Wounded Warrior

Matthew Cummins having served during the Birth of a new nation was not unlike most soldiers of the Revolutionary War. He was but a weaver with a desire for freedom and self goverment and, was determined to protect what he and others like him had establish on this wilderness continent. He declared that in 1776 he enlisted in Capt. William Cowan's company in Col. Thomas Clark's regiment and then went to Amboy Jersey. He enlisted with Capt. Thomas Overton of the 2nd Virginia Regiment, Commanded by Col. Samuel Haws, on 15 July 1780. afterwards he was transferred to the command of Capt. John Denham's company of the 1st Virginia Regiment of Col. Rh Campbell. The regiment then marched south to the aid of Gen. Green.
He enlisted at the Charlotte Court house, Va. He was in the Battle of Guilford and was then transferred to Capt. Sansom's Company of the 1st Virginia Regiment and was marched to the Battle of Eutaw Springs under Brig Gen. Huger. He was wounded in the shoulder by a musket ball thus breaking his collar bone. Ten of his men along with Col. William Washington were Killed during the battle. He was captured and taken prisoner on 8 Sept. 1781.He was held on the British Prison ship "Esk" at Charleston until being released on 3 Nov. 1782. He was treated very poorly and was in poor health at the time of his release. he fought also at the battle of Brandywine in as a militiaman under Capt. Thomas Atkins of Col. Dunlap's Regiment.