#continental light dragoons

[tallmadgeandtea]

Turnsgiving 2022: Day 4

What If?

After doing more research for both SS&SP and my own college project, I definitely think Turn should’ve included more or Benjamin Tallmadge’s military escapades, which were with his regiment, the 2nd Continental Light Dragoons. They were active in the important battles of the Philadelphia Campaign and then there were raids led by Tallmadge in New York throughout the rest of the war against the British for their supplies and territory. They also served as part of General Washington’s life guard. Turn showed a couple these at The Battle of Stony Point and the Battle of Fort St. George, but on a lesser scale. I could say a lot more, but I’ll refrain from going full military history nerd at the moment. In my opinion, it wouldn’t have derived too much of the “spying” from the show’s plot because one of the Dragoon’s jobs was reconnaissance- patrols to get enemy troop numbers, camp locations, and amount of weapons and supplies they had. Cavalrymen were respected because of the ability they had to have as horsemen, shooters, messengers, and scouts. One of their other key roles? Filling space in General Washington’s guard. Showing more of Benjamin’s cavalry duties would’ve shown how intelligent he was and why he was capable of being Washington’s spymaster.

[meerawrites]

I need a reenactment tumblr tag (other than bluecoat posting), help me decide… pretty pls. 🥺

[little-desi-historian]

The world turned upside down

On this day in history: October 19th, 1781. Charles Cornwallis surrendered to the combined troops of George Washington and the patriots French allies. Symbolically raising a white handkerchief and giving up a sword to Washington as a sign of civil surrender. Famously when the sword was offered to the French, they refused saying, “we are subordinate to the Americans now.” Famously, Alexander Hamilton and John Laurens had stormed the the English silently by force the previous night. Amongst other heroes, holding position in case Laurens and Hamilton need retreat, was the 2nd continental light dragoons, better known to some as “Sheldon’s horse” or “Benjamin Tallmadge’s unit.” Famously, ill or humiliated, all the English showed up to formally surrender, expect Banastre Tarelton and Cornwallis himself. Legend has it, though the historical records never say, the English played the famous folk song (dating about to 1646) titled “When the King enjoys his own” perhaps more aptly titled in this scenario “the world turned upside down.”

Yorktown: PBS.

Mount Vernon: Yorktown.

Siege of Yorktown by Henry Freeman.

Hamil-film: Yorktown.

[todaysdocument]

“Establishment of the American Army,” in which Congress set out details regarding the Army’s structure, organization, and other details. May 27, 1778. 

Record Group 360: Records of the Continental and Confederation Congresses and the Constitutional Convention

Series: Papers of the Continental Congress

File Unit: Reports of the Board of War and Ordnance

Transcription: 

339

IN CONGRESS, May 27, 1778.

ESTABLISHMENT OF THE AMERICAN ARMY.

I. I N F A N T R Y.

Resolved, That each batallion of infantry shall consist of nine companies, one of which shall be of light infantry; the light infantry to be kept compleat by drafts from the batallion, and organized during the campaign into corps of light infantry:

That the batallion of infantry consist of

    Pay per month.

[bracket] Commissioned

I Colonel and Captain   75    dollars.

I Lieutenant Colonel and Captain,       60

I Major and Captain,   -    50

6 Captains,   each       40

I Captain Lieutenant   -    26    2-3ds.

8 Lieutenants,   each       26    2-3ds.

9 Ensigns,   each       20

Paymaster,

Adjutant,                       } to be taken from the line { 20 doll. } In addition to their pay as officers in the line.

Quart. [Quarter] Master,   }      { 13     }

               }     { 13     }

I Surgeon,   -       60 dollars.

I Surgeon's Mate,   -       40

I Serjeant Major,   -       10

I Quartermaster Serjeant,   -       10

27 Serjeants,   each,       10

I Drum Major,   -   -         9

1 Fife Major,   -    -         9

18 Drums and Fifes,   each,         7 1-3d.

27 Corporals,   each,         7 1-3d.

477 Privates   each,         6 2-3ds.

Each of the field officers to command a company.

The Lieutenant of the Colonel's company to have the rank of Captain Lieutenant.     

[Math in the margins]   

553

3

----

1659

533

3

----

1599 [/Math in the margins]

II. A R T I L L ERY

That a batallion of artillery consist of

    Pay per month.

[bracket] Commissioned

I Colonel,   -    -   100 dollars.

I Lieutenant Colonel,   -   75

I Major,   -   -    62 1-half

12 Captains,   each   50

12 Captain Lieutenants,    each   33 1-3d.

12 First Lieutenants,   each   33 1-3d.

36 Second Lieutenants,    each   33 1-3d.

Paymaster,

Adjutant,                       } to be taken from the line { 25 doll. } In addition to their pay as officers in the line.

Quart. [Quarter] Master,   }      { 16     }

               }     { 16     }

I Surgeon,   -       75 dollars.

I Surgeon's Mate,   -       50

I Serjeant Major,   -       11 23-90ths.

I Quartermaster Serjeant,   -       11 23-90ths.

I Fife Major,   -    -       10 38-90ths.

I Drum Major,   _    _       10 38-90ths.

72 Serjeants,   each       10

72 Bombardiers,    each         9

72 Corporals,   each         8 2-3ds.

72 Gunners,   each         8 2-3ds.

336 Matrosses   each         8 1-3d.

III. C A V A L R Y.

That a batallion of cavalry consist of

Pay per month.

Dollars.

 [bracket] Commissioned

I Colonel,   -    -   93 3-4ths.

I Lieutenant Colonel,   -   75

I Major,   -   -    60

6 Captains,   each   50

12 Lieutenants    ,   each   33 1-3d.

6 Cornets,   each   26 2-3ds.

1 Riding Master,    -   -    33 1-3d.

Paymaster,

Adjutant,                       } to be taken from the line { 25 doll. } In addition to their pay as officers in the line.

Quart. [Quarter] Master,   }      { 15     }

               }     { 15     }

I Surgeon,    -   -   60 dollars.

I Surgeon's Mate,    -   -    40

I Sadler,    -     -   10

1 Trumpet Major,   -    -    11

6 Farriers,   each   10

6 Quarter Master Serjeants   each   15

6 Trumpeters,   each   10

12 Serjeants   each   15

30 Corporals,   each   10

324 Dragoons,   each     8 1-3d.

IV. P R O V O S T

RESOLVED, That a Provost be established, to consist of

    Pay per month.

I Captain of Provosts   -       50 dollars.

4 Lieutenants,   each       33 1-3d.

I Clerk,   -    -       33

I Quartermaster Serjeant,    -       15

2 Trumpeters,   each       10

2 Serjeants,   each       15

5 Corporals,   each       10

43 Provosts or Privates, each         8 I-3d.

4 Executioners,   each       10

This corps to be mounted on horse-back, and armed and accoutred as light dragoons.

RESOLVED, That in the E N G I N E E R I N G department three companies be established, each to consist of

    Pay per month

I Captain,       50 dollars.

3 Lieutenants,   each       33 I-3d.

4 Serjeants,   each       10

4 Corporals,   each         9

60 Privates,   each         8 I-3d.

These companies to be instructed in the fabrication of fieldworks, as far as relates to the manual and mechanical part. Their business shall be to instruct the fatigue parties to do their duty with clarity and exactness: To repair injuries done to the works by the enemy's fire, and to prosecute works in the face of it. Commissioned officers to be skilled in the necessary branches of the mathematics: The non-commissioned officers to write a good hand.

RESOLVED, That the adjutant and quartermaster of a regiment be nominated by the field officers out of the subalterns, and presented to the commander in chief or the Commander in a separate department for approbation; and that being approved of, they shall receive him a warrant agreeable to such nomination.

That the Paymaster of a regiment be chosen by the officers of the regiment out of the Captains or Subalterns, and appointed by warrant as above: the officers are to risque their pay in his hands: the Paymasters to have the charge of the cloathing, and to distribute the same.

RESOLVED, That the brigade major be appointed a heretofore by the commander in chief, or commander in a separate department, out of the captains in the brigade to which he shall be appointed.

That the brigade quartermaster be appointed by the quartermaster general, out of the captains or subalterns in the brigade to which he shall be appointed.

