The Soldiers

The Soldiers of the 8th Virginia.

Gen. Peter Muhlenberg, second from right, at Yorktown. He was the regiment's first colonel. (U.S. Capitol)

The 8th Virginia was originally composed of ten companies of 68 enlisted men each plus three sergeants, a fifer, and a drummer. Companies were led by a captain, two lieutenants, and an ensign. Some companies were assigned cadets. The regiment was led by three field officers: a colonel, a lieutenant colonel, and a major. Staff officers included an adjutant, a chaplain, a surgeon, a surgeon’s mate, a quartermaster, a paymaster, a drum major, a fife major, quartermaster sergeant, and sergeant major. Some positions, especially staff officer posts, were occasionally vacant. A theoretically full regiment added up to 743 men. Eight of the regiment's ten companies were certified complete by their county committees of safety in the spring of 1776. Clark's company appears to have been overenrolled. John Stephenson's company was a preexisting unit formed in 1775 with 100 privates. Knox's company failed to meet its quota. Attrition began immediately after companies formed from illness, death, and desertion. Virginia regiments were reorganized on November 1, 1777 to consist of eight companies.

Below is an outline of the regiment’s organization, including all known officers. Enlisted men are included when I have blogged about them or if descendants have identified themselves here or on our Facebook community. The number of men identified here will grow over time. If you think you are descended from an 8th Virginia veteran but aren't sure, email and ask. (Keep in mind that understrength regiments were consolidated in September of 1778--the 8th Virginia was folded into the 4th Virginia and the 12th Virginia became the "new" 8th Virginia--an entirely different unit.) Most officers listed below with service concluding September 14, 1778 continued on in the 4th Virginia, as did all of the enlisted men who were still in service. (Original 1776 enlistments expired early in 1778.)

This is not a complete list of soldiers. There will likely never be a complete roster of the regiment’s men, because one company (John Stephenson’s, which served only one year), did not leave a surviving list of its men. Compiling a complete-as-possible roster of the rest of the regiment is a central part of this project. Except for officers, only original ranks are shown. Tracing the succession of officers is difficult in some cases. Promotions were sometimes contested, made retroactively, and in at least one case rescinded. Rank dates therefore don't always correspond with command assignments. “Private” was not a rank in the 18th century, but rather an adjective meaning “without a commission.” More detail will be shown here over time as the puzzle pieces fall into place. Officer data is taken from contemporary documents, using John H. Gwathmey's Historical Register of Virginians in the Revolution when data from original sources can't be located. Data for enlisted men is taken from original documents only.

If a biographical post has been written about a soldier, it is linked directly from the soldier's name. Images of known graves and memorials are linked from soldiers' death dates. Posts that prominently mention soldiers are linked by date after his name. Self-identified descendants and family members are listed on the Family page. Please use the web form on the Contact page if you would like to be added. Please specify if you would like your email address to be linked from your name.

Symbols:
"†" indicates a date of death while in service
"∞" indicates the date an officer was cashiered/removed from command
"◊" indicates there are descendants on the Family page

A list of the regiment's captains on a January 1778 payroll conducted at Valley Forge. The "s" at the end of each name is possessive ("Jonathan Clark's Pay"). The others, in order of seniority, are Abel Westfall, David Stephenson, Thomas Berry, William Croghan, Robert Higgins, Abraham Kirkpatrick, Isaac Israel, and John Steed.

Ten Companies from Eight Counties

The regiment's ten original companies were recruited in western Virginia and the frontier. Only one company (Captain Slaughter's) came from east of the Blue Ridge. The political geography has changed considerably since then: two new states have been created and a border dispute with Pennsylvania resolved. All of the counties have been divided or replaced to create new jurisdictions and one has been given a new name. The counties were: Augusta, Berkeley, Culpeper, Dunmore (now Shenandoah), Fincastle, Frederick, Hampshire, and the "district" of West Augusta. There is a larger image of this map below.

Generals and Officers Commanding Detachments

Brigadier generals commanded brigades (multiple regiments). Major generals commanded divisions (multiple brigades) or "departments" (theaters of war). These officers therefore commanded the 8th Virginia but were never members of it. The main body of the regiment served under Maj. Gen Charles Lee and Brig. Gen. Robert Howe in 1776 and under Maj. Gen. Adam Stephen and Brig. Gen. Charles Scott for most of 1777. The regiment was combined with the 4th and 12th regiments for part of 1778, still under Scott. For a complete list of generals who commanded the 8th Virginia's various brigades, divisions and temporary units see this post.

Gen. George Washington (Posts: 11/5/16, 4/23/17, 12/29/17, 1/5/19, 7/16/19, 8/22/19, 12/3/19)
Maj. Gen. Charles Lee (Posts: 8/23/15, 4/16/17, 1/5/19, 4/29/19)
Maj. Gen. Benjamin Lincoln (Post: 6/10/17)*
Maj. Gen. Adam Stephen (Post: 10/3/15, 1/5/19, 2/1/22)
Maj. Gen. Gilbert du Motier, the Marquis de la Fayette (Posts: 11/13/15)
Brig. Gen. Robert Howe
Brig. Gen. John Armstrong
Brig. Gen. Hugh Mercer (Post: 1/2/16)*
Brig. Gen. Charles Scott (Posts: 11/20/15, 2/1/22)
Brig. Gen. William Maxwell (Posts: 6/19/16, 3/15/17, 4/10/18)**
Col. Daniel Morgan (Posts: 3/29/18, 4/10/18, 8/4/18, 1/5/19)***
Col. James Wood (Posts:6/10/17, 3/17/21, 3/18/21)****
Col. George Weedon*
Col. William Grayson****

*Capt. Croghan's 1776 detachment to 1st Virginia.
**Maxwell's Light Infantry (detached service, 1777).
***Morgan's Rifle Battalion (detached service, 1777).
****James Wood and William Grayson served as colonels commandant of General Scott's brigade at different times in 1778.

