at full length was taken* and transferred to the periodical magazines of that day. The peace of Aix-la-chapelle which took place in 1748, restored Louisburg to France, and the young American officer to private life and his family. He was not, however, permitted to remain long in this situation; the war of 1756 followed, and in this great contest, WOOSTER was appointed colonel of a regiment raised in Connecticut, and afterwards to the command of a brigade, in which station he remained until the peace of 1763. He then returned to his family, bearing many marks of his valor and intrepidity. Soon after the close of this war, he engaged in mercantile business in New Haven, and held the office of his majesty's collector of the customs for that port. Having in the two preceding wars mixed much in the world, and formed a numerous acquaintance, both in Europe and America, and possessing a generous and liberal mind, his house was the seat of hospitality. In the great contest between the parent country and the North American colonies, although an officer in the British regular establishment, and entitled to half pay for life, he did not hesitate to take part with his native country, and his pen and sword were actively employed in the defence of its rights. After the battle of Lexington, he was fully aware that the sword alone must decide the contest. He, as well as other military men of experience, at once saw how important it was for the Americans to get possession of the fortresses of the country, together with the cannon, arms, and military stores therein deposited. The peculiar situation of the fort at Ticonderoga, commanding the great pass between the north Atlantic colonies and Canada, did not escape his notice. He, therefore, with a few others of a kindred spirit, early in May, 1775, secretly planned an expedition from Connecticut, to seize upon and retain that important fortress; and to enable them to carry their design into execution, they privately obtained a loan of eighteen hundred dollars from the treasury of the state, for which This portrait is in possession of an English gentleman residing at Valparaiso. A descendant of General WOOSTER accidentally met with it there, and had it copied; from that copy our engraving was made. While on this subject, we will add another incident connected with it. The autograph of General WOOSTER is a fac simile from a deed dated May 5th, 1772-the only document we could find bearing his signature-conveying to him the whole township of Wethersfield, in Connecticut, containing twenty-three thousand acres of land, in consideration of five pounds, New York currency, paid to each of the original patentees, twenty-two in number.-ED. they became personally responsible. Such was the secrecy and despatch in executing this measure, that, on the 10th of May, as is well known, this fort was surprised and delivered up to Allen and Arnold, and their brave followers. This step, one of the boldest taken at that period of the contest, was at the sole risk and responsibility of General WOOSTER and other individuals. Congress, when informed of this transaction, recommended that an inventory of the cannon and military stores found in the fort should be taken, "in order," as they said, "that they may be safely returned when the restoration of the former harmony between great Britain and these colonies, so ardently wished for by the latter, shall render it prudent and consistent with the overruling care of self-preservation." The military experience as well as the daring spirit of General Wooster recommended him to congress, when raising an army of defence, and among the eight brigadier-generals appointed by that body, on the 22d of June, 1775, he was the third in rank. The operations of that year were principally confined to the vicinity of Boston, and to an expedition against Canada, under the command of General Montgomery. During the campaign of 1776, General WooSTER was employed principally in Canada, and at one time had the command of the continental troops in that quarter. Owing to several circumstances, the Americans lost in Canada, during this year, all that had been gained in the preceding. The small pox which unfortunately broke out among the troops, and the want of medical aid and accommodations, together with the consequent insubordination of the men, may be assigned among the principal causes. This rendered the situation of the officers in command peculiarly trying, and General WOOSTER, on his return, requested congress to institute an inquiry into his conduct, while he commanded in Canada. This inquiry was made by a committee of that body, and the general was acquitted of all blame. After this expedition, he returned home, and was then appointed first major-general of the militia of his state. During the whole winter of 1776-7, he was employed in protecting Connecticut against the enemy, and particularly the neighborhood of Danbury, where large magazines of provisions and other articles had been collected by the Americans. He had just returned to New Haven from one of his tours, when he heard on Friday, 25th of April, '77, that a body of two thousand men sent from New York on the preceding day, had effected a landing between Norwalk and Fairfield, for the purpose of destroying the magazines at Danbury, which object they accomplished the next day. Immediately on hearing this news, Generals WOOSTER and Arnold set off from New Haven, to join the militia hastily collected by General Silliman. In consequence of a heavy rain, the militia ordered from New Haven, did not arrive in the vicinity of Danbury, until the 26th, in the evening. The number of the militia thus collected, was about six hundred men, and with this small force it was determined. to attack the enemy the following morning on their retreat, and for this purpose a part of the men were put under the command of General WooSTER, and a part under General Arnold. General WoOOSTER pursued and attacked the enemy, regardless of the inequality of numbers. But being inexperienced militia, and the enemy having several field pieces, his men, after doing considerable execution, were broken and gave way. The general was rallying them, when unfortunately for his family and his country, he received a mortal wound. A musket ball took him obliquely, broke his back bone, lodged within him and never could be found. He was removed from the field and had his wound dressed by Dr. Turner, and was then conveyed to Danbury, where all possible care was taken of him. The surgeons were from the first aware of the danger of the case, and informed the General of their apprehensions, which he heard with the greatest composure. His wife and son had been sent for, and arrived soon enough to receive his parting benediction. He told them that "he was dying, but with the strong hope and persuasion that his country would gain its independence." How gloriously his presentiment has been verified! He expired on the 2d of May, 1777, at the age of sixty-seven. His remains were deposited in the burying ground of the village, which he had thus died defending. Duly sensible of the loss the country had sustained in the death of General WOOSTER, and justly appreciating, "his merits and services," congress, on the 17th of June following, "Resolved," that a monument should be erected to his memory. They appropriated five hundred dollars for that purpose, and requested the executive of Connecticut to carry their resolution into effect; but it has been neglected, and the bones of the hero lie inglorious in a country graveyard, without even a stone to mark the spot. T. P. |