James Grant

Overview

James Grant was an officer in the British Royal Army and a politician. He is known for his service in the French and Indian War, the American Revolutionary War, and his political career. Initially a law student, he rose through the ranks of the army, serving in North America and the West Indies. In 1761, he led British forces in a campaign against the Cherokee, which ended the Anglo-Cherokee War. He remained in North America and served as the Governor of East Florida before returning to England. During the American Revolutionary War, he commanded British troops in major battles and campaigns.

Personal Facts

• Born: 1720 in Ballindalloch, Scotland.
• Died: April 13, 1806 in in Ballindalloch, Scotland. He was 85 or 86.
• Part Of: French and Indian War, American Revolutionary War.
• Significance: James Grant is important to American History for his leadership of British forces during the Cherokee Campaign (1761), the New York Campaign (1776), the New Jersey Campaign (1776–1777), and the Philadelphia Campaign (1777–1778).

Biography

Early Life and Military Service

• James Grant was born in 1720 and was raised in Ballindalloch, Scotland.
• and studied law before joining the British Army.
• He obtained a commission as an Ensign in the First Royal Scots Regiment in September 1741 and was promoted to Second Lieutenant in May 1742, under the command of James St. Clair.
• Grant was sent to Flanders in June 1744 and fought in the Battle of Fontenoy (May 11, 1745) in Belgium.

French and Indian War

In 1757, Grant was a Major in Archibald Montgomery’s Highlanders Regiment and came to America. The following year, 1758, he was involved in the Forbes Expedition to Fort Duquesne in Pennsylvania.

• Grant led an expedition of 800 men on a mission to scout French forces at the fort in mid-September.
• He attempted to ambush French forces, but his inexperience in wilderness warfare led to confusion and disorganization.
• He ended up leading an attack on some of his own men.
• Grant was captured by the French and sent to Montreal.
• He was released from captivity through a prisoner exchange in late 1759.
• Grant returned to the army and was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel in the 40th Regiment of Foot. He was second-in-command to Colonel Montgomery.

AHC Notes

• Forbes Expedition (1758) — A major British campaign during the French and Indian War that aimed to capture Fort Duquesne and remove French influence from the Ohio Country. Led by General John Forbes, the expedition blazed the Forbes Road while relying on a mix of disciplined regular troops and colonial soldiers. The French abandoned and destroyed the fort in November 1758, allowing the British to take control of the site, where they built Fort Pitt.

Anglo-Cherokee War

As the French and Indian War proceeded, the Cherokee allied with Virginia and helped fight the French and their Native American Indian allies. 

• Following the Forbes Expedition, a group of Cherokee warriors was passing through Virginia when they stole some horses and food. 
• Virginia frontiersmen retaliated by killing some of them.
• This led to the outbreak of hostilities between the Cherokee and British settlers, known as the Anglo-Cherokee War.
• The Cherokee attacked settlements and laid siege to several forts on the western frontier.

In the summer of 1760, General Jeffery Amherst sent Montgomery and 1,600 men, including Grant, to carry out attacks against the Cherokee and restore order.

• Montgomery relieved the garrison at Fort Prince George and then burned the Cherokee towns of Keowee and Estatoe.
• Afterward, he marched toward the Cherokee towns in western North Carolina, intending to relieve the garrison at Fort Loudoun.
• Cherokee warriors ambushed the expedition in June.
• He continued to Etchoe, burned the town, and abandoned his mission to Fort Loudoun.
• Montgomery led his troops to Fort Prince George before finally making his way back to Charleston.

Hostilities continued, and Fort Loudoun was forced to surrender to the Cherokee. Although the survivors were promised safe passage, they were attacked. Some were killed, while others were held as hostages.

AHC Notes

• Jeffery Amherst (1717–1797) — Amherst was a prominent British officer during the French and Indian War. He is most famous for leading British forces to victory over New France, which helped Great Britain gain dominance in Colonial America.

In early 1761, South Carolina sent a large supply of non-military goods to Fort Prince George. These goods were traded for the captives. Despite the negotiations, South Carolina was preparing to send another large military expedition against the Cherokee. Command of this expedition, which included 2,400 men, was given to Grant, and he was promoted to the rank of Colonel on February 25, 1762.

• The Cherokee, led by Little Carpenter, requested peace.
• Grant declined, intending to punish the Cherokee for abandoning their alliance with the British.
• He marched west to attack Cherokee towns.

In May 1761, Cherokee warriors tried to ambush Grant’s expedition two miles south of where they had attacked Montgomery at the Battle of Etchoe.

• Grant’s advance scouts discovered the ambush, leading to nearly six hours of fighting.
• The Cherokees ran out of ammunition and retreated.
• Grant’s expedition destroyed 15 towns and 15,000 acres of crops, forcing roughly 5,000 people to flee into the mountains for safety. Sadly, many of them starved due to a lack of food.

