| DAR investigation code: RXZYFGXK |
John Slaughter was born in about 1755 in Virginia. And, the first records we have for "Old John" are from his Revolutionary War service. From the State of Virginia Revolutionary War Bounty Land recipients, we learn that John was promoted to Sergeant and credited with three years service in the Virginia Continental Line.
| A LIST OF NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICERS AND
SOLDIERS OF THE ILLINOIS REGIMENT AND THE WESTERN ARMY Under the command of General G. R. Clarke, who are entitled to Bounty in Land "Reproduced from the 1833 Virginia House of Delegates Journal" |
||
| Slaughter John | Sergeant | Entitled to land for 3 years |
| Shoemaker Leonard | Private | Entitled to land for 3 years |
And from pension applications for John's messmates and fellow soldiers with whom he served, we learn what John did and when.
1. In 7/1777 probably in Augusta Co VA, Pvt. John Slaughter enlisted in the Virginia Continental Line and served with Col. Daniel Morgan and Cpt. Gabriel Long. Originally recruited for the 11th Virginia Regiment, Cpt. Long and many soldiers were selected to a company of sharpshooters. This unit was part of Morgan's Rangers which specialized in unconventional warfare, also known as Indian fighting.
The Revolutionary War (1775-1783) saw the creation of numerous Ranger companies. The most famous American Ranger leaders were Colonels Daniel Morgan and Francis Marion. Their tactics were modeled after earlier colonial Ranger units.
The Continental Congress ordered the creation of 10 companies of Rangers on June 14th, 1775. These units were founded in Pennsylvania (6), Maryland (2) and Virginia (2). Each state formed companies of expert riflemen and Indian fighters. Morgan's Rangers fought famous engagements against the British at Freeman Farm in 1777 and Cowpens in 1781. The primary mission of these Rangers was scouting and harassing enemy troops. . . .
"Revolutionary War Era," 75th Ranger Regiment Association, 2009 <http://www.75thrra.com/history/units-revloution-hist.htm> 4 April 2009.
According to Lt. Anthony Crockett's 1832 pension application, Morgan's Rangers served at Philadelphia after the Battle of Princeton NJ. It was there that "Col. Morgan raised his rifle regiment by selecting men and officers from the army." By August 1777, the unit was ordered north to support Gen. Gates against Burgoyne in New York. And, Morgan's Rangers played a critical role at the Battle of Saratoga. After the battle, Morgan's Rangers returned south toward Philadelphia where they fought with Gen. Washington.
In the Fall of 1777, the Army took up winter quarters at Valley Forge. And, Pvt. John Slaughter, "a rifleman on command with Col. Morgan," is included on the muster rolls. This distinction is important; as perhaps 2% of Continental soldiers were riflemen.
|
Muster Roll of Valley Forge |
| #VA14131 |
| Slaughter, John |
| PRIVATE, RANK AND FILE |
| 3RD VA BRIGADE, V PEYTON'S COMPANY |
| 3rd VA REGIMENT, 3rd DIVISION |
| December 1777: RIFLEMAN ON COMMAND WITH COL MORGAN |
| January 1778: RIFLEMAN ON COMMAND WITH COL MORGAN |
With the completion of their 18 - 24 month enlistments, soldiers from Morgan's Rangers were discharged and returned home in the Fall of 1778.
2. On 1/4/1779 probably in Montgomery Co VA, Pvt. John Slaughter enlisted for 18 months service in the Virginia Continental Line. (Note, Pvt. George Gamble in his 1834 Revolutionary War Pension application stated that he enlisted in 2/1779 from nearby Washington Co VA for the Chickamauga Expedition.)
