Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1883-03-10

1 lnese SkptCneS were prepared UN non. ".
j. Faulkner, some ten years ago, to
accompany the "Berkeley Centennial
Celebration. !" but the pamphlet never
having been published, the material
then collected has been, at our request.
kindly handed over to this paper for
publication
WILLIAM MACKEY was born near
Belfast in the north of Ireland in
1888. He emigrated to this country
about 1862, landing at Philadelphia,
and thence removing to the Cumber-
land Valley, Pa. He volunteered in
the Revolutionary army in the be-
ginning of the war, was promptly
commissioned a captain, and con-
tinued in service until its close. At
the battle of Brandywine, he fell,
severely wounded, charging at the
head of his company.
The battle of Brandywine ESQ call
ed from the small creek near which
it oceurred) was fought on the 18th
of September, 1777, and was one of
the most interesting of the early
conflicts of the Revolution. 1t grew
out of the determination of General
Washington to save, if possible from
capture, the city of Philadelphia,
then the capital of the States, and
the seat of the Continental Congress.
If the magnitude of the prize at
stake, the number of the troops en-
gagged and the character Of the mil
itary leaders on both sides, could
give dignity to any battle, this pos
sessed those elements in an eminent
degree. General Sir VIM Howe,
aided by Lord CORVALLIS and Gen.
Knyphausen, had landed from the
British fleet we'll disciplined and
admirably equipped army Of $4,000
men-looking TO the capture of
Philadelphia. General Washington,
assisted in his command by Gems.
Green, Wayne, Muhlenburg, Sulli-
van, Stephens and Maxwell, with an
inferior force of $4,000 poorly equip
ped men, was equally determined to
save the city. The hostile armies
met near the Brandywine Creek.
The battle was fierce and bloody,
On our side there was a loss of / 900
killed and wounded. On the side of
the British but SAG killed and woun.
ded, this disparity of loss resulting
from the superior arms aud equip
ments of the enemy. Among the
wounded was the Marquis DE- Lafay'
ette Our army was defeated. Phil
adelphia fell into the hands Of the
enemy. Washington made master,
ly retreat and few prisoners Were TAX
en-none but those who were left
severely wOundet on the field ol bat
tie Among these was Capt. VIM.
Mackey. After several months i'm
prisonment, he was exchanged, when
he rejoined his regiment still suffer
ing from his wounds, and continued
in service until hostilities ceased.
Shortly after the close Of the war
he removed to Martinsburg, where
he continued to reside until his
death. He had two children, Viii
liam Mackey, and Sarah manled to
James Faulkner. His residence was
In the house directly opposite the
Episcopal church in Martinsburg.
After the termination uf the Rev
dictionary war, being entitled 10y
his services and position to be ii
member of the Society uf The Gin
cinatti, composed exclusively of the
officers Of that army, who had serv
ed until the end of the war, he re-
ceived his diploma as such, which
bears tie bonOred signatures Of
George Washington. as President
and General Henry Knox, as Secre-
tary and which may be seen grazing
the walls of Chas. James Faulkner,
his grandson, at Boydville.
AS there may not be any future
occasion to refer to this Society of
the Cincinatti, an institution which
has excited so much attention and
even hostile discussion in this coun'
try, brief reference to it may not
be uninteresting.
1t was an association founded by
the officers of the American Revo-
lutiOnary Army, after the peace of
1888. Its object was to commemo-
rate the success of the Revolution,
and to perpttuate sentiments of pa
triotism, htuevolepce and brotherly
love, and the memory Of hardshlps
experienced in common. The orlgl
nal draft OF the Constitution was
made by General Knox and it is still
extant. AT the second general meet
ing OF the Society in 1887, Washing
tor. WAS elected President General,
and was reelected trienially dur
ing his life. He was succeeded by
Hamilton and the Pinckneys, and
! the Society was in all its vigor dur
\ ing the last visit OF Gen. Lafayette
to the United States, in 1824-5, who
Vas then its only surviving Major
eneral. 1t has branches in several
the States, but the general Society