SERVICE IN THE CONTINENTAL ARMY, GEORGE HIGHT,S DECLARATION
George Hight—Rockbridge, December 3, 1832. Born in King and Queen, 1755. Removed wl1ile young to Amherst.
In January, 1776, volunteered in Botetourt against the Cherokees, and marched under Capt. Gilmore to Crow’s Ferry, now Pattonsburg, thence to Long Island, where he remained till about 3,000 men had assembled under Col. Christian. They marched for four weeks into the Indian country, destroying five towns, and were discharged at Long Island. Enlisted in Rockbridge, August 14, 1777, in C01. George Baylor’s Light Dragoons to serve during the war. In October, joined the regiment at Fredericksburg, remaining there five or six weeks, then marching to Reading, Pa., where he was inoculated for the small pox. In February, 1778, the troop marched to the Raritan, the next month to Valley Forge. Here the Fourth Troop, to which he belonged, commanded by Capt. Cadwallader Jones, was employed by Gen. Morgan in preventing the people of the county from furnishing supplies to the enemy and in watching the movements of the latter. In the action at Monmouth, affiant was under the immediate command of Maj. Clough, of Lee’s division. The regiment then proceeded to Hackensack, remaining there five or six weeks, then moving up the river. September 23 it was surprised by Gen. Gray while asleep in barns. No quarter was given except to the Fourth Troop, all of whom were made prisoners, except affiant and John Walker, who escaped by getting in among the enemy. Col. Baylor was wounded and Maj. Clough was killed. Next day affiant joined the remnant of the regiment and wintered at Frederick, Md. In the spring they were joined by the Fourth Troop, now exchanged, and by some new recruits. Col. William Washington now took command, and they returned to New Jersey, again being employed in watching the enemy and preventing trading with him. Near the close of 1780, they marched south, arriving near Charleston, S. C., in March, 1780. Shortly after, learning the Tarleton was on his way from Savannah to Charleston, Washington whipped him, taking sixteen prisoners, including a colonel and a doctor. But later, Washington was surprised and defeated at Monk’s Corner. The attack was so sudden that although the horses were saddled and bridled, there was not time to mount. Afliant was captured and after being dragged about with the army of Cornwallis some ten days, was put into a prison ship till after the surrender of Charleston. He was then placed in the barracks, there, but this being inconvenient to the British, he was again put on board a prison ship and confined till about August, when he was exchanged at Jamestown, Va. At Malvern Hills he found Capt. Calwallader Jones, and was sent on to Maj. Call of Washington’s regiment, who was recruiting in Orange, Albemarle, and Goochland. After the surrender of Cornwallis he was discharged in South Carolina, in the fall of 1782. Bartlett Fitzgerald, a comrade, certifies that in Grey’s surprise Hight was cut down and left as dead.
