The Sages and Heroes of the American Revolution

by L. Carroll Judson

CHRYSTIE JAMES was born near Edinburgh, Scotland, 1750. At the age of 15 he came to Philadelphia and the next year received the commission of Lieutenant in the Continental army. He was soon put in command of a company and held the commission of Captain to the end of the war. He was one of Washington's favorites. No one better deserved his esteem. He was a brave soldier, a firm patriot, a good citizen, an honest man and a consistent Christian. The time of his death is not on the record. Lieutenant Colonel James Chrystie of the 15th regiment of U. S. Infantry, who fought so desperately at Queenston and other places during the last war with England, was his son and worthy of his noble sire.

CLARK GEORGE ROGERS is first introduced to us as a colonel in the service of the state of Virginia and the pioneer warrior of the then far west. No man ever understood better the Indian character and mode of warfare and no man did as much hard service on the frontier as Col. Clark. He was the protecting father of all the early settlements in Kentucky, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio and south western Pennsylvania. He became a terror to the red men. During the whole time of the Revolution he had command of the small forces on the western frontier and was commissioned a Brigadier General of the Continental army in 1781. In all respects Gen. Clark was well qualified to perform the hazardous duties that devolved upon him and did more than the acutest human sagacity dared anticipate. After a general peace took place with mother Britain and ultimately with her savage ally—the red men—Gen. Clark settled near Louisville, Kentucky to enjoy the fruits of his long and arduous toils. He was looked upon as the father of that broad section of country. Respected, beloved and honored—he glided down the stream of time until 1817 when his noble spirit went to its final rest.

CLINTON CHARLES father of James and George, was born in Longford, Ireland in 1690. On the 20th of May 1789 he embarked for America and after a tedious passage with a ruffian captain who compelled the passengers to give him a large sum of money above the price of their passage, he landed at Cape Cod instead of Philadelphia according to agreement. Mr. Clinton ultimately located in Ulster County New York, then a dense wilderness filled with wild beasts and savages more wild than them. He became a prominent public man and opposed the first indications of British oppression. He diffused liberal principles among his neighbors and planted them deep in the minds of his sons who did honor to their noble sire. He lived long enough to see the lurid clouds that portended the Revolutionary storm—just long enough to prepare his brave sons and neighbors for the approaching crisis. He was an honest man and a Christian. He died at his original residence in Ulster County on the 19th day of November 1773.

CLINTON GEORGE, a brother of James, born in Ulster county, New York, on the 26th of July 1739. They were sons of Col. Charles Clinton who was a native of Ireland. George was liberally educated, possessed a strong mind, great decision of character and highly charged with original—not modern demagogue patriotism. He was a member of the Congress of 1775-6. He was present and voted for the Declaration of Independence but being a Brigadier General of the Continental army he was compelled to leave before that sacred instrument was prepared for signatures—the reason why his name is not enrolled with the other sages. In April 1777 he was elected the first Governor of the State of New York under the new order of things and filled that office 18 consecutive years when ill health compelled him to decline. He commanded at Forts Clinton and Montgomery on the Hudson when they were taken by an overwhelming force after a most desperate resistance of several hours. The British force amounted to 4000—the American to only 500 within a very imperfect fortification. The works were stormed in the night which enabled the governor and many of his officers and men to escape through the defiles in the mountains. In 1801 he was again elected Governor of New York and in 1805 Vice President of the United States in which office he continued until the time of his decease which occurred at the city of Washington on the 20th of April 1812 when Congress was in session. A nation mourned the loss of one of her noblest sons, his friends one of their best companions, his kinsmen one of their dearest relatives. The closing sentence on his monument at Washington speaks volumes. "While he lived, his virtue, wisdom and valor were the pride, the ornament and security of his country and when he died he left an illustrious example of a well spent life worthy of all imitation."

CLINTON JAMES was first announced to his friends on a bright Thursday—the 9th of August 1736 in Ulster County, New York. He was by nature a military genius—by heritage a stern patriot. With an iron constitution and great physical powers he united an accomplished education, great military experience acquired in the French war of 1756 and the subsequent border wars up to the time the American Revolution commenced. In 1775 he was appointed colonel by the Continental Congress and fought by the side of the brave Montgomery when he fell at Quebec. On the 9th of August 1776 Congress raised him to the rank of Brigadier General. He was at the desperate defence of Fort Clinton in October 1777 and was severely wounded and escaped after the enemy had stormed the imperfect works with 4000 regulars against 500 soldiers mostly raw militia. He commanded a division under Gen. Sullivan in his expedition down the Susquehanna against the Indians and was one of his most reliable officers. He was raised to the rank of Major General and closed his brilliant military career at the siege of Yorktown. He subsequently filled several civil stations. In all the duties of public and private life he acquitted himself nobly and with great usefulness to his country. He died on the 22d of December 1822 near his native place.

