STORIES OF REVOLUTIONARY WAR SOLDIERS

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Thomas Truxton

" Thomas Truxton took his station on this rolling planet at Rhode Island in 1755. He was delighted with old Ocean from his boyhood and became an expert mariner at an early age. He loved Liberty and was willing to pay its price without discount. He was placed in command of an armed vessel in 1775 and continued capturing prizes during the whole period of the Revolution without a single reverse of fortune. He made constant inroads on the commerce of Great Britain and was too wary a fox to be trapped, cornered or run down by the celebrated British sportsman of the seas. In 1794 he was put in command of the frigate Constitution. In 1799 the French government became ripe for naval exercise and quite belligerent in its manners. The frigate L.Insurgent made battle with Commodore Truxton and after a brief action surrendered. The French ship of war La Vengeance then met the Constitution and after passing the very significant salutes usual at hostile meetings surrendered at discretion to Com. Truxton. On his return to the United States he retired to Philadelphia where he lived in the esteem of our nation and his friends until 1822 when his cable of life was cut and his soul launched on the ocean of eternity."

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