Adam Stephen

Adam Stephen (c. 1721 – 16 July 1791) was a Revolutionary War Major General, who was cashiered and court martialed as a result of a friendly fire incident after the Battle of Germantown on October 4, 1777, in which Stephen's men fired on General Anthony Wayne's troops causing their withdrawal. It was discovered that Stephen had been drunk during his advance and had disobeyed orders when he attempted to attack the house of Benjamin Chew which had been held by the British. Command of his division was given to the Marquis de Lafayette. Stephen was George Washington’s Second-in-Command of the Virginia Regiment and had previously taken part in the French and Indian War and the Battle of Brandywine.

Stephen is credited as the founder of Martinsburg, West Virginia. His residences in Martinsburg and at The Bower near Shepherdstown, West Virginia are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

External links

* [http://www.britishbattles.com/germantown.htm An Account of the Battle of Germantown]
* [http://www.sar.org/wvssar/chapter-4.htm Adam Stephen's tomb]
* [http://americanhistory.si.edu/militaryhistory/collection/object.asp?ID=808 A picture of Adam Stephen's Waistcoat and Gorget worn during the French and Indian War]