Читать книгу The Life and Times of Gen. John Graves Simcoe - D. B. Read - Страница 23

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he headquarters of the British Army in October, 1777, was at Philadelphia. The Queen's Rangers were posted about four miles from Philadelphia, on the road leading to Frankfort, a village on Frankfort Creek, about five miles from headquarters. It was there Major Simcoe first met the Polish officer Pulaski, in command of the Continental troops in that district. The opposing troops did not, however, come to close quarters, though it was thought that an encounter might take place at or in the vicinity of Frankfort. On the 3rd of November, 1777, the very distressing news came from New York that General Burgoyne's army on their march from Ticonderoga (which they had reduced) had reached Saratoga, where, being surrounded by the American forces, he was compelled to surrender to the American generals, Gates and Arnold, and that his troops were made prisoners of war. Such news, at such a time, read in general orders to the Rangers on their parade, was very dispiriting indeed to the officers, and might have proved disastrous, were it not for the temper and spirit the men displayed on the distressing occasion. When Major Simcoe came to one of the articles of surrender proposed by the American generals, rejected by General Burgoyne's army in the following terms:—"Sooner than this army will consent to ground their arms in their encampment they will rush on the enemy determined to take no quarter," the whole corps thrilled with animation and resentment against the enemy, and every soldier of the regiment burned to revenge the insult put upon him by the Revolutionists.

It was always the policy of Major Simcoe to conciliate the people of the country as much as was in his power. In a civil war, where the masses divide in their allegiance, it often becomes difficult to distinguish friend from foe. The nearest relatives and nearest neighbours are often in opposing camps. In the campaigning around Philadelphia, he found many of the people well disposed towards the British, and to continue their friendliness it was necessary that the Rangers should afford them protection. Protection means abstaining from plundering and marauding. Consequently we find Major Simcoe very early in the campaign warning his force against this evil. When a general order was given out, enforcing the regulation to which I have referred, Major Simcoe felt bound to declare "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 honourable to him as the most distinguished bravery."

To illustrate the method adopted by Major Simcoe to prevent plundering, it may be noticed that on the march he never halted, if he could avoid it, but in a wood; sent a safeguard to every house; allowed no man to leave the ranks; and was careful to instil into the minds of the men the belief that while they protected the country the inhabitants would give every information of the enemy's movements and ambuscades. At the close of the campaign of 1777 an attempt was made at headquarters to have the military dress of the Queen's Rangers changed from green to red. This move was opposed by Major Simcoe, his opinion being that green with dark accoutrements is beyond comparison the best colour for light infantry uniforms.

In the campaign of 1778 the first we hear of Major Simcoe is that about the end of February he and the Rangers were employed in opposing the force of General Wayne, who had been detached from Washington's army to make a forage in the lower Jerseys in order to collect cattle for provisioning the troops. This expedition was not as successful as it might have been had the views which Major Simcoe entertained of the proper time and place for attack been followed. After crossing the Delaware an incident occurred reflecting honour equally upon the Queen's Rangers and on a Polish officer in the American service. As related by Major Simcoe the incident was this: At a certain point 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, slowly waved with his sword for his attendants to retire; the light infantry being within fifty yards of him, they called out to him, "You are a brave fellow, but you must go away." But he not paying so much attention as he should, McGill, afterwards quarter-master, was directed to fire at him, on which he retired into the woods. A few straggling shots were fired in the front; the light infantry company was detached there, and, supported by the Highlanders, soon cleared the front; the battalion halted on the position it had gained, and at the entreaties of the sailors, a few cannon shot were fired at a party of the enemy who were near the bridge over Cooper's Creek, till perceiving they were busy in destroying it, they were no longer interrupted; the firing totally ceased, and the enemy retreated. The person whom McGill fired at proved to be Pulaski; his horse was wounded, and had not the Hussars been sent over the Delaware previous to the attack, he would have been taken or killed.

We are now in March, 1778, Simcoe, still Major, but the regiment was commanded by Colonel Mawhood. All the honour of the campaign must not, therefore, be given to Major Simcoe, for although he and his band had to perform much executive duty, the Colonel of the Regiment directed the movements on the field. This was especially the case in a successful expedition of the Queen's Rangers and other corps into the Jerseys in the latter part of March, 1778. This expedition was formed to forage for horses for the cavalry and staff, the army being very deficient in this branch of the service; the expedition was to be made on a strip of land on the Jersey side of the Delaware, between two creeks near Salem. The country between the two streams (the Salem Creek and Aloes or Alewas Creek) is a peninsula seven miles wide at the widest part and four miles wide at the narrowest part. Over the Aloes Creek there were three bridges: Hancock's, near the mouth; Quintin's, the next higher up, and Thompson's above that. The rebel militia was posted at Hancock's and Quintin's, the nearest bridges, which they had destroyed, and was in a favourable position and defended by breastworks. The object of the continentals was to prevent the expedition crossing the creek, and to cut them off if they should retreat.

