Графични страници
PDF файл
ePub
[ocr errors]

and a grocer. He emigrated to this country by the advice of Doctor Franklin, in the year 1775, and here his literary and political career commenced. The popularity of his writings, and his eloquent speeches during the revolutionary war in this country, rendered him, in many instances, a useful auxiliary to the army. The great and most striking feature in the character of Thomas Paine, is that intellectual courage, that bold decision, and unwavering confidence in his own powers, which enable the possessor coolly to mark out with the eyc his destined course, and then to advance with firm and steady step, careless of consequence, and fearless of public opinion. The circumstances of the world so unaccountably fickle, so ready to change order into anarchy, and then anarchy into despotism, exceedingly favored the system of Paine, particularly in Europe. As to the impious folly which Paine published on the subject of religion, let it silently pass into the grave with its wofully deluded author. He died at New York, in the year 1809, aged 72 years,

PAULDING, JOHN, a distinguished soldier of the revolutionary war, and one of the three incorruptible patriots who arrested Major Andre. When Andre found that he was discovered, he offered his gold watch, and any amount in cash or dry goods, to Paulding, Williams, and Van Wert, if they would permit him to escape. All his offers were rejected with disdain, and they declared that ten thousand guineas, or any other sum, would be no temptation. It was to their virtue, no less glorious to America than Arnold's apostacy was disgraceful, that his treason was discovered. While Arnold is

handed down with execration to future times, posterity will repeat with reverence the names of Paulding, Williams, and Van Wert.

The following resolution was adopted by Congress, on the third of November, 1780, as a reward for their virtue and fidelity.

"Whereas Congress have received information that John Paulding, David Williams, and Isaac Van Wert, three young volunteer militia-men of the state of New-York, did, on the twenty third day of September last, intercept major John Andre. adjutant-general of the British army, on his return from the American lines, 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 dangerous and traitorous conspiracy of Benedict Arnold was brought to light, the insiduous designs of the enemy baffled, and the United States rescued from impending danger:

[ocr errors]

Resolved, That Congress have a high sense of the virtuous and patriotic conduct, of the said John Paulding, David Williams, and Isaac Van Wert: In testimony whereof,

"Ordered, That each of them receive annually, out of the public treasury, two hundred dollars in specie, or an equivalent in the current money of these states, during life; and that the board of war procure for each of them a silver medal, on one side of which shall be a shield with this inscription, Fidelity," and on the other, the following motto, "Vincit amor patriæ," and forward them to the commander in chief, who is requested to present the same, with a copy of this resolution, and the thanks of Congress for their fidelity, and the eminent service they have rendered their country."

66

Major Paulding died at Staasburg. New York, on the thirtieth of December 1819, aged eighty seven years.

PETERS, NATHAN, entered the service of his country at the commencement of the revolutionary war, and early in the year 1775, he joined the Connecticut squad, and marched with them to Roxbury, the morning after the news of the alarm at Boston reached Norwich. He was soon after promoted to the rank of lieutenant, in which station he acquitted himself with great promptness and credit, and for his officer-like conduct and urbanity of manners, he soon gained the fullest confidence and esteem of general Washington, and all those of his brother officers with whom he had the pleasure of an acquaintance. This intimacy and friendship of general Washington, which commenced so early in our struggle for independence, continued unabated till the day of the departure of the immortal father of our country. Major Peters soon passed through the different grades from lieutenant to major, and in the mean time he was engaged in several of the most important battles that led to our final emancipation from the British yoke. He was engaged at the battle at Long-Island, at York-Island, at Frog's Point, at Princeton, at Trenton, and at Newport. In most of all these engagements, he was considered a most efficient officer; and in the latter, as appears by his testimonials, he was from the nature of his duty exposed to much imminent danger; he had at that time two musket balls passed through his clothes; but, like general Washington, he never received a wound. He was also no less distinguished for his courage, presence of mind, and intrepidity of conduct at Groton Fort. He was the first man who dared to enter that fortress after the disgraceful and unprecedented assassinatiou of colonel Ledyard. At that critical juncture, he rode into the fort, and with his own hands extinguished the fire which had been set to a train of wet powder by the British, previous to their leaving, which, as has often been said

[ocr errors]

by those who were present, would in less than five minutes, have communicated with the dry powder in the magazine, and blown him, and all those who immediately followed him, into eternity. Major Peters, after the close of the war, entered immediately upon the busines of his profession, and soon became, and was for many years, one of the most learned lawyers, and able advocates in practice at the New-London County bar. He was through a long life remarkable for the correctness and purity of his style, whether he expressed himself with his pen, or orally, as he was also of a strong and retentive memory. Every story or circumstance, which he deemed worthy of notice, he could call to mind and relate with the utmost correctness, even unto his latest days.

He died in Norwich, Connecticut, in the year 1823. PETTIT, CHARLES, was educated and practised with reputation as a lawyer. At the commencement of the revolution he was secretary of New-Jersey (the province in which he was born) under governor Franklin, the son of the American sage. He immediately, however, joined the standard of independence, and throughout the memorable contest he was a constant, a faithful and an efficient public agent. He continued, under governor Livingston, in the station of secretary, until called to act in a more extensive field. By a resoJution of congress he was associated with his friends general Greene and colonel Coxe, in the department of quarter-mastergeneral to the American army; and those friends, who well knew the intelligence of his mind, the force of his industry, and the ardor of his patriotism, with a merited and fortunate confidence, devolved upon him the principal execution of this arduous trust. General Washington, who praised him; the soldiers who loved him; and the government who thanked (but did not perhaps sufficiently reward) him, have borne testimony of his meritorious and exemplary services, in every vicissitude of the war.

