Revolutionary War Pension Application of John Crutchfield State of Kentucky County of Garrard

On the 20th of September 1832 personally appeared before John L. Bridges, Judge of the Garrard Circuit Court now in session and being a court of record, John Crutchfield, aged 78 years, and being first duly sworn, made oath to the following declaration to obtain the benefit of an act of Congress passed the 7th June 1832. That he entered the service of the United States in the month of August 1776 as a militia man under a call of Col. Martin Armstrong, his Capt. was James Shepherd, his lieutenant William Underwood, that of this period he was a citizen of Surry County, North Carolina. That he served on this tour, the period for which he was called, -- two months. That he was stationed with the remainder of his comrades and fellow soldiers at a point on the ridge between the River Yadkin and New River, called the Saddle Mountain, and ranged thence up the country towards the head of New River. That afterwards in the month of February following the summer of 1776, he volunteered his services to serve in the place of his Brother, under Capt. Benj Cleveland of Wilkes County, North Carolina. That his company marched on this tour from the residence of Col. Brown in Wilkes. His lieutenant was William E—y. From Browns they crossed New River at its bend, thence marched on by Cove Creek, crossing Stone Mountain onto Brands Creek at Hoskin’s Fort and thence to Carter’s Fort on the Watauga at the mouth of Doe River, where they were stationed as a guard and rangers to protect that Fort, and ranged out towards the waters of Chucky for “Indian Signs”. That on this tour he served three months; that being the period for which his Brother had been drafted as a militia man. That during the stand at Carter’s Fort on this tour, it was that a treaty was made with the Cherokee Indians at a place called the Long Island of Holston. That on this tour there were no general officers present. Col. Levier and Col. Carter both being at the Assembly. That afterwards, the date he does not now recollect, but it was about the time the British were advancing upon Salisbury and shortly before the defeat of Genl Gates near Camden. He was called as a militia man ---- to join Col. Rutherford, who was then collecting forces about Salisbury. That he marched on towards the place of rendezvous, ----- the troops even --- in order and arrangements for service, the British entered Salisbury and he was discharged without doing any fighting. This tour he was out under call 5 days. That not long after the last mentioned call he was again called out as a militia man and ordered to Salisbury, whether he marched and thence to the camp of Genl. Rutherford at the mouth of Rocky River, where being disappointed in drawing arms for the troops we were dismissed. On this call he was out 12 days. That in the call just above stated, his captain was Shepherd, in the last mentioned Porter was his captain. Shortly after the dismissal from the service, Genl Rutherford and Genl Gates joined and they were defeated. That afterwards in February (the year he cannot name at this time), but it was the winter, in which the Battle of Guilford was fought. He was called out again as a militia man for twenty days and served. He marched from ---, under Capt. Underwood, Lieut. Porter onto the vicinity of Hillsborough and where the British then lay, that during this call and service he with his company were stationed between the main body of our Army and the British as a “cast” and were in several skirmishes. That afterwards the army retracted and met the British in an engagement on the Reedy Fork of Haw River. In this latter engagement and service, the General officers men Col. Williams, Major Winston. That after the Battle of the Reedy Fork he was discharged. He hereby relinquishes all claims to a pension except the present; he is not on the pension roll of the Agency of any State. He moreover declares that there is no person living within his reach by whom he can prove his services. John Crutchfield We John Bryant and Michael Salter, citizens of Garrard County, do certify that we have been acquainted with the applicant, John Crutchfield, many years, and that we believe his age to be about 78. And that he is generally reputed and believed to have been a soldier in the Revolutionary army, in the neighborhood in which he lives, and we believe it. Given under our hands and seals this 20th Sept. 1832. John Bryant Michael Salter