Claiborne Davenport, Chapter Three, the Assault on Stony Point

In my last post I recounted the battle of Monmouth, New Jersey. The Continental army fought the british forces commanded by Sir Henry Cllinton to a standstill at Monmouth Courtyhouse, in the stifling heat of June 1779. General Clinton had succeeded Gen William Howe as commander in Chief of the British forces in march of that year. Clinton was ordered to abandon Philadelphia and march on New York. The Battle of Monmouth was an interruption to that goal but only an interruption. Clinton continued on toward New York after breaking off from engaging Gen.Washington at Monmouth.

General Henry Clinton

As Clinton approached New York he siezed a shallow water crossing of the Hudson River known as King's Ferry crossing. This crossing was of great strategic value being one of the southern most crossing points of the Hudson in that area. Clintons main objective was the taking of West Point which was the key to controlling the Hudson river and thus bringing the New England colony under British control. Clinton began massing troops in Kingsbridge, New York, a force of about 6,000 troops in preparation for that objective. There was yet another crucial obstacle that would pose a serious threat to the control of the Hudson, which Clinton could not afford to ignore. Just twelve miles up the Hudson overlooking King's Ferry Crossing were two imposing natural fortifications jutting out over the river.  On the east side lay Verplank's point which was fortified by a small force of 70 North Carolinian Continentals occupying Fort Layfeyette. On the west side jutting out in a peninsula overlooking the river rose an imposing natural, towering, edifice called Stony Point. A small force of 40 continentals occupied Stony point which was lightly fortified. The soldiers were in the process of building a block house on it's rocky heights when the British forces appeared.  Gen Clinton ordered the two forts taken and dispatched 3,000 of his troops for the task. When the British began moving toward the forts the Continentals occupying Rocky point determined to burn the blockhouse, leave nothing of value to the British and abandon the fort. The 70 North Carolinians were not so fortunate. They were surrounded and captured by the British. General Clinton ordered both forts fortified and strengthened so as to make them virtually impregnable to assault. They thus made access to the Hudson in that region solidly in British control leaving Clinton enabled to continue his plan for the assault on West Point unhindered.

General Washington understood the grave nature of the problem before him. In order to attack Clinton the imposing forts which commanded the heights overlooking King's Ferry crossing needed to be neutralized. It seemed a frightening prospect. After taking the two forts General Clinton garrisoned Lt. Colonel Henry Johnston, an experienced and competent officer, commanding 625 battle hardened regulars. They were made of the 17th Regiment of foot and the grenadier company of 71st Highlanders, an American loyalist detachment force. In there possession were 15 pieces of artillery of various gauges positioned strategically overlooking the heights so as to command the river as well as the land passages to the forts. The natural topography of Stony point in particular was of imposing defensive advantage to the British. surrounded on three sides by 150 foot high vertical rock face melting away into narrow sandy beach and deep swirling river. The only access to the rocky height by land was a narrow road crossing a small bridge, which was surrounded by swampy snake infested bogs on all sides.  The trees on the perimeters were cut down and used to create abattis works , which were nasty obstacles consisting of felled trees with sharpened limbs criss-crossed and buried in the ground so as to make climbing them virtually impossible. Trying to cross over them while under close range musket fire was near suicidal. The earth works created on the precipice above the abatises were rifle and canon pits surrounding the block houses and quarters of the troops.

Abatis works similar to those on the heights of Stony Point

Washington knew that to take these heavily fortified natural forts by frontal assault would cause his beleaguered army to incur heavy casualties and perhaps a defeat which would devastate the moral of the struggling nation. He began contemplating the alternative solutions to this dilemma  in the months following Monmouth, with one of his most trusted commanders, General Anthony Wayne of Pennsylvania, whom had distinguished himself so well in the Monmouth battle.

In correspondence between himself and General Wayne, Washington secretly begin devising a plan that would favor an much smaller force that could take the rocky heights using the advantage of surprise. The plan was bold and extremely risky to those who would execute it, but should it succeed the Continental army would be in possession of the heights threatening King's crossing, thus forcing Clinton to abandon his offensive intentions for West Point and go on the defensive. The risk of the much smaller force was feasible for Washington , not posing such drastic political consequences should the assault fail.
Gen Wayne was in agreement with Washington believing that such a force, consisting of small corp of determined men, given the element of surprise could take Stony Point and would agree to command such a force should Washington authorize the expedition.  Washington began by ordering Wayne to take command of a newly formed "Corps of Light Infantry." The Corps was comprised of carefully chosen , seasoned troops , drawn from the ranks of various regiments throughout the Continental line. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Stony_Point . It has a very good article about the stony point battle.

example of uniforms worn by the corps of light infantry

Taking command on June 12th 1779, General Anthony Wayne's corps was a brigade of four regiments, composed of two battalions of four companies. The following order of battle is taken from the web site,
1st Regiment, commanded by Col. Christian Febiger of the 2nd Virginia Regiment: six companies of Virginia and two of Pennsylvania troops. (I believe that Claiborne was a member of the 2nd Virginia at this point and after stony point remained in this regiment later marching to Charleston, South Carolina under General Woodford. MRN)
2nd Regiment, Col. Richard Butler (9th Pennsylvania Regiment): four companies each of Pennsylvanians and of Marylanders;[9]
3rd Regiment, Col. Return Jonathan Meigs (6th Connecticut Regiment): eight companies of Connecticut troops
4th Regiment, a partially organized detachment of six companies of Massachusetts troops and two of North Carolina, temporarily commanded by Major William Hull (8th Massachusetts Regiment). The 4th Regiment was fully organized in August and assigned to the command of Col. Rufus Putnam.
General Wayne immediately began preparing the corp for action and procuring proper supplies for the coming mission that he alone knew was coming. The mission had to remain of the highest secrecy until the last possible minute and therefore even the men of the corp knew nothing of the perilous duty that they had been particularly chosen for. The corps was garrisoned at Fort Montgomery only 12 miles north of Stony Point  and from that place General Wayne sent a letter to General Washington dated 3rd of July 1779.