Gen. George Washington (J.C. Leyendecker)

Gen. Charles Scott

Field Officers

The original field officers, Muhlenberg, Bowman, and Helphenstine, were appointed by the revolutionary Virginia Convention. After the regiment was taken into the Continental Army, successors were appointed by promotion or transfer.

Col. John Peter Gabriel Muhlenberg (1776-1777) ◊ (Posts: 7/3/16, 3/26/17, 4/10/18, 6/16/18, 1/5/19, 2/23/19, 1/10/20, 8/10/20, 8/16/20, 3/23/22, 5/21/22)
Col. Abraham Bowman (1777-1778) (Posts linked below)
Lt. Col. Abraham Bowman (1776-1777) ◊ (Posts: 10/5/15, 10/21/15, 7/17/17, 8/15/17, 1/10/20, 8/16/20, 3/23/22, 5/21/22)
Lt. Col John Markham (1777)*
Maj. Peter Helphenstine (1776) ◊ (Post: 7/3/16, 8/4/18, 1/10/19, 7/10/20, 8/16/20, 3/23/22)
[Maj. John Stephenson] (1776) (Posts linked below)**
[Maj. Richard Campbell] (1776-1777) (Posts linked below)***
Maj. William Darke (January 4, 1777-) (Posts linked below)****
Maj. Jonathan Clark (January 10, 1778-September 14, 1778) (Posts linked below)

*John Markham was cashiered for misconduct after the Battle of Germantown.
**Two veterans attested that John Stephenson served briefly as major after Peter Helphenstine was incapacitated by malaria and until he also fell ill and returned home. It appears the promotion was not formalized.
***Richard Campbell was improperly promoted to major by Gen. Charles Lee and served as such for about a year before the promotion was rescinded, when he was also transferred to another regiment and promoted to major.
****William Darke was promoted in the fall of 1777 but, for purposes of seniority, made retroactive to January 4, 1777 to partially correct the error made in Richard Campbell's promotion. He was captured at the Battle of Germantown, October 4, 1777.

Peter Muhlenberg as a major general.

"Abraham Bowman, Lt. Col. 8 Virga Regt. & Com[mandin]g officer at Sunbury [Georgia]."

Maj. Peter Helphenstine of Winchester was a shoemaker and immigrant from Germany.

Staff Officers

Each regiment was allowed a number of staff officers, to handle specific duties that kept the unit running. Some were selected by the colonel, others by all the officers, and some assigned. Adjutant Francis Swaine was Colonel Muhlenberg's brother in law and Chaplain Christian Streit was a childhood friend and professional associate from Pennsylvania. Surgeon Cornelius Baldwin was assigned to the regiment in New Jersey.

Adjutant Francis Swain (early 1776-March, 1777) (Post: 9/8/15)
Adjutant Abraham Kirkpatrick (April 2, 1777-January 1, 1778) (Posts linked below)*
Adjutant John Smith (January 1, 1778-September 14, 1778)
Chaplain Christian Streit (August 1, 1776-) ◊ (Posts: 8/4/18, 3/23/22)
Surgeon Cornelius Baldwin (May 20, 1777-) ◊ (Post: 8/4/18, 3/23/22)
Surgeon's Mate Frederick Heimberger (April 19, 1777-March 15, 1778)
Paymaster Hezekiah Stoakes (June 4, 1777-September 14, 1778)
Quartermaster Hezekiah Stoakes (March 1, 1777-June 4, 1777)
Quartermaster Martin Carney (June 3, 1777-September 9, 1778)
Drum Major Nicholas Neal (May 9, 1777-September 14, 1778)
Fife Major William Lipscomb (December 27, 1777-September 14, 1778) (Post: 3/23/22)
Quartermaster Sergeant Martin Carney (June 3, 1777-June 3, 1777)
Quartermaster Sergeant Austin Shippey (June 3, 1777-ca. April, 1778)
Quartermaster Sergeant Arthur Johnson (May, 1778-)
Sergeant Major William Palmer (March 1, 1777-Feb. 17, 1778)
Sergeant Major John Harding (March 3, 1778-)
Sergeant Major Arthur Johnson (May 1, 1778-)

*Lieut. Kirkpatrick was taken from Capt. Croghan's company to replace Francis Swain as adjutant. He was promoted to Captain on August 10, 1777 (retroactive to January 4, 1777) but continued serving as adjutant until he was given command of his own company in the spring of 1778.

Adjutant Francis Swaine was Colonel Muhlenberg's brother in law. (Historic Trappe)

After the war Chaplain Christian Streit settled in Winchester . (WFCHS).

John Stephenson's Company

December, 1775-September, 1776

First in seniority. Completed December 10, 1775 in the West Augusta District (now Southwestern Pennsylvania and nearby parts of West Virginia). Originally raised as an independent company for service on the frontier and then attached to the 8th Virginia when the regiment was created in 1776. Virginia men who enlisted in 1775 served one-year enlistments. Consequently, these men were discharged more than a year earlier than the rest of the regiment (Virginia enlistments beginning in 1776 were for two years). No list of enlisted soldiers in this company has been found. The names of enlisted men below have been identified from deserter advertisements, pension affidavits, and local histories. All soldiers who have been identified as belonging to this company are listed.

