Mary Theresa Leiter

“ Twelve hundred men answered his summons, and from these he organized two regiments, ready for action under the Provincial authority. During the remainder of this year and all the next, Stark did all that a patriot could do to uphold the cause of liberty and independence. The enthusiasm of his men for their leader was such that when their term of enlistment expired, the regiment to a man re-enlisted; but Congress, for some inexplicable reason, passed over his claims to promotion, and advanced younger and far less experienced officers above him. ”

“ Huger commanded the Virginia troops at the battle of Guilford Court-House, where he was severely wounded; and at Hobkirk’s Hill he had the honor of commanding the right wing of the army. He served to the close of the war; and when Moultrie was chosen president, he was made vice-president, of the Society of the Cincinnati of South Carolina. Entering the war a rich man, he left it a poor one; he gave his wealth as freely as he had risked his life, and held them both well spent in helping to secure the blessings of liberty and independence to his beloved country. ”

“ Surprised by the Indians, his two companions were instantly killed, while he received a rifle-ball in the back of his neck, which shattered his jaw and passed through his left cheek, inflicting the only severe wound he received during his entire military career. Believing himself about to die, but determined that his scalp should not fall into the hands of his assailants, he clasped his arms around his horse’s neck and spurred him forward. An Indian followed in hot pursuit; but finding Morgan’s steed too swift for him, he threw his tomahawk, hoping to strike his victim. ”

“ In September, Congress gave him the chief command of the Southern army, but upon repairing to Charleston, South Carolina, he found the entire State of Georgia in the hands of the British, and the American army in the South almost destroyed. Setting about his task with courage and resolution, he busied himself in collecting the necessary supplies and recruits, and making all needful preparations for driving the enemy from their various strongholds. In each engagement, however, he was unsuccessful, and was at last taken prisoner at the surrender of Charleston, on the 12th of May, 1780. ”

“ In 1775, at the earnest solicitations of Washington, to whom his ardent patriotism and military spirit were well known, he resolved to abandon his pulpit and enter the army. He took leave of his congregation in an eloquent sermon on the text, “The Lord of hosts shall arm the right,” and concluded, after rehearsing the wrongs this country had suffered from Great Britain, by exclaiming, “There is a time for all things,—a time to preach and a time to pray; but there is also a time to fight, and that time has now come;” ”

“ Returning to England at the close of the war, he threw himself with characteristic ardor into politics; but finding this too tame a pursuit, he offered his services to Poland, then to Russia against the Turks, and in 1773 returned to America, where, on the 17th of June, 1775, he was appointed second major-general of the Continental forces,—Washington at the same time being made commander-in-chief, though from his experience and brilliant achievements abroad, Lee had hoped for the latter appointment himself. His first service was the putting of New York City in a good state of defence. ”

“ Having been appointed Surveyor-General of New Jersey and New York, he was able to give much personal supervision to the education of his only son, and dying in 1756, left him an ample fortune. Thoroughly trained in mathematics, and with a fine military spirit, William Alexander distinguished himself in the French and Indian War; at its close he visited Europe, took measures to establish his claim to the earldom of Stirling, and returning to America, devoted himself to the duties of Surveyor-General of New Jersey. ”

“ At this critical moment Gates appeared in camp, and Philip Schuyler found himself superseded by a man who, from jealousy, had always been his enemy, and who had tried in every way to bring about his downfall. Wounded to the quick, he bore this most unjust treatment with dignity, and without showing resentment; and Congress having accepted his resignation on the 19th of April, 1779, he continued still to serve his country as a private citizen. In 1782, he was appointed Surveyor-General of New York. ”

“ I have taken too active a part in what may be called the civil part of opposition, to renounce without disgrace the public cause when it seems to lead to danger, and have a most sovereign contempt for the man who can plan measures he has not spirit to execute. ”

“ Like Marion, whenever the enemy threatened to prove too strong, Sumter and his followers would retreat to the swamps and mountain fastnesses, to emerge again when least expected, and at the right moment to take the British at a disadvantage. ”

“ Israel Putnam, born at Salem, Massachusetts, on the 7th of January, 1718, was a lineal descendant of one of the Puritan Pilgrims. Even as a boy, he displayed that fearlessness and resolution that in later years characterized his military career. A fierce wolf was causing much loss of life among the sheep, and great annoyance to the farmers in the neighborhood, while cunningly eluding all their efforts to kill her. Putnam tracked her to her den, and descending into its gloomy recesses, shot her by the light of her own blazing eyeballs. ”

“ When bloodshed followed passive resistance, he was selected, in the summer of 1775, to command a regiment. On the 1st of March, 1776, Congress appointed him brigadier-general. For his gallantry during the attack of the British on New York, Congress advanced him to the rank of major-general, 43on the 19th of February, 1777. Though compelled on several occasions to retreat before vastly superior numbers, in each case he secured so advantageous a position, and defended it with such courage and constancy, as to check the further advance of the enemy, and to frustrate their purpose. ”

“ Not finding any army in Canada, it having been compelled to retreat to New York, he claimed command of the whole Northern army, then under Schuyler,34 with his headquarters at Albany. Congress sustained the latter general, but this period marks the beginning of a series of intrigues which culminated in the “Conway cabal” to supplant Washington. Gates’ complicity in this conspiracy will forever tarnish his fame, as it no doubt saddened his life. ”

“ William Irvine, born near Enniskillen, Ireland, on the 3d of November, 1741, was educated at Trinity College, Dublin. Though preferring a military career, he adopted the medical profession to gratify the wishes of his parents. During the latter part of the Seven Years War between England and France, he served as surgeon on board a British man-of-war, and shortly before the restoration of peace, he resigned his commission, and coming to America in 1764, settled at Carlisle, Pennsylvania, where he soon acquired a great reputation and a large practice. ”

“ Washington’s history during the next eight years17 is the history of the Revolution, for he was the animating spirit and the controlling power throughout that great struggle. On the 2d of November, 1783, he took final leave of the army, and resigned his commission on the following 23d of December. Retiring to Mount Vernon, which he had visited but once during the war, he resumed the peaceful life of a country gentleman. These were happy days, his time being fully occupied with his large estate, which required a tour of inspection each day. ”

“ The efforts of the Americans were now directed to dislodging the British from their two remaining strongholds; and so vigorously was the war carried on in Georgia and South Carolina that by direction of the home Government Savannah was evacuated on the 12th of July, 1782, and Charleston in the latter part of the same year, Wayne marching in and taking possession on the 14th of December,—his last military service during the Revolution. ”

“ His spirit of adventure and his early taste of war led him to offer himself among the first who took the field when the American colonies began their struggle for independence. In conjunction with Col. Ethan Allen he surprised the garrison at Fort Ticonderoga on the 10th of May, 1775, capturing large stores of cannon and ammunition without the loss of a single man. Disagreeing with the officers of the party, and becoming bitterly jealous of Allen, Arnold left New York ”

“ The stirring events immediately preceding the surrender of Burgoyne prevented an open rupture, and Arnold’s reckless daring at the battle of Saratoga, though gaining the victory, resulted in rendering him a cripple for life. Incapacitated for active service, he was placed in command at Philadelphia when that city was evacuated by the British, on the 17th of June, 1778. At this point Arnold’s downward career began. There are just grounds to believe that he entered into a secret contract to enrich himself at the expense of the public ”

“ When the struggle for American independence began, though men were willing to fight in defence of their own State, there was great difficulty in filling the ranks of the Continental army,—not only because of the longer time for which they were required to enlist, but166 also because once in the Continental service, they would be ordered to any part of the country. ”