"The Essence of Innumerable Biographies." Information Collected for a Study of Continental Army Nine-Months Levies in 1778 John U. Rees Winston Churchill, in his writings asserted that the "story of the human race is War." Although not strictly true, conflict (military, political, and social) is one of history's mainstays and social interaction is always an inherent part of such conflict. Henry Steele Commager noted that Churchill might have agreed with the philosopher Carlyle that history "is the essence of innumerable biographies." This, perhaps, is close to the heart of this study of the nine-months levies, their service, and the impact they had on the Continental Army and the American experience. (Winston S. Churchill, Marlborough: His Life and Times, Henry Steele Commager, ed. (New York, N.Y., 1968), pp. xxvii-xxviii.) "Head Qrs. Fredericksb.g 27:th Octobr. 1778 Return of the Number of Men whose term of Service will expire between this time and the Spring." North Carolina 733 Virginia Woodford's Brigade 324 Scott's do 188 Muhlenberg's do 284 796 Maryland 1st: Brigade 213 2nd: do 213 426 New York Clintons Brigade 313 Connecticut Parson's do 204 Huntingdons do 8 212 Massachusetts Nixon's do 357 Pattersons do 504 late Learneds do 311 Glovers at Rhode Island no Return 1172 Rhode Island No Return New Hampshire Poors Brigade 27 New Jersey No return but General Maxwell is supplied with money to inlist as many as possible. Pennsylvania All her troops inlisted for the War Delaware inlisted for 3 Years or the War Wood's Regt. of Massachusetts inlisted for 9 Ms. Poor's do do (Papers of the Continental Congress, roll 168, p. 431.) Miscellaneous Equipment, Spring 1778 "Sir: The state of our Elaboratories contained in yours of the 29th is sufficiently alarming The Iron Cannisters should be by all means carried on. They will upon an emergency serve instead of the Cartouch Box and will always carry spare ammunition perfectly secure from Rain, and save tin of which the former ones were made." Washington to the Board of War, 1 May 1778, Fitzpatrick, Writings of George Washington, vol. ( ), 334. "Gentn.: I have lately received 1900 Stand of Arms from the Eastward, which will nearly, if not quite compleat the number of Men who are at present in want. But we are exceedingly distressed for Cartouch Boxes. By an exact return made a few days ago 1700 were wanting for the new Recruits, and to replace the old ones, worn out in the last Campaign. Since this a number of Recruits from New York and Maryland have arrived. The Deputy Commissary of Stores informs me, that Lebanon will furnish about 150 pr. Week. The supply from that quarter will be so slow that we must not put any dependence upon it. I do not know what quantity has been made at Springfield, but Genl. Knox inform'd me, that the manufactory there would be considerable; I shall be much obliged by your dispatching an Express to that place, with orders to send forward what are ready, with the utmost dispatch. In the mean time, if you have a number of the thin Iron Cannisters finished, be pleased to have them sent down, as they will serve as a substitute for leather Boxes." Washington to the Board of War, 6 June 1778, Fitzpatrick, Writings of George Washington, vol. ( ), 25-26. A Sidelight to Rhode Island's Alternative to the Draft "Colo. Greene's Reg." of Rhode Island: "This from its Numbers can hardly be called a Regiment consisting only of 147 Negroes in very bad Order. The Non Commiss[ioned] Officers are very bad which must always be the case as they being white Men cannot be reduced or their places supplied from the Ranks - It were to be desired that the state would keep this Regiment with them & replace it in the Line with one of their state Regiments" Following this is a description of Colonel Israel Angell's Regiment from the same state. The return shows 295 rank and file. "This Regiment is on the new Establishment the Companies nearly equal & in general in good order & can form a Batallion in the Line" At the end of this report it is further noted, "Of the Rhode Island Regiments only Angells can be called a Regiment. Colo Greens cannot form a Batn until recruited with 150 Negroes & then some other arrangement must be made for supplying it with Non Com Officers""Return of the Brigade of Foot Commanded by Brigadier General Stark ... Sept. 6 1779", (miscellaneous records), Revolutionary War Rolls, reel 136. Pension Depositions and Muster Roll Data (etc.) for the the 1778 Nine Months Levies: Virginia, North Carolina, New Hampshire, New York, Massachusetts, Maryland New Jersey "A Return of the Second Jersey Regt: taken from the muster Rolls for Febry. 1779" Drummers Rank & & Companys Sergt. fifers file Total Discharged Colonels Compy. 4 6 32 42 7 Lieut Colonels Do. 3 1 33 37 29 Majors Do. 4 1 40 45 -- Capt. Hollinshead Do. 3 2 35 40 17 Capt. Cumming Do. 3 2 32 37 16 Capt. Readings Do. 4 1 34 39 28 Capt. Bowmans Light Infantry 3 1 53 57 -- Capt. Phillips compy 4 2 36 42 20 Capt. Helms Do. 4 1 35 40 33 32 13 334 379 150 "A Return of the Second Jersey Regt: taken from the muster Rolls for Febry. 1779," Israel Shreve Papers, New Jersey Room, Special Collections, Rutgers University. Virginia "Return of Draughts and Substitutes from the State of Virginia," 23 May 1778 Officers under whom left upon they marched Joined Deserted the Road Total Lieut Campbell 6 22 28 --(these deserters had been drafted for 3 years under the old law) Capt Crocket 7th. Regt. 23 1 24 Capt Posey do. 34 1 35 Lieut Wallace do. 13 1 14 Capt Hill do. 13 1 1 15 Lieut Whiting Thruston's 8 8 Capt Fauntleroy 5th. 25 25 Lieut Martin 5th. 39 39 Lieut Martin 9th. 21 2 2 25 Capt Mercer 3d. 6 6 Capt Cunningham 1st. 101 11 112 Capt Bryan 12th. 24 24 Ensign Green 14th. 24 24 Capt Clark 8th. 21 21 Lieut Cobbs 2d. 22 22 Lieut Collis 4th. 49 2 5 56 Lieut Stubblefield 6th. 32 32 Lieut Carrington 7th. 82 1 6 89 Lieut Williams 13 1 3 17 Capt Clark 8th. 21 21 Ensign [Currell?] 