Ed - thanks for all the sites you sent me to explore. I have my work cut out for me. I'm truly excited about all the possibilities you opened for me. Elayne

WHAT IS HIS NAME, AND STATE SERVED? I have found the record card of my ggggfather at Arias in PA.  They  note that they have no further info.  Checked NARA in Phila and could find  nothing.  Any suggestions as to where I should look next?  Also how  long would one need to be in the service to apply for a pention.  He served  in the Militia. Thank You Elayne

Everything anyone ever wanted to know about Pension files, Service files, and NARA in general: http://www.americanrevolution.org/NARA.html Best regards, Ed For Revolutionary War Info on the Internet, your first choice should be: www.AmericanRevolution.org

There's enough information in the list archives to answer every question ever asked about pensions. The archives are at: http://listsearches.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/listsearch.pl?list=AMERICAN-REVOLUT ION or http://tinyurl.com/5oxk4 A couple of examples are: http://tinyurl.com/5ahot and http://tinyurl.com/96lrj I couldn't find the specific post to answer your question, but it's there somewhere, I only did a quick search. Briefly, militia didn't get pensions as a general rule, and length of time in service varied with the several Pension Acts. Maybe I should put up a pension info page. Best regards, Ed For Revolutionary War Info on the Internet, your first choice should be: www.AmericanRevolution.org

I have found the record card of my ggggfather at Arias in PA. They note that they have no further info. Checked NARA in Phila and could find nothing. Any suggestions as to where I should look next? Also how long would one need to be in the service to apply for a pention. He served in the Militia. Thank You Elayne

The HRVI newsletter this month offers a preview of the Patriots' Weekend events in September and October - as well as features on the De Wint House in Tappan, the Historical Society of Rockland County, and the Town of Fishkill. http://www.hudsonrivervalley.net/presscenter/newsLetters/augustnewsletter200 5.pdf or if you hate to type: http://tinyurl.com/dnho5 Best regards, Ed For Revolutionary War Info on the Internet, your first choice should be: www.AmericanRevolution.org

