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Richard Parker (1751 – 8 May 1780) was an American colonel who fought in the American Revolutionary War. Son of prominent Virginia jurist Richard Parker, Parker received an officer's commission in a Virginia regiment early in the conflict. He probably was present at Great Bridge and Norfolk. Promoted to major, he fought at Trenton in December 1776 and commanded the regiment at Second Trenton and Princeton in January 1777. At Brandywine in September 1777 he led a detachment of light infantry in delaying the British. The next month he fought at Germantown. Promoted to colonel at Valley Forge, he led a picked detachment at Monmouth in June 1778. In May 1779, George Washington ordered him back to Virginia to recruit a new regiment. After being sent south with a new unit of reinforcements for Charleston, South Carolina in late 1779, he died of wounds received at the Siege of Charleston in 1780. ==Great Bridge to Valley Forge== Born in 1751, Richard Parker (1729–1815) was the son of Judge Richard Parker and Elizabeth Beale (d. 1778).〔ancestry.com, ''Richard Parker (1751-1780)''〕 His brothers were John (d. 1810), Alexander (1752–1820), William Harwar (1753–1815), and Thomas (1755–1820).〔ancestry.com, ''Richard Parker (1725-1815)''〕 The younger Richard Parker married Elelina Moss.〔 He was appointed captain in the 2nd Virginia Regiment on 28 September 1775.〔Heitman (1914), 426〕 The commander of this unit, William Woodford led his troops at the Battle of Great Bridge on 9 December 1775〔Boatner (1994), 448〕 and at Norfolk on 1 January 1776.〔Boatner (1994), 810-811〕 On 13 August 1776, Parker became a major in the 6th Virginia Regiment.〔Heitman (1914), 58〕 This regiment was transferred to Adam Stephen's brigade in George Washington's main army on 3 September 1776.〔Wright (1989), 287〕 The 6th Virginia, only 191 men strong, under Colonel Mordecai Buckner is noted in the order of battle for the Battle of Trenton on 26 December 1776.〔Fischer (2004), 391〕 Major Parker is listed as acting commander of the 6th Virginia at the time of the battles of Assunpink Creek and Princeton on 2 and 3 January 1777.〔Fischer (2004), 409〕 On 10 February 1777 Parker was promoted to lieutenant colonel in the 2nd Virginia Regiment.〔Heitman (1914), 56〕 The regiment was involved in skirmishing in northern New Jersey through June 1777.〔Wright (1989), 285〕 At the Battle of Brandywine on 11 September 1777, William Maxwell led a force of light infantry to delay the British advance toward Chadds Ford. Maxwell deployed detachments under Lieutenant Colonels Parker, William Heth of the 3rd Virginia Regiment, and Charles Simms of the 12th Virginia Regiment, and Captain Charles Porterfield of the 11th Virginia Regiment. Beginning at 6:00 AM, the light infantry fought a delaying action against Patrick Ferguson's riflemen and the Queen's Rangers. According to Ferguson's account, the latter unit suffered casualties of one man in four.〔McGuire (2006), 175-177〕 During the Philadelphia Campaign, the 2nd Virginia was assigned to the 2nd Virginia Brigade〔Wright (1989), 283〕 which was commanded by George Weedon.〔Wright (1989), 56〕 The brigade was part of Nathanael Greene's division at the Battle of Germantown on 4 October 1777.〔McGuire (2007), 50〕 Parts of Weedon's brigade penetrated as far as the Market House before being forced to retreat.〔McGuire (2007), 102〕 At Valley Forge, the field officers of the 2nd Virginia were Colonel Christian Febiger, Lieutenant Colonel Parker, and Major Ralph Faulkner.〔Heitman (1914), 11〕 Parker received promotion to colonel of the 1st Virginia Regiment on 10 February 1778. His field officers at the time were Lieutenant Colonel Robert Ballard and Major Edmund B. Dickinson.〔Heitman (1914), 55〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア(Wikipedia)』 ■ウィキペディアで「Richard Parker (colonel)」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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