*.-* .*_**! fV__ &&£ Ml £EiERA 1KB COM1V10D0|t|ARMYANDN^VY am> IS:.- EM'GKAVlH'ftS «2 -.1 *"t*S< swraa !El__fl _*»H'<^_8_3 * . Wm mm m rmw fc3» Cx. *V JllUi-illl_JIIIJt-«l»U<»UI«_M YALE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY MEMOIRS or THE GENEKALS, C0MM0D0EES, AND OTHER COMMANDERS, WHO DISTINGUISHED THEMSELVES IN THE AMERICAN ARMY AND NAVY DURING THE WARS OF THE REVOLUTION AND 1812, WHO WERE PRESENTED WITH MEDALS BY CONGRESS, FOR THEIR GALLANT SERVICES. BY THOMAS WYATT, A.M., AUTHOR OF THE " KINGS OF FRANCE, " ETC. ETC. ILLUSTEATED BY EIGHTY-TWO ENGRAVINGS ON STEEL FROM THE ORIGINAL MEDALS. PHILADELPHIA: PUBLISHED BY CAREY AND HART. MDCCCXLVIII. Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1847, by CAREY AND HART, In the office of the Clerk of the District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. 0/S/ A_3^4_3 m T. K. & P. G. COLLINS, PRINTERS, No. 1, Lodge Alley. PREFACE. Americans, proud of the achievements of their country men, who in the field of honor have fought with superior valor for the independence or glory of their native land, will look with complacency on the decisive stamp of nationality which a work of this kind necessarily possesses ; while it is equally true, that the world will find, in the circumstances of the age, or period of the gallant deeds when liberty was so nobly asserted, and when the invincibility of the proud " mis tress of the seas" was so successfully contested, a bright page of history on which our national pride may justly dwell. Here, as in " Old Rome," where the public honors are open to the virtue of every citizen, the lives of those heroes who have been distinguished by their country's highest rewards, will develop virtuous deeds, heroic exertions and patriotic efforts, when all now commemorated shall be no more. Nor is it difficult to predict, that a like high pre-eminence of vir tue and of public services will long perpetuate the glorious IV PREFACE. annals of America. It has appeared to us that there has been no publication in which, the illustrious commanders of our two wars, who have been signalized by the presentation of gold medals, &c, have been singled out, and their lives illus trated in connection with graphic delineations of the beauti ful and glorious emblems of their country's gratitude. This work is now offered to the public as a text-book of men who have sealed their patriotic devotion with wounds and scars, as well as of historical incidents sacred to patriotism. Our plan admits of none of the embellishments of romance ; on the contrary it confines itself to the simple facts as they really were, giving to each commander that share of bravery and virtue which his country has thought proper to signalize by the medals, &o, awarded him. The biographical scope we take admits only of the relation of the principal events of their lives, more particularly in the department in which they rose to fame, and we have endeavored to do our part with all the accuracy that conciseness will allow ; leaving to others to give more finished and full-sized portraits, which, in judicious hands, may be the more entertaining and instructive, as they are more in detail. We trust, however, though aware it may not be possible to avoid some error, or to satisfy every expectation, that from the efforts we have made, and the scrupulous impartiality we have endeavored to observe, as well as on account of the authentic materials which have been kindly furnished us, we shall be found to have been successful in our attempt to aid in the perpetuation of the fame of men so well entitled to lasting celebrity, and to the gratitude of posterity. PREFACE. V We acknowledge our indebtedness to former historians and biographers ; but, in a greater degree, we have to thank those officers now living who have so kindly supplied us with facts drawn from their own private papers, &c. We have also to return our most grateful acknowledgments to the representa tives of the illustrious dead who have so cheerfully contributed to our materials. In conclusion, it is hoped that they, and the public, will dwell with pleasure and satisfaction on these pages. THE AUTHOR. CONTENTS. PAGE GEN. GEORGE WASHINGTON. - 0 GEN. ANTHONY WAYNE, - 17 MAJ. JOHN STEWART, - 40 LIEUT. COLONEL DE FLEURY, - 42 MAJ. ANDRE, CAPTURE OF, 48 GEN. NATHANIEL GREENE, 52 GEN. HORATIO GATES, - 59 GEN. DANIEL MORGAN, 63 COL. EAGER HOWARD, 70 COL. WILLIAM A. WASHINGTON, 79 MAJ. HENRY LEE, 84 GEN. WINFIELD SCOTT, - 89 GEN. EDMUND P. GAINES, - 101 GEN. JAMES MILLER, 113 MAJ.GENERAL JACOB BROWN, - - 129 MAJ.-GENERAL RIPLEY, 135 GEN. PETER B. PORTER, - 147 GEN. ALEXANDER MACOMB, - 151 GEN. ANDREW JACKSON, - - 160 GEN. ISAAC SHELBY, 164 VUI CONTENTS. TAGE GEN. WM. HENRY HARRISON, - 175 LIEUT.-COLONEL CROGHAN, 181 PAUL JONES, - - 186 CAPT. THOMAS TRUXTUN, - - 193 COM. EDWARD PREBLE, - - 202 CAPT. ISAAC HULL, - 206 CAPT. JACOB JONES, - 214 CAPT. STEPHEN DECATUR, - 222 COM. BAINBRIDGE, ¦ - 229 OLIVER HAZARD PERRY, 236 COM. ELLIOTT, - 241 LIEUT. WILLIAM BURROWS, - - 249 LIEUT. EDWARD R. McCALL, - 257 CAPT. JAMES LAWRENCE, - - 261 CAPT. THOMAS MACDONOUGH, - 270 CAPT. ROBERT HENLEY, 278 CAPT. STEPHEN CASSIN, 281 COM. WARRINGTON, - - 285 CAPT. JOHNSTON BLAKELEY, 289 CAPT. CHARLES STEWART, - 297 CAPT. JAMES BIDDLE, - - 307 GEN. GEORGE WASHINGTON. Among those patriots who have a claim to our veneration, George Washington claims a conspicuous place in the first rank. The ancestors of this extraordinary man were among the first settlers in America ; they had emigrated from Eng land, and settled in Westmoreland county, Virginia. George Washington, the subject of these memoirs, was born on the 22d February, 1732. At the time our hero was born, all the planters throughout this county were his relations— hence his youthful years glided away in all the pleasing gayety of social friendship. In the tenth year of his age he lost an excellent father, who died in 1742, and the patrimonial estate devolved to an elder brother. This young gentleman had been an officer in the colonial troops, sent in the expedition against Carthagena. On his return, he called the family mansion Mount Vernon, in honor of the British admiral with whom he sailed. George Washington, when only fifteen years of age, ardent to serve his country, then at war with France and Spain, solicited the post of midshipman in the British navy, but the interference of a fond mother suspended, and for ever diverted him from 2 10 GENERAL GEORGE WASHINGTON. the navy. His devoted parent lived to see him acquire higher honors than he ever could have obtained as a naval officer ; but elevated to the first offices, both civil and military, in the gift of his country. She, from long established habits, would often regret the side her son had taken in the controversy between her king and her country. The first proof that he gave of his propensity to arms, was in the year 1751, when the office of adjutant-general of the Virginia militia became vacant by the death of his brother, and Mount Vernon, with other estates, came into his possession. Washington, in his twentieth year, was made major of one of the militia corps of Virginia. The population made it expedient to form three divisions. When he was but just twenty-one, he was em ployed by the government of his native colony, in an enter prise which required the prudence of age as well as the vigor of youth. In the year 1753, the encroachments of the French upon the western boundaries of the British colonies, excited such general alarm in Virginia, that Governor Dinwiddi de puted Washington to ascertain the truth of these rumors ; he also was empowered to enter into a treaty with the Indians, and remonstrate with the French upon their proceedings. On his arrival at the back settlements, he found the colo nists in a very unhappy situation, from the depredations of the Indians, who were incessantly instigated by the French to the commission of continual aggressions. He found that the French had actually established posts within the bounda ries of Virginia. Washington strongly remonstrated against such acts of hostility, and in the name of his executive, warned the French to desist from those incursions. On his return, his report to the governor was published, and evinced that he had performed this honorable mission with great prudence. It was in consequence of the French calling themselves the first European discoverers of the river Mississippi, that GENERAL GEORGE WASHINGTON. 11 made them claim all that immense region, whose waters run into that river. They were proceeding to erect a chain of posts from Canada to the Ohio river, thereby connecting Canada with Louisiana, and limiting the English colonies to the east of the Alleghany mountains. The French were too intent on their favorite project of extending their domain in America, to be diverted from it by the remonstrances of a colonial governor. This induced the Assembly of Virginia to raise a regiment of three hundred men to defend their frontiers and maintain the right claimed by their king. Of this regiment, Professor Fry, of William and Mary College, was appointed colonel, and George Washington lieutenant-colonel. Fry died soon after the regiment was embodied, and was succeeded by our hero, who paid unremit ting attention to the discipline of his new corps. The latter advanced with his regiment as far as Great Meadows, where he received intelligence, by the return of his scouts whom he had sent on to reconnoiter, that the enemy had built a fort, and stationed a large garrison at Duquesne, now Pittsburgh. Having now arrived within fifty miles of the French post, Washington held a council of war with the other officers, but while they were deliberating, a detachment of the French came in sight and obliged them to retreat to a savanna called the Green Meadows. On an eminence in the savanna they began to erect a small fortification, which he named Fort Necessity. On this redoubt they raised two field-pieces. On the fol lowing day they were joined by Captain McKay, with a company of regulars, amounting now to about four hundred men. Scarcely had they finished their entrenchments when an advanced guard of the French appeared in sight, at which the Americans sallied forth, attacked and defeated them ; but 12 GENERAL GEORGE WASHINGTON. the , main body of the enemy, amounting to fifteen hundred men, compelled them to retire to their fort. The camp was now closely invested, and the Americans suffered severely from the grape shot of the enemy, and the Indian rifles. Washington, however, defended the works with such skill and bravery, that the besiegers were unable to force the entrenchments. After a conflict of ten hours, in which one hundred and fifty of the Americans were killed and wounded, they were obliged to capitulate. They were permitted to march out with the honors of war, to retain their arms and baggage, and to march unmolested into the inhabited parts of Virginia. The legislature of Virginia, impressed with a high sense of the bravery of our young officer, voted their thanks to him and the officers under his command, and three hundred pistoles to be distributed among the soldiers engaged in this action. Great Britain now began to think seriously of these con troversies, and accordingly dispatched two regiments of veteran soldiers from Ireland,- commanded by General Brad- dock. These arrived early in 1755, and their commander, being informed of the talents and bravery of George Wash ington, invited him to serve in -the campaign as his aid-de camp. The invitation was joyfully accepted by Washington, who joined General Braddock near Alexandria, and proceeded to Fort Cumberland ; here they were detained, waiting for pro visions, horses, wagons, &c, until the 12th of June. Wash ington had recommended the use of pack horses, instead of wagons, for conveying the baggage of the army. Braddock soon saw the propriety of it and adopted it. The state of the country, at this period, often obliged them to halt to level the road, and to build bridges over inconsiderable brooks. They consumed four days in traveling over the first nineteen miles. GENERAL GEORGE WASHINGTON. 13 On the 9th of July they reached the Monongahela, within a few miles of Fort Duquesne, and pressing forward, without any apprehension of danger, a dreadful conflict ensued ; the army was suddenly attacked in an open road, thick set with grass. An invisible enemy, consisting of French and Indians, commenced a heavy and well directed fire on the uncovered troops. The van fell back on the main body, and the whole was thrown into disorder. Marksmen leveled their pieces particularly at the officers and others on horseback. In a short time, Washington was the only aid-de-camp left alive and not wounded. On him, therefore, devolved the whole duty of carrying the general's orders. He was, of course, obliged to be constantly in motion, traversing the field of battle on horseback in alL directions. He had two horses shot under him, and four bullets passed through his coat, but he escaped unhurt, though every other officer on horseback was either killed or wounded. , The battle lasted three hours, in the course of which General Braddock had three horses shot under him, and finally received a wound, of which he died soon after the action was over. On the fall of Braddock, his troops gave way in all directions, and could not be rallied till they had crossed the Monongahela. The Indians, allured by plunder, did not pursue. The vanquished regulars soon fell back to Dunbar's camp, from which, after destroying such of the stores as they could spare, retired to Philadelphia. Washington had cautioned the gallant but unfortunate general in vain ; his ardent desire of conquest made him deaf to the voice of prudence ; he saw his error when too late, and bravely perished in his endeavors to save the division from destruction. Amid the carnage, the presence of mind and abilities of Washington were conspicuous; he rallied the troops, and, at the head of a corps of grenadiers, covered the 14 GENERAL GEORGE WASHINGTON. rear of the division, and secured their retreat over the ford of Monongahela. Kind Providence preserved him for great and nobler ser vices. Soon after this transaction, the regulation of rank, which had justly been considered as a grievance by the colo nial officers, was changed in consequence of a spirited remon strance of Washington; and the governor of Virginia re warded this brave young officer with the command of all the troops of that colony. The troops under his command were gradually inured in that most difficult kind of warfare called bush-fighting, while the activity of the French and ferocity of the Indians were overcome by his superior valor. Washington received the most flattering marks of public approbation ; but his best reward was the consciousness of his own integrity. In the course of this decisive campaign, which restored the tranquillity and security of the middle colonies, Washington had suffered many hardships which impaired his health. He was afflicted with an inveterate pulmonary complaint, and extremely debilitated, insomuch that, in the year 1759, he resigned his commission and retired to Mount Vernon. By a due attention to regimen, in the quiet bowers of Mount Vernon, he gradually recovered from his indisposition. During the tedious period of his convalescence, the British troops had been victorious ; his country had no more occasion for the exertion of his military talents. In 1761, he married the young widow of Colonel Custis, who had left her sole executrix to his extensive possessions, and guardian to his two children. The union of Washington with this accom plished lady was productive of their mutual felicity ; and as he incessantly pursued agricultural improvements, his taste embellished and enriched the fertile fields around Mount Ver non. But the time was approaching when Washington was GENERAL GEORGE WASHINGTON. 15 to relinquish the happiness of his home to act a conspicuous part on the great theatre of the world. For more than ten years had the colonies and their mother country been at variance from causes of usurpation and tyranny, and the awful moment was fast approaching when America, was to throw off her fetters and proclaim herself free. In 1775, Washington was elected commander-in-chief of the whole American army. The American army were, at the time of this appointment, entrenched on Winter Hill, Prospect Hill and Roxbury, Massachusetts, communicating with each other by small posts, over a distance of ten miles ; the head-quarters of the American army was at Cambridge, while the British were entrenched on Bunker's Hill, defended by three floating batteries on Mystic river below. Washington having now arrived at the army, which con sisted of fourteen thousand, he was determined to bring the enemy to an alternative, either to evacuate Boston, or risk an action. General Howe, the British commander, preferred the latter, and ordered three thousand men to fall down the river to the castle, to prepare for the attack, but during their pre parations, they were dispersed by a storm ; which so disabled them for their intended attack, that they at last resolved to evacuate the town. Washington, not wishing to embarrass the British troops in their proposed evacuation, detached part of his army to New York, to complete the fortifications there ; and with the re mainder, took peaceable possession of Boston, amid the hearty congratulations of the inhabitants, who hailed him as their deliverer. When the Americans took possession of Boston, they found a multitude of valuable articles, which were unavoidably left by the British army, such as artillery, ammunition, many 16 GENERAL GEORGE WASHINGTON. woolens and linens, of which the American army stood in the most pressing need. Washington now directed his attention to the fortifications of Boston ; and every effective man in the town volunteered his services to devote two days in every week till it was com pleted. By a resolve of Congress of March 25th, 1776, a vote of thanks was passed to General Washington and the officers and soldiers under his command, for their wise and spirited conduct in the siege and acquisition of Boston. Also a gold medal to General Washington, of which the following is a description : — Occasion. — Evacuation of Boston by the British troops. Device. — The head of General Washington, in profile. Legend. — Georgio Washington, supremo duci exercitum adsertori libertatis comitia Americana. Reverse. — Troops advancing towards a town which is seen at a distance. Troops marching to the river, Ships in view. General Washington in front, and mounted, with his staff, whose attention he is directing to the embarking enemy. Legend. — Hostibus primo Fugatis. Exergue. — Bostonium recuperatum 17 Martii, 1776. GEN. ANTHONY WAYNE Anthony Wayne, of whose military career America has much to boast, the son of a respectable farmer in Chester county, Pennsylvania, was born on the 1st of January, 1745. His propensities and pursuits heing repugnant to the labors of the field, his father resolved to give him an opportunity of pursuing such studies as his acquirements might suggest, and accordingly placed him under the tuition of a relative of eru dition and acquirements, who was teacher of a country school. Our young hero Was by no means an attentive student ; his mind seemed, like the young Napoleon, bent on a military life, for instead of preparing his lessons for recitation during his leisure hours, he employed himself in ranging his play mates into regiments, besieging castles, throwing up redoubts, &c. &c. He was removed from the county school into an academy of repute in Philadelphia, where he soon became an expert mathematician, sufficiently so, that on his leaving school he became a land surveyor, with a very respectable and lucrative business. At the persuasion of Dr. Franklin, he removed to Nova Scotia, as agent for a company of settlers about to repair to that province on a scheme of emigration. 3 18 GENERAL ANTHONY WAYNE. As an able negotiator he acquitted himself honorably, and returned to Pennsylvania, where he married the daughter of Benjamin Penrose, an eminent merchant of Philadelphia, and. settled once more on a farm in his native county. The aspect of affairs between the mother country and the provinces at this time convinced our young hero that desperate means must soon be resorted to to prevent invasion from abroad and insurrection at home. Satisfied that the controversies between the two countries Avould only be adjusted by the sword, he determined to apply himself to military discipline and tactics, that whenever his country required it, he might devote his energies in raising and preparing for the field a regiment of volunteers. The moment arrived, and young Wayne was only six weeks in completing a regiment, of which he was unanimously chosen colonel. At the sound of taxation the undaunted spirit of liberty burst forth, and thousands of young and fearless patriots thronged around the sacred banner to enrol themselves in a cause which must eventually end in freedom. News of the opening of the revolution at Bun ker's Hill and Lexington arrived, and Washington, who had accepted the command of the army, repaired to the seat of war. Congress, now sitting at Philadelphia, called upon the colonies for regiments to reinforce the northern army, and the one raised by the exertions of Anthony Wayne was the first called into service, and upon him was conferred the command. His orders to join General Lee at New York were quickly obeyed, whence he proceeded with his regiment to Canada, to be stationed at the entrance of Sorel river. Shortly after his arrival there, news arrived that a detach ment of six hundred British light infantry were advancing toward a post called Trois Rivieres (Three Rivers). Anxious to check their advance, or strike before they could concentrate GENERAL ANTHONY WAYNE. 