Peter Francisco 
 
 AN ADDRESS 
 
 BY 
 
 HON. B. F. DIXON 
 
 Delivered at the unveiling of a Tablet to his Memory 
 at Guilford Battle Ground, July 4th, 1910 
 
 PUBLISHED BY THE 
 
 GUILFORD BATTLE GROUND CO. 
 
 GREENSBORO. N. C. 
 
Peter Francisco 
 
 AN ADDRESS 
 
 BY 
 
 HON. B. F. DIXON 
 
 Delivered at the unveiling of a Tablet to his Memory 
 at-Guilford Battle Ground, July 4th, 1910 
 
 PUBLISHED BY THE 
 
 GUILFORD BATTLE GROUND CO. 
 
 GREENSBORO. N. C 
 
Digitized by tine Internet Arciiive 
 
 in 2011 witii funding from 
 
 University of Nortii Carolina at Chapel Hill 
 
 http://www.archive.org/details/peterfranciscoad61dixo 
 
Mr. President atid Gentlemen of Guilford Battle Ground 
 Company, Ladies and Gentlemen: 
 
 In the South from the time of the earliest settlements, 
 tobacco raising was a profitable industry, and the question of 
 labor a very important one. England undertook to supply 
 this demand, and great numbers of people were sent over 
 from the mother country. Convicted criminals were trans- 
 ported here, as later they were sent to Botany Bay. Others 
 from the lower classes, who were unable to pay for their 
 transportation, were also sent to this country. A protest 
 from the Colonies against the criminal class was sent over to 
 England, and their transportation gradually ceased. Boys 
 and girls were kidnapped in the streets of London and shipped 
 to America, to be indentured to farmers. The cry for cheap 
 labor was still heard in the land, and they brought negroes 
 from the jungles of Africa, until the South was filled with a 
 people that has caused untold suffering and sorrow to this 
 goodly land. And now the cry has been going up from the 
 manufacturers, especially of the North, for cheap labor, and 
 a class of undesirable citizens has been pouring in there, 
 which will give this country trouble again unless something 
 is done to check it. 
 
 About the year 1768 an English vessel landed at City 
 Point on the James River, in Virginia, and among other things 
 brought to that colony was a little boy 6 or 7 years old, with 
 keen black eyes and dark complexion, with a shock of black 
 hair covering his well shaped head. He was too small to be 
 of service to any one and so this kidnapped waif was left 
 upon the wharf when the ship sailed, and there he stayed 
 for several days without a friend; his wistful eyes often 
 
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turned down the river in a vain search for some one. His 
 cry might have been heard at midnight, as the wail of a 
 child for a lost mother. The sailors fed him to keep him 
 from starving. There, thousands of miles from those who 
 might have cared for him, alone, friendless and penniless, 
 was little Peter Francisco. He who does not let a sparrow 
 fall without his notice, however, did not forsake Peter, and 
 finally a very kind-hearted, sympathetic, benevolent man (we 
 have a goodly number of the same sort with us today,) took 
 the little fellow to his home. Oh ! no ! he sent him to the 
 poor house of Prince George County, where you may be 
 sure he was clothed in fine linen and fared sumptuously every 
 day — just as they do now, especially in those counties where 
 the poor are put up to the lowest bidder — that is the man 
 who will keep them the most scrimpingly. Peter remained 
 in the poor house until he was large enough to be of service to 
 man, and then he was bound out to Mr. Anthony Winston, 
 of Buckingham County, Va. Mr. Winston lived in the country 
 between the historic Appomattox and the magnificent James 
 River, in a beautiful home known as Hunting Tower. Mr. 
 Winston was an uncle of Patrick Henry, and young Peter 
 was brought to his 16th year in a family full of patriotism 
 and love of liberty, and in an old country home which is 
 about as near to the mansions in the skies as any place on 
 earth. This brave, intelligent boy imbibed the spirit of the 
 times, and became enthusiastic for the American cause. He 
 was noted at an early age for his physical strength. He was 
 a born athlete. He could throw down, out run, or whip any 
 boy in Buckingham County, and the wonderful feats performed 
 by him won for him the respect and confidence of the whole 
 community. The war spirit v/as strong in him and at the 
 age of 16 years he obtained permission from Mr. Winston to 
 join the American Army as a volunteer, and from that day 
 to the surrender of Cornwallis at Yorktown his strong right 
 arm and his undaunted courage were used in behalf of 
 American independence. 
 
