Liberto 1 Nicholas Liberto

Dr. Gibbon

Teaching American History Grant

September 5, 2010

A Forgotten Hero: The Life and Service of Colonel Alexander Scammell

“A hero is someone who has given his or her life to something bigger than oneself.” This quote exemplifies the life of Alexander Scammell. Practically forgotten in the mainstream of history, Scammell was a dashing young officer who gave up his work as a lawyer and surveyor to help in the fight to build a new nation. His story is one o the more interesting to come out of the American Revolution; in part because of his amazing accomplishments, and secondly because these have gone unnoticed for years. In mentioning his name to the general public, unlike a Washington, Hamilton, or Jefferson, his name goes unnoticed. The goal of this paper is to rectify this disservice to a true

American hero.

Born in Milford, Massachusetts in the year 1744, Scammell was the youngest son of a prominent doctor and educated mother. His father’s death in the year 1753 left

Scammell in the care of one Reverend Amariah Frost of Mendon, Massachusetts.

Reverend Frost took charge of young Alexander’s education until he was prepared to enter college. (Coffin 1)

Little more is known about Scammell’s youth, before the graduated from Harvard

College (now Harvard University). We can assume, however, that some revolutionary tendencies on behalf of the young Scammell could have been influenced by the

Liberto 2 previously mentioned Reverend Frost. As stated by the author Charles Coffin, who dedicated one-fourth of his book to Scammell’s life:

When the contest for self-government was approaching, no safer or more suitable instructor could be found than an educated new England Clergyman.” (Coffin 1)

Scammell went on to graduate from Harvard in 1769. After teaching for a period of time in the towns of Kingston and Plymouth, he moved to Portsmouth, New

Hampshire in 1772. It is here he took a job as a royal surveyor for the crown, a skill which would serve him well during the Revolution. During his time in New Hampshire, he became acquainted with, and later good friends with , whom helped

Scammell study law. Sullivan is better known as a member of Congress as well as a

Brigadier General in the .

Scammell was then commissioned as a Major in the Continental Army, serving under Sullivan. He participated in a raid on the Fort William and Mary in 1774, where he became recognized as the first American soldier to capture a foreign flag. He served at the , as well as the Battle of Bunker Hill and the .

He was then attached to General Charles Lee’s Division around 1776, whereas he was promoted to the office of Adjutant General of Lee’s Division. (Coffin 3)

Continuing to list all of the miniscule tasks and duties and scenarios in which

Scammell performed, although so deserved, is not the purpose at hand. Therefore, in proceeding, please note that only the major engagements and events will be mentioned.

However, it is necessary to note that Scammell was present at the following battles (some Liberto 3 of which are mentioned will have his situation elaborated upon): Fort William and Mary,

Ticonderoga, Bunker Hill, Quebec, Long Island, Trenton, Morristown, Stillwater, Bemis

Heights, Saratoga, Monmouth and Yorktown.

The Empire Patriot, a periodical of some type linking itself to the Sons of the

American Revolution put Scammell at the head of its issue released in November 2003.

In this issue, it is noted that Scammell was in the same boat which crossed the Delaware

River before the in December 1776. In 1777, Scammell was recognized by General Enoch Poor for his bravery during the Battle of Saratoga, where

Scammell was wounded. Poor stated:

Scammell fought like a hero, leading his regiment Where the action was hottest, and did not leave his Post until he was wounded and taken off the field. (Williams 4)

As a testament to the character of Scammell, it is worthy to note an incident noted in the

Empire Patriot about Scammell at Saratoga, where his pigtail was nearly completely severed by an enemy shot. Scammell, apparently not shaken with the notion that the shot may have killed him, cut the rest of his cue off and threw it at the British while shouting something such as “If you want it so bad, then here it is!”.

The periodical in question goes on to cite that even a book in England mentions

Scammell for his bravery, although the name of the book is not mentioned. Eventually, through a unanimous vote of the Continental Congress, Scammell was appointed

Adjutant General of the entire Continental Army, and took up his duties at in the dreaded winter of 1777-78. This is noted in a letter from Henry Laurens to

Washington: Liberto 4

Sir. [York, Pa.] 5. Jany 1778.

Last Night I was honoured with your Excellency’s Letter of the 1st Inst. I presented it this Morning to Congress but have received no other Commands except to acquaint Your Excellency that Colonel Scammel by an Unanimous ballot is elected Adjutant General in the Army which will further appear by the inclosed Certified Act of the present date. (Washington 1)

As another act of Congress, for the “time being” the Adjutant General was also to be

Inspector General. In this capacity, he would be directly working with General

Washington on a day to day basis. He now not only served in two posts at once, but also

being Washington’s Chief of Staff. Using different words, both the Empire Patriot as

well as the author Charles Coffin note that Scammell was the only officer in the

American Army who could make Washington laugh. (Williams 5) This testifies to the

character of the man and the immense respect he commanded from others, whether

higher in rank or the common soldier, Scammell was well liked by the vast majority of

the men.

