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with the magazine. Just before reaching the volcanic mass Major Peters rushed into the fort and prevented a destructive explosion. No dangers prevented him from the prompt performance of every duty. At the close of the successful struggle for freedom he resumed the practice of law at New London where he lived in the high esteem of his friends and his country to a ripe old age. He was a sound lawyer, a safe counsellor, a brave soldier, a good citizen-AN HONEST MAN.

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PETERS RICHARD was born in the balmy mouth of June in 1744. He was educated at Philadelphia and became an eminent member of the bar of that city. Understanding the rights of his country and the advantages of freedom he determined to maintain them at all hazards. 1776 he was made secretary to the Board of War and faithfully performed the arduous duties of that important station until 1781 when he was elected a member of Congress and continued in that august body to the close of hostilities. He was appointed the first United States District Judge for Pennsylvania and highly honored that dignified station for thirty-six consecutive years. His decisions in the Court of Admiralty form the foundation on which our superstructure of that branch of jurisprudence is raised. This platform was adopted by the celebrated maritime judge Lord Stowell of England-a high compliment to the judicial acumen of Judge Peters. He was deservedly popular because scrupulously impartial, rigidly just and proverbial for humanity and kindness. In his performance of all the public and private duties of life he was a luminous example of human excellence worthy of admiration and imitation. He was a liberal patron of public improvements and did much to improve agriculture. He died at his residence in August 1828.

PETTIT CHARLES was born in New Jersey in 1737. He was a sensible lawyer and opposed to the usurpations of the hirelings of mother Britain although himself secretary of his native province when the revolutionary storm commenced its pitiless peltings. Congress made him a deputy quartermaster under Gen. Greene in conjunction with Col. Coxe. They performed the perplexing and arduous duties of that responsible office whilst Gen. Greene was in the field to the entire satisfaction of Washington, the army and Congress-a high encomium upon their perseverance and activity when we reflect upon their limited. means to perform a mighty work. At the close of the Revolution he removed to Philadelphia and became a successful merchant. He was a member of Congress from Pennsylvania under the old Confederationa member of the State Convention that sanctioned the Federal Constitution and in every public station which he was called to fill he performed his duty with the strictest integrity and great industry. His private virtues rendered him dear to every good man. He was president of the first insurance company incorporated in Philadelphia. He died at his residence on the 6th of September 1806.

PICKERING TIMOTHY commenced his infancy at Salem, Mass. in 1746. He was favored with a classical education and superior talents. He took an early and active part in the cause of equal rights and rendered efficient service in organizing the new government of his native State. He was made a judge of the Common Pleas and Maritime courts-adjutant-general of the United States army and a member

of the Board of War. From 1790 to '98 he negotiated several treaties with sundry tribes of Indians. Under President Washington he was in succession Postmaster General, Secretary of War and Secretary of State. From 1803 to 1811 he was a member of the United States Senate-from 1814 to '17 was a representative in Congress. Few men of his time performed more public work-no one acted with more fidelity and faithfulness. He was an able judge, a firm patriot, a judicious legislator, an efficient officer-a credit to his State-an honor to our nation and in all respects a worthy man. He died in Salem, Mass. in

1829.

PICKENS ANDREW commenced his earthly existence in Bucks County, Pa. on the 13th of September 1739. When Andrew was a child his father removed to Augusta County, Va. and then to Waxhaw, in South Carolina. Andrew commenced a brilliant military career in the French war-served with Marion and Moultrie in 1761 in the sanguinary expedition against the Cherokees under Lieut. Col. Grant and became a hardy frontier warrior. When mother Britain became insolent and oppressive he was as ready to fight as he had been to serve her. He became a terror to the refugees alias Tories. At Kettle Creek he pounced upon an army of them under Col. Boyd of double his force and flogged them so severely that they were quiet until the British army afterwards spread over the south. At the Cowpens he commanded the militia and inspired them with the courage of veteran regulars. Congress voted him a sword for his gallantry on that occasion. At Eutaw he commanded the Carolina militia in conjunction with Marion. He was severely wounded in the breast by a musket ball early in the action and but for the buckle of his sword belt would have been shot through. When Charleston surrendered he was obliged to flee before the enemy to North Carolina and was among the first to rally under the indomitable Greene. In 1781 he commanded the last expedition against the Cherokees and laid the foundations of the peace that has never since been broken. Through the entire course of his military career he stood approved by his superiors and beloved by those under his command. He rose to the rank of brigadier-general in the regular army and was made major-general of militia in 1794. At the close of the war he filled several civil offices and aided essentially in consummating the treaty of Hopewell with the Cherokees to which place he removed soon after. He was a member of the convention that formed the Constitution of his State-a member of the legislature and in 1794 was elected to Congress. In 1797 he was returned to the legislature of his State where he remained fourteen consecutive years. He was a commissioner in all the treaties with the southern Indians. In this department Washington considered him the most useful man of that time. He took a deep interest in the war of 1812 and was that year governor of his State. He then retired to private life full of honors and years with a fame that will grow richer as it shall be rehearsed by each succeeding generation. His private character was as spotless as his public life was brilliant. He died at his residence on the 11th of October 1817.

