USA > Virginia > Augusta County > Augusta County > Annals of Augusta county, Virginia, from 1726 to 1871 > Part 29
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John Cunningham, believed to have been a brother of Robert, lived in Staunton, his residence being ou Lot No. 1, southwest corner of Augusta street and Spring Lane. He had three daughters and one son. His oldest daughter was Mrs. Margaret Reed, who was baptized
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by Mr. Craig in 1747, and died in 1827. Another daughter, Isabella, married Major Robert Burns, and was the mother of Mrs. Waterman and Mrs. Gambill, of Rockingham. The third danghter of John Cunningham, Elizabeth, married Captain Thomas Smith. The daugh- ters of Capt. Smith were Mrs. Michael Garber, Mrs. Moses McCue, and Mrs. John Jones. Captain Walter Cunningham, only son of John, removed to Kentucky in 1788, and thus the name disappeared from the county.
We are indebted to Major James B. Dorman, a grandson of Mrs. Moses McCue, for most of the above facts.
Another family of Cunninghams settled at an early day in the "Forks of James River," their name being written sometimes Cuning- ham, and occasionally Coningham. The first mention of this family in the records of Augusta county, is August 18, 1752, when John Couingham and Robert Weir received a deed for 133 acres of land in Borden's Grant.
On August 5, 1753, James Coningham conveyed to his son Jacob 100 acres, a part of 400 acres on Tees' creek, a branch of James River, which had been patented by James C. ; and on February 12, 1756, he conveyed 128 acres of the same tract to his son Isaac. The last named died in 1759, Jean Cunningham having qualified as his administratrix, May 20, 1759. Jacob Cunningham died in 1760, as appears from the inventory and appraisement of his personal estate. The wife of a Jacob Cunningham was killed by Indians July, 1763, and his ten-year old daughter scalped and left for dead. One account of the first Kerr's Creek massacre states that he escaped by being absent from home ; but the probability is that he was the person who died more than three years before.
Hugh Cunningham conveyed to Law Todd, May 19, 1760, 251 acres lying "on Whissle Creek, Forks of James River ;" and on May 8, 1764, he conveyed to Jonathan Cunningham 281 acres, described as lying "on Carr's Creek, Augusta county."
John Cunningham and Margaret his wife, on May 13, 1764, con- veyed 230 acres of land and a variety of personal property to their son Patrick, in consideration of their maintenance by him. This John C. (or some other), died in 1774, his personal estate being appraised, March 18, 1774, at £32, 12S. Patrick conveyed the 230 acres, August 18, 1766. to Edward Erwin.
James Cunningham's will was admitted to record March 19, 1765. He provided for his wife, Margaret, and gave most of his estate to his son Moses. To his son Hugh, his grand-son James, (son of Jacob), his grand-son John, (son of Isaac), and his daughters, each, he gave one English shilling.
The will of Jonathan Cunningham, "of Carr's Creek," was ad- mitted to record March 20, 1770. He gave his wife, Mary, £60, etc., and left his plantation to his "dutiful father," Hugh Cunningham, His wife, as appears from the will, was a daughter of John McKee and
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sister of Col. William McKee. The people of Kerr's Creek were as- sembled at the house of Jonathan Cunningham at the time of the second massacre, in 1764, and some of the Cunninghams were then captured and carried off by the Indians.
Hugh Cunningham and Sarah his wife, "of the Forks of James River," on March 20, 1770, conveyed a tract of land to John McKee, probably the tract devised to Hugh by his son Jonathan.
From Mr. Clarence Cunningham, of Charleston, S. C., we learn that John Cunningham, of Kerr's Creek, had four sons and three daughters. The sons were Robert, Patrick, John and David .- In January, 1769, Robert and Patrick removed to District Ninety-Six, S. C., now Abbeville, and were followed, in 1770, by John and David and their sisters. During the Revolutionary war, Robert became an officer in the British army, and is known in history as the Tory General Robert Cunningham.