AHC Notes

• Christopher Gadsden, Francis Marion, William Moultrie, Andrew Pickens, and James Adair were part of Grant’s expedition.
• Marion condemned the destruction of villages and crops.

Treaty of Charleston

Grant returned to Fort Prince George in early June 1761 and notified the Cherokee that he was ready to negotiate a peace treaty. A preliminary treaty was signed between the Province of South Carolina and the Cherokee Nation on September 23. The final treaty was signed on December 18, marking the end of the Anglo-Cherokee War. The terms of the treaty stipulated:

• Both sides agreed to exchange captives. 
• Little Carpenter was recognized as the Emperor of the Cherokee.
• The Cherokee agreed to expel the French from their territory.
• A boundary line was established that separated Cherokee territory from South Carolina. 
• The Cherokee ceded territory to South Carolina, which included much of their hunting grounds.

AHC Notes

• Attakullakulla (c. 1712–c. 1785) (Little Carpenter) — Also known as “Little Carpenter,” he was a leading Cherokee peace chief during the mid-1700s who supported British alliances in the French and Indian War and worked to prevent violence during the Cherokee War. He played a key role in negotiating peace in 1761 and 1763, and later helped secure the Treaty at Long Island on the Holston (1777). His influence declined as some Cherokees, including his son Dragging Canoe, continued to resist westward expansion.

Siege of Havana

Grant participated in the 1762 siege of Havana, Cuba, and served briefly as Lieutenant Governor there.

Governor of East Florida

In early 1763, Grant returned to England and later became the Governor of East Florida. He returned to England in 1771 due to illness.

AHC Notes

• Spain ceded Florida to Britain in accordance with the Treaty of Paris (1763).
• The Proclamation of 1763 established three new British Colonies in North America: Quebec, East Florida, and West Florida.

Return to Scotland

Grant inherited the family estate in Scotland, Ballindalloch, in 1770. He went from England to Scotland, arriving there on May 9, 1771, to take possession of the family estate.

• Grant lived between his Ballindalloch estate and a townhouse in London.
• In April 1773, he was elected to the House of Commons.

American Revolutionary War

• Grant supported the government of Prime Minister Frederick North (Lord North).
• He held Americans in poor regard and opposed their resistance to British authority. 
• Grant proposed coercive policies, including a naval blockade of the colonies, as a form of punishment.
• As tensions increased and hostilities loomed with the colonies, Grant was promoted to Brigadier General in March 1775.

AHC Notes

• Frederick North (1732–1792) —  The 2nd Earl of Guilford. Lord North served as British Prime Minister (1770–1782) for most of the American Revolutionary War. He supported measures like the Intolerable Acts, which intensified colonial resistance.

Grant’s Legendary Claim

• According to William Alexander (Lord Stirling), on February 2, 1775, Grant insulted Americans during a speech in Parliament, proclaiming that he could restore order and march from one end of America to the other with only 5,000 soldiers.
• Alexander is believed to be the only source for Grant’s claim.

AHC Notes

• William Alexander (1726–1783) — Alexander was a Major General in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War. He rose to prominence for his brave defense of the American retreat at the Battle of Long Island and helped expose the Conway Cabal. He referred to himself as the Right Honorable William, Earl of Stirling, or Lord Stirling, because he believed he was the rightful heir to the title.

Siege of Boston

• Grant joined the British Army in Boston on July 30, 1775, six weeks after the Battle of Bunker Hill.
• He favored aggressive military action, but General William Howe, the commander-in-chief of British forces, disagreed.
• On December 11, 1775, he became Colonel of the 55th Regiment of Foot and was promoted to the rank of Major General two days later.
• In March 1776, Grant led an expedition to Georgia to acquire provisions. This led to the Battle of the Rice Boats (March 2–3, 1776). Although Grant’s forces were able to seize some rice boats, they were driven away by American forces.

AHC Notes

• Battle of Bunker Hill (June 17, 1775) — British forces launched a ground attack on American forces, who had taken positions on Breed’s Hill, overlooking Boston Harbor. After two failed assaults, the British overwhelmed the Americans and drove them from the hill. Although the Americans lost the battle, they famously held their own and inflicted heavy casualties on the British before retreating.
• William Howe (1729–1814) — Howe succeeded Thomas Gage as commander-in-chief of British forces in North America in 1775. He held overall command of forces during the New York Campaign, the New Jersey Campaign, and most of the Philadelphia Campaign, before being replaced by General Henry Clinton. Although he captured Philadelphia in 1777, his cautious strategy and failure to coordinate with General John Burgoyne during the Saratoga Campaign contributed to the survival of General George Washington’s Army and the American war effort.

