Eggleston, Joseph

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Eggleston, Joseph

EGGLESTON, JOSEPH. (1754–1811). Continental officer. Virginia. Born in Virginia, Joseph Eggleston joined the Continental army soon after graduating from William and Mary, becoming paymaster in the Continental Dragoons in March 1777, and resigning this post 18 November 1777. On 21 April 1778 he became lieutenant and paymaster of Henry Lee's Dragoons, and on 5 September 1779 he advanced to the rank of captain. Captured at Elizabethtown, New Jersey, on 25 January 1780, he was included in a prisoner exchange and joined Lee's Legion for operations in the South. His performance was outstanding at Guilford, Augusta (May-June 1781), and Eutaw Springs. Having been promoted to major in 1781, he served in this grade until the end of the war. He then was a member of the Virginia legislature for several years and a congressman from 3 December 1798 to 3 March 1801. He died in Virginia in 1811.

SEE ALSO Augusta, Georgia (22 May-5 June 1781); Eutaw Springs, South Carolina; Guilford Courthouse, North Carolina.

                          revised by Michael Bellesiles