Capt. John Stephenson (December 10, 1775-September, 1776) (Posts: 3/17/21, 3/23/22)
1st Lieut. Robert Beall (December 10, 1775-September, 1776) (Post: 3/17/21)
[2nd Lieut. Simon Girty]*
2nd Lieut. Edward Rice (?-February, 1776) (Post: 3/17/21)
[2nd Lieut. Simon Morgan]**
Ens. Simon Morgan (Post: 3/17/21)**
[Ens. Benjamin Biggs]**

Sgt. John Vance
John Berry***
Benjamin Biggs (Post: 3/23/22, 3/28/22)***
Zephaniah Bryan ◊ (Post 3/23/22)
Joseph Carter
Patrick Collins****
William Davis
John Harrison
John Kirk
John Knight****
William Miller*
Samuel Murphy
William Owens
Thomas Ravenscraft***
George Shilling****
Isaac Sissell****
Wiliam Taylor****
John Williams***

*According to C.W. Butterfield, History of the Girtys (Cincinnati: R. Clarke, 1890), 42. Was left at Fort Pitt on "detached duty." The year is wrong in Butterfield and his source is not stated.
**Assessed based on future rank in the 13th Virginia Regiment.
***Enlisted, but rank uncertain.
****Service assessed as likely but not certain from membership in John Stephenson's company in Dunmore's War and Robert Beall's Company of the 13th Virginia.

John Stephenson's faded signature appears on the Treaty of Fort Pitt, a short-lived alliance with the Delaware Indians agreed to in 1778.

Benjamin Biggs began as an enlisted man from what is now West Liberty W.V. and rose to be a brigadier general in the postwar Virginia militia, performing important service in putting down the 1794 Whiskey Rebellion.

Read an early account of Benjamin Biggs' adventures on the frontier.

The grave of Zephaniah Bryan near Pittsburgh, Pa.

William Darke's Company

Later known as Isaac Israel's Company

Second in Seniority. Completed February 9, 1776 in Berkeley County, (now West Virginia). This company was severely depleted by malaria during the southern campaign 1776. Captain Darke was promoted to Major in 1777.

Capt. William Darke (Feb. 9, 1776 - Sept. 1777, retroactive to Jan. 4, 1777) (Posts: 1/15/16, 6/19/16, 11/5/16, 6/10/17, 4/10/18, 9/12/18, 1/5/19, 10/30/21, 3/23/22)
Capt. Isaac Israel (Aug. 10, 1777-Sept. 14, 1778) (Post: 8/16/20)*
1st Lieut. Daniel Culp (Feb. 9, 1776-May 9, 1777) ◊
1st Lieut. Isaac Israel (Aug. 3, 1776-Aug. 10, 1777)
2nd Lieut. Isaac Israel (Feb. 9, 1776-Aug. 3, 1776)
2nd Lieut. Christopher Moyer (May 9, 1777-Nov. 22, 1777)
Ens. John Daniel (Feb. 9, 1776-Aug. 5, 1776)
Ens. Christopher Moyer (Aug. 5, 1776-May 9, 1777) ◊ (Posts linked below)
Ens. Thomas Miller (March 18, 1777?-Sept. 14, 1778)*

Jacob Anderson ◊
Daniel Cameron (Jan. 15, 1777†) (Post: 12/1/20)
Jonathan Herrin (Dec., 1776†) (Post: 12/1/20)
Jeremiah Humphreys (Oct. 27, 1776†) (Post: 12/1/20)
George Ketcher (Oct. 24, 1776†) (Post: 12/1/20)
William Pingle (Dec. 1, 1776†) (Post: 12/1/20)
Edward Poe [Michael Smith]
John Polson (Oct. 26, 1776†) (Post: 12/1/20)
George Pritty (Dec. 1, 1776†) (Post: 12/1/20)
James Range (Post: 3/23/22) ◊
George Smith (Oct. 11, 1776†) (Post: 12/1/20)
Samuel Watson (Dec. 8, 1776†) (Post: 12/1/20)

*Isaac Israel and Thomas Miller were captured at the Battle of Brandywine, September 11, 1777.
Source: April 1777 pay roll.

A Darke portrait by Frederick Kemmelmeyer. Darke became the regiment's major and went on to be a militia general. (MESDA)

William Darke supported George Washington in different ways for most of his life.

Darkesville, W.V. is one of a few places named for 8th Virginia veterans.

Richard Campbell's Company

Later known as Capt. Matthias Hite's Company and as Capt. John Steed's Company.

Fourth in seniority. Completed February 19, 1776 in Dunmore County. Dunmore County (now Shenandoah County), Virginia. One of two companies from Dunmore County and intended to be the "English" of the two. Captain Campbell was promoted to major in August, 1776. His promotion was rescinded in 1777 for having been made out of turn. He was then properly promoted with a later effective date and transferred to the 13th Virginia.

Captain Richard Campbell (Sept. 8, 1781†) ◊ (Posts: 1/5/19, 12/3/19, 12/1/20)
Capt. Matthias Hite (Oct. 7, 1777-May 7, 1778)
Capt. John Steed (Aug. 10, 1777-Sept. 14, 1778)*
1st Lieut. Matthias Hite (Jan. 19, 1776-Oct. 7, 1777)
1st Lieut. John Steed (Jan. 3, 1777-Aug. 10, 1777)
1st Lieut. Robert Breckenridge (April 4, 1778-Sept. 14, 1778) ◊ (Posts linked below)
2nd Lieut. John Steed (Feb. 19, 1776-Jan. 3, 1777) ◊*
2nd Lieut. Leonard Cooper (May 24, 1776-Oct. 7, 1776)
2nd Lieut. Robert Brackenridge (Aug. 10, 1777-April 4, 1778) (Post: 3/23/22)
Ens. Leonard Cooper (Feb. 19, 1776-May 24, 1776) ◊ (Post: 3/23/22)
Cadet William Dennis

