| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Wilderness Woman |
Posted - February 12 2003 : 12:30:29 PM
It's me again... the question lady.
My young 16 year old lad, who fought so gallantly at Saratoga with Scammell's Regiment, was also with the army at the Valley Forge encampment. On the Muster Rolls he was listed at one time as being "On Command."
My thought is that this is another term for "On Duty"... of some sort, whether it be guard duty, a foraging party, or whatever. Can anyone tell me if this is correct, or if there is another meaning for this term?
Please and thank you! (This smilie is the best I can do for a salute!) |
| 17 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Wilderness Woman |
Posted - August 12 2003 : 7:22:21 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Bill R
Just wanted you to know I am probably as familiar with Valley Forge and as enthusiastic about it as you are. <snip> It was really cool that we were so close to history like that. Got in my blood so to speak. 
I'm glad that you are enthusiastic about it! And I'm jealous that you got to see all of those places while you were growing up. Of course, I probably wouldn't have been nearly as interested way back then... |
| Bill R |
Posted - August 12 2003 : 5:08:26 PM
You didnt come across as pompous! Enthusiastic maybe, but not pompous or assuming or such. It's impossible for us all to know the backgrounds of all the rest of us. Just wanted you to know I am probably as familiar with Valley Forge and as enthusiastic about it as you are. Heck, school trips were taken there in our area of Pa. like other folks go to 7 flags or Disneyland etc. Lessee.....somewhere around grade school we did the tour of Moravian buildings in Bethlehem. I think 6th grade we went to Valley Forge.
7th grade we went to Gettysburg. 8th grade we did Philadelphia and Independence Hall and all that stuff. It was really cool that we were so close to history like that. Got in my blood so to speak. |
| Wilderness Woman |
Posted - August 12 2003 : 4:57:25 PM
Ooops! Sorry, Bill! Didn't meant to come across sounding pompous!
But, I do like that place... |
| Bill R |
Posted - August 12 2003 : 3:06:02 PM
Well, WW, I've been a fan of Valley Forge for some time, and knew that the conditions were absolutely horrendous. I lived and grew up only an hour away from Valley Forge, loved colonial stuff and Rev War stuff and was surrounded by that history. I was actually making a joke against my family tree more than believing he was a malingerer. Anybody who stayed on the rolls in THOSE conditions and at THAT time were true patriots and heroes. Horrible conditions. Nothing but defeats and "strategic withdrawals" leading up to it.
No pay, no food, no clothing, little hope......that alone would make folks sick as dogs let alone a particularly cold winter.
Here's a small dark secret for you all....I not only went to Moravian Prep, but (gotta really force myself to admit to this) went to Valley Forge Military Academy also. Hated it. Busted my way out of it. But to my shame, DID attend the damn place. Ended HS at Liberty High School public school. YAY!!!! Then joined the Army.
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| Wilderness Woman |
Posted - August 12 2003 : 2:38:06 PM
All....RIGHT!!! W-o-o-o-o-o-o!! Congratulations to both of you! That is just great!
Bill, Alexander Irvin probably really was sick the whole time. He may have even been sent to a "hospital" somewhere away from the camp. If you haven't already, I encourage you to do some reading and studying about that winter encampment. There were many, many men who were very sick, due to the lack of proper food and clothing, as well as poor sanitary conditions. Also, I have read that if men didn't have enough clothing or equipment to be on duty or to drill, they were sometimes marked as sick on the rolls. Perhaps "sick" could also mean "not fit for duty."
Back in about February, I wrote an essay about the Valley Forge Winter, and Rich was kind enough to post it. I think it's in the Weekly Update forum.
Now you can both join me in being a great fan of Valley Forge... |
| Bill R |
Posted - August 12 2003 : 1:42:33 PM
Hey! Cool link Wilderness Woman! THANKS! I found a slew of my relatives listed. I knew some of them had been in the Rev War, from both sides of the family, but that was all I knew. My cousin had done a LOT of geneological research and backtracking and documenting as to family lines and relatives, but not so much as to their war records. We knew the southern branch had been with Lee in the Civil War, and I knew from my own tracking that my mother's side had been in the Rev War....but this link nailed down the common ground! Kilpatrick side listed, Rooks side listed, Rapp side listed, and Irwin side listed. All four grandparents relatives present and accounted for! Cool! Only thing..............my one relative.....Alexander Irvin? Carried as SICK in all the notations. Probably a friggin malingerer!!!!!! Sheesh. Must be the weak gened side of the family eh? They wound up owning whole counties in Tennessee and Kentucky though in the mid 1800's. The Irvins did. |
| CT•Ranger |
Posted - August 12 2003 : 1:12:56 PM
Hey thanks for the link Wilderness Woman! I found one of my other ancestors listed there. William Pigsley, private, 9th MA. |
| Wilderness Woman |
Posted - August 12 2003 : 1:00:34 PM
By the way... do you all know of the Valley Forge Muster Rolls? They can be accessed on line. If you had a soldier who was in the Continental Army, you can type in his last name and see if he comes up on the rolls, even if you don't know what Regiment he was with.
