Berkshire County’s Revolutionary War Generals
Berkshire County’s
Revolutionary War Generals
By Brian S. Barrett
Years ago, I began to write the biography of Revolutionary War General John Fellows (1735-1808). While visiting the Sheffield Historical Society, I proposed that his biography be titled Berkshire County’s Famous General – John Fellows. However, Betty Chapin, SHS resident historian, suggested I choose different title in deference to other Revolutionary War generals from the county. I asked who they were and she named one prospect and encouraged me to research to discover others. General George Washington once mistakenly identified Colonel David Rossiter as General Rossiter. however, Berkshire can only claim two men.
1. John Fellows (1735-1808) He was born in Plainfield Connecticut and moved to Sheffield in 1754. The Brigadier General of the Berkshire County Militia, named on January 30, 1776 was John Fellows. His commission and appointment was concurred by the Council, February 8, 1776. Although he resigned his commission in 1780 he served (de facto) in that capacity throughout 1781. He is buried in Barnard Cemetery in Sheffield, MA.
2. John Paterson (1744-1808) He was also born in Connecticut but many consider him a Berkshire County patriot of the American Revolution. He was apparently commissioned as Berkshire County Brigadier General by the Massachusetts General Court probably when General Fellows was dismissed. Paterson served, with only a brief furlough, until 1783. He is buried at the Hill Cemetery, Lenox, Berkshire County, MA.
The services of General John Patterson were adequately documented in Lenox History REVOLUTIONARY WAR HEROES: MAJOR GENERAL JOHN PATERSON dated August 27, 2014. They will not be repeated here.
Following are details about General John Fellows’ Revolutionary War activities:
1775 – Fellows held the rank of Colonel in a Continental Regiment under the command of Generals Ward and Thomas at Cambridge, Roxbury and Dorchester Heights during the siege of Boston. He was later appointed Berkshire County Brigadier General by Massachusetts General Court.
1776 – General Fellows activated and led the 1st Berkshire to Poughkeepsie, NY to help quell a Tory insurrection there. He then took his men to Peekskill in the Hudson Highlands where he served on a Council of War. His 1st Berkshire helped defend the eastern shoreline in Westchester County from incursions by troops on board HMS Rose and HMS Phoenix. These men-of-war patrolled Haverstraw Bay during July.
At the Battles of Kips Bay, Harlem Heights, White Plains he commanded three regiments of Massachusetts Provincials under Generals Isreal Putnam, Spencer and Washington. He was commander between September- November. He served as Brigadier-of-the-Day by order of General George Washington on several occasions.
1777 – General Fellows led the 1st Berkshire during July to Fort Edward, Kingsbury and Fort Ann, NY, in cooperation with General John Nixon on an excursion to obstruct and impede the British invasion under General John Burgoyne.
During August, after the Battle of Bennington, he took charge of 700 British and Hessian prisoners and supervised their transfer to camps in Boston, Springfield and Hartford. He temporarily sheltered and employed several Hessian parolees at his farm in Sheffield.
During September and October he commanded 700 - 4000 militiamen from Berkshire and Hampshire Counties, as well as men from Vermont and New Hampshire. They guarded the eastern side of the Hudson between Schaghticoke and Batten Kill. He served under Generals Arnold, Lincoln and Gates. He and a detachment of his men narrowly missed being obliterated by Burgoyne’s army near Saratoga. Fellows remained at his Batten Kill camp during the surrender of the British Northern Army at Saratoga.
1778 – By order of Generals Gates and John Stark, Fellows mustered Berkshire militiamen at Claverack in anticipation of an incursion of the British Army’s Indian allies into the Mohawk River Valley.
1779 - By order of the Connecticut and Massachusetts officials he dispatched a detachment of Berkshire men to New Haven, CT to guard the city from attack by British ships that patrolled Long Island Sound.
General Washington requested Berkshire men be sent to Claverack and Albany to await orders. They were to reinforce Continental Army if British moved up the Hudson from New York City. Fellows dispatched 1250 men to Claverack.
1780 – By order of General Washington and Massachusetts Senator John Adams, he was assigned to take charge of 4700 Massachusetts men and muster them at Claverack. They were to await orders to defend forts near West Point.
During the Summer he resigned his commission due to “fatigues and hardships” but his resignation was not accepted nor was a replacement brigadier appointed. He cooperated in an administrative capacity throughout the year and corresponded with Washington about logistics and men stationed at Claverack, Albany, Great Barrington and Rhode Island.
He ordered out Berkshire militiamen and approved pay rolls of numerous companies who went to Forts Ann and George, Castleton, Bennington, Stillwater and Albany on alarm during the Fall. They served under General Stark.
1781 – He served as Berkshire’s (de facto) Brigadier. Washington requested that he dispatch 600 militiamen to Albany. However he advised Washington that he had no commission or orders from Massachusetts but, “... in my private capacity I will give every aid in my power that your excellency shall be answered.” Fellows eventually ordered Colonel Rossiter’s regiment to serve under General Stark at Albany. Fellows authorized the pay rolls of numerous Berkshire militia companies that Fall in an administrative capacity. General Heath in command, at the time wrote, “The conduct of the Berkshire militia does them much honor.”
Sadly, Massachusetts records do not speak to General Fellows having ever been discharged. He was probably replaced by General John Paterson at the end of 1781. However, during Shays Rebellion in 1784 he was referred to as the Berkshire County Brigadier.
In my book, Biography of General John Fellows (1735 – 1808), I present much greater detail about Fellows’ exemplary military service. My book is available on Amazon or by contacting me at brianbarrett1@yahoo.com.
If readers have additional information about other Berkshire County Revolutionary War Generals I look forward to receiving it.