American Honor: The Story of Admiral Charles Stewart

Prologue to American Honor,

by Thomas Williams

(Admiral Charles Stewart, 1778-1869, historical fiction)

God bless our fore fathers that gave us the Constitution, but America, what happened?

Is the United States Constitution, oh, so 1787? Do current elected officials believe the U.S. Constitution is still a viable document? Do elected officials still believe the Constitution needs to be followed, or do they think it is an out dated document of ideas not worthy of their superior intellect? Can we rule out that change in the form of the United States government is being orchestrated from the wisdom and judgments of others outside of the United States? Is the goal and objective of the liberal left here and in Socialistic Europe to replace the United States Constitution and empower the United Nations to provide world control?

It will be interesting to observe if the members of Congress will wilt to the new attempts of dictatorship governance, and developing Socialism that appears to be emerging.

Americans have to wonder if those in Congress are in government for personal gain though building financial wealth and kingdoms for their personal good. (Remember, government takes care of government first and not the people they are supposed to be working for.)

The authors of the United States Constitution gave to the people of the Colonies one of the greatest historical documents ever written as a guide to how to govern going forward. The Constitution of the United States led to the development of the strongest county on earth. The founding fathers had a compelling task at hand; the founders were determined to break away from the oppression, controlling religion, and instill human rights. These individual rights had to be defined so they were understandable in the briefest amount of rhetoric. It should not be forgotten that in the eyes of King George III these men, the founders, had committed treason and it they had failed in the effort to make the Declaration of Independence the foundation of the new American independence they might have been exterminated, no restriction or slaps on the wrist, slain!

The dream of the founders and of the American people was to maintain integrity in mankind, to be able to express their freedom to their own choices that might affect them, and to enjoy the rights of independence and entrepreneurial lives.

The founders were not using the Congress for personal gain; they were attempting to use their power for all of the people. The people applauded their foresight. Let’s not forget about the blood spilled by millions of Americans that fought for the freedom the United States population is casually dismissing today. Will American citizens fight for freedom again? Perhaps Americans will and more blood will be spilled.

Americans should be thankful those before us, men like Admiral Charles Stewart, that succeeded in making freedom the rights for all in the American republic.

Today Americans are faced with elected officials bashing the Constitution and the rescinding the past sacrifices of those who fought, men like Admiral Charles Stewart, and died so we could continue to live in freedom. Today Americans are dealing with elected representatives that have forgotten what "truth, honor, and trust, are. The men mentioned in American Honor," Commodore John Barry, Commodore William Bainbridge, Commodore Stephen Decatur, and Commodore Charles Stewart are men that were instrumental in bringing truth, honor, trust and courage to the development of America.

These were men that brought out the "spirit of what Americans are, what an America hero is and what men of honor were like.

History of the early American leaders helps us understand how the foundation of the United States was built. All Americans should have the knowledge of United States history to understand the dedication and sacrifice that was expected from Americans to make the country great; perhaps the knowledge of our history would humble today’s narcissistic, egotistic, derogatory people that have been elected to current positions of power.

The destruction of the American republic to a Socialistic Fascism form of government undeniably is the trashing of the United States Constitution. According to the polls the majority of Americans are not in favor of the trashing of the Constitution but those who benefit from the power over us apparently are.

The American people will rise up again and take back their rights and freedoms and restore the Constitution to its original meaning. Government must be diminished and free enterprise restored to make American the greatest nation on earth once again. In the early formation of government, defense of the Nation was considered to be the primary function of the national government. Contrast that to the current feeling that national defense is a waste; under the new Socialistic fascism government national defense will be diminished.

Free enterprise must control goods and services. Free enterprise must be restored to allow market innovation, competiveness, and leadership. Americans must be allowed to succeed and Americans must also be allowed to fail. People in need must be assisted though lifting themselves up and not be encouraged to live off of others.

Life may not be fair but everyone should have an opportunity of choice; that choice should start with education or the learning of a trade so that everyone can have an opportunity to be employable.

America cannot continue to be just a service economy with an expanding government. We need to allow the development of new small businesses that can succeed and employ those who need to work. We can only achieve this by removing all the mountains of rules and regulations that have killed entrepreneurs off. Government must shrink to allow the economy to grow; not create more Socialism.

The Constitution does not guarantee anyone the right to hand outs and services they may need. The Constitution does guarantee each individual has the right to pursue those needs.

The urgency in government today is to protect the Constitution not new legislation. The dangers lie ahead and the solutions lie in the past. American Honor is historical fiction of early America but Admiral Charles Stewart was real, he was a man of honor.

Chapter One

1775-1776: War

Believe me, dear Sir: there is not in the British Empire a man who more cordially loves a union with Great Britain than I do. But, by the God that made me, I will cease to exist before I yield to a connection on such terms as the British Parliament proposed; and in this, I think I speak the sentiments of America.

Thomas Jefferson, November 29, 1775

P atrick Henry gave his famous speech Give me liberty or give me death on March 23, 1775 before the members of the First Continental Congress that were meeting in Carpenter’s Hall in Philadelphia. Political rhetoric was running high as to the choosing of continued loyalty with the mother country or to the selecting of independence from the King. Sharp divisions existed in the minds of those not desiring to fight their United Kingdom relations and relatives and those willing to fight for independence. The Second Continental Congress came together on May 10, 1775.

The Colonies did not have any organized military and fostering any idea as to having a Navy was not even dreamed of. The Colonist widely accepted the premise that no rational thinking person would even think a new navy could be formed to do battle with the greatest naval force ever assembled in the world, if they did they must be insane.

The men of the Colonies were talking a good game as to armed resistance against Great Britain. They were delusional in their thinking that the new Americans would be excellent warriors, and certainly unbeatable, even though they had no training or means to support any type of military action.

