Beeman, Richard. Plain, Honest Men: The Making of the American Constitution, (New York, NY: Random House, 2008.)
Ervin, Sara Sullivan. South Carolinians in the Revolution, (Baltimore, MD: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 1965.)
Fort Sullivan Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution. American Revolution Roster: Fort Sullivan, 1776-1780, (Charleston, SC: Fort Sullivan Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution, 1976).
Heitman, Francis B. Historical Register of Officers of the Continental Army: During the War of the Revolution - April, 1775 to December, 1783, (Baltimore, MD: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 1973.)
Jeter, Derrick G. "Founding Father's Friday: William Jackson", (derrickjeter.com, April 26, 2013.)
Lewis, James A. Neptune's Militia: The Frigate South Carolina during the American Revolution, (Kent, OH: The Kent State University Press, 1999.)
Littell, Charles Willing. "Major William Jackson - Secretary of the Federal Constitution", (The Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography", Vol. II, No. 4, pp. 353-369; 1878.)
McKnight, DeLoss, III. "Find a Grave Memorial: Elizabeth Jackson (1768-1858)", (www.findagrave.com, record added -
July 9, 2005.)
McKnight, DeLoss, III. "Find a Grave Memorial: William Jackson (1759-1828)", (www.findagrave.com, record added -
July 9, 2005.)
Moss, Bobby Gilmer. Roster of South Carolina Patriots in the American Revolution, (Baltimore, MD: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 1983.)
Reviil, Janie, copier. Copy of the Original Index Book: Showing the Revolutionary Claims Filed in South Carolina Between August 20, 1783 and August 31, 1786, (Baltimore, MD: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 1969.)
Swain, David. "William Jackson Papers - The David Library of the American Revolution", (davidlibraryar.blogspot.com,
August 16, 2010.)
Wright, Robert K. and Morris J. MacGregor, Jr. Soldier - Statesman of the Constitution, (Washington, D.C.: Center for Military History, US Army, 1987.)
Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. "William Jackson (secretary)", (en.cyclopedia.org, last edited - June 22, 2017.)
Pension Application of William Jackson W9072
Several sources cited in the previous post concerning William Jackson have stated that at the same time his guardian, Owen Roberts of Charleston, SC, sought and obtained a commission for himself in the Provincial Forces of South Carolina, he also obtained a commission for the then-young William Jackson. This effort was rewarded with a commission as a subaltern or ensign for William Jackson in the 1st South Carolina Regiment of Foot. Possibly due to his influence and standing within the community of Charleston, SC, Owen Roberts was commissioned as a major in the same regiment of foot. Unlike his guardian, who received a promotion to colonel in the 4th South Carolina Regiment of Artillery, William Jackson would remain with the 1st South Carolina Regiment of Foot, even after the death in combat of his benefactor on June 20, 1779 at the Battle of Stono Ferry, SC. Yet, William Jackson's military star was destined to rise to much greater heights while his political star after the end of hostilities would eclipse even his military achievements.
There does appear to be some sort of discrepancy regarding the actual rank of William Jackson at the time of his commission in the 1st South Carolina Regiment of Foot. His pension application, "Pension Application of William Jackson W9072", filed by his wife, Elizabeth Willing Jackson, on October 9, 1848, almost twenty years following the death of William Jackson states that:
"...to wit Her late Husband -- Major William Jackson Who was a Captain, in the Army of the United States -- Entered in June 1775 when in the 17th year of his age, as a Lieutenant [in] the first Regiment of South Carolina Infantry, then commanded by Colonel Christopher Gadsden -- and subsequently by General Charles Coteworth Pinckney -- in which Regiment he held his Commission -- as Captain, until the Close of the War.".
The Wikipedia article, "William Jackson (secretary)", page 1, states that:
"...after the war broke out in 1775, [Owens] Roberts joined the patriot side, and the teen-aged [William] Jackson followed; Roberts probably helped Jackson obtain a position as a cadet in the 1st South Carolina Regiment. In May 1776 Jackson was commissioned as a second lieutenant.".
