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  • 7/29/2019 'The end of the war will be the commencement of our felicity.': Insights on Two Campaigns by Col. Israel Shreve

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    The end of the war will be the commencement of our felicity.

    I nsights on Two Campaigns by Col. I srael Shreve (1779) and L t. Col. F rancis Barber (1781)

    John U. Rees

    (Published inAmerican Revolution (Magazine of the American Revolution Association),vol. 1, no. 3 (October 2009), 47-52.)_____________________________

    The appended letters, sent by two New Jersey officers in the midst of separate campaigns, area fusion of the public and personal. The campaign news and soldier-life details imparted will be

    of interest to military historians, while the personal sentiments bring their lives closer to the

    realm of the average reader. Additionally, comparison of writing style and content (most notably

    religious references or the lack thereof) are interesting given differences in the correspondentseducation and profession.

    Before the war Israel Shreve had been a member of the Society of Friends (Quakers) and a farmer

    residing in Mansfield Township, Burlington County, New Jersey. While hardly a brilliant officerColonel Shreve (40 years old in 1779) had served conscientiously with the 2nd

    New Jersey

    Regiment since late 1775, taking part in most of the Jersey Brigade's major actions, Germantown

    being the only exception. Shreve conducted himself creditably at Short Hills in June 1777 and

    Brandywine that September, where he was wounded. During the June 1778 Monmouth campaignhis home was burned by Crown forces as they marched towards New York, and at the 28 June battle

    the colonel remained on horseback throughout the afternoon's severe cannonading. Always a heavy

    man, by summer 1780 Shreve considered himself unfit for field command, and resigned hiscommission shortly after the new year. (In May 1776, after the march to and retreat from Canada,

    the colonel described himself as "almost a slim man, having Lost at Least 4 or 5 Inches in thickness,

    and am Obliged to have my Jackets taken in ..." By 1780 or 1781, according to his son John, he

    weighed about 320 pounds.)1

    Colonel Shreve continually showed great concern for the welfare of his men, some of whom he

    had known before the war. During the retreat from Canada in 1776 his detachment had little food,

    the colonel using his own funds to obtain supplies. He wrote later, "This Little sum of hard money[20] has kept me my son and 25 other persons from almost perishing." When the New Jersey

    troops mutinied in January 1781, Colonel Shreve remained on hand, exerting "himself to the utmost

    of his Abilities to quell them." When the men persisted he seems to have tried to control thesituation through his connection with Sgt. Maj. George Grant, one of the ringleaders. Grant was one

    of three men condemned to death for his role in the mutiny and the only one pardoned, probably

    through Shreve's intercession. When troops under General Robert Howe forcefully put down the

    mutiny, Colonel Shreve was rebuked by General George Washington for "not appearing on theground untill the business was finished ..." Perhaps he did not want to witness the fate of his men.

    2

    Francis Barber was born in Princeton, New Jersey, in 1751, attended the College of New Jersey

    (today Princeton University), and was Rector of Elizabethtown Academy until 1776. In January

    1776 Barber took part in the capture of the British cargo shipBlue Mountain Valley, for which hewas appointed major of the 3

    rdNew Jersey Regiment in February 1776; he became lieutenant

    colonel in November of the same year. Lieutenant Colonel Barber fought in the battles of Short

    Hills, Brandywine, and Germantown in 1777. At Valley Forge in spring 1778 he was appointed asub-inspector general under Maj. Gen. Wilhelm Friedrich de Steuben, responsible for the training of

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    two divisions ofWashingtons army. Barber was wounded at the Battle of Monmouth in June 1778

    while serving as adjutant general to Maj. Gen. William Alexander, Lord Stirling. The following

    year he served under Maj. Gen. John Sullivan in his expedition against the Iroquois, and waswounded once more at the Battle of Newtown. In 1780 Lieutenant Colonel Barber again fought

    with the Jersey Brigade at the June battles of Connecticut Farms and Springfield, and in February

