Went with Cap. Allen & several other officers to visit Mr. McPherlin, Love, &c., in the afternoon. We spent our Time very agreably.
Took a survey of the Air Furnace (near by). In this Furnace they have cast many excellent Brass Field Pieces, 6 lbs, besides Iron Cannon eaqual to any ever made in any part of the World.
SOURCE: Edward Bangs, Edited, Journal of Lieutenant Isaac Bangs, April 1 to July 29, 1776, pp. 31-2
With Cap. Porter spent some time at a Biliard Table; was very luckey, & reapt much Pleasure by the pleasant behaviour of the Gentlemen at that Place.
SOURCE: Edward Bangs, Edited, Journal of Lieutenant Isaac Bangs, April 1 to July 29, 1776, p. 32
Took a survey of the City Goal, which the Goaler shewed us. The Prisoners here are as well treated as in any Prison I ever visited. The Goal itself is a very Magnificent Building (upon the North side of the Common), having more the appearance of an elegant Mansion House than of a Common Gail; the inside is regularly built, and is as convenient, both for the Prisoners & Jailer, as I can possibly imagine any could have been.
SOURCE: Edward Bangs, Edited, Journal of Lieutenant Isaac Bangs, April 1 to July 29, 1776, p. 32
Attended Service in the fore Noon at the Brick Meeting; heard an excellent Comment upon the 8th Psalm. In the afternoon attend Service at the Chapel & was well Satisfied, & wrote home to my Mother the second Time.
SOURCE: Edward Bangs, Edited, Journal of Lieutenant Isaac Bangs, April 1 to July 29, 1776, p. 32
We hear frightfull News of a Fleets having arrived at Boston, & that the Enemy had taken Possession of Dorchester Hills; the last part is a Lye of the Day. Saw B. Stone.
SOURCE: Edward Bangs, Edited, Journal of Lieutenant Isaac Bangs, April 1 to July 29, 1776, p. 31
Had News from England of the Resolutions of the Ministry to enforce their Measures the ensueing Summer by the Help of 25,000 New Troops from England & 20,000 Hessians, Hanoverians, Brunswickers, &c., from Germany, 12,000 of whom are destined for this place, 12,000 for Boston, 10,000 for Quebeck, & 11,000 for the Southern Provinces. These Forces are also to bring with them 27 Commissioners to grant Pardons, & to delude the People of England with a Pretence that Peaceable & honorable Terms of Accommodation are offered, but that we would not accept. Would it not have been more honourable for them, if they had any Intentions of an Accommodation, to have lain hold of the opportunity offered in the last Petition of the Congress? But this would not serve their Turn! But George must meanly beg the assistance of his Brother Robbers & Cuthroats, & by cringing & fawning to all Europe he hath been able to procure 20,000 Men, & these, with the Whole Armament of England, are to assist the Commissioners to treat with America for Peace. In the Mean Time America, seeing yt her Terms were slighted & discovering their Intentions, hath been busied in putting herself in the best Posture of Defence that the Nature of her Circumstances would admit. The affections of her Inhabitants (which before were strongly attached to Brittain, so that the People would have taken up satisfied with almost any Terms) have been more and more aliened from Brittain, that we are now upon the Eve of declaring ourselves independent of G. Brittain, & seting up an Empire for ourselves. What will be the Consequences of this God only Knows!
In the Afternoon I visited a very agreable Young Ladie of this City, Miss ——— ——— with whom I had before had a small acquaintance, as I had, while on Guard, shewn this young Ladie & the Company with her the Civility due to Persons of their appearance, Viz., of shewing them the Works, &c. She, in her Turn, was not so ungratefull as to take no Notice of me, but as I accidentally passed the House for several Times, I observed that she seemed to Compliment me with more respect than is usual, or than I deserved; but as I was bashfull, I no more than returned the Compliment, & passed by till at length I made bold to enter the House with the Gentleman that was with me; but as he was in a great Hurry I could not tarry long, but was obliged to depart, bitterly against my will; however I gave her Intimation that I should again call in, & as I could not discover but that it would be agreable, I took this opportunity to spend an Afternoon with her. I found playing upon her Spinet, upon which she performed to admiration; her Musick, joined to an agreeable Person, gave me very favourable Ideas of my New Acquaintance. I spent the After Noon with her in her own Apartment, Reading & Chatting, &c., till about 5 o'clock, when her Mother came and asked us to Tea. The Father was Absent, but her Mother was an agreable Woman, plainly dressed. They were Germans, who soon after they were married came into this Country. I know not whether they have an Estate or not. After Tea we spent About an Hour in the same Manner as before, when I was obliged to Attend Duty & took my leave, but Not till I had provided myself with some entertainin Books from her Library.
SOURCE: Edward Bangs, Edited, Journal of Lieutenant Isaac Bangs, April 1 to July 29, 1776, pp. 32-4
Mounted Guard at Harrison Brewery, or Grenadiers Fort. Cap Bolster of Learnard's Regt commanded the Guard, a Gentleman of Superiour Abilities from what I had conceived from his outward appearance.
SOURCE: Edward Bangs, Edited, Journal of Lieutenant Isaac Bangs, April 1 to July 29, 1776, p. 34
Visited Miss B. Grim in the Evening. She had several Young Ladies with her & one Gentleman, a Physician; spent the Evening in a Sociable Manner.
SOURCE: Edward Bangs, Edited, Journal of Lieutenant Isaac Bangs, April 1 to July 29, 1776, p. 34
Being unwell in the Morning, I had much difficulty to keep myself stiring about through the Day. In the After Noon, as I was taking a survey of the Works with Lieut Hayward of the Artilery, a sudden Squall arose, & I caught a small wetting before I could cover myself.
As Mr. Stone was about to leave the City to return Home (tho I was very unwell), I made shift to write two Letters for home; but he was so disingenious as to disappoint both Lieut Hayward & myself in the same thing, Viz. in not calling for our Letters, tho he past the Door. I know not what to impute this to but his heedlessness or his disobliging Temper. We had an Express from Philadelphia that 13 of our Gallies had attacked the Roebuck Man of War 44 Guns and a 28 Gun Ship, had run the Roebuck a ground on the Top of the Tide, & were waiting for the Tide to fall to make the Second attack. Continuing to be unwell, in the Evening I took a Vomit. Our Regt, which had before this been unsupplied with Tents, now had their compliment, & pitched them in the Place allotted them, about a Mile to the North of the Town; but did not remove.
SOURCE: Edward Bangs, Edited, Journal of Lieutenant Isaac Bangs, April 1 to July 29, 1776, pp. 34-5
I was very weak & unwell; never the less I went to the Brick Meeting to attend Service, but was so grievously afflicted, partly with weakness following my last nights Frolick, & partly with a number of troublesome Boils that had now taken possession of my Body, that I can give no acct of the Service. In the Afternoon our people were employed in fixing their Tents.
SOURCE: Edward Bangs, Edited, Journal of Lieutenant Isaac Bangs, April 1 to July 29, 1776, p. 35
Our People removed into their Tents, & I took Boarding with Mrs. March on Slip, being so troubled with 5 Boils that I could scarcely walk.
SOURCE: Edward Bangs, Edited, Journal of Lieutenant Isaac Bangs, April 1 to July 29, 1776, p. 35
Continued very ill; a small Fever seting in took all my apetite for food away. This, with the Anguish of the sore Boils, brought me so weak that I could not sit up the Day.
Had disagreeable news from Quebeck that the Enemy had made a Sally, being impowered thereto by reinforcements that arrived on the 4th of May, & that not more than 200 of our Men being to oppose them, they had taken the Hospital with 200 Sick, almost the whole of the Artilery & Amunition, with all the Provisions. If this is true, there is great Blame for the General, as our Army consisted of about 7,500 Men.
SOURCE: Edward Bangs, Edited, Journal of Lieutenant Isaac Bangs, April 1 to July 29, 1776, p. 35
Continued very Ill with the Boils. The Doctor visited me several Times; sat up about my Time.
SOURCE: Edward Bangs, Edited, Journal of Lieutenant Isaac Bangs, April 1 to July 29, 1776, p. 35
A Solemn Fast through the Continent, but a little esteemed by many of the Inhabitants.
SOURCE: Edward Bangs, Edited, Journal of Lieutenant Isaac Bangs, April 1 to July 29, 1776, p. 35
Authority had been several Times before this employed in bringing the Tories of this City to Terms, but as many of late had returned from the Country, whither they had fled for Safety, they began again & had each one before the Committee of Safety, whom they obliged by an Oath Not to act Inimically to America, and then took their Arms into Custody; but about 20 proving refractory were commited to Goal.
SOURCE: Edward Bangs, Edited, Journal of Lieutenant Isaac Bangs, April 1 to July 29, 1776, p. 36
Continueing unwell & unable to walk, I could not go to Church; & as I had an Opportunity I wrote a Letter to my Mother, as also one to S. Emery, & sent them both to Nantucket.
SOURCE: Edward Bangs, Edited, Journal of Lieutenant Isaac Bangs, April 1 to July 29, 1776, p. 36
News has been circulating in the City for several Days that a large Number of the Regulars are at Sandy Hook & will soon be up to the City.
SOURCE: Edward Bangs, Edited, Journal of Lieutenant Isaac Bangs, April 1 to July 29, 1776, p. 36
A Schooner belonging to Providence, which had about 8 Tons of Powder, 300 Stands of Arms, &c., was taken by a small Tender at Sandy Hook.
SOURCE: Edward Bangs, Edited, Journal of Lieutenant Isaac Bangs, April 1 to July 29, 1776, p. 36
Growing Better, I am determined to go into the Tents.
SOURCE: Edward Bangs, Edited, Journal of Lieutenant Isaac Bangs, April 1 to July 29, 1776, p. 36
Ride up to the Tents, & almost Frieze in the Night.
SOURCE: Edward Bangs, Edited, Journal of Lieutenant Isaac Bangs, April 1 to July 29, 1776, p. 36
