Scammell's 1781 Light Infantry Regiment
Encyclopedia
On 17 May 1781, General George Washington
ordered Colonel Alexander Scammell
to form a regiment of picked light infantry. The unit was referred to as Scammell's light infantry, light corps, regiment, or detachment. The composition of this light infantry regiment (eight fifty-man companies) was based on the new organization of the Continental Army
prescribed by Congress and George Washington in late 1780. The regiment served in New York, then went with the Continental Army to Yorktown and once there was incorporated into the light infantry division at Yorktown
commanded by Major General Lafayette. Washington's intent for the regiment is clearly stated in a letter to Scammell on the same date:
The regiment was disbanded during the Siege of Yorktown
, on October 8, 1781.
to honor his services as Adjutant General
and to honor Scammell's wishes to command an active line unit. The men of this unit were selected from the Continental Line regiments from Connecticut
, Massachusetts
, and New Hampshire
that were garrisoned at West Point
. Initially eight companies of 50 men each were formed. Scammell personally selected the officers. Each of these regiments had already supplied light infantry companies that had gone to Virginia with Lafayette in February of 1781.
No official roll of this regiment is known to exist. The following roll is compiled from a variety of sources including state rolls where the line company musters included notes that the soldiers were "On Command" with Scammell, pension records where men claimed service with Scammell, or other sources that indicated the men were present. It is also clear, given the example of Elijah Day, and that Scammell was ordered to fill out regiment (replace sick or otherwise unable soldiers) on one subsequent occasion, that the composition of the detachment was changeable.
Connecticut
Massachusetts
Only men who specifically claimed to have served with Scammell during this time, or specifically gave their chains of command that included Scammell in their pensions are included here. There were other light infantry units at Yorktown with companies from New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and Connecticut regiments.
. This enemy was a Tory
militia unit under LTC James De Lancey, which were at the time commonly known as De Lancey's refugees or just the refugees. The timing and size of Scammell's detachment is not insignificant relative to this first objective. De Lancey's unit had, on May 13, attacked the 1st Rhode Island regiment where they were encamped just north of Pines Bridge on the Croton River
. The attack resulted in ten men killed and twenty three captured. Among those killed was LTC Christopher Greene who was in command while Colonel Jeremiah Olney was in Rhode Island
. Washington indicated the refugees' strength was 60 horse and 140 infantry.
By May 24 Scammell had the situation at Fort Lee in hand with work being done to destroy what work the refugees had recently undertaken. By the 26th, Scammell was clearly thinking of taking the action to De Lancey. Then on the 28th, Washington decided to move Scammell's encampment back to the east side of the Hudson
to the south of Peekskill
.
During this time Washington had gone to Wethersfield Connecticut
and met for five days
with Rochambeau
to discuss the opportunities for a campaign against the British.
and west of Stamford
, including the target of some whaling
boats at Stamford.
Under the direction of Robert Howe
, commander at West Point, Scammell moved the light infantry to Pines Bridge by the 20th of June. By the 28th of June, Washington had conceived of a plan to counter, by surprise, the British intents. Scammell's light infantry were put under the command of Major General Benjamin Lincoln
who was to take control of King's Bridge—which was to depend on night maneuvers in order to gain a necessary element of surprise. Lincoln commanded about 800 soldiers and 150 boatmen and artillery; the other 400 soldiers were commanded by Col. Ebenezer Sproat
, commander of the 2nd Massachusetts Regiment. Lincoln was ordered to personally reconnoiter the situation, and depending on what he found, he had been given orders and contingency plans to follow. Such was the American right in Washington's plan. The left was to be commanded by Armand Louis de Gontaut
, Duke of Lauzun, and his legion
who would have David Waterbury's Connecticut troops, Sheldon's Horse
, and three companies of New York Militia in their number; their object was to capture or neutralize James Delancy's regiment of Tories that operated in the area of Morrisania
and north along the Harlem River
.
Preparations began on July 1 when Washington ordered Scammell's light infantry to the mouth of the Croton River. There, they would be met with boats on July 2 to carry them south to the New Jersey
side of the Hudson River opposite Dobb's Ferry
, where they waited as the sun set on the side of a mountain next to the river under the concealment of cut brush and branches. Lincoln scouted to the south, as Washington wished, to see if it was possible to land on York Island to effect the surprise, but Lincoln found that the crossing was blocked by ships, forcing any crossing to occur further to the north. Very early on July 2, Washington ordered Lincoln to cross the Hudson and take possession of the heights above King's Bridge (Valentine's Hill was the name of these heights). Lincoln crossed the Hudson starting at 9:00 pm on July 2, landing about two and a half miles north of King's Bridge by 2:00 A.M. Scammell's detachment paraded, and set their order for battle. It was very dark—Washington had specifically chosen this night for the lack of a moon to help cover his troops' movements.
Shortly before dawn on July 3, Lincoln's detachment encountered the pickets at King's Bridge, and according to Asa Reddington, a sharp action ensued, effectively ending any element of surprise. As the sun was coming up, Scammell's detachment took up a position about 500 yards north of the bridge. A detachment of British cavalry soon crossed the bridge and was met with fire from Scammell's men, causing them to return to the south side of the bridge. The bridge was then to be taken up to prevent Scammell's men from breaking through and crossing. After a short rest, Scammell and his men took command of Valentine's Hill, about 3/4 of a mile east of the bridge, where they were joined by Col. Sproat's men and General Washington with Brigadier General DuPortail and 50 of Washington's Life Guard
, who were there to scout the enemy position on the north of York Island.
This much was corroborated by Hessian accounts. A group of about 100 Hessian chasseur
s (light infantry) under Col. Andreas Emmerich was out north of King's Bridge on July 2 and had gotten word back to York Island that the Americans were approaching New York in force. That resulted in a party of 200 chasseurs and 30 cavalry being sent out at dawn to cover Emmerich's return. Some of these men were likely who Scammell's men encountered as "the pickets". The second party of Hessians was not on good ground, and reported that the American repulsed them and their cavalry before falling back to higher ground, where the Hessians determined their numbers to be six or seven hundred.
