Francis Barber

Background

He was born in 1751 at Princeton, New Jersey.

Education

He graduated at Princeton.

Career

A few years later he took charge as rector of the academy at Elizabethtown, which he conducted until the opening of the war. Here among other subjects he taught English, and had for a few months Alexander Hamilton as a pupil. Barber fought throughout the war, serving in many important campaigns.

He was commissioned major of the 3rd New Jersey Regiment on January 18, 1776, and lieutenant-colonel on November 28, 1776. In the autumn of that year he was at German Flats, New York, returning in time to make the Trenton-Princeton campaign. He served at Brandywine, and was wounded at Germantown. When Gen. Steuben undertook the drilling of the army at Valley Forge, Barber was appointed assistant inspector-general. Wounded through the body at the battle of Monmouth, he was able, however, to accompany Gen. Sullivan's punitive expedition against the Indians of western New York; and in the battle of Newtown in 1779 he was again wounded. In the following year when the British from their base at Staten Island advanced to Springfield, New Jersey, Barber acted as deputy adjutant-general, conducted the pursuit of the enemy from Elizabeth, and received Gen. Greene's especial commendation.

He was transferred to the 16t New Jersey Regiment on January 1, 1781, and was immediately entrusted with a delicate mission. Troops of the Pennsylvania and New Jersey line, disheartened and indignant at their long arrears of pay, mutinied, and Barber was assigned by Washington to quell the outbreak. The mutiny occurred at one of the darkest periods of the war, soon after Arnold's treason, when the finances were in confusion, and the outlook most unpromising. The quelling of the mutiny was therefore a vital matter.

A few months later came the British invasion of Virginia, and Barber served under Lafayette, commanding at the battle of Green Spring (near Williamsburg) a battalion of Continental light infantry. Lafayette's operations culminated in the siege of Yorktown. In the final assault Barber, fighting under the immediate command of Hamilton, led a battalion, "first in the supporting column" - as Lafayette reported to the commander-in-chief. Following the ending of active warfare the army was stationed at Newburgh, and there Barber was accidentally killed by a falling tree.

Achievements

• He is remembered for his participaton in the Sullivan Expedition and at the Siege of Yorktown with the 3rd New Jersey Regiment.

Personality

He is described as "of striking personal appearance"; his tact and ability in discipline are noted; and doubtless it was because of these qualities and his bravery that he won the esteem of Washington, Greene, and Lafayette.

Connections

He was twice married: first, to Mary Ogden, daughter of Robert Ogden; and second, to her cousin, Anne Ogden, daughter of Moses Ogden.

Wife:

Mary Ogden

Wife:

Anne Ogden

References

• An Elogy on Francis Barber, esq., Lieutenant-colonel Commandant of the Second New Jersey Regiment
• Who Was Who in American History, the Military