History of Benedict, (Charles County) Maryland United States of America

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James Wilkinson, soldier, was born at Benedict, Md., in 1757. In 1775, while pursuing a course in medicine, the news of the battle of Bunker Hill determined him to join the army, and he journeyed to Cambridge and enlisted as a private. He soon won the attention of Washington and his officers, was made captain in a New Hampshire regiment, and joined to Arnold's expedition into Canada. In June, 1776, he was advanced to the rank of major and attached to the staff of General Gates. His brilliancy captivated Gates, who advanced him to colonel, and made him adjutant-general of the Northern army. He took part in the battle of Bemis Heights, Oct. 7, 1777, and after the surrender of Burgoyne, Gates entrusted to him his report of the victory, which he carried to Philadelphia, but reached the assembled congress some days after the news had been received unofficially. In consequence, when a motion was made to present the bearer of the dispatches with a sword, Dr. Witherspoon, delegate for New Jersey, objected, and suggested rather a pair of spurs. Some weeks later Wilkinson was brevetted brigadier-general on the recommendation of General Gates, but forty-nine of his fellow officers petitioned congress to rescind the appointment, and he resigned the commission, retaining his rank of colonel. In the "Conway Cabal" he was a prominent factor and in a convivial moment disclosed the "secret" to Lord Sterling, who apprised Washington of the plot. The General frankly confronted Gates and Conway with his information, and they were at first confused but finally denied the charge. Wilkinson could not explain his position to the satisfaction of either Gates or Washington, and in his desperation challenged both Gates and Lord Sterling; but this act did not remove the distrust fastened upon him, nor prevent his being relieved from active duty. He served for a time as clothier-general for the army, and in February, 1784, settled in Lexington, Ky., where he engaged in merchandising. Finding that Kentucky could do a large export trade of the Mississippi river were opened to navigation, he set about obtaining from the Spanish government the exclusive privilege of such trade. He first sent agents into the Spanish territory with exaggerated statements of the rapid growth and accumulating strength of the new settlements, and of his position as a leading military spirit among an adventurous community. A few months afterward he made the journey to Natchez, where he met Don Garro de Lamos, commandant of the Spanish forces. The latter, impressed with Wilkinsoh's importance, listened to his accounts of the discontent of the settlers and the readiness with which he could lead them in revolt against the United States, should hopes of a ready market for their produce be offered by Spain. This led to further exchange of courtesies, and a meeting with Governor Miro at New Orleans. The enterprising merchant taking with him a boat-load of produce which was speedily disposed of, convinced the settlers of the desirability of a New Orleans market, and of the wrong done the people of the Southwest by the Jay treaty. Trade, always more powerful than patriotism, for a time controlled the people, influenced as they were by Wilkinson's offers of fabulous prices for their produce, and by his having proved himself more powerful than the U.S. government in opening a channel of trade. In the convention of July, 1788, called to decide upon a separation from Virginia, Wilkinson sought to control the convention and the government of the proposed state in the interest of his scheme of secession. His designs became apparent to Isaac Shelby, and other members of the convention, who swayed the majority, and defeated the proposed separation. Wilkinson continued to agitate the subject, but in the final convention at Danville, July 26, 1790, his plans were effectually thwarted, and Kentucky became a state of the Union, June 1, 1792, her seal bearing the significant motto: "United we stand, Divided we fall." Wilkinson was commissioned lieutenant-colonel, U.S.A. in 1791; was promoted to brigadier-general in 1792, and led a successful campaign against the Miami Indians, but is charged by historians with having sacrificed the life of Col. John Hardin . He commanded the right wing of Wayne's army at Maumee Rapids, and on the death of Wayne, Dec. 15, 1796, succeeded him as general-in-chief with the rank of major-general. In 1798 he was superseded by General Washington, who was given the rank of lieutenant-general. Upon the latter's death, Hamilton held the position until 1800, when Wilkinson succeeded to the command with the reduced rank of brigadier-general, and was in turn succeeded by Henry Dearborn in 1812. In 1803, as ranking officer of the army, he received the transfer of Lousiana Territory from the French, and became the military governor of the newly acquired territory, as well as of the recently formed Mississippi department in 1808. In 1811 he was acquitted by court-martial of complicity in the treasonable projects of Aaron Burr, and not till 1850 was his continuous service to Spain, while simultaneously holding the highest military position in the United States army, shown by documents from the Spanish archives containing his correspondence with that government between 1787 and 1806. He was commissioned major-general, U.S.A., and ordered to the northwest frontier in 1813, but, owing to the failure of his operations, was brought before a court of inquiry in 1815, which however, acquitted him of any blame. He was dropped from the service upon the disbandment of the army, and removed to his large estate near the City of Mexico. He is the author of: Memoirs of My Own Times (1816). His portrait in oil is on the walls of Independence Hall, Philadelphia. He died on his estate near the City of mexico, Mexico, Dec. 28, 1825.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

History of Benedict, (Charles County) Maryland

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