WILLIAM L. CLEMENTS Collated Eet A JOURNAL OF THE Ο Ρ Ε R Α Τ Ι Ο Ν S OF THE QUEEN'S RANGERS, FROM THE END OF THE YEAR 1777, TO THE CONCLUSION OF THE LATE AMERICAN WAR. BY LIEUTENANT - COLONEL SIMCO E, COMMANDER OF THAT CORPS. EXETER: PRINTED FOR THE AUTHOR. [1787 IN T R O DU C TI O N. THE HE Writer of theſe Memoirs has been induced to print them by a variety of reaſons, among which the following are included. Actions erroneouſly attributed to Others may be reſtored to Thoſe who really per- formed them. His own memory may be renewed, and preſerved in their boſoms, whoſe patronage and confidence he acknowledges with pride and gratitude; while, at the ſame time, he bears teſtimony to the merits of thoſe excellent officers and ſoldiers whom it was his good fortune to command, during the late war in America: a war which he always conſidered as forced upon Great Britain, and in which he ſerved from principle. Events, however unfortunate, can neither alter its nature nor cancel his opinion. Had he ſuppoſed it to have been unjuſt, he would have reſigned his com- mifſion; for no true ſoldier and ſervant of his country will ever admit that a Britiſh officer can diveſt himſelf of the duties of a citizen, or in a civil conteſt is bound to ſupport the cauſe his conſcience rejects. The command of a light corps, or, as it is termed, the ſervice of a parti- zan, is generally eſteemed the beſt mode of inſtruction for thoſe who aim at higher ſtations ; as it gives an opportunity of exemplifying profeſſional re- quiſitions, fixes the habit of ſelf-dependance for reſources, and obliges to that prompt deciſion which in the common rotation of duty ſubordinate A 2 officers INTRODUCTION officers can ſeldom exhibit, yet without which none can be qualified for any truſt of importance. To attain this employment was therefore an early object with the author; nor could he be diveſted from his purpoſe by the ſhameful character of diſhoneſty, rapine, and falſehood, fuppoſed to attend it; at leaſt by thoſe who formed their judgment on the converſation of ſuch officers as had been witneſſes to the campaigns in Germany. He had fairer examples to profit from ; as the page of military hiſtory ſcarcely details more fpirited exertions in this kind of ſervice, than what diſtinguiſhingly marked the laſt civil commotions in England; and Muffey's well-known ſaying “ that he could not look upon the goods of any Engliſhman as thoſe “ of an enemy,” delineated the integrity of the citizen, and the honourable policy of the ſoldier. His intimate connection with that moſt upright and zealous officer the late Admiral Graves, who commanded at Boſton in the year 1775, and ſome , ſervices which he was pleaſed to intruft him with, brought him acquainted with many of the American Loyaliſts: from them he ſoon learned the practicability of raiſing troops in the country whenever it ſhould be opened to the King's forces; and the propriety of ſuch a meaſure appeared to be ſelf- evident. He therefore importuned Admiral Graves to aſk of General Gage that he might enliſt ſuch negroes as were in Boſton, and with them put himſelf under the direction of Sir James Wallace, who was then actively engaged at Rhode Iſland, and to whom that colony had oppoſed negroes; adding to the Admiral, who ſeemed ſurprized at his requeſt, “that “ he entertained no doubt he ſhould ſoon exchange them for whites :" General Gage, on the Admiral's application, informed him that the negroes were not fufficiently numerous to be ſerviceable, and that he had other em- ployment for thoſe who were in Boſton. When the army failed from Halifax for Staten iſland, the author was Captain of the grenadier company of the 40th regiment, and during the time of winter quarters at Brunſwick, in 1777, went purpoſely to New- York INTRODUCTION. guarded from York to folicit the command of the Queen's Rangers, then vacant. The boat he was in, being driven from the place of its deſtination, he was ex- ceedingly chagrined to find that he had arrived ſome hours too late : but he deſired that Col. Cuyler, Sir William Howe's Aid-de-Camp, would mention his coming thither to him, as well as his deſign. On the army's em- barking for the Cheſapeak, he wrote to General Grant, under whom he had ferved, requeſting his good offices in procuring him a command like that of the Queen's Rangers, if any other corps intended for ſimilar employment fhould be raiſed in the country, to which the expedition was deſtined. Theſe circumſtances are related, not only as introductory to the ſubfe- quent journal, but to ſhew how very early his thoughts were bent on at- taining the command of a corps raiſed in America, for the active duty of light troops. The journal, as it is, in its own nature, not generally intereſting, and any obſervations foreign to the ſubject, he by no means wiſhes to obtrude upon the public; but hopes it will be favourably received by thoſe to whom he ſhall offer it as a teſtimony of reſpect, and with whom it may claim fome indulgence, as the particular nature and event of the American war gives a degree of conſequence to operations however minute : for it terminated not in the loſs of ſome petty fortreſs, or trivial iſland, but in the divulſion of a continent from a continent; of a world from a world. The officer who conducts a light corps properly, will in his ſmall ſphere make uſe of the ſame principles which Generals apply to the regulation of armies. He will naturally imitate the commanders under whom he ſerves; while the individuals of his corps (for in ſuch a ſervice only individuals be- come of importance) will manifeſt a ſpirit which probably the whole army may poſſeſs without having ſimilar opportunities of calling it into action. Hiſtory cannot produce examples of more ardent zeal in the ſervice of their country, than that which characterized the Britiſh officers and ſoldiers in America. They deſpiſed all thoſe conveniencies without which it would be thought a I N T R O DU CT I O N. thought impracticable for European armies to move. They did not tamely wait for the moment of exertion in the preciſe time of their duty, but boldly fought out danger and death; and no ſooner was one officer loft on any hazardous ſervice than many competitors appeared to ſucceed in the poſt of honor. It was this fpirit which, among uncommon difficulties, ſo frequently triumphed over numbers of brave, ſkilful, and enterprizing opponents. The Britiſh foldier who thought himſelf ſuperior, actually became ſo; and the aſcendency 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 ſhewn in the hour of civil perſecution and rigorous impriſonment; in ſituations where coolneſs ſupplies the place of activity, and thought precedes execution. General Gage in a celebrated letter to Waſhington at the commencement of the war, had ſaid, “that ſuch « trials would be met with the fortitude of martyrs ;” and the behaviour of the Loyaliſts amply confirmed 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 their troops ; and the deciſion, with which they riſked themſelves, 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 campaigns, particularly in the glorious battle of the Brandywine; by Sir Henry Clinton in his celebrated march through the Jerſies; by Earl Cornwallis in a latter period at Guildford, when the war was transferred to the Carolina's; and eminently by Lord Rawdon, who was “Left to bide the diſadvantage of a field « Where nothing but the found of Britain's name “ Did ſeem defenſible;"---but the ſame ſpirit was infuſed into the ſmalleſt operations; and the light troops in their enterprizes, confident in the ſuperiority of their compoſition, ſcarcely admitted the idea of retreat, or calculated againſt the contingency of a repulſe. An account of the Queen's Rangers I N T R O DUCTION. Rangers, and their operations, will elucidate the preceding poſitions ; fhew in ſuch a point of view their ſimilitude to the Britiſh army, and contain, as it were, an epitome of its hiſtory. This Journal alledges no fact but what the author believes to be true; the frequent introduction of his own name may appear redundant, but is abſo- lutely neceſſary to the perſpicuity of the work. He never valued himſelf ſo highly on the actions which it was his good fortune to perform to the fatisfac- tion of his ſuperiors, as voluntarily to preſcribe them for the boundaries of his profeſſional ambition. Yet, as a Britiſh officer, ſhould he live to double the number of years which he has already devoted to the ſervice of his country, it is ſcarcely poſſible that he ſhall ever be appointed to ſo important a truſt as that which he ſolicited, when he offered to fortify and maintain Billing's Port : And as an European ſoldier, and an European ſubject, what field for honor- able enterprize can ever be ſo wide, as that which he would have expatiated in, had he according to his own plan, joined the Indians; directed them to collateral exertion; and aſſociating the Loyaliſts of the back countries zea- lous in the Britiſh cauſe, united them with the enemies of Congreſs ; ſet be- fore them the Queen's Rangers as their moſt neceſſary guides and examples ; led the whole combination to inceſſant and adventurous action during the war; and if victorious, had remained at their head in that hour when Ame- rica was declared independent by a critical and unexpected peace! A JOURNAL A JOU R N A L, &c. O N the 15th of October, 1777, Sir William Howe was pleaſed to appoint Captain Simcoe of the Grenadiers, with the Provin- cial rank of Major, to the command of the Queen's Rangers ; the next day he joined that regiment, which was encamped with the army in the vicinity of German-Town. On the 19th the army marched to Philadelphia, the Queen's Ran- gers formed the rear guard of the left column, and, in the encamp- ment, their poſt was on the right of the line, in front of the village of Kenſington; 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 Cheſapeak to this period. This was a very ſeaſonable recruit to the regiment; it had ſuffered materially in the action at Brandywine, 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 im- preſſion [ 2 ] preſſion which that action had left upon their minds was of the higheſt advantage to the regiment; officers and ſoldiers became known to each other ; they had been engaged in a more ſerious man- ner, and with greater diſadvantages than they were likely again to meet with in the common chance of war; and having extricated themſelves 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 William Howe, in conſequence of their behaviour at Brandywine, had promiſed that all promotions ſhould go in the regiment, and accordingly 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 implies, and which were detailed in his commiffion; at one period they muſtered above four hundred men, all Americans, and all Loyaliſts. Hardſhips and neglect had much reduced their numbers, when the command of them was given to Colonel French, and afterwards to Major Weymeſs, to whom Major Simcoe ſucceeded; their officers alſo had undergone a material change; many gentlemen of the ſouthern colonies who had joined Lord Dunmore, and diſtin- guiſhed themſelves under his orders, were appointed to ſuperſede 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 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 country- ; men [ 3 ] men (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 Rangers, however dangerouſly and inceffantly 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 attachment to the Britiſh government, and who now acted upon the firmeft prin- ciples 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 fight- ing 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 con- tempt. Such was the compoſition of the Queen's Rangers, and the fpirit that animated it. The junction of Captain Smyth's company augmented the regiment into eleven companies, the number of which was equalized, 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 Caro- lina, were now in the corps; to thoſe others were added, and the command was given to Captain M Kay; they were furniſhed with the Highland dreſs, and their national piper, and were poſted on the left flank of the regiment, which conſiſted of eight battalions, a gre- nadier, and light infantry company. Upon the march from Ger- man Town to Kenſington, 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 cloathing and habiliments of the * dragoons were ſo different from thoſe of the Queen's Rangers (the B 2 one [ 4 ] a “ 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 approved of the idea, and ſent a ſuitable number of horſes, faddles, 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 ſerjeant of diſtinguiſhed gallantry. A light corps, augmented as that of the Queen's Rangers was, and employed on the duties of an outpoſt, had no opportunity of being inſtructed in the general diſci- pline of the army, nor indeed was it very neceffary : the moſt im- portant 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 foldiers, without regard to their ſize or appearance. It was explained, that no rotation, except in ordinary duties, ſhould take among light troops, but that thoſe officers would be ſelected for any ſervice who appeared 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 ſituations or employment, was a more honour- able command than an hundred on common duties. Serjeants guards were in a manner aboliſhed, a circumſtance to which in a great mea- fure may be attributed, that no centinel or guard of the Queen's Rangers was ever ſurpriſed; the vigilance of a gentleman and an officer being tranſcendantly ſuperior to that of any non-commiſſioned officer whatſoever. An attention to the interior economy of a company, indiſpenſable place [ 5 ] indiſpenſable as it is, by no means forms the moſt pleaſing military duty upon ſervice, where the officer looks up to ſomething more ef- ſentially uſeful, and values himſelf upon its execution. A young corps raiſed in the midſt of active ſervice, and without the habits of diſcipline, which are learnt in time of peace, required the ſtricteſt attention in this point. It was obſerved, that regularity in meffing, 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 atten- tion of a corps to its interior economy; and to enforce the performance of theſe duties in the ſtrongeſt manner, it was declared in public or- ders, “ 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 economy of the regiment when in quarters. ” To avoid written orders as much as poſſible, after the morning pa- rade, the officers attended, as the German cuſtom is, and received verbally whatever could be ſo delivered to them, and they were de- clared 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 pa- trole beyond Frankfort, four miles from Philadelphia; it was the day that Colonel Donop 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. 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 ſtrait from Philadelphia to Briſtol Ferry on the Dela- ware ; about five miles from Philadelphia, on this road, was Frank- fort 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 a و [ 6 ] و Beyond the bridge over the creek, on a height, was the village of Frankfort; below the bridge it was not fordable, but it was eafily paſſed in many places above it. The rebels frequently patrolled as far as Frankfort, and to a place called the Rocks, about a mile be- yond 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 oppofite Burling- ton: this road was the neareſt to the river Delaware; nearly pa- rallel to it was the road to York, which was attended 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 moft perfect knowledge of which was endeavoured to be acquired by maps, drawn from the information of the country people, and by ocular obfer- vation. The village of Kenfington was ſeveral times attacked by the rebel patrolling parties; they could come by means of the woods very near to it undiſcovered; there was a road over a ſmall creek to 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 mentioned, in an angle between the Delaware and the Frankfort road, infantry were liable to be cut off; on the left there was a knowl that overlooked the country; this was the poſt of the piquet in the day-time, but corn fields high enough to conceal the approach of an enemy reached to its bafis ; centinels from hence inclined to the left and joined thoſe of Colonel Twilleton's (now Lord Say and Sele) light infantry of the guards, ſo that this hill projected forward, and on that account was ordered by Sir William Erſkine not to be defended if attacked in force, and it was withdrawn at night. uſual, if the enemy approached, to quit this poſt 'till fuch 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 . It was [ 7 ] 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 village, (which was laid out and encloſed in right angles); theſe were themſelves overlooked by others that conſtituted the alarm poſt of the different companies. Fires alſo were made in particular places before the picquet, to diſcover whatſoever ſhould approach. Before day the whole corps was under arms, and remained fo 'till the picquets returned to their day poſt, which they reſumed, taking every pre- «caution againſt ambuſcades; the light infantry of the guards advanced their picquets at the ſame time, and Colonel Twilleton was an admirable pattern for attention and ſpirit, to all who ſerved with , him. He was conſtantly with the picquets, 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 Rangers were found very ſerviceable on theſe occaſions. The woods in the front were every day diminiſhing, being cut down for the uſes of the army, and the enemy kept at a greater diſtance. An attempt was made to ſurprize the rebel poſt at Frankfort; by orders from 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: fome 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 information, the rebel poſt had been withdrawn. Some days after the Queen's Rangers, with thirty dragoons of the 16th, under Lieutenant Pidcock, marched at midnight to attempt the ſame poſt; after a [ 8 ] > after making a 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 compleatly 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 remarkable, they had the word “ Richmond” chalked in their hats; the officer ſaid “Richmond was the counterſign, and s that he chalked it there that his men might not forget it.” Ser- jeant Kelly diſmounted an officer, and in purſuit of another man, left him; the officer gave his watch to another dragoon; it was however adjudged to the ferjeant, as he was the perſon who dif- mounted 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 fo 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 earneſtly attempted to be inculcated, and not without ſucceſs. Soon after, as 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 Twifleton and Major Simcoe, who were on the Knowl, occupied by the picquet 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 [ 9 ] they immediately took their reſpective picquets, about twenty men, and marched to maſk the wood. The ſoldiers in The ſoldiers in camp were ordered to run to the Knowl, without waiting, and the officer of the picquet was directed to form them as faſt as they came up, by twelves, 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 Twifleton 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 ſkir- miſh 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 Frankfort, where the enemy no longer kept a fixed poſt, tho' they frequently ſent a patrole to ſtop the market people. A patrolling party of the Rangers ap- proached undiſcovered ſo cloſe to a rebel centinel, poſted upon the bridge, that it would have been eaſy to have killed him. A boy, whom he had juſt examined, was ſent back to inform him of this, and to direct him immediately to quit his poſt or that he ſhould be fhot; he ran off, and the whole party, on his arrival at the guard, fled with equal precipitation; nor were there any more cen- tinels 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 perſonal activity that characteriſe the Britiſh ſoldier can beſt diſplay themſelves. The whole corps being together on the с Frankfort [ 10 ] Frankfort road, information was received 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 diſpoſition 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 di- rected 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 companies were formed about thirty feet from the light infantry, in cloſe column by companies, their bayonets fixed, and not loaded; they were inſtructed 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 fo 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 pre- fent, 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 occafion 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 ruih on the enemy, determined to take no quarter ;” the whole corps thrilled with animation, and refentment againſt the enemy, and with ſympathy for their fellow foldiers; [ II 11 ] foldiers : it would have been the moſt favourable moment, had the enemy appeared, to have attacked them. Major Grymes, a Virginia gentleman of loyalty, education, and fortune, who was fecond Major of the Queen's Rangers, at this time reſigned his commiffion, to the great regret of Major Simcoe and of the corps, whoſe confidence he had won by extricating them from a very difadvantageous ſituation, by a deciſive and bold exertion at Brandywine: he was ſucceeded in duties, with the rank of Captain Commandant, by Lieutenant Rofs of the 35th regiment, with whoſe intrepidity, and zeal for the ſervice, Major Simcoe was well acquainted. The redoubts in front of Philadelphia being finiſhed, the advance picquets were withdrawn and poſted in them, that of the Queen's Rangers excepted; it remained without the redoubt, tho' it had fallen back much nearer to it: it was liable to inſult, but it would have been difficult to have ſurprized it. The Knowl was ſtill the out-poſt, and the general place to which many of the officers of the line rode, in order to laugh at the mounted men and their habili- ments; 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 William Howe thought proper to move towards him, and the army marched accordingly 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 picquet of the Rangers made fires on the road that led to it, ſo that the approach of any parties of the enemy could eaſily be ſeen. The army re- mained the next day in the ſame poſition. On the 7th, at night, Major Simcoe with the Queen's Rangers, and a party of dragoons under Captain Lord Cathcart, took up the poſition of ſome of the troops who had retired; this poſt was ſometime afterwards quitted و C 2 in [ 12 ] in great filence, and he joined the column that was marching under General Grey. The General marched all night, and on approaching the enemy's out-poſt, he formed his column into three diviſions; the advanced guard of the center conſiſted of the Heffian Yagers, who marched with their 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 unparellelled ſwiftneſs of the light infantry of the guards, and driven acroſs the fire 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 man of the Queen's Rangers, in the pur- fuit, 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 Rangers advanced. The night was paſſed in a wood not far from the enemy's camp. The next day Major Simcoe patrolled in the vicinity: he left the infantry of his party at the edge of the wood, and approached 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 pre- concerted, rang in the wood, and an Officer gallopping to Major Simcoe 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 off. The ambuſcade was properly laid for whomſoever he ſhould bring, when Captain André 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 fight and a [ 13 ] and on the gallop; they fired ſeveral carbine ſhot, to no purpoſe. 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, were 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 as uſeful in cloſe action, but to lead the minds of the ſoldier to expect that deciſive mode of combat. Several good horſes had been taken from the rebels, ſo that the Huzzars were now well mounted, on hardy ſerviceable horſes, which bore a very unuſual ſhare of fatigue. Lieutenant Wickham, an officer of quickneſs, and courage, was appointed to command them, and a ſerjeant of the 16th regiment of light dragoons attended their parade, to give them regularity in its duties. Several men having deſerted, Major Simcoe directed that the coun- terſign ſhould not be given to the centinels; they were ordered to ; ſtop any perſons at a diſtance, more than one, untill the guard turned out; and in poſting of centinels, 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 Centinels, without being 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 centinels were relieved every hour. . The ſubaltern frequently patrolled, as did the captain of the day, and the field officers : the conſequence was, that the Queen's Rangers never gave a falſe alarm, or had a Centinel ſurprized, during the war. It is remarkable, that a man de- ſerted at this time, who left all his neceſſaries, regimentals excepted : he had lately come from Europe, and, to all appearance, had enliſted merely to facilitate his joining the rebel army. a C3 It [ 14 ] It may be here a proper place to deſcribe the country in front of Phi- ladelphia; and the general duties on which the Queen's Rangers were employed, during the winter. The road on the right, and neareſt the Delaware, has been already mentioned by the name of the Frankfort road: from the center of Philadelphia, the main road led up the country, and about two miles off, at the Riſing Sun, it branched into the Old York road on the right, and that of the Germantown on the 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 Skuylkill, 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 Skuylkill, and as the courſe of the Delaware inclined away from the Skuylkill, the diſtance was conſiderably increaſed; ſo that no detach- ment 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 apprehenfions; when he paſſed Frankfort creek in front he was to be guided by circumſtances. The general directions he received 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 exer- tions of their civil powers, their militia. The roads, the creeks, and the general inclination 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 garriſoned by the corps, till, on Major Simcoe's repreſentation that the duty was too ſevere, it was given to the line : within this redoubt the corps fitted up their bar- . racks. The 4th of January was the firſt day ſince their landing at the head of Elk, that any man could be permitted to unaccoutre. There is not an officer in the world who is ignorant, that per- mitting the ſoldier to plunder, or maraud, muſt inevivitably deſtroy him ; [ 15 ] a . him; that, in a civil war, it muſt alienate the large body of people, who, in ſuch a conteſt, are deſirous of neutrality, and four 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 Parliament'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,” exemplifies the additional difficulty where foreign troops are combined with natives. No officer could poſſibly feel the attention that was ne- ceſſary to this duty more ſtrongly than Major Simcoe, and he thought himſelf warranted to declare, when a general order was given out to en- force it, “ that, it is with the utmoſt ſatisfaction 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 ho- “ norable to him as the moſt diſtinguiſhed bravery.” Major Simcoe took care to prevent the poſſibility of plunder, as much as lay in his power : he never halted, if he could avoid it, but in a wood; fent ſafeguards to every houſe; allowed no man, in marching, to quit his ranks; and was in general ſucceſsful 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 attention to this duty, and the ſoldiers had admirable examples of diſcipline and good order, from the native loyaliſts of the corps, who were moſtly non-commiſſioned officers. On the contrary, the rebel patroles, who came to ſtop the markets, were conſidered 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 [ 16 ] و 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 diviſion, being upon the flank, it would have been hazardous 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 ambuſcaded different roads; and at the appointed time returned 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 people, who over-night would get into the woods, came out on the appearance of the corps, and proceeded uninterruptedly, and from market they had an eſcort, whenever it was preſumed that the enemy was on the Philadelphia fide of Frankfort to intercept them on their return into the woods. The infantry, however inclement the weather, ſeldom marched leſs than ninety miles a week; the flank companies, Highlanders, and Huzzars, frequently more: theſe marches were, by many people, deemed adventurous, and the deſtruction 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 tolerance of fatigue, and marching, which excelled that of the choſen light troops of the army, as will hereafter be ſhewn. Theſe matters have been dwelt upon, not only as they exhibit what is conceived to have been the drilling of the Queen's Rangers for more important ſervices, but, as it proves that the protection of Phi- ladelphia and the opening a way to its markets, were provided for by Sir William Howe, and that his orders were fyftematically and induſtriouſly obeyed. The [ 17 ] The Huzzars, by this time, were encreaſed to thirty, mounted on ſuch horſes as they had taken from the enemy; and Enſign Proctor was added to them. The country in front of Philadelphia was fo- raged, and the Queen's Rangers formed the advance guard of the parties which made it ; but it was with great reluctance 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 protect any country from the depredations of foraging parties. The cloath- ing 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 cloath 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 without 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 being 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 Rangers, croſſed that river op- poſite 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 collect forage in its vicinity. General Stirling reached Haddonfield early in the morning; ſome ftragglers of Wayne's corps had juſt left it as he arrived there. The ground in front of the village was immediately occupied: the Queen's Rangers on the left, with their left flank to a creek which nearly D extended [ 18 ] a a extended the whole length of their front. A circumſtance happened here, which, tho' not unuſual in America and in the rebel mode of Warfare, it is preſumed is ſingular elſewhere. As Major Simcoe was on horſeback, in converſation with Lieutenant Whitlock, and near the out centinels, 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 off: Lieutenant Whit- lock, with the centinels, purſued him, and the guard followed in caſe of neceſſity, the picquets occupying their place; the man was turned by Mr. Whitlock, and intercepted, and taken by the cen- tinels. On being queſtioned, “ how he preſumed to fire in ſuch a “ manner ?” he anſwered, “ that he had frequently fired at the “ Heſſians (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 houſhold matters, and ſtrenuouſly denying that he either poſſeſſed, or had fired a gun: he was ſent priſoner to Philadelphia. Upon poſting the guards, at night, they were augmented ſo as to have the rounds every fifteen minutes, and Major Simcoe recommended to the officer to be particularly alert, as it was reaſonable to preſume that Wayne, who had been ſurprized by General Grey, could have but two ideas: the one of being ſurprized himſelf, which the diſtance prevented, and the other of retaliation, which, having 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 Timber 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 accordingly directed to fall down the creek, when fortunately one hundred and fifty barrels of tar, [ 19 ] 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 returned in the evening with . fome few militia as priſoners, who, from their green cloathing, had miſtaker the Rangers for what they attempted to appear-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 progreſs down the creek, they had been attacked by the militia of the the militia of the country, and that amidſt the confuſion he got alhore, and eſcaped. Major Simcoe was directed to march as early as poſſible, and to quell any of the militia who might be there, and to give an opportunity for the Refugees, who moſt probably had concealed themſelves in the marſhes, to ef- cape. Before day-break Major Simcoe ſurrounded the houſe of Tew, a militia lieutenant, with the Huzzars, and in perfect fecrecy and filence lay there untill the arrival of the infantry : Tew was ſuppoſed to have headed ſome of his neighbours in arms, as it was well known there was no body of men in the country, and only a few in- habitants who could poſſibly be collected. Captain Saunders, with the cavalry and ſome infantry, was ſent further down the creek, to pro- cure information. There was nobody in Tew's houſe but his wife, and other females ; ſhe was informed, that if her huſband, 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 preceding night, his houſe ſhould be burnt, as an example to deter others; at the ſame time ſhe might have aſſiſtance to remove her furniture, and to ſave it in an outhouſe, for which purpoſe fome Re- fugees, her former neighbours, offered to aſſiſt her; and preparations were accordingly making, when Captain Saunders returned with certain information, that a predatory party from the ſhipping at Philadelphia, imagining themſelves ſecure from the troops being at Haddonfield, had rowed up the creek, and meeting the Refugees, they fired upon , D 2 [ 20 ] upon each other, but the miſtake being ſoon diſcovered, they returned together to the Delaware. Tew's houſe, of courſe, remained uninjured, and the troops marched back to Haddonfield, and early the next morn- ing made an excurfion 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 Haddonfield ; a few hogſheads of rum and ſome cattle were procured, and ſome tobacco deſtroyed. On the return, and about two miles from Haddonfield, Major Simcoe was obſerving to ſome officers a peculiar ſtrong ground, when, looking back, he ſaw a houſe that he had paſſed in flames; it was too far gone for all his endeavours to ſave it; he was exceedingly hurt at the circumſtance, 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 perpetrated 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 Had- donfield, and that he intended to make a circuit to fall in upon the right; the man was immediately forwarded to Colonel Stirling ; and Major Simcoe remarked to Captain Saunders, his confidential friend, " that probably Colonel Stirling would ſend for him, and, if any room ſhould be left for conſultation, his advice would be, that the “ whole corps ſhould move forward and ambuſcade Wayne's march 66 on the ſtrong ground which Major Simcoe had remarked 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 “ information being forwarded to Sir William Howe, Colonel Mark- “ ham would probably be ſent to Haddonfield, and poſſibly a ſtrong corps embarked, and paſſed up the Delaware, above Wayne." Major Simcoe accordingly was ſent for, but it was to receive direc- (6 tions [ 21 ] ] tions for an immediate retreat : Colonel Stirling underſtanding that the force under Wayne had been ſo conſiderably augmented, that it would be imprudent to remain at Haddonfield; his buſineſs there being compleated, and his intentions otherwiſe being to return the next morning, the rum was ſtaved, and the whole detachment pre- pared to march immediately. In conſideration of the fatigue of the Queen's Rangers, and that there was no probability of any action, Major Simcoe ſolicited to lead the march. In the mean time, ſome , of the enemy fired upon the advanced 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 know- ledge of their deſigns, and encreaſed a juſt and military contempt for this mode of conducting them. The night was uncommonly ſevere, and a cold fleet fell the whole way from Haddonfield to Cooper's ferry, where the troops arrived 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 half from Cooper's ferry, and half a mile within the direct road to Haddonfield, there was ſome forage remain- ing; fifty of the 42d and Rangers, under the command of Captain Kerr, were ſent as an eſcort to the waggons that went for it. . Lieu- tenant Wickham, with ten Huzzars, was directed by Colonel Stirling to patrole in his front towards Haddonfield. A few miles off, Lieu- tenant Wickham met the enemy; he ſent information to Captain Kerr, and to Colonel Stirling, and, with fix Huzzars, attended their front. As the road led through thick woods, the enemy were appre- henſive of ambuſcades, and were intimidated by Lieutenant Wickham's frequently calling out, as to the infantry, “ to halt, not to march ſo faſt,” &c. &c. ſo that the enemy's cavalry, though more than two hundred, did not puſh on him. He gave time to Captain Kerr to re- treat, then joined and returned to camp with him, uſhering the enemy to [ 22 ] to the very out-poſt. The line was formed; the 42d regiment on the right, Colonel Markham's detachment in the center, and the Queen's Rangers on the left. The embarkation ſtill proceeded; the horſes were now ſent off, and, as the enemy did not advance, Colonel Mark- ham's detachment followed them. It was ſcarce half way over the Delaware, when the picquets were attacked. The enemy were pro- bably induced to attack earlier than they intended, by a barn having been accidentally ſet on fire, and which it was reaſonable for them to ſuppoſe might have been done by ſome lurking perſon, after the troops in general had embarked. Upon the appearance of the enemy, the 42d regiment marched forward in line, and orders were ſent to the Queen's Rangers to advance, which it did, in column, by companies ; Cooper's creek ſecured its left flank; the artillery horſes of the three pounders being embarked, the ſeamen, with their accuſtomed alacrity, offered to draw on the cannon; the artillery followed the light infantry com- pany, and preceded the battalion. Some of the enemy appearing on the oppoſite bank of the Cooper creek, Captain Armſtrong, with the grenadiers, was directed to march and line a dyke on this fide: an ad- vantage the enemy had not; and to keep off any ftragglers 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 cavalry, watching their motions, and as Major Simcoe advanced 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 advanced, flowly waved with his fcimetar for his attendants to retire; the light infan- try 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 fo much attention as he ought, M‘Gill, afterwards quarter maſter, was directed to fire at him, on which he retired into the woods. A few ftraggling ſhot were fired in the front; the light infantry company was detached there, and ſupported by the Highlanders, who foon cleared ; [ 23 ] cleared the front; the battalion halted on the advantageous ground it had moved towards, and, at the entreaties of the failors, 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 interrupted: the firing totally ceaſed, and the enemy retreated. Some few of the Rangers were wounded, among whom, 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 Pulaſki; his horſe was wounded; and had not the Huz- zars been ſent over the Delaware previous to the attack, he would have been taken, or killed. The embarkation took place without any interruption ; and on the 2d of March the Queen's Rangers returned to their old quarters, and former duties. Colonel Stirling made the moſt handſome and favorable report of the behaviour of the corps, to Sir William Howe. An expedition was formed under the command of the late Colonel Mawhood, conſiſting of the 27th and 46th regiments, the Queen's Rangers, and New Jerſey Volunteers ; they embarked the 12th of March, and fell down the Delaware. On the 17th, the Queen's Rangers landed, at three o'clock in the morning, about ſix miles from Salem, the Huzzars carrying their accoutrements and ſwords. Major Simcoe was directed to ſeize horſes, to mount the cavalry, and the ſtaff, and to join Colonel Mawhood at Salem ; this was accord- ingly executed. Major Simcoe, making a circuit and paſſing over Lambſtone's bridge, arrived at Salem, near which Colonel Mawhood landed. The Huzzars were tolerably well mounted, and ſufficient horſes procured for the other exigencies of the ſervice : Colonel Mawhood had given the ſtricteſt charge againſt plundering; and Major Simcoe, in taking the horſes, had affured the inhabitants that they ſhould be returned, or paid for, if they did not appear in arms, in a very few days; and, none but officers entering the houſes, they received no other injury. The Queen's Rangers' infantry [ 24 ] infantry were about two hundred and ſeventy, rank and file, and thirty cavalry; Colonel Mawhood gave directions for the forage to take place on the 18th. The town of Salem lies upon a creek of that name which falls into the Delaware nearly oppoſite 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's was the lower one, Quintin's that in the center, 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 commanded 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 bridge, to deceive any patrole which he might meet on his march, and to make them believe that he directed it to Thomp- ſon's, not Quintin's bridge. Approaching the bridge, the Rangers halted in the wood, and Colonel Mawhood and Major Simcoe went to the party of the 17th, but in ſuch a manner as to give no fufpicion 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 enemy had thrown breaſt-works; there was a public houſe very near the road, at the edge of its declivity into the marſh, on the Salem fide. Colonel Mawhood aſked Major Simcoe, “ whether he thought, if he left a party in the houſe, the enemy would paſs by up [ 25 ] CC 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 cloathing of his men, brought Captain Stephenſon and his company into the houſe, undiſcovered: 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 filent, 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 ended in clear ground, and two companies, under Captain Saunders, were advanced to the fences at the very edge of it, where they lay flat. Colonel Mawhood then gave orders for the detachment of the 17th, who were poſted near the houſe, to call in their centinels and retreat up the road in full view of the enemy. This party had ſcarcely moved, when the enemy laid the bridge and paſſed it; a detach- ment 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 up the road ; Captain Stephenſon, as they ap- proached the houſe, could hear them ſay, “ let us go into the houſe,” &c. 