Sgt. Ephraim Bates

That on or about the first of June 1778, his place of residence being the same as formerly to wit near Catfish Camp (now Washington, Pa) he was drafted and entered the service as a Sergeant in Captain Cross's Company of Virginia Militia. Said company marched to the Ohio River about one days march above the mouth of Big Beaver and joined Colonel Broadhead who commanded five hundred regulars. Col. Broadhead immediately crossed his forces over the River and marched down to the mouth of Big Beaver and joined General Mackintosh. Declarant was then detailed into the artificers company as a butcher and in which capacity he continued to serve until the end of campaign. General Mackintosh's forces erected Fort Mackintosh as the mouth of the big Beaver and garrisoned it a short time. They then took up the line of march from said fort to the Tuscarawas River, leaving a garrison in Fort Mackintosh. On the second day of their march they found the dead body of Lieutenant Parks of the regular force he having been shot. About a mile further they found the dead body of David Ross (he having been shot) together with about forty pounds of beef which the declarant had been ordered to issue to some friendly indians before leaving Fort Mackintosh, suspicion attached to said Indians. That after six days march they arrived at a point on the Tuscarawas River where they built Fort Lawrence. The declarant remembers a misunderstanding which took place between General Mackintosh and his son, Major Mackintosh, while they remained at Fort Lawrence which terminated very whimsically. Whilst the army remained at Fort Lawrence a difficulty arose in procuring hogs heads in which to salt beef. Declarant told Colonel Crawford that he could save the beef by salting it in a log cabin lined with three or four thickness of beef hides. The officers concurred in the plan which was executed by him accordingly and declarant believes the meat was well preserved. Also during their stay at Fort Lawrence a militia company mutineyed and marched out of the fort to return home. General Mackintosh dispatched Capt. Ferrel with his company to compel them to return which he effected after the mutineers had marched about a mile. In the month of December (same year) General Mackintosh left a garrison in Fort Lawrence under the command of Major Gibson and marched his army back to Fort Mackintosh, when the applicant was discharged in the last of December, having served six months. The army on this return march suffered so much for the want of provisions that the men were compelled to eat the hides of the cattle which had been butchered as they went out.

Ephraim Bates applied for his pension in Monroe County, Ohio on March 26, 1833. The 88 year-old Bates did not appear personally due to his age and other 'bodily infirmities'. He was born in Morristown, Morris County, New Jersey on May 24, 1743.

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