The Artificial Intelligence tools (like ChatGPT, Claude, CoPilot, Gemini, Grok, Meta, Grok, and Perplexity) can provide much useful and nearly instant information about subjects in a concise format, especially when they have been pre-trained on a large volume of information about the subjects.
I wondered if the FREE AI tools could provide me with information about the events in the Revolutionary War experienced by my 4th great-grandfather, Martin Carringer (1758-1835) of Pennsylvania.
I created a summary of Martin Carringer's military service gleaned from my genealogical research and information in his pension file. My genealogical sketch for Martin Carringer is 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks - Week 81: #96 Martin Carringer (1758-1835).
1) I chose to use the responses from free Anthropic Claude Sonnet 4 (as of 27 August 2025) today.
My Prompt was: "Please summarize Martin Carringer's (1758-1835) Revolutionary War military service in chronological order based on the attached document."
2) The free Anthropic Claude Sonnet 4 AI tool responded with (after being prompted for more descriptive information for each paragraph):
Based on the military service document, here is an expanded chronological summary of Martin Carringer's (1758-1835) Revolutionary War service:
Enlistment and Early Service (1776-1777)
September 4, 1776: At age 18, Martin Carringer made the pivotal decision to enlist in the Continental Army from Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. He joined what was initially called "the Battalion commanded by Col. Eneas Mackey," a unit that reflected the early organizational challenges of the Continental Army as it struggled to establish formal command structures. The regiment underwent a significant transformation after December 5, 1776, when it was officially redesignated as "The Eighth Battalion of Penna. Troops in the Continental Service." This name change represented the professionalization of what had begun as a more loosely organized militia unit.
The regiment was organized at what is now Kittanning, Pennsylvania, a frontier settlement that served as a strategic staging point for military operations in western Pennsylvania. The choice of Kittanning as the organizational hub reflects the importance of securing Pennsylvania's western frontier against both British and Native American threats. On November 23, 1776, Congress recognized the urgent need for these Pennsylvania troops in the main theater of war, directing the Board of War to order the regiment to march "with all possible expedition, by the nearest route, to Brunswick, New Jersey, or to join Gen. Washington wherever he may be."
January 6, 1777: The regiment began what would prove to be an arduous winter march from Kittanning. This journey across the mountains in the depths of winter exemplified the hardships faced by Continental soldiers. The document describes it as a "difficult winter's journey across the mountains," likely referring to the challenging terrain of the Allegheny Mountains in winter conditions. The march took nearly two months, with the regiment finally being reported in the camps in New Jersey on March 1, 1777. This timing meant that Carringer and his fellow soldiers missed some of Washington's famous winter campaigns, including the victories at Trenton and Princeton, but arrived in time for the spring campaigning season.
Major Battles and Valley Forge (1777-1778)
September 11, 1777: Carringer experienced his first major battle at Brandywine, one of the largest engagements of the Revolutionary War. This battle represented a crucial test for the Continental Army against British General Howe's forces as they advanced toward Philadelphia. The 8th Pennsylvania Regiment would have been part of the American defensive line along Brandywine Creek, and their participation in this battle marked Carringer's initiation into large-scale conventional warfare. Although the Americans were ultimately forced to retreat, the battle demonstrated the Continental Army's growing ability to stand against British regulars in pitched battle.
October 3, 1777: Just three weeks later, Carringer fought in the Battle of Germantown as part of Anthony Wayne's division. This battle was particularly significant as it represented Washington's ambitious attempt to launch a complex four-pronged attack on British forces occupying Germantown. The fact that Carringer served in Wayne's division is notable, as "Mad Anthony" Wayne was known for his aggressive tactics and fierce leadership. Although the battle ultimately failed due to coordination problems and fog, it demonstrated American tactical boldness and helped convince France to enter the war as an ally.
December 11, 1777: The regiment entered the legendary winter quarters at Valley Forge, where Carringer endured what became the most famous trial of the Continental Army. The six months at Valley Forge tested the resolve of every soldier, as they faced severe shortages of food, clothing, and shelter during one of the harshest winters of the 18th century. For a young soldier like Carringer, this experience would have been transformative, as the army that emerged from Valley Forge in June 1778 was vastly more professional and disciplined than the one that had entered. The training provided by Baron von Steuben during this period would have directly benefited Carringer, teaching him the drill and discipline that would serve him throughout the remainder of his service.
