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NOW FIRST PUBLISHED, wiTn A MEMOIR OF THE AUTHOR MS OTHER ADDITIONS. i it m NEW- YORK: BARTLETT & WELFORD. 1844. ri:t-.| ''1 [Entered according to the Act of Congress, in the year 1843, by Bartlett & Welford, in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the Southern District of New- York. WILMAM VAN NORDKN, PRINT. 49 Liberty-st., New York. PAf\P t— '-tk vfj *'.:: :>' PREFACE. The military journal of Lt. Col. Simcoe, now first published, was privately printed by the author in 1787, for distribution among a few of his personal friends. The production has hitherto, it would seem, entirely escaped the attention of those who are curious in the history of our Revolutionary War. As a record of some interesting particulars and local occurrences of that memorable struggle, and as a well written docu- mentary illustration of the times and the circumstan- ces of the American Rebellion, it deserves circulation and favour. The fortunate procurement of a copy of the work in London enables the publishers to present it in an edition securing its preservation and facilita- ting a general knowledge of its contents. ■mm A memoir of so much of the author's life as is not exhibited in his journal, it is thought, will interest the reader and increase the permanent value of the vol- ume. Accordingly such a memoir has been prepared from available and authentic materials, and, by way of •::^ ' m IV PREFACE. introduction, may serve to fill out the history of the commander of the Queen's Rangers, presenting also a few facts concerning the corps not otherwise appear- ing. Not to extend that portion of the publication too far, however, various relevant quotations from differ- ent sources, interesting essentially, and expleti/e in their character, are thrown into the appendix in ad- dition to what the journalist has given in that form himself. New York, December , 1843. of the also a ppear- on too (iiffer- ti/e in in ad- ,t form ^ :i MEMOIR OF THE AUTHOR. In the church of St. Andrew, town of Cotterstock, North- amptonshire, England, is erected a white marble monument bearing this epitaph : — " To the memory of John Simcoe, Esq., late commander of his Majesty's ship Pembroke, who died in the royal ser- vice, upon the important expedition against Quebec, in North America, in the year 1759, aged 45 years. He spent the greatest part of his life in the service of his king and country, preferring the good of both to all private views. He was an officer esteemed for his great abilities in naval and military affairs, of unquestioned bravery, and unweari- ed diligence. He was an indulgent husband, a tender pa- rent, and sincere friend ; generous, humane and benevolent to all ; so that his loss to the public, as well as to his friends, cannot be too much regretted. This monument was, in honour to his memory, erected by his disconsolate wife, Catharine Simcoe, 1760." Captain Simcoe, of the navy, was a native of Northamp- tonshire, and, after a life most honourably employed in the service of his country, closed his career in the profession which seemed to promise him much renown and advance- ment, leaving a widow and two infant sons, the eldest of whom was John Graves Simcoe, the subject of this memoir, then about seven years of age. Though bred in the navy, and highly esteemed as an ex- cellent officer. Captain Simcoe was peculiarly partial to the military service, and is said to have left behind him a valu- able treatise on tactics in that profession. The most striking m PI 'i/:'^ !'■' '':A I? "ik MEMOIR OP THE AUTHOR. occurrence of his life arose however, it is said, from an acci- dent, improved in a manner peculiar to genius and extensive , professional knowledge. The story is that he was taken prisoner by the French, in America, and carried up the river St. Lawrence. As his character was little known, he was watched only to prevent his escape ; but, from his observa- tions in the voyage to Quebec, and the little incidental infor- mation he was able to obtain, he constructed a chart of that river, and carried up General Wolfe to his famous attack upon the Canadian capital. He was promoted to a cap- taincy in 1743,* at the age of twenty-nine. Upon the trial of Admiral Bjiig in 1756-7, he served as a member of the court martial convened for that purpose,t and was then aged forty-two years. The widowed mother with her two sons, soon after their father's death, removed to Exeter, and our author received the first part of his education at the free grammar school of that town. His younger brother was unfortunately drowned in his childhood. The earliest years of the young soldier were rather solid than brilliant, though he possessed both spirit and emulation, and was in the foremost rank among his fellows. But though a school-boy, his acquisitions in some departments of knowledge w^ere of a superior kind. At an early age he had read Homer in Pope's translation ; and in his boyish days acted with his companions the scenes of the lUiad. He was not slightly versed in modern history, and already devoured with eagerness every tale of war. At about the age of fourteen, he was removed to Eton school, and from thence in due course to Merton College, Oxford. But the military ardour of young Simcoe, which so early sparkled, soon blew into a flame, and, at the age of nineteen, he obtained an ensign's commission in the 35th regiment, an event probably hastened by the impending hostilities with * Chnmock's Biographia Navalis, Vol. 5. t Ibidem, and Beataon's Naval and Military Memoirs, Vol. 3. MEMOIR OF THE AUTHOR. VII America. He did not embark from England with his regi- ment, but he landed at Boston on the memorable day of tlu; battle of Bunker's Hill. He soon afterwards acted as adju- tant of the 35th regiment, but it does not appear that he ever was actually appointed to this office ; and at no distant period purchased command of a company in the 40th, which he led at the battle of Brandywine, where he was wounded. Captain Simcoe was always a soldier in his heart, and attentive to every part of his duty. He already saw that regularity in the interior economy of a soldier's life contri- buted to his; health, and estimate^ the attention of the infe- rior officers by the strength of a company or a regiment in the field. His ambition invariably led him to aspire at com- mand; and even when the army first landed at Staten Island he went to New York to request the command of the Queen's Rangers, a provincial corps then newly raised, which he did not finally obtain until after the battle of Bran- dyAvine, in October, 1777. He knew that common opinion had imprinted on the partisan the most dishonourable stain, and associated the idea with that of dishonesty, rapine, and falsehood. Yet, on the other hand, he also knew that the command of a light corps had been considered as the best source of instruction, as a means of acquiring a habit of self-dependence for resources, and of prompt decision so pe- culiarly requisite in trusts of importance. The corps of Rangf rs claimed all the attention of the now Major-commandant Simcoe, and contributed greatly to less- en his paternal fortune, for though warmly alive to the in- terests of others, he was always inattentive to his own. We find in Rivington's Royal Gazette, printed at New York dur- ing the presence of the British army in the city, an adver- tisement for recruits somewhat significant of the care and expense bestowed upon the equipment of this effective band of partisans. It is as follows : — im m m ;l , viii MEMOIR OP THE AUTHOR. "ALL ASPIRING HEROES Have now an opportunity of distinguishing themselves by- joining THE QUEEN'S RANGER HUZZARS, Commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Simcoe. Any spirited young man will receive every encourage- ment, be immediately mounted on an elegant horse, and fur- nished with clothing, accoutrements, &c., to the amount of forty guineas, by applying to Cornet Spencer, at his quar- ters, No. 1033 Water street, or his rendezvous, Hewitt's Tavern, near the Coffee House, and the defeat at Brandy- wine, on Golden Hill. DC/" Whoever brings a Recruit shall instantly receive TWO GUINEAS. VivANT Rex et Reoina." The Rangers were disciplined, not for parade, but for ac- tive service. They were never to march in slow time ; were directed to fire with precision an-i steadiness ; to wield the bayonet with force and eflfect ; to disperse and rally with rapidity. In short, in the instructions for the management of the corps, its commander seems to have anticipated the more modern tactics of the French army . The deeds and adventures of Colonel Simcoe and his Rangers during the War of Independence, need not be told here : his journal of their campaigns is before the reader — " written," it is said, " with the simplicity of Caesar and Xen- ophon." Being stationed with his corps at Gloucester Point, opposite York Town, when the latter place was beseiged by the allied French and American forces, the Queen's Rangers and their commander were included in the surrender of the army of Comwallis. Colonel Simcoe, in ill health, equally the result of excessive fatigue from his arduous services, and of vexation at the inglorious fate of his cherished sol- diers, was sent away in the Bonetta sloop of war, which, by his told MEMOIR OF THE AUTHOR. IX h,by an article of the capitulation the British reserved to trans- port their sick and disabled to New York city, to be exchang- ed as prisoners of war. The famed Queen's Rangers were never, as their enthusiastic leader had fondly hoped, re-as- sembled under his command. The officers of the corps were afterwards put on the half-pay list, and their provincial rank was made permanent in the regular British army. The capture at York Tovm being essentially an end of the war, Colonel Simcoe returned to England greatly exhausted, and his constitution considerably impaired. He was receiv- ed with the most gracious attention by the King, by his friends with the most ardent affection, by the companions of his toils and dangers with the sincerest congratulation. The services he had performed being not unknown to his Sove- reign he was appointed Lieutenant-Colonel commandant to a corps to be raised in Canada, to which he gave the name of the Queen's Rangers. The profession of a high principle of soldierly honour, of ardent attachment to military life, and the claim of credit for his Rangers, which occur in the Journal of the brave Simcoe, may be considered fully warrantable. Stedman, a British historian of the War of Independence, who himself served during its campaigns, makes frequent and honoura- ble mention of the corps and its commander.* Tarteton, who was engaged in the same kind of service, mostly in the southern department, corroborates whatever of Simcoe's narrative comes within the scope of his own history f of the ' British Legion' which he commanded. Sir Henry Clinton's letter to Lord George Germaine may be quoted as sufficient authority for the value attached to his services by his supe- riors in rank : " Lieut. Col. Simcoe has been at the head of a battalion since October, 1777 ; and since that time has been the per- ♦ History of the American War, 2 Vols. 4to. London, 1794. + History of the Campaigns of 1780 and 1781, ui the Southern Provinces, &c., 4to< London, 1787. f 1 ;fv ,: ■'. 'l . !1 X MEMOIR OF THE AUTHOR. petual advance of the army. The history of the corps un- der his command is a series of gallant, skilful, and success- ful enterprises against the enemy, without a single reverse. The Queen's Rangers have killed or taken twice their own numbers. Col. Simcoe himself has been thrice wounded ; and I do not scruple to assert, that his successes have been no less the fruit of the most extensive knowledge of his pro- fession which study and the experience within his reach could give him, than of the most watchful attention and shining courage. ** Charleston, South Carolina, May \mh, 1780." The leisure of the camp and of winter quarters was by Col. Simcoe filled up with study. Tacitus and Xenophon were his chief companions, and military history claimed a considerable portion of his attention. Few retired scholars read more than the officer on the alert in the advance of the army ; and very few read to a better purpose. He saw with clearness, and comprehended with accuracy, every subject in all its varied bearings, and in its most extended relations. His daily improvements must of consequence have been considerable; and though his own profession attracted his principal attention there were few subjects of science not familiar to him. A life of tranquillity restored the soldier's mind to its for- mer tone, and his constitution to a state of health, wliich, if not perfect, was apparently so. Not long after retiring from active service he married a Miss Guillim, a near relation of the lady of Admiral Graves, who had commanded at Bos- ton, and who was a distant relation of nis own. He was, in 1790, elected a member of Parliament to represent the borough of St. Maws', Cornwall,* and his name appears in the debates on the bill by which the province of Quebec was * The Senator ; or Clarendon's Parliamentary Chronicle, Vol. I. -' .»-' MEMOIR OP THE AUTHOR. ■.um divided into Upper and Lower Canada, and each of them placed under the superintendence of a lieutenant-governor, subject to the authority of the governor-general of British America. Col. Simcoe was appointed lieutenant-governor of Upper Canada, and on his arrival with his family in the province had the country accurately surveyed, and then formed his plans for peopling and improving it. He first thought of placing the centre of his settlements within the land enclosed by the lakes Ontario, Erie, and Huron, and the Detroit river ; but as the Niagara was to be given up to the United States, he altered his plan. York, on the north-west side of Lake Ontario, had been before determin- ed on for the capital, but Governor Simcoe, not approving of that plan, intended to fix it on the banks of the river Thames, between Huron and Ontario. This was also dropped, and York (now Toronto) was made the seat of government. To increase the population was the great and favourite scheme of the new governor, and as he had the allotment of lands vested in him, he was enabled to promote this desirable and useful measure. The families of American oflicers and sol- diers who adhered to the royal cause at the conclusion of the war, obtained grants on the British side of the bounda- ry fine, as well as many olRcers and soldiers of the regular forces. The policy of Governor Simcoe was tc draw as many emigrants from the American states as he could, and by means of his mild and disinterested government, to pro- mote a love for the national character of Englishmen in those states. To half-pay oflicers he held out a share of these lands, and he also granted discharges to soldiers serv- ing in th«' regiments then in Canada, who had been a cer- tain number of years in the country, and allotted settle ments to them. In the mean time, that the forces might not be incomplete, he proposed enlisting Americans whom he expected to become soon attached to the service. These military settlers he intended to occupy the lands on the frontiers towards the states, and on the banks of the lakes. •\i.'i w >N\ » >*^ 1 i t 1 I i * l! *' i I ; i< Xll MEMOIR OF THE AUTHOR. ! The inland parts he set aside for those who had emigrated, and, in case of their not being zealously attached to the ex- isting governir ent, the military settlers, from their situation, were to act with vigour against them, or in the event of a war with America, which would be contrary to the interest of both nations, defend the frontiers. A militia formed of such settlers might, he thought, in those instances, prove nearly as useful as a regular corps. In pursuance of these plans. Col. Simcoe, on ail occasions, gave encouragement and assistance to those who applied for lands, or who were already in posscf.sion of them. The whole of his conduct, during the time he enjoyed the government of Upper Cana- da, was honourable, liberal, and admirably calculated to lay the foundation of private and public prosperity. After remaining five years in this settlement, Governor 8imcoe returned to England, to the great regret of all the inhabit- ants, who appreciated his many public and private virtues. Governor Simcoe has been charged with unworthy acts towards his American neighbours of the United States. In- stigating the savages to hostilities upon our frontiers, that our government might be hanassed with Indian wars; abet- ting the natives in their clp.im to territory west and north of the Ohio River ; disposing of his military forces, and ar- ranging other matters upon the borders of his province with a direct view to a breach of peace between his nation and the American states, are alleged to have been practices pur- sued in a manner confirming the stories of his hatred to- wards the "Yankees," and his desire to repay them for their unpardoned oflience of having recently achieved their independence as a people. Naturally some prejudice would be indulged in by Governor Simcoe towards those with whom he had been actively at war in a civil contest. The cause for such feeling, or proof that it was shown in impro- per words and acts, need not now be sought. The Gover- nor's kindness and hospitality to some of our oflicial agents, while in his province, it is pleasing to find recorded in the :4^ MEMOIR OF THE AUTHOR. XUl private journal of General Lincoln,* kept by him when des- patched as one of the Commissioners of the United States to treat with the Indians in 1793. The following passages are, at this day, somewhat curious and interesting : — " May 25. — Immediately on my arrival at Niagara, Gov- ernor Simcoe sent for me ; the other Commissioners were with him ; he showed me my room. We remained with him a number of days ; but knowing that we occupied a large proportion of his house, and that Mrs. Simcoe was absent, and so probably on our account, we contemplated a removal, and of encamping at the landing, six miles from this place. But when the Governor was informed of our intentions he barred a removal. His politeness and hospi- tality, of which he has a large share, prevented our execut- ing the designs we had formed."! " June 24. — The King's birth-day. — At eleven o'clock the Governor had a levee at his house, at which the officers of government, the members of the legislature, the officers of the army, and a number of strangers attended. At one o'clock there was firing from the troops, the battery, and from the ship in the harbour. In the evening there was quite a splendid ball, about twenty well dressed handsome ladies, and about three times that number of gentlemen present. They danced from seven o'clock to eleven. Sup- per was then announced, A\hf're we found every thmg good and in pretty taste. The music and dancing were good, and every thing was conducted with propriety. What excited the l)est feelings of my heart was the ease and affection with which the ladies met t'ach other ; although there were a number present whose mothers sprang from the aborigines of the country. They appi'ared as well dressed as the com- pany in general, and intermixed with them in a manner * PublJRhcd in tlio MiuwnclmsotLs IlintorioQl Collections. ' t The Ofilciiil .IciurnnI of tlir Coniinisfionprs nlso rontnins nrknowlrdjrmcnts of tha Uovornor'a ultonlivc iliiulnoHs nnil li<)N|iiiiility. Scu tlio Jdiirnnl, &c., printed in tho American State l*apcrt>, Indion Afluirs, Vol, I, Document Nu. 40. * " . »*■■. M tj»y did not tamely wait for the moment of exertion in the precise line of their duty, but boldly sought out danger and death ; and no sooner was one officer lost on any hazardous service than many competitors appeared to succeed in the post of honour. It was this spirit which, among uncommon difficulties, so fre- quently triumphed over numbers of brave, skilful, and enter- prising opponents. The British soldier who thought himself superior, actually became so ; and the ascendancy which he claimed was in many instances importantly admitted by his antagonists. Nor was this spirit, the result of principle, confined to the operations of the field: it was shown in the hour of civil persecution and rigorous imprisonment ; in sit- Ucitions where coolness supplies the place of activity, and thought ])recedes execution. General Gage in a celebrated letter to Washington at the commencement of the war, had said, "that such trials would b(^ met with the fortitude of " martyrs ;" and the behaviour of the loyalists amply con- firmed his prophesy. The British Generals were commonly obliged to hazard their armies without any possibility of retreat in case of misadventure : they trusted to the spirit and discipline of •'?i>M W:: ■U':: ■■ :>'v: 1 ■ri.'f !»• .Mai 16 INTRODUCTION. ) i I 4: their troops ; and the decision, with which they risked them- selves, forms the most striking and singular feature of the American war. Nor was this only done when the armies were in their full force; by Sir William Howe in his cam- paigns, particularly in the glorious battle of the Brandy- wine ; by Sir Henry Clinton in his celebrated march through the Jersies ; by Earl Cornwallis in a latter period tat Guild- ford, when the war was transferred to the Carolinas ; and eminently by Lord Rawdon, who was " Left to bide the disadvantage of a field " Where nothing but the sound of Britain's name " Did seem defensible ;" but the same spirit was infused into the smallest operations ; and the light troops in their enterprises, confident in the su- periority of their composition, scarcely admitted the idea of retreat, or calculated against the contingency of a repulse. An account of the Queen's Hangers, and their operations, will elucidate the preceding positions ; show in such a point of view their similitude to the British army, and contain, as it wer(% an epitome of its history. This Journjil alleges no fact but what the author believes to be true ; the frequent introduction of his own name may appear redundant, but is absolutely necessary to the perspi- cuity of thi! work. He never valued himself so highly on the actions which it was his good fortune to perform to the satisfaction of his superiors, as voluntarily to prescribe them for the boundaries of his professional nmbition. Yet, as a British ollicer, should he live to double the nund)er of years which he has already devoted (o the service of his eountrj% it is scarcely possible that hc^ shall ever be appointed to so Important a trust asth.-it which he solicited, when he offered to fortify and maintain lJillings|)ort : And as an European soldier, and an Euro|)ean sul)je(!t, what field for lionourable enter|)risi' can ever be so with', as that wliieli he would have expatiated in, had he according to his own plan, joined the Jndians; directed them to collateral exertion ; and associ- ating the loyalists of the back countries zeah>us in the British eause, united them with the enemies of Congress ; set before them the Queen's Ujingers as their most nec«'ssa- ry guides and examples ; led the whole combination to in- cessant and adventurous action during tlie war; and if vic- torious, had remained at their lu-ad in that hour when Ameri(;a was declared independent by a critical and unex- pected peace ! .1 A JOURNAL. m On the 15th of October, 1777, Sir WiUiam Howe was pleased to appoint Captain Simcoe of the Gre- nadiers, with the Provincial rank of Major, to the command of the Queen's Rangers ; the next day he joined the regiment, which was encamped with the army in the vicinity of Germantown. On the 19th the army marched to Philadelphia, the Queen's Rangers formed the rear guard of the left column, and, in the encampment, their post was on the right of the line, in front of the village of Ken- sington ; the army extending from the Delaware to the Schuylkill. On the 20th the regiment was augmented with nearly an hundred men, who had been enlisted by Captain Smyth during the various marches from the landing of the army in the Chesapeake to this period. This was a very seasonable recruit to the regi- ment ; it had suffered materially in the action at Brand)rwine, and was too much reduced in numbers to be of any efficient service ; but if the loss of a great number of gallant officers and soldiers had been severely felt, the impression which that action had left upon their minds was of the highest advan- 1 Ui § 18 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS tage to the regiment ; officers and soldiers became known to each other ; they had been engaged in a more serious manner, and with greater disadvantages than they were hkely again to meet with in the com- mon chance of war ; and having extricated them- selves most gallantly from such a situation, they felt themselves invincible. This spirit vibrated among them at the time Major Simcoe joined them ; and it was obvious, that he had nothing to do but to cherish and preserve it. Sir WilHam Howe, in consequence of their behaviour at Brandywine, had promised that all promotions should go in the regiment, and accord- ingly they now took place. The Queen's Rangers had been originally raised in Connecticut, and the vicinity of New York, by Colonel Rogers, for the duties which their name im- plies, and which were detailed in his commission ; at one period they mustered above four hundred men, all Americans, and all loyalists. Hardships and neg- lect had much reduced their numbers, when the com- mand of them was given to Colonel French, and af- terwards to Major Weymess, to whom Major Simcoe succeeded ; their officers also had undergone a ma- terial change ; many gentlemen of the Southern col- onies who had joined Lord Dunmorc, and distinguish- ed themselves under his orders, were appointed to supercede those who were not thought competent to the commissions they had hitherto borne; to these were added some volunteers from the army, the whole consisting of young men, active, full of love of the service, emulous to distinguish themselves in it, and i 1 OF THE queen's RANGERS. 19 looking forward to obtain, through their actions, the honor of being enrolled with the British army. The Provincial corps, now forming, were raised on the supposed influence which their officers had among their loyal countrymen, and were understood to be native American loyalists ; added to an equal chance among these, a greater resource was opened to the Queen's Rangers, in the exclusive privilege of enlisting old countrymen (as Europeans were termed in America) and deserters from the rebel army ; so that could the officers to whom the Commander in Chief delegated the inspection of the Provincial corps have executed their orders, the Queen's Rang- ers, however dangerously and incessantly employed, would never have been in want of recruits ; at the same time, the original loyalists, and those of this description, who were from time to time enlisted, forming the gross of the corps, were the source from whence it derived its value and its discipline ; they were men who had already been exiled for their at- tachment to the* British government, and who now acted upon the firmest principles in its defence ; on the contrary, the people they had to oppose, however characterised by the enemies of Great Britain, had never been considered by them as engaged in an honourable cause, or fighting for the freedom of their country ; they estimated them not by their words, but by an intimate observance of their actions, and to civil desecration, experience had taught them to add military contempt. Sucli was the composition ''if ^?'fi :■;•'■ X. J 20 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS of the Queen's Rangers, and the spirit that animat- ed it. The junction of Captain Smyth's company aug- mented the regiment into eleven companies, the num- ber of which was equalised, and the eleventh was formed of Highlanders. Several of those brave men, who had been defeated in an attempt to join the army in North Carolina, were now in the corps ; to those others were added, and the command was given to Captain M'Kay ; they were furnished with the High- land dress, and their national piper, and were posted on the left flank of the regiment, which consisted of eight battalions, a grenadier, and light infantry com- pany. Upon the march from German Town to Ken- sington, Sir William Erskine, in directing what duties Major Simcoe should do, had told him to call upon him for dragoons whenever he wanted them ; upon this. Major Simcoe took the liberty of observing, " that the clothing and habiliments of the dragoons " were so different from those of the Queen's Rang- " ers (the one being in red, and with white belts, " easily seen at a distance, and the other in green, " and accoutred for concealment) that he thought it " would be more useful to mount a dozen soldiers of " the regiment." Sir William Erskine highly approv- ed of the idea, and sent a suitable number of hordes, saddles, and swords ; such men were selected for the service as the officers recommended for spirit and presence of mind ; they were put under the direction of Kelly, a scrjcant of distinguished gallantry. A light corps, augmented as that of the Queen's Rang- ''tv OF THE queen's RANGERS. 21 ers was, and employed on the duties of an outpost, had no opportunity of being instructed in the general discipUne of the army, nor indeed was it very neces- sary : the most important duties, those of vigilance, activity, and patience of fatigue, were best learnt in the field ; a few motions of the manual exercise were thought sufficient ; they were carefully instructed in those of firing, but above all, attention was paid to inculcate the use of the bayonet, and a total reliance on that weapon. The divisions being fully officered, and weak in numbers, was of the greatest utility, and in many trying situations was the preservation of the corps ; two files in the centre, and two on each flank, were directed to be composed of trained soldiers, without regard to their size or appearance. It was explained, that no rotation, except in ordinary duties, should take place among light troops, but that those officers would be selected for any service who ap- peared to be most capable of executing it : it was also enforced by example, that no service was to be measured by the numbers employed on it, but by its own importance, and that five men, in critical situa- tions or employment, was a more honourable com- mand than an hundred on common duties. Serjeant's guards were in a manner abolished, a circumstance to which in a great measure may be Jittributed, that no sentinel or guard of the Queen's Rangers was ever surprised ; the vigilance of a gentleman and an officer being transccndantly superior to that of any non-couunissioncd otticcr whatsoever. An attention to the interior oiconomy of a company, indispensable 1* '■'M .1 " ■; .. i 'tip!, S3 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS as it is, by no means forms the most pleasing military duty upon service, where the officer looks up to something more essentially useful, and values himself upon its execution. A young corps raised in the midst of active service, and without the habits of discipUne, which are learnt in time of peace, requir- ed the strictest attention in this point. It was ob- served, that regularity in messing, and cleanliness in every respect, conduced to the health of the soldier ; and from the numbers that each regiment brought into the field, superior officers would in general form the best estimate of the attention of a corps to its interi- or ceconomy ; and to enforce the performance of these duties in the strongest manner, it was declared in public orders, " that to such only when in the field, " the commanding officer would entrust the duties of " it, who should execute with spirit what belongs to " the interior oeconomy of the regiment when in " quarters." To avoid written orders as much as pos- sible, after the morning parade, the officers attended, as the German custom is, and received verbally what- ever could be so delivered to them, and they were declared answerable that every written order was read to the men on their separate parades. Near the end of October the Queen's Rangers were directed to patrolc beyond Frankfort, four miles from Philadelphia ; it was the day that Colonel Do- nop made his unfortunate attempt on Red Bank; they advanced as far as the Red Lion, which several of the rebel officers had left a few minutes before. 1 ■^ ■3 OF THE queen's RANGERS. 23 The country in front of Philadelphia, where the Queen's Rangers were employed, was in general cleared ground, but intersected with many woods ; the fields were fenced out with very high railing : the main road led straight from Philadelphia to Bristol Ferry on the Delaware ; about five miles from Phila- delphia, on this road, was Frankfort Creek which fell into the Delaware nearly at that distance, and the angle that it formed was called Point-no-Point, within which were many good houses and plantations. Beyond the bridge over the creek, on a height, was the village of Frankfort ; below the bridge it was not fordable, but it was easily passed in many places above it. The rebels frequently patrolled as far as Frankfort, and to a place called the Rocks, about a mile beyond it. Four miles farther was Pennypack Creek, over which was a bridge ; three miles beyond this was the Red Lion tavern, and two miles further was Bristol, a small town opposite Burlington : this road was the nearest to the river Delaware ; nearly parallel to it was the road to York, which was attend- ed to by the light infantry, of the guards, and the army ; there were many cross roads that intersected the country between these main roads, a most perfect knowledge of which was endeavored to be acquired by maps, drawn from the information of the country people, and by occular observation. The village of Kensington was several times at- tacked by the rebel patrolling parties ; they could come by means of the woods very near to it undis- covered; there was a road over a small creek to pi ■m V' ' 'I It' ™4^ iin" ii!; t^ lii;i i; 14' 34 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS Point-no-Point ; to defend this a house was made musket proof, and the bridge taken up ; cavalry only approached to this post, for it lying, as has been men- tioned, in an angle between the Delaware and the Frankfort road, infantry were liable to be cut off; on the left there was a knoll that overlooked the country ; this was the post of the piquet in the day- time, but corn fields high enough to conceal the ap- proach of an enemy reached to its basis ; sentinels from hence inclined to the left and joined those of Colonel Twistleton's (now Lord Say and Sele) light infantry of the guards, so that this hill projected for- ward, and on that account was ordered by Sir Wil- liam Erskine not to be defended if attacked in force, and it was withdrawn at night. It was usual, if the enemy approached, to quit this post till such time as the corps could get under arms, and the light infantry of the guards were informed of it ; when, marching up the road, the enemy fearing to be shut up within the creek that has been mentioned, abandoned their ground and generally suffered in their retreat to the woods. At night the corps was drawn back to the houses nearer Philadelphia, and guards were placed behind breastworks, made by heaping up the fences in such points as commanded the avenues to the vil- lage ; (which was laid out and enclosed in right an- gles ;) these were themselves overlooked by others that constituted the alarm post of the different com- panies. Fires also were made in particular places before the piquet, to discover whatsoever should ap- proach. Before day the whole corps was under arms, '.V.W m made y only nmen- nd the ut off; ed the 16 day- the ap- sntinels hose of e) Ught ted for- Jir Wil- n force, 1, if the time as infantry larching p within led their it to the k to the e placed le fences > the vil- right an- )y others ent com- ir places lould ap- der arms, OF THE queen's RANGERS. 25 and remained so till the piquets returned to their day post, which they resumed, taking every precau- tion against ambuscades ; the light infantry of the guards advanced their piquets at the same time, and Colonel Twistleton was an admirable pattern for at- tention and spirit, to all who served with him. He was constantly with the piquets, which generally found out the enemy's patroles, and interchanged shot with them : his horse was one morning wounded by a rifle shot. The mounted men of the Queen's Ranger's were found very serviceable on these occa- sions. The woods in the front were every day di- minishing, being cut down for the uses of the arn?y, and the enemy kept at a greater distance. An attempt was made to surprize the rebel post at Frankfort ; by orders fro. i head quarters the Queen's Rangers were to march near to the bridge at Frankfort, and to lay there in ambuscade till such time as Major Gwyn, who made a circuit with a detachment of cavalry, should fall into the rear of the town. Accordingly the corps marched through bye paths, and attained its position : some dragoons at the appointed time passed the bridge from Frankfort. The light was not sufficient to enable the Rangers to discover whether they were friends or enemies, till upon their turning back and hearing a shot, the corps rushed into the town ; unfortunately, either by accident or from in- formation, the rebel post had been withdrawn. Some days after the Queen's Rangers, with thirty dragoons of the IGth, under Lieutenant Pidcock, marched at midnight to attempt the same post ; after making a 26 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS f*!. circuit, and nearly attaining the rear of the Jolly Post, the public house where the guard was kept, the party fell in with a patrole ; this was cut off from the house ; it luckily did not fire, but ran towards the wood : the detachment was carefully prevented from firing. No time was lost in the pursuit of the enemy, but the infantry crossed the fields immediately in the rear of the house, and a disposition was formed for attacking it, in case, as it well might have been, it should be defended : the cavalry made a circuit to the road in the rear, and the post was completely surprized. An officer and twenty men were taken prisoners, two or three of whom were slightly wounded in an attempt to escape ; they were militia, and what is very re- markable, they had the word '' Richmond" chalked in their hats ; the officer said " Richmond was the " countersign, and that he chalked it there that his men might not forget it." Serjeant Kelly dismount- ed an officer, and in pursuit of another man, left him ; the officer gave his watch to another dragoon ; it was however adjudged to the serjeant, as he was the per- son who dismounted him, spared his life, and pursued his duty. It is not improper here to observe, that formerly Major Simcoe had forbidden the soldiers to take watches, and indeed did so after this, 'till he accidentally overheard a man say it was not worth while to bring in a prisoner ; he therefore made it a rule, that any one who took a prisoner, if he publicly declared he had his watch, should keep it ; so that no soldier was interested to kill any man. This spirit of taking as many prisoners as possible was most a f-9ilE QITF »S R\N(ii:Rfil. 27 earnestly atlRfllped to Ytk inculcated, and not without success. Soon after, at< a strong patrole of cavalry, under Major Gwyn, was out, some of its men returned in great confusion, saying, " that they were attacked " by a superior body, both in front and rear :' at the same time Colonel Twistleton and Major Simcoe, who were on the Knoll, occupied by the piquet of the Rangers, could perceive by the glittering of arms, a large body of foot in a wood, near which Major Gwyn was to return, they immediately took their respective piquets, about twenty men, and marched to mask the wood. The soldiers in camp were ordered to run to the Knoll, without waiting, and the officer of the piquet was directed to form them as fast as they came up, by t»v elves, and to forward them under the first officer or Serjeant who should arrive. The whole regiment and the light infantry of the guards were soon on the march ; the enemy in the wood retreated ; and gaining better intelligence. Colonel Twisleton halted on the verge of it, till Major Gwyn, who had beaten back the enemy, returned. The next day it was known that Pulaski had commanded the enemy : a skirmish had happened the day before, between smaller parties, and he, supposing that a large patrole would be sent out from Philadelphia, obtained the command of a very strong one to ambuscade it ; but, however able and spirited he might be, he was soon convinced that his irregulars could not withstand the promptitude and strength of the British cavalry. Parties of the Rangers every day went to Frank- fort, where the enemy no longer kept a fixed post, mm nrr ir • 28 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS li?- ■ m i- . M '^'J^i though they frequently sent a patrole to stop the market people. A patrolling party of the Rangers approach- ed undiscovered so close to a rebel sentinel, posted upon the bridge, that it would have been easy to have killed hun. A boy, whom he had just examined, was sent back to inform him of this, and to direct him im- mediately to quit his post or that he should be shot ; he ran off, and the whole party, on his arrival at the guard, fled with equal precipitation ; nor were there any more sentinels placed there : a matter of some consequence to the poor people of Philadelphia, as they were not prevented from getting their flour ground at Frankfort mills. It was the object, to instil into the men, that their superiority lay in close fight, and in the use of the bayonet, in which the individual courage, and person- al activity that characterise the British soldier can best display themselves. The whole corps being to- gether on the Frankfort road, information was receiv- ed that Pulaski with his cavalry was approaching ; on each side of the road, for some distance, there was wood, and very high rails fenced it from the road ; the march was not interrupted, and the following dis- position was made to attack him. The light infantry in front were loaded, and occupied the whole space of the road ; Captain Stephenson, who commanded it, was directed not to fire at one or two men, who might advance, but, either on their firing or turning back, to give notice of his approach, to follow at a brisk and steady rate, and to fire only on the main body when he came close to them. The eight battalion compa- (i i( en cor the dieri men market »roach- poBted to have ed, was lim im- e shot ; 1 at the e there )f some phia, as sir flour lat their e of the person- dier can )eing to- 8 receiv- ling; on lere was lie road ; wring dis- infantry space of landed it, ho might back, to brisk and )dy when Q compa- OF THE queen's RANGERS. 29 nies were formed about thirty feet from the Hght in- fantry, in close column by companies, their bayonets fixed, and not loaded ; they were mstructed not to heed the enemy's horses, but to bayonet the men. The grenadiers and Highland company were in the rear, loaded; and the directions given to Captain Armstrong were, that the grenadiers should cross the fences on the right, and the Highlanders those on the left, and secure the flanks ; the men were so prepared and so chearful, that if an opportunity of rushing on Pulaski's cavalry had offered, which by the winding of the road was probable, before they could be put into career, there remains no doubt upon the minds of those who were present, but that it would have been a very honourable day for the Rangers. On the 3d of November the news of the surrender of General Burgoyne's army was communicated in general orders. It was read to the Rangers on their parade ; and amidst the distress that such an event must naturally occasion to Englishmen and soldiers, never did Major Simcoe feel himself more elevated, or augur better of the officers and men he had the honour to command, than when he came to the rejection of one of the proposed articles, in the following terms : " Sooner than this army will consent to ground their " arms in their encampment, they will rush on the " enemy, determined to take no quarter ;" the whole corps thrilled with animation, and resentment against the enemy, and with sympathy for their fellow sol- diers ; it would have been the most favorable mo- ment, had the enemy appeared, to have attacked them. 2 K -'r •(. . . .■ m 30 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS n 1-, ^ Major Grymes, a Virginia gentleman of loyalty, edu- cation, and fortune, who was second Major of the Queen's Rangers, at this time resigned his commis- sion, to the great regret of Major Simcoe and of the corps, whose confidence he had won by extricating them from a very disadvantageous situation, by a de- cisive and bold exertion at Brandy wine : he was suc- ceeded in duties, with the rank of Captain Command- ant, by Lieutenant Ross of the 35th regiment, with whose intrepidity, and zeal for the service. Major Simcoe was well acquainted. The redoubts in front of Philadelphia being finish- ed, the advance piquets were withdrawn and posted in them, that of the Queen's Rangers excepted ; it remained without the redoubt, though it had fallen back much nearer to it : it was liable to insult, but it would have been difiicult to have surprised it. The Knoll was still the outpost, and the general place to which many of the officers of the line rode, in order to laugh at the mounted men and their habiliments ; but other troops of cavalry were now raising, and the utility of them, through all the ridicule of bad horses and want of appointments, became very obvious. On General Washington's occupying the camp at Whitemarsh, Sir Wilham Howe thought proper to move towards him, and the army marched according- ly on the 5th of December ; the Queen's Rangers were ordered to flank the right of the baggage. The army encamped on Chesnut-Hill and its vicinity ; and the piquet of the Rangers made fires on the road that led to it, so that the approach of any parties of of I ■ I'? • i OF THE queen's rangers. 31 ilty,edu- ir of the commis- id of the tricating by a de- ivas suc- )mmand- mt, with B, Major ig finish- id posted 3pted; it Lad fallen lit, but it it. The I place to , in order iliments ; r, and the ad horses ious. ) camp at proper to ccording- Rangers ge. The inity ; and the road parties of the enemy could easily be seen. The army remained the next day in the sanie position. On the 7th, uX night, Major Simcoc with the Queen's Rangers, and a party of dragoons under Captain Lord Catiicart, took up the position of some of the troops who had retir- ed ; this post was sometime afterwards quitted in great silence, and he joined the cokunn that was marching under Generjil Gray. The General march- ed all night, and on approaching the enemy's outpost, he formed his cohmm into three divisions; the ad- vanced guard of the centre consisted of the Hessian Yagers, who marched with tlieir cannon up the road that led through the wood, in which the enemy's light troops were posted ; the light infantry of the guards advanced upon the right, and the Queen's Rangers on the left ; the enemy were outflanked on each wing, and were turned in attempting to escape by the un- paralleled swiftness of the light infantry of the guards, and driven across the (ire of the Yagers, and the Queen's Rangers. The loss of the rebels was com- puted at near an hundred, with little or none on the part of the King's troops; a mounted vr.in of the Queen's Rangers, in the pursuit, was killed by a Yager, through mistake : he wore a helmet that had been taken from a rebel patrole a few days before. General Grey was pleased to express himself highly satisfied with the order and rapidity with which the Ranjrers advanced. The night was passed in a wood not far from the enemy's camp. The next day Major Simcoe |)atrolled in the vicinity : he left the infantry of his party at the edge of the wood, and approach- J\ ■''Hi JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS ed a house ; the owner of it, who supposed that all the British soldiers wore red, was easily imposed upon to believe him a rebel officer, and a cow-bell being, as preconcerted, rang in the wood, and an Oi- ticer gallopping to Major Sinicoe and telling him that the British were marauding and hunting the cattle, the man had no doubt of the matter, and instantly acquiesced in a proposal to fetch some more cavalry to seize the British ; he accordingly mounted his horse and gallopped oft". The ambuscade was prop- erly laid f )r whomsoever he should bring, when Cap- tain Andre came with orders to retreat, the column being already in motion ; the infantry were scarce sent off and the mounted men following, when about thirty of the rebel dragoons appeared in sight and on the gallop ; they fired several carbine shot, to no pur- pose. The army returned to Philadelphia. The disaster that happened to the mounted Ranger determined Major Simcoe to provide high caps, which might at once distinguish them both from the rebel army and their own ; the mounted men were termed Huzzars, v.ere armed with a sword, and such pistols as could be bought, or taken from the enemy ; Major Simcoe's wish was to add a dagger to these arms, not only ns useful in close action, but to lead the minds of the soldier to e.\i)ect that d(»cisive mode of combat. Sevt>ral good horses had been taken from the rebels, so that the Iluzzars were now well mount- mode ol' ken from ■II mount- »re a very UImm, an lointed to command them, and a Serjeant of the IGth regiment of light dragoons attended their parade, to give them regularity in its duties. Several men having deserted. Major Simcoe direct- ed that the countersign should not be given to the sen- tinels ; they were ordered to stop any persons at a distance, more than one, until the guard turned out ; and in posting of sentinels, the rule was, to place them so that, if possible, they could see and not be seen, and in different posts in the night from those of the day. Near high-roads, double sentinels, without be- ing loaded, were advanced beyond the front of the chain ; these were composed of old soldiers who, with all others, were sedulously instructed to challenge very loud. The sentinels were relieved every hour. The subaltern frequently patrolled, as did the c.Tptain of the day, and the field officers : the consequence was, that the Queen's Rangers never gave a false alarm, or had a sentinel surprised, during the war. It is remarkable that a man deserted at this time who left all his neces- saries, regimentals excepted : he had lately come from Europe, and, to all appearance, had enlisted merely to facilitate his joining the rebel army. It may be here a proper place to describe the coun- try in front of Philadelphia ; and the general duties on which the Queen's Rangers were employed, during the winter. The n)ad on the right, and nearest the Delaware, has been already mentioned by the name of the Frank- fort road : Irom the centre of Philadelphia, the main road led up the country, and about two miles off, at ■■■■;*.. ifTT ii ! 34 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS • i' ; the Rising Sun, it branched into the Old York road on the right, and that of the Gerniantown on tlie left. The light infantry of the guards patrolled up the York-Town road, as that of the line did the German- town ; those that ran on the side of the Schuylkill, were in front of the Yagers, and patrolled by them. The Queen's Rangers, by their position, were at the greatest distance from Mr. Washington's camp, which was now at Valley Forge, beyond the Schuylkill, and as the course of the Delaw are inclined away from the Schuylkill, the distance Avas considerably increased ; so that no detachment from his camp could have been made without extreme hazard ; from the York-Town road, therefore, on the left, and the Delaware river on the right, Major Simcoe felt no apprehensions ; when lie passed Frankfort creek in front he was to be guid- ed by circumstances. The general directions he re- ceived was to secure the country, and facilitate the inhabitants bringing in their produce to market. To prevent this intercourse, the enemy added, to the severe exertions of their civil powers, their mili- tia. The roads, the creeks, and the general inclina- tion of the inhabitants to the British government, and to their own profit, aided the endeavour of the Queen's Rangers. The redoubt on the right had been garri- soned by the corps till, on Major Simcoe's representa- tion that the duly was too severe, it was given to the line : within this redoubt the corps fitted up their bar- racks. The 4tli of January was the first day since their landing at the head of Elk, that any man could be permitted to uuaccoutre. tk tk t« 4k 4< , I t< . ( M^ 3ad on e left, p the jrinaii- Liylkill, them, at the , which ill, and oni the rcased ; ve been L-Town fiver on ; when 3e guid- 8 he ro- tate the et. Ided, to eir niili- inclina- lent, and Queen's Ml garri- jrescnta- 11 to the heir bar- lay since lan could OF THE queen's RANGERS. 35 There is not an officer in the world who is ignorant, that permitting the soldier to plunder, or maraud, nmst inevitably destroy him ; that, in a civil war, it must alienate the large body of people who, in such a contest, are desirous of neutrality, and sour their minds into dissatisfaction : but, however obvious the necessity may be, there is nothing more difficult than for a commander in chief to prevent marauding. The numerous orders that are extant in King Charles' and the Parhament's army, prove it in those dreadful times ; and the Duke of Argyle, in his description of the Dutch auxiliaries, in the year 1715, who, he says, " were mighty apt to mistake friend for foe," exempli- hes the additional difficulty where foreign troops are combined with natives. No officer couM possibly feel the attention that was necessary to this duty more strongly than Major Simcoe, and he thought himself warranted to declare, when a general order was given out to enforce it, " that it is with the utmost satisfac- '* tion Major Simcoe believes there would have been " no necessity for the general orders of this day, had " every corps of the army been as regular, in respect *' to their abstaining from plunder and marauding, as '• the Rangers. He trusts, that so truly a military '* behaviour will be continued ; and that the officer '• and soldier of the corps will consider it as honour- '" able to him as the most distinguished bravery." Vlajor Siiucoe took care to prevent the jiossibility of plunder, as much as lay in his power: he never lialt- <'d, if he could avoid it, hut in a wood ; sent safe- guards to every house ; allowed no man, in march- , '■ ' "I 36 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS , I ing, to quit his ranks ; and was, in general, success- ful in instilling into the minds of the men, that while they protected the country, the inhabitants would give every information of the enemy's movements and ambuscades. The officers were vigilant in their at- tention to this duty, and the soldiers had admirable examples of discipline and good order, from the na- tive loyalists of the corps, who were mostly non- commissioned officers. On the contrary, the rebel patroles, who came to stop the markets, were con- sidered by the country people as robbers ; and pri- vate signals were every where established, by which the smallest party of the Rangers would have been safe in the patrolling the country. The general mode that Major Simcoe adopted was, to keep perfectly secret the hour, the road, and the manner of his march ; to penetrate, in one body, about ten miles into the country. This body generally marched in three divisions, one hundred yards from each other, so that it would have required a large force to have embraced the whole in an ambuscade, and either di- vision, being upon the flank, it would have been haz- ardous for an enemy so inferior in every respect, but numbers, as the rebels were, to have encountered it ; at ten or twelve miles the corps divided, and ambus- caded different roads ; and at the appointed time re- turned home. There was not a bye path or ford unknown, and the Huzzars would generally patrole some miles in front of the infantry. The market peo- ple, who over-night would get into the woods, came out on the appearance of the corps, and proceeded OF THE queen's RANGERS. 37 Lccess- t while would nts and eir at- nirable the na- y non- B rebel re con- ind pri- r which e been al mode erfectly r of his n miles ched in h other, to have ither di- en haz- lect, but ered it ; ambus- time re- or ford patrolc ket peo- Is, came •oceeded I uninterruptedly, and from market they had an escort, whenever it Avas presumed that the enemy was on the Philadelphia side of Frankfort to intercept them on their return into the woods. The infantry, however inclement the weather, seldom marched less than nine- ty miles a week ; the flank companies, Highlanders, and Huzzars, frequently more : these marches were, by many people, deemed adventurous, and the de- struction of the corps was frequently prophesied. The detail that has been exhibited, and experience, takes away all appearance of improper temerity ; and, by these patroles, the corps was formed to that toler- ance of fatigue, and marching, v/hich excelled that of the chosen light troops of the army, as will hereafter l)e shown. These matters have been dwelt upon, not only as they exhibit what is conceived to have been the drill- ing of the Queen's Rangers for more important ser- vices, but, as it proves that the protection of Phila- delphia and the opening a way to its markets, were provided for by Sir William Howe, and that his orders were systematically and industriously obeyed. The Huzzars, by this time, were encreased to thirty, mounted on such horses as they had taken from the t'uemy ; and Ensign Proctor was added to them. The country in front of Philadelphia was foraged, and the (Queen's Rangers formed the advance guard of the parties which made it ; but it was with great reluct- ance that Major Simcoe saw Point-no-Point included in the general forage, as he had taken particular care to preserve it from plunder ; it is impossible to pro- *: '"■ " "I ?;■ 38 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS tect any country from the depredeations of foraging parties. The clothing of the Provincials was served by contract ; the duties of the Queen's Rangers would have worn out much better ; they were obliged, by the inclemency of the weather, to wear the new ones, without altering. It being determined, for the next year, to cloth the Provincials in red, Major Simcoe exerted himself to preserve the Rangers in green, and to procure for them green waistcoats : his purpose was to wear the waistcoats with their sleeves during the campaign, and to add sleeves to the shell, or outer coat, to be worn over the waistcoats in winter : green is Avithout comparison the best color for light troops with dark accoutrements ; and if put on in the spring, by autumn it nearly fades with the leaves, preserving its characteristic of bcuig scarcely discernable at a distance. At the end of February, General Wayne having been detached from Washington's army to collect such cattle as were in the lower Jersies, Sir William Howe sent Lieutenant-Colonel Abercrombie down the Delaware, to land and attack him, while Colonel Stirling with the 42d regiment and the Queen's Ran- gers, crossed that river opposite to Philadelphia, and marched to Haddonfield, to intercept him ; at the same time, a detachment under Colonel Markham passed over, and took post at Cooper's ferry, to col- lect forage in its vicinity. Colonel Stirling reached Haddonfield early in the morning ; some stragglers of Wayne's corps had just left it as he arrived there. The ground in front of the village was immediately OF THE queen's RANGERS. 39 .raging served ; would ;ed, by IV ones, le next Simcoe !en, and purpose i during or outer : green t troops ! spring, eserving t)le at a ; having collect William down Colonel n's Ran- ua, and at the arkham to col- reached tragglers ed there, iiediately le occupied : the Queen's Rangers on the left, with their left flank to a creek which nearly extended the whole length of their front. A circumstance happen- ed here, which, though not unusual in America and in the rebel mode of warfare, it is presumed is singu- lar elsewhere. As Major Simcoe was on horseback, in conversation with Lieutenant Whitlock, and near the out sentinels, a rifle was fired, and the ball grazed between them; the ground they were on being higher than the opposite bank, the man who had fired was plainly seen, running oflf : Lieutenant Whitlock, with the sentinels, pursued him, and the guard followed in case of necessity, the piquets occupying their place ; the man was turned by Mr. Whitlock, and intercepted, and taken by the sentinels. On being questioned, " how he presumed to fire in such a manner ?" he an- swered, "that he had frequently fired at the Hes- " sians, (who a few weeks before had been there,) and " thought he might as well do so again." As he lived within half a mile of the spot, had he not been taken and the patroles pushed there the next day, they would have found him, it is probable, employed in his household matters, and strenously denying that he either possessed, or had fired a gun : he was sent pri- soner to Philadelphia. Upon posting the guards, at night, they were augmented so as to have the rounds every fifteen minutes, and Major Simcoe recommend- ed to the ofllicer to be particularly alert, as it was reasonable to presume that Wayne, who had been surprised by General Grey, could have but two ideas : the one of being surprized himself, which the distance ■'. ■ft W: ,1 ' r. ,1 i !: 40 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS prevented ; and the other of retaliation ; which, ha- ving secured his convoy and being master of the country, there was every reason to apprehend and guard against. Early the next morning Major Simcoe was detached to destroy such boats and stores as were upon Tim- ber creek, and which had been conveyed thither when the naval armaments on the Delaware were burnt. As the boats appeared valuable, and some Refugees offered to carry them to Philadelphia, they were ac- cordingly directed to fall down the creek ; when for- tunately one hundred and fifty barrels of tar, of which the fleet was in want, were discovered, and with this the boats were laden, and sent to Captain Hammond, who commanded the navy in the Delaware. The party return; d in the evening with some few militia as prisoners, who, from their green clothing, had mistaken the Rangers for what they attempted to ap- pear — ^Wayne's rear guard. At midnight, Colonel Stirling sent for Major Simcoe, who found at his quarters one of those Refugees to whom the boats had been intrusted : he related, that during their pro- gress down the creek, they had been attacked by the militia of the country, and that amidst the confusion he got ashore, and escaped. Major Simcoe was di- rected to march as early as possible, and to quell any of the militia who might be there, and to give an op- portunity for the Refugees, who most probably had concealed themselves in the marshes, to escape. Be- fore day-break Major Simcoe surrounded the house of Tew, a militia lieutenant, with the Huzzars, and in ii J- -'■■... OF THE queen's RANGERS. 41 ch, ha- of the nd and Btached ►n Tim- er when 3 burnt, tefugees vere ac- hen for- af which ivith this immond. •6. The w mihtia ling, had ed to ap- Colonel d at his he boats heir pro- ed by the confusion B was di- quell any ve an op- )ably had ape. Be- the house irs, and in perfect secrecy and silence lay there until the arrival of the infantry : Tew was supposed to have headed some of his neighbors in arms, as it was well known there was no body of men in the country, and only a few inhabitants who could possibly be collected. Captain Saunders, with the cavalry and some infantry, was sent further down the creek, to procure informa- tion. There was nobody in Tcw's house but his wife and other females ; she was informed, that if her hus- band, as was supposed, appeared to be at the head of the party, who, contrary to common prudence and the rules of war, had fired upon the boats the prece- ding night, his house should be burnt, as an example to deter others ; at the same time she mig!it have assistance to remove her furniture, and to save it in an outhouse, for which purpose some Refugees, her former neighbors, offered to assist her ; and prepara- tions were accordingly making, when Captain Saun- ders returned with certain information, that a preda- tory party from the shipping at Philadelphia, imagin- ing themselves secure from the troops being at Had- donfield, had rowed up the creek, and meeting the Refugees, they fired upon each other, but the mistake being soon discovered, they returned together to the Delaware. Tew's house, of course, remained unin- jured, and the troops marched back to Iladdonfield, and early the next morning made an excursion on the road to Egg-harbour, to get what cattle and rum (of which there was intelligence) might be found on it. The advanced part of the corps, and the Huzzars, marched about twenty miles from Iladdonfield ; a few # .' ;i ': • Ml 0'' fM .''1* ii ii ■1 ;i 1 ! :\ 1 1 i.;-; s^'^ i 42 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS Ii! . hogsheads of rum and some cattle were procured, and some tobacco destroyed. On the return, and about two miles from Haddonfield, Major Simcoe was ob- serving to some officers a peculiar strong ground, when, looking back, he saw a house that he had pass- ed in flames ; it was too far gone for all his endeav- ors to save it ; he was exceedingly hurt at the circum- stance, but neither threats of punishment, nor offers of reward, could induce a discovery : this was the only instance of a disorder of this nature that ever happened under his command, and he afterwards knew it was not perpetrrted by any of the Queen's Rangers. At night, a man arrived at the outpost, furnished with such credentials as made it proper to believe his information : his account was, that Wayne was on his march from mount Holly, to attack the troops at Haddonfield, and that he intended to make a circuit to fall in upon the right ; the man was im- mediately forwarded to Colonel StirUng ; and Major Simcoe remarked to Captain Saunders, his confiden- tial friend, " that probably Colonel Stirling would send " for him, and, if any room should be left for consul- " tation, his advice would be, that the whole corps " should move forward and ambuscade Wayne's march " on the strong ground which Major Simcoe had re- " marked a few hours before ; that every inhabitant " of the town should be secured, and the Huzzars left " to take post at the direct roads ; that, upon inform- " ation being forwarded to Sir Wilham Howe, Colonel " Markham would probably be sent to Haddonfield, '^ and possibly a strong corps embarked, and passed «, OF THE queen's RANGERS. 