[Editor's Note: This article appeared in the 2008 Issue of the Journal of the Orange County Historical Society. It is being republished on the website as part of the ongoing activities surrounding the 250th Anniversary of the Revolutionary War. The footnoted version is contained in the 2008 Journal which is available for purchase. JAC]

====================

The British tradition of relying on the male citizenry for defense was followed in New York. Supplies were kept on hand by many local militia companies, paid for by the town or county through taxation. Every settlement maintained a building to house its magazine, which was to consist of a supply of musket balls and no less than a barrel of black powder. A company flag was also in the magazine. The local church or courthouse often served as the militia storehouse. In some towns, militia equipment such as drums and colors were kept in private homes.

Unfortunately, the earlier British provincial militia had four fundamental characteristics that did not change during the American Revolutionary War period:

-No long term service
-No fighting outside the province without special bounties
-Poor discipline among the men resulting in little respect for officers and orders
-Inadequate military training.

The Orange County militia continued to be organized and operated with these weaknesses.

The purpose of the militia was to train and discipline a large number of men who would be competent soldiers if and when needed. Generally each town had a militia company which was designated by the name of the town or the name of its company commander. Militia training taught colonists what they knew of the art of war.

Colonel Guy Johnson’s 1772 Manual Exercise published by Alexander and James Robertson in Albany stated that officers were …

to see that the Men appear clean and decent under Arms. That they are sober, and behave with Decorum on their Way to and from, as well as at the Reviewing Ground, and that their Arms and accoutrements are in good Order. That they be taught to carry their Firelocks well, which is a very easy requirement that will add much to their appearance: and, That such Men as have served in the Regulars, or Provincials be placed on the Right of the Front in each Company, that the rest may take the Motions from them: That some Person well qualified be chosen for a Sergeant Major in each Regiment, and that the Sergeant and Captain be appointed from those who are the best acquainted with Duty and Discipline…

Company officers were nominated by local militia field officers and commissioned by the provincial assembly. They were often local officials, such as judges or deputies. A captaincy in the militia was a position of importance and responsibility. Each militia company had a captain who was assisted by a lieutenant, ensign, at least four sergeants, and four corporals. A sergeant or an appointed clerk kept the records. Each captain had full appointive power over his sergeants and corporals. The captain was to inspect his company and note any defects in arms and equipment so they could be remedied. He was also to make a list of all newcomers eligible for service in his district.

The Oath of Allegiance was administered to each Orange County non-commissioned officer and soldier who enlisted in the service of the United States during the Revolutionary War:

I Swear to be true to the United States of America, and to serve them honestly and faithfully against all their enemies or opposers [sic] whatsoever and to observe and obey the orders of the Continental Congress and the orders of the generals and officers set over me by them.

The militia generally lacked capable leadership because command positions were political appointments. Officers often lacked leadership abilities and were “afraid to make those under them do their duty” because they were often abused, insulted, or ignored by subordinates. Militiamen commonly were restless and anxious to return home when called out for duty. They consider their lot “exceeding Hard” to be called into service while those in other counties, equally concerned with the protection of the Highland passes, were exempt from duty. The shortage of provisions always caused grumbling. Another problem confronting militia officers was the intense antagonism between the Dutch and English speaking settlers which resulted in continual conflict.

Sergeants did the actual company instruction. Each sergeant was expected to give commands and lead a detachment when the militia was called out.

The company clerk posted entries in muster rolls, supply lists, clothing lists, and orderly books. Muster rolls were made out in duplicate, one for the commissary and one for the captain to send to the governor. Once appointed he took an oath of office that was administered by the justice of the peace. He purchased drums, colors, and halberds as directed by his captain. The clerk was often the most harassed man in the company, however. He also had the distasteful task of noting in his record book deficiencies of the men and then collecting the prescribed fines. The clerk was rewarded a small percentage of the fine money for being accurate and for collecting these fines.

