the vanguard, Hager signalled Hale to flank right and catch the raiders in a vice against the shore, but the Levies’ officer judged the opposition too strong and retreated. Seeing the rebels were in confusion, the Indians burst from cover, whereupon the vanguard sprang away from their tree cover and took off down the road. A Levy who had fallen behind was cut down, as was a militiaman, and Hager’s brother Joseph was hit in the head, but kept running. The natives immediately scalped the two fallen men.
After running five hundred yards, Hager’s men caught up with Hale’s company and the two captains exchanged hot words. As the natives had seen they were outnumbered, they decided not to run down the retreating troops. While the two companies were resting, Colonel Vrooman arrived with a forty-man reinforcement. When the chase resumed, it was discovered that raiders had escaped, although the rest of the cattle were recovered.
Crysler reported that 150 men had pursued him, but that number seems high. Everyone exaggerated their opposition; for example, one rebel rifleman reported Crysler’s band was two hundred strong. With so much plunder lost, there was little to show for such an arduous and dangerous venture, other than two successful ambushes, three dead rebels, a young captive, and some scalps. Probably that was enough.
A few days later, a stranger’s corpse was found propped against a tree about a mile from Bouck’s Island. He had been shot through the body and his firelock and gear lay near. He was reckoned as one of Crysler’s men, although the lieutenant reported no losses. Perhaps the fellow was one of those much-hated, secretive local Tories who came and went from war parties.14
At his Quebec City headquarters, General Haldimand had entirely lost patience with the recruiting efforts of the small loyalist units. The following document, entitled “Proposals for forming the several Corps of Loyalists,” summarized the situation:
As Lieutenant-Colonel [Robert] Rogers Corps of Rangers is raising by the Authority of General Sir Henry Clinton, and the Men belonging to it in this Province are subject to be called from it upon the shortest notice, it woud be improper to incorporate them with any Corps belonging to the Province. It will therefore remain distinct, and be formed into three Companies under the Command of Major [James] Rogers, who will have one of the Companies, two Captains, three Lieutenants, & three Ensigns to be appointed to these Companies…. All other Officers belonging or attached to that Corps to be sent to New York or Halifax by the first Opportunity in order to join their Corps.
Haldimand’s initial displeasure over the uninvited arrival of Robert Rogers and his King’s Rangers in Canada had dissipated; no doubt, due to the excellent service of Major James Rogers, Robert’s brother, during Carleton’s raid of 1780 and St. Leger’s expedition of 1781, as well as the Rangers’ performance on Secret Service, garrison, and marine duties. As it was now unlikely that James’s small battalion would be recalled to New York City or sent to Nova Scotia, the governor had decided to make the best of the situation and officially recognize them. He continued:
The Impossibility of Messrs Jessup and Peters compleating separate Corps is evident from their unsuccessful Endeavours during four years, in which time, the former has got together no more than 127 Men, and the latter only 82 — These two Corps will therefore be formed into one, including Lieut. Fraser’s Men, which will compose a Body of about 260 Men these to be formed into Six Companies consisting of one Major, five Captains, six Lieutenants and Six Ensigns — to be completed to 3 Serjeants, 3 Corporals, 2 Drummers and 50 Private Men each — The Officers to be chosen from each Corps, and to Rank according to the number of Men they have raised, provided there are no other material Objections to their Appointment, and they will receive full Pay from the dates of their Commissions. This Corps will be augmented by as many Companies as can be raised, and the Officers will be appointed from the Supernumerary, or Pension, List according as they shall raise Men.
Putative officers’ button of the King’s and Loyal Rangers.
The Invalid States of Messrs Ebinezer Jessup and Peters Healths render them incapable of active Service, they will be removed to the Company of Pensioners, upon their present subsistence the Command of which to be given to one of these Gentlemen — and to insure to them His Majesty’s gracious Bounty of Half Pay, they will be mustered as belonging to the Corps formed, should it be completed only to nine Companies, in confirmation of which, Letters will be given to them from His Excellency the Commander-in-Chief. Mr. Edward Jessup’s robust Constitution, his Personal Activity, Merit and Experience having served last war, are Circumstances which render Him a fit Person to command the above mentioned Corps, with the Rank and Pay of Major.15
Peters was devastated by this decision and later wrote:
The cruel degrading change was worked while I was at Skenesborough, where I had been sent by Gen. Haldimand with a flag and rebel prisoners, with a view to gain intelligence from the Southern Army, which I performed and reported to him. On my return to Quebec I complained to the General of the hard measures he had dealt out to me by degrading me below those who had been under my command in 1777; nor did I understand why I was invalided. Mr. Mathews, a secretary to Gen. Haldimand, gave me for answer I had a wife and eight children and I might starve if refused captain’s pay; besides I should not be allowed rations if I refused. My subsistence money being stopped, I was obliged to accept the pay of a captain … or perish with my family. My son John, the oldest ensign in the Queen’s Loyal Rangers, was neglected by Gen. Haldimand when he drafted the Provincial corps in Canada, and a son of Major Jessup’s[,] quite a boy, who had never done any service, was appointed lieutenant over my son and all the ensigns who had served during the war.
Peters’s cause had in no way been helped by his former major, Zadock Wright, refusing to accept an exchange and rejoin his corps after three years’ absence. Whether Eben Jessup shared Peters’s outrage has not been determined; however, he had virtually retired from active duty and the governor’s decision in his regard was more understandable. Besides, it was his elder brother who was favoured with command of the new regiment.
The summary continued:
Captain [Robert] Leake’s Corps will be incorporated with Sir John Johnson’s second Battalion, together with about 24 Men who will probably attach themselves to Mr. [James] McAlpin, having belonged to the late Major McAlpin’s Corps. The Remainder of which, are claimed by Mr. [Peter] Drummond and others, and may be thrown into Sir John Johnson’s second Battalion or Major Jessup’s Corps.
There are 21 Men of Captn Leake’s Corps who were raised by a Lieutenant [Henry] Ruyter now serving in it — as he is not nominated for Sir John’s second Battalion, he will expect that his men continue with Him to whatever Corps he shall be placed — On the other Hand, there are about the same number mustered in Mr. Peters’s Corps, claimed by Mr. [Jeremiah] French who will accompany Him to Sir John’s second Battalion, in which he is nominated a Lieutenant.
The Supernumerary Officers, and all those Subsisted in the Company of Pensioners who are able to carry Arms, are to serve as Voluntiers upon all occasions where their Service may be required, until such Time as they shall be entitled to Commissions by raising their Proportions of Men for the Augmentation of Major Jessup’s Corps.
A company of artificers was later formed from Jessup’s new corps to work with the Engineers, but its men continued to be mustered and subsisted in the companies they were drawn from.16
On October 28, a Brunswick surgeon named Julius Wasmus noted that the fall fleet, composed of two hundred transports and an escort of six frigates, lay in the basin at Quebec City ready to sail for Britain.17
