Lt Col John Young - our next Virginia Lt Gov?
By end of June 1759, we are more than a year into Lord Fauquier residing in the Governor's house in Williamsburg. Fauquier was appointed 26 Jan 1758, but he did not actually arrive until 5 June 1758. During that interim, President John Blair, head of the Executive Council, filled the role of acting Governor during that interim.
John Blair and all the Virginia leaders expected someone else to arrive a year ago.
Lord Loudoun had touted Lt Col John Young to succeed Lt Gov Dinwiddie.
22 March 1757 Dinwiddie writes letters to William Pitt, to Lord Halifax, to Abercrombie about this request for leave due to ill health and mention's Loudoun suggesting Lt Col John Young to succeed as Lt Gov of Virginia.
But,
Lieutenant-Colonel John Young was severely wounded at the fall of Fort William Henry, August 9, 1757. It is stated in the Abercromby correspondence, previously referred to, that so confident was Young of his appointment that he had sent to the colony " a post-chaise for his use."
-page 602 footnote, Vol IV Dinwiddie Papers published by the Virginial Historical Society - https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?
A Post-Chaise
A postilion is a pilot who sits on the horse to guide the carriage instead of a coachman, who would sit on the carriage to pilot it. And on this carriage, there was no coachmen, because that front section was used for luggage.
In England, public post chaises were painted yellow and could be hired, along with the driver and two horses, for about a shilling a mile.
From Britannica and wikipedia
That debacle of the loss of Fort William Henry, though, was the stuff of legend.
That battle became part of the Last of the Mohicans by James Fenimore Cooper.
And so,
Lt Col John Young did not succeed Lt Gov Dinwidide.
News is slow
That defeat at Fort William Henry where Lt Col John Young was wounded 9 Aug 1757 never got conveyed to the leaders in Virginia.
"We hear Colo. Young has got his Commission come for this Government," writes President John Blair of the Council acting as govenor in lieu of an absent Governor and Lt Governor. He writes this 5 Feb 1758 to Colonel George Washington.
Also another event never got conveyed to the leaders of Virginia.
London appointed Francis Fauquier as Lt Gov of VA on 26 Jan 1758,
President Blair had not received communication of this.
It takes 3 months to cross the big pond, the Atlantic Ocean, just to deliver a message.
Founders Online Footnote 8: There seems to have been a false rumor that Lord Loudoun, governor of Virginia, had succeeded in getting his protegé Lt. Col. John Young, paymaster of the Royal American Regiment, an appointment as lieutenant governor of Virginia to replace Robert Dinwiddie. An entry for 12 Jan. 1758 in the Exec. Journals of Virginia Council mentions the impending “Arrival of the Honourable Colonel Young (whom we may soon expect to succeed [Governor Dinwiddie]).”
"MR President [John Blair] this Day took the Oaths appointed to be taken by Act of Parliament instead of the Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy, the Oath of Abjuration, and subscribed the Test; was also sworn duly to observe the Acts of Trade, and faithfully to discharge the Office of Commander in Chief of this His Majesty's Dominion of Virginia, and then was pleased to express himself in the Words following Gentlemen of the Council, As by the Departure of our truly worthy Lt. Governor, the Honble Robert Dinwiddie Esqr. before the Arrival of the Honour- able Colonel Young; (whom we may soon expect to succeed him) the Administration of the Government for that Interval is, by the Death of our late worthy President in Septemr. last [William Fairfax] , devolved on me, I comfort myself that under this new and arduous Task, I shall be well assisted by your wise and prudent Counsels in all difficult Emergencies, which I must therefore call for, as Occasion offers, and shall make the Rule of my Conduct. ..." source- 12 Jan 1758 session of Council.
William Pitt overides Lord Loudoun
Even without the wounding,
William Pitt,
still would have over-ruled
Lord Loudoun's nomination
of Lt Col John Young.
One reason is that
Francis Fauquier's Dad was big. He was rich. His Dad had ended up on the Court of Directors of the Bank of England. His Dad had worked at the Mint under Sir Isaac Newton. The son, now our Lt Gov Francis Fauquier, was a teacher and friend of a young Thomas Jefferson. He's elected to the Royal Society of London and sat with Ben Franklin. Here's a simple timeline to show some major events in his life.
Another reason is that
William Pitt was no longer in favor of Lord Loudoun who had recommended Lt Col John Young. William Pitt had already decided to recall Lord Loudoun from the job of leading North American military operations.
That's it.
That's our lead story.
There's always more.
Skip around.
Read bits and pieces.
