The King's Rake

Beauing, belling, dancing, drinking,

Breaking windows, cursing, sinking

Every raking, never thinking,

Live the Rakes of Mallow,

Spending faster than it comes,

Beating waiter's bailiffs, duns,

Bacchus' true begotten sons,

Live the Rakes of Mallow.

And so begin the lyrics of the mid-18th-century song that remains in today's culture as an international classic, "The Rakes of Mallow." This song tells of the rakes from the farming town of Mallow, about 20 miles north of the city of Cork. What exactly is a rake? Although Mallow is a farming town, we aren't talking about the gardening tool. The other rake is an old-fashioned term for a person who indulges in drinking, gambling, womanizing, and rowdy behavior — traits both celebrated and condemned in Georgian England. This brings us to the rake in this story—the complex and never uninteresting George Hanger...

The Rake at Dawn

George Hanger was born near Berkshire, England, around 1751. His father was Gabriel, the 3rd Baron Coleraine, an Irish peer. As the third son of an upper-class noble, it was almost destined that he would pursue a military career. Hanger was educated at Eton and then spent a year at the University of Göttingen in Hannover, Germany. 

A bright student, Hanger had a rakish appearance and enjoyed the proverbial wine, women, and gambling—not necessarily in that order. He allegedly fought three duels by the age of 20 and was reputed to be an excellent shot. While in Germany, Hanger observed the legendary Prussian Army of Frederick the Great during maneuvers and decided then and there to follow a military path. 

In January 1771, he was appointed an ensign in the 1st Foot Guards, a prestigious regiment of the household troops. Hanger performed well but resigned after being passed over for a promotion just four years later. Early signs of his lifestyle began to surface.

George Hanger

Soldier for Hire

Hanger's German contacts served him well, and he soon received a captain's commission in the Feldjäger Korps of the forces of the Landgrave (Elector) of Hesse-Kassel, another elite unit. I think we know where this is going... It was as part of this group of young Teutonic aristocrats that Hanger sailed for America when the Landgrave "rented" his troops to King George III. 

Leaving Portsmouth in March 1776, young Hanger arrived just in time for some of the most "fun" episodes for crown forces during the entire eight-year struggle. He played a role in the relentless campaigns that swept the rebels from New York and the Jerseys in 1776, as well as in the less glamorous but equally brutal skirmishes of 1777. His performance was so impressive that he took command of an elite Hessian Jaeger (light infantry) company recruited from all the Hessian regiments in the army. 

According to reports, Hanger distinguished himself in the months that followed. His unit undertook much of the screening, patrolling, and small-scale fighting around Kingsbridge, Spuyten Duyvil, and Westchester. Around this time, he learned that his estate back in Britain had gone into foreclosure, and through a series of misfortunes, he found himself in dire financial straits. Our young hero had become a self-proclaimed "soldier of fortune,"

Hanger became a master of light infantry

An Unlikely Spy

When the British occupation of Newport, Rhode Island, ended in 1779, Hanger was chosen by the British commander in chief, General Henry Clinton, to undertake a daring reconnaissance mission to see if the American occupiers had left their defenses vulnerable for reconquest. He sailed 150 miles north from the mouth of New York Harbor on a frigate and led a twelve-man longboat into dangerous waters during a bold night raid. He captured a prisoner and returned to New York with him. Hanger was later criticized in American papers when the prisoner unexpectedly fell ill and died.

An unlikely Hanger sails on a secret mission
 to Rhode Island: espionage

Moving South

Patrick Ferguson
 - a badass

Later, Hanger took command of a mix of rifle and musket units and was seconded to the renowned "counter-guerrilla" Major Patrick Ferguson, one of the tough British officers of the war whose death at King's Mountain signaled the beginning of the end in the South. But I digress. With Ferguson, Hanger sailed to the Carolinas under General Henry Clinton in the spring of 1780, marking the start of the "southern strategy." After a brief stint as Clinton's aide-de-camp and then inspector of militia under Ferguson, the ever-adaptable Hanger managed to transfer to Banastre Tarleton's British Legion. The two hard-drinking, rough-and-tumble aristocrats hit it off, and Tarleton made Hanger his deputy. Hanger joined the green-jacketed band of Loyalist regulars that would become infamous under Tarleton.