Under the orders of Col. Mawhood, Major Simcoe silently placed a company of the Rangers under Captain Stephenson in possession of a public-house near Quintin's bridge, and stationed the men in an orchard in rear of the house, two companies of the Rangers being placed in ambuscade, behind some fences at the edge of the wood, near the public-house. The Colonel then gave orders for a detachment of the 17th Regiment, which was posted near the bridge, to call in their sentries and retreat up the road in full view of the enemy. This so completely deceived the rebel forces that they hastily re-laid the bridge across the stream, and crossing it marched up the road past the house in which the Rangers were concealed. Suddenly they discovered they had fallen into a trap, and made an effort to retreat and re-cross the creek. When passing the house the Rangers rushed out and drove them across the fields; Captain Saunders pursued them, and the Hussars were despatched in pursuit, and afterwards the battalion, Colonel Mawhood leading them. Major Simcoe now directed the 17th back to the house, with the Grenadiers, and the Highlanders of the Rangers, ready to force the bridge if ordered. The enemy for a moment quitted it, but Col. Mawhood thought it useless to pass it. Some of the division of rebels who passed the house were taken prisoners, but the greater part were drowned in the Aloes Creek. The officer at the head of the division, who was taken prisoner, proved to be a Frenchman. The victorious Rangers then returned to Salem.

The rebels still occupying posts at Quintin and Hancock's Bridge, Colonel Mawhood determined to attack them at the latter place. Near Hancock's Bridge, from all reports, they were assembled nearly four hundred strong. He entrusted the enterprise to Major Simcoe, and before the expedition set out went with him and a patrol to a point opposite to the place where the rebels were posted. Here the Major ascended a tree and made a rough sketch of the buildings, and by conversing with the guides he was able to improve it into a tolerable plan of the place, and formed his mode of attack accordingly. In this enterprise everything depended on secrecy and surprise. Major Simcoe foresaw the difficulties and dangers; these he kept to himself. The enemy were nearly double his numbers. By an order that had been issued for the destruction of the flat-boats he had made use of in making a landing on the creek, his retreat, if he should be obliged to make one, was cut off. Nothing daunted, however, he, with his brave soldiers, by dint of hard work, after a march of two miles through marshes, up to the knees in mud and water, their labours rendered the more fatiguing by their carrying wooden planks for the construction of bridges over the creeks and ditches, at length arrived at a point where they obtained the shelter of a wood, made the intended attack, captured the position of the enemy, and came off entirely victorious. The result of these well-planned and successful expeditions was that the foragers got all the cattle they wanted for the supply of the troops, and what proved very satisfactory to the people of the country whose cattle had been taken, when the object of the expedition had been accomplished, they were fully paid for the losses which the necessities of civil war had entailed upon them.

Colonel Mawhood after this affair, in public orders, "returned his best thanks to Major Simcoe and his corps for their spirited and good conduct in the surprise of the rebel posts." The foraging expedition having ended, the troops returned to Philadelphia, after which nothing of importance transpired while Simcoe was major of the regiment.

No long time elapsed before news reached Philadelphia that Sir William Howe, the then Commander-in-chief, had been recalled and Sir Henry Clinton took command of the army. Major Simcoe was now appointed Lieutenant-Colonel of the Queen's Rangers. This was brought about in this way: Sir Henry Clinton, when he took command, directed 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 give him his proper position 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, he, Major Simcoe, of course could have no objection that he should have superior rank in the Provinces. Sir Henry Clinton was pleased to refer his request to Sir William Erskine and General Patterson, the Quartermaster and Adjutant-General, who reporting that it was just, Sir Henry Clinton appointed him to the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel, and to avoid similar inconveniences, ante-dated his commission to those of all other Provincial lieutenant-colonels.

On the 17th of June, 1778, 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 honourable to them than that abhorrence of plunder which distinguishes the truly brave from the cowardly ruffian, and which had left a favourable impression on the minds of such of the inhabitants of Pennsylvania as had been in their power." He assured himself that, as they were to pass over to the Jerseys, they would, in every respect, behave as became the character the corps had acquired, and which marks the disciplined soldier. He gave orders that the captains and officers commanding companies should march in the rear of their respective divisions till such time as more active duties required their presence elsewhere, and should be answerable that no soldier quitted his rank on any pretence, but particularly to drink; this practice having been the death of many a valuable soldier, the permission of it was highly criminal.

