This week's hero is...
Peter Francisco
Peter Francisco was born on July 9, 1760, in the Archipelago of the Azores. He immigrated with his family to Prince George County, Virginia in 1765. Much of his early life there has not been conclusively documented. One thing that has been accurately recorded, is that Francisco would become a patriot and play a crucial role in the American Revolution.
In 1776, Peter Francisco enlisted in the 10th Virginia Infantry Regiment. By the next year, he saw combat at Brandywine, Fort Mifflin, and Germantown. Francisco's height of 6 feet by 6 inches (earning him the nickname, Virginia Giant) made him a constant target on the battlefield. He was severely wounded during the climactic battle of Monmouth Court House. But one of Francisco's greatest acts of valor was his conduct during the Capture of Stony Point.
On the night of July 16, 1779, a Patriot army (under the command of Anthony Wayne) prepared to launch an attack on a British fort located at Stony Point, New York. Francisco was in the vanguard of this attack and was among the first to enter the fort. Within seconds of entering, he was attacked by numerous British defenders. Despite being severely wounded, Francisco killed three defenders and captured a British flag (the loss of this flag was judged to be a pivotal moment in the assault on Stony Point). After less than an hour of fighting, the British garrison at Stony Point surrendered. Francisco's heroism during the assault was mentioned by General Wayne himself in a letter to George Washington.
Peter Francisco also displayed great courage two years later, during the battle of Guilford Courthouse. At this pivotal battle, he personally killed eleven British soldiers in hand to hand combat (while he was again, severely wounded). A month later, while he was riding alone, Francisco was ambushed by nine British dragoons. In the fight that followed, he successfully killed three before forcing the rest to retreat. Two months later, Francisco was present during the British surrender at Yorktown, Virginia. All in all, Peter Francisco had participated in at least nine battles and skirmishes.
After the war, Peter Francisco settled down in Virginia and raised a family. He spent his last years as the Sergeant-at-arms to the Virginia State Senate. He died on January 16, 1831, at the age of 70. Today he is remembered as one of America's greatest soldiers during the Revolution.
In 1776, Peter Francisco enlisted in the 10th Virginia Infantry Regiment. By the next year, he saw combat at Brandywine, Fort Mifflin, and Germantown. Francisco's height of 6 feet by 6 inches (earning him the nickname, Virginia Giant) made him a constant target on the battlefield. He was severely wounded during the climactic battle of Monmouth Court House. But one of Francisco's greatest acts of valor was his conduct during the Capture of Stony Point.
On the night of July 16, 1779, a Patriot army (under the command of Anthony Wayne) prepared to launch an attack on a British fort located at Stony Point, New York. Francisco was in the vanguard of this attack and was among the first to enter the fort. Within seconds of entering, he was attacked by numerous British defenders. Despite being severely wounded, Francisco killed three defenders and captured a British flag (the loss of this flag was judged to be a pivotal moment in the assault on Stony Point). After less than an hour of fighting, the British garrison at Stony Point surrendered. Francisco's heroism during the assault was mentioned by General Wayne himself in a letter to George Washington.
Peter Francisco also displayed great courage two years later, during the battle of Guilford Courthouse. At this pivotal battle, he personally killed eleven British soldiers in hand to hand combat (while he was again, severely wounded). A month later, while he was riding alone, Francisco was ambushed by nine British dragoons. In the fight that followed, he successfully killed three before forcing the rest to retreat. Two months later, Francisco was present during the British surrender at Yorktown, Virginia. All in all, Peter Francisco had participated in at least nine battles and skirmishes.
After the war, Peter Francisco settled down in Virginia and raised a family. He spent his last years as the Sergeant-at-arms to the Virginia State Senate. He died on January 16, 1831, at the age of 70. Today he is remembered as one of America's greatest soldiers during the Revolution.
https://www.battlefields.org/learn/articles/peter-francisco
https://www.historynet.com/peter-francisco-remarkable-american-revolutionary-war-soldier.htm
https://www.mountvernon.org/library/digitalhistory/digital-encyclopedia/article/battle-of-stony-point/
https://books.google.com/books?id=WtURAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA217&dq=Peter+Francisco+1820+petition+to+Virginia+Assembly&hl=en&ei=0rixTNSxBYyMnQe60pyUBg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=2&ved=0CC0Q6AEwAQ#v=onepage&q=Peter%20Francisco%201820%20petition%20to%20Virginia%20Assembly&f=false
https://www.historynet.com/peter-francisco-remarkable-american-revolutionary-war-soldier.htm
https://www.mountvernon.org/library/digitalhistory/digital-encyclopedia/article/battle-of-stony-point/
https://books.google.com/books?id=WtURAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA217&dq=Peter+Francisco+1820+petition+to+Virginia+Assembly&hl=en&ei=0rixTNSxBYyMnQe60pyUBg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=2&ved=0CC0Q6AEwAQ#v=onepage&q=Peter%20Francisco%201820%20petition%20to%20Virginia%20Assembly&f=false
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