The Newsletters of the Friends of the Green Howards Regimental Museum

Issue No.8

Issue 8. September 1999.
With the 19th Foot Through the American War of Independence, 1781 to 1782

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Issue 8. September 1999 With the 19th Foot Through the American War of Independence, 1781 to 1782
With the 19th Foot Through the American War of Independence		An introduction to the historical events associated with the posting of the 19th Foot to South Carolina in 1781.

Skirmish at the Cooper River. The Loss of the Regimental Silver?		A description of a skirmish involving the 19th Foot and American rebels under General Sumter in which trunks with the Paymaster's chest (containing 720 guineas) were captured by the Americans. Legend had it that the boxes contained the regimental silver.

The Brown Bess Musket		A description of the firearm issued to the British Army of the time.

Women at War		As many as 5000 women accompanied the British Army to America. The role of these women is described.

Officers of the 19th Foot		Brief biographical details are given of all the Officers of the 19th Foot at the time.

Lord Edward Fitzgerald, 19th Regiment of Foot 1781 - 1783		The career of the fifth son of the Duke of Leinster is described. Lord Edward Fitzgerald fought with the 19th Foot, and was wounded at the Battle of Eutaw Springs. However, he ended his days under arrest (and finally death in a Dublin prison) for activities with Irish rebels and French revolutionaries.

The Battle of Eutaw Springs		A description, with map, is given of the battle between the British Army and the Americans which took place on 8th September 1781.

The True Tale of Billy Lunsford		An American soldier intent on killing a British sentinel was himself shot, - but was nursed back to health by a British surgeon.

Major John Marjoribanks, 19th Regiment of Foot 1757 - 1781		Major John Marjoribanks was fatally wounded at the Battle of Eutaw Springs. His grave, 25 miles South East of the Battlefield, was moved back to the Battlefield site in 1941 and is now a State Historic Site. In September 1996, 60 members of the Marjoribanks family gathered at the site to pay tribute to this Officer and to give thanks for the care accorded to this grave.

The Aftermath		The American War of Independence cost the lives of 43,600 British soldiers, and 100,000 Americans. Although the British Army had surrendered at Yorktown, the British troops had overcome extraordinary obstacles during the course of the war and had conducted themselves well.

Postcript		Although most of the men in the 19th Foot came from Ireland, the War Office assigned the regiment to be associated with the North Riding of Yorkshire in 1782.

The Search So Far, by Robert Black		A description of the battlefield archaeology associated with the fighting that took place in South Carolina.

The Legend of the Richmond Drummer Boy		The story of Richmond's famous legend is presented, together with a description of 18th Century Richmond and the annual commemorative Drummer Boy Walk.

Issue 8. September 1999
With the 19th Foot Through the American War of Independence, 1781 to 1782

With the 19th Foot Through the American War of Independence

An introduction to the historical events associated with the posting of the 19th Foot to South Carolina in 1781.

Skirmish at the Cooper River.
The Loss of the Regimental Silver?

A description of a skirmish involving the 19th Foot and American rebels under General Sumter in which trunks with the Paymaster's chest (containing 720 guineas) were captured by the Americans. Legend had it that the boxes contained the regimental silver.

The Brown Bess Musket

A description of the firearm issued to the British Army of the time.

Women at War

As many as 5000 women accompanied the British Army to America. The role of these women is described.

Officers of the 19th Foot

Brief biographical details are given of all the Officers of the 19th Foot at the time.

Lord Edward Fitzgerald,
19th Regiment of Foot 1781 - 1783

The career of the fifth son of the Duke of Leinster is described. Lord Edward Fitzgerald fought with the 19th Foot, and was wounded at the Battle of Eutaw Springs. However, he ended his days under arrest (and finally death in a Dublin prison) for activities with Irish rebels and French revolutionaries.

The Battle of Eutaw Springs

A description, with map, is given of the battle between the British Army and the Americans which took place on 8th September 1781.

The True Tale of Billy Lunsford

An American soldier intent on killing a British sentinel was himself shot, - but was nursed back to health by a British surgeon.

Major John Marjoribanks,
19th Regiment of Foot 1757 - 1781

Major John Marjoribanks was fatally wounded at the Battle of Eutaw Springs. His grave, 25 miles South East of the Battlefield, was moved back to the Battlefield site in 1941 and is now a State Historic Site. In September 1996, 60 members of the Marjoribanks family gathered at the site to pay tribute to this Officer and to give thanks for the care accorded to this grave.

The Aftermath

The American War of Independence cost the lives of 43,600 British soldiers, and 100,000 Americans. Although the British Army had surrendered at Yorktown, the British troops had overcome extraordinary obstacles during the course of the war and had conducted themselves well.

Postcript

Although most of the men in the 19th Foot came from Ireland, the War Office assigned the regiment to be associated with the North Riding of Yorkshire in 1782.

The Search So Far,
by Robert Black

A description of the battlefield archaeology associated with the fighting that took place in South Carolina.

The Legend of the Richmond Drummer Boy

The story of Richmond's famous legend is presented, together with a description of 18th Century Richmond and the annual commemorative Drummer Boy Walk.