Arthur St. Clair
American soldier and politician
1737 CE to 1818 CE
Arthur St. Clair (March 23, 1737 [O.S.
1736]– August 31, 1818) is an American soldier and politician.
Born in Scotland, he serves in the British Army during the French and Indian War before settling in Pennsylvania, where he holds local office.
During the American Revolutionary War, he rises to the rank of major general in the Continental Army, but loses his command after a controversial retreat.
After the war, he is elected to the Confederation Congress, where he serves a term as president and is appointed governor of the Northwest Territory.
Disputes with Native Americans over land treaties result in the Northwest Indian War.
In 1791, General St. Clair leads an expedition against the natives that results in the worst defeat the United States Army will ever suffer at the hands of Native Americans.
Although an investigation exonerates him, St. Clair resigns his army commission.
He continues to serve as territorial governor until 1802, when he retires to Pennsylvania.
Although once very wealthy, he dies in poverty.
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George Washington, whose army is encamped at Morristown, New Jersey, and the American military command do not have a good picture of British plans for 1777.
The principal question on the minds of Washington and his generals Horatio Gates and Philip Schuyler—who both are at turns responsible for the Continental Army's Northern Department and its defense of the Hudson River—is of the movements of Howe's army in New York.
They have no significant knowledge of what is being planned for the British forces in Quebec, in spite of Burgoyne's complaints that everyone in Montreal knows what he is planning.
The three generals disagree on what Burgoyne's most likely movement is, and Congress also renders the opinion that Burgoyne's army is likely to move to New York by sea.
Partly as a result of this indecision, and the fact that it will be isolated from its supply lines if Howe moved north, the garrisons at Fort Ticonderoga and elsewhere in the Mohawk and Hudson valleys have not been significantly increased.
Schuyler had taken the measure in April 1777 of sending a large regiment under Colonel Peter Gansevoort to rehabilitate Fort Stanwix in the upper Mohawk valley as a step in defending against British movements in that area.
Washington has also ordered four regiments to be held at Peekskill, New York that can be directed either to the north or the south in response to British movements.
American troops are allocated throughout New York theater in June 1777.
About fifteen hundred troops (including those of Colonel Gansevoort) are in outposts along the Mohawk River, about three thousand troops are in the Hudson River highlands under the command of General Israel Putnam, and Schuyler commands about four thousand troops (inclusive of local militia and the troops at Ticonderoga under St. Clair).
The principal question on the minds of Washington and his generals Horatio Gates and Philip Schuyler—who both are at turns responsible for the Continental Army's Northern Department and its defense of the Hudson River—is of the movements of Howe's army in New York.
They have no significant knowledge of what is being planned for the British forces in Quebec, in spite of Burgoyne's complaints that everyone in Montreal knows what he is planning.
The three generals disagree on what Burgoyne's most likely movement is, and Congress also renders the opinion that Burgoyne's army is likely to move to New York by sea.
Partly as a result of this indecision, and the fact that it will be isolated from its supply lines if Howe moved north, the garrisons at Fort Ticonderoga and elsewhere in the Mohawk and Hudson valleys have not been significantly increased.
Schuyler had taken the measure in April 1777 of sending a large regiment under Colonel Peter Gansevoort to rehabilitate Fort Stanwix in the upper Mohawk valley as a step in defending against British movements in that area.
Washington has also ordered four regiments to be held at Peekskill, New York that can be directed either to the north or the south in response to British movements.
American troops are allocated throughout New York theater in June 1777.
About fifteen hundred troops (including those of Colonel Gansevoort) are in outposts along the Mohawk River, about three thousand troops are in the Hudson River highlands under the command of General Israel Putnam, and Schuyler commands about four thousand troops (inclusive of local militia and the troops at Ticonderoga under St. Clair).
Most of Burgoyne's army had arrived in Quebec in the spring of 1776, and had participated in the routing of Continental Army troops from the province.
In addition to British regulars, the troops in Quebec include several regiments from the German principalities of Hesse-Hanau (from whose name the common reference of Hessian comes) and Brunswick under the command of Baron Friedrich Adolph Riedesel.
Of these regular forces, two hundred British regulars and three hundred to four hundred Germans are assigned to St. Leger's Mohawk valley expedition, and about thirty-five hundred men remain in Quebec to protect the province.
The remaining forces are assigned to Burgoyne for the campaign to Albany.
The regular forces are supposed to be augmented by as many as two thousand militia raised in Quebec; by June, Carleton has managed to raise only three small companies.
Burgoyne had also expected as many as one thousand natives to support the expedition.
About five hundred will join between Montreal and Crown Point.
Burgoyne's army is beset by transport difficulties before it leaves Quebec, something that apparently neither Burgoyne nor Carleton have anticipated.
As the expedition expects to travel mainly over water, there are few wagons, horses, and other draft animals available to move the large amount of equipment and supplies on the land portions of the route.
Only in early June does Carleton issue orders to procure carts sufficient to move the army.
As a consequence, the carts are poorly constructed of green wood, and the teams are driven by civilians who are at a higher risk of desertion.
In addition to British regulars, the troops in Quebec include several regiments from the German principalities of Hesse-Hanau (from whose name the common reference of Hessian comes) and Brunswick under the command of Baron Friedrich Adolph Riedesel.
Of these regular forces, two hundred British regulars and three hundred to four hundred Germans are assigned to St. Leger's Mohawk valley expedition, and about thirty-five hundred men remain in Quebec to protect the province.
The remaining forces are assigned to Burgoyne for the campaign to Albany.
