(1750-1815)
It was not unusual for women to travel with the armies, looking after their husbands and keeping their uniforms clean and in good repair; but naturally this would not be a requirement of 'Lady Ackland'. However, fearful for her husband's safety, she decided to join the other ladies at the front. When she got word that Major Ackland had been injured in the Second Battle of Saratoga, she got permission to cross enemy lines to nurse him back to health.
Following are several accounts of her bravery and determination, that earned her a place in the history books; even if it was only as "Lady Ackland" and not Harriet Strangway.
and The Expedition of Lieut. Col. Barry St. Leger.
by William L. Stone.
Albany, NY, Joel Munsell. 1877.
dead and dying, for the tents were all struck, and hardly a shed was left standing. Then she was informed that her husband was wounded and a prisoner. She instantly sought the advice of her friend, the Baroness Reidesel, and resolved to visit the American camp, and implore the privilege of a personal attendance upon her husband. She sent a message by Lord Petersham to Burgoyne, asking his permission to depart. The general was astonished that, after all she had endured from exposure to cold, hunger, and heavy rain, she should be capable of such an undertaking.
"During a halt of the army, in their retreat on the 8th of October," says General Burgoyne, "I received a message from Lady Harriet Ackland, submitting to my decision a proposal of passing to the American camp, and requesting Gen. Gate's permission to attend her husband, who, wounded, was a prisoner. Though I was ready to believe, for I had experienced that patience and fortitude in a supreme degree were to be found, as well as every other virtue, under the most tender forms, I was
astonished at this proposal. After so long an agitation of spirits, exhausted not only for want of rest, but want of food, drenched in rains for twelve hours together, that a woman should be capable of such an undertaking as delivering herself to the enemy, probably in the night, and uncertain what hands she might first fall into, appeared an effort above human nature. "The assistance I was enabled to give," he said, "was small indeed. I had not even a cup of wine to offer her; but I was told she had found, from some kind and fortunate hand, a little rum and dirty water. All I could furnish to her was an open boat, and a few lines written upon dirty wet paper, to General Gates, recommending her to his protection."
" Whatever general impropriety there may be in persons acting in your situation and mine to solicit favors, I cannot see the uncommon perseverance in every female grace, and exaltation of character of this lady, and her very hard fortune without testifying that your attentions to her will lay me under obligation.
" I am Sir,
" Your obedient servant,
" J. BURGOYNE.
" Oct. 9th, 1777.
" Maj. Gen. Gates."
Fears for her husband's life outweighed any concern she may have had about entering the enemy camp, and when she was able to meet with General Gates, he read the letter she had clutched in her hand, and had her escorted to the make-shift hospital where her husband was staying. He then sent off this reply:
" SIR : I have the honor to receive your excellency's letter by Lady Ackland. The respect due to her ladyship's rank, the tenderness due to her person and sex were alone sufficient securities to entitle her to my protection if you consider my preceding conduct with respect to those of your army whom the fortune of war has placed in my hands. I am surprised that your excellency should think that I could consider the greatest attention to Lady Ackland in the light of an obligation.
" The cruelties which mark the retreat of your army, in burning gentlemen's and farmers' houses as they pass along, is almost, among civilized nations, without a precedent. They should not endeavor to ruin those they could not conquer. This conduct betrays more of the vindictive malice of a bigot, than the generosity of a soldier.
" Your friend. Sir Francis Clerke, by the information of Dr. Potts, the director-general of my hospital, languishes under a dangerous wound. Every sort of tenderness and attention is paid him, as well as to all the wounded who have fallen into my hands, and the hospital, which you were obliged to leave to my mercy.
" At the solicitation of Major Williams I am prevailed upon to offer him and Major Wiborn in exchange for Colonel Ethan Allen. Your excellency's objections to my last proposals for the exchange of Colonel Ethan Allen I must consider trifling, as I cannot but suppose that the generals of the royal armies act in equal concert with those of the generals of the armies of the United States.
" The bearer delivers a number of letters from the officers of your army taken prisoners in the action of the 7th.
" I am, Sir,
" Your Excellency's most humble servant,
" HORATIO GATES.
" Lt. General Burgoyne."
Christian Henrietta 'Harriet' Strangway Ackland Brudenell, died on July 21, 1815; but the story of the courageous woman who sailed down the Hudson in an open boat during a thunderstorm, to tend to her husband, is still being told. A letter by Burgoyne's niece to her nephew provides an epitaph.
every trial, and even this, her severest infliction, she bore up under with resignation and fortitude.
I saw her again many years afterwards, when her sorrows had been somewhat tempered by time. She was still handsome, but her bloom and vivacity were gone. I placed myself where I could unobserved contemplate the change she had undergone since I had first seen her. Her countenance was mild and placid, but there was a look of tender melancholy mingled with resignation that made her the most interesting object I had ever
beheld.
Noble Deeds of Women
By: Elizabeth Starling 1859
'the sense of Friendship or of Love;
What need of years to firmly bind
the social compact of the mind,
In youthful hearts, of kindred mould,
Not slowly feeling's flowers unfold;
But oft' though 'neath a sky of gloom-
They burst to instantaneous bloom!"
ALARIC A. WATTS.
As soon as he recovered, Lady Harriet proceeded to follow his fortunes through the campaign. Major Ackland, her husband, commanded the British Grenadiers, who formed the most advanced post of the army, which required them to be so much on the alert that frequently no persons slept out of their clothes. In one of these situations a tent in which the Major and Lady Harriet slept suddenly took fire. An orderly sergeant of grenadiers, with great hazard of suffocation, dragged out the first person he caught hold of; it proved to be the major. Fortunately the lady escaped at the same moment under the canvass of the back part of the tent.
This accident neither altered the resolution nor the cheerfulness of Lady Harriet, who was in a hut during the whole of the action that followed, and close to the field of battle. In a subsequent engagement, Major Ackland was desperately wounded and taken prisoner. Lady Harriet sustained the shock with great fortitude, and lmmediately determined to pass to the enemy's camp and request General Gates's permission to attend her husband. Having obtained General Burryoyne's leave Lady Harriet, accompanied by the chaplain of the regiment, one female servant, and the Major's valet-dechambre rowed down the rlver to meet the enemy. The night was far advanced before the boat reached the enemy's outposts the sentinel would not let it pass nor suffer them to come on shore. In vain was the flag of truce offered and the sltuatlon and rank of this extraordinary passenger represented in strong terms.
