“There is a just God who presides over the destinies of nations … who will raise up friends to fight our battle for us. The battle, sir, is not to the strong alone; it is to the vigilant, the active, the brave. … Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death.” — Patrick Henry, March 23, 1775
Interestingly (to me at least), I was reading Patriot Sons, Patriot Brothers, a book about two of my ancestors Abner and Francis Nash, and found that their elder brother, John Nash, Jr. was present at Saint John’s Church in Richmond, Virginia on March 23, 1775 when Patrick Henry made his famous speech to the Virginia House of Burgesses. Gen. Francis Nash was killed by a British cannonball at the Battle of Germantown. The same cannonball killed the son of John Witherspoon, a signer of the Declaration of Independence and one of my favorite Founding Fathers. Thomas Paine passed Gen. Nash as his wounded body was being carried to receive medical attention. He died a few days later and his funeral was attended by none other than Gen. George Washington. Just thought you should know…