Appleton's American Biography says : Robert Cunningham, loy- alist, born in Ireland about 1739 ; settled in District Ninety-Six, S. C., in 1769, and soon became a judge. He opposed the cause of the colonies, and in 1775 was imprisoned in Charleston. After his release he joined the British forces, and, in 1780, was commissioned Brigadier General. He first was placed in command of a garrison in S. C., and the following year served in the field against General Sumter. His estate was confiscated in 1782, and, having left the country, he was not allowed to return, although lie petitioned to be allowed to do so. The British Government gave him an annuity. He died in Nassau, in 1813.
Patrick Cunningham also entered the British service during the Revolutionary war, and became a Colonel ; but seems not to have incurred the odium his brother Robert did. His son Robert was a captain in the Mexican war. Capt. Robert's son John was prominent in law, politics and journalism, and his daughter Pamela was the organizer and first Regent of the Ladies' Mt. Vernon Association.
William Cunningham, called "Bloody Bill" in South Carolina, is said to have been a second-cousin of Robert and Patrick. He is otherwise known as Major, or Colonel, William Cunninghami, of the British army. Bancroft gives an account of an expedition he com- manded in 1781, and the cruelties practised by him. (Vol. X, p. 458.) In Appleton's American Biography we find a sketch of a man of the same name. He was born in Dublin, and came to America in 1774. Gen. Gage appointed him provost-marshal of the army. In 1778 he had charge of the military prisons in Philadelphia, and later those in New York; and in both places was notorions for his cruelties. It is said that he literally starved to death 2,000 prisoners, and hung 250 without trial. At the close of the war he went to England, be- came very dissipated, and in 1791 was hanged for forgery. This man was probably the same as " Bloody Bill," as it is not likely that the same generation could produce two such men. It is a relief to find that the gallows claimed him at last.
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Virginia furnished fifteen regiments of regulars, known as the "Continental Line," the original Colonels of which were : Ist. James Read, [it would seem that Patrick Henry was not commissioned] ; 2d. William Woodford ; 3rd. Hugh Mercer ; 4th. Adam Stephen ; 5th. William Peachy ; 6th. Mordecai Buckner; 7th. William Dangerfield [Alexander McClanahan, Lt. Col.]; 8th. Peter Muhlenberg ; 9th. Charles Fleming [Geo. Mathews, Lt. Col.]; 10th. Edward Stevens ; 1 Ith. Daniel Morgan [Christian Febiger, Lt. Col.]; 12th. James Wood; 13th. William Russell ; 14th. Charles Lewis ; 15th. David Mason.
In September, 1778, the number of Virginia regiments was re- duced from fifteen to eleven. The 9th was consolidated with the Ist, and the 7th was designated the 5th.
Andrew Lewis commissioned Brigadier General Continental army, March 1, 1776 ; resigned April 15, 1777 ; died September 26, 1781.
Andrew Lewis, jr., (son of Thomas), 1777, ensign 13th Va., afterwards the 9th, Lieutenant, October 2, 1778 .- Transferred to 7th, Feb. 12, 1781.
Charles Lewis (son of - -), colonel of 14th Va., Nov. 12, 1776 ; resigned March 28, 1778.
John Lewis (son of Thos. or Wm.) 2nd Lt. 9th Va., March 16, 1776 ; Ist Lt. Nov. 7, 1776 ; resigned Sept. 15, 1778.
William Lewis (son of --- ), Ist Lt. Ist Va., Oct. 2, 1775; Capt. Sept. 4, 1776 ; Brigade Inspector of Muhlenberg's Brigade, April 7, 1778 ; Major of roth Va. May 12, 1779 ; taken prisoner at Charleston, May 12, 1780 ; transferred to 3rd Va. Feb. 12, 1781; served to close of war ; died, 1811.
Thomas Lewis (son of Thomas), 2nd Lt. 15th Va., Nov. 21, 1776; ist Lt. March 20, 1777; retired Feb. 12, 1781 ; Capt. U. S. Infantry, March 5, 1792 ; resigned March 9, 1801.
