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 145: Joseph Willard, D.D., who was made
president of Harvard college in December, 1781. He
died in New Bedford, in 1804, at the age of
sixty-four years.]
14. Their was Nothing Remarcable I went upon fatigue down to the
George tavern.
15. Two Oclock this Afternoon when the Lobsters[146] fired on our
guards which was returned by our Roxbury fort the fireing was
continued for some time but how much to their Damag we dont know one
of our men was slitely wounded their fireing was from a floating
Batery and it is thought would have killed one or too men if they had
not have Lain down for the Ball passed within about 4 foot of our
Barack the night passed without any alarm.
[Footnote 146: A nickname given to the British
regulars, on account of their red suits. They were
so called in England, as early as the time of Queen
Anne.]
the 16. This day they fired at our main guard but no material Damage
was done the remaining part of their mallice seemed to be postponed to
a future season our american guard kept their ground and the night
passed without any alarm &c. &c.
the 17. About nine Oclock the enemy fired upon our main guard and
fatigue men they through 4 Balls and 2 Bombs and one of the Balls
struck 2 guns which belonged to the main guard and the men had them on
their Shoulders but did not hurt them much.
the 18. Behold their Spite this morning before the sun rise the enemy
fired at our working party on the neck this side the george tavern our
rifle men fired at them and it is thought killed too of them but
notwithstanding all their fireing of balls and bombs though some of
them came so near that it could hardly be called an escape yet their
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 centrys and is now in
our guard house.
the 19. I went upon fatigue the morning began with fireing from the
wicked enemy at our guard but did no hurt in the afternoon they rifle
men fired at the enemy and they enemy at them and they wounded one of
the rifle men in the foot Slitely but what Damage we did them is
uncertain let this Suffice for a short acount of the tranactions of
the 19 day.
the 20. I went upon the main guard at night our boats went up with in
gun Shot of the comon[147] and alarmed them by fireing Several guns
and then returned without any Loss on our side.
[Footnote 147: The large park, known as Boston
Common, extended down to the water's edge, before
the flats were filled in.]
the 21. Nothing remarkable hapened this day at night one of the enemy
deserted and came to us.
the 22. We paraded nothing remarkable I went down to the piquet.
the 23, 24. Nothing remarkable.
the 25. A flag of truce came out of town but for what I dont know.
the 26. This morning their was a man ran away from the floating
battery.
the 27. Being Sunday but they make such a fireing over at Bunkers hill
that it seems to be more Like the Kings birth day than Sunday but what
Sucksess they have had we are not able to determine but we heard that
they killed too men and wounded 3 or 4 four more[148]
[Footnote 148: About nine o'clock on Sunday
morning, the 27th, the British opened a heavy
cannonade from Bunker's hill (where they had built
a strong redoubt), and from a ship and floating
battery in Mystic river. The firing was directed
upon the American works on Winter, Prospect, and
Ploughed hills. They continued to bombard these
works daily until the 10th of September.]
the 28. But they still hold up their firing at Bunkers hill nothing
more remarkable this day.
the 29. I went upon the piquet down to the george tavern and the enemy
fired several small arms at us but did us no Damage.
the 30. Very rainy nothing extraordinary this day.
the 31. Nothing extraordinary this day only it was rainy at night
Lieutenant Foster and four men went down to the piquet.[149]
[Footnote 149: 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 "Liberty-Tree." It was a
noble elm, and stood at the corner of the present
Washington and Essex streets. On the 31st of
August, 1775, the British cut it down, with no
apparent motive but the indulgence of petty spite.
An eye-witness of the event says: "After a long
spell of laughing and grinning, sweating, 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 looked 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,
But spread in vain--with headlong force he fell,
Nor stopped descending till he stopped in hell!"]
SEPTEM.
the 1. This morning very early just past one o clock the enemy began
to fire from their Brest Work and their floating batery which
ocationed an alarm their fireing Semed to be at our main guard and
piquet they fired a number of guns and threw several bombs and they
were permitted to kill too men the one belongd to Col Huntingtons[150]
Regement and the other belonged to col Davidsons Regement and one of
the riflemen was slitely wounded but see the Providence of god in it
when 6 or 7 hundred men were before the mouths of their canon there
was but too men killed We should not have thought it strange if they
had killed 20 considering the Situation that they were in too of the
regulars centrys deserted about a hour before the firing began this
was the smartest fireing that ever has been this campaign in the
afternoon they fired upon our fatigue party but did no Damage also
about Sunset there was several guns fired on board the Ships there was
several Ships came in to the harbour thus far the proceding of the 1
day.
