Background
The American Revolution principally was fought in the eastern part of the American colonies, however, a number of events also transpired on the western frontier and many patriots from west of the Allegheny mountains served with the main army in the east. One individual of note was William Crawford, a Virginia surveyor, fur trader, and frontiersman whose service in the war for independence is not well known. Existing histories primarily focus on the disastrous Sandusky expedition at the end of the war in which Crawford was captured by Native Americans and tortured to death.[1] These histories only briefly address his exploits in the eastern theater of the war and unfortunately include a number of inaccuracies that continue to be propagated into modern narratives on Crawford’s life. This essay seeks to correct those errors and paint an accurate picture of William Crawford’s service in the Revolutionary War.
Crawford was born 1722 in Westmoreland County, Virginia,[2][3] however, inconsistencies exist concerning his birthdate and birthplace.[4][5][6] As a young man, he lived in Frederick County, Virginia where his stepfather Richard Stephenson established a plantation along Bullskin Run near what is now Charles Town in Jefferson County, West Virginia. Crawford was described as “a handsome man” having “blue eyes, fair skin,” [7] standing about 5’8” to 5’10”,[8] being “thick heavy set” [9] and “weighing over 200, perhaps 240 pounds.” [10]
While living in Frederick County, Crawford apparently was a surveyor’s apprentice to John Vance, whose daughter Hannah he married in 1747.[11] Around 1750, he became acquainted with a young George Washington who had acquired land in Frederick County and with whom Crawford is purported to have conducted a number of surveys.[12]
During the French and Indian War, Crawford was commissioned an Ensign in Christopher Gist’s company of the Virginia Regiment in December 1755.[13] Two years later, he was promoted to lieutenant and in 1758 served in the Forbes expedition against French Fort Duquesne (present day Pittsburgh, PA).[14][15] Some histories claim he was in General Braddock’s expedition of 1755 and the associated Battle of the Monongahela,[16][17] however, in a deposition given by Crawford in 1777 he testified that “his first acquaintance with the Country on the Ohio was in the year 1758.” [18]
In 1765, Crawford established a homestead in the Ohio country along the Youghiogheny River near a ford on Braddock’s Road known as Stewart’s Crossing (present day Connellsville, Pennsylvania).[19][20] This area is now part of southwestern Pennsylvania, but at the time was also claimed by Virginia as part of the District of West Augusta. Here Crawford built a cabin and named his plantation “Spring Garden,” [21] to which his wife Hanna Vance Crawford moved the following year,[22] accompanied by their teenage daughters, Ophelia and Sarah, and teenage son John.[23] Several indentured servants and enslaved persons may also have been brought to Spring Garden at that time, given that such individuals were known to have lived there at a later date.[24] A number of friends and family from Frederick County, Virginia also moved to the Youghiogheny valley with the Crawfords, including William’s half-brother John Stephenson and neighbors Lawrence and Charles Harrison.[25][26] His brother Valentine Crawford also would settle nearby on Jacob’s Creek, a tributary of the Youghiogheny.
Crawford initially sided with Pennsylvania’s claim to the region and was appointed a magistrate for Cumberland County in 1770. He continued to serve in that position with Bedford County when it was carved from Cumberland in 1771 and with Westmoreland County Pennsylvania when it was formed from Bedford in 1773.[27] However, the following year he changed his allegiance in the border controversy and sided with Virginia. With help from his friend George Washington, he was appointed a deputy surveyor for Augusta County.[28][29] During Dunmore’s war later that year, Crawford was commissioned a Major of Virginia troops and led an expedition against Seekonk, or Salt Lick town, a Mingo settlement along the Scioto River near present day Columbus, Ohio.[30]
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Crawford's
Virginia: Westmoreland Co., VA (purported birthplace), Frederick Co., VA (home), and Stewart's Crossing (Spring Garden homestead) |
Early Service in the Revolution
Having established a reputation as a dependable officer during the French and Indian War and Dunmore’s War, Crawford was commissioned a lieutenant colonel in the 5th Virginia Regiment of the Continental Army early in the Revolutionary War.[31] The 5th Virginia was raised around Richmond [32] and originally based in Williamsburg, where Crawford traveled in February 1776 to accept his commission.[33] Later that year in August, he was promoted to Colonel of the 7th Virginia Regiment to fill the vacancy created when William Daingerfield resigned his command.[34][35] Crawford likely took charge of the 7th while it was in Gloucester County, Virginia, following the Battle of Gwynn’s Island, and marched it to Williamsburg in early September.[36]
Some histories incorrectly state that Crawford raised the 7th Virginia Regiment near Fort Pitt at the beginning of the Revolution.[37] The 7th initially was recruited by Colonel Daingerfield in southeastern Virginia in the area surrounding Gloucester Court House.[38] The confusion may be due to Crawford’s role in raising the West Augusta Regiment near Fort Pitt, later numbered the 13th Virginia, which Crawford commanded for a time in early 1777.[39] The 13th was redesignated the 9th in 1778 and later renumbered to the 7th Virginia in 1781 while it was stationed at Fort Pitt.[40]
Crawford is also attributed with leading the 7th Virginia at the Battle of Long Island and the following retreat across New Jersey.[41] Crawford’s own words refute this narrative: “I Should have com to new York with those Reget ordred their but the Regt I belong to is Ordred to this place [Williamsburg],” [42] he wrote in a letter to George Washington on September 20th 1776.