    1781, at 30 years of age, was rewarded for his services with command of one of three provisionallight battalions sent to Virginia under Maj. Gen. Marie Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert du Motier,the Marquis de Lafayette. The Marquis claimed his 1781 light battalions as, the Best troops that

    Ever took the field. My Confidence in them is Unbounded. They are far Superior to any British

    troops, and None will Ever Venture to meet them at Equal Numbers ... At Yorktown the sameyear Barber served alongside Lt. Col. Alexander Hamilton, his pupil before the war at

    Elizabethtown Academy. Francis Barber was a highly respected officer who served honorably

    almost to the wars end. His life was cut short on 11 February 1783, by a falling tree while on

    horseback, doing duty as officer of the day.3

    _______________________

    Aug. 11 [1779] At 7 oclock this morning the army marched and crossed the Susquehanna

    after crossing we passed a swamp, a small distance through, and then entered a beautiful

    plane. This place is called Tioga, from the middle of which we crossed over the Tioga branch,

    to a point of land on this point the army incamped About a mile further up the two rivers

    approach each other, within a little more than a hundred yards, and, is the place which we

    expect will be fortified, to cover our boats until we return. Capt. Charles Nukercks map

    showing Fort Sullivan and the camp on Tioga Point. Journal of Dr. Jabez Campfield,

    Spencers Additional Regt., Journals of the Mi li tary Expedition of M ajor General John Sull ivan

    Against the Six Nations of I ndians in 1779(Glendale, N.Y.: Benchmark Publishing Company,

    Inc., 1970), 54. Map of Tioga Point on endplate following page 329.

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    Sullivans 1779 Campaign. In May 1779 the three regiments of Brig. Gen. William Maxwells

    New Jersey Brigade began their march to join Maj. Gen. John Sullivans forces congregating atWyoming (present-day Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania), where they were readying for operations

    against the Iroquois. Col. Israel Shreve had last seen his wife Mary when she visited him at

    Newark,New Jersey, in early spring 1779. Their son John was a lieutenant in his fathers 2ndNew Jersey Regiment, and remained with the Tioga garrison when General Sullivans armymoved further north against the Iroquois towns in New York. By 1779 Israel and Mary had six

    children. John, the eldest, was born in 1762; the youngest at the time, Israel, having been born in

    1778. In all, the Shreves had eleven children, the last born in 1792. Their son Henry Millerfounded Shreveport, Louisiana.

    4

    After concentrating at Wyoming, Sullivans small army moved up the Susquehanna River on

    foot and by boat, largely unopposed, reaching the Iroquois village of Tioga on August 11th. On

    the 22nd a force under Brig. Gen. James Clinton arrived at Tioga, after travelling by bateauxfrom Lake Otsego, New York.

    5

    Just before the arrival ofClintons main force Israel Shreve wrote his wife:

    Head Quarters Fort Sullivan at Tioga [present-day Athens, Pennsylvania, just below the NewYork border] on the banks of the Susquehanna Augt. 20th 1779

    Dear Polleywith pleasure I inform you that this morning A boat arived from General Clinton,who is within 20 miles of this with 230 Battoes Loaded with provisions, Baggage &c.he passed

    several Cappital Indian towns, all which he found Evacuated, which together with their Corn andother produce were Distroyed - - -

    In a few Days thus united we shall set forward with thirty days provision, through the heart ofthe savage Country where the Brutal Enemy are flying before us, with all their Effects they CanCarry, Leaveing their towns Corn and other produce in Abundance, which we After takeing such

    part we may want, the Residue [we] shall Distroy, - in this Excurtion it is more than probable,some Lives will be Lost, to this Day the Loss of the Western Army has been but two Died, one

    Drowned Nine killed, (2 of them scalped), 14 wounded all Like to RecoverOne months sore fateague will probably bring us back to this place again, this tramp how

    Difficult to us yet unknown, But fortitude & perseveriance, Anxious to Conquer will I hope Carryus through this sceane of Difficulty & Danger, when If Life premits [I] shall Return

    When are my Eyes to be Delighted, when is that one More Happy Day wherein my heart will

    be transported with Joy Inexpressable, And my soul filled with Rapture untill that time pleaseyourself with the hope of being infolded in the Arms of an Effectionate Husband, who Ardently