At this point the stories all become different. Here is what may have happened given Reddington's account, which is by far the most detailed:
At about 8:00 AM on the 3rd of July, the British put down the King's Bridge again and sent out a body of infantry and cavalry, probably German Jägers
and German (likely Hessian) horse. This force was sufficiently large to overrun Lincoln's command; a member of Washington's Life Guard estimated 1,500. One of Washington's Life Guard me, and so they began slowly retreating, using closed formations to avoid the worst of the dangers the British cavalry offered. Eventually they came to a double-walled defensive work, which was likely the old fort on Valentine's Hill, and shortly afterward Lauzun's cavalry arrived, along with Washington and the part of the northern Army that could be spared from West Point and its dependencies. While Washington wrote Congress that this precipitated the retreat of the British and Jägers, accounts like Asa Reddington's suggest skirmishing continued until the British forces had crossed back over King's Bridge.
The Hessian account was that Emmerich's command was cut off from King's Bridge at Spuyten Duyvil Creek
during the initial skirmish, and that the second, larger, group of chasseurs regrouped just north of the bridge, which was initially in the hands of the Americans, requiring their cavalry to clear it, but not before the 900 Americans had been driven from the heights (by 200 chasseurs and 30 cavalry). The account finishes with the Hessian lieutenant colonel von Wurmb, who commanded the second group, reporting back to his headquarters that he was suspicious of an ambuscade, and that no other action ensued. No mention was made of a much larger force that Reddington and others from the American side reported, or any reports of skirmishing one to three miles to the north. The Hessian losses were reported at thirty men killed or wounded.
One Connecticut soldier, Nathan Munn Lounsberry from Lamb's Artillery, wrote the following:
Lounsberry probably meant the old fort on Valentine's Hill, rather than Fort Lee on the west side of the Hudson River. Lounsberry was coming from Miles Square, which was about a mile from the top of Valentine's hill where the old fort was located, which in turn was about a mile and three quarters from King's Bridge.
Washington hoped to keep the British forces engaged long enough, almost two miles north of King's Bridge, to allow Lauzun's fatigued infantry time to cut off their escape. It appears that Washington, himself, had been very close to the action given that a number of the casualties were members of his Life-Guard. Despite the efforts of Lauzun's troops, poor roads kept them from effecting that plan to cut off the British troops who had crossed King's Bridge that morning. In all at least 1,100 American troops were involved, and possibly as many as 2,500 were involved in some way given that the main Army had arrived in Miles Square in time to have fired shots at the enemy. However, only the 900 or so under Lincoln were involved in actual battle, the rest being skirmishes. Of the British three separate forces were involved: 100 under Emmerich, 230 sent at dawn by von Wurmb, and the larger party that forced Lincoln's command to retreat towards the main American Army. The latter party had to have been at least large enough to overrun 900 American's on a hilltop, which is where the principal action took place; perhaps 1,500 as indicated by Godfrey. The Americans reported 76 casualties, of which Scammell's were 6 killed and 34 wounded.
The result of the battle was a British win in terms of winning the combat situations, but the Americans gained clear control of ground nearer to New York. Ground that they would probably have been ceded with the arrival of the arrival of Rochambeau and Lauzun—so the real gain was as Washington relayed to Congress the opportunity to scout and gain intelligence as to the strength of the British on York Island. The Americans could then securely use Dobbs Ferry as a headquarters, allowing for potentially more efficient staging of the march to Yorktown, and the subterfuge to keep Clinton pinned down at New York.
's forces in New York City
stayed there in a defensive posture, allowing Washington's army to make their way southward to Yorktown. The first such action came on July 22, when Scammell was ordered south, first to Tippet's Hill (aka Tibbet's Hill) and then to cover Lauzun's Legion and Sheldon's horse in scouring Morrisania.
On July 30 Scammell's command went south to Phillip's manor on a "foraging expedition", covering the loading of wagons from hiding places in the woods, hoping the enemy would engage them, but nothing resulted.
On August 5 or 6 Scammell, along with Sheldon's Horse and Foot, secured the roads as far south past Phillip's House as safely possible to permit General Washington the opportunity to reconnoiter the River Road.
The army that would march south soon began to take shape. On August 8, Washington assigned LTC Alexander Hamilton
's four companies of light infantry (two from New York and two provisional companies from Connecticut) under Scammell's command. Then on the 11th, Colonel Sheldon was also put under Scammell's command. By August 22, Washington had placed Scammell's command under Major General Benjamin Lincoln, and the public design was to make an attempt at New York through Staten Island
.
Some of the groundwork for the Staten Island feint was already happening. On August 19 Washington had ordered the light infantry to cross at King's Ferry and move to high ground near Springfield
and Chatham, New Jersey
. These troops, which also included all of Scammell's command and Moses Hazen's regiment as well, were in place by late on the 21st of August. On the 25th the troops put on a show for the British and Hessian scouts, marching back and forth by various routes that Washington supplied to Lincoln between Paramus
and ultimately back to Springfield on the 27th. On the 29th, they marched again, and as Scammell's wing of Lincoln's command turned west at Quibbletown, it became generally known to the rank and file that the object of their march was in Virginia
and not Staten Island. Washington's orders to Lincoln were to proceed to the Head of Elk, and once past Trenton
to not fatigue the troops with long marches, and to not encamp too near Philadelphia. Scammell's Command arrived at the Head of Elk on September 6 and by September 10 were on boats carrying them south toward the James River
.
By September 26, six of Scammell's nine companies and three of Hamilton's four companies had arrived near Williamsburg
. Two of Scammell's missing were under Huntington, and Hand's return does not account for the men with Asa Reddington's company who were delayed a week when their vessel became disabled near Porpoise Harbor.
