Christopher Carleton
Encyclopedia
Christopher Carleton was born in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, England
into a military family. Christopher's parents died at sea when he was only four years old and his uncles Guy Carleton, 1st Baron Dorchester
the future Governor General of Canada
and Commander-in-Chief, North America
along with Sir Thomas Carleton
the 1st Governor
of New Brunswick
saw to his education and upbringing. At the age of twelve, Chistopher joined the British Army
as an Ensign
in the 31st Regiment of Foot. Before his first tour of duty in North America
, Chistopher married Anne Howard, whose sister Maria was the wife of Guy Carleton. While in North America, Christopher Carleton met Sir William Johnson and lived among the Mohawk
Indians, learning their language and partaking in their customs. He would remark in later life that the time spent living with the Mohawks was the happiest of his life. These skills would serve him well later. Christopher would be back in England when the American Revolutionary War
broke out in 1775.
In May of 1776, Capt. Christopher Carleton arrived at Quebec City
as part of a relief force for his uncle Guy Carleton, besieged in the city by the Continental Army
forces. During the campaign leading up to the Battle of Valcour Island
, Capt. Christopher Carleton served on his uncle's staff and in command of detachments of Indian allies. In 1777, Christopher purchased a major
's commission in the 29th Regiment of Foot
, in which his uncle Sir Thomas Carleton was a Lieutenant Colonel
.
burning the towns along Otter Creek in Vermont
and taking the local militia
men prisoner. Carleton's Raid (1778)
was very successful, destroying enough supplies for 12,000 men for a four month campaign. Maj. Carleton also showed that he was an expert in leading Native American
warriors along with British Regulars and Loyalist
troops, a feat that not many British officers could claim. His time spent with the Mohawks in his youth had paid off.
During the Burning of the Valleys campaign of 1780, Maj. Carleton lead another raid down Lake Champlain into the upper Hudson Valley
capturing the forts at Fort Ann
and Fort George
with a mixed force of British Regulars
, Loyalist troops, Hessians and Indians, including the 29th's unique ranger
company of John Enys
.
The years spent on the cold northern frontiers of North America took their toll on now Lt. Colonel Christopher Carlton's health and he died on June 14, 1787 at Quebec City
.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
into a military family. Christopher's parents died at sea when he was only four years old and his uncles Guy Carleton, 1st Baron Dorchester
Guy Carleton, 1st Baron Dorchester
Guy Carleton, 1st Baron Dorchester, KB , known between 1776 and 1786 as Sir Guy Carleton, was an Irish-British soldier and administrator...
the future Governor General of Canada
Governor General of Canada
The Governor General of Canada is the federal viceregal representative of the Canadian monarch, Queen Elizabeth II...
and Commander-in-Chief, North America
Commander-in-Chief, North America
The office of Commander-in-Chief, North America was a military position of the British Army. Established in 1755 in the early years of the Seven Years' War, holders of the post were generally responsible for land-based military personnel and activities in and around those parts of North America...
along with Sir Thomas Carleton
Thomas Carleton
Thomas Carleton was a British army officer who was promoted to Colonel during the American Revolutionary War after relieving the siege of Quebec in 1776. After the war, he was appointed as Lieutenant-Governor of New Brunswick, and supervised the resettlement of Loyalists from the United States in...
the 1st Governor
Governor
A governor is a governing official, usually the executive of a non-sovereign level of government, ranking under the head of state...
of New Brunswick
New Brunswick
New Brunswick is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the only province in the federation that is constitutionally bilingual . The provincial capital is Fredericton and Saint John is the most populous city. Greater Moncton is the largest Census Metropolitan Area...
saw to his education and upbringing. At the age of twelve, Chistopher joined the British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
as an Ensign
Ensign (rank)
Ensign is a junior rank of a commissioned officer in the armed forces of some countries, normally in the infantry or navy. As the junior officer in an infantry regiment was traditionally the carrier of the ensign flag, the rank itself acquired the name....
in the 31st Regiment of Foot. Before his first tour of duty in North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
, Chistopher married Anne Howard, whose sister Maria was the wife of Guy Carleton. While in North America, Christopher Carleton met Sir William Johnson and lived among the Mohawk
Mohawk nation
Mohawk are the most easterly tribe of the Iroquois confederation. They call themselves Kanien'gehaga, people of the place of the flint...
Indians, learning their language and partaking in their customs. He would remark in later life that the time spent living with the Mohawks was the happiest of his life. These skills would serve him well later. Christopher would be back in England when the American Revolutionary War
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
broke out in 1775.
In May of 1776, Capt. Christopher Carleton arrived at Quebec City
Quebec City
Quebec , also Québec, Quebec City or Québec City is the capital of the Canadian province of Quebec and is located within the Capitale-Nationale region. It is the second most populous city in Quebec after Montreal, which is about to the southwest...
as part of a relief force for his uncle Guy Carleton, besieged in the city by the Continental Army
Continental Army
The Continental Army was formed after the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War by the colonies that became the United States of America. Established by a resolution of the Continental Congress on June 14, 1775, it was created to coordinate the military efforts of the Thirteen Colonies in...
forces. During the campaign leading up to the Battle of Valcour Island
Battle of Valcour Island
The naval Battle of Valcour Island, also known as the Battle of Valcour Bay, took place on October 11, 1776, on Lake Champlain. The main action took place in Valcour Bay, a narrow strait between the New York mainland and Valcour Island...