Compiled and authored by Jim Moyer 2/13/2022, 6/28/2023, 7/4/2023, 7/9/2023, 10/29/2024
Table of Contents
Fort William Henry
2 strikes and then a Home Run
The French counter attack and destroy Fort William Henry 3–9 August 1757. That's when Lt Col John Young was wounded.
Then on July 8,1758 the French defending their Fort Carillon defeated Abercrombie and killed Howe who had a promising future.
Finally in 1759 the British win on Lake George reducing Fort Carillion. Since the British and natives previously called the area Ticonderoga when the French had it, the British named their new fort Ticonderoga.
See some links referring to Lt Col John Young:
The_35th_Regiment_of_Fo... Lieutenant Colonel Young's Reinforcement Column, which arrived the day before the ... Young was a protégé and close friend to Loudoun; he would be killed ...
(PDF) The 35th Regiment of Foot and the British Artillery at ... Academia.eduhttps://www.academia.edu ›
This was all very fine, however during negotiations several acts by Montcalms indian allies convinced one British officer (Lieutenant Colonel Young) that the Indians may not have been in FULL agreement to the surrender document, and conveyed his worries to Montcalm.
Montcalm was well aware of the problem, knowing only too well that the Indian forces were ALLIES and not by any means under his command. He was also well aware that on a similar such occasion at OSWEGO the previous year, wounded from the surrendering garrison had been murdered. He therefore called a general council of the gathered chiefs to which Lieutenant Colonel Young was invited. Montcalm apparently went to some lengths to explain the "European" terms.
They returned with word that Indians were encamped on islands in the lake about 18 miles (29 km) from the fort. Swearing Putnam and his rangers to secrecy, Webb returned to Fort Edward, and on 2 August sent Lieutenant Colonel John Young with 200 regulars and 800 Massachusetts militia to reinforce the garrison at William Henry.[24]
Nester, William R (2000). The First Global War: Britain, France, and the Fate of North America, 1756–1775. Westport, CT: Praeger. ISBN 978-0-275-96771-0. OCLC 41468552. page 55
Suppressed Official British Report of the Siege and "Massacre" at Fort William Henry, 1757
Lt Colonel john Young is referenced on Footnote 2 on last page:
Lt Col John Young brought 812 men of Colonel Joseph Frye's Massachussetts regiment, 57 New York troops, and 122 of his own Royal Americans.
BTW that's the same Joseph Frye who got mad at Robert Rogers taking his recruits enlisted on Massachussetts money to New Hampshire instead.
.
Links to Virginia leaders
President John Blair
Head of Council
Lt Gov Francis Fauquier
When is getting over here?
Fauquier asking Burgesses if he should go to Philly Conference
Lord Loudoun
He was the absentee Governor of Virginia over both Dinwiddie and for some time over Fauquier.
Loudoun takes a long time leaving
We also look at other aspects of Lord Loudoun, particularly his recommendation of Lt Col John Young, paymaster of the Royal American Regiment to succeed Lt Gov Dinwiddie. Because of that the House of Burgesses announced Lt Col Young's imminent assumption of the office on 12 Jan 1758.
Goodbye Lord Loudoun Again?
Feb 13, 2022
Good bye Lord Loudoun
Dec 18, 2021
Where's Lord Loudoun in July 1757?
Jul 4, 2021
Lord Loudoun and the war February 1757
Feb 7, 2021
Lord Loudoun and the war January 1757
Jan 24, 2021
Loudoun wonders if GW is a Traitor?
Jan 3, 2021
Lord Loudoun
Nov 24, 2020
Lt Gov Robert Dinwiddie
He tries to leave since 22 March 1757 and finally leaves 12 Jan 1758
John Young
"Young, Ormsby, Conyngham, and Lt. Gillin of the New York Independents. Young was a protégé and close friend to Loudoun; he would be captured outside of Quebec at the Battle of Sainte-Foy, the last French victory in North America (April 1760). "
Page 49, The 35th Regiment of Foot and the British Artillery at the Siege of Fort William Henry and the Role of Lord Loudoun, John Campbell, in North America, August 1757. by Kenneth P. Dunne
chrome-extension://hbgjioklmpbdmemlmbkfckopochbgjpl/file:///C:/Users/jim-m/Downloads/The_35th_Regiment_of_Foot_and_the_Britis%20(1).pdf
John Calcraft to the Earl of Loudoun, December 29, 1757 (LO 5140).