In grade school, I read a book about women heroes, one of whom was Catharine Sevier. I've forgotten what she did, but think it had to do with helping settlers get into a stockade, or holding Indians off from a stockade. Interesting to read this account of John Sevier; wish there had been a bit more about his second wife. Anne In a message dated 8/11/2005 12:25:27 AM Eastern Standard Time, [email protected] writes: Thought this might be helpful to some of you.... MORE THAN YOU WANT TO KNOW ABOUT JOHN SEVIER by Sheila Gibson Saint Francis XAVIER was canonized in Rome in 1622, his direct descendant, Don Juan XAVIER (SEVIER) fled from Paris to London after the Edict of Nantes in 1685. This was John SEVIER’s grandfather; and he was a French Huguenot. John SEVIER’s father, Valentine SEVIER, was born in London, England, probably after 1708. He & his brother, William, ran away to America. They arrived in Baltimore in 1740. Valentine first settled near Harrisonburg, Rockingham County, in the Valley of Virginia. He married Joanna GOADE & became a tavern keeper and Indian trader. He founded the village of New Market of the Shenandoah, Virginia. John SEVIER was born there on 23 Sep 1745. Because of Indian troubles about 1755, the family spent two years in Fredericksburg where young John was able to attend school. When they returned to New Market, they found all they had built there in ruins. John helped his dad rebuild the home, the store & the tavern. He was also able to attend the Academy of Staunton. In 1761 John SEVIER married Sarah HAWKINS (whose sister married Davy CROCKETT’s father, John). SEVIER ran a store in Middletown, Virginia, for a time. In 1769 William BEAN built a cabin on Boone’s Creek near the Watauga River and several families joined him there. Carter’s River Valley followed in 1771 & another settlement on the Nolachucky followed in 1772. Collectively, this area became known as the Watauga Settlement. Also in 1772 Cherokee Chief “Old Abraham” led 700 warriors in an attack at Watauga Fort. It was then that the famous Nancy WARD told the white settlers about the plans. Old Abraham held the fort in siege for six days before with! drawing back to the Chillhowee mountains. John’s wife, Sarah HAWKINS, was “delicate” & never moved from eastern Virginia. On a visit to see his family in 1773, Virginia Governor John MURRAY, Lord Dunmore, invited John SEVIER on an expedition against the Shawnee, Miami, Wyandot & other tribes north of the Ohio River. John was appointed captain in the Virginia line. The Battle of Point Pleasant has been called “perilous and fearful”. Troops at Point Pleasant were attacked by a large body of Shawnee under Chief Cornstalk (Keigh-ugh-qua). Valentine SEVIER & James ROBERTSON distinguished themselves in that campaign. In December 1773 John SEVIER moved his family to the Keywood district on the north bank of the Holston River settlement (near his good friend Isaac SHELBY), then to the Watauga River in 1775 & once more to the south bank of the Nolachucky (Greene County). It was from this place that folks started calling him “Chucky Jack”. SEVIER was very popular among the frontiersmen. William BEAN, James ROBERTSON & Jacob BROWN were all bringing settlers into the region. They also formed their own government which they called the Watauga Association. (All these frontier folks reportedly negotiated leases from the Cherokee who were actually living along the Little Tennessee. However, the Wataugans actually had no legal title to they lands they occupied until Richard HENDERSON of the Transylvania Land Company negotiated the questionable Henderson Purchase.) John SEVIER began as the clerk of the Watauga Association & quickly rose in both government & military leadership. In April 1775 the Revolutionary War began. In June General George WASHINGTON took command of the Continental armies; & the Watauga Association replaced their court system with a 13-member Committee of Safety. SEVIER was a prominent member of this group. He later drew up the memorial of the citizens of Watauga to the North Carolina legislature asking to be annexed. The petition was granted; and Tennessee became a county on North Carolina known as Washington district. John SEVIER & James ROBERTSON were at the Watauga Fort when it was attacked on 21 Jul 1776. At that time there were about 150 settlers staying there, including the garrison from Gillespie Station located below Jonesboro. Near the fort was a courthouse & jail erected by the Watauga Association. A second fort was later built “higher up Watauga on the north side” on land then owned by Valentine SEVIER Sr. From 1777 to 1780 John SEVIER served as county clerk and district judge. In 1779 SEVIER commanded the overmountain militia in innumerable Indian fights. With Colonel Isaac SHELBY, in 1780, SEVIER also planned the Battle of King’s Mountain, including raising 480 men for that campaign. Sarah Hawkins SEVIER died from childbirth complications in 1780. John SEVIER married Catharine “Bonnie Kate” SHERRILL that same year. On 25 Sep 1780 John SEVIER, some of his family members & more than 300 of his overmountain neighbors gathered at Sycamore Shoals (in Tennessee). Others there were patriots and soldiers from Virginia & North Carolina, about one thousand in all. The purpose was to answer threats in a message sent by British Major Patrick FERGUSON. On 7 October of that year the Americans met FERGUSON & the loyalist forces at King’s Mountain, South Carolina. The American’s overwhelming victory there was a turning point in the Revolutionary War. Eight detachments of militia surrounded the ridge. John SEVIER commanded that detachment of patriots from Washington County, North Carolina (eastern Tennessee). Two months later Sevier played a key role in the Battle of Boyd’s Creek. This time the fight was not against the British but against the Cherokee. In 1781 SEVIER conducted several expeditions against the Chickamauga towns including Highwassee, Toquo Town, Choa, Tellico, Little Tuskeegee & Chestuee. SEVIER was a lead figure in peace negotiations with the Indians as well. Big Island was renamed Sevier’s Island in his honor. In 1783 SEVIER moved to the south bank of the Nolachucky at a place he called Mount Pleasant (Greene County). John SEVIER helped create the State of Franklin (in honor of Benjamin Franklin) in which SEVIER was named governor in 1785. Franklin soon dissolved however. It lasted less than three years. SEVIER went on as a Democrat from North Carolina to the First Congress in 1789. In 1791 SEVIER was appointed Brigadier General of militia for the Washington District of the Territory South of the Ohio. In 1793 SEVIER conducted the Etowah campaign against the Creek & Cherokee which brought peace along the French Broad & the Holston settlements for the rest of SEVIER’s life. In 1796 he served as the first governor of Tennessee. In 1798 he was appointed brigadier general of the Provisional Army. Then in 1803 he served another term as governor of Tennessee. From 1811 until his death in 1815 SEVIER served in the House of Representatives from Tennessee. John SEVIER died in 1815 near Fort Decatur, Alabama. At that time, he was fulfilling a presidential appointment as commissioner to determine the boundary between Georgia and the Creek territory in Alabama. In SEVIER’s military career he won thirty-three battles out of thirty-five.