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, thro' 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 fight ſtill fixed on the red cloaths of the 17th, ap- proached 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 ſtilling a laugh: looking down E he [ 26 ] he ſaw them, and gallopped off; he was fired at, wounded, and taken. The diviſion that had paſſed the houſe attempted to return : Captain Stephenſon fallied, drove them acroſs the fields, Captain Saunders purſued them; the Huzzars were let looſe and afterwards the battalion, Colonel Mawhood leading them ; 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 Mawhood thought it uſeleſs to paſs it. Some of the diviſion, 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 wounded ; and what was unfortunate, he was wounded by a man, whom in the eager- neſs of the purſuit he had paſſed, given quarters to, and not diſ- armed: the villain, 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 enterprize to Major Simcoe, and went with him and a patrole oppoſite to the place : the Major aſcended a tree and made a rough ſketch of the buildings, which by converſing with the guides, he improved into a tolerable plan of the place, and formed his mode of attack accordingly. 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 depended upon ſurprize. The enemy were nearly double his numbers; and his retreat, by the abſolute AFFAIR at QUIN TIN'S BRIDGE. 18- March 1778. A.The Rebels in their Works. B.Detachment of the 17th of Infantry masking the Bridge, C. The Light Infantry of the Rangers ambuscaded in a House, D.A detachment commanded by Cap. Saunders in ambuscade, E. Huxzars and Infantry of Queen's Rangers in the Wood. F. Detachment of the 17. retreating in view of the Enemy. G. Rebels paſsing the Bridge, H.Sally of the Light Infantry and pursuit of the Rangers. I Flight of the Enemy. 14 osas Seale half a Mile. Gry & Spencer ZOR! Erom a Sketch Z call Suncoe, when on the Jpot. [ 27 ] a abſolute orders to fend back the boats, was cut off; but he had juſt confidence in the filence, attention, and ſpirit of the corps. By ſome ſtrange error in the naval deparment, 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 thro' marſhes, up to the knees in mud and water ; la- bours 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 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 cottages. 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 clofely, 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 were allotted to the houſes ſuppoſed to be the enemy's quarters, which having maſtered, they were ordered to af- ſemble at Hancock’s ; a party was appropriated to relay the bridge. On approaching the place, two centries 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 allotted to it. No reſiſtance being made, the light infantry, who were in reſerve, reached Hancock's houſe by E 2 the [ 28 ] 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 ſurpriſe was compleat, and would have been ſo, had the whole of the enemy's force been preſent, but, fortunately for them, they had quitted it the evening before, leaving a detachment of twenty or thirty men, all of whom were killed. Some very unfortunate circumſtances happened here. Among the killed was a friend of Government, then a pri- foner with the rebels, old Hancock, the owner of the houſe, and his brother : Major Simcoe had made particular enquiry, and was in- formed 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 day-time, but unfortunately returned home at night : events like theſe are the real miſeries of war. The roads which led to the country were immediately ambuſcaded ; and Lieutenant Whitlock was detached to ſurprize a patrole of ſeven men who had been ſent 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 ſucceſs of the enterpriſe to the 27th regiment; with fo much filence it had hitherto been conducted. The bridge was now laid; and Major Simcoe communicated 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 poffeffion of Hancock's houſe ſecured a retreat. Lieutenant-Colonel Mitchell ſaid, that his regiment was much fatigued by the cold, and that he would return to Salem as ſoon as the troops joined. The am- buſcades were of courſe withdrawn, 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. Lieutenant-Colonel Mitchell, finding his men in high ſpirits, had returned, purpoſing to march to Quintin's bridge : but being in- formed of the enemy's patrole, it was thought beſt to return. Colonel SURPRIZE of REBELS at HANCOCKS HOUSE VE G y para OR: Tom a Jerloor 22. Jaman ba the Spot A. Hancocks House E. Capt. Dunlop detatched to the rear of the Post. B. Bridge broka down. F. Capt.Saunders to ambuscade the Dike C.March of the Queen's Rangers thró the Village. & take up its Bridge. D.lapt. Stevenson in advance. G.L! Col. Mitchell & the 27th Reg.? ch [ 29 ] left open. Colonel Mawhood, in public orders, “ returned his beſt thanks to Major “ Simcoe and his corps, for their ſpirited and good conduct in the ſur- prize of the rebel poſts.” Two days after, the Queen's Rangers pa- trolled to Thompſon's bridge; the enemy, who had been poſted there, were alarmed at the approach of a cow the night before, fired at it, wounded it, and then fled; they alſo abandoned Quintin's bridge, and retired to a creek, fixteen miles from Aloes creek. Major Simcoe, making a patrole with the Huzzars, took a circuit towards 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 compleated, the detachment had juſt left its ground and was moving off; the enemy doing the like, met the patrole ; were purſued, and eſcaped by the paſſage which the foragers had juſt One only was taken, being purſued into a bog, which the Huzzars attempted in vain to croſs, and were much mortified 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 com- mittee-men of the diſtrict. The priſoner was their adjutant. The enemy, who were aſſembled at Cohanſey, might eaſily have been ſurprized; but Colonel Mawhood judged, that having compleated his forage with ſuch ſucceſs, his buſineſs was to return, which he effected. The troops embarked without any accident, and failed for Philadelphia. The horſes were given back to the inhabitants, or paid for. On the paſſage, the ſhips waiting for the tide, Major Simcoe had an opportunity 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 ap- proached, the enemy's cavalry came nearer to the lines, and owed their eſcape, more than once, to the fleetneſs of their horſes: one or two of them who were taken were decorated with women's thoes, &c. &c. that they had robbed the market people of, and, in eggs, that a [ 30 ] that dreſs, were paraded through the ſtreet to priſon. Several Loy- aliſts were in arms, under the command of Mr. Thomas, their Captain ; and, with Hovenden's, and James's troops of Provincials, made excurſions into the country; and at Newton, many miles from Philadelphia, they brought off a large quantity of cloathing; when- ever 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 Smith- field, met them about a mile from Philadelphia ; they ſaid, they had been repulſed : judging it neceffary to ſupport the advantages derived from the diſtance to which they made their excurſions, he made en- quiries into the matter, and found their accounts fo 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 party at Smithfield would probably be reinforced by another which was in its vicinity, and that he might poſſibly ſurprize them rejoicing at their ſucceſs : at any rate, the recoil would add to the aſcendency neceſſary to be maintained in the country. The Queen's Rangers inarched to Smithfield, but found no enemy there; and, it appeared, that they had alſo fled, having exchanged ſome ſhots with the Refugees. Mr. Waſhington drew his ſupplies of fat cattle from New England: a. drove of this kind was met about thirty miles from Philadelphia, between the Delaware and Skuylkill, by a friend of Government, who paſſed himſelf upon the drivers for a rebel commiffary, then billetted them at a neighbouring farm, and immediately gallopped to Phila- delphia, from whence a party of dragoons were ſent for the cattle: the Queen's Rangers advanced forward to Cheſnut hill, and the brigade of guards were poſted at German town; the whole drove was ſafely conducted to Philadelphia. Major Simcoe, as was his cuſtom, with the Huzzars, patrolled in front, and took a minute ſurvey of the ground, at Barren-hill church, which was near proving of [ 31 ] و of conſequence 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; Captain Armſtrong'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 intercourſe with the markets. Major Simcoe, beſides employing his own intelligence, applied to Lieutenant Colonel Balfour, who fo 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 conſequence, to attack Lacy the moment he broke into the circle of country, which we had hitherto maintained poffeffion of. In conſequence of this converſation, he was ſent for by Colonel 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. Major Simcoe was anxious that they ſhould be attacked on that night; and from the maps of the country arranged the plan, which was approved of. The main road led, paſt the Billett, to Philadelphia from York; at leſs than half a mile from it, on the Philadelphia fide, 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 Billett; and that a detachment ſhould march and ambuſcade themſelves in a wood, (the intelligencer ſaid there was one adapted to the purpoſe) on the road which led by the Horſham meeting-houſe to Waſhington'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 ſurprize ſhould not be compleat, the ambuſcade would render the fuccefs perfectly fo, by ſupporting the Rangers if they were checked, and by intercepting the enemy if they attempted to retreat, which, probably, [ 32 ] probably, would be towards their army. Colonel Balfour propoſed two hundred light infantry to go; to this Major Simcoe 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 ac- count, to avoid giving umbrage;" the reſult was, Lieutenant 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 his infantry-men, for greater expedition. Major Simcoe's march was a difficult one: he thought it neceſſary to make many circuits to avoid places where he ſuſpected the enemy had poſts, or patroles. 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 fent by Mr. Galloway, to convey in ſome of his furni- ture; they adventured out, hearing of the expedition by ſome means or other, and marched up the roads which the Rangers had ſo care- fully 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. Altho' day-light appeared, Major Simcoe was under no apprehenſions of diſcovery, 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 order to make his laſt circuit to reach the Billett, profiting by the covert that the irregularities of the ground would have afforded, and was in- forming the officers of his plan of attack, to be guided by circum- ſtances, (Captain Kerr's diviſion excepted, who was to force Lacy's quarters, and barricade them for a point to rally at, in caſe of miſ- adventure,) when a few ſhot were heard. Major Simcoe immediately exclaimed, “ the dragoons have diſcovered us ;” ſo it was. Colonel Abercrombie a [ 33 ] a a Abercrombie, although aſſiſted by horſes, 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 commanded, patrolled to Lacy's out-poſt, and, being fired at by the rebel centinels, 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 re- treated in a maſs, without order, and by no efforts could the infantry reach them : unfortunately, the Huzzars of the Rangers were left at Philadelphia, 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 thro' a wood, Major Simcoe gallopped up to the edge of it, and ſummoned them to ſurrender ; they were in great conſternation, but marched he then gave the words of command, “ 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 ſhoe-buckle probably ſaved the foot of that valuable officer : the enemy had fifty or fixty killed, and taken. The troops returned to Philadelphia. The commander in chief ordered the baggage to be fold, 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, tho' 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. F As on; [ 34 ] that city. As the ſpring approached, the hopes of the army were pointed to an attack on Valley Forge: the ſurmiſe gave Major Simcoe par- ticular pleaſure; he had formerly been quartered in the houſe that was Waſhington'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 deſcriptions of Valley Forge, it appeared to him probable, that an attack would commence in this point. Theſe hopes vaniſhed, when the news of Sir William Howe's recall reached Philadelphia, together with the orders for the army's abandoning Mr. Waſhington's ignorance, however, expoſed him to a check, from which his uſual good fortune extricated him. He paſſed a corps, under the direction of the Marquis de La Fayette, over the Skuylkill; arrangements 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 ordered to march at the rate of two miles an hour : this flow 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 column 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 column was too late, the alarum guns were fired from Waſh- ington's camp, and Fayette had moved off from Barren-hill church, and paſſed the Skuylkill; the cavalry being detached in a fruitleſs purſuit of him, the Huzzars went with them, and Lieutenant Wickham compared a party of the rebels, whom he ſaw fording the Skuylkill, to the corks of a fiſhing ſein. As the time approached for the army's quitting Philadelphia, pa- troles were paſſed over the Delaware, from the Jerſies; one of which, after a [ 35 ] after a long chace, was taken by the Huzzars. The Quarter Maſter General being in great want of horſes, Major Simcoe eſcorted the commiſſaries 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 divi- fions, as has been before explained; he had alſo a three pounder, that had been lately attached to his corps. On his return he was ambuſcaded, near the Briſtol ſide of Penny-pack bridge: the firſt diviſion paſſed the bridge with the cannon, and immediately formed on the oppoſite banks, as Major Simcoe was apprehenſive of ſome attack; its poſition ſecured the march of the ſucceſſive diviſions. It was afterwards known, that the enemy were in force, but were deterred from attacking by the poſition of the firſt diviſion, and the order of march. Sir Henry Clinton, when he took the command of the army, di- rected Lord Rawdon to raiſe a corps of Iriſh volunteers; and Captain Doyle, of the 55th regiment, was appointed Lieutenant-Colonel. Major Simcoe waited upon the commander in chief, and requeſted, that as he was Captain Doyle's ſenior in the army, he would be pleaſed to make him ſo in the Provincial line, adding, that if his Excellency, at any future time, ſhould appoint a ſenior officer of the line, to a Provincial command, Major Simcoe, of courſe, could have no objection that he ſhould have ſuperior rank in the Provin- cials. Sir Henry Clinton was pleaſed to refer his requeſt to Sir William Erſkine, and General Paterſon, the Quarter-Maſter and Adjutant General, who, reporting that it was juſt, Sir Henry Clinton appointed him to the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel ; and, to avoid ſimilar inconveniencies, antedated his commiſſion to all Pro- vincial Lieutenant-Colonels. The procuring the horſes was the laſt ſervice that the Queen’s Rangers performed in Pennſylvania. Em- barking, and paſſing over to Cooper's ferry, on the 17th of June, 1778, F2 [ 36 ] 63 1788, Lieutenant-Colonel Simcoe obſerved, in public orders, “ that “ he doubted not but that all ranks of the regiment were ſenſible “ that the undaunted ſpirit, which had rendered them the terror of " their enemies, was not more honorable to them than that abhor- rence of plunder which diſtinguiſhes the truly brave from the cowardly ruffian, and which had left a favorable impreſſion of the " Queen's Rangers on the minds of ſuch of the inhabitants of Penn- ſylvania 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 Cap- « tains 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 particularly “ to drink: this practice having been the death of many a valuable foldier, the permiſſion of it was highly criminal.” The 18th, 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 loft ſome men, and one of them being taken proved to be a Britiſh deſerter, who was executed 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 advance. 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 afterwards taking the nearer way acroſs the fields into the right road, in which he was, , the advanced men got within a few yards of him, undiſcovered ; Lieutenant-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 [ 37 ] 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 off before they could paſs 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. Captain Stephenſon's company of light infantry were directed, by the com- mander in chief in perſon, to the ſame poſt, on the left that Lieu- tenant Wilſon had occupied. Lieutenant-Colonel Simcoe, on his return, formed his corps behind the meeting-houſe, ready to paſs - the bridge; the dragoons arrived, and diſmounted, lining the fences on the right, and Lieutenant MʻLeod, of the artillery, bringing up his three pounders, and being fully expoſed to the enemy, in caſe they had kept their poſition, it was determined to paſs the bridge upon its rafters, which was effected without oppoſition. The enemy had fled from the wood, and a party on the right, which the Queen's Rangers made every effort to purſue, eſcaped ; nor were the reſt of the advanced troops more ſucceſsful who followed the body, which retreated on the left. Captain Ste- phenſon, exerting himſelf with his uſual gallantry, became an object to a perſon, ſaid to be a quaker; who fired at him with a long fowling-piece, and dangerouſly wounded him; the eſcape of the commander in chief, diſtinguiſhable by his dreſs and activity to an enemy, poſted in ſecurity and intended to fire only a ſingle and well- aimed fhot, was very remarkable. The Queen's Rangers, and ſome other troops, remained poſted beyond the creek; the army did not paſs the bridge: there were events here worth recording. Lieu- tenant-Colonel Simcoe, in converſation with Captain Armſtrong, happened [ 38 ] happened to mention, that he was fully convinced of the truth of what an Engliſh military author had obſerved, that a number of firelocks were, in action, rendered uſeleſs, by being carried on the ſhoulders, from caſual muſket-balls, which could not be the caſe were the arms carried in the poſition of the advance; he added, that advanced arms, certainly, gave a compactneſs, and took off the ap- pearance of wavering from a column more than any other mode of carrying them. Captain Armſtrong had aſſented, and took occafion to exemplify it now, by advancing the arms of his grenadier com- pany when under fire, and while he led over rafters of the bridge. The fluices had been ſhut, by which means the water was ponded; Lieutenant Murray plunged in, thinking it fordable, but finding it not ſo, he ſwam over, and got behind a tree before the corps paſſed the fo bridge, and was between both fires; luckily he eſcaped unhurt. Hi- therto the march of the army pointed equally to Trenton, or Cran- berry; it now, on the 24th of June, took the rout to the latter, by marching to Allen-Town: the Queen's Rangers formed the ad- vance 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 of a valuable officer, or ſoldier. Paffing 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 halted, 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 lived, 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 com- mander in chief aſked him, whether he had any guides ? he anſwered, he had none who knew any of the roads to Brunſwick; that the chief [ 39 ] 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 intelligence, though not ſerviceable as a guide; this was done, and as ſoon as the army marched he 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 alteration 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 Riſing Sun; the enemy's light troops appeared in greater force in the rear. On the arrival at the camp, Lieutenant-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 patroling, deceived by his green cloaths; he gave into the deception, paſſed himſelf upon them for a rebel partizan, 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 a account of the movements of the rebel army, from which, Lieu- tenant-Colonel Simcoe faid, he had been detached two days; the other proved to be a committee-man of New Jerſey; they pointed out the encampment of the Britiſh army, and were completely deceived, 'till, having told all they knew, and on the party return- ing, the committee-man having aſked “I wonder what Clinton is « about ?” “ You ſhall aſk him yourſelf,” was the anſwer, “ for we are Britiſh." The army marched the next morning toward Monmouth, in the fame order; and it now became evident, that Sir Henry Clinton intended to embark from Sandy-hook. There was ſome ſkirmiſh- ing between the Yagers and the enemy; and one time, it having the appearance ز 66 [ 40 ] 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 contrary was the caſe, as the alarm originated from a ſhout that Captain Ewald, who commanded the rear guard, ſet up on the enemy's approach, which 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 General Kniphauſen : a great extent of ground was to be guarded, and the whole corps lay upon their arms. In the morning, about ſeven o'clock, orders were brought to Lieutenant-Colonel Simcoe, to take his Huzzars and try to cut off a reconnoitring party of the enemy (ſuppoſed to be M. Fayette), who was upon a bald hill, and “ not far from his left.” As the woods were thick in front, Lieu- , tenant-Colonel Simcoe had no knowledge of the ground, no guide, no other direction, and but twenty Huzzars with him; he aſked of Lord Cathcart, who brought him the order, whether he might not take ſome infantry 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 immediately marched with his cavalry, and the grenadier 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 ordered 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 right of which reached the road, and along which, a conſiderable way to the left, a large corps was poſted. This corps immediately fired, obliquely, upon the Huzzars, [ 41 ] Huzzars, who, in their purſuit of the Vedettes, went up the road, and gained their left, when Elliſon, a very ſpirited Huzzar, leapt the fence, and others followed. Lieutenant-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, loft his hat in the confuſion. Lieutenant-Colonel Simcoe rode along the fence, on the ſide oppoſite to which the enemy had 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 ftruck, run away with him, luckily, to the rear ; his arm ſoon recovering its tone, he got to the place where he had formed the Huzzars, and with fourteen of them, re- turned towards a houſe, to which the right of the enemy's line had reached. Upon his left flank he ſaw two ſmall parties of the enemy; . he galloped 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 Serjeant Prior, and a Huz.zar, 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 diſlodged and was now rallying, the priſoners were obliged to break them, and to walk between the Huzzars and the enemy. The buſineſs was now to retreat, and to carry off whomſoever might be wounded in the firſt attack. The enemy oppoſite ſeemed to encreaſe, and a party, evidently headed by ſome general officer, and his ſuit, advancing, to reconnoitre: it ſuggeſted to Lieutenant-Colonel Simcoe, to endeavour to paſs, as on a ſimilar deſign ; and, for this purpoſe, he diſpatched a Huzzar to the wood in his rear, to take off his cap, and make ſignals, as if he was receiving directions from ſome perſons poſted in it. The party kept moving, ſlowly, cloſe to the fence, and towards the road ; when it got to ſome diſtance from the houſe, which has been men- G tioned, [ 42 ] tioned, Lieutenant-Colonel Simcoe called out audibly, as if to a party poſted in it, “not to fire 'till the main body came cloſe," and moved on flowly parallel to the enemy, when he ſent Ryan, an Huzzar, forward, to ſee if there were any wounded men, and whether the grenadiers remained where he had poſted them, adding, 6 for " we muſt carry them off or lie with them ;” to which the Huzzar replied, “ to be fure, your bonor." . 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 danger, 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 deſcriptions of people, the Ran- gers were the laſt who fhould have been left as priſoners, fince ſo many deſerters from the enemy were in the corps : the foldiers had the utmoſt reliance upon their own officer's attention to this particular. The enemy who were defeated, conſiſted of that corps of Jerſey militia which in General Lee's trial, is ſaid « to have given way,” by the evidence of the field officer who brought up freſh troops and cannon to ſupport it; they were thoſe detachments, which Sir Henry Clinton's letter ſays, “ the Queen's Rangers fell in with among the *6 woods, and diſperſed,” and who, probably, as Waſhington's ac- count ſays, “ were the Jerſey militia, amounting to about ſeven " or eight hundred men, under the command of General Dicken- fon.” They were deſtined to attack the baggage, but made no other attempt that day. The 66 > [ 43 ] The American war ſhews no inſtance of a larger body of men diſcomfited by fo 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 Rofs took the command of the corps. He was detached, with the light infantry, under Colonel Abercrombie, to turn the enemy's left; went through the whole fatigue of that hot day, and tho' the corps had been under arms all the preceding night, it here gave a ſtriking and fingular proof of the vaſt advantages of the Philadelphia marches, by not having a man miſſing, or any who fell out of the ranks through fatigue. Captain Rofs had an opportunity of more than once ſhewing great military judg- ment and intrepidity, in checking different parties of the enemy : and the Highland company, in particular, diſtinguiſhed itſelf, under the command of Captain M Kay, in covering 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 filence which was remarked in Waſhington's account of the action, formed the rear guard. During the day, the baggage was not feriouſly attacked; but ſome very ſmall parties ran acroſs it, from one ſide of the road to the other : one of theſe Captain Needham, and Lieu- tenant Cooke of the 17th dragoons, (fince Captain of the Queen's Rangers,) diſperſed; the rumors of them, however, added perſonal folicitude to Lieutenant-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 uncertainty 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 encamped at Middleton, the 29th and 30th. On G 2 the [ 44 ] to the iſt of July, Lieutenant-Colonel Simcoe reſumed his command, 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 pre- ceding 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 fide, 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 loft no men, by deſertion. They landed at New-York, marched up 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 applied to Colonel Drummond, (then aid-du-camp,) to make the requeſt from him to Sir Henry Clinton, that he might be permitted, with his corps, and other Loyaliſts, 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 rout; his mode of ſubſiſtence, and operations : the idea he entertained, of what ſuch a junction might have led to, was, and is ſtill, unbounded. Lieutenant- Colonel Simcoe was ill in New-York, and did not join 'till the 14th, during this period, nothing material happened. On the 15th, the Queen's Rangers, and Emerick's corps, encamped outſide Kingſbridge ; the three Provincial troops of Hovenden, James, and Sandford, alſo joined the Queen's Rangers : an Amuzette, 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 re- quired many centinels : it was ſtrengthened as much as poſſible ; and, [45] and, in all matters of labour, the foldiers worked with the greateſt energy, under the inſpection of their officers, and were eaſily made to comprehend, not only the general ſecurity, but the benefit which they, individually, received from their works, by its operating to leſſen their duties; of courſe, they were taught that the work ſhould not be ſlighted. Mr. Waſhington's army encamping at the White Plains, the Yagers, and Queen's Rangers, had full employment. Lieutenant- Colonel Simcoe was ever averſe to patroles, except, as in the caſe at Philadelphia, where they ſerved to cover a well-affected country, and were made fyſtematically, and in force; or to aſcertain 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, tho' averſe from tactical arrangement, had always been turned to patrolling, in their antiquated dialect, Scouting : the Indians, their original 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 indeed, for the purpoſe of protecting a weak army, they had been originally con- ſtructed; half a mile in front of theſe redoubts, lay the light troops, to ; ſecure them from ſurprize, ſo that it was manifeſt any general 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 command of General Scott, to the amount of two thouſand men, whoſe light troops occu- pied a line from Phillip's creek, on the north, to new Rochelle, on the Eaſt river. Small patroles frequently came to William's bridge, on the Brunx, and ſometimes, General Scott came, in force, to Valentine's a а a [ 46 ] Valentine's hill. The country between was irregular, interfected 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 feat 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 Emerick's corps was, in a great meaſure, compofed 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 occupied, 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 Simcoe, upon intelligence, had agreed to meet on Valentine's hill, one morning, in force, and, accordingly, 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 Rofs; the 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 Phillips's, did not chuſe to move to Valentine's hill, and fent the Yager cavalry to give the Rangers the neceffary information. At the fame time the enemy appeared advancing to Valentine's hill. As Lieutenant-Colonel Simcoe was quitting it, to return to his corps, Lieutenant M‘Nab, of the Huzzars, who had been ſent with a patrole 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 fide of the Brunx : this bridge was commanded by the heights on the fide of Kingſbridge, which had been fortified by [ 47 ] by the rebels in 1777; 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 engaged 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 advanced party of the enemy, notwithſtanding the circumſtances which made the troops quit Valentine's hill, had already paſſed the Brunx; the Yager cavalry were ordered to proceed towards Kingſbridge, flowly, and in full , fight of the enemy, who were on Hunt's hill. There were ſtill hopes, by forming the ambuſcade, to do ſome fervice; when, to Lieutenant-Colonel Simcoe's great ſurprize, the enemy's cannon were fired at the infantry, whom he expected to have been hidden from their fight, by the intervention of the woods : but, it appeared, that while Captain Roſs was with the advanced companies, fome officers imprudently 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 fhot, 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 fight, or the reach of their cannon ; he fent orders to Captain Rofs 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 endeavour to incom- mode 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 permitted them to come cloſe to him, when his fire threw them into [ 48 ] into confuſion. He then retreated, making a ſmall circuit to avoid fome 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 picquet at night, found the centinels fo ill placed, that he ordered Serjeant Kelly and two huzzars to patrole forwards for its ſecurity; they paſſed a few hundred yards only from the poſt, when they were ſurrounded by a party who lay between two ſtone walls, and taken ; nor was Captain Rofs to be blamed for ordering the patrole, but the Captain of cavalry, who had omitted a principal centinel : this patrole made, in contradiction to Lieutenant-Colonel Simcoe's principles, was the only one that had been taken under his command: the Serjeant 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 Serjeant whom he had lately taken, in exchange for him ; and threatening to leave to the mercy of his ſoldiers the firſt fix rebels who ſhould fall into his hands, in caſe of Kelly's execution, foon obtained his releaſe. July the 18th Captain Lord Cathcart was appointed Colonel, and on the firſt 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 fuppofition that they had orders to aſſiſt each other in caſe of neceſſity; to which his Lordſhip afſenting, the infantry of the Queen's Rangers marched and occupied a wood two miles [ 49 ] miles in front of Kingſbridge, and Lord Cathcart, with the cavalry of the Rangers, Legion, and Emmerick's, lay half a miles 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 returned. On its return, Lord Cathcart began firing to attract the enemy's notice, a party of whom croſſed the country, and came near to the Queen's Rangers, but paffed 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 firing, and would inevitably have been taken, but, as it afterwards appeared, a girl, from a garret window, had ſeen ſome of the foldiers on their march to the wood, and gave the enemy intelligence.olm tigrat of Lt. Col. Simcoe was much affected at Lord Cathcart's having the rank of Colonel of Provincials, and made, in conſequence of it, application to the Commander in Chief; Sir Henry Clinton, tho' he waved for the preſent the giving Lt. Col. Simcoe rank of Lord Cathcart, offered to him that of Colonel, which he reſpectfully (but as the event has proved moſt unfortunately) declined every motive that he had to ſolicit this rank, by Lord Cathcart's being employed on other duties, was done away, and Lt. Col. 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 obfervations on the country in front, had a very fingular and narrow eſcape, as they were patroling with a few Huzzars. 5 The Stockbridge Indians, about fixty in number, excellent markſmen, had juſt joined Mr. Waſhington's army. Lt. Col. Simcoe was deſcribing a private road to Lt. Col. Tarleton: Wright, his orderly dragoon, alighted and took down a fence of Devou'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 H their [50] their intentions, and, fpurring their horſes, foon 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 fo fortunately had eſcaped : in all probability, they owed their lives to the Indians' expectations of furrounding and taking them priſoners. Good in- formation was foon obtained, by Lt. Col. Simcoe, of General Scot'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 Scot's camp: he particularly named the York Volunteers, as he wiſhed to unite the Provincials in one en- terpriſe ; unfortunately, that regiment could not be ſpared, as it was ordered for embarkation. Scot foon altered his poſition; and the ſource of intelligence, relative to him, was deſtroyed. past att The rebels had, in the day time, a guard of cavalry, near Mar- maroneck, which was withdrawn at night: it was intended to cover the country, and protect ſome fick horſes, turned into the falt marſhes in the neighbourhood; Lt. Col. Simcoe determined to attempt its furprizal; General Scot's camp was not above three miles from it; and, in caſe of alarm, he had a fhorter march to intercept the party, at Eaſt Cheſter bridge, than it had to return there. The troops, conſiſting of the Queen's Rangers, and the cavalry of the Legion, marched at night; at Cheſter bridge, Captain Saunders, an officer of great addreſs and determination was left in ambuſcade in a wood, with a detachment 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 directions were, to remain undiſcovered; to let all patroles paſs; and, in caſe the enemy ſhould poſt themſelves, to wait untill the party, upon its return, ſhould be engaged in forcing the paſſage, and then to fally upon their rear. The troops continued their march, paſſing the creek, higher up, with the greateſt filences they went through fields, obliterating every a trace [51] ; trace of their paffage when they croſſed roads, to avoid diſcovery from difaffected people, or the enemy's numerous patroles. When they arrived at their appointed ſtation, Lt. Col. Tarleton, with the cavalry, ambuſcaded the road, on which the enemy's guard was to approach ; Lt. Col. Simcoe occupied the center, 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 com- miſſaries, and others, who were on a fiſhing party, were taken. At fix 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 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 ferjeant, 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 fick horſes. The troops, followed at a diſtance by the rebel dragoons, returned home without any accident. Scot, Scot, upon the alarm, ordered off his baggage ; and Waſhington fent cannon, and troops, to his aſſiſtance, and put his army under arms. Captain Saunders permitted 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 informed that Lt. Col. Emmerick had patroled, he immediately 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 to return, he did fo. Lt. Col. Simcoe underſtood that Nimham, 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 applied it to the whole of the light troops H 2 [ 52 ] troops at Kingſbridge. Lt. Col. Simcoe took meaſures to encreaſe their belief; and, ordering aday's proviſion to be cooked, marched the next morning, the ziſt of Auguſt, a ſmall diſtance in front of the poſt, and determined to wait there the whole day, in hopes of be- traying the enemy into an ambuſcade : the country was moſt fa- vorable to it. His idea was, as the enemy moved upon the road which is delineated in the plan as interſecting the country, to advance from his flanks; this movement 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 Rangers, and Legion ; as, Lt. Col. Simcoe thought, fully inſtructed in the plan ; however, he, moſt unfortunately, miſtook the nearer houſe for one at a greater diſtance, the names being the fame, and there he poſted himſelf, and ſoon after fent from thence a patrole forward, upon the road, before Lt. Col. Simcoe 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 approach. 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 exchanging ſhot with Lt. Col. Emmerick, whom they had dif- covered. The Queen's Rangers moved rapidly to gain the heights, and Lt. Col. Tarleton immediately 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 240011 to I 53 ] 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 attacks 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 ; nand Lt. Col. Tarleton, with the scavalry, 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 loft his balance and fell from his horſe; luckily, the Indian had no bayonet, and his muſket had been diſ- charged. Lieut. 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 diſtinguiſhed at Stony-point, left the Indians, and fled. Though this ambuſcade, in its greater part, failed, it was of con- ſequence.id Near forty of the Indians were killed, or deſperately wounded, among others, Nimham, a chieftain, who had been in England, and his fon; and it was reported to have ſtopto a larger number of them, who were excellent markſmen, from joining General Waſhington's army. The Indian doctor was taken; and he faid, that when Nimham ſaw the grenadiers 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 his horſe, and was ſearching for his knife to ftab him, when, looſening French's hand, he luckily drew out a pocket-piſtol, and fhot 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. od nool zot boor llic-w) Door Ni- wett gott om Store Colonel [ 54 ] a Colonel Giſt, who commanded a light corps of the rebels, was poſted near Babcock's houſe, from whence he made frequent patroles. Lt. Col. 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 enterpriſe, 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, fol- lowed by the Queen's Rangers, were to march through the meadows on the fide of Valentine's hill, oppoſite Courtland's-ridge, and paſs , between the rebel centries to Babcock's houſe, when they would be in the rear of Gift's encampment, 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 Valentine's hill by day- light; a detachment of Yagers, under Captain Wreden, were to march on Courtland's-ridge, and to halt oppoſite to Gift's encamp- ment; and a larger detachment of Yagers, under Major Pruſchank, were, at the ſame time, to be ready to force Phillips's bridge, then to proceed to the bridge oppoſite Babcock's houſe, and to cut off the enemy's retreat by that road. The fignal for theſe diviſions' moving on was to be the noiſe of ſtorming Gift's encampment. Lt. Col. Emmerick conducted the march in fo able a manner, and the whole corps followed with ſo much filence, that the enemy's centinels were paſſed without alarm, and this diviſion gained the heights in the rear, and could ſee the whole chain of centinels walking below them. Major Roſs was detached to poſſeſs himſelf of Poft's houſe, to preſerve a communication with Lt. Col. Tarle- ton, on Valentine's hill; the remainder of the Rangers inclined to the right, towards Gift's camp, and Lt. Col. Emmerick was directed to ſecure the faw-mill road. Firing ſoon began ; and it was ap- - anolo parent . AMBUS CADE of the INDIANS at KINGSBRIDGE. Augult 31" 1778. A.Quuns Rangers & Legion in Ambul- B. Emmericks Corps. aude. C. Rebis. D. Indians E. Fürft Pofition of Cavalry. F. Second Hilto. G. Quvons Rangers' Grcuit. H. Purfiuit. 1. Position which L! Col. Emmerick was diruted to take HIVA 191 E From all I WA JWT, bukan the spot Copy 11. per TVR [ 55 ] parent from Lt. Col. Emmerick's quarter, whom the enemy had diſcovered. 