Notes on the “Battle on the Monongahela” With excerpts from BritishBattles.com
I am rather proud of the article I wrote in November and December 2011 in this blog and of my Stewart ancestors who served in the French and Indian war and the Revolutionary war. But recently I came across this page and was immediately drawn to it to see if our ancestor – Captain Robert Stewart (at that time the Virginia Troop of Light Horse) was mentioned.
The article is a rather lengthy and exhaustive accounting of the political situation before, during, and after the battle. As well as an accounting of the lives and political careers of the British officers and politicians who were the key players in the expedition to the American colonies. I strongly recommend this reading for those historians and researchers who will find it enlightening.
Since the story is told from the British perspective, the colonists, pioneers, and other persons of interest are barely mentioned. There are letters and communications from George Washington and Benjamin Franklin that I found interesting. Daniel Boone is mentioned but only briefly.
Of course, my primary interest was in my ancestor, and I found he and his command are mentioned a few times.
All in all, I found that this article only strengthened and supported my initial research.
In this 10-part article there is an accounting of every day of the march from the forming of the army to the crossing of the Monongahela into the battle to the aftermath of that disastrous venture as follows:
Starting in part 8 -
On 9th April 1755, the 5 companies of Virginia Rangers and Captain Stewart’s Virginia Light Horse marched out of Alexandria for Winchester. Sir Peter Halkett’s orders stated: “As soon as they arrive at Winchester the commanding officer of companies to provide their men with arms as soon as possible, and to make application to Sir Peter Halkett for their direction. Capt Stewart is to apply immediately to Sir Peter Halkett for 34 hangers [short infantry swords] for his men which they are to take with them.
In a listing of Braddock’s Units at Will Creek on 8th June 1755;
Provincial Units:
Captain Robert Stewart’s* Troop of Light Horse: 3 officers, 2 sergeants,
33 rank and file.
Captain George Mercer’s* Company of Carpenters: 3 officers, 3 sergeants, 1
drummer and 42 rank and file.
Captain William Polson’s* Company of Carpenters: 3 officers, 3 sergeants, 1
drummer and 50 rank and file.
Captain Adam Stevens’* Company of Virginia Rangers: 3 officers, 3 staff
(adjutant, quartermaster and surgeon), 3 sergeants, 1 drummer and 53 rank and
file.
Captain Peter Hogg’s* Company of Virginia Rangers: 3 officers, 3 sergeants,
1 drummer and 42 rank and file.
Captain Thomas Waggoner’s* Company of Virginia Rangers: 3 officers, 3
sergeants, 1 drummer and 53 rank and file.
Captain Thomas Cocke’s Company of Virginia Rangers: 3 officers, 3
sergeants, 1 drummer and 47 rank and file.
Captain William Perronée’s* Company of Virginia Rangers: 3 officers, 3
sergeants, 1 drummer and 52 rank and file.
Captain John Dagworthy’s Company of Maryland Rangers: 3 officers, 1
surgeon, 3 sergeants, 1 drummer and 53 rank and file.
Captain Edward Brice Dobbs’ Company of North Carolina Rangers: 3 officers,
1 surgeon, 3 sergeants, 1 drummer and 72 rank and file.
(* These company commanders were all officers in the Virginia Regiment at Fort
Necessity in June 1754 as were Lieutenants Carolus Spiltdorf and Walter Stuart
of the Virginia Companes.)
Braddock’s Defeat: Part 8
The Army’s formation for the final march on 9th July 1755:
Advanced party (commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Gage):
Party of ‘Guides’ comprising a group of around 10 Native Americans led by Chief Monocatotha and 6 mounted soldiers of Captain Robert Stewart’s Troop of Virginia Light Horse…
The Main Army (General Braddock)
Captain Robert Stewart’s Troop of Virginia Light Horse
Contingent of seamen and pioneers
Three 12 pounder field guns with ammunition carts
A company of Grenadiers
A van guard of battalion soldiers from the 44th and 48th Regiments commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Burton
The column of some 35 wagons in single file, 3 or 4 of them provision wagons, with the remaining body of troops from the 44th and 48th in files on each side and the cattle and carrying horses between the files and the flank guards in the woods.
A 12 pounder field gun with the ammunition carts of the artillery train.
Engineer Gordon records in his letter of 22nd July 1755 (Pargellis) that Braddock’s section of the army carried with it 4 howitzers and 3 coehorns in addition to the 6 and12 pounders.
Braddock’s Defeat: Part 10
Most of the French-led Native Americans remained on the main battlefield, tomahawking and scalping the wounded. Some 50 followed the British to the river and fired into the mass of soldiers as they re-crossed the Monongahela, but none followed across the river. Nevertheless the panic-stricken soldiers kept going.
At a point about half a mile back along the southern bank of the Monongahela Lieutenant Colonel Burton attempted to rally some of the troops and take up a position. None of the soldiers would stay and the retreat continued.
Braddock was brought off the field by a group of officers, Orme, Stewart, Morris and Washington in particular, and conveyed back to Gist’s in a cart.
Braddock’s Defeat: Part 10
This part confirms Washington and Stewart assisting the general - lending credence to the story about loading the general and other fallen officers in a wagon to take them out of the fray.
It is a long read but worth your time. I am happy to confirm the research from my previous writing.