Infamous Banastre Tarleton
Hanger's mentor and commander

The Legion

Lord Charles Cornwallis

The Legion led Major General Charles Cornwallis's invasion of North Carolina. When Tarleton was struck down by yellow fever, Hanger took command. Although an accomplished infantry fighter and dependable deputy, Hanger struggled with the cavalry, which was the vital strike force of Tarleton's Legion. 

He allowed himself to be ambushed at Wahab Plantation on September 21, 1780, where a partisan force under American Colonel William Davie attacked early in the evening. Surprised and overwhelmed, Hanger suffered 12 killed, 47 wounded, and almost 100 valuable horses captured. 

Tasked with leading the British advance against Charlotte less than a week later, he faltered again. This time, he let his horsemen become separated from their supporting infantry. Once more, Davie outmaneuvered him when Hanger's cavalry charged recklessly into the town without support. 

Hanger led several assaults against Davie's American riflemen, who were defending behind a wall. Hanger's men started to fall to the precise fire. Cornwallis himself had to step in to stabilize the situation. Hanger was severely wounded during the fight and later contracted yellow fever. Sick and injured, he was sent to the Bahamas (of all places) to recover.

Hanger led the Legion's cavalry to savage fighting and defeat
at Charlotte

Dead Ender?

Guy Carleton

When he recovered sufficiently, Hanger returned to New York in the summer of 1781 and resumed garrison duties. As the key to Britain's control over North America, New York was the center of attention, and Hanger found himself right back in the middle of things. He also returned to a city filled with bars, brothels, and rooms for him to enjoy during his downtime from drilling troops or patrolling the outskirts. 

One might think our young rake had the best of both worlds during this time. Ever the soldier, he sailed with General Clinton's relief force, aiming to rescue Cornwallis's trapped army at Yorktown. Upon hearing of the surrender, he went back to the city with the rest of the fleet. 

As peace negotiations settled on terms, Hanger took on another role: resettling members of the Legion. For that, he made a trip to Halifax, Nova Scotia, to find land and housing for the loyalists who chose not to go to England. Mission accomplished, he returned to New York. One has to see George as a proverbial dead-ender. He stayed with one of the last British units to evacuate the city, sailing with the final British commander and governor in North America, General Guy Carleton.

Hanger, "Forrest Gump-like," manages to
witness the American Revolution's climax

The Bad Boy of Georgian England

Once home, Hanger resumed the life of a flamboyant party boy. He became a social companion to another rake, the Prince of Wales, who later became King George IV. The prince enjoyed Hanger's rakish ways. Hanger seemed to have become famous simply for being famous — the subject of much satire and ridicule in what would be today's tabloids. His reckless lifestyle landed him in debtor's prison, where he spent two years (1798-1800). While in prison, he turned to writing and produced his memoirs there.

Hanger and his buddy, the Prince of Wales
attended many a party

When he left, he became a coal merchant (in which he was quite successful) but continued his addiction to gambling and partying around London. Throughout, Hanger flaunted contemporary mores, cavorting openly with women of all kinds, keeping a peculiar collection of dogs, cats, and monkeys, and generally thumbing his nose at the upper crust and middle class. One of his celebrated exploits was arranging a cross-country race between a flock of turkeys and a flock of geese!

Cartoon satire of Hanger

At the same time, he learned to leverage some of his strengths as a pamphleteer—similar to bloggers today. Reinventing himself as a subject matter expert, he published pamphlets on military topics, gambling, hunting, and shooting. Hanger engaged in public disputes over military policy during the Napoleonic Wars. He also wrote humorous advice columns on various subjects, most famously about the fairer sex. His antics and opinions were closely followed by the media of his time. In 1814, he was offered the barony of Coleraine but declined it to continue his "celebrated" lifestyle in London.

Cartoon satire of Hanger

The Legacy

Cartoon satire of Hanger

Despite his hard lifestyle, Hanger kept up his reputation as a notorious figure in town, a military expert, and a celebrated eccentric until his death in London on March 31, 1824. He left behind a second wife, possibly his housekeeper, and their son, who was denied his father's peerage. George Hanger was undoubtedly one of the more complex men of his era and certainly one of the most intriguing, if not amusing.

