Читать книгу The American Jew as Patriot, Soldier and Citizen - Simon Wolf - Страница 22

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Scant and unsatisfactory as are the army records of the Revolutionary period, enough of an authentic character has been preserved to fully sustain the statement of Solomon Etting, who, writing in Baltimore in 1824, notes that among the soldiers of the Revolution "were many Hebrews who were always at their post and always foremost in all hazardous enterprises." This almost contemporary notice emanates from a Jew whose father had served in the Continental army from the beginning of the Revolution to the capture of Charleston, and who, through the prominence of his family had been brought in contact with many of the distinguished participants in the momentous struggle.

The active co-operation of Jewish citizens in the non-importation movement of 1763 has already been adverted to, but even before that time we find references to prominent Jewish participants in the public defense. In 1754, during the French and Indian War, Isaac Myers, a Jewish citizen of New York, called a town meeting at the "Rising Sun" Inn and organized a company of bateau men of which he became captain. Two other Jews are named as taking part in the same war, both of whom served in the expedition across the Allegheny mountains in the year above noted. It is altogether probable that these three were not the only Jewish soldiers of that early war, but only these have left traces of their presence. In the following year, 1755, when the colonies were agitated by the disastrous ending of the Braddock campaign and the incipient movement toward federation, we find a Jew, Benjamin Cohen, a member of the Provincial Council of Pennsylvania and Attorney-General of the colony.

The chronicles of the Revolutionary War afford a considerable and in many respects an interesting list of Jewish names. A few of the more prominent of these have already been mentioned under preceding heads, and others cited on the records are here added in alphabetical order:

Captain Noah Abraham

was called out with the battalion of Cumberland County Militia, of Pennsylvania, "by an order from Council, July 28, 1777."

Aaron Benjamin,

Ensign of 8th Connecticut Regiment, January 1, 1777; Second Lieutenant, February 14, 1778; First Lieutenant, May 7, 1778; Regimental Adjutant, April 1, 1780, to January, 1783; transferred to 5th Connecticut Regiment January 1, 1781; transferred to 3d Connecticut Regiment January 1, 1783; retained in Swift's Connecticut Regiment June, 1783, and served to November 3, 1783; Lieutenant-Colonel of 37th United States Infantry March 11, 1813; honorably discharged June 15, 1815; died January 11, 1829.

Samuel Benjamin,

Ensign of 8th Massachusetts Regiment January 1, 1777; Second Lieutenant October 3, 1777; First Lieutenant March 28, 1779, served to June, 1783.

Joseph Bloomfield,

Captain of 3d New Jersey Regiment February 9, 1776; Deputy Judge Advocate-General November 17, 1776, to October 29, 1778; Brigadier-General United States Army March 27, 1812; honorably discharged June 15, 1815; died October 3, 1823.

Moses Bloomfield,

(New Jersey) Hospital Surgeon May 14, 1777; Hospital Physician and Surgeon October 6, 1780; resigned December 13, 1780; died August 14, 1791.

Henry Pike Bush

is recorded as a soldier in the "Associators and Flying Camp," Pennsylvania.

Colonel Solomon Bush

was an officer in the Pennsylvania Militia (1777–1778), whose record is highly creditable and whose services won for him a well-deserved promotion. He was appointed Deputy Adjutant General of the Militia of the State on July 5, 1777. As to his subsequent career in the army, no stronger testimony could be desired than that set forth in the resolution adopted by the Supreme Executive Council of Pennsylvania, at its session on Wednesday, October 20, 1779. It reads thus:

"The petition of Major Solomon Bush, in the militia of this State, being read, and due inquiry having been made into the circumstances of his case, it appears that Major Bush has, on many occasions, distinguished himself in the public service, especially in the winter of 1776, when the service was critical and hazardous.

"That he entered again into the said service in the summer of 1777, when General Sir William Howe invaded the State and the militia were called out pursuant to the resolutions of Congress and the requisition of His Excellency, General Washington; and in the month of September, 1777, acting as Deputy Adjutant General, he was dangerously wounded in a skirmish between the militia and the advance of the British Army, his thigh being broken and he brought off with great difficulty; that being carried to his father's house, on Chestnut Hill, and incapable of being moved, he fell into the hands of the British Army, when it moved up to Whitemarsh, in December, 1777, who took his parole; That he has ever since been confined with his wound, and incapable of performing any military duty, or acquiring a livelihood, but on the other hand, his situation attended with much difficulty and expense.

