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Harper's Encyclopedia of United States History (ed. Benson Lossing), Acland, John Dyke, 1750- (search)
Acland, John Dyke, 1750- Military officer; Maj. John Dyke Acland. was with Burgoyne in his invasion of northern New York in 1777, and at the Christina Harriet Acland. same time he was a member of Parliament. In the battle of Saratoga (Oct. 7, 1777) he was severely wounded — shot through the legs — and made a prisoner. Taken to the American headquarters on Bemis's Heights, his devoted wife, Lady Harriet, was permitted to pass through the lines and attend him. She was kindly received and treated by the American officers, and their bearing towards their wounded prisoners excited the major's gratitude and warm esteem. After his return to England he was provoked to give the lie direct to Lieutenant Lloyd, at a dinner-party, because the latter cast aspersions upon the Americans. A duel ensued on Bampton Downs. The major was unhurt, but a severe cold, which he contracted at the time of the duel, culminated in a fever which caused his death at his seat at Pixton, Somersetshire,
Harper's Encyclopedia of United States History (ed. Benson Lossing), Anne, Fort. (search)
Anne, Fort. A military post in New York in the Revolutionary War. When the British took possession of Ticonderoga (July 6, 1777), Burgoyne ordered gunboats to pursue the bateaux laden with stores, etc., from the fort. The boombridge barrier across the lake there was soon broken, and the pursuing vessels overtook the fugitive boats near Skenesborough, and destroyed them and their contents. Colonel Long, in command of the men in them, escaped with his people and the invalids, and, after setting fire to everything combustible at Skenesborough (now Whitehall), they hastened to Fort Anne, a few miles in the interior, followed by a british regiment. When near the fort. Long turned on his pursuers and routed them: but the latter being reinforced. Long was driven back. He burned Fort Anne, and fled to Fort Edward, on the Hudson.
Harper's Encyclopedia of United States History (ed. Benson Lossing), Armstrong, John, 1758-1843 (search)
Armstrong, John, 1758-1843 Military officer; born in Carlisle, Pa., Nov. 25, 1758. While a student at Princeton, in 1775, he became a volunteer in Potter's Pennsylvania regiment, and was soon afterwards made an aide-de-camp to General Mercer. He was afterwards placed on the staff of General Gates, and remained so from the beginning of that officer's campaign against Burgoyne until the end of the war, having the rank of major. Holding a facile pen, he was employed to write the famous John Armstrong. Newburgh addresses. They were powerfully and eloquently written. After the war he was successively Secretary of State and Adjutant-General of Pennsylvania; and in 1784 he conducted operations against the settlers in the Wyoming Valley. The Continental Congress in 1787 appointed him one of the judges for the Northwestern Territory, but he declined. Two years later he married a sister of Chancellor Livingston, removed to New York, purchased a farm within the precincts of the old
Harper's Encyclopedia of United States History (ed. Benson Lossing), Army. (search)
e army gathered at Cambridge unless a more efficient leader might be found, and, to avoid giving offence, they asked the Continental Congress to assume the regulation and direction of that army. Joseph Warren, in a private letter to Samuel Adams, wrote that the request was to be interpreted as a desire for the appointment of a new chief commander of all the troops that might be raised. Just then the news arrived of the approach of reinforcements for Gage, under Generals Clinton, Howe, and Burgoyne, and Congress felt the importance of acting promptly. At the suggestion of John Adams, the army was adopted as a continental one; and, at the suggestion of the New England delegation, Thomas Johnson. of Maryland, nominated George Washington, of Virginia, for commander-in-chief of the armies of the inchoate republic. He was elected (June 15, 1775) by unanimous vote, and on the following morning John Hancock, president of Congress, officially announced to Washington his appointment. The V
Harper's Encyclopedia of United States History (ed. Benson Lossing), Arnold, Benedict, 1741-1801 (search)
(Feb. 7, 1777), but the affront left an irritating thorn in his bosom, and he was continually in trouble with his fellow-officers, for his temper was violent and he was not upright in pecuniary transactions. General Schuyler admired him for his bravery, and was his abiding friend until his treason. He successfully went to the relief of Fort Schuyler on the upper Mohawk (August, 1777), with 800 volunteers; and in September and October following he was chiefly instrumental in the defeat of Burgoyne, in spite of General Gates. There he was again severely wounded in the same leg, and was disabled several months. When the British evacuated Philadelphia (June, 1778) Arnold was appointed commander at Philadelphia, where he married the daughter of a leading Tory (Edward Shippen), lived extravagantly, became involved in debt, was accused of dishonest official conduct, and plotted his treason against his country. To meet the demands of importunate creditors, he engaged in fraudulent transa
Harper's Encyclopedia of United States History (ed. Benson Lossing), Balcarres, Alexander Lindsay, Earl, (search)
Balcarres, Alexander Lindsay, Earl, British military officer; born in Scotland in 1752; served three years in America under Carleton and Burgoyne, and was captured with the latter at Saratoga. At the battle of Hubbardton, where he was wounded, thirteen balls passed through his clothes. He was made major-general in 1793; lieutenant-governor of Jamaica in 1794; general in 1803; and subsequently one of the representative peers from Scotland. He died in London, March 27, 1825.
