| The purpose of the Society of the Descendants of Peter Francisco is to compile and maintain the documented records of Peter Francisco and his descendants and to give Peter Francisco his rightful place in history. |
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| Military Service and Heroism During the Revolutionary War at the Battle of Brandywine, British General Cornwallis' troops flanked General George Washington's troops and were routing the Americans. It was during this battle on September 11, 1777, that Peter stood his ground at Sandy Hollow Gap and inspired the other soldiers to do likewise. This enabled Washington to have time for an orderly retreat. Peter was wounded in the leg and Marquis de Lafayette was also wounded. On Sunday, September 21, the wounded Marquis arrived in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, for medical treatment. He was hospitalized at the sun Inn and then housed at the home of George Frederick Boeckle. It is not clear if Peter was with him there, but records indicate that they recouperated together and became good friends. Peter healed quickly and was able to rejoin his regiment. On October 2, 1777, General Washington marched toward Germantown and attacked the British soldiers on October 3. The Continentals were driving the British until lack of communications and fog compelled a delay which enabled the British to reorganize and counterattack. The Continentals were forced to retreat, but General Nathaneal Greene with Peter Francisco in the forefront, held fast, opened their lines to permit Continentals to get through and then closed ranks. Thus, both the officers and the soldiers gained renewed confidence! Peter Francisco was "on duty" between October 22 and November 16, 1777, at Fort Mifflin on Mud Island in the Deleware River. Over half of the Continentals were killed and the island was abandoned on November 16. Peter was hospitalized during the worst two months of the winter when the Continental Army endured hunger, cold and exposure at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania. On March2, 1778, General Greene was appointed Quartermaster General to reorganize the supply and availability of food and clothing. Baron von Steuben was assigned to take charge of drilling the officers and men. It was under von Steuben's leadership that Peter learned the techniques which would gide him successfully in later battles. During the Battle of Monmouth in June 1778, Peter served in hazardous reconnoitering under Colonel Morgan, was struck by a musketball and received an injury to his right thigh. Peter then participated in other skirmishes, including one at Paoli. He was then stationed at White Plains, New York, during July and August 1778; transferred to the 6th Virginia Regiment in September; and at Middlebrook, New Jersey, from October 1778 until May 1, 1779. General Washington appointed General Anthony Wayne to command an army picked from the Light Infantry for the assault on the British fortress at Stony Point. This elite unit of "commandos" was elected personally by General Washington; Peter was one of the elite! Twenty, including Peter, were chosen to clear a path with axes through two heavy rows of abatis, ascend the steep stone cliff, and lead the others into the fort. Lt. Gibbon was the first over the wall and Peter was second! Seventeen of the twenty "commandos" were killed or wounded. Peter received a 9-inch stomach wound but killed his adversary and two others. Captain William Evans, who served with Peter in all the Northern campaignes, had this to say: Francisco "was the second man who entered the fort and distinguished himself by numerous acts of bravery and intrepidity -- in a charge which was ordered to be made around the flagstaff, he killed three British grenadiers and was the first man who laid hold of the flagstaff and being badly wounded laid on it that night and in the morning delivered it to Colonel Fleury. These circumstances brought Mr. Francisco into great notice and his name was reiterated throughout the whole army." Peter went to Fishkill, New York, to recuperate from his wounds. On August 18, 1779, he was in skirmishes at Paulus Hook, New Jersey. Muster Rolls show Peter at Ramapaugh in September, Camp Haverstraw in October, and at Morristown in November. He returned to Cumberland County, Virginia, in December of 1779 after his three-year enlistment expired. When Peter learned that the British had changed their plans and were organizing for an invasion of the South, he re-inlisted, but in the Virginia Militia under Colonel Mayo. General Horation Gates commanded the troops in the South and Colonel Mayo and Peter Francisco were with him. Gates would not take the advice of his officers who knew the country; thus his troops ended up in deserted areas with no supplies. At Camden on August 16, 1780, British Generals Webster and Rawdon and Colonel Tarleton attacked and drove the Americans back in dosorder. Colonel Mayo and Peter tried to rally the Virginians, but to no avail, and they were forced to join in the retreat. Peter shot a grenadier who tried to bayonet Colonel Mayo' and stood his ground against a British cavalryman out of his saddle with his bayonet. Peter then mounted the horse, rode through enemy lines, caught up with Colonel Mayo and insisted that he take the horse and hurry on. (Colonel Mayo never forgot