George Elers

George Elers (14 May 1777 – 1842) was a captain in the Suffolk Regiment. The events of his life are preserved in his collected memoirs, which were published posthumously.

Quotes

• I...was very different from the raw Irish lads who composed the greater part of the subalterns. One of them, of the name of George Eld Derby, a youth of about my own age, thus very gravely addressed the mess one evening after dinner: "By Jasus, gentlemen, I am conscious you must have the meanest opinion of my courage. Here have I been no less than six weeks with the regiment, and the divil of a duel have I fought yet. Now, Captain Craigie, you are the senior Captain of the regiment, and if you plase I will begin with you first; so name your time and place." Now, very many of these subaltern officers were of the stamp of my friend Mr. Derby. So a man could not be too guarded in his conduct with such heroes.
  • Memoirs of George Elers (New York: D. Appleton and Co, 1903) p. 43