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 furprize, found that Major Pruſchank had not forced Phillips's bridge, as had been intended, but had croffed and joined Captain Wreden on Courtland's-ridge, and that Colonel Gift had eſcaped through the paſſage which had been fo 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 poffeffion of Gift's camp, having ambuſcaded themſelves, took a patrole which came forward on hearing the firing. The troops fet fire to Gift'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 patrolled ſo near as to be certain of the enemy having fo decamped. Soon after, patrolling again to that ſpot, Lt. Col. Tarleton, who was in the 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 poft. Lt. Col. Simcoe went himſelf to the White- plains, and obſerved and ſketched the inacceſſible ground which Mr. Waſhington had occupied, in 1777, and which hitherto had not been viſited by any Britiſh officer ; Lieut. Col. Tarleton, ſoon after, returned ; he had put the enemy's piquet to flight, and taken fome priſoners. sao Colonel (now Sir Archibald) Campbell advanced, the latter end of September, with the 71ſt regiment and the light troops, to Mile- ſquare, where, ſoon after, Major-General Grant, with a larger force, occupied the ground, from the Brunx's, at Hunt's bridge, to the North [56] North river. The Provincial troops, conſiſting of the Queen's Rangers, Delancey's, Emmerick's,i and Legion cavalry, under Lieut. Col. Simcoe, were on the right, beyond the Brünx, and formed a flying camp between that and Cheſter creek : as this corps was liable to be ſtruck at, it feldom 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, effe&tually covered the camp. An ambuſcade was laid by Colonel Lee, for the Yager patroles, which, in part, was ſuc- ceſsful. General Grant, wiſhing to retaliate upon the enemy, an 20 attempt was made to ſurprize a poſtulat Hammond's houſe ; the Provincial 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 met General Grant, and requeſted, that, as the corpsi under his command was ſeverely fatigued and incapable of exertion, he might paſs the Brunx, and lie within the guards of the line.o2 The General aſſented : nor was it uſeleſs, for the next day, when they returned to their former pofition, Major Rofs made a patrole, and brought certain intelligence that a large body of the enemy's infantry, preſſing horſes, had approached the poſt, at might) within two miles, intend- ing to attack it. 11 min 19w-some lo sloq a'wmonte et of a - Earl Cornwallis, being foraging near the Engliſh neighbourhood, in the Jerſeys, it was thought eaſy, whilſt his lordſhip puſhed a body of militia, who were watching his motions in front, to inter- cept their retreat by paſſing a corps over the North rivers for this purpoſe, Colonel Campbell, with the 71ſt and Queen's Rangers, were ordered to embark from Phillips'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, enemy had changed their poſition, and Colonel Campbell joined General the H. RIVER NORTH MARCH of the QUEENS RANGERS SEmmericks corps, the tavalry of the Legion under L Cot:Tarteton, and a iletachment of the Yagers, The whole commanded by Z! Col:Simcoe to surprize a lorps of Rebel Light Troops under lol:Gist. Explanation A. March of the Infantry of the Rangers and Emmerick's to B. where they formed in the Rar of the Enemy, and marched to C. Gist Camp. D Britim tavalry. E.The Yagons at Phillips Bridge. F. Tupt.Jredens detachment. G. The Rout by which ist efcaped. H The poſition which the Fagers were intended thave occupied [ 57 ] General Grey, who had juſt furprized Baylor's dragoons; his troops being freſh, he offered his ſervices to penetrate further into the coun- try, 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 men- tioned 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 Rangers, 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 generous offer, could not but be highly agreeable to him, and to the officers of the Queen's Ran- gers, and nothing 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-commiffioned officers, and ſoldiers; Lt. Col. Simcoe, therefore, reſpectfully declined this very advantageous 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 honorable 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 Knip- hauſen, procured intelligence of the ſtrength, and of the views of the I enemy's a [ 58 ] enemy's advanced corps; and he informed Lieut. Col. Simcoe, that Colonel Armand lay in a ſituation eaſily to be ſurprized. 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. Lt. Col. Simcoe went immediately to New-York, to get the de- ſerters, as guides ; unfortunately, they had enliſted in the Legion, and been ſent to Long iſland, where that corps, having left Kings- bridge, was quartered. Their information was, that one centry was poited by each houſe, that Armand had neither vedettes nor piquets, and that his horſes were unſaddled, during the night, and in dif- ferent ſtables. Before the troops went into winter quarters, it was neceſſary, that fufficient 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 ſurprize Colonel Thomas, a very active partizan of the enemy, and a poſt of dragoons, nearly twenty miles beyond it. General Tryon acquieſced in the propoſal, and directed it to be put in execution, but ſeemed very doubtful, whether ſo wary a per- ſon as Thomas could be circumvented. Lt. Col. Simcoe marched all night, with Emmerick’s and the Qlleen'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 fide of Lt. Col. Simcoe; the houſe was immediately forced, and, no reſiſtance being made, the officers fhut the doors of the different rooms, to prevent the irritated ſoldiers from revenging their unfortunate comrade: the man, [ 59 ] man who fired was the only perſon killed; but Thomas, after Lt. Col. Simcoe had perſonally protected him and enſured his fafety, jumped out of the window, and, ſpringing over ſome fences, would have certainly eſcaped, notwithſtanding moſt of Emmerick’s ritle- men 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 Emmerick's, was wounded), and fled: they were purſued, but to no purpoſe. The troops returned to General Tryon, who was, in perſon, at Ward's houſe, and who was much pleaſed at this miſ- chievous 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 encamped 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 No- vember. 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 acceſſible places, was to be fortified by ſunken flèches, joined by abb attis, 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 center, caſed and filled with fand, was rendered muſket proof, and looped ſo as to command the platforms, and ſurface of the parapet; the ordinary guard, twenty men, were fufficient for its defence. Some of the militia affiſted, in working, one day, when Sir William Erſkine came to Oyſter I 2 bay, 1778 [ 60 ] ] 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. Lt. Col. Simcoe repreſented to him, that in caſe of the enemy's paſſing the found, both Oyſter bay and Jericho were at too great a diſtance from any poſt to expect fuccour, but that the latter was equally liable 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 full 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 ſituations; and that proviſions from New-York might be received by water. Sir William Erſkine was pleaſed to agree with Lt. Col. Simcoe, and expreſſed himſelf highly ſatisfied with the means that ; had been taken to enſure the poſt; and, on his repreſentation, the corps was permitted to remain in its preſent cantonments. 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 fhore was not more than twelve, and in many places but ſeven or eight miles over; and there were many favorable landing places within a mile or two of Oyſter bay. The enemy could raiſe any number of men for ſuch an expe- dition; General Parſons Jay, with fome regular troops, in the vicinity, and there were whale-boats ſufficient to carry two thouſand men, who, in three hours, might attack the cantonment. 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 abbatis in ſuch a manner that it could not be forced. A houſe was moved, [61] moved, bodily, to the rear, near to the beach, where the Highland and Grenadier companies were quartered. A general plan of defence was calculated for the whole; and proper orders were given, in cafe 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 ſignals were appointed to be made by the country people, in caſe any plunderers were out, on which, centinels were to be placed on each barrack, and the rolls immediately called; by theſe, and other precautions, marauding was effectually prevented : ſince the concluſion 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 Rangers recruiting, notwithſtanding the exertions of the parties on that ſervice, while much greater bounties were given, by regiments now raiſing, than Government allowed the Provincials, it was, in public orders, re- commended to the conſideration of the officers, “ whether a ſtrict 66 ſoldier-like, and honorable economy, which their preſent ſituation “ would admit of, might not enable them, by adding to the bounties c allowed by Government, to recruit their companies, and give " them opportunities of acting in a wider ſphere at the commence- “ ment of the next campaign, which, from every appearance, was “ like to be moſt active ?" The officers fubſcribed liberally to the recruiting fund. The Commander in Chief intending 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; Quarter- 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 folicitations, could not a [ 62 not procure the Quarter-maſter, or a ſingle dragoon from the corps. The regular and methodical mode of dreſfing, and feeding the horſes, was the point of ſervice that the troop wiſhed to be inſtructed in, by the regular dragoons. The ſituation at Oyſter bay was extremely well calculated to ſecure the health of the foldiery; the water was excellent; there was plenty of vegetables, and oyſters to join with their falt proviſions, 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 fufficient exerciſe: the garriſon in New-York being in great want of forage, Oyſter bay became a centrical and ſafe depoſit for it, and frequent expeditions, towards the eaſtern and interior parts of the iſland, were made to enforce the orders of the Commander in Chief in this reſpect ; excurſions were alſo frequently made to execute other orders, relative to the intercourſe with the inhabitants of the rebel coaſt, and to eſcort meſſengers, &c. between Sir William Erſkine, who com- manded on the eaſt end of the iſland, and Jamaica. Lt. Whitlock, having a perfect knowledge of the country about Norwalk, pro- poſed to burn the whale-boats, which were harboured there, and had infeſted the found, and taken ſeveral of the wood and proviſion he was immediately diſpatched to the Commander in Chief, to lay his propoſals before him. Sir Henry Clinton, at this period, did not think it adviſable to put Lieut. Whitlock’s plan in execution. The officers of the Queen's Rangers always under- ſtood, that whatever plans they might offer for the good of the King's ſervice, would be patronized, and fairly repreſented to the Commander 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 motions, and the charging with bay- onets, 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 common poſition of veſſels; es B سحر کر noe O R T E A of One Mile Senle Copy & Son L'OR! From a Stetch by LOL Sunce, laken en de fer PLAN of OYSTER BAY, as fortified by the QUEEN'S RANGERS. A. Redoubt.. D. Quarters B. Fleches. of the Huzzars. C.Quarters seperately fortified E.Lieu: Col. Simioe's Quarters... The Lines of March mark the rout of the different companies, in case of Alarm, to occupy ther Post &r. [ 63 ] of the rebels; they were inſtructed 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 fuppoſed to have been driven from it; they were taught that, in the poſition of running, their bodies afforded a leſs and more un- certain mark to their antagoniſts, whoſe minds alſo muſt be perturbed by the rapidity of their approach with undiſcharged 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 exerciſed in the manual, and firing motions, by their reſpective commanders, but they were forbidden to teach them to march in flow time, they were “to pay great attention to the inſtruction os 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, taking great care that " the grand divifion has its ranks perfectly cloſe, and the pace adapted to the ſhorteſt men. The foldier 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 Britiſh 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 con- “ queſt.” When the weather permitted, the corps was frequently exerciſed together, particularly in occupying ground, on the ſuppo- ſition of the enemy's landing to attack the poſt; they were ſhewn how to make, and navigate rafts, conſtructed on the ſimpleſt prin- ciples, and with the ſlighteſt materials. On the 18th of April , a party of Refugees went from Oyſter bay, /779 being furniſhed with arms, agreeable to an order from head quarters, I to [ 64 ] to take the Generals Parſons and Silliman from the oppoſite ſhore. They did not riſk the attack on General Parſons, but they brought Brigadier Silliman to Oyſter bay: he was fent, the next day, to New-York. Lt. Col. Simcoe had been directed towards the center of the iſland, to enquire into a ſuppoſed intercourſe held with Connecticut; he had the Huzzars, and ſome infantry, with him. The weather was inclement, and the troops occupied two or three differen houſes : ſuch precautions were taken as the quarters would admit of. At night, the advance centinel, on the Lieutenant-Colonel's quarters, fired. The man was queſtioned; he perſiſted, that he challenged three or four men, with arms : tho' he was a ſteady ſoldier, it ap- peared fo improbable, that any enemy could be in Long iſland, that he was not credited. It was afterwards known, that a party of twenty men had been concealed there, in hopes to take ſome officer, for near three weeks, and that could they have ſurprized Lt. Col. Simcoe's quarters, it was meant to have attacked them. On the 2d of May, the Commander in Chief was pleaſed to fignify, in general orders, to the Provincial troops, " that his Majeſty, anxious to reward their faithful ſervices, and ſpirited 6 conduct, upon ſeveral occaſions, has been pleaſed to confer upon " them the following marks of his Royal favor.” The articles were then enumerated, and were all material to that ſervice: the principal were ; " That the officers of Provincial corps ſhall rank as " juniors of the rank to which they belong, and if diſabled in *** ſervice, ſhould be entitled to the fame gratuity as officers of the s eſtabliſhed army; and, to diſtinguiſh the zeal of ſuch regiments as ſhall be compleated, his Majeſty will, upon the recommendation “ of the Commander in Chief, make the rank of thoſe officers permanent in America, and will allow them half-pay, upon the “ reduction of their regiments, in the ſame manner as the officers of “ the Britiſh reduced regiments are paid." In conſequence of this order, 66 [ 65 ] order, the Queen's Rangers were recommended by the Commander in Chief, and ſtiled, and numbered, as the firſt American regiment : the doubt whether they came under the letter of the deſcription, as they were not at preſent actually compleat, was graciouſly explained, by his Majeſty, in their favor, as they had formerly been fo; the New-York Volunteers, and the Volunteers of Ireland, were, at the ſame time, placed upon this eſtabliſhment. The Queen's Rangers, conſiſting of three hundred and fixty, rank and file, in great health and activity, left their cantonments on the 18th of May, and, by a given rout, arrived at Kingſbridge, and en- camped there on the 27th, and formed the advance of the right column of the army, which marched from thence, on the 29th, to a poſition extending from Phillips's houſe to Eaſt Cheſter heights; Sir William Erſkine commanding the cavalry, and light troops, he encamped, with a diviſion of the line, and the light troops, on the iſt of May, at Dobb’s ferry. Lt. Col. Simcoe marched, on the 3d of June, to Croton bridge, where the enemy had been collecting the cattle of the country, which he ſeized upon; at the ſame time, he covered the retreat of Lt. Col. Tarleton, who had paſſed that bridge and beat up the quarters of a party, four miles farther : he took ſome priſoners, and returned to Dobb's ferry. On the 6th, Sir William Erſkine fell back towards Valentine's hill; the Queen's Rangers encamping on Odle's hill: ſoon after, they formed part of the eſcort which accompanied the Commander in Chief to the White-plains. On the 24th of June, the Queen's Rangers, and Legion, marched by different routes, to Croton bridge ; the Queen's Rangers arriving firſt, and being diſcovered, the Huzzars attacked and routed a ſmall patrole of the enemy, taking a few priſoners : Lieutenant Whitlock, who was on a piquet while the troops halted to refreſh themſelves, ambuſcaded a patrole, and took a Captain, and ſome privates. The Queen's Rangers, and Legion, marched to North- caſtle, and lay there that night : the enemy having ſeveral K parties [ 66 ] 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 columns, to Mar- maroneck; the Queen's Rangers were, in front of that, on the right. On the 9th, the Commander in Chief marched with the army to Byram's bridge: on leaving this camp, to return to Marmaroneck, the next day, the Queen's Rangers formed the rear guard. Upon this march, three ſoldiers, ſtraggling at a ſmall diſtance from their huts, were taken by ſome militia; Lt. Col. Simcoe expreſſed, in orders, " that he is moſt ſenſibly affected at the loſs of the three men, who ftraggled from their poſt during the laſt march. He feels himſelf “ but ill repaid for the confidence he has placed in the regiment, 6 and his inclination to eaſe their duty, by never poſting an un- neceſſary centinel ; at the ſame time, he truſts, that, as this has "s been the firſt inſtance of the kind during the time he has had the “ honor of commanding the Queen's Rangers, it will be the laſt ; « and, that the ſoldiers will reflect what they muſt ſuffer, by a long impriſonment, from a mean and deſpicable enemy, who never has, or can gain any advantage over them, but what ariſes from their " own diſobedience of orders." Captain Saunders, patroling towards Byram bridge, purſued a party of rebels. Their leader, Colonel Thomas, eſcaped, by quitting his horſe and running into a ſwamp: he had his parole when made pri- foner, the year before ; but he was guilty of ſome mal-practices on , Long iſland, and made his eſcape, pretending to juſtify his breaking of his parole by ſaying, that he underſtood it was meant to impriſon him. An ambuſcade, for a party of the enemy's militia, and dragoons, was projected, with every appearance of ſucceſs; and General Vaughan, 66 [ 67 ] Vaughan, having approved of it, had directed Lt. Col. Simcoe, and Major Delancey, to put it into execution, the next morning ; but, at night, the firing at Verplank's-point was heard, and the news of the capture of Stoney-point was brought to the camp. The Commander in Chief embarking for Verplank's-point, on the 19th of July, Colonel Birch was detached from General Vaughan's army, with the 17th dragoons, Queen's Rangers, and Legion, to make a diſplay of force, and to occupy the heights on Croton river, above Pine's bridge. The troops made great fires, and every demonſtration of their being in force; the heights they occupied were viſible from Verplank's and Stony-point. Two of the Rangers, who knew the country, paſſed the Croton river, and, returning, brought information that a brigade of the enemy's militia 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 fufpicion of the King's troops being in the neighbourhood; it appeared evident that it would be eaſy to ſurprize and deſtroy 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 ferry, where the army had arrived, with whom they returned, on the 23d, to the old camp, in front of Valentine's hill: the Queen's Rangers clofing the rear of the left column. Major-General Matthews com- manded the troops in the new camp; and on the zoth, 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 center; and the Yagers on the left. Lt. Col. Emmerick 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 firing, the enemy fled. Colonel Wurmb, and Lt. Col. Simcoe heard the firing, and puſhed to cut off the retreat of the enemy, which was ſo very precipitate, fo , K2 that, [ 68 ] that, after a long purſuit, only two or three of their rear fell into the hands of the Yagers. The troops fell back to Kingſbridge : the Queen's Rangers, Emmerick's, and the Legion, occupying the ſame poſition they had done the year before. 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 Weſt-Cheſter, and informed him, that a rebel party of dragoons had ſurprized ſeveral of their quarters, had taken many priſoners, and that he had eſcaped in the confufion. Lieut. Col. Simcoe called “to arms,” and ſent to the Legion, and Lt. Col. Emmerick, to join him ; he marched imme- diately, with the cavalry of the three corps : Major Cochrane commanded that of the Legion, 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 fo 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 preffed, that he left his infantry, and paſſed a bridge: the enemy's infantry, unable to attain it, threw themſelves over a ſtone wall, cloſe to the left of the road. This bridge was a mile from Marmaroneck; where, it was underſtood, the enemy were in force. It was obvious, that there would be little probability of cutting off White's fatigued cavalry, unleſs the fire of the infantry could be paſſed ; Lt. Col. Simcoe attempted to ruſh paft it, hoping that the enemy's confuſion, and their poſition cloſe to the road, would, as the event juſtified, hurry them to give their fire obliquely; unluckily, it was fatal on the moſt effential point; four Huzzars, and five horſes, being either killed or diſabled in the front, which was checked ; 3 [ 69 ] checked ; and, at the ſame time, from fome unknown cauſe, the rear moved about, and the confuſion reached to the center. Lieut. Col. Simcoe, in this diſorder, ordered Captain Diemar, who commanded an independant troop of Huzzars, which followed the Queen's Rangers, 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, unſupported, paſſed the bridge, and were killed there. Lt. Col. Simcoe tried to get information of any collateral road, by which, without paffing the bridge, he could purſue the enemy, who naturally ſuppofing that the check might have ſtopped his party, would be induced to retreat at a flower rate than if they were directly 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 Captain Diemar, in the purſuit, others were drowned in paſſing the creek; and, by the enemy's gazette it appeared, " that driven into a bad poſition, they were compelled to fight at diſadvantage, and loſt twelve men.” The cavalry, on Captain Diemar's return, imme- diately continued the purſuit to Byram bridge, beyond which it was not prudent or uſeful to follow : ſome more of the Loyaliſts were reſcued, but none of the enemy overtaken. On the return, the cavalry were divided, by troops, and ſcoured the woods back to Marmaroneck, but without effect; there they met with the Britiſh and Heffian 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, untill further orders: in caſe of ſudden alarm, they [ 70 ] they were ordered to form on their company's parade, undreſſed, with ſilence and regularity; 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 orders ; Captain Diemar’s Huzzars were alſo added to his command; and this whole corps marched for Oyſter bay on the 13th of Auguſt: the cavalry, and cannon, by the rout of Hell-gates, and the infantry by Frog's neck, where they em- barked, paſſed over on the 15th, and joining the cavalry, arrived at Oyſter bay on the 17th. In this interval, the officers, commanding grand diviſions, were ordered to make their men perfect in the whole of the manual exerciſe. Serjeant M‘Pherſon, a corporal, and twelve men, were ſelected, and placed under the command of Lieutenant Shaw: they were armed with ſwords and rifles; and, being daily exerciſed in firing at objects, ſoon became moſt admirable 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 mid-night, he galloped there with the cavalry, and cannon; the infantry followed. The alarm proved to be a falſe one; but Colonel Ludlow, who commanded that poſt, was of opinion, that this appearance of attention might prevent the attack on it, which he had certain information, was ſeriouſly intended againſt Long iſland, a part only of the general operations meditated againſt New- York on the expected arrival of D'Eſtaing, with his fleet, from the Weſt Indies. On the oth of October, it was hinted to Lt. Col. Simcoe, to hold his corps in readineſs for embarkation. On the 19th, it marched for that purpoſe; the cavalry to Jericho, where they were to remain under the command of Lieut. Col. Tarleton, and the infantry to Jamaica, [ 71 ) Jamaica, which proceeded to Yellow-hook, and embarked on the 24th. Earl Cornwallis commanded this expedition, conſiſting of the 7th, 23d, 22d, 33d, 57th regiments, Rangers, and Volunteers of Ireland commanded by Lord Rawdon ; it was ſuppoſed to be intended for Jamaica, at that time preſumed to be threatened with an invaſion from M. d'Eſtaing. On intelligence being received, that his deſigns were pointed elſewhere, the troops were re-landed; and were or- dered to continue in readineſs to embark at the ſhorteſt notice. The Queen's Rangers marched to Richmond, on Staten iſland : they relieved a regiment which had been very fickly while there. Lieut. Col. Simcoe immediately ordered their huts to be deſtroyed, and encamped his corps; Signals, in caſe of alarm, were eſtabliſhed on the iſland by General Patterſon, who commanded there. There was a general rumor 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 Delaware 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 Lt. 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 part of the country. There were no other troops in the vicinity : the Jerſey militia only, and thoſe, tumultuouſly aſſembled at the moment of the execution of the enterpriſe, could, poſſibly, impede it. The coaſts of Jerſey had been the common receptacle of the diſaffected from Staten, Long, and York iſland, on the Britiſh troops taking poſſeſſion of them ; of courſe, they were moſt virulent in their principles, and, by the cuſtom they had of attacking, from their coverts, the Britiſh foraging parties, in 1777, and inſulting their very out poſts, they had acquired [ 72 ] acquired a great degree of ſelf-confidence, and activity. Lieut. Col. Simcoe's plan was, to burn the boats with as much expedition as poſſible ; to return, with filence, to the heights beyond the town of Brunſwick, before day; there to thew himſelf, to entice all who might follow him into an ambuſcade ; and if he found that his remaining in the Jerſeys could effect any valuable purpoſe, the Com- mander 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, commanded fome cavalry on that iſland: theſe were to be added to him; and he requeſted ten guides : three hundred infantry of the Queen's Rangers, with their artillery, were alſo to accompany him. Two days were loſt by a miſunderſtanding of the General's order : the Huzzars, of the Queen's Rangers only, being ſent from Jericho, without Captain Sandford's troop, which was not merely neceſſary in regard to numbers, but particularly wiſhed for, as it was known that Captain Sandford, when quarter-maſter of the guards, had frequently been on foraging parties in the 1779 country, he was to paſs through. On the 25th of O&ober, by eight o'clock at night, the detachment, which has been detailed, marched to Billop's-point, where they were to embark. That the enterpriſe might be effectually concealed, Lt. Col. Simcoe deſcribed a man, as a rebel fpy, to be on the iſland, and endeavouring to eſcape to New-Jerſey; a great reward was offered for taking him, and the militia 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 Ptill three o'clock in the morning. No time was loft; 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. Col. Simcoe called together the officers; he told them - [ 73 ] > 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 6 afterwards had been encamped; and to entice the militia, if poffible, 66 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 fide of the Rariton, at South-Amboy: he was then, with the utmoſt diſpatch and filence, to proceed to South-river bridge, fix miles from South-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 peninſula formed by theſe ſtreams, Lt. Col. 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 Brigadier 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 Sanford formed the advance guard, the Huzzars followed, and Stuart's men were in the rear ; making in the whole about eighty. A Juſtice Crow was ſoon over- taken ; 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 comprehended their inſtructions, and kept up the juſtice's belief that the party was a detachment from Waſhington's army. Many plantations were now L paffed [ 74 ] ز paſſed by, the inhabitants of which were up, and whom the party accoſted with friendly falutations. At Quibletown, 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 appearance of a rebel guard : Captain Sanford 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 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 anſwerable to give him his money that night at Brunſwick, where he ſhould quarter ;” exclaimed aloud to his party, 56 that theſe were not the Tories they were in ſearch of, altho' they had knapſacks,” and told the country people who were aſ- ſembling around, “ that a party of Tories had made their eſcape “ from Sullivan's army, and were trying to get into Staten iſland, as « Iliff (who had been defeated, near this very ſpot, taken, and exe- cuted) had formerly done, and that he was ſent to intercept them:' the ſight of Juſtice Crow would, probably, have aided in deceiving 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 It was now 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's inſtructions were to burn marched. theſe [ 75 ] He pro- theſe huts, if poſſible, in order to give as wide an alarm to the Jerſies as he could. He found it impracticable to do ſo, they not being joined in ranges, nor built of very combuſtible materials. 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 “ fick quarters” over the room door they inhabited, which was done; and Mr. Vanhorn 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 Vacter's bridge: Lt. Col. Simcoe found eighteen new flat-boats, upon carriages; they were full of water. He was determined effec- tually to deſtroy them. Combuſtibles had been applied for, and he received, in conſequence, a few port-fires ; every Huzzar had a hand- granade, and ſeveral hatchets were brought with the party. The timbers of the boats were cut through; they were 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 com- miſſary, 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 finifter events which prevented him from being at Van Vacter's bridge ſome hours ſooner, as it would have been very feafible to have drawn off the flat-boats to the South river, inſtead of deſtroying them. He proceeded to Somerſet court- L2 a houſe ; ( 76 ) 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, ſhewed on which ſide of the Rariton he was, and would, moſt probably, operate to aſſemble the neighbourhood 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 afterwards ap- peared, 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. Paffing 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 ſhot, he would burn every houſe which he paſſed.” A man or two were now flightly wounded. As the party approached Brunſ- wick, 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 diſtance, 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 faw the rail fence (which was very high on both ſides of the narrow road between two woods) fomewhat broken down, and a man or two 66 near [ 77 ] near it, when, putting his horſe on the canter, he joined the advanced 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 neighbourhood, 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 recovered his ſenſes, priſoner with the enemy, his horſe being killed with five bullets, and himſelf ſtunned by the violence of his fall. His impriſonment, the circumſtances which attended it, and the indelible 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 correſpon- dence with Sir H. Clinton, Governor Levingſtone, Col. Lee, Gen. Waſhington, &c. &c. are referred to the appendix. Lt. Col. Simcoe had no opportunity of communicating his deter- mination 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 where 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 accelerated pace which the front, being upon the canter, too generally brings upon the rear ; they paſſed the ambuſcade in great confuſion: three horſes were wounded, and the men made pri- ſoners, 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 enter- priſes with whale-boats. They were poſted on the very ſpot which Lt. Col. Simcoe had always aimed at avoiding. His guide milled him: nor was the reaſon of his error the leaſt uncommon of the finiſter events which attended this incurſion, When the Britiſh troops [ 78 ) troops quitted the camp at Hillſborough, and marched to Brunſwick, among other houſes which were unwarrantably burnt was the one which the guard relied upon, as marking out the private road the party was to take: he knew not of its being burnt, and that every veſtige had been deſtroyed, ſo that he led them unintentionally into the ambuſcade ; which when the party had paſſed by on the full gallop, they found themſelves on the high grounds beyond the bar- racks at Brunſwick. Here they rallied; there was little doubt but Lt. Col. Simcoe was killed : the ſurgeon (Mr. Kellock), with a white handkerchief, held out as a flag of truce, at the manifeſt riſk of his life, returned to enquire for him. The militia aſſembling, Captain Sandford drew up, and charged them, of courſe, they fled : a Captain Vorhees, of the Jerſey Continental troops, was overtaken, and the Huzzar, at whom he had fired, killed him. A few pri- ſoners were taken. Captain Sandford proceeded to the South river, the guides having recovered from the conſternation. Two militia- men only were met with upon the road thither : they fired, and killed Molloy, 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 undiſcovered, and, ambuſcading himſelf, had taken ſeveral 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 the country was general; Wayne was detached from Waſh- ington's camp in the highlands, with the light troops, and marched fourteen miles that night, and thirty the next day ; Colonel Lee, who was in Monmouth country, as it was ſaid, fell back towards the Delaware. The Queen's Rangers returned to Richmond that even- ing: the cavalry had marched upwards of eighty miles, without halting or refreſhment, and the infantry thirty. In ; [ 79 ] In the diſtribution of quarters for the remaining winter, Richmond was allotted to the Queen's Rangers. This poſt was in the center of Staten Iſland, and confifted of three bad redoubts, ſo conſtructed, at various times and in ſuch a manner, as to be of little mutual affiſtance: the ſpaces between theſe redoubts 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 ranges of log houſes, which might join the redoubts, and being loop-holed, might become a very defenſible curtain. Major Armſtrong followed the plan, and ſet the regiment about its execution, in parties adapted to the different purpoſes of felling the timber, ſawing it, and making ſhingles 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 returned to Staten iſland, from his impriſonment. He was mortified to find the expe- dition, under the Commander in Chief, had failed; eſpecially as, upon his landing at Staten iſland, he received a letter from Major André, adjutant-general, ſaying: “ If this meets you a free man, prepare your regiment for embarkation, 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 comfortable and defenſible : and they ſoon found the advantages 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 roth of January, the commu- nication with New-York was totally ſhut up by floating ice; and General Stirling was reduced to the neceſſity of reſtraining the troops to half allowance of proviſions, but with every precaution to impreſs the inhabitants, and ſoldiers, with the belief that this reſtriction was precautionary againſt the poſſibility of the communication being cloſed for 1788 [80] 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, information 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 main body at the watering place, the heights of which were occupied with ſeveral redoubts ; Colonel Lord Rawdon, with the Volunteers of Ireland, was quartered near a redoubt at the point of the Narrows; and Lt. Col. Simcoe, with the Queen's Rangers, at Richmond : the whole force on the iſland being under one thou- fand eight hundred effective men. On the 15th of January, early in the morning, the rebel detach- ment of near three thouſand men, under the command of the perſon ſtiled Lord Stirling, croſſed the ice and entered Staten iſland; Lord Stirling marched immediately towards the landing place, and by his poſition cut off General Stirling's communication with the Volunteers- of Ireland and the Queen's Rangers. Lt. Col. Simcoe occupied the high grounds near Richmond with ſmall parties of cavalry, and the infantry were ſedulouſly employed in what might ſtrengthen that poſt; there were three pieces of cannon (a nine and two fix-pounders) mounted on platforms, without embrazures, 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 a round ſhot, if it ſtruck among them, might have the effect of grape. If batteries, or any cannon, ſhould be opened againſt Rich- mond, 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 appearance of affault, to be abandoned, and its area filled with abbatis which were provided, and its gate left open and expoſed to the fire of the cannon of the other redoubts a [81] a redoubts placed at their reſpective gates, of the two regimental field pieces, and of the muſquetry from the doors, windows, and loop-holes of the barracks. The officers' barracks, which were within the triangular area formed by thoſe of the ſoldiers and the re- doubts, were intended to be taken down, and the logs of which they 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 per- fect ſafety from any ſhot whatſoever, and nearly fo from ſhells, againſt the ſplinters of which their logs were very reſpectable traverſes. There was a gun boat, which was frozen up in the creek, at the foot of Rich- mond Hill: this gun was elevated ſo as to fire a fingle 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 thro' 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 fledges, harneſs and horſes, and the moſt chearful and determined appearance of reſolution ran thro' 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 at- , “ tack Richmond where they were ſure of obſtinate reſiſtance, and 6 which muſt fall of itſelf whenever the main body was taken.” Lt. Col. Simcoe was anxious to communicate with Lord Rawdon, and to obtain any intelligence, or orders, his lordſhip might have for him : he ſent his adjutant, Lt. Ormond, with directions to get fome of the militia, to convey a letter for that purpoſe, by the ſea fhore. Some ſcattering parties of the enemy had been that way, on which account Lt. Ormond could get no one to venture, he therefore went himſelf, and putting on coloured cloaths that he might not be dif- M tinguiſhed, [82] a tinguiſhed, in caſe of any ſmall parties laying in ambuſcade, he got ſafely to the flag-ſtaff, and returned without diſcovery. The rebels making no attempt in the day time upon the redoubts, where Gene- ral 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 authorized to do, thoſe men on whom the enemy had conferred the office and title of Generals, it appeared totally un- reaſonable that having ſo well choſen the moment of invading the 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 the militia of Staten Iſland) to get them to aſſemble to garriſon Richmond; but neither entreaties, the full explanation of the advantage ſuch a conduct would be of, nor the perſonal example of Col. Billop had any effect: not a man could be prevailed upon to enter the garriſon. They aſſembled to drink at various public-houſes, and to hear the news, or were buſy in pro- viding for the temporary ſecurity of their cattle and effects; and theſe were not diſaffected perſons, 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 fucceeded, and all the total deſtruction of their property. Lt. Col. Simcoe was therefore obliged to lay aſide his intentions, which were to march with his cavalry, carrying muſquets, with as many infantry as he could juſtify the taking from Richmond, with his field pieces in fledges, together with the ſwivels fixed upon blocks, and to get near the enemy undif- covered, and to make as great an alarm and as much impreſſion as poffible upon their rear, whenfoever they attemped 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 patroles were made [ 83 ] 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 Elizabeth Town, and that ſtraw, &c. was ſent to Staten Iſland. He went back again, commiſſioned by Lt. Col. Simcoe, to obſerve what ſtores were in Elizabeth Town, and particularly to remark what air-holes were in the ice on the found between the mouth of Richmond Creek and Elizabeth Town, as it was intended, if nothing material intervened before the next night, to ſend Capt. Stephenſon with a detachment to burn Elizabeth Town, and to give an alarm in the Jerſies. The intelligence which this zealous and truſt-worthy loyaliſt brought was very probable: the making a winter campaign in America had always appeared to Lt. Col. Simcoe a matter of great facility, and by frequently ruminating upon it, he was alive to the advantages which would attend Mr. Waſhington in its proſecution. He would without heſitation have abandoned the poſt of Richmond, and joined Lord Rawdon, or Gen. Stirling, taking on himſelf all conſequences, had it not appeared to him that the poſſeſſion of Rich- mond would inſure to Mr. Waſhington a fafe 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 militia whoſe num- bers 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 various departments they in general belonged. 