RESOLVED, That two aids-de-camp be allowed to each major general, who shall for the future appoint them out of the captains or subalterns.

REOLVED, That in addition to their pay as officers in the line there be allowed to

    An Aid-de-Camp,   24 dollars per month.

    Brigade Major,   24

    Brigade Quartermaster,    15

RESOLVED, That when any of the staff officers appointed from the line are promoted above the ranks in the line out which they are respectively appointable, their staff appointments shall thereupon be vacated.

The present aids-de-camp and brigade majors to receive their present pay and rations.

RESOLVED, That aids-de-camp, brigade majors, and brigade quartermasters, heretofore appointed from the line, shall hold their present ranks and be admissible into the line again in the same rank they held when from the line; provided that no aid, brigade major, or quartermaster, shall have the command of any officers who commanded him while in the line.

RESOLVED, That whenever the adjutant general shall be appointed from the line, he may continue to hold his rank and commission in the line.

RESOLVED, That when the supernumerary lieutenants are continued under this arrangement of the batallions, who are to do the duty of ensigns, they shall be intitled to hold their rank and to receive the pay such rank intitled them to receive.

RESOLVED, That no more colonels be appointed in the infantry; but where any such commission is or shall become vacant, the batallion shall be commanded by a lieutenant colonel, who shall be allowed the same pay as is now granted to a colonel of infantry, and shall rise in promotion from that to the rank of brigadier: and such batallion shall have only two field officers, viz. a lieutenant colonel and major, but it shall have an additional captain.

M A Y 29, 1778.

RESOLVED, That no persons hereafter appointed upon the civil staff of the army shall hold or be intitled to any rank in the army by virtue of such staff appointment.

[page 2]

JUNE 2, 1778

RESOLVED, That the officers herein after mentioned be intitled [sic] to draw one ration a day, and no more; that where they shall not draw such ration, they shall not be allowed any compensation in lieu thereof.

AND to the end that they may be enabled to live in a manner becoming their stations.

RESOLVED, That the following sums be paid to them monthly for their subsistence, viz.

To every Colonel, 50 dollars per month.

To every Lieutenant Colonel, 40

To every Major, 30

To every Captain, 20

To every Lieutenant and Ensign, 10

To every Regimental Surgeon, 30

To every Regimental Surgeon's Mate, 10

To every Chaplain of a brigade, 50

RESOLVED, That subsistence money be allowed to officers and others on the staff in lieu of extra rations, and henceforward none of them be allowed to draw more than one ration a day.

ORDERED, That the committee of arrangement be directed to report to Congress as soon as possible such an allowance as they shall think adequate to the station of the respective officers and persons employed on the staff.

NOVEMBER 24, 1778

CONGRESS took into consideration the report of the committee of arrangement, and thereupon came to the following resolutions:

WHEREAS the settlement of rank in the army of the United States has been attended with much difficulty and delay, inasmuch as no general principles have been adopted and uniformly pursued;

RESOLVED, therefore, That upon and dispute of rank the following rules shall be hereafter observed;

1. For determining rank in the continental line between all colonels and inferior officer of different States, between like officers of infantry and those of horse and artillery appointed under the authority of Congress, by virtue of a resolve of the 16th of September, 1776, or by virtue of any subsequent resolution prior to the 1st of January, 1777, all such officers shall be deemed to have their commissions dated on the day last mentioned, and their relative rank with respect to each other in the continental line of the army shall be determined by their rank prior to the 16th day of September, 1776.  This rule shall not be considered to affect the rank of the line within any State, or within the corps of artillery, horse, or among the sixteen additional batallions [sic], where the rank hath been settled; but shall be the rule to determine the relative rank within the particular line of artillery so far as the rank remains unsettled.

2. In the second instance preference shall be given to commissions in the new levies and flying camp.

3. In determining rank between continental officers in other respects equal, proper respect shall be had to their commissions in the militia, where they have served in the continental army for the space of one month.

4. All colonels and inferior officers appointed to vacancies since the 5th day of January, 1777, shall take rank from the right of succession to such vacancies.

5. In all cases where the rank between the officers of different States is equal, between an officer of State-troops and one of cavalry, artillery, or of the additional batallions [sic] the precedence is to be determined by long.

6. All officers who have been prisoners with the enemy being appointed by their State, and again enter into the service, shall do it agreeably to the above rule; that is to say, all of the rank of captains, and under, shall enter into the same regiment to which they formerly belonged, and if such regiment is dissolved or otherwise reduced, they shall be intitled [sic] to the first vacancy in any regiment of the State in their proper rank, after the officers belonging to such regiments have been provided for.

7. The rules of rank above laid down between officers of different States are to govern between officers of the same State, except in cases where the State may have laid down a different rule, or already settled their rank.

8. A resignation shall preclude any claim of benefit from former rank under a new appointment.

WHEREAS from the alteration of the establishment, and other causes, many valuable officers have been and may be omitted in the new arrangement as being supernumerary, who from their conduct and services are entitled to the honourable [sic] notice of Congress, and to a suitable provision until they can return to civil life with advantage;

RESOLVED, therefore, That Congress gratefully acknowledge the faithful services of such officers, and that all supernumerary officers be entitled to one year's pay of their commissions respectively, to be computed from the time such officers had leave of absence from the commander in chief on this account: And Congress do earnestly recommend to the several States to which such officers belong, to make such farther [sic] provision for them as their respective circumstances and merits entitle them to.

WHEREAS it will be for the benefit of the service that some rule for promotions be established; therefore

RESOLVED, That it be recommended to the several States to provide that in all future promotions, officers rise regimentally to the rank of captain, and thence in the line of the State to the rank of colonel, except in cases where a preference may be given on account of distinguished merit.

RESOLVED, That all officers who have been in the service, and having been prisoners with the enemy, now are, or hereafter may be exchanged, or otherwise related, shall, if appointed by authority of the State, be entitled in cases of vacancy to enter into the service of their respective State, in such rank as they would have had if they had never been captures; provided always, that every such officer do within one month after his exchange or release, signify to the authority of the State to which he belongs, his release and his desire to enter again into the military service.

RESOLVED, That every officer so released, and giving notice as aforesaid, shall until entry into actual service be allowed half pay of the commission to which by the foregoing resolve he stand entitled; provided always, that in case of his receiving any civil office of profit, such half pay shall thenceforth cease.

RESOLVED, That no brevets be for the future granted, except to officers in the line, or in case of very eminent services.

[melpomeneprose]

CHARACTER QUESTIONNAIRE !!

Tagged by: myself.

Tagging: @withinycu, @adrienne-lafayette-official, @johngravessimcoe, @cavalrylad, @musenssang, @philip-hamilton-official, @sharp-teeth-and-wide-grins, @virgosjukebox. 💙

✧･ﾟ   𝐃𝐀𝐒𝐇 𝐆𝐀𝐌𝐄.

► BENJAMIN TALLMADGE.

Name: Benjamin Tallmadge.

Alias(es): Ben, Major Tallmadge, 2nd Continental Light Dragoon, Tall-boy, & Captain Tallmadge. “Beagle tilting his head.” (Creator of Washington’s spies tv).

“Beagle” “Washington’s hunting dog” (affectionate & derogatory, from both sides)

Gender: male (he/him).

Orientation: not your business.

(Bi, repressed and ashamed about it, but bi, in my personal portrayal and reading/headcanons, having read his memoirs & letters, but the truth is… as with Alexander Hamilton, we’ll never know). Age: 22-24.

Date of birth: February 25, 1754

Place of birth: Setauket or Brookhaven, Long Island, NYC.

For simplicity he’ll say, New York, sometimes.

Spoken language(s): English, Latin, trying really hard for French thus far not succeeding. Do code books count?

Occupation(s): soldier, spymaster, congressman, statesman. (au: lawyer) (modern verse: law student).

★  ⸻   APPEARANCE

Eye colour: blue, the kind you can drown in, it’s his most attractive feature, according to popular opinion.

Hair colour: dirty blonde.

Height: 6’0” (tall by 18th century standards).

Other: rarely ever seen out of uniform.

Has anxiety & PTSD, should probably touch grass. Deserves a hug and deserves better.