New York Campaign

After the Siege of Boston ended, British forces sailed to Halifax, Nova Scotia, where they regrouped and prepared to attack New York City, which was being fortified by American forces. Grant was involved with the Battle of Long Island and the Battle of Fort Washington.

During July and August, the British fleet, under the command of Admiral Richard Howe, transported around 32,000 British and Hessian regulars to Staten Island. Then, from August 22 to 25, around 20,000 of those troops were transported across the bay to Long Island, where they prepared to assault a portion of General George Washington’s Army, which was located on the northwest portion of the island, around Brooklyn Heights.

On the night of August 26, Howe marched out of his camp with a column that moved through Jamaica Pass overnight. Meanwhile, two more columns of British forces moved toward the American line:

• Grant commanded the left wing of Howe’s Army, led 5,000 men, and moved in front of the Americans on the right of their line, near Gowanus Bay.
• General Leopold Philip de Heister led 6,000 Hessian troops in front of the Americans near the center of their line, along Flatbush Pass and Bedford Pass.

Grant and de Heister were to attack the Americans in front to distract them. This would allow Howe to march through Jamaica Pass, move behind them, and strike a decisive blow.

• At 9:00 a.m., Howe fired two cannons, signaling Grant and de Heister to attack.
• De Heister attacked right away, while Grant organized his men and waited for reinforcements.

American forces, led by General William Alexander, deployed in front of Grant’s forces and prepared for battle. Alexander and Grant fired on each other with artillery and muskets, but Grant did not launch a full-scale assault.

• The Americans were pushed back to Brooklyn Heights, where they took refuge in their defensive works.
• Howe decided to start siege operations instead of launching a full-scale assault on the Americans.

The weather and General Howe’s hesitation gave Washington the time he needed to organize a nighttime evacuation of troops and supplies from Long Island to Manhattan Island on the evening of August 29, 1776. 

• Under the cover of thick fog, 10,000 Americans were transported in boats piloted by Colonel John Glover and his “Marblehead Men” across the East River.
• They kept fires burning overnight to make the British think they were preparing for battle.

After the Americans escaped, hostilities paused for two weeks. The British occupied Long Island while the Americans prepared to defend New York City. On September 13, Howe landed troops on Manhattan Island and slowly pushed Washington northward to White Plains and then North Castle. 

Fort Washington was the last American position on Manhattan Island. British forces attacked from three directions on November 16, took the fort, and captured 3,000 Continental soldiers along with artillery and supplies. With New York City and Manhattan Island under the control of British forces, the New York Campaign came to an end, and the New Jersey Campaign was underway.

New Jersey Campaign

Starting on November 20, 1776, Washington retreated southwest, across New Jersey, finally crossing the Delaware River into Pennsylvania on December 8. British forces pursued him the entire time.

When the pursuit ended, Howe set up a line of outposts throughout New Jersey, with 14,000 British and Hessian troops. This line ran along the Delaware River, from Bordentown in the east to Trenton in the west. From Trenton, it went northeast to Princeton and then up to Brunswick. The entire line was approximately 100 miles long, with a section between Trenton and Burlington that was approximately 16 miles long.

• Howe placed Grant in command of the forces in New Jersey.
• Grant established his headquarters at Princeton.

On December 24th, a Loyalist informed Grant that the Americans had held a Council of War and were planning an attack. Grant sent a message to Johann Rall, the commanding officer at Trenton, and told him to be on his guard. However, Grant did not think Washington was in a condition to launch a large-scale attack.

Over the night of December 25–26, Washington crossed the Delaware River, launched a surprise attack on Trenton, and captured the garrison.

• This was Washington’s first significant victory in the war.
• It is widely recognized as being a major turning point of the war.

Washington led his army back into Pennsylvania, regrouped, and planned to launch another daring attack, this time, on Princeton.

• On December 30, Washington crossed the Delaware River and occupied Trenton.
• General Charles Cornwallis gathered troops at Princeton and marched toward Trenton. 
• Washington and his men took defensive positions along Assunpink Creek.
• The British attacked, but failed to cross.
• Both armies settled in for the night.

Washington and his officers met and devised a plan to deceive Cornwallis, march around his army, and continue on to Princeton.

• Around 1:00 a.m. on January 3, Washington and most of his men moved out.
• 400-500 remained in the camp to make noise and keep the fires burning.
• Washington and the rest of the army marched 18 miles eastward, then turned north toward Princeton.

On the morning of January 3, British forces in Princeton were preparing to march south to Trenton. Some of the Americans saw the British on the move and hid in an orchard. However, the British saw them, pursued them, and the Battle of Princeton started.