Sgt. John Bowman (Aug. 19, 1779†) (Post: 12/1/20)
Sgt. William Combs (Post: 3/23/22) ◊
George Ashby (Post: 6/19/16) ◊
Abraham Burner (Post: 3/23/22) ◊
Daniel Burner ◊
Daniel Cloud (Post: 3/23/22)
William Davis (Sept. or Oct., 1777†) (Post: 12/1/20)
William Eagle (Posts: 10/29/15, 11/13/15, 1/26/19, 3/23/22)
John Elsey ◊
Reuben Harrel ◊
Abraham Hogman (Post: 6/19/16)
George Lair (Post: 6/19/16)
Frederick Long (Sept. or Oct., 1777†) (Post: 12/1/20)
Daniel Nichols (Post: 6/19/16)
William Shovel (Post: 6/19/16)
George Spickard ◊
William Warren (Post: 3/23/22) ◊
Barton Whitehorn (Post: 6/19/16)
William Woodford ◊

*Gwathmey lists the date of Steed's promotion to captain as March 30, 1778.

The signature of Capt. Richard Campbell, from Dunmore (now Shenandoah) County. After rising to lieutenant colonel, Campbell was killed at the Battle of Eutaw Springs in 1781.

8th Virginia veteran Lt. Col. Richard Campbell was the second-highest-ranking battlefield casualty of the Virginia line after Gen. Hugh Mercer.

This historic marker in front of Pvt. William Eagle's grave gets the details of his service wrong but rightly notes his legacy in West Virginia's Smoke Hole Canyon.

George Slaughter's Company

Later known as Capt. Abraham Kirkpatrick's Company and as Lt. John Graves' Company

Third in seniority. Completed February 19, 1776 in Culpeper County. Captain Slaughter was promoted to major of the 12th Virginia in September of 1777. Possibly a former company of the Culpeper Minutemen.

Capt. George Slaughter (Posts: 9/2/18, 9/20/19, 5/20/20) ◊
Capt. Abraham Kirkpatrick (ca. September, 1777-September 14, 1778) (posts linked below)
1st Lieut. Henry Field (Post: 4/5/20, 5/20/20) (January 26, 1776-August 3, 1776)
1st Lieut. James Kirtley (October 7, 1776-June 10, 1777)
1st Lieut. John Graves (June 10, 1777?-April 21, 1778)* (Posts linked below)
1st Lieut. Christopher Moyers (November 22, 1777-September 14, 1778) ◊ (Post: 9/20/19) **
2nd Lieut. James Kirtley (February 19, 1776-October 7, 1776) (Post: 5/25/20) ◊
2nd Lieut. John Graves (October 8, 1776-June 10, 1777?)
2nd Lieut. Reuben Field (November 22, 1777-)***
2nd Lieut. Philip Huffman (November 22, 1777-September 14, 1778) (March 15, 1781†) (Posts: 9/20/19, 12/1/20)
Ens. John Graves (February 19, 1776-October 8, 1776) (Post: 5/25/20, 3/23/22) ◊
Ens. Reuben Fields (March 11, 1777-May 10, 1777)
Ens. Philip Huffman (March 16, 1777-November 22, 1777)****
Cadet Reuben Fields
Cadet John Dawson*****

Sgt. James Newman (1776†) (Post: 12/1/20)
Sgt. Lemuel Rucker ◊
Cpl. Barnett McGinnis (Nov. 25, 1776†) (Post: 12/1/20)
Cpl. Cornelius Mershon (Aug. 4, 1776†) (Post: 12/1/20)
Fifer Henry Clatterbuck (July or Aug., 1776†) (Post: 12/1/20)
Thomas Abbett (before Feb. 3, 1777†) (Post: 12/1/20)
William Abbett (before Feb. 3, 1777†) (Post: 12/1/20)
Edward Abbott (Oct. 19, 1776†) (Post: 12/1/20)
John Abbott (Oct. 29, 1776†) (Post: 12/1/20)
Richard Bennett ◊
William Cabbage (Nov. 24, 1776†) (Post: 12/1/20)
John Cage ◊
William Campbell (Post: 6/19/16)
William Corbin (Dec. 10, 1776†) (Post: 12/1/20)
Charles Creel ◊
Joseph Dean (1743-April 21, 1818)
Joseph Delaney (Post: 6/19/16)
Abraham Field (Aug. 6, 1776†) (Posts: 4/5/20, 12/1/20)
Larkin Field (Post: 4/5/20)
Reuben Field (Post: 4/5/20)
William Field (Post: 4/5/20)
William Fincham (Post: 6/19/16)
Bozel Freeman (Nov. 15, 1776†) (Post: 12/1/20)
Reuben Hollaway (Aug. 3 1776†) (Post: 12/1/20)
Drury Jackson (Post: 5/25/20, 3/23/22) ◊
Utey Jackson (Aug. 20, 1776†) (Posts: 5/25/20, 12/1/20)
John Jinkins (Jan. 13 or 15, 1777†) (Post: 12/1/20)
James Johnston (Post: 9/3/21)
Joseph Jones (May 6, 1777†) (Post: 12/1/20)
Edward Kennedy (Dec. 3, 1776†) (Post: 12/1/20)
Thomas Newman (1776†) (Post: 12/1/20)
William Robert (Post: 6/19/16)
Richard Roberts (Post: 6/19/16)
John Rosson (Post: 6/19/16)
Elzaphan Rucker (Post: 6/19/16)
John Settle ◊
Briant Sloan [◊
William Smith ◊
James Vowels (Post: 6/19/16)

*No record of the date of John Graves' promotion to 1st lieutenant has been found.
**Christopher Moyers was captured at Germantown, October 4, 1777 and escape in June 1778. His company assignment upon his return is uncertain.
***Reuben Field was captured at Germantown.
****Phillip Huffman was captured at Germantown and escaped in June, 1778.
*****Evidence that John Dawson was elevated from sergeant to cadet is circumstantial. He may have returned to being a sergeant.

