the tomb of the soldier-parson, who had perilled fortune and life under the banner of Washington. If the passions of earth are preserved above, there could not have been a more grateful offering to his manes.

cherish its heroic traditions and commemorate its illustrious names. These are blazoned by history. It is the business of tradition to hand down those examples of patriotic devotion which are exhibited by individuals rather than masses. The romance of the Revolution is to be found chiefly in the cam- I am sure that I need not apologize for offering paigns of the Carolinas and Georgia, where parti- this interesting memoir of a gallant son of Virginia, zan warfare gave more scope and distinction to to the readers of the Messenger. It is from the personal gallantry and adventure. Such traits pen of a "scholar, and a ripe one," whose character and actions impress themselves more vividly and and station forbid the supposition, that even filial durably upon the mind and heart. The romantic veneration would heighten the colors of truth. The enterprizes of a Marion and a Sumpter captivate narrative, however, speaks for itself, and requires the imagination and fire the spirit. The actors from me neither apology nor recommendation. It and spectators in the glorious drama of the war of remains but to add, that it was compiled by its auIndependence are rapidly passing away, and soon thor for the private use and gratification of the a man of the Revolution will be as much an object numerous descendants of the departed patriot, and of curiosity as of reverence. Let us then catch the not designed for the public eye, and that it was last accents of narrative old age. Let us seize with some reluctance he consented, at my suggeswith avidity upon every lofty trait, and cling with tion, to its publication. pride to every noble tradition. In proportion as it recedes, let the eye be more firmly fixed upon that heroic period which vindicates our people from the reproach of selfishness and apathy.

The little biographical sketch which follows, recounts a life of patriotic devotion and singular gallantry, if not of various adventure. It carries us back to colonial times-to the feelings and habits of the ante-revolutionary age. It places us, then, in the midst of that eventful contest, which, humble in its beginning, is now felt throughout the world. Intense must have been the enthusiasm for liberty which impelled the clergyman to throw aside the cassock, and grasp the sword instead of the cross. It is no ordinary conflict which could justify such a transition, or reconcile to it the honorable prejudices of mankind. It is only in defence of religion or freedom, of altar and hearth, that it is safe to emulate the example of a Maccabeus. But this was a sacred war, beyond many which have borne that title.

J. L. M.

"The history of the world presents no period of time, in which a greater number of noble and daring men were found, to defend their liberties against the aggression of power, than at the commencement of our Revolutionary War-and, although history and biography have recorded, and transmitted to future times, the names of many of them, yet how many valorous and noble spirits have passed away unnoticed, and unhonored, either because their heroic actions were unadorned with the lustre of high rank, or of some important victory, diffusing the fame of their exploits far and wide, to be recorded in the public archives, and made known to the world through the annals of their country. It is true, there are instances of individual exploits, marked with some signal character of bravery, which have received due honors; a Jasper of humble rank, has his little niche in the temple of fame from one act of daring valor, which however proved the greatness of his soul. It is the purpose of the preThe subject of this brief memoir gave himself sent memoir to make known, and to preserve from wholly up to the cause which drew him from the perishing, if possible, the name and the virtuous desk to the field. Tongue, pen and sword were deeds of another individual, which, in the opinion enlisted in the service. Though his arm was of the writer, deserve to be remembered. If so early struck down, his spirit was in the conflict to much of the following narrative as relates to the the last. The only hardship at which he mur- revolutionary services of the person, of whose life mured, was that which condemned him to tempo- and transactions a sketch is now proposed to be rary inactivity. To employ his own forcible lan- compiled, had no other evidence for its verificaguage, he could not bear to be thrown by like an tion than the author's word, he would have feared old almanac. When triumph brought with it peace, to present it to the public; but fortunately every his ardent spirit could not brook the stagnation of material fact connected with the public concerns civic idleness. He went forth, like a patriarch of in which the subject of this memoir had an humble old, surrounded by his family and servants, and share, is supported by unquestionable testimony, became one of the bold pioneers of that wilderness, obtained for other purposes, after a lapse of nearly which is now the teeming abode of millions. Fi-sixty years since the events herein recorded took nally, when full of years and honors, he calmly laid himself to rest upon the very spot which was destined to become the field of the glorious 8th of January. The battle of New Orleans was fought upon his grave! The ruthless invader perished upon

place; the residue of the narrative has no other voucher for its truth than the author's word.

