On March 1, 1776, Henry enlisted as a private while living at Fish House (Northampton) in Captain John Clute's Company of Boatmen for ten months. Henry was stationed at Fort Miller and Fort Owen. He was discharged on January 1, 1777.
On March 1, 1777, Henry again enlisted in Captain Clute's Company for ten months. Henry was stationed at Fort Miller and Fort Owen until the American army retreated before the army of General John Burgoyne. Henry with the rest of the company were stationed at Stillwater with the rest of the army.
Henry was engaged in both Battles of Saratoga on September 19, 1777 and on October 7, 1777. Henry also witnessed the surrendering of General Burgoyne on October 17, 1777. Henry with the rest of the company were employed in transporting the captured British provisions and ammunition to American forts along the Hudson River. Henry was discharged on January 1, 1778.
In the spring of 1778, Henry enlisted as a private in Captain Samuel Rees' Company in Colonel Frederick Visscher's Regiment of Tryon County Militia (Third Regiment). Henry was stationed at Fort Johnstown.
On June 3rd, while Henry was stationed at Fort Johnstown, a raiding party under Lieutenant John Ross burned his father's home and his father, Godfrey and his brothers, Jacob, John and Stephen were taken prisoners.
In the spring of 1779, Henry again enlisted in Captain Rees' Company. Henry was stationed at Fort Johnstown and at the Sacondaga Blockhouse.
During the summer Lieutenant Benjamin DeLine, Sergeant Solomon Woodworth and Henry had learned that a Tory by the name of John Helmer had been hiding in the Village of Johnstown and decided to take Helmer prisoner. One night while Helmer was passing through Fonda's Bush on his way to his hiding place the three Patriots took him prisoner and put him in the Johnstown Jail at Fort Johnstown.
In April of 1780, Henry enlisted as a sergeant in Captain Garret Putman's Company in Colonel John Harper's Regiment of New York State Levies. Henry was stationed at Fort Herkimer, Fort House, Fort Johnstown, Fort Paris, Fort Plank and Fort Rensselaer. Henry was discharged at Fort Herkimer on January 1, 1781.
In the spring of 1781, Henry enlisted as a sergeant in Captain John Littel's Company in Colonel Visscher's Regiment and he was stationed at Fort Johnstown.
On October 24th, Major John Ross and Captain Walter Butler with 607 men were in the Mohawk Valley burning and killing. Colonel Marinus Willett who was in command at Fort Rensselaer, on learning of the invasion, sent messengers to Forts Clyde, Paris and Plank for additional troops while he would gather what men that could be spared from the fort and go in pursuit of the enemy.
In the morning of October 25th, Colonel Willett and his men left Fort Rensselaer in pursuit of Ross. Captain Littel at Fort Johnstown, on being informed of this invasion, gathered a small scouting party to search for signs of the enemy. Captain Littel, Lieutenant Zepheniah Batcheller, Sergeant John Eikler, Henry, Corporal Jacob Shew, Privates John Brothers, Peter Yost Jr., John Martin, David and John Moyer with three others left Fort Johnstown in search of the enemy.
Shortly after the scouting party left the fort, Major Ross and his men appeared before the fort. Stephen Shew, then on sentry duty, fired at them and the garrison turned out to defend the fort. After a few minutes of musket and cannon fire the enemy retreated from the fort. The garrison pursued the enemy through the Village of Johnstown when they were joined by Captain Littel and his scouting party. Captain Littel ordered the garrison back to the fort while he and the scouting party followed the enemy.
Shortly after the garrison had reached the fort,. Colonel Willett and his men arrived. The garrison informed Colonel Willett what had happened and that the enemy had encamped near Johnson's Hall. Colonel Willett with his men left the fort and headed for Johnson's Hall. Just as Colonel Willett and his troops arrived on the field, Captain Littel and his scouting party fell in with the rear guard of the enemy.
Captain Littel was hit in the shoulder with a musket ball and the scouting party took to the woods to find cover. Here another brief exchange of musket fire took place and Sergeant Eikler was killed. The scouting party now joined Willett on the battlefield and fought until the coming of darkness and with the enemy retreating.
In April of 1782, Henry enlisted in Captain Abner French's Company in Colonel Willett's Regiment as a sergeant for nine months. Henry was discharged on January 1, 1783.
On page 104 of the 1790 United States Census Henry Shew's family of Caughnawaga Town, Montogmery County is as follows: 1 male over 16, 1 male under 16 and 3 females.