Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1829-01-13


by lass. may be necessary TO effect. with the least
delay and expense, the removal with their consent,
vi the Indians. from the several States and Terri
tories OF the Union, ard TO locate them permanent
! j. elsewhere, en- the lands of the United States
On motion ofMr Noble, the resolution was or
de red 10 be printed for the use of the Senate.
The report OF the Committee Military Airiirs,
adverse 10 the prayer of the memorial of General
scott, was taken UP for consideration. ana, mo-
ton OF Mr.. Tyler, ordered to lie the table, and
together with the memorial OF the General, to be
printed for the use Of the Senate.
On motion of MIR. benton, il was ordered that
, again on Monday next; aud then, on motion of MIR.
| The Senate adjourned TO Monioy.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
PETER FRANCISCO.
Mr.. Wolf from the Committee on Revolutionary
Claims made the following report OF the case OF
table:
:, Sc The Committee on Revolutionary Claims. to
whom was referred the petition and documents OF
Peter Francisco, soldier OF the Revolution, have
duly considered the same, and submit the follow
! ing report:
THE Petitioner, after enumcraiing his serve
! and sufsrings during the War of the Revolution,
anu setting forth his present helples and einbar-
raised situation, solicits Congress TO make some
provision for him against poverty and want, his
declining years and strength render him incapable
OF struggling against adverse fortune.
" That, from the statement exhibited by the
petitioner himself and the documents and papers
accompanying his petition, 20 ali of which the com
"i''ee are disposed TO give full credence, it ap-
pears that Peter Francisco, the petitioner served
his Country with patriotic zeal and fidelity per-
formed arndigies of valor, and displayed degree
oil chivaiTous' heroic bravery and courage rarely
equaiied, anu perhaps nerer erceied, by the trans
actions Of any other individual similarly circun-
stonced IN The History Of the Revolution.
"That, in the course of his military career he
received several severe, but honorable wounds,
the consequences ofsome of which felt by him
at this time, and are the remote, though primary
cause, oil his present helpless aud disabled condi.
ton.
Your Committee cannot but regret, that so
many brave and meritorious soldiers of the revolu-
uon, have, III their advanced age, been oyertaken.
by the chilling hand of poverty: obliged TO spend
me little remnant OF their existence in penury and
want; and Nat some more ample provision, pro-
VISION more proportional to individual merit had not
long since been made by Congress, than tlat which
the pension laws afford. But, whatever may be
the feelings and regrets OF your Committee in re-
terence 10 The case now under consideration, they
are not aware that this Government has ever a.
dopted the principle of granting gratuites or boun
ties TO individuals for services performed during
the war OF the revolution, however nerilorious
otherwise than ia the shape of pensions Mr.
+ francisco now receives pension from the United
states and If further relief can be granted at all
it can only be done, in the opinion this Commit
tee by increasing that pension which falls exclu-
siEeiy within the province of the Standing Com
mittee OF this House, Military Pensions
he Committee being Of opinion that it does
NOT ial within their competency TO decide on the
proprlety OF making the provision asked for but
t'at the decision OF that question might, possibly
he entertained by another Committee of this
House, beg leave to offer the following resolu
ticn:
. . ReSo'rcd That the Committee OF the Re,o
iutionary Claims be discharged from the further
consideration OF the petition and documents of Pc
ter Francisco"
no ina nj fJa
OF this gallant and decayed soldier, by the Hon.
Mr. Randolph, of Virginia, we promised our read
'eIs TO give 1t 10 them at length ii we should be a.
Ole TO obtain copy OF il; having obtained the CO.
ny, we now redeem our pledge
TO The Honorable members of the House of Re
PFeSentdtireS and Senate, assembled in Con-
gresS Of the Tinted States:
The petition of Peter Francisco respec,f,l,v re-
presents That he entered the military service of
me !iied states III the year lT77; was in the bat
tie OF Brandywine and Germantown and belong
I'd 10 Gen. "ayne's command when the British
post at Stony Point carried by assault On
mat occasion he was the second man who mount
ed the parapet Of the enemy, killed the soldier At
the ilag-sta and received dangerous wound from
bayonet. He aided, 10 the best OF his powers i'm
ihe gallant defence OF Mud Island fort, conducted
by General Smith, now member of the Senate
ana was wounded severely in the thigh, by a mus
kei ball, at the battle at Monmouth, the painful
effect OF which he of;en suffers, in his present ad
Neuceu age. 1ie was present IN various skirmishes
IN the vicinity of New York and PhiIadelpbia
While under he command OF that excellent rifle
officer, Colonel Daniel Morgan; and afterwards
travelled 10 the State of Virginia where he he
came volunteer III corps commanded by Colonel
" i'an Mays, deceased, and had a share in the
nrst battle o! Camden, fought on the 10th of Au-
gust, 1850. In that action he rescued Col Mavs
from DEATH by killing the British officer who was
about to take his life, and protected himself from
tae attack oil dragon soldier, by transfixing
MIN with bayonet, and killing him on the
spot; he then mounted the horse of his adversary
escaped through the British ranks by ting
p tory. Fell IN with his commanding officer, who
was exhausted by fatigue, and mounted him on
the captured horse, whereby he made good his re-
treat 10 place Of safety.
our petitioner again returned TO Virginia and
early IN the year ISL he entered the cavalry SCR
wee as volunteer, in a troop commanded by Can
tam THOMAS watkins. This troop was attached
oy oiuer Oh General Greene, to Col. W asiingto toms
regiment, and fought, under the command Of that
intrepid oineer, at the battle Of GuilforI, on the
ION March, 10 the year last mentioned Your
petlboIeT received a severe wound from a bavone,
IN TINS action, but avenged himself or ktLnS four
o. .He enemy acith ms sabre, in the presence of
Goi. washington and OF the officers belonging TO
CAPT. W atkins troop, the Lieutenant of ,vI,;cb.
was Philemon Holcotube, who has since held The
rank OF Colonel in the militia cavalry of Virginia.
dis certificate oil the fact last stated is herewith
eSlibited. '''
In the succeeding Summer, accident threw your
petitioner into the way Of Struggling party be-
longing TO Col Tarlton's corps then on heir march
through the county of Amelia TO PRINCE E.',yard
Court House, where they expected to destroy
large deposit Of public stores. The party had icN
larltoHs line OF march for the PURPOSES of plun-
der, when they arrived at The house ofaN Ward
where they found your petitioner; and one OF them
I denaude% his watch and shoe buckles. which
Z If atlv Ia