Doctor Franklin, whose mind was always active, suggested the purchase and settlement of a large body of land in the province of Nova Scotia. A company was soon formed, of which many wealthy and influential persons became members. And Mr. Wayne, who was then in his twenty-first year, and whose talents were, even at that early age, known and appreciated, was appointed the agent to carry into effect the objects of the association. In the month'of March 1765, Wayne embarked for Nova Scotia, and entered on the discharge of very res ponsible and arduous duties. These he performed to the perfect satisfaction of his employers, and returned to Pennsylvania in the middle of the fol lowing December. His agency required the performance of several additional journeys to that country, before the complicated affairs which were entrusted to his good management were put upon a sure and satisfactory footing.
In the year 1767, Mr. Wayne having married the daughter of Bartholomew Penrose, an eminent merchant of the city of Philadelphia, established himself on a farm in his native county. From this period till 1774 his time was devoted to agriculture and practical surveying; but he was soon called to the discharge of infinitely higher and more noble offices. The revolution, which elicited into active exercise the independent feelings of a whole nation, and has inscribed on the rolls of fame a host of names, that might otherwise have passed down the stream of time into the ocean of oblivion, unknown and unhonoured, was about to commence. Mr. Wayne entered at once into the feelings which animated every honourable and virtuous bosom, and, sacrificing the enjoyments of domestic felici ty, devoted his future efforts to the support of his country's independence.
He was one of the provincial deputies, who, early in the year 1774, were selected to take into their consideration and make report of the alarm ing differences between Great Britain and her colonies. Wayne was chosen, also, a member of the Pennsylvania convention, which assembled at Philadelphia, and by its spirited conduct did so much to invigorate the rising spirit of resistance throughout the land.
Many of the members of that convention were second to none in the country in the two great qualities which the times emphatically demanded soundness of head and stoutness of heart; and Wayne was not behind any of his compatriots in either of these qualifications. Following the bent of his natural disposition, he determined to put in operation as soon as the moment came, the military abilities which he had received from nature and had improved by art.
Previously, however, to taking the field, in the summer of Mr. Wayne was appointed a mem ber of the committee of safety, along with Dr. Franklin and other distinguished men. This com mittee was entrusted with the duty of calling into actual service "The Associators," and generally of providing for the defence of the province.
As he perceived war to be inevitable, he deter mined that so far as his exertions could compass the point, the country should not be unprepared. He "assembled numerous bodies of the yeomanry, whom his popularity readily attracted to his standard, for the purpose of perfecting their disci pline, and appointed frequent drills for that object. To devote himself more entirely to this end, he withdrew from the civil councils of his native state in the month of September 1775; and in a very short time organized a regiment of volunteers, who unanimously elected him their colonel; the disci pline of this corps was a matter of surprise even to .those who had the highest ideas of his military capacity.
On the 3d of January 1776, Congress appointed him a colonel of one of the regiments which they had resolved to raise for the state of Pennsylvania; and to the great satisfaction of Colonel Wayne, his former volunteer associates, almost unanimously, agreed to transfer themselves to the regular service of their country; so that, without much loss of time, he was enabled to take the field under his commission. In the commencement of the cam paign of that year, he was ordered to join the army under General Lee at New York, and shortly after marched with his regiment to Canada. In the un fortunate attack made under the direction of General Thompson, upon the advanced guard of the British, who were posted at Three Rivers, and commanded by General Frazier, Colonel Wayne exhibited distinguished bravery, and, though wound ed, by his good conduct contributed most materially to unite and bring off the dispersed and broken troops. The commanding officer had been taken prisoner during the engagement.
It is known, that after this defeat, the American army was compelled to retreat from Canada, and concentrated itself at Ticonderoga, a fortress on Lake Champlain. At this post and its dependen cies, the revolutionary troops determined to make a stand, and maintain it at every sacrifice. The British commander, Carlton, with his fleet and army, reconnoitred the position, and feeling no inclination to disturb troops who were apparently resolved to make the most vigorous defence, thought it best to retire into winter-quarters.