The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1906-02-06
HUGH MERCER
Sketch Of the Famous Revolution.
aTy General
HE ONCE LIVED IN THIS CITY
fought Uadsr General TaShingDn-SCme n
nS Achievements, Elc.
Frcd rIrbsbulg, N, Feb. l-t l9oc.

Fred rirhshug. Va, f"n. lst. liuh.
To The Free Lance:
Tirercction oi the statue OF General
Hugh Mclcrr.ou the monumental avenue
of our clty. in tne Inst lew dnys, makes
that historic character Of much Interest
10 our people. and thinking that perhaps
many would not have the ln.,rmaliJn
ayallnbir az to his carer. ! hay" en-
deavurrd 10 gather suue ot thr striking
incidents iu hls uie.
lie was born in Aberdeen, Scotland,
about l12l. received "a fine education at
University oi Aberdeen, making sPcrlal
study ion the practice oi medicine, which
profession be- adopted. Ills first venture
In II military service was ~ assist
surgeon in the army, OF Prince Charles
Edward. when thar royal parsonage en-
dcaNored to regain the crown OF the
Smarts. In the disastrous battle Of
CullOden be-. succeeding ln escaping the
fury OF the Duke oi Cumberland, and IN
company with some oi hls fellow soldiers,
sought refuge in the wilds OF America
In l1I1. Here be- settled in Fredrrlcks-
burg. married and resumed the practice
oi ms profession. In 100, he enlisted
under Washington and fought IN Brad
dock. campaign, and was wounded in
the battle of MOnOngahela. During the
Indian campaign. it n said, he once be-
raue -,.paratpd from his comrades, and
being pursued by the Indians, he escaped
them by hiding ~ "a hollow tree. His
Journey back was long and tedious His
suifpriug- were very severe. but finally.
weak from his wounds, haggaid IN looks,
he r,arhri Fort Cumberland ln safety.
n was during this campaign that the
Corporation OF Philadelphia presented
him with % medal lor his gallantry IN de-
stroyiug the Indian settlement at Kit
tanning boz Peuu~y lvania.
n may perhaps be considered singular
that fh. ,l,iruder of the rights OF Royalty
should hocomc The defender ola Republic,
but th- transition II not so difficult Tor
10 D. very likely that Mercer supported
Charles Stuart mole on personal
grounds than BE- did on principle, aud
America now bcing his country. .rever
exi,ri from his native shores. aud be
iiaviug that hr could no more look upon
her hills or gleus, be- prepared To bare
his brra-t 100 defense Oi his adopted
lands henrths and liberties and 10 give
hi- blood as freely n he did on the Wild
moor OF Culloden.
Accordingly in l715 NE assumed com
mand OF three regiments OF the Minute
Men of Virginia and the following year
was made colonel of the State militia.
General Washington recommended his
appointment IA brigadier general oi the
Continental army and Congress, Justly
estimating his merits. on June -. lao
appointed him az such and immediately
General Mercer repaired 10 the camp Oi
Washington. IL WIS dark hour IN the
history oi the young republic Just then
the hopes ui the land once bright because
of Lexington and Bunker HILL now were
shadowed by the clouds which gathered
thick around Fort Washington, Long
Island and the retreat through the Jer
seys.
IL was during this period that a mid
night consultation was held, when It
WAS determined To march on Princeton
and To General Mercer was given COM
mand OF the advance guards. The little
army was only "A skeleton, but beneath
their ragged coats beat hearts as brave
as a lion and as true as steel. Mercers
little handful started forth one dark,
cold night and under Washington IN
stIuction proceeded with 800 men to
seige a certain bridge on the old Trenton
road near Princeton. Near there they met
the 18th British regiment and the heroic
Scotch-American advanced to awOrm
fence. ranged his men alongside and or
dered them to fire. The British Regulars Il
fresh and vigorous. replied and advanc-
ing charged them with the bayonet. The
little company OF Americans, wearied
with eighteen hours of marching and
diminishing and being armed only with
rifles. could not withstand the charge OF
the British and in despair they turned
and fled. Their intrepid leader refused
to run and after the most strenuous ei-
tort 10 rally his men, he turned to face
his foe. They struck him down, but like
wounded lion he refused to yield till
pierced by bayonets he lay unconscious
IN his own blood. There they left him
and when later that great Nirginian,
General Washington, turned the tide Oi
battle. they found General Mercer wound
cd unto death. This was on January
80. 1777. and ON January 18th ne died.
lie is buried in Christ church grave
yard, in Philadelphia, and some go years
after his remains were exhumed and
taken TO the Laurel Hill Cemetery, near
the Quaker City, where they sleep be-
meath noble tomb.
Such in brief are few things concern
ing the distinguished American who
once lived in our city as an honored citi-
zen. and to whose memory the |. 5.
Government has caused to be erected the
magnificent monument now staLdlng
on Washington avenue.
In prepaTing this little sketch | have
consulted Peterson's Military Heroes OF
the Revolution and Johnson's Cyclic
pedia. ana write it hoping it may be
helpful to those interested in their
country's heroes and who have not the
information accessible.
r. A. Williams.