History of the campaign for the conquest of Canada in 1776

Front matter

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Introduction

Page The News from Lexington and Concord — The Uprising throughout the Colonies — Mass-meeting at the State House, Philadelphia — Organization of Associators — Jonathan Jones' Company — The Eev. Thomas Barton and Bangor Church — Initiatory steps for Resistance to Great Britain — Major Philip Skene — Organization of the Regular Army — The Six Pennsylvania Regiments — William Irvine — William Allen — The Captains of the First Pennsylvania Regiment — Col. John Bull — Col. John Philip De Haas — Lt. Col. James Irvine — Major Anthony James Morris — The British Barracks at Philadelphia — Mounting Guard at the State House and along the Wharves — The Uniforms of the Pennsylvania Troops — Arrival of Martha Washington at Philadelphia — Lord Dunmore's Movements in Virginia — Philadelphia in the Winter of 1775-6 1

Chapter II

Solicitude of Congress for affairs in Canada — Schuyler calls for Reinforcements — Congress orders the First Pennsylvania and Second New Jersey Regiments to Canada — William Maxwell — Reinforcements from the Eastern Colonies — March of Jonathan Jones' Company for Canada — Their stay in Albany — Arrival of Sir Henry Clinton at New York — Mutiny at Albany — Traversing the Frozen Lakes — Distressing Condition of the Army before Quebec — Small-pox among the Troops — A Futile Attempt by Mr. Beaujeu to Relieve the Garrison — Erection of Batteries, and Opening Fire upon the Town — Arrival of General Wooster at Quebec — Departure of Arnold 16

Chapter III

Congress sends a Committee to Canada — Their Journey Thither — Return of Dr. Franklin and Rev. John Carroll — The Supervision of the Northern Army — General Charles Lee ordered to take Command of the Army in Canada — The Order Revoked, and General John Thomas sent

(ix)

X CONTENTS.

Page in his stead— Further Keinforcements for the Army in Canada — Captain Ebenezer Stevens— Colonel John Patterson— The Change of Feeling on the part of the Canadians towards the American Cause — Arrival of General Thomas at Quebec — Condition of Affairs there — An Unsuccessful Attempt to send a Fire-ship into the Enemy's Shipping— A Council of "War Kesolves upon a Ketreat— Arrival of the British Ships Surprise, Martin, and Isis with Keinforcements — A Sortie by Sir Guy Carleton — Precipitate Ketreat of the Americans— Aaron Burr — Kecovery of Valuable Papers by Captain Jonathan Jones — Merciful Conduct of General Carleton— A Murder in Captain Jones' Company — The Americans endeavor to make a stand at Deschambault — A Council of War determines to continue the Ketreat to Sorel — A Skirmish below Deschambault — Mr. Acklam Bonfield — The Retreating Ameri- • cans reach the Mouth of the Sorel — Dr. Senter establishes a Hospital at Montreal — Deplorable Condition of the Troops at Sorel — Death of General Thomas 33

Chapter IV

Arnold Sends Troops to the Cedars — Captain Forster's Party Attempts to Dislodge Them — Colonel Bedel abandons his Post — Major Henry Sherburne sets out with Reinforcements — Delays in his March — Disgraceful Surrender by Major Butterfield — The Conduct of Bedel and Butterfield Condemned by Washington — They are Court-martialed and Dismissed the Service — Disastrous Defeat of Sherburne's Party — Barbarous Treatment of the Prisoners — The Loss on botli Sides — Indignation throughout the Colonies at the Ill-treatment of the Prisoners — Arnold sets out to their Relief — The Commissioners of Congress send the First Pennsylvania Regiment to Reinforce Arnold — They purchase thirty loaves of bread for them in Montreal — Forster, advised of their approach, Retreats — The Pursuit — Arnold demands a Surrender of the Prisoners — A Council of War decides against a Surprise — An Exchange of Prisoners and an Armistice agreed upon — Retreat of Forster's Party above the Cedars 54

Chapter V

An Attempt to recover the lost ground down the St. Lawrence— Col. St. Clair is sent against Three Rivers— Waiting impatiently for the First Pennsylvania Regiment— General Wooster Relieved— General Sullivan Assumes Command of the Army— He sends General Thompson with additional Troops to join St. Clair— Captains Jonathan Jones and Benjamin Davis join the force under General Thompson with their Companies— Arrival of Resolutions of Congress— Additional Reinforcements of Militia and Indians ordered by Congress— The Battle of Three Rivers §6

CONTENTS. XI

CHAPTEE VI.