19 their forces, three regiments, commanded by Wayne, St. Clair and Irvine, commenced their march for that purpose. Un fortunately, however, untoward circumstances compelled them to retreat with considerable loss of men, and Colonels Wayne and St. Clair severely wounded. The movements now de volved upon Wayne, who collected the scattered troops and retxirned to his former post at Sorel river, where he remained but a short period, being followed by a heavy British column, giving him only sufficient time to leave the fort before the enemy entered it. The retreat was made good by the able conduct of Wayne, who, with his stores and baggage, safely arrived at Ticonderoga. At a consultation among the generals it "was determined that at this post they should take their stand. After recon noitering the fortifications, and finding them so well prepared to resist an attack, the British general re-embarked his forces and retired to Canada. Immediately on the withdrawal of the British troops, General Gates repaired to Washington's army, leaving Colonel Wayne in entire charge of Ticonderoga. This high com pliment paid to Colonel Wayne, agreeable to the troops and approved of by Congress, caused the gallant soldier to be pro moted to the rank of Brigadier-general. He remained at this post six months, when, Washington having marched his main army into Jersey, General Wayne solicited permission to join him, which he did at Bound Brook, a few miles from Bruns wick, in New Jersey. Soon after the arrival of Wayne, General Howe, having received reinforcements from England, at New York, took up his line of march across Jersey, in order to intercept the American army before reaching Phila delphia. Washington conceived the plan of General Howe to be to surprise the city of Philadelphia and disperse the con gressional assembly, who were then sitting there ; he accord- 20 GENERAL ANTHONY WAYNE. ingly dispatched Wayne and his troops to meet and strike them, in order to resist their passage at Chad's Ford. This was done, and a sharp conflict ensued, which was gallantly kept up until late in the evening, when it was thought pru dent to retreat; the loss sustained by the Americans was stated to be three hundred killed and four hundred taken prisoners. The statement given by the British general him self, was one hundred killed and four hundred wounded, but which was afterwards ascertained to be nearly double that number. In this battle the young patriot Lafayette first drew his sword in the cause of America's freedom, and although severely wounded in his leg at the very onset of the battle, he continued to cheer and encourage his soldiers, (with the blood flowing from his wound, having bound his sash around it,) till the end of the conflict. The British, taking a circuitous route, now marched with all haste towards Philadelphia, and Washington wishing to give them the meeting before reaching the city, retired to Chester, where both armies met at some distance from the Warren tavern, on the Lancaster road. General Wayne commenced the action with great spirit, but a violent storm came on which rendered it impossible for the battle to con tinue, and each army withdrew from the field. Washington, in order to save Philadelphia, with the main army fell back and crossed the Schuylkill at Parker's ferry, leaving General Wayne with about fifteen hundred men to watch the enemy, who had retreated back about three miles. After remaining at that post for four days, he was apprised of the near approach of the British army, and after giving three distinct orders to one of his colonels to lead off by another road and attack the enemy in the rear, which order was not under stood, and consequently not obeyed, gave the British time to come upon them before they could make good their retreat. GENERAL ANTHONY WAYNE. 21 The enemy fell upon them with the cry of " No quarters," and one hundred and fifty of his brave men were killed and wounded in this barbarous massacre. The next battle at which this valiant soldier distinguished himself, was at Ger mantown. The British having taken a position in the imme diate vicinity of that village, General Wayne, moving with much secrecy, attacked them in their camp at the dawn of day, but after many hours of hard fighting and a succession of un toward circumstances, was obliged to retreat. The loss of the Americans in this action, was one hundred and fifty-two killed, five hundred and twenty-one wounded, and four hundred taken prisoners; the loss of the British was eight hundred killed and wounded. The British army remained in nearly the same position till the 26th of October, when General Howe, with a detach- ment of his troops, took peaceable possession of Philadelphia. Watson^ in his Annals of Philadelphia, says, — "As they entered the city, Lord Cornwallis at their head led the van. They marched down Second street without any huzzaing or insolence whatever, and the citizens thronged the sidewalks with serious countenances, looking at them. The artillery were quartered in Chestnut street, between Third and Sixth streets. The State House yard was made use of as a parade ground." Congress had previously been removed to Lancaster, in the interior of the state, sixty miles from Philadelphia. Wash ington and his army were posted at White Marsh, about four teen miles from Philadelphia, and in order to draw the com mander-in-chief from his strong position, the British general, Howe, marched his soldiers to the neighborhood of the Ame rican lines, and after many demonstrations of attack, finding that Washington was not disposed to bring on another action, retreated again to the city. This gave Washington an oppor- 22 GENERAL ANTHONY WAYNE. tunity of proceeding to Valley Forge, where, in the month of December, with his almost famished and naked soldiers, they cheerfully commenced building huts with their own hands in the woods. Early in January, General Wayne repaired to Lancaster, where the government was then located, to use his exertions in raising supplies, both of provisions and cloth ing, for the army. In part did he succeed, but the scarcity of provisions be coming so great, that Washington was at length compelled to detach a body of troops; under General Greene, with orders to obtain " an immediate supply of provisions by any means within his power." This was done by seizing every animal fit for slaughter ; and by this means the immediate wants of the starving troops were supplied. In order to prevent a similar deplorable state of want, our gallant hero, who knew no danger, in the month of February, a most inclement season, left the army with a body of troops on an expedition to New Jersey, to secure cattle on the banks of the Delaware. This, of all others, was a dangerous enterprise, for the British were wintering in detachments in many places near the Dela ware. However, in our hero bravery knew no fear, and for the relief of his suffering soldiers he was determined to attack and wrest from the British, (whenever he came in contact,) provisions for his men and sustenance for his horses. After several skirmishes, which might really be termed battles, he succeeded, by his soldier-like and judicious management, in capturing from them and sending to the American camp seve ral hundred fine cattle, some excellent horses, and a large amount of forage. About the middle of March he returned to Valley Forge, to receive the thanks of his commander-in- chief and the blessings of the army. The British remained in quiet possession of Philadelphia till the 18th of June fol- GENERAL ANTHONY WAYNE. 23 lowing, when they commenced their march through Jersey. On the same day Washington left Valley Forge in order to follow them, and on the 24th encamped about five miles from Princeton, while the British had encamped at Allentown. During the winter, General Howe had requested to be recalled, and the command now devolved upon Sir Henry Clinton. Wayne, with four thousand men, was ordered, accompanied by Lafayette, with one thousand men, to take a position near Monmouth Court-house, about five miles in the rear of the British camp, in order to prevent their reaching the High lands of New York. Washington, who had determined to attack the British the moment they moved from their ground, • received intelligence on the morning of the 28th of June that they were on their way. The troops were immediately under arms, and General Lee ordered to march on and attack the rear, as the enemy advanced towards the troops of Wayne and Lafayette. This was done, and the Americans, though much fatigued by their previous march, fought with such determined bravery that the British gave way. Taking advantage of the night, which saved them from a total rout, they withdrew to the heights of Middletown, leaving behind them two hundred and forty-five killed of their soldiers, and many of their officers ; others they had before interred. The following is an extract of a letter of Wayne to a friend :— " Paramus, \1th July, 1778. " We have been in perpetual motion ever since we crossed the Delaware until yesterday, when we arrived here, where we shall be stationary for a few days, in order to recruit a little after the fatigue which we have experienced in march ing through deserts, burning sands, &c &c. " The enemy, sore from the action of the 28th ult, seemed 24 GENERAL ANTHONY WAYNE. inclined to rest also. They are now in three divisions ; one on Long Island, another on Staten Island, and a third in New York. " The victory on that day turns out to be much more con siderable than at first supposed. An officer who remained on the ground two or three days after the action, says that nearly three hundred British had been buried by us on the field, and numbers discovered in the woods, exclusive of those buried by the enemy, not much short of one hundred. So that by the most moderate calculation, their killed and wounded must amount to eleven hundred, the flower of their army, and many of them of the richest blood of England. " Tell those Philadelphia ladies who attended Howe's assem blies and levees, that the heavenly, sweet red-coats, the accom plished gentlemen of the guards and grenadiers, have been humbled on the plains of Monmouth. t These knights have resigned their laurels to rebel officers, who will lay them at the feet of those virtuous daughters of America, who cheer fully gave up ease and affluence in a city, for liberty and peace of mind in a cottage. " Adieu, and believe me " Yours most sincerely, "Anthony Wayne." The British commander, having in the night escaped from his adversary, took a strong position on the high grounds about Middletown, where remaining, however, but a few days, he proceeded to Sandy Hook, and passed over to New York. Washington, at this time, proceeded by slow and easy marches to the Highlands of the Hudson. It was his intention to fortify West Point, and the High lands of the North River ; accordingly the works at Stony and Verplanck's Points were commenced for that purpose, GENERAL ANTHONY WAYNE. 25 pose, yet only on Verplanck's a small but strong work had been completed and garrisoned by seventy men, under Cap tain Armstrong, while the works on Stony Point, of much greater extent and of incomparably more importance, were unfinished. To secure these valuable positions was a matter of great magnitude both to the British as well as American commander-in-chief; hence was the determination of fortifying the Highlands, so as to comprehend within it these important positions. To arrest the progress of these fortifications, Sir Henry Clinton sailed with a fleet up the Hudson, and landed his troops in two divisions ; the one under General Vaughan, destined against the works at Verplanck's on the east side of the river — the other, which he commanded in person, against those of Stony Point, on the west side. The fortifications. on Stony Point being unfinished, were abandoned without resistance, on the approach of the enemy, who instantly com menced dragging some heavy cannon and mortars to the summit of the hill, and on the next morning about sunrise opened a battery on Fort Fayette, erected on Verplanck's, the distance across being about one thousand yards. The cannonade during the day, from the very commanding position of Stony Point, as also from vessels and gun-boats in the river, occasioned much injury to the fort ; which, being invested both by water and land, and no means of saving the garrison now remaining, Captain Armstrong, (who had com mand,) after a gallant resistance, was compelled to surrender himself and troops prisoners of war. Sir Henry proceeded immediately to place both forts in what he supposed a perfect state of defence, especially that of Stony Point, which he garrisoned with six hundred men, under the command of an officer distinguished for his bravery and circumspection. In consequence of Washington being now at West Point, Sir Henry declined a further movement up the Hudson, but re- 4 26 GENERAL ANTHONY WAYNE. mained with his army at Phillipsburg, about midway between New York and Stony Point. Immediately on the arrival of Wayne at head quarters, Washington commenced laying plans for the recapture of Stony Point, and in a conference between the commander-in-chief and Wayne, the fetter, em phatically to express his willingness to undertake the perilous enterprise, is said to have remarked: — " General, if you will only plan it, I will storm Hell!" As no industry had been wanting in completing or repairing the works at Stony Point, which the length of possession by the British would admit of, that post was now in a very strong state of defence; its garrison consisted of the seventeenth regiment of foot, the grenadier companies of the seventy-first and some artillery ; the whole under the command of Lieu tenant Colonel Johnson. The garrison at Verplanck's was under the conduct of Lieutenant Colonel Webster, and was at least equal in force to that of Stony Point. General Wayne was appointed to the difficult and arduous task of surprising and storming Stony Point, for which Washington provided him with a strong detachment of the most active infantry in the American service. These troops had a dis tance of about fourteen miles to travel over high mountains, through deep morasses, difficult defiles and roads exceedingly bad and narrow, so that they could only move in single files during the greatest part of their journey. About eight o'clock in the evening of the 15th of July, the van arrived within a mile and a half of their object, where they halted, and the troops were formed into two columns as fast as they came up. While they were in this position, Wayne, with most of his principal officers, went to reconnoitre the works, and to observe the situation of the garrison. It was near midnight before the two columns approached the place; that on the right, consisting of Febiger and Meigs' regiments, was led by Gene- GENERAL ANTHONY WAYNE. 27 ral Wayne. The van, consisting of one hundred and fifty picked men, led by the most adventurous officers, and com manded by Lieutenant Colonel Fleury, advanced to the attack, with unloaded muskets and fixed bayonets. They were pre ceded by an avant-guard, consisting of an officer of the most distinguished courage, accompanied by twenty of the most desperate private men, who, with other officers, were in tended to remove the abatis, and whatever obstructions lay in the way of the succeeding troops. The column on the left, was led by a similar chosen van, with unloaded muskets and fixed bayonets, under the command of Major Stewart; and that was also preceded by a similar avant-guard. The general issued the most positive orders to both columns, (wThich they strictly adhered to,) not to fire a shot on any account, but to place their whole reliance on the bayonet. The two attacks seem to have been directed to opposite points of the works; whilst a detachment under Major Murfree engaged the attention of the garrison, by a feint in their front. They found the approaches more difficult than even their know ledge of the place had induced them to expect ; the works being covered by a deep morass, which, at this time, hap pened to be overflowed by the tide. The general, in his official papers, says, " that neither the deep morass, the formidable and double rows of abatis, or the strong works in front and flank could damp the ardor of his brave troops ; who, in the face of a most incessant and tre mendous fire of musketry, and of cannon loaded with grape- shot, forced their way at the point of the bayonet through every obstacle, until the van of each column met in the centre of the works, where they arrived at nearly the same time." General Wayne was wounded in the head by a musket-ball, as he passed the last abatis; but was gallantly supported and assisted through the works by his two brave aids-de-camp, 28 GENERAL ANTHONY WAYNE. Fishbourn and Archer, to whom he acknowledges the utmost gratitude in his public letter. Colonel Fleury, a French offi cer, had the honor of striking the British standard with his own hand, and placing in its room the American stars and stripes. Major Stewart and several other officers received great praise ; particularly the two Lieutenants Gibbons and Knox, one of whom led the avant-guard on the right, and the other on the left. Both, however, had the good fortune to escape unhurt, although Lieutenant Gibbons lost seventeen men out of twenty in the attack. There is nothing in the annals of war which affords more room for surprise, and seems less to be accounted for, than the prodigious disparity between the numbers slain in those different actions, which seem otherwise similar or greatly to correspond in their principal circumstances, nature and mag nitude. Nothing could well be supposed, from its nature and circumstances, more bloody, in proportion to the numbers engaged, than this action ; and yet the loss on both sides was exceedingly moderate. Nothing could exceed the triumph of America and Ameri cans generally, upon the success of this enterprize, and the vigor and spirit with which it was conducted. It must, indeed, be acknowledged, that considered in all its parts and difficulties, it would have done honor to the most veteran soldiers. General Washington, the Congress, the General Assembly, and the Supreme Executive Council of Pennsylvania, were emulous in their acknowledgments, and in the praises which they bestowed upon General Wayne, his officers and troops. In these they particularly applaud the humanity and clemency shown to the vanquished, when, by the laws of war, and stimulated by resentment from the remembrance of former cruelty received from the British GENERAL ANTHONY WAYNE. 29 they would have been justified in putting the whole garrison to the sword. As soon as Stony Point was taken, the artillery was directly turned against Verplanck's, and a furious cannonade ensued which necessarily obliged the shipping at the latter place to cut their cables and fall down the river. The news of this disaster, and of Webster's situation, who also expected an immediate attack on the land side, no sooner reached Sir Harry Clinton, than he took the most speedy measures for the relief of Verplanck's. The whole British land and naval force was in motion. But, however great the import ance or value of Stony Point and Verplanck's, Washington was by no means disposed to hazard a general engagement on their account ; more especially in a situation where the com mand of the river would afford such decisive advantages to his enemy in the disposition and sudden movement of their troops, whether with respect to the immediate point of action, or to the seizing of the passes, and cutting off the retreat of his army, as might probably be attended with the most fatal consequences. In his letter to Congress, he says, that it had been pre viously determined in council not to attempt keeping that post, and that nothing more was originally intended than the destruction of the works and seizing the artillery and stores. This adventurous and daring feat kept the advanced posts of the British in a state of serious alarm, By the journals of Congress for July 26, 1779, it appears that the attack on the fort at Stony Point was ordered by General Washington on the 10th of July. General Wayne issued his orders on the 15th, on the night of which day the attack was made. The prisoners taken were five hundred and forty-three ; not a musket was fired by the Americans ; and although the laws of war and the principle of retaliation for 30 GENERAL ANTHONY WAYNE. past cruelty, would have justified the sacrifice of the garrison, yet not a man was killed who asked for quarters. Soon after this gallant action, General Wayne repaired to his family in Chester county, and thence to the seat of Government, to use his exertions in stimulating the councils of the nation in behalf of the suffering army, one-half of which was at this time nearly barefooted, and otherwise destitute of com forts. As the winter was now approaching, Washington was preparing to take up his quarters at Morristown, New Jersey, in order to restrain the British, who were then stationed at New York, from incursions into the adjacent country. In May, 1780, Wayne was ordered to repair to the camp at Morristown, and resume his command in the Pennsylvania line. Little more than useless marches, and casual skirmishes with the enemy was accomplished during this year. In November of the same year Wayne appears before his government supplicating supplies for his soldiers. This he ac complished, and returned in December to his winter quarters at Morristown, where he remained till the end of February, 1781. Receiving orders to join the southern army under General Greene; now in Virginia, Wayne accordingly com menced collecting his troops; but, from so many and un accountable delays, it was May before he could concentrate them at York, Pennsylvania. Early in June the Pennsyl vania troops, eleven hundred in number, formed a junction with Lafayette, whom they met in Virginia, and determined at once to march against Cornwallis, who was now retreating. Lafayette held a position about twenty miles in the xear of the British, whilst the advanced corps of Wayne kept within eight or nine miles, with the intention of commencing an attack on the rear guard, after the main body should have passed the river. Lafayette, having received intelligence that the enemy were preparing to cross the James river, he imme- GENERAL ANTHONY WAYNE. 31 diately took a position at Chickahominy church, eight miles above Jamestown, Early the following morning, Wayne believing that the main army of the British had effected its passage, was determined to march forward and attack the rear guard; but upon arriving within sight he found he was mis taken, and that he had now to confront the whole British force with only five hundred men ; the only safe mode which he could now calculate upon, was that of attacking vigorously and retreating precipitately. " For," said he, " moments decide the fate of battles," and accordingly the firing was commenced with great firmness at three o'clock, and continued till five in the afternoon. In this severe but gallant action one hundred and eight of the Continental troops were killed, wounded and taken ; most of the officers were severely wounded, and many of the field officers had their horses kiUed under them. Lafayette, in his official notice of this action, says — " From every account the enemy's loss has been very great, and much pains taken to conceal it." In a letter from General Washington to Wayne, he adds : — " The Marquis Lafayette speaks in the handsomest manner of your own behavior, and that of the troops, in the action at Green Spring. I think the account which Lord Cornwallis will be obliged to render of the state of southern affairs, will not be very pleasing to ministerial eyes and ears, especially after what appears to have been their expectations by their intercepted letters of March last. I am in hopes that Vir ginia will be soon, if not before this time, so far relieved as to permit you to march to the succor of General Greene, who, with a handful of men, has done more than could possibly have been expected ; should he be enabled to maintain his advantage in the Carolinas and Georgia, it cannot fail of having the most important political consequences in Europe." 