ursued by the savage foe,
whose war-whoop rang through the surrounding forests. Concealing himself
in the hollow trunk of a giant tree, he narrowly escaped. After a
journey of more than one hundred miles through an untrodden wilderness,
and supporting life on roots and the body of a rattlesnake, he finally
reached Fort Cumberland. For his gallant conduct the City of
Philadelphia presented him an honorary medal. In 1775 he was in command
of three regiments of minute-men, and in 1776 a colonel of the Virginia
troops, and rendered important services in drilling and organizing the
new levies. In quelling a mutiny in a company of riflemen called,
ironically, "Gibson's Lambs," at Williamsburg, whom he disarmed, he
displayed that intrepidity and decision for which he was so
distinguished. During the same year, being made a brigadier-general in
the continental army, he exhibited signal courage and energy throughout
a disastrous campaign. On the 3d day of January, 1777, this excellent
officer, leading the van of Washington's army, encountered, about
sunrise, near Princeton, three British regiments, and while rallying his
troops his horse was shot from under him, and he fell dangerously
wounded, and died shortly afterwards in a small house near the scene of
the encounter. He was attended by Major George Lewis, a nephew of
General Washington, who had sent him to perform that duty, and by Dr.
Rush.

The death of General Mercer forms the subject of a picture long familiar
to the students of the college of New Jersey. He lies buried in Christ
Church, Philadelphia.

FOOTNOTES:

[664:A] There is a tradition that Pocahontas, in swimming across the
Pyanketank, was near being drowned, and was rescued by one of the
colonists, who received from her, or her father, this island as a
reward.

[668:A] George H. Moore, Esq., librarian of the New York Historical
Society, is preparing an interesting memoir on the subject of General
Lee's treasonable conduct.

CHAPTER XCI.

1776.

Death of Richard Bland--Genealogy of the Blands--First Assembly
under new Government--Petitions against Church establishment--
Memorial of Hanover Presbytery--Rev. Caleb Wallace--Petitions
in favor of Established Church--Proceedings of Assembly--Alleged
scheme of Dictator--Hampden Sidney--Virginia Navy.

ON the 26th day of October, 1776, died Richard Bland, at Williamsburg,
aged sixty-six. He was in attendance as a member of