Roger Enos

Roger Enos
Roger Enos. 1903 illustration based on portrait owned by great-grandson Franklin Hatch.
Born	1729 Simsbury, Connecticut
Died	October 6, 1808(1808-10-06) (Age 78 or 79) Colchester, Vermont
Place of burial	Greenmount Cemetery, Burlington, Vermont
Allegiance	Colony of Connecticut Vermont Republic United States of America
Service/branch	Connecticut Militia Continental Army Vermont Militia
Years of service	1759–92
Rank	Major General
Commands held	Vermont Militia 1st Division, Vermont Militia 4th Division, Vermont Militia
Battles/wars	French and Indian War American Revolution
Other work	Farmer Land speculator
Signature

Roger Enos (1729 – October 6, 1808) was a colonial Vermont political and military leader who commanded the Vermont Militia as a Major General.

Roger Enos, Sr. was born in Simsbury, Connecticut in 1729. He was raised in Simsbury and Windsor, and became a farmer. In 1759 Enos joined the militia for the French and Indian War. He rose to sergeant major, was commissioned as an ensign, and soon advanced to regimental adjutant.

In 1762 he took part in the British expedition against Cuba during the Seven Years’ War. In 1764 Enos was promoted to captain in the regiment commanded by Israel Putnam.

In 1773 he served on a commission that included Israel Putnam, Rufus Putnam and Phineas Lyman. The commission surveyed lands along the Mississippi River to identify sites for the grants promised to French and Indian War veterans, and their work led to Lyman’s founding of the city that is now Natchez, Mississippi.

At the start of the American Revolution, Enos was a major in the 2nd Regiment of Connecticut Militia. He joined the Continental Army and was commissioned lieutenant colonel of Connecticut’s 22nd Regiment. In the summer of 1775 he took part in the Battle of Bunker Hill and other activities around Boston, and then joined Benedict Arnold's expedition to Quebec as commander of the rear guard. In October 1775 Enos and the soldiers under his command left the struggling expedition because of a shortage of food and supplies.