From: KyArchives [archives@genrecords.org] Sent: Monday, August 06, 2007 12:42 PM To: Ky-Footsteps Subject: Phipps.Francis.1751.Jessamine.BIOS Francis Phipps 1751 - Jessamine County KyArchives Biography Author: Bennett H. Young Francis Phipps Was born on the 21st of October, 1751, and was for a long time a resident of Jessamine county. He was engaged in surveying the Lexington and Danville pike, by Col. W. R. McKee in 1829-30. He resided at Mr. Thos. Scott's house for several years, at which place the letter, copied below, was found. References are made to Rev. John Price, who, afterwards, came to Jessamine county, and was long a Baptist minister in this locality, and the letter is otherwise full of interesting matter: In Mess, No. 10, Colonel Hamilton's Regiment, Little York, 12 miles from Williamsburg, Oct. 21st, 1781. My Dear Parents: I have only time to inform you that the British army, under old Corn- wallis, surrendered to General Washington on the 19th. Capt. Charles Johnston, who will leave for Mecklenburg to-morrow, will give you full particulars of this great and glorious achievement. On the 25th of September our army, led by the beloved Washington, reached the head- quarters of General La Fayette, at Williamsburg, and on the 30th, our army marched in a body to attack York and Gloucester. On the 7th of October, Washington opened the attack on Cornwallis with 100 pieces of cannon. It was a most beautiful sight to see our bomb- shells bursting in the midst of the enemy, tearing down whole companies of our enemies— as we could see them from the high ground near the river. During the siege, which lasted 17 days, two strong redoubts were stormed by our regiment, led by Col. Hamilton. We were assisted in the charge by the French. When within a few yards of the redoubt. Col. Hamilton rode up to the regiment, and said in a voice like the bursting of a shell: "Charge those men, my brave comrades, who wish to make slaves of our people." We rushed at them with a loud shout, and captured over two hundred—killing and wounding about fifty. We lost about seventy-five of as brave men as ever pulled a trigger at an enemy of our liberty. Our French soldiers lost as many as we did. It would have done the heart of every lover of liberty good to have seen the red-coated rascals surrender to our army on the 19th—old Corn- wallis and his army—numbering 8,000 muskets; I counted fifty brass and one hundred and sixty iron cannon. At about 12 o'clock our army was drawn up in two lines, extending more than a mile in length. Our French fellow-soldiers were placed on our left and headed by their General. At the head of our ragged, but brave soldiers. I saw the noble Washington, on his horse, looking calm and cool as he was when crossing the Delaware river a few years before. Many of the rustic people of this part of Virginia, consisting of old men, women and children, assembled in numbers equal to the military, to witness the surrender of the old murderer, Cornwallis. Every face beamed with joy and gladness—but a profound silence prevailed; no talking, no noise of any kind, save the slow, measured step of our enemies, was heard. General Tarieton's troops at Gloucester surrendered at the same time to our French soldiers. Everything was done in a quiet manner. After the surrender, I saw our beloved Washington and Colonel Hamilton talking with all the British officers. Old Cornwallis and Tarleton were very polite to our officers, and it was a surprise to see old Cornwallis treating our beloved commander and Colonel Hamilton with so much consideration. Cornwallis is a large man. with dark brown hair, a ruddy face, good nose and has the appearance of a man of kind heart and good intentions. General Tarleton is also a large man, but not so big as old Cornwallis. His countenance is hard and tyrannical; and his mean, dark eyes are full of cruelty. Some few of the Carolinians saw him after the surrender was over, and cursed him as he passed up the road on his way to the ship that was to take the British to New York, When the boys cursed him he never made any reply, but rode away, showing" no high temper, that he was known to have by some Carolinians who remembered his cruelties in South Carolina. The Rev. John Price preached for the soldiers on Sunday last. His sermon was listened to by many officers, such as General Lincoln, Cols. Henry Lee, Hamilton and Woodford. My health is good, and my wound in the arm is well. I can not tell you where to send me a letter, as I have no means of knowing where our regiment is ordered to. Some say we are to go to New York, and the rumor is that we are to remain in Virginia, or at the town of Trenton, in "the Jersies." Present my love to my youngest sister, also to Mr. Watkins and family, and tell Mr. Watkins his son is truly a self-denying soldier, one who loves his country and is willing, if need be, to die in her defense. Pray for me that I may be spared to see you once more alive. Your loving son, FRANCIS PHIPPS. Submitted by: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com Additional Comments: Extracted from: A HISTORY OF JESSAMINE COUNTY, KENTUCKY, FROM ITS EARLIEST SETTLEMENT TO 1898. By BENNETT H. YOUNG, PRESIDENT POLYTECHNIC SOCIETY; MEMBER FILSON CLUB; MEMBER CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION, 1890; AUTHOR HISTORY OF THE CONSTITUTIONS OF KENTUCKY, OF "BATTLE OF BLUE LICKS, ETC, ETC. S. M. DUNCAN, ASSOCIATE AUTHOR. Every brave and good life out of the past is a treasure which cannot be measured in money, and should be preserved with faithfullest care. LOUISVILLE, KY.: COURIER-JOURNAL JOB PRINTING CO., 1898. This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/kyfiles/