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diff --git a/27293.txt b/27293.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..472b010 --- /dev/null +++ b/27293.txt @@ -0,0 +1,1500 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of A sketch of the life and services of Otho +Holland Williams, by Osmond Tiffany + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: A sketch of the life and services of Otho Holland Williams + Read before the Maryland historical society, on Thursday + evening, March 6, 1851 + +Author: Osmond Tiffany + +Release Date: November 19, 2008 [EBook #27293] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK OTHO HOLLAND WILLIAMS *** + + + + +Produced by Greg Bergquist and The Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was +produced from images generously made available by The +Internet Archive/American Libraries.) + + + + + + + + + + A SKETCH + + OF THE + + LIFE AND SERVICES + + OF + + Gen. Otho Holland Williams, + + READ BEFORE THE + + Maryland Historical Society, + + ON THURSDAY EVENING, MARCH 6, 1851. + + By OSMOND TIFFANY. + + [Illustration] + + BALTIMORE: + + PRINTED BY JOHN MURPHY & CO. + + No. 178 MARKET STREET. + + 1851. + + + + +MR. PRESIDENT: + +The events of the American Revolution are so nearly connected with our +own times, that the actors in that great struggle seem yet to be to us +as living men. We open the portal of the past century, and are with +those who once like ourselves, breathed and thought, and who now, lie +not silent or forgotten in the tomb. + +Their deeds live in our memory; their examples are glorious as of old: +their words of hope in dark hours, and of their joy in success, still +burn before us:--they have become the great historians of their age. +Among this band of gallant men, who gave themselves with all their soul +to liberty, I could name none of our native State, who displayed a more +patient, disinterested, and zealous spirit, than the pure and chivalrous +Otho Holland Williams. + +He was born in the county of Prince George's, in March, 1749. His +parentage was highly respectable, his ancestors emigrating from Wales, +and he being of the second generation after their settlement in +Maryland. + +Had his days been wholly passed in the enjoyment of peace, his influence +would not have been lost. He would still have left to his friends the +same invaluable legacy of a good name, but it was his fortune to deserve +and gain a wider celebrity. He was his father's oldest son, and in the +year succeeding his birth, his home was changed to the mouth of the +Conococheague Creek, in Frederick, near Washington county. In that +beautiful region of country, watered by the stream that lends its name +to the valley, were spent the few short years of his boyhood. There he +learned to love the aspect of fields and groves, the memory of which +was his solace long after, in many dark and trying hours, for we find in +the midst of the toils of the camp, that his spirit yearns for rural +peace and solitude. The love of nature is ever ennobling; it perhaps +contributed to form the character of the future hero. + +It is a favorite theme with biographers to dwell on parental precepts, +especially on those of the mother. We have no anecdotes of this period, +but we may yield to a happy idea, and imagine young Williams listening +to the accents of a mother's lip, with the true deference which he +always paid to goodness. We may see him, among his little playmates on +his father's farm, already showing those traits of character, which +guided him in the path to honor: that love of truth, that physical and +moral courage, which won in time the confidence of his great +commander-in-chief, who had himself early shone in the same qualities. +We may picture him crossing the fields, at early morning hours, to the +rustic school, there to recite the simple lesson, and to be instructed +in his mother tongue, which he afterwards used with the grace of a +scholar. But the sunshine of his boyhood was soon clouded--his father, +Joseph Williams, died, leaving but a small property to seven children; +and Otho at the age of thirteen, was thrown upon his own exertions. He +was placed with his brother-in-law, Mr. Ross, in the Clerk's Office of +Frederick county. Here he remained several years, diligently occupied in +studying the duties of the bureau, and when he was duly qualified, took +charge of it himself, for a while, until removed to a similar situation +in Baltimore. It was in this vocation that he acquired those habits of +regularity and method, which were so signally manifested when called to +situations of the highest trust. + +His appearance at this time, when about eighteen years of age, is thus +described by his friend and fellow-soldier, Gen. Samuel Smith: "He was," +says the writer, "about six feet high, elegantly formed; his whole +appearance and conduct much beyond his years; his manner, such as made +friends of all who knew him." + +Thus does he appear before us, while to use Burke's apt expression, he +was yet in the gristle, and had not hardened into the bone of manhood. +But he was already a man in his high sense of honor, his unsullied +integrity, and the polish of his address: if he had not won laurels, he +had acquired the esteem of the worthy. + +Thus endowed, we learn that he entered into commercial life, in +Fredericktown, shortly before the commencement of the American +Revolution. There is little doubt, that had this course been pursued, it +would have been crowned with eminent success, for he afterwards united, +to an extraordinary degree, military genius with scientific business +habits. But when the clouds, which had so long been gathering over the +sun of peace, burst at last, all thought of pursuing quiet trade was +abandoned. The spirit that prompted Putnam to reverse the Scriptural +promise, and beat the plough-share into the sword, kindled kindred +feelings in the breast of Williams. A company was formed in +Fredericktown, and under the command of Capt. Price, marched for Boston. +Williams might easily have obtained the captaincy, but with the modesty +which always kept pace with his success, he declined to press a claim to +command, saying to the committee, that though ambitious to lead, he was +willing to serve. This spirit uniformly attended him--he deferred +cheerfully to authority himself, and exacted obedience from those whom +he commanded. He was a strict disciplinarian, as all good officers are, +but governed his own conduct by his rigid adherence to the rules of +superiors. In reporting an officer to Gen. Greene, for disobedience, he +says: "When orders are received with contempt, and rejected with +insolence, examples are requisite to re-establish subordination, the +basis of discipline." + +But, before attempting to trace the career of the soldier, it will be by +no means uninteresting, or uninstructive, to depict the man. His letters +to his family and friends, are true mirrors in which he was reflected, +and we cannot more fully present him, than by a few sentences from his +correspondence. Indeed, I have found his letters so graphic and elegant +in style, so illustrative of any subject on which they touch, that I +have made large extracts, believing that they would be of much greater +historic value, concerning the scenes and actions of which they treat, +than any description of mine. His views of life were most cheerful and +happy--he writes to his brother thus: + +"I have seen a great variety of life, and profess most seriously, that +there is more true felicity to be found in a bare competence and +domestic industry, than in any other circumstances. My observations on +others confirm this opinion, and I wish to have an opportunity of +experiencing the satisfaction which I am sure is to be found in rural +employments. We should not hope to be wealthy, or fear to be poor; we +never shall want; and whoever considers the true source of his +happiness, will find it in a very great degree, arising from a delicate +concern for those dependent upon him, useful employments, and the +approbation of his friends." + +He was ambitious, but his ambition never led him astray: and through all +circumstances of life, he was governed by a deeply religious faith. His +own words precisely express his feelings: "It would give me pain, if the +world should