| Lewis Nicola | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1717 Dublin, Ireland |
| Died | August 9, 1807 (aged 89–90) Alexandria, Virginia, US |
| Allegiance | Kingdom of Great Britain United States |
| Service/branch | British Army Continental Army |
| Years of service | 1740–1760 (UK) 1775–1798 (US) |
| Rank | Major (UK) Brigadier General (US) |
| Commands held | Invalid Corps |
| Battles/wars | Revolutionary War |
| Other work | American Society for Promoting Useful Knowledge Merchant Society of the Cincinnati |
| Signature | |
Lewis Nicola (1717 – August 9, 1807) was a British-American war officer who commanded the Invalid Corps during the American Revolutionary War and curator of the American Philosophical Society.
Born in Dublin, Ireland in 1717, Nicola's parents bought him a commission into the British Army in 1740. Twenty-six years later, he and his family moved to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Nicola opened his own library in 1767 and later was admitted to the American Society for Promoting Useful Knowledge. The next year he was a part of the committee who helped merged the American Society for Promoting Useful Knowledge and the American Philosophical Society together; as a result, Nicola was elected curator of it. His first publication, a periodical titled American Magazine, or General Repository, folded after nine issues in 1769.
In March 1777, Nicola proposed to the Continental Congress to construct the Invalid Corps—a group of soldiers not fit for combat but could still able to perform guard duties. The following month it was approved, and Nicola was made commander. Throughout the War, the Invalid Corps were stationed in various Philadelphia cities before traveling to West Point, New York. Upon arrival, the Corps had multiple issues. Nicola wrote the Newburgh letter, a letter to George Washington asking him to be a "king" instead of a president, in 1782. Washington responded negatively, however, the two's relationship later went back to normal.
Following the war, Nicola still continued to research for the American Philosophical Society. In 1791, he published a highly controversial pamphlet titled The Divinity of Jesus Christ Considered, From Scripture Evidences. It was about how Jesus Christ's divinity cannot be found in scripture. Six years later, Nicola moved back to Alexandria, Virginia to be with one of his daughters. Short of money, Nicola died on August 9, 1807 with $55 to his name.
Very little of known of Nicola's early years. He was born in 1717 in Dublin, Ireland to a British Army Officer.[1][2] His grandparents were Huguenot refugees.[1] His parents provided him with a strong educational background and bought him a commission in January 1740.[2] Later into that year, he married his first wife, Christiana Doyle, on September 19.[2] During the 1740s, Nicola was stationed in various Irish cities: Galway, Derry, Cork, among others.[2] He briefly was stationed in Flanders, Belgium in 1745 before he moved back to Charles Fort by Kinsale.[2]
Doyle passed away in August 1759, and Nicola married his second wife, Jane Bishop, on April 18, 1760.[3] Their family decided to moved Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and they arrived August 1766.[3] Upon the arrival Nicola started his own dry goods store.[4] This did not work, and he eventually opened a library in September 1767.[3] It started with nearly 200 to 300 volumes before expanding to over 1,000.[3][5] Throughout the next couple of years, the library was moved before settling to Spruce Street and re-naming it "General Circulating Library".[3]
With the help of his friend John Morgan, Nicola was admitted into the American Society for Promoting Useful Knowledge.[3] By the following year, he became a part of the committee to help a merger with the American Philosophical Society.[4] The merger was completed in November 1768, and Nicola was elected as one of the curators.[6] At the start of the next year, Nicola decided to quit the dry food business for good and focus more on writing, stating "[Magazines were] the taste of the age, and found to possess many conveniences, such as gratifying the curiosity of the public, and serving as a repository for many small, though valuable pieces that would otherwise be lost to the world."[7] He began editing his new periodical, the American Magazine, or General Repository, and the first issue was published in January 1769.[8] This magazine, devoted to science, poetry, British and American news, folded in December only after nine issues.[8] Nicola, however, continued to conduct research and write articles for the Society.[8]
Because of the high cost of living, Nicola and his family moved to different Pennsylvanian cities throughout the 1770s.[8] Once the American Revolutionary War broke out, he quickly realized that his skills were best needed back in Philadelphia.[4][9] In July 1775, Nicola was hired by the Pennsylvania Council of Safety to check the defenses of the American defenses surrounding the Delaware River.[10] Since that was the only military job offered, in January 1776, Nicola opened a shop to sell beer.[10] A bit later he opened up a school to help children in "reading, writing, arithmetic, common, fractional, and extraction of the Roots, book-keeping after the Italian method, and sundry branches of mathematical knowledge, particularly fortification."[11] This was short-lived, however, as the Pennsylvania Council of Safety gave him a job as a barracks master in February 20, 1776.[10] While attaining that position, Nicola composed and presented to The Council of Safety a "Plan of a Powder Magazine" and saw to the repair of the city jailhouse, for which he was reimbursed $226 by the Continental Congress.[10] On December 2, 1776, Nicola was made Town Major of Pennsylvania.[12]
