Private Martin Black: Revolutionary War Pension File (S41441), Part 2

In March, I shared the transcription of Private Martin Black's Revolutionary War Pension File, in which he described his service in more detail than I've seen for any of the other Harlowe Patriots. Now it's time to go back and vet his claims, even though they were certified by William Hill, Secretary of State. Some areas need further research to understand troop movements--especially in the Northern and Mid-Atlantic Theaters during the Philadelphia Campaign, leading into preparations for being transferred to the Southern Department.

This will also assist with documenting Private Isaac Perkins' service record, and possibly another Harlowe Patriot who served in the 2nd North Carolina Regiment, but in a different company.

Private Black made the following claims in his Declaration:

1.    Georgetown--smallpox vaccination

2.    Valley Forge--Winter camp

3.    The Battle of Monmouth (June 28, 1778)

4.    The Storming of Stony Point (July 16, 1779)

5.    The Capture of West Point 

6.    Assembling at Albany

7.    Siege of Charleston (March 29 - May 12, 1780)

8.    POW, escape on 7th day (poss. May 19, 1780)

9.    Re-enlistment--Evacuation of Charleston

Since I've found substantial documentation for the first four claims, I will set that aside and focus on activities in the Northern Theater: The Capture of West Point and Albany, and return to the others later. 

Sir Henry Clinton's Hudson River Campaign

French map: Plan of Forts and 
Batteries, West Point, 1780

According to Hugh Rankin, "Washington's greatest fear had been a strong move against West Point." As early as December 2, 1777, the Commander-in-Chief wrote to Major General Israel Putman, "The importance of the North River in the present contest and the necessity of defending it . . . are so well understood . . . .that it runs through a whole State; That it is the only passage by which the Enemy from New York or any part of our Coast, can ever hope to Cooperate with an Army that may come from Canada; that the possession of it is indispensably essential to preserve the Communication between the Eastern, Middle and Southern States . . . that upon its security, in a great measure, depend our chief supplies of Flour for the subsistence of such Forces. . . . Sieze the present opportunity and employ your whole force and all the means in your power for erecting and completing, as far as it shall be possible, such works and obstructions as may be necessary to defend and secure the River against any future attempts of the Enemy."[1]

On June 23, 1779 Major General Alexander McDougall was transferred to the command of the West Point garrison consisting of Larned's, Patterson's, and the Carolina Brigades. The troops on the east side of the river were assigned to Major General William Heath. 

Who were Larned and Patterson?

On February 7, 1778, Brigadier General Ebenezer Learned wrote to the Commander-in-Chief, "...am very unhappy I have the Misfortune of Indisposition that I am unable Immediately to take the Field myself." The enclosures mentioned in the letter were a certification of his condition by Surgeon Jonathan King, dated January 25th, a certificate from Surgeon James Freeland, dated January 27th, and General Gates' permission "to be absent from the Army until he thinks himself to be perfectly cured," allowing him to leave his troops as Albany. The consensus was that one more winter campaign would endanger his life. [2]

In May 1781 Brigadier General John Paterson was commander of the 2nd Massachusetts Brigade operating around West Point, and "On Wednesday, September 19, 1781, Paterson's Brigade moved on to West Point and all his detachments joined the respective regiments they belonged to."[3][4]

Apparently General Learned returned to service following the winter of 1778-1779, because as shown above, he and his men were at the West Point garrison with General Paterson's and the Carolina Brigade in June 1779.

Which regiments made up the Carolina Brigade?

In a letter dated June 1, 1779, Major General Alexander McDougall informed George Washington that "The Brigades mentioned to you in a former Letter are at west Point, Pattens & Clarks were ordered to fall back into West Point. The first is arrived. I am in hopes this force with the aid of the ulster County militia will defend the works to the last extremity." Colonel John Patten commanded the 2nd North Carolina Regiment, and Colonel Thomas Clark commanded the 1st North Carolina Regiment--combined, they made the Carolina Brigade. The former letter McDougall referred to, written on May 25th, spoke of Paterson's being sent to West Point, while Nexon's "on this side of Kings-Ferry," or Stony Point. [5] 

John Patten's 2nd North  Carolina Regiment

Now that we've established from original sources that the 2nd North Carolina was at West Point's garrison in May and June of 1779, we can now focus on searching for a skirmish that occurred on May 16, 1779. 

