The Massachusetts Spy, And Worcester County Advertiser

Worcester:

Wednesday, August 16, 1826.

THE GALLANT COL. PLUCK

Some two or three years since, the Legislature of Pennsylvania passed a law changing the mode of appointing certain militia officers, and making them elective. This gave great umbrage to many of the officers in the city of Philadelphia, who entered into a combination to exhibit what they considered the absurdity of the law in the most ridiculous light. For this purpose, they selected one John Pluck, the ostler of a stable in that city, a person remarkable only for his ignorance and vulgarity; and it was determined he should be a candidate for the office of Colonel. The thing took—it was during the heat of the Presidential contest, and the good people, being mostly Jackson men, had been taught that military achievements were sufficient proof of superior qualifications for the Presidency. By a parity of reasoning they now argued that, as John Pluck would curry a horse better than any other ostler in the city, ergo, he was the most suitable man for the office of Colonel, and his popularity became irresistible. He was consequently elected. Some of those who started the project, now began to think the joke had been carried far enough, and represented the case to the Governor, who refused to issue his commission, and ordered a new election. But it was too late. The popular voice had declared Pluck their favorite—he was again chosen, and the Governor did not think proper any longer to withhold his commission. Thus metamorphosed from "Honest John," the ostler, into "Col. Pluck, of the bloody 84th," our hero was destined to emerge from the obscurity in which he had hitherto been shrouded. It was announced in the papers, that, on a certain day, the Colonel would appear in the field, at the head of his regiment, "armed and equipped as the law directs." The time arrived, and rarely has a day been witnessed in the "city of brotherly love," when curiosity was so highly wrought, or so completely gratified. At the appointed hour the Colonel appeared "mounted on a gallant white charger," properly arrayed, with a chapeau and a sword of such ample dimensions, as well bespoke the superior dignity of their wearer, and a pair of spurs enormous beyond any recorded precedent. The various exploits of the day—the eloquence with which the Colonel addressed his regiment, and his ability in manoeuvring it—the merry faces, and the shouts of the countless thousands who assembled to witness "the sight," would require the pen of a Cervantes to do them justice. Suffice it to say, that the events of that day proved our hero to be as distinguished among the "military chieftains" of the present day, as was the worthy Sancho Panza among the civil rulers of his time, and as deserving of an equally illustrious historian. It is true that, being unused to riding with saddle and stirrups, he occasionally fell from his horse, which the malevolent attributed to the effects of liquor, but his friends all declared such imputations were groundless; and it was remarked that his thick squaddy form shielded him from the dangers usually attending such accidents; and, moreover, that no one could have been less disconcerted by their occurrence. The fame of Col. Pluck soon spread abroad, and brought on him the honors and cares usually attendant on greatness. Invitations to honor other cities with his presence, crowded upon him, among which were several from the "Commercial Emporium" of the Country. The constant care of his stable, however, prevented his noticing them till they were backed by one from his particular friend, Maj. Noah, to whom he had, some time previously, presented his massy spurs. On receipt of his invitation, he forthwith repaired to New-York, where he arrived a few days since, and the event was duly announced in the papers. The number of his visitors is said to have been unprecedented. Such was the curiosity to see him, that arrangements were made for his appearance at the several places of public amusement, the proprietors being well aware that his presence would insure full houses. The following account of his visit to one of them is from the New-York Courier:

Col. Pluck at Vauxhall. - This distinguished chieftain, agreeably to announcement, made his appearance at Vauxhall last evening. At the close of the first part of the concert, preparations were made for his exhibition, by placing three or four small lamps in front of a box which had been once occupied as an orchestra; soon after the gallant commander made his entree, amid the huzzas and congratulations of the audience, who all crowded around him in order to receive some particular mark of attention. Many efforts were made, on the part of the spectators, to induce the Colonel to make a speech, but all without avail; to every complimentary expression, John, like a good natured soul, said nothing, but ever and anon gave his nose a wipe with the back part of his right hand, while with the other he sustained his tremendous torledo; his chapeau-de-bras was highly ornamented with game feathers, horse-trappings, and curtain tassels: a blue trooper's uniform, evidently too small for John, with a brace of epaulettes, which might have put a field-marshal to the blush, were his principal investments. The loud and repeated calls for a speech from the Colonel at length compelled him to rise; but, unfortunately for John, although Pluck by name, he had not pluck enough by nature to carry his design into effect. At length, finding all possibility of escape excluded, without an address, he mustered up courage, and addressed the audience in these words: "Ladies and gentlemen, I am much obliged to you for your company this evening. Good night to you." This was followed by a precipitate retreat through the mob, into his hiding place behind the stage. During Col. Pluck's stay in New-York, he received visitors at his lodgings at 12 cents each, and, it is said, that the landlord realized $100 profits per day from the company which he drew to the house, and that the Col. himself, has returned to Philadelphia with his pockets well lined with money. Such is a brief outline of the public life of Col. JOHN PLUCK. He is now on the highway to preferment, and no one can tell how far he may yet be advanced. Those, however, who profess to be in the secret, declare, when Gen. Jackson shall be chosen President of the United States, and George Kremer Governor of Pennsylvania, that Col. Pluck will be the General's Secretary at war!