Whig Procession; Revolution

[Correspondence of the Journal of Commerce.
HARPER’S FERRY, Va., Nov. 1st, 1845.

I spoke in my last of the village of Charlestown, lying between this place and Winchester. A curious fact occurred at that place the other day, which is worth relating. A Whig procession was expected to pass through the village, which is pretty well stocked with Loco Focos, and listening to evil counsel, the Locos stretched a rope across the street, the almost certain effect of which would be to bring on a general battle, since the one party was as determined to accomplish, as the other was to resist its progress. At this juncture when danger thickened, and when neither party seemed inclined to recede– the Whigs advancing, and the Democrats muttering defiance, a happy thought struck the bosom of a young lady, who, in the gentleness of her nature, could ill endure to see brethren fall out by the way. She resolved to be– not exactly a mediator in the full moral sense of the term, but at any rate to interpose her kind offices in such way as to extinguish the kindling flames of party spirit, and to remove the difficulty, which was every moment becoming more formidable. To do this in the way of her own invention, required a resoluteness of purpose not always found in the sex. But the Virginia maiden was equal to the emergency, which demanded so much decision and energy. She seized a suitable instrument, ascended to the window, near which the end of the rope was fastened, and cut asunder the obnoxious strands, which were likely to be the bone of such serious contention! A happier expedient could not have been devised. The parties were at a loss which most to admire– the ingenuity or the boldness of the undertaking. The success was complete. The way was clear. Who would dare to lay a rude hand on the courageous girl? Who could doubt the purity of her motives? Who felt not that her very weakness was her protection? The sterner sex were subdued by the heroism of the act. And now you have anticipated the question, to which party did she belong? Did she belong to any?– Have you anticipated the answer? The Virginia girl was a sterling WHIG. Is she not worthy of the laurel? Was not that cutting the Gordian-rope?

In my last I spoke of Morgan, the gallant revolutionary war officer. Many facts and anecdotes may be gathered from his friends in Winchester, young while he yet lived, but now in the decline of life. The General used to relate the manner of the death of the gallant Frazer, so conspicuous in the British ranks at the battle of Saratoga. While the action was raging, and the issue seemed doubtful. Morgan observed to his men that nothing effectual could be done to turn the fortune of the day, until that officer (pointing to a British officer mounted and urging the battle with great skill and energy wherever he appeared) was laid low. “He is a brave fellow,” said Morgan, “but if he is allowed to conduct his affairs much longer in that style, it’s very likely we shall have to lay down our arms.” He then selected twelve of the best riflemen, and ordered them into a position favorable to his object, with instructions to clear the field of that dangerous enemy The consequence was that the officer soon fell under the sure and deadly aim of those men, who did such execution with their rifles in the ranks of the enemy. The victory was gained. Col. Willoughby Morgan, a distinguished officer in the last war, was a son of Gen. Morgan.