Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-05-11
GEN. PETER MUHLENBERG.
Baltimore Descendants of 1.-the Preach
er-GeneraI of the Revolution

er-General of the Revolution"
Speaking yesterday of Gen. Muhlenberg,
whose statue the State of Pennsylvania
has sent to Washington to be placed in the
Statuary Hall of the capitol, says the Bal
timore San, Mr.. Charles w. Keim, Of the
Consolidated Coal Company, gave some
interesting details of the career of ''the
preacher-General of the Revolution"
Gen. Muhlenberg was the great-grand-
father of Mrs. DIR. II. Clinton McSherry
and Miss Edwardine Hester, this city
(stepdaughters Of Mr.. Charles w.
Keim). Gen. Muhlenberg was a brother
of +. A. Muhlenberg, the first Speaker
of the House of Representatives.
The statues of Muhlenberg and Fulton,
which are to fill the Pennsylvania inches
in the Statuary Hall, were selected by
Simon Cameron, George de B. Keim, Act
ing President of the Reading Railroad
Company. Daniel Ermentrout, G. 0. Ha-
ger, and Thomas McKenna, a committee
appointed for the purpose. The statue of
Gen. Muhlenberg was made in Paris by
Miss Blanche NeVin, and represents the
General in the act of throwing off his
ministerial robes, revealing a continental
uniform.
Mai. Gen. Peter Muhlenberg, eldest of
three brothers, was born at Trappe. in
Montgomery county, Pa, October 1, 1746.
The three boys were sent to Germany for
education. Peter had received an early
theological training at home. He soon
became tired of mOnOtOnOus classics and
German metaphysics, left Halle, and for
more than year was jolly private in
crack regiment of imperial dragons. tie
soon abandoned this kind of life, returned
home and prepared for the ministry. In
1772 he went to England with Bishop
White, then also a candidate for holy
orders, and the two were ordained Epis-
copal ministers at the same time by the
Bishop of London. On returning to
this country he oficiated for some
years at the Episcopal Church
of Woodstock, Va, and at the
outbreak of the revolution changed his
ainiotol IaI rODeS IOr Jne uniform of con-
tinental soldier. On entering his pulpit
for the last time he said to his hearers,
"There is time for all things; time to
preach and time to fight; this is the time
to fight" Then throwing back his minis
terial dress he revealed the uniform of a
Colonel, and proceeded to deliberately
read his military commission, ordering
some drummer boys whom he had there
to beat for recruits. This dramatic APP
peal had magical effect, and the people
of Woodstock rallied around the STAN
dard of fhe minister Colonel. The regi-
or Eighth Virginia, and was noted during
the war for its dash and gallantry.
Gen. Muhlenberg was a great favorite
with Gen. Washington. He held impOr-
tant positions of military trust, and it is
asserted that he commanded the storming
party at Yorktown. When the war was
over he entered political life in his native
State, and was a member of the Supreme
Executive Council of the State OF Penn
sVlVaiifa Vice President of the State
member of the First, Third and Sixth
Congresses, Presidential elector and
United States Senator, which latter posi-
ton he resigned in 1902 to become super
visor of revenue of Pennsylvania. III 1906
he was appointed Collector of the port Of
Philadelphia. which he held till his death,
October l, 1907.