After his Continental service, George Slaughter served under Gen. George Rogers Clark in Kentucky and helped found Louisville.

Read a short narrative of Captain George Slaughter's consequential life.

The log house built by Lt. Christopher Moyers in Tennessee after the war.

James Johnston left a concise narrative account of his service in the 8th Virginia.

This marker for Drury Jackson was erroneously placed 600 miles from his actual grave site.

Four members of the prominent Field family served int he 8th.

Jonathan Clark's Company

Known after Clark's promotion to major as "the late Captain Clark's Company" commanded by Lt. Cooper.

Fifth in seniority. Completed March 4, 1776 in Dunmore County (now Shenandoah County). One of two companies from Dunmore County, intended to be the "German" of the two. Captain Clark was the older brother of George Rogers Clark ("the conqueror of the Northwest") and William Clark (of the Lewis & Clark expedition). Clark was promoted to major of the 12th Virginia on January 10, 1778.

Capt. Jonathan Clark (March 4, 1776-January 10, 1778*) ◊ (Posts: 9/23/15, 9/1/17, 3/25/18, 1/10/20, 4/5/20, 6/3/20, 7/10/20, 3/23/22)
1st Lieut. Jacob Rinker (March 4, 1776-May 10, 1777) ◊ (Post: 3/23/22)
1st Lieut. Leonard Cooper (May 10, 1777-September 14, 1778) (See Richard Campbell's Company)
2nd Lieut. Adam Darling (-May, 1776)
2nd Lieut. Taverner Beale (May, 1776-March, 1777) (Post: 5/21/22) [Michael Griffin]
2nd Lieut. Jacob Parrot (March, 1777-May 9, 1777∞)
2nd Lieut. Philip Eastin (August 10 or October 4, 1777-September 14, 1778)
Ens. Jacob Parrot (March 4, 1776-March, 1777) (Post: 4/5/23)
Ens. Philip Eastin (March 20, 1777-August 10 or October 4, 1777)

Sgt. Maj. John Hoy (Dec. 3, 1776†) (Post: 12/1/20)
Sgt. George Parrot (Nov. 6, 1776†) (Post: 12/1/20)
Sgt. Humphrey Price (Nov. 24, 1776†) (Post: 12/1/20)
Cpl. William Brown (March 30, 1777†) (Post: 12/1/20)
Cpl. Matthew Toomey (Dec. 20, 1776†) ◊ (Post: 12/1/20)
James Arnwine ◊
John Bley [Danny Whitacre, Charles Fuller] (Post: 3/23/22)
Nicholas Bowder (June 13, 1776†) (Post: 12/1/20)
John Breeding ◊ (Post: 3/23/22)
Nathan Brittain (Oct. 17, 1776†) ◊ (Post: 12/1/20)
Thomas Brittain (Sept. 29, 1776†) (Post: 12/1/20)
Henry Brock (Post: 1/2/16)
Adam Cabbage (Post: 3/23/22)
William Clark (Post 3/23/22)
Isaac Dent (Nov. 3, 1776†) (Post: 12/1/20)
John Dunbar ◊
Joachim Fetzer ◊
Mathias Funk (Dec. 20, 1776†) (Post: 12/1/20)
Joseph Golliday ◊ (Post: 3/23/22)
Martin Honey (Sept. 20, 1776†) (Post: 12/1/20)
John Maxwell (Dec. 25, 1776†) (Post: 12/1/20)
Henry Moore (Sept. or Oct., 1777†) (Post: 12/1/20)
Joseph Parrot (Post: 3/23/22)
Isaac Pemberton (Jan. 12, 1778†) (Post: 12/1/20)
Andrew Phine [Judy Busse]
Philip Phine [Judy Busse] (Post: 3/23/22)
Thomas Phine [Judy Busse]
Meredith Price (Jan. 3, 1777†) (Post: 12/1/20)
Simon Siron (ca. 1776†) (Post: 12/1/20)
Jacob Sivley ◊ (Post: 3/23/22)
Peter Sivley ◊
Michael Wall (ca. 1776†) (Post: 12/1/20)
Walter Warner (Oct. 4, 1776†) (Post: 12/1/20)
Christopher Young ◊

*Jonathan Clark was promoted to major of the 12th Virginia eight months before the 12th was redesigned the "8th" after regiments were consolidated on September 14, 1778. He was never major of the original 8th Virginia.

Captain Jonathan Clark, from Dunmore (modern Shenandoah) County was the older brother of William Clark of the Lewis and Clark Expedition.

Though the oldest, Captain Clark was one of the less well-known members of a still-famous family.

The home of Lt. Jacob Rinker in Shenandoah County, Va.

The grave of Corp. Joseph Golladay. (Walter D. Golladay)

Philip Fine lived in this house in St. Louis, Mo. after the war. It was torn down in 1850.

Abel Westfall's Company

Known after Capt. Westfall's resignation as Lt. Berwick's Company

Sixth in seniority. Completed March 12, 1776 in Hampshire County (now West Virginia). This company was severely depleted by malaria during the southern campaign 1776. Captain Westfall resigned on November 22, 1777.