. Under this arrangement Scammell's detachment was placed along with Hamilton's battalion under the command of Brigadier General Moses Hazen
along with Hazen's regiment. Scammell was clearly surprised by Washington's new arrangement that organized Hazen's brigade within Lafayette's light infantry division
. In particular took exception to being placed under Moses Hazen. Washington responded on the 26th, indicating military practice was that brigadier general
s would command brigade-sized elements, and not colonels, and he implied that he was well satisfied with the manner that Scammell had commanded his regiment and expanded command. On September 28 the Siege of Yorktown
was undertaken and the light infantry moved into position on the American Right.
On September 29, Col. Alexander Scammell was assigned as officer of the day under Lafayette. In that capacity he was reconnoitering the British works and became separated from his party. He mistakenly joined with a party of British dragoon
s. Dr. James Thacher wrote that he was immediately taken prisoner, during the process of which he was shot in the back. This account, where the question of whether Scammell had already surrendered before being shot was unresolved, was widely circulated and clearly fueled thoughts of vengeance, as Thacher later reported regarding the treatment of Major Campbell of the British. Col. Scammell was initially taken into Yorktown but was moved to Williamsburg where he died on October 4. Asa Reddington later wrote of the event, stating that Scammell's party of officers was rushed by the dragoons, who fired on them, wounding Scammell before taking him prisoner.
On October 8 the regiment was split with five companies being assigned to John Laurens
and four with LTC Ebenezer Huntington. Thus ended the existence of Scammell's Light Infantry Regiment.
The following list shows which commander each company was apparently assigned to based Johnston's description of the battle and claims in pensions.
Laurens
Huntington
Following the British surrender, the American troops made their way back to the respective garrisons; generally men who were not sick were put on ships to arrive faster, and those who were sick were transported or marched separately.
George Washington
George Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of...
ordered Colonel Alexander Scammell
Alexander Scammell
Alexander Scammell 1744 - October 6, 1781) was a Harvard educated attorney and an officer in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War...
to form a regiment of picked light infantry. The unit was referred to as Scammell's light infantry, light corps, regiment, or detachment. The composition of this light infantry regiment (eight fifty-man companies) was based on the new organization of the Continental Army
Continental Army
The Continental Army was formed after the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War by the colonies that became the United States of America. Established by a resolution of the Continental Congress on June 14, 1775, it was created to coordinate the military efforts of the Thirteen Colonies in...
prescribed by Congress and George Washington in late 1780. The regiment served in New York, then went with the Continental Army to Yorktown and once there was incorporated into the light infantry division at Yorktown
The Light Infantry Division at Yorktown (1781)
Major General Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette commanded the light infantry division at the Siege of Yorktown, and it comprised two brigades. These brigades were formed on Washington's orders of 24 September 1781...
commanded by Major General Lafayette. Washington's intent for the regiment is clearly stated in a letter to Scammell on the same date:
The regiment was disbanded during the Siege of Yorktown
Siege of Yorktown
The Siege of Yorktown, Battle of Yorktown, or Surrender of Yorktown in 1781 was a decisive victory by a combined assault of American forces led by General George Washington and French forces led by the Comte de Rochambeau over a British Army commanded by Lieutenant General Lord Cornwallis...
, on October 8, 1781.
Formation, muster roll
General Washington gave command of the regiment to Alexander ScammellAlexander Scammell
Alexander Scammell 1744 - October 6, 1781) was a Harvard educated attorney and an officer in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War...
to honor his services as Adjutant General
Adjutant general
An Adjutant General is a military chief administrative officer.-Imperial Russia:In Imperial Russia, the General-Adjutant was a Court officer, who was usually an army general. He served as a personal aide to the Tsar and hence was a member of the H. I. M. Retinue...
and to honor Scammell's wishes to command an active line unit. The men of this unit were selected from the Continental Line regiments from Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
, and New Hampshire
New Hampshire
New Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state was named after the southern English county of Hampshire. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Canadian...
that were garrisoned at West Point
West Point, New York
West Point is a federal military reservation established by President of the United States Thomas Jefferson in 1802. It is a census-designated place located in Town of Highlands in Orange County, New York, United States. The population was 7,138 at the 2000 census...
. Initially eight companies of 50 men each were formed. Scammell personally selected the officers. Each of these regiments had already supplied light infantry companies that had gone to Virginia with Lafayette in February of 1781.
No official roll of this regiment is known to exist. The following roll is compiled from a variety of sources including state rolls where the line company musters included notes that the soldiers were "On Command" with Scammell, pension records where men claimed service with Scammell, or other sources that indicated the men were present. It is also clear, given the example of Elijah Day, and that Scammell was ordered to fill out regiment (replace sick or otherwise unable soldiers) on one subsequent occasion, that the composition of the detachment was changeable.
Officers
Officers that were likely picked on May 17:- Ebenezer Huntington (LtCol, CT), 2nd in Command
- Nathan Rice (Major, MA), Brigade Major
- Stephen Betts (Capt, 3rd CT)
- Samuel Comstock (Capt, 5th CT)
- James Morris (Capt, 2nd CT)
- Joseph Bates (Capt, MA) Pensions of Atwood, Brookins, Massey, & Sevey
- Benjamin Pike (Capt, MA) Washington refers to a Captain Pike in the light infantry; this was possibly Benjamin Pike (MA). No first name was given; the note in Washington's papers suggests this was Robert Pike of NH, but that would be extremely unlikely given that Robert Pike of NH had not served since he was discharged on 6 January 1778, and that service was in a 300 man regiment raised in June of 1777 and sent to Rhode Island under LTC Joseph Senter. The New Hampshire Rolls vol. III contained no mention of Robert Pike serving; vol. III covered the years 1780-1783. The entry for Benjamin Pike in the Massachusetts Rolls does not specify him being detached to Scammell as so many others did, but does not exclude the possibility that this Capt Pike was with Scammell.
- Elijah Day (Capt, MA) He was reported as being detached to Scammell up through July 13, 1781, but was then reported sick in Massachusetts later in July and Boston in August, so he would have been replaced.
