Soldier of Fortune, the Story of a Nineteenth Century Adventurer by Ella Pipping Translated By Naomi Walford

Soldier of Fortune, the Story of a Nineteenth Century Adventurer by Ella Pipping Translated By Naomi Walford this is the biography of one of the leaders of the 1838 rebellion in Upper Canada [Ontario]. Nils Gustaf von Schoultz a Finn mercenary took command of the invading force from the United States during the Battle of Windmill near Prescott Ontario. This was written by a descendent and contains material from family documents. There has also been archival research done as well as reference to secondary sources. The research is actually pretty good, I would have preferred more on background but it's okay.

Much of the story is taken up with von Schoultz's relationship with his family. He left very little material himself. He's mostly seen through the writings of his relatives. Unfortunately much of the material was censored by a descendent.

He comes off mostly as someone who could not settle down for any length of time. He apparently had several moneymaking schemes including one for recovering salt from natural deposits. His mercenary career involved fighting with the Polish against the Russians and sometime in Africa although there isn't much evidence for that.

The attack on Canada is dealt with quite briefly. There is very little on the tactics or strategy of the battle. It seems to have been somewhat of a fiasco. There is material on his trial and execution. He was defended by John A. Macdonald the future prime minister of Canada.

Recommended an interesting part of Canadian history.

Is available through Abebooks.