The general duty of the militiaman was to go immediately, properly armed, to the designated rendezvous point upon hearing a number of cannon shots, displayed flags and beaten drums that notified local militiamen to assemble. Each militia company had a pre-arranged meeting place. The town hall, church, or captain’s home were common meeting places. In Orange County the training grounds and mustering locations included Haverstraw, Goshen, the Minisink District, Cornwall and Blooming Grove. Militia units in Orange were divided into two districts for regimental training because travel across the mountains was particularly difficult. Once assembled, the men were to form, to have the roll taken and equipment and arms inspected. Provisions such as “biscuit bread,” dried beef, bacon or cheese were to be issued for field service. Orders were to be given and the captain was to march all or part of his command to the point of trouble. The captain was also to send off a messenger to the commanding officer of the regiment or brigade.

Militiamen in Albany, Orange and Ulster Counties were threatened by Indian raids on their frontiers. Detachments and sometimes whole companies of militiamen from these counties were assigned the task of building blockhouses along the frontier and constructing roads through the frontier. They also had to man blockhouses, garrison houses, and forts and provide regular patrols through threatened areas.

The Orange County militia regiments generally wore no uniforms. Soldier’s wives normally made the clothing for their husbands. On muster days a typical militiaman would wear leather breeches, a linen or wool shirt, dark woolen stockings, black leather shoes fastened by a buckle, a waistcoat, and a large felt hat.

Militia officers would typically wear their next-to-best outfit: breeches, waistcoat, a well-tailored coat with turn back cuffs, knit worsted stockings, riding boots, a cravat, and a three cornered hat. A sword would be hung on his left side. Officers sometimes carried flintlock pistols.

The militia was most useful in building and garrisoning fortifications along the frontier. They were expected to guard the various mountain passes on both sides of the Hudson River when needed. In theory the militia was considered the most important means of defense but in reality when major hostilities arose, the Continental Army or levies played key roles. Orange County militiamen were drafted (levied) from their ranks into either levied or Continental Army units and given additional training before seeing action.

Key Events that Affected Orange County Militia Activities

1775

General Association signed by those opposed to current Royal government in New York Province.

1776

June 14 – Colonel James Clinton sent to Fort Montgomery. Appointed Brigadier General of the Continental Line on August 9. Governor and Brigadier General George Clinton assume military command in the Hudson Highlands on the same day. Orange and Ulster militia units are under his command for the defense of the Hudson River. Opposite Forts Montgomery and Clinton a large brush pile was erected and fired if needed so that its light would bring the British ships into silhouettes, giving the fort cannons better targets on which to train guns. Frequent rains had delayed fort construction in 1776. July 12 – HMS Rose and Phoenix sailed up the Hudson River and anchored off Tappan Sea. Countryside aroused. Militia guards were posted along the banks on both sides to fire if a landing was attempted. Inhabitants drove cattle and sheep back from the shore every evening. All small craft were collected in one place under guard.
August 27 – Battle of Long Island (Prospect Park, Brooklyn area). The first battle led to British forces taking over and pushing out “rebel forces” from Long Island and Manhattan Island.
October 28 – British General Sir William Howe attacks General George Washington’s main army at Chatterton Hill (west bend of the Bronx River near White Plains). Almost destroys Washington’s forces. Washington’s Army successfully retreated to New Jersey.
November 16 – Fort Washington (where George Washington Bridge crosses on Manhattan Island) captured.
November 20 – Fort Lee (known at the time as Bergen Woods where George Washington Bridge crosses into New Jersey) fell. Fort Lee had guarded Bull’s Ferry.
November 21 – Hackensack, New Jersey is abandoned and Washington’s main Army retreats across New Jersey to the Delaware River. Bergen County people were returning their allegiance to the King.