★  ⸻   FAVORITE

Colour: red, white, gold and blue, neutral black that suits everything or gray works to.

Song: Benjamin’s playlist.

Food: bread, salt, cheese, or fish.

Drink: brandy or wine.

★  ⸻   HAVE THEY...

Passed university: Yale college, top of his class!

Had sex: not your business.

Had sex in public: no.

Gotten pregnant/someone else pregnant: wants kids, but not that way, and not at this exact moment. Given the war.

Kissed a boy: no. (Yes) Nathan Hale.

Kissed a girl: yes.

Gotten tattoos: no.

Gotten piercings: no.

Been in love: he’s not sure if it counts, to be blunt, but for reason of answering, yes.

Stayed up 24+ hours: for the cause, yes.

★  ⸻   ARE THEY...

A virgin: not your business, also a construct society cruelly and hypocritically only applies to the fairer sex. (No).

A cuddler: yes.

A kisser: circumstantially.

Scared easily: most certainly not!

Jealous easily: yes!

Submissive: switch.

Dominant: none of your business.

In love: verse/thread dependant.

Relationship status: I am married to honour and the revolution until this is over. (Single).

★  ⸻   RANDOM QUESTIONS

TW for self-harm/suicide mention.

Have they harmed themselves: not unless you count accidentally falling in the Delaware river.

Thought of suicide/ideated: under the pressure of war, atrocities, violence and bloodshed. Yes. But rarely.

Attempted suicide: only if you count a Protestant martyr complex, as the son of a preacher it runs in the family.

Wanted to kill someone: side eyes Simcoe.

But he didn’t enjoy the killing in question.

Have/had a job: Washington’s staff.

Fears: death, abandonment, losing control, not being enough, losing the war, tyranny, his own capacity to help vs harm and the moral dilemma of mundane human existence and soldiering.

Sibling(s):

Samuel Tallmadge.

William Tallmadge.

John Tallmadge.

Isaac Tallmadge.

Parent(s): Susannah Tallmadge (née Smith)(deceased)/Rev. Samuel Tallmadge sr.

Children: verse/thread dependant.

Children In history:

Frederick A. Tallmadge

Maria Jones Tallmadge

William Smith Tallmadge

Harriet Tallmadge Delafield

Benjamin Tallmadge Jr.

Henry Tallmadge.

Significant other(s): Nathan Hale (deceased), Sarah Livingston (ex lover, kinda, sorta, it’s complicated & traumatizing).

Significant other(s) in history:

Mary Floyd (1784 to 1805).

Maria Hallet (1808 til death in 1835).

Pet(s): he should like to have a beagle, or grey hound, but, none presently.

Benjamin’s Wikipedia.

Benjamin’s memoir.

In canon: TURN.

Culper ring.

[brassandblue]

MAJOR BENJAMIN TALLMADGE // INTEREST TRACKER

MUSE STATUS: SECONDARY

(By liking this post, you are indicating interest in plotting with this character, and are OK with me sending memes/prompts to your inbox!)

NAME: Benjamin Tallmadge

ALT NAMES: Major (Benjamin) Tallmadge, Major, Tallboy, Bennyboy, John Bolton

SEX/GENDER/PRONOUNS: Male, he/him

SEXUALITY: Bisexual

FACECLAIM: Seth Numrich

AGE: Late 20′s

NATIONALITY/ETHNICITY: American / caucasian, white

HEIGHT: 6′0″

BUILD/BODY TYPE: He’s a fit, fuzzy twink with a cavalryman booty.

HAIR: Dark honey blonde

EYES: Blue

PINTEREST BOARD

ALL ABOUT BEN:

Per the Turn Wiki here,

Major Benjamin Tallmadge (born February 25, 1754) is an officer for the Continental Army and the 2nd Continental Light Dragoons that went on to become a spy for them during the American Revolutionary War. Joining together with childhood friends Caleb Brewster and Abraham Woodhull, the three formed what would later become the Culper Ring.

The organization received the aid and assistance of various others, including Abe's former lover, Anna Strong. The organization would report to Commander-in-Chief, George Washington. Tallmadge was a Captain until the official founding of the Culper Ring in 1777 and was promoted to Major soon after.

It's clear through his actions that Benjamin Tallmadge is a strong, loyal soldier and a leader with honorable intentions... most of the time. He isn't afraid to bend rules when absolutely necessary, but can sometimes be led too far by his emotions and his own personal sense of justice. Duty and honor are extremely important to him, as are loyalty and trust and the value of his friends; those things he places above all else. He takes his duties very seriously, and there are times he might come off as just an innocent preacher’s son from a backwater fishing village... but he is so much more.

Underneath the pomp and attempts at restraint is a young man who can be hot-headed and stubborn, mischievous, even playful. There are a lot of emotions pent up behind his officer's restraint--a boy trying to become a man, to live up to the image of a gentleman and an officer who carries the burden of command and of the guilt of fallen friends, comrades, and family. All of those ideals and baggage and the burden of caring about so many things and so many people can really weigh on him, can cause him to be short-sighted, restless, irrational. He’s trying--he’s trying to keep himself together, trying to keep the Culper Ring together, trying to run a spy network, trying not to get his friends killed, his dragoons killed, himself killed. As he goes through the war, he grows and becomes disillusioned in some things--namely, Washington himself--but despite everything, he continues to push ever onward for the cause and most importantly, for his loved ones.

WARNINGS: RPing with this character will involve sensitive topics such as mental illness/depression/PTSD, violence/gore/injuries, crude/early surgical and medical topics, amputation, racism/colonialism/imperialism/nationalism, slavery, socio-economic issues past & present, homophobia past & present, possible discussions of cannibalism & definite discussions of war & murder.

By liking this post and indicating your interest to engage in RP with this character, you are accepting the above warnings and have read the rules posted here on this blog.

[nordleuchten]

24 Days of La Fayette – Day 16: François-Louis Teissèdre de Fleury

Today’s aide-de-camp is François-Louis Teissèdre de Fleury, Marquis de Fleury and son of François Teisseydre de Fleury. He was born in 1749 and first served in the French army as a volunteer from 1768 onwards. In 1772 he was made sous-aide-major in the Rouergue Regiment.

While La Fayette and his group of fellow travelers are certainly among the most famous foreign personal in the continental army, their idea was by no means novel. There were several groups of Frenchman that tried one way or another to join the War in America (and for one reason or another). Fleury was part of such a group - and he was one of the, comparatively speaking, few successful ones.

He was made a Captain of Enginers by the Continental Congress on May 22, 1777 and was awarded 50 Dollar for his travelling expenses. William Heath wrote to George Washington on April 26, 1777:

The Three appear to be Officers of Abilities—They inform me that Mr Dean promised them that their Expences should be born to Philadelphia &c.—I must confess I scarcely know what to do with them, & wish Direction, I have advanced to Col. Conway, as advance pay 150 Dollars to enable him to proceed to Philadelphia—And to Capt. Lewis Fleury 50 Dollars—The latter is engaged as a Capt. Engineer.

“To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 26 April 1777,” Founders Online, National Archives, [Original source: The Papers of George Washington, Revolutionary War Series, vol. 9, 28 March 1777 – 10 June 1777, ed. Philander D. Chase. Charlottesville: University Press of Virginia, 1999, pp. 277–280.] (12/16/2022)

He was initially assigned to a corps of rifleman but soon got promoted and re-assigned after he fought with distinction at the Battle of Brandywine, where his horse was shot from under him. A Boston newspaper wrote on December 4, 1777:

The Chevalier du Plessis, who is one of General Knox’s Family, had three Balls thro’ his Hat. Young Fleuri’s Horse was killed under him. He shew’d so much Bravery, and was so useful in rallying the Troops, that the Congress have made him a Present of another.

“Extract from a Boston Newspaper, [after 4 December 1777],” Founders Online, National Archives, [Original source: The Papers of Benjamin Franklin, vol. 25, October 1, 1777, through February 28, 1778, ed. William B. Willcox. New Haven and London: Yale University Press, 1986, pp. 244–245.] (12/16/2022)

Fleury also participated in the Battle of Germantown, where, in classical La Fayette-fashion, he was wounded in the leg. The General Orders from October 3, 1777 read as follows:

Lewis Fleury Esqr. is appointed Brigade Major to The Count Pulaski, Brigadier General of the Light Dragoons, and is to be respected as such.

