St Leger Bevill Ensn 62d Regt, his signature in a letter to Horatio Gates dated Rutland, Massachusetts, 28 July 1779
Nationality: unknown
Born: unknown
Regimental commission dates:
Ensign 30 September 1777 (vice Ensign Henry Young, dead from mortal wounds 29 September 1777)
Captured: Saratoga, New York, 17 October 1777 (Convention Army)
Retired: 29 October 1782
Died: unknown
Volunteer St. Leger Bevill was given a free ensigncy the day after the death of Ensign Henry Young, who died from mortal wounds received during the Battle of Freeman's Farm on 19 September 1777. Ensign Bevill survived the rest of the campaign only to surrender with the rest of the 62nd Regiment on 17 October 1777.
Not enough is known of Ensign St. Leger Bevill's whereabouts during the many years the regiment was in captivity in various parts of the rebel colonies; wherever he was, it is clear he was not present with his regiment. Various regimental lists of officers compiled during the period the regiment was in captivity continually list “Ensign St. Leger Bevill—Absent without leave.” This mysterious disposition is partially explained by the following advertisement in the Continental Journal, No 98, 9 April 1778:
HEAD-QUARTERS, Boston, April 6 1778.
ABSCONDED from Cambridge [Massachusetts], in Violation of his Parole of Honor sacredly pledged, ST. LEGER BEVIL, Ensign in the 62d British Regiment. He is about 30 years of Age, low in Stature, has been bred to the Sea, talks like a Seaman, and frequently wears a long Blanket-Coat.
Whoever will apprehend and convey him to this Place, shall receive TWENTY DOLLARS Reward.
By Order of the General,
J. KEITH, D. A. G.
Bevill was soon recaptured. Fellow British officer Lieutenant Thomas Hughes of the 53rd Regiment (and also a prisoner of war) went to visit him. According to Hughes's 12 September 1778 journal entry (A Journal by Thos: Hughes. E A Benians, ed. Cambridge University Press: 1947):
Got…to Worcester [Massachusetts]—a pretty inland town. Went to the goal to visit an officer of the 62nd Regt—a Mr B—l, put in for breaking his parole. He was confin'd to the same room with a friend of Government—told us he was perfectly happy in his situation and did not seem to desire an enlargement. I believe the man is mad.
In a letter written to rebel General Horatio Gates dated Rutland, Massachusetts, 28 July 1779, Bevill begged Gates's permission to “go to Cambridge, for a few Days as I have Some business with Majr Harnage, which Cannot be So Conveniently, done any other way….” One must wonder if Bevill ever received permission to meet with his major; as late as July 1781 he was still listed as absent from the regiment without leave.
A March 1782 paylist classified Ensign Bevill, then the ensign of Captain William Hall's company, as a “Supernumerary in America.” He was officially “retired” from the service on 30 October 1782.