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This was sworn testamony by my great-great-great-great grandfather Cary Mc Clelland Sr. It is an interesting bit about the war.
State of Ohio
Knox County
On this 31st day of May AD1834 personally appeared inopen court, before the judges of the court of common pleasof Knox County now setting Cary McClelland, a resident ofPleasant Township in the County of Knox and state of Ohio,aged 80 years on the fifteenth of March last, who beingfirst duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath makethe following declaration, in order to obtain the benefitof the act of Congress passed 7 Jun 1832. That he enlistedin the army of the United States sometime in April 1776,with Seargent Major Marshall, Sargent Major Nelson, who wasa prisoner, taken at St Johns, and put the regiment, thatclaiment was in through their excercise the first time,after there rendivous at Marshy Sook, by the request ofColonel Stewart. Claimant served in (the number ofregiments not recollected) but was called Col. Stuartregiment of the Pennsylvania riflemen and (as claimantthinks) of the Pennsylvania line, under the following namedofficers, to wit; Col. Walter Stuart and Captain JohnMarshall, Lieut.'s( names not recollected at this time).Ensign Spears. Claimant resided, when he enlisted theservice, within five miles of Bushtown, Hartford County,Maryland. Entered at the Trap Tavern - the day before theyorganized the company, that claimant was in, drawed theircapes and hunting shirts at Lancaster, Pa. Cape and theshirts was marched P. rondivoused at Marshy Sooks. Fromthere we marched to Lewistown to Subdue a Set of tories,then, to the best of his recollection, came back and builtRed Back Fort, thence to Philadelphia, thence cross thestate of New Jersey to Long Island, and was in the battleof that place. We arrived on Long Island about 8 daysbefore the battle commenced. Early in the morning we werecompletely surrounded by the British and were ordered tobreak through British ranks, which we did at the loss (aswas supposed at that time) of about 1000 men. We tookfifteen prisoners, and reached a fort on Long Islandbetween the battle ground and New York, where we staid onenight. The next night we crossed East river over to NewYork, where we remained about three weeks. While weremained at New York, the Roe Berck, a british man of war74, passed up the North River, to make observations on thestate of the American army. From New York we marched tothe battle of the white plains, which declarent was in,thence up the North River to Dobbs ferry, where we crossedthe N. River, thence on the Jersey side to Brunswick,thence to Princeton, and from there to Trenton, followedup by the British who placed the Hessians at Trenton. Wecrossed the river at Trenton, and marched (9 miles) up toMcCastles Ferry. The night before Christmas, Washington,recrossed the Delawar River, Marched to Trenton, and tookthe Hessians stationed there on Christmas day. Aftertaking the Hessians we marched back to McCastles ferry, ourencamping ground, where we laid about 8 days then crossedthe Delaware River and marched into Trenton again. Whilewe were there, the British came up with a large army. Westaid in town till they came in sight of town, and theBritish took possession of Trenton in the dusk of evening. Washington gave orders for every man to build a fire abouttwo rods apart, and while the fires were burning G.Washington marched us around the enemy on to Princeton,which the British had left the day before. The British hadleft a guard at Princeton over the baggage. Declarantheard G Washington tell General Mercer to detach a body ofmen, and go and attack the guard. Declarant was one of thedetachment. In the first of the engagement G. Mercer hadthe hoof shot off his horse with a three pounder; and washimself wounded in the groin, and fell. After that we hadto push bayonets at the right and left wings, and G Mercerwas stabbed 7 times with bayonets, when we retreated alittle distance, and was relieved by Gen Washington with areinforcement. The British Guard then surrendered, and wetook all the baggage. Gen. Mercer survived this action buta short time. From here we marched towards the Britishhead quarters at Burnswick, kept behind 8 men falling treesacross the road, and pulling up bridges to keep back theBritish. Washington took the Morristown road and theBritish went on to Brunswick. Laid at Morristown, Chatham& other parts of N. Jersey, all the Spring and for part ofthe Summer. Gen Stephens was Commander at Chatham. Skirmishing was the most that took place during this time,on untile the battle of brandywine, which declarant was in. Marched to Chads Ferry to meet the British, where it wasexpected they would cross but they went up the stream about3 miles. Washington marched his army up in brigades toresist their crossing. The contest continued the remainderof the day- The P.R. regiment arrived about 2 hours by sun,and fought on till dark. Washington marched his army offthat night and the next day marched to Philadelphia, thenceto Valley Forge. Gen Washington marched in the evening toGermantown, where we had a battle. Early on the ensuingmorning to our ----- we attacked the British and beat themback to the middle of the town, when unfavorablecircumstances produced confusion in the ranks, the britishgot round us and we were compelled to retreat back toValley Forge, were claimant remained some time, when histerm of 1 year & nine months enlistment expired. Declarantreceived a written discharge from Capt. Marshall and ColStuart which he has lost.
Declarant was born in Ireland on the 15 of March 1753. hasno record of his age. He was living within five miles ofBuckstown, Hartford County, Maryland, when he entered intothe service of the United States. After the Revolutiondeclarant moved to Pennsylvania where he lived about fiftyyears and moved from there to his present residence. Declarant hereby relinquished every claim whatever to apension or annuity except the present and declared that hisname is not on the pension roll of any agency in any state. Sworn to and subscribed this day and year aforesaid. CaryMcClelland.
Cary McClelland died in Ross Co., Ohio, on 8 March 1846,and is buried in the Bell Cemetery at Utica. CaryMcClelland was married twice, to a Miss McVay, and secondto Henrietta Myers, who died in 1829. Henrietta was awidow when she married Cary McClelland. (He was the fatherto 19 children. )
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05-26-2004 08:18 PM
