William Maxwell (Continental Army general)

William Maxwell (1733 – November 3, 1796) was an Ulster-born brigadier general in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War. Although Irish-born, he was known in the army by the sobriquet "Scotch Willie". He served during the French and Indian War, surviving Braddock's Massacre in 1755. He was next an ensign in Col. John Johnson's N.J. Regiment and then a lieutenant in Col. Peter Schuyler's regiment, the Jersey Blues.Mark M. Boatner, Encyclopedia of the American Revolution. Third Edition. Stackpole Books. 1994.

As a colonel, he commanded the 2nd New Jersey Regiment and fought in the Battle of Newtown, among many other actions. His second in command was Lieutenant Colonel Israel Shreve.

In August 1777, Gen. George Washington assigned Maxwell, then commanding the New Jersey Brigade in the Main Army, to organize and command a provisional Corps of Light Infantry, culling 100 of the best troops from each of the army's ten brigades. This force formed the advanced skirmish line at the Battle of Brandywine, then was attached to Maxwell's regular brigade as the reserve at the Battle of Germantown.

During May 1778, Washington sensed that the British were evacuating Philadelphia, so he sent General Maxwell with four New Jersey regiments and two pieces of artillery to reinforce the New Jersey militia.

One of the best battlefield commanders on the American side, he was forced to resign for...
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