09 Mr. Waſhington might without difficulty have aſſembled from the ſmaller creeks, and even from the Delaware, and Hudſon's River, a multitude of boats, which, while the ſnow was upon the ground, might M.2 [ 84 ] might be conveyed overland to the Staten Iſland Sound; and with theſe, added to thoſe which attended his army, he might tranſport his troops or form bridges, ſecuring all approaches to them from the water, by batteries conſtructed on the Jerſey ſhore, while by other attacks and preparations, he certainly could have thrown great diffi- culties in the way of Gen. Kniphauſen, 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 perfectly cer- tain, from Lord Rawdon's character, that he ſhould receive ſome de- rections from him, who would never remain in an untenable poſt, with the certainty of being made priſoner ; and at all events Lt. Col. Simcoe determined, in cafe Gen. Stirling ſhould be defeated, and that he ſhould receive no orders, he would attempt to eſcape; for fince the rebels had ſhewn a total defect in every private and public principle 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 ſeperately 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 throughout every colony, and in very great numbers. This, which had been his com- mon converſation and ſteady reſolution, in caſe of any unfortunate events, was now determined on by Lt. Col. Simcoe: his ideas were to forerun all intelligence, and to attempt to ſurpriſe Col. Lee, at Burlington, and then to eſcape to the back countries. For this pur- poſe, he had fledges which could carry a hundred men, and he had , , no doubt of foon encreaſing them in the Jerſies, to a number fuf- ficient to convey the whole corps; the attempt was leſs dangerous in itſelf, a [ 85 ] itſelf, and leſs injurious, if it failed, to the community, than the cer- tainty 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 poffeffion 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 effect his retreat into the back parts of Pennſylvania, join his friends there, probably releaſe the Convention army, and not impoffibly join the commander in chief, in Carolina. Full of theſe ideas, it was with great ſurprize and pleaſure, that Lt. Col. Simcoe underſtood the enemy were retreating from the iſland. He immediately purſued them with the flank com- . panies and Huzzars; and was overtaken by an order from General Stirling to effect the ſame purpoſe; but the enemy had paſſed to the Jerſey ſhore before he could come up with them. While the troops in the enemy's front, on their arrival at the heights oppoſite to the Britiſh redoubts, halted for the rear to cloſe up, they were permitted to make fires, which encreaſed the power of the froſt, and rendered them totally unable to proceed, and the ſeverity of the night affecting the whole of them, many loſt their limbs, and ſeveral their lives. There were vaft mounds of ſnow drifted before the redoubts, which Lord Stirling gave as his reaſon for not attempting them; and General Kniphauſen, on the firſt ſignal of Staten Iſland being attacked, em- barked troops to ſupport it. The enemy 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, lofing 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 [ 86 ] they were acquainted with, to return to their old companions. The Queen's Rangers obtained a great many recruits; and it is very re- markable 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 Elizabeth Town 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 they fled, on the Staten Iſland militia collecting together. The froſt ſtill continuing, there were many reports and a general expecta- tion that the enemy would again adventure upon the iſland, with ſuperior force, with ſufficient proviſion to attempt ſome greater purpoſe; and patroles were conſtantly made on all the roads, by which they could poſſibly approach, 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 countenance they ſhewed when the rebels were upon this iſland, “ which the brigadier had reported to the Commander in Chief; and “ his Excellency deſires his thanks may be given to them”. On the 25th Lt. Col. Simcoe gave out the following order : “That he expects the order relative to officers and ſoldiers ſleeping in their “ cloaths be ſtrictly complied with, ſuch recruits excepted, whom " the officers commanding 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-commiſſioned officer, who meets 66 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 countenance which enabled 2780 66 66 66 [ 87 ] to 66 enabled 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 ſurprize, is confident that " Richmond redoubts will be too dear for the whole rebel army purchaſe.” Soon after the rebel army returned to their former winter quarters, a very important enterprize ſuggeſted itſelf to Lt. Col. Simcoe; he underſtood by deſerters and other intelligence, that Mr. Waſhington was quartered at a conſiderable diſtance from his 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 difficult to carry him off. He communicated his ideas to a gentle- man, who had been perſecuted by the rebels, and whoſe family had been the object of their cruel reſentment, for his early and uniform loyalty, and by his affiſtance, a very minute and perfect map of the country was drawn. Some few particulars were neceſſary to be aſcer- tained, which a truſty perſon was ſent out to enquire into, but with- out any idea being given to him that might lead him to gueſs at the enterprize, which was only made known to Capt. Shaw, of the Queen's Rangers, until the 31ſt of January, 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 full approbation. Lt. Col. Simcoe's plan was to march by very ſecret ways, made the more ſo by the inclement ſeaſon, and to arrive near Gen. Waſhington's quarters by day break, to tye 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 muſquets as well as ſwords, and he meant it to conſiſt of eighty men, indiſcriminately taken from the cavalry or infantry, with an Officer, beſides thoſe of the ſtaff, to every fix men, and he was to ſelect thoſe he ſhould command. The party were to halt at two cottages a ( 88 ) cottages in a wood, if they ſhould arrive before the appointed time. Lt. Col. Simcoe waited for his concluſive information with great impatience, and in his converſations with Capt. Shaw always ex- preſſed his fanguine hopes, almoſt his certainty of ſucceſs; his only apprehenfion being in caſe Mr. Waſhington ſhould perſonally refift, by what means he could bring him off, and preſerve his life; when, to his great ſurprize, his Huzzars were ordered to march with a con- voy over the ice to New-York. It ſhould ſeem, the fame 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 purpoſe, cavalry were collected at New-York, and among others, Captain Beckwith obtained the Huzzars of the Queen's Rangers, of whom he had a good opinion, as he often accompanied Lt. Col. Simcoe in the patroles he had made from Kingſbridge. Brigadier Gen. Stirling communicated to Lt. Col. Simcoe the purpoſe for which his cavalry was withdrawn, as it was intended that a general movement from Staten iſland ſhould favour the enterprize. 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 ſurprize the enemy's poſt at Woodbridge or Raway, 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. Simcoe 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-ftar, to cover their return. The ſnow prevented all poſſibility of march- ing, but on the beaten 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 enter- prize, he determined to proceed until he beat up fome of the enemy's quarters, or fell in with their patroles. On the arrival at the crofs roads, from Amboy to Elizabeth Town, the troops were challenged a 66 [ 89 ] a challenged, the whole body halted, and with ſuch profound filence, 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 converſation, which was plainly over heard: but another patrole on horſeback, falling in on the flank of the march, diſcovered the party; the enemy's centinels fired, and in ſucceſſion the bugle- horns, drums, and bagpipe of the Queen's Rangers founded; an univerſal alarm being given and propagated, the party returned to- wards Woodbridge: a ſoldier was unfortunate enough to be killed by the chance ſhot of the centinels. The enemy aſſembled in the rear, and appeared 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 advantage to the Rangers ; for the com- panies, 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. 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 with- out being expoſed : Serjeant Wright was diſpatched to gallop over the ice to Major Armſtrong, and to defire him to point his cannon at the Ferry houſe; and Capt. Shank was detatched 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 fire of this detachment, directly oppoſite, and of Major Armſtrong's cannon, at a greater and more oblique diſtance. Theſe arrangements being made, and the enemy approach- ing, the Rangers ſuddenly turned about and charged them upon a ſteady run, the rebels immediately fled, and they were purſued 'till they paſſed over a ſmall hill, when the Rangers were ordered to go N to [90] 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 fol- lowed upon the ice; Capt. Shank firing upon them from his am- buſcade, drove them inſtantly back, while the cannon fhot ſtruck the houſes at the ſame time, and, as it was reported, killed ſome of them: the party returned to Richmond without further moleſtation. The Queen's Rangers loft only the man already mentioned ; a few were wounded, but they bore no proportion to the numbers whoſe cloaths 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. The enemy's loſs was ſuppoſed to be more confiderable, as many of them were ſeen to fall, and the whole of the affair being between fingle men, the Rangers were infinitely better markſmen than the Jerſey militia. Capt. Beckwith had found it impracticable to carry his attempt into execution, from an uncommon fall of rain, which encruſting the top of the ſnow, cut the fetlocks of his horſes, and rendered it abſolutely impoſſible for him to ſucceed. The Huzzars ſoon after returned to Staten Iſland. The ice floating on the 22d of February, the Sound became impaſſable; the ſoldiers were per- mitted 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. 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 ſouthward; he had alſo written in the ſtrongeſt terms to Earl Cornwallis, ſoliciting his lordſhip to ſupport his ap- plication. 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 fufficient to [ 91] to tranſport three hundred infantry and fixty cavalry, to be manned by the Rangers, and to be left totally to his own diſpoſal : he pro- poſed 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 enterprize he meant to attempt was, to ſurprize Col. Lee at Burlington: he intended to land at night with his cavalry in an unfrequented part of the coaſt, and march in three ſeparate bodies, , each of thirty rank and file, carrying firelocks, and in the minuteſt particular, each party to be fo like to the other, that if they ſhould be diſcovered by any accident, they might not be eaſily diſcriminated, particularly as the ſeparate routs were to be nearly parallel, through bye paths, and feldom at more than two miles diſtance: before day break they were to meet at an appointed ſwamp, where they were to remain concealed till the next night, when they were to continue their march, diſmount when they arrived cloſe to Burling- ton, and with fixed bayonets 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 fecrecy as poſſible, 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 en- truſted with the ſecret of his deſtination; they would have arrived at ſpecified ſpots from different 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 enterprizing, and had that weight in the Jerfies, which capacity and power, with a very free uſe of it, could give to the poffeffor ; the importance it would have been of to the intended fyſtem of opera- tions, to have feized upon Col. Lee and demoliſhed his corps, is beſt illuſtrated by remarking that, although Burlington is near feventy miles N2 [92] miles from Staten Iſland, he was underſtood to have his piquets eight or ten miles in his front for his ſecurity. Lt. Col. Simcoe's propoſals were approved of by Generals Kniphauſen, Stirling, and Tryon: ſome of the boats were ſent to him, and the remainder, with the pre- parations detailed in the appendix, were in forwardneſs, when, on the 23d of March 1780, the infantry of the corps received orders to embark for Charles Town, which it did on the fourth of April. Capt. Wickham was left with the Huzzars in the Town of Rich- mond, and the duty of the redoubts was taken by a party of two ſubaltern officers and fixty 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 Rangers anchored in Stono inlet on the 18th, and paffing the Athley river, arrived at the camp before Charles Town on the 21ſt: they immediately marched to the quarter-houſe, four miles from Charles Town, and covered the troops employed on the fiege, by extending between the Athley and Cooper rivers. The infantry conſiſted of four hundred rank and file: there was not a fick man among them, for great attention had been paid to whatever might pre- ferve them in health ; and Mr. Kellock and Macauley, the ſurgeons, were very capable and attentive in their duties. The ſoldiers were new cloathed and accoutred, and the regiment had ſubſtituted light caps, neat and commodious, in the room of the miſerable contract hats, which had been ſent from England. To the perſonal con- gratulations of his friends, on his releaſe from impriſonment, Lt. Col. Simcoe had great pleaſure, as he expreſs'd himſelf in orders, “in hearing “the uniformity and appearance of the regiment univerſally ap- proved: he truſts that ſoldier will vie with ſoldier, and officer with • officer in maintaining in their reſpective ſtations every favourable impreffion which their ſuperior officers entertain of them, that 66 their [ 93 ] “their diſcipline and appearance on the parade reflects credit on their « ſoldier-like behaviour in the field.” On the arrival of this rein- forcement, 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 fiege was puſhed with vigour; Lt. Col. Simcoe was very apprehenſive that Gen. Lincoln under the pretext of a ſally, would embark in boats, and paſſing up the Aihley 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 fix pounders to be added to his field pieces, and placed to command the river; and he endeavoured 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 accoutrements, theſe and his riflemen he ſoon mounted, and patroled 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 floop 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 off and bringing down to the poſt, to aſſiſt in blocking up the paſſage: however, Mr. Lincoln either did not intend to eſcape, or thought of it too late ; for all poſſibility of effecting ſuch a deſign was effectually precluded by Earl Cornwallis's fending down from Wando inlet a waterforce, which, by Capt. Elphingſtone's arrangement, effectually blocked up the river: and the place ſurrendered on the 12th of May. Lt. Col. Simcoe going to head quarters to congratulate the Commander in Chief, Sir H. Clinton was pleaſed to fhew 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 privately reconnoitred by that gallant officer Capt. Hanger a [ 94 ] Hanger; and that Charles Town was not ſtormed muſt ever be im- puted 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, immediately after the capitulation. The air or the water at the quarter-houſe, had rendered the men fickly. They ad- vanced to Fourhole-bridge, where they remained a day or two at Caton's (an unfortunate Loyaliſt, whom the rebels ſome time after affaffinated); from whence, by expreſs order, they returned to Charles Town, as it was ſuppoſed, to embark on an expedition to George Town: 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 enterprizing enemy; but Gen. Kniphauſen, by frequent and well- concerted expeditions, had kept the rebels fully employed in their own cantonments, the Jerſies. On one of 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 Staten Iſland, conſiſting of Cornet Tucker and twenty of the 17th regiment, light dragoons, 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 fix 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 furprize of Col. Bailey, with three hundred rebels, poſted at that place: the major was particularly attentive to a minute deſcription [ 95 ] deſcription of their fituation. 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. Hoppers 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 officer's picquet of twenty men, and which, if properly diſpoſed, 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 quar- ters: this they effected after receiving an ineffectual fire from the picquet and from ſome of the windows: the reſt of the cavalry dif- perſed, to pick up the fugitives and to take poſſeſſion of the rebels quarters, now abandoned. Cornet Spencer, on his arrival at his poſt with fix men only, the reſt not being 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 com-- manding 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 poffeffion of the angles of the houſe, ordered ſome of his men to diſ-- mount 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 offers to parley with thoſe who defended head quarters, but to no purpoſe; they kept up a con-. tinual fire : finding it impoſſible to break the door open, which was attempted, and a man wounded through it, or to force any of the win- dows [ 36 ] ] dows, 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, tho? the flames were greatly encreaſed. By this time ſome of the ſpeedieſt 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. Bailey, as he opened the door to ſurrender, was unfortunately ſhot by one of Capt. 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 twenty- one ſoldiers were taken. In the whole, twelve officers, with one hundred and eighty-two men were made priſoners. The party re- turned by the ſame rout they had advanced, with little oppoſition and no loſs. The plan of this expedition was well laid, and as well exe- cuted: Major Du Buy ſeemed to be maſter of the country through which he had to paſs, and was well feconded by Capt. Deimar. Ma- jor Du Buy was pleaſed to honor the huzzars of the Rangers with his particular thanks and approbation. The houſe was well defended, and the death of the gallant Col. Bailey was very much regretted by his opponents. On the 21ſt of June the regiment landed at Staten Iſland, and marched to Richmond redoubts. At midnight Lt. Col. Simcoe received orders to proceed inſtantly to the Jerſies, where General Kniphauſen having thrown a bridge of boats over the found, near Elizabeth Town Point, was encamped : the huzzars of the Rangers here joined the corps. Lt. M‘Nab had found an opportunity of dif- tinguiſhing himſelf by the intrepidity and boldneſs with which he advanced into Elizabeth Town, amidſt the fire of the enemy who poſſeſſed it, in order to entice them to follow him into an ambuſcade, which [ 97 ] a a which Capt. Archdale, of the 17th dragoons (who had the temporary command 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, attacked the enemy's advance poſt, for the purpoſe of taking ſome pri- ſoners, 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 diviſion of the troops marched before day towards Springfield : the Rangers made the ad- vance guard. The enemies 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 brigade, who flanked the march, were exchanging ſhot with theſe troops, Lt. Col. Simcoe cloſed the companies 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 rifle men and light infantry company, obtained the ground on their flank without 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 utmoſt exertions to cut off the retreat of the other divifion : the circuit they had to take rendered this deſign ineffectual. 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. Gen. Mathews halting till the arrival of Gen. Kniphauſen, with the main body of the army; he O then [ 98 ] 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 column, the troops proceeded unoppoſed 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 concenter their fire 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 rifle-men whom Lt. Shaw had well diſpoſed of, and out-reached the enemy's left: they im- mediately fell back, with too much precipitation to be overtaken by the Rangers, who were 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 ſecretly 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 recroſſed 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 Elizabeth Town Point. Lt. Col. Simcoe thought proper to accompany the officer, 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 Thot, were in a much more favourable poſition to cover the army than if they croſſed the river ; and it being obvious, that while this poſition was maintained, the enemy could not be certain whether the Britiſh army meant to return towards Staten Iſland or advance, they would not hazard the paſſing their [ 99 ] their light troops over the river on the flanks of the army in readineſs to moleft them in their preſent poſition and future march. General Kniphauſen directed Lt. Col. Simcoe to maintain his poſt, and ſome Yagers were ſent to cover his left, and a battalion of Gen. Skinner's his right flank. In the mean time Gen. Greene, with the groſs of his army, occupied 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 detached two or three field pieces to the right flank of the Britiſh, which cannonaded them for ſome time, but with little effect; and his militia and light troops in great numbers came as cloſe to the front as the intervening thickets could ſhelter them, and kept up a conſtant though irregular fire from every fide. Moſt of theſe ſhot paſſed over the heads of the Rangers, while ſome, which were fired at a greater diſtance, dropped with little effect in the hollows which concealed them. On their right ran a rivulet, forming ſmall and ſwampy iſlets, covered with thickets; as under favour of this ground the enemy were gradually approach- ing, Lt. Col. Simcoe waded to one of them with Capt. Kerr, whom with his company he left in ambuſcade, with orders, if the enemy advanced, to give them one well-directed fire, and immediately to recroſs to the regiment. Capt. Kerr executed his orders judiciouſly, many of the enemy were ſeen to fall: the thicket he quitted was not again attempted by them, but it became the center to which the principal part of their fire was directed. The troops having halted two or three hours, began their march to Elizabeth Town: the advance corps covered the retreat, and repaſſed the bridge without moleſtation. It was a conſiderable time before the enemy perceived their movement, nor did they become troubleſome 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 columns marched on, and it appearing that the Yagers might be preſſed, the O 2 [ 100 ] the Rangers returned to their affiſtance, and the enemy retired. The troops proceeded towards Elizabeth Town with little interruption. The rifle men of the Queen's Rangers, now commanded by Ser- jeant 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 battalion; and they concealed themſelves ſo admirably that none of them were wounded, whilſt they ſcarcely returned a ſhot in vain. There being at one time an ap- pearance that the enemy meant to occupy a tongue of wood, which ran between the columns, Lt. Col. Simcoe requeſted of Colonel Howard, who commanded the guards, to poſt ſome diviſions of them in echelon behind the various fences, ſo as to protect his flank, maſque the wood, and in ſome meaſure to extend and to approach nearer to the right column; the Colonel aſſented: but as the enemy were not in ſufficient numbers to advance, the army returned to their former encampment. The Rangers had two men killed, Lt. Shaw and nine privates ſlightly wounded : the huzzar, Wright, had his horſe wounded; but a great many ſoldiers had marks of the enemy's bullets in their cloaths and knapſacks: the Jerſey militia ſuffered 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 failing up the North river, landed on the 25th, and proceeded to Odles Hill, their poſition in front of the line. It now appeared, that the commander in chief had hurried from Charles Town, and withdrawn Gen. Kniphauſen from the Jerfies, on the intimation of a French armament being deſtined for Rhode Iſland, and with the hopes of attacking it to advan- tage, on its arrival : he had encamped the army near Kingſbridge, for the purpoſe of embarking them with the greater facility. Lt. Col. Simcoe [101] Simcoe was obliged to go to New-York to recover his health; and the regiment was in general very fickly. The refugees, who had taken poſt on the banks of the North river, in the rebel country, were attacked by Gen. Wayne, whom they gallantly repulſed: amidſt the fire, Cockrane, the brave huzzar, who had been left at Monmouth, quitted the rebels with whom he had enliſted, and riſking every hazard, got in to the poſt, and rejoined his comrades. On the 19th of July Lt. Col. Simcoe joined his corps, and proceeded with it to Long Iſland, croſſing the found at Fluſhing. He marched to Hun- tingdon, 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 off the eaſtern end of the iſland, and New-York. Lt. Col. Simcoe proceeded on his rout without delay; at the ſame time, through the adjutant general, Major Andre, he communicated his wiſhes, and his hopes to the Commander 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 affures " you, that the Rangers ſhall be pitted againſt a French regiment the « firſt time he can procure a meeting.” The Queen's Rangers remained about the Points, on the Eaſt-end of the iſland, till the oth of Auguſt, when they fell back to Coram, from whence they returned eaſtward on the 15th, being joined by the King's American regiment, which Lt. Col. Simcoe was ordered to detach to River head, and he himſelf met the Commander in Chief, who was now on his journey by the Admiral's invitation to hold a conference with him. Sir H. Clinton ſent him to the Admiral Arbuthnot, whoſe fleet at that time was anchored in Gardiner's Bay, but which failed from thence before the Commander in Chief could arrive. The Queen's Rangers returned to Oyſter Bay on the 23d of Auguſt. This march, of near three hundred miles, had been made . very fatiguing by the uncommonly hot weather, which rendered the Pine barren, through which the roads principally lay, as cloſe and ſultry [ 102 ] fultry in the night as in the day time. The troops had been obliged to ſubfift on the country; a militia dragoon who was ſent expreſs to the Adjutant General to inform him what difficulty there was in pro- curing 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 Smith Town. As this had been formerly the cafe, and it was obvious that no party could remain ſecreted unknown to the inhabitants, Lt. Col. Simcoe 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 recompence 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 25th of Auguſt, the Commander in Chief augmented the Rangers with two troops of dragoons, appointed Lt. Col. Simcoe to be Lieutenant Colonel of cavalry; and the infantry Captains, Saunders and Shank, officers of diſtinguiſhed merit, to the additional troops : the corps remained at Oyſter Bay and its vicinity, until the 22d of September, when it marched to Jamaica. Sir H. Clinton had been pleaſed to entruſt Lt. Col. Simcoe with the important negociation, which terminated ſo unfortunately in the death of Major André; 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 preparations for the execution of this great deſign were effectually concealed, by an expedition being in forwardneſs to proceed to the fouthward, under Gen. Leſlie : the Queen's Rangers were generally fuppoſed to be deſtined for this ſervice. Lt. Col. Simcoe, had this been the intention, muſt have commanded the cavalry; and he had in a former converſation with Gen. Leſlie, repreſented, that although no men ( 103 ) men could poſſibly be more uſeful or more brave than the Huzzars of the Rangers, yet as he never had leiſure properly to inſtruct them in the regular ſyſtem of cavalry, or, indeed, had any occafion to em - ploy them on any but deſultory ſervices, and, on the other hand, as the enemy had every means of eſtabliſhing a well-mounted and ſolid body of cavalry, he requeſted, that the General would aſk from the Commander in Chief, a detachment of forty of the Seventeenth of dragoons, to whom he would add a ſimilar number from his dragoons now forming, and the ſtouteſt of the huzzars, and that this ſquadron ſhould be carefully preſerved from all the ſmaller ſervices of light troops, and kept as a conſtant reſerve to ſupport the huzzars, and to , be oppoſed to the enemy's cavalry: Gen. Leſlie was pleaſed to ap- prove of Lt. Col. Simcoe's repreſentations. The Commander in Chief's deſign proving abortive, the Queen's Rangers croſſed from Long to Staten Iſland, and marched to Richmond redoubts on the 8th of October. Some circumſtances relative to Major André's unfortunate attempt, will be more fully detailed in the appendix: the Commander in Chief thinking it proper, 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. Col. Simcoe, who conſidered his execution as a barbarous and ungenerous act of power in the American general, and who had certain and ſatisfactory intelligence that the French party in general, and M. Fayette in particular, who fat upon urged Mr. Waſhington to the unneceſſary deed, took the opportunity in his orders to the Queen's Rangers, the officers and ſoldiers of which perſonally knew and eſteemed Major André, to inform them, that “ He s had given directions that the regiment ſhould immediately be pro- “ vided with black and white feathers as mourning, for the late Major André, an officer whoſe ſuperior integrity and uncommon ** ability did honour to his country, and to human nature. The his trial, oQueen's [ 104 ] 66 Queen's Rangers will never fully their glory in the field by any “ undue ſeverity: they will, as they have ever done, conſider thoſe to - be under their protection who ſhall be in their power, and will 6 ſtrike with reluctance at their unhappy fellow ſubjects, who, by a fyſtem of the baſeſt artifices, have been ſeduced from their allegiance, “ and diſciplined to revolt: but it is the Lt. Colonel's moſt ardent hope, that on the cloſe of ſome deciſive victory, it will be the regiment's fortune to ſecure the murderers of Major André, for “ the vengeance due to an injured nation, and an inſulted army. Capt. Saunders with his Lieut. Wilſon, and Cornet Merit em- barked for Virginia, with Gen. Leſlie: he was a native of Princeſs Anne County, poſſeſſed property there, and had diſtinguiſhed himſelf in the Earl of Dunmore's active enterprizes in that colony: he carried with him ſeveral dragoons, and expected to compleat his troop in that province. At this time Lt. Col. Simcoe, who had frequently in converſation with the Commander in Chief, expatiated on the advan- tages he thought might accrue to his Majeſty's ſervice, by a poft being ſeized and maintained at Billing's Port, on the Delaware river, recapi- tulated ſome of his ideas, by the letter which is in the appendix. From the earlieſt period of the war, Lt. Col. Simcoe had felt it his duty to cultivate the good opinion of the Loyaliſts: he had been for- tunate in obtaining it by his conduct to the inhabitants of Penſylvania, and upon the abandoning of that province had ſtill maintained it. The Buck's County volunteers, commanded by Capt. Thomas, had, as much as ſuited with their independent ſpirit, acted with the Queen's Rangers, embarked on expeditions with them, and had conſidered themſelves as under Lt. Col. Simcoe's protection. A conſiderable body of the Loyaliſts, feated near the waters of the Cheſapeak, had aſſociated themſelves for the purpoſe of reſtoring the royal govern- ment, and this they began at a period when, from the Britiſh troops having evacuated Pennſylvania, they ſaw, that it was from their own exertions only, that they could expect emancipation from the fetters of [ 105 ] 60 of uſurpation : a correſpondence was carried on with the leaders of theſe Loyaliſts by Major André, and to which Lt. 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 Germain their requiſition, which accompanied it “ That he, Lt. Col. Simcoe, might be detached with a thouſand men to a certain place, with “ arms, and that they to the amount of ſome thouſands would in- ſtantly join and declare for government: it concluded with the ſtrongeſt encomiums on the character of the officer whom they 66 wiſhed to command them, and of the confidence with which they " would take up arms under his direction.” Lt. Col. Simcoe an- fwered the agent, that although nothing on earth could be more grateful to him than the terms of this letter, yet, as a ſubordinate officer, he would upon no account forward any plan, or offer, to Great Britain, without the knowledge of the Commander in Chief; and that although, as he gathered from their language, Sir Henry Clinton might appear to the Loyaliſts to be flow in his progreſs to give them effectual ſupport, yet that he was confident, this opinion would be found to be the reſult of their anxiety and zeal, rather than any knowledge which they could poſſibly have of the means within his power, or of his intentions in their application. In a ſhort time, the paper was ſent back, and returned in ſuch a form as made it not improper for Lt. Col. Simcoe to fhew 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 e officer. He hopes, that providence will permit him to eſtabliſh " the good opinion our friends entertain of him by more than words : es he bids me aſſure you that he has authority to ſay, that you are P 66 and ( 106 ] you are 66 akad have been a great and conſtant object of the concern and 65 attention of the Commander in Chief, whoſe ſyſtem you cannot " but fee is to unravel the thread of rebellion from the ſouthward; cs and that in his progreſs your moſt valued aſſiſtance will be de- pended upon ; but that he is anxious not to expoſe you, nor muſt you expoſe 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 “ moft ſtrictly enjoined, not to conſider them as intended for any • other object, until by his public proclamation, or ſuch private in- “ telligence as you can depend upon, it ſhall be ſignified to you, that you are to take up arms, and actively maintain that hallowed cauſe, s for which you have ſuffered ſo much, and which you have ſo nobly, and ſo conſcientiouſly ſupported.” It was generally ſuppoſed about the latter end of October that the enemy meditated ſome attempt on Staten Iſland. M. de Fayette was in the neighbourhood of Elizabeth Town, 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 dulk of the evening, ſo as to be diſcovered from the oppoſite ſhore, and then returning by ways which the enemy could not fee, 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 very day ſubſequent to this feint, it was reaſonable 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 Jerſies are interſected, in caſe of the Britiſh troops making any incurſions into that country. Every proper pre- caution was taken by the troops in Richmond to prevent a ſurprize: on the 12th of November, official information was ſent by the Adjutant General to Lt. Col. Simcoe, that his poſt was the object of Fayette's deſign, and that it probably would be attacked on that or the [ 107 ] > the enfaing night; he immediately declared in orders, “ The Lt. 66 Colonel has received information that M. Fayette, a Frenchman, " at the head of ſome of his Majeſty's deluded ſubjects, has threatened " to plant French colours on Richmond redoubts. The Lt. Colonel “ believes the report to be a gaſconade; but as the evident ruin of " the enemy's affairs may prompt them to ſome deſperate attempt, “ the Queen's Rangers will lay in their cloaths this night, and have “ their bayonets in perfect good order.” The Highlanders imme- diately aſſembled and marched to the redoubt, which, in the diſ- tribution of poſts, was allotted to them to defend, and diſplaying their national banner, with which they uſed to commemorate their ſaints day, fixed it on the ramparts, ſaying, “ No Frenchman, or rebel, “6 ſhould ever pull that down.” The Rangers were prepared if an attack ſhould be made on the watering place, which appeared to be moſt probable, to march out and attack any diviſion which might be placed, as had been in Lord Sterling's attempt, to maſk the troops in Richmond : two field pieces, fix pounders, and Capt. Althauſe's company of rifle-men had reinforced them. Lt. Col. Simcoe made himſelf acquainted with the landing places, and the intervening 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 ſufficiently obvious for ſuch inexperienced men as the rebel generals, to ſeize upon and profit by at once: how far they might attract the inſtantaneous notice of the ſcientific French officers, ſuppoſed to be acting 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 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 penetrate under cover P 2 of [ 108 ) > > of the croſs fire, he had reſolved to abandon what he conſidered in caſe of ſuch a diſpoſition to be untenable. A falſe alarm, which was given by an armed veſſel ſtationed in Newark Bay, occaſioned a con- fiderable movement in the army; and troops from New-York em- barked 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 cavalry, and the infantry ſlept un- diſturbed, Lt. Col. Simcoe apprehending the alarm to be falſe. The Rangers were very alert on guards, and proud of their regimental character, of not giving falſe alarms, or being ſurprized; and the centinel, as Lt. Col. Simcoe remarked in orders upon the only omiſſion, which ever came under his cognizance, “Felt a manly pleaſure in reflecting, that the lives and honour of the regiment was entruſted to his care, and that under his protection his comrades ſlept in ſecurity.” On the 11th of December, the Queen's Rangers embarked on an expedition to Virginia, under the command of Gen. Arnold : Capt. Althauſe’s company of York Volunteers embarked with them, as did Capt. Thomas and the Bucks County Volunteers. The Commander in Chief had directed Lt. Col. Simcoe to raiſe another troop of dragoons, the command of which was given to Lt. Cooke of the 17th of dra- goons, who remained in New-York to recruit it. The troops under Gen. Arnold being embarked, he iſſued an order on the 20th of De- cember 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 Chief's orders in this reſpect. The Expedition failed from Sandy Hook on the 21ſt of December, and arrived in the Cheſapeak, but in a dif- perfed manner, on the 30th: ſeveral fhips were miſſing. General Arnold without waiting for them, was enabled, by the fortunate capture which the advance frigate, under Capt. Evans, had made of fome ſmall American veſſels, to puſh up the James River, and this was [ 109 ] was done with incomparable activity and diſpatch: the whole de- tachment ſhewing 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 encloſed 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. Murray ſeized the helm, and the ſoldiers aſſiſting him, he paſſed by the fort without any damage from its fire, and anchored above it. Gen. Arnold ordered Lt. Col. Simcoe to land with one hundred and thirty of the Queen's Rangers and the light infantry, and grenadiers of the &oth regiment; the landing was effected ſilently and apparently with ſecrecy about a mile from the battery, and a circuit was made to ſurprize its : garriſon : in the mean time the fleet was fired upon, but ineffectually on account of its diſtance. On the detachments approach through bye paths, to Hoods, the flank companies of the 8oth 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 fignal was made, and the fleet anchored near it. General Arnold came on fhore; and it appeared that a patrole had diſcovered the boats as they rowed to the landing. Capt. Murray 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 diſmounted and the troops re-embarked in the morning, Gen. Arnold puſhing the expedition up the river with the utmoſt celerity. On the arrival at Weſtover, the troops were immediately diſembarked : at firſt, from the reports of the country of the force that was aſſembling to defend Richmond, Gen. Arnold heſitated whether he ſhould proceed thither or not, his poſitive injunctions being not to undertake any enterprize that I 110 that had much 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 immediately put in motion and proceeded towards Richmond, where the enemy was underſtood to have very con- fiderable magazines: it was above thirty miles from Weſtover ; ſeveral tranſports had not arrived, 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 advanced guard 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. Simcoe, who immediately reprimanded them for not coming 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 Rangers, whoſe horſes were in a miſerable condition from the voyage, could not purſue them. Soon after Lt. Col. Simcoe halted, having received the cleareſt information 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 inacceſſible by the common road: on giving this information 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 ſkilfull enemy than thoſe who were now reconnoitering, would have imagined the numbers to have been double. The enemy at Richmond appeared 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 a was D Warehoufes Il F Richmond Warehouſes JAMES RIVER Manchester Irom Skxtch or I Allans of the Queens Rangers Skirmiſh at RICHMOND Jan:59,781. A. Rebel Infantry. B. Rebel Cavalry. C. Queen's Rangers. D. Queen's Rangers Cavalry. E.Yagers. F. Britiſh Army. [ENI ] 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 Aank, he directly 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 ſummit, retreated to the woods in great confufion : , there was a party of horſemen in the lower town, watching the mo- tion of Lt. Col. Dundas, who, the heights being 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 deſcend 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 converſation and words towards them as might prevent their inclination to retreat; however, when the Rangers were arrived within twenty yards of the ſummit, the enemy 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 officer to mark the poſition he meant his infantry to take on their arrival, and collecting all the men he could overtake, followed Capt. Shank, anxious leſt his ardour ſhould prove fatal: he had purſued the enemy four or five miles, fix 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, fix miles. from Richmond, and to deſtroy it; the flank companies of the 8oth,.. 