Alexander Scammell
Alexander Scammell (March 22, 1747[2] – October 6, 1781[1]) was a Harvard[3] educated attorney and an officer in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War. He was wounded on September 30, 1781, near Yorktown and subsequently died on October 6 in Williamsburg, Virginia,[4] making him, a colonel, the highest ranking American officer killed during the Siege of Yorktown.
Biography
Scammell was born March 22, 1747, in the part of
Subsequently, in 1773 Scammell began to read law with John Sullivan, later General Sullivan, of Durham, New Hampshire."[5] Scammell had a high opinion of Sullivan whom he styled, "an excellent instructor and worthy patron". Sullivan was a member of the Congress of 1774 and 1775, and the following year he was appointed a brigadier general by that Congress. Scammell was with Sullivan during the Capture of Fort William and Mary on December 14, 1774.
With the start of the American Revolution, Scammell became a
The recruiting of the
He was ultimately replaced in early 1781 by Edward Hand. Scammell was reassigned as commander of the 1st NH Regiment in early 1781. However, on May 17, 1781,
On September 30, 1781, while serving as Field Officer-of-the-Day, Scammell was wounded while reconnoitering recently abandoned British fortifications. He had become separated from his scouting party, encountered a party of British light dragoons, and was shot in the side (accounts differ as to whether this occurred before or after he surrendered). He was taken into Yorktown, but because of the gravity of his wound he was paroled to Williamsburg, only to die on October 6.[1][4] Possibly he was buried in Williamsburg[9] A monument was erected in Williamsburg to Scammell but may never have been engraved the following inscription:[10]
Alexander Scammell, Adjutant-General of the American armies, and the Colonel of the First Regiment of New Hampshire, while he commanded a chosen corps of Light Infantry at the successful siege of Yorktown, in Virginia, was in gallant performance of his duty as field officer of the day, unfortunately captured, and afterwards insidiously wounded of which wound he expired at Williamsburgh, October 1781 Anno Ætatis.
What though no friend could ward thine early fall,
Nor guardian angels turn the treacherous ball;
Bless'd shade, be soothed! Thy virtues all are known--
Thy fame shall last beyond this mouldering stone,
Which conquering armies, from their toils return,
Read to thy glory while thy fate they mourn.
The inscription was written by Scammell's friend, Col. David Humphreys of Rhode Island.
A commemorative engraving, entitled "Death of Col. Scammell at the Siege of Yorktown", by Alonzo Chappel, was published by Johnson Fry & Company, NY, in 1859.
Both Alexander Scammell Wadsworth and Henry Alexander Scammell Dearborn were named by his friends Peleg Wadsworth and Henry Dearborn in memory of him. Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Scammell Brooks, the son of Colonel John Brooks of Massachusetts, who would later become the 11th governor of that state, was born Oct 19, 1781.
Alexander Scammell was a tall man for the times. Accounts differ, with him described as being 6'2" to 6'5" tall with blue eyes and a fair complexion. As a member of Washington's inner circle for three years, he was known for having an easy manner and being one of the few people who could lighten the moods of and make George Washington laugh with his humorous stories and jokes. In fact Washington considered Scammell to be one of the funniest men in the army. Scammell had the rare ability to lead and inspire loyalty as evinced by one of his captains, who at the Siege of Yorktown shortly after the taking of Redoubt #10, sacrificed his own honor by threatening the life of the captured Major Campbell to avenge his favorite (Col Scammell); Alexander Hamilton, who commanded the American assault, interceded saved Major Campbell.[11]
See also
- New Hampshire Historical Marker No. 165: The Alexander Scammell Bridge over the Bellamy River
References
- ^ a b c Dearborn 1939, p. 219.
- ^ Devlin 2005, p. 153.
- ^ Coffin 1845, p. 78.
- ^ a b Thacher 1827, p. 272.
- ^ Guthorn, Peter J. 1966. American Maps and Map Makers of the Revolution. Monmouth Beach, NJ: Philip freneau Press. Page 32.
- ^ Potter 1866, p. 296.
- ^ Scammell 1780.
- ^ Washington 1781.
- ^ Alexander Scammell at Find a Grave memorial
- ^ Coffin 1845, p. 100.
- ^ Thacher 1827, p. 275.
Shipton, Clifford. Sibley's Harvard Graduates, volume 17. Boston: Massachusetts Historical Society, 1975.
- Coffin, Charles (1845). The Lives and Services of Major General John Thomas, Colonel Thomas Knowlton, Colonel Alexander Scammell, Major General Henry Dearborn. New York, NY: Egbert, Hovey & King, Printers, 374 Pearl-Street.
- Dearborn, Henry (1939). The Revolutionary War Journals of Henry Dearborn 1775-1783. Chicago, IL: The Caxton Club.
- Potter, C.E. (1866). The Military History of The state of New Hampshire, From its Settlement, in 1623, to the Rebellion, in 1861: Comprising and account of the Stirring Events Connected Therewith; Biographical Notices of Many of the Officers Distinguished Therein: and Notes Explanatory of the Text. Concord, NH: McFarland & Janks.
- Scammell, Alexander (1780). "Alexander Scammell to George Washington, Nov 16, 1780". Library of Congress.
- Thacher, James (1827). A Military Journal during the American Revolutionary War, from 1775 to 1783; Describing Interesting Events and Transactions of this Period; with Numerous Historical Sketches of Several General Officers (2nd ed.). Boston, MA: Cottons & Barnard.
- Washington, George (1781). "George Washington, May 17, 1781, General Orders". Library of Congress. Retrieved 2013-02-27.
- Devlin, Jane (2005). "Vital Records of Milford, MA to the end of the year 1849".