406 AUTHENTIC HISTORY 



General Reynolds was one of America's greatest soldiers; the men he commanded 

 loved him dearly; he shared with them the hardships, toil, and danger of the camp, the 

 march, and the field; devoted to his profession, he was guided by those great principles 

 which alone can prepare a soldier to become the defender of the liberties of a free 

 people. He nobly laid down his life a sacrifice on his country's altar, at the head of his 

 brave corps, that victory might crown the efforts of those who followed him to fight the 

 great battle of the Nation. He fell, valiantly fighting for his country. Still more, he 

 died in the defence of the homes of his neighbors and kinsmen. No treason-breeding 

 soil drank his blood, but all of him that was mortal is buried in the bosom of his own 

 native State. His body was carried to Lancaster and was buried in the family enclo- 

 sure in the Lancaster cemetery, on the 4th of July, 1863. 



Over his remains the fannly have erected a handsome and substantial marble monu- 

 ment, commemorative of the patriotic services of the deceased. On the south side, sur- 

 mounted by the military emblem of the sword and belt, is the inscription — "John 

 Fulton Reynolds, Colonel of the Fifth Infantry United States Army and Major General 

 of Volunteers. Born Sept. 21, 1820. Killed at the Battle of Gettysburg, while com- 

 manding the Left Wing of the Army of the Potomac, July 1, 1863." On raised panels 

 immediately below are the words " Chancellorsville, " "Gettysburg." On the north, 

 under the national coat-of-arms, are the words "Rogue River" and "Mechanicsville." 

 On the west, the American fiags crossed over " Gaines Mills," " Second Bull Run" and 

 "Fredericksburg." And on the east, the military emblem of the cannon, with the 

 Mexican battle-fields on which the deceased won promotion, "Fort Brown," "INIonte- 

 rey' ' and ' ' Buena Vista. ' ' i 



Ross, Geokge, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, was the son 

 of a clergyman by the same name, who presided over the Episcopal Church at New 

 Castle, in the State of Delaware, in which town he was born in the year 1730. 



At an early age, he gave indications of possessing talents of a superior order. These 

 indications induced his father to give him the advantage of a good education. At the 

 age of eighteen he entered upon the study of law, under the superintendence of an 

 elder brother, who was at that time in the practice of the profession, in the city of 

 Philadelphia. 



Soon after being admitted to the bar, he established himself at Lancaster, at that 

 time near the western limits of civilization. He soon became connected in marriage 

 with a lady of a respectable family. For several years he continued to devote himself, 

 with great zeal, to the duties of his profession, in which, at length, lie attained a high 

 reputation, both as a counsellor and an advocate. 



Mr. Ross commenced his political career in 1768, in which year he was first returned 

 as a representative to the Assembly of Pennsylvania. Of tliis body he continued to be 

 re-elected a member, until the year 1774, when he was chosen in connection with several 

 other gentlemen, a delegate to the celebrated Congress which met at Philadelphia. At 

 the time he was appointed to a seat in this Congress, he was also appointed to 

 report to the Assembly of the province, a set of instructions, by which the conduct of 

 himself and colleagues were to be directed. The instructions thus drafted and reported, 

 were accepted by the Assembly. In concluding these instructions, the Assembly ob- 

 served: "that the trust reposed in you is of such a nature, and the modes of executing 

 it may be so diversified in the course of your deliberations, tliat it is scarcely possible 

 to give you particular instructions respecting it. We shall, therefore, only in general 

 direct, that you are to meet in Congress the committees of the several British colonies, 

 at such time and place as shall be generally agreed on, to consult together on the 

 present critical and alarming situation and state of the colonies, and that you, with 

 them, exert your utmost endeavors to form and adopt a plan, which shall afford the 

 best prospect of obtaining a redress of American grievances, ascertaining American 

 1 Contributed by J. M. W. Geist, Esq. 



