A Soldier’s Story of Peter Taff

A Revolutionary War Tale

That February, at the age of 23, Peter Taff crossed the county line from Middlesex and journeyed north to Essex County. There he signed possibly the first legal document of his life as he enlisted for the term of two years into the 7th Virginia regiment of the Virginia line in the service of the United States. His brigade was under the command of General Woodford that two years spanning 1776 to 1778.

According to his pension record that involved an oral interview, Taff recalled this service in the State of Pennsylvania and New Jersey. For this article, I have added research to better understand the nature of the battles with which he was involved.

On January 20, 1777, Taff was in the battles at Somerset Court house [a battle more commonly known as the Battle of Millstone or the Battle of Van Nest's Mill].

The American leader of that battle was Brigadier General Philemon Dickinson of the New Jersey militia who has since been dubbed one of the most effective militia officers of the Revolutionary War. (Dickinson was also a Continental Congressman from Delaware and later a United States Senator from New Jersey).

A British foraging party of 500 men, led by Lieutenant Colonel Robert Abercrombie was raiding the local farms for supplies

Dickinson wrote in a letter to Colonel John Nielsen on January 23rd, “I have the pleasure to inform you that on Monday last with about 450 men chiefly our militia I attacked A foraging party near V. Nest mills consisting of 500 men with two field pieces, which we ratted after an engagement of 20 minutes and brought off 107 horses, 49 wagons, 115 cattle, 70 sheep, 40 barrels of flour, and 106 bags and many other things. And 49 prisoners.” It was indeed a successful win for the American soldiers involved despite the heavy winter weather and snow on the ground described in historical accounts.

As the war unfolded, British Army General Sir William Howe sought to capture Philadelphia, the largest city in the colonies and the seat of the Continental Congress. A prize indeed. American General George Washington would not have that. The two met at the battle of Brandywine fought on September 11, 1777. It became the largest single day engagement of the American Revolution. Nearly 30,000 soldiers squared off on a 10 square mile area of 35,000 acres of land in the skirmish. Our soldier Taff was there. (And so was British General Charles Cornwallis and the French General Marquis de Lafayette, two officers who will play an important role in the future at our local Virginia battlefield in Yorktown.) 

Later on October 4, 1777, Taff was involved in the battle at Germantown, a major engagement in the Philadelphia campaign again between General Howe and General Washington. The British forces totaled 9,000 men while American forces involved 8,000 Continentals and 3,000 militiamen. Heavy fog and falling darkness were major players in this battle that was a defeat for the Americans. Washington’s Army lost roughly 700 men killed and wounded with an additional 400 Americans captured. The British suffered more than 500 casualties. 

Taff left his regiment four months later in February of 1778. That winter had no major, large-scale battles, but it best known for the brutal winter encampment at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania. Taff’s records do not mention that event but, yes, the 7^th Virginia Regiment was part of the winter encampment at Valley Forge. They marched into camp in December of 1777 with the rest of the 12,000 member Continental Army under General Washington.

At the end of Taff’s paperwork, his pension records states “The court In testimony whereof the Court do certify that it appears to their satisfaction that the said Peter Taff did serve in the revolutionary war, as stated in the preceding declaration, against the common enemy for the term of 2 years at one time, on the Continental establishment.” 

Peter Taff was pensioned at the rate of $8 per month commencing April 27, 1818. In 2026 money that would be $209.66.

Thank you, Peter Taff. We the residents of Middlesex County express our gratitude for your service.