Читать книгу The Life of John Graves Simcoe - William Renwick Riddell - Страница 11

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[1] “Partisan, Mil. A member of a party of light or irregular troops employed in scouring the country, surprising the enemy’s outposts and foraging parties and the like” Murray, New English Dictionary, sub voc. (There does not seem to be any etymological or other connection between this word and the word, “Partisan”, a military weapon).

“Ranger, pl. A body of mounted troops or other armed men, employed in ranging over a tract of country. Chiefly U.S.: in the British Army the title is given to one regular regiment, the Connaught Rangers”, do. do. sub voc.

In the Revolutionary War, “Butler’s Rangers” were an active corps which proved very useful and achieved great fame in Loyalist circles. See Genl. Cruikshank’s Butler’s Rangers, Lundy’s Lane Historical Society’s Publications, Welland, 1893.

[2] I have adopted the sentiments and almost the very language of Simcoe, Journal, pp. 18-20.

[3] An interesting fact as to discipline is mentioned by Simcoe—he found the practice existing of the soldiers taking the watches of those taken prisoner: he forbade this practice “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”, Journal, pp. 26, 27. After being made Lieutenant-Colonel (in America), Simcoe, June 18, 1778, in General Orders directed that “Captains and Officers commanding companies .... 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.” Journal, pp. 62, 63.

[4] C. Stedman. The History of the Origin, Progress and Termination of the American War, London, 1794, vol. I, pp. 372, sqq.

[5] Col. John Butler began his march from Niagara, May 2, 1778, and fixed his headquarters at Unadilla on the Susquehanna, from which it would be easy to strike Cherry Valley, Schoharie and Wyoming: Wyoming fell, July 3—the subsequent massacre by the Indians has been much exaggerated, Campbell’s “Gertrude of Wyoming” being responsible for some of the undeserved obloquy cast on Brant.

[6] It was apparently at this time that the advertisement appeared in Rivington’s Royal Gazette, New York, the advertisement given in Journal, p. VIII, and copied in Morgan’s Sketches of Celebrated Canadians, Quebec, 1862, at p. 118.

“ALL ASPIRING HEROES

Have now an opportunity of distinguishing themselves by joining

THE QUEEN’S RANGER HUZZARS,

Commanded by

LIEUTENANT-COLONEL SIMCOE.

Any spirited young man will receive every encouragement, be immediately mounted on an elegant horse, and furnished with clothing, accoutrements, &c., to the amount of Forty Guineas, by applying to Cornet Spencer, at his quarters, No. 1033 Water Street, or his rendezvous, Hewitt’s Tavern, near the Coffee House, and the Defeat at Brandywine, on Golden Hill.

Whoever brings a Recruit shall instantly receive TWO GUINEAS,

Vivant Rex et Regina.”

[7] Journal, Appendix, pp. 268-285. Simcoe adds, “it is to be remarked that soon after, Congress passed an Act declaring that all prisoners whatsoever whether taken by the Continental Army or militia, should be absolutely at the disposal of their Commander-in-Chief, General Washington, and not of the Governor of the different provinces.”

[8] Journal, p. 286. What Simcoe is referring to is the well-known Statute of Frauds passed in England, 1676, 29 Charles II, cap. 3, which inter alia provides that no one is compellable to answer for the debt, &c., of another without a signed writing. This Statute was adopted as part of their common law by some of the Colonies and rejected by others.

[9] Germain’s answer to Clinton’s report of Simcoe’s death is worth repeating:—“The loss of so able and gallant an officer as Colonel Simcoe is much to be lamented: but, I hope, his misfortune will not damp the spirit of the brave loyalists he so often led out with success. His last enterprise was certainly a very bold one; and I should be glad he had been in a situation to be informed, that his spirited conduct was approved of by the King.”