Page

Sullivan's Force after the Battle of Three Elvers — Condition of the

Troops — Desertions — Fortifying the Post at Sorel — The Eetreat —

The Eetreating Americans reach Chamblee — Brunswick and Hessian

Troops — George III. contracts for them -with the German Princes —

Departure of the First Detachment for Quebec, under Eiedesel —

Arrival of General Burgoyne with British Eeinforcements — The

British Army which Ascended the St. Lawrence — Pursuit of the

Americans up the Sorel Eiver — The Americans Burn Chamblee, and

continue their Eetreat to St. John's — The Sick are sent to Isle aux

Noix — Arnold's Eetreat from Montreal — The Americans Eetreat to

Isle aux Noix, and the British occupy St. John's — Congress and

Washington reconciled to the situation — Congress inquires into the

causes of the disasters in Canada 80

CHAPTEE VII.

At Isle aux Noix — Distressing Condition of the American Troops — Evacuation of Canada — Eemoval of the Sick to Crown Point — Massacre of Pennsylvanians by the Enemy's Indians — Their Burial and Epitaph — Eetreat from Isle aux Noix to Isle la Motte and Crown Point — Encampment of the Troops at that place 92

CHAPTEE VIII.

General Gates Appointed to the Command of the Army — He Arrives at Albany and hears of the Eetreat — A question of Command between Schuyler and Gates — They set out together for Crown Point — Eeconnoitering Parties are sent down the Lake — Capture of Captain Wilson and his Men — Brigadier-General Gordon is killed by Lieut. Whitcomb — A Council of War Determines to Abandon Crown Point and Eemove the Sick to Fort George — Eemonstrance of Field Officers — Washington and his Generals disapprove of the Action of the Council — General Sullivan takes ofi'ense at the Appointment of General Gates, and Eesigns his Commission — A General Hospital is established at Fort George — Eemoval of the Sick — Their Neglect and Sufferings — Eemoval of the Army to Ticonderoga 99

CHAPTEE IX.

Ticonderoga — The Pennsylvania Troops Occupy and Eepair the French Lines — Baron de Wcedtke — Composition of the Array that Eetreated from Canada — Col. Enoch Poor — Division of the Army into Brigades — Ship-carpenters are sent up from the Atlantic Seaboard — Other Mechanics begin to Arrive — Mount Independence is Cleared — Camp Life and Duties — Sickness on Mount Independence — Colonel JohnGreaton — Want of Mail Facilities 108

Xii CONTENTS.

CHAPTER X.

Pagb

News of the Declaration of Independence— A Copy is sent to Burgoyne, with a Demand for the Perpetrators of the Barbarities after the Cedars— Carleton Eeturns an Offensive Answer— Sectional Animosities between the Troops— Ordnance and Ordnance Stores — Their Removal from Ticonderoga by Colonel Knox — Court-martial of Colonel Closes Hazen— Disret^peciful Conduct of General Arnold— HLs Arrest Requested, but Refused 118

CHAPTER Xr.