 " In obedience to your Excellencies orders I have Reconnoitre the situation of the enemy at Stony Point & the approaches to them in the best manner that circumstances would admit & returned late evening to this place. & sketch herewith transmitted which differs, but little from that made the other day by Col. Butler, will give you a general idea of the strength of their works on the west side which in ray opinion are formidable- I think too much for a storm and reduce it by regular approaches will require time as there is no ground within less distance than a half a mile but what it commands." After detailing minutely the works on Ver-plank's Point opposite Stony Point, Wayne summed up his report. " upon the whole I do not think a storm practicable- but perhaps a surprise may be effected-could we fall on some stratagem to draw them out- a thought  has struck me that as no party of force has ever yet been down or appeared to the enemy -& as I have ground to believe that an inhabitant living near Stony Point acts a double part  & course will give them every information in his power which goes no further than to usual rout & number of the reconnoitering parties they may be induced to attempt an ambuscade or if they should not attempt this a few of our people appearing near may bring a party out in pursuit which may give an opening to enter with them." Wayne goes on to invite Washington to accompany him to Reconnoiter personally with him the next day the edifice of Stony Point.
Washington accepted the invitation and the two generals observed the works at Stony Point early in the morning of the 6th of July. The result of the personal study of the objective produced from Washington a letter to Wayne dated the 10th of July. The letter outlined General Washington's contemplations regarding the proposed attack on Stony Point. The letter being somewhat lengthy I will now  condense into the main points. quoting for the most part.

1. That it should be attempted by light infantry only, under cover of night and with utmost secrecy, securing every person that could risk discovery
2. Between one and two hundred chosen men and officers for the surprise, and apprehend the approach on the south side crossing the beach &; entering the abatis.
3. The party is to be proceeded by a vanguard of prudent and determined men, well commanded who are to remove obstructions , secure the sentries, and drive the guard. They are to advance with fixed bayonets and muskets unloaded. The officers commanding them are to know precisely what batteries or particular parts of the line they are respectively to possess that confusion and the consequences of indecision may be avoided.
4. these parties should be followed by the main body at a small distance for the purpose of support and making good the advantages which may be gained- or to bring them off in case of repulse... other parties may advance to the works by way of the causey & river on the north if for the purpose of distracting the enemy.
5. the approaches here mentioned should be well reconnoitered before hand by persons of observation , single men in the night.
6. a white feather or cockade or other visible badge of distinction for the night should be worn by our troops, and a watch word agreed on to distinguish friend from foe.
7. If success should attend the enterprise, measures should be instantly taken to prevent if practicable the retreat of the garrison by water or to annoy them as much as possible if they attempt it- and the guns should be immediately turned against the shipping and Verplanks point and covered if possible from enemy's fire.
Washington continued in the letter to stress the importance of secrecy and surprise. He wrote " As it is in the power of a single deserter to betray the design - defeat the project - & involve the party in difficulties and danger , too much caution cannot be used to conceal the intended enterprise to the latest hour from from all but the principal officers of your Corps and from the men till the moment of execution - Knowledge of your intention, ten minutes previously obtained, blasts all your hopes: for which reason a small detachment composed of men whose fidelity you rely on under the care of a judicious officer should guard every avenue through the marsh to the enemy's works by which our deserters or spies can pass, and prevent all intercourse." " The usual time for exploits of this kind is a little before day for which reason a vigilant officer is then more on the watch, I therefore recommend a midnight hour."
General Washington chose the evening of the 14th of July to make the assault on Stony Point. He gave general Wayne complete latitude to adjust the timing and details of the attack, which showed his complete confidence in his commander's judgement. Wayne agreed on the date and on the afternoon of that day sent a letter to Washington praising Washington's battle plan and informing him of the order of battle and details by which he intended to carry out the plan of attack that night.

Wayne's battle plan deviated but little from Washington's proposed battle plan. Wayne divided his troops into three bodies of men. A left wing to attack from the north slope of the rocky height, a right wing to attack simultaneously from the south side. A third body was to be a diversionary attack to demonstrate and fix the British attention on themselves should the others climbing the rocky heights be prematurely discovered.  I quote from an article written by
Donald N. Moran , from the web page http://www.revolutionarywararchives.org/battles-link/67-the-storming-of-stony-point .  this site sponsored by the sons of Liberty , California society S.A.R.
"General Wayne's attack plan called for a diversion at the center of the British lines, with two other columns flanking the fortifications from the north and south sides. Both of the flanking attacks had to be proceeded by a 20-man 'Forlorn Hope' to cut gaps through the felled trees (abatis) and eliminate the advance sentries.These parties were followed by 150 Light Infantry to actually storm the fortifications at bayonet point. The northern attack force was led by Lt. James Gibbons' (of the 6th Pennsylvania)Forlorn Hope followed by Major John Stewart's 150-man storming party from the 2nd Regiment, with Col. Richard Butler's Regiment supporting, and Brigadier General Peter Muhlenberg's 300 Pennsylvanians in reserve. This would be the secondary attack. The primary assault was from the south, Lt. George Knox (of the 9th Pennsylvania) would lead the Forlorn Hope, followed by 150 men from Lt. Colonel Francois Louis Teisseydre, Marquis de Fleury's 1st Regiment. The main body would be followed by Major William Hull's detachment. General Anthony Wayne would personally lead the primary as­sault."
The "forlorn hope" squad mentioned here was essentially a suicide squad composed of men that went into battle armed only with knives and an axe. Their primary task was to chop through the abatis works at the top of the precipice as quickly as possible allowing the 150 man light corps armed only with unloaded musket to rush through the works and into the canon pits above.

