Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

The year

of Bucks, and took his seat in November, 1778. following he was elected to council, of which he was a member for the three succeeding years. In August, 1780, general Washington being apprehensive that the enemy intended to aim another blow at Pennsylvania, general Lacey was ordered to Trenton, in New-Jersey, with a brigade of militia from the counties of Bucks and Berks; and by a correspondence with the president of council, he appears to have been in almost continual service until October, 1781, when the militia were discharged, and the thanks of the council voted to them and their commander.

During this command general Lacey married a daughter of colonel Thomas Reynolds, of New-Jersey, and shortly af terwards removed to that state and settled at the village of New-Mills, in Burlington county, where he became largely concerned in iron works. He was, for many years, an active and useful citizen of his adopted state, having been a judge and justice of the county where he resided, and also a member of the legislature. In the latter part of his life he was much afflicted with gout, to which disease he fell a victim, on the 17th of February, 1814, aged 59 years.

General Lacey is represented by all who knew him and served with him in the revolution, as having been an officer of a remarkable fine, martial appearance, and of the most determined and enterprizing character. All his letters, written under every difficulty and pressure of the times, breathe the most ardent spirit of patriotism and inflexible devotion to the cause of his country's liberty and independence.

LAURENS, HENRY, was born in Charleston, South Carolina, in the year 1724. He took an early part in opposing the arbitrary claims of Great Britain, at the commencement of the American revolution. When the provincial congress of Carolina met in June, 1775, he was appointed its president; in which capacity he drew up a form of association, to be signed by all the friends of liberty, which indicated a most determined spirit. Being a member of the general congress, after the resignation of Hancock, he was appointed president of that illustrious body, in November, 1777. In 1780, he was deputed to solicit a loan from Holland, and to negotiate at reaty with the United Netherlands; but on his pasage, he was captured by a British vessel, on the banks of Newfoundland. He threw his papers overboard, but they were recovered by a sailor. Being sent to England, he was committed to the tower, on the 6th of October, as a state prisoner, upon a charge of high treason. Here he was confined more than a year, and was treated with great severity, being denied, for the most part, all intercourse with his friends, and forbidden the use of

pen, ink, and paper. His capture occasioned no small embarrassment to the ministry. They dared not condemn him as a rebel, through fear of retaliation; and they were unwilling to release him, lest he should accomplish the object of his mission. The discoveries found in his papers, led to a war with Great Britain and Holland, and Mr. Adams was appointed in his place to carry on the negotiation with the United Provinces.

Many propositions were then made to him, which were repelled with indignation. At length, news being received that his eldest son, a youth of such uncommon talents, exalted sentiments, and prepossessing manners and appearance, that a romantic interest is still attached to his name, had been appointed the special minister of congress to the French court, and was there urging the suit of his country, with winning eloquence, the father was requested to write to his son, and urge his return to America; it being farther hinted, that, as he was held a prisoner, in the light of a rebel, his life should depend upon compliance. "My son is of age," replied the heroic father of an heroic son, "and has a will of his own. I know him to be a man of honor. He loves me dearly, and would lay down his life to save mine; but I am sure that he would not sacrifice his honor to save my life, and I applaud him." This veteran was, not many months after, released, with a request from lord Shelburne that he would pass to the continent and assist in negotiating a peace between Great Britain and the free United States of America, and France their ally.

Towards the close of the year 1781, his sufferings, which had, by that time, become well known, excited the utmost sympathy for himself, but kindled the warmest indignation against the authors of his cruel confinement. Every attempt to draw concessions from this inflexible patriot having proved more than useless, his enlargement was resolved upon, but difficulties arose as to the mode of effecting it. Pursuing the same high-minded course which he had at first adopted, and influenced by the noblest feelings of the heart, he obstinately refused his consent to any act which might imply a confession that he was a British subject, for as such he had been committed on a charge of high treason. It was finally proposed to take bail for his appearance at the court of king's bench, and when the words of the recognizance, our sovereign lord the king," were read to Mr. Laurens, he distinctly replied in open court, "not my sovereign!" With this declaration, he, with Messrs. Oswald and Anderson, as his securities, were bound for his appearance at the next court of king's bench for Easter term, and for not departing without leave of the court, 'upon which he was immediately discharg

66

ed. When the time appointed for his trial approached, he was not only exonerated from obligation to attend, but solicited by lord Shelburne to depart for the continent to assist in a scheme for a pacification with America. The idea of being released, gratuitously, by the British government, sensibly moved him, for he had invariably considered himself as a prisoner of war. Possessed of a lofty sense of personal independence, and unwilling to be brought under the slightest obligation, he thus expressed himself, "I must not accept myself as a gift; and as congress once offered general Burgoyne for me, I have no doubt of their being now willing to offer earl Cornwallis for the same purpose.'

