Patrick Ferguson
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Patrick Ferguson (1744–1780), was a British Army officer, rifle-designer, and early advocate of light infantry.
Patrick Ferguson was born in Edinburgh, Scotland on May 25 (Old Style)/June 4 (New Style) 1744, the second son and fourth child of advocate James Ferguson of Pitfour (who was raised to the judges' bench as a Senator of the College of Justice, so known as Lord Pitfour after 1764) and his wife Anne Murray, a sister of the literary patron Patrick Murray, 5th Lord Elibank.
Through his parents, he knew a number of major figures in the Scottish Enlightenment, including philosopher and historian David Hume, on whose recommendation he read Samuel Richardson's novel Clarissa when he was fifteen, and the dramatist John Home. He had a large number of first cousins through his mother's family: these included William Johnstone Pulteney, Commodore George Johnstone, and Sir James Murray (later Murray-Pulteney).
He began his military career in his teens, encouraged by his uncle James Murray. He served briefly in the Holy Roman Empire with the Scots Greys during the Seven Years' War, until a leg ailment - probably tuberculosis in the knee - forced him to return home. After recovering, now in peace-time, he served with his regiment on garrison duty. In 1768, he purchased a command of a company in 70th Regiment of Foot, under the Colonelcy of his cousin Alexander Johnstone, and served with them in the West Indies until his lame leg again began to trouble him.
After returning home in 1772, he took part in Light infantry training, coming to the attention of General Howe, and developed the Ferguson rifle, a breech-loading flintlock weapon based on Chaumette's earlier system.Major Ferguson died in battle during the Battle of Kings Mountain in October of 1780. He was buried where he fell. Today a marker is on the spot of Fergusons grave placed by our government in the 1920's
[edit] Service in the American Revolution
In 1777, he went to serve in the American Revolutionary War with his experimental rifle corps. However, he was shot through the right elbow-joint at the Battle of Brandywine on September 11, 1777. For some months, he lived under threat of amputation, and also received news of his father's death. He eventually recovered, although his right arm was permanently crippled. He resumed his career in May 1778, under the command of Sir Henry Clinton. Ferguson in 1777 allegedly had the chance to shoot General Washington in the back on the battlefield, but he didn't.
In October 1778, he was sent to lead a raid to suppress privateers who had been seizing British ships and were based around the Little Egg Harbor River in what is known as the Battle of Chestnut Neck. Shortly after this raid, Ferguson was notified that a detachment of Count Kazimierz Pułaski troops was located nearby. Ferguson marched his troops to the site of the infantry outpost, which comprised fifty men a short distance from the main encampment. At first light, Ferguson ordered the bayonet charge; only five of his quarry were taken alive in what was called the Little Egg Harbor massacre. Pulaski eventually led his mounted troops, (Pulaski's Legion), up, causing Ferguson to retreat to his boats minus a few men that had fallen into the colonists' hands.
In 1780, Clinton appointed Major Ferguson as Inspector of Militia in South Carolina. He was killed at the Battle of Kings Mountain on October 7, 1780, while commanding Loyalist American troops. He is buried near the site of his fall. A lifelong bachelor, he is buried with one of his mistresses, 'Virginia Sal', who was also killed in the battle.
His personal correspondence reveals a man of intelligence, humour and charm. He also wrote several articles, satirical in tone, for publication in Rivington's Royal Gazette, under the pseudonyms 'Egg-Shell', 'Memento Mori' and 'John Bull'.
He was survived by his mother, his brothers James and George, and sisters Annie, Elizabeth (Betty) and Jean.
[edit] Sources
- Gilchrist, M M. Patrick Ferguson: "A Man of Some Genius", 2003, ISBN 1-901663-74-4