1777

March 22-23 – British raid of twelve ships destroyed American military supplies at Peekskill. Peekskill Landing was circled by small forts. The area included artisans, mechanics, laborers, and a barracks for 2,000 soldiers, storehouses and a munitions magazine.
September 12 – British foraging parties in northeastern New Jersey.
September 19 – Battle of (Loyalist John) Freeman’s Farm blocked the British Army push to capture Albany and the head of navigation of the Hudson River.
October 2-3 – Peekskill military supplies were again destroyed by British raiders.
October 6-7 – Four Hudson Highland forts fell: Forts Constitution, Independence (Red Hook), Clinton and Montgomery. Forts intended to guard navigation of the Hudson River and to prevent ascent of British ships. Forts not well protected on the land side and are under strength and fall. Within three days the American defense disintegrated completely. The river forts, the Highland fleet, the Peekskill base, the Continental Village, the great chain was severed at Fort Montgomery. The combined Machin’s Battery of twelve guns and the chevaux-de-frise was a failure across from New Windsor (Plum’s Point) to Pollopel’s Island.
October 7 – Battle of Bemis Heights, British forces fail to defeat American strong defenses commanding the vital control of the Hudson River that the British depend upon for supplies.
October 13 – A second British expedition from the Highlands of 1,700 men burned Kingston and other houses along the river shore as far north as the Manor Livingston (Columbia County today) but was too late to assist British forces near Saratoga.
October 15 – Indian raid at the home of Philip Swartout, Chairman of Committee of Safety. He and two sons were scalped near Huguenot (U.S. 209).
October 17 – British Army under Major General Johnny Burgoyne surrenders at Schuylerville. France seriously considers joining forces with the American colonies against England and her world wide empire.
October 26 – Sir Henry Clinton relinquished the Hudson Highlands and withdrew to New York after an occupation of twenty days.
November-December (9 days) – Burgoyne’s captive Convention army under military escort moved in six divisions one day apart, crossed the Hudson River at Fishkill to Newburgh and moved to Little Britain, Otter Kill, Goshen, Florida and Warwick and then into New Jersey and eventually to a new prison camp (Barracks) in Charlottesville, Virginia.
November 27 – The Muster Master General of the Continental Army and his deputy at Kakiat were kidnapped and sent to New York City.

1778

April 20 – An iron chain on floating logs first secured across the Hudson River between West Point and Constitution Island, erected from spring through late fall each year until 1783.
Spring – Fortification erected at Verplanck and Stony Point after the fall of Forts Clinton and Montgomery. The forts guarded the vital link of King’s Ferry. This had been the main land route from the middle colonies to New England colonies.
July 3-4 – Wyoming Valley Indian raids (Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania region).
September 22 – A force of over 7,000 came ashore at Paulus Hook and advanced through the English Neighborhood to Hackensack valley for three weeks and stripped the farms. A detachment of Baylor elite Virginia dragoons on the upper Hackensack were massacred.
October 13 – Indian raid led by Colonel Joseph Brant with Loyalists descended into the Delaware River Valley in the Town of Deerpark (fork of US 209 and Cahoonzie road).

1779

May – Simultaneous and careful coordinated sweep of suspect persons was carried out by the military and civilian authorities and many of “the noted Clove gang of villains” were taken. Some seventeen were sent to West Point for examination before the military court.
May 31-June 1 – British General Henry Clinton captures both Stony Point and Fort La Fayette at Verplanck’s Point (both ends of King’s Ferry). Those captured cut off lines of communications between New England and the Middle states. The new British base was only some twelve miles from West Point.
June 18 – September - Sullivan/Clinton Expedition to western New York to destroy Indian villages and Indian crops. Indians loyal to British cause flock to Fort Niagara to survive the winter.
July – Fortifications around West Point were completed.
July 15-16 – General Anthony Wayne captures Stony Point, dismantles fort and returns to West Point.
July 18 – General Washington does not wish to tie down too many men and abandoned the fort again to the British.
October 21 – British abandon Stony Point to consolidate their forces around New York City.
July 20 – Indian raid led by Colonel Joseph Brant with captives and cattle taken in the sack of Minisink (Port Jervis). Major Johannes Decker’s stockade house north of Port Jervis was burned by the raiders. A number of buildings in the area were burned on the raid. Over hundred nearby settlers sought shelter at Fort Gumaer (along US 209 between Huguenot and Godeffroy).
July 22 – Battle of Minisink. 4th Orange County militia and New Jersey militia forces wiped out by Loyalists and Indians in an ambush along the Delaware River between (present day Port Jervis) and Lackawack, PA.
November 11 – Cherry Valley Indian raids (northeast of Cooperstown and Lake Otsego)

1780

August 25 – The combined French and American forces of 5,982 men left Haverstraw to Kakiat to Paramus on their way to Yorktown, Virginia.
October – Brigadier General Benedict Arnold commits treason by changing allegiance to the British forces. All Continental forces and militia alerted to safeguard against anyone else who might be involved.
October 2 – British Major John André wearing civilian clothes when captured is hanged at Tappan for spying behind the American lines and carrying military plans and reports about West Point hidden in a boot.