32 GENERAL ANTHONY WAYNE. The movements of Cornwallis indicated a permanent post at Yorktown, a short distance up the York river, where he had removed the principal part of his forces, and commenced his fortifications. Washington hearing of this movement, com manded Lafayette to take early measures to intercept the retreat of Cornwallis, should he discover the intended blow, and attempt a retreat by North Carolina. At the interposition of the Marquis Lafayette with his government, a French fleet, consisting of three thousand troops, were equipped and dispatched, to the assistance of struggling America; and on the 2d September landed atBurwell's Ferry, near this place. Lafayette, who was encamped about ten miles from General Wayne, on hearing of the arrival of the French fleet, requested an interview with him. In a letter to a friend, Wayne describes an accident that occurred to him on his way thither : — " After the landing of the French fleet, and pointing out to them the most proper position for their en campment, I received an express from the Marquis Lafayette, to meet him on business of importance that evening. I pro ceeded accordingly, attended by two gentlemen and a servant. When we arrived in the vicinity of the camp, about ten o'clock at night, we were challenged by a sentry, and we made the usual answer, but the poor fellow being panic-struck, mistook us for the enemy, and shot me in the centre of the left thigh ; then fled and alarmed the camp. Fortunately, the ball only grazed the bone, and lodged on the opposite side to which it entered." The main works of Cornwallis were at his strongly fortified garrison at Yorktown, on the York river. He also occupied Gloucester, on the opposite side, where he erected works to keep up the communication with the country. General Washington reached the neighborhood of this inte resting scene of operation on the 14th of September, and im mediately proceeded on board the Ville de Paris, (flag-ship of GENERAL ANTHONY WAYNE. 33 the French admiral, ) where the plan of the siege was con certed. Subjoined is an extract of General Wayne's diary of the siege of Yorktown and capture of Lord Cornwallis : " On the 28th of September, 1781, General Washington put the combined army in motion, at five o'clock in the morn ing, in two columns, (the Americans on the right and the French on the left,) and arrived in view of the enemy's lines at York about four o'clock in the afternoon. "29th. Completed the investiture. The enemy abandoned their advanced chain of works this evening, leaving two redoubts perfect within cannon-shot of their principal fortifi cations. " 30th. The allied troops took possession of the ground vacated by the British, and added new works. " 1st October. The enemy discovering our works com menced a cannonade, continuing through the day and night with very little effect. " 2d. Two men killed by the enemy's fire. " 3d. A drop-shot from the British killed four men from the covering party. " 4th. The redoubts were perfected ; the enemy's fire lan guid. " 5th. Two men killed by rocket-shot. "6th. Six regiments, viz., one from the right of each brigade marched at six o'clock, P. M., under the command of Major General Lincoln and Brigadier Generals Clinton and Wayne, and opened the first parallel within five hundred and fifty yards of the enemy's works and their extreme left, which was continued by the French to the extreme right. " 7th. The parallel nearly complete, without any opposi tion, except a little scattered fire of musketry, and a feeble 5 34 GENERAL ANTHONY WAYNE. fire of artillery, by which a few of the French troops were wounded and one officer lost his leg. "8th. Completed the first parallel; two of the Pennsyl vanians were killed by rocket-shot. "9th. At three o'clock P. M., the French opened a twelve gun battery on the extreme right of the enemy; and at five o'clock the same day, a battery of ten pieces was opened on their extreme left, by the Americans, with apparent effect. " 10th. At daybreak three more batteries were opened, (one of five heavy pieces by the Americans, and two containing twenty-two by the French,) opposite the centre of the British works ; at five P. M., another American battery of two ten inch howitzers was also opened, which produced so severe a fire, that it in a great degree silenced that of the enemy ; at seven o'clock P. M., the Caron, of forty-four guns, was set on fire by our balls and totally consumed. " 11th. Second parallel opened this night by the Pennsyl vanians and Marylanders, covered by two battalions under General Wayne, on the part of the Americans. " 12th. Nothing material. " 13th. That part of the second parallel which was opened, nearly completed. " 14th. A little after dark, two detached redoubts belonging to the enemy were stormed ; that on the extreme left by the light infantry, under the Marquis Lafayette, in which were taken a major, captain, and one subaltern, seventeen privates, and eight rank and file killed. " Our army lost, in killed and wounded, forty-one. The other was carried by the French, under the Baron de Viomi- nial, who lost, in killed and wounded, about one hundred men. Of the enemy eighteen were killed, and three officers and thirty-nine privates were made prisoners. The above attacks were supported by two battalions of the Pennsyl- GENERAL ANTHONY WAYNE. 35 vanians, under General Wayne; whilst the second parallel was completed by the Pennsylvanians and Marylanders, under Colonel W. Stewart. " 15th. Two small batteries were opened this evening. " 16th. The enemy made a sortie, and spiked seven pieces of artillery, but were immediately repulsed, the spikes drawn, and the batteries again opened. " 17th. The enemy beat the chamade at ten o'clock A. M., Cornwallis now sent out a flag, proposing a cessation of hos tilities for twenty-four hours, and that commissioners might be appointed to meet to settle the terms upon which the gar risons of York and Gloucester should surrender. General Washington would only grant a cessation for two hours ; pre viously to the expiration of which, his lordship, by another flag, sent the following terms, viz : — The troops to be prison ers of war ; the British to be sent to Great Britain, and not to act against America, France, or her allies, until exchanged ; the Hessians to Germany, on the same conditions ; and that all operations cease until the commissioners should determine the details. To this his excellency returned for answer : — That hostilities should cease, and no alterations in the works, or any new movement of the troops, take place, until he sent terms in writing ; which he did on the 18th, at nine o'clock, A. M., allowing the enemy two hours to determine. They again requested more time ; and the general granted them until one o'clock, when they acceded to the heads of the imposed terms, and nominated Colonel Dundas and Major Ross, on their part, to meet with Colonel Laurens and Vis count de NoaiUes on ours, to reduce them to form, which was completed by nine o'clock at night; and on the 19th, at one o'clock P. M., the capitulation was ratified and signed by the commander of each army, when the enemy received a guard of Pennsylvania and Maryland troops in one of their principal 36 GENERAL ANTHONY WAYNE. works, and one of the French troops in another. At four o'clock, the same afternoon, the British army marched out of Yorktown with colors cased, between the American and French troops, drawn up for the purpose, and then grounded their arms agreeably to capitulation." After this successful struggle, General Wayne was com manded to repair without delay to the aid of General Greene, who was encamped near Savannah, Georgia, in which state the enemy had been long rioting without the fear of opposi tion from either regulars or militia. Not, however, before the 19th of January, 1782, did he reach the Savannah river, and having crossed it with a detachment of the first and fourth regiments of dragoons, with this force, aided by a small state corps and a few spirited militia, he soon routed the enemy from some of their strongest posts. Wayne receiving intelli gence of a body of Creek Indians being on their march to Savannah, detached a strong party of horse under Colonel McCoy, dressed in British uniform, in order to deceive and decoy them. This deception succeeded, and the Indians were all surrounded and taken without the least resistance. General Wayne, in a letter to a friend, dated the 24th of February, writes, " It is now upwards of five weeks since we entered this state, during which period not an officer or soldier with me has once undressed for the purpose of changing his linen ; nor do the enemy lie on beds of down — they have once or twice attempted to strike our advance parties. The day before yesterday .they made a forward move in consider able force, which induced me to advance to meet them ; but the lads declined the interview, by embarking in boats and retreating by water to Savannah, the only post they now hold in Georgia." This post remained in possession of the British till the month of May, when the British administration, having resolved upon abandoning all offensive operations in America GENERAL ANTHONY WAYNE. 37 it was ordered to be evacuated. Accordingly, on the 11th of July, 1782, Savannah was delivered into the possession of General Wayne, whose time was now fully occupied in reply ing to the numerous applications of the merchants and citi zens of that place. About the end of November, General Wayne, with the light infantry of the army, and the legionary corps, reached the vicinity of Charleston, S. C, where Greene was posted near the Ashley river, a convenient position to attack the rear of the enemy when the hour of evacuation should arrive ; but a proposition from the British General, to be permitted to embark without molestation if he left the town untouched, was acceded to, and on the morning of the 14th of December, General Wayne had also the honor and satisfaction of taking peaceable possession of Charleston, thus closing his last active scene in the war of the American revo lution. General Wayne continued busily engaged at the south till the following July, when he took passage for Philadelphia in very delicate health, having contracted a fever while in Georgia. In 1784, Wayne was elected by his native county to the General Assembly, where he took deep interest in every act which agitated the Legislature. His family estates, which had so long been inoperative, now claimed his attention ; which, for the space of two years, was most assiduously devoted to them. President Washington nominated Wayne to the Senate as Commander-in-chief of the United States army — which was confirmed and accepted the 13th of April, 1792. The object of this high and honorable post being bestowed on Wayne, was to bring to a close the war with the confederated tribes of Indians, which was raging on the northwestern frontier. During the four years of Indian war fare, General Wayne suffered severely from his previous 38 GENERAL ANTHONY WAYNE. disease, living, however, to witness the termination of those troubles which had so long existed, but not to share in the happy results which his bravery and exalted wisdom had consummated. He died at Presque Isle, on the 15th« of December, 1796. An able writer thus portrays the character of this exalted man : — " The patriotism, spirit and military character of General Anthony Wayne are written on every leaf of his country's history, from the dawn of the revolution to the close of his eventful life. If you ask who obeyed the first call of America for freedom? It was Wayne! he was first on the battle ground and last to retire. If you ask who gallantly led his division to victory on the right wing at the battle of German- town ? Who bore the fiercest charge at the battle of Mon mouth ? Who, in the hour of gloom, roused the desponding spirits of the army and nation by the glorious storming and capturing of Stony Point? It was General Anthony Wayne. "In Congress, July 26th, 1779, it was resolved unanimously, that the thanks of Congress be presented to Brigadier General Anthony Wayne, for his brave, prudent and soldierly con duct, in the spirited and well-conducted attack of Stony Point." A gold medal was voted to him at the same time, of which the following is a description taken from the original in the possession of his family. (See Plate II.) Occasion. — Taking of Stony Point, on the North River, by storm. Device. — An Indian Queen crowned, a quiver on her back, and wearing a short apron of feathers : a mantle hangs from her waist behind : the upper end of the mantle appears as if passed through the girdle of her apron, and hangs gracefully by her left side. She is presenting, with her right hand, a GENERAL ANTHONY WAYNE. 39 wreath to General Wayne, who receives it. In her left hand, the Queen is holding up a mural crown towards the General. On her left and at her feet an alligator is stretched out. She stands on a bow : a shield, with the American stripes, rests against the alligator. Legend. — Antonio Wayne Duci Exercitas comitia Ameri cana. Reverse. — A fort, with two turrets, on the top of a hill : the British flag flying : troops in single or Indian file, ad vancing in the front and rear up the hill : numbers lying at the bottom. Troops advancing in front, at a distance, on the edge of the river : another party to the right of the fort. A piece of artillery posted on the plain, so as to bear upon the fort ; ammunition on the ground : six vessels in the river. Legend. — Stony Point expugnatum. Exergue. — 15th July, 1779. MAJ. JOHN STEWART. It is a singular fact that no biographical memoir can be found of this gallant officer. By the journals of Congress for July 26, 1779, we find, that that body passed a unanimous vote of thanks to General Wayne, and the officers and soldiers, whose bravery was so conspicuous at the memorable attack on Stony Point; par ticularly mentioning Colonel De Fleury and Major Stewart, as having led the attacking columns, under a tremendous fiie. By the same resolve of Congress, we find, that a medal, de scriptive of that action, was ordered to be struck and presented to Major Stewart. (See Plate II.) In a communication soon after the close of the war, it says, that Major Stewart was killed by a fall from his horse, near Charleston, South Carolina. Should this meet the eye of any of the representatives of the late Major Stewart, the pub lishers of these memoirs would feel grateful for any particu lars respecting that distinguished officer, as they may be added in another edition. Plate _» "¦ MAJOR JOHN STEWART. 41 DESCRIPTION Or THE MEDAL. Occasion. — Taking the fort of Stony Point. Device. — America, personified in an Indian queen, is pre senting a palm branch' to Captain Stewart : a quiver hangs at her back : her bow and an alligator at her feet : with her left hand she supports a shield inscribed with the American stripes, and resting on the ground. Legend. — Johanni Stewart cohortis prefecto comitia Americus. Reverse.' — A fortress on an eminence : in the foreground, an officer cheering his men, who are following him over a battis with charged bayonets in pursuit of a flying enemy ; troops in Indian files ascending the hill to the storm, front and rear : troops advancing from the shore : ships in sight. Exergue. — Stony Point oppugnatum, 15th July, 1779. LIEUT. -COL. DE FLEURY. Very little is known of the hero of the following memoir previous to his leaving his native country. He was educated as an engineer, and brought with him to this country testi monials of the highest order. His family were of the. French noblesse ; his ancestor, Hercule Andre de Fleury, was canon of Montpelier, and appointed by Louis XIV. preceptor to his grandson. At the age of seventy years he was made cardinal and prime minister, and by his active and sagacious measures the kingdom of France prospered greatly under his admin istration. De Fleury, the subject of this brief sketch, was pursuing his profession when the news of the American revolution reached the shores of France. Endowed by nature with a spirit of independence, vigorous intellect, undaunted courage, and a spirit of enterprise, he seemed peculiarly fitted to en counter perils and hardships, which his daring, prompt and skillful maneuvers, in some of the sharpest battles of the revolution, proved most true. He read with excited anxiety, again and again, of the oppression and tyranny exercised by the mother country against the colonies. Next came the news that at once decided our young hero lieutenant-colonel de fleury. 43 on embarking for America; the colonies had actually revolted, had thrown off the yoke of tyranny and usurpation, declaring themselves a free and independent people. This was a strug gle, but it must be conquered. De Fleury reached the shores of America, was received by the commander-in-chief, received a commission, and commenced his revolutionary campaign, to which he adhered with that unflinching constancy which leaves no doubt of the purity and disinterestedness of his motives. Soon after the battle of Brandywine our hero was dispatched to Fort Mifflin in the capacity of engineer, de scribed in the following letter from General Washington to Lieutenant-Colonel Samuel Smith, in which he says : — " En closed is a letter to Major Fleury, whom I ordered to Fort Mifflin to serve in quality of engineer. As he is a young man of talents, and has made this branch of military service his particular study, I place confidence in him. You will, therefore, make the best arrangement for enabling him to carry such plans into execution as come within his depart ment. His authority, at the same time that it is subordinate to yours, must, be sufficient for putting into practice what his knowledge of fortification points out as necessary for defend ing the post ; and his department, though inferior, being of a distinct and separate nature, requires that his orders should be in a great degree discretionary, and that he should be suffered to exercise his judgment. Persuaded that you will concur with him in every measure, which the good of the service may require, I remain," &c. For six days previous to the evacuation of Fort Mifflin, the fire from the enemy's batteries and shipping had been inces sant. Major Fleury kept a journal of events, which were daily forwarded to General Washington, from which the fol lowing are extracts; " November 10th, at noon.— I am interrupted by the bombs 44 LIEUTENANT-COLONEL DE FLEURY. and balls, which fall thickly. The firing increases, but not the effect; our barracks alone suffer. Two o'clock: — the direc tion of the fire is changed ; our palisades suffer ; a dozen of them are broken down; one of our cannon is damaged; I am afraid it will not fire straight. Eleven o'clock at night: — the enemy keep up a firing every half hour. Our garrison diminishes ; our soldiers are overwhelmed with fatigue. " 1 1th. The enemy keep up a heavy fire ; they have changed the direction of their embrasures, and instead of battering our palisades in front, they take them obliquely and do great injury to our north side. At night : — the enemy fire and inter rupt our works. Three vessels have passed up between, us and Province Island, without any molestation from the gal leys. Colonel Smith, Captain George, and myself wounded. These two gentlemen passed immediately to Red Bank. " 12th. Heavy firing ; our two eighteen pounders at the northern battery dismounted. At night: — the enemy throw shells, and we are alarmed by thirty boats. " 13th. The enemy have opened a battery on the old Ferry Wharf; the walk of our rounds is destroyed, the block houses ruined. Our garrison is exhausted with fatigue and ill-health. " 14th. The enemy have kept up a firing upon us part of the night. Day-light discovers to us a floating battery, placed a little above their grand battery and near the shore. Seven o'clock: — the enemy keep up a great fire from their floating battery and the shore ; our block-houses are in a pitiful con dition. At noon : — we have silenced the floating battery. A boat, which this day deserted from the fleet, will have given the enemy sufficient intimation of our weakness ; they will probably attempt a lodgment on the Island, which we cannot prevent Avith our whole strength. " 15th — at six in the afternoon. — The fire is universal from LIEUTENANT-COLONEL DE FLEURY. 45 the shipping and batteries. We have lost a great many men to-day; a great many officers are killed or wounded. My fine company of artillery is almost destroyed. We shall be obliged to evacuate Fort Mifflin this night. Major Talbut is badly wounded. " 16th. We were obliged to evacuate the fort last evening. Major Thayer returned from thence a little after two this morning. Everything was got off that possibly could be. The cannon could not be removed without making too great a sacrifice of men, as the Vigilant lay within one hundred yards of the southern part of the works, and with her inces sant fire, hand grenades and musketry, from the round-top, killed every man that appeared upon the platforms." After this devastating conflict, Fleury was promoted to the rank of lieutenant-colonel in the army. He had already received from Congress the- gift of a horse, as a testimonial of their sense of his merit at the battle of Brandywine, where a horse was shot under him. " To the President of Congress — " Head Quarters, West Point, 25th July, 1779. " Sir : — Lieutenant-Colonel Fleury having communicated to me his intention to return to France at the present juncture, I have thought proper to give him this letter to testify to Con gress the favorable opinion I entertain of his conduct. The marks of their approbation, which he received on a former occasion, have been amply justified by all his subsequent behavior. He has signalized himself in more than one in stance since ; and in the late assault of Stony Point, he com manded one of the attacks, was the first that entered the enemy's works, and struck the British flag with his own hands, as reported by General Wayne. It is but justice to him to declare, that, in the different services he has been 46 LIEUTENANT-COLONEL DE FLEURY. of real utility, and has acquitted himself in every respect as an officer of distinguished merit, one whose talents, zeal, activity, and bravery, alike entitle him to particular notice. I doubt not Congress will be disposed to grant him every indulgence, I have the honor to be, &c. &c. G. Washington. CERTIFICATE. West Point, 28lh July, 1779. I certify that Lieutenant-Colonel Fleury has served in the army of the United States since the beginning of the cam paign in 1777, to the present period, and has uniformly acquitted himself as an officer of distinguished merit for talents, zeal, activity, prudence, and bravery; that he first obtained a captain's commission from Congress, and entered as a volunteer in a corps of riflemen, in which, by his activity and bravery, he soon recommended himself to notice; that he next served as brigade major, with the rank of major, first in the infantry and afterwards in the cavalry, in which stations he acquired reputation in the army, and the approbation of his commanding officers, of which he has the most ample testimonies ; that towards the conclusion of the campaign of 1777, he was sent to the important post of Fort Mifflin, in quality of engineer, in which he rendered essential services, and equally signalized his intelligence and his valor. That in consequence of his good conduct on this and on former occasions, he was promoted by Congress to the rank of Lieu- tenant^Colonel, and has been since employed in the following stations, namely, as a sub-inspector, as second in command in a corps of light infantry, in an expedition against Rhode Island, and lastly as commandant of a battalion of liaht infantry, in the army under my immediate command ; that in LIEUTENANT-COLONEL de fleury. 