The Americans actually felt they could easily deal with defeating the redcoats; this brave thinking was all conjecture, backed up by absolutely nothing tangible in reality.

The men assembled in the Philadelphia House to deal with Great Britain did not even consider the thought of a United States navy. The Congress was aware that private American merchant vessels were reporting problems from enemies at sea but providing for a navy to defend them was not considered. Americans felt there was no way the Colonies could provide a naval force to stand up against the mighty British Royal Navy. The Americans as a whole were all too willing to accept defeat at sea without a cannon being fired.

The Continental Congress did appoint a Marine Committee on October 13, 1775. The Marine Committee consisted of Messrs. John Adams, John Langdon, and Silas Deane. The committee was expanded to seven members and they were charged with the task of organizing a navy. This small group of men did not advertise the unpopular challenge place on them. The committee was expanded to thirteen members on December 22, 1775, one member from each of the colonies, by Act of Congress.

The committee to preserve autonomy met each evening in a private room on the second floor of the City Tavern. They had a fireplace to warm by as the seven neophytes (later thirteen) set out to invent the American Navy. John Adams was one of the members of the committee and commented, "It is very odd that I, who have . . . never thought much of the old ocean, or the dominion of it, should be necessitated to make such inquiries. But it is my fate and my duty, and therefore I must attempt it."

The committee needed to address strategic and tactical questions. Would the navy be used to defend the nation’s shores, used for convoys, for commerce raiding, or to deliver diplomatic ministers to Europe?

They were perplexed as to what kind of ships; bought or built? Should the ships be armed and how would they be manned?

The men of the committee were fish out of water. Their salvation was the knowledge of seasoned military naval personal that resided in Philadelphia.

The men of the committee would enjoy their dinner at the City Tavern, the food was basic but the quality was generally good. When the men finished eating they would cross their knife with their fork as a symbol of their commitment to the Revolution.

The men of the Congress were not thinking out of the box. American’s like Captain John Barry and Charles Stewart Senior had naval combat experience and their influence convinced some in Congress that the United States could muster a naval force. Many Americans did not buy into the British arrogance of superiority on the sea and were willing to explore solutions even if they appeared to be improbable. Merchant marines were in solidarity that American shipping must be protected against the depredations of the belligerent nations.

Men like John Barry and Charles Stewart Senior did assemble a small navy with the approval of Congress and the President. American’s were elated with pride when the small navy defeats an occasional British war-ship.

Secretary of State, Timothy Pickering, reported that in the year 1795 the French privateers had captured 316 American merchantmen.

The American Revolutionary War commenced with The shot heard ‘round the world. The Minutemen and the redcoats clash at Lexington and Concord. The American’s were stalkers and hunters and the British were regimented with formality.

The Americans were able to fight the mighty British but the Americans were lacking the clothing, the guns, and the stream of supplies necessary to man an army. The American also made the initial mistake of recruiting men for only one year of service. If the raw recruited men were lucky enough not be killed in battle, die of disease or infection, or perish from exposure to the elements for one year they left the military service. The Americans soon realized that they did not have a military force on land that was capable of doing sustained battle. The government of the new United States was deaf to those on the fields of battle and unqualified when it came to orchestrating effective solutions to the needs of the rag tag military.

The merchant captains at sea were knowledgeable as to their needs and the needs of their crews. This attention to the individuals and their needs gave naval vessels an advantage when it came to recruiting crews.

The English were active in attempting to control the colonies. The British military from April 19, 1775 were in control of Boston. The large population of Tories in Boston was not entirely opposed to the English occupation; they continued to embrace the Crown.

The Boston occupation lasted until March 1776; the war had commenced. The Americans were able to bring cannons to Breed Hill and demonstrate they were not going to permit the British to control their town. The American Continental forces had sacrificed many lives but the English suffered more dead and wounded. The American had demonstrated a will to defend their country and freedom but had lacked any organized efforts to equip their brave untrained warriors. The supplies necessary to wage a defense against a professional military force was ignored leaving the American fighting men without munitions, food, shelter, and clothing.

The American’s bravely defended Boston and left the British General Howe crying ‘uncle.’ Howe led what was left of his armed forces and eleven hundred local Tories to Halifax. The British were not giving up; they just shifted their unwelcome presents on New York. The British landed two armies of some thirty-five thousand men on Staten Island. The Continental Army assembled and led by George Washington total some sixteen thousand men coming from Connecticut and the surrounding area.

Upon George Washington appointment as commander in chief of the newly created Continental Army on June 15, 1775, a humble, almost chastened George Washington wrote his wife Martha:

My Dearest;

I not sit down to write to you on the subject which fills me with inexpressible concern, and this concern is greatly aggravated and increased when I reflect upon the uneasiness I know it will give you. It has been determined in Congress that the whole army raised for the defense of the American cause shall my care, and that it is necessary for me to precede immediately to Boston to take upon me the command of it. You may believe, my dear Patsy (George’s pet name for Martha), when I assure you, in the most solemn manner, that, so far from seeking this appointment, I have used every endeavor in my power to avoid it, not only from my unwillingness to part with you and the family, but from a consciousness of its being a trust too great for my capacity, and that I should enjoy more real happiness in one month with you at home than I have the most distant prospect of finding abroad, if my stay were to be seven times seven years. But as it has been a kind of destiny that has thrown me upon this service, I shall hope that my undertaking is designed to answer some good purpose. You might and I suppose did perceive from the tenor of my letters that I was apprehensive I could not avoid this appointment; as I did not pretend to intimate when I should return. That was the case. It was utterly out of my power to refuse this appointment without exposing my character to such censures as would have reflected dishonor upon myself and given to my friends. This, I am sure, could not, and ought not to be pleasing to you, and must have lessened me considerably in my own esteem. I shall rely therefore, confidently on that Providence which has heretofore preserved and been bountiful to me, not doubting but that I shall return safe to you in the fall. I shall feel no pain from the toil or the danger of the Campaign; my unhappiness will flow from the uneasiness you will feel from being left alone. I therefore beg that you will summon your whole fortitude, and pass your time as agreeably as possible. Nothing will give me so much sincere satisfaction as to hear this and to hear it from your own pen . . .