“General Orders, 3 October 1777,” Founders Online, National Archives, [Original source: The Papers of George Washington, Revolutionary War Series, vol. 11, 19 August 1777 – 25 October 1777, ed. Philander D. Chase and Edward G. Lengel. Charlottesville: University Press of Virginia, 2001, pp. 372–375.] (12/16/2022)

Fleury was ordered to defend Fort Mifflin on November 4, 1777, where he would be engaged in the attack on Fort Mifflin on November 15 of the same year. Fleury was again wounded but even more important, he kept a very detailed journal and his entries from October 15-19 were often cited to illustrate the events surrounding the attack.

Concerning his wounds (and his personal value) Colonel Samuel Smith wrote to George Washington on November 16, 1777:

Major Fleury is hurt but not very much. he is a Treasure that ought not to be lost.

To George Washington from Lieutenant Colonel Samuel Smith, 16 November 1777,” Founders Online, National Archives, [Original source: The Papers of George Washington, Revolutionary War Series, vol. 12, 26 October 1777 – 25 December 1777, ed. Frank E. Grizzard, Jr. and David R. Hoth. Charlottesville: University Press of Virginia, 2002, pp. 281–282.] (12/16/2022)

La Fayette became aware of Fleury’s brave conduct and wrote to Henry Laurens on November 18, 1777:

You heard as soon almost as myself of all the interesting niews on the Delaware. The gallant defense of our forts deserves praisespraise and her daughter emulation arethe necessary attendants of an army. I am told that Major Fleury and Captain du Plessis have done theyr duty. It is a pleasant enjoyement for my mind, when some frenchmen behave a la francoise, and I can assure you that everyone who in the defense of our noble cause will show himself worthy of his country shall be mentionned in the most high terms to the king, ministry, and my friends of France when I’l be back in my natal air.

Idzerda Stanley J. et al., editors, Lafayette in the Age of the American Revolution: Selected Letters and Papers, 1776–1790, Volume 1, December 7, 1776–March 30, 1778, Cornell University Press, 1977, pp. 151-153.

George Washington had recommended Fleury and as a result of this recommendation, Fleury was commissioned a Lieutenant Colonel on November 26. La Fayette was very much in Fleury’s favour, and he wrote again to Henry Laurens on November 29, 1777:

The bearer of my letter is Mr. de Fleury who was in Fort Miflin, and as he is reccommanded by his excellency I have nothing more to say but that I am very sensible of his good conduct. (…) Mr. de Fleury receives just now the commission of lieutenant colonel, I think he wo’nt go to day to Congress, and I send this letter by one other occasion (…)

Idzerda Stanley J. et al., editors, Lafayette in the Age of the American Revolution: Selected Letters and Papers, 1776–1790, Volume 1, December 7, 1776–March 30, 1778, Cornell University Press, 1977, pp. 160-161.

Fleury was also recommended by Colonel Henry Leonard Philip, Baron d’Arendt, the commander of Fort Mifflin. Arendt wrote to Alexander Hamilton on October 26, 1777:

Col. Smith who is well acquainted with this place, its defence, and my Intentions respecting them, will make every necessary arrangement in my absence to maintain harmony between himself and Colo. [John] Green—I must do him the justice to say that he is a good Officer and I wish America a great many of the same cast. I must render the same justice likewise to Maj. Fleury who is very brave and active.

Notes of “To George Washington from Brigadier General David Forman, 26 October 1777,” Founders Online, National Archives, [Original source: The Papers of George Washington, Revolutionary War Series, vol. 12, 26 October 1777 – 25 December 1777, ed. Frank E. Grizzard, Jr. and David R. Hoth. Charlottesville: University Press of Virginia, 2002, pp. 13–16.] (12/16/2022)

George Washington also had something to say about this quarrel between his soldiers. He wrote to James Mitchell Varnum on November 4, 1777:

I thank you for your endeavours to restore confidence between the Comodore & Smith—I find something of the same kind existing between Smith and Monsr Fleury, who I consider as a very valuable Officer. How strange it is that Men, engaged in the same Important Service, should be eternally bickering, instead of giving mutual aid. Officers cannot act upon proper principles who suffer trifles to interpose to create distrust, & jealousy (…)

“From George Washington to Brigadier General James Mitchell Varnum, 4 November 1777,” Founders Online, National Archives, [Original source: The Papers of George Washington, Revolutionary War Series, vol. 12, 26 October 1777 – 25 December 1777, ed. Frank E. Grizzard, Jr. and David R. Hoth. Charlottesville: University Press of Virginia, 2002, pp. 128–129.] (12/16/2022)

I do not praise you often, but in this case I will – well said, Sir!

There was no division in the army at the present that Fleury could assume command of and he was therefor appointed sub-inspector under the Baron von Steuben. The General Orders from April 27, 1778 read:

Lieutt Coll Fleury is to act as Sub-Inspector and will attend the Baron Stuben ’till Circumstances shall admit of assigning him a Division of the Army—Each Sub-Inspector is to be attended daily by an Orderly-Serjeant drawn by turns from the Brigades of his own Inspection that the necessary orders may be communicated without delay.

“General Orders, 27 April 1778,” Founders Online, National Archives, [Original source: The Papers of George Washington, Revolutionary War Series, vol. 14, 1 March 1778 – 30 April 1778, ed. David R. Hoth. Charlottesville: University of Virginia Press, 2004, pp. 657–658.] (12/126/2022)

La Fayette, in the meantime, was lobbying for Fleury and other French officers – apparently to a degree or in a way that he later was unwilling to admit. The following passage was removed by the Marquis from a letter to George Washington from January 20, 1778:

I am told that Mullens is to be lieutenant colonel, if it is so, as that the same commission was done for Mssrs. de Fleury and du Plessis who are on every respect so much out of the line of Mullens who being by his birth of the lowest rank, and not so long ago a private soldier, I hope that those gentlemen are to be at least brigadier generals.

Idzerda Stanley J. et al., editors, Lafayette in the Age of the American Revolution: Selected Letters and Papers, 1776–1790, Volume 1, December 7, 1776–March 30, 1778, Cornell University Press, 1977, pp. 238-239.

It was around this time that preparations for the Canadian expedition were made – an expedition under La Fayette’s command that never came into fruition and probably was never really intended to do so. It was here that Fleury was appointed aide-de-camp to La Fayette. Horatio Gates wrote to our Marquis on January 24, 1778:

Congress having thought proper and in compliance with the wishes of this Board, from a Conviction of your Ardent Desire to signalize yourself in the Service of these States, to appoint you to the Command of an Expedition meditated against Montreal it is the Wish of the Board that you would immediately repair to Albany, taking with you Lt. Colo. de Fleury, and such other gallant French officers as you think will be serviceable in an Enterprise in that Quarter. (…)

Idzerda Stanley J. et al., editors, Lafayette in the Age of the American Revolution: Selected Letters and Papers, 1776–1790, Volume 1, December 7, 1776–March 30, 1778, Cornell University Press, 1977, pp. 249-250.

La Fayette in his turn wrote to Henry Laurens on February 4 and on February 7, 1778 respectively to inform him of the proceedings. He also used the opportunity to get a word for Fleury in and to gossip a bit about the same.

There is Lieutenant Colonel Fleury who not only out of my esteem and affection for him but even by a particular reccommandation of the board of war is destinated to follow me to Canada. I schould have desired of Congress every thing or employement which I could have believed more convenient to his wishes, had I not expected to see him before-you know he was upon my list. He desires to be at the head of an independent troop with the rank of Colonel. I do’nt know which will be the intentions of Congress but every thing which can please Mr. de Fleury not only as a frenchman but as a good officer, and as being Mr. de Fleury will be very agreable to me. (…) I have showed to Colonel Fleury the first lines of my letter, in order to let him know my giving willingly the reccommandation he asks for you. You know that gentleman's merit and that Duplessis and himself were made lieutenant colonels as reward of fine actions.

