_(From a Portrait in the Music Class-room of Edinburgh
University)_]
_John Small._
John Small was the third son of Patrick Small, who married
Magdalen Robertson, sister of Alexander Robertson, the father of
General John Reid. Reid and Small were thus not only neighbors and
brother-officers, but first cousins, and were evidently on terms
of close friendship. Born in Strathardle, Atholl, Scotland, in
1730, Small, like many of his countrymen of that date, began his
military career with the Scots Brigade in Holland, being appointed
a 2nd lieutenant in the Earl of Drumlanrig’s Regiment when it was
raised for service of the States-General in 1747. How long he
remained abroad is unknown but it is probable that he returned to
England when the regiment was reduced in 1752. He did not, however,
obtain a commission in the British army until four years later,
when he was appointed lieutenant in the 42nd, just prior to its
departure for America. So far as is known, Small took part in all
the campaigns in which his regiment was engaged from 1756 to 1763.
He fought at Ticonderoga in 1758, served with General Amherst’s
successful expedition to Lake Champlain in the following year, and
took part in the operations which completed the conquest of Canada
in 1760. After the surrender of Montreal he was sent in charge of
French prisoners to New York, and we learn from a brother officer
that General Amherst had great confidence in him, and frequently
employed him “on particular services.” Two years later he served in
the capture of Martinique and Havana and obtained his promotion as
captain.
At the peace of 1763 Small was placed on half-pay, but, according
to General Stewart, he was almost immediately put on the full-pay
list of the North British Fusiliers (21st) and when in 1767 the
Black Watch left for Europe, most of the men of that regiment who
had volunteered to stay in America joined the Fusiliers in order to
serve under Small, who was “deservedly popular” with them. Small,
however, cannot have served long with the 21st, for in the same
year in which the Black Watch left America he was appointed “major
of brigade” to the forces in North America. It was probably during
the interval between the Seven Years’ War and the war with the
Americans that he began to acquire the property in Nova Scotia,
part of which he afterwards bequeathed to his cousin, John Reid.
We have some indication that during this period he interested
himself in local politics and formed the friendship of at least one
American which was of value to him later.
Small served throughout the War of Independence though but rare
glimpses are obtained of him. He was present as a brigade-major
at the battle of Bunker Hill, June 17, 1777, and in the course of
that day his life was saved by the American General Putnam, who,
seeing Small standing alone at a time when all around him had
fallen, struck up the barrels of his men’s muskets to save his
life. Shortly after this, Small raised the 2nd battalion of the
Royal Highland Regiment and was appointed major-commandant. In 1778
the regiment was numbered the 84th and in 1780 he was promoted
to lieutenant-colonel-commandant of his battalion. He is said to
have joined Sir Henry Clinton at New York in 1779, but it is more
probable that he was stationed for the most part in Nova Scotia. In
March, 1783, Small and his battalion were at Fort Edward, New York,
and in the following autumn the battalion was disbanded at Windsor,
Nova Scotia, where many of the men settled and formed the present
town of Douglas.
Small, once more on half-pay, returned home and in 1790 was
promoted colonel and three years later was appointed lieutenant
governor of Guernsey. In October, 1794, he became major-general and
on the 17th of March, 1796, he died in Guernsey and was buried in
the church of St. Peter Port.
General Stewart of Garth wrote of General John Small that “No
chief of former days ever more fairly secured the attachment
of his clan, and no chief, certainly, ever deserved it better.
With an enthusiastic and almost romantic love for his country
and countrymen, it seemed as if the principal object of his life
had been to serve them, and promote prosperity. Equally brave in
leading them in the field, and kind, just, and conciliating in
quarters, they would have indeed been ungrateful if they regarded
him otherwise than as they did. There was not an instance of
desertion in his battalion.”
Stewart II, 143. Military Hist. of Perthshire, pp. 396-399.
_James Stewart of Urrard._
James Stewart of Urrard, obtained a company in the 42nd, July 18th,
1757. He was wounded at Ticonderoga, 1758. He sold out after the
peace.
Stewart I, 306, 359. N. Y. Col. MSS., p. 729, Vol. 10.
_Thomas Stirling._
Thomas Stirling, second son of Sir Henry Stirling, of Ardoch, was
born October 8, 1731. He began his military career in the Dutch
service, being given a commission as ensign in the 1st Battalion
of Col. Marjoribanks’ Regiment on the 30th of September, 1747,
and was probably placed on half-pay when the establishment of the
Scots Brigade was reduced in 1752. On the 24th of July, 1757,
having been nominated by James, Duke of Atholl, and having raised
the requisite number of men, he was gazetted captain of one of
the three companies added to the 42nd in that year. In November,
1757, he sailed for America, where he served with his regiment in
the campaigns of the ensuing years, though he was not present at
the first attack on Ticonderoga, owing to the fact that the new
companies had been left behind to garrison Fort Edward. He took
part in the capture of Martinique in 1762 and was wounded but was
able to serve in the capture of Havana later in that year. He
returned with his regiment to America and in August, 1765, was sent
in command of a company to take possession of Fort de Chartes on
the Mississippi. After holding this fort that winter and spring,
he returned with his detachment to the regiment in June, 1766. The
following year the 42nd left America and for upwards of eight years
was quartered in Ireland, after which it was for a short time in
Scotland. In 1770 Stirling was gazetted major of the regiment, and
1771 lieutenant-Colonel-commandant. Hostilities broke out with the
Americans in 1775, and, Stirling, having in five months raised the
strength of his regiment from 350 men to 1,200, returned with it in
the following spring to America, where he commanded it continuously
for three years during the war. He took part in the engagement
at Brooklyn, the attack on Fort Washington, the expedition to
Pennsylvania, battle of Monmouth, and others. During 1778-9 he
was stationed at or near New York. In June, 1779, he accompanied
a force under General Mathews through New Jersey in an attempt to
rally the supposed loyalists of that state. This was unsuccessful
and ended in the destruction of the town of Springfield. General
Stirling was so severely wounded while leading the attack that he
could take no further part in the war. His thigh was broken and
fearing to be rendered incapable of further service he refused
to have it amputated. He recovered and was invalided home but he
does not appear after this to have been ever again fit for active
duty. In 1782 he was promoted major-general and appointed colonel
of the 71st Foot, but his regiment was disbanded the following
year. His services were rewarded with a baronetcy and in 1790,
he became colonel of the 41st Regiment. In 1796 he was promoted
lieutenant-general, and in 1799 he succeeded his brother in the
baronetcy of Ardock. He attained the rank of general in 1801 and
died unmarried on the 9th of May, 1808.
_Kenneth Tolmie._
Kenneth Tolmie was commissioned a lieutenant in the 42nd
Highlanders, 23rd January, 1756, and promoted to the Command of a
Company 27th July, 1760. His name is dropped after the Peace of
1763.
Wilson’s Orderly Book, p. 166.
_Alexander Turnbull._
Alexander Turnbull of Stracathro, appointed ensign, June 3, 1752;
lieutenant, Sept. 27, 1756; captain, Aug. 14, 1762. After 11 years
of service, he went on half-pay in 1763; full pay of the 32nd Foot.
He died in 1804 with rank of major.
Stewart of Garth, Appendix.
K