Adamson Tannehill

In mid-November 1776, a large portion of Tannehill's regiment was captured or killed at the [[Battle of Fort Washington]] on northern [[Manhattan]] Island.<ref name="RawlingsWashington_1778">Rawlings to Washington (August 1778).</ref> The remainder—about one-third of the unit, including Tannehill, who had still been away recruiting—continued to serve actively in the Continental Army.<ref>Hentz, [http://military-historians.org/company/journal/58-3/58-3.pdf p. 134.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111121142218/http://military-historians.org/company/journal/58-3/58-3.pdf |date=November 21, 2011 }}.</ref> That winter, they participated in the American victories at the battles of [[Battle of Trenton|Trenton]], [[Battle of the Assunpink Creek|Assunpink Creek]], and [[Battle of Princeton|Princeton]] and in the early 1777 skirmishing in northern [[New Jersey]], a period termed the [[Forage War]].<ref>Hentz, [http://military-historians.org/company/journal/58-3/58-3.pdf pp. 135–137.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111121142218/http://military-historians.org/company/journal/58-3/58-3.pdf |date=November 21, 2011 }}.</ref><ref>Smith (1965), [https://archive.org/details/battleoftrenton0000samu/page/28/mode/2up?view=theater p. 28.]</ref><ref>Smith (1967), [https://archive.org/details/battleofprinceto00smit/page/34/mode/2up?view=theater p. 34.]</ref> The following spring, they were administratively attached to the [[11th Virginia Regiment]] in part because of the losses suffered by their rifle regiment. The riflemen also served as an experienced, if small, force to bolster this newly formed [[Virginia]] unit.<ref>Hentz, [http://military-historians.org/company/journal/58-3/58-3.pdf pp. 136–137.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111121142218/http://military-historians.org/company/journal/58-3/58-3.pdf |date=November 21, 2011 }}. Attachment is a formal process involving the ''temporary'' assignment to a military unit other than the permanent, parent unit. Detachment is the opposite—a return to the permanent military unit.</ref>

In mid-November 1776, a large portion of Tannehill's regiment was captured or killed at the [[Battle of Fort Washington]] on northern [[Manhattan]] Island.<ref name="RawlingsWashington_1778">Rawlings to Washington (August 1778).</ref> The remainder—about one-third of the unit, including Tannehill, who had still been away recruiting—continued to serve actively in the Continental Army.<ref>Hentz, [http://military-historians.org/company/journal/58-3/58-3.pdf p. 134.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111121142218/http://military-historians.org/company/journal/58-3/58-3.pdf |date=November 21, 2011 }}.</ref> That winter, they participated in the American victories at the battles of [[Battle of Trenton|Trenton]], [[Battle of the Assunpink Creek|Assunpink Creek]], and [[Battle of Princeton|Princeton]] and in the early 1777 skirmishing in northern [[New Jersey]], a period termed the [[Forage War]].<ref>Hentz, [http://military-historians.org/company/journal/58-3/58-3.pdf pp. 135–137.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111121142218/http://military-historians.org/company/journal/58-3/58-3.pdf |date=November 21, 2011 }}.</ref><ref>Smith (1965), [https://archive.org/details/battleoftrenton0000samu/page/28/mode/2up?view=theater p. 28.]</ref><ref>Smith (1967), [https://archive.org/details/battleofprinceto00smit/page/34/mode/2up?view=theater p. 34.]</ref> The following spring, they were administratively attached to the [[11th Virginia Regiment]] in part because of the losses suffered by their rifle regiment. The riflemen also served as an experienced, if small, force to bolster this newly formed [[Virginia]] unit.<ref>Hentz, [http://military-historians.org/company/journal/58-3/58-3.pdf pp. 136–137.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111121142218/http://military-historians.org/company/journal/58-3/58-3.pdf |date=November 21, 2011 }}. Attachment is a formal process involving the ''temporary'' assignment to a military unit other than the permanent, parent unit. Detachment is the opposite—a return to the permanent military unit.</ref>

[[File:Officer commission for Adamson Tannehill, dated January 1, 1776.png|alt=One-page, tan and brown, folded and tattered document from the Continental Congress that has mostly printed words but also handwritten text indicating that Adamson Tannehill has been approved as third lieutenant in Captain Otho Holland Williams company of riflemen.|thumb|left|A Continental Army officer's [[Commission (document)|commission]] for Third Lieutenant "Adamson Tannehill, Gent[leman]" of Captain Otho Holland Williams' Independent Rifle Company, dated January 1, 1776. Williams had replaced Thomas Price as captain of the company in late 1775]] Tannehill was promoted to [[first lieutenant]] in May 1777,<ref>Heth (May 18, 1777). William Heth was the major of the 11th Virginia Regiment when he began compiling this orderly book.</ref> and the following month he was attached to the just-organized [[Morgan's Riflemen|Provisional Rifle Corps]] commanded by [[Colonel]] [[Daniel Morgan]].<ref>Long's Provisional Rifle Co. pay roll (July 1777).</ref> Deployed as specialized [[light infantry]], this regiment-size force of about 500 riflemen played pivotal roles in the American victories at the battles of [[Battles of Saratoga|Saratoga]] and [[Battle of White Marsh|White Marsh]] in late 1777 and a peripheral role in the tactically inconclusive [[Battle of Monmouth]] in June 1778. The rifle corps was also notable for its scouting and [[Outpost (military)|outpost]] duties in defense of the Continental Army's [[Valley Forge]] encampment during the winter and spring of 1777–1778.