William Caldwell (ranger)
Encyclopedia
William Caldwell was a Scots-Irish
immigrant to North America who became a soldier with the British Indian Department, . He fought against the American rebels in the American Revolutionary War
, especially with Butler's Rangers
, based near upstate New York. After the war, together with other Loyalists, Caldwell was granted land in Upper Canada (now Ontario). He helped found the town of Amherstburg, near the mouth of the Detroit River
. He also served as a Lieutenant Colonel in the War of 1812
, and from 1814-1815 as the Superintendent of Indians in the Western Department. He was a merchant and farmer in Amherstburg.
, Northern Ireland
. As a young man, he immigrated to Pennsylvania
in the British colonies of North America in 1773.
. In 1775, he was appointed an officer in the British Indian Department.
With the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War
, Caldwell served with Lord Dunmore's forces in the attack on Norfolk, Virginia
(1776), and was injured. Recovered of his wounds, Caldwell went to Fort Niagara
, where he was appointed captain in Butler's Rangers
on December 24, 1777.
In the rangers’ campaigns, Caldwell was "a very active Partisan", according to the commandant of Fort Niagara. Leading his troops into battle, he exhibited a ruthlessness that the Americans would never forget. On July 3, 1778, he was present at Battle of Wyoming in Pennsylvania. In September 1778 he led an attack on German Flatts
in the Mohawk Valley
of central New York, together with the Mohawk
chief Joseph Brant
's leading his Iroquois
forces. They destroyed all of the buildings and grain in the area, and killed and captured much livestock, leaving the settlers' struggling through the winter.
Based out of Detroit, Caldwell led a force of about 50 rangers in many battles and expeditions in Kentucky
and the Ohio Country
. In 1782, he led his rangers and Shawnee
allies in victories over the Crawford expedition
and at the Battle of Blue Licks
.
After the war, Caldwell settled in the Detroit region in Canada. Together with other Loyalists, he was granted land in what became Amherstburg on the Detroit River and became a merchant. His partner was another Loyalist
, Matthew Elliott
.
With the outbreak of the War of 1812
, Caldwell was given command of a group of between 40 and 50 volunteers from the Canadian militia, called Caldwell's Rangers (or the Western Rangers). He fought at the Battle of the Thames
and the Battle of Longwoods
, among many other actions. After the war, he resettled in Canada.
In 1783 Caldwell married Suzanne Baby {daughter of Jacques Baby
dit Dupéron}. Together they had eight children, five sons and three daughters.
In 1789 his father brought the boy Billy Caldwell into his family and gave him an education. Billy Caldwell later lived in the United States after 1818, where he became a prominent representative of the Potowatomi people in Illinois and Iowa. He was sometimes known to them as Sauganash, their term for a British Canadian.
After the war, in 1814, Caldwell was appointed Superintendent of Indians in the Western District, with his son Billy as his second-in-command.
William Caldwell died on February 20, 1822 in Amherstburg, Upper Canada
.
Scots-Irish
Scotch-Irish or Scots-Irish may refer to;* Ulster Scots people, an ethnic group in the Ulster province of Ireland which ultimately traces its roots back to settlers from Scotland and northern England....
immigrant to North America who became a soldier with the British Indian Department, . He fought against the American rebels in 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...
, especially with Butler's Rangers
Butler's Rangers
Butler's Rangers was a British provincial regiment composed of Loyalists in the American Revolutionary War, raised by Loyalist John Butler.Most members of the regiment were Loyalists from upstate New York...
, based near upstate New York. After the war, together with other Loyalists, Caldwell was granted land in Upper Canada (now Ontario). He helped found the town of Amherstburg, near the mouth of the Detroit River
Detroit River
The Detroit River is a strait in the Great Lakes system. The name comes from the French Rivière du Détroit, which translates literally as "River of the Strait". The Detroit River has served an important role in the history of Detroit and is one of the busiest waterways in the world. The river...
. He also served as a Lieutenant Colonel in the War of 1812
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
, and from 1814-1815 as the Superintendent of Indians in the Western Department. He was a merchant and farmer in Amherstburg.
