Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1925-05-07

constantly advanced upon an enemy far superior
in numbers and well secured behind redoubts.''
Then the threat of Burgoyne in the North be-
came so ominous that Washington decided to send
the rifemen to the aid of General Gates He be-
lieved that the presence these daring bush fight
ers who knew how to fight the savages in their
own way. would put stop to the outrages of Bur-
goyne's Indian and Canadian allies and restore
confidence to the distracted inhabitants of the in
vaded region. Again his belief justified for
Morgan began harassng Burgoyne as he had done
to Howe. 1.-THE terror inspired by his among
these allies led to general desertion and, in hav
ing Morgans men, Gates now enjoyed all the adj
vantages which the British general had derived
at the opening of the campaign from the legion
Of Canadians and Indians" writes one historian.
More than that the rihemen proved their worth
in pitched battle, as well as in desutory snping
attacks on the British camp the only difficulty be
ing that they We're, if anything too full of fight.
On the bloody field of Freeman's farm their as
sault impetuous that they became
widely scattered they engaged in their charac-
terstic style of individual combat, and it only
with the greatest difficulty that Morgan assembled
his men again by use of his turkey-bone whistle
and led them again into battle unit.
Then followed the Battle OF Saltwater in which
Tim Murphy had such spectacular part. On Oc-
tober Burgoyne made desperate attempt to cut
through the Gordon of American troops. General
Frazer, with 500 picked troops, led the advance
Seeing the skill with which Frazer was handling
his men, Morgan called to him II of his best
marksmen "That gallant officer yonder is Cen
eral Frazer" he said. y admire and respect him,
but 1t is necessary that he de-" The sharpshoot-
ers opened fire but Frazer was untouched. Then
Tim MurpLy's rifle spoke and Frazer fell MORALLY
wounded. Frazer had been Burgoynes most valu-
able subordinate and his death proved to be the
turning point in the Saratoga campaign Bur
goynes surrender, the decisive event in the Revo-
luton, followed soon afterwards 1t was Murphy,
too who was among the first to reach the side of
Benedict Arnold when that smpetuous officer led
the attack the Hessian redoubts at Saratoga
where he was wounded and nearly captured
After the Saratoga campaign the r1emen re-
joined Washington at Whitemarsh. Late in No
vember they were ordered to the command of the
MARQUIS de Lafayette and in one of his engage
ments with Colnwallis won this praise from the
great Frenchman: Il never saw men SO merry,
so spirited DESTROYS go on 10 the enemy what
ever force they might have, as this corps" few
days later they again distinguished themselves at
the battle of Chestnut Hill by defeating the Brit
ish with heavy loss Major Morris was killed in
this battle and Captain Posey succeeded him.
Then the rifemen settled down with Washing
ton for the terrible winter at Valley Forge all
though there little rest for them. They were
constantly engaged in scouting expeditions and
marrying the British foraging parties. At about
this time Morgan returned to his hame in Virginia
to recuperate his health and the command de-
volved upon Major Posey He returned the fol-
lowing spring, however, and led the rifemen to fur
Their honors in the Battle of Monmouth. Soon after
this battle Morgan gave up the command Of his
corps which was broken up, the various companies
being assigned to different regiments.
But the rifiemen, individuals and small units
won even greater distinction in the fighting with
the Tories and Indians in the Mohawk valley and
in General Suivan's expedition which broke the
power of the Iroquois confederacy. Chief among
these were Tim Murphy and Dave Eerson, espe
cially Murphy, and such were his many deeds as
the Scout of the Schohare," taken with his feats
at Saratoga that Tim Murphy has come to be
garded as the typical Morgan rifeman. He settled
in New York after the Revolution and is buried
in the cemetery at Mddleburgh, where a monu-
ment was erected several years ago to bear wit
ness to his fame and the fame of Morgan's rife
men, of which he was so representative.