Windham County VT Archives Military Records.....Bemis, Joseph August 1944
Revwar - Letters General George Washington 
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Janice Jordan jnrose@webtv.net July 28, 2007, 11:06 pm

The Vermonter
While cleaning out my late sister-in-law's attic my niece found an old copy of " The
Vermonter" the state magazine dated Aug. 1944. I thought someone might have an
interest in the following article. 
AN INTERESTING EPISODE. 
In December, 1777, after a hard year for the Continental army, General Washington
went into winter quarters with his troops a Valley Forge, near Philadelphia, the
latter city being occupied by the British. 
Not often do we find an account of a Revolutionary soldier who lived in our midst
and who endured the hardships of that dreadful winter. 
Such a soldier was Joseph Bemis (1759-1837) of Dummerston, Vt., a pensioner who
lived to be 78 years of age, and the following sketch of him is found in Hemenway's
Historical Gazetteer of Vermont : Joseph Bemis was in the Continental service at the
age of 17. He wintered at Valley Forge with Washington's army in 1777. One night he
stood guard over a house in which General Washington was an inmate. At daybreak, the
General came out and said "Pretty cold morning isn't it, soldier ? Do you suppose a
little peach brandy would hurt you ? I think not" replied Bemis. The General sent
him the brandy. On another occasion Washington wished to pass into camp where Bemis
was on guard. He halted the General, presented his gun, and called for the
countersign. " You can let me pass" said Washington. "I am one of the officers. You
must give the pass word first " said the soldier. "You have a fine gun there,
soldier. "Yes" replied Bemis. "Guess I can kill an Indian six or eight rods off ;
stand out there; you can tell." The General held out his hat, showing the
countersign inside, and was allowed to pass on. As he went by, he slapped Bemis on
the shoulder and said "I wish I had a whole regiment of soldiers like you." 
Joseph Bemis lived on the farm that Dr. Thorndike owns. His father, David Bemis, and
son, John Bemis lived on the so called Bliss farm where Mrs. Lived. 


Additional Comments:
Submitted by, Gertrude S. R. Thayer, Brattleboro, VT. 
Transcribed by,
Joan Bixby

File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/vt/windham/military/revwar/letters/bemis1015gmt.txt

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