47 each of these capacities, as well as the former, he has justified the confidence reposed in him, and acquired more and more the character of a judicious, well-informed, indefatigable and brave officer. In the assault of Stony Point, a strong, fortified post of the enemy on the North River, he commanded one of the attacks, was the first that entered the main works, and struck the British flag with his own hands. G. Washington. In July, 1779, Congress passed a vote of thanks to Colonel De Fleury, with a gold medal (see Plate II.) for his bravery and courage at Stony Point. During the two years De Fleury was attached to the American army, he took a conspicuous post in all the battles fought within that period ; and such was his bravery, that every commander under whom he had the honor to serve, recommended him to the especial notice of Congress. MEDAL. Occasion, — Taking the fort of Stony Point. Device. — A soldier helnieted and standing against the ruins of a fort : his right hand extended, holding a sword upright : the staff of a stand of colors reversed in his left : the colors under his feet : his right knee drawn up, as if in the act of stamping on them. Legend. — Virtutis et audiciae monum, et prsemium D. De Fleury equiti gallo primo muros resp. Americ. d. d. Reverse. — Two water batteries, three guns each : one battery firing at a vessel : a fort on a hill : flag flying : river in front : six vessels before the fort. Legend. — Aggeres paludes hostes victi. Exergue.— Stony^ Pt. expugn. 15th July, 1779. CAPTURE OF MAJ. ANDRE. John Andre, a British officer, was clerk in a mercantile house in London ; being anxious for a military life, he obtained a commission as ensign in the regiment commanded by Sir Henry Clinton, then about to embark for America. His energetic and enterprising spirit soon raised him to the rank of major and aid-de-camp to Sir Henry. Benedict Arnold, the American traitor, a man guilty of every species of artifice and deception, smarting, under the inflictions of a severe reprimand from his superiors, for misconduct, was resolved to be revenged by the sacrifice of his country. By artifice he obtained command of the important post of West Point. He had previously, in a letter to the British commander, signified his change of principles, and his wish to join the royal army. A correspondence now commenced between him and Sir Henry Clinton, the object of which was to concert the means of putting West Point into the hands of the British. The plot was well laid, correct plans of the fort drawn, and as they supposed, the execution certain. The arrangement was effected by Major John Andre, aid-de-camp to Sir Henry Clinton, and adjutant-general of the British army. Andre, who had effected all the arrangements with Arnold,' received CAPTURE OF MAJOR ANDRE. 49 from him a pass, authorizing him, under the feigned name of Anderson, to proceed on the public service to the White Plains, or lower, if it was required. He had passed all the guards and posts on the road without suspicion, and was proceeding, with the delicate negotiation, to Sir Henry, who was then in New York. Having arrived within a few miles of Tarrytown, he was accosted by three individuals who appeared loitering on the road. One of them seized the reins of his bridle, while another in silence pointed a rifle to his breast. Andre exclaimed, " Gentlemen, do not detain me; I am a British officer on urgent business; there is my pass," at the same time drawing from his breast a paper, which he handed to one of the three, while the other two, looking with anxious scrutiny over the shoul ders of their comrades, read as follows : — Head Quarters, Robinson's House, Sept. 22rf, 1780. Permit Mr. John Anderson to pass the guards to the White Plains, or below, if he chooses. He being on public business by my direction. B. Arnold, M. Genl. Andre made a second effort to be dismissed ; when one of the men requested to know, how a British officer came in possession of a pass from an American general. A notice appeared some time since, purporting to be from a person who had remembered the circumstance, and an actual acquaint ance of Paulding, Van Wart and Williams, that Paulding wore a British uniform, which accounted for the fatal mistake made by Andre, in so quickly declaring himself to be a British officer. The three militia men insisted upon Andre's dis mounting, which he did. They then led him to the side of 7 50 CAPTURE OF MAJOR ANDRE. the road, and told him he must divest himself of his clothing, in order to give them an opportunity to search him. This was done with reluctance, after offering his splendid gold watch, his purse, nay thousands, to be permitted to pass; but no bribe could tempt, no persuasion could allure : they were Americans! Paulding, Van Wart and Williams had felt the hand of British wrong ; they had been robbed, ill-treated, and trampled on, and would sooner suffer death than aid the enemy of Washington. This, then, was the appalling moment. Andre knew that all must be divulged. He had but one hope, that their ignorance might prevent their being able to read the papers contained in his boot. In this he was mistaken, for Paulding first seizing the papers, read them aloud to his comrades in a bold voice. Nothing can picture the terrible treachery, which, to their uneducated minds, was planned in these papers. Andre was speechless, and as pale as death. His fortitude seemed to forsake him ; and laying his hands on Paulding's arms, exclaimed, in tones of pity not to be described, " Take my watch, my horse, my purse, all ! all I have — only let me go !" But no ! the stern militia men could not be coaxed or bribed from their duty to their country. By a court martial ordered by General Washington, Andre was tried, found guilty, and agreeably to the law of nations, sentenced to suffer death. Though he requested to die like a soldier, the ignominious sentence of being hung was executed upon him the 2d of October, 1780, at the early age of twenty-nine years. Benedict Arnold effected his escape, remained in the British service during the war, then returned to London, where he died in 1801. "By a vote of Congress, 3d of November, 1780, a silver medal or shield (See Plate IV.) was ordered to be struck and presented to John Paulding, David Williams, and Isaac Van CAPTURE OF MAJOR ANDRE. 51 Wart, who intercepted Major John Andre in the character of a spy, and notwithstanding the large bribes offered them for his release, nobly disdaining to sacrifice their country for the sake of gold, secured and conveyed him to the commanding officer of the district, whereby the conspiracy of Benedict Arnold was brought to light, the insidious designs of the enemy baffled, and the United States rescued from impending danger." A pension of two hundred dollars, annually, during life, was bestowed on each of them. description of the medals. Occasion. — Capture of Major Andre, Adjutant-General of the British army. Device. — A shield. Legend. — Fidelity. Reverse. — A wreath. Legend. — Vincit amor Patriae. GEN. NATHANIEL GREENE. Nathaniel Greene, the son. of a preacher of the Society of Friends, was born on the 27th of May, 1742, in Warwick, Rhode Island. Nathaniel received the first rudiments of his education among that peaceful sect; but being of a strong and robust form, he often had to intersperse his hours of study by a relaxation of labor in the field, at the mill, or at the anvil. His early years were passed at the home of his parents, and in the garb of a strict Quaker, till he was twenty years of age, when he commenced the study of law. Not long, however, did he continue his studies, for in 1773, when the states began to organize their militia, his attention turned to the subject, and he became a member of the " Kent- ish Guards," a military company composed of the most respectable young men in his county. For this he was dis missed from the Society of Friends; yet he ever after re garded the sect with great respect. Greene remained in the ranks of this corps till after the battle of Lexington; when Rhode Island embodied three GENERAL NATHANIEL GREENE. 53 regiments of militia, and placed them under his command with a commission as brigadier-general. He marched his regiments to Cambridge, where he met the commander-in- chief, and was the first to express his satisfaction in his ap pointment, which was met by the confidence and friendship of Washington, which he retained through life. He was appointed by Congress major-general in 1776. He accom panied the army to New York, and took the command of the troops on Long Island. His absence, caused by sickness, from the disastrous battle of Flatbush, was severely regretted; but when the commander-in-chief found it necessary to retreat across New Jersey, General Greene was his companion. Although scarcely able, from debility, to sit on his horse, his cheerfulness and confidence never forsook him, and the spirits of the troops were ever cheered by his example. On the night of the 25th of December, 1776, General Greene crossed the Delaware, and in command of the left wing of the army, surprised the enemy at Trenton, seized their artillery, and prevented their retreat to Princeton. He never left the army during the following winter, but bore his share in its hardships and glories. He commanded the left wing of the American army at the battle of Germantown. " Such was the distressed situation of the American army through the winter of that year, that Washington was doubt ful of his ability to take the field the ensuing season. Every exertion was made to put the army in a condition for the campaign, and General Greene was urged to accept the ap pointment of quarter-master general. The office was accepted with great reluctance, for his inclination was to serve in the line ; and the charge and disbursing the public money was to him of all things unpleasant. The necessities of the army, however, and the strong expression of Washington, that 'some one must make the sacrifice,' at last induced him to 54 GENERAL NATHANIEL GREENE. consent; but not until the condition was acceded, that he should not lose his right to command in action. Of this he availed himself at the battles of Monmouth, and on the retreat from Rhode Island. The duties of his new station were arduous and embarrassing, but were rendered more so by the unhappy factions which divided the councils of the country. Notwithstanding the distress and poverty which threatened ruin to the cause, intrigue and slander were in active opera tion, to undermine the reputation and character of the men who were devoting themselves to accomplish the almost hope less work. Washington himself was assailed; and Greene, who was supposed to have been his favorite officer and con fidential adviser, was made an object of suspicion; but the purity and integrity of General Greene's character bore him above the storm. — Congress did him justice, and his personal friends never faltered in the discharge of their duty towards him." In 1780, General Greene was appointed to the com mand of the southern department ; on his arrival at Charlotte, he found the southern army destitute of almost everything : no artillery, baggage or stores. In a letter to Lafayette, he says : — " Were you to arrive now, you would find a few rag ged, half-starved troops in the wilderness, destitute of every thing necessary for the comfort or convenience of soldiers." He had arrived in an exhausted country, the inhabitants divided into hostile parties, and an enemy before him, well provided, and flushed with the prospect of victory. His only dependence and hope of success were in a number of spirited and devoted officers, who gathered around him, and the promise of reinforcements from the states he had passed through during his route. General Greene thought it most prudent to remove to a place where subsistence and the means of transportation could be obtained. He accordingly marched to the Cheraw hills, on the Pee GENERAL NATHANIEL GREENE. 55 Dee; and detached General Morgan to the west of the Catawba, to cut off the left wing of Cornwallis' army, and otherwise annoy him as circumstances might permit. This movement of General Morgan and his army alarmed the British from their posts. Colonel Tarleton was dispatched with a force to cut off and destroy him ; but in this case the victory took an opposite direction, and Colonel Tarleton's troops met their annihilation at the Cowpens. The news of this victory was a severe blow to Cornwallis, and he at once determined to cut off Morgan's retreat with his prisoners, and prevent h,is joining the main army. But in this he was foiled; for, mistaking the route supposed to be taken by his enemy, Morgan was enabled to reach Greene in safety. Notwith standing the victory at the Cowpens, General Greene had to encounter a number of successive disasters. He was de feated at Guildford, and again at Camden, but prevented Lord Rawdon from improving his success, and obliged him to retire beyond the Santee. While in the vicinity of the Santee, he was under the painful necessity of ordering the sentence of 1 the law to be put in force on some of his men. From the con tinual desertions taking place, he found it necessary to hang eight of his soldiers in one day. A number of forts and gar risons in South Carolina now fell into his hands, but the army, at the approach of Lord Rawdon, was under the neces sity of retreating to the extremity of the state. Discouraging as this was, the firmness and decision of General Greene sus tained him through every trial. Being at this time advised to abandon South Carolina and retire to Virginia, he replied, " I will recover the country or perish in the attempt." Lord Rawdon soon found that pursuit was hazardous, and retired to Charleston. General Greene retired to the Santee Hills, to enjoy the breezes during the debilitating heat of the summer months. An able historian gives the following account of the 56 GENERAL NATHANIEL GREENE. battle at Eutaw Springs, which was the last of General Greene's battles : — " The battle at the Eutaw Springs, on the 8th , of September, was described by the American commander, as the most obstinate and bloody he had ever seen. The militia, with a firmness ' which would have graced the veterans of the great King of Prussia,' advanced with shouts into the hottest of the enemy's fire ; but one part of the line faltering for a moment, the British, elated at the pros pect, sprang forward to improve that moment, but at the same time deranged their own line. General Greene, who was watching for such an incident, ' ordered the second line to advance and sweep the field with the bayonets !' " The order was promptly obeyed, and the enemy were driven from the ground, through their camp in the rear. But their pursuers were diverted by the spoils of their tents, and became irretrievably confused. In the mean time the enemy rallied, and under cover of the fire from a large party who had taken possession of a brick house, recovered their camp. Had it not been for the temptation, so unexpectedly thrown open, the British forces must have surrendered. As it was, their power in South Carolina was prostrated, for in this action they lost upwards of one thousand men. The enemy abandoned the whole of South Carolina, except Charleston, and the American army retired to their former encampment." Except for the purpose of procuring provisions, the enemy lay inactive in Charleston, for with all their sagacity they had not been able to retain possession of the country. They therefore prepared to evacuate the city, having agreed with General Greene to leave it uninjured, and without interruption from the American army. On the 14th of De cember, 1782, the delighted citizens of Charleston beheld the British troops march out of their city, and with joyous congratulations received with open arms the liberators of their GENERAL NATHANIEL GREENE. 57 country. This, indeed, was a happy day ; many and sincere were the prayers offered to the Almighty for their deliver ance ; the whole city presented a scene of festivity. From the governor to the lowly citizen, General Greene was regarded as the object of every eye, the praise of every tongue. South Carolina conveyed to him a valuable portion Of land ; Georgia presented him with a beautiful and highly improved plantation in the vicinity of Savannah. When peace was restored, General Greene returned for a time to his native state, in order to remove his family to his new plantation in Georgia. On his arrival at Princeton, New Jersey, where Congress was then in session, that body unanimously resolved to present him with two pieces of ordnance, taken from the British army, "as a public testimony of the wisdom, fortitude and military skill which distinguished his command in the southern cam paign. They had previously voted him a British standard, and a gold medal, an engraving of which is given on Plate III, commemorative of the battle of Eutaw. In 1785 General Greene removed, with his family, to his new residence in Georgia, where he engaged in agricultural pursuits, and in the education of his children, but his period of domestic repose was short; scarcely a year did he enjoy the happiness of his family, for on the 19th of June, 1786, he closed a life of deep, pure, devoted patriotism to his country, and love and good-will to all mankind. MEDAL. Occasion. — Gallant conduct at Eutaw Springs, S. C. Device. — Head of General Greene, profile. 8 58 GENERAL NATHANIEL GREENE. Legend. — Nathanieli Greene egregio duci comitia Ameri cana. Reverse. — Victory lighting on the earth, stepping on a broken shield ; under her feet broken arms ; colors ; a shield. Legend. — Salus regionem australium. Exergue. — Hostibus ad Eutaw debellatis, die 8th Sept. 1781. l'l_h\3. GEN. HORATIO GATES. Horatio Gates was the son of a clergyman at Maiden, in England, and was born in the year 1729. Having lost his father at an early age, he was left pretty much to the dictates of his own passion. He appears to have determined on a military life as early as twelve years of age, when the fre quent remonstrances of his uncle and guardian could not prevail on him to relinquish the thoughts of a profession so much against the wishes of his family. At the age of seventeen he was appointed to an ensigncy in the regiment commanded by General Monckton, who was a personal friend of the father of Gates, and who gave him every opportunity of improving himself. Shortly after he was promoted to a lieutenancy, and was aid-de-camp to General Monckton at the capture of Martinico, where his bravery and soldier-like conduct won for him the rank of major. He was among the first troops who landed at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, under General Cornwallis, and was stationed there for some time. He was only in his twenty-sixth year when he accompanied the unfortunate Braddock in the ex pedition against Fort du Quesne, and with the illustrious 60 GENERAL HORATIO GATES. Washington, was among the few officers, who, on that occa sion, escaped with their lives. Gates did not escape, how ever, without a very dangerous wound ; he was shot through the body, which for a time shut him out from the bloody and perilous scenes which attended the various battles of the French war. Although he had not been a citizen of the new world but a few years, he evinced his attachment to it by purchasing a farm in Virginia, where he retired till he was perfectly restored to health. His attachment to the new country, and a military reputation so high, Congress, with out any hesitation, appointed him adjutant-general, with the rank of brigadier-general in the new army of the revolution of 1775. General Washington was well acquainted with his merits in his military character, and warmly recommended him to Congress on the occasion ; they had been fellow-sol diers and sufferers under General Braddock. From this period he took an active part in most of the transactions of the war, and his bravery and good fortune placed him in a rank inferior only to Washington. In July, 1775, he accompanied the commander-in-chief to Cambridge, and was employed for some time in a subordinate but highly useful capacity. In June, 1776, the government evinced their confidence in Gates, by conferring on him the chief command of the forces at the north, and the new general was found in no way deficient in courage and vigilance, so neces sary under such circumstances. The Congress had turned an anxious eye towards Canada at the opening of the contest ; being fully aware of the dan ger of their gaining possession of our harbors and lakes, and the great difficulty to us, to obtain possession of their strong forts on their settled frontier. The British commenced the naval preparations on their side with great alacrity and suc cess. But the Americans had every obstacle, but the want of zeal, to encounter in preparing for defence. General GENERAL HORATIO GATES. 61 Gates was directed to co-operate with General Schuyler, but there was a miserable and irreparable deficiency in cannon, in the materials of ship-building, and even in the necessary workmen. The country had been hitherto a desert. Colo nization, in its natural progress, had not approached these solitary shores. Nothing but the exigencies of the former war with France had occasioned this region to be traversed or inhabited. A few forts, with suitable garrisons, were all that could be found in it, and that abundance of workmen, vessels and prepared timber, which a well-planted country would have spontaneously furnished, was unknown. Schuyler, indeed, was not destitute of a naval armament, but it was insufficient to cope with the greater preparations of the enemy. With all the exertions of the two commanders, they were merely able to equip about fifteen vessels, half of which were little better than boats, and the largest carried only twelve small guns very ill supplied with ammunition. This small armament, at the recommendation of General Gates, was placed under the command of the intrepid, and then, unsus pected Arnold. The first operations of the campaign con sisted in a contest between these vessels under Arnold, and a much superior force under General Carleton, in which the land forces had no concern. The British army under Carle- ton commenced their advance to Ticonderoga, where Gates and Schuyler were already stationed with eight thousand men, well provisioned and determined to defend it to the last ex tremity ; all parties expecting to witness a long, obstinate, and, perhaps, a bloody siege. Some causes, however, and most probably the lateness of the season, induced Carleton to disappoint these expectations, by precipitately retiring to Canada in search of winter quar ters. This retreat enabled General Gates to march southward, with a considerable detachment of his army, to assist General 62 GENERAL HORATIO GATES. Washington in his , operations in the middle colonies. The ensuing year was passed in a great variety of movements and skirmishes in the lower districts of New York, Pennsylvania and Jersey, between detachments of each army. In the ordi nary records of the time, we meet with no splendid or con spicuous part performed by the subject of these memoirs, though there is sufficient reason to believe that his services in that motley warfare were active, strenuous and useful. News having reached General Gates that Burgoyne, with part of his army, had passed the Hudson and encamped at Saratoga, he, with numbers already equal, and continually augmenting, advanced quickly towards him, with a resolution to oppose his progress at the risk of a battle. On the 17th of September he arrived at Stillwater, where he encamped, being then within four miles of the enemy. Two days after, skirmishes between advanced parties termi nated in an engagement almost general, in which the utmost efforts of the British merely enabled them to maintain footing of the preceding day Burgoyne, who was daily expecting reinforcements from Clinton at New York, was content to remain in his camp, although his army was diminished by the desertion of the Indians and the Canadian militia, to less than one-half of its original number. Gates, on the contrary, finding his forces largely increasing, being plentifully supplied with provisions, and knowing that Burgoyne had only a limited store, and that rapidly lessening, and could not be recruited, was not without hopes that victory would come, in time, even without a battle. His troops were so numerous, and his fortified position so strong, that he was able to take measures for preventing the retreat of the enemy, by occupying the strong posts in his rear. Accordingly, nineteen days passed without any further operations, a delay as ruinous to one party as it was advan tageous to the other. GENERAL HORATIO GATES. 