The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1882-05-03
For the Central Presby terian.
"reminiscences of Major James
Morton, of Wilmington.
BY REV. DRURY LACY. d. d.

Major James Morton was a native of
Prince Edward county, Va, where he
spent the greater part of his very long
life He died at the age of 90, at High
Hill in Cumberland county, Va, the
family seat of his son, DIR. William S.
Morton. He was one of family of
eighteen children-twelve sons and six
daughters.
At an early age he enlisted as a
Private in military company raised by
his father, Captain John Morton, at the
beginning of the Revolutionary War; in
which company his father had eight of
his twelve sons, four being too young for
service. Although he entered the army
as Private he came out as Major, and
if any man ever deserved such promo
tion he did. He was man of indomi-
table courage and energy, as his entire
service of eight years in the army
abundantly proved; enduring hardships
and privations, hunger, nakedness, and
cold, the very recital of which often made
my young blood bound with enthusiasm,
or sent the cold chills through my whole
frame with shudder.
Revolutionary Incidents
Many acts of signal gallantry 1 could
record, one only must serve as a speci-.
men. In some desperate engagement in
New Jersey, as Lieutenant with a COM
pany of some sixty men, he was ordered
to hold bridge at every risque, to pre-
vent British regiment from crossing it,
turning the flank and getting into the
rear of our little army. He did keep it,
under fire so hot and murderous that
all his men but eighteen were either
killed or wounded But he succeeded
in burning one end of the bridge under
this fire and thus saved our little army
from destruction.
In this connexion the following anec-
dote as showing his gratitude for kind
ness rendered, is worthy of record.
After crossing the Delaware that bitter
cold night and silent march till morning
over the frozen earth, and the sudden
surprise and capture 600 Hessians, the
little army was necessarily very hungry
and greatly tatigued For they had
eaten nothing since the morning of the
preceding day, the unexpected order to
march prevented them from eating their
evening meal. About IL or II o'clock,
after the battle, and after the prisoners
had been secured, Major Morton was de-
tailed with small band and sent off in
this state of hunger and exhaustion, as
toraging party to gather up what pro-
visions they could for the suffering men
and horses. The country around Tren-
ton had been thoroughly raVaged by the
British while, they held it, and their ex-
petition was well-high fruitless In or
H. - 81 ~vLesG- tlloJ- could tho littlo
band was divided and went in every di-
rection for supplies; and in going from
house to house, he alone entered the very
humble cottage of a poor woman-the
young mother OF two small children, who
had lost her husband in some former
battle. He told her his errand, but
when he found out she could not furnish
anything for the army, he made known
his own furnishing condition, and begged
her, at least, to give him something to eat.
She went to small keg and raising
little piece of picked pork out of it, told
him it was all the food she had in the
world, but he was welcome to slice of
it, and that she would broil it for him.
He could not wait for that but ate it
RAN GS 1t aO0S, without any bread, and 1
/ have often heard him say, 1T was the
sweetest morsel he ever swallowedl"
Long after the war was over and he was
settled on small farm, he ascertained
by letters of inquiry that she was still
living with her children and was as poor
as ever. From the first crop he ever
made and sold, he sept her $50, and re-
peated the gift for several successive
years She had saved his life by shar-
ing with him all she had, and he in re-
turn for her great kindness did what he
could to render hera condition comforta-
BILE. There was man and one Of the
noblest.
About this time-during the campaign
in New Jersey, he got the nickname of
" Solid Column" and kept it all his life;
whether from his acts of martial proves,
or from his personal appearance, (for he
was even then a stout thick-set man,
which might have suggested it) or more
likely still, from his undaunted courage,
and his unblenching integrity of charac-
ter, and his stern and faithful perform
ance of duty, [ do rot know, but every
body knew him as
Old Solid Column
When the Marquis de La Fayette visited
this country in 1924, as the Nation
Guest, and came to Richmond with his
suite, all the surviving officers of the
Virginia Line that could do so. went TO