Diary of Reverend Enos Hitchcock, July 29, 1777

Col^o Brewer with 150 men sent to Fort Miller to scout the woods N. E. Col^o Cilley³ with the same number from Moses Creek to go east & meet them—about 9 ^oClock a man & Boy killed & one wounded near Fort Miller by two lurking Fellows who contended about the Scalp of the Boy; the man not Scalpd; 11 ^oClock a small party y^t went out back of Head q^rs about ¾ of mile were fired upon by Indians one Corp1. killed, private wounded—about the same time an Indian fired upon a Centry N. E. from Genl. Nixon Brigade; wounded him in the Neck— a Small Scout 20 came in, which met with a party of Indians supposed 70, fired & killed one & ran—about 12 ^oClock alarmed by an Express from Fort Miller that they were attacked by a number of Enemy but proved—one of our Spies came in who says the Enemy had almost cleared the road from Fort Ann which we had blocked up—by one of our men who deserted from the Enemy informs that they have 7500 encamped at Skeene who are to come forw^d as soon as possible—our number now about 4000—

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³ Joseph Cilley, of Nottingham, N. H., afterward General, commanded the first N. H. Regiment. He was an active officer who distinguished himself at Bemis Heights, was at Stony Point, Monmouth, and in Sullivan's expedition against the Indians, serving through the war.

SOURCE: Amos Perry, The Town Records of Rhode Island, Publications of the Rhode Island Historical Society, New Series, Vol. 7 (1899), pp. 123-4

Diary of Reverend Enos Hitchcock, July 30, 1777

In Council of war held at six this morning it was determined upon to retreat¹ to Surratoga—our Brigade was ordered to decamp immediately the huts to rafted which was done, we left the Island at 12 ^oClock, soon reached Fort Miller, one-half of the Brigade tarried there, the other came down to Mr. Niels 3 miles I came with them & down to Gen1. Schuylers—Gen1. Fornays'² & Tinbrooks Brigade attacked in their rear by a party of the Enemy, one of ours killed, one of Gen1. Arnolds Aid de Camps wounded & two or three others—no great done—Gen1. Lincoln³ came up—met with Mr Shaw at the Barracks, Letter from Home & Rev^d Morrel & Brother David— 

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¹ This was a good movement, bringing our army nearer to its natural base and carrying the enemy farther from his.

² Fornay stands for Roche de Fermoi (or Fermoy), a Colonel from the French army, made Brigadier-General by Congress. We have drawn more blanks than prizes in our European officers, and Fermoi apparently was of the former sort. St. Clair's friends charged him with the worst casualties in the retreat from Ticonderoga, in that he fired his quarters at Mount Independence, thereby exposing the rear to Frazer's pursuit. "One of the worst of the adventurers was this very General Fermoy, who brought disaster upon the rear of St. Clair's army after the successful retreat from Ticonderoga." Smith's St. Clair, I., 65 n.

Gates dismissed Fermoi with a letter to Hancock September 14, 1777, containing this shrewd diplomatic praise: "I have much respect for the "Long Service and Rank of General Fermoi and wish circumstances "had made it convenient to have retained him here." (Gates' MS. Papers, N. Y. Historical Society. Rogers' MS. Notes.)

³ Benjamin Lincoln, of Hingham, Mass., was a Major-General in the army, and after September 29th was second in command under Gates. He had fair military ability and great force of character.

SOURCE: Amos Perry, The Town Records of Rhode Island, Publications of the Rhode Island Historical Society, New Series, Vol. 7 (1899), pp. 124-5