Terror Created by the News of the Retreat— Measures for Raising Reinforcements—Reports of Small-pox interfere with Enlistments— Additional Bounties Otiered — The Militia Rendezvous at Number Four — New Road from Mount Independence to Rutland — Sufferings of the Militia in the Wilderness — Reinforcements retarded by innoculation — The Sick required to disclose under oath how they took the disease — Alarm at the re-introduction of Small-pox by the Militia — Disappearance of Small-pox from the Army — Arrival of Reinforcements at Ticonderoga — Formation of a new Brigade — General James Brickett — Washington Orders Three of the Fullest Regiments to be Sent from Boston — Their Arrival at Ticonderoga — A Company of Mohican Indians — Construction of the Jersey Redoubt — Completion of the Intrenchments about the French Lines — Delays in the Works on Mount Independence — Colonels Reed and St. Clair Appointed Brigadier-Generals — General James Reed — Conflicting Claims of Majors Wood and Morris to the Lt.-Colonelcy of the Second Pennsylvania Regiment — A Rest from Unremitting Labors — Court-martial of Deserters and other Offenders — Cleanly Appearance of the Pennsylvania Troops 128

CHAPTER XIL

Work on the Fleet at Skenesborough — Arnold assigned to the Command — Arrival of part of the Fleet at Crown Point — A False Alarm — Conflict of Authority between General Arnold and Captain Wynkoop — The Fleet sails down Lake Champlain — Arrives at Windmill Point — Position of the British Army — A Boat's Crew driven from the Shore with loss of Life — The Fleet cannonades the Wood, which occasions a False Report of an Engagement with the Enemy — Activity at Ticonderoga and Albany in consequence thereof — False Reports from the Mohawk Country — The Fleet ascends the Lake and anchors behind Valcour Island — Colonel Edward Wigglesworth — The Row-galleys join the Fleet — Sickness among the Ship-carpenters at Skenesborough 141

CHAPTER XIII.

Scarcity of Clothing in the Army — Anxiety occasioned by expiring Enlistments— De Haas', Maxwell's, and part of Wind's Regiments

CONTENTS. Xm

Page consent to remain— Movements of the British Army— Arrival of a second detachment of Hessian and Brunswick Troops— The British Advance up the Lake— General William Phillips— News of the Naval Battle received at Ticonderoga— Arrival of Arnold with the remains of the Fleet at Ticonderoga 1^2

CHAPTER XIV.

Construction of the British Fleet— It sets sail upon Lake Champlain— The Naval Battle of October 11th— Skillful Eetfeat of the Americans- Viscount Exmouth— Escape of part of the American Fleet— The Naval Battle of October 13th— Surrender of the Washington— Arnold runs his Vessels ashore and burns them— Ambushing the Bridle-path to Crown Point— Escape of Arnold and his Men to Ticonderoga— The loss on both sides— Lt.-Col. Thomas Hartley— Release of American Prisoners— Carleton's motive for releasing them 161

CHAPTER XV.

Occupation of Crown Point by the British Army— An Attack on Ticonderoga expected— It is delayed by unfavorable winds— The Americans improve the time by preparing for it— New Post established on Mount Hope—Construction of a Boom across the Lake— Cutting down the trees on the Crown Point Road- Wet and stormy weather— Precautions against surprise— Construction of a Floating Bridge between Ticonderoga and Mount Independence — Provisions for the Wounded — Scouting Parties— Gates calls for Ten to Fifteen Thousand Militia— The Lower Country alive with the movements of armed Men — Arrival of New England Militia at Ticonderoga— Scarcity of Provisions— Washington's opinion of Militia— Promotion of Lt. Col. Irvine, Major Morris, Captain Jonathan Jones, and Captain Grier— Advance of General Eraser's division to Putnam's Point under the guns of the British Fleet— General Simon Eraser — An attack hourly expected — Richard Stockton and George Clymer — Their comments on the suflerings of the Troops 173

CHAPTER XVI.

The Alarm Guns Announce the Approach of the British— The Americans promptly man the Fortifications— Landing of British Troops on Three- Mile Point— A Reconnoissance by British Gunboats— An Assault upon the Works imminent— The British Troops retire without striking a blo^—Further Suspense— Detachments sent by Gates to "beat up" the Enemy's advance post— The British Army Retreat into Canada — Gates Dismisses the Militia and Details a Permanent Garrison for Ticonderoga —Departure of the First Pennsylvania and First and Second New Jersey Regiments — Their March Southward — Departure of General Gates with

XIV CONTENTS.

