The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1916-12-02
Continued from page u
CATHOLIC PATRIOTS IN THE
REVOLUTION.


CATHOLIC PATRIOTS IN THE
REVOLUTION.
to Washington, Quartermaster-Gen-
eral, Colonel of 4th Light Dragons,
and Brigadier General of the War
for American independence, was
born at Cork, Ireland, 1887. Stephen
and his brother Francis, were edu-
Gated in France. Francis became
Bishop of Kerry, and was consecrated
in 1774. In 1885 he was transferred to
Cork, as Bishop Of that See. Stephen
Moylan came to America in 1853. He
was we'll fixed with worldly goods and
was received into the social element
of the chief city of the Provinces. He
engaged in commerce. One of his
ships was the Richard Penn" The
Revolution was on. Moylan was
aroused and would help those battling
for liberty. On July 20, IT'S, John
Dickinson wrote to Washington that
Moylan wanted to join the army. On
August 80, ITS, Washington wrote to
Dickinson, informing him that Moylan
had been appointed Commissary-G lem
eral of Musters. On August II, Wash
ington issued the order: "The Com
mander-in-C Chief has been pleased to
appoint Stephen Moylan, Esq, to be
Muster-Master General to the Army of
the United Colonies. He is in all
things, touching his duty as Muster
Master General, to be considered and
obeyed as SUCH" On October 4, Wash
ington appointed Col. John Glover and
Muster-Master General Moylan, to fit
out two prime sailors, to put them in
the best order and lose no time"
Col. Reed wrote to Moylan and Glov-
er that the British squadron was. bonn
harding Falmouth and Portsmouth"
"Our vessels must be careful how
they fall in with them" please fix
upon some particular color for flag"
Moylan sent word to Reed that as they
had none but their old colors, 1--WE ap-
pointed them signal, that they may
know each other, and be known by
their friends-the ensign up to the
main topping lift" Col. Moylan was
eager for independence six months be-
fore it was resolved upon and the
Declaration made. On January 2, 1916,
he wrote to Col. Reed, "The Congress
| is still sitting and l am glad of it.
Will they now hesitate? Look at the
Kings speech" Moylan, on June 5,
1875, was elected by Congress, Quar-
termaster-G General. His pay was to be
eighty dollars month and rank as
Colonel. Owing to pressure of other
duties, he was succeeded as secretary
| to Washington, on May Is, by Robert
Hanson Harrison, who had been as
sistant secretary from November, ITS.
On January 8, 1777, Moylan was COM
missioned to recruit a Light Horse
Regiment. March 20, IT'S, Washing
ton, on the resignation of Count Pu-
laski, placed all the cavalry under the
command of Moylan. Pulaski had left
the command to organize an indie
pendent corps, THE Pulaski Legion
On October Z, 1878, Moylan was mar
ried to Miss Mary Ricketts, Van Horne,
lady of high standing in the Colonies.
At the Battle of Yorktown Moylan's
Dragons had very honorable though
dangerous position. In November,
l17S1, owing to ill health, Moylan was
relieved of his command. Later it was
his intention to organize new
cavalry, and he was told that Congress
did not wish the cavalry increased,
nor was he slated for commission.
On December Is, 1882, Moylan wrote to
Washington. when I entered the
service-which was early in the first
year of the war-I did it with firm
determination of prosecuting it to the
end. l had made up my mind and my
affairs for that purpose. have
shared it's fatigues, its dangers and its
pleasures with your Excellency ever
since-should be now left out shall
be very much disappointed and very
much distressed. From the polite and
friendly attentions 1 have always ex-
perienced from you'll have expecta-
tions that you will retain in the army
man who has sacrificed everything
for the service of his country" On
November 3, 1888, Congress resolved
that Col Moylan be promoted to the
rank of Brigadier by brevet. May,
1893, he was appointed Major-General
of Militia On December 8, President
Washington appointed him Commits
sioner of Loans. Moylan died on April
10, 1911.
There goes Moylan on his prancing
steed,
Always ready whenever the need,
With his prancing chargers and his
green plume,
Driving the enemy to eternal doom"
Thomas FitzSimons.
Thomas FitzSimons was one of the
gallant and illustrious men who framed
the Constitution of the United States.
FitzSimons was probably born at Tub
Der, County Wicklow, Ireland, in 1741.
He came to America about 1860. In
1853 he married Catharine Meade.
The bill closing the port of Boston
passed Parliament in March, 1774, and
the port was closed on June 1, 1774.
Il