Jedediah Huntington, born in Norwich, Connecticut, on the 4th of August, 1743, was educated at Harvard, and graduating there when he was twenty, delivered the first English oration ever pronounced in that university. He engaged in commercial pursuits with his father, and at the beginning of the Revolution was an active member of the Sons of Liberty, and first captain, then colonel, in one of the local regiments. Joining the Continental army at Cambridge in April, 1775, he aided in repulsing the British at Danbury the following year, and on the 12th of May, 1777, was commissioned brigadier-general. In September, he was ordered to Philadelphia, and in May, 1778, to the Hudson. He served in the court-martial that tried Lee, and also in the one that examined André. At the close of the war, by a resolution in Congress he was brevetted major-general. He was State treasurer, and delegate to the convention that adopted the Constitution of the United States. He was appointed by Washington collector of customs at New London, to which place he removed in 1789, and held the office twenty-six years. A zealous supporter of charitable institutions, he was a member of the first Board of Foreign Missions. On the 10th of May, 1784, at a meeting of officers, he was appointed one of a committee of four to draft a plan of organization, which resulted in their reporting on the 13th of that month the Constitution of the Society of the Cincinnati. His first wife, Faith Trumbull, daughter of the war governor of Connecticut, died while Huntington was on his way to join the army in 1775, and his second wife was the sister of Bishop Moore of Virginia. General Huntington died in New London, Connecticut, on the 25th of September, 1818.
JOSEPH REED.
Joseph Reed was born at Trenton, New Jersey, on the 27th of August, 1742. After a thorough and comprehensive education in the colonies, he adopted the law as his profession; and his advantages were greatly increased by special training at the Temple in London. Returning to America, he settled in Philadelphia and began to practise, but was keenly alive to all passing events, and gave the British ministry timely warning of what he thought the end would be, should the growing dissatisfaction with the coercive measures adopted by Great Britain toward her American colonies lead to an open revolt and an armed resistance. His acquaintance with Washington began when the latter came to Philadelphia from Virginia as a delegate to the first Continental Congress. This friendship resulted in Reed’s accepting in 1775 the office of military secretary to the commander-in-chief. When a friend remonstrated with him on the step he had taken, he replied,—
“I have no inclination to be hanged for half-treason. When a subject draws his sword against his prince, he must cut his way through, if he means afterwards to sit down in safety. I have taken too active a part in what may be called the civil part of opposition, to renounce without disgrace the public cause when it seems to lead to danger, and have a most sovereign contempt for the man who can plan measures he has not spirit to execute.”
So well did he fill this position that in 1776, on the recommendation of Washington, Congress appointed him adjutant-general in the Continental service, and well did he justify the chief’s favorable opinion of him, by the vigilance, thoroughness, and ability with which he discharged the arduous duties of this most responsible office. As adjutant-general he met the messenger of Lord Howe, when the latter sent a letter to “George Washington, Esq.,” and refused to transmit it to the commander-in-chief, because it was not properly addressed. Reed’s first taste of actual war was during the series of engagements on Long Island in August, 1776; but when Washington began his retreat through the Jerseys, he sent Reed to solicit reinforcements from the State Legislature. Having spent his boyhood in Trenton, and his college days in Princeton, his accurate knowledge of the topography of the country contributed in no small degree to the glorious victories which on the 26th of December, 1776, and 3d of January, 1777, changed the gloom and despondency of the Americans into the assurance and exultation of success.
As an acknowledgment of his distinguished services during the late campaign, Congress, again at the instance of Washington, promoted Reed, his commission as brigadier-general bearing date May 12, 1777. His legal ability also received its share of recognition, the Executive Council of Pennsylvania appointing him to fill the office of chief-justice of that State. He declined both appointments, however, preferring to serve as a volunteer whenever occasion demanded his military services. Congress accepted his resignation on the 7th of June, 1777. At the first news of the invasion of Pennsylvania by the British, he joined the army again and took part in the battles of Brandywine and Germantown, and in the skirmish at Whitemarsh. Though refusing the office of chief-justice, he had accepted a seat in Congress; and his time was divided between active service in the camp at Valley Forge, and in making appeals on the floor of Congress for reinforcements and supplies for the destitute army. Impoverished by the war, and with his great heart wrung by the sufferings he had witnessed among our soldiers while in winter-quarters, he was suddenly exposed to a great temptation. Ten thousand pounds sterling, and any colonial office in the king’s gift, were tendered him, if he would withdraw from the American cause, and use his influence in reconciling the two countries. Reed hesitated not one moment, but proudly answered, “I am not worth purchasing, but such as I am, the King of Great Britain is not rich enough to buy me.” His military career closed with the battle of Monmouth on the 28th of June, 1778, and in November he was unanimously elected president of the State of Pennsylvania. To this new dignity he brought all the incorruptible integrity, fertility of resource, and indomitable courage that had characterized him as a soldier. Twice re-elected, his tenure of office expired in October, 1781. A few months before his death, he was again called to serve the public, being elected to a seat in the Continental Congress; but his health had already begun to fail, and at the early age of forty-three he died on the 5th of March, 1785.
COUNT KAZEMIERZ (OR CASIMIR) PULASKI.
Count Kazemierz (or Casimir) Pulaski, born in Podolia on the 4th of March, 1748, received a thorough military education by serving for a time in the guard of Duke Charles of Courland, and enlisting when twenty-one under his father’s banner for the rescue of Poland from her oppressors. Bereft of father and brother by the war, he yet succeeded for a time in baffling all attempts to bring his country into subjection; but at last in 1772 his enemies triumphed and the partition of Poland was the result. Pulaski’s estates were confiscated; he was outlawed; and a price was set upon his head. Escaping to Turkey, but failing to gain any assistance there, he went to Paris in 1775. Sympathizing with the oppressed of whatever nation, he sought an interview with Benjamin Franklin, tendered his services, and came to this country in May, 1777, entering our army as a volunteer. His conduct at the battle of Brandywine secured him promotion to the rank of brigadier-general, on the 15th of September, 1777, with a command of the cavalry. During the ensuing winter, however, finding the officers under him dissatisfied at receiving orders from a foreigner who could with difficulty speak their language, and whose ideas of discipline and tactics differed widely from theirs, he resigned his command, and returned to special duty at Valley Forge. At his suggestion, approved by Washington, Congress authorized the raising of an independent corps of Lancers and light infantry, in which even deserters from the British, and prisoners-of-war, could enlist. This corps became famous afterward as “Pulaski’s Legion,” and rendered great service at the attack on Savannah. In this assault, Pulaski commanded all the cavalry, both French and American. The conflict was obstinate and bloody. Pulaski was severely wounded and left on the field of battle when his men retreated; some of them, however, returned, and under fire of the enemy, bore him to camp. With others of the wounded, he was taken on board the American brig “Wasp,” which was lying in the harbor; but notwithstanding the skill of the French surgeon, he died a few days after, as she was leaving the river, and his body was consigned to the sea on the 11th of October, 1779. The “Wasp” carrying the sad intelligence to Charleston, appropriate funeral services were held in that city. The cornerstone of a monument raised to his memory in Savannah was laid by Lafayette, when in 1824 he visited this country as “the nation’s guest,” and made a triumphant progress through each of the twenty-four States.