    Wishes those sweet Injoyments Are not far Distantto Return to those Enjoymentshow Great will the Contrast bewords Cannot be found to

    Express one half, - after so Long treading the foot steps of the savages in this Horrid Wilderness,

    - when Night Appoaches we Premiscusly Lay our selves upon the Ground to sleep, amidst theHissing of serpents, - when we should Rest Are surrinaded with the Howl of Wolves, and Horrid

    Noises of other beasts of prey. be not Effected at my thus painting the Horrid seperation, but putyour trust in him alone who is able and willing to Give Every Blessing to those who Ask in amanner Exceptable, - If I Do not Return it must be Imputed to Gods will, I am Resigned to Do myDuty in All Instances far as my Ability will Allow me to Do. My fervent Desire is to Return andsee the End of this Contest, after which I wish to Live in a Peaceful Retired way the Remainder of

    my Days, - and Enjoy the pleasure of my famalyI Recommend you to the Great Giver of Every Heavenly Blessing, Hopeing your Conduct in

    all Instances Are such As to Merret every Good that is Due the sex

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    this is the prayer of your Ever Effectionate & LoveingHusband

    Israel Shreve

    PS: My Love to the Children and Respects to all friends, - it is probable this is the LastOpportunity I shall have to write until Our Return IS [Sent to the Care of Caleb Shreve Mrs:

    Mary Shreve Black Horse New Jersey] 6

    _________________________

    The fort was called Fort Sullivan; it was nearly four square, about 90 yards one way and a

    little under the other way, and was built by digging a trench 2 feet deep, and placing

    upright logs in the trench about twelve feet high, leaving two or three gateways. Hand-

    drawn map of Fort Sullivan at Tioga, ca. Aug.-Oct. 1779, Israel Shreve Revolutionary War

    Letters (Box 1, Folder 17), Courtesy of Special Collections, University of Houston libraries."Personal Narrative of the Services of Lieut. John Shreve of the New Jersey Line of the

    Continental Army", Magazine of American History, vol. 3, part 2 (New York and Chicago:

    A.S, Barnes & Co., 1879), 569-570.

    _________________________

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    In actuality, Israel Shreve wrote his wife four more letters from Tioga, giving her news of events,

    their son John and others who she knew.7

    Leaving a force under Colonel Shreve to build and garrison a fort at the narrow carrying placeon Tioga Point, Sullivans combined forces moved north to destroy Iroquois crops and towns in

    the Finger Lakes region. Shreve was left with 250 men,plus such women as may be applied to the

    use of the Hospital, or may be deem'd necessary to keep the Soldier's clean at their Return.

    8

    As Sullivans small army toiled through forests and swamps, moving further into Iroquoisterritory, Colonel Shreve and his troops, having completed the fortifications, settled in to await

    their return:

    Camp in fort Sullivan Septemr: 7th 1779.

    Dear Polly, I have No news to Write to you, have not heard from the Army since the Next Day

    after the battle [of Newtown], which I have fully Wrote about,9One pleasing Circumstance to

    us is, Last Evening 240 head of fine fat Cattle Arived At this post, - with 313 Barrels flower,Rum, Whiskey, Dried Clams, Butter, soap & Candles, Now I hope to make those about me

    happy, after being Reduced to ten Ounces of flower P[er] Day and No RumAnd Obliged to

    Work Exceeding hard, in Cuting Large trees, Collecting them for stockades, and seting them up,we are Now Inclosed, have six peaces of Cannon, And a Garrison sufficient to Defend AgainstAll the savages Now Acting Against these united states, As to Danger or hard fateague thisCampaign for me, I Expect is Out of the Question, - Expect to see you by the first of November atfarthest, after being Excluded from all society, Except My Brother Officers, - We have the Banksof the two Rivers to Walk, to Ride the Road but short, Except Out of the Guards which is unsafe,

    - Heaven seems to smile upon the united states this Campaign, And frown on Mighty Britain,their fleet is Beat, - Islands taken [the islands of St. Vincent on 18 June and Grenada on 3 July],forts Compleatly surprised & taken [referring to the captures of Stony Point on 16 July andPaulus Hook on 19 August]the Issue must be an honorable peace for us, then I Leave theBustle of a Camp, and seek Retirement, where I hope to find one whose study in this Life will be

    to please, and Compleat Happiness.

