“Whitcomb was a presumptuous fellow, entirely devoid of fear, of more than common strength, equal to an Indian for enduring hardship or privation, drank to excess even when in the greatest peril, balls whistling around his head.”
This contemporary description of Revolutionary War Ranger Major Benjamin Whitcomb could be a template for the classic Frontier Partisan: bold, strong, skilled, drunk. Whitcomb was, indeed, one hell of a badass Frontier Partisan — and till this weekend, I’d never heard of him.
Gary Zaboly’s depiction of an American Ranger from the French & Indian War remains an accurate depiction of such troops up through the American Revolution.
My work on the second volume of Warriors of the Wild Lands has led me deep into the lakes and forests of the upper New York Frontier circa 1755-1780. The chain of lakes that formed an 18th Century highway between Canada and New York/New England was the great warpath and battleground of the French & Indian War and the American Revolution. In these forests I made the acquaintance of the most dangerous Major Whitcomb.
Whitcomb was a Massachusetts man, born in 1737. He fought in the French & Indian War, and then settled on the New Hampshire-Vermont Frontier. He was a hardy son of a hardy race of Yankee frontiersmen. And he was a Rebel from the start. He recruited men to reinforce the attempt to invade Canada and returned from that disastrous failure to Fort Ticonderoga in the spring of 1776.
The American Patriot forces required scouts to keep an eye out for British invaders or Loyalist/Iroquois raiders coming down from Montreal. Whitcomb knew the territory, and he had the perfect temperament for such dangerous work.
On July 14, 1776, just 10 days after independence was declared (a development of which he was probably unaware), he set off for Canada with four companions. Two of his comrades, both Frenchmen, got cold feet and turned back. Another “got sick” and returned to Fort Ticonderoga. The fourth deserted to the British.
On his own — and with his mission possibly compromised — Whitcomb penetrated deep into British territory. He scouted the roads that formed a triangle of land between Montreal and the fortified villages of St. Johns and Chamblee.
The American scout spied a lone British officer riding on the road and, being “a presumptuous fellow,” he fired on him. Then he took to the woods and hid out to avoid pursuit. He wouldn’t find out just what he’d done until he made his way back to Fort Ticonderoga on August 6, 1776.
Whitcomb had shot and mortally wounded Brigadier General Patrick Gordon of the 29th Regiment of Foot. The general, who had apprehended no danger so deep in British territory, was took by two balls in the shoulder. He stayed in the saddle and made it back to the fort at La Prairie, but he succumbed to the wounds two days later.
My surmise is that Whitcomb had charged his musket with buck-and-ball and two balls from the charge caught the general.
The British military establishment was outraged by this ambush killing, which, under 18th Century protocols, was tantamount to murder.
Governor General of Canada Gen. Sir Guy Carleton took a dim view of American woodsrunners. In his general orders he noted:
“B.G. Gordon was dangerously wounded yesterday by one of these infamous Skulkers. … Should he, or any of his party, or any other party of the same Nature come within reach of our Men, it is hoped they will not honor them with a Soldier’s Death, if they can possibly avoid it, but reserve them for a due punishment, which can only be inflicted by the Hangman.”
He put his money where his mouth was, putting up a 50 guinea reward for Whitcomb’s capture. The Governor-General knew exactly who the killer was; he’d been ratted out by the deserter.
Governor-General Sir Guy Carleton was not cut out for the brutal realities of frontier warfare. He condemned Ben Whitcomb’s killing of Brigadier Patrick Gordon as an assassination, and would later restrain his own Gen. John Burgoyne from turning his Indians loose to spread a reign of terror in advance of Burgoyne’s advance. That restraint may have cost the British their North American Empire.
Another British Officer wrote:
“[t]he Rascal Whitcomb escaped but time perhaps may bring him to the End, which his murder of B. General Gordon deserves.”
Bear in mind that in the 18th Century, “rascal” was very strong opprobrium.
The American officer class took a dim view of Whticomb’s action, too, considering it an “assassination.” However, they also recognized a big set of balls and an impressive skill set when they saw it.
Whitcomb and his fellow Frontier Partisans were entirely Zero Foxtrot about the whole affair: The Indians whom they used as their forest warfare examples weren’t troubled by inane rules; why should they be?
Whitcomb returned to the scene of the crime scarcely a month after shooting General Gordon, and this time captured the Quartermaster of the 29th, along with an aide. He dragged them across a hundred miles of rugged wilderness and presented them as intelligence assets to General Horatio Gates.
That earned Whitcomb a promotion to the rank of Captain and command of two companies of independent Rangers.