believe any person, with the same advantages, may do more +than I may. Fortune does a great deal in all military adventures, and, +therefore, I am not to say whether this reproach will come upon me or +not. But you may rely upon it, my good friend, discretion and fortitude +shall govern my conduct; and in the interim, I commit myself to that +Power whose eye is over all his works, and by whose goodness I have been +preserved in numerous perils." + +We do not learn that Williams was engaged in any very noted service +until the following year, but he acquired the confidence and esteem of +his superiors--among others Gen. Gates, whose friendship often +professed, was afterwards proven. In 1776 he was promoted to the rank of +Major, in a rifle regiment formed from Maryland and Virginia troops, and +we learn that his first trial in actual battle, occurred at the fall of +Fort Washington, on the Hudson River. He was stationed in a wood with +his troops, in advance of the Fort, and was attacked by the Hessian +allies. They were several times repulsed with heavy loss, but being +reinforced, they succeeded in beating back Williams and his company into +the Fort, where all were eventually taken prisoners. The enemy +accomplished this by reinforcements, as has been already mentioned, and +from the unfortunate condition of the rifles of the attacked party. By +long continued and incessant fire, these had become so foul as to be +nearly useless, and Williams reluctantly retreated at the last moment, +only to delay capture for a short period. The feelings of an officer, +when obliged to yield his sword, and suffer an imprisonment, he knows +not how long or cruel it may be, must be sufficiently agonizing to feel +that utter inactivity is forced upon him, at the very instant that his +country is most in need of the services he would cheerfully render. In +the last attack of the Hessians, Williams received a severe and +dangerous shot wound in the groin, though he entirely recovered from its +effects in due time. His career was suddenly checked, and he was doomed +to languish fifteen months, before he again saw the sun shine on his +freedom. The first half of his captivity, though painful enough to an +ardent patriot, was not total eclipse. + +He was placed on Long Island on parole, and among many annoyances, there +occurred some incidents which cheered him in captivity. He formed the +acquaintance of Major Ackland, a British officer, and they became firm +friends. The elegant person, and finished manners of Williams, procured +him access to circles as a gentleman, which would have closed to him +solely as a prisoner; and under the guidance of Ackland, visiting the +opposite city of New York, he sometimes appeared in the fashionable +houses, which reversing the present order, were then measured on the +scale of style, by proximity to the battery. + +It is related that on one occasion, after Williams had been dining with +Lady Ackland, his good friend the Major, and he, sallied forth for a +ball, and that although the company were much struck with the elegant +figures and demeanor of the two friends, and although the Briton made +all effort to introduce the captive, the gentlemen of the party could +not forget the enemy to welcome the stranger, and the ladies treated him +with extreme coldness. Ackland finding that all his efforts were vain, +took Williams by the arm and led him from the room, saying, "Come, this +company is too exclusive for us." This was not the only occasion on +which Major Ackland proved his friendship and sympathy for Americans. + +His fate was a melancholy one, and such as he little deserved. After +the war of the Revolution, and when he had returned to his own country, +on the occasion of a dinner, the valor of American soldiers became the +subject of conversation. On their merit being denied, Ackland defended +them, and in the warmth of argument with a brother officer, to some +assertion, replied that he lied. The insult was of course unpardonable, +and could only be settled by a duel, in which he was shot dead. + +During the period of Williams' confinement on Long Island, it was the +pleasure of some of the British officers to stroll among the American +prisoners, and tauntingly ask them in what trade they had been employed. +When Williams was asked this impertinent question by a titled officer, +he replied, that he had been bred in that situation which had taught him +to rebuke and punish insolence, and that the questioner would have ample +proof of his apprenticeship on a repetition of his offence. The noble +did not attempt it, or demand satisfaction for the contempt with which +he had been treated, but it is probable, that through his +instrumentality, Williams was accused of carrying on a secret +correspondence with Washington. There was, indeed, some apparent +foundation for suspicion in Williams' superior ability, and from the +respect paid to him by his fellow-prisoners. He was seized, and without +one word of defence on his part being listened to, without being +suffered to confront his accusers, he was suddenly removed to the +provost jail in New York. + +Here he was delivered to the tender mercies of harsh turnkeys, and +confined in a room about sixteen feet square that was seldom visited by +the breath of heaven, and always remaining in a state of loathsome +filth. Among other prisoners, was the celebrated Ethan Allen, and he +shared the miserable den, in which Williams was confined. Their only +visitors were wretches who came to glut their brutal curiosity, and to +torture their victims with loud sentiments of delight in the +anticipation of seeing them hanged. Letters complaining of such cruel +treatment were repeatedly but vainly addressed to the commandant of New +York, and they thus suffered for seven or eight months. + +Their health was much impaired, for their food was of the vilest sort, +and scarce enough to keep soul and body together, and to add to these +discomforts, the anxiety that preyed upon their minds, was terrible in +the extreme. The naturally fine constitution of Williams was much +impaired, and he never recovered entirely from the effects of his +imprisonment. But he is still full of hope, to which, though not written +at the time of his incarceration, his own words to one of his family +thus bear witness: "I flatter myself I shall still see a day, a +prosperous day, when we shall all be assembled in some agreeable spot in +the neighborhood of Hagerstown, where we shall mutually embrace each +other, with joy and tenderness, and cheerfully recount the tedious hours +which the distresses of our country oblige us to pass in absence, and +when the dangers that are passed will serve as a subject for an evening +tale." But finally, the doors of his prison-house were thrown asunder +and he was free. + +After the surrender of Burgoyne, Gen. Gates proved his friendship by +stipulating positively for Williams' release, and he was exchanged for +his old friend Major Ackland, who had been taken prisoner with the +British army. Gen. Phillips, the commandant of New York, anxious to +offer some excuse for the rigor with which Williams had been treated, +asked him to dine with him, but the invitation was properly rejected. +During his captivity his native State had not been unmindful of him, he +had been appointed to the command of the 6th regiment of the Maryland +line, and he joined the army in New Jersey, shortly before the battle of +Monmouth, fought in June, 1778. The result of this engagement is well +known: it gave great encouragement to the American troops, and Col. +Williams has left a little description of the joy with which the +following anniversary of Independence was celebrated, a joy enhanced by +the favorable issue of the late conflict, and moreover, is one of the +few instances on record in which the day has been celebrated without a +patriotic oration. + +His letter is dated Camp New Brunswick, July 6th, 1778:-- + +"On the 4th inst. the anniversary of American Independence was +celebrated in the following manner. At 3 o'clock in the afternoon, a +cannon was discharged as a signal for the troops to get under arms, half +an hour afterwards, the second fire was a signal for the troops to +begin their march, and at four the third signal was given, for the +troops to be drawn up in two lines, on