Nathaniel Powers (1754-1804), born in the USA and the father of Nathaniel Hart Powers (1787-1862). The Powers family moved to Canada around 1790 and Nathaniel was to die in Leeds County Ontario in 1804. The family played a very important role in the Revolutionary War so it is unclear why they moved to Canada.
Here is an account of Nathaniel’s Revolutionary War service, provide by Robert Dorsett.
This is an attempt to reconstruct the activity of Nathaniel Powers (b. 1754) throughout his military career during the Revolutionary War until Nathaniel’s return to Richmond 19 July 1782. Records for the activity of New Hampshire men in the Revolutionary War are sparse and Col. Joseph Cilley, under whom the Powers brothers served for much of their service, was evidently poor at documenting his activity throughout the war. However, much of the documentation for this reconstruction was accumulated from historical websites, four volumes of ‘Rolls of soldiers during the Revolutionary war’ and various other sources. In addition, in a letter dated September 9 1929, Ivy Blanche Powers Bradford, (b. 19 May 1870) in Barrington, IL, a devoted genealogist and great-granddaughter to Nathaniel Powers, claimed that her great-grandfather “was a corporal in the American Revolution and served in the battles of Ticonderoga, Bennington, Saratoga and Yorktown.” This was published in The Abridged Compendium of American Genealogy Vol III, p. 84 by Frederick A. Virkus 1928. Following this lead and assuming this is correct, I have traced the probable course of maneuvers for Nathaniel Powers and his brothers Abner, Thomas, Joseph, Whitcomb and Simeon during this eventful time in history. Throughout much of the war the brothers stayed together as shown below.
At the burial site in Kane Co., Illinois it states that Abner Powers enlisted Jan 1, 1777 in the NH 1st Regiment and fought at the Battles of Bennington, Saratoga, Valley Forge and Yorktown.
The name ‘Nathaniel Powers’ appears in the George Washington Papers Volume 5 (June 1776 to August 1776) pg. 53. This is the exact time of the battle of Bunker Hill and it is documented that Joseph Powers from Richmond was there. However, it is not clear that this is Nathaniel Powers b. 1754, and it is possible that this was his father or of no immediate relation.
Rolls of Soldiers During the Revolutionary War, Vol. I, pg. 468-47:
“Men in First N.H. Regiment enlisted during the war 1776, A return of the Mens Names Inlisted During the War in the First New Hampshire Regiment and the towns they went for:”
- Simeon Powers
- Nat’l Powers
- Joseph Powers
1777
1 Jan Nathan Powers of Charlestown, Thomas and Abner Powers of Richmond enlisted in New Hampshire 1st Regiment: (The History of the First New Hampshire Regiment in the War of the Rebellion, by Frederic Kidder 1973 p. 152).
February Gen. George Washington summons to the New Hampshire Committee of Safety to order troops to reinforce Fort Ticonderoga as soon as they were recruited.
7 May Nathaniel Powers volunteered to join Col. Benjamin Bellow’s the New Hampshire Regiment of Militia and was sent to reinforce the northern army at Fort Ticonderoga. Brothers Whitcomb, Simeon and Nathaniel Powers were listed on the payroll as privates in Col. Benjamin Bellows Regiment of Militia which was as reinforcements at Fort Ticonderoga on Lake Champlain. Fort Ticonderoga (Iroquois for “place between two waters”) was commanded at this time by Brig. Gen Enoch Poor: (The Rolls of Soldiers in the Revolutionary War Volumes I-IV).
The Battle of Ticonderoga May 10 – July 6, 1777
18 Jun Nathaniel Powers is discharged for Ticonderoga along with Col. Bellows Regiment arriving on the 3rd-4th of July to reinforce the garrison there. With immediate notice of Gen. Burgoyne approaching Fort Ticonderoga the militia was sent right back to reinforce the defense there, Colonel Bellows reporting to Major Gen. St. Clair.
The British under Gen. John Burgoyne lead the British flotilla from the Flagship Thunderer, departing Quebec 13 June 1777and from St. Johns (now St. Jean), Canada, on June 17, 1777 with a total force of some 9,000 men, including about 4,200 British regulars, 4,000 German troops, and several hundred Canadians and Indians. The fleet landed at Crown Point on June 27th and remained there until re-embarking for Ticonderoga July 1st. Burgoyne embarked. From the 2nd to the 4th of July, Burgoyne emplaced artillery upon the high ground commanding Fort Ticonderoga. Observing this, Major General Arthur St. Clair with about 3,400 troops was forced to withdrawal in two echelons by evacuation under the cover of darkness down the military road to Castleton and the British claimed the fort on 6 July 1777. St. Clair and his 2,500 American troops arriving at Castleton VT on 7 July 1777 would then move through Castleton and travel east to Rutland, VT then turn south to Manchester, VT and finally head southwest to Fort Miller, NY (on today’s US Route 4). Just south of Fort Miller, they would stand and meet the British at the Battles of Saratoga.