Peter for his bravery and for saving his life, and later on presented Peter with his dress sword.) As Colonel Mayo left, Peter noticed that the artillery horses which had been pulling a cannon had been killed. Knowing that the cannon would be captured if left, Peter Loosened the 1,100-pound cannon, shouldered it and carried it to safety! (This miraculous feat of strength was immortalized in 1975 by the issuing of a commemorative, 18-cent stamp by the U.S. Post Office.) After the battle at Camden, Peter returned to the Anderson home in Cumberland County, Virginia. When Peter learned that Captain Thomas Watkins was recruiting a cavalry of veteran soldiers and horsemen in Prince Edward County to be led by Colonel William Washington, Peter again re-inlisted. During the action at Scotch Lake, Peter risked his life to take a hogshead full of clothing and eight horses from the British soldiers. It is unsure as to the date Peter's cavalry unit joined Colonel Washington, but it was probably prior to the Battle of Cowpens when Tarleton was defeated in January 1781. The Battle of Guilford Courthouse, North Carolina, on March 15, 1781, was considered the bloodiest and most decisive of the war. It was related at that time that Peter Francisco performed deeds without parallel. He cut down eleven men with his broadsword; had his leg pinned to a horse by the bayonet of a guardsman -- but, as the soldier turned and fled, Peter made a blow with his sword and managed to "cleft the fellow's head down to his shoulder, before he fell." The broadsword Peter used was six feet long with a five foot blade. It had been ordered especially for him by General George Washington after Peter had complained that the one he had been using was like a toothpick. During Colonel William Washington's cavalry charge, with Peter in the forefront, the Americans were driving back the Brigish. Cornwalllis ordered his artillery to fire grape shot directly into the center of the fight, thus killing many British as well as Americans. It was then that Peter received his second serious would of this battle, and fell from his horse. He was left for dead on the battlefield until a kindly Quaker named Robinson found him, took him home iwth him and nursed him back to health. Peter walked back to the Andersons in Cumberland County and recovered there until given a special assignment to reconnoiter and do what he could about Tarleton's Raiders. At Amelia, Peter outwitted nine of the raiders, killing three of them, routing the others, and confiscating their horses. The story is best told by Henfy Howe who wrote in 1845: "While the British army were spreading havoc...in Virginia, in 1781, Francisco had been reconnoitering, and while stopping at the house of a Mr. Ward,...in Amelia,...nine of Tarleton's cavalry came up,...and told him he was their prisoner...Believing him to be very peaceable, they all went into the house, leaving him and the paymaster together. 'Give up...all you possess,' said the latter,...'or prepare to die.' 'I have nothing,...' said Francisco...'Deliver...those massive silver buckles which you wear on your shoes.' 'They were a present from a valued friend...give them into your hands I never will'...The soldier put his sabre under his arm, and bent down to take them. Francisco...stepped one pace in his rear, drew the sword...and instantly gave him a blow across the scull. 'My enemy,' observed Francisco, 'was brave and though severely wounded, drew a pistol, and, in the same moment that he pulled the trigger, I cut his hand nearly off. The bullet grazed my side. Ben Ward (the man of the house)...brought out a musket, and gave it to one of the British soldiers...He mounted the only hourse they could get, and presented it at my breast. It missed fire...A short struggle ensued. I disarmed and wounded him...Tarleton's troops of four hundred were in sight. All was hurry and confusion, which I increased by repeatedly hallooing...'Comeon, my brave boys, now's your time; we will soon dispatch these few, and then attack the main body!' The wounded men flew to the troop; the others were panic struck, and fled. I seized Ward,...but the poor wretch begged for his life...The eight horses that were left behind, I gave him to conceal for me...Tarleton had dispatched ten more in pursuit of me, I made off. I evaded their vigilance. I...fell on their rear. I went the next day to Ward for my horses; he demanded two...Finding my situation dangerous and surrounded by enemies...I went off with my six horses. I intended to avange myself on Ward...but...I should not be his executioner, for he broke his neck by a fall from one of the very horses.'" Again, Peter Francisco's superhuman exploits were discussed and his fame spread throughout early America. On October 19, 1781, Peter joined his friend Marquis de Lafayette at Yorktown, Virginia, and witnessed the surrender of General Cornwallis. Final treaties were signed in 1783 and the war was over! Peter Francisco's part in the American Revolution had ended and he returned to private life. It was not until 1790 that the Virginia Legislature pssed an act compensating Peter for seventy-five pounds for the loss of his horse and for valor during the American Revolution. In 1795, Peter received 100 acres in Ohio in payment for his military services. He sold this land two years later for 14 pounds Virginia money. |