Joseph Doughty
Encyclopedia
John Doughty was an American
military officer who briefly served as the senior officer of the United States Army
in 1784. Born in New York City
on July 25, 1754, he graduated from King's College (Columbia University
) in 1770 and entered military service through New Jersey state channels in January 1776.
He served as adjutant general of two Morris County
battalions and was appointed captain-lieutenant of the Eastern Artillery Company of New Jersey
in March 1776. Doughty became captain in the 2nd Continental Artillery in January 1777 and served as aide to Major General
Philip Schuyler
. Later, he was assigned to command the New York State company of artillery in March 1777.
John Doughty would participate in the battles of Brandywine
(1777), Germantown
(1777), Monmouth
(1778), Springfield
(1780), and Yorktown
(1781). He was appointed brigade major of the Corps of Artillery in 1779 and was appointed fort major for the West Point garrison in 1782. He was transferred to the Corps of Artillery in June 1783. He was promoted to brevet major in September to which he became the Army's senior ranking officer following the discharge from the army of all but eighty men in June 1784 {Doughty Artillery Company attached to Henry Jackson's 1st American Regiment (1783-1784)
} and was the senior officer of the United States Army from 20 June to 12 August 1784. He superintended the construction of Fort Harmar
(1785) and Fort Washington
(1789) on the Ohio frontier.
Doughty was designated major of the Battalion of Artillery in 1789, then was dispatched by President Washington
to the frontier to negotiate with the Choctaw
Nation for trading post sites in 1789. He repelled with serious losses an attack by Cherokee
, Shawnee
, and Creek
Indians while leading a detachment up the Tennessee River
on a negotiating mission to the Chickasaw
Nation in 1790. He declined a proffered appointment as lieutenant colonel of the 2nd Infantry Regiment
, after which he retired from the army in March 1791. He then was appointed brigadier general of artillery, 2d Division, New Jersey militia in 1793 and was appointed lieutenant colonel, 2d Regiment of Artillerists and Engineers, as war with France
threatened in June 1798. In May 1800 Doughty resigned and returned to private life on his estate at Morristown, New Jersey
, to engage in agriculture and pursue literary studies. He died there on September 16, 1826.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
military officer who briefly served as the senior officer of the United States Army
Commanding General of the United States Army
Prior to the institution of the Chief of Staff of the United States Army in 1903, there was generally a single senior-most officer in the army. From 1783, he was known simply as the Senior Officer of the United States Army, but in 1821, the title was changed to Commanding General of the United...
in 1784. Born in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
on July 25, 1754, he graduated from King's College (Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
) in 1770 and entered military service through New Jersey state channels in January 1776.
He served as adjutant general of two Morris County
Morris County, New Jersey
Morris County is a county located in the U.S. state of New Jersey, about west of New York City. According to the United States 2010 Census, the population was 492,276. It is part of the New York Metropolitan Area. Its county seat is Morristown....
battalions and was appointed captain-lieutenant of the Eastern Artillery Company of New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
in March 1776. Doughty became captain in the 2nd Continental Artillery in January 1777 and served as aide to Major General
Major General
Major general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general...
Philip Schuyler
Philip Schuyler
Philip John Schuyler was a general in the American Revolution and a United States Senator from New York. He is usually known as Philip Schuyler, while his son is usually known as Philip J. Schuyler.-Early life:...
. Later, he was assigned to command the New York State company of artillery in March 1777.
John Doughty would participate in the battles of Brandywine
Battle of Brandywine
The Battle of Brandywine, also known as the Battle of the Brandywine or the Battle of Brandywine Creek, was fought between the American army of Major General George Washington and the British-Hessian army of General Sir William Howe on September 11, 1777. The British defeated the Americans and...
(1777), Germantown
Battle of Germantown
The Battle of Germantown, a battle in the Philadelphia campaign of the American Revolutionary War, was fought on October 4, 1777, at Germantown, Pennsylvania between the British army led by Sir William Howe and the American army under George Washington...
(1777), Monmouth
Battle of Monmouth
The Battle of Monmouth was an American Revolutionary War battle fought on June 28, 1778 in Monmouth County, New Jersey. The Continental Army under General George Washington attacked the rear of the British Army column commanded by Lieutenant General Sir Henry Clinton as they left Monmouth Court...
