Bro. Sir Alexander Hamilton Sir Alexander Hamilton, known to friend and foe alike as 'Dear Sandy', was a Scot who served in both the Danish and Swedish armies. In 1628 he received permission from the Scottish Privy Council to raise and transport 500 men in Ulster to join the regiment of the Earl of Nithsdale in Denmark. Logistical problems meant they did not get there until at least July 1628, but they were recruited in January. After leaving Denmark, Sir Alexander was a Colonel of a recruited infantry regiment in Sweden and was granted by the Privy Council of Scotland, permission to recruit masterless men in Scotland in June 1629. The same year he established cannon foundries in the Arboga in the Orebro region of Sweden. In July 1630, Hamilton's regiment was merged with John Meldrum's. Apparently during this merger a young captain, presumably John Hamilton, from Hamilton's regiment was made colonel of the new merged unit, promoting over his lieutenant colonel William Baillie.
Weimar on a more permanent and started an artillery foundry in Suhla in the Thuringian Forest. He returned to Britain at the end of 1635. There is a record of him signing a receip in Sweden in April 1638, indicating he In a letter from Brandenburg in November may have returned to Sweden to conclude 1631, Hamilton is designated General some business there. of Marquis Hamilton's artillery. In March 1632 Chancellor Axel Oxenstierna wrote to Hamilton was with the Covenanting army in him providing him with a recruitment war- 1638 as General of Artillery. He had a foundry rant and informing him that as King Gustav II at Poterow and made cannon for the CoveAdolf had divided the Marquis Hamilton's ar- nanters. He is sometimes said to have refined my into two sections, Sandy was in charge of the Leather Cannon invented by General Robone of them, comprising 12 companies of ert Scott in Sweden. This may be true, but Scottish soldiers. The other section, the other's content his main invention 'Dear 'English' regiment was under command of the Sandy Stoups' were a frame gun comprising Scot Sir William Bellenden. These two regi- four bronze light cannon mounted together. ments were ordered to join up with Duke These cannon were said to be sometimes carWilliam of Saxe-Wismar in June 1632. ried swivel fashion between two horses and proved very effective at the battle of NewDear Sandy served as governor of Hanau burn in August 1640. However, they were from 1631-34, and was succeeded by James more effectively used in large batteries, with Ramsay. After Gustav II Adolf's death, he en- various records suggesting the Army of the tered the service of Duke William of Saxe- Covenant had over 40 of them. Cross Keys November 2021
