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McHenry was not yet destined, however, to be employed as a hospital surgeon, for his battalion was for the next three months engaged in operations active enough to satisfy his utmost ambitions and on November 16, 1776 he was taken prisoner with his command when Fort Washington was over taken by Sir William Howe.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=BW-AAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA9 The Life and Correspondence of James McHenry: Secretary of War Under Washington and Adams]</ref> After a couple of months' confinement he was paroled and compelled to remain idle until early in May 1778, when he was finally exchanged and went on duty as Senior Surgeon of the Flying Hospital.

McHenry was not yet destined, however, to be employed as a hospital surgeon, for his battalion was for the next three months engaged in operations active enough to satisfy his utmost ambitions and on November 16, 1776 he was taken prisoner with his command when Fort Washington was over taken by Sir William Howe.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=BW-AAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA9 The Life and Correspondence of James McHenry: Secretary of War Under Washington and Adams]</ref> After a couple of months' confinement he was paroled and compelled to remain idle until early in May 1778, when he was finally exchanged and went on duty as Senior Surgeon of the Flying Hospital.

It was but a few days, however, before he was ordered to headquarters and assigned to duty as Secretary to the Commander-in-Chief, an event which marked the permanent termination of his medical practice. As Washington's Secretary he was an adviser through several battles: the [[Battle of Monmouth]], the [[Battle of Springfield (1780)|Battle of Springfield]], and the Battle of White Plains. In 1780, he was relieved from duty with the Commander-in-Chief and assigned nominally as aide-decamp but really as guide, philosopher and friend to the youthful and enthusiastic [[Marquis de Lafayette]], who had been commissioned as a Major General in the American establishment. In May 1781, Dr. McHenry was commissioned as Major to date from the preceding October.

It was but a few days, however, before he was ordered to headquarters and assigned to duty as Secretary to the Commander-in-Chief, an event which marked the permanent termination of his medical practice. As Washington's Secretary he was an adviser through several battles: the [[Battle of Monmouth]], the [[Battle of Springfield (1780)|Battle of Springfield]], and the Battle of White Plains.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=QpZTKmK1FzkC&pg=PA136 Soldier-statesmen of the Constitution]</ref> In 1780, he was relieved from duty with the Commander-in-Chief and assigned nominally as aide-decamp but really as guide, philosopher and friend to the youthful and enthusiastic [[Marquis de Lafayette]], who had been commissioned as a Major General in the American establishment. In May 1781, Dr. McHenry was commissioned as Major to date from the preceding October.

In September, 1781, when still with la Fayette before the [[Battle of Yorktown]], McHenry was elected to the Maryland State Senate, an office which he held for the ensuing six years. Meanwhile, he was also elected to Congress of which he was a member from 1783 to 1786. He was a member of the Constitutional Convention of 1786, with other Maryland delegates [[Daniel of St. Thomas Jenifer]], [[Daniel Carroll]], [[John Francis Mercer]] and [[Luther Martin]]; one of a group of three physicians (The other two were [[James McClurg]] and [[Hugh Williamson]]) at the convention.  In 1788 and 1789 he was a member of the General Assembly, and from 1791 to 1795 he again represented his district in the State Senate.

In September, 1781, when still with la Fayette before the [[Battle of Yorktown]], McHenry was elected to the Maryland State Senate, an office which he held for the ensuing six years. Meanwhile, he was also elected to Congress of which he was a member from 1783 to 1786. He was a member of the Constitutional Convention of 1786, with other Maryland delegates [[Daniel of St. Thomas Jenifer]], [[Daniel Carroll]], [[John Francis Mercer]] and [[Luther Martin]]; one of a group of three physicians (The other two were [[James McClurg]] and [[Hugh Williamson]]) at the convention.  In 1788 and 1789 he was a member of the General Assembly, and from 1791 to 1795 he again represented his district in the State Senate.