William Erskine (General)

William Erskine was a Lieutenant Colonel in the 15th Light Dragoons serving in Germany in 1762, Erskine performed exceptionally on the field at the Battle of Emsdorf and was able to present George III with 16 colors captured by his regiment. For his prowess, Erskine was raised to the position of knight banneret, and thus became Sir William Erskine. He came to America in 1776, seeing action at Long Island. Now a General, Erskine accompanied British forces as second in command under General William Tryon with the assistance of General James Agnew on an inland raid against Patriot supply depots in Danbury, Connecticut. After successfully destroying Patriot supplies, the British forces engaged and defeated Continental Army Generals David Wooster, Benedict Arnold, and Gold S. Silliman and Patriot militiamen in the Battle of Ridgefield. Erskine served in the Philadelphia campaign and then, in 1778, was made Quartermaster General by Henry Clinton. Erskine went on to lead troops at the Battle of Monmouth and after that campaign was given command of the eastern district of Long Island. Erskine's last active duty was commanding five infantry battalions and a cavalry squadron in pursuit of the Continental Army which was thought to be moving to Virginia in November 1778. Erskine sailed for London in 1779.

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