Similar uncertainty surrounds histories that state Crawford was with Washington at the crossing of the Delaware and the Battles of Trenton and Princeton.[43] The Continental Congress didn’t order the 7th Virginia to march north until December 27, 1776, too late for the regiment to be engaged in those battles.[44] Recent historians have sought to correct these inaccuracies, such as H. Ward in his book on Virginians of the Revolutionary War: “It is disputed whether Crawford served in any part of the New York-New Jersey campaigns of 1776-1777…” [45]
Regardless of where the 7th Virginia was stationed in December, Crawford evidently had left the regiment by November. A heartfelt farewell letter from the 7th Virginia officers to Crawford was published in the November 22nd Virginia Gazette and he responded to the regiment with his own earnest letter in the same edition.[46] Muster rolls of the 7th Virginia from December 1776 identify Alexander McClenachan as the commander, confirming that Crawford no longer led the 7th Virginia at that time.[47] McClenachan’s promotion to Colonel was not announced until March 22, 1777,[48] however, his commission was backdated to October 1776,[49] perhaps indicating Crawford had resigned his command as early as October.
Raising the West Augusta Regiment (13th Virginia)
Crawford may have been motivated to leave the 7th by news from the Virginia House of Delegates that two of six new Virginia regiments would be stationed on the western frontier [50] and that he was to command one of them.[51][52] Crawford returned to Spring Garden late in 1776 and was actively engaged in raising the West Augusta Regiment.[53][54] Recruiting began in December and about 500 men had been enlisted by early February 1777, when Crawford traveled east to solicit funds for arms and supplies from the Continental Congress.[55] His appeal was successful, on February 17th Congress resolved, “That 20,000 dollars be paid to Colonel William Crawford for raising and equipping the regiment under his command, part of the Virginia new levies.” [56]
Despite having sufficient funds, arming the regiment proved to be a challenge since guns were scarce in West Augusta. “The Battalion under my command is almost entirely without arms,” Crawford informed John Hancock, President of the Continental Congress, on March 24th, “nor are they to be procured in this Country.” [57]
At the same time as Crawford was endeavoring to raise and equip the regiment, the Virginia Executive Council appointed field officers for the six new Virginia regiments. Surprisingly, Crawford was not selected to command the West Augustans, but instead another notable Virginia frontiersman, William Russell, was named as their Colonel.[58][59] It’s unclear why Crawford was not given command of the regiment in which he played a significant role in raising, especially since he had assurances “…by the Governer of Virga I was Opinted to Comand that Regement at the Requist of the people.” [60]
Another blow was delivered by the Continental Congress in early January, who urged the Virginia governor to deploy the West Augusta regiment to reinforce Washington in the east.[61] This request conflicted with the regiment’s original purpose to be “stationed on the Ohio, for the defence of our western frontiers” [62] and Crawford sought to convince Washington this move would be devastating to the region:
“…the inhabitants will be in Great fear under the Present Cercumstance, and the many men Alredy taken from that place if that regement Should march a way, will Leave few or no men to defend them…” [63]
While Washington was sympathetic to Crawford, he felt demand for the regiment was far greater in the east and at most uncertain on the frontier at that time.