Men of Whitcomb’s Independent Corps of Rangers fought the first engagement of the pivotal Saratoga Campaign in 1777, when scouts ran afoul of the Indians screening General Johnny Burgoyne’s advance out of Canada. They fought in numerous engagements, including Saratoga, where they were attached to Henry Dearborn’s Light Infantry.
Eventually earning the rank of Major, Whitcomb led this irregular force — made up largely of teenaged woodsrunners — in small unit patrol, scouting and spying missions on the New York frontier through the rest of the war until they were mustered out in 1781.
*
How the hell can a lifelong student of frontier history miss this tale? Beats me. My main interest in this period has been the Ohio Valley Frontier, but you’d think I’d have run across Whitcomb somewhere before this. Nope.
History is capricious. Some men become famous, while equally impressive characters fade into obscurity. I’m mighty glad to have made the acquaintance of this presumptuous fellow out there on the bloody and dangerous borderland of the American Revolution.
*
You can get your copy of Warriors of the Wild Lands: True Tales of the Frontier Partisans through my favorite trading post — Paulina Springs Books of Sisters, Oregon.
Keith West says
Sounds like someone not to be messed with.
JimC says
First-class badass.
Tommy says
I have heard,seen or read his name some where? But i am damned if i can remember where?
Paul McNamee says
Whitcomb’s action certainly resides in a gray area of war or assassination.
Looking forward to the RUNNING IRON REPORT.
JimC says
Think you’ll dig it.
Matthew says
History is capricious. Some men become famous, while equally impressive characters fade into obscurity. —-
While I’ve been reading Frank Hamer’s biography, it struck me that more people know Elliot Ness than Frank Hamer largely because Ness as such a self-promoter. I don’t know enough about Ness to say he was bad at his job, but he wasn’t Frank Hamer.
I wonder how important the killing of General Gordon was. If Gordon lived would the war have gone differently?
JimC says
The main import was that it hardened attitudes. Carleton explicitly forbade his staff and officers to entertain any colonial outreach for “reconciliation.”
Saddle Tramp says
Yes indeed, Whitcomb joins a very long list of unsung badasses of all sorts. Great piece and excellent presentation Jim. Many others have carried the fire whose contributions will never be told. They shunned the limelight or lacked connections. Others like Winston Churchill for example set themselves out to make the most of war for vaingloriously (and nationalistic) motivated reasons and at times always seeking the recognition for himself for it. Don’t get me wrong, I think Churchill was a great man overall but he most definitely sought out the glory of war when it opportuned itself. Churchill
is a later example maybe compared to the time period of Whitcomb (as well as on the other side) but the secret code of military toughness still applies. Regarding the “rules” of war and their inanity. How about Israel having a “War Lawyer”. The laws of war. How to legally blow someone’s head off their shoulders. It does all seem quite inane in it’s application. The Indians had it right. Let it be what it will be on it’s own terms and in it’s own territory. It’s all about territory anyway held or stolen somewhere along the line. Honor in war is a very loose term. War itself is the antithesis of humanity (but an unavoidable attribute) no doubt. However, I am a realist and most certainly recognize the choices we face. I am glad Whitcomb was on our side (fatefully so) and that’s all one can hope for when only bullets or balls can shift the balance of greed, tyranny or enslavement. Rules are written but action get’s the results. I take it for what it is and if you are going to be caught in the middle of it you want the best means available on your side.
Let [G] od settle the the rest of it. By the way Jim, is it mere coincidence or not that Robert Plant’s latest album is titled CARRY FIRE and your newest offering includes the same? Either way, it works well for both. Excellent logo!!
JimC says
It is a coincidence in the most direct sense, but I am a deep believer in synchronicity, so….
Thanks for the props on the logo — we think so too. Hats off to Lynn Woodward (who designed this site) for that.
Tommy says
Well said Sir!
Saddle Tramp says
Yes, I realize the application of the term as is apropos to the subject field. Ambiguity has always fascinated me. Those grey areas of uncertainty or not (depending on one’s predilections of course) as to moral outcomes as is dancing so blatantly in front of us today. I am anxious to see how you navigate it. It will no doubt be carefully, intelligently and interestingly presented and never never luke warm. If anything Robert Plant reinforced it’s importance.
Out on The Road:
Commerce City, CO (TA Quebec Street)
Breaker Morant says
Totally off-topic, but Lane (especially) should like this: Through one of my news feeds, I ran across this tidbit from Mozambique.