(Signed) George Washington.

The believers in the independence of the United States were men of courage, sacrifice, devotion to country, and in the natural right granted by their creator. One of those men was Charles Stewart Junior, who was still a twinkle in the eyes of his parents, whose entire long life was in the service to his fellow citizens.

A print of a 1762 portrait of King George III

North Carolina Digital History:

Chapter Two

1776-1777: Independence

If you became ill in the 1700s there was greater chance that an encounter with a physician would do more harm than good. Although improving, medical knowledge at the time was incomplete and based largely on theories developed in ancient Greece. Physicians had a limited knowledge of the workings of the human body.

T he United States Declaration of Independence was adopted by the Continental Congress on July 4th and the last prominent American signed the Declaration on August 2, 1776. The thirteen states of the United States declared they were independent and no long a part of the British Empire. The break had been made with the mother country; American’s were now an independent country.

The opening sentence of the Declaration of Independence gave the citizens of the United States words they could live by with hope for the future.

We hold those truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit happiness.

There were nearly eight hundred American privateers commissioned during the Revolutionary War, 365 privateers during the period of the undeclared war with France, ca. 1798-1800.

On May 28, 1777 George Washington and his rag-tag army marched towards Bound Brook, New Jersey. Some of the men did not have proper footwear, clothing was what each could provide, and some did not have blankets or tents and slept on the frozen ground without any protection. Congress seems to have deaf ear as to the sacrifice men were making for freedom. The men of Congress rarely suffered any of the inhuman conditions the American fighting men were enduring in the fighting of the British. Generals were selected by some inscrutable process which decreed that dull-witted, pompous incapables should bungle campaigns and waste lives.

General Burgoyne / New York, July 17th, 1777

Dear Sir,

I have received yours of the 2nd issued on the 15th, having since heard from the Rebel Army of your being in possession of Ticonderoga, which is a great event carried without loss. I have received your two letters from Quebec your last of the 14th of May, and shall observe the contents. There is a report of a messenger of yours to me having been taken, and the letter discovered in a double wooded canteen, you will know of any consequence; nothing of it has to us. I will observe yours in writing to you, as you propose in your letters to me. Washington is waiting our motions here, and has detached Sullivan with about 2500 men, as I learn, to Albany. My intention is for Pennsylvania where I expect to meet Washington, but if he goes to the Northward contrary to my and you can keep him at Bay, be assured I shall soon be after him to relieve you. After your arrival in Albany, you movements of the Enemy will guide yours; but my wishes are that the Enemy be drove out of this Province before any operation takes place in Connecticut. Sir Henry Clinton remains in the command here, and will act as occurrences may direct. Putnam is in the Highlands with about 4000 men. Success be ever with you.

Yours, General W. Howe

General Howe had departed from Sandy Hook on July 23rd and led the British army across the Schuylkill at Fatland Ford.

To the president of Congress at midnight, Chester:

September 1, 1777

Sir: I am sorry to inform you, that in this day’s engagement, we have been obliged to leave the enemy masters of the field. Unfortunately the intelligence received of the enemy’s advancing up the Brandywine, and crossing at a ford about six miles above us, was uncertain and contradictory, not with-standing all my pains to get the best. This prevented my making a disposition, adequate to the force with which the Enemy attacked us on the right; in consequence of which the troops first engaged, were obliged to retire before they could be reinforced. In the midst of the attack on the right, that body of the Enemy which remained on the other side of Chad’s Ford, crossed it, and attacked the division there under the command of General Wayne and the light troops under General Maxwell who, after a severe conflict, also retired. The Militia under the command of Major General Armstrong, being posted at a ford, about two miles below Chad’s, had no opportunity of engaging. But though we fought under many disadvantages, and were from the causes, above mentioned obliged to retire, yet our loss of men is not, I am persuaded, very considerable, I believe much less than the enemy’s. We have also lost about seven or eight pieces of cannon, according to the best information I can at present obtain. The baggage having been previously moved off, is all secure, saving the men’s Blankets, which being at their backs, many of them doubtless are lost.

I have directed all the troops to Assemble behind Chester, where they are now arranging for this Night. Notwithstanding the misfortune of the day, I am happy to find the troops in good spirits; and I hope another time we shall compensate for the losses now sustained. The Marquis La Fayette was wounded in the leg and General Woodford in the hand. Divers other Officers were wounded and some Slain, but the number of either cannot now be ascertained.

(Signed) George Washington

P. S. It has not been in my power to send you earlier intelligence; the present being the first leisure moment I have had since the action.

From the Journal of Colonel Timothy Pickering of Massachusetts:

September 1, 1777

This morning a cannonade took place, the enemy having advanced to the heights opposite to those occupied by us, on the other side of the ford. A hot skirmish took place between our light troops, under Maxwell, and a party of Hessians, in which the latter were chiefly killed and wounded, not thirty running away, it being judged by Maxwell that three hundred of them were killed and wounded. The enemy made no attempt to cross at this place. The cannonade was mutual; theirs did us no harm, save killing one man.

