Beginning thus, the brave Irishman who verbally and fought among the foremost for America for over physically thirty years, told the story of Washington's crossing the Delaware, vividly enough, and every Christmas his guests stood with him and sang the ballad.[2] [2] See Goolrick's "Life of Mercer." MASON OF GUNSTON Of George Mason, whom Garland Hunt says is "more than any other man entitled to be called the Father of the Declaration of Independence," whom Judge Garland says, "Is the greatest political philosopher the Western Hemisphere ever produced," of whose Bill of Rights, Gladstone said, "It is the greatest document that ever emanated from the brain of man," little can be said here. His home was at Gunston Hall, on the Potomac, but the Rising Sun knew him well, and his feet often trod Mary Washington's garden walks, or the floors of Kenmore, Chatham and the other residences of Old Fredericksburg. Mason was intimate here, and here much of his trading and shipping was done. When he left Gunston, it was usually to come to Fredericksburg and meet his younger conferees, who were looking up to him as the greatest leader in America. He died and is buried at Gunston Hall. It was in Fredericksburg that he first met young Washington, who ever afterward looked upon "The Sage of Gunston" as his adviser and friend, and as America's greatest man. GENERAL WILLIAM WOODFORD Although he came from Caroline, General William Woodford was a frequenter of and often resident in Fredericksburg, and it was from this city he went to Caroline upon the assembling of troops when Lord Dunmore became hostile. In subsequent military operations he was made Colonel of the Second Regiment and distinguished himself in the campaign that followed, and he was honorably mentioned for his valiant conduct at the battle of Gread Bridge, December 9, 1775, upon which occasion he had the chief command and gained a brilliant victory. He was later made General of the First Virginia Brigade. His command was in various actions throughout the war, in one of which, the Battle of Brandywine, he was severely wounded. He was made prisoner by the British in 1778 at Charleston, and taken to New York, where he died. [Sidenote: _The Owner of "Kenmore"_] COL. FIELDING LEWIS