- Ebenezer Williams (Capt, MA)
- Samuel Cherry (Capt, NH) Pensions of Rogers and Courier claim being in Cherry's company at Yorktown. Samuel Cherry was likely the 3rd Captain from NH that was added as shown in Washington's General Orders of July 16, 1781. This is based on there being two remaining NH regiments as of Jan 1, 1781, and each would likely have been asked to furnish a captain for a light company. Capt Isaac Frye was the only captain from the first regiment mentioned in the context of Scammell's detachment in soldiers' pensions who claimed service in the detachment. Chase's men also tended to mention being involved at the Battle of King's Bridge, while Cherry's men who mentioned Yorktown did not.
- Enoch Chase (Capt, 2nd NH) Pensions of Reddington, Adams, and Merrill
- Isaac Frye (Capt, 1st NH) Pensions of Ballard and Coffin
- Nathan H. Whiting (Adjutant, CT)
- James Thacher (Surgeon, NH)
- Æneas Munson (Surgeon's Mate, CT)
- Israel Evans (Chaplain)
- Bennett Simmons (Lt, MA)
- Reuben Sanderson (Lt, CT)
- Hubbard Carter (Ens, NH) Ballard's pension states he was Isaac Frye's Ensign
Rank and file
New Hampshire- Jonas Adams (Pvt) Pension states with Scammell at Head of Elk and York
- Stephen Adams (Pvt) Pension states in Chases's company in Scammell's detachment for three months and was in the Battle of King's Bridge
- Uriah Ballard (Drum/Sgt) Pension states Isaac Frye's company
- Greenwood Carpenter (Pvt) Pension states he was in battle at taking of Cornwallis
- Nicholas Coffin (Pvt) Pension states Isaac Frye's company
- Thomas Currier (Fifer) Cherry's Company
- John Godfrey (Pvt) Isaac Frye's company—this claim mentions Yorktown, but implies rather than claims being there
- Ebenezer Hoag (Pvt) Pension claims he was wounded at Battle of King's Bridge and unable to march to Yorktown
- Salah Howe (Pvt) Pension claims he was at Battle of King's Bridge and the capture of Cornwallis
- Nehemiah Merrill (Pvt) Pension states Chase's company
- Jacob Morse (Pvt) Pension states with Scammell's light infantry
- Stephen Parker (Pvt) Pension states he was at the taking of Cornwallis
- John Putnam (Pvt) Pension states with Scammell's light detachment, in Enoch Chase's company and then detached to Armond's Dragoons at Yorktown
- Asa Reddington (Pvt) Pension states Chase's company
- John Rogers (Pvt) Pension states Cherry's company
- Luther Smith (Pvt) Pensions states with Scammell and wounded at battle of King's Bridge (bayonet through thigh)
Connecticut
- Eliphalet Allen (Pvt) Pension, states he fought in the battle at Yorktown
- William Branch (Pvt)
- William BrownWilliam Brown (soldier)William Brown was a soldier for the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War. He was born in Stamford and enlisted in the 5th Connecticut Regiment as a corporal on 23 May 1775, and re-enlisted as a private on 9 April 1777, for the duration of the war in the 8th Connecticut Regiment...
(Sgt) - Theodore Chamberlain (Pvt) Pension claims was in Scammell's party at the Battle of Valentine's Hill
- Thomas Chipman (Pvt) Pension claims being at Yorktown and mentions Capt. Morris
- Benedict Eggleston (Pvt) Pension
- Joel Gaylord (Qm Sgt) Pension
- Jedediah Harris (Pvt) Pension
- Gilbert Hart (Pvt) Pension
- Crippen Hurd (Pvt) Pension claims Capt Comstock in Scammell's Regiment and that he sustained two small wounds in the storming of the redoubt at Yorktown
- Philemon Kirkum (Pvt) Pension shows Betts' company
- David Matteson (Pvt) Pension states Betts' company
- Jeremiah Newbury (Pvt) Pension states Betts' company
- Josiah Rogers (Sgt) Pension
- Ezra Rowe (Pvt) Pension claims a Captain Strong's company in Scammell's Regiment
- John Shipman (Sgt) Pension
- William Steele (Pvt) Pension - states in Capt Lemuel Clift's company
- Gamaliel Terry (Pvt) Pension
- Ezra Trim (Pvt) Pension, claims only service around Dobbs Ferry and did not go to Yorktown
- Zachariah Waldo (Pvt) Pension
- Daniel Welch (Pvt) Pension says he was at Yorktown and battle at Valentine's Hill
- Roswell Wheaton (Pvt) Pension shows Morris' company
Massachusetts
- Jacob Anes (Pvt)
- Isaac Atwood (pvt) Pension states Bates' company within Huntington's portion of Scammell's vanguard
- Nathan Barker (Pvt)
- Francis Barker (Pvt)
- John T. Barrows (Pvt)
- Reuben Brookins (Pvt) Pension states Bates' company
- Jesse Carrell (Pvt) Pension states under Scammell in the battle of King's Bridge and at the capture of Cornwallis
- Nathaniel Clark (Pvt) Pension states with Scammell at battle of King's Bridge where he was wounded (musket ball at underside of left knee)
- Samuel Dale (Pvt from Waltham)
- William Davis (Pvt)
- Daniel Davison (Pvt)
- Nehemiah Dow (Pvt)
- Benjamin Everton (Pvt)
- Zimri Evileth (Pvt)
- Jathleel Farnham (Pvt)
- John Freeman (Pvt) Pension shows at King's Bridge and Yorktown under Scammell, then sick in Philadelphia afterward
- Ephriam Fuller (Pvt) Pension claims with Scammell early, but not at Yorktown
- Thomas Hadley (Sgt)
- William Hance (Pvt)
- Aesop Harden (Pvt)
- Joseph Herrick (Pvt) Pension claims with Capt Pike's company in Scammell's detachment
- Thomas Hill (Pvt)
- Philip Hinkley (Pvt)
- James Hix (Pvt)
- Enos Hudson (Cpl)
- John Jacobs (Pvt)
- Ira Johnson (Sgt)
- Joseph Keeter (Pvt)
- Solomon Kentfield (Pvt)
- Samuel Kibbie (Pvt)
- James Kiether (Pvt)
- John Kile (Pvt)
- Benjamin Kimbal (Pvt)
- Joab Kimball (Pvt)
- Cushing King (Pvt) Pension states attached to Scammell against the refugees
- Loring Kingman (Pvt)
- Matthew Landerkin (Pvt)
- Moses Lee (Fifer)
- Samuel Lee (Pvt) Pension states with Scammell at Kingsbridge and with Hamilton storming the redoubt
- Frederick Loveland(Pvt>
- George Loveland (Pvt)
- Thomas Masten (Pvt)
- John Massey (Pvt) Pension: From Jackson's regiment and picked for Bates' Company
- Oliver Mears (Pvt)
- George Newbegin (Pvt) Pension states he was in Isaac Frye's company and that he was in the battle at Yorktown and was taken sick and sent to a hospital at Philadelphia afterwards
- Ebenezer Oviatt (Pvt) Pension claims with Scammell from may through capture of Cornwallis
- Zadok Palmer (Pvt)
- George Parkhurst (Pvt) Pension states in battle under Scammell at West Chester and at taking of Cornwallis
- Shubael Peck (Fifer)
- Moses Perkins (Pvt)
- William Placy (Pvt)
- Grant Powers (Pvt)
- Abel Prest (Pvt)
- Elijah Proctr (Pvt)
- Artemas Rand(Pvt)
- Timothy Rose (Sgt) Pension says was with Hamilton and "rec'd a bayonet wound through the ear in that battle"
- John Scott (Pvt) Pension states with Scammell at siege of Yorktown—also was Maj. William Scott's (1st NH Reg't) son.
