The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1813-01-12

attracted MY attention." IN ERICA--
~ Report prevailed that Mr.. Monroe is 10 be ap-
pointed Connis nder in chief but IL WAS treated
nss subject osridicuie. Mr.. Monroe was believe
nj une period OF his life captain ot Milts"--
trobs'rus've merit and modest worth not AL
ways the tavor1es of Fame ami the military service
u the prcsc't Scery of State, who slthoush some.
what better known here than in England, are s,,u
with us as much misunderstood, the pcwcrs of
has MUD were ut one time grossly misrepresentet
The following memoranda may be therefore inter-
cstng and not unusetul to- the public ~ the present
moment they are given hastily; Let the Incl
dents are all personally snown to the writer, they
may be entirely relied on, and although MANY
facts may hare escaped distant and fading recoll.c-
ton, yet nothing is set down but what is true.--
Colonel James Monroe was born il is believed in
April lI5S he received in his youth. the b-st elu-
cation that the state q. science in this eo0ntry at
that time Afforded: and having passed through the
higher asses %! William and Mary VITA the appro
batsn Of the Professors and esteem OF his associates
he in the year i776. Is years of age, joined the
American Army ut New York, after the de-
feat on Long Island had spread d.s,nsy through
ranks. Rc was then Lieat. in the Sal Virginia
Regiment which WAS successfully commanded by
Gens. Mercer and Weldon, and 'asty by Col. Mar
shall, tie father OF the present Chief Justice,
the first virginia Regiment that joined the North
ern Army an, dist,n guishei itself through every
successive stage OF the revolution il destin ed
then to revive the dropping hopes of the army, by
giving the first check to the enemy on Haarlacin
Heights on the 10th of September, few days after
ITS arrival In the midst of the hottest FIRE, the
t'ifCS companies OF the Ncsiment were order
ell by the Commander in Chief IN person 60 advance
on the TANKS ct the enemy; led on b. the gallant,
accomplished and much lamented Major ie;teli,
they hobby effected THIS ar,luous service Lcitch
fell at their head, but the enemy hed their line
broken, and we kept possession of the field MIR.
Monroe belonged to this detachment and then for
thc FIRST time distinguished hmseir 10y his intrepid
ity IN the active flank movements to the High
lands OF New York which succeeded, at the White
Plains x in the memorable and gloomy retreat
thrc' the Jerseys in the following winter, he Wac
constantly engaged in ae.7e service and subjected
TO Incredible hardshps aud p'ivations which in
few months reduced our full battaiions 70 mere
skeletons. On the memorable Christmas Eve OF
I176, when the capture OF the Hcssians ~ Trenton
rescued then infant eoncteracy from Impending
dissolution and destruction, Mr. Monroe selec-
ted as Lieutenant ct the Fcrorn, commanded nv
the late celebrated General William Washington,
then captain in the I'D Virginia Regiment; it is
believed that he was ,hc first man that lad his
hands on the ffeEian cannon hoth himself and
capt. Washington were wounded but his wound
was very scr,nun, 'he bone OF his shoulder being
broken. On this occasion General Washington
himself, promoted him to the rank of Captain,
appointing aim ID command Company IN regi-
menr 70 be raised by Col 1hurston. From some
p cause not reco.lected this regiment never
completed, and Mr.. Monroe when cured OF his
wodnd reioned the army, willing TO return even TO
fs former command his merits however had now
reeorsnended him to more eligible situation he
was appointed .1id-de-Csmp TO Major General
Lord Sterling, officer always distinguished Tor his
ccsS.
Under general who was continually and proini-
henty engaged in the most actve scenes OF the war;
hsjor Monroe had the best opportunity of becom-
ING veil acquainted with the higher branches OF tao
s,cs, ana on the most enlarged scale of military
Operations that tooS place during our reyolutiona-
ry war :---Ibese cannot he compared certain y
TO the wide extended movements of the myrads OF
aoInbatants that desoIate Europe. but they were
quail IL is to be ioped any thing of the kind that
America will he exposed TO in day. brave TO
excess himself, Lord Stirling strongly attached
TO ntrepdity in others, and he frequently and
~ expressed his respect for this quality in MAJOR
Monroe, particularly, il this writer does not misre-
collect, at the Battle of Monmouth, where to the
best of his recollection Mr.. Monroe made prisoners
OF two the enemy's dragons, much to the satisfac
ton of his Lordship. The staff however offered
very limited views of promotion to a young officer.
and disposed to quit this situation major Monroe
was warmly recommended by General Washington,
10 the Legislature of Virginia, who appointed bira
I4iept Col. Commandant of regiment but the
exhausted situation of the State at that time, to-
wacds the close of 1919, rendered it imprac cahie
to recruit it; and Col Morroe despariug of success,
@urncd his views to the study of the Law. He
Acwevcr not long engaged in this pursuit. before the
Sr,;cai situation of the Southern Campaign induced
she Executive OF Virginia TO apply to him to act in
the capacity OF a Military or Field Conm:sary with
che Southern Army, in order to obtain correct
information Gifts tual state " movements.
in thin situation he gave the highest satisfaction,
and mad scarcely returned, when he was appointed
Corps under the command OF General Robert Law
cen, raised to meet the British armamcnts hen
threatening the state of Virginia s. during the short
short invasion Of south eastern frontier OF that state
by Generals Matthews and Leslie, he formed and
commanded regiment which constituted the prn-
epai force OF the advance az the Camp at Everitrs
ills This closed the military services of Colonel
Monroe; the difficulty OF pro airing command G
quail to the rank he had held. deprived him of all
participation in the events Which closed the subse.
ouent paie1i, and indeed the Revolutionary war;
by the surrender of Lord CORVALLIS at Yorktown.
Should Mr.. Monroe be placed II the head Of tins
American army it would be hAzarding little to fore
tell that Ike will soon gain the esteem, confidence t.
attachment Of the officers and men under his COM
Jnand but it would perhaps be riaquing too much
to predict that he will please both the great parties
who unhappily divide our country. STILL it
may be asked, where 10 the TO he found, who
exposed he has been in such prominent situations
hsJ continued To preserve the confidence os par
w. and has excited little OF the resentment of tho
other with very many friends he has
scarcely personal enemy. Uno5entat!ous by taste
and habit, benevolent by nature. and ono Of tbs
most correct and prudent men alive, he creates no
Irritation, ohcnds no one. Attached to the party
which has always predOminated in his native state,
the origin of the present party dssen;ons, he
was elected her chief magistrate, with the deepest
Dissatisfaction Of the federa;ts aud he elssed hs adj
Jninistraon of three years, with the warrs, and it
ia believed, the unanimous thanks aud applause of
both parties PROPOSED as Governor for another
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own party, acting under the irritation Of a recent
presidential election, he received the support of
~ federal member Of the Legislature, with The ex-
cept0n Of one or two al the most support that
secured his election.
From these circumstances, there IL reason to be-