Roger Townshend, fifth son of Charles Viscount Townshend, and
younger brother of Gen’l George Townshend (afterwards 4th Viscount
and 1st Marquis) to whom Quebec surrendered when Wolfe was killed,
was commissioned Lieutenant-Colonel 1st Feb., 1758, and served as
Adjutant-General in the Expedition against Louisbourg, and Deputy
Adjutant-General in this Campaign with Rank of Colonel. He was
killed in the Trenches before Ticonderoga by a cannon ball on the
25th July, 1759, and his remains were transmitted to Albany for
interment. His spirit and military knowledge justly entitled him to
the esteem of every soldier; and accordingly the loss of him was
universally lamented.
Knox I, 360, 289, 401, 403.
Wilson’s Orderly Book, page 77.
_Supplement to the New York Mercury, Tuesday, July 31, 1759._
Extract from a letter dated Albany, July 29, 1759.
“The same evening (July 27), an Express arrived from Ticonderoga,
with an account of Colonel Townshend being killed, in
reconnoitering the Fort, by a cannon ball.
* * * * *
Yesterday about 12 o’clock, Colonel Townshend’s corpse arrived
here, and was decently interred.”
In the “Church Book” St. Peter’s, Albany, appears the following
entry:
1759 July 30 To cash received for braking ground in the
church to lay the body of Coll. Townson £5/0/0
To cash ret for Paull 9
_The following is a copy of the inscription on the monument to Col.
Townshend in Westminster Abbey_
“This Monument was erected
By a disconsolate Parent
The Lady Viscountess Townshend
To the Memory of her Fifth Son
The Hon’ble Lieut. Colonel Roger Townshend
who was killed by a Cannon Ball
on the 25th of July, 1759, in the 28th year of his age
as he was reconnoitering ye French lines at Ticonderoga
In North America
From the Parent the Brother and the Friend
His sociable and amiable manners
His enterprizing Bravery
And the Integrity of His Heart
May claim the tribute of affliction
Yet Stranger weep not
For tho’ premature His Death
His life was glorious
Enrolling Him with the names
of those Immortal Statesmen and Commanders
Whose wisdom and Intrepidity
In the course of this Comprehensive and Successful War
Have Extended the Commerce
And upheld the Majesty of these Kingdoms
Beyond the idea of any former age.”
[Illustration: Monument to Lieut. Colonel Roger Townshend in
Westminster Abbey (The Bayonet on Monument found on battlefield of
Ticonderoga and placed on memorial by Dean Stanley)]
_The following is an extract from a letter from the head verger of
Westminster Abbey_
“I should like to draw your attention to the broken bayonet in
the upper part of the Townshend monument. It is a relic of the
struggle between the French and English in North America and it
comes from Ticonderoga and may have been used in that particular
‘march to Ticonderoga, where Col. Townshend was killed.’ It was
given to Dean Stanley when in America and he fixed it on the
monument as he did the wreath of leaves on the monument of Major
Andre.
Lord Eversley, who when H. M. first Commissioner of Works was
the Rt. Hon. J. G. Shaw Lefevre--is much struck by the Townshend
inscription, especially the latter part, which, he has told me,
is worthy of Edmund Burke and which I know he would like to
attribute to that great orator and statesman.”
O