But here is also where much frustration set in as I examined the references Hugh Rankin recorded for his description of the May 16th skirmish, in which Clark's North Carolina Regiments participated. 

Rankin's version of the account follows. "[Sir Henry] Clinton kept the Americans along the Hudson off balance by several raids on river towns." And this is where the Commander-in-Chief's fears about possibly a "strong move against West Point" come into play. "Clark had been stationed in such a position that he was able to furnish support to several stations. Smaller detachments were scattered throughout the area to block communications with New York." But on this particular day, "two columns of five hundred redcoats each crossed the river [italics mine] and attempted to close in on Clark." Some deserters from Clinton's camp had straggled in and from them, Clark learned that his troops were their objective and that the British had planned "to converge on him at Paramus Church."[6]

"The river." What river? They were stationed at West Point along the Hudson River, but these men were in the field. So, what river? And where did the British cross? The key to this question was the original letter from Colonel Thomas Clark to George Washington, dated 17 May 1779.[7]

Map of Historic New Bridge Landing
Courtesy of Bergen County Historical Society

The New Bridge

Writing from Paramus, New Jersey, Col. Clark says that his scouts were attacked by "a large body of the enemy" at the New Bridge. ". . . 500 had crossed the Bridge and taken possession of the hights [sic] on this side the river and a considerable body remaining on the other side. . . . my Light Infantry and a Captains Command joined a few Militia as near them as possible to prevent pillaging--about 5 oClock in the afternoon, another express from my Scout at Tapan informed me that 500 men were on their march for this place . . . 7 miles from this they changed their rout [sic] and march'd to the New Bridge . . . the enemy recross'd about 10 yesterday evening taking up the Bridge after them. . . . By two deserters . . . the enemy's force consisted of the 63, 64 Regmts Buskerks Corps, 100 Fergusons riflemen, the refugees, Some Grenadiers & Light Infantry making 1000 to march by way of Hackensack Bridge, and 500 others to Land at Closter dock and proceed thro Tapan to Paramus Church where they were to make a junction by day Light. . . ."[8]

This changes the whole complexion of the skirmish. We now have a landmark. The New Bridge crossed the Hackensack River at what is now known as River Edge Township, New Jersey - 40 miles from West Point.

In the image above, there is a text box, "HISTORIC NEW BRIDGE LANDING"  to the right of the bridge, and another text box, "British troops drive the American rear guard..." to the left of the bridge, which spans the Hackensack River.

Courtesy of Edward Konsevick

The map to the left gives a better idea of how the waterways are connected. The Hudson and Hackensack Rivers flow southward, running parallel to each other, with the Hudson emptying into Upper New York Bay, and the Hackensack emptying into Newark Bay, which connects north of Staten Island. It appears that the New Bridge --also called the Hackensack Bridge by some Continental officers -- would be in the NJMC DISTRICT, just below the first letter "T" as the river turns southwest, The original New Bridge, dubbed "The Bridge That Saved a Nation," was an oak draw-bridge, spanning the narrows of the Hackensack River in what is now known as the township of River Edge, New Jersey, some forty miles south of West Point. When Colonel Thomas Clark says, "they recross'd . . . taking up the Bridge after them," he meant that after they crossed the river, they pulled up the draw-bridge so no one could follow from the opposite side.[9]

Closter Dock, Tapan, and Paramus Church

In what is now known as the borough of Alpine, New Jersey, the Closter Dock Road led from the town of Closter "up over the cliffs of the Palisades down to" the Lower Closter Dock. About six miles north of Fort Lee and sometimes called “Huyler's Landing" or "the New Dock" in Revolutionary War correspondence, it was a busy commercial boat and ferry landing, making it an important route for American and British forces.[10][11]

The original building of Old Paramus Reformed Church was built in 1735 at Ridgewood, New Jersey - 6.8 miles from Paramus, 39 miles from West Point. This is where the British planned to converge on Clark's troops. But where were they when they received this information?

Thoughts to Consider

Researching microhistory should always leave us with more questions. As we follow the trail of sources left by scholars, we can gain new insights. It's important, however, to always try to maintain your focus for each project as an inquisitive mind can take you down the road of Many Tangents. Writing a blog allows me to gather and analyze data and to formulate new research questions. However, when I'm writing for a book, I must often rein myself in to the scope and purpose of the information needed. As I begin to share more about where this research is taking me, I will present some of the challenges that I face when working on both collaborative and individual projects.