5th. 9 1 10 Lieut Ewell 1st. State 9 1 10 Lieut Walker 12th. 29 3 2 34 Lieut Scott 15th. 83 8 91 Capt Buford 2nd. State 9 8 17 716 42 41 799 "Return of Draughts and Substitutes from the State of Virginia," 23 May 1778, George Washington Papers, series 4, reel 49. "Sir: I take the liberty to transmit to you a Return of the Drafts and Substitutes from the State of Virginia, which have joined the Army. By this you will perceive how far short we are at this time in the reinforcements expected; and what is still more unfortunate, I cannot learn from any information, I have been able to obtain upon the subject, from gentlemen who have travelled on most of the Routes leading from the State, that there are any more, or at best, that the number following is exceedingly small. The Return is not so correct and particular as I could wish it, and therefore I have directed another to be made, which will specify the Counties from whence these Drafts and Substitutes came and shew their respective deficiencies. This I will transmit by the next Opportunity. None of the drafts made under the first Law are comprehended in the present return, nor can I ascertain what number of them ever reached Camp. I believe it was very inconsiderable and trifling. It pains me much to trouble you upon so disagreeable a subject, and nothing but duty and the necessity of the case, could have induced me to do it. There is certainly something wrong, the drafts do not come on, and our condition is but very little better, from any new aids we have received, than it was before. "Washington to Patrick Henry, Governor of Virginia, 23 May 1778, Fitzpatrick, Writings of George Washington, vol. ( ), 438-439. "Dr. Sir: In my last of the 23d Inst. I inclosed you the best ascertained account of the draughts and Substitutes obtained from the State of Virginia, which could be procured at that time. I have since discriminated and classed the Recruits from each County, as draughted under the old and new law, that have joined me and now send you an exact return." Washington to Patrick Henry, Governor of Virginia, 30 May 1778, Fitzpatrick, Writings of George Washington, vol. ( ), 490. North Carolina Miscellaneous information on N.C. militia (possibly 1778 levies) "Salem Diary," 1778, Records of the Moravians in North Carolina (North Carolina Historical Commission, full citation not at hand), 1204, 1232-1241. Resolve of the N.C. State House, 30 April1778: clothing to be furnished by the counties for the N.C. troops destined to serve in the northern states. The State Records of North Carolina, vol. 12 (1777-1778), no page numbers. (Note: Pension depositions have yet to be found for North Carolina nine-months men who served in New York in autumn/winter of 1778-1779.) Charles Regan, private, enlisted "... he volunteered on the 25th day of May 1778 for nine months, in Granville County, State of North Carolina & was placed under the command of Captain Ralph Williams a Continental officer and was marched by him to Peytonsburgh in Hallifax County State of Virginia, and there was put under the command of Col Armstrong; the regiment remained at that place three weeks or more & was then marched to Moon's Creek Cadwell County ... North Carolina, where the troops were stationed five weeks or more. At Moon's Creek I inlisted in the North Carolina line between the 20th & 25th days of August 1778 for nine months, from the 1st day of March next after to rendevous at Granville Court house North Carolina on that day, & upon this inlistment received furlough from that time to said 1st day of March; accordingly on the 1st day of March 1779 I appeared at Granville Court house N.C. & was placed under the Command of Captain John [Fauer or Faner] an officer chosen by the soldiers, and was marched through Hillsboro, & Salisbury to Charlotte North Carolina, and at Salisbury or Charlotte a regular officer called a Lieut by the name of Charles Dexson took command of the company and marched it to Horse Creek in South Carolina, headquarters of Genl Lincoln; at that place I was placed in the company commanded by Captain Taylor in the regiment commanded by Col [Thorton or Horton], and in a few days was marched to Golfen's Fort, where a soldier was shot as a deserter & in a few days after was marched in the army of Generals Lincoln & Sumner about two days in the State of Georgia, then across the Savannah River, to Edisto river South Carolina, and about the 20th May a British Lieutt with fifteen privates & two waggons loaded with provisions was taken by our army (this man served his entire nine month term in the south) New Hampshire Only a single levy was found to be serving with the New Hampshire regiments. Muster roll of Capt. Frye's Co. of Col. Joseph Cilley's 1st New Hampshire Regt. for September 1778. John Palmer, private, enlisted 26 April 1778: "In the year 1778 I inlisted for nine months into Capt. Frye's company I think Col. Reid's regiment and Gen. Poor's Brigade of the New Hampshire Line. I joined the army at a place called the White Plains in the State of New York sometime in the month of June or July and during said time I was at Danbury & Hartford in the State of Connecticut and went into winter quarters at a place called Reding in that state. At the end of the nine months I received my pay and a pass to return home to New Hampshire." New York "Sir: I am this day favd. with yours of Yesterday. What Men are now upon their way to Easton may be sent from thence to join their Regiments now here. Those that remain in the State may, as you advise, be delivered as they are collected to Colo. Dubois's Regiment. That Regiment was much reduced by the loss it sustained at the Storm of Fort Montgomery and Col Gansevoort's [regiment] which is at Fort Schuyler [and] is very full." (Jonathan Lawrence was one of the New York Commissioners for completing the New York battalions) Washington to Jonathan Lawrence, 6 June 1778, Fitzpatrick, Writings of George Washington, vol. ( ), 26. 1st New York Regiment, Col. Goose Van Schaik. Muster roll of Capt. Copp's Company, 9 September 1778. 53 N.C.O.'s and rank and file for three years or the war. 0 nine-months men. Muster roll of Capt. Finck's Company, 9 September 1778. 46 N.C.O.'s and rank and file for three years or the war. 0 nine-months men. Muster roll of Capt. Graham's Company, 9 September 1778. 47 N.C.O.'s and rank and file for three years or the war. 0 nine-months men. Muster roll of Capt. Hick's Company, 9 September 1778. 55 N.C.O.'s and rank and file for three years or the war. 1 private for nine months Muster roll of Capt. Neck's Company, September 1778. 54 N.C.O.'s and rank and file for three years or the war. 2 privates for nine months Muster roll of Capt. McCraken's Company, 12 September 1778. 