The Military Journals of Two Private Soldiers, 1758 1775
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Abraham Tomlinson >> The Military Journals of Two Private Soldiers, 1758 1775
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[Illustration: RUINS OF FORT TICONDEROGA
(From Lossing's Field Book of the Revolution.)]
THE
MILITARY JOURNALS
OF TWO
PRIVATE SOLDIERS,
1758--1775,
WITH
NUMEROUS ILLUSTRATIVE NOTES
TO WHICH IS ADDED,
A SUPPLEMENT,
CONTAINING
OFFICIAL PAPERS ON THE SKIRMISHES AT LEXINGTON AND CONCORD.
POUGHKEEPSIE:
PUBLISHED BY ABRAHAM TOMLINSON,
AT THE MUSEUM.
1855.
Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1854,
By ABRAHAM TOMLINSON,
in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United
States, in and for the Southern District of New York.
STEREOTYPED BY C. C. SAVAGE.
13 Chambers Street, N. Y.
C. A. ALVORD, PRINTER,
29 Gold Street, N. Y.
ADVERTISEMENT.
Having been, for several years, engaged in the establishment of a
Museum in Poughkeepsie, I have, by extensive travel and research, and
by the kindness of many of my fellow-citizens in Dutchess 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 seventeen 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 et
literatim_, as recorded by the actors themselves, might have an
interest for American readers, as exhibiting the every-day 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 judgment 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 guaranty for 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.
POUGHKEEPSIE MUSEUM, _December, 1854_.
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 colonies of the two nations had been
gradually expanding and increasing in importance. The English, more
than a million in number, occupied the seaboard from the Penobscot to
the St. Mary's, a thousand miles in extent; all eastward of the great
ranges of the Alleganies, and far northward toward 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, Kaskaskia, Vincennes, 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 in the bosoms of the respective colonists in America, where
it was continually fed by frequent hostilities on frontier ground.
They had ever regarded each other with extreme 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 sixty 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 dominion
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 the first explorations and
settlements in that region. The claims of the real owner--the
Indian--were lost sight of in the discussion; and it was a significant
question asked by an Indian messenger of the agent of the 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
head-waters 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
Pittsburg, 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 Du Quesne, where Pittsburg now stands.
General Sir James Abercrombie commanded the expedition against
Ticonderoga, accompanied by young Lord Howe as his lieutenant. The
French were under the command of the marquis Montcalm, 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 that campaign in which the soldier served who kept the
Journal given in the succeeding pages. It is a graphic outline
picture, in 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
Wolfe; Lord Amherst, more successful than Abercrombie, 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 the Autumn of 1760; and the struggle for
supremacy in America, between the French and English, was ended for
ever.
L.
MILITARY JOURNAL FOR 1758.
[Illustration: Lemuel Lyon
FAC-SIMILE OF A PORTION OF THE MANUSCRIPT JOURNAL.]
April 5 1758. I Lemuel Lyon of Woodstock Inlisted under Captain David
holms of Woodstock in newingLand For this present Cannody
Expordition[1]--I Received of Captain Holms L2.0s.0d.
[Footnote 1: Canada expedition.]
May 30. Received L3,-16-0.
June, 2nd. We arrived at Colonal Maysons at 12 o'Clock and marched
from their to Landard[2] Abits & Sergent Stone treated us their--then
we marched to mansfield to Deacon Eldridgs about four o'clock--then we
marched to Bolton to Landard trils, and we gave 7d a night for horse
keeping.
[Footnote 2: Landlord. The proprietor of an inn or
tavern was universally called _landlord_. The title
is still very prevalent.]
Wednesday 7th. We had Carts to press,[3]--then we marched of from
their to Landard Strengs in Harford and from their to Landard Geds &
had raw Pork for dinner--then we marched to Landard Crews and the
Chief[4] lodges their--My mess lodged at a private house one Daniel
Catlins.
[Footnote 3: 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.]
[Footnote 4: Probably General Lyman, who was the
commander-in-chief of the Connecticut forces at
that time.]
Thursday 8th. Marched of and arived at Landard Gessels and their we
went to Brecfirst and then we marched from their to our stores in
Litchfield[5] to Squire Sheldings and then to Landard Buels and lodged
their and our Captain was sent for to a man in another Company that
had fits.
[Footnote 5: In Litchfield county, Connecticut.]
