01/04/07

Philip Long Life - Known Events

Earliest possible year of birth of Philip Long. Evidence for this year is taken from Death Certificate where Philip Long is said to have been “ninety years old” at his death on December 25, 1832. Documentary evidence is difficult to challenge even in the face of one obvious conclusion: based on this information, Philip would have been fifty (50) years of age when he married Marie-Julie Couillard Després in 1992. Another piece of information casts some doubt on this advanced age and it is based on the fact that (a) older people then tended to exaggerate their advanced age – a sign of pride, and (b) a mistake was made on Marie-Julie’s death certificate that is incontrovertible. If one mistake, why not many? However, documentary evidence is strong that we should consider our ancestor to have been born in 1742 instead of 1757 as was put forward by Mgr. Lang.

Mgr. Ernest Lang shared what he knew of oral history in his book about Philip Long. In that book, Philip was believed to be eighteen when he did an act of bravery by being “reputed to have escaped to the British with an American Mail” (source: Deane and Kavannagh, 1832). Even Mgr. Lang is hesitant about Philip Long’s origins since he says that some believed him to be Scottish, others from Philadelphia. He claims that the only certain thing about Philip Long was that he was Protestant (an obvious conclusion based on the marriage in 1792 in the Holy Trinity Cathedral in Quebec City). Mgr. Lang’s description of the famous act of bravery is done with a great affection and flair, and even today, you cannot resist his energy and enthusiasm for the subject. Mgr. Lang simply affirms, based on oral history from generation to generation, three very important pieces of information. First, that Philip Long was eigtheen years old. Second, that the act of bravery took place in 1775. Third, that Philip was assuredly already a member of the armed forces in 1775 when the conflict began. Unfortunately, there is no further evidence or information by Mgr. Lang in his writings that would support these affirmation, and none that this author and others have found to invalidate this oral history. As Gilles Long as said, we should tread carefully when we wish to challenge oral history. However, this oral history may be suspect for a number of reasons which are reviewed elsewhere. Of particular concern is that Mgr. Lang deduces Philip’s birth year by connecting the date of the beginning of the conflict with his being eigtheen and substactring it to arrive at 1757. The circularity here is a challenge is one that only further evidence will enlighten. In our view, it is much more likely that the year 1775 became an accepted year for the act of bravery not based on strong oral history but rather based on the fact that a 1816 letter signed by Philip Long and known to researchers since the early 1930’s, includes the following quote: “It his well known by a great many Respectable people how much I have Done and Suffered Since the year 1775 for my King and Country which reduced me to the Situation I am in at present which is to Long to Detail in any Letter, but I hope your Excellency will think only of me as a men of 26 or 30 years acquaintance, of my Conduct will report of me, as to Mail remaining in my house is false which I can prove it never Remained one Day if that it is my Orders and my Duty to take profsesion of and cary it forward Either up or Down which I Surely have Done.” If we simply believe oral history, then 1775 is as good a year as any. However, this letter represents no proof that the act of bravery was committed in 1775 or that Philip was already in the armed forces in 1775. But it would provide an explanation for connecting the two pieces of information. Given the embellishment of oral history that even Mgr. Lang suggested may have been present throughout the description of the story of the act of bravery, this development cannot be ruled prima facie. Today, we cannot disprove the 1757 year of birth for Philip Long but faced with documented evidence that he may have been born instead in 1742, we must take the latter as stronger than oral history.

Treaty of Paris – conclusion of the Seven Years War between France and England. This Treaty resulted in the permanent transfer of New France into British hands. The quote above from the 1816 letter to Lord Sherbrooke (Sir John Coape) clearly indicates that Philip saw himself as loyal to the Crown from the onset of the conflict with the American Colonies. However, loyalty to the Loyalist cause does not necessarily imply that Philip was actively involved in the conflict . Although many were forced to take allegiance early in the conflict, there are clearly other cases where loyalty was required to be expressed later. We can only speculate about this part of Philip’s life since no information, beyond the oral history related to us by Mgr. Lang, is available. No traces of Philip during this year.

No traces of Philip during this year.

No traces of Philip Long in this year.

No traces of Philip Long in this year.

No traces of Philip Long in this year.

No traces of Philip Long in this year.

Known Events That May Offer Clues or Point to Possible Life Events

Philip could have been 18 years old when the Treaty of Paris was signed.  What was he doing and where was he?

Pennsylvania Loyalists are created – they will serve beside the West Florida Royal Forresters in the Siege of Pensacola in 1781. Warrant to FANNING from HOWE dated 11 December 1776 to create the Kings American Regiment.

