Same Regiments - Different Soldier

I just found this narrative in rootsweb. James Spence, from Augusta, Virginia, was in the same Regiments at the same times as our ancestor, Kedar. This information gives us a glimpse of what Kedar must have endured during his time in the Continental Army.

Kedar must have been one tough dude to have survived all of this. He was born in 1748 and died in 1816 at the age of 68. The soldier described below wasn't as hardy.


SPENCETOP@aol.com

Subject: James Spence Rev. War activity Date: Wed, 25 Nov 1998 22:06:38 EST

Following is the narrative written by James F. Carver, concerning the Revolutionary War activity of James Spence ( 1748-1793), husband of Jane Bluford Spence.

PVT. JAMES SPENCEJames Spence, at the age of 29, was drafted into the military during the Revolutionary War from Augusta County Virginia. James entered the Infantry on28 Aug 1777, as a Private, for a term of three years or for the duration of the War. James was assigned to the 15th Virginia Regiment then under the command of Lt. Col. James Innes in the Company of Captain Edwin Hull. ( James was promised 6 2/3 pounds per month as payment for his services.)

Lt. Col.Innes commanded James' unit only between Aug-Dec of 1777, then the command fell onto Maj. Gustavus B. Wallace. James' military unit would march from Virginia to Pennsylvania arriving at General George Washington's Winter Encampment at Valley Forge, PA by Feb.1778.

Pvt. James Spence would stand guard duty during the harsh winter weather months of Feb-Mar 1778. By April of 1778 while the winter weather was slowly changing, the harsh conditions had already taken it's toll on James. James was sick during the entire month of April. James would slightly recover during May when he returned to duty, but by June of 1778 James' illness got the best of him.

In June of 1778 James' unit fell under the command of Lt. Col. John Cropper and his company was still under the command of Maj. Gustavus Wallace. The military unit was then known as the 11th and 15th Virginia Regiment. (Higher command fell under Gen. Woodford's Brigade of the 2nd Battalion.) There, in June 1778 with good weather upon them, James' unit would march out of Valley Forge, PA northward towards New York, but left Pvt. James Spence behind. James was admitted into a hospital at Yellow Springs, PA, located just a short distance northwest of Valley Forge.

It was late May of 1778 when the 11th Regiment (1776-1778) and the 15th Regiment of Virginia were incorporated and designated (known as) the 11th and15th Virginia Regiment until Sept. of 1778. In July of 1778, the 11th and 15th Virginia Regiment arrived at White Plains, New York.

James was still sick but recovering at the Yellow Springs, PA hospital. James would finally rejoin his unit there at White Plains, NY, in August of 1778 where his company, commanded by Maj. Wallace fell under the command of Col. Morgan. James briefly joined the Artillery unit while there at White Plains NY. ( Probably so James could rest up more.)

Capt. Samuel Booker took command of James' company in Sept. 1778 when the11th and 15th marched to battle in Newark, New Jersey. James was back in the Infantry again at this time. The results of this NJ battle were many dead and again sickness spread throughout the military unit. James' unit would march back into New York where James laid over at Fishkill, NY, once again seriously ill. The entire unit of the 11th and 15th VA Regiment now under the higher command of Col. Abraham Buford laid at rest at Pompton, NY. The entire unit was listed as being " on fatigue". (Meaning the unit was too tired andtoo sick to engage in war activity. )

James, while under the high command of Col. Abraham Buford, would be given a leave of absence (furlough) at Camp Middlebrook ( NY location ? ) to return to Virginia. This furlough would be between Dec. 1778 and March 1779. James would faithfully return to duty at Camp Middlebrook in April of 1779 and fell ill once again. (It would be romantic to say that James was granted his absence to return hometo see and care for his loved ones, but I suspect that James was simply too ill to fight and hindered the unit's operations. This is obvious when he returned to duty still suffering from illness.)

Now under the high command of Major Webb, Capt. Samuel Booker's Company, James included, would be stationed at Camp Smith's Clove there in New York. Between May-June 1779 ( James sick entire month of May) Col. William Russell would replace Maj. Webb and in July of 1779 the 11th and 15th VA. Regiment moved around southeast NY and ended up in Haverstraw, NY in Oct. 1779. During the period Pvt. James Spence was in New York, it was viewed as the "seige of New York" when American soldiers were seriously attacking the British strongholds.The 11th and 15th VA. Regiment would more or less stand down between Nov-Dec 1779 near Camp Middletown, NY, probably due to winter weather. While no discharge papers were issued nor any records located so far, it appears that Pvt. James Spence was released/discharged at Camp Middletown, NY. James would return to Augusta County, VA.

While it would be nice to report that Pvt. James Spence was a hero of the Revolutionary War little is known about his actual combat experiences. James spent a total of 2 years and 4 months of military service time. During his tour of duty James spent 7 months of it off duty due to illness and 4 months off duty on personal leave. James Spence returned home to Augusta County, Virginia, to his family at the age of 31. Fourteen years later at the age of 45, James Spence would pass away. I have little doubt that the illness James suffered during the Revolutionary War played a serious role in his early death. Descendants from James Spence and his wife Jane Bluford can be traced throughout SW Virginia and even into Georgia.

END NARRATIVE
The above narrative was written Nov. 1998 by:James F. Carver610 Gay St. box 214 Portsmouth, OH 45662-0214e-mail:

heritage@zoomnet.net James encourages questions and comments . Please contact Jim if you have or need additional information.