Nathaniel Folsom - Military Career

Military Career

Folsom joined the militia as did most young men. During the French and Indian War he was Captain of a company in the New Hampshire Provincial Regiment during the Crown Point expedition led by Sir William Johnson in 1755. At the Battle of Lake George, his company, supported by artillery from Massachusetts surprised and captured Baron Dieskau, the French commander-in-chief. Besides capturing the Baron, they dispersed the French troops, took the French baggage train and seized a critical mass of supplies, with the loss of only six men.

Folsom went on to become a colonel in the militia. His formal commission was revoked by Governor Wentworth after the raid on Fort William and Mary in December 1774. Disregarding this, Colonel Folsom marched his regiment to Portsmouth, and escorted the captured cannons safely back to Durham.

On May 29, 1775, the Provincial Congress named him a Brigadier General in command of New Hampshire's forces. This created some confusion, as the Massachusetts provisional government had named John Stark to the same position. At the time, Colonel Stark was the senior commander of the New Hampshire men who had marched to the Siege of Boston. The confusion was resolved in June, when the Continental Congress named John Sullivan General of those New Hampshire forces in service with the Continental Army. Folsom was the senior officer for militia forces within the state. He was later named a Major General, and continued recruiting, training, and supply efforts throughout the war.