63 At the end of this period, the British general found his prospects of assistance as remote as ever, and the consump tion of his stores so alarming, that retreat or victory became unavoidable alternatives. On the eighth of October a warm action ensued, in which the British were everywhere repulsed, and a part of their lines occupied by their enemies. Bur- goyne's loss was Very considerable in killed, wounded and prisoners, while the favorable situation of Gates' army made its losses in the battle of no moment. Burgoyne retired in the night to a stronger camp, but the measures immediately taken, by Gates, to cut off his retreat, compelled him without delay to regain his former camp at Saratoga. There he arrived with little molestation from his adversary. His provisions being now reduced to the supply of a few days, the transport of artillery and baggage towards Canada being rendered impracticable by the judicious mea sures of his adversary, the British general resolved upon a rapid retreat, merely with what the soldiers could carry on their backs. They soon found they were deprived even of this resource, as the passes through which their route lay were so strongly guarded, that nothing but artillery could clear them. In this desperate situation a parley took place, and on the sixteenth of October the whole army surrendered to Gates. The prize obtained consisted of more than five thousand prisoners, some fine artillery, seven thousand mus kets, clothing for seven thousand men, with a great quantity of tents, and other military stores. All the frontier fortresses were immediately abandoned to the victors. This successful capture filled America with joy : Congress passed a vote of thanks, and ordered a gold medal (See Plate III) to be presented to him by the President. It is not easy to overrate the im portance of this success. It may be considered as deciding the war of the revolution, as from that period the British cause 64 GENERAL HORATIO GATES. began rapidly to decline. The capture of Cornwallis was not considered of equal importance to that of Burgoyne, nor an event which caused more exultation. The conduct of General Gates towards his conquered enemy was marked by a delicacy which did him the highest honor ; he did not permit his own troops to witness the mor tification of the British in depositing their arms. The system of General Gates was that of forbearance and lenity — of allowing for honest intentions and difference of opinion. The benignity of his measures were seconded by the urbanity of his personal deportment — he was courteous and even friendly to the proscribed, and this event entitled him to a high rank among the deliverers of his country. Soon after General Gates retired to his estate in Virginia, and died in 1806, at the advanced age of seventy-seven years. MEDAL. Occasion. — Surrender of Lieutenant-General Burgoyne and his army at Saratoga, New York, in 1777. Device. — Bust of General Gates. Legend.^ — Horatio Gates duci strenno comitia Americana. Reverse. — Gates and Burgoyne in front of the American and British troops. Burgoyne in the act of presenting his sword to Gates. The Americans on the right, with arms shouldered and colors flying. The British on the left, in the act of grounding their arms, and laying down their colors. By the side of the two generals are a drum and a stand of colors. Legend. — Salus Regionum Septentrional. Exergue. — Hoste ad Saratogam in dedition. Accepto die 17th October, 1777. GENERAL DANIEL MORGAN. The father of Daniel Morgan was a Welshman, who had emigrated from Wales, and settled in the state of New Jersey, some years before the birth of his son, which took place in the year 1736. His father was poor, conse quently his education was confined to the ordinary branches of a country school. At an early age, an enterprising cha racter appeared to be developing itself, and our hero, at the age of seventeen, left the humble roof of his parents, to im prove his fortune at the south. Accordingly, we next find him as wagoner on the estate of a wealthy planter, in Fre derick county, Virginia. In the situation of teamster, he continued until after the unfortunate expedition of Braddock; during the whole of this campaign he drove his own team attached to the army. During this unfortunate campaign he was charged with insolence to a British officer, tried and sentenced to receive five hundred lashes, which he submitted to with that firm indifference which was peculiar to him through the remainder of his life. Lee, in his memoirs says, " That in a few days after the infliction of this disgraceful punishment, the officer became convinced of the injustice of the charge, and made an ample atonement to young Morgan 9 66 GENERAL DANIEL MORGAN. before the whole regiment." It was during this . disastrous campaign, that the military qualifications of Morgan were first noticed, when the officers recommended him to the colo nial government of Virginia, from which he received a com mission as ensign in the English service. It was in this capacity that his powers of mind burst forth, in those quali fications which twenty years afterwards distinguished him as one of the prominent heroes of the glorious revolution. Although engaged from 1775 to 1781, in which he saw more actual service than any other American officer, he re ceived but one dangerous wound. He was attacked by a party of Indians, while carrying dispatches to a frontier post, accompanied by two soldiers ; he received a ball, which enter ing the back of his neck, came out through his left cheek, shattering his jaw in a dangerous manner. He was mounted on a fleet horse, and in falling, grasped firmly the neck of the animal. The savages, presuming he was dead, left him to scalp the two that had fallen. Morgan, who believed that his wounds would prove fatal, or that he should be exhausted by loss of blood, urged his horse to full speed, and the noble animal escaped with him into the fort. One of the savages followed him for some distance, as fast as he could run, with open mouth and tomahawk in hand, expecting every moment his victim would fall. When the disappointed savage found the horse was fast leaving him behind, he threw his tomahawk with great force, but without effect, and abandoned the pur suit with a most hideous yell. This serious wound confined Morgan to the hospital for six months; as soon as convalescence permitted, he returned to his native state, where he remained till he was quite re covered. In 1774, we find him possessor of one of the finest farms in the county of Frederick. During this year he took the command of a company in an expedition to the west, GENERAL DANIEL MORGAN. 67 under Lord Dunmore, against the Indians, who were de feated. On his return, on the Ohio river, he first heard of the hostilities between the English and the Bostonians. On their arrival at Winchester, Virginia, the corps was disbanded, and they severally pledged themselves to each other, to aid their eastern brethren if they should require it. Matters now be coming serious, he applied to Congress for permission to raise a company, which was immediately granted, with an appoint ment as captain. His military popularity being so well known, that in the short space of eight days, ninety-six men had enrolled themselves under his command, which formed the nucleus of that celebrated rifle company, which so sig nally distinguished itself in so many battles. His corps being complete he reached Boston in fifteen days, and remaining there some time in inactivity, he requested to be detached to Quebec. This was done, and under the orders of General Arnold, in that celebrated march through the woods, he led the van. Shortly after his arrival, General Montgomery also arrived, when the attack was decided upon. Morgan led the van-guard, under the order of General Arnold, who, being badly wounded in the leg, was carried from the field at the commencement of the attack. At this time there were three field officers superior in com mand to Morgan, but each, from inexperience, insisted upon waiving their rank, and placed Morgan in command. His attack was upon a two gun battery, supported by fifty men. Having twice fired and missed, he ordered the ladders to be placed, which he mounted, and leaped into the town amidst the fifty men who, after a faint resistance, fled ; this daring act inspired the soldiers, who lost no time in following their leader. The English soldiery were panic-struck, the battery was carried without resistance, the barrier left open, and the people 68 GENERAL DANIEL MORGAN. gave themselves up, asking for protection. Before entering the barrier gate, he was ordered to wait for General Mont gomery. In this he very reluctantly acquiesced, saying at the same time that it would give the enemy time to rally, and recover from their panic. In this he was correct, for the news of the death of the brave Montgomery seemed to damp the ardor of the brave soldiers; although they fought to despera tion, they were overwhelmed by numbers and made prisoners of war. Soon after the exchange of Morgan, he received the appointment of colonel in the continental army ; and marched at the head of the partisan rifle corps to the assistance of General Gates. At the glorious victory of Saratoga, he took a most conspicuous part; although Gates shamefully omitted to do him justice at the time, the English account of the battle gave the principal credit of the victory to Morgan. A reconciliation, however, soon took place between Morgan and Gates ; and the latter, on every subsequent occasion, en deavored to make amends for the injustice. The legislature of Virginia presented Morgan with a horse, pistols and a sword ; and his neighbors named his plantation " Saratoga," in honor of his late victory. His next act of bravery and skill was displayed in the defeat of General Tarleton, at the battle of the Cowpens, on the 17th of January, 1781, where he took nearly as many prisoners as he had men of his own ; and Congress testified the high sense they entertained of this brilliant victory, by presenting him with a gold medal, (here after described.) At the end of the war General Morgan retired to his plantation at Saratoga, and devoted himself to agricultural pursuits. He was elected to Congress, but after serving two sessions, his debilitated health obliged him to retire from public life. In 1800, General Morgan removed to Winchester, where he was confined by extreme debility for nearly two years, and GENERAL DANIEL MORGAN. 69 expired on the sixth day of July, 1802. General Morgan had two daughters, the eldest married to the late General Presly Neville, of Pittsburgh, and the youngest to Major Heard, of New Jersey. Of this gallant soldier it may truly be said, that no officer rendered more efficient aid to the cause of his country, and that he well merited the character at that time given him, the hero of the three greatest victories, Quebec, Saratoga, and the Cowpens. DESCRIPTION OF THE MEDAL. (See Plate III.) Occasion. — Victory at the Cowpens, North Carolina. Device. — An Indian queen with a quiver on her back, in the act of crowning an officer with a laurel wreath ; his hand resting on his sword : a cannon lying on the ground : various military weapons and implements in the back-ground. Legend. — Danieli Morgan, duci exercitus comitia Ameri cana. Reverse. — An officer mounted, at the head of his troops, charging a flying enemy. A battle in the back-ground : in front, a personal combat between a dragoon unhorsed and a foot soldier. Legend. — Victoria libertatis vindex. Exergue. — Fugatis, captis aut csesis ad cowpens hostibus, 17th January, 1781. JOHN EAGER HOWARD John Eager Howard, the subject of this memoir, was born on the 4th of June, 1752, in Baltimore county, and state of Maryland. He was the grandson of Joshua Howard, who, when young, left his home, in the vicinity of Manchester, England, and against the wishes of his parents, joined the army of the Duke of York, afterwards James the Second, during Monmouth's insurrection; fearing to encounter the displeasure of his parents, he joined a band of adventurers, who were preparing to seek their fortunes in the British colonies in North America, in the year 1685. He soon obtained a grant of land in Baltimore county, (which is still held by the family,) and married Miss Joanna O' Carroll, of an Irish family, but recently emigrated from Ireland. Cornelius, his son, and father of the subject of this sketch, married a Miss Eager, whose estate now forms part of the city of Baltimore. During the interval that elapsed between the emigration of the early members of the family to the revolution, they appear to have been quiet cultivators of the soil, taking no part in the political broils that were frequently arising in the colonies. Plalc.4- LO -O.r. 11'/. Ormato -, JOHN EAGER HOWARD. 71 The time had now arrived; when every true son of America felt bound to participate in the approaching struggle for liberty and independence, and John Eager Howard received a commission as captain, in one of those bodies of militia termed flying camps in the regiment commanded by Colonel Hall. The commission depended upon his raising thirty men in a given time ; but such was the esteem in which our hero was held, that he formed his company required in two days, and marched direct to the army. In the following year he was promoted, till finally he suc ceeded Lieutenant-Colonel Ford in the command of the second Maryland regiment. He was present at the battle of White Plains, and continued to serve till the end of the year 1776, when his corps was dismissed. Congress having resolved to raise additional regiments to . serve during the war, with officers commissioned by Congress, Major Howard was one of the number allotted to Maryland, and in April 1777, we find him marching with his regiment to join the army at Rocky Hill, near Princeton, where he remained till the latter end of June, when receiving information of the death of his father, he returned home, till the following September, when he rejoined the army a few days after the Battle at Brandywine Springs, but in time to give proofs of his bravery at the bat tle of Germantown, which afterwards so greatly distinguished him. Colonel Hall being disabled at the commencement of the battle of Germantown, Major Howard assumed the command and encountered the British corps of light infantry, posted some distance from the main body, and after a sharp conflict, pursued them through their encampment, Howard passing with his regiment amidst the standing tents, and in front of Chew's house^ without any serious injury from the fire of the British. Having passed in safety, he advanced his Maryland 72 JOHN EAGER HOWARD. troops about a quarter of a mile farther towards the main body of the British troops, who now sallied forth from their temporary fortress, and attacked the Maryland corps, but a return fire killed the officer who had commanded the garrison, and no further molestation ensued. Major Howard still remained with the army, and was present at the battle of Monmouth, but we do not hear of any par ticular share that he bore in that contest. In. June, 1779, Major Howard received the commission of Lieutenant-Colonel of the fifth Maryland regiment in the army -of the United States, and accordingly prepared for a southern march, to meet General Gates and his army at the camp at Deep Run, North Carolina. Having reinforced, they made night marches, in order to attack the British army, commanded as they thought by Lord Rawdon, but Cornwallis, who had lately arrived from Charles ton with a strong reinforcement, was resolved to assault Gates in his camp. Gates, who had left his camp, and was pro ceeding by night marches to meet his antagonist, was encoun tered in the woods, where, to his great astonishment and dismay, he found that not Lord Rawdon, but Cornwallis, was the commander of the British troops, and that the enemy was much superior in force to the American troops. A retreat now was impossible, and the only alternative offered, was to form a line of battle. The disheartening intelligence, that Cornwallis had reinforced the British army, and the darkness of night, may, in some measure, account for the conduct of the militia in the battle of Camden, for they gave way early in the action, thereby throwing the whole of the British troops entirely upon the two Maryland brigades, who maintained the contest obstinately against superior numbers, at one time making a partially successful attempt to use the bayonet. Colonel Howard drove the corps in front of him out of line ; JOHN EAGER HOWARD. 73 and if the left wing of the American army had been able to occupy the attention of the British right, the day would have been propitious ; but attacked as he was in front and rear, by horse and foot, the American troops were overpowered and driven into the woods and swamps in all directions. C&lonel Howard succeeded in keeping a few of his men together, and being occasionally joined by other officers and men, they reached Charlotte, a distance of sixty miles, in about three days: their only subsistence during that time was a few peaches. From this time, and until the arrival of General Greene in December, Colonel Howard was employed in equipping and forming into a battalion, four companies of light infantry, placed under his command, and then trans ferred to Greene. The next conspicuous act of our hero was at the celebrated battle of the Cowpens, 17th of January, 1781. We find from manuscript and printed documents of Colonel Howard himself, whose scrupulous accuracy places his authority beyond a doubt, that it was Howard, and not Morgan, who gave the order to the right company to change its front and protect his flank, and it was Howard also, who, on his own responsibility, ordered the charge with the bayo net. We give his own language : — " Seeing my right flank was exposed to the enemy, I attempted to change the front of Wallace's company, (Virginia regulars;) in doing it, some confusion ensued, and first a part, and then the whole of the company commenced a retreat. The officers along the line seeing this, and supposing that orders had been given for a retreat, faced their men about and moved off. Morgan, who had mostly been with the militia, quickly rode up to me and expressed apprehensions of the event; but I soon removed his fears by pointing to the line, and observing that men were not beaten who retreated in that order. He then ordered me to keep with the men, until we came to the rising ground 10 74 JOHN EAGER HOWARD. near Washington's horse ; and he rode forward to fix on the most proper place for us to halt and face about. In a minute we had a perfect line. The enemy were now very near us. Our men commenced a very destructive fire; which they little expected, and a few rounds occasioned great disorder in their ranks. While in this confusion I ordered a charge with the bayonet, which order was obeyed with great alacrity. As the line advanced, I observed their artillery a short dis tance in front, and called to Captain Ewing, who was near me, to take it. Captain Anderson, (now General Anderson, of Montgomery county, Maryland,) hearing the order, also pushed for the same object ; and both being emulous for the prize, kept pace until near the first piece, when Anderson, by putting the end of his spontoon forward into the ground, made a long leap, which brought him upon the gun and gave him the honor of the prize. My attention was now drawn to an altercation of some of the men with an artillery man, who appeared to make it a point of honor not to surrender his match. The men, provoked by his obstinacy, would have bayoneted him on the spot, had I not interfered and desired them to spare the life of so brave a man. He then surren dered his match. In the pursuit I was led to the right, in among the seventy-first, who were broken into squads ; and as I called to them to surrender, they laid down their arms, and the officers delivered up their swords. Captain Duncan son, of the seventy-first grenadiers, gave me his sword and stood by me. Upon getting on my horse, I found him pull ing at my saddle, and he nearly unhorsed me. I expressed my displeasure, and asked what he was about. The explana tion was, that they had orders to give no quarter, and they did not expect any ; and as my men were coming up, he was afraid they would use him ill. I admitted his excuse and put him into the care of a sergeant. I had messages from JOHN EAGER HOWARD. 75 him many years afterwards, expressing his obligation for my having saved his life." At the time Colonel Howard was "among the seventy-first," as he observes, he had in his hand at one time, seven swords of officers who had surren dered to him personally. The moral effect of this celebrated battle was felt through out the whole country. Congress voted a gold medal to Colonel Howard, (See Plate I,) descriptive of his gallant conduct at the Cowpens, which is described at the end of this sketch. The battle of the Cowpens is the only one on record, in which the American troops fairly conquered the British with the bayonet in open field. In the extreme danger incurred by the rear guard, in pro tecting the retreat of Greene, Colonel Howard bore his full share ; in the battle of Guildford, which soon followed, we find his skill and bravery displayed in no common degree. In his own manuscript, he observes : — " My station being on the left of the first regiment, and next the cleared ground; Cap tain Gibson, deputy adjutant^general, rode up to me, and informed me that a party of the enemy inferior in number to us, were pushing through the cleared ground and into our rear, and that if we would face about and charge them, we might take them. I rode to Colonel Gunby and gave him the information. He did not hesitate to order the regiment to face about, and we were immediately engaged with ¦ the guards. Our men gave them some well directed fires, and we then advanced and continued firing. At this time Gun- by's horse was shot, and falling upon him, injured him, but not severely. Major Anderson was killed about this time. As we advanced, I observed Washington's horse, and as their movements were quicker than ours, they first charged and broke the enemy. My men followed very quickly, and we 76 JOHN EAGER HOWARD. pressed through the guards, many of whom had been knocked down by the horse without being much hurt. We took some prisoners, and the whole were in our power. " After passing through the guards, as before stated, I found myself in the cleared ground, and saw the seventy-first regiment near the court-house, and other columns of the enemy appearing in different directions. " Washington's horse having gone off, I found it necessary to retire, which I did leisurely ; but many of the guards who were lying on the ground, and who we supposed were wounded, got up and fired at us as we retired." Such is the unadorned narrative of this brave and gallant soldier. At the battle of Hobkirk's Hill, he also ably distin guished himself. At Eutaw he had the command of the second Maryland regiment, who distinguished themselves at the bayonet's point, and (according to Lee) in encountering the obstinate resistance of the Buffs, many of the Maryland- ers and of the Buffs were mutually transfixed with each other's bayonets. Colonel Howard, in a letter, says, " nearly one-half of my men were killed or wounded, and I had seven officers out of twelve disabled ; four killed, and three severely wounded." Towards the end of the battle, Colonel Howard received a ball in the left shoulder, which, passing entirely through, came out under the shoulder-blade, and disabled him. In a letter from General Greene to General Small- wood, written a few days after the battle, he says, " nothing could exceed the gallantry of the Maryland line, the uncom mon bravery of Colonels Howard, Williams, and the other officers, and the free use of the bayonet, by this and some other corps, gave us the victory." As soon as he was able to be removed, Colonel Howard was taken home, followed by the affectionate commendations of his brother officers. General Greene, in writing to a friend, JOHN EAGER HOWARD. 