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: [ 112 ) great variety of military ſtores were deſtroyed. Upon conſultation with the artillery officer, it was thought better to deſtroy the magazine than to blow it up, this fatiguing bufineſs was effected by carrying the powder down the clifts, 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 hazardous had it been relied on, that all the powder was regularly depoſited in one magazine; and the foundery, which was a very com- pleat one, was totally deſtroyed. It was night before the troops re- turned to Richmond; the provifions 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 day. The enemy were drawn up on the oppoſite ſide of the river, ſo that no enterprize 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 Erſkine 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 flippery and difficult, and in moſt places were narrow and overhung by buſhes, ſo that the troops were frequently obliged to march files, which made it impoſſible for the officers, who were on foot, to fee 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 haltings, overpowered by fatigue, fell aſleep, (which thoſe who have ſuffered it, well know brings on a total [ 113 ) total diſregard of all conſequences, even of life itſelf), he eſcaped notice and was irrecoverably loft; 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. Simcoe with the huzzars, to communicate the earlieſt intelli- gence 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 fuch 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 vedettes, 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 vedettes had intercepted on his way to the Britiſh army. From theſe people information was ob- tained that the enemy was aſſembled at Charles City Court-houſe, and that the corps which had appeared in the day time oppoſite Weſtover, 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 immediately ordered to the right about, and to march towards them; Lt. Holland who was ſimilar in ſize to the vedette who had been taken, was placed in advance : the negro had pro- miſed to guide the party fo as to avoid the high road, and to conduct them by an unfrequented path way, which led cloſe to the creek, Q between [ 114 ] 66 A 60 6 between the body, which was ſuppoſed to be in advance, 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 fuppoſed to be off their guard; in cafe 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 advanced 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 vedette whom Serjeant Kelly ſeized, and himſelf caught hold of the other, who in a ſtruggle proved too ſtrong for him, got free, pre- ſented 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 fides ; Lt. Col. Simcoe ſent the bugle horns, French and Barney, through an encloſure to the right, with orders to anſwer his challenging, and found when he ordered; he then called loudly for the light infantry, and hollowed “ found the advance;" the bugles were founded as had been directed, and the enemy fled on all ſides, ſcarcely firing another ſhot. The 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 faving 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 diſcharged 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 permitted to ſearch the houſes where many were con- cealed, a [ 115 ] cealed, left the enemy ſhould gain intelligence 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 compleatly frightened 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 I do not mind dying, but for God's ſake do not 6c leave me in the hands of the rebels :” Trumpeter French and two huzzars were wounded ; about a dozen excellent horſes were ſeaſon- ably captured. The enemy did not appear during the time the troops ſtayed at Weſtover, nor attempted to harraſs 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, infamouſly provided, and totally unfit for ſervice, in conſequence, above forty horſes had been thrown overboard ; the very Skippers were fearful of failing, and it required every exertion of the Quarter-Maſters to oblige them to weigh anchor, and, at ſea, the utmoſt induſtry and labour could barely prevent them from foundering. Serjeant Adams died at Weſtover 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 oth 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 Q2 ambuſcade; [ 116 ] a ambuſcade: that gallant and able officer, with the remainder of his yagers, had joined at Weſtover. Gen. Arnold had ſcarcely landed, and Col. Dundas, with the eightieth regiment, was not yett on fhore, when a patrole of the enemy fell into the ambuſcade of the yagers, and exchanged ſhot with them: the night was very dark. Gen. Arnold directed Lt. Col. Simcoe immediately to march towards Bland's, with Col. Robinſon's regiment and his own infantry, but the cavalry did not land. The detachment had not proceeded above two miles, when Robinſon's corps in front received a heavy fire. There was no room for diſpoſition, for the road ran through a wood which was remarkably thick, at the forks of which, as the cleareſt ground, the enemy had placed themſelves. Upon the firing, the troops were immediately ordered to charge; they rushed forward and the enemy fled: near twenty of Col. Robinſon's regiment were killed and wounded ; among the latter was Capt. Hatch who commanded the advance guard. Lt. Col. Simcoe ſeeing no probability of ac- compliſhing the buſineſs he had been ordered upon, halted till Gen. Arnold's arrival, who had followed with the main body: the troope returned to Hood's battery, which having totally diſmantled, they carried off the heavy artillery and quitted it; the next day reimbarking and falling down the river. The troops landed on the 14th at Harding's ferry, and marched to Smithfield: the next morning Gen Arnold ſent Major Gordon with a detachment over the Pagan creek, and ordered Lt. Col. Simcoe to croſs at MKie's mills with the cavalry, to co-operate with him in difperfing a body of militia, who were ſuppoſed to be aſſembled in that neighbourhood. Lt. Col. Simcoe deſired Gen. Arnold to permít him to take Capt. Ewald with the yagers as far as M Kie's mills, in caſe the enemy ſhould have ſeized that paſs, the General aſſented; when the party arrived there, the enemy were in poffeffion of the paſs; and in ſome force : the demonſtration of the cavalry and the advancing of the yagers, after a few ſhot, obliged them to retire; the bridge being taken up, prevented [ 117 $6 a prevented an immediate purſuit : the yagers returned and the cavalry proceeded to fulfil their orders ; they joined Major Gordon, who had met with no enemy, Parties of militia being underſtood to be at the points on each ſide of the creek, ſtationed there to fire on the boats, Lt. Col. Simcoe proceeded with ſome cavalry to diſperſe them; the advanced man, Molloy, foon perceived two centinels, when watching till their backs were turned, he flowly followed them, and, as they turned round, ſprung his horſe between them, crying out,“ lay down * your arms, I have you both," which they readily did ; proceeding to the houſe, the party was immediately ſurrounded and taken, it conſiſted of an officer and twelve men: a fimilar party was on the other fide. The officer who had been taken was ſent over in a boat, to inform them that if they ſurrendered and delivered up their arms, they fhould have their paroles ; if not, they muſt abide by the con.. ſequences, as a party would be ſent to furround and cut them in pieces: the militia immediately accepted the offers, the officer com- manding returning with him who had carried the alternatives they were very happy to have any reaſon that might be pleaded to their oppreffors, not to be forced to take up arms. However, this did not anſwer the views of the rebel legiſlatures, and Governor Jefferſon foon after publiſhed a proclamation, declaring the paroles of all the Virginia militia, in a ſimilar predicament, null and void. Lt. Col. Simcoe and Major Gordon paſſed the night oppoſite to Smithfield, and the next day the army continued its marchs its rout was by Sleepy- hole ferry, acroſs which the boats had arrived to carry them the Queen's Rangers proceeded to Portſmouth, Gen. Arnold being ap- prehenfive 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 Anns the advance ſhip of the ſquadron came up foon after, and Gen, Arnold with the army arrived in the courſe of the day. On the 25th, Colonel [ 118 ] 3 Colonel Dundas, with a part of the Eightieth and a detachment of the Queen's Rangers, croſſed 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 detachment to be paſſed over from Norfolk, to endeavour 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 ferried over, as ordered, to Herbert's point, with fourteen Yagers and Rangers; they were joined by the conductor 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 party had advanced a mile, an artillery man, who had eſcaped and lay hid in the buſhes, came out, and informed 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 neigh- bouring 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 hurricane, 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 fatisfaction that a flaſh of lightning, which glared among the ruins of Norfolk, diſcloſed Herbert's houſe. Here a boat was pro- cured, which conveyed the unhappy youth to the hoſpital ſhip, where he died the next day: Lt. Col. Simcoe barricaded the houſe in which he paſſed the night, General [ 1191 Gen. Arnold employed the garriſon in fortifying the poſt at Portl mouth, the primary object of his expedition: 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 attention, applied themſelves to raiſe a ſtar work, which commanded the bridge and the cauſeway; it was intended to abbaty the ditch, and then to fill it with water, which, the ſmaller bridges being taken up, would have effectually prevented a ſurprize. The rebels continually fired at night on the centi- nels, and perfect information was gained of a party being intended for that purpoſe : the extent of the poſt prevented any ambuſcade from being laid with certainty, and the fatigue the men underwent in the day, demanded 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 probably advance, and fires reſembling thoſe of a picquet, were placed at the cuſtomary diſtance: at midnight the rebels arrived, and fired twenty or thirty ſhot at the effigy. As they ran acroſs the road they expoſed themſelves to the ſhots of two centinels, they then went off. The next day an officer happening to come in with a flag of truce, he was ſhewn the figure and was made ſenſible of the inhumanity of firing at a centinel, when nothing farther was intended : this ridicule probably had good effects, as during the ſtay of the Queen's Rangers at Great bridge, no centinel was fired at. The works being in a ſtate of defence, and capable of receiving a garriſon, the Rangers were relieved 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 Eightieth: the cavalry foon fell in with a patrole, which Capt. Shank purſued over Edmond's bridge, diſperſing them and making an officer priſoner. The Rangers returned the next day to Portſmouth, and were con- ſtantly employed on the works till the 10th, when Gen. Arnold thought [ 120 ] thought proper to detach them to Kemp's landing. The diſaffected inhabitants of Princeſs 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. Simcoe'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 16th up the country, by the main road towards the north-weſt landing, while Capt. Ewald, by almoſt im- paffable ways and bye paths proceeded to the ſame point : he for- tunately ſurprized and totally diſperſed Weeks's party. The next day, Lt. Col. Simcoe proceeded with a detachment 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 paffage from North-Carolina, excepting the Great bridge, and this excurſion was luckily timed. Gen. Arnold, on the 13th of February, receiving information 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, intimating that he ſhould ſend up boats to bring off the cannon, and that the poſt ſhould be withdrawn if neceſſary, Lt. Col. Simcoe wrote to Gen. Arnold, informing him, that he cer- tainly ſhould march at the time preſcribed by his orders, if not coun- termanded, giving at the ſame time ſuch reaſons as to him appeared moſt forcible, why the great bridge ſhould not be haſtily abandoned, but that rather Weeks and his party ſhould be driven from the coun- ty 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 cafe Capt. Symonds thought it expedient, offered the army to aſſiſt in any attacks on the French fleet; Captain Alberſon, the gallant maſter of the Empreſs of Ruffia, Lt. Colonel Simcoe's [ 121 ] a 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 employed in ſtrengthening their works: on the 19th the French ſhips left the bay. Gen. Arnold had iſſued a proclama- tion, for the inhabitants of Princeſs Ann to aſſemble at Kemp's on the 21ſt: on that day the Queen's Rangers eſcorted him thither ; and Capt. M‘Kay, of that corps, was left at this poſt. He fortified 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 was near Peterſburg, Lt. Col. Dundas embarked with five hundred men, on the 23d, and ſuch proviſions as were thought neceſſary, to make a diverſion in his Lordſhip’s favor; but more certain advices of his operations being received, he returned. Gen. Arnold ordered Lt. Col. Dundas to march at night with the 8oth regiment and the cavalry, to endeavour to ſurprize 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 Rangers, 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 Lt. Col. Simcoe landed and marched on, he found a party ſent by Lt. Col. Dundas to meet him: the 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. Dundas paſſed over from Portſmouth to diſlodge them. What part the Rangers bore in this expedition, cannot be better detailed than in the modeſt recital of Quarter-maſter M Gill, who went with Lt. Col. Dundas, and whoſe bravery and conduct were honoured with the higheſt com- mendations, by that moſt reſpectable officer : 66 Col. Dundas with part of his regiment, a few yagers, Lt. Holland, myſelf, and R 66 66 twelve [ 122 ] “ twelve huzzars, of the Queen's Rangers, went on an expedition “ towards Hampton. Weembarked on the night of the 6th of March, " and landed early next morning at Newport-news, from thence “ marched to a village about three miles from Hampton, where we deſtroyed fome ftores, and burned four large cannoes without oppoſition; but on our return to the boats, we faw about two “ hundred 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 Soth to join me, who had, as well as the Rangers, been mounted in the morning upon the march: with “ theſe, and ſome officers of the 8oth, who had alſo got horſes, we made up twenty-fix horſe-men. The rebels were 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, en- «5 couraged 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 effect; for, with “ the firſt, they killed Capt. Stewart, of the Soth, wounded Lieut. Saliſbury, of the navy, who commanded the boats, and came for es pleaſure. Col. Dundas, myſelf, and Serjeant Galloway, were un- “ horſed, 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 “ received. My horſe had three balls through him, and he received . 66 a fourth before all was over. It was much againſt us, that we were obliged to advance on the center 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; however, we happily broke them before they could attempt a third fire, and the infantry 66 &G [ [ 123 ] 3 > * infantry coming among them did good ſervice. The rebels had ſixty killed, wounded, and taken: among the latter was their " commander, Col. Curl, and a few of their officers. I cannot « aſcertain our loſs more than I have mentioned; they let us em- " bark quietly, and we landed at Portſmouth the ſame evening." General Arnold having information that ſome of the enemy's Con- tinental forces were at Williamſburg, fent Lt. Allen, of the Queen's Rangers, in a boat to land at night, and gain information. This in- telligent officer executed his commiffion much to the General's ſatisfaction; and Lt. Col. Dundas embarked with part of the Soth regiment and the Queen's Rangers, to endeavour to ſurprize them : he fell down the Elizabeth river in the evening; but at its mouth, the night became ſo very dark and tempeſtuous, as to render the attempt totally impracticable. It was with difficulty that the troops reached Newport news, a point on the enemy's ſhore, where they landed and paſſed the night unmoleſted; and the next day returned to Portſ- mouth: fortunately, by the ſkill of the naval conductor, and Lt Col. Dundas's indefatigable attention, not a ſingle boat foundered. There being indications that a ſerious attack upon Portſmouth was in agitation, Gen. Arnold was very active in putting it into a re- ſpectable ſtate of defence. Lt. Col. Simcoe had given his opinion, by letter to the Commander in Chief, “ that Portſmouth, conſidered as a poſt was very weak; from its extent, and from its left being ſo entirely flanked, that its whole front was taken in reverſe; I con- “ ceive it to be tenable againſt any force in this country :" it did not appear to be a proper ſituation for a ſmall garriſon; but looked upon as an entrenched camp, it might be made a reſpectable one; nor was it, and its dependencies, ill ſuited for combined defence, and the preſerving a ſmall naval and military force from the operations of a ſuperior armament. To explain this opinion, it is neceſſary to ob- ſerve, that directly oppoſite to Portſmouth a branch of the Elizabeth river, which it ſtands upon, ran eaſtward, dividing Herbert's point R2 from a a [ 124 ] from Norfolk: this eaſtern branch was not to be forded within eight miles. The occupying a good redoubt at Norfolk, another at Her- bert's point, and re-eſtabliſhing an old work at Mill point below Portſmouth, would reduce any force which, in the preſent appearance of affairs, was likely to be brought againſt Gen. Arnold's army, to a direct aſſault on ſome part, as it was evident, the regular ſiege of the whole, or any ſingle work, would take up more time than any French ſquadron could venture to employ before it. Gen. Arnold had conſtructed a great many boats, excellently adapted for the tranſportation of ſoldiers, and capable of carrying eighty men beſides the rowers; by theſe means, he had it in his power to reinforce any of the points within ten minutes. Lt. Col. Simcoe had previouſly founded all the creeks, at low water, with Capt. Richard Graves, of the royal navy; and that officer, upon leaving Portſmouth to go to Hampton road, ſent him on the 14th of March his opinion on the ſubject of forming a regular ſyſtem of defence, applicable to the ftationing of the ſhips under Capt. Symonds, (the largeſt of which was the Charon of 44 guns), from Mill point to the brewery, at Norfolk. “ Three ſhips he obſerved can be placed in an oblique line, “ mooring acroſs the channel one third of a cable each way, beſides “ two ſhips lying in the intervals at the fame diſtance, either in front or rear, which, in my opinion, with veſſels funk and , proper diſpo- 6c fitions made of fire veſſels, may effectually ſtop the paſſage.” Lt. Col. Simcoe had converted the bodies of his waggons into ſmall pon- toons, capable of holding fix men, as boats, and well adapted to form bridges over the ſmall creeks in the country, through which, if it had become neceſſary to quit Portſmouth, the retreat might have been made, by the north-weſt landing to North Carolina. Theſe were the opinions which he had always held when any con- verſation took place upon the ſubject; and the ſyſtem of defence is the ſame which appears on his arrival, to have been thought of by Gen. Phillips. Much would have depended on the ſcience of the enemy's [ 125 ] enemy's General. The ground of Portſmouth was not only enfiladed on the left flank, but the enemy had on the right, favourable poſitions to place their batteries wherever they advanced to the aſſault; and, if the points on the river could not be ſecured, the fleet muſt inevitably fall into their hands, without contributing to the defence of the place. The garriſon was in great fpirits, full of confidence in the daring courage of Gen. Arnold; and the enemy had every thing to fear from a fally. About this time a fingular event took place: the . paſſage from the Great bridge upon Elizabeth river had hitherto been ſecure; but à party of the enemy from its banks fired upon a. gun-boat, which was returning with the baggage of the detachment which had been relieved ; and having wounded ſome of the people in it, took the boat. Capt. Stevenſon, who had commanded at the Great bridge, loſt his baggage; and among his papers was found a. fictitious letter, which he had written by way of amuſement, and of paffing his time, to Gen. Gregory, who commanded the North- Carolina militia at the Weſt landing, detailing a plan which that officer was to follow to ſurrender his troops to Lt. Col. Simcoe: the whole plauſibly written and bearing with it every appearance of being concerted. The manner of its falling into the enemies hands. ſtrengthened theſe appearances ; at firſt it ſerved for laughter to the officers of the Rangers; but when it was underſtood that Gen. Gregory was put in arreſt, Capt. Stevenſon's humanity was alarmed, and the letters, which are in the appendix, paſſed between Lt. Col. Simcoe and Col. Parker, who had taken the boat: they prevented all further bad conſequences. The 6th of March, Gen. Arnold ordered Lt. Col. Simcoe to ſend two or three ſmall parties every night, from the piquet, as far, or a little beyond the croſs roads, four miles in front of Portſmouth : they were to conſiſt of four or five men. The woods, to the right and left of the road, being interſected with paths on which the enemy generally patroled, rendered their deſtruction almoſt inevitable; two of them, one of the yagers and another of the Rangers, [ 126 ] Rangers, being taken, they were diſcontinued. The enemy affem- bling 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 in- feſting the country, Lt. Col. Simcoe marched the roth 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 IIth, and that he would be at a houſe between the Great bridge and Kemp's: he propoſed to Lt. Col. Simcoe to ſurprize him, and Gen. Arnold approved of it; as it was neceffary to check every in- road into Princeſs Ann. Capt. M Kay marched at a concerted hour from Kemp’s, and Lt. Col. Simcoe from the Great bridge, in order to ſupport him. The former met the enemy before he arrived at the place where he expected to find them; and he inſtantly detached Lt. Dunlop to their rear, who attacked, and effectually ſurprized them: 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 re- fractory men belonging to his company.” Theſe violences were ne- ceſſary 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 Kemp's; which poſt, he maintained with fingular vigilance and propriety. Lt. Col. Simcoe thought it proper, in publick orders, to deſire, “ That his beſt thanks might be accepted by Lt. “ St. John Dunlop, and the party under his command, for their « obedience to their orders, and gallantry in the ſurprize 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 s rebel banditti he marched againſt would have been annihilated in conſequence of his proper diſpoſition, and the ſteadineſs of the officers a > &6 60 " and [ 127 ] 66 66 " and ſoldiers under his command. It is with great pleaſure the Lieut. “ Colonel hears of the orderly and ſoldierlike behaviour 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 “ inhabitants of the country, as in ſcourging the armed banditti who " oppreſs it.” The Great bridge was ſituated at the head of Eliza- beth river, cloſe to the great diſmal ſwamp, from whence it riſes. It was the great road, while Norfolk was in affluence, between that town and North Carolina : ſmall parties only could paſs through the ſwamps, the ſeaſon being uncommonly dry; but the ſurprizal of that which had attempted it, rendered it not very adviſable. The poſt was eaſily to be maintained until ſuch time as an enemy ſhould venture to throw bridges over the Elizabeth river, between the Great bridge and Portſmouth; and then, it was to be weighed whether a hundred men, the uſual garriſon of the Great bridge would not find more employment for an enemy, and be more than adequate to any ſervices the ſame number could be of, in Portſmouth. Like other field works it could not hold out a moment againſt mortars : 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 plunder 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 Kingſbridge, on the firſt formation of the Rangers, fallied upon a : party of the enemy, who had frequently fired upon his centinels, ſurprized them, put them to the rout and pinned a label upon one of the men who had been killed, threatening to lay in aihes 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 cor- rected, complained of cruelty, and Gen. Muhlenberg wrote to Gen.. Arnold on that ſubject. Lt. Col. Simcoe had alſo ſome correſpon- dence, [ 128 ] " dence, on this ſubject, with Col. Parker, a gentleman of more liberality than was commonly found in thoſe who commanded parties of the militia. Capt. M. Crea had taken two priſoners, they were offered to be exchanged for Elliſon, the gallant huzzar who had fig- nalized himſelf at the battle of Monmouth, and another 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 their militia, that it was refuſed on the ungenerous plea of their having been wounded. It is not improbable but the unfortunate men might have been Loyaliſts, 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 Fayette appeared in the front of the works, and the yager piquet, pofted near the head of Scott's creek, was attacked in force: a deep ravine paffable at this poſt, and above it, ſeparated them from the enemy. Capt. Ewald was with his piquet, and by demon- ſtrations and the countenance of his people, more than once checked the enemy, who ſhewed every inclination 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 leave his works " and fally, as Lt. Col. Simcoe was in Princeſs Ann with near four 66 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 Lt. Col. Simcoe's return, the ſmall bridges were deſtroyed between Kemp's and Portſmouth; which, though they were but triling impediments, muſt have been done by a lurking party, or the diſaffected ور ( 129 ) > diſaffected of the country, in conſequence of ſome concerted order. Lt. Col. Simcoe, to whom the yagers had been attached, felt this a proper opportunity to repreſent Capt. Ewald's conduct and gallantry to Gen. Kniphauſen. On information of a ſquadron with French colours being at an- chor, on the 19th, in Lynhaven bay, Lt. Col. Simcoe was ſent there with a patrole, to obſerve them: he had the pleaſure to find that it was Admiral Arburthnot’s fleet, and to ſee a rebel cruiſer, deceived 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 Gen. Gregory, on the 18th, had approached within two miles of him, with fix pieces of cannon and twelve hun- dred men. Gen. Arnold ſent him orders, “ To defend it to the laſt extremity;" and then directed Lt. Col. Simcoe, after he had in- formed himſelf what fleet was below, to take ſuch meaſures as he thought neceſſary reſpecting the Great bridge, the ſituation of which has been heretofore ſtated. Gen. Phillips arrived on the 27th of March, and was ſoon fol- lowed by the forces under his command. The light infantry went into cantonments at Kemp's, and the Queen's Rangers at New- Town, under inſtructions to hold themſelves liable to move on the forteſt notice, and in caſe of Lt. Col. Abercrombie's requiſition, Lt. Col. Simcoe was to place himſelf under his orders. There being every appearance of the army taking the field, Lt. Col. Simcoe made application to Gen. Phillips, for the ſame number of artillery men to his cannon as had been attached to them on ſimilar occaſions. 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 weak in numbers, and he conſidered the number of men, who muſt have attended his guns, more uſeful with their muſquets: while the corps acted S ſeparately, [ 130 ] ſeparately, cannon always furniſhed a reaſon for an enemy 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 poſition which might enable a corps, in caſe of neceffity, to rally; but the Queen's Rangers were now not likely 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 exerciſing the troops, preparatory 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 66 be accuſtomed to charge in all thoſe orders. In the latter orders, ss 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 recommends to regiments the practice of dividing the battallions, by wings or otherwiſe, ſo that one line may ſupport the other 6 when an attack is ſuppoſed; and, when a retreat is ſuppoſed, that “ the firſt line may retreat 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 battallion attacking in the common open order of “ two deep, to be ſupported by the other compact diviſion, as a “5 ſecond line, in a charging order of three or four deep. The gain- ing the flanks alſo of a ſuppoſed 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 depending on and mutually ſupporting 66 each 66 66 a a 66 [ 131 ] “ each other; ſo that ſhould one part be preſſed or broken, it may “ be accuſtomed to form again without confuſion, under the pro- “ tection of a ſecond line, or any regular formed diviſion.” Theſe orders, ſo proper in themſelves, and now peculiarly uſeful, as no Heffian troops, who uſually formed the firm and ſolid ſecond line to the Britiſh, were to embark on the expedition, were not meant to affect the general manæuvres of the light troops: Lt. Col. Simcoe was permitted to adopt ſuch only as he thought applicable to that ſervice. The works at Portſmouth being compleated, the troops embarked 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 expedition was to ſurprize, 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 operations. The Rangers were of Gen. Arnold's diviſion, which was deſtined to land below Williamſburg, and to co-operate with that under Lt. Colonel Ambercrombie, which was to land above it. The following orders were more peculiar to the Queen's Rangers: “ a detachment 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 centinels and patroles. Should the enemy retreat, upon intelligence of the enterprize 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, be convinced of their 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, however, Lt. Col. Simcoe gain poſſeſſion a S 2 [ 132 ] а. poffeffion of York town, he will hoiſt a red flag, and fire, if poſſible, ſignal guns, and at night light two or three fires at different places upon the ſhore: theſe are intended to give the Bonetta floop 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 enemy's can- non at York town into that armed vefſel. 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. Simcoe 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 manned. The boats were aſſembled at the ſmall vefſel on board which Lt. Col. Simcoe was, which was an- chored about two miles from the ſhore. Near a mile below the ferry was a ſmall creek which ran a little way into the land, from James river; and at the point formed by this feparation, it was deter- mined 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. Althouſe's company of rifle men was alſo under the command of Lt. Col. Simcoe. The boats, preceded by the gun-boat, moved directly towards Burrell's ferry: on a fignal given, they all, except the gun-boat, turned and rowed rapidly towards the point, where the landing was to take place, affiſted by the wind and tide; Major Armſtrong, who commanded it, was deſired to keep out of the reach of muſquet ſhot, and to fire his fix pounder at the entrenchments, and particularly to fcour a gully on the left, which the enemy muſt paſs if they meant any oppo- fition. The troops diſembarked as intended ; Capt. M‘Kay with a detachment of the Queen's Rangers and yagers, landing below the inlet to beat up any party who might be in ambuſcade there, and XE B C تالار رک۔ D وهو C B Burrells Farı = = = = A The LANDING at A RIVER JA M E S rapid BURREL L'S April in thi781. A. Feint of Queens Rangers. B. Landing made good. c. Queens Rangers in Line. D. Rebels E. Yagers. take on the Spot by 6.Spencer IQ.R. [ 133 ] to give greater ſecurity to the right flank in caſe the enemy ſhould attack the corps. Lt. 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- fix horſes of the Queen's Rangers had been embarked, thoſe of officers included : the diſmounted men brought with them their faddles and accoutrements. Gen. Phillips ordered Lt. Col. Simcoe to proceed to York town, where, it was underſtood, that there were only the artillery men, who ſuperintended the battery, and a few militia. He marched accordingly with forty cavalry, accompanied by Major Damer 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 under the neceſſity of halting at a farm-houſe, during its continuance: in the morning he galloped into the town, Yurprized and ſecured a few of the artillery men, the others made off in a boat. He directed the guns of the batteries, already loaded, to a be fired, as a fignal to the Bonetta floop, which failed up and an- chored off the town; and he burnt a range of the rebel barracks. Upon the hearing of cannon at Williamſburg, the party returned thither; and it appeared, 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 fome 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 ſurprized when he replied two thouſand: this was the only converſation that paſſed between them on the ſubject. Lt. Col. Simcoe had no order to reconnoitre the ground, and what he did obſerve was merely for his Own [ 134 ] 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 fortifications, as abſolutely neceſſary in his plan for the oc- cupation of Billingſport. The army marched to Barret's ferry, near the Chickahominy, and 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 inaffailable. Gen. Phillips here gave out the ſtricteſt orders to prevent privateers, the bane and diſgrace of the country which employs them, from pre- ceding the fleet, and being found upon any of the rivers marauding or plundering: he alſo explained the ſecond object of the expedition, which was to obtain poſſeſſion 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 iſſued 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. never was a regulation better calculated to do juſtice to the active and deſerving 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 the neceſſity of ſelf commendation. At the ſame time, ſhould any man be ſo baſe as to arrogate to himſelf ſervices which he had never performed, and which ſooner or later cannot fail of being divulged, this order would ſubject the offender to the penalty as well as the diſgrace of making a falſe report. The troops finding no oppoſition at Hood's, or on the James river, proceeded without delay up upon.” There [ 135 ] up the river: off Weſtover Major Gen. Phillips iſſued the following orders. “ A third object of the preſent expedition is to gain Peterf- burg for the purpoſe of deſtroying the enemy's ſtores at that place, " and it is publick 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 occafion. The movement from City point to Peterſburg, st 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 ſtricteft 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 Althouſe's “ rifle company, form the advanced guard, under Lt. Col. Simcoe. « The firſt line to be compoſed of the light infantry; the ſecond to “ be compoſed of the 8oth and 76th regiments, who will form three deep, and in compact order. The grenadiers and light infantry of 56 the Soth, with the American legion, to form the reſerve under Major 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 a difficult country, it becomes neceſſary that officers leading columns and commanding corps, ſhould uſe and exert the intelligence of their own minds, joined to the knowledge of the “6 ſervice in times of an attack, when they cannot immediately receive the orders of the Brigadier General, or Major General. “ Should the particular difficulty of the country, occafion the firſt * line to take up new ground toward the rear, it may not be im- proper, 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 6 purpoſe. 66 66 66 [ 136 ] 66 << purpoſe. It is to be obſerved, that the reſerve is to be the point . er 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. Fage, who, with the participation of the “ commanding officers, or thoſe bearing the orders of the General 5 Officers, will exert their utmoſt endeavours to co-operate with the so “ reſt of the troops.” On the 24th the troops landed, and paſſed the night at City point, and on the 25th marched towards Peterſburg, The report of the forces collected at that place varied ; but it was apparent, that they rather diſtruſted their own ſtrength, or were miſerably commanded, as no ſhadow of oppoſition was made at ſome paſſes which were very difficult, and which would have delayed or embarraſſed the army. Within two miles of Peterſburg, 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 . 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 them as they retreated. The ground was divided 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 eminences, 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. Phillips ſoon ſelected a ſpot to which he ordered the artillery to be brought, and it arrived undiſcovered; he then effect upon directed yager and fled. [ 137 ] a directed them to fire, and ordered Lt. Col. Abercrombie to march towards the enemy in front, Lt. 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 infantry to ſupport him, as the reſt of the troops did Lt. Col. Abercrombie. Lt. Col. Simcoe, on emerging from the wood, found a high woody ridge, im- mediately on his left: he deſired Capt. Boyd would attend to it, who ſent flanking parties thither. Lt. Col. Abercrombie puſhing forward his battalion, the enemy's firſt line quitted their ſtation in confufion; but it appeared to Lt. Col. Simcoe, that they had a fecond line poſted, probably to ſecure the retreat of the firſt, and that this party, who ſeemed totally occupied 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 Aank as poſſible, attack them, and paſs the bridge over the Appamatox with them: on the oppofite fide 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 The enemy, ſtill preſſed in front by Lt. Col. Abercrombie, fied fo rapidly that the Queen's Rangers had no opportunity of cloſing with them, though, from their dreſs, they had marched a confiderable way unnoticed. The enemy's cannon began to fire grape at the light infantry, who had reached the town of Blandford, and deſtroyed the bridge. Lt. Col Simcoe thought it adviſable to try whether there was not a ford, as was rumoured, at Baniſter's mills, for the attempt at leaſt would make the enemy draw off their cannon. A party of horſemen appeared upon the heights near Banniſter's houſe: they galloped off 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 ineffectually 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 called off, and the whole of the T enemy's [ 138 ] enemy's corps, ſuppoſed to be commanded by Baron Steuben, marched off. The difpofition of the enemy was not ſuch as marked any ability in thoſe who made it: by their cannon being placed on the oppoſite ſide of the Appamatox, it was evident, that the corps which was ſtationed at the extremity of Blandford, was merely in- tended to fire and to retreat ; but their very poſition counteracted their deſign, as the deep defile would of itſelf enforce caution in thoſe who were to paſs it: the previous ſkirmiſh had prevented their making uſe of an ambuſcade, and their right being open, expoſed them to what they narrowly eſcaped, the being cut off from the bridge. The plan of the ground, which Lt. Spencer took upon the ſpot, will ſhew, to the military obſerver, many poſitions which might have been taken by the enemy to better effect: they were ſaid to have loſt near an hundred men killed and wounded, while that of the Britiſh was only one man killed, and ten wounded of the light infantry. The bridge being eaſily repaired, Lt. Col. Abercrombie, with the light infantry and Queen's Rangers, paſſed over the next day and occu- pied the heights. The army proceeded towards Oſborne's on the 27th, early in the morning: the bridge at Randal's mills had been taken up, but was preſently relaid. Gen. Phillips, with one diviſion of the army, went to Cheſterfield Court-houſe, while the 8oth and 76th regiments, with the Queen's Rangers, under Gen. Arnold, marched tő Oſborne’s, where a number of the enemy's ſhipping was ſtationed. Care had been taken 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 notice of the arrival of the army. In this ſituation, Gen. Arnold fent a flag of truce to the enemy, offering half the contents of their cargoes in caſe they did not deſtroy any part; the enemy anſwered, “ That they were determined and ready to defend their ſhips, and would fink 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 to Cabbin Point Girls steel SKETCH OF THE SKIRMISH AT PETERSBURG, between the Royal Army under the Command of MAJOR GEM.PHILLIPS, and the American Army commanded by MAJOR GEN. STEWBEN; in which the latter were defeated, April 25."1781. By I.Hills, Lieu! 23?Reg! & Ass!Eng? SO 111110 B. 09 48 of St oct saya of 459, es sense est of ES lo fece el PP4 gobelio Lec -RC 4 og 14 ole S. Rcfgest JS GE cles Paso sef fees carefelle AC 58 36% 989 errer US CE Spage --- o cere Sore of offee Before Dello EX Les als.cc Jos 28¢ 99coe Foor Ofis Pro Coses esco BPC Apsinfo SSS LOG Shore Hill $105 CA rela f cfs. Se, of ca & S6 Rotoreaa. Defecareof Gig fler of folie C. Lesen SRL carless SES osor & 90 Earl nos Soles website red cline P. 08 16 of use leece Sog CA 2.$ spec .Co o foco. . . fall 48 efect 900 90fp Perfo4 SAPD Setel see fas Sofa See cd cele 28 48 1986 SCL S Ideales fic Sef Some peo Ese cel plecler $1x9 68 65 de les his for elece before oc hisa 24 Rece filo $ antes 5 of opRCE ASSOS Soc BES of 08 SO Sefer fr Port SOOS e fer forge Fleets Hill DOS Sfeels pie sa Sa Calc 08 en Sale 009 08 19 sense filc, 8c se for free feltro LOKOG S. & See RIVER che con 20 089 sofa 46 cm co R SO de to South Key 09. FER 38 ac org Ceremonies Bakers Hill - 29 Store House 9. SUN B. * coce ters als ES efels poleg cleo A PAMATOY Town old 198 no PETERSBURG Town $ 2 Select Ver_ Tommy from Namage Creek Yellow House REFERENCES 1. Yagers 2. Four Pieces of Cannon 3. British I. Inf." 4. Queens Rangers 5. Rifle Men 6. American 7. 2 d Position of do taken up by the I! Inf." 8.3d Position of do 9.2d Position of the Queens Rangas 10.3. Position of d. 10 al secco 10.19 100 of 40 for g Esfolie nie fore 90 Ing VC co Sellinger elle Rece Ales en for 500 2 to Hicks's Ford Celo file Las 08 Solo Curs US Sep CE De fcco aflar Clinical Red 18 Lec S 17thile C A L E 192 BANTU pler for of Def OLL Sampo As I afer neto CA SE for alle cer afe festo s sta $ ? Peso Rice cool 70 ic ere LES SES London, Published by W"Faden , Geographer to the King, Charing Cross, May 3.41784. [139] which had ſprings upon her cable. With difficulty ſhe brought her broadſide to bear, and returned a ſmart fire, when Capt. Fage, with two fix 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 rout partly covered by ditches, within thirty yards of her ſtern. Luckily ſhe had loaded her guns only with round fhot, expecting that the principal attack would have been made by water ; grape ſhot muſt inevitably have killed or driven the artillery from their guns. Gen. Arnold fent orders to Lt. Col. Simcoe to march the Queen's Rangers to the ſhore, and to fire muſ- quetry at the ſhip: he was preparing to execute this order, when, what he ſhall ever eſteem 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. Roger’s cannon, and whoever appeared upon deck to the fire of the yagers, and deſpairing 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, fome jumped over board. Lt. Spencer, with difficulty, ſtopped the firing, and parlying with the boat's crew, they ſurrendered, and as they were directed, rowed to the ſhore in poſſeſſion of the King's troops. Lt. Fitzpatrick, 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 company embarked on board the captured frigate, and a ſcene of fingular confuſion enſued. The enemy had ſcuttled ſeveral of their ſhips, which were now ſinking; others, boarded by the in- trepid Lt. Fitzpatrick, were on fire; and although cannon and muf- quetry, 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 Armſtrong with three more in T 2 another, [ 140 ] another, and attained himſelf the headmoſt, whoſe guns he imme- diately turned upon the enemy. A fhip, which was blown up near the Tempeft, the State frigate, which had been the firſt taken, in its exploſion, lodged ſome fire on her top gallant and fore ſtay-fail, which now blazed out; Capt. M.Kay, with the highlanders had cut her cable to avoid the danger, and ſhe now drifted; but the current running eaſterly, luckily drove her near the ſhore, occupied by the King's troops, and, by the exertion of the Highlanders, whom their many fea voyages had made active and experienced in ſuch dangers, the flames were extinguiſhed, and the prize effectually ſecured. 