Page:Historic towns of the southern states (1900).djvu/72

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Historical Society hang the now faded folds of

"The crimson banner, that with prayer,
Had been consecrated there,

by the Moravian nuns at Bethlehem, before

"The warrior took that banner proud,
And it was his martial cloak and shroud."

Besides welcoming those from elsewhere, Baltimore gave to the war the best and bravest of her own. To aid Smallwood and Williams, Baltimore sent General Mordecai Gist, who as Major commanded the Maryland troops that covered the American retreat at Long Island. Another was John Eager Howard, who at Cowpens seized the critical moment, and turned the fortune of the day. At Guilford and at Eutaw Colonel Howard was equally conspicuous, and when peace came Maryland honored him by thrice electing him to the national Senate. "He deserves," said General Greene, "a statue of gold, no less than Roman and Grecian heroes." A third was Captain Samuel Smith, who held Fort Mifflin, the "Mud Fort on the Schuylkill," for seven weeks, against powerful land and sea forces of the British, who were seeking to open the communication between Philadelphia and