THE NORTHMAN
7
Northmen in The Revolutionary War
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DENMARK” was the name by
which Colonel Hans Christian
Fibiger was known in the Continental
army in which he served from the begin
ning until the close of the war of American
independence.
He was engaged in trading between the
Island of St. Thomas and Boston when
the war began and the young Dane, then
under 30 years of age, offered his services
to the committee of safety in Boston, and
having previously seen military service,
was commissioned lieutenant April 28,
1775, a few days after the battle of
Lexington.
He participated in the battle of
Bunker’s Hill, June 17th following, being
in command of a portion of Gerrish’s
regiment. He “did eminent service in
protecting the shattered forces on their
retreat toward Cambridge.” He later
served as adjutant of Gerrish’s regiment.
Frotheringham, in his “History of the
Siege of Boston,” makes special mention of
Fibiger for his valuable service at Bun
ker’s Hill.
In the fall of 1775, having been pro
moted to the rank of major, Fibiger ac
companied the force under Colonel Bene
dict Arnold, which set out to join Mont
gomery in the invasion of Canada.
. Of this historic movement Lossing has
said:
It was an effort in the cause of freedom worthy
of its divine character, and the men who thus
periled life and endured pain, deserve the highest
praise from the hearts and lips of posterity.
Finally, in November, 1775, came their
unsuccessful attack on Quebec. Then,
Montgomery having arrived, followed, on
the last day of the year, the second and
even more disastrous assault on that city,
in which the American commander lost
his life, but won unperishable glory for his
name.
Fibiger survived the desperate battle,
but was captured by the British and re
mained a prisoner until late in the follow
ing year.
In his history of this memorable cam
paign, Judge Henry, who was a member
of the expedition, describes Fibiger as “a
real and well instructed soldier and an
engineer.”
Fibiger was commissioned a lieutenant
colonel November 13, 1776, and placed in
command of the Eleventh regiment,
Virginia line. He participated in the
battles around New York and in the en
gagements at Trenton, Princeton, etc.,
took part in the struggle at Brandywine
in the fall of 1777, spent the winter of
1777-78 at Valley Forge, and had a share
in the victorious affairs at Monmouth in
the following June, where he commanded
1770 men and four pieces of artillery.
Fibiger was the bright, particular star .
in the historic capture of Stony Point June
16, 1779, General Washington having per
sonally selected and recommended him to
General Wayne for this hazardous under
taking. As colonel of the Second Virginia,
he had charge of the right wing, which had
the most desperate fighting to do. General
Wayne himself led the charge, but was
wounded between the abattis. The
column proceeded under the direction of
Colonel Fibiger.
In a letter to his wife of the date just
COLONEL FIBIGER, “OLD DENMARK,”
WHO FOUGHT EIGHT YEARS FOR
OUR INDEPENDENCE.
WAS WITH “MAD ANTHONY” WAYNE
IN THE FAMOUS CAPTURE
OF STONY POINT
indicated, before the smoke of battle had
rolled away, he said:
My Dear Girl: I have just borrowed pen, ink
and paper to inform you that ' yesterday we
marched from Fort Montgomery, and at 12 o’clock
last night we stormed this confounded place, and,
with the loss of about 14 killed and 40 or 50
wounded, we carried it.
I Can give you no particulars as yet. A mus-
quetball scraped my nose. No other damage
to “OLD DENMARK!”
God bless you. Farewell.
FIBIGER.
From Fibiger’s own letters we can best
learn the truth of this engagement. Ex
tract from a letter to his Excellency
Governor Jefferson of Virginia, written in
camp near Fort Montgomery, on July 21,
1779, viz:
I have the happiness to say that every officer
and soldier behaved with a fortitude and bravery
peculiar to men who are determined to be free,
and overcame every danger and difficulty without
confusion or delay, far surpassing any enterprise
in which I have had an active part.
I request neither reward or thanks, but am
happy in having done my duty and shared the
dangers and honor of the day; but could wish, if
not inconsistent, that the citizens of Virginia
might know from your authority that their troops
deserve their thanks and support. I am, etc.
CH. FIBIGER, Colonel.
Again on July 27th, 1779/ he wrote his
wife at Philadelphia from Fort Montgom
ery:
My Dear Girl: I’ll now give you the particu
lars of our enterprise. After having recon
noitered Stony Point well, . we saw that by a
Secret and bold stroke it might perhaps be
carried;, and our officers being in a critical situa
tion induced his Excellency to risk it, and on the
15th instant we marched very secretly, securing
all passes and preventing county-people from
going in ,and at dark were within one mile of the
Fort where we lay until 12 o’clock at night,
when my regiment at the head of the right
column, and Colonel Butler’s at the head of the
left, with proper “forlorn hope” and advance
guards marched and attacked the works, which re
ceived us pretty warmly.