 Eventually, his notoriety caught up with him. The king distanced himself from him, high society shunned him, and the press ridiculed him. Yet, in many ways, he embodied his class and era: a curious mix of breeding, talent, courage, rapacity, and culture. It's a pity he didn't settle in America...

George Hanger, 4th Baron Coleraine?

One Huck of a Loyalist

Christian Huck is a name only a writer could come up with. So, who is this guy with a name straight out of Hollywood's badboy casting? He was, in fact, a prominent Loyalist during the time of the Yankee Doodle Spies. But he was much more than that. And I am posting this on the anniversary of the day that made him famous—the day he died.

Huck the Immigrant

Christian Huck was born somewhere in Germany around 1747. His origins are pretty vague since "Germany" in the 18th century was not a nation but a region in Central Europe. By the early 1770s, he had emigrated to America and settled in Philadelphia, where he studied law. His law practice mainly dealt with real estate, a profitable yet risky business at the time. He focused on buying and selling property for cash or short-term credit, often on very favorable terms and with security. Because banks were scarce and money was tight, a lot of interesting things could happen in that field. Even George Washington himself invested in land—though that’s a story for another time. Huck became wealthy, joined the Anglican church, and clearly integrated well into society. He worked his way into Philadelphia’s upper class, many of whom were loyal to the crown and remained so throughout the war. Some of these same Philadelphians later got involved with Benedict Arnold. 

Philadelphia was anything but the City of Brotherly Love
during the time of the Yankee Doodle Spies

Huck Goes to War

And so, our German immigrant Christian Huck (sometimes spelled Houck or even Hook) was a Loyalist and remained loyal. When the war broke out, he, along with other prominent Philadelphians, suffered for their loyalty. Harassment by the Whigs, vandalism, public humiliation, and ostracism were common. Huck’s mentor, Isaac Hunt, was paraded through town and forced to admit his Tory “misbehavior." Christian Huck stayed in Philadelphia despite these hardships. He continued working in real estate, buying and selling property. He also helped members of the Tory cause, associating with and aiding those targeted for their loyalty. When the British Army occupied Philadelphia in September 1777, Christian Huck offered his assistance and joined the army. Some might say he joined the wrong side. Because in 1778, the war intensified in its demand for retribution. That year, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court published a list of people accused of knowingly and willingly aiding the enemies of the State and the United States by joining the British Army in Philadelphia. The list included "Christian Hook, attorney at law.” Everyone on the list lost their property for committing high treason. They faced severe penalties, including all “pains and penalties.” This was not a good list to be on!

Captain Christian Huck

Huck followed the British Army when it abandoned Philadelphia and headed to New York. By June 1778, he had raised a company of thirty men for provincial duty and was granted a captain’s commission in a Provincial corps. This corps, under the command of Major Andreas Emmerick, included many men of German descent. Emmerick's corps had participated in several battles in 1777 and 1778, earning a reputation for distinguished service in the Hudson Highland Campaign, skirmishes around Kingsbridge (The Bronx), and the Battle of Monmouth. In 1778, the corps was expanded with new recruits and grew to include two troops of light dragoons, one infantry company, one rifle company, and three chasseur companies, one of which was Huck’s. Chasseurs (French for hunters) were trained to skirmish and fight in small bands. 

Banastre Tarleton

Huck Moves South

Soon, the corps was divided, and one light dragoon troop was assigned to Huck to attach to the British Legion under the notorious Lieutenant Colonel Banastre Tarleton. Note: Tarleton plays a cameo role in my upcoming novel, The Cavalier Spy. However, by the end of 1779, Huck’s troops were simply known as part of the British Legion. Huck took part in the infamous Battle of the Waxhaws in May 1780. He was involved in the destruction of Hill's Ironworks, an important Patriot supplier and the headquarters for Hill's Militia. The war in the South intensified in 1780. Huck became known for fighting in the Carolina backcountry. He earned the nickname “the swearing captain” because of his reputation for profanity (ach du Scheisse). He was also brutal with the Presbyterians in the region, perhaps because many of his Whig tormentors in Philadelphia were Presbyterian. Some said they reminded Huck of the rebels who had harassed him, accused him of treason, and seized his property. He certainly had reasons to seek retribution for his lost possessions. And of course, he was an Anglican. There might have been a religious reason behind his hatred. Tasked by Cornwallis with recruiting supporters for the Loyalist cause, Huck ravaged the backcountry, threatening and plundering civilians, destroying properties, and earning a reputation for cruelty for himself and his men. 

