Page:Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography volume 2.djvu/190

 PROMINENT PERSONS

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major, July 13, 1778, serving in Wood- ford's Brigade; was transferred to the Sev- enth Virginia Regiment, September 14, 1778. and resigned from the service, July 2, 1779. On August 14, 1779, he was ap- pointed by Governor Jefferson lieutenant- colonel of a Virginia state regiment organ- ized largely through his efforts, and pro- ceeded to Charleston, South Carolina, in the spring of 1780. At the battle near Camden, South Carolina. August 16, 1780, where he commanded a part of the advance guard of General Gates' army, he was severely wounded, taken prisoner, and after ten days, having meanwhile received no medi- cal attention, submitted to the amputation of his leg, and was paroled. His death, re- sulting from the effects of his injury, oc- curred on the Santee river. South Carolina, in October, 1780.

Harrisoiu Charles, brother of Gov. Ben- jamin Harrison; was educated at William and Mary College; was colonel of Virginia regiment of artillery, November 30, 1776; colonel First Continental Artillery, Janu- ary I. 1777, and served to June, 1783. He died in 1796. He married Mary, daughter of Col. Augustin Claiborne, of Windsor, Sussex county, Virginia.

Bedinger, George Michael, born in Vir- ginia about 1750, died at Lower Blue Licks, Kentucky, about 1830. He was one of the early emigrants to Kentucky, and served as adjutant in the expedition of 1779 against Chillicothe, as major at the battle of Blue Licks in 1782, and did valuable service as an Indian spy throughout the war. He commanded the Winchester battalion of Sharpshooters in St. Clair's expedition of 1791. and was a major of United States viA-10

Infantry in 1792-93. He was a member of the Kentucky legislature in 1792, and rep- resented that state in congress from 1803 to 1S07.

Clark, George Rogers, was born near Monticello, Albemarle county, Virginia, No- vember 19, 1752; son of John and Ann ( Rogers) Clark ; and grandson of Jonathan and Elizabeth (Wilson) Clark. He prac- ticed surveying and in 1771 or 1772 made a long tour through the upper Ohio valley and cleared and improved land, in Grave creek township, twenty-five miles below Wheeling. In Dunmore's war, Clark was either on Dunmore*s staff or in command of a company, and rendered such efficient ser- vice that he was offered a position in the British army, which he declined. In 1775 he was deputy surveyor under Capt. Han- cock Lee to lay out lands on the Kentucky river for the Ohio company, and remained there until the fall, making his headquar- ters at Leestown and Harrodstown. In 1776. after a visit home, he returned to Ken- tucky, where he became a leader of the set- tlers. He was chosen a member of the Vir- ginia legislature and after a journey to Wil- liamsburg found that body adjourned. It was necessary for the settlers in Kentucky to be supplied with gunpowder, and Clark obtained from Gov. Patrick Henry a letter to the executive council. They refused to comply with Clark's request unless Clark would be responsible for the value of the powder if the legislature failed to legalize the transaction. Clark declined to assume any risk, on the ground that if Virginia claimed Kentucky she should protect it. The ammunition was g^ranted and Kentucky was recognized as a part of Virginia. On

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