Early life and education
William Caldwell is believed to be the son of William and Rebecka Caldwell of County FermanaghCounty Fermanagh
Fermanagh District Council is the only one of the 26 district councils in Northern Ireland that contains all of the county it is named after. The district council also contains a small section of County Tyrone in the Dromore and Kilskeery road areas....
, Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
. As a young man, he immigrated to Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
in the British colonies of North America in 1773.
Career
His initiation into combat was in the Wyoming Valley, Pennsylvania when Pennsylvanians fought against Connecticut settlers. In 1774, he served in Dunmore's WarDunmore's War
Dunmore's War was a war in 1774 between the Colony of Virginia and the Shawnee and Mingo American Indian nations....
. In 1775, he was appointed an officer in the British Indian Department.
With the outbreak of 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...
, Caldwell served with Lord Dunmore's forces in the attack on Norfolk, Virginia
Norfolk, Virginia
Norfolk is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. With a population of 242,803 as of the 2010 Census, it is Virginia's second-largest city behind neighboring Virginia Beach....
(1776), and was injured. Recovered of his wounds, Caldwell went to Fort Niagara
Fort Niagara
Fort Niagara is a fortification originally built to protect the interests of New France in North America. It is located near Youngstown, New York, on the eastern bank of the Niagara River at its mouth, on Lake Ontario.-Origin:...
, where he was appointed captain in Butler's Rangers
Butler's Rangers
Butler's Rangers was a British provincial regiment composed of Loyalists in the American Revolutionary War, raised by Loyalist John Butler.Most members of the regiment were Loyalists from upstate New York...
on December 24, 1777.
In the rangers’ campaigns, Caldwell was "a very active Partisan", according to the commandant of Fort Niagara. Leading his troops into battle, he exhibited a ruthlessness that the Americans would never forget. On July 3, 1778, he was present at Battle of Wyoming in Pennsylvania. In September 1778 he led an attack on German Flatts
Attack on German Flatts (1778)
On September 17, 1778, during the American Revolutionary War, a force of Loyalists and Iroquois made an attack on German Flatts, New York .-Prelude:...
in the Mohawk Valley
Mohawk Valley
The Mohawk Valley region of the U.S. state of New York is the area surrounding the Mohawk River, sandwiched between the Adirondack Mountains and Catskill Mountains....
of central New York, together with 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...
chief Joseph Brant
Joseph Brant
Thayendanegea or Joseph Brant was a Mohawk military and political leader, based in present-day New York, who was closely associated with Great Britain during and after the American Revolution. He was perhaps the most well-known American Indian of his generation...
's leading his Iroquois
Iroquois
The Iroquois , also known as the Haudenosaunee or the "People of the Longhouse", are an association of several tribes of indigenous people of North America...
forces. They destroyed all of the buildings and grain in the area, and killed and captured much livestock, leaving the settlers' struggling through the winter.
Based out of Detroit, Caldwell led a force of about 50 rangers in many battles and expeditions in Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
and the Ohio Country
Ohio Country
The Ohio Country was the name used in the 18th century for the regions of North America west of the Appalachian Mountains and in the region of the upper Ohio River south of Lake Erie...
. In 1782, he led his rangers and Shawnee
Shawnee
The Shawnee, Shaawanwaki, Shaawanooki and Shaawanowi lenaweeki, are an Algonquian-speaking people native to North America. Historically they inhabited the areas of Ohio, Virginia, West Virginia, Western Maryland, Kentucky, Indiana, and Pennsylvania...
allies in victories over the Crawford expedition
Crawford expedition
The Crawford expedition, also known as the Sandusky expedition and Crawford's Defeat, was a 1782 campaign on the western front of the American Revolutionary War, and one of the final operations of the conflict...
and at the Battle of Blue Licks
Battle of Blue Licks
The Battle of Blue Licks, fought on August 19, 1782, was one of the last battles of the American Revolutionary War. The battle occurred ten months after Lord Cornwallis's famous surrender at Yorktown, which had effectively ended the war in the east...
.
After the war, Caldwell settled in the Detroit region in Canada. Together with other Loyalists, he was granted land in what became Amherstburg on the Detroit River and became a merchant. His partner was another Loyalist
Loyalist
In general, a loyalist is someone who maintains loyalty to an established government, political party, or sovereign, especially during war or revolutionary change. In modern English usage, the most common application is to loyalty to the British Crown....
