Page:The Granite Monthly Volume 1.djvu/333

 SERVICES OF GEN. SULLIVAN.

��325

��SERVICES OF GENERAL SULLIVAN.

��BY HON. GEORGE W. NESMITH.

��We had supposed that the reputation of Gen. John Sullivan, of Revolutionary fame, both as a civilian and General, had been established by the common assent of his countrymen, upon so strong and durable a basis that it could not now by any possibility be undermined or shaken. We confess we were very much sur- prised in our examination of the 9th Vol- ume of Bancroft's History of the United States, to see the fact announced therein his commentary upon the battle of Bran- dy wine, that Sullivan was " worthless as a General." As we had read history, we thought this criticism was severe and un- just to the achievements and memory of Gen. Sullivan. This harsh imputation is made upon his military character. Now we propose to review, as briefly as we may, some of the scenes and events in which he was a prominent actor, espe- cially as a military man. and to show the estimate with which his public services were held duriug the trying and stormy period of the Revolution, and afterwards, in order that the student of history may determine whether Sullivan was ''worth- less as a General." It is well known that Sullivan and John Langdon were ap- pointed Delegates, by the Assembly of this State, to the Congress which assem- bled at Philadelphia in September. 1774, and that in their journey to and from that place they had occasion to pass through Boston, and had, of course, an opportu- nity to witness the distress of the people of Boston, occasioned bv shutting up that harbor and cutting off all trade by means of the British troops and navy then employed to enforce what was known as their infamous Port Bill. At that time Sullivan was a citizen of Dur- ham, and held the office of Major in the State Militia, beside being a leading ad- vocate in our courts of law. John Lang- don was an eminent merchant; in Ports-

��mouth, and held the commission of Cap- tain in the militia.

On the 14th of December, 1774, Sulli- van led down his men, collected in his neighborhood, to Portsmouth, and was there joined by Langdon with another band, constituting about 200 men, and then proceeded to attack Fort William and Mary, located in Portsmouth harbor, and took therefrom 100 barrels of pow- der and fifteen cannon, and some small arms. A large portion of the powder was conveyed to Durham, and concealed in the meeting house there until the fol- lowing spring, when it was conveyed to Cambridge, and proved of immense ser- vice in the battle of Bunker Hill. The Fort now bearing the name of Sullivan is located near the site of the old one, and stands in perpetuam memoriam of this bold and successful exploit. For this bold and defiant act of war Sullivan received the thanks of the patriots of that time, while Gov. John Wentworth de- prived both Sullivan and Langdon of their military commissions, being all the punishment he dared to inflict. We next hear of Sullivan organizing a military company in Durham, and for the purpose of improving themselves in military tac- tics, meeting once a week, for the space ot six months, in drill service. This com- pany was said to consist of eighty-two members, and to embrace Sullivan among its volunteers. In 1775 he was again elected Delegate to the Congress at Phil- adelphia, first with Col. Folsom as a col- league, afterwards with John Langdon, by the New Hampshire Assembly of Del- egates from the several towns in this State.

Soon after thejbattle of Bunker Hill he was appointed by Congress Brigadier General of the army. Both Folsom and Sthrk were entitled to this distinction by higher rank and experience as soldiers,

�� �