Captain Andrew Lewis (1720-1781) was an Irish-born American surveyor, military officer, and politician. He is best known for his victories at the Battle of Point Pleasant in 1774 and the Battle of Great Kanawha in 1778 during the American Revolutionary War.
Lewis was born in County Donegal, Ireland, in 1720. He immigrated to the British colony of Virginia with his family in 1732. Lewis settled in Augusta County, Virginia, where he became a successful surveyor. He also served in the Virginia militia, rising to the rank of captain.
In 1754, Lewis served in the Virginia Regiment during the French and Indian War. He was wounded at the Battle of the Monongahela in 1755. In 1756, Lewis led the Sandy Creek Expedition against the Shawnee Indians. The expedition was a failure, but it gained Lewis valuable experience in frontier warfare.
In 1774, Lewis was appointed commander of the Virginia militia during Dunmore's War. He led a force of 1,100 men to the Ohio River, where they defeated a Shawnee army at the Battle of Point Pleasant. The victory at Point Pleasant was a major turning point in the war, and it helped to secure the Ohio Valley for the Americans.
In 1776, Lewis was appointed brigadier general in the Continental Army. He led a force of Virginia militia to New York, where they participated in the Saratoga Campaign. Lewis was not present at the Battle of Saratoga, but his troops played a key role in the American victory.
In 1778, Lewis led a force of Virginia militia to the Ohio Valley, where they defeated a British army at the Battle of Great Kanawha. The victory at Great Kanawha helped to secure the Ohio Valley for the Americans for the remainder of the war.
After the war, Lewis served in the Virginia House of Delegates and the Virginia Senate. He was also a trustee of Liberty Hall Academy, which later became Washington and Lee University.
Lewis died in 1781 at his home in Botetourt County, Virginia. He is buried in the Old Stone Church Cemetery in Botetourt County.
Captain Andrew Lewis was a significant figure in American history. He was a skilled military leader who played a key role in the American victory in the Revolutionary War. He was also a respected politician who served his community for many years.
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