1782

Last winter encampment of the Continental Army in the Newburgh-New Windsor area (Temple Hill Road about two miles north of Vails Gate and NY 94).

1783

At Temple Hill, General George Washington presented a stirring appeal to prevent the mutiny of officers and troops over their prolonged hardships and lack of pay.
April 19 – Formal cessation of hostilities announced between England and the American colonies. Washington picks the eighth anniversary of the Battle of Lexington and Concord to make the formal announcement.
June-November – Continental Army disbands at its last winter encampment at New Windsor Cantonment. Huts are sold off to local farmers for outbuildings and wood.

Orange County Militia Called Out

====================

1st Orange County Militia (Cornwall) Regiment

Brigadier General Wind’s Brigade; June 1780 annexed to Major General George Clinton’s Brigade.
Colonel Jesse Woodhull, 1777
Lieutenant Colonel Elihu Marvin
Adjutant William Moffat
Quartermaster Nathaniel Satterly
1st Major Nathaniel Strong
2nd Major Zach’s Du Bois
1st Captain Archibald Little; replaced by Thomas Horton, March 31, 1777 (Oxford District)
2nd Captain Jonathan Tuthill
3rd Captain Christ’r Vanuzer
4th Captain Garret Miller (Upper Clove)
5th Captain Francis Smith (Woodberry Clove)
6th Captain Stephen Slate (Southwest part of Cornwall Precinct)
7th Captain Silas Pierson (elected but not commission); Phenihas Rumsey; Joseph Conkling (Goshen Company)
8th Captain Samuel Patrick (Cantshook, Cornwall Precinct)
Recruited: Cornwall region including Blooming Grove (Washingtonville)
Note: Not a very efficient regiment compared with the other militia regiments from Orange and Ulster Counties. They were late mustering when called and many were poorly equipped or needed shoes.

Chronology of Service of 1st Regiment

1776

December 16: Four Ulster and northern Orange militia regiments assembled at Chester to move into the Paramus, New Jersey area under the command of Brigadier-General George Clinton joined by Continental forces led by Major General Heath in a ten-day offensive, capturing and occupying Hackensack for two days, seizing stores and Tories, and raiding the English neighborhood.

1777

March: Ordered to march on the 24th to reinforce the garrison at Fort Montgomery. July: 122 detached at Fort Clinton. August: A detachment with part of Colonel Allison’s levies were stationed at Fort Montgomery.
September: A detachment was sent to (Samuel Syndenham) Sidman’s Bridge – fieldworks and later a blockhouse was constructed (Ramapo Pass just south of Black Bridge over the Ramapo River near the base of Little Mountain on which Mount Fuji restaurant now stands).
1. Provided an early warning if the British attempted to out flank the American Forces in New Windsor and the Hudson Highlands.
2. Protected a line of communications between Washington’s Main Army and the Hudson Highlands.
3. Militia at the site deterred Orange County Tories and their allies in the neutral ground of Bergen County, New Jersey.
4. A network of sympathizers and informers that extended from Bergen County into Kakiat and through the Clove into the fringes of Ulster County provided places of concealment, rendezvous and furnished guides through the country.
October: Assigned to guard the west shore of the Hudson River from Butterhill (Storm King Mountain) to the Clove Road to Francis Smith’s house.
November: Guarded Smith’s Clove.

1778

August: 11 men detailed to guard western Orange County.

