The SAR MAGAZINE is the official quarterly publication of the National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution published quarterly.
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Arthur St. Clair An Unappreciated Patriot By R.W. "Dick" Phillips General Gates and friends with many senior British rthur St. Clair is officers." probably not the Few know that St. Clair first name people was the brigadier general who think of as one of helped Gen. George America's early heroes. Born Washington plan and lead the in Thurso, Caithness, three New Jersey victories that Scotland, in 1734, this former began with crossing the British Army captain and Delaware on Christmas night, commandant of the British 1776. Although these three forts in western Pennsylvania battles turned the tide of the had been retired 12 years, war against the British, it living with his wife and seven seems that only the oldest children in Bedford and the historians recall St. Clair's Ligonier Valley when the part in them. He is also little Revolutionary War broke out remembered for using most of in 1774. It was then, at 41, his personal funds to feed and that he saw how badly his clothe Washington's starving, countrymen were treating the freezing army a year later, at Colonists and took up his Valley Forge during the winter adopted country's cause for of 1777. St. Clair was never freedom. He spent most of reimbursed for his the next 30 years giving his contributions in the war. all to help America win its St. Clair's part in helping Ninth President of the United States in Congress Assembled freedom and build its Washington in New Jersey in Arthur St. Clair. democracy. December of '76 was Honest and courageous, significant, but he could not St. Clair believed in doing things for the right reasons. share in the credit. The reason was that Washington's This made some people nervous and earned him reputation as a commander and strategist was at its powerful enemies and negative consequences. But he lowest ebb. For after winning the siege of Boston, he lost would not be deterred. not only the critical battle of New York, but he also As Westmoreland County's largest landowner and fought retreating actions in the next eight battles in New officer of the court, St. Clair became one of the most Jersey, until the British finally bivouacked for the winter wealthy and influential men in western Pennsylvania of 1776. Unknown to them when they halted, Washington during his retirement. He spent many years as Gov. John had only 400 men. By December, things indeed were Penn's unofficial assistant, helping his fellow Scottish bleak—even his senior generals were seeking to have and Scotch-Irish settlers fight off the Indian invaders Congress and the War Department remove Washington being incited by the British in Virginia. Early in his from office. career as Westmoreland County magistrate, St. Clair Having sent Gen. John Sullivan to retrieve the troops showed courage in dealing with lawlessness when he had abandoned by Gen. Charles Lee's capture, Washington the Virginia governor's agents jailed for trying to take likely was elated to see St. Clair arrive from the north over Fort Pitt and the surrounding land that is now with 2,000 fresh troops he had recruited since August. To Pittsburgh, for the State of Virginia. have the unexpected support of St. Clair's strategic In 1775, Continental Congress President John Hancock planning was a bonus. So, although Washington's offered St. Clair a commission as colonel in the reputation needed every bit of the credit for the victories Continental Army. It was then that St. Clair made his at Trenton and Princeton, there is evidence that he very life-changing decision to take up the Colonies' quest for much appreciated St. Clair's help and showed it in other freedom. Frazer Wilson, in his 1944 book, Arthur St. Clair, ways. First, within weeks he promoted St. Clair to major Rugged Ruler of the Old Northwest, writes, "It is difficult to general over the protests of many brigadier generals with conceive the courage required for making this decision, more time in grade. He also gave St. Clair command of as St. Clair was friendly with King George, a cousin of Fort Ticonderoga in New York, a post many generals A 18 SAR MAGAZINE