Bond's, Porter's, Keed's, Bedel's, Stark's, Poor's, Greaton's, and Patterson's Kegiments — Their March to Reinforce Washington's Army — Departure of other Troops from Ticonderoga — Dispatches for General Carleton which fail to reach him — Causes of the Eetreat — Return of Burgoyne to England — Lt.-Genl, John Burgoyne — Washington visits Ticonderoga — Conclusion 184

ILLUSTRATIONS.

Portrait of Gen. Philip Schuyler (Frontispiece). ^a.ge

Portrait of Gen. David Wooster 28

Portrait of Gen. John Thomas 50

Portrait of Gen. John Sullivan go

Portrait of Sir Guy Carleton jjo

Portrait of Gen. Horatio Gates j^a

Portrait of Gen. Benedict Arnold * jgg

Portrait of Lt.-Gen. John Burgoyne I94

Campaign for the Conquest of Canada,

Chapter I. Introduction

The News from Lexington and Concord — The Uprising throughout the Colonies — Mass-meeting at the State House, Philadelphia — Organization of Associators — Jonathan Jones' Company — The Eev. Thomas Barton and Bangor Church— Initiatory steps for Resistance to Great Britain — Major Philip Skene — Organization of the Regular Army — The Six Pennsylvania Regiments — William Irvine — William Allen — The Captains of the First Pennsylvania Regiment — Col. John Bull — Col. John Philip De Haas — Lt. Col. James Irvine — Major Anthony James Morris — The British Barracks at Philadelphia — Mounting Guard at the State House and along the Wharves — The Uniforms of the Pennsylvania Troops — Arrival of Martha Washington at Philadelphia — Lord Dunmore's Movements in Virginia — Philadelphia in the Winter of 1775-6.

The courier who rode through the country with the news of the conflict at Lexington and Concord, reached Philadelphia in the evening of the 24th of April, 1775. He found the colonists, as he passed, prepared for the issue. Ten years of unredressed wrongs had gradually alienated their affections from the mother country. It was no rash or impetuous step they were about to take, hut one which was the result of a slowly-formed and settled conviction that they would have to give up their liberties or defend them with their blood. The hearts of the patriots were beating in solemn anticipation of the crisis which they felt was near at hand, and it needed but the intelligence that forty-six of their countrymen had already fallen in the cause, to tell them what to do. The uprising which followed was prompt and general. Israel Putnam leaving his plow in the furrow in Connecticut and riding in his farmer's garb to the camp, and John Stark hastening forward from his saw-mill in his shirt-sleeves, were but conspicuous types of the action of every patriot throughout the land. Everywhere there was a resolute rush to arms. In Philadelphia the excitement was intense. On the following day eight thousand people assembled in mass-meeting at the State House and resolved to form themselves into companies of Associators. This was the mode of organizing for defense which had prevailed extensively during the late French war. The province had never had a regular militia law, but relied upon this voluntary mode of organizing for defense as the emergency for it arose.

The startling news from Lexington and Concord was rapidly spread along the roads leading out of Philadelphia, by those who returned home from the city, and soon found its way throughout the province. WitKin a few days thereafter many companies of Associators were raised in the different counties of Pennsylvania. In Caernarvon township, Berks county, and the vicinity, a company was raised by Jonathan Jones, which he brought to a fair state of discipline before the month of May was over. The Rev. Thomas Barton, rector of Bangor Church, and missionary of the venerable Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts, preached to them upon the momentous issues of the hour, as did the other clergy to other troops in different parts of the province, who sought their advice and counsel. Mr. Barton had had the cure of souls at Bangor Church for twenty years, and the people were much attached to him, noted as he was for his learning, zeal, and fidelity. At this pomt, however, their paths, like the paths of so many others at that time, began to separate, slightly at first, and within the bounds of toleration, but soon to diverge as widely apart as the causes of the crown and the colonies. He was obliged to close the church a few months later because the people would not allow him to use the liturgy unless he omitted the collects and prayers for the king and royal family. He was a graduate of Trinity College, Dublin, and came to America as the missionary of the society in 1754. In 1764 he was chaplain of a British regiment. In 1777 he was accused of being privy to a conspiracy to destroy the public stores at Lancaster, York, and Carlisle, and with carrying on correspondence with the enemy, and was confined to the limits of the county, and finally to his own house at Lancaster. In 1778 he declined to take the test oath, and was granted a pass into the British lines at New York. He afterwards became chaplain to a British regiment in New York, and died May 25th, 1780.