In March 1777, Nicola proposed to the Continental Congress about the making of the Invalid Corps, a group of men who was not fitted for combat but were still able to perform guard duties.[1] In June, the Continental Congress accepted the proposal, making Nicola the commander of about 1,000 troops divided into eight companies of soldiers.[1] The Invalid Corps was stationed in Philadelphia for most part of the Revolutionary War, but they were forced to move once General William Howe advanced into the city in 1777.[13]
On September 25, 1777, the Invalid Corps made it to Fort Mifflin.[14] Because of sickness, lack of good water, and as an attempt to keep American prisoners low, Nicola was recommended to move the Corps to Trenton, New Jersey.[14] Upon arriving at Trenton, Nicola saw his first action. He saw "a large vessel in the river [near Bordentown] with a very valuable Cargo belonging to Congress which was in danger of falling into the enemies hands", so he took thirty men to claim the cargo.[14][15]
Following that, the Invalid Corps was moved to Allentown, Pennsylvania, as told by Richard Peters on September 29, 1777.[14] However, instead of Allentown, the Corps became stationed at Easton and Bethlehem, Pennsylvania to help out at hospitals and stores.[14] Like the rest of the Continental Army, the Invalid Corps suffered harshly from the winter of 1777 to 1778.[14] After a brief stay in the camp of Valley Forge in the spring of 1778, the Invalid Corps moved back to their original spot of Philadelphia, just after the British evacuated from it.[16][17]
The Invalid Corps was primarily stationed in Philadelphia and Boston for the next 3 years.[18] During this time, Nicola drew "Plan of the English Lines near Philadelphia", which showed the locations of important fortifications from the Delaware River to Schuylkill River as well as other locations of British Army things.[18] Following the drawing of "Plan", Nicola submitted two papers where he obtained information from the British to Congress: "A Scheme for a Partisan Corps" and "Judicious remarks on a proposed reformation in the Army".[18] Moreover, he strengthened his squad by recruiting soldiers around Philadelphia.[18]
On June 13, 1781, Nicola and the Invalid Corps was given the order by Congress to move to West Point, New York.[18] This, however, was different to accomplish. On June 26, Nicola wrote a letter to George Washington that the Corps would not move until a replacement unit could take over for them.[19] Another reason hindering the move was pay; the Corps did not receive a payment for nearly ten months.[19] A compromise was later reached between Nicola and the Board of War that six months pay would be given to the Invalid Corps.[19] After their leave to Pennsylvania, John David Woelper, a captain of the Invalid Corps, sent a letter to Washington on July 20, 1781 claiming Nicola was depriving the Corps—first in 1778 followed by 1781.[19] In the note, Woelper asked for Nicola to be arrested.[20] Nicola sent letters about the situation to Washington wanted to have it settled as soon as the Corps arrived at West Point.[20] Washington, who did not show any favoritism to any troop and sent both series of letters to General Alexander McDougall and asked the court in West Point to settle the matter.[20]
Upon the arrival of the Invalid Corps at West Point, the charges were dropped, and Nicola was cleared of all charges.[20] On August 4, 1781, Nicola complained to George Washington that the Corps would have great difficult during the winter time.[20] Two months later on September 19, Nicola complained to General Horatio Gates about McDougall's lack of respect to the Corps.[21] Eventually, Nicola proposed to Washington that the Invalid Corps should move back to Philadelphia; however, for various reason, Washington denied it.[22]
During the Corps' tenure at West Point, Nicola faced many challenges. Firstly, his troops did not act the way he wanted. In October 1777, Nicola sent out an arrest for Sergeant Major Jonathan Guy for giving clothes of the Continental Army to the British.[22] The other example was in April 1778; Nicola stopped robberies done by members of the Corps in Easton.[22] Secondly, Nicola was unable to disciple the Corps due to the fact that he faced difficulties have high-ranked officers.[22] In a letter to Washington, Nicola wrote that without men, he was unable to "keep the men under proper discipline".[22] During court trials, Nicola had to hire men from other units as the jury.[23][24] The third problem was the lack of enlisted men for the Corps.[22]
The final problem was the poor financial situation that Nicola was in.[25] In a letter to the Pennsylvania Supreme Executive Council dated April 7, 1779, Nicola asked for a pay raise, saying his current pay was unable to purchase food or even clothes.[25] Some members of the Invalid Corps claimed they were unable to provide for themselves.[26] On February 5, 1782, the Pennsylvania Supreme Executive Council fired Nicola from the Town Major; their reasoning was no such duty was needed at the time.[27] Struggling for money, Nicola begged Robert Morris, the Continental superintendent of finance, the same month for the money that the Congress did not pay the Corps. Even that, however, failed to give the Invalid Corp their money.[28]