By 1 July 1777 the regiment had enlisted 26 Sergeants, 9 Drummers & Fifers, and 415 Rank and File. "Return of the Provincial Forces at Kingsbridge and Morrisania, 1st July 1777. Sir [Henry Clinton Papers, Volume 21, item 24, University of Michigan, William L. Clements Library.]  KAR reinforces the post of Huntington, where they shared the duty with the 3rd Battalion, DeLancey's Brigade. No incidents of note occurred during their stay there, and they were moved in June of 1777 to the lines at Kingsbridge. KAR crossed over the Hudson and marched towards Tappan, New York. This movement was part of a several pronged incursion into Bergen County from Staten Island, Paulus Hook, and Fort Lee by Sir Henry CLINTON, commanding officer at New York and environs. CLINTON sailed up the Hudson to attack the river forts Clinton and Montgomery. The King's American Regiment and the King's Orange Rangers were landed on the east side of the river.

KAR - The winter of 1777/1778 passed rather uneventfully for the KAR at Kingsbridge. The KAR had moved from New York by sea to Newport, Rhode Island, arriving there on 15 July 1778. The siege and the Battle of Quaker Hill (as the action of 29 August would be known) had been the regiment's first real taste of battle. Captain Isaac ATWOOD asked Colonel FANNING for leave to view the French, which he could do at a small distance from his company.

Lt. Col. CAMPBELL, already unpopular with almost every officer, infuriated them further by ordering ATWOOD to physically stand in front of his company and then ordered him under arrest when he didn't attend as quickly as CAMPBELL thought proper. He, too, was court martialed and found guilty of only a part of the charges, being sentenced to a mild reprimand.

On 12 June 1779 the regiment was informed that its time spent at Newport would come to an end. Accordingly, the regiment embarked on board the transport Diana to sail back to New York.

The KAR, brigaded with the 23rd Regiment of Foot and the Hessian Regiment of Landgrave, landed on the east side of New Haven on the morning of 5 July 1779. The troops reembarked the next afternoon and sailed for Fairfield, where they arrived on the 8th of July. The fleet sailed accordingly for Lloyd's Neck where they re–supplied themselves, proceeding from there to Norwalk. The troops landed at Norwalk under a heavy fire, capturing two flags during the fighting. The regiment was quickly rushed to Stony Point to re–occupy the works after the Continental General Anthony Wayne had captured the post by surprise during the night. They would spend July through 20 October 1779 sharing the duty of Stony Point and Verplank's Point, on opposite sides of the Hudson River.

Upon the evacuation of these posts, the regiment sailed down river to Brooklyn, where it landed and marched to Lloyd's Neck, the principal British outpost in Suffolk County, Long Island. Here it would remain idle while bigger events happened elsewhere.

March 1780 – West Florida Royal Foresters – Appointment of Officers "General Orders Head Quarters Tansa 13 March 1780”

On 7 October 1780 the regiment embarked on board the transports Diligence and Peggy, under the command of Major General LESLIE. There were only nine companies serving under FANNING on the expedition, the light infantry company being detached to help form a corps of Provincial Light Infantry, commanded by Lt. Col. John WATSON of the Guards. This regiment was likewise on the expedition.

LESLIE's destination was Virginia, where they arrived off of Norfolk on 21 October 1780. From this date through 15 November 1780, the troops destroyed supplies, captured vessels and generally lived well between Norfolk and Portsmouth.

It was with deep regret that the KAR evacuated Virginia and sailed for Charlestown, arriving there after almost a full month at sea, during which time they endured a terrible storm. After disembarking at Charlestown, the regiment marched for Georgetown, South Carolina, where it arrived on 24 December 1780. action at Black River on 14 February 1781. Under apparently unfavorable circumstances, Captain Lieutenant James DePEYSTER, Ensign BUDD, and twenty four men of the KAR were taken prisoner. The rest of the detachment returned to Georgetown after taking some militia and cattle prisoner.

The KAR left Georgetown on 24 February 1781, two months to the day after their arrival there. They had been battered and bruised in their first dealings with Southern Rebels, but it undoubtedly left the survivors stronger for the experience. Indeed, in their next major action, the Battle of Hobkirk's Hill on 25 April 1781.

The Battle of Hobkirk's Hill was a result of Lord RAWDON boldly moving out of Camden to confront General Nathanael Greene and his Continental Troops, without waiting for Lt. Col. WATSON and 500 men under his command (including the KAR's Light Company). The battle was short and decisive. Greene's troops opened a devastating fire on the British while they formed for battle, but afterwards were routed from the field, losing many casualties.  Out of only 900 troops under RAWDON, 256 officers and men were killed, wounded and missing, almost thirty percent of his force. Lt. Col. CAMPBELL, previously exchanged, received RAWDON's thanks in orders the next day. Indeed, the regiment had formed the front left flank of the line and had behaved superbly under fire. The regiment had come of age, but it was to be their high water mark.