William Lewis (son of -- ), Lt. in Lee's Battalion of Dragoons; killed, Sept. 14, 1779, at Gennesee, N. Y.
William Christian, Lt. Col. Ist Va., Feb. 13, 1776 .- Colonel, March 18, 1776, which he declined and retired from the regular service.
Robert Gamble, Ist Lt. 12th Va., Sept. 14, 1776 ; Capt. March 7, 1778 ; regiment designated 8th Va., Sept. 14, 1778 ; served to close of war.
George Mathews, Lt. Col. 9th Va., March 4, 1776 ; Col. Feb. IO, 1777; wounded and captured at Germantown, Oct. 4, 1777; exchanged Dec. 5, 1781 ; died Aug. 30, 1812.
Alexander McClanahan, Lt. Col. 7th Va., Feb. 29, 1776; Col. March 22, 1777, to rank from Oct. 7, 1776 ; resigned May 13, 1778.
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Robert Porterfield, 2nd Lt. 11th Va., Dec. 24, 1776 ; Ist Lt., June 1, 1777; Adjutant April 19, 1778; transferred to 7th Va. Sept. 14, 1778 ; Captain Aug. 16, 1779 ; taken prisoner at Cliarles- ton May 12, 1780 ; transferred to 2nd Va., Feb. 12, 1781 ; served to close of war ; died Feb. 13, 1843.
Alexander Breckinridge, Ist Lt. "Gist's Additional Continental Regiment," January, 1777 ; Capt. April 23, 1779 ; taken prisoner at Charleston May 12, 1780, and held till June 17, 1781 ; retired January 1, 1781.
Robert Breckinridge, 2nd Lt. 8th Va., August 10, 1777 ; Ist Lt. April 4, 1778 ; transferred to 4tli Va., Sept. 14, I778; taken prisoner at Charleston, May 12, 1780; exchanged July, 1781 ; served to close of war ; died Sept. 11, 1833.
Henry Bowyer, 2nd Lt. 12th Va., Nov. 15, 1777; Lt. Ist Conti- mental Dragoons, Feb. 18, 1781 ; served to close of war ; died June 13, 1832.
Michael Bowyer, Capt. 12th Va., Sept. 30, 1776 ; retired Sept. 14, 1778.
William Robertson, Adjutant 9th Va., May 22, 1777; Ist Lt. Sept. 24, 1778 ; taken prisoner at Charleston, May 12, 1780 ; re- leased Dec. 3, 1780 ; served to close of war ; died Nov. 12, 1831 .- (From Heitman's Historical Register.)
CHAPTER X.
THE WAR OF THE REVOLUTION, ETC., FROM 1779 TO 17SI.
The storming of Stony Point occurred July 15-16, 1779. This famous incident of the war has a place here, because a company of Augusta soldiers participated in it. General Wayne commanded, on the Hudson river, New York, a brigade of four regiments, one of which was from Virginia. The field officers of this regiment were Colonel Febiger, Lieutenant-Colonel Fleury, and Major Posey .* One of the companies of the Virginia regiment was commanded by Captain Robert Gamble, of Augusta.
Stony Point is a hill which projects into the Hudson, a few miles below West Point. The Americans had occupied and partially forti- fied it, but retired before an overwhelming force of the enemy. The hill was then strongly fortified by the British, and garrisoned by about 600 mien.