Appreciate the feedback. I just sent off a note to our list manager. No doubt others in this group know much more than I do & ir is not good if I make mistakes. Folks see things in print and take it as gospel. I had regrets that I did not place some sort of disclaimer on this at least. As for Catharine, I do have more on her... what an enchanting person. I will gather some things together and write about her. Look for an additional post. This bit I did on John was to be a genealogy research tool for me. I have bits of accounts from several sources & have been wanting to organize (or order) this for a long time now. Incidentally, I still have some unresolved issues. For example, one source showed John as being in a campaign with (Colonel) George Washington but I could not verify this. In fact, from Washington's journal it looks like he was not a participant in that instance (altho I do know Washington had help survey, etc., in the vicinity of the Falls of the Ohio! . Anyway, thanks for writing & I will put something more together on Catharine. Regards. Sheila [email protected] wrote:In grade school, I read a book about women heroes, one of whom was Catharine Sevier. I've forgotten what she did, but think it had to do with helping settlers get into a stockade, or holding Indians off from a stockade. Interesting to read this account of John Sevier; wish there had been a bit more about his second wife. Anne In a message dated 8/11/2005 12:25:27 AM Eastern Standard Time, [email protected] writes: Thought this might be helpful to some of you.... MORE THAN YOU WANT TO KNOW ABOUT JOHN SEVIER by Sheila Gibson Saint Francis XAVIER was canonized in Rome in 1622, his direct descendant, Don Juan XAVIER (SEVIER) fled from Paris to London after the Edict of Nantes in 1685. This was John SEVIER’s grandfather; and he was a French Huguenot. John SEVIER’s father, Valentine SEVIER, was born in London, England, probably after 1708. He & his brother, William, ran away to America. They arrived in Baltimore in 1740. Valentine first settled near Harrisonburg, Rockingham County, in the Valley of Virginia. He married Joanna GOADE & became a tavern keeper and Indian trader. He founded the village of New Market of the Shenandoah, Virginia. John SEVIER was born there on 23 Sep 1745. Because of Indian troubles about 1755, the family spent two years in Fredericksburg where young John was able to attend school. When they returned to New Market, they found all they had built there in ruins. John helped his dad rebuild the home, the store & the tavern. He was also able to attend the Academy of Staunton. In 1761 John SEVIER married Sarah HAWKINS (whose sister married Davy CROCKETT’s father, John). SEVIER ran a store in Middletown, Virginia, for a time. In 1769 William BEAN built a cabin on Boone’s Creek near the Watauga River and several families joined him there. Carter’s River Valley followed in 1771 & another settlement on the Nolachucky followed in 1772. Collectively, this area became known as the Watauga Settlement. Also in 1772 Cherokee Chief “Old Abraham” led 700 warriors in an attack at Watauga Fort. It was then that the famous Nancy WARD told the white settlers about the plans. Old Abraham held the fort in siege for six days b! efore with! drawing back to the Chillhowee mountains. John’s wife, Sarah HAWKINS, was “delicate” & never moved from eastern Virginia. On a visit to see his family in 1773, Virginia Governor John MURRAY, Lord Dunmore, invited John SEVIER on an expedition against the Shawnee, Miami, Wyandot & other tribes north of the Ohio River. John was appointed captain in the Virginia line. The Battle of Point Pleasant has been called “perilous and fearful”. Troops at Point Pleasant were attacked by a large body of Shawnee under Chief Cornstalk (Keigh-ugh-qua). Valentine SEVIER & James ROBERTSON distinguished themselves in that campaign. In December 1773 John SEVIER moved his family to the Keywood district on the north bank of the Holston River settlement (near his good friend Isaac SHELBY), then to the Watauga River in 1775 & once more to the south bank of the Nolachucky (Greene County). It was from this place that folks started calling him “Chucky Jack”. SEVIER was very popular among the