Capt. Abel Westfall ◊ (Post: 3/23/22)
1st Lieut. Robert Higgins (March 12, 1776-March 1, 1777) (see Robert Higgins' Company below)
1st Lieut. Edward Moody (August 6, 1776-June, 1777) ◊ *
1st Lieut. James Berwick (April 5, 1777-May 20, 1778)**
2nd Lieut. Andrew Turk (March 12, 1776-May, 1777)
2nd Lieut. Edward Moody (March 12, 1776-August 6, 1776)
2nd Lieut. James Berwick (October 1, 1776-April 5, 1777)
2ne Lieut. Cornelius Westfall (April 24, 1777-) (Post: 3/23/22)
Ens. Reese Pritchard (March 12, 1776-August 7, 1776)
Ens. Laurence Greenholm (Oct. 7, 1776-July 1, 1777)
Ens. Cornelius Westfall (March 16, 1777-April 21, 1778) (Post: 3/23/22)

Sgt. Edward McCarty (Post: 6/19/16)
Fifer Patrick Callihan (Sept. 25, 1776†) (Post: 12/1/20)
Richard Cain ◊ (Post: 6/19/16, 3/23/22)
John Chenoweth ◊ (Post: 3/23/22)
Joseph Edwards (June 13, 1776†) (Post: 12/1/20)
James Galloway (Jan., 1777†) (Post: 12/1/20)
John Graham ◊
John Haggen (March 15, 1778†) (Post: 12/1/20)
Abraham Hornback (Post: 3/23/22)
John Huff (Sept. 15, 1776†) ◊
Moses Johns (May 20, 1778†) ◊ (Post: 12/1/20)
Peter Kerns [Gerald Karnes]
William Kynets (Sept. 26, 1776†) (Post: 12/1/20)
Peter Lee [Blair Belton]
Hugh Lewis (Oct. 16, 1776†) (Post: 12/1/20)
William McCormick (Dec. 28, 1776†) (Post: 12/1/20)
Lawrence McGuire (February 10, 1776-April 9, 1778+) ◊
Zachariah Pigman (Feb. 1778†) (Posts: 6/19/16, 12/1/20)
Philip Sanders (March 9, 1777†) (Post: 12/1/20)
John Stump (Post: 9/19/15)
James Taff ◊
William Taylor ◊
Robert Wadsworth ◊
George Wilfong ◊
John Williams (Post: 6/19/16)
William Winters ◊

*Edward Moody transferred to the State Artillery.
**James Berwick's overlap of Moody's term as 1st Lieutenant may indicate that his promotion was made retroactive.

Abel Westfall's captain's commission from 1776, signed by John Hancock.

After returning from the southern campaign of 1776, soldiers were given a furlough. Captain Westfall placed this notice in the Virginia Gazette recalling his men in December.

The grave of Captain Abel Westfall, from Hampshire County (now West Virginia). After the war, Westfall worked on the construction of the Potomac Canal before going west and founding Westfall, Ohio.

David Stephenson's Company

Seventh in seniority. Completed March 25, 1776 in Augusta County.

Capt. David Stephenson (Post: 11/30/18)
1st Lieut. Joseph Dickdom (March 25, 1776-)*
2nd Lieut. John Grattan (March 25, 1776-<Dec. 6, 1776†) ◊
2nd Lieut. Benjamin Kinley (May 9, 1777-September 14, 1778?) ◊**
Ens. Samuel Coleman (March 25, 1776-ca. April 1776) ◊***
Ens. Benjamin Kinley (ca. April 1776-May 9, 1777)
Ens. James Hooke (March 16, 1777-April 21, 1778)

Sgt. Benjamin Crow (Post: 3/23/22) ◊
Sgt. James Lamb (Post: 3/23/22) ◊
Drummer Samuel Jones ◊
Adam Bible (Post: 3/23/22) ◊
James Blaine [Clint Edwards]
Cornelius Cain (Post: 6/19/16)
Jacob Crow (Post: 3/23/22)
William Donavan (Post: 6/19/16) ◊
Michael Gold ◊
William McCoy
Thomas Nichols ◊
Charles Sanders (Post: 10/3/15)
David Viah ◊

*The company operated without a 1st lieutenant after the death or resignation of Lt. Dickdom sometime prior to April of 1777.
**Benjamin Kinley was wounded at Germantown, October 4, 1777.
***Transferred to Virginia Navy.

David Stephenson served nearly the whole war, rising to major.

Sgt. James Lamb married Daniel Boone's cousin and moved to Indiana where his home survives.

Lyle Sparkman is a descendant of private soldier Michael Gold.

Thomas Berry's Company

Later known at Lt. Richard Eastin's Company.*

Eighth in seniority. Completed March 27, 1776 in Frederick County, Virginia. Captain Berry resigned in April of 1778. The 116th Infantry Regiment, Virginia National Guard, descends from this company.