1779

June: Watched fortified Stony Point and Verplanck at Haverstraw.
October: Estimated 327 on the muster rolls

1780

April: A detachment guarded the Orange and Ulster frontier.
June: A detachment sent to do fatigue work at West Point.
July: 15 men were detailed as levies for the Continental Army.
December: 10 men were detailed as levies for the Continental Army.

1781

August: 14 men detailed as levies for the Continental Army.

====================

2nd Orange County Militia (Haverstraw) Regiment

2nd Orange County Militia (Lower Orange Town & Tappan Precinct)
Colonel Abraham Lent, resigned March 26, 1776
Lieutenant Colonel John David Blauvelt, resigned February 27, 1777
Adjutant Jacobus Clark
Quartermaster Isaac Perry, replaced by Abraham Tallman
1st Major John James Blauvelt
2nd Major Abraham David Blauvelt
Captain John Jacob Blauvelt, replaced by Matthew Concklin, Southern Company
Captain John Bell, replaced by William Graham, Eastern Company
Captain Isaac Smith, Northern Company
Note: Regiment consolidated on May 28, 1778 with Haverstraw Precinct Regiment.
Col. Ann Hawkes Hay, March 1, 1777- 1778, 1781, resigned January 1, 1783
Lieutenant Colonel Johannes David Blauvelt, March 1, 1777
Lieutenant Colonel Isaac Sherwood
Colonel John David Blackwell, 1778-1780
Lieutenant Colonel Gilbert Cuyler (Cooper) May 28, 1778
Adjutant William Ryder
Quartermaster Mr. Garrett Onderdonck
Major John Smith replaced by John Bell
Captain Hendrick Turnure, Clarks Town
Captain William Kiers, Haverstraw
Captain Arie Smith, Pond
Captain Arie Blauvelt, New Company
Captain Jacob Onderdonck, King Street
Captain Reynaud Quackenboss replaced due to illness by Garret Eckerson, Kakiat
Captain Daniel Green
Recruited: Haverstraw or lower Orange (south side) area. Headquarters at Orange- Town

Chronology of Service of 2nd Regiment

1777

September: Guarded the west shore of the Hudson River including Clarkstown, Kakiat and Short and Long Cloves.
October: Charges made by subordinates of the commander’s cowardice. About a third of the enlisted men were disaffected to the cause (Loyalist sympathies).

1778

January-April: Watched the west shore of the Hudson River.
May: Guarded the south end of Orange County; cut off supplies going to the British in New York City. Scouting patrols were routinely dispatched from Smith Clove into Jersey to keep an eye on the British posts at Paulus Hook (Jersey City).
June-October: Watched from Sneden’s Ferry to King’s Ferry. Unit’s headquarters in Clarkstown.
September: Followed British troops that had at night attacked (massacred) a portion of Continental Army Colonel George Baylor’s dragons bivouacked in six barns and out-buildings along what was then called Overkill Road (now River Vale Road (where Old Tappan Road crosses the Hackensack and intersects River Vale Road in Bergen County, New Jersey).

1779

February: Detachment at King’s Ferry to work on the blockhouse, redoubt, palisades, and barbette. Men were assigned to cut trees for a field of fire that surrounds the defensive work.
March: 459 on muster rolls.
June: 424 on muster rolls. Guarded Haverstraw and adjacent settlements from British raiders.
July: Detachment sent to the Battle of Minisink was defeated.
October: Estimated 300 on the muster rolls.

1780

April: Raised troops for both Orange and Ulster Counties for the defense of the counties and rendezvous at Nyack.
August: 100 on muster rolls at Tappan. October: Assigned at Soldier’s Fortune on the rocky crest west of West Point.
December: 22 were detached as levies for the Continental Army.
Note: Levies from Orange County were recruited by the 1st, 3rd and 5th New York Continental Line Regiments to make up shortfalls of soldiers. Levies were in Continental service for less than the duration of the war. The non-commissioned officers and privates got a bounty of twenty dollars. The Continental Congress also made provisions to grant lands to the officers and soldiers. For example, a captain received 300 acres, a lieutenant 200 acres, and ensign 150 acres, and each non-commissioned soldier, 100 acres for their Continental service.

