Wealthy Scion
It has been some time since we have profiled a British Army
officer, so I picked one whose understated but valuable contribution to the
Crown, a chap with the very likely and straight-out-of-central casting name of
Hugh Percy. Raised in a powerful family (his father was the First Earl of
Northumberland), young Percy overcame a series of childhood maladies to enter
into a military career, a career he would himself essentially terminate just as
he reached the peak of success.
A Call to Arms
Percy joined the 24th Regiment of Foot in 1759 as
an ensign. Like so many from prominent and connected families, young Hugh
managed to obtain a lieutenant colonelcy and position as aide de camp to
Ferdinand of Brunswick. Also, like so many of his peers, The Seven Years' War
provided the opportunity to garnish laurels in combat at the battles of Bergen
and Linden.
Battle of Minden
Politician
By 1762, he was a lieutenant colonel in the Grenadier
Guards, arguably the most elite unit in the Royal Army and guardian of the
sovereign. He stunned many when he declined to serve as aide de camp to King
George III. Instead, he stood for Parliament, earning a seat in the House of
Commons as a Whig. His politics put him at odds with the Crown, particularly
when it came to colonial policy. Ironically, Percy still maintained a tight
connection to the King. He married the daughter of George III's tutor and mentor,
Lord Bute.
A Gentler Colonel
In 1768, Percy bought a colonelcy in the Northumberland
Fusiliers. He proved to be a very liberal and forward-thinking colonel. He took
a different approach to leadership, treating his men with kindness and rejecting
the traditional harsh discipline of the Army. He banned flogging and other
harsh disciplinary measures. Percy also saw to their financial needs and those of
their families, often providing funds to those in need. Rather than lead by
fiat, he led by example. His actions quickly won the affection and trust of his
soldiers. His approach resulted in a highly effective unit of men fiercely
devoted to their commanding officer.
Boston Bound
The political situation in North America continued to
deteriorate over the next few years. Despite, or perhaps because of, his
sympathies for the Americans, Colonel Hugh Percy received orders in 1774 to
sail to America, where his regiment joined General Thomas Gage's garrison in
Boston. Gage appointed him a brevet brigadier general and commandant of the
British camp. Things continued to simmer in and around Boston, and in the
following year, Gage began a series of pre-emptive strikes—punitive actions to
reduce the power and threat from the militia.
The Shot Heard Round the World
Things came to a head in April 1775 when Gage sent
Lieutenant Colonel Francis Smith at the head of a column of some 800 regulars
to seize militia gunpowder and arms thought to be at Concord. On 19 April, one
of Smith's units, under the command of Major John Pitcairn, encountered a
militia unit on Lexington Green. The short exchange, the so-called "Shot
Heard Round the World," was followed by a larger firefight around
Cambridge.
Column in Chaos
Things went badly for the British, who began a retreat to Boston as thousands of locals grabbed their muskets and began to harass the column, cutting down many officers with aimed fire. Near Lexington, Smith's troops were reinforced by a brigade of some 1,400 men under Hugh Percy. Percy used cannon and volley fire to keep the militia (by now, we can call them rebels) at bay and brought Smith's demoralized men into some sort of order.
Unlikely Savior
Throughout the long march back, under relentless and
punishing fire from the rebel militia, Percy kept the British column together,
maintaining discipline to prevent a disaster. When they reached Menotomy, Percy
made a decision that likely saved the Army. Instead of pushing toward
Cambridge, he changed their route of return and marched to Charlestown. This
route had fewer rebels. The column arrived back in Boston. In July, Gage
promoted Percy to Major General for his cool actions under duress. No small
irony that an officer sympathetic to the rebels thwarted their best efforts to wipe
out the column.
Halifax Hiatus
Percy missed the Battle of Bunker Hill due to illness. To
his chagrin, his Northumberland Fusiliers were cut to pieces under the
heavy-handed command of General William Howe. True to his philosophy of command,
Percy funded the return voyage of all the widows and arranged a small stipend
for those in need. The British evacuated Boston in March 1776 and recuperated in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Gage
had been recalled, and William Howe was now commander in chief.
Battles for New York
In July, the reinforced British Army landed on Staten Island
in New York harbor. Weeks later, a whirlwind campaign was launched on Long
Island. Here, on 27 August, Percy distinguished himself by helping lead a night
march that cut off a third of the Continental Army. In November, Percy led a
British force that drew fire from the defenders at Fort Washington, allowing
Hessian General von Knyphausen's men to overrun the garrison and force its
surrender.
Newport Nexus
The following month, Percy and General Henry Clinton led a
British expedition that seized Newport, Rhode Island. When Henry Clinton
returned to Britain, Percy was made commander of the Newport garrison. Things
were not all rosy, however. Percy was critical of Howe's strategy and his
conduct of the war. He also suffered from ill health. This combination caused him
to request relief from his command and a return to Britain. General Howe
promptly granted it, and Hugh Percy left America forever in May 1777.
The 2nd Duke
In 1779, Percy divorced his wife on the grounds of adultery but soon remarried and had nine children with his second wife. Upon the death of his father in 1784, Percy became the 2nd Duke of
Northumberland. He spent the next several decades in various military postings
in Britain, dabbling again in politics and tending to his estates. He was a
benevolent landlord who took care of the farm folk who worked on his lands. He
was a rare lord who had the esteem of his people. Hugh Percy died on his estate
in July 1817. His years of poor health finally caught up with him.
2nd Duke of Northumberland
Liberal Legacy
One has to wonder how the course of the war in America would
have gone for the British had Percy remained, possibly even rising to supreme
command. His benign ways might have rallied more Americans to the Crown, and
his ability to inspire troops and his coolness under fire might have been the
difference in the campaigns that followed. One interesting nugget—Percy had an illegitimate
half-brother, James Smithson. The same James Smithson who bequeathed the funds
used to establish what became known as The Smithsonian Institution—the world's
largest museum and research complex.
Great review and wonderfully historic story line. Well done and worth reading!
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