[Footnote 150: Colonel Jedediah Huntington, of
Norwich, Connecticut. The British now seemed
determined to make a general assault upon the
besiegers, and a heavy cannonade was opened
simultaneously upon the Americans at Roxbury and in
the vicinity of Cambridge.]
the 2. I went down to the right hand of the burying place and we had
not been their Long before we were ordered of and the canon began to
play upon the enemy from Roxbury fort on the hill and the field peices
from the brest work in the thicket the ocation of our mens fireing
upon them was this they had advanced about 30 or 40 rods this side
their other brest work on the neck and were intrenching their[151]
they fired several guns at us but did us 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 thir
was a platform caried down to the thicket in order to mount a canon
their Nothing more remarkable to day.
[Footnote 151: They threw up a slight breastwork a
little in advance of their lines on the neck, and
not far from the George tavern.]
the 3. Being Sunday we turned out about day and went to our alarm post
and it rained and we cam home and John coleman drinkt 3 pints cyder at
one draught nothing more remarkable this day.
the 4. We turned out this morning before day and went to our alarm
post nothing remarkable this day at night I went upon the piquet down
to Lambs Dam[152] nothing more remarkable.
[Footnote 152: Lamb's dam was between Roxbury and
Dorchester. There the Americans completed a strong
work on the 10th of September, and mounted four
eighteen-pounders.]
the 5. Nothing remarkable only Benjamin Mc Lain sent home 10 Letters
at one draught by Lieutenant Bacon and Lieutenant Foster had Likt to
have been put under guard for playing ball.
the 6. Nothing remarkable this day at Night our men went down below
the george tavern for a safe guard for the centrys.
the 7. We turned out early this morning and went to our alarm post and
had a smart scrimmage[153] with no enemy and this day I went upon the
creek guard several Ships sailed out of the harbour old White was
buried and their was much joy.[154]
[Footnote 153: Skirmish.]
[Footnote 154: We can not explain this local
allusion.]
the 8. Came of the creek guard and nothing remarkable hapned onely
they enemy fired at our fatigue party but did no damage at night upon
the door guard.
the 9. 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
caried Several canon down into the thicket to the brest works
their.[155]
[Footnote 155: The breastworks in the thicket were
the Roxbury lines of fortifications in advance of
the fort.]
the 10. Being Sunday our men went on fatigue and the enemy fired upon
them and broke three guns that were paraded but hurt no man at night
their was a man deserted from cambridg and went to the enemy.
the 11. We turned out and went to our alarm post and Ensign Parot
shook one of his men for disobying orders this day their was a boat
drove ashore belonging to the regulars and a Seargent and 5 men on
board and they were all taken prisoners at night I went upon the
piquet and was almost frozen to Death.
the 12. Our men went down to Lambs Dam to entrenching not above half a
mile from the enemys brest work but nothing remarkable hapened.
the 13. Colonel Clap officer of the day our men took this day 26
prisoners in mistick[156] river as we heard.
[Footnote 156: Mystic.]
the 14. This morning I went upon fatigue down in the Street[157] and
the enemy fired one shot at us and struck the brest work but did no
Damage captain Pond[158] comanded of the party.
[Footnote 157: The road leading from Roxbury across
the neck into Boston.]
[Footnote 158: Captain Pond was from New Hampshire,
and was an officer in Colonel Stark's regiment.]
the 15. Their was a regular and too men of wars men[159] ran away Last
night and this morning nothing more remarkable their was 3 guns fired
on board the Ship in cambridg Bay.
[Footnote 159: From the vessels known as
men-of-war.]
the 16. Nothing remarkable hapened only the regulars fired several
Shot at our men that were upon fatigue but did no Damage.
the 17. Being Sunday I went upon the fatigue and the enemy fired
several times at our men but did no Damage and they threw several
Bombs.
the 18. I came of the creek guard and the enemy fired several canon at
our men but killed none and onely wounded one or too slitely and Last
night their was several men ran away from a man of war and toward
night the enemy fired several Shots from the Ship in cambridg bay and
our men fired one Shot from Prospect hill at the Ship in the Bay but
did not strike her.
the 19. The enemy began to fire about eight oclock into the street but
did no damage except slitely wounding one or too at night I went upon
the piquet and Nothing remarkable hapened also their was a man put
under guard for comeing on to the parade Drunk.
the 20. Nothing remarkable hapened this day the enemy fired one shot
at our fatigue party but did no damage they fired over at Bunkers hill
and threw several Bombs.
the 21. Last night I was on the door guard and this morning the enemy
fired small arms at our men but did no Damage in the afternoon they
fired canon but to no purpose.
the 22. Last night I was upon the door guard this being the Kings
crownation[160] the enemy fired a number of canon and toward night
they put in balls but did no damage.