This letter is presented one
day out of sequence. There are two copies of this letter but with wildly different capitalizations and
punctuations:
Dearest Lord, Dec. the 29th — 1757
By the Secretary of States Pacquet I wrote Your Lordship yesterday a short letter to testify my
Respect, which I so worded that if it was open'd, nothing would be known from it, But what I hope
You & the whole World are convinced of & that it is my inviolable attachment to Your Lordship.
Your Recall is now the Subject of every Body's conversation, & various are the Reasons aʃsigned for
It;
Such as your not writing often to the Ministers or Sending them Plans for the next Years
Campaign; the inactivity after You laid aside the Expedition with much more Stuff too trifling to
mention ___
The Real Causes I believe are Mr. Pitt having made the Speech he did against You in
Parliament & Sir Charles Hardy's language respecting American Matters, which is made all
poʃsible Use of against You; He is every day with the Ministers, & not the leʃs Careʃs'd (Caress'd)
for Disapproving Some of your measures, Such as your preference of Military to civil Power,
Having not sufficiently Explored the Country, not making Winter Campaigns, Exerting too much
Authority over the People of the Country, not treating the Provincials Troops so well as they
deserv'd, Putting Slights on the Governors by writing to others in their Provinces /Frankland
(Franklin) I presume the Man meant/ & going in person to the Jerseys — Having no Boats on the
Lake, making the Parole be giv'n the Command Officer of the Kings Troops in their own Governmts,
& giving His Excellency when at New York But two instead of three Buffs, when the Guard turned
out to him ___
To this is added that Mr Webb was left too weak; a Baker at New York & others sent
to the Provosts or threatened with it, & that Your Lordship is Interested _____
Very pretty Reasons
for grounding the Recall of a Person looked on by all England the only proper Man for his
Command, & all this done before he is heard ___
But My Dear Lord you have the Satisfaction to
feel you have acted uprightly & well & the Consciousneʃs thereof, will with your Resolution make
You despise Such Accusations as can be laid against You & However you may feel at first, I am
convinced that in the Your Recall will prove the luckyest Circumstance that cou'd happen, Since the
Prospect of a Succeʃsful War in America is so very gloomy ___
If I might presume to advise Your
Lordship on this occasion, I would wish You to come home with all convenient dispatch, taking care
to provide yourself with all poʃsible materials for Self defense in case Your Conduct shou'd be
Inquir'd into, & finding out if poʃsible who have been the Spyes, for such there have been upon You.
You most Expect some Malcontents will on this occasion try to raise Clamour against you. But as
Your Succeʃsor will discourage Such People, they will not be numerous ___
Loring is the person
Sent out with dispatches on this Occasion, I think it is unneceʃsary to caution you about him, Tho I
will say I don't think him your friend & You shou'd therefore be much upon your Guard with Him. I
fancy too his language has chim'd in with Sr. Char Hardy's & Lord Halifax's with both of whom he
has been very much ____
Poor Coll Young will amongst many others much lament your departure,
My friend Hamilton of the Board of Trade Spoke to Lord Halifax a few days ago in his favour for
the Lt. Governor of Virginia, His Lordship Reply'd there was now no thoughts of making a military
Government by giving it a good Officer, So that Coll. Young was out of the Question.
The Plan I hear of for the next American Campaign is to Send 4 more Regiments from hence, That
three Armys are to be employ'd there. One command by Amhurst, another by Lord Howe, & the
467
third by Wolfe ___
General Abercromby is made Colonel of The Royal American Regimt, Stanwix,
Forbes, Whitmore, Lord How & Lawrence are made Brigadeers for America only, Gage, Bouquet
& Montgomery Colls there, & ten Blanks Colls Commiʃsions of the same kind are Sent out, how to
dispos'd of I don't hear ___
Bradstreet is made Deputy Qr Master Gl with the Rank of Lt. Colonel & Carlton is another Deputy
Qr Mr.
How poor Burton will brook this disgrace I don't know, for a great one it is to have 2 Younger Lt.
Colls. get Rank over him, insomuch that I shall not be Supriz'd if he comes home with You___ The
Duke of Argyle unluckily is Still at Whilton, but every day Expected & the moment he comes I will
see him ___
Cotterell has wrote to You as fully as he dare venture by the Secretary Packet & is as
true & faithfull to You as Man can be, for which I shall ever Esteem him___
I do hope the Extract
mention'd in my letter of the 25th will be Sent to Gl Abercrombie, & if it is that thereby You will
gueʃs the Author, for I can learn no more Particulars here about it as yet.
Since this Bustle about You, I have thought of nothing, but Your Affairs, & after the most mature
consideration can See nothing to be done at present but give you all the Information that is to be
gott.