43 ■ed, and i about vas ob- ground, id pass- endeav- circum- >r ofters was the hat ever ;erwards Queen's outpost, roper to t Wayne tack the to make was im- id Major jonfiden- )uld send r consul- >le corps 3's march had re- ihabitant zzars left n inform- , Colonel idonfield, d passed " up the Delaware, above Wayne." Major Simcoe accordingly was sent for, but it was to receive direc- tions for an immediate retreat : Colonel Stirling un- derstanding that the force under Wayne had been so considerably augmented, that it would be imprudent to remain at Haddonlield ; his business there being completed, and his intentions, otherwise, being to re- turn the next morning ; the rum was staved, and the whole detachment prepared to march immediately. In consideration of the fatigue of the Queen's Rang- ers, and that there was no probabihty of any action. Major Simcoe solicited to lead the march. In the mean time, some of the enemy fired upon the advanc- ed posts of the Rangers, and made great noise to draw their attention that way : this was a frequent mode of the rebels ; it might have been proper at the moment of attack, but anticipating it for some hours, in general it gave a knowledge of their designs, and increased a just and military contempt for this mode of conducting them. The night was uncommonly se- vere, and a cold sleet fell the whole way from Ilsiddon- field to Cooper's ferry, where the troops •'rrived late, and the ground being occupied by barns and forage, they were necessitated to pass the coldest night that they ever felt, without fire. As dawn arrived, the weather cleared up ; about three miles and a half from Cooper's ferry, and half a mile within the direct road to Haddonfield, there was some forage remain- ing ; fifty of the 4 2d and Rangers, under the command of Captain Kerr, were sent as an escort to the wag- gons that went for it. Lieutenant Wickham, with i'*':'^'!] m ■:- ■■.\'\ : ■'ii a. 'i m f:^i |i| "■'' (; »' ^' I; 1 ( t V f; " J - -: 44 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS ten Huzzars, was directed by Colonel Stirling to patrole in his front towards Haddonficld. A few miles off, Lieutenant Wickham met the enemy ; he sent in- formation to Captain Kerr, and to Colonel Sti»-ling, and, with six Huzzars, attended their liont. As the road led through thick woods, the enemy were ap- prehensive of ambuscades, and were intimidated by Lieutenant Wickham's frequently calling out, as to the infantry, " to halt, not to march so fast," &lc. &c., so that the enemy's cavalry, though more than two hundred, did not rush on him. He gave time to Cap- tain Kerr to retreat, then joined and returned to camp with him, ushering the enemy to the very outpost. The line was formed ; the 42d regiment on the right, Colonel Markham's detachment in the centre, and the Queen's Rangers on the left. The embarkation still proceeded ; liie horses were now sent off, and, as the enemy did not advance, Colonel Markham's detach- ment followed thorn. It was scarce half way over the Delaware, when the piijucts were attacked. The en- emy were probably induced to attack earher than they intended, by a barn having been accidentally set on fire, and which it was reasona[)le for them to suppose might have been done by some hirking person, after the troops in general had embarked. Upon the ap- pearance of the en(>my, the 42(1 regiment marched forward in line, and orders were sent to tlu; Queen's Rangers to advance, which it did, in column, by com- panies ; Coo|)er's creek secured its left tlank ; the ar- tillery horses of the thre(> |)ound<'rs being embarked, the seamen, with their accustomed alacrity, offered to ■a ■ (i >•' ',sp fling to w miles sent in- stiling, As the ere ap- ated by lit, as to ^c. &:c., Iian two to Cap- to camp outpost. lie right, , and the it ion still d, as the < detach- over the The en- han they ly set on suppose on, after I the ap- marched ; Queen's , by coni- the ar- mharUed, jll'ered to i OF THE queen's RANGERS. 45 draw on the cannon ; the artillery followed the light infantry company, and preceded the battalion. Some of the enemy appearing on the opposite bank of the Cooper creek. Captain Armstrong, with the grena- diers, was directed to march and line a dyke on this side : an advantage the enemy had not ; and to keep off any stragglers who might be posted there. A heavy fire was kept up on the right, by the 42d ; there was nothing opposed to the Rangers but some caval- ry, watching their motions, and as Major Sinicoe ad- vanced rapidly to gain an eminence in front, which he conceived to be a strong advantageous position, they fled into the wood, an officer excepted, who, reining back his horse, and fronting the Rangers as they ad- vanced, slowly waved with his scinietar for his at- tendants to retire ; the light infantry being within fifty yards of him, he was called out to, " You are a " brave fellow, but you must go away," to which not paying so much attention as he ought, M'Gill, after- wards quarter master, was directed to fire at him, on which he retired into the woods. A few straggling shot were fired in the front ; the light infantry com- pany was detached there, and suj)ported by the High- landers, who soon cleared the front ; the battahon halted on the advantageous ground it had moved to- wards, and, at the entreaties of the sailors, a few can- non shot were fired at a party of the enemy, who were near the bridge over Cooper creek, till perceiving they were busy in destroying it, they were no longer in- terrupted : the firing totally ceased, and the enemy retreated. Some few of the Rangers were wounded, m 'Hi 40 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS :l among w n, Serjeant M'Pherson of the grenadiers died ; in every respect he was much to be lamented. The person whom M'Gill fired at, proved to be Pu- laski ; his horse was wounded ; and had not the Huz- zars been sent over the Delaware previous to the at- tack, he would have been taken, or killed. The em- barkation took place without any interruption ; and On the 'M of March the Quec^n's Rangers returned to ♦heir old quarters, and former duties. Colonel Stir- ling made the most handsome and favorable report of the behaviour of the corps, to Sir William Ilowe. An expedition was formed under the command of the late Colonel Mawhood, consisting of the 27 th and 4Gth regiments, the Queen's Rangers, and New Jersey Volu?»*'^'M*s : they embarked the I2th of March, and fell J'' i'lc Delaware. On the 17th, the Queen's Rangt . " ed, at three o'clock in the morning, about six miles from Salom, the lluzzurs carrying their ac- coutrements and swords. Major Simcoe was direct- ed to seize horses, to mount the cavalry, and the staff, and to join Colonel Mawhood at Salem ; this was accordingly executed. Major Simcoe, making a circuit and passing over Lambstone's bridge, arrived at Salem, near which Colonel Mawhood landed. Tho Huzzars were tolerably well mounted, and sufficient horses procured for the other exigencies of the ser- vice : Colonel Mawhood had given the strictest charge against plundering ; and Major Simcoe, in taking the horses, had assured the inhabitants that they should be returned, or j)aid for, if they did not appear in arms, in a very few days ; and, none but officers en- enadiers imented. 3 be Pu- :he Huz- ) the at- The em- lou ; and urned to )nel Stir- report of Howe, imand of 27tli and nv Jersey arch, and D Queen's njj, about their ac- as direct- , and the leni ; this making a ;e, arrived ided. The sufficient )f the ser- est charge taking the ley should appear in IHcers en- OF THE queen's RANGEUS. 47 tering the houses, they received no other injury. The Queen's Rangers' infantry were about two liundred and seventy, rank and file, and thirty cavalry ; Colonel Mawhood ^ave directions for the forage to take place on the 18th. The town of Salem lies upon a creek of that name w hich falls into the Delaware nearly op- posite Reedy island ; the Aloes, or Alewas creek, runs almost parallel to the Salem creek, and falls into the Delaware to the southward of it ; over this creek there were three bridges : Hancock't; was the lower one, Quintin's that in the centre, and Thompson's the upper one ; between these creeks the foraging was to commence ; the neck, or peninsula, formed by them was at its greatest distance seven, and at its least four miles wide. The rebel militia was posted at Hancock's and Quintin's, the nearest bridges, which they had taken up, and defended by breast-works. Colonel Mawhood made detachments to mask these bridges ; and foraged in their rear : the officer who connnanded the detachment, consisting of seventy of the 17th infantry, at Quintin's bridge, sent information that the enemy were assembled in great numbers at the bridge, and indicated as if they meant to pass over whenever he should quit it, in which case his party would be in great danger. Colonel Mawhood marched with the Queen's Rangers to his assistance : he made a circuit, so as to fall in upon the road that led from Thompson's to Quintin's bridge, to deceive any patrole which he might meet on his march, and to make them believe that he directed it to Tliomp- Bon's, not Quintin's bridge. Approaching the bridge, rt -Si M m I '-'si • • ■■''J - m ■M ' 'I ■;. -li'i r. I ' ■* ■ i i< t 48 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS the Rangers halted in the wood, and Colonel Maw- hood and Major Simcoe went to the party of the 17th, but in such a manner as to give no suspicion that they were part of a reinforcement ; the ground was high, till within two hundred yards of the bridge, where it became marshy ; immediately beyond the bridge, the banks were steep, and on them the ene- my had thrown up breast-works ; there was a public house very near the road, at the edge of its declivity into the marsh, on the Salem side. Colonel Maw- hood asked Major Simcoe, " whether he thought, if " he left a party in the house, the enemy would pass by it or not /" who replied, " that he thought they " would be too cowardly to do it ; but at any rate " the attempt could do no harm, and, if he pleased, " he would try." Colonel Mawhood directed Major Simcoe to do so, who accordingly profiting by the broken ground of the orchard which was behind it, and the clothing of his men, brought Captain Ste- phenson and his company into the house, undiscover- ed : the front windows were opened, and the back ones were shut, so that no thorough light could be seen ; the women of the house were put in the cellar and ordered to be silent ; the door was left open, and Lieutenant M'Kay stood behind it, with a bayonet, ready to seize the first person whose curiosity might prompt him to enter ; the Queen's Rangers were brought into the wood near to that part where it end- ed in clear ground, and two companies, under Cap- tain Saunders, were advanced to the fences at the very edge of it, where they lay flat Colonel Maw- iiig the the the mm i.',')'; Maw- of the spicion ground bridge, )nd the he ene- 1 pubhc lecUvity I Maw- •ught, if uld pass rht they my rate pleased, id Major g by the jehind it, ain Ste- iiscover- he back could be the cellar open, and bayonet, iity might ers were re itend- idcr Cap- es at the ncl Maw- OF THE queen's RANGERS. 49 hood then gave orders for the detachment of the 17th, who were posted near the house, to call in their sen- tinels and retreat up the road in full view of the en- emy. This party had scarcely moved, when the en- emy laid the bridge and passed it ; a detachment of them went immediately across the marsh to the heights on the left, but the principal party, about two hundred, in two divisions, proceeded up the road ; Captain Stephenson, as they approached the house, could hear them say, " let us go into the house," Aic, but they were prevented, both by words and by ac- tion, by the officer who was at their head : he was on horseback, and spurring forward, quitted the road to go into the field, on the right, through a vacancy made by the rails being taken for fires ; his party still proceeded up the road, and the first division passed the house : the officer, his sight still fixed on the red clothes of the ITth, approached close up to the fence where Captain Saunders lay ; he did not immediately observe the Rangers, and, it is probable, he might not, had he not heard one of the men stifling a laugh : looking down he saw them, and galloped olf ; he was fired at, wounded, and taken. The division that had passed the house attempted to return : Captain Ste- phenson sallied, drove them across the fields. Captain Saunders pursued them ; the lluzzars were let loose and afterwards the battalion, Colonel Mawhood lead- ing llu>m; Major Simcoe directed the 17th back to the house;, with the grenadiers, and Highlanders of the Rangers, ready to force the bridge, if ordered ; the enemy, for a moment, quitted it. Colonel Maw- ii:'t;,'''<;i v:. y'A?| W: *^^ V!i- hT ¥ 50 JOURNAL OP THE OPERATIONS hood thought it useless to pass it. Some of the di- vision, who passed the house, were taken prisoners, but the greater part were drowned in the Aloes creek. The officer, who was taken, proved to be a French- man. The Rangers had one Huzzar mortally wound- ed ; and what was unfortunate, he was wounded by a man, whom in the eagerness of the pursuit he had passed, given quarters to, and not disarmed : the v.' lain, or coward, was killed by another Huzzar. The corps returned to Salem. The rebels still occupying the posts at Quintin and Hancock's bridge, and probably accumulating. Colonel Mawhood determined to attack them at the latter, where, from all reports, they were assembled to near four hundred men. He entrusted the enterprise to Major Simcoe, and went with him and a patrole op- posite to the place : the Major ascended a tree and made a rough sketch of the buildings, which, by con- versing with the guid3s, he improved into a tolerable plan of the place, and formed his mode of attack ac- cordingly. He embarked on the 20th, at night, on board the flat boats ; he was to be landed at an inlet, seven miles below Aloes creek, when the boats were immediately to be returned, and by a private road he was to reach Hancock's bridge, opposite to which, Major Mitchell was detached with the 27th regiment, to co-operate with him. Major Simcoe foresaw the difficulties, and dangers, but he kept them to himself: every thing u. oended upon surprise. The enemy were nearly double his numbers ; and his retreat, by the absolute orders to send back the boats, was cut off; I f the di- isoners, 3 creek. French- wound- led by a ; he had the V.' r. The ntin and , Colonel le latter, I to near •prise to trole op- tree and I, by con- tolerable ittack ac- night, on ; an inlet, 3ats were e road he to which, regiment, resaw the himself: he enemy •etreat, by 13 cut off; I ■•tJlv #1 . ^-^ ... ■:■■ ^■■- ",.,,■■,.. **»« .. ;»''-■■-. .•,.<■■■•• -■" \»Wi! ^;-'fy^!!^/«ibj:.i .;'',:,„,'inlii'" ''' r "-•'''..■-"''•iiiP.-". *,-;,■;: z^'K ^~^'' '"'S^h ■"' ",. ".- V ^\.. ■■■"!.:'•■■■-'"•■■■■/'■•"■■•■ ';';■' ?t; ; ,■." . ■.';,.. ,-. »"^-;V»* :.■." ,4, \ ':■■ ; i iM^':;; Affair at Quint ins Bridge. /d" March 1778. '^mmm m i\.'ri(fi Heiie/.'i ni tJieir IVorks B. rtelaeh m^e/it oftlfc /7'*nf /^/?/////y B''%i' '^^^^v; i)iaski/i{j fhe BriJtje C 77/^' hig/ii /n/'aii/ry o/'thcRanyers ud }^ . Dfifavh/netU oF l/ie 17'f' /•elrealuiff in I- ieh^'of the Kiieniy. (>. Rebels passing the Bridge . H. SaUy of die li^?a JnfarUry ^ jiurxtdt oP die Rantfers V.I-'iighi of die Enemy. ^!^II0^'-- I -.^ \,^ \Ui\l ",; •'.•f' '':.•'• -'5-' £-;",.,£•" ' '.^"^l^'- J'X ' v"— 7"--- ■";,ri ■"' ' :■!* '■'■^' 'm-^: ' t ' '' .■■*■ '-■■■'^■A . ■ I :'.'>-...'".D.-" '■■„:'■ ■••>-^v Scale /uilfa Mile ^■'y ^-i- ,\n ^p) ■rof^^T^ t^i 'sa /'; f<)' V .*,/■;■■-•' if) /^ ^.t, ''.iJ f ". ■■*-".■ ,„■■•..,.. ■■•■• : " '; ••D'f?- ■^.^^. 'ss^'^ .' ■■-'"■ •..,::,. -ill'. ~-.-..r5'"--.-... ^■r:is-'--vvS«<^ " P= ■ -.'-■n-r. I :,'; .^1 ,t.ty-"-r. ... ,» ■••.: „ -■ '• . ,, ■' •.:-;V I ■;,-■ \i 3fi W' V. .;"i- -"'01/ •*'../ 'j:>!^ ^^-•pi; -.T fill ■ ' ■*■■ «■ ' "*■• |i ' "■'. '■'■•;..■ 111 m OF THE queen's RAXGERS. Al but he had just confidence in the silence, attention, and spirit of the corps. By some strange error in the naval department, when the boats arrived off Aloes creek, the tide set so strong against them that, in the opinion of the officer of the navy, they could not reach the place of their destination till mid-day. Major Simcoe determined not to return, but to land on the marshes, at the mouth of the Aloes creek ; there were good guides with him : they found out a landing place, and after a march of two miles through marshes, up to the knees in mud and water, labours rendered more fatiguing by the carriage of the first wooden planks they met with, to form bridges with them over the ditches, they at length arrived at a wood upon dry land. Here the corps was formed for the attack. There was no public road which led to Hancock's bridge, but that which the Rangers were now in possession of ; a bank, on which there was a footway, led from Hancock's to Quintin's bridge. Hancock's house was a large brick house ; there were many store-houses round it, and some few cot- tages. Captain Saunders was detached to ambuscade the dyke that led to Quintin's bridge, about half a mile from the quarters, and to take up a small bridge which was upon it, as the enemy would, probably, fly that way, and if not pursued too closely, would be more easily defeated. Captain Dunlop was detached to the rear of Hancock's house ; in which it was presumed the rebel officers quartered; directed to force it, occupy and barricade it, as it commanded the passage of the bridge. Different detachments m0 ii '. 1' I ri: \i '4 §fi ■•■i ti-'' in i ■ 1 I ! 52 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS were allotted to the houses supposed to be the ene- my's quarters, which having mastered, they were or- dered to assemble at Hancock's ; a party Avas appro- priated to relay the bridge. On approaching the place, two sentries were discovered : two men of the light infantry followed them, and, as they turned about, bayoneted them ; the companies rushed in, and each, with proper guides, forced the quarters al- lotted to it. No resistance being made, the light in- fantry, who were in reserve, reached Hancock's hou e by the road, and forced the front door, at the same time that Captain Dunlop, by a more difficult way, entered the back door ; as it was very dark, these companies had nearly attacked each other. The sur- prise was complete, and would have been so, had the whole of the enemy's force been present, but, fortu- nately for them, they had quitted it the evening be- fore, leaving a detachment of twenty or thirty men, all of whom were killed. Some very unfortunate cir- cumstances happened here. Among the killed was a friend of Government, then a prisoner with the reb- els, old Hancock, the owner of the house, and his brother : Major Simcoe had made particular enquiry, and was informed that he did not live at home, since the rebels had occupied the bridge. The information was partly true ; he was not there in the dav-time, but unfortunately returned home at night : o* ^nts like these are the real miseries of war. The roads which led to the country were immediately ambus- caded ; and Lieutenant Whitlock was detached to surprise a patrole of seven men who had been sent -■'•W; \VH PRIZE I of \TOCKS HOUSE. '-■■'^ ■!■■ i \ •' .<& o ^S' -V ■ ., . ■ ...,*■ ^^.^ . ^r>'_ ■ - 'Si * * '-■\ ■"- ■ -V „. -' - y "■ .*.' ■^-^•.. ...■ v ->'. . -.■:" . \. «.. A "s. ""■"-■-, ■■.-<^ .- ■ '*■ V \ r, . .;■ •* ■■■ . >■! ' •(. ■ ■^ . ■■ A I -'■* V ,- ■ \ ■ . .^■-.•^ ?* c "''. t:^ '■'..■•'vVii.\v; #/iI\t^^ ;if# -^'-.^ i« iji , " & or tND C ^ TT lYtnof /he /'ost u/e t//e Dike /f. y' -I '■^1 '"v '•■^f' ' ' '/ .^ ■^vHv! ,■;'■'■«-> v;. ;'?,*? 1 ■ t ■- ■ ■■'4 ■.,\„G-- 'V'V^^.Ac^ :>:-,;■■••:,. ■fe^v." ■• 'i^ ■-.•!/■■•"■■*■•■; *■' Am:.' ^---r .til>. •■■■ .^ *^. ' •... .i ■■■V :,,r':.- «: - ■.■-->' ., '. R « #1 B ' I ■ Lot • I WC 01 ^■^--^-— -:^ v^V ^».. :\ SV H PRIZE of M % tt Jii L B ^ ^^ >>/IAXCOCKS HOUSE. ■ ',r:,.. »... \ .0. ^; :-\ 13S IV ^ ,.' & ,. t ■■ %. ^>^' -,: o..:\:;^#v:l^...„ ■■ . • ^N ..; »■ "-f* .: '^MiTii'r .'^:- ii. A <& r^' M;, SJ .,.U^ ..<*)\ ■ C- ■■■■-'■ o \ A N -X .■■"■.•■■■:>'., A.'/ ■■■•" /. ■■ ■ ■■V>, ,, ■ V,, V "■*%^^ ^^- r*-^ ■»■■•■,. ■ ■-■- -^ ■ ''■.'''■ 'I' ■^ « ■-. ■ t/ V, I'lt/t/ /tun/)'/! i/r/iir/trt/ /i>//ii' tfttroffhe /'os/ ( i / ' fW . Mir, /i, // A fJ,,- L' 7 "' /V ,',j ;• dowi their esca] cess mucl brido catec Quin them sion ( tenar much toSa cades Rang rebel and d ant-C had r< but fa thoug orderi " and " in tl ter, tl bridg( alarm fired donc( teen ii a pati OF THE QTTEEN'S RANGERS. 53 down the creek: this he effected completely. On their refusal to surrender, he fired on them, only one escaped. This firing gave the first notice of the suc- cess of the enterprise to the 27th regiment ; with so much silence it had hitherto been conducted. The bridge was now laid ; and Major Simcoe communi- cated to Colonel Mitchell, that the enemy were at Quintin's bridge ; that he had good guides to conduct them thither by a private road, and that the posses- sion of Hancock's house secured a retreat. liieu- tenant-Colonel Mitchell said, that his regiment was much fatigued by the cold, and that he would return to S.alem as soon as the troops joined. The ambus- cades were of course v ithdrawn, and the Queen's Rangers were forming to pass the bridge, when a rebel patrole passed where an ambuscade had been, and discovering the corps, gallopped back. Lieuten- ant-Colonel Mitchell, finding his men in high spirits, had returned, purposing to )narch to Quintin's bridge : but being informed of the enemy's patrole, it was thought best to return. Colonel Mawhood, in j)ublic orders, " returned his best thanks to Major Simcoe " and his corps, for their spirited and good conduct " in the surprise of the rebel posts." Two days af- ter, the Queen's Rangers patrolled to Thompson's bridge ; the enemy, who had been i)osted there, were alarmed at the approach of a cow the night before, fired at it, wounded it, and then fled ; they also aban- doned Quintin's bridge, and retired to a creek, six- teen miles from Aloes creek. Major Simcoe, making a patrole with the lluzzars, took a circuit towards ■■''"■•Vf /.■5'i ■'•-..•■vi ''-.-■i'-IM ■•'-■ ''^•t?i M ■ ■■! mi '■I: 54 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS l.*^" i.'^U rJ the rear of one of the parties sent out to protect the foragers : a party of the enemy had been watching them the whole day, and unluckily, the forage being completed, the detachment had just left its ground and was moving off; the enemy doing the like, met the patrolc ; were pursued, and escaped by the pass- age which the foragers had just left open. One only was taken, being pursued into a bog, which the Huz- zars attempted in vain to cross, and were much mor- tified to see above a dozen of the enemy, who had passed round it in safety, within a few yards : they consisted of all the field officers and committee-men of the district. The prisoner was their adjutant. The enemy, who were assembled at Cohansey, might easily have been surprised ; but Colonel Mawhood judged, that having completed his> forage with such success, his business was to return, which he eflected. The troops embarked without any accident, and sail- ed for Philadelphia. The horses were given back to the inhabitants, or paid for. On the passage, the ships waiting for the tide. Major Simcoo had an op- portunity of landing at Billing's port, where Major Vandyke's corps was stationed, and examining it, they arrived at Philadelphia, March the 31st. The patroles of the Rangers were made systematically as ever, on their return ; but as spring approached, the enemy's cavalry came nearer to the lines, and owed their es- cape, more than once, to the fleetness of their horses : one or two of them who were taken were decorated with eggs, women's shoes, &c. &c. that thoy had rob- bed the market people of, and, in that dress, were ther \ sibiy rate, t ry to Kang( there iiig e Was Engl niiloH Schu} himsc ■M ict the telling being Tround e, met B pass- le only c Huz- h mor- ho had s: they :ee-men djutant. {, might awhood ith such eflccted. md sail- back to the an op- c Major g it, thoy patrolcs ever, on I enemy's their es- r horses : lecorated had rob- 3SS, were age, OF THE queen's RANGERS. 55 paraded through the street to prison. Several loyal- ists were in arms, under the command of Mr. Tho- mas, their Captain ; and, with Hovenden's, and Ja' les's troops of Provincials, made excursions into the country ; and at Newton, many miles from Phil- adelphia, they brought off a large quantity of cloth- ing ; whenever they made an excursion, the Queen's Rangers pushed forward to bring them off. One morning, about two o'clock. Major Simcoe, marching to support them in an attempt they were to make on Smithfield, met them about a mile from Philadelphia ; they said, they had been repulsed: judging i. neces- sary to support the advantages derived hom the dis- tance to which they made their excursions, he made enquiries into the matter, and found their accounts so various, that he determined to march to Smithfield, and accordingly took such of them with him as were not weary, for guides. His ideas were, that the par- ty at Smithfield would probably be reinforced by ano- ther which was in its vicinity, and that he might pos- sihly surprise them rejoicing at their success : at any rate, the recoil would add to the ascendancy necessa- ry to be maintain(>d in the country. The Queen's Rangers marched to Smithfield, but found no enemy there ; and, it appeared, that they had also iled, hav- ing exchanged some shots with the Refugees. Mr. Washington drew his supplies of fat cattle from New England : a drove of this kind was met iihout thirty miles from Philadelphia, l)etween the Delaware and Schuylkill, by a friend of (iovernment, who passed himself upon the drivers for a rebel connnissary, then ' (■■: I -'HJ :hi« 1 «■ ■Mb^ 56 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS billetted them at a neighbouring farm, and immediate- ly gallopped to Philadelphia, from whence a party of dragoons were sent for the cattle : the Queen's Rang- ers advanced forward to Chesnut hill, and the brigade of guards were posted at Germantown ; the whole drove was safely conducted to Philadelphia. Major Simcoe, as was his custom, with the Huzzars, patrol- led in front, and took a minute survey of the ground, at Barren-hill church, which was near proving of con- sequence in the event. A very great desertion happened from Washington's army this winter, which, had it not been difficult to effect, probably, would have been universal; the Queen's Rangers were benefited by it ; Caj)tain Arm- strong's company of grenadiers, in size, youth, and appearance, was inferior to no one in the army. There were many reports, that Mr. Lacy, the rebel General of the Pennsylvania militia, was collecting them, professedly to impede the country people's in- tercourse with the markets. Major Simcoe, besides employing his own intelligence, applied to Lieutenant- Colonel Balfour, who so successfully managed these matters, during the army's being at Philadelphia, for what he could furnish him with ; and represented that it would be of the utmost consecjuence, to attack Lacy the moment he broke into tlie circle of country, which we had hitherto maintained [)ossession of. In conse- quence of this conv(!rsation, he was sent for by Colo- nel Balfour, some time after, and informed, that Lacy's corps were to assemble at the Crooked Billett, twenty- five miles from Philadelphia, on the first of May. I 1 ( diate- rty of Hang- I'igade whole Major jjatrol- round, )f con- ngton's cult to il; the n Arm- ith, and ! army, le rebel Electing [)le's in- besides ateuant- ed these )hia, for itcd that ck Lacy which 11 conse- 3y Colo- It Lacy's , twenty- of May. OF THE queen's RANGERS. 57 Major Simcoe was anxious that they should be at- tacked on that night ; and from the maps of the country arranged tiie plan, which was approved of. Tiie main road led, past the Billett, to Philadelphia from York ; at less than half a mile from it, on the Philadelphia side, there was another, that led to Washington's camp, by Horsham meeting. Major Simcoe proposed, that he should march with the Rangers, and, by a circuit, get to the road in the rear of the IJiilctt ; and that a detachment should march and ambuscade themselves in a wood, (the intelli- gencer said there was one adapted to the purpose,) on the road which led by the Horsham meeting-house to W? shington's camp ; this party was to remain in ambuscade till they heard the firing of the Queen's Rangers. It was supposed, that if the surprise should not be complete, the ambuscade would render the success perfectly so, by supporting the Rangers if they were checked, and by intercepting the enemy if they attempted to retreat, which, probably, would be towards their army. Colonel Balfour proposed two hundred light infantry to go ; to this Major Sim- coe said, " that they would be commanded by older " officers in the line, and yet of inferior local rank to " himself, and that it was his wish, on that account, " to avoid giving umbrage ;" the result was, Lieuten- ant-Colonel Abercrombie was chosen, and marched with a large detachment of the light infantry, and with one of cavalry, and horses to mount part of hia infantry-men, for greater expedition. Major Simcoe's march was a difficult one : he thought it necessary 4* ■ '^i '■m-^ :"-,.t,,' .■•■i:r-,v' 'f,\i/l . n :-■'■■>■.- 'i'Ji'i A?l ^'*s. 4 - ■, _ 1. '\ : ii\ ;! m i . '! 58 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS to make many circuits to avoid places where he sus- pected the enemy had posts, or patroies. He was admirably guided ; and, luckily, had information, about twilight, that prevented him from committing a serious error: the armed Refugees, as Captain Thomas, their commander, informed him, were sent by Mr. Galloway, to convey in some of his furniture ; they adventured out, hearing of the expedition by some means or other, and marched up the roads which the Rangers had so carefully avoided, but without meeting any interruption, or alarm ; luckily, they passed a house, which Major Simcoe called at, or he would, certainly, when he overtook them, have mistaken them for rebels : they were directed to keep themselves undiscovered ; and the Rangers marched on so fast as possible. Although day light appeared. Major Simcoe was under no apprehensions of disco- very, and certain of Colonel Abercrombie's having met with no accident, as the parties must have been within the hearing of each other's fire. He had now arrived at the point, where he quitted the road, in or- der to make his last circuit to reach the Billett, pro- fiting by the covert that the irregularities of the ground would have aflforded, and was informing the officers of his plan of attack, to be guided by circumstances, (Captain Kerr's division excepted, who was to force Lacy's quarters, and barricade them for a point to rally at, in case of misadventure,) when a few shot were heard. Major Simcoe immediately exclaimed, " the dragoons have discovered us ;" so it was. Co- lonel Abercrombie, although assisted by horses, could Lie 5 >i OF THE QUEEN'S RANGERS. 59 B SUS- 3 was lation, iiittiiig aptain e sent liture ; ion by roads 3(1, but luckily, died at, m, have to keep narched ipeared, if disco- 1 having ive been had now d, in or- lett, pro- e ground 3 officers nstances, I to force point to few shot ixclaimed, vas. Co- ses, could not arrive at his post at the appointed time, before day-break ; anxious to support Major Simcoe, he detached his cavalry, and mounted light infantry, to the place of ambuscade. The officer who com- manded, patrolled to Lacy's out-post, and, being fired at by the rebel sentinels, did not retire ; Lacy, of course, did, and collecting his force, began a retreat up the country : in this situation, the Rangers arrived nearly in his rear, upon his right flank ; they stopped and turned some smaller parties who were escaping from the light infantry, and who were killed, but the main body retreated in a mass, without order, and by no efforts could the infantry reach them: unfortu- nately, the Huzzars of the Rangers were left at Phila- delphia, their horses having been fatigued by a long course of duty, and a severe patrole the day before : thirty dragoons, who were with the Rangers, were sent to intercept the baggage waggons, and staid to guard them. As the enemy were marching through a wood. Major Simcoe gallopped up to the edge of it, and summoned them to surrender ; they were in great consternation, but marched on ; he then gave the words of conunand, " make ready," " present," " fire," hoping that the intervening fence and thickets between him and them might lead them to suppose he had troops with him, and that they might halt, when a few moments would have been decisive : at the word " fire " they crouched down, but still moved on, and soon got out of all reach. A few men of the Rangers were wounded, as was the horse of Wright, Major Simcoe's orderly Huzzar ; and Captain M'Gill's ■■'■■-■■'■$ . *' >'■.' .■* ' ■■■'■ v'■>^ii■f1 ■ " ■ ." ■,.;'■ " 'I ' i vi,; fj- Is- " : ■IE n- IM \H , !i ■! !l :.if- !'; 60 JOURNAL or THE OPERATIONS shoe-buckle probably saved the foot of that valuable officer : the enemy had fifty or sixty killed, and taken. The troops returned to Philadelphia. The comman- der in chief ordered the baggage to be sold, for their benefit ; it produced a dollar a man. The guides of the Queen's Rangers computed their march at fifty- eight miles ; not a man was missing. This excursion, though it failed in the greater part, had its full effect, of intimidating the militia, as they never afterwards appeared, but in small parties, and like robbers. As the spring approached, the hopes of the army were pointed to an attack on Valley Forge : the sur- mise gave Major Simcoe particular pleasure ; he had formerly been quartered in the house that was Wash- ington's head quarters, and had made himself minutely master of the ground about it, and particularly, of those undulations which are so material in all attacks against batteries, and from all the plans and descrip- tions of Valley Forge, it appeared to him probable, that an attack would commence in this point. These hopes vanished, when the new s of Sir William Howe's recall reached Philadelphia, together with the orders for the army's abandoning that city. Mr. Washing- ton's ignorance, however, exposed him to a check, from Avhich his usual good fortune extricated him. He passed a corps, under the direction of the Mar- quis de La Fayette, over the Schuylkill; arrange- ments were made to cut it off ; a column made a circuit for that purpose, under General Grant, the Queen's Rangers led it, and Major Simcoe was or- dered to march at the rate of two miles an hour : this ;■ I 1 1 :|hi : '.1 w f OF THE queen's RANGERS. 61 slow and tiresome pace was too quick to keep the column properly compacted, and he was frequently obliged to halt; nearly at day-light, a subaltern's party of dragoons were ordered to the front. Soon after a rebel patrole appeared, and while the young officer was deliberating what to do, got off; the co- lumn moved on, and arriving at three cross roads, the advance was directed to halt, there being some doubt which was the proper road. General Grant arrived, and immediately directed him to march on ; the co- lumn was too late, the alarmn guns were fire*' from Washington's camp, and Fayette had moved off from Barren-hill church, and passed the Schuylkill; the cavalry being detached in a fruitless pursuit of him, the Huzzars went with them, and Lieutenant Wick- ham compared a party of the rebels, whom he saw fording the Schuylkill, to the corks of a fishing seine. As the time approached for the army's quitting Philadelphia, patroles were passed over the Delaware, from the Jersies ; one of which, after a long chase, was taken by the Huzzars. The Quarter Master General being in great want of horses. Major Simcoe escorted the conmiissaries who were sent to procure them : he entered upon the office with great regret, as they were to be taken from people whom he had uniformly protected. The enemy had some strong parties in the country. The whole corps made a long march, in four divisions, as has been before explained ; he had also a three pounder, that had been lately attached to his corps. On his return he was ambus- caded, near the Bristol side of Penny-pack bridge : ■ ■■.:'' '•.. A ■'■Ma ':m-^M 'I: ;■;■:'.. i-'B r: ■' ■ '■ ' 1/ ■ . -■M ■-<<■■ I ■ ■■ \fl ■,• '-"■■* ■ ■■■'■■■■•*» ' '• 62 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS \ :th regi- jor Sim- request- le army, Provin- iy future line, to a se, could fior rank leased to I General General, linton ap- nel; and, his corn- els. The that the Embark- 1 the 17th observed, ut that all at the un- " daunted spirit which had rendered them the terror " of their enemies, was not more honourable to them " than that abhorrence of plunder which distinguishes " the truly brave from the cowardly ruffian, and which "had left a favourable impression of the Queen's " Rangers on the minds of such of the inhabitants of " Pennsylvania as had been in their power ; he assured "himself, that, as they were to pass over to the Jersies, " they would, in every respect, behave as became the " character the corps had acquired, and which marks " the disciplined soldier. He gave orders, that the " Captains and officers, commanding companies, " should march in the rear of their respective divisions, " till such time as more active duties required their " presence elsewhere, and should be answerable that " no soldier quitted his rank on any pretence, but par- ^Hiciilarly *■) drink : this practice having been the death " of many a valuable soldier, the permission of it ^\as " highly criminal." The 1 8th, the Queen's Rangers, being part of General Leslie's division, marched to Haddonfield ; on the 19th to Evesham ; the Yagers being in front, there was a slight skirmish, in which the rebel party lost some men, and one of them being taken proved to be a British deserter, who was exe- cuted the next day. The army encamped at Mount Holly, the 20th and 21st ; they marched to the Black Horse the 22d ; the Queen's Rangers formed the ad- vance. By an error of the guides, at a cross road, they were pursuing the wrong one, a rebel officer called out to them, " You are wrong, you are wrong," but the corps passing by without heeding him, and .•v'^ '• ■.i;:^'i' .■■v-M ¥' 64 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS :),i '!! ;!; afterwards taking the nearer way ficross the fields into the right road, in which he was, the advanced men got within a few yards of him, undiscovered ; Lieu- tenant-Colonel Simcoe prevented them from firing, but called to him to keep at a greater distance, which he did. The 23d, the army marched to Crosswicks, the Queen's Rangers forming the advance of the left column. Hitherto there were no interruptions on this march but from a bridge, the boards of which had been taken up, but laid within a few yards, so that they were easily replaced. Approaching Crosswicks, a body of the enemy appeared ; Lieutenant-Colonel Simcoe took the flanking party, under Lieutenant Wilson, and tried to cut them ofl' before they could pasr the creek at that place. He was too late for this purpose, but in time to prevent them from executing their design of cutting down the trees which stood close to the bridge, and throwing them across it ; the enemy had taken up the planks, and were posted behind a wood, on the opposite bank. Csiptain Stephenson's company of light infantry. Mere directed, by the coinmnndor in chief in person, to the same post, on tlu* left that Lieutenant Wilson had occuj)ic(l. Fiirutenani-C'olonel Simcoe, on his return, formed his corps brhind the meeting-house, ready to pass the bridge ; the dragoons arrived, and dismount<>d, lining the fences on tlu,' rigiit, and Lieutenant M'Leod, of the artillery, 1 ringing u[) his three pounders, and being fully exposed to the en- emy, in case they had ki-pt their position, it was de- termined to pass the brimplily it now, by advancing the iirnis of his grenadier company when under lire, and while he led over the raft(!rs of the bridge. The shiices had been shut, by nhich means the water was ponded ; Lieutenant Murray plunged in, 5 ...■'-' ■ i' '-1-J :•■■■.;•*,*; I f^^^ ■ t i 1! ■ n%' V ■ Ji ■^■:"i [ 66 JOURNAL OF TIIE OPERATIONS thinking it fordable, but finding it not so, he swam over, and got behind a tree before the corps passed the bridge, ^nd was between both fires ; luckily he escaped unhurt. Hitherto the march of the army pointed equally to Trenton, or Cranberry ; it now, on the 24th of June, took the route to the latter, by marching to AUcntown : the Queen's Rangers formed the advance of the column. The bridge at Allen- town, over a small rivulet, was taken up, and Colonel Simcoe fired two or three cannon shot, which drove a small party of the enemy from thence, and he passed over without the exchange of a musket, one of which might, unnecessarily, deprive him o? t valuable offi- cer, or soldier. Passing forward, a rebel patrole from the Cranberry road, came close to the front of the Rangers, mistaking them for their own people ; they retired into a wood, which, as soon as the army halt- ed, a party scoured, but to no purpose. Lieutenant- Colonel Simcoe had a book, in which was inserted the names of every soldier in his corps, the counties in which they were born, and where they had ever Uved, so that he seldom was at a loss for guides in his own corps ; he had also many Refugees with him, who served as guides. The commander in chief ask- ed him, whether he had any guides \ he answered, he had none who knew any of the roads to Brunswick ; that the chief of his guides was born at Monmouth. Sir Henry Clinton directed him to be sent to head quarters, as he might be useful in procuring intelli- genc(s though not serviceable as a guide ; this was done, and as soon as the army marched he came for '': .■I'm or THE queen's rangers. 67 5 swam ( passed 5kily he e army it now, alter, by s formed it Allen- l Colonel h drove a \e passed of which lable offi- Lrole from mt of the pie; they irmy halt- icutcnant- is inserted c counties r had ever iiidcs in his with him, chief ask- iswercd, he JrunHwick ; Monmouth. nt to head irinji intelli- ; this was 10 came for two soldiers of the regiment, natives of Monmouth county: this was the first idea which Lieutenant- Colonel Simcoe had of the army's being intended to march elsewhere than to South Amboy. An altera- tion in the disposition of the army took place ; it marched in one column : the Yagers made the rear ; the Queen's Rangers, light infantry, and dragoons, followed in succession. The army halted at the Ris- ing Sun ; the enemy's light troops appeared in grcatcf force in the rear. On the arrival at the camp, Lieu- tenant-Colonel Simcoe immediately passed a deep hollow that separated it from a high hill, with the Huzzars, in order to observe the ground in front, as was his constant custom ; two men came out of the wood to Lieutenant Wickham, who was patrolling, deceived by his green clothes ; he gave into the de- ception, passed himself upon them for a rebel parti- san, and introduced Lieutenant-Colonel Simcoe to them as Colonel Lee. One of the men was very glad to see him, and told him that he had a son in his corps, and gave him the best account of the move- ments of the rebel army, from which, Lieutenant- Colonel Simcoe said, he had been detached two days ; the other proved to be a committee-man of New Jersey ; they pointed out the cncam|)inont of the British army, and were compktely deceived, till, hav- ing toUl all til '\v knew, and on the party returning, the connnittee-man having asked, " I wonder what "Clinton is about T' " You shall ask him yourself," was the answer, " for we are IJritish." The army marched the next morning toward Mon- I"P ' „», if 68 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS mouth, in the sam ; order ; and it now became evi- dent, that Sir Henry CHnton intended to embark from Sandy Hook. There was some skirmishing be- tween the Yagers and the enemy ; and one time, it having the appearance of being serious, the Rangers were divided into two divisions, to march on each flank of the Yagers, who, having no bayonets, might have suffered from an intrepid enemy ; but the con- trary was tlie case, as the alarm originated from a shout that Captain Ewald, who commanded the rear guard, set up on the enemy's approacli, wliich with other preparations, sent them away upon the full run. Upon the arrival at Monmouth, the Queen's Rangers covered head quarters ; the army halted the next day, and foraged. On the morning of the 27th, the Queen's Rangers marched, at two o'clock, and occupied the post from which the second battalion of light infantry were drawn, to march with the second division, under Ge- neral Kniphausen : a great extent of groinid was to be guarded, and the whole corps lay upon their arms. In the morning, about seven o'cioi k, orders were brought to Lieii>'^ri::'it-Colonel Sunccie, " to take his " Hu/zars und try to cut off a n cooiioitrijig party "of the • .;einy, (HUj)pos(Hl to be M. Fajptt<%) who " was upon a bald hill, and not far from his left." As the woods were thick in front, Lieutenant-Colonel Simcoe had no knowledge^ of the ground, no guide, no other direction, and but tW'-M\ty Huzzars with hbn ; he asked of Fiord Cathcart, who brought him the or- der, whether ho might not take some infantry with i ( ■'■■'.;''"-<1 OF THE queen's RANGERS. 69 ne evi- embark ling be- tiine, it Hangers on each s, might the con- from a the rear ich with 3 full run. Rangers the next ( Rangers post from |itry were nidcr Ge- d was to leir !irnis. CVS were o taii'n ; iin the or- imtry with him, who, from the nature of the place, could advance nearly as expeditiously as his cavalry ? to this his Lordship assenting, Lieutenant-Colonel Simcoe im- mediately marched with his cavalry, and the grena- dier company, consisting of forty rank and file. He had not proceeded far, before he fell in with two rebel Videttes, who, gallopping off, the cavalry were order- ed to pursue them, as their best guides ; they fled on the road down a small hill, at the bottom of which was a rivulet ; on the opposite rising, the ground was open, with a high fence, the left of which reached the road, and along which, a considerable way to the right, a large corps was posted. This corps immedi- ately fired, obliquely, upon the Huzzars, who, in their pursuit of the Videttes, went up the road, eind gained their left, when Ellison, a very spirited lluzzar, leapt the fence, and others followed. I^ieutonant-Colonel Simcoe, in the mean time, brought up the grenadiers, and ordered the Huzzars to retreat ; the enemy gave one universal fire, and, panic struck, fled. The Baron Stuben, who was with them, lost his hat in the confu- sion. Lieutenant-Colonel Simcoe rode along the fence, on the side opposite to which the enemy had I been, posting the grenadiers there ; the enemy fired several scattering shots, one of which wounded him in the arm : for some seconds, he thought it broken, and was unable to guide his horse, which, being also struck, run away with him, luckily, to the rear; his arm soon recovering its tone, he got to the place where I e had formed the Huzzars, and witn fourteen of them, returned towards a house, to which the right ■ t' J'' • ■% ^ :i '■ -r' •^!4- M 5* 11 i 70 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS of the enemy's line had reached. Upon his left flank he saw two small parties of the enemy ; he gallopped towards them, and they fled : in this confusion, seeing two men, who, probably, had been the advance of these parties, rather behind the others, he sent Ser- jeant Prior, and a Huzzar, to take them, but with strict orders not to pursue too close to the wood. This the serjeant executed; and, after firing their loaded muskets at the large body which had been dis- lodged and was now rallying, the prisoners were oblig- ed to break them, and to walk between the Huzzars and the encmv. The business was now to retreat, and to carry off whom.soevcr might be wounded in the first attack. The enemy opposite seemed to in- crease, and a party, evidently headed by some general ofticor, and his suit, advancing, to reconnoitre: it suggested to Lioutonant-Colonel Simcoe, to endeav- our to pass, ns on a similar design ; and, for this pur- pose, he dispatched a lluzzar to the wood in his rear, to take oft" his cap, and make signals, as if he was re- ceiving directions from some persons posted in it. The pni'ty k(>pl moving, slowly, clos(i to (he fence, and towards tlio road ; when it got to some; distance from the house, which lias been niontioncd, Lieuten- ant-Colonel Simcoe called out audibly, as if to a party posted in it, " not to fire till tlu; lujiin body came "close,'' and moved on slowly parallel to tiie enemy, when he sen liyan, an llu/zar, forwjird, to see if there were iiiiy wounded men, and whether the gre- nadiers remained where ho lia«l |)oste(l them, adding, " for We nmst carry them olf or lie with then' ;" to sertej had tion ed. Gene th(! c trooj tachii " the " and ton's (( nig con ft flank jlopped I, seeing ranee of ;nt Ser- ut with B wood, ng their jeen dis- re obUg- Huzzars ) retreat, tunded in ed to in- e general loitre: it a endeav- this pur- 1 his rear, ic was re- tod in it. ho I'once, distiuicc u l.iouton- is if to a )()(ly oani'^ ho onomy, to Hce il r tho ^rv.- >ni, iuUling, thons" to OF THE queen's RANGERS. 71 which the Huzzar rephed, " to be sure, your honour.'^ On his return, and reporting there was nobody there, Lieutenant-Colonel Simcoe struck obliquely from the fence, secured by a falling of the ground from '^anger, over the brook to the wood, where he found Captain Armstrong had, with great judgment, withdrawn his grenadiers ; from thence he returned to camp, and sending his prisoners to the General, went himself to the baggage, his wound giving him excruciating pain, the day being like to prove very hot, and there not appearing the least probability of any action. Two Huzzars, and three of the infantry, were wounded in this skirmish ; one of the Huzzars died at Monmouth after the action ; the other, who was able to have marched, was left by the Hospital, and fell into the hands of the enemy. It is obvious that, of all de- scriptions of people, the Rangers were the last who should have been left as prisoners, since so many dv^- serters from the enemy were in the corps : the soldiers had the utmost reliance upon their own ofliccr's atten- tion to this particular. The enemy who were defeat- ed, consisted of tiiat corps of Jersey militia which in General Lee's trial, is said " to have given way," by the evidence ot the hold officer who brought up fresh troops and camion to supj)ort it ; thoy were those de- tachments, Avhich Sir Henry Chiuou's letter says, " llie Queen's Rangers fell in with itniong the woods, " and dispersed," and who, |)robahly, as Washing- ton's account says, " wore tho Jersey militia, amount- " ing to about seven or (light hundred men, under the " command of General Dickenson." Thoy were ■■■■•■'■" \l - 1"^' '* 1 " '■ "Vl "Mm :iy: ff^. ■•''MM .."•■,".>;''•■■.■,'■'■ ■■■(r'\-i-;\yi'\ % It '. »■ I' :■;'■■• 1 -'4 :, j! 72 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS , V!i; destined to attack the baggage, but made no other attempt that day. The American war shows no instance of a larger body of men discomfitted by so small a number. The army saw not the combat ; but every officer, every soldier, heard the heavy fire, and from that could form a judgment of the enemy's number. Lieutenant- Colonel Simcoe afterwards heard a person who was of this body call the grenadier's company, to use his own expression, " a power of Hessians." Captain Ross took the command of the corps. He was de- tached, with the light infantry, under Colonel Aber- crombie, to turn the enemy's left ; went through the whole fatigue of that hot day, and though the corps had been under arms all the preceding night, it here gave a striking and singular proof of the vast advan- tages of the Philadelphia marches, by not having a man missing, or any who fell out of the ranks through fatigue. Captain Ross had an opportunity of more than once showing great military judgment and intre- pidity, in checking different parties of the enemy ; and the Highland company in particular, distinguished itself, under the command of Captain M'Kay, in co- vering a three pounder of the light infantry battalion, which was impeded by a swamp. At night, when the army marched off. Captain Ross, with that silence which was remarked in Washington's account of the action, formed the rear guard. During the day, the baggage was not seriously attacked ; but some very small parties ran across it, from one side of the road to the other : one of these Captain Nccdham, and OF THE queen's RANGERS. 73 10 other a, larger r. The r, every it could lutenant- who was use his Captain was de- lel Aber- •ough the the corps it, it here ist advan- having a 8 through of more and intre- e enemy ; tinguished Lay, in co- battalion, t, when the lat silence )unt of the le day, the some very of the road idhani, and Lieutenant Cooke of the 17th dragoons, (since Cap- tain of the Queen's Rangers,) dispersed ; the rumors of them, however, added personal solicitude to Lieu- tenant-Colonel Simcoe's public anxiety, and, for se- curity, he got together the pioneers of his own and some other corps around his waggon. The uncer- tainty of what fate might attend his corps, and the army, gave him more uneasiness than he ever expe- rienced ; and, when the baggage halted, he passed an anxious night, till about the middle of it, when he had authentic information of the events. The army en- camped at Middleton, the 29th and 30th. On the 1st of July, Lieutenant-Colonel Simcoe resumed his com- mand, and marched, to escort Sir William Erskine to Sandy Hook. The army remained in this vicinity till the 5th, when it marched to Sandy Hook also : this peninsula had been made an island by the storms of the preceding winter ; a bridge of boats was thrown across the channel, over which the army passed, the Queen's Rangers excepted, who, forming the rear guard, embarked in boats from the Jersey side, as soon as the bridge was broken up. It is remarkable, and what few other corps in the army could say, that in this march the Queen's Rangers lost no men, by desertion. They landed at New York, marched up to Morris's house, and encamped there. Soon after, the troops returned from Philadelphia, it appearing probable to Lieutenant-Colonel Simcoe, that America would be quitted by the British forces, and the war carried on in the West Indies ; he ap- plied to Colonel Drummond, (then aid-du-camp,) to -l.^ ■ ■•y;,! ' ''/■' Ml.,1 . ^ ■ fc 1 ■ ■ '"■''' ^ ■ ':""•''• ■ ' , ' * ■;' '•"■'^i ,vx!-:4 4 ■'..*.• ■,!■■ ,' ■■1 ^^!'^'*l m ^^•:'"" ' . ■ i ^.■,J•i T''''-].. " . :v''H-.'' '•■iV .v*; y-'*^.\ K-l'^: - M'f ,' K ' ' ^4 V",- ';«:>*;■'■, ■ > ' ! ••« , ■V.-: •' ; ;-,:■. .;f-'-;> • .'« v-\ ,:'^ f/^A- '■•■■■» k «", 'p I-..- ■Vll 1 ii!!' • "■';' : ■', i ••;s'i ^.■!' 74 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS make the request from him to Sir Henry Chnton, that he might be permitted, with his corps, and other loy- aUsts, to join the Indians and troops under Colonel Butler, who had just been heard of on the upper parts of the Delaware. The Commander in Chief's answer to him was, " that he much applauded his spirit, but "that he would find sufficient employment for him " with his army." He had digested the detail of his route ; his mode of subsistence, and operations : the idea he entertained, of what such a junction might have led to, was, and is still, unbounded. T ' enant- Colonel Simcoe was ill in New York, an^i did not join till the 14th, during this period, nothing material happened. On the 15th, the Queen's Rangers, and Emmerick's corps, encamped outside Kingsbridge ; the three Provincial troops of Hovenden, James, and Sandford, also joined the Queen's Rangers : an Amu- zette, and three artillery men, were now added to the three pounder attached to the regiment. The post was of great extent, liable to insult, and required many sentinels : it was strengthened as much as possible ; and, in all matters of labor, the soldiers worked with the greatest energy, under the inspection of their offi- cers, and were easily made to comprehend, not only the general security, but the benefit which they, indi- vidually, received from their works, by its operating to lessen their duties; of course, they were taught that the work should not be slighted. Mr. Washing- ton's army encamping at the White Plains, the Ya- gers, and Queen's Rangers, had full employment. Lieutenant-Colonel Simcoe was ever averse to pa- OF THE queen's RANGERS. 7;.; on, that ler loy- Colonel ,er parts i answer jirit, but for him III of his ons: the )n might 'enant- , did not T material igers, and gsbridge ; ames, and an Amu- ded to the The post ired many possible } orked with f their offi- 1, not only they, indi- 3 operating ere taught . Washing- ns, the Ya- inployment. erse to pa- i troles, except, as in the case at Philadelphia, v here they served to cover a well affected country, and were made systematically, and in force ; or to ascer- tain some precise object ; circumstanced as the armies now were, they appeared to him to be particularly dangerous, and totally useless. The inclinations of the Americans, though averse from tactical arrange- ment, had always been turned to patrolling, in their antiquated dialect, sconting : the Indians, their origi- nal enemies, and the nature of their country, had familiarized them to this species of warfare, and they were, in general, excellent marksmen. There was nothing, either in the American generals or their troops, that could warrant a belief, that they would make a serious attempt upon Kingsbridge ; added to the strong works within the island, the eminences in front of it were covered with a chain of redoubts within a distance from each other, barely more than necessary to secure the flanks of a battalion ; and in- deed, for the purpose of protecting a weak a lay, they had been originally constructed ; half a mile in front of these redoubts, lay the light troops, to secure them from surprise, so that it was manifest any gen- eral move of Mr. Washington's army could not take place for so small an object, as that of beating up the huts of a light corps. Washington's advance corps lay on the heights, near Tuckahoe, under the com- mand of General Scott, to the amount of two thou- sand men, whose light troops occupied a line from Phillip's creek, on the north, to New Rochelle, on the East river. Small patroles frequently came to Wil- ■ ■' 'if: % .■ '" . •*■"''■>'. .•' ' ' ,i ':*"'< '■ ' "^'■''' ■ \'> ' ';■; ■■ •' t r$':: '•*'■', liL- "ilt -'J>^ '. 1, " }<\ • \ V-^; ■:\-' '.'.-. . i ■ '*'■'/. . h rj^\ '' ■ I ■ :vi': •..';' ■' ■■v." ' '■'". ■ ' <■ •>:■■ '',. * ;'^f- ■/:'-4 1 ■m .'■V' 'J . '''■ ' 1 \:, ;Vv-;, ■'. !■.'. i V- ;" ;-" ■:■»' , •'■ .c-. ' •'':'.■' •X >'!'■ '*(■'' ■ "if . Ai" ''■■'?'■•■' m -r' ■A'- 'A- " '•• ' .(■;.' .Mil'. •■v'l'. ■i''; . i> •;^ .■ 11, !•' 1 i* ,."^.. IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) 1.0 I.I l^l^e 12.5 Mi 140 |22 1 2.0 ■ PIIJ4U4 " ^ 6" — ► r-^^ Photographic Sciences Corporation <^ c\ «^, V <^.>. V 33 WIST MAIN »THIT VVIUTI*,N.Y. 14SM (7ti)l7a*4SOI 6^ 76 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS ' ■■■I ■.Ki' I » ; i liam's bridge, on the Brunx, and sometimes, General Scott came, in force, to Valentine's hill. The coun- try between was irregular, intersected with woods, and so broken and covered with stone walls, as to be most liable to ambuscades : the inhabitants were, by no means, to be trusted, and, in general, so harrassed by their country being the seat of war, that it was not reasonable to place any confidence in them ; on the other hand, the Queen's Rangers had many of the natives of the country among them, and Lieutenant- Colonel Emmerick's corps was, in a great measure, composed of them. Lieutenant-Colonel Simcoe made a few patroles, in force, merely to inform himself of the situation of the country; but he spared no pains to acquire an account of what posts the enemy occu- pied, at night; his determination being to attack them, whenever he saw a fit opportunity. Generals Clinton and Morgan, with a corps of fifteen hundred men, covered the forage of the country, on the side of the enemy. Colonel Wurmb, and Lieutenant-Colonel Simcoo, upon intelligence, had agreed to meet on Valentine's hill, one morning, in force, and, accord- ingly, Lieutenant-Colonel Simcoe, with his Huzzars, was upon the hill, waiting for him ; the infantry, and Provincial cavalry, were left in the plain, under the command of Captain Ross; tlic light infantry and Highland companies being ambuscaded in an orchard, at the place where the roads fork to Hunt's bridge, and Valentine's hill. Colonel Wurmb, finding the enemy in force at Phillip's, did not choose to move to Valentine's hill, and sent the Yager cavalry to and II hill, cade, I net Sil fired hiddei General le coun- woods, as to be were, by larrassed it it was hem; on ny of the eutenant- measure, icoe made himself of I no pains jmy occu- to attack Generals n hundred the side of nt-Colonel ) meet on id, accord- 3 Huzzars, fantry, and , under the ifantry and an orchard, nCs bridge, finding the ,sc to move cavalry to \ OP THE queen's rangers. 77 give the Rangers the necessary information. At the same time the enemy appeared advancing to Valen- tine's hill. As Lieutenant-Colonel Simcoe was quit- ting it, to return to his corps, Lieutenant M'Nab, of the Huzzars, who had been sent withapatrole beyond the Brunx, confirmed the intelligence which he had been furnished with the night before, that a strong body, with cannon, was approaching to Hunt's bridge, on the opposite side of the Brunx : this bridge was commanded by the heights on the side of Kingsbridge, which had been fortified by the rebels in 1776 ; their works were not demolished. In their rear was a wood ; it had been designed to conceal the Rangers ; and, while the Yagers and cavalry should have enga- ged with any corps who might patrole to Valentine's hill, it was thought probable, that the enemy on the opposite side of the Brunx would pass it to their assistance, when the corps in ambuscade was to rush from the wood, and, occupying the fleches, do severe and cool execution upon them, as they were on the bridge, and occupied in the deep hollow. An advanc- ed party of the enemy, notwithstanding the circum- stances which made the troops quit Valentine's hill, had already passed the Brunx; the Yager cavalry were ordered to proceed towards Kingsbridge, slowly, and in full sight of the enemy, who were on Hunt's hill. There were still hopes, by forming the ambus- cade, to do some service ; when, to Lieutenant-Colo- nel Simcoe's great surprise, the enemy's cannon were fired at the infantry, whom he expected to have been hidden from their sight, by the intervention of the C >■■■..;•■■ .:*^n^| ''■'■■■?:,"<".„ : i .W. • ..f;1 /■■'J -4 •> I' ■I *"-'l 78 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS \l^ I. woods: but, it appeared, that while Captain Ross was with the advanced companies, some officers im- prudently had got upon a fence, out of curiosity, and discovered themselves to the enemy. Lieutenant- Colonel Simcoe immediately withdrew his men out of the reach of any chance shot, and made use of the low ground (the crossing of which would have led him into the ambuscade) to march his infantry under its cover, out of their sight, or the reach of their can- non ; he sent orders to Captain Ross to withdraw, and again ambuscaded the cavalry, in a position to take advantage of the enemy, if any party of them should pursue him, or from Valentine's hill should en- deavour to incommode his retreat. Observing the movement of the Yager cavalry, the enemy marched a party to watch their motions, on the opposite bank, while their main body formed the line. Captain Ross thought proper to wait for the party which had passed the Brunx. He perm'tted them to come close to him, when his fire threw them into con- fusion. He then retreated, making a small circuit to avoid some riflemen who had occupied the wood ; the corps returned to their camp. The grand guard was constantly advanced in the day-time to a height, from whence it had a view of the passage over the Brunx, at William's bridge ; at night it was withdrawn. Lieut. Colonel Simcoe being on duty at New- York for a day, Captain Ross, in visiting the piquet at night, found the sentinels so ill placed, that he ordered Sergeant Kelly and two huzzarsto patrole forwards for its securi- ty ; they passed a few hundred yards only from the post. :/\. OF THE queen's RANGERS. 79 in Ross cers im- sity, and sutenant- men out ise of the have led try under their can- draw, and )n to take em should lould en- Observing tie enemy 3, on the ed the hne. the party ed them to n into con- ^l circuit to wood ; the guard was leight, from the Brunx, awn. Lieut, rk for a day, light, found Bd Sergeant or its securi- •om the post, when they were surrounded by a party who lay be- tween two stone walls, and taken ; nor was Captain Ross to be blamed for ordering the patrole, but the Captain of cavalry, who had omitted a principal sentinel : this patrole made, in contradiction to Lieu- tenant-Colonel Simcoe's principles, was the only one that had been taken under his command : the Sergeant having been in the rebel service, forced thereto by all want of work, was thrown into prison and threatened with death; Lieutenant-Colonel Simcoe offered a Sergeant whom he had lately taken, in exchange for him ; and threatning to leave to the mercy of his sol- diers the first six rebels who should fall into his hands, in case of Kelly's execution, soon obtained his release. July the 18th Captain Lord Cathcartwas appointed Colonel, and on the 1st of August Captain Tarleton, Lieutenant-Colonel of the Legion : Captain Hovenden and James's troops were incorporated in that corps. Captain Ross was appointed to the rank of Major of the Queen's Rangers. Lord Cathcart joined the light troops at Kingsbridge, and took the command of them. Lieutenant-Colonel Simcoe having information that three distinct patroles of thirty men each, set out early in the morning from General Scott's camp at the same time, by different roads, proposed to his Lordship to ambuscade them, on a supposition that they had orders to assist each other in case of necessity ; to which his Lordship assenting, the infantry of the Queen's Ran- gers marched and occupied a wood two miles in front of Kingsbridge, and Lord Cathcart, with the cavalry of the Rangers, Legion, and Emmericks, lay half a '■':■■•:■ ■■^■^M •' ''••"J'I,v''«'i-V>i mm K-^.