The enemy remaining paraded on the distant heights, and continuing the cannonade, induced me to think they did not intend to cross at Chad’s Ford, but only to amuse us while their main army crossed at some other place. The event proved the conjecture right. The enemy’s main body crossed the; Brandywine six or eight miles above, on our right. The General had intelligence of this by some messengers; but it was contradicted by others; and, the information remaining a long time surprisingly uncertain, it was late before a disposition was made to receive the enemy on that quarter. The consequence was that the divisions first engaged, being too far distant to be supported by others, were repulsed; and this laid the foundation for a final defeat. Nevertheless, Weedon’s brigade, which got up a little before night, fought bravely and checked the pursuit of the enemy, and gave more time for the others to retreat. This engagement on the right began about half after three p.m., or four, and lasted till night.

When the battle raged most on the right, and the Continental troops were all, save Wayne’s division, drawn off to the right, the enemy opposite Chad’s Ford began a most furious cannonade, which was as warmly returned from the park of artillery. But at length the enemy pushed over, and, after an obstinate engagement with our artillery and Wayne’s division the latter retreated.

The whole army this night retired to Chester. It was fortunate for us that the night came on, for under its cover the fatigued stragglers and some wounded made their escape.

General William Howe, leading the British Army entered Philadelphia on September 26, 1777; they entered the largest town in the colonies, the seat of the Second Continental Congress.

Philadelphia was the centre of political activity and commerce in the new United States. By 1805, five hundred and forty-seven vessels arrived in Philadelphia from foreign ports, six hundred and seventeen ships departed Philadelphia, and additional two thousand four-hundred vessels passed through the Philadelphia ports during the year.

The British had envisioned a much larger footprint for Philadelphia being it was the largest city in the America’s. They were surprise to discover Philadelphia proper extended from Vine Street to South Street and westward to Fifth. There were few houses west of Sixth Street and most of these were on Chestnut and Market streets… Fifth Street was really the western boundary of the town having a number of cemeteries along its entire length, at Cherry Street there were two Lutheran graveyards; (diagonally opposite at the northwest corner of Arch was the Presbyterian yard. At the southeast corner of this same street was the Episcopal yard; farther down, just below Market Street, was the graveyard of the Baptists. On the east side of Fifth below Walnut was the Romanists’ cemetery and on the west side was that of the Free Quakers. Philadelphians at least had the grace to remove their graveyards to the extreme limits of the town. Perhaps this is one of the reasons why colonial Philadelphia missed some of the worst epidemics except the Yellow Fever epidemic that killed nearly four thousand.

To the south was Moyamensing Township, the future site of South Philadelphia. To the east was the wide lazy muddy river running from Federal Street all the way up to Shackamaxon, where it shoaled and turned east. The southern extremity of the riverfront was the shipbuilding district, known as Southwark.

On September 7, 1777, George Washington was mounted his horse leading his troops in the battle of Brandywine Creek. Washington was not conscience of any British troops being aware of his presents, but there were; Major Patrick Ferguson was also in the vicinity. Ferguson was the inventor of the light breech-loading rifle and known as a sharpshooter. Ferguson was scouting the area with a small patrol; Washington was also accompanied by a small patrol. Major Patrick Ferguson spotted Washington mainly because of his large hat, and raised his gun.

I was going to shoot the important looking rebel but decided not to when they changed direction. It is not pleasant to fire at a man’s back, so I let him alone and instead shouted for their surrender, and the raced off to safety.

Ferguson could have easily killed George Washington but didn’t. Ferguson at the time did not realize the sights of his rifle were leveled on the back of General George Washington. When Ferguson found out who had escaped him he said I could have lodged half a dozen bullets in him.

Ferguson had demonstrated his new light breech-loading rifle to King George III and scored a bull’s eye at 100 yards, impressing the King. Ferguson had won the right to have the new rifle manufactured and distributed to the British troops.

Ferguson was eventually wounded in the battle of Brandywine Creek. Ferguson was taken prisoner and while being held captive he learned of George Washington from a wounded prisoner when he was taken to the battle field hospital for the dressing his wound. I could have killed the traitor!

Charles Stewart Senior received word of the British assembling to make a possible attack on Philadelphia. He had no guarantee that the British would invade their city but it did make sense that the seat of the Continental Congress and the seat of the American government were venerable to attack. Charles Stewart Senior was worried about safety of his family.

The fear that invasion of Philadelphia would bring death to those openly opposed to the King; those opposing the King were quickly looking for avenues of safety, away from the British.

George Washington’s account of Brandywine to the President of Congress, at midnight, Chester, September 11, 1777:

Sir:

To the President of Congress at midnight, Chester

I am sorry to inform you, that in this day’s engagement, we have been obliged to leave the enemy masters of the field. Unfortunately the intelligence received of the enemy’s advancing up the Brandywine, and crossing at a ford about six miles above us, was uncertain and contradictory, notwithstanding all my pains to get the best. This prevented my making a disposition, adequate to the force with which the Enemy attacked us on the right; in consequence of which the troops first engaged, were obliged to retire before they could be reinforced. In the midst of the attack on the right, that body of the Enemy which remained on the other side of Chad’s Ford, crossed it, and attacked the division there under the command of General Wayne and the light troops under General Maxwell who, after a severe conflict, also retired. The Militia under the command of Major General Armstrong, being posted at a ford, about two miles below Chad’s, had no opportunity of engaging. But though we fought under many disadvantages, and were from the causes, above mentioned obliged to retire, yet our loss of men is not, I am persuaded, very considerable, I believe much less than the enemy’s. We have also lost about seven or eight pieces of cannon, according to the best information I can at present obtain. The baggage having been previously moved off, is all secure, saving the men’s Blankets, which being at their backs many of them doubtless are lost.

I have directed all the troops to Assemble behind Chester, where they are now arranging for this Night. Notwithstanding the misfortune of the day, I am happy to find the troops in good spirits; and I hope another time we shall compensate for the losses now sustained. The Marquis La Fayette was wounded in the leg and General Woodford in the hand. Divers other Officers were wounded and some slain, but the number of either cannot now be ascertained. I have & cat.