 Peter Francisco was a modern Hercules, and his personal 
 
appearance was most striking. He was the kind of a man 
 that people turn to look at when he passes by. Over six feet 
 high and weighing 260 pounds, without an ounce of super- 
 fluous flesh, an extremely handsome face, with black hair and 
 piercing black eyes — no wonder people looked again at him. 
 An ordinary sword was entirely too short and light for him 
 to use effectually, and General Washington had one made for 
 him in a blacksmith shop, six feet long, which he could 
 wield as a feather. A veritable giant, with an eye like a 
 hawk — the spirit of a king eagle, a breast like a lion, strong 
 as a buffalo, and with the breath of a hound. He could keep 
 pace with the King's horsemen in their fiery rides. He was a 
 typical American soldier. Devoted passionately to the cause 
 which he had made his own, there is no such picturesque 
 figure in the whole continental army as Peter Francisco. 
 
 He entered most heartily upon the duties of a soldier, 
 and received his "baptism of fire" at the battle of Brandy 
 Wine under the gallant LaFayette. In the following month 
 he participated in the battle of Germantown, and although 
 our army was defeated, the fault did not lie at the door of 
 Francisco, and the heroic bearing of men like him made 
 Frederick of Prussia say that "when the American soldiers 
 become disciplined they will be very formidable." It is but 
 natural then that the soldiers themselves should soon have 
 received encouragement, and that a vision of great posibilities 
 should have lured them on to more daring deeds. 
 
 Immediately after the battle of Germantown we find our 
 hero, under Col. Smith, taking part in the defence of Fort 
 Mifflin, which was situated on an island in the Delaware River. 
 Day after day the besieged withstood the bombardment of the 
 enemy with persistent energy and bravery, until the block 
 houses were beaten down, the palisades demolished, and the 
 guns dismounted. Many of the brave defenders were killed 
 or wounded, and when the few still left were unable to 
 longer defend the fort they set fire to whatever was com- 
 bustible, and crossed the river at night by the light of the 
 flames. Young Francisco during this terrible siege stood 
 
side by side with the bravest of the defenders and was the 
 peer of the best. He was with his command during that 
 awful winter at Valley Forge, and at Monmouth the follow- 
 ing summer when he was severely wounded. He appears 
 again at Stony Point under "Mad Anthony Wayne". The 
 first man to enter the fort was Major Gibbon and next to 
 him was the dauntless dark eyed Francisco, who killed the 
 color bearer, and received a bayonet wound in his own body. 
 This exploit gave him great renown, and he became the hero 
 of his command. Later we find him under General Morgan, 
 taking part in many skirmishes, around New York and Phila- 
 delphia. There was a marked resemblance between Morgan 
 and Francisco in person and character. Morgan was of 
 gigantic stature and strength, and of unsurpassed courage and 
 fortitude. Like Francisco, he was faithful in every fibre and 
 Morgan was a figure to stir the imagination and ambition 
 of a young giant like Francisco. Coming South with Morgan 
 he was at the battle of Camden, where he witnessed the 
 defeat which caused the "Laurels of Saratoga to change to 
 Southern willows". In this battle Francisco saved the life 
 of Col. Mayo, by killing the man who had his gun leveled 
 at the gallant Colonel. At the close of the battle he was 
 charged upon by one of Tarleton's troopers, but that proved 
 to be his last charge, for Francisco ran his sword through the 
 trooper's body, and mounting his horse made his escape. Later 
 he again came upon Col. Mayo, whose life he had saved but 
 an hour before, and finding him exhausted from fatigue, he 
 dismounted from the dead trooper's horse, and insisted upon 
 the Colonel's mounting him in his stead, and upon this horse 
 Col. Mayo was enabled to reach Hillsboro, North Carolina. 
 Out of gratitude for this act of unselfish devotion, and for 
 the greater act of saving his life, Col. Mayo afterwards pre- 
 sented Francisco with a thousand acres of fertile land in the 
 State of Eentueky. 
 