<ref name="Hentz_138">Hentz, [http://military-historians.org/company/journal/58-3/58-3.pdf p. 138.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111121142218/http://military-historians.org/company/journal/58-3/58-3.pdf |date=November 21, 2011 }}.</ref> For the last half of 1778, Tannehill and the unit served in south-central [[New York (state)|New York]], where they assisted in countering [[Raid (military)|depredations]] to settlements by [[Loyalist (American Revolution)|Loyalist]] units and British-allied [[Iroquois]] warriors.<ref name="RawlingsWashington_1778"/><ref>Williams, [https://archive.org/details/yearofhangmangeo0000will/page/148/mode/2up?view=theater p. 149.] In July 1778, the Provisional Rifle Corps, then under the command of Captain Thomas Posey, had been reduced in size to two companies of about 135 officers and men (Williams, p. 152).</ref><ref>Hoth, [https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/03-16-02-0146 pp. 131–132.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240825185927/https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/03-16-02-0146|date=August 25, 2024 }}. The letter recipient, Major General Philip Schuyler, was a prominent New York officer.</ref> The most noteworthy operation in which the riflemen participated was the [[raid on Unadilla and Onaquaga]] in early October.<ref>Williams, [https://archive.org/details/yearofhangmangeo0000will/page/168/mode/2up?view=theater pp. 168–169.]</ref> Tannehill was detached from the rifle corps at the start of 1779,<ref name="Dickson_1">Dickson and Dickson, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/lancaster-intelligencer/151055497/ p. 1.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240710174313/https://www.newspapers.com/article/lancaster-intelligencer/151055497/|date=July 10, 2024 }}.</ref> at which time he returned to the Maryland and Virginia Rifle Regiment (his permanent unit).

[[File:Officer commission for Adamson Tannehill, dated January 1, 1776.png|alt=One-page, tan and brown, folded and tattered document from the Continental Congress that has mostly printed words but also handwritten text indicating that Adamson Tannehill has been approved as third lieutenant in Captain Otho Holland Williams company of riflemen.|thumb|left|A Continental Army officer's [[Commission (document)|commission]] for Third Lieutenant "Adamson Tannehill, Gent[leman]" of Captain [[Otho Holland Williams]]' Independent Rifle Company, dated January 1, 1776. Williams had replaced Thomas Price as captain of the company in late 1775]] Tannehill was promoted to [[first lieutenant]] in May 1777,<ref>Heth (May 18, 1777). William Heth was the major of the 11th Virginia Regiment when he began compiling this orderly book.</ref> and the following month he was attached to the just-organized [[Morgan's Riflemen|Provisional Rifle Corps]] commanded by [[Colonel]] [[Daniel Morgan]].<ref>Long's Provisional Rifle Co. pay roll (July 1777).</ref> Deployed as specialized [[light infantry]], this regiment-size force of about 500 riflemen played pivotal roles in the American victories at the battles of [[Battles of Saratoga|Saratoga]] and [[Battle of White Marsh|White Marsh]] in late 1777 and a peripheral role in the tactically inconclusive [[Battle of Monmouth]] in June 1778. The rifle corps was also notable for its scouting and [[Outpost (military)|outpost]] duties in defense of the Continental Army's [[Valley Forge]] encampment during the winter and spring of 1777–1778.<ref name="Hentz_138">Hentz, [http://military-historians.org/company/journal/58-3/58-3.pdf p. 138.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111121142218/http://military-historians.org/company/journal/58-3/58-3.pdf |date=November 21, 2011 }}.</ref> For the last half of 1778, Tannehill and the unit served in south-central [[New York (state)|New York]], where they assisted in countering [[Raid (military)|depredations]] to settlements by [[Loyalist (American Revolution)|Loyalist]] units and British-allied [[Iroquois]] warriors.<ref name="RawlingsWashington_1778"/><ref>Williams, [https://archive.org/details/yearofhangmangeo0000will/page/148/mode/2up?view=theater p. 149.] In July 1778, the Provisional Rifle Corps, then under the command of Captain Thomas Posey, had been reduced in size to two companies of about 135 officers and men (Williams, p. 152).</ref><ref>Hoth, [https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/03-16-02-0146 pp. 131–132.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240825185927/https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/03-16-02-0146|date=August 25, 2024 }}. The letter recipient, Major General Philip Schuyler, was a prominent New York officer.</ref> The most noteworthy operation in which the riflemen participated was the [[raid on Unadilla and Onaquaga]] in early October.<ref>Williams, [https://archive.org/details/yearofhangmangeo0000will/page/168/mode/2up?view=theater pp. 168–169.]</ref> Tannehill was detached from the rifle corps at the start of 1779,<ref name="Dickson_1">Dickson and Dickson, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/lancaster-intelligencer/151055497/ p. 1.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240710174313/https://www.newspapers.com/article/lancaster-intelligencer/151055497/|date=July 10, 2024 }}.</ref> at which time he returned to the Maryland and Virginia Rifle Regiment (his permanent unit).