PORTER ANDREW was born in Worcester, Montgomery County, Pa. on the 24th of September 1743. Without the advantages of a school education he became an eminent mathematician by the force of his own

genius and industry. When the Revolution commenced he was at the head of a large mathematical school in the city of Philadelphia. Deeming the cause of Liberty paramount to all other interests he tendered his services to Congress and on the 19th of June 1776 he was made a captain of marines and placed on board the frigate Effingham. He was shortly after transferred to the artillery corps where he made himself extremely useful during the whole period of the war. He was ultimately raised to the rank of Colonel and commanded the 4th Pennsylvania regiment of artillery. He distributed iron hail effectually at the battles of Trenton, Princeton, Germantown and Brandywine. At Germantown he received the thanks of Gen. Washington on the field for his skill and undaunted courage. He was with Gen. Sullivan in his expedition against the Indians on the Susquehanna. It was Col. Porter who suggested to Gen. Clinton the plan of raising the water of Otsego Lake by a dam at its narrow outlet which produced a flood sufficient to float his troops on rafts to Tioga Point where they formed a junction with Sullivan. When the siege of Yorktown was planned Gen. Washington placed Col. Porter in charge of the military laboratory in Philadelphia to prepare the shells, cartridges, &c. for that important occasion. Although deprived the pleasure of being at the siege he had the high honor of preparing the thunder and hail that terminated the sanguinary conflict. Subsequent to the war he was one of the commissioners to run a line by astronomical observations between Pennsylvania and the adjoining States. He succeeded Gen. Muhlenberg as major-general of militia. Governor Snyder appointed him surveyor-general of the State of Pennsylvania in 1809 which office he ably filled until the 16th of November 1813 when he left earth for a fairer, brighter world on high. He was buried in the Presbyterian church-yard at Harrisburg with military honors.

PREBLE EDWARD commenced his earthly career at Portland, Maine, on the 15th of August 1761. From his youth he gloried in hazardous enterprises. At the age of eighteen he became a midshipman on board the Protector of 26 guns commanded by the brave Capt. John Forster Williams. On his first cruise young Preble had the proud satisfaction of contributing to the capture of the Admiral Duff of 36 guns after a brief but sanguinary action which so injured the British vessel that she sunk in a few moments with 40 of her crew. In the second cruise the Protector was captured and most of the officers taken to England. Preble was permitted to return and was made first lieutenant on board the sloop of war Winthrop. Shortly after that he took a party of brave tars in the night and captured a British armed brig lying in Penobscot Bay and of superior force to the Winthrop. This was accomplished with fourteen men dressed in white frocks. The brig lay near the shore and a large number of the enemy jumped overboard as the shrouded tars gained the deck and made for land where lay a considerable British force with artillery. Amidst a brisk fire Preble towed out his prize and moored her safely along side of the Winthrop. He continued on this ship till the close of the war. In 1801 he commanded the frigate Essex-in 1804 was made a commodore and placed in charge. of the Mediterranean fleet of seven sail which prepared the way for placing the Bashaw of Tripoli upon his proper level and induced him

to enter upon an honorable peace and relinquish all claims to a tribute. This act placed Com. Preble high on the list of naval heroes. He died on the 25th of August 1807.