Updated September 4, 2025

Private Aaron Spelmore (Spellman): Rev War Pension File (S42023), Part 2

In the first post in this series, Private Aaron Spelmore (Spellman), Part 1, I focused on two things: determining the commander of Captain Anthony Sharpe's company and gathering information regarding a possible skirmish at Bacon's Bridge across the Ashley River near the village of Dorchester, South Carolina (now Summerville). Today, I'll examine his claims of participating in the Siege of Ninety Six and the Battle of Eutaw Springs.

The Siege of Ninety Six: May 22 to June 18, 1781

The village of Ninety Six got its name from early 18th-century traders in Charleston who estimated the miles from that location to the Cherokee village of Keowee and Fort George on the Keowee River. I struggled to find sources for this battle that included details about the North Carolina Continentals, though the National Park Service's brief article lists twenty-eight sources.[1][2]

Keeping the objective in mind, we will only focus on the siege portions involving the North Carolina Continentals. Then we'll look into the specifics about the participants. 

Maj. Gen. Nathanael Greene
Cuurtesy of Wikipedia

"Since early April [1781] ...the only three significant British outposts outside of Charleston were Augusta (GA), Georgetown (SC) and Ninety Six (SC)." Major General Nathanael Green had received intelligence about the fall of Fort Granby on May 15th, and he headed toward Ninety Six for he hoped that by taking the village he could loosen the British grip on the backcountry. When he arrived on the night of the 22nd, the General ordered the troops to build an earthworks for a three-gun battery, 130 yards from the enemy's redoubt and opened fire on the 24th.[3][4]

Lt. Col. Henry Lee 
Courtesy of Wikipedia

When Lt. Col. Henry Lee arrived with his legion on June 8th, General Greene's troops ere preparing for an attack from the east, but Lee suggested they attack from the west side. Greene adapted his plan, calling for a three-pronged attack to begin at noon on June 18th: Lt. Col. Richard Campbell led the Virginia and Maryland Continentals of the east side of Ninety Six, and Lee's Legion, along with the North Carolinians and Delaware Continentals, on the west, "Captain Michael Rudloph [of Lee's Legion] led his troops forward, crosses the moat, and after an hour of fighting forced his way into Fort Holms," which progected the enemy's water supply.[5] [6] No other mention of the North Carolinians' participation is included in either of these accounts until they were ordered with Lee's Legion and two other detachments to harass the enemy's rear on their retreat.[7]

Commanders and Officers

According to J.D. Lewis, Lee's Legion and the Delaware Continentals were assisted by the "1st NC Regiment of Continentals detachment led by Major Pinketham Eaton with 66 men in the following four (4) known companies led by: Capt. Alexander Brevard, Capt. Thomas Donoho, Capt. Joshua Hadley, Capt. William Lytle."[8]

Captain Anthony Sharpe's company was not included in this sixty-six-man detachment, so I wonder where the rest of the 1st North Carolina Regiment was posted during the siege. And why would Private Aaron Spelmore declare his service at Ninety Six if his unit wasn't present? 

The Battle of Eutaw Springs: September 8, 1781

Eutaw Springs was a delightful spot near Nelson's ferry, just off the road leading to Monck's Corner. It had received its name because of two springs that boiled up from an underground stream and then flowed into Eutaw Creek. The creek ran between steep banks covered with heavy thickets of blackjack oak until it emptied into the Santee near the ferry.[9]

At 4:00 a.m. on September 8, 1781, General Greene's troops broke camp and headed to Eutaw Springs, marching in four columns in intense heat, having had few rations and little sleep.

The first column was headed up by Lt. Col. Henry Lee and Lee's Legion followed by the South Carolina state troops commanded by Lt. Col. John Henderson. The second column was the North and South Carolina Militia under the command of Brig. Gen. Andrew Pickens and Brig. Gen. Francois de Malmedy. The Third column was three Continental Brigades: the Marylanders under Col. Otho Williams, the Virginians under Lt. Col. Righard Campbell, and the North Carolinians under Brig. Gen. Jethro Sumner.[10]

Private Aaron Spelmore would have been part of this last unit with Capt. Anthony Sharpe's company of the 1st North Carolina Regiment, at the tail end of the third column commanded by General Sumner. Using "the Cowpens pattern," the front line of the less experienced militia was followed by the second line of more experienced soldiers. Brigadier General Francis Marion's South Carolina militia formed in the front line on the right, General Malmedy's two battalions of North Carolina militia were positioned in the center, and General Pickens' South Carolina militia on the left. "Captain-Lieutenant William Gains, who had just arrived the night before with dispatches from Lafayette was in charge of the two three-pounders in the center of the first line."[11]