chopping through the abatis  from a painting by Charles McBarren

The muskets were ordered unloaded so as not to alert the British upon an accidental discharge. The 20 man forlorn hope squad understood that should they be discovered while chopping through the abatis structures, they would endure point blank musket and canon fire with little hope of survival. In fact consider the fortitude and bravery of all these men who went into battle with unloaded weapons knowing what could await them should they be discovered in the midst of the attack. Surprise was a must for survival and therefore extreme measures were used to ensure secrecy and surprise. It was ordered by General Wayne that any man that faltered or showed any sign of retreat during the initiation of the attack was to be immediately executed by the officers nearest them. Officers were posted in the rear of the columns guarding the points of exit from the approaches of Stony Point, with orders to shoot any one, friend or foe, who tried to escape once the attack began. All of the farmers dogs who lived along the route of the approaches to Stony Point were killed in order to prevent barking from alerting the enemy.
It was promised by General Wayne that the first soldier over the works would be awarded a bounty of 500 dollars , an award of 400 dollars to the next and 300 to the next and so on. It was hoped that the bounty would be good inducement to bravery. With this promise of reward the corps were divided into two columns and marched toward the approach to Stony Point. It was near midnight as the columns of quietly maneuvering Colonials began to enter the swampy waters of the approaches.

They expected very shallow waters but to their dismay they waded through a waist deep murky,swampy morass without making noise to alert the sentries. Having navigated this obstacle they began ascending the steep slopes of the rocky face to the foot of the abatis works. The forlorn hope squads began their desperate work. Fortunately both wings of the attacking forces began their attack near simultaneously which greatly aided in the much needed surprise. I quote from Donald Moran's article,
"Both the attacking forces encountered British outposts almost simultaneously. Lieutenants Gibbons' and Knox's Forlorn Hopes, wielded their axes to cut the needed gaps in the abatis while under wicked fire, sustaining horrific losses. The Light Infantry charged through the gaps routing the British defenders at bayonet point. Lt. Gibbon's Forlorn Hope was reduced to three men! Lt. Colonel Fleury was the first into the fortifications, personally tearing down the British Flag.

He was followed by Lt. Knox, then Sergeant Baker of the Virginia line, who had received four wounds in this attack. Baker was followed by Sergeant Spencer of the Virginia line who had been wounded twice, then Sergeant Donlop of the Pennsylvania line who also had been wounded twice. A record of the payment of these monetary awards confirms the order they entered the British fort. Fleury divided his awarded of $500.00 among his advanced party who were just behind him. Leading the primary attack from the south, General Wayne was struck in the forehead by a British musket ball. Anyone seeing him hit would have considered the wound fatal. However, it was only a very painful grazing, leaving him a permanent reminder of the assault in the form of a large scar. He rose to his knees and called to his men "Forward, my brave fellows, Forward!".

His two Aide-de-Camps, Majors Henry Archer and Benjamin Fishbourne were quickly at his side. The blood soaked General immediately ordered: "Carry me into the fort, if I am to die, I want to die at the head of the column." Major Stewart's attacking column charged into the North side of the fortifications within seconds of Fleury's Detachment. The ferocity of the bayonet wielding Light Infantry was too much for the British defenders who surrendered."
  The entire engagement took less than an hour. In fact the climbing assault over the abatis and into the pits above took little more than 25 minutes, but it was fraught with deadly fire and intense hand to hand fighting. The Casualty reports held Wayne's forces to be 15 killed and 83 wounded. The majority of the dead being of the forlorn hope squads. The British casualties were 20 killed and 58 missing many of these believed to have been drowned in the Hudson.
  General Wayne sent a short dispatch to Washington after the capture of Stony Point. "Dear Gen'l. The fort & garrison with Colonel Johnston are ours. Our officers & men behaved like men who are determined to be free. Yours most sincerely Ant'y Wayne".  General Washington was so elated and pleased with the success of the attack that he rode out on the 18th  to Stony Point along with Major general von Steuben , their old trainer from Valley Forge, and shook every hand of the patriots who had participated in the attack congratulating them and giving promotions to those who distinguished themselves in the action.

actual representation of the medal awarded Anthony Wayne

Later special congressional medals were awarded to the  officers who led the assaulting troops.
The battle of Stony Point was the beginning of the end of the American Revolution. The battle caused the British general Clinton to scrap his plans to attack West Point and to dispatch troops to retake these two strategic forts. Washington abandoned Stony Point having accomplished his purpose Clinton now had to split his forces in order to recapture and hold The Hudson river forts. It most certainly had a phycological affect on both armies. The Continentals were greatly encouraged at the great victory over a seemingly impregnable fortress , while the British must have been greatly disheartened, dispelling there general belief in the inferiority of the Continental soldier. Clinton was forced to press his attention to the southern campaign going on in South Carolina.
Thus with a handshake of the great general George Washington, Claiborne Davenport enjoyed the height of his military career in the American Revolution. That day in the shadow of Stony Point Claiborne enjoyed the elation of victory and the sweet savor of well deserved praise from his commanding general. Claiborne must have been a man of unusual valor and reputation among the officers which chose him to participate in the assault on Stony Point. I believe he must have been a man of unusual courage and fortitude to have braved so great a trial.
In only a few short months Claiborne would experience yet the low point of his military career in the hot , steamy swamps of South Carolina. The siege and subsequent surrender of Charleston, South Carolina.  Stay tuned for the final episode of this little saga.

scources: http://www.revolutionarywararchives.org/battles-link/67-the-storming-of-stony-point
                http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Stony_Point
                Stony Point battlefield: a sketch of its revolutionary history by Francis Whiting 1851-1919
                The assault on Stony Point: by General Anthony Wayne, New-York Historical Society 1863
               
 

Claiborne Davenport Chapter Two, Valley Forge and Monmouth

Washington implored Congress but appealed to a highest
authority in this painting by John C. McRae.

