The Military Journals of Two Private Soldiers, 1758 1775
A >>
Abraham Tomlinson >> The Military Journals of Two Private Soldiers, 1758 1775
Pages:
1 |
2 |
3 | 4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9
[Footnote 98: In Norfolk county, Massachusetts,
thirty-two miles southwest from Boston.]
[Footnote 99: See introductory remarks. The
skirmishes at Lexington and Concord occurred early
in the morning of this day.]
[Footnote 100: See introductory remarks.]
[Footnote 101: Twenty-one miles from Boston.]
[Footnote 102: Thirteen miles from Boston.]
[Footnote 103: Colonel John Greaton. 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 eight
hundred 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 led one
hundred and thirty-six men, in whaleboats, to
destroy forage and other property on Long island,
in Boston harbor; 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.]
[Footnote 104: Jamaica Plain, six miles from
Boston.]
[Footnote 105: The isthmus that connected the
peninsula of Boston with the main, at Roxbury.]
[Footnote 106: The British soldiers were all called
regulars. This word denotes soldiers belonging to
the regular army, as distinguished from militia.]
D 21. Nothing remarkable this day.
D 22. Nothing Strange this D nor comical.
D 23. Being Sabath day we marched on to the parade their was an alarm
this night but it prouved to be a falce one Some of our men went to
Weymoth.[107]
[Footnote 107: Twelve miles southeast from Boston.]
D 24. Nothing strange to day.
D 25. Nothing remarkable to day.
D 26. We were guarded and a party draughted out for the mane guard.
D 27. The inlistment came out to inlist men for the masechusetts
Service Some of our minute men inlisted the Same day but captain Pond
went home and several of his company they went as far as Doctor
cheanys that night and the next morning reached home on monday the
company were called together in order to inlist men Lietunant
messenger with a party went down to Roxbury and we Still remaing in
Mr. Slaks house also on the same day their war four tories caried
throug roxbury[108] to cambrigg[109] from marshfield[110] and their
was a great Shouting when they came through the camp.[111]
[Footnote 108: One mile from Boston.]
[Footnote 109: Three miles northwest from Boston.]
[Footnote 110: Thirty-one miles southeast from
Boston.]
[Footnote 111: Tories were those who adhered to the
British. It is a name derived from the vocabulary
of English 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
was first used in America about 1770.]
D 28. This day our regement paraded and went through the manuel
exesise then we grounded our firelocks and every man set down by their
arms and one abial Petty axedentely discharged his peace and shot two
Balls through the Body of one asa cheany through his Left side and
rite rist he Lived about 24 hours and then expired he belonged to
Walpole[112] and he was caried their and Buried on the 30 day of April
on Sunday after meting this young man was but a few days Before fired
at by one main guard in atempting to pass the guard and was not hurt
in the least.
[Footnote 112: Twenty-one miles southwest from
Boston.]
D 29. About nine o clock the said cheney died about fore in the
afternoon We had another alarm but their was nothing done.
30th. Being the Lord's day we went to meeting and heard Mr. Adams[113]
and he preached a very Sutable Sermon for the ocation.
[Footnote 113: Rev. 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
forty-eighth year of his age.]
MAY.
1d. Nothing very remarkable this day.
2d-11. Nothing of consequence hapened.
12-14. No great for news.
15, 16. No news worth mentioning.
17. At night their was a fire broke out in Boston ocationed by the
kings troops that were a dealing out their Stores when one of the
Soldiers letting a candle fall amongst some powder and set it on fire
which ocationed the Destruction of a great number of Buildings and
killed some Soldiers and destroyed a considerable deal of their
amunition Besides a great quantity of flower.
18, 19. Nothing very remarkable.
20. Nothing strange to day.
21. Being Sunday about eight o clock we were alarmed we heard that the
regulars were a landing at Dorchester Point and that there was two
Lighters gone to Weymoth Loaded with the Kings troops but it was a
false alarm and their was nothing done.[114]
[Footnote 114: 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 eighty tons of hay,
and brought off many cattle. There was 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 honor 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.
23-26. 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.[115]
[Footnote 115: On Saturday, May 27th, a detachment
of Americans was sent to drive all the live stock
from Hog and Noddle's islands, near Boston. They
were observed by the British, who despatched 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 compelled 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 Nedlers[116] Island between the Kings troops and our
men, our men killed several of them and took a number of field pieces
and burnt two Schooners and they did not hurt any of our men.
[Footnote 116: Noddle's.]
the 29. Nothing remarkable this day.
the 30. Captain Ponds company moved to comodore Lorings house.[117]
[Footnote 117: Probably the house of Joshua Loring,
jr., near Roxbury, who was a violent loyalist.
General Gage made him sole auctioneer in Boston. He
was afterward commissary of prisoners in New York.