the west side of the Raritan, +which they did in beautiful order. A flag was then hoisted for the _feu +de joie_ to begin. Thirteen pieces of artillery were then discharged, +and a running fire of small arms went through the lines, beginning at +the right of the front line, catching the left, and ending at the right +of the second line. The field pieces in the intervals of brigades, were +discharged in the running fire, thus affording a harmonious and uniform +display of music and fire, which was thrice well executed. After the +_feu de joie_ the general officers and officers commanding brigades, +dined with his Excellency. Yesterday a number of field officers shared +the same fate, and I had the satisfaction of seeing the old warrior in +very fine spirits." + +During the remainder of Col. Williams' sojourn in the Northern States, +we do not learn that he was in any position to prove his skill as a +soldier, excepting in those qualities which are too often +under-estimated by the public. His regiment when he took command of it, +was rather noted for looseness of discipline, and did not stand upon a +mark with others of the line, but in a very short time, under Williams' +prompt and active organization, it became equal if not superior, in +thorough discipline, to any in the whole army. + +A soldier should certainly not be deemed unable, who has few +opportunities of any brilliant success, and who is only known by the +admirable order of his troops. + +From several of Williams' letters written about this time, we learn that +if there was little chance of fame, he found time to fall in love, +proving that though ambitious of the glory of Mars, he was not +insensible to the blandishments of Venus. + +But it is time, that we approach the sphere of action in which Williams +was particularly distinguished, and where he acquired such honor, as to +raise him to eminence among the greatest Generals of this country. We +allude to the war in the Southern States, particularly the Carolinas, in +which some of the bloodiest and most obstinate battles were fought, +during the whole revolution. The entire country in that portion of the +States, was completely reduced and subdued by the superior generalship +of Sir Henry Clinton, who had left New York, for the express purpose of +subjugating the Carolinas. He had been eminently successful, and it will +not be unimportant to pass briefly in review, the condition to which +those States had been reduced, when Congress determined to succor them, +by reinforcements of Northern troops, among which were the Maryland and +Virginia lines. On receipt of the news of Clinton's expedition, +Charleston, then in possession of the Americans, had been placed in a +state of defence, in the manner deemed best calculated to resist the +enemy, though the garrison was enfeebled by disease, want of money, and +want of enthusiasm among the soldiery. Many refused to serve again, +after the late campaign in Georgia, unwilling to leave their homes, and +having no faith in their own strength, against a powerful and amply +munitioned foe. They also had strong grounds, through the proclamations +of the English, to believe that non-resistance to the Crown would +purchase security from fire and pillage, for it was the policy of the +English utterly to destroy, as far as possible, all kinds of property +belonging to the Republicans. The garrison of Charleston consisted of +scarcely five thousand men, under command of General Lincoln, while +Clinton's force alone, amounted to upwards of eight thousand. The +garrison, after an obstinate defence of forty days, was obliged to +surrender to the enemy, before which time, all hope of succor or escape +was reluctantly abandoned. Various expeditions were planned by the +American troops, but almost every one was prevented, or destroyed, by +the ceaseless vigilance and activity of the British, among whom none was +ever more conspicuous than the well remembered Tarlton. No sooner did +the British standard wave over the ramparts of Charleston, than Clinton +determined to use the most energetic means, to ensure the reduction of +the entire province. To this end, he planned several expeditions, all of +which succeeded even beyond his own hopes. The royalists joined his army +in great numbers, and the Americans were defeated at all points. The +complete rout and terrible slaughter of the Republicans, under Col. +Buford, at Wacsaw, the enemy being led on by Tarlton, for a time utterly +prostrated the vigor of the Carolinians, who thereupon submitted in +despair. Clinton, then by promise of amnesty, endeavored to maintain +the authority which British bayonets had again acquired, but he excepted +those who had been instrumental in the defence of Charleston. This +measure was productive, as we shall see, of the most fatal consequences, +and in time overturned all hopes of those which he so strenuously +endeavored to introduce. His object was to put down the slightest +attempt at rebellion, and those who had lately fought for Congress, were +forced to take up arms for the Crown, instead of being suffered to +remain as prisoners of war, on parole. + +This unexpected act of tyranny produced a state of society of which, at +this period, we can have but little idea. + +Those who had fought bravely in defence, were treated with the most +cruel persecutions, their property plundered and destroyed, while those +who submitted supinely to their fate, were sometimes rewarded, or at +least suffered to remain undisturbed. This naturally engendered a bitter +feeling, even between families, and the complete separation of members +of the same flock, were but the happiest results: their hate was +frequently kindled into a flame, only quenched in blood. Williams has +left a graphic picture of the state of society at that time, and it may +be remarked, that his opinion of the inhabitants was by no means high. + +He says, writing to his brother:--"There are a few virtuous good men in +this State, and in Georgia; but a great majority of the people is +composed of the most unprincipled, abandoned, vicious vagrants that ever +inhabited the earth. The daily deliberate murders committed by pretended +Whigs, and reputed tories, (men who are actually neither one thing nor +the other in principle,) are too numerous and too shocking to relate. +The licentiousness of various classes and denominations of villains, +desolate this country, impoverish all who attempt to live by other means +and destroy the strength and resources of the country, which ought to be +collected and united, against a common enemy. + +"You may rely on it, my dear brother, that the enemy have had such +footing and influence in this country that their success in putting the +inhabitants together by the ears, has exceeded even their own +expectations: the distraction that prevails surpasses any thing I ever +before witnessed, and equals any idea, which your imagination can +conceive, of a desperate and inveterate civil war." + +But horrible as this state of society was, it had some redeeming +features; fire might consume, a savage soldiery might plunder, the sun +might scorch and not gladden, and the rivers might run with blood, +instead of water, but the women of the Carolinas stood superior to their +husbands, their sons, and their brothers, and were unconquered, +unconquerable. They indeed, bore the fiery trial, and preferred exile to +submission, death to slavery. They incited their kindred never to lay +down their arms, until the last foe had vanished from their soil. They +would with the courage of Joan of Arc, have grasped the sword, and +perished at the stake. They would not give their hand in the light dance +to a Briton; they gave their heart with their hand to the meanest of +their countrymen. They threw the gold bracelet into the scale to lighten +the iron fetter. They feared not the contagion of the prison ships, nor +the damp of the dungeon. They instilled into their drooping relatives +new hopes, and urged them once more to draw the sword, and throw away +the scabbard. It is related that Col. Tarlton once asked a lady in +Charleston, the name of the Camomile blossom. "It is called," answered +the noble woman, "the Rebel flower, because it flourishes best when most +trampled on." The influence of woman prevailed, the sword seemed +sharpened, instead