This being the
Sabbath Day I was much surprised when I was awakened by the noise of Drums and
fifes Beating the Reveille. This day the soldiers appeared much intoxicated.
SOURCE: “Diary of
Lieutenant James McMichael,” William H. Egle, Editor, Pennsylvania
Archives, Second Series, Vol. XV: Journals and Diaries of the War of the
Revolution with Lists of Officers and Soldiers, 1775-1783, p. 195
Express at Camp
informing us of a number of Tories having mustered at Lewestown. We are
preparing to march thither to-morrow in order to disperse them, which we mean
to do at the hazard of our lives.
SOURCE: “Diary of
Lieutenant James McMichael,” William H. Egle, Editor, Pennsylvania
Archives, Second Series, Vol. XV: Journals and Diaries of the War of the
Revolution with Lists of Officers and Soldiers, 1775-1783, p. 195
Left camp at
Prospect Hill for Wilmington, where we received orders to return that evