 Part 1 of the Military Journals of Two Private Soldiers, 1758 and 1775 This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org Recording by FNH The Military Journals of Two Private Soldiers, 1758 to 1775 By Abraham Tomlinson Part 1 Advertisement Having been for several years engaged in the establishment of a museum in Perkipsi, I have by extensive travel and research and by the kindness of many of my fellow citizens in the Duchess County and elsewhere obtained numerous objects, not only curious in themselves but valuable as materials for history. Among these are two manuscript journals kept by common soldiers, each during a single campaign and written at periods 17 years apart. One of these soldiers served in a campaign of the conflict known as the French and Indian War, which commenced a hundred years ago. The other soldier assisted in the Siege of Boston by the American Army in 1775 and 1776. Believing that a faithful transcript of those journals given verbatim at Litteratim, as recorded by the actors themselves, might have an interest for American readers as exhibiting the everyday life of a common soldier in those wars which led to the founding of our republic. I have yielded to the solicitations of friends and the dictates of my own judgments and feelings and in the following pages present to the public faithful copies of those diaries. Perceiving that much of the intrinsic value of these journals would consist in a proper understanding of the historical facts to which allusions are made in them, I prevailed upon Mr. Lossing, the well-known author of the Pictorial Field Book of the Revolution, to illustrate and elucidate these diaries by explanatory notes. His name is a sufficient guarantee of their accuracy and general usefulness, and I flatter myself that this little volume will not only amuse, but edify, and that the useful objects aimed at in its publication will be fully attained. With this hope, it is submitted to my fellow citizens. Abraham Tomlinson, Perkipsy Museum, December 1854 End of Part 1 Recording by FNH, please visit www.bookranger.co.uk Part 2 of the Military Journals of Two Private Soldiers, 1758-1775 This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org Recording by FNH, the Military Journals of Two Private Soldiers, 1758-1775 by Abraham Tomlinson Part 2 Introductory Remarks The conflict known in America as the French and Indian War, and in Europe as the Seven Years War, originated in disputes between the French and English colonists in the New World concerning territorial limits. For a century the colonists of the two nations had been gradually expanding and increasing in importance. The English, more than a million in number, occupied the seaboard from Penobscot to St Mary's a thousand miles in extent. All eastward of the great ranges of the Alleghanes and far northward towards the St Lawrence. The French, not more than a hundred thousand strong, made settlements along the St Lawrence, the shores of the Great Lakes, on the Mississippi and its tributaries, and upon the borders of the Gulf of Mexico. They early founded Detroit, Cascascaya, Vascens and New Orleans. The English-planted agricultural colonies, the French, were chiefly engaged in traffic with the Indians. This trade and the operations of the Jesuit missionaries, who were usually the self-denying pioneers of commerce in its penetration of the wilderness, gave the French great influence over the tribes of a vast extent of country, lying in the rear of the English settlements. The ancient quarrel between the two nations, originating far back in the feudal ages and kept alive by subsequent collisions, burned vigorously on the bosoms of the representative colonists in America, where it was continually fed by frequent hostilities on frontier ground. They had ever regarded each other with extremes of jealousy, for the prize before them was supreme rule in the New World. The trading posts and missionary stations of the French in the far northwest and in the bosom of the dark wilderness, several hundred miles distant from the most remote settlements on the English frontier, attracted very little attention until they formed a part of more extensive operations. But when, after the capture of Louisburg by the English in 1745, the French adopted vigorous measures for opposing the extension of British power in America, when they built strong vessels at the foot of Lake Ontario, made treaties of friendship with powerful Indian tribes, strengthened their fort at the mouth of the Niagara River, and erected a cordon of fortifications, more than 60 in number, between Montreal and New Orleans. The English were aroused to immediate and effective action in defence of the territorial limits given them in their ancient charters. By virtue of these they claimed domination westward to the Pacific Ocean, south of the latitude of the North Shore of Lake Erie, while the French claimed a title to all the territory watered by the Mississippi and its tributaries under the more plausible plea that they had made first explorations and settlements in that region. The claims of the real owner, the Indian, were lost sight of in this discussion, and it was a significant question asked by an Indian messenger of the agent of English, Ohio Company. Where is the Indian's land? The English claim it all on one side of the river and the French on the other. Where does the Indian's land lie? The territorial question was brought to an issue when in 1753 a company of English traders and settlers commenced exploring the headwaters of the Ohio. The French opposed their operations by force. George Washington was sent by the Virginia authorities to remonstrate with the French. It was of no avail. The English determined to oppose force to force and in the vicinity of the now flourishing city of Pittsburgh in western Pennsylvania the French and Indian War began. Provincial troops were raised and armies came from England. Extensive campaigns were planned and attempts were made to expel the French from Lake Champlain and the southern shore of Lake Ontario. Finally in 1758 three armies were in motion at one time against French posts remote from each other. Louisburg in the extreme east, Ticonderoga on Lake Champlain and Fort Duquesne where Pittsburgh now stands. General Sir James Abercrombery commanded the expedition against the Ticonderoga, accompanied by young Lord Howe as his lieutenant. The French were under the command of the Marquis Moncarme who was killed at Quebec the following year. The English and Provincial troops rendezvoused at the head of Lake George, went down that sheet of water, attacked Ticonderoga and were repulsed with great loss. It was this portion of the campaign in which the soldiers served who kept the journal given in the succeeding pages. It is a graphic outline picture in a few and simple words of the daily life of a common soldier at that time. During the campaign of 1759 Quebec was captured by the army under Worf. Lord Amherst more successful than Abercrombery drove the French from Lake Champlain. Sir William Johnson captured Fort Niagara and all Canada was in virtual possession of the English except Montreal. That fell early in autumn of 1760 and the struggle for supremacy in America between the French and English was ended forever. End of Part 2 Recording by FNH Please visit www.bookranger.co.uk Part 3 of the Military Journals of Two Private Soldiers 1758-1775 This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org Recording by FNH The Military Journals of Two Private Soldiers 1758-1775 by Abraham Tomlinson Part 3 Military Journal for 1758 April 5th 1758 I, Lemuel Lyon of Woodstock enlisted under Captain David Holmes of Woodstock in New England for this present Kennedy Expedition Canada Expedition I received of Captain Holmes two pounds May 30th Received three pounds sixteen shillings June 2nd We arrived at Colonel Mason's at twelve o'clock and marched from there to Leonard Abbott's Landlord The proprietor of an inn or tavern was universally called Landlord. The title is still very prevalent And Sergeant Stone treated us there Then we marched to Mansfield to Deacon Eldridge about four o'clock Then we marched to Bolton to Leonard Trills and we gave seven pence a night for horsekeeping Wednesday the seventh We had carts to press To take carts for the military service under martial law any private property may be used for the public good A just government always pays a fair price for the same Then we marched on from there to Leonard Strings in Hartford and from there to Leonard Geds and had raw pork for dinner Then we marched to Leonard Cruz and the chief lodges there Probably General Lymon who was the commander in chief of the Connecticut forces at that time My mess lodged at a private house won Daniel Cattlin's Thursday 8th Marched off and arrived at Leonard Gessels and there we went to breakfast And then we marched from there to our stores in Lichfield in Lichfield County, Connecticut To Squire Sheldings and then to Leonard Buells and lodged there And our captain was sent for to a man in another company that had fits Friday the 9th Then marched from there and we had new teams pressed there And we arrived at Leonard Hollowbutts in Goshen and from there to Widow Leggets in Cornwall Cornwall And from there to Kohl's in Canaan and lodged there Saturday 10th Marched to Laurences and from thence to Leonard Bushes in Sheffield 7 mile And went to dinner Thence marched and arrived at one Gantt Burgesses and lodged there and our ensign went to prayer with us Sunday 11th Marched into the Patanoonlands Livingston's Manor in Columbia County The Estates of Livingston, Van Wressenlaier and others who received grants of land from the government on certain conditions In order to encourage immigration and agriculture were called Patroonlands And the proprietors were entitled to Patroons or Patrons To Leonard Lovejoy's and went to dinner and had a hard shower Then marched into Cantihook Kinderhook The Stone House And lodged there and from thence to Cantihook Town to One Bushes and slept there Monday 12th at Cantihook Tuesday 13th We marched and arrived at the Halfway House in Albany and Bated And then into Greenbush Now East Albany on the west side of the Hudson River By Sundown and lodged there in Ransley's Barn Wednesday 14th We went over to Albany and there I first shifted my clothes and washed them Then we had six rounds of powder and ball and had orders from Colonel Whiting to go to Senicada This day, Aisle Carpenter came to Albany Thursday 15th We went over the river early to receive our rations in provision and in money And we marched two miles and stopped and refreshed ourselves Billeting money, that is money to pay for lodgings at a private house When soldiers are quartered at private houses, it is said that such ones are billeted at such a house Friday 16th We had prayers in our company at three o'clock and then all marched But at fourteen they stayed here to guard Lieutenant Smith and the money And yesterday Mr Holmes sought of our home and I give five pence for carrying my letter We stayed here till five o'clock this afternoon and we heard nothing from Lieutenant Smith And we had no provisions So we marched for Scannacata Shannacati And we got in at Sundown well and there was a Larom that night Alaram or Alarm Saturday 17th Still at Scannacata Shannacati And we moved into our barracks and Barnabas Evans was taken poor with the working in the body Ben Denney was taken very poor Sunday 18th I was first called upon guard with fifteen more My turn came first at eleven o'clock This afternoon three o'clock Lieutenant Smith came up with our abalitan money Monday 19th Still at Scannacata And there was a regiment of province men Provincial troops or American soldiers The English troops were called regulars Come up to Scannacata and this night twenty five of our men went over the river west one mile to guard wagon horses This day a short training one regiment Tuesday 20th They marched of three hundred of the bay forces Massachusetts bay troops The Massachusetts colony was called Massachusetts bay until after the war of independence For Fort Edward Fort Edward was situated upon the east bank of the Hudson about fifty miles north of Albany The fort was built by General Lyman of Connecticut in 1755 While that officer was in camp there with about six thousand troops awaiting the arrival of General William Johnson The commander in chief of the expedition against the French at Ticonderoga and Crown Point A portion of the site of the fort is now 1854 accompanied by the flourishing village of Fort Edward Some of the embankments are yet visible near the river It was near this fort that Jane McCree was killed and sculpted in 1777 And I received my ability in full one pound eight shillings Wednesday twenty first still here and we were embodied for prayers in the morning and then trained a little Corporal Carpenter was taken poor Thursday twenty second had orders to march to the half moon Near Waterford on the west side of the Hudson river thirteen miles north from Albany And Captain Laneses company two at seven o'clock we marched and arrived at Tescoon Niskayuna a short distance from Waterford and remarkable as a settlement of shaking Quakers And lodged there at Lannard Abraham Grotes Friday twenty third marched in the rain and very greasy traveling it was And we arrived at Tiberth and from thence to the place called Loudon's Ferry On the Mohawk about five miles above Coe's Falls it was the chief crossing place for troops on their way north from Albany There the right wing of the American army under Arnold was encamped While General Shuler was casting up the entrenchments at Coe's Falls a few weeks before the Saratoga battles in 1777 To Lannard Fugdors and from thence to half moon and lodged there Saturday twenty fourth I received a letter from John at the half moon and from thence we marched and arrived at Stillwater Stillwater is on the west bank of the Hudson in Saratoga County twenty four miles north from Albany The battle of Bemis Heights was fought there in 1777 and is sometimes known as the battle of Stillwater Opposite the mouth of the Hoosick River at Stillwater was a stockade called Fort Winslow And lodged there and Barnabas Evans was poor End of part three Recording by FNH please visit www.bookranger.co.uk Part four of the military journals of two private soldiers 1758 to 1775 This is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain For more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org Recording by FNH The military journals of two private soldiers 1758 to 1775 by Abraham Tomlinson Part four Sunday twenty fifth we got two battles A battle is a kind of scow or flat boat used on shallow streams like the Hudson above Waterford To carry our packs up to Saratoga This settlement was near the mouth of the Fish Creek on the south side The village of Shulaville is just across the stream on the north side On the plain in front of the village of Shulaville was a regular quadrangular fortification with bastions called Fort Hardy It was erected in 1756 and named in honour of the Governor of New York at that time And we went a foot and eight of our men were drawn out to stay at Satellogue Captain Lewis shot at an Indian and killed him And sought him battle From Salatogue we marched on to Fort Miller On the west side of the Hudson, six or eight miles below Fort Edward The river is there broken by swift rapids During this campaign Major, afterwards General Putnam, was here surprised by a party of Indians And boldly descended the rapids in a canoe and escaped It was a feat they never dared to attempt and they felt certain that he was under the protection of the Great Spirit Here a stream called Bloody Run enters the Hudson It is so named because a party of soldiers from the garrison in 1759 went there to fish Were surprised by the Indians and nine were killed and scout And lodged there Monday 26th, Rainy and Wet I came up the river in a battle to Fort Edward to the encampment There we dragged half a pound of powder and ten bullets apiece And eight days provision in order to march to the lake Lake George Barnabas Evings was very poor with fever nago Fever and arg And was forced to stay behind and David Bishop with him We lodged in bush tents and very wet it was Tuesday 27th Marched all of Colonel Fitch's Regiment that were here with three teams to carry the officers We arrived at the halfway brook Afterward called Snook's Creek It enters the Hudson three miles below Fort Edward And there a great parcel stashed in for a while And thence we marched to Lake George And went over upon the hill east and there encamped One with myself went upon guard this night Wednesday the 28th We cleared our ground and pitched our tents I sent two letters home Thursday the 29th Still here, General Lyman General Phineas Lyman who built Fort Edward He was a native of Durham, Connecticut Where he was born in 1716 He completed his education at Yale College And afterwards became an eminent lawyer He was appointed Commander-in-Chief of the Connecticut Forces in 1755 And in the expedition to Lake George Deserved all of the honor awarded to General Johnson Who was jealous of Lyman's ability as a soldier Lyman did his duty nobly and was but little noticed Johnson was unfit for his station But being a nephew of Sir Peter Warren Then a popular English admiral He received the honor of knighthood And the sum of twenty thousand dollars For his services in that campaign General Lyman served with distinction Until the close of the campaign in 1760 And in 1762 commanded the American forces Sent against Havana He was in England about eleven years And after his return Went with his family to the Mississippi Where he died in 1788 And Colonel Fitch's regiment Come up to the lake this day I wash my clothes One more regiment come up Friday 30th This day there was a very unhappy mishap Fell out in province forces And that was one shot one Partly through the body But did not kill him Today they drawed out nine men To go in battles up the lake Saturday July 1st Colonel Worcester Colonel David Worcester of Connecticut The eminent general of the revolution Who was killed at Ridgefield While engaged in the pursuit of Tyron After the burning of Danbury In the spring of 1777 He was born in Stratford, Connecticut In March 1710 Graduated at Yale College in 1738 And soon afterwards received The appointment of captain of a vessel In the Coast Guard He was in the expedition against Louisburg in 1745 He afterward went to England Where he was a favourite at the court Of King George II And received the appointment of captain In the regular service under Sir William Peperole He was promoted to a Colonelcy in 1755 And rose to the rank of Brigadier Before the close of the French and Indian War He was appointed by Condoroga In 1775 Which resulted in the capture of that fortress And also Crown Point By Colonel Ethan Allen And Benedict Arnold Worcester was appointed one of the first Brigadiers of the Continental Army In 1775 And third in rank He was also appointed the first Major General of the militia of his state When organised for the war for independence And in that capacity In 1777 He lost his life in that service His remains were buried at Danbury And in 1854 A monument was erected over his grave By his grateful countrymen At the expense of his native state And his regiment came up today And three of our sick men One of them brought nurse That one man shot another by accident At Shennicatta And an hour after he died Today our chaplain Came up Commander of a corps of rangers Who performed signal services during the greater part Of the French and Indian War He was the son of an Irishman An early settler of Dunbarton In New Hampshire He was appointed to his command in 1755 And was a thorough scout In 1759 he was sent By General Amherst to destroy the Indian Village of St Francis In that expedition he suffered great hardships But was successful He served in the Cherokee War in 1761 And in 1766 Was appointed Governor Of Michilly Mackenac Where he was accused of treason And sent to Montreal in Irons He was acquitted, went to England And after suffering imprisonment for debt Returned to America where he remained Until the revolution broke out He took up arms for the king And in 1777 went to England Where he died His journal of the French and Indian War The first men came in That had been gone seven days And expected to be gone but two He was so beat out That he could not tell what had become of Tother This night I went upon a bateau And guarded Colonel Fitch's tub of butter Sunday 2nd In the forenoon I went to meeting And heard Mr Eels his text Was in the fifth chapter of James's 16th verse A good sermon I wrote a letter and sent home Good afternoon to meeting again Monday 3rd Yesterday Major Putnam's S Company came up And this morning Major Putnam Israel Putnam Afterward the revolutionary general He was born in Salem, Massachusetts In January 1718 He was a vigorous lad And in 1739 we find him cultivating Land in Pomfret, Connecticut The scene of his remarkable adventure In a wolf's den so familiar Every reader He was appointed to the command of some of the first troops Raised in Connecticut for the French and Indian War in 1755 And was an active officer during The entire period of that conflict Especially while in command Of a corps of rangers He was plowing in his field when the news Of the skirmishes at Lexington And Concord reached him He immediately started for Boston And at the head of the Connecticut troops Was active in the Battle of Bunker Hill One of the first four major generals Of the Continental Army appointed By Congress in June 1775 And he was constantly on duty In important movements until 1779 When a partial paralysis Of one side of his body Disabled him for military service He lived in retirement after the war And died at Brooklyn, Wyndham County, Connecticut on the 29th Of May 1790 at the age Of 72 years Came up and the Connecticut's regiment Bodied for to learn how to form Your front to the right and to the left For General Abercromba General James Abercrombie The commander in chief of the campaign He was descended from an ancient Scotch family and because of signal Services on the continent was promoted To the rank of major general The military art having been his profession Since boyhood He was superseded by Lord Amherst After his defeat at Ticonderoga And returned to England in the spring Of 1759 And he's aid to camp to view Tuesday 4th This day I cut my hat and received My ammunition and provision for four days And made ready for to go on Wednesday 5th This day the army by sunrise Got ready for to march And marched off by water And arrived at the sabbath day point Sabbath day point This is a fertile little promontory Jutting out into Lake George From the western shore a few miles From the little village of Hague And surrounded by the most picturesque scenery imaginable It was so named at this time Because it was early on Sunday morning That Abercrombie and his army left this place And proceeded down the lake There a small provincial force Had a desperate fight with the party Of French and Indians in 1756 And defeated them Abercrombie's army Went down the lake in batto and whale boats And reached the point just at dark Captain, after a general stark Relates that he supped with the young lord Howl that evening at the point And that the nobleman made many anxious inquiries About the strength of Ticonderoga The country to be traversed etc And by his serious demeanour Evinced a presentiment of his sad fate He was killed in a skirmish With a French scout two days afterward His body was conveyed to Albany In charge of captain, after a general Philip Scheuler And buried there He was a brother of the Admiral and general of that name Who commanded the British naval and land forces In America in 1776 And stayed there till midnight Then marched again to the first narrows And landed there and went down Thursday 6th 12 o'clock at night We marched off again The order of March says Major Rogers exhibited a splendid Military show There were 16,000 well armed troops Lord Howl in a large boat Led the van of the flotilla Accompanied by a guard of rangers An expert boatman The regular troops occupied the centre And provincials the wings The sky was clear and starry And not a breeze ruffled the dark waters As they slept quietly in the shadows Of the mountains Their oars were muffled And so silently did they move on That not a scout upon the hills observed them And the first intimation That the outpost of the enemy received of their approach Was the full blaze of their scarlet uniforms When, soon after sunrise, they landed And pushed on to a ward Ticonderoga And landed at the first narrows And then we marched on to the falls Rapids in the stream which forms the outlet Of Lake George into Lake Champlain Here are now extensive sore and grist mills The distance from the foot of Lake George To Fort Ticonderoga Is about four miles Within two miles of the fort And there we was attacked by the enemy The English lack suitable guides And became bewildered in the dense forest That covered the land Lord Howe was second in command And led the van, preceded by Major Putnam And a scout of one hundred men To reconnoiter The French set fire to their own outpost And retreated Howe and Putnam dashed on through the woods And in a few minutes fell in With the French advanced guard Who were also bewildered To find their way to the fort A smart skirmish ensued And at the first fire Lord Howe, another officer and several privates Were killed The French were repulsed With the loss of about three hundred killed And about one hundred and forty made prisoners The English battalions were so much broken Confused and fatigued That Abercrombie ordered them back to the landing Place where they bifwacked for the night And the engagement held one hour And we killed and took upwards of two Fifty, and of Captain Home's company We had three men wounded Sergeant Cader Sergeant Armsper and Ensign Robbins And at sundown the French came out again Five thousand strong And our men came back again to the landing place And lodged there Friday, Seventh Major Rogers went down to the mills And drove them off there from And killed and took upwards of one hundred and fifty And at sundown the last of the army Marched down to the mills Major Putnam made a bridge over By the landing place This night we lodged by the mills Saturday Eighth Then marched back two or three regiments To the landing place to guard And helped get up the artillery And we worked all the forenoon on loading the battles And at noon we sat down Down to the mills with the artillery And we got near the mills And we had orders to leave the artillery there This was Abercrombie's fatal mistake He sent an engineer to Reconnoiter the fort and outworks The engineer reported the latter to be so weak In an unfinished state As to be easily carried without artillery By the forces of English bayonets The difficulties in the way Of heavy cannons in that dense forest Were very formidable And Abercrombie was willing To rely upon sword and bayonet On the strength of his engineer's report That functionary was mistaken And when the English approached the French lines They found an embankment of earth and stones Eight feet in height Strongly guarded by abatis Or felled trees with their tops outward The English made a furious attack Cut pathways through these prostate trees And mounted the parapet They were instantly slain And thus scores of Britons were sacrificed By discharges of heavy cannons When two thousand men had fallen Abercrombie sounded a retreat And the whole British army Made its way to the landing place At the foot of Lake George With a loss of twenty-five hundred muskets They went up the lake to fort William Henry And the wounded were sent To fort Edward and to Albany At his own solicitation Colonel Bradstreet was sent To attack the French fort Frontenac Where Kingston now stands At the foot of Lake Ontario And General Stamwick's Proceeded to erect a fort Towards the headwaters of the Mohawk Where the village of Rome now flourishes And we went down to the mills Of our regiment two hundred Were ordered to go over on to the point To keep the French from landing there And we stayed While next morning sun two hours high And when we came in All our army and artillery was gone back And the mills fired And we marched back to the landing place And had to secure the matter of two hundred barrels of flour And we heard the French Were coming upon us And we strove them all As soon as we could And about ten o'clock we got sail And by sundown we arrived At Lake George The head of the lake was especially designated as Lake George There was the dilapidated fort William Henry Built by Sir William Johnson In the autumn of 1755 And about half a mile southeast from it Fort George was afterward erected The ruins of its citadel may yet 1854 be seen According to all accounts The engagement began about ten o'clock And held ten hours steady And we lost three thousand regulars End of part four Recording by FNH Please visit www.bookranger.co.uk Part five Of the military journals of two private soldiers 1758 to 1775 This is a LibriVox recording All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain For more information Or to volunteer Please visit www.librivox.org Recording by FNH The military journals of two private soldiers 1758 to 1775 By Abraham Tomlinson Part five Monday 10th Still at Lake George in our old encampment Two cannon and two mortar pieces All of them brass Come into Lake George today Tuesday the eleventh I washed my clothes today And had tea for breakfast Wednesday twelfth Today I was called upon guard Stephen Lyon went to Fort Edward Thursday thirteenth Today washed my clothes Friday fourteenth Nothing remarkable Saturday fifteenth Nothing remarkable Called out to work Sunday sixteenth A meeting to hear Mr. Pomeroy Pomeroy And his text was in the sixteenth chapter Of Isaiah, the ninth verse In the afternoon went to hear Mr. Eels And his text was in the fourth chapter Of Amos, and the twelfth verse Sung the forty-fifth psalm The last time sung the forty-fourth psalm This day Colonel Doitner's regiment Marched off Monday seventeenth This day Sergeant Joseph Mathers A new shirt put on of seventy stripes Flogging was facetiously termed Putting on a new shirt Seventy lashes was a pretty severe punishment I washed and at night Was called upon picket guard Barney went down to the halfway brook This was the outlet of three little lakes Situated about halfway between the head Of Lake George and the bend of the Hudson At Sandy Hill They are the headwaters of Clear River The west branch of Wood Creek Which empties into Lake Champlain At Whitehall And back again to guard Artillera Tuesday eighteenth When Samuel Johnson died very suddenly He belonged to Captain Latimer's company Of New Cannon Near Myer Blackmore Was whipped ten stripes for firing his gun Wednesday nineteenth This day to work upon the hospital Getting timber to it I went upon the island This was the Diamond Island In front of Dunham's Bay And not far from the village of Caldwell It was so called because of the number And beauty of quartz crystals found upon it Burgoyne made it A depot of military stores Went on his way from Canada by the way Of Lake Champlain in seventeen seventy seven It was the scene of a Sharp conflict between the little garrison And a party of Americans under Colonel Brown on the twenty fifth Of September seventeen seventy seven While Gates and Burgoyne were Confronted at Saratoga Brown Was repulsed to stay there a week Thursday twentieth Still at work Colonel Worcester Sort out to go down to Albany And a number of men with him This morning ten men were going to The half way brook to guard the post And the Indians way laid them And killed nine of them And one got in safe and they rallied Out from the brook one hundred And went back to see what was the matter And they laid wait for them and they fired Upon the front first and killed two Captains and two lieutenants on the spot And our men were surprised And run back all but a few And they stood a little while and lost Seventeen men Engagement began some two Hours high about an hour After lieutenants Smith and two hundred Of our men went down to help guard The teams down to Fort Edward Friday twenty first This day at night Lieutenant Smith came back and very poor He was. The rest of the guard Returned well Saturday twenty second This day Colonel Partridge's regiment Partridge's Was resolved to have their full allowance Or go off and they got it They were volunteers A small shower and at night her post Came in and our men that stayed behind Came up and I received a letter From home Sunday twenty third Went to meeting and the text Was in the three chapter of John And the sixteen verse And in the afternoon the text was In the six chapter of Micah And six and seven verses This day wet and hard showers Monday twenty fourth This day a week ago Enzin Robbins died at Albany This day Henry Morris came up to Lake George with two wagon loads Of rum and sold it right off Tuesday twenty fifth Captain Holmes and five of our men Went down to the half way brook To be stationed there till further orders At nine o'clock One James McMahoon Maman was hanged upon the gallows Upon the top of the rock and noose This locality cannot be identified Our post came in And I was released from the hospital Work Wednesday twenty sixth Major Putnam had orders To list four hundred rangers And listed some today Thursday twenty seventh This day the captains of the companies Drawn out nine men of a company for rangers Friday twenty eighth There was about forty teams And wagons are coming up About half way between Fort Edward And half way brook And a scout of French and Indians Way laid them and killed every ox And destroyed all their stores everything Rogers in his journal speaks of this occurrence He says it was on the twenty seventh And that one hundred and sixteen men were killed Of whom sixteen were rangers And about midnight Our camps were alarmed of it And Major Putnam rallied about one thousand men And went after them Saturday twenty ninth This day Rogers went upon the track with his rangers He went out with seven hundred men To intercept the marauding party But they escaped and sent back For all the picket guard and they went this day I was very poor And took a portion of physics Sunday thirtieth This morning by break of day Some of Major Putnam's men That he left with the battles Spied some more coming down the lake And they come and told And Lyman rallied about two thousand men And went up the lake I was poor and went to meeting Mr. Ingrison Ingersoll Preached and his text was in the Psalms The eighty three and the fourteen and fifteen The afternoon the text was in Deuteronomy Thirty two and twenty nine verse And twenty nine verse End of part five Recording by FNH Please visit www.bookranger.co.uk Part six Of the military journals of two private soldiers 1758-1775 This is a LibriVox recording All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain For more information or to volunteer Please visit LibriVox.org Recording by FNH The military journals Of two private soldiers 1758-1775 By Abraham Tomlinson Part six Monday 31st Nine of our New England men Will put under guard for making false loram About the battles coming down upon us And also one regular That Rogers took that deserted last year To the French from us Tuesday August 1st There was about seven hundred men Went down to the half way brook To be stationed there And date of air company and captain Holmes came back Wednesday two Today General Lemon In of a scout And the men that went with him And Rogers and Putnam went out of a scout With fourteen or fifteen hundred for ten days Rogers says That on his return from his attempt to intercept the marauding party He was met by an express With orders to march towards the head of Lake Champlain At the south and east bays To prevent the French marching upon Fort Edward There he was joined by Major Putnam And Captain Daelle Or Daelle This day craft died and was buried Stephen Lyon came of scout Thursday third Two of our men went out of fishing for two days But had poor luck Friday fourth We had our orders to march to Fort Edward And I washed up my clothes Saturday fifth This morning about half our regiment Marched forward to build breast works Along upon the road In some bad places We arrived at Fort Edward at nine o'clock And we built two breast works Sunday sixth We drew three days provision And this afternoon the rest of our regiment came down And the teams that went up the day before We received our pass it Pack it to letters from home Monday seventh Captain and all that were able to go Were ordered to guard down to Fort Miller And back again Tuesday eighth In the morning we were drawed out for work And worked the forenoon And then we were ordered to fix every man in the Regiments to make ready To go out to help Major Putnam And we met them Coming in from sundown And we helped them along as far as we could And that night and lay out that night And three of the wounded men died there And any for one. A severe engagement took place on Clear River The west branch of Wood Creek About a mile northwest from Fort Ann village Then the site of a picketed blockhouse Called Fort Ann Between a party of Rangers and Provincials Under Rogers Putnam and Captain Dahliel Or Diel And about an equal number of French And Indians under Molang A famous partisan leader The English troops were marching when attacked Putnam was in front with the Provincials Rogers was in the rear with his Rangers And Diel was in the centre with the regulars Molang attacked them in front And a powerful Indian rushed forward And made Putnam a prisoner The Provincials were thrown into great confusion But were rallied by Lieutenant Durkee Who was one of the victims of the Wyoming massacre twenty years afterward Diel, with Gage's light infantry Behaved very gallantly And the Rangers finally put the Enemy to flight The latter lost about two hundred men Colonel Prevost then in command At Fort Edward sent out three hundred men With refreshments for the party And all arrived at Fort Edward On the ninth This was the relief party mentioned in the text Under date of the eighth Wednesday ninth We got in about eight o'clock And buried the dead And the wounded were dressed And carried over on the island This is an island in the Hudson Opposite Fort Edward Gage's Island Powers came up with a load of settlers Suttlers Stores and treated us well Thursday tenth I was called out To work upon the block house This day our post went of home With our letters Friday eleventh we went up To guard teams to halfway brook And to build a breastwork thirty six Ox teams and six wagons Saturday twelfth Colonel Fitch Fitch At Tyan to Riyog The Indian who seized Putnam Tied him to a tree And for a time he was exposed to the crossfire Of the combatants His garments were riddled by bullets But, strange to say, not one touched his person He was carried away in the retreat His wrists tightly bound with cords The Indians rejoiced over the capture Of their great enemy And he was doomed to the torture In the deep forest he was stripped naked Of the sapling Wood was piled high around him The death songs of the savages were chanted And the torch was applied Just then a heavy shower of rain Almost extinguished the flames They were again bursting forth with fiercer intensity When a French officer Informed of what was going on Dotted through the crowd of yelling savages And released the prisoner He was delivered to Monc Carme At Tyconderoga, then sent to Montreal And, after being treated kindly And taken by Colonel Bradstreet At Frontenac Sunday 13th Dayed the chief of our men upon duty And the rest went to meeting the afternoon The text was in the second of Timothy And first chapter and tenth verse Monday 14th I had nothing to do I wrote a letter to John Tuesday 15th I was upon Picket Picket Guard And wet and stormy it was One of the regulars whipped for sleeping upon guard Wednesday 16th The Rangers discovered a scout of French And come in to Fort Edward And all that were able were ready at a minute's warning Today I sent a letter to John Lyon Thursday 17th W.P. 31 stripes still And nothing to do the leave TS fixed up their tents Friday 18th Six of our men were ordered to go over To work upon the blockhouse Over the river I was really tired at night Saturday 19th I washed my clothes Col Fitch at Salatogue Sunday 20th We were almost all out upon duty To work at the highways And in the afternoon a very hard shower Which sought our tents all afloat Monday 21st I went down to Fort Misery Fort Misery was a breastwork At the mouth of Moses' kill Or creek, a short distance from Fort Miller On the east side of the Hudson And I heard of John Day's death at Salatogue This day Morris came up and we lived well Tuesday 22nd I went up the river to look for a horse Stephen and I Was called upon Picket Guard Wednesday 23rd I went out to look oxen And was treated well One man's gun went off And cut off his finger We drove out the two men out of the blockhouse Kept the great cattle Thursday 24th I was called out to guard up teams And to work on the road And had jill of rum for it Zachariah Catelyn died at Fort Edward Friday 25th I was called upon the quarter guard And we heard the great guns That were fired at the lake They shot at a mark And our provincials beat them And it made them very mad Saturday 26th David Lyon and Barnes Sought out to Albany sick this day They held a regimental court Marshall upon three deserters of Captain Mather's company One William Kennedy And William Cleomon Were judged to have one thousand lashes And today received two hundred And fifty stripes apiece Tother was forgiven Sunday 27th I was out upon the works at the great blockhouse We were out of provision We drawed for seven days But foregone so the regular shot pigeons And our men did so too End of Part 6 Recording by FNH Please visit www.bookranger.co.uk Part 7 Of the military journals of two private soldiers 1758-1775 This is a LibriVox recording All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain For more information or to volunteer Please visit www.librivox.org Recording by FNH The military journals of two private soldiers 1758-1775 By Abraham Tomlinson Part 7 Monday 28th Every private in our company Was out upon duty that was able And about four o'clock We came in And the orders were that every man Should make ready to fire three valleys Vollies And first they fired the cannon At the fort, one after another round The fort which is 21 Then the small arms And so three rounds apiece And then made a great fire on the parade And played round it And one gill of rum a man Allowed for the frolic And a barrel of beer for a company It was the king's birthday The firing of 21 heavy guns Formed a royal salute And a very wet night Tuesday 29th Very wet in the morning Then cleared of cold I went upon duty and sent a letter home Friday, September 1st Our duty was to help get out the cannon Out of the bottom of the river That was dropped in by means of going too near The end of the brig And sunk the scows and drowned one ox Very cold work A woman whipped 70 stripes And drummed out of the camp Saturday 2nd I was called upon the picket guard today Last night I went down to Fort Miskita Fort Mosquito Was a breastwork cast up at the mouth Of Snook's Creek And Smith Ainsworth treated as well Sunday 3rd I was out upon the escort And every man upon some duty I went to meeting part of the forenoon And the text was in Acts 24 and 25 Charles Rippler was put in Ensign Monday 4th Our post sought of home I went down to Fort Miskita To guard teams and the post And the lobsters This was a nickname for the regular troops Who were dressed in scarlet uniforms And our men hopped and wrestled Together to see which would beat And our men beat Tuesday 5th Still and nothing strange Wednesday 6th Most all of our men upon duty I was to work and making a road To go up to the great blockhouse Thursday 7th All our men out upon works Guarding teams and a great number of them Nye 100 And when we came back There was a scout coming from Fort Edward That went out from the lake They discovered nothing Friday 8th This day, Sergeant Earls went out To Fort Ann Fort Ann was erected in 1757 A year before the occurrence here Narrated took place It was a strong blockhouse of logs With portholes for cannon and loopholes For musketry and surrounded by a Picket of pine saplings When the writer visited the spot In 1848 he dug up a part Of one of the pickets yet remaining In the earth and on splitting it There was a giant odour of a fresh pine log Though 90 years had elapsed Since it was placed there This fort was near the bank of Wood Creek About 11 miles from the head of Lake Champlain At the village of Whitehall It was in the line of Burgoyne's march Towards the Hudson in 1777 And near it Quite a severe skirmish took place Between Colonel Long of Shuler's army And a British detachment Under Colonel Hill On the 8th of July Condoroga was abandoned to the enemy Victory was almost within the grasp Of Colonel Long when his ammunition Failed and he was compelled to retreat After the Colonel Canoe, Lieutenant Leonard And Ephraim Ellinghood Knapp And John Ryerson and Jed Brooks And Hesagaya Carpenter Phase 6 of our company 40 in all went along I went to work at the highway And add half a pint of rum for it Saturday 9th I was warned a quarter-guard And I changed with Moses Peake And went upon escort And got him by twelve o'clock I was warned out to work But did not do much Sergeant Earls came in with his Kana And the general was much pleased with it Sunday 10th I was upon guard But went to meeting a part of the Four Noon And the text was in 24 of Acts And 25 verse And the afternoon the text was in James 6th and 12th verse Monday 11 I took four days provisions and Josh Barrett And one Ranger with me And we went out near Fort Ann And we spied a fire and some person And we come back and made our report to the general And he blamed us some And said we should have a new pilot And go again Joe Downer put under guard Tuesday 12th I was freed from duty And we went and split out some plank To up our tent Wednesday 13th To work in the fort and wheeling gravel all day Four regulars whipped in Fort Some for gaming and one for being absent After being warned upon guard Thursday 14th I was warned on escort down to Misery Fort Misery And flanked all day Tuesday Twelve at night There was two bonfires And two barrels of rum Allowed for the rejoicing of Broad Street's Brookry The Indian name of the site of Fort Frontenac Where Kingston Upper Canada now stands Taken by Colonel Bradstreet Was Kataraca That was also the Indian name for Lake Ontario Friday 15th Day I was to work over upon island And worked hard to shovel in dirt And see Ephraim Elling Hood Taken poorly Saturday 16th Day I went to cutting fashines Fassines Bottles of sticks mixed with earth And used for filling ditches in the construction Of forts And stented for a piece in half a day And twelve stakes Sunday 17th All our men upon works Mr Pomeroy Preach one sermon And his text in James 5th And twelve verse Stephen Child had a post to Albany And sought out this day one regular come in That was a fishing at Halfway Brook Monday 18th I was to work over to the block house And took my farewell of working there And all our sick were drawed up And some discharged Tuesday 19th Four of our company had a final discharge From the campaign And sought off home Seth Bassett, Jonathan Corbin, John Peake And Silas Hodges Wednesday 20th Still here the main of us And nothing remarkable Only almost all our Woodstock men came up And with great joy we received them And much more the things that were sent us I received a letter from Ben Lyon Thursday 21st Nothing remarkable this day Friday 22nd Our Woodstock old militia Militia Sought out home And Lieutenant Smith And Corporal Peake and William Mercy And Samuel Levins had passed to Albany And went with them along down And many more that did not belong to our company Saturday 23 Our post came up And I received a letter from home Sunday 24th Mr Pomeroy Preached one sermon in the middle of the day So that the workmen might have some opportunity To hear some his text Was in Ezekiel The 37th chapter And 36th verse I was to work upon the island And I heard part of the sermon The channel between Rogers Island On which the Great Block House was built And Fort Edward does not exceed 200 feet In width Monday 25 Nothing remarkable Only Stephen Lyon got hurt Samuel Morris and Chubb went down along to Albany Tuesday 26th One scout went out For three days this day A great number of teams came down From the lake Wednesday 27th There were some men that came up to see us Sought out along New England And Sergeant Cromber had a pass to Albany And went down along Thursday 28th Nothing remarkable Only the scout came in that went out for three days Friday 29th Nothing remarkable Only very long orders End of Part 7 Recording by FNH Please visit www.bookranger.co.uk Part 8 Of the Military Journals of Two Private Soldiers 1758-1775 This is a LibriVox recording All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain For more information or to volunteer Please visit LibriVox.org Recording by FNH The Military Journals of Two Private Soldiers 1758-1775 By Abraham Tomlinson Part 8 Saturday 30th Nothing remarkable Only the christening Of the Royal Blockhouse And the whole of our regiment that were able Went over to work and had a good frolic to drink The men in general worked well At the entrenching round the blockhouse The trench three foot deep Sunday October 1st Nothing remarkable But something very strange And that is the camps were still And no work going forward Nor no prayers nor no sermon And a jill of rum into the bargain This we had from the generals Our month promised to us yesterday Mr Pomeray went down to Saratoga To see his son that was sick And today he came back, etc. Monday 2nd All the regiment that were able to work Went over to the blockhouse Besides that was upon guard And they were divided into four parties And they that got done first Was to have the best fat sheep One sheep to each party I was upon the grass guard And at night I found it Very tedious lying out For it stormed exceeding hard all night Tuesday 3rd MS being all of duty We made up two straw bunks For four of us to lay in And as it happened we did it in good time For it was very cold night Wednesday 4th Being very cold Corporal Sanger and Eliza Child Had a pass down to Albany And likewise a small scout went for a number 4 And we made our chimney Sergeant Kimball was broke And turned into ranks Thursday 5th General Ambrose General Amhurst Arrived at Fort Edward about 12 o'clock And immediately he went off To the lake, nothing more remarkable today Friday 6th Henry Lyon and Ephraim Ellinghood Poorly And cleared from duty three men Whipped about 300 lashes a piece And one woman Two and fifty lashes on bare rump Saturday 7th Our picket went up toward the halfway brook To meet General Ambrose Amhurst And about three o'clock he arrived at Fort Edward And at two o'clock The picket went down with him again And his wagon and six horses Sunday 8th In the fall noon all our men upon works In the afternoon we were allowed to attend Meeting and Mr. Pommie Pomeroy preached one sermon And his text was in a Z-Call 36 and 37 Verse Our family this day had a great rarity For dinner, and that was a billed Puddin Monday 9th Nothing remarkable among us this day Tuesday 10th I was upon guard and a very stormy day and night it was Orders came out strict That all fires should be put out by eight o'clock in the morning And not to have no more till six at night And they that don't obey the orders Are to have their chimney tore down And not to have another during this campaign Colonel Fitch lost a barrel of wine Wednesday 11th Still warm and wet Some of our regiment discharged home But none of our company Thursday 12th A very clear cold morning All our men upon works and upon guard that were able Colonel Hart's regiment Of the Hampshire marched down to Fort Edward In order for home Friday 13th All our men upon works again today Three discharged Viz Richard Jordan, Stephen Lyon And John Howlett At night 300 of the Baymen came down sick And two of them that carried their packs Died in the night Saturday 14th All worn down to Pomm works Stormy weather defeated them in it And the regulars which came down from the lake with us Have orders to march next Friday Down along in order for their winter quarters At Halifax Halifax, Nova Scotia This night the sentry which stood At the southern of the storehouse Spied a man getting a flower And he hailed him three times But he would not stop And the sentry fired but did not hit him And in his hurry he left his Tom me hawk Tom a hawk Sunday 15th Very cold All upon works and guard By sunrise This evening there came in a great number Of teams and Samuel Peake brought the Malancholy news of Stephen Childs Being killed and sculpt Sculpt And another captivated I was out upon grass-guard Monday 16th All upon works and all the teams Sought off for the lake Order guard to guard teams This evening there came in a great number Of wagons and hundred all better Tuesday 17th Being very pleasant in the morning Then showery and wet all the rest Of the day till ten o'clock at night About twelve o'clock at night The teams came in with the artillery This day a number Of our men went down to Fort Miller In battles to carry the sick And Capham's bag went down And the men stayed out Wednesday 18th Being cold the teams Sought out for the lake About forty of the king's wagons This afternoon there was a lobster British regular Corporal married to a Rhode Island whore Our men came in from Fort Miller Thursday 19th Arrangement was mustered by nine o'clock In the morning and our brigade major Called over the role of each company And after that we had a drink of flip A mixture of beer and rum Getting a hot iron into it For working over at the Royal Block House At one o'clock our men Were all called to work A court-martial was called at Captain Holmes' tent And Captain Holmes' president And at the role of the picket guard Was there one Isaac Ellis Whipped thirty stripes Was to had fifty Colonel Henman's Men came in loaded With artillery stores Friday 20th Cold still and our men all upon works This afternoon Lieutenant Smith came up to us again From Greenbush And Shubble Child came to his team Saturday 21st Still cold In the morning our men called out to work by sunrise And before and six of our company Vis David Bishop, Ephraim Ellingwood Samuel Mercy, Nathaniel Abbott David Dewitt and Drake Marched with their packs This night there came down a great number of teams From Ye Lake Here loaded with cannonballs and bum shells Likewise A number of sick came down Sunday 22 The teams set out for Ye Lake again I was upon the quarter guard A large number of sick sought out for home And it yet hailed cold And at night it cleared of very clear And still But very fresh and cold A black frost Monday 23rd I come of guard Clark Burroughs began his month with Bess At night three regiments Of province men came down from Ye Lake And lodged in the wood near the upper Blockhouse A number of teams came down from Ye Lake Loaded with artillery stores End of Part 8 Recording by FNH Please visit www.bookranger.co.uk Part 9 Of the military journals of two private soldiers 1758-1775 This is a LibriVox recording All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain For more information or to volunteer Please visit www.librivox.org Recording by FNH The military journals of two private soldiers 1758-1775 By Abraham Tomlinson Part 9 Tuesday 24th A number of teams started for Ye Lake again I received two letters from Captain Benjamin Lyon And one from Joshua The post came up yesterday to Fort Edward This day our drawing and we had Good Pork Three regiments of bay men Moved down along which was Colonel Pribbles Pribbles Colonel Williams And Colonel Nichols Wednesday 25th General Abercrumber arrived at Fort Edward Near night And all our regiment there were of duty Were ordered to be out upon the parade With their side arms on But the general forbid it Colonel L. Partridge's regiment came down And some of the lather caps And stayed here Thursday 26th Stormy morning Snow pretty wet and raw cold I went upon the picket last night And had one quart of rum for keeping sheep Friday 27th Being lorry and wet One of our men discharged home And sought of Nathaniel Barnes A number of teams sought out for the brook And returned again before sundown Saturday 28th Being still cold All our men turned out to work Sunrise And that want enough And they sent for every waiter Waiter And every one that belongs to the regiment A number of teams sought out down Homeward And three of our company went with them Vis surgeon Amsborough Jonathan Child And Payne Convis This afternoon the orders came out That every settler That belongs to the provincials Should quit this place by the first of November Sunday 29th Ranny and wet About nine o'clock in the morning Every man in the regiment that could go Went to the falls The third fall as it was called In the Hudson at Sandy Hill To help draw down the batos And very muddy it was Monday 30th Being very pleasant in the morning We were all turned out after Batos up to the falls And we went twice a piece Tuesday 31st All our men turned out by the Revelle Beating to go to batos And General Provost Was out amongst our tents To help turn us out It was the last work we should do That was flung up today I went upon the quarter guard at noon And they got down all the batos Wednesday November ye first Lowry and wet I come of guard Our men all upon works And three regiments of our Connecticut Came down about noon And Colonel Whiting's had orders To go over to the Royal Blockhouse And there to remain until further orders Two regiments sought off home in batos And two or three regiments of lobsters We had orders come out That we should all have two days to clean up in And to set for home on Sunday This day I wrote a letter And sent to John Thursday ye second Very cold Our men turned out to cutting for sheens And the orders were That it was the last day's work that we should do Friday ye third Very cold Our men all turned out upon works Notwithstanding yesterday's promise Our men had but poor Encouragements to work And laid but little weight to what that general Promised, for he said the first man That disobeyed his orders again Should be shot to death Whatsoever soldier or officer Saturday fourth I was orderly after general And our men all to work A drawing in cannon into the fort And our quarter guard was not relieved Till afternoon And after that orders come out That we should strike our tents by eight o'clock And be ready to march by nine One symbols got his discharge From the regular service today Sunday ye fifth Being very cold It began to rain so that we were detained But Colonel Whiting marched off Rainy all day long We had orders to be ready to march at seven o'clock In the morning Monday ye sixth Cloudy still At eight o'clock we struck our tents And at nine o'clock we marched off And about half after twelve We arrived at Fort Miller And made a little stop Then marched again and arrived at Suratoga Sun about one hour high And made no stop there But marched on about three mile And encamped in the woods Friday ye tenth Very stormy And snow in the morning We drawed two days allowance of provisions But no money And about two o'clock We sought out from Greenbush And arrived at Cantihook Town About ten o'clock at night Thirteen of us