The Sages and Heroes of the American Revolution

by L. Carroll Judson

In 1782 he was elected to Congress and shed fresh lustre on that august body of sages. He grasped every subject with a gigantic mental power that filled the more experienced members with astonishment and admiration. He originated measures with a surprising facility and wisdom that were truly beneficial. He was a member of the Convention that framed the Federal Constitution. He was in favor of what he considered a stronger government than the one formed—one that some would call ultra federal. At the final organization under the new Constitution he was placed at the head of the Treasury Department. To the surprise and joy of all concerned he raised the credit of the nation rapidly from the lowest depths of depreciation to a lofty eminence of credit. At the end of six years he resigned and resumed the practice of law in the city of New York. When the provisional army was raised in 1798 in anticipation of a war with France, he was placed next in command to Washington and proved one of the most efficient disciplinarians that ever graced the profession of arms. On the disbanding of this army he again resumed his profession at the bar. In 1804 he was challenged by Col. Burr and sacrificed his life on the barbarous field of false honor contrary to his better judgment and finer feelings. He was mortally wounded on the 11th of July 1804 and died the next day. So opposed was he in principle to duelling that he fired his pistol in the air. He died deeply regretting the sad error, with full faith in the merits of his Saviour to wash every stain from his noble soul and present him with a crown of unfading glory. His sudden death and the manner his bright career was terminated spread a mantle of gloom over our country and the civilized world. His transcendent talents had attracted the admiring gaze of Europe and America. He was in all respects a remarkable man. His flashes of genius were like vivid lightning that startles—their force like crushing thunderbolts that shiver every obstacle in their way. He mastered everything in the course of his business by talismanic intuition. He filled the orbit of every station he occupied—he illuminated his pathway with a brilliancy that dazzled, he left a pillar of living light on the bright pages of history that will reflect its mellow rays on the horizon of Liberty through all time.

HAMILTON PAUL was one of the unflinching native patriots of South Carolina who resolved on Liberty or death. He filled a large space in the public mind and performed many public duties with ability and fidelity. He was governor of his State—Secretary of the Navy under President Madison and dignified every station he occupied. He bid farewell to his friends, earth and its toils in 1816.

HATHAWAY BENONI was born in Now Jersey in 1754. He was among the first who boldly struck for Liberty. He did not wait until the iron was hot before he raised his hammer but heated it by continuous heavy blows. He commanded a company of citizen rangers that became a terror to the scouting and foraging parties of the enemy and frequently captured them and the sentinels of their main camp in the darkness of night. When Gen. Kniphausen was encamped at Elizabethtown with his Hessians his most bewitching hours were often interrupted by this sleepless company. At one of these attacks Capt. Hathaway was wounded in the head by a musket ball and was unconscious for several hours but recovered and continued his guerrilla warfare until the last loyal Briton made good his retreat across the great heron pond. He was highly esteemed through life and met death with Christian fortitude at Newark, N. J. on the 19th of April 1823.

HAWKINS NATHAN was first introduced to the human family in Rhode Island in 1749. His patriotism grew with his growth and strengthened with his strength. When a mere youth he was the delegate of South Kingston to carry assistance to the citizens of Boston when reduced to distress by the infamous Port Bill. The war-cry from the heights of Lexington broke his slumbers at the hour of midnight—in less than twelve hours he was leading a brave volunteer corps to the rescue. He served faithfully during the whole period of the Revolution—acted a gallant part in several battles and is fully entitled to a place upon the records of enduring fame. When the war closed he located and closed his life at Charlestown, Mass.—filled several civil offices—was highly esteemed by his fellow citizens—sustained the noble reputation of an honest man—died October 3d 1817.