^' ■M ■'••11 .'iK. \'l w 80 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS \m\ -t^ hf'i sfll '$ '\i *1 mile in the rear, from whence he sent out a patrole, which passing by a road on the right of the Rangers, advanced a quarter of a mile in its front, and return- ed. On its return, Lord Cathcart began firing to at- tract the enemy's notice, a party of whom crossed the country, and came near to the Queen's Rangers, but passed no further, and, after firing into the wood, to the right of the ambuscade, marched off; this patrole had approached, as was expected, on hearing the fir- ing, and would inevitably have been taken, but, as it afterwards appeared, a girl, from a garret window, had seen some of the soldiers on their march to the wood, and gave the enemy intelligence. Lt. Colonel Simcoe was much affected at Lord Cathcart's having the rank of Colonel of Provin- cials, and made, in consequence of it, application to the Commander in Chief; Sir Henry CHnton, though he waved for the present the giving Lt. Colonel Sim- coe rank of Lord Cathcart, offered to him that of Colonel, which he respectfully (but as the event has proved most unfortunately) declined : every mo- tive that he had to solicit this rank, by Lord Cath- cart's being employed on other duties, was done away, and Lt. Colonel Simcoe remained at Kingsbridge, in command of his corps, Lt. Col. Emmerick's, and the cavalry of the Legion. In Lt. Col. Tarleton, he had a colleague, full of enterprise and spirit, and anxious for every opportunity of distinguishing himself. These officers, when making observations on the country in front, had a very singular and narrow es- cape, as they were patroling with a few Huzzars. ariT toL aligh for t India moun trivia their of th< inforn natel}/ their I and ta soon c situati( Erskir his re( to join might York cials could tion. of inte The near iV it was sick h( bourh( m 'I -i patrole, langers, I return- ig to at- >ssed the rers, but NOOAy to s patrole g the fir- but, as it window, ch to the at Lord f Provin- ication to m, though onel Sim- him that the event every mo- ord Cath- one away, abridge, in 's, and the on, he had nd anxious ig himself, ms on the narrow es- Huzzars, OF THE queen's RANGERS. 81 The Stockbridge Indians about sixty in number, ex- cellent marksmen, had just joined Mr. Washington's ariny. Lt. Col. Simcoe was describing a private road to Lt. Col. Tarleton : Wright, his orderly dragoon, alighted and took down a fence of Devon's farm yard, for them to pass through; around this farm the Indians were ambuscaded; Wright had scarce mounted his horse, when these officers, for some trivial reason, altered their intentions, and, spurring their horses, soon rode out of sight, and out of reach of the Indians. In a few days after, they had certain information of the ambuscade, which they so fortu- nately had escaped: in all probability, they owed their lives to the Indians' expectations of surrounding and taking them prisoners. Good information was soon obtained, by Lt. Col. Simcoe, of General Scott's situation, and character ; and he desired Sir William Erskine would lay before the Commander in Chief his request, that he would permit the York Volunteers to join him, for a week ; that, during that time, he might attack Scott's camp : he particularly named the York Volunteers, as he wished to unite the Provin- cials in one enterprise ; unfortunately, that regiment could not be spared, as it was ordered for embarka- tion. Scott soon altered his position ; and the source of intelligence, relative to him, was destroyed. The rebels had, in the day time, a guard of cavalry, near Marmaroneck, which was withdrawn at night : it was intended to cover the country, and protect some sick horses, turned into the salt marshes in the neigh- bourhood ; Lt. Col. Simcoe determined to attempt its 6* . '1 /' . ■ ■v , ..'.'--Jv'^ , ''••'..'.■i;*.^s "i-.'l'.;,*,,. '■■■;■■■ .t*?;:vi| ■ :l i' w C- ■:{!]■■ -'^■. •,i . :{■ ■ ■ ■ m''AV \'y v; 'i li fijiJ. I ^i^'y m l\ m 82 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS surprisal ; General Scott's camp was not above three miles from it ; and, in case of alarm, he had a shorter march to intercept the party, at Eastchester bridge, than it had to return there. The troops, consisting of the Queen's Rangers, and the cavalry of the Le- gion, marched at night ; at Chester bridge. Captain Saunders, an officer of great address and determina- tion, was left in ambuscade in a wood, with a detach- ment of the Rangers, and in the rear of the post that the enemy would, probably, occupy, if they should attempt to cut off the party in its retreat. His di- rections were, to remain undiscovered; to let all patroles pass ; and, in case the enemy should post themselves, to wait until the party, upon its return, should be engaged in forcing the passage, and then to sally upon their rear. The troops continued their march, passing the creek, higher up, with the greatest silence ; they went through fields, obliterating every trace of their passage when they crossed roads, to avoid discovery from disaffected people, or the ene- my's numerous patroles. When they arrived at their appointed station, Lt. Col. Tarleton, with the cavahry, ambuscaded the road, on which the enemy's guard was to approach ; Lt. Col. Simcoe occupied the cen- tre, with the infantry, in a wood, and Major Ross was posted on the right, to intercept whomsoever Lt. Col. Tarleton should let pass. Two or three commissa- ries, and others, who were on a fishing party, were taken. At six o'clock, as he was previously ordered, Lt. Col. Tarleton left his post, when the party of the enemy instantly appeared in his rear: they owed 1 i ve three i shorter r bridge, ansisting the Le- Captain 3termina- a detach- post that 3y should . Hisdi- to let all lould post ts return, ind then to aued their [le greatest [ting every I roads, to ►r the ene- fed at their he cavalry, my's guard 5d the cen- ir Ross was ^rer Lt. Col. commissa- )arty, were sly ordered, arty of the they owed ^1 OF THE queen's RANGERS. 83 their safety to mere accident. The information that both the old and new piquet of the enemy generally arrived at this post at five o'clock, was true ; a horse, belonging to a serjeant, breaking loose, the officer chose to wait till it was caught, and this delayed them for a full hour. Three dragoons, who had previously advanced to a house within the ambuscade, were now taken, and about thirty or forty lame or sick horses. The troops, followed at a distance by the rebel dra- goons, returned home without any accident. Scott, upon the alarm, ordered off his baggage ; and Wash- ington sent cannon, and troops, to his assistance, and put his army under arms. Captain Saunders permit- ted two patroles to pass, having effectually concealed his party. The prisoners said, that, two mornings before. General Gates had been there fishing. Lt. Col. Simcoe, returning from head quarters, the 20th of August, heard a firing, in front, and being in- formed that Lt. Col. Emmerick had patrolled, he im- mediately marched to his assistance. He soon met him retreating; and Lt. Col. Emmerick being of opinion the rebels were in such force, that it would be adviseable t - 'oturn, he did so. Lt. Col. Simcoe un- derstood that .'jimham, an Indian chief, and some of his tribe, were with the enemy ; and by his spies, who were excellent, he was informed that they were highly elated at the retreat of Emmerick's corps, and appli- ed it to the whole of the light troops at Kingsbridge. Lt. Col. Simcoe took measures to increase their be- lief; and, ordering a day's provision to be cooked, marched the next morning, the 31st of August, a small ■'■■:' .1 A , '■'''.•..,v;4>*ffl .'.1.','. * - '■' ■'i ^M '¥' ^■■41 ■■' --i^ ,' ;i^': "M "v-Uffl '•'•'"''M t • ■ ;;7il',H liH 'FiM 84 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIOITS 11 B .: Mil I '/If t I distance in front of the post, and determined to wait there the whole day, in hopes of betraying the enemy into an ambuscade : the country was most favourable to it. His idea was, as the enemy moved upon the road which is deUneated in the plan as intersecting the country, to advance from his flanks ; this move- ment would be perfectly concealed by the fall of the ground upon his right, and by the woods upon the left ; and he meant to gain the heights in the rear of the enemy, attacking whomsoever should be within by his cavalry and such infantry as might be necessary. In pursuance of these intentions, Lt. Col. Emmerick, with his corps, was detached from the Queen's Rang- ers, and Legion ; as, Lt. Col. Simcoe thought, fully instructed in the plan ; however, he, most unfortu- nately, mistook the nearer house for one at a greater distance, the names being the same, and there he posted himself, and soon after sent from thence a patrole forward, upon the road, before Lt. Col. Sim- coe could have time to stop it. This patrole had no bad effect, not meeting with any enemy : had a single man of it deserted, or been taken, the whole attempt had, probably, been abortive. Lt. Col. Simcoe, who was half way up a tree, on the top of which was a drummer boy, saw a flanking party of the enemy ap- proach. The troops had scarcely fallen into their ranks, when a smart firing was heard from the Indians, who had lined the fences of the road, and were ex- changing shot with Lt. Col. Emmerick, whom they had discovered. The Queen's Rangers moved rapidly to gain the heights, and Lt. Col. Tarleton immediately adv not a ci bein colu and, heig bein; Thej corpi upon and ; fence amon land's in str andfe bayor Col. heighi few o| underl ed at this al consej ordeg chieftJ and iti them, I Genei taken! ■: ''>-'-m to wait B enemy (Tourable ipon the jrsecting is move- 11 of the ipon the e rear of (vithin by ecessary. mmerick, n's Rang- ght, fully ; unfortu- a greater there he thence a Col. Sim- )le had no id a single le attempt ncoe, who ich was a enemy ap- into their le Indians, J were ex- *vhom they vcd rapidly nmediately ' OF TIIF. queen's rangers. 85 advanced with the Huzzars, and the Legion cavalry : not being able to pass the fences in his front, he made a circuit to return further upon their right ; which being reported to Lt. Col. Simcoe, he broke from the column of the Rangers, with the grenadier company, and, directing Major Ross to conduct the corps to the heights, advanced to the road, and arrived, without being perceived, within ten yards of the Indians. They had been intent upon the attack of Emmerick's corps, and the Legion ; they now gave a yell, and fired upon the grenadier company, wounding four of them, and Lt. Col. Simcoe. They were driven from the fences ; and Lt. Col. Tarleton, with the cavalry, got among them, and pursued them rapidly down Court- land's-ridge : that active officer had a narrow escape ; in striking at one of the fugitives, he lost his balance and fell from his horse ; luckily, the Indian had no bayonet, and his musket had been discharged. Lt. Col. Simcoe joined the battalion, and seized the heights. A Captain of the rebel light infantry, and a few of his men, were taken ; but a body of them, under Major Stewart, who afterwards was distinguish- ed at Stony Point, left the Indians, and fled. Though this ambuscade, in its greater part, failed, it was of consequence. Near forty of the Indians were killed, or desperately wounded ; among others, Nimham, a chieftain, who had been in England, and his son ; and it was reported to have stopt a larger number of them, who were excellent marksmen, from joining General Washington's army. The Indian doctor was taken ; and he said, that when Nimham saw the gre- rv":.- (•,',4''l M jm- >! '':; ,\ )hi ;fi-'^ .i> ■■r| I ■fell 86 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS nadiers close in his rear, he called out to his people to fly, " that he himself was old, and would die there ;" he wounded Lt. Col. Simcoe, and was killed by Wright, his orderly Huzzar. The Indians fought most gallantly ; they pulled more than one of the cavalry from their horses ; French, an active youth, bugle-horn to the Huzzars, struck at an Indian, but missed his blow; the man dragged him from hi^ horse, and was searching for his knife to stab him, when, loosening French's hand, he luckily drew out a pocket-pistol, and shot the Indian through the head, in which situation he was found. One man of the Legion cavalry was killed, and one of them, and two of the Huzzars, wounded. Colonel Gist, who commanded a hght corps of the rebels, was posted near Babcock's house, from whence he made frequent patroles. Lt. Colonel Simcoe had determined to attack him ; when, a deserter coming in, at night, who gave an accurate account of his position, the following morning was fixed upon for the attempt. General Kniphausen, who commanded at Kingsbridge, approved of the enterprize, and ordered a detachment of the Yagers to co-operate in it; Lt. Col. Emmerick undertook to lead the march, having, in his corps, people who were well acquainted with the country. The following disposition was made. Emmerick's infantry, followed by the Queen's Rangers, were to march through the meadows on the side of Valentine's hill, opposite Courtland's-ridge, and pass between the rebel sentries to Babcock's house, when they would be in the rear of Gist's en- ■':''Jf!H lis people ie there ;" killed by QS fought Qe of the ive youth, ndian, but from hi3 stab him, Irew out a the head, nan of the a, and two arps of the jm whence >imcoe had ;er coming mnt of his 1 upon for ;ommanded prize, and i-operate in the march, acquainted Dsition was the Queen's lows on the and's-ridge, Babcock's ■ Gist's en- i& ^W ''(b. Sir ,c® :S .tt> :"'- ^- '^ *.:i. ^€t: r- A#f '&' ^ I>. ^J ■■» . ■ (C «t^,. "O o..^^Ar- a« ii^. ■1^ <$;€>,..:" ■"^I"'^' m ^ Q-- '■.^.^■. ©•;\. ■,l, .11^ ^;i? .■^•'■'•' '.)i ■ '. ■•,^fl ; * f , ■ '" "'J I . .« ;i^;i ' OF (NDIC OT Pilw .]\inrs('A i)K .,/ Ike JAIHANS ,rf \.Quec//s- Mange/sii'J.t'iy,!!// at Aiiihtif- r>i/tr?/4'ri(kf< ( or/is . Vi.FiJSf Posi//07i o/y'ffr/f/rv V . Sfl'OHil i/U/l) ( I . Qiiitpit 's A'a/iffcrs ' CiJ v nif ■ \\.P>irr>uf \ P()si//o/t n-Jtu'/i L' Co/ Mn//i/t'n' ^T^o- "** CT/, ■'5J' ^a^'^i;^^^;^, >"xs.'-- r '■<*.: "I'll «i4. g'"^ '1' 'fj v (^ .5- ^;„, ...'.::.. ". .. "'•■^ ,.;;ixCi ■■ "•'■■■ 1 *''^- "•■•■•/g^... ••T'itt? ii^- >^'r/■-i■o^;'- ■A\c r^-r :>^-^-rr^^^=^^^-^^^^:$J' ;/to*lffl ;;^ii»iiP^^i§*"*«i'§ ' ,.: Qc, ;* ' ' ^ ' * - ',1 -Ji^. - -,.- -'- . .-^ ■' * '-C '-^-1 ^^^W^^f'^^'^.^s^i^r-^^^^^^^^^^ I.J ... '■4^'."«v».^C'' ^ '■••^ ■ ■• ..•:■;... -•. .. ** *-, '^ L ' I' or ihQit pti mi, • jp» i *!'• ii^!^'<^-:i'," : 1} ^ i ' if I ., r '■sm^ :^:h OF THE queen's RANGERS. 87 campment, which they were immediately to attack ; Lieut. Col. Tarleton, with the whole of the cavalry, was to proceed to cover the right, and arrive at Val- entine's hill by daylight ; a detachment of Yagers, under Captain Wreden, were to march on Courtland's ridge, and to halt opposite to Gist's encampment; and a larger detachment of Yagers, under Major Pruschank, were, at the same time, to be ready to force Phillip's bridge, then to proceed to the bridge opposite Babcock's house, and to cut off the enemy's retreat by that road. The signal for these divisions' moving on was to be the noise of storming Gist's encampment. Lt. Col. Emmerick conducted the march in so able a manner, and the whole corps fol- lowed with so much silence, that the enemy's sentinels were passed without alarm, and this division gained the heights in the rear, and could see the whole chain of sentinels walking below them. Major Ross was detached to possess himself of Post's house, to pre- serve a communication with Lt. Col. Tarleton, on Valentine's hill ; the remainder of the Rangers inclined to the right, towards Gist's camp, and Lt. Col. Em- merick was directed to secure the saw-mill road. Firing soon began ; and it was apparent from Lt. Col. Emmerick's quarter, whom the enemy had dis- covered. Lt. Col. Simcoe immediately moved rapidly into the road, and directly up the steeps to the enemy's camp, as a nearer way than through the thickets ; he attained it, and, to his great surprize, found that Major Pruschank had not forced Phillip's bridge, as had been intended, but had crossed and joined Captain • "■.•'.,''>»i " .: ,' • ■'<- 88 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS i:-* i"^' > ! ■n- 1. Wreden on Courtland's-ridge, and that Colonel Gist had escaped through the passage which had been so unaccountably left open. Lt. Col. Tarleton fell in with a patrole of cavalry, and dispersed it ; and the Queen's Rangers, as soon as they got possession of Gist's camp, having ambuscaded themselves, took a patrole which came forward on hearing the firing. The troops set fire to Gist's huts, and returned to their camp. Soon after, Mr. Washington quitted the White-plains ; and Lt. Col. Simcoe was not a little gratified at the country people, among other reasons, attributing this measure to the continual checks which his light troops had received. The next day, he pa- trolcd so near as to be certain of the enemy having decamped. Soon after, patroling again to that spot, Lt. Col. Tarleton, who was in front, sent to inform Lt. Col. Simcoe that he understood there was a piquet of the enemy two miles off to the right of the White-plains, and desired that he would send a party to the Plains to watch that quarter, while he galloped on to the enemy's post. Lt. Col. Simcoe went him- self to the White-plains, and observed and sketched the inaccessible ground which Mr. Washington had occupied, in 177G, and which hitherto had not been visited by any British officer ; Lieut. Col. Tarleton, soon after, returned ; he had j)ut the enemy's piquet to flight, and taken some prisoners. Colonel (now Sir Archibald) Campbell advanced, the latter end of September, with the 71st regiment and the light troops, to Milcsquare, where, soon after, Major-Gcncral Grant, with a larger force, occupied I i onel Gist been so on fell in ; and the session of 3S, took a the firing, jturned to quitted the not a httle er reasons, ecks which [lay, he pa- Bmy having that spot, it to inform lere was a right of the send a party he galloped e went him- ind sketched ihington had lad not been ol. Tarleton, lemy's piquet ell advanced, 1st regiment re, soon after, rcc, occupied it' •j" NIA <« uhk . /^on.a^f'd (C i:^.^ ^: .:.: '^•■■.-<.->-:3,^;,.M^ ^ ■ '^'fe S-- rfu ,© ' 2? ----^^^ ..:W/3|P^.Cv>., thOiLOl' N KM Vbnf^ y of //-<" Aeffion //////tv LTo/ 7'aH^/on', and a?- t/t^iMiAme/il of t/tf Ya4jfejs itmweta su/yvrixea Cor/isofRedelAigki Ivoo/vs uru/e/'Col. {fvsl. )lanalioii 'ir fJu:y fill ifttd /// //i^ Heir/ .i/V///' /'j'//f///y, urh/ />nn iHtvf h C . O'/sf n C'd/f^r Bnt "^ ('./I'alry i OF THE queen's RANGERS. 89 the ground, from the Brunx, at Hunt's bridge, to the North river. The Provincial troops, consisting of the Queen's Rangers, Delancey's, Emmerick's, and Legion cavalry, under Lieut. Col. Simcoe, were on the right, beyond the Brunx, and formed a flying camp between that and Chester creek : as this corps was liable to be struck at, it seldom encamped two days and nights in the same place, and constantly occupied a strong position. Their patroles, crossing the country, together with the Yagers, who were on the left, effectually covered the camp. An ambuscade was laid by Colonel Lee, for the Yager patroles, which, in part, was successful. General Grant, wish- ing to retaliate upon the enemy, an attempt was made to surprize a post at Hammond's house ; the Provin- cial troops were to make a circuit to gain its rear, and the Yagers were to approach to the front. After a very fatiguing and long march, the party gained their position, but the enemy had gone off". On the return to camp. Lieutenant Colonel Simcoe net General Grant, and requested, that, as the corps under his command was severely fatigued and inca- pable of exertion, he might pass the Brunx, and lie within the guards of the line. The General assented : nor was it useless, for the next day, when they returned to their former position, Major Ross made a patrol, and brought certain intelligence tnat a large body of the enemy's infantry, pressing horses, had approached the post, at night, within two miles, intending to attack it. 7 ■ilV ■■; •■' >■ litis . ■■ ■ ■■<■ ^.--'''li .■'■■: ■'■'<■■ ,^';'^-1 ■■.',*•: 'V I ■■.?'■<;.:- ■i :•■. , i . ■■• >:'•■,; ' '■« ^;;i:';- 1- -; ; '■■''iJ ". Ai m- *fr.v ,•; ■ i -l If M :r 'm If;.'. . ,. 90 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS Earl Cornwallis, being foraging near the English neighborhood, in the Jerseys, it was thought easy, whilst his lordship pushed a body of mihtia, who were watching his motions in front, to intercept their retreat by passing a corps over the North river ; for this purpose. Colonel Campbell, with the 7l8t and Queen's Rangers, were ordered to embark from Phillip's house; they arrived there, and waited for the boats from New- York, which did not come, or land them till three hours after the appointed time. However, the enemy had changed their position, and Colonel Campbell joined General Grey, who had just surprised Baylor's dragoons ; his troops being fresh, he offered his services to penetrate further into the country, and to collect what cattle he could ; which being done, the detachment recrossed the river, and returned on the evening to their several encampments. It requires great skill, and still greater attention, to adapt the movements of any embarkation in boats to the tides and shoals of rivers : this was the second expedition mentioned in this Journal, which might have failed, from the want of such knowledge, or of attention in its execution. General Grant, being to embark for the West- Indies, was so well satisfied with the Queen's Rang- ers, that he told Lt. Col. Simcoe, if he could get Sir Henry Clinton's permission, he would readily take him, and his corps, among the number of chosen troops destined for that service. This kind and gen- erous offer, could not but be highly agreeable to him, and to the officers of the Queen's Rangers, and noth- (I 1. ' Vifc; '*^ "•■\ English It easy, ia, who jpt their »rer ; for rist and rk from ttited for ;ome, or ted time, ition, and 3 had just ling fresh, ' into the [d ; which river, and impments. ention, to n boats to le second lich might |dge, or of Lhe West- Isn's Rang- ild get Sir ladily take ] of chosen Id and gen- Ible to him, I, and noth- OF THE queen's RANGERS. 91 ing could have made them decline it, but a conviction that it would not be just in them to the many very valuable native Americans who were among their non-commissioned officers, and soldiers ; Lieut. Col. Simcoe, therefore, respectfully declined this very ad- vantageous offer, and the certainty of British rank which must have resulted from it. Major Ross went upon the expedition as Brigade-Major, and Lt. Col. Simcoe was deprived of the assistance of his valuable friend, as his country was, too soon, of the services of this gallant officer, he being unfortunately killed at St. Christopher's. Captain Armstrong was appointed Major in his room. Lieut. Col. Simcoe, Captain in the 40th, which regiment went with General Grant, was permitted to remain in the Rangers, by a very honourable distinction which the Commander in Chief was pleased to make, in public orders. The army, soon after, returned to York island ; and the Rangers fell back nearer to the redoubts. Captain Beckwith, (now Major), aid-du-camp to General Kniphausen, procured intelligence of the strength, and of the views of the enemy's advanced corps ; and he informed Lieut. Col. Simcoe, that Colonel Armand lay in a situation easily to be sur- prized. In a few days, some deserters came in : upon their arrival, Captain Beckwith examined them, and sent them on to head quarters at New- York. Lieut. Col. Simcoe, went immediately to New York, to get the deserters, as guides ; unfortunately, they had en- listed in the Legion, and been sent to Long-island, where that corps, having left Kingsbridge, was quar- ; i.-...:".'/;i)('S m .If'- .*(:• '[ **-l-. .''tft >t .'. .; ..;- '^'^*X' s;-i;^ I •,l:'(' V r ." i ' , ^, 1 1 t 13 Fl , '^' l'> 1 M '^■- 1 m^ i,«w| >i 4 ' :*1 .* :■• I ,^ It 4'? ph^ I. mm"-'"-, . 92 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS tered. Their information was, that one sentry was posted by each house, that Armand had neither videtts nor piquets, and that his horses were unsad- dled during the night, and in different stables. Before the troops went into winter quarters, it was necessary, that sufficient boards should be procured to hut those who were to remain in the vicinity of Kingsbridge, and the light troops were of the parties who collected them. Lt. Col. Simcoe proposed to General Tryon, who commanded the British, to take down Ward's house, and the buildings in its vicinity ; and that, while a covering party should halt there, he would attempt to surprise Colonel Thomas, a very active partizan of the enemy, and a post of dragoons, nearly twenty miles beyond it. General Tryon ac- quiesced in the proposal, and directed it to be put in execution, but seemed very doubtful, whether ^ wary a person as Thomas could be circumvented. Lt. Col. Simcoe marched all night, with Emmerick's and the Queen's Rangers, and surrounded Thomas's house by day-break. He never lay at home before that night, and had done so in consequence of the British troops, in general, being gone into winter quarters, and one of his own spies being deceived, and made to believe that the Queen's Rangers were to march to Long island. One shot was fired from the window, which, unfortunately, killed a man, by the side of Lt. Col. Simcoe ; the house was immedi- ately forced, and, no resistance being made, the offi- cers shut the doors of the different rooms, to prevent the irritated soldiers from revenging their unfortunate «^i II ry was neither unsad- 8, it was rocured jinity of 3 parties )Osed to , to take vicinity ; dt there, LS, a very Iragoons, ryon ac- be put in lether ^ imvented. imerick's 'homas's le before luence of [to winter deceived, rers were ired from man, by immedi- I, the offi- prevent fortunate OF THE queen's RANGERS. 93 comrade : the man, who fired was the only person killed ; but Thomas, after Lt. Col. Simcoe had per- sonally protected him and ensured his safety, jumped out of the window, and, springing over some fences would have certainly escaped, notwithstanding most of Emmerick's riflemen fired at him, had not an Huzzar leapt after him and cut at him with his sword, (which he crouched from and luckily escaped,) when he surrendered. The cavalry proceeded on to the enemy's piquet, at a mile distance. They had been alarmed by the firing, and were formed ; they fired their carbines (by which Captain Ogden, of Emmer- ick's was wounded) and fled : they were pursued, but to no purpose. The troops returned to General Tyron, who was, in person, at Ward's house, and who was much pleased at this mischievous partizan's being taken. This march was above fifty miles. The season had been, for some time, dreadfully inclement, and was severely felt by the troops en- camped on the exposed heights of Kingsbridge ; it was, therefore, with great pleasure, that Lieut. Col. Simcoe received orders to march for winter quarters to Oyster bay, in Long island, where he arrived on the 19th of November. As it was understood that this village was to be the winter cantonment of the corps, no time was lost in fortifying it ; the very next day, the whole corps was employed in cutting fascines. There was a centrical hill, which totally commanded the village, and seemed well adapted for a place of arms ; the outer circuit of this hill, in the most ac- cessible places, was to be fortified by sunken fleches, "7* •>•■ 5'?«..'V'..N.l!* ..'■■:> -: '.it ':^-M M ■■^if' '''' ' m. \ V f i. - ' . ' . i i' ■ . f ■ r'r '•::V#' t: , • . ■■■' "•■ ■ ■..'•V ■ '.'-'v'- . :>:| ? -ii^ I,- r *''}'.*:- •¥■ want. ii-?^.^"'. '•■r 'P i ll ■f 94 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS joined by abatis, and would have contained the whole corps ; the summit was covered by a square redoubt, and was capable of holding seventy men ; platforms were erected, in each angle, for the field pieces, and the guard-house, in the centre, cased and filled with sand, was rendered musket proof, and looped so as to command the platforms, and surface of the parapet ; the ordinary guard, twenty men, were sufiicient for its defence. Some of the militia assisted, in working, one day, when Sir William Erskine came to Oyster bay, intentionally to remove the corps to Jericho, a quarter the Legion was to quit in order to accompany him to the east end of the island. I^t. Col. Simcoe represented to him, that in case of the enemy's passing the sound, both Oyster bay and Jericho were at too great a distance from any post to expect succor, but that the latter was -%i equally hable to surprize as Oyster bay, that its being farther from the coast was no advantage, as the enemy, acquainted with the country, and in league with the disaffected inhabitants of it, could have lull time to penetrate, undiscovered, through the woods, and, that the vicinity of Oyster bay to the sea coast would enable him to have a more watchful eye over the landing places, and to acquire a knowledge of the principles of the inhabitants in these important situa- tions ; and that provisions from New York might be received by water. Sir William Erskine was pleased to agree with Lt. Col. Simcoe ; and expressed him- self highly satisfied with the means that had been taken to ensure the post; and, on his representation, lined the a square nty men; • the field cased and )roof, and nd surface enty men, the miUtia r WiUiam to remove ivas to quit end of the m, that in 3th Oyster tance from latter was at its being the enemy, e with the iiU time to oods, and, ;oast would 5 over the dge of the rtant situa- k might be vas pleased esscd him- had been 'cseniation, >: *:' ■■:'y'%yt'm •■.•,*■ ■, [ ; ,"*4'' r/i /•.(• <■(• Hir/.'Aur^. tf Co/ i*^iin,ri!v (hti// ft i\\ '' '*t ■' % ^ ■■■■''■■ % ■ ' \ ^'r . - ■ -i. .•••;■■■■ 5^^o^< .;■// #«Wr A-- • ■• :L •V • \ ■ ' V -'i- i <: ' 'iir-- '■ ^*#;P •r«-:.'i»" •— ■.. (^'•i"'ll«f" & il"" 'i'li"'..." it' . .1 ?5 III!//- ' ' y/;mimm *% .J.: ■:, ■.■i*..:-..4i', ;il..;;..,;,. hm, ii i '. 'l, '■•';»: . . ..•■ ■■ r- _... ■■il||'^l'i.'^^'' -••'iiti.'ii'. rv^i r',; -r;' .ii-.j- .A . ftfifotif'/ •■ J I i' ! ^>//.///-^V.v .^rprrairlv fhrr,r,n/. (,) I ' K h'. NS K A N l) I''. K i* I', yihirti rs •'. \\ N'S KA N O I'' K i* . H; . /,//7// ^ r'/ ,SV///r/'^.; i>iuirti /;v ■ i in easel the frit depredj soldieri houses I nals wa pie, in OF THE queen's RANGERS. 95 the corps was permitted to remain in its present can- tonments. There was a small garrison at Lloyd's neck, within twelve miles of Oyster bay : a feint, in case of attack, would serve to have kept this post within its redoubts. The nearest cantonment was at Jamaica, where the British grenadiers lay ; this was almost thirty miles from Oyster bay. The New- England shore was not more than twelve, and in many places but seven or eight miles over ; and there were many favourable landing places within a mile or two of Oyster bay. The enemy could raise any number of men for such an expedition ; General Parsons lay, with some regular troops, in the vicinity, and there were whale-boats sufficient to carry two-thousand men, who, in three hours, might attack the conton- ment. The situation was an anxious one, and required all the vigilance and system of discipline to prevent an active enemy from taking advantage of it. Every separate quarter was loop-holed, and surrounded with abatis in such a manner that it could not be forced. A house was moved, bodily, to the rear, near to the beach, where the Highland and Grenadier companies were quartered. A general plan of defence was cal- culated for the whole ; and proper orders were given, in case of attack. Patroles were frequently made ; the friendly inhabitants were on the watch, and some depredations having been committed, convalescent soldiers, of good characters, were sent to lodge in the houses of those of the vicinity who chose it ; and sig- nals were appointed to bo made by the country peo- ple, in case any plunderers were out, on which, senti- ■0' ^11 Mm ^ ' ,.'■'■ -1^ 'v-;. ■"*,'*. ■Mf^ '.si \ 1* ■ "•'■■'I 96 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS lit > k ■■ ;]| - nels were to be placed on each barrack, and the rolls immediately called ; by these, and other precautions, marauding was effectually prevented : since the con- clusion of the war, Lieut. Col. Simcoe has had the satisfaction of hearing, that his precautions were not in vain, for that, more than once, an attack on Oyster bay was meditated, and laid aside. There being little probability of the Queen's Rang- ers recruiting, notwithstanding the exertions of the parties on that service, while much greater bounties were given, by regiments now raising, than Govern- ment allowed the Provincials, it was, in public orders, recommended to the consideration of the officers, "whether a strict soldier-hke, and honourable oecon- " omy, which their present situation would admit of, " might not enable them, by adding to the bounties " allowed by Government, to recruit their companies, " and give them opportunities of acting in a wider " sphere at the commencement of the next campaign, " which, from every appearance, was like to be most " active ?" The officers subscribed liberally to the recruiting fund. The Commander in Chief intend- ing to augment the Huzzars of the Queen's Rangers, to a troop of fifty, or more, Lt. Col. Simcoe applied, through Sir William Erskine, that Lieut. Wickham should be captain ; Lieut. M'Nab lieutenant ; Quar- ter-master Spencer, of the 16th dragoons, cornet ; and Serjeant Spurry, of the same regiment, quarter- master. That regiment had been drafted, and Lt. Col. Simcoe, with his utmost solicitations, could not pro- cure the Quarter-master, or a single dragoon from the corps, ing, ar that th Jar dr extrem soldier of veg« visions, the att( them in sufficiei in greal and safe wards t] were ms in Chief quently intercou to escoi skine, and Jam ledge bum the and had wood ani patched posals b( did not plan in Rangers might ofl J i! [le rolls .utions, le con- lad the ere not Oyster '8 Rang- 9 of the [)Ounties Govern- c orders, officers, e oBCon- idmit of, bounties mpanies, a wider ampaign, be most to the " intend- Rangers, apphed, Vickham ; Quar- cornet ; , qiiarter- d Lt. Col. I not pro- i from the OF THE queen's RANGERS. 97 corps. The regular and methodical mode of dress- ing, and feeding the horses, was the point of service that the troop wished to be instructed in, by the regu- lar dragoons. The situation at Oyster Bay was extremely well calculated to secure the health of the soldiery ; the water was excellent ; there was plenty of vegetables, and oysters to join with their salt pro- visions, and bathing did not a little contribute, with the attention of the officers to cleanliness, to render them in high order for the field, nor were they without sufficient exercise : the garrison in New- York being in great want of forage. Oyster Bay became a central and safe deposit for it, and frequent expeditions, to- wards the eastern and interior parts of the island, were made to enforce the orders of the Commander in Chief in this respect ; excursions wer^ also fre- quently made to execute other orders, relative to the intercourse with the inhabitants of the rebel coast, and to escort messengers. Ace. between Sir William Er- skine, who commanded on the east end of the island, and Jamaica. Lt. Whitlock, having a perfect know- ledge of the country about Norwalk, proposed to bum the whale-boats, which were harboured there, and had infested the sound, and taken several of the wood and provision vessels ; he was immediately dis- patched to the Commander in Cliief, to lay his pro- posals before him. Sir Henry Clinton, at tliis period, did not think it advisable to put Lieut. Whitlock's plan in execution. The officers of the Queen's Rangers always understood, that whatever plans they might ofler for the good of the King's service, would m '■mm f ..- .•.•.; ■ '.'! ;^ •■ f '' v>' ■!•,•,',•;,• .- S ■ ■ ; ■ .J ■>-•; • ■ * , ■t.t' ■''. M ,• ■ ^- ; ?■, ' , / ■•■'*■. rVj'! 1 ;•.■ ■ , A ■ '■'' "■*■-' ■■.;■ ■ " ; ; • '•MB^, ■ '■; ■ '■■■'" :-xi'.:':^': ^v- ;>.-V:'-'^*- t ■•.^:5i'■•V- Ui€^!'-j}>X .' ' ■( ■:iti.-^'''-: ■-'■:?^^'"..' ■ -mu- ■;» ; '^'^H fW'V li ■p : ^^H w ■I \ a- '■':!/ ■ • . ■■Hi--i • <> iifll it 98 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS be patronised, and fairly represented to the Comman- der in Chief, by the Lieutenant-Colonel, that they might reap the fruit of their own exertions. The corps had constantly been exercised in the firing mo- tions, and the charging with bayonets, upon their respective parades ; as the season opened, they were assembled together : they were, particularly, trained to attack a supposed enemy, posted behind railing, the CO' mon position of the rebels ; they were in- structed not to fire, but to charge their bayonets with their muskets loaded, and, upon their arrival at the fence, each soldier to take his aim at their opponents, who were then supposed to have been driven from it ; they were taught that, in the position of running, their bodies aflTorded a less and more uncertain mark to their antagonists, whose minds also must be per- turbed by the rapidity of their approach with undis- charged arms. The light infantry, and Huzzars, were put under the direction of Captain Saunders, who taught them to gallop through woods, and acting together, the light infantry learnt to run, by holding the horses' manes ; the cavalry were, also, instructed, as the infantry lay flat upon the ground, to gallop through their files. The grand divisions were exer- cised in the manual, and firing motions, by their respective commanders, but they were forbidden to teach them to march in slow time, they were " to pay " great attention to the instruction of their men in " charging with their bayonets, in which case, the " charge was never to be less than three hundred yards^ *' gradually increasing in celerity from its first outset, "takin " ranks " short " taugh " grace "if an " ish so "his op "his b{ " certaii ted, the ticularly the ener shown h on the s terials. Onth from Oy able to Generals shore. sons, but Bay: he Lt. Cc centre of course h and some clement, ent house ters woul on the OF TH iUEEN'S RANGERS. 99 imman- ftt they !. The ing mo- )n their ey were , trained raiUng, were in- lets with al at the )ponents, ven from ■ running, tain mark St be per- ith undis- Huzzars, aunders, ind acting »y holding istructed, to gallop ere exer- by their tbidden to l-e " to pay jir men in case, the jred yards, Irst outset, " taking great care that the grand division has its " ranks perfectly close, and the pace adapted to the " shortest men. The soldier is, particularly, to be " taught, to keep his head well up, and erect : it is " graceful, on all occasions, but absolutely necessary '* if an enemy dare stand the charge ; when the Brit- " ish soldier, who fixes with his eye the attention of " his opponent, and, at the same instant, pushes with " his bayonet without looking down on its point, is " certain of conquest." When the weather permit- ted, the corps was frequently exercised together, par- ticularly in occupying ground, on the supposition of the enemy's landing to attack the post ; they were shown how to make, and navigate rafts, constructed on the simplest principles, and witli the shghtest ma- terials. On the 18th of April, a party of Refugees went from Oyster Bay, being furnished with arms, agree- able to an order from head quarters, to take the Generals Parsons and Silliman from the opposite shore. They did not risk the attack on General Par- sons, but they brought Brigadier Silliman to Oyster Bay : he was sent, the next day, to New-York. Lt. Col. Simcoe had been directed towards the centre of the island, to enquire into a supposed inter- course held with Connecticut ; he had the Huzzars, and some infantry, with him. The weather was in- clement, and the troops occupied two or three ditl'er- ent houses : such precautions were taken as the quar- ters would admit of At night, the advance sentinel, on the Lieutenant-Colonel's quarters, fired. The '■■■ :)■>:•-■ , a >*■ ..I. c I ■ •' :ii ■ '■■ was on a piquet while the troops halted to refresh themselves, ambus- caded a patrole, and took a Captain, and some pri- vates. The Queen's Rangers, and Legion, marched to North-castle, and lay there that night : the enemy having several parties in the neighbourhood, before day, Captain Moncrief, of the Rangers, was detached to take post, without discovering himself, in a wood, which commanded a dangerous pass through which the troops were to march ; they fell back, without molestation, on Colonel Wurmb, who had advanced to the White-plains to support them, and returned, the next day, with him to the army. The army marched, on the 8th of July, in two co- lumns, to Marmaroneck ; the Queen's Rangers were, in front of that, on the right. On the 9th, the Com- mander in Chief marched with the army to Byram's bridge : on leaving this camp, to return to Marmaro- neck, the next day, the Queen's Rangers formed the rear guard. Upon this march, three soldiers, strag- gling at a small distance from their huts, were taken by some militia ; Lt. Col. Simcoe expressed, in or- ders, " that he is most sensibly affected at the loss of " the three men, who straggled from their post during " the last march. He feels himself but ill repaid for " the confidence he has placed in the regiment, and " his inclination to ease their duty, by never posting " an unnecessary sentinel ; at the same time, he " trusts, that, as this has been the first instance of the " kind during the time he has had the honor of cora- <( 't: y a few I piquet ambus- >me pri- narched ; enemy , before ietached a wood, rh which without advanced returned, a two co- rers were, the Com- Byram's Marmaro- armed the rs, strag- rere taken cd, in or- the loss of ost during repaid for ment, and er posting time, he ancG of the mx of com- OF THE queen's rangers. 103 :■• r';t. ..•■^■■^■!« " manding the Queen's Rangers, it will be the last ; " find that the soldiers will reflect what they must suf- "fer by a long imprisonment, from a mean and " despicable enemy, who never has, or can gain any " advfintage over them, but what arises from their own "disobedience of orders." Captain Saunders, patroHng towards Byram brid *iM ' tHi 104 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS river, and, returning, brought information that a brigade of the enemy's mihtia were to encamp, in the evening, on a particular spot, within three or four miles ; that provisions were prepared for them, and that there was not the smallest suspicion of the King's troops being in the neighbourhood ; it appear- ed evident that it would be easy to surprise and de- stroy this corps, but Colonel Birch's orders, to his great regret, were positive not to pass the Croton. On the 20th, the troops marched back to Dobb's fer- ry, where the army had arrived, with whom they re- turned, on the 23d, to the old camp, in front of Val- entine's hill : the Queen's Rangers closing the rear of the left column. Major-General Matthews command- ed the troops in the new camp ; and on the 30th, he directed his light troops to make, respectively, strong patroles, and at a given time, and to a prescribed point. Lt. Col. Tarleton on the right ; Emmerick, and Simcoe, in the centre ; and the Yagers on the left. Lt. Col. Enniierick fell in with a strong party of the enemy's cavalry, who charged his dragoons, which retreated, and drew them into an ambuscade of the infantry, upon whose Hring, the enemy fled. Colonel Wurmb, and Lt. Col. Sinicoc heard the firing, and pushed to cut off the retreat of the enemy, which was so very precipitate, that, after a long pursuit, only two or three of their war fell into the hands of the Yagers. The troops fell back to Kingsbridge : tlu; Queen's Rangers, Emmcrick's, and the Legion, occupying the same position they had done the year belbre. On the int tenipte fusion, the eve OF THE queen's RANGERS. 105 -p r:i|:. that a , in the or four m, and of the appear- and de- 3, to his Croton. bb's fer- they re- of Val- le rear of 3nimand- 30th, he ly, strong irescribed [unicrick, :s on the ng party Iragoons, ubuscadc cniy fled, he tiring, ly, which suit, only Ids of tlio Queen's Ipyingthe lore. On the 5th of August, Lt. Col. Simcoe, returning, at mid- night, from New-York, had not alighted from his horse, when a Refugee came in, from Westchester, and informed him, that a rebel party of dragoons had surprised several of their quarters, had taken many prisoners, and that he had escaped in the confusion. Lieut. Col. Simcoe called " to arms," and sent to the Legion, and Lt. Col. Emmerick, to join him ; he marched immediately, with the cavalry of the three corps : Major Cochrane commanded that of the I^e- gion, Lt. Col. Tarleton being in New- York. The infantry was directed to follow, with all expedition ; and information was sent to Colonel Wurmb. The enemy were pursued so expeditiously, that most of the loyalists, whom they had taken, escaped ; and, at New Rochelle, Lt. Col. Simcoe, with the advanced guard, overtook Colonel White, who commanded the enemy, with his rear guard ; they fired their pistols at the Huzzars, who did not return a shot. The cavalry being arrived. Colonel White was so pressed, that he left his infantry, and passed a bridge : the enemy's infantry, unable to attain it, threw them- selves over a stone wall, close to the left of the road. This bridge was a mile from Marmnroneck ; wlunv, it was understood, the enemy were in fon'o. It was obvious, that there would be little j)r<)bnbility of cut- ting oH* White's fatigued ciivaliy, uiil(\^s the lire of the infantry couhl be pnssed ; lA. Col. Simcoe at- tempted to rush past it, lioj)ing that tlui enemy's con- fusion, and their position close to the roiul, would, as the event just ifi(!(l, hurry them to give their fire o6- 8* .;|:\'-: 106 JOURNAL OF THK OPERATIONS liquely ; unluckily, it was fatal on the most essential point ; four Huzzars, and five horses, being either killed or disabled in the front, which was checked ; and, at the same time, from some unknown cause, the rear moved about, and the confusion reached to the centre. Lieut. Col. Simcoe, in this disorder, ordered Captain Dicmar, who commanded an independent troop of Iluzzars, which followed the Queen's Rang- ers, to pass the wall in pursuit of the enemy's infantry, who had fled from it ; he did so ; and Captain James, with his troop, and others of the Legion followed him, two or three of whom without orders, and, unsup- ported, passed the bridge, and were killed there. Lt. Col. Simcoe tried to get information of any collateral road, by which, without passing the bridge, he could pursue the enemy, who naturally supposing that the check might have stopped his party, would be induc- ed to retreat at a slower rate than if they were direct- ly pursued ; but he could procure no guide, and, in the mean time, a Refugee, who had escaped, brought certain intelligence that the enemy were unsupported by any infantry but those with whom the skirmish had happened. One of the enemy was killed by their own fire, close to the fence ; two, or three, by Cap- tain Diomar, in the pursuit, others were drowned in passing the creek ; and, by the enemy's gazette it ap- peared, " that driven into a bad position, they were " comptjlled to tight at disadvantage, and lost twelve " men." The cavalry, on Captain Dieinar's return, inunediately coniinued the pursuit to Ryram bridge, beyond which it was not prudent or useful to follow : •?:/' .Fi'|.'r;!^i'- ;■' •-.I OF THE queen's RANGERS. 107 'ssential or cither licckcd ; luse, the i to the , ordered epcndeiit I's Rang- infiintry, in Jaines, iwed him, i, unsup- lere. Lt. collateral , he could [T that the be induc- erc direct- le, and, in \, brought supported skirmibh A by their by C'ap- Irowned in cttc it ap- they were lost twelve |ir's return, lun bridge, to follow : some more of the loyalists were rescued, but none of the enemy overtaken. On the return, the cavalry were divided, by trooi)s, and scoured the woods back to Marmaroncck, but without effect ; there they met with the British and Hessian light troops, with whom they returned to camp. On the 8th of August, the light troops fell back to the redoubts : A grand guard being in advance, which reported to Lt. Col. Simcoe, as senior officer of the Provincials, the Queen's Rangers were, for the first time since they left winter quarters, permitted to take off their coats, at night, until further orders : in case of sudden alarm, they w^ere ordered to form on their company's parade, undressed, with silence and regu- larity ; the bayonets were never to be unfixed. The Commander in Chief was pleased to place Captain Sandford's troop of Buck's county dragoons under the command of Lieut. Col. Simcoe, till further or- ders ; Captain Diemar's Huzzars w ere also added to his command ; and this whole corps marched for Oys- ter Bay on tlic 13th of August : the cavalry, and cannon, by the route of Ilell-gates, and the infantry by Frog's neck, where they embarked, passed over on the 15th, and joining the cavalry, arrived at Oyster Bay on the 17th. In tiiis interval, the officers, connnanding grand divisions, were ordered to make their men perfect in the whole of the mainial exercise. Serjeant M'Pher- son, a corporal, and twelve men, were selected, and p'aced under the conunand of Lieutenant Shaw : they were armed with swords and rilles ; and, being daily ..;''::i. 4/^>T 108 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS exercised in firing at objects, soon became most ad- mirable and useful marksmen. There was every reason to believe that the enemy meant to attack some of the posts on Long Island ; that at Lloyd's neck had been the object of frequent expeditions ; and Lt. Col. Simcoe's orders were to assist it, in case of necessity. On some musketry being fired in that quarter, at midnight, he gallopped there with the cavalry, and cannon ; the infantry fol- lowed. The alarm proved to be a false one ; but Colonel Ludlow, who commanded that post, was of opinion, that this appearance of attention might pre- vent the attack on it, which he had certain informa- tion, was seriously intended against Long Island, a part oniy of the general operations meditated against New- York on the expected arrival of D'Estaing, with his fleet, from the West Indies. On the 9th of October, it was hinted to Lieut. C'ol. Simcoe, to hold his corps in readiness for embarka- tion. On the 19th, it marched for that purpose ; the cavalry to Jericho, where they were to remain under the conunand of Lieut. Col. Tarleton, and the infant- ry to .Tamaica, which proceeded to Yellow-hook, and embarked on the 21th. Earl Cornwallis commanded this expedition, consisting of the 7th, 23d, 22(\, 33d, 57tli regiments, Rjingers, and Volunteers of Ireland commanded by F^ord Kawdon; it was supj)osod to be intended for .laniaica, at that time presumed to be threatened with an invasion from M. D'Estaing. On intelligence being receiviul, that his designs were pointed elsewhere, the troops were re-landed ; and OF THE queen's RANGERS. 109 lost ad- I enemy Island ; frequent were to lusketry allopped intry fol- 3ne; but , was of light pre- informa- Island, a id against aing, with Jeut. Col. cmbarka- pose ; the lain under he infant- hook, and nunanded 22d, 3:id, lof Ireland joHod to be Iniod to be taing. *'»! liaiis were nded; and were ordered to continue in readiness to embark at the shortest notice. The Queen's Rangers marched to Richmond, on Staten Island : they relieved a regi- ment which had been very sickly while there. Lieut. Col. Simcoe immediately ordered their huts to be de- stroyed, and encamped his corps ; Signals, in case of alarm, were established on the island by General Pat- terson, who commanded there. There was a general rumour of an intended attack on New- York. Lt. Col. Simcoe had information that fifty flat-boats, upon carriages, capable of holding seventy men each, were on the road from the Dela- ware to Washington's army, and that they had been assembled to Van Vacter's bridge, upon the Rariton. He proposed to the Commander in Chief to burn them. Sir Henry Clinton approved of his plan, as did Earl Cornwallis, and directed it to be put into execution. Colonel Lee, with his cavalry, had been at Monmouth : Sir Henry Clinton, upon Lieut. Col. Simcoe's application to him for intelligence of this corps, told him, that by the best information he had, Lee was gone from that j)art of the country. There were no other troops in the vicinity : the Jersey mili- tia only, and those, tunudtuously assembled ut the moment of the execution of the enterprise, could, pos- sibly, impede it. The coasts of Jersey had been the common receptacle of the disaffected from Staten, Long, and York island, on the Rritish troops taking possession of them ; of course, they were most viru- lent in their principles, and, by the custom they had of attacking, from their coverts, the Uritish foraging '' •. ' . W'h 'Ml' /'■S 110 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS parties, in 1776, and insulting their very out-posts, they had acquired a great degree of self-confidence, and activity. Lieut. Col. Siincoe's plan was, to burn the boats with as much expedition as possible ; to re- turn, with silence, to the heights beyond the town of Brunswick, before day ; there to show himself, to en- tice all who might follow him into an ambuscade ; and if he found that his remaining in the Jersies could effect any valuable purpose, the Commander in Chief proposed to reinforce him. To execute this purpose, he was to draw his cavalry from Jericho in Long Island, by easy marches, to Staten Island ; Stuart, an active and gallant man, a native of New-Jersey, com- manded some cavalry on that island : these were to be Jidded to him ; and he recjucsted ten guides : three hundred infantry of the Queen's Rangers, with their artillery, were also to accoujpany him. Tavo days were lost by a misunderstanding of the General's or- der : the Huz/ars, of the Queen's Rangers only, being sent from Jericho, without C'a})tain Sandford's troop, which was not merely necessary in regard to nundiers, but particularly wished for, as it was knoMn that Cap- tain Sandford, when (luarter-master of the guards, had frequently been on foraging parties in the coun- try he was to pass through. On the 25th of Octo- ber, by eight o'clock at night, the detachment, which has been detailed, marched to IJillop's-point, where they were to embark. That the enterprise might be effectually concealed, Lt. Col. Simcoe described a man, as a rebel spy, to be on the island, and endeavouring to escape to New-Jersey ; a great reward was offer- OF THE queen's rangers. Ill ed for taking him, and the mihtia of the island were watching all the places where it was possible for any man to go from, in order to apprehend him. The batteaux, and boats, which were appointed to be at Billop's-point, so as to pass the whole over by twelve o'clock at night, did not arrive till three o'clock in the morning. No time was lost ; the infantry of the Queen's Rangers were landed: they ambuscaded every avenue to the town ; the cavalry followed as fast as possible. As soon as it was formed, Lt. Colonel Simcoe called together the officers ; he told them of his plan, " that he meant to burn the boats at " Van Vacter's bridge, and crossing the Rariton, at " Hillsborough, to return by the road to Brunswick, " and, making a circuit to avoid that place as soon " as he came near it, to discover himself when beyond "it, on the heights where the Grenadier Redoubt " stood while the British troops were cantoned there, "and where the Queen's Rangers afterwards had " been encamped ; and to entice the militia, if possi- " ble, to follow him into an ambuscade which the " infantry would lay for them at South-river bridge." Major Armstrong was instructed to re-embark, as soon as the cavalry marched, and to land on the opposite side of the Rariton, at South-Amboy : he was then,^with the utmost despatch and silence, to proceed to South-river bridge, six miles from Soulh- Amboy, where he was to ambuscade himself, without passing the bridge or taking it up. A smaller creek falls into this river on the South-Amboy side : into the i»oninsula formed by these streams, Lieut. Col. -^: ilf^lSt' ■■'..■.'.-'«j'- '.f I 112 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS ,r. ■■. in K .r ur lil" Simcoe hoped to allure the Jersey militia. In case of accident, Major Armstrong was desired to give credit to any messenger who should give him the parole, of " Clinton and Montrose." It was day-break before the cavalry left Amboy. The procuring of guides had been by Sir Henry Clinton entrusted to Brig.adier Skinner : he either did not or could not obtain them, for but one was found who knew perfectly the cross- road he meant to take, to avoid the main road from Somerset-court house, or Hillsborough, to Brunswick. Captain Sandford formed the advance guard, the IIuz- zars followed, and Stuart's men were in the rear; making in the whole about eighty. A Justice CroAv was soon overtaken ; Lt. Col. Simcoe accosted him roughly, called him " Tory," nor seemed to believe his excuses, when in the American idiom for courtship, he said " he had only been sparking," but sent him to the rear guard, who, being Americans, easily com- prehended their instructions, and kept up the justice's belief that the party was a detachment from Wash- ington's army. Many plantations were now passed by, the inhabitants of which were up, and whom the party accosted with friendly salutations. At Quible- town, Lt. Col. Simcoe had just quitted the advance guard to speak to Lieut. Stuart, when, from a public house on the turn of the road, some people came out with knapsacks on their shoulders, bearing the ap- pearance of a rebel guard : Captain Sandford did not see them till he had passed by, when, checking his horse to give notice, the Huzzars were reduced to a momentary halt opposite the house ; perceiving the IJ.^ '.f.>!l OF THE queen's RANGERS. 113 1 case of ve credit arolc, of k before jf guides Brigadier ain them, the cross- •oad from Irunswick. , theHuz- the rear; tice Crow josted him to believe f courtship, It sent him easily com- ,hc justice's om Wash- low passed whom the At Quible- le advance .m a public Ic came out ling the ap- [ord did not necking his jduced to a •ceiving the supposed guard, they threw themselves off their horses, sword in hand, and entered the house. Lt. Col. Simcoe instantly made them remount : but they were afraid to discover some thousand pounds of paper-money which had been taken from a passenger, the master of a privateer, nor could he stay to search for it. He told the man, " that he would be answer- " able to give him his money that night at Brunswick, " where he should quarter ;" exclaimed aloud to his party, " that these were not the Tories they were in " search of, although they'had knapsacks," and told the country people who were assembling around, " that " a party of Tories had made their escape from Sul- " livan's army, and were trying to get into Staten " Island, as IlifF (who had been defeated, near this " very spot, taken, and executed) had formerly done, " and that he was sent to intercept them :" the sight of Justice Crow would, probably, have aided in de- ceiving the inhabitants, but, unfortunately, a man personally knew Lt. Col. Simcoe, and an express was sent to Governor Levingstone, then at Brunswick, as soon as the party marched. It was nc»w conducted by a country lad whom they fell in with, and to whom Captain Sandford, being dressed in red, and without his cloak, had been introduced as a French officer : he gave information, that the greater part of the boats had been sent on to Washington's camp, but that eighteen were at Van Vacter's bridge, and that their horses were at a farm about a mile from it : he led the party to an old camp of Washington's above Bound brook. Lt. Col. Simcoe'a instructions were to 9 ■ .' ..■ A -if; '■"(•if- • ■ . „ ■■ I" i" • '. 114 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS ■ ! i ■' i '■ 1 f » 1 'i : .* ■ ■ J- J' i 1 1 ^nm^i burn these huts, if possible, in order to give as wide an alarm to the Jersies as he could. He found it im- practicable to do so, they not being joined in ranges, nor built of very combustible materials. He pro- ceeded without delay to Bound brook, from whence he intended to carry off Col. Moyland, but he was not at Mr. Vanhorn's : two officers who had been ill were there ; their paroles were taken ; and they were ordered to mark " sick quarters" over the room door they inhabited, which w as done ; and Mr. Van- horn was informed, that the party was the advanced guard of the left column of the army, which was commanded by General Birch, who meant to quarter that night at his house ; and that Sir H. Clinton was in full march for Morris-town, with the army. The party proceeded to Van Vactur's bridge : Lieut. Col. Simcoe found eighteen new flat-boats, upon carriages ; they were full of water. He was determined effect- ually to destroy them. Combustibles had been appli- ed for, and he received, in consequence, a few port- fires ; every Huzzar had a hand-grenade, and several hatchets were b/ought with the party. The timbers of the boats were cut through ; they wore filled with straw and railing, and some grenades being fastened in them, they were set on fire : forty minutes were employed in this business. The country began to assemble in their rear ; and as Lt. Col. Simcoe went to the Dutch-meeting, where the harness, and some stores, were reported to be, a rifle-shot was fired at him from the opposite bank of the river : this house, with a magazine of forage, was now consumed, the OF '/HE queen's rangers. 115 as wide nd it im- 1 ranges, He pro- i whence I he was d been ill and they the room Mr. Van- advanced jrhich was to quarter linton was ■my. The Lieut. Col. carriages; led efFect- leen apph- few port- ind several |he timbers filled with ig fastened lUtes were began to imcoc went and some as fired at this house, isumed, the commissary, and his people, being made prisoners. The party proceeded to Somerset court-house, or Hillsborough. Lt. Col. Simcoe told the prisoners not to be alarmed, that he would give them their paroles before he left the Jersies ; but he could not help heavily lamenting to the officers with him, the sinister events which prevented him from being at Van Vacter's bridge some hours sooner, as it would have been very feasible to have drawn off the flat-boats to the South river, mstead of destroying them. He proceedec to Somerset court-house ; three Loyalists, who were prisoners there, were liberated ; one of them was a dreadful spectacle, he appeared to have been almost starved, and was chained to the floor ; the soldiers wished, and it was permitted to burn the court-house: it was unconnected with any other building, and, by its flames, showed on which side of the Rariton he was, and would, most probably, oper- ate to assemble the neighborhood of Brunswick at its bridge, to prevent him from returning by that road : the party proceeded towards Brunswick. Alarm guns were now heard, and some shots were fired at the rear, particularly by one person, who, as it after- wards appeared, being out a shooting, and hearing of the incursion, had sent word to Governor Levingstone, who was at Brunswick, that he would follow the party at a distance, and every now and then give a shot, that he might know which way they directed their march. Passing by some houses, Lt. Col. Simcoe told the women to inform four or five people who were pursuing the rear " that if they fired another ■•'■'.'• -. ^'l "'■'•■*■■ ;; '-^^-iM ■3 ' I .15' ■m 116 J01TRNAL OF THE OPERATIONS ■j' :•;'■■■ -^ "■it-:! (■■. " shot, he would burn every house which he passed." A man or two were now shghtly wounded. As the party approached Brunswick, Lieut. Col. Simcoe began to be anxious for the cross road, diverging from it into the Prince-town road, which he meant to pursue, and which having once arrived at, he himself knew the bye ways to the heights he wished to attain, where having frequently done duty, he was minutely acquainted with every advantage and circumstance of the ground : his guide was perfectly confident that he was not yet arrived at it ; and Lt. Col. Simcoe was in earnest conversation with him, and making the necessary enquiries, when a shot, at some little dis- tance, discovered there was a party in the front. He immediately galloped thither ; and he sent back Wright, his orderly serjeant, to acquaint Captain Sandford " that the shot had not been fired at the " party," when, on the right at some distance, he saw the rail fence (which was very high on both sides of the narrow road between two woods) somewhat broken down, and a man or two near it, when putting his horse on the canter, he joined the advance men of the Huzzars, determining to pass through this opening, so as to avoid every ambuscade that might be laid for him, or attack, upon more equal terms. Colonel Lee, (whom he understood to be in the neighborhood, and apprehended might be opposed to him,) or any other party ; when he saw some men concealed behind logs and bushes, between him and the opening he meant to pass through, and he heard the words, " now, now," and found himself, when he f-: l^^^^y':'^ OF THE queen's RAXGERS. 117 jassed." As the Simcoe iverging neant to } himself io attain, minutely stance of at that he ftcoe was iking the little dis- the front, sent back ; Captain ed at the tance, he both sides somewhat en putting ance men ough this hat might aal terms, be in the )pposed to !ome men n him and he heard f, when he recovered his senses, prisoner with the enemy, his horse being killed with five bullets, and himself stun- ned by the violence of his fall. His imprisonment, the circumstances which attended it, and the indeli- ble impressions which it has made on his memory, cannot, even at this distance, be repeated without the strongest emotions : as they merely relate to personal history, they, with his correspondence with Sir H. Clinton, Governor Levingstone, Col. Lee, Gen. Wash- ington, die. Ace. are referred to the appendix. Lt. Col. Simcoe had no opportunity of communi- cating his determination to any of his officers, they being all with their respective divisions ready for what might follow upon the signal shot of the enemy, and his resolution being one of those .vhere thought must go hand in hand with execution, it is no wonder, therefore, that the party, who did not perceive the opening he was aiming at, followed with the accelera- ted pace which the front, being upon the canter, too generally brings upon the rear j they passed the am- buscade in great confusion : three horses were wound- ed, and the men made prisoners, two of them being also wounded. The enemy who fired were not five yards off: they consisted of thirty men, commanded by Mariner, a refugee from New York, and well known for his enterprises with whale-boats. They were posted on the very spot which Lt. Col. Simcoe had always aimed at avoiding. His guide misled him: nor was the reason of his error the least uncommon of the sinister events which attended this incursion. When the British troops quitted the camp at Hills- 9* :■ ;t. • ■ ■ .'