(1778), Springfield
Battle of Springfield (1780)
The Battle of Springfield was fought during the American Revolutionary War on June 23, 1780. After the Battle of Connecticut Farms, on June 7, 1780, had foiled Lieutenant General Wilhelm, Baron von Knyphausen’s expedition to attack General George Washington’s army at Morristown, New Jersey,...
(1780), and Yorktown
Siege of Yorktown
The Siege of Yorktown, Battle of Yorktown, or Surrender of Yorktown in 1781 was a decisive victory by a combined assault of American forces led by General George Washington and French forces led by the Comte de Rochambeau over a British Army commanded by Lieutenant General Lord Cornwallis...
(1781). He was appointed brigade major of the Corps of Artillery in 1779 and was appointed fort major for the West Point garrison in 1782. He was transferred to the Corps of Artillery in June 1783. He was promoted to brevet major in September to which he became the Army's senior ranking officer following the discharge from the army of all but eighty men in June 1784 {Doughty Artillery Company attached to Henry Jackson's 1st American Regiment (1783-1784)
1st American Regiment (1783-1784)
1st American Regiment, also known as Jackson's Continental Regiment of 1783-1784, was the last unit in the Continental Army, retained after the close of the American Revolutionary War...
} and was the senior officer of the United States Army from 20 June to 12 August 1784. He superintended the construction of Fort Harmar
Fort Harmar
Fort Harmar was an early United States frontier military fort, built in pentagonal shape during 1785 at the confluence of the Ohio and Muskingum Rivers, on the west side of the mouth of the Muskingum River. It was built under the orders of Josiah Harmar and took his name...
(1785) and Fort Washington
Fort Washington, Cincinnati, Ohio
Fort Washington was a fort in the early history of Cincinnati, Ohio. The location is marked by a plaque at the Guilford School building, at 421 E 4th St, Cincinnati, which now occupies the site...
(1789) on the Ohio frontier.
Doughty was designated major of the Battalion of Artillery in 1789, then was dispatched by President Washington
George Washington
George Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of...
to the frontier to negotiate with the Choctaw
Choctaw
The Choctaw are a Native American people originally from the Southeastern United States...
Nation for trading post sites in 1789. He repelled with serious losses an attack by Cherokee
Cherokee
The Cherokee are a Native American people historically settled in the Southeastern United States . Linguistically, they are part of the Iroquoian language family...
, Shawnee
Shawnee
The Shawnee, Shaawanwaki, Shaawanooki and Shaawanowi lenaweeki, are an Algonquian-speaking people native to North America. Historically they inhabited the areas of Ohio, Virginia, West Virginia, Western Maryland, Kentucky, Indiana, and Pennsylvania...
, and Creek
Creek people
The Muscogee , also known as the Creek or Creeks, are a Native American people traditionally from the southeastern United States. Mvskoke is their name in traditional spelling. The modern Muscogee live primarily in Oklahoma, Alabama, Georgia, and Florida...
Indians while leading a detachment up the Tennessee River
Tennessee River
The Tennessee River is the largest tributary of the Ohio River. It is approximately 652 miles long and is located in the southeastern United States in the Tennessee Valley. The river was once popularly known as the Cherokee River, among other names...
on a negotiating mission to the Chickasaw
Chickasaw
The Chickasaw are Native American people originally from the region that would become the Southeastern United States...
Nation in 1790. He declined a proffered appointment as lieutenant colonel of the 2nd Infantry Regiment
2nd Infantry Regiment (United States)
The 2nd Infantry Regiment is an infantry regiment in the United States Army. It has served the United States for more than two hundred years. It is the third oldest regiment in the US Army with a Lineage date of 1808 and a history extending back to 1791...
, after which he retired from the army in March 1791. He then was appointed brigadier general of artillery, 2d Division, New Jersey militia in 1793 and was appointed lieutenant colonel, 2d Regiment of Artillerists and Engineers, as war with France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
threatened in June 1798. In May 1800 Doughty resigned and returned to private life on his estate at Morristown, New Jersey
Morristown, New Jersey
Morristown is a town in Morris County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the town population was 18,411. It is the county seat of Morris County. Morristown became characterized as "the military capital of the American Revolution" because of its strategic role in the...
, to engage in agriculture and pursue literary studies. He died there on September 16, 1826.