Diary of Reverend Enos Hitchcock, June 9, 1777

Went fishing up east Crick—News from Canada—by two Frenchmen, Burgoine¹ arrived 10th of May without Troops—yt. many of the Soldiers had died— the Hessians uneasy—500 French imprisoned for refusing to enlist—300 at Isle la Noix, 200 St Johns, a Reinforsment of 4000 expected—cloudy A. M. cleared of P. M.

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¹ John Burgoyne, Colonel Sixteenth Dragoons, Major-General in the army and Lieutenant-General in America, commanded the expedition from Canada and finally surrendered at Saratoga his splendid little army. A brilliant and superficial officer, popular in court circles,— having made a successful dash of cavalry in Portugal,— he was sent to America, where so many military reputations acquired in Europe have been wrecked. He had neither the breadth of intelligence nor the character required for an important campaign. By comparison with the home government, he succeeded in Canada and New York, in that their conduct of the campaign was worse than his management. See Rogers, Hadden’s Journal, pp. lxxx., 387.

SOURCE: Amos Perry, The Town Records of Rhode Island, Publications of the Rhode Island Historical Society, New Series, Vol. 7 (1899), pp. 111-2

Journal of Lieutenant William Feltman, August 6, 1781

Remained on this ground this day, which place the enemy had occupied before us.

In the afternoon went a-fishing across James River; waded across, and was almost cast away, the water running very rapid. Caught no fish. 

SOURCE: Historical Society of Pennsylvania, Publisher, Journal of Lieut. William Feltman, of the First Pennsylvania Regiment, 1781-82, p. 8

Journal of Lieutenant William Feltman, August 21, 1781

This day went a fishing, but caught no fish.

SOURCE: Historical Society of Pennsylvania, Publisher, Journal of Lieut. William Feltman, of the First Pennsylvania Regiment, 1781-82, p. 10

Journal of Lieutenant William Feltman, August 26, 1781

Lieut. Collier and self went a fishing, and caught a fine parcel of yellow perch.

SOURCE: Historical Society of Pennsylvania, Publisher, Journal of Lieut. William Feltman, of the First Pennsylvania Regiment, 1781-82, p. 11

Journal of Lieutenant Colonel Stephen Kemble, Sunday June 20, 1773

Wind W. B. S. Small breeze and thick Fog, at 2 P. M. made sail having caught thirty odd Codd fish, set Steering sails on all sides below and aloft, driver, water sail, &c. Very thick fog in T. G. Steering sails. Set T. G. Steering sails, at Meridian almost calm, have a cast of the lead, no Ground with 200 fathom line. Distance 93. Lat. 44.54. Long. 45.5.

SOURCE: New York Historical Society, Publisher, Collections of the New York Historical Society for the Year 1883: The Kemble Papers, Vol. 1 1773-1789, p. 4