USA > Maryland > Biographical sketches of distinguished Marylanders > Part 10
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CHARLES WILSON PEALE.
Mr. Ridgely, in "The Annals of AAnnapolis," in a description of the Senate Chamber of the State House, tells of a portrait of the elder Pitt: "In this picture Lord Chatham is represented at full length, in the atti- tude and costume of a Roman orator, with decorations of emblematical figures, expressive of his noble princi- ples. It was painted by Charles Wilson Peale (who was a native of Annapolis), while in England, and pre- sented by him, in the year 1794, to his native State."
Thus is the subject of this picture described by Colonel Henry Lee, in his "Memoirs," writing of this bold defender of American rights; he says: "Towering in genius, superb in eloquence, decisive in council, bold in action, loving England first and England always, adored by the mass of the people, and dreaded by the enemies of English liberty, he unceasingly cherished the good old cause, for which Hampden fought and Sidney bled."
It is not to be supposed that the love, the patriotism, the sacrifices, and continued labors of Peale, were ap- preciated according to value in his "day and genera- tion."
Thackeray says of the glorious gift of the artist, " Art is truth : and truth is religion ; and its study and practice, a daily work of pious duty." And, again, he says, this man who understood the nature of the world, the heart of nature, and the individual heart of man or woman, "The world enters into the artist's studio, and scornfully bids him a price for his genius, or makes dull pretence to admire it. What know you of his art?"
'TIS ABSENCE PROVES.
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"NIS absence proves with touchstone rare, If firm or frail the heart ; Pure gold a shining trace leaves there, No base ore can impart.
Tried thus, and true, hope gently folds Her network round the soul, And each frail web a fond wish holds To draw it to its goal.
Thus have I sought within my breast, If falseness there could be, But every fibre stands impressed With constancy to thee.
Like lark at morn, on upward wings, My spirit strives to soar, And with a loving fancy springs Back to its own once more.
Clear as yon star, when we're apart, Let faith's pure flame then burn, Best proof how one devoted heart, At least, for thee doth yearn.
As mountain stream the valley seeks, As rivers seek the sea, As back the wood its echo speaks, So bounds my heart to thee. GEORGE HAY RINGGOLD.
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MARGARET JANE RAMSAY.
MONG the many women of the Revolution who sacrificed comfort and safety to the aid and furtherance of their country's cause was Mrs. Ramsay, the wife of Captain Nathaniel Ramsay, afterward a Colonel, and well known in American history for brave deeds. Mrs. Ramsay was the daughter of Mr. Charles Peale, and the sister of Charles Wilson Peale, the artist. God, the impartial giver of blessings, who bestows as generously on women as on men the noble gifts of intellect, showered special blessings on Margaret Jane Peale, who is thus written of by her father in a letter to his sister: "My dearest Jenny, who is my delight, is grown a fine girl, but at this time has unfortunately got an intermitting fever, but hope God Almighty will bless her with the recovery of her health." This "fine girl," thus noted in an old letter-book, lived to do good, and win its reward in later days. She was celebrated for her beauty as well as for the more lasting treasures of mind and heart. Her fondness for literature induced the cultivation of her intellectual faculties to a full degree, thus winning the homage of intelligent and accomplished admirers. When quite young she married a merchant of Annapolis, who, dying in a few years, left a youthful widow. She then became the wife of Mr. Nathaniel Ramsay, a lawyer, and the brother of the well-known historian.
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MARGARET JANE RAMSAY.
He settled at Charlestown, in Maryland, at the head of Chesapeake Bay, and there commenced the practice of his profession. Yet, in the simple language of truth : " he would rather heal a breach than widen it, and in that way lost many a fee." He never made subservient to a love of gain his honor, that true shield of man- hood. When the British arrived at Boston, in Massa- chusetts, there was a call for troops throughout the Colonies. Maryland responded quickly; and when Smallwood was appointed Colonel, Nathaniel Ramsay received a captaincy in the same regiment. His heart was in his work, therefore it was well done. The regiment soon filled, and marched toward New York. The British, having abandoned Boston, had taken pos- session of Staten Island and Long Island. Ridgely's " Annals of Annapolis" furnishes the following from a Philadelphia letter of August the 31st, 1776 :
" Smallwood's battalion of Marylanders were dis- tinguished in the field by the most intrepid courage, the most regular use of the musket, and judicious movements of the body. When our party was over- powered and broken by superior numbers surrounding them on all sides, three companies of the Maryland battalion broke the enemy's lines and fought their way through. The Maryland battalion lost two hundred men and twelve officers-severe fate. It is said our whole loss is five or six hundred." In the same year, Colonel Ramsay wrote in reply to a complimentary communication from Baltimore: "That battalion, sir, esteem it but their duty to march to the assistance of any part of the Province when attacked, or in danger of it; but they march with greater alacrity to your as- sistance, from the pleasing memory of former connec- tions, and a sense of the value and importance of Baltimore town to the Province in general."
