Richard Parker (1751 – 8 May 1780) was an American

colonel Colonel ( ; abbreviated as Col., Col, or COL) is a senior military Officer (armed forces), officer rank used in many countries. It is also used in some police forces and paramilitary organizations. In the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries, a colon ...

who fought in the

American Revolutionary War The American Revolutionary War (April 19, 1775 – September 3, 1783), also known as the Revolutionary War or American War of Independence, was the armed conflict that comprised the final eight years of the broader American Revolution, in which Am ...

. Son of prominent Virginia jurist Richard Parker, Parker received an officer's commission in a Virginia regiment early in the conflict. He probably was present at Great Bridge and

Norfolk Norfolk ( ) is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in England, located in East Anglia and officially part of the East of England region. It borders Lincolnshire and The Wash to the north-west, the North Sea to the north and eas ...

. Promoted to

major Major most commonly refers to: * Major (rank), a military rank * Academic major, an academic discipline to which an undergraduate student formally commits * People named Major, including given names, surnames, nicknames * Major and minor in musi ...

, he fought at Trenton in December 1776 and commanded the regiment at Second Trenton and

Princeton Princeton University is a private Ivy League research university in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. Founded in 1746 in Elizabeth as the College of New Jersey, Princeton is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the Unit ...

in January 1777. At Brandywine in September 1777 he led a detachment of light infantry in delaying the British. The next month he fought at Germantown. Promoted to

Valley Forge Valley Forge was the winter encampment of the Continental Army, under the command of George Washington, during the American Revolutionary War. The Valley Forge encampment lasted six months, from December 19, 1777, to June 19, 1778. It was the t ...

, he led a picked detachment at

Monmouth Monmouth ( or ; ) is a market town and community (Wales), community in Monmouthshire, Wales, situated on where the River Monnow joins the River Wye, from the Wales–England border. The population in the 2011 census was 10,508, rising from 8 ...

in June 1778. In May 1779,

George Washington George Washington (, 1799) was a Founding Fathers of the United States, Founding Father and the first president of the United States, serving from 1789 to 1797. As commander of the Continental Army, Washington led Patriot (American Revoluti ...

ordered him back to Virginia to recruit a new regiment. After being sent south with a new unit of reinforcements for

Charleston, South Carolina Charleston is the List of municipalities in South Carolina, most populous city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. The city lies just south of the geographical midpoint of South Carolina's coastline on Charleston Harbor, an inlet of the Atla ...

in late 1779, he died of wounds received at the

Siege of Charleston The siege of Charleston was a major engagement and major British victory in the American Revolutionary War, fought in the environs of Charles Town (today Charleston), the capital of South Carolina, between March 29 and May 12, 1780. The British ...

in 1780.

Great Bridge to Valley Forge

Born in 1751, Richard Parker (1729–1815) was the son of Judge Richard Parker and Elizabeth Beale (d. 1778).ancestry.com, ''Richard Parker (1751-1780)'' His brothers were John (d. 1810), Alexander (1752–1820), William Harwar (1753–1815), and Thomas (1755–1820). The younger Richard Parker married Elelina Moss. He was appointed

captain Captain is a title, an appellative for the commanding officer of a military unit; the supreme leader or highest rank officer of a navy ship, merchant ship, aeroplane, spacecraft, or other vessel; or the commander of a port, fire or police depa ...

in the

2nd Virginia Regiment The 2d Virginia Regiment (the spelling most commonly used in period references) was authorized by the Virginia Convention, July 17, 1775, as a force of regular troops for the Commonwealth's defense. It consisted of seven companies, 476 privates ...

on 28 September 1775.Heitman (1914), 426 The commander of this unit,

William Woodford William Woodford (October 6, 1734 – November 13, 1780) was a Virginia planter and militia officer who distinguished himself in the French and Indian War before becoming a general of the 2nd Virginia Regiment in the American Revolutionary War ...

led his troops at the

Battle of Great Bridge The Battle of Great Bridge was fought December 9, 1775, in the area of Great Bridge, Virginia, early in the American Revolutionary War. The refusal by colonial Virginia militia forces led to the departure of Royal Governor Lord Dunmore and any ...

on 9 December 1775 and at

on 1 January 1776. On 13 August 1776, Parker became a

in the

6th Virginia Regiment The 6th Virginia Regiment was raised on December 28, 1775, at Williamsburg, Virginia, for service with the Continental Army. The regiment would see action at the Battle of Trenton, Battle of Princeton, Battle of Brandywine, Battle of German ...

. This regiment was transferred to

Adam Stephen Adam Stephen ( – 16 July 1791) was a Scottish-born American doctor and military officer who helped found what became Martinsburg, West Virginia. He emigrated to North America, where he served in the Province of Virginia's militia under Geor ...