Capt. Thomas Berry ◊ (Post: 2/3/22, 11/14/22)
1st Lieut. John Joliffe (March 27, 1776-April 6, 1777†) (Post: 2/3/22)
1st Lieut. Richard Eastin (April 6, 1777-June 7, 1778)
2nd Lieut. Richard Eastin (February 16, 1776-April 6, 1777)
2nd Lieut. Francis Baldwin (?-May 8, 1778)
Ens. William Meade (February 16, 1776-November 20, 1776†)
Ens. Francis Baldwin (ca. November 20, 1776-March 16, 1777) [dates uncertain]**
Ens. John Kay (March 16, 1777-April 21, 1778)**
Cadet John Chapman

Sgt. Reese Bowen (Sept. 6, 1776†) (Post: 12/1/20)
George Albin ◊
Daniel Anderson (Post: 12/15/19)
Lewis Atkins ◊
Francis Baldwin ◊
John Bradford ◊
William Buckley (Sept. 16, 1776†) (Post: 12/1/20) ◊
Hugh Burns (Oct. 21, 1776†) (Post: 12/1/20)
James Burns (June 10, 1776†) (Post: 12/1/20)
Jesse Chamblin (Oct. 31, 1776†) (Post: 12/1/20)
Isaac Dunn ◊
Peter Fletcher (Nov. 10, 1776†) (Post: 12/1/20)
Thomas Hankins (Nov. 29, 1776†) (Post: 12/1/20)
Joseph Hickman (May 18, 1777†) (Post: 12/1/20)
Luke Hines (Nov. 10, 1776†) (Post: 12/1/20)
James Kay ◊ (Post: 2/3/22, 3/23/22)
Dennis Kingore (Sept. 8, 1776†) (Post: 12/1/20)
Neil McDade (Nov. 25, 1776†) (Post: 12/1/20)
William McMullin ◊
Thomas McVay (Oct. 1, 1776†) (Post: 12/1/20)
John Morrison ◊
Solomon Redman ◊
Louis Routt (Nov. 10, 1776†) (Post: 12/1/20)
Bean Smallwood (Post: 6/10/17)
Samuel Sprowl ◊

*A May, 1778 muster roll reference to Eastin as captain erroneous.
**John Kay was promoted from sergeant on April 23, 1777 but his commission was retroactive to March 16.
Source: George Alban Pension S8019.

"Thos. Berry, Capt. in the 8th Va. Regt."

Capt. Thomas Berry grew up in this house known as "Berry Plain" in King George County. It was built ca. 1720 by his father or grandfather and is still standing.

Learn how Captain Berry acquired his land in what is now Clarke County.

Lt. John Jolliffe grew up as a Quaker. He was expelled from Hopewell Friends Meeting near Winchester in 1772 for attending a horse race and fighting. He died near home of smallpox in 1777.

William Croghan's Company

Tenth to be completed, but later determined to be ninth in seniority. Completed April 19, 1776 in the West Augusta District, especially Fort Pitt and Pittsburgh. After missing the rendezvous at Suffolk, Va. in 1776 this company was assigned to the 1st Virginia Regiment for the 1776 campaign. Captain Croghan was promoted to major on May 16, 1778.

Capt. William Croghan (Posts: 12/4/15, 12/23/15, 1/2/16, 4/16/17, 6/10/17, 3/25/18, 5/14/18, 1/10/20, 6/3/20, 3/23/22)
1st Lt. Abraham Kirkpatrick (March 22, 1776-April 2, 1777) ◊ (Post: 12/18/15, 1/2/16, 3/23/22)
1st Lt. James Higgins (March, 1777-September 14, 1778)
2nd Lt. James Higgins (March 22, 1776-March, 1777) ◊
2nd Lt. Jonathan Smith (April 4, 1778-September 14, 1778)
Ens. James Berwick (April 19, 1776-October 1, 1776)
Ens. Jonathan Smith (March 17, 1777-April 4, 1778)*
Cadet Jonathan Smith (ca. December 15, 1776-March 17, 1777)

Sgt. Thomas McCarty (Posts: 12/4/15, 4/16/18, 2/1/22)
Sgt. John McDoran (Jan. 30, 1777†) (Post: 12/1/20)
Cpl. Michael Kelly (Sept. 11, 1777†) (Post: 12/1/20)
Cpl. William Penny (<May 18, 1777†) (Post: 12/1/20)
Cpl. James Tucker (Dec. 27, 1776†) ◊ (Post: 12/1/20)
Drummer Francis Prush (<May 18, 1777†) (Post: 12/1/20)
Fifer Gabriel Christy (<May 18, 1777†) (Post: 12/1/20)
Ezekiel Abel (Post: 6/19/16)
Josiah Arnold (June 18, 1754-July 10, 1837) ◊ (Post: 3/23/22)
John Brock (March 18 or 25, 1776†) (Post: 12/1/20)
John Brown (before May 18, 1777†) (Post: 12/1/20)
Joseph Carman ◊ (Post: 12/26/19)
Robert Cochran (Sept., 1776†) (Post: 12/1/20)
Philip Cole (Jan. 30, 1777†) (Post: 12/1/20)
Moses Crawford (Post: 6/19/16)
Harmon Commins (Post: 1/2/16, 3/23/22)
Jesse Davis (Post: 6/19/16)
John Donnally (April 14, 1777†) (Post: 12/1/20)
Nicholas Doran (April 13, 1777†) (Post: 12/1/20)
Henry Gaddis ◊
William Gaddis (March 15, 1777†) ◊ (Post: 12/1/20)
Patrick Garry (Nov. 11, 1776†) (Post: 12/1/20)
Joseph Gonsley (Feb. 1777†) (Post: 12/1/20)
William Goodman (<May 18, 1777†) (Post: 12/1/20)
James Gorwin (Feb. 8, 1777†) (Post: 12/1/20)
Jonathan Grant ◊ (Posts: 10/3/15, 1/2/16, 6/19/16, 3/23/22)
Patrick Hall (ca. Jan. 1, 1777†) (Post: 12/1/20)
David Hanson (<May 18, 1777†) (Post: 12/1/20)
Lewis Henry (Nov., 1776†) (Post: 12/1/20)
George Hinch ◊
John Hinds (Aug. 14, 1776†) (Post: 12/1/20)
Nathaniel Hosier (<May 18, 1777†) (Post: 12/1/20)
John James (ca. March 1, 1777†) (Post: 12/1/20)
Enoch Job ◊ (Post: 3/23/22)
Jesse Job (before May 18, 1777†) (Post: 12/1/20)
Aneas Lany (Post: 6/19/16)
Able Levesque (March 17, 1777†) (Post: 12/1/20)
George Martin (Feb., 1776†) (Post: 12/1/20)
Michael Martin (Feb., 1776†) (Post: 12/1/20)
Moses Martin (Feb., 1776†) (Post: 12/1/20)
Thomas Owens (Sept. 11, 1777†) (Posts: 6/19/16, 12/1/20)
John Reed, Sr. (Post: 6/19/16)
John Reed, Jr. (Post: 6/19/16)
Thomas Ryan (before May 18, 1777†) (Post: 12/1/20)
Henry Saltzman (Oct. 4, 1777) (Posts: 10/3/15, 12/1/20)
James Smyth (Oct. 19, 1776†) (Post: 12/1/20)
John Tuck (before May 18, 1777†) (Post: 12/1/20)
Daniel Viers (March 3, 1777†) (Post: 12/1/20) [James Veirs]
David Williams (Posts: 1/2/16, 6/19/16)

