general july scottish soldier enlisted british_army commanded regiments colonel seven years war hamilton fought siege fort philip raid american war independence hamilton fought commanding middle column imprisoned cambridge massachusetts surrender following prisoner war adopted son non commissioned officer british_army brother death hamilton took renovated castle extensively 15th regiment foot hamilton participated invasion guadeloupe french revolutionary wars died july buried graveyard adopted son took dying battle early life little known hamilton early life son alexander died died older brothers alexander died painter rome added family condition bequeathed nephew james father seven years war hamilton enlisted british_army february stationed portsmouth saw action june siege fort philip seven years war assigned british soldiers fighting command duke french sailed fort philip forced british surrender siege admiral sailed relief group hoping save island british unsuccessful french killed wounded british french victory hamilton fought raid june british landed near planning attack town decided destroy shipping attack town later finding occupy town require siege insufficient troops occupied burned vessels including thirty british ships retreated seeing large french force sailed coast weeks seeking place attack raid small little damage considered british victory hamilton took british troops led attempt british unsuccessful lost approximately troops reinforcements second attempt succeeded june october holding rank major hamilton major commandant colonel formed independent companies served depot sending drafts highland regiments serving overseas regiment disbanded hamilton retired half pay lieutenant colonel american war independence hamilton commanded 21st regiment foot american war independence general said time engaged acquitted great honor activity good conduct early 21st regiment hamilton accompanied general british response continental_army invasion quebec september appointed temporary commander 1st brigade fell ill death hamilton promoted brigadier assigned 2nd brigade consisted 34th 53rd 62nd 20th regiments foot originally intended include hamilton brigade replaced 53rd campaign hamilton helped general organize troops campaign divide rebellious provinces assigned 1st brigade comprising 9th 47th 53rd regiments foot later transported 1st 2nd brigades amalgamated september new_york hamilton commanded men centre column consisting 9th 20th 21st 62nd regiments foot attacked heights battle freeman farm column 21st right 20th left 62nd middle 9th reserve left commanded german troops hamilton right commanded 24th regiment foot light infantry hamilton considered commander led attack centre column migrated southwest meet right column battle colonel united_states led charge hamilton men turned british won battle gained field battle suffered nearly casualties hamilton centre column 62nd reduced size single company quarters artillery men killed wounded american losses nearly killed seriously wounded battle hamilton engaged guard camp near heights surrendered battle troops surrendered prisoners arrived cambridge massachusetts november commanded exchanged american general hamilton commander prisoner war hamilton adopted boy named son sergeant major 21st foot hamilton signed parole given officers december virginia arrived january hamilton released september subject condition travel america war later life exchange hamilton returned britain funded adopted son education high rank hamilton able obtain commission son boy changed enlisted british_army hamilton renovations filling turret staircase old dungeons adding running round roof line changing original courtyard brother death hamilton took came considered influential hamilton colonel 15th regiment foot august took 15th foot awarded battle honour martinique february march battle 15th foot brigade consisted 39th 43rd regiment foot led sir regiment saw service guadeloupe april year colonel old regiment 21st foot promoted lieutenant general january general april hamilton died estate scotland july august son heir took james killed commanding battle
James Inglis Hamilton