 After the defeat of Gates at Camden, Gen. Nathanael 
 Greene was placed in command in the South, and this General, 
 aided by the intrepid ]\torgan, soon changed affairs and new 
 
 6 
 
hope again came to our army. The battle of Cowpens was 
 a decided victory. Morgan and Francisco were there. Cam- 
 den was redeemed. Then came the Battle of Guilford Court 
 House, and on this spot Francisco did some of his most 
 wonderful fighting. That long sword, made in a blacksmith's 
 shop, was very bloody. The carnage was dreadful and Lt. 
 Holcomb, of Washington's light horse, says that the strong 
 arm of Francisco slew three men in one charge, and eleven 
 before the battle was over. One of the enemy made a fearful 
 thrust with his bayonet at Francisco and pinned his leg to 
 his saddle. Francisco quietly assisted his foe to extricate 
 his bayonet, forbearing to strike an enemy while practically 
 unarmed, but as soon as the man was in a position to defend 
 himself, Francisco made a furious blow wdth his sword, which 
 cleft the fellow's head down to his shoulders. 
 
 Francisco received the commendation of Col. Washing- 
 ton for his matchless bravery on this battlefield. After the 
 excitement of the battle was over Francisco found himself 
 ]iinable to move on account of that bayonet thrust which had 
 entered above the knee, piercing the whole length of the leg to 
 the hip socket. Francisco was left upon the battle field 
 among the dead. In this lone and bleeding condition he was 
 discovered by some good man who took him to his home and 
 cared for him until he could once more mount his faithful 
 horse. I wish I knew the name of that good Samaritan. 
 I would be glad to call it in this presence today. 
 
 There v/as at one time, under Napoleon Bonaparte, a 
 private soldier who, like Francisco, refused to be promoted, 
 l)ut preferred to remain in the ranks, and who v/as so brave 
 and devoted and daring that he, like Francisco, became the 
 hero of his command, and when he was killed Napoleon 
 ordered that his heart should be taken out, and intrusted 
 to the keeping of his regiment, and when his name was 
 called the next to him should answer, "dead upon the field 
 of honor". Had Francisco died on this spot, well might 
 the same thing have been done for him. No braver or heroic 
 man ever marched up to the loaded cannon's mouth than 
 
Peter Francisco. As soon as Francisco could travel he set 
 out for Virginia, and shortly after his return he had a most 
 thrilling experience. While alone one day he fell in with 
 nine of Tarleton's Cavalry, and one of them demanded his 
 knee-buekles. "Take them off yourself", replied Francisco. 
 The cavalryman stooped to unbuckle them, when as swift 
 and as silent as an Indian Francisco seized the fellow's sword, 
 split his head open and turning killed two others, one of 
 whom sat upon a horse, snapping a musket in his face. The 
 others fled, and Francisco, mounting one of the enemy's 
 horses, made his escape in the face of Tarleton's troops con- 
 sisting of 400 men who were riding rapidly to the rescue of 
 their fellows. 
 
 At Yorktown the military career of our hero closes. He 
 witnessed the surrender of Cornwallis and the Revolutionary 
 War was over — the independence of the Colonies assured. 
 
 The following story is told of Francisco by no less a 
 personage than Henry Clay : 
 
 Henry Clay paid him a visit about 1826, when examining 
 his large, muscular arms, jNIr. Clay asked him if he had ever 
 met his equal. Francisco replied that when he kept a tavern 
 at the New Store a Mr. Pamphlet rode up one day, and made 
 a full stop ; he advanced to meet him, supposing him a guest, 
 when Mr. Pamphlet, sitting on his horse, addressed him thus : 
 "Are you, sir, Peter Francisco?" "Yes, sir." "Well, I 
 have rode all the way from Kentucky to whip you for noth- 
 ing." "Sir?" "Yes, sir." Francisco called to a servant, 
 telling him to go to the meadow and bring him a bunch of 
 willow switches. When they had been brought, Francisco 
 handed them to Mr^ Pamphlet, requesting him to use them 
 over his shoulders, and to go back and say that he had accom- 
 plished his purpose. Mr. Pamphlet seeing his proposal turned 
 into ridicule, dismounted, and entering a flowergarden in 
 which Francisco stood, asked if he might be allowed to feel 
 of Francisco's weight. With ease he lifted the giant several 
 times, saying, though, that he was quite heavy. "Now, Mr. 
 Pamphlet, let me feel of yours," said Francisco, who lifting 
 