54 N.C.O.'s and rank and file for three years or the war. 2 privates for nine months Thomas Jurden (Jordan); claimed to have served for one year in 1775 in Captain McCracken's Company of the 1st New York, the same in which he served as a nine- month levy in 1778. At the expiration of his nine month term he received his discharge at Fort Stanwix, "shortly after [he] again Enlisted at Albany in the Batteaux Service ... for nine months ..." Muster roll of the 6th. Company (Lt. Houghkirk), 9 September 1778. 77 N.C.O.'s and rank and file for three years or the war. 1 private for nine months Muster roll of the 7th. Company (Lt. Sherwood), 9 September 1778. 46 N.C.O.'s and rank and file for three years or the war. 0 nine-months men. 2nd New York Regiment, Col. Philip Cortlandt. Muster roll of the 2nd. Co. (Lt. Abner French), 10 September 1778. 26 N.C.O.'s and rank and file for three years or the war. 24 privates for nine months John Bartholomew, enlisted 5 May 1778. "... he served as a privet soldier from the time of his enlistment till the Close of the Revolutionary war ... he entered the Service ... in April [1778] for nine months ... at the end of the term ... he then enlisted during the war ... and was at the taking of Corn Walis at York Town and several other engagements ..." George Boyd (Boyde), enlisted 5 May 1778. Served in the New York militia in 1776 and 1777. In 1778 "he enlisted at Lansingburgh [in the 2nd New York Regiment] ... that immediately on his so enlisting ... for the Term of nine months he was mustered at East Town and march[ed] from East Town to Valley Forge & joined the Army at that place ... and from thence march'd to White Plains ... and from thence to Peakskill, and from thence to Mumbanckus in Ulster County at which place [he] ... was discharge[d] ... he was paid for the last nine months and ten days service in Continental money and ... he gave all of his said pay to purchase one pair of old shoes and stockings ... [Boyd] was born in Hachensack State of West Jersey in 1760 ..." John Carman, enlisted 5 May 1778. At the time of his service Carman was married and had three children. William King, enlisted 5 May 1778. King "Enlisted in the year 1776 as Drummer in Capt Wilcox Compy - Colo Lashers Regt New York Troops 1st Regt [for one year] ... also Enlisted as drummer in the spring of 1777 in Captn Wicoffs Compy N.York Troops - was stationed at Fort Constitution on Husdons River ... he Enlisted as private Soldier in the spring of the year 1778 ... Colo. Courtland. Regt. New York line 2d Regt. in Genl. Poors Brigade ... was at the Battle of Monmouth - was discharged at the Huts above West Point when in Winter quarters - in 1780 Enlisted as drummer in ... Colo. Wisenvelts Regt. ... under Gen. Starks in the Northern Campaign at Crown Point - Saratoga &c ..." George Rapp, enlisted 5 May 1778. 1820 declaration: " ... in the spring preceding the battle of Monmouth he was raised as a Class Man for nine months ... he was discharged at Mombackus in Ulster County ... in the month of March in the year [1779]" In another declaration he stated that "he was in the battle of Monmouth being in the detachment commanded by General Lee" Ichabod Shaw, enlisted 5 May 1778. Shaw served "in the year 1775 in the Regiment of Col Samuel H Parsons of the Connecticut line [6th Regiment] ... Eight months / [During] 1776 in the Regiment of Coll James M Varnum of the Rhode Island line [9th Continental Regiment] ... one year and in AD 1778 in the Regiment of Col. Philip Van Courtland of the York line ..." Muster roll of the 3rd. Co. (Capt. Graham), 10 September 1778. 18 N.C.O.'s and rank and file for three years or the war. 1 sergeant and 6 privates for nine months Ebenezer Phelps, enlisted ?. Phelps first served two months in the autumn of 1776 in and around White Plains, New York and then three months from December 1776 to March 1777 at Fort Ticonderoga. In the summer of 1777 he again was in the militia, the first term for three weeks, being discharged in July. After serving at Fort Ann "he was discharged at Stillwater ... and returned home for the purpose of collecting his harvest [and] remained at home about three weeks when he entered said service again in ... Col ___ Watermans Regiment [of militia] ... he marched ... to Stillwater ... [and] from thence to Bemis heights thence to Fish Creek ... after the surrender of Gen Burgoine he removed to Albany, where he remined until the first of February AD 1778 - that he entered said service about the middle of August AD 1777 - that he served most of the time as waiter to Col Waterman, and Doct Hosea Hamilton Surgeon of said Regiment ... about the month of April AD 1778 he again entered the service ... at the town of New Canaan ... in the company commanded by Captain Graham ... & joined ... the Regiment of Col Philip Cortland at Valley Forge ..." Muster roll of the 4th. Co. (Capt. Pell), 10 September 1778. 29 N.C.O.'s and rank and file for three years or the war. 1 corporal and 23 privates for nine months William Scott, enlisted 5 May 1778. "... he was born in Kinderhook - Duchess County ... in Sept 1748 ... he entered the service of the United States ... in July 1775 he inlisted in Albany ... for six months ... in Col. Van Schaiks Regt & marched to Isle of Nox fifteen Miles From St Johns in lower Canada & Continued in the service ... untill March 1776 ... during this tour he was sent with others by Genl Montgomery from the Isle of Nox with sick soldiers in Batteaus to Ticonderoga ... he again entered the service ... at Ticonderoga ... for six months ... & was discharged in Novr 1776 by Genl Gates ... during the last mentioned tour he was in an engagement with the enemy at three Mile Point the enemy having landed there & was in two Squrrmishes [sic] previous to this ... he again entered the service as a Volunteer ... in April 1777 as quarter Master ... in a Regt Commanded by Col Abraham [Alstim?] we were called for the Northern Army & was at the taking of the Brittish redoubt at Stillwater & at the taking of the Hessian encampment at Still water and at the taking of Burgoyne at Saratoga & then assisted the Commissioners in the winter in Albany County ... in taking property that belonged to tories that had Joined the Enemy & then went as an officer ... to Search for Robers & tories & took a Number of them & continued in Service until the latter part of the wimter 1778 & was out of the Service a few days & again Enlisted ... in Kinderhook ... for nine Months - he was enlisted to fill up the Standing Forces & went to Albany to be Mustered ... he was appointed as quarter Master for the party & Served as such from Albany to Valley Forge ... during the last mentioned term of Service he went with Genl Arnold to Philadelphia and assisted in Driving the British from the City & from there he went to Valley Forge & from there he marched to Mnomouth & was in the battle of Monmouth & from there he marched to White Plains & from there he marched to Fishkill & from there to Ulster County" where he received a furlough and finished his nine-month term. In 1779 he served as quartermaster "for the Wagoners of Columbia County ... [who were] engaged in Carrying Provisions & baggage for the army to Otsego Lake ... that were to descend the River to join the army of General Sullivan at Tioga point ..." Muster roll of the 5th. Co. (Lt. Gilbert Livingston), 10 September 1778. 