Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1843-10-13
From the ". j. CosunsreiaI Adrertisey
REVOLUTIONARY UIsTopv

ed tn lnoL
al historical volume connected with wars Of the Anne
rcan Revolution, of which we had never beGor, hoard
and which, so far know, not TO be found in any
library IN this country, its title any general ca
aogue' English American. Ii narrative of the mi
SERVICES, during the contest Of that PERIOD of Lieut.
Co Sheoe, an active, chivarous and daring parzan Of
hcer IN the British service, whose name may vet nger in
the memories of the oetogenaan still to be found upon the
neutral ground OF Westchester of LONG Island ,h,h
the greater part Of New Jersey in the enyirons of Phil,
auephs and IN Virginia. The book was probably never
Puoished having been, infer from the preface print
ca Tor the grauhcaton Of the private friends of the author
According to this narrative, whchisa plain sraightfor
wafd soidierke account OF transactions IN which the su
o bore part there could be few active or ashinp
olcers on either side Even Tare,on himself must give
pace 10 Colonel Simcoe and yield hun the palm of zeal
u en'erpnse Inc commencement OF the contest found
"heI SiHcoe captain IN Boston, under General Gage
FROM the rst 1t his design to organize corps of
scah oyaiists and his original purpose form re-
gmcni OF blacks in Boston, which end he made nm
pication TO General Gage But the b,ck ,I,r., ,v -,
fond OF liberty to lend themselves to his DESIGN And j.
may as well be noted curious fact that the rst Amer
can VINO lost his life IN that greatcones, for freedom was
Negro.
raining IN this project, we hear more of Capt Smcoe
eh'' ne appears during the march Of Sir William Howe
from the fataPscO To Philadelphia in II when he frs
'e MAJOR coninaEdan Of corps Of rangers composed
1Nn, p LoyaLlsts to which he gave the name Of
m the I'm
ues oil ght troops nj the battle Of Brandywine and n
Germantown, and inamns innumeabe smaller passage,
arms which occurred upon each bank of the Delaware
he occupancy OF the Quaker city, by the British ar
my lie was employed in pairoing forging parties and
al the various duties devoyng upon the light troops of an
haassng the Ameneans, in the country around Phil.
adepha almost where present upon the skins Of the
American army dashng the very precinct, of Wash
lnstons encampment Valley Forge and ANNOYING the
Jcrseymen through most of their towns and b,es Snb
oi Burlington ~
When Sir William Howe evacuated PHILADELPHIA. and
~ uIioss -'ew Jersey 10 Sandy Hook Simco-'s
gers ne being now Lieutenant colonel per,rned ,bsir an
popfiate duties IN their accustomed brilliant manner He
was often engaged after and before the battle of Mon
O', ough ne seems not 10 have participated in that me
moTaole affair, OF which he gives no account Indeed in
m HarraVe nc appears purpoely 70 refrain from giving
any details OF the principal engagements of the war
ming himself chiefly to the many exploits of his own ran
parties and skrmishers 's
The head quarters of the British army being again at
New fork the Queens Rangers employed for the
suue OF me season IN the ncghborhood OF Kingsbridps
and generally through the lower towns of Wes,cbes1
county, between the East and the North rivers
s win MAJ DE Lancy also attic head ola corps of Tory
'"'seI ne was engaged during his OCCUPANCY of ,bn,
ground IN many daring and cncal adventures attended
however oy on unusual run Of Ill luck But such was not
e case IN one Of the affairs White Plains; and we learn
from TINS volume that the flower of the brave Stock
warriors owed their defeat there and the loss of Nor,
ie" Shei' 10 tue Queens Rangers. Col Simcoe gives
s ihGahs and their venerable chief the highest praise
ior her bravery and good conduct. Nonham being ola
refused himself 10 retreat though when he saw the fortunes
OF the day against him he instructed his braves IN bd
The greater number however CeII mn 49, 81
chief. wan ~
Daring the following winter Smcoe was posted at Ovs
'et pay Tue ankecs upon the Connecticut coast leaving
u niue rePose and requiring oil his vigilance. From
ms account we infer that there must have been small
NUMBER OF the friends Of the American cause on Long Isl
'H' H,S services dunng the ensuing summer Of 1899
We're again Chiefly required the enyirons of New Ynr
NORM 10 the Croton river with occasional visits IN different
points on Long Island He also attempted some hazard
% eE5IoS IN We" Jersey, one OF which led him beyond
New Brunswick, to Boundbrook and Somerville On b.
