and of human nature. The present times require the vigor and activity of the prime of life; but I feel the increasing infirmities of old age to such a degree, that I am conscious I cannot serve you to advantage. I therefore beg, for your sakes, and for the sake of the public, that you would indulge me with the liberty of declining the arduous trust." He continued, however, his exertions for the good of his country, both in the assembly and council, and notwithstanding the injuries he had suffered, and the immense loss of his property, he zealously opposed the law for confiscating the estates of the adherents to the British government, and contended that sound policy required to forgive and forget. The editor will here give an extract from an oration delivered at the city of Washington, on the fourth of July, 1812, by Richard Rush, Esq. where he refers to the patriotism of the venerable Gadsden. He said, "By one of the surviving patriots of our revolution, I have been told, that in the congress of 1774. among other arguments used to prevent a war, and separation from Great Britain, the danger of having our towns battered down and burnt, was zealously urged. The venerable Christopher Gadsden, of South Carolina, rose, and replied to it in these memorable words: "Our sea-port towns, Mr. President, are composed of brick and wood. If they are destroyed, we have clay and timber enough to rebuild them. But, if the liberties of our country are destroyed, where shall we find the materials to replace them?" Behold in this an example of virtuous sentiment fit to be imitated." He died September, 1805. aged eighty-one years. GANSEVOORT, PETER, was born in the city of Albany, on the 16th of July, 1749, and was educated in the state of New Jersey. In his youth he indicated a great fondness for martial exercises, and displayed an open, generous and manly character. Previously to the revolutionary war, he raised a company of grenadiers, distinguished alike for the correctness of their discipline and the grandeur of their appearance, (every man being at least six feet in height.) On the 19th of July, 1775, he was appointed by congress a major in the second New York regiment, and on the 19th of August, took command of the second battalion of the New York forces, marched to Ticonderoga. and joined the expedition under general Montgomery. On the 19th of March, 1776, he was appointed by congress lieutenant colonel of that regiment, and on the 21st of November, in the same year, colonel of the third regiment, in the army of the United States. On the 2d of August, 1777, the memorable siege of Stanwix took place, the defence of which fortress was certainly one of the most brilliant links in the chain of successes which effected the emancipation of our country. During the siege of fort Stanwix by colonel St. Leger, with a body of Britons, tories, and Indians, general Herkimer collected about eight hundred of the Whig militia of the parts adjacent, for the relief of the garrison. St. Leger, aware of the consequences of being attacked in his trenches, detached sir John Johnson, with some tories and Indians to lie in ambush, and intercept the advancing militia. The stra tagem took effect. The general and his militia were surprised, but several of the Indians were nevertheless killed by their fire. A scene of confusion followed. Some of Herkimer's men run off, but others posted themselves behind logs, and continued to fight with bravery and success. The loss on the side of the Americans, was one hundred and sixty killed, besides the wounded. Among the former was their gallant leader, general Herkimer. He was wounded in both legs, and a short time before his death, was seen sitting on a stump, courageously encouraging his men, by which they maintained their ground, and did great execution among the enemy. Several of the Indian chiefs were slain by the first fire, which so disheartened the remainder, that they were thrown into the greatest confusion. Colonel Gansevoort, the commander of the fort, sent out lieutenant colonel Willet, with two hundred and fifty men, who bravely routed the Indians and tories, destroyed their provisions, and took their kettles, blankets, and muskets, besides several Indian weapons, and other articles greatly valued by them. A party of British regulars endeavoured to form an ambuscade, and to cut off his retreat to the fort, but he discovered and defeated the attempt. Colonel St. Leger availed himself of the terror excited on this occasion, and endeavoured, by strong representations of Indian barbarity, to intimidate the garrison into an immediate surrender. We here insert a copy of a letter written by two of general Herkimer's officers, prisoners with the enemy, and which was delivered at the time of the verbal summons to surrender. (Delivered by colonel Butler and the adjutant general of St. Leger's army:) 9 o'clock, P. M. Camp before Fort Stanwix, 6th August 1777. " SIR, "It is with concern we are to acquaint you, that this was the fatal day in which the succours, which were intended for your relief, have been attacked and defeated, with great loss of numbers killed, wounded, and taken prisoners. Our regard for your safety and lives, and our sincere advice to you is. if you will avoid inevitable ruin and destruction, to surrender the fort you pretend to defend against a formidable body of troops, and a good train of artillery, which we are witnesses of; when, at the same time, you have no farther support or relief to expect. We are sorry to inform you that most of the principal officers are killed, to wit: general Herkimer, colonels Cox, Seeber, Isaac Paris, captain Grous, and many others, too tedious to mention. The British army from Canada being now perhaps before Albany, the possession of which place of course includes the conquest of the Mohawk river and this fort. "We are with wishes for your welfare and safety, Sir, Your friends and well wishers, Colonel FREDERICK BELLINGER." To Colonel Gansevoort, commanding Fort Stanwix. On the back of the foregoing letter, was the following endorsement: "General St. Leger, on the day of the date of this letter, made a verbal summons of the fort, by his adjutant general and colonel Butler, and who