| John Rogers Clark and His Men: Military
Records, 1778-1784, the Kentucky Genealogy Society: Pay Roll of Capt. Jesse Evans's Company of Infantry of the Virginia Illinois Regiment: John Slaughter enlisted January 4, 1777, for 18 months. . .Sgt. John Slaughter discharged July 13, 1780. Service for 18 months and nine days. Pay rate of $8.00 per month. Total pay $43 in "Virginia Currency." |
Cpt. John Montgomery of the Illinois Regiment of Virginia Volunteers had "been with George Rogers Clark [and] was detached from that service and ordered to join Col. Shelby." Another Slaughter cousin explains that for his Illinois Campaign, George Rogers Clark recruited men who were riflemen, who had wilderness survival skills, and who could fight "Indian style." Cpt. Montgomery was detached from the Illinois Regiment for the purpose of recruiting back in Virginia where he raised a force of about 150 men for the Illinois Regiment. Before this new company could deploy to Kentucky and Illinois, Col. Shelby petitioned Gov. Patrick Henry for use of these troops. And, they marched in support of the Chickamauga Expedition of April 1779 under Col. Evan Shelby:
Another campaign of equal importance to the Tennessee settlers was the Chickamauga Campaign, commanded by Colonel Evan Shelby. Some six hundred men embarked on boats from the mouth of Big Creek on the Holston River in April 1779. The streams, swollen by spring freshets, made for a fast trip to the Chickamauga towns. The surprise attack on this Indian country was a complete success. The Indians fled to the hills and forests. Large stores of supplies, furnished by the English for the attack on the Tennessee settlers, were captured. Many of the towns were burned.
Captain John Montgomery, sent to the northwest with Colonel Clarke, was with this force at the capture of Kaskaskia. Captain Montgomery was sent back to the Holston Settlements to recruit more troops. During the winter months of 1778-1779, Captain Montgomery had enlisted one hundred fifty men for a year's service. Colonel Shelby, planning the Chickamauga Campaign and needing more men, asked the aid of this force. Governor Patrick Henry [of Virginia] ordered Captain Montgomery and his men to participate with Shelby. At the close of this mission, Captain Montgomery and his men continued the trip by boat. They rejoined Colonel Clarke in the northwest. Montgomery, promoted to Colonel, was placed in charge of the Kaskaskia district for a period. Captain James Shelby, son of Colonel Evan Shelby, accompanied Colonel Montgomery with sixteen men. Captain Shelby was placed in command of Fort Patrick Henry at Vincennes.
"Mayfields of South Carolina,' GenWebPage, No date, <http://mayfieldsofsc.tripod.com/micajah_mayfield_(d__1798).htm> 4 April 2009.
After the battle, most of the Expedition returned to the Holston River of Virginia (now TN). But, Cpt. Montgomery and many of his men continued down the Tennessee to the confluence of the Mississippi and Ohio rivers to link up with Col. George Rogers Clark and the Illinois Regiment. The first record for Old John and his Revolutionary War service is found in Col. Clark's papers:
3497-3-364-366-October 19, 1779: Bottom right document. Capt. John Williams order for 4 day ration for John Slaughter of Capt. Shelby's company.
And by 11/1779, John was promoted to Sergeant:
3912-3-552-553-November 26, 1779: Top right document. Order for rations. Names: Capt. James Shelby, Sergeant John Slaughter.
