Benjamin Lincoln

  A military career can lead to glory or to shame. The soldier may be thanked for his service back in his home town or he might find an early grave on a forgotten battlefield. 

  Benjamin Lincoln (no relation to Abraham) began his career as constable in the town of Hingham south of Boston in 1753.  He served in the local militia during the French and Indian War (1754-1763).  He saw no action during the war but was promoted to major for his service. 

   Lincoln got involved in politics and supported the Patriot cause against British interference in Massachusetts Bay Colony. He was also promoted to lieutenant colonel in the militia. When war broke out in 1775, he got busy supplying the new Continental Army. The next year he was promoted to major general. 

  After the British army left Boston, Lincoln led a brigade of militia south to New York, but by the time he arrived, Washington was already in retreat. He caught up with Washington in time for the battle of White Plains north of New York City, but Lincoln and his troops saw no action. 

  Lincoln wished to move from the militia to the regular army. Congress approved his commission but he had to go down to the rank of major. He was sent to New Jersey to keep an eye on British forces in the town of New Brunswick. A surprise attack by a much larger force resulted in a defeat for Lincoln’s forces. He himself was almost captured, but at least now he could call himself a combat veteran. 

  In July, 1777 British General Burgoyne started south from Quebec towards New York in an attempt to cut New England off from the other colonies. Lincoln, now a general again, was sent to harass Burgoyne’s supply lines. The battle of Saratoga took place in two parts, a one day battle in September and a second battle in October. Lincoln arrived in Saratoga three days after the September battle which had been a British victory  

    For the climactic part two on October 7, Lincoln was sent to secure the east side of the Hudson River. The battle took place on the west side of the river. Lincoln’s forces were able to harass the retreating British. I’m not making light of Lincoln’s military career. Whenever loaded guns are present there is always a risk of becoming a casualty. In fact Lincoln was hit in the ankle by a British musket ball.

  Lincoln returned home to recover and the ankle wound bothered him for many years. Lincoln almost resigned at this time but Washington convinced him he was needed and Lincoln was placed in charge of the Southern Department. 

 After an unsuccessful attempt to drive the British out of Savannah, Georgia, Lincoln retreated to Charleston, South Carolina. By this time a large British Army had moved south from New York and besieged Lincoln. 

  In desperation, Lincoln asked the South Carolina legislature to arm 1,000 slaves to help fight the British. Instead the legislature started negotiations with the British and Lincoln was forced to surrender his army. Lincoln himself was exchanged for a British general and he rejoined Washington who was besieging a large British army in Yorktown, Virginia.

  Lincoln played an important role in forcing the British surrender which was the effective end of the war. When the British General Cornwallis failed to appear at the surrender ceremony pleading illness, Washington directed Lincoln to accept the sword of surrender from Cornwallis's second in command.

  Lincoln returned home after the war and was appointed collector of customs duties for Boston Harbor. Times were hard during these years especially for farmers who were unable to pay their debts to the merchants. Many of the farmers were veterans who hadn't been paid for their years of service during the war. When the courts started turning over farms to the merchants, the farmers in western Massachusetts took up arms and closed the courts.  The Federal government was too weak to respond so the Boston merchants hired a militia with Lincoln in command. Lincoln finished the job of putting down the insurrection on this day in 1787. It was his last day of soldiering  

  Lincoln's impressive home on the edge of downtown Hingham has recently been acquired by the local historical society.  From the front windows of the house a stature of Abraham Lincoln is visible. That's well and good, but shouldn't there also be a statue of the local hero?

General Benjamin Lincoln