His wife is referred to in Hopkinson's poem, "_The
Battle of the Kegs_."]
the 31. Being election day we drank the Ladies health and success.
June the 1. Nothing remarkable hapened this day.
the 2-8. Nothing remarkable hapened.
the 9. We passed muster Before colonel Robinson[118] and received one
months pay.
[Footnote 118: 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, for the time mentioned, to
patrol the guards every night, which gave him a
round of nine miles to traverse."]
the 10. Their was a man Whiped for Stealing.
the 11. Their was a soldier died at the hospittle which was the first
that had died of Sickness since we incampt the same day their was two
fire Ships[119] drumed out of the rhodisland compy.
[Footnote 119: Harlots.]
the 12. Nothing Strange this day.
the 13. Dito.
the 14. The general[120] seing the reinforcement of the Kings troops
come to Boston ordered the comps to be in readeness also ordered that
a number of teams be imploid in carting fusheens[121] and other
materials for building Brest Works this being on thursday.
[Footnote 120: General Thomas, who had command of
the right wing, extending from Roxbury to
Dorchester. General Artemas Ward was the
commander-in-chief until the arrival of Washington,
early in July.]
[Footnote 121: Fascines. See note 74.]
the 15. Nothing remarkable this day.
the 16. Nothing of consiquence this day.
the 17. It being Saturday the Kings troops Landed at charlestown and
set the whole town on fire and Laid it all in ashes then they
proceeded to Bunkers hill[122] where colonel putnam intrenchet 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 their all
the afternoon and about six o clock the troops fired from their Brest
Work on Boston neck at our people in Roxbury and we staid until the
firing was over and then our regiment was ordered to cambridge to
asist our forces and we reached their about twelve o clock at night
and Lodged in the meting house until break of day being Sunday
we turned out and marched to prosket hill[123] expecting to come
to an ingagement 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
intrenching about 12 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 Trisdale in the shoulder and another in the Leg about 4
o clock colonel Reed[124] ordered his regiment to march to roxbury and
we arived their about sunset very weary.
[Footnote 122: This is a mistake. It was Breed's
hill, nearer Charlestown and 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 a
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 Breed's hill.
The British had no suspicion of the work that went
on during that sultry June night, and were greatly
alarmed when they saw a formidable breastwork
overlooking their shipping in the harbor, 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.]
[Footnote 123: Prospect hill. The Americans
retreated from Breed's and Bunker's hills to Winter
and Prospect hills, and Cambridge. The remains of
the American entrenchments on Prospect hill were
demolished in 1817.]
[Footnote 124: Colonel James Reed, 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.]
the 19. Nothing remarkable this day.
the 20. Dito.
the 21. Nothing worth a mentioning.
the 22. Dito.
the 23. Nothing remarkable to day.
the 24. The enemy fired again upon Roxbury about 3 o clock and the
guards fired upon each other and their was one man killed and we were
alarmed.[125]
[Footnote 125: The Americans were alarmed on the
24th by indications that the whole British army in
Boston was about to force its way across 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 25. Sunday Nothing remarkable.
the 26. This morning very early our men went to set Browns house on
fire but did not efect it.[126]
[Footnote 126: The house and barns of Thomas Brown
were on the neck, about a mile from Roxbury
meeting-house, and were occupied by the British
advanced guard. Two Americans tried to set fire to
the barn on the 24th, and were killed.]
the 27. Nothing remarkable this day.
the 28. We moved to a little house that capt Bligs formerly Lived in
but we Soon moved from there to Slaks house again.
the 29. Nothing remarkable this day.
the 30. Nothing hapened only there was a Smart shower.
JULY.
the 1. Nothing remarkable this day.
the 2. Dito.[127]
[Footnote 127: The British again hurled some shells
into Roxbury on Sunday, the 2d of July, but the
extent of the damage was setting fire to one house,
which was consumed.]
the 3. Dito.[128]
[Footnote 128: 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 2d of July, and took formal command of the
army on the morning of the 3d.]
the 4. Their was a flag of truce come out of town to our centry on the
neck.
the 5. Nothing worth a mentioning to day.
the 6. Nothing remarkable this day.
the 7. Early in the morning we were alarmed and all of us repaired to
our alarm Post and we had not been their Long before we Saw Browns
house and Barn on fire and they were both consumed[129] these were Set
on fire by some of our brave ameracans and they took one gun and too
Bagonets and one halbert.
[Footnote 129: A party of volunteers, under Majors
Tupper and Crane, attacked the British advanced
guards, drove them in, and set fire to Brown's
house. They took several muskets, and retreated
without loss.]
the 8, 9. Nothing remarkable.
the 10. About Eleven o clock their was a party of Soldier sent to
germantown[130] to get some whale Boats they marched down their that
night the next night being clear they set out for Long island and
arived there in a Short time then they Plundred the island and took
from thence 19 head of horned cattle and a number of Sheep and three
Swine[131] also eighteen priseners and amongst them were three women.