I need to keep a promise. Last year I ended my blog by promising folks I would keep them updated on my research concerning my ancestor Claiborne Davenport.  I began my article about Claiborne trying to ascertain as to weather the family oral tradition about him being personally saved by General George Washington could have been plausible or simply myth. I believe that the incident is more than plausible and probably quite true. Claiborne fought in close proximity with Washington on several occasions. Claiborne’s military record shows that he spent the majority of his time in the army serving in the 1^st Virginia regiment until the bitter winter of December 1777, when the army was in winter quarters at Valley Forge. It was here that the Virginia regiments were reorganized and consolidated. It was at this time that the commanding officers of the regiments were sent home to recruit new soldiers to fill the badly depleted ranks. It was at this time that I believe Claiborne was reassigned for a short time into the 7^th Virginia regiment commanded by Colonel McClenachan from March 1777 until May 1778.  In the muster rolls of Valley Forge Claiborne is listed as being part of Brigadier General William Woodford’s brigade. Woodford commanded the 3^rd, 7^th, 11^th, and 15^th Virginia regiments. The 7^th entered Valley Forge as part of Stirling’s division but left assigned to Major General Marquis de Lafayette’s division.  His company captain was still listed as Capt. Charles Fleming though Fleming was killed in action in Jan. 1777 at the battle of Princeton, which I have already detailed.

Lafayette and Washington at Valley Forge

Here at Valley Forge the army suffered greatly from privation as they built log cabins and suffered terribly from lack of supplies.  The army suffered great losses as soldiers died of disease and exposure to the bitter winter snows. Washington implored for the Continental Congress to act in appropriating supplies before the army would be decimated by such loss.  The muster rolls of Claiborne’s regiment shows that they entered Valley Forge with 427 soldiers assigned, and a mere 46 souls fit for duty. When they left Valley Forge the regiment showed 376 soldiers assigned and 226 soldiers fit for duty. 

 In spite of all the suffering the army continued to drill and prepare. Here the troops were drilled and instructed by Baron Von Stueben, a Prussian trained officer who spoke little English but was able to communicate in French using French speaking  American officers as interpreters.  It is said that Steuben could parade up and down the line in full dress uniform cursing at the troops in German and in French, and failing to get the proper attention, would enlist the aid of Captain Benjamin Walker to curse at them in English. He drilled the soldiers relentlessly in close order drill and in the art of rapid fire of the musket. I quote from http://www.ushistory.org/valleyforge/served/steuben.html “Warfare in the Eighteenth Century was a comparatively simple matter, once the battle was joined. Combat was at close range, massed-fire melee, where rapidity of firing was of primary importance. Accuracy was little more than firing faster than the opposing line. Much of the Regulations dealt with the manual of arms and firing drills. But battle was close-order drill, and speed of firing could only be obtained by drilling men in the handling of their firearms until the motions of loading and firing were mechanical”

Von Steuben drilling at Valley Forge

This much needed drilling form such a professionally trained soldier was crucial to the success of the struggling American Continentals who were mostly farmers and shop keepers with the temerity to face seasoned British regulars. 

As the bitter winter of 1777 gave way to the summer of 1778, June saw Washington pressing his newly trained army into action against British general Clinton in New York.

The battle of Monmouth was fought in stifling heat and was one of the longest battles of the Revolutionary war It is here that I believe General Washington saved Claiborne from death by calling him from the path of a firing canon. The act I believe took place at Combs’s Hill where Claiborne’s regiment was posted.   I quote from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Monmouth “The Battle of Monmouth was an American Revolutionary War (or American War of Independence) battle fought on June 28, 1778 in Monmouth County, New Jersey. The Continental Army under General George Washington attacked the rear of the British Army column commanded by Lieutenant General Sir Henry Clinton as they left Monmouth Court House (modern Freehold Borough). It is known as the Battle of Monmouth Courthouse.

Unsteady handling of lead Continental elements by Major General Charles Lee had allowed British rearguard commander Lieutenant General Charles Cornwallis to seize the initiative but Washington's timely arrival on the battlefield rallied the Americans along a hilltop hedgerow.Sensing the opportunity to smash the Continentals, Cornwallis pressed his attack and captured the hedgerow in stifling heat. Washington consolidated his troops in a new line on heights behind marshy ground, used his artillery to fix the British in their positions, then brought up a four gun battery under Major General Nathanael Greene on nearby Combs Hill to enfilade the British line, requiring Cornwallis to withdraw.

Washington reprimands Lee and rallies his men to regain
the initiative.

Finally, Washington tried to hit the exhausted British rear guard on both flanks, but darkness forced the end of the engagement. Both armies held the field, but the British commanding General Clinton withdrew undetected at midnight to resume his army's march to New York City.

Molly Pitcher legend is born on top of Combs Hill

While Cornwallis protected the main British column from any further American attack, Washington had fought his opponent to a standstill after a pitched and prolonged engagement; the first time that Washington's army had achieved such a result. The battle demonstrated the growing effectiveness of the Continental Army after its six month encampment at Valley Forge, where constant drilling under officers such as Major General Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben and Major General Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de Lafayette greatly improved army discipline and morale. The battle improved the military reputations of Washington, Lafayette and Anthony Wayne but ended the career of Charles Lee, who would face court martial at Englishtown for his failures on the day. According to some accounts, an American soldier's wife, Mary Hays, brought water to thirsty soldiers in the June heat, and became one of several women associated with the legend of Molly Pitcher.” The Battle of Monmouth was significant because it proved that the Continental Army could indeed stand toe to toe with the more Experienced and hardened British troops and stand their ground in battle.  The aforementioned Wiki article said, “The British official casualty return reported 65 killed, 59 dead of "fatigue", 170 wounded and 64 missing. The American official return stated 69 killed, 161 wounded and 132 missing (37 of whom were found to have died of heat-stroke, other estimates increase the losses to 1,134 British and 500 American casualties.”As an interesting point Washington's horse died of heat stroke that day.

