Speaking of Frontiersmen…
Andrew Lewis (October 9, 1720 – September 26, 1781) was an pioneer, surveyor, and soldier of Colonial Virginia. He rose to the rank of colonel of militia during the French and Indian War, and to the rank of brigadier general in the American Revolutionary War. He is best known for his 1774 victory in the Battle of Point Pleasant in Dunmore’s War.
He received a basic education and learned the skills of a surveyor. In 1751 Lewis and his father explored much of the Augusta County Greenbrier County (now Greenbrier County, West Virginia).
Early in the 1740s Andrew Lewis married Elizabeth Givens. They established their own home, called Richfield, near Salem. This union produced seven children.
During the French and Indian War, Virginia organized a militia to defend settlers and Lewis became a captain in George Washington’s regiment. He led several expeditions against both Indian settlements and French outposts. Lewis was captured during the attack on Fort Duquesne and was held as a prisoner until late 1759.
After Botetourt County was formed from Augusta County in 1769, Lewis was elected to the House of Burgesses and held a seat until 1780.
In 1774, Virginia’s Governor Dunmore led a force to Fort Pitt and into the Ohio Country, in what became known as Dunmore’s War. Now as Colonel Lewis, he led a second force by a more southern route. Shawnee Chief Cornstalk attacked Lewis’ force while it was camped at the Ohio River crossing at Point Pleasant. Lewis’ victory in the Battle of Point Pleasant secured his military reputation.
During the American Revolution, Lewis became a Brigadier General in March 1776. He oversaw Virginia’s defense and was oversaw the effort to recruit soldiers for the Continental Army. In 1777, Lewis resigned his commission, alleging poor health. George Washington expressed his disappointment to Lewis, who replied, ” I intimated to your Excellency the impossibility of my remaining in a disagreeable situation in the army. My being superseded (others were promoted while he was not considered) must be viewed as an implicit impeachment of my character. I therefore requested a court of inquiry into my conduct. I believe the time is now at hand, when I can leave this department without any damage to the public interest.”
In 1781, Andrew Lewis fell ill while returning home from a council meeting; he died of fever in Bedford County on September 26. He was buried in the family plot at his home. In 1887 General Lewis’ remains were re-interred in the East Hill Cemetery at Salem, Virginia.
Welcome to “Sharing the Stories of History with Tim Mann”!
Meet Timothy A. Mann, a passionate historian born and raised in the heart of Shelby County, Ohio where Tim’s roots run deep in the rich soil of American history. As the author of articles and books, including “Frontier Miscellany Concerning the Miami County Ohio Militia,” “Colonel John Mann, His Kith and Kin,” and “Frontier Militia – The War of 1812,” Tim’s literary contributions have enlightened and inspired countless history enthusiasts.
Join Tim Mann on a journey through time as he shares fascinating tales, untold stories, and hidden gems from the annals of history. Let’s delve into the past together and uncover the wonders that await in “Sharing the Stories of History with Tim Mann.”