The record-keeping was spotty, at best, that winter, but if you are as fortunate as I, you may find your man listed there. I found two!
Go to: http://valleyforgemusterroll.org/
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| Wilderness Woman |
Posted - August 12 2003 : 12:54:31 PM
Cool, CT-R!!
I thought that name (Dr. Thacher) seemed very familiar when you mentioned it in another thread. I'm certain I have run across it before.
I have yet to do very much research on Scammell and the 3rd NH, but from the little I have read so far, they apparently had quite a reputation for being an above average regiment, even in the earlier years of the war. My guy, whose name was William Farley, was in Capt. William Ellis's Company when the regiment fought at Saratoga and wintered at Valley Forge. Whether he made it into the "select" infantry regiment mentioned above in Dr. Thacher's journal... I don't know.
Fascinating stuff, what? |
| CT•Ranger |
Posted - August 12 2003 : 01:15:10 AM
Hey Wilderness Woman, one of my ancestors served with Scammell also. Late in the war Dr. James Thacher joined Scammell's light infantry corps in 1781 as a surgeon. His journal can be found online.
"July 17th.- A fine corps of light-infantry, selected from the several New England regiments, is now formed, and put under the immediate command of Colonel Alexander Scammel, formerly our adjutant general. This select corps, consisting of the most active and soldierly young men and officers, is intended to march in advance of the main army, constantly prepared for active and hazardous service. Colonel Scammel was indulged the liberty of choosing his own officers, rejecting those whom be deemed unfit for his enterprising purpose. According to regular detail, it fell to the lot of Dr. C. to act as surgeon to this corps; but it was the doctor's misfortune to have one blink eye, and not being perfectly active, Colonel Scammel objected to him, and desired that he might be exchanged for one more competent to the duties of the service. In consequence of this I received a billet from Dr. James Craig, chief physician and surgeon to the army, requesting me to repair to the detachment immediately, and take the place of Dr. C. Colonel Jackson, unwilling to have his regiment left destitute of a surgeon, strongly protested against it; but Colonel Scammel was strenuous, and finally prevailed, and I now enjoy the honor of officiating as surgeon to a fine corps of infantry, commanded by an officer of the first military reputation. Dr. Munson, of the Connecticut line, is my mate; and the medical duties of Colonel Jackson's regiment devolve on Dr. Francis le Baron Goodwin, surgeon's mate, during my absence."
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| SgtMunro |
Posted - May 12 2003 : 12:43:37 PM
I'm glad that we were able to help, Wilderness Woman.
Your Most Humble Servant, |
| Wilderness Woman |
Posted - May 12 2003 : 12:18:04 PM
Aye, that it does! And I thank you again, Sgt.
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| Sgt.Reynolds |
Posted - May 12 2003 : 02:41:28 AM
For example,suppose Col.Dunbar of the 48th Regt.of Foote wanted one of his officers to learn "light infantry" tactics.He would then send him as part of an exchange to Roger's Rangers.He would then be "On Command".When finished,this officer would then return to the 44th.Clear it up for ya any? |
| Wilderness Woman |
Posted - May 06 2003 : 12:39:38 PM
zzzzzzzzzzzzz.......hunh?......whazzat?.........yawn..... Oh! I must have dozed off.... ah, yes.... I asked a question, didn't I? Let's see now... it's been so long.... Oh, I remember! "On Command."
"...it essentially means that the soldier is on a detail, outside of his company, and acting under lawful orders to do so."
Ok. Good. That's sort of what I was thinking. So on a detail, "outside of his company", would be sort of a "detached" assignment? Perhaps he was picked out of his company (perhaps the only one left who wasn't sick in bed!) to go with another company or group of soldiers to do... whatever, on orders.
Thank you kindly, Sgt. Munro, and you too, Sgt. Reynolds, for responding to my question.
(And thanks to the Sachem for giving you guys a kick in the.... cough... er.... well.... thanks, Sachem!)
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| SgtMunro |
Posted - May 06 2003 : 08:30:23 AM
Dear Wilderness Woman,
From the orderly books of the period, which I have referenced in the past, the phrase "On Command" is synonmous with "TDY" or "Detail" in the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Army which I served. What it essentially means that the soldier is on a detail, outside of his company, and acting under lawful orders to do so. I hope this helps.
Your Humble Servant,
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| Sgt.Reynolds |
Posted - May 06 2003 : 05:13:08 AM
Yes it is. |
| richfed |
Posted - May 05 2003 : 6:32:10 PM
So, let me get this straight ... there's about 60 gazillion of you hanging out here in The Muster now, right?!?
And yet, this question hangs here, all alone for nearly 3 months now, and remains unanswered.
C'mon Lads! Are you not gentlemen? Answer the lady's question already! |
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