23 N.C.O.'s and rank and file for three years or the war. 23 privates for nine months Eliab Eggleston (Eagleston), enlisted 5 May 1778. Eggleston served several months in the militia in 1776; in 1777 "about the first of May ... [he enlisted] as a substitute ... and was marched to Greenbush, where his company and the others called out at that time ... were formed into a regiment and placed under the command of Col Henry Livingston - He was then marched to the place now called Landingburgh, where with his regiment he crossed the river onto the Island between the two sprouts of the Mohawk river, on which Island were stationed several brigades ... He remained there about two months when pursuant to orders, his regiment crossed the North Sprout of the Mohawk and was marched to Bemitts [i.e., Bemis's] Heighttes, where his regiment was under the command of Gen Poor ... The whole under the command of Gen Gates - He was then marched to Capt Woodworth's meadow where he lay near Gen Gates head quarters until the first battle commenced when his regiment and the regiment under the command of Col John McKinstry were sent to protect the garrison on ploughed hill, where they lay until two battles were fought 'called among the soldiers Fridays battle and Tuesdays battle' and the British retreated to Saratoga, which was on the second day after the last battle was fought. He then in company with the Main army pursued the enemy to Schuylers Mills where he was engaged in the siege of Burgoyne's army until, as he thinks, the 17th of Oct when the enemy surrendered - Soon after [Eggleston's regiment] ... was marched down to Rhinebeck ... [and] was discharged ... This claimant ... [was] drafted, at Nobletown in the ... county of Albany ... in the early part of April A.D. 1778 and was marched to the place on the North River, now called Hudson, where he with his company went on board boats and proceeded down the river to Coopers Strand and lay there about a week - He was thence marched to Morristown in New Jersey and thence through Moravian town, Bethlehem, Easttown & Schuykill to Valley Forge Pennsylvania where were Genl. Pattersons Brigade and others ... [he] was there attached to Col Cortlandts regiment, and with the other recruits was inoculated for the small pox - Soon after his arrival at Valley Forge, all the troops who were able to bear arms were ordered to march to intercept the British on their way from Philadelphia to New York - This claimant, being declared by the surgeon unable to go, remained until about the first of August being confined with the small pox and yellow fever - He was then with [the] other sick, carried to Yellow Springs and placed in the Hospital and remained there and in that vicinity until in October, when having recovered his health, he marched across Carrells [Coryell's] ferry to Morristown in New Jersey, thence to Kings ferry and thence to White Plains, where he joined the Company ... He remained there about one month, when he was agin taken sick and was sent to Albany where he remained until about the first of January A.D. 1779 when he received a written discharge from Doct Smith of the Hospital at said Albany ... he again left Nobletown between the 20th and 30th of March 1779 and went to Soldiers Fortune, where he joined the Company under the command of Capt Nathl. Dixon ... which company belonged to the regiment under the command of Col Henry Jackson ... and to the brigade of Genl. Learned ... in April ... he was marched down to Peekskill, where Genl. Putnam had the command of the forces assembled, among which this claimant recollects Gen Patterson's brigade and the regiments of Col Bailey and of Col Michael Jackson - While there Lieut Smith a spy of the enemy was detected in the camp, was tried and suffered punishment - Previous to his execution which was performed by bending down an oak sapling and fastening the culprit to it and suffering it to spring back by its own elasticity, this claimant well recollects hearing Gen Putnam declare in strong terms, that the enemy demanded Smith and that they should have him, but he would hang him first - After remaining a short time at Peekskill, [Eggleston] with his regiment was marched to Robinson's Farm on the North River and crossed ... to West Point, where was Gen Washington's head quarters at that time and where ... the Main army was assembled - He remained there until the latter part of June, when Genl. Washington called for a number of volunteers from each regiment to go on a private expedition - This claimant volunteered as one from his regiment and went down under command of Capt Johnson and joined Gen Wayne at the English neighborhood - There Capt Johnson's company was attached to a regiment under the command of Col Meigs - of the other officers there this claimant now recollects Col Febiger Col Fleury, Col Butler and Major Murphy - He remained there until the afternoon of the 14th of July and then was marched to Long Clove, a niche in the mountain - In the afternoon of the 15th about 4 o'clock the army under command of Gen Wayne marched to Flemmings and lay there until about 12 oclock at night, when it crossed a bridge over a marsh and advanced upon Stony point - Immediately after crossing the bridge the picquette guard of the enemy fired upon Waynes army - Gen Waynes army advanced in two columns, one led by Col febiger and the other by Col Butler and immediately took the fort while a third column led by an officer unknown ... advanced from a different direction and took two redoubts situate[d] a short distance from the fort - In this battle this claimant received a wound in the head from a bayonet the marks of which are still perceptible i.e., in 1832] - Immediately after the capture of the Fort, its guns were turned upon the British shipping which lay in the River opposite the Fort - After the battle, this claimant remained a short time in Col Meigs regiment and then returned to West Point and again joined the regiment under ... Col Henry Jackson ... While there he was engaged in several scouting parties and remained ... until the first of January A.D. 1780 ... This claimant further stated that he was born at Stonington in Connecticut in March A.D. 1762 ..." Muster roll of the 6th. Co. (Capt. Jacob Wright), 10 September 1778. 