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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[Footnote 63: At Fort George, at the head of Lake
George.]
Saturday 26. David Lyon and Barnes sot out to go to Albany sick this
day they held a rigimental Court Mershal upon 3 deserters of Captain
Mathers company one William Cannody & William Clemanon were Judged to
have 1000 Lashes and to day receved 200 & 50 stripes a peace tother
was forgiven.
Sonday 27. I was out upon the works at the great Block House we were
out of provision we drawed for 7 days & but 4 gorn so the regalers
shot Pigeons and our men did so to.
Monday 28th. Every Private in our company was out upon duty that was
able, & about 4 a clock we came in and the orders were that every man
should make ready to fire 3 valleys[64] and first they fired the
cannon at the Fort one after tother round the Fort which is 21 then
the small arms & so 3 rounds a piece and then made a great fire on the
Perrade and played round it & 1 Jil of Rum a man aloud for the frollic
& a Barrel of Beer for a Company[65] & very wet knight.
[Footnote 64: Volleys.]
[Footnote 65: It was the king's birthday. The
firing of twenty-one heavy guns formed a royal
salute.]
Tuesday 29th. Very wet in the Morning then cleared of cold I went upon
duty and sent a Letter Home.
Friday September ye 1st. Our duty was to help git out the Cannon out
of the Bottom of the river that was dropt in by the means of going to
near the end of the Brig[66] and sunk the scows and drownd 1 ox very
cold work A woman whipt 70 stripes & drumed out of Camp.
[Footnote 66: Bridge.]
Saterday 2nd. I was cald upon the pickit guard to day last nite I went
down to Fort Misketor[67] & Smith Ainsworth treated us well.
[Footnote 67: Fort Musquito was a breastwork cast
up at the mouth of Snooks' creek.]
Sonday 3rd. I was out upon the escort and every man upon som duty I
went to meeting part of the fore noon and the text was in acts 24 & 25
Charles Ripla was put in Ensign.
Monday 4th. Our Post sot of home I went down to Fort Misketor to guard
teams and the Post and the Lobster's[68] and our men hopt &
rassled[69] together to see which would beat and our men Beat.
[Footnote 68: This was a nickname for the regular
troops, who were dressed in scarlet uniforms.]
[Footnote 69: Wrestled.]
Tuesday 5th. Stil & Nothing strange.
Wednesday 6th. Most all of our men upon duty I was to work a making a
road to go up to the great Block House.
Thursday 7th. All our men out upon works guardin teams a great number
of them nigh 100 & when we came back their was a scout com in to Fort
Edward that went out from the Lake they discoverd nothing.
Friday 8th. This day sergent Erls went out to Fort An[70] after the
Con-nu[71] & Lieut. Larnard & Ephraim Ellinghood Knap & John Richason
and Jeb Brooks & Hezekiah Carpenter they 6 of our company 40 in all
went along I went to work at the high way & had half a pint of Rum
for it.
[Footnote 70: Fort Anne was erected in 1757, a year
before the occurrences 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 the part of one
of the pickets yet remaining in the earth, and, on
splitting it, it emitted the pleasant odor of a
fresh pine-log, though ninety years had elapsed
since it was placed there. This fort was near the
bank of Wood creek, about eleven miles from the
head of Lake Champlain, at the village of
Whitehall. It was in the line of Burgoyne's march
toward the Hudson, in 1777; and near it quite a
severe skirmish took place between Colonel Long, of
Schuyler's army, and a British detachment under
Colonel Hill, on the 8th of July, the day after
Ticonderoga was abandoned to the enemy. Victory was
almost within the grasp of Colonel Long, when his
ammunition failed, and he was compelled to
retreat.]
[Footnote 71: Canoe.]
Saterday 9th. I was warned a quarter guard and I changed with Moses
Peak and went upon the Escort & got in by 12 a clock I was warned out
to work but did not do much sergent Erls com in with his Con-nu--and
the Jineral was much pleased with it.
Sonday 10. I was upon guard but went to meeting a part of the fore
noon and the text was in the 24 of Acts & 25 verce & the Afternoon the
text was in James the 6th & 12 verce.
Monday 11. I took 4 days provision & Josh Barrit and one ranjer with
me & we went out near fort An and we spied a fire and som person and
we com back and made our report to the Jeneral & he blamed us som and
said we should have a new pilot and go again. Jo Downer put under
guard.
Tuesday 12th. I was freed from duty and we went & split out som plank
to du up our tent.