of blunted by the blows it had taken, and the spirit +of '76 again animated the soldiery. The arrival of Lafayette about this +period, was most welcome: he brought encouraging news, and instilled +into the colonists hopes which were soon verified by the arrival of the +French fleet, commanded by Admiral de Tiernay, in Newport harbor. Then +the people once more flew to arms, and + + The war that for a space did fail + Now trebly thundering swelled the gale. + +General Gates took command in July, 1780, superseding Baron de Kalb; and +Col. Williams with his regiment appears at the seat of war, in the +Southern States, about that time. He assumed by appointment the +important post of deputy Adjutant General, which added greatly to his +duties, but which he discharged through his whole period of service, +with exemplary fidelity. He has left a detailed narrative of the +campaign of 1780, (published in Johnston's Life of Greene,) and his +letters give most graphic accounts of the battles in which he was +engaged, and the trials in other forms, through which he passed. The +sharp action where blows were given and taken, proved less arduous and +scarce more dangerous, than the sufferings of the army without an enemy +in sight. He writes soon after his arrival--"The affairs of our little +southern army are much deranged, and we find ourselves under very +considerable embarrassments in our present position; the want of +provisions is an inconvenience we have often experienced, but we have +never been in a country so unwilling to supply us as at present. By +military authority, we collect a kind of casual subsistence that can +scarcely be called our daily bread. The fatigue of campaigning in this +country is almost inconceivable. I have slept, when I have had time to +sleep, in my clothes. I seldom divest myself of my sword, boots or coat; +my horse is constantly saddled, and we eat when provisions are to be +got, and we have nothing else to do. The dangers of the field are +neither more frequent, nor more fatal, than those attending the fatigues +and accidents that reduce an army--from long experience, I find myself +so capable of sustaining the fatigue, and by my good fortune (the favor +of Providence) I have so often escaped the danger, that I am contented +to do my duty, and submit myself to that fate which Heaven ordains." + +The campaign of 1780 was a most unfortunate one for the Southern States, +as that of 1776 was for the Northern. Soon after General Gates took +command, the battle of Camden was fought, which resulted in the total +defeat of the Americans. Col. Williams gives an account of it in his +sketch of the campaign, but I have not been able to find any of his +private letters on the subject. The battle was fought on the 16th of +August, and from returns which Williams collected, the actual number of +fighting men or rather of able bodied troops, for some did not fight at +all, amounted only to three thousand and fifty-two, about one-half of +the nominal strength of the army. The numbers of the enemy were much +superior, and at the very time that Gen. Gates had determined to march +upon Camden, Lord Cornwallis, commander-in-chief, (Clinton having +returned to New York,) apprised of all that was passing in the interior +of the States, determined to march himself to reinforce Lord Rawdon, +thinking it highly probable from the position of the American army, that +Camden would be a point of speedy attack. He arrived there two days +before the battle, and unwilling to hazard an assault, determined to +surprise the rebels in their place of encampment at Clermont. Thus both +armies, ignorant of each other's intentions, moved about the same hour +of the night, and approaching each other, met half way between their +respective encampments at midnight. An exchange of fire between the +advanced guards was the first notice that either army had of the other. +Hostilities were for the time suspended, and from one of the prisoners +taken in the skirmish, Williams learned that Lord Cornwallis led the +army with three thousand troops under his especial command, besides +those of Lord Rawdon's. + +This intelligence threw consternation into the American army, and Gen. +Gates called a council of war. It was decided that the time had passed +for any course but fighting. Frequent skirmishes occurred throughout the +night, which served to display the relative force and situation of the +two armies. Col. Williams narrates another circumstance which +contributed to distress the Americans, and he says: + +"Nothing ought to be considered as trivial in an army which in any +degree affects the health or spirit of the troops, upon which often, +more than upon number, the fate of battles depends. The troops of Gen. +Gates' army had frequently felt the consequence of eating bad +provisions, but at this time a hasty meal of quick baked bread and fresh +meat, with a dessert of molasses mixed with mush or dumplings, operated +so cathartically as to disorder very many of the men, who were breaking +the ranks all night, and were certainly much debilitated before the +action commenced in the morning." + +On the morning of the 16th, the two armies came together, and Williams +at the very onset distinguished himself by his valor, and by his +suggestion to Gen. Gates that the enemy should be attacked while +displaying by Gen. Stevens' brigade, already in line of battle, as first +impressions were very important. Gen. Gates at once replied, "that's +right, let it be done." This, however, could not be accomplished until +the right wing of the British was discovered in line, too late to attack +them while displaying. Williams at the head of forty or fifty men then +commenced the attack, and kept up a brisk fire. But the militia no +sooner beheld the enemy advance impetuously, than they threw down their +arms without firing and fled instantly. This was followed by others, +acting in the same pusillanimous style, and at least two-thirds of the +army never fired a shot. Williams writes: + +"He who has never seen the effect of a panic upon a multitude can have +but an imperfect idea of such a thing. The best disciplined troops have +been enervated and made cowards by it. Armies have been routed by it, +even where no enemy appeared to furnish an excuse. Like electricity, it +operates instantly; like sympathy, it is irresistible where it touches." + +The regular troops, including those of Maryland, stood their ground, and +by tremendous fires of musketry kept the enemy for a while in check. +Several times did the British give way and as often rallied. But two +brigades of American troops remained firm upon the field. Williams +called upon his regiment not to fly; he saw that to avoid retreat was +impossible but wished it to be accomplished with credit. The troops +stood well and returned the hot fire of the enemy with zeal, until +Cornwallis, charging with his whole force of dragoons and infantry, put +them to total rout. Not a company retired in good order, but Williams +attributed this not to want of courage; they had fought against +desperate odds, besides having to fight for those who so ingloriously +fled, but it appears that there was no command to retreat from any +general officer until it became too late to retire in order. Williams +gained in this action, unfortunate as it proved, a character for cool +courage, for discretion, and that thorough knowledge of tactics so +essential in the officer, and without which impetuosity would be but an +explosive gas, but which, guarded by the master-hand of the philosopher, +burns steadily through the thickest gloom. Never off his guard, he knew +when and where to strike, and when to reserve the blow that opportunity +only served to encourage; for it is hard for the brave in battle to +retain the gauntlet of defiance, and so armed, "out of the nettle danger +pluck the flower safety." + +General Gates never entirely recovered from the odium showered upon him +by the event of the battle of Camden, and the consequences finally led +to his displacement, and the appointment of Gen. Greene to the command +of the Southern army, but Williams always continued his firm friend, and +speaks of him in several instances as the "good old man." + +(It is impossible, in a sketch so brief as this, to give any detailed +account of the war in the