Genealogy of the Olmsted family in America : embracing the ...

32 Olmsted Family Genealogy
he had been succeeded by Capt. James Green. On the receipt of the news
of the commencement of hostilities, Capt. Green requested as many as would
to repair to Boston to assist against the British, and a number arrived there,
including Olmsted, about the 10th of May, without their captain. There
being but few other horsemen, he was not attached to any military organization,
but was actively employed by General Warren in carrying orders, and
in guarding the coast by observing and reporting the movements of the enemy.
There was more or less firing on the British shipping in the harbor by the
Americans stationed at various points. When the enemy advanced to cross
the Charles River to attack the Americans intrenched on Breed's Hill, June
18, 1775, Olmsted was sent down to the sea coast to watch the hostile movements,
so that he was not in the fight of Bunker Hill and burning of Charlestown.
After the arrival of General Washington he was employed by him as
express rider and in carrjdng orders from headquarters, and from one part
of the besiegmg army to another, until Oct., 1775, when he returned to Colchester.
On the 10th of Sept., 1776, a detachment of about 20 men of the
Light Horse Co., to which he belonged, was ordered to join the army in Westchester
Co., N. Y., where they arrived Sept. 13, and he was put imder the
command of Major Backus, who divided the company into small parties as
guards and to carry orders. Major Backus appointed him a Sergeant in command
of six men stationed at the Point of Rocks, where were springs, visited,
as appears, by soldiers from both armies. At another time he was stationed
with his six men at the large " White House " in Morrisania, then transferred
to " Throgg's Point," remaining there until a detachment of the British army
landed, compelling them to escape by swimming their horses across the creek.
This was one portion of the advance which preceded the battle of White
Plains in Oct., 1776, in which he participated. On the second day of that
battle he was accidentally met by General Washington, who said that " he
was the first horseman he had met since the battle commenced " and directed
him to remain by him, " obeying no one else." He was immediately engaged
in carrying orders. After the evacuation of Fort Lee in November, he accompanied
the army on their march through N. J. and was discharged Dec. 1,
1776, which discharge was .signed by General Washington, delivered by his
aide-de-camp, who expressed the thanks of the Commander-in-Chief for
his services.
On the 20th of July, 1777, the Light Horse Co. was drafted for two months,
but was detained over four months, to join the Northern army which was
opposing the invasion of the army commanded by General Burgoyne, from
Canada. On arriving at Skeensboro, now Whitehall, N. Y., Olmsted was
at once employed by General Lincohi and went with him to Lake George to
prevent an advance of the enemy by way of that lake. He was sent several
times with orders to Castleton, Vt. Although present at the surrender of
General Burgoyne, he was not in the battle, as he had charge of a body of
prisoners, who had been previously captured. During the winter of 1779-80,
which was unusually severe, he was employed to take care of, and furnish
forage for, a company of Va. Dragoons quartered at his father's.
(166) ZECHARIAH OLMSTED, b. at Colchester, Conn., Oct. 2, 1763; d.
Dec. 26, 1831; m. at E. Haddam, Conn., Oct. 21, 1801, Elizabeth Clark; b.
Aug. 28, 1776; d. April 9, 1860, at Romney, N. H. She was a sister of Olive,