"CHARLES MYNN THRUSTON was born in the county of Gloucester, in the State of Virginia, in the month of August, 1738. His ancestors, for several

generations, had been wealthy and respectable mer- | England, and was under the exclusive jurisdiction chants and planters of that county. The first known of the Bishop of London, who had a substitute in progenitor of the family was a Mr. Thruston, the colony, under the denomination of ecclesiastiChamberlain of the City of Bristol at the time of cal commissary, invested with a kind of episcopal the restoration of Charles II. He was, what in the superintendence over the colonial clergy. The recparty language of that day was called, a cavalier; tors had their glebes and salaries of 16000lbs. of as is evident from an entry in a little book, now in tobacco per annum, paid by a tax on the titheable possession of the family of the eldest son of the inhabitants of the parishes. subject of this memoir, which has been handed "In the year 1758, when Mr. Thruston was in his down from the said progenitor from father to son 20th year, General Forbes was sent over by the to this day, and family memoranda continued to be British government, to take command of the army made therein. The entry spoken of above is in of regulars and provincials raised for the purpose the following words :-"On this day there were great of an expedition against Fort Duquesne, now Pittsrejoicings in our good City of Bristol, on account burg, and to rescue the wounded honor of the nation of the restoration of his blessed majesty, Charles from the disgrace brought upon it by the shameful II, to the throne of these realms; the very conduits defeat and slaughter of the army under General ran with wine." It is a curious circumstance, that Braddock three years before. Young Thruston, inSir Walter Scott, in his historical novel of Wood-spired with that ardor, which in a more noble cause, stock, has used the same remarkable expression, in some twenty years afterwards, again prompted him describing Charles' progress to London, attended to enter the tented field, obtained the appointment by immense crowds of his friends and adherents. of lieutenant of provincials, and marched with the He says "the restored monarch trod slowly over army to Pittsburg, which they entered without oproads strewed with flowers, and conduits running position, the French having abandoned it on the wine." approach of the British troops. The enemy offered "Bristol, at this period, was perhaps the second no opposition to the march of the troops, except city in England, in regard to population and com- some inconsiderable attacks of the piquets during merce; and, with an eye to her prospective com- the night, by the Indians probably, which the wrimercial interests, was, with London and other ter of this memoir remembers to have heard Mr. cities, active in planting the first colonies in Vir- Thruston speak of as being particularly alarming ginia. The earliest settlers in the county of Glou- to a young soldier, from being made in darkness. cester, in Virginia, were from Gloucestershire, in Here he had the honor of serving with and under England; and from that attachment which is uni- the immediate command of General Washington. versally felt by every person to his native soil, they Whether this campaign was made by young Thrustransferred the names of places and streams which ton previous to his entering college, or while he were familiar to them, to their new abode. They was a student there, is not known; but in the latter have there their Severn, and other rivers and local end of 1765, or spring of 1766, he embarked for denominations. The county was called Glouces- London, for the purpose of examination and ordinater, and the first town erected therein is the now tion by the bishop of that diocese. There was decayed village of Gloucester on York river, ren- much strictness in the examination of candidates dered memorable, however, by its having been one for the pulpit in those days. None but such as of the outposts of Lord Cornwallis, at the time of were qualified by education and character could his surrender to our victorious arms, on the 19th of receive ordination, particularly in Virginia, where October, 1781. the policy of the government required the church "After the usual course at the grammar school, to be as respectable as possible-inasmuch as that young Thruston was sent to finish his education at establishment, both at home and in her favorite the college of William and Mary, in Williams- colony, was considered as intimately connected burg; being destined, either by his father or his with, and essential towards, the maintenance and own impulses, to the clerical profession, he there prosperity of the government itself. It is reasonastudied divinity in the best theological school then in the colonies. No one of the colonies was at that time more cherished and patronized by the royal government than Virginia. No college in the country was so well endowed, or possessed more able and learned professors than that of William and Mary.

"The church in Virginia had been modelled, as near as circumstances would permit, after that of *The family memoranda in the book mentioned in the text, commence in 1604, are in the old court hand, and are now with difficulty to be deciphered,

ble to suppose, that Mr. Thruston, having passed this ordeal of rigid examination, must have received a good classical as well as theological education. These facts would not have been mentioned with such minuteness, were it not that they afforded him the means of being more useful at a future crisis, when all the energies of the human mind were required to sustain us in the most arduous and fearful contest that any nation ever had to struggle with, to break the fetters of despotism. On his return from London, he was chosen by the vestry rector of the parish of

