Chapter 5

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.

[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]