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MARGARET JANE RAMSAY.
Only the quieter portion of this story belongs to Margaret Ramisay. It is given to but few women to perform notable deeds in the time of war; yet were but one half of their sacrifices, made in the name of love and honor, recorded, the bright "historic roll" of armies would fade into insignificance before the vic- tories of woman. Upon the departure from home of her husband, Mrs. Ramsay gave up house-keeping and went to her brother with the intention of remaining with him until the termination of the war. When the battle of Long Island was fought, however, the reports, so conflicting, and laden with destruction and death, filled her heart with anxiety. She expressed her deter- mination to go to the scene of action, saying she would rather be with the army, whatever might be her suffer- ing, than at a distance enduring the torments of sus- pense, for if she were near the army she might, in case of misfortune, aid those most dear to her. Mrs. Ramsay was provided with a chaise in which she carried a small military chest complete in all its belongings. She moved with that. portion of the army under her hus- band's command, following at a safe and convenient distance. While stationary she usually lived at some farm-house in the neighborhood. Her home, for the time, was the constant meeting-place for the officers of the regiment, who, when off duty sought relaxation irom camp-life in the society of this cultured woman. Sitting together, they re-fought their battles over their coffee, sang songs, or related anecdotes of military life, and doubtless Mrs. Ramsay was sometimes made the recipient of confidence regarding other passages at arms with that annoying enemy of mankind, who in- fests "the court, the camp, the grove." When travel- ing from place to place, sometimes to avoid danger, at others to obtain provisions, etc., for her husband or
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friends, she was usually accompanied by a servant. Thus in the States of New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania, she won many friends. It may be im- agined that Mrs. Ramsay was the heroine of numerous adventures, following in the rear of the army, and almost in the shadow of the foeman's lines.
When General Washington took up his winter quarters at Valley Forge, the soldiers built huts of logs filled in with earth. Captain Ramsay, now pro- moted to a Colonel, had quite a cosey log hut situated on rising ground and facing toward the south. Here the Maryland officers, not unfrequently accompanied by the officers of other corps, would spend most agreeable hours.
We are all familiar with the pathetic story of that camp-life, where our brave fore-fathers, bare-footed, freezing, and hungry, sat staring into the face of death; where with a stern resistance, only born of a rightful cause, they strove, and endured, and died, to win us our liberty !
A portion of the Maryland Line being ordered to Wilmington, New Jersey, Colonel Ramsay, accompanied by his wife, removed to the residence of Mr. Lee, a friend of theirs, who treated them with great hospitality.
Upon the evacuation of Philadelphia by the British, they proceeded toward New York. Now took place the famous battle of Monmouth, and in this engage- ment Colonel Ramsay was complimented by General Washington, who called out to him that he "was one of the officers he should rely upon to check the enemy that day."
In this battle he was wounded and taken prisoner; that night the British marched toward Amboy, and Colonel Ramsay was conveyed to Princeton, where he remained at the house of Mrs. Sargent until his wounds
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were healed. He went then to New York ; he had been on parole, but was sent, after this, with the other pris- oners of the Maryland Line, to Long Island. Mrs. Ramsay accompanied her husband, and they were sup- plied with money whenever a safe conveyance could be found by her brother, Charles Wilson Peale. Striving to forget as much as possible their captivity, the officers of the Maryland Line, bound by the ties of brotherhood, associated constantly together.
After the declaration of peace Colonel Ramsay, with his wife, removed to the city of Baltimore, where they occupied a house on Calvert street. While in Baltimore he held an important position in public affairs ; finally he sold his house in that city and removed, with his wife, to Annapolis. Here, also, Colonel Ramsay took a prom- inent part amongst the distinguished men of that period.