During the summer of 1779, Washington planned the capture of the place, and entrusted the execution of the scheme to Mad Anthony Wayne. Twelve hundred chosen men, led by Wayne, marched in single file over mountains and through morasses, starting after dark the evening of July 15. They depended on the bayonet alone, and not a gun was fired by them. The assault was made before daylight, on the 16th. The Americans were divided into two columns, for simul- taneous attack on opposite sides of the works. One hundred and fifty volunteers, led by Lieutenant-Colonel Fleury, seconded by Major Posey, formed the van-guard of the right, and one hundred under Major Stewart, the van-gnard of the left. In advance of each was a forlorn hope of twenty men, one led by Lieutenant Knox, and the oth- er by Lieutenant Gibbon of the Virginia regiment. It was the des-
* Colonel Christian Febiger was a native of Sweden. He went with Arnold to Quebec, and was conspicuous at Stony Point and Yorktown. After the war, from 1789 till his death in 1796, he was treasurer of Pennsylvania. Chevalier and Viscount Louis de Fleury, Lieutenant-Colonel, was a Frenchman, and a Marshal of France at the time of his death. He received the thanks of Congress and a silver medal for his conduct at Stony Point. Major Thomas Posey was subse- quently known as General Posey, of Spotsylvania county, Virginia.
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perate duty of these men to remove the abatis and other obstructions. Of the party led by Gibbon, seventeen were killed or wounded. The Americans were close upon the works before they were discovered. The British pickets then opened fire, and aroused the garrison. The assailants rushed forward, heedless of musketry and grape-shot, using the bayonet with deadly effect. According to the account given by Irving, in his Life of Washington, Colonel Fleury was the first to enter the fort and strike the British flag, and Major Posey sprang to the ramparts and shouted, "The fort is our own." They were instantly joined by Major Stewart. General Wayne, who led the right column, was wounded in the head, but insisted upon being carried into the fort, to die there ; but soon recovered. The loss of the Americans was fifteen killed, and eighty-three wounded. Of the British, sixty-three were slain and five hundred and fifty- three were taken prisoners.
General Charles Lee declared the storming of Stony Point the most brilliant achievement he was acquainted with in history. The part in the affair which Captain Gamble is said to have acted is related in a biographical sketch on another page.
To Dr. Cary B. Gamble, of Baltimore, we are indebted for a list of the mien led by Captain Gamble at Stony Point, who were, it seems, detailed from the Seventh and Eighth Virginia regiments. The paper is headed : "A return of the men of Captain Gamble's company when Stony Point was taken from the enemy, 15th July, 1779;" and is certified at the end by "Robert Gamble, captain, Colonel Febiger's Regiment." The names of the officers and men are as follows :
Robert Gamble, Captain ; David Williams, Lieutenant ; James Flanherty, Sergeant-Major ; William Spencer, George Goimes and Richard Piles, Sergeants ; Randolph Death (sic), Samuel Glen and Jesse Page, Corporals ; John Farrell, Drummer.
The privates from the Seventh regiment were : Joshua Haycraft, Mathias Martin, Alexander Dresdal, John Malvin, Peter Sheridan, Joseph Fox, Daniel Burcher, Thomas Roberts, Sylvester Hurly, Wil- liam Gibbs, William Hinds, Daniel Rich, Aaron Redmond, Thomas Miller, William Campbell, Moses Plain, Peter Barret, Alexander Strickling and Charles Steward.
From the Eighth regiment : George Ward, John Bray, James Ball, Henry Denny, Henry Normand, Jacob Roads, William McCol- lum, Henry Denny (two of this name), Jolin Trotter, George Sell, Michael Moore, James L. Masters, Richard Barlow, Stephen Smythers, John Bland, Marshall Burton, Peter Warren, John O'Harroh, Patrick Lyons, William Steward and John Hanson.
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It will be observed that many of these names are not Scotch- Irish. The ranks of the regular army were largely recruited in the Valley from the class of "indentured servants," who obtained their freedom from domestic servitude by enlisting, and they were generally of a different race from the original settlers and their descendants.
The captured property was sold or appraised, and the proceeds, or valuation, distributed to the officers and mnen, the share of Captain Gamble's company being $4,751 1/3.
A fragment of the order book of Captain Gamble's company, while serving under Wayne on the Hudson, subsequent to the storm- ing of Stony Point, has been preserved and has come into our hands. Much of it is illegible, the writing having faded out, and some of the sheets are mutilated. It was probably kept by the orderly sergeant of the company, who was an indifferent penman and worse scholar. How he made so many mistakes in merely copying orders etc., is a mystery. But such as it is, it gives us a rare view of camp life during the Revo- lution, and we offer no apology for the extracts we shall make.
