Battle of Fort Washington
Eight companies of riflemen were recruited in the summer of 1776 for the Battalion that was to be commanded by Hugh Stephenson. Hugh Stephenson died in August 1776 and his successor was Colonel Moses Rawlins of Maryland. Henry Bedinger, Third Lieutenant of the company that was to be under the command of Captain Abraham Shepherd, recruited riflemen for the company in Winchester. He recorded a list of the names of men in Captain Shepherd’s Company.
Daniel Bedinger(7) implored his older brothers and mother to let him enlist. But, they insisted he was too young and must stay at home. In early September, Daniel forlornly watched them march northward to join Washington’s forces in New York. But, this time he resolved that he would run away and join Henry’s company. “The company, after a long march, reached Bergen [New Jersey], to which place they had been ordered, and, upon the second day after they arrived in camp a haggard, footsore, hollow-eyed boy of fifteen dragged himself into Bergen, and enquired of the first soldier he met where Lieutenant Henry Bedinger was to be found. It was Daniel, who had eluded the vigilance of his brother Michael and of his mother, and had run away in the middle of the night; trailed the company like a fox-hound, and now arrived in camp, tired to death and more than half starved. And so he got his way, and was enrolled in Captain Shepherd’s company of riflemen.”[i]
George Michael did not re-enlist when Henry had done so. Henry had come home earlier than George Michael. George Michael remained at home for a time with his mother and his younger siblings. However, it was not George Michael’s nature to stand idly by when such a circumstance presented itself. George Michael left home and marched to join his brothers in New York. His progress was halted several times by British soldiers. He tells of his inability to cross the River at Trenton where the British occupied the ferry house and fired on patriots that tried to cross over. He returned home and in November volunteered in a company of riflemen under Col. William Morgan. It was fortunate that he did not reach his brothers at Fort Washington because afterwards he was the means of saving the life of Daniel and providing for the well-being of Henry when he was a prisoner by the British.[ii]
The regiment of Henry and Daniel Bedinger was assembled at Bergen, New Jersey. It was immediately ordered up the Hudson River to Fort Lee. It was then ordered to cross the river and assist in the defense of Fort Washington on Manhattan Island where there were about 3,000 men under command of Col. Magaw. The British approached Fort Washington with a force of 8,000 to 12,000 men and under a flag demanded a surrender of Fort Washington. Col. Magaw replied that he would defend the Fort to the last “extremity”. The Continentals prepared for a contest. Henry and Daniel were in the regiment of Col. Rawlins which was assigned to the defense on a small ridge overlooking the North River.
Daniel Bedinger(7) implored his older brothers and mother to let him enlist. But, they insisted he was too young and must stay at home. In early September, Daniel forlornly watched them march northward to join Washington’s forces in New York. But, this time he resolved that he would run away and join Henry’s company. “The company, after a long march, reached Bergen [New Jersey], to which place they had been ordered, and, upon the second day after they arrived in camp a haggard, footsore, hollow-eyed boy of fifteen dragged himself into Bergen, and enquired of the first soldier he met where Lieutenant Henry Bedinger was to be found. It was Daniel, who had eluded the vigilance of his brother Michael and of his mother, and had run away in the middle of the night; trailed the company like a fox-hound, and now arrived in camp, tired to death and more than half starved. And so he got his way, and was enrolled in Captain Shepherd’s company of riflemen.”[i]
George Michael did not re-enlist when Henry had done so. Henry had come home earlier than George Michael. George Michael remained at home for a time with his mother and his younger siblings. However, it was not George Michael’s nature to stand idly by when such a circumstance presented itself. George Michael left home and marched to join his brothers in New York. His progress was halted several times by British soldiers. He tells of his inability to cross the River at Trenton where the British occupied the ferry house and fired on patriots that tried to cross over. He returned home and in November volunteered in a company of riflemen under Col. William Morgan. It was fortunate that he did not reach his brothers at Fort Washington because afterwards he was the means of saving the life of Daniel and providing for the well-being of Henry when he was a prisoner by the British.[ii]
The regiment of Henry and Daniel Bedinger was assembled at Bergen, New Jersey. It was immediately ordered up the Hudson River to Fort Lee. It was then ordered to cross the river and assist in the defense of Fort Washington on Manhattan Island where there were about 3,000 men under command of Col. Magaw. The British approached Fort Washington with a force of 8,000 to 12,000 men and under a flag demanded a surrender of Fort Washington. Col. Magaw replied that he would defend the Fort to the last “extremity”. The Continentals prepared for a contest. Henry and Daniel were in the regiment of Col. Rawlins which was assigned to the defense on a small ridge overlooking the North River.
At the break of day the next morning the enemy commenced a tremendous cannonade on every side, while their troops advanced. A few of the Americans were killed by the cannon and grape shot. The Americans fired not a shot until the enemy had gained the summit. Though the enemy outnumbered the Americans by at least four times, the American rifles brought down so many enemy that they gave way several times; but with their overwhelming numbers they at last succeeded in possessing the summit.