[Footnote 130: It is impossible to identify this
place. A letter, dated on the 12th, says, "We have
just got, over land from Cape Cod, a large fleet of
whaleboats," &c., &c. The place alluded to in the
text was probably near Boston.]
[Footnote 131: This party went from Roxbury camp.
The report says that they brought from Long island
"fifteen prisoners, two hundred sheep, nineteen
cattle, thirteen horses, and three hogs." The
prisoners were taken to Concord.]
the 11. Nothing remarkable this day.
the 12. Major Tupper and his company returned to Roxbury with their
prisoners and the same day their was a Party draughted out to go to
Long island to burn the Buildings their when they were atacked by the
Kings troops and had a smart engagement[132] but we Lost but one man
and he belonged to Captain Persons company of Stoughton.[133]
[Footnote 132. The party under Colonel Greaton,
mentioned in a preceding note.]
[Footnote 133: Twenty miles south from Boston.]
the 13. Nothing remarkable this day.
the 14. Nothing remarkable untill night and then their was a man
killed at the main guard with a canon Ball.
the 15-17. Nothing remarkable.
the 18. Nothing remarkable this day.[134]
[Footnote 134: 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 their
about one hour and could not discover any thing and so we returned to
our Baracks again.
the 20. Their was a man killed who belonged to captain Bachelors
company in Col Reeds Regiment he was killed by a guns going
accidentely of, he was shot about Seven o clock and died about nine o
clock the same night his name was Wood Belonged to upton[135] he was
about 24 or 25 years of age.[136]
[Footnote 135: Upton is thirty-five miles southwest
from Boston.]
[Footnote 136: 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. Our Regement with four more were under arms and marched
towards cambridg to meet general Ward.
the 26. General Heaths regement moved from Dorchester to cambridg and
Jeneral Wards regement moved from cambridg to Dorchester and took
general Heath's Baracks.
the 27. Nothing remarkable this day.
the 28. Dito.
the 29. Nothing bad.
the 30. Being Sunday we had an alarm and went to our Fort[137] the
same day there was a party of men draughted out to go to the Light
house and major tupper was comander of the party.[138]
[Footnote 137: 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.]
[Footnote 138: On that day the British, five
hundred strong, marched over the neck, and built a
slight breastwork to cover their guard. The
American camp was in alarm all the 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 torys and
some mariens[139] and had something of a battle and we lost one man
and another wounded and our men Burnt the Light house and took some
plunder[140] thar was an alarm the firing began first at the floating
Battery and then at the Brest Work and then the troops marched out and
set the george tavern[141] on fire our men took one prisoner and the
same night one of the enemy deserted and came to our centrys at
Dorchester point and brought away with him too guns and too cartridg
Boxes and 60 rounds of cartridgs all in good order and their was
several more deserted to cambridg the same night.
[Footnote 139: Marines.]
[Footnote 140: 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,
fifty-three of the British were killed or captured.
Tupper lost one man killed, and two wounded.]
[Footnote 141: A party of British troops sallied
out toward Roxbury, drove in the American pickets,
and burned the tavern which was situated upon the
portion of the neck nearest Roxbury.]
AUGUST DOMINA 1775.
the 1. The floating Battery[142] went up towards Brookline fort[143]
then our men perceiving her move they began to fire at her out of
colonel Reeds fort untill 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 Baracks.
[Footnote 142: When the British built their
breastwork on the neck, the Sunday previous, they
had a floating battery brought into Charles river,
and moored it within three hundred yards of
Sewall's point.]
[Footnote 143: The Brookline fort was on Sewall's
point, between Roxbury and Cambridge. It commanded
the entrance to Charles river.]
the 2. Nothing remarkable this day.
the 3. Dito.
the 4. Nothing remarkable to day only I went to the main guard and the
enemy fired at us as we came up.
the 5. Dito.
the 6. Being Sunday nothing remarkable at night I went on the piquet
guard.
the 7. Nothing strange.
the 8. Dito.
the 9. Nothing remarkable this day only I went upon fatigue.
the 10. Nothing strange We had a great rain.
the 11. Their was three men whipt for deserting they were whipt ten
stripes apiece they belonged to the conecticut forces.
the 12. Nothing remarkable to day I went upon fatigue to
Dorchester.[144]
[Footnote 144: The village and church of Dorchester
was four miles from Boston. The heights of
Dorchester are in what is now called South Boston.]
the 13. Being Sunday we went to Hear Mr. Willard[145] and after Meting
our Men went to Entrench down at the George tavern and About Brake of
day they got Hom.
Pages:
1 |
2 |
3 | 4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9