."i ,-. 'J. ■■•:m". .. .;|. v?- 118 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS i M irM borough, and marched to Brunswick, among other Iiouscs which were unwarrantably burnt was the one whicli the guard reUed upon, as marking out the pri- vate road the party was to take : he knew not of its being burnt, and that every vestige had been destroy- ed, so that he led them unintentionally into the am- buscade ; which when the party had passed by on the full gallop, they found themselves on the high grounds beyond the barracks at Brunswick. Here they ral- lied ; there was little doubt but Lt. Col. Simcoe was killed : the surgeon, (Mr. Kellock,) with a white hand- kerchief, held out as a flag of truce, at the manifest risk of his hfe, returned to enquire for him. The militia assembling. Captain Sandford drew up, and charged them, of course, they fled : a Captain Vor- hees, of the Jersey Continental troops, was overtaken, and the Huzzar, at whom he had fired, killed him. A few prisoners were taken. Captain Sandford pro- ceeded to the South river, the guides having recover- ed from the consternation. Two militia-men only were met with upon the road thither : they fired, and killed MoUoy, a brave Huzzar, the advance man of the party, and were themselves instantly put to death. At South river the cavalry joined Major Armstrong ; he had perfectly succeeded in arriving at his post un- discovered, and, ambuscading himself, had taken sev- eral prisoners. He marched back to South- Amboy, and re-embarked without opposition, exchanging some of the bad horses of the corps for better ones which he had taken with the prisoners. The alarm through tlic country was general ; Wayne was detached from 9 OF THE queen's RANGERS. 119 T other tlie one the pri- Dt of its destroy- the am- ly on the grounds iiey ral- icoe was lite hand- manifest im. The up, and lain Vor- jvertaken, illed him. [Iford pro- e recover- men only ired, and :e man of it to death, rmstrong ; is post un- taken scv- h-Amboy, iiging some jnes which ■m through ached from Washington's camp in the highlands, with the hght troops, and marched fourteen miles that night, and thirty the next day ; Colonel Lee, who was in Mon- mouth county, as it was said, fell back towards the Delaware. The Queen's Rangers returned to Rich- mond that evening : the cavalry had marched upwards of eighty miles, without halting or refreshment, and the infantry thirty. In the distribution of quarters for the remaining winter, Richmond was allotted to the Queen's Ran- gers. This post was in the centre of Staten island, and consisted of three bad redoubts, so constructed, at various times and in such a manner, as to be of little mutual assistance : the spaces between these re- doubts had been occupied by the huts of the troops, wretchedly made of mud ; these Lieut. Col. Simcoe had thrown down, and his purpose was to build ran- ges of log houses, which might join the redoubts, and being loop-holed, might become a very defensible cur- tain. Major Armstrong followed the plan, and set the regiment about its execution, in parties adapted to the ditterent purposes of felling the timber, sawing it, and making shikigles for the roofings. In the beginning of December, the regiment was ordered to embark ; which order was, soon after, countermanded. On the last day of December, Lt. Col. Simcoe re- turned to Staten island, from his imprisoinnent. He was mortified to find the expedition, under the Com- mander in Chief, had failed ; especially as, upon his landing at Staten island, he received a letter from Ma- jor Andre, adjutant-general, saying; '4f this meets m. \ 1 1 m 1 1 ! t 1 * 1 ■■' ■ '. f I I* f •■■'( ff \ :f. ^' ■ ' r I 4 1 , 120 JOITRNAL OF THE OPERATIONS "you a free man, prepare your regiment for em- "barkation, and hasten to New York yourself." He joined his corps at Richmond ; Major Armstrong had been indefatigable in getting the regiment hutted in a manner which rendered their post both comfort- able and defensible : and they soon found the advan- tages of their very extraordinary labours. The day which Lt. Col. Simcoe passed the sound was the last on which it became navigable for a considerable time, the frost setting in with most unusual inclemency, and, by the 10th of January, the communication with New York was totally shut up by floating ice ; and General Stirling was reduced to the necessity of restraining the troops to half allow. iii< of provisions, but with every precaution to impre i< inhabitants, and sol- diers, with the belief that v ! ostriction was precau- tionary against the possibility of the conununication being closed for several weeks ; and care was taken to investigate what resources of fresh provisions might be obtained from the island. The sound, which divides Staten island from the Jersies, being totally frozen over and capable of bearing cannon, informa- tion was received that several of the rebel Generals had been openly measuring the thickness of the ice, and it was universally rumored that an attack was soon to take place upon Staten island : General Stirling commanded there, and he was with the maiii body at the watering place, the heights of which were occu- pied with several redoubts; Colonel Lord Kawdon, with the volunteers of Ireland, was quartered near a redoubt at the point of the narrows ; and Lt. Col. -.It V. f OF THE QUEEN^S RANGERS. 121 Simcoe with the Queen's Rangers, at Richmond : the whole force on the island being "nder one thousand eight hundred effective men. On the 15th of January, early in the morning, the rebel detachment of near three thousand men, under the command of the person styled Lord Stirling, crossed the ice and entered Staten Island ; Lord Stir- ling marched immediately towards the landing place, and by his position cut off General Stirling's commu- nication with the Volunteers of Ireland and the Queen's Rangers. Lt. Col. Simcoe occupied the high grounds near Richmond with small parties of caval- ry, and the infantry were sedulously employed in what might strengthen that post ; there were three pieces of cannon (a nine and two six-pounders) mounted on platforms, without embrasures, in the redoubts : these were pointed at the eminences, where it was expected the enemy would first appear, and where the stones were collected in heaps, so that 8 round shot, if it struck among them, might have the effect of grape. If batteries, or any cannon, should be opened against Richmond, it was obvious these guns must be dismounted : they were, therefore, not intended to be exposed to such accidents, but the redoubt on the right was meant, on the first appear- ance of assault, to be abandoned, and its area filled with abatis which were provided, and its gate left open and exposed to the fire of the cannon of the otiier redoubts placed at their respect ivo gates, of the two rogiment.il field pieces, and of the musketry from the doors, windows, and loop-lioles of the bar- ■■'■ ';^\-\:;'- , -t^i ■'■:::■■'•■ m ■, *.■•(,■■ M , ' t 122 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS racks. Tlie officers' barracks, which were within the triangular area formed by those of the soldiers and the redoubts, were intended to be taken down, and the logs of which tliey were composed were to be heaped within a hut, and to form a traverse on a part exposed to the enemy. The rear of the works were secured by their position on the edge of the hill from any possibility of attack, and some of the huts, which ran below the surface of it, were in perfect safety from any shot whatsoever, and nearly so from shells, against the splinters of w hicli their logs were very respectable traverses. There was a gun-boat, which was frozen up in the creek, at the foot of Richmond Hill : this gun was elevated so as to fire a single round of grape shot ; some swivels also were brought into the redoubts. Spike nails, which there were a quantity for the barrack purposes, were driven through boards, ready to be concealed under the snow in places which were most accessible ; all the cattle in the neighbourhood were brought into the precincts of the garrison, as were the sledges, harness and horses, and the most cheerful and determined appearance of re- solution ran through the whole corps. About mid- day, many deserters came in from the rebel army ; by them a perfect knowledge of the enemy's force was gained : and one of them affirmed that he overheard some of their principal officers say, " That it was not " worth while to attack liiciimond where they were " sure of obstinate resistance, and which must fall of " itself whenever the main body was taken." Lt. Col. Simcoe was anxious to communicate with V'H ■: ■: ■'' '■ .1 .1:" OF THE queen's RANGERS. 123 thin the ers and vvn, and re to be n a part •ks were liill from s, which fety from n shells, ^ere very at, which liclunond a single B brought re were a in through V in places tie in the icts of the orses, and ncc of re- bout mid- army ; by brce was overheard it was not they were iiust fall of I." licatc with Lord Rawdon, and to obtain any intelligence, or or- ders, his lordship might have for him : he sent his adjutant, Lt. Ormond, with directions to get some of the militia, to convey a letter for that purpose, by the sea shore. Some scattering parties of the enemy had been that way, on which account Lieut. Ormond could get no one to venture, he therefore went him- self, and putting on coloured clothes that he might not be distinguished, in case of any small parties lying in ambuscade, he got safely to the flag-staff', and re- turned without discovery. The rebels making no attempt in the day time upon the redoubts, where General Stirling was, led Lt. Col. Simcoe to conclude that they waited for cannon or more forces, and meant to storm them at night or the next morning ; for, though no person could hold more cheaply than he thought himself authorised to do, those men on whom the enemy had conferred the office and title of Gen- erals, it appeared totally unreasonable that having so well chosen the moment of invading tiie island, they had no determined point to carry, or had neglected the proper means to ensure its .success. On these ideas, he desired Col. Billop, (who commanded tlie militia of Staten Island,) to get them to assemble to garrison Richmond ; but neither entreaties, the full cxphuiation of the advantage such a conduct would be of, nor the personal example of Col. Billop, had anyetlbct: not a man could Ix; prevailed upon to enter the garrison. They assembled to drink at various public houses, and to luMir the news, or were busy in providing for the temporary security of their i'': ■ ■ .''',1.- i^iv ■•■ m, I 124 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS 1 ' - ii '• ■ ■ • ■i' i^l^M^ ■1 'If: I' • i . ■!,, !# cattle and effects ; and these were not disaffected per- sons, but men who were obnoxious to the rebel governors, many of them refugees from the Jersies, some who had every reason to expect death, if the enemy succeeded, and all the total destruction of their property. Lieut. Col. Simcoe was therefore obliged to lay aside his intentions, which were to march with his cavalry, carrying muskets, with as many infantry as he could justify the taking from Richmond, with his field pieces in sledges, together with the swivels fixed upon blocks, and to get near the enemy undiscovered, and to make as great an alarm and as much impression as possible upon their rear, whensoever they attempted to storm the British redoubts. All the roads between Richmond and the head quarters, led through narrow passes, and below the chain of hills : these, where they had been beaten only, were passable, the ground being covered with several feet of snow, so that no patrolcs were made during the night, which would have been useless and dangerous ; and the cavalry were assembled within the redoubts : the night was remarkably cold. A person from the Jersies brought the report of the country, that Washington was expected the next day, at Elizabethtown, and that straw, &c. was sent to Statcn Island. He went back again, commissioned by Lt. Col. Simcoe, to observe what stores were in Elizabethtown, and particularly to remark what air- holes were in the ice on the sound between the mouth of Richmond Creek and Elizabethtown, as it was in- tended, if nothing material intervened before the next OF THE queen's RANGERS. 125 :ed per- 3 rebel Jersies, 1, if the ction of herefore were to with as ing from together get near great an ipon their he British d and the and below 3en beaten vered with rere made [iseless and >led within cold. A ,ort of the le next day, as sent to imissioned Ires were in „ what air- In the mouth 9 it was in- fore the next night, to send Capt. Stephenson with a detachment to burn Eiizabethtown, and to give an alarm in the Jersies. The intelligence which this zealous and trust- worthy loyalist brought was very probable : the mak- ing a winter campaign in America had always appear- ed to Lt. f ■ Simcoe a matter of great facility, and by frequeiuiy ruminating upon it, he was alive to the advantages which would attend Mr. Washington in its prosecution. He would without hesitation have aban- doned the post of Richmond, and joined Lord Raw- don, or Gen. Stirling, taking on himself all conse- quences, had it not appeared to him that the possession of Richmond would insure to Mr. Washington a safe retreat, even should the ice become impassable, and would probably inculcate on him the propriety of his seriously attempting to keep Staten Island at this very critical period, when the Commander in Chief was absent with the greatest part of the army, and the troops in New-York, under Gen. Kniphausen, were probably not in a capacity to quit it and take the field : particularly as in that case, the nominal miUtia whose numbers were so well displayed, as sufficient to garrison it, must for the greater part have melted away in their attendance on the army, to whose vari- ous departments tlioy in general belonged. Mr. Washington might without difficulty have as- sembled from tiic smaller creeks, and even from tlu' Delaware, and Hudson's river, a multitude of boats, which, while the snow was upon the ground, might be conveyed over-land to the Staten Island Sound ; and 10 ■ '•■-!)''','.. s^. 126 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS I } ,''|! .■ ;■ f' with these, added to those which attended his army, he might transport his troops or form bridges, secur- ing all approaches to them from the water, by batter- ies constructed on the Jersey shore, while by other attacks and preparations, he certainly could have thrown great difficulties in the way of Gen. Kniphau- sen, and the British army in the three islands. Lt. Col. Simcoe, reasoning on the possibility of these events, waited to be guided by circumstances. If Gen. Stirling could hold out, and was neither overwhelmed by numbers, or reduced by famine, which was most to be dreaded, it was obvious Richmond would be safe : if matters happened otherwise, he was perfect- ly certain, from Lord Rawdon's character, that he should receive some directions from him, who would never remain in an untenable post, with the certainty of being made prisoner ; and at all events Lieut. Col. Simcoe determined, in case Gen. Stirling should be defeated, and that he should receive no orders, he would attempt to escape ; for since the rebels had shown a total defect in every private and public prin- ciple of honour, when they violated the convention with Gen. Burgoyne's army, he and the officers of the Queen's Rangers had determined in no situation to surrender, where by escaping, if it should be but a mile into the country, the corps could disband itself individually, and separately attempt to rejoin the British armies ; proper inducements being held out to the soldiers, and great aid being reasonably to be expected from the loyal inhabitants, scattered through- out every colony, and in very great numbers. This, ■■A' 'IV . s army, 5, secur- f batter- )y other lid have iniphau- ads. Lt. of these i. If Gen. rwhelmed was most would be LS pcrfect- r, that he ^rho would 3 certainty Lieut. Col. should be orders, he rebels had )ublic prin- convention officers of [10 situation uld be but a isband itself rejoin the ng held out )nably to be red through- bers. This, OF THE queen's RANGERS. 127 which had been his common conversation and steady resolution, in case of any unfortunate events, was now determined on by Lieut. Col. Simcoe : his ideas were to forerun all intelligence, and to attempt to surprise Col. Lee, at Burhngton, and then to escape to the back countries. For this purpose, he had sledges which could carry a hundred men, and he had no doubt of soon increasing them in the Jersies, to a number sufficient to convey the whole corps ; the attempt was less dangerous in itself, and less injuri- ous, if it failed, to the community, than the certainty of being destroyed by heavy artillery, of ultimately surrendering, of mouldering in prison, and becoming lost to all future service to their king and country. There was no corps between General Washington's army, and that of Lincoln hastening into Charles- town, but Col. Lee's : when once in possession of his horses, there was little doubt in the mind of Lt. Col. Simcoe, and the officers to whom he communicated his ideas, but that he should effijct his retreat into the back parts of Pennsylvania, join his friends there, probably release the Convention army, and not im- possibly join the commander in chief, in Carolina. Full of these ideas, it was with great surprise and pleasure, that Lt. Col. Simcoe understood the enemy were retreating from the island. He immediately pursued them with the flank companies and Huzzars ; and was overtaken by an order from General Stirling to effect the same purpose ; but the enemy had pass- ed to the Jersey shore before he could come up with them. While the troops in the enemy's front, on •; 'S' ■I". IT i .N.riT •> r,'i '.:■ ■■■■■■ ■■; If !»•.';. 128 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS *; : if : ■ I 11 r ■ t ■■n'.^i-\ their arrival at the heights opposite to the British re- doubts, halted for the rear to close up, they were permitted to make fires, which increased the power of the frost, and rendered them totally unable to pro- ceed, and the severity of the night aflecting the whole of them, many lost their limbs, and several their lives. There were vast mounds of snow drifted before the redoubts, which Lord Stirling gave as his reason for not attempting them ; and General Knip- hausen, on the first signal of Staten Island being attacked, embarked troops to support it. The ene- my in the dark of the evening saw these vessels, (which, whether the passage could be effected or not, were wisely directed to be kept plying off and on,) but they did not wait to see if they could reach the island, which in fact the drifting ice prevented, but immediately determining to retreat, they effected it the next morning, losing many men by desertion, and many British soldiers, who had enlisted with them to free themselves from imprisonment, embraced the opportunity of being in a country they were acquaint- ed with, to return to their old companions. The Queen's Rangers obtained a great many recruits ; and it is very remarkable that neither that corps, or the Volunteers of Ireland had a single man who deserted from them, while there were such opportunities and apparent reasons to do it. Lt. Col. Simcoe on his return from Elizabethtown Point, where the enemy passed, had information that a party of plunderers had crossed from the Jersies to the other end of the island ; he detached the Huzzars in pursuit of them, but th togetl many my w( rior fo greate on all proach Range] Stirling now in proof c general "Gen. " island " approl " tenanc " island, " mande "thanks Col. Sir " expec " sleepi " such " mandi " the du " disobi " sione "to the "duty. " seeins t'i ■ k OF THE queen's RANGERS. 129 but they fled, on the Staten Island miUtia collecting together. The frost still continuing, there were many reports and a general expectation that the ene- my would again adventure upon the island, with supe- rior force, with sufficient provision to attempt some greater purpose ; and patroles were constantly made on all the roads, by which they could possibly ap- proach, by order of Gen. Stirling. The Queen's Rangers had formerly experienced how ready Gen. Stirling was to represent their services ; and they, now in common with the other troops, had a further proof of his good inclinations, it being inserted in the general orders of the 21st of January, " Brigadier " Gen. Stirling is happy to inform the troops on this " island, of his Excellency Gen. Kniphausen's fullest " approbation of their behaviour, and the good coun- " tenance they showed when the rebels were upon this " island, which the brigadier had reported to the Com- "mander in Chief; and his Excellency desires his " thanks may be given to them." On the 25th Lieut. Col. Simcoe gave out the following order : " That he " expects the order relative to officers and soldiers " sleeping in their clothes be strictly complied with, " such recruits excepted, whom the officers com- " manding companies may judge as yet unequal to " the duties of the regiment ; if any half-bred soldier " disobeys this order, the first officer, or non-commis- " sioned officer, who meets with him, will deliver him " to the officer on guard to be put on some internal " duty. The Lt. Col. has particular satisfaction in " seeing the General's approbation of that good 10* } ^J\ ?l 1 130 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS im " countenance whicli enjibled him, on the late inroad " of the enemy, to rest perfectly at ease, without " augmenting the duty of the regiment ; he knows its " universal spirit, and certain from the fidelity of those "on guard, that the garrison cannot be snatched " away by surprise, is confident that Richmond re- " doubts will be too dear for the whole rebel army lo " purchase." Soon after the rebel army returned to their former winter quarters, a very important enterprise suggest- ed itself to Lt. Col. Simcoe ; he understood by de- serters and other intelligence, that Mr. Washington was quartered at a considerable distance from hif^ army, or any corps of it, and nearer to New- York : by the maps of the country, and all the information he could collect, he thought that it would not be dif- ficult to carry him otf. He communicated his ideas to a gentleman, who had been persecuted by the re- bels, and whose family had been the object of their cruel resentment, for his early and uniform loyalty, and by his assistance, a very minute and perfect map of the country was drawn. Some few particulars were necessary to be ascertained, which a trusty per- son was sent out to inquire into, but w ithout any idea being given to him that might lead him to guess at the enterprise, which was only made known to Capt. Shaw, of the Queen's Rangers, until the 31st of Janu- ary, when, preparatory to the necessary application to Generals Tryon and Kniphausen, Lt. Col. Simcoe communicated his ideas to Gen. Stirling, which, as appears by his letter in the appendix, met with his i^ ■■' .r^;,(.. OF THE queen's RANGERS. 131 inroad vithout lows its )f those Hatched ond re- iriuy to • former suggest- L by de- shingtou from hii^ w-York : ormation ot be dit- his ideas f the re- t of their I loyalty, rfect map articulars fusty per- aiiy idea guess at I to Capt. of Janu- )pUcatioii . Simcoe which, as with his full approbation. Lieut. Col. Simcoe's plan was to march by very secret ways, made the more so by the inclement season, and to arrive near Gen. Washing- ton's quarters by day-break, to tie up his horses in a swamp, and to storm the quarters, and attack his guard on foot : for this purpose, his party were to carry mu&kets as well as swords, and he meant it to consist of eighiy men, indiscriminately taken from the cava>ry or infantry, with an Officer, besides those of the sUft*, to every six men, and he was to select those he should command. The party were to halt at two cottages in u wood, if thf?y should arrive be- fore the appointed time. Lt. Col. Simcoe waited for his conclusive informatio'^i with great impatience, and in his conversations witii Capt. S' iw always express- ed his sanguine V.cpcS, almost his certainty of success ; his only appreh* nsion being in case Mr. W' shington should personally resist, by what means he couid bring him off, and preserve his life ; when, to his great sur- prise, his Huzzars were ordered to march with a con- voy over the ice to New-York. It should seem, the same negligence in Gen. Washington's quartering in front of his army, had attracted the notice of Capt. Beckwith, Gen. Kniphausen's Aid-du-camp, and he had formed a plan to carry off that general ; for which purpxi- :. cavalry were collected at New- York, aiad among others, Captain Beckwith obtained the Huz- zars of the Queen's Rangers, of whom he had a good 1 >i!inion, as he often accompanied Lt. Col. Simcoe in the patroles he had mac'e from Kingsbridge. Briga- bier Gen. Stirling communicated to Lt. Col. Simcoe '^ <,'.' -i ■.# f., :„■ ■ v i*-^- ^M - J.' 132 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS '4 ■ the purpose for which his cavalry was withdrawn, as it was intended that a general movement from Staten Island should favour the enterprise. Since it did not take place on so large a scale as was at first designed, Lt. Col. Simcoe received orders " to send a party to " surprise the enemy's post at Woodbridge or Rah- " way, and to give a general alarm :" this party was to cross the ice at one o'clock in the morning, and not to return till nine or ten. Accordingly, Lt. Col. Sim- coe passed the ice with two hundred infantry, at one o'clock ; Major Armstrong with some infantry, the cavalry, and cannon occupying the heights, at the Old Blazing-star, to cover their return. The snow prevented all possibility of marching, but on the beat- en road : there were no posts in Woodbridge. But, as he was anxious to fulfil the spirit of his orders, and to give every assistance in his power to his friend, Capt. Beckwith's enterprise, he determined to pro- ceed until he beat up some of the enemy's quarters, or fell in with their patroles. On the arrival at the cross roads, from Amboy to Ehzabethtown, the troops were challenged, the whole body halted, and with such profound silence, added to their being in the middle of the road, and at night when the beaten path in it appeared among the snow like a dark streak, that the enemy were deceived and thought themselves mistaken, as was learnt from their con- versation, which was plainly over-heard : but another patrole on horseback, falling in on the flank of the march, discovered the party ; the enemy's sentinels fired, and in succession the bugle-horns, drums, and h ■' .-:!^I.''''' "■■■i;| OF THE queen's RANGERS. 133 awn, as I Staten did not Bsigned, party to or Rah- irty was , and not ;ol. Sim- r, at one atry, the , at the he snow the beat- re. But, ders, and is friend, to pro- quarters, al at the )wn, the Itcd, and being in le beaten e a dark [i thought leir con- it another nk of the sentinels •unis, and bagpipe of the Queen's Rangers sounded ; an uni- versal alarm being given and propagated, the party returned towards Woodbridge : a soldier was unfor- tunate enough to be killed by the chance shot of the sentinels. The enemy assembled in the rear, and ap- peared at eight o'clock, when the party passed Wood- bridge creek : the snow was so deep that it was scarce possible to quit the road, which was of advan- tage to the Rangers ; for the companies, alternately advancing in front of the march, occupied such orchards or trees, as were at a small distance from the road, and checked the enemy who pressed upon the rear. Upon his approach to the Sound, Lt. Col. Simcoe could hear them determine to occupy the houses at the Ferry, and to fire on the Rangers as they passed back ; this they could have done with considerable effect, and without being exposed : Ser- jeant Wright was dispatched to gallop over the ice to Major Armstrong, and to desire him to point his can- non at the Ferry house ; and Capt. Shank was de- tached to cross it, previous to the return of the troops, and to conceal himself behind the ridges of the ice, which the tide had heaped up, and cover the retreat of the party, which would pass the Sound in security, between the angle formed by the tire of this detachment, directly opposite, and of Major Arm- strong's cannon, at a greater and more oblique dis- tance. These arrangements being made, and the enemy approaching, the Rangers suddenly turned about and charged them upon a steady run, the rebels immediately tied, and they were pursued till they ■,.;•■ •,.:'7.t 4< >)■' , * 1 ! ■ - 1 •'.* ". './'•■■ 134 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATION^. passed over a small hill, when the Rangers were or- dered to go to the right about, and without altering their pace get upon the ice ; they were half way over before the rebels perceived them, which as soon as they did, they occupied the houses, and some of them followed upon the ice ; Capt Shank firing upon them from his ambuscade, drove them instantly back, while the cannon shot struck the houses at the same time, and, as it was reported, killed some of them : the party returned to Richmond without further mo- lestation. The Queen's Rangers lost only the man already mentioned ; a few were wounded, but they bore no proportion to the numbers whose cloths were struck by the enemy's bullets, fired at a distance, through intervening thickets, or more probably by those who had not recollection sufficient to ram down their charges. Tlie enemy's loss was supposed to be more considerable, as many of them were seen to fall, and the whole of the aftair being between single ■Tfien, the Rangers were infinitely better marksmen A\m\ the .Jersey militia. Capt. Bcckwith had found it impracticable to carry his attempt into execution, from an uncommon fall of rain, wliich encrusting the top of the snow, cut the fetlocks of his horses, and rendered it absolutely impossible for him to succeed. The Iluzzars soon after returned to Staten Island. The ice lluating on the 2l2d of February, the Sound became imjxissablc ; the soldiers were permitted to undress themselves at night, and in case of alarm they were directed to accoutre in their shirts, and to form at their posts. Lt. impris to reqi ward; EarlC applica place, though! would { througli discretii in the J three hi ned by t disposal desertioi to keep the mos guides : univcrsa to attem he intern unfreqne separate firelocks to be so covered discrimii to 1)0 IK', at more tlioy wen 'rt.r '•' f^^7.\:% OF THE queen's RANGERS. 135 Lt. Col. Simcoe on his arrival at Staten Island from imprisonment, had applied to the Commander in Chief to request that he might join the army to the south- ward ; he had also written in the strongest terms to Earl Cornwalhs, soliciting his lordship to support his application. In case his wishes should not take place, he was anxious to be of what service he thought the present situation of the Queen's Rangers would admit : for this purpose he made application through the proper channel to Gen Kniphausen, for discretionary permission to beat up the enemy's posts in the Jersies, and to have boats sufiicient to transport three hundred infantry and sixty cavalry, to be man- ned by the Rangers, and to be left totally to his own disposal : he proposed by these means to countenance desertion, then prevalent in Washington's army, and to keep the whole coast in continual alarm : he had the most minute maps of the country and the best guides : and the Loyalists, without doubt, would have universally joined him. The first enterprise he meant to attempt was, to surprise Col. Lee, at Burlington : he intended to land at night with his cavalry in an unfrecjiientcd part of the coast, and march in three separate ' adies, each of thirty rank and tile, carrying firelocks, an^ in the minutest particular, each party to be so like to the other, that if they should be dis- covered by any accident, they might not be easily discriminated, particularly as the separate routs wero to be nearly parallel, through bye paths, and seldom at more than two miles distance : before day break they were to meet at an appointed swamp, where they a it/. ^. 4 ^;: ■■ i 136 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS !,.U>' 'v.. W^^ '. h ■■<•. .> .. were to remain concealed till the next night, when they were to continue their march, dismount when they arrived close to Burlington, and with fixed bay- onets rush into the town, and attempt to conquer Lee's corps. In the mean time the infantry were to land on the second evening, and, with as much secrecy , s possibly, march twenty-five miles into the country to secure the retreat. From time to time, during this enterprize, Lt. Col. Simcoe would have had the best intelligence, without the Loyalists who managed it being entrusted with the secret of his destination ; they would have arrived at specified spots from dif- ferent places, in expectation of meeting those who carried on a contraband traffic with Philadelphia. Lee's corps were excellently mounted and disciplined ; he himself was active and enterprising, and had that weight in the Jersies, which capacity and power, with a very free use of it, could give to the possessor ; the importance it would have been of to the intended system of operations, to have seized upon Col. Lee and demolished his corps, is best illustrated by re- marking that, although Burlington is near seventy miles from Staten Island, he was understood to have his picjuets eight or ten miles in his front for his secu- rity. Lt. Col. Simcoe's proposals were approved of by (icnerals Kniphausen, Stirling, and Tryon : some of the boats were sent to bin), and the remainder, with the preparations detailed in the appendix, were in forwardness', when, on the 23d of March 1780, the infantry of the corps received orders to embark lor Chiirlestown, which it did on the 4th of April. Capt. Wick Ricliii by a and til this d( the 22 Queen of Wa Weste gers ar the As] Town < quarter ered the tween t consiste a sick ni paid to and Mr very ci soldiers regimen niodious hats, w persona from ini lire, as " the uni " versair "with so " in thei] OF THE queen's RANGERS. 137 whea when d bay- onquer ivere to secrecy country , during had the nanaged ination ; jrom dif- qse who ladelphia. iciphucd ; had that ^wcr, with lossessor ; intende«l Col. Lee id by rc- ir seventy id to have his secu- iprovcd ol on: 80inc •enmiuder, |idix, were 1780, the tubark for iril. Capt. Wickham was left with the Huzzars in the town of Richmond, and the duty of the redoubts was taken by a party of two subaltern officers and sixty rank and file, from the 82d regiment, under his directions ; this detachment was in a few days after relieved by the 22d regiment. The Hessian regiment of Ditforth, Queen's Rangers, Volunteers of Ireland, and Prince of Wales's volunteers, under the command of Col. Westerhagen, sailed on the 7th. The Queen's Ran- gers anchored in Stono inlet on the 18th, and passing the Ashley river, arrived at the damp before Charles Town on the 21st : they immediately marched to the quarter-house, four miles from Charles Town and cov- ered the troops employed on the siege, by extending be- tween the Ashley and Cooper rivers. The infantry consisted of four hundred rank and file : there was not a sick man among them, for great attention had been paid to whatever might preserve them in health ; and Mr. Kellock and Macauley, the surgeons, were very capable and attentive in their duties. The soldiers were new clothed and accoutred, and the regiment had substituted light caps, neat and com- modious, in the room of the miserable contract hats, which had been sent from England. To the personal congratulations of his friends, on his release from imprisonment. Lt. Col. Simcoe had great pleas- ure, as he expressed himself in orders, " in hearing " the uniformity and appearance of the regiment nni- " versally approved : he trusts that soldier will vie "with sohlier and officer with officer in maintaining " in their respective stations the very favourable im- 11 ■\ t Ix 138 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS I ,3 , TrV' ■:■ ■ 'If ■■.■:, " pression which their superior officers entertain of " them, that their disciphne and appearance on the " parade reflects credit on their soldier-Uke behaviour " in the field." On the arrival of this reinforcement, Sir Henry Clinton augmented the detachments which he had thrown over the Cooper river, to cut off the intercourse between Charles Town and the country : and Earl Cornwallis took their command. The siege was pushed with vigor ; Lt. Col. Simcoe was very apprehensive that Gen. Lincoln, under the pretext of a sally, would embark in boats, and passing up the Ashley river land beyond his post ; when, a few hours' march in a country intersected by rivers and swamps, would enable him to baffle all pursuit : he therefore obtained two six pounders to be added to his field pieces, and placed to command the river ; and he en- deavored to procure a fire-raft, to be moored on the opposite bank, which, being set on fire, would throw a light across sufficient to direct the cannon on any boats which might attempt to pass. He had brought with him a serjeant and nine huzzars, with their ac- coutrements, these and his riflemen he soon mounted, and patrolled in his front between Dorchester and Goose creek ; but particularly to examine the points which he thought most practicable for Gen. Lincoln to land on. He found a sloop on the shore at Goose creek, which on the 9th of May Lt. Murray, a gentle- man who had been bred in the navy, was indefatigable in getting oflf and bringing down to the post, to assist in blocking up the passjigc : however, Mr. Lincoln cither did not intend to escape, or thought of it too TJiey eda whom whenc Town to Geoi 30th, I Capt been might h my; bu certed in thei ai !■ >'■ ^ ■;;'.';.! >| or THE queen's rangers. 139 •'I i^ > late ; for all possibility of effecting such a design was effectually precluded by Earl Cornwallis's sending down from Wando inlet a waterforce, which, by Capt. Elphingstone's arrangement, effectually block- ed up the river : and the place surrendered on the 12th of May. Lt. Col. Simcoe going to head quar- ters to congratulate the Commander in Chief, Sir H. Clinton was pleased to show him where he had in- tended to storm the town, had the enemy's obstinacy obliged him to that measure. The point from whence this attack was to have been made, had been private- ly reconnoitred by that gal int ofhcer Capt. Hanger ; and that Charles Town was not stormed must ever be imputed to that humanity which is so bright a feature in the character of the British general. The Queen's Rangers marched to Dorchester and its environs, im- mediately after the capitulation. The air or the wa- ter at the quarter-house, had rendered the men sickly. They Jidvanced to Fourhole-bridgc, where they remain- ed a day or two at Caton's, (an unfortunate loyalist, whom the rebels some time after assassinated,) from whence, by express order, they returned to Charles Town, as it was supposed, to embark on an expedition to Georgetown : they covered the head-quarters on the 30th, and embarked on the 31st for New- York. Capt. Wickham of the Huzzars had by no means been idle while at Richmond : the post was such as might have been a temptation to an enterprising ene- my ; but Gen. Kniphausen, by frequent and well-con- certed expeditions, had kept the rebels fu'ly employed in their own cantonments, the Jersics. On one of *;, I if,' mm' 111 Lvaji'^;, 'i i: 140 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS •:■■-', I these attempts, the Huzzars of the Rangers were eminently distinguished, as was detailed to Lt. Col. Simcoe by Capt. Wickham, and by him read to the Commander in Chief, who was highly satisfied with it. The report mentions, " that on the 15th of April, the cavalry on Statcn Island, consisting of Cornet Tucker and twenty of the 17th regiment, light dra- goons, Capt. Wickham with his troop of forty-five men, and Capt. Deimar with his huzzars, forty men, crossed at Cole's ferry, and marched to English neighbourhood, where they joined Major Du Buy, with three hundred of the regiment De Bose and fifty of Col. Robinson's corps. At New-bridge Serjeant M'Laughlin, with six of the Rangers in advance, fell in with and either killed or took the whole of a small rebel out-post. The detachment then continued their march, leaving fifty infantry for the security of the bridge. At a convenient distance from Hopper Town, Major Du Buy gave his last orders for his sur- prise of Col. Bailey, with three hundred rebels, post- ed at that place : the major was particularly attentive to a minute description of their situation. Cornet Spencer with twelve ranger huzzars, and Cornet Tucker with the like number of the 17th regiment to support him, made the advance guard ; then followed Capt. Diemar with his troop : the infantry and the remainder of the cavalry closed the rear. Hopper Town is a straggling village, more than a mile long ; the farthest house was Col. Bailey's quarters ; the nearest, a court-house which contained an oflicer's piquet of twenty men, and which, if properly dispos- ?l;v':Vl OF THE queen's RANGERS. 141 3 were .t. Col. [ to the ed with if April, Cornet arht dra- )rty-five :ty men, Enghsh Du Buy, and fifty Serjeant ance, fell f a small lued their ty of the Hopper his sur- lels, post- attentive Cornet Cornet cfiment to followed and the Hopper ^lile long ; ■ters; the officer's y dispos- ed, covered a bridge over which the troops must pass. The advance was ordered to force the bridge, and to push forward at full speed, through the town, to head quarters : this they effected after receiving an inef- fectual fire from the piquet and from some of the windows : the rest of the cavalry dispersed, to pick up the fugitives and to take possession of the rebel's quarters, now abandoned. Cornet Spencer, on his arrival at his post with six men only, the rest not be- ing able to keep up, found about five and twenty men drawn up on the road, opposite him, and divided only by a hollow way and small brook, with Hopper's house on their right, and a strong fence and swamp on their left. The officer commanding them, whom he afterwards found to be Bailey, talked to his men and asked his officers, " Shall we fire now or take " possession of the house ;" the latter was agreed on. The house was of stone, with three windows below and two above : at the moment of their going in, Cornet Spencer with his party augmented to ten of his own, and by two of the 17th regiment, passed the ravine, and taking possession of the angles of the house, ordered some of his men to dismount and to attempt to force one of the windows. Some servants from a small out-house, commenced a fire : Corporal Burt with three men was sent to them, who broke the door open and took nine prisoners. Cornet Spencer made several ofters to parley with those who defend- ed head quarters, but to no purpose ; they kept up a continual fire : finding it impossible to break the door open, which was attempted, and a man wounded 11* • m ^: !* J • ••■* :■■■ I ^m ■ '■ I I ■ ' 1 142 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS wsr fVt'ii:'.,'-! >•; ' 1 /v!*:.-i;,'-;. through it, or to force any of the windows, he ordered fire to be brought from the out-house, with which he set one angle of the roof, which was of wood, in flames : he again offered them quarter if they would surrender ; they still refused, though the flames were greatly increased. By this time some of the speedi- est of the cavalry had come to his assistance : the firing ceased. Captains Deimar and Wickham, &c., who had collected a great number of prisoners, and left some few men to guard them, until the infantry should come up, now joined the advance. Col. Bai- ley, as he opened the door to surrender, was unfortu- nately shot by one of Captain Deimar's huzzars, and died three days after. Of the advance guard two men and three horses were killed, and two men and two horses wounded : and one man and one horse of the 17th regiment were also killed. In this house Col. Bailey, two captains, three subalterns, and twen- ty-one soldiers were taken. In the whole, twelve officers, with one hundred and eighty-two men were made prisoners. The party returned by the same route they had advanced, with little opposition and no loss. The plan of this expedition was well laid, and as well executed : Major Du Buy seemed to be master of the country through which he had to pass, and was well seconded by Capt. Deimar. Major Du Buy was pleased to honour the huzzars of the Rang- ers with his particular thanks and approbation. The house was well defended, and the death of the gallant Colonel Bailey was very much regretted by his oppo- nents." On Island night stantl} having near E zars of M'Nab himself advanc enemy follow 1 of the ] mand ol laid for fall intc Yagers, ed the e ing som( ^vjiich tl an huzzf Onth sion of Springfi( The ene one, whi on the 1 orchard them, ade, wh( with thej ■-.ill ■ • J OP THE queen's rangers. 143 dered ich he od, in would 3 were speedi- e : the n, &c., 'S, and nfantry ol Bai- infortu- irs, and ird two len and horse of is house id twen- , twelve len were le same tion and veil laid, 3d to be to pass, klajor Du ic Rang- )n. The ic gallant his oppo- On the 21 St of June the regiment landed at Staten Island, and inarched to Richmond redoubts. At mid- night Lt. Col. Simcoe received orders to proceed in- stantly to the Jersies, where General Kniphausen having thrown a bridge of boats over the Sound, near Elizabethtown Point, was encai. ped : the huz- zars of the Rangers here joined the corps. Lieut. M'Nab had found an opportunity of distinguishing himself by the intrepidity and boldness with which he advanced into Elizabethtown, amidst the fire of the enemy who possessed it, in order to entice them to follow him into an ambuscade, which Capt. Archdale, of the 17th dragoons (who had the temporary com- mand of the Provincial cavalry) had very skilfully laid for them ; but which they were too cautious to fall into. That evening the Queen's Rangers and Yagers, under the command of Col. Wurmb, attack- ed the enemy's advance post, for the purpose of tak- ing some prisoners, who might give intelligence ; in ■which they succeeded, with the loss of a Yager, and an huzzar of the Rangers, who were killed. On the 23d of June, M. Gen. Mathews with a divi- sion of the troops, marched before day towards Springfield : the Rangers made the advance guard. The enemy's smaller parties fell back upon a larger one, which was well posted on an eminence, covered on the right by a thicket, and on the left by an orchard : the road ran in a deep hollow between them. While the battalions of Gen. Skinner's brig- ade, who flanked the march, were exchanging shot with these troops, Lt. Col. Simcoe closed the compa- • . ■ ^ *■■ .'i ■; :.. •' ■•'■^ I !.:-.v. ■, »b 144 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS nies of the Rangers, and directed them to rush down the hollow road in column without firing, and then by wheeling to the right, to ascend to the orchard and divide the enemy's parties : this was done, and Capt. Stevenson who led with the riflemen and light infant- ry company, obtained the ground on their flank with- out loss, making several prisoners : the enemy fled, and the Rangers pursued closely on the right, where the ridge continued, and which commanded the road, virtually, becoming a flanking party to the line of march. In the mean time, the enemy who had been posted on the left retreated up the road, which led through a plain, unpursued : the line for some time leaving it to follow the Queen's Rangers, who having dispersed the party they pursued, now made the ut- most exertions to cut ott" the retreat of the other division : the circuit they had to take rendered this design ineflfectual. The enemy retired over the bridge near Springfield, where they had some troops and cannon ; they fired a few shot, by which two of the Rangers were killed as they slept, M. General Mathews halting till the arrival of Gen. Kniphausen, with the main body of the army ; he then made a circuit with his division to pass the river higher up, on the right. The troops halted for a considerable time on a height, below which ran a little brook, and cannonaded small parties of the enemy scattered up and down in the fields and woods, which shelved at a considerable distance from the Newark hills. A very heavy fire being heard from Gen. Kniphausen's co- lumn, the troops proceeded unopposed over the OF THE queen's rangers. 145 down lenby rd and . Capt. infant- 5. witli- ly fled, where 16 road, line of id been ich led ne time ► having the ut- le other ired this ver the e troops 1 two of General phausen, 1 made a gher up, siderablc rook, and ttered up ilved at a Avery isen's co- over the brook : the enemy appeared beyond a second bridge, and possessing the heights, seemed to be drawn up in small bodies by echelon, so as to concentre their tire upon the road. Lt. Col. Simcoe advanced towards the bridge in column, when rapidly forming the line, and extending it to the left, he passed the deep gully covered by the thickets, and by the riflemen whom Lt. Shaw had well disposed of, and out-reached the enemy's left : they immediately fell back, with too much precipitation to be overtaken by the Rangers, who Avere forming for that purpose, and with too much order to be adventured upon by a few men, whom Lt. Col. Simcoe had collected and brought se- cretly through the thickets upon their flank. The Rangers met with no loss ; the gallant Lt. Shaw was slightly wounded. The column then marched to Springfield, which Gen. Kniphausen, on hearing the cannonade from Gen. Mathews, had forced ; on their arrival there, most of the army re-crossed the river, and the Rangers received orders to follow in the rear over the bridge, where it was intended to halt for two or three hours to refresh the troops, who, it was now evident, were to return to Elizabethtown Point. Lt. Col. Simcoe thought proper to accompany the offi- cer, who brought this order, to Gen. Kniphausen, and to represent to him that the Rangers, who lay in an orchard full of deep hollows, which secured them from the enemy's shot, were in a much more favour- able position to cover the army than if they crossed the river ; and it being obvious, that while this posi- tion was maintained, the enemy could not be certain .■^'• }'■-■. '■* ".* 146 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS whether the Britisli army meant to return towards Staten Island or Jidvance, they would not hazard the passing their light troops over the river on the flanks of the army in readiness to molest them in their pre- sent position and future march. Gen. Kniphauscn directed Lt. Col. f: imcoe to maintain his post, and some Yagers were sent to cover his left, and a bat- talion of Gen. Skinner's his right flank. In the mean time Gen. Greene, with the gross of his army, occu- pied a strong position upon the hills, near a mile and a half in front of the advanced corps : his troops and his cannon in general were in ambuscade. He de- tached two or three field pieties to the right flank of tlu; British, which canonfided them for some time, but with little eft'ect ; and his militia and light troops in great numbers came as close to the front as the intervening thickets could siielter them, and kept up a constant though irregular fire from every side. Most of these shot passed over the heads of the Rangers, while some, which were fired at a greater distance, dropped with little cflect in the hollows which con- cealed them. On their right ran a rivulet, forming small and swampy islets, covered with tiiickets ; as under favour of this ground the eneniy were gradu- ally npproaching, Lt. Col. Siincoe waded to one of tluMn with Captain Kerr, whom with his comj)any he left in ambuscade, wilii orders, if the enemy advanc- ed, to give them one well-directed fire, and innnedi- ately to re-crosi- to the n^gimciit. Captain Kerr exe- cuted his orders judiciously, man) of the en«Mi>y were seen to fall : the thicket he quitted Avas not again attenij the pr troops march the reti tion. pcrceiv blesom( had nea to divid closed 1 TJie col tigers their asj proceed* niption. commam distingui who lbl|( distance, «'ind the none o rcftn-ne( appearai of \\()0( SiuK-oe manded in echelo l»is flank, extend an the Coloi i ■ \ ^•■'^'J'-'C (■.">1 OF THE queen's RANGERS. 147 wards vd the flanks iir prc- liauscn it, and I a bat- e mean , occu- (lilc and ops and He de- flank of le time, It troops t as the kept up le. iVlost Hangers, distance, licU con- forming ;kcts; as re gradu- () one ot npany he y advanc- innnedi- Ki>rr exc- KMny were not again attempted by them, but it became the centre to which the principal part of their fire was directed. The troops having halted two or three hours, began their march to Elizabethtown : the advance corps covered the retreat, and re-passed the bridge without molesta- tion. It was a considerable time before the enemy perceived their movement, nor did they become trou- blesome till the Yagers, who made the rear guard, had nearly ascended the heights where the army was to divide into two columns ; the one on the right was closed by the Yagers, that on the left by the Rangers. The colunms marched on, and it appearing that the Yi-gers might be pressed, the Rangers returned to their assistance, and the enen>y retired. The troops proceeded towards Elizsibethtown with little inter- ruption. The riflemen of the Queen's Rangers, now commanded by Serjeant M'Pherson, were eminently distinguished on this retreat. The enemy's militia, who followed the army, were kept by them at such a distance, that very few shot reached the batt' 'ion ; and they concealed themselves so admirably that none of them were wounded, whilst they scarcely returned a shot in vain. TlH>re being at ono lime an appearance that th(> enemy meant too(cuj)y a tongue of wood, which ran between tlu^ columns, l^t. Col. Siin.oe re(juested of ('olo»icl Jloward, who com- manded the guards, to post some divisions of them in echelon behind the various fences so a^ to protect his lliink, nias(pie the wood, and in some measure to extend and to approach nearer 'o the right column ; the Colonel assented : but as the enemy were not in I la ' • •f I* ■■ (lT''i liii 118 JOURXAL OF THE OPERATIONS sufficient numbers to advance, the army returned to their former encampment. The Rangers had two men killed, Lieut. Shaw and nine privates slightly w ouiided : the huzzar, Wright, had his horse wound- ed ; but a great many soldiers had marks of the ene- my's bullets in their clothes and knapsacks : the Jer- sey militia sufllercd considerably, and among others Fitz Randolph, one of their best officers, was killed. At night the troops passed over the bridge to Staten Island ; the retreat being covered by two redoubts, occupied by troops of the line, who embarked, on the bridge being broken up, without molestation. The Rangers embarked the next morning, and sail- ing up the North river, landed on the 23th, and pro- ceeded to Odle's Ilill, their position in front of the line. It now appeared, that the conmiander in chief had hurried from Charles Town, and withdrawn Gen. Kuiphausen from the Jersics, on the intimation of a French armament being destined for Rhode Island, and >vith the hopes of attacking it to advantage, on its arrival : he had encamped the army near Kings- bri'tgc, f<'r tin? |)urpose of embarking them with tlio greater facility. \A. Col. Simcoe was obliged to go to New-York to recover his health; and the regi- ment ^^ as in general very sickly. The refugees, who had taken post on the banks of tlu; North river, in the r«'bel country, were attacked by iivu. VVayne, whom they gallantly repulsed: amidst tlu^ fire, Cock- rane, the; brave huzzar, who had be(!n left at Mon- n).>uth, (|uitted the rebels with whom he had enlisted, and risking every hazard, got in to the post, and re- joinec Siinc( Lonor marcii miJitia was dc betwec the islji ceeded throuffl munica der in ( Island, j Major . " that til ■1 I i.i ed to i two iiglitly round- le cnc- lie Jer- othcrs killed. Statcii doubt!*, , on the ind sail- ind pro- t of the in chief wii Gen. tion of a ! IsUiiul, itatro, oil Li- Kinfijs- with the rod to go the regi- ces, who river, in Wayne, ro, CocK- at Mon- li cnlistod, M, and ri'- OF THE queen's RANGERS. 149 joined his comrades. On the 19th of July Lieut. Col. Simcoe joined his corps, and proceeded with it to Long Island, crossing the sound at Flushing. He inarched to Huntingdon, where an hundred of the militia cavalry, of the island, joined him : this corps was destined to secure the communication over-land between the fleet, which lay oft' the eastern end of the island, and New- York. Lieut. Col. Simcoe pro- ceeded on his route without delay ; at the same time, through the adjutant general. Major Andre, he com- municated his wishes, and his hopes to the Comman- der in Chief, that in case of any attack on Rhode Island, he would employ the Rangers in it ; to which Major Andre replied, " The General assures you, " that the Rangers shall be pitted against a U'rcnch " regiment the first time he can procure a meeting." The Queen's Rangers remained about the Points, on the east end of th<; island, till the 9th of August, when they fell biick to Coram, from whence they returned eastwa" ' v»n the 15th, being joined by the King's Anienciin regiment, which Lt. Col. Simcoe was ordered to detach to Riverhead, and he himself nu>t the Connnander in Chief, who was now on his journey by the Adniimrs invitation to hold a confer- enc«! with him. Sir II. Clinton sent him to the Ad- miral Arbutlm(»t, whose lleet at that time was anchor- ed in (iardiner's May, but which sailed from thenco lu'for«' the Connnander in Chief could arriv<\ The Queen's RangcMs n'turned to Oyster Hay on the '2',id of August. This mart'h, of near thre»» hundred milos, had been made very fatiguing by the unconnnonly hot :-:m -:;r^u:- •/If.' P ft ) ^K 150 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS weather, which rendered the Pine barren, through which the roads principally lay, as close and suUry in the night as in the day time. The troops had been obliged to subsist on the country ; a militia dragoon who was sent express to the Adjutant General to inform him what difficulty there was in procuring provisions for the troops, and the hardship which consequently fell upon the inhabitants, was waylaid, taken and robbed, by a party from the rebel shore, at Smitli Town. As this had been formerly the case, and it was obvious that no pjirty could remain secret- ed unknown to the inhabitants, Lieut. Col. Sinicoc obtained leave of the Commander in Chief, to raise a contribution from the inhabitants of eighty pounds currency, one half to reimburse the militia man, for what was taken from him, and the other to recom- pense him for the chagrin he must necessarily have been under in not being able to execute his orders : this, probably, was the only contribution levied by the King's troops during the war. On the 2.')1h of August, the Commander m Chief augni(Mi1<'(l tin- Rangers uith two troops ol' 'Iragoons, appointed \A. Col. Simcoe to be Lieutenant Colonel of cavahy ; and the infantry ' aptaius, Saumlers and Shank, otiicers of distinguished iiKirit, to the addi- tional troops: the corj)s remainiMl at Oyster Wvy and its vi of the iiiip(>rtant negotiation, which terminated so unlbrtunately in the death of Major liim on if it to a know operati rations eftectu.i wardnef Leslie : to be dc this bee cavalry j Gen. Le possibly zars of f perly to ■ough try in been igoon ml to curing which iiylaid, ore, at ; case, necret- •iimcoc raise a pounds nan, tor rcconi- ily have orders ; vied by in C'hief ragoons, Colonel iders and [\w, addi- llity and when it ;1 Lt. (^ol. ifotiation, deal 1 1 ol* OF THE queen's RANGERS. 151 Major Andre ; and at the same time, he informed him on what service he should eventually employ him if it took effect, and directed him to obtain as minute a knowledge as he could of the country, where future operations were likely to be carried on. The prepa- rations for the execution of this ijreat design were effectually concealed, by an expedition being in for- wardness to proceed to the southward, under General Leslie : the Queen's Rangers were generally supi)Oscd to be destined for this service. Lt. Col. Simcoe, had this been the intention, must have connnanded the cavalry ; and he had in a former conversation with Gen. Leslie, represented, that although no men could possibly be more useful or more brave than the IIuz- zars of the Rangers, yet as he never had leisure pro- perly to instruct them in the regular system of caval- ry, or, indeed, had any occasion to employ them on any but desultory services, and, on th(! other hand, as the (MUMuy had every mi^ans f)f (establishing a well- mounlcd and f^olid body of cavalry, he re(iuested, that the General would ask from the Coinniander in Chief, a detachinont of forty of the Seventeenth of dragoons, U) wliom he would add a similar nund)er from his diagoojis now forming, and the stoutest of the huz- zars, ,ind that this s(|iKulron should be carefully pre- served from all tlu' smaller s( rvices of light troops, and k« j)t as a eoiistaut reserve to support the hu/- zars, and io b(> opposed to the eiicMuy's cavalry : (»en. Tiesli(> was pleased to approvi* of Lt. Col. Simcoe'a representations. 'I'he ('onuuaiider in Chief's design proving ahortive, the Quii's Kangers crossed from • y mH|':' :T;.i |R i Mf, " f \ IF., , .. : : '|u. « 152 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS ^■»5|''-'»:'<*5*";'*'i Long to Staten Island, and marched to Richmond re- doubts on the 8th of October. Some circumstances relative to Major Andre's un- fortunate attempt, will be more fully detailed in the appendix : the Commander in Chief thinking it pro- per, in the general orders, to publish the high idea which he entertained of him both as a gentleman and an officer, and the sense he entertained of the loss his King and country had met with in his death, Lt. (>ol. Simcoe, who considered his execution as a bar- barous and ungenerous act of power in the American jircneral, and who had certain and satisfiictory intelli- gence that the French party in general, and M. Fay- ette in particular, who sat upon his trial, urged Mr. Washington to the unnecessary deed, took the oppor- tunity in his orders to tb^ Queen's Rangers, the offi- cers and soldiers of which personally knew and esteemed Major Andre, to inform them, that "He " had given directions that the regiment should imme- " diatcly be |)rovided with black and white leatliers as "mourning, for the late Major /\ndro, an officer " w hose superior integrity and unconnnon ability did " honour to his country, and to human nature. The " Queen's Rangers w ill never sully their glory in the " field by any undue se\(>rity : they will, as tlu y have " ever done, C(Mi:r, and will strike " with reluctance at their unha|)py fellow siibieots, "who, by a system of the basest artiliees, have been "seduced from thrir allegiance, and disciplined to "revolt: but it is the \A. Colonel's most ardent hope. "that "bet "Maj "nati< Caj Merit was a proper Earl 01 he car to com Lt. Col with th vantage service. Billing's some of pendix. From coe had of the it by his and up niaintain manded witji th( R angers had co?).« j'roteciio treated n( ciated tl o ■;''.r^^;;.-5^'l OF THE queen's RANGERS. 153 ind re- e's un- in the it pro- rh idea lan and the loss ath, Lt. 3 a bar- merican y^ inteUi- M. Fay- ged Mr. le oppor- the offi- [lew and liat "He ikl imine- atUcrs as n officer bility did re. The I IV in the hry have liv protec- ^vill striko subjects, luive been )liiied to iiiil hope. " that on the close of some decisive victory, it will " be the regiment's fortune to secure the murderers of " Major Andre, for the vengeance due to an injured " nation, and an insulted army." Capt. Saunders with his Lieut. Wilson, and Cornet Merit embarked for Virginia, with Gen. LesUe : he was a native of Princess Anne County, possessed property there, and hjid distinguished himself in the Earl of Dunmore's active enterprises in that colony : he carried with him several dragoons, and expected to complete his troop in that province. At this time Lt. Col. Simcoe, who had frequently in conversation with the Commander in Chief, expatiated on the ad- vantages he thought might accrue to his Mfijesty's service, by a post being seized and maintained at Billing's Port, on the Delaware river, recapitulated some of his ideas, by the letter which is in the ap- pendix. From the earliest period of the war, Lt. Col. Sim- coe had felt it his duty to cultivate the good opinion of the loyalists : he had been fortunate in obtaining it by his conduct to the inhabitants of Pennsylvania, and upon the abandoning of that province had still maintained it. The Buck's County volunteers, com- manded by (,'jipt. Thomas, had, as much as suited witlj their indopendont spirit, acted witli tlie Queen's Rangers, embarked on exj)editions Avith them, and had considered themselves ar: under Lt. Col. Simcoe's protection. A considerable body of the loyalists, seated near the waters of the Chesap(>ake, had asso- ciated themselves for the purpose of restoring the 12* lis 154 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS i^'l>--^, royal government, and this they began at a period when, from the British troops having evacuated Penn- sylvania, they saw, that it was from their own exer- tions only, that they could expect emancipation from the fetters of usurpation : a correspondence was car- ried on with the leaders of these loyalists by Major Andre, and to which Lieut. Col. Simcoe was privy. Soon after his death, their agent, who was in New- York, gave to Lt. Col. Simcoe a paper from them, the purport of which was, to desire that he would forward to Lord George Germ lin their requisition, which accompanied it, " That he, Lt. Col. Simcoe, " might be detached with a thousand men to a cer- " tain place, with arms, and that they to the amount " of some thousands would instantly join and declare "for government: it concluded ^vith the strongest " encomiums on the character of the officer whom " they wished to command them, and of the confi- " dence with which they would take up arms under " his direction." liieut. Col. Simcoe answered the agent, that although nothing on earth could bo more grateful to him than the terms of this letter, yet, as a subordinate officer, he w ould upon no account forward any plan, or ofter, to Great Britain, without the know- ledge of the Commander in Chief ; and that although, as he gathered from their language. Sir Henry Clin- ton might :ij)pear to the k)yalists to bo slow in his pro- gress to give them etl'ectual support, yet tliat he was confident, this opinion woukl be found to bo the result of their anxiety and zeal, rather tiian any knowkuigc whicii they could possibly have of the means ^ ithiu his p( Ina g ed in Simc( then, answe " our { " is m< " to sa " is on " citize " Provi " opini( " wordj " ty to " const? '' Comn " see is " soutln " vaiuecj " lie is ;i "■ pose " cxpedJ " posses! " be nial " strictlj " for ani " tion, o| " upon, " take ul *' cause, OF THE queen's RANGERS. 