The province of Pennsylvania had been thrown upon its own resources by the articles of association adopted by Congress in October, 1774, in pursuance of which the local committees of safety were formed. The committee of Berks county was organized at Reading, December 5th, 1774, with Edward Biddle as chairman and Dr. Jonathan Potts as secretary. Of this committee John Jones, brother of Jonathan, was a member from Caernarvon township. This measure of passive resistance, which prohibited importation and discouraged every species of dissipation and extravagance by their virtue, honor, and love of country, rapidly brought out the capabilities of the people to help themselves. Arms were scarce, but gunsmiths, of which there were many in the province, were employed to make them at Philadelphia, and nearly all the interior towns. Even as far west as

Bedford, a solitary gunsmith was toiling away at twenty-five muskets, or "fire-locks," as they were called at that time, with such assistance as he could obtain, and a saddler was engaged in shaping all the available leather he could procure into cartridge-boxes. Steps were also taken to import arms, gun-locks, and barrels. No sheep were killed in the province until after they were sheared in the spring, and active measures were taken for the manufacture of gunpowder.

Philip Skene, a British major on half-pay, after whom Skenesborough, at the head of Lake Champlain, was named, and Avho had lately been appointed Governor of Ticonderoga and Crown Point, arrived most opportunely about this time at Philadelphia, in a vessel laden with arms, ammunition, and clothing for the British army. These were at once confiscated, and proved a most acceptable addition to the limited colonial supplies. Major Skene, Lieut. Moncrief, and Mr. Lundy, who accompanied him, were placed in arrest. Congress at once appointed a committee to examine their papers, the members of which were punctiliously put upon their honor to conceal whatever of a private nature might come to their knowledge by such examination.

The Governor and his fellow-prisoners were subsequently released upon their parole, with liberty to go anywhere within eight miles of the city, between the Delaware and Schuylkill, upon condition that they held no conversation with any one upon political subjects.

These, however, were but the initiatory steps which prepared the way for the real work of the Revolution. It was conceded that a regular Continental army was necessary. The militia were well enough in an emergency and for local protection, but for sustained movements

CONQUEST OF CANADA. O

in the field against the disciplined troops of Great Britain, it was necessary that there should be a body of regular troops under the control of Congress, who should be dedicated exclusively to the duty of maintaining the common cause of American liberty, in whatever place their services should be required, without regard to colonial landmarks or local necessities. With this conviction, however, went the abiding prejudice of the colonists against standing armies as constant menaces to free government, and when Congress, in June, 1775, resolved to raise an army of fifteen thousand men, it limited the term of enlistment to a single year. For the mischief done the cause by allowing their usual foresight to be thus shortened by prejudice, it is but necessary to recall the distresses of the American army as these terms of enlistment began to expire.

Washington was made Commander-in-Chief. Four major-generals — Ward, Lee, Schuyler, and Putnam — were appointed, and eight brigadiers — Pomeroy, Montgomery, Wooster, Heath, Spencer, Thomas, Sullivan, and Greene. The Pennsylvania contingent was gradually provided for. Six companies of riflemen, afterwards increased to eight, under Col. William Thompson, were ordered to be raised in June, but it was not until October 12th that the first regular Pennsylvania regiment (then called battalion) of infantry was called out by Congress.

