A veteran of 1812; the life of James FitzGibbon

Front matter

4.'

THE LIFE OF

JAMES FITZGIBBON.

Preface

by Sir Augustus d'Este, " whose happy destiny it was to have the opportunity of rendering important services to his adopted country, which services will cause his name to be remembered with respect and admiration by the loyal inhabitants of Upper Canada as long as devotion to the parent state, manly valor and clear-sighted intelligence are admitted to be entitled to places in the catalogue of estimable qualities."

The fac-simile of FitzGibbon's handwriting given on the page facing the frontispiece is taken from a postscript to one of his many letters to his young nephew Gerald FitzGibbon.

Whether the sentiment it expresses is original or from one or other of his favorite authors, I have no means of ascertaining. It is, however, so indicative of his life and character, so evidently one of which he had proved the value, that it is worth preserving and reproducing as the text of his faith.

My thanks are due to the Kight Honorable Gerald Fitz- Gibbon, Lord Justice of the Court of Appeal in Ireland ; to D. B. Read, Esq., Q.C., author of the "Lives of the Judges," and other works ; to Ernest Cruikshank, Esq., author of "Butler's Rangers," the "Battle of the Beechwoods," etc., etc. ] to E. B. Biggar, Esq., whose graphic account of the battle of Stony Creek led to my applying to him ; to Charles Lindsey, Esq., William Lyon Mackenzie's able biographer, and to J. H. Land, Esq., the secretary of the Wentworth Historical Society, for the kindly assistance they have given me, either personally or through their works, in accomplishing the "labor of love" I have undertaken.

JPREFACE.

I am indebted also to J. Ross Robertson, Esq., the enthusiastic Past Grand Master of the Freemasons of Ontario, for much of that portion of the book relating to FitzGibbon's life as a Mason; also to the kindness of Murray Jar vis, Esq., of Ottawa, for valuable extracts from unedited letters now in his possession, as well as to many friends and well-wishers for aid and encouragement in prosecuting the researches necessary in order to find what one of them aptly designated, "the hinges of my narrative."

If, owing to inferior workmanship, these " hinges " creak, may I hope that an indulgent public will, in their interest in the man, overlook the faults of his biographer.

For the rest, T may add that T have had the book published in Canada rather than in England, preferring it should first see the light in the city whose loyalty and homes he had guarded with so jealous an arm in life, and to which his last conscious thoughts turned in the hour of death.

Toronto, May 24.th, 1894.

Preface To Second Edition

My humble faith in the interest of Canadian readers in the story of a soldier and citizen who had lived the best years of his life in Canada, and at a stirring period of her history, has been justified by results. In issuing a second edition, I am enabled to add much which the perusal of the first has been the means of reviving. Old friends have remembered and sent me anecdotes which were of interest to them when boys; others have sent letters and extracts from the press of those early days. Some of the former are additional corroboration of the stories already told — a few of them new to me and perhaps so to others ; the latter are documentary evidence of the deep interest my hero took in all questions or events bearing upon the welfare or connected with the history of Canada. I have thought it best to print this additional matter in a separate chapter, rather than to insert it in chronological order in the pages of the book.

For many of the letters I am indebted to Mr. William Kirby, F.R.S.C, of Niagara, the author of ''Le Chien d'Or," ^'Annals of Niagara," and of "The U. E. Loyalist," of which mention is made in the extracts given. When editor of the Niagara Mail^ and between the years 1854 and 1860, Mr. Kirby was one of FitzGibbon's most constant correspondents, and I regret much that the letters

PREFACE TO SECOND EDITION.

from Mr. Kirby were not preserved as carefully as have been those from my grandfather. Mr. Kirby's kindness in placing these at my disposal has also enabled me to respond to the wish expressed by one of the friendliest of the reviewers of "A Veteran of 1812," in the regret "that more letters were not included in the work, as there can be no better way of knowing the real man than by his private correspondence. "

A visit I paid to Guernsey in search of information relative to my " Veteran's " commanding officer and adored general. Brock, put me, by the kindness of Miss Tupper, the General's great-niece, in possession of another bundle of letters. From these, however, I have made only a few extracts, reserving others as bearing more upon the life of Major-General Sir Isaac Brock than upon FitzGibbon's. I am also under grateful obligation to Mr. John Reade, F.R.S.C., F.R.S.L., (Gt. Brit.), of Montreal, for the copy of a letter from the Montreal Herald, as well as for much kindness and encouragement in my work.