The home of Colonel Ramsay was the resort of the elegant and the noted people of the day. His wife and himself were as hostess and host unsurpassed among the hospitable citizens of Annapolis.
By judicious speculation and wise management, Colonel Ramsay amassed a handsome fortune. He purchased a large farm, extending for a considerable distance along the mouth of the Susquehanna river, and here they lived in happiness and comfort for several years. Finally, the health of Mrs. Ramsay failed ; she lingered awhile and then died. She was mourned as a cheerful companion, and a sincere friend, by those who knew of her faithful life and strong heart. To those who were afflicted with illness, sorrow or want, she extended her helpful, willing hands, always ready to bestow and never asking earthly reward.
This is but the dim outlining of a woman's life, with few recorded incidents ; yet, it is another link in that
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long bright chain that binds the present to the great past, whose sweetest stories -
Like pearls from out the hearts of shells, Like bird-notes from the bosky wood, Like words of trust from far-off friends, We hold as good.
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THE AMERICAN SWORD.
YWORD of our gallent fathers, defenders of the brave, Of Washington upon the field, and Perry on the wave ! Well might Columbia's foemen beneath thy death-strokes recl, For each band was firm that drew thee, and each heart as true as steel ;
There's not a tarnish on thy sheen, a rust upon thy blade; Though the noble hands that drew thee are in dust and ashes laid, Thou'rt still the scourge of tyrants, the safeguard of the free, And may God desert our banner, when we surrender thee !
Sword of a thousand victories ! thy splendors led the way, When our warriors trod the battle-field in terrible array ; Thou wert seen amid the carnage, like an angel in thy wrath ; The vanquished, and the vanquisher, bestrewed thy gory path ; The life-blood of the haughty foe made red the slippery sod, Where thy crimson blade descended like the lightning glance of God !
They poured their ranks like autumn leaves, their life-blood as the sea,
But they battled for a tyrant-we battled to be free !
Sword of a thousand heroes, how holy is thy blade, So often drawn by Valor's arm, by gentle Pity's stayed ! The warrior breathes his vows by thee, and seals it with a kiss, He never gives a holier pledge, he asks no more than this; And when he girds thee to his side with battle in his face, He feels within his single arm, the strength of all his race ; He shrines thee in his noble breast, with all things bright and free, And may God desert his standard, when he surrenders thee !
Sword of our Country's battles! forever mayest thou prove, Amid Columbia's freemen, the thunderbolt of Jove; When like a youthful victress, with her holy flag unfurled, She sits amid the nations, the empress of the world. Behold the heaven-born goddess, in her glory and increase, Extending in her lovely hands the olive branch of peace, Thy glittering steel is girded on, the safeguard of the free, And may God desert her standard, when she surrenders thee. AMELIA B. WELBY.
GENERAL MORDECAI GIST.
ORDECAI GIST was born in Baltimore county, in the year 1743. His parents were Captain Thomas Gist, and Susan Cockey, both descended from respectable English families, who settled in Maryland. Mordecai Gist re- ceived a thorough education at the private seminary of an Episcopal clergyman, who had the direction of the parish in which the Gist family resided. The name of Gist occurs frequently in the history of the war of the French and the Indians with the English. One of the name was a colonel in the American army. He was Nathaniel Gist, the father of Mrs. Blair, whose husband, the Honorable Francis P. Blair, was a venerable repre- sentative of Maryland. Colonel Nathaniel Gist was the first cousin of Mordecai Gist. This Nathaniel came of an energetic race-energetic of mind and body. Richard Gist, the grandfather of Nathaniel, was one of the surveyors employed to lay out the original Balti- more town. The son of Richard was Christopher, who acted as guide to General Washington on the route to Fort Du Quesne. He afterward saved the life of Wash- ington while crossing the Monongahela river upon a raft. The ice, driving in thick blocks against the raft, gave but little hope of safety to a man thrown suddenly into the chill waters of the river. General Washington, losing his balance, was precipitated from the raft into
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the stream, and he would, undoubtedly, have been drowned, but for the timely aid given by Gist. He was a powerful man. He seized Washington, and pulled him on to the floating raft, thus saving, perhaps, the life of a nation through the life of its chief. Merely by so little a thing as the casting of a die is a seemingly insignificant event productive of great results. Thus was preserved the General to the yet unmarshaled armies of the Western World. He was to be the repre- sentative of a free people! Thus was the President of a vast Republic rescued from perishing by the sturdy hand of his guidesman.