General Charles Cornwallis

      Here at Monmouth Claiborne was positioned along the line of batteries of Combs hill awaiting the orders by Washington to repulse the British lines coming up the hill should they succeed in overwhelming the forward force commanded by Gen Anthony Wayne. 

"Mad " Anthony Wayne

Wayne’s continentals were positioned in the hedgerow about midway down the hill,. British General Cornwallis personally led a determined attack against Washington’s right wing commanded by General Green’s division. At times the troops engaged in hand-to-hand combat with bayonet, yet Washington held and repulsed the British by concentrated musket volley and heavy enfilading canon from both wings in cross fire against the British.
A determined attack by British grenadiers overwhelmed Wayne’s command at the hedgerow forcing him to fall back to the main Continental line at the top of the crest.  The British temporarily held the hedgerow but were finally repulsed once again by the musket volley and concentrated cannonading from atop the hill.

modern view from atop Comb's hill looking to the hedgerow

The combination of musket volley from Green's regiments at the crest of Comb’s hill and the combined Cannonade from both flanks caused horrendous damage of the British, losing five high ranking officers within five minutes of the opening of the attack. After this engagement the British having been repulsed with heavy loss retired to a stronger position across the ravine to the east.  Cannonading continued between the two armies till 6:00pm, but no further attacks were made.  Both armies were generally worn out from the punishing heat of the day. The sun was quickly setting in the West preempting Washington’s plan to take the offensive to the British. Washington decided to make the attack in the morning. He gave orders to set out the pickets for the night and then retired himself to rest at the base of a large tree trunk for the night guarded by Claiborne’s Virginians.  When Washington awoke in the early morning of the 29th the British had left fires burning as a ruse and marched out in the night toward sandy hook arriving there the following day.

After the battle of Monmouth the Virginia regiments were once again realigned under the arrangement of White Plains in September of 1779. The 9^th Virginia was absorbed into the remnants of the 1^st regiment. In May a second reorganization had 5th, 7th, 10th, & 11^th Virginia Regiments consolidated into the First Virginia. It was during this time that Col. William Davies took over temporarily as commander of the Virginians while their normal commanders were home recruiting troops. Claiborne remaining in the 7^th Virginia, however found himself drafted into an elite corp or soldiers that were hand picked by General Washington along with their new commander, The famous “Mad Anthony” Wayne. . The same Anthony Wayne that had distinguished himself so well as the commander of the troops below Claiborne in the hedgerow at Monmouth. The mission that Claiborne was about to be a part of was a daring and dangerous endeavor that was kept so secret that only Washington and few others knew of it.  Stay tuned; I will leave you with this tease until the next post. 

If anyone would like to know more about the Battle of Monmouth, besides the above mentioned Wiki articles, I would recommend the eBook Battle of Monmouth; an oration on the hundredth anniversary celebration by Henry Armitt Brown.  This book was written in 1858 (I think) and gives a very detailed account of the battle.  It is written as if it were a teachers guide to the battle with notations for the teacher’s discussion points. Since the book is long out of copyright the book can be obtained free of charge in epub, pdf, kindle , daisy or other text formats at http://archive.org/details/battleofmonmouth01brow 

another good article on the battle of Monmouth 

http://www.mountvernon.org/educational-resources/encyclopedia/battle-monmouth

Reflection

My grandchildren Cy, Case, and Mally 

I can hardly believe that it has been a whole year since I have sat down to write in my blog. I have to admit that part of that reason has been a feeling of discouragement concerning its purpose and meaning. I began this blog as a means of collecting and publishing the oral as well as researched collection of our family’s history. It has been a labor of love for me because it has been a fascinating journey of discovery.  It has helped me flesh out the stories that were told to me as a young man by my great grandmother as well as my father and other members of the family. I have always been fascinated by history and I find it something that is so useful in life. We are not so unlike our ancestors. They faced in their own time all the same kinds of trials that we face.  History is the study of people and how they thought and how they reacted to the events of their time. What they did, what they said, how they overcame or how they failed to, is the story of how we came to be and why our world is the way that we find it today. We too must now play the roles assigned to us on this magnificent stage of life. What will we do? What will we say? How will we overcome? As we wake up every day to a world full of strange and almost unbelievable events unfolding before us. 

I had a conversation with my daughter Rebekah not long ago while we were driving somewhere. I shared with her my feelings about the purpose of my blog.  I told her I felt like my writings were not something that the younger generation seemed to care much about. My fascination with our family’s history seemed to be something unique to me, while my children seemed only casually interested. I wondered aloud if perhaps my efforts in researching and writing were an exercise that would probably die with me, while the younger generation have their minds on other things. She told me that it wasn’t that they were not interested, it was just that they were preoccupied with other things at this point in their lives. She said that she was a little worried about how absorbed I seemed with the subject and if perhaps I was romanticizing the era in which my great grandparents lived. She reminded me that the 1800’s were a difficult time to live in and that it probably would not have been an easy life.  She wondered if perhaps I was being obsessive with the whole thing and should be more engaged in the present.  She said she enjoyed my stories in the blog, but for now she was more concerned about other things. We had a conversation about the difference between the generation of the 1800’s and 1900’s compared to the young generation of today’s modern world.

                  In the past age time seemed to move much more slowly than in today’s world. Things did not change quickly in the past age. One generation lived not too much differently than the past generation. Technology moved at a much slower pace and one’s every day life was not necessarily greatly impacted every day by it.  One’s world was confined mostly to one’s little community and the every day life of making a living on the land and making it produce for survival. One might read a newspaper or book and expand the horizon of your world but travel was difficult and expensive and the events of the greater world did not necessarily immediately impact ones own daily routine. People lived in a much slower pace.  People interacted with others face to face in conversation as they saw each other on the streets, or at social occasions such as dances, or balls, or church services, weddings, and funerals. The art of conversation was common, and it served as a major part of one’s entertainment and source of news.  Families were close knit and very dependent on each other.  Fathers and sons worked together in the field or in the shop as they toiled together providing for the family.  A son knew his father from years of conversations and interaction in all kinds of situations.  Daughters toiled with their mothers and knew them as they conversed,keeping the house or working in the fields or shops. The families were generally close and remained so throughout their lives. The greatest part of what a young person would learn about survival, and the greater world came from his association with family members.

