Military office born in 1738; was a son of
George Clinton, colonial governor of New York.
He entered the army when quite young, and had risen to the rank of major-general in 1775, when he was sent to
America with
Howe and
Burgoyne.
He participated in
[
219]
the
battle of Bunker Hill (June 17, 1775), and was thereafter active in service against the oppressed colonists until June, 1782, when he returned to
England.
He
succeeded
General Howe as commanderin-chief of the
British forces in
America in January, 1778.
In October, 1777, Sir Henry undertook a diversion in favor of General Burgoyne, then making his way towards Albany from Canada, in accordance with the British
plan of conquest.
Clinton, with a strong land and naval force, had captured
Forts Clinton and
Montgomery, in the
Hudson Highlands (Oct. 6), and sent forces of both arms of the service up the river on a marauding excursion, hoping to draw
Gates from
Burgoyne's front to protect the country below.
On the day after the capture of the forts Sir Henry wrote on a piece of tissue-paper the following despatch to
Burgoyne: “Nous y voici [here we are], and nothing between us and
Gates.
I sincerely hope this little success of ours may facilitate your operations.
In answer to your letter of the 28th September by C. C., I shall only say I cannot presume to order, or even advise, for reasons obvious.
I heartily wish you success.
Faithfully yours,
H. Clinton.”
This despatch was enclosed in an elliptical silver bullet, made so as to separate at the centre, and of a size (as delineated in the engraving) small enough to be swallowed by a man, if necessary.
He intrusted it to a messenger who made his way north on the west side of the river, and, being suspected when in the
camp of George Clinton back of New Windsor, was arrested.
When brought before
General Clinton, he was seen to cast something into his mouth.
An emetic was administered to him, which brought the silver bullet from his stomach.
The despatch was found in it, and the prisoner was executed as a spy at
Hurley, a few miles from
Kingston, while that village was in flames lighted by the
British marauders.
Sir Henry died in
Gibraltar,
Spain, Dec. 23, 1795.