77 after his departure, says, " Colonel Howard is as good an officer as the world afforded, and deserves a statue of gold, no less than the Roman or Grecian heroes." At the conclusion of the war, Colonel Howard retired to his estates in Baltimore county, and soon after married Mar garet, the daughter of Benjamin Chew, of Philadelphia. He was shortly after chosen governor of Maryland, which office he filled for three years. In 1795, General Washington invited him to a seat in his cabinet, but this was declined. In 1796, he was transferred from the legislature of his own state to the senate of the United States, where he remained seven years ; he then returned again to his agricultural pur suits, where he remained till the trumpet of war broke in upon his retirement in 1814. The capture of Washington by the enemy, and the meditated attack upon Baltimore, de manded a preparation for resistance, and a troop of aged men was organized to render such services as their strength would allow, and Colonel Howard was, by unanimous consent, placed at its head. Colonel Howard now began to feel the effects of his early wound, which at every slight exposure brought on severe pain, which made inroads in his constitution not easily repaired. In 1821 he had the misfortune to lose his eldest daughter, and in 1822 his eldest son, and in 1824, the loss of his devoted wife gave him a shock from which he never re covered ; from that time his health began fast to decline, and in October, 1827, he resigned his life with characteristic for titude and pious resignation. An obituary notice written by a celebrated dignitary of the Catholic church, demands a place in these pages. " One after another, the stars of our revolutionary firmament are sinking below the horizon. They rise in another hemisphere, as they set to us ; and the youth of other times will gaze upon their lustre, as he learns their names and marks them clustering into constellations, which 78 JOHN EAGER HOWARD. will recall to his mind some interesting event of our period of struggle." An able historiographer thus speaks of the lament ed Howard: "In private life he was distinguished for the amenity of his manners, his hospitality, and his extensive and useful knowledge. He possessed a memory uncommonly minute, and a love of information that never sank under the labor of acquisition. These faculties rendered him, , perhaps, the most accurate repository of the history of his own time, in this or any other country. His habits of life were con templative, cautious, scrupulously just, and regulated by the strictest method. Few men have enjoyed a more enviable lot ; — his youth distinguished in the field, his age in the council, and every period solaced by the attachment of friends. Affluent in fortune, as rich in public regard, and blessed in his domestic and personal associations, he has glided away from the small band of his compatriots, as full of honors as of years. The example of such a citizen is a legacy to his country, of more worth than the precepts of an age." MEDAL. Occasion. — Victory at the Cowpens, N. Carolina. Device. — An officer mounted, with uplifted sword, pursuing an officer on foot, bearing a stand of colors : Victory descend ing in front over the former, holding a wreath in her right hand over his head : a palm-branch in her left hand. Legend. — John Eager Howard, legionis peditum preefecto comitia Americana. Reverse Inscription — (within a laurel wreath.) — Quod in nutantem hostium aciem subito irruens, prseclarum bellicae virtutis specimen dedit in pugna, ad Cowpens, 17th January, 1781. COL. WILLIAM A. WASHINGTON. William Augustine Washington was the eldest son of Baily Washington, of Stafford county, Virginia. The sub ject of these memoirs had commenced his studies for the church, when the war sound of the revolution rung in his ears; he was one of those who exerted such an exalted influ ence throughout the whole campaign, that his biographers distinguish him as the "modern Marcellus." Colonel Washington was a scholar of rare, attainments, especially in the Greek language, in which, in his day, he was unequalled. At the request of his relative, General George Washington, he was appointed to the command of a company of infantry, in the third regiment of the Virginia line. He was distinguished for his manly fortitude in sustaining the greatest difficulties and dangers. He led one of the attacking columns, at the surprise of the Hessians at Trenton, where he received a severe wound from a musket-ball which passed entirely through his hand. He was afterwards appointed a major in a regiment of dragoons, 80 COLONEL WILLIAM A. WASHINGTON. commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Baylor, which was shortly after surprised by a detachment of the enemy, commanded by General Grey, and almost cut to pieces. Our hero for tunately escaped, and in the year following joined the army of General Lincoln, of South Carolina, with whose troops he was constantly employed, in encounters with the British, first, near Ashley Ferry, where he drove back the cavalry of the British legion, commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Tarleton, and took several prisoners : but being unsupported by infantry, he gained but little advantage or success. It has been asserted, and it is believed from good authority, that Colonel Washington and Tarleton were personally en gaged, and that during the skirmish, Tarleton lost three of his fingers from a stroke from the sword of Colonel Washing ton. An anecdote is related and believed to be correct, re specting the meeting of these two officers : it is as follows : — Tarleton, when on a visit to an American family, remarked, that he should be glad to get another look at this Colonel Washington, of whom he had heard so much : when a lady in company quickly observed, " What a pity Colonel Tarle ton did not turn his head when he lost his fingers !" Sub sequently, Colonel Washington was attached to the light corps, commanded by General Morgan ; and by an ingenious stratagem carried a valuable post in possession of the British, called Rugely's, and took a great number of prisoners, with out firing a single shot. Aware of the character of his op ponent, Colonel Rugely, he placed a pine log on the wheels of a wagon, so painted as to have the appearance, at a dis tance, of a field-piece, threatening immediate destruction if any resistance should be offered. The affrighted Colonel begged for quarter and surrendered without difficulty ! Next followed the brilliant victory of the Cowpens, in which Colonel Washington contributed in no small degree. COLONEL WILLIAM A. WASHINGTON. 81 His ardor in this contest had nearly cost him his life. Ani mating the troops to the pursuit by his example, he advanced so far as to be surrounded by several British officers. At the moment when the sword of one of them wras actually raised for his destruction, his brave bugleman fired a pistol which disabled the British officer, and saved the life of his gallant commander. Shortly after his cavalry was added to a body of horse and foot selected by General Greene, and placed under the command of Colonel Williams. Colonel Wash ington was happy to a degree in baffling the efforts of Corn wallis to force Greene to a battle. He took a very conspicu ous part in the contest at Guildford Courthouse, where, by a spirited and daring charge, he broke the British regiment of guards, commanded by Colonel Stewart, who was killed; and with the brave Colonel Howard and his gallant Marylanders, nearly effected their entire destruction. Colonel Garden re lates the following remarks made to him by an officer of distinction in the army of the enemy : — " I was near Gene ral Webster when the charge was made by Washington. The desperate situation of the guards had its effect on all around. An American officer quickly perceiving it, rode up to the British line and called aloud, ' Surrender, gentlemen, and be certain of good quarters.' Terrified by appearances, and concluding that defeat was inevitable, the soldiers of the regiment of De Bose were actually throwing down their arms. In the midst of the confusion, General Webster, famed for great presence of mind, exclaimed, ' Unless that gallant fellow is taken off, we are lost.' A field-piece at this moment was brought up, and directed to be fired into the throng where the guards now appeared to be greatly outnumbered, and did so with the happiest success ; the cavalry wheeled off, the re mains of the battalion rallied, and the army was saved." At Hobkirk Hill, Colonel Washington added another wreath 11 82 COLONEL WILLIAM A. WASHINGTON. to his well-earned laurels. Famous for skillful maneuvering, he cut off the rear of the British line, capturing eleven offi cers and two hundred men, but the early retreat of the Ameri can forces prevented his bringing more than fifty of his pri soners off the field; these, however, contained the eleven officers. At the battle of Eutaw, his repeated charges on the British light infantry were signalized by extraordinary bravery and valor. In an effort which required all his courage, his horse was shot from under him, and becoming entangled as he fell, he was taken prisoner. This was the closing scene of his military performances, which had always been charac terized by ardor, bravery and decision ; he knew danger only by name, and though unfortunate at last, no officer in the American revolution ever in a higher degree merited success. He remained a prisoner until the close of the war, when he retired to his plantation at Sandy Hill, about thirty miles from Charleston, South Carolina. He served for several years as a member of the legislature, during which service he was persuaded to become a candidate for the office of governor ; but this honor he respectfully declined. He married a lady to whom he had become attached during his imprisonment. By her he had a son and daughter. After a long and tedious illness, borne by the most heroic and Christian fortitude, he died on the 6th of March, 1810. By a resolve of Congress, 9th March, 1781, which stated that eighty cavalry and two hundred and thirty-seven infantry of the United States, and five hundred and fifty-three south ern militia, obtained a complete victory over a select and well- appointed detachment of more than eleven , hundred British, commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Tarleton, a silver medal was ordered to be struck and presented to Colonel Washington, of which the following is a description : — COLONEL WILLIAM A. WASHINGTON. 83 Occasion. — Victory at the Cowpens, North Carolina. Device. — An officer mounted at the head of a body of cavalry, charging flying troops : Victory over the heads of the Americans, holding a laurel crown in her right hand, and a palm branch in her left. Legend, — Gulielmo Washington legionis equit. Prsefecto comitia Americana. Reverse. — Quod parva militum manu strenue prospectus hostes, virtutis ingenitse prseclarum specionen dedit in pregna ad Cowpens, 17th January, 1781. (Within a laurel crown.) (See Plate I.) MAJOR HENRY LEE. Henry Lee, the subject of the following sketch, was born in Virginia on the 29th of January, 1756. His family was one of the most respectable among the first settlers of that state. His father was for many years a member of the provincial assembly of Virginia. Henry Lee was prepared for college by a private tutor at his father's residence, and afterwards graduated at Princeton College, New Jersey, under the superintendence of Dr. Witherspoon, then Presi dent. Two years after his graduation, and in the twentieth of his age, he was appointed to the command, as captain, of one of the six companies of cavalry, raised by his native state ; the whole under the command of Colonel Theodoric Bland. During the campaigns of 1775 and 1776, there was not a single troop of horse attached to the continental army. Gene ral Washington, seeing the danger arising from this, was urgent in his applications to Congress, and consequently the Virginia regiment was received into the service of the United States. Here, under the immediate eye of the commander-in-chief, his skill in discipline and gallant bearing rapidly acquired MAJOR HENRY LEE. 85 confidence. He was promoted to the rank of Major, with the command of a separate corps of cavalry. From his able and rigorous attention to his horses and men, he was enabled at all times to act with promptness and efficiency. Not only in attacking light parties of the enemy, but in foraging and obtaining information, he rendered most essential service to the American army. As it was the province of Lee to lay near the British lines to discover their movements, an attempt was made to cut off both him and his troops. A body of British cavalry, amount ing to about two hundred men, made a circuitous route, seiz ing four of his patrols, and came unexpectedly upon him in his stone house used as quarters. He had with him at the time but ten men ; the majority were dispersed in search of forage. With this small but gallant band, he made such a resolute and determined defence, that the enemy hastily retreated, after having four men and several horses killed, with one officer and three men wounded. This gallant and almost miraculous affair called forth from his commander-in-chief marks of his warmest approbation. Congress also voted him their thanks and congratulations upon his fortunate escape. In the year 1779, Lee again called forth the approbation of his country, by the successful execution of a plan for the capture of the British garrison, stationed at Paulus Hook, near New York. At the head of about three hundred men, he completely surprised the garrison, and after taking one hundred and sixty prisoners, retreated with the loss of but two men killed and three wounded. As a reward for the "prudence, skill and bravery" shown by Major Lee in the affair of Paulus Hook, Congress ordered 86 MAJOR HENRY LEE._ a gold medal to be struck, under the direction of the board of treasury, and presented to him ; a description of which will be given at the end of this memoir. Early in 1780, he returned with his legion to the south, having been previously promoted to the rank of lieutenant- colonel, to join General Greene, who was then watching the movements of Cornwallis. At the celebrated retreat of Greene, before Cornwallis, the legion of Major Lee formed the rear-guard of the American army ; and so hasty was the pursuit, that Lee, coming in con tact with the dragoons of Tarleton, in a successful charge, killed eighteen, and made a captain and fifteen privates prisoners. When the safety of General Greene's retreat was certain, Lee, with Colonel Pickins, was detached to intercept •and watch the movements of Lord Cornwallis. Lee now formed a plan to surprise Tarleton, and on their way to exe cute the plan, they fell in with some messengers, dispatched by some loyalists to Tarleton, to apprise him of his situation. These messengers, mistaking the legion of Lee for the British, freely communicated the object of their errand, which enabled Lee to act accordingly. He particularly distinguished himself in the battle of Guild ford. Afterwards he succeeded in capturing Fort Cornwallis, and other forts. In the battle of Eutaw Springs, which soon followed, his military talents were again exerted, and again contributed in no small degree to the successful issue of the day. Our hero was next dispatched by General Greene to lay before his commander-in-chief the exigencies of the troops under his command. Washington was then engaged in the siege of Yorktown, and Lee arrived a few days only before its surren der. He was present at that imposing and eventful ceremony, MAJOR HENRY LEE. 87 and, after having executed his commission, returned again to the south. The health of Colonel Lee had been much im paired by the fatigues and hardships he had undergone; besides, he fancied himself neglected, and his services under rated. Under the influence of these feelings, he sought and obtained permission to retire from the army. Soon after his return to Virginia, he married Matilda, the daughter of Philip Ludwell Lee, and settled at Stratford, in Westmoreland county. In 1786, he was appointed a delegate in Congress from Virginia, in which body he remained till the constitution was adopted. In 1791, he was chosen governor of Virginia, and retained the office three years. He was a member of Con gress at the death of General Washington, and was appointed by Congress to deliver an eulogy on the occasion. He re tained his seat in Congress until the election of Jefferson to the chief magistracy, when he retired into private life. The last years of this gallant officer were clouded by pecuniary embarrassments. The profuse and extravagant mode of living in Virginia ruined his estate, and obliged him for some time to submit to the incarceration of a prison. During his confinement he composed his memoirs of the southern campaign, in which he had been one of the princi pal actors ; the events of which he had so good an opportu nity of knowing. In hopes of restoring his broken health, Colonel Lee repaired to the West Indies, in order to try a warmer and more equable climate; but his hopes proved futile, and in 1818, on his return to the United States, he died on the 25th of March, at the house of Mrs. Shaw, on Cumber land Island, near St. Mary's, Georgia, the daughter of his old friend and companion in arms, General Greene. 88 MAJOR HENRY LEE. DESCRIPTION OF THE MEDAL, Occasion. — Attack on Paulus Hook. Device. — Bust of Colonel Lee. Legend. — Henrico Lee, equit preefecto. Exergue. — Comitia Americana. Reverse. — Non obstantib fluminibus, vallis astutia et vir- tute bellica, parva manu hostes vicit victosq. Armis humani- tate devinxit. In men. pugn. ad Paulus Hook, 19th August, 1779. (See Plate IV.) Plate, 5. GEN. WINFIELD SCOTT. Winfield Scott was born on the 13th of June, 1785, in the county of Dinwiddie, near Petersburg, Virginia. De signed for the profession of the law, he received a liberal education, and graduated at William and Mary College in that state. In 1806, having completed his studies, he com menced practice at the bar, with talents and acquirements which bade fair to introduce him to a very lucrative business. In 1807, the aggressions upon our defenceless commerce, by European powers, and the outrage upon the frigate Chesa peake, roused the indignant feelings of the nation. Redress was promptly called for, and the more ardent of our country men prepared for an immediate war. One of the first mea sures, at the next session of Congress, was to pass a bill for the increase of the army, and young Scott forsook the law, and was appointed a captain in a regiment of light artillery ; in which capacity he remained prosecuting, with his usual zeal, his military studies, until the declaration of war in 1812, which opened a more arduous field for the exercise of his brilliant talents. On the 6th of July, 1812, Scott was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel in the second regiment of artillery; 12 90 GENERAL WINFIELD SCOTT. and arrived on the Niagara frontier, with the companies of Towson and Barker, and was posted at Black Rock, to pro tect the navy yard at that place. On the 13th of October, the attack upon Queenstown, under Colonel Solomon Van Rensselaer, took place. On the day previous, Lieutenant-Colonel Scott had arrived with his. regiment at Schlosser, twelve miles from Lewiston. The object of this movement was to dispossess the enemy from the fort and village of Queenstown Heights, and thus to make a lodgment for the American troops on the Canada shore, the invasion of Canada being then the leading object of the northern campaign. Anxious to be near the scene of action, Scott obtained permission to march his regiment to Lewiston, and to use, his artillery as circumstances might di rect. In the early part of the action which followed he bore no part; but Colonels Van Rensselaer and Fenwick having fallen severely wounded, Colonel Scott's request to cross the river was finally acceded to. The enemy was driven from the heights, which were now in the possession of the Ameri cans, who gallantly repulsed an attack under General Brock, who had come up with reinforcements, but was himself killed in the engagement. On his arrival, Colonel Scott found the troops in great disorder. Announcing his name and rank, he immediately formed them into line. Colonel Scott's attention was first directed to an eighteen pounder, which the enemy, in his retreat, had left in the hands of the Americans, after having hastily spiked it ; and he proceeded in person to direct the measures for rendering the piece again useful. Returning in a short time, he was surprised to find a large body of Indians preparing to attack the American lines, while the troops, already in some confusion, were on the point of giving way. His presence soon changed the state of affairs, and the savages GENERAL WINFIELD SCOTT. 