                  In contrast Today’s world seems to be progressing at an outrageous pace.  Travel today is relatively comfortable and cheap.  An automobile can take you from your home to half way across the nation in a few hours or days.  The world of our young people today has expanded far beyond their own little communities. With technology such as television, email, World Wide Web, automobile and jet flight they receive their education and their entertainment and news from sources far far away. They are exposed to every kind of event taking place in the world ranging from the innocent and beautiful act of a child, to the heinous and violent acts of a serial killer.  The headlines of today seem almost surreal as we are bombarded with information of all that is happening in the world about us.  Young people today are more in touch with each other through smart phones , texting , chat , and now even video chat.  A young person today may have friends not only from his own hometown but also from places throughout the state or in deed across the world by these technologies.

                  How does this impact today’s family? Do fathers and sons know each other better than in the past age? Do Mothers and daughters know each other more than in the past age? The family seems to me to be under constant assault.  In the past age a parent had much more time to instill certain values and morals in their young people without the continual bombardment of the outside world’s values competing for attention. Our modern methods of education, government subsidized public school systems, are taking on more and more of the roles that were traditionally unique to the parental domain. Fathers are working long hours no longer in the fields side by side with their sons, but instead in an urban environment, often only having a few hours in the evening with the family for interaction. Mothers are more likely to be working in a secular job rather than at home with the children. Young children are often more likely to be placed with childcare agencies rather than with family members.  Much of the interaction of family is reduced to evening hours, and that time distracted by television, computers and other forms of entertainment that do not necessarily promote family conversation.

                  Conversation is in fact in my view becoming a lost art, reduced to short “tweets”, or instant messages, or subjugated to conversation about what did you watch on TV, or see on utube, or what sports team won or lost, or did you hear what outrageous thing was said on the radio. At the pace of our modern lives a year is a long time, changes are happening so fast to our lifestyles that we can hardly keep up.  I feel I am on overload sometimes with the amount of information coming at me from every electronic messenger.

                  Have we as a society indeed progressed by all of this technology and information?  Is our daily lives richer and of better quality than the lives of our grandparents?  Surely one could argue that the modern age is full of wonderful blessings.  Medical technology has improved in amazing leaps and bounds and lives are enriched and saved when in the past age premature death would be the immanent result of disease or injury. Communication is a wonderful blessing. Being able to communicate with family and friends regardless of where they are on the globe is wonderful. I wonder still, in spite of all these blessings, at what cost?

                  Our young people are of necessity very much galvanized into the present. They are struggling to find their way in the world in spite of gail force winds of changing times. Trying to get educated, finding a job, finding a mate, and finding their way in a world that seems to jerk the rug out from under them every time they think they are finally on solid ground.  America today seems to be a society that has lost its way and every day we see the decline of its morals and values played out in the headlines. Our political leaders are desperately divided, our social institutions crumbling, and indeed the very fabric of our society seems strained to the breaking point.  Is it surprising that a young person who lives in a changing world where ten years ago seems like ancient history should wonder about the relevance of the past? In a world where every day seems to bring new breakthroughs in science, new technologies, new borders, maps, new possibilities never before imagined in the ability of man to explore this world and space beyond, what voice has the old?

                  Do the voices and ways of the past have real relevance in this “new” age? I think they do. In fact I believe that people are very much the same in every age. Indeed the most relevant history book of any age is the Bible. The Bible is in fact a history of the acts of the Spirit of God as He creating this world.  It’s the history of how God interacted with his creation mankind. God preserved in the form of history the most relevant message of all time the Gospel. We see in the preserved stories of the characters of the bible the great themes of life.  Virtue, faithfulness, courage, integrity, and the quest to know God is contrasted with the sin, cowardice and evil deeds of men as they play out on the ageless stage of the characters of the Bible.  We see through the Gospel, God in the form of man, Christ, sacrificed on the cross to redeem sinful mankind back into relationship with God. History from thousand of years ago is so relevant to today and indeed I believe it is only if we look back that we can see more clearly to face the Goliath’s of our own time.

my son and grandson Matt and little Mason

                  So I shall continue writing about our history.  I do not know who will read it or if it will have the desired affect on my children and grandchildren.  I myself can see why so much history is often lost.  It is simply that people are so busy living their lives that they have little time to stop and take stock of their lives and record it.  I would give anything to have had the opportunity to interview certain members of my ancestry.   They lived through some of the most interesting events of history and yet they left little record of what they thought, or how they decided what they would do in light of those events. I must search and follow the bread trails left by others that were close to them to understand what they lived through. What I do today by writing and keeping this little blog I speak to my children’s children to answer the question, who were you grandfather and what were you like? What did you think and how did you live and why did you do what you did? I speak to them of my Love for them and hopes that they will chose righteous paths. Know that their challenges are not unlike the challenges of others that went before. Know that as I sit here today I think of you my child who as of yet may not even be born. I love you, though we may never meet. I dream that though the prison bars of father time may separate, My spirit may somehow transcend time and speak words of wisdom and encouragement to you with this my little labor of love.

Claiborne Davenport Rendezvous with History

One of the little things that I found among my Uncle’s belongings was a photocopy of my GGgrandfather John William Davenport’s obituary.  It was a newspaper clipping from the Uvalde Leader.  John died on the eleventh of November 1926 and the obituary, published a few days later, included a lengthy recounting of his parents -- one of the pioneer families of the county.  In the middle of the article was a line or two about John William’s GG grandfather Claibourne  Davenport.  Claiborne  was born in 1759 in Buckingham , Virginia. He was a Revolutionary War soldier and the article said that “Claiborne Davenport had been a soldier in the War and his life was once saved by George Washington, personally calling him from the path of a firing canon.”