Idzerda Stanley J. et al., editors, Lafayette in the Age of the American Revolution: Selected Letters and Papers, 1776–1790, Volume 1, December 7, 1776–March 30, 1778, Cornell University Press, 1977, pp. 279-280.

You have seen Mr. de Fleury. I fancy entre nous that he will not be satisfied in so high pretensions. He is very unhappy that Mr. Duer is no more in Congress because he is his intimate friend and confident-that will perhaps surprise you.’ Mr. de Fleury is entre nous a fine officer but rather too ambitious. When I say such things I beg you to burn the letters.

Idzerda Stanley J. et al., editors, Lafayette in the Age of the American Revolution: Selected Letters and Papers, 1776–1790, Volume 1, December 7, 1776–March 30, 1778, Cornell University Press, 1977, pp. 282-283.

Henry Laurens replied on February 7, 1778 and his wording at the end especially is quite interesting given La Fayette’s previous letter.

I had the honour this Morning of receiving your Commands by the hands of Lt. Colo. Fleury. This Gentleman notwithstanding the aid of some able advocates in Congress has failed in his pursuit of a Colonel's Commission. You will wonder less, when you learn that the preceeding day I had strove very arduously as second to a warm recommendation from a favorite General, Gates, on behalf of Monsr. Failly, for the same Rank, without effect. The arguments adduced by Gentlemen who have opposed these measures, are strong & obvious. “We are reforming & reducing the Number of Officers in our Army, let us wait the event, & see how our own Native Officers are to be disposed of”-& besides, there is a plan in embrio for abolishing the Class of Colonel in our Army, while the Enemy have none of that Rank in the Field. Some difficulty attended obtaining leave for Monsr. Fleury to follow Your Excellency, Congress were at first of opinion he might be more usefully employed against the shipping in Delaware & formed a Resolve very flattering & tempting to induce him-but his perseverence in petitioning to be sent to Canada, prevailed. Monsr. Fleury strongly hopes Your Excellency will encourage him to raise & give him the Command of a distinct Corps of Canadians. I am persuaded you will adopt all such measures as shall promise advantage to the Service & there is no ground to doubt of your doing every reasonable & proper thing for the gratification & honour of [a] Gentleman of whom Your Excellency speaks & writes so favorably.

Idzerda Stanley J. et al., editors, Lafayette in the Age of the American Revolution: Selected Letters and Papers, 1776–1790, Volume 1, December 7, 1776–March 30, 1778, Cornell University Press, 1977, pp. 284-285.

With the failure of the expedition, Fleury once again longed for an independent command and La Fayette wrote to Charles Lee in June of 1778:

One of the best young french officers in America Mr. de Fleury wishes much to be annexed to the Rifle Corps and is desired by Clel. Morgan.

Idzerda Stanley J. et al., editors, Lafayette in the Age of the American Revolution: Selected Letters and Papers, 1776–1790, Volume 2, April 10, 1778–March 20, 1780, Cornell University Press, 1978, pp. 62-64.

In the end, Fleury was given command of a light infantry battalion on June 15, 1779. The General Orders for that day read as follows:

The sixteen companies of Light-Infantry drafted from the three divisions on this ground are to be divided into four battalions and commanded by the following officers;

4. companies from the Virginia line by Major Posey.

4—ditto from the Pennsylvania line by Lt Colo. Hay.

4—ditto two from each of the aforesaid lines by Lieutenant Colonel Fleury.

“General Orders, 15 June 1779,” Founders Online, National Archives,[Original source: The Papers of George Washington, Revolutionary War Series, vol. 21, 1 June–31 July 1779, ed. William M. Ferraro. Charlottesville: University of Virginia Press, 2012, p. 176.] (12/16/2022)

He led his battalion into the attack of Stony Point on July 16, 1779. His conduct was, by all accounts, heroic and George Washington wrote on September 30, 1779:

Colo. Fleury who I expect will have the honour of presenting this lettr. to you, and who acted an important & honourable part in the event, will give you the particulars of the assault & reduction at Stony Point (…) He led one of the columns – struck the colours of the garrison with his own hands – and in all respects behaved with intrepidity & intelligence which marks his conduct upon all occasions.

Idzerda Stanley J. et al., editors, Lafayette in the Age of the American Revolution: Selected Letters and Papers, 1776–1790, Volume 2, April 10, 1778–March 20, 1780, Cornell University Press, 1978, pp. 313-319.

His actions were indeed so gallant that Congress awarded him a silver medal on July 26, 1779. This is indeed quite remarkable since he was the only foreign officer thus honoured. No other foreign officer, not even La Fayette, received such a silver medal during the Revolutionary War.

Fleury obtained a leave of absence from Congress in September of 1779 and left America on November 16. La Fayette was at this time in France as well and was eager to receive a first-hand account from Fleury with respect to political as well as to military matters. Although still in possession of his American commission, Fleury re-entered the French army and was made a Major of the Saintonge Regiment in March of 1780 (this might interest you @acrossthewavesoftime.) A few months later, in July of 1780, he joined General Rochambeau’s expeditionary force. Fleury was one of the French soldiers at the Battle of Yorktown. He left America for good in January of 1783 and sailed from Boston to France. It was only at this point, that he resigned his American commission. In France, he joined the Pondichéry Regiment and was named its Colonel. He was elevated to a maréshal de camp in 1791 and fought in the battle of Mons on April 28-30, 1792. During the retreat, he was wounded for the third time. While his previous injuries were all relative mild, this one appears to have been rather serious. He resigned from the army not long after.

Not much is known about Fleury’s later life, and I have seen drastically different accounts of the time of his death. While some editors of (La Fayette’s) letters/papers have put the date of his death around 1814, it is far more likely that he died in 1799. Fleury never married and there are no known children of his.

François Louis Teisseydre, Marquis de Fleury’s legacy is the De Fleury Medal that is granted to outstanding members of the United States Army Corps of Engineers.

[seadcgs-a]

NEW OC BIO (2)

GENERAL INFORMATION

NAME: Charlotte Anne Brewster

NICKNAMES/TITLES: Charlie, Lottie ( VERY select people; namely the Washingtons ), Annie (by her papa, sometimes), Mascot of the Continental Army (by everyone in camp), Brat (by Bradford, Arnold, a few others in camp)

SPECIES: Human

AGE: 15, (mainly playing younger)

GENDER: Cis Female

DATE OF BIRTH: 8 July, 1778

NOTE-WORTHY ABILITIES: hatchet throwing, musket firing, embroidery, cooking, horseback riding

CURRENT RESIDENCE: The Continental Army camp, Setauket (Post War, briefly), Connecticut (Post War), Mt. Vernon, Virginia (during winter months)

OCCUPATION: Does being the middle child count? (Thinks shes the oldest, for a while)

AFFILIATIONS: The Continental Army, 2nd Continental Light Dragoons, the Patriots

SPOKEN LANGUAGES: English, French, Latin, a few words in Iroquoian

PERSONALITY

ALIGNMENT: Chaotic good

ASSETS: switchblade, tin whistle

FLAWS: Naiveté, quick temper

LIKES: going barefoot, the wind in her hair, playing in the woods around camp, spending time in sackett's tent/shop, time on the water with her papa, her younger sister georgie, older sister kaia (eventually), playing hide & seek with uncle robert, playing soldiers with uncle nate, the smell of the salty sea air, campfires, worn leather

DISLIKES: the british, simcoe, arnold, sitting still in one spot for a long period of time, washing laundry, cleaning things, homophobia, transphobia

FEARS/PHOBIAS: fear of abandonment, letting her family down, getting kidnapped, getting hanged

CONNECTIONS

FAMILY: Caleb Brewster (Papa), Benjamin Tallmadge (Dad/Dada), Georgia "Georgie" Lynn (younger sister), Kaia Elizabeth (Older sister), Nate (uncle), Anna Strong (Aunt), Abraham Woodhull (Uncle), Mary Woodhull (Aunt), Thomas Woodhull, Jr, "Sprout" (calls him a cousin), General Washington (surrogate Grandfather, calls him Gampa ), Martha Washington (surrogate Grandmother, calls her Gamma ), Nathaniel Tallmadge ( biological Grandfather, calls him Grandfather), Nathaniel Sackett ( surrogate Grandfather, calls him Pops (learned it from Caleb, he hates it but he can't tell her no), Robert Rogers (Uncle), Robert Townsend (Uncle), Edmund Hewlett (Uncle), Akinbode (Uncle), Abigail (Auntie), Cicero ( sort-of cousin)

FRIENDS: Georgia, Kaia, Nate, Sprout, a few other children in Setauket, New York & Connecticut; her stuffed bear, Bubba

ROMANTIC INTEREST: none, yet, but she grows up to be bisexual, so she has a lot of options, and what with being a Congressman's daughter & the Presidents (sort-of) granddaughter, she has a lot of opportunities for suitors--male, female & non-binary alike.