I hope You are to remain Governor of Virginia at least I hear nothing to the contrary & tis Reported
that New York is to be given to General Ambercromby___
I shall be very impatient to hear how Your Lordship Receives this unexpected Recall & to know
whether any good Fortune has attend'd You this Winter; That would make your Situation happy
indeed, & Nothing cou'd in that Event be so fortunate as Your Return.
Major General Webb is I find recall'd as well as Your Lordship & more Rank given the Provincials
so there is almost a total Revolution in America ___
I just hear too that Sir Charles Hardy's is to
sail in a few days for America with a large Fleet___
I am greatly perplex'd about sending my letters with Safety to Your Lordship, No Ships but Loring's
being now going; The only Expedient I can hit on is to Send them under cover to Delancey & Watts,
& to get Baker to deliver them as his letters to Loring ___
My Dearest Lord Adieu, Be Sure to let
me hear from You by the first Opportunity, & Believe me Ever & Most Firmly Yours Whilst
J.C.
Mr. Fox is Still at Goodwood but Returns Saturday: On His Friendship Your Lordship may depend.
Comment:
This letter is central to Pargellis (1933; Pages 344-345), but all the information is
second-hand.
The bulk of Hardy's criticisms are only directed at the "non-military" aspects —
nothing even remotely connected to Louisbourg or himself. The "military" changes that Pitt and
Ligonier will be making are already in motion. Loring is likely Joshua Loring who commanded the
inland naval forces under Abercromby and then Amherst. Although American, some of Joshua
Loring's letters are included in the Chatham Papers (Will Pitt, 1st Earl of Chatham; See Bellico
2010). Loring was from Massachusetts. The____ seen in the transcription is per the original.
468
From Lord George Augustus Howe, 3rd Viscount Howe to the Earl of Loudoun, February 14, 1758
(LO 5584):
Upon my arrival here comfortable to your Lordships instructions, I applied to Genl Abercrombie,
who ordered the detachment of Troops, & after settling the proportion of Artillery, Stores,
provisions & c, immediately that no time might be lost forwarded them up to Fort Edward. Lt. Leslie
was sent up to examine the Lake, whole report is inclosed to your Lordship by Genl Abercrombie.
From the great depth of the Snow, it appears to me impracticable to march without a great number
of snow shoes, of which the quantity at preʃent provided is quite insufficient nor indeed do I well see
any means of giving an aʃsault, or erecting a battery under these disadvantages. However in case
Your Lordship should think fit that notwithstanding the preʃent depth of snow an attempt should be
made, all the carpenters that can be procured are at work making ladders, of which upon my arrival
here, I only found 37.
In case a thaw should come for a few days to melt part of the snow, what is now impracticable
might then be very feasible for which reason if your Lordship approves of it, I should by no means
think it advisable to lay aside all thoughts of an expedition, but to defer it for some time till the
Season is more favorable & renders the suceʃs more probable. I am with great respect.
My Lord
Albany Feb.14, 1758 &c. Lordship's most obedient
& most humble servant
Howe
Comment:
Loudoun's winter offensive is described in a previously transcribed letter (LO 4642,
October 17, 1757). Leslie’s examination of the Lake was a test march, a distinct failure; trail
breaking by the rangers did not work, each soldier needed their own showshoes. This entire episode
may seem absurd or part of a myth, especially in light of the difficulties encountered during
Rigaud's Raid the previous March. Howe's letter is a simple confirmation that Loudoun's plan for a
winter expedition against Ticonderoga was indeed a reality, and it was postponed due to the lack of
snowshoes (Bellico 2010, Page 133). Leslie's report is LO 5553; February 8, 1758. Abercromby's
letter is LO 5561; February 8, 1758. The expedition is canceled quietly at the end of February.
With Loudoun's recall arriving on March 8th, Rogers escapes any written repercussions for failure
to provide snowshoes to the British regulars. However, Lt. Colonel William Haviland of the 27th
Foot, who commanded Fort Edward, had a decidedly poor relationship with Rogers. During the
first week of March, Haviland orders Rogers to conduct a strong raid against Ticonderoga.
Originally, 400 rangers were to accompany Rogers, but Haviland slashes the number to 184 men.
Rogers is not happy with these orders and has strong security concerns. Rogers leaves Fort Edward
on March 10th. Rogers loses some 124 men, 108 killed and 16 captured (Battle of Snowshoes,
March 13-14, 1758; Loescher 1946, Pages 237- 262; Bellico 2010, Pages 135-139).
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
..
.
.
.
Comments