Person

James Flagg

James Flagg of Moultonborough, New Hampshire, enlisted in Captain Gray’s company of Colonel Alexander Scammell’s 3^rd New Hampshire Regiment for a 3-year term on March 27, 1777. He was soon found to be trusty and proficient enough to be appointed to the rank to sergeant.

When the British Army from Canada started its invasion of upstate New York that June, Gray’s company formed the small garrison of Skenesborough (present-day Whitehall), a small community located near the headwaters of Lake Champlain. The British descended upon the place on July 6 and took it after some sharp skirmishing. Gray’s troops retreated south to Fort Anne, where they were engaged against the British in the Battle of Fort Anne (July 7-8). Having lost the battle, the Americans retreated further south to join the Northern Army at Fort Edward.

James may have been engaged in these events, but it’s likely that he avoided them altogether. A return of the company states that one of its serjeants was “Sick in the Hospital” on the eve of the British invasion, and by early September, Sergeant Flagg was the only company serjeant named as being sick in the general hospital at Albany.

We don’t know what was wrong with him, but common ailments suffered amongst those from Scammell’s Regiment committed to the hospital that fall were the cough, dysentery, diarrhea, fractures, and those who were convalescing. Unfortunately, James didn’t make it, and he died there on September 24. He was probably buried near the hospital in an unmarked grave.

We don’t know much more about James – what his family life was like, his age, or his occupation. Hopefully, someday, we’ll know more.