Carolinas; it will be sufficient to introduce +successively Col. Williams' graphic pictures of the battles and scenes +in which he was engaged.) + +The tide of fortune could not flow forever with the English, and at the +battle of King's Mountain, in which Williams took part, they were +utterly defeated; this victory proved a severe blow to the interests of +Lord Cornwallis. Sometimes by good luck, advantages were gained, as in +the following circumstance during the same year, and of which Williams +gives this account, dated 7th Dec. 1780: + +"A few days ago Gen. Morgan, with the Light Infantry of our army and a +party of Light Dragoons under Lieut. Col. Washington, moved towards +Camden. Col. Rugely's farm was defended by a strong block house, which +was garrisoned by Col. Rugely and a party of new levies. A good block +house is proof against musketry and sometimes against light artillery. +Therefore Gen. Morgan would not risk his troops in an assault, but had +recourse to stratagem, and Lieut. Col. Washington executed the plan. He +paraded the cavalry in view of the block house and mounted the trunk of +a pine tree upon three prongs, instead of a field piece, and which he +manned with dismounted dragoons, then summoned Rugely to surrender, +which the poltroon did, without hearing a report of this new invented +piece of ordnance, and submitted himself with about 100 officers and men +to be taken as prisoners of war." + +The battle of Cowpens was another blow--perhaps the most decisive +victory gained by the Americans during the whole war, and in which the +hitherto terrible and fortunate Tarlton was put to total rout. + +The retreat of the army through North Carolina, which, so admirably +executed, had the effect of leading Cornwallis into Virginia, followed +the battle of Cowpens, and gave Williams an opportunity of displaying +those qualities of tact, vigilance and prudence, which gain for an +officer a fame as deserved as the laurels won in battle. He commanded +the rear guard, and succeeded in eluding every effort of the enemy in +pursuit. Greene, with a keen eye, early distinguished his abilities, and +he became, as long as he remained with the army, one of his general's +few and constant advisers. He appointed him Adjutant General, as he had +been Deputy under Gates. + +The next engagement of consequence is that of Guilford Court House, and +Williams has left a short account of it in a hasty letter to his +brother. His letter is dated from Camp at Speedwell's furnace, ten miles +from Guilford Court House, 1st March, 1781: + +"The Southern army has once more come off second best in a general +action. Gen. Greene being reinforced with a few small detachments of new +levies, which gave the regular battalion a respectable appearance, and a +sufficient number of militia to make his force apparently superior to +the British army, made the best possible arrangement of his troops, and +for many reasons which rendered it almost absolutely necessary, came to +a resolution of attacking Lord Cornwallis the first opportunity. When +both parties are disposed for action all obstacles are soon overcome. +The two armies met at Guilford Court House yesterday at 12 o'clock. Our +army was well posted; the action was commenced by the advanced parties +of infantry and cavalry, in which our troops were successful, but the +situation of the ground not being favorable in our front, our army kept +its position and waited the attack of the British. They were opposed +wherever they appeared. The militia of North Carolina behaved as usual, +but those of Virginia distinguished themselves by uncommon bravery. The +regular troops were the last that had come to action and generally +behaved well, but as these were the most inconsiderable in number, the +general chose rather to retire than risk a defeat. The retreat was made +in tolerable good order, and so stern was the appearance of our regular +force, that the enemy did not think proper to press our rear, nor +continue the pursuit more than three miles. Our greatest loss is four +pieces of artillery and the field." + +During the next month another ineffectual attempt was made upon Camden, +and pursuing the plan formed of allowing the actors in these scenes to +speak for themselves, we have Col. Williams' account of the efforts of +the army as follows: + + "CAMP BEFORE CAMDEN, _27 April, 1781_. + + "_Dear Elie_--We have been here ever since the 19th instant, and + have made several manoeuvres, upon different quarters of the + town, but have neither been able to discover advantages, that + promised success by a storm, nor to completely invest the place. + The town is flanked on the West by the Wateree, and on the East by + two deep creeks; the other quarters are strongly fortified. A + villain of a drummer went in to the enemy on the the 24th, when we + were encamped within a mile of the town, and gave them such + information of our circumstances, position and numbers, as induced + Lord Rawdon to sally with all his best troops the next morning, + about eleven o'clock. + + "This was what we wished, and the only hope we had of a speedy + reduction of the post. Lieut. Col. Washington was ordered to pass + the right flank of the enemy with his cavalry, which he did, and + threw himself in their rear. Capt. Kirkwood, with two small + companies of light infantry, was behaving bravely in front, and the + picquets were doing their duty upon the flanks, when the line was + ordered to advance, and the artillery to play upon the enemy. The + first Maryland regiment particularly, was ordered to charge + bayonets, without firing, but for some cause not yet clearly + ascertained, the regiment received orders to retire and then broke. + The second regiment retired in consequence. The second Virginia + regiment was ordered off, and the first broke. The unfavorable + consequences were, that the army lost a glorious opportunity of + gaining a complete victory, taking the town, and biasing the beam + of fortune greatly in favor of our cause. + + "The action was at no time very warm, but it was durable, and our + troops by the gallant exertions of our officers, were rallied + frequently, but always fought at long shot. A convincing testimony + that this was generally the case, is that none or very few of our + men were wounded with buck shot or bayonet. The baggage of our army + was sent off to Rugely's, and the troops halted at Saunder's Creek, + about two miles South of where we fought last year, and about five + miles from Camden. The loss was nearly equal on both sides, if we + do not consider the loss of opportunity. We lost about 130 killed + and wounded, and from every account the enemy were not more lucky. + + "The cavalry, the light infantry, and the guards, acquired all the + honor, and the infantry of the battalions all the disgrace that + fell upon our shoulders. The cavalry, led on by Washington, behaved + in a manner truly heroic. He charged the British army in the rear, + took a great number of prisoners, sent many of them off with small + detachments, and when he saw we were turning our backs upon victory + in front, by a circuitous manoeuvre, he threw his dragoons into + our rear, passed the line and charged the York volunteers, (a fine + corps of cavalry,) killed a number and drove the rest out of the + field. Washington is an elegant officer; his reputation is + deservedly great. Many of our officers are mortally mortified at + our late inglorious retreat. I say mortally, because I cannot doubt + that some of us must fall, in endeavoring the next opportunity, to + re-establish our reputation. Dear Reputation, what trouble do you + not occasion, what danger do you not expose us to! Who but for it, + would patiently persevere in prosecuting a war, with the mere + remnant of a fugitive army, in a country made desolate by repeated + ravages, and rendered sterile by streams of blood. Who but for + reputation would sustain the varied evils that daily attend the + life of a soldier, and expose him to jeopardy every hour. Liberty, + thou basis of reputation, suffer me not to forget the cause of my + country, nor to murmur at my fate." + +The events of this campaign being active, and following in quick +succession, we have an account of the siege of Ninety-six, a very +important post. The fortunes of the war had turned generally