91 were compelled to make a hasty retreat. With an unanimous burst of enthusiasm, the line suddenly rallied from right to left, threw itself forward upon the enemy, putting him to precipitate flight, and leaving the ground strewed with the dead and wounded. In this manner successive conflicts were kept up, till a reinforcement of British arrived, under the command of Major General Sheaffe. Colonel Scott now perceiving that a crisis must be near at hand, every effort was made by the commanding officers to induce the American militia, on the opposite side of the river, to cross over to the assistance of their countrymen, but in vain. Entreaty was wasted upon them, and as all the boats were upon the American side, the little band under Scott was left to await a fate from which there was no retreat. All had now been done that was required by honor, and longer re sistance would only have sacrificed in vain the lives of brave men. Terms of capitulation being agreed upon, Colonel Scott surrendered into the hands of the enemy his whole force, now reduced to one hundred and thirty-nine regulars, and one hundred and fifty-four militia ; in all two hundred and ninety-three men. Thus ended the battle of Queens town Heights; an engagement desultory in its movements, but unfortunate in its results. From Queenstown, Scott was sent to Quebec ; whence, upon being exchanged, he soon after embarked for Boston. Previous to this, however, one of those scenes occurred in which the decision of character of Colonel Scott was most strikingly displayed. When the prisoners were embarked on board the transport to be conveyed to Boston, they were first mustered on the deck by British officers, and every man whose accent betrayed his British birth, was set apart to be sent to England as a traitor, there to be tried and executed. As soon as Scott became aware of what was going on, he instantly forbade his 92 GENERAL WINFIELD SCOTT. soldiers to make further answer. Twenty-three had already been set apart for a shameful death. After the command from their Colonel, no threats from the British officer could induce the men again to speak. Scott, amidst constant interrup tions from the British officer, addressed the men, encouraged them to be of good cheer, and solemnly pledged himself to them, that if a hair of the head of one of them was touched, because of their having served in the American army, retalia tion should be made upon British prisoners in the hands of the Americans. These twenty-three men, all Irish, were, vertheless, put in irons and sent to England, bearing with them the pledge of a gallant soldier, who, they knew, would not fail them. His first care, on his arrival at Boston, was to lay the whole circumstances before the secretary of war, who communicated the same to Congress. A law was passed vesfr- ing the President with the power of retaliation, and two months after, at the capture of Fort George, Scott having made many prisoners, true to his pledge, selected twenty- three of his prisoners, and confined them to abide the fate of the twenty-three naturalized Americans. In making this selection, Scott was careful not to include a single Irishman. The British authorities saw the peril, and, it may be pre sumed, the injustice of the step they had taken, and not one of the prisoners was tried or harmed. The sequel to the foregoing narrative is told by his biographer, and must be read with interest. In July, 1815, when peace had been some months concluded, and Scott (then a major-general), was pass ing along on the East River side of the city of New York, he was attracted by loud cheers and bustle on one of the piers. He approached the scene, and great was his delight to find that it was the cheer of his old Irish friends, in whose behalf he had interfered at Quebec, and who had that moment landed in triumph, after a confinement of more than two GENERAL WINFIELD SCOTT. 93 years in English prisons! He was quickly recognized by them, hailed as their deliverer, and nearly crushed by their warm-hearted embraces ! Twenty-one were present, two having died natural deaths. Scott had not then recovered from the wounds he had received in the bloody battle of the Niagara, and was about to embark on a voyage to Europe. Yet, in conformity with the promises of friendship he had made with these men, he found time to write to the depart ments at Washington, and solicit for them their patents for land bounties, and their long arrearages of pay. He was successful, and they were at length restored both to their adopted country and their promised rewards. Several of these brave sons of Ireland are yet alive, and can testify to the truth of this narrative. Shortly after the capture of York, the capital of Upper Canada, in 1813, Colonel Scott joined the army at Fort Niagara. He joined in the capacity of adjutant-general, (chief of the staff,) under the command of Major-General Dearborn. Though thus engaged in staff duties, he insisted upon the right, and it was conceded, of commanding his own regiment on extraordinary occasions. On the British side of the Niagara was a peninsula, of which Fort George was the defence. This position General Dearborn was determined to carry. The first act of Colonel Scott was in leading the advanced column of the attack, which so completely suc ceeded that the enemy was driven from the work and the field ; and but for repeated and peremptory orders, Scott would probably have captured the whole British force. Fort George, the colors of which had been taken down by Colonel Scott himself, became the head quarters of the American troops, and in command of it Colonel Scott was left, when the main body of the army went down the St. Lawrence, in the sum mer of that year, to attack Montreal. The whole summer 94 GENERAL WINFIELD SCOTT. passed without any attack from the British, when Scott obtained permission to turn Fort George over to General McLure, of the New York militia, and to join the main army at Sacket's Harbor ; marching to the mouth of the Genesee river, where the commander-in-chief promised that transports should meet him. It is well known that the expedition, after exciting much expectation, finally resulted in utter failure. The troops endured great fatigue, and encountered consider able danger in the difficult and perilous navigation of the St. Lawrence, without obtaining an opportunity of distinguishing themselves or benefiting their country. This unlucky cam paign was, however, brilliantly redeemed by that of the fol lowing year. On the 9th of March, 1814, Colonel Scott was promoted to the rank of Brigadier-General, and he joined General Brown on his route to Niagara, in the commence ment of the next month. Soon after General Brown was called to Sacket's Harbor, and the command, in consequence, devolved upon General Scott, who immediately assembled the army and established a camp of instruction. His whole attention was now given to perfecting the discipline of the troops, to give them that celerity and combination of movement, which in modern times has made war a science, and rendered individual prowess of so little avail. For two months and a half the troops were drilled daily, from seven to nine hours each day, until finally they exhibited a perfection of discipline never before attained in our army. They were now prepared to meet on terms of equality the veteran troops of the enemy, and they soon had an opportunity of showing the advantages they had derived from their instruction. In June, Major General Brown reached Buffalo with reinforcements, and in the commencement of the next month the campaign was opened. GENERAL WINFIELD SCOTT. 95 The Niagara was passed on the 3d of July in two brigades, Scott's and Ripley's, the former below, the latter above Fort Erie, which almost immediately surrendered. On the morn ing of the 4th, the army moved towards Chippewa, General Scott's brigade being in advance ; and on the evening of the same day, took up a position on the bank of Street's Creek, about two miles distant from the British encampment. The stream was in front of the American position, having beyond it an extensive plain ; its right rested upon the Niagara, and its left upon a wood. On the following day the British militia and the Indians having occupied the wood, commenced annoying the American piquets from it, until Brigadier Gene ral Porter, at the head of his brigade of militia and friendly Indians, drove the enemy from the wood back upon the Chip pewa. The British regulars being here supported by their whole army, drawn out in line and advancing to the attack, General Porter, in his turn, was compelled to give way. The heaviness of the firing informed General Brown of the ad vance of the main body of the enemy. It was now about four o'clock in the afternoon. General Scott was at this moment advancing with his brigade to drill upon the plain, on which the battle was afterwards fought. On the march he met General Brown, who said to him, "The enemy is advancing. You will have a fight." Beyond this brief remark, Scott received no further orders during the day. General Brown passed to the rear, to put Ripley's brigade in motion, and to reassemble the light troops behind Street's Creek. It was not till he arrived at the. bridge over Street's Creek, two hundred yards to the right of his camp of the night before, that Scott saw the enemy. The army of Riall had crossed the bridge over Chippewa, and displayed itself on the plain before described. It was composed of the one hundredth regiment, under Lieutenant- 96 GENERAL WINFIELD SCOTT. Colonel, the Marquis of Tweedale ; the first, or Royal Scots, under Lieutenant-Colonel Gordon ; a portion of the eighth, or King's own regiment; a detachment of the royal artillery; a detachment of the royal nineteenth light dragoons; and a portion of Canada militia and Indians. The main body of these troops were among the best in the British army. This force was supported by a heavy battery of nine pieces, within point blank range of the American troops. Under On his arrival in France, Jones was received with the most flattering attention by the most distinguished persons in Paris. Louis the Sixteenth presented him with the cross of military merit, and a magnificent gold mounted sword, bearing this inscription: "Maris Ludovicus 16 Remunerator StrenuoVin- dici." He returned to America in the ship Ariel of twenty guns, after an absence of nearly three years. Congress imme diately adopted the following resolutions : — " Resolved, — That the Congress entertain a high sense of the distinguished bravery and military conduct of John Paul Jones, Esq., captain in the navy of the United States, and particularly in his victory over the British frigate Serapis, on the coast of England, which was attended with circumstances so brilliant as to excite general applause and admiration. "Resolved, — That a gold medal (see Plate VIII.) be struck and presented to the Chevalier Paul Jones, in commemoration of the valor and brilliant services of that officer ; and that the Hon. Mr. Jefferson, minister plenipotentiary of the United States at the court of Versailles, have the same executed in France with proper devices." Late in the year of 1787 he returned to Europe in order to 192 PAUL JONES. settle some disputes relative to certain prizes which had been sent into Denmark ; which, after much trouble, he ac complished to the satisfaction of his government., After a year. of ill health, he died at Paris, on the 18th of July, 1792, aged forty-five years. President Washington designated him for the important mission to treat with the Dey of Algiers on the ransom of American captives. His credentials reached Paris the day after his death. description of the medal. Occasion. — Capture of the English frigate Serapis, Cap tain Pearson, by the Bon Homme Richard, Captain John Paul Jones. Device. — Head of John Paul Jones. Legend. — Joanni Paulo Jones classis prefecto comitia Americana. Reverse. — Two frigates engaged yard-arm and yard-arm; the English ship severely battered in the sides. Another ship lying across the bow of the British frigate. Legend. — Hostium navibus captis aut frigatis. Exergue. — Ad nam Scotia?, 23d September, 1778. Plate, 9. 2- 25 26 CAPT. THOMAS TRUXTUN. The subject of the following memoir, whose achievements shed a lustre on the infant navy of his country, was the son of an eminent English barrister of the state (then colony) of New York, and was born at Long Island, on the 7th of Feb ruary, 1755. Our hero, in consequence of the death of his father, was placed under the guardianship of his intimate friend, John Troup, Esq., of Jamaica, on Long Island. In a short time, however, the kindling spark of that spirit, which has since shone so conspicuously in his character, led him to the sea. At the early age of twelve years, he embarked, on his trial voyage, in the ship Pitt, Captain Joseph Holmes, bound to Bristol, England. In the following year he was placed, at his own request, under the direction of Captain James Cham bers, a celebrated commander in the London trade. During his apprenticeship, when the armament, in consequence of the dispute respecting the Falkland Islands, took place, he was im pressed on board the Prudent, an English man-of-war of sixty- four guns ; but was afterwards released through the application of a person in authority. While on board the Prudent, the Cap- 25 194 CAPTAIN THOMAS TRUXTUN. tain, pleased with his intelligence and activity, endeavored to prevail on him to remain in the service, and assured him that all his interest should be used for his promotion ; but notwith standing the prospects thus opened to his youthful and aspiring mind, he left the Prudent, and returned to his old ship. He conceived that his engagements with his former commander would not permit him with honor to indulge his wishes. In the early part of 1775, he commanded a vessel, and suc ceeded in bringing considerable quantities of powder into the United Colonies. About the close of the same year, when bound to St. Eustatius, he was seized off the Island of St. Christopher by the British frigate Argo, and detained until the general restraining bill came out, when his vessel and cargo, of which he owned the half, were condemned. But what "ill wind" can wreck the buoyant mind of the sailor ? He made his way from St. Christopher's to St. Eustatius, and thence embarking in a small vessel, after a short passage, arrived in Philadelphia. At this period the two first private ships of war fitted out in the colonies, called the Congress and Chance, were equipping for sea, and he entered on board the former as lieutenant. They sailed in company early in the winter of 1776, and proceeded off the Havana, where they captured several valuable Jamaica ships, bound home through the Gulf of Florida. Of one of these he took the command, and brought her safe into New Bedford. In June, 1777, in company with Isaac Sears, Esq., he fitted out, at New York, a vessel called the Independence. Of this he took the command, and passing through the Sound, (Lord Howe having arrived with the British fleet at Sandy Hook and blocked up that outlet,) he proceeded off the Azores, where, besides making several other prizes, he fell in with a part of the Windward Island convoy, and captured three large and valuable ships. One of these was much supe rior to the Independence in both guns and men. On his CAPTAIN THOMAS TRUXTUN. 195 t return, he fitted out the ship Mars, mounting upwards of twenty guns, in which he sailed on a cruise in the English Channel. Some of his prizes, which were numerous, he sent into Quiberon Bay. The success of this cruise was, in a great measure, the cause of Lord Stormont's remonstrance to the French court, against the admission into her ports of our armed vessels and the prizes which had been taken by them. He commanded, and in part owned, during the rest of the war, several of the most important armed vessels built in Philadelphia; and brought in from France and the West India Islands, large cargoes of those articles, wdiich, during the Revolution, our army most greatly needed. While carry ing out to France Thomas Barclay, Esq., our consul-general to that country, he had a very close and severe engagement with a British ship-of-war of thirty-two guns, (double his owTn force,) which he obliged to sheer off; and she was afterwards towed into New York by one of the king's ships, in a very dismantled condition. The ship under his command was called the St. James, and mounted twenty guns, with a crew of about one hundred men — not half the number on board his enemy. From this voyage he returned with the most valuable cargo brought into the United States during the war. It would be impossible, within the limits of this memoir, to recount the various instances of activity and zeal displayed by this gallant officer during our struggle for independence ; but in all his actions with British vessels of war, many of which were of force greatly superior to his own, he was inva riably victorious. After the peace of 1783, at the commencement of our naval establishment, he was one of the six captains selected by President Washington. The frigate Constellation, of thirty- six guns, which he was appointed to command, was built under his superintendence at Baltimore. She was the first of the required armament that put to sea. 196 CAPTAIN THOMAS TRUXTUN. Appointed, with a squadron under his command, to the protection of American commerce in the West Indies, Captain Truxtun had an arduous duty to perform, at a time when our navy was scarcely yet organized ; but every difficulty yielded to the excellence of that discipline for which he was ever celebrated. On this station, by his indefatigable vigilance, the property of our merchants was protected in the most effectual manner, and an enemy's privateer could scarcely look out of port without being captured. At noon, on the 9th of February, 1799, the Island of Nevis bearing W. S. W., five leagues distant, the Constellation being then alone, a large ship was seen to the southward, upon which Captain Truxtun immediately bore down. On his hoisting the American ensign, the strange sail showed French colors and fired a gun to windward, (the signal of an enemy.) At a quarter past three O'clock, P. M., the captain was hailed by the French commander, and the Constellation, ranging along side of the enemy's frigate, who had declared her self to be such by firing a gun to windward, poured in a close and extremely well-directed broadside. This was instantly returned by her antagonist, who, after a very warm engager ment of an hour and a quarter, hauled down her colors, and proved to be L'Insurgente, of forty guns and four hundred and seventeen men; twenty-nine of whom were killed and forty-four wounded. She was commanded by Captain Bar- reau, a distinguished officer, who did not strike his colors until his ship was a perfect wreck. The Constellation had only one man killed and two wounded. A stronger instance of the strict and exemplary discipline preserved on board the Constellation, cannot be given than this disparity of loss in the two ships ; and yet, during the whole time that Captain Truxtun commanded, but one man was chastised for, disorderly conduct. Scarce a man in his crew had ever been in action before. The prize was taken CAPTAIN THOMAS TRUXTUN. 197 into Basseterre, St. Christopher's, and after being refitted, added to the American navy. This was the first opportunity that had offered to an American frigate of engaging an enemy of superior force, and the gallantry displayed by Captain Truxtun was highly applauded, not only by his own country men, but by foreigners. He received congratulatory addresses from all quarters, and the merchants of Lloyd's Coffee-house, London, sent him a present of plate, wrorth upwards of six hundred guineas, with the action between the frigates ele gantly engraved on it. It is a relief to the horrors of war, to see those whom the collisions of their countries have placed in hostile array, treat each other, when the battle is over, with all the urbanity of accomplished cavaliers. Captain Barreau, in a letter to Captain Truxtun, of which the following is a translation, says, " I am sorry that our two nations are at war, but since I unfortunately have been vanquished, I felicitate myself and crew upon being prisoners to you. You have united all the qualities which characterize a man of honor, courage, and humanity. Receive from me the most sincere thanks, and be assured, I shall make it a duty to publish to all my fellow-countrymen the generous conduct which you have observed towards us." The Constellation, in a short time, put to sea again; and France saw the West Indies cleared of her bucaniers by our infant navy on the station. While the different ships belonging to it, were cruising sepa rately, so as best to give protection to our merchant vessels, Captain Truxtun, hearing that La Vengeance, a large French national ship of fifty-four guns, with upwards of five hundred men, including several general officers and troops on board, was lying at Gaudaloupe, proceeded in January, 1800, off that port, determined, if possible, notwithstanding the superiority of her force, to bring her into action, should she put to sea. On the 1st of February, at half-past seven, A. M., in the road of Basseterre, Gaudaloupe, bearing E. five leagues distant, he 198 CAPTAIN THOMAS TRUXTUN. discovered a sail in the S. E. standing to the westward, which soon proved to be the long-sought La Vengeance. The French commander, one would suppose, could have had no hesitation in engaging an enemy so inferior in guns and men as the Constellation ; but this did not prove to be the case, for he crowded all sail to avoid his foe, and it was not till after a most persevering chase for upwards of twelve hours that the Constellation brought him to action. The engagement began by a fire from the stern and quar ter-deck guns of the French ship, which was returned in a few minutes afterwrards, by a broadside from the Constellation, that had by this time got upon the weather quarter of her an tagonist, and a close and desperate action commenced, which lasted from 8 P. M., until within a few minutes of 1 A. M., when the fire of La Vengeance was completely silenced. At this moment, wrhen the American commander considered him self sure of his prize, and was endeavoring to secure, his main mast, which had been very much injured, he had the misfor tune to see it go by the board. A heavy squall coming on at the same time, before the Constellation could be completely cleared of the wreck, the French ship was enabled to effect her escape. Indeed, so sudden was her disappearance in the squall, that she was supposed by all on board the Constellation to have sunk. Nevertheless, it appeared that five days after the action she got into Curracoa, in almost a shattered condition, having had one hundred and sixty men killed and wounded, and nearly all her masts and rigging shot away. It had required all hands at the pumps for several days, to keep her from foundering. Her captain had the candor to acknowledge that he had twice struck his colors, but owing to the darkness of the night, this was not perceived on board the Constellation, and he, finding that her fire continued, and concluding that it was the determination of his enemy to sink him, renewed the combat CAPTAIN THOMAS TRUXTUN. 