[Footnote 160: Coronation. George III. and his wife
Charlotte were crowned on the 22d of September,
1761. It was always a holyday next to that of the
king's birthday.]
the 23. I went upon fatigue down in the street and the Enemy began to
fire at us about 9 oclock and fired without intermition for some time
bie the best acounts they fired above one hundred balls and our men
fired 3 canon from our brest work near Lams Damb and one of the balls
went into Boston amongst the housen but through the good hand of
Devine providence in all their firing they did not kill one man nor
wound any except one or too slitely.[161]
[Footnote 161: Frothingham says: "On the 23d, the
British discharged one hundred and eight cannon and
mortars on the works at Roxbury without doing any
damage."]
the 24. Being Sunday we went to meting and heard a fine Sermon from
psalms 14-11 this day our men went on fatigue as usual but the enemy
did not fire upon them.
the 25. I went on fatigue down in the thicket in the forenoon and at
noon I was taken not well and did not go in the afternoon our men
fired three field peices at the enemy but what execution they did we
canot determine nothing more.
the 26. Nothing remarkable hapened this day onely their was 200 men
draughted out to go to the governors Island to take some cattle.
the 27. Our men went to the Island and took 12 head of Cattle and 2
horses and came of without any Molestation[162] at night I went upon
the piquet and it rained very hard and we turnd in to the housen and
La their Colonel Clap[163] was officer of the piquet.
[Footnote 162: This expedition was under Major
Tupper. They burnt a fine pleasure-boat just ready
to be launched, belonging to some British
officers.]
[Footnote 163: Of the Rhode Island "Army of
Observation," under General Greene.]
the 28. Nothing remarkable hapened this day there was too guns fired
from the ship in Cambrige Bay.
the 29. This day the Ship sailed out of cambridge Bay and their was
another came and took her place at night I went on the piquet without
any supper nothing remarkable.
the 30. This morning our men fired one field peice as the regulars
came to relieve their main guard and that afronted them and they began
to fire their canon from their brest work and floating Batry and they
fired about 30 canon but did no damage also last night their was too
regulars deserted and came to our centrys on the neck nothing more
remarkable this day.
OCTOBER A 1775.
the 1. Being Sunday I went to meting up to the conecticut forces and
Mr. Wilard preacht a Sermon from chronicles the 20th chapter 10-11-12
v also in the afternoon Mr. Wilard preachd a sermon from 1st of
corrintheans 15 ch 54 &. 55 vers, also Last night their was six
mareens dessrtd from on board the Scarborough.[164]
[Footnote 164: This was a sloop-of-war, carrying
twenty guns.]
the 2. Nothing remarkable hapned this day General Thomas Brigade passt
Mustter about Sunset as our piquet paraded on the grand parade the
enemy fired 3 or 4 shots up to the meeting house one of the balls went
through the shed by the Providence tavern but did no damage of
consequence at night our chimney Swallow went on the piquet for
nothing and found himself.
the 3. Nothing remarkable hapened this day at night I went upon the
piquet.
the 4. We past muster nothing remarkble hapened this day onely their
was four of the enemy deserted at night.
the 5. Nothing remarkable hapened this day onely their was 5 or 6
prisoners went through the camp that were taken at Dartmouth[165] on
board the prize that our men took.
[Footnote 165: He probably refers to the prisoners
taken in the armed schooner _Margaretta_, at
Machias, Maine, in the month of May, by some
Americans under Jeremiah O'Brien; or they may have
been of the crew of two small cruisers afterward
captured by O'Brien. They were taken to Watertown,
where the Provincial Congress of Massachusetts was
in session.]
the 6. The enemy fired between 80 and 90 Canon at our men but killed
nine onely cut of one mans arm and killed too cows So much for this
day.
the 7. I went upon the creek guard and nothing remarkable hapned at
night their was a regular deserted and the regular guard fired upon
him but did not hurt him.
the 8. Being Sunday it rained and we had no preaching nothing
remarkable hapned at night their was a regular deserted and came to
our men and their was another set out but they were discovered and
they took one of them.
the 9. About eight o clock their was a Rifle man whipt 39 stripes for
Stealing and afterwards he was Drummed out of the camps if the
infernal regions had ben opened and cain and Judas and Sam Haws[166]
had been present their could not have ben a biger uproar.
[Footnote 166: The writer of this Journal.]
the 10. I went up on the creek guard and nothing remarkable hapened
their.
the 11. Their was a Rifle man[167] Drummed out of the camps for
threatning his offisers also I went to Cambridg with Boats.
[Footnote 167: These riflemen were from Maryland.
The company had been raised by order of Congress,
and placed in command of Captain Michael Cresap,
who, without a shadow of justice, was made to
figure unfavorably in the celebrated speech
attributed to Logan, the Mingo chief. Proof is
abundant that the stain put upon the character of
Cresap, by the speech of Logan from the pen of
Jefferson, was unmerited. Captain Cresap was taken
sick, and, at about the time here indicated, he
started for home, but died at New York, on the 18th
of October, 1775, at the age of thirty-three years.