in favor of +the Americans, although their troops were several times defeated in this +campaign. Lord Rawdon was forced to abandon Camden shortly after the +events narrated by Williams, and the posts of Fort Watson, Fort Mott, +Fort Granby, Nelson's Ferry, Georgetown, Fort Dreadnought and Augusta +were all reduced or deserted, and there remained only Charleston and +Ninety-six in South Carolina, and Savannah, in Georgia, in the hands of +the enemy. The post of Ninety-six was closely besieged for three weeks, +and without reinforcements, which the Americans hardly expected, would +certainly have been taken. But it so happened, unfortunately, that the +garrison was strongly reinforced by Lord Rawdon, and the Americans were +obliged to abandon the siege. Col. Williams writes thus: + + "BUSH RIVER, _June 23d, 1781_. + + "_Dear Bro._--The circumstances of the war, in this part of the + world, have had a material alteration since I had the pleasure to + write you. After Lord Rawdon's retreat from Camden, Gen. Greene + pushed his operations southwardly, and has obliged the enemy to + abandon or surrender all their posts in South Carolina, except + Charleston and Ninety-six. On the 22d ult. our little army invested + the last mentioned place, and continued the siege with infinite + labor and alacrity till the 20th inst., when we were obliged to + relinquish an object, which, if attained, would not only have given + peace to this distracted country, but would have added a lustre to + our former services, sufficiently brilliant to have thrown a proper + light upon the character of our excellent General, and reflected a + ray of glory upon the reputation of each inferior officer. Though + we have been greatly disappointed, no troops ever deserved more + credit for their exertions. The operations were prosecuted with + indefatigable zeal and bravery, and the place was defended with + spirit and address. Our loss is Capt. Armstrong, of the Maryland + Line, killed; Capt. Benson, dangerously wounded, and Lieut. Duvall, + also wounded. Besides officers, we lost fifty-eight men killed, + sixty-nine wounded, and twenty missing. From this account you will + conclude that a day seldom passed without execution, and I can + assure you that each night rather promoted than diminished the + mischief. We succeeded so far as to take one of the enemy's + redoubts, and in all probability a few days more would have happily + concluded the business. But Lord Rawdon had received a strong + reinforcement, and by making forced marches, arrived in time to + avert the impending fate of the garrison. I cannot ascertain the + loss the enemy may have sustained, but judging by our own, it + cannot be inconsiderable. Our approaches were carried by two + trenches and a mine to within a few feet of the ditch of their + strongest fort, and our troops once took possession of it, but + their works were too strong to be escaladed. Instances of + consummate bravery were exhibited, but their fire was too fatal for + our people to remain in their fosse, and we were obliged to leave + it with loss." + +But the most important battle, and the last of consequence, was that of +Eutaw. It was by no means as decisive as that of Cowpens, but it was +instrumental in putting an end to the war. Col. Williams displays his +knowledge of the enemy, and his skill as a soldier, in this prognostic +of the battle, which happened four days after that he writes as follows +from: + + "FORT MOTT, on the Congaree River, _Sept. 4th, 1781_. + + "I wrote last from the high hills of Santee, from which the army + moved the 23d of August, with the view of attacking the enemy at + Thompson's Farm, which is within half a mile of this place, but + having a large circuit to make before we could pass the Wateree and + Congaree rivers, which lay between us, the enemy took the + opportunity of retiring to Nelson Ferry, which is on the Santee + River, about forty miles below the confluence of the first + mentioned rivers, which form the last, within sight of our present + position. + + "Having got the enemy so low down the country, a great point is + gained, and puts the laboring oar into their hands. + + "We shall not be under the necessity of fighting, neither shall we + avoid it if a favorable opportunity offers. These large rivers, + which have all extensive marshy shores and but few ferries, + embarrass us on account of transporting our baggage, and will + subject the army to some inconvenience, but our circumstances, + taken altogether, are very different from what they were three + months ago, and are indeed a perfect contrast to the adverse + fortune that followed the heels of our retreating troops last + winter. If Col. Stewart, who has commanded the army since Lord + Rawdon's departure for Europe, thinks proper to risk an action, he + will be beaten." + +Here we have his account of the battle itself: + +"The British army, being reinforced by the 3d regiment, contrary to my +expectations, advanced from Orangeburgh to Congaree, and encamped at +Col. Thompson's, about one mile from Fort Mott, which we had reduced +some time before. It is said they exultingly gave three cheers upon +regaining that position. The two armies remained neighbors, and were +separated by the Santee, from early in August till the 23d of that +month, when Gen. Greene took the resolution to remove Col. Stewart, (who +succeeded Gen. Rawdon in command,) or give him battle. + +"It was impossible to pass the rivers Wateree and Congaree immediately +in front, and as their confluence is but a little to our left, it was +not considered eligible to cross the Santee below the enemy for obvious +reasons: we had a junction to form with the State troops and militia, +whose numbers were not ascertained, and without them we were greatly +inferior in force to the enemy. Therefore the General ordered us to +march by the right, and we passed the rivers above, which induced the +British army to retire to Eutaw Springs, about thirty-five miles from +Thompson's and about two from Nelson's Ferry over the Santee. Gen. +Greene did not approve of their holding that post, and as his forces +were now collected, he determined to prosecute his plan of giving battle +or removing them to a more peaceful distance. By easy marches we arrived +at Burdell's, seven miles from Eutaw, in the afternoon of the 7th inst., +and orders were given for marching again next morning, at four o'clock, +to attack the enemy. + +"At four o'clock next morning we were under arms, and moved in order of +battle about three miles, when we halted, and took a little of that +liquid which is not unnecessary to exhilarate the animal spirits upon +such occasions. Again we advanced, and soon afterwards our light troops +met the van of the enemy, who were marching out to meet us. + +"Very serious, very important reflections began to obtrude. But liberty +or death; peace and independence; or glory and a grave. The enemy's van +was soon driven to their line, and our troops displayed. Our militia, +which composed the front line, seconded the attack, and behaved better +than usual. The North Carolina brigade of Continentals were next +engaged, and acquired honor by their firmness. The Virginians advanced +with impetuosity, and beat their foes wherever they found them. And the +little remnant of Maryland troops, with an intrepidity which was +particularly noticed by our gallant commander, advanced in good order, +with trailed arms, and without regarding or returning the enemy's fire, +charged and broke their best troops. Then, indeed, we fired and followed +them into their camp, near which is a thick wood, very unfavorable to +cavalry. But Col. Washington, impatient perhaps for a more favorable +opportunity, charged upon the enemy's right, where unluckily their flank +companies were posted. He received a very galling fire, by which his +horse fell in front of his dragoons. In an instant his breast was +pierced by a bayonet, which however wounded him but slightly. His +cavalry was repulsed, and that excellent officer became a captive. + +"Our loss in officers killed and wounded was very considerable, and the +eagerness of the pursuit had thrown most of the troops into disorder, +which could not now be remedied. Some were taking prisoners, and others +plundering the enemy's camp, while they in despair