Here's a recent article from the Genealogy Section of the Dallas Morning news. My ancestor, Charles Bodkin served in the 13th VA. As always, I'm interested in exchanging with anyone with ties to the 13th. Good Hunting! Mark Allen War service is often hard to trace Finding the service records of an ancestor in one of America's wars may not always bring the satisfying result you expected. A soldiers name, dates of service, unit and rank do not necessarily reveal where he was or what he actually did. You would need to reconstruct the history of the unit itself. Contrary to popular belief, records do not exist to indicate what soldiers saw action at any particular battle. Finding an ancestor who was with Gen, George Washington at Valley Forge during that six-month encampment in 1777-17778 is sure to bring an appreciation for your family's role in U.S. history. The soldiers numbered more then 30,000. The Rode Island soldiers were almost naked; the men from New Hampshire had no shoes. Joseph Lee Boyle had undertaken to identify those American veterans who were at Valley forge. His two previous books featured Connecticut and New Jersey. Death Seem'd to Stare: The New Hampshire and Rhode Island Regiments At Valley Forge is based upon his research in the original muster and payrolls in the National Archives, a microfilm copy may be found at the Dallas Public Library and the National Archives Southwest Branch in Fort Worth. With so many people responsible for the records, a soldier may appear under a variety of forms of his name, and Mr. Boyle does justice to the challenge of unifying the records. For example, Uriel Wilber was noted as dead in February 1778. He surfaced again, however, in June with the notation that he had been taken prisoner at the end of February. The use of the word invalid always poses problems to the uninitiated delving into military records. In such context, it means that the veteran had been injured in the service. Whether the trooper behind him was unable to stop on command and ran his bayonet into the back of his comrade, or the veteran ran from the enemy and was stabbed for his traitorous conduct, or he was wounded by the enemy is not always discernable in the records. The invalids were those who were unfit for regular duty but not sufficiently injured to be discharged. They could guard the prisoners and supplies. There were not veterans whose claim for pay was disallowed. Mr. Boyle arranged the 2,500 veterans in alphabetical order for each state. Since recruits were routinely assigned to vacancies in the ranks regardless of where they occurred, finding a veteran with the same name as ancestor does not prove that he was the man of that name from that state. More research would need to be done. For students of the Revolutionary War and for those seeking to become a member of the Descendants of Washington's Army at Valley Forge, Mr. Boyle's book is certainly one of the first works to consult. Copies are available for $22.50 plus $4 handling from Clearfield Publishing Co., 3600 Clipper Mill Road, Suite 260, Baltimore, MD 21211.

Mark and all, I have an ancestor that served from Kent Co., DE and, I believe, was at Valley Forge where he reportedly lost a portion of his foot in service there. Is there an email or address that I might use to correspond with Joseph Lee Boyle or does anyone have more information on his quest to document soldiers at Valley Forge? Also, I've never heard of the group, Descendants of Washington's Army at Valley Forge. Where would I find more information abaout this group? Thank you! Pat J. > For students of the Revolutionary War and for those seeking to become a > member of the Descendants of Washington's Army at Valley Forge, Mr. > Boyle's book is certainly one of the first works to consult. > > Copies are available for $22.50 plus $4 handling from Clearfield > Publishing Co., 3600 Clipper Mill Road, Suite 260, Baltimore, MD 21211.

Pat, Sorry, I can't be of direct help with any of your questions. I don't have the book or any contact information. Perhaps the publisher or an online search might produce more. I might also suggest just calling the Valley Forge Park. I've had success with Andersonville where I lost a great-grandfather. The park ranger was very helpful. Good hunting! Mark ----- Original Message ----- From: "Pat J." <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Wednesday, August 24, 2005 9:52 AM Subject: Re: [AMER-REV] Valley Forge > Mark and all, > > I have an ancestor that served from Kent Co., DE and, I believe, was at > Valley Forge where he reportedly lost a portion of his foot in service > there. > > Is there an email or address that I might use to correspond with Joseph Lee > Boyle or does anyone have more information on his quest to document soldiers > at Valley Forge? > > Also, I've never heard of the group, Descendants of Washington's Army at > Valley Forge. Where would I find more information abaout this group? > > Thank you! > > Pat J. > > > > For students of the Revolutionary War and for those seeking to become a > > member of the Descendants of Washington's Army at Valley Forge, Mr. > > Boyle's book is certainly one of the first works to consult. > > > > Copies are available for $22.50 plus $4 handling from Clearfield > > Publishing Co., 3600 Clipper Mill Road, Suite 260, Baltimore, MD 21211. > > > > ==== AMERICAN-REVOLUTION Mailing List ==== > List Mom for AMERICAN-REVOLUTION-L: > Diana Boothe [email protected] > > ============================== > New! Family Tree Maker 2005. Build your tree and search for your ancestors at the same time. Share your tree with family and friends. Learn more: http://landing.ancestry.com/familytreemaker/2005/tour.aspx?sourceid=14599&targetid=5429