the sportive gentleman t^dce into the air, the third time 
 pitched him over a railing fence four feet high into the public 
 road. The would-be bully wailed from his dusty resting 
 place, that if Francisco would put his horse over also he 
 would go home satisfied. The story goes, vouched for by 
 many reliable people, that Francisco led the horse to the 
 railing, and, with his left arm under the horse's breast and 
 the right one behind him, put him over as requested, after 
 which performance the discomforted Mr. Pamphlet took his 
 way back to Kentucky. Mr, Clay, it is said, laughed heartily 
 over this story, exclaiming that he was indeed glad to know 
 one of the mischievous Pamphlet family had at least been 
 conquered. At that time many malicious pamphlets concern- 
 ing him were in circulation. 
 
 The native worth of Francisco introduced him into good 
 society, and his matrimonial connections were highly credit- 
 able. His first wife was Mary Anderson ; second, Catherine 
 Fauntleroy Brooke ; and third, Mary B. "West, a widow whose 
 maiden name was Grymes; each of whom belonged to repre- 
 sentative Virginia families. A portrait of Francisco hangs 
 in the State Library at Richmond, Virginia. 
 
 In 1819 Francisco applied to Congress for a pension, but 
 owing to the spirit of parsimony which then existed, the pen- 
 sion was refused, and this heroic old soldier died without 
 any recognition of his services by the government, the inde- 
 pendence of which he had fought for so bravely and well. 
 Congress, after his death, however, did pension his widow. 
 
 Francisco was for several terms sergeant-at-arms of the 
 House of Delegates of Virginia, and was serving in that 
 capacity when he died. The Richmond Enquirer, of January 
 17th, 1831, gives the following obituary notice : 
 
 Died. — On Sunday, in this city, after a lingering indis- 
 position, Peter Francisco, Esq., the Sergeant-at-arms of 
 H. of Delegates, and a Revolutionary Soldier, celebrated 
 for his extraordinary strength, his undaunted courage, and 
 his brilliant feats. The House of Delegates have determined 
 to pay him the honors of a Public Funeral, and to bury him 
 
 9 
 
with the honors of war. The House have accordingly ad- 
 journed until tomorrow. The Eesolutions passed on this occa- 
 sion, and the Encomiums that were paid to the old Soldier's 
 memory, are dietailed in our account of the Proceedings of the 
 House. 
 
 Proceedings in the House of Delegates, January 17, 1831 
 Death op Peter Francisco 
 
 Mr. Yancey said, that he had the painful duty to perform 
 of announcing to the House, the death of Peter Francisco, 
 late Seargeant-at-arms of this body. He had yesterday re- 
 ceived a message from him, expressing, as his last dying 
 request, a wish to be buried with military honors. Mr. Yancey 
 had prepared two or three resolutions for the occasion, which 
 he would now submit: 
 
 Resolved unanimously, As a testimony of regret, for the 
 death, and a token of respect for the memory of Peter 
 Francisco, Sergeant-at-arms to this House, that the mem- 
 bers of this House will form a procession and attend the 
 place of his interment. 
 
 Resolved also, That in consideration of the distinguished 
 military services rendered by the said Peter Francisco, dur- 
 ing the Revolutionary War, that the Governor of this Com- 
 monwealth cause the remains of the said Peter Francisco 
 to be interred with military honors, and at the public expense. 
 
 Resolved, That a conmiittee be appointed, to consist of five 
 members, to superintend the funeral, arrange the order of 
 procession, and interment of Peter Francisco, deceased, and 
 that the committee invite the attendance of the Governor and 
 Council, the Speaker and members of the Senate and their 
 officers. 
 