"All which circumstances being considered, and that the said Major Bush being at the time of receiving his wounds in Continental Service and now a prisoner of war.

"Resolved, That he be recommended to the especial notice of the Honourable Board of War, in order to obtain pay and rations equal to his rank; and that this Board in consideration of the services and sufferings of Major Bush, will permit him to draw from the State store, from time to time, such articles as may be necessary for his comfortable Subsistence and Support."

That Major Bush had already been promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel, is evidenced by another resolution, complimentary to him, adopted by the same Council seven days later, when he was "recommended to the Honourable the Board of War, for pay and rations accordingly." Again on November 5, 1785, the Council, over which Benjamin Franklin then presided, passed an order for the payment of a pension due to Lieutenant-Colonel Bush.

Major Lewis Bush

became First Lieutenant of the 6th Pennsylvania Battalion on January 9, 1776 and Captain the following June. He was transferred to Colonel Thomas Hartley's Additional Continental Regiment January 13, 1773 and was commissioned Major, March 12, 1777. That he proved a brave soldier, his efficient service in a number of battles affords ample evidence. At the battle of Brandywine, September 11, 1777, he was fatally wounded, and four days later he died.

Jonas Bush

was in the roll of revolutionary soldiers, but there is no information given as to his rank or date of enlistment.

Jacob I. Cohen

in 1783 went to Charleston, S. C., and during the campaign which followed, took part as a volunteer soldier in the Continental army, serving under Moultrie and Lincoln. Frequent references to Mr. Cohen are found in the Madison papers, and his valuable services are repeatedly adverted to.

Philip Jacob Cohen

became so distinguished for the services he rendered to the Colonies that he was singled out by the British authorities through a special order depriving him of the right of holding or exercising any office of trust, honor or profit in the Province of Georgia.

Mordecai Davis,

Ensign of 2nd Pennsylvania Battery January 5, 1776; died on August 12, 1776.

Reuben Etting

was a clerk in Baltimore at the time of the battle at Lexington. Although only 19 years of age, he enlisted in a Maryland company, which hastened north to join the forces of Congress. He served in various battles and was taken prisoner by the British at the surrender of Charleston. When released from imprisonment by exchange he was broken in health from ill treatment in prison and exposure on the field. He was a captain of the Independent Blues in 1798, and Marshal of Maryland, appointed by President Jefferson.

Solomon Etting,

a native of York, Pennsylvania, appears as one of the committee of citizens appointed to forward resolutions to Washington expressive of disapprobation of a proposed treaty with Great Britain. Subsequently settled in Baltimore and became President of the Municipal Council.

Colonel Isaac Franks,

who then lived in Philadelphia, entered the army shortly after the battle of Lexington. He became aide-de-camp to General Washington, holding the rank of colonel, and serving throughout the war. After the Revolution Colonel Franks became the incumbent of various civil offices, among them Prothonotary of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, being appointed to that position on February 18, 1819. His residence in Germantown was for some time occupied by President Washington.

Colonel David S. Franks, Aide-de-camp. See sketch on p. 27.

Michael Gratz,

of Philadelphia, aided the Colonists in the Revolutionary war. He was one of the signers of the Non-Importation Resolutions (October 20, 1765), after the passage of the Stamp Act, and was among the most active, patriotic and respected Israelites of Philadelphia, being a conspicuous character in public affairs.

Bernard Hart

was Quartermaster of a brigade of State troops during the Revolution.

Michael Hart,

a public spirited and leading citizen of Easton, Pa., of whom it is recorded:

"Let it be remembered that Michael Hart was a Jew, practically pious, a Jew reverencing and strictly observant of the Sabbath and Festivals; dietary laws were also adhered to. * * * Mark well that he, Washington, the then honored as 'first in peace, first in war, and first in the hearts of his countrymen,' even during a short sojourn, became for the hour the guest of the worthy Jew."

Moses Hammer

enlisted as a private in the 1st Pennsylvania Battalion November 15, 1775.

