Evening journal., 1915-07-03

in the morning and continued about
the space of an hour and a half, in
which the enemy lost in killed and
wounded 1900 men, our loss not eX-
ceeding $50 in killed and wounded of
which q belonged to Col. Washing
tons light infantry of which Captain
Kirkwood had the command
"Of Major Robert Kirkwood too
much cannot be said. He was a born
soldier; from a larger State and with
a larger command he would have at
tanned a high rank He was Della
ware born and we are proud of him.
Eight years after the close Of the
Revolution Kirkwood was ccmmis-
stoned captain in the u. S. infantry
and marched under General ST. Clair
in the expedition against the Indians
in Ohio territory He met his death
! in the battle near Fort Recovery. No
vember A. 1891, refusing 70 retreat in
| the defeat the arIiy there sustained.
/ II was the thirty-third battle in
which he had risked his life for his
country. The Delaware regiment
reached its home state on April z,
| 1882 having since it started 10 join
the Southern army on April fS, 1880,
marched, according to Kirkwood's
journal, 5O06 miles.
after the last battle in which the
Delaware regiment fought in the
Southern campaign, General Greene.
in his report TO Congress says: L
think myself principally indebted for
the victory obtained, to the free use
iof the bayonet made by the Virginians
land Marylanders, the infantry OF the
llegion, and Captain Kirkwood's light
/ infantry. and though few armies ever
exhibited equal bravery with ours in
general, yet the conduct and intrep-
idity of these corps were peculiarly
conspicuous"
Congress passed a vote of thanks
to General Greene and his army and
included among them is this one:
That the thanks of Congress be
presented TO the officers and men OF
the Maryland and Virginia biigades,
and Delaware battalion of Contin-
entail troops, for the unparalleled
bravery and heroism by them display
ed in advancing to the enemy through
an incessant fire, and charging them
with an impetuosity and order that
could not be resisted.
Ramsey. the historian. paws the
following handsome tribute to the
services Of the Delaware regiment
in the Revolution: The Delaware
regiment was reckoned the most eff
cient in the Continental Army 1t
went into active service soon after
the commencement of the contest with
Great Britain and served through the
whole of 1t. Counting danger where.
ever it was to be encountered, fre-
quently forming part of a victorious
army, but oftener the companions of
their countrymen in the gloom Of dis
aster the Delawares fought at Brook
lyn, at Trenton and at Princeton, at
Brandywine and at Germantown, at
Guilford and at Eutaw, until al length
reduced to a handful of brave men.
they concluded their services with the
war in the glorious termination of
the Southern campaign
"One hundred and thirty-four years
have gone by since the armies of
Greene and CORVALLIS were drawn
up in martial array on this famous
battle ground of Guilford Court
House. The patriot blood of North
: Carolina has preserved and dedicated
: and beautified this hallowed ground
j and today we rear with patriotic
T pride a handsome statue of the distin.
guished military leader who led SC
/ courageously and so nobly the Spar
tan band of Revolutionary soldiers in
e. the Southern campaign.
: 'The fires of '76 are not yet burned
7 out. Occasions like this kindle anew
] our love of country. We of the ori.
! ginal thirteen colonies, of which my
I beloved Delaware was one. are still
e thrilled by the recital or what our
r fathers did, Of the sacrifices made
of the hardships endured of the bat
I ties fought that we might enjoy the
e goodly heritage which is ours today
Aud today. in the presence of this
goodly company, with the soil oi
e North Carolina under my feet, and
the stimulus of her invigoratine
> mountain air in my nostrils, it has
( been doubly inspiring and delight
s ful to me to tell you in homely and
modest phrase of what was done by
: the Sons of Delaware back in the
, olden DAYS, in the days that tried
{ mems souls. and how. through theiI
j Loyalty and heroism, united with 9TH
= ers of equal valor. this country be-
2 came the United States of America
5 the greatest nation on the footstool
I. of God"