Moses Rawlings

Moses Rawlings
Born	1740 Ann Arundel County, Maryland
Died	1809 Hampshire County, Virginia
Buried at	Cumberland, Maryland
Allegiance	United States
Service/branch	Continental Army
Years of service	1775 - 1779
Rank	Continental Army First Lieutenant June 21, 1775 Captain October 21, 1775 Lieutenant Colonel June 27, 1776
Unit	Continental Army Maryland and Virginia Rifle Regiment
Commands held	Continental Army Maryland and Virginia Rifle Regiment
Battles/wars	American Revolutionary War Battle of Fort Washington
Other work	State Commissioner of Prisoners in Frederick Town, MD

Moses Rawlings (1740–1809) served in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War, most notably at the Battle of Fort Washington. He attained the rank of lieutenant colonel before leaving the military in 1779. He later served as the State Commissioner for Prisoners in Maryland.

American Revolutionary War

Rawlings was appointed as first lieutenant in Capt. Michael Cresap's Independent Rifle Company from Frederick County, Maryland.^[1] Shortly afterward Cresap died, and Rawlings replaced him as company commander. On June 17, 1776 the company was joined to the newly formed Maryland and Virginia Rifle Regiment and Rawlings was named second-in-command and promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel. When the regimental commander, Col. Hugh Stephenson, died in August 1776 Rawlings took command of the regiment. The unit consisted of approximately 250 rifelmen, and was often referred to as "Rawlings' Regiment".

During the Battle of Fort Washington the Maryland and Virginia Rifle Regiment was positioned about a half mile north of Fort Washington on Manhattan Island. From November 2 to November 14, 1776 they defended against German Hessian mercenaries, but on the 16th they were finally pushed back to Fort Washington, which surrendered a short time after.^[2] Rawlings was taken prisoner, but was released as part of a prisoner exchange George Washington referenced in a letter written on January 14, 1777 Washington to Joshua Loring.

Throughout the remainder of his military career, Rawlings often wrote to General Washington concerning pay for his soldiers and recruits, as he had difficulty paying his soldiers. Washington's response often included requests that Rawlings use his own money to pay his soldiers until more money could be obtained from Congress.^[3][4]

Post-War

As of 1781 Rawlings was referred to as the 'State Commissioner of Prisoners' out of Frederick Town, Maryland.^[5]

Family

Rawlings was married to Elizabeth McMahon. He also had a son named Moses Rawlings.^[6]

Notes

1. Revolutionary Patriots of Anne Arundel County, Maryland, pp. 161
2. Southern Campaign American Revolution Pension Statements
3. George Washington to William Palfrey (October 17, 1779)
4. George Washington to Moses Rawlings (March 7, 1779)
5. George Washington to Moses Rawlings (December 12, 1781)
6. Revolutionary Patriots of Ann Arundel County, Maryland, pp. 161

References

• Dandridge, Danske (1911). American Prisoners of the Revolution, Charlottesville: The Michie Company, Printers.
• Heitman, Francis B. (1914). Historical register of officers of the Continental Army during the War of the Revolution, April, 1775, to December, 1783. Washington, D.C.: The Rare Book Shop Publishing Co., pp. 459
• Pedan, Henry C. (2006). Revolutionary Patriots of Anne Arundel County, Maryland, Heritage Books.
• Southern Campaign American Revolution Pension Statements
• George Washington to Joshua Loring (January 14, 1777) Library of Congress, George Washington Papers, Series 3e.
• George Washington to Moses Rawlings (March 7, 1779) Library of Congress, George Washington Papers, Series 3b.
• George Washington to William Palfrey (October 17, 1779) Library of Congress, George Washington Papers, Series 3b.
• George Washington to Moses Rawlings (December 12, 1781) Library of Congress, George Washington Papers, Series 4.