David Hays, Jr.,

was an active participant in the struggle for independence and served with the Colonial Army on Long Island. In retaliation for his patriotic services the Tories burned his house and store. Prior to the Revolution he was one of the Commissioners appointed by the British authorities to lay out public lands. All of his family sided with the Colonists during the War of Independence.

David Hays and Jacob Hays,

father and son, fought in various of the battles for independence.

Colonel Isaacs,

of North Carolina Militia; wounded and taken prisoner at Camden August 16, 1780; exchanged July, 1781.

Moses Isaacks,

one of the early settlers of Newport, R. I., was an active supporter of the Army of the Revolution. He had the honor of receiving General Washington as a guest at his house.

Solomon Isaac

enlisted as a private in the 6th Pennsylvania Battalion, company of Capt. Robert Adams, February 6, 1776.

Isaac Israel,

2nd Lieutenant of 8th Virginia Regiment, February 9, 1776; 1st Lieutenant, January, 1777; Captain, November 23, 1777; transferred to 4th Virginia Regiment, September 14, 1778.

Joseph Israel

volunteered as a soldier during the Revolution.

Jacob Leon

was an officer on the staff of General Pulaski.

Jacob De Leon,

of Charleston, S. C., was a distinguished officer of the War of the Revolution. He served as captain on the staff of General de Kalb, and when the latter was mortally wounded at the battle of Camden, S. C., de Leon in company with Major Benjamin Nones and Captain Jacob de la Motta, of the staff, carried de Kalb from the field.

Asher Levy,

Ensign of 1st New Jersey Regiment, September 12, 1778; resigned June 4, 1779.

Nathaniel Levy,

of Baltimore, served under Lafayette during the Revolutionary War.

Israel de Lieber

was a soldier of the Revolutionary War, who rose from the ranks to military positions of honor and trust.

Jacob Moser,

Captain of 6th Pennsylvania Regiment, February 15, 1777; retired, July 1, 1778.

Benjamin Moses

served on the staff of General Pulaski.

Isaac Moses,

of Philadelphia, advanced three thousand pounds when Robert Morris undertook to raise money to prosecute the War of Independence; he was active in the Jewish communities of New York and Philadelphia.

Emanuel de la Motta

served in the Revolution and in the War of 1812. In recognition of his valor as displayed in battle he was promoted from the ranks to a military position of honor.

Jacob de la Motta

was a captain on the staff of General Pulaski.

Manuel Mordecai Noah,

of South Carolina, (1747–1825) patriot and soldier; heretofore referred to as having contributed twenty thousand pounds to the support of the American army; served with General Marion, also on the staff of General Washington.

Major Benjamin Nones,

a native of Bordeaux, France, came to Philadelphia in 1777. He served at various times on the staff of General Lafayette and on that of General Washington. He had previously been a private under General Pulaski, and had, as he writes, "fought in almost every action which took place in Carolina, and in the disastrous affair of Savannah, shared the hardships of that sanguinary day." He became major of a Legion of four hundred men attached to Baron De Kalb's command and composed in part of Hebrews. At the battle of Camden, S. C., on August 16, 1780, when the brave De Kalb fell mortally wounded, Major Nones, Capt. Jacob De la Motta and Capt. Jacob de Leon bore their chief from the battlefield.

Major Nones rendered many conspicuous services, civil and military, to his adopted country.

Abraham R. Rivera

was a member of the artillery corps of Newport, R. I., in 1790.

Philip Moses Russel

was born 1745, and resided in Germantown, Pa. When the war broke out in the Spring of 1775 he enlisted as surgeon's mate under the command of General Lee, serving about ten months. After the British occupation of Philadelphia, in September, 1777, he became surgeon's mate to Surgeon Norman, of the Second Virginia Regiment.

Russell went into winter quarters with the army at Valley Forge, 1777–1778. An attack of sickness, which impaired both his sight and hearing, forced him to resign in August, 1780. He received a letter of commendation from General Washington, "for his assiduous and faithful attentions to the sick and wounded."

Ezekiel Sampson,

Lieutenant of Baldwin's Artillery, Artificer Regiment, May to December, 1775.

Joseph Sampson,

2nd Lieutenant of Cotton's Massachusetts Regiment, May to December, 1775.

Abraham Seixes, was a lieutenant in the Georgia Brigade of the Continental Army.

Mordecai Sheftall. See biographical sketch, p. 40.