*Jonathan Smith was captured at Germantown, October 4, 1777.

Pittsburgh's Capt. William Croghan moved to Kentucky after the war and married Captain Clark's sister.

"W. Croghan, Major Virga line"

Kirkpatrick Street in Pittsburgh, Pa. is named after Abraham Kirkpatrick.

Pvt. Jonathan Grant served as a scout during the Indian wars of the 1790s. He signed this receipt for gunpowder at Fort Fayette (Pittsburgh) in 1795.

Joseph Carman was one of many early settlers to die violently in Kentucky.

James Knox's Company

Raised in Fincastle County and supplemented with men from Dunmore County. Built on a cadre from an independent frontier company raised in 1775. Ninth to be certified by its county committee of safety, but later determined to be tenth in seniority because the company did not meet its enlistment quota. Certified April 4, 1776 in Fincastle County (now southwest Virginia and Kentucky). This company was severely depleted by malaria and desertions during the southern campaign 1776. Captain Knox and Lieutenant Craig were transferred to Morgan's Rifles in 1777 and the company thereafter existed only on paper, though a few of the men may have returned to the regiment at Valley Forge.

Capt. James Knox (April 4, 1776-July 6, 1778) ◊ (Posts: 4/16/17, 8/19/17, 3/29/18, 1/10/20, 3/17/21, 3/23/22, 4/23/23)
1st Lieut. Ephraim Drake (April 4, 1776-<March 1777)*
1st Lieut. James Craig (August 5, 1777-July, 1778) (Post: 3/17/21)
1st Lieut. William Lewis Lovely (March 26, 1778-September 14, 1778)
2nd Lieut. James Craig (September 3, 1776-August 5, 1777) (Post: 3/23/22)
2nd Lieut. William Lewis Lovely (May 10, 1777-March 26, 1778)
Ens. William Ward (April 4, 1776 -<March 26, 1777)*
Ens. William Lewis Lovely (March 26, 1777-January, 1777)

James Carr (Nov. 20, 1776†) (Post: 12/1/20)
Charles Carter (Dec. 24, 1776†) (Post: 12/1/20)
William Gillihan ◊
Martin Maney [Russ Maney] (Post: 3/23/22)
John Vance (Sept. 16, 1776†) (Post: 12/1/20)
Henry Wallis (Dec., 1776†) (Post: 12/1/20)
John Wilson (Nov. 8, 1776†) (Post: 12/1/20)

*Only Drake's and Ward's February 24, 1776 appointments by the Fincastle Committee are documented. They may have refused their commissions, but it appears they served for a year as Craig and Lovely were not promoted until August (Craig) and March (Lovely) 1777. Drake was appointed ensign of Montgomery County militia on March 3, 1777.

James Knox was one of the first long hunters to explore Kentucky and was a captain in Morgan's Rifles at Saratoga.

Lovely's Purchase and now-gone Lovely County, straddling the Ark-Okla. border, were named for William Lewis Lovely, who worked for peace between the Osage and Cherokee as a federal Indian agent.

James Craig is buried in Muhlenberg County, Ky.

Robert Higgins' Company

"Completed" on May 9, 1777. This was an entirely new company raised to replace John Stephenson's company, which ceased to exist in the fall of 1776. Higgins was promoted from Abel Westfall's company to lead the new unit. These men enlisted for three years' service or the duration of the war (whichever was shorter), the term applied to all 1777 enlistees. Higgins was not able to recruit a full complement of men.

Capt. Robert Higgins (March 1, 1777-September 14, 1778) ◊ (Posts: 8/30/15, 9/8/15, 3/23/22)*
1st Lieut. James Curry (June 24, 1777-September 14, 1778) (Post: 3/23/22)
2nd Lieut. John Clark (May 9, 1777-September 14, 1778) (Posts: 9/1/17, 4/5/20, 6/3/20)*
Ens. Peter Higgins (March 9, 1777-September 14, 1778) ◊ (Post: 3/23/22)

Zachariah DeLong (Feb., 1778†) (Posts: 9/8/15, 12/1/20)*
Robert Chambers ◊ (Post: 3/23/22)
Henry Ruyle [◊

*Robert Higgins, John Clark, and Zachariah DeLong were captured at Germantown, October 4, 1777.

Robert Higgins was personally selected by George Washington to recruit a company to replace John Stephenson's one-year unit. He built this house in Moorefield, W.V. after the war before moving to Ohio and founding Higginsport with his brother Peter.