Archives of Maryland
(Biographical Series)

Nathan Madding
MSA SC 3520-18149

Biography:

Nathan Madding enlisted in the Fourth Independent Company of Maryland Troops on February 2, 1776 at the age of twenty-one.[1] Just a few months after enlisting, Madding and his company were ordered to march to New York and join forces with the Continental Army against an impending British offensive. On August 27, 1776, Madding and his fellow soldiers fought in the first major engagement of the Revolutionary War, the Battle of Brooklyn.

This first battle was a major defeat for the colonies. The Americans found themselves entirely outflanked by the British and were forced to scramble through Gowanus Creek in retreat under heavy fire. This precarious situation on the battlefield threatened the survival of the entire Continental Army, including General Washington. The patriots were saved, however, by the actions of the Maryland troops that had recently arrived in New York. They launched a daring counterattack and bought the army just enough time to successfully retreat. Two hundred and fifty-six of their men were killed or captured in the process. This bravery would earn them the title of the Maryland 400.

Madding managed to survive the Battle of Brooklyn and fought again at the Battle of White Plains, where the Marylanders continued to cover the Continental Army’s retreat. Despite experiencing bloody combat and suffering the conditions of an ill-supplied army, Madding chose to remain a soldier. On December 10, 1776, Madding re-enlisted in the Fifth Maryland Regiment.[2] At the battles of Trenton and Princeton in the winter of 1776-1777, however, Madding most likely remained with the First Regiment.

Madding’s transfer to the Fifth Regiment caused some confusion with his former lieutenant, Archibald Anderson. In May 1777, Madding was falsely advertised as a deserter. Described as “a spare made man; had on when he deserted a brown coat faced with red, a brown cloth waistcoat, a pair of country linen trousers, a new castor hat, good shoes and stockings, dark brown hair very short, about five feet eight or nine inches high; he is country born and about twenty-two years of age,” anyone who could apprehend him was promised twenty dollars.[3] While being falsely accused of desertion, Madding was actually fighting at the battles of Brandywine and Germantown during the Philadelphia campaign. Anderson failed to recognize that Madding had transferred, not deserted.  

During the winter of 1777-1778, Madding actually did leave the army for a bit. He traveled to Caroline County, Maryland and married Ann Hutton on January 21, 1778.[4] He returned to his regiment afterwards and fought at the Battle of Monmouth later that summer, in June 1778. This was the last time Madding saw major combat in the war. He was discharged on March 8, 1780.[5]

Madding’s life after the war is a mystery. No record of him can be found after his military service.

Jillian Curran, Explore America Research Intern, 2019

Notes:

[1] Muster Rolls and Other Records of Service of Maryland Troops in the American Revolution, Archives of Maryland Online, vol. 18, p. 24.

[2] Archives of Maryland Online, vol.18, p. 226.

[3] “Deserted,” Maryland Gazette (Annapolis), 29 May 1777, 4.

[4] Caroline County Court, Marriage Licenses, 1774-1792 [MSA C534-1, 1/2/1/9].

[5] Archives of Maryland Online, vol. 18, p. 226.

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