William Colfax
Commander of George Washington’s Revolutionary War Guard
4th Cousin, seven times removed
William Colfax (1756-1838) was a Revolutionary War Army Officer and War of 1812 Militia General. Born in New London, Connecticut, at the age of seventeen he was commissioned a Lieutenant in the Continental Army. He likely participated in all of the battles of the Revolutionary War where George Washington was present, and the Battle of Bunker Hill, and was at Yorktown and present at the surrender of British General Charles Cornwallis. George Washington made him Captain and Commander of his personal Life Guard.
The Commander-in-Chief Guard
With the fortification of Dorchester Heights on March 4th, 1776, the siege of Boston was at an end. George Washington realized that the entire complexion of the War was about to change and with a more mobile army to command came additional dangers - a surprise raid on his headquarters was a serious possibility. To counter that possibility Washington decided to form a personal guard. On March 11th Washington issued the following orders:
"Head-Quarters, Cambridge March 11, 1776 The General is desirous of selecting a particular number of men as a guard for himself and baggage. The Colonel or Commanding Officer of each of the established regiments, the artillery and riflemen excepted, will furnish him with four, that the number of wanted may be chosen out of them. His Excellency depends upon the Colonels for good men, such as they can recommend for their sobriety, honesty and good behavior. He wishes them to be from five feet eight inches to five feet ten inches, handsomely and well made, and as there is nothing in his eyes more desirable than cleanliness in a soldier, he desires that particular attention be made in the choice of such men as are clean and spruce. They are to be at headquarters tomorrow precisely at 12 o'clock at noon, when the number wanted will be fixed upon. The General neither wants them with uniforms nor arms, nor does he desire any man to be sent to him that is not perfectly willing or desirous of being in this Guard. - They should be drilled men."
The Commander-in-Chief Guard, officially designated "His Excellency's Guard" or "The General's Guard," was popularly called by the soldiers "The Life Guards," "The Washington Life Guards," or "Washington Body Guard." The strength of the Guard at this time was about 50 men. They accompanied Washington to White Plains and participated in the battle fought there on October 28th, taking up their position on Chatterton Hill. The following day the entire Army retreated to New Jersey. [Editorial Note: I have not been able to definitively determine whether William Colfax was with Washington’s main army at this point. Likely he was, as he was in the Army at Bunker Hill; he was in a Connecticut Regiment that was part of the Continental Army; he was selected for the Life Guard; and by 1779 he had advanced enough to be put in charge of the group. We also know for certain that he was in the group by 1777 at Valley Forge. The 19th Century histories of Colfax do in fact indicate that he served in this group throughout the entire war. CWP]
Emanuel Gottlieb Leutze's Washington Crossing the Delaware
Battle of Trenton, painted by H. Charles McBarron, Jr., 1975.
The balance of the Guard participated in crossing the Delaware River and the capture of the Hessian Garrison at Trenton, New Jersey on the day after Christmas. During this hard fought victory the Guard, although small, distinguished themselves. We can find no record of what exactly transpired; we do know the Captain Gibbs was offered a Regimental Command immediately after the battle as a reward for his actions.
The men of the C-in-C Guards enlistment expired on December 31st, 1776, but they agreed, to a man, to serve for an additional six weeks at the personal request of Washington. As a result they participated in the Battle of Princeton. William Colfax was a soldier in the 1st Connecticut Regiment from the beginning of the War. This unit was put together in 1775 and joined the siege of Boston in April 1775, commanded by Jedediah Huntington, who was also a personal friend of George Washington. Colfax family history says that Washington became attached to Colfax and often shared his table with him.
On January 6th, 1777, the Army reached winter quarters at Morristown, New Jersey. On April 22nd, 1777, General Washington wrote Captain Gibbs, who was on leave in Philadelphia, regarding the acquisition of new uniforms and arms for the men who were forming the "new" Guard. Gibbs was successful in securing blue and buff uniforms, but contrary to General Washington's expressed orders, Gibbs, for some unknown reason, probably the lack of an alternative, chose red waistcoats (vests). Generally, army uniform buttons contained the Regiment's designated number. But, the C-in-C Guards did not have a number, so Gibbs decided on a new cipher for the Guards - "USA." As far as is known, the C-in-C Guard was the first unit to use this cipher, which is still used today.
Flag of the 1st Connecticut Regiment, Revolutionary War
The Guards moved with the army, protecting the person of the Commander-in-Chief, the headquarters staff, and the army's records throughout the rest of 1777. Lieutenant William Colfax served in the Guard from Valley Forge onward and Commanded the Guard after Caleb Gibbs was promoted to Brevet Lt. Colonel and transferred to the 2nd Massachusetts Regiment of the Continental Line later in the War.
