Photographs of American Revolutionary War Patriots

I love Revolutionary War history, and it has come to my attention that some Revolutionary War veterans were actually photographed before they died, and I thought I’d share.

Jonathan Smith: Fought at the Battle of Long Island in 1778



George Fishley: Fought at the Battle of Monmouth in 1778



James W. Head: Joined the Continental Navy at age 13. Was a midshipman aboard the Queen of France. Was a prisoner of war and was nearly deaf due to the canons.



Peter Mackintosh: He was an apprentice blacksmith in Boston working on the night of December 16, 1773 when a group of young men rushed into the shop, grabbed ashes from the hearth and rubbed them on their faces. They were among those running to Griffin’s Wharf to throw tea into the harbor as part of the Boston Tea Party that started the Revolution. He later served in the Continental Artillery as an artificer.



Simeon Hicks: Was a minuteman from Massachusetts who fought at the Battles of Lexington and Concord, which began with the “shot heard ‘round the world” and kicked off the American Revolution.



Daniel Spencer: Part of a group of troops sent in a secret mission to capture Benedict Arnold after he defected to the British. A member of the elite Sheldon’s Dragoons.



Dr. Eneas Munson: He was a surgeon’s mate during the war. He was part of Gen. Washington’s sweep to Yorktown, Virginia, which led to Gen. John Cornwallis’ surrender and American victory of the Revolution. During the fighting at Yorktown he was an eyewitness to actions of Gen. Washington, Gen. Knox, and Col. Alexander Hamilton. He also knew Nathan Hale.


Side note: Nathan Hale was a young spy who was caught by the British and executed. Before he was hanged, he famously said “My only regret is I have but one life to give to my country”. There is a plaque at the site of his execution on the building of a Pier One Imports in New York City:




Alexander Milliner: Was a drummer boy who served in Gen. Washington’s Life Guard unit. He was a favorite of Washington’s, often playing at his personal request. Milliner was at the British surrender at Yorktown.