I had known that Claiborne served as a Revolutionary soldier but I did not know much about his service. This little tidbit of information made me wonder about him and how this little piece of information survived the years.   I reasoned that this had to have been something that he had passed on through family lore to his children personally.  Such little facts are extremely hard to prove.  I began wondering if indeed Claiborne’s military service could have actually put him in the same proximity of the famous general. George Washington was the general of the entire Patriot army and many a soldier could have served without even seeing George Washington personally. It sparked my curiosity and so I began researching Claibornes’ service records.

note reads: Clayborne fought in the Revolutionary war 5 years, captured by the English absconded by night
ate nothing for 3 days, later lived on huckleberries till far out, finally reached home about close of the war.

A few days after discovering this little newspaper article , I discovered in my little treasure chest of family documents an old pedigree that was dated 1911 and evidently done by John William Davenport or grandmother Emma .  On the top margin of that document scribbled near Claiborne’s place on the family tree was a little tidbit about him.  It said that  "Claiborne fought in the Revolutionary war 5 years, captured by the English, absconded by night ate nothing for 3 days, later lived on huckleberries till far out, finally reached home about close of the war." I decided to investigate.  Now armed with these new details , I began looking for other people who had done previous research on Claiborne  Davenport.  An ancestor that far back in the family tree has generally already been researched by other family members.  I knew that the Davenport sir name was well researched all the way back into early English ancestry.  Some time ago in an Internet search I ran across a document prepared by a professional researcher name Dr. John Scott Davenport. His name appears on many publications concerning Davenport research and he was a contributor to a document published at this website: http://homepages.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~nvjack/davnport/ .  Dr. John had done extensive research into the Pamunkey branch of the Davenport sir name.  It is this branch that primarily settled in the Virginia colony and later branched out further east from there.  To quote him he described them in this way: “The descriptor “Pamunkey Davenports” (a term coined in January, 1998) is used to identify all those Davenports who trace back to Pamunkey Neck, Old King William County, Virginia, which in 1704 included present-day King William County, the south-western fourth of Caroline County, and the most southern portion of Spotsylvania County.” It was on this website exploring the Pamunkey line that I came across this link:  http://www.pamunkeydavenport.com/honor_roll.pdf  .   This link downloads in pdf format a list of all Pamunkey Davenports that served in some capacity in the American Revolution.  On that list was Claiborne Davenport  listed in alphabetical order.  It said Davenport, Claiborne [of Julius of Thomas of Davis], Private, Captain Charles Fleming’s Company, 7th Regiment of Foot, Virginia Continental Line. Served also in 5th and 1st Regiments. Escaped from British as a prisoner-of-war after Surrender of Charleston.

Here was some evidence of confirmation of the hand scribbled note on the old pedigree, that indeed Claiborne had been at the fall of Charleston, was a prisoner of war and that he had escaped. What of the other claim? Had he really been with Washington in battle and been saved by him from eminent death?  I continued my research looking for other genealogical researchers that had anything about Claiborne Davenport and I came across the genealogical research of a woman named Janet Green Ariciu .  She has a home page on Ancestry.com and among her family lines were the Davenports. Under her entry for Claiborne Davenport she had some interesting information.

Claiborne« DAVENPORT was born Bet. 1760 - 1780 in Cumberland Co., VA, and died Bef. 1840 in Wayne Co., KY. He married Mary Agnes LEE«/b» Nov 19, 1795 in Washington Co., VA. She was born Abt. 1771.

Notes for Claiborne DAVENPORT:

On 1 June 1818 in Washington County, Virginia: Claiborne Davenport applied for a pension as a soldier in the Virginia Continental Line. Pension application number is S35875. He states that he is 62 years of age , his wife is 47; children are Elizabeth 22, William 29, Patsey 19, Stenen 17, Rebecca 14, Polly 12, Claiborne 10, Lewis 7, Jinsey 3. He states that he moved to Wayne County, Kentucky to be near his children.

Claiborne Davenport was a member of the Seventh and First Virginia Regiments.

More About Claiborne DAVENPORT:

Burial: Washington Co., VA - Grant Robbins Cem

More About Claiborne DAVENPORT and Mary LEE:

Marriage: Nov 19, 1795, Washington Co., VA

Another woman that had done research on Claibourne was Peggy Leyva Conley.  Her pedigree , published on Geneology.com included the following entry: Claiborne Davenport served in the Revolutionary War as a private in Captain Charles Flemings Company, 7th Virginia Regiment Commanded by Colonel McClenachan, He re-enlisted in the 5th Virginia Regiment under the Command of Colonel William Davies, he participated in the Battles of Brandywine ,Germantown, Monmouth, Stony Point, and the siege of Charleston, where he was taken prisoner, but managed to escape and make it back to the American lines. He was discharged from service December 1, 1780 for this service he received a pension in 1818. In 1839 he moved to Wayne County, Kentucky to live with hi son, Lewis.

Peggy cited Dr. John Scott Davenport as the source of some of her research on the Davenport line. I was able to find Claibourne’s actual service records using a web site called fold3, which, for a fee, will allow you to get downloadable digital copies of all kinds of historical records. Those records confirmed the units that he was serving in. 

I felt I had enough information to begin researching the battle records of these units and begin to put together a picture of what Claiborne’s experience was during the Revolutionary War.  Remember my question?  Could Claiborne  have actually been quite close to Washington in battle so as to actually be saved by him in action?  My research into that question is quite preliminary but I think the answer to that question may have been answered while researching his commanding officers .  Mrs. Conley said that he was in Captain Charles Flemings Company, 7^th Virginia Regiment commanded by Colonel McClenachan. 

