Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1840-01-23

; alive the Shirt of the Revolution, often hagg'ng
from the severe disasters that had attended our arms
He was also actively employed III organizing cor
Of cavalry in which young gentlemen "i 'ie 'St "a
;o. servcd rs volunteers. This corps he com'iiaid
=, 49, !, ,ho louhIc in:ason oci1ol, when, upon 0Hn9
cted Governor OF tie State he took the command III
chief OF its militia.
.rhc invasion OF Arnold more immediately PEE
l,,ry but that of CORVALLIS swept Ike tempest
.,sh tbe devoted Commonwealth, already much
r,,kcned by her untiTing cXerons 10 sustain hc Amy
- Greene IN the Carolnas. and 10 defend the many
ponts of her territory, assdabe hy The attacks OF e
cncmvs naval power.
IL Wayne we're too limited III point of numbers, and
too much stlitencd for supplies OF every Sort To be
able 10 check the victorious Of the enemy In
decd the resources of Virginia great as they originally
were had been sadly reduced IN the previous campaign
By the capture of her veteran regiments Oh The surrch-
der of Charleston, by the total discontinue at Camden
but above ALL By the depreciation OF the paper
money all which combined to elevate The hopes
of the enemies and cast shadow over those OF the
friends OF American liberty. To such wrctchcd state
Of depreciation had the paper money arrived at this pc
Rod that in numberess instances persons were known
to have concealed their horses and IN the WOODS
and swamps rather than hire them 10 the transportation
department of the Army, when tie hire was to be ac-
counted for in the Continental bills which had become
almost vaiucless.
Here the patriotic Nelson set noble example; his
crops were left 10 their fate his pouChs LEFT in the
burrows while the teams were ilarnesscd TO the cannon
and munitions of moving 10 the investment OF
York Town.
1t the evcr-memorable siege of York Town, uo-
vernon Nelson rendered important services IN blockhd
inc the enemy previous 10 the arrival OF the comonca
army and the fleets of France. 1t was on the rchera
bic Lafayctcs last visit to Mount Vernon that ne re-
lated to the author of these memoirs touching hh'c
dotr of Governor Nelson, which shall give IN the
IA rls
terv' said the Nations Guest, amounted with heavy
pieces; but before opened on the town, requested
The attendance of the Governor OF Virginia, not only
as a compliment due to the Chief Magistrate Of the
State in which was serving, but from ms accurate
knowledge of the localities of a place IN winch he
had spent the greater part OF his ltc. 10 what par
cular spot would your Excecncy drccttha we should
point the cannon" asked. ''Fhcre, promptly re-
piled the noble minded, patriotic Nelson, TO that house
il is mine and is now that the Secretary IS nearly
knocked to pieces the best in the town and there
YOU IS III be almost certain find Lord Curnwas and
The British headquarters. Fire upon IT, my dear
Marquis and never spare particle OF my property so
long as il affords comfort or shelter 10 the enemies
of my country. The Governor then rode away, ieaV-
in. MS all charmed with instance OF devotional pa
triotsm that would have shed ustre upon the purcsl
ages of Grccian or Roman virtue.
Another anecdote we will present to readers ere
we close this brief memoir. during the campaign OF
l7-l when the ruined state of the finances had caused
disappeared, Nelson learned that old Scotchmam
named RI had considerable sum IN gold, which,
like most other mnncycd persons OF that period. he
kept carefully concealed The Governor waited upon
the man of gold ariS in those times, and begged
and PRAYED tor loan on behalf Of the Stale Sawncy
was ncxnrate, saying, 81 ken macthng Of your Go
vernment bu, If ye wull la the sIllrr for yourself Gee
neral dri take me hut every hawbcc Of II IS a your
service" Nelson accepted the offer, and obtained on
his own bond, and By his own personal influence, a
loan for the State OF Virginia, when that prominent
State had neither a com III her treasury nor credit 10
| obtain one The Governor clutc!lcd the gold, and
quickly did lis circulation give new and cheering
! aspect to dcstincs Al that nolcntous period
And now, it would be- naturally asked, who paid the
bond and its accumulated interest: PostcrIty would
ans wer grateful and admring country, surely. say
rather the Impoverished family Of the patriot This
with other facts of equal moment. caused the American
author of these memoirs 10 blush for his country, when
during the triumph of Lafayette, and upon his last visit
10 Mount Vernon, the veteran introduced the subject OF
Nelson spoke in the most ardent and enthusiastic terms
of his gallant services, unrlng PATRIOTISM and his un-
cNa,nplrd and devotional sacrifices for the OF
American Independence, and presumed that grateful
and admirng nation had long since rewarded The de-
sccniants Of his old companion in arms, his beloved
/ and bosom friend.
II will be matter Of interest all future ages of the
Republic To learn who of the many worthless that flour
! ishcd in the auc OF Washington nearest to the
heart Of The ratrr Parip. All tradition will agree
! upon Greene and Robert Morris. Bat u they we're IN
the heart Of the Chief, asSnrcGiy they
Nelson of VIRGINIA was nj their side Beloved in lie.
/ Washington s!nv.c cd his esteem for Nelson's mcmor.
ay appointing the named after The sire. one 81
the Secretaries the first President Of the L. States,
on the commencement! Of the Federal Government in
| l7-!'.
Such was Nelson Of Virginia, who, in the time that
tried mems souls pledged for his country in the Halls
other independence, his life, and perrd it in her bat
te-felds; pledged his fortune, and lavlsled it in his
country pledged his sacred honor, and redeem
ed it BIZ life and actions honored among the most no.
norcd.
| Such patriot, statesman and soldier OF the
American Revolution, the admired of his countrymen,
the beloved of Washington and Lafayette, whose re-
spcc,cd descendants have appealed, in the name Of the
services and sacrifices Of their ancestor to the justice
and magnanmity Of free, powerful, and prosperous
! eunirp