155 period i Peun- n exer- )n from ms, car- y Major s privy, in New- m them, e would ^uisition, Simcoe, o a cer- D amount d declare strongest per whom the confi- ms under wercd the d bo more ■, yet, as a nt forward the know- t although, enry C'lin- in his pro- hat he was 10 the result knowledge caub ^ ithiii his power, or of his intentions in their application. In a short time, the paper was sent back, and return- ed in such a form as made it not improper for Lt. Col. Simcoe to show it to the Commander in Chief; and then, with his approbation, he returned the following answer to the associates : " The gentleman, to whom " our situation has been by your directions entrusted, " is most sensible of the honour conferred upon him ; " to say, that he is ready to risk his life in our service, " is only to say, that he is ready to do his duty as a " citizen and as a British officer. He hopes, that " Providence will permit him to establish the good " opinion our friends entertain of him by more than " words : he bids me assure you that he has authori- " ty to say, that you are and have been a great and " constant object of the concern and attention of the '' Commander in Chief, whose system you cannot but " see is to unravel the thread of rebellion from the " southward ; and that in his progress your most " valued assistance will be depended upon ; but that " he is anxious not to expose you, nor must you ex- " pose yourselves in aid of any kind of desultory " expeditions, neither meant nor calculated to take " possession of or to keep your country : such may " be made to distress the enemy ; but you are most " strictly enjoined, not to consider them as intended " for any other object, until by his public proclama- " tion, or such jirivate intelligence as you can depend " upon, it shall be signified to you, that you arc to " take up arms, and actively maintain tliat hallowed cause, for which you have suftered so much, and I ki 156 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS 1 /vi*<;.V , \ ■■'•"1, .•■;■■■; ■ " which you have so nobly, and so conscientiously *' supported." It was generally supposed about the latter end of October that t le enemy meditated some attempt on Staten Island. M. de Fayette was in the neighbour- hood of" Ehzabethtown, in force and with boats on travelling carriages. Lt. Col. Simcoe by public con- versation, the means of spies, and by marching to Billop's point in the dusk of the evening, so as to be discovered from the opposite shore, and then return- ing by ways which the enemy could not see, had en- deavoured to attract their notice, and to possess them with a belief, that an inroad into the Jersies was in contemplation. As M. Fayette arrived in the vicinity the \ery day subsequent to this feint, it was reasona- ble to believe that his march was in consequence, and that the boats with him were destined to facilitate his passage across the small creeks with which the Jer- sies are intersected, in case of the British troops making any incursions into that country. Every proper precaution was taken by the troops in Rich- mond to prevent a surprise . on the 12th of Novem- ber, official information was sent by the Adjutant General to Lt. Col. Simcoe, that his post was the ob- ject of Fayette's design, and that it probably would be attacked on that or the ensuing night ; he imme- diately declared in orders, " The Lt. Colonel has re- " ceived information that M. Fayette, a Frenchman, " at the head of some of his Majesty's deluded sub- "jects, has threatened to plant French colours on " Riclunond redoubts. The Lt. Colonel beUeves the " report "of the " dcspei " their c " perfeci ly asseni the distr fend, am they use( on t' i: "should prepared ing place march ou placed, a mask the pounders, had reinfc acquainte ing groun the Comn post, " If "make, ii " with risl ficiently c rebel gent iiow fiir of the scil 'iig with enemy bel by regulaf I 1 1 •• OF THE queen's RANGERS. 157 iously end of iipt on hbour- )ats on iic con- ling to 3 to be return- had en- iss them was in vicinity :easona- nce, and htate his the Jer- \i troops Every in Rich- Novem- Adjutant s the ob- ily would he imme- cl has re- cnchman, iided sub- olours on iheves the " report to be a gasconade ; but as tlie evident ruin " of the enemy's affairs may prompt them to some " desperate attempt, the Queen's Rangers will lay in " their clothes this night, and have their bayonets in " perfect good order." The Highlanders immediate- ly assembled and marched to the redoubt, which, in the distribution of posts, was allotted to thera to de- fend, and displaying their national banner, with which they used to commemorsite their saint's day, fixed it on t' amparts, saying, " No Frenchman, or rebel, " should ever pull that down." The Rangers were prepared if an attack should be made on the water- ing place, which appeared to be most probable, to march out and attack any division which might be placed, as had been in Lord Stirling's attempt, to mask the troops in Richmond : two field pieces, six pounders, and Capt. Althause's company of riflemen had reinforced them. Lt. Col. Simcoe made himself acquainted with the landing places, and the interven- ing grounds, in the minutest particular, and he had the Commander in Chief's directions to abandon his post, " If the enemy should land in such force as to " make, in his opinion, the remaining there attended " with risk." The defects of Richmond were not suf- ficiently obvious for such inexperienced men as the rebel generals, to seize upon and profit by at once : how fiir they might attract the instantaneous notice of the scientific French officers, supposed to be act- ing with them, it was not easy to foresee. Had the enemy been in a situation to have attacked the place by regular approaches, Lt. Col. Simcoe would have r I '■(4. IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) &c {./ A F.% t ^j^ to I/.. ^ 1.0 1.1 11.25 |50 "^^ B^H ^ Ui2 |2.2 L£ 12.0 Ui INI I ^ ^ ^ ^^^ .^ Fhotographic Sciences Corporation <^ 'V 93 wht main strmt wiutm.n.y. usm (7I*)I73-4S0I ^ V "^^^ v\ ^Z^^ ^o \ \ M\ M 158 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS done his best endeavours to have maintained it ; but had any General, at the head of a very superior force on the moment of his appearance, placed twenty or thirty field pieces, on two separate eminences which enfiladed the redoubts, and formed a column to pene- trate under cover of the cross fire, he had resolved to abandon what he considered in case of such a dispo- sition to be untenable. A false alarm, which was given by an armed vessel stationed in Newark Bay, occasioned a considerable movement in the army ; and troops from New- York embarked to reinforce Staten Island ; the post at Richmond was supposed to be the object of an attack. On the first gun being fired, patroles had been made on all sides by the ca- valry, and the infantry slept undisturbed, Lieut. Col. Simcoe apprehending tlie alarm to be false. The Rangers were very alert on guard, and proud of their regimental character, of not giving false alarms, or being surprised ; and the sentinel, as Lt. Col. Simcoe remarked in orders upon the only omission, which ever came under his cognizance, " Felt a manly plea- " sure in reflecting, that the lives and honour of the " regiment was entrusted to his care, and that under " liis protection his comrades slej)t in security." On the 11th of December, the Queen's Rangers em- barked on an expedit i< >ii to Virginia, under the com- mand of Gen. Arnold : dipt. Althause's company of York Volunteers embarked w itii them, as did Capt. Thomas of the Bucks County Volunteers. The Com- mander in Chief had directed Lt. Col. Simcoe to raise another troop of dragoojis, the conunand of which t ■•• ''*■■■ '" ., OF THE queen's RANGERS. 159 d it ; but rior force wenty or :es which 1 to pene- esolved to h a dispo- vhich was wark Bay, the army ; » reinforce supposed t gun being by the ca- Lieut. Col. false. The 3ud of their alarms, or ^ol. Simcoc ion, which anly plea- lour of the that under irity." langcrs em- br the com- lompany of IS did Capt. The Com- icoc to raise Id of which was given to Lt. Cooke of the 17th of dragoons, who remained in New York to recruit it. The troops un- der Gen. Arnold being embarked, he issued an order on the 20th of December against depredations in the country where the expedition was bound to, and in the most forcible terms and strongest manner, called upon the officers to second his intentions and the Commander in ChiePs orders in this respect. The expedition sailed from Sandy Hook on the 21st of December, and arrived in the Chesapeake, but in a dispersed manner, on the 30th: several ships were missing. General Arnold without waiting for them, was enabled, by the fortunate capture which the ad- vance frigate, under Capt. Evans, had made of some small American vessels, to push up the James river, and this was done with incomparable activity and des- patch : the whole detachment showing an energy and alacrity that could not be surpassed. The enemy had a battery at Hood's point, and there was as yet no certainty whether or not it was defended by an en- closed work. The vessels anchored near it late in the evening of the 3d of January ; one of them, in which was Capt. Murray of the Queen's Rangers, not perceiving the signal for anchoring, was fired at. Upon the first shot the skipper and his people left the deck ; when Capt. Murniy seized the helm, and the soldiers assisting him, he passed by the fort without any dam- age from its fire, and anchored above it. Gen. Arn- old ordered Lt. Col. Sinicoe to land with one hundred and thirty of the Queen's Rangers and the light in- fantry, and grenadiers of the 80th regiment : the land- I ' . I 160 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS h.^^ ing was effected silently and apparently with secrecy aboLt a mile from the battery, and a circuit was made to surprise its garrison : in the mean time the fleet was fired upon, but ineffectually on account of its dis- tance. On the detachment's approach through bye paths, to Hood's, the flank companies of the 80th were ordered to file from the rear and to proceed rapidly to the battery, while the Rangers were ready to support them, or to receive any enemy who might possibly be on their march from the adjacent country. Major Gordon on his approach found the battery totally abandoned ; the concerted signal was made, and the fleet anchored near it. General Arnold came on shore ; and it appeared that a patrole had discovered the boats as they rowed to the landing. Capt. Mur- ray had heard them as they approached the shore, and with his accustomed zeal had got into his boat ready to assist if called for : the battery was dis- mounted and the troops rc-cmbarked in the mc rning, Gen. Arnold pushing the expedition up the river with the utmost celerity. On the arrival at Westovcr, the troops were immediately disembarked : at first, from the reports of the country of the force that was as- sembling to defend Richmond, Gen. Arnold hesitated whether he should proceed thither or not, his positive injunctions being not to undertake any enterprise that had nmcli risk in it ; but Lt. Colonels Dundas and Simcoe, concurring that one day's march might be made with perfect security, and that by this means more perfect information might be obtained, the troops were inmiediately [>ut in motion and proceeded towards ■^':,^i :-'-^ OF THE queen's RANGERS. 161 •Mil Richmond, where the enemy was understood to have very considerable magazines: it was above thirty miles from Westover ; several transports had not ar- rived, and Gen. Arnold's force did not amount to eight hundred men. On the second day's march, whilst a bridge was replacing over a creek, the advancedguard only having passed over, some of the enemy's militia, who had destroyed it the evening before, and were to assemble with others to defend it, were deceived by the dress of the Rangers, and came to Lt. Col. Sim- coe, who immediately reprimanded them for not com- ing sooner, held conversation with them, and then sent them prisoners to General Arnold. Within seven miles of Richmond a patrole of the enemy appeared, who, on being discovered, fled at full speed : the Queen's Ran- gers, whose horses were in a miserable condition from the voyage, could not pursue them. Soon after Lt. Col. Simcoe halted, having received the clearest in- formation that a road, made passable by wood carts, led through the thickets to the rear of the heights on which the town of Richmond was placed, where they terminated in a plain, although they were almost in- accessible by the common road : on giving this infor- mation to Gen. Arnold, he said it was not worth while to quit the road, as the enemy would not fight. On approaching the town, Gen. Arnold ordered the troops to march as open and to make as great an appearance, as possible ; and the ground was so favourable that a more skilfuU enemy than those who were now recon- noitering, would have imagined the numbers to have been double. The enemy at Richmond appeared 13 "■r^ ;j ■4 I 162 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS ;( :' drawn up on the heights to the number of two or three hundred men : the road passed through a wood at the bottom of these heights, and then ran between them and the river into the lower town. Lt. Col. Simcoe was ordered to dislodge them : he mounted the hill in small bodies, stretching away to the right, so as to threaten the enemy with a design to outflank them ; and as they filed off, in appearance to secure their flank, he di- rectly ascended with his cavalry, where it was so steep that they were obliged to dismount and lead their horses. Luckily the enemy made no resistance, nor did they fire ; but on the cavalry's arrival on the sum- mit, retreated to the woods in great confusion : there was a party of horsemen in the lower town, watching the motion of Lt. Col. Dundas, who, the heights be- ing gained, was now entering it. Lt. Col. Simcoe pushed on with the cavalry unnoticed by the enemy in the lower town, till such time as he began to de- scend almost in their rear, when an impassable creek stopped him, and gave the enemy time to escape to the top of another hill beyond the town. Having crossed over lower down, he ascended the hill, using such con- versation and words towards them as might prevent their inchnation to retreat; however, when the Rangers were arrived within twenty yards of the summit, the en- emy greatly superior in numbers, but made up of militia, spectators, some with and some without arms, galloped off; they were immediately pursued, but without the least regularity : Capt. Shank and Lt. Spencer, who had met with good horses in the country, far distanced the rest of the cavalry. Lt. Col. Simcoe left an oflicer Vpy?/ st 'i^-*l • '■ '■ '■ I or three od at the een them ncoe was II in small ) threaten id as they ik, he di- it was so lead their tance, nor n the sum- ion : there , watching eights be- )1. Simcoe the enemy ran to do- able creek cape to the ng crossed such con- ht prevent he Rangers mit, the en- ) of militia, IS, galloped without the er, who had stanced the an officer fi-t?; i ,vF, ////// ,v// Aifffv . • ■ ^; ■■■• , ->•■•- wS . .. '■• •■"■ - a?- --r- i-a^.. ,„. ^J , ..." .".■a. ■ ' ""'"' ." »'*■ ■......,.••; -• ta»t....rt--.- -■.. -:-^'''>^,.^-jr-j--' .-• ■> ^- .-. „ ---l .. ■ '-■-,. ■-..-.-.... u-.-.. •- ■:— Kl" 6 ■° -^'r^ ^^-- • :;.,?fe'^^ ■:'^? g^;^^"V^..> ^. $>^CH.' SUiiiiusli iu KICHMONl) Jail .VM7I i-** (&- €-i ^1/^''■:•^■■ ?fT"":^ :-^&' '*^/^ ^,- ^; «,>' .^i ■-..,_^---9^^,;:-j sS?i: '■- "'- :| ft;- a ^:^ vWV ,.-^> rtV.- .'^ .--2 lOiVl) Jail .VM78I. to m their take, shou! or fiA sever Col. 1 Arno miles comp sent a he pr( pieces small ; destro cer, it to bloi carryi the wj on fir( parts ardoug regula dery, stroye Richm them march got int the mc Lt. Co OF THE queen's RANGERS. 163 to mark the position he meant his infantry to take on their arrival, and collecting all the men he could over- take, followed Capt. Shank, anxious lest his ardour should prove fatal : he had pursued the enemy four or five miles, six or seven of whom he had taken with several horses ; a very well timed capture. On Lt. Col. Simcoe's return, he met with orders from Gen. Arnold to march to the foundery at Westham, six miles from Richmond, and to destroy it ; the flank companies of the 80th, under Major Gordon, were sent as a reinforcement. With these and his corps he proceeded to the foundery : the trunnions of many pieces of iron cannon were struck off, a quantity of small arms and a great variety of military stores were destroyed. Upon consultation with the artillery offi- cer, it was thought better to destroy the magazine than to blow it up, this fatiguing business was effected by carrying the powder down the clilts, and pouring it into the water ; the warehouses and mills were then set on fire, and many explosions happened in different parts of the buildings, which might have been haz- ardous had it been relied on, that all the powder v^as regularly deposited in one magazine ; and the foun- dery, which was a very complete one, was totally de- stroyed. It was night before the troops returned to Richmond ; the provisions which had been made for them were now to be cooked : fatigued with the march, the men in general went to sleep, some of them got into private houses and there obtained rum. In the morning Gen. Arnold determined to return ; but Lt. Col. Simcoe requested that he would halt half the ^1 164 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS 1 k: If ^ i - . ■ ' day. The enemy were drawn up on the opposite side of the river so that no enterprise could be expected from them ; and the whole of the Rangers having been extremely fatigued the day before, without any men having been left to cook for them, were in a great measure in want of sustenance. Gen. Arnold was sensible of the reasonableness of the request, but he thought it most advisable to return ; and he gave as his reason, that if Gen. Tryon and Sir William Er- skine had marched two hours sooner from Danbury, on their expedition there, they would have met with no opposition ; and if they had delayed it much longer, they would have found it absolutely impossible to have regained their shipping. The roads were rendered by the rain slippery and difficult, and in most places were narrow and overhung by bushes, so that the troops were frequently obliged to march by files, which made it impossible for the officers, who were on foot, to see far before them, and to take their customary precautions. When it became dark, if any man through an intention of deserting quitted his ranks, or in the frequent baitings, overpowered by fatigue, fell asleep, (which those who have suffered it, well know brings on a total disregard of all consequences, even of life itself,) he escaped notice and was irrecovera- bly lost ; nine men of the Rangers either deserted or were taken by the country people on this march : the troops arrived at a very late hour at the ground on which they were to encamp, and where they passed a wet and tempestuous night. Gen. Arnold returned the next day to Westover, preceded by Lt. Col. Sim- OF THE queen's RANGERS. 165 site side ixpected I having lOut any 1 a great lold was t, but he ! gave as iliam Er- Danbury, met with ch longer, lie to have rendered ost places ) that the lies, which re on foot, customary any man ,3 ranks, or atigue, fell well know 3nces, even irrecovera- deserted or march : the ground on hey passed M returned ,t. Col. Sim- coe with the huzzars, to communicate the earliest in- telligence to the fleet. While the troops were halting at Westover to refresh themselves, no intelligence could be received : the militia of the lower counties gathering together and blocking up the country ; parties of them ap- peared in force on the heights divided from Westover by a creek, and covered the peninsula which it formed with the James river. Gen. Arnold directed a patrole to be made on the night of the eighth of January towards Long Bridge, in order to procure intelligence Lt. Col. Simcoe marched with forty cavalry, for the most part badly mounted, on such horses as had been picked up in the country ; but the patrole had not proceeded above two miles before Serjeant Kelly, who was in advance was challenged : he parlied with the videttes, till he got nearer to them, when rushing at them, one he got hold of, the other flung himself off" his horse and escaped into the bushes ; a negro was also taken whom these videttes had intercepted on his way to the British army. From these people information was obtained that the enemy was assem- bled at Charles City Court house, and that the corps which had appeared in the day time opposite West- over, nearly to the amount of four hundred men, lay about two miles in advance of their main-body, and on the road to Westover. The party were immedi- ately ordered to the right about, and to march towards them ; Lt. Holland, who was similar in size to the vidette who had been taken, was placed in advance : the negro had promised to guide the party so as to 13* ^??pp; I :-v*C'.l J.: . 166 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS 1 .7{^: --^H , . r* ■> ■ ( '.ill '.• '■ avoid the high road, and to conduct them by an un- frequented pathway, which led close to the creek, between the body, which was supposed to be in ad- vance, and that which was at Charles City Court house ; Lt. Col. Simcoe's intention was to beat up the main body of the enemy, who trusting to those in front might reasonably be supposed to be off their guard ; in case of repulse he meant to retreat by the private way on which he advanced, and should he be successful it was optional to attack the advance party or not, on his return. The patrole passed through a wood, where it halted to collect, and had scarcely got into the road when the advance was challenged ; Lt. Holland answered, " A friend," gave the countersign procured from the prisoner, " It is I, me, Charles," the name of the person he personated : he passed one vidette whom Serjeant Kelly seized, and himself caught hold of the other, who in a struggle proved too strong for him, got free, presented and snapped his carbine at his breast ; luckily it did not go off, but the man galloped away, and at some distance fired, -the signal of alarm ; the advance division immediately rushed on, and soon arrived at the Court-house ; a confused and scattered firing began on all sides ; Lt. Col. Simcoe sent the bugle horns, French and Barney, through an enclosure to the right, with orders to an- swer his challenging, and sound when he ordered ; he then called loudly for the light infantry, and hollowed " sound the advance ;" the bugles were sounded as had been directed, and the enemy fied on all sides, scarcely firing another shot. Tlic night was OF THE QI^EEN's RANGERS. 167 J an un- e creek, >e in ad- ty Court 1 beat up to those off their sat by the luld he be ince party through a ;arcely got mged; Lt. ountersign , Charles," passed one ,nd himself proved too napped his go off, but ;ance fired, mmediately rt-housc; a Hides ; Lt. ind Barney, ders to au- ic ordered; fantry, and uglcs were cmy fled on ■ic night was very dark, and the party totally unacquainted with the ground. Part of the dragoons were dismounted and mixed with the huzzars ; some of the enemy were taken, others wounded, and a few were drowned in a mill-dam. In saving three armed militia men from the fury of the soldiers, Lt. Col. Simcoe ran a great risque, as their pieces were loaded, pointed to his breast, and in their timidity they might have dis- charged them. From the prisoners he learnt that the whole of their force was here assembled, and that there was no party in advance : the soldiers were mounted as soon as possible, nor could they be per- mitted to search the houses where many were con- cealed, lest the enemy should gain intell'.gence of their numbers, and attack them ; and this might easily be done as the darkness of the night prevented the Rangers from seeing around them, while they were plainly to be distinguished by the fires which the enemy had left. It appeared that the militia were commanded by Gen. Nelson, and consisted of seven or eight hundred men : they were completely fright- ened and dispersed, many of them not stopping till they reached Williamsburgh. Serjeant Adams of the huzzars was mortally wounded ; this gallant soldier, sensible of his situation, said " My beloved Colonel ' J do not mind dying, but for (iod's sake do not ' leave me in the hands of the rebels :" Trumpeter I rench and two huzzars were wounded ; about a dozen excellent horses wore seasonably captured. The enemy did not appear during the time the troops stayed at Westover, nor attempted to harrass .^ t 1*'.. S 168 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS r'i:.^ ■\.,' u I §-M\.' their rear as had been threatened : the remainder of the forces arrived the next day. In the embarkation from New-York, the horse vessels were very bad, in- famously provided, and totally unfit for service, in consequence, above forty horses had been thrown overboard ; the very Skippers were fearful of sailing, and it required every exertion of the Quarter-Masters to oblige them to weigh anchor, and, at sea, the ut- most industry and labour could barely prevent them from foundering. Serjeant Adams died at Wcstover the 9th; the corps attended his funeral ; he was buried in the colours which had been displayed and taken from Hood's battery. On the 10th of January Gen. Arnold embarked and dropped down to Flour de Hundred ; at night he ordered Lt. Col. Simcoe to land : the General had information that a party of militia, with cannon, were assembled at Bland's mills, and he in- tended to surprize them. On the approach to the shore, people were plainly heard talking, who galloped off on the imaginary gun-boats being loudly ordered to point their cannon towards the shore : on the Queen's Rangers landing, Lt. Col. Simcoe placed Capt. Ewald in ambuscade ; that gallant and able otficer, with the reiiminder of his Yagers, had joined at Westover. Gen. Arnold had scarcely lande' i\ h. ,»'. OP THE queen's rangers. 171 Ivancing o retire ; imediate ilry pro- ajor Gor- 9f militia jh side of 3, Lt. Col. rsethem; two senti- urned, he ed round, ' lay down sadily did ; nmediately officer and other side, t over in a idered and have their consequen- (id and cut .cccpted the with luin were very pleaded to ke up arinfi. of the rehcl after puh- es of all the nt, null and void. Lt. Col. Simcoe and Major Gordon passed the night opposite to Smithfield, and the next day the army continued its march ; its rout was by Sleepy-hole ferry, across which the boats had arrived to carry them ; the Queen's Rangers proceeded to Portsmouth, Gen. Ar- nold being apprehensive that the enemy might burn the houses there ; two or three small patroles were taken or dispersed during the march, and Lt. Col. Simcoe entered the town early in the morning of the 19th of January. A party of the enemy had just crossed over to Princess Ann ; the advance ship of the squadron came up soon after, and Gen. Arnold with the army arrived in the course of the day. On the 25th, Colonel Dundas, with a part of the 80th and a detachment of the Queen's Rangers, cross- ed Elizabeth river, and went into Princess Ann. This party returned at night and on its arrival at the ferry an account came from Gen. Arnold, that some of the artillery, who had been foraging on the road to the Great bridge, had been attacked, their waggons taken and the officer killed. The General ordered a de- tachment to be passed over from Norfolk, to endeav- our to retake the waggons ; the troops had just arrived from a fatiguing march ; the night was closing in, and it began to rain tremendously. Lt. Col. Simcoe fer- ried over, as ordered, to Herbert's point, with fourteen Yagers and Rangers ; they were joined by the con- ductor of the artillery who had escaped, and from his account it appeared that the officer was not dead, and that the enemy were but few in number. After the par- ty had advanced a mile, an artillery man, who had es- I I I 'V. 172 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS 1 1' l'''jSm^$ Sk' '^^1 1^ '' ii.^''#*ti Swffl •'. ilm[]@ Wm 1^^ ^m lij f ft 3f ^- r !■ caped and lay hid in the bushes, came out, and in- formed him that the Lt. Rynd lay not far off. Lt. Col. Simcoe found him dreadfully mangled and mortally wounded ; he sent for an ox cart from a neighbour- ing farm, on which the unfortunate young gentleman was placed : the rain continued in a violent manner, which precluded all pursuit of the enemy ; it now grew more tempestuous, and ended in a perfect hur- ricane, accompanied with incessant lightning. This small party slowly moved back toward Herbert's ferry, it was with difficulty that the drivers and attendants on the cart could find their way ; the soldiers marched on with their bayonets fixed, linked in ranks together, covering the road. The creaking of the waggon and the groans of the youth added to the horror of the night ; the road was no longer to be traced when it quitted the woods, and it was a great satisfaction that a flash of lightning, which glared among the ruins of Norfolk, disclosed Herbert's house. Here a boat was procured which conveyed the unhappy youth to the hospital ship, where ho died the next day : Lt Col. Simcoo barricaded the house in which he passed the night. Gen. Arnold employed the garrison in fortifying the post at Portsmouth, the primary object of his expe- dition : the same line to the front was occupied, which Gen. Leslie had begun. On the 29th Lt. Col. Simcoe was sent to fortify the post at Great bridge ; much lumber that was found there was floated down to Portsmouth ; and the troops, with unremitted at- tention, applied themselves to raise a star work, m OF THE queen's RANGERS. 173 , and in- LtCol. mortally jighbour- entleman , manner, • it now rfect hur- ng. This ert'9 ferry, attendants •s marched s together, iraggon and rror of the ed when it faction that Lhe ruins of a boat was louth to the ly : Lt Col. passed the which commanded the bridge and the causeway ; it was intended to abaty the ditch, and then to fill it with water, which, the smaller bridges being taken up, would have effectually prevented a surprise. The rebels continually fired at night on the sentinels, and perfect information was gained of a party being in- tended for that purpose : the extent of the post pre- vented any ambuscade from being laid with certainty, and the fatigue the men underwent in the day, de- manded as much quiet as possible during the night. A figure was dressed up with a blanket coat, and posted in the road, by which the enemy would proba- bly advance, and fires resembling those of a piquet, were placed at the customary distance : at midnight the rebels arrived, and fired twenty or thirty shot at the eflSgy. As they ran across the road they expos- ed themselves to the shots of two sentinels, they then went oflf. The next day an officer happening to come in with a flag of truce, he was shown the figure and was made sensible of the inhumanity of firing at a sentinel, when nothing farther was intended : this ridicule probably had good effects, as during the stay of the Queen's Rangers at Great bridge, no sentinel was fired at. The works being in a state of defence, and capable of receiving a garrison, the Rangers were reUeved on the 5th of February, by Major Gordon with a detachment. Col. Dundas arrived that day and marched out with the Rangers, and part of the 80th: the cavalry soon fell in with a patrole, which Captain Shank pursued over Edmond's bridge, dispersing them and making an officer prisoner. The 14 •*:v^"5-.v: -1* 'l^- * "•■ • ; • ■ ■ ■ ^* ' ' ■ ' y- * , ' m 174 JOURNAL OF TH£ OPERATIONS Rangers returned the next day to Portsmouth, and were constantly employed on the works till the 10th, when Gen. Arnold thought proper to detach them to Kemp's landing. The disaffected inhabitants of Prin- cess Ann, for the most part, had left it ; but it was much infested by a party under the command of a New Englander, of the name of Weeks. To drive him from the county was the object of Lt. Col. Sim- coe's march, and for this purpose, he detached Capt. Ewald with the Yagers, and a party of the Queen's Rangers to the Great bridge, and with the remainder of the corps marched to Kemp's : he advanced on the IGth up the country, by the main road towards the north-west landing, while Capt. Ewald, by almost im- passable ways and bye paths proceeded to the same point : he fortunately surprised and totally dispersed Weeks's party. The next day, Lt. Col. Simcoe pro- ceeded with a detachnaent of cavalry to the north- west landing : Weeks was again fallen in with, and with great difficulty' escaped from the pursuit of the huzzars into a swamp. The whole corps returned the next day to Kemp's ; and from thence, on the 18th, to Portsmouth* The north-west landing was the only passage from North Carolina, excepting the Great bridge, and this excursion was luckily timed. Gen. Arnold, on the 13th of February, receiving in- formation of the arrival of three French ships of the line, had sent Lt. Col. Simcoe orders to march from Kemp's, where he then was, to the Great bridge, in- timating that he should send up boats to bring off the cannon, and that the post should be withdrawn if OF THE queen's RANGERS. 175 lith, and the 10th, them to 3 of Prin- lut it was [\and of a To drive Col. Sim- hed Capt. le Queen's remainder iced on the jwards the almost im- 3 the same y dispersed iimcoe pro- the north- L with, and rsuit of the )s returned ice, on the landing was itcepting the ickily timed, receiving in- ships of the march from It bridge, in- bring off the withdrawn if necessary. Lt. Col. Simcoe vn-ote to Gen. Arnold, informing him, that he certainly should march at the time prescribed by his orders, if not countermanded, giving at the same time such reasons as to him ap- peared most forcible, why the Great bridge should not be hastily abandoned, but that rather Weeks and his party should be driven from the county into North Carolina ; the General was pleased to approve of his reasons, and on the 16th he marched against Weeks as has been related. Gen. Arnold, in case Capt. Sy- monds thought it expedient, offered the army to assist in any attacks on the French fleet ; Captain Alber- son, the gallant master of the Empress of Russia, Lt. Col. Simcoe's transport, was anxious, and offered his services, to lay him and the Queen's Rangers on board any of the French ships. The army was em- ployed in strengthening their works: on the 19th the French ships left the bay. Gen. Arnold had issued a proclamation, for the inhabitants of Princess Ann to assemble at Kemp's on the 21st: oh that day the Queen's Rangers escorted him thither ; and Captain M'Kay, of that corps, was left at this post. He for- tified and barricaded his quarters in the best manner possible, and having some dragoons with him kept the country clear of small parties. It being reported that Lord Cornwallis wac near Petersburg, Lieut. Col. Dundas embarked with five hundred men, on the 23d, and such provisions as were thought necessary, to make a diversion in his Lord- ship's favour ; but more certain advices of his opera- tions being received, he returned. SI li^frv' ^1 i *» ♦ f' 176 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS rf ■'*■ ■% ■4 Gen. Arnold ordered Lt. Col. Dundas to march at night with the 80th regiment and the cavalry, to en- deavour to surprise a body of the enemy, within eight or nine miles of Portsmouth, upon the Suffolk road, while Lt. Col. Simcoe, with the infantry of the Rang- ers, embarked in boats and proceeded by water to gain their rear undiscovered. The plan was well laid, nor did it fail through any fault in the execution : when Lieut. Col. Simcoe landed and marched on, he found a party sent by Lt. Col. Dundas to meet him ; \h.e enemy had flown. Since the war it has appeared, that a woman, probably a double spy, left Portsmouth half an hour before Colonel Dundas marched, and gave the enemy information. The militia assembling at Hampton, Lt. Col. Dun- das passed over from Portsmouth to dislodge them. What part the Rangers bore in this expedition, can- not be better detailed than in the modest recital of Quarter-master M'Gill, who went with Lt. Col. Dun- das, and whose bravery and conduct were honoured with the highest commendations, by that most re- spectable officer : " Col. Dundas with part of his " regiment, a few Yagers, Lt. Holland, myself, and " twelve huzzars, of the Queen's Rangers, went on an "expedition towards Hampton. We embarked on " the night of the Cth of March, and landed early " next morning at Newport-news, from thence march- " ed to a village about three miles from Hampton, " where we destroyed some stores, and burned four " large canoes without opposition ; but on our return " to the boats, we saw about two hundred mihtia OF THE queen's RANGERS. 177 arch at , to en- lin eight )lk road, le Rang- vater to well laid, :ecution : id on, he lect him . ippeared, trtsmouth ;hed, and Col. Dun- (dge them, ition, can- recital of Col. Dun- honoured t most re- art of his lyself, and went on an iharkcd on tnded early nee march- Hampton, turned four our return [red militia drawn up on a plain, and a wet ditch in front. As I was advanced with the huzzars, and first saw them, I informed the Colonel, and at the same time asked his permission to advance against them, without thinking of Lt. Holland, whom in truth I did not see at the time. He granted my request, and ordered the mounted men of the 80th to join me, who had, as well as the Rangers, been mounted in the morn- ing upon the march : with these, and some officers of the 80th, who had also got horses, we made up twenty-six horsemen. The rebels Avere about three hundred yards from the road ; and I had to wheel to the left, full in their view, which discovered our numbers, and, I believe, encouraged them a good ' deal, as they did not fire until we were within thirty 'yards of them : this checked us, and gave them time ' to give us a second salute, but not with the same ' eflfect ; fi^r, with the first, they killed Capt. Stewart, ' of the 80th, wounded Lieut. Salisbury, of the navy, ' who commanded the boats, and came for pleasure. Col. Dundas, myself, and Serjeant Galloway, were ' unhorsed, and some of the infantry, who were an ' hundred yards in our rear, were wounded. Poor Galloway lamented the loss of the heel of his boot, ' which was shot away, more than the wound he re- ' ceived. My horse had three balls through him, and ' he received a fourth before all was over. It was ' much against us, that we were obliged to advance ' on the centre of the rebels, a thick wood bounding both their flanks, otherwise I thought to have made ' them give an oblique fire as the least destructive j 14* mm': S.S. ■ t < ■■■ i:l-:l\:: ■■■- ill'- t.-:. I n % : I 1 I .11 " ■ 'I 178 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS " however, we happily broke them before they could " attempt a third fire, and the infantry coming amon/ *. ': M 182 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS almost inevitable ; two of them, one of the Yagers and another of the Rangers, being taken, they were discontinued. The enemy assembling in force, the troops were constantly under arms at four o'clock in the morning, at their alarm post, if the weather was favourable ; if otherwise, at their respective barracks. There being various reports of the enemy making a road through the dismal swamp to the left of Great bridge, and small parties infesting the country, Lieut. Col. Simcoe marched the 10th of March to the Great bridge. Capt. M'Kay, who commanded at Kemp's, had received information, that Weeks was to pass over on the night of the 11th, and that he would be at a house between the Great bridge and Kemp's : he proposed to Lieut. Col. Simcoe to surprise him, and Gen. Arnold approved of it ; as it was necessary to check every iiiruud into Princess Ann. Capt. M'Kay marched at a concerted hour from Kemp's, and Lieut. Col. Simcoe from the Great bridge, in order to sup- port him. '^he former met the enemy before he ar- rived at the place whore he expected to find them ; and he instantly detached I^t. Dunlop to their rear, who attacked, and efibctually surprised thorn : eight or ten were killed or taken. In the pocket of the Lieutenant, who was killed, was found a letter saying, to his Captain, " that with four or five men, he could " every night seize one or two of the refractory men " belonging to his company." These violences were necessary to force the militia, of the lower counties of Virginia, to arms. The Queen's Rangers returned the next day to Portsmouth, as did Capt. M'Kay to ii OF THE QUEEN^S RANGERS. 183 le Yagers hey were force, the o'clock in ather was ! barracks, ny making ft of Great itry, Lieut. ) the Great at Kemp's, as to pass le would be Kemp's : he se him, and ccessary to papt. M'Kay , and Lieut. |rder to sup- cfore he ar- find them ; their rear, |thom: eight cket of the letter saying, en, he coukl Vactory men Icncos were ► or counties ircrs returned t. M'Kay to Kemp's ; which post, he maintained with singular vigilance and propriety. Lt. Col. Simcoe thought it proper, in public orders, to desire, " That his best " thanks might be accepted by Lt. St. Jphn Dunlop, "and the party under his command, for their obedi- " ence to their orders, and gallantry in the surprise of " a rebel party, the night of the 11th instant. The " Lt. Colonel is satisfied, that if the information Capt. " M'Kay received had been true, the rebel banditti he " marched against would have been annihilated in " consequence of his proper disposition, and the " steadiness of the officers and soldiers under his " command. It is with great pleasure the Lieutenant- " Colonel hears of the orderly and soldier-like be- " haviour of the whole party stationed at Kemp's : he " hopes the regiment will equally pride themselves in " protecting, as in the present case, the unarmed in- " habitants of the country, as in scourging the armed " banditti who oppress it." The Great bridge was situated at the head of Elizabeth river, close to the great dismal swamp, from whence it rises. It was the great road, while Norfolk was in affluence, oe- tween that town and North Carolina : small parties only could pass through the swamps, the season be- ing unconunonly dry ; but the surprisal of that which had attempted it, rendered it not very advisable. The post was easily to b(! maintained until such time as an enemy should venture to throw bridges over the Elizabeth river, between the Great bridge and Ports- mouth ; and then, it was to be weighed whether a hundred men, the usual garrison of the Great bridge iK .- 1 184 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS { '■mm - ■,v.,-. ,■ ..■ would not find more employment for an enemy, and be more than adequate to any services the same num- ber could be of, in Portsmouth. Like other field works it could not hold out a moment against mor- tars : it was calculated to keep the Carolina militia out of Princess Ann, and every hour that this could be done was of great importance : the hopes of plun- der and the certainty of their escaping, would have deluged the country with this banditti. About this time, Capt. M'Crea, of the Queen's Rangers, having the command of this post, with that gallantry which had so eminently distinguished him at Kingsbridgc, on the first formation of the Rangers, sallied upon a party of the enemy, who had frequently fired upon his sentinels, surprised them, put them to the rout and pinned a label upon one of the men who had -been killed, threatening to lay in ashes any house, near his front, that they should harbour in. This vigorous sally had its use : the enemy, as their custom was when they were corrected, complained of cruelty, and Gen. Muhlenberg wrote to Gen. Arnold on that subject. Lt. Col. Simcoc had also some correspond- ence, on this subject, with Col. Parker, a gentleman of more hberality than was commonly found in those who commanded parties of the militia. Capt. M'Crea had taken two prisoners, they were offered to be ex- changed for Ellison, the gallant huzzar who had sig- nalised himself at the battle of Monmouth, and ano- ther soldier, who, their horses being killed, had been taken in a skirmish, a few days before, towards the north-west landing ; but so little did the enemy value ■ t.- ■ lemy, and ame num- >ther field a,inst mor- ina militia this could es of plun- j'ould have About this ers, having intry which :ingsbridgc, lied upon a fired upon to the rout ho had -been use, near his liis vigorous custom was of crueUy, (lold on that correspond- a gentleman lund in those :apt. M'Crea •ed to he ex- ho had sig- ith, and ano- id, had been towards tbc enemy value OF THE queen's RANGERS. 185 their militia, that it was refused on the ungenerous plea of their having been wounded. It is not impro- bable but the unfortunate men might have been loy- alists, averse from the service of the rebels and forced into it: Ellison was soon after exchanged: he had been ill-treated while prisoner ; but nothing hurt him equally with the being robbed of the silver half moon which he wore on his huzzar cap, with the word " Monmouth" engraven on it, as a mark of his bravery in that action. On the 18th of March, Gen. Arnold gave orders for every person to work on the lines, and the town people, who should refuse, to quit it. M. de La Fay- ette appeared in the front of the works, and the Yager piquet, posted near the head of Scott's creek, was attacked in force : a deep ravine passable at this post, and above it, separated them from the enemy. Capt. Ewald was with his piquet, and by demonstra- tions and the countenance of his people, more than once checked the enemy, who showed every inclina- tion to pass over the gully, and totally prevented them from reconnoitering the right of Portsmouth : Capt. Ewald was wounded. Gen. Arnold in his letter to Sir Henry Clinton says, " That he did not think it " prudent to leuve his works and sally, as Lieut. Col. " Simcoe was in Princess Ann with near four hundred " men." It is not improbable that the enemy had in- telligence of the Queen's Rangers being detached to secure forage, &c., as on Lieut. Col. Simcoe's return, the small bridges were destroyed between Kemp's and Portsmouth ; which, thougii they were but trifling 15 i II . ii ;i.tV*-!.*i.;".// A f I 186 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS impediments, must have been done by a lurking par- ty, or the disaffected of the country, in consequence of some concerted order. Lt. Col. Simcoe, to whom the Yagers had been attached, felt this a proper op- portunity to represent Captain Ewald's conduct and gallantry to Gen. Kniphausen. On information of a squadron with French colours being at anchor, on the 19th, in Lynnhaven bay, Lt. Col. Simcoe was sent there with a patrole, to observe them : he had the pleasure to find that it was Admi- ral Arbuthnot's fleet, and to see a rebel cruiser, de- ceived by their colours, taken by them. The action which the Admiral had with the French fleet, saved the armament in Virginia from a serious attack. Gen. Arnold had received information, from the officer at the Great bridge, that General Gregory, on the 18th, had approached within two miles of him, with six pieces of cannon and twelve hundred men : General Arnold sent him orders, " To defend it to the last " extremity ;" and then directed Lt. Col. Simcoe, after he had informed himself what fleet was below, to take such measures as he thought necessary respecting the Great bridge ; the situation of which has been here- tofore staled. Gen. Phillips arrived on the 27th of March, and was soon followed by the forces under his command. The light infantry went into cantonments at Kemp's, and the Queen's Rangers at New Town, under in- structions to hold themselves liable to move on the shortest notice, and in case of Lieut. Col. Abercrom- ( . ' > I.* ..;'?'vii OF THE QUEEN^S RANGERS. 187 rking par- nsequence I, to whom iroper op- mduct and ich colours ;n bay, Lt. to observe was Admi- cruiser, de- The action fleet, saved ttack. Gen. tie officer at m the 18th, m, with six n: General t to the last limcoe, after low, to take •specting the i been here- March, and command. s at Kemp's, under in- nove on the . Abcrcroni- is n bie's requisition, Lt. Col. Simcoe was to place him- self under his orders. Tliere being every appearance of the army taking the field, Lt. Col. Simcoe made application to Gen. Phillips, for the same number of artillerymen to his cannon as had been attached to them on similar oc- casions. The General chose only to allow him some men for a short time, to instruct soldiers of the Queen's Rangers : this Lt. Col. Simcoe declined. His corps was Aveak in numbers, and he considered the number of men, who must have attended his guns, more use- ful with their muskets : while the corps acted sepa- rately, cannon always furnished a reason for an ene- my to avoid action. In some situations, even such contemptible guns as three-pounders might be of great use, in particular, in defence of a house or any posi- tion which might enable a corps, in case of necessity, to rally ; but the Queen's Rangers were now not like- ly to be detached, and if they were and it became necessary, the Commander of the army would send them cannon. The three-pounder and amuzette were therefore sent to the artillery park on the 20th of April ; the Commander in Chief was pleased to add Capt. Diemar's troop of huzzars, then at New- York, to the Queen's Rangers, and they were placed under the command of Capt. Cooke. Gen. Phillips gave out the following orders for ex- ercising the troops, |)reparatory to their taking the field : " It is the Major General's wish, that the troops " under his command may practice forming from two " to three and to four deep ; and that they should be If 188 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS % m :. " accustomed to charge in all those orders. In the " latter orders, of the three and four deep, the files " will, in course, be closer, so as to render a charge " of the greatest force. The Major General also re- " commends to regiments the practice of dividing the " battalions, by wings or otherwise, so that one line " may support the other when an attack is supposed ; " and, when a retreat is supposed, that the first line " may retrea' through the intervals of the second, the " second doubling up its divisions for that purpose, and " forming up again in order to check the enemy who " may be supposed to have pressed the first line. The " Major General would approve also of one division " of a battalion attacking in the common open order " of two deep, to be supported by the other compact di- " vision as a second line, in a charging order of three " or four deep. The gaining the flanks also of a sup- " posed enemy, by the quick movements of a division " in common open order, while the compact division " advances to a charge ; and such other evolutions, " as may lead the regiments to a custom of depend- " ing on and mutually supporting each other ; so that " should one part be pressed or broken, it may be ac- " customed to form again without confusion, under "the protection of a second line, or any regular " formed division." These orders, so proper in them- selves, and now peculiarly useful, as no Hessian troops, who usually formed the firm and solid second line to the British, were to embark on the expedition, were not meant to aflect the general manceuvrcs of the light troops : Lt. Col. Simcoe was permitted to adopt such OF THE QUi 'S RAXGERS. 189 In the the files a, charge I also re- dding the one Une upposed ; first hne jcond, the rpose, and \emy who hne. The le division Dpen order compact di- ler of three so of a sup- ,f a division act division evolutions, of depend- only as he thought applicable to that service. The works at Portsmouth being completed, the troops em- barked on the 18th of April, and fell down to Hampton road. Gen. Phillips informed the officers commanding corps, in writing, that the first object of the expedi- tion was to surprise, if possible, a body of the enemy stationed at Williamsburgh, at any rate to attack them : at the same time he detailed the plan of ope- rations. The Rangers were of Gen. Arnold's division, which was destined to land below Williamsburg, and to co-operate with that under Lt. Colonel Abercrom- bie, which was to land above it. The following orders were more peculiar to the Queen's Rangers : " a de- tachment of Hessian Yagers will be attached to the light infantry and Queen's Rangers, with which corps they have so often acted, that it is unnecessary to give any directions concerning them ; and they will, in course, be always protected by bayonets, both as sentinels and patroles. Should the enemy retreat, upon intelli- gence of the enterprise against them, or be forced by an attack to retire, Lt. Col. Simcoe will proceed with the utmost diligence to York Town, and there, under every description of caution, endeavour to gain the rear of the enemy's batteries, and of the post ; but should he, by certain intelligence and observations, bo convinced of there being closed works with troops in them, he is to make an immediate report of it, and not to attack such works without further orders. It is not the intention to risk the loss of men upon any attack at York Town, nor delay by any attack there the progress of the intended expedition. Should, 15* 4i i^ 190 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS PI I $ 7*-:.*, ■i V however, Lt. Col. Simcoe gain possession of York Town, he will hoist a red flag, and fire, if possible, sig- nal guns, and at night light two or three fires at dif- ferent places upon the shore : these are intended to give the Bonetta sloop of war notice of York Town being possessed by the King's troops, on which that vessel will move up the river ; and Lt. Col. Simcoe will, in that case, consult with Capt. Dundass, the commander of the Bonetta, how it may be best to act for destroying the armed and other vessels in that river, and also take every means for putting the en- emy's cannon at York Town into that armed vessel. It is to be wished that this detailed operation may not take up more than forty eight hours." The troops arrived off" Burrell's ferry on the 19th ; Lt. Col. Sim- coe was directed to land in such manner as he thought proper. The enemy had thrown up entrenchments to secure the landing, and these appeared to be fully man- ned. The boats were assembled at the small ves- sel on board which Lt. Col. Simcoe was, which was anchored about two miles from the shore. Near a mile below the ferry was a small creek which ran a little %vay into the land, from James river ; and at the point formed by this separation, it was determined to land. Capt. Ewald being disabled by his wound from accompanying the expedition, the Yagers were divided between the Queen's Rangers and light infantry; Capt. Althause's company of riflemen was also un- der the command of Lt. Col. Simcoe. The boats, preceded by the gun-boat, moved directly towards Burrell's ferry : on a signal given, they all, except the ^"•"i F' #■■ ■. .^•10 m %. '(i/j/i/ L THF, — n [ — A|.ril IT'hTttl. A . / (•7/// !'ti/Ji(i LAS DIN (, .-il — A|)ril I7'h781. a!^_ D. /I't'dr./s. ^— K. )'((//,■/ s. OF THE queen's RANGERS. 191 gun-boat, turned and rowed rapidly towards the f>oint, where the landing was to take place, assisted by the wind and tide ; Major Armstrong, who commanded it, was desired to keep out of the reach of musket shot, and to fire his six pounder at the entrenchments, and particularly to scour a gully on the left, which the enemy must pass if they meant any opposition. The troops disembarked as intended ; Capt. M'Kay with a detachment of the Queen's Rangers and Yagers, land- ing below the inlet, to beat up any party who might be in ambuscade there, and to give greater security to the right flank in case the enemy should attack the corps. Lieut. Col. Simcoe met no opposition in his march to Burrell's ferry, from whence the enemy fled with precipitation, and where Gen. Phillips with the army immediately landed. Fifty-six horses of the Queen's Rangers had been embarked, those of offi- cers included : the dismounted men brought with them their saddles and accoutrements. Gen. Phillips ordered Lt. Col. Simcoe to proceed to York Town, where, it was understood, that there were only the artillerymen, who superintended the battery, and a few mihtia. He marched accordingly with forty cavalry, accompanied by Major Damcr, who acted as Adjutant General to Gen. Phillips : the infantry of the Queen's Rangers proceeded with the army to Williamsburg. The night was uncommonly dark and tempestuous, and Lt. Col. Simcoe found himself un- der the necessity of halting at a farm-houso, during its continuance : in the morning he gallopprd into the town, surprised and secured a few of the artillcry- ^i w 192 n 1 S"! JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS 1 ^fti;;^> > • 1/ ' 1 V < I •. :;! N '■■■■ men, the others made off in a boat. He directed the guns of the batteries, already loaded, to be fired, as a signal to the Bonetta sloop, which sailed up and anchored off the town ; and he burnt a range of the rebel barracks. Upon the hearing of cannon at Wil- hamsburg, the party returned thither ; and it appear- ed, that there had only been a skirmish at the out- post of that place, where the troops had arrived the preceding evening without molestation: Quarter- Master M'Gill, with some of the huzzars of the Queen's Rangers, having charged and dispersed the only patrole of the enemy who had appeared in the front. General Phillips asked Lt. Col. Simcoe, when he waited upon him to make his report, how many men would it require to defend York Town ? and on his hesitating, with great quickness, said "Four "hundred, five hundred, a thousand," and seemed greatly surprised when ho replied two thousand : this was the only conversation that passed between them on the subject. Lt. Col. Simcoe had no order to re- connoitre the ground, and what he did observe was merely for liis own information; and the number of troops necessary for its defence against the American forces, he guessed at, on the supposition of its being properly fortified, and above all made bomb proof, without which he knew all fortifications to be useless, and which he had stated, at a period in which there was not a bomb proof in any of the British fortifica- tions, as absolutely necessary in his plan for the oc- cupation of llillingsport. The army marched to Barret's ferry, near the Chickahominy, and embarked ■'4'' .' OF THE queen's RANGERS. 193 ected the I fired, as up and ge of the natWil- it appear- the out- rrived the Quarter- rs of the jersed the red in the icoe, when liow many n ? and on id "Four nd seemed isand : this ivcen them »rdcr to rc- jserve was number of B American )f its being omb proof, bo useless, vhich there sh fortifica- or the oc- iiarched to d embarked immediately, the Queen's Rangers excepted, who formed the rear guard and lay on shore the whole night, in a position which a little labour rendered un- assailable. Gen. Phillips here gave out the strictest orders to prevent privateers, the bane and disgrace of the country which employs them, from preceding the fleet, and being found upon any of the rivers maraud- ing or plundering : he also explained the second ob- ject of the expedition, which was to obtain posses- sion of Hood's battery, now reported to be closed, without unnecessary risk ; to open all obstructions on the James river, and to seize the arms said to be at Prince George Court house. The Major General is- sued the following excellent order : " Commanding " officers of corps, and those detached are to keep " regular journals during their absence, which, upon " their return, they will give in, with their reports, " when called upon." There never was a regulation better calculated to do justice to the active and de- serving officer, in every rank and station : it at once established a method, by which it became the duty of officers to detail their own professional skill, and that of those subordinate to them, with the result of it to the Commander in Chief, without wounding modest merit with tho iiucussity of self commendation. At the same time, should any man be so base as to arro- gate to himself services which he had never perform- ed, and which sooner or later cannot fail of being divulged, this order would subject the offisnder to the penalty as well as the disgrace of making a false re- port. Tho troops finding no opposition at Hood's, ;i f fkmm .H I 5 1 • , 'i •, . 194 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS or on the James river, proceeded without delay up the river : off Westover Major Gen. Phillips issued the following orders : " A third object of the present ' expedition is to gain Petersburg for the purpose of ' destroying the enemy's stores at that place, and it ' is public stores alone that are intended to be seized ; ' for private property and the persons of individuals, ' not taken in arms, are to be under the protection of ' the troops ; and Major Gen. Phillips depends on ' the activity and zeal of the troops on this occasion. ' The movement from City point to Petersburg, will ' be made by land ; and it is apprehended, the boats will not be able to follow till the shores are cleared ' of the enemy. The march will be conducted with ' the greatest caution, and the soldiers will pay the ' strictest obedience to orders : the conduct of the ' officers is not to be doubted. When the troops ' form it is to be done in the following manner : The ' infantry and huzzars of the Queen's Rangers, with a detachment of Yagers and Althause's rifle com- ' pany, form the advanced guard, under Lt. Col. Sim- ' coc. The first line to be composed of the light in- ' fantry ; the second to be composed of the 80th and '76th regiments, who will form three deep, and in ' compact order. The grcnadicis nnd light infantry ' of the 80th, with the Amoriciui legion, to form the ' reserve under Mnjor Gordon. The cavalry of the ' Queen's Rangers, to form with the reserve, till such time as they may be called upon the wing, of the first or second line. As the present movements will be made in u difficult country, it becomes necessa- (( (( <( i ■• ..li! lelay up 3 issued present irpose of ,e, and it 3 seized ; iividuals, ection of pends on occasion, burg, will the boats re cleared icted with 11 pay the uct of the the troops iner: The igers, with rifle com- . Col. Sim- ic light in- le 80th and ip, and in ht infantry [o form the Iry of the c, till such ing, of the cmcnts will IS ncccssa- OF THE queen's RAXGERS. 195 " ry that officers leading columns and commanding " corps, should use and exert the intelligence of their " own minds, joined to the knowledge of the service, " in times of an attack, when they cannot immediate- " ly receive the orders of the Brigadier General, or " Major General. Should the particular difficulty of " the country, occasion the first line to take up new " ground toward the rear, it may not be improper, " perhaps, to do so by becoming a second line in the " rear of the 76th and 80th, who will form openings, " if necessary, for the purpose. It is to be observed, " that the reserve is to be the point of assembly, for " the troops upon any difficult occasion. The im- " pression made upon an attack, by the advanced " corps and light infantry, will be supported in firm " order by the second line ; and the cavalry will " watch the moment for charging a broken enemy. " The artillery attached to the several corps, will be " under the command of Capt. Fagc, who, with the " participation of the commanding officers, or those " bearing the orders of the General Officers, will ex- " ert their utmost endeavours to co-operate with the " rest of the troops." On the 24tli the troops landed, and passed the night at City point, and on the 'ioth marched towards Petersburg. The report of the forces collected at that place varied ; but it was ap- parent, that they rather distrusted their own strength, or were miserably connnandcd, as no shadow of op- position was made at some passes which were very difficult, and which would have delayed or embar- rassed the army. Within two miles of Petersburg, V ■'.<*, 196 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS '7< -J Iff' the wood ending in a plain, the army halted until the troops in the rear had closed to the front : the enemy appeared at a distance, and the troops advanced. At a gully in front some firing took place from a party of the enemy, which was posted on the opposite bank ; they killed a Yager and fled. A Serjeant, who had been detached with a party of Yagers to the right, by means of an orchard, got upon the enemy's left flank undiscovered, and fired with great effect upon them as they retreated. The ground was di- vided by small inclosures, with houses on each side of the road, which, through a narrow pass in front, led to Petersburg ; on the right of it were small emi- nences, terminating at the Appamatox river, and on the left, hilly ground covered with wood, at the foot of which was an old mill stream. The troops halted, and Lt. Col. Simcoe accompanied Gen. Phillips to the right, where, at the distance of a quarter of a mile, he could see the enemy drawn up : Gen. Phil- lips soon selected a spot to which he ordered the ar- tillery to be brought, and it arrived undiscovered ; he then directed it to fire, and ordered Lieut. Col. Aber- crombie to march towards the enemy in front, Lieut. Col. Simcoe with the Rangers to pass through the wood to the left to turn the enemy's right flank, and Capt. Boyd with the second battalion of light infant- ry to support him, as the rest of the troops did Lieut. Col. Abercrombic. Lt. Col. Simcoe, on emerging from the wood, found a high woody ridge, immedi- ately on his left : ho desired Capt. Boyd would attend to it, who sent flanking parties thither. Lieut. Col. I until the \ie enemy need. At (I a party 3 opposite •jeant, who ers to the tie enemy's reat effect nd was di- i each side ss in front, ) small emi- ^rer, and on , at the foot •oops halted, . Phillips to quarter of a : Gen. Phil- iered the ar- icovered ; he t. Col. Aber- front, Lieut, through the it flank, and light infant- )p8 did Lieut. on emerging dge, immedi- would attend Lieut. Col. OF THE queen's RANGERS. 