The first legible order,-the date of which has disappeared, but it was some day in August, 1779 .- is as follows : "Colonels Meggs and Butler, and Majors Hull and Murphy, will attend at headquarters this afternoon, at five o'clock, to receive their divident of money aris- ing from the sale of the plunder taken in storming Stony Point, July 15th, '79."
At a court-martial held August 24th, whereof Colonel Putnam was president, Lieutenant Smith, of Putnam's regiment, was tried upon the charge of taking several articles of plunder from a soldier "the night of the storm of Stony Point," and acquitted.
Lieutenant Maynard, of the Massachusetts regiment, was tried by court-martial, August 30th, on charges preferred by Lieutenant-Colonel Fleury of disobedience to orders, want of respect to a field officer, and hindering him from visiting the niglit-guard. Maynard was the offi- cer on duty, and detained Fleury a prisoner all night. The court found him guilty, and sentenced him to be privately reprimanded by the General. Thereupon, Maynard preferred charges against Fleury of ungentlemanly behavior, and abusing him when on duty. A ma- jority of the court thought Fleury guilty, but in view of the provo- cation he had received, and the punishment of his arrest, the case was dismissed.
The General next issued an order, expressing his dissatisfaction at the wrangling amongst the officers, and the frequent arrests "in a
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corps that has acquired so much glory, as to become not only the ad- miration but the envy of many," and exhorting the officers to cultivate harmony amongst themselves.
A regimental order, of September 1, sets forth that "the drum- mers and fifers, instead of improving themselves since they have been on this detachment, have grone a great deal wors," and directs that Philip Goaf, fifer in the First battalion, and William Armstead, drum- mer of the Second, take out the drums and fifes of the regiment every afternoon, Sundays and rainy days excepted, to practice from 4 to 6 o'clock.
Captain Gamble was officer of the day, September 2d.
John Bowling and John Malvin were tried for disobedience to orders, absence from roll-call, and drunkenness, found guilty, and sentenced to receive fifty lashes each, but, in consideration of the former good character of the men, the colonel remitted the penalty. Thomas Roberts was sentenced to receive fifty lashes for absence from roll-call, and one hundred for stealing. The colonel thought one hundred enough for both offences, but ordered that they be " well laid on." James Black, a soldier of Captain Montgomery's company, Virginia regiment, was sentenced to receive fifty lashes on his bare back for stealing a ham of bacon, Major Posey commanding approv- ing the sentence, and ordering it "to be put in execution at Retreat beating." Alas ! alas ! the heroes of Stony Point 1-the patriots of the Revolution !
By a general court-martial, held September 5, William Mallock, of Captain Talbert's company, Colonel Butler's regiment, was con- victed of several offences, including "attempting to go to the enemy," and sentenced to suffer death. General Wayne approved the sentence, and ordered Mallock to be sliot to death at 6 o'clock the same evening, "the whole of the troops to assemble at that hour on the grand parade and attend the execution."
On the 12th of September the General ordered that the men should be kept in camp, as a mnovement might be made at any moment. A standing order, which was often repeated, required the men to keep on hand two days' rations ready cooked.
Captain Gamble was officer of the day again on the 14th of September.
The following appears under date of September 18, written by Captain Gamble himself in a beautiful hand : "William Askins, of my company, is appointed a Corporal, and is to be obeyed and re-
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spected as such." Signed : "R. Gamble, Captain First regiment light infantry."
Captain Gamble was president of a regimental court-martial, held September 19th. Little else appears to have been done, except to hold courts for the trial of officers as well as private soldiers.
On the 24th of September, the command being near Fort Mont- gomery, a ship, one or two galleys, and some boats appeared in view, and the General ordered that every officer and soldier should hold himself ready for action "in case any attempt should be made by the enemy, which is rather more wished than expected."