Here the story is quoted from the account of George Michael Bedinger who had been told the story by his brothers.[iii] “On the fatal sixteenth of November this company was taken captive by the British on the occasion of the surrender of Fort Washington. What a brave defense the riflemen made that day is well known. In the midst of the battle Henry, who with fifty picked men, of whom Daniel was one, had been stationed to repulse the enemy as they came up the hill towards the Fort. Henry heard a Hessian Captain speak to his men in German, telling them to follow his example and reserve their fire until close. Henry, recognizing his mother tongue, watched the approach of the Hessian officer up the hill, and, when they were close upon each other, each leveled his rifle, and fired at the same instant. Henry was wounded in the finger, which disabled his right hand. The ball, passing, took off a lock of his hair. His own ball, with truer aim, killed the Hessian officer, who fell, shot through the brain.” “Captain Bedinger’s younger brother, Daniel, then a little past fifteen, shot 27 rounds in this engagement, and was often heard to say, after discharging his piece, ‘there, take that you devils!’ His youthful intrepidity and gallant conduct, so particularly attracted the attention of the officers that, though taken prisoner, he was promoted to an ensigncy, his commission dating back six months that he might take precedence of the other ensigns of his company.”[iv] |
The overwhelming force of the enemy prevailed and Henry, Daniel and their unit retreated to the defenses inside the Fort. Col. Magaw sent out terms for surrender under a flag. The garrison of Fort Washington consisting of 2673 privates and 210 officers marched out, ground arms, and instead of being treated as agreed upon, and allowed to retain baggage, clothes, and side arms, every valuable article was torn away from both officers and soldiers.
The two brothers remained prisoners, Daniel, the youngest, but a few months, and Henry, the elder, nearly 4 years. Both were held in prison ships, with the cruelest treatment, in filthy holds, impure atmosphere, and stinted allowance of food. With such treatment it was no wonder that but eight hundred of the 28 hundred prisoners taken at Fort Washington survived. During the captivity of his brother Henry, George Michael Bedinger would by labor, loans at different times, and the property sold which he inherited from his father, to procure money to convey to the British commissary of prison, to pay his brother Henry board. Then he was released from the filthy prison ship, limited on his parole of honor to certain limits of Flatbush, decently provisioned and better treated; and it is pleasant to add, that the British officers having charge of these matters were faithful in the proper application of funds thus placed in their hands. George Michael made many trips on this labor of fraternal affection. This, with his attention to his mother and family kept George Michael from regularly serving in the army of General Washington. Henry was imprisoned for four years before he was released under an exchange agreement.
[i] Dandridge, Danske, 1909, George Michael Bedinger, A Kentucky Pioneer: The Michie Company, Printers, Charlottesville, Virginia, 232 p., p. 25.
[ii] Dandridge, Danske, 1909, George Michael Bedinger, A Kentucky Pioneer: The Michie Company, Printers, Charlottesville, Virginia, 232 p.
[iii] Dandridge, Danske, 1909, George Michael Bedinger, A Kentucky Pioneer: The Michie Company, Printers, Charlottesville, Virginia, 232 p., p. 25.
[iv] Dandridge, Danske, 1909, George Michael Bedinger, A Kentucky Pioneer: The Michie Company, Printers, Charlottesville, Virginia, 232 p., p. 26.
Continued: Go to A Boy in Prison
The two brothers remained prisoners, Daniel, the youngest, but a few months, and Henry, the elder, nearly 4 years. Both were held in prison ships, with the cruelest treatment, in filthy holds, impure atmosphere, and stinted allowance of food. With such treatment it was no wonder that but eight hundred of the 28 hundred prisoners taken at Fort Washington survived. During the captivity of his brother Henry, George Michael Bedinger would by labor, loans at different times, and the property sold which he inherited from his father, to procure money to convey to the British commissary of prison, to pay his brother Henry board. Then he was released from the filthy prison ship, limited on his parole of honor to certain limits of Flatbush, decently provisioned and better treated; and it is pleasant to add, that the British officers having charge of these matters were faithful in the proper application of funds thus placed in their hands. George Michael made many trips on this labor of fraternal affection. This, with his attention to his mother and family kept George Michael from regularly serving in the army of General Washington. Henry was imprisoned for four years before he was released under an exchange agreement.
[i] Dandridge, Danske, 1909, George Michael Bedinger, A Kentucky Pioneer: The Michie Company, Printers, Charlottesville, Virginia, 232 p., p. 25.
[ii] Dandridge, Danske, 1909, George Michael Bedinger, A Kentucky Pioneer: The Michie Company, Printers, Charlottesville, Virginia, 232 p.
[iii] Dandridge, Danske, 1909, George Michael Bedinger, A Kentucky Pioneer: The Michie Company, Printers, Charlottesville, Virginia, 232 p., p. 25.
[iv] Dandridge, Danske, 1909, George Michael Bedinger, A Kentucky Pioneer: The Michie Company, Printers, Charlottesville, Virginia, 232 p., p. 26.
Continued: Go to A Boy in Prison