 Mr. Barbour rose to second the resolutions presented to 
 the House. The loss of any citizen, who was an officer of 
 the House, could not but be deeply regretted. But Francisco 
 was no common man and he was happy that some record 
 was to be left to his merits and his memory. In ancient times 
 
 10 
 
monuments were erected to men who had performed worthy 
 services; but in modern times their worth was inscribed on 
 our records and by the aid of the press were sent far and 
 wide. He had said Francisco was no common man. By 
 nature he had been endowed with extraordinary strength, 
 the most determined intrepidity, and the warmest patriotism. 
 It was not his lot to be advanced in rank during our Kevolu- 
 tionary struggle. But as a private soldier he gave a striking 
 example of bravery, and performed exploits that have scarcely 
 ever been excelled. Niot only in the North, but the South, he 
 displayed his heroism. And the achievements which he per- 
 formed in Virginia, overcoming three or four of the enemy, 
 and causing them to fly, leaving their property in his pos- 
 session, has seldom been equalled. Let us, then, perform 
 due honors to the memory of Francisco. Such opportunities 
 of honoring the brave would not occur very often, for the 
 ranks of the Revolutionary heroes were fast decaying. By 
 the arms of such men the liberty of our country was achieved, 
 an achievement of vast moment to the whole world, for it had 
 not been confined to this country. It had gone across the 
 waters, to the shores of Europe, where nations were follow- 
 ing the example of America. To such men, then, honor was 
 due ; and he joined most heartily in the respect proposed to 
 be paid to the remains of Peter Francisco. 
 
 Col. Edward Pescud, of Petersburg, Va., married Susan 
 Brooke Francisco, the daughter of Peter Francisco by his 
 second wife, Catherine Fauntleroy Brooke, of Essex County, 
 Virginia. Col. Pescud was the editor of the Republican, a 
 paper published at Petersburg, served in the war of 1812, 
 and was a very prominent citizen. Peter Francisco Pescud, 
 the oldest son of Col. Pescud, married Mary Wilson, and 
 their eldest son, John S. Pescud, married Isabella Hinton, 
 and their descendants are living, most of them, in North 
 Carolina. Jane Pescud married Prof. W. A. Withers, now of 
 the A. & M. College at Raleigh ; Mary Wilson Pescud married 
 Percy Lynch, of New Orleans ; Annie Lawrence Pescud mar- 
 ried H. J. Lovick, of New Berne, and Miss Isabella Pescud 
 
 11 
 
and John Shaw live with their father, John Shaw Pescud, in 
 Raleigh, N. C. 
 
 A large number of other descendants are now living in Vir- 
 ginia, Louisiana and elsewhere. These have all had a glorious 
 heritage left to them by their splendid ancestor of blood and 
 bravery. How very fitting that a tablet to the memory of 
 Peter Francisco should be unveiled today upon this battle- 
 field, where he did some of his most heroic deeds, and where 
 he poured out his blood so freely for American Independence, 
 How seldom do we find tablets unveiled or monuments 
 erected to the man behind the guns, but officers of an army 
 could make no renown if they had no brave men to do the 
 fighting. I take my hat off to the private soldier, to the man 
 who never wavered in battle or on the march, whose brawny 
 arm and trusty broadsword thinned the ranks of the enemy 
 wherever he went, the man whose memory we honor today 
 by yonder tablet, the typical American soldier, Peter Fran- 
 cisco. 
 
 [ In the erection of monuments upon its grounds the Guil- 
 ford Battle Ground Company achieved the most gratifying 
 success of its history July 4, 1909. Handsome memorials to 
 Clio, the muse of history, and to Dr. David Caldwell, were 
 completed and dedicated, and also a fine octagon shaft to 
 Colonel William Washington, to whose command Peter Fran- 
 cisco belonged, was also completed, except tablets to same. 
 
 In the spring of 1910, through the patriotic liberality of 
 Mr. Peter F. Pescud, a native of Raleigh, N. C, now a citizen 
 of Louisiana, a large and handsome bronze tablet to his ances- 
 tor, Peter Francisco, was presented the Company, attached 
 to this shaft and unveiled July 4, 1910. 
 
 Jos. M. Morehead, 
 President Guilford Battle Ground Company. ] 
 
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