(Note: In the parlance of the 18th century armies, a "cadet" and a "subaltern" were almost interchangeable terms for the lowest ranking officer of a regiment or other organization. It would seem, from the explanation below that the difference between the two terms is one of age. A "cadet" is a very young officer-in-training while a subaltern is slightly older and already commissioned.)
Wright's and MacGregor's work, Soldier-Statesmen of the Constitution, page 127, clarifies a little more the meanings of these two references to junior officers:
"Jackson may well have donned uniform prior to his seventeenth birthday. Probably with Robert's help, he obtained appointment as a cadet in the 1st South Carolina. Eighteenth-century cadets were young men preparing to become officers in effect on-the-job training. Jackson apparently learned quickly, for in May 1776 he was commissioned a second lieutenant in the regiment.".
Jeter's work, "Founding Fathers Friday: William Jackson", page 1, re-states this exact information:
"...when war came Jackson became a cadet in the 1st South Carolina Regiment. In May 1776 he was commissioned a second lieutenant and saw his first fighting a month later when British general Henry Clinton tried to capture Fort Sullivan near Charleston.".
Littell's work, "Major William Jackson - Secretary of the Federal Convention", page 354, states that:
"Having immigrated to Charleston, South Carolina, he obtained in 1775, before he had completed his seventeenth year, a commission in the First Regiment of South Carolina Infantry...".
This article seemingly does not contribute any further information concerning the actual rank of William Jackson when he joined the patriot Cause during the American Revolution but, does state clearly that it was prior to turning seventeen years old. Thus, William Jackson was quite young when he chose to cast his lot with the rebels.
Swain's article, "The William Jackson Papers of the David Library of the American Revolution", page 2, simply reconfirms the information when it states that "[William] Jackson followed his guardian into the militia, commissioned as a second lieutenant in May, 1776, at the age of 17.".
All this information seems to indicate a number of related points of fact. First, William Jackson was quite youthful when he followed his guardian, Owen Roberts, into supporting the patriot Cause. Second, and most likely due to his youthfulness, William Jackson was initially commissioned as a "cadet" with a view towards a future advancement to a lieutenancy.Third, that his promotion was quick - a year at the most between being commissioned as a cadet and moving on to a second lieutenant. Even as a commissioned second lieutenant in May, 1776, William Jackson was still very young - only seventeen years old. The young, promising, South Carolinian immigrant officer would also prove his mettle in the heat of combat over the next four years of the American Revolution.
Though the rise of William Jackson to the rank of lieutenant by the time he was seventeen years old was auspicious, he would prove his bravery and determination to serve the rebel Cause in combat over the next several years of the American Revolution. These years of bravery under fire brought him into contact and friendship with fellow officers who would prove in time to be very influential men of character. These friendships would bear fruit for William Jackson as he aged and became more involved in the politics of the United States of America.
According to several sources, William Jackson first experienced combat about one month after being promoted to second lieutenant. Jeter's work, "Founding Fathers' Friday", page 1, states that:
"...in May 1776 he [Jackson] was commissioned a second lieutenant and saw his first fighting a month later when British general Henry Clinton tried to capture Fort Sullivan near Charleston.".
The use of the expression "one month later" indicates this would have taken place in June 1776 which is confirmed in Wikipedia's work, "William Jackson (secretary)", page 1, when it states that "...Jackson first saw action near Charleston in June 1776, when his regiment fought off General Sir Henry Clinton's attempted attack on Fort Sullivan.".
William Jackson's next experience of combat would be one of the few invasion attempts by the patriot forces against an inimical power on foreign soil. This would take the form of an expedition against St. Augustine, FL. Florida was actually not one of the thirteen colonies but, rather had been taken from Spain by Great Britain at the end of the French & Indian War. It was truly "foreign soil" in the eyes of the colonists as regards to the British occupation of this strategic area. The patriot expedition was under the overall command of General Robert Howe of North Carolina. Howe was a former British officer who had immigrated to the colonies after the French & Indian War, had settled in North Carolina, and had come to embrace wholeheartedly the Cause of the colonies. According to Littell's work, "Major William Jackson - Secretary of the Federal Convention", page 354:
"In 1778, Lieutenant Jackson took part in the expedition against St. Augustine, Florida, commanded by General Robert Howe, of North Carolina, with whom, among other distinguished officers, was Col. Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, between whom and this young subaltern, a friendship, which proved lifelong, had already begun. The movement ended with the capture of Fort Tonyn, on the St. Mary's River, when an epidemic, which swept away nearly one-quarter of Howe's force, the exhaustion of their stores and provisions, and the movement of a British reinforcement, compelled a retreat, which was effected with much hardship.".