P. S. It has not been in my power to send you earlier intelligence; the present being the first leisure moment I have had since the action.

Sarah, Sarah, is you at home? Charles Senior had just arrived at their home from the docks, and having run all the way, he was out of breath.

Husband, what are you doing here?

I have disturbing news that the British are headed this way.

Are you concerned husband?

Sarah, I am. I understand the British are becoming more violent towards those opposing the King. I believe we must leave the city to avoid prosecution.

Where would we go?

We are going to take the children and get on my merchant vessel and we will sail for the West Indies.

When should we leave?

Pack up now and we will leave for the boat in one hour; where are the children?

Donald and Sarah are playing next door; I will get them and pack up some things to take with us.

Good, I will assemble some additional bedding for us and some cooking utensils and valuables we might have. I will load the wagon; we will have to take the horse with us on the boat or the horse will be lost to the British.

The Stewarts assembled their belongings and gathered the family together and proceeded to the ship. Charles was going to make a cruise to the West Indies so preparations had already been made and the ship’s crew was busy readying the ship for departure.

The invading army was approaching from the north on the Delaware and the Stewarts were headed south on the Delaware towards the mouth of the river flowing into the Atlantic Ocean.

Howe brought his army of 15,000 troops south by sea, threatening Philadelphia. He landed his troops on the side of the Elk River about 55 miles southwest of Philadelphia on August 25th. On September 10th Howe’s forces attacked the American troops blocking Washington’s troops on their way to Philadelphia. Washington had his forces at Chadds Ford; the British vanquished.

General Howe resigned during the occupation of Philadelphia; he was replaced by General Sir Henry Clinton. Howe had been under orders to aid the current campaign of John Burgoyne but he had failed to follow orders.

Washington had 11,000 men between Howe and Philadelphia but was driven back at the Battle of Brandywine on September 11, 1777.

Chapter Three

1778: Hardship

Let the deep hymn of the Caribbean continue my epilogue; may waves remove their shawls as my mourners walk home to their rusted villages, good shoes in one hand, Passing a boy who walked through the ignorant foam, and saw a sail going out or else coming in, and watched asterisks of rain puckering the sand.

(Omeros Chapter LXIV:I)

B enjamin Franklin, Silas Deane, and Arthur Lee negotiated on February 6, 1778 the Franco-American alliance or also called The Treaty of Alliance with French. The treaty promised military support in case of attack by British forces indefinitely into the future.

The British left Philadelphia in June of 1778 and returned to New York. Washington attacked them along the way in the Battle of Monmouth on June 28, 1778 in Monmouth County, New Jersey. George Washington leading the Continental Army attacked the rear of the British Army commanded by Lieutenant General Sir Henry Clinton as they left Monmouth Court House. Washington demonstrated the fierce commitment to defeating the British and the British slipped away in the night rather than continue to do battle with the Americans.

George Washington was in a struggle to protect the lives of his men fighting under his command. The enemy was capable of delivering copious volleys of rifle balls on Washington’s troops but that was not feared as much as the exposure to the elements and the total lack of supplies.

I can assure those gentlemen, that it is a much easier and less distressing thing to draw remonstrance’s in a comfortable room, by a good fireside, than to occupy a cold bleak hill, and sleep under frost and snow, without clothes or blankets. However, although they seem to have little feeling for the naked and distressed soldiers, I feel superabundantly for them and from my soul pity those miseries which it is not in my power either to relieve or to prevent.

Certain I am, said George Washington in a confidential letter to a member of the national legislature, "that unless congress speaks in a more decisive tone; unless they are vested with powers by the several states, competent to the great purpose of the war, or assume them as mater of right, and they and the states respectively act with more energy than they hitherto have done, our cause is lost. We can no longer drudge on in the old way. By ill-timing the adoption of measures; by delays in the execution of them, or by unwarrantable jealousies; we incur enormous expenses, and derive no benefit from them.

One state will comply with a requisition from congress; another neglects to do it; a third executes it by halves; and all differ in the manner, the matter, or so much in point of time, that we are all working up hill; and, while such a system as the present one, or rather want of one, prevails, we ever shall be unable to apply our strength or resources to any advantage."

Captain Charles Stewart Senior and his family arrived back on June 25 to the port of Philadelphia after a successful cruise to the West Indies with stops in France and Spain. They were welcoming the return to their home after living in cramped, damp quarters of the ship. Sarah had become pregnant shortly after they fled Philadelphia in the fall of 1777 and the baby was due in towards the end of July.

When they arrived back in Philadelphia they found their home had been lived in by the British and most of the furnishing stolen. The house had evidence of the lack of care they would have given it but physically was not damaged beyond repair.

Sarah was delighted to be home after enduring life on a merchant vessel the past nine months. The children were also happy to renew old friendships and be an able to play on grass, smell the freshness of early summer.

Charles Stewart junior was born, July 28, 1778 at home in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania the youngest of eight children, only four of the Stewart children lived.

People born on July 28th are fiercely independent and competitive. They love to work independently, and although they have superb communication skills they prefer to lead by example than by hollow words. They relish testing themselves against challenges and their urge to win is so powerful that they find it almost impossible to admit defeat. The above proved to be true as Charles grew up to become Admiral Charles Stewart, a leader and successful sea captain.

The house of Stewart or Stuart provided a lineage of Scottish kings for almost three hundred years and for England for one hundred years. The Stewarts of the eighteenth century made up the dynasty of Great Britain and Ireland some of the Stewarts then immigrating to the United States. Robert Stewart II was the first monarch of the House of Stewart. Robert became the King of Scotland in 1371.

Charles Stewart’s grandfather Andrew came to America in 1730 from Omagh, Ireland. Andrew Stuart had three sons, James, Andrew, and Charles. James died young and Andrews and Charles settled in Pennsylvania.