38 N.C.O.'s and rank and file for three years or the war. 15 privates for nine months Muster roll of the 7th. Co. (Capt. Jonathan Hallett), 10 September 1778. 38 N.C.O.'s and rank and file for three years or the war. 7 privates for nine months Jedediah Darrow, enlisted 5 May 1778. "... during the Revolutionary War he resided in Spencer Town in the Stat of New York ... about the first of April 1778 there was a draft out at Spencer Town and this declarant was drafted and sent to Valley Forge in the State of Pennsylvania where they joined General Washingtons Army ... They soon pursued after the British through the State of New Jersey to Monmouth. at Monmouth the well known battle took place but their Regiment was not in the engagement. the day of the engagement their Regiment was six miles from the Scene of action and did not get up until the battle was over. this declarant was on the sick list and was not with the Regiment. After the Battle the American Army Marched to White Plains in New York where they encamped. soon after they got to White Plains he went in a detachment to Norwalk in Connecticut, where they staid about two weeks and then returned to White Plains this decalrant was taken sick and sent to Albany to the Hospital where he remained until the fore part of February, when he was discharged from the hospital and joined his regiment at Warsink below [Mumbackus?] where they had gone into Winter quarters ... where he remained until discharged ... in the Spring of 1779 ... the Malitia being Classed the Class to which he belonged was called on to furnish one man he then Volunteered ... and went to Albany ... from there they went to Schoharry on the Mohawk where they joined a Company of Malitia commanded by a Lieutenant Vroman, where they remained Stationed three Month ... his time of service expired about the time that a part of the Continental Army passed over from the Mohawk to Otsego Lake to join General Sullivans Army and this declarant enlisted as Volunteer under Captain Alexander Harper, for the Campaign and went with the Army, to the outlet of Otsego lake and went down the Susquehannah about forty Miles to a place called Youcoms Plantation and then returned to the foot of the Lake, Where he was taken sick, and received a pass to return home ... he served under Captain Harper about six weeks to the time he got home." Muster roll of the 8th. Co. (Capt. Lownsberry), September 1778. 22 N.C.O.'s and rank and file for three years or the war. 1 fifer and 23 privates for nine months ************************************ John Van Demark, private Captain Edward Lownsberry's Company, 2nd New York Regiment Commanded by Colonel Philip Van Cortlandt.2 Supplementary Pension Declaration, 20 February 1837. Andries Davis, another private in Van Demark's regiment, enlisted 1 May 1778. In support of the claim of Van Demark's widow he related the following: "... he was well acquainted with John Van Demark [private, 1 May 1778] ... in the Year 1778, the Spring or Beginning of Summer said Deponent and ... John Van Demark were drafted into the army ... for Nine Months in order to fill up Cortlandt's Regiment - went from Marbletown through Orange County and New Jersey to Easton in Pensylvania from thence to Valley Forge where we joined Cortlandt's Regiment ... after laying at Valley Forge for some time, the British who was in Philadelphia moved off - we crossed the Delaware, and pursued them, overtook them at Monmouth and had a Battle - when the rest of the Army was Engaged in the Battle, the Regiment to which said Deponent and said Van Demark belonged was kept in reserve in the edge of the woods - Major [Nicholas] Fish [2nd New York Regiment] came up and ordered us to prime and Load as the Enemy were advancing - we did so ... Van Demark was in the same Company and Platoon ... when the order was given by Major Fish, Capt. Lounsberry addressed Van Demark (who was in his platoon and near him) and asked him "How do you feel[?]" he answered with great resolution "good' - after the battle we was marched to White Plains in WestChester County where we laid for some time and served as scouts - from thence our regiment was ordered and marched to Fish Kill, where we laid a few days, and then marched on to Poughkeepsie where we crossed the River and marched through New Paltz to Rochester and [Wanwarfing?] on the Frontier in Ulster County, and there served for some time when that part of the Regiment composed of Drafted men was discharged ... some time towards the first of March 1779 ..." In his own pension deposition Andries Davis related that "... in the fall of the year 1777 he Enlisted or Volunteered as a private Soldier in the Militia Service ... [and] Served part of the time near Kingston Landing in the County of Ulster gaurding the Prisoners on board the prison Vessels lying in the Roudout Creek, remained there untill the British came to Kingston when he and [his] company were sent to Marbletown ... to continue to gaurd the prisoners there ... in the Spring of the year 1778 he again volunteered ... [he] entered the Company at Marbletown. Marched ... to Valley Forge and there joined Colonel Van Cortlandts regiment and from Valley Forge went to White Plains, from there to Fishkill follow (was in the army at the Battle of Monmouth, but not in the battle) from there returned to Wawarsing Ulster County, and was there some time in the winter of 1779 discharged ..." In 1779 he joined "Colonel Paulding's regiment for Nine Months, entered the Company at Shandaken and Joined the regiment at Marbletown. Marched from there to Shandaken built a fort around the house of one Longyear from there Marched West with an intent of Joining Genrl Sullivan on his expedition against the Indians, but when he with said Company came near the Susquehanah River, Understood ... that Genrl. Sullivan was Some days in advance, being nearly out of provisions" they returned to "Shandaken". Davis was discharged from this service in January 1780. (Note: Private Garret