    After being freted four years, Apposing a subtil savage Enemy, under going Every fateague,the Noise of a Camp, And Care of a Regt:, - the mind becomes some what unsettled, And thetemper Ruffled in some Degree, But prudence [steadiness?] and kindness, May in a short time

    bring back to the former Disposition, - May this study be Ours in Every Respect, - May your

    Wisdom, with the help of the great Director of all Good, - Prepare and keep your Disposition, soas to Give all Joy and Happiness to those Around you, - May Every Blessing Attend you in my

    Absince, And Innocent Pleasure be alotted to you Is the prayer of the One that promises himselfEvery Happiness At his Return, -

    My Respects to All friends, - My Love to the Children

    I am with Every possible Regard yourLoveing And Affectionate

    Husband

    Israel Shreve

    10

    General Sullivans troops returned to Tioga September 30th, having successfully carried outtheir mission. After destroying Fort Sullivan, they set off on 3 October to return to Wyoming and

    points east.

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    Aerial photo showing Tioga Point, looking towards the south. The town of Athens, Pa., is in

    the foreground, and the narrow neck where Fort Sullivan was built is just above that. At

    the top of the photo is the broad flat where Sullivans troops camped. It is still, today, open

    farmland in private hands. Photo courtesy of Henry J. Retzer.

    _______________________________

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    Lt. Col. Francis Barber

    Miniature by Brice (private collection).

    Copy courtesy of Marko Zlatich.

    Lafayettes Virginia Campaign. In January 1781 British Maj. Gen. Benedict Arnolds forces

    were wreaking havoc in Virginia. Determined to put a stop to his efforts, General Washington

    placed Maj. Gen. the Marquis de Lafayette in command of three Continental light infantrybattalions, and sent them south in late February. The aim was, in conjunction with French naval

    forces, to capture Arnold and bring him to justice. Francis Barber (transferred to the 1st New

    Jersey at the turn of the year) and five New Jersey light companies rendezvoused at Pompton,New Jersey with the rest of Lafayettes detachment moving down from New York. Barbercommanded a light battalion consisting of his Jersey companies, plus two New Hampshire

    companies, and one from Hazens Canadian Regiment. Lieutenant Colonel Barber wrote Col.

    Elias Dayton at the end of February, informing him of their progress, as well as trouble amongLafayettes troops. It must be noted that Eastern (New England) regiments were used to put

    down the New Jersey mutiny in January 1781, and that Francis Barber was given charge of those

    units in that task.11

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    Trenton Feb 28th 1781Dr Sir We imbark tomorrow morning early for Philadelphia to proceed from thence to Virginia.

    It is certain that Arnold is blocked up, and perhaps this expedition will contribute to his captivity.It is said the tour will be a short one and should we be successful, it will compensate for anyaccidental disagreeablenesses.

    The Jersey troops have behaved scandalously thus far. Last night, when at Princeton, they

    created a small riot with the Eastern troops. The grudge occasioned by the late subduction was theleading motive. After a little tumult they were dispersed to their quarters and all [was] quiet after.This night many of them are drunk & turbulent. They are clamorous about their money, meaningthe fourth part of their depreciation, which they say is due tomorrow, the first of March. Severalthreaten not to march unless they receive it. This is the effect of liquor, and I hope when that isevaporated, they will be quiet. Our men I think are exceedingly altered for worse; from being

    almost the most orderly & subordenate soldiers in the army, they are become a set of drunken,and unworthy fellows. The situation of an officer among them is rendered more disagreeable than

    any other calling in life, even the most menial, can possibly be. I had ten thousand times rather bea private centenal in an Eastern [i.e., New England] regement than be the commander of such