Friday 9th. Then marched from their and we had nu teams presed their
and we arrived at Landard Hollobuts in Goshen from their to widow
Leggets in Cornwell[6] and from their to Coles in Cainan[7] & lodged
their.
[Footnote 6: Cornwall.]
[Footnote 7: Canaan.]
Saturday 10th. Marched to Lawrences and from thence to Landard Bushes
in Shefield 7 mile and went to diner--thence marched and arived at one
Garnt Burges and lodged their and our Ensign went to Prayer with us--
Sonday 11th. Marched into the Paterroon Lands[8] to Landard Lovejoys &
went to diner had a hard shower then marched into Cantihook[9] to one
Hayer Carns the Stone house & lodged their & from thence to Cantihook
Town to one Bushes and slept their.
[Footnote 8: Livingston's manor, in Columbia
county. The estates of Livingston, Van Rensselaer,
and others, who received grants of land from
government, on certain conditions, in order to
encourage immigration and agriculture, were called
Patroon Lands, and the proprietors were entitled
Patroons, or patrons.]
[Footnote 9: Kinderhook.]
Monday 12th. At Cantihook.
Tuesday 13th. Marched and arived at the half way house in Albany &
Bated, & then into Green Bush[10] by Son down and lodged their in
Ranslays Barn.
[Footnote 10: Now East Albany, on the east side of
the Hudson river.]
Wednesday 14th. Stil at Albany and their I first shifted my clothes
and washed them--then we had 6 rounds of powder & ball & had orders
from Colonel Whiting to go to Senakada[11]--this day Asel Carpenter
came to Albany.
[Footnote 11: Schenectady.]
Thursday 15th. We went over the River Early to receive our rations in
provision and in money and we marched 2 Miles and stoped and refreshed
ourselves their half an hour and Lieut. Smith came up and we received
our Abilitan money.[12]
[Footnote 12: Billeting-money--that is, money to
pay for lodgings at private houses. When soldiers
are quartered at private houses, it is said that
such ones are _billeted_ at such a house, &c.]
Friday 16th. We had Prayers in our company at 3 Ock then all marched
of but 14 and they stayed here to guard Lieut Smith and the money and
yesterday Mr. Holmes sot of for Home and I giv 5 pence for carring my
letter--we stayed here til 5 oclock this afternoon and we heard
nothing from Lieut Smith and we had no provisions so we marched for
Scanacata[13] and we got in at Son down well & their was a Larrom[14]
this night.
[Footnote 13: Schenectady.]
[Footnote 14: Alarum, or alarm.]
Saturday 17th. Stil at Schenacata[15] and we moved into our Barrocks
and Barnabas Evings was taken poor with a working in the Body Ben
denny was taken very poor.
[Footnote 15: Schenectady.]
Sonday 18th. I was first called upon guard with 15 more. My turn came
first at 11 oclock--this afternoon 3 ock Lieut. Smith come up with our
abilitan money.
Monday 19th. Stil at Schenacata and their was a rigiment of province
men[16] come up to Schenacata and this night 25 of our men went over
the River west 1 mile to guard wagon Horses--this day a short training
1 Regiment.
[Footnote 16: Provincial troops, or American
soldiers. The English troops were called regulars.]
Tuesday 20th. Their marched of 3 Hundred of the Bay Forces[17] for
Fort Edward[18] and I received my abilitan in full L1.8s.0d.
[Footnote 17: Massachusetts Bay troops. The
Massachusetts colony was called _Massachusetts Bay_
until after the War for Independence.]
[Footnote 18: 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
encamped 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)
occupied by the flourishing village of Fort Edward.
Some of the embankments are yet visible near the
river. It was near this fort that Jane McCrea was
killed and scalped, in 1777.]
Wednesday 21st. Stil hear and we were imbodied for prayers in the
morning and then trained a little. Corperal Carpenter was taken poor.
Thursday 22d. Had orders to march to the half moon[19] and Captain
Leneses company to & at 7 oclk we marched and arivd at Tess-ceune[20]
and Lodged their at Landard Abraham Grotes.
[Footnote 19: Near Waterford, on the west side of
the Hudson river, thirteen miles north from
Albany.]
[Footnote 20: Niskayuna, a short distance from
Waterford, and remarkable as a settlement of
Shaking Quakers.]