and Lieutenant Lannard Saturday eleventh From thence we marched Sun two hours high And arrived at John Hugger Booms Hodge Booms And revived ourselves a little And brought some rum that belonged to Colonel Whiting's regiment And thence to love joys And went to supper And from thence to robbices And lodged there in the pata room lands Livingston's manor in Columbia County The estates of Livingston, Van Resenlayer And others Who received grants of land from the government On certain conditions In order to encourage immigration and agriculture Were called patroon lands And the proprietors were entitled to Patroons or patrons Sunday twelfth Being still cold We sought out at sunrise And arrived at bushes in Sheffield And had a good breakfast And there was moor with horses And from thence to Laurences And revived ourselves there To coals and thence to sedgic In Cornwell And then to Wilcox in Goshen And lodged there Monday thirteenth Cold I come up to Hollyboat And sent my pack along from Goshen And we marched and arrived at Litchfield And then to Herringtown To Wears And from there to Strongs in Farmington And lodged there Tuesday fourteenth Very cold and frosty Marched five miles through the meadows And went to breakfast And come to mercies And stayed there And captain Holmes came up Wednesday fifteenth We marched and arrived at Chenys in Bolton And from thence we marched And arrived at Lees in Coventry Coventry and lodged there Very rainy Stephen Lyon met us with the horses Thursday sixteenth Being warm and pleasant We arrived at Woodstock Note, the soldiers had Necessarily a great deal of leisure During permanent camp duties And contrived various ways to amuse Themselves and kill time In those days the common soldiers carried their powder In horns of cows or oxen And many amused themselves By ornamenting them By a skillful use of their knives Below is a specimen of one of these ornamented horns Prepared during the campaign of seventeen fifty eight Upon it is neatly cut The figure of a fortified building A part of which is seen in the engraving The owner's name And a verse as follows A luthon Ives His horn Made at Lake George September ye 22nd A.D. 1758 I, powder with my brother ball A hero like do conquer all Still not this horn For fear of shame For on it is the owner's name The ruse is red The grass is green The days are past Which I have seen End of part nine Please visit www.bookranger.co.uk Part ten of the military journals of two private soldiers 1758 to 1775 This is a LibriVox recording All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain For more information or to volunteer Please visit LibriVox.org Recording by FNH The military journals of two private soldiers 1758 to 1775 By Abraham Tomlinson Part ten A journal for 1775 A.D. Introductory remarks The following is a literal transcript Of a journal kept by a common soldier named Samuel Hawes Of Rentham, Massachusetts Who appears to have been one of the minutemen Organized towards the close of 1774 And early in 1775 At that time there were about 3,000 British troops in Boston Under General Thomas Gage Who was also governor of the colony of Massachusetts He was popularly regarded as an oppressor And act after act of the British government During a year preceding Had convinced the American people That they must choose the alternative to submit or fight They resolved to fight if necessary During the summer of 1774 The people commenced arming And training themselves in military exercises The manufacture of arms And gunpowder was encouraged And throughout Massachusetts in particular The people were enrolled in companies And prepared to take up arms at a moment's warning From this circumstance They were called minutemen With his strong force Gage felt quite certain That he could suppress the threatened insurrection And keep the people quiet Yet he felt uneasy concerning The gathering of ammunition and stores By the Patriots at Concord 16 miles from Boston And on the night of the 18th of April 1775 He sent a detachment of soldiers to seize them They proceeded by way of Lexington Where they arrived at dawn on the 19th The expedition became known And the country was aroused When the British approached Lexington They were confronted by about 70 minutemen A skirmish ensued The Patriots were killed and several were wounded That was the first bloodshed of the revolution The British then went on to Concord To seize the stores Where they were again confronted by minutemen Indeed they had been annoyed all the way by them As they fired from behind buildings, stone walls and trees They destroyed the stores And in a skirmish killed several more American citizens The country was now thoroughly aroused And the minutemen hastened towards Lexington And Concord from all directions The British found it necessary to retreat And nothing saved the whole troop sent out from the night before From utter destruction but a strong reinforcement under Lord Percy The whole body retreated hastily to Charleston And across to Boston with a loss In killed and wounded of 273 men Intelligence of the tragedy soon spread over the country And from the hills and valleys of New England Thousands of men armed and unarmed Hastened towards Boston and formed that force Of which our journalist was one That for nine months kept the British Army prisoners Upon the peninsulas of Boston and Charleston By common consent, Artemis Ward A soldier of the French and Indian War Was made commander-in-chief And he performed the duties of that office with zeal Until he was superseded by Washington Early in July 1775 A Journal for 1775 Illustration A Journal for 1775 in Rentham April the 19th, Samuel Hawes Facsimile of a portion of the manuscript journal Rentham In Norfolk County, Massachusetts 32 miles south-west from Boston April the 19th About one o'clock, the minutemen See introductory remarks The skirmishes at Lexington and Concord occurred early in the morning of this day We're alarmed and met at Landlord Moons We marched from there the sun about half an hour high Towards Roxbury for we heard that the regulars had gone out And had killed six men and had wounded some more That was at Lexington Then the King's troops proceeded to Concord And there they were defeated and drove back Fitting as they went that gat to Charleston Hill that night See introductory remarks We marched to Heddens at Walpole 21 miles from Boston And there got a little refreshment And from there we marched to Dr. Cheneys And there we got some victuals and drink From thence we marched to Landlord Clisses at Denham 13 miles from Boston And their captain Parsons and company joined us And then we marched to Jays And their captain Boyd and company joined us And we marched to Landlord Whittings We tarried there about one hour And then we marched to Richards And searched the house and found Ebenezer all this And one Perry who we supposed to be Tories And we searched them and found several letters about them Which they were going to carry to Nathan all this in Boston But making them promise reformation We let them go home Then marching forward we met Colonel Gratton Colonel John Graton He was a bold officer and commanded a corps Which performed a sort of ranger service At this time he was only a major In June following he carried off about 800 sheep and lambs and some cattle from Deer Island About that time he was promoted to the rank of Colonel In the middle of July he laid 136 men in whale boats To destroy forage and other property on Long Island In Boston Harbour And at one time he captured a barge Belonging to a British man of war In April 1776 he accompanied General Thompson to Canada He was promoted to the rank of Brigadier In the Continental Army in January 1783 Returning from the engagement Which was the day before And he said that he would be with us immediately Then we marched to Jamakai Plain Jamaica Plain six miles from Boston There we heard that the regulars were coming over the neck The Yismas that connected the peninsula of Boston With the main at Roxbury And we stripped of our coats And marched on with good courage to Colonel Williams Third to the contrary We stayed there some time and refreshed ourselves And then marched to Roxbury Parade And there we had as much liquor as we wanted And every man drawed three biscuits Which were taken from the regulars The British soldiers were all called regulars This word denotes soldiers belonging to the regular army As distinguished from militia The day before which were hard enough for flints We lay on our arms until towards night We were prepared to Mr Slack's house And at night six men were drafted out for the main guard Nothing strange that night D-21 Nothing remarkable this day D-22 Nothing strange this day nor comical D-23 Being Sabbath day We marched on to the parade There was an alarm this night But it proved to be a false one 12 miles southeast from Boston D-24 Nothing strange today D-25 Nothing remarkable today D-26 We were guarded and a party drafted out for the main guard D-27 The enlistment came out to enlist men for the Massachusetts service Some of our minute men enlisted the same day But Captain Pond went home And several of his company They went as far as Dr Cheney's that night And the next morning reached home On Monday The company were called together In order to enlist men Lieutenant Messenger With a party went down to Roxbury And we still remaining in Mr Slack's house Also on the same day There were four Tories carried through Roxbury One mile from Boston To Cambridge Three miles northwest from Boston From Marshfield 31 miles southeast from Boston And there was a great shouting When they came through the camp Tories were those who adhered to the British It is a name derived from the vocabulary Of British politics in the time of Charles II A Tory then Was an adherent of the crown A Whig was an opposer of the government The word first used in America About 1770 End of part 10 Recording by FNH Please visit www.bookranger.co.uk Part 11 Of the military journals of two private soldiers 1758 1775 This is a LibriVox recording All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain For more information Or to volunteer Please visit LibriVox.org Recording by FNH The military journals of two private soldiers 1758-1775 By Abraham Tomlinson Part 11 D-28 This day our regiment paraded And went through the manual exercise Then we grounded our firelocks And every man set down by their arms And one ABL Petty Accidentally discharged his piece And shot two balls through the body Of one A Saccini Through his left side And right wrist He lived about 24 hours And then expired He belonged to Warpole 21 miles south west from Boston And he was carried there and buried On the 30 day of April On Sunday After meeting this young man Was but a few days before fired at By one main guard In attempting to pass the guard And was not hurt in the least D-29 About nine o'clock About four in the afternoon We had another alarm But there was nothing done 30th Being the Lord's Day We went to meeting and heard Mr. Adams Reverend Amos Adams A minister at Roxbury He was a graduate of Harvard College He died of dysentery Which prevailed in the camp at Dorchester On the 5th of October 1775 In the 48th year of his age And he preached a very suitable sermon For the occasion May 1 D Nothing very remarkable this day 2 D To 11 Nothing of consequence happened 12 14 No great for news 15 16 No news worth mentioning 17 At night there was a fire broke out In Boston, occasioned by the King's troops That were dealing out their stores When one of the soldiers letting a candle fall Amongst some powder and set it on fire Which occasioned the destruction Of a great number of buildings and killed some soldiers And destroyed a considerable deal Of their ammunition besides a great Quantity of flour 18 19 Nothing very remarkable 20 Nothing strange today 21 Being Sunday About eight o'clock we were alarmed And we heard that regulars were landing at Dorchester