Constable was likely a member of Colonel Cilley's light infantry, as per discussions with Garry Stone, Monmouth Battlefield State Park. For more information see, Garry Wheeler Stone, Daniel M. Sivilich, Mark Edward Lender, "A Deadly Minuet: The Advance of the New England 'Picked Men' against the Royal Highlanders at the Battle of Monmouth, 28 June 1778," The Brigade Dispatch, XXVI, 2 (Summer 1996), 14.) Garret Constable, private Captain Edward Lownsberry's Company, 2nd New York Regiment Commanded by Colonel Philip Van Cortlandt.2 Pension Declaration, 28 April 1818. Garret Constable enlisted 1 May 1778. He stated that he "enlisted ... in the month of April ... and was mustered on the sixth Day of May ... at Easton in the state of Pensylvania to serve for the period of nine months ... where he joined his said Company and joined the Main Army at Valley Forge ... he was in the Battle of Monmouth during that campaign in which he discharged twelve Rounds, and at the Close of the Campaign he was discharged ... about the last of February [1779] at the Town of [?]sink in the County of Ulster ... at which Place the said Regiment had then taken up their Winter Quarters." ************************************ Benjamin Stanton, enlisted 1 May 1778. From June 1776 to July 1777 he served three terms of service with the militia at New York City, King's Bridge, and in garrison at Fort Clinton among other places. In August 1777 he was called out again serving for three months "under Gen Horatio Gates ... and was stationed at Bemis heights at the time of the Capture of Gen Burgoine " James Scott, fifer, enlisted 5 May 1778. "... he entered the service ... about the first of April in the year 1778 ... he resided in the town of Montgomery in the county of Orange ... from thence he marched to Eastone in Pennsylvania, thence to Valley Forge, thence to Monmouth in the Jerseys, from thence into the State of New York, to the White Plains ... where he was taken sick, from thence he with many others were removed to Fish kill hospital, where he remained some considerable time, still continuing sick he was permitted to return home where he remained about two months, still being unable to perform military duty he was discharged from the services. that in the first period of his services [with the militia in 1777] he marched from the town of Montgomery ... to Fort Montgomery where he remained untill it surrendered to the enemy, from thence to Kingstone on the Hudson River where he arrived a few days after it was destroyed by the enemy ..." Michael Patterson, private, enlisted 1 May 1778, He enlisted "in the month of July in the year 1776 as a privat for the term of five months ... and was engaged in the Battle at Whiteplains ... And further in the Spring of the year of 1777 he again enlisted for four months ... And also in September [1777] ... he again enlisted in the town of Marbletown for the term of three months ... in which time he was engage[ed] in the Battle of the taking [of] Burgoin ..." 4th New York Regiment, Col. Henry B. Livingston. Muster roll of the Captain Benjamin Walker's Co., 22 July 1778. 37 N.C.O.'s and rank and file for three years or the war. 1 corporal and 15 privates for nine months Muster roll of the Captain John Davis's Co., 6 August 1778. 29 N.C.O.'s and rank and file for three years or the war. 1 corporal and 18 privates for nine months William Wattles, enlisted as a sergeant 5 May 1778. He first enlisted "On or about the 1st day of May 1775 being then a resident of Sharon, Connecticut - he ... enlisted as a volunteer in the Connecticut line for six months under Major Samuel Ellmore ... During this term he was in an action with the Indians & Canadians on Lake Champlain marched from Sharon through Albany & Lake George and were stationed at Ticonderoga on Lake Champlain - from thence to Crown Point. From thence, after said battle marched next day through the woods north fo the fort at St. Johns and while on said march were ambushed by the Indians whom we repulsed, marched onward and took a stand north of said fort in conjunction with the grand army under Gen. Montgomery - where we remained until the surrender of said fort; after which we marched with said army to La prairie where our detachment was stationed & the army proceeded to Montreal. We remained there ... until we were discharged." He served three months with the Connecticut militia in 1776 and then another three months in the summer of 1777. "Next enlisted as a volunteer in september 1777 for three months ... at Nine partners New York ... in Col. Graham's Regiment - marched under the ensign up the west side of Hudson river and joined Gen. Gates army at Bemis heights - was present at the capture of Gen. Burgoyne and was discharged at Stillwater ... Next enlisted as a volunteer at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania ... in Col. Henry B. Livingston's Regiment ... was regularly discharged from said army at Canajoharie, New York on the river Mohawk ... During this term he was in Monmouth battle." Maryland From Fishkill, New York: "Agreable to your Excellency's Instructions I have sent a Return of the Draughts inlisted in the 2d. Brig[ade]: of Maryld None of the Regts have recruited any but the 4th and they only two since they received the Money. In recruiting we are confined to our respective Regts & the 4th have no more Draughts worth the Bounty." "Return of the Drafts and Substitutes Inlisted in the Second Maryland Brigade, Commanded by Josias C. Hall Esquire, Colonel Commandant November 3d 1778": The ten men listed, all nine-month levies, belonged to the 4th Maryland Regiment. All enlisted for three years: one on May 30th, one on 28 June, four in July, two in August, one in October, and one in November. Josias C. Hall to Washington, 3 November 1778 (with enclosure), George Washington Papers, series 4, roll 53. 1st Maryland Regiment, Col. John Stone Muster roll of Capt. Ewing's Company, September 1778. 53 N.C.O.'s and rank and file for three years. 4 privates for nine months Muster roll of Capt. Gaither's Company, August 1778. 35 N.C.O.'s and rank and file for three years. 