>>>>A year ago with the help of the Ivan Carter Conservation Alliance we collared this Eland bull. Each year the bulls disappear and we have no idea where they go too. Now a year later we have learnt a lot which also helps us protect them. Each year the bulls spoilt off from the cows when the rains start. They head off to a remote area in the palm forests and only return in the beginning of October.<<<<
I have had a grin on my face all day, thinking about how cool it is that we still live in a world where the Eland bulls can still disappear, and their whereabouts just discerned now.
JimC says
Ah, yes… thanks for sharing that.
lane batot says
Yes indeed! One of the things I’ll remember about that Bushman book I just read, is that they consider trying to discover the mysteries of life is not so important as just PARTICIPATING in life–and of course coming from traditional Bushmen, they most assuredly meant LIFE IN NATURE! But it IS great and fascinating to learn things like this, and will no doubt help us PRESERVE this population of eland! And talk about synchrinocity and the comments about WAR above–flipping channels last night(on Peasant TV), I hit on an older Michael Caine movie(he TRULY is one of the GREATS!) titled “Playing Dirty” about the desert campaign in World War 2–sort of a British “Dirty Dozen” I suppose. I’d never heard of this one before, but I landed on it just when one of the commanders(recruiting less than savory characters for the war effort) gave a good quote–“War is a criminal activity, and I will therefore recruit criminals to fight one!”(paraphrased….)
Saddle Tramp says
Lane. I agree with your summation.
Jim,
Just for the record I would like to know your criteria and definition of what a “badass” is. I am not trying to provoke you, but I do think it would be good to establish some boilerplate or even an entire subject for a post. I know you have written books (past and forthcoming) but a rules of badassery might be helpful. What is obvious to some is not necessarily obvious to others. I think I know one when I see one but hell, I would still be most interested in your personal breakdown. Thanks!
— ST
Via: Eagle Canyon View Area in the San Rafael Swells Of Utah where the Four Swasey Brothers helps sway. This is as close as it get’s to the way it’s always been. Ed Abbey territory too. Heading from Fort Morgan, CO with a load of sugar…
JimC says
Challenge accepted.
Matthew says
Well according TV Tropes had this analysis
http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Analysis/Badass
Steven Whitcomb says
Grandpa Ben knew the story of his x3 Grandpa John’s coming to Boston in 1627, just 7 years after the Mayflower and when there were less than 1000 white people in America. John’s family, Hannah and her three children were killed in a raid and John went Rambo on the Indians that did it and was paid 2 pounds per-scalp for each Indian he killed. Eventually, his lust for vengeance was quenched and he settled down, remarried and moved to Lancaster, MA (the frontier circa 1640’s) where King Charles granted the Whitcomb’s a large tract of land. Indians attacked Lancaster a 1/2 dozen times over the next 70 years and wiped out entire families, 90 people or more died on one attack alone that caused the town to be abandoned for 5 years. Ben Whitcomb would have likely hated Indians (like a lot of frontiersmen) and jumped at the chance to strike them or any British officer who sent them to attack settlers. He retired on a soldiers pension of 200 dollars per-year and lived to be 95.
JimC says
Great stuff, Steven. Thanks for stopping by the campfire.
Thomas A Whitcomb says
The Book ‘Whitcomb Family History’ by Norman Whitcomb has some interesting things to say about General Ben Whitcomb. Well worth the read.
JimC says
Excellent. Thanks for the tip.
Marilyn C Cassidy says
Do you by any chance know the names of the two Americans who accompanied Whitcomb–the one who got sick and returned to Fort Ticonderoga, and the one who deserted? Or, do you know where I can find that information? I have done some research on this without much luck. I am fascinated by this tale and wonder how it relates to my family history. Thanks for your blog and any assistance you might provide.
JimC says
You might try contacting Gavin Watt directly through his website at http://gavinwatt.ca/.
i don’t know anyone who knows more than that guy.
Chandra Marski says
My 5th ggf, Stephen Harris, was in the Rangers, in Ephraim Stone’s company, under Whitcomb. Thank you for this wonderful essay.
JimC says
Welcome to the campfire.
Michael V. Gold says
Greetings. I encountered Whitcomb again reading a letter from General Washington to Moses Hazen (July 20, 1779) which includes a mention of my forefather Captain Antoine Paulin (Paulent, Paulint). Apparently, Whitcomb and Paulin were on an intelligence gathering mission to Canada and were given some tenous intelligence.
https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/03-21-02-0474#:~:text=Antoine%20Paulin%20(Paulent;%20c.,the%20army%20in%20July%201782.
Thank you for your efforts.
JimC says
Thank you for this.