197 Abercrombie pushing forward his battaUon, the ene- my's first hne quitted their station in confusion; but it appeared to Lieut. Col. Simcoe, that they had a second line posted, probably to secure the retreat of the first, and that this party, who seemed totally oc- cupied with what was doing in the front, had no out flankers, but that those of the first line had fallen back upon the main body. His aim was to get as much upon their flank as possible, attack them, and pass the bridge over the Appamatox with them : on the opposite side of this bridge, upon the heights, were troops and cannon, but the banks were so steep that their fire could do but little injury to an active assailant. The enemy, still pressed in front by Lieut. Col. Abercrombie, fled so rapidly that the Queen's Rangers had no opportunity of closing with them, though, from their dress, they had marched a consid- erable way unnoticed. The enemy's cannon began to fire grape at the light infantry, who had reached the town of Biandford, and destroyed the bridge. Lt. Col. Simcoe thought it advisable to try whether there was not a ford, as was rumoured, at Bannister's mills, for the attempt at least would make the enemy draw ofl" their cannon. A party of horsemen appeared upon the heights near Bannister's house : . ')ey gal- lopped oflf on the approach of the troops, and proved to have been people of the country, who came as spectators of the encounter. The enemy now fired round shot, but ineflectually, at the Queen's Rangers : a party at the same time marched, on the opposite side of the river, towards the mills, but it was soon IG J ^'i ■ . •' ; 1- i 1" ■JW. '. \'m 198 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS '■'Mm ;• f..'i l(ilt J't (iiif/rrs . t" Ulll ,>/'/'ij \ tun (i/'//u' l^ lu'ciis' H iiiit/i'i-i ''•' "j ' it Uo/i (>/ f/c -^IMi 'i. o • t h o . c (. 1 r" SliETt 7/ OF T/iK S 1\ 1 1{ .M I S 1 1 AT V I •', T I', il S W \ ' W T. . /irfir^i-n (I'r Uu.Viil muiv ,/.,,/..■ li CJ- ' rH H. 1. 1 !'> ft/it( ///f Americcii A.'iiiv f', „■/>///, /i/,/,/ h\ \L\ JI)H ('K y ' S'/'/J f'HK \ Bv I. Hills l.itMi' i.V.'l'ioo'vV Ass'. Kiii-'; J/ S/ie/NPrs . 7 >:> /7 ^ / r,i;)l,'i/ /'rill// ,1 sK-,/'-/' il/'\' . tyi'S^*', •^> 4,. ^^V^^ **'^%'«(|l/Mi«WWf«»»'^ f ^ -" ■ - •' 'siftW'',^ ■■'■•■•' sr fe' fl F/ F K f^/:-X <•/<:. s' €y 1. )(ff/{'/:v. 2 . Fun r Pieces o/' ('a nncni . V /i/ ///.>■// I/' 1,/l'y \ (f lU'c/is ji itiu/fis . 5. /^ i/'/p Mr/i 6. Ai/icr/Ciin J) . 2" /'om/io// ii/'f/io U lu^eui' F (iz/t^rz-fi. 10. .'^'^/?>y/i'/,7//^y/,/^/ S C A I, !•'- ^j» ..^jUJ i/Af.;. if«S w^M j: m 1 s^^r '* ■ V.;. ,~ ■ 1 1 , ■. '■* ■• , 1 ' '. ' ■' ■ ' ,oiL :,i-^!- f ■;if ; :" i thi CO th( tici Ar the stn « a ai tro( witl ship cult a sn opei Lt. the: been Yag^ thirt her^ cipa shot from Simc and execi as a the to th pearc OF THE queen's RANGERS. 199 that no information of the approach of the troops could reach them ; and there was no doubt but that the fire of the cannon would have given the first no- tice of the arrival of the army. In this situation Gen. Arnold sent a flag of truce to the enemy, offering half the contents of their cargoes in case they did not de- stroy any part ; the enemy answered, " That they " were determined and ready to defend their ships, " and would sink in them rather than surrender." The troops marched on : Gen. Arnold stationed Lt. Rogers with two three pounders near the stern of a large ship, which had springs upon her cable. With diffi- culty she brought her broadside to bear, and returned a smart fire, when Capt. Fage, with two six pounders, opened from an unexpected quarter, with great effect. Lt. Col. Simcoe placed the Queen's Rangers out of the line of fire, and directed Lt. Spencer, who had been sent to reconnoitre the left, to conduct some Yagers by a route partly covered by ditches, within thirty yards of her stern. Luckily she had loaded her guns only with round shot, expecting that the prin- cipal attack would have been made by water ; grape shot must inevitably have killed or driven the artillery from their guns. Gen. Arnold sent orders to Lt. Col, Simcoe to march the Queen's Rangers to the shore, and to fire musketry at the ship : he was preparing to execute this order, when, what he shall ever esteem a as a most fortunate shot, cut a spring cable and threw the ship round : in this situation, the crew, exposed to the raking of Lt. Rogers' cannon, and whoever ap- peared upon deck to the fire of the Yagers, and despair- ■ #■..'■■'>:■■:■■, \4 .i \i -I -•-1 «■ ■ • • > 'ii 200 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS ing of assistance from the remainder of the ill-stationed fleet, were frightened and took to their boat to escape : the Yagers beginning a severe fire on them, some jump- ed overboard. Lt. Spencer, with difficulty, stopped the firing, and parlying with the boat's crew, they sur- rendered, and as they were directed, rowed to the shore in possession of the King's troops. Lt. Fitz- patrick, with volunteer Armstrong, and twelve of the Queen's Rangers, leaped into the boat and rowed on board the ship : he then sent another boat on shore, and, with great judgment and spirit proceeded towards the furthermost ship in the fleet : the Highland com- pany embarked on board the captured frigate, and a scene of singular confusion ensued. The enemy had scuttled several of their ships, which were now sink- ing; others, boarded by the intrepid Lt. Fitzpatrick. were on fire ; and although cannon and musketry from the opposite shore, kept up a smart fire on him, that active officer rowed on. He put three men on board one ship, and cut her cable, and he left volunteer Arm- strong with three more in another, and attained him- self the headmost, whose guns he immediately turned upon the enemy. A ship, which was blown up near the Tempest, the State frigate, which had been the first taken, in its explosion, lodged some fire on her top gallant and fore stay-sail, which now blazed out ; Capt. M'Kay, with the Highlanders had cut her cable to avoid the danger, and she now drifted ; but the cur- rent running easterly, luckily drove her near the shore, occupied by the King's troops, and, by the exertion of the Highlanders, whom their many sea voyages OF THE QUEEN^S RANGERS. 201 tationed escape : ne jump- stopped they sur- d to the Lt. Fitz- \fe of the rowed on )n shore, d towards and com- Lte, and a nemy had now sink- itzpatrick. ictry from him, that I on board teer Arm- lined him- ely turned n up near been the ire on her azed out ; her cable ut the cur- thc shore, exertion a voyages had made active and experienced in such dangers, the flames were extinguished, and the prize effectually se- cured. To add to the horror, volunteer Armstrong finding the ship he was on board of in flames, beyond his power to master, had swam on shore to procure a boat to bring off the men he had with him ; and the only one in the possession of the troops, was des- patched for that purpose : he had just time to save his men, when the vessel blew up. The whole of the fleet, consisting of two ships of twenty guns, a brig of sixteen, and several other armed vessels, were ei- ther taken or destroyed. One twenty gun ship, a brig of sixteen guns, two lesser and a sloop, were brought down and safely moored, after a firing which lasted above two hours : Lt. Fitzpatrick brought off that which he was on board of, deliberately closing the rear. The troops remained in this vicinity till the 29th, when they proceeded towards Manchester. The bridge at Robert's mills, which had been destroyed, was repaired, and the army encamped near Cary's house : next morning they marched to Manchester, from whence they had a view of M. Fayette's army, encamped on the heights of Richmond : on the even- ing they returned to Cary's. Lt. Col. Simcoe, with the rear guard, had orders to destroy a large quantity of flour in Cary's mills ; but on his representing to Gen. Phillips, that this duty of fatigue could not bo finished in the time allotted for the purpose, ho was directed to burn them, which was accordingly done. This flour was destined for the Spaniards, but prob- ably would have been used as supplies for Fayette's 16* I'r 202 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS f I 1 1 • V :• ■ ■'i ' ■ ■; 'i ■:;'' ' ■■ ». .1 ', army. The troops proceeded by Osborne's to the Bermuda Hundreds : a quantity of cattle was collect- ed for them, by a detachment of the Queen's Rangers the next day ; and the whole army embarked on the evening of the 2d of May. The captured ships were conveyed down the river by a detachment of the Queen's Rangers, and not without opposition from the miUtia, particula'-ly against that commanded by Lt. Allen, which ran on shore ; but, by his exertions and' bravery, was gotten off without material injury. Gen. Phillips, whilst the army lay at Gary's, had thrown some troops over the opposite side of James river. On the return from Blanford, Lt. Gol. Simcoe took occasion to represent to him the possibility of the whole army crossing, ar-H h*. while the advance guard moved on towards Ri 1 4 J J 'i i i #^i OF THE queen's RANGERS. 211 in white, T his cir- 3l. Simcoe ►1. Hicks's. g and pro- after the ;ir infantry le night in mcoe, with From the m. Arnold, (pinion that lerefore had rnwalUs, till was evident old was di- jfficer being Lry to do so, 1 Lieut. Col. ; Earl Corn- 3 Petersburg irmy arrived ley marched mes river on estover, re- lom he had as prisoner |S committed sntation was lures to pre- ised miscre- ants, by representing them to Sir Henry Clinton. The army marched towards the Chickahominy, and arrived at Bottom bridge on the 28th. Lt. Col. Sim- coe, with his cavalry, by a circuit, passed the Chick- ahominy, and patrolled to New-Castle, where he seiz- ed some rebel officers ; and on his return, imposed upon and took several Virginia gentlemen, who were watching the motions of Earl Cornwallis. In the evening his Lordship marched ; and Lt. Col. Simcoe halted during the night, and then followed the army ; perhaps not without utility, as the rear was uncom- monly long, and the road running, in many places, through thickets, patroles of the enemy might easily have taken a great many stragglers. He divided his cavalry into small parties, left them at different dis- taiices, and collected the tired men as well as possi- ble, which was not in the power of the infantry, that formed the rear guard, to effect. Capt. Cooke's troop joined the Queen's Rangers, from New-York, but without a single cavalry, appointment, or arms : the army halted near New-Castle on the 29th, and march- ed to Hanover Court-house the next day, where some large brass cannon, without carriages, were found, and attempted to be destroyed : the Queen's Rangers had advanced to South Anna bridge, and chased and took a patrole of the enemy. The next day they crossed the North Anna, patrolled for intelligence, and took a militia gentleman on his return from Fayette's army. The army proceeded to Tile's ordinary, on the Ist of June : Lt. Col. Simcoe crossed the North Anna, with his cavalry, with orders to get intelUgence ^f i ■J 3 ..{I 212 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS fcs; .■1 iv': 1 '! .'■■;,';t- i :i :':>(' ., I' '■' ■ ', , • ■ t- "'■ ■'■■*'' -i ' - ,■■'. t i' ) '. 'Mi. ,: \ :l nd ford on the Rivana, above the Flu- vana, the junction of which rivers, at the point of Fork, forms the James river : not a person escaped who tv as in sight, and the advanced cavalry were so tn maged as totally to conceal the advance of the in- fantry. At night the corps lay upon their arms, in 17* I i:. *■ ■A i-'l M 214 JOURNAL OP THE OPERATIONS 'If , I... \ the strongest position which could be conveniently found, on the principle of making a front each way ; and having a strong reserve of infantry, as well as cavalry, within the circle, ready to support any part which might be attacked, and to sally from it if or- dered : the guards and sentinels were, as usual, in ambuscade. After two days' march, as the party ap- proached Napier's ford, some prisoners and letters were taken, and other intelligence obtained, by which it appeared, that the march had been hitherto undis- covered, and that Lt. Col. Tarleton's detachment alone had been heard of; that Baron Steuben was about to march to oppose a patrole of Earl Corn- wallis' army, or, more probably, deceived in his intel- ligence of a detachment that had never been made ; and, that the Baron's force consisted of nine hundred effective men, exclusive of the militia who were as- sembling to join him. The troops had already march- ed that day nearly twenty miles, and the two preced- ing days not less than thirty each, when this intelli- gence was accumulated. Lt. Spencer was directed to proceed cautiously, gaining what intelligence he could, to Naj>ier's house, which stood on a high and com- manding ground ; near which it was intended to halt during the night and to ambuscade the ford, it being the purpose to attack the enemy, by day break, the next morning. Lt. Spencer went to the house of a Colonel Thompson, which was surrounded with very high fences, and, alighting from his horse, approached that gentleman, who was accompanied by four of the militia, asking, in a familiar manner, the road to the OF THE queen's RANGERS. 215 veniently ich way ; s well as any part a it if or- usual, in I party ap- nd letters , by which rto uiidis- etachment 3uben was iarl Corn- in his intel- een made; ne hundred o were as- lady niarch- wo preced- lis intelli- irected to ;e he could, and com- ded to halt •d, it being ircak, the louso of a with very .pproached four of the •cad to the Baron's camp. Col. Thompson, suspecting his errand, though armed, retreated precipitately and made his escape, with three of his men ; the fourth, seeing that two huzzars, who had accompanied Lt. Spencer, could not get over the fence, or assist him, presented a double barrel piece within five yards of his breast : Lt. Spencer, with great presence of mind, immediately threatened to have him flogged on his arrival at the Baron's camp, and, pulling some papers from his pock- et, told him, that they were his despatches from M. Fayette : at the same time he moved gently towards him, intending, if possible, to seize the muzzle of his firelock, but, as the one advanced, the other retreated, keeping his piece still presented, until, getting over a fence at the back of the house, he ran towards the river. At this moment, Lt. Spencer could have shot him with a pocket pistol ; but having received intima- tion from Lt. Col. Simcoe, that it was expected the enemy had a post at Napier's ford, two miles lower, he prudently permitted him to escape, rather than make an alarm : these people left five good horses behind them. He then proceeded to Napier's ford, and leaving his party unseen, at a proper distance, he crossed the river, with three men : on the opj)Osite side were two militia men well mounted, from wiiom he learnt that Baron Steuben was at the point of Fork ; that he had sent the greatest part of his stores, and some troops, on the south side the river, and was superintending the transportation of the remainder with the greatest despatcii. Lt. Spencer completely imposed on their creduUty ; they sutlered him to re- 1^ I -•1 M -*'-•*'; 216 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS i| i I .1- )•/ lieve them with two of his own men, and accompani- ed him to Col. Napier's house, whom he took prison- er. On this intelhgence, Lt. Col. Simcoe determined to march, with the utmost celerity, towards Baron Steuben, hoping to cut off" his rear guard : Lt. Spen- cer preceded and occupied the road, and every point from whence the troops could be seen, as they forded the river ; and, in order to prevent any intelligence from Col. Thompson. Within two miles of Baron Steuben's encampment, a patrole of dragoons appear- ed ; they were chased and taken : it consisted of a French officer and four of Armand's corps. They confirmed Lt. Col. Simcoe in his belief, that Baron Steuben was ignorant of his approach, as they were destined to patrole twenty miles from thu point of Fork to the place where, it afterwards appeared. Earl Cornwallis's army had arrived the preceding night, and they were to have passed the Rivana at its lowest ford, Lt. Col. Simcoe's circuituous march, to cross at the upper, having answered the expected purpose. T' advanced men of the huzzars changed clothes Willi the prisoners, and dispositions were now made for the attack. The huzzars in the enemy's clothing, were directed to gallop to the only house on the point, and where it was understood Baron Steuben was, at once to dismount and, if possible, to seize him : they were to bo supported by a detachment of cavalry, the light infantry company and the cannon. Captain Stevenson was intended to fortify the house, and to place the cannon there as a point of reserve ; Captain Hutchinson was to form the Highlanders, on the Icff ; I;:} '■ 'll OF THE dVEEN^S RANGERS. 217 compani- k prison- stermined ds Baron Lt. Spen- ^ery point ley forded itelligence of Baron ns appear- iisted of a ps. They that Baron they were \\M point of ►eared, Earl eding night, it its lowest h, to cross ed purpose. igcd clothes now made |y's clothing, in the point, iben was, at him: they of cavalry, In. Captain ►use, and to c; Captain L on the left ; and Lt. Col. Simcoe meant to occupy the wood on the right of the house. The order was about to be given for the men to lay down their knapsacks, when the advance guard brought in Mr. Farley, Baron Steu- ben's Aid du Camp : he mistook them for the patrole which had been just taken, and came to see whether it had set off. Serjeant Wright being near the size and appearance of Mr. Farley, was directed to ex- change clothes with him, to mount his horse, and lead the advance guard ; when that officer assured Lieut Col. Simcoe, that he had seen every man over the Fluvana, before he left the point of Fork : this was confirmed by some waggoners, who, with their teams, were now taken. The cavalry immediately advanced, and the enemy being plainly seen on the opposite side, nothing remained but to stop some boats, which were putting off from the extreme point : this Capt. Shank effected, and took about thirty people who were on the banks, from which the embarkation had proceed- ed. Every method was now taken to persuade the enemy, that the party was Earl Cornwallis's army, that they might leave the opposite shore, which was covered with arms and stores : Capt. Hutchinson, with the 7.dt -cgiment, (clothed in red,) was directed to advance as near to the banks of the Fluvana as ho could with perfect safety, and without the hazard of a single man, from the enemy's shot, who had lined the opposite shore : the baggage and women halted among the woods, on the sununit of the hill, and, in thot position, made the appearance of a numerous corps : the three-poundcr was carried down, the ar- i- (■?'.< ,*.; i.<; .1 , • ( ,► ^ fe 218 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS Ml-' '" ':, I. ■ ^ tillery men being positively ordered to fire but one shot and to take the best aim possible, which they performed, killing the horse of one of Baron Steu- ben's orderly dragoons. The troops occupied the heights which covered the neck of the point, and their numbers were concealed in the wood. Baron Steuben was encamped on the heights on the oppo- site side of the river, about three quarters of a mile from its banks : the prisoners, and observation con- firmed the information which had been received of his numbers. As night approached, and the me i were somewhat refreshed, every precaution was taken to prevent any surprise which the number, and the char- acter of the enemy's general, might lead them to at- tempt. Lt. Col. Simcoe who, from his childhood, had been taught to consider the military as the most ex- tensive and profound of sciences, had no apprehen- sion from the talents of such men as had been edu- cated in different professions, and whom accident had placed at the head of armies ; and he had always as- serted it as a principle, that, from the superiority of the King's troops, and of the ofiicers who led them, if he should ever have a command, in which he should be superior in one species of troops, whether cavalry or infantry, he would be totally unconcerned for the event of any action he might have with the enemy. Baron Steuben had no cavalry, yet, in the present sit- uation, there was great room for anxiety, since the immediate ground of encampment was not favourable for the exertions of his few, but well trained, well of- ficered, and invincible body of cavalry ; and the enc- but one ich they on Steu- ipied the oint, and [. Baron the oppo- of a mile ition con- Bce.'ved of ! me 1 were 8 taien to d the char- hem to at- [dhood, had le most ex- > apprehen- ibeen edu- ccident had always as- periority of o led them, h he should iher cavalry •ned for the the enemy, present sit- ^ since the t favourable led, well of- nd the enc- OF THE queen's RANGERS. 219 my were led by a Prussian officer. The very milita- ry instructions of his king were capable of forming better officers than any other theory could possibly do, or probably could be effected by the experience of ten ' campaigns under incompetent masters. In the exer- cise also which he had given the rebel army, the Baron Steuben had shown himself an able officer, and that he well knew how to adapt the science of war to the people whom he was to instruct, and to the country in which he was to act. He had passed the Fluvana; but he had done this in consequence of his orders to join General Green's army : an express sent to coun- termand this order, Lt. Col. Simcoe knew had been taken a few days before by Lt. Col. Tarleton ; and it was fair to suppose, that he might now have further intelligence ; that he might be perfectly acquainted with the numbers of his opponents, and might possi- bly determine to attack lit. Col. Simcoe, as well as the detachment which the intercepted letter mentioned, that he was preparing to meet. Lt. Col. Simcoe was therefore apprehensive, lest Baron Steuben, having secured his stores which were of great value, over a broad and unfordable river, and, being in possession of all the boats, should repass his troops in tlie night, higher up the river, and fall on him, so that, if the British troops should be beaten, they would have no retreat, being shut up between two rivers, while those of the Americans, sliould they be repulsed, were pre- served from the pfsuit of the cavalry by the thick woods, which came close to their encampment, and, from that of the infantry, by the fatigues they had un- I ' ■■■> .Mil H V >!,'^ 220 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS ii;ViV. i4 t W y'i -^r ■ ■a ^•■^ s.>.;'; *^ ^ .iK^.y') dergone in a march of nearly forty miles the preced- ing mcrniiig. These ideas occupied the mind of Lt. Col. Simcoe, and he would have quitted his camp had he not thought the troops too much fatigued, to search for a more favourable position, which was not to be attained for some miles ; and, partly, had he not hoped that Steuben would believe him to be the advance of Earl Cornwallis' army, particularly, as the light troops had no soldiers among them clothed like the 71st regi- ment, in red. That regiment, and the Queen's Ran- gers, occupied the roads, with rail fletches and other defences : Capt. Althause, with his company and the Yagers, were posted on a knoU, among the woods, between the main body and the Fluvana, the cavalry lay in the rear of the Queen's Rangers, and small posts were extended so as to form a chain between the rivers. Capt. Shank had orders to send continual patroles of cavalry from river to river, about half a mile in front of the infantry ; and the troops were acquainted with the probabihty of an attack, and were perfectly prepared for it. At night, the enemy were heard destroying their boats, with great noise : at midnight, Capt. Shank informed Lt. Col. Simcoe, that they were making up their fires, and that he sup- posed they were moving; with which he perfectly agreed, M'hen it was seen that they were utiiformly refreshed throughout their camp. Soon after, a desert- er and a little drummer boy came from the enemy in a canoe, and gave information that Steuben had marched off on the road by Cumberland Court-house, towards North Carolina. It is remarkable this boy belonged } preced- id of Lt. ;amp had to search not to be not hoped dvance of ght troops 71st regi- icn's Ran- and other ny and the he woods, [he cavahy and small in between d continual bout half a •oops were ittack, and the enemy Ireat noise : (1. Simcoe, :hat he sup- le perfectly uniformly |er, a desert- enemy in a [ad marched ise, towards >y belonged OF THE queen's RANGERS. 221 to the 71st regiment : he had been taken prisoner at the Cow-pens, enlisted with the enemy, and now, making his escape, was received by the piquet which his father commanded. When day-light appeared, there was not an enemy to be seen. Sergeant John M'Donald, of the Highland company of the Queen's Rangers, swam over to the enemy's shore, and brought off a large canoe : two or three smaller ones were found on the Rivana. The cannon and riflemen were sent down to line the bushes on the banks of the Fiuvana ; and, under their protection. Captain Stevenson, with twenty of the light infantry, passed over to the opposite banks, wl ich he found covered with the enemy's stores. Cornet Wolsey was then sent over with four huzzars, with their saddles : he was directed to get some of the straggling horses which had been left by the enemy, to post himself upon the road on the summit of the hill, and then, if he should meet with an enemy's patrole, to make a great shout and every demonstration of pursuing them, to impress them with an idea that the whole corps had passed. Capt. Stevenson was employed in sending oft* such things as might be useful to the troops, and destroying the remainder. As the de- tachment met with plenty of provisions and forage at the point of Fork, Lt. Col. Simcoe determined to halt there the whole of the day ; but, that his return to Earl Cornwallis' army might not be in the least de- layed, he was attentive to the building of a float, by which he might pass the Rivana at its confluence with the South Anna : this would save him a day v. march, 18 i I % '»i t-i- 222 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS I ;iffl">,.ii '.%, •< ■ m^tj'i- .r ■)■■ which he must have made in case he should repass it at the nearest ford. He also meant to use this float in carrying down the cannon and mortars which the enemy had left, to Earl Cornwallis, at Goochland Court-house. In the middle of the day a patrole from Lt. Col. Tarleton, who was on the opposite side of the Rivana, communicated with him ; the float was completed and launched towards noon, and Capt. Ste- venson, having effectually done his business, returned in the evening. Cornet Wolsey had very fortunately executed his orders, for a patrole of the enemy had approached to the place where he was posted, and, on perceiving him, fled with the utmost speed. It was afterwards understood, that on this patrole joining Baron Steuben, in consequence of their report, he immediately proceeded twenty miles farther, though he had already marched thirty miles from the point of Fork. He must have believed that the whole of Earl Cornwallis' army were in pursuit of him, or he would have scarcely abandoned such a quantity of stores : a guard of twenty or thirty men would have effectually prevented the Rangers from destroying them, and they would have been in perfect safety in that case, had Earl Corwallis adhered to his first intention, of halting at Goochland Court-house. The army arri- ving near the point of Fork on the 7th of June, Lt. Col. Simcoe passed the Rivana, and rejoined it. The Flu- vana being a larger river than the Rivana, at its con- fluence forces back the latter and it becomes as still as a mill pond. The water was fenced, as it were, with spars and canoes, so as to make a lane, and the hors< pas8( dred hours broug boat, ried o Earl destra hundre der, ca phur, a of rum tools, a with ca great va meiit of saries, a ed amon teen-inc four Jon^ York T< [ der. Li detachec the ware he passe J Seven is j of gunpo I houses o] militia w The arm' ^'i repass it this float hich the oochland role from [e side of float was 3apt. Ste- ;, returned brtunately nemy had )sted, and, id. It was or THE queen's rangers. 223 ole joining report, he ler, though n the point le whole of him, or he quantity of would have destroying lafety in that st intention, e army arri- iUne, Lt. Col. The Flu- ., at its con- imes as still as it were, [ane, and the horses swam over between them : the infantry passed on the float, which held, with ease, a hun- dred and thirty men, and had been made in four hours ; and the artillery, some of which had been brought over from the opposite shore in a smaller boat, made by the junction of two canoes, were car- ried over on it, and put into empty waggons sent by Earl Cornwallis for that purpose. There were destroyed at the point of Fork, two thousand five hundred stand of arms, a large quantity of gunpow- der, case shot, (Sec, several casks of saltpetre, sul- phur, and brimstone, and upwards of sixty hogsheads of rum and brandy, several chests of carpenters' tools, and upwards of four hundred intrenching tools, with casks of flints, sail cloth and waggons, and a great variety of small stores, necessary for the equip- ment of cavalry and infantry : such Unen and neces- saries, as would be of immediate service, were divid- ed among the captors. There were taken off", a thir- teen-inch mortar, five brass eight-inch howitzers, and four long brass nine pounders, mounted afterwards at York Town : all French pieces and in excellent or- der. Lieut. Col. Simcoe, on the 9th of June, was detached with his cavalry to destroy some tobacco in the warehouses, on the northern bank of the Fluvana : he passed at the lowest ford, and proceeding to the Seven islands, destroyed one hundred and fifty barrels of gunpowder, and burnt all the tobacco in the ware- houses on the river side, returning with some rebel militia whom he had surprised and made prisoners. The army remained in this district till the 13th of 224 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS ,',»-;• I- June ; and the cavalry of the Queen's Rangers made several patroles, particularly one to Bird's ordinary, at midnight, where, it was understood, the Marquis de la Fayette, with his forces, had arrived. It ap- peared, however, that they were at a great distance, so that the army moved towards Richmond, the Queen's Rangers forming the rear guard. The 71st regiment here left the Rangers ; the two corps had acted with the utmost harmony together, and Lt. Col. Sinicoe remembers, with great satisfaction, the ex- pressions of good will and regret which both the offi- cers and soldiers of that distinguished regiment made use of, when they quitted his command. Earl Corn- wallis arrived at Richmond the 16th of June. On the 17th, Lt. Col. Simcoe was detached with some infantry and his cavalry, to pass the James river, near Henrico Court-house ; which he did the next morn- ing, to facilitate the passage of the boats with con- valescents up to Richmond, and to clear the southern banks of the James river of any parties of militia who might be stationed to annoy them. The detach- ment recrossed the river on the night of the 19th, from Manchester to Richmond, and Captain Ewald, with the Yagers, joined the Queen's Rangers. On the 20th it being reported that the enemy had a flying corps, all mounted, under Gen. Muhlenberg, and con- sisting of twelve hundred men, Lt. Col. Simcoe was directed to patrole for intelligence : he marched with forty cavalry (but considering this a service of par- ticular danger) with the utmost caution. He quitted the road and marched through the woods, as nearly paral] ed, W( his gi of the their c Lt. Spi ty to eflfecte twenty though and tw Simcoe the pris marchei on the : Rangers two mil( was ord( ahomin} and som all the c{ to Willis I him, tha J two or t atWillia J coe marc suming a collected I where he (stroy on I Dandrige' if OF THE QUEEN^S RANGERS. 225 jrs made ardinary, Marquis . It ap- distance, lond, the The 71st jorps had id Lt. Col. 1, the ex- th the offi- iient made iarl Corn- June. On with some river, near [lext moni- with con- le southern of miUtia he detach- the 19th, ain Ewald, igers. On lad a flying ■g, and con- imcoe was irched with ice of par- He quitted as nearly parallel to it as the enclosures, which had been clear- ed, would admit. After a march of a few miles, to his great satisfaction, he discovered a flag of truce, of the enemy ; and he was certain, that according to their custom, some of them would be found * i its rear. Lt. Spencer was therefore detached with a small par- ty to get beyond them upon the road, which he effected, and found himself in the rear of a party of twenty men ; but the woods on his right being open, though Lt. Lawler supported him in front, one officer and two or three men only were taken. Lt. Col. Simcoe inmiediately returned, having procured from the prisoners every requisite intelligence. The army marched, on the 21st of June, to Bottom-bridge, and on the 22d to New Kent Court-house : the Queen's Rangers, who made the rear with the Yagers, lay near two miles on the left of the army. Lt. Col. Simcoe was ordered to march the next day towards the Chick- ahominy, where it was supposed there was a foundery, and some boats : these he was to destroy, to collect all the cattle he could find in the country, and proceed to Williamsburg ; and Lord Cornwallis expressly told him, that he might, in these operations, safely stsiy two or three days behind the army, who were to be at Williamsburg on the 25th of June. Lt. Col. Sim- coe marched early in the morning of the 24th, con- suming a quantity of Indian corn, which had been collected by the enemy's commissary, at the house where he quartered : he found little or nothing to de- stroy on the Chickahominy, and halted that night at Dandrige's, as Earl Cornwallis did in the neighbour- 18* }i 226 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS Win " -. hood of Bird's ordinary. The bridge over the Diesc- kung creek (a branch of the Chickahominy) had been broken down : this was three miles in the rear of the detachment, and Lt. Col. Simcoe would have passed it that night, so diffident was he of his security, had not the men been too much fatigued with their march, to be employed in so laborious a task as the repair of this bridge was understood to be. The next morn- ing, at day break, the detachment arrived there : it had been carelessly destroyed, and was, by anxious and laborious exertion, repaired sufficiently to pass over. Lt. Col. Simcoe then destroyed it most effect- ually, and marched on to Cooper's mills on the 25th, near twenty miles from Williamsburg, where Earl Cornwallis arrived in the course of the day. Lord Cornwallis's waggons had been at the mills the day before, and taken from thence all the flour they con- tained, so that it was difficult to get subsistence. Lt. Col. Simcoe felt his situation to be a very anxious one : he had not the smallest information of the ene- my's movements, whom he knew to be active and en- terprising; to have been lately joined by Gen. Wayne; and, that it was their obvious policy, to follow Earl Cornwallis as far towards the neck of Williamsburg as with safety they could, and to take any little ad- vantage which they could magnify in their newspa- pers. He had received no advices from Earl Corn- wallis, whose general intelligence he knew to be very bad ; and he and Major Armstrong agreed with Capt. Ewald, that the slightest reliance was not to be placed on any patroles from his Lordship's army. The next Iff ' ' m 4 !i :.< hi OF THE queen's RANGERS. 227 he Diesc- had been ear of the ,ve passed iirity, had eir march, e repair of ext morn- [ there: it )y anxious ly to pass aost effect- in the 25th, vhere Earl day. Lord ills the day r they con- istence. Lt. |ery anxious of the ene- Itive and en- en. Wayne; [follow Earl ilhamsburg ly Uttle ad- lir newspa- Earl Corn- to be very with Capt. to be placed The next advantage, to receiving good intelligence, is to deceive the enemy with that which is false : Lt. Col. Simcoe could not procure any confidential person to go to M. de la Fayette's camp : he therefore promised a great reward to a man, whom he knew to be a rebel, to go thither, with express injunctions to return to him by six or seven o'clock, at the farthest, the next morning, at which time he said he should march. The man accordingly set out towards night; and, at two o'clock in the morning, Major Armstrong with the Yagers, infantry and cannon, was on his march to Spencer's ordinary, on the forks of the road between Williams- burg and Jamestown : there he was to halt till the cavalry joined him, and then the whole, with the con- voy of cattle, which Capt. Branson, with some North Carolina loyaUsts, had been employed to collect, was to proceed to WiUiamsburg. Lt. Col. Simcoe, with the cavalry, was under arms at the time his infantry marched, and ready to proceed *vhenever Captain Branson thought there was light sufficient to drive the cattle, and to collect whatever might be met with on the road : the cavalry did not leave their camp till three o'clock. On approaching Spencer's ordinary, Lieut. Col. Simcoe ordered the fences to be thrown down, and rode into the open ground upon the right, observing it, as was his custom, and remarking, to the officers with him, " that it was an admirable place for " the chicanery of action." Lt. Lawler had been previously sent to direct the infantry to move onward to Williamsburg, when Major Armstrong returning with him, informed Lt. Col. Simcoe that there were ■f,,-. ^o.-' ;.t -t- A 228 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS 4 '. •• . Vl near an hundred head of cattle in the neighbourhood ; but that he waited till the drivers arrived to spare the infantry from that fatigue. Capt. Branson, with hia people, went to collect them ; and Capt. Shank, who commanded the cava'ry, was directed to feed his horses at Lee's farm, and Lt. Col. Simcoe accompani- ed Major Armstrong to the infantry. The highland Company of the Queen's Rangers had been posted in the wood, by the side of the road, as a piquet : a shot or two from their sentinels gave an alarm, and Lt. Col. Simcoe gallopping across the field, towards the wood, saw Capt. Shank in pursuit of the enemy's cavalry. They had passed through the fences which had been pulled down, as before-mentioned, so that, unperceived by the Highlanders, they arrived at Lee's farm, in pursuit of the people who were collecting the cattle. Trumpeter Barney, who had been sta- tioned as a vidette, gave the alarm, and gallopped off so as not to lead the enemy directly to where the cavalry were collecting their forage and watering, and, with great address, got to them unperceived by the enemy, calling out " draw your swords Rangers, " the rebels are coming." Capt. Shank, who was at Lee's farm waiting the return of the troops wit'i their forage, in order to post them, immediately joined, and led them to the charge on the enemy's flank, which was somewhat exposed, while some of them were engaged in securing the bat-horses at the back of Lee's farm : he broke them entirely. Serjeant Wright dashed Major Macphersoii, who connnanded them, irom his horse ; but, leaving him in pursuit uf others, , Si. 1 •• I ,! •_/ ,4,1 ■', ;•• ,/ OF THE queen's RANGERS. 229 that officer crept into a swamp, lay there unperceived during the action, and when it was over got off. Trumpeter Barney dismounted and took a French officer, who commanded one of the divisions. The enemy's cavalry were so totally scattered, that they appeared no more : many of them were dismounted, and the whole would have been taken, had not a heavy fire out of the wood, from whence the Highland com- pany were now driven, protected them. At this mo- ment Lt. Col. Simcoe arrived : he had, at the first shot, ordered the infantry to march in column into the '•oad towards the enemy, the light infantry com- pany and Capt. Ewald's detachment excepted, which, being on the right, were moving straight to their own front to gain the wood. Collecting from the prison- ers, that the enemy were in force, and that M. de la Fayrtt.e, and Ceuemls Wa^iit; uiiU Slciiben were at no great distance, the line was directed to be formed, spreading itself with wide intervals, and covering a great space of ground between the road on its left and Capt. Ewald on the right; and, when formed, it was directed to advance to gain tiic wood, as it was his idea, to outflank the enemy by the length of the line. The principle which Lieut. Col. Sinicoo always inculcited and acted on against the riflemen, (whom he judged to be in the advanced corps of M. Fayette's army,) was to rush upon them ; when, if epch sepa- rate company kept itself compact, there was little danger, even should it be surrounded, i'rom troops who were without bayonets, and w hose object it was to fire a single shot with efl'oct : the position of an 230 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS mvf II!' ■•a' ■■■'I.''- ■ ■■• n advancing soldier was calculated to lessen the true aim of the first shot, and his rapidliy to prevent the rifleman, who requires some time to load, frqm giving a second ; or at least to render his aim uncertain, and his fire by no means formidable. Lieut. Col. Simcoe had withdrawn the cavalry from the fire of the ene- my, and directed Capt. Althause, whose rifle compa- ny had been mounted, to dismount and to check them, if they sallied from the wood in pursuit of the caval- ry, or for the purpose of reconnoitering ; and this he executed very effectually. Captain Branson had dis- tinguished himself in the charge on the enemy's ca- valry, and being dressed in red, he became a marked object to them : he was now ordered with the drivers and the cattle, to proceed to Williamsburg ; expresses were sent to Lord Cornwallis ; and Lt. Allen, who acleil as Quni tci-Mastfr, curi iinl off tlip. bii^^jigo tliat road, was directed to cut down trees, and to barricade the first pass for the corps to rally, in case of neces- sity : the fences were pulled down on the Jamestown road, in tlie rear of the cavalry, that the retreat might be made that way, if, which wa« every moment to be exj)ected, the enemy should have occuj)iod the Wil- lianisburi: road in the roar. Lt. Col. Simcoe moved with the cavalry out of sight of the enemy, down the hill towards JamoBtown road, and re-ascending at Lcic's farm, there made a display of the whole force ; then foil back again behind the hill, leaving only the front, a dotaohinont of huzzars, both to prevent the left frori l)oing turned without notice, jind to deroive the enemy into a belief that the whole cavalry (w iioso J.1 OF THE queen's RANGERS. 231 the true vent the m giving tain, and . Simcoe the ene- 3 compa- ;ck them, he caval- id this he 1 had dis- emy's ca- a marked he drivers expresses illen, who i.^jijro that barricade of noces- amti&town ireat might luont to be I the Wil- oo moved I, down the lending at lolc force ; only the irevont the [to deceive [hy (whoso force they had already felt) were behind the eminen- ces, waiting for an opportunity to fall upon their right flank : he returned rapidly with the rest of the caval- ry undiscovered to the road, and formed them out of sight and out of reach of the enemy, partly in the road and partly on m left. Beyond Captain Ewald's flank there was open ground, which could easily be seen from the eminence on which Lieut. Col. Simcoe was, and (by the turn of the Williamsburg road) the cavalry would have had quick access to it, had the ^'-jomy appeared there : by the position of the cavalry, it was also ready, in case the infantry had given way to flank the enemy, if they should issue from the wood in pursuit of it ; the best substitute for want of the reserve, which from the extent of the woods and the enemy's numbers, had been thrown into the line. Upon the left of the road the three pounder was placed, the amuzette having broken down : there too the Highland company h>id retired. The enemy now ap- ^)eared in great f .e, lining the fences on the edge of the wood (which separated it from the open ground) in front of the infantry; and refusing their right upon the open ground, by echelons ; j)robably de- ceived by the ajjpearance of the cavalry at Leo's farm: to add to tlieir reasons for not advancing, one cannon shot, and no more, was ordered to be fired at the body, which appeannl to be at the greatest distance. The infantry was now in line, but with intervals be- tween liie companies, advancing as fast as the ploughed fu'lds they had to crotjs would admit. Lt. ' Jol. Simcoe did not expect victory, but he was deter- 232 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS WW','-- mh:':. mined to try for it ; his best hopes were to obtain and Hne the wood, checking the enemy's advance, till such times as the convoy was in security, and then to re- treat. He had the most general and particular confi- dence in the officers and soldiers of his corps, who were disciplined enthusiasts in the cause of their coun- try, and who, having been ever victorious, thought it impossible to suffer defeat ; nor had he less reliance on the acknowledged military talents of his friend Ewald, and the cool and tried courage of his Yagers : the event fully justified the expression which he used in the beginning of the action, " I will take care of the *' left ; while Ewald lives, the right flank will never "be turned." Fortune now decided in favour of the British troops : the road from Norwal's mills was en- closed with iiigh and strong fences ; a considerable body of the enemy being on the right of the road, and, seeing the infantry advancing, faced and were crossing these fences to flank them : they did not ob- serve the cavalry, wiiicli, while they were in this dis- order, lost not the moment ; but, led by Capt. Sliank, clmrgj'd tlirm up iho road, and upon its left (;n?iroly broke iind totally (lispcrsed thorn. The infnutry were or(l to advance, and they re lied on with the greatest rapidity ; the enemy's fire was in vain, thev were driven from tiie fcenes and the wood. Cap'. Ewald turned their left flank, and gave them a severe fire as they fled in the utmost confusion : could he have been supported as he wished, by a ♦'ery small body of fresh bayr)net njon, such wrr;- the advantage; of the ground, that the enemy, in confusion, and pan- ick St before C'Orne >vas ui promis Queen lant S( woundi carried beyond iiowevc fallen k they rel scarcel) was not his cava might h. most ir throuLdi ed the huzzars, nv, con' gaiJaritr> I'ie niou. 'lis chose iiat(^ly oji loss of a An afl'iiir variety of i'<'ported Charles 1 OF THE queen's RANGERS. 23o tain and till such !n to re- iar confi- rps, who leir coun- lought it ; rehance his friend .8 Yagers: h he used ;are of the will never our of the Us was en- )nsiderablc [ the road, and were did not ob- in this dis- ipl. Shunk, ifi (Uitirely fantry were with the vain, thev lod. Capt. I'm a severe coidd he »'ory small advantage Mi, and pan- ick strucken, would have received a very severe blow, before it could have been possible for them to rally. Cornet Jones, M'ho led the first division of cavalry, was unfortunately killed : he was an active, sensible, promising officer. The mounted rifiemen of the Queen's Rangers charged with Capt. Shank : the gal- lant Sergeant M'Pherson, Avho led them, was mortally wounded. Two of the men of this detachment were carried away by their impetuosity so far as to pass beyond the enemy, and their horses were killed : they, however, secreted themselves in the wood under some fallen logs, and, when the enemy fled from that spot, they returned in safety to the corps. By a mistake, scarcely avoidable in the tumult of action, Capt. Shank was not supported, as was intended, by the whole of his cavalry, by which fewer prisoners were taken than might have been : that valuable officer was in the most imminent danger, in fighting his May back through the enemy, m ho fired upon him, and wound- ed the Trumpeter Barney and killed some of the huzziirs, who attended him. The grenadier compa- ny, commanded by Capt. M'Gill, signalized by their gaJiaatry as well as by their dress, lost several valua- ble n^en. Capt. Stevenson was distinguished as usual : his chosen and well trnirhHl light infantry were obsti- nately opposed ; b\it they carried their point with the loss of a fourth of their nuufbers, kilhnl and wounded. An alfiiir of this nature necessarily alforded a great variety of gallant actions in individuals. Capt. M'Rae reported to Lt. Col. Simcoe, that his subaltern, Lt. Charles Dunlop, wiio had served in the Queen's Run- 19 234 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS I* I h ' * K-- ''* ^ ■ :% ,!•."■ ■■',1 gers from thirteen years of age, led on his division on horseback, without suffering a man to fire, watch- ing the enemy, and giving a signal to his men to lay down whenever a party of their's was about to fire : he arrived at the fence where the enemy had been posted with his arms loaded, a conduct that might have been decisive of the action : fortunately he es- caped unhurt. The whole of the loss of the Queen's Rangers amounted to ten killed, and twenty-three wounded ; among the latter was Lt. Swift Armstrong, and Ensign Jarvis, acting with the grenadiers : the Yagers had two or three men wounded and one killed. It may be supposed, in the course of so long a service, there was scarcely a man of them, whose death did not call forth a variety of situations, in which his courage had been distinguished, or his value exempli- fied ; and it seemed to every one, as if the flower of the regiment had been cut off. As the whole series of the service of fight trooj)s gives the greatest lati- tude for the exertion of individual talents, and of indi- vidual courage, so did the present situation require the most perfect combination v>i them : every division, every officer, every soldier had his share in the merit of the action : mistake in the one might have brought on cowardice in the otiier, and a single panick struck- en soldier would probably \va\v. inf<>eted a platoon, and led to the utmost confision and ruin; so that Ll. Col. Sinjcoe has ever considered this action as the climax of a campaign of five years, as the result of true discipline accjuircd in that space by unremitted -^; dilig( earne Til colle( Ewal( tion c them dient Spenc detacl; geon's off to party g comniii had cui it such less tha wallis, witli (h to Jiis atioii ol officers' least, t' times t was at twenty.( Sirncoe Diesciin^ oners, ai a march previous i> N t!r;,;r- OF THE queen's RANGERS. 235 division e, watch- en to lay t to fire : had been lat might ely he es- e Queen's 3nty-three rmstrong, [liers : the one killed, r a service, death did which his le exempli- c flower of liole series catest lati- ind of indi- oii require ry division, ,1 the merit \.> hrou*iht Ick ftruek- a platoon, so that lit. ion as the |\o result of unremitletl diligence, toil, and danger, as an honourable victory earned by veteran intrepidity. The instant Lt. Col. Simcoe could draw off and collect his force, and had communicated with Capt. Ewald, it was thought proper to retreat ; the informa- tion obtained from two and thirty prisoners, many of them officers and of different corps, making it expe- dient so to do : the wounded men were collected into Spencer's ordinary, there being no waggons with the detachment, and they were left there with the sur- geon's mate, and a flag of truce. The infantry filed off to the right, and the cavalry closed the rear : the party soon arrived at a brook, on the o{)posite and commanding side of which Lt. Allen, with the pioneers, had cut down some trees, and was proceeding to give it such defences as it was capable of receiving. In less than two miles, Lt. Col. Simcoe met Earl Corn- wallis, and the advance of his army, and returned willi them towards Spencer's ordinary : he reported to his Lordship what he had learned from an examin- ation of the rebel prisoners, and by his own and his officers' observations ; that the enemy were, at the l(^'ist, twelve hundred strong in action, above three times the number-; of his eorjts ; that Fayette's army was at no great distance ; that they had marched twenty-eight nules, and had no provisions : Lt. Col. Simcoe addvd, that he had eflectually destroyed the Diescung bridge. I.iul Cornwallis examined the |>ris- oners, and observed to Lt. Col. Simcoe, that it was ii march of great hazard in I'^ayette, as on tiie least previous intimation h{> imist have been cut ofl*. On 236 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS 'i . '•; 4^-.'- i I' • the approach to Spencer's, Lt. Col. Simcoe galloped forward, and was very happy to find, that his wound- ed men were not prisoners, none of the enemy hav- ing approached them ; and he found a foraging party of Earl Cornwallis' army, with the waggons on which the wounded and the dead were placed. So little idea was there entertained of Fayette's move, that this foraging party had proceeded some miles on the Williamsburg road, and would have been certainly taken, had it not been for the action at Spencer's. It was reported, and not without probability, that a pa- trole of the enemy met with this party on the road, where it was natural to expect Lord Cornwallis' army, and took it for his advance guard, and that this belief prevented them from renewing the attack. Lt. Col. Tarleton soon after arrived at Spencer's : he had advanced up the Williamsburg road, and in the wood in front of Spencer's, met with a great number of arms, thrown away, and other synn)toms of the con- fusion in which the enemy had fled : tiie army return- ed to Williamsburg, and the Queen's Rangers were hutted on the right at Queen's creek. At the com- mencement of the actioii, the bat-men and their horses, feeding at Lee's farm, were taken ; they were all rescued, Lt. Col. Simcoe's groom excepted, the only prisoner the enemy cjirried off. It was general- ly It ported, that the person who had been sent to Fayette's cump, from Cooper's mills, conducted Glen. Wayne thither, about four o'clock in the morning, who, wilii a large force, charge*! with fixed bayonet the fires which the Queen's Rangers had but just quit- ' ■ -■■■ '■ •>! V 1 'i'-' ■'5*1 galloped s wound- miy hav- ing party on which So httle ove, that es on the certainly nccr's. It that a pa- thc road, illis' army, this belief Lt. Col. s : he had 1 the wood number of if the con- •my return- ligers were [t the com- and their they were x'pted, the Uis gcncral- pen sent to [acted Gen. morning, [l bayonc* it just (luit- •J.i- ' f: o C, -^ ■ ki^'-^' "•• .■;v;^o-" -:■- '^^ ^-^^.^ &.^ ■:; . ^^^tfv^^:.y 3 ■' -■' ,' ^ ■'^■^'rP'-f-> "■ '.11 i" fz-i -• ^'.^*/./ ■ '■" - * i V'^>••^■>^'i'^•- I :.;^0" t %^ • /WA ■ ;,.<;^, If/ 7%: :ll:- ■'.-.' " -v^ # , ■'^w««f.■■4^.^■«ife 4 -T»r- tV^ Cr '''or -Or- -•.■*^- ..r.-.'t-'.v-''-'^-''' ., ■ ,■■'-■'■■ -. o "^ I"''-' ACTIO A', I .^v #^-^% '%4 p.. n. />." /N A/'/iC /(^ AtftfrA-. '{/r;. ,, . /. I ; , 1 - ^ ti. ■-,1: 1/ ■ o '- ^^ i' 1 .^-liiCL.:,: i •'■ • • , V- ,*?^ ■','.';> •■ ...../■■•■•»r.-i''. IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) 1.0 I.I 121 ■90 |2.5 1^ 1^ 2f Kg ■ 2.2 US u ■ 40 IL25 i 1.4 — 6" I 2.0 1.6 Photographic Sciences Corporalion 33 WtST MAIN STMIT VMUTN.N.Y. 14SM (71*)I73-4S0I 4p> C^ y OF THE queen's RANGERS. 337 ted. M. Fayette, in his public letters, stated the loss of the British at one hundred and fifty killed and wounded, and attributed it to the skill of his rifle- men : his own he diminished, recapitulating that only of the continental troops, and taking no notice of the militia : it is certain they had a great many killed and wounded, exclusive of the prisoners. The riflemen, however dexterous in the use of their arms, were by no means the most formidable of the rebel troops ; their not being armed with bayonets, permitted their opponents to take liberties with them which otherwise would have been highly improper. Cornet Jones was buried at Williamsburg the next day, with military honours. It was given out in the public orders, at Williamsburg, on the 28th of June, that " Lord Corn- " walhs desires Lieut. Col. Simcoe will accept of his " warmest acknowledgments for his spirited and judi- " cious conduct in the action of the 2Gth instant, when " he repulsed and defeated so superior a force of the " enemy. He likewise desires that Lt. Col. Simcoe " will communicate his thanks to the officers and sol- " diers of the Queen's Rangers, and to Captain Ewald " and the detachment of Yagers." Earl Cornwallis visiting York Town on the 28th of June, Lt. Col. Simcoe, with the cavalry, escorted him thither ; his Lordship disapproving of it as a post, Lt. Col. Simcoe obscrvroceeded above half way, he therefore landed, sent back the boats, and lay concealed in a house till evening, keeping every passenger prisoner : he then marched to Clarke's house, which he reached before day-light, took him prisoner, but found none of his party then with him ; took horses sufficient to mount his party, and return- ed, without loss, to George Town. In the latter end of February, Cornet Merrit was ordered, with a party 244 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS of a Serjeant and ten dragoons, to cover some negroes who were sent to the neighbouring plantations to search for and bring in some cattle that had escaped from us : he, from his great zeal and anxiety to ac- complish this service, was led rather farther than was intended, when he unexpectedly fell in with a corps of the rebels, much superior to his both in the num- ber and the goodness of their horses. He retreated, in good order, for some distance, but, finding himself much harrassed from the fire of their advance, and seeing that it would be impracticable to get off without giving them a check, he determined on charging them, which he did several times, and with such vigour that he always repulsed them. He thus alternately charged and retreated, till having had two horses killed under him, he was so stunned by the fall of the last, that he was left for dead. The rebels were so awed by their repeated repulses, that they suflfered his party to es- cape into the woods, when, by dismounting and con- cealing themselves in the thick savannahs, most of them got safe into the post : the Serjeant was killed, and four men were wounded; several horses killed. Merrit, being supposed to be dead, was for- tunate enough, after having recovered his senses, to get to the fort with the loss of his boots, helmet, and arms. Cornet Merrit having been sent, about the beginning of March, with a flag, to carry a letter to Gen. Marion, by order of Col. Balfour, was detained a prisoner to retaliate for the detention of one Capt. Postell, who, after the surrender of Charles Town, had taken a protection and the oaths to us ; and had. OF THE queen's RANGERS. 245 le negroes itations to id escaped iety to ac- 3r than was ith a corps Q the num- etreated, in ing himself Ivance, and t off without irging them, 1 vigour that tely charged killed under I last, that he iwed by their 1 party to es- ing and con- ihs, most of t was killed, reral horses Bad, was for- lis senses, to 3, helmet, and It, about the ry a letter to was detained of one Capt. harles Town, us ; and had, notwithstanding again taken up arms, and had the im- pudence to come to George Town, with a flag of truce, where I detained him. They crammed Merrit, with about twenty others, Serjeants and privates of diflfer- ent British regiments, in a small, nasty, dark place, made of logs, called a bull-pen ; but he was not long here before he determined to extricate himself and his fellow prisoners, which he thus effected : after having communicated his intention to them, and found them ready to support him, he pitched upon the strongest and most daring soldier, and having waited some days for a favourable opportunity, he observed that his guards (militia) were much alarmed, which he found was occasioned by a party of British having come into that neighbourhood. He then ordered this soldier to seize the sentry, who was posted at a small square hole cut through the logs, and which singly served the double purposes of door and window, which he in- stantly executed, drawing the astonished sentry to this hole with one hand, and threatning to cut his throat with a large knife which he held in the other, if he made the smallest resistance, or out-cry ; then Cornet Merrit, and the whole party, crawled out the one after the other, undiscovered by the guard, though it was in the day time, until the whole had got out. He then drew them up, which the officer of the guard observing, got his men under arms, as fast as he could, and threatened to fire on them if they attempted to go off": Merrit replied, that if he dared to fire a single shot at him, that he would cut the whole of his guard to pieces, (having concerted with his men in such a 20 % •■■ 246 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS case, to rush upon the enemy and tear their arms out of their hands,) which so intimidated him, that, al- though Merrit's party was armed only with the spoils of the sentry and with clubs, he yet permitted them to march off, unmolested, to a river at some distance, where Cornet Merrit knew, from conversation which he had had with the sentries, that there was a large rice-boat, in which he embarked and brought his party through a country of above fifty miles'safe into George Town. To you the'undaunted spirit and bravery of this young man, is not unknown : they obtained for^him in his distress your friendship and protection. Col. Bal- four was pleased to approve his conduct, and in a letter to me, dated Charles Town 2d April 1781, expresses it then " I rejoice most sincerely that your Comet has " escaped, his conduct and resolution does him great " credit, and I wish I had it in my power to show him " my sense of it by more substantial marks than this " testimony ; but the only mode I have is by offering " him a Lieutenancy of a provincial troop :" this Cornet Merrit declined. Lt. Wilson was sent, on the 2d of April, with twenty men, attended by a galley, to cover a party sent to load some flats with forage, at a plantation on Black river : he debarked and re- mained on shore several hours before he saw a single rebel ; but when he had nearly completed his business, he was attacked by above sixty of them, under the command of a Major Benson : he repulsed them in two attempts that they they made to get within the place where he had posted himself; he then charged and drove them off. A rebel Lieutenant was mortally OF THE QUEEN^S RANGERS. 247 wounded, several others slightly : Lt. Wilson and five of his men were wounded. Col. Balfour expressed his approbation of Wilson's conduct in this affair. " I shall conclude this detail with mentioning one more instance of the gallant behaviour of Merrit, which it would be injustice to omit : being obliged in an attack I made on the rebel partisan Snipe to ap- proach the house in which he had his party, through a narrow lane, terminated within half musket shot of the house by a strong gate, which, I expected, would detain us some time to open ; when it was probable their guard would fire on us ; and, as I was particu- larly anxious to prevent any kind of check with the troops I then had with me, I picked out Merrit, Cor- poral Franks, and four men of my troop to proceed and make an opening for the detachment, which he effected with such readiness and spirit, that the pas- sage was cleared by the time that the detachment could get up, although, for that purpose, he had been obliged to dismount his party under the fire from their guard, and that the gate and fence, on each side of it, had been secured and strengthened, with an unexpected degree of care and attention. Col. Bal- four writing to me in the month of April, when I com- manded at George Town, says " being empowered by " Lord Cornwallis to raise a troop of Provincial light "dragoons, I have, for some time, wished to try " your Lt. Wilson as Captain, and this gentleman as "Lieutenant, (meaning Cornet Merrit,) they have " been both recommended as good and active offi- " cers, and, if you agree with me in opinion that a k- :■ Yf \tr.'\- Irl-S m-im : 248 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS " troop could be raised in or near George Town, I " should have no hesitation in making the appoint- " ment." Thus I have mentioned to you a few of the many meritorious services performed by the officers and men of my troop, when in Virginia and South Carolina. I regret much at my not having kept a journal during that time, as it would now enable me to do more ample justice to those whose zeal, bravery, and good conduct, entitle them to my fullest and fair- est report." It is to be lamented that Capt. Saunders did not keep a regular journal, as it would have related a se- ries of gallant and active services, which he performed when in the command at George Town, and after- wards at Dorchester, and which strongly characterize in that officer the same boldness and prudence with which he maintained himself with his small party in his native country, where his decisive character had its due weight and superiority. On the 1 2th of August the Rangers passed to Glou- cester, to cover the foraging in front of that post, which the 80ili and the Hessian regiment of Prince Hereditaire garrisoned, under the command of Lieut. Col. Dundas. The climate, the sickly state and con- dition of the corps, as more fully detailed in the ap- pendix, and what was reasonably to be apprehended from the militia of the enemy, now assembling in num- bers, rendered this a service of great fatigue and dan- ger : the troops were generally employed on it twelve hours in the tweni^y four. The infantry, to secure them from tlie intense heat, were ambuscaded as nmch '4: OF THE queen's RANGERS. 