But the. bravery of our men soon overcame all
dangers, and about 1 o’clock we were in full pos
session of the Fort, where I had the pleasure of
taking Colonel Johnson, who commanded, my
self, and ordered him to his tent.
At daybreak we found we had taken 1 lieu
tenant colonel, 25 captains and lieutenants, and
544 non-commissioned officers and privates, ex
clusive of the killed and some that drowned in
endeavoring to get to their shipping.
We took 15 pieces of artillery, with fixed am
munition for a three months’ siege, 2 standards
and L flag, 10 marquees and a large quantity of
tents, quartermaster stores, baggage, etc., etc.
His Excellency joined us in the afternoon when
an attack was to be made on the other side, but
through some difficulties it was delayed.
We remained there three days, which were em
ployed in cannonading the enemy, and removing
the stores, and on the evening of the 18th we
evacuated and destroyed the works and set fife
to the remains.
This obliged General Clinton to come up with
his whole army to King’s Ferry, where he now is.
What may be his next move we cannot as yet
ascertain.
If he intends for our Fort I think he will be
damnably drubbed, as this most glorious affair
has given double vigor and spirit to our men.
Farewell.
CH. FIBIGER.
The question being raised in Virginia as
to who entered Stony Point first, Fibiger
wrote to Dr. Heth in Virginia from camp
near Fort Montgomery on Sept. 13, 1779,
viz:
I will assure you that my regiment which com
posed the front of the right column, was in the
works, and the commandant, Colonel Johnson, had
surrendered to me at least 10 minutes before the
left column entered.
The gallant Posey, a most valuable Posey,
helped Major Stewart, who commanded the ad
vance of the left, into the works.
‘Lieutenant Knox, who is a Pennsylvanian and
deserves credit, commanding Virginians, and
Lieutenant Colonel Fleury likewise; they both
belong to my regiment which is composed of 6
companies Virginians and two Pennsylvanians.
Yours etc.,
FIBIGER.
Without dwelling upon the details of
Fibiger’s subsequent career during the
revolution, it may be stated that he was
constantly engaged in the performance of
his military duty. He commanded the
Virginia Continental regiment under
General Lafayette at the siege of York
town, and was present at the surrender of
Cornwallis, and thus participated in the
closing demonstrations of the War of Inde
pendence.
He resigned from the army January 1
1783, and settled in Philadelphia where he
thereafter resided.
Congress by a special act retired him as
Brigadier General for his eight years of
meritorious service.Writing to his brother-
in-law, Colonel O’Hara, on the subject he
says:
Congress was pleased to confer on me the rank
of Brigadier General; however, this title I have
never, and do not now wish to make use of, as
that of Colonel in this country is familiar and
more becoming to a merchant.
He was elected a member of the First
Troop Philadelphia City Cavalry April 24,
1786, and was chosen captain in 1792. His
name was placed upon the honorary roll
in 1794.
In 1789 Fibiger was elected treasurer of
the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania,
which post, by successive annual elections,
he held until his death September 20,
1796.
Colonel Fibiger was one of the founders
of the Society of the Cincinnati. He was
also indentified with many public enter
prises of his day.
It remains an honor for Scandinavians
to behold his portrait among the heroes of
American history in Independence Hall,
Philadelphia.
Colonel Fibiger was the son of J0rgen
Mathiasen Fibiger, organist at Faaborg,
and was born at that place October 19,
1746. His uncle, Henrik Jacob Fibiger,
settled on the Island of St. Croix, in the
West Indies. Thither went young Fibiger
on graduating from the University of
Copenhagen, and engaged in trade which
brought him to the Colonies.
Colonel Fibiger while a guest of William
Carson at his inn, “The Harp and Crown,”
met there his host’s daughter, Elizabeth.
They were married August 14, 1777.
She survived her husband and died
January 5, 1817, without issue.
THE SIMPLE THINGS
To what extreme simplicity may man’s
existence be reduced without impeding
either the body’s functions or' the expan
sion of the mind. A loaf and a cup of
drink are necessary, to which may be added
by way of luxury a book and a fire that
will supply light and heat. When these
are provided nothing is wanting that is
indispensable to the development of a great
soul.