- Eliakim Sevey (Pvt) Pension says with Bates'
- Godfrey Shreve (Pvt) Pension claims he was in the battles at King's Bridge and Yorktown; he was wounded at Yorktown:
- Peter Shumway (Drum)
- Bennett Simmons (Pvt)
- David Smith (Pvt)
- Samuel Spaffard (Pvt)
- John Sprarin (Pvt)
- David Wells (Pvt) Pension states he was in Isaac Frye's company with Scammell
- Jonathan Wiatt (Pvt) Pension states he was with Scammell for 3 months under Capt Pike
- Thomas Wood (Pvt) Pension states was with Bates under Scammell then Laurens
- Deen Wyman (Pvt) Pension states he was attached to Scammell's light infantry and was at siege of Yorktown
Only men who specifically claimed to have served with Scammell during this time, or specifically gave their chains of command that included Scammell in their pensions are included here. There were other light infantry units at Yorktown with companies from New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and Connecticut regiments.
Early operations in the Highlands
The early operations of Scammell's detachment of light infantry centered around addressing the "enemy" that Washington indicated were establishing themselves near Fort LeeFort Lee, New Jersey
Fort Lee is a borough in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 35,345. Located atop the Hudson Palisades, the borough is the western terminus of the George Washington Bridge...
. This enemy was a Tory
Loyalist (American Revolution)
Loyalists were American colonists who remained loyal to the Kingdom of Great Britain during the American Revolutionary War. At the time they were often called Tories, Royalists, or King's Men. They were opposed by the Patriots, those who supported the revolution...
militia unit under LTC James De Lancey, which were at the time commonly known as De Lancey's refugees or just the refugees. The timing and size of Scammell's detachment is not insignificant relative to this first objective. De Lancey's unit had, on May 13, attacked the 1st Rhode Island regiment where they were encamped just north of Pines Bridge on the Croton River
Croton River
The Croton River is a river in southern New York that begins where the East and West Branches of the Croton River meet a little way downstream from the Croton Falls Reservoir...
. The attack resulted in ten men killed and twenty three captured. Among those killed was LTC Christopher Greene who was in command while Colonel Jeremiah Olney was in Rhode Island
Rhode Island
The state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, more commonly referred to as Rhode Island , is a state in the New England region of the United States. It is the smallest U.S. state by area...
. Washington indicated the refugees' strength was 60 horse and 140 infantry.
By May 24 Scammell had the situation at Fort Lee in hand with work being done to destroy what work the refugees had recently undertaken. By the 26th, Scammell was clearly thinking of taking the action to De Lancey. Then on the 28th, Washington decided to move Scammell's encampment back to the east side of the Hudson
Hudson River
The Hudson is a river that flows from north to south through eastern New York. The highest official source is at Lake Tear of the Clouds, on the slopes of Mount Marcy in the Adirondack Mountains. The river itself officially begins in Henderson Lake in Newcomb, New York...
to the south of Peekskill
Peekskill, New York
Peekskill is a city in Westchester County, New York. It is situated on a bay along the east side of the Hudson River, across from Jones Point.This community was known to be an early American industrial center, primarily for its iron plow and stove products...
.
During this time Washington had gone to Wethersfield Connecticut
Wethersfield, Connecticut
Wethersfield is a town in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. Many records from colonial times spell the name Weathersfield, while Native Americans called it Pyquag...
and met for five days
Joseph Webb House
The Joseph Webb House is a historic Georgian-style house in Wethersfield, Connecticut that was the site of a five day military conference during the American Revolutionary War. General George Washington came to Wethersfield in order to plan with Rochambeau, the French commander. These plans led...
with Rochambeau
Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau
Marshal of France Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau was a French nobleman and general who participated in the American Revolutionary War as the commander-in-chief of the French Expeditionary Force which came to help the American Continental Army...
to discuss the opportunities for a campaign against the British.
Battle of King's Bridge
Washington made initial use of Scammell's detachment upon gaining intelligence from Brigadier General David Waterbury of Connecticut that the British were planning an attack that would come from King's Bridge, possibly in two directions, aimed at removing Waterbury's Connecticut Line regiments from the area south of White PlainsWhite Plains, New York
White Plains is a city and the county seat of Westchester County, New York, United States. It is located in south-central Westchester, about east of the Hudson River and northwest of Long Island Sound...
and west of Stamford
Stamford, Connecticut
Stamford is a city in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. According to the 2010 census, the population of the city is 122,643, making it the fourth largest city in the state and the eighth largest city in New England...