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 diſpatched 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 fixteen, and ſeveral other armed veſſels, were either taken or deſtroyed. One twenty gun ſhip, a brig of fixteen guns, two lefſer and a floop, 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 pro- Čeeded 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 Rich- mond: on the evening 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 be finiſhed in the time allotted for the pur- poſe, he was directed to burn them, which was accordingly done. This flour was deſtined for the Spaniards, but probably would have been JA ME S 红 ​G DH ER SKETCH of the Action at OS BURNS April 27th 781. Explanation A. 7" Position of Queens Rangers. B. 2d Position of D! C. 80% and 76 Reg. D. Cap. Fage with 2 Six Pounders. E. Lieut. Rogers 2 three Founders. F. Yagers. G. The Tempest American Frigate. & other Vefsels burnt & taken. H. American Militia. ele 41 AR DO Osburns ada Scale of One Mile : taken on the spot by G.Spencer LO.R. 140 [ 141 ] been uſed as ſupplies for Fayette's army. The troops proceeded by Oſborne's to the Bermuda Hundreds : a quantity of cattle was col- lected for them, by a detachment of the Queen's Rangers the next day; and the whole army embarked in the evening of the ad of May. The captured ſhips were conveyed down the river by a detachment of the Queen's Rangers, and not without oppoſition from the militia, particularly againſt that commanded by Lt. Allen, which ran on fhore; but, by his exertions and bravery, was gotten off without material injury. Gen. Phillips, whilſt the army lay at Cary's, had thrown ſome troops over the oppoſite fide of James river. On the return from Blanford, Lt. Col. Simcoe took occaſion to repreſent to him the poſſibility of the whole army croſſing, and that, while the advance guard moved on towards Richmond and maſked the road, the army might turn back two miles from the landing place, and by falling into the bye path which Gen. Arnold had formerly been adviſed to proceed on, might arrive on the plain ground on the heights of Richmond, moſt probably on the left flank, if not the rear, of Fayette, who would, as it was reaſonable to preſume, expect the Britiſh troops by the rout which Gen. Arnold had ſo recently taken, and whoſe gaſconading diſpoſition and military ignorance might poffibly tempt him to ſtay too long in the face of troops, his equals in numbers, and ſuperior in every thing elſe that could form the value of an army. The troops fell down the river in proſecution of ſuch further enterprizes as Gen. Phillips had determined upon. Oppoſite to James Town, the floop Lt. Col. Simcoe was in, being one of the headmoſt of the fleet, ran aground near to a landing place. Some people on horſeback were ſeen reconnoitering the fleet: the bugle horns were founded, and a boat brought round the veſſel towards the fhore, and inſtructions for landing were given in a loud voice: this feint, meant merely for amuſement, had its effect, and a meſſenger was ſeen to gallop off, and M. Fayette in his diſpatches mentions it a a as [ 142 ] as a ſeeming attempt of the enemy to land. It has ſince appeared, that M. Fayette, as was predicted, followed the troops down the river, the conſtant and good policy of the enemy; but which, in this caſe, might have proved fatal to his army, had what at firſt appeared to be Gen. Phillip's deſign, been now in his power or inſtructions to execute; for the veſſel was ſcarcely got off, when the officer, who had led the fleet, returned and hailing Lt. Col. Simcoe, directed him to make the utmoſt diſpatch in following him up the river : this was facilitated by its blowing a hard but fair gale. The whole fleet an- chored off Brandon's houſe, on the ſouth-ſide of James river; and the troops immediately landed, on the 7th of May, the light infantry excepted, who proceeded to City point. Had the landing been on the oppoſite ſhore, and higher up, as by the fair winds might have been the caſe, the Britiſh army would have been above M. Fayette, and he could not have avoided action. Lt. Col. Simcoe was in- formed by Gen. Phillips, that he had received an order from Lord Cornwallis, to meet him near Peterſburg. To the great concern of his army, Gen. Phillips was taken extremely ill, and to accommodate him, Lt. Col. Simcoe went ſome miles off and procured a poſt-chaiſe. Early the next morning, the army marched to Bland's ordinary, paſſing a very deep gully: here it was reported that M. Fayette had croſſed the James river, and was at Peterſburg. It would have been imprudent, had ſuch been a fact, for the corps at Bland's mill to march thither, until it was joined by the light infantry: while con- verſation to this purpoſe was held by the principal officers, General Phillips, whoſe indiſpoſition rapidly increaſed, awakening from his ſleep, was made acquainted with the report; and the laſt material order he gave was that, which decided the troops to proceed as quick as poſſible towards Peterſburg, and to order Lt. Col. Simcoe to croſs the country, with a party of cavalry to City point, with inſtructions , for Lt. Col. Abercrombie, to march early the next morning to that place, which accordingly was executed, and the whole army united at [143] at Peterſburg. Gen. Phillip's army made priſoners ſome of M. Fayette's ſuite, who had arrived there to prepare quarters for his army: this was a very fortunate prevention, as the grounds about Peterſburg were very ſtrong, if properly occupied, and bridges over the Appama- tox would have ſecured a retreat to the defenders. Lt. Col. Simcoe preſſed Gen. Arnold, to let him march towards Halifax, in order to gain information of Lord Cornwallis, from whom no account had arrived; it was not thought prudent to make a detachment while M. Fayette was ſuppoſed to be ſo near: he was, however, ſent with the cavalry to deſtroy Goode's bridge, and to return the next morning. After proceeding a long way, Lt. Col. Simcoe underſtood that the bridge was not within the diſtance which had been apprehended ; and Lt. Col. Damer, who had accompanied him, agreeing with him that the enemy might eaſily throw bridges over the Apamatox much nearer to Peterſburg, and would certainly do ſo if they intended an attack againſt the troops there, the party returned, and lay a few miles from Peterſburg that night, and joined the army the next day. The enemy ſending patroles on the oppoſite ſide of the Appamatox, Lt. Spencer had propofed to have ſwam over with a party, conſiſting of Lt. Fitzpatrick and thirty Rangers, and to have laid an ambuſcade for them. This officer was perfectly acquainted with the minuteſt particulars of the ground, having been encamped upon it: in caſe of the enemy appearing in force, any ſmall gully would have given him a ſecure retreat to the river, while the cannon and muſquetry, pur- poſely ſtationed to protect him, would have prevented the enemy from moleſting the party whilſt it ſwam back. This deſign the patroles to Goode's bridge, had occafioned to be deferred, and it was to have been executed the next morning; but, about the middle of the day, the enemy appeared on the heights, and cannonaded the quarters of the Britiſh army, particularly thoſe of Gen. Phillips, whom they knew to be moſt dangerouſly ill, by a flag of truce which had been received the day before, and of Lt. Col. Simcoe which was on a height. [ 144 ] height. Some ſhots being directed at the dragoon horſes, then at graſs, they ſet off full gallop towards the ferry, immediately under the enemy's cannon; and had they not fired grape at them, 'tis probable they would have fwam to the ſhore in their poffeffion : their can- ponading had no effect. Lt. Col. Simcoe went immediately to Gen. Arnold, and again applied to march towards Lord Cornwallis, urging that it was apparent, from the diſcovery which the enemy had made, and their parade of force, that they could mean no ſerious attempt on the poſt: the General afſented, and the enemy had ſcarcely drawn off their cannon, when the Queen's Rangers, both cavalry and infantry marched towards the Nottaway, on the road to Halifax. M. Fayette gives, as a reaſon for this cannonade, that he did it in order to cover the march of a detachment which he ſent with ſtores, &c. to South Carolina. A detachment of the Queen's Rangers was more than ſufficient to have attacked this convoy, had there been information of it; and it is very probable, in ſuch a caſe, Gen. Arnold would have ſent a party from the light infantry, in purſuit of it; but none of Mr. Fayette's reaſons impreſs any idea of his military talents: he poſſibly owed his perſonal ſafety to the patrole, wbich had prevented Lt. Spencer's ambuſcade from being carried into execution; and who, not improbably, might have made himſelf maſter of his cannon, by rolling them down the ſteeps to the river, before the eſcort, which apparently, was left at ſome diſtance to avoid the ſhot of the Britiſh guns, could have advanced to their reſcue. Lt. Col. Simcoe proceed- ed, with the utmoſt expedition, to the Nottaway river, twenty ſeven miles from Peterſburg, where he arrived early the next morning : the bridge had been deſtroyed, which was eaſily repaired, and Major Armſtrong was left with the infantry. The cavalry went on to Col. Gee's, a rebel militia officer : he attempted to eſcape, but was fecured; and refuſing to give his parole, was ſent priſoner to Major Armſtrong. The cavalry proceeded in the afternoon to Hicks's ford, on the Meherrin, twenty-five miles from the Roanoke, within a few a miles [ 145 ] miles of the river ſtood Col. Hicks's houſe. He was deceived, and be- lieved the party to be an advanced guard from M. Fayette's army: from him the firſt information was received of Earl Cornwallis, and that his Lordſhip was certainly at Halifax, twenty miles from the Meherrin ; and that it was reported his advanced guard had paſſed that river. Lt. Col. Simcoe's hopes of being in time to facilitate his Lordſhip's paſſage were at an end; there was ſtill a probability, if any militia were in his front, of being of ſervice. Col. Hicks ac- companied the party to Hicks's ford, where ſome militia were aſſem- bled. Serjeant Wright, who commanded the advanced guard on the approach to Hicks's, halted and returning to Lt. Col. Simcoe, told him, that he had entered into converſation with one of the centinels; that the militia conſiſted of a Captain and thirty men; and that he had paſſed upon them for their friends : if he, Lt. Col. Simcoe, thought proper, he would relieve the whole party. Wright was directed to execute his intentions: the rebel Colonel was ſhewn, at a fufficient diſtance, as a friend; and Lt. Col. Simcoe and the militia officers affiſting, the whole party was aſſembled, their ſentinels re- lieved, and their arms piled and ſecured before they were undeceived: they were then marched into a houſe, and their paroles given them. The Captain and others being ſelected as guides, the party croſſed the ford, which had been obſtructed by trees felled, as a French officer, who had been that way a few days before, had directed; but which the militia ſlightly executed. It was underſtood that Lt. Colonel Tarleton had paſſed the Roanoke; that a Major of militia, who had commanded the poſt at Hicks's ford, was gone with a ſmall party to reconnoitre. It was much to be feared, that if Lt. Col. Simcoe ſhould fall in with Lord Cornwallis's advanced guard in the night, the unexpected meeting might occafion great confuſion and, perhaps, lofs; and it was ſtill probable, that parties of militia might be be- tween them, which, in the dark, it would be impoſſible to diſcri- minate : a circuit was therefore taken to the right of the direct roads U and, a [ 146 ] and, at a ſituation a few miles from Hicks's ford, the party halted to feed their horſes, and to refreſh the men who were overcome with fatigue and wanted ſleep: they had brought the fire arms which had been taken at Hicks's ford, and theſe were placed along the fence where the men flept. Serjeant Wright was placed in ambuſcade, cloſe to the road; and officers, from time to time, viſited him, leaſt that intrepid and vigilant foldier ſhould himſelf give way to that fatigue which every body laboured under. In the middle of the night, Wright brought in an expreſs from a captain who had been detached by M. Fayette for intelligence; he had not time to deſtroy his diſpatches, which confirmed the account of Col. Tarleton having paſſed the Roanoke: he was offered his liberty if he would conduct the party to the place where he had left his captain, the capture of whom would more effectually delay any intelligence which M. Fayette might expect, as it afterwards appeared, by his public letters, was done by this expreſs being made priſoner. After two hours ſleep, the party proceeded and arrived at the place where the captain and his party were reported to have been; but no perſon was there ; nor was it poffible to determine whether the priſoner had been faith- ful to his original truſt or his latter promiſe. The party ſoon arrived on the banks of the Roanoke, and ſending forward to prevent any errors, joined Lord Cornwallis's army. His Lordſhip being on the op- poſite ſide of the river, Lt. Col. Simcoe paſſed over to him; and a ſpy from Gen. Phillips had reached him a few hours before: it was Lt. Col. Simcoe's melancholy office to add to his Lordſhip’s public anxieties, the intelligence of the irrecoverable ſtate of health in which Gen. Phillips lay. The cavalry refreſhed themſelves at Jones's houſe; his Lordſhip paſſed the river that evening, and Lt. Colonel Simcoe fat out on his return. He marched by the direct road to Hicks's ford, where he found Lt. Col. Tarleton, who had made a circuit to his right from Halifax, and had arrived there a few hours after Lt. Col. Simcoe left it: the rebel Major, who had been to reconnoitre, a [ 147 ] reconnoitre, fell into his hands. As Lt. Col. Tarleton's legion were moſtly cloathed in white, it was a fortunate circumſtance, in making his circuit, he had not marched on the road Lt. Col. Simcoe had taken: the party halted that night at Col. Hicks's. Lt. Colonel Tarleton marched the next morning and proceeded to Colonel Gee's plantation : ſoon after the Queen's Rangers marched and rejoined their infantry at Nottaway-bridge, where they paſſed the night in great and neceſſary ſecurity: Lt. Col. Simcoe, with a few dragoons, returning to Peterſburg. From the repreſentations which he had made of Gen. Arnold, and Lt. Col. Abercrombie concurring in opinion that Fayette might poffibly attack them, Lt. Col. Simcoe, deferred his neceſſary march to Earl Cornwallis, 'till ſuch time, as by Fayette's cannonade, it was evident he could mean noth- ing ſerious. Gen. Arnold was directed to march to the Notta- way: that officer being of opinion, that it was no longer neceſſary to do ſo, went himſelf only, the next morning, with Lt. Col. Simcoe, to the Nottaway, where he met Earl Cornwallis. The Queen's Ran- gers returned to Peterſburg that evening; and his Lordſhip’s whole army arrived there the next day, the 20th of May: they marched oppoſite to Weſtover, and paſſed the ſame river on the 24th. Lt. Col. Simcoe, while at Weftover, received a letter from Gen. Lee, with whom he had been acquainted whilſt that gentleman was priſoner in the Jerſies, pointing out the enormities committed by the privateers: the proper repreſentation was made to Earl Cornwallis, who took meaſures to prevent the future miſconduct of theſe licenced miſcreants, by repreſenting them to Sir Henry Clinton. The army marched towards the Chickahominy, and arrived at Bottom bridge on the 28th. Lt. Col. Simcoe, with his cavaly, by a circuit, paſſed the Chickahominy, and patroled to New-Caſtle, where he ſeized ſome rebel officers; and on his return, impoſed upon and took feveral Virginia gentlemen, who were watching the motions of Earl Cornwallis. In the evening his Lordſhip marched; and Lt. Colonel Simcoe . U 2 [ 148 ] a Simcoe halted during the night, and then followed the army; perhaps not without utility, as the rear was uncommonly long, and the road running, in many places, through thickets, patroles of the enemy might eaſily have taken a great many ftragglers. He divided his cavalry into finall parties, left them at different diſtances, and col- lected the tired men as well as poſſible, 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 fingle cavalry, appointment, or arms: the army halted near New- Caſtle on the 29th, and marched to Hanover Court-houſe the next day, where ſome large braſs cannon, without carriages, were found, and attemped 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, patroled 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 intelligence of Fayette's march; and Capt. Dundas, of the guards, with the light company, was ſent to a ſtrong poſt, a few miles over the river, to ſupport and cover his retreat. A rebel Commiſſary was chaced and taken; and, after a long patrole, full information was obtained of Fayette's march, and the party returned. On Lt. Col. Simcoe's arrival at head quarters, he found, that two of the Queen's Rangers had committed a robbery and a rape : Lord Cornwallis directed him to enquire into the matter, which was done by the Captains of the corps ; and the robbery being fully proved, his Lordſhip ordered the men, agreeable to Lt. Col. Simcoe's deſire, to be executed the next day. Early the next morning, Lt. Col. Simcoe marched towards the Baron Steuben, who was reported to be at the point of Fork, the head of James river: Lord Cornwallis informed him, that Steuben's force conſiſted of three or four hundred men; and as the Queen's Rangers ( 149 ) ] Rangers were ſo debiliated by the fatigues of the climate, &c. as to have ſcarcely more than two hundred infantry and one hundred cavalry, fit for duty, his Lordſhip ordered the 71ſt regiment, under Capt. Hutchinſon, conſiſting of two hundred rank and file, to join him: at Lt. Col. Simcoe's particular requeſt, a three pounder was annexed. The inceffant marches of the Rangers, and their diſtance from their ſtores, had ſo worn out their ſhoes, that, on Lt. Colonel Simcoe's calling for a return, it appeared, that near fifty men were abſolutely barefooted; upon aſſembling them, when they were in- formed that they were wanted for active employment, and that thoſe who choſe to ſtay with the army might do ſo, there was not a man who would remain behind the corps. Lord Cornwallis ordered him, on his return, to join the army at Goochland Court-houſe, whither he ſhould march to receive his detachment, and that of Lt. Colonel Tarleton, which was to endeavour to ſeize on the aſſembly at Charlotteſville ; and then, if circumſtances admitted of it, to fall back by the point of Fork. Lt. Spencer, with twenty huzzars, formed the advanced guard: theſe were choſen men, and mounted on the fleeteſt horſes. Capt. Stevenſon, with the light infantry company, and the Heſſian rifle men, under Lt. Beikel, followed: the 71ſt fucceeded with the cannon, followed by Capt. Althouſe with his rifle men, and thoſe of the Queen's Rangers: the infantry and Capt. Shank, with the cavalry of the Rangers, cloſed the rear. In caſe of attack, the battallion in front (and the two battallions marched there alternately) was directed to form in line; that which followed, to cloſe up into column ready to march to which ever flank it was or- dered, as the cavalry under Capt. Shank was to the other. The whole of the cavalry preceded the march, 'till the detachment croſſed the bridge over the South Anna: Lt. Col. Simcoe then proceeded with the utmoſt diſpatch, by Bird's ordinary, towards Napier’s ford, the ſecond ford on the Rivana, above the Fluvana, the junction of which rivers, at the point of Fork, forms the James river: not a perſon ( 150 ] perſon eſcaped who was in fight, and the advanced cavalry were ſo managed as totally to conceal the advance of the infantry. At night the corps lay upon their arms, in 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 fally from it if ordered : the guards and ſentinels were, as uſual, in ambuſcade. After two days march, as the party approached Napier's ford, ſome priſoners and letters were taken, and other in- telligence obtained, by which it appeared, that the march had been hitherto undiſcovered, 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 Cornwallis's army, or, more probably, de- ceived in his intelligence 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 aſſembling to join him. The troops had already marched that day nearly twenty miles, and the two preceding days not leſs than thirty each, when this intelligence was accumulated. Lt. Spencer was directed to proceed cautiouſly, gaining what intelligence he could, to Napier's houſe, which ſtood on a high and commanding 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 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 huz- zars, 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 [151] a threatened to have him flogged on his arrival at the Baron's camp, and, pulling ſome papers from his pocket, told him, that they were his diſpatches from M. Fayette: at the ſame time he moved gently towards him, intending, if poſſible, to ſeize the muzzel of his firelock, but, as the one advanced, the other retreated, keeping his piece itill 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 pocket piſtol; but having received intimation 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 fine 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 oppoſite ſide were two militia men well mounted, from whom 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 diſpatch. Lt. Spencer compleatly impoſed on their credulity; they ſuffered him to relieve them with two of his own men, and accompanied him to Col. Napier's houſe, whom he took priſoner. On this intelligence, Lt. Col. Simcoe determined to march, with the utmoſt celerity, towards Baron Steuben, hoping to cut off his rear guard : Lt. Spencer 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 Colonel Thompſon. Within two miles of Baron Steuben's encampment, a patrole of dragoons appeared; they were chaſed and taken: it con- liſted of a French officer and four of Armand's corps. They con- firmed Lt. Col. Simcoe in his belief, that Baron Steuben was ignorant of his approach, as they were deſtined to patrole twenty miles from the point of Fork to the place where, it afterwards appeared, Earl Cornwallis's army had arrived the preceding night, and they were to have ( 152 ) have paſſed the Rivana at it's loweſt ford, Lt. Col. Simcoe's circui- tuous march, to croſs at the upper, having anſwered the expected pur- poſe. The advanced men of the huzzars changed cloaths with the pri- ſoners, and diſpoſitions were now made for the attack. The huzzars in the enemy's cloathing, 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 poflible, to ſeize him: they were to be ſupported by a detachment of cavalry, the light infantry company and the cannon. Capt. Stevenſon was intended to fortify the houſe, and to place the cannon there as a point of reſerve; Capt. Hutchinſon was to form the Highlanders, 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 Steuben'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 fize and appearance of Mr. Farley, was directed to exchange cloaths with him, to mount his horſe, and lead the advance guard; when that officer aſſured Lt. Col. Simcoe, that he had ſeen every man over the Fluvana, before he left the point of Fork: this was confirmed by ſome wag- goners, who, with their teams, were now taken. The cavalry im- mediately advanced, and the enemy being plainly ſeen on the oppoſite fide, nothing remained but to ſtop fome 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 em- barkation had proceeded. 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 {tores : Capt. Hutchinſon, with the 71ſt regiment, (cloathed in red) was directed to advance as near to the banks of the Fluvana as he 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 [ 153 ] > pro- and women halted among the woods, on the ſummit of the hill, and, in that poſition, made the appearance of a numerous corps: the three pounder was carried down, the artillery 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 Steuben'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 oppoſite ſide of the river, about three quarters of a mile from its banks: the priſoners, and obſervation confirmed the information which had been received of his numbers. As night approached, and the men were ſomewhat , refreſhed, every precaution was taken to prevent any ſurprize which the number, and the character of the enemy's general, might lead them to attempt. Lt. Col. Simcoe who, from his childhood, had been taught to conſider the military as the moſt extenſive and found of ſciences, had no apprehenſion from the talents of ſuch men as had been educated in different profeſſions, and whom accident had placed at the head of armies; and he had always aſſerted it as a princi- ple, that, from the ſuperiority of the King's troops, and of the officers 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 ſituation, 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 officered, and invincible body of cavalry; and the enemy were led by a Pruſſian officer. The very military in- ſtructions of his king were capable of forming better officers than any other theory could poſſibly do, or poſſibly could be effected by the experience of ten campaigns under incompetent maſters. In the exerciſe alſo which he had given the rebel army, the Baron Steuben had ſhewn himſelf an able officer, and that he well knew how to X adapt [ 154 ] a 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 countermand 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 num- bers of his opponents, and might poſſibly determine to attack Lt. 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 the 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, ſhould they be repulſed, were preſerved from the purſuit of the cavalry by the thick woods, which came cloſe to their encampment, and, from that of the infantry, by the fatigues they had undergone in a march of nearly forty miles the preceding morning. 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, hrad he not hoped that Steuben would believe him to be the advance of Earl Cornwallis's army, particularly, as the light troops had no foldiers among them cloathed like the 71ſt regiment, in red. That regiment, and the Queen's Rangers, occupied the roads, with rail fletches and other defences : Capt. Althouſe, with his company and the yagers, were poſted on a knowle, 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 a [ 155 ] of cavalry from river to river, about half a mile in front of the in- fantry; and the troops were acquainted with the probability 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 ſuppoſed they were moving; with which he perfectly agreed, when it was ſeen that they were uniformly refreſhed throughout their camp. Soon after, a deſerter 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 to the 7ift 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 daylight appeared, there was not an enemy to be ſeen. Serjeant John M‘Donald, of the high- land 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 rifle-men were fent down to line the buſhes on the banks of the Fluvana ; and, under their protection, Capt. Stevenſon, with twenty of the light infantry, paſſed over to the oppoſite banks, which he found covered with the enemy's ſtores. Cornet Wolſey was then ſent over with four huzzars, with their faddles : 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 fummit 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 off 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's army might not be in the X 2 [ 156 ] the leaſt delayed, 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's march, which he muſt have made in caſe he hould 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 compleated and launched towards noon, and Capt. Stevenſon, 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, tho’he had already marched thirty miles from the point of Fork. He muſt have believed that the whole of Earl Cornwallis's 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 de- ſtroying them, and they would have been in perfect ſafety in that cafe, had Earl Cornwallis adhered to his firſt intention, of halting at Goochland Court-houſe. The army arriving near the point of Fork . on the 7th of June, Lt. Col. Simcoe paſſed the Rivana, and rejoined it. The Fluvana 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 horſes ſwam over between them : the infantry paſſed on the float, which held, with care, a hundred 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 float, made by the junction of two canoes, were carried over on it, and put into empty waggons ſent by Earl Cornwallis for that purpoſe. There were de- ſtroyed [ 157 ] a ſtroyed at the point of Fork, two thouſand five hundred ſtand of arms, a large quantity of gunpowder, caſe ſhot, &c. ſeveral caſks of faltpetre, ſulphur, and brimſtone, and upwards of fixty hogſheads of rum and brandy, ſeveral cheſts of carpenters' tools, and upwards of four hundred intrenching tools, with caſks of flints, fail cloth and waggons, and a great variety of ſmall ſtores, neceſſary for the equip- ment of cavalry and infantry: ſuch linen and neceſſaries, as would be of immediate ſervice, were divided among the captors. There were taken off, a thirteen-inch mortar, five braſs eight-inch howitzers, and four long braſs nine pounders, mounted afterwards at York town: all French pieces and in excellent order. Lt. 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 warehouſes on the river fide, returning with ſome rebel militia whom he had ſurprized and made priſoners. The army remained in this diſtrict 'till the thirteenth of 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 appeared, however, that they were at a great diſtance, ſo that the army moved towards Richmond, the Queen's Ran- gers forming the rear guard. The 71ſt regiment here left the Rangers ; the two corps had acted with the utmoſt harmony together, and Lt. Col. Simcoe remembers, with great ſatisfaction, the expreſſions of goodwill and regret which both the officers and ſoldiers of that diſtinguiſhed regiment made uſe of, when they quitted his command. Earl Cornwallis 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 Henric's Court-houſe; which he did the next morning, to facilitate the paſſage of the boats with convaleſcents up to Richmond, and to clear the ſouthern banks of the James [ 158 ] a а James river of any parties of militia who might be ſtationed to annoy them. The detachment recroſſed the river on the night of the 19th, from Mancheſter to Richmond, and Capt. 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 conſiſting of twelve hundred men, Lt. Col. Simcoe was directed to patrole for intelligence: he marched with forty cavalry (but con- ſidering this a ſervice of particular danger) with the utmoſt caution. He quitted the road and marched through the woods, as nearly parallel to it as the encloſures, which had been cleared, 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 in its rear. Lt. Spencer was therefore detached with a ſmall party 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 immediately 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 Chickahominy, 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 ſtay two or three days behind the army, who were to be at Williamſburg on the 25th of June. Lt. Col. Simcoe marched early in the morning of the 24th, con- fuming 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 deſtroy on the Chickahominy, and halted that night at Dandrige's, [ 159 ] Dandrige’s, as Earl Cornwallis did in the neighbourhood of Bird's ordinary. The bridge over the Dieſckung 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 fo laborious a taſk as the repair of this bridge was underſtood to be. The next morning, at day break, the detachment arrived there: it had been careleſsly deſtroyed, and was, by anxious and laborious exertion, re- paired ſufficiently to paſs over. Lt. Col. Simcoe then deſtroyed it moſt effectually, 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 enemy's movements, whom he knew to be active and enterprizing; 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 advantage which they could magnify in their news- papers. He had received no advices from Earl Cornwallis, 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 advantage, to receiving good intelligence, is to deceive the enemy with that which is falfe: 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 fix 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, a at [ 160 1 2) 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 Williamſburg and James town: there he was to halt 'till the cavalry joined him, and then the whole, with the convoy of cattle, which Capt. Branſon, with ſome North Carolina Loyaliſts, had been employed to collect, was to proceed to Williamſ- burg. Lt. Col. Simcoe, with the cavalry, was under arms at the time his infantry marched, and ready to proceed whenever Captain Branſon thought there was light fufficient 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, Lt. 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 Wil- liamſburg, when Major Armſtrong returning with him, informed Lt. Col. Simcoe that there were 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 his people, went to collect them; and Capt. Shank, who commanded the cavalry, was directed to feed his horſes at Lee's farm, and Lt. Colonel Simcoe accompanied Major Armſtrong to the infantry. The high- land 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 galloping acroſs the field, towards the wood, faw 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 ſtationed as a vidette, gave the alarm, and galloped off fo as not to lead the enemy directly to where the Chicahominy Ru 00 02 A H try Die To Alan's Ordinary ACTION at SPENCER'S ORDINARY: June 26."1781. A. Rebel Infantry. B. Rebel Cavalry. C. Queens Rangers in halt. D. Ditto in Line to Attack. E. Cavalry of Q.R: Forraging. F. Ditto Attack Cavalry of Rebels G.L! C. Simcoe after defeat of Rebel Cav." brings that of His Reg. by line H.to I. K. Vidette. L. Yagers. M.One three Pounder. N. Capt:Althouse 70 Janos 70W ༣ ཀྱིག་འགའི་ Taken on dir Jorr Spar LQR [ 161 1 ] 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 with 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 whom were engaged in fecuring the bât-horſes at the back of Lee's farm: he broke them entirely. Serjeant Wright daſhed Major Macpherſon, who commanded them, from his horſe; but, leaving him in purſuit of others, 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 company were now driven, protected them. At this moment Lt. Col. Simcoe arrived : he had, at the firſt ſhot, ordered the infantry to march in column into the road towards the enemy, the light infantry company 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 priſoners, that the enemy were in force, and that M. de la Fayette, and Generals Wayne and Steuben were at no great diſtance, the line was directed to be formed, ſpreading itſelf with wide inter- vals, 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 the wood, as it was his idea, to outflank the enemy by the length of the line. The principle which Lt. Colonel Simcoe always inculcated and acted on againſt the rifle-men, (whom he judged to be in the advanced corps of M. Fayette's army) was to ruſh upon them; when, if each ſeparate company kept itſelf compact, there was little danger, even ſhould it be ſurrounded, from troops Y who [ 162 ] who were without bayonets, and whoſe object it was to fire a ſingle ſhot with effect: the poſition of an advancing ſoldier was calculated to leſſen the true aim of the firſt ſhot, and his rapidity to prevent the rifle-man, who requires ſome time to load, from giving a ſecond; or at leaſt to render his aim uncertain, and his fire by no means formidable. Lt. Col. Simcoe had withdrawn the cavalry from the fire of the enemy, and directed Capt. Althouſe, whoſe rifle company had been mounted, to diſmount and to check them, if they fallied from the wood in purſuit of the cavalry, or for the purpoſe of reconnoitering; and this he executed very effectually. Capt. Branſon had diſtinguiſhed himſelf in the charge on the enemy's cavalry, 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. Allan, who acted as Quarter- Maſter, carried off the baggage that road, was directed to cut down trees, and to barricade the firſt paſs for the corps to rally, in caſe of neceſſity : the fences were pulled down on the James town road, in the rear of the cavalry, that the retreat might be made that way, if, which was every moment to be expected, the enemy ſhould have occupied the Williamſburg road in the rear. Lt. Colonel Simcoe moved with the cavalry out of fight of the enemy, down the hill towards James town road, and re-aſcending at Lee's farm, there made a diſplay of the whole force; then fell back again behind the hill, leaving only the front, a detachment of huzzars, both to prevent the left from being turned without notice, and to deceive the enemy into a belief that the whole cavalry (whoſe force they had already felt) were behind the eminences, waiting for an opportunity to fall upon their right flank: he returned rapidly with the reſt of the cavalry undiſcovered to the road, and formed them out of fight and out of reach of the enemy, partly in the road and partly on its left. Beyond Capt. Ewald's flank there was open ground, which could eaſily be ſeen from the eminence on which Lt. Col. Simcoe a was ( 163 ) was, and (by the turn of the Williamſburg road) the cavalry would have had quick acceſs to it, had the enemy 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 high- land company had retired. The enemy now appeared in great force, 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 ; probably deceived by the ap- pearance of the cavalry at Lee's farm: to add to their reaſons for not advancing, one cannon fhot, and no more, was ordered to be fired at the body, which appeared to be at the greateſt diſtance. The in- fantry was now in line, but with intervals between the companies, advancing as faſt as the ploughed fields they had to croſs would admit. Lt. Col. Simcoe did not expect victory, but he was deter- mined to try for it; his beſt hopes were to obtain and line the wood, checking the enemy's advance, 'till ſuch times as the convoy was in ſecurity, and then to retreat. He had the moſt general and particular confidence in the officers and ſoldiers of his corps, who were dif- ciplined enthuſiaſts in the cauſe of their country, 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 encloſed with high and ſtrong fences; a conſiderable body of the enemy being on the right of the road, and, ſeeing the infantry advancing, faced and were Y 2 croſſing [ 164 ] croffing theſe fences to flank them : they did not obſerve the cavalry, which, while they were in this diſorder, loft not the mo- ment; but, led by Capt. Shank, charged them up the road, and upon its left, entirely broke and totally diſperſed them. The infantry were ordered to advance, and they ruſhed on with the greateſt rapidity; the enemy's fire was in vain, they were driven from the fences and the wood. Capt. 