The Army arrived at Valley Forge on December 18th, 1777, and set up winter camp. The Guard was posted behind the Isaac Potts House, which General Washington selected for his Headquarters. Today there are excellent reproductions of the Guard's huts built on the exact site of the originals.
Although no battles were fought at Valley Forge, during the winter of 1777-78, the patriot soldiers had to fight against lack of supplies, disease, and harsh weather. Washington's ill-fed, ill-equipped army, exhausted from long marches, worked in six-inch-deep snow to build log huts and defenses. Always hungry, not having enough dry clothes and living in crowded, damp quarters, the men fell sick with disease killing as many as 2,000.
In March of 1778, at the request of newly appointed Inspector General, the Baron Frederick von Steuben, the Guard was to enter a new era. It would emerge as the model for and the pride of the "new" Army. Von Steuben selected the Guard to be his demonstration company for the new American Drill. After personally training the men of the Guard, they were sent throughout the entire Continental Army training each and every regiment. Not only did this new drill convert the ragtag Continentals into an effective fighting force, but it established the Commander-in-Chief Guards as the elite unit of the Army. Assisted by Von Steuben, Washington had created an effective, well-trained fighting force. By spring, the army had been transformed. Buoyed by new supplies and troops and the French guarantee of military aid, the Continental army emerged strong, well-disciplined, and confident.
In 1779, William Colfax took over from Caleb Gibbs as Commander of the Guards. (Records of the US War Department include letters to Colfax from Alexander Hamilton and others.) On December 4th, 1779 the Army arrived at Morristown, New Jersey for their winter camp. General Washington selected the stately home of Mrs. Jacob Ford, the widow of Colonel Jacob Ford, as his headquarters. The Guard set up its winter camp in the meadow southeast of the mansion. Today, that site is marked by a simple plaque. The winter of 1779 proved to be the severest in the memory of anyone living at the time; accordingly, the season passed relatively uneventfully, as everyone was "snowed in."
On July 3rd 1781, General Washington, accompanied by an escort of fifty Guards was reconnoitering the British fortifications near King's Bridge. They encountered one of the British forging parties, consisting of 1,500 men. The British immediately attacked. The Guards made a stand at the bridge and the battle for the narrow bridge was ferocious. Braving volley after volley from the Guardsmen while Washington went back to safety in the American lines, the British charged with bayonets and were met by bayonets and forced back with heavy losses. It became painfully clear to the British that they would endure severe casualties and the most they could attain was a limited objective. When American Reinforcements came into view, the British broke off the action.
On August 14th, General Washington and the majority of the Northern Army left the Hudson Highlands and marched toward Yorktown, Virginia. They arrived there on September 28th and started the siege. That victorious effort forced Cornwallis to surrender - directly leading to ending the war and to American Independence.
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This painting by American artist John Trumbull depicts the forces of British Major General Charles Cornwallis, 1st Marquess Cornwallis (1738-1805) (who was not himself present at the surrender), surrendering to French and American forces after the Siege of Yorktown (September 28 – October 19, 1781) during the American Revolutionary War. The United States government commissioned Trumbull to paint patriotic paintings, including this piece, for them in 1817, paying for the piece in 1820.
Following the surrender of Lieutenant General, Lord Charles Cornwallis at Yorktown, Washington and the Army returned to the Hudson Highlands, arriving at Newburgh on March 22nd, 1782. There they spent the remaining two years of the war containing the British in New York City. With the peace negotiations concluded and the Treaty of Paris awaiting ratification, Congress on May 26th, 1783, instructed General Washington to grant furloughs to non-commissioned officers, enlisted men and a proportionate number of officers, including the Commander-in-Chief Guards. Washington issued the General Orders on June 2 and on June 6th, the entire Guard was furloughed.
At the end of the war, Colfax settled in Pompton, New Jersey where he married Hester Schuyler, a cousin of Revolutionary War General Philip Schuyler, on August 27, 1783. He continued to be active locally after the war and became a Judge of the Bergen County Court of Common Pleas until his death. He also served in the New Jersey Legislature from 1806 to 1813. In 1810 he was commissioned a Brigadier General in New Jersey Militia and served his country again militarily in the War of 1812. He died in 1838 and was buried with full military honors.
The information on this webpage came from http://www.revolutionarywararchives.org/colfax.html, the article “A Brief History of the Commander-in-Chief Guards” by Donald N. Moran and Findagrave.com website.
REFERENCES FOR THIS INFORMATION INCLUDE:
“The Commander-in-Chief’s Guard” by: Carlos F. Godfrey, Ph.D. Originally published: 1904 - publisher: Genealogical Publishing Company, 1972 (DNM Lib.)
“The Encyclopedia of the American Revolution” by: Col. Mark M. Boatner, III (USA). “Life Guard of Washington” Publisher: David McKay Company - 1974 (DNM Lib.)