ENEMIES: simcoe, the british navy, other queens rangers, traitors to the cause, richard woodhull

OTHERS: none atm

FACTS AND TRIVIA: she says she was born in setauket, if anyone asks, but she was actually born in a small barn on the outskirts of the continental army camp. she loves wearing hats, especially her papa's. usually has her hair in two braids or loose, trailing down her back. the only time she has her hair up and (semi) neat is if she's at an event with her grandfather(s), church, or at whitehall. (richard wouldn't allow her in otherwise)

[lyledebeast]

Three Tokens

The point has been made many times that The Patriot misrepresents several populations that played key roles in the American Revolution.  To be honest, it misrepresents all populations involved.  The British did not make a habit of targeting civilians (at least no more than the Patriots did), and wealthy South Carolina landowners farmed their lands using slave labor.  Apart from these outright lies, though, there is a more insidious misrepresentation involved with three populations not centered by the movie: the French, American Loyalists, and enslaved Black Americans.  Each of these groups is represented by one character that is written specifically to present the Patriot cause in a favorable light, or at least deflect criticism away from it.

Major Villeneuve 

When we first meet him, Villeneuve has it in for Benjamin Martin.  “It is such an honor to meet the hero of Fort Wilderness” he sneers in reference to Martin’s brutal executions of French soldiers during the French and Indian War.  It is entirely believable that French soldiers could have held on to such animosities; the war in which they had fought the Americans as enemies only ended thirteen years prior to the start of the American Revolution.  Villeneuve’s dialogue with Martin becomes suspicious as he shifts from anger at Martin’s past war crimes to anger with Martin for forbidding his execution of surrendering British soldiers.  The British had sunk the ship on which his wife and children were passengers.  Just as the French and their Cherokee allies had murdered and raped Colonial civilians just prior to the Fort Wilderness incident.  Villeneuve’s judgement of Martin is superseded by his hypocrisy. This becomes a theme wherein characters’ personal experiences are presented as more important than their political beliefs, particularly when those beliefs are critical of Patriot ideas and practices.

James Wilkins

To get the pesky historical facts out of the way first, the idea of using one man to represent Loyalism in a colony characterized by particularly fierce fighting between Loyalists and Patriots is laughable. The audience is given no explanation for why Wilkins would join the Green Dragoons (historically, a Loyalist regiment formed in New York, though apparently not the in the movie given Tavington’s “another Colonial?” comment). Wilkins is the single American Loyalist present in the movie after the Charlestown assembly of 1776, and we are told that he had been part of a Loyalist militia prior to joining the dragoons.  What happened to the other Loyalists at the assembly?  What happened to the militia? 🤷‍♀️

We do learn that Wilkins’ Loyalism has a motivation, sort of.  It is not revenge, which motivates every single other non-British White man in the movie in spite of South Carolinian Loyalists having ample cause to seek vengeance against Patriots.  To Mr. Howard at the assembly he cites the lack of an American nation, and to Tavington he says “Those who make a stand against England deserve to die a traitor’s death.” Frankly, this sounds like the straw man reasoning a Patriot polemist would ascribe to Loyalists, and I suppose that is exactly what it is.  He is not loyal to cultural and/political institution of which he is part but to a country across an ocean from his home.  Okay, Wilkins.  The movie does provide us with a Loyalist perspective; it just happens to be one completely divorced from accurate historical context. 

Occam

I’ll confess to falling down a rabbit hole of research about Black Americans’ involvement in the American Revolution for this section, and it was eye-opening.  I knew that more Black people supported the British than the Patriots, but I had no idea how enormous the disparity was. The number of enslaved people who took up the Continental Army’s offer of freedom at the end of military service was dwarfed by the numbers of those who directly aided the British or took the chaos of war as an opportunity to escape the plantations.  Both of these larger groups are erased in The Patriot. Of the enslaved characters, Occam is the only one to speak, and some on Charlotte’s plantation die for their silence about her whereabouts.  The longest speech from a free Black character exists to inform the audience and Tavington that he is free and is almost completely ignored by Tavington.

All this means that Occam is the only character to actually articulate a Black experience of the American Revolution, but he prefers to express himself through his actions.  These include staring into middle distance while pensive music plays every time the topic of freedom is raised, risking his life to save the one militia man who treats him as poorly as his enslaver did, fighting for the militia that enslaver gave him to even after he is free, and helping his comrades surprise Benjamin Martin by building him a new house after the war ends.  It is hard to imagine that he is going to surprise him again with a bill for his services.  In short, Occam celebrates his liberation from slavery by doing volitionally the exact same things he would have been compelled to do as a slave.  Freedom, baby!

As egregiously limited as each of these characters are as representations of their respective groups, each contains a grain of truth.  There was some held over mistrust between French and American veterans of the previous war.  There were Loyalists who partook in atrocities against Patriot civilians.  There were Black people, both enslaved and free, who aided the Patriot cause.  However, by presenting only one person from each of these populations, the filmmakers use these characters’ individual choices to downplay or silence those populations’ justified grievances with Patriots.  There is, however, one South Carolina population from the American Revolution era that is not represented by so much as a single token: the Cherokees.  We know they were there; people keep referencing Martin’s victory over them.  The tomahawk prominently featured from the opening shot of the movie to Martin’s final fight with Tavington is a trophy from Martin’s Indian fighting days.  But the only Cherokee people who appear are the scouts in one blink-and-you-miss-it shot after they deliver the single survivor of Martin’s massacre in the woods to the British camp.  That they appear at all begs the question: why is Tavington not using their help to find the militia?  They likely know about the mission; their ancestors were there long before the Spanish built it.  For once, the movie is accurate; Banastre Tarleton did not receive Cherokee aid either.  This was not because the Cherokees chose to forgive and forget with regards to the previous war, as Villeneuve ultimately does, but because they had been driven from the colony by Patriot atrocities that might even have raised Colonel Tavington’s eyebrows.

[battlefield-melodies]

✧˖°.　𝑴𝑼𝑺𝑬 𝑰𝑵𝑻𝑹𝑶𝑫𝑼𝑪𝑻𝑰𝑶𝑵 .°˖✧

───────────────────────────────

✧˖°. Muse Status: Open for interaction

✧˖°. Historical setting: 18th Century

✧˖°. Faceclaim: (in process)

✧˖°. AUs: (in process)

───────────────────────────────

𝑷𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒐𝒏𝒂𝒍 𝑫𝒂𝒕𝒂

✧˖°. Name: William Dalton

✧˖°. Nicknames: Will, Dalton, Bill,

✧˖°. Birth: July 13th 1758

✧˖°. Gender: Male

✧˖°. Pronouns: he/him (usually)

✧˖°. Sexuality: Bisexual

✧˖°. Nationality: Irish-American

✧˖°. Mother Tongue: English & Irish

───────────────────────────────

𝑷𝒉𝒚𝒔𝒊𝒄𝒂𝒍 𝑫𝒆𝒔𝒄𝒓𝒊𝒑𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏

✧˖°. Height: 5'11

✧˖°. Eye colour: Greyish blue

✧˖°. Hair: Curly Blonde

✧˖°. Ethnicity(?: Caucassian

✧˖°. Body type: Slim, slightly muscled.

───────────────────────────────

𝑨𝒅𝒅𝒊𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒂𝒍 𝑰𝒏𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒎𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏

- Family:

Parents:

Ryan Dalton (Father; 1730) & Adara Hayes (Mother; 1736)

Siblings:

Caroline Dalton (Sister; 1762 - 1768 in most AUs)

Extended Family

Cillian (Dalton) Smith (Cousin; 1752 - ?)