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 very ſmall body of freſh bayonet men, ſuch was the advantage of the ground, that the enemy, in confuſion, and panick ftrucken, would have received a very ſevere blow, before it could have been poſſible for them to rally. Cornet Jones, who led the firſt diviſion of cavalry, was unfortunately killed : he was an active, ſenſible, promiſing officer. The mounted rifle-men of the Queen's Rangers charged with Capt. Shank: the gallant Serjeant M Pherſon, who 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 un- der ſome fallen logs, and, when the enemy fled from that ſpot, they returned in ſafety to the corps. By a miſtake, ſcarcely avoid- able in the tumult of action, Capt. Shank was not ſupported, as was intended, by the whole of his cavalry, by which fewer pri- ſoners were taken than might have been: that valuable officer was in the moſt imminent danger, in fighting his way back through the enemy, who fired upon him, and wounded the Trum- peter Barney and killed ſome of the huzzars, who attended him. The grenadier company, commanded by Capt. MʻGill, fignalized by their gallantry as well as by their dreſs, loft ſeveral valuable men. Capt. Stevenſon was diſtinguiſhed as uſual : his choſen and well- trained light infantry were obſtinately oppoſed; but they carried their point with the loſs of a fourth of their numbers, killed and wounded, An [ 165 ) a An affair of this nature neceſſarily afforded a great variety of gallant actions in individuals. Capt. M Rae reported to Lt. Col. Simcoe, that his ſubaltern, Lt. Charles Dunlop, who had ſerved in the Queen's Rangers from thirteen years of age, led on his diviſion on horſeback, without ſuffering a man to fire, watching 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 eſcaped 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 dir- tinguiſhed, or his value exemplified ; 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 light troops gives the greateſt latitude for the exertion of individual talents, and of individual courage, ſo did the preſent ſituation require the moſt perfect combination of 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 other, and a ſingle panick ſtrucken ſoldier would probably have infected a platoon, and led to the utmoſt confuſion and ruin ſo that Lt. Col. Simcoe has ever conſidered this action as the climax of a campaign of five years, as the reſult of true diſcipline acquired in that ſpace by unremitted 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 information obtained from two and thirty priſoners, many of them officers and of different corps, making it expedient fo ( 166 ) fo 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 ſurgeon's mate, and a flag of truce. The infantry filed off to the right, and the cavalry cloſed the rear : the party foon arrived at a brook, on the oppoſite and commanding fide of which Lt. Allen, with the pioneers, had cut down ſome trees, and was proceeding to give it fuch defences as it was capable of receiving. In leſs than two miles, Lt. Col. Simcoe met Earl Cornwallis, and the advance of his army, and returned with them towards Spencer's ordinary: he reported to his Lordſhip, what he had learnt from an examination of the rebel priſoners, and by his own and his officers obſervations; that the enemy were, at the leaſt, twelve hundred ſtrong in action, above three times the numbers of his corps ; that Fayette's army was at no army was at no great diſtance; that they had marched twenty-eight miles, and had no proviſions : Lt. Colonel Simcoe added, that he had effectually deſtroyed the Dieſcung bridge. Earl Cornwallis examined the priſoners, and obſerved to Lt. Col. Simcoe, that it was a march of great hazard in Fayette, as on the leaſt previous intimation he muſt have been cut off. On the approach to Spencer's, Lt. Col. Simcoe galloped forward, and was very happy to find, that his wounded men were not priſoners, none of the enemy having approached them; and he found a foraging party of Earl Cornwallis's 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 patrole of the enemy met with this party on the road, where it was natural to expect Lord Cornwallis's army, and took it for his ad- vance guard, and that this belief prevented them from renewing the attack. Lt. Col. Tarleton ſoon after arrived at Spencer's: he had advanced + [ 167 ] 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 ſymptoms of the confuſion in which the enemy had fled: the army returned to Williamſburg, and the Queen's Rangers were hutted on the right at Queen's creek. At the commencement of the action, 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 carried off. It was generally reported, that the perſon who had been ſent to Fayette's camp, from Cooper's mills, conducted Gen. Wayne thither, about four o'clock in the morn- ing, who, with a large force, charged with fixed bayonets, the fires which the Queen's Rangers had but juſt quitted. M. Fayette, in his public letters, ſtated the loſs of the Britiſh at one hun- dred 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 rifle-men, however dextrous 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 publick orders, at Williamſburg, on the 25th of June, that “ Lord Cornwallis defires “ Lt. Col. Simcoe will accept of his warmeſt acknowledgments for so his ſpirited and judicious conduct in the action of the 20th in- “ ftant, when he repulſed and defeated fo ſuperior a force of the enemy He likewiſe deſires that Lt. Col. Simcoe will commu- “ nicate his thanks to the officers and ſoldiers of the Queen's Ran- gers, and to Capt. 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 diſ- approving 60 [ 168 1 approving of it as a poſt, Lt. Col. Simcoe obſerved to him, that if any of the points below it, and one was then in their view, would be more favourable for ſuch a garriſon as his Lordſhip intended, that it would be eaſy to remove York town to it: his Lordſhip aſſented, and perſonally made the neceſſary enquiry; but the water was not fufficiently deep to harbour ſhips of war. The enemy fired a ran- dom ſhot or two, from Gloucefter, at the eſcort when it marched into York town, and were prepared to repeat it on its return; but ; this was avoided by keeping on the heights, and Earl Cornwallis returned in the evening. The Queen's Rangers made two patroles during the continuance of the army at Williamſburg: the firſt was with the deſign of aſcertaining the enemy's poft: Lt. Col. Simcoe left the infantry in ambuſcade, about five miles from Williamſburg, and proceeding ſeven or eight miles further, drove in the enemy's advance guard. The ſecond patrole was made to the fame ſpot, and for the ſame purpoſe, Earl Cornwallis underſtanding the enemy had left it. The peninſula was interſected with roads, full of ſmall woods, and the enemy were in force. Lt. Col. Simcoe expected to be ambuſcaded; ſo that he marched only with his cavalry, and through bye-paths and the woods. In approaching the poſt, he left the party with orders for them to retreat whenſoever the bugle- horns founded the advance, and proceeded himſelf with a ſmall eſcort, ſome officers and the bugle-horns; being mounted on a tall horſe, a matter of great utility in all reconnoitering parties, he ſaw the heads of ſome people in ambuſcade, before they could ſtoop from notice on his approach, and another party was plainly diſcovered on their march to get behind him on the Williamſburg road: the horns founded, the alarm was given, and the party retreated by the ways they came, unmoleſted, to Williamſburg. On the 4th of July the army marched to James town, for the , pur- poſe of croſſing the river at that place, and proceeding to Portſmouth : the Queen's Rangers croſſed the river that evening, and took poſt to cover [ 169 ] troops, fail- ing up cover the baggage, which was paſſing over as expeditiouſly as poſſible. On the evening of the 6th, as Earl Cornwallis had predicted, M. de la Fayette attacked his army, miſtaking it for the rear guard only : the affair was almoſt confined to the Soth and 76th regiments, under the command of Lt. Col. Dundas, whoſe good conduct and gallantry was conſpicuouſly diſplayed on that occaſion. M. de la Fayette was convinced of his error, by being inſtantly repulſed, and loting what cannon he had brought with him. The army having been paſſed over, marched on the 9th towards Portſmouth. On its halting at Suffolk, the Queen's Rangers being ordered for embarka- tion, proceeded to the vicinity of Portſmouth on the 14th, and embarked on the 20th : the embarkation of which, the Queen's Rangers made a part, was ſuppoſed to be intended to co-operate in an attack on Philadelphia. It was countermanded, and the the river, landed at York Town on the ad of Auguſt: the Ran- gers being, of the firſt diſembarkation, under Lt. Col. Abercrombie. Several patroles were made from York town to Williamſburg, by the cavalry of the Queen's Rangers, latterly under the command of Capt. Shank, the health of Lt. Col. Simcoe being much impaired. This journal, haſtening to a concluſion, it is proper that it may be compleated, to take notice of Capt. Saunders, and the officers, and choſen men, whom he had taken with him, in order to compleat his troop, on Gen. Leſlie's expedition; and this cannot be better accom- pliſhed than by extracts from a letter which that officer wrote to Lt. Col. Simcoe. Agreeable to your deſire, I now detail fome anecdotes of the detachment which was ſent under my command with Gen. Leſlie : on the evening of the arrival of the fleet in Lynhaven bay, I was ordered by Gen. Leſlie to land with a detachment, conſiſting of a ſubaltern's command of the guards, and the officers and twelve men of my troop, and to march through Princeſs Ann, for the purpoſe of taking ſome of the moſt violent leaders of the rebels, in that Z county ; CG [ 170 ] county; but the great ſwell of the ſea obliging me to land in a different place from which I had intended, I was, in conſequence, conſtrained to croſs the Lynhaven inlet, which was unfordable. Knowing that there was a canoe about half-a-mile on the other fide, I aſked if any one would volunteer the ſervice of fetching it; Serjeant Burt inſtantly offered himſelf, and, with his ſword in his mouth, plunged into the water, ſwam over and brought the canoe, in which we croſſed, and this he did although, on our arrival at the inlet, we had obſerved a man on horſeback, who appeared from the precipitancy with which he had rode off, to have been placed there as a vedette. A few days after this, I was ſent with a detachment, under the orders of Col. Schutz, to Suffolk, by Sleepy-hole ferry: we croſſed the ferry at night, and by preceding (under cover of the darkneſs) with my troop, the reſt of the detachment, I collected a fufficient number of horſes to mount both men and officers. From Suffolk we returned to Portſmouth, when I requeſted General Leſlie to permit me to occupy the poſt at Kemp's landing, with the two officers and the non-commiſſioned officers, and twelve private dra- goons of my troop, which he granted, after I had explained to him my intimate knowledge of the people, and of the country. With this force I remained there until the General was obliged to embark for South Carolina. On our arrival at Charles Town, Col. Balfour ordered my officers and men up to George-Town; and, as he told me that he had not authority to permit the return of myſelf and party to the regiment, I found it neceſſary to go to Wynneſburg (180 miles) where Lord Cornwallis was encamped, to folicit his leave. He granted it; I returned to Charles-Town, and had the men in the boat, to embark in the Romulus, when the arrival of the expreſs with Tarlton's diſaſter at the Cowpens, induced Colonel Balfour to countermand the embarkation, and to detain us 'till the impreffion made by this unfortunate event ſhould be done away. He ordered me and my troop to George-Town, promiſing not only to explain to [ 171 ] to you the neceſſity of my detention, but alſo that it ſhould not be long : I went there, and ſoon after obtained the command of that poft. But before I mention what happened under my orders, I ſhall premiſe the behaviour of the troops, prior to this, when Lt. Wilſon had the command of it. On the 25th Dec. 1780, being the day after Lt. Wilſon's arrival at George-Town, he and his party made a patrole, under the command of Col. Campbell of Fanning's corps, when they fell in with a party of above fifty mounted rebels, which they were ordered to charge. They immediately did it, and with effect, defeating them and taking one of their officers priſoner : the others owed their eſcape to the ſpeed of their horſes, and the thickneſs of the wood. Lt. Wilſon was wounded; he received the thanks of Col. Campbell for his conduct in the following words. " It is " with pleaſure that the Commanding Officer obſerves the ſpirit and gallantry of the troops in general, but is infinitely obliged to Capt. • Blucke and Lieut. Wilſon, for their diſtinguiſhed gallantry and “ behaviour this day. Laments much the wound received by the “ latter, as it may for a few days deprive him of the ſervices of a good “ officer.” On the 6th Jan. following, Lt. Col. Campbell having marched ſome diſtance into the country, ſaw about a dozen mounted men in the road : he ordered Lt. Wilſon with his party to charge them. They inſtantly went to the right about, and retreated with precipitation within a corps which had diſmounted and taken a ſtrong and advantageous poſt in a ſwampy thick wood on each ſide of the road. Lt. Wilſon and his party received a heavy and unexpected fire from this ambuſcade, but impelled by their wonted ſpirit and intre- pidity, and unaccuſtomed to defeat, they continued the charge and obliged the rebels to betake themſelves to their horſes, and to flight. Serjeants Burt and Hudgins, having charged through them, were carried off by them ; Corporal Hudgins was killed, covered with wounds; two or three of the men were wounded, and three horſes killed, Z 2 Among a [ 172 ) Among a variety of other parties ſent into the country by me, in order to prevent, as much as poſſible, depredation and violence by ſmall bodies of rebels, who occaſionally infeſted the vicinity of George town, Lt. Wilſon was ordered, about the middle of February 1781, to go about forty miles up the Waccama river, with a detach- ment of between thirty and forty men, in order to take Capt. Clarke, a very active officer, priſoner, who was ſaid to have a ſmall party with him, for the purpoſe of protecting himſelf and oppreſſing the in- habitants on Waccama neck; he was ordered alſo, to mount his party, if poſſible, and to return by land. He ſat out in the evening with the firſt of the tide, and would have reached Clark's houſe before day had it not been for a heavy fall of rain up the country, which checked the tide with ſuch force, that, notwithſtanding every effort, he found at day-light that he had not proceeded 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 returned, without lofs, to George- Town. In the latter end of February, Cornet Merrit was ordered, with a party 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 accompliſh 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 number and the goodneſs of their horſes. He retreated, in good order, for ſome diſtance, but, find- ing 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 alter- pately charged and retreated, 'till having had two horſes killed under him [ 173 ] 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 ſuffered his party to eſcape into the woods, when, by diſmounting and concealing 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 fortunate enough, after having recovered his ſenſes, to get to the fort with the loſs of his boots, helmet, and arms. Cornet Merrit having been fent, about the beginning of march, with a flag, to carry a letter to Gen. Manion, by order of Col. Balfour, was detained a priſoner to retaliate for the detention of one Capt. Poftell, who, after the ſurrender of Charles-Town, had taken a protection and the oaths to us; and had, notwithſtanding again taken up arms, and had the impudence 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 different 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 pri- foners, which he thus effected: after having communicated his in- tention 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 party of Britiſh having come into that neighbourhood. He then ordered this foldier 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 inſtantly executed, drawing the aſtoniſhed ſentry to this hole with one hand, and threatening 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 a [ 174 ] ) got out. He then drew them up, which the officer of the guard ob- ſerving, 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 fingle ſhot at him, that he would cut the whole of his guard to pieces, (having concerted with his men, in ſuch a caſe, to ruſh upon the enemy and tear their arms out of their hands), which ſo intimidated him that, although 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 fome 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. Balfour 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 Cornet “ has eſcaped, his conduct and reſolution does him great credit, and “ I wiſh I had it in my power to thew him my fenfe of it by more “ fubftantial 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 ad of April, with twenty men, attended by a galley, to cover a party ſent to load fome flats with forage, at a plantation on Black river : he debarked and remained on ſhore ſeveral hours before he ſaw a ſingle rebel; but when he had nearly compleated his buſineſs, he was attacked by above fixty of them, under the command of a Major Benſon: he re- pulſed them in two attempts that they made to get within the place where he had poſted himſelf; he then charged and drove them off. A rebel Lieutenant was mortally wounded, ſeveral others ſlightly: Lt. Wilſon and five of his men were wounded. Col. Balfour ex- preſſed his approbation of Wilſon's conduct in this affair. " I ſhall [ 175 ] “ 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 partizan Snipe to approach 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 par- ticularly anxious to prevent any kind of check with the troops I then had with me, I picked out Merrit, Corporal Franks, and four men of my troop to proceed and make an opening for the detach- ment, which he effected with ſuch readineſs and ſpirit, that the paffage 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. Balfour writing to me, in the month of April, when I commanded 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 officers, and, if you agree with me in opinion " that a troop could be raiſed in or near George town, I ſhould “ have no heſitation in making the appointment.” 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 faireſt report." It is to be lamented that Capt. Saunders did not keep a regular journal, as it would have related a ſeries of gallant and active ſervices, which CG 66 66 a [ 176 ] which he performed when in the command at George town, and afterwards at Dorcheſter, and which ſtrongly characterize in that officer the fame 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 12th of Auguſt the Rangers paſſed to Glouceſter, to cover the foraging in front of that poſt, which the 8oth and the Heffian regiment of Prince Hereditaire garriſoned, under the command of Lt. Col. Dundas. The climate, the fickly ſtate and condition of the corps, as more fully detailed in the appendix, and what was reaſonably to be apprehended from the militia of the enemy, now aſſembling in numbers, rendered this a ſervice of great fatigue and danger: the troops were generally employed on it twelve hours in the twenty-four. The infantry, to ſecure them from the intenſe heat, were ambuſcaded 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 informed that Weeks, now ſtiled Major, with a party of the enemy, had juſt arrived within a few miles: he inſtantly preſſed on with the cavalry to attack him, ordering Capt. Ewald to proceed to his ſupport as faſt as poſſible with the yagers and infantry. On his arrival 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 with his men, eſcaped in great confuſion into the woods, leaving their dinner behind them : an officer and ſome men were made priſoners, and this check, together with the country being con- ftantly ambuſcaded, prevented the foragers from receiving the leaſt interruption. One morning as the foragers were at ſome diſtance from Glouceſter, they were ſurprized at hearing a conſiderable firing of muſquetry, between them and the garriſon: it was ſuſpected that ſome party of the enemy might have ſtolen through the woods; but on a detach- ment a [ 177 1 ment falling back to procure certain intelligence, it appeared, that ſome men on a predatory party had landed from the ſhipping, and, being panick-ſtruck, had fired at a wood where they fancied they ſaw the enemy. Serjeant Ritchie, of the grenadiers of the Rangers, who with the other convaleſcents had been left in the camp at Glouceſter, on hearing the firing, ſuppoſed that the regiment was engaged, and aſſembling ſuch men as were able to 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-commif- fioned 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 cavalry of the Queen's Rangers had been regularly inſtructed 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 conſe- quence to prevent the enemy gaining any information from deſerters, the out fentries were conſtantly compoſed of a cavalry and infantry man. Earl Cornwallis, in a converſation with Lt. 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 Monf. de Choiſy ſo well known for his fur- prizal of Cracow. Captain Shank, with thirty huzzars, retreated , before them as they advanced, 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 deſtroyed by fire-fhips, commanded by Capt. Palmer of the navy : this gallant officer would have probably burnt a man of war which Аа was [ 178 ] ] was driven alhore, 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 himſelf. The out picquet which the Queen's Rangers occupied 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 on the commencement of the block- ade; but it was ſoon attempted to be carried off. Captain Shaw, who commanded, overheard the enemy on their approach, and withdrai- ing his fentinels and party to a bank in its rear, let them without moleſtation poſſeſs themſelves of his fires, when, giving them an unexpected difcharge, they fled in great confuſion, and with every appearance of ſeveral of them being wounded, leaving fire-arms, caps, and accoutrements behind them. Capt. Shaw then reſumed his poſt, which was conſtantly occupied in the day, and frequently at night, without any further attempt being made upon it. The health of Lt. 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. Simcoe obſerved, in converſation with Col. Dundas, that as Capt. Shank had faced the Duke of Lauzun with 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 fwept off and totally ruined. Lt. Col. Tarleton marched out with the cavalry the next morning, Col. Dundas accompanying him; and about mid-day firing was heard, and ſome people galloped in in great confuſion : one of the forage-maſters ſaying Col. Tarleton was de- feated, Lt. Col. Simcoe ſent him to Earl Cornwallis, ordered the troops [ 179 ] 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 fame, 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, remained 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 befal an officer now drew nigh: the works at York-Town were rendered untenable by the ſuperior 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 Monf. de Choify the next morning. There was every probability of furprizing that officer, as he in fome meaſure depended upon the vigilance of the militia joined with him; and a ſpy, who came into Glouceſter almoſt to the very day of its ſurrender, could have conducted the Queen's Rangers by the ſecret path which he made uſe of, to the rear of the enemy's poft. It was not improbable that his Lordſhip, on viewing the advantageous poſition which might be occupied in front of Glou- ceſter, would have been of opinion that the poſt might at the leaſt have been defended 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, prevented the ſucceeding diviſion of the garriſon of York from paffing over ; that which had arrived returned early in the morning, and the firing ſoon after ceaſing, it was under- A a 2 ſtood [180] a ſtood that Earl Cornwallis had propoſed a ceſſation of hoſtilities, for the purpoſe of ſettling the terms on which the poſts of York and Glou- ceſter were to be ſurrendered. On the firſt confirmation of this ſuppoſition, Lt. Col. Simcoe ſent Lieut. Spencer to his Lordſhip, to requeſt that as his corps conſiſted of Loyaliſts, the objects of the enemy's civil perſecution, and deſerters, if the treaty was not finally concluded, that he would permit him to endeavour to eſcape with them in ſome of thoſe boats which General Arnold had built; and that his intention was to croſs the Cheſapeak 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 fa- yourably in regard to the ſcheme, but ſaid he could not permit it to be undertaken, 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 Lt. Col. Simcoe's dangerous ſtate of health, permitted him to fail for New-York in the Bonetta, which by an article in the capitulation was to be left at his diſpoſal, a fea-voyage being the only chance, in the opinion of the phyſicians, by which he could ſave his life. On board of this veſſel failed as many of the Rangers, and of other corps, deferters from the enemy, as ſhe could poſſibly hold; they were to be exchanged as priſoners of war, and the remainder of Earl Cornwallis's army were marched priſoners into the country. 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 America in 1779. Capt. Saunders arriving from Charles- Town, took the command of that part of the corps which had come to New-York in the Bonetta. Many of the ſoldiers, who were priſoners [181] priſoners in the country, were ſeized as deſerters from Mr. Waſhing- ton'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 continued, there was little 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 Afgil to ſuffer for Huddy’s death. Capt. Saunders, and the officers who were with him, had to expe- rience 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 re- commending themſelves by their ſervices to the protection of the new 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 comment than that which accompanied it as it was tranſmitted to Lt. Col. Simcoe, then in England. " SIR, Adjt. Gen. Office, March 31, 1783. « Lt. Col. Thompſon having received orders to compleat the regiment under his command by volunteers from the different Provincial corps, and to raiſe in like manner four additional companies of light infantry, for a particular ſervice; the Commander in Chief deſires you would give all poſſible affiſtance to Lieut. 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 affure you that neither the officers nor others who may remain with corps ſhall ſuffer any loſs or any injury to their pretenſions by you in the [ 182 ] by the diminution of your numbers ariſing from the volunteers who may join the corps under the command of Lt. 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 unjuſt, humiliating, and diſgraceful order, yet conſcious of their ſuperiority both in rank, in life, and in military ſervice to the perſon whom it was meant to aggrandize, 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, ſpecified that when this corps was compleated and em- barked, 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 officers 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 diſpleaſure of Sir Guy Carleton, and the denunciation of his precluding the officers from their juſt promotion. 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. I take the liberty as commanding officer of that part of the Queen's Rangers at Huntingdon, to addreſs your Ex- cellency: a letter received from Col. de Wurmb, containing your very ſevere reprehenſion of their conduct, in conſequence of repre- ſentations 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 66 SIR, ( 183 ] and as the charge materialy affects the honor and reputation of the corps, we hope and requeſt that your Excellency will be pleaſed to order an enquiry into this matter, ſo that we may have an opportunity of meet- ing our accuſers face to face, and of removing from your Excellency's breaſt the impreſſion that has been made ſo diſadvantageous to us. 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-martial, that thoſe depredations, which had drawn down upon the Rangers the Com- mander in Chief's indignation, 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 Rangers ſeem to have been oppreſſed with every circumſtance that could wound the hearts of men who were ſoldiers on the beſt principles, except the conſciouſneſs of not having deſerved it; but this cloud was ſoon to paſs away. General Conway was Commander in Chief of his Majeſty's forces, and Sir H. Clinton had arrived in England; Sir Charles Grey was appointed to ſuperſede Sir Guy Carleton, Lt. Col. Simcoe, whoſe exchange Government had procured from Dr. Franklin, was to have accompanied him as fecre-' tary 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 eſtabliſhment, which Sir H. Clinton had perſonally recommended 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, in caſe of future war, it might not be de-- prived of the ſervices of ſuch a number of excellent officers.” Theſe repreſentations had their due effect, and on the 25th of Dec. 1782, his Majeſty was graciouſly pleaſed to make that rank univerſally permanent a [ 184 ] a permanent which they had hitherto only held in the ſcene of action, America ;--and the Queen's Rangers, cavalry and infantry, were ho- . nourably enrolled in the Britiſh army. The corps was diſbanded at the enſuing 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 forlorn of the armies in which they ſerved, and that even in winter quarters, when in common wars troops are permitted 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 enterprizing enemy. a THE END OF THE JOURNAL. The A P P E N D I X. An Appendix is added of ſuch Letters, Papers, and Obſervations, as are neceſſary to illuſtrate this Journal. *YOUR Page 34. When Sir William Howe quitted the command of the army, Major Simcoe laid the following memorial before him, which he promiſed to ſupport on bis 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. OUR Memorialiſts, with all ſubmiſſion and reſpect, beg leave to entreat your Excellency will lay them at his Majeſty'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 coun- tenance, at the breaking out of the preſent rebellion, left their eſtates and ſettlements in Virginia, joined his Excellency Lord Dunmore, and under- went with him all the viciſſitudes of ſervice, 'till his junction with the army at Staten Iſland. The Queen's Rangers being intended for active em- ploy, your Excellency was pleaſed to appoint your Memoraliſts, on account of their being more experienced in actual ſervice, to ſuperſede the generality of thoſe who were its officers: how far your Excellency's favourable opinion of them has been juſtified, the ſubſequent behaviour of the corps in the Jerſies a A P P E N D I X. Jerfies, at the battle of Brandywine, 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 them- ſelves in it, confident that the men they command are diſciplined equal to the important ſervice of the light troops with whom they have conſtantly ferved, and conſcious that, ſhould they obtain their deſired rank, their con- duct will neither diſgrace it as Gentlemen and as Officers; your me- morialiſts humbly hope that your Excellency will patronize their requeſt, and that your interceſfion will induce his Majeſty to look favourably on their petition, and to mark his approbation of their ſervices by conferring on them the honor of enrolling with the army." Page 44, line 12 Soon after, &c. &c. Lt. Col. Simcoe had detailed his plan in readineſs to lay it before Sir Henry Clinton. The 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 Rariton river, and to continue his march as rapidly and ſecretly 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 the troops which the enemy had at Elizabeth town, their only corps in the Jerſies, under General Maxwell. Lt. Col. Simcoe would have joined the Indians, probably in three days; and long before Gen. Sullivan's expedition againſt them. Page 54, Line 19. Lt. Col. Simcoe received the following Letter from Colonel Wurmb, commanding the Yagers. « MONSIEUR, J'ENVERRAI apres un heure Le Major Bruſchank et 200 hommes vers Phillips's houſe, et vers la pointe du jour le Capit: Wreden avec 100 hommes ſur Courtland's Ridge, qui couvrera vôtre Gauche et nôtre droite ; ſitôt 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 l'honneur d'être, &c. A 71 le foir. « WURMB." Page Α Ρ Ρ Ε Ν DI X. Page 61, line 2. 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-Rae and Kerr's companies (ſuppoſed to be the right) to maintain their barrack, Capt. M'Rae's above and Capt. Kerr's below ſtairs. Capt. Dunlop's company to occupy the right hand funken fleche, Capt. Saunders the left; whichever of thoſe companies gains its poſt firſt, to be divided and occupy both fleches, 'till the arrival of the other: Captain Smith's to occupy the ſunken work in front of the Artillery barrack. The huzzars will be provided with arms, and are to gain the fleche on the left of Capt. Smith's, nor are they to think of their horſes 'till ordered to get them by a field officer, or the ſenior officer within the ſecond abbatis, who commands the whole of the out-works and redoubt.. Captains Stevenſon and Shank's companies to retreat on the heights to the one tree Hill, and to act according to emergency, retreating from if attacked, recoiling on the enemy if they retreat, and falling on their rear if they attempt to force the redoubt. The grenadiers, the highlanders, and the picquet of cavalry, to join the light infantry at their barracks. The guards to retreat and join the firſt company under arms; if attacked to keep up a galling fire. All ſoldiers, whether officers ſervants or others, whom their commanding officers permit to lie out of their barracks, are to have their arms with them, and to join the firſt party under arms that they meet. The moſt profound ſilence 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 poffible: 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 commanding officers muſt report to the Lt. Colonel, who will inſpect them. The officer in the redoubt, in caſe from neceſity a 2 A P P E N D I X. neceſſity or intention the regiment ſhall not join him, muſt maintain his poft. 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 :-nd ſoldier, or non-commiſſioned officer, to be acquainted with theſe orders. Page 77, line u. His impriſonment, &c. &c. so Lt. Col. Simcoe had many providential eſcapes. Marrener prevented a boy from bayoneting him, as he lay ſenſeleſs on the ground, ſaying "let “ him alone the raſcal is dead enough ;” and another perfon regretted that he had not ſhot him through the head, which he would have 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 ſcattered firing, and ſaw what hands he had fallen into; and, when recovering more perfectly, his ſituation, and all his pro- feſſional hopes ruſhed at once upon his mind, are better felt than deſcribed. He had other dangers to furmount, the populace were driven to fury by the death of Capt. Vorhees; and he was fhewn a letter from a field officer of the Jerſey militia, in which was the following paragraph: ** It was intended to bring Col. Simcoe to Capt. Vorhee's grave, to ſhew 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 aſſaſſination: and Governor Levingſton, after making “a little harangue," as he termed it, to the populace, thought it neceffary to give to Lt. Col. Simcoe the following written protection. 66 « THE Governor being informed, that ſome people have a defign to abuſe and inſult Lt. Colonel Simcoe, a Britiſh captive, and wounded in a ſkirmiſh that happened this day, between our militia and the Britiſh horſe : though the Governor is not inclined to believe Α Ρ Ρ Ε Ν D Ι Χ. 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 is his expreſs orders to treat the ſaid officer according to the rules of war, known , and practiſed among all civilized nations, 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 treated 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 Kellock having come with a flag, as a ſurgeon, to take care of Colonel Simcoe and a Serjeant, and alſo Edward Heifernon, his ſervant, are to attend him unmoleſted. « WILLIAM LIVINGSTON.” It would be unjuſt not to mention that ſome people of Brunſwick, to whom Lt. Col. Simcoe, when Captain of grenadiers, had it in his power to be of ſervice, remembered the protection, and in arms volunteered to affift Major Navius 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, 1779:- • 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 Rangers is alive:" in ſhort, nothing can exceed the joy which appears in the countenance of officers and ſoldiers, and prayers for your ſpeedy recovery; but none can poſſibly be more fincere than thoſe of, &c. J. WILSON.” On the 28th Lt. Col. Simcoe was removed on parole to Borden town, to a tavern kept by Col. Hoogland of the Jerſey militia, by whom he was treated with great civility. The principal people of Borden town were very violent, in particular Meffrs. Börden and Kirkbride. Lt. Colonel Simcoe, in the ſon of the former, recollected the officer whoſe life, as mer- tioned A P P E N D I X. tioned in the 30th page, line 28, he had probably ſaved; and the cir- cumſtances were fo well known that the fact was acknowledged; but this did not contribute to leſſen 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 foon confined himſelf to the houſe. Colonel Lee had written to offer Lt. Col. Simcoe pecuniary aſſiſtance; as Lt. Campbell, of the 74th regiment, who was on parole at Prince town, had kindly ſupplied him, he had declined the acceptance of Col. Lee's civility. There were many reports ſpread of Lt. Col. Simcoe's cruelties; and ſome rebel juſtices were anxious for affidavits to ſupport them; but the direct contrary was the caſe; many of their party in Penſylvania offering to give ample teſtimony of Lt. Col. Simcoe's humanity, and ſpeaking moſt favour- ably of his conduct, while in that province. On the 6th of November he received the following letter from Col. Lee. « SIR, Monmouth, 6th Nov. 1779. « I AM happy to hear by your polite reply, to an offer dictated by the feelings of man for man, that you had already 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 laft Trenton gazette, I apprehend your local ſituation not the moſt agreeable: 1 -perhaps you may with a remove; of courſe muſt addreſs the Governor; being employed in a ſimilar line by our reſpective Generals; it may not be amifs to appeal to me, ſhould his Excellency require contradiction to the reports propagated prejudicial to your character. I am a ſtranger to what officer the barbarities exerciſed on ſome captured militia in Buck's county, Penſylvania, 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 Capt. Vorhee's in the late enterprize, I am told, took place after 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 Α Ρ Ρ Ε Ν D Ι Χ. which it ſtill retains. Anxious to prevent injuſtice being done to the un- fortunate, I have been particular in this letter, though I 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 the affair at the Billet, informed him, that he planned the attack on General Lacy; but that no cruelties whatever were committed by the Queen's Rangers. On the 7th of November, Governor Levingſton came to Borden town; from his converſation Lt. Col. Simcoe had hopes of an im- mediate exchange: he was therefore much ſurprized 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. Hoogland with great humanity interfered, and, upon their paroles, carried Colonels Billop and Simcoe in his own light waggon to Burlington the next morning. Mr. Kellock who accom- panied them thither, returned, as he muſt have alſo been confined, which Lt. Col. Simcoe by no means would permit. Lt. Col. Simcoe and his ſervant 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 a Boudinot, the Commiſſary of Priſoners. “ To the Keeper of the Common Jail for the County of Burlington. Greeting. “ YOU are hereby commanded to receive into your cuſtody, 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 food, until you receive further orders from me, or the commiſſary of Priſoners for the State of New Jerſey, for the time being. Given under my hand at Elizabeth town, this 6th day of Nov. 1779. “ ELISHA BOUDINOT, Com. Priſ. New Jerſey." a 6 SIR, « SORRY I am that I have been put under the diſagreeable neceſſity of a treatment towards your perſon that will prove fo irkſome to you; but retaliation is directed, and it will, I moſt ſincerely hope, be in your Α Ρ Ρ Ε Ν D Ι Χ. your power to relieve yourſelf from the ſituation by writing to New York, to procure the relaxation of the ſufferings of John Leſhier, and Captain Nathaniel Randal. It ſeems, nothing ſhort of retaliation will teach Britons ito act like men of humanity. I am, fir, your moſt humble ſervant, * ELISHA BOUDINOT, Elizabeth Town, Nov. 6, 1779. * Com. State Priſoners." sco 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. Nathaniel 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 character, and conſiderable property; who, in the Houſe of Aſſembly, where he had 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 extraction, 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 proviſions allowed them, but depended upon the precarious charity of a few friends, for fubſiſtance. Lt. Col. Simcoe repreſented their ſituation to the Sheriff, which their emaciated appearance fully confirmed; in conſequence, they were ſhortly after removed from Burlington. 