226 ADDRESSES AND STATE PAPERS

today will serve further to signify the esteem in which we of succeeding
generations hold this outstanding Marylander.

As many of you probably know, a chestnut tree for many years
served as the only marking of General Smallwood's grave, following
his wish that no stone be used. It is said that the tree sprang from a
chestnut that had been put into the soft mound of the grave.

This retreat which gave him peace and rest, and which was once
a meeting place for General Washington and other outstanding men
of that era, itself fell into a sad state of neglect and the manor house
into ruins. It was not until 1898 — a full century after his death — that
he was given proper recognition with the erection of a granite tomb-
stone, and it was not until recent years that the manor house was re-
stored and the retreat dedicated as a public park. The park now en-
compasses 333 acres and is on its way to becoming one of the out-
standing attractions in Southern Maryland.

General Smallwood, were he alive today, might consider that we
are making too much of a fuss about him. But this is the way we pre-
serve our heritage, by honoring those who contributed so substantially
to it. A brief review of the Smallwood contributions therefore is in
order.

First and foremost, he was Maryland's outstanding military figure
of the Revolutionary War. He was 43 years old, and a bachelor, when
the war with England started. He was a soldier at heart and, like
Washington, had fought in the French and Indian wars. Five days
after the first shot at Lexington he marched out of Annapolis with
the rank of colonel and commanding a regiment of 1, 444 men. His
regiment joined the Revolutionary forces at Boston, took part in the
Battle of Long Island and two days later, then at Fort Putnam, was
designated by General Washington to cover his retreat into the lines
below Fort Washington.

It is said by one historian, "The impetuosity of Colonel Smallwood
prevented him from distinguishing between covering a retreat and
making a charge, and he had the red coats on the run when Washing-
ton was forced to send a messenger after him and have his troops
recalled. "

He was known as a dauntless military leader who willingly sacrificed
his troops to achieve victory and who himself was carried from the
field disabled by wounds. His troops, however, saved the American
army from destruction by land and sea forces during the retreat of