The main body of St. Clair’s force retreated by the road to Hubbardton. It was closely followed by General Fraser with twenty companies of Englishmen, supported by Maj. Gen. Frederick Riedesel with three Brunswick battalions. Fraser came up with the rear-guard of the Americans, under Colonel Warner, at Hubbardton, on the 7th of July, was sharply attacked, and outflanked. He was in danger of being driven back when Riedesel came to his assistance. The Americans were repulsed.
From: Saratoga by Robert M. Ketchum 1997, p. 203
“St. Clair’s two aides, Livingston and Dunn were galloping along the road to rally reinforcements. They were to direct Colonel Bellows to march immediately to support the rear guard, assuring him that he could expect help if it was needed, since the main body was under arms and ready to march. But as the two messengers drew closer to the militiamen’s camp they met those troops “marching with speed” toward Castle Town – running away from Hubbardton. They spotted Colonel Bellow’s and delivered St. Clair’s orders, but in spite of what were apparently heroic efforts on the colonel’s part, not a man made a move in the direction of the fighting. The troops simply refused to obey. As Livingston described Bellow’s predicament, “An unaccountable panic had seized his men”.
By this time the men of the New Hampshire regiment had lost their faith in St. Clair and showed it. Their loss is not exactly known, but about two hundred stragglers and wounded men were that day made prisoners. “The Brunswickers had twenty-two men killed or wounded, the British one hundred and fifty-five.”12 July St. Clair arrived, with the remnants of his Ticonderoga command, at Fort Edward after a
Saturday march of one hundred and ten miles, stragglers gradually trickling in to rejoin with the troops.
17 July In the astonishment and dismay that came to New England following the army’s failure at Fort Ticonderoga, the Vermont authorities sent a frantic appeal for help to their sister states: New Hampshire, Massachusetts, New York, and Connecticut. Only in New Hampshire was the response prompt and decisive. The State Legislature met at Exeter in special session, and took immediate action.
19 July John Stark, who had been in retirement at Derryfield since his resignation from the Continental Army on March 22, was urgently summoned to Exeter. There the Legislature on conferred upon him the rank of Brigadier General of State Militia; urged men to enlist for two months under Stark’s command; instructed them to muster into the service at old Fort No. 4 in Charlestown; and offered each man $10 a month and travel money. The whole expedition was to be solely a State effort, and Stark was to operate his forces in such a manner as “. . . shall appear expedient to you.”
In three days, so great was the magnetism of Stark’s name and reputation that 1405 New Hampshire officers and men enlisted, and were en route to Charlestown. The names of all these volunteers have been preserved in Volume XV of the State Papers of New Hampshire. Among them were 163 veterans of Stark’s command at Bunker Hill in June, 1775. General Stark organized his little army into three regiments. That commanded by Colonel Moses Nichols of Amherst had ten companies. That headed by Colonel Thomas Stickney of Concord had ten companies. And that commanded by Colonel David Hobart of Plymouth had five companies. Starks brigade of militiamen was finally assembled by August 13th. However, his forces lacked uniforms and fought with family firearms as he did not have sufficient time to equip them properly.
21 July Whitcomb and Joseph Powers of Charlestown enlisted in Abel Walker’s Company of Col. David Hobart’s Regiment: Roll of New Hampshire Soldiers at the Battle of Bennington compiled by Geo. C. Gilmore, p. 32.
Mid-Aug. General Burgoyne, who was advancing south from Canada, committed the tactical error of out-marching his own supply teams. As he neared Saratoga, he detached a force of Hessians under Lt. Col. Frederick Baum to capture the supplies, munitions and horses held by the Revolutionaries at a nearby supply depot in Vermont. This force was met and decisively defeated by a brigade of New Hampshire Militiamen led by Colonel John Stark, a victory which contributed to Burgoyne’s ultimate defeat at Saratoga. The battleground was Bennington, Vermont. Charlestown, New Hampshire was once known simply as Village Number 4. The restored “Fort at No. 4″ at Charlestown is the fort from which Stark and his troops, including Nathaniel’s two brothers departed for Bennington.The Battle of Bennington Aug. 16, 1777
16 Aug. German Lieutenant Colonel Baum was mortally wounded, his force destroyed along ??
Evening with a substantial number of the five hundred and fifty reinforcements rushed to his aid. The final figures on Burgoyne’s losses at the two battles of Bennington were devastating and it is believed that this battle was pivotal in weakening the British & Gen. Burgoyne. The Hessians lost two hundred-seven dead with seven hundred taken prisoner. The number is believed accurate as compensation for all Hessian soldiers lost had to be paid to their respective Prince. There has never been an accounting for Indians or Loyalists lost in the two engagements. American casualties amounted to 30 dead, 40 wounded.Battles of Saratoga September 19 – October 7, 1777
Traveling across the Hudson River eventually to Stillwater, NY September 19 1777 Capt. Isaac Farwell’s 7th Company, NH 1st Regiment reporting to Col. Joseph Cilley fought the first battle of Saratoga at Bemis Heights under the command of Maj. Gen. Benedict Arnold.