As can be seen for this brief description of the expedition, it ended in total failure for the patriot forces and necessitated a retreat on their part. Never again in the course of the American Revolution would patriot forces invade Florida or contest British occupation of this region. The fighting and focus of the American Revolution would shift to more vital theaters of operations further northwards.
This friendship with the distinguished and noteworthy Colonel Charles Cotesworth Pinckney would stand the young William Jackson in good stead for the future and would bring numerous beneficial promotions and positions to the youthful Jackson. r Again Littell's work, "Major William Jackson - Secretary of the Federal Convention", page 354 states:
"When Gen. Benjamin Lincoln, during the same year, took command of the Southern Department of the Continental Army, Lieutenant Jackson was, on the recommendation of Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, made one of the aides-de-camp, upon the staff of the commanding general, under whom he was destined to see service, as severe as it was disastrous in it s results. This appointment, with that of captain in his own regiment, which he afterwards received, he held until the close of the war. The acquaintance, thus begun, with Gen. Lincoln soon ripened into a mutual attachment, of which we shall see proofs in the story of their intercourse.".
(Note: there was a much more practical reason behind William Jackson being put forward by his superiors for a more important position within the command structure of the patriot forces. According to Wright and MacGregor's work, Soldier-Statesman of the Constitution, page 128, General Howe's personality played a major role in this move on the part of Charles Cotesworth Pinckney in putting William Jackson forward as one of General Benjamin Lincoln's aide-de-camps:
"...Howe lacked the logistical apparatus to sustain even a small force, and bickering between the contingents halted operations short of St. Augustine, the objective.... Congress reacted to the fiasco of the Florida invasion by replacing the prickly Howe with Major General Benjamin Lincoln of Massachusetts. The delegates hoped that Lincoln's background as a militia commander would improve civil-military relations in the south and enable the Americans to withstand new threats by the British.
London's "southern strategy" led indirectly to a major change in Jackson's career. His regimental commander (and future signer of the Constitution), Charles C. Pinckney, believed that Lincoln needed a diplomatic assistant to bridge any gap between the Yankee general and his southern subordinates. He persuaded Lincoln to appoint Jackson as an aide. The assignment carried with it a temporary promotion to the rank of major and brought the twenty-year-old into contact with men from a completely different section of the nation.".
The Wikipedia article, "William Jackson (secretary)", page 1, confirms this fact and states:
"...Pinckney convinced Lincoln that as a Northerner, he needed an aide to assist him in relating to his Southern troops. Jackson was chosen for this position and was temporarily promoted to the rank of major.".
As far as the writer of this blog is aware, the next engagement in which Lieutenant William Jackson participated is only referenced in a single source concerning William Jackson. This source is Littell's work, "Major William Jackson - Secretary of the Federal Convention", page 355:
"Jackson was engaged in the skirmish of Tullifiny Bridge, in May, 1779...".
It may well be that this was a smaller, very minor skirmish that preceded or led up to the major siege and assault on Savannah, GA in October, 1779. Again, no other sources refer to this engagement except this one isolated source written in the late 19th century.
But, it was the very next recorded engagement in which Lieutenant William Jackson was involved that would spell tragedy for him and cast a pale over his young life. According to Littell's work, "Major William Jackson - Secretary to the Federal Convention", page 355:
"...on the 24th of June following [1779], [Jackson was involved] in the battle of Stono Ferry [SC], in which his friend, Colonel Owen Roberts, who had been promoted to the command of a regiment of artillery, was killed...".
