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A Veteran of
1812:
The life of
James
FitzGibbon
By Mary Agnes FitzGibbon
First published in 1894 by William Briggs
(Toronto)
Republished in 2000 by Prospero Books
(Toronto)
ISBN: 1-55267-137-2
This is a fascinating account of the life of
Lieutanant James FitzGibbon, a British
officer who earned fame during the War
of 1812, written by his grandaughter. It
includes selections of his own writing, as
well as others of his time, including Brock.
From the book's jacket:
A colourful character, earling in the
fighting, FitzGibbon disguised himself as a
butter vendor in order to enter and move
throughout an American camp. It was the
1812:
The life of
James
FitzGibbon
By Mary Agnes FitzGibbon
First published in 1894 by William Briggs
(Toronto)
Republished in 2000 by Prospero Books
(Toronto)
ISBN: 1-55267-137-2
This is a fascinating account of the life of
Lieutanant James FitzGibbon, a British
officer who earned fame during the War
of 1812, written by his grandaughter. It
includes selections of his own writing, as
well as others of his time, including Brock.
From the book's jacket:
A colourful character, earling in the
fighting, FitzGibbon disguised himself as a
butter vendor in order to enter and move
throughout an American camp. It was the
lieutenant who, in 1813, received news from Laura Secord of an
impending surprise attack at Beaver Dams. And it was FitzGibbon who,
despite being vastly outnumbered, obtained an American surrender two
days later.
FitzGibbon's success within the military was due in part to Sir Isaac
Brock, who recognized the achievements gained through the lieutenant's
occasionnaly unorthodox methods.
After the war, FitzGibbon was twice promoted and helped suppress the
Rebellion of 1837. He spent his final years in England, where he was
made a military knight of Windsor, before dying in 1863.
Excerpt
Brock's "Favorite Sergeant-Major"
In June, the 49th was sent to Quebec. FitzGibbon, in order to take
advantage of the long voyage and comparative release from duty, to
study, provided himself with books upon military tactics and field
exercises. Lying in the boat which hung over the stern of the vessel, he
made himself master of every detail contained in the "Rules and
Regulations for the Field Exercises of His Majesty's Forces."
Such unusual application was not unnoticed by the colonel, whose
attention had been already so favorably drawn to the young sergeant,
and upon arrival in Quebec the sergeant-major was promoted to be
quartermaster-sergeant, and the sergeant-major's sash given to
FitzGibbon, over the heads of the forty older sergeants in the regiment.
In September, 1803, Lieutenant Lewis resigned the adjutancy but not the
lieutenancy and though Colonel Brock recommended FitzGibbon for the
vacant adjutancy, there was no available lieutenancy for over two years,
and he could only act as adjutant until 1806, when Colonel Brock
obtained an ensign's commission for his "favorite sergeant-major," as
FitzGibbon was known in the regiment, from the Duke of York, who had
not forgotten the lad and his romantic application for his protection, and
in December of the same year he succeeded to the adjutancy.
In September, 1802, his company was sent to Montreal, and in the
following summer moved on to York.
During these first years in Canada, there are many stories told of the
sergeant-major. Desertions from the regiments stationed in Canada to
the United States were frequent, but it is recorded of Colonel Brock that
he only lost one man during the three years of his personal command.
He owed this to his popularity and personal influence with his men, and to
the vigilance of his sergeant-major.
impending surprise attack at Beaver Dams. And it was FitzGibbon who,
despite being vastly outnumbered, obtained an American surrender two
days later.
FitzGibbon's success within the military was due in part to Sir Isaac
Brock, who recognized the achievements gained through the lieutenant's
occasionnaly unorthodox methods.
After the war, FitzGibbon was twice promoted and helped suppress the
Rebellion of 1837. He spent his final years in England, where he was
made a military knight of Windsor, before dying in 1863.
Excerpt
Brock's "Favorite Sergeant-Major"
In June, the 49th was sent to Quebec. FitzGibbon, in order to take
advantage of the long voyage and comparative release from duty, to
study, provided himself with books upon military tactics and field
exercises. Lying in the boat which hung over the stern of the vessel, he
made himself master of every detail contained in the "Rules and
Regulations for the Field Exercises of His Majesty's Forces."
Such unusual application was not unnoticed by the colonel, whose
attention had been already so favorably drawn to the young sergeant,
and upon arrival in Quebec the sergeant-major was promoted to be
quartermaster-sergeant, and the sergeant-major's sash given to
FitzGibbon, over the heads of the forty older sergeants in the regiment.
In September, 1803, Lieutenant Lewis resigned the adjutancy but not the
lieutenancy and though Colonel Brock recommended FitzGibbon for the
vacant adjutancy, there was no available lieutenancy for over two years,
and he could only act as adjutant until 1806, when Colonel Brock
obtained an ensign's commission for his "favorite sergeant-major," as
FitzGibbon was known in the regiment, from the Duke of York, who had
not forgotten the lad and his romantic application for his protection, and
in December of the same year he succeeded to the adjutancy.
In September, 1802, his company was sent to Montreal, and in the
following summer moved on to York.
During these first years in Canada, there are many stories told of the
sergeant-major. Desertions from the regiments stationed in Canada to
the United States were frequent, but it is recorded of Colonel Brock that
he only lost one man during the three years of his personal command.
He owed this to his popularity and personal influence with his men, and to
the vigilance of his sergeant-major.