McAlpin's Corps
Encyclopedia
McAlpin’s Corps can refer to either of two loyalist units in the British Army in Canada commanded by Major Daniel McAlpin during the American Revolution
. In
most instances the name describes the American Volunteers, a corps of
American loyalists
who served in the Burgoyne Expedition
. The term was also used at times to refer to a 'battalion' put under command of McAlpin in 1779 made up of the remnants of Burgoyne’s several loyalist corps,
including the American Volunteers, the King’s Loyal Americans, the Queen’s Loyal Rangers and Adams' Rangers
.
Daniel McAlpin was a retired, elderly British army Captain of the 60th Royal American Regiment
who had become a major landholder at Stillwater, New York
. From 1775, McAlpin was actively persecuted by rebels for his loyalty. In September 1776, he
received a warrant from Sir William Howe to raise a loyalist corps and
secretly began recruiting men. McAlpin was arrested but later escaped and
went into hiding. When the British army under General Burgoyne
marched
South towards Albany, McAlpin joined at Fort Edward
.
McAlpin’s unit, the American Volunteers, first mustered August 1st 1777.
The corps numbered some 184 men and officers and was engaged largely in
the batteau
service and defending supply lines during the campaign.
Following the battle of Freeman's Farm, a portion of McAlpin's men were
drafted into British regiments to help offset heavy casualties. After the
defeat at the battle of Bemis Heights, Burgoyne allowed loyalist troops to
quietly escape before his surrender. Men of the American Volunteers were
entrusted with transporting Burgoyne’s military pay chest back to Canada to
prevent its capture. Fifty of these men were taken prisoner on the
retreat, but the chest was safely delivered.
The loyalist units of Burgoyne’s army returned to Canada seriously mauled
and badly under-strength. The units were loosely assembled into a battalion,
initially under Sir John Johnson of the King’s Royal Regiment
. In May1779, the unit was turned over to McAlpin, who was made Major-Commandant.
The troops were primarily engaged in garrison duty and building
fortifications to secure Quebec Province
against American invasion.
In late 1779, McAlpin became seriously ill. Despite his condition, he
continued in his duties until his death in July 1780. McAlpin was replaced
by Major John Nairne
of the 84th
, who was ordered to form the rather loose collection of men into formal companies. Even so, the unit was often referred to as McAlpin’s Corps.
In November 1781, the American Volunteers, King’s Loyal Americans and most of the Queens Loyal Rangers were incorporated into a new provincial regiment, the Loyal Rangers, under the command of Major Edward Jessup
.
Following the war, the Loyal Rangers, including former American Volunteers, were settled in the South East of what is now the Province of Ontario
, in Ernestown
, Edwardsburgh
, Augusta
and Elizabethtown townships.
Online article on Daniel McAlpin, by Richard Dorrough:
Muster Roll of McAlpin's Corps 1st August 1777:
American Revolution
The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...
. In
most instances the name describes the American Volunteers, a corps of
American loyalists
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...
who served in the Burgoyne Expedition
Saratoga campaign
The Saratoga Campaign was an attempt by Great Britain to gain military control of the strategically important Hudson River valley in 1777 during the American Revolutionary War...
. The term was also used at times to refer to a 'battalion' put under command of McAlpin in 1779 made up of the remnants of Burgoyne’s several loyalist corps,
including the American Volunteers, the King’s Loyal Americans, the Queen’s Loyal Rangers and Adams' Rangers
Adams' Rangers
Adams' Rangers was a Loyalist independent company raised for the British Army during the American Revolutionary war. Led by Dr. Samuel Adams of Arlington the unit's most significant contribution in the conflict was serving as part of the ill-fated Burgoyne Expedition of 1777.-Recruitment:The men...
.
Daniel McAlpin was a retired, elderly British army Captain of the 60th Royal American Regiment
King's Royal Rifle Corps
The King's Royal Rifle Corps was a British Army infantry regiment, originally raised in colonial North America as the Royal Americans, and recruited from American colonists. Later ranked as the 60th Regiment of Foot, the regiment served for more than 200 years throughout the British Empire...
who had become a major landholder at Stillwater, New York
Stillwater, New York
Stillwater is a town in Saratoga County, New York, United States. The population was 7,522 at the 2000 census. The town contains a village called Stillwater...
