The Coolidge examiner., 1935-07-26

said Daniel Morgan. and Washington was 50
moved by this reply that he dismounied at once
and went along the company front shaking
hands with each man while tears rolled down
his checks
At the same time that the riaemen Of Fred.
erlck county. Virginia. were speeding north with
DAM Morgan. another company Of sharpshoot-
ers from another Frederick couuty-Ainryland-
was also on the march II was commanded by
Capt. Michael Cresap the son Of Col. Thomas
Cresap. a well-known Maryland pioneer. Young
Cresap had been an Indian trader at Redstone.
near the present site OF Brownsville Pa IN
iT72 The next year found him making bis FIRST
bid for nme a settler lands beyond the
Ohio. claimed by George Washington Here he
persisted 10 staying, despite Washlngton's ofIer
10 pay him for any Improvements he had made
n be would depart and despite the threat OF a
lawsuit II be didn't move.
But u remained for an incident az the opening
of the Dunmore 10 make the name % Michael
Cresap famous all along the frontier For be was
uniustly accused OF numbering the family OF the
great Mngo chief. Logan. who had confused that
massacre with another killing In which Cresap
leader Of a party OF rangers. had becu IN
voived.
Cresap and his rihemen. - OF whom had
served with him In the Dunmore war left Fred
erIck on July IS. iT75. and marched the zoo miles
20 Cambridge between that date and August S
IL would be interesting 20 know what Washing
toms feelings were when this erstwhile squatter
on bis Ohio lands entered his camp In Cam
bridge Did His Excellency welcome his arrival
any the Jess gratefully than be had tha, Of the
Virginia and Pennsylvania sharpshooters. IL Is
not likely that be did. for In the greatness OF
George Washington there was no room for petty
prejudlces
IAns or Pennsylvanans, were men OF the same
stripe They were as Washington Irving de-
scrIbes them. stark hunters and bushhghicrs
such sialwart fellows Washington had known
In bis early eampaignA' Incidentally. In all
waShingtons orders be persisted In calling them
Rifle Companies again that he was
better a a general than a speller
Now that washlngions rifle Men" are here
take n look at them as they swAgger through
the shady streets OF Cambridge town. exciting"
so Irving tells Us. much gaze and wonder
among the rustic visitors 20 the camp"
They are dressed for the mos, part In flannel
shirts cloth or buckskln breeches. buckskin leg
glngs and moccasins over these they wear
fringed hunting shirts. some OF brown linen
some OF buckskin. bleached white. and few OF
llnsey woolsey. on their heads rest small round
hats or ooonskin caps. the sign and symbol Of
the frontiersman
But the most striking part OF their costume
Is the display on IL OF the words Liberty or
Death :" Losing. in his Field Book OF the Rev
oution.~ says that the legend was spread In
great letters their hunting shirts. whereas
Graham. Morgans chief bIographer. places Il on
their headgear. But the place where II appeared
Is iElmaterIal. The sentiment was the thing that
counted most and IL was Patrick Henrys stirring
speech In old St Johns church In Richmond
which gave them the motto that was their rally
Ing cry on many q hard-fought field OF the
Revolution
The remainder OF their costume Is In keeping
with its Indian origin, even though not all OF
them. Ike Cresaps men. are painted Ike red
men. Into the leather belt which holds the hunt
Ing shirt In at the waist are thrust the toma-
hawk and that keen-edged weapon which has
caused their redskin enemies TO call all frontiers
men the Long Knives or big Knives" The
shot pouch. which contains the small round balls
ot lead, the bullet mold and some fax or tow
for cleaning the rifle, hangs from a strap across
the shoulder. There, too, Is the powder horn
scraped and scraped until IL Is almost as thin
and transparent as isinglass.
In the hollow OF their arms or slanting across
their brawny shoulders is tossed carelessly the
long rifle which is so soon to become the terror
OF Tommy Cages Lobsterbacks" For. during
the siege or Boston, many British soldier
learned 10 his sorrow that IL was not safe to
show his head within 200 yards OF these id
widow and orphan-makers," as they called the
rifemen Significant OF their deadly accuracy Is
the statement of Thacher that "at a review,
company OF them. while on a quick advance
fred their balls into objects of seven inches
diameter, at the distance OF go yards"
During the autumn OF 17T5 three companies OF
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Virginans and Smiths and
Hendricks Pennsylvanians-accOm Arnold
aid Montgomery on the expedition to Quebec
Hendricks was killed during the assault in De
cember and Morgan and most of the ri1emen
were taken prisoners. On January /, 1776. the
army was reorganized, the Pennsylvania Battal-
ion OF Rifemen became the First Pennsylvania
Regiment of the Continental army and were
placed under the command OF Edward Hand as
colonel Later In the year Morgan returned to