Wednesday 13th. To work in the Fort a wheeling gravel all day 4
regulars whipt in Fort som for gaming & one for being absent after
being warned upon guard.
Thursday 14th. I was warned on Escort down to Mizzery[72] and flankt
all the day Tuesday 12 at night there was 2 Bonfires & 2 Barrels of
Rum aloud for the Rejoicing of Broad Street's taking Catarocrway.[73]
[Footnote 72: Fort Misery.]
[Footnote 73: The Indian name of the site of Fort
Frontenac (where Kingston, Upper Canada, now
stands), taken by Colonel Bradstreet, was
Cataraqua. That was also the Indian name for Lake
Ontario.]
Friday 15th. Day I was to work over upon the Island & worked hard a
shovling dirt &c Ephraim Ellinghood taken poorly.
Saturday 16th. Day I went to cuting fassheens[74] & stented 4 a peace
in half a day & 12 stakes.
[Footnote 74: Fascines--bundles of sticks, mixed
with earth, and used for filling ditches in the
construction of forts.]
Sonday 17th. All our men upon works Mr. Pomri[75] preachd 1 sermon &
his text in James Chapter 5th & 12 verce Stephen child had a post to
Albany and sot out this day one regular com in that was a fishing at
half way Brook.
[Footnote 75: Pomeroy.]
Monday 18th. I was to work over to the Block House and took my Farewel
of working their & all our sick were drawd up & som dischargd.
Tuesday 19th. 4 of our company had a final discharge from the Campain
& sot of home Seth Bassit Jonathan Corbin John Peak & Silas Hoges.
Wednesday 20th. Stil Here the main of us & Nothing remarkable only
almost all our woodstock men came up & with great Joy we recived them
& much more the things that were sent us, I receved a letter from Ben
Lyon.
Thursday 21st. Nothing remarkable this day.
Friday 22nd. Our Woodstock Old melisha[76] sot out home & Lieutenant
Smith & Corperal Peak & William Mercy & Samuel Leavins had a pass to
Albany and went with them along down and Many more that did not Belong
to our Company.
[Footnote 76: Militia.]
Saturday 23d. Our Post came up and I received a Letter from home.
Sonday 24th. Mr. Pomry[77] preachd one sermon in the middle of the day
so that the work men might Have som opportunity to hear som his text
was in Ezekiel the 37 Chapter & 36 verce I was to work upon the Island
& I heard part of the sermon.[78]
[Footnote 77: Pomeroy.]
[Footnote 78: The channel between Rogers's island,
on which the great blockhouse was built, and Fort
Edward, does not exceed two hundred feet in width.]
Monday 25. Nothing remarkable only Stephen Lyon got hurt Samuel Morris
& Chub went down along to Albany.
Tuesday 26th. One scout went out for 3 days this day a great number of
teams came down from the Lake.
Wednesday 27th. The Thompson men that came up to see us sot out for
newingland and sergent Cromba had a pass to Albany & went down along.
Thursday 28th. Nothing remarkable only the scout came in that went out
for 3 days.
Friday 29th. Nothing remarkable only very long orders &c.
Saturday 30th. Nothing remarkable only the crissning[79] of the Royal
Block House and the whole of our rigiment that were able went over to
work and had a good frolick to drink the Men in Jeneral worked well at
the intrenching round the Block House the trench 3 foot deep.
[Footnote 79: Christening.]
Sonday October ye 1st. Nothing remarkable but somthing very strange, &
that is the Camps were so stil and no work going foward nor no prayers
nor no sermon & a Jil of Rum into the Bargain this we had from the
Jenerals our month promised to us yesterday Mr. Pomri went down to
Seratoga to see his son that was sick and to day he come back &c.
Monday ye 2nd. All the rigiment that were able to work went over to
the Block House besides what wos upon guard and they were divided into
4 parties and they that got don first was to have the Best fat sheep 1
sheep to each party I was upon the grass Guard & at night I found it
very tedious Lying out for it stormed exceding hard all night.
Tuesday ye 3rd. Our mes being all of duty we made us up 2 Straw bunks
for 4 of us to lay in and as it hapened we did it in a good time for
it was a very cold night.
Wednesday ye 4th. Being very cold Corperal Sanger & Eliezer Child had
a pas down to Albany & Likewise a small scout went for Number four &
we made our chimney serjant Kimbal was broke and turned into the
ranks.
