“On April 19,
1775, American resistance to British authority turned to armed rebellion when
Massachusetts militiamen confronted British Regulars who were advancing on the
towns of Lexington and Concord, resulting in casualties on both sides.”
Connecticut in the American Revolution, An Exhibition from the Library
and Museum Collections of the Society of the Cincinnati, page 10
5th
Great Grandfather Darius Peck was among the Connecticut men who responded to
the “Lexington Alarm” made famous by Paul Revere’s midnight ride.
The
British soldiers wanted to destroy military supplies the American Patriots had
secretly stockpiled. The Americans got wind of this and moved their war chest. You’ll
recall from your school days that tensions would soon ignite. A shot was
fired—nobody knows by whom. The fighting began that moment April 19, 1775 at
Lexington, Massachusetts.
History
recorded Pvt. Darius Peck from the Town of Norwich on the Lexington Alarm List.
When the War began, he had been married to Hannah Warner almost 3 years. He was
a father to one child with another due to be born October 1775.
The
next military record I found was dated Jan. 1, 1777 when Darius became an
Officer with the rank of Ensign in Capt. John Shumway’s Company with the 1st Connecticut Regiment. The 1st Regiment organized at Norwich 1777 and
was a unit of the Continental Army. They would take part in the New York Campaign and the Battle of Monmouth. (Click on the hyperlinks for more
information.)
In
December 1777, George Washington took his army to Valley Forge to winter. Mid-December
and mid-February 1778 proved to be especially harsh. The troops needed to build
shelter for their lodging while there was a food shortage leaving many men starved.
After
small log huts were built, the troops were offered the choice to go home.
Darius furloughed in December 1777 and again during January - February 1778.
It’s my hope Grandfather slept in his own bed that winter and had plenty to eat.
By
Feb. 7, 1778, Darius was promoted to 2nd Lieutenant and transferred
to Capt. Eliphalet Holmes’ Company. In the spring Grandfather took an Oath of
allegiance at Valley Forge May 23, 1778.
Darius
Peck resigned from the Regiment April 15, 1779.
A List of the
Officers of the 1st Connecticut Battalion of foot who have served
since the 1st of Jan’y 1777 until the present day August 30th
(Darius Peck appears
3rd line from the bottom)
Roll of the Names and
Remarks of Capt. Eliph’t Holmes’s Company
First Connecticut
Battallion dated Sept. 8, 1778
Darius Peck 2nd
name on list
I
assume the company roll above was written by Grandfather. His signature is
located on the bottom right.
Pay Rool of Capt.
John Shumways Comp’y 1st Connecticut Battalion for May 1779
Darius resigns from
the Regiment (3rd line)
Sources:
The Record of Connecticut Men in the
Military and Naval Service During the War of the Revolution 1775-1783 edited by
Henry P. Johnson, A.M. Under Authority of the Adjutant General of Connecticut,
Hartford, 1889; pages 19, 146
FIRE CAKE AND WATER The Connecticut Infantry
at the Valley Forge Encampment by Joseph Lee Boyle, page 147
Ancestry.com. U.S., Revolutionary War
Rolls, 1775-1783 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com
Operations, Inc., 2007. Original data: Revolutionary War Rolls, 1775-1783;
(National Archives Microfilm Publication M246, 138 rolls); War Department
Collection of Revolutionary War Records, Record Group 93; National Archives,
Washington. D.C.
If
you would like to read last week’s post about Darius and Hannah, click here.