Christopher Gist, and his two sons, Thomas and Na- thaniel, fought under Washington in Braddock's army, and were present on the field of defeat. Thomas was made a prisoner by the Indians, and carried into Canada, where he remained for many years. The wife of brave Christopher Gist was Miss Violetta Howard, the sister of the patriot, John Eager Howard. The name of Violetta Howard was transmitted, for honorable keep- ing, to Miss Gist, afterward the wife of Francis P. Blair, Esq., and the mother of Montgomery Blair, of Montgomery county, Maryland. Although these actors and their acts belong to a separate time and story from those of Mordecai Gist, they point directly to the strong- hearted race from whence he sprang. An evidence of his inheritance in that particular was given at the breaking out of the war of American Independence. Heading a band of valiant youths, the flower of Mary- land chivalry, he led them forth to battle. Chivalry, the true defence of honor, the honor of man, the safe- guard of woman, makes lustrous the fairest pages of Maryland history ! In January, of the year 1775, they were ready for the field, clad in their splendid uniform of buff and scarlet.
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In June, of that year, Admiral Lord Howe, with a fleet of one hundred and fifty sail, and a force of thirty thousand men, arrived at Long Island from Halifax. Nearly all the inhabitants of New York were in favo: of British supremacy. Therefore, upon landing, the British were received with acclamations and demonstra- tions of joy, by the people of Long Island, New York and New Jersey. Many of them proved their allegiance, by taking caths to the English Government. On the 10th day of July, six companies, under the command of Smallwood, from Annapolis, joined by three companies from Baltimore, embarked for Elk river, and from there they marched to New York. This force was incorpo- rated into Stirling's Brigade. The four independent companies that had remained in Maryland, joined the command of Colonel Smallwood, on the 20th day of August. These four companies were composed of men from the counties of Talbot, Kent, Queen Anne and Saint Mary's. The respect and love inspired by the Maryland men, 1,444 in number, aroused their comrades to renewed vigor. The most important posts could be trusted to the keeping of the Maryland men-the most dangerous points were guarded by their vigilance.
From dawn antil sunset of seven days the British forces were landing on Long Island. They began to land on the 21st day of August, and on the 20th the Maryland and Delaware troops commenced their march for the field.
The desire of Colonel Smallwood and Lieutenant-Col- onel Ware to accompany their command was intense. They were at the time, however, acting as members of a court-martial, sitting in New York, and General Wash- ington would not permit them to depart. The com- mand, therefore, devolved upon Major Gist, and with him as a leader they marched forth to meet the enemy.
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GENERAL MORDECAI GIST.
In this contest, known as the battle of Brooklyn Heights, Gist won undying fame as a soldier.
When the battle was nearly lost to the Americans, while Smallwood was on the road to join his band of heroes, Lord Stirling, within one mile of the American lines, determined on a last struggle against the powerful foe. It seemed to those who watched their movements in the distance, that they advanced for the purpose of surrendering. Yet, what was their agony of heart when they beheld this little band with fixed bayonets charge undauntedly the gigantic force of Cornwallis. General Washington is said to have wrung his hands despairingly, as he exclaimed : "Good God! what brave fellows I must this day lose !" This is but a little string of sen- tences, a chain of words handed down from one histor- ian to another ; yet it is the exclamation of a brave chief in behalf of his beloved compatriots. It is an inherit- ance of love to Maryland.
Five times they charged upon the enemy ; five times they were driven back, yet each time with renewed energy they charged again, until at the sixth charge the strong ranks of the Britons gave way in confusion. At this point the English received reinforcements, and the Americans no longer able to resist the overwhelming attacks, were compelled to yield. Some surrendered themselves under Lord Stirling, as prisoners of war. Three companies, with the determination of desperate men, cut their way through the ranks of the enemy, and retreated in regular order, until gaining a marsh they separated and made good their escape. In swimming the creek several were drowned.
