Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-11-12
QUERIES & ANSWERS.
THE vALoR AND STRENGTH OF PETER
FRANCISCO.
The Barking Of Persimmons TO Make Them
rruit-Treaties In french-wharves
and Oyster-Beds.

grave OF the famous Revolutionary sol
dlcr for I had visited Il years ago. Many
thrilling stories are told OF his wonderful
strength and heroic deeds In the war Tor
Independence, but they appear TO be only
tradi,ionary. Only once do recall read
ing anything OF a definite character. IL
appeared In Virginia history. and men
TONED his encounter with a number OF
Tarieton's dragons where he placed
several OF them hors du combat.
When Virginia was preparing for the
mighty struggle IN 1851 mention was
made In the Richmond papers OF the FAC. .
that Peter Francisco's son had applied
for his fathers sword. which was said TO
be stored In the State arsenal. IL was OF
immense size--none but giant couio
have welded It, Can you give the iacts
OF his life? Such a sketch would doubt
less be interesting to your many read
ers. d. '' W.
Washington, d. c.
From Howes Collections of Virginia His
tory.
fSee buckingham County,
Peter Francisco. a soldier OF the heVo-
luton and celebrated for his personal
strength, lived and raised his family IN
buckingham. where he died. His origin
was obscure. We supposed ne was Por-
tueuese by birth, and that he was klu-
manned when an infant and carried 10
ireland He had no recollection or MS
narents. and the first knowledge he pre-
ssrved Of himself was in that country
when a small boy. Hearing much OF
America and being OF an adventurous
turn. he indentured himself TO sea captain
for seven years in payment for his pas
sage. on his arrival he was sofa 10 An
thony Winston, Esq, Of this country on
whose estate he labored faithfully unul
tho breaking out of the Revolution. ne
was then at the age OF rs. and partaklhs
Of the patriotic enthusiasm or the tifnes
asked and obtained permission OF ms
gunner 10 enlist in the COntinental ARMY
At the stormng of Stony Point ne was
the first soldier after Major Gibbon VINO
entered che fortress. on which occasion
1e received a bayOnet wound In the ihieh
IIo was at Brandywine. Monmouth, anu
other battles at the North, ana WAS trans
forred 10 the South under Greene. WheTe
he was engaged In the action OF the Wv
hens. Camden, Guilford Courthouse &C,
"a, vas a very brave man, ana posSesseu
such confidence In his powers as 70 DC
elnost fearless. He used sword haVlis
q had five feet In length, which ne couiu
,.foid AS a feather and every sWorusilah
49, emo I'm contact with him paid the
forfeit Of his life. A..
ia scrvicas were so distinguished that
D.. would have been promoted 70 an Once
had been enabled 10 write. Ills s'atuic
WAS six feet and an inch. ana ms "eisnt
sso mounds His complexion was dark
and swarthy. features bold ana manly
and his hands and feet uncommoniy
large. ..,, .t,, no
such was his personal strength that ne
,o,'ld easily shoulder cannon weighing
400 pounds. and our informant, hishiy-
rssuectable gentleman now reslulhB III
This county, In communication peiore Us
e,vs. "He could take me in his right
hand and pass over the room WA" ' ne
and play my head against the cehlhs as
,bougb | had been a doll-baDy. My
weight was ig5 pounds. .,.. -,
q,bc following anec1ote. illustrative OF
f-r,noisco's valor, has often been pup
llshcd: ...,;,,,,
~ntIe the British army were spreading
havoc and desolauon all around thein'
by their plunderings and burnings III VIZ
..Inie in 1871. Francisco had been recon
NOTHING. and while stopping at the mouse
az 2 MIR. V, chen I'm Amelia now In NOT
toyyay county. nine OF Tarleton caNaiIS
came No with three negroes ana tola MN
ne was their prisoner.
Seelng ne was overpOwered by mum
hers ne made no resistance. l'elleNiHs
him 10 be very peaceable they an Wen'
into the house leaving him and the pay
master together. GIVE w ins ,,,n i9,,er
mat YOU possess Of value" said the latter
.or nrepare To die" IL have nothing 10
Give m" said Francisco. $50 use your
Measure "Dehvcr instantly IeJoineu
the soldier. those massive silver puChics
which YOU wear i'm your shoes. ihcy
were a present from valued lrlehu'
replied Francisco. land II would grove
me to part with them. GIVE them nilo
Vour hands | never Will. You nave tle
power. take them If you think Mt me
soldier Put his sabre under ms arm anu
hent down to take them. Francisco. hnd-
ing so valuable an opportunity TO recover
his liberty. stepped one pace In his rear
drew the sword with force from under Ms
arm. and instantly gave him dow
across the skull. My enemy, observed
Francisco, was brave, ana thoush sc
yerely wounded drew Il pistol, ana N
the same moment that he pulled the trls-
ger / cut his hand nearly on. Inc puiiet
grazed my side. Ben v cine man Oh
the housed very ungenerously brought out
81 rnuslxet and gave IL to one OF the BRIT
ish soldiers and told him to make use OF
that He mounted the only horse they
could get and presented 1t at my breast.
IL missed fire. l rushed on the muzZle OF
the gun A short struggle ensued. dls-
armed and wounded him. Tarletoh
troop Of 400 men was in sight. All was
hurry and confusion, which. l increased
bv repeatedly hallooing as loud as l could,
come on. my brave boys. now Is your
time. we will soon dispatch these few
and then attack the main body! The
wounded man flew TO the troop; the others
were panic-stricken and fed selzeu
" and would have dispatched him, but
the poor wretch begged for his life; ne
e., mt
but pity The eight horses that were
left behind / gave him TO conceal for me.
Discovering that Tarleton had dispatched
ten more in pursuit of me, i made on
/ evaded their vigilance. They stopped TO
refresh themselves. /. like an old fox
doubled and fell on their rear. 1 went
the next day to v for my horses; ne
demanded two for his trouble and gene
rous attentions. Finding the situation
dangerous and surrounded by enemies
where / ought TO have found friends,
went off with my six horses. l intended
TO have avenged myself on V at
future day, but Providence ordained
should not be his executoner. for he broke
his neck by fall from one of the very
horses"
Several other anecdotes are related
OF the strength and bravery of Francisco.
At Gatess defeat at Camden, after run
ming some distance along road ne TOOK
20 the woods and sat down to rest. A
British trooper came up and ordered him
20 surrender. With feigned humility he
replied he would. and added, as his mus
ket was empty, he had no further use
for II. lie then carelessly presented 1t
sideways. and thus throwing the soldier
off his guard. he suddenly levelled the
piece. and driving the bayonet through
his abdomen hurled him off his horse,
mounted 1t, and continued his retreat.
Soon he overlook his colonel, William
Mayo. Of Powhatan. who was on foot.
Francisco generously dismounted and
gave up the animal to his retreating
officer, for which act Of kindness the
Colonel subsequently presented him with
q thousand acres OF land In Kentucky.
Francisco possessed strong natural
sense and an amiable disposition. He
was withal companionable man, and
ever welcome visitor In the first fami-
lies In this region OF the State. He was
Industrious and temperate and always
advocated the part OF the weak and I'M
projected. On occasions OF outbreaks al
v,.hlic yafhertnQs he WAS better In rush