Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1851-01-28
For The Enquirer.


Messrs Editors There appeared in the Enquirer of the
ED instant letter from VIM F. Ward accompanied by
extract published in your columns from Howes History Of
Virginia. giving account Of rcnconre between Peter
Francisco and Tarleons cavalry is correct The
ments furnished BY Mr. Ward are taken from communlca,
ton In the Enquirer Of the 2oh of May 1913. Mr. Ward
says that he makes this publication because the extract
from Howes History impues to- his grandfather improper
conduct" As the statements he has furnished "imputes i'm
proper conduct my grandfather take the liberty 10
close you the following reply 10 those which also
appeared in the Richmond Enquirer OF May 27ih 1873
Peter Francisco has relatives this State and other States
who no doubt would be gratied 10 the OF the
statements published by Mr. Ward corrected There are
thousands Of others Also only connected with him by those
sympathes which link patriots 10 patriots and which make
Americans Jealous the fame OF true and undoubed Reyo
utonary hero-who gave the prime of his life and anhood
his countrys in the hour OF her greatest nced-who
would DO GLAD TO see him indicated from unfoundpd assaults
JOHN NJ FRANCISCO.
Richmond Jan. 27th, 1851.
EY Editors who have published Mr.. Wards article, are
requested copy The above card and tho following cert
Gates, taken from the Enquirer OF 1878;
To the Editor Of the Enquirer:
Sir-Having read In your paper an appeal 10 the public
by Mr. Benjamin Ward, endeavorng TO establish that Mr.
Peter Francisco had exaggerated the account given by HIM
self me, deem il necessary IN justice TO the public for
the very liberal encouragement the subscription has met
with to publish the suboined certificates. The names
tached 10 ,hem presume will display their respect
ability and standing in society.
When the painting WINS meditaed and for twelve months
after did not know of the existence Of single rela
tive Of tho parties introduced knew and only thought Of
Fnnciscoit his daring exploit his patriotic conduct
during the revolution flor this is not the only nsance that
induced attempt the design Fortunately the picture
with favorable reception my duty 10 get forward in
my profession TO support my family in respcctabiy prompt
ed me offer It 10 the public.
However disageeable may be the feelings ofndvidu
ais may be noticed by history painting is duty,
and certainly merorious on the part of painter record
memorable il devovcs him. Ike the historian
do Justice gallant expoitsand although in principle he
may be woundng the feelings living by casting
Tho houuh
snatched from the brow OF q brave man
What do the certificates published by Mr. Ward import
Without pretending even for moment suspect the
yeracity Of those gentlemen whose hear-say evidence
Mr.. Ward has published, let US examine the Of their
testimony and ascertain how far tends vindcate the
mory Of the deceased from the charge advanced by Mr. Fran
CISCO Mr. Eeser says that he heard Mr. Field Jones say
that he heard the negroes say in the British camp where the
affair (as being dsgaceu TO then was most likely to be
msrepresened that Francisco killed ONE British soldier.
Mr. Woodson In his certificate, says that the overseer (r
Fleming, who is dead the transaction, and that ONE
MAN was killed and only TWO HORSES renained-Ward had
and Francisco the other To establish tho naccuracy
of these hearsa only necessary to refer TO the certih
of Messrs Woodson, Cooke and Rane who FIVE
six OF thu horses Immediately after the transaction
Indeed II will be plainly perceived that the certificates that
MIR. Ward publishes differ widely from each other Mr..
Jones suys In his certificate, that zone Of he mhRe men
demanded his buckles, &c, &c. He really believed that
there was Of sus another white He esifes that
four horses were eths certainly makes difference as 10
number Of and horses Elizabeth Nunnay in her
certificate that she five negroes returning from Wards
and Of them horse Of his She says was the received
opinion that the wounded drew pistol on Fran
CISCO which, their examination, after the enconte they
found be empty and therefore concludes was not fired At
Francisco Now, really, should have supposed would
have conclusive they had found loaded that
had been fired Mr.. Parkinson he only the
wounded soldier and that Francisco and Ward appeared
friendly TO each other Mr. B. Foster says British soldier
and negroes Wards and Francisco killed the
soldier and the negroes o but neither says how many
horses they left where he got his Information FROM Mr.
Richard Johnsons certificate is nearly the same only that
there were three horses left Wards. And Nr. B. Over
street Mr. Ward in his letter 10 him, that he had
heard the story related By Francisco for thyodd years.
In the very county where happened and that gene
rally believed. What then, docs Mr. Ovestreets letter i'm
py1 That lie had heard the story for nearly hirtytwo
years In the way that Francisco related IL and was now so
nv that IL conradcted.
In addition the above rcmarks the story has been
told again and aganhas been ped by children in the same
county and the negbong ones ever since the transaction
and seldom or contradctcd II is asserted In
pretty round terms BY the only ring itnss In the same
wny When these facts SEEM neither the pnnte be
blamed, nor can vanity be attached TO Inc nero himself
II is well known whenever he has been induced speak
of these and other circumstances they have been extored
from him by repeated importantly.
Respecting the gun alleged BY Mr. Francisco TO have been
delivered by Mr. Ward the British soldier have he
testimony Of Francisco who Indifferent spectators
the testimony of Mr. Jones, who not presents but who
heard tina, Wards gun broken Mr. Scott who heard
that the only gun delivered 10 negro and Mrs Nun
nay who few days after tuo that had been bro
ken pieces Which Of these contradictory accounts arc we
10 believed Or is the testimony Of him who and was
too deeply interested forget the most minute circun
stances 10 be received in preference 10 any otherl
1t would certainly have been much more liberal, ii Mr.
Ward had paid respect TO the feelings OF the painter
for he NAV be assured they fully acute his
and he may rest satisfied that Mother snguary variety
would be made Of attract public attention. unless nu
thorzed by sufficient, testimony The public will judge
whether there appears any thing 'odious' in the effort
The epithet Improper" can be ascribed the artist
RICHMOND MAY q, 1873 JAMES WARRELL.