Captain Charles Stewart Senior and his wife were natives of Ireland having come to the United States and on to Norfolk to improve their opportunity to live the dream of a better way of life. The Stewarts were among the poor Irish lucky enough to have survived the Irish famine and the strife with England to gain passage to the Colonies. Charles Stewart Senior was born in Gortlea in County Donegal, Ireland in 1726 and his wife; Sarah Harding Ford Stewart was born in 1745.

Charles Stewart Senior served in the British Army before coming to the Colonies in 1749. Ireland had nothing to offer Stewarts in the way of a financial future. Stewart was a man of vision, he was an entrepreneur, and the United States was where he could make his dreams come true.

The Stewart’s moved from Ireland to the port town of Norfolk, Virginia. In 1762 Stewart intervened in stopping an angry mob that had set upon a ship carrying Spanish prisoner of war ran aground near Norfolk. The town’s people killed two of the Spanish prisoners of war before Stewart could intervene and save the lives of the rest.

The people of Norfolk were great full for the spunk and civic involvement he demonstrated. The people of Norfolk rewarded him a post in the customs service which Charles was grateful for. Charles was then voted as Paymaster General of the American Board.

A story about Charles goes back to 1749 when Charles Stewart had purchase a slave, James Somerset. James had been enslaved in West Africa and brought to the United States a few years earlier.

Charles Stewart for one reason or another felt the boy was bright and deserved a better life then the other slaves. Stewart was able to teach Somerset English, Somerset was a quick learner. Charles dressed the boy in expensive clothes; he stood out head and shoulders over his less fortunate black companions.

Charles felt the boy could learn the lessons of the sea and the business that was transacted on Merchant ships so he took him to important business meetings. Somerset was constantly at Stewart’s side as his aid, a person he could trust and take pride in watching him grow in stature and mental abilities.

In 1769 Charles Stewart’s sisters husband past away. Charles felt he needed to go to England and assist his sister, Cecilia and her family. Of course he took Somerset with him to assist.

Like most young people they can come in contact with the wrong people and Somerset did. Somerset was working on Charles Stewart’s business when he came into contact with a number of free blacks and white abolitionists. Somerset was smart but not smart enough to realize that Stewart was the golden hand of opportunity and a ticket to a life the rest of his new friends would never experience.

Somerset was pumped full of bull shit about how he could be a free man if he only would escape the clutches of Charles Stewart.

Somerset plotted with his worthless friends that he would run away from Stewart’s clutches. In October of 1771 Somerset took that miss-step and left Charles Stewart. Somerset had actually been sold and he was actually going to be sent on a ship to Jamaica. This is not what Somerset had anticipated and he was now experiencing remorse but it was too late.

Charles was pissed that this ungrateful boy would turn on him; Charles posted notices and a reward for his capture. Somerset regretted his stupidity for leaving Stewart; in less than a month he was recaptured in November of 1771. The recapture happened just in time to prevent Somerset from being placed aboard a ship that was about to sail for the West Indies where he would be sold again.

Somerset was lucky again in that his abolitionist godparent challenged his detention on the grounds of habeas corpus. The papers were drawn up and the judge, Chief Justice Lord Mansfield (William Murray, the Earl of Mansfield) ordered Somerset released. Meantime Granville Sharp, a leading abolitionist, retained by Charles Stewart, took up the Somerset cause. Charles was now receiving monetary gifts to aid in the defense of Somerset.

Judge Mansfield was attempting to convince Charles Stewart to free Somerset to mainly avoid a controversial legal case that might challenge the entire legality of slavery. Charles Stewart was a principled man but he could demonstrate a stubborn streak that no man could reason with.

Slavery was the issue and Stewart was more than aware of the situation. The action came to the attention of a wealthy West Indian planter that had a vest financial reason to make sure the legality of slavery was not challenged. Somerset’s lawyers said that laws in British colonies allowed slavery. However, there were no laws in England that allowed slavery to exist in that country. They also argued that England did not allow anyone to sell themselves into slavery. For these reasons, slavery was illegal in England.

Judge Mansfield, and friend of Charles Stewart, had indicated to the West Indian planters he was not in favor of slavery and that he was likely to rules against them. The pro-slavery planters were not about to back down and ruin their lucrative livelihood.

Judge Mansfield was becoming so involved in the case that he even approached Somerset’s godparents to buy him from Stewart and set him free, but she declined on principle. Judge Mansfield had the last word on June 22, 1772 and ordered that Somerset to be discharged making a huge negative attack on the institution of slavery. Judge Mansfield said James Somerset must be set free, Charles Stewart no longer owned him.

This was an important event in Charles life in that he championed freedom for American slaves and he lived long enough to see his beliefs become true.

Captain Charles Stewart Sr. goal and objective was too moved to Philadelphia, the city that boasted of unlimited seaman opportunities. The Stewart’s, once they made the big move to Philadelphia, did find opportunity. Charles skills as an experience sea captain helped him to become the co-owner of a new merchant business, Stewart and Flanders. Charles Stewart Senior had formed the merchant marine shipping operation with Henry Flanders, a shipmaster and recent immigrant attempting to make the American dream come true. They had leased from Charles West a 100 by 250 foot building between Front Street and the Delaware River on Vine Street.

The new merchant business specialized in trading in rare linens and silks that they obtained from the Far East as well as importing ‘fine’ cottons and linens that came from England, and France. The French had fine silks that were also brought to the United States. The company also made trips to China to find linens and silks that the Americans were clamoring for once they were free of the British controls. The firm also sold beautiful gowns, silk quilted petticoats, parasols, men’s court suit coats, silk waistcoats, shoes, and many fashion items making the company one of the finest merchants in Philadelphia

Commodore John Barry was a friend of Captain Charles Stewart Senior, both men being in the same line of the merchant marine business, working out of Philadelphia. John Barry was able to identify with Charles Stewart being they both had the same Irish experiences and dream of breaking out of the barriers imposed on the Irish poor distain to remain that way. Charles was also involved in east coastal trade and along with John Barry was sailing to the West Indies and Europe. Both captains were regarded with high esteem among the Philadelphia merchant businessmen.

