STORIES OF REVOLUTIONARY WAR SOLDIERS

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Andrew Porter

" Andrew Porter was born in Worcester, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania on the 24th of September 1743. Without the advantages of a school education he became an eminent mathematician by the force of his own[Pg 465] genius and industry. When the Revolution commenced he was at the head of a large mathematical school in the city of Philadelphia. Deeming the cause of Liberty paramount to all other interests he tendered his services to Congress and on the 19th of June 1776 he was made a captain of marines and placed on board the frigate Effingham. He was shortly after transferred to the artillery corps where he made himself extremely useful during the whole period of the war. He was ultimately raised to the rank of Colonel and commanded the 4th Pennsylvania regiment of artillery. He distributed iron hail effectually at the battles of Trenton, Princeton, Germantown and Brandywine. At Germantown he received the thanks of General Washington on the field for his skill and undaunted courage. He was with General Sullivan in his expedition against the Indians on the Susquehanna. It was Colonel Porter who suggested to General Clinton the plan of raising the water of Otsego Lake by a dam at its narrow outlet which produced a flood sufficient to float his troops on rafts to Tioga Point where they formed a junction with Sullivan. When the siege of Yorktown was planned General Washington placed Colonel Porter in charge of the military laboratory in Philadelphia to prepare the shells, cartridges, &c. for that important occasion. Although deprived the pleasure of being at the siege he had the high honor of preparing the thunder and hail that terminated the sanguinary conflict. Subsequent to the war he was one of the commissioners to run a line by astronomical observations between Pennsylvania and the adjoining States. He succeeded General Muhlenberg as major-general of militia. Governor Snyder appointed him surveyor-general of the State of Pennsylvania in 1809 which office he ably filled until the 16th of November 1813 when he left earth for a fairer, brighter world on high. He was buried in the Presbyterian church-yard at Harrisburg with military honors."

Source: The Sages and Heroes of the American Revolution by L. Carroll Judson