The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-05-24
DELAYED JUSTICE.

House bill No. 1898 now pending IN the
Fifty-seventh Congress has peculiar In
terest for Virginians. It was intro
duced by Mr.. Jones. Of the First District,
was referred to the Committee on Library
and ordered to be printed. It provides
that the sum of $4,000 be appropriated
for the erection at Fredericksburg, Vir-
GINA, of monument to the memory of
General Hugh Mercer. q hero OF the Rev
olution The bill has been reported IA
yorably by the committee.
General Mercer was one Of the most dis
tinguished heroes Of the Revolutionary
War and did his part towards securing
American independence. He was a
Scotchman by birtn, but an American by
adoption, and no truer or Drawer Amer
lean soldier ever drew sword. He was
educated as a physician, but when ms
country needed his services he went tt
the front, not as a surgeon, but as a
leader Of the forces. He first saw ser
vice in the French and Indian war, after
which he returned to his profession and
made his home at Fredericksburg. lie
was a fayorite with Washington. and at
Washington's request he was chosen by
Congress Brigadier-General in June. 1716
with the command of the flying camp. He
was with Washington in the retreat
through New Jersey. He led the column
of attack at Trenton and advised the
night watch on Princeton, in which he
tor Y
began to waiver he made an energetic at
tempt to rally them and was felled to the
ground by a blow from the butt end OF
musket. Although surrounded by the
British. he arose, refused quarter, de
Tended himself with his sword, and afte!
brief struggle, in which ne was re-
peatedly bayonetted. was left for dead or
the field. He was removed to neigh
boring farm house soon after the oattle,
and on hearing the news OF his condltlon
Washington despatched a flag of truce &c
CORVALLIS, requesting that his a1de-de-
camp and nephew, Colonel George Lewis,
be permitted to remain with Mercer un-
til his death, which occurred after sew
I eral days of severe suffering. Ills IL
neral at Philadelphia was attended by
thirty thousand people, and the st. An
drew's Society of Philadelphia erected
monument to his memory.
Such is the brief account OF his career
given in Appleton's Cyclopedia of Ameri-
can Biography In recognition. OF his
bravery and his splendid service, Con-
gress in 1877 passed BILL directing that
a monument be erected to the memory OF
General Mercer in the town of Freder-
lowing inscription:
Sacred to the memory Of Hugh Mer-
Ger, Brigadier- General in the Army OF
the United States He died on the 18th
of June, III, of wounds he received on the
third of the same month near Princeton,
N. T., bravely defending the liberties OF
America. The Congress of the United
States, in testimony Of his virtues ane
their gratitude, have caused this monu-
ment to be erected.
But the monument was never erected,
and this act OF justice has been too long
delayed. It is to be hoped that with a
favorable report from the committee the
bin will be taken up in short order and
passed. In honoring such heroes as Hugh
Mercer we honor ourselves and stimulate
our youth to patriotic endeavor.
This month of May will surely go down