PRESCOTT WILLIAM was born at Goshen, Massachusetts in 1726. He early engaged in the service of mother Britain and acted a distinguished part at the capture of Cape Breton in 1758. He was a Colonel of militia when the war commenced and one of the first in the field. He commanded at the sanguinary battle at Bunker's and Breed's Hill on the 17th of June 1775. With 1200 men hastily collected and with a temporary breast-work-made principally by excavating a shallow ditch and placing two rail fences parallel near each other and filling the interval with fresh mowed grass-he continued to repulse 5000 veteran troops, with a slaughter equalled only at the battle of New Orleans, until his ammunition was expended when he retreated with a loss of 453 men-killing 1054 of the enemy. Col. Prescott then entered the regular service and continued in the army until 1777 and then resigned. He was a volunteer at the capture of Burgoyne and rendered essential service. After the Revolution he served in the legislature and filled various civil offices with fidelity. He was brave, noble, generous and humane. In his "Memoirs" Gen. Lee beautifully remarks-" When future generations shall inquire where are the men who gained the brightest prize of glory in the arduous contest which ushered in our nation's birth? Upon Prescott and his companions in arms will the eye of history beam. The military annals of the world rarely furnish an achievement which equals the firmness and courage displayed on that proud day by the gallant band of Americans and it certainly stands first in the brilliant events of the war." Col. Prescott died in 1795 sincerely mourned.

PRIOLEAU SAMUEL was a native of Charleston, South Carolina, born in 1743 and among the first of that noble band of patriots who resolved on Liberty or death. He was in active service until taken prisoner at the surrender of his native city. He was then taken to the castle at St. Augustine and treated with great cruelty. His wife with five children fled to Philadelphia. He possessed great firmness and was emphatically a true patriot-a good citizen-an honest man. He died at Charleston on the 23d of March 1813.

PULASKI COUNT was a native of Poland and put forth his noblest efforts to redeem her from thraldom. In 1771 he called around him a few brave spirits-penetrated the capitol and carried away King Stanislaus in the face of his petrified guards. He soon made his escape and proclaimed Pulaski an outlaw. He then came to America and was created a Brigadier General. Being unacquainted with our language he could not command to advantage but no one could better lead a column of cavalry in a charge. He served some time at the north and was then transferred to the south and fell at Savannah boldly charging the enemy with his daring dragoons. His noble bearing, polished urbanity, open frankness and amiable disposition had gained the admiration of all who knew him-his patriotism, bravery and unwavering love of Liberty placed his name upon the records of unfading glory.

PUTNAM ISRAEL commenced his eventful life at Salem, Mass.

on the 7th of January 1718. He was a man of iron constitution and herculean powers. He served mother Britain faithfully in the French war and had many hair breadth escapes. He was taken prisoner and nearly burned to death by the savages. He was rescued by a French officer. His great feat with a wolf is familiar to every school boy. His manner of capturing an armed vessel when under Gen. Amherst was as novel as it was simple and successful. With four others he proceeded under her stern in the night-drove several wedges between the rudder and hull which placed her at the mercy of the wind-she drifted on shore and was easily captured the next morning.

When the war cry from Lexington reached his ears he left his plough in the furrow-mounted his horse-rode 100 miles in a single day to reach the scene of action-was soon created a Major General and carried more original thunder than any other man in the army. His voice could be heard above the roar of battle. He was in the sanguinary affair at Bunker's Hill and had charge of erecting the temporary fortifications. He was at the battle of Long Island-superintended the fortifications at Philadelphia and in all his duties manifested an energy and skill that placed him high in the estimation of every patriot. In the spring of 1777 he was placed in command of the troops at the High Lands. A refugee Lieutenant was detected in his camp as a spy. Governor Tryon wrote him to at once liberate the officer or he would give him particular thunder. Old Put replied thus laconically.

"SIR-Nathan Palmer, a Lieutenant in your king's service, was taken in my camp as a spy-he was tried as a spy-he was condemned as a spy and he shall be hanged as a spy.

"P. S. Afternoon. He is hanged.

"ISRAEL PUTNAM."

Gen Putnan was the founder of West Point. Whilst superintending the fortifications at that place he was disabled from further duty by an attack of paralysis. This did not impair his mental powers or disturb the equanimity and cheerfulness of his mind or prevent him from being a pleasant, amusing and interesting companion. He lived at Brookline Conn. in the enjoyment of the gratitude of a nation of freement until the 29th of May 1790 when his soul left its tenement of clay and returned to its Creator. He was truly an honest man. On the 16th of June 1776 he spurned a princely bribe that was tendered to him by Sir William Howe.

PUTNAM RUFUS was born in Sutton, Mass. in 1738. At the age of 16 he commenced serving mother Britain in the French war and proved a gallant soldier. In the Continental army he was the principal engineer with the rank of Brigadier General. He was at the head of the Ohio Company for the purpose of settling the North West Territory. On the 7th of April 1788 he planted about forty emigrants at Marietta on the Ohio river. In 1789 he was appointed a judge of the Supreme Court of that territory-in 1791 a Brig. General in the army of the United States under Gen. Wayne and in 1795 Surveyor General of the United States which office he held until towards the close

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