's brigade in

's main army on 3 September 1776. The 6th Virginia, only 191 men strong, under Colonel

Mordecai Buckner Mordecai Buckner (ca. 1735 – 1787) was born in colonial Virginia and served as an officer in the French and Indian War. After the start of the American Revolutionary War he was appointed colonel of the 6th Virginia Regiment. He served in this ca ...

is noted in the order of battle for the

Battle of Trenton The Battle of Trenton was a small but pivotal American Revolutionary War battle on the morning of December 26, 1776, in Trenton, New Jersey. After General George Washington's George Washington's crossing of the Delaware River, crossing of the ...

on 26 December 1776. Major Parker is listed as acting commander of the 6th Virginia at the time of the battles of

Assunpink Creek Assunpink Creek is a U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline dataThe National Map, accessed April 1, 2011 tributary of the Delaware River in western New Jersey in the United States.Gertler, Edward. ''Garden S ...

and

on 2 and 3 January 1777. On 10 February 1777 Parker was promoted to lieutenant colonel in the 2nd Virginia Regiment. The regiment was involved in skirmishing in northern New Jersey through June 1777. At the

Battle of Brandywine The Battle of Brandywine, also known as the Battle of Brandywine Creek, was fought between the American Continental Army of General George Washington and the British Army of General Sir William Howe on September 11, 1777, as part of the Am ...

on 11 September 1777, William Maxwell led a force of light infantry to delay the British advance toward Chadds Ford. Maxwell deployed detachments under Lieutenant Colonels Parker, William Heth of the

3rd Virginia Regiment The 3rd Virginia Regiment was raised on December 28, 1775, at Alexandria, Virginia, for service with the Continental Army. The 3rd Virginia's initial commander was Colonel Hugh Mercer, who was quickly promoted to brigadier general. Its second ...

, and Charles Simms of the

12th Virginia Regiment The 12th Virginia Regiment was raised on September 16, 1776, at Williamsburg, Virginia, for service with the (U.S.) Continental Army. The regiment saw action in the Battle of Brandywine, Battle of Germantown, Battle of Monmouth and the Siege o ...

, and Captain Charles Porterfield of the

11th Virginia Regiment The 11th Virginia Regiment was a Continental Army regiment that fought in the American Revolutionary War. Authorized by the Second Continental Congress on 16 September 1776, it was organized on 3 February 1777 and consisted of four companies fro ...

. Beginning at 6:00 AM, the light infantry fought a delaying action against

Patrick Ferguson Major Patrick Ferguson (1744 – 7 October 1780) was a British Army officer who designed the Ferguson rifle. He is best known for his service in the 1780 military campaign of Charles Cornwallis during the American Revolutionary War in the ...

's riflemen and the

Queen's Rangers The Queen's Rangers, also known as the Queen's American Rangers, and later Simcoe's Rangers, were a Loyalists fighting in the American Revolution, Loyalist military unit of the American Revolutionary War that specialized in cavalry tactics, clo ...

. According to Ferguson's account, the latter unit suffered casualties of one man in four. During the

Philadelphia Campaign The Philadelphia campaign (1777–1778) was a British military campaign during the American Revolutionary War designed to gain control of Philadelphia, the Revolutionary-era capital where the Second Continental Congress convened, formed the ...

, the 2nd Virginia was assigned to the 2nd Virginia Brigade which was commanded by

George Weedon George Weedon (1734–1793) was an American military officer from Fredericksburg, Colony of Virginia, who served during the Revolutionary War. He held the rank of brigadier general in the Continental Army and later in the Virginia militia. Aft ...

. The brigade was part of

Nathanael Greene Major general (United States), Major General Nathanael Greene (August 7, 1742 – June 19, 1786) was an American military officer and planter who served in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War, Revolutionary War. He emerge ...

's division at the

Battle of Germantown The Battle of Germantown was a major engagement in the Philadelphia campaign of the American Revolutionary War. It was fought on October 4, 1777, at Germantown, Pennsylvania, between the British Army led by Sir William Howe, and the American ...

on 4 October 1777. Parts of Weedon's brigade penetrated as far as the Market House before being forced to retreat. At

, the

field officers A senior officer is an officer of a more senior grade in military or other uniformed services. In military organisations, the term may refer to any officer above junior officer rank, but usually specifically refers to the middle-ranking group of ...

of the 2nd Virginia were Colonel Christian Febiger, Lieutenant Colonel Parker, and Major Ralph Faulkner. Parker received promotion to colonel of the 1st Virginia Regiment on 10 February 1778. His field officers at the time were Lieutenant Colonel Robert Ballard and Major Edmund B. Dickinson.

Monmouth to Charleston

Before the

Battle of Monmouth The Battle of Monmouth, also known as the Battle of Monmouth Court House, was fought near the Village of Monmouth Court House, New Jersey, Monmouth Court House in modern-day Freehold Borough, New Jersey and Manalapan, New Jersey, Manalapan, on J ...

on 28 June 1778, Parker commanded a battle group consisting of the consolidated 1st, 5th, and 9th Virginia Regiments in

Peter Muhlenberg John Peter Gabriel Muhlenberg (October 1, 1746October 1, 1807) was an American clergyman and military officer who served during the American Revolutionary War. A member of Pennsylvania's prominent Muhlenberg family political dynasty, he became ...