On the 25th of October the following captains of this regiment were appointed : — William Allen, Jonathan Jones, William Williams, Josiah Harmar, Marien Lamar, Thomas Dorsey, William Jenkins, and Augustine Willet. On the 9th of December, 1775, Congress ordered four additional regiments to be raised in Pennsylvania, and on the 2d of January, 1776, appointed Arthur St. Clair colonel of the Second, John Shee colonel of the Third, Anthony Wayne colonel of the Fourth, and Robert Magaw colonel of the Fifth. On the 4th of January, 1776, Congress ordered still another regiment (the Sixth) to be raised, in Cumberland county, Pennsylvania, and a few days later appointed WilUam Irvine* colonel and Thomas Hartley lieutenant-colonel of this regiment. These six regiments composed the Pennsylvania Line until the army was re-organized on September 16th, 1776. when it was increased to twelve regiments. Of these six regiments, four — the First, Second, Fourth, and Sixth — ^took an active part in the movements against Canada. The other two (Shoe's and Magaw's) were with Washington's army at New York, and distinguished themselves at Fort Washington, November 16th, 1776.

These six regiments consisted of eight companies (of sixty-eight privates) each. In January, 1776, William Allen was appointed lieutenant-colonel in the Second Regiment, commanded by Colonel St. Clair. He was the son of William Allen, Chief Justice of Pennsylvania, and the brother of Andrew AUen, who was Attorney- General, an early member of the Council of Safety, and member of the Continental Congress from Pennsylvania. Colonel Allen went to Canada with the Second Regiment, but when independence was declared, he resigned July

* William Irvine was born in Ireland on the 3d of November, 1741, and was a surgeon on board a British man-of-war in 1754. He emigrated to Pennsylvania in 1764, and settled at Carlisle. In 1774 he was a deputy from Cumberland county to the Provincial Convention, which met in Philadelphia July 15th, 1774. In January, 1776, he was appointed Colonel of the Sixth Regiment of the Pennsylvania Line, in the Continental army. He was taken prisoner at Three Rivers, and was not exchanged until May 6th, 1778. He was appointed Brigadier-General by Congress, May 12th, 1779, and commanded the Second Pennsylvania Brigade until the fall of 1781. He afterwards rendered valuable service on the western frontier, with his headquarters at Pittsburgh, and was a member of Congress in 1793. He died at Philadelphia, August 12th, 1804.

24th, 1776, and put himself, with his father and brothers, under the protection of Howe, at Trenton, in December, 1776, at a time when the cause of the colonies was considered by the faint-hearted as hopeless. When the British army occupied Philadelphia, Sir William Howe appointed him colonel, and authorized him to raise a regiment of loyalists in Pennsylvania. At the time of the evacuation, in June, 1778, he had only succeeded, after the most indefatigable exertions, in raising one hundred and fifty-two, rank and file. After the war he went to New Brunswick.

By the promotion of Allen, Jonathan Jones became the senior captain in the regiment, and Benjamin Davis, the first lieutenant in Williams' company, was elected captain in Aliens stead, on the 5th of January, 1776.

Of the captains who entered the First Pennsylvania Regiment at the time of its organization, a brief sketch of the career of Jonathan Jones has been given in the preface. Williams became major of the Second Regiment March 12th, 1777; lieutenant-colonel of the Third June 28th, 1778, and resigned April 17th, 1780. Harmar was born in Philadelphia in 1753; became major of the Third Regiment October 1st, 1776; lieutenant-colonel of the Sixth Regiment June 6th, 1777, and as such continued in active service throughout the war. He was adjutant-general of the army under Greene in the South, 1781-2. After the declaration of peace he became lieutenant-colonel of the regiment of Pennsylvania troops in the Continental service, stationed on the western frontier, which, at that time, was no more distant than the Ohio river. He was made brigadier-general July 31st, 1787, and commanded the expedition against the Indians on the Maumee in 1790. He resigned January 1st, 1792, and died August 20th, 1813. Lamar became major of the Fourth Regiment September 30th, 1776, and was killed at the massacre of Paoli, September 20th, 1777, in the midst of the British, on the retreat. His last words were : " Halt ! boys ! Give these assassins one fire!" when he was instantly cut down by the enemy. Dorsey resigned January 1st, 1777, and was appointed paymaster of the militia of Pennsylvania on the 13th of August, 1777. Willet resigned from the service January 1st, 1777, and accepted a civil appointment. May 10th, 1780, he became major of the Fourth Battalion of Pennsylvania militia, and became lieutenant-colonel of the same regiment May 1st, 1783. Jenkins, who was a Philadelphian, left Ticonderoga in August, 1776, a few weeks after the regiment reached there from Canada, and resigned September 6th, 1776. Davis resigned his commission of captain on the 1st of January, 1777.

