15.(BANASTRE TARLETON) Hand colored engraving, "THIS REPRESENTATION OF PETER FRANCISCOS GALLANT ACTION WITH NINE OF TARLETONS CAVALRY IN SIGHT OF A TROOP OF FOUR HUNDRED MEN. Took Place In Amelia County Virginia 1781. Is respectfully inscribed to Him By James Webster and James Warrell", [Philadelphia]: James Webster, 1814. (26" x 21 1/2"). A magnificent stipple engraving portraying legendary soldier Peter Francisco's heroic encounter in July 1781 with nine of British Lt. Banastre Tarleton's dragoons in Amelia County, Virginia. Francisco's strength, bravery, cunning, and size combined with his meritorious service in numerous battles made him one of the most famous soldiers of the American Revolution. In the event portrayed here, he defeated nine of Banestre Tarleton's cavalrymen single-handedly, sending them in retreat and stealing a number of horses in the process. Peter Francisco, born in the Portuguese Azores in 1760, was, for unknown reasons, abducted and arrived mysteriously at City Point, Virginia in 1765, then adopted by Judge Anthony Winson, uncle of Patrick Henry. He enlisted in the 10th Virginia regiment in 1776 and saw action at Brandywine Creek, during which his regiment held the line at a narrow defile allowing the Americans to withdraw and preventing a full-scale rout and was wounded. He recovered in time to participate in the Battle of Germantown. Francisco was also present at Fort Mifflin and Monmouth (where he was wounded in the leg) as well as Stony Point. At the latter action, Franscisco was one of four men left in his attacking column reached the ramparts. There he received a 9-inch stomach wound but still managed to kill three grenadiers and seizing the British flag. At the terrible American defeat at Camden, Francisco was purported to have carried a thousand pound field piece off the battlefield to prevent its capture by the British. At Guilford Court House in 1781, Benson Lossing recounted that the giant Virginian "cut down eleven men in succession with his broadsword. One of the guards pinned Francisco's leg to his horse with a bayonet. Forbearing to strike, he assisted the assailant to draw his bayonet forth, when, with terrible fore, he brought down his broadsword and cleft the poor fellow's head to his shoulders!". Before the battle ended, however, Francisco was again wounded. Francisco returned to Virginia to recover, and soon returned to the field, this time as a scout to monitor the movements of Banestre Tarleton. It was here that he performed the exploit immortalized in this print. Stopping off at a tavern, he found himself surrounded by nine of Tarleton's horsemen who announced Francisco's arrest. One of the soldiers further demanded his silver shoe buckles, and Franscisco intimated that he could take them himself. As the dragoon bent down to help himself, Peter grabbed the sword and struck him on the head. The wounded man fired his pistol, grazing Franscisco who quickly slashed away, nearly cutting the soldier's hand clean off. Another trooper aimed a musket at Peter, but it misfired allowing Francisco to grab it away and knock him from his saddle, escaping on his horse. Washington is reputed to have remarked of this giant (really an eighteenth-century Paul Bunyon), "Without him we would have lost two crucial battles, perhaps the War, and with it our freedom. He was truly a One-Man Army". The image offered here was designed by James Warrell, after a drawing by John James Barralet, and engraved by David Edwin, an English engraver who arrived in Philadelphia in 1797. According to Sauffer, his "marked ability as an engraver of portraits in the stipple manner soon gained him abundant independent employment, and he became the most popular and prolific engraver of portraits in the United States". Published on Dec. 1, 1814 by James Webster, who apparently timed the appearance of this print with American successes against the British at the close of the War of 1812. (Stauffer 921; I, pp. 76-77). Overall condition very good, with a few minor marginal tears, else, very good.$1,500-2,000