26 privates for nine months Stephen Penn, enlisted 10 June 1778. "... in the county of St mary in the state of Maryland in the month of May in the year 1778 he became a substitute & took the place of William Crumpton in the first Maryland Regiment ... he marched from Maryland under ... [Lieutenant Samuel] McPherson [of Gaither's Company] to a place called the Vally forge ... this service was for nine months according to the contract of engagement but he was not discharged until the month of march 1779. At the time of his discharge he was in the state of New Jersey, the discharge was given by Gen Green who had the command at that time. he did not get home for two or more weeks after being discharged. He was in the battle at Monmouth Courthouse fought in the month of June after he joined the army ..." 2nd Maryland Regiment, Col. Thomas Price Muster roll of Capt. Davidson's Company, September 1778. 49 N.C.O.'s and rank and file for three years. 38 privates for nine months Thomas Beall, private, included with his pension papers is the following note: Thomas Beall having been enlisted as Soldier in the 2d Maryd Regiment To Serve the term of Nine Months from July 3d .78 till April 3d 79 has Received ... the Following articles of Cloathing 1 Coat 1 Jackett 1 Shirt 3 pair of Shoes 1 Knapsack 1 pair of overalls and is discharged from all Military Duty in said Regiment Given at the Quarters of [the Regt?] Middle Brook April 3d 1779 George Dent, private, "I lived in St. Mary's County, Maryland ... At the time I entered the service , I volunteered to relieve a Class out of the Charlotte Hall company in Saint Mary's County ... previous to that time I never had mustered in any Militia Company - it was in the year 1778 the year in which the battle of Monmouth was fought, we tried to get there in time, but could not, we heard the fireing. I was marched with I think seventy one others, some of whom were Volunteers & some drafts under the Command of Captn Carberry as far as Annapolis ... from Annapolis we were sent under charge of Sergeant King, by water to the head of Elk, there we remained some seven or eight days and Lieutenant James came from Baltimore and Marched us to head quarters in New Jersey, where we arrived the day after the battle of Monmouth, we were there dispersed to fill up the Vacancies in the deficient companies, chiefly belonging to the second Maryland Regt. Jonathan Woodburn Norman Boroughs & myself went into Capt. John Davidson's Company because Richard Hill & Henry Spaulding from our County were in that company & had been out some time ... Our Regt. with some others was then marched to White Plains in New York, there we laid three months, I recollect my tent and Genl. Washingtons were in sight of each other / here we done much duty were frequently formed for battle & many detachments sent down to stre[n]gthen Col. Moyans Regt. then lying I think at a place calld Valentines Hill near to the British lines, our flanking parties had frequent skirmishes with the enemy, from White Plains I was marched with many others to the Fort at West-Point to stre[n]gthen that post ... before I went to West-Point I was one of a guard who went to Kings Ferry under the command of Lieut. Smith, (the Brother of Genl. Sam Smith) to receive a flag ship, sent to pay Burgoyne's prisoners & had a heavy luggage to carry the box of specie to the guard-house, when we left West-Point we marched to Poukepsee on the North River, from thence to New Jersey ... there we went into Winter quarters, by building huts, which we commenced on the day after Christmas day & I think our Mess finished ours in eleven or twelve days - I done no more service in the Maryland line, except what I done at this place & was discharged there with the others of my Countrymen, who were in the detachment with me ... I did receive a discharge, given to me by Captn. Davidson & on my way home, when about one mile & an half from Camp in New Jersey I and my comrades met Majr. Genl. Baron DeKalb who accosted us, in the following manner, where are you going soldiers, I being ahead told him we were going home, he asked me if we had been discharged I told him we had & I gave him my discharge to look at & whilst looking at it his horse threw his head down & caused the discharge to be torn in two pieces, he remarked it would answer & I brot. it home & it has long since been lost or mislaid." Muster roll of Lieut. Hardman's Company, September 1778. 42 N.C.O.'s and rank and file for three years. 1 musician and 20 privates for nine months Francis Freeman, private, enlisted 25 May 1778, On 6 June 1818 "Genl. Hezekiah Foard" noted that Freeman was a "Coloured Man ... belonged to the Second Regt of [the Maryland] line in the Spring of 1780 Marched With the same to South Carolina and I believe he Continued in the Service untill the Close of the War" Michael Conley (Connally), a levy who served "until sometime in the month of March in the year 1779 when he was discharged from the ... service in Bascan ridge [and] that he was at the battle of Monmouth." 3rd Maryland Regiment Muster roll of Lieut. Clagett's Company, September 1778. 45 N.C.O.'s and rank and file for three years. 3 privates for nine months 5th Maryland Regiment, Col. William Richardson Muster roll of Capt. Lynch's Company, September 1778. 30 N.C.O.'s and rank and file for three years or the war. 6 privates for nine months Muster roll of Capt. Hamilton's Company, August 1778. 27 N.C.O.'s and rank and file for three years or the war. 9 privates for nine months Massachusetts See also, "How Massachusetts Raised Her Troops in the Revolution," Massachusetts Historical Society: Proceedings, vol. LV (October, 1921-June, 1922), 345-370. 10th Massachusetts Regiment, Col. Thomas Marshall Muster roll of Capt. Wales's Company, August 1778. 27 N.C.O.'s and rank and file for three years. 