The Marylanders, acting as a wall of defence, always in the front ranks, were swept away as the leaves of the forest before the storm. And yet we see them in all the days of battle and disaster, of privation and sorrow
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brave and true to their trust. Although our cheeks flush, and our eyes grow dim with tears in reading the record, with what a throb of pride our hearts go out to the memory of their deeds. The very earth that was crimsoned with their blood becomes sacred in thought, as these victors are made worthy in our esteem of the purple and gold that kings wear. God bless them!
In the battle of White Plains many of the field officers were absent, owing to a distressing malady prevailing at the time among the American soldiers. On the sick list is found the name of Major Gist, who was, at the time, in New Jersey. He had, however, the satisfaction of learning of the victories gained by his men in their hard-fought battle.
The author of "The Annals of Annapolis" says: "it is well known that the Maryland troops discharged their duty both in the camp and on the battle-field, and exhibited examples of intrepidity and military perfection, seldom equaled by the oldest troops."
In the battles fought on Southern ground Gist won his fairest laurels. On the 9th of January, in the year 1779, the rank of brigadier-general was conferred upon him, and the command of the second brigade of the Maryland Line was given him. On the red field of Camden, in 1780, backed by three Maryland regiments and one of Delaware, immemorial fame was gained by their almost supernatural resistance. While many other regiments fled, panic-stricken, from the field, they still struggled, presenting a glittering array of bayonets which were to be met and overcome before life was sur- rendered. And this the foe found, that at every point of the Citadel of Liberty, sentineled by Maryland, a defi- ant resistance met him, scarcely yielding with mortal life; for, Phoenix-like, she seemed to rise from the ashes of immolation again and again, rushing with renewed vigor to the charge.
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GENERAL MORDECAI GIST.
The Continentals were finally forced to fly from the field, beaten off, but not defeated. In recording this sorrowful event, William Gilmore Simms, the poet-his- torian of South Carolina, says: "Never did men behave better than the Continentals; but they were now com- pelled to fly. The only chance that remained to avoid a surrender on the field, and escape from the sabres of the dragoons, in whom the British were very strong, was to break away for the morass in their rear, into which they could not be pursued by cavalry. This was done, and by this measure, alone, did any part of this devoted corps find safety."
In this contest Delaware lost heavily. Fighting side by side with Maryland, their love for each other grew and strengthened, and that love belongs to the future as to the past.
The brave Baron De Kalb, the patriot stranger, who strove to plant the standard of Freedom on the shores of the Western World, fell on that disastrous day, covered with honorable wounds. Dying, he bestowed his blessing as a last gift upon the men whom in life he had so much loved. To his successor in the com- mand, General Smallwood, he expressed his soldiery pride and affection for the regiments by which he had been immediately surrounded on the field. His last words were, "God bless the Maryland Line." The time is very far past, yet his benediction has been echoed and re-echoed again and again from loyal lips to loyal hearts.
Let us for the sake of his glorious sacrifice keep always in proud remembrance the name and the deeds of that dauntless German hero! He is no longer visible to us; yet well might we be pardoned for think- ing that though freed from earthly restraints, De Kalb still retains his old command, that with uplifted sword
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he guards, while leading forever onward the valiant soldiers of Maryland.
In the retreat that day, Gist narrowly escaped death. A British dragoon, dashing onward in hot pursuit of the retiring army, galloped, with uplifted sword, toward the American General. Wheeling his horse sud- denly, Gist rushed toward his assailant-at that instant a sergeant of Gist's brigade, leveling his musket at the Briton, fired and killed him instantly. As he tumbled from the saddle the sergeant sprang into his place and rode swiftly away.
After this defeat, General Smallwood and Gist moved to Charlotte, North Carolina, for the purpose of rally- ing the scattered forces.
In fulfillment of General Washington's commands the seven regiments of the Old Line, Maryland troops, were formed into one regiment, to be called the First Maryland. This regiment was placed under the com- mand of Colonel Otho H. Williams. General Gist at the head of a band of supernumerary officers returned to Maryland. He was to recruit and form new regi- ments as rapidly as possible, to rebuild the broken ranks shattered by death and disaster. He was also deputed by General Greene to make known the wants of the army to the Government authorities, of which he writes as follows: "You will please to make all your applications in writing, that it may appear hereafter for our justification, that we left nothing unessayed to pro- mote the public service."
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