Harper's Encyclopedia of United States History (ed. Benson Lossing), Bemis's Heights, battles of. (search)
rmy, had so successfully opposed the march of Burgoyne down the valley of the Hudson that he had notes's army was rapidly increasing in numbers. Burgoyne felt compelled to move forward speedily. Somre, composed largely of German troops, led by Burgoyne in person, extended to a range of hills that on gave the signal for the general advance of Burgoyne's army, he remained in his tent, apparently iy met in a ravine at Freeman's farm, at which Burgoyne had halted. There they fought desperately fomorning. But for Arnold and Morgan, no doubt Burgoyne would have been marching triumphantly on Alban the Brandywine (see Brandywine, battle of). Burgoyne gave the glad tidings to his army, and wrote with silent contempt, sat still. A long time Burgoyne waited for further fidings from Clinton. On were sent to hang on the American rear, while Burgoyne should attack their front. This movement wasth their own ammunition. sir Francis Clarke, Burgoyne's chief aide, who was sent to secure the cann[12 more...]
Harper's Encyclopedia of United States History (ed. Benson Lossing), Bennington, battle near. (search)
Bennington, battle near. Falling short of provisions, Burgoyne sent out an expedition from his camp on the Hudson River to procure cattle, horses to mount Riedesel's dragoons, to try the affections of the country, and to complete a corps of loyangton with part of a brigade. He had lately refused to obey a command of General Lincoln to join the main army opposing Burgoyne. It was a fortunate circumstance, for he did better service when Baum approached and began to cast up intrenchments (Auilitia, and he soon gathered many fugitives from the disaster at Hubbardton. The 15th was rainy. Baum had sent back to Burgoyne for reinforcements, and Stark was waiting for the arrival of more expected troops from Berkshire. Warner joined Stark ois veterans were made prisoners. At that moment Lieutenant-Colonel Breyman appeared with the jaded reinforcements which Burgoyne had sent, and Stark was joined by some fresh troops furnished by Warner. The cannon which had been taken from the Germa
Harper's Encyclopedia of United States History (ed. Benson Lossing), Bigelow, Timothy, 1739-1790 (search)
Bigelow, Timothy, 1739-1790 Military officer; born in Woreester, Mass., Aug. 12, 1739; was a blacksmith and a zealous patriot; member of the Provincial Congress; led minute-men to Cambridge; and accompanied Arnold in his notable expedition to Quebec in 1775, where he was made a prisoner. As colonel, he assisted in the capture of Burgoyne, and was active in some of the stirring scenes of the war afterwards. Colonel Bigelow was in charge of the Springfield Arsenal after the war, and was one of the original grantees of Montpelier, Vt. He died in Woreester, Mass., March 31, 1790.
Harper's Encyclopedia of United States History (ed. Benson Lossing), Bland, Theodoric, 1742-1790 (search)
(q. v.), his mother being Jane Rolfe. John Randolph was his nephew. He received the degree of M. D. at Edinburgh, returned home in 1764, and practised medicine. Bland led volunteers in opposing Governor Dunmore, and published some bitter letters against that officer over the signature of Cassius. He became captain of the 1st Troop of Virginia cavalry, and joined the main Continental army as lieutenant-colonel in 1777. Brave, vigilant, and judicious, he was intrusted with the command of Burgoyne's captive troops at Albemarle Barracks in Virginia; and was member of the Continental Congress in 1780-83. In the legislature and in the convention of his State he opposed the adoption of the national Constitution; but represented Virginia in the first Congress held under it, dying while it was in session. Colonel Bland was a poet as well as a soldier and patriot. The Bland papers, containing many valuable memorials of the Revolution, were edited and published by Charles Campbell in 1840
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