Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1855-04-11
PETER FRANCISCO,
sAMpsoN OF rnE WESTERN HEMIsPHkRs.

knew nothing of his birth parentage, but sup
posed he was born in Portugal, from whence he was
stolen when child and carried to Ireland. His ear
lest recollections were those of boyhood in the lat
ter country. While yet q lad he apprentIced him
self to captain for seven years, IN pay 1or q
passage to this country On his arrival his time aud
services were sold to Mr.. Winston, of Virginia, in
whose service he remained until the breaking out of
the Revolution. Being of an adventurous turn OF
mind he sought and obtained permission OF his mas
ter to join the army, and was engaged IN active ser
vice during the whole contest Such was his strength
and personal bravery, that no enemy could resist
him. He welded sword, the blade which was five
feet in length as though it had been feather and
every one who scame in contact with him paid the
forfeit of his life At Stoney Point, he was of
the forlorn hope which was advanced to cut away
the abatis and, next to Major Gbbon was the first
to enter the works. AT Brandywine, and Mon,
mouth he exhibited the most fearless bravery, and
nothing but his inability to write, prevented his pro-
motion to commission. Transferred to the South,
he took part in most of the engagements in that
section, towards the close of the war; and was en-
gagged in contest which exhibited in a striking
manner, his remarkable self confidence and courage
One day, while accommodating, he stopped at the
house Of man by the name OF W, to refresh
himself While at the table, he was surprised by
nine British troopers who rode up to the house and
told him he their prisoner. Seeing that he was
SO greatly outnumbered, he pretended to surrender,
and the dragons seeing he was apparently very
peacefully inclined after disarming him. allowed him
considerable freedom, while they sat down to par
take of the food which he had left when disturbed
Wandering out into the door-yard he was accosted
by the Paymaster, who demanded of him everything
of value about him the risk of his life, in case OF
refusal. " have nothing to give " said Francisco,
$50 use your pleasure I" "Gve up those massy
silver buckles in your shoes, :" said the dragon. "
They were the gift of friend, replied Francisco
land give them to you never shall; take them If
you will, you have the power, but L never will gre
them to any one Putting his sabre under his arm,
the soldier stopped down to take them. Francisco
seeing the opportunity, which too good to be
1oSt no y0r6 ans draw inT
from under the arm of the soldier, dealt him a Sc
blow across the skull Although severely woun-
ded, yet being brave man, the dragoon drew a pis
tol and aimed it at his antagonist who too quick
for him however, and as he pulled the trigger, blow
from the sword nearly severed his wrist, and placed
him hOrs de combat. The report of the pistol drew
the other dragons into the yard, as we'll as W.,
who very ungenerously brought out musket which
he handed to of thetsolders, and told him to
make use of it. Mounting the only horse they could
get at he presented the muzze at the breast of Fran
CISCO and pulled the trigger. Fortunately missed
fire. and Francisco closed in upon him. A short
struggle ensued, which ended in his dsarming and
wounding the soldier Tarlton's troop of four hun
dred men were now in sight and the other dragons
were about to attack him. Seeing his case was des
perate he turned toward an adjoining thicket, and
as if cheering party of men, he cried out,
I" Come on, my brave boys; nows your time; we
will soon dispatch these few and then attack the
main body! at the same time rushing at the drag,
oons with the fury of enraged tiger. They did
not wait to engage him. but fled precpitately to the
troop, panic-struck and dismayed seiz,ng upon the
traitorous william, W., Francisco about to
despatch him, but he begged and pleaded so hard
for his life that he forgave him, and told him to
crete for him the eight horses which the soldiers had
left behind them. Perceving that Tarlton had dis
patched two other dragons in search of him, he
stopped at the house, he like an old fox doubled
upon their rear and successfully eyaded their vigi-
lance The next day he went to w. for his |
horses; he demanded two of them for his services
and generous intentions. Finding his situation dam
gerous and surrounded by enemies, where he ought |
to have found friends, Francisco forced to make
the best of it, and left with his six horses intending
to revenge himself upon Wat future time, |
g but" as he said "Providence ordained that l !
should not be his executoner, for he broke his neck
by fall from one of the very horses"
Many other anecdotes told of Francisco, illus
trative of his immense strength and personal PROV
ess. At Camd, n, where Gates defeated, he re-
treated, and after running along a road some dis
lance, he sat down to rest himself He sudden
~ accosted by British dragoon who presented
pistol and demanded his immediate surrender. His
gun being empty he feigned submission, and said he
would surrender, at the same time remarking that
his gun was of no further use to him, he presented
it sideways to the trooper, who in reaching for it
threw him off his guard when Francisco quick rs
thought, run him through with the bayonet and he
fell from his horse, he mounted him and continued
mis- retreat Overtaking his commanding officer,
Col. Mayo, of Powhattan, he gave him up the ami
NAL for which act of generosity the colonel after
wards presented him with thousand acres of land
n Kentucky.
The following anecdote exemplifying his peaceful
nature and his strength, is also told OF Francisco
How true it is, we cannot say, but tell it as it
vas told to us many years ago, while he was still
living in buckingham county, Virginia
One day while working in his garden, he
'osted by stranger who rode up to the fence and
inquired of him if he knew "wherc man by the
lame Of Francisco ved'
Raising himself from his work, and eying his in
errogator, who appeared to be one of the {" half
lorsehaf alligator" breed of Kentuckians he rcpli
ID, "Well, stranger, don't know of any person by
hat name in these parts but myself "
Well, reckon you amt the man [ want. I
want to find the great fighting man I've heard tell
o much about. The fellow they say whip all
reation and Kaintuck to boot.
I can't tell you, stranger where you'll find thai
nan, I don't know such man." said Francisco, re-
uming his work as hint to the other that the con-
erence ended. But the Kentuckian was not to
re bluffed off he would term it. s'Look ere,
tranger," said he, returning to the charge, "what
night your given name be?" "My name is Peter
Francisco at your service"
"Ah ~ returned the other, "youre just the man
want to find, at the same time riding inside the
ence, he dismounted and tied his ANIMAL rough
nganly Indian poney-to of the posts.
My name is Big Bill Stokes, all the way from
I'D Kcntuck. 1 am the Kentucky game chicken, I
m. can out-run, out-hop, out;jump, knock down,
rag out, and whip any man in all them diggings.
o, as I.hearn tell of fellow down hereabouts who
oud whip all creation, thought I'd saddle old Bios
ON, and just ride to see what stuff he's made
f, and here am. And now, stranger I'm most