against small arms, and to im
pede, in a great measure, the opera
tion of cavalry. A strong detach
ment of the foe was stationed in ad
vance of the breast work, armed with
rifles and concealed behind trees.
At first sight the array of men and
means was somewhat appalling. But
the Kubicorn was passed, retreat
would be rein, accompanied with dis
grace. Battle might also be tuinous,
'but could not be dishonorable.?
Without flotation, therefore, the lat
ter wa? r??olved on.
At his own request, Captain Falls
with his mounted infantry led the at
tack. When at the distance of about,
eighty pnees, lie received the fire of]
tkie enemy's advance. Returning
this with considerable effect, be rush-,
ed Sword in hand into the midst of]
them, threw them into confusion, and
forced them to fall back, pressing his
fortune with too much ardor, he re
ceived a hall through his breast, and
it It d -ad from his liorse. ,
H? i party, however, undismayed
by the loss their leader, continued
the action with great ^aiiantry, un'il
ti*;* foot tadvaneed to their support,
jiv. e,? the enemy was drireu bemiiil
jhu breastwork.
H6T6 ensued a most murderous
couflict. rhe whigs having .0 tar
jevelled the obstruction as to vernier
it passable, rushe*. over it, mingled
with the enemy, and in uiany instan
ces, grappled with them man to man.
livery instrument and mean ofdeatb
was now resorted to. The bullet,
the sword, the rifle butt, and even the
-hatchet, with which some were pro
vided, were abundantly employed.
Uarely m any case has blood been
more inexorably, or by the tame
numberofcombatants, more prodi
gally shed. 1
For a time the brae was doubtful.
L^ssnU by superior numbers, the
whigs were once compelled to give
ground: some of them retreating
across the breastwork. But resolute
ly (>a *>ctoty or death, they re.
turned to the charge with such fierce
impetuosity, and decisive effect, as
bore down, all resistance.
The tories broke, and in confusion,
the whigs for some distance banging
f00"** with terrible slaughter
| Thus terminated an affair, in which
so many gallant spirits made their
?r?t, and too many of them, alas!
their last essay in arms. In the
course of the whigs performed
prodigies; and the royalists mani
fested a degree of valor and courage,
worthy of a better cause.
. J'" letter lost in killed wounded
and prisoners, upwards of six hun
dred men. rhe prisoners and
wounded were paroled, and liberated
on the field of battle.
The numerical loss of the former
was exceedingly heavy, nearly half
of them being killed or wounded.
out the actual loss, which consisted
in the character, rather than in the
number of those that fell, was incal
culable. On that fetal day, some of
the choicest blood of the south was
heroically offered on the altar of free
dom. ?;
The death_oLCapL Falls, in par
ticular, was deeply lamented. In
the ranks of his country he did not
leave behind him ? purer patriot, or
a mote gallant soldier.
"** a?) a youth of fourteen, had
atxompanied him to the battle,
When the Captain fell, this high
minded stripling, moved by an m
?tjnctive impulse of affection, sprang
from his horse to embrace the .bodv.
and protect it from insult. One of
the enemy, believed to be the
that shot Capt. Palls, advancing with
? view to plunder the corpse, the son,
suddenly snatching the sword of the
Plunged it into the bosom
of the mirauder, and thus at once
pumsbedaudacity.and nobly reveng
ed his father7* death. 6
80 deadly was the aim of the to?
nnemen, at the commencement of the
action, before the somke of their own
?re bad obstructed their view, that
b?ny of (beta placed their balls in
the lower end of the strips of paper
1 rck the whigs wore over the
[crowns of their bats, every shot of this
ascription, passing through the
? wm instantly fatal.
raffMt THE SAVANNAS ??01?1AN.
WjfflEdUor,. \'
If the following correspondence
between an Irishman and wife in
Ireland, can in your opinion, afford
to vour readers any amusement, 1
shall from time to time continue it.
X. Y. 2.
MRS. JUDY O'DRISCOLL.
My Demt Judy%
Before 1 begin this letter at all 1
will be after telling you that 1 am a*
live, which 1 hope youti be when you
jieceivethis; and if it is a thing that
you are not let me know, that 1 may
write no move and so save postage.
