Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1914-06-18

20 opposition.
Throughout Maryland societies call
ed Sons of Liberty we're formed. The
fervid eloquence of the great Daniel
Dulany of Annapolis aroused the peo-
pie to frenzy, and Southern Maryland
became an armed camp, seething with
the spirit of revolt. On October 18th,
l1T4, the Peggy Stewart arrived at
Annapolis with cargo of tea bearing
the obnoxious stamps. An excited
throng took possession. and demand
ing of Mr.. Stewart, the owner, either
to fire his ship or hang in front of
his door; he chose the former. This
was the act of prominent citizens in
broad day, and without disguise, a
striking contrast 20 the men OF Bos-
ton who q few months earlier did u
similar deed, but dressed as Mohawk
Indians and under cover of darkness.
Everywhere in Southern Maryland
military companies were organized,
armed and drilled. The colony prac-
tically declared itself independent by
the declaration of the Association of
Freemen in 1875, and The people, bold
ly proclaiming their rights, rose in
resistance, their only umpire, the
God of Battles"
To tell the story of Southern Mary
land in the Revolution were To relate
the story of the war itself. The Statc
voted to support the other Colonies
and the flower of the youth of our
Southern counties marched north with
Howard, Ewing and Stone. A brigade
under Colonel Smallwood of Charles,
Joined Washington ut New York, and
on the 9th of August, 1916 was fought
the disastrous battle on Long Island.
The Continental Army, defeated and
panic-stricken, was in danger of total
destruction, when Washington decided
upon the desperate expedient of throw
ing handful of men between his dis
organized forces and the oncoming
Britons. He ordered 400 Marylanders
under Mordacai Gist, who had Just
arrived, to hold the enemy in check
while he withdrew his army across
East River. That little body of un-
tried troops, largely from the South
ern counties of Maryland, sons OF
opulent planters, raised In luxury and
unused to hardship; lacking any mill
tary experience, but having reckless
courage and indomitable resolution,
sprang forward To cross bayonets with
veterans from the battle-fields oi
Europe ten times their superior in
numbers. Never before had the bayo-
net been used by American troops, and
no nation had ever successfully resist.
ed with that weapon q charge of the
English Line. But the boys of Mary.
land literary pierced the enemy's cen.
ter. Then falling back and reforming
again fiercely charged the serried
ranks of England, holding them In
check until Washington had successes.
fully completed his mastery retreat
But 256 of that gallant 400 were left
upon the field, and among the officer.
from Southern Maryland who fell were
Captains Hanson and Daniel Bowie
and Lieut.. Tyler.
Al the battles OF White Plains, Mon
mouth Eutaw Germantown and Gull
ford Court House, the Maryland troop:
used their favorite weapons, the bayo
net, with deadly effect. At German
town Col. Luke Marbury of Prime.
GeoIge's was wounded and taker
prisoner. At Eutaw, Gen. Greens
said: Let Col. Williams and hi:
Marylanders advance and sweep tn.
field" The Maryland Line pressed
forward, and with awful carnage, anC
the slaughter of 300 Hessians, the da,
was won. General Greene wrote tina
the courage of the Marylanders or
that day was unparalleled in history
Napoleon's lnvincible Old Guard held
no higher station in the French arm,
than did the Maryland Line in the
war of the Revolution.
While the youth of Southern Mary.
land were winning undying fame OF
the field of battle, the achievements oi
her older men in the Council Hall
were no less notable. OF the 81 dele.
gates from Maryland who took part
in the sessions of the Continental
Congress, Is were born in the south
EN- counties. In that distinguished
list can be found the names of Platter
and Forbes of st. Mary's: Jenifer and
Stone of Charles: jeremiah Chase and
Carroll of Anne Arundel; Rogers oil
Calvert: Contee, Lee: Potts and Dan
iel Carroll of Prince Georges. The
President of the first Continental Con-
gress, John Hanson, later a resident
OF Frederick, was born and reared in
Charles county, and his wife in Prince
Georges.
Maryland having thrown off the
sovereignty of Great Britain, the for
nation of q State Government was
necessary and in III she chose as her
first governor Thomas Johnson. Tha,
distinguished son OF Southern Mary
land was born in st. Leonard's, Cal
vert county. Later he removed 30
Frederick. served gallantly in the
army, and was sent to the Continental
Congress. IL YRS he who nominated
Washington to be Commander of the
American forces, and as Governor.
Chief Justice of the District of Colum.
bia and Associate Justice of the United
States Supreme Court he brilliantly
maintained the lofty traditions of his
people. The second Governor of the
Stste who succeeded TO that Office was
Thomas Sim Lee. He was born near
Upper Marlboro, was County Clerk.
Member of the Continental Congress.
and when elected to the United States
Senate, declined that honor. OF the