, Capt. Christopher Carleton served on his uncle's staff and in command of detachments of Indian allies. In 1777, Christopher purchased a major
Major
Major is a rank of commissioned officer, with corresponding ranks existing in almost every military in the world.When used unhyphenated, in conjunction with no other indicator of rank, the term refers to the rank just senior to that of an Army captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel. ...
's commission in the 29th Regiment of Foot
29th Regiment of Foot
The 29th Regiment of Foot was, from 1694 to 1881, an infantry regiment of the British Army. It now forms part of the Mercian Regiment.-Formation:...
, in which his uncle Sir Thomas Carleton was a Lieutenant Colonel
Lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant colonel is a rank of commissioned officer in the armies and most marine forces and some air forces of the world, typically ranking above a major and below a colonel. The rank of lieutenant colonel is often shortened to simply "colonel" in conversation and in unofficial correspondence...
.
Raids
In the Fall of 1778, Maj. Chistopher Carleton led a raid along the shores of Lake ChamplainLake Champlain
Lake Champlain is a natural, freshwater lake in North America, located mainly within the borders of the United States but partially situated across the Canada—United States border in the Canadian province of Quebec.The New York portion of the Champlain Valley includes the eastern portions of...
burning the towns along Otter Creek in Vermont
Vermont
Vermont is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state ranks 43rd in land area, , and 45th in total area. Its population according to the 2010 census, 630,337, is the second smallest in the country, larger only than Wyoming. It is the only New England...
and taking the local militia
Militia
The term militia is commonly used today to refer to a military force composed of ordinary citizens to provide defense, emergency law enforcement, or paramilitary service, in times of emergency without being paid a regular salary or committed to a fixed term of service. It is a polyseme with...
men prisoner. Carleton's Raid (1778)
Carleton's Raid (1778)
Carleton's Raid was a British raid led by Major Christopher Carleton during the American War of Independence, conducted in fall 1778 from the Province of Quebec against targets in upstate New York and the Vermont Republic.-Prelude:...
was very successful, destroying enough supplies for 12,000 men for a four month campaign. Maj. Carleton also showed that he was an expert in leading Native American
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
warriors along with British Regulars and Loyalist
Loyalist (American Revolution)
Loyalists were American colonists who remained loyal to the Kingdom of Great Britain during the American Revolutionary War. At the time they were often called Tories, Royalists, or King's Men. They were opposed by the Patriots, those who supported the revolution...
troops, a feat that not many British officers could claim. His time spent with the Mohawks in his youth had paid off.
During the Burning of the Valleys campaign of 1780, Maj. Carleton lead another raid down Lake Champlain into the upper Hudson Valley
Hudson Valley
The Hudson Valley comprises the valley of the Hudson River and its adjacent communities in New York State, United States, from northern Westchester County northward to the cities of Albany and Troy.-History:...
capturing the forts at Fort Ann
Fort Ann (town), New York
Fort Ann is a town in Washington County, New York, United States. It is part of the Glens Falls Metropolitan Statistical Area. The town population was 6,417 at the 2000 census...
and Fort George
Fort George, New York
Fort George, New York was the name of five forts in the state of New York.The first Fort George was built in 1626 in New Amsterdam and named Fort Amsterdam. The British Army occupied it as Fort James from 1664 to 1687. Briefly re-occupied by the Dutch from 1673-1674 as Fort Willem Hendrick, it was...
with a mixed force of British Regulars
British Regulars
Commonly used to describe the Napoleonic era British foot soldiers, the British Regular was known for his flamboyant red uniform and well-disciplined combat performance...
, Loyalist troops, Hessians and Indians, including the 29th's unique ranger
Raid (military)
Raid, also known as depredation, is a military tactic or operational warfare mission which has a specific purpose and is not normally intended to capture and hold terrain, but instead finish with the raiding force quickly retreating to a previous defended position prior to the enemy forces being...
company of John Enys
John Enys
Lieutenant Colonel John Enys was a British Army officer who served during the American Revolution.-Family and education:...
.
The years spent on the cold northern frontiers of North America took their toll on now Lt. Colonel Christopher Carlton's health and he died on June 14, 1787 at Quebec City
Quebec City
Quebec , also Québec, Quebec City or Québec City is the capital of the Canadian province of Quebec and is located within the Capitale-Nationale region. It is the second most populous city in Quebec after Montreal, which is about to the southwest...
.
Sources
- The American Journals of Lt. John Enys, John Enys and Elizabeth Cometti (editor), Syracuse University Press 1976
- The Burning of the Valleys, Gavin K. Watt, Dundurn Press 1997
- Carleton's Raid, Ida H. Washington and Paul A. Washington, Cherry Tree Books 1977
- Letters of Brunswick and Hessian Officers During The American Revolution, William Stone, translator. ©1891, Joel Munsell's Sons, Albany, NY.