in his native county of

Gloucester, where he regularly officiated until the hundred strong, with his small band of five hundred year 1769, when he removed to the county of Fre- men, which, the commander-in-chief, it is reasonaderick, in Virginia, among a people at that time ble to suppose, would hardly have permitted or dirude and unpolished. Here he continued his pas-rected with so small a force; be that as it may, toral functions, preaching in such places as could however, the Captain marched to the attack, rebe procured, there being few or no churches then solved if possible to carry the redoubt by storm, erected in this comparatively new and thinly set- when, in the midst of his career, and advancing tled county. Shortly after his removal to Frede- towards the enemy, he received a musket ball in rick, he was followed by other wealthy families the left arm, above the elbow, which shattered the from Gloucester, and other of the lower counties of bone. It was a curious circumstance, that the Virginia, who, by their superior education and re- Captain, having on, at the time, a country linen finement, contributed to soften down and polish the shirt, its texture was so strong that the linen was rough manners which characterized those people forced by the ball through the arm. He fainted from before their introduction among them. The wri- the loss of blood and the pain of the wound, and ter well remembers hearing Parson Thruston speak was obliged to be carried from the field. At this of a few great landed proprietors, who lorded it time, his son Charles was standing by his side, a over the people when he first removed to Frederick boy between eleven and twelve years old.* When with a most arbitrary sway, until they found a the leader of this brave band fell, the next in comcheck in the more educated emigrants of the lower mand ordered a retreat. There can be but little counties, whose wealth and influence furnished a doubt, that but for this disabling wound, Captain counterpoise to the power of these petty tyrants.* Thruston would have effected his purpose of car"Parson Thruston continued in the practice of his rying the redoubt by storm, if his men would have profession, until the period of the commencement followed him; or that himself, his son, and a great of hostilities, when, animated by the liveliest zeal, portion of his troops, would have fallen in the athe gave himself up chiefly to public concerns. He tempt.† had been among the most prominent in repelling the "This battle, though of no high importance in its attempt to introduce the Stamp Act in Virginia-practical effects had its results fulfilled even the and, with the same spirit, entered warmly into the hopes of the gallant commander, yet presents such opposition to the mother country. At this period a picture of patriotism, courage, and self-devotion, his wealth-for he was a man of large property-that it cannot but command the admiration of every was freely dedicated to the cause. He exerted lover of his country. What is it that confers true himself to procure arms and ammunition; he wrote glory on the hero and patriot? Is it that he leads to and addressed the people in public meetings and on to battle his thousands, or tens of thousands; musters, and at the courts-inflaming the youth of and, if he gains a victory, that his claim to glory the country with ardor and patriotism, exciting is to be measured by the number conquered, or the them to enter into the army, and confirming the number slain? Victory may and often does depend weak and timid, not only by exposing the justice of on accidental circumstances. No-it is the warm resistance, but by the most spirited and stirring blood and magnanimous soul which urge the brave harangues. In the winter of 1776-'7, Parson man on to meet and to defy the king of terrors in Thruston resolved to put in practice personally, the a just cause-to prefer death to dishonor and slameasures he had exhorted the youth of the country very-which characterize the hero and the patriot. to pursue. In plain English, he resolved to fight. When Captain Thruston returned to head quarters, He raised a company of volunteers, composed of General Washington had him attended by his own the elite of the young men of the county, and surgeon, who, having advised amputation, the Capmarched to join General Washington, then in New tain courteously and playfully refused his assent in Jersey. He was cordially received by that great the following words: "Doctor, I am a bad hand to man, who was personally acquainted with him, not have an arm cut off;" declaring at the same time, that only as a fellow-soldier in Forbes' campaign, but he would prefer death to mutilation. Notwithfrom personal intercourse that took place between standing the apprehensions of the surgeon, his arm them after Parson Thruston removed to the county healed in about twelve months-at which time, of Frederick. He was but a short time at head several pieces of bone having worked down through quarters, before he became impatient of inactivity the muscles came out in his hand. Soon after this and anxious to indulge his propensity for a fight. battle, General Washington recommended the CapHe accordingly solicited the means from the Gene- tain for the appointment of Colonel of one of the ral, who gave him five hundred men, with discre- sixteen regiments then about to be raised in Virtionary authority, as it seems from the evidence, ginia on continental establishment; which appointand without suggesting or ordering any particular ment he received, and held to the end of the war. enterprize; because we find the Captain imme- It was found impossible to recruit such a number diately after, attacking a British redoubt of fifteen of regiments in Virginia, and the Colonel became * See Appendix No. I. + See Appendix No. II. * See Appendix No. III. + See Appendix No. IV.

