[1776-1777] Letter. [John Graves Simcoe] to [Sir William Howe] re use of Rangers in back country.
CWF Rockefeller Library Special Collections. SCMO1930.6.01
[1776-1777]
I beg leave with that deference that becomes an Officer
every way conscious of the distance between his Rank & that
of the Commander in Chief to lay before him some reasons why I
humbly presume the Queens Rangers would be the most proper
to [ac]t whether as a body of themselves or as a reinforcement to any
Troops assembled on the back settlements.
1st
Because the Q Rangers are the Eldest & best known Provincial
corps; they are respected by the Loyal inhabitants of Pensylvania
whom they were employed to protect during the winter of 76 in
their bringing their produce to market — & whom they never
plundered.
2d
Because experience has shewn that they have [outdo]ne the 2d
Infantry
in marching & bearing fatigue.
3d
Because being composed of different countries, they have not in
them the predominate vice of any country which must under any rational
corps a prey to any opponent skill'd in its foible.
4th
because it is well officered both in numbers & in regard to
individuals & has but few men.
I beg pardon to add a few reasons why I am more fit than any officer
of any rank, to conduct the enterprise.
I am better known from a variety of detail services than any field
officer. I never broke my word with any Inhabitant, prevented
plunder & behaved to them with studied affability.
An alien from habit & Principle, to the pleasures of life I
have improved by habit an excellent constitution into a tolerance
of fatigue & want of sleep, beyond the hardiest of my soldiers
& this is most essential in new levies, where there being none of
that mechanical Energy that distinguishes & forms the value
of old corps the officer must in every respect lead them to his
views by the influence of his own Example — because Sir
being upwards of four years either acting or adjutant I am
personally known to most of the Convention army with the
generality of whose corps I have been in Garrison —
because you may rely on my secrecy, indefatigableness, &
disinterestedness — principles .
It was therefore with unfeigned pleasure I saw your Lordship
raising a Provincial corps & being next in Rank I anticipated
at once that these Troops would be united under your Lordships
command & Lord Cathcart intervend / which I hope may yet
happen the Commander in Chief was pleased to give L Cathcart
Rank & I found your Lordships Regiment Weaker in,
yet stronger in numbers obtaining Draughts:
Your Lordship will for a moment place yourself in my
situation I thought myself in the first instance personally
aggrieved, in the second, my corps was, & my mind [never] have
little of the bent necessary for those high employments I hope
to deserve & obtain & if it did not dwell on these circumstances
with bleeding attention . I told my Lord C- I should memorial
the General for what I thought my due Rank — & I shewed
your Lordship one I meant to prevent in behalf of my corps
I fear my Lord something in my manner has incurred your
displeasure which is very heavy to me as I flattered myself
my conduct would have met your approbation & Patronage
which I esteem not on account of your Lordship's rank
as from the noble & virtuous use your Lordship has made
of the advantages of it.