Transition to Western Theater (1778)
March 5, 1778: The regiment received orders to march to Pittsburgh, marking a significant shift in Carringer's military experience from the main theater of war in the East to the frontier conflicts of the West. This transfer reflected the Continental Army's growing recognition that the war in the West required dedicated regular troops, not just militia. The journey to Pittsburgh included conducting "an Indian campaign up the west branch of the Susquehanna," indicating that even the march itself involved active military operations against Native American allies of the British.
This transition represented a fundamental change in the nature of Carringer's service. While the eastern campaigns involved large-scale conventional battles against British regulars, the western theater required different skills: wilderness warfare, fort construction, river navigation, and dealing with the complex dynamics of frontier diplomacy and Indian relations.
Detailed Western Service Records (1778-1783)
June-August 1778: The muster rolls from this period provide concrete evidence of Carringer's service in Colonel Carnahan's Company of the 8th Pennsylvania Regiment, now under the overall command of Colonel Daniel Brodhead. His pay rate of 6⅔ dollars per month reflects the standard compensation for Continental soldiers, though the actual receipt of pay was often irregular. The specific mention of receiving "2 pounds, 5 shillings, 10 pence" in June 1778 demonstrates the complex monetary system of the period, mixing Continental currency with British colonial denominations.
1778-1783: For the remainder of the war, Carringer's service took on a distinctly different character from his earlier battlefield experiences. The 8th Regiment's assignment to "Indian campaigns and building forts on the Allegheny, Monongahela and Ohio Rivers" placed him at the center of the frontier war. This involved not just military combat, but also the practical work of establishing and maintaining the infrastructure necessary to project American power into the western territories. Fort construction required engineering skills, logistical coordination, and the ability to work effectively in small units far from conventional military support.
Specialized River Service (1781)
The detailed records from 1781 provide remarkable insight into the specialized nature of Carringer's later service. His assignment to river transport duties reflects the critical importance of water-based logistics in the western theater, where rivers served as the primary highways for moving supplies and troops.
May 4-31, 1781: Carringer's service in a four-man detachment under Sergeant Robert Porter "transporting provisions for troops down the river to Pittsburgh" illustrates the small-unit nature of much frontier military service. This 28-day assignment required specialized skills in river navigation, boat handling, and the protection of vital military supplies. The pay of "one shilling per day" for 61 days (apparently including travel time) demonstrates the detailed record-keeping that characterized Continental Army administration, even in remote frontier postings.
June 1 - July 31, 1781: His continued service "boating forage and provisions on the Monongahela River to Pittsburgh" shows the ongoing nature of these logistics operations. The transportation of forage (animal feed) was particularly crucial for maintaining cavalry and draft animals at frontier posts. The variation in the spelling of his name in records ("Martin Cariger" and "Martin Callinger") reflects the informal literacy standards of the frontier and the practical challenges of maintaining accurate records in remote locations.
October 1781: His third month of river service demonstrates that Carringer had become a valued specialist in these operations. The fact that he signed the receipt as "Martin Carringer, Priv. 8th Penna Rgt." shows his pride in his service and his proper military identity, even in these specialized assignments.
Final Service Period (1783)
February-April 1783: Carringer's service on the roll of Captain John Clark's company in a detachment commanded by Lt. Col. Stephen Bayard represents the Continental Army's final operations in the western theater. This assignment came during the period when peace negotiations were concluding, but military vigilance remained necessary to secure American territorial claims and manage the complex process of British withdrawal from western posts.
September 4, 1783: Carringer's honorable discharge by General Irvine at Pittsburgh marked the end of exactly seven years of military service, from his enlistment on September 4, 1776. The timing is symbolically perfect - he had enlisted as a young man of 18 and was discharged as a seasoned veteran of 25. His evolution from a three-year enlistee to a soldier who served "for during the war" reflects his growing commitment to the American cause and his transformation into a professional soldier.
Post-War Recognition and Legacy
The extensive post-war documentation of Carringer's service reveals the ongoing importance of his military record throughout his life. His receipt of four bounty land certificates on December 21, 1784, totaling over $313 in value, represented substantial compensation that would help establish his civilian life. The award of 200 acres of donation land in what became Perry Township, Mercer County, Pennsylvania, under the Act of February 24, 1785, provided him with the foundation for his post-war career as a farmer.