The man who could issue such an order at such a time was no ordinary man. The very words of the order seem to say in trumpet tones that Lieutenant-Colonel Simcoe was every inch a soldier and had all the characteristics of the British officer of the old school—honour, integrity, courage and capacity. This was the man who led the Queen's Rangers in time of danger; who, when the toils of war were over, settled down peacefully in Upper Canada as Governor of the Province, surrounded by many of his old comrades, who with him had shared the fatigues of many campaigns and who, ever ready to serve their country, rose en masse in defence of the Province when in the war of 1812 it was invaded and thrown into convulsion by a foe who chose to challenge them to conflict in an unjust war.

On the 24th June, 1778, we find the army on the march from Philadelphia pursuing their course northward, with now and then a skirmish with the enemy on the line of march. Hitherto the direction of the march pointed equally to Trenton, New Jersey, or Cranberry, but now, on the 24th, took the route to Cranberry, by marching to Allentown. The Rangers formed the advance of the army, and it happened more than once that the patriots of the continent were deceived by the uniform of the Rangers being green—the same as their own—and mistaking foe for friend. One episode of this kind occurred at the camp when the army halted not far from Allentown. It happened in this manner: On the arrival at the camp Lieutenant-Colonel Simcoe, with his Hussars, immediately explored a deep hollow that separated the camping-ground from a high hill, in order to observe the ground in front, as was his constant custom. Two men came out of the wood to Lieutenant Wickham, who was patrolling, deceived by his green clothes; he did not undeceive them, but passed himself upon them as a rebel partizan, and introduced Lieutenant-Colonel Simcoe as the American Colonel Lee. One of the men was very glad to see him, and told him that he had a son in his corps, and gave him the best account of the movement of the rebel army, from which Lieutenant-Colonel Simcoe said he had been detached two days. The other man proved to be a committeeman 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 returning, the committeeman having asked, "I wonder what Clinton is about?" "You shall ask him yourself," was the answer, "for we are British."

This was as complete a ruse de guerre as could be conceived. In reading the history of these campaigns I have found that both armies often resorted to stratagem for the effecting of their purpose. Owing to the situation and the topography of the country, ambuscades, surprises and stratagems were frequently resorted to. It is to be borne in mind that the country was a country of wood, water-courses, cross-roads, marsh, and of a very uneven character. Many of the country people were rebels at heart, and often shewed themselves in active hostility to the British army in their progress northward, making for New York and Long Island. On the other hand there were many Loyalists in the country, who demanded and received protection from the King's troops. These Loyalists, often in great numbers, had to betake themselves to the British camp, to escape the vengeance of their republican neighbours; they passed under the name of refugees, and frequently accepted service in the British army as scouts and guides. Indeed, being much impoverished by the war, they were willing to undertake various duties more difficult than agreeable, which was the natural outcome of civil war.

In the march through New Jersey, Colonel Simcoe seems to have received his first wound. This was on the 27th June, 1778, when he met, in front of battle, Baron Steuben, of the American army, and a force of the Jersey Militiamen, 700 or 800 strong, under General Dickenson. It was in this affair that Simcoe, anxious about his Grenadiers, who had been placed at a certain exposed place, sent forward a Hussar to ascertain how they fared, and said to the Hussar, in giving him his charge, to find out what the fact was, "For we must carry them off or lie with them;" to which the Hussar replied, "To be sure, your honour." This reply would seem to show that some Irish had got into the Hussars. It has been said that, "The American War shewed no instance of a larger body of men discomfited by so small a number" as in this engagement with the Jersey Militia. The Grenadier Company of the Queen's Rangers were mostly Hessians. Lieutenant-Colonel Simcoe, after the encounter with the Jersey Militia, to which I have referred, heard a person, who was of the American force, call the Grenadier's Company of the Rangers, to use his own expression, "A power of Hessians;" which form of expression establishes, pretty clearly, that the Americans were not without their contingent of American Irishmen. The fact is that there were foreigners in both armies: in the English army some Hessians, in the American, German and French. The Baron Steuben, with the Jersey Militia, was a German, and it is known that the French allies of the Americans, under the Marquis de Lafayette, contributed most materially to the success of the American army in the Revolution. It is indeed doubtful if the American Revolutionists would have gained their independence if they had not had the assistance of French soldiers and French officers, who had been schooled in the art of war in meeting English troops in other fields.

