American Prisoners of the Revolution | Page 6

to the amount of 100--no more could be
received. The Committee of Safety had appointed Wm Henshaw as 1st
Lieut., George Scott 2nd, and Thomas Hite as 3rd Lieut to this
Company, this latter however, declined accepting, and Abraham
Shepherd succeeded as 3d Lieut--all the rest Stood on an equal footing
as Volunteers--We remained at Shepherds Town untill the 16th July
before we could be Completely armed, notwithstanding the utmost
exertions. In the mean time your Father obtained from the gunsmith a
remarkable neat light rifle, the stock inlaid and ornamented with silver,
which he held, untill Compelled, as were all of us--to ground our arms
and surrender to the enemy on the evening of the 16th day of
November 1776.
"In our Company were many young men of Considerable fortune, &
who generally entered from patriotic motives ... Our time of service
being about to expire Captain Hugh Stephenson was commissioned a
Colonel; Moses Rawlings a Lieutenant Colonel, and Otho Williams
Major, to raise a Rifle Regiment for three years: four companies to be
raised in Virginia and four in Maryland.
"Henshaw and Scott chose to return home. Abraham Shepherd was
commissioned Captain, Sam'l Finley First Lieutenant, William Kelly
Second Lieutenant, and myself 3rd Lieutenant. The Commissions of
the Field Officers were dated the 8th July, 1776, & those of our
Company the 9th of the same month. Shepherd, Finley and myself were
dispatched to Berkeley to recruit and refill the old Company, which we
performed in about five weeks. Col'o Stephenson also returned to
Virginia to facilitate the raising the additional Companies. While
actively employed in August, 1776, he was taken sick, and in four days
died. The command of the Regiment devolved on Lieutenant Colonel
Moses Rawlings, a Very worthy and brave officer.

"Our Company being filled we Marched early in September to our
Rendezvous at Bergen. So soon as the Regiment was formed it was
ordered up the North River to the English Neighborhood, & in a short
time ordered to cross the River and assist in the defence of Fort
Washington, where were about three thousand men under the command
of Col'o Magaw, on New York Island. The enemy in the mean time
possessed New York, and had followed General Washington to the
White Plains, from whence, after several partial actions, he returned,
and approached us by the way of King's bridge, with a force of from 8
to 12000 Men. Several frigates ran up the Hudson from New York to
cut off our intercourse with Fort Lee, a fort on the opposite bank of the
North River: and by regular approaches invested us on all sides.
"On the 15th November, 1776, the British General Pattison appeared
with a flag near our Guards, demanding a surrender of Fort Washington
and the Garrison. Col'o Magaw replied he should defend it to the last
extremity. Pattison declared all was ready to storm the lines and fort,
we of course prepared for the Pending contest.
"At break of day the next morning, the enemy commenced a
tremendous Cannonade on every side, while their troops advanced. Our
Regt. tho weak, was most advantageously posted by Rawlings and
Williams, on a Small Ridge, about half a mile above Fort Washington.
The Ridge ran from the North River, in which lay three frigates,
towards the East River. A deep Valley divided us from the enemy, their
frigates enfiladed, & their Cannon on the heights behind the advancing
troops played incessantly on our party (consisting of Rawling's
Regiment, say 250 men, and one other company from Maryland, and
four companies of Pennsylvania Flying Camp, also for the present
commanded by Rawlings and Williams).
"The Artillery were endeavoring to clear the hill while their troops
crossing the Valley were ascending it, but without much effect. A few
of our men were killed with Cannon and Grape Shott. Not a Shott was
fired on our side untill the Enemy had nearly gained the Sumit. Though
at least five times our numbers our rifles brought down so many that
they gave way several times, but by their overwhelming numbers they

at last succeeded in possessing the summit. Here, however, was great
carnage, each making every effort to possess and hold so advantageous
a position. This obstinacy continued for more than an hour, when the
enemy brought up some field pieces, as well as reinforcements. Finding
all resistance useless, our Regiment gradually gave way, tho' not before
Col'o Rawlings, Major Williams, Peter Hanson, Nin Tannehill, and
myself were wounded. Lt. Harrison [Footnote: Lieutenant Battaille
Harrison of Berkeley County, Va.] was the only officer of our
Regiment Killed. Hanson and Tannehill were mortally wounded. The
latter died the same night in the Fort, & Hanson died in New York a
short time after. Capt. A. Shepherd, Lieut. Daniel Cresap