- Stephen Moylan
Stephen Moylan (1737 – 1811) Irish American patriot leader during the
American Revolutionary War . He had several positions in the Continental Army including Muster-Master General, Secretary and Aide to General George Washington, Quartermaster General, Commander of The Fourth Continental Light Dragoons and Commander of the Cavalry of the Continental Army.Stephen Moylan was born to a prominent
Catholic family in Cork,Ireland . His family sent him to be educated inParis . Moylan then worked inLisbon for three years in the family shipping firm. He settled inPhiladelphia in 1768 to organize his own shiping firm. He was one of the organizers of theFriendly Sons of St. Patrick , an Irish-American fraternal organization, and served as its first president.Moylan joined the American
Continental Army in 1775 and was appointedMuster-Master General onAugust 11, 1775 . Although, his experience in the shiping industry afforded the United States a well qualified ship outfitter, who would help fit out the first ships of theContinental Navy . OnMarch 5, 1776 , he became secretary to GeneralGeorge Washington . He was Promoted tocolonel and was appointedQuartermaster General in the AmericanContinental Army on June 5, 1776. He resigned from this office onSeptember 28, 1776 . However, he continued to serve as a volunteer of General Washington's staff through December of 1776.Stephen Moylan was appointed to command the
4th Continental Light Dragoons , also known as Moylan's Horse onJanuary 3, 1777 atPhiladelphia . The regiment would be noted for taking the field in captured British Red Coats. However, they would see action in green coats at theBattle of Brandywine onSeptember 11, 1777 and theBattle of Germantown onOctober 4, 1777 and end the year by protecting the Cantonment atValley Forge . Col. Moylan succededGeneral Pulaski as Commander of the Cavalry in March 1778. Col. Moylan's Horse would see action at theBattle of Monmouth Courthouse, NJ onJune 28, 1778 . Stephen Moylan was married during the war to Miss Mary Ricketts Van Horne onSeptember 12, 1778 . In the campaign of 1779 Col. Moylan and the 4th Dragoons would be stationed atPound Ridge, NY and see action when the British raidedNorwalk, Connecticut onJuly 11, 1779 . Col. Moylan and the 4th Dragoons took part in theBattle of Springfield, NJ onJune 23, 1780 andGeneral Anthony Wayne 's expedition atBull's Ferry, NJ onJuly 20, 1780 . Col. Moylan commanded his Dragoons at theSiege of Yorktown inOctober of 1781 , after which, he was to take the cavalary to the Southern Campaign. However, his failing health caused him to leave the field and return to Philadelphia, where he constantly appealed to theContinental Congress to man, equip and maintain the Continental Dragoon Regiments.He was rewarded for his service by being breveted to
brigadier general onNovember 3, 1783 . Stephen Moylan died in Philadelphia,April 11, 1811 and is buried in St. Mary's church-yard, South Fourth street, Philadelphia. He was survived by his wife, Mary, and his daughter, Elizabeth and his brothers; John, James and Jasper.External links
* [http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/10609c.htm Catholic Encyclopedia]
* [http://virtualology.com/apstephenmoylan/ Biography] at Virtualology.com
* [http://www.qmfound.com/COL_Stephen_Moylan.htm Biography and portrait] at Quartermaster-Generals
* [http://www.geocities.com/iv.dragoon/moylane.html Biography and Historical References] at IV Dragoon
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