In the summer of 1778 the Commander-in-Chief, Sir Henry Clinton, offered to promote Lieut.-Col. Simcoe to the Colonelcy of the Queen's Rangers, but he declined the promotion.

On the 20th August, 1778, Lieut.-Col. Simcoe was at Kingston, where he and Lieut.-Col. Tarleton with the cavalry had a skirmish with the rebel light infantry and a body of Indians, forty of whom were killed or desperately wounded; among others, Niniham, a chieftain, who had been in England, and his son. This discomfiture of the Indians was reported to have prevented a large portion of them from joining General Washington's army. The Indian doctor was taken, and he said that when Niniham saw the Grenadiers close in his rear he called out to his people to fly, "that he himself would die there." He wounded Simcoe and was killed by Wright, his orderly Hussar. On the 31st August, 1778, Simcoe and the Rangers made another attack on the enemy at Kingsbridge and succeeded in the attack, for soon after this General Washington quitted the White Plains, where he had been quartered. Simcoe was much gratified when the country people attributed the departure of General Washington to the continued checks which his light troops had received at the hands of the Rangers.

After the successes that Lieut.-Col. Simcoe had had at Kingsbridge he and his brave troops were entitled to a rest. The season had for some time been very inclement, and was severely felt by the troops encamped on the exposed heights of Kingsbridge. It was therefore with great pleasure that they received orders to march to winter quarters at Oyster Bay, on Long Island, where they arrived on the 19th November. Immediately on their arrival the troops set to work to fully fortify the position. The New England shore, from which the British expected attack, was not more than twelve, and in many places but seven or eight, miles distant, and there were many favourable landing places within a mile or two of Oyster Bay. Every precaution was taken by Simcoe to prevent an attack, and he had the satisfaction of hearing, after the war was over, that his precautions were not in vain, for more than once an attack on Oyster Bay was contemplated, and the project as often discarded, the enemy fearing to risk an attack on his fortified position.

The spirit of the Queen's Rangers was well shewn while they were stationed at Oyster Bay. Recruits were wanted for the regiment, whom they would have had difficulty in procuring, (as much greater bounties were being given by other regiments then being raised than Government allowed for the provincial corps) had not the officers of the regiment subscribed liberally to the recruiting fund from their own scanty pay.

The garrison of New York being in great want of forage, Oyster Bay now became a central and safe depôt for it, and frequent expeditions, toward the eastern and interior parts of the island, were made to enforce the order of the Commander-in-Chief to secure the necessary supply. Other excursions were also frequently made to execute orders relative to the intercourse with the inhabitants of the rebel coast.

There were a number of whale-boats of the enemy at Norwalk, on the New England coast. The Queen's Rangers would have liked to have been given a chance to burn these boats, but the proposal being submitted to the Commander-in-Chief, he did not think it advisable to put the plan into execution. This was disappointing to the corps, as the officers always understood that whatever plans they might offer for the good of the King's service would be considered and fairly dealt with by the Commander-in-Chief, and that they should be allowed to reap the fruit of their own exertions.

During the winter the regiment was kept at very constant drill. The light infantry and hussars were put under the direction of Captain Saunders, who taught them to gallop through woods, and, acting together, the light infantry learned to run, holding the horses' manes. The cavalry was also instructed, as the infantry lay flat on the ground, to gallop through their files. When the weather permitted, the corps was frequently exercised together, particularly in occupying ground, on the supposition of the enemy landing to attack the post; they were shown how to make and navigate rafts, constructed on the simplest principles and with the lightest materials.

It is impossible to withhold from the Queen's Rangers in the campaign of 1777-1778 great praise for their vigilance, promptness in action, patience under trying duties and general discipline, all of which tended to make them not only good, but successful soldiers, an honour to themselves and to the country which bore them. Lieutenant-Colonel Simcoe felt it to be an honour to have the command of such a regiment. When he left the regular service he did so with the ambition to be at the head of a Provincial corps which he could mould to his will. There never was a body of men more devoted to their commanding officer than were the Rangers to Simcoe. He showed his appreciation of their services in the most marked manner. His pride was that they were Loyalists of a country in rebellion, and were imbued with all those high principles of attachment to their sovereign begotten of the feeling in their breasts that the rebellion of the Colonists was without sufficient cause; that the blame for unremedied grievances lay at the door of the Ministry, not at that of the King, and that with more peaceful times the clouds which overhung the continent would be cleared away and a sunshine of contentment cover the land.