Andrew Lewis (soldier) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Andrew Lewis
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|---|---|
| Born | October 9, 1720 County Donegal, Ireland |
| Died | September 26, 1781 (aged 60) Bedford County, Virginia |
| Buried |
East Hill Cemetery
Salem, Virginia |
| Allegiance |  Kingdom of Great Britain United States |
| Branch | Colonial militia (UK) Continental Army |
| Rank |  Brigadier general |
| Battles/wars | French and Indian War American Revolutionary War |
Andrew Lewis (born October 9, 1720 – died September 26, 1781) was an important American pioneer, land surveyor, and soldier. He was born in Ireland but became a key figure in early Virginia. Lewis served as a colonel during the French and Indian War and later as a brigadier general in the American Revolutionary War. He is best known for his big victory in the Battle of Point Pleasant in 1774, during a conflict called Lord Dunmore's War. Andrew Lewis also helped start Liberty Hall, which later became Washington and Lee University.
Contents
Biography of Andrew Lewis
Early Life and Family
Andrew Lewis was born in County Donegal, Ireland, in 1720. His parents were John Lewis and Margaret Lynn. In 1732, his father, John Lewis, moved to Virginia with Andrew and his brother Thomas. They were among the first people to settle in western Augusta County. John Lewis had received a large area of land before moving there.
Andrew Lewis went to school and learned how to be a surveyor. He spent about 15 years farming and working as a surveyor in southwestern Virginia. In 1751, he and his father explored a lot of the Greenbrier District. John Lewis named the Greenbrier River after getting stuck in a patch of thorny plants. Andrew Lewis also served as a leader and later a captain in the Augusta County militia.
In the early 1740s, Andrew Lewis married Elizabeth Givens. They built their home, called Richfield, near Salem in what is now Roanoke County. They had several children: Samuel, John, Thomas, Andrew Jr., Anna, William, and Charles.
French and Indian War Service
The Virginia frontier became a place of many battles during the French and Indian War. This war involved the British (and their American colonists) against the French and their Native American allies. Virginia formed special troops to protect settlers from attacks. Andrew Lewis became a captain in George Washington's Virginia Regiment.
In 1754, Lewis was at Fort Necessity when Washington's forces had to surrender to the French. Lewis then retreated across the mountains. George Washington suggested building forts to protect the settlers. Lewis helped build Fort Dinwiddie.
In 1756, Lewis led an expedition called the Big Sandy expedition. He led soldiers and Cherokee warriors to raid Shawnee towns. This was to get back at the Shawnee for their attacks. Lewis led several trips against both Native American villages and French outposts. In 1758, he was captured during an attack on Fort Duquesne. He was taken to Quebec and stayed a prisoner until late 1759.
Between the Wars
After the French and Indian War, the Proclamation of 1763 stopped Virginia from expanding west across the Appalachian Mountains. But Lewis kept exploring and hunting in the area that is now West Virginia.
When things became peaceful again, Lewis entered politics. In 1769, he was elected to the House of Burgesses for Botetourt County. He was reelected many times until 1780.
In 1774, Virginia's Governor Dunmore led troops into the Ohio Country. This conflict became known as Lord Dunmore's War. Lewis, who was now a colonel, led another group of soldiers. The Shawnee Chief Cornstalk attacked Lewis's forces at Point Pleasant. Lewis's victory in the Battle of Point Pleasant on October 10, 1774, made him a very respected military leader.
Lewis also became one of the first leaders of Liberty Hall. This school was first called Augusta Academy. In 1776, it was renamed Liberty Hall because of the American Revolution. It moved to Lexington, Virginia. Later, it was renamed Washington College and then Washington and Lee University. It is now one of the oldest colleges in the United States.
American Revolution Service
When the American Revolution began, Governor Dunmore stopped Virginia's government from meeting. So, the American rebels formed a new congress. Andrew Lewis and his brother Thomas were both delegates. When the Continental Congress created the Continental Army in 1775, George Washington asked for Lewis to be made a brigadier general.
In March 1776, Lewis became a brigadier general. He was in charge of defending Virginia and getting men to join the Continental Army. Virginia's Committee of Safety asked Lewis to stop Governor Dunmore's attacks along the coast. Dunmore was hiding on Gwynn's Island in the Chesapeake Bay. On July 9, 1776, Lewis led Virginia's forces and captured the island. Lord Dunmore escaped by sea and never returned.
However, on April 15, 1777, Lewis resigned from his position. He said it was because of poor health. He also felt that he was not being treated fairly when other officers were promoted. George Washington was disappointed, but Lewis felt he needed to leave.
Later Years and Death
Andrew Lewis continued to be active in the government. In 1780, Governor Thomas Jefferson appointed him to the Executive Council. The next year, Lewis became sick while returning home from a council meeting. He died of a fever in Bedford County on September 26, 1781.
He was first buried at his family home. Later, in 1887, his remains were moved and re-buried in the East Hill Cemetery in Salem, Virginia.
Legacy
- Lewisburg, West Virginia, is named after Andrew Lewis.
- A statue of Lewis is among those honoring Virginia patriots on Richmond's Washington Monument.
- A memorial at the Salem Civic Center in Salem, Virginia, features a statue of Lewis next to a cannon.
- Andrew Lewis High School, now Andrew Lewis Middle School, opened in 1931 in Salem.
- On March 13, 2001, a part of Interstate 81 was named the "Andrew Lewis Memorial Highway."
- The Tri-State Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America named its reservation in Ona, West Virginia, after General Lewis.
Images for kids
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Insignia for a Brigadier General in the U.S. Army.