    soldiers under such circumstances. This description of their conduct and my situation I know willafflict you on their and my account, and I should not have troubled you with it, had I not

    conceive[d] it my duty. Nothing but the highest severity will reclaim them, and whether or notthat will be affectual while they receive such contenance from the public, is very uncertain. Ithank God, tomorrow is the last day, or rather this night. So soon as we get out of the State, I am

    determined they shall pay very severely for the least irregularity.As I mentioned before, the expedition is to be a short one, and I persue it with the greatest

    alacrity, and animation. Until my return I beg leave to recommend Mrs. Barber & the little family

    to your care & protection. If She wants assistance, She will apply to you freely.I am Dr. Sir, your very sincere

    friend, &c.F. Barber12

    Francis Barber had been married once before, to Mary Ogden who died in October 1773. On

    24 March 1778 he married Marys cousin, Anne (Nancy) Ogden, with whom he had threechildren, George Clinton, born in December 1778, Mary, born November 1780, and Frances,

    barely five months old when Barber died. In the next missive, Lieutenant Colonel Barber gave

    his wife (who, despite thoughts of a short expedition, he had not seen for at least six months)

    news of the military situation, and shared hopes for the future.13

    Camp 15 miles from Williamsburgh July 3rd 1781

    My dear Girl, I hope you have received my 2nd & 3rd letters, the former I sent by Col.[Benjamin] Tupper [10th Massachusetts Regiment] with my sulky to Morris town and the latter

    was forwarded by Capt. Guyan [identity unknown] of the artillery who was destined for NewWindsor. Since my last our affairs in this department have taken a very favorable change. The

    Enemy, upon our receiving the reinforcement of Pennsyl[vania]. troops and a considerable one ofmilitia riflemen evacuated Richmond & retreated with much precipitation to Williamsburgh. Wehave since our reinforcements afforded the enemy numerous opportunities for action; but theyhave carefully declined them. We have frequently marched for that purpose from our camp[within] another four or five miles of theirs in the morning & have remained until after sundown;

    and the only reason why we are encamped at so great distance from them, is, there is no water foran army between this & Williamsburgh. There are many very plausible reasons for conjecturingthat they mean to evacuate this state instead of attempting a prosecution of the war here. This

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    country is at length alarmed & begin to turn out with spirit which if there were no other reasonswould be sufficient to put a period to their opperations in this quarterHence, I dare say, arises a

    most flattering expectation on your mind, to wit, that possibly then the corps to which I belongwill be ordered to the Northward. I cannot but cherish the same fond hope, and I pray You & Imay not be disappointedGeneral Greene has added to his other Conquests the reduction of FortAugusta in Georgia & I believe Ninety six an important post in S. Carolina is also reduced. He

    had [?] it a considerable time and by the last official accounts the garrison of about 700 men hadoffered terms of capitulation which were refused.

    The campaign in this quarter has been much the most severe that I ever experienced from thewarmness of the climate & our almost incessant marchingmarching almost day & night. Althowe are perfectly healthy, yet we do not look like the same men. Our flesh & colour havegradually wastd away. Three of my captains are, as we say, totally knocked up; one of them

    [New Jersey Capt.] John Holmes is obliged to quit the department & return to New Jersey to berelieved by another officer. I am leaner than ever I was in my life; but I do assure you, I am very

    healthy. Billy is also much reduced, but enjoys his health & spirits.I not only fondly hope, but really expect that this campaign will end the American war; and the

    end of the war will be the commencement of our felicity.I have but one letter from you, and I am most anxious by waiting for those which I hope are on

    the way for me. I long to know if you are perfectly recovered of your illness mentioned in yourletter of the 6

    thof June, I think it was.

    Give my love to my father, mother &c I immagine my father will excuse my writing to him as I

    communicate all the news to you.I need not fill any of the page with expressions of affection for you, George & Polly. You are

    persuaded I possess every passion & feeling which the fondest & most faithful husband and

    parent in the world can enjoy.I am, my dearest Nancy, your affectionate husband

    F Barber 14

    Three days after this letter was written a portion of Lafayettes little army, including Brig.