249 3 Town, I e appoint- few of the he officers and South ing kept a enable me al, bravery, ;st and fair- ers did not elated a se- B performed and after- ;haractcrize jdence with lall party in •acter had led to Glou- |f that post, it of Prince ind of Lieut. ,te and con- in the ap- .pprehended |ling in num- rue and dan- on it twelve , to secure led as much as possible in the woods, and the cavalry patroled in their front, or on their flanks. Lt. Col. Simcoe, on his return one day from Abington church, was inform- ed that Weeks, now stiled Major, with a party of the enemy, had just arrived within a few miles : he in- stantly pressed on with the cavalry to attack him, or- dering Capt. Ewald to proceed to his support as fast as possible with the Yagers and infantry. On his ar- rival near the post, he had the good fortune to push a patrole, which came from it, so rapidly as to follow it into the house where Weeks lay, who, Avith his men, escaped in great confusion into the woods, leav- ing their dinner behind them : an officer and some men were made prisoners, and this check, together with the country being constantly ambuscaded, pre- vented the foragers from receiving the least interrup- tion. One morning as the foragers were at some distance from Gloucester, they were surprised at hearing a considerable firing of musketry, between them and the garrison : it was suspected that some party of the enemy might have stolen through the woods ; but on a detachment falling back to procure certain intelli- gence, it appeared, that some men on a predatory party had landed from the shipping, and, being puu- ick-struck, had fired at a wood where they fancied they saw the enemy. Serjeant Ritchie, of the gren- adiers of the Rangers, who with the other convales- cents had been lefl in the camp at Gloucester, on hearing the firing, supposed that the regiment was engaged, and assembling such men as were able to *20 I I.. ■I: 250 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS mm:, move, to the amount of thirty or more, he marched forward, and took up a piece of ground that would have been highly advantageous in case of real action : so spirited were the soldiers, so able were the non- commissioned officers become, by perpetual service and experience ! On the 31st of August, the advance ships of the French fleet blocked up the York river. The caval- ry of the Queen's Rangers had been regularly in- structed in wheeling and forming in the closest order possible, and they were disciplined in every thing that might enable them to maintain that superiority which they had hitherto acquired over all their opponents. It being of the utmost consequence to prevent the enemy gaining any information from deserters, the out sentries were constantly composed of a cavalry and infantry man. Earl Cornwallis, in a conversa- tion with Lieut. Col. Simcoe, asked him whether " he " thought that he could escape with the cavalry ;" he answered his Lordship, ** Without the smallest doubt.'' Gen. Washington invested York Town on the 23d of September ; when the blockade of Gloucester was formed by one thousand one hundred French troops, joined with the rebel militia, under the command of Mons. de Choisy so well known for his surprisal of Cracow. Captain Shank, with thirty huzzars, re- treated before them as they advance'^; and close to the Duke of Lauzun's legion. The French ships that blocked the mouth of York river were driven from their station, and narrowly escaped being de- stroyed by fire-ships, commanded by Capt. Palmer of OF THE queen's RANGERS. 251 the navy : this go.llant officer would have probably burnt a man of war which was driven ashore, but he was prevented by the misbehaviour of a master of a privateer, who, as might be expected from people of his vile trade, prematurely set on fire one of the small vessels which he had volunteered the direction of and which were to accompany the King's ship, at such a distance as could neither endanger the enemy, or him- self. The out piquet which the Queen's Rangers oc- cupied was on a high bank on the left, close to the York river, which in front was almost inaccessible from a cove into which the tide flowed : this post was maintained at night ou the commencement of the blockade ; but it was soon attempted to be carried ofi'. Captain Shaw, who commanded, overheard the enemy on their approach, and withdrawing his senti- nels and party to a bank in its rear, let them without molestation possess themselves of his fires, when, giving them an unexpected discharge, they fled in great confusion, and with every appearance of several of tl>em being wounded, leaving fire-arms, caps, and accoutrements behind them. Captain Shaw then re- sumed his poat, which was constantly occupied in the day, and frequently at night, without any further at- tempt being made upon it. The health of Lieut. Col. Simcoe began now totally to fail under the incessant fatigues, both of body and mind, which for years he had undergone. Lt. Col. Tarleton with his cavalry passed over from York to Gloucester. Lt. Col. Sim- coe observed, in conversation with Col. Dundas, that as Capt. Shank had faced the Duke of Lauzun with ..f*- 252 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS 1 the cavalry of the Rangers the preceding day, it was probable the Duke would not hesitate to attack them, being acquainted with the inferiority of their numbers, when, if Lt. Col. Tarleton's corps, of whose arrival he must be ignorant, should be placed in ambuscade, the Duke's legion might be swept off and totally ruin- ed. Lt. Col. Tarleton marched out with the cavalry the next morning. Col. Dundas accompanying him ; and about midday firing was heard, and some people gallopped in in great confusion : one of the forage- masters saying Col. Tarleton was defeated, Lt. Col. Simcoe sent him to Earl Cornwallis, ordered the troops to their post, and, being carried from his bed to his horse, went himself to the redoubt occupied by the Rangers. Capt. Shank, on his return, reported to Lt. Col. Simcoe, that being on the left when the line was formed he had received no orders ; but when the right, composed of the legion, advanced to charge, he did the same, in close order, but necessarily not in equal front : on the legion giving way, the Rangers followed, quitting the field the last, and in such order as prevented a rapid pursuit, and returned to the charge with Lt. Col. Tarleton, when he, having again offered the enemy combat, which they declined, re- mained master of the field. Lt. Col. Dundas being ordered to York Town, Lt. Col. Simcoe, on whom the command of Gloucester devolved, was obliged from total want of health, to give up its duties to Lt. Col. Tarleton. The most disagreeable that could be- fall un officer now drew nigh: the works at York Town were rendered untenable by the superior fire of OF THE queen's RANGERS. 253 lay, it was tack them, r numbers, 3se arrival .mbuscade, Dtally ruin- the cavalry [lying him ; ame people the forage- jd, Lt. Col. ordered the om his bed occupied by rn, reported .ft when the s ; but when jd to charge, ssarily not in Lhe Rangers such order irned to the |having again jdeclined, re- lundas being |e, on whom was obliged duties to Lt. it could be- liks at York ipcrior fire of the French artillery, and Earl Cornwallis determined to attempt to escape with the best part of his troops by the way of Gloucester : a principal part of his force was sent over to that place, and Lt. Col. Simcoe was informed that his Lordship meant to attack Mons. de Choisy the next morning. There was every pro- bability of surprising that officer, as he in some mea- sure depended upon the vigilance of the militia joined with him ; and a spy, who came into Gloucester al- most to the very day of its surrender, could have conducted the Queen's Rangers by the secret path which he made use of, to tlie rear of the enemy's post. It was not improbable that his Lordship, on viewing the advantageous position which might be occupied in front of Gloucester, would have been of opinion that the post might at the least have been de- fended for ten days, if the provisions would last, against any force the enemy could combine to attack it within that period. A violent storm arising, pre- vented the succeeding division of the garrison of York from passing over ; that which had arrived re- turned early in the morning, and the firing soon after ceasing, it was understood that Earl Cornwallis had proposed a cessation of hostilities, for the purpose of settling the terms on which the posts of York and Gloucester were to be surrendered. On the first con- firmation of this supposition, Lt. Col. Simcoe sent Lt. Spencer to his Lordsliip, to request that as his corps consisted of loyalists, tiie objects of the enemy's civil persecution, and deserters, if the treaty was not final- ly concluded, that he would permit him to endeavour 254 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS to escape with them in some of those boats which Gen. Arnold had built ; and that his intention was to cross the Chesapeake and land in Maryland, when, from his knowledge of the inhabitants of the country and other favourable circumstances, he made no doubt of being able to save the greatest part of the corps and carry them into New-York. His Lordship was pleased to express himself favourably in regard to the scheme, but said he could not permit it to be un- dertaken, for that the whole of the army must share one fate. The capitulation was signed on the 19th of October. Earl Cornwallis, on account of Lieut. Col, Simcoe's dangerous state of health, permitted him to sail for New-York in the Bonetta, which by an arti- cle in the capitulation was to be left at his disposal, a sea-voy£ige being the only chance, in the opinion of the physicians, by which he could save his life. On board of this vessel sailed as many of the Rangers, and of other corps, deserters from the enemy, as she could possibly hold ; they were to be exchanged as prisoners of war, and the remainder of Earl Corn- waUis's army were marched prisoners into the coun- try. Lt. Col. Simcoe, on his arrival at New- York, was permitted by Sir Henry Clinton to return to England ; and his Majesty, on the 19th December, 1781, was graciously pleased to confer upon him the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel in the army, the duties and title of which he had enjoyed from the year 1777, and which had been made permanent to him in Amer- ica in 1779. Capt. Saunders arriving from Charles Town, took the command of that part of the corps OF THE queen's RANGERS. 255 •«'■ ►ats which [on was to and, when, he country ie no douht f the corps )rdship was I regard to it to be un- must share ft the 19th of f Lieut. Col. nitted him to h by an arti- [lis disposal, a tie opinion of hisUfe. On the Rangers, jnemy, as she exchanged as )f Earl Corn- nto the coun- it New-York, to return to th December, upon him the ny, the duties the year 1777, > him in Amer- from Charles ■t of the corps which had come to New-York in the Bonetta. Many of the soldiers, who were prisoners in the country, were seized as deserters from Mr. Washington's army, several enlisted in it to facilitate their escape, and, being caught in the attempt, were executed : a greater number got safe to New- York, and, had the war con- tinued, there was Uttle doubt but the corps would have been re-assembled in detail. The Rangers were so daring and active in their attempts to escape, that, latterly, they were confined in gaol ; Capt. Whitlock, who commanded them while prisoners in the country, was one of the Captains who drew lots with Captain Asgil to suffer for Huddy's death. Capt. Saunders, and the officers who were with him, had to experience severe mortifications : Sir Henry Clinton, the Commander in Chief, who knew their services, had returned to England, and was succeeded by Sir Guy Carleton. It being apparent that the American war was to be abandoned, they had no longer the certainty of recommending themselves by their services to the protection of the p*^v,' General, On the 31st of March, 1783, the following order was transmitted from the Adjutant-General's Office, to the officer who commanded the regiment: as it is presumed to be a singular event in military history, it is here published, verbatim, and with no other com- ment than that which accompanied it as it was trans- mitted to Lt. Col. Simcoe, then in England : " Adjt. Gen. Office^ March 31, 1783. " Sir — ^Lt.Col.Tliompson having received orders to complete the regiment under his command by volun- .^'« 256 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS , ■•-? teers from the different Piovincial corps, and to raise in like manner four additional companies of light in- fantry, for a particular service ; the Commander in Chief desires you would give all possible assistance to Lt. Col. Thompson and those concerned with him in the execution of this business, by encouraging the men belonging to the corps under your command to engage in this service, and his Excellency directs me to assure you that neither the officers nor others who may remain with you in the corps shall suffer any loss or any injury to their pretensions by the diminu- tion of your numbers arising from the volunteers who may join the corps under the command of Lieut. Col. Thompson. It is to be understood, that though the men wanted for this service are to engage as soon as possible, yet they are not to quit the regiments to which they at present belong, till further orders. (Signed) Ol. DELANCY, &c." " I will only say that though as military men they could not publicly reprobate and counteract this un- just, humiliating, and disgraceful order, yet conscious of their superiority both in rank, in life, and in milita- ry service to the person whom it was meant to ag- grandise, they could not but sensibly feel it. I am sorry to say that some of the Rangers, being made drunk, were induced to volunteer it. The arrival of the last packet, as it took away the pretence of their being for ' some particular service,' has put a total stop to this business. The warrant, I am told, speci- fied that when this corps was completed and embark- OF THE queen's RANGERS. 257 id to raise »f light irt- mander in assistance i with him iraging the >mmand to directs me others who suffer any the diminu- unteerswho r Lieut. Col. though the e as soon as •egiments to j orders. CY, &c." ry men they act this un- et conscious ind inmiUta- meant to ag- sel it. I am being made le arrival of >nce of their put a total told,speci- and embark- ed, they were from that time to be on the British establishment." The officers of the Queen's Rangers had prided themselves, and justly, in preventing, as much as offi- cers by precept, example, and authority could do, plundering and marauding : being cantoned with other corps on Long Island, the depredations which were committed, drew upon the Queen's Rangers the dis- pleasure of Sir Guy Carleton, and the denunciation of his precluding the officers from their just promo- tion. Capt. Saunders, who then commanded them, conscious that they were innocent, as became his character and station, addressed the following letter to the Commander in Chief: " Sir, — I take the liberty, as commanding officer of that part of the Queen's Rangers at Huntingdon, to ad- dress your Excellency : a letter received from Col. de Wurmb, containing your very severe reprehension of their conduct, in consequence of representations made to your Excellency of their frequent depredations, is the cause. Myself and officers, conscious of the falsehood and malevolence of those representations, feel ourselves highly injured, and as the charge mate- rially affiicts the honour and reputation of the corps, we hope and request that your t^xcellency will be pleased to order an enquiry into this matter, so that we may have an opportunity of meeting our accusers face to face, and of removing from your Excellency's breast the impression that has been made so disad- vantageous to us." 31 I 258 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS Jt.tt ' j^.. No answer was returned to this application, and a very young officer who had not seen any service, was promoted from another corps to a troop vacant in the Queen's Rangers. Soon after the above-mentioned letter was written it was proved before a court mar- tial, that those depredations, which had drawn down upon the Rangers the Commander in Chief's indigna- tion, had been committed by men of the legion and for which they suffered. Every thing now tended to the American colonies being declared independent of Great Britain, and the officers of the Queen's Rang- ers seem to have been oppressed with every circum- stance that could wound the hearts of men who were soldiers on the best principles, except the conscious- ness of not having deserved it ; but this cloud was soon to pass away. General Conway was Comman- der in Chief of his Majesty's forces, and Sir H. Clin- ton had arrived in England ; Sir Charles Grey was appointed to succeed Sir Guy Carleton, Lieut. Col. Simcoe, whose exchange Government had procured from Dr. Franklin, was to htave accompanied him as secretary to his commission, a post that he hoped to fill to the approbation of that General, who was ready, had it been necessary, to have supported those claims of the Queen's Rangers for British rank and establish- ment, which Sir H. Clinton had personally recom- mended to the protection of General Conway, and this he had done in the strongest manner, not only as due to the fidelity and actions of a corps which he had been an eye-witness of, but " in justice to his " country," as he was pleased to express himself, " that. OF THE queen's RANGERS. 259 ion, and a 3rvice,was cant in the mentioned court mar- rawn down ■'s indigna- legion and V tended to jpendent of 3en's Rang- ery circum- n who were ! conscious- 1 cloud was IS Comman- Sir H. Clin- s Grey was Lieut. Col. id procured nied him as he hoped to o was ready, those claims nd establish- naliy recom- lonway, and ', not only as ns which he i ustice to his imsclf, "that. " in case of future war, it might not be deprived of " the services of such a number of excellent officers." These representations had their due effect, and on the 25th of December, 1782, his Majesty was gra- ciously pleased to make that rank universally perma- nent which they had hitherto only held in the scene of action, America; — and the Queen's Rangers, cavalry and infantry, were honourably enrolled in the British army. The corps was disbanded at the en- suing peace, and many of the officers, and most of the soldiers, settled on the lands to which they had a claim in Nova Scotia. Thus conclude the principal events in a journal of a corps of light troops, whose services can best be estimated by observing, that for years in the field, to use the language of a former age, they were the for- lorn of the armies in which they served, and that even in winter quarters, when in common wars troops are per- mitted to seek repose, few hours can be selected in which the Queen's Rangers had not to guard against the attacks of a skilful and enterprising enemy. END OF THE JOURNAL. L>.t '■^k tf' :.■■ ;.'£' it -A APPENDIX. JJf ATFENDIZ IS ADDED OF SUCH LETTERS, PAPERS, AND OBSERVATIONS, AS ARE NE- CESSARY TO ILLUSTRATE THIS JOURNAL. Page 60. When Sir William Howe quitted the command of the army, Major Simcoe laid the following memorial before him, which he promised to support on his return to England. To his Excellency General Sir William Howe, Commander in Chief, &c. &c. The Memorial of the Major Commandant, Captains, and Subalterns, of His Majesty's Provincial Corps of Queen's Rangers. "Your Memorialists, with all submission and respect, beg leave to entreat your Excellency will lay them at his Maj- esty's feet, humbly soliciting that he, in his gracious favour, will be pleased to establish them in the rank of the army, as has been given to the regiments now raising in Great Britain. " The generality of the officers, who now request your Excellency's countenance, at the breaking out of the pres- ent rebellion, left their estates and settlements in Virginia, joined his Excellency Lord Dunmore, and underwent with him all the vicissitudes of service, till his junction with the army at Staten Island. The Queen's Rangers being intend- ed for active employ, your Excellency was pleased to appoint your Memorialists, on accoimt of their being more experi- enced in actual service, to supercede the generality of those who were its officers : how far your Excellency's favoura- ble opinion of them has been justified, the subsequent be- haviour of the corps in the Jersies, at the battle of Brandy- 21* If-. ..i. ■i% '■• 262 AFPENDIX. &M^ ^0i I'n '.I'm' ■X wine, and during a variety of fatiguing and detail services on which they have been employed in the course of the late winter, must testify. " Attached to his Majesty and the cause of their country, from the purest motives, habituated to the fatigues of war, and ambitious of exerting themselves in it, confident that the men they command are disciplined equal to the impor- tant service of the light troops with whom they have con- stantly served, and conscious that, should they obtain their desired rank, their conduct will neither disgrace it as Gentle- men and as Officers ; your Memorialists humbly hope that your Excellency will patronize their request, and that your intercession will induce his Majesty to look favourably on their petition, and to mark his approbation of their services by conferring on them the honour of enrolling with the army." Page 73, /tne 27. Soon after, ^-c. ^. Lt. Col, Simcoe had detailed his plan in readiness to lay it before Sir Henry Clinton. Ti.e mode he meant to propose to effect his junction with the Indians was, to be landed at night, privately, at a point called the Roundabouts, on the Raritan river, and to continue his march as rapidly and se- cretly as possible to Easton on the Delaware : at the same time a corps should proceed to Brunswick, under the pretext of foraging, but in reality to mask the design, and to cover the march from th»^ troops which the enemy had at Elizabeth Town, their only corps in the Jersies, under General Max- well. Lt. Col. Simcoe would have joined the Indians, prob- ably in three days ; and long before General Sullivan's ex- pedition against them. Page S7, line 4. Lf. Col. Simcoe rrceiivd the following letter from Col. WurmI), commanding the Yagem. " Mdnhikiir, — J'envcrrai aprcs un heure Lfi Major Bruschank et 200 liommes vers Phillips' house, et vers la pointe du jour le Capit: Wreden avec 100 homme» fur APPEIfDIX. 263 ail services B of the late leir country, ;ues of war, nfident that ;o the impor- ;y have con- T obtain their } it as Gentle- )ly hope that and that your avourably on their services ith the army." •adiness to lay -ant to propose ) be landed at abouts, on the rapidly and se- i : at the same ider the pretext [1, and to cover id at Elizabeth General Max- Indians, prob- Sullivan's ex- foUoviing Idler re Le Major )Uso, et vers la )0 liommes fur Courtland's Ridge, qui couvrera votre Gauche et notre droite ; sitot que vous attaquez les Chasseurs passeront le pont et marcheront sur la Hauteur de la Maison, de la Veuve Babcock. Si vous vous retirez faites les avertir par une Patrouille. J'ai I' honneur d'etre, &c. A 7 1-2 le soir. " WURM13." Page 95, Une 23. A general plan of defence was calculated for the whole. The general orders were : in case of alarm, the following are to be the posts of the different companies : — Captains M'llae and Kerr's companies (supposed to be the right) to maintain their barrack, Capt. Al'Ilae's above and Capt. Kerr's below stairs. Capt. Dunlop's company to occupy the right hand sunken fleche, Capt. Saunders the left ; whichtn^er of those compa- nies gains its post first, to be divided and occupy both Heches, till the arrival of the other : Captain Smith's to occupy the sunken work in front of the Artillery barrack. The huz- zars will be provided with arms, and are to gain the fieche on the left of Capt. Smith's, nor are th«>y to think of their horses till ordered to get them by a lield olficer, or the senior officer within the second abatis, \\\\o commands tlu' whole of i\\v out-works and redoubt. Ca])tains Stevenson and Shank's companies to retreat on the heights to the one tre(^ Hill, and to act according to emer- gency, retreating from if attacked, recoiling on the enemy if they retreat, and falling on their rear if tlu-y attempt to force! the redoubt. The grena(li«'rs, the highlanders, and the pi(juet of caval- ry, to join the light infantry at their barracks. The guards to retreat and join the first company uiuh-r arms; if attacked to keep up a galling fire. All soldiers, wln'ther ollieers' servants or others, whom their commanding officers permi' to lie out of their bar- 864 APPENDIX. i»^;iv [|( 11- 1.}' >i ' '.' I't' racks, are to have their arms with them, and to join the first party under arms that they meet. The most profound si- lence to be kept, and the Lt. Colonel recommends it to the officers not to fire if possible ; but of the necessity they must judge themselves : whatever quarter is attacked, must be defended. The first officer that gets to his company, to march to its post. Every quarter will be fortified as soon as possible : every soldier must have his post in it : their arms must be arranged, and bayonets always fixed, and the doors barricaded ; when the barracks are finished, the com- manding officers must report to the Lt. Colonel, who will inspect them. The officer in the redoubt, in case from ne- cessity or intention the regiment shall not join him, must maintain his post. If he cannot keep the platforms, he is to dismount his cannon, and bring them into his guard-house, which he is to defend, unless attacked by cannon, with his life. The officers commanding companies will copy such orders as relate to themselves only, and inform their subalterns of them ; and it is their duty to ask for an explanation of such parts as they do not perfectly understand, both in this and all other situations: — no soldier, '■'• non-commissioned offi- cer, to be acquainted with these orders. Page 117, line 3. His imprimnmcnt, ^, ifc. Lt. Col. Simcoff had many providential escapes. Mar- rener prevented a l)oy from bayoneting him, as he lay sense- l(?ss on the ground, saying " let him alonc^ the rascal is dead " enough ;" and another |)erson regretted that ho had not shot him tlirough tlw; head, which he would havi^ done had he known him to be a Colonel, but he thought " all Colonels " wore lace." The sensations which he felt as he, gradually awakened into recollection, and heard distant shouts and Hcattered firing, and saw what hands \\v, had fallen into ; and, when recovering more perfectly, his situation, and nil his proft.'ssional hopes rushed at once upon his mind, arc APPENDIX. 265 n the first ofound si- s it to the they must I, must be impany, to led as soon n it: their ed, and the ;d, the com- I, who will se from ne- n him, must forms, he is ^ard-house, on, with his y such orders subalterns of lation of such h in this and lissioned offi- c. ^. apes. Mar- he lay sense- ascal is dead lie had not ive. done had all Colonels he pradually t shouts and fallen into; ition, and all lis mind, are better felt than described. He had other dangers to sur- mount, the populace were driven to fury by the death of Capt. Vorhees ; and he was shown a letter from a field offi- cer of the Jersey militia, in which was the following para- graph : " It was intended to bring Col. Simcoe to Captain " Vorhees' grave, to show him the cruelty of his people, but " I could not answer it." The soldiers, who had been taken, were with difficulty preserved by Mr. Clarkson, Mr. Morris (who bled Lt. Col. Simcoe) and other gentlemen, from as- sassination: and Governor Livingston, after making "a " little harangue," as he termed it, to the populace, thought it necessary to give to Lt. Col. Simcoe the following written protection : " The Governor being informed, that some people have a design to abuse and insult Lt. Colonel Simcoe, a British cap- tive, and wounded in a skirmish that happened this day, between our militia and the British horse : though the Go- vernor is not inclined to believe a report that would infer so great a disgrace upon the people of this state, as that of the least inclination of revenge against a wounded enemy in our power ; yet to prevent the execution of any such attempt, it in his express orders to treat the said officer according to the rules of war, known and practised among all civilised na- tions ; and as it is his desire to be carried to Brunswick, it is his further orders, that no molestation be given to him in his being carried thither, and that, while there, he be treat- ed with that humanity which the United States of America have always observed towards their prisoners. " WILLIAM LIVINGSTON. "Brunswick Landing, 2d Oct. 1779. " N. B. Mr. Alexander K«'llock having come with a flag, as a surgeon, to take care of Colont'l Simcoe and a Serjen \t, and also Edward Heifernon, his servant, are to attend him unmoh'sted. " WILLIAM LIVINGSTON." ^■^.- 266 APPENDIX. i"t.,- If !■ *■ i ■ ■■■'.I . ■' • ' 'i-f y.- ■',M,«>-*' 'M'l- f't-i It would be unjust not to mention that some people of Brunswick, to whom Lt. Col. Simcoe, when Captain of gre- nadiers, had it in his power to be of service, remembered the protection, and in arms volunteered to assist Major Na- vius in preserving him from insult. It is with great pleasure Lt. Col. Simcoe has preserved the following letter, which he received from Lt. Wilson : "Richmond, Oct. 28, 1770. "Yesterday, and part of the day before, there was nothing but the picture of distress in every countenance ; but this morning the soldiers are shouting " the father of the Rang- " ers is alive :" in short, nothing can exceed the joy which appeals in the countenance of officers and soldiers, and prayers for your speedy recovery ; but none can possibly be more sincere than those of, &c. " J. WILSON." On the 28th Lt. Col. Simcoe was removed on parole to Borden Town, to a tavem kept by Col. Hoogland of the Jer- sey militia, by whom he was treated with great civility. The principal people of Borden Town were very violent, in particular Messrs. Borden and Kirkbride. Lt. Col. Simcoe, in the son of the former, recollected the officer whose life, as mentioned in the 50th page, line 27, he had probably saved ; and the circumstances were so well known that the fact was acknowledged ; but this did not contribute to les- sen the illiberal treatment he met with, and the umbrage which the inhabitants took at seeing him and Mr. Kellock walk about was such, that he soon confined himself to the house. Col. Lee had written to offer Lt. Col. Simcoe pecuniary assistance ; as Lt. Campb«'ll, of the 74th regiment, who was on parole at Prince Town, had kindly supplied him, he had declined the acceptance of Col. Lejj's civility. There were many reports spread of Lt. Col. Simcoe's cru- elties ; and some rc^bel justices were anxious for aflidavits to support them ; but the direct contrary was the case ; 'i m^'! N 1« APPENDIX. 267 3 people of (tain of gre- remembcred t Major Na- •eat pleasure ter, which he . 28, 1779. ; was nothing tee; but this of the Rang- the joy which soldiers, and an possibly be WILSON." on parole to and of the Jer- great civility, very violent, in ,t. Col. Sinicoe, !or whose life» had probably Lnown that the ntribute to Ics- |d the umbrage id Mr. Kellock himself to the icoe pecuniary Iment, who was lied him, he had U. Simcoe s cru- Is for allidavits Iwas the case; many of their party in Pennsylvania offering to give ample testimony of Lt. Col. Simcoe's humanity, and speaking most favourably of his conduct, while in that province. On the 6th of November he received the following letter from Col. Lee : " Monmouth, 6th Nov. 1779. " Sir, — I am happy to hear by your polite reply, to an offer dictated by the feelings of man for man, that you had al- ready been supplied in cash by the friendship of a brother officer ; should you hereafter stand in need of that article, I assure myself, you will not suffer your want to continue long. From some insinuations I have heard, and from a paragraph in the last Trenton Gazette, I apprehend your local situation not the most agreeable : — perhaps you may wish a remove ; of course must address the Governor ; be- ing employed in a similar line by our respective Generals ; it may not be amiss to appeal to me, should his Excellency require contradiction to the reports propagated prejudicial to your character. I am a strangisr to what officer the bar- barities exercised on some captured militia in Bucks coun- ty, Pennsylvania, can be truly attributed. I have never heard yourself declared as the author, and am led to believe you was not present : the unhappy sacrifice of Captain Vorhees in the late enterprise, I am told, took place alter you fell. " Your treatment of one of my dragoons, who fell into your hands last campaign, was truly generous, and then made an impression on my mind which it still retains. Anxious to prevent injustice being done to the unfortu- nate, 1 have been particular in this hotter, though 1 please myself in presuming that it will be unnecessary. Your most obedient humble servant " H. LEE, Jun." Lt. Col. Simcoe made his acknowledgments to Col. Lee, and in regard to th(^ alFiiir at the Billet, informed him, that he planned the attack on General Lacy ; but that no crucl- ..f*. f I m m^ MS'A '.■ , ,, . M«:: 268 APPENDIX. ties whatever were committed by the Queen's Rangers. On the 7th of November, Governor Livingston came to Borden Town ; from his conversation Lt. Col. Simcoe had hopes of an immediate exchange : he was therefore much surprised the next evening, on the arrival of a militia party conducting Col. Billop of the Loyal militia of Staten Island, to be accosted by the Serjeant who commanded it, and in- formed that he was a prisoner, and must be confined, and marched the next morning to Burlington jail. Col. Hoog- land with great humanity interfered, and, upon their paroles, carried Cols. Billop and Simcoe in his own light waggon to Burlington the next morning. Mr. Kellock, who accompanied them thither, returned, as he must have also been confined, which Lt. Col. Simcoe by no means would permit. Lt. Col. Simcoe, his servant and M'Gill, who had come from Staten Island, were confined, and no person was admitted to speak to them. Col. Billop was treated as the following mittimus directed, and received at the same time a letter from Boudi- not, the Commissary of Prisoners. " To the Keeper of the Common Jail for the county of Bur- lington. Greeting. " You are hereby commanded to receive into your cus- tody, the body of Col. Christopher Billop, prisoner of war, herewith delivered to you, and having put irons on his hands and feet, you are to chain him down to the floor in a close room, in the said jail ; and there so detain him, giving him bread and water only for his Ibod, until you receive further orders from me, or th(! commissary of Prisoners for the State of New Jersey, for the time being. Given under my hand at Elizabeth Town, this (Jth day of Nov. 1770. " ELISIIA BOUDINOT, Com. Pris. New Jersey." " Sin, — Sorry I am that I have been put under the disagree- able necessity of a treatment towards your person that will prove so irksome to ym , but retaliation is directed, and it APPENDIX. 269 } Rangers. [ came to Simcoe had 'fore much lilitia party aten Island, d it, and in- onfined, and Col. Hoog- ;heir paroles, it waggon to accompanied een confined, nit. Lt. Col. 3 from Staten itted to speak ving mittimus it from Boudi- mnty of Bur- into your cus- isoner of war, IS on his hands [oor in a close |m, giving him ■ecrivc further Irs for the State inder my hand 19. New Jersey." -r the disagree- person that will Idirectcd, and it will, I most sincerely hope, be in your power to relieve your- self from the situation by writiiig to New York, to procure the relaxation of the sufferings of John Leshier, and Capt. Nathaniel Randal. It seems, nothing short of retaliation will teach Britons to act like men of humanity. " I am, sir, your most humble servant, " ELISHA BOUDINOT, Com. S. Pris. "Elizabeth Town, Nov. 6, 1779. ** Col. Christopher Billop, Burlington." John Leshier had murdered a Loyalist, whom he had waylaid, and, in the room of being instantly executed as a murderer, and as he deserved, was confined in irons. Nathan- iel Randal was the skipper of a vessel, being a private militia man he was not permitted his parole, which indulgence is only extended to officers. Col. Billop, who was to retaliate for these people, was a gentleman of most excellent char- acter, and considerable property ; who, in the House of As- sembly, where he liad a seat, had uniformly opposed those measures which led to a rupture with Great Britain ; and, on the breaking out of the war, had accepted of the com- mission of Colonel of the Staten Island militia : so that nothing could possibly suggest to Boudinot the reflection he made on the national humanity, but that he could do it with impunity ; and that it did not misbecome his birth and extrac- tion, being the son of a low Frenchman, who kept an ale-house at Prince Town. His brother has been President of Congress. There were two soldiers of the guards in Burlington jail, they had been taken prisoners in Pennsylvania, and confined in Fort Frederick, from whence they had made their escape ; but being re-taken, were imprisoned. They had no provi- sions allowed them, but depended upon the precarious char- ity of a lew friends for subsistence. Lt. Col. Simcoe rep- resented their situation to the sheriff', which their emaciated appearance fully confirmed ; in consequence, they were shortly alter removed from Burlington. 2a 270 APPENDIX. Col. Lee still continued his generous attention ; and to the utmost of his power supported the request which Lt. Col. Simcoe had made, to be permitted to go on parole to Staten Island, as the following letter will evince. ■ •«•■ 'f - !f,j^';^i.' .»*; ...J ■'■■-'I'' ,r ■ ( • \Wi Monmouth, 14th Nov. 1779. " Sir, — I have received an answer from Gov. Livingston, to my letter of request, in your behalf. I was very partic- ular in my address, and, although I cannot congratulate myself on its full success, I flatte" myself it will lead to the completion of your wishes. Tne following is an extract from the Governor's letter : — " Col. Simcoe's treatment by this state is not founded on his character. We think it our indispensable duty to retaliate the enemy's severity to some of our citizens in New York; but that such treatment should, however, happen to be exercised on a person of whom you entertain so favourable an opinion, (besides the disagreeableness of such measures at any time,) is particu- larly afflictive to, &c. &c. &c." " From the above declaration I presume, that your parole may be procured, in a few days, if any expection can be held out to the executive power of the State, tending to a liberation of any one of her citizens in New York. " Perhaps your presence with Sir Henry Clinton might affect an alteration in the measures complained of, and a system of perfect liberality might be established in future : if you will permit me to declare your determination on this point, and, if it answers my expectation, I will do myself the pleasure of waiting on the Governor in person, to at- tempt the full settlement of the unhappy business. I have, as yet, no reply from Mr. Boudinot, though his station does not promise much service, and therefore his opinion will be very unimportant. I have the honour to be, &c. H. LEE, Jun." Lt. Col. Simcoe answered Col. Lee's letter, and in that part which referred to the liberation of Randal, or Fitzran- APPENDIX. 271 in ; and to which Lt. I parole to ov. l^TO. Livingston, very partic- longratulate I lead to the i an extract reatment by . think it our erity to some ih treatment a person of , (besides the e,) is particu- it your parole jction can be , tending to a iTork. ::;iinton might ncd of, and a led in future : nation on this vill do myself person, to at- ness. I have, ,s station does >pinion will be ie,&c. LEE, Jun." T, and in that lal, or Fitzran- dolph, he assured Col. Lee, " that if that person had acted without a commission, as it was reported, and his opinion was asked by Sir Henry Clinton, it would be immediately to execute him, though he, on his return from Staten Island, should suffer the same fate by a retaliation, to use the Gov- ernor's phrase." Gov. Livingston gave the following answer to Lt. Col. Simcoe's letter, demanding to know what persons would be received in exchange for him, and requesting his parole to Staten Island. Mount Holly, Nov. 10th, 1779. Sir, — I have received your letter, without date. Your confinement, and the order relative to Col. Billop, is in con- sequence of the advice of the Pri\'y Council ; till they re- scind their resolve, I am not at liberty to deviate from it ; I hope, however, that you will not be disagreeably situated, except as to the confinement. The exchange proposed for you and Col. Billop (which is Col. Reynolds, Mr. Fitzran- dolph, Leshier, and Jackson, and as many other privates as will make it equal) has, I suppose, before this time reached New York. If you are not soon released, it will be the fault of the British. For my part, I heartily wish it may be effected in the speediest manner, and not only for the sake of our citi- zens in captivity at New York, but also from sentiments of humanity towards Col. Billop and yourself, as 1 am not grati- fied by the sufferings of any man ; and I am sure the Gov- ernor does not, and luliy pursuaded the Council do not har- bour any personal resentment against Col. Billop. Unfor- tunately for that gentleman, the treatment of some of our citizens in New York, has induced this State to consider re- taliation their indispensable duty, and it is his particular mis- fortune to be in our possesion at this melancholy juncture. " Respecting your request of going to Staten Island on your parole, I hope your exchange will be negotiated with- S7a APPENDIX. out it ; and, for that purpose, any of your letters on that subject shall be cheerfully transmitted to New York, by " Sir, your humble servant, WILLIAM LIVINGSTON. " P. S. In answer to Dr. Kellock's letter, desiring to at- tend you as Surgeon, I have acquainted him that there is no objection, provided he consents to be confined with you. " Lt. Col. Simcoe of the Queen's Rangers." ■':■ ,■ ♦ . . ■ If: E- ,»■■ ■ ■ ;•■•(* ■,n- ■,;.>■., -it'.i '■^ ',f^. ;■'•■■ ■;l! ji''.^,- . " Sir, — I have just now the honour of receiving your letter; I am sorry you will not permit me to go to Staten Island, to negociate mine and Col. Billop's exchange. "I shall embrace an opjiortunityof writing to New York; but I must first beg to be acquainted, whether Mr. Randolph is or is not a Captain ? he being styled such in M. Bou- dinot's letter to Col. Billop. " I am also to beg, you will please to inform me for whom I am to retaliate, or for what I am confined 1 such usage be- ing most unprecedented. " As you are pleased to observe that no private resent- ment is ha.'Loured against Col. Billop, I wish to know whether there be any against me. " I should be happy to have an early answer, and am, sir, your humble servant, J. G. SIMCOE. "Burlington Goal, Nov. 10th, 1779. " P. S. I am not well acquainted with these matters, but I conceive the present proposition to be what last year Gen. Washington refused to exchange Gen. Burgoyno's army on, when made by Sir Henry Clinton ; and 1 should be glad to know the ranks of those people, with the number of privates, necessary to complete them to Col. Billop's rank." "Mount Holly, 11th November, 1779. " Sir, — I have just now received your letter of yesterday's date. APPENDIX. 273 its on that ork, by INGSTON. iFing to at- t there is no dth you. ; your letter; aten Island, ) New York; Ir. Randolph linM. Bou- rne for whom uch usage be- ivate resent- ish to know p, and am, sir, SIMCOE. matters, but last year Gen. Ine's army on, lid be glad to [pi of privates, ik." Imber, 1779. 1 of yesterday's "As the particular mode of exchanging American for British prisoners will, I presume, not be insisted upon by Sir Henry Clinton, in the present case ; I hope no difference about his Excellency Gen. Washington and him will retard the effect of the present proposition, and it was for that very reason, if I rightly apprehended you, that you preferred your being considered as a prisoner to this state. " Mr. Fitzrandolph is no officer in our militia, but, never- theless, of so respectable a character that we are universal- ly solicitous for his release ; and, though a gentleman of the strictest honour, has been treated with the greatest indignity by your superiors. "The rest of the persons proposed for exchange, save Col. Reynolds, are also privates. As to the additional number of privates necessary to make the exchange equal in consider- ation of your and Col. Billop's rank, it must be determined by military usage ; which it will be easy for the two Com- missaries to adjust, and no reasonable cause of obstruction will, 1 hope, originate from that source. " You also ask me for whom you are retaliated upon, and for what you are confined ? such usage being, as you are pleased to observe, most unprecedented. Considering, sir, that the confinement of our citizens, both officers and pri- vates, when prisoners with the enemy, has been as uniformly directed as if it had been a matter of course, it ought not to appear wonderful, should we adopt the same mode of treat- ment, even without any view to retaliate ; the precedent be- ing set by our adversaries without the least pretence on their part of retaliating upon us. But when such measures are ordered by us for the express and sole purpose of relieving our suffering subjects, the impartial world must approve, and humanity itself, from their tendency to procure milder treatment, in the final result, be constrained to applaud them. Superadd to this, your counteracting the express terms of your parole at Borden Town, (I would wish to be- lieve rather from your misconstruction than determinate de- 22* -I r, K ■ .,•)» »tl'?¥i.!A.r 1!,. ■■'i.v ■-'; >' 374 APPENDIX. sign to violate it.) and your having been heard to say, that whenever you should apprehend yourself in danger of being insulted by the people, you should think yourself at liberty to effect your escape, (of which danger you doubtless in- tended to be judge,) not to mention that your present situa- tion is your best security against all popular violence, in case there were any grounds for such apprehension ; and, I doubt not, you will, on cooler reflection, find no reason to charge the step in question with any unnecessary severity. "To your question, whether private resentment is har- boured against you ? I answer, sir, that public bodies are not actuated by private resentment ; but the actions of in- dividuals of a public nature, such as cruelty to prisoners, may nevertheless properly occasion towards such individu- als a line of conduct, very different from what is observed towards those of an opposite character, and this, with as little colour for complaining of personal resentment as of the civil magistrates punishing a public offender ; but as no such charge has been proved, (though many have been al- leged against you,) I have no reason to think that such re- ports have influenced this Government in the measures hith- erto directed, concerning you. " The negotiating the exchange of prisoners being, by our law, entirely committed to the Commissary, (though the Go- vernor is authorised to superintend their treatment,) you will be pleased, sir, in your future correspondence on that subject to be referred to him ; I do not mean by this to dis- courage you from making any necessary application, to, sir, " your most humble servant, "WILLIAM LIVINGSTON." " Sir, — I must beg of you to forward the inclosed packet to Sir Henry Clinton. " I was pleased that I had fallen into the hands of the state of New Jersey, rather than into that of the Continen- tal army, solely from the reliance I had on the assurances APPENDIX. 275 ► say, that 3r of being • at liberty (ubtless in- 3sent situa- iriolence, in sion ; and, I a reason to ry severity, nent is har- . bodies are ctions of in- to prisoners, ich individu- ,t is observed this, with as ntment as of ler ; but as no tiave been al- I that such re- neasureshith- being,byour hough the Go- catment,) you ience on that by this to dis- ication, to, sir, |,nt, {GSTON." iclosed packet hands of the the Continen- Ihe assurances you gave me, that I probably should be exchanged in a few days, naming to me Colonels Reynolds or llendrickson, as the likely persons. " I never heard of a Lt. Colonel's being taken from his parole, and confined in a common goal, because a private sentinel was imprisoned ; and am at a loss, in such treat- ment, to find the meaning of retaliation. " You cannot /o/'ce yourself to believe, sir, that I ever har- boured a thought of violating my parole ; although the principle of honour be very imperfectly felt among common people, no man, even in that class, would break his word, or suspect that a British ofiicer dare do it, were he not himself divested of all probity. " I conceived at Borden Town, that I was at liberty to walk in its environs, according to military usage, for my health : Col. Iloogland, whom I consulted, w^as of the same opinion ; I never exceeded a mile, and confined mj'self to my house when I found it was disagreeable. There being some difficulty in procuring a guard for my protection when at Ilariton landing, I publicly told Major Navius, that if my life was attacked and 1 was not ])rotectod, I should think my- self at liberty to escape, in the propriety of which he acqui- esced : I never mentioned, sir, nor meant, in case I wjis in- sulted ; many insults I have met with, which, as they deserv- ed, I have treated with contempt. I should not have asked whether private resentment was harboured against me, had not you written, sir, that neither you or the council harbour- ed any personal resentment against Colonel Billop ; that gentleman's sufferings, and my own confinement, I must still conceive to be most severe and unprecedented. I am to ob- serve, sir, that I never complained of personal resentment ; I was far from thinking 1 had any reason to apprehend it ; but it is my duty to obtain as explicit reasons as you choose to give, for my superiors to Judge why I am treated contra- ry to the laws of arms and humanity. " In regard to thi newspaper, and popular fabrications of 276 APPENDIX. cruelty alleged against me, I should treat them with con- tempt, had not you been pleased to take notice of them : such imputations, sir, will not fasten on me ; my character is not in the power of those who wish to injure it, and the most unexceptionable evidence is necessary to prove, that the characteristic of cowardice distinguishes my conduct. My employment gave me the cursory possession, the mo- mentary charge of prisoners ; and cruelty is contrary to my nature, my education, and my obedience to my orders. My private atfairs calling me to Staten Island, my application was made to you, sir, on that consideration. " 1 still trust you will intercede to obtain me that permis- sion ; and, if I do not effect my exchange, I shall return to prison with the satisfaction of having settled my private business. " I have the honour to be, sir, &c. "J. G. SIMCOE." -':''# LirVf- ■■':•{<.:' ■; ■•' > Lt. Col. Simcoe enclosed the correspondence he had held with Governor Livingston to Sir Henry Clinton in the fol- lowing letter, which was open and forwarded by the Gover- nor to Mew- York : " Sir, — Governor Livingston having promised me to for- ward to your Excellency my letters ; I take the earliest op- portunity of acquainting you with my late and present situ- ation. " The result of my incursion your Excellency is acquaint- ed with, and I have only to observe, that it was neither the valour of my enemies, or the least inattention of my party, that occasioned my being made a prisoner ; but it is to bo attributed to the most uncommon and malicious fortune. " My life was preserved by the eagerness with which, as I have been informed, I was plundered wlien in a state of insensibility, and al'terwards by the humanity of Mr. Morris. " A Capt. Voriices was killed by the detachment in its re- turn, after I was taken ; his relations seemed to the Govcr- APPENDIX. 277 with con- of them : character it, and the rove, that f conduct, (ti, the mo- rary to my rders. My application tiat permis- ,11 return to my private r, &c. IMCOE." he had held 1 in the Ibl- ythe Govei- me to for- earlicst op- present situ- is acquaint- neither the )i' my party, lit it is to bo fortune, th which, as lin a state of f Mr. Morris, lent in its rc- the Gover- nor so determined to revenge his death by my destruction, that he gave me a written protection ; and afterwards di- rected Major Navius, who treated me with great humanity, personally to prevent any injuries that might be offered to me. I was removed to Borden Town on my parole, until the 9th, when I was taken from it, and close confined in Bur- lington goal. " As my commitment expressed no reason for this treat- ment, I wrote to Governor Livingston on the subject, and enclose to your Excellency the correspondence. " I look upon my present situation as most particularly unfortunate. " My private affairs called for my greatest attention, and having procured your Excellency's leave, I had great pros- pect of success in them. " I trust, sir, that having obtained your recommendation near a twelve month since for promotion, you will still pat- ronise the application you then honoured with your appro- bation. " My fair fame has been struck at, and cruelty, the attri- bute of fear, has been imputtsd to me in the public prints, and industriously propagated by ignorant, designing, and cowardly people. '* My honest ambition has been most severely disappoint- ed ; and 1 am doomed to pass the llower of my youth in a goal with criminals, when my state of health, affected by my fall, leads to an imbecility of mind, that will not permit tome the consolut ions resulting from my liberal education: yet, should I even be doomed obscurely to perish in the quicksand of (h'ceit j»nd calumny, with which 1 am now .sur- rounded, it is my duty to expect, that no fiu'fher ungenerous advantage may be j)ermitfed to tlu^ adversary, who, tramp- ling on the res{)ect due to his own adherents, and presuming on the att(>ntion your IjXcellcncy mny Im^ inclined to pay to my situation, may think to oiler, without impunity, some further insult to the IJritish servie*'. the liberal customs of war, and to the honour of my country. 278 APPENDIX. !/;■■ >"^ ■,■ %■ ,.'"! \V .^*-; ■^l ■ •''\v ^ '■ '■ ' , ■ ,f • '^' -» n • . ■> ,<:' •' " Of my proposed exchange you, sir, are the best judge. " Governor Livingston observed to me, that I was the more likely to be immediately exchanged by being a prison- er of the state of New Jersey, than if I had been taken by the Continental army. I acquiesced in his opinion; not then conceiving how much the field officers, who fight un- der the banners of this state,are depreciated in its estimation. " There is one hope near, very near to my heart, which is, that your Excellency will patronise my corps, and employ it in the same line as if I was present ; its reputation would be the greatest comfort I could receive in a situation that ex- cludes me from participating in its danger and its glory. " Colonel Billop was confined, from his parole given to the Continental army, the same day with me ; and that most respectable and amiable gentleman suffers according to the enclosed mittimus ; — I subjoin to your Excellency his pa- role, and M. Uoudinot's letter to him on his confinement. "For my own part, sir, I wish for no retaliation that may affect the rights which the custom of war allows to individu- als of rank, in order to soften the horrors of it. I am obliged to write at intervals ; or I should, before now, have sought an opportunity of transmitting an account of my situation to your Excellency, of wishing you ('very personal and pub- lic success you can desire, and of siihseribing myself your most obedient, and most humble servant, "J. G. 81MC0E." In the preceding letter Lt. Col. Simcoe made the fullest display possil)|e of his miserable situation. purpos<'ly to give greater force to his contempt of nil personal eonsecpiences. At this period he had been informed, by some, friends who were anxious for iiis safety, that if Lt. llele. of the navy, (who was then at IMiilndelpliia a prisoner, in order to under- go whatsoever might hefiil Cunningham, imprisoned for pi- racy in England.) should die, and he was dangerously ill, \A. Col. fSiincoe was talked of by the rebels as a proper substi- APPENDIX. 279 St judge. 1 was the g a prison- i taken by linion; not tight un- estimation. rt, -which is, wi employ it ation would tion that ex- its glory, role given to md that most ording to the ency his pa- tinement. ion that may i'stoindividu- 1 I am obliged have sought my situation onal and pub- myseir your rvant, SIMCOE." ide the fullest josely to give conseipiences. iViendrt who of the navy, )r(ler to under- risoned for pi- •rously ill, I't. proper substi- tute for that officer : and this information was, in some mea- sure, confirmed by the little attention which the Governor and Council paid to the pressing application of the friends of those officers of the Jersey militia, who were prisoners in New- York, and whose exchange was reasonably supposed to depend upon that of Colonels Billop and Simcoe. A few days after those letters had been forwarded to Sir Henry Clinton, Lt. Col. Simcoe was removed from the room he had hitherto inhabited, at midnight, into that of the felons : he then determined, in case of any intelligence of Cunning- ham's execution arriving at Philadelphia, instantly to make his escape ; and he had Ibund means to have received the earliest notice of this event. There were many British sol- diers, prisoners of war, at work in the neighbourhood ; his idea was to get eight or ten of them to assemble at a given place ; M'Gill had already conferred with a Serjeant of the 17th infantry, to whom the highest offers would have been held out in case of necessity. The carbines of Col. Lee's dragoons and their ammunition were in the goal ; — there was confined, a bold and daring man of the name of Blox- am ; he had been the armourer of one of his Majesty's ships. M'Gill got an impression of the key of the room where Lee's arms were, and, with the aid of Bloxam, a false one was made of pewter : with this, as soon as Lt. Col. Simcoe was let out of his room, the goalerone morning entrusting M'Gill with that office, being himself indisposed, they opened the armory, saw the carbines, and that they were fit for service, and locked the door, when the key broke in it. — These were the most anxious moments ]A. Col. Simcoe ever underweut ; if the goaler had come up stairs, it is probable liloxam or M'Gill would have biM-n executed ; and a party of Col. I^ee's were every moment expected to visit the store-room ; Blox- am, with great ingeiuiity, cut the key, so that it dropped un- discovered into the look ; and Col. Le«''s people, on their ar- rival, found no dilliciilfy in o|)ening it. Another key was made, and the escape was determined on, and probably ™ M W}. 'iff' '.I e- l: 280 APPENDIX. If I f. would have taken place if necessary : the plan was to sur- prise a party of Col. Lee's, who lay about ten miles off, and to take their horses and proceed to Sandy Hook ; and this, it was hoped, might have been effected by stealth rather than violence. M'Gill offered to personate Lt. Col. Simcoe and remain behind in his bed, if it could facili- tate his escape. Lt. Col. Simcoe enclosed to Governor Livingston a letter he received from Major Andre, proposing his being admitted on his parole to New York, the same indulgence being grant- ed the rebel Colonel Baylor to Virginia ; Lt. Col. Simcoe in- formed the Governor that " he had received this proposal, " General Sir Henry Clinton supposing that he was on his " parole, and not knowing that he was treated as a crimi- " nal." To this Governor Livingston returned the following answer. "'M Mount Holly, Nov. 29th, 1780. " Sir, — I received your letter without date last night ; this is the second time I have remarked that omission, what you mean by being used like a criminal, I am at a loss to deter- mine, if you refer to your imprisonment ; our own people have received similar treatment from the British in numer- ous instances ; Mr. Fitzrandolph, one of our citizens, who is proposed to be exchanged for you and Col. Billop, is at this very time used in the same manner, and is no more a criminal than any man that is not so. " If Sir Henry Clinton will agree to any exchange, I can- not see why \u'. should object to the one proposed ; and, con- sidering that one of those we want to have liberated is in goal, and that the other has been chained to the floor for above four months, there is the highest reason for this State to insist upon it, if he is against all exchange whatsoever, to him, sir, you must ascribe the prolongation of your du- rance " That we consider your reputation with the British troops APPENDIX. S81 rasto sur- miles off, Hook; and by stealth ,ate Lt. Col. jould facili- iton a letter Lng admitted being grant- )1. Simcoe in- his proposal, } was on bis d as a crimi- the following 29th, 1780. last night ; this fsion, what you I loss to deter- ■r own people ftish in numer- . citizens, who >l. Billop, is at is no more a Ixchange, 1 can- ]osed ; and, con- liberated is in iothe floor for in for this State Lc whatsoev«>r, lion of your du- Ivc British troops and your intended voyage to Europe, as two circumstances that "will probably expedite the relief of our suffering citi- zens, you will be pleased to impute (though you may regret, as I really do myself, your personal disappointment) to my fidelity to those for whose liberty it is my duty to be anxious. Considering that they, though for many months in captivity, have never been indulged to return home on parole to pro- cure their final release ; and that we cannot conceive, how your going to New York should facilitate General Clinton's acceding to our proposal, there is no probability of the Council's adopting that measure. I am, sir, your most hum- ble servant, WILLIAM LIVINGSTON.' " Sir, — I have I'eceived your letter of the 2Uth of Novem- ber, and am to apologize to you for the unpolite, though ac- cidental omission, of my not dating the letter which it an- swers. " I conceive myself treated as a criminal ; the custom of civilized nations allows a parole of honour to officers, but not to private sentinels : as such Mr. Fitzrandolph's confine- ment is an usual matter, therefore it does not confer any disgrace or hardship ujion him, but what was incident to his employment ; his station is allowed by yourself in the claim you make for mine and Col. Billop's reh'ase, " I do conceive, sir, (hat when it was proposed that Col. Billop and 1 should be exchanged I'or Lt. Col. Reynolds, and as many privates as make up the dilference of rank betwerry to check j)t stop it. Inding an at- lace, the other must be a feint. I am much of opinion that Richmond should be withdrawn, as it might fall if this docs, and the addition of your regiment would be great to us here, &;c.,&c.' Page 130, line 28. With the preparations detailed in the ap- pendix. They are sketched out in the following letter transmitted to Gen. Tryon ; to which arc added his approbation of the plan, and his good wishes towards the author of it, now rendered doubly valuable, as since the compilation of these memoirs death has deprived his King and country of that officer, so eminently distinguished for private virtues, and for his zeal in the public service. " Sir, — I beg leave to submit to you, and hope that you will communicate to his Excellency General Kniphausen, the service in which I think that the Queen's Rangers may, from their present position, be essentially employed. " I would propose, that I should be immediately furnished with two gun-boats and twenty batteaux, a water force suf- ficient to transport and to cover the landing of three hun- dred infantry and sixty horse. " The gun-boats should be supplied with swivels, which might occasionally be transferred to the bows of the bat- teaux ; the small boat already here with a slide or carriage, on which the amuzette of the Queen's Rangers might be mounted ; the whole should be most completely equipped, in which state I would always be attentive to preserve them. " I would wish also, for a sloop to carry the lower frame work of three small block houses, and occasionally provi- sions, and other articles : she might be under the protec- tion of the vessel stationed at Billop's point, as the batteaux would under that of Richmond redoubts. " It would be of great service if the batteaux could be mounted on carriages, as it is but two miles and an half Irom Richmond to the South beach, and by such conveyance 890 APPENDIX. •il^>i the advantage of either tide might be obtained and a move- ment made, with scarce a possibility of the enemy's being previously acquainted with it ; though, I lear, such an oper- ation is not at present in our power, I am not without hopes to be able to furnish the means of it from the enemy's shore. " Tlte block houses would be of essential service in se- curing an encampment, or strengthening a position on the enemy's shore ; they would eifectually protect a re-embark- ation. " With this force, capable of moving without the obstruc- tions arising from the combination of different services, the delay of waiting for orders, and the want of secrecy, which necessarily attends the protecting of operations, I doubt not but I should be able to protect Staten Island; to keep the enemy in constant alarm from Sandy Hook to Newark bay ; to force Mr. Washington to give up the sea coast from Mid- dleton to Brunswick, or to protect it with Continental troops; to encourage desertion at this very critical period, when the rebel army is most seriously discontented ; in short, to ex- emplify and improve the advantages resulting from our sit- uation. " Could more batteaux be spared I should be glad ; the cavalry on this island (the best part of which 1 consider the detachment of the 17tli dragoons from their superior disci- pline tob(>) being in nund)ers equal, and in all other respects superior, to the cavalry ol Mr. Washington's army between the Delaware and Hudson's river, might from hence, Avith- out more risk than becomes the service, be of frequent and most extensive utility. CJen. Stirling highly a|)proves of the plan ; there are now at lii'-hmond a gun-boat, and tlie barge I mentioned to you ; the latter 1 should have sent round by water but had no opportunity. 1 do myself the honour to enclose to you the detieieneies of each, and should be glad if supplied. I couid wish Major Bruen would be so good as to have the barge valued hrw by some person in his department, and u receipt given to the Refugees, if you APPENDIX. 