On May 22, 1782, Nicola wrote under the name of the now famous letter from George Washington Newburgh letter, named after his then army quarters in Newburgh, New York. In the first part of his letter is one of Nicola's financial hardships, not only for Nicola but also for many other soldiers of the Continental Army. Most of the Army were waiting months—some even years—for their pay from Congress. The reason for this is in the Articles of Confederation, which allowed the Continental Congress to set up an army in time of war, but were not obligated to levy taxes. The right to collect taxes was reserved for the respective state—most of whom were unable to pay the high cost of an army. From his perspective, Nicolas manifested itself in this situation, the weakness of republics, from which he concluded, "When the benefits of a mixed government are pointed out and duly considered, will be examined readily adopted [...]".[29]
Alluding to the person on Nicola wrote Washington, it is well recognized that "The same abilities which have lead us, through difficulties apparently insurmountable by human power, to victory and glory, those qualities that have merited and universal esteem and veneration Obtained the of an army, would be most likely to conduct and direct us in the smoother paths of peace.[29]
Another part of the letter was Nicola asked Washington to be a king instead of president. Since the two terms "tyranny" and "monarchy" were in the minds of many people so close to each subject, initially had a different term for the head to find the newly formed State. "[...] But if all other things were once adjusted I believe strong argument might be produced for admitting the title of king, Which I conceive would be attended with some material advantages.[29]
Washington knew well the fears of those who feared that he might have risen to some "American Cromwell". In his reply dated the same day he gave Nicola a decidedly clear answer, Washington said, "No incident in the course of the war in me triggers painful feelings as your message, that such ideas are circulating in the army, as you expressed it".[30] He could not grasp, so Washington continued, "what part of my conduct could have given rise to a petition which strikes me as the greatest calamity that can befall my country"[30] and "They could find no one to whom their. Plans are disgusting"[30] The raid on the file copy of his reply to Nicola Washington was by two of his aides-de-camp, David Humphreys and Jonathan Trumbull, certified as an exact copy—a rare precautionary measure.[30]
Nicola responded contritely to the harsh rejection of his commander in chief. On May 23 he replied to Washington, saying "[I am] extremely unhappy that the liberty I have taken should be so highly disagreeable to your Excellency [...] nothing has ever affected me so much as your reproof."[30] In further, he asked Washington to evaluate every mistake that he was done.[31] Washington's answer to this and two other letters—May 24 and 28, 1782—of apology Nicolas are not known. However, Nicola and Washington were back in their relationship to each other again soon to normalcy.[32]
In December 1782, Nicola complained to Washington about the fact that General Benjamin Lincoln, the resolution of the Invalid Corps had recommended, as it is in poor condition and more costs than benefits.[32] Nicola argued against it, except for combat operations and long marches, no other regiment has done more service.[32] Against the recommendation of Washington, the resolution of the Invalid Corps in May 1783 was ordered by the Continental Congress.[33] Between June and August, Nicola was back on the road to Philadelphia.[33] There he was two months after the official conclusion of peace by the Treaty of Paris (1783) as a commissioner for the settlement of all matters concerning him set his regiment. On November 27, 1793 he was elevated to the rank of brigadier general.[33] Beginning in June 1784, Congress made him finally for a period of four and a half months to draw up the certificates for members of his former regiment.[33]
In the mid 1780s, Nicola was unsuccessful in bringing a stagecoach connection between Philadelphia and Reading, Pennsylvania.[34] Then, he planned to temporarily operate a guest house.[34] For financial reasons, he became management of the workhouse in Philadelphia in December 1788.[34] In 1793, Nicola became inspector of the Philadelphia city militia brigade—where he filled until August 1798.[35] During the Whiskey Rebellion (1794), he finally returned to his former position back as barrack master and commander of the city of Philadelphia.[35]
During this time, Nicola was still affiliated with the American Philosophical Society: he served multiple terms as curator and continued with his research.[35] In 1791, he wrote a controversial pamphlet entitled, The Divinity of Jesus Christ Considered, From Scripture Evidences. This pamphlet, concluded that Christ's divinity cannot be found in scripture.[35] After thinking of several ways to publish it—because of it being highly controversial—he decided to publish it under his own name.[35]
Lewis Nicola's second wife passed away in 1797, and he retired the year after.[36] He moved to Alexandria, Virginia to be closer to his daughter. Nicola passed away on August 8, 1807.[36] Earlier in that year, because of financial troubles, he added "any deficiency I presume the Cincinnati society will make good" to his will.[37] At the time of his death, Nicola had $55—$822.25 today—to his name.[36]