    Gen. Anthony Waynes three Pennsylvania battalions and one light infantry battalion, confronted

    a vastly superior force of British troops near Jamestown Island, in an action called the Battle ofGreen Spring. Following that, except for some maneuvering, marching and countermarching, the

    Marquiss small army experienced no further action until the combined armies moved on Lt.

    Gen. Charles Earl Cornwalliss army fortified at Yorktown. In the meantime, Lafayette had

    formed a junction with troops from the French fleet on 8 September, with all the Allied forcesmeeting at Williamsburg on 26 September. Lieutenant Colonel Barbers light battalion was

    active throughout the ensuing siege, and its commander received another wound when his unit

    formed the front of the column covering the troops storming Redoubt Number 10 on the night of14 October.

    15

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    Area of operations for the armies of Lafayette and Cornwallis in late spring, summer, andautumn of 1781. Henry P. Johnston, The Yorktown Campaign and the Surrender of Cornwalli s

    1781(New York: Harper & Brothers, 1881; reprinted by Eastern National Park & Monument

    Association, 1975), 57.

    _____________________________

    When the bulk of the army returned north after the British surrender, Francis Barber was able

    to spend time with his wife and two children before returning to duty. His family may have beenresiding with him at camp at the time of this death, a month after his promotion to colonel of the

    2nd New Jersey Regiment. Following his death army orders for February 12 1783 announced,

    The remains of the late Lieutt. Col. Comdt. Barber will be interred tomorrow the procession

    will set out at 10 oclock A.M. from Mr. Dennisons house the Quarters of the deceased. Capt.Aaron Ogden of the 1st Jersey had informed General Washington that same day, The corps[e]

    will be interred at Bethleham meeting-house. According to a brief biography written in the early

    20th

    century Francis Barbers remains wereburied at Neelytown, N.Y. beside his fathersvault. Neelytown is fifteen miles southwest of New Windsor. The same monograph also states

    that Barbersbody lies in Goodwill Cemetery, at Montgomery, N.Y., which is fifteen miles

    due west of New Windsor, and four miles north of Neelytown.16

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    For detailed studies of Sullivans 1779 and Lafayettes 1781 campaigns, see:

    Glenn F. Williams, Year of the Hangman: George Washingtons Campaign Against the Iroquois(Yardley, Pa.: Westholme Publishing, 2005), 240-289.

    John U. Rees, `This Detachement is Extremely Good : The Light Battalions Move South,part one of, Their presence Here Has Saved this State : Continental ProvisionalBattalions with Lafayette in Virginia, 1781,The Brigade Dispatch, vol. XXXVI, no. 3 (Autumn

    2000), 2-23.http://revwar75.com/library/rees/pdfs/light.pdf

    Endnotes

    1. John U. Rees, "'One of the best in the army.': An Overview of the 2nd New Jersey Regiment andGeneral William Maxwell's Jersey Brigade," The Continental Soldier, vol. XI, no. 2 (Spring 1998),

    45-53 (World Wide Web,http://revwar75.com/library/rees/njbrigade.htm ). Israel Shreve to

    Mary Shreve, 25 May 1776, Israel Shreve Papers, Buxton Collection, Prescott Memorial Library,Louisiana Tech University. "Personal Narrative of the Services of Lieut. John Shreve of the New

    Jersey Line of the Continental Army",Magazine of American History, vol. 3, part 2 (New York

    and Chicago: A.S, Barnes & Co., 1879), 576. For a discussion of Colonel Shreves service and

    character, see Rees, "Eyewitness to Battle: The New Jersey Brigade at Connecticut Farms andSpringfield, June 1780," The Brigade Dispatch, vol. XXIX, no. 4 (Winter 1999), 20-22. (World

    Wide Web,http://revwar75.com/library/rees/smithandshreve.htm )

    2. Israel Shreve to Mary Shreve, 25 May 1776,ISP Buxton. Frelinghuysen to Washington, 20January 1781, George Washington Papers, Presidential Papers Microfilm, (Washington: Library of

    Congress, 1961), series 4, reel 74. Washington to Israel Shreve, 28 January 1781, John C.

