SBRIT-01
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Brigadier General Simon Fraser (1729 – 7th October 1777) was a British Army officer who served in the American War of Independence. He was killed at the Battle of Bemis Heights of the Battles of Saratoga.
In 1776 Fraser’s regiment was transferred to Quebec in response to the American invasion and Governor Guy Carleton promoted him to Brigadier General. When John Burgoyne organized his Saratoga campaign in 1777, Fraser was chosen to command the advance unit.
At the start of the campaign, the advance corps had about 1,000 men. Besides Fraser’s own 24th Regiment of foot, he had a Grenadier battalion, a light infantry battalion and a company of marksmen, along with some Canadian militia and first Nations auxiliaries.
Fraser’s command was in the vanguard during the taking od Fort Ticonderoga, and Fraser heled dislodge the retreating Americans.
On 7th July 1777, Fraser’s corps caught up with the American rear guard at the town of Hubbardton in the newly formed Republic of Vermont. At the Battle of Hubbardton in a sharp skirmish he drove off the enemy but with the loss of many men.
At the Freeman’s Farm on 19th September he commanded the right wing and led four companies in a successful attack on Daniel Morgan’s riflemen.
Early in the Battle of Bemis Heights on 7th October 1777, Fraser fell to rifle fire from Daniel Morgan’s rifle brigade. Legend has it that a rifleman named Timothy Murphy was specifically ordered by Benedict Arnold to target Fraser, as he was vigorously directing and supporting his troops. He was carried to a nearby house and placed in the care of Baroness Riedesel where he died that evening.
Also killed during the action was Francis Clerke (1748-1777) the aide-de-camp to General Burgoyne. Clerke was also shot and killed by Morgan’s riflemen as he rode upon the field to deliver orders to Fraser from Burgoyne to fall back, orders that never reached him.