The 350 men of the North Carolina Brigade under General Sumner formed on the right side of the second line. Lt. Col. Campbell's 350 men in two battalions of the Virginia Brigade were in the center. The 250 men of the Maryland Brigade under General Williams were on the left, and their two six-pounder cannons were in the center of the second line under Capt. William Brown of the 12th Company, 1st Virginia Artillery Regiment. The right flank was occupied by Lee's Legion, and on the left flank were Lt. Col. John Henderson's New Acquisition District Regiment of Militia (SC), Lt. Col. William Washington's cavalry of the 3rd Virginia Regiment Light Dragoons, and Capt. Robert Kirkwood's Delaware Company of the 1st Maryland Regiment in reserve.[12] [13] [14] [15]

Heavy fire through the woods caused the center of the Patriot line to cave, while the right and left flanks fought separate battles. General Greene restored the center with the North Carolina Continentals. The British line sagged, but their reserves rushed them and forced the Patriots to retreat. The British shouted as they rushed forward in disorder, and seeing this, "Major General Greene (according to J.P. Petit) 'brought in his strongest force: The Maryland and Virginia Continentals. and Kirkwood's Delawares, and Lt. Colonel Washington's South Carolina [sic Virginia] cavalry . . . with devastating effect.'"[16]

"Brigadier General Francis Marion's [South Carolina] Militia units fired seventeen (17) rounds - near the limit of their flintlocks endurance. Then, with ammunition exhausted, they retired in good order, leaving the fighting to Brigadier General Jethro Sumner's [North Carolina] Continentals. . . . [who] moved forward with spirit. As the Patriots advanced, the left of the British line fell back in disorder, and Lt. Col. Henry Lee, wheeling his infantry upon them, increased the enemy's confusion . . . British regulars meeting Continentals in hand-to-hand fighting, bayonets meeting bayonets, and swords on swords. . . . when the Marylanders delivered a terrific fire, the whole British line, except for Major Majoribanks flankers, sagged, faltered, and began retreating."[17]

Once the British fled, the Patriots rushed into their camp and devoured the uneaten breakfast they had left behind. They plundered the food stores, liquor, and equipment, confident that they had won the battle; however, by letting down their guard too soon, they were unaware of a new attack that set them to flight. The battle raged for over four hours in unrelenting heat until it was called a draw. Major General Greene gathered his wounded and returned to Burdell's Tavern, seven miles away. The British remained the night and retreated toward Charleston, "leaving behind many of his [Lt. Col. Alexander Stewart's dead unburied and seventy of his seriously wounded."[18]

Private Aaron Spelmore (Spellman): Rev War Pension File (S42023), Part 1

Image 6 of 8

Aaron Spelmore's Declaration claims that he enlisted on May 5, 1781 in the state of North Carolina in the company commanded by Captain Sharpe in the 10th North Carolina Regiment, commanded by Colonel [blank] in the line of the Continental Establishment and served until April 5, 1782 when he was discharged at Wilmington.

It also states that he served at:

1. the Battle of Bacon's Bridge (?),
2. the Siege of Ninety Six (May 21 -June 19, 1781) and
3. the Battle of Eutaw Springs (September 8, 1781).

So, now we begin the task of identifying

Image 7 of 8

officers, their service assignments, and researching the battles.

The officers, 1781-1782

Captain Anthony Sharpe

On June 1, 1778, Captain Anthony Sharpe was transferred to the 1st North Carolina Regiment.[1]

The Commanders

The known commanders for the 1st North Carolina Regiment were:

• Col. James Moore,
• Col. Francis Nash,
• Col. Thomas Clark, and
• Lt. Col. William Lee Davidson.[2]

Colonel Francis Nash & Colonel James Moore

Nash was commissioned as Brigadier General on February 5, 1777 after Brigadier General James Moore became gravely ill, and died subsequently on April 15, 1777, from a severe attack of Gout in the stomach.

Colonel Thomas Clark

Another Colonel we've read about in conjunction with the service of Private Isaac Perkins and Private Martin Black was Colonel Thomas Clark, who served in New York during the Philadelphia Campaign. But Clark was present at the Siege of Charleston and captured when the town surrendered on May 12, 1780. He was a POW until released on November 26, 1782.

