Jeremiah Overby
Revolutionary War Service
My 5th Great-Grandfather

In the service records below, the reference "sick in York (York Town)", Refers to the American Capital at York, PA. Jeremiah's unit was stationed at Valley Forge.

1. Jeremiah enlisted for 3 years - Sept 6, 1777 in the 14th VA Regiment Commanded by Col. Charles Lewis.

2. Battle of Brandywine at Brandywine, PA - Sept 11, 1777, The 14th VA Regiment under Col. Charles Lewis, was part of the 2nd VA brigade under Brig. Gen. George Weedon. The 2nd VA brigade was part of the 1st Division under Major General Nathanael Greene.

3. Battle of Germantown at Germantown, PA - Oct 7, 1777. Since this battle took place a little over three weeks after Brandywine, it is assumed that the 1st Division under Greene was still made up by, those that were left after the battle of Brandywine, and know that Greene's Division under Washington was also at the Battle of Germantown. " Major General Nathanael Greene's division, making up the bulk of the attacking force, made up the left-center of the American Line. Originally assigned to travel over Skippack road, these men instead moved on Morris Road, which delayed their march. The extreme left flank, made up of Smallwood's Maryland militia and Forman's New Jersey militia, was to head down Morris Road to Church Road, advancing ahead of Greene's column. From St. Thomas's Church, Whitemarsh, they were to march to Old York Road and turn right toward the center of Germantown. Greene's column was to turn down Limekiln Pike and attack the lst Battalion of British Light Infantry posted near Luken's Mill."
"Despite the optimism of the orders of battle, which asserted that all troops were to be in position by 2:00 a.m., rest until 4:00 a.m. and begin a coordinated attack at 5:00 a.m., none of the columns arrived on schedule. The march lasted all night. Officers permitted no lights and enforced strict silence. The night was cloudy and the air damp and chilly. Men received pieces of white paper to place in their hats so that they could see each other in the dark."

4. The Battle of White Marsh
December 5 , 1777 at White Marsh, Pennsylvania

Battle Summary
The Battle of White Marsh (aka Battle of Edge Hill) was a battle fought in the area surrounding Whitemarsh Township, Pennsylvania. The battle, which took the form of a series of skirmish actions, was the last major engagement of 1777 between British and American forces.

General George Washington spent the weeks after his defeat at Germantown encamped with the Continental Army in various locations throughout Montgomery County, just north of British-occupied Philadelphia. In early November, the Americans established an entrenched position approximately 16 miles north of Philadelphia along the Wissahickon Creek and Sandy Run, primarily situated on several hills between Old York Road and Bethlehem Pike. From here, Washington monitored British troop movements in Philadelphia and evaluated his options.

On December 4, General William Howe, the commander-in-chief of British forces in North America, led a sizable contingent of troops out of Philadelphia in one last attempt to destroy Washington and the Continental Army before the onset of winter. After a series of skirmishes, Howe called off the attack and returned to Philadelphia without engaging Washington in a decisive conflict.

With the British back in Philadelphia, Washington was able to march his troops to winter quarters at Valley Forge.

5.York, PA is where the 2nd Continental Congress retreated to during the British occupation of Philidelphia.

The 14th VA Regiment Commanded by Col. Charles Lewis was encamped at Valley Forge, PA during the Winter of 1777-1778.

Jeremiah was discharged Feb. 2 1778, in York, PA; we can only assume that this was a medical discharge as he had enlisted for 3 years but only served 5 months, he was still shown on the rolls dated Feb. 14, Feb. 23, and Mar. 1, as "Sick in York". At this time he was 53 years old. Obviously he recovered enough to return to Dinwiddie County Virginia as he is on record as paying taxes there until his death in 1794.



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