199 from necessity. When her mast went overboard, he took the advantage of the accident, and got off. In this engagement, the Constellation had fourteen men killed and twenty-five wounded. Among the former was Midshipman Jarvis, a young man of great promise, who commanded in the maintop. When told by one of the old seamen of the danger of the mast fall ing, and requested, with his men, to come down, he replied that if it went, they must go with it. In a few minutes after it went over, and but one of the topmen was saved. For the signal gallantry displayed in this action, Congress passed the following resolution. "Resolved, by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America, in Congress assembled, That the President of the United States be requested to present to Captain Thomas Truxtun a gold medal (see Plate IX,) emblematical of the late action between the United States frigate Constellation, of thirty-eight guns, and the French ship-of-war La Vengeance, of fifty-four guns, in testimony of the high sense entertained by Congress of his gallantry and good conduct in the above engagement, wherein an example was exhibited by the captain, officers, sailors, and marines, honorable to the American name, and instructive to its rising navy." Theodore Sedgwick, Speaker of the House of Representatives. Thomas Jefferson, Vice President of the United States. John Adams, Approved, March 29th, 1800. President of the United States. Captain Truxtun still continued to serve his country with all the ardor of his temperament, and devoted all the energies of his character to the promotion of her glory. In the begin ning of 1802, he was ordered to take the command of a squad- 200 CAPTAIN THOMAS TRUXTUN. ron destined for the Mediterranean; he immediately proceeded to Norfolk, where the frigate Chesapeake then was, and made every preparation for the duty assigned to him. It appears that it was customary in the navy for command ing officers of squadrons, to have assigned to them during their command, an officer who, being entrusted with the charge of the flag ship, could relieve the commander-in-chief of this trust, and thereby enable him to have more leisure to devote to the important duties of his station. This additional officer was deemed necessary by Captain Truxtun, and claimed by him of the secretary of the navy. A correspondence ensued, the sequel of which was that Captain Truxtun wrote to the secretary, informing him that " the task for the intended ser vice would be too severe without some aid, and if that aid could not be rendered, he must beg leave to quit the service," (meaning the intended service in the Mediterranean.) In the conclusion of his letter, after recommending some particular business to be attended to, he observes "if I do not proceed on the expedition." Contrary to his intentions and to his just expectations, Robert Smith, then secretary of the navy under the adminis tration of Thomas Jefferson, chose to construe this letter into a resignation of his commission as a captain in the navy ; and notwithstanding every honorable effort that was then made to restore him to his just rights, the administration of that day sacrificed at one blow the man who had shed such lustre upon the infant navy of our country, but who had the misfortune to belong to a different political school from those who then wielded the destinies of America. Thus at the early age of forty-seven years, in the prime of manhood, at a period when his former life gave promise of much future usefulness, after many years' devotion to the navy in which he fondly hoped to close his existence, was the sub ject of this memoir suddenly cut short in that career in which CAPTAIN THOMAS TRUXTUN. 201 he had won unfading laurels, both for his country and him self. He immediately retired to his farm, and like another Cincin- natus, sought in the enjoyment of domestic happiness a solace to the injustice he had met in public life. For many years he continued a citizen of New Jersey, but towards the latter part of his life, he was induced by the claims of his family, to re sume his residence in Philadelphia, where his fellow-citizens welcomed his return in the most grateful manner, and as an appreciation of his services, spontaneously tendered him the important office of high sheriff of the city and county of Phila delphia, to which he was elected in the year 1816, by a very large majority. Soon after the expiration of his term of office in. 1819, his health began to decline, until finally in May, 1822, he closed his earthly pilgrimage. Commodore Truxtun has left several children, but neither of his sons now survives. The only grandchild bearing his name, is a midshipman in the navy. The same service also numbers three other grandsons, one of whom, Edward F. Beale, has recently proved, by his gallant conduct under Com modore Stockton, that he inherits the blood of his illustrious grandsire. DESCRIPTION OF THE MEDAL. Occasion. — Capture of the French frigate La Vengeance. Device. — Head of Captain Truxtun. Legend. — Patriae patris filio digno Thomas Truxtun. Reverse.— Two ships of war, the French a two decker ; both rrmch shattered; the rigging of both much cut up. Legend.— The United States frigate Consellation, of thirty- eight guns, pursues, attacks, and vanquishes the French ship La Vengeance, of fifty-four guns, 1st of Feb. 1800. 26 COM. EDWARD PREBLE. The subject of this memoir was born in the ancient town of Falmouth, now Portland, Maine, August 15th, 1761. He was the son of the Hon. Jedediah Preble, a member of the council and senate, who died in 1783, at the advanced age of seventy-seven. Edward Preble exhibited from early childhood a firm and resolute temper, and a love for adventurous and chivalrous feats. While quite young he showed a predilection for a sea faring life, and although his father was much opposed to his choice, he thought it unwise to thwart him ; and therefore placed him on board a ship bound for Europe, in which he made his first voyage. In 1779 Preble became midshipman, in the state ship Protector, of twenty -six guns, under the com mand of Captain Williams. The Protector, on her first cruise, had a sharp engagement with a British frigate of thirty-six guns, on the coast of New foundland, and so disabled her that she was obliged to strike. She blew up in a few minutes afterwards. The second cruise of the Protector was less fortunate ; she was captured by a British frigate and sloop-of-war. The prin- COMMODORE EDWARD PREBLE. 203 oipal officers were taken to England, but young Preble, by the influence of his father, obtained his release. Captain Little, who was second in command in the Protector, and one of the prisoners taken to England, scaled the walls of his prison at Plymouth, and escaping with one other person, rowed in a wherry across the British Channel, and landed on the coast of France ; thence took passage for Boston ; and took the command of the sloop of war Winthrop, with Preble as his first lieutenant. Captain Little had previously captured the tender of a brig, of superior force to his own, lying in the Penobscot river, in Maine. From the crew he gained sufficient information to determine him to take her by surprise. Accordingly he ran along side in the night, having dressed forty of his men in white frocks, to distinguish them from the enemy. He was hailed by the brig, supposing him to be the tender, with "You will run us aboard!" "Ay!" shouted Preble, "I am coming aboard !" and he immediately jumped into the vessel with fourteen of his men. The rapidity of the vessel was such, that it prevented the remainder from following them. Little cried out to his lieutenant to know if he would not have more men; " No !" he answered with great coolness, (expecting to be overheard by the enemy,) " we have more than we want already; we stand in each other's way." Those of the Eng lish crew on deck immediately leaped overboard, while others did so from the cabin windows, swimming for the shore, within pistol-shot. Preble then proceeded to the cabin, where he found the officers either in bed or just rising. He informed them they were his prisoners, that the brig was in his pos session, and any resistance would be fatal. Supposing them selves captured by a superior force, they submitted, without any effort to rescue the vessel. The captors conveyed their prize to Boston. Our hero was only in his twentieth year, 204 COMMODORE EDWARD PREBLE. w'hen this daring act took place, which gave striking indica tions of the intrepidity and courage which afterwards so greatly distinguished him. Lieutenant Preble remained in the Winthrop the whole of the war. That vessel is acknowledged to have rendered much service to our trade, by destroying privateers infesting our eastern waters. In 1798, and the ensuing year, government had decided on building fifteen frigates and twelve other vessels of war. Preble was the first lieutenant appointed, and in the winter of 1798 and 1799, he made two cruises as commander of the brig Pickering. The next year, with a captain's commis sion, he commanded the frigate Essex of thirty-six guns. In January, 1800, he was ordered to Batavia, in company with the frigate Congress, as a convoy to our homeward bound ships. The Congress was dismasted and obliged to return, while Preble took under his own convoy fourteen sail of mer chantmen, valued at several millions of dollars. Soon after wards he was appointed commander of the Adams, for the Mediterranean;' but his health declining, he was compelled to withdraw from the profession until 1803. His government then made him commodore of the squadron fitted out against the Algerine pirates on the coast of Barbary. The brilliant career of this gallant officer, in negotiating with so much ability, not only redound to his own credit, but exalted the character of the American navy in the eyes of all the world. His fleet consisted of the Constitution, of wdiich he was commander, also the frigate Philadelphia, and several smaller vessels. The memorable bombardment of Tripoli is familiar to all readers of history, having been so often re corded by able historians. Congress voted the thanks of the nation, and an elegant gold medal, (See Plate IX,) which were both presented by the President, with the most emphatic ex- COMMODORE EDWARD PREBLE. 205 pressions of esteem. On his leaving the squadron, the officers presented a most affectionate and interesting address, expres sive of their devotion and attachment to him as their com mander, and of his worth as a citizen and Christian. In the latter part of the year of 1806, Commodore Preble suffered severely from a debility of the digestive organs. Indulging a hope of recovery, he bore his sufferings with that fortitude which had marked his character through life, until the 25th of August, 1807, when he breathed his last. DESCRIPTION OF THE MEDAL. Occasion. — The attack on Tripoli. Device. — Bust of Commodore Preble. Legend. — Edwardo Preble, duci strenuo comitia Ameri cana. Reverse. — The American fleet bombarding the town and forts of Tripoli. Legend. — Vindici commercii Americani. Exergue. — Ante Tripoli, 1804. CAPT. ISAAC HULL. Isaac Hull was born at Derby, in the state of Connecticut, about ten miles distant from New Haven, in 1775. Choos ing the sea for his profession, he entered, soon after leaving school, on board a merchant vessel, where he was employed during the interval which occurred between the peace of 1783 and the breaking out of hostilities anew in 1798, when it became the policy of the United States to form a perma nent marine. He was immediately appointed a lieutenant, without passing through the subordinate grades ; an irregu larity of necessary occurrence, owing to the absence of any class of men educated in ships of war from which to make promotion. In May, 1800, he was first lieutenant of the frigate Constitution, under Commodore Talbot, and cut out a French letter of marque from one of the islands of St. Do mingo with a small sloop. This gallant act took place at noon-day, without the loss of a single man. In 1804 he com manded the brig Argus, and particularly distinguished him self at the storming of Tripoli and the reduction of Derne. In 1812, he commanded the Constitution, and by his energy CAPTAIN ISAAC HULL. 207 and skill as a seaman, he escaped from a British squadron under Commander Broke. That escape is faithfully described by Mr. Cooper in his Naval History, from which the following remarks are quoted. " Thus terminated a chase that has be come historical in the American navy, for its length, closeness and activity. On the part of the English there were mani fested much perseverance and seamanship, a ready imitation, and a strong desire to get along side of their enemy. But the glory of the affair was carried off by the officers and people of the Constitution. "Throughout all the trying circumstances of this arduous struggle, this noble frigate, which had so lately been the sneers of the English critics, maintained the high character of a man of war. Even when pressed upon the hardest, nothing was hurried, confused, or slovenly, but the utmost steadiness, or der, and discipline reigned in the ship. A cool, discreet, and gallant commander was nobly sustained by his officers, and there cannot be a doubt that had the enemy succeeded in get ting any one of the frigates fairly under the fire of the Ameri can ship, that she would have been very roughly treated. The escape itself is not so much a matter of admiration, as the manner in which it was effected. A little water was pumped, it is true ; and perhaps this was necessary, in order to put a vessel fresh from port on a level, in light winds and calms, with ships that had been cruising some time; but not an anchor was cut away, not a boat stove, not a gun lost. The steady and man-of-war-like style in which the Constitution took in all her boats as occasions offered ; the order and rapidity with which she hedged, and the vigilant seamanship with which she was braced up and eased off, extorted admi ration from the more liberal of her pursuers. In this affair, the ship, no less than those who worked her, gained a high reputation, if not with the world generally, at least with those 208 CAPTAIN ISAAC HULL. who, perhaps, as seldom err in their nautical criticism as any people living." Not long after this affair, Captain Hull met the British frigate Guerriere, and, to the surprise of the whole world, conquered her. That fight was of more importance to America than all the subsequent victories, because it demon strated that the notion of the British navy being invincible on the seas was incorrect. Commodore Hull was the man that showed that an American frigate was equal to a frigate of any other nation. The following is Mr. Cooper's description of that most important and eventful action : — " The Constitution next stood to the southward, and on the 19th, at two P. M., in lat. 41 deg. 41 min., long. 55 deg. 48 min., a sail was made from the mast head, bearing E. S. E., and to leeward, though the distance prevented her character from being discovered. The Constitution immediately made sail in chase, and at three, the stranger was ascertained to be a ship on the starboard tack, under easy canvas, and close hauled. Half an hour later, she was distinctly made out to be a frigate, and no doubt was entertained of her being an enemy. The Constitution kept running free until she was within a league of the frigate to leeward, when she began to shorten sail. By this time the enemy had lain his main top sail aback, in waiting for the Constitution to come down, with everything ready to engage. Perceiving that the Englishman sought a combat, Captain Hull made his own preparations with greater deliberation. The Constitution consequently furled her topgallant sails, and stowed all her lightstay sails and fling jib. Soon after, she took a second reef in the top sails, hauled up the courses, sent down royal yards cleared for action, and beat to quarters. At five, the chase hoisted three English ensigns, and immediately after she opened her fire, at long gun shot, wearing several times to rake and prevent being raked. The Constitution occasionally yawed as she CAPTAIN ISAAC HULL. 209 approached, to avoid being raked, and she fired a few guns as they bore, but her object was not to commence the action seri ously until quite close. At six o'clock, the enemy bore up and ran off under his three topsails and jib, with the wind on his quarter. As this was an indication of a readiness to receive his antagonist, in a fair yard-arm fight, the. Constitu tion immediately set her main-top-gallant sail and foresail to get along side. At a little past six, the bow of the American frigate began to double on the quarter of the English ship, when she opened with her forward guns, drawing slowly ahead with her greater way, both vessels keeping up a close and heavy fire, as their guns bore. " In about ten minutes, or just as the ships were fairly side by side, the mizzen-mast of the Englishman was shot away, when the American passed slowly ahead, keeping up a tre mendous fire, and luffed short round on her bows, to prevent being raked. In executing this manoeuvre, the ship shot into the wind, got sternway, and fell foul of her antagonist. While in this situation, the cabin of the Constitution took fire from the close explosion of the forward guns of the enemy, who obtained a small, but momentary advantage from his position. The good conduct of Mr. Hoffman, who commanded in the cabin, soon repaired this accident, and a gun of the enemy's that had threatened further injury, was disabled. As the vessels touched, both parties prepared to board. The English turned all hands up from below, and mustered forward, with that object, while Mr. Morris the first lieutenant, with his own hands, endeavored to lash the ships together. Mr. Alwyn, the master, and Mr. Bush, the lieutenant of marines, were upon the taffrail of the Constitution to be ready to spring. Both sides now suffered by the closeness of the musketry; the En glish much the most, however. Mr. Morris was shot through the body, the bullet fortunately missing his vitals. Mr. Alwyn 27 210 CAPTAIN ISAAC HULL. was wounded in the shoulder, and Mr. Bush fell dead by a bullet through the head. It being found impossible for either party to board, in the face of such a fire, and with the heavy sea that was on, the sails were filled, and just as the Constitu tion shot ahead, the fore-mast of the enemy fell carrying down with it his main-mast, and leaving him wallowing in the trough of the sea, a helpless wreck. The Constitution now hauled aboard her tacks, ran off a short distance, secured her masts, and rove new rigging. At 7, she wore round, and taking a favorable position for raking, a jack that had been kept flying on the stump of the mizzen-mast of the enemy wras lowered. Mr. George Campbell Read, the third lieutenant, was sent on board the prize, and the boat soon returned with the report that the captured vessel was the Guerriere, thirty-eight guns, Cap tain Dacres, one of the ships that had so lately chased the Con stitution, off New York. The Constitution kept wearing to remain near her prize, and at two A. M., a strange sail was seen closing, when she cleared for action, but at three the stranger stood off. " At daylight the officer in charge hailed to say that the Guerriere had four feet water in her hold, and that there was danger of her sinking. On receiving this information, Cap tain Hull sent all the boats to remove the prisoners. Fortu nately the wreather was moderate, and by noon this duty was nearly ended. At three P. M., the prize crew was recalled, having set the wreck on fire, and in a quarter of an hour she blew up. Finding himself filled with wounded prisoners, Captain Hull now returned to Boston, where he arrived on the 30th of the same month. It is not easy, at this distant day, to convey any idea of the full force of the moral impres sion created in this country, by this victory of one frigate over another. CAPTAIN ISAAC HULL. 211 " So deep had been the effect produced on the public mind by the constant accounts of the successes of the English over their enemies at sea, that the opinions already mentioned of their invincibility on that element generally prevailed ; and it had been publicly predicted that, before the contest had con tinued six months, British sloops of war would lie alongside of American frigates with comparative impunity. " Perhaps the only portion of even the American population that expected different results, was that which composed the little body of officers on whom the trial would fall, and they looked forward to the struggle with a manly resolution, rather than with a very confident hope. " But the termination of the combat just related, far exceeded the expectations of even the most sanguine. After making all proper allowance for the difference of force, which certainly existed in favor of the Constitution, as well as for the excuses that the defeated party freely offered to the world, men on both sides of the Atlantic, who were competent to form intelligent opinions on such subjects, saw the promise of many future successes in this. " The style in which the Constitution had been handled, the deliberate and yet earnest manner in which she had been car ried into battle; the extraordinary execution that had been made in so short a time by her fire ; the readiness and gallantry with which she had cleared for the action, so soon after de stroying one British frigate, in which was manifested a disposi tion to meet another, united to produce a deep conviction of self- reliance, coolness, and skill, that was of infinitely more weight than the transient feeling which might result from any acci dental triumph. In this combat the Constitution suffered a good deal in her rigging and sails, but very little in her hull. Her loss was seven killed and seven wounded. As soon as 212 CAPTAIN ISAAC HULL. she had rove new rigging, applied the necessary stoppers, and bent a few sails, as has been seen, she was ready to engage another frigate." Since that time Captain Hull has commanded in the Pacific and Mediterranean, and at shore stations in the United States. He enjoyed the rank of captain in the United States naval service for thirty-seven years. " No act of Commo dore Hull's life can be quoted as a drawback upon the immense debt of gratitude due him by his fellow-citizens. He did not, in the midst of the continued praise that followed him, yield to a single suggestion of wrong, nor presume, for a moment, upon the hold which he had on the affections of the nation. Every day of his life seemed to be spent as if he felt that day had its special duty, which, if unperformed, would leave in complete his honors, and perhaps, tarnish the laurels he had already acquired. Hence, day by day, he earned new titles to public affection; and as a man, a patriot, and an officer, he grew in the esteem of his fellow men. And the last day of his life saw his laurels as fresh as when they were first woven into a chapiet for his brow." He died at his residence in Philadelphia, 13th of February, 1843, in the sixty-eighth year of his age. By a resolution of Congress, it was unanimously agreed to present to Captain Isaac Hull, commander of the frigate Constitution, the thanks of that body and a gold medal (see Plate IX), for the capture of the British frigate Guer riere, 19th of August, 1812. DESCRIPTION OF THE MEDAL. Occasion. — Capture of the Guerriere. Device. — Bust of Captain Hull. Legend. — Isaacus Hull peritos arte superate, July, 1812, Ang. certamine fortes. CAPTAIN ISAAC HULL. 213 Reverse. — The battle between the Constitution and Guer riere is represented in that particular and interesting stage, when the boarders from the Guerriere were repulsed, and a raking fire from the Constitution had cut away the main and foremasts of the Guerriere, which are falling, leaving the American ship little injured. Legend. — Horse momento victoria. Exergue.— Inter Const, nav Amer. et Guer. Angl. CAPTAIN JACOB JONES. Jacob Jones was the son of an independent and respectable farmer, near the village of Smyrna, in the county of Kent, in the state of Delaware, and was born in the year 1770. His mother, who was an amiable and interesting woman, died when Jacob was two years old. Some time afterwards his father married a second time to a Miss Holt, granddaughter of the Hon. Ryves Holt, formerly Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Delaware, or, as it was then denominated, " the lower counties on Delaware." Shortly after this second marriage his father died, when this, his only child, was scarcely four years of age. It wTas the happiness of our hero to be left under the care of a step-mother who possessed all the kind feelings of a natural parent. The affection which this ex cellent woman had borne towards the father, was, on his death, transferred to his child. By her he was nurtured from infancy to manhood, with a truly maternal care and tenderness. At an early age he was placed at school, where his proficiency exceeded her most anxious expectations. He was soon trans ferred to a grammar school at Lewes, in Sussex county, where he read the classics with much assiduity, and became well -"- Plate.IO, // /,