Cora Smith (Aunt; 1732 - 1758)

-Occupation/Studies:

AmRev Verse

Lieutenant in the Continental 2nd Light Dragoons Regiment (1778-1781)

Graduated in Law from King's College

-About his life:

(To be edited)

───────────────────────────────

[revolutionarywarhistory]

"The misfortune which ensued": The defeat at Germantown [Part 2]

Continued from Part 1

This was originally written in October 2016 when I was a research fellow at the Maryland State Archives. It has been reprinted from Academia.edu and my History Hermann WordPress blog.

Illustration of the battle at the Chew House by American artist Christian Schussele

Regardless of who is blamed, the heavy fighting undoubtedly resulted in the death and wounding of many soldiers, leading to a withdrawal. [15] Soldiers were disoriented and confused by heavy morning radiation fog, caused by a 34 degree temperature and humidity, along with the thick black powder smoke from cannons and muskets. This annulled any chance for victory, even though some claimed that they were near to “gaining a compleat Victory.” [16] Washington said that his army would have gained victory if “the fogginess of the Morning” hadn’t prevented the Continental Army “from seeing the advantage we had gained.” [17] In later letters he told General William Heath, his brother John Augustine Washington, and Virginia politician John Page a similar story. He wrote that the hazy day was “overcast by dark & heavy fog,” was “extremely foggy,” and “a thick Fog rendered so infinitely dark at times.” [18] From his viewpoint, this prevented the enemy from sustaining “total defeat” with complications including the Continental Army’s right wing lacking ammunition as the battle dragged on.

After the battle, the Continental Army moved twenty miles way to collect their forces and care for the wounded as the British still held on to Philadelphia. [19] While wounded Marylanders were sent to Reading, Pennsylvania, the Continental Army camped beside the Delaware River before returning to Perkeomen, where they had been stationed before the battle. [20]

George Washington, with the help of other officers and informers, repeatedly tried to assess their losses and that of the British. Washington claimed that the Continental Army suffered “no material loss of Men.” His estimates of those killed, wounded, and missing ranged from 300 to 1,000. [21] He also said that only one artillery piece was lost, along with some captured due to the foggy conditions. In his memoirs, in early nineteenth century, Connecticut Lieutenant James Morris wrote that “many fell in battle and about five hundred of our men were made prisoners of War, who surrendered at discretion.” [22] While the number of casualties from the battle is not known since the official return of Continental causalities from the battle has been lost, the Annual Register, a British parliamentary publication, may be the most reliable, as they reported that 200-300 Continentals were slain, 600 wounded and more than 400 were taken prisoner. [23]

The estimates of British casualties are also not clear. Through the month of October, informers, who were often deserters, told George Washington and other high-level generals that hundreds of wagons came into the city of Philadelphia with wounded soldiers. [24] Those that were wounded reportedly included British army general William Erskine and Hessian general William von Knyphausen, along with 300 to 2,500 British killed and wounded on the bloody day. [25] The Annual Register said that the British losses of wounded, killed, and captured numbered 535, but only 75 were killed and 54 officers taken prisoner. [26] Hence, the estimates by deserters that 2,500 British were casualties may have been exaggerated.

The Continental prisoners from the battle did not fair well. James Morris described how he was captured ten miles away from Germantown after being “continually harassed” by British light infantry and dragoons. [27] Morris, like many others, was taken prisoner, and held in Germantown from October 4 to 5th. He was moved to Philadelphia, where he was a prisoner in Walnut Street Jail. [28] He remained there along with 400 to 500 Continentals in squalid conditions until May 1778. The jail was cold, dark, and desolate, and many prisoners had no bedding, blankets, or general provisions, while others became sick or died. [29]

As the Continentals languished in Philadelphia, officers were accused of being responsible for the defeat and court-martialed as a result. While some believed that the battle reflected “honor upon the General and the Army” and that General Sullivan was a “brave Man,” not everyone agreed. [30] He was partly criticuzed for the friendly fire between Sullivan’s division and Nathaniel Greene‘s troops during the battle, due to the fog. [31] He was likely seen as part of the reason for the  “real Injury to America” caused by the defeat: the continued British occupation of Philadelphia. Sullivan defended himself by writing to Washington that after the battle “the field remained his [Howe’s,] the victory was yours” and that Howe could only be defeated by “a Successful General Action.” [32] Others accused of improprieties during the battle included Pennsylvania militia general Thomas Conway, accused later of conspiring against Washington, Captain Abner Crump of Virginia, Nathaniel Greene, Captain Edward Vail of North Carolina, and Captain Adam Stephen of Connecticut. [33] Of these men, Vail, Crump, and Conway were court-martialed and removed from the Continental Army.

Despite the fact that the battle was a defeat for the Continental Army, it served a purpose for the revolutionary cause. John Adams wrote, in July 1778, that “General Washingtons attack upon the Enemy at Germantown” was considered by “the military Gentlemen in Europe” to be the “most decisive Proof that America would finally succeed.” [34]

In the following months, some Marylanders fought along the Delaware River in forts Red Bank and Mifflin. The British were trying to push the Continentals clear out the Delaware River in order to secure Philadelphia. [35] By the end of the campaign, however, their only victory was ensuring that the city was “a good lodging” for the British Army. The rest of Marylanders stayed in camp until they wintered in Wilmington, Delaware and the rest of the army wintered in Valley Forge. [36] In the following years, the First Maryland Regiment would fight in the northern colonies until they joined the Southern campaign in 1780 and 1781. [37]

© 2016-2023 Burkely Hermann. All rights reserved.

[tallmadgeandtea]

Turn Week 2023:

History Nerdery!

Hello, and Happy Fourth of July! For today's Turn Week, I wanted to talk about Benjamin's regiment in the Continental Army. We all know he's a Connecticut Dragoon, but what does that mean and what did they do, exactly? I'm going to let you know! The Continental Cavalry is my favorite unit in the army, and I actually did an Honors Research Project on them last year for my college. WARNING: this is going to be LONG. I'm sorry. Kind of.

What is the Continental Cavalry?

The cavalry is the mounted troops in a military force, meaning they fight on horseback. At the time of the Revolution, the cavalry was considered an elite and necessary force for a proper military. Combat on horseback was dangerous- you not only had to avoid cannon and gunfire, but you had to attack other mounted troops with lances and sabers of their own.

There are two types of cavalry: light cavalry and heavy cavalry. The light cavalry had three primary duties. Scouting, which was to patrol enemy forces, movements, and the terrain surrounding camps and battlefields, which also played into reconnaissance. They also served as messengers to officers on and off the battlefield. On the other hand, heavy cavalry was troops used in action. Their objective was to lead charges and weaken the enemy’s unmounted troops, like going after their flanks. They also performed raids/ambushes or small skirmishes against the enemy. Their combat was on and off the battlefield.

Due to the near constant lack of funds for the Continentals, their Dragoons performed both light and heavy cavalry roles. A dragoon/trooper is a soldier who fights either on horseback or on foot, depending on the amount of horse available. They used weapons such as: a cavalry saber, a shortgun, and a musket.

Unlike the British army, which brought over cavalry forces, at the beginning of the war, there was not an official cavalry for the Continentals. Some state and organized militias had mounted troops- such as the Philadelphia Light Horse- but professional, commissioned troops had not seen action.

After seeing the performance of the British cavalry during the New York Campaign, General George Washington realized his army needed horses of their own. Writing to Congress in late 1776, “From the Experience I have had in this Campaign… I am Convinced there is no carrying on the War without them.”

What made up the Continental Cavalry?

In 1777, the cavalry's first year in action, there were four regiments of Light Dragoons.

The 1st Regiment of Dragoons- from Virginia, also known as Bland's Light Horse. Their uniforms were originally the "classic" Continental coat: blue with red facings, but they then changed the standard to brown with green facings.

The 2nd Regiment, also known as the Connecticut Light Dragoons, Colonel Elisha Sheldon and Benjamin Tallmadge's force, mustered from Connecticut, hence the name. Their uniform was blue with buff facings.