frontiersmen. William BEAN, James ROBERTSON & Jacob BROWN were all bringing settlers into the region. They also formed their own government which they called the Watauga Association. (All these frontier folks reportedly negotiated leases from the Cherokee who were actually living along the Little Tennessee. However, the Wataugans actually had no legal title to they lands they occupied until Richard HENDERSON of the Transylvania Land Company negotiated the questionable Henderson Purchase.) John SEVIER began as the clerk of the Watauga Association & quickly rose in both government & military leadership. In April 1775 the Revolutionary War began. In June General George WASHINGTON took command of the Continental armies; & the Watauga Association replaced their court system with a 13-member Committee of Safety. SEVIER was a prominent member of this group. He later drew up the memorial of the citizens of Watauga to the North Carolina legislature asking to be annexed. The petition was granted; and Tennessee became a county on North Carolina known as Washington district. John SEVIER & James ROBERTSON were at the Watauga Fort when it was attacked on 21 Jul 1776. At that time there were about 150 settlers staying there, including the garrison from Gillespie Station located below Jonesboro. Near the fort was a courthouse & jail erected by the Watauga Association. A second fort was later built “higher up Watauga on the north side” on land then owned by Valentine SEVIER Sr. From 1777 to 1780 John SEVIER served as county clerk and district judge. In 1779 SEVIER commanded the overmountain militia in innumerable Indian fights. With Colonel Isaac SHELBY, in 1780, SEVIER also planned the Battle of King’s Mountain, including raising 480 men for that campaign. Sarah Hawkins SEVIER died from childbirth complications in 1780. John SEVIER married Catharine “Bonnie Kate” SHERRILL that same year. On 25 Sep 1780 John SEVIER, some of his family members & more than 300 of his overmountain neighbors gathered at Sycamore Shoals (in Tennessee). Others there were patriots and soldiers from Virginia & North Carolina, about one thousand in all. The purpose was to answer threats in a message sent by British Major Patrick FERGUSON. On 7 October of that year the Americans met FERGUSON & the loyalist forces at King’s Mountain, South Carolina. The American’s overwhelming victory there was a turning point in the Revolutionary War. Eight detachments of militia surrounded the ridge. John SEVIER commanded that detachment of patriots from Washington County, North Carolina (eastern Tennessee). Two months later Sevier played a key role in the Battle of Boyd’s Creek. This time the fight was not against the British but against the Chero! kee. In 1781 SEVIER conducted several expeditions against the Chickamauga towns including Highwassee, Toquo Town, Choa, Tellico, Little Tuskeegee & Chestuee. SEVIER was a lead figure in peace negotiations with the Indians as well. Big Island was renamed Sevier’s Island in his honor. In 1783 SEVIER moved to the south bank of the Nolachucky at a place he called Mount Pleasant (Greene County). John SEVIER helped create the State of Franklin (in honor of Benjamin Franklin) in which SEVIER was named governor in 1785. Franklin soon dissolved however. It lasted less than three years. SEVIER went on as a Democrat from North Carolina to the First Congress in 1789. In 1791 SEVIER was appointed Brigadier General of militia for the Washington District of the Territory South of the Ohio. In 1793 SEVIER conducted the Etowah campaign against the Creek & Cherokee which brought peace along the French Broad & the Holston settlements for the rest of SEVIER’s life. In 1796 he served as the first governor of Tennessee. In 1798 he was appointed brigadier general of the Provisional Army. Then in 1803 he served another term as governor of Tennessee. From 1811 until his death in 1815 SEVIER served in the House of Representatives from Tennessee. John SEVIER died in 1815 near Fort Decatur, Alabama. At that time, he was fulfilling a presidential appointment as commissioner to determine the boundary between Georgia and the Creek territory in Alabama. In SEVIER’s military career he won thirty-three battles out of thirty-five.

