Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1835-07-09
FREE PRESS.
TIo DoLL-fRS AND Pity CENTS
rER AxSrn.
DEATH OF A REVOLUTIONARY PA
TRIO1'

TRIOr.
The venerable and beloved Major
JAMES GIBBON, Collecior of the
Customs Of the Port of Richmond. de-
parted this life. on the lst instant. nj
half past Z O'Clock, in the 77lh wear OF
his age. No man ever enjoyed more
completely The affection and respect Of
the community in which he lived. and
no one better deserved the regard of
his oountrymen. At IN early age. he
perilled his life in the cause Of freedom:
and having distinguished himself in one
Of the most brilliant events OF the Re-
evolutionary struggle, he was not less
an object OF veneration on that account,
than for the noble and generous quail
ties which characterised him as man.
The universal manifestation of feeling
which Is displayed by our citizens of
all classes, and the public exhibitions
OF gratitude which are about to mark
his entombment, will speak far louder
than any thing which We can say Of
his character.
Some friend, familiar with his histo-
~, will doubtless pay the proper tri-
butte of affection to his memory, aad do
full justice 10 his military seryices and
civic worth. In the meanwhile, we
extract from public documents few
brief notices Of his early career.
In the attack upon Stony Point, I'M
der General Wayne. Major Gibbon,
then a Lieutenant, exhibited heroism
which has immortalized his name. In
Marshalls Life Of Washington, a brief
but expressive notice is taken Of his
gallantry and the perils he encountered.
After stating the disposition of the Sc
vcral columns Of attack, Judge Marshall
says: "They were each preceded by a
toriorn hope Of freaty men; the one
commanded by Lieutenant Gibbon. and
the other by Lieutenant Knox. They
reached the marsh undiscovered. and,
at ID minutes after IL, at night, COM
menced the assault. Both columns
rushed forward under tremendous
FIRE. S,rmounting every obstacle, they
entered the works at the point of the
bayonet; and, without discharging a
single musket, obtained possession Of
the fort. The humanity displayed by
the conquerors was not less conspicu.
Gus, nor less honorable, than their cou-
rage. Not an individual suffered after
resistance had ceased.
All the troops in this perilous SER
vice manifested degree of ardour and
impetuosity. which proved them To be
capable Of the most difficult enterprises;
and all distinguished themselves, whose
situation enabled them to do so. Col.
Fleury was the first to enter the fort and
strike the British standard. Major Po-
sey mounted the works almost at the
same instant, and was the first 10 give
the watch word The forts our own
Lieutenants Gibbon and Knox per-
formed the service allotted to them
with a degree Of intrepidity which
could not be surpassed. Of trenfy
men rho constituted the party Of he
former, SEVENTEEN rere killed or
trouadtd.
In letter from General Washington
to the President Of Congress, upon the
subject Of the capture at Stony Point,
the following language il used:
IL Is probable Congress will be
pleased to bestow some marks of con-
sideraiion upon those officers who dis
tinguished themselves upon this occa-
sion. Every officer and man of the
corps deserves great credit; but there
vera particular ones. whose situation
placed them foremost in danger, and
made their conduct most conspicuous.
Lieutenant Colonel Fleury and Major
Stewart commanded the two attacks
Lieutenants Cibbon and Knox COM
manded the advanced parties, or, for
Torn hope; and all acquitted themselves
as well as possible. These officers
have claim to be more particularly
noticed. In any other service, promo
ton would be the proper reward, but
IN ours il would be injurious. ] take
the liberty 10 recommend, in prefer
ence, some honorary present, especially
to the field officers. n breref caplaincy
to tie Other fro, as il will have no ope-
ration on regimental ranks, may not be
amiss."
Gen. Wayne, in his despatch to Gen.
Washington two hours after the attack,
says:
Dear General: The fort and garri-
son, with Col. Johnson, are ours. Our
officers and men behaved like men who
are determined to be Free"
In another despatch, the next day.
General ltlyne says;
81 am not satisfied with the manner
in which ] have mentioned the conduct
Of Lieutcnants Cibbon and Knox, the
two gentlemen who led the advance
parties q twenty men each. Their
distinguished bravery deserves the high
est commentator. II Rieh. Courier.
.Nemes AID Tzsngs.-Senator Web
slcr did NOT assist in getting up the
Hartford Convention Senator Hub
bard Of N. Hampshire did, The New
Hampshire Patriot therefore abuses Mr..
Webster as a Hartford Convenlionist,