At the Battle of Monmouth, General Lee and not followed through with

Washington’s plan of attack, and had somehow managed to being retreat without

engaging the enemy. Washington relieved Lee of command, and Scammell began the

arduous task or reforming the troops. By riding from one unit to another, placing himself

between his men and enemy fire, Scammell motivated the men to their perform their duty

to the utmost. Joined by Washington, both men rode up and down the line, at one point

even feared dead because of being lost in the smoke from the crossfire. At the conclusion

of the battle, Washington stated “The man who inspired us all to do our full duty was

Alexander Scammell”. (Williams 5). Following the battle, Lee was ordered to be placed Liberto 5

under arrest by Washington, with Scammell carrying out the duty. As cited in a letter

from Washington to Lee:

Head Quarters English Town [N.J.] June 30. Sir 1778

Your letter by Colo. Fitzgerald and also one of this date have been duly received.1 I have sent Colo. Scammel, the Adjutant General to put you in arrest, who will deliver you a copy of the charges on which you will be tryed.2 I am Sir Yr most obt servt, Go: Washington (Washington Papers 1)

When it was discovered that , the respected young and able

American General was a traitor to the cause, it was Scammell who played a central role.

He was ordered by Washington to execute the man who had been working with Arnold,

Major John Andre, Adjutant General of the British Army. Scammell was seething at

Arnold, as it shown in his letter to Colonel Peabody, where he states:

May Arnold’s life be protracted under all the keenest stings and reflections of a guilty conscience- be hated and abhorred by all the race of mankind, and finally suffer the excrutiating tortures due so great a traitor. (Coffin 8)

It was at the Battle of Yorktown where Scammell’s journey comes to an end. In

July of 1781, he resigned his post as Adjutant General of the Continental Army, having served in that position longer than any of the other men combined. He was then allowed, on permission of Washington, to take command of the 3rd New Hampshire Regiment,

whilst also being afforded the privilege of choosing his own officers. His regiment was

to lead the army in its march to Yorktown, thus taking on the brunt of any initial British

assault. As officer of the day, Scammell was in charge of scouting out British positions

which were apparently vacant. He rode into a line of British dragoons (sometimes the Liberto 6 dragoons are described as Hessians) where he was wounded and captured. He died several days later (Coffin 9).

The outcry over Scammell’s death was enormous. Washington was shattered, going so far as to write Cornwallis requesting the return of the Colonel’s body, which was granted (Williams 1, 4-7). Alexander Hamilton, a Colonel formerly on

Washington’s staff, had to restrain his own men from killing British Prisoners of War in retaliation for the death of Scammell. Washington himself stated that throughout the siege, no one who was lost was valued more than Scammell.

Scammell’s legacy did not die at Yorktown. During the Marquis de LaFayette’s final visit to the United States in 1824-25, he gave a toast at a celebration of

Revolutionary War veterans in which he honored the memory of “Yorktown Scammell”.

Why is it, one must ask, that such a central figure in the Revolution, described as one of

Washington’s closest friends and allies has gone forgotten in history, even in his own hometown?

To make this assumption without looking at the histories of the men with whom

Washington surrounded himself with would not be right. Henry Knox, the famed artillery expert who went on to serve as the first United States Secretary of War. He gained his fame when he trekked through most of New York and New England, to furnish Dorchester Heights with cannons taken from Ticonderoga during the Siege of

Boston in 1775.

Alexander Hamilton, the first Secretary of the Treasury, was also a member of

Washington’s staff, serving at great length as his aide de camp. If not remember for this, Liberto 7 he is certainly remember for his feuds over the role of the federal government with

Thomas Jefferson, and his fatal duel with Vice President Aaron Burr in 1803.

Furthermore, he is recognized on the ten dollar bill.

John Laurens was a Colonel and member of Washington’s staff. A native South

Carolinian, he too was killed during the war, in a useless battle in 1782. However, his father was Henry Laurens, who succeeded John Hancock as President of the Continental

Congress in 1777. There is a county in Georgia named for John, and a county as well as city in South Carolina named for Henry, thus promoting awareness of the family history.

Why then, has Scammell gone so forgotten throughout history? There are several reasons. First, Scammell’s grave has been lost, believed to have been destroyed during the Civil War. If there is no monument to a man, there is one less artifact with which one can inquire about his life. Secondly, Scammell was never married, and had no children.

This only helps to lessen the number of close friends and/or relatives whom could have made an effort to memorialize his life. Finally, he was killed in action. Unlike most of the other men on Washington’s staff who had careers just as illustrious as Scammell’s, he did not live past the war for a chance to possibly enter public office. One would assume that a Harvard Graduate, well acclimated with the ways of law and surveying would certainly prove useful to a man like , especially since he was the one man who could amuse Washington. Although John Laurens was killed in action, his father was widely well known through his office of President of the Continental

Congress, and as previously stated, his legacy has been honored through the naming of different counties and townships. Liberto 8

However no such monuments are found to Scammell within his hometown.

There is a Fort Scammell located in Casco Bay, Maine, and an Alexander Scammell

Bridge in Durham, New Hampshire. There is even a monument to Scammell at the

Burial Hill Cemetary in Plymouth, Massachusetts. However, his hometown of Milford,

Massachusetts, does no such honor to the man. In discussion with the Milford Historical

Society, the reason given is that at the time, people feel slighted that Scammell fought from New Hampshire and not from his native Massachusetts. This is a poor reason as to why a man of such esteem has no tribute paid in his honor. He is, and should be recognized, as an American hero, who gave his life for a higher cause.

Liberto 9

Works Cited

Coffin, Charles. The lives and services of Major General John Thomas, Colonel Thomas Knowlton, Colonel Alexander Scammell, Major General . New York: Egbert, Hovey & King, printers, 1845.

Crackel, Theodore J.The Papers of George Washington Digital Edition, ed. Charlottesville: University of Virginia Press, Rotunda, 2008.

Williams, W. Alex. "A Forgotten American Revolutionary War Hero "Alexander Scammell"."Empire Patriot. 5.4 (2003): 1, 4-7. Print.