1781

February: Directed by General George Washington to be ready to assemble the regiment in Haverstraw and send a detachment to passes at the entrance of the Clove near Suffern and other mountain passes.
March: Garrisoned block house at Sneden’s Landing.

====================

3rd Orange County Militia (Goshen) Regiment

Colonel William Allison, February 26, 1777, promoted to Brigadier General, April 4, 1782 to Brigade Commander of the 1st, 3rd and 4th Orange County Militia Regiments
Lieutenant Colonel Dr. Benjamin Thurston (Tusten), February 26, 1777; replaced by Moses Hatfield, March 12, 1783
Adjutant John Wood replaced by Daniel Jackson
Quartermaster James Sawyer resigned and replaced by Abel Gale
1st Major Moses Hatfield
2nd Major John Decker
1st Captain George Thompson replaced by Daniel Sweasy, February 28, 1778
2nd Captain Moses Cartright replaced by Moses Kortright, February 28, 1778, resigned and replaced by Wilhelmus Westfall
3rd Captain Samuel Jones, died and replaced by Peter Gale
4th Captain John Jackson, resigned and replaced by John McDowell
5th Captain John Little, died and replaced by Abraham Harden
6th Captain Daniel Rosekrans removed and replaced by Jacob Gale
7th Captain Jacob Cole replaced by Samuel Cole, replaced by John Whitaker
8th Captain David Sweezy, promoted and replaced by James Butler, Jr.
Recruited: Goshen
Note: The Orange County Committee during February 1776 divided the Goshen Regiment. Florida and Warwick formed a new 4th Militia Regiment as it was too inconvenient for the soldiers to meet in one body.

Chronology of Service of 3rd Regiment

1775

First organized.

1776

November: 120 men joined by another 80 from the 4th Orange send to garrison the isolated post of Sidman’s bridge. Unfortunately many of the firearms were poor and the many militiamen had bad flints.

1777

January: Orange-Town – marched into Schraalinburgh, scouted, curbed plundering by one Captain Johnston of the regiment and captured Tories.
February: Detachment garrisoned Sidman’s Bridge.
March: Mustered on March 24th to watch the Hudson River shore and protect citizens south of the Highlands (Fort Montgomery).
July: 145 men at Fort Montgomery.
August: Allison’s detachment was organized as part of a regiment of Orange and Ulster County militia to garrison Fort Montgomery.
September: 347 men in the regiment. 40 men ordered to guard Sidman’s Bridge.
October: Most of the Colonel Allison detachment at Fort Montgomery was captured on the 6th. Colonel Allison was captured and in prison on Long Island through 1780. Men posted from Butterhill (Storm King Mountain) to Clove Road. Remaining men in the 3rd Orange from October through December removed provision stores from New Windsor to John Graham’s home near church.
November: 500 men in the regiment. Assisted Captain Thomas Machin in completing the work on the chevaux-de-frize from Plum Point to Pollopel’s Island (Bannerman Island). 120 men detached at Nicholl’s Point in support of Machin’s Battery.
December: A few men were assigned as levies in Colonel Hasbrouck’s Ulster Regiment.

1778

February: 338 on the muster rolls of the regiment.
March-May: 85 men were detached to serve as a fatigue party to build West Point.
July: Called to Minisink Valley after the Wyoming raid.
August: 20 men guarded the western Orange County area in the Minisink region.

1779

February: 291 men on the muster rolls.
June: 315 men on the muster rolls with 80 detached at West Point; 15 at Goshen and others detached at Haverstraw.
August 18: Detachment with Lieutenant Colonel Tusten was killed at the Battle of the Minisink north of Port Jervis along the Delaware River.

1780

May: Regiment listed 207 men in 6 companies.
July: 31 men were assigned as levies for the Continental Army.
December: 14 men were assigned as levies for the Continental Army.

1781

August: Men assigned as levies were watching for Indians and Loyalists along the Delaware River banks in both Orange and Ulster Counties.

1783

May: 20 men were detached to patrol and guard against skulking parties along the Orange and Ulster frontier settlements.

