12 January 2012

Silas Newcomb 1723-1779

From biographical sources:

Silas Newcomb served as Lieutenant in the Quebec Campaign of the French War, 1758-1759. He was appointed by the governor as one of the officers to command a regiment at Perth Amboy, N.J., on 28 Mar. 1759. Silas Newcomb was Colonel of the First Battalion of Cumberland Co., New Jersey Militia, 14 Jun 1776. He commanded a battalion of General Heard's Brigade, New Jersey Militia, at the Battle of Long Island, 28 Aug. 1776. He was promoted to Colonel of the First Battalion, Second Establishment, New Jersey Continental Line, 28 Nov. 1776, and was commissioned Brigadier-General of the New Jersey Militia, 15 Mar. 1777.

On 10 Aug 1777, Brigadier-General Silas Newcomb writes General Washington at Neshaminy Camp, Penn., that he is assembling his militia. On 11 Aug. 1777, General Washington, then near the Cross Roads, writes Brigadier-General Newcomb, New Jersey, requesting militia for Red Bank.

On 20 Aug. 1777, Brigadier-General Silas Newcomb writes General George Washington at Neshaminy Camp, requesting permission to march his detachment home; he at that time was at Woodbury, N.J.

On 10 Oct. 1777, Alexander Hamilton writes to Brigadier-General Silas Newcomb, requesting militia for Red Bank. On 15 Oct. 1777, General Washington write Brigadier-General Newcomb and orders him to reinforce Red Bank and hold the place to the last extremity. On 22 Oct. 1777, General Washington writes Brigadier-General Silas Newcomb regarding operations against Fort Mifflin and Red Bank, reinforcements of militia, supplies, etc. On 29 Oct. 1777, David Forman, near Red Bank, N.J., writes General Washington at Whiteplain of his attempt to assemble militia, "weather and Brigadier-General Silas Newcomb's obstinacy retarding."

General Silas Newcomb was in command of a force detailed to guard Delaware Bay and to prevent any landing of English forces there. Their services were commemorated and their names perpetuated by the state of New Jersey through the efforts of the Daughters of the American Revolution. A beautiful granite and marble tablet, with the names of Brigadier-General Silas Newcomb, Colonel Isaac Preston, and other officers that were in command of the colonial forces, marks the historic spot.

On 4 Dec. 1777, General Newcomb resigned his commission.

No comments:

Post a Comment

PLEASE! If your comment or question is not directly related to this post, send it to me as email (see email link in the right-hand column of the blog). I can give it a separate post so people can find it in its own right.

We use comment moderation to prevent spam. This means your comment will not appear until it has been approved by an administrator. Unfortunately automated spammers have also forced us to add a verification scheme that makes just a little harder to post comments. We appreciate your patience.

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.