Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1855-08-28
THE ElCH HetD enquirer.
TuEspAY MORNING, AUGUST IS, 1sa;
MOVEMENT TO PETER FRANCISCO.

hSsh'e 'S NN
rr,d;,,, of bor Greatness" She is, we hop'
awakiuc TO a proper sense Of her duty i'll enaeavor
ing +, preserve aud pcr~ pe,us!o the memory Of tn
nobls d..ds of her euinea,ly gifted and patrio:'
s,as. And, while the spirit is aroused, we shou.
se;ze III. occasion to call attention TO the claims "
ono, who, though filing All humble place in hor rev"
lutionary srmy and a. humble sphere ot ile' c"h'r'ou
led as much as many others who filled n.iSher posts u
ward the success of our arms IN thai bloody confess
and laid on the altar OF his country what was then q
priceless WORKMAN honest heart and u bold hand. W
s,lud, 10 Peter francisco, for so long a period a res
dent of tn. si,y and justly esteemed and beloved b
tc,ss VINO knew him well for many years previous t
his death.
The history Of Francisco was O chequered onc.-
VIVA. was his p~arentage and birth, have never WIT
an accuracy been ascertaincd. Most probably o
gentle, il not noble birth; for We have been iniorme'
Tia, when first seen 81: inc shores OF Virginia. Ae wa
clothed in elegant attire, which, though much IN
v,,,a for wea, and dirt, served to mark hrn on
among . number of lads who came over with hun
u. was even then q fine looking boy and gave pro
,n,a. of no ordinary abilities. These facts were al
,e.,ed nv an old gentleman, q former resident vi re
,.rsbury. who was a. City Point and saw Francisco
,y,a, he first landed thure. He reached that plac,
-, board the boa. into which he had been entrapped
wiz. 5u, Ave wears of age. Walking nour tho beach
ara evening on his return from school, his atten'
ton was arrested by tho white sails OF a Vessel
which Law near tn. shore. Several men from
IN. boat approached the shore in a sma!l SKIN. Fran
ci.,o's companions Hcd aud left him alone. He was
,u;:ced OH board and subsequently, brought to THIS
coop,rv. At City Point, Francisco was sold to one
wrirh, of Cumberland county, who proved a hard
master. AT the brenkins out Of the Revolution
Francisco. who was then but Il years OF age
desired to Join the army. His master refused TO LEI
him 20, aud Col. Winston Of Buckingham, who had
h,forc manifested an interest in his welfare P"'
chased his time Of Wright and gave him Ms hoes':'
Very sooa afterwards Francisco joined the army IL
which bs served to the cud OF the war, ano vas GU
...,.d in nl,nos, every battle OF any consequence au'
ring the Revolution" Tic physical power o. f'an'
cisco has 40 frequently been referred to, thar Inc
,ua ;s almost Regarded as the synonyne VI strength.
..o-v "a told Of him, which, whether true or not'
,vo. universally credited. y noted bully FROM Ken.
,r,kv 1--WE think had heard OF Franc!sco's strength
s,d determined 10 try bis metal. Accordingly mount
-, bs ho-.a-there were no railroads .hen-he set
on. MOO. a tour to see the Samson OF Virginia and
~ nlSSiGe, 20 overcome uihi IL -
Reaching the home OF Francisco, he found hih en-
gagged in gardening, and, ~alightths from his horse
he asked 10 know If the person before nm was the
uatcd Peter Ft~ancisco-intima,ing the purpose OF
his visit. Francisco was, like all other noble spirits'
,,aa.assed of a remarkable gentle disposition ana was
no, esa,ly provoked into a difficulty. He therefore
MARRIED The question a. best he could. But the vlsl'
,,y Insisting upon knowing who h. was and upon a
E.:.. with him. Francisco caught him by the arms
and lifted him over the fence near which he was
...rG:nz. He did il with so little difficulty that tie
c:narur requested him :" TO ha:d over his horse and
h.. wnuld 60" Francisco, with almost as much ease,
nm, led tho lu.seover The fence, ana his mHs'er mount
,as him, gave over hs desire to moot Francisco IN a
" vay.r OF battle" Other stories ale told VI him. well
srrst.d. which give evidence "fsuperhur,aus strength.
