American Revolution Notebook: 1st PA REGT

Showing posts with label 1st PA REGT. Show all posts

Thursday, August 27, 2026

Journal of Lieutenant Ebenezer Denny, January 4, 1782

Joined the troops under General Green at Round O, in the State of South Carolina. Moved to Pond-Pond; here we lay some time. Rice farms around this neighborhood—the fields almost all under water; immense quantities of ducks; excellent sport at times. Planters return to their homes live in style. Army change their ground; march to Ashley. Was on picket the night before we reached Ashley; got exceedingly wet—it rained all night. Marched next morning in wet clothes twelve miles, to Ashley, exposed to very hot sun; laid up with fever carried to hospital; as soon as able, returned to camp. Hospital very disagreeable place—all sick, and some continually dying. Attendance good; surgeons very kind; furnished with some stores, sugar, tea and molasses. Continued weak and unfit for duty for some weeks. Ashley a very good position—ground high and dry; but it is now midsummer and sickly season. Men die very fast; lost several valuable officers. Ashley river low; full of alligators.

SOURCE: J. B. Lippincott & Co., Publisher, The Record of the Court at Upland, in Pennsylvania. 1676 to 1681. And a Military Journal Kept by Major E. Denny, 1781 to 1795, p. 250

Journal of Lieutenant Ebenezer Denny, August 1782

Camp continued on bank of Ashley river, eighteen or twenty miles above Charleston. Enemy confine themselves to city. Their light troops and horse advanced five miles, at place called Quarter House. Armies both seem disposed to be quiet; ours in no condition for doing much. Some talk of peace, and of the enemy evacuating Charleston. Detailed for command. Joined a captain of the Maryland line; marched with two sergeants, two corporals, and thirty men, for Georgetown, about sixty miles distant, coast-wise. Escorted a brigade of wagons loaded with rum for the army. Country appears deserted; the few people we saw looked bad enough, poor and dejected; they fled from us, and in some instances hid themselves. Farms on this route have been neglected; exposed to the incursions of the British. Negroes and stock either removed or taken. Fell in with an alligator, twelve feet in length, in the middle of the road; supposed that his pond had dried up, and that he was in search of another; soldier shot him.

SOURCE: J. B. Lippincott & Co., Publisher, The Record of the Court at Upland, in Pennsylvania. 1676 to 1681. And a Military Journal Kept by Major E. Denny, 1781 to 1795, pp. 250-1

Journal of Lieutenant Ebenezer Denny, September 1782

Our camp very thin; not more than three relieves of officers and men for the ordinary duties. Hospitals crowded, and great many sick in camp; deaths so frequent, the funeral ceremony dispensed with. Provisions scarce and very indifferent; the beef brought from the back counties of North Carolina, by the time they reach the camp, poor indeed, and must be unwholesome. Commissary's yard and slaughter place commonly short distance from camp. Soldier going there in morning about killing time, met his comrade returning in; asked how was the beef this morning? other replied, that it took two men to hold up the creature until the butcher knocked it down. Says the other, And why didn't he knock it down as it lay? Flour a rare article. Troops have lived chiefly upon rice, now and then a small allowance of Indian meal served out - rice very good for the sick, but rather washy for duty men. Governor Hamilton, of this State, himself and family, quarter at a pleasant seat, two miles in rear of camp General Green not quite so far; each has a subaltern's guard. Very fond of getting one or other of these guards better fare than we have in camp. Officer considered and treated as one of the family.

SOURCE: J. B. Lippincott & Co., Publisher, The Record of the Court at Upland, in Pennsylvania. 1676 to 1681. And a Military Journal Kept by Major E. Denny, 1781 to 1795, pp. 251-2

Journal of Lieutenant Ebenezer Denny, October 1782

Camp at Ashley Hill. Ranks thinned very much; deaths not so frequent. Our situation as to ground, a handsome one, and, as far as I can judge, eligible, but assuredly the climate is severe upon northern constitutions. Gentlemen who can afford it, reside during summer in the city and spend the winter in the country. An unpleasant week's command. At a bridge over Ashley, six or seven miles from camp, where the great road from Charleston to the upper country crosses, a subaltern and thirty men have been stationed. It became my turn. Orders were to suffer no people to pass or repass without proper permit. It was now pretty well known that the enemy would soon evacuate the city. Many poor devils had taken protection and followed the British in; provisions scarce in town, and those people sick of their situation-they were anxious to get back to their old places of abode in the country. Some very miserable objects came out—whole families, battered and starving. Was sure, upon my representation, leave would be given to let them pass. Stated the business in writing, and dispatched a sergeant. No—ordered not to let them pass; thought this an unnecessary cruelty.

SOURCE: J. B. Lippincott & Co., Publisher, The Record of the Court at Upland, in Pennsylvania. 1676 to 1681. And a Military Journal Kept by Major E. Denny, 1781 to 1795, pp. 252-3

Journal of Lieutenant Ebenezer Denny, December 13, 1782

Had been expecting, every day for a month past, to hear of the intended evacuation of Charleston. The Governor's guard was an object at this time, as the officer commanding would, of course, accompany or escort him into the city. I was so fortunate as to have the guard this day, when advice was received that the British would embark next morning. A few hours for the Governor to get ready, we set out in the evening with one tumbrel, containing books, papers, &c., and reached the city early next day. Saw the last of the enemy embark in their boats and put off to the shipping. An immense fleet lay in sight all day; found the city very quiet-houses all shut up. A detachment from the army had marched the day before to take possession as soon as the English would be off. Guards stationed at proper places, and small parties, conducted by an officer, patrolled the streets. Charleston a handsome town, situate on neck of land between the confluence of Ashley and Cooper rivers; Cooper river, however, appears to be the only harbor. Town here fronts the east; business all done on this side. Second and third day people began to open their houses and show themselves, and some shops opened. Stayed a week, and returned to our old encampment.

SOURCE: J. B. Lippincott & Co., Publisher, The Record of the Court at Upland, in Pennsylvania. 1676 to 1681. And a Military Journal Kept by Major E. Denny, 1781 to 1795, p. 253

Wednesday, August 26, 2026

Journal of Lieutenant William Feltman, July 1, 1781

Marched at day break 8 miles to York River, for the troops to wash and refresh themselves, where one man and Dr. Downey of the 6th Reg't Penna. were unfortunately drowned, I mounted guard this day; returned that night to our former ground, I leaving the rear-guard of the army.