, Matthew Elliott
Matthew Elliott (loyalist)
Matthew Elliott was born in County Donegal, Ireland in 1739 and died on May 7, 1814 in Burlington, Ontario. He was a trader, farmer, Indian Department official, political, fur trader, and militia officer during and after the era of the American Revolution...
.
With the outbreak of the War of 1812
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
, Caldwell was given command of a group of between 40 and 50 volunteers from the Canadian militia, called Caldwell's Rangers (or the Western Rangers). He fought at the Battle of the Thames
Battle of the Thames
The Battle of the Thames, also known as the Battle of Moraviantown, was a decisive American victory in the War of 1812. It took place on October 5, 1813, near present-day Chatham, Ontario in Upper Canada...
and the Battle of Longwoods
Battle of Longwoods
The Battle of Longwoods took place during the Anglo-American War of 1812. On 4 March 1814, a mounted American raiding party defeated an attempt by British regulars, volunteers from the Canadian militia and Native Americans to intercept them near Wardsville, in present-day Southwest Middlesex,...
, among many other actions. After the war, he resettled in Canada.
Marriage and family
Before his marriage, while in Fort Niagara, Caldwell had a relationship with a Mohawk woman. They named their mixed-race son, born about 1782, Billy Caldwell. The boy was first raised with his mother's people.In 1783 Caldwell married Suzanne Baby {daughter of Jacques Baby
Jacques Baby
Jacques Baby, dit Dupéron was a Canadian fur trader and an employee of the British Indian Department.He was born in Montreal in 1731. He was a trader and Indian agent at Logstown, near the current location of Ambridge, Pennsylvania. After the fall of New France in 1760, he refused to swear...
dit Dupéron}. Together they had eight children, five sons and three daughters.
In 1789 his father brought the boy Billy Caldwell into his family and gave him an education. Billy Caldwell later lived in the United States after 1818, where he became a prominent representative of the Potowatomi people in Illinois and Iowa. He was sometimes known to them as Sauganash, their term for a British Canadian.
Career
In the War of 1812, Caldwell was commissioned a Lieutenant Colonel. He gained commissions for all his sons by Suzanne in the regular army; Billy Caldwell was given a captain's commission in the Indian Department.After the war, in 1814, Caldwell was appointed Superintendent of Indians in the Western District, with his son Billy as his second-in-command.
William Caldwell died on February 20, 1822 in Amherstburg, Upper Canada
Amherstburg, Ontario
Amherstburg is a Canadian town near the mouth of the Detroit River in Essex County, Ontario. It is approximately south of the U.S...
.
In popular culture
- William Caldwell was portrayed in Walter D. EdmondsWalter D. EdmondsWalter "Walt" Dumaux Edmonds was an American author noted for his historical novels, including the popular Drums Along the Mohawk , which was successfully made into a Technicolor feature film in 1939 directed by John Ford and starring Henry Fonda and Claudette Colbert.-Life:In 1919 he entered The...
' popular 1936 historical novel Drums Along the MohawkDrums Along the Mohawk (novel)Drums Along the Mohawk is a novel by American author Walter D. Edmonds which follows the lives of fictional Gil and Lana Martin, settlers in the Mohawk Valley of the New York frontier during the American Revolution...
. - In the 1939 movieDrums Along the MohawkDrums Along the Mohawk is a 1939 historical Technicolor film based upon a 1936 novel of the same name by American author, Walter D. Edmonds. The film was produced by Darryl F. Zanuck and directed by John Ford. Henry Fonda and Claudette Colbert portray settlers on the New York frontier during the...
by the same name, directed by John FordJohn FordJohn Ford was an American film director. He was famous for both his westerns such as Stagecoach, The Searchers, and The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, and adaptations of such classic 20th-century American novels as The Grapes of Wrath...
, John CarradineJohn CarradineJohn Carradine was an American actor, best known for his roles in horror films and Westerns as well as Shakespearean theater. A member of Cecil B DeMille's stock company and later John Ford's company, he was one of the most prolific character actors in Hollywood history...
portrayed Caldwell.