William Maxwell ( Continental Army general ) William Maxwell ( 1733 – November 4 , 1796 ) was an Ulster - born brigadier general in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War . Life . William Maxwell was born in County Tyrone in about 1733 . By 1747 his family had come to North America , and settled in Warren County , New Jersey . When the French and Indian War broke out in 1754 Maxwell enlisted in the provincial militia , and served in the disastrous expedition of General Edward Braddock . He served as an ensign in Col . John Johnson ' s N . J . Regiment and then a lieutenant in Col . Peter Schuyler ' s regiment , the Jersey Blues , and was likely on the 1758 campaign that culminated in the debacle of the Battle of Carillon . At the end of the war he remained in military service , serving on the western frontier . When tensions leading up the American Revolutionary War increased , Maxwell resigned his commission and became active in Patriot political and resistance activity in New Jersey . When the war broke out he was commissioned as colonel of the 2nd New Jersey Regiment in November 1775 . The regiment was among troops sent to Quebec under General John Sullivan in early 1776 , and was involved in the Battle of Trois - Rivières before the Continental Army retreated to Fort Ticonderoga . Promoted to brigadier general , Maxwell returned to New Jersey to join General George Washington ' s army after its retreat across New Jersey following the loss of New York . In August 1777 , Gen . George Washington assigned Maxwell , then commanding the New Jersey Brigade in the Main Army , to organize and command a provisional Corps of Light Infantry , culling 100 of the best troops from each of the army ' s ten brigades . This force formed the advanced skirmish line in the defense of Philadelphia , and was involved in the Battle of Cooch ' s Bridge prior to the Battle of Brandywine . Maxwell ' s brigade served as the reserve at the October Battle of Germantown , and spent the winter at Valley Forge . After Germantown Maxwell was brought up on charges of excessive drinking . In May 1778 , Washington sensed that the British were evacuating Philadelphia , so he sent General Maxwell with four New Jersey regiments and two pieces of artillery to reinforce the New Jersey militia . Maxwell ' s troops were among those harassing the British as they crossed New Jersey to New York , and were involved in the Battle of Monmouth . He was a member of the 1779 Sullivan Expedition ( specifically at the request of John Sullivan ) against Iroquois lands in upstate New York , and fought in the Battle of Newtown , the only major action of the campaign . When Sullivan was ill during the expedition , Maxwell had command of the entire force . In 1780 his troops were stationed on guard duty outside New York , and were called out to repulse two British advances on the main army base at Morristown in the June battles at Springfield and Connecticut Farms . Maxwell , apparently feeling he was inadequately recognized for his contributions , tendered his resignation to Congress in 1780 in the hopes that he would be rewarded . However , Congress accepted his resignation , ending his military career . He tried to get reinstated , but was unsuccessful . After the war Maxwell served one term in the New Jersey state legislature , but did not notably distinguish himself . He died on November 4 , 1796 , while visiting a friend , Charles Stewart in Landsdown , Hunterdon County . He was buried in the Presbyterian church yard in his hometown of Greenwich , Warren County , New Jersey .