HAWLEY JOSEPH entered upon his earthly pilgrimage in Northampton, Mass. in 1724. He was one of the first who opposed the usurpations of the crown officers and the patriot who wrote to John Adams just as the Congress of 1774 closed and used the truly prophetic language—"after all we must fight." He was a man of strong intellect, great penetration of mind, a close observer of men and things, an inflexible friend to the cause of equal rights. In public meetings, in the legislature, in his social intercourse—at all proper times and places—he sowed the seeds of Liberty broadcast. When told the Colonies were too weak for resistance he replied—"We must put to sea—Providence will bring us into port." He was a lawyer of eminence and strongly opposed to accepting public office although he served his State in the Legislature several times. He exemplified the Christian religion by a life of primitive piety but was an uncompromising foe to fanaticism, bigotry, sectarianism and the dogmatical creeds of men. His charity spread its broad mantle over the whole family of man. He held the commission of major of militia but owing to his frequent and sudden attacks of illness he did not serve in the tented field. He enjoyed the esteem and confidence of every friend of freedom and passed peacefully from earth on the 10th of March 1786.

HAYNE ISAAC—[see the Biography of John Penn [in Part I].] I can find no record of his birth.

HEATH WILLIAM was born in Roxbury, Mass, in 1737. He left his plough in the furrow the moment the war-cry reached him and hastened to the field of epic glory. He was constitutionally a military man. Congress conferred upon him the commission of brigadier-general in 1775. The next year Congress raised him to the rank of major-general. He commanded a division at the battle of King's Bridge in 1776 and next year was placed over the Eastern Department with his headquarters at Boston and filled that arduous station until November 1778. Burgoyne and his army were under his charge as prisoners of war and at first gave him much trouble. The haughty British general and his officers supposed General Heath a novice in the rules of military etiquette and put on airs that induced insubordination among the English soldiers. In this they were mistaken. Gen. Heath had been a close military student from his boyhood. He had nothing new to learn from these high dignitaries but an insolent assumption of importance that he soon cured and reduced them to their proper level. With the humanity of a philanthropist and the polish of an old school gentleman he united the firmness of a Roman, the courage of a hero and the dignity of a nobleman.

In the summer of 1780 he was master of ceremonies at Rhode Island on the reception of the French fleet under the command of Admiral de Ternay with the troops that were sent to aid in sustaining our Independence. A mutual pleasure was experienced on that occasion which matured into lasting friendship. In 1781 Gen. H. was successfully employed at the east in raising supplies for the army. When Gen. Washington repaired to Yorktown Gen. Heath was left in command of the northern and eastern branches of the army that remained to sustain the garrisons upon the Hudson and Atlantic. At all times and under all circumstances he acquitted himself nobly and received a letter of sincere thanks from Washington at the close of the war for his zeal and promptness in the performance of the long and arduous services that had devolved upon him. After the war closed he filled various legislative and judicial stations with dignity and ability. He was elected lieutenant-governor in 1806 but refused to serve. He had earned a lasting fame—was beloved by his countrymen at large and glided down the stream of time peacefully until the 24th of January 1814 when his spirit returned to its original happy home.

HESTON EDWARD was ushered into Hestonville, county of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1745. He was one of the brave farmers who exchanged the plough for the sword. He entered the army as Captain and rose to the rank of Lieut. Colonel. By his vigilance in watching Lord Cornwallis when in Philadelphia he saved the brigade of Gen. Potter from being captured. The day previous to the battle of Germantown, with a few bold spirits he faced a heavy fire and succeeded in cutting the rope at the middle ferry to prevent the communication of the enemy with Philadelphia. In a skirmish with a party of British he received a severe sword cut on the back of his head, was taken prisoner and sent to Long Island where he was detained for seven months. After the Revolution closed he was an active member of the legislature of his native state and was esteemed through life for benevolence, charity, patriotism and rigid honesty. He died at his residence in Hestonville on the 14th day of March 1824.

HOLDEN LEVI was born in New Jersey in 1754. He entered the Continental army as Captain in 1776 and served faithfully until mother Britain relinquished her maternal care over the Colonies and left her froward child to act its own will and pleasure—a prudent course for the old lady and a fair business transaction. For three years Capt. Holden was attached to Washington's life guard and was highly esteemed by him. After the war he located at Newark, New Jersey where he enjoyed the esteem of the community for 30 years and descended to the tomb on the 19th day of April 1823, ripe in years and rich with honors.