Point And that there were two lighters Gone to Weymouth loaded with the King's troops But it was a false alarm And there was nothing done On Sunday morning the 21st of May The British commander sent two sloops And an armed schooner to take off a quantity Of hay from Grape Island They were opposed by the people Who gathered on the point nearest the island These finally got two vessels afloat Went to the island, drove the British off Burnt 80 tons of hay And brought off many cattle There were some severe fighting during the affair Mrs. John Adams writing to her husband said You inquire who were at the engagement At Grape Island I may say with truth All of Weymouth, Braintree and Hingham Who were able to bear arms Both your brothers were there Your younger brother with his company Who gained honour by their good order that day He was one of the first To venture on board a schooner To land upon the island Mr. Adams was then in the Continental Congress at Philadelphia 22 Nothing to day for news 23 to 26 Nothing remarkable The 27 At night we heard the report Of cannon and of small arms But we could not tell from whence it was On Saturday May 27th A detachment of Americans Was sent to drive all the livestock From hog and noodles islands near Boston They were observed by the British Who dispatched a sloop, a schooner And forty marines to oppose them They were fired on from the vessels And quite severe skirmishing continued Through the night The Americans sent for reinforcements And at about nine o'clock at night Some three hundred men and two pieces of cannon arrived Commanded by General Putnam in person And accompanied by Dr. Warren As a volunteer They called the British to abandon their sloop And the Americans took possession of it The British lost twenty killed and fifty wounded The Americans had none killed And only four wounded They captured twelve swivels And four four pound cannon Besides clothing and money The 28 Being Sunday we were informed That the firing we heard yesterday Was at Nedler's Island Noddles between the King's troops and our men Our men killed several of them For a field pieces and burnt two schooners And they did not hurt any of our men The 29 Nothing remarkable this day The 30 Captain Pond's company Moved to Commodore Lawring's house Probably the house of Joshua Lawring Jr Near Roxbury Who was a violent loyalist General Gage made him sole auctioneer In Boston He was afterwards commissary of prisoners In New York Life is referred to in Hopkinson's poem The Battle of the Kegs The 31 Being election day We drank the lady's health and success June the one Nothing remarkable happened this day The two to eight Nothing remarkable happened The nine We passed muster before Colonel Robinson Colonel John Robinson Who was second in command In the skirmish at Concord on the 19th of April He commanded the detachment That guarded Boston Neck for some time Speaking of that duty Gordon remarks, the Colonel was obliged Therefore from the time mentioned To patrol the guards every night Which gave him a round of nine miles To traverse And received one month's pay The 10 There was a man whipped for stealing The 11 There was a soldier died at the hospital Which was the first that had died of sickness Since we encamped The same day there were two fire ships Harlots drummed out from Rhodes Island compie The 12 Nothing strange this day The 13 Ditto The 14 The general General Thomas who had command of the right wing Extending from Roxbury to Dorchester General Artemis Ward was commander in chief Washington, early in July Seeing the reinforcement of the King's troops Come to Boston, ordered the camps To be in readiness, also ordered That a number of teams be employed In carting for sheens, facines And other materials for building breast works This being on Thursday The 15 Nothing remarkable this day The 16 Nothing of consequence this day The 17 It being Saturday The King's troops landed at Charleston And set the whole town on fire And laid it all in ashes Then they proceeded to Bunker's Hill This is a mistake It was Breeds Hill Nearer Charleston than Boston than Bunker's Hill Colonel William Prescott And not General Putnam Was entrenched there And was in command during the engagement He had been sent with the company the night before About a thousand strong To throw up a redoubt on Bunker's Hill He made a mistake And performed the work on Breeds Hill The British had no suspicion of the work That went on during the sultry June night And were greatly alarmed when they saw A formidable breastwork overlooking Their shipping in the harbour and menacing the city During the engagement General Putnam was on Bunker's Hill Urging on reinforcements for Prescott Dr. Warren, just appointed Major General, joined Prescott As a volunteer during the battle And was mortally wounded just as the conflict ended It must be remembered that the writer of this journal Was in General Thomas's division Which did not participate in the battle Of the 17th of June Where Colonel Putnam entrenched And after an engagement which lasted the afternoon The troops took the hill And it is said that the nearest Computation of the loss of the enemy Was about 1500 Is killed and wounded Were alarmed about one o'clock that day And went down to our alarm post And we lay there for a while At our alarm post And we lay there all the afternoon And about six o'clock the troops fired From their breastwork on Boston Neck At our people in Roxbury And we stayed until the firing was over And then our regiment was ordered to Cambridge To assist our forces And we reached there about twelve o'clock at night And lodged in the meeting-house Until break of day Being Sunday We turned out and marched in Proskett Hill Prospect Hill Americans retreated from Breeds and Bunkers Hills To Winter and Prospect Hills and Cambridge The remains of the American entrenchments On Prospect Hill were demolished in 1817 Expecting to come to an engagement We halted at a house at the bottom of the hill And fixed for a battle Then we marched up the hill Where we went to entrenching about twelve o'clock Some of our men went down the hill Towards the troops after some flower And the troops fired at them And wounded David Tristell in the shoulder And another in the leg About four o'clock Colonel Reid Colonel James Reid of New Hampshire He was active in the Battle of the 17th He was a brave officer And was at the head of a regiment At Ticonderoga the following year We ordered his regiment to march to Roxbury And we arrived there about sunset Very weary The nineteen Nothing remarkable this day The twenty Ditto The twenty-one Nothing worth mentioning Twenty-two Ditto The twenty-three Nothing remarkable today The twenty-four The enemy fired again upon Roxbury About three o'clock And the guards fired upon each other And there was one man killed And we were alarmed The Americans were alarmed on the twenty-fourth By indications that the whole British Army Was at the Boston neck At noon they commenced throwing bombshells Into Roxbury but the alert soldiers Prevented damage from them and saved the town Colonel Miller of Rhode Island Said in a letter, such was the courage Of our men that they would go And take up a burning carcass or bomb And take out the fuse The twenty-five Sunday Nothing remarkable The twenty-six This morning very early our men went out To fire but did not effect it The house and barns of Thomas Brown Were on the neck about a mile from Roxbury Meeting-house and were occupied By the British advance guard Two Americans tried to set fire to the barn On the twenty-fourth and were killed The twenty-seven Nothing remarkable this day The twenty-eight We moved to a little house That Captain Bliggs formally lived in But we soon moved from there to Slack's house again The twenty-nine Nothing remarkable this day The thirty Nothing happened Only there was a smart shower End of Part 11 Recording by FNH Please visit www.bookranger.co.uk Part 12 Of the military journals of two private soldiers 1758-1775 This is a LibriVox recording All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain For more information Or to volunteer please visit www.librivox.org Recording by FNH The military journals of two private soldiers 1758-1775 By Abraham Tomlinson Part 12 July The one Nothing remarkable this day The two Ditto Again hurled some shells into Roxbury on Sunday The second of July But the extent of the damage Was setting fire to one house Which was consumed The three Ditto George Washington was chosen commander-in-chief Of the Continental Armies on the 15th of June 1775 He set out for the headquarters of the army At Cambridge on the 21st Reached there on the second of July And took formal command of the army On the morning of the third The four There was a flag of truce come out of town To our sentry on the neck The five Nothing worth mentioning today The six Nothing remarkable this day The seven Early in the morning we were alarmed And all of us repaired to our alarm post And we had not been there long Before we saw Brown's house And barn on fire A party of volunteers Under majors Tupper and Crane Attacked the British advance guards Drove them in and set fire to Brown's house They took several muskets And retreated without loss These were set on fire By some of our brave Americans And they took one gun And two bayonets and one halberd The eight Nine Nothing remarkable The ten There was a party of soldiers sent to Germantown It is impossible to Identify this place A letter dated on the twelt says We have just got over land from Cape Cod A large fleet of whaleboats etc etc The place alluded to in the text Was probably near Boston To get some whaleboats They marched down there that night The next night being clear They set out for Long Island And arrived there in short time Then they plundered the island They took from thence 19 head of horned cattle And a number of sheep And three swine This party went from Roxbury Camp The report says that they brought from Long Island 15 prisoners, 200 sheep 19 cattle 13 horses and three hogs The prisoners were taken to Concord Also 18 prisoners And amongst them were three women The 11 Nothing remarkable this day The 12 Major Tupper and his company returned to Roxbury With their prisoners And the same day there was a party Drafted out to go to Long Island To burn the buildings there When they were attacked by the King's troops And had a smart engagement The party under Colonel Grayton Mentioned in the preceding note But we lost but one man And he belonged to Captain Persons company Of Strouton 20 miles south from Boston The 13 The 14 Nothing remarkable until night And then there was a man killed At the main guard with a cannonball The 15 17 Nothing remarkable The 18 Nothing remarkable this day A strong party of Americans took possession Of an advanced post in Roxbury Upon which the British kept up An incessant fire The 19 We had an alarm and we went to our alarm post And stayed there about one hour And could not discover anything So he returned to our barracks again 20 There was a man killed Who belonged to Captain Bachelors company In Cole Reed's regiment He was killed by guns going accidentally off He was shot about seven o'clock And died about nine o'clock The same night His name was Wood Belong to Upton 20 miles south west from Boston He was about 24 or 25 years of age The 20th was observed throughout the camps As a day of fasting and prayer Before daylight that morning A party from Heath's regiment Landed on Nantasket Point Set fire to the lighthouse And brought away a thousand bushels of barley And a quantity of hay The 21 24 Nothing remarkable The 25 With four more were under arms And marched towards Cambridge to meet General Ward The 26 General Heath's regiment Moved from Dorchester to Cambridge And General Ward's regiment Moved from Cambridge to Dorchester And took General Heath's barracks The 27 Nothing remarkable this day The 28 Ditto The 29 Nothing bad Being Sunday we had an alarm And went to