Captain Hon. William Leslie (1751-77): His Life, Letters, and Commemoration

Gilchrist, M. (2005) Captain Hon. William Leslie (1751-77): His Life, Letters, and Commemoration. In: Chandler, D.G. (ed.) Military Miscellany II: Manuscripts from Marlborough's Wars, the American War of Independence and the Boer War. Series: Publications of the Army Records Society (23). Sutton Publishing: Stroud, pp. 133-196. ISBN 9780750940887

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Abstract

Hon. William Leslie was killed in action on 3 January 1777, in the battle of Princeton, New Jersey, aged only 25. His only significant legacy is a handful of letters in the Leven and Melville Papers, published here, with supporting documentation from the collection, by kind permission of the present Earl of Leven and Melville. William Leslie’s letters from America have attracted attention in the United States because of the circumstances of his burial. His body was unwittingly removed from the field by the enemy. He was buried by them in Pluckemin with full military honours, because a letter in his coat pocket revealed his family’s friendship with Dr. Benjamin Rush, a signatory of the American Declaration of Independence, and surgeon with the Continental Army.

Item Type:Book Sections
Keywords:William Leslie, Earls of Leven and Melville, Melville House, Edinburgh, Benjamin Rush, Black Watch, 17th Foot, battle of Princeton, battle of Long Island, American War of Independence, Ireland, Lord Balgonie, General Alexander Leslie, James Webster
Status:Published
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Gilchrist, Dr Marianne
Authors: Gilchrist, M.
Subjects:D History General and Old World > D History (General)
D History General and Old World > D History (General) > D204 Modern History
D History General and Old World > DA Great Britain
E History America > E151 United States (General)
College/School:College of Arts & Humanities > School of Critical Studies > English Literature
Publisher:Sutton Publishing
ISBN:9780750940887
Copyright Holders:The Army Records Society
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