Dear List manager. Please remove my John Sevier posr. It was a mistake. Thanks. Sheila Gibson

Thought this might be helpful to some of you.... MORE THAN YOU WANT TO KNOW ABOUT JOHN SEVIER by Sheila Gibson Saint Francis XAVIER was canonized in Rome in 1622, his direct descendant, Don Juan XAVIER (SEVIER) fled from Paris to London after the Edict of Nantes in 1685. This was John SEVIER’s grandfather; and he was a French Huguenot. John SEVIER’s father, Valentine SEVIER, was born in London, England, probably after 1708. He & his brother, William, ran away to America. They arrived in Baltimore in 1740. Valentine first settled near Harrisonburg, Rockingham County, in the Valley of Virginia. He married Joanna GOADE & became a tavern keeper and Indian trader. He founded the village of New Market of the Shenandoah, Virginia. John SEVIER was born there on 23 Sep 1745. Because of Indian troubles about 1755, the family spent two years in Fredericksburg where young John was able to attend school. When they returned to New Market, they found all they had built there in ruins. John helped his dad rebuild the home, the store & the tavern. He was also able to attend the Academy of Staunton. In 1761 John SEVIER married Sarah HAWKINS (whose sister married Davy CROCKETT’s father, John). SEVIER ran a store in Middletown, Virginia, for a time. In 1769 William BEAN built a cabin on Boone’s Creek near the Watauga River and several families joined him there. Carter’s River Valley followed in 1771 & another settlement on the Nolachucky followed in 1772. Collectively, this area became known as the Watauga Settlement. Also in 1772 Cherokee Chief “Old Abraham” led 700 warriors in an attack at Watauga Fort. It was then that the famous Nancy WARD told the white settlers about the plans. Old Abraham held the fort in siege for six days before with! drawing back to the Chillhowee mountains. John’s wife, Sarah HAWKINS, was “delicate” & never moved from eastern Virginia. On a visit to see his family in 1773, Virginia Governor John MURRAY, Lord Dunmore, invited John SEVIER on an expedition against the Shawnee, Miami, Wyandot & other tribes north of the Ohio River. John was appointed captain in the Virginia line. The Battle of Point Pleasant has been called “perilous and fearful”. Troops at Point Pleasant were attacked by a large body of Shawnee under Chief Cornstalk (Keigh-ugh-qua). Valentine SEVIER & James ROBERTSON distinguished themselves in that campaign. In December 1773 John SEVIER moved his family to the Keywood district on the north bank of the Holston River settlement (near his good friend Isaac SHELBY), then to the Watauga River in 1775 & once more to the south bank of the Nolachucky (Greene County). It was from this place that folks started calling him “Chucky Jack”. SEVIER was very popular among the frontiersmen. William BEAN, James ROBERTSON & Jacob BROWN were all bringing settlers into the region. They also formed their own government which they called the Watauga Association. (All these frontier folks reportedly negotiated leases from the Cherokee who were actually living along the Little Tennessee. However, the Wataugans actually had no legal title to they lands they occupied until Richard HENDERSON of the Transylvania Land Company negotiated the questionable Henderson Purchase.) John SEVIER began as the clerk of the Watauga Association & quickly rose in both government & military leadership. In April 1775 the Revolutionary War began. In June General George WASHINGTON took command of the Continental armies; & the Watauga Association replaced their court system with a 13-member Committee of Safety. SEVIER was a prominent member of this group. He later drew up the memorial of the citizens of Watauga to the North Carolina legislature asking to be annexed. The petition was granted; and Tennessee became a county on North Carolina known as Washington district. John SEVIER & James ROBERTSON were at the Watauga Fort when it was attacked on 21 Jul 1776. At that time there were about 150 settlers staying there, including the garrison from Gillespie Station located below Jonesboro. Near the fort was a courthouse & jail erected by the Watauga Association. A second fort was later built “higher up Watauga on the north side” on land then owned by Valentine SEVIER Sr. From 1777 to 1780 John SEVIER served as county clerk and district judge. In 1779 SEVIER commanded the overmountain militia in innumerable Indian fights. With Colonel Isaac SHELBY, in 1780, SEVIER also planned the Battle of King’s Mountain, including raising 480 men for that campaign. Sarah Hawkins SEVIER died from childbirth complications in 1780. John SEVIER married Catharine “Bonnie Kate” SHERRILL that same year. On 25 Sep 1780 John SEVIER, some of his family members & more than 300 of his overmountain neighbors gathered at Sycamore Shoals (in Tennessee). Others there were patriots and soldiers from Virginia & North Carolina, about one thousand in all. The purpose was to answer threats in a message sent by British Major Patrick FERGUSON. On 7 October of that year the Americans met FERGUSON & the loyalist forces at King’s Mountain, South Carolina. The American’s overwhelming victory there was a turning point in the Revolutionary War. Eight detachments of militia surrounded the ridge. John SEVIER commanded that detachment of patriots from Washington County, North Carolina (eastern Tennessee). Two months later Sevier played a key role in the Battle of Boyd’s Creek. This time the fight was not against the British but against the Cherokee. In 1781 SEVIER conducted several expeditions against the Chickamauga towns including Highwassee, Toquo Town, Choa, Tellico, Little Tuskeegee & Chestuee. SEVIER was a lead figure in peace negotiations with the Indians as well. Big Island was renamed Sevier’s Island in his honor. In 1783 SEVIER moved to the south bank of the Nolachucky at a place he called Mount Pleasant (Greene County). John SEVIER helped create the State of Franklin (in honor of Benjamin Franklin) in which SEVIER was named governor in 1785. Franklin soon dissolved however. It lasted less than three years. SEVIER went on as a Democrat from North Carolina to the First Congress in 1789. In 1791 SEVIER was appointed Brigadier General of militia for the Washington District of the Territory South of the Ohio. In 1793 SEVIER conducted the Etowah campaign against the Creek & Cherokee which brought peace along the French Broad & the Holston settlements for the rest of SEVIER’s life. In 1796 he served as the first governor of Tennessee. In 1798 he was appointed brigadier general of the Provisional Army. Then in 1803 he served another term as governor of Tennessee. From 1811 until his death in 1815 SEVIER served in the House of Representatives from Tennessee. John SEVIER died in 1815 near Fort Decatur, Alabama. At that time, he was fulfilling a presidential appointment as commissioner to determine the boundary between Georgia and the Creek territory in Alabama. In SEVIER’s military career he won thirty-three battles out of thirty-five.

