The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1906-10-27
THE LIFE OF GEN. HUGH MERCER,
Who FELL AT PRINCE ION

Pine Crest Villa. Maitland Fla
oct. l3-Whrn | lrarued that judge
John +. Gnorck, oi fredericksburg.
Va. had written life of Gen. Hugh
Mercer. hero of the Revolution. ! at
once ordered "a copy. made the ac-
uuantaucr of Judge Goolrick-a gallant
hly-s,ldcr in the Confederate army
during the meeting oi our Society ui th'
ARMY uf the PotomAr. al which hr wA-
one ui thc most cloqu' nt and popular
speakers. ! was charmed with the Judge
= ,cinlly. a we'll ~ in our meetings. and
| knew that If be- had written "A lir oi
Mercer il must bee u delightful and nl-
structiye book. He has Dedicated II to
his noble wife. a great granddaughter OF
GeOrgr Mason. an intimate friend Oi Gcn
Mercer II WAS constrained 10 write ui
Gen Hugh Mercer. hc SAYS 10y the WAY
Of Introduction. "hecau-c thought that
such u life ~ he lived. and such "a death
~ he died. should be- written about; ami
should br written about Icy some uue
who Is identified with Fredrrirkshurg-
the home of Mercer Judge GoolrlcA
has done his work ell,giving tine r'ader
u compact little volume plainly written
aud without any iul-ome eulogy
Savannah people ar pretty familiar
with the Mcrcers. "a name that has he-
come fixture in Georgia. and one that l.
honored wherever known. Gen. Hugh
Mercer was a Scotchman who came tp
America and settled first IN Prnnsl J.
yania a. "a country doctor. aud ~ such
hi- picture il given in GOOlrlck' book.
II isafiu face and indicates that It's pos
SCISSOR was n kindhearted and popular
physician. He finally went To Freder-
icksburg. Va, where he continued the
practice Of medicine. During my visit To
fredericksburg few years ago had
the extreme pleasure of seeing III" Ma
sonic lodge, to which Gen Washington
and Gen. Mercer belonged, lay corner
stone. during which ceremony they used
the old Bible that was in Lodge No. !
when Mercer and Washington joined II,
and also Gen George Weldon. the
brother-in-law Of Mercer. | was deeply
impressed 10y this really ancient body
OF Masons. rs Washington joined it In
November. l7J2, and later on Mercer
was its worthy master President Jas.
Monroe was lawyer in Frederirksbnrg
and became a lieutenant IN COl. Mercer :
regiment. Mercer fella brigadier general
at Princeton. ~ j ,on Jan. l3, III but
Monroe lived, although wounded at
Trenton. to become President and com
manderin chief Of the army and navy of
the United States. have not space in
this letter to refer to the monumental
honors paid To Mercer, but will simply
give tribute in verse that will outllye
all the monuments erected to his mem
Ory:
What death could finer laurel buy?
What grander ending can there be-
Than for a noble man to die
To help to make his country free
Although the day was dearly bought,
Twas there the Tyrant's doom was
sealed,
And not in vain the fight was fought.
When Mercer fell on Princeton Field.
"IIis sword will waste away in rust,
And tho 'twerc wrapped in cloth OF
gold
Within the grave his precious dust
In time will mingle with the mold,
But he, himself, il canonized,
If saintly deeds such fame can give,
For long ~ Liberty is priz'd
Hugh Mercer's name shall surely live.
Letter from Gen. 5. Herbert lancey III
Savannah News