There was nothing in the service which could appeal to other motives than patriotism in those who responded to the call of Congress. The pay of a captain was only twenty dollars a month, with three rations, and the prospect that this small sum would be paid punctually was by no means encouraging. The active operations of the army at that time were under Washington before Boston, and under Montgomery in Canada, both at great distances from Pennsylvania, and neither the condition of the commissariat nor the public revenues gave promise of even the necessaries of a campaign.

On the 25th of November, Congress appointed John Bull colonel, James Irvine lieutenant-colonel, and Anthony James Morris major of the First Pennsylvania Regiment. Colonel Bull was a native of Montgomery county, and had been a captain in the military forces of the Province in the French War of 1758. He was also conspicuous in the civil and military affairs of the province during the Revolution. On the 17th of January, 1776, the officers of the regiment presented a memorial to Congress, preferring charges against him, which were investigated by Congress, and resulted in his resignation on the 20th. On the 22d, Congress elected John Philip De Haas, of Lebanon, colonel of the regiment in his stead. This officer was born in Holland, about the year 1735, from whence he emigrated to America in 1750, and settled in Lebanon, Pennsylvania. He took an early part in the military affairs of the province, having been made an ensign at the age of twenty-three in the successful expedition against Fort Duquesne under General Forbes in 1758. His promotion was rapid through the grades of adjutant and captain to the rank of major, to which he was appointed June 9th, 1764, and assigned to the command of Fort Henry, in Bethel township, Berks county, which was the chief of a line of frontier fortifications between the Delaware and Susquehanna rivers. From there he marched with several companies to Pittsburgh in August of the same year, where he joined the army under Colonel Bouquet, and marched with it towards Sandusky in an expedition against the Delawares, Wyandots, and Shawnees. On the 31st of July, 1765, he was appointed justice of the peace at Lebanon. Congress appointed him a brigadier-general in the Continental army on the 21st of February, 1777, and he commanded a brigade in Washington's army at Morristown, New Jersey. He was afterwards stationed in Pennsylvania. In October, 1779, having retired from the army, he removed to Philadelphia to reside, where he died of gout on the 3d of June, 1786.

Lieutenant-Colonel Irvine was a hatter by trade, whose place of business was on Second street, opposite Christ Church.* When the Revolution broke out he became captain of a Philadelphia company of Associators. He was made colonel of the Ninth Regiment of the Pennsylvania Line, under the new establishment, October 25th, 1776, and became colonel of his old regiment, which had then become the Second, after Colonel De Haas was promoted. He resigned from the regular army on the 1st of June, 1777, and on the 26th of August, 1777, was made brigadier-general of Pennsylvania militia. On the 5th of December, 1777, Washington sent him with six hundred men, composing the Second Brigade of Pennsylvania militia, from his camp at Whitemarsh, to skirmish with the advance parties of the enemy under General Howe. He encountered them at the foot of Chestnut Hill, and, after a short conflict, in which he was wounded, his troops abandoned him, and he was taken prisoner. He was not exchanged until the 1st of June, 1781. He was appointed major-general of Pennsylvania militia. May 27th, 1782, and filled many important civil offices under the State government,

* The following reference is made to Colonel Irvine's trade by Major Andre, in his poem called the "Cow Chase." General William Irvine was a physician : —

" Which Irvine 'twas, Fame don't relate,

Nor can the Muse assist her.

Whether 'twas he that cocks a hat.

Or he that gives a glister.

" For greatly one was signalized

That fought at Chestnut Hill, And Canada immortalized

The vender of the piU.

"Yet the attendance upon Proctor