's brigade. However, shortly before the engagement, he was assigned to lead a picked detachment under Charles Scott in Charles Lee's Advance Guard. Scott's command also included three detachments under Richard Butler, Joseph Cilley, and

Mordecai Gist Mordecai Gist (1743–1792) was a member of a prominent Maryland family who became a brigadier general in command of the Maryland Line in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War. Life Gist was born February 22, 1742/3 in Ba ...

. After a hesitant advance, Lee's troops began retreating after they were suddenly attacked by Sir Henry Clinton with as many as 10,000 troops. Parts of Lee's command put up a stout battle near a hedgerow before withdrawing to reorganize. The detachments of Parker and Cilley stayed behind to screen the left front of Washington's main body which was by then on the field. Around 1:00 PM Clinton began a bombardment of the American position with two 12-pound cannons, six 6-pound guns, and two 5.5-inch howitzers. In response, 10 to 14 cannons replied under the direction of Washington's artillery chief

Henry Knox Henry Knox (July 25, 1750 – October 25, 1806) was an American military officer, politician, bookseller, and a Founding Father of the United States. Knox, born in Boston, became a senior general of the Continental Army during the Revolutionar ...

and

Edward Carrington Edward Carrington (February 11, 1748 – October 28, 1810) was an American soldier and statesman from Virginia. During the American Revolutionary War he became a lieutenant colonel of artillery in the Continental Army. He distinguished himself ...

of the 1st Continental Artillery Regiment. While the two-hour barrage continued, the British made an attempt to turn the American left flank. At 2:00 PM, the 1st Battalion of the 42nd Foot and the 44th Foot from Charles Grey's 3rd Brigade, the 1st Light Infantry Battalion and the Queen's Rangers under Sir William Erskine, and two 3-pound cannons crossed the Spottswood North Brook and jabbed ineffectually at the American lines. At 3:00 PM Erskine ordered a withdrawal, leaving some Highlanders holding an orchard. Washington sent Cilley's 350 men, followed by Parker's 250 troops to capture the position. Using a covered approach, the Americans got within of the orchard before being spotted. The 320 defenders belonged to the 2nd Battalion of the 42nd Foot of Grey's brigade. With the help of a 6-pound cannon that brought enfilading fire to bear, the American attack pushed the Highlanders back . As the Americans emerged into the open, they came under fire from the two British 3-pound cannons. After an exchange of volleys, Cilley and Parker pulled their men back into the orchard. The British lost four killed and eight seriously wounded in the skirmish; American losses were probably somewhat more. Major Dickinson was killed in the battle. In 1779 three provisional regiments from Virginia were raised as reinforcements for the Southern Department.Wright (1989), 147 On 7 May 1779, Washington sent Parker to Virginia to recruit troops to reinforce

Benjamin Lincoln Benjamin Lincoln (January 24, 1733 ( O.S. January 13, 1733) – May 9, 1810) was an American army officer. He served as a major general in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War. Lincoln was involved in three major surrender ...

's southern army. William Davies took over as colonel of the 1st Virginia. In October 1779, Parker left

Petersburg, Virginia Petersburg is an independent city (United States), independent city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the population was 33,458 with a majority bla ...

with the first group of reinforcements. They arrived at

on 5 December and were joined by the second echelon under William Heth on 7 April. The third unit under

Abraham Buford Abraham Buford (July 21, 1747 – June 30, 1833) was a Continental Army officer during the American Revolutionary War, rising to colonel and best known as the commanding officer of the American forces at the Battle of Waxhaws. After the war ...

left still later and was nearly wiped out at the

Battle of Waxhaws The Battle of Waxhaws (also known as the Waxhaws Massacre, Buford's Massacre, and Battle of Waxhaw Creek) was a military engagement which took place on May 29, 1780, during the American Revolutionary War between a Patriot force led by Abraham ...

. Parker and Heth led the 1st and 2nd Virginia Detachments, which were new units. From 14 February to 6 March, the

3rd North Carolina Regiment The 3rd North Carolina Regiment was raised on 16 January 1776 at Wilmington, North Carolina for service with the Continental Army. In April, Jethro Sumner was appointed colonel. The regiment was present at the defense of Charleston in June 1776 ...

was assigned to Parker's Brigade. On 8 May 1780 Parker died of wounds sustained during the

. Another source gives Parker's date of death as 24 April. He was one of about 90 Americans killed during the siege, which resulted in Lincoln's surrender of 2,650 Continental Army soldiers, plus militia.Boatner (1994), 213

References

;Bibliography * * * * * *

External links

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Parker, Richard 1751 births 1780 deaths Continental Army officers from Virginia People from colonial Virginia United States military personnel killed in the American Revolutionary War