Before the Revolutionary War trade with China (Asia) was forbidden by Great Britain for any merchant vessel belonging to an American. It was not until after the American Revolution that Captain John Barry pioneered trade with Asia from America. John Barry shared his newly acquired knowledge with Charles Stewart Senior, his friend. Americans were hungry for goods from Asia as were the Asians for such products as ginger that was plentiful in America, thanks to the American Indians.

Stephen Decatur Senior was one of Stewart and Flanders best sea captains. He successfully made voyage after voyage to the West Indies with occasional voyages to China. When Charles Stewart passed away Stephen Decatur Senior became Nesbitt’s new partner.

The east coast routes were of major importance to the growth of American commerce but lack the glamour associated with trade in the West Indies. The east coast shipping was responsible for the majority of the 2,500 ships stopping at Philadelphia annually while Europe and the West Indies combined was 1,200 ships annually docking in Philadelphia.

Philadelphia, latitude 39-95-22N, longitude 75-16-42W, was locally referred to as Philly and also as The City of Brotherly Love. Brotherly love from the literal meaning of the city’s name in Greek (Greek: Φιλαδέλφεια brotherly love, compounded from philos (φίλος) loving, and adelphos brother). Philadelphia was revered by the European’s as a city of sophistication in a primitive country.

Philadelphia was the largest city in the United States, the seat of government, and one of the larger centers of commerce. The port of Philadelphia rivaled Boston and New York in size and volume of traffic in its harbor.

The Harbour is one of the safest and most commodious that is known, where ships of the greatest Burthen may safely anchor in seven or eight fathom at low water and may unlade close to the wharfs without the least danger and as this harbour is at least thirty miles above salt water it must consequently be free from the ship worm. The tides rise and fall here seven or eight feet, and flow up the river thirty miles above the town the trade [is] so extensive that there was in the month of October last one hundred and seventeen sea vessels in the harbour at one time.

From the 1754 Scull and Heap East Prospect.

(Nicholas Scull and George Heap made the first maps of Philadelphia)

The Stewarts had comfortable housing in the Philadelphia Society Hill area of town. The area was named after the Society of Free Traders. The neighborhood is bounded by Walnut, Lombard, Front and 7th Streets. The Georgian and Federal architectural style made the area one of the nicest in the new United States.

Commodore John Barry was the naval hero of the Revolutionary War, the symbol of how the dreams of independent entrepreneurial people can achieve under the natural rights granted to them by the natural law of God. John Barry would play a major roll and influence in the life and education of young Charles Stewart.

Charles Stewart Junior did not know his father Charles, at least in a way he could remember later in life. Charles Stewart Senior died at the age of fifty-four when Charles was two years old, in Philadelphia, on July 24, 1780. Charles Senior died of consumption after a lengthy illness at their home.

Charles mother, Sarah, was strong attractive woman, and was more than capable of holding the family together. They were by no means poor so they certainly were not in need of anything material. Charles father had left 5,000 pounds (approximately 485K today) in his estate to his wife. Charles had done well in his merchant business and she still had a hand in the operations of the business.

Sarah had her friendships with the wives of her husband’s business associates. She was socially active in the church and so she did have a wide circle of acquaintances.

Charles was also the youngest of four surviving children so the responsibilities of holding the family together were not only their mother’s but trickled down to his older brother and sisters. Charles learned at an early age to except responsibility and meaning of trust between personal relationships.

Charles Stewart’s grandfather, of the same name, Commissary General Charles Stewart, was a Scottish officer of Dragoons. Charles grandfather fought with velour in the battle of the Boyne. The battle of Boyne was fought between two rival claimants of the English, Scottish and Irish thrones. The rivals were King James, Catholic and King William, Protestant who had deposed James in 1688.

Charles grandfather was recognized for his leadership and courage in the battle of Boyne and for that service he was rewarded with an estate in Ireland where the family moved and his son Charles II was born.

[October 7, 1767.] GEORGE THE THIRD BY THE GRACE OF GOD of Great Britain, France and Ireland King Defender of the Faith and so forth To our Trusty and well beloved John Temple Esquire Surveyor General of the Customs for the Northern District of America Peter Randolph Esquire Surveyor General of the Customs for the Southern District of America Charles Stewart Esquire surveyor General of the Customs for the District of Quebec.

Charles Senior had a cousin with the same name, Charles Stewart. Cousin Charles was an adventurous man, a person who knew how to make things happen. From September 5 to October 26, 1774 Charles Stewart was a member of the first convention in New Jersey that issued a declaration of rights against the aggressions of the crown, and in 1775 a delegate to its first Provincial congress. By his adopted state he was made colonel of its first regiment of minute-men, then of the 2nd regiment of the line, and in 1777 was appointed by congress commissary as General of Issues in the Continental Army serving on General George Washington’s staff until the close of the war. Charles Senior remained a close friend of George Washington until his early death in November 1780.

The passing of Charles Stewart Senior was mourned by all, especially by those near to him in the merchant business. Charles Stewart Senior was the American dream; it was sad he had to die at an early age. He had left a thriving business he and his partner had developed and made successful to his wife.

The funeral was a large affair, with immediate family, merchant service friends, politicians and dignitaries, including George Washington, from the new American government and associates involved in the merchant trade from various eastern sea ports. John Barry, Stephen Decatur Senior, was among those who served as a pall bears at a high mass service conducted at St. Mary’s in Society Hill.