“If the matter rests with me, I shall be obliged to call them immediately to the Army, because here we have a certainty of their being wanted, greatly wanted. The call for them on the Ohio, is only to be feared.” [64]
However, tensions soon escalated in the Ohio Country and a Council of War was conducted at Fort Pitt on March 24th 1777.[65] The Council decided the West Augusta Regiment should remain in the west for the time being and that detachments of the regiment would be deployed to several posts throughout the region, for which Crawford was “busily employed in putting the battalion to proper stations for the frontiers” over the next several weeks.[66]
Crawford returned to Fort Pitt by mid-April, still under the impression he was commanding the West Augusta regiment, “the battalion now under my command," he wrote John Hancock on April 22nd, “ ... I only wait further directions, as I have received no marching orders dated since the council held at this place resolved that I should wait till further orders.” Crawford also reiterated the urgent need for weapons “…I am at a great loss for arms; two thirds of the battalion have none.” [67] About this time, the West Augusta regiment was being referred to as the 13th Virginia.[68]
Sometime in May, Colonel William Russell, who had been selected by the Virginia Executive Council to command the regiment, arrived at Fort Pitt. On May 23rd Crawford met with Russell, Colonel George Morgan, Agent of the Middle Indian Department, and Charles Simms, Major of the 13th Virginia. The regiment was still without marching orders and Crawford sought their advice regarding the intent of Washington and Congress. Russell, Morgan, and Simms expressed their belief it was the will of Congress that the regiment “should march with all possible dispatch” to headquarters. And in spite of recent concerns with the Ohio nations, they considered the present situation stable enough to permit the 13th Virginia regiment to head east.[69]
The West Augusta Regiment Marches East
Despite protests from many of the 13th Virginia who opposed leaving West Augusta on the grounds they enlisted to serve on the frontier, Major Charles Simms marched a detachment of the regiment from Fort Pitt east along Forbes Road on June 9th 1777 to join Washington.[70][71] As a compromise to those who were opposed to being deployed eastward, several companies of the 13th Virginia were detailed to Fort Pitt and other frontier posts under the command of Lt. Col. John Gibson. Colonel Russell temporarily remained at Fort Pitt to undergo smallpox inoculation[72] and then headed east in the July/August timeframe with another detachment of the 13th Virginia.[73] Likewise, Crawford appears to have also marched eastward with a detachment in the same timeframe, or perhaps accompanied Russell.[74][75]
More to come! In Part 2 of "A Very Good Officer," we'll explore Crawford's role in several skirmishes and battles of the eastern theater, including Cooch's Bridge, Brandywine, Battle of the Clouds, and Germantown.
[1] Butterfield, C.W., An historical account of the expedition against Sandusky under Col. William Crawford in 1782, (1873), pgs. 379- 392, https://archive.org/details/historicalacco00butt/page/378/mode/2up
[2] Butterfield, C.W., The Washington Crawford Letters (1877), pg. vii https://archive.org/details/washingtoncrawfo00washiala/page/n11/mode/2up
[3] Scholl, A. W., The Brothers Crawford, v. 1, pg. 3
[4] Butterfield (1873), pg. 81. In this book Butterfield states Crawford was born 1732 in Orange County Virginia, in his later book, Washington-Crawford Letters, he states Crawford was born 1722 in Westmoreland County, Virginia.
[5] Hopwood, M., Colonel William Crawford - Indian Trader, Pioneer and Soldier on the Frontier, in Fort Necessity and Historic Shrines of the Redstone Country (1932), pg. 101.
[6] Crawford’s parents reportedly were married in 1715 and with several siblings born before him, 1722 appears to be his realistic birthdate (Scholl, Allen W., Scholl, v. 1, pg. 3). His birthplace is sometimes identified as Orange County, Virginia, which is unlikely given that it wasn’t formed until 1734 (History, Orange County website https://orangecountyva.gov/472/History-of-County). This error may arise due to Crawford later living in the Virginia county of Frederick, which was carved from Orange County when it was founded in 1738.