There is preserved (Wolf. I, 1. 197, 208) a letter to Rivington’s Royal Gazette, New York, reading in part:

“Having been informed that Lieut.-Colonel Simcoe was unfortunately killed at his last excursion into the Jerseys, my heart was filled with inexpressible concern; not only because he was a most constant friend of mine, but at the same time on account of the important loss of this brave and most gallant officer to the British Army......”

[10] Simcoe never wavered in his opinion that the execution of André was a murder, and “upon private not public considerations. It bore not with it the stamp of justice”—and he has no good word for the conduct of Washington in that regard. Journal, pp. 294, 295.

[11] The well-known Lieutenant-Colonel (Sir) Banastre Tarleton, so much maligned by some of the historians of the American Revolution, a man not given to indiscriminate praise, speaks highly of Simcoe as a soldier in his History of the Campaigns of 1780 and 1781 in the Southern Provinces of North America, London, 1787. There was a Dublin edition in the same year also 8vo. (The book is rare: the last price I have seen quoted was $12.50) On p. 290 he says that the Light Troops met Simcoe, May 15, who had crossed the River Meherren the day before on his march towards Earl Cornwallis: pp. 297, 298, (action at Point of Fork); p. 334. Arnold’s despatch to Clinton of May 12, 1781, informs him that the Queen’s Rangers (with other troops) had, April 18, embarked at Portsmouth and fallen down to “Hampton Road”: p. 347, Lafayette’s despatch to Greene, June 27, says “the whole British Army came out to save Simcoe near Williamsburgh”; p. 350, Simcoe is mentioned by Cornwallis in his despatch to Clinton from Williamsburgh, June 30; p. 352, Simcoe in Cornwallis’ advance guard: p. 398, Clinton orders Cornwallis, June 28, to embark a specified force including the Queen’s Rangers for a rapid move to seize the stores at Philadelphia.

Articles of Capitulation, Yorktown, Virginia, October 19, 1781, provide Art VIII for the Bonetta, Sloop of War, to take despatches to Clinton, but to be delivered to Count de Grasse if she escape the perils of the Sea (pp. 440, 441): p. 450 shows that the Queen’s Rangers had a total of 320: see also p. 376.

[12] Simcoe closes his Journal with the following well-deserved enconium:—

“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 hope 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 enterprising enemy.”

[13] See Letter from the Duke of Northumberland (Thorighwegeri) to Captain Joseph Brant (Thayendanegea) from Northumberland House, September 3, 1791, Journal, p. 328.

Simcoe wrote an account of the operations of the Queen’s Rangers under his command; and had it printed in Exeter, England, in 1787. The work is a 4to of 184 pp. with an Introduction of 5 pp. and an Appendix of 48 pp., the Title page reading

A JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS OF THE QUEEN’S RANGERS FROM THE END OF THE YEAR 1777 TO THE CONCLUSION OF THE LATE AMERICAN WAR.

By Lieutenant-Colonel Simcoe, Commander of That Corps, Exeter. Printed For the Author.

A copy once the property of Sir David William Smith is in the Library of the University of Toronto, the gift of C. C. Robinson, Esq.: another in the possession of Aemilius Jarvis, Esq., whose great-grandfather was an officer in the Corps under Simcoe: a third is owned by the John Ross Robertson Estate. (This work is now quoted at £60—the Hoe copy brought $660). Another edition, 8vo., of 328 pp., with a Preface of 2 pp. and a “Memoir of the Author”, of XVII pp., was published in 1844: it contains an addition of 10 pp. to Simcoe’s Appendix. The title page reads:

SIMCOE’S MILITARY JOURNAL. A HISTORY of the Operations of a Partizan Corps called The Queen’s Rangers, Commanded by Lieut.-Col. J. G. Simcoe, During the War of the American Revolution. Illustrated by Ten Engraved Plans of Actions, &c. Now First Published with A Memoir of The Author And Other Additions—New York, Bartlett & Welford—1844.

When the octavo edition was published the following letter was sent to Mrs. Simcoe.

New York, Augt 21st, 1844.