    Fitzpatrick, ed., The Writings of George Washington from the Original Manuscript Sources

    1745-1799, vol. 21 (Washington: Government Printing Office, 1937), 150. Israel Shrevesintercession on behalf of his men is supported by old-age recollections by his son John: Two

    sergeants were condemned and shot, one of the First and the other of the Third Regiment. My father

    go the leaders of his regiment (the Second) clear. "Personal Narrative of the Services of Lieut.John Shreve , 575.

    3. William Nelson, New Jersey Biographical and Genealogical Notes, Collections of the New

    Jersey Historical Society, vol. IX (Paterson: Call Printing and Publishing Co., 1916), 24-25.William Alexander, Lord Stirling to William Livingston, 9 and 12 February 1776, Carl E. Prince

    and Dennis P. Ryan, eds., The Papers of William Livingston, vol. 1 (Trenton: New Jersey

    Historical Commission, 1979), 38-39. John U. Rees, This Detachement is Extremely Good :

    The Light Battalions Move South,part one of, Their presence Here Has Saved this State: Continental Provisional Battalions with Lafayette in Virginia, 1781,The Brigade Dispatch,

    vol. XXXVI, no. 3 (Autumn 2000), 2-23. Lafayette to Washington, 20 July 1781, Stanley J.

    Idzerda, ed.,Lafayette in the Age of the American RevolutionSelected Letters and Papers,

    17761790, vol. IV (Ithaca, N.Y.: Cornell University Press, 1981), 256.4. "Personal Narrative of the Services of Lieut. John Shreve of the New Jersey Line of the

    Continental Army",Magazine of American History, vol. 3, part 2 (New York and Chicago: A.S,

    Barnes & Co., 1879), 569-570.5. Glenn F. Williams, Year of the Hangman: George Washingtons Campaign Against the

    http://revwar75.com/library/rees/pdfs/light.pdfhttp://revwar75.com/library/rees/pdfs/light.pdfhttp://revwar75.com/library/rees/pdfs/light.pdfhttp://revwar75.com/library/rees/njbrigade.htmhttp://revwar75.com/library/rees/njbrigade.htmhttp://revwar75.com/library/rees/njbrigade.htmhttp://revwar75.com/library/rees/smithandshreve.htmhttp://revwar75.com/library/rees/smithandshreve.htmhttp://revwar75.com/library/rees/smithandshreve.htmhttp://revwar75.com/library/rees/smithandshreve.htmhttp://revwar75.com/library/rees/njbrigade.htmhttp://revwar75.com/library/rees/pdfs/light.pdf
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    Iroquois (Yardley, Pa.: Westholme Publishing, 2005), 240-289 (Sullivans 1779 expedition).

    Sgt. Maj. George Grants journal,Journals of the Military Expedition of Major General John

    Sullivan Against the Six Nations of Indians in 1779 (Glendale, N.Y.: Benchmark PublishingCompany, Inc., 1970), 109. See also, New Jersey soldier accounts, ibid., 3-14, 42-51, 52-61, 80-

    85, 107-114, 240-245, 267-274.

    6. Israel Shreve to Mary Polley Shreve, 20 August 1779, Israel Shreve Papers, BuxtonCollection, Prescott Memorial Library, Louisiana Tech University, Ruston, La..7. The letters Colonel Shreve wrote Mary from Tioga and Fort Sullivan are as follows: 28 and 31

    August 1779 (Israel Shreve Revolutionary War Letters, University of Houston libraries), and 20

    August and 7, 15 September 1779 (Israel Shreve Papers, Buxton Collection, Prescott MemorialLibrary, Louisiana Tech University, Ruston, La..)