General Greene had accepted the appointment of quartermaster-general only upon condition that the two gentlemen above named should be associated with him. An account of the peculiar difficulties which they all had to encounter, in the management of this highly important branch of the public service, will be found contained in the letters written by them at the time, and referred to, and in part cited by Judge Johnson in the first volume of his "Sketches of the life and character of general Greene." Upon the resignation by general Greene of his station at the head of the department, proposals were made to colonel Pettit to succeed to that important post. Circumstances, however, of an imperative nature, had compelled general Greene to resign, and as these equally concern

ed colonel Pettit, who was upon terms of the most intimate and confidential friendship with him, the overtures were of course declined.

On the declaration of peace, Mr. Pettit chose Philadelphia for his residence, and became one of the most intelligent, active, and influential merchants of the city. He still, however, participated in public business. He was an active agent to procure a fair provision for the public creditors: himself. it is true, having become in very hazardous times, to almost the whole extent of his fortune, a public creditor. As a member of the legislature of Pennsylvania, he was the author of the funding system of the state: not with a view to embarrass the then federal government, but with a view to alleviate the distresses of his constituents, till the federal government had acquired the power to do them justice. He was also a delegate in Congress, under the confederation, and then for the benefit of the union, as well as of the state, he acquired the general confidence; employing that confidence in the advancement of the public good, regardless of personal advantage. On the great question relative to the present constitution of the United States, he stated his objections with firmness, but he recommended its adoption with candour; and it is known that he became the principal instrument of subduing the Pennsylvania opposition, by his conciliatory conduct and forcible reasoning, as a conferee, at the general conference which was held in Harrisburgh, previously to the ultimate vote of ratification.

For some years before his death, Mr. Pettit mingled little in the controversies, and felt little of the cares of public life. As a man of business, however, he displayed great talents, assiduity, and fidelity, in presiding over the first incorporated insurance company of Philadelphia. As a member of society, he circulated useful information, settled commercial disputes, and cultivated by precept as well as example, "Peace on earth, and good will towards men :" while as the father of a numerous, respectable and respected offspring, he raised a monument to perpetuate the memory of his domestic virtues and affections, which shall endure as long as the feelings of gratitude can influence the present generation, or the narrative of truth can awaken the sensibility of their posterity. He died at Philadelphia, on the sixth day of September, 1806, in the seventieth year of his age.

PICKENS, ANDREW, was born in Bucks county, Pennsylvania. on the 13th September, 1739. His ancestors were driven from France by the revocation of the edict of Nantz. They first settled in Scotland, and afterwards in the north of Ireland. His father emigrated to Pennsylvania, from where

be removed to Augusta county, Virginia, and soon after to the Waxhaws, in South Carolina, before Andrew had attained the age of manhood.

Like many of our most distinguished officers of the revolution, he commenced his military services in the French war, which terminated in 1763, when he began to develope those qualities for which he was afterwards so eminently distinguished. In the year 1761, he served as a volunteer with Moultrie and Marion, in a bloody but successful expedition, under lieutenant colonel Grant, a British officer, sent by general Amherst to command against the Cherokees. After the termination of the war, he removed to the Long Cane settlement, and was wholly engaged for several years in the usual pursuits of a frontier country; hunting and agriculture.

At an early period he took a decided stand against the right claimed by Great Britain, to tax her colonies without their consent; and at the commencement of the revolution was appointed captain of militia. The distinguished part which he acted in the struggle for independence, has been recorded by the historian, and the principal events can only be alluded to in the present sketch. His zeal and skill were rewarded by his country, by his being rapidly promoted to the respective commands of major, colonel, and brigadier general. In the most despondent time, when this section of the union was overrun by the enemy, and suffered from the torics all the horrors of civil war, he remained unshaken, and, with Marion and Sumpter, kept up the spirit of resistance. He commanded in chief in the expedition against the Cherokees, in 1781; and such was his success, that in a few days, with an inconsiderable force, he subdued the spirit of that then powerful nation, and laid the foundation of a peace so permanent, that it has not since been disturbed.

At Kettle Creek his conduct was equally distinguished and successful; with half the force, he defeated, after a severe contest, a large body of tories, under the command of colonel Boyd. The results of this victory were highly important. It broke the spirit of the tories, and secured the internal peace for a considerable time, of the interior of the Carolinas and Georgia. No less conspicuous was his conduct at the Cowpens. He there commanded the militia forces; and, animated by the spirit and courage of their commander in that important battle, they fairly won an equal share of glory with the continentals, under colonel Howard. For his gallantry and conduct on that occasion. Congress voted him a sword. At the Eutaw he commanded, with Marion, the militia of the two Carolinas; but in the early part of the action received a severe wound in his breast by a musket ball. His life was providentially saved by the ball striking the buckle of his sword.

« ПредишнаНапред »