[7] Draper 3S150, Mrs. Lydia Cruger, daughter of Capt. John Biggs interviewed Fall 1846; Scholl, v. 1, pg. 27
[8] Draper 11E74, letter from Jacob White, 13 May 1846; Scholl, v. 1, pg. 29; Draper 5S122-4, Interview with Capt. Sam Murphy Sept 1851; Scholl, v. 1, pg. 28
[9] Draper 11E 74, letter from Jacob White, 13 May 1846; Scholl, v. 1, pg. 29;
[10] Draper 5S122-4, Interview with Capt. Sam Murphy Sept 1851; Scholl, v. 1, pg. 28
[11] Scholl, v. 1, pgs. 3,9
[12] Crawford is listed as chain man on several land surveys in August and October of 1750, one for George Washington’s half-brother Lawrence Washington. Norris, J. E., ed., History of the lower Shenandoah Valley, 1890, pg. 64 https://archive.org/details/historyoflowersh00norr/page/64/mode/1up
[13] Orders, Winchester, 28 Dec 1755, Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/02-02-02-0243
[14] Crawford was commissioned an Ensign in December 1755 and was promoted to Lieutenant on 27 Jul 1757, Note 2, of George Washington to Andrew Lewis, 21 Apr 1758, Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/02-05-02-0099
[15] Colonel William Crawford’s deposition to the Commissioners of Virginia (Scholl, v. 1, pp. 4-5)
[16] Butterfield (1873), pg 83.
[17] William Crawford, Washington Library – Mount Vernon, Center for Digital History, https://www.mountvernon.org/library/digitalhistory/digital-encyclopedia/article/william-crawford
[18] Colonel William Crawford’s deposition to the Commissioners of Virginia, March 10th 1777, The Calendar of Virginia State Papers, v. 1, pg. 280 (https://archive.org/details/calendarvirgini12palmgoog/page/280/mode/1up); Scholl, v. 1, pg. 4
[19] Ibid
[20] Ellis, F., History of Fayette County, Pennsylvania: with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, pg. 522; https://archive.org/details/historyoffayette00elli/page/522/mode/1up
[21] Crawford addresses a letter to George Washington from “Spring gardin,” William Crawford to George Washington, 7 Jan 1769, Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/02-08-02-0120
[22] Colonel William Crawford’s deposition to the Commissioners of Virginia, 10 Mar 1777, The Calendar of Virginia State Papers, v. 1, pg. 280 (https://archive.org/details/calendarvirgini12palmgoog/page/280/mode/1up); Scholl, v. 1, pg. 4
[23] Ophelia was born 2 Sep 1747, Sarah c.1749, and John c.1750 or 1751. Scholl, v. 1, pgs. 61, 79, 129
[24] Crawford had at least one “Convict Servant” in 1769 (a person convicted of a crime in England sentenced to indentured servitude) by the name of John Ingman (Executive Journals, Council of Colonial Virginia, v. 6, At a Council held October 31st 1769, pg. 331); Crawford is also known to have owned a number of enslaved individuals, naming four of them in his will of 1782 (Scholl, v. 1, pgs. 41-43)
[25] Samuel Murphy remembered that John Stephenson, William Crawford, and the brothers Lawrence Harrison and Charles Harrison, crossed the mountains at the same time, Draper 3S53, and 5S1, summary in A Chronological Listing of Events In the Lives of Andrew Harrison, Andrew Harrison, and Lawrence Harrison, Sr. https://freepages.rootsweb.com/~harrisonrep/genealogy/harrbios/AndrewHarrison1018.html
[26] Interview with Captain Sam Murphy, Draper 5S 122-124, excerpt in Scholl, vol. 1, pg. 28
[27] Crawford to John Penn, 8 April 1774, in Butterfield (1877), pg. 43, Note 1
[28] From George Washington to Peter Hog, 21 Mar 1774, Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/02-10-02-0001
[29] Crawford was sworn in as Augusta County Assistant surveyor on April 19, 1774, Lyman Chalkley. Chronicles of the Scotch-Irish Settlement in Virginia: Extracted from the Original Court Records of Augusta County, 1745–1800. (1912, Reprint 1974), v. 1, pg. 179 https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=hvd.hn4xqt&seq=183
[30] To George Washington from William Crawford, 14 Nov 1774, Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/02-10-02-0122
[31] Proceedings of the Convention of Delegates, December 1775 – January 1776, Friday 12 Jan 1776, pg. 93 https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.35112105042149&seq=111
[32] Sanchez-Saavedra, E.M., Guide to Virginia military organizations in the American Revolution, 1774-1787. Richmond: Virginia State Library, 1978, pg. 45.