Back Country Mayhem

In June 1780, Huck was sent from Rocky Mount toward Fishing Creek to disperse rebels believed to be gathering there. Along the way, he recruited 300 Loyalists and burned all the homes and plantations of known Patriots in the Catawba Valley of upper South Carolina. When he reached Fishing Creek, Huck led his men to the Presbyterian Church to seize the pastor, a known Patriot named John Simpson. When they found Simpson had fled, they torched his parsonage. Huck continued his rampage to the New Acquisition District along the North Carolina border, now York County. There, he destroyed two key rebel assets: Whites Mills on Fishing Creek and William Hill's Ironworks. The latter was a vital source of rebel cannon and ordnance. As Huck caused chaos in the backcountry, about 500 loosely organized Patriot militias responded. They launched a sweep through the woods and fields to hunt down the marauders.

Christian Huck continued his rampage and, in early July, arrived at the Bratton Plantation. Desperate to find the proprietor, Colonel William Bratton, a prominent Whig leader, Huck ordered Martha Bratton to reveal her husband’s location. At that time, Bratton was leading his militia in pursuit of Huck and other Tory bands. When Martha refused, she was threatened with a reaping hook (a fitting play on his name). Only the intervention of another Loyalist officer saved her. Note: Incivility, not to mention violence, against women of a certain status was considered particularly vile during the time of the Yankee Doodle Spies. If nothing else, this made him what the Germans call a Schlechter Knabe (Bad Boy).

Martha Bratton stands up to Huck's interrogation

The Mayhem Continues, or A Woman Scorned

Undaunted, Huck moved on to the Williamson Plantation. After capturing five Whig supporters hiding in the corn crib, Huck and his officers took up quarters in the main house. His force of around 120 men set up camp nearby. Because they quickly seized the plantation, they believed there was no threat. As a result, he posted only a few guards and did not place pickets or patrols outside the perimeter. Unaware to Huck, Martha Bratton had sent a family slave named Watt to find her husband, who was with his unit on Fishing Creek. Watt told him where Huck was headed. In a double blow for Huck, a crippled spy named Joseph Kerr also found Colonel Bratton. Based on Kerr and Watt’s intelligence, Bratton planned an attack on Huck’s men.

Bratton's Plantation Today

Icing the Huck

At dawn on July 12, 1780, the rebels moved against Huck’s unsuspecting encampment. There, 250 Patriots under Bratton surrounded the plantation in the cover of darkness. The few guards never saw them coming. When the Loyalist forces were awakened by the attack, Bratton's men shot them down. War in the Carolinas was brutal! Surprised by the morning assault, many of Huck’s men fled into the woods. Huck himself was shot off his horse while trying to rally his men. The Patriots tracked down and killed those of Huck’s forces that had escaped into the woods. Some reports estimate that 85 percent of the Loyalists were killed, wounded, or captured. That’s quite impressive, considering the battle lasted only a few minutes. The Patriots lost only one man killed and another wounded in the skirmish. As for Huck, he died from his wounds and was buried right there. In a final insult to the immigrant Loyalist, his body was later used as a medical skeleton. 

Huck defeated in a battle that lasted minutes

Defeat Significant?

In a word, yes. The Loyalists' morale in the Carolinas declined due to numerous recent losses. Many Carolinians began to see British rule as inevitable. After Huck's defeat, the fact that a Patriot militia group decisively defeated part of the British Legion rekindled the people's support for the cause. The Legion was a formidable and feared force in the Carolinas: well-led, well-equipped, and highly motivated to show no mercy. They were known as the "Huns" of their day and dominated most engagements. Therefore, the defeat of part of the Legion strengthened their resolve against British attacks and skirmishes. This shift ultimately influenced the course of the war. Over time, the British grew frustrated with their efforts to pacify the Carolinas. That frustration led Cornwallis and his troops on a long march to a place called Yorktown. But that's another story (or three). The legacy Christian Huck left behind was one of Loyalist brutality and Patriot revenge. It also highlights the intense hatred on both sides of the American struggle after five years of fighting.