return 10 New Brunswick owing the mistake of his guide
ne was am6uscaded by the militia, wounded and MS horse
Aed under him. In his fall, horse came upperost
lie was stunned by the shock; and when he came 20 ms
eses' round himself IN the uncomfortable situation of
prisoner IN the hands of the rebels for whose cause he en-
SISi.d uy Johnsonian hated, and for whose military
.' nom -,if' " aShingion' down. the sovereign
contempt Is rangers having committed some ournGes
Is usual, during this predatory excursion the spirit of re-
Eese among the people placed his life IN great Jeopardy
But through the ntcrpOSiton of Gov Livingston he s
"''ueu Ue lhnunues OF prisoner OF war, and placed
upon his parole at BOrdentown
subsequently M consequence Of some misunderstanding
ne was lmpTsonedin Burlington, which treatment he b,
ey complains Probably not without reason for he seems
10 have been disposed humane man. to mitigate the
horrors OF war as far possible upon all occasions Cor
Tspondence upon this subject given IN the appendiy h.
tween himself Gov. Livingston and Elias Bniinot bc,
IN the comnssarai, and aerward eminent a. Christian
phantropisi ana inst president OF American Bib -,
eey Inc principal object Of this ncurson into New er
sey was the destruction OF houa OF large boats in prepa
ration, as was supposed, for decent upon Staten Island
They were found, however, filed with water and from tb
hnsie with which the invaders found IL convenient In raL
their retreat they did in DESTROYING the boa
Having been exchanged we find him during the Win
Ter OF I9-eO IN command OF the British Notifications AT
Richmond upon Staten Island.
The deiences Richmond according 10 Col Sirncoo,
account, must have been formidable in appearance
than in reality This, it will be remembered was the cold
"lnero lIcO, ~ being the Only winter within the re,,
OF man during portion Of which the entire borbor or \
York was frozen that columns Of troops and heavy
atueH were able to cross upon the ice Avaing himself
OF this circumstance, the American General Lord Sterling
made descent upon the island from New Jersey at the
head Of strong body OF troops far ounumberng the Fore
o. Col Simcoe, and that OF the Hessian General Knyphau
sen, who was posted upon another part Of the island Rt
although for several DAYS Smcoc was expec,;, an ,,
and apprehcnsyo OF defeat Lord Sterling to the sunrise Of
everybody and without aSsgnab cause save the dcph of
the snow, rctrcated from the island without having od
even demonstration, unless landing upon can be called
such.
Early in the Spring the Queens Rangers were ordered
TO the South arriving Charleston a few DAYS bcCs ~,
siege OF that ended by the captulatiop Of ,l
Lincoln Col. Simcoe appears 10 have performed but
small share OF duty st the South and ordered back 4,
New York.
In the month Of June the Queens Rangers nc--,,,o5
conspicuous part IN the invasion Of New Jersey under
Cen. hnyphuusen, during which EliLabcthtown Sprng
field and several other settlements vcre act o.. al -
suoycd The Historian will remember that there was good
deal OF miscellaneous fighting in that brief and not yerv
crcdiiabc exploit Of the Hessan commander C,l,pcl
Simcoe had large share in the transactions of that exp
dihon which, notwithstanding the display OF bravery adds
but hide lusre the British arms The march Of Krv
phauscn arrested by the warmth Of his reception a.
Springfield the approach Of General Washington yb ,s
already among the Short Hills aud the desire OF Sir Henry
Clinton 10 recall the troops IN the expectation that he should
require all his strength 20 meet the army Of Count Roch,m
beau whose arrival at Rhode Island hourly expected
knyphnuscn therefore fell back upon Elabethtown and
re.crosscd 20 Staten Island.
We next find Colonel Simcoe with his ever active legion
raycrsing Long Island and keeping a look ont for ,b
French IN the county Of Suffolk.
lie next detached in the celebrated and most di.
graceful expedition under the command Of the traitor Ar
mold. We should suppose that an officer of the hgb
and ehivalrous feelings OF SmcOc would be humiane
70 be compelled to under officer who under cir