what is called supernumerary, but was desirous of house; and, being in want of flour, their commander again entering into active service had an opportu- sent four soldiers to his mill to seize it. The nity offered. This is made manifest, by a passage Colonel, being informed of this, went down to in one of his letters, addressed to his Lieutenant the mill, and, finding that the men had no writColonel John Thornton, on regimental business, ten authority to take the flour, he turned them where he says "What is to be done with us? Are out of his mill with very little ceremony. The we to be thrown by, like old almanacs, no longer useful?"

next day, an officer, a Lieutenant Graves, appeared at the head of fifteen troopers, for the purpose of "After his return from the army, he never re- taking the flour by force. The Colonel went down sumed his pastoral functions. There was not the again to the mill, and resenting very warmly this same dearth of clergymen, as when he first removed renewed attempt to take his flour by violence, which to the upper country. Both Episcopalian, and Dis- would have been readily yielded to a proper applisenting ministers of various denominations, had cation, he loaded his gun, entered the mill, and come into the county, sufficient for the wants of the barred the doors; and, having warned the officer people. He continued to reside on his beautiful not to use force, he assured him in the most sofarm, called Mount Sion, about fifteen miles below lemn manner, that he would lose his life in defence Winchester, and one mile above the charming She- of his property. "And I tell you, sir," addressing nandoah, distinguished for the purity and transpa- Graves, "that I am a very sure shot-and, if you rency of its water. He had been, from the period attempt to force the doors of my mill, I will cerof his first settlement in the county, one of its ma- tainly kill you." The officer threatened destrucgistrates, and continued to discharge the duties of tion to the whole family, and after much vaporing that office as long as he resided therein; having and menace, ordered his men to dismount. The been the oldest magistrate of the county, and the author, then a lad, was present, and serious as the presiding judge of the county court for many years aspect of things appeared, could not help admiring before he left it. He was often elected a member the first movement of the soldiers-who, in obeof the General Assembly, where he had the plea-dience to a command given, with one uniform and sure of hearing and acting with the Henrys and simultaneous motion, threw their right legs over the Lees, the great orators and patriots of those days. their saddles, and stood in their stirrups, awaiting "Having met with many heavy losses, with a nu- the next order to descend. After a short pause, merous family of children and grand children- they were ordered to resume their seats. It apfor whom he was anxious to make some provi-peared that this movement was intended for intimision-he resolved, for their sakes, to remove to dation, rather than as the first step towards the the western country; and, accordingly, in the year execution of his threatened purpose. It happened 1809, having sold his farm, he went to South West that a friend of the Colonel was present, a Mr. Point in Tennessee-and, after residing there two Edmund Taylor, who had offered to go into the years, he descended the river to the State of Mis-mill to assist in its defence, but the Colonel declared sissippi, where he contracted a disease of the cli- that he would not agree to have any life but his mate, which in a few months terminated his life, own exposed to the hazard of resistance to the offiin June 1812, in his seventy-fourth year. Before cer; that he was determined to sacrifice his own his death, however, he had purchased a plantation life if necessary in defence of his property. Mr. below New Orleans, situated on the very battle Taylor then turned to Graves, remonstrating against ground on which the glorious victory of General his lawless proceedings, and assured him of the Jackson over the British was achieved, on the 8th firmness and determined resolution of the Colonel, January, 1815. He had hardly taken possession and of the imminent danger of losing his life if he of his farm, before his body was deposited within attempted to force the mill. The officer began to its bosom. He died, as he always declared he should waver, and his discretion getting the better of his do, with the most perfect composure and contempt valor, he relinquished the enterprize, and condeof death, supported by that Christian faith which scended to apologise for his conduct-assuring the he professed, and which cheered his last moments Colonel, that the troops were in great want, and with its consoling promises. that in what he had done he had acted in pursu"The author cannot refrain from relating an oc-ance of orders, and begged that the Colonel would currence that took place about the spring of 1780, let him have as much flour as he could spare. which is much in unison with the character of the "Now, sir," said the Colonel, “as you ask for it Colonel, affording another proof of his unbending like a gentleman, you shall have as much as you spirit, and of his abhorrence of every thing which want, and be pleased to come to the house and dine savored of lawless violence, as well as of his readi- with us." Old Major General Charles Lee, had ness to contribute to the wants of his country. A been spending some time at the house, and accomtroop of cavalry, under the command of Major Nel- panied the Colonel and Mr Taylor to the mill; hobson, was passing through the neighborhood, and bling down, with some difficulty, a very rugged encamped some five or six miles from the Colonel's road, he cried out to the Colonel, "Commit the