====================

4th Orange County (Warwick) Militia Regiment

2nd Brigade, June 1780 annexed to Brigadier General John Paterson’s Brigade.
Colonel John Hathorn, 1776-1781, commissioned February 28, 1776
Lieutenant Colonel Charles Bradley replaced by Henry Wisner, III
Adjutant Daniel Finch
Quartermaster Jeremiah Curtis
1st Major Henry Wisner, III replaced by John Topino (Popino)
2nd Major John Topino replaced by William Blain
Captain Nathaniel Elmer, replaced by John Sayre, Florida
Captain William Blain, Wawayanda
Captain Henry Wisner, Jr., Pond
Captain Ebener Owens, replaced by Increase Holly, Pochan
Captain Gilbert Bradner, West side Wallkill
Captain Charles Bardsley, Warwick
Captain Henry Townsend, Sterling
Captain John Minthorn
Captain Peter Bertolf (Bartholf)
Captain John Sayre resigned, replaced by Richard Bailes (Bailey)
Captain Calvin Shepherd
Captain Andrew Miller
Captain David McCambly, Jr.
Recruited: Florida, Warwick and settlements to the south including part of the Minisink Valley. The regiment was not well acquainted with Indian fighting.
Dress: Breeches, silver knee buckles, tap boots, Quaker hats.

Chronology of Service of 4th Regiment

1777

July: 59 men detached for service at Peenpack and Minisink. Several officers were accused of cowardice facing Indians.
August: Militia marched to the Minisink Battlefield and then disbanded as no trace of the Tories and Indians was found.
September: A detachment at both Lackawack and Honk Falls. Fought an Indian skirmish at Grahamsville.
October: Followed Major General George Clinton after the fall of Fort Montgomery to Kingston in an attempt to defend the city.

1778

January: Detachment at both Closter and Orange Town.
March: Called out to watch the Hudson River shore south of the Hudson Highlands and protect citizens. A company of levies from the regiment was assigned to guard Sidman’s Bridge and also reinforce Fort Constitution across from West Point.
April: 365 men on the muster rolls. Rotated men to watch the Ramapo Valley.
May: 164 men sent to Fort Constitution.
June: 95 on the muster rolls.
July: 267 men listed on the muster rolls and assigned to guard Sidman’s Bridge and Fort Montgomery. Watched for and stopped enemy deserters, stragglers and suspicious persons. Tried at times to curtail the open illicit trade with the enemy. Jersey farmers could make a profit selling their produce for British hard currency.
August: 336 men on the muster rolls and continued to guard Sidman’s Bridge.
September: Detachment sent to Fort Constitution. Another detachment after September 23 of about 180 militiamen including men from Woodhall’s Regiment marched into New Jersey to keep a watch on the large British forging party in Bergen County; marched into New Jersey to oppose British raiders.

1779

July: 3 companies or 100 detached militia men were assigned to guard British prisoners to Easton, Pennsylvania. Regiment called out for the Minisink alarm and was defeated by Joseph Brant’s combined Loyalist and Indian raiders.
August: Built a block house on Benjamin Burt’s farm for protection of area settlers.
October: Estimated 344 in the militia regiment.
November: 385 on the muster rolls. 12 members detached to guard and assist with the quartermaster general stores at Fishkill.

1780

April: Detachment guarding the Orange and Ulster frontier.
June: Detachment at West Point to work on the landing.
July: 44 men assigned as levies for the Continental Army.
December: 14 men assigned as levies for the Continental Army.

1781

May: Responded to a Minisink alarm.

====================

New York Troop of Light Horse Company, Orange County

Captain Ebenezer Woodhull.
Recruited: Blooming Grove area.

Chronology of Service Light Horse Company

1777

March: Provided a portion of men on March 31st call after the Peekskill raid.
August: Assigned to provide scouting missions for Major General George Clinton’s Brigade. Detachments stationed at Newburgh and Fort Montgomery to communicate between General Horatio Gates’ Army in the Northern Department and General George Washington with the Continental Army in the Middle Department and to the various Councils of Safety. Those stationed were assigned for dispatch riders.
October: Unit begin to wear out as express men as too few horsemen were available.