America Untold:
Forgotten heroes, Forgotten Stories
Scarlet Ingstad
Christian, Independent Author, Historian
Christian, Independent Author, Historian
Welcome back to my 14-part series on the life of Banastre Tarleton during the American Revolution! If you missed earlier installments, click the links below and read those chapters first. 1. Meet the Tarleton Family 2. Road to Revolution 3. "I'll Cut off General Lee's Head!" 4. Theater in Theatre 5. Legion Rising 6. Equine Design 7. Jericho Long Island had been a British occupied territory since it fell in 1776. It would remain under British and Loyalist control until the very end of the war. New York was the British go-to for winter quarters, supply resources, and a defensive front line against the rebel forces. While the activity in the British New York headquarters was adequately recorded, the movements and actions of the various troops were not. This includes the activities of Tarleton’s British Legion who occupied the island from late 1778 through early 1779. During that winter, the Legion’s actions on Long Island reveal more about the unit’s unique characteristics that played a part in its overall reputation. The British and Hessian forces soon became well-known for their thievery on Long Island. As Lord Howe arrived, many Loyalists assured him that the island was a fertile one, populous, and full of loyal subjects to the Crown. However, these vast, promised supplies soon ran dry as the British took over Jericho. Tensions between soldiers and citizens steadily rose as the winter went on, primarily due to the perceived lack of respect shown by British troops. Plundering and robbing the local citizenry left the Legion with few local friends. In a matter of seven months of 1778, the British forces consumed 3.5 million pounds of bread and flour and 2 million pounds of meat more than the British Treasury had previously anticipated. Acquiring provisions became a constant problem. The British began organizing foraging parties, stealing food and supplies from even those who pledged fealty to the Crown. One such Loyalist by the name of Isaac Lefferts arrived back home only to discover that a British foraging unit had pastured about fifty of their horses in his orchard. Lefferts begged the unit to move the horses to another field full of hay, but the British did not acquiesce. Instead, their horses destroyed his apple crop. Another man named Israel Okely lost his barn to the British cavalry units so they could stable one-hundred of their horses. The horses ate three-hundred bushels of oats. Neither man received any form of payment for their losses. The British Legion arrived in Jericho on November 1, 1778. Tarleton and his men quartered with the wealthy farmers in the region, allowing their horses to grow fat on the pastures. However, the relaxation and privilege only lasted for so long. Legionnaires patrolled out of Fort Nonsense in bitter cold temperatures and dense fog. The repetitive work and routine began to wear them down. Tarleton wrote that their responsibilities consisted of nothing more than having to “Forage for food flour etc. for the whole army quartered in New York.” As demonstrated in their antics during the occupation of Philadelphia, boredom led to trouble. The issues that would later tarnish the reputation of the British Legion began to emerge during their stay on Long Island. The Legion quartered in Jericho in the township of Oyster Bay while the 17th Light Dragoons quartered in Hempstead. Jericho was located at the crossroads of many roadways that allowed access to Hempstead to the south, Jamaica and New York to the west, and further east on Long Island. There was sufficient room to allow the cavalry horses to graze and keep them fit for after the winter came to an end and the brutal summer heat began. Tarleton wrote to Seth Norton, a British forage master, on November 11, 1778 from Jericho stating, “I am to request that you furnish the Bearer with a Barrel of Oatmeal for the Foxhounds.” Clearly Tarleton had additional plans aside from simply gathering necessary supplies for the British forces. Aside from Tarleton’s note, there were several others accounting for the British Legion, 17th Light Dragoons, and other provincial forces in Jericho. Many high-ranking officers of the army were there at the time as well, including Brigadier General William Erskine who commanded the British troops on Long Island. A letter to George Washington from an informant confirmed this information. At the time, Erskine was establishing works around Dr. James Townsend’s home where he was quartered. General Parsons wrote that 700 troops were stationed in