With the evacuation of Camden in May and RAWDON's inability to bring Greene to another major action, the army retired towards Charlestown. With desperate pleas for help daily arriving from Royal Governor Sir James WRIGHT of Georgia, the British decided to answer his request by sending the KAR to his assistance. Accordingly, they embarked hastily at Charlestown on board the Tartar privateer and other small sloops on 30 May 1781, arriving at Savannah within a couple days.75

The first business the regiment embarked upon in their new post was to attempt to raise a troop of cavalry. The warrant to CAMPBELL from Lord RAWDON, dated 30 May 1781, specified that the troop would consist of four officers and fifty seven other ranks. Each recruit was promised an elegant helmet or cap, uniform, horse, arms and accouterments, plus the higher pay given to cavalrymen.

The new commanding officer of the troop was Captain Isaac ATWOOD, who already had a history with Lt. Col. CAMPBELL which would continue down in the South. This one troop of cavalry, joined to the other cavalry then in Georgia, would see the bulk of the fighting there for the remainder of the war.

West Florida Royal Foresters Rooke to Winslow

Inspecr. General's Office New York 30th Augt. 1781

Sr.

I am directed by Col. INNES to desire you will be so good as to fix a day with Captain CRISTIE to Muster his Troop Stiled the West Florida Royal Foresters.

I have the honor to be Sr. your most Obedt. humble Sert. H ROOKE D.I.G.P. Forces

Ed WINSLOW Esqr. &c &c

University of New Brunswick, Edward Winslow papers, Reel 152, 2-35.

After numerous patrols and an uneventful summer, November would prove to be as bloody to Captain ATWOOD's Troop as the rest of their history combined. On 2 November 1781 a post of the King's (Carolina) Rangers under Captain JOHNSTON was attacked by two hundred Rebels under Colonel Jackson.

Lt. Col. CAMPBELL was posted with his troop and that of the Rangers about one half mile distant. CAMPBELL immediately rushed both troops to JOHNSTON's assistance and charged headlong into the battle, routing the Rebels but rashly losing twelve men killed and wounded, including Ensign Abel HARDENBROOK of the KAR and four men of ATWOOD's Troop. In the days that followed, three more men in the troop were killed in skirmishing.

Discipline in the KAR was starting to ebb. The officers openly quarreled with Lt. Col. CAMPBELL and he with them. He went so far as to challenge Captain ATWOOD to a duel, but ATWOOD's friends dissuaded him from going through with it.

Thomas McDONALD, one of ATWOOD's dragoons, deserted from his post on the night of 28 February 1782. He was taken the next day by a patrol and brought to CAMPBELL, by whose arbitrary order he was executed at Yamacoare at 9:30am 2 March 1782. Such extreme measures as subverting the Judge Advocate General's Office and inflicting instant punishment were almost unheard of in the North, but had become commonplace in the South.

One final nasty battle awaited the KAR and the garrison of Savannah. On 21 May 1782 a running fight ensued between a body of infantry and cavalry under Lt. Col. Thomas BROWN of the King's (Carolina) Rangers and a party of Continentals, state troops and militia under General Wayne near Ogeechee. The action became desperate on the part of the British, with the Rebels on the verge of capturing them.

In this situation Captain ATWOOD charged his troop in a column of fours down a very narrow road, stopping the Rebel advance and forcing them to retreat, but at a loss of Sergeants Benjamin REYNOLDS and Isaac DUTCHER killed and Lieutenant Dugald CAMPBELL and some others wounded. The party limped into Savannah immediately afterwards. In two more months, Savannah would be evacuated.

Upon the evacuation of Savannah, a large detachment of the regiment was sent to New York, but the bulk was transported to Charlestown to sit and do duty while awaiting the fate of America at a conference table in Europe. There was the occasional skirmish, but offensive operations had been halted.

The most significant occurrence at Charlestown was receiving word that Major GRANT had died on board the transport taking the detachment from Savannah to New York. This vacancy led the way for Brevet Major John COFFIN of the New York Volunteers to be commissioned major in the KAR as of 20 September 1782. COFFIN had led a marvelous career through Georgia and South Carolina between 1779–1782, particularly with the light infantry and cavalry.

With the evacuation of Charlestown in December, the regiment was reunited as a whole in New York in January of 1783. It was time for personal scores to be settled.

While the end of the war and the independence of the Americans was rapidly approaching, there was some reason for pride in the KAR. In March of 1781 they had been placed on what was known as the American Establishment as the 4th American Regiment. This guaranteed their officers half pay at the end of hostilities, confirmed their rank in British North America, and allowed the unit to purchase distinctive clothing directly from England.

At the end of the war this uniform was red faced blue, with gold lace for the officers and buttons marked with the number "4." On top of this distinction, the regiment was elevated to the British Establishment on 25 December 1782, in effect making them a regular British regiment. The ranks of the officers would now be permanent anywhere in the British Empire.

The fleets would sail to Nova Scotia in early September of 1783, arriving a few weeks later in the River Saint John. The regiment was officially disbanded on 10 October 1783, thus concluding the history of one of many gallant regiments of the American Revolution.