1 landed in this city two days be
fore 1 arrived, and to be sure 1 was,
bothered to find myself at home in n \
strange country wherfe every body!
knew me ; even people 1 never saw,
swore so to my face. Now I'll be;
after giving you a little bit of a histo
ry of this aueer place, called Savan
nah ; this land of liberty as they call
it?where children are free before
they are bom.?Well then, myhoney,
this isalarge town with not very ninny
houses in it, but what is the same
thing a great many chimnies; for you
see, tbe bouses were frightened some
time ago at ti fire that was her?, an*1
run away, but they left the chimnic
star,dins; to I e responsible for tl.r.i
'coming back again. The houses heie
are much the same as in Cork, but
that the brick part of the m is made of
wood, ami (hat they are slated with
shingles. They are also pretty uni
form, being built both sides ot the
middle of the street. This tow n and
[the country around it is full of majors,
colonels and captains; in fact, every
private man is a captain, or colonel
at least. . I expect they will be after
making me one soon. If so I'll let yen
^ow you have yourself called
business now I have no time finish
this letter; but must conclude your
very loving husband,
? PatrickJ^Dkiscou,.
P. S. I send two letters by this
ship least one shoutd~miscarry if the
ship should be lost.
Clenderdufty, Near Cork.
JUu Dear Pat,
I received your letter four davs be
fore it came to hand, and long before
I opened it the contents were neer
throwing me into hushterrick .fits, to
think of hearing you were well even
before I had any account from you.
Pb,*Padd^, you ffould laugh till you
could cry the guts out of you, to see
the lemoncholy state of imhw Ireland ;
nor can it be mendeu, unless the
people become united as they are in
America, as the )>arson tells me, for
you see all Ireland is of one way of
thinking?except those who differ
from us, and them they call ihe Or
ange boys, and faith, very bitter or
au-es they are,imtl am sure all the
world know s they are not sevil ones.
Most of the women in Ireland are
united Irishmen : yes, aud children
too before they are able to s|>eak a
word, say damn the king in Irish.
All our neighbors living now and has
not left the place, are either shot,
hanged or transited; in fact there
is nothing but bloodshed and battery
all around us, and this all owing to
the bloody hacks, or red coats, as you
call them, who commit depredations
on man, woman and child, burning
and destroying all that comes after
them ; and though we have not
Tarleton as you had in America, we
have Lutrell the traitor-?bad luck to
him; they call him Karl Crampton
?devil cramp him; be is a sore sight
to them who never taw him. .He
burned poor Uadd's distillery at the
Glyn, last ni^ht, and the devils get,
as he is nothing else, took out the
children, ordered the pipe to play up
God save the king, and maile them
dance to the tune while their father's
house was burning and the property!
destroying.?Paddy,^fiaT rto^yon
think of this? Well* they did worse,
the night before?they went to Owen
Dtmieen's house at Pool nam utk,
took out three of his sons, Larry,
Bryan and Roger, and, you know
what aonsy boys they were, shot them
before their own door without judge
or jury, went in and used Catty, their
sister, in a worse manner, and a finer
girl never ste^d in a brouge. Well,
they even done w orse than that a few
nights before?they burned and de
stroyed your own cabin.?111 tell you
how it hap|>ened, although I am pale
in the face with blushing, nor would
I venture to tell yon, but that you of
ten told me I was a chaste ap Helen
of Greece, Queen Bess, or even the
Empress of Russia. But as parson
O;0ogberty says, de mortuis nil nisi
bonum, that is, when women are bad
stone them. VY ell, this is the way
it happened One evening in comes
a big soger; he called himself a gren
adier or a grand deer 1 don't knou
which; but faith, be was neer making
a buck of you, or as the parson says,
antlerizing or cornuting yog?Just in
the minute of danger 1 called on 8t.