After an extended search I have been successful in finding a copy of the letter written at Lord Seaton's request, printed in 1849, and reprinted in 1855 " because of the many angry articles in the newspapers on our present relations with the United States of America." Comment on the appropriateness of its republication at the present time is unnecessary.

To make a man's life speak through his acts, to bring the reader into direct touch with the mind and character which prompt the actions, and to avoid the intrusion of all personal opinion or judgment, is the highest aim of a faithful biographer. To state facts without fear or favor, establishing them through documentary evidence, public records

PREFACE TO SECOND EDITION.

and private correspondence, without losing sight of the environment or its influence upon the development of men and events, discarding tradition or the recollections of living witnesses, is the highest aim of the true historian. The most faithful as well as the most picturesque history of a country or age which can be written is that compiled from the lives of the men who made it.

Believing this, I have endeavored, as far as lies within my ability, to keep such an aim before me, and the kind reception accorded the first edition by the reviewers and the public encourages me to hope that I have not altogether failed.

In sending out the second edition, 1 would take the opportunity of acknowledging my indebtedness to the press foi' their generous support, and of thanking those friends whose memory retained pleasant recollections of Colonel FitzGibbon, either when in Canada or during his last years at Windsor Castle, for the many kind words of appreciation of his services to his country.

Table Of Contents

CHAPTER L

PAGE

Birthplace — Its associations — Early recollections — His first salmon — Religious impressions — Enrolment in the Yeomanry— Hated Englishmen — The Devon and Cornwall Fencibles — The Kjiight of Glin — A bold step — Unexpected promotion — The Tarbert Fencibles — Leaving home — A mother's anxiety — A promise 9

Chapter II

Major-General Whitelock — An extravagant speech — An important step — Bareham Downs — Embarkation for Holland— The Helder — Youthful ideas of battle — A gap in the narrative — Egmont-op-Zee — Taken prisoner — French *' ruffles and rags" — Distressing march — Improving the time — Exchange of prisoners — Military discipline — Recruiting— A providential find 21

Chapter III

Horsham Barracks — Sudden orders — Conflicting rumors — Arrival at Spithead — The ^S'^. George — The Monarch — Copenhagen — Lord Nelson — The battle — The Vice-Admiral's flag — Unjust rebuke — An angry officer — Service in the ranks — Return to England — Colonel Brock — An explanation — A soldier's opinion 36

Chapter IV

Winter-quarters — An alarming deficiency^- A romantic application— The Duke of York — An interview with Colonel

TABLE OF CONTENTS.

FAGE

Brownrigg — The theatre — John Kemble and Mrs. Siddons — Colonel Brock's kindness — Ordered to Canada — A studious soldier — Brock's "favorite Sergeant- Major " — Deserters — Midnight chase — Inhuman treatment — The mutiny — A dramatic arrest — A court-martial — A barrack-room university — Fears of invasion — "Did you try?" — The Glengarry Fencibles —Colonel Brock's letter — A request 46

Chapter V

Declaration of war — By bateaux up the St. Lawrence— Attempt to intercept — Defeat of the Ameiicans - -A winter drive — An advance post — A daring capture— Carrying despatches — Fall of Fort George — Retreat — An excited Irishman — A spy— The battle of Stony Creek — A separate command— The " Green Tigers" — A bold stratagem — A struggle — A brave woman — Desultory warfare — An unsatisfactory check — Orders from American headquarters— Beaver Dam — Chief Kerr's letter — Laura Secord — "Big Knives" — Indian tactics — A bold summons — Negotiations — An unwelcome arrival — A bombastic speech — A soldier's courtesy — Articles of capitulation — Official despatches — Lieut. -Col. Bisshopp's letter — A wrong impression — Return of prisoners taken — Letter from Colonel Boerstler to General Dearborn — Effect of the capture ^ 63

CHAPTER VL

A meagre reward — Attack on Fort Schldsser — Black Rock — An indignant officer— Imprudent delay- A gallant rescue— Death of Colonel Bisshopp — Suffering soldiers — Defective commissariat— Projected attack on Fort Niagara— The pickets at Fort George driven in — Tidings of General Proctor's defeat— A retreat — Close of the campaign— Departure of th^ 49th 104

TABLE OF CONTENTS.