Thursday 5th. Jeneral Ambross[80] arrived at Fort Edward about 12 a
clock & immediately he went of to the Lake nothing more remarkable to
day.
[Footnote 80: General Amherst.]
Friday 6th. Henry Lyon and Ephraim Ellinghood poorly and cleared from
duty 3 men whipt about 3 hundred lashes apeace & 1 woman 2 & 50
Lashes on bear rump.
Saterday 7th. Our Picket went up toward the Half way brook to meet
jeneral Ambros[81] & about 3 a clock he arrived at Fort Edward and at
2 a clock the picket went down with him again and his wagon & 6
horses.
[Footnote 81: Amherst.]
Sonday 8. In the fore noon all our men upon works in the afternoon we
were aloud to attend meeting & Mr Pomy[82] Preached one sermon & his
text was in Ezekiel 36 & 37 verce our family this day had a great
rariryty for diner and that was a Bild Puden.
[Footnote 82: Pomeroy.]
Monday 9. Nothing remarkable among us this day.
Tuesday 10. I was upon Guard and a very stormy day & Night it was
orders came out strickt that all fires should be put out by 8 of the
clock in the morning and not to have no more til 6 at night & they
that dont obey the orders are to have their chimney tore down & not to
have no other during this campaign Colonel Fitch lost a Barrel of
wine.
Wednesday 11th. Stil warm & wet som of our Rigiment discharged Home
but none of our company.
Thursday 12. A very clear cold morning all our men upon works & upon
guard that were able Colonel Harts Rigiment of the Hampshier march
down to Fort Edward in order for Home.
Friday 13th. All our men upon works again to day 3 dischargd vis
Richard jordin, Stephen Lyon & John Howlet, at night 300 of the Bay
men came down sick & 2 of them that carrad their packs died in the
night.
Saturday 14th. All warned out upon works but the stormy wether defeted
them in it the Regulars which came down from the Lake with us have
orders to march next friday down along in order for their winter
quorters at Hallefax[83] this night the sentry which stood at the
Southerd of the store House spied a man a gitting of Flour and he
haild him 3 times but he would not stop and the sentry fired but did
not hit him & in his hurry he left his tom me hawk[84] & one shoe.
[Footnote 83: Halifax, Nova Scotia.]
[Footnote 84: Tomahawk.]
Sonday ye 15. Very cold all upon works & guard by son rise this
evening their came in a great number of teams & Samuel Peak Brought
the malancoly news of Stephen Childs being Kilde and skulpt[85] and
another Captivated I was out upon the grass guard.
[Footnote 85: Scalped.]
Monday 16th. All upon works & all the teams sot of for the Lake 12 men
taken from the quorter guard to guard teams this evening there came in
a great number of waggons and hundred or better.
Tuesday 17th. Being very pleasant in the Morning then showery & wet
all the rest of the day til 10 a clock at knight--about 12 oclock at
night the teams came in with the Artillira--this day a number of our
men went down to Fort Miller in battoes to carry the sick and Cap.ns
Bag went down & the men stayed out.
Wednesday 18th. Being cold the teams sot out for the Lake--about 40 of
the Kings waggons--this afternoon their was a Lobster[86] Corperel
married to a Road Island whore--our men came in from Fort Miller.
[Footnote 86: British regular.]
Thursday 19th. Our rigiment was mustered by 9 a clock in the morning &
our Brigade-major cald over the role of each company and after that we
had a drink of flip[87] for working over at the Royal Block House--at
one of the clock our men were all calld to work--A Court morshol held
at Capt. Holmes tent & Captain Holmes President & at the role of the
Pickit guard their was one Isac Ellis whipt 30 stripes--was to had
50--Col. Henmans[88] men came in loaded with Artillira stores.
[Footnote 87: A mixture of beer and rum, warmed by
thrusting a hot iron into it.]
[Footnote 88: Hinman's.]
Friday 20th. Cold stil & our men all upon works--this afternoon Lieut.
Smith came up to us again from Green Bush, & Shubal child came to his
team.
Saturday ye 21st. Still cold--in the morning our men cald out to work
by sonrise or before & 6 of our company viz. David Bishop Ephraim
Ellingwood Samuel Mercey Nathaniel Abbott David Jewet and Drake
marched of with their Packs--this night their came down a great number
of teams from ye Lake here loded with cannon Balls and Bum shells.
Likewise a number of sick came down.
