Last updated: December 10, 2024
Person
John Irvin
Quick Facts
Date of Death:
September 28, 1777
John Irvin (or Erwin) was the drum major of Colonel Philip Van Cortlandt’s 2nd New York Regiment in 1777, having enlisted for the indefinite duration of the war at Peekskill, New York, on December 15, 1776.
John’s rank of drum major meant that he was the regiment’s senior drummer and had the duty of ensuring the musical quality of the regiment’s other eight drummers. This suggests that John had prior musical training or experience at the time he was appointed to the position on January 1, 1777.
The 2nd New York Regiment formed part of General Enoch Poor’s Brigade at the time of the 1777 Battles of Saratoga and, as with all of Poor’s regiments, it was deployed to fight in the September 19 Battle of Freeman’s Farm. John was wounded in the fight and brought back to camp but he died nine days later, on September 28. John was the highest-ranking American musician who died as a result of the Battles of Saratoga.
But who was John? What did he do for a living? How old was he? Was he married? Did he have children? What recommended him to become the regiment’s top drummer? Sometimes, available research takes us only so far - hopefully, someday we'll know more about him.