sought refuge in and +about a strong brick house which stood in the midst of it, and from +whence their fire began to gall us exceedingly. About this time General +Greene had brought our two six pounders within one hundred yards of the +house, and I believe by accident or mistake, two others which we had +taken were brought to the same place. At this critical juncture the +enemy made a conclusive effort, which not only did them great honor, +but, in my opinion, was the salvation of their whole army. Major +Majoribanks sallied briskly from behind a picket garden, charged our +artillery, and carried the pieces, which they immediately secured under +the walls of their citadel. + +"As our two three pounders and one which we had taken in the field, were +all dismounted, it was useless to attempt any thing further with the +small arms. The General, therefore, ordered the troops to retire, which +was done gradually, the enemy not presuming to follow. The cavalry of +the legion kept that of the enemy in awe, but found no good opportunity +to cut them. + +"The Delaware battalion and legion infantry acted with their usual +vivacity, and were among those who did the most execution. As the Eutaw +Spring was within fifty yards of the house, and there was no other water +nearer than Burdell's, we retired in the afternoon to that place, which +gave the enemy an opportunity of burying as many of their dead as their +stay would admit. They abandoned the post early on the night of the 9th, +leaving upwards of sixty of their dead unburied, and sixty or seventy +wounded that could not be carried off. We pursued them about thirty-five +miles, and though their army was reinforced by Major McArthur's +detachment of 300 or 400 men from Monks' Corner, they thought proper to +retire to a strong position on the south side of Ferguson's swamp, in +the night of the 10th, when we lay at the Trout Spring, within five +miles of them. + +"They retired to Fair Lawn, below Monks', and on the morning of the 13th +the General ordered the army to return to its former position at the +high hills of Santee. This expedition was made in the season of the year +which is most sickly in this country; and you cannot conceive how much +more lamentable it is to lose an officer in sick quarters, than to see +him fall in the field. There, there is no duration of that toilsome +anxiety which we suffer for a languishing friend, besides his exit is +glorious and, we believe, happy. + +"Upon re-perusal of this circumstantial sheet, I do not think I have +said enough of the bravery of the American troops. To have an idea of +their vivacity and intrepidity, you must have shared their danger and +seen their charge, which exceeded any thing of the sort I ever saw +before. + +"The battle of Eutaw, was an example of what I conceive to be obstinate +fair field fighting, and it is worthy of remark, that it happened on the +same spot of ground where, according to the tradition of this country, a +very bloody, desperate battle was fought about a century ago, between +the savage natives and the barbarous Europeans who came to dispossess +them of their property, which, in soil, is as rich as any upon the +continent, or can be any where else. On the spot where the conflict of +bayonets decided the victory, is a monument or mound of earth, said to +have been erected over the bodies of the brave Indians who fell in +defence of their country. Will any such honorable testimony be erected +to the memory of our departed heroes?" + +Both parties claimed the victory, and according to Gen. Tarlton's +narrative, it was a most brilliant triumph for the British. It had, +however, great weight in favor of the Americans. Williams' conduct in +this engagement was most distinguished, and won for him the entire +approbation and praise of General Greene and the army. Indeed, Greene +says: "I cannot help acknowledging my obligations to Col. Williams for +his great activity on this and many other occasions, in forming the +army, and for his uncommon intrepidity in leading on the Maryland troops +to the charge." Williams might, indeed, well be proud of such +commendation, but he now knew that he had done all in his power for the +country, and he yearned to return to the bosom of his family. A sense of +duty alone made him a soldier; there was in him no desire of mere +military distinction, but of + + "that good fame, + Without which glory's but a tavern song." + +He would have chosen to live on the old homestead, had not the cry of +his country rung in his ears, and when he was at last free to set his +face homewards, how gladly did he depart. He writes to his brother: + +"My disposition is wholly domestic; my feelings flow with excess of +tenderness whenever I indulge the thoughts of home. There I will be as +soon as I can quit the field with honor, and sooner you don't expect me. +The hope of terminating this tour of service with a little good fortune, +and of returning once more to my friends, supports me under all my +anxiety and danger. I am happy in my office, in my command, and in my +connections. My health is seldom impaired, though my feelings are +wounded every day by such circumstances as I have frequently related--so +that I have a mixture of pleasure and pain in the exercise of my +profession, which I ardently wish I may soon have an honorable +opportunity of changing for some silent, sweet domestic occupation. Then +will I take you and my fond sisters in my arms, and live with you in +peace." + +The military career of Williams now drew rapidly to a close, and the +remainder of his days were passed in the repose he so ardently loved. +But toward the close of the war he was sent by Greene with despatches to +Congress, and became Brigadier General by brevet. Much as he merited the +honor, it caused some dissatisfaction among his brother officers, and +Greene writes to him on this subject, in connection with others, as +follows: + +"I wrote you, my dear General, some time past, in answer to your letter. +In mine I congratulated you on your promotion, from which I felt a +singular happiness, but observed at the same time, that the manner was +more honorable to you, than satisfactory to the other Colonels of the +army. Your right of promotion, which took place from the United States +being formed into districts, was repealed before your promotion took +place, and being promoted upon a principle of merit, the Colonels feel +an injury in the comparison that their merit is less conspicuous than +yours. Col. Pinkney wrote me on the subject, and I believe has written +to Congress. I gave him copies of my letters to Congress, which were +satisfactory. I expect other Colonels will feel the same injury, and +very likely make the same application. + +"The love of rank is so strong a principle in the breast of a soldier, +that he who has a right to promotion will never admit another over his +head upon a principle of merit. You are not to expect that every body +will subscribe to the justice of your promotion. You must content +yourself with having obtained it, and that no man is without his enemies +but a fool. I am glad to hear the sentiments of the public are so +flattering to the Southern army. The Southern States have acted +generously by me, and if I can close the business honorably here, I +shall feel doubly happy, happy for the people and happy for myself. I +think the public are not a little indebted for our exertions. The +Southern States were lost, they are now restored; the American arms were +in disgrace, they are now in high reputation. The American soldiery were +thought to want both patience and fortitude to contend with +difficulties: they are now remarkable for both. That sentiment had taken +deep root in Europe, but it is now totally changed. Indeed, the change +of British administration is in a great degree owing to our efforts, and +the consequences resulting from them. + +"I hope I don't arrogate too much in saying this, and in saying we have +contributed not a little to the glory of the nation and the American +arms. I find by a Parliamentary Register, that there were 18,000 troops +and upwards, in the Southern department last year, besides the militia +which acted with the enemy, and those amounted to not less than 2,000, +exclusive of the negroes, and they had more than 1,000 of them on the +different