Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-04-03

then In his seth year, will doubtless prov
Of interest to lovers OF history, as
forms a link between this and the pre-
ceding century. and gives vivid pictur
Of the hardships endured by the Revolu
tionary soldiers:
Brandywine, Culpeper county, va.
January 5. 1871.
To George A. Porterfield. Esq. Martins
burg, Va:
Dear Sir,-Yours, dated in November
but very lately came to hand, owing t
several occurrences beyond my control
In the first place it was directed to the
wrong post-ofiice, where 1t must hav,
lain several weeks; in the second place
| / was absent several weeks from the
| county l mention these circumstances &c
| show you why | have not answered youI
! letter long ago, requesting such informa-
| ton Is possessed Of the Revolutionary
| services OF Charles and Robert Porter
field Not being willing 10 trust alto
| gether 10 my memory, at my great age
now in the Sgth year, enclose you a
printed account, published in the Demo
| rat, Of Charles Porterfields military ser
vices as a volunteer, with Captain Daniel
Morgan at quebec After their return
Virginia passed a law 70 raise six add-
rional regiments for the Continental
army for three years, or during the war,
having already nine regiments in actual
service. Daniel Morgan was appointed
colonel; Christian Febiger, lieuten-
ant-colonel, and William Heth, major
Of the Fifteenth Virginia Continental
Regiment Charles POrterheld enlisted a
company of soldiers for three years, or
duri the war and joined Colonel Daniel
MOrgdn's regiment at Aliddlebrook, in
New Jersey. in the spring of IN. He
served as captain in that regiment, the
campaign ll1L and part of MS, when
he was appointed brigademajor TO Gene
raj William Woodford He continued
with W0Odford part Of 177S and part of
l719 when Virginia appointed him lieu
tenant-cOlOnel Of a State regiment, then
about 10 be raised for the defence of the
State. He accepted the appointment OF
Northumberland, and his brother, Ro-
bert, took his place. When Virginia was
invaded by the British army, Colonel
Charles POrterheld Immediately marched
with the part of the regiment that was
prepared TO take the field, met the enemy
at --, where he was mortally wounded
and died. Colonel Porterfield was NOR
tally wounded in the beginning of
the battle Of Camden, s. c. He was
man of great bravery. high minded and
was a complete gentleman. He was be-
loved by all his numerous friends and ac-
quaintances. Captain Charles Porterfield,
Captain William Johnston, Lieutenant
John Marshall afterwards Chief Justice
United States) Lieutenant Robert Porter
field, Lieutenant James Wright, and my
self, were messmates the winter the
army quartered at Valley Forge, Pa,
for four months, or tbereabouts. We
built an open cabin i'm December, when
the snow was two TO three feet deep,
chinked it with small saplings between
the logs-snow all winter so deep that
we were not able to get dirt for craming
1.-THE cold wind in between the cracks
We were without bedding of any sort;
many not a single blanket We suffered
for all the conveniences and comforts of
life. We had no money, no credit, almost
naked, and many times only half rations.
We suffered more than l can describe.
See General Washngton's letters to
Congress, to the Governors of the diffe-
rent States. How feelingly he depicts our
situation.
l also enclose a printed copy Of letter of |
General Robert Porterfeld. The greatest |
intimacy continued to exist between r. |
p. and myself during his life visiting !
each other often. | never shall forget |
his last words, about two years before |
his death, at his own house, in Augusta |
county, Va. After our taking an affec- |
-ionate farewell, he followed me TO the /
door and said: Slaughter, l feel that |
you are nearer 10 me than any man living,
except my own family" with a weak and
voice.
l fear you will be unable to read this
etter. l am blind in one eye and the
)ther very weak, my hearing and mind
both begin to fail me, and although l
EEL myself unfit for any business,
'ould not refrain from making every ex-
triton in my power TO serve any of the |
oorterfeld family.
Your friend. PHILIP SLAUGHTER.
=. S.-Present my best respects TO
Judge Philip Clayton Pendleton. His
Grandmother Pendleton and my grand
ather Philip Clayton, were brother and
lister. His uncle, Nathaniel Pendleton/l
Who went a volunteer with Morgan to
quebec, and myself. were brough. up
y his uncle, my grandfather, Philip Clay
on, in the Clerks office of Culpeper
ounty. We lived together and wrote in
he same office, which was kept by Philip
layton as deputy for Roger Dixon for
pwards of forty years. He was about
hree or four years older than myself. |
.fter his return from Canada, on the Odd |
( July, 1776. Gabriel Long was appointed
y the Committee of Safety Of Culpeper
ounty a captain to raise a company Of
hemen to be annexed to five companies
rom Maryland to be commanded by Col
mel Stephenson. of Virginia; Lieutenant
OlOnel Rawlens, and Major Ohio VIII
ans. Nathaniel PendletOn was APP
)nted the first lieutenant and myself ,
ne second lieutenant I'm Longs company.
raised a lieutenant's com
men-and went TO New
Ork, and was taken prisoner and re-
aimed a prisoner two or three years
hen exchanged he was appointed aid ,
s-camp TO Major-General Greene, and
ter the war he was appointed Federal
Idge OF Carolina by the President. John
dams, l believe. which office he re- ]
gned I'm a short time and went, at Alex
ider ,Hamiltons request 10 join him T
the practice of law. He married and /
titled in Duchess county On. ", near
yde Park, a few miles from Poughkeep
z. / have been at his house. He and
yself correspondent for many years. His
st letters gave me a particular account
his children-by name-and requested c
e to give him an account Of all my
ildren, which l did. few years after, /
was thrown from his gigg and killed
knew all old Uncle Nathaniel Pendle-
MS family, by Edmond Henry Pendle-
n. Judge i'm South Carolina; Philip PEN
eton, OF Berkely; William Pendleton, p
10 moved 10 Berkely; Nathaniel PEN Z
ston, of New York; Elizabeth Tut, OF 70
Ilpeper, and Susan Wilson, who also a
)ved to Berkely county.
fear you will think this postscript very A
interesting 10 you. Before 1 close l
lst snv that l am a thOrouRhroinR