[33] “Lieutenant-Colonel Crawford of the fifth Battalion attended and took the oath prescribed by an Ordinance of Convention, subscribed the articles of War, and received his Commission,” Journals of the Committee of Safety of Virginia, 13 Jun 1776, in Journals of the Council of the State of Virginia, v. 1 (Jul 12 1776 – Oct 2 1777), pg. 20, https://hdl.handle.net/2027/coo.31924007115037
[34] Sanchez-Saavedra, pg. 51
[35] Journals of the Continental Congress, Thursday 10 Oct 1776, v. 6, pg. 863, https://www.loc.gov/resource/llscdam.lljc006/?st=gallery
[36] “Williamsburg, Sept 7. … And yesterday arrived from Gloucester the 7th regiment of foot (late Daingerfield’s) now Crawford’s in place of the 5th, who (as well as the 4th and 6th) are under orders to proceed to New York.” Dixon and Hunter Virginia Gazette, 21 Sept 1776, pg. 2, col. 1, https://research.colonialwilliamsburg.org/DigitalLibrary/va-gazettes/VGSinglePage.cfm?issueIDNo=76.DH.41&page=2&res=LO
[37] Hopwood, pgs. 102-103
[38] Sanchez-Saavedra, pg. 52
[39] “Colo. Crawford superintended the raising the thirteenth Reg’t and Commanded it for some time.” Deposition of Uriah Springer, Bounty Land Warrant of William Crawford BLWt921-500, https://revwarapps.org/blwt921-500.pdf
[40] Sanchez-Saavedra, pgs. 53-54, 69
[41] Butterfield (1873), pg. 104
[42] To George Washington from Colonel William Crawford, Williamsburgh, 20 Sept 1776, Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/03-06-02-0275.
[43] Butterfield (1873), pg. 104
[44] “That the 2d and 7th Virginia regiments, …, be ordered to march and join the army under General Washington, with the utmost dispatch.” Journals of the Continental Congress, Friday 27 Dec 1776, v. 6, pg. 1044, https://www.loc.gov/resource/llscdam.lljc006/?st=gallery
[45] Ward, H. M., For Virginia and For Independence, Twenty-Eight revolutionary Soldiers from the Old Dominion, McFarland & Company, 2011, pg. 152
[46] Purdie Virginia Gazette, 22 Nov 1776, pg. 3, col. 1, https://research.colonialwilliamsburg.org/DigitalLibrary/va-gazettes/VGSinglePage.cfm?issueIDNo=76.P.79&page=3&res=LO
[47] Muster Roll of Capt. John Webb’s Company of foot of the 7th Virginia Regiment commanded by Colo. Alexr. McClanachan from the 29th December 1776 (NARA M246, Record group 93, Roll 0105, Folder 197, pg. 2 (Fold3))
[48] General Orders, 22 Mar 1777, Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/03-08-02-0663
[49] Sanchez-Saavedra, pg. 51
[50] Journal of the House of Delegates of VA 1776, Saturday, Nov 9, 1776, pg. 50 https://archive.org/details/journalofhouseof1776virg/page/50/mode/2up
[51] “our Troops on the Ohio are Regimented Col°. Crawford to have the Command and to be compleated to a full Battalion,” Capt. William McKee to Col. William Fleming, 2 Nov 1776, Thwaites, R. G. and Kellogg, L. P., The Revolution on the Upper Ohio, 1775-77 (1908), pg. 216 https://archive.org/details/revolutiononuppe00thwa/page/216/mode/2up
[52] Colonel William Crawford to George Washington, 12 Feb 1777, Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/03-08-02-0338
[53] Thwaites and Kellogg (1908), pg. 250, note 94 https://archive.org/details/revolutiononuppe00thwa/page/250/mode/2up
[54] Butterfield, C. W., Washington-Irvine correspondence (1882), pg. 116 notes https://archive.org/details/washingtonirvine00butt/page/116/mode/2up
[55] Colonel William Crawford to George Washington, 12 Feb 1777, Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/03-08-02-0338
[56] Journals of the Continental Congress, Monday, 17 Feb 1777, v. 7, pg. 128 https://www.loc.gov/resource/llscdam.lljc007/?sp=127&st=image
[57] William Crawford to John Hancock, 24 Mar 1777, Papers of the Continental Congress, "Miscellaneous Letters Addressed to Congress, 1775-1789" (M247, No. 78, v. 5, Roll 94, pg. 83) (Fold3 https://www.fold3.com/image/494662/c-vol-5-page-83-us-continental-congress-papers-1774-1789)
