ALEXANDER NICHOLSON

Settlement of Upper Canada, Wm. Canniff, 1869

Among those who took part in the unequal engagement at Bennington, was Alexander Nicholson, a Scotchman who came to America shortly before the war broke out. He enlisted as a private under Burgoyne; but before the close of the war, received a commission. He was one of a company which was all but annihilated at Bennington. He stood by his Colonel when that officer was shot from his horse. Vainly trying to get him re-horsed, that officer told him it was no use, that he had better flee. The day being evidently lost, he proceeded to escape as best he could. With his arm wounded, he managed to escape through a field of corn to the woods. Coming to a river, he was arrested by an Indian upon the opposite bank, who, mistaking him for a rebel, fired at him. The Indian being undeceived, he forded the river. Making good his escape, he, with many others, wandered for days, or rather for nights, hiding by day, as scouts were ranging the woods to hunt out the tories. There were, however, friends who assisted to conceal them, as well as to furnish them with food. He often spoke of his sufferings at that fearful time; lying upon the cold ground without covering and sleeping, to wake with the hair frozen to the bare ground. Subsequently Nicholson was attached to Rogers corp’s. He settled in Fredericksburgh, at the close of hostilities and subsequently removed in 1809, to the township of Thurlow.