Tuesday, December 30, 2008
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. . go back past the 1600s in Cornwall, England. We have veterans of the Revolutionary War, French & Indian War,and Bacon's Rebellion; plus a martyr who rebelled against the Catholic Church, 1300s, by translating the Bible into English.
June 28, 1778 / Battle at Monmouth
Departing from Valley Forge in June 1778, General George Washington moved his army across the Delaware River with goal of attacking British General Sir Henry Clinton as his troops marched from Philadelphia to New York. On June 28, Washington dispatched Major General Charles Lee with 5,000 men to assault the British rear guard near the Monmouth Court House, New Jersey. Lee failed to follow his orders and mismanaged the fight. He was forced to retreat with the British in pursuit. As Lee fell back, Washington advanced with the main army and rallied his troops. Repeated British attacks were beaten off before the fighting ended with both sides ultimately claiming victory.
Monmouth was memorable in numerous ways. It was the last major engagement fought in the north; it was the longest battle of the war; and it was fought, as no other major engagement, in stifling heat. None who survived the day would ever forget the heat. With more than fifteen hours of sunshine, in the fifth day of a heat wave, temperatures close to 100 º Fahrenheit. The sun beat down mercilessly on the men who fought back and forth through sandy fields and around steaming morasses with nothing but scrubby pines for shade. The British and Germans, with woolen uniforms and heavy packs, suffered the most, with dozens dying of heat stroke on both sides. Those who did survive were half-crazed with thirst and limp from heat exhaustion.
Finally Monmouth was memorable as it marked the end of General Charles Lee's military career (ending in disgrace). Nathaniel Greene wrote a formal complaint to Jacob Greene, against Lee to General Wayne and General Scott. A month later a court martial found Lee guilty of disobeying orders, making a shameful retreat, and showing disrespect for General Washington, as his commander in chief. That December, Congress upheld the findings.
Major John Andre’s diary June 28, 1778 . . . . The guards first fell into action by receiving a heavy fire from a wood on their right. The soon dislodged the enemy from it and drove them as far as they had strength to pursue. The enemy had yet a cannon and troops on an advantageous height in front, from which it was necessary to force them. The grenadiers were therefore led on, and the rebels were driven back across a deep morass, upon their main army. This was not affected without loss, but more from heat and fatigue under which many died, than from the enemy’s shot. To this height, our cannon, consisting of twelve six pounders, two medium twelve pounders, and tow howitzers, were brought and opposed to that of the enemy, whose whole force occupied the opposite hills . . . . .
Sergeant Jeremiah Greenman's description July 28, 1778 . . . . Englishtown this morn at two o’clock we slung our packs, advanced towards the enemy about three miles from we lay, part of the militia and light groups that was on the right engaged the enemy, then our division under the command of General Lee advanced towards the enemy. They formed in a solid column, then fired a volley at us, they being so much superior to our number, we retreated . . . then we formed again under a fence when the light horse advanced on us. We began a fire on them . . . very heavy, then the British footmen rushed on us, after firing a number of rounds we was obliged to retreat. A number of our men died with heat at retreating. A number of our troops formed in the rear of us with some artillery which covered our retreat. They began a fire on the enemy, than the British retreated. Left the ground with about a thousand killed and wounded on British side. On our side, about two hundred killed and wounded, died with heat.
from Jesse Oates' BibleThe following, taken from Major Oates' old family Bible, will no doubt be of interest to generations of Oates both in Hopkins and Muhlenberg counties: Jessie Oates and Zilpha Mason were married April 13, 1798. Births: John M. Oates born April 19, 1799; Betsy Oates, Nov 4, 1800; Rachel Oates, Feb 14, 1805; Mariah Oates, Feb 12 1807; Zilpha Oates, Feb 16, 1813; Harriet Oates, Dec 14, 1814; Oliver H. Oates, July 23, 1817; Wyatt M. Oates, July 13, 1819; Charles C. Oates, Nov. 5, 1821. Deceased: Jessie Oates, Aug 10, 1831; Mariah Oates, July 12, 1822; Richard Oates, July 26, 1834; Oliver Hays Oates, Aug 23, 1840; Matthew M. Oates, Jan 10, 1919.
3 comments:
I have been doing research on the descendants of Rachel Oates Boggess Wickliffe for about 7 years and I just happened upon your site! I would love to have some of these wonderful pictures! Please contact me at manderskids@yahoo.com. Thank you!
1. A cousin on ancestry.com emailed me to say she grew up in Muhlenberg County. Her parents spoke of Rachel and a slave girl being tried for killing Rachel's first husband by hammering a stake into his head as he slept. Both women were found innocent due to lack of evidence.
2. At a Filson Historical Society lecture by Kent Masterson Brown, I learned that my Great Uncle Charles Wickliffe was a lawyer and judge before becoming a one term Kentucky Governor. He was the judge that decided against Thomas Lincoln in his struggle to hold onto his Kentucky farm. Judge Wickliffe's decision sent the Lincoln's to Indiana. That decision stated Abe on his path to
Illinois, the study of law, politics and becoming our 16th president.
That decision started Abe on his path to Illinois, the study of law, politics and becoming our 16th president.
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