[58] Journals of the Council of the State of Virginia Jul 12, 1776 to Oct 2, 1777, Wednesday, 12 Feb 1777, v.1, pg. 339 https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=coo.31924007115037&seq=351
[59] Purdie Virginia Gazette, 14 Feb 1777, pg. 2, column 3, https://research.colonialwilliamsburg.org/DigitalLibrary/va-gazettes/VGSinglePage.cfm?issueIDNo=77.P.10&page=2&res=LO
[60] Colonel William Crawford to George Washington, 12 Feb 1777, Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/03-08-02-0338
[61] Journals of the Continental Congress, Wednesday, 8 Jan 1777, v. 7, pg. 21 https://www.loc.gov/resource/llscdam.lljc007/?sp=20&st=image
[62] Journal of the House of Delegates of VA 1776, Saturday, 9 Nov 1776, pg. 50 https://archive.org/details/journalofhouseof1776virg/page/50/mode/2up
[63] Colonel William Crawford to George Washington, 12 Feb 1777, Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/03-08-02-0338
[64] George Washington to William Crawford, 20 Feb 1777, Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/03-08-02-0411
[65] Extract of a letter from Pittsburg (possibly Geo Morgan to John Hancock), dated March 24, Dixon and Hunter Virginia Gazette, 18 Apr 1777, pg. 6, col. 2
[66] Col. William Crawford to President of Congress (John Hancock), 22 Apr 1777, Revolution on the upper Ohio, pgs. 249-251, https://archive.org/details/revolutiononuppe00thwa/page/248/mode/2up
[67] Ibid
[68] General Orders, 22 May 1777, Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/03-09-02-0490
[69] Draper Manuscript Collection, Series NN, Microform M1188.27, 3NN128-129, John D. Rockefeller Jr. Library of the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation
[70] “…The West Augusta Battalion Marched Yesterday…,” Gen. Edward Hand to Continental Board of War, 10 Jun 1777, Papers of the Continental Congress (M247, No. 159, Roll 178, pg. 409) (Fold3 https://www.fold3.com/image/4345448/ltrs-from-general-officers-1775-89-page-409-us-continental-congress-papers-1774-1789)
[71] Several members of the 13th Virginia stated in their pension applications that they departed Pittsburgh under the command of Major Simms, including: William Baxter S6591 http://www.revwarapps.org/s6591.pdf; John Harges S35382 http://www.revwarapps.org/s35382.pdf; and Patrick Logan S41778 https://revwarapps.org/ S41778.pdf
[72] Col William Russell to Col William Fleming, 1 Mar 1778, Thwaites, R. G. and Kellogg, L. P., Frontier Defense on the Upper Ohio (1912), pg. 210 https://archive.org/details/frontierdefenseo00thwa/page/210/mode/2up
[73] Private Levi Bridgwater recalled “That the Regiment was marched to Philidelphia under command of Colo. Russell, … they marched down and joined Gen’l. Washingtons army at the Cross roads in Pennsylvania.” The army under Washington was camped at the Cross Roads (near present day Hartsville PA) in August 1777. Bridgewater mistakenly recalls they marched in the spring of 1777, however, the American army was only camped at the Cross Roads in August. Pension Application of Levi Bridgwater (Bridgewater) W9752, http://revwarapps.org/w9752.pdf
[74] Private John Alinton recalled being under Crawford when he marched to the Cross Roads; “he served … in the 13th regiment … & said regiment being raised & then commanded by a Col. William Crawford; joined the said Company & regiment at Fort Pitt (Penn) & from thence marched with said Company & regiment in the year 1776 [1777] to the cross-roads in Pennsylvania, where they joined the American army under the command of General Washington; that the said regiment was now placed under the command of a Col William Russell.” Virginia documents pertaining to John Alinton VAS2205, http://revwarapps.org/VAS2205.pdf
[75] Captain George McCormick recalled, “raised my Company in & about Pittsburgh, … I marched it with the Regiment under Col. Crawford, to the main army at Philadelphia.” Pension Application of George McCarmick (McCormick) S36105 (Addendum From bounty-land records in the Library of Virginia) .http://revwarapps.org/s36105.pdf
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