His remains yet lie buried in Trinity churchyard, a
few feet from Broadway.]
the 12. This day nothing remarkable hapned only I went to work along
with the general at Mr. Parkers at night I went upon the piquet.
the 13. I went a chesnuting with a number of respectable gentlemen
that belonged to the army and we had a rifle frolick[168] and came
home about 10 Oclock.
[Footnote 168: Shooting at a mark, for liquor.]
the 13. About 2 or 3 o clock their was one of our men taken and caried
to the quarter guard for thieft abel Weatheril by name but it was made
up and he was taken out at night and returned to his Duty.
the 14. This day nothing remarkable hapned.
the 15. Being Sunday I went upon fatigue down to the george tavern and
their was a flag of truce went in and another came out.[169]
[Footnote 169: Communications are thus had between
belligerent armies. By common consent, as a rule of
war, a person approaching one army from another,
with a white flag, is respected as a neutral; and
to "fire upon a flag," as the phrase is when the
bearer is fired upon, is considered a great breach
of faith and honor.]
the 16. Nothing remarkable hapned Colonel Reeds Laidy came down to
reveu the Regiment and treated them[170] nothing more this day.
[Footnote 170: The wives of officers often visited
permanent camps, and formed pleasant social
parties. Mrs. Washington visited her husband at
Cambridge, while he remained there. She also spent
a portion of the winter with him at Valley Forge,
and likewise at Morristown.]
the 17. I went a chesnuting up to neutown[171] and at night our
floating Baterys went up towards the canon and fired 13 shots but
unlucky for them one of their 9 pounders split and killed one man dead
and wounded 8 more one of them it is thought mortally.
[Footnote 171: Newton, seven miles north from
Boston.]
the 18. I went upon the creek guard and John Bates was Lanch corporeal
also in the afternoon their was 3 Boston men came out under pretence
of fishing but they made their escape to Dorchester point.
the 19. Was rainy and nothing remarkable hapned.
the 20. The things that were taken at the Light house were vendued and
went very high[172] Nothing more remarkable hapned this day at night
their was a regular deserted from the enimy.
[Footnote 172: When Major Tupper destroyed the
lighthouse on Nantasket point, he carried away all
the furniture and the great lamp by which it was
lighted.]
the 21. I went upon the creek guard[173] and it rained all day nothing
remarkable hapned.
[Footnote 173: The creek referred to is Stony
brook, northward from Roxbury fort.]
the 22. Being Sunday nothing remarkable this day.
the 23. Nothing remarkable hapned at night I went upon the piquet and
nothing hapned worth a mentioning.
the 24. Nothing remarkable hapned this day onely we heard that the
french were a going to join us upon conditions that we would trade
with them.[174]
[Footnote 174: As early as July, 1775, Dr. Franklin
had suggested the propriety of a political
confederation of all the colonies, and the
establishment of governmental relations with
foreign powers, especially with France, which, it
was well known, hated England. In November of that
year, Benjamin Harrison, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas
Johnson, John Dickenson, and John Jay, were
appointed a committee to open and carry on
correspondence with foreign governments; and in
March following, Silas Deane was appointed a
special agent of Congress to the court of France.
Rumors of such intentions appear to have reached
the army, according to our Journalist, as early as
the 24th of October, 1775.]
the 25. We turned out and went to the Larm post and it was very cold
and we came home and there was a high go of Drinking Brandy and
several of the company were taken not well prety soon after[175]
nothing more this day.
[Footnote 175: A very natural consequence.]
the 26. This morning early their was several Laidies came down from
wrentham and they went to cambridg and the rest of their acts are they
not writen in the Lamentations of Samuel Haws, finis.
the 27. This day I went upon fatigue and we got our Stents done about
noon.
the 28. Nothing remarkable this day onely I was chose cook for our
room consisting of 12 men and a hard game too.
the 29. Being Sunday the officers had hard work to get hands for
meting it was so cold nothing more this day.
the 30. This day nothing remarkable hapned.
the 31. Nothing remarkable.[176]
[Footnote 176: During the whole of October, affairs
were very quiet, and no skirmish of importance
occurred. The "Essex Gazette" of the 19th said,
"Scarcely a gun has been fired for a fortnight." On
the 4th, a small fleet, under Captain Mowatt,
sailed from Boston harbor, and destroyed Falmouth
(now Portland), Maine. On the 15th, a committee
from Congress arrived, to consult with Washington
concerning the future, and a reorganization of the
army.]
NOVEMBER 1775.
the 1. Las night the fire ran over Samuel Hawes's hair and that
provoket him to wrath Nothing very remarkable hapned this day that I
know of.
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