Sonday 22. The teams set out for ye Lake again--I was upon the quarter
guard--a large number of sick sot out for Home & it yet held cold &
at night it cleared of very clear & stil but very fresing cold & a
black frost.
Monday ye 23rd. I come of guard--Clerk Burrows began his Month with
bess--at night 3 rigiments of Province men came down from ye Lake &
Lodged in the wood near the uper Block House--a number of teames down
from ye Lake Loaded with Artilliry stores.
Tuesday 24th. A number of teames started for ye Lake again--I received
2 Letters from Capt. Benjamin Lyon & 1 from Joshua--the Post came up
yesterday to Fort Edward--This day our drawing & we had good pork--3
rigiments of Bay men moved down along which was Colonel Pribbels[89]
Colonel Williams & Colonel Nichols.
[Footnote 89: Prebles.]
Wednesday 25th. Jineral Abbacromba arived at Fort Edward near night
and all our rigiment there were of duty were ordered to be out upon
the perrade with their side arms on but the jineral for Bid it--Col.l
Partrages rigiment came down & some of the Lather caps & stayed Here.
Thursday ye 26th. Stormy morning--snow pretty wet & raw cold--I went
upon the pickit last night and had one Quort of rum for keeping sheep.
Friday 27th. Being lowry & wet one of our men Discharged home & sot
of--Nathaniel Barnes a number of teams sot out for the Brook &
returned again before son down.
Saterday 28th. Being stil cold all our men turned out to work son
rise & that want a Nuf & they sent for every weighter[90] & every one
that belongs to the rigiment--a number of teams sot out down Home ward
& 3 of our company went with them viz. Sergt. Armsba Jonathan Child
and Pain Convis--this after noon the orders came out that every
setler[91] that Belongs to the Provinshols should Quit this place by
the first of November.
[Footnote 90: Waiter.]
[Footnote 91: Sutler.]
Sonday ye 29th. Rany & wet--about 9 o clock in the morning Every man
in the Rigiment that could go went to the falls[92] to help Draw down
the battoes and very muddy it was.
[Footnote 92: The "third fall," as it was called,
in the Hudson, at Sandy Hill.]
Monday ye 30th. Being very pleasant in the morning we were all turned
out after Battoes up to the falls & we went twice apeace.
Tuesday ye 31st. All our men turned out by the Revallies[93] Beating
to go after Battoes & jineral Provorce[94] was out amongst our tents
to help turn us out & he said it was the last work we should do that
was flung up to day--I went upon the Quarter guard at noon and they
got down all the Battoes.
[Footnote 93: Reveille.]
[Footnote 94: Provost.]
Wednesday November ye 1st. Lowry & wet I come of guard our men all
upon works & 3 rigiments of our Conneticuts came down about noon &
Colonel Whitings had orders to go over to the Royal Block House and
their to remain til further orders and tother 2 rigiments Sot of
Home in Battoes & 2 or 3 rigiments of lobsters--we had orders com
out that we should have 2 days to clean up in & to set for Home on
Sonday--this day I wrote a Letter & sent to John.
Thursday ye 2nd. Very cold--our men turned out to cutting fashheens &
the orders were that it was the last days work that we should do.
Friday ye 3d. Very cold--our men all turned out upon works notwith
Standing yesterdays promise--our men had but poor incouragements to
work & laid but Little weight to what the jineral promised them for he
said the first man that disobeyed his orders again should be shot to
death whatsoever soldier or officer.
Saturday 4th. I was orderly after the jineral & our men all to work a
drawing in Canon into the fort & our quorter guard was not releaved
til after noon & after that orders com out that we should strike our
tents by 8 oclock and be ready to march by 9--one Cimbals got his
discharge from the regular service to day.
Sonday ye 5th. Being very cold it began to rain so that we were
detained but Colonel Whiting Marched of--rainy all day Long--we had
orders to be ready to march at 7 Oclock in the morning.
Monday ye 6th. Cloudy stil--at 8 Oclock we struck our tents & at 9
aclock we marched of & about half after 12 we arrivd at Fort Miller
and made a little stop then marched again and arived at Saratoga Son
about one hour high & made no stop their but marched on about 3 mile
& Encampt in the woods.
Friday ye 10th. Very stormy & snow in the Morning--we drawd 2 days
alowance of provissions but no money and about 2 o clock we sot out
from Green Bush & arivd at Cantihook Town about ten a clock at
knight--13 of us & Lieutenant Larnard.
