The Biography of the American Military and Naval Heroes, of the Revolutionary and Late Wars ...P.M. Davis, 1826 - United States |
Common terms and phrases
action affair American army appointed arms arrived artillery attack battle battle of Princeton boats body Bonne Homme Boston Brigadier-general British army Burgoyne camp capture cause Charleston Clinton Colonel colonies command Commander-in-chief commenced Commodore conduct Congress consequence Cornwallis corps cruise defence despatched detachment duty effected enemy enemy's engaged eral evacuation exertions expedition favour fire fleet force Fort Edward France French frigate garrison Gates gave Governor guns Heath honour hundred induced infantry ington Island Jones killed land letter Lieutenant Lieutenant-colonel Lincoln Lord Lord Cornwallis Lord Rawdon MAJOR-GENERAL mand March Marion ment miles military militia Moultrie neral New-Jersey New-York night occasion officers party passed Philadelphia prisoners provincials Putnam quarters rank received regiment retired retreat returned river sailed sent ship shot Sir Henry Clinton soon South Carolina squadron surrender tain Theodorus Bailey tion took town Tripoli troops United vessel Virginia Washington Wayne wounded
Popular passages
Page 258 - With a heart full of love and gratitude, I now take leave of you ; I most devoutly wish that your latter days may be as prosperous and happy as your former ones have been glorious and honorable.
Page 217 - I beg it may be remembered by every gentleman in the room that I this day declare, with the utmost sincerity, I do not think myself equal to the command I am honored with.
Page 217 - MR. PRESIDENT: Though I am truly sensible of the high honor done me, in this appointment, yet I feel great distress, from a consciousness that my abilities and military experience may not be equal to the extensive and important trust. However, as the Congress desire it, I will enter upon the momentous duty, and exert every power I possess in their service, and for the support of the glorious cause.
Page 222 - You affect, sir, to despise all rank not derived from the same source with your own. I cannot conceive one more honorable than that which flows from the uncorrupted choice of a brave and free people, the purest source and original fountain of all power. Far from making it a plea for cruelty, a mind of true magnanimity and enlarged ideas would comprehend and respect it.
Page 218 - As to pay, Sir, I beg leave to assure the Congress, that, as no pecuniary consideration could have tempted me to accept this arduous employment, at the expense of my domestic ease and happiness, I do not wish to make any profit from it. I will keep an exact account of my expenses. Those, I doubt not, they will discharge; and that is all I desire.
Page 220 - But a reverence for our great Creator, principles of humanity, and the dictates of common sense, must convince all those who reflect upon the subject, that government was instituted to promote the welfare of mankind, and ought to be administered for the attainment of that end.
Page 259 - I accepted with diffidence; a diffidence in my abilities to accomplish so arduous a task ; which however was superseded by a confidence in the rectitude of our cause, the support of the supreme power of the Union, and the patronage of Heaven. The successful termination of the war has verified the most sanguine expectations ; and my gratitude for the interposition of Providence, and the assistance I have received from my countrymen, increases with every review of the momentous contest.
Page 256 - ... retiring victorious from the field of war to the field of agriculture, participate in all the blessings which have been obtained? In such a republic, who will exclude them from the rights of citizens, and the fruits of their labours ? In such a country, so happily circumstanced, the pursuits of commerce and the cultivation of the soil, will unfold to industry the certain road to competence.
Page 218 - A special commission was drawn up and presented to him, as commander in chief of the American forces ; on presenting it, congress unanimously adopted this resolution : " that they would maintain and assist him, and adhere to him with their lives and fortunes in the cause of American liberty.
Page 192 - I was guilty either of disobedience of orders, of want of conduct, or want of courage. Your Excellency will therefore infinitely oblige me, by letting me know, on which of these three articles you ground your charge, that I may prepare for my justification ; which I have the happiness to be confident I can do, to the Army, to the Congress, to America, and to the World in general.