The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1892-12-29
A LARGE CLAIM.
Romance OF the Revolution Contained in q
Congressional Document.

Romance OF the Revolution Contained in a
Congressional Document.
"I will be satisfied to take $50, 600, 900 In
payment for my claims, and / request the sod
Congress of the United States to give me an
order on the United States Treasurer for that
amount"
Mr.. Daniel Morgan, descendant of Gen.
Daniel Morgan, of Revolutionary fame, makes
this modest demand upon the United States
Treasury in Congressional document, which
is quoted at the top of this article. And, by
the way, MIR. Morgan has an excellent claim.
He lives in Shullshurg, Wis.,, and says that lie
is the sole surviving heir Of the Revolutionary
soldier, who was the hero of Lexington, Quebec,
Saratoga, Kings Mountain, and the brilliant
victory OF the Cowpens, which led to the sur
render of Gen. Lord CORVALLIS and the British
army at Yorktown. This claim is the Oldest
which is now pending before Congress, and is,
in many respects. one of the most interesting.
Tho original amount OF the debt was $15 GAS,
but If the claim were allowed the sum to be
received would be nearer one hundred mil
lions than the 90 Mr. Morgan requests
In the year 1882 the United States gave to
Gen. Daniel Morgan note for SIS 645, bearing
interest at tho. rate of % per cent. This was
to repay to Gen. Morgan money advanced by
him to feed and clothe his troops during the
Revolutionary war. The claimant. however.
terest, but is willing to take 10 per cent COM
pound interest for the 10 years which have
elapsed since the debt was incurred and TO
throw off several millions. The petition in
which the claim is stated is very quaint
document. II gives in detail not only the his.
tory OF the claim, but throws some very inter-
esting and romantic sdelights upon the early
history oil this country when it was in the
throes Of British dominion As a specimen of
spelling the document is worthy of place in
a museum. In describing the bravery of Gen.
Daniel Morgan and his soldiers, the claimant
makes the following remark: They gaint the
victory of the Cow pens against an odse of neer
two to one OF the beste men OF the Births
army"
The original debt was recognized by the
Continental Congress-. and Gen. Morgan was
given l,666 acres of land for his services. He
sold portion of this land for SLIPS an acre
winch was the Government price at that time,
III order 10 clothe his soldiers, and received
in return q nete from the United States Gov
ernnent for the amount, at % per cent inter
est until paid At that time the Treasury of
the Government was in a very weak and inn
poverished condition. Even the congressman
were paid in due bills so it is not surprising
that a military officer should have to take his
pay the same way. Gen. Morgan died on July
6, 1902 at the age of GIG, and the petition states
that he was at the time destute of the mains
OF iife His remains were beried at Wnehes-
ter, Va. and his gravestone is leying upon
the ground broken, and peces of 1t carried
away by CURIOSITY and relic seekers during the
late ware"
There is also romance connected with this
claim, which is told in this quaint language:
The first scene happens in Irish cabin
where several conspirators have met. The
hated red coats attack the cabin, and In the
fracas young girl is killed. This girls brother
comes to America during the struggle of the
States for independence, and joins Horgan's
command when he attacked Quebec, and is
with the storming party. While the British
prisoners are standing in line after the surren-
der the Irisbman dashes past Gen. Morgan
and with dubbed musket brains Captain of
company that had surrendered, he having
followed him from Ireland to America for the
purpose OF revenge, as he was the commander
of the squad which had killed the Irishman's
sister. This is perhaps the most interesting
claim before Congress.