In 10/1780 John is located at Ft. Jefferson at the confluence of the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers (vic. Wickliffe KY), serving with Col. George Rogers Clark:
7706-4-1327-1332-October 27, 1780: Account of state of Virginia for sundry disbursement of John Montgomery of Illinois Regiment from July 13, 1779-1780 and an invoice of goods delivered by Israel Dodge at Fort Jefferson. The six page document also listed dates when Bills of Exchange were issued. Items: canes; cash for recruitment service; bounty money; use of wagons; bacon; beef; taffia; making oars; Andrew Ray's service as surgeon at Fort Clark, Kaskaskia; canoe; milk; provisions; boat; work of artificers; piroagues (dug out canoe); lost horses; rifle; blue cloth; flannel; cherry tree table; linen; paper; looking glasses; buttons; lace; clasp knives; brass lock; twine; grey cloth; thread; pins; brass buttons pork, mule; Names: Isaac Shelby; Thomas Quirk; John Clifton; Capt. James Newell, Jr.;
7706-4-1327-1332-October 27, 1780-Continued: Capt. Jess Evans; Capt. Isaac Taylor; William Mathews; Joseph Collins; William Bartholomew; Edmund Fare; John Daugherty; Fabian Fisher; Josiah Ramsey; Thomas Wilson; David Sealey; William Singledon; John Clark; Charles Marlen; John Robinson; Joseph Andrews; John Green; Stephen Ray, Moses Bonner?; Henry O'Hara; Rev. Ichabod Kemp; Henry Croucher; John Slaughter; William Brokess; William Gillespie; ? Janis; Laurence Slaughter; Capt. Abraham Kellar; Baptist Charleville; ? Langtot [ Linctot]; Richard Winston; ? Lacance?; John Williams; Capt. Richard Brashear; John Thurston; Thomas Bentley; Daniel Murrey; Monsieur Beaulddist?; Antoine Pettie; ? Godin; ? Villesh; John Gerault; Baptist Lafont; Pierre Dorian; Andrew Clark; Richard Sinnet; John McGuire; Hendrick Hutton; William Hall; Thomas Hutching; John Harry; Joseph Jarrett; Daniel Glenn; John Issack; Robert George; Monsieur Carbonneaux; William Buchanan; Robert Whitehead; Samuel Allen; Michael Perault; Ensign Jarret Williams; Lieut. Valentine Thomas Dalton; James Morris; James Hallebrand; Capt. Richard McCarty; Lieut. Richard Clark; William Breasure; John Donne; Capt. John Dodge.
"Abstract to the George Rogers Clark Papers" Society of Colonial Wars in the State of Illinois, 1998 <http://my.execpc.com/~sril/clarkv01> 4 April 2009.
Conditions at Ft. Jefferson were bleak; as food and supplies were scarce. Reportedly, both soldiers at the fort and civilians at the nearby settlement of Clarksville died of malaria and starvation.
Amazingly, there was only one direct confrontation between the Chickasaw and Americans during the war. This came in 1780 when George Rogers Clark built Fort Jefferson (named for Thomas Jefferson, the governor of Virginia at the time) in western Kentucky to protect the Kentucky settlements and break the Chickasaw stranglehold on the Mississippi. The Chickasaw attacked and, after a four-day siege withdrew. The Americans, however, could not hold the area and were forced to abandon the fort in June, 1781.
"Ft. Jefferson," Personal Webpage, No date <http://gaz.jrshelby.com/fortjefferson.htm> 4 April 2009.
Ft. Jefferson was abandoned in 6/1781, and soldiers from Ft. Jefferson marched back to the Falls of the Ohio. And as John and his fellow soldiers' enlistments were now complete, many of the soldiers from western Virginia received their discharge at the completion of the march. According to John Rogers Clark and His Men: Military Records, 1778-1784, Sgt. John Slaughter was discharged on 7/1/1780, probably at the Falls of the Ohio. John's return trip would have taken him down the Wilderness Road back to western Virginia.
3. There is an unconfirmed story that John enlisted again. If this is true, sometime after 10/1780 probably at the Holston River Settlement of Virginia (now TN), John enlisted in the Virginia Continental Line. During this third enlistment, John is believed to have served under Cpt. James Shelby in the Southern Campaign which included the battles of King's Mountain NC, Cowpens SC, and possibly also at Guilford Court House NC and Yorktown VA.
The years 1777 through 1780 for enlistments one & two would account for three years service as would the years 1779 through 1781 for enlistments two and three. With Col. George Rogers Clark's papers, we have one 18 month period accounted for. Whether or not John initially served with Daniel Morgan beginning in 1777 or later served with Cpt. James Shelby as late as 1781 is not proven.