America 250 UNSUNG HEROES OF


REVOLUTIONARY WAR 3 who played crucial role in founding our nation.


BY VAN CHARLES D


oes the name peter Francisco ring a bell? How about Samuel Whittemore, or Polly Cooper? Despite their incredible cunning,


bravery, and, in Francisco’s case, sheer size, those names pale when compared to the likes of George Wash- ington, Paul Revere, and other leg- ends of the Revolutionary War. Each, however, played a crucial role in America’s founding 250 years ago.


PETER FRANCISCO ‘One-Man Army’ According to Washington, were it not for Francisco, there may not have been a founding at all.


50 NEWSMAX | MAY 2026 “Without him, we would have lost


two crucial battles, perhaps the war, and with it our freedom,” said Wash- ington in a legendary quote about Francisco’s contributions. “He was truly a one-man army.” His 6-foot-6-inch frame at a time


when the average man stood only about 5 feet, 7 inches landed Francisco with monikers including the “Virginia Giant” and the “Giant of the Revolu- tion,” but his size wasn’t the only reason he earned such praise from Washington. Francisco’s exploits


include killing 11 British soldiers in hand-to-hand combat during the battle at


Guilford Courthouse while brandish- ing an incredible 6-foot-long broad- sword forged for him at Washing- ton’s request. During the battle, a British soldier


ran his bayonet through Francisco’s leg, pinning it to his horse, but when the soldier turned to flee, he used his massive sword to, in his own words, “cleft the fellow’s head down to his shoulders before he fell.” During the Battle of Cam-


den, while others retreated, Francisco stood his ground against a British cavalry- man, sidestepped his attack, lifted the cavalryman out of his saddle with his bayo-


COOPER DAVID COLEMAN | HAVE CAMERA WILL TRAVEL/ALAMY


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