291 idamove- iiy's being •\i an oper- hont hopes my's shore, vice in se- lion on tlic re-enibavk- the obstruc- services, the ;recy, which i, 1 doubt not to keep the ^fevvark bay ; ist I'rom INIitl- nental troops; iod, when the short, to ex- Ironi our sit- bo glad; the I consider the luperior disci- other respects army between .1 hence, with- of iVequent hly approves Uun-boat, and puUl hav»' sent ilo niynelf the ich. and should |rn would be so |)ine person in ll'ugees, it' yo« think proper to have it purchased. I inclose to your Excel- lency the draught of the gun-boats constructed by Lt. Col. Campbell, at the Savannah ; by being covered at the top they were able to pass without injury from the fire of small arms, under the boldest bluffs ; th(! top opened occasionally for refreshment by means of the hinges, as described in the drawing. This addition made to our gun-boats would give them great security. " If by this, or any other mode of operation, I could be of any service to my King and country, 1 should be most happy: the attempt, I am persuaded, will meet with your Excel- lency's approbation, which, as I highly value, 1 shall ever hope to deserve, being, with great n^spect, " your Excellency's most obedient, " and most humble servant, ".I. G. iSlMCOE." " New- York, 3d May, 1780. "Sir, — I received, with much satisfaction, your letter, delivered me by Capt. Beckwith. jMy not having the plea- sure of seeing you on your departure lor the southward, was a disappointment to me. It was nuich my desin? to hav(! testified my readiness to promote those sj)irited nu^asures you proposed for his Majesty's service ; and, though circum- stances have deprived me of that gratification, permit me to assure you, I most sincerely wish you, in your care<>r of glory, ev(>ry honourable success your merit, si)irit, and zeal, entitle you to. 1 am &c., «kc., "Lt.Col. Simcoe." "W. TRYON." Page Mr), line 13. Lt. CoJ. Sinicur had at/lrctrd sccrrthj ihroui^h the thickih iipiiii tlirirJlaiiL It was at this moment that a guide, as it a|)pears in the proceedings of a court-martial, in the uidinpj)y (lis|)ute be- tween two oliicers of tlu; gunnls. brought an order to Lt. Col. Simcoe, " to march into the road," from which (by the 292 > APPENDIX. • ■■'■ "!> ..■■^ • t* ■ pxtondinp^ of his line) he was distant three hundred yards ; and on his replying, " he could take no orders irom a guide," Gen. Matthews sent Col. Howard (now Earl Suffolk) to repeat them. This note is inserted merely to say that it was no pertinacious adherence to form ; but his being occupied in the attempt to cut off a party of the enemy, which oc- casioned Lt. Col. Simcoe's reply to the guide, and which, if an officer had brought the order, he would at once have seen and reported to the General, whom the intervening thickets pnn'ented from the observation of what was trans- acting on his left. Page 152, line 3. Some circumstances relative to Major Andres nnfortnnate attempt will he more fully detailed in the appendix. Upon the first intimation of Major Andre's deti*"' "T^t. Col. Simcoc, by letter, desired Lt. Col. Crosbie to i; . i le Commander in Chief, " that if there was any possinuity of " rescuing him, he and the Queen's Rangers were ready to "attempt it, not doubting to succeed in whatever a similar " ibree could effect." At the same time, he sent out persons to watch the road between Washington's camp and Philadel- phia ; for he reasoned, that without the concurrence of Con- gress that General would not proceed to extremities, and that probably he would send Mn jor Andre to Philadelphia, in which case he might possiI)ly be retaken upon the road thither. Lt. Col. Simcoe wrote to Col. Lee, of whose generous tem- per he had personally received so many proofs, to procure an interview with him, ostensibly for the exchange of pris- oners, but really to converse with iiim relative to Major An- dre. That ofiieer penetrated his vi<'ws and returned the following answer. k\A'':^ " r/ight Camp, Oct. 2d, 17H(). •* SiH, — 1 will attend to the release and return of Jeremiah Owens. --3-t-isiJ APPENDIX. Ircd yards ; )m a guide," Suffolk) to f that it was ng occupied r, which oc- ind which, if t once have I intervening it was trans- iw to Major u detailed in deti '-t. J toil . > le possiDUity of were ready to [over a similar out persons to and rhiladel- irrence of Con- iiil ies, and that iladelphia, in [upon the road generous tem- lofs, toprocun- Vhange of pris- le to Major Aii- lil returned the |)ct. 2d, 1780. Imof Jeremiah " Be assured no time will be lost in the transaction of this business. " Our personal feelings are perfectly reciprocal, and I em- brace, with peculiar pleasure, the overture of a meeting. " My expectation of moving daily, will not allow me to fix on the time at present. " Our next station, I hope, will be opportune to both of us, when I will do myself the honour of notifying to you my readiness. " Be pleased to accept my best wishes, and for heaven'jj sake omit in future your expressions of obligations confer- red by me ; as my knowledge of your character confirms my assurance, that a similar visit of fortune to me, will produce every possible attention from you. " I am happy in telling you, that there is a probability of Major Andre's being restored to his country, and the customs of war being fully satisfied. " I have the honour to be, &c. « HENRY LEE. " Since writing the foregoing, I find that Sir Henry Clin- ton's offers have not '5ome up to what was expected, and that this hour is fixed for the execution of the sentence. " How cold the friendship of those high in power !" Lt. Col. Simcoe in his answer said : — r " I am at a loss to express myself on the latter paragraphs of your letter ; 1 have long accustomed myself to be silent, or to speak the language of the heart. The useless murder of M.MJor Andre would almost, was it possible, annihilate that wish whieh, eonsentaneous to th(! ideas of our sove- reign, and the gov<'niment of Clreat Britain, has ever ope- rated on the odieers of the British army, the wish of a re- conciliation and speedy reunion with their revolted follow subject:! in America. M -* ■. 294 APPENDIX. " Sir Henry Clinton has the warmest feelings for those under his command, and was ready to have granted for Major Andre's exchange, whatever ought to have been asked. " Though every desire that I had formed to think, in some instances, favourably of those who could urge, or of him who could permit the murder of this most virtuous and ac- complished gentleman, be now totally eradicated ; I must still subscribe myself with great personal respect, sir, " Your most obedient and obliged servant, "J. G. SIMCOE." f'M . . . Mm ' ITiere were no offers whatsoever made by Sir Henry Clinton ; amongst some letters which passed on this unfor- tunate event, a paper was slid in without signature, but in the hand writing of Hamilton, Washington's secretary, say- ing, " that the only way to save Andre was to give up Ar- " nold." Major Andre was murdered upon private not pub- lic considerations. It bore not with it the stamp of justice ; for there was not an officer in the British army whose duty it would not have been, had any of the American Generals ofTcred to quit the service of Congress, to have negotiated to receive them ; so that this execution could not, by exam- ple, have prevented the repetition of the same offence. It may appear, that from liis change of dress, &c. he cam(! under the description of a spy ; but wlu-n it shall be considered "against his stipulation, intfution and knowl- "edg(!," he became absolutely a prisoner, and was forced to change his dress for self-preservation, it may safely b(^ as- serted, that no European general would on this pretext \m\i', had Ills blood upon his head, lie f(>ll a sacrifice to that which was expedient, not to that which was just : what was supposi'd to be useful superceded what would hav(! b«'(ui generous ; and though, by imprudently carrying papers about him, he gave a colour to those, who endeavounul to suparute Great Britain from America, to press fur his death; APPENDIX. S05 for those anted for ave been k, in some or of him us and ac- d ; 1 must ;, sir, MCOE." Sir Henry this unfor- ;ure, but in retary, say- give up Ar- ite not pub- p of justice; whos(^ duty an Generals ', negotiated ,t, by exam- iffence. jess, &c. he In it shall be and knowl- as forced to |af«'ly be as- iretext have liiice to that : what was have been king papers [(■avoured to br his death ; yet an open and elevated mind would have found greater satisfaction in the obligations it might have laid on the ar- my of his opponents, than in carrying into execution a use- less and unnecessary vengeance. It has been said, that not only the French party from their customary policy, but Mr. Washington's personal enemies urged him on, contrary to his inclinations, to render him un- popular if he executed Major Andre, or suspected if he pardoned him. In the length of the war, for what one generous action has Mr. Washington been celebrated ? what honourable sentiment ever fell from his lips which can invalidate the belief, that surrounded with difficulties and ignorant in whom to confide, he meanly sheltered himself under the opinions of his officers and the Congress, in perpetrating his own previous determination ? and, in perfect conformity to his interested ambition, which crowned with success beyond human calculation in 1783, to use his own expression, "bid " a last farewell to the cares of office, and all the employ- "ments of public life,'' to resume them at this moment (1787) as President of the American Convention? Had Sir Henry Clinton, whose whole behaviour in his pul)lic disappointment, and most nffiicting of private situations, united the sensibility of the Friend, with the magnanimity of the General, had he possessed a particle of the malignity which, in this transaction, was exhibited by the American, many of the principal inhabitants of Carolina then in con- finement, on the clearest proof for the violation of th(^ law of nations, would have been adjudged to the death they had merited. The papers which Congress published, relative to Major Andre's death, will remain an eternal monument of tho principles of that heroic otlieer ; and, when lortune shall no longer gloss over her fading panegyric, will enable posterity to pass judgment on the character of Washington. 296 APPENDIX. V ]■: Uv Lf Infill,. I I'^'fii^'il- Pirn-. Page 153, line 11. At this time Lt. Col. Simcoe recapitulated some of Ins ideas (relative to seizing Billing's Fort) by the letter which is in the appendix. " The present system of war seems to aim principally at striking at the resources of the rebels, and in consequence by incapacitating them from remitting the produce of their country to foreign markets, to render them a burden to the powers of Europe who are confederate with them against Great Britain. " A post on the Delaware would be of utility to this end ; and the situation of Billing's Port, peculiarly adapted for this purpose, strikes me so forcibly that I trust your Excel- lency will pardon my particularizing some of its features, and a few of its many advantages. " The ground is an entire flat ; it is not commanded ; the rebels had begun a large work there, which they lel't unfin- ished when Sir William Howe took possession of Philadel- phia. On our evacuation of that city Mr. Mifflin pointed out to them the necessity of resuming and completing the fortification ; the opening of the chevaux du frize is made close under the bold blufl^, which terminates the terre-plein towards the water : this, with the other chevaux du frize above, would be turned much to our advantage. A sufli- cient water force to prevent any shipping or gallies from commanding the river above, and which in some respect should be moveable, would be requisite : perhaps a trans- port or two on the establishment of the Margery, a trans- port of the garrison armed with cannonades, a few gallies and gun-boats, would accomplish every wished for end. " The work to be erected should be calculated at least for three hundred regular tro )ps to defend, to which should be added three hundred light troops, habituated to make incur- sions, &c. &c. " It seems probable that an expedition will sooner or later be formed for Virginia ; the troops intended for this service APPENDIX. 297 apitulated ort) by the icipally at nsequence ce of their rden to the em against to this end ; idapted for your Excel- Lts features, landed; the ;y left unfin- of Phitadel- fflin pointed npleting the rize is made e terre-plein LUX du frize re. A suffi- gallies from (ome respect vps a trans- ■ry, a trans- few gallies for end. d at least for ;h should be make incur- lonrr or later this service might be landed, fortify, and leave a garrison at Billing's Port in a few days, carrying with them frame works for bomb proofs, &.c. from New York, which might be given out to be intended for Portsmouth, or some post in Virginia. The advantages resulting from the possession of this port, would be an entire stop of the trade of the Delaware, pro- bably the driving the Con; : ' ""rom Philadelphia, or by a very little exertion of polic) . oeing in early possession of their most secret resolutions and intentions ; it would en- courage desertion, particularly that of the ship-builders in Philadelphia. " To besiege this garrison while the river is open will bo a matter of great difficulty ; the road from Staten Island to Trenton being so much nearer than a retreat from Bil- ling's Port to that pass, and the Delaware being almost eve- ry where too wide for a bridge of boats, or for batteries raised upon each shore effectually to command a retreat. The place might be invested by the Jersey militia ; they are not numerous, or to be feared, and would soon be disarmed by a proper mixture of conciliatory and vigorous measures. " The officer commanding the port should, if it could bo contrived, have the command also of the water forces ; at least not a boat should be permitted to land without his con- currence. The garrison should purchase what fresh provi- sions might be allowed them, and should never be placed in a situation to commit unmilitary depredations. " I doubt not but that a thousand advantages and dissid- vantages resulting from this post must strike your Excellen- cy's comprehensive views, which do not appear to my partial one. If, at any future time, although I am not willing to bo wedded to a redoubt, your Excellency should seize on this post, I should be very ready to stake on its defence, or its loss from the most inevitable reasons, every hope that 1 have of military prefermen', and of being esteemed a faithful and honourable servant of my King and Country." 24* 298 APPENDIX. ■•r,»M1i.,-. r '•f* W' - It is probable that had not circumstances prevented Sir Henry Clinton from pursuing the plan of operations which he had intended, in the course of them Billing's Port would have attracted his attention. Fage 181, line 20. Capt. StevensorCs humanity was alarmed, and the letters, which are in the appendix, passed between Lt. Col. Simcoe and Col. Parker : they prevented all fur- ther bad consequences. " Portsmouth, Sunday, March 4, 1781. " Sir, — I do myself the honour of enclosing to you Captain Stevenson's justification of Mr. Gregory in your service ; and am to assure you, what the ties of humanity summon me to declare, that Capt. Stevenson mentioned to nie, some hours before it was known that the gun-boat was taken, the fictitious letter you found among his papers ; at a distance the matter appeared in a ludicrous light ; as it may other- wise probably lead to serious consequences, I solemnly con- firm the truth of Capt. Stevenson's explanation of the affair ; and add, upon the sacred honour of a soldier and a gentle- man, that I have no reason to believe or suspect that Mr. Gregory is otherwise than a firm adherent of the French King, and of the Congress. " 1 have the honour to be, sir, &lc., " To Col. Parker." " J. G. SIMCOE." "Col. Simcoe, " Sir, — The honour of a soldier I ever hold sacred, and am happy that you are called on by motives of humanity to acquit General Gregory. As to my own opinion, I believe you : but as the management of this di^licate matter is left to my superiors, I have forwarded the letter you honoured me with to Baron Steuben, who I trust will view it in tlu; same manner I do. " I have the honour to be, sir, &c., "March 5, 1781. "J. PARKER, Col." 3r^ APPENDIX. 209 jnted Sir ,ns which )rt would s alarmed, ed between ed all fur- 4, 1781. ou Captain xr service ; ;y summon 3 nie, some s taken, the t a distance may other- lemnly con- if the affair ; id a gentle- let that Mr. the French &c., SIMCOE." [red, and am lumanity to L, I believe iatter is left lonourcd me I in the same IlKEll, Col." Page 192, line 13. General Phillips asked Lt. Col. Simcoe, when he waited upon him to make his report, how many men it would require to defend York Town ? This conversation is dwelt upon in the journal ia order to set in its proper light a passage in a letter from Sir Henry Clinton to Lord Cornwallis — " I confess I could not conceive " you would require above four thousand in a station where "General Arnold had represented to me, (upon report of " Colonel Simcoe,) that two thousand men would be amply « sufficient." General Arnold was second in command, so that no par- ticular report was made to him ; but he was present at the conversation which passed between Lt. Col. Simcoe and General Phillips. Page 210, line 25. Lt. Col. Simcoe, while at Westover, re- ceived a letter from General Lee. "March 3d, 1781. " Dear Sir, — From the liberality of mind which you are universally allowed to be blessed with, I have little doubt but that what I am about to offer to your consideration will be favourably received — but I must first premise that, what- soever some flaming zealr'^s in the British army may insist to the contrary, it is very possible that several who embark- ed on this side in the present contest were very good English- men, and I can venture to assert that I am one of this stamp — for I considered, that had the Ministry succeeded in their scheme of establishing the principle of taxing America without her consent, the liberties of Great Britain would that instant have been annihilated in effect, though the form might have remained. For as the pecuniary influ- ence of the Crown was already enormously too great, so pro- digious an additional weight throAvn into the preponderating scale must sink to utter ruin every part of the Empire — on the other hand I will venture to assert, notwithstanding all that some of the flaming fanatics on thi \ side may please to 300 APPENDIX. 't :^.. ,iVi>::. assume, that it is the interest of every good American that Great Britain .should ever be a great, powerful, and opulent nation — but the measure she ought to pursue, in my idea, to obtain and secure this power, opulence, and greatness, I cannot at present with propriety explain ; but I can whh propriety point out some which she ought not to pursue. For instance, her Generals and Commanders ought not to suffer, or connive at by impunity, the little dirty piratical plundering of individuals — such proceedings can only tend to widen the breach already, to the misfortune of both par- ties, much too wide, by souring men's minds into a state of irreconcilable resentment : in short, it is diametrically re- pugnant, not only to the honour, but to the true interest and policy of Great Britain, abstracted from all considerations of the cruelty and inhumanity towards very worthy families. But to be just, I really believe that most, if not all of these flagitious scandalous acts are committed unknown to the English General and Commodore, as from the air and garb of the robbers they have not the appearance of being legally commissioned. This, my dear sir, is the main purpose of my letter, which I write as a good Englishman, as a good American, and as a gentleman addressing himself to another of whom he has a very high opinion ; and I have no doubt but that you will exert all your power and influence to pun- ish and put an end to such abominable practices. " I have nothing to add, but to entreat that whatever let- ters I may send in you Avill convey safely to my relations. There is indeed one other favour I request ; which is, that you will by the first opportunity assure Sir Henry Clinton, General Robinson, and General Leslie, of my personal re- spect and esteem, and I beg you will remember me kindly to General Phillips : — But above all, I entreat you will be- lieve mc to be, most sincerely your's, "CHARLES LEE." APPENDIX. 301 "ican that 11(1 opulent my idea, reatness, 1 [ can with to pursue, ofht not to y piratical ti only tend if both par- 3 a state of itrically re- interest and nsiderations thy families. ; all of these mown to the air and garb being legally n purpose of n, as a good If to another |ave no doubt lence to pun- les. whatever let- ly relations. rhich is, that Lenry Clinton, personal rc- ler me kindly you will be- Les lee." Page 222, line 5. In the middle of the day a patrolefrom Lt. Col. Tarleton, who was on the opposite side of the Rivana, communicated ivith him. In Col. Tarleton's history of the campaigns in the south- ern Provinces, published since the completion of this Jour- nal, there is the following paragraph : " If the distance would have allowed Lt. Col. Simcoe to send a small party of huzzars to inform the corps at Char- lotteville of the flight of the Americans, Lt. Col. Tarleton might have been in time to harrass Baron Steuben's pro- gress, whilst Lt. Col. Simcoe would have pressed him in the rear ; and a combination of this sort would, in all probability, have ruined that body of new levies : but the distance of thirty-five miles in an enemy's country, and the uncertainty of Tarleton's success, perhaps represented such a co-operation as too speculative and precarious." It appears that Lt. Col. Tarleton marched from Charlotte- ville towards the Point of Fork nearly at the time that Lt. Col. Simcoe arrived there ; had that ofiicer sent a patrole to Lt Col. Tarleton, the whole of the intelligence it could have conveyed to him would have been, that the Baron Steuben, with a far more considerable force than had been appre- hciided, had crossed a rapid, broad, unfordable river, was in possession of all the boats, and encamped upon its banks : but Lt. Col. Simcoe most assuredly could not have ordered Lt. Col. Tarleton immediately to join him, to pursue the Baron with any probability of success ; and, without an absolute certainty, he could not have taken the liberty of breaking through Earl Cornwallis's express orders of re- joining him, without delay, at Goochland Court-house, and of marching away with all his light troops to a considera- ble distance. But there was a total impossibility of pass- ing the river ; it was not fordable for many miles, and the combination, Lt. Col. Tarleton talks of, was absolutely im- ■n. 302 APPENDIX. practicable. He observes, that the distance from Charlotte- viile was thirty-five miles, which would have been too great had the river been fordable ; but the uncertainty of his suc- cess could be no impediment as, at any rate, there was no enemy to oppose him, and his march was easily to be trac- ed ; nor could these reasons " represent such co-operation " as speculative and precarious," at least to Lt. Col. Simcoe, as the idea never once entered his mind, and he was much surprised when he saw it in Lt. Col. Tarleton's campaigns, as till then he never had heard it suggested. Pnge 230, line 10. It was reported, and not without proha- bility, that a patrols of the enemy met with this party on the road, where it was natural to expect Lord Comwallis's army, and took it for his advance guard, and that this belief pre- vented them from reneiving the attack. In Lt. Col. Tarleton's history is the following passage : " The movement of Lt. Col. Tarleton from his advance " post in the morning was a favourable incident for the " Americans ; for if the legion foraging party under Capt. " Ogilvie, who accidentally approached the flank of the ri- " flemen, could produce hesitation and astonishment, the " charge of the whole cavalry, must have considerably as- " sisted Lt. Col. Simcoe, whose judicious conduct obliged " Col. Butler to fall back upon Gen. Wayne, before the arri- " val of the infantry from Williamsburg, or the dragoons " from Burrel's ; the loss in this affair was nearly equal, ex- " cept that the British took some prisoners." It is not to be doubted, but that Lt. Col. Simcoe would have been happy to have been assisted by Lt. Col. Tarleton and his cavalry, and would have employed him to the best of his power ; but the ground was such that the cavalry could not have been properly risked in an attack, otherwise than what Capt, Shank accomplished, or adventured in the pursuit, as the enemy fled through thick woods which led to a ravine, beyond which M. Fayette's army drew up in force. APPENDIX. 303 Dharlotte- i too great of his Suc- re was no to be trac- ).operation ol. Simcoe, was much campaigns, kout proha- party on the mllis's army, •s belief pre- ng passage: his advance dent for the under Capt. ink of the ri- iishment, the siderably as- Iduct obliged fore the arri- the dragoons irly equal, ex- [imcoe would Icol. Tarlcton Im to the best the cavalry IcU, otherwise Intured in the Ids which led 3w up in force. The approach of Capt. Ogilvie was not of the least ser- vice to the Rangers, as it was at too great a distance to as- sist their attack ; nor could any movement from Williams- burg have been in time sufficient "to have preserved the troops under Lt. Col. Simcop, who owed their preservation as riuch to their own exertions as if there had not been another British soldier in Virginia. Upon the first repulse of the enemy, it was Lt. Col. Simcoe's bus-iness to retire, and this he instantly effeci'd. Capt. Ewald, who since ?he war has published some mil- itary observations in Germany, has proposed to those who may be in similar circumstances, Lt. Ci. '. Simcoe's conduct as a proper example ; he afr.rms, th:>; had he ;ursued he would have been cut oft". Infantry might have been of service in foi'. jv/ing the en- emy through the wood, to the brink -' f tlie ravine. Page 248, line 24. The climate, tlf 'ckly atate and condition of the corps, as more fully detu lii-d in the appendix. Lt. Col. Simcoe had represented this to Sir Henry Clinton, in the following letter : " I do myself the honour of writing to your Excellency by the pre sent opportunity, and of making such representation of the Queen's Rangers as I think to be my indispensable duty. The infantry are much reduced in immbers by de- sertion, the consequence of their composition, opportunities, unremitting fatigues, ar'' bv death ; while those remaining are much shattered in }•; ii * of constitution: the cavalry are admirably mounted, but more than half are without accou- trements, or any arms, but such as we have taken irom an ill-appointed enemy The arms and accoutrements, which I apprehend hnc^ b« en intended for Capt. Cooke's troop, were sent by the Inspector to Lord Cornwallis, who gave them to the lejrion, for whom he had made the application. In this situation, without time to discipline, and without proper 304 APPENDIX. 1^ P m m km'- ■ ■111^ arms, I am obliged to trust more to fortune than I have ever found necessary, and that against an enemy who is improv- ing every day. " My duty therefore leads me to hope, that, as we have been already embarked for New York, that your Excellency, should any troops be ordered there, will be pleased to direct the Queen's Rangers to be sent among the first, with, or if that cannot be done, without their horses ; as that is the only place where the corps can be recruited. Your Excellency will, I am sure, be confident, that no private view dictates this application ; and believe, that all climates and services, where I can be useful, are indifferent to me." Lt. Col. Simcoe had been directed by the Commander in Chief to communicate with him, and to give him such in- formation from time to time as he thought might be for the good of the service, while he was under the command of Gen. Arnold ; and he had always most strongly repre- sented the great importance of possessing r* small naval force on the Carratuck inlet, both to secure !i retreat and to connect the operations oi" Virginia with those of Carolina : he had been an eye-witness, that the naval force stationed in the Chesapeake bay, by no means blocked it up, or pre- vented the enemy's vessels from going in or out at their pleasure. In this letter he added : — " I take this opportunity of enclosing to your Excellency two sketches, taken amongst the papers of the Marquis do la Fayette. The road from Philadelphia to Kent island is accurately delineated ; and, should your Excellency, as I hope, visit Philadelphia in your way to this colony, points out the facility of crossing the isthmus, and the consequence of Kent Island, where 1 have long thought a post would be of great effect, to give an asylum to the distressed friends of gov«Tnment, and by the station of a few cruis(!rs effect- ually to block up the Chesapeake, which cannot or has not hitherto been done." APPENDIX. 305 lave ever 5 improv- we have itcellency, i to direct vith, or if is the only Excellency AT dictates id services, imander in m such in- t be for the ommand of ngly repre- imall naval treat and to f Carolina : ;e stationed up, or pre- .ut at their I Excellency larquis dc |nt island is lllency, as 1 llony, points Tsonsoqurnce Ist would bo Lsod friends lisrrs effect- It or has not It was natural for Lt. Col. Simcoe to fix his mind on those operations, which he had reason to expect would be under- taken on the upper part of the Chesapeake ; the country of the associated loyalists. This wish to return to New York was considerably strengthened by the belief, that the sea voyage would greatly amend the health of the soldiers, and by his hopes that they might be of public utility in their convalescent state, if the General and Admiral would have consented to have entrusted his friend, Capt. Thomas Graves and himself, with a flying squadron, to have carried on that mode of war which would have been severely felt by the enemy ; the keeping their coasts in constant alarm, from Boston to Vir- ginia, and the following and destroying their shipping in their innumerable smaller harbours. The fatal event at York Town terminated these views, and Lt. Col. Simcoe's services. Ills friend, Capt. Thomas Graves, was more for- tunate : he was appointed to the frigate La Magicienne, which h(^ manned at a considerable private expense ; but with a disinterested sj)irit truly becoming the British ofllcer, declined taking possession of her, while in the command of a line of battle ship, he thought he could be; more useful to his country, and that honourable service was to be met witli in the West Indies or America : and when he accepted of the frigate, being employed on convoys, he fell in with the Sybil French Irigate of sujjerior fore«' to himself, doubly manned, and eonuniinded by an ollicer of distinguishtul character. Their engagement was rendered memorable by their being locked close to each other for near two hours, with rvfri/ sail set, by the carnage onboard the British ship, exceeding what in similar numbers is to hv met with in the aiuials of the late war, and by tlu' circumstance, that when Capt. Graves had silenced the lire of liis op|)onent, the masts of the LaMagicieiuie I'ell overboard andfortuni- deprived him of his prize and of all. but the glory of having deserved it. 306 APPENDIX. Page 250, /tne 17. Earl Cornwallis in a conversation with Lt. Col. Simcoe ashed him, " whether ho thought he could escape with the cavalry ? " he answered his Lordship,^'' with- out the smallest doubt." The great outline which Lt. Col. Simcoe laid down as the means by which he could escape, was to march straight up the country till such time as he had arrived parallel to the fords of the Susquehanna ; leaving it uncertain whether he meant to proceed to Carolina or Pennsylvania ; he then would have crossed towards the Susquehanna, directing his march so as to endeavour to release the Convention army, or to impress the enemy with a belief that such was his in- tention, if it should appear impracticable : when, being above the fords of the Delaware, he would have passed that river, and proceeded towards Staten Island or New York ; by that route which would have been most feasible. For somf' time previous to V,iir\ Cornwallis's (juestion, Lt. Col. Simco(^ had formed the idea of escaping with his cav- alry, and such men as could have beer mounted, in short the whole of his corps ; and he had ac(; aired a most perfect knowledge of the ditferent fords, and I'ormed ibr himself a regular plan. Capt. Ewald saw him (• le day looking over Xenophon, and imme<'iately said, " My Colonel, you an- go- " ing to retreat ; for v\)d's sake do not leave the VagtTsbe- "bind you." Those who are not aciir'iiiled with the Ameri- can country and its internal sitiiatio;i, would look upon such an attempt as chimerical; but a con^i^l(■ratlon of circum- Btnnces might alter their opinion. The whole of the ene- my's force was concentrated at ^'ork Town ; their cavalry consisted of the DuUe of Lau/un's legion, ill-mounted, few in numbers, and unacMpiainted wilh the country and the ge- nius of the war; no serious iiiterrii|)tion or pursuit could be expected from them ; such a corps as four or five hund- red men were exactly calculated for the attempt. A single plantation would have furnished them with suflicient pro- visions and forage ; the rapidity of their march would pre- APPENDIX. 307 mtion with it he could hip,'' with- lown as the straight up allel to the ■whether he ia; he then directing his [>ntion army» h was his in- when, heing e passed that [. iVrw York ; (question, Lt. with his cav- inteci, in short a most perfect lor himself a looUins over Ll, you are go- Ithe Vagersbe- itli t\»e Ameri- jlooU upon such ion of circum- 1,1,. of the ent- their cavalry [-mounted, few jtry ami the ge- r pursuit eouUl Ir or Jive hund- mpt. A single lulVicient pro- rch would pre- vent any determined opposition ; and, as the party proceeded, horsos could be accumulated to remount those which might be disabled. The country wfis sufliciently loyal to give the best intelli- gence ; much could have been procured by means of the negroes, and these ])('ople, if properly managed, might have been of inlinite service as auxiliaries ; they are brave, ex- cellent horsemen, masters of the sword, capable of fatigue and exertion in the hottest weather, and would have been trem(>n(lous in a pursuit. The composition of th(> Queen's Rangers suited it for any enterprise ; the huzzars had ])(mmi practised in swimming their horses, and the nativ(> Americans and emigrants were expert in whatever might facilitate the passage of rivers, or prevent an enemy from eliecting it. There were no troops between New York and Virginia, and if the militia W(M'e called out to guard the princijjal fords (as was report- ed) it was with a view to stop an army, and not a light corps, whose marcth would be directed far above the line they were destined to occupy, and to points with which they were unacciuainted. P«/f'f' 254, limi 7. Ilis Ltnulship mis iilciiscd to express hlin- sc/f J'di'iiiirtihh/ in rvj^anl to the scheiir; hut said he coii/d not permit it to lie undert(il,en,for that the irlio/e of the army 7nuSi share one fate. The Hangers, from tlici nany voyages, on board of half- manned transports, and I'rom li.eir ollicers encouraging them to assist in the working of the vessels, were become so ready and expert at sea, that in a periodical production wliieh stated the number »)f the troops taken at York Town, it was not surprising that tin; Q,iueu's Jiangers weri! remark- ed as, nil sailors. Upon (Japt. Palmer's success, Lt. Col. Simco(> had taken the liberty of suggesting, "that b>- fitting out all the small " craft as lire vessels, and driving lu i'Vench ships from the 308 APPENDIX. I'M li-'i '■! ■ .'■( " river in the night, two thousand men, which the boats " would carry, might escape to the Maryland shore :" his Lordship replied," he saw no daylight in that mode of escape." The duty and consequent principles of a subordinate offi- cer and a commander in chief are as different and distinct as limited views and universal ones can possibly make them : the inferior officer has only to perform any service he may be ordered on, and to be ready for those which are most hazardous, while he commander in chief weighs the propriety of any measure, sees it in all its lights and rela- tions, and determines accordingly ; and the greater alacrity which his troops show to execut(! his designs, the more val- uable they become ; and cannot fail strongly to interest a noble mind in their preservation: And this principle Earl Cornwallis, when he surrendered York Town to the prodi- gious superiority of force combined against him, generously expressed in the following terms : " Our numbers had been "diminished by the enemy's fire; but particularly by sick- " ness, and the strength and spirits of those in the works " were much exhausted by the fatigue of constant watching " .and unremitting duty. Ihider all these circumstances, I " thought it would have been wanton and inhuman to the " last degree, to sacrifice the lives of this small body of gal- " lant soldiers, who had ever behaved with so much fidelity " and courage, by exposing them to an assault, which, from " the numbers and precautions of the enemy, could not fail " to succeed." Page 258, tine 18, lit. Col. Simcnr, ir/iDsr r.vcfifinffc Govcni- tiiciil hdd pnnitird fiiim Dr. Froiililin. Lieut. Col. Sinieoe has always thought himself under the highest obligations to his Majesty's Ministers for this mark of attention ; the t( rms on which he was exchanged are here inserted, verbatim, from Dr. Trankliu's discharge : " IJe- "ing informed by William Hodgson, Ksq. Chairman of the •' Committee of Subscribers I'or tlm n-lief of American Pri- APPENDIX. 309 he boats ore:" his f escape." inate offi- ,d distinct bly make service he. ,\hich are weighs the 1 and rela- er alacrity more val- interest a ciple Earl the prodi- generously ■■i had been ly by sick- the -works t watching mstances, 1 lan to the lody of gal- hioh, from Id not fail isra Govern- ||' under the this mark Hinged are irge : " Ha- inan of the ricau I'vi- " soners in England, of the benevolent and humane treat- " ment lately received by the said prisoners in consequence " of orders from the present British Ministers ; and that the " said Ministers earnestly desire, that Lt. Col. Simcoe, a pri- " soner on parole to the United States of America, should *' be released from his said parole ; and being further of " opinion, that meeting the British Government in acts of be- " nevolence, is agreeable to the disposition and intention of " the Congress : I do hereby, as far as in my power may lie, " absolve the parole of the said Lt. Col. Simcoe ; but on this " condition, that an order be obtained for the discharge of " some officer of equal rank, who being a prisoner to the " English in America, shall be named by the Congress, or " by Gen. Washington for that purpose, and that three co- " pies of such order be transmitted to me. Given at Passy, "this 14th of .January, 1783. B.FRANKLIN, " Minister Plenipotentiary from the United States of " America at the Court of France." This seems a proper place to relate, that Captain Agnew of the QuecMi's Rangers, who had been so severely wounded at the battle of Brandywim*, as to render him unable to un- dergo the duties of the corps in the lield, had embarked for Virginia, of which he was a native at the time General Les- lie went to that province ; — his father, Mr. Agnew, Cha|)laiii of the Queen's Rangers, Captains Parker and Blair, loyal- ists, who had joined ICarl Dunmore on tlie first revolt ol" Vir- ginia, and other gentlemen, sailed on th(^ same ex|)e(lition. They followed th(^ movements of Gen. Leslie into Carolina ; and. Gen. Arnold having taken possession of Portsmouth, were returning to that place on board of the Romulus, when that ship was captured i)y a I'rench s(|uadr()n. The following letters will exp"'iin their consecjuent situa- tion ; and exemplify some of those acts of benevolence agreeable to the int<'ntion and disposition of 1 he. Congress, as mentioned l)y Dr. Franklin in his preceding letter : a5* 310 APPENDIX. mm ■'v-r'T;.,"- • t:%' ■■■■ ■ l&h. & v.^-. " Dear Sir, — Fortune, I trust, at last has put it in my pow- er to inform you of our unhappy and wretched captivity. You may rememher Gen. "Washington's visit to the French fleet ; it is from that period I date the commencement of our misfortunes last spring ; when, being informed of the pri- soners taken in the Romulus, a distinction was made be- tween the gentlemen of the ship, and the officers passengers for the army in Virginia, viz. Captains James Parker, Blair, Agnew, my father, and Mr. Cramond. Some of the above gentlemen were formerly his old acquaintances. From the knowledge these gentlemen had of the colony, and the French and American operations being so soon to take place there, Mr. Washington's conduct can be easily accounted for ; as a demand was soon after made of us, which we were informed of by Congress. The French, either think- ing it improper to give up their prisoners to the Americans, or having other views relative to us, refused the demand ; but at the same time consented to treat us in the manner I am to inform you of. We were immediately separated from our friends, and embarked on board the frigate La Ilermi- one, (as we understood,) for France ; having a letter from the Major d'Escadre, intbrining us we should be sent to France. The Ilermione, on the contrarj-, was bound to Boston, where we soon after arrived, and w<'re re-embarked on board La Concorde, still thinking ourselves on our way to France ; but, to our great surprise, soon learnt that the ship was for St. Domingo, and that we were to be confined there. We arrived the 0th of .July ; a room in the common prison was j)repar('d for us ; but, by the humanity of the Captain of i\w La Concorde, we were prevented going to the prison, and were shut up in an hospital, in hot cells, near four months. As the French and American operations took place in Virginia, so the tiiiM; of our deliverance ap|)roach- ed; and w(^ were (lo fuKil the Major's letter) embarked on board of different shi|)s, armed en Flute, for France, the 23d of October. Our passage was dismal. L'lJnion, a 04 gun mi APPENDIX. 311 ship, on board of which was Capt. Parker, foundered at sea, the crew being happily saved. La Sensible, in which was Mr. Blair, has never been heard of since ; the ship, on board of which were my father and myself, having lost the use of her rudder in a storm, lay a wreck twenty-four hours. How- ever, sir, we have escaped all, to be more barbarously treat- ed in France. The 6th of December we arrived at Brest ; we were landed, and immediately carried to a place of con- finement, where we found two officers of the 8Gth, of the Tobago capitulation. Brest not being a place for keeping prisoners, and the Commandant, probably not knowing of Mr. Blair's absence, sent the next morning an order to con- duct the live officers from St. Domingo to Dinant Castle. The order being indiscriminate, and the two Tobago gen- tlemen coming in the same fleet, they were i istantly taken and carried off with Capt. Parker, my father, and self, to Dinant. Whether this is a mistake at Brest, or not, I can- not know ; for, as the original reason for treating us five with such severity cannot now exist, and having heard we were regarded as hostages for French officers, that were, or had been, in the hands of Admiral Arbuthnot, our present misfortunes may arise from other causes than the primitive, as we are now actually regarded as prisoners of state to France : the above, whether intentional or accidental, had one happy tendency, which is that Mr. Cramond I hope, Is, in England. We were put into a large vault or dungeon in Dinant Castle, where we remained in the most wretched situation, until we found means to acquaint the Command- ant of Bretagne of our situation, who has been humane enough, for such 1 must call it, to remove us to St. Maloes Castle, where we now are, shut close up as prisoners of state ; having seen the orders sent to the Count De Guion for that purpose. I am afraid there is some secret reason for our treatment, that I cannot divine ; for no nation, I be- lieve, admires the virtue of loyalty and firmness more than the French. I am indebted to stratagem for the convey- 312 APPENDIX. ance of this ; by the same means, I have written to the Mi- nister, being deprived of pen, ink, and paper, and probably may not have another chance ; I trust, should my letter to Lord George Germain miscarry, that Col. Simcoe will use those means his judgment will best point out to inform our friends at home of our situation. " Suffer me. Col. Simcoe, to recommend to your humane and tender sensibility an aged and beloved parent : that, should she stand in need of your kind attention or advice, she may always have it in her power to have recourse to a friend ! — But oh God ! who knows, perhaps she at this mo- ment, from an independent affluence, is reduced, by the vicissitudes of the times, to penury ! — My heart, afflicted with the misfortunes of our family, can no more « Your's, &c., " STAIR AGNEW." " St. Maloes Castle, 26th Feb. 1782." r..^ " Caen, 20th August, 1782. " My Dear Colonkl, — Apprehensive my letters do not reach you, as I have never had the honour of hearing from you since in France, and now having a private opportunity, I srnd you in part duplicates of those letters which I have wrote you, and which will best tend to inform you of our situation. Your being in England is a circumstance the most happy for us, being convinced at last we have a friend. I hope this will not be subjected to any inspection, and con- sequently shall endeavour to be as particular to you as pos- sible, relative to our present situation. " It is to the Duke of Ilarcourt, Governor of the province of Normandy, we arc indebted for our parole here, and the present indulgences we enjoy ; hearing of our situation in the castle of St. Maloes, the victims of policy, he most readily interested himself with the Minister in our behalf, and through his remarkable attention and politeness has much alleviated our misfortunes. He has not been less as- siduous in endeavouring to exchange us ; but alas ! his APPE>fmX. 313 powers arc not equal to his good inclination. Le Marquis tie Castries has referred him to the American Minister, and has informed him it was at the instance of America Ave were detained in France. I have the honour of trans- mitting to you the letter of Mr. Franklin in answer to the Marquis de Castries on this subject. "Passy,2d April, 1782. " I have received the letter your Excellency did me the honour of writing to me, relating to Messrs. Agnew, father and son, and Capt. Parker, Englishmen, prisoners taken in America, and brought to France. I know nothing of those persons*, or of the circumstances that might induce the Del- egates of Virginia to desire their detention, no account of them from that state being come to my hands, nor have I received any orders or instructions from the Congress con- cerning them. I therefore cannot properly make any oppo- sition to their being permitted to reside at Caen on their parole of honour, or to their being exchanged in pursuance of thu carlfl, us his Majesty in liis wisduiii shall think proper. I am, sir, &c., "Signed, " BENJAMIN FRANKLIN." " From this letter we readily conclu''°f' that every obsta- cle was removed ; and in consequence the Duke of Har- court wrote to M. de Castries requesting our exchange, that we might, as British officers, benefit ourselves of the cartel established between the two nations for that express purpose. " The Duke has shown me the answer of M. de Castries to this last letter, and from which it appears determined to ke(>p us in France. He tells him, "Qu'il ne lui est pas possible " d'y condescendre, parceque M. de la Luzerne a maiide a " M. de llochambault que le Congres desiroit qu'ils ne fussent " pas echangei, comme etant des Terries dangereux dans le "Sud, o'u ils servoient trop bien leur Patrie." " Such is our situation at present, my dear Colonel ; nor have we a hope of relief, but in our country, and your kind 314 APPENDIX. • I ) '*>* f 1 • t h 1 •<1? •t'.^ Pf- I '11 endeavours ; if we are not demanded, here we vemain dur- ing the war ! Heavens ! what a succesoion of melancholy vicissitudes ! I have an aged parent at New York, who, totally dependent on the endeavours o ' her husband and an only son, perhaps, from a genteel aflluence, at this moment is reduced to want ! Oh God ! what do I say ? perhaps she is no more ! Such are the misfortunes attendant on civil war; and shall we, my dear Colonel, w!io have sacrificed all but a natural and unalienable allegiance, shall we not find friends who dare reclaim us ? who dare insist on our exchange ? For what is there a cartel between the two nations ? Are we not British oflicers ? Are we not French prisoners ? I ever apprehended that the meanest servant was entitled to the protection of the state he served; and shall France, at the instance of America, shut up his Majesty's subjects in her dungeons and castles with impunity 1 No ! should this happily reach you, I trust such measures will be adopted as to efl^ect our exchnnge agreeable to the cartel. Surely there are French oflicers enough in England. " 1 ours, C>:,e., " STAIK AGNEW." Lord George Germain had applied to the French Ministry for the release of these oflicers, previous to the arrival of Lt. Col. Simcoe in England, but with little effect ; applica- tion was made to the succeeding Secretaries of State, On the approach of peace 1 hey were exchanged : it is most probable had the war continued they would have remained prisoners ; so faithfully did the Ministers of France serve the American Congress, and maintain the character which that kingdom has acquired for ages, of trampling upon every tic of humanity which interl'eres Avith her policy ! The Duke de Lauzun politely ofl^ered to procure Lt. Col. Simcoe a passage in the frigate he was to proceed with to France : ho received many civilities from the American of- ficers to whom he had been opposed, and Col. Lee, by visit- ing him, afforded him an opportunity of personally acknowl- APPENDIX- SIS ■main dur- (lelancholy fork, who, md and an lis moment )cn"haps she nt on civil > sacrificed all we not sist on our en the two 1 not French servant was ; and shall IS Majesty's mity? No! sures will be ► the cartel, land. iich Ministry 10 arrival of ct ; applica- 8tate, On it is most •e remained ranee serve ■acter which ;>; upon every ;ure Lt. Col. ecd with to American of- ,ce, by visit- lly acknowl- edging the obligation he had been under to that officer. General O'Harahad kindly interested himself in explaining to Earl Cornwallis how necessary it was for him immedi- ately to proceed to New York ; and Baron Steuben desired to procure, through Gen. Washington, a passage for him in the French frigate ready to sail for Europe. Lt. Col. S'Ti- coe had asked Lt. Spencer to acknowledge his sense of the Baron's civilities, and in some trifling points to request his interference ; that officer had a long conversation with Baron Steuben, who told him that he had heard of Lt. Col. Tarleton's march to Charlotteville, but not of Lt. Col. Sim- coe's to the Point of Fork, and that he took his corps for Earl Cornwallis's army. Lt. Col. Simcoe has often had oc- casion to mention some of the many instances of Lt. Spen- cer's military talents; and the following anecdote will evince the heroic spirit with which he was animated, and on that account be acceptable to the readers of this journal. At the conclusion of the American war, and previous to the evacuation of New York by the King's troops, Lieut. Spencer of the Queen's Rangers, (who was then at Phila- delphia,) received a letter from Major Hanger of the British legion, informing him, that Lieut. IL Paymaster of that reg- iment had absconded ; that he had taken with him five standards which that regiment had in different actions seized from the enemy, and that he was supposed to be in Philadelphia. The Major was pleased to pass some com- pliments on Lt. Spencer, expressive of the idea he enter- tained of his integrity and zeal for the service, he desired him to go to Mr. H. well armed, and to force him at any rate to deliver up the trophies : indeed he said " I am at " ease ; for I am sure nothing but the loss of your life in the " attempt, can prevent you getting them." At seven in the evening Lt. Spencer received the Major's letter ; without losing a moment he put a pair of pistols in his pockets, went to the sign of the Indian Queen, where he learnt Mr. H. quartered, enquired for his room, and was 316 APl'ENDIX. '^U:> 1 " m f;v- told by one of the servants that he lodged in such a num- ber, and was at home ; he went up, but Mr. H. was not there ; he took the liberty however of opening a small trunk he saw in the room ; he found the standards, took off his coat, waistcoat and shirt, wrapped them round his body, slit uji his waistcoat behind, that he might button it. &c. came out of the house and went to the inn, from which the vehicle set off for New York, M-hich it did that night at 8 o'clock ; and the next day he delivered the standards to the Major in New York, Avho received them with singular marks of joy and proper acknowledgments. On his road to New York, at Brunswick, Lt. Spencer was insulted by some of the inhabitants ; they knew him by his uniform to be one of Ac cavalry of the Queen's Rangers ; of course concluded that he was one of those who had at- tended Lt. Col. Simcoe in his alert at the time that gentle- man was taken prisoner. A singular dislike of the Queen's Rangers had been occasioned by the frequent incursions that corps had made into the Jersies, and particularly by the death of Capt. Vorhees, who was killed on the return of the party under the command of Lt. Col. Simcoe : he was an inhabitant of Brunswick, and Mas to have been married the day after, if his death had not happened. The populace assembled (during dinner) round the house, hissing and hooting ; and had it not been for the interposi- tion of some American officers, passengers in the same wag- gon, it is likely they might have proceeded to violent meas- ures had they laid hands on Mr. Spencer, and found the col- ours as described in his possession : those, only, who are ac- quainted with the vindictive spirit of the Jersey people can know the fatal consequences. Lt. Spencer returned immediately to Philadelphia on pur- pose to give INIr. H. every satisfaction he might require ; Mr. n. waited on him and desired immediate redress ; Mr. S. expostulated with him on the impropriety of his conduct ; the hour was appointed for the meeting, but Mr. H. cooled, was sorry for what he had done, and here the matter ended. APPENDIX. 317 a num- was not a small , took off his body, n it, &c. which the light at 8 irds to the singular encer was him by his Hangers ; ho had at- lat gentle- he Queen's irsions that irly by the ?turn of the he was an larried the 1 the house, interposi- [same wag- )lent meas- md the col- Ivho are ac- people can Lhia on pur- jit require ; Idress; Mr. lis conduct ; II. cooled, Ltter ended. The following letters will conclude this appendix ; they were sent to Lt. Col. Simcoe soon after the preliminaries of the peace were divulged in America. The former was written by one of the principal of the associated loyalists on the upper parts of the Chesapeake, and transmitted to Lt. Col. Simcoe by Mr. C. Sowers, a loyalist of Pennsylva- nia. It is more easy for the reader to imagine than it is for him to describe the pleasure he has received from these honourable testimonies. " I have the honour in behalf of the deputies of the as- sociated loyalists in Pennsylvania, Maryland, and the lower counties on Delaware, by their particular direction, and be- ing fully authorised by them for that purpose, now to express to you the high sense they entertain of your political and military conduct during the late rebellion in America. They are at a loss whether most to admire your activity and gal- lantry in the field, or your generous and affectionate attach- ment to his Majesty's loyal subjects in America, and your unwearied exertions as well to promote their true interest, as to preserve and protect their property. " As they have with pleasure and satisfaction hv.d frequent opportunities of seeing your arms crowned with success, so have they as often experienced the marks of your favour, attention and protection ; these acts have endeared you to them, and claim their warmest gratitude. " Your particular countenance to and zeal for the associ- ated loyalists, and your ready concurrence in the measures proposed for their relief, and kind solicitations in their be- half, have made an impression on their minds, words cannot express and time only can erase ; and they have exceed- ingly to regret that the opportunity was not afforded them of evincing to the world, under your command, the sincerity of their professions and tbeir attachment to their sovereign. " They would deem themselves culpable if they did not take this opportunity to mention that your abhorrence of the 26 818 APPENDIX. pillage that too generally took place in this country, and the success that attended your vigilant exertions to prevent it, have marked your character, and insured to you the esteem of all orders and ranks of good men. " Your sudden and unexpected departure from America prevented their paying this tribute of respect to you person- ally, which they entreat you now to accept, and that you will he assured that under all changes and circumstances your name will be dear to them, and that their wishes and prayers will always be for your prosperity and happiness." fi. i , "Huntingdon, July 1st, 1783. " When we reflect on your military conduct in the course of this war, we, in common with others acquainted with its occurrences, cannot withhold our admiration and respect. But, when you rise to our minds in the relation in which you stand with us, and we view you as our leader and com- panion, who not only has pointed out to us the road to mili- tary reputation, but has shared in common with us its dan- gers and hardships ; when w(! find, that the whole tenor of youi conduct demonstrates the most friendly disposition and attachment to our interests, which, in a particular manner, you have evinced by your unremitted assiduity and zeal, in making known and preferring our pretensions to our {Sove- reign, which has obtained for us the most gracious marks of his approbation, and the most honourable reward for our services : when these things recur to us, wc feel our hearts warmed with the generous glow of gratituding direct- le violation uscript col- jets of very war of the mong other lar account on on Long ; admitting, )d woman to 'ty, had pro- who, under messengers ialem, when ;ions of his we are in- ce, however, ly an elderly ay, it comes 'volutionary limcoe." |h army took « onlered to the oath of allegiance. Many attended and were sworn, who received a certificate of protection, for which they had to pay a dou- ceur. They were then ordered to wear a red band or rag in their hat, as a badge of protection. Whenever it was discovered that a red badge afibrded safety and protection to the person who wore it, every white man and negro, with all the boys in the country, mounted a red rag in their hats, which soon caused the abandonment of this badge of slave- ry. In the year '77, when the Americans had captured many Hessian and British prisoners, and could retaliate on them, for the cruelties which the Americans suffered, the British then relaxed in their severity towards the prisoners of the American army — the oflicers were removed from th search for took Tho- r him, and the tub, and nd Thomas ilyii, Henry )y No. o!H', near Clreen- opnort unity HI widow's orth river to miraculcus- Pages 109 to 119 Lt. Col. Simcoe had information thatfifUj flat-boats, upon carriages, 4^. ^c. The affair narrated in the Journal is told in Lee's Me- moirs of the War, &c. pages 192, 193, of the second edi- tion. Lee's account of the expedition, written in his usual happy manner, is preceded by a handsome compliment to Lieut. Col. Simcoe. The praise awarded to the British offi- cer deserves consideration, coming from the distinguished rebel and gallant young soldier commanding the American Legion, which was a corps similar in most points to Simcoe's, and which, in the defence of the cause of independence, no less distinguished itself. "This officer commanded a legionary corps call(;d the Queen's Rangers, and had during the war signalised him- self upon various occasions. He was a man of letters, and like the Romans and Grecians, cultivated science amid the turmoil of camp. He was enterprising, resolute, and perse- vering ; weighing well his project before entered upon, and promptly seizing ev(>ry advantage which offered in the course of execution. General Washington expecting a French fleet upon our coast in 1779-80, and desirous of be- ing thoroughly prepared for moving upon New York, in case the combined force should warrant it, had made ready a numbi r of boats, which were placed at Middlebrook, a small village up the llaritan river, abov(^ Brunswick. Sir Henry ("linfuu beip.g informed of this preparation, determin- ed to de!>ir(»y the boats. The enterprise was committed to Lt. Col. Simcoe. He crossed from New York to Jilizabeth- town Point with his cavalry, and setting out after night, he readied Middlebrook undiscovered and unexpected. Hav- ing executed his object, hv bafiled all our f-llbrtsto intercept hini on his n-turn, by taking a circuitous routv . Instead of turning towards Perth Amboy, which was sup|)osed to be the most probable course, keeping the; Haritun on his right, 324 APPENDIX. ,:V ( ^:::j^ m^'^' I he passed that river, taking the direction towards Monmouth county, leaving Brunswick some miles to his left. Here was stationed a body of militia, who being apprised (it be- ing now day) of the enemy's proximity, made a daring effort to stop him, but failed in the attempt. Simcoe, bringing up the rear, had his horse killed, by which accident he was made prisoner. The cavalry, deprived of their leader, con- tinued to press forward under the second in command, still holding the route to English town. As soon as the militita at Brunswick moved upon the enemy, an express was des- patched to lit. Col. Lee, then posted in the neighbourhood of English town, waiting for the expected arrival of the French Heei, advising him of this extraordinary adventure. "The legioii cavalry instantly advanced towards the British horse ; but notwithstanding the utmost diligence was used to gain the road leading to South Amboy (which now was |)lainly the object) before the enemy could reach it, the American cavalry did not effect it. Nevertheless the pursuit was continued, and the legion horse came up with the rear soon after a body of infantry sent ovei to South Aniboy from Staten Island by Sir Henry Clinton to meet Simcoe, had Joined, and gave safety to the harrassed and successl'ul foe. " This (Miterprise was considered, by both armies, among the hatidsoniest exploits of the war. Simcoe executed eoni- pletely his object, then deemed very important ; and tra- v«'rs(>(l the country, from Elizabetlitown Point to South Am- boy. lifty-live miles, in the course of the night and morning; passing through a most hostil(> r/gion of armed citizens; ne<'( -isiirily •skirting Hrunswicl\. a military station : jiroeeed- ing not more than eight or nine miles from the legion ol' Lee, his last point of danger, and which became increased from the debilitated condition to wliieli his troops were reduced by previous fatigue. What is very <'Xtraor(linnry. I.t. Col. S'meoe being obliged to W'tn] once in the course of the nisiht, stopped at a depot ol' forage collected for the Contin( general return of oflicers and privates surrendered prisoners of war, the 19th of October, 1781, to the allied army, under the command of General Washing- ton, taken from the original muster rolls :" — Queen's Rangers — 1 lieutenant-colonel, 1 major, 10 cap- tains, 15 lieutenants, 11 cornets, 3 quarter-masters, 2 sur- geons, 24 sergeants, 5 trumpeters, 248 rank and file — total 320. Page xil. of Memoir of the Author. The reader will find in Stone's Life of Joseph Brant, (or Thayendauegea,) the Indian Chi(;ftain, considerable discus- sion of Governor Simcoe's measures while in Uj)per Canada. There appears to have been an intimate friendship between the Chief and the Governor, the latter bringing from Eng- 328 APPENDIX. n land a letter of introduction to the former from the Duke of Northumberland. The annexed extract is from the book referred to, Vol. II. p. 337 : " The followinfT is the letter, which the character of the parties and the ciro uiustances of the case render worthy of preservation : I* ^^1 r " • Northumberland House, Sept. 3d, 1791. " ' My Dear Joseph, " ' Colonel Sin:coe, who is going out Governor of Upper Canada, is kind enough to promise to deliver this to you, with a brace of pistols which I desire you will keep for my sake. I must particularly recommend the Colonel to you and the nation. He is a most intimate fried of mine, and is possessed of every good quality which can recommend him to your friendship. He is brave, humane, sensible, and hon- est. You may safely rely upon whatever he says, for he will not deceive you. He loves and honours the Indians, whose noble sentiments so perfectly correspond with his own. He wishes to live upon the best terms with them, and, as Governor, will have it in his power to be of much service to them. In short, he is worthy to be a Mohawk. Love him at first for my sake, and you will soon come to love him for his own. " ' I was very glad to hear that you had received the rifle safe which I sent you, and hope it has proved useful to you. I preserve with great care your picture, which is hung up in the Duchess's own room. " ' Continue to me your friendship and esteem, and be- lieve me ever to be, with the greatest truth, " ♦ Your affectionate friend and brother, " * Northumberland, • •♦ • Captain Joseph Brant, " * Thorighwegeri. Thayendanegea.'" M 1 the Duke of )m the book acter of the er worthy of 3d, 1791. or of Upper this to you, keep for my il to you and nine, and is )mmend him )le, and hon- says, for he the Indians, nd with his 1 with them, be of much a Mohawk, oon come to ived the rifle iseful to you. I is hung up em, and be- LAND, orighwegeri.