RICHARD CLOUGH ANDERSON

B

ORN January 12, 1750, and was active in the
Committee of Safety, 1775-1776. He was a

friend of Patrick Henry and in the confidence of his community. In 1775 he was Quartermaster of the Hanover Minute Men. On March 7, 1776, he was appointed Captain of the Company of regular troops from Hanover County. His First Lieutenant was his cousin, John Anderson, and his company formed part of the 5th Virginia. He took part in the following battles: White Plains, October 7, 1776; Trenton, December 25th and 26th, 1776; Assunipink, January 2, 1777; Captain Commanding the 5th Regiment June, 1777; Brandywine; Germantown; Valley Forge, December, 1777; Monmouth, Savannah, October 9, 1779 (where he was severely wounded); Charleston, May 12, 1780, where he was surrendered with the whole army by General Lincoln, and remained a prisoner until exchanged after nine months; Yorktown, October 19, 1781.

On the 25th day December, 1775, he was ordered by General Adam Stephen to cross the Delaware River and make a reconnaisance towards Trenton. He came upon the Hessian pickets about nightfall and after a sharp skirmish he withdrew his men and escaped across the fields, followed by a body of cavalry. On his return he met the column under General Washington marching on Trenton. The

Hessian Commander, Colonel Rahl, was aware of a contemplated attack and, believing that Anderson's movement was all that was to be expected, gave himself and his men up to the excesses of the Christmas revels. The next day Trenton, unguarded, fell an easy prey to Washington. Colonel Anderson was wounded by a yager bullet January 2, 1777, and did not rejoin the army until May following. On the 20th of March, 1779, he had the honor of being promoted by the Continental Congress to be Major of the First Virginia Line, to take rank from February 10, 1778, thus serving thirteen months as Captain of the Fifth Virginia, while in effect he was Major in the Continental Establishment. (This commission is now in the hands of General Robert Anderson's daughter, Mrs. James M. Lawton, New York City.)

Upon his exchange, Major Anderson found orders in Richmond to report to the Marquis de Lafayette as it was thought that through his intimate knowledge of the country and his ability to speak the French language he would be of great service to the gallant Marquis. He remained with Lafayette until the siege of Yorktown was opened when Lafayette was given command of French troops and Major Anderson was sent to Governor Nelson to assist in mobilizing the Virginia Militia as Adjutant General with the nominal rank of Colonel. He remained for a short time with Governor Nelson after the surrender of Cornwallis, was promoted to be Lieutenant Colonel of the Third Virginia and