Chapter Four

1780-1782: China

William Stuart, his bible, bought in Carlisle, Pennsylvania from John Wickey.

"William Stuart is my name,

Do not stale this book for fare of shame.

For underneath,

Is the owners name

For if you stale it

You may depend

That surely you,

Will be brought to shame."

S arah Stewart married Captain Britton, a local Philadelphia merchant and ship owner. Captain Britton had accepted civil responsibility in Philadelphia and was looked up to as an influential voice in the city. Britton in some ways reminded Sarah of her husband Charles, perhaps that is way he was the type of man Sarah was attractive too.

Britton had joined forces with Captain Charles Massey in the successful and thriving shipping and merchandise business. The company had a fleet of twenty vessels sailing to 76 ports around the world. The Massey house was located on Pine Street between 2nd and third Streets in Philadelphia.

Their flag ship was The Globe and had been successful in making eight voyages to China around the Cape of Good Hope. That was an unrecognized record considering the dangers of making the voyage around the southern tip of South America.

Cornwallis surrender at Yorktown on October 17, 1781 marked the last of the fighting in the Revolutionary War. The Treaty of Paris was negotiated and the British left the American colonies. The United States was just embarking on the road to their right to be a free independent nation.

The President of Congress:

New Windsor, January 23d, 1781

Sir, I have been successively honored with your Excellency’s dispatches of the 12th, 13th and 16th, and shall duly attend to their contents.

Your Excellency, probably, by this time, has heard of the revolt of the Jersey troops, in imitation of the Pennsylvania line. Advice, that this had been the case with a part of them, with an expectation of its becoming general, reached us the night before last; their complaints and demands being of the same complexion as those of the Pennsylvanians. I immediately ordered as large a detachment as could possibly be spared to be marched from West Point, and put in command of Major General Howe, with orders to bring the mutineers to unconditional submission, and their principal leaders to instant and condign punishment. I have also taken measures to induce the Jersey militia to act in conjunction with him.

It is difficult to say what part of the troops, sent to quell the revolt, will act, but I thought it indispensable to bring the matter to an issue and risk all extremities: unless the dangerous spirit can be suppressed with force, there is an end to all subordination in the army, and, indeed, to the army itself. The infection will, no doubt, shortly pervade the whole mass.

On receiving the news of this disagreeable event, I immediately dispatched a letter to the committee of Congress at Trenton, recommending that no conciliatory measures might be attempted. I am entirely of the opinion with your Excellency, that more certain and permanent funds must be found for the support of the war, than have hitherto existed. Without them our opposition must soon cease. The events that have taken place are an alarming comment upon the insufficiency of past systems.

I have the honour to be, with perfect respect,

Your Excellency’s most obedient and humble servant, (Signed) George Washington

The Aurora newspaper in Philadelphia wrote on Thursday, March 1, 1781: Today, the United States has finally ratified Articles of Confederation. By the terms of the Articles, the Continental Congress will continue to make national decisions."

Stewart, Nesbitt & Co. was organized in 1782 by two Philadelphians of Irish birth, Walter Stewart and Alexander Nesbitt. Walter Stewart was a young handsome army colonel and Stewart’s close friend, Alexander Nesbitt became his business partner.

Common Sense published in 1776 by Thomas Paine.

COMMON SENSE;

ADDRESSE TO THE

INHABITANTS

Of

A M E R I C A,

On the following interesting

S U B J E C T S

1. Of the Origin and design of Government in general, with concise Remarks on the English Constitution.

2. Of Monarchy and Hereditary Succession

3. Thoughts on the present State of American Affairs

4. Of the present Ability of America, with some miscellaneous Reflections

Man knows no Matter have creating Heaven, or those whom choice and common good ordain.

Thomson

PHILADELPHIA;

Printed, and sold, by R. Bell, in Third-Street

MDCCLXXVI

Historical Maps of the United States, 1777-1778

Chapter Five

1783-1784: End of War

Those who give up essential liberty, to preserve a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety.

Benjamin Franklin

O n September 3, 1783 the Treaty of Paris was formally signed between Great Britain and the United States ending the conflict known as the Revolutionary War. The last British troops left New York on November 25, 1783.

The Americans by no means were the championing forces but they continued to be intimidating and determined, with unbending faith in their belief of achieving independence. The British were not so much defeated by the Americans but weary of fighting a war across the ocean that was drain on their treasury and manpower, that was necessary to fight battles on other fronts in Europe.

Charles Stewart was five years old when the American Revolutionary War ended; the war was something he heard talked about but had no real association with the reality of the fighting. The reality was that the fighting on American soil had left fifty thousand plus Americans dead. At sea 19,740 sailors gave their lives in some of the fiercest sea battles the British had never thought the Americans capable of waging. The drain on the male work force in America was a major setback to the development of the new country.

The fledging body of men that were active in United States governing positions were sure the war was ended that the American people did not require a military present on land and especially at sea. The men were perhaps naive of their vulnerability as a fledging nation without the might of British war machine to support them. The British were also not going to make easy for American merchants on the oceans. The British were cocky, egotistical, antagonizes of the Americans, especially on the seas where the British considered themselves invincible.

American merchants were suffering from the American naïve vision of the world. The merchants were complaining about merchant vessels and crews being seized. American trade was suffering and prices for goods were escalating in the United States.

Americans had surplus produce they needed to trade and raw materials that needed to be carried to manufacturers whose labor could give it value. Americans were dependent on safe travel across the ocean to keep its businesses prospering.

George Washington said before Congress, These facts must convince by Great Britain, does not operate to produce a fear, and a dependence, which can be alarming to government.

The new Congress had disbanded the United States Navy considering it a frivolous cost, an extravagant cost that was not necessary. Meanwhile