In January 1779, Tannehill was ordered to [[Fort Cumberland (Maryland)|Fort Cumberland]], western Maryland,<ref name="Dickson_1"/> to help recruit three companies "to the full complement"<ref name="Ford_104">Ford (1909a), [https://archive.org/details/journalsofcontin13unit/page/104/mode/2up?view=theater p. 104.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230128162838/https://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/ampage?collId=lljc&fileName=013%2Flljc013.db&recNum=102&itemLink=r%3Fammem%2Fhlaw%3A%40field%28DOCID+%40lit%28jc01325%29%29%230130103&linkText=1 |date=January 28, 2023 }}.</ref> for the undermanned Maryland and Virginia Rifle Regiment.<ref>[https://catalog.archives.gov/id/144236548?objectPage=27 Shaw war-pension testimony.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240728154121/https://revwarapps.org/s16526.pdf|date=July 28, 2024 }}. Sergeant Basil Shaw′s testimony in part relates "I enlisted [...] with one Captain Adamson Tannehill who was authoris′d to recruit Soldiers for the purpose of reinstateing {{sic}} the Regiment of Riflemen Commanded by Col. Moses Rawlins [Rawlings] [...and] it was in 1778 {{sic}} that I Inlisted {{sic}} for the Term of Three years and the first service that I was Directed to attend to, was to Guard British prisoners at fort Cumberland in Maryland and after some months [...] there being only Two Company′s Enlisted one of them was Commanded by Captain Thos. Beale [Beall] and the other by Capt′n. A. Tannehill, whome {{sic}} I enlisted with and we were ordered to go on to fort pitt & Join the Western army in the Indian War". As recorded in muster rolls, Sergeant Shaw enlisted as a private in the rifle regiment in the spring of 1779, not 1778 (Shaw war-pension testimony, p. 17).</ref> This action was part of a formal reorganization of the unit<ref>Hentz, [http://military-historians.org/company/journal/58-3/58-3.pdf p. 139.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111121142218/http://military-historians.org/company/journal/58-3/58-3.pdf |date=November 21, 2011 }}.</ref> conducted in advance of the regiment′s relocation to [[Fort Pitt (Pennsylvania)|Fort Pitt]] in western Pennsylvania.<ref name=" Ford_104"/> Acting under the same orders, [[Lieutenant colonel (United States)|Lieutenant Colonel]] [[Moses Rawlings]], the rifle regiment's commander, was also working that winter and spring to rebuild the unit by recruiting new members and marshaling returning prisoners of war while stationed at [[Fort Frederick State Park|Fort Frederick]], Maryland.<ref name="Hentz_138"/> (Rawlings had been captured at the Battle of Fort Washington and exchanged from British captivity in early 1778. After his release, he was assigned command of the prisoner-of-war camp and its militia guard at Fort Frederick. As a result, the elements of the rifle regiment still in the field continued to be led by the company officers.)<ref name="pp. 138–139.">Hentz, [http://military-historians.org/company/journal/58-3/58-3.pdf pp. 138–139.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111121142218/http://military-historians.org/company/journal/58-3/58-3.pdf |date=November 21, 2011 }}.</ref><ref>Rawlings to Congress (November 28, 1785).</ref> In furtherance of the officers' efforts to muster their regiment, General [[George Washington]] ordered in February 1779 "all the men belonging to [...] Rawlings's Regimt. now doing duty in the line are to be delivered up to Lieutenant Tanneyhill {{sic}} of said regiment upon his demanding them."<ref>Washington General Orders [https://www.loc.gov/resource/mgw3g.004/?sp=22 (February 16, 1779).] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240408143531/https://www.loc.gov/resource/mgw3g.004/?sp=22&st=text|date=April 8, 2024}}. For administrative reasons, Rawlings′ force now consisted of virtually all Marylanders.</ref> Tannehill supervised the assembly of the regiment because of the temporary absence of its acting commander.<ref>Hentz, [http://military-historians.org/company/journal/58-3/58-3.pdf pp. 138–139.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111121142218/http://military-historians.org/company/journal/58-3/58-3.pdf |date=November 21, 2011 }}. While in the field, the regiment's only captain not in enemy captivity (Captain Thomas Beall) served as its acting commander, with First Lieutenant Tannehill as second-in-charge.</ref>

