Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-10-07
MONUMENT TO MARK GRAVE
OF REVOLUTIONARY SURGEON
Or. James Craik'S Memory to
Be Honored in Alex.
andria.
Chief Physician of Continent.
al Army Began Service
in 1854.

An imposing granite monument tC
DR.. James Craik. chief physician anC
surgeon of the Continental Army and
the man who attended George Wash
ington on his deathbed, will be dedicated
next Sunday afternoon in the secluded
graveyard of the old Presbyterian Meet
ing House in Alexandria, Va.
The dedication will take place at
O'Clock before distinguished company
including descendants of DR.. Craik
Surg. Gen. Ireland of the Army, Repre-
sentative r. Walton Moore of Virginia
and representatives of leading patriotic
societies. The ceremonies will be broad
cast over WRC and probably other radio
stations
Among members of the Craik family
who will attend are Right Rev. James
Morris Craik, Bishop of the Panama
Canal Zone, and the Very Rev Charles
EWen Cralk, dean emeritus of the
| cathedral at Louisville, KY Organiza-
lions to be represented include the
/ Society Of the Cincinnati, of which Gen.
Craik was founder; the Society of
! Colonial Wars, the Sons of the Revolu-
| ton, the Colonial Danes, the Sons Of
the American Revolution, the Children
| OF the American Revolution, the Amer
| lean Legion, the Daughters Of the
| American Revolution, and the Wash
/ ington Society Of Alexandria, of which
Gen. Cratk also was a founder.
Cra1k'S grave was forgotten and I'M
marked for many years in the weed
| grown burying ground Of the quaint
old church, in the 800 block of South
Fairfax street. Finally a small brass
| tablet was provided by the Alexandria
Chamber Of Commerce. but through an
| error 1t was placed in the wrong loca-
ton: Now the grave is to be suitably
marked by a fine monument paid for
by committee of his descendants
headed by Mrs. John D. Patten of this
city. ''-'
Began in 1854.
Upon the organization of the vir-
glnia Provincial Regiment in 1854.
Craik was appointed surgeon. The COM
mand was at the same time rendered to
Maj. George Washington who modestly
declined but accepted the lieutenant
colonelcy, the command going to Col,
Joshua Fry. The regiment was not
brought together until. upon the death
OF Fry at Wills Greek. Washington sue
ceeded to the leadership and the head
quarters joined him at Fort Necessity.
Here was begun that lifelong intimacy
between Washington and Craik, so
much treasured by both.
Craik, as medical officer Of his regi-
nent was present at the battle of Great
Meadows in 1854 and rendered surgical
aid to the wounded in that action. His
service extended also over the period Of
the Inflated expedition Of Braddock
toward Fort Duquesne, and he parti-
pated in the battle of the Monongahela,
where he dressed the wounds of the
commander of the British forces and
many others of the injured upon that
bloody field. Here he witnessed the
singular impunity which attended his
youthful chief as he performed his
duties first as aide and later as COM
mander of the diSheartened remnants of
the British troops.
This made a profound impression
upon Craik, which was strongly en-
phasized when some years later he met
an Indian chief who related. to. him the
story Of repeated efforts upon his OWL
part and numerous attempts upon the
part Of his young braves to slay. young
Washington, but, always failing. they
became imbued with the idea that he
was under Divine protection and ceased
to fire upon him. Craik, with added re-
spect for his friend and commander. ac--
companied the troops upon their mem
orable retreat to the East.
When, then, on August IA, 1855, some
six weeks after the operations on the
Monongahela, Washington was appoint
ed to the command Of the Virginia
provincial army and assigned to the
duty of protecting the Virginia and
Maryland frontier from the French and
Indians, DR.. Craik still remained as his
chief medical officer. The operations
thus begun continued for more than
three years, during which all the hard
ships and priviations OF the hardy
frontier troops were shared by the
young surgeon, whose service ceased
only upon the disarmament OF the little
army after the capture OF Fort Pitt on
November Is, l74S.
Retired to Maryland.
Upon his retirement from the Wiz
ginia provincial service, Craik purchased
an extensive plantation at Port To-
bacco, in Charles County, Maryland,
and erected upon it a spacious mansion
which was described by his grandson,
Daniel Jenifer, in 1849 as even then
| one of the Largest most comfortable
and agreeable residences in the coun-
| try" Here on the 18th Of November,
176O, he brought his young birds, nee
Marianne Ewell of Belle Air, in Prince
william County, Virginia, and here ne
passed in active medical practice the
years which elapsed until he again 1oi-
| lowed his friend at his countrys call.
During this time the CraikS ana the
Washingtons never relinquiShed their
intimacy, and the interchange OF visitS
between Port Tobacco and Mount YER
non were the source OF the SincereSt
! Measure to both.
When the occurrences arose which
eliminated in the War for 1ndepen-
dence, DR.. Craik was an active patriot.
AS early rs 1774, he was conspicuous In
a meeting Of the citizens OF his coun-
ty at Port Tobacco, at which were
adopted series Of resolutions in wnlcn
the people pledged themselves that II
the act of Parliament to blockade the
port of Boston was not promptly re-
pealed the inhabitants Of the county
would Join with the several counties OF
MARYLAND and the principal colonies
in America 10 break off all commercial
communication with Great Britain ana
the West Indies. Craik was member
of the committee of correspondence Sc
lected to carry out these resolutions.
So valuable to the cause was the
presence of Craik in Maryland and SC
deeply were planted the rootlets OF MS
social and professional relations tna'
Washington hesitated a considerable
time after assuming command OF the
American forces to ask his old FRIEND
to again place his edico-military ex-
perience at the disposal Of his country
But in April, 1777. in a most cordial let
ter he rendered to him his choice be-
tween the positions Of senior physician
and surgeon of the hospital with pay Of
S4 and six rations per day and forage
for one horse" and assistant director
general, with pay Of So and six rations
! per day and two horses and travelling
a expenses found" in the middle depart
ment.