Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Mass.) 1828-1830, 1829-01-20

The following petition of Peter Fran
cisco, called the man of iron, whose ex-
| loits in the service of this country seem
hardly credible, was presented in Congress
by Mr.. Randolph. II is said, however,
that it will not be granted, because Peters
services do not come within the provision
of any law now in existence -
To the Honorable members of the House of
Representatives and Senate, assembled n,
the Congress Of TIE United States.
| The petition of Peter Francisco respect
fully represents: That he entered the mil
| itary service of the United States in the
year l777 was in the battle of Brandywine
and Germantown, and belonged to Gen.
Wayne's command when the British post at
Stony Point was carried by assaults. On
that occasion, he was the second man who
mounted the parapet of the enemy, killed
the soldier at the flagstaff, and received
dangerous wound from bayonet He aid
ed, to the best of his powers, in the gallant
defence of Mud Island Fort, conducted by
General Smith, now member of the SEN
ate; and was wounded severely in the
thigh, by musket ball, at the battle at
Monmouth, the painful effect of which he
often suffers, in his present advanced age.
He was present in various skirmishes in the
vicinity of New-York and Philadelphia.
while under the command of that excellent
rifle officer, Colonel Daniel Morgan; and
afterwards travelled to the State of Virgin
la, where he became a volunteer in corps
commanded by Colonel William Mays, de-
ceased, and had share in the first battle
OF Camden, fought on the 10th of August,
1850. In that action, he rescued COL MAYS
from death, by killing the British officer who
was about to take his life, and protected
himself from the attacks of dragon SOL
der, BY transfxing him with bayonet, and
killing him on the spot /; he then mounted
the horse of his adversary, escaped through
the British ranks by personating tory !;
fell In with his commanding officer, who was
exhausted by fatigue, and mounted him on
the captured horse, whereby he made good
his retreat to place of safety.
Your petitioner again returned to Virgin
Ia, and early in the year 1881, he entered
the cavalry service as volunteer, in a troop
commanded by Captain Thomas Watkins.
This troop was attached, by order of Gem.
eral Green, to Colonel Washington's regi-
ment, and fought, under the command of
that intrepid officer, at the battle of Gull
ford, on the 18th March, in the year last
mentioned. Your petitioner received Sc
we're wound from bayonet in this action.
but avenged himself BY killing four of the
enemy with his sabre, in the presence of
Colonel Washington and of the officers be-
longing to Captain Watkins troop, the
Lieutenant of which was Philemon Hol-
combe, who has since held the rank of COL
onel in the militia cavalry of Virginia. His
certificate of the fact last stated is herewith
exhibited.
lnthe succeeding summer, accident threw
your petitioner into the way of struggling
party, belonging to Colonel Tarlton's corps,
then on their march through the county of
Amelia to Prince Edward Court House.
where they expected to destroy large de-
post of publick stores. The party had left
Tarlton's line of march for the purpose of
plumber, when they arrived at the house of
Mr.. Ward, where they found your petit
toner: and one of them demanded his
watch and shoe buckles which were of sill
yer. He refused to deliver them, and while
the British soldier stopped to take them
from his shoes, your petitioner !, who was
destitute of arms, seized the hilt of his sword
| drew 1t from the scabbard, and despatched
him by blow. He killed two others, and
frightened off the rest of the party, amount
ing in number to six, by inducing on them