News

We continue our feature articles in which we recognize the Revolutionary War ancestors whose service to our country we honor with our participation in the Pennsylvania Society of Sons of the Revolution.

PSSR member: Andrew R. Sullivan

Andy graduated from Westminster College (PA) with a Bachelor of Arts degree in business administration, and earned his MBA at Saint Joseph’s University Haub School of Business. He served as a United States Army officer in the Reserves for 23 years. He started his career in banking and retired in hospital administration a few years back. He is now a private investor.

He joined the Society in 1986 and has served as Younger Member Committee chairman, Assistant Secretary, Secretary, and most recently as Society Vice President. He has also been a member of the Society’s Color Guard since 1989.

Andy spends summers at the beach in Ocean City, New Jersey. He is currently the Registrar for the Pennsylvania Society of the War of 1812 and the Order of First Families of Virginia.

Ancestor: Lt. Joseph Christian

Have you ever heard of the Revolutionary War mission “Forlorn Hope”?

It all started at Stony Point, 35 miles north of New York City and 13 miles south of West Point. Kings Ferry connected Stony Point, on the west bank of the Hudson, with Verplanck’s Point on the eastern shore. Stony Point, whose rocks rose 150 feet above the river, was surrounded on three sides by waters of the Hudson, while the fourth side was a swamp.

Kings Ferry was on the mainline of travel from the Middle States to New England, so its possession was important. At the beginning of June 1779, the British under Sir Henry Clinton fortified both Stony Point and Verplanck’s Point, menacing the American Army at West Point and in the Hudson Highlands.

Washington planned an attack on Stony Point, to be made by General Anthony Wayne’s light infantry. Details were carefully guarded so that none of the men engaged had any idea in advance of the plans.

For a review of his troops on July 15, 1779, Wayne directed that every man be “fresh shaved and well powdered.” Should any man leave the ranks on the march, his life was to be forfeited. No ammunition was distributed, except to two companies. The fight was to be made with bayonet, just as the British had fought when they overwhelmed Wayne’s detachment at Paoli in September 1777. Officers were armed with spears. Every man attached a piece of white paper to his hat to distinguish friend from foe.

The Americans were divided into two columns, to approach the fortified promontory from the north and from the south. The two companies supplied with ammunition were to make a pretended assault in the center with an abundance of noise to distract the attention of the British from the real points of attack.

The plan succeeded admirably.  In brief time, the Americans had possession of the British Lines, with 543 prisoners. Wayne led the right wing, which was under command of Colonel Christian Febiger (later, the 4th Captain of the First Troop Philadelphia City Cavalry #98).  The right wing was composed largely of Virginia troops and two companies from Pennsylvania.  At the head of each wing was a detail of 20 men, a “forlorn hope” to lead the way into enemy’s ranks or die in the attempt.

I am telling you about this as my Great Great, Great Grandfather, Private Joseph Christian, was one of the 20 men. He fought with the 6th Virginia Regiment.

After the surrender in 30 minutes, the fortifications were soon abandoned, and the bounty was divided among the troops. Private Christian purchased his officer’s commission with his share.

Lt. Joseph “Fighting Joe Christian” Christian was born in New Kent County, Virginia, on September 4, 1757, and died in Charles City County, Virginia, on April 10, 1825.  He also served in the battles of Trenton, Princeton, Germantown and Brandywine, and at the long siege of Mud Island Fort and the siege of Yorktown. He is represented in the Virginia Society of Cincinnati, and I represent him in the Society of Valley Forge Descendants.

I hope you will agree this story is pretty badass. I don’t think I could ever be as brave as my antecedents. But I often find that family history is my anchor in my beliefs and helps with my view of the world today.