By a general order of September 29th, the men are rebuked for their unsoldier-like appearance, and to remove any pretext for it the quartermasters are instructed to "call on Mr. Thomas, each, for four pounds of sewing-thread and four hundred needles and immediately distribute them among the companies of their respective regi- ments."
A regimental order, on September 30th, directed that return be made of the barefooted men "in a column by themselves." The Colonel further expressed his astonishment and sorrow that the men, " instead of taking a pride iu keeping themselves clean and neat, are daily decreasing in this very necessary point, appearing on the parade darty and slovenny, with their caps laped and sloughed about their ears."
Captain Gamble did not trust the company's scribe to record his own orders, but entered them himself. In one dated Kakeyatte, 13th October, 1779, he gives directions in regard to the pay, etc., of three washer-women, who drew rations in his company.
A general order in October calls npon the officers to exert them- selves in detecting marauders, reminding them that the army was raised to protect, and not to oppress the inhabitants.
Another general order, also in October, exhorted the men to fur- bish up their arms and clothing, as the corps would probably very soon "parade through towns and cities, from which they have been long excluded," and all eyes would be upon them.
On the 22d of October, General Wayne expressed his concern that the Virginians were the only troops in the light infantry that had not " procured hair for their caps." [Probably instead of plumes.] The colonel of the Virginia regiment thereupon repeated his order on the subject. He directed that no officer should mount guard or go on the grand parade without a cap, and "if he has not one of his own he
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will kind a nuff to borrow." So the copyist enters it in the company order book .*
Next appears a company order dated October 24, in the hand- writing of Captain Gamble. The Captain expressed his pleasure at learning from Ensign Phillips that notwithstanding the soldiers had drawn "two days' rum " the day before, not one of the company was drunk on the parade. The commissary, he said, would soon have liquor to issue, exclusive of what the State of Virginia had begun to supply, and as it would be most proper to draw several days at once "on account of the distance," Captain Gamble was fearful that sol- diers "accustomed to get drunk " would fall victims to the vice. He declared his determination to suppress a practice destructive of good order and military discipline. The men who should be caught "dis- guised with liquor either on or off duty," should have their rum stopped for two weeks. For a second offence the punishment should be whatever a court-martial miglit inflict without favor to any indi- vidual.
A general order of November 5, says: "Some late intelligence renders it necessary for the corps to be prepared to seek or meet the enemy." Every man was to be in readiness to act. The commissary was ordered to send wagons immediately to bring the rum and other supplies from the landing. At the next general parade a gill of run would be issued to each man.
Cold weather had come on by November 7th, and a regimental order of that date, signed by Colonel Christian Febiger, directs about chimneys to the tents, and requires the officers to prevent the men from destroying the fences or anything belonging to the inhabitants. A general order instructs the commissary to "engage all the roots and vegetables he can procure for the use of the troops, for which he will give beef in barter."
*The forlorn condition in respect to costume of the Virginia regiment which served on the Hudson in 1779, was not unprecedented. According to Shakespeare King Henry V described the equipment of his soldiers on the field of Agincourt in almost the same words. He is represented (Act IV, scene 3) as saying to the French herald-
Tell the Constable, We are but warriors of the working day ; Our gayness and our gilt are all besmirched With rainy marching in the painful field ; There's not a piece of feather in our host (Good argument, I hope, we shall not fly, ) And time hath worn us into slovenny.
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On the last page of the fragment Captain Gamble is mentioned as " regimental officer." He was then only about twenty-five years of age.
In October, 1779, an act of the Legislature was passed repealing all acts providing salaries for ministers. Such acts had only been previously suspended from time to time.
At a county court-martial, October 27, 1779, Colonel Moffett presiding, Lieutenant James Bell, accused by his captain, Alexander Simpson, of disobedience, "in refusing to impress a horse to carry provisions for the use of the militia ordered out on duty in this coun- ty," was tried and found guilty. It was ordered that he be repri- manded, "which was immediately done by the president in presence of the court."
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