Jericho, and in December, Seth Norton recorded that Simcoe “is to be at Jericho.” This record indicates that the Queen’s Rangers accompanied Tarleton’s Legion during their 1778-1779 winter encampment. The Legion is said to have constructed “Fort Nonsense” on a hill near Dr. Townsend’s barn, according to nineteenth century historian Henry Onderdonk. It is also believed that the British chose this particular property as a way to punish Dr. Townsend for his involvement as a member of the provincial congress before British forces took over the island. Not much is known regarding the precise location of the Legion’s post at Jericho. Fort Nonsense was a frequently-used name of forts during the Revolution era, including Patriot forts. The name was often used in jest, mocking the establishment or location of the forts themselves. There is a chance this particular Fort Nonsense was named such. According to John Graves Simcoe’s journal: “Sir William Erskine came to Oyster Bay, intentionally to remove the corps to Jericho, a quarter of the Legion was to quit in order to accompany him to the east end of the island. Lt. Col. Simcoe represented to him, that in case of the enemy’s passing the sound, both Oyster bay and Jericho were at too great a distance from any post to expect succor, but that the latter was equally liable to surprize as Oyster bay, that its being farther from the coast was no advantage, as the enemy acquainted with the country, and in league with the disaffected inhabitants of it, could have full time to penetrate, undiscovered , through the woods… Sir William Erskine was pleased to agree with Lt. Col. Simcoe; and expressed himself highly satisfied with the means had been taken to ensure the post.” A raid at Smithtown from November 21 through the 24th provides additional information regarding the British Legion’s actions in the Suffolk County region. At the Inn of Epinetus Smith on November 21, Colonel Tarleton and Major Cochrane accrued a rather large bill of services and provisions from the innkeeper. These provisions included animals, alcohol, silk, and building material. Tarleton specifically acquired four sheets, a new Petticoat, and a silk handkerchief. In addition to these goods, an inventory record from November 12 revealed that one ton of hay was taken from Dr. James Townsend’s residence in Jericho, alongside fifteen tons of hay from Benjamin Townsend’s home nearby. That same month, boards “of the best pine” were taken “for the use of the Government by Colonel Tarleton and Major Cochran.” Norton frequently complained about the actions of the Legion during their stay in Jericho. He said, “if the Quartermaster’s of the Legion are not restrained by the particular Order from Headquarters (for they will pay no attention to any Commissary’s Order) from taking the Forage, engaged for this Magazine I shall not be able to get even a sufficiency for this Corps.” Norton also cited an incident a few days prior regarding the “Forage” Tarleton and Cochran obtained “without granting receipts.” He elaborated, stating that the inhabitants complained of the incident and Simcoe drove the problematic legionnaires away. According to Norton, the Legion had more “Forage” than their horses could consume that season. It is especially interesting to note that Simcoe and his Rangers chose to drive off the rabble-rousing officers. Simcoe wrote in his journal, “A young corps raised in the midst of active service, and without the habits of discipline, which are learnt in time of peace, required the strictest attention in this point.” The British Legion was very eager to show their worth in the British forces, but in their eagerness, they exhibited behaviors that would later plague the Legion as a whole. With no enemy forces to drive away, the Legion turned to the other activity they were quite skillful in: drinking. Alcohol was a common substance used by both sides of the American Revolution, both socially and medically. However, at least one troop of the British Legion became so ill-behaved while drinking during their stay in Jericho that an unusual sanction had to be enforced. On rare occasions, alcohol could be withheld from specific soldiers should their conduct become so uncontrollable that they cause “much harm by ruining discipline and good behavior.” Captain John Scott’s entry in his orderly book for November 11, 1778 reads, “The Commanding Officers has Directed the Rum of the Scotch Company to be Stopped…and theay may expect will Be Continued…Untill theay Discover the guilty person Or a Sufficient Quantity is Stopt to to Repay the Inhabitants.” However, just eight days after this entry, Scott wrote that “URQUART & Daniel INNISS of the Scotch Company On Suspicion of Killing Cattle and plundering the Inhabitants, A quantity of fresh meat &c. being found in their possession.” Several other entries list the names and crimes of other members of the regiment. Although these crimes appear petty in nature, they demonstrated a lack of discipline and lack of care for the law within the regiment itself. These acts would later lead to more serious crimes such as robbery and mutilation. An example of such a crime occurred on March 2, 1779 when a man by the name of Daniel Sandford was riding his horse to Southampton and was overtaken by Thomas Connoly, a private dragoon in the British Legion. Connoly drew his piston on Sandford and demanded to know if he was carrying money. Sandford simply replied that he travelled light and Collonly became incensed. He stated, “Damn you, deliver your purse or you are a dead man.” Sandford gave up his nearly-empty purse, infuriating Connoly all the more. He began to search the man feverishly, “striking him several times with his naked sword.” After finding nothing else of value, Connoly pointed to a nearby home and demanded to know if there was money inside. Sandford feigned knowledge of the home and answered there was indeed money in the dwelling, so Connonly forcibly marched him toward the building. Connoly began to engage with the man who owned the home, John Grimes, and Sandford took the opportunity to flee. Ignoring the fleeing man, Connoly asked Grimes if he knew what time it was. The moment Grimes pulled out his watch, Connoly took it from him, called him “a Rebel.” Grimes was aghast at the accusation and, as Connoly tried to ride off on his horse, grabbed the bridle. Connoly pulled out his pistol again and swore that “if he did not let go, he would blow his brains out.” Connoly nearly escaped, however he ran into William Taylor, adjutant of the Legion. Taylor realized Connoly was intoxicated and disheveled, immediately raising his suspicions. Taylor searched Connoly and discovered the stolen watch and purse. Immediately he placed Connoly under arrest and had him court-martialed. Connoly’s only defense during the trial was to state that he had been under the influence of liquor. Connoly was found guilty of highway robbery and sentenced to death by hanging. This punishment was meant to put fear into the hearts of the other legionnaires and prevent them from acting in a similar fashion, however just a few days after Connoly’s hanging, another legionnaire found himself court-martialed. And so began a series of court-martials that would continue throughout the winter months. Tarleton was not well-known for his restraint or discipline when it came to such behavior either. During this time, he was unable to control his men, revealing a potential lack of experience and maturity on his part. The behavior of the Legion even caught the attention of Cornwallis. He warned Tarleton to find a way to curb the behavior of his men and Tarleton replied, “I am sorry your Lordship has cause to complain of the plundering of the Legion. The officers have kept me in ignorance, or steps should have been taken immediately to suppress it.” The chances of Tarleton’s statement being true are rather slim. More than likely he simply used the traditional go-to of pleading ignorance to avoid further upsetting Cornwallis. Shortly after these incidents, the 17th Light Dragoons were seconded to the Legion. On the record, this was for training purposes, but off the record it was likely done to help instill discipline in Tarleton’s men. The 17th Light Dragoons were the only British cavalry regiment by 1779 and were known for their dyed-red horsetails that hung from their helmets with a death’s-head emblem on the front. They were known as the “Death or Glory Boys” and wore tight red jackets and tall brass helmets. The disciplinary issues in the Legion began to improve after the arrival of the 17th Light Dragoons. While the unit never officially became a permanent part of the Legion, they did fight alongside Tarleton’s Legion and proved their worth many times over. Tarleton, during these winter months at Jericho, kept up to his old vices of gambling and women. He found himself rather bored and lonely, writing back to his family pleading for money and swearing he had stopped his gambling habits, which of course was not the case. However, despite Tarleton’s advancement in the British Forces, his constant financial issues remained a source of tension between him and his family. His family began to pressure him to return to England to settle his debts, but Tarleton adamantly replied “Why should I return to