The 1827 bounty land warrant for an additional 100 acres in Holmes County, Ohio, obtained through the advocacy of U.S. Senator William Marks, demonstrates both the continued value placed on Revolutionary War service and Carringer's persistence in claiming all benefits due to him. This later land grant also reflects the westward expansion of American settlement and Carringer's connection to that broader historical movement.
His detailed pension applications in the 1820s, when he was in his sixties, provide invaluable firsthand testimony about Revolutionary War service from someone who lived through the entire conflict. The progression from his 1824 application through his widow Molly's applications in the 1830s and 1840s illustrates both the evolution of veterans' benefits and the challenges faced by aging Revolutionary War veterans and their families.
Martin Carringer's military service thus represents a complete cross-section of the Revolutionary War experience: from the desperate early campaigns in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, through the legendary trial at Valley Forge, to the specialized frontier warfare that secured American claims to the western territories. His seven-year commitment encompassed the full transformation of the Continental Army from an improvised revolutionary force to a professional military organization that secured American independence.
2) I wondered about the major battles and what Martin might have experienced. So I asked Claude: "Please describe the battles that the 8th Battalion of PA Troops were involved in in 1777."
The Anthropic Claude Sonnet 4 response was:
Based on the document and additional research, here is a detailed description of the battles that the 8th Battalion of Pennsylvania Troops were involved in during 1777:Battle of Bound Brook - April 13, 1777
The 8th Pennsylvania Regiment fought at the Battle of Bound Brook on April 13, 1777, which was a surprise attack by British and Hessian forces on a Continental Army outpost in Bound Brook, New Jersey. This engagement occurred during the spring campaigning season after Washington's army had spent the winter in Morristown, New Jersey following the victories at Trenton and Princeton.
In this action, the 8th formed the main part of a 500-man outpost that was surprised by British forces. The battle represented the kind of small-unit actions that characterized the war in New Jersey during 1777, as both armies maneuvered for strategic advantage around New York and Philadelphia. For Martin Carringer and his fellow soldiers in the 8th Pennsylvania, this would have been their first taste of combat after completing their difficult winter march from Kittanning and arriving in the New Jersey camps on March 1, 1777.
The Battle of Bound Brook was essentially a British raid designed to capture American outposts and gather intelligence about Continental Army positions. While the British achieved a tactical victory by surprising the American garrison, they failed in their primary objective of capturing the entire outpost. For the 8th Pennsylvania Regiment, this engagement served as valuable combat experience and demonstrated the constant vigilance required during the war's middle period.
Battle of Brandywine - September 11, 1777
The Battle of Brandywine was the largest engagement that Martin Carringer and the 8th Pennsylvania Regiment participated in during 1777. On September 11, 1777, General George Washington was determined to prevent the British from capturing the American seat of government, Philadelphia, taking up positions along Brandywine Creek, though Washington mistakenly believed that his army blocked all fords across the Brandywine.
This battle was part of British General William Howe's Philadelphia Campaign, aimed at capturing the American capital. The 8th Pennsylvania Regiment took their place in the Continental Army's defensive line along Brandywine Creek in southeastern Pennsylvania. The battle involved approximately 11,000 American troops facing about 15,000 British and Hessian soldiers.
In a wide flanking maneuver, the British Army forced the Continental Army to retreat from their defensive position along Brandywine Creek. While the American army gave a strong defense and prevented a disaster, it was a stinging loss for Washington's forces. For Carringer, this battle would have been his first experience of large-scale conventional warfare, involving complex troop movements, artillery exchanges, and the coordination of multiple regiments in battle formation.
The 8th Pennsylvania Regiment would have been positioned as part of the American center or right wing, facing the main British assault across the creek. When British General Cornwallis executed his successful flanking maneuver around the American right flank, units like the 8th Pennsylvania found themselves in danger of being cut off and had to conduct a fighting withdrawal. Despite the tactical defeat, the Continental Army's ability to maintain its cohesion and avoid complete destruction demonstrated its growing military professionalism.
Battle of Paoli - September 20-21, 1777
The regiment was engaged at the Battles of Bound Brook, Brandywine, Paoli, and Germantown in 1777. The Battle of Paoli, also known as the "Paoli Massacre," occurred just nine days after Brandywine as British forces continued their advance toward Philadelphia.