Patrick to help roe, and my prayers
were heard, for 4>efore the first word
was out of my mouth, in comes parson
O'Dogherty, and you know he can
box other things as well as the pulpit
?so without saying by your leave
or any thing else, he let fly a fist full1
of fingers at him, and in ihree strokes
left him sprawling on - he ground lik*1
Dennis Gajlahar's old sow ; we h i
him for dead. But he took ad van
tftje of the parser* cr.J T, wl.cn wis,
v rr* w .mi v.* i ] ulitig on n lt-u^iou*
^ot uj> uiid tun to 1 !;e camp of
; R.iUkurah, brought thousands with
I him ?n<l Iwrned our poor cabbin ; ami
* the devil a eh roney they left standing
as they do iii your town, so there is no
hopes uf the house ever coming back
again. But I thought none of the
usage they ?ave the poor dear parson
?they stripped and tied him up,
tho' he would melt the most tender
heart that ever w as with all the fine
outlandish words he made use of?I.
j am suffering he would say, pro pub*
lico bono,?that was I suppose, they
I were cutting hira to the bone. O
tempora ! O mores ; keep your tem
per and give me ease. Hen ! me
miserum ! Hugh give me some rum,
jSumniuin bonum^ give me some
{bone. Omnia vanitas?I'll take an
fiberglass;" but the last word the
I dear man snoke just as he got the
I thirty-nine lashes was?sic transit
I gloria mundi-?that is w e are here to
I day and gone a Sunday.? He fainted
I in my arm9 and would ba^e died,
I but 1 had a cordial in my pocket that
I revived him. I could tell you a thou*
Isand such facta aa this, but must de
fer it for another letter. Lrt me
I know if you are made a captain of -
I vet, that I nay ha?e myself called
I Lady O'Driscoll, then yon know 1
I w ould have the uppermost hand of
I the parsou's w ife in all public places,
I w hick 1 long since have had in j>ri
I vate; and faith the parson seems to
like me on yocnr account even as well
as his own wife. He advises you
to stay where you are and not return;
lor if you do says he (nemo mortalium
I omnibus horis sapit) this is, no wise
man w ould work in a sand pit. 1 woukl
I w rite longer, but tbe. parson and I a ret
I going to dispute on a religious pAfa
I Adieu?Be as virtuous to me as 1 avI
I to you. Head Joseph Andrews*?
there is an example of chastity in a
man for yoo. 1 remain your tender^*
chaste, and loving wife.
JUDY O'DRISCOIX.
Infidelity counteracted by its ovtn toenfixenK
At the time when infidelity way
making enormous strides in Europe,
one mode was adopted for its pro*
mutation; short extracts from tfie
writings of Voltaire and the rest of
the literary banditti of his day we ret
printed and disseminated amongst tbo
lower order of the people. Religion
was thus with incredible industiy*
exposed to popular scorn and con
tempt. Infidelity became fashionabkl
in that mass of population, in wlticli
ibe physical strength of a kingdom
resides.? This hint furnished by an
abandoned set of philosophical atbe^
4s|8t was the occasion of all thos<3
tract societies now extending in evety
part of the Christian world. Re
ligion fights infidelity with its own
weapons?little indeed did those
atheistical philosophers imagine, thai
they were by the very efforts thqp
were making iqr the' abolition' of
Christianity, contributing to the still
further extension of the word of dt#
vine truth.
All this has been brought about id
a few revolving years. There id
scarce any occurrence that ?hews
more forcibly thaa this, the stipliin*
tending and controling ban* of a
(iod. How many Christians t*em?
bled, when they beheld the proitail*
gation of infidelity, little dreaming
at the same time, that all thia waa
preliminary to the triomphanjt ad*
vances of the standard of out Re
deemer, in places where before waa
never heard the sound of the silver
trumpet of salvation; another re*
mark arising from the subject, U this^
that the real Christian, when he be*
holds the advance of infidelity, baa*
no occasion with such an example bcK
fore bis eyes to feel despoudt:iice?.
The darkness by which he is sur
rounded, ma) be only preparattiay to*
the lull blaze of gospel day; it may
be the season when the morning star
will beginN to sparkle ufKiu the.
Si.adows. The times and neason^
fur the display o! divine ven^jeence,.
are under the control of th t saino*
Almighty hand, that cotn|>f li *d . the
disciples ol V oiiuire to beconv ?? mM?l
untni v agmts .01 the promt tiguiiou
of the Gospel.? AjttU. Jiorri.