    8. John Sullivan to Israel Shreve, 24 August 1779, Otis G. Hammond, ed.,Letters and Papers of

    Major-General John Sullivan Continental Army, vol. III (Concord: New Hampshire Historical

    Society, 1939), 101-103. See also, Rees, "'The multitude of women': An Examination of theNumbers of Female Camp Followers with the Continental Army," TheBrigade Dispatch

    (Journal of the Brigade of the American Revolution), part 1, vol. XXIII, no. 4 (Autumn 1992),

    5-17 (World Wide Web,http://revwar75.com/library/rees/wnumb1.htm ).9. Israel Shreve to Mary Shreve, 31 August 1779, Israel Shreve Papers, New Jersey Room

    Special Collections, Alexander Library, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, N.J.

    10. Israel Shreve to Mary Shreve, 7 September 1779 ,Shreve Papers, Louisiana Tech University.

    11. Rees, This Detachement is Extremely Good : The Light Battalions Move South,partone of, Their presence Here Has Saved this State : Continental Provisional Battalions

    with Lafayette in Virginia, 1781,The Brigade Dispatch, vol. XXXVI, no. 3, 2-23.

    12. Francis Barber to Elias Jonathan Dayton, 28 February 1781, Larry R. Gerlach, ed.,NewJersey in the American Revolution, 17631783: A Documentary History (Trenton: New Jersey

    Historical Commission, 1975), 351.

    13.Nelson, New Jersey Biographical and Genealogical Notes, Collections of the New Jersey

    Historical Society, vol. IX, 24-25.14.Francis Barber to Anne Ogden Barber, 3 July 1781, Roland M. Baumann, ed., Miscellaneous

    Manuscripts of the Revolutionary War Era, 17711791, in the Pennsylvania State Archives,

    Manuscript Group 275 (microfilm edition, 1 reel) (Harrisburg: Pennsylvania Historical andMuseum Commission, 1978), frame 298.

    15. Rees, This Detachement is Extremely Good : The Light Battalions Move South, part

    one of, Their presence Here Has Saved this State : Continental Provisional Battalionswith Lafayette in Virginia, 1781,The Brigade Dispatch, vol. XXXVI, no. 3, 2-23. Henry P.

    Johnston, The Yorktown Campaign and the Surrender of Cornwallis 1781 (New York: Harper &

    Brothers, 1881; reprinted by Eastern National Park & Monument Association, 1975), 102. Ebenezer

    Wild, "Journal of Ebenezer Wild,"Proceedings of the Massachusetts Historical Society, 2nd series,vol. VI (Boston: University Press, 1891), 149-150. Camp before York 16th Octbr 1781

    Colonel Barbers battalion which was the first in the supporting column being detached to aid the

    advance arrived at the moment they were getting over the works, and executed their orders with the

    utmost alacrity and good order. The Colonel was slightly wounded. Lafayette to Washington, 16October, 1781, George Washington Papers, Presidential Papers Microfilm (Washington: Library

    of Congress, 1961), series 4.

    16. After orders, 12 February 1783, John C. Fitzpatrick, ed., The Writings of George Washingtonfrom the Original Manuscript Sources 17451799 (Washington, DC: Government Printing

    http://revwar75.com/library/rees/wnumb1.htmhttp://revwar75.com/library/rees/wnumb1.htmhttp://revwar75.com/library/rees/wnumb1.htmhttp://revwar75.com/library/rees/wnumb1.htm
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    Office, 1937), 26 (1938), 128-129. Aaron Ogden to George Washington, 12 February 1783,

    George Washington Papers, Presidential Papers Microfilm (Washington: Library of Congress,

    1961), series 4.Nelson, New Jersey Biographical and Genealogical Notes, Collections of the

    New Jersey Historical Society, vol. IX, 24-25.Goodwill Cemetery, Montgomery, Orange County,

    New York, By the Evangelical Presbyterian Church, Interment.net (World Wide Web,

    http://www.interment.net/data/us/ny/orange/goodwill/goodwill_cemetery.htm )

    http://www.interment.net/data/us/ny/orange/goodwill/goodwill_cemetery.htmhttp://www.interment.net/data/us/ny/orange/goodwill/goodwill_cemetery.htmhttp://www.interment.net/data/us/ny/orange/goodwill/goodwill_cemetery.htm