• American forces started to fall back when the British opened fire with artillery.
• Washington rode out in front, where he was exposed to the artillery fire, rallied his men, and ordered them to charge.
• The British lines collapsed from the American assault, and they fell back into the town, where many of them surrendered.
• While the battle raged, British forces from Trenton, led by Cornwallis, marched to Princeton.
• By the time Cornwallis arrived, Washington was gone and had destroyed the bridge behind him, so the British could not follow.

On January 4, Washington’s Army continued its march north and arrived at Morristown on January 5 and January 6, where it established winter headquarters. The position put the Americans on the right flank of the British line. General Howe responded by withdrawing all British troops in New Jersey back to New Brunswick, relinquishing control of most of New Jersey to the Americans.

Philadelphia Campaign

Afterward, General Howe planned an expedition to capture Philadelphia in the spring of 1777. 

• During this campaign, Grant led troops at Bound Brook, Germantown, Barren Hill, and Monmouth.
• Despite the defeats at Trenton and Princeton, Grant was promoted to the rank of Major General and given command of the 1st and 2nd brigades.

Battle of Bound Brook (April 13, 1777) — In the opening engagement of the campaign, Cornwallis led British forces in a surprise attack on the American outpost at Bound Brook, New Jersey. The Americans were routed and temporarily driven from the town.

• Grant led the right wing, which included Hessian and British troops.
• Grant’s column moved up the north side of Bound Brook. Most of the men marched toward Bound Brook, but some were sent to block the road to Morristown.
• The fighting started when the advance elements of Grant’s column, Hessians led by Captain Johann Ewald, engaged Americans near Bound Brook, on the east side of the American camp.
• The British drove the Americans out of the town, but Grant’s men failed to block the American escape route.
• The British seized food and supplies and withdrew.

Battle of Brandywine (September 11, 1777) — British forces attacked the Americans along the banks of the Brandywine Creek and at Birmingham Hill. The British won the hard-fought battle, which allowed them to capture Philadelphia two weeks later.

• Grant helped design the British plan of attack.
• British forces took control of Philadelphia on September 26.

Battle of Germantown (October 4, 1777) — Washington led his army in a sneak attack on British forces at Germantown. Despite initial success in the battle, American forces were overwhelmed and forced to withdraw, resulting in a British victory that allowed them to maintain control of Philadelphia.

• Grant commanded British troops on the right side of the line, on the northeastern side of Germantown.
• After the Americans attacked, Grant mobilized his troops and dispatched them to slow the American advance.
• Grant led counterattacks that helped turn the tide of the battle and push the Americans out of Germantown.

Battle of Barren Hill (May 20, 1778) — Washington sent Lafayette and 2,200 troops to defend a gap in the American line at Barren Hill, outside of the camp at Valley Forge. General Henry Clinton was alerted to this camp and sent Grant to attack.

• Grant commanded a force of 5,000–6,000 British and Hessian troops.
• His plan was to move around Lafayette and cut off retreat to Valley Forge.
• Grant tried to maneuver around Barren Hill to trap Lafayette between his force and another, led by General Howe.
• Lafayette learned of the attack and quickly withdrew from Barren Hill.
• Grant failed to act quickly enough to trap the Americans, who were able to escape.
• This damaged Grant’s reputation with his fellow officers.

Battle of Monmouth (June 28, 1778) — General Henry Clinton withdrew from Philadelphia and marched his army through New Jersey, toward New York City. With his army, newly trained at Valley Forge, Washington decided to intercept Clinton in Monmouth County, New Jersey. The initial attack faltered, allowing the British to regroup and organize their forces. Washington was able to restore order within his ranks and pressed the attack. The battle lasted until nightfall, and both armies were exhausted from the day’s extreme heat. While Washington prepared to resume the battle the next morning, Clinton withdrew and marched to Sandy Hook.

• Grant was part of the British advance force, helping to guard the supply wagons.
• When the Americans threatened the rear of the army, Clinton issued an order for Grant to move to the rear of the column.
• Grant did not respond, and did not send aid when the Americans attacked.

AHC Notes

• Henry Clinton (1730–1795) — Clinton succeeded Howe as commander-in-chief of British forces in 1778. Despite early success, he was unable to defeat American forces, which led to the Surrender at Yorktown in October 1781.

West Indies

By late 1778, Grant believed the war was unwinnable but welcomed a reassignment to the West Indies.

• Grant captured the island of St. Lucia from the French on December 13, 1778.
• He later lost St. Vincent and Grenada to French forces.

Return to England

• Weakened by illness, he returned to England on August 1, 1779.
• He resumed his seat in the House of Commons and continued his military service.
• Grant resumed his seat in the House of Commons, where he served until 1802.
• He voted against the Slave Trade Bill in 1791.
• Grant was known for living an extravagant lifestyle, which led to obesity and poor health.
• Despite this, he maintained a reputation as a skilled soldier and politician.
• Grant died in 1806 at his estate in Scotland.