The 3rd Regiment, aka Colonel Baylor's or Lady Washington's Light Horse, in honor of Martha Washington. Their uniform was white with blue facings (one of my favorite uniforms in the army.)

And the 4th Regiment, led by Colonel Stephen Moylan. His troops originally wore red! coats, and this lead to some incidents of friendly fire. At Washington's order, the regiment changed to green with red facings.

How does this relate to Turn: Benjamin Tallmadge and His Dragoons.

Although the show does not get into heavy detail about Benjamin Tallmadge's battle experience, we know what battles he was present at with his regiment.

1777 the cavalry's first years as professional troops in battle. Both had very... different outcomes, let's say. Both were also mentioned or briefly shown in season 2 of Turn, and my research focused on this.

During the Campaigns, a set of troops from each regiment of Dragoons was stationed with General Washington in Pennsylvania, led by Bland, Moylan, Baylor, Sheldon, and Tallmadge.

Benjamin Tallmadge and his soldiers were present at both the Battles of Brandywine and Germantown.

At Brandywine, Washington first used the dragoons for only scouting, not combat. But as the British went after his insecure right flank, he frantically sent units of soldiers and cavalry to prevent the British from getting to the road along and to Brandywine Creek. The cavalry also acted as messengers to officers during this battle, but insufficient preparation and speed led to delayed reports. The cavalry did lead a charge that allowed Washington to retreat, but the day was lost. Afterwards, the British marched into the Continental capital of Philadelphia.

After Brandywine, Washington needed another battle to try and take back Philadelphia. With a night march, he decided to attack the British near their camp in Germantown, Pennsylvania, a small village outside the city.

Washington had four columns, 2 made up of Continental forces and two of state militias. Just as at Brandywine, his right wing was commanded by Sullivan, and his left by Greene. The Dragoons were now under their newly commissioned commander, General Pulaski. Tallmadge stated in his memoirs that, “if every division of the army had performed its allotted part, it seems as if we must have succeeded.”

Unfortunately, this would not be the outcome at Germantown. At the beginning of the battle, the Continentals were winning. Part of the camp was captured. A heavy fog and rain set over the battlefield, and the British used this fog to their advantage. They retreated into a local country house and created a stalemate.

Benjamin Tallmadge and his dragoons were first stationed with Sullivan’s division, close upon “the scene of the action.” As the battle turned against the Continental forces and the troops became victim to enemy and friendly fire, Washington ordered him to use his 2nd Dragoons to block any further retreat, to no avail. Germantown was lost.

Germantown was the last official engagement of the Philadelphia campaign. But on June 28, 1778, the Continental Army and the Cavalry engaged the forces at the Battle of Monmouth in New Jersey. Due to proper military training thanks to the Inspector General Baron von Steuben and six months of waiting at Valley Forge, the army emerged as a proper fighting force and prevailed against the British. The victory allowed the Continentals to take back their capital and keep Washington in as Commander in Chief.

Monmouth is the shown in the finale of season 2- Gunpowder, Treason, and Plot- with Benjamin leading his dragoons into the battle.

After the 1777 campaigns, Tallmadge and his dragoons would stay up north, particularly New York, to patrol and engage the enemy in raids. They also participated in the Battles of Stony Point and Fort St. George, which were shown in seasons 3 and 4 of Turn.

Sources (and further reading):

Memoir of Col. Benjamin Tallmadge : Tallmadge, Benjamin, 1754-1835 : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

Brandywine: A Military History of the Battle that Lost Philadelphia but Saved America, September 11, 1777 by Michael C. Harris, Paperback | Barnes & Noble® (barnesandnoble.com)

Germantown: A Military History of the Battle for Philadelphia, October 4, 1777 by Michael C. Harris, Hardcover | Barnes & Noble® (barnesandnoble.com)

Cavalry of the American Revolution - Jim Piecuch - Westholme Publishing

[meerawrites]

Oops?

I had a lot of spare birthday money and the seller also conveniently had a sale, so, I got a continental army lapel coat. I also found a mini ish 2nd continental light dragoon flag on sale for $30 so. *eyes emoji*

So what the hell is a 2nd Continental light dragoon? (By @jackyfalahees / @tallmadgeandtea )

Re: the flag of the second continental light dragoons.

[awendaw-red]

A PANTHEON OF HEROES! This is my newest favorite painting by South Carolina artist Dale Watson. Dale has been commissioned by the American Battlefield Trust to depict Revolutionary War battle scenes for South Carolina’s Liberty Trail. The Liberty Trail is a driving tour of 78 battlefields throughout the state. This trail will be up and running in time for the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. The scene here is a meeting of heroes making plans at Burrell’s Tavern in preparation for the upcoming battle at Eutaw Springs on Sept 8, 1781. This was the last major battle in the state, and it was the bloodiest. Starting on the left, the seated individual is no other than Francis Marion, crooked nose and all. He’s is wearing his worn Continental officer’s uniform. Francis Marion was the commander of the SC Militia in this battle, fighting on the front line. Next is Andrew Pickens, wearing typical militia homespun. Andrew Pickens was shot square in the chest while leading his men on horseback. As his limp body fell to the ground, his men wailed at his death. However. Andrew Pickens didn’t die. The musket ball hit the buckle on his sword belt, leaving a one inch depression for the rest of his life. Andrew Pickens was saved by the Grace of God. He wasn’t called the Fighting Elder for no reason. Standing in the middle is the immortal Gen. Nathanael Greene. Nathanael Greene was George Washington’s most valuable and brilliant general. In this battle, Greene imitated the battle plan used by Daniel Morgan at Cowpens. He had a line of militia (under Marion) in the front line. Next was s line of experienced Continental regulars under Col. Otho Holland Williams. The third line consisted of the cavalry under Lt. Col. William Washington and Col. Light Horse Harry Lee (Robt. E. Lee’s father). Daniel Morgan’s plan is referred to as Defense in Depth. Greene successfully used this plan at Guilford Courthouse. However, at Eutaw Springs Greene used this plan to go on the offense. It was Offense in Depth. The officer beside Greene wearing the green jacket is Light Horse Harry Lee. The battle started when Lee captured 400 British soldiers who were harvesting a field of sweet potatoes. During the battle, Lee protected Greene’s right flank. Next is Col. Otho Holland Williams with the 1st Maryland Regiment (Washington’s Immortals - arguably America’s best fighters). The 1st Maryland plugged a gap in the militia line, and then overran the British camp, and, unfortunately, imbibed too strongly of the British rum supply. The seated officer on the right is Lt. Col. William Washington, commander of the 3rd Continental Light Dragoons. William Washington and Henry Lee were America’s premier cavalry officers. In this battle William Washington guarded Greene’s left flank. As the battle progressed, the British established a strong post on their right flank at a brick plantation house and the surrounding fenced gardens. Washington wanted to turn this flank, but couldn’t maneuver his horses through a dense oak thicket. Rashly, he charged in front of the brick house. His horse was killed and pinned him underneath. Washington was now a sitting duck, and a British regular ran him through with a bayonet. William Washington’s life was saved by British Maj. John Marjoribanks. As the British regular was about to plunge his bayonet again in a death dealing blow, Maj Marjoribanks stopped him. William Washington was captured and remained a POW in Charleston for the remainder of the war. British Maj John Marjoribanks is also a Eutaw Springs hero. He died six weeks after the battle and was buried by the Americans with honor on the battlefield. This painting by Dale Watson depicts some of the most heroic figures that America has ever produced. 

[valkyries-things]

ANNA MARIA LANE // SOLDIER

“She was the first documented female soldier from Virginia to fight with the Continental Army in the American Revolutionary War. She dressed as a man and accompanied her husband on the battlefield, and was later awarded a pension for her courage in the Battle of Germantown. Lane and her husband fought in campaigns in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Georgia. On October 3, 1777, Anna Maria was severely wounded, which left her lame for life. Despite her injury, she continued fighting alongside her husband when he re-enlisted in the Virginia Light Dragoons. She was with him when he was wounded in the Siege of Savannah in 1779. They both served until 1781.”

[sunny-kit-taunton]

who are you?!

Kit Taunton. Corporal, 19. Second Continental Light Dragoons.