[ocr errors]

Close confinement in the tower for more than fourteen months, had shattered his constitution, and he was, ever afterwards, a stranger to good health. As soon as his discharge was promulgated, he received from congress a commission, appointing him one of their ministers for negotiating a peace with Great Britain. Arriving at Paris, in conjunction with Dr. Franklin, John Adams, and John Jay, he signed the preliminaries of peace on the 30th of November, 1782, by which the independence of the United States was unequivocally acknowledged. Soon after this, Mr. Laurens returned to Carolina. Entirely satisfied with the whole course of his conduct while abroad, it will readily be imagined that his countrymen refused him no distinctions within their power to bestow; but every solicitation to suffer himself to be elected governor, member of congress, or of the legislature of the state, he positively withstood. When the project of a general convention for revising the federal bond of union, was under consideration, he was chosen, without his knowledge, one of its members, but he refused to serve. Retired from the world and its concerns, he found delight in agricultural experiments, in advancing the welfare of his children and dependants, and in attentions to the interest of his friends and fellow-citizens. He expired on the 8th of December, 1792, in the sixty-ninth year of his age.

LAURENS, JOHN, a brave officer in the revolutionary war, was the son of the preceding, and was sent to England for his education. He joined the army in the beginning of 1777, from which time he was foremost in danger. His first essay in arms was at Brandywine. At the battle of Germantown, he exhibited prodigies of valour, in attempting to expel the enemy from Chew's house, and was severely wounded. He was engaged at Monmouth, and greatly increased his reputation at Rhode Island. At Coosawhatchie, defending the pass with a handful of men, against the whole force of Provost, he was again wounded, and was probably indebted for his life to the gallan

[ocr errors]

try of captain Wigg, who gave him his horse to carry him from the field, when incapable of moving, his own having been shot under him. He headed the light infantry, and was among the first to mount the British lines at Savannah ; and displayed the greatest activity, zeal and courage, during the siege of Charleston. He was present and distinguished himself in every action of the army under general Washington, and was among the first, who entered the British lines at York town. Early in 1781, while he held the rank of lieutenant colonel, he was selected by congress on a special mission to France to solicit a loan of money, and to procure military stores. He arrived in March and returned in August, having been so successful in the execution of his commission, that congress passed a vote of thanks for his services. Such was his despatch, that in three days after he repaired to Philadelphia, he finished his business with congress, and immediately afterwards rejoined the American army. On the twenty seventh of August, 1782, in opposing a foraging party of the British, near Combahee river, in South Carolina, he was mortally wounded, and he died at the age of twenty

seven years.

His gallantry in action was highly characteristic of his love of fame. The post of danger was his favourite station. His polite and easy behaviour, insured distinction in every society. The warmth of his heart gained the affection of his friends, his sincerity their confidence and esteem. An insult to his friend he regarded as a wound to his own honour. Such an occurrence led him to engage in a personal contest with general Charles Lee, who had spoken disrespectfully of general Washington. The veteran, who was wounded on the occasion, being asked; "How Laurens had conducted himself?" replied: "I could have hugged the noble boy, he pleased

me so."

The following eulogium on the character of lieutenant colonel Laurens, we copy from Marshall's life of Washington.

6

This gallant and accomplished young gentleman had entered at an early period of the war into the family of the commander in chief, and had always shared a large portion of his esteem and confidence. Brave to excess, he sought every occasion in addition to those furnished by his station in the army, to render services to his country, and acquire that military fame which he pursued with the ardor of a young soldier, whose courage seems to have partaken of that romantic spirit which youth and enthusiam produce in a fearless mind. Nor was it in the camp alone he was fitted to shine. His education was liberal; and those who knew him state his manners

to have been engaging, and his temper affectionate. In a highly finished portrait of his character, drawn by Dr. Ramsay, he says, that, "a dauntless bravery was the least of his virtues, and an excess of it his greatest foible."

LEDYARD, WILLIAM, was a brave officer in the army of the revolution, and was basely murdered by the British troops, commanded by the traitor Arnold, after he had surrendered. We have collected the following particulars of this horrible transaction from various publications. General Arnold was appointed to conduct an expedition against New London, Connecicut, his native place. The embarkation having passed over from Long Island shore in the night, the troops were landed in two detachments on each side of the harbour, at ten o'clock in the morning of the 6th of September; that on the Groton side being commanded by lieutenant colonel Eyre, and that on the New London side by general Arnold, who met with no great trouble. Fort Trumbull and the redoubt, which were intended to cover the harbour and town, not being tenable, were evacuated as he approached, and the few men in them crossed the river to fort Griswold, on Groton-hill. Arnold proceeded to the town without being otherwise opposed than by the scattered fire of small parties, that had hastily collected. Orders were sent by the general to Eyre for attacking fort Griswold, that so the possession of it might prevent the escape of the American shipping. The militia, to the amount of one hundred and fifty-seven, collected for its defence, but so hastily, as not to be fully furnished with fire arms and other weapons. As the assailants approached, a firing commenced, and the flag-staff was soon shot down, from whence the neighbouring spectators inferred, that the place had surrendered, till the continuance of the firing convinced them to the contrary. The garrison defended themselves with great resolution and bravery; Eyre was wounded near the works, and major Montgomery was killed immediately after, so that the command devolved on major Broomfield. The British at one time staggered; but the fort being out of repair, could not be maintained by a handful of men against so superior a number as that which assaulted it. After an action of about forty minutes, the resolution of the royal troops carried the place by the point of the bayonet. The Americans had not more than half a dozen killed before the enemy entered the fort, when a severe execution took place, though resistance ceased. The British officer enquired, on his entering the fort, who commanded? colonel Ledyard answered, "I did, sir, but you do now;" and presented him his sword. The colonel was immediately run through and killed. The slain were seventy-three; the wounded between

« AnteriorContinuar »