  | I. | ANCESTRY AND ENVIRONMENT | 1 | | The defeat of Braddock—Influence on American opinion—Washington's heroism—Effect on Marshall's parents—Marshall's birth—American solidarity the first lesson taught him—Marshall's ancestry—Curious similarity to that of Jefferson, to whom he was related—The paternal line: the "Marshall legend"—Maternal line: the Randolphs, the Ishams, and the Keiths—Character of Marshall's parents—Colonial Virginia society—Shiftless agriculture and abundant land—Influence of slavery—Jefferson's analysis—Drinking heavy and universal—Education of the gentry and of the common people—The social divisions—Causes of the aristocratic tone of Virginia society—The backwoodsmen—Their character—Superiority of an occasional frontier family—The Marshalls of this class—The illustrious men produced by Virginia just before the Revolution. | | II. | A FRONTIER EDUCATION | 33 | | Marshall's wilderness birthplace—His father removes to the Blue Ridge—The little house in "The Hollow"—Neighbors few and distant—Daily life of the frontier family—Marshall's delight in nature—Effect on his physical and mental development—His admiration for his father—The father's influence over and training of his son—Books: Pope's Poems—Marshall commits to memory at the age of twelve many passages—The "Essay on Man"—Marshall's father an assistant of Washington in surveying the Fairfax grant—Story of Lord Fairfax—His influence on Washington and on Marshall's father—Effect on Marshall—His father elected Burgess from Fauquier County—Vestryman, Sheriff, and leading man of his county—He buys the land in "The Hollow"—John Thompson, deacon, teaches Marshall for a year—His father buys more land and removes to Oak Hill—Subscribes to the first American edition of Blackstone—Military training interferes with Marshall's reading of Blackstone—He is sent to Campbell's Academy for a few months—Marshall's father as Burgess supports Patrick Henry, who defeats the tidewater aristocracy in the Robinson loan-office contest—Henry offers his resolutions on the Stamp Act: "If this be treason, make the most of it"—Marshall's father votes with Henry—1775 and Henry's "Resolutions for Arming and Defense"—His famous speech: "Give me liberty or give me death"—Marshall's father again supports Henry—Marshall learns from his father of these great events—Father and son ready to take the field against the British. | | III. | A SOLDIER OF THE REVOLUTION | 69 | | The "Minute Men" of Virginia—Lieutenant John Marshall drills his company and makes a war speech—His appearance in his nineteenth year—Uniforms of the frontier—The sanguinary fight at Great Bridge—Norfolk—The Marshalls in the Continental service, the father as major, the son as lieutenant—Condition of the army—Confusion of authority—Unreliability of militia "who are here to-day and gone to-morrow"—Fatal effect of State control—Inefficiency and powerlessness of Congress—Destitution of the troops: "our sick naked and well naked"—Officers resign, privates desert—The harsh discipline required: men whipped, hanged, and shot—Impression on Marshall—He is promoted to be captain-lieutenant—The march through disaffected Philadelphia—Marshall one of picked men forming the light infantry—Iron Hill—The battle of the Brandywine—Marshall's father and his Virginians prevent entire disaster—Marshall's part in the battle—The retreat—The weather saves the Americans—Marshall one of rear guard under Wayne—The army recovers and tries to stop the British advance—Confused by false reports of the country people who are against the patriots "almost to a man"—Philadelphia falls—The battle of Germantown—Marshall at the bloodiest point of the fight—The retreat of the beaten Americans—Unreasonable demands of "public opinion"—Further decline of American fortunes—DuchÉ's letter to Washington: "How fruitless the expense of blood"—Washington faces the British—The impending battle—Marshall's vivid description—The British withdraw. | | IV. | VALLEY FORGE AND AFTER | 108 | | The bitter winter of 1777—The British in Philadelphia: abundance of provisions, warm and comfortable quarters, social gayeties, revels of officers and men—The Americans at Valley Forge, "the most celebrated encampment in the world's history": starvation and nakedness—Surgeon Waldo's diary of "camp-life": "I'll live like a Chameleon upon Air"—Waldo's description of soldiers' appearance—Terrible mortality from sickness—The filthy "hospitals"—Moravians at Bethlehem—The Good Samaritans to the patriots—Marshall's cheerfulness: "the best tempered man I ever knew"—His pranks and jokes—Visitors to the camp remark his superior intelligence—Settles disputes of his comrades—Hard discipline at Valley Forge: a woman given a hundred lashes—Washington alone holds army together—Jealousy of and shameful attacks upon him—The "Conway Cabal"—His dignity in the face of slander—His indignant letter to Congress—Faith of the soldiers in Washington—The absurd popular demand that he attack Philadelphia—The amazing inferiority of Congress—Ablest men refuse to attend—Washington's pathetic letter on the subject: "Send your ablest men to Congress; Where is Jefferson"—Talk of the soldiers at Valley Forge—Jefferson in the Virginia Legislature—Comparison of Marshall and Jefferson at this period—Marshall appointed Deputy Judge Advocate of the army—Burnaby's appeal to Washington to stop the war: efforts at reconciliation—Washington's account of the sufferings of the army—The spring of 1778—Sports in camp—Marshall the best athlete in his regiment: "Silver Heels" Marshall—The Alliance with the King of France—Rejoicing of the Americans at Valley Forge—Washington has misgivings—The services of Baron von Steuben—Lord Howe's departure—The "Mischianza"—The British evacuate Philadelphia—The Americans quick in pursuit—The battle of Monmouth—Marshall in the thick of the fight—His fairness to Lee—Promoted to be captain—One of select light infantry under Wayne, assigned to take Stony Point—The assault of that stronghold—Marshall in the reserve command—One of the picked men under "Light Horse Harry" Lee—The brilliant dash upon Powles Hook—Term of enlistment of Marshall's regiment expires and he is left without a command—Returns to Virginia while waiting for new troops to be raised—Arnold invades Virginia—Jefferson is Governor; he fails to prepare—Marshall one of party to attack the British—Effect of Jefferson's conduct on Marshall and the people—Comment of Virginia women&
tionalists—Henry admits defeat—The Virginia amendments—Absurdity of some of them—Necessary to secure ratification—Marshall on the committee to report amendments—Constitutionalists win by a majority of only ten—Of these, two vote against their instructions and eight vote against the well-known desires of their constituents—The Clinton letter at last disclosed—Mason's wrath—Henry prevents Anti-Constitutionalists from talking measures to resist the new National Government—Washington's account: "Impossible for anybody not on the spot to conceive what the delicacy and danger of our situation have been." | | APPENDIX | 481 | | I. Will of Thomas Marshall, "Carpenter" | 483 | | II. Will of John Marshall "of the Forest" | 485 | | III. Deed of William Marshall to John Marshall "of the Forest" | 487 | | IV. Memorial of Thomas Marshall for Military Emoluments | 489 | | WORKS CITED IN THIS VOLUME | 491 |
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