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Moses Hazen (1733–1803) was a complex and controversial military figure whose career spanned the French and Indian War and the American Revolutionary War. Born on June 1, 1733, in Haverhill, Massachusetts, to a New England Puritan family (with debated claims of Jewish heritage by some contemporaries), he was apprenticed as a tanner before enlisting in colonial forces. His early life on the frontier shaped a restless, ambitious, and combative personality that defined his later service and personal dealings. Hazen possessed extraordinary leadership in combat but was often described as stubborn, hypersensitive about honor, and driven by self-interest.

Hazen’s military career began during the French and Indian War. He enlisted in provincial units around 1755–1756, serving at locations like Fort William Henry. By 1758, he received a commission as first lieutenant in Rogers’ Rangers under Captain John McCurdy. He participated in the Siege of Louisbourg and later led raids in Acadia, including a notorious 1759 operation near Fredericton where his men burned settlements, killed and scalped prisoners, and burned a building containing men, women, and children—an act that drew later disapproval from General Jeffery Amherst despite earning Hazen a captaincy. These brutal partisan tactics became a hallmark of his early reputation.

In 1759, Hazen’s company joined the campaign against Quebec, engaging in scouting, raiding, and foraging (his men were sometimes called “cowboys” for driving cattle). He missed the Battle of the Plains of Abraham due to a raid but fought at the 1760 Battle of Sainte-Foy, where he was severely wounded in the thigh. His bravery earned praise from British officers like James Murray. Hazen purchased a commission in the 44th Regiment of Foot, served on garrison duty in Montreal, and retired on half-pay in 1763. This period transitioned him from soldier to landowner and merchant in Quebec. Post-war, Hazen partnered with Gabriel Christie to acquire seigneuries like Sabrevois and Bleury along the Richelieu River near Fort Saint-Jean. He developed the land aggressively—building a manor house, mills, a forge, and an ashery—while engaging in timber trade and speculation. He also held shares in settlements in New Hampshire and Vermont and joined land companies like the Saint John River Society. These ventures brought wealth but also heavy debts, friction with Christie, and endless litigation that plagued him for decades. In 1770, he married Charlotte de La Saussaye in Montreal; the couple had no children. As tensions rose in 1775, Hazen’s position became precarious. He visited Governor Guy Carleton and carried dispatches, but equivocated during the American invasion. Arrested first by Americans and then British, he ultimately committed to the Patriot cause after the fall of Fort Saint-Jean. He joined the siege of Quebec and, with Edward Antill, reported the American defeat to Congress in Philadelphia. In recognition, Congress authorized the 2nd Canadian Regiment (“Congress’ Own”) and gave Hazen command as colonel, with promises of compensation for his losses.

Hazen’s regiment, initially recruited from Canadian refugees and later supplemented by Americans and others, became one of the Continental Army’s more reliable and hard-fighting units. Often called “Hazen’s Infernals” for their fierce effectiveness, they endured high casualties and low desertion rates. The unit fought at Staten Island, Brandywine (where they held firm against superior forces), Germantown, and Yorktown. Hazen repeatedly advocated for a second invasion of Canada, helped build the Bayley-Hazen Military Road, and served as deputy quartermaster general for a proposed expedition under Lafayette (which was canceled).
Throughout the war, Hazen’s combative nature shone through in constant petitions to George Washington and Congress for promotions, supplies, pay, and compensation. He was breveted brigadier general in 1781. His regiment’s loyalty to the cause was notable, especially among the Canadians who could not safely return home. Hazen fiercely defended their interests, pushing for land grants and support after the war. His leadership style—demanding total commitment—produced results but also strained relationships.

After the Revolution, Hazen’s fortunes declined. His Quebec properties were ravaged by both armies, seized in litigation with Christie, and ultimately lost. He fought ongoing battles with Congress for reimbursement of expenses, lost half-pay, and damages. Many of his Canadian soldiers settled in New York refugee tracts. A severe stroke around 1786 left him incapacitated for his final years. He died on February 5, 1803, in Troy, New York, and was buried in Albany.
Hazen remains a study in contradictions: a brutal ranger turned Patriot general, a land speculator ruined by the very revolution he supported, and a tireless advocate who alienated many with his obstinacy. Historians note his courage and leadership in action contrasted with a restless temperament and opportunistic nature that never found lasting peace or prosperity in civilian life.