Madame,

At the request of the publishers of the accompanying volume, I take the opportunity, through the kind care of the Rev. Dr. Scoresby, to acknowledge our indebtedness, here in the United States, for the valuable addition to the history of the American War of Independence which is found in the Journal of Lieut.-Col. Simcoe.

The existence of the work was first known here last autumn, when Messrs. Bartlett & Welford fortunately procured a copy from London and it was determined by them at once to reprint and publish it for the gratification of our historical readers.

The name of Colonel Simcoe I had frequently met in the records of the war, though my curiosity remained mostly unsatisfied as to his particular services in its campaigns until the discovery of the Journal. In attempting to furnish for the reprint a sketch of the author’s life and a few notes to enlarge the original appendix, the information was hastily collected and used, which, in the new edition forms an increment to the first, a rapid though diligent research resulting as the Memoir will show. It was mainly formed of notices in the Gentleman’s and the Monthly Magazines, and subsequently increased by the use of the other authorities cited. An apology is due for the crudeness and hurry observable in the manner of adapting matter which I regret has not received its deserved grace in its style of recombination. The suddenness of the undertaking will account for, if not excuse, the imperfect execution of the duty.

As was expected, the circulation of the volume evoked the lingering recollections of aged people, in the shape of many and various tales and anecdotes of the commander of the Queen’s Rangers and his regiment. Newspapers and other local journals through the country noticed the narrative and quoted interested pages; and annotations, explanatory comments, &c., were elicited in different quarters from historical students and survivors of the last century. All such materials I have carefully preserved, and I hope they may yet be turned to good account in extending the honourable fame of a soldier who has left in our land the reputation of an accomplished, brave and humane officer—a just and magnanimous man.

Should any errors have been committed in relating the career of Col. Simcoe, it would be particularly gratifying to have such mistakes pointed out or the means for correcting and improving the account of his life and services made available. So great is now the interest felt here in the minute details of the progress of the Revolution—military or civil—that the smallest writing, drawing or other document, original or copied, is eagerly sought. By indications in the “Journal”, many, to us, very curious and useful papers appear to have belonged to Genl. Simcoe, the loan or copies whereof would be most serviceable to the historical investigator. Doubtless there is not a little touching Major André, a soldier whose name awakens our tenderest sympathies, and concerning whom I hope soon to put forth a full collection of authentic historical materials, affording at the same time a good opportunity for a further introduction of the name and history of his intimate friend, Lt.-Col. Simcoe.

Doctor Scoresby has kindly offered to convey to you, Madame, this communication and a copy of the reprinted “Journal” which the publishers beg you to accept with their most respectful acknowledgments for the use of the original.

I am most happy in the occasion to express the high honour of which I am sensible in subscribing myself,

Madame,

Most respectfully,

Your old Humble Servant,

Mrs. Simcoe.Silvanus Miller, Jr.

The account of Simcoe’s promotions, &c., as given by Captain W. H. Wilkin in his Some British Soldiers in America, London, 1914, at pp. 116, 117—I have verified and supplemented by enquiry in England. The correct account is as follows:

Ensign, 35th Foot, April 27, 1770.

Adjutant, 35th Foot, March 27, 1772, till December 26, 1775.

Lieutenant, 35th Foot, March 12, 1774.

Captain, 40th Foot, December 27, 1775.

Temporary Major, October 15, 1777.

Temporary Lieutenant-Colonel, October 15, 1777.

Local Lieutenant-Colonel, June 23, 1779.

(Brevet) Major, August 4, 1780.

(Brevet) Lieutenant-Colonel, December 19, 1781.

Lieutenant-Colonel, 1st American Regiment (Queen’s Rangers), December 25, 1782.

Colonel, November 18, 1790.

Colonel, Queen’s Rangers, September 1, 1791.

Major-General, October 3, 1794.

Local Lieutenant-General, November 10, 1796.

Colonel, 81st Foot, January 18, 1798.

Colonel, 22nd Foot, June 18, 1798.

Lieutenant-General, January 1, 1801.