Hi Janice, I also did some searches ... there are quite a few that will pop up and I thought this first one was of general interest. Jan ------------ Several published accounts indicate that these Oberlin brothers were all over six feet tall and served as bodyguards to General Washington. Analysis of the Pennsylvania Archives and war records do not support this assertion. These records are historically accurate, and also all the General's guards were, by directive, not over five feet ten inches tall. George didn't want to appear smaller than his men. It's also well documented that General Washington thought militiamen to be undisciplined, and although excellent fighters, not necessarily good soldiers. The Oberlins were possibly assigned to his service when he was in Lancaster, as part of their militia duties. Captain Henry Schaeffer (Schaefferstown) was reputed as "close" to George Washington. It may have been through Henry that the Oberlins were connected to the general. http://members.iquest.net/~sdo/history.htm The assembly of the various American and British re-enactment units is being coordinated by Capt. Sal Tarrantino of Farmington, leader of the Second Connecticut Regiment of Light Dragoons, which remains in commission and at the service of the governor of the state. The Regiment was raised in the Windsor and Farmington Valley area and included many Windsor men. They served as Gen. Washington's personal bodyguards and were with him through most of the War, including the Surrender at Yorktown. Because of the Windsor connection, Capt. Tarrantino has for some time wanted to produce a re-enactment in town. His unit will be joined by many other area re-enactment companies, all portraying their members in meticulous historic detail. http://www.ctssar.org/branches/wolcott.htm

There's another interpretation that might be placed on you"facts"...if , indeed, they are true...about any height requirements. I haven't seen them...but I haven't seen everything. George Washington was a very tall man ...at least 6'2"....perhaps 6'4" He did not have to worry about his stature (good Viking blood). He did have to be concerned that his men could see him and any directions he might give via hand gestures. Washington often lead from the front and seemed to consider it imperative that his troops could see him. Of course, that visbility also made him a better target for the enemy as well. Please differentiate between fact and supposition when posting...if you can cite your source, I would like to know what it was. Thank you, ~malinda Jan Heiling wrote: > Hi Janice, > > I also did some searches ... there are quite a few that will pop up and > I thought this first one was of general interest. > Jan > ------------ > Several published accounts indicate that these Oberlin brothers were all > over six feet tall > and served as bodyguards to General Washington. Analysis of the > Pennsylvania Archives > and war records do not support this assertion. These records are > historically accurate, and > also all the General's guards were, by directive, not over five feet ten > inches tall. George > didn't want to appear smaller than his men. It's also well documented > that General > Washington thought militiamen to be undisciplined, and although > excellent fighters, not > necessarily good soldiers. The Oberlins were possibly assigned to his > service when he was > in Lancaster, as part of their militia duties. Captain Henry Schaeffer > (Schaefferstown) was > reputed as "close" to George Washington. It may have been through Henry > that the > Oberlins were connected to the general. > http://members.iquest.net/~sdo/history.htm > > The assembly of the various American and British re-enactment units is > being > coordinated by Capt. Sal Tarrantino of Farmington, > leader of the Second > Connecticut Regiment of Light Dragoons, which remains > in commission and at the > service of the governor of the state. The Regiment was > raised in the Windsor and > Farmington Valley area and included many Windsor men. > They served as Gen. > Washington's personal bodyguards and were with him > through most of the War, > including the Surrender at Yorktown. Because of the > Windsor connection, Capt. > Tarrantino has for some time wanted to produce a > re-enactment in town. His unit > will be joined by many other area re-enactment > companies, all portraying their > members in meticulous historic detail. > http://www.ctssar.org/branches/wolcott.htm > > ==== AMERICAN-REVOLUTION Mailing List ==== > > ============================== > Search over 1 Billion names at Ancestry.com! > http://www.ancestry.com/rd/rwlist1.asp

Hi Malinda, malinda wrote: > There's another interpretation that might be placed on you"facts"...if , > indeed, they are true...about any height requirements. I haven't seen > them...but I haven't seen everything. > Please differentiate between fact and supposition when posting...if > you can cite your source, I would like to know what it was. <snip> Sorry ... I thought it was clear in my thread to Janice that we were talking about www searches. The two that I included in the post are excerpts from the websites indicated at the end of each excerpt, so that those with interest could go and read. The first one being what the genealogist had found for their ancestor and their interpretation of it. Jan > > > Thank you, > ~malinda > > Jan Heiling wrote: > > > Hi Janice, > > > > I also did some searches ... there are quite a few that will pop up and > > I thought this first one was of general interest. > > Jan > > ------------ > > Several published accounts indicate that these Oberlin brothers were all > > over six feet tall > > and served as bodyguards to General Washington. Analysis of the > > Pennsylvania Archives > > and war records do not support this assertion. These records are > > historically accurate, and > > also all the General's guards were, by directive, not over five feet ten > > inches tall. George > > didn't want to appear smaller than his men. It's also well documented > > that General > > Washington thought militiamen to be undisciplined, and although > > excellent fighters, not > > necessarily good soldiers. The Oberlins were possibly assigned to his > > service when he was > > in Lancaster, as part of their militia duties. Captain Henry Schaeffer > > (Schaefferstown) was > > reputed as "close" to George Washington. It may have been through Henry > > that the > > Oberlins were connected to the general. > > http://members.iquest.net/~sdo/history.htm > > > > The assembly of the various American and British re-enactment units is > > being > > coordinated by Capt. Sal Tarrantino of Farmington, > > leader of the Second > > Connecticut Regiment of Light Dragoons, which remains > > in commission and at the > > service of the governor of the state. The Regiment was > > raised in the Windsor and > > Farmington Valley area and included many Windsor men. > > They served as Gen. > > Washington's personal bodyguards and were with him > > through most of the War, > > including the Surrender at Yorktown. Because of the > > Windsor connection, Capt. > > Tarrantino has for some time wanted to produce a > > re-enactment in town. His unit > > will be joined by many other area re-enactment > > companies, all portraying their > > members in meticulous historic detail. > > http://www.ctssar.org/branches/wolcott.htm > > > > ==== AMERICAN-REVOLUTION Mailing List ==== > > > > ============================== > > Search over 1 Billion names at Ancestry.com! > > http://www.ancestry.com/rd/rwlist1.asp

Someone said: "...all the General's guards were, by directive, not over five feet ten inches tall. George didn't want to appear smaller than his men..." What diective was that? Do you have a citation? Best regards, Ed -- For Revolutionary War information on the Internet, your first choice should be AMERICANREVOLUTION.ORG