In January 1779, Tannehill was ordered to [[Fort Cumberland (Maryland)|Fort Cumberland]], western Maryland,<ref name="Dickson_1"/> to help recruit three companies "to the full complement"<ref name="Ford_104">Ford (1909a), [https://archive.org/details/journalsofcontin13unit/page/104/mode/2up?view=theater p. 104.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230128162838/https://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/ampage?collId=lljc&fileName=013%2Flljc013.db&recNum=102&itemLink=r%3Fammem%2Fhlaw%3A%40field%28DOCID+%40lit%28jc01325%29%29%230130103&linkText=1 |date=January 28, 2023 }}.</ref> for the undermanned Maryland and Virginia Rifle Regiment.<ref>[https://catalog.archives.gov/id/144236548?objectPage=27 Shaw war-pension testimony.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240728154121/https://revwarapps.org/s16526.pdf|date=July 28, 2024 }}. Sergeant Basil Shaw′s testimony in part relates "I enlisted [...] with one Captain Adamson Tannehill who was authoris′d to recruit Soldiers for the purpose of reinstateing {{sic}} the Regiment of Riflemen Commanded by Col. Moses Rawlins [Rawlings] [...and] it was in 1778 {{sic}} that I Inlisted {{sic}} for the Term of Three years and the first service that I was Directed to attend to, was to Guard British prisoners at fort Cumberland in Maryland and after some months [...] there being only Two Company′s Enlisted one of them was Commanded by Captain Thos. Beale [Beall] and the other by Capt′n. A. Tannehill, whome {{sic}} I enlisted with and we were ordered to go on to fort pitt & Join the Western army in the Indian War". As recorded in muster rolls, Sergeant Shaw enlisted as a private in the rifle regiment in the spring of 1779, not 1778 (Shaw war-pension testimony, p. 17).</ref> This action was part of a formal reorganization of the unit<ref>Hentz, [http://military-historians.org/company/journal/58-3/58-3.pdf p. 139.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111121142218/http://military-historians.org/company/journal/58-3/58-3.pdf |date=November 21, 2011 }}.</ref> conducted in advance of the regiment′s relocation to [[Fort Pitt (Pennsylvania)|Fort Pitt]] in western Pennsylvania.<ref name=" Ford_104"/> Acting under the same orders, [[Lieutenant colonel (United States)|Lieutenant Colonel]] [[Moses Rawlings]], the rifle regiment's commander, was also working that winter and spring to rebuild the unit by recruiting new members and marshaling returning prisoners of war while stationed at [[Fort Frederick State Park|Fort Frederick]], Maryland.<ref name="Hentz_138"/> (Rawlings had been captured at the Battle of Fort Washington and exchanged from British captivity in early 1778. After his release, he was assigned command of the prisoner-of-war camp and its militia guard at Fort Frederick. As a result, the elements of the rifle regiment still in the field continued to be led by the company officers.)<ref name="pp. 138–139.">Hentz, [http://military-historians.org/company/journal/58-3/58-3.pdf pp. 138–139.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111121142218/http://military-historians.org/company/journal/58-3/58-3.pdf |date=November 21, 2011 }}.</ref><ref>Rawlings to Congress (November 28, 1785).</ref> In furtherance of the officers' efforts to muster their regiment, General [[George Washington]] ordered in February 1779 "all the men belonging to [...] Rawlings's Regimt. now doing duty in the line are to be delivered up to Lieutenant Tanneyhill {{sic}} of said regiment upon his demanding them."<ref>Washington General Orders [https://www.loc.gov/resource/mgw3g.004/?sp=22 (February 16, 1779).] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240408143531/https://www.loc.gov/resource/mgw3g.004/?sp=22&st=text|date=April 8, 2024}}. For administrative reasons, Rawlings′ force now consisted of virtually all Marylanders.</ref> Tannehill supervised the assembly of the regiment because of the temporary absence of its acting commander.<ref>Hentz, [http://military-historians.org/company/journal/58-3/58-3.pdf pp. 138–139.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111121142218/http://military-historians.org/company/journal/58-3/58-3.pdf |date=November 21, 2011 }}. While in the field, the regiment's only captain not in enemy captivity (Captain Thomas Beall) served as its acting commander, with First Lieutenant Tannehill as second-in-charge.</ref>