The regular forces are supposed to be augmented by as many as two thousand militia raised in Quebec; by June, Carleton has managed to raise only three small companies.
Burgoyne had also expected as many as one thousand natives to support the expedition.
About five hundred will join between Montreal and Crown Point.
Burgoyne's army is beset by transport difficulties before it leaves Quebec, something that apparently neither Burgoyne nor Carleton have anticipated.
As the expedition expects to travel mainly over water, there are few wagons, horses, and other draft animals available to move the large amount of equipment and supplies on the land portions of the route.
Only in early June does Carleton issue orders to procure carts sufficient to move the army.
As a consequence, the carts are poorly constructed of green wood, and the teams are driven by civilians who are at a higher risk of desertion.
Burgoyne and Carleton review the assembled forces at St. John's on the Richelieu River, just north of Lake Champlain, on June 13, 1777, and Burgoyne is ceremonially given command.
In addition to five sailing ships built the previous year, a sixth has been built and three had been captured after the Battle of Valcour Island.
These will provide some transport as well as military cover for the large fleet of transport boats that moves the army south on the lake.
In addition to five sailing ships built the previous year, a sixth has been built and three had been captured after the Battle of Valcour Island.
These will provide some transport as well as military cover for the large fleet of transport boats that moves the army south on the lake.
The army that Burgoyne launches on June 14 has about seven thousand regulars and over one hundred and thirty artillery pieces ranging from light mortars to twenty-four pound (eleven kilogram) pieces.
His regulars are organized into an advance force under Brigadier General Simon Fraser, and two divisions.
Major General William Phillips leads the thirty-nine hundred British regulars on the right, while Baron Riedesel's thirty-one hundred Brunswickers and Hanauers hold the left.
His regular troops start out in good condition but some, notably some of the German dragoons, are poorly equipped for wilderness fighting.
His regulars are organized into an advance force under Brigadier General Simon Fraser, and two divisions.
Major General William Phillips leads the thirty-nine hundred British regulars on the right, while Baron Riedesel's thirty-one hundred Brunswickers and Hanauers hold the left.
His regular troops start out in good condition but some, notably some of the German dragoons, are poorly equipped for wilderness fighting.
Colonel St. Leger's expedition is also assembled by mid-June.
His force, a mixed company of British regulars, Loyalists, Hessians, and rangers from the Indian department, numbering about seven hundred and fifty men, leaves Lachine, near Montreal, on June 23.
His force, a mixed company of British regulars, Loyalists, Hessians, and rangers from the Indian department, numbering about seven hundred and fifty men, leaves Lachine, near Montreal, on June 23.
Burgoyne's army travels up the lake and occupies the undefended Fort Crown Point by June 30.
The screening activities of Burgoyne's native support are highly effective at keeping the Americans from learning the details of his movements.
The screening activities of Burgoyne's native support are highly effective at keeping the Americans from learning the details of his movements.
General Arthur St. Clair, who has been left in command of Fort Ticonderoga and its surrounding defenses with a garrison of about three thousand regulars and militia, has no idea on July 1 of the full strength of Burgoyne's army, large elements of which are now just four miles (six point four kilometers) away.
St. Clair has been ordered by General Schuyler to hold out as long as possible, and has planned two avenues of retreat.
St. Clair has been ordered by General Schuyler to hold out as long as possible, and has planned two avenues of retreat.
Open skirmishing begins on the outer defense works of Ticonderoga on July 2.
By July 4, most of the American garrison is either at Fort Ticonderoga or nearby Mount Independence, the extensive fortifications on the Vermont side of the lake.
Unknown to the Americans, their withdrawal from an outer defensive position clears a way for the British to place artillery on the hilltop known then as Sugar Loaf (now Mount Defiance), whose heights command the fort.
St. Clair withdraws the night after spotting British cannon on Sugar Loaf on July 5, and Burgoyne's men occupy the main fortification and the positions on Mount Independence on July 6.
The uncontested surrender of the supposedly impregnable fort causes a public and political uproar.
Although a later investigation will clear both Schuyler and St. Clair of any wrongdoing in the withdrawal, it will cause the Continental Congress to replace Schuyler with General Horatio Gates as commander of the Northern Department of the Continental Army in August.
By July 4, most of the American garrison is either at Fort Ticonderoga or nearby Mount Independence, the extensive fortifications on the Vermont side of the lake.
Unknown to the Americans, their withdrawal from an outer defensive position clears a way for the British to place artillery on the hilltop known then as Sugar Loaf (now Mount Defiance), whose heights command the fort.
St. Clair withdraws the night after spotting British cannon on Sugar Loaf on July 5, and Burgoyne's men occupy the main fortification and the positions on Mount Independence on July 6.
The uncontested surrender of the supposedly impregnable fort causes a public and political uproar.
Although a later investigation will clear both Schuyler and St. Clair of any wrongdoing in the withdrawal, it will cause the Continental Congress to replace Schuyler with General Horatio Gates as commander of the Northern Department of the Continental Army in August.
Burgoyne sends forces out from his main body to pursue the retreating army, which St. Clair has sent south via two different routes.
The British catch up with elements of the retreating Americans at least three times.
General Fraser and elements of Baron Riedesel's troops face determined resistance in the Battle of Hubbardton on July 7, and ...
The British catch up with elements of the retreating Americans at least three times.
General Fraser and elements of Baron Riedesel's troops face determined resistance in the Battle of Hubbardton on July 7, and ...
...a skirmish the same day between the vanguard of the main army meets Pierse Long's retreating New Hampshire companies in a skirmish at Skenesboro.
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