COMSTOCK ADAM was first introduced to his relatives in 1743. He was a soldier by nature—powerful in body, of undaunted courage, an enthusiastic patriot and good disciplinarian. He had the confidence of Washington who raised him to the rank of Colonel in the Continental line. At the brilliant victory at Red Bank he was the officer of the day. Alternately with Gen. Smith of Maryland he commanded at the successful defence of Mud Fort. After the war he filled various civil stations and was many years a member of the New York Legislature. His long and arduous services are a matter of history—no higher Eulogy need be pronounced. He died at his home in Saratoga County, New York on the 10th of April 1819.

COWARD JOSEPH was a native of Monmouth County, New Jersey. In view of this cognomen we may well exclaim—"What's in a name my lord?" He was a Coward and yet one of the bravest of the Revolutionary captains. He was a great terror to the refugees alias tories. At the battle of Monmouth and several other places his undaunted courage was conspicuous. When the British fleet lay off Sandy Hook, one of the supply ships ran too near the shore and stuck fast. With a few men Capt. Coward captured her in defiance of two barges manned with superior numbers that were sent to the rescue. At the close of the war he returned to his farm—became the esteemed citizen and fully exemplified the noble attributes of an honest man.

CROGHAN WILLIAM was born in Ireland in 1752 and came to America at an early age. He had imbibed no love for mother England in his native country—he detested her tyranny in America. At the commencement of the Revolution he pledged his life in favor of equal rights. In 1776 he received the commission of Captain in the Continental army and took command of a company of Infantry in the Virginia line. He was in the battles of Brandywine, Germantown and Monmouth and received the high approbation of his superior officers. When the enemy invaded the south he was ordered to that field and raised to the rank of Major. At Charleston he was among the prisoners surrendered by Gen. Lincoln and was not exchanged during the war. He returned on parole and was a looker on at the siege of Yorktown but could not participate in that glorious victory. In the spring of 1784 he located at Locust Grove, Jefferson County, Kentucky, where he lived respected until September 1822 when he departed to the spirit world deeply mourned by his numerous friends.

CROPPER JOHN was born in Virginia in 1746. He was a captain in the 9th Virginia Regiment at the age of 19 which joined the northern army in December 1776. He was soon raised to the rank of major in the 5th Virginia Regiment which was literally cut to pieces at the battle of Brandywine. He retreated with those who could march and lay concealed in a thicket until after midnight and then proceeded to Chester with a red handkerchief upon a ramrod for a flag. His friends were no less astonished than rejoiced to see him and his brave remnant of soldiers, supposing they had fallen or were prisoners. He was subsequently raised to the rank of colonel and commanded the 11th Virginia Regiment until the 30th November 1782 when he returned to his long neglected home. When Commodore Whaley was attacked in the Chesapeake Bay by five British barges and was deserted by the three that were with him at the commencement of the fight, Col. Cropper was in the barge with him. The Commodore and half of his men being killed the Colonel continued the action and for some minutes defended himself against two white men and a negro of his own who was the means of saving his life. The moment he discovered it was his young master he cried out—"Save my young master!"—for which Col. Cropper gave him his freedom and settled him comfortably in Baltimore. The Colonel was ultimately promoted to the rank of general—lived highly esteemed at Bowman's Folly until the 15th of January 1812 when he departed in peace to the upper world leaving an untarnished reputation and a well-earned fame on the records of history.

CUSHING THOMAS was ushered into life at Boston, Mass. in 1725. He received a good education and commenced a useful public career soon after reaching his majority. In 1763 he was chosen speaker of the General Court of Massachusetts and was continued for several years. He was with Adams, Hancock and the other bold Whigs in all the measures of that eventful period. He was a member of the Continental Congress in 1774-5 and continued active and unwavering in the cause of freedom until it was consummated. He filled various legislative and judicial stations after the Revolution and performed all the duties of public and private life with ability and fidelity. He adorned the Christian character. He was lieutenant-governor when he died on the 28th of February 1788.