~. cannot oui, the following incident connected
vii, tar war Of Tho revolution: ~ Camden, where
C:,,., vas defeated, Francisco r%etrrated, land alter
f,poiay elopg the ruad some distance, he sat down
=, re, hinself. He was suddenly accosted by a Brit
y, lrI-oon who presented n pistol md demanded his
immediate surrender. His qua oe!h- en?'s' NV
,sicn.d suomission and said he would surrender-s.
the same time renarxinS that his gun was VI ITO 'aF'
the ns, 20 him, hy presented II sideways u inc troop
or, who, in reaching for ii, threw himself" III MS guard
when Francisco, quick us thought, ran him through
with the blvoue,, aud, as be fell from his horse, Fran
,;-,, mounted and continued his retreat. Soon alter
,n-a nc Overlook his commanding officer, Col. Mayo,
If P,who;an, who being qu!s: n iars" ana ne'hy
wa, b,d arm, down on the roa is;dc completely eX.
baus,eI, and given himself up 10 the mercy 81 tEo
enemy. Francisco I'd. I'd III" C"l"nri MS h'rSt' say
inc ,ha, he was yoanx md active AMI could m'N'
his escape on foot. The Colonel refused the pr"'i"r-
eli kindu-ss, and remarked. "i"u nrc Young, Peter,
aad the country lie in need Of your servires' while 1
an getting old aud worthless; make your escap- "hd
larvc me clone. Even if | would accept you" proiirr-
ed kinlness, | an not nble ~ raise 'nysei. IN t!i' ra'-
de" Wlthnu, further c rem 'ay, F't:eise" disui"u''t-
cd. and taxing C"i. Mayo 10y as collar aud wa'':'
band, raised him INFO tl- sa,!!e with ~ much eh-e a
+ Il. had been a child. He tlen made g""d his own
...,. For this a.: of kiuinu-s, Col. NJ. aiterward
,r.s.r,ed him with u thousand acres vi land in Ken
tuci;y."
F,r n lnpr season after the close of the Revolution,
NJ. Francisco acted as tHc Sergeant al Arms OF The
Hous, Of Delegates of Virginia, 20 which Office he
Ind he,n elsc,,d as a reward for his l"us and faith
IN: :, ry;ce, during tho war. By the amonity OF his
t.r,osr. kindness Of deposition, and, with all, ny Ills
rs:.is hearted humor. he recommended hl'nsef 10 all
who knew him, and his death was universally Ia
,us:;,,d. The Legislature, then III session, passed d
e,,i.s of resolutions, which were but the truthful OK
nr,.s;on Of the honor in which Francisco was held by
,hem. We hero COPY these proceedings. They may
snry. to refresh tue recollection OF our "oldest inhuol-
,au.,,' In the PERIOD an question, and at the same time
place before our younger readers the history Of that
ported:
From the Enquirer of January l.. !seI.l
LEGISLATIVE rRocEEDISGs, JANUARY ID.
Wr. Yancey enid, that he had the painful duty to
pcrio!m Of announcing to the House ths deetn o! re
i.r Francisco, late Sergeant-a,-Arinso OF tnis body
II. had YESTERDAY received o message from HIM, ex
nr.s,in-. IA his last dying request, a wish TO be bnrie'
with military honors. Mr.. !. had prepared two oi
three resolutions for the OCCASION, which he weu'l
now Submit:
tr H. death aud token of respect for tho lncmory o
PIER Francisco, Scrseant. at. Arms 10 this House, tina
the members OF this House will form a procession
aud attend the place OF his in'ern,ent; -, d;.,;,,,;.,
Resolved, That III consideration OF INC nishnGuish
al military services rendered by the said Peter FRAN
cisco during the Revolutionary War, that the Go
verIor of. this Commonwealth cause the remains o
the said Peter Francisco TO be inferred with military
honors and at the public expense.
Resolved, That a committee be appointed, to con
fist OF five members, to superiutend the funeral, ar
range the order Of procession and intcrment OF Pete'
Frsncisc', deceHSeli aud that the commi'tee invite
the attendance Of the Governor and Council, the
Speaker aud members Of the Senate aud the officers
Mr.. Barbour rose to second the resolutions present
ed TO The House. The loss Of any citizen, who wa.
IN officer of the House. could not but DO deeply re-
GREETED. But Francisco WAS no common man -ant
, he was happy that some record was 10 be left Of hi
merits and vi his memory. LII ancient times monu
mrn,s were erected 70 the men who had performed
worthy services; but. in modern times, their wortl
was Inscribed on our records, and, by the aid Of tn,
press, were sent far and wide. lie had said Francisco
was 10 common man. BY nature he had been EN-
.dny.d with extraordinary strength, the most deter
nnnsI inirrnidl,y. and the wurmest patriotism. |