CHAP. sentiment of respc t by the uncouth graces of his figure, and the unaffected dignity of his manners. The imagination of Henry, spreading like a blaze amongst his audience, and dramatizing every incident, which he touched, by the magic influence of his manner. The profound capacity of Pendleton, untaught in schools, yet seizing as it were by intuition, the mysteries of his subject. Then was admired the philosophic ardour of Jefferson, smitten with the elegancies of literature, and fired with the passion of making his country the rival of civilized Europe : The prompt and lively Lee, the courageous Hancock, the equally courageous, ardent and indefatigable Adams; the striking and singular peculiarities of Franklin, whose mind by a natural aptitude became familiar with every subject, by a sort of creative principle raised itself from nothing to the heights of science, and which, equally hostile to the mysteries of politics and electricity, snatched the lightning from the heavens and the sceptre from the gripe of tyrants. Then too, was admired the generous prodigality of Morris, sustaining by his own private resources the credit of his country; the sincere though courtly Randolph; the law knowledge of John Adams, wonderfully exerted to enforce the liberties of this country. But this assembly, great though it was, exhibited but a single constellation in the American heavens; every state had its group of stars. Eminent men in every department were starting up, who were before invisible. It appeared as if the breath of the Almighty had animated statues of clay or marble, for the purpose of accomplishing the decrees of his providence. THE usiness of the meeting was opened by Patrick Henry, in a speech which left a deep and Indelible impression on his hearers. It was not a dissertation in detail of American wrongs : That subject had been exhausted by incessant repetition for the last ten years. Every man in the country was familiar with it. It was rather a solemn appeal to their feelings and judgment; an harangue in the manner of antiquity: Such as might have been spoken to the Roman senate when Pyrrhus or Hannibal had entered Italy. He was followed by R. H. Lee in a strain of corresponding sentiment. Nothing could exceed the solemnity of the scene, and when we associate the anxious attention of thirteen states, of Britain herself, and indeed of the civilized world, to their deliberations; when we take in their own - personal feelings, their reflections on the novelty and boldness of their situation; their apprehensions of the result, mingled with their hopes and their ambition, perhaps it is not too much to say, that no single situation ever surpassed it in interest and sublimity. No levities had place here, no play of words, no light and sportive expressions; not a smile was to be seen; their language was suited to their feelings and situation, grand, solemn and sublime. COMMITTEES were appointed to prepare a declaration of rights, and a statement of such as had been infringed by acts of parliament; also, a petition to the king and address to the people of Great Britain, to the inhabitants of the province of Quebec, and to the twelve colonies represented in congress. These performances, drawn up in a stile so masterly as to challenge competition with any of their kind in the old world, were adopted by the house. It was at the same time unanimously resolved, "that contributions from all the colonies, for supplying the necessities and alleviating the distresses of our brethren at CHAP. IV. IV. CHAP. Boston, ought to be continued, in such manner, and so long as their occasions may require;" and resolutions were entered into suspending the importation of goods from G. Britain and Ireland, or any of their dependencies, and of their manufactures from any place whatever, after the first day of the succeeding December, and against the purchase or use of such goods. It was also determined, that all exports to Great Britain, Ireland and the West Indies, should cease on the 10th of September, 1775, unless American grievances should be redressed before that time. Letters were also addressed to the colonies of St. John's, Nova Scotia, Georgia, and the Floridas, inviting them to unite in the common cause of British America. The business before them being completed, the house dissolved itself, having previously recommended another congress to meet on the 10th day of the succeeding May. Battle of sant. MEANWHILE the army had marched in two divisions towards the Ohio. The greater part of Point Plea- this body was composed of prime riflemen, and all were considered as the most expert woodsmen in Virginia. They were drawn principally from the counties of Augusta, Botetourt, Bedford, and Fincastle, and from the inhabitants of the frontiers dispersed and ruined by Indian outrages. For reasons which could not be understood, this army, which if kept together, would have carried every thing before it, was formed into two detachments, and lord Dunmore having dispatch. ed colonel Andrew Lewis with 1500 men towards the mouth of Great Kanhaway, proceeded at the head of another and more powerful body higher up the Ohio, with the view, as it is pretended, of getting in the rear of the enemy, and des. troying their towns. The distance at which he IV. moved, no less than seventy-five miles from the CHAP. other division, was considered as too great for any efficient co-operation; and it was matter of serious regret to Lewis and the brave men under his command, that on approaching the centre of the enemy's power, they should be deprived of the assistance of more than half the army, by plans whose scope and object appeared to all utterly preposterous and incomprehensible. The division of Lewis had now reached Point Pleasant, at the mouth of the Great Kanhaway, when intelligence was brought in that a large party of Indians were approaching within less than one mile of the camp, and the account was instantly confirmed by the scouts, several of whom, although wounded, had escaped the fury of the enemy. There was no time to be lost. An advance of 300 men, under the command of colonels Lewis and Fleming, was orded to the attack, assisted by captains Dickenson, Harrison, Wilson, I. Lewis, Lockridge, Burford, Love, Shelvey, and Russell. Lewis commanding the first division, marched to the right at some distance from the Ohio; Fleming, with the second division, to the left on the banks of that river. front of the right wing was attacked at sun rise, about an half a mile from the camp, by the united force of the Shawanese, Delawares, Mingoes, and Tawas, amounting to 1500 men. In this dreadful attack, conducted with all the subtlety and precision of Indian war; the firing was incessant and the slaughter prodigious. Almost in the very commencement of the action, Lewis was mortally wounded; several of the men were killed, and the whole of the division, unable to endure the heavy fire of the enemy, gave way. The firing was scarcely heard on the right, when The CHAP. IV. the division of Fleming was attacked also in front, by another body of savages equally powerful, and the effect was almost the same. Fleming, after receiving two balls through his left wrist, continued to animate his men, and preserved the most admirable coolness and presence of mind. His advice, repeated often in a loud voice to his soldiers, was not to retire an inch, but continually advance and outflank the enemy, and if possible to get between them and the ri ver. A short time after the commencement of the action, both parties were entirely covered, and the most astonsihing precision took place on both sides. By the advice of Fleming, the Virginians were accustomed to hold their hats from behind the trees, which being mistaken by the enemies for their heads, were shot at: The hats were imme. diately dropped, and the Indian supposing that he had killed his man, ran up for the purpose of taking off his scalp, when he was instantly dispatched. The commander at length, whilst aninating his men, received a third shot through the right lobe of his lungs; but his unconquerable spirit would not permit him to retire, and his division conforming to his advice, continued slowly to advance and outflank the enemy. They were themselves, however, in danger of being taken in flank by the body which had defeated the division of Lewis, when a reinforcement under colonel Field seasonably came up, and the contest along the whole line was renewed with the utmost fury. The Indians now began to give way; but every inch of ground was still contested, and by a fatality this day common to the commanders, colonel Field was killed whilst leading the pursuit. The Indians, about one o'clock, having reached a position extremely dif .. |