Washington's Aides-de-Camp
Encyclopedia
Thirty-two 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." Ford adds Martha Washington
to the list to acknowledge that she worked at Washington's headquarters office.
General Washington said about recruiting such men,
Library of Congress
The Library of Congress is the research library of the United States Congress, de facto national library of the United States, and the oldest federal cultural institution in the United States. Located in three buildings in Washington, D.C., it is the largest library in the world by shelf space and...
at the time." Ford adds Martha Washington
Martha Washington
Martha Dandridge Custis Washington was the wife of George Washington, the first president of the United States. Although the title was not coined until after her death, Martha Washington is considered to be the first First Lady of the United States...
to the list to acknowledge that she worked at Washington's headquarters office.
General Washington said about recruiting such men,
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.
- 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.
- George BaylorGeorge BaylorGeorge Baylor was an officer in the Continental Army, serving throughout the American Revolution.-Military career:...
- Richard Cary was written about kindly by Congressman John Adams to another Massachusetts delegate, William TudorWilliam TudorWilliam Tudor was a wealthy lawyer and leading citizen of Boston. His eldest son William Tudor became a leading literary figure in Boston...
, 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. - Dr. David CobbDavid Cobb (Massachusetts)David Cobb was a Massachusetts physician, military officer, jurist, and politician who served as a U.S. Congressman for the At-large District of Massachusetts.-Biography:...
- Col. William GraysonWilliam GraysonWilliam Grayson was a soldier, lawyer, and statesman from Virginia. He was one of the first two U.S. Senators from Virginia, and belonged to the Anti-Federalist faction.-Biography:...
- Alexander HamiltonAlexander HamiltonAlexander Hamilton was a Founding Father, soldier, economist, political philosopher, one of America's first constitutional lawyers and the first United States Secretary of the Treasury...
- Alexander Contee HansonAlexander Contee HansonAlexander Contee Hanson was an American lawyer, publisher, and statesman. He represented the third district of Maryland in the U.S. House, and the state of Maryland in the U.S. Senate....
- Robert Hanson Harrison
- John HopwoodJohn HopwoodJohn Hopwood was an American civil servant during the American Revolutionary War and founded the town of Hopwood, Pennsylvania...
- David HumphreysDavid Humphreys (soldier)David Humphreys was a American Revolutionary War colonel and aide de camp to George Washington, American minister to Portugal and then to Spain, entrepreneur who brought Merino sheep to America and member of the Connecticut state legislature...
arrived with Washington at Mount Vernon in time for Christmas 1783. Along with Benjamin Walker, they stayed until December 28. - John LaurensJohn LaurensJohn Laurens was an American soldier and statesman from South Carolina during the Revolutionary War. He gained approval by the Continental Congress in 1779 to recruit a regiment of 3000 slaves by promising them freedom in return for fighting...
- Dr. James McHenryJames McHenryJames McHenry was an early American statesman. McHenry was a signer of the United States Constitution from Maryland and the namesake of Fort McHenry...
, a Philadelphia Irishman, a medical student under Benjamin RushBenjamin RushBenjamin Rush was a Founding Father of the United States. Rush lived in the state of Pennsylvania and was a physician, writer, educator, humanitarian and a Christian Universalist, as well as the founder of Dickinson College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania....
, served as a surgeon early in the war. George Washington appointed him shortly before the Battle of MonmouthBattle of MonmouthThe 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...
. - Edmund RandolphEdmund RandolphEdmund Jennings Randolph was an American attorney, the seventh Governor of Virginia, the second Secretary of State, and the first United States Attorney General.-Biography:...
- Joseph ReedJoseph Reed (jurist)Joseph Reed was a Pennsylvania lawyer, military officer, and statesman of the Revolutionary Era. He served as a delegate to the Continental Congress and, while in Congress, signed the Articles of Confederation...
- William Stephens Smith
- Tench TilghmanTench TilghmanTench Tilghman was an officer in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary war. He served as an aide de camp to General George Washington, achieving the rank of lieutenant colonel....
- John TrumbullJohn TrumbullJohn Trumbull was an American artist during the period of the American Revolutionary War and was notable for his historical paintings...
- Jonathan Trumbull, Jr.Jonathan Trumbull, Jr.Jonathan Trumbull, Jr. was an American politician who served as the second Speaker of the United States House of Representatives....
- 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.