named Fort Recovery The next summer, of 1794, he took the field in pursuit, and on the 20th of August attacked the large Indian force on the Miami, in the vicinity of the British post and garrison at the foot of the Rapids. The savages had the advantage of a thick wood, encumbered by fallen trees; but Wayne, used to this method of fighting, made an advantageous disposition of his troops and effected a complete rout. The victory was followed the next year by a satisfactory treaty with the Indians; while the surrender of the western post, under the terms of Jay's British treaty, gave additional securities of peace. On his return to the Atlantic, Wayne was hailed, in a triumphal entry into Philadelphia, as a public deliverer. Only those conversant with the terrors of Indian warfare can estimate the value of the security he gave to the frontier territory. It was while returning from the sequel to this western service, under an appointment by the Government, as sole commissioner for treating with the Indians and receiving the military posts surrendered by the British, that he was seized with an attack of the gout, while descending Lake Erie from Detroit. He died in a hut at Presqu' Isle in December, 1796, and was buried on the shore of the lake. In 1809 his remains were brought by his son to his native State, and interred in Radnor churchyard, in Delaware County. A simple monument of white marble was erected over his remains on the Fourth of July of that year, by the Pennsylvania State Society of the Cincinnati, "the thirtyfourth anniversary of the independence of the United States," as the inscription reads, " an event which constitutes the most appropriate eulogium of an Ame rican soldier and patriot." In person, Wayne was well propor tioned; dark hair and dark eyes adding force to his expression. He was of a lively, vivacious turn, always ready for action. Graydon, the officer and memoir writer, from his own State, smiles at his eagerness as he pronounces him "somewhat addicted to the vaunting style of Marshal Villars;" "a man," he adds, however, "who, like himself, could fight as well brag." Wayne's valor, indeed, was never wanting: it was often interposed in critical moments, when it was twice valuable. His prudence and skill in disentangling himself from difficulties were the more remarkable in combination with his chivalry. He was constantly in service, was engaged at various times in the North, the middle States, the South and the West, always in conspicuous relations, and always with honor. HENRY ΚΝΟΧ. the lady who became afterwards so well known in the old Revolutionary society and circle at Washington. It is said, on this occasion, that she assisted her husband's flight from Boston, by sewing his sword in the lining of her mantle to escape detection. The story is told, too, of the lady making the acquaintance of the young book seller, by visiting his store to purchase his books-not the first instance in which literature has led the way to love.1 A MAJOR GENERAL in the American | Flucker, the daughter of Thomas Revolution, and the friend of Wash- Flucker, Gage's government secretary, ington, was born in Boston, July 25, 1750, as his name suggests, of Scottish parentage. He was well educated in the school of the town, and at the breaking out of the war, was engaged in Boston as a bookseller; an occupa tion which, with his previous instruction, is said to have given a flavor of reading and literature to his after years. He had also exhibited an early fondness for military pursuits, having, previous to the actual commencement of hostilities, become an officer in a volunteer company, organized for the popu lar defence. "There is evidence," says one of his biographers, "of his giving uncommon attention to military tactics at this period, especially to the branch of enginery and artillery, in which he afterwards so greatly excelled." These pursuits were well known to the British officials, who looked upon Knox as a man whom it would be of advantage to enlist on the side of authority, and upon the "rebels" taking up arms at Lexington, the departure of Knox from Boston was interdicted by Governor Gage. He managed, however, to escape to the American camp, in time for service at Bunker Hill. He was already married to Miss Lucy Knox was with the first gathering of the army at Cambridge, where he was immediately associated, by a committee of safety, with the veteran Gridley, the chief engineer of the infant army, in executing measures for defence. He was in the reconnoitering service, as a volunteer, on the day of Bunker Hill, in communication with the force in the field, and General Ward at his headquarters at Cambridge. We find him subsequently engaged in the engineering work, and closing in upon the British previous to their evacuation of the city. But the important service 'Headley's Washington and His Generals, II. 101. Lossing's Field Book, I. 516. which he rendered in supplying the army with ammunition from the borders of Canada, did more than aught else to fix attention upon him as a man of energy and ability in his profession. The camp at Cambridge, it is well known, was greatly wanting in the munitions of war, cannon, and military stores, and it was one of the first efforts of Washington to supply the deficiency. The success of the early movements against Canada, in the border conquests of Ticonderoga and Crown Point, and the advantages of Schuyler and Montgomery, pointed out a means of remedying the defect, and accordingly, on the 16th of November, 1775, Washington, by an order at head quarters, issued special instructions to Knox, who had gained his confidence, to proceed to New York, and after securing such articles of ammunition as were at the disposal of the Provincial Congress at that place, to proceed to Major General Schuyler, and get the remainder from Ticonderoga, Crown Point, and St. John's, and "if it should be necessary, from Quebec, if in our hands. The want of them," Washington adds, "is so great, that no trouble or expense must be spared to obtain them." A few days after, Washington recommended Knox to the President of Congress, as a fit appointment for the command of the artillery regiment, Gridley, a brave old soldier of the French wars, being now unfit from age for its active duties. Knox executed his commission with exemplary dispatch. The season was late, and the roads were bad; the region into which he was sent being then, as compared with its appearance in our own day, but little better than a wilderness; but, by the fifteenth of December, he had succeeded in bringing the cannon of Ticonderoga to the head of Lake George, whence he wrote to Washington on the 17th: "It is not easy to conceive the difficulties we had in getting them over the lake, owing to the advanced season of the year and the contrary winds. Three days ago, it was very uncertain whether we could get them over until next spring, but now, please God, they shall go. I have made forty-two exceedingly strong sleds, and have provided eighty yoke of oxen to drag them as far as Springfield, where I shall get fresh cattle to take them to camp." He finally arrived at headquarters, having conquered all the wintry difficulties of the way, bringing with him from Fort George eight brass mortars, six iron mortars, two iron howitzers, thirteen brass cannon, twenty-six iron cannon, twenty-three hundred pounds of lead, and a barrel of flints—an impor tant accession to the materiel of the army. Knox had earned the commission of Colonel, which had been sent to him in his absence, and had proved the efficiency which had always followed his steps during the war. He was henceforth with Washington, aiding the commander-in-chief by his counsels, present with him in his battles, ever rendering the most efficient service in his particular department. We have seen him charged with the erection of the batteries and defensive works before Boston. Early in 1776, 'Sparks' Washington, III. 211. |