Years ago I had found some little books on muster rolls that we're done later then others at Trenton. Somewhere I have copies of pages. There was a Briskie Corporal captured at Trenton by McCullough (Spelling?). This I'm trying to find out more about him. Could be one I'm looking for. God Bless Sandel [email protected]_ (mailto:[email protected]) Seattle

I just love to see the lists of the different troops come on line like this. it's so interesting. And I've been trying to find my ancestor in troops. So to me this is absolutely wonderful. Sandel [email protected]_ (mailto:[email protected]) Seattle

Hugh, I am new to the list. Worst than that, I have very little knowledge of the Rev. War and I am not sure what information you are seeking; however, I do have some documents that are for the VA 1st & 10th for the years of 1777-1778 that have some facts that might be of interested to you since you mentioned Claiborne W. Lawson's Company of the 1st Virginia Reg't. I am very interested in anything concerning the VA 1st & 10th. May 1777 1st Battalion Virginia Forces commanded by Col. Isaac Read. This company was designated at various times as Capt. Godrich Crump's and Capt. Claiborne W. Lawson's Company. They were at Middlebrook on June 9, 1777. They were at Morristown on July 16, 1777. Sept. 1, 1777 Capt. Crump's Co., 1st Virginia Reg't commanded by Lieut. Col. Green. This company was designated at various time as Capt. Goodrich Crumps and Cat. Claiborne W. Lawson's company. Oct. 9, 1777 Capt. Crump's co., 1st Virginia Reg't, commanded by Col. James Hendricks. The same company was designated at various times as Capt. Goodrich Crump's and Capt. Claiborne W. Lawson's Company. James Hendricks continues through Feb. 1778. April 4, 1778 Capt. Claiborne W. Lawson's Co., 1st Virginia Regiment commanded by Richard Parker. The same above mention Crupm and Lawson's company. Official personel record shows Regiment: 1 VA, 5th Division, 1st VA Bragade; Company: Claiborn W. Lawson.