Saturday 11th. From thence we marched son two Hours high & arivd at
John Hug gar Booms[95] & revived our selves a little & bought som rum
that belonged to Colonel Whitens Rigiment & from thence to Love Joys &
went to supper & from thence to Robberses & lodged their in the
Patterroon lands.[96]
[Footnote 95: Hogeboom's.]
[Footnote 96: See note 8.]
Sonday 12th. Being stil cold we sot out at Son rise & arived at Bushes
in Sheffield and had a good brecfirst & their was moore with Horses &
from thence to Larrances & revivd our selves their--to Coles & thence
to Seggick in Cornwel & then to Wilcocks in Goshen & Lodged their.
Monday 13th. Cold--I com up to Holleboate & sent my Pack a long from
goshen & then we marched and arived at Litchfield & then to Herrintown
to Wiers & from their to Strongs in Farmingtown & Lodged their.
Tuesday 14th. Very cold & frosty--marched 5 mile through the Meadows &
went to Brecfast and com to Mercies and stayed their & capt.n Holmes
came up.
Wednesday 15th. We marched & arived at Chenys in Bolton and from
thence we marched and Arived at Lees in covantry[97] & Lodged
their--very rainy Stephen Lyon met us with the Horses.
[Footnote 97: Coventry.]
Thursday 16th. Being warm & pleasant we arived 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 the horns of cows or oxen, and many
amused themselves by ornamenting them by a skilful use of their
knives. Below is a specimen of one of these ornamented horns,
prepared during the campaign of 1758. 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:--
"Eluathan Ives His Horn, Made at Lake George, September ye 22d,
Ad. 1758.
"I, powder, With My Brother Baul
A Hero like do Conquer All.
Steel not this Horn For Fear of Shame
For on it is the Oners name.
The Roos is Red, the Grass is Green--
The Days Are past Which I Have Seen"
[Illustration: Horn]
A JOURNAL FOR 1775, A. D.
INTRODUCTORY REMARKS.
The following is a literal transcript of a Journal kept by a common
soldier named SAMUEL HAWS, of Wrentham, Massachusetts, who appears to
have been one of the _minute-men_, organized toward the close of 1774
and early in 1775. At that time there were about three thousand
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
"MINUTE-MEN."
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, sixteen 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 the way of Lexington, where they arrived
at dawn of the 19th. The expedition became known, and the country was
aroused. When the British approached Lexington, they were confronted
by about seventy minute-men. A skirmish ensued: eight 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 minute-men. 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 minute-men hastened toward Lexington and Concord from
all directions. The British found it necessary to retreat, and nothing
saved the whole troop sent out the night before from utter
destruction, but a strong reinforcement under Lord Percy. The whole
body retreated hastily to Charlestown, and across to Boston, with a
loss, in killed and wounded, of two hundred and seventy-three 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 toward 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 Charlestown. By common consent,
Artemas 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 Wrentham April the 19 Samuel Haws
FAC-SIMILE OF A PORTION OF THE MANUSCRIPT JOURNAL.]
WRENTHAM,[98] April the 19.
About one a clock the minute men[99] were alarmed and met at Landlord
Moons We marched from there the sun about half an our 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 Lexinton then the kings
troops proceded to concord and there they were Defeated and Drove Back
fiting as they went they gat to charlstown hill that night[100] We
marched to headens at Walpole[101] and their got a little refreshment
and from their we marched to Doctor cheneys and their we got some
victuals and Drink and from thence we marched to Landlord clises
at Dedham[102] and their captain parson and company joined us and then
we marched to Jays and their captain Boyd and company joined us and we
marched to Landlord Whitings we taried their about one hour and then
we marched to richardes and Searched the house and found Ebenezer
aldis and one pery who we supposed to Be torys and we searched them
and found Several Letters about them which they were a going to cary
to Nathan aldis in Boston but makeing them promis reformation We let
them go home then marching forward we met colonel graton[103]
returning from the engagement which was the Day before and he Said
that he would be with us amediately then we marched to Jamicai
plain[104] their we heard that the regulars Were a coming over the
neck[105] then we striped of our coats and marched on with good
courage to Colonel Williams and their we heard to the contrary We
staid their some time and refreshed our Selves and then marched to
Roxbury parade and their we had as much Liquor as we wanted and every
man drawd three Biscuit which were taken from the regulars[106] the
day before which were hard enough for flints We lay on our arms until
towards night and then we repaired to Mr. Slaks house and at night Six
men were draughted out for the main guard nothing strange that night.
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