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 per- mitted to go on parole to Staten iſland, as the following letter will evince. Monmouth, 14th Nov. 1779. I HAVE received an anſwer from Governor Livingſton to my letter of requeſt, in your behalf. I was very particular in my addreſs, and, although I cannot congratulate myſelf on its full ſucceſs, I flatter myſelf it will SIR, A P P E N D I X. CC will lead to the completion of your wiſhes. The 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 indiſpenſible 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 fo favourable an opinion, (beſides the diſagreeableneſs of ſuch meaſures at any time), is particularly afflictive to, &c. &c. &c.” « From the above declaration I preſume, that your parole may be pro- cured in a few days, if any expectation 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 effect 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 attempt 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 honor to be, &c. “ H. LEE, Jun.” Lt. Col. Simcoe anſwered Col. Lee's letter, and in that part which re- ferred to the liberation of Randal, or Fitzrandolph, 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 Governor's phraſe.” puidora Governor 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. con olla protoMount Holly, Nov. 1oth, 1779. “I HAVE received your letter, without date. Your con- finement, and the erder relative to Col. Billop, is in conſequence of the advice of the Privy Council; 'till they reſcind 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 b Colonel “SIR, A P PE P E N D I X. Col. Billop (which is Col. Reynolds, Mr. Fitzrandolph, 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 citizens in captivity at New York, but alſo from ſentiments of humanity towards Col. Billop and yourſelf, as I am not gratified by the ſufferings of any man; and I am ſure the Governor does not, and fully perſuaded the Council do not harbour any perſonal reſentment againſt Col. Billop. Unfortunately for that gentleman, the treatment of ſome of our citizens in New York, has induced this State to conſider retaliation their indiſpenſible duty, and it is his particular mil- fortune to be in our poſſeſſion at this melancholy juncture. Reſpecting your requeſt of going to Staten iſland on your parole, I hope your exchange will be negociated without it; and, for that purpoſe, any of your letters on that ſubject ſhall be chearfully tranſmitted to New York, by teisis fir, your humble ſervant, in goons Jontiburod motit << WILLIAM LIVINGSTON. « P. S. In anfwer to Dr. Kellock's letter, defiring to attend you as Surgeon, I have acquainted him that there is no objection, provided he conſents to be confined with Lt. Col. Simcoe of the Queen's Rangers.” oor C6 you.” (6 « SIR, I am « I HAVE juſt now the honor of receiving your letter ; ſorry you will not permit me to go to Staten iſland, to negociate mine and Col. Billop's exchange. “ I ſhall embrace an opportunity of writing to New York; but I muſt firſt beg to be acquainted, whether Mr. Randolph is or is not a Captain? he being ſtiled ſuch in M. Boudinot's letter to Col. Billop. " I am alſo to beg, you will pleaſe to inform me for whom I am to re- taliate, or for what I am confined ? ſuch uſage being moſt unprecedented. “ As you are pleaſed to obſerve that no private reſentment is harboured againſt Col. Billop, I wiſh to know whether there be any againſt me. Jsc I ſhould be happy to have an early anſwer, and am, ſir, oranbod sorellin Doy humble ſervant, Burlington Goal, Nov. Ioth, 1779. moo« J. G. SIMCOE. “ bro « P. S. your A APP D I X. « SIR, 10 OSTA DO P P E N Ε DI " P.S. I am not well acquainted with theſe matters, but I conceive the preſent propoſition to be what laſt year General Waſhington refuſed to ex- change General Burgoyne's army on, when made by Sir Henry Clinton ; and I ſhould be glad to know the ranks of thoſe people, with the number of privates, neceſſary to compleat them to Col. Billop's rank.” od 7 Mount Holly, 11th November, 1779. ho “ I HAVE juſt now received your letter of yeſterday's date. “ 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 con- NOT ſidered as a priſoner to this State. “ Mr. Fitzrandolph is no officer in our militia, but, nevertheleſs, of ſo reſpectable a character that we are univerſally ſolicitous for his releaſe; and, though a gentleman of the ſtricteſt honor, has been treated with the greateſt indignity by your ſuperiors. som CITY “ 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 conſideration 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, I hope, originate from that ſource. hat ſources “ 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 un- precedented. Conſidering, fir, that the confinement of our citizens, both officers and privates, when priſoners with the enemy, has been as uni- formly directed as if it had been a matter of courſe, it ought not to appear wonderful, ſhould we adopt the ſame mode of treatment, even without any view to retaliate; the precedent being 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 b 2 your OJE APPE A P P E N N I X. a D Ι your parole at Borden town (I would wiſh to believe rather from your miſ- conſtruction than determinate deſign 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 intended to be judge), not to mention that your preſent ſituation 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 harboured againſt you? I anſwer fir, that public bodies are not actuated by private reſentment; but the actions of individuals of a publick nature, ſuch as cruelty to pri- ſoners, may nevertheleſs properly occaſion towards ſuch individuals a line of conduct, very different from what is obſerved towards thoſe of an op- poſite character, and this, with as little colour for complaining of perſonal reſentment as of the civil magiſtrates puniſhing a publick offender ; but as no ſuch charge has been proved (though many have been alledged againſt you), I have no reaſon to think that ſuch reports have influenced this Government in the meaſures hitherto directed, concerning you. « The negociating the exchange of priſoners being, by our law, entirely committed to the Commiffary (though the Governor is authorized to ſuperintend their treatment), you will be pleaſed, fir, in your future cor- reſpondence on that ſubject to be referred to him; I do not mean by this to diſcourage you from making any neceſſary applications to, ſir, or 101 Bes bossiste your moſt humble ſervant, to Nome galda cor “ WILLIAM LIVINGSTON.” mommons “ I MUST beg of you to forward the inclofed packet to Sir Henry Clinton. 11956 “ I was pleaſed that I had fallen into the hands of the State of New Jerſey, rather than into that of the Continental army, ſolely from the re- liance I had on the aſſurances you gave me, that I probably ſhould be ex- changed in a few days, naming to me Colonels Reynolds or Hendrickſon, as the likely perſons. "I never heard of a Lt. Colonel's being taken from his parole, and 6C « SIR, confined 100 Α APP Ι Χ. Ρ Ρ Ε Ν D EN DI confined in a common goal, becauſe a private centinel was impriſoned ; and am at a loſs, in ſuch treatment, to find the meaning of retaliation. “You cannot force yourſelf to believe, fir, that I ever harboured a thought of violating my parole; although the principle of honor be very imperfectly felt among common peoplè, no man, even in that claſs, would break his word, or ſuſpect that a Britiſh officer 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. Hoogland, whom I con- ſulted, was of the ſame opinion ; I never exceeded a mile, and confined. myſelf to my houſe when I found it was diſagreeable. There being ſome difficulty in procuring a guard for my protection when at Rariton landing, I publickly told Major Navius, that if my life was aitaiked and I was not. protected, I ſhould think myſelf at liberty to eſcape, in the propriety of which he acquieſced : I never mentioned, fir, nor meant, in caſe I was. inſulted; many inſults I have met with, which as they deſerved, I have treated with contempt. I ſhould not have aſked whether private reſent- ment was harboured againſt me, had not you written, fir, that neither you or the council harboured any perſonal reſentment againſt Colonel Billop; that gentleman's fufferings, and my own confinement, I muſt ſtill conceive to be moſt ſevere and unprecedented. I am to obſerve, fir, that I never complained of perſonal reſentment; I was far from thinking I 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 contrary to the laws of arms and humanity. “ In regard to the news-paper, and popular fabrications of cruelty, alledged againſt me, I ſhould treat them with contempt, had not you been pleaſed to take notice of them: ſuch imputations, fir, 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 characteriſtick of cowardice diſtinguiſhes my conduct. My employment gave me the curſory poſſeſſion, the momentary charge of priſoners; and cruelty is contrary to my nature, my education, and my obedience to my orders. My private affairs calling me to Staten Iſland, my application was made to you, fir, on that conſideration. I ſtill APPEN A P P E N DI D I X. « SIR, 06 * I ſtill truſt you will intercede to obtain me that permiſſion; 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 honor to be, fir, &c. J. G. SIMCOE.” Lt. Col. Simcoe encloſed the correſpondence he had held with Governor Livingſton to Sir Henry Clinton in the following letter, which was open and forwarded by the Governor to New York. ba « GOVERNOR LIVINGSTON having promiſed me to forward to your Excellency my letters ; I take the earlieſt opportunity of acquainting you with my late and preſent ſituation. The reſult of my incurſion your Excellency is acquainted 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 be 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 when in a ſtate of inſenſibility, and afterwards by the humanity of Mr. Morris. « A Capt. Vorhees was killed by the detachment in its return, after I was taken; his relations ſeemed to the Governor ſo determined to revenge his death by my deſtruction, that he gave me a written protection; and afterwards directed Major Navius, who treated me with great humanity, I was re- perſonally to prevent any injuries that might be offered to me. moved to Burden Town on my parole, until the 9th, when I was taken from it, and cloſe confined in Burlington goal. As my commitment expreſſed no reaſon for this treatment, 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 proſpect of ſucceſs in them. “ I truſt, fir, that having obtained your recommendation near a twelve months ſince for promotion, you will ſtill patronize the application you then honoured with your approbation. My a Α Ρ Ρ Ε Ν DI X. forced to change his dreſs for ſelf-preſervation, it may ſafely be aſſerted, that no European general would on this pretext have had his blood upon his head. He fell a ſacrifice to that which was expedient, not to that which was juſt: what was ſuppoſed to be uſeful ſuperſeded what would have been generous; and though, by imprudently carrying papers about him, he gave a colour to thoſe, who endeavoured to ſeperate Great Britain from America, to preſs for his death; yet an open and elevated mind would have found greater ſatisfaction in the obligations it might have laid on the army of his opponents, than in carrying into execution a uſeleſs 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 unpopular if he executed Major Andrè, or ſuſpected if he pardoned him. In the length of the war, for what one generous action has Mr. Waſhing- ton 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 laſt farewell to the cares of office, and all the employments 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 public diſappointment, and moſt afflicting of private ſituations, united the ſenſi- bility 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 confine- ment, on the cleareſt proof for the violation of the law of nations, would have been adjudged to the death they had merited. The papers which Congreſs publiſhed, relative to Major Andrès death, will remain an eternal monument of the principles of that heroick officer ; and, when fortune ſhall no longer glofs over her fading panegyrick, will enable poſterity to paſs judgment on the character of Waſhington. Page 60 a A P P E N D I X. . Page 104, line 15. At this time Lt. Col. Simcoe recapitulated ſome of his ideas (relative to ſeizing Billing's port) by the letter which is in the appendix. “ THE prefent fyftem 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 fo forcibly that I truſt your Excellency 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 left unfiniſhed when Sir William Howe took poſſeſſion of Philadelphia. 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 clofe under the bold bluff, which terminates the terré plein towards the water: this, with the other chevaux du frize above, would be turned much to our advantage. A ſufficient 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 tranſport or two on the eſtabliſh- ment of the Margery, a tranſport of the garriſon armed with cannonades, a few gallies and gun-boats, would accompliſh every wiſh'd for end. " The work to be erected ſhould be calculated at leaſt for three hundred regular troops to defend, to which ſhould be added three hundred light troops, habituated to make incurſions, &c. &c. " It ſeems probable that an expedition will ſooner or later be formed for Virginia ; the troops intended for 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 poft in Virginia. The advan- tages reſulting from the poſſeſſion of this port, would be an entire ſtop of the trade of the Delaware, probably the driving the Congreſs from Phila- delphia, or by a very little exertion of policy, being in early poſſeſſion of their moſt ſecret refolutions and intentions; it would encourage deſertion, ; particularly that of the ſhipbuilders in Philadelphia. 6 To Α Ρ Ρ Ε Ν D Ι Χ. « To beſiege this garriſon while the river is open will be a matter of great difficulty; the road from Staten iſland to Trent town being ſo much nearer than a retreat from Billing's port to that paſs, and the Delaware being al- moſt every where too wide for a bridge of boats, or for batteries raiſed upon each fhore effectually to command a retreat. The place might be inveſted by the Jerſey militia ; they are not numerous, or to be feared, and would foon be diſarmed by a proper mixture of conciliatory and vigorous meaſures. " The officer commanding the port ſhould, if it could be contrived, have the command alſo of the water forces; at leaſt not a boat ſhould be permitted to land without his concurrence. The garriſon fhould purchaſe what freſh proviſions 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 diſadvantages reſulting from this poft muſt ſtrike your Excellency's comprehenſive views, which do not appear to my partial one. If, any future time, although I am not willing to be 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 I have of military preferment, and of being eſteemed a faithful and honourable ſervant of my King and Country.” 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. a “SIR, Page 125, line 23. Capt. Stevenſon's humanity was alarmed, and the letters, which are in the appendix, paſſed between Lt. Col. Simcoe and Colonel Parker: they prevented all further bad conſequences. Portſmouth, Sunday, March 4, 1781. « 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 me, 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 otherwiſe probably lead to ſerious conſequences, I folemnly confirm the truth of Capt. Stevenſon's explanation of the affair; and add, upon the ſacred honour of a ſoldier and a gen- a Α Ρ Ρ Ε Ν D Ι Χ. 60 а a gentleman, 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. " I have the honor to be, fir, &c. « « To Colonel Parker." J. G. SIMCOE.” « Col. Simcoe, SIR, « THE honor 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 delicate 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 the ſame manner I do. o I have the honor to be, fir, &c. March 5, 1781. “ J. PARKER, Col." Page 133, line 25. 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? This converſation is dwelt upon in the journal in 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 fufficient.” General Arnold was ſecond in command, ſo that no particular report was made to him; but he was preſent at the converſation which paſſed between Lt. Col. Simcoe and General Phillips. Page 147, line 20. Lt. Col. Simcoe, while at Weſtover, received a letter from General Lee. « DEAR SIR, March 3d, 1781. “ 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 pre- miſe that, whatſoever fome flaming zealots in the Britiſh army may inſiſt to the contrary, it is very poſſible that ſeveral who embarked on this fide in the preſent conteſt were very good Engliſhmen, and I can venture to aſſert that I am one of this ſtamp-for I conſidered, that had the Miniſtry ſuc- ceeded in their ſcheme of eſtabliſhing the principle of taxing America with- > out A P P E N D I X. a out 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 influence of the Crown was already enormouſly too great, ſo pro- digious an additional weight thrown into the preponderating ſcale muſt fink to utter ruin every part of the Empire-on the other hand I will venture to aſſert, notwithſtanding all that fome of the flaning fanaticks on this fide may pleaſe to 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 the 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 with propriety point out ſome which ſhe ought not to purſue. For inſtance, her Generals and Commanders ought not to ſuffer, or con- nive at by impunity, the little dirty piratical plundering of individuals- ſuch proceedings can only tend to widen the breach already, to the misfor- tune of both parties, much too wide, by fouring men's minds into a ſtate of irreconciliable reſentment: in ſhort, it is diametrically repugnant, not only to the honor, but the true intereſt and policy of Great Britian, 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 Com- modore, as from the air and garb of the robbers they have not the ap- pearance of being legally commiſſioned. This, my dear fir, 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 puniſh and put an end to ſuch abominable practices. « I have nothing to add, but to entreat that whatever letters I may ſend in you will 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 reſpect and eſteem, and I beg you will remember me kindly to General Phillips :-But above all, I entreat you will believe me to be, o moſt fincerely, your's, « CHARLES LEE." Page A P P E N D I X. C > Page 156, line 6. In the middle of the day a patrole from Lt. Col. Tarleton, who was on the oppoſite ſide of the Rivana, communicated with him. In Col. Tarleton's hiſtory of the campaigns in the ſouthern Provinces, pub- liſhed ſince the completion of this Journal, 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 Charlotteville of the flight of the Americans, Lt. Col. Tarleton might have been in time to harraſs Baron “ Steuben's progreſs, whilft 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 repre- « fented ſuch a co-operation as too ſpeculative and precarious.” It appears that Lt. Col. Tarleton marched from Charlotteville towards the Point of Fork nearly at the time that Lt. Col. Simcoe arrived there; had that officer 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 apprehended, had croſſed a rapid, broad, unfordable river, was in poſſeſſion of all the boats, and en- camped 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 rejoining him, without delay, at Goochland Court-houſe, and of marching away with all his light troops to a conſiderable diſtance. But there was a total impoſſibility of paſſing the river; it was not fordable for many miles, and the combination, Lt. Col. Tarleton talks of, was abſolutely impracticable. He obſerves, that the diſtance from Charlotteville was thirty-five miles, which would have been too great, had the river been fordable; but the uncertainty of his ſucceſs could be no impediment as, at any rate, there was no enemy to oppoſe him, and his march was eaſily to be traced; nor could theſe reaſons “repreſent ſuch co-operation as « fpeculative and precarious," at leaſt to Lt. Col. Simcoe, as the idea never once entered his mind, and he was much ſurprized when he ſaw it in Lt. Col. Tarleton's campaigns, as 'till then he never had heard it ſuggeſted. Page Α Ρ Ρ Ε Ν DI X. Page 166, line 28. It was reported, and not without probability, that a patrole of the enemy met with this party on the road, where it was natural to expeet Lord Cornwallis's army, and took it for his advance guard, and that this belief prevented them from renewing 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 favour- « able incident for the Americans; for if the legion foraging party under Capt. Ogilvie, who accidentally approached the flank of the rifle-men, “ could produce heſitation and aſtoniſhment, the charge of the whole “ cavalry muſt have conſiderably aſſiſted Lt. Col. Simcoe, whoſe judicious « conduct obliged Col. Butler to fall back upon Gen. Wayne, before the “ arrival of the infantry from Williamſburg, or the dragoons from Burrel's; “ the loſs in this affair was nearly equal, except 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. The approach of Capt. Ogilvie was not of the leaſt ſervice to the Rangers, as it was at too great a diſtance to aſſiſt their attack; nor could any movement from Williamſburg have been in time ſufficient to have preſerved the troops under Lt. Col. Simcoe, who owed their preſervation as much 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 buſineſs to retire, and this he inſtantly effected. Capt. Ewald, who ſince the war has publiſhed ſome military obſerva- tions in Germany, has propoſed to thoſe who may be in ſimilar circum- ftances, Lt. Col. Simcoe's conduct as a proper example; he affirms, that had he purſued he would have been cut off. Infantry might have been of ſervice in following the enemy through the wood, to the brink of the Ravine. e 2 Page APP À P P E EN I X. N D DI Page 176, line 9. 9. The climate, the fickly ſtate and condition of the corps, as more fully detailed in the appendix. Lt. Col. Simcoe had repreſented this to Sir Henry Clinton, in the follow- ing letter. “ I DO myſelf the honor of writing to your Excellency by the preſent opportunity, and of making ſuch repreſentation of the Queen's Rangers as I think to be my indiſpenſible duty. The infantry are much reduced in numbers by defertion, the conſequence of their compofition, opportunities, unremitting fatigues, and by death; while thoſe remaining are much fhattered in point of conſtitution : the cavalry are admirably mounted, but more than half are without accoutrements, or any arms, but ſuch as we have taken from an ill-appointed enemy. The arms and accoutrements, which I apprehend had been intended for Capt. Cooke's troop, were ſent by the Inſpector to Lord Cornwallis, who gave them to the legion, for whom he had made the application. In this ſituation, without time to diſcipline, and without proper arms, I am obliged to truſt more to fortune than I have ever found neceſſary, and that againſt an enemy who is improving every day. My duty therefore leads me to hope, that, as we have been already embarked for New York, that your Excellency, fhould any troops be ordered there, will be pleafed 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 in- different to me.” Lt. Col. Simcoe had been directed by the Commander in Chief to com- municate with him, and to give him fuch information 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 repreſented the great importance of poſſeſſing a ſmall naval force on the Carratuck inlet, both to ſecure a retreat and to connect the operations of Virginia with thoſe of Carolina: he had been an eye-witneſs, that the naval force ſtationed in the Cheſapeak bay, by no means blocked it up, or prevented the enemy's veſſels from going in or out at their pleaſure. In Α Ρ Ρ Ε Ν DI X. In this letter he added :- “ I take this opportunity of encloſing to your Excellency two ſketches, taken amongſt the papers of the Marquis de la Fayette. The road from Philadelphia to Kent iſland is accurately delineated; and, ſhould your Ex- cellency, 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 I have long thought a poft would be of great effect, to give an aſylum to the diſtreſſed friends of Government, and by the ſtation of a few cruizers effectually to block up the Cheſapeak, which cannot or has not hitherto been done." It was natural for Lt. Col. Simcoe to fix his mind on thoſe operations, which he had reaſon to expect would be undertaken on the upper part of the Cheſapeak; 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 ftate, 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 Virginia, and the following and deſtroying their ſhipping in their innume- rable ſmaller harbours. The fatal event at York town terminated theſe views, and Lt. Col. Simcoe's ſervices. His friend, Capt. Thomas Graves, was more fortunate: he was appointed to the frigate La Magicienne, which he manned at a conſiderable private expence; but with a diſintereſted fpirit truly becoming the Britiſh officer, declined taking poffeſfion of her, while in the command of a line of battle fhip, he thought, he could be more uſeful to his country, and that honourable ſervice was to be met with in the Weſt Indies or America: and when he accepted of the frigate, being employed on convoys, he fell in with the Sybil French frigate of ſuperior force to himfelf, doubly manned, and commanded by an officer of diſtinguiſhed character. Their engagement was rendered rnemorable, by their being locked cloſe to each other for near two hours, with every fail ſet, by the carnage on board the Britiſh fhip, exceeding what in fimilar numbers is to be met with in the annals of the late war, and by the circumſtance, that when a A P P E N D I X. when Capt. Graves had filenced the fire of his opponent, the mafts of the La Magicienne fell overboard, and fortune deprived him of his prize and of all, but the glory of having deſerved it. 1 Page 177, line 20. Earl Coritwallis in a converſation with Lt. Col. Simcoe aſked bim, “ whether be thought that he could eſcape with the cavalry?” be anſwered his Lordſhip, " without the ſmalleſt doubt.” The great outline which Lt. Col. Simcoe laid down as the means by which he could eſcape, was to march ſtrait up the country 'till ſuch time as he had arrived parallel to the fords of the Suſquehana ; leaving it un- certain whether he meant to proceed to Carolina or Pennſylvania ; he then would have croſſed towards the Suſquehana, directing his march ſo as to en- deavour to releaſe the Convention army, or to impreſs the enemy with a belief that ſuch was his intention, 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 ſome time previous to Ear Cornwallis's queſtion, Lt. Col. Simcoe had formed the idea of eſcaping with his cavalry, and ſuch men as could have been mounted, in ſhort the whole of his corps; and he had acquired a moſt perfect knowledge of the different fords, and formed for himſelf a regular plan. Capt. Ewald ſaw him one day looking over Xenophon, and immediately ſaid, “ My Colonel, you are going to retreat ; for God's fake “ do not leave the yagers behind you.” Thoſe who are not acquainted with " the American country and its internal ſituation, would look upon ſuch an at- tempt as chimerical; but a conſideration of circumſtances might alter their opinion. The whole of the enemy's force was concentrated at York town ; their cavalry conſiſted of the Duke of Lauzun's legion, ill-mounted, few in numbers, and unacquainted with the country and the genius of the war; no ſerious interruption or purſuit could be expected from them; ſuch a corps as four or five hundred men were exactly calculated for the attempt. A ſingle plantation would have furniſhed them with ſufficient proviſions and forage; the rapidity of their march would prevent any predetermined oppo- fition; and, as the party proceeded, horſes could be accumulated to remount thoſe which might be diſabled. The A Α E N D I X. P P Ρ Ρ The country was ſufficiently loyal to give the beſt intelligence; muchi could have been procured by means of the Negroes, and theſe people, if properly managed, might have been of infinite ſervice as auxiliaries; they are brave, excellent horſemen, maſters of the ſword, capable of fatigue and exertion in the hotteſt weather, and would have been tremendous in a purſuit. The compoſition of the Queen's Rangers ſuited it for any enterprize; the huzzars had been practiſed in ſwimming their horfes, and the native Ame- ricans and emigrants were expert in whatever might facilitate the paſſage of rivers, or prevent an enemy from effecting it. There were no troops be- tween New York and Virginia, and if the militia were called out to guard the principal fords (as was reported) it was with a view to ſtop an army, and not a light corps, whoſe march would be directed far above the line they were deſtined to occupy, and to points with which they were unacquainted. Page 189, line 13. His Lordſhip was pleaſed to expreſs himſelf favourably in regard to the ſcheme, but ſaid he could not permit it to be undertaken, for that the whole of the army muſt Mare one fate. The Rangers, from their many voyages, on board of half-manned tranf-- ports, and from their officers encouraging them to aſſiſt in the working of the veſſels, were become ſo ready and expert at fea, that in a periodica] production which ſtated the number of the troops taken at York town, it was not ſurprizing that the Queen's Rangers were remarked as, all failors. , Upon Capt. Palmer's ſucceſs, Lt. Col. Simcoe had taken the liberty of ſuggeſting, " that by fitting out all the ſmall craft as fire veſſels, and driving " the French ſhips from the river in the night, two thouſand men, which “ the boats would carry, might eſcape to the Maryland ſhore :" his Lord- fhip replied, “ he ſaw no daylight in that mode of eſcape.” The duty and conſequent principles of a ſubordinate officer and a com- mander 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 ſer- vice he may be ordered on, and to be ready for thoſe which are moſt hazar- dous, while the commander in chief weighs the propriety of any meaſure, ſees it in all its lights and relations, and determines accordingly; and the greater alacrity which his troops fhew to execute his deſigns, the more valuable they become; and cannot fail ſtrongly to in tereſt a noble mind in their pre- fervation APPEN A P P E N D DI I X. 60 fervation. And this principle Earl Cornwallis, when he ſurrendered York town to the prodigious fuperiority of force combined againſt him, gene- rouſly expreſſed in the following terms: “our numbers had been diminiſhed “ by the enemy's fire; but particularly by fickneſs, and the ſtrength and ſpirits of thoſe in the works were much exhauſted by the fatigue of con- « ftant watching and unremitting duty. Under all theſe circumſtances, I I thought it would have been wanton and inhuman to the laſt degree, to “ facrifice the lives of this ſmall body of gallant foldiers, 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 183, line 20. Lt. Col. Simcoe, whoſe exchange Government had procured from Dr. Franklin. Lt. Col. Simcoe has always thought himſelf under the higheſt obligations to his Majeſty's Miniſters for this mark of attention; the terms on which he was exchanged are here inſerted, verbatim, from Dr. Franklin's dif- charge: “Being informed by William Hodgſon, Eſq. Chairman of the « Committee of Subſcribers for the relief of American Priſoners in Eng- « land, of the benevolent and humane treatment 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- “ foner on parole to the United States of America, ſhould be releaſed from “ his faid parole; and being further of opinion, that meeting the Britiſh « Government in acts of benevolence, 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 copies « of ſuch order be tranſmitted to me. Given at Paffy, 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 Capt, Agnew of the Queen's Rangers, who had been ſo ſeverely wounded at the battle of Brandywine, as A P P E N DI D I X. as to render him unable to undergo the duties of the corps in the field, had embarked for Virginia, of which he was a native at the time General Leſlie went to that province;-his father, Mr. Agnew, Chaplain of the Queen's Rangers, Captains Parker and Blair, Loyaliſts, who had joined Earl Dunmore on the firſt revolt of Virginia, and other gentlemen, failed on the ſame expedition. They followed the 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 cap- tured by a French ſquadron. The following letters will explain their conſequent ſituation; and exe emplify ſome of thoſe acts of benevolence agreeable to the intention and diſpoſition of the Congreſs, as mentioned by Dr. Franklin in his preceding letter . « DEAR SIR, FORTUNE, I truſt, at laſt has put it in my power to inform you of our unhappy and wretched captivity. You may remember General 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 priſoners taken in the Romulus, a diſtinction was made between 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 acquain- tances. From the knowledge theſe gentlemen had of the colony, and the French and American operations being ſo ſoon to take place there, Mr.Waſh- ington'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 thinking it improper to give up their priſoners to the Americans, or having other views relative to us, reſuſed the demand; but at the ſame time con- ſented to treat us in the nianner I am to inform you of. We were imme- diately ſeparated from our friends, and embarked on board the frigate La Hermione, (as we underſtood,) for France; having a letter from the Major d'Eſcadre, informing us we ſhould be ſent to France. The Hermione, on the contrary, was bound to Boſton, where we ſoon after arrived, and were re-embarked on board La Concorde, ſtill thinking ourſelves on our way to France ; but, to our great ſurprize, foon learnt that the ſhip was for f St. Domingo, Α Ρ Ρ Ε DI E N D Ι Χ. Ν St. Domingo, and that we were to be confined there. We arrived the 6th of July; a room in the common priſon was prepared for us; but, by the humanity of the Captain of the 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 time of our deliverance approached ; and we were, (to fulfill the Major's letter,) embarked on board of different thips, armed en Flute, for France, the 23d of October.–Our paffage was diſmal.--L'Union, a 64 gun fhip, 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. However, fir, we have eſcaped all, to be more barbarouſly treated in France. The 6th of December we arrived at Breſt; we were landed, and immediately carried to a place of confinement, where we found two officers of the 86th, of the Tobago capitulation. Breft 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 conduct the five officers from St. Domingo to Dinant Caſtle. The order being indiſcriminate, and the two Tobago gentlemen coming in the ſame fleet, they were inſtantly taken and carried off with Capt. Parker, my father, and ſelf, to Dinant. Whether this is a miſtake at Breſt, or not, I cannot 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 caufes 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 Commandant of Bretagne of our ſituation, who has been humane enough, for ſuch I muſt call it, to remove us to St. Maloes Caſtle, where we now are, ſhut cloſe up as priſoners of ftate; 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 A P P E N D I X. för no nation, I believe, admires the virtue of loyalty and firmneſs more than the French.-I am indebted to ſtratagem for the conveyance of this; by the ſame means, I have written to the Miniſter, being deprived of pen, ink, and paper, and probably may not have another chance; I truſt, ſhould my letter to Lord George Germaine miſcarry, that Col. Simcoe will uſe thoſe means his judgement 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 independant 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. St. Maloes Caſtle, 26th Feb. 1782. « STAIR AGNEW." a " MY DEAR COLONEL, Caen, 2oth Auguſt, 1782. " APPREHENSIVE my letters do not reach you, as I have never had the honour of hearing from you fince in France, and now having a private opportunity, I ſend you in part duplicates of thoſe letters which I I 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 con- vinced at laſt we have a friend. I hope this will not be ſubjected to any inſpection, and conſequently ſhall endeavour to be as particular to you as poſſible, relative to our preſent ſituation. OD doilet To “ It is to the Duke of Harcourt, Governor of the province of Normandy, we are 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 aſſiduous in endeavouring to exchange us; but alas! his powers are not equal to his good inclination. Le Mar- quis de Caſtries has referred him to the American Miniſter, and has informed him it was at the inſtance of America we were detained in France. I have the honor of tranſmitting to you the letter of Mr. Franklin in anſwer to the Marquis de Caſtries on this ſubject. See to co f2 Paffy, A P P E N D I X. Paffy, 2d April, 1782. “I HAVE received the letter your Excellency did me the honor 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 Delegates 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 in- ſtructions from the Congreſs concerning them. I therefore cannot pro- perly make any oppoſition to their being permitted to reſide at Caen on their parole of honor, or to their being exchanged in purſuance of the cartel, as his Majeſty in his wiſdom ſhall think proper. I am, fir, &c. 10 201úto zimu ne " Signed, BENJAMIN FRANKLIN. « From this Letter we readily concluded that every obſtacle was re- moved; and in conſequence the Duke of Harcourt 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 ſhewn me the anſwer of M. de Caftries to this laſt letter, and from which it appears determined to keep us in France. He tells him, “Qu'il ne lui eſt pas poſſible d'y condeſcendre, parceque M. de “ la Luzerne a mandé à M. de Rochambault que le Congrés defiroit qu'ils ne fuſſent pas échangés, comme étant des Torries dangereux dans le Sud, “ òu ils fervoient trop bien leur Patrie.” DOC . loro “ Such is our fituation at preſent, my dear Colonel; nor have we a hope of relief, but in our country, and your kind endeavours; if we are not de- manded, here we remain during the war! Heavens! what a ſucceſſion of melancholy viciſſitudes! I have an aged parent at New York, who, totally dependant on the endeavours of her huſband and an only ſon, perhaps, from a genteel affluence, at this moment is reduced to want! Oh God! what do I ſay? perhaps ſhe is no more! Such are the misfortunes at- tendant on civil war; and ſhall we, my dear Colonel, who have facrificed 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 officers ? Are we not French priſoners ? I ever apprehended that the meaneſt fervant was en- titled to the protection of the ſtate he ſerved ; and fhall France, at the inſtance a A P P E EN I X. N D DI inſtance of America, ſhut up his Majeſty's ſubjects in her dungeons and caſtles with impunity? No! ſhould this happily reach you, I truſt ſuch meaſures will be adopted as to effect our exchange agreeable to the cartel.--- Surely there are French officers enough in England. Your's, &c. « STAIR AGNEW." Lord George Germain had applied to the French Miniſtry for the releaſe of theſe officers, previous to the arrival of Lt. Col. Simcoe in England, but with little effect; application was made to the ſucceeding Secretaries of State. On the approach of peace they were exchanged: it is moſt probable had the war continued they would have remained priſoners; fo 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 tie of humanity which interferes with her policy! The Duke de Lauzun politely offered to procure Lt. Col. Simcoe a par- ſage in the frigate he was to proceed with to France: he received many civilities from the American officers to whom he had been oppoſed, and Col. Lee, by viſiting him, afforded him an opportunity of perſonally ac- knowledging the obligation he had been under to that officer. General O'Hara had kindly intereſted himſelf in explaining to Earl Cornwallis how neceſſary it was for him immediately to proceed to New York; and Baron Steuben deſired to procure, through Gen. Waſhington, a paſſage for him in the French frigate ready to fail for Europe. Lt. Col. Simcoe 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 con- verſation with Baron Steuben, who told him that he had heard of Lt. Col. Tarleton's march to Charlotteville, but not of Lt. Col. Simcoe's to the Point of Fork, and that he took his corps for Earl Cornwallis's army.---Lt. Col. Simcoe has often had occafion to mention ſome of the many inſtances of Lt. Spencer's military talents; and the following anecdote will evince the heroic ſpirit with which he was animated, and on that account be ac- ceptable 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 Philadelphia), received a letter from Major Hanger of the Britiſh legion, informing him, that Lieut. H. Paymaſter of that regi- ment a Α Ρ Ρ Ε Ν D Ι Χ. a ment bad abfconded ; 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 compliments on Lt. Spencer, expreffive of the idea he entertained 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 your 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 told by one of the ſervants that he lodged in ſuch a number, 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 up his waiſtcoat behind, that he might button it, &c. came out of the houſe and went to the inn, from which the vehicle fet off for New York, which it did that night at eight o'clock; and the next day he de- livered the ſtandards to the Major in New York, who received them with fingular 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 the cavalry of the Queen's Rangers; of courſe concluded that he was one of thoſe who had attended Lt. Col. Simcoe in his alert at the time that gen- tleman was taken priſoner. A ſingular diſlike to 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 was to have been married the day after, íf his death had not happened. The populace aſſembled (during dinner) round the houſe, hiſſing and hooting; and had it not been for the interpoſition of ſome American officers, paſſengers in the ſame waggon, it is likely they might have pro- ceeded to violent meaſures had they laid hands on Mr. Spencer, and found the colours as deſcribed in his poffeffion : thoſe, only, who are acquainted with the vindictive ſpirit of the Jerſey people can know the fatal conſequences. Lt. Spencer Α Ρ Ρ Ε Ν DI X. Lt. Spencer returned immediately to Philadelphia on purpoſe to give Mr. H. every ſatisfaction he might require ; Mr. H. waited on him and deſired immediate redreſs; Mr. S. expoftulated with him on the impro- priety 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 terminated. The following letters will conclude this appendix; they were ſent to Lt. Col. Simcoe foon after the preliminaries of the peace were divulged in America. The former was written by one of principal of the aſſociated Loyaliſts on the upper parts of the Cheſapeak, and tranſmitted to Lt. Col. Simcoe by Mr. C. Sowers, a Loyaliſt of Pennſylvania. It is more eaſy for the reader to imagine than it is for him to deſcribe the pleaſure he has re- ceived from theſe honourable teſtimonies. « I HAVE the honor in behalf of the deputies of the aſſociated Loyaliſts in Pennſylvania, Maryland, and the lower counties on Delaware, by their particular direction, and being fully authorized 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 lofs whether moſt to admire your activity and gallantry in the field, or your generous and affectionate attachment 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 had 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 affociated Loyaliſts, and your ready concurrence in the meaſures propoſed for their relief, and kind ſolicitations in their behalf, have made an impreſſion on their minds, words cannot expreſs and time only can eraſe; and they have exceedingly to regret that the opportunity was not afforded them of evincing to the world, under your command, the fincerity of their profeſſions and their attachment to their ſovereign. They would deem themſelves culpable if they did not take this oppor- tunity to mention that your abhorrence of the pillage that too generally took place A Α Ρ E P Ρ Ε Ν DI X. 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 perſonally, which they entreat you now to accept, and that you will be aſſured that under all changes and cir- cumſtances your name will be dear to them, and that their wiſhes and prayers will always be for your proſperity and happineſs.” 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 withold our admiration and reſpect. But, when you riſe to our minds in the re- lation in which you ſtand with us, and we view you as our leader and companion, who not only has pointed out to us the road to military re- putation, but has ſhared in common with us its dangers and hardſhips ; when we find, that the whole tenor of your conduct demonſtrates the moſt friendly diſpoſition and attachment to our intereſts, which, in a particular manner, you have evinced by your unremitted affiduity and zeal, in making known and preferring our pretenſions to our Sovereign, 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, we feel our hearts warmed with the generous glow of gratitude and affection. “We cannot omit obſerving, with very particular ſatisfaction, that in the eſtabliſhment of the corps the whole of the officers are included, and in the ranks they reſpectively bore. Wiſhing you every ſucceſs in your public purſuits, and the moſt perfect domeſtic happineſs, we have the honor to be, with the greateſt regard, “. And moſt perfect eſteem, Signed on behalf of the officers « Your's &c. &c." of the regiment, by R. ARMSTRONG, Major, JOHN SAUNDERS, Captain. tot END OF THE APPENDIX.