The second battle of Saratoga was at Freeman’s Farm, October 7, 1777. By October 7th the British had to make a stand if their conquest of the Hudson-Champlain Valley was to succeed. The 1st New Hampshire entered the action facing crack grenadiers and light infantry. So hot was the firing that Cilley’s men had to move forward out of their own smoke to fire again and the grenadiers went down in heaps. Amid the cheers of his men, Col. Cilley straddled one of the captured British 12-pounders and, waving his sword, shouted he was “dedicating it (the cannon) to the patriot cause.” Jubilantly he ordered it turned on the retreating enemy. With the British (Burgoyne) surrender at Saratoga the Northern Campaign was over. This battle is considered the turning point in the war.
Joseph and Simeon Powers are listed as privates and members of the 1st Regiment that did participate in the battles of Saratoga.
December Brig. Gen Enoch Poor’s New Hampshire 1st, 2nd and 3rd regiments were requested to join Gen. Washington at Valley Forge, Col. Joseph Cilley in charge of the 1st Regiment. Joseph and Simeon (wounded on furlough) from NH were listed as present at Valley Forge in the winter of 1777/1778.
17785 Feb. Nathaniel Powers received pay for serving with Col. John Stark’s Militiamen: ₤20 plus a small amount for traveling expenses. This must have been for services rendered prior to November as General Stark, with his arthritis, was well know for his inability to tolerate the cold weather and refused to go to battle in the winter months. Nathaniel Powers then enlisted 8 days later to serve under Capt. Isaac Farwell’s 7th Company in Col. Joseph Cilley’s New Hampshire 1st Regiment.
13 Feb Nathaniel enlisted at Charlestown, NH in Capt. Isaac Farwell’s 7th Company under Col. Stark’s Regiment (commanded at this time by Col. Joseph Cilley as Stark resigned Feb. 22, 1777, where remained with brothers Abner and Thomas for the duration of the war as it appears on the muster roll 13 Feb 1778 at Walpole, NH. On Jun 19, 1778 Gen. Washington and forces leave Valley Forge and arrive in Monmouth 9 days later.
28 Jun The Battle of Monmouth: Col. Joseph Cilley and company present.
1779-1780
For his valiant service at the Battle of Monmouth, which ended in a draw June of 1778, the New Hampshire Legislature presented Col. Cilley with a pair of pistols in March, 1779. These he took with him that summer on Sullivan’s expedition against the Indians in upper New York.
Private Nathaniel Powers received $134.48 for serving with the 7th Company 1st Regiment and was found belonging to this regiment commanded by Col. Joseph Cilley prior to Jan 1, 1780. Nathaniel was promoted to Corporal in 1780.
1781-1782
1 Jan Nathaniel Powers received $83.30 for service in the 1st regiment Commanded by Col. Joseph Cilley.
7 Feb Nathaniel Powers received an advance of $25 at Exeter. In 1781, Nathaniel was paid $88 for service in Cilley’s Regiment, 7th Company.
The Battle of Yorktown Sept. 28 – Oct. 17, 1781
28 Sep The Army marched to Yorktown, engaging in battle where British Major General Cornwallis and his troops surrendered to General Washington’s Valley Forge survivors 19 Oct. 1781. The Battle of Yorktown was the final battle of the war.
On September 28, 1781, Gen George Washington and Gen. Rochambeau, along with Gen. Lafayette’s troops and 3,000 of de Grasse’s men, arrived at Yorktown. In all, there were approximately 17,000 men converging on Cornwallis’ camp. The stage was set for the final showdown in America’s fight for independence.
The combined forces approached Yorktown from the South. The French, under Rochambeau, formed the left flank of the attack, while the American troops, under Washington and Lafayette, approached from the right. The city was soon surrounded and under heavy fire. On October 14, the Franco-American forces captured 2 major British redoubts. Cornwallis’ options were running out. He even tried sending blacks infected with smallpox over enemy lines in an attempt to infect the American and French troops. After a futile counterattack, Cornwallis offered to surrender on October 17. On the 19th of October, the papers were signed and he officially surrendered. This would be the final major battle of the Revolutionary War.
2 April 1782 Rolls of Soldiers During the Revolutionary War, Vol. III, pg. 597. State of New Hampshire Charlestown “At a Legal Town Meeting held at Charlestown in Said state on the sixth day of Feb 1781 a Moderator being chosen the following vote was passed, viz- That the selectmen make a return to the Secretaries (sic) office in said state of the number of Men from the said town now in actual service also the number of Persons supported by the Town belonging to the families of those persons above mentioned – Simeon Powers, Nathaniel Powers, Thomas Powers, Abner Powers”, etc..
19 July 1782 Rolls of Soldiers During the Revolutionary War, Vol. III pg. 518. Nathaniel Powers made his return to Richmond.