military departments of the army. This includes Lord +Cornwallis' army in Virginia. At the time the battle of Eutaw was fought +by the enemy, from returns laid before Parliament, it appears they had +in Charleston and in their advanced army, 6,700 men fit for duty, +besides all the militia and negroes. What an amazing difference between +their force and ours! From these authorities, I find our operations were +much more glorious than ever we considered them." + +Gen. Greene and Gen. Williams were equally zealous in defending each +other's reputation, and at a later period when Greene himself was made +the subject of animadversion, Williams defends him in a strain of +indignation and sarcasm, in the following letter to Maj. Edwards: + +"The late revolution in South Carolina is owing not only to a change of +circumstances, but to a change of men in the government of that country. +How daringly impudent it is for those who have been rescued from misery +and dejection, to arraign the virtue that saved them. Gen. Greene +exercised a superior judgment, changed the system of military operations +in that country, and used the only possible means of recovering it--and +dare the ingrates now accuse him of any interested design, or any view +of ambition, other than that which receives its highest gratification +from the thanks and approbation of a free people? And do the devils dare +to treat with neglect and contempt that little corps of gallant men who +saved them from despair and slavery? Their ingratitude proves +manifestly, how well they deserved the chains which have been taken off +their necks. There are many sensible, amiable characters in Carolina, +but I always feared the majority were envious, jealous, malicious, +designing, unprincipled people. Come one, come all of you away and leave +them. I am glad to hear the Northern troops are returning. Though I +cannot flatter myself with the pleasure of seeing them rewarded as they +deserve, there will be something done for them, they will not starve on +the same fields in which they have bled." + +It will not be of purpose to dwell much longer upon the subject before +us, for Gen. Williams did not live many years more to enjoy the fruits +of his hard toil. He settled in Baltimore and was appointed to the +collectorship of the port, by the Governor of the State, the duties of +which he discharged with the same exemplary fidelity which had attended +his military career. When the Federal Constitution was adopted, he was +re-appointed to the same office, which he continued to hold as long as +he lived. In 1786, he was happily married to the second daughter of Mr. +William Smith, a very wealthy and influential merchant, and his union +was productive of the complete felicity he so well deserved. His habits +of industry, economy and method, joined to the lucrative office he held, +enabled him among much other property, to buy the old home of his +father, on the banks of the Potomac, which in the midst of the battle +field's "dreadful array," he had so often fondly returned to in +imagination. Here he was pleasantly employed in improving the condition +of the farm, and in laying out the present town of "Williamsport," +called after his own name. It was at one time thought that the seat of +government would be at Williamsport, and there are several letters from +the General's brother on the subject, and written in a very hopeful +strain: one of great length detailing an account of Gen. Washington's +visit to Springfield's farm, (for such is its name,) with speculations +on the site of the Federal seat. On this letter Gen. Williams has +endorsed the words "All a Hum," and Williamsport has remained to this +day, rather a village than a city of magnificent distances. + +The health of Gen. Williams became much impaired, and disease attacked +his lungs, but he still continued his duties. He had many friends in and +out of the army, and he delighted to keep up a correspondence with them. +None thought more highly of him as a soldier and a man, than Washington, +and such names as Greene, Knox, Lincoln, Lee, Steuben, Kosciusko, and +many more, form those of intimate and tried associates. Nor was he less +solicitous to preserve unbroken friendship with many unknown to fame, +and with a large family circle. The wealth that he acquired was +liberally dispensed, and his bounty was always readily extended to the +deserving. To his brother he says in one of his letters--"Whatever is +mine in Maryland is yours, and I really don't know what you mean by my +money in your hands." So highly was he esteemed by Gen. Washington; that +in 1792, on the refusal of Gen. Morgan to accept the actual rank of +Brigadier General, Gen. Knox being then Secretary of War, wrote to +Williams that the President would be highly pleased to appoint him to +the post, which would make him the eldest Brigadier General, and second +in command, and he was accordingly actually so nominated. But this honor +he positively declined in several letters to the President and Secretary +Knox, on account of ill health and family duties; and he also adds that +it would be no stimulus to his ambition to be second in command. His +illness still increasing upon him, he was induced in 1793 to try the +effect of sea air, and a voyage to Barbadoes had some benefit, but of +very short duration. + +And now the light which he created and shed around him, was to be +withdrawn from those who looked as upon the rainbow's glories after a +stormy day; for just as they were encircled by its arch of splendor, in +radiant promise of sunny skies, they beheld its brilliant hues melting +into air, as the luminary whence they emanated sunk solemnly from their +sight. In the next year, 1794, while on his way to the Sweet Springs, in +Virginia, on reaching the little town of Woodstock, he became too ill to +proceed farther, and on the 16th of July, at the early age of 45, he +died. He was prepared; he had lived the full measure of his fame; his +life had been glorious and happy; he had shrunk from no responsibility; +he had feared nothing but to do wrong; he had gained "honor, love, +obedience, troops of friends," and when at last he met the unconquerable +foe, it was with the same calm courage and reliance on a higher power, +that had been his trust when he had rushed into mortal battle. + +He left an ample fortune to his four sons, and committed them to their +mother's father, saying in his will, that he could do so with entire +trust, "as soon as it should please Heaven to remove him from that +endearing office." In the eloquent language of the Spaniard, himself a +soldier as well as a poet, + + "As thus the dying warrior prayed, + Without one gathering mist or shade + Upon his mind; + Encircled by his family, + Watched by affection's gentle eye + So soft and kind-- + + "His soul to him who gave it, rose: + God lead it to its long repose, + Its glorious rest! + And though the warrior's sun is set, + Its light shall linger round us yet, + Bright, radiant, blest." + +On the banks of the lordly Potomac his remains repose, beneath a simple +monument crowning the summit of a hill, overlooking a wild expanse of +waving woods and pleasant fields, and distant mountains, which he once +delighted to look upon. The setting sun sheds its glories over that +peaceful landscape; the river flows calmly by many a pleasant village, +by the marble palaces of the busy Metropolis, and by the tomb of him who +has given it his name. Heroes, patriots and friends, both sleep by the +same river; both firm in love of peace but hatred of tyranny, and both +spared to be cheered by the smiles of their country, whose battles they +had fought while she pined in fetters and in tears. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of A sketch of the life and services of +Otho Holland Williams, by Osmond Tiffany + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK OTHO HOLLAND WILLIAMS *** + +***** This file should be named 27293.txt or 27293.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/2/7/2/9/27293/ + +Produced by Greg Bergquist and The Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was +produced from images generously made available by The +Internet Archive/American Libraries.) + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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