Washington's Aides-de-Camp

Thirty-three men served as General George Washington's aides-de-camp during the War for American Independence, according to "the authoritative list of Washington's aides and secretaries compiled by Worthington Chauncy Ford in 1906. He was the chief of the Manuscripts Division of the Library of Congress at the time."^[1] Ford adds Martha Washington to the list to acknowledge that she worked at Washington's headquarters office.

General Washington said about recruiting such men,^[2]

They ought to be men of abilities...constantly calling for talents and abilities of the first rate: men who possess them ought to be taken wherever they can be found.

List of aides-de-camp

• Col. Albert Pawling served as Gen. Washington's Aide-de-camp from 1778 to March of 1779. Acting under a mistaken impression, Major Pawling in 1779 sent in his resignation, which, however, he could not be induced to recall, even by the following letter from Washington:

"'Headquarters, Middlebrook, 2d March, 1779.

'Sir: In your letter of 25th ult., you seem to have misconceived the intention of Congress, upon which is founded your application for leave to resign.

'It is not their purpose to reduce Col. Malcolm's regiment. This will be incorporated with Col. Spencer's, and as you are the only major in the two regiments, of course you will be continued.

'After considering the just claims which the country has on good officers, I am persuaded you will suspend your application.

'I am, sir, 'Your must humble serv't, 'Geo: Washington

'To Major Albert Pawling.'"

Years later Col. Pawling became a founder and father to the City of Troy, New York. He served three terms as village president, and was appointed first mayor of the city.

• Hodijah Baylies joined Washington in Newburgh in the spring after Yorktown. Back in 1777 Baylies graduated Harvard, was commissioned a lieutenant in Jackson's Additional Continental Regiment, appointed as aide-de-camp to General Benjamin Lincoln, and was promoted to major. He was captured by the British at the siege of Charleston. Exchanged in November 1780, he returned to Harvard for a master of arts degree. He was appointed May 1782 and served until December 23, 1783.^[3]
• George Baylor
• [4]
• Richard Cary was written about kindly by Congressman John Adams to another Massachusetts delegate, William Tudor, judge advocate to the Continental Army. Cary was appointed a brigade major until his appointment as aide-de-camp in June 1776. He resigned in December 1776 to get married.^[5]
• Dr. David Cobb
• Peregrine Fitzhugh 1781
• Col. William Grayson
• Alexander Hamilton
• Alexander Contee Hanson
• Robert Hanson Harrison
• John Hopwood
• David Humphreys arrived with Washington at Mount Vernon in time for Christmas 1783. Along with Benjamin Walker, they stayed until December 28.^[6]
• John Laurens
• Dr. Battle of Monmouth.
• Dr. Ebenezer Man, was Brigade Surgeon under Gen. Washington at White Plains and at the battle of Monmouth.
• Edmund Randolph
• Joseph Reed
• William Stephens Smith
• Tench Tilghman
• John Trumbull
• Jonathan Trumbull, Jr.
• Benjamin Walker also traveled with Washington after the war and arrived at Mount Vernon just before Christmas.
• Samuel Blachley Webb was one of the three aides who were wounded while on Washington's staff. He was wounded three times, at Bunker Hill, White Plains, and Trenton. In January 1777, Webb resigned as Washington's aide and formed Colonel Webb's Additional Regiment. In December 1777, he was captured by the British and held prisoner for three years.^[7]

Notes

1. ^ Lefkowitz, p. 15
2. ^ Jon C. Fitzpatrick, ed. (1931-44). The Writings of George Washington, U.S. Government Printing Office. 10:378.
3. ^ Lefkowitz, p. 256
4. ^ From a 28 June 1931 Syracuse Newspaper Story About DAR Marking Graves of 595 Revolutionary War Soldiers Buried in Onondaga County. “Marking of Revolutionary War Graves By D.A.R. Signals Start of Campaign to Identify 595 in Onondaga County.”
5. ^ Lefkowitz, p. 56
6. ^ Lefkowitz, p. 262
7. ^ Lefkowitz, p. 54

Bibliography

• Lefkowitz, Arthur S.(2003). George Washington's Indispensable Men: The 32 Aides-de-Camp Who Helped Win the Revolution, Stackpole Books.