. From 1775, McAlpin was actively persecuted by rebels for his loyalty. In September 1776, he
received a warrant from Sir William Howe to raise a loyalist corps and
secretly began recruiting men. McAlpin was arrested but later escaped and
went into hiding. When the British army under General Burgoyne
John Burgoyne
General John Burgoyne was a British army officer, politician and dramatist. He first saw action during the Seven Years' War when he participated in several battles, mostly notably during the Portugal Campaign of 1762....
marched
South towards Albany, McAlpin joined at Fort Edward
Fort Edward (village), New York
Fort Edward is a village in Washington County, New York, United States. It is part of the Glens Falls Metropolitan Statistical Area. The village population was 3,141 at the 2000 census...
.
McAlpin’s unit, the American Volunteers, first mustered August 1st 1777.
The corps numbered some 184 men and officers and was engaged largely in
the batteau
Bateau
A bateau or batteau is a shallow-draft, flat-bottomed boat which was used extensively across North America, especially in the colonial period and in the fur trade. It was traditionally pointed at both ends but came in a wide variety of sizes...
service and defending supply lines during the campaign.
Following the battle of Freeman's Farm, a portion of McAlpin's men were
drafted into British regiments to help offset heavy casualties. After the
defeat at the battle of Bemis Heights, Burgoyne allowed loyalist troops to
quietly escape before his surrender. Men of the American Volunteers were
entrusted with transporting Burgoyne’s military pay chest back to Canada to
prevent its capture. Fifty of these men were taken prisoner on the
retreat, but the chest was safely delivered.
The loyalist units of Burgoyne’s army returned to Canada seriously mauled
and badly under-strength. The units were loosely assembled into a battalion,
initially under Sir John Johnson of the King’s Royal Regiment
King's Royal Regiment of New York
The King's Royal Regiment of New York was one of the first Loyalist regiments raised in Canada during the American Revolutionary War....
. In May1779, the unit was turned over to McAlpin, who was made Major-Commandant.
The troops were primarily engaged in garrison duty and building
fortifications to secure Quebec Province
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
against American invasion.
In late 1779, McAlpin became seriously ill. Despite his condition, he
continued in his duties until his death in July 1780. McAlpin was replaced
by Major John Nairne
John Nairne
Lieutenant-Colonel John Nairne was a Scottish-Canadian soldier and seigneur. Nairne came to Canada in 1758 as a lieutenant, and participated in the captures of Louisbourg and Quebec City...
of the 84th
84th Regiment of Foot (Royal Highland Emigrants)
The 84th Regiment of Foot was a British regiment in the American Revolutionary War that was raised to defend present day Ontario, Quebec and Atlantic Canada from the constant land and sea attacks by American Revolutionaries...
, who was ordered to form the rather loose collection of men into formal companies. Even so, the unit was often referred to as McAlpin’s Corps.
In November 1781, the American Volunteers, King’s Loyal Americans and most of the Queens Loyal Rangers were incorporated into a new provincial regiment, the Loyal Rangers, under the command of Major Edward Jessup
Edward Jessup
Edward Jessup was a soldier, judge and political figure in Upper Canada.He was born in Stamford, Connecticut in 1735 and moved with his family to Dutchess County, New York in 1744. In 1759, he served with Jeffery Amherst in the Lake Champlain region...
.
Following the war, the Loyal Rangers, including former American Volunteers, were settled in the South East of what is now the Province of Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, in Ernestown
Ernestown Township, Ontario
Ernestown is a historic township in Lennox and Addington County in eastern Ontario. It was originally known as Second Town because it was surveyed after Kingston Township, but was renamed in 1784 after Prince Ernest Augustus, fifth son of George III...
, Edwardsburgh
Edwardsburgh/Cardinal, Ontario
Edwardsburgh/Cardinal is a township in the United Counties of Leeds and Grenville of eastern Ontario. It includes the villages of Cardinal, Johnstown and Spencerville, as well as several smaller communities....
, Augusta
Augusta, Ontario
Augusta is a township in eastern Ontario, Canada, on the Saint Lawrence River in the United Counties of Leeds and Grenville.-Communities:The township comprises the communities of Algonquin, Bisseltown, Blue Church, Charlieville, Domville, Garretton, Glenmore, Herrons Corners, Lords Mills, Maitland,...
and Elizabethtown townships.
External links
The On-line Institute for Advanced Loyalist Studies:- http://www.royalprovincial.com/military/rhist/mcalpin/mclist.htm
Online article on Daniel McAlpin, by Richard Dorrough:
- http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~nysarato/mcalpin.htm
Muster Roll of McAlpin's Corps 1st August 1777:
- http://www.nyhistory.net/~drums/mcalpin_roster.htm