Ebenezer Learned

Ebenezer Learned (April 18, 1728-April 1, 1801) was a Brigadier General in the American Continental Army during the Revolutionary War.

Related Topics:
April 18 - 1728 - April 1 - 1801 - Continental Army - Revolutionary War

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He was the son of Ebeneezer and Deborah Haynes Learned, and was born at Oxford, Massachusetts, and lived his entire life in the area.

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On October 5, 1749 he married Jerusha Baker (c 1732-1789) and they had nine children.

Related Topics:
October 5 - 1749

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When his grandfather died in 1750 he inherited 200 acres (0.8 km²) known as Prospect Hill, and built his home there.

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Learned was an active member of the local militia, and raised and drilled a company at Oxford during the French and Indian War.

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In the summer of 1756 he led his company to Fort Edward at Lake George.

Related Topics:
1756 - Fort Edward - Lake George

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There is little record of his service, except that he served sporadically from then until 1763.

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He fell ill with smallpox Fort Edward in 1757 and was hospitalized for a month.

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After that war, he remained at home for several years, farming and operating a tavern at Oxrord.

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He was prominent in both church and community, and served as a town selectman for 25 of the years between 1758 and 1794.

Related Topics:
1758 - 1794

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He remained active in the militia, and led his own and a neighboring company of minutemen to Boston when he got the news of Lexington on April 19, 1775.

Related Topics:
April 19 - 1775

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On April 24, the Massachusetts committee of safety named him a colonel and authorized him to organize a regiment.

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His regiment was adopted into the Continental Army in June.

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In 1776 those who re-enlisted were augmented by men from Danielson's Regiment to form the 3rd Massachusetts.

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By the end of the Siege of Boston, General Washington had given him command of the important Dorchester Heights position.

Related Topics:
Siege of Boston - Washington

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When the British evacuated Boston, on March 17, 1776, Colonel Learned was the first to enter the city.

Related Topics:
March 17 - 1776

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He led a battalion of 500 specially selected men, to clean out the traps, abatis, caltrops, and garbage left by the British.

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He and the men were selected because they had all had smallpox or its inoculation.

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He resigned in May of 1776 due to ill health, but returned to duty on April 2, 1777.

Related Topics:
April 2 - 1777

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He as named a Brigadier General and assigned to the Northern Department.

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In the first phase of the Battle of Saratoga, the Battle of Freeman's Farm, his brigade was not very effective.

Related Topics:
Battle of Saratoga - Battle of Freeman's Farm

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Working forward in the center of the line, they mainly got lost in the woods, and exchanged light fire near the end of the battle.

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At the Battle of Bemis Heights his brigade was in the center of the left division, commanded by General Benjamin Lincoln.

Related Topics:
Battle of Bemis Heights - Benjamin Lincoln

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Learned's own brigade (the 2nd, 8th, and 9th Massachusetts line), was expanded by Livingston's New York Regiment and 2 regiments of New Hampshire militia commanded by Col. Jonathan Moulton of Hampton, New Hampshire.

Related Topics:
Jonathan Moulton - Hampton, New Hampshire

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The attack on the American far left was turned by Daniel Morgan's men, but their center was held by Hessean troops.

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Benedict Arnold came onto the field and encouraged the men.

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Arnold and Learned led a charge on the German positions, and even though Arnold fell wounded, Learned and his men carried through and broke the enemy lines.

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Bugoyne's forces had to retreat to their starting fortifications around Freeman's Farm.

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When their charge carried the first bunker, Burgoyne's forces withdrew to the positions they had held before the Freeman's Farm battle.

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After Saratoga, his was the first unit to guard and escort the surrendered Convention Army on its trek to the south.

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In 1777-1778 he commanded a Brigade of Massachusetts regiments in deKalb's division at Valley Forge.

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On March 24, 1778 his continuing health problems led to his final resignation.

Related Topics:
March 24 - 1778

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Ebenezer returned home to Oxford, and represented the town at the Massachusetts Convention of 1779 that adopted a new constitution for the state.

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He served as a Judge of Common Pleas for Worcester County, Massachusetts.

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In 1783 he was elected to the Massachusetts General Court (the state's House of Representatives).

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He died at home in Oxford in 1801.

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[[Category:French and Indian War people|Learned Ebenezer

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