Lieutenant Colonel William Lee Davidson

We briefly looked at Lt. Colonel William Lee Davidson in the post, Private John Carter (Caster): Verifying Claims in a Rejected Pension File (R1749), concerning Captain Michael Quinn's company, 1778-1779. Now our timeframe is 1781-1782. According to J.D. Lewis' bio of him, "Brig. Gen. (Pro Tempore) William Lee Davidson led the Salisbury District Brigade of Militia at the battle of Cowan's Ford on February 1, 1781, where he was killed by a British sniper...."

So, how can it be that none of these Colonels was commanding the 1st North Carolina Regiment in 1781-1782? 

Searching for the unidentified commander may have been a mistake until after researching the battles. 

The "Battle of Bacon's Bridge"

Three sources provided limited information about the bridge and its military importance. Bacon's Bridge, nearly thirty miles from Charleston, was the first downstream crossing over the Asheley River. In February 1780, General William Moultrie built a redoubt--a temporary fortification, usually square--on high land on the east side of the river to defend the bridge from the enemy's approaches to and from Charleston.[3] [4]

The old Congregational church known as the White Meeting House--"the social hub of Colonial Dorchester"--was just over a mile from the bridge. For that reason, it was feared that during the British occupation of Charleston (May 12, 1780-December 14, 1782) there was potential for a sneak attack on the village. They also feared that the bridge could be used to access the backwoods route toward Georgetown, the largest village in South Carolina.[5]

"On July 14, 1781, Dorchester was occupied by Col. Lee ('Light Horse Harry') with his legion, capturing many horses and a good supply of ammunition."  Lieutenant Colonel Henry Lee III, brother to Major General Charles Lee, was nicknamed "Light Horse Harry" because of his expert horsemanship and commanded Lee's Legion. He served at the Siege of Ninety Six and the Battle of Eutaw Springs under Major General Nathanael Greene.[6]

In an architectural survey that provides the history of Fort Dorchester, Richard F. Carrillo gives a bit of history of the fort, including added information about this occurrence on July 14th. Following the Fall of Charleston in May 1780, Dorchester was fortified by the British. The author cites Edward McCrady, The History of South Carolina in the Revolution, 1780-1783, MacMillan & Company, New York, 1902, pages 326-328), and continues: 

Lt. Col. Henry Lee, Wikipedia

"During the Partisan campaign against British outposts during the spring and summer of 1781 Dorchester was attacked on July 14th by Colonel Henry 'Light Horse Harry' Lee, supported on the east by Colonel Wade Hampton, who was to cut off communication with the garrison at Monck's Corner and between that place and Charleston. When Lee arrived at Dorchester, he did not encounter the expected resistance due to a greatly reduced garrison which evidently had fled, leaving behind a number of horses and several wagons, one of which contained much-needed ammunition."[7]

At this time, the 1st North Carolina Regiment was attached to Lee's Legion, and this skirmish at Bacon's Bridge most likely took place after the Siege of Ninety Six, when Dorchester

was again occupied by the British when Gen. Greene concentrated his troops prior to the movements resulting in the battle of Eutaw Springs [in September]."[8]

Lt. Col. John B. Ashe, Wikipedia[9]

Hugh Rankin states that Lieutenant Colonel John Baptista Ashe's group combined with Major General Nathanael Greene's and the draftees from the Salisbury district into the reorganized 1st North Carolina Regiment. Thankfully, Rankin sourced his writings well, and in the State Records of North Carolina (Vol. 15, p. 533), I found the orders of General Sumner to Lieutenant Colonel John B. Ashe dated July 14, 1781, putting him in command of all North Carolina Continental Troops, including those under Major John Armstrong, incorporating them into the 1st North Carolina Regiment, of the four existing regiments. The next to be reorganized was the 2nd North Carolina Regiment.

Major General Nathanael Greene's troops took back control of the bridge and camped there in March of 1782 while the British occupied Charleston. It was used as a rest and staging area for American troops who held control until July. From these three articles, there was only one mention of an original source: The Papers of General Nathanael Greene, which I should make a trip to Amherst College to examine Volume 10.[10]

Next time I'll examine the battle histories of the Siege of Ninety Six and the Battle of Eutaw Springs in hopes of gaining clarity of Private Aaron Spelmore's Revolutionary War service.