Wayne's division consisted of the 1st, 2nd, 4th, 5th, 7th, 8th, 10th and 11th Pennsylvania Regiments, Hartley's additional Continental Regiment, an attached artillery company and a small force of dragoons, amounting to approximately 1,500 men. This places the 8th Pennsylvania Regiment directly in Anthony Wayne's division, which had been tasked with harassing the British rear guard and supply lines.
At 10 pm on September 20, 1777 British troops under Major General Charles Grey pounced on the unsuspecting Americans. Grey had ordered his men to unload their muskets, and remove their flints, to ensure total surprise. This nighttime bayonet attack became notorious for its ferocity and the British use of cold steel rather than firearms to maintain surprise.
For Martin Carringer and the 8th Pennsylvania, the Battle of Paoli represented a traumatic experience of being caught off guard in their camp. The British attack was so sudden and violent that many American soldiers were killed or wounded while still in their tents or attempting to form defensive lines. The battle earned its nickname "massacre" due to the high casualty rate and allegations that British soldiers killed Americans who were trying to surrender. This engagement would have taught Carringer and his comrades harsh lessons about camp security and the brutal nature of 18th-century warfare.
Battle of Germantown - October 4, 1777
The document specifically notes that Martin Carringer fought "on 3 October 1777 in the battle of Germantown, in this instance in the division of Anthony Wayne," though the battle actually occurred on October 4, 1777. This engagement represented Washington's bold attempt to recapture the initiative after the defeats at Brandywine and Paoli.
Germantown, a northwestern neighborhood of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was the site of the Battle of Germantown, fought on October 4, 1777, as part of Washington's ambitious plan to launch a surprise attack on British forces occupying the area. The battle plan called for a complex four-pronged assault that would converge on the British positions simultaneously.
Carringer's service in Wayne's division during this battle is particularly significant because Wayne's men were tasked with one of the main assault columns. The 8th Pennsylvania Regiment would have participated in the pre-dawn advance through heavy fog that characterized the early stages of the battle. Washington's plan was tactically sophisticated but proved too complex for execution under battlefield conditions.
The Battle of Germantown initially showed promise, with American forces achieving tactical surprise and driving British troops back through the village. However, the combination of dense fog, complex troop movements, and the fortification of the Chew House (where British troops made a determined stand) led to confusion and eventual American withdrawal. For soldiers like Carringer, the battle demonstrated both the potential and limitations of the Continental Army's tactical capabilities.
Despite the ultimate failure of the attack, the Battle of Germantown had significant strategic implications. The very fact that Washington was willing and able to launch such an ambitious assault so soon after his defeats impressed European observers and helped convince France to enter the war as an American ally. For the 8th Pennsylvania Regiment and Martin Carringer personally, it represented their final major engagement in the eastern theater before their transfer to frontier duty.
Additional Context: Saratoga Campaign Connection
A body of riflemen were detached from the regiment and fought at Saratoga. While Martin Carringer apparently remained with the main body of the 8th Pennsylvania Regiment, some of his comrades were detached to participate in the crucial Saratoga campaign that resulted in British General Burgoyne's surrender in October 1777. This detachment illustrates how Continental Army regiments were sometimes divided to meet multiple strategic requirements simultaneously.
Summary of 1777 Combat Experience
The year 1777 provided Martin Carringer and the 8th Pennsylvania Regiment with a comprehensive education in Revolutionary War combat. They experienced:
Small unit actions at Bound Brook that taught lessons about outpost duty and surprise attacks
Major conventional battles at Brandywine that demonstrated large-scale military operations
Night warfare and camp security at Paoli that revealed the brutal realities of 18th-century combat
Complex tactical operations at Germantown that showed both the possibilities and limitations of American military capabilities
This diverse combat experience prepared the regiment for their subsequent assignment to the western frontier, where they would need to adapt these hard-won lessons to an entirely different kind of warfare involving Indian campaigns, fort construction, and river operations. For Martin Carringer, these four engagements in 1777 transformed him from a relatively inexperienced recruit into a seasoned combat veteran ready for the specialized duties that would define the remainder of his military service.
4) Here is the Audio Overview of this post by Google NotebookLM.
Here is the Video Overview of this post by Google NotebookLM.
5) I had several more questions about Martin Carringer's military service, and will publish them in subsequent blog posts.
6) I have no doubt that the battle descriptions are correct - history books have been written about the battles and the AI tools were pre-trained on the history books. This particular post is an excellent example of asking the AI tool to summarize the submitted information from a number of sources and put my Revolutionary War soldier in the middle of the historical narrative.
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