England? My honour as a solider would instantly fade, and all probability of restitution would vanish forever.” Banastre’s mother, by this time, knew her son’s promises to stop gambling and to repay her the money he owed were likely never going to be fulfilled. When Tarleton wasn’t playing cards or enjoying the company of women, he introduced the sport of cricket to New York. Notices in newspapers calling for men of the army and navy to join the Legion in their games of cricket every Saturday morning. Foxhunting also became a regular pastime, as indicated by Tarleton’s request for oatmeal for the foxhounds. At the beginning of 1779, the units left Jericho for Sag Harbor, the eastern end of Long Island, and quartered there. The continued drudgery work of patrols and foraging resumed once they were settled. The Legion saw no action aside from three rebel ships when they attempted to commandeer the British ship Neptune on February 1. Unable to overcome the retaliation by the Neptune or the forces on shore, the three ships attempted to flee. One ran aground and Major Charles Cochrane took full advantage of the situation. After forcing the rebels to abandon the ship, Cochrane boarded it and discovered enough supplies for six months out at sea. While the drudgery work continued aside from this one moment of excitement, Tarleton became more and more frustrated. However, for Banastre and his British Legion, these days of rest and plenty were soon coming to an end. Clinton ordered an advance through the New York highlands, officially beginning the summer campaign of 1779. Sources: David M. Griffin. “Oatmeal for the Foxhounds: Tarleton in Jericho,” Journal of the American Revolution: Conflict & War, The War Years (1775-1782), January 31, 2018. https://allthingsliberty.com/2018/01/oatmeal-foxhounds-tarleton-jericho/. The North British Intelligencer or Constitutional Miscellany, Edinburgh, Vol 1, 221, National Library of Australia, https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/3140156. John Knight, The War at Saber Point: Banastre Tarleton and the British Legion, 66-74. Stephen Davidson, “How to Lose Friends and Dishearten Loyalists,” Loyalist Trails, United Empire Loyalists’ Association of Canada (February 3, 2008): http://www.uelac.org/Loyalist-Trails/2008/Loyalist-Trails-2008.php?issue=200805. Tarleton Family Archives, Liverpool Records Office, NRA 7189. Revolution in America: Confidential Letters and Journals 1776-1784 of Adjutant General Major Baurmeister of the Hessian Forces (New Jersey: Rutgers University Press, 1957), 229-319. Seth Norton, Revolutionary War Papers, Hofstra University’s Long Island Studies Institute, Nassau County Museum Reference Collection, 1775. Lewis J. Costigin to Washington, December 13, 1778, Founders Online, National Archives. Collection of papers of Reuben Smith Norton and Seth Norton, Connecticut State Library. Henry Jr. Onderdonk, Documents and Letters Intended to Illustrate the Revolutionary Incidents of Queens County: With Connecting Narratives, Explanatory Notes, and Additions (New York: Leavitt, Trow and Company, 1846), 209-210. Richard A. Winsche, “The Jericho Historic Preserve,” The Nassau County Historical Society Journal, Volume 39, 1984. John Graves Simcoe, Simcoe’s Military Journal: A History of the Operations of a Partisan Corps Called the Queen’s Rangers, Commanded by Lieut. Col. J.G. Simcoe, During the War of the Revolution (New York: Bartlett & Welford, 1844), 22, 94. Blydenburgh Manuscript: Inhabitants of Smithtown v. King George III, Smithtown Historical Society, Smithtown, NY, 1783. Robert Jackson. A Treatise on the Fevers of Jamaica: With Some Observations on the Intermitting Fever of America (London: J. Murray, 1791), 397. Captain John Scott. Legion Orders, Scott Orderly Book. Andre de Coppett Collection, Princeton University: November 11, 1778. War Office, Class 71, Vol. 88, 341-344, TNA. Anthony J. Scotti, Brutal Virtue: The Myth and Reality of Banastre Tarleton, 2019. John W. Fortescue, A History of the 17th Lancers. London: Macmillan, 1895: 63. Tarleton’s Letter Home to his Family on December 25, 1778, Tarleton Family Archives, NRA 7189. Royal American Gazette, New York, October 28, 1778. Major Charles Cochrane to Major General Sir William Erskine. New York Gazette and the Weekly Mercury, February 8, 1779.
1 Comment
|
Details
Scarlet Ingstad
I am an independent author and historian seeking to uplift the stories of the lesser-known heroes and heroines of the American Revolution, alongside modern-day heroes and heroines who have served in the U.S. military and continue their service through their historical work. Archives
March 2022
Categories |