, including the target of some whaling
Whaling
Whaling is the hunting of whales mainly for meat and oil. Its earliest forms date to at least 3000 BC. Various coastal communities have long histories of sustenance whaling and harvesting beached whales...
boats at Stamford.
Under the direction of Robert Howe
Robert Howe (soldier)
Robert Howe was a major general in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War.-Early life:His great-grandfather was James Moore, colonial governor of South Carolina...
, commander at West Point, Scammell moved the light infantry to Pines Bridge by the 20th of June. By the 28th of June, Washington had conceived of a plan to counter, by surprise, the British intents. Scammell's light infantry were put under the command of Major General Benjamin Lincoln
Benjamin Lincoln
Benjamin Lincoln was an American army officer. He served as a major general in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War...
who was to take control of King's Bridge—which was to depend on night maneuvers in order to gain a necessary element of surprise. Lincoln commanded about 800 soldiers and 150 boatmen and artillery; the other 400 soldiers were commanded by Col. Ebenezer Sproat
Ebenezer Sproat
Ebenezer Sproat , surname also spelled Sprout, was an officer of the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War, a pioneer to the Ohio Country, and one of the founders of Marietta, Ohio, the first permanent American settlement in the Northwest Territory...
, commander of the 2nd Massachusetts Regiment. Lincoln was ordered to personally reconnoiter the situation, and depending on what he found, he had been given orders and contingency plans to follow. Such was the American right in Washington's plan. The left was to be commanded by Armand Louis de Gontaut
Armand Louis de Gontaut
Armand Louis de Gontaut, Duc de Lauzun, later duc de Biron, and usually referred to by historians of the French Revolution simply as Biron was a French soldier and politician, known for the part he played in the American War of Independence and the French Revolutionary Wars.-Early titles:Born in...
, Duke of Lauzun, and his legion
Lauzun's Legion
Lauzun's Legion was a French Regiment in the American War for Independence: Lauzun's Legion principal engagements were White Plains 1781, and Yorktown.-Unit History:...
who would have David Waterbury's Connecticut troops, Sheldon's Horse
2nd Continental Light Dragoons
The 2nd Continental Light Dragoons, also known as Sheldon's Horse after Colonel Elisha Sheldon, was commissioned by the Continental Congress on December 12, 1776 and was first mustered at Wethersfield, Connecticut in March 1777 for service with the Continental Army...
, and three companies of New York Militia in their number; their object was to capture or neutralize James Delancy's regiment of Tories that operated in the area of Morrisania
Morrisania, Bronx
Morrisania is the historical name for the South Bronx and derives from the powerful and aristocratic Morris family, who at one time owned all of the Manor of Morrisania. Today the name is most commonly associated with the village of Morrisania, which is only a small corner of the original...
and north along the Harlem River
Harlem River
The Harlem River is a navigable tidal strait in New York City, USA that flows 8 miles between the Hudson River and the East River, separating the boroughs of Manhattan and the Bronx...
.
Preparations began on July 1 when Washington ordered Scammell's light infantry to the mouth of the Croton River. There, they would be met with boats on July 2 to carry them south to the New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
side of the Hudson River opposite Dobb's Ferry
Dobbs Ferry, New York
Dobbs Ferry is a village in Westchester County, New York, United States. The population was 10,875 at the 2010 census.The Village of Dobbs Ferry is located in, and is a part of, the town of Greenburgh...
, where they waited as the sun set on the side of a mountain next to the river under the concealment of cut brush and branches. Lincoln scouted to the south, as Washington wished, to see if it was possible to land on York Island to effect the surprise, but Lincoln found that the crossing was blocked by ships, forcing any crossing to occur further to the north. Very early on July 2, Washington ordered Lincoln to cross the Hudson and take possession of the heights above King's Bridge (Valentine's Hill was the name of these heights). Lincoln crossed the Hudson starting at 9:00 pm on July 2, landing about two and a half miles north of King's Bridge by 2:00 A.M. Scammell's detachment paraded, and set their order for battle. It was very dark—Washington had specifically chosen this night for the lack of a moon to help cover his troops' movements.
Shortly before dawn on July 3, Lincoln's detachment encountered the pickets at King's Bridge, and according to Asa Reddington, a sharp action ensued, effectively ending any element of surprise. As the sun was coming up, Scammell's detachment took up a position about 500 yards north of the bridge. A detachment of British cavalry soon crossed the bridge and was met with fire from Scammell's men, causing them to return to the south side of the bridge. The bridge was then to be taken up to prevent Scammell's men from breaking through and crossing. After a short rest, Scammell and his men took command of Valentine's Hill, about 3/4 of a mile east of the bridge, where they were joined by Col. Sproat's men and General Washington with Brigadier General DuPortail and 50 of Washington's Life Guard
Commander-in-Chief's Guard
The Commander-in-Chief's Guard, commonly known as Washington's Life Guard, was a unit of the Continental Army that protected General George Washington during the American Revolutionary War. Formed in 1776, the Guard was with Washington in all of his battles...
, who were there to scout the enemy position on the north of York Island.
This much was corroborated by Hessian accounts. A group of about 100 Hessian chasseur
Chasseur
Chasseur [sha-sur; Fr. sha-sœr] is the designation given to certain regiments of French light infantry or light cavalry troops, trained for rapid action.-History:...
s (light infantry) under Col. Andreas Emmerich was out north of King's Bridge on July 2 and had gotten word back to York Island that the Americans were approaching New York in force. That resulted in a party of 200 chasseurs and 30 cavalry being sent out at dawn to cover Emmerich's return. Some of these men were likely who Scammell's men encountered as "the pickets". The second party of Hessians was not on good ground, and reported that the American repulsed them and their cavalry before falling back to higher ground, where the Hessians determined their numbers to be six or seven hundred.
