Yesterday we discussed Mordecai Sheftall’s career during the Revolution. There were two other Jewish soldiers that became staff officers in the Continental Army – David Salisbury Franks and Solomon Bush.
When General Richard Montgomery took Montreal from the English, David Salisbury Franks (then a Canadian civilian) lent the American Army money and sold them supplies, acts of sedition in the eyes of the British. Franks had to flee with the American forces when they were driven out. He joined them as a volunteer, remained in the service throughout the war, and eventually rose to the rank of lieutenant colonel.
Solomon Bush, joined the army in the early days because he wanted to “revenge the wrongs of my injured country.” He soon rose to the rank of deputy adjutant general of the Pennsylvania militia. Severely wounded at Brandywine, he was captured at his father’s home in 1777. The British paroled Bush as a wounded officer. While receiving medical treatment from British, however, he discovered that a spy had infiltrated Washington’s headquarters. Despite his parole, Bush alerting a local Whig merchant who took the information to Washington at Valley Forge.
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Michael Carver -- Historical Interpreter/Reenactor 