there handed this letter, when colonel Gansevoort refused any answer to a verbal summons, unless made by general St. Leger himself, but at the mouth of his cannon. A written summons was the result, on the 9th of August, as follows: "SIR, "Agreeably to your wishes, I have the honour to give you, on paper, the message of yesterday, though I cannot conceive, explicit and humane as it was, how it could admit of more than one construction. After the defeat of the reinforcement, and the fate of all your principal leaders, on which naturally you built your hopes, and having the strongest reason from verbal intelligence, and the matter contained in the letters that fell into my hands, and knowing thoroughly the situation of general Burgoyne's army, to be confident that you are without resource; in my fears and tenderness for your personal safety from the hands of Indians, enraged for the loss of some of their principal and most favourite leaders, I called to council the chiefs of all the nations, and after having used every method that humanity could suggest, to soften their minds and lead them patiently to bear their own losses, by reflecting on the irretrievable misfortune of their enemy, I at last laboured the point my humanity wished for; which the chiefs assured me of the next morning, after a consultation with each nation, that evening at their fire-places. Their answer, in its fullest extent, they insisted should be carried by colonel Butler, which he has given you in the most categorical manner. You are well acquainted, that Indians never send messages without accompanying them with menaces on non-compliance, that a civilized enemy would never think of doing; you may rest assured, therefore, that no insult was meant to be offered to your situation by the king's servants, in the message they peremptorily demanded to be carried by colonel Butler. I am now to repeat what has been told you by my adjutant general: That, provided you deliver up your garrison, with every thing as it stood at the moment the first message was sent, your people shall be treated with every attention that a humane and generous enemy can give. "I have the honour to be, Sir, Your most obedient humble servant, Brigadier general of His Majesty's forces, Camp before Fort Stanwix, August 9th, 1777. "P. S. I expect an immediate answer, as the Indians are extremely impatient; and if this proposal is rejected, I am afraid it will be attended with very fatal consequences, not only to you and your garrison, but the whole country down the Mohawk river; such consequences as would be very repugnant to my sentiments of humanity, but, after this, entirely out of my power to prevent. BARRY ST. LEGER. To Colonel Gansevoort, commanding Fort Stanwix." "SIR, Colonel Gansevoort's Answer. "In answer to your letter of this day's date, I have only to say, that it is my determined resolution, with the forces under my command, to defend this fort at every hazard to the last extremity, in behalf of the United American States, who have placed me here to defend it against all their enemies. "I have the honour to be, Sir, Your most obedient humble servant, PETER GANSEVOORT, Colonel commanding Fort Stanwix. The siege continued until the 22d of August, 1777, when St. Leger had advanced to within one hundred and fifty yards of the fort. Ignorant of the fate of colonel Willett, his second in command, who, with lieutenant Stockwell, had undertaken a hazardous enterprise to procure relief for the garrison, his provisions daily exhausting, some of his officers anxious to accept the proffered protection of St. Leger, from the fury of the savages, by making a timely surrender, all communication with the fort cut off by the besiegers, and having no certain prospect of relief, Gansevoort, who knew not how to yield when he was guarding his country's honour and safety, had adopted the desperate resolution, in case no reinforcement should arrive, before his provisions were reduced to a few day's supply, (after distributing them among his men.) to head the brave remnant of his garrison, and fight his way at night through the enemy, or perish in the attempt. Those who knew him best, knew how well he dared to execute his resolves. On the 4th of October, 1777, congress passed a vote of thanks, and appointed him colonel commandant of fort Stanwix. The intention of Congress was "to give a substantial as well as honourable testimony of the sense they entertained of his services, and to make such a provision for him, as he might feel the effects of, even in time of peace, by putting him on a similar footing with the military governors of forts in Europe." This is the language of judge Duer, in a letter to general Lincoln, then secretary at war. Judge Duer was a member of the board of war which recommended the resolution, and also a member of congress when it was adopted. In the fall of the year 1778, he was ordered by general Washington from fort Stanwix to Schenectady, and in the spring of the year 1779, he was ordered by him to join the army under general Sullivan in the western expedition. At the head of a chosen party from the whole army, he distinguished himself by surprising the lower Mohawk castle, capturing all the Indian inhabitants by the celerity of his movements, and a hu mane and generous treatment of the prisoners. In the year 1781, the reduction of the army took place, and being a junior colonel, he was left out. Anxious to be retained in active service, and believing that his commission as colonel commandant of fort Stanwix was not affected by this arrangement he explained his situation to general Washington, and requested orders to join the army. General Washington immediately addressed the president of congress on the subject. "SIR, Head Quarters, New Windsor, "Colonel Gansevoort has applied to me on a subject which I am under the necessity of referring congress, as they alone are competent to decide upon it. "On the 4th of October, 1777, congress were pleased to pass a resolution of thanks to colonel Gansevoort, and to the officers and men under his command, for the bravery and perseverance displayed in the defence of fort Schuyler, appointing him, as a reward, colonel commandant of the same. He also |