Chapter VII. Pagb

Campaign of 1814 — The Glengarry Fencibles at Oswego — Weakened forts — Reconnoitring — The battle of Lundy's Lane — A request for leave — Personal courage — A romantic marriage — The camp before Fort Erie — A sortie — Glengarry men to the front — Hard fighting — A change of camp — Advance of the enemy — Cook's Mills — Retreat of the enemy — Evacuation of Fort Erie — Close of the war — Sir John Harvey's letter 119

Chapter VIII

Disbanding of the Glengarry Regiment — A hopeful outlook — Civil appointments — Assistant Adjutant- General — Masonic honors — A manly letter — A good character — Presentation of colors — Irish riots — An influential mediator — Address to the Orangemen — F^xtracts from the Times — Lord Castlereagh's opinion — A sad quarrel — Press riot — A subscription list — Colonel of 2nd West York Regiment— Incipient rebellion — A stormy meeting — Extract from Mr. Lindsey's "Life of W. L. Mackenzie" — Street riots — A summary arrest — Quiet restored — Reminiscences of an old U. C. College boy— Toronto in 1832— The cholera — A faithful soldier — Orange processions — More riots — Mrs. Jamieson's recollections — A race to college- Definition of a gentleman — Toronto's first Mayor — Meeting in the market-place — An accident — Parental sorrow and counsels — Disturbances near Cornwall — The house on Queen Street — Sir John Colborne's letter .... 139

Chapter IX

An eventful year — Reform — A nation of liars — An obstinate governor — Military cadets — Threatened rebellion — Fltz- Gibbon vs. Sir Francis — An offer — Precautionary measures— The Chief -Justice — A generous letter — Secret information — A tardy order — An irrepressible defender — Vice-regal slumbers disturbed — The outbreak — A wellarmed governor — Pickets on Yonge Street — Arrival of

TABLE OF COXTENTS.

PAGE

Colonel Macnab — Irritating delays — A rough plan of attack — A curious scene — Defeat of the rebels — Burning of Gibson's house — Regrets — Resignation — Incorrect statement 184

Chapter X

Public recognition — The address — The Governor's letter — A disappointing message — A visit to England — Invitation to Guernsey — Sir Augustus d'Este — His sword — Return to Toronto — Discussion in the House — Lord Seaton's letter — Death of Mrs. FitzGibbon — Removal to Kingston — A struggling artist — Sir Charles Bagot's advocacy— Sir Charles Metcalfe — A tardy settlement — Retirement — Failing health 231

CHAPTER XL

Residence in Belleville — Blessings of a quiet neighborhood — Letter from Lady Simpson — Return to England — Cheap living — Harriet Martineau — Miss Murray — Elizabeth Strickland— Federation foretold — Writing for the Home Circle — George Combe's interest — Military Knight of Windsor — Life in the Castle — Frogmore Park — The Great Exhibition — Agnes Strickland — Relief from debt — Bereavements — A remarkable dream 258

Chapter XII

Energetic old age — Contributions to the press — A sailor's "Pen yarn" — Opinion on the Indian Mutiny — Night schools — Letter to Walter Mackenzie — Reminiscences of the Rebellion — Good advice — Remarks on the Crimean war — European politics— An anecdote of 1813 — A letter of introduction — The Knights' case — Sinners vt<. Saints — The Knights' votes — French invasion scare— An undaunted spirit — Longing for Canada— Closing scenes . 281

Chapter XIIT 307

Notes 391

A YETE-EAN OF 1812.