At this point the stories all become different. Here is what may have happened given Reddington's account, which is by far the most detailed:
At about 8:00 AM on the 3rd of July, the British put down the King's Bridge again and sent out a body of infantry and cavalry, probably German Jägers
Jäger (military)
Jäger is a term that was adopted in the Enlightenment era in German-speaking states and others influenced by German military practice to describe a kind of light infantry, and it has continued in that use since then....
and German (likely Hessian) horse. This force was sufficiently large to overrun Lincoln's command; a member of Washington's Life Guard estimated 1,500. One of Washington's Life Guard me, and so they began slowly retreating, using closed formations to avoid the worst of the dangers the British cavalry offered. Eventually they came to a double-walled defensive work, which was likely the old fort on Valentine's Hill, and shortly afterward Lauzun's cavalry arrived, along with Washington and the part of the northern Army that could be spared from West Point and its dependencies. While Washington wrote Congress that this precipitated the retreat of the British and Jägers, accounts like Asa Reddington's suggest skirmishing continued until the British forces had crossed back over King's Bridge.
The Hessian account was that Emmerich's command was cut off from King's Bridge at Spuyten Duyvil Creek
Spuyten Duyvil Creek
Spuyten Duyvil Creek is a channel connecting the Hudson River to the Harlem River Ship Canal, and on to the Harlem River in New York City, separating the island of Manhattan from the Bronx and the rest of the mainland. The neighborhood named Spuyten Duyvil lies to the north of the creek.Spuyten...
during the initial skirmish, and that the second, larger, group of chasseurs regrouped just north of the bridge, which was initially in the hands of the Americans, requiring their cavalry to clear it, but not before the 900 Americans had been driven from the heights (by 200 chasseurs and 30 cavalry). The account finishes with the Hessian lieutenant colonel von Wurmb, who commanded the second group, reporting back to his headquarters that he was suspicious of an ambuscade, and that no other action ensued. No mention was made of a much larger force that Reddington and others from the American side reported, or any reports of skirmishing one to three miles to the north. The Hessian losses were reported at thirty men killed or wounded.
One Connecticut soldier, Nathan Munn Lounsberry from Lamb's Artillery, wrote the following:
Lounsberry probably meant the old fort on Valentine's Hill, rather than Fort Lee on the west side of the Hudson River. Lounsberry was coming from Miles Square, which was about a mile from the top of Valentine's hill where the old fort was located, which in turn was about a mile and three quarters from King's Bridge.
Washington hoped to keep the British forces engaged long enough, almost two miles north of King's Bridge, to allow Lauzun's fatigued infantry time to cut off their escape. It appears that Washington, himself, had been very close to the action given that a number of the casualties were members of his Life-Guard. Despite the efforts of Lauzun's troops, poor roads kept them from effecting that plan to cut off the British troops who had crossed King's Bridge that morning. In all at least 1,100 American troops were involved, and possibly as many as 2,500 were involved in some way given that the main Army had arrived in Miles Square in time to have fired shots at the enemy. However, only the 900 or so under Lincoln were involved in actual battle, the rest being skirmishes. Of the British three separate forces were involved: 100 under Emmerich, 230 sent at dawn by von Wurmb, and the larger party that forced Lincoln's command to retreat towards the main American Army. The latter party had to have been at least large enough to overrun 900 American's on a hilltop, which is where the principal action took place; perhaps 1,500 as indicated by Godfrey. The Americans reported 76 casualties, of which Scammell's were 6 killed and 34 wounded.
The result of the battle was a British win in terms of winning the combat situations, but the Americans gained clear control of ground nearer to New York. Ground that they would probably have been ceded with the arrival of the arrival of Rochambeau and Lauzun—so the real gain was as Washington relayed to Congress the opportunity to scout and gain intelligence as to the strength of the British on York Island. The Americans could then securely use Dobbs Ferry as a headquarters, allowing for potentially more efficient staging of the march to Yorktown, and the subterfuge to keep Clinton pinned down at New York.
Prelude to Yorktown
The regiment was active in the subterfuge that ensured Sir Henry ClintonHenry Clinton (American War of Independence)
General Sir Henry Clinton KB was a British army officer and politician, best known for his service as a general during the American War of Independence. First arriving in Boston in May 1775, from 1778 to 1782 he was the British Commander-in-Chief in North America...
's forces in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
stayed there in a defensive posture, allowing Washington's army to make their way southward to Yorktown. The first such action came on July 22, when Scammell was ordered south, first to Tippet's Hill (aka Tibbet's Hill) and then to cover Lauzun's Legion and Sheldon's horse in scouring Morrisania.
On July 30 Scammell's command went south to Phillip's manor on a "foraging expedition", covering the loading of wagons from hiding places in the woods, hoping the enemy would engage them, but nothing resulted.
On August 5 or 6 Scammell, along with Sheldon's Horse and Foot, secured the roads as far south past Phillip's House as safely possible to permit General Washington the opportunity to reconnoiter the River Road.
The army that would march south soon began to take shape. On August 8, Washington assigned LTC Alexander Hamilton
Alexander Hamilton
Alexander Hamilton was a Founding Father, soldier, economist, political philosopher, one of America's first constitutional lawyers and the first United States Secretary of the Treasury...
's four companies of light infantry (two from New York and two provisional companies from Connecticut) under Scammell's command. Then on the 11th, Colonel Sheldon was also put under Scammell's command. By August 22, Washington had placed Scammell's command under Major General Benjamin Lincoln, and the public design was to make an attempt at New York through Staten Island
Staten Island
Staten Island is a borough of New York City, New York, United States, located in the southwest part of the city. Staten Island is separated from New Jersey by the Arthur Kill and the Kill Van Kull, and from the rest of New York by New York Bay...
.
Some of the groundwork for the Staten Island feint was already happening. On August 19 Washington had ordered the light infantry to cross at King's Ferry and move to high ground near Springfield
Springfield Township, Union County, New Jersey
Township of Springfield is a township in Union County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township population increased to a record high of 15,817....
and Chatham, New Jersey
Chatham, New Jersey
Chatham refers to two neighboring municipalities in Morris County, New Jersey – Chatham Borough and Chatham Township. The two are separate municipalities, the first a municipality that was settled in 1710 as a colonial English village in the Province of New Jersey...