28 privates for nine months 1 private for eight months Silas Stetson, private. Both Stetson and Shearshub Bourne of Sictuate "Marched ... from Major Tildens, in Pembroke, at the same time, with Orders to report ourselves to Genl. McDougal at Fish kill, which we did ..." Silas Stetson "... was discharged at West point on the North River" Thomas Church, private, stated that he was discharged from his nine-months service "at Westpoint - and then the next summer, 1779, I enlisted again for nine months in Capt. Jona. Turner's Company Col. Marshalls Regiment and served nine months faithfully and was discharged at Westpoint in the Spring of 1780 ..." From the affadavits of David Hollis, Thomas Tirrell and "Regemelick" Cushing the nine-months men of the 10th Massachusetts were all discharged at West Point in March or April of 1779. Abijah Harding, private. After enlisting in July 1778 and completing his term of service he claimed that "in July 1779 I again enlisted into Capt. William Watsons Company and Col Wessons Regiment belonging to the Massachusetts line and General Learneds Brigade ... and was regularly discharged at ... West Point ..." Harding stated in 1820 that he was fifty-nine years old and living in Deerfield, Franklin County. "My occupation is that of an husbandman, in the Winter I occasionally make common Chairs, my health is generally poor and I am subject to epileptic fits, rheumatism and deafness I have a Wife aged fifty two years who is very infirm. I have eight children living, five of them are absent from me are without any property more than is necessary for their subsistance the three Children living with me are daughters ... Musings (Excerpt of letter, John Rees to Garry Stone, Monmouth Battlefield State Park, 8/4/95) On another subject, against my better judgement I have begun to glean the muster rolls and pension files for information on the nine-months levies who served in 1778. Although the task will take some time I hope that I will find some narratives (and quotations) that will shed some light on the experiences of the men similar to what I found for the Jersey levies. So far I know that the states who were successful with the draft were Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Maryland and North Carolina. It is possible that Virginia and Pennsylvania may have had a few levies but have found no evidence for it so far. According to what I know so far the levies from New York, and New Jersey definitely were at Monmouth. It is probable that the Maryland levies were there, while those from Massachusetts are questionable. North Carolina's short-term soldiers came north in late August or September. I have sent along two of the best pension accounts I have found so far ... I hope to be able to ascertain just where these men (and the other levies) were during the battle. According to your piece on Cilley's detachment there were probably some men from the 2nd and 4th New York Regiments included. It may be possible that the two men below were in the action against the 42nd Regiment. The first account is short but excellent in its description of troops just prior to action while Garret Constable's account is remarkable in that the one detail that he thought worth mentioning was the number of rounds he fired. In my research so far I find that the pension accounts of the long-term soldiers are, by and large, shorter and more matter of fact, with little detail, while those men who served for a shorter period tend to render a more detailed narrative of their experiences, or at least come through with a short sentence or two which gives some interesting or valuable information. This is understandable for at least two reasons: the first is that when a soldier served for a short period (or periods), rather than a long one, his experiences stood out more clearly because of the fact that they were of shorter duration and represented only a few months or a year of soldiering rather than six, seven or eight. Unless he was wounded, captured or had some other striking experience, the details of the service of a long-term enlistee tended to merge into the other experiences of soldiering over a number of years. The second reason may be that the records for militia troops serving for short periods of time tended to be inexact or nonexistent as opposed to the records of the long-term soldiers. Such short-term men had to be very specific (when memory served) to support their claim of a pension for services rendered. Muster Rolls Used Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty-Land-Warrant Application Files, National Archives Microfilm Publication M804. Revolutionary War Rolls, 1775-1783, National Archives Microfilm Publication M246, Record Group 93. New Hampshire 1st New Hampshire, Col. Joseph Cilley (1 company) Muster roll of Capt. Ebenezer Frye's Co. 8/78 (1 levy) New York 1st New York, Col. Goose Van Schaik. (2 companies) Muster roll of Capt. Benjamin Neck's Company, September 1778. 54 N.C.O.'s and rank and file for three years or the war. 2 privates for nine months Muster roll of Capt. Joseph McCracken's Company, 9/4/78. 56 N.C.O.'s and rank and file for three years or the war. 2 privates for nine months 2nd New York Regiment, Col. Philip Cortlandt. (7 companies) Muster roll of the 8th. Co. (Capt. Edward Lownsberry), 9/10/78. 22 N.C.O.'s and rank and file for three years or the war. 1 fifer and 23 privates for nine months ?, Capt. Charles Graham's Co., ( 9/10/78, Capt. Samuel Pell's Co. (24 levies) 9/10/78, Capt. Gilbert Livingston's Co. (23 levies) 9/10/78, Capt. Jacob Wright's Co. (15 levies) 9/10/78, Capt. Jonathan Hallet's Co. (7 levies) 9/10/78, Capt. William Munday's Co. (39 levies) 4th New York Regiment, Col. Henry Livingston (8 companies) 6/78, 7/78, Capt. John Davis' Co., (23 levies) 6/78, Capt. Benjamin Walker's Co. (16 levies) 6/78, Capt. Jonathan Titus's Co. (10 levies) 7/78, Capt. Nathan Strong's Co. (32 levies) 7/78, Capt. Israel Smith's Co. (26 levies) 6/78, Capt. Samuel Sacket's Co. (11 levies) 6/78, Lt. Sylas Gray's Co. (23 levies) 6/78, Lt. Peter Elsworth's Co. (26 levies) Maryland 1st Maryland Regiment, Col. John Stone (2 companies) Muster roll of Capt. Nathaniel Ewing's Company, September 1778. 53 N.C.O.'s and rank and file for three years. 5 privates for nine months 8/78 Capt. Henry Gaither's Co. (26 levies) 2nd Maryland Regiment, Col. Thomas Price (2 companies) Muster roll of Capt. John Davidson's Company, September 1778. 49 N.C.O.'s and rank and file for three years. 38 privates for nine months Muster roll of Lieut. Hardman's Company, 6/78. 42 N.C.O.'s and rank and file for three years. 1 musician and 20 privates for nine months 3rd Maryland Regiment (2 companies) Muster roll of Lieut. Horatio Clagett's Company, 9/8/78. 45 N.C.O.'s and rank and file for three years. 4 privates for nine months 9/9/78, Lt. George Armstrong's Co. (28 levies) 5th Maryland Regiment, Col. William Richardson (2 companies) Muster roll of Capt. John Lynch's Company, 9/8/78. 30 N.C.O.'s and rank and file for three years or the war. 6 privates for nine months Muster roll of Lt. George Hamilton's Company, 9/8/78. 27 N.C.O.'s and rank and file for three years or the war. 9 privates for nine months Massachusetts 10th Massachusetts Regiment, Col. Thomas Marshall (1 company) Muster roll of Capt. Jacob Wales's Company, 9/9/78. 27 N.C.O.'s and rank and file for three years. 28 privates for nine months 1 private for eight months