our fort This was a very strong quadrangular work On the highest eminence in Roxbury It had four bastions And in every respect was a regular work It is now well preserved The embankments being from six to fifteen feet in height from without The same day There was a party of men drafted out To go to the lighthouse A major tupper was commander of the party On that day the British 500 strong Marched over the neck And built a slight breastwork to cover their guard The American camp was in alarm all day And that night the troops lay on their arms The Tories in Boston were also alarmed For they dreaded an invasion of the city By their exasperated countrymen The 31 This day major tupper and his men Returned to Roxbury With between thirty and forty prisoners Some regulars and some Tories And some Marians Marines And had something of a battle And we lost one man and another wounded And our men burnt the lighthouse And took some plunder The British commenced rebuilding the lighthouse On Nantasket Point Major Tupper with three hundred men Attacked the working party Killed ten or twelve men And took the rest prisoners He then demolished the works But before he could leave Some armed boats came to oppose him In the skirmishing that ensued They were killed or captured Tupper lost one man killed and two wounded There was an alarm The firing began first at the floating battery And then at the breastwork And then the troops marched out and set the gorge tavern on fire A party of British troops Sallied out towards Roxbury Drove in the American pickets And burned the tavern which was situated Upon the portion of the neck nearest Roxbury And men took one prisoner And the same night one of the enemy deserted And came to our centuries at Dorchester Point And brought away with him Two guns and two cartridge boxes And sixty rounds of cartridge All in good order And there were several more deserted to Cambridge The same night August Domina 1775 The one The floating battery When the British built their breastwork on the neck The Sunday previous They had a floating battery brought into Charles River And mauled it within three hundred yards Of Seawall's Point Went up towards Brookline Fort The Brookline Fort was on Seawall's Point Between Roxbury and Cambridge It commanded the entrance to Charles River And our men, perceiving her move They began to fire at her Out of Colonel Reed's Fort Until they drove her back to her old place The same day They fired from Roxbury Hill Fort And it was said that they fired through their barracks The two Nothing remarkable this day The three Ditto The four Nothing remarkable today Only I went to the main guard And the enemy fired at us as we came up The five Ditto The six Being Sunday, nothing remarkable at night I went on the picket guard The seven Nothing strange The nine Nothing remarkable this day Only I went upon fatigue The ten Nothing strange We had a great rain The eleven There was three men whipped for deserting And they were whipped ten stripes apiece They belonged to the Connecticut forces The twelve Nothing remarkable today I went upon fatigue to Dorchester The village and church of Dorchester The heights of Dorchester are in what is now called South Boston End of Part 12 Recording by FNH Please visit www.bookranger.co.uk Part 13 Of the military journals Of two private soldiers 1758-1775 This is a LibriVox recording All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain For more information or to volunteer Please visit LibriVox.org Recording by FNH The military journals Of two private soldiers 1758-1775 By Abraham Tomlinson Part 13 The 13 Being Sunday, we went to hear Mr. Willard Joseph Willard D.D. Who was made president of Harford College In December 1781 He died in New Bedford in 1804 At the age of 64 years And after meeting Our men went to entrench down at the George Tavern And about break of day They got home 14 There was nothing remarkable I went upon fatigue down to the George Tavern 15 2 o'clock this afternoon When the lobsters A nickname given to the British regulars On account of their red suits They were so called in England It was the time of Queen Anne Fired on our guards Which was returned by our Roxbury Fort The firing was continued for some time But how much to their damage we don't know One of our men was slightly wounded Their firing was from a floating battery And it is thought Would have killed one or two men If they had not lain down For the ball passed within four foot Of our barrack The night passed without any alarm 16 This day they fired at our main guard But no material damage was done The remaining part of their malice Seem to be postponed to a future season Our American guard kept their ground And the night passed without any alarm Etc etc 17 About 9 o'clock The enemy fired upon our main guard And fatigue men They threw four balls and two bombs And one of the balls struck two guns Which belonged to the main guard And the men had them on their shoulders But did not hurt them much 18 Behold their spite this morning Before the sun rise the enemy Fired at our working party on the neck This side of the George Tavern Our riflemen fired at them And it is thought killed to two of them But not withstanding All their firing of balls and bombs Through some of them came so near That it could hardly be called an escape Yet there was not one man wounded On our side One bomb was thrown in the evening But did no damage One of the enemy came to our sentries And is now in our guard house 19 I went upon fatigue The morning began with firing From the wicked enemy at our guard But did no hurt In the afternoon they riflemen Fired at the enemy And they wounded one of the riflemen In the foot slightly Let this suffice for a short account Of the transactions of the 19 day 20 I went upon the main guard at night Our boats went up within gunshot Of the common The large park known as Boston Common Extended down to the water's edge Before the flats were filled in And alarmed them by firing several guns And then returned without any loss On our side 21 Nothing remarkable happened this day At night one of the enemy deserted And came to us 22 We paraded I went down to the picket 23 24 25 A flag of truce came out of town But for what I don't know 26 This morning there was a man ran away From the floating battery 27 Being Sunday But they make such a firing over At Bunkers Hill That it seems to be more like the king's Birthday than Sunday But what success they have had We are not able to determine But we heard they had killed two men And wounded three or four, four more About nine o'clock on Sunday morning The 27th The British opened a heavy cannonade From Bunkers Hill where they had built A strong redoubt And floating battery in Mystic River The firing was directed upon The American works on winter, prospect And plowed hills They continued to bombard these works daily Until the 10th of September 28 But they still hold up Their firing at Bunkers Hill Nothing more remarkable this day 29 I went upon the picket down to the George Tavern And the enemy fired several small arms At us, but did no damage 30 Very rainy, nothing extraordinary this day 31 Nothing extraordinary this day Only it was rainy at night Lieutenant Foster and four men Went down to the picket There was a famous tree in Boston Under which the Patriots had often held meetings Since the time of the Stamp Act Excitement On that account it was called the Liberty Tree It was a noble elm And stood at the corner of the present Washington On the 31st of August 1775 The British cut it down With no apparent motive But the indulgence of petty spite An eyewitness of the event says After a long spell of laughing and grinning Sweating and swearing and foaming With malice, diabolical They cut down a tree Because it bore the name of Liberty A Tory soldier was killed by its fall A poet of the day wrote A Tory soldier on its topmost limb The genius of the shade Looks stern at him And marked him out that same hour to dine Where unsnuffed lamps burn low At Pluto's shrine Then tripped his feet From off their cautious stand Pale turned the wretch He spread each helpless hand And spread in vain With headlong force he fell Nor stopped descending Till he stopped in hell September 1 This morning very early Just past one o'clock The enemy began to fire from their breast Work and their floating battery Which occasioned an alarm Their firing seemed to be at our main Guard and picket They fired a number of guns and threw Several bombs and they were permitted To kill two men, the one Belong to Colonel Huntington's regiment Colonel Jebediah Huntington Of Norwich, Connecticut The British now seem determined To make a general assault upon the British soldiers, and a heavy cannon Aid was opened simultaneously upon The Americans at Roxbury And in the vicinity of Cambridge And the other belonged to Colonel Davidson's regiment, and one of the Riflemen was slightly wounded But see the providence of God in it When six or seven hundred men were Before the mouths of their cannon There were but two men killed We should not have thought it strange If they had killed twenty considering The situation that they were in The regular centuries deserted about an hour Before the firing began This was the smartest firing that ever Has been in this campaign In the afternoon they fired upon our fatigue party But did no damage Also about sunset there were several guns Fired on board the ships There were several ships came into the harbour Thus far the proceeding of the one day The two I went down to the right hand of the burying Place, and we had not been there long Before we were ordered off, and the cannon Began to play upon the enemy from Roxbury Fort on the hill, and the field pieces From the breastwork in the thicket The occasion of our men's firing upon them Was this They had advanced about thirty or forty rods This side of their breastwork on the neck And were entrenching there They threw up a slight breastwork A little in advance of their lines on the neck And not far from the George tavern They fired several guns at us But did no damage In the afternoon we went down to our work Again expecting every moment When they would fire at us But they never fired one gun in the afternoon At night there was a platform Carried down to the thicket In order to mount a cannon there Nothing more remarkable today The three Being Sunday we turned out About day and went to our alarm post And it rained, and we came home And John Coleman drank three pint cider At one draught Nothing more remarkable this day The four We turned out this morning before day And went to our alarm post Nothing remarkable this day At night I went upon the picket down to Lamb's Dam Lamb's Dam was between Rocksbury And Dorchester There the Americans completed a strong work On the 10th of September And mounted four eighteen pounders Nothing more remarkable The five Nothing remarkable Only Benjamin McLean sent home Ten letters at one draught by Lieutenant Bacon And Lieutenant Foster Had liked to have been put under guard For playing ball The six Nothing remarkable this day At night our men went down below the George Tavern For a safe guard for the centuries The seven We turned out early this morning And went to our alarm post And had a smart scrimmage Scirmish with no enemy And this day I went upon the creek guard Several ships sailed out of the harbour Old white was buried And there was much joy We cannot explain this local illusion The eight Came of the creek guard And nothing remarkable happened Only the enemy fired at our fatigue party But did no damage At night upon the door guard The nine In the morning the enemy fired upon our fatigue party But did them no damage In the afternoon I went upon fatigue At night our men carried several cannon down Into the thicket to the breast works there The breast works in the thicket Were the Roxbury lines of fortifications In advance of the fort End of part 13 Recording by FNH Please visit www.bookranger.co.uk