(Note: the source cited above offers an erroneous date for the Battle of Stono Ferry, SC. It cites June 24, 1779 as the date of the battle which actually took place on June 20, 1779 as agreed upon by numerous other credible sources.)
Wright and MacGregor's work, Soldier-Statesmen of the Constitution, pages 128-129, again makes note of the personal loss that William Jackson experienced when his guardian was killed in action. This source simply states that:
"Jackson served with Lincoln in skirmishes that followed the American loss of Savannah, including the bloody battle of Stono Ferry in June 1779, and later in the counteroffensive at Savannah in conjunction with the Comte d'Estaing's French fleet and troops. During these operations, Jackson saw the Americans defeated. At Stono Ferry he also experienced personal tragedy when his guardian was killed in action. After the unsuccessful siege of Savannah, Jackson participated in the allied retreat and watched French and American commanders blame each other for the failure.".
(Note: there is most probably artistic license for the painting entitled "The Death of Colonel Owen Roberts" and painted by Henry Benbridge. In the picture, Colonel Owen Roberts is depicted as being mortally wounded in the right leg and lying in a semi-prone position. He is pro-offering his sword to another younger American officer, ostensibly his oldest son, who was also present at the Battle of Stono Ferry, SC. A second historical, literary source, rather than a pictorial depiction like Benbridge's, is contained within Parker's work, American Revolutionary Roster: Fort Sullivan, 1776-1780. On page 270 of this work, it states that Colonel Roberts received his mortal wounding in the form of a shattered right leg due to it being struck by a British cannon ball during the Battle of Stono Ferry, SC on June 20, 1779. This is the only source the writer of this blog is aware of that explicitly addresses the manner of mortal wound that Colonel Owen Roberts received at the Battle of Stono Ferry, SC.)
(Note: the writer of this blog has just recently come into possession of a copy of a book that directly addresses the two major figures that are the subject of this specific post - Owen Roberts and his young charge, William Jackson. This work is published by the Fort Sullivan Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution and is entitled American Revolution Roster: Fort Sullivan, 1776-1780. The following information is given for these two important South Carolinians:
Owen Roberts - was commissioned as a major in the 1st South Carolina Regiment of Foot on June 17, 1775. He was promoted to lieutenant colonel of the 4th South Carolina Artillery Regiment on November 14, 1775 and to colonel of the same regiment on September 16, 1776. He was killed at Stono Ferry June 20, 1779, having his leg shattered by a cannonball. He married Mrs. Ann Frazier Cattell.
William Jackson - was commissioned as a 2nd lieutenant in the 1st South Carolina Regiment of Foot in May 1776. He was promoted to 1st lieutenant of the same regiment on August 18, 1777 and captain on October 9, 1779. He became a major and adjutant to General Benjamin Lincoln in 1780. He was taken prisoner at Charleston [SC] on May 12, 1780. He was a prisoner on parole to [until] May 1783. He died on December 17, 1828.)
(Note: as related to the information presented immediately above, Moss's work, Roster of South Carolina Patriots in the American Revolution gives a fuller account of William Jackson's services during the American Revolution. On page 492, the following information appears:
William Jackson -
Pension Application W9072
BLWt 1176-300 Capt.
He died on December 17, 1828. He married Elizabeth Willing on November 11, 1795. He became a second lieutenant in the 1st South Carolina Regiment of Foot during May 1776 and a 1st lieutenant on August 18, 1777 under Colonel [Christopher] Gadsden. On October 9, 1779, he became a captain under Colonel [Charles Cotesworth] Pinckney. He was a major and aide-de-camp to General [Benjamin] Lincoln from September 1, 1780 to February 9, 1781. After being taken prisoner at the fall of Charleston, he was a prisoner on parole until May 1783. He moved to Pennsylvania.
Heitman, p. 316; Salley, Documents, p. 28; N.A.859; X1975).
Lieutenant William Jackson's experiences up to this point in time were fairly common for an active junior officer. He had successfully advanced in rank as any skilled and courageous officer would have under the circumstances of combat. But, his largest scale engagement to this date was quickly approaching for him - his participation in the siege and ultimately final assault on Savannah, GA in October 1779.