. These troops, which also included all of Scammell's command and Moses Hazen's regiment as well, were in place by late on the 21st of August. On the 25th the troops put on a show for the British and Hessian scouts, marching back and forth by various routes that Washington supplied to Lincoln between Paramus
Paramus, New Jersey
Paramus is a borough in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 26,342. A suburb of New York City, Paramus is located between 15–20 miles northwest of Midtown Manhattan and approximately west of Upper Manhattan.Paramus is one of...
and ultimately back to Springfield on the 27th. On the 29th, they marched again, and as Scammell's wing of Lincoln's command turned west at Quibbletown, it became generally known to the rank and file that the object of their march was in Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
and not Staten Island. Washington's orders to Lincoln were to proceed to the Head of Elk, and once past Trenton
Trenton, New Jersey
Trenton is the capital of the U.S. state of New Jersey and the county seat of Mercer County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Trenton had a population of 84,913...
to not fatigue the troops with long marches, and to not encamp too near Philadelphia. Scammell's Command arrived at the Head of Elk on September 6 and by September 10 were on boats carrying them south toward the James River
James River
The James River may refer to:Rivers in the United States and their namesakes* James River * James River , North Dakota, South Dakota* James River * James River * James River...
.
By September 26, six of Scammell's nine companies and three of Hamilton's four companies had arrived near Williamsburg
Williamsburg, Virginia
Williamsburg is an independent city located on the Virginia Peninsula in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area of Virginia, USA. As of the 2010 Census, the city had an estimated population of 14,068. It is bordered by James City County and York County, and is an independent city...
. Two of Scammell's missing were under Huntington, and Hand's return does not account for the men with Asa Reddington's company who were delayed a week when their vessel became disabled near Porpoise Harbor.
Siege of Yorktown
On September 24, as troops were still arriving from the north, Washington's general orders described the new arrangement for the army at YorktownYorktown, Virginia
Yorktown is a census-designated place in York County, Virginia, United States. The population was 220 in the 2000 census. It is the county seat of York County, one of the eight original shires formed in colonial Virginia in 1634....
. Under this arrangement Scammell's detachment was placed along with Hamilton's battalion under the command of Brigadier General Moses Hazen
Moses Hazen
Moses Hazen was a Brigadier General in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War. Born in the Province of Massachusetts Bay, he saw action in the French and Indian War with Rogers' Rangers. His service included particularly brutal raids during the Expulsion of the Acadians and...
along with Hazen's regiment. Scammell was clearly surprised by Washington's new arrangement that organized Hazen's brigade within Lafayette's light infantry division
The Light Infantry Division at Yorktown (1781)
Major General Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette commanded the light infantry division at the Siege of Yorktown, and it comprised two brigades. These brigades were formed on Washington's orders of 24 September 1781...
. In particular took exception to being placed under Moses Hazen. Washington responded on the 26th, indicating military practice was that brigadier general
Brigadier General
Brigadier general is a senior rank in the armed forces. It is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries, usually sitting between the ranks of colonel and major general. When appointed to a field command, a brigadier general is typically in command of a brigade consisting of around 4,000...
s would command brigade-sized elements, and not colonels, and he implied that he was well satisfied with the manner that Scammell had commanded his regiment and expanded command. On September 28 the Siege of Yorktown
Siege of Yorktown
The Siege of Yorktown, Battle of Yorktown, or Surrender of Yorktown in 1781 was a decisive victory by a combined assault of American forces led by General George Washington and French forces led by the Comte de Rochambeau over a British Army commanded by Lieutenant General Lord Cornwallis...
was undertaken and the light infantry moved into position on the American Right.
On September 29, Col. Alexander Scammell was assigned as officer of the day under Lafayette. In that capacity he was reconnoitering the British works and became separated from his party. He mistakenly joined with a party of British dragoon
Dragoon
The word dragoon originally meant mounted infantry, who were trained in horse riding as well as infantry fighting skills. However, usage altered over time and during the 18th century, dragoons evolved into conventional light cavalry units and personnel...
s. Dr. James Thacher wrote that he was immediately taken prisoner, during the process of which he was shot in the back. This account, where the question of whether Scammell had already surrendered before being shot was unresolved, was widely circulated and clearly fueled thoughts of vengeance, as Thacher later reported regarding the treatment of Major Campbell of the British. Col. Scammell was initially taken into Yorktown but was moved to Williamsburg where he died on October 4. Asa Reddington later wrote of the event, stating that Scammell's party of officers was rushed by the dragoons, who fired on them, wounding Scammell before taking him prisoner.
On October 8 the regiment was split with five companies being assigned to John Laurens
John Laurens
John Laurens was an American soldier and statesman from South Carolina during the Revolutionary War. He gained approval by the Continental Congress in 1779 to recruit a regiment of 3000 slaves by promising them freedom in return for fighting...
and four with LTC Ebenezer Huntington. Thus ended the existence of Scammell's Light Infantry Regiment.
Epilogue
In the storming of redoubt #10, Scammell's regiment was ultimately under the command of Lafayette who had command of the two brigades of light infantry. Of Scammell's men, Laurens led Betts' and William's companies left, around to the rear of the redoubt to prevent the enemy from escaping towards Yorktown. This was partly successful in that 17 British soldiers were captured and Laurens took Major Campbell, the commander of the redoubt his prisoner. The battle only lasted about ten minutes, and from accounts of many soldiers who were not in Gimat's, Fish's, or Lauren's command (these three columns led the attack), it seems that many of the supporting troops were able to reach the works within the next ten minutes.The following list shows which commander each company was apparently assigned to based Johnston's description of the battle and claims in pensions.
Laurens
- Betts (b)(w)
- Frye
- Cherry
- Williams (b)
- Chase
Huntington
- Comstock
- Morris
- Bates
- Pike
- b = In Battle
- w = Wounded
Following the British surrender, the American troops made their way back to the respective garrisons; generally men who were not sick were put on ships to arrive faster, and those who were sick were transported or marched separately.