“George Washington' indispensable Men” by: Arthur S. Lefkowitz Publisher: Stackpole Books - 2003 (DNM Lib.)
“Washington's Crossing” by: David Hackett Fischer, Ph.D. Publisher: Oxford University Press - 2004 (0MM Jib.)
“The Writings of George Washington from Original Manuscript Sources” -39 vol. John C. Fitzpatrick, Editor - Publisher: United States Government Printing Office. (DNM Lib.)
“The Continental Army” by: Robert K. Wright, Ph.D. Publisher: Center of Military History - United States Army - 1983 (DNM Lib.)
“To Major Gibbs With Much Esteem” by: Howard H. Wehmann publisher: “Prologue Magazine” - National Archives, Volume 4 (1972)
“George Washington, a Biography” by: Douglas Southall Freeman - 7 Volumes Publisher: Scribners, New York - 1948 (DNM Lib.)
“The Field Book of the American Revolution” by: Benson J. Lossing -2 volumes Publisher: Harper, New York -1951 (DNM Lib.)
“Pension Records” - Held at the National Archives, Washington, D.C.
THE BALLAD OF CAPTAIN COLFAX AND THE LIFE GUARD
In the eighteenth century it was common to give praise to a military hero by composing a poetic ballad in remembrance of that person's deeds. This was particularly true during the American Revolution when many such ballads were written in honor of the men and officers of our nation's War of Independence. One such ballad was entitled, "Capt. Colfax and the Life Guard." It is found in a little known book, called, Ballads of New Jersey in the Revolution. The book was written in 1896 by Charles C. Platt. Captain William Colfax was a brave member and one time leader of an elite corps of Washington's Continental Army known as The Commander-in-Chief's Guard. The Guard was a one-hundred and fifty to two hundred and fifty man unit of mounted horsemen and fighters who were assigned to protect and fight for General George Washington. Their motto was "Conquer or Die." Later married to Hester Schuyler, William Colfax became known as "Colfax of Pompton." What follows is a copy of the ballad written about Colfax, the Life Guards, and Hester Schuyler, by author or authors unknown.
Capt. COLFAX and the LIFE GUARD AND oft a mounted troop would ride Along our village street;
A noble group was that mounted troop, 'Twas Washington and his suite
A band of chosen men were they, Two hundred and two score,
Each man a born American - To these add ten men more.
Of character above reproach, Of stature good, well built;
All in their youthful prime, I ween, Like knights of old, to tilt
In service of their noble chief And guard that manly form
on whom our weal or woe depend, In all this weltering storm.
Their coats were blue and faced with bluff, And waistcoats red they wore,
With buckskin breeches, belts of white Around their waist; and more,
Upon their heads cocked hats of felt, Black felt with white tape bound;
In all the ranks of war's array No goodlier troop is found
Well-drilled were they in every art Of war-like strategy,
A model for our rustic host In skill and loyalty.
Their Captain William Colfax was, A trusty warrior he,
Well pleasing to the ladies all For his brave gallantry.
At Bunker Hill he had fought and still Continued in the field
Until at Yorktown he beheld The British leader yield.
Thrice was he wounded-once of death But little did he lack,
For a bullet struck him full in front And came out at the back.
But in the excitement of the hour His hurt he did not know
And, heedless, galloped o'er the field Intent to check the foe.
The life-blood streamed-his men beheld That fatal flow and cried,
"You're hurt ! you're hurt ! fast ebbs your life!" Then he saw the crimson tide.
Off to the hospital he rode, Soon weak and faint he grew;
But the wound was dressed ; it healed and he The warfare did renew.
A dashing, fiery chief was he, Accoutered spick and span;
And prompt to go against the foe, A brave, intrepid man.
But at Pompton Plains he met his match- 'Twas Hester Schuyler,
she Old Casper's child, a black-eyed girl Of roguish witchery.
True to the motto of his band. "I conquer or I die,"
He faced those eyes, but vainly tries Their victory to deny.
And when he laid his sword aside In seventeen eighty-three,
To Pompton Plains he came anon, I' faith, no time lost he.
And there fair Hester won the day, She conquered, yet did yield;
And Captain Colfax, led his bride In triumph from the field.
O well it were if on such wise Each deadlier strife might end;
Love win the day, though fierce the fray, and each to each be friend.
The above has been researched and written by Edward G. Engelbart, Pequannock Town Council liaison to the Pequannock Historic District Commission, from Ballads of New Jersey in the Revolution by Charles D. Platt, pages 102-105. First published in 1896, it was reissued in 1972 by Kennikat Press, Port Washington, N. Y. and London. Middle Atlantic States Historical Publications Series No. 9. According to Platt his sources were The Story of an Old Farm, or Life in New Jersey in the Eighteenth Century, by Andrew D. Mellick, Jr., and Historical Collections of New Jersey.
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