> Major Henry (Light Horse Harry) Lee was the commander. > > The company/troop commanders were: > Captain Herd > Captain Payton > Captain S. Shaw > Captain Allan McLane > For what it's worth, Captain Herd is spelled (James) Heard in reality (he is a fourth level Great Uncle of mine.) From Woodbridge, New Jersey he was a son of Brig.Gen. Nathaniel Heard who was one of two Brigadiers reporting to Major Gen. Philemon Dickenson commanding the New Jersey Militia. General Heard, among other deeds, suppressed the Tories in Long Island and Staten Island areas around New York, and also arrested Benjamin Franklin's illegitimate son who was serving as Governor of New Jersey and transported him under arrest out of state. Captain James was wounded during the War and was greatly affected by the same after war's end. It was a common misspelling of Heard as Herd or Hurd in those days. Thanks, Dick in Las Vegas

Interesting. Maybe wanted to have enough so if someone got killed could take charge. That's very interesting question. Sandel [email protected]_ (mailto:[email protected]) Seattle

General Anthony Wayne was given command of the Corps of Light Infantry formed in June 1779. The Light Infantry (LI) Companies of the line regiments of the Main Army then in the New York Highlands were to be organized into 4 regiments of 2 battalion each. Each battalion was to be made up of four companies. This message concerns the VA contingent of the 1st LI Regiment. The 1st LI Regiment under command of Colonel Christian Febiger was assigned 6 VA companies and 2 PA companies. The 1st Battalion under Lt. Col. Louis de Fleury had 2 PA Cos. and 2 VA Cos. The 2nd Battalion under Major Thomas Posey was made up of 4 VA Cos. Known Captains of the VA Line in the 1st LI Regiment were: Captain Samuel Booker, 4th VA *Captain Robert Gamble, 8th VA Captain Gist Captain Glen Captain Hambleton Captain Claiborne Lawson, 1st VA Captain Gabriel Long, 11th VA Captain Archibalt Moon Captain Turner Morehead Captain Quass, 2nd VA Captain Clough Shelton, 6th VA Captain William Taylor, 2nd VA *Confirmed Company Commander, 1st LI Regiment These names were gleaned from historical records including individual pension applications by veterans of the Stony Point battle. DISCUSSION It is obvious that there are more Captains than the six required. But why? An explanation could be that the Captains of the LI companies of the 12 VA Continental Regiments not selected to command the six VA LI companies in the Corps of LI came as volunteers to be with their men. Anyone knowledgeable in this matter is invited to make a contribution. Best regards, Hugh

I too noticed that things are slow. I haven't been posting at all because of the job I am in but that will end in a week. I have always found that these lists are much busier in January and February while the weather is bad for many of us and the holiday hassles are over. To those I owe responses to please be advised that I will be back to you soon. Best Regards David Armstrong Elkins, WV

