john graves simcoe was then sent to boston in the 1770s on the eve of the american revolution. simcoe fought for the british empire against the rebels during the siege of boston. simcoe was then promoted to captain. captain john graves simcoe then fought for the empire against the rebels in pennsylvania in the battle of brandywine. rumour has it that at brandywine simcoe commanded his men not to shoot at a number of fleeing rebels one of whom was george washington. simcoe wanted to raise a black loyalist regiment made entirely of freed slaves. instead, simcoe was asked to replace robert rogers as the commander of the queen's rangers. lieutenant-colonel john graves simcoe, commander of the queen's rangers participated in several important battles of the revolutionary war. simcoe was at one point captured by the french and later freed by the rangers. simcoe also tried to expose washington's culper spy ring. simcoe was shot in the battle of yorktown and sent back to england where he wrote a history of the revolutionary war from a british perspective.