I have not found much on Colonel McClenachan.  I can confirm that he did exist and was indeed the commander of the 7^th Virginia from March 1777 to May 1778.  It was during the winter encampment at Valley Forge.  I found a personal letter written from Washington to McClenachan in the Washington, George, 1732-1799. The writings of George Washington from the original manuscript sources: Volume 11 Electronic Text Center, University of Virginia Library.  You can access this database at http://etext.virginia.edu/toc/modeng/public/WasFi11.html .  It is free to the public to download or browse .  It is quite interesting in itself.

I did find much more pertinent information to my question when I began researching his captain , a young 21 year old man named Charles Fleming.  The record of Claiborne said that he had been in the 1^st Virginia as well as the 7^th and the 5^th regiments.  I discovered that the 1^st Virginia had its roots as the original regiment of continental Virginia all the way back to the French and Indian war.  Its commander was a very young George Washington.   When the Revolution began the regiment was in existence as a small provincial defense force of the frontier.  Patrick Henry commanded it.  In  February 15, 1776 the new Continental Congress authorized the Continental Line and commissioned the regiment .They drilled in the square in front of the governor’s mansion , and encamped behind the College of William and Mary at Williamsburg. Patrick Henry was originally commissioned as its Colonel; however, Henry felt that this was in effect a demotion and resigned commission. The officers of the regiment threatened resignation in protest, but Henry calmed them and asked them to remain.

Beginning on August 16, 1776 The Regiment, along with the newly formed 2^nd Virginia Regiment, began the long march from Williamsburg to join Washington’s Grand Army in New York City.  Before leaving, the troops were asked to re-enlist for three years. or for the duration of the war. Although most of the 2^nd refused such a long commitment, most of the 1^st re-enlisted.

On September 15, 1776 the 1^st Virginia joined Washington’s army at Harlem Heights New York, thus beginning a series of campaigns that saw the 1^st Virginia in the thick of the action.  In December of that year Washington lead his troops to attack the Hessian troops quarted at Trenton, New Jersey.  It was here that Washington made his famous crossing of the frozen Delaware River.  Washington rode with the 1^st Virginia during this engagement and Claiborne’s unit was in the centerline of the advance on Trenton. There was; however, not much likelihood of an artillery incident  described by Claiborne during this battle. 

General Mercer is overrun and killed while holding the line till Washington's arrival with the 1st Virginia.

Claiborne would have definitely been in very close proximity to Washington during the battle of Princeton, which took place only one month later in January 1777.  Claiborne’s unit was front and center of a pivotal moment in this battle that nearly culminated in a total route and disaster for the struggling American army.  In the opening engagement of this battle the British troops, commanded by Lt. Colonel Charles Maywood, were pressing a thinly held line of Continental troops led by Brigadier General Charles Mercer.  Mercer was holding the top of a hill trying to slow the British advance until Washington could bring his main force up in line of battle.  Mercer’s men were overrun by seasoned British troops, Mercer was killed as his troops broke and began fleeing back  as Brigadier General John Cadwalader’s militia came forward to support Mercers line.Seeing the retreating troops, the militia, who were mostly untried and untrained troops, broke and ran before the advancing British.  Washington realizing that the whole line was in danger of a general route hastily rode forward through the fleeing troops and began rallying them to stop and reform the line. It was as this  moment that the 1^st Virginia marching up on the double quick led by a very young 21 year old  Captain named Charles Fleming and an even younger lieutenant named Bartholomew Yates came running to take position in front of the British line.  The young Captain with amazing presence of mind in such a dire situation immediately ordered his men to “dress the line”.  This had the effect of getting all of the disorganized and frightened troops to begin forming a long line of battle shoulder to shoulder.  Many of the fleeing troops from Mercer and Cadwalader's  militia began stopping and forming line with the 1^st Virginia.They formed up not 30 yards from the first line of the advancing British.  The British begin jeering and cursing the Continentals saying that they would be dressing them.  The British fired a deadly volley of musket fire into the American line, the line staggered from the volley but held.  At this point General Washington came riding between the lines in deadly peril from direct line of fire between the two armies. Hat in hand, the General ordered his men to halt! and then immediately ordered fire!  The General was engulfed in smoke and fire as the British fired nearly simultaneously.

One of the officers said that he put his hat over his eyes expecting to see Washington to topple from his horse fully riddled with shot, but to his amazement when the smoke cleared there was Washington astride his horse urging his men forward.  The British lines were pushed back as more of the Continental units began coming up to reinforce the attack.  General Maywood countered by ordering a bayonet attack.  During this attack the Red Coats surged forward, engulfing the Patriots in close hand-to-hand battle. It was at this point that the young Captain Charles Fleming was bayoneted and mortally wounded in the first clash of the lines.  His young lieutenant, Bartholomew, was bayoneted 13 times, shot in the side , and clubbed in the head by a rifle butt. He lived a week, but soon succumbed to his wounds . 

Indeed Claiborne Davenport was in the proximity of General Washington leading the battle.  I feel that the note saying that Washington personally saved his life could be quite plausible; however, artillery did not play a major role in the battle, and in fact, both Washington and Claiborne were far ahead of the artillery units that were supporting the charge from the rear.  I do not think this battle would have been the engagement where this incident would have taken place.

Perhaps the battle of Monmouth may be the place where the famous General may have saved the life of Claiborne Davenport.  Monmouth was the battle that sparked the legend of Molly Pitcher. Molly was the woman who brought water to the thirsty artillery crews and manned one canon after it’s crew fell. Monmouth is one of the few battles of the American Revolution where the Artillery played the key role in the American Victory.  Washington was present on top of the heights where the Continental army was using its artillery to hold the British at check. The Virginia regiments were also present along the line of artillery where they moved out and met the British as they marched up the heights in a series of attacks. I will be researching more about Claiborne Davenport and I will let you know more when my research is complete. One thing is certain. Claiborne was a patriot and an interesting branch of the Davenport family tree.