In a message dated 8/4/2005 10:02:32 PM Eastern Daylight Time, HFTHusma writes: General Orders Head Quarters, Smith's Tavern, Saturday, June 12, 1779. Parole Betwick. Countersigns Brest, Deane. The following formation of the three divisions of the Virginia, Maryland and Pennsylvania troops is immediately to take place for the present campaign: The 2nd. R.&F. [Rank and File] 5th. Virginia regiments to form one battn. and furnish one and an half comp. of L. Infantry 62. [number of men to be provided] 11th 7th. to form one battalion and furnish one company of Light Infantry 41. 8th. 103. 3rd to form one battalion. 4th. 6th. and to form one battalion and furnish two companies of Light Infantry 82. 2nd. St. Regt. Gist's and to form one battalion and furnish one company of Light Infantry 41. 1st. St. Regt. 1st. and to form one battalion and furnish half a company of Light Infantry 21. 10th 144. 1st. Maryld. Regt. to form one battalion and furnish one compy. of L. Infantry 41. 5th. to form one battalion. 7th. to form one battalion. 3rd. to form one battn. and furnish one compy. of Light Infantry 41. R.&F. [Rank and File] 2nd to form one battn. and furnish one company of L. Infantry 41. 6th. to form one battalion. 4th. to form one battn. and furnish one compy. of Light Infantry 41. The Delaware Regiment to form one battalion. 1st. Penns. Regts. to form one battn. and furnish one company of L. Infantry 41. 7th 10th. to form one battalion. 2nd. to form one battn. and furnish one company of Light Infantry 41. 3rd. and to form one battn. and furnish two companies of Light Infantry 82. 6th 9th. Penns. Regts. to form one battalion and furnish two companies of Light Infantry 82. 5th. The companies of Light Infantry are to be immediately drawn out agreeable to this proportion. The officers commanding regiments will be particularly careful in the choice of the men, which is a duty, the good of the service and the credit of their respective regiments equally demand; When it is considered that in every army the honor of a regiment and that of its Light Company are intimately connected, the officer commanding it cannot but be solicitous to furnish men that will support the reputation of his regiment. The companies from the several brigades will parade tomorrow morning 11 o'clock near the Maryland division, where the Adjutant General is desired to pass the men, their clothes, arms and accoutrements under a critical inspection, and return all who on any account shall appear unfit for this kind of service to their regiments to be replaced by others whom he shall approve. A Captain, Subaltern and three Serjeants are to be appointed to each company. __________ DISCUSSION- Though not stated, presumably because of security reasons, this was the General Order that formed the 1779 Corps of Light Infantry (LI). Its purpose was to form two regiments of light infantry using the 16 Light Infantry Companies from the Continental Regiments then in the Main Army. . Each company was to have 2 Officers, 3 Sergeants, 41 Privates. They were formed into battalions of 4 LI companies each. Battalions were to be two per regiment. The actual formation of the companies was slightly different from that prescribed, e. g, Captain Robert Gamble's LI Company was made up of men from the 7th and 8th VA Regiments. Note that the 7th and 8th VA Regts were to provide different companies in conjunction with other regiments. I assume this change took place during the selection of the men and their company commanders before the companies reported to the LI Corps. I note that the 2d VA State Regiment isn't cited in the GO although they are known to have provided men to the LI Corps. And the Delaware Regiment was not ordered to contribute to the LI organization. This leads to the idea that there was a general call for volunteers within the brigades throughout the Main Army then under overall command of General Washington in the Highlands of New York . Apparently, there was a judgment that the LI Corps needed to be a larger force. The 6th CT Regiment, a MA Battalion (6-7 Cos), and an NC Battalion (2 Cos) were added. The 6th CT Regiment was designated the 3rd LI Regiment within the Corps of LI, but the MA and NC Battalions were not formed into the 4th LI Regiment until after the action at Stony Point. Additionally, there was an Artillery Detachment of 24 men. The Artillerymen initially had two pieces of artillery, but the terrain was too difficult to move the guns to the action. The men were used with significant effect when the captured cannon were turned on the British ship nearby and on Verplank Point across the North (Hudson) River. There is mention of the possible use of Indians in the silencing of outpost and sentinels. Washington made wide use of Lee's Legion (a combination of Cavalry and Infantry) for early intelligence and security of the LI Corps. According to Major Harry Lee's description of the Stony Point action written several days after, two of his companies acted as reserve behind the committed forces. A larger reserve was provided by General Muhlenberg's VA Brigade. This brigade was to cover the withdrawal in the event the attack was unsuccessful. When General Washington conceived of the attack on Stony Point he wanted General Anthony Wayne to command the forces in the action. At the time Wayne was on leave and had to be recalled. The Corps of Light Infantry was being formed when Wayne arrived at Washington's headquarters. It appears that Colonel Richard Butler (PA) was nominally in command until General Wayne took over. Butler was designated to command the 2nd LI Regiment What is not apparent is the order that caused the LI of CT, MA, and NC to be organized. Of course, this information would make the account verifiable. As I scan the various sources including individual pension records of Stony Point veterans, I am adding to a list of Company Commanders in the Stony Point action. If a reader of this message has knowledge of such commanders, I would appreciate a note along with the source. Best, Hugh

Lee's Legion at Stony Point, NY 15-16 July 1779 The Legion consisted of four companies/troops at this time. There was a mix of infantry companies and cavalry troops. The mission was acting as the eyes and ears of the Main Army under General Washington. Major Henry (Light Horse Harry) Lee was the commander. The company/troop commanders were: Captain Herd Captain Payton Captain S. Shaw Captain Allan McLane Other known officers Lieut. Rudolf I would appreciate any additional information about these gentlemen and their units. Hugh

You know I need to go back into my MALET/MALLETT/MALETTE folder to find the folder with all the papers for his name . It is 4:00a.m. here in Torrance, CA I just got home from the hollywood Bowl about 2:00 a.m. so I need to shut down here for now but please bug me if I forget to return the answer to your question..anything else and I will look for all the answers. best of hunting,Mary Alice CRUMP/MUIR/BAILEY/MALETTE/LEWIS/Christiansen for the time being that is all I know. Tlak real soon.. best to you all.