Friday 23d. Marched in the rain and very gresy traviling it was and we
Arivd at Teburth and from thence to the place cald Lowdins Ferry[21]
to Landard Fungdors and from thence to the half moon & Lodged their.
[Footnote 21: On the Mohawk, about five miles above
Cohoes 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 Schuyler was casting up
entrenchments at Cohoes Falls, a few weeks before
the Saratoga battles, in 1777.]
Saturday 24th. I received a Letter from John at the half moon and from
thence we marched & Arived at Stil Water[22] & Lodged their & Barnabas
Evings was poor.
[Footnote 22: Stillwater is on the west bank of the
Hudson, in Saratoga county, twenty-four miles north
from Albany. The battle of Bemis's heights was
fought near 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.]
Sonday 25th. We got 2 Battoes[23] to carry our packs up to
Salatogue[24] and we went a foot & 8 of our men were draun out to stay
at Salatogue--Captain Lewis shot at an Indian and kild him & sot in
the Battoe--from Salatogue we marched on to Fort Miller[25] and Lodged
their.
[Footnote 23: A batteau is a kind of scow or
flat-boat, used on shallow streams like the Hudson
above Waterford.]
[Footnote 24: Saratoga. This settlement was near
the mouth of the Fish creek, on the south side. The
village of Schuylerville is just across the stream,
on the north side. On the plain, in front of the
village of Schuylerville, was a regular
quadrangular fortification, with bastions, called
Fort Hardy. It was erected in 1756, and named in
honor of the governor of New York at that time.]
[Footnote 25: 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 (afterward 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
scalped.]
Monday 26th. Rainy and wet--I come up the River in a Battoe to Fort
Edward to the incampment--their we drad 1/2 a pound of powder and 10
Bullets a peace and 8 days provision in order for to march to the
Lake[26]--Barnabas Evings was very poor with fever nago[27] and was
forst to stay behind & David Bishop with him--we Lodged in Bush tents
and very wet it was.
[Footnote 26: Lake George.]
[Footnote 27: Fever-and-ague.]
Tuesday 27th. Marched all of Colonel Phiches[28] Regiment that were
hear with 3 teams to carry the officers we arrived at the half way
Brook[29] and their a great percel stashond for a while & from thence
we Marched to Lake George and went over upon the hill East & their
Encamptt one with myself went upon guard this night.
[Footnote 28: Fitch's.]
[Footnote 29: Afterward called Snook's creek. It
enters the Hudson three miles below Fort Edward.]
Wednesday 28th. We cleard our ground and pitchd our tents I sent 2
letters home.
Thursday 29th. Stil here General Limon[30] & Colonel Phiches Regiments
come up to the Lake this day I washed my Cloths 1 more rigiment come
up.
[Footnote 30: 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 afterward 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 the honor
awarded to General Johnson, who was jealous of
Lyman's abilities 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.]
Friday 30th. This day there was a very unhapy mishap fel out in the
province forces & that was 1 **** shot one **** partly through the
body but did not kil him the man which was shot lived at Bridgwater
to day they drawd out 9 men to go in Battoes up the Lake.
Saturday July 1st. Colonel Worster[31] & his rigiment came up to day &
3 of our sick men 1 of them Brot nuse that one man shot another by
accident at Schenacata & an hour after he died to day our Chapling[32]
came up &. 1 of Magor Rogers[33] men came in that had bin gorn 7 days
& Expected to be gorn but 2 he was so beat out that he could not tel
what had becom of tother. this night I went upon a batto and guarded
Colonel Phiches Tub of Butter.
[Footnote 31: Colonel David Wooster, of
Connecticut, the eminent general of the Revolution,
who was killed at Ridgefield, while engaged in the
pursuit of Tryon, 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 afterward received the
appointment of captain of a vessel of the
coast-guard. He was in the expedition against
Louisburg in 1745. He afterward went to England,
where he was a favorite at the court of George II.,
and received the appointment of captain in the
regular service, under Sir William Pepperell. 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 one of the most
active men in getting up the expedition against
Ticonderoga, in 1775, which resulted in the capture
of that fortress, and also Crown Point, by Colonel
Ethan Allen and Benedict Arnold. Wooster 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 organized for the War
for Independence; and in that capacity he was
employed, with Arnold, Silliman, and others, in
repelling British invasion 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.]
[Footnote 32: Chaplain.]
[Footnote 33: 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 Michilimacinac, 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" is a valuable work.]
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