The Sages and Heroes of the American Revolution

by L. Carroll Judson

MEIGS RETURN JONATHAN was a native of Middletown, Conn. At the commencement of the struggle for freedom he had his military lamp trimmed and burning brightly with the fire of patriotism. He was in command of a splendid company of infantry volunteers in beautiful uniform, well armed and eager for service. He marched to Cambridge immediately on receiving intelligence of the battle of Lexington. He was soon raised to the rank of major and endured the fatigues of the expedition to Quebec under Arnold. In the desperate attack on that fortress he commanded a battalion and was among the first who scaled the walls and entered the city where he was taken prisoner and was not exchanged until near the close of 1776. In 1777 he was made a colonel and performed many astonishing feats of valor. On the 23d of May of that year he proceeded to Sag Harbor, Long Island, with 170 men—destroyed 12 British vessels fully laden with supplies for the army then in New York—killed six of the enemy—took 90 prisoners and returned to New Haven without the loss of a man. For this bold and successful enterprise Congress voted him an elegant sword. In 1779 he commanded one of the regiments under Gen. Wayne at the storming of Stony Point. He was a reliable man on all occasions and under the most trying circumstances. In 1787 he was one of the pioneer colony that located at the mouth of the Muskingum river on the Ohio. He was their esteemed governor until the officers of the territory arrived. He formed a code of regulations which were subscribed and placed upon a venerable oak where they were as frequently and more usefully consulted than the oracle Apollo at Delphi. He was a man of great philanthropy—a warm friend of the injured red men and accepted the agency of the Cherokee station. He gained the confidence and love of that noble nation who named him "the white path." With them he lived usefully and died peacefully on the 28th of January 1828 strong in hope, rich in faith with a full assurance of a glorious immortality.

MIFFLIN THOMAS commenced his earthly career in Pennsylvania in 1744. He was an influential Quaker until he was read out of meeting in 1775 because he dared strike for Liberty. He was an early, warm and able advocate of equal rights. He was an efficient member of the Congress of 1774. He was commissioned Quarter-Master-General in August 1775. He was one of the most successful stump-orators of that time. No one could more effectually excite the populace—when incited to action it needed a cooler head to direct the tornado and rule the storm of passion. He was very useful in rousing the militia to rush to the rescue. In 1787 he was a member of the Convention that framed the Federal Constitution. In October 1788 he succeeded Franklin in the chair of the Executive Council of the state. He aided in forming the first republican Constitution of Pennsylvania and was the first Governor under it. He was eminently useful in terminating the whisky rebellion. In all that he undertook he executed with great steal and energy. His life was devoted to the good of his country—he filled his measure of usefulness and left the theatre of life at Lancaster, Pa. on the 20th of January 1800.

MILLER HENRY is first introduced as one of the bravest officers of the Continental army. He rose to the rank of colonel and was a thorny customer of the enemy when retreating through New Jersey. At numerous battles he was distinguished for cool and undaunted courage. At the battle of Monmouth he had two horses killed under him while leading his men to the charge. He commanded a brigade of militia at Baltimore the last time mother Britain attempted to chastise her truant child. He filled several civil offices and dignified them with old school civility—an article rather on the decline in these modern days of new fangled notions. He died at Carlisle, Pa. on the 5th of April 1824.

MONROE JAMES commenced his busy life in Virginian in 1759. He entered the Continental army at the age of 17 and proved a noble and brave boy. He distinguished himself in the battles of Harlaem Heights, White Plains, Trenton, Brandywine, Germantown and Monmouth. At the latter he was aid to Gen. Sterling. At the close of the war he held the commission of Captain. He then read law with Thomas Jefferson—became a member of the Virginia legislature—was elected to Congress in 1783—in 1790 was a member of the United States Senate—in 1794 was minister to France—in 1799 governor of Virginia—in 1803 minister to France, the same year minister to England—in 1804 minister to Spain—in 1806 minister to England—in 1811 Secretary of State under Madison—then Secretary of War—in 1817 President of the United States and served two terms—labor and glory enough for the life of one man. James Monroe came from the searching crucible of all these responsible stations like gold seven times tried—free from dross and full in weight—a fact that renders the eulogy of words on his fame imbecile. He made his last bow upon the stage of life on the glorious 4th of July 1831 when the curtain of death dropped and hid him from the admiring view of a gazing world.

ENGRAVED BY T.B. WELCH FROM A PORTRAIT BY VANDERLYN.

MONTGOMERY RICHARD commenced his journey in this world of fickle spirits in the north of Ireland in 1737. He was one of the noblest sons of the Emerald Isle. His genius was brilliant—his education finished, his manners accomplished, his soul patriotic—the whole man was worthy of admiration. He fought for Great Britain under Wolfe and fell on the very ground where he had joined in shouts of victory in 1759. He came to America to remain permanently in 1772—purchased an estate near 100 miles above New York City—married a daughter of Judge Livingston and became a prominent citizen and a warm friend to the cause of Liberty. In 1775 he was appointed Major General and in conjunction with Gen. Schuyler placed over the northern forces. In October the illness of his colleague left him in sole command. He captured Fort Chamblee, St. Johns and Montreal by the 12th of November. He then proceeded to Quebec and formed a junction with Arnold at Point Aux Trembles. On the 1st of December a siege was commenced on Quebec and continued until the 31st of that mouth. On the memorable last day of 1775 the gallant little band under these two ardent soldiers was led to the storming attack of the town in four divisions with strong fortifications to overcome and double their force within the walls. The first gun that was fired upon the division led by the gallant Montgomery killed him and his two aids. His death spread a general gloom over our land and was deeply lamented in the mother country. Congress caused a monument to be erected to his memory in front of St. Paul's church in the city of New York with a suitable inscription. By direction of the legislature of the empire state his remains were brought from Quebec and deposited near this monument on the 8th of July 1818. His widow lived to see the last vestiges of the husband of her youth—our nation rejoiced to have this noble hero repose in the bosom of our own soil. The fame of Gen. Montgomery is above eulogy. It will grow richer with age—time cannot corrode it.

MORGAN DANIEL was a native of Durham, Bucks county, Pa. From there he removed to New Jersey and then to Virginia where he was a common laborer for some time and by his industry and economy saved money sufficient to ultimately purchase a farm in the county of Frederic. When a common laborer his company was not of the highest order—his habits not rigidly moral but in that company he was the ruling spirit. He was with Braddock when defeated by the French and Indians and received a wound that marked him in the face for life. Like many more with a rough exterior, he had a noble heart within him—a heart full of daring courage, patriotism and philanthropy. He was among the first who rushed to the standard of Washington at Cambridge with the commission of Captain. He was with Arnold in his memorable expedition to Quebec and was taken prisoner during the attack on that city. On being exchanged he returned and took command of the celebrated rifle corps that so often carried death into the ranks of the enemy. At the capture of Burgoyne the carnage produced by this corps was terrific—especially among the bravest of the British officers—contributing very largely in achieving that splendid victory that first rolled back the tide of war upon the conquering foe. Of this all seemed sensible but Gen. Gates who did not award to him his just share of credit in his report to Washington and Congress. For a time he left the service. When Gates was ordered to the command of the southern army he personally solicited Col. Morgan to accompany him. He was plainly referred to past improper treatment but the Colonel ultimately repaired to that field with the commission of Brigadier General. He became the hero of the Cowpens for which Congress voted him a gold medal. That brilliant affair has been previously described. About that time Gen. Greene succeeded Gates. A disagreement occurred between him and Morgan as to the route to be taken in the retreat. Morgan took his own way—joined Greene at Guilford court house and then left the service. He subsequently commanded the Virginia troops in the campaign against the whisky boys in Pennsylvania. He was elected a member of Congress and filled the station with dignity. He ultimately located at Winchester, Va. where he lived in the high esteem of his fellow citizens—became a consistent member of the Presbyterian church and died in 1799. He was possessed of strong common sense—a brave but sensitive soldier—a good citizen—a worthy and honest man.

MORGAN JOHN was born in Philadelphia in 1735 and became an eminent physician and sterling whig. In 1765 he was elected Professor of the Theory and Practice of Medicine in the Medical College of Philadelphia. In October 1775 he was appointed chief physician of the hospitals of the American army. Jealousy and envy put she tongue of slander in motion and induced false accusations against him and succeeded in effecting his removal in a few months. He did not again enter the thorny course of public life and died at Philadelphia in 1789.

MORRIS GOVERNEUR commenced his earthly pilgrimage near the city of New York in 1752. He was liberally educated and became an eloquent and sound lawyer. He was a member of the Provincial Congress of N. Y. in 1775 and on the committee that drafted the first constitution of that state. In 1777 he was a member of the Continental Congress—in 1781 was associated with Robert Morris as assistant superintendent of Finance—in 1787 a member of the Convention that framed the Federal Constitution—in 1792 minister plenipotentiary to France and in 1800 was elected to the U. S. Senate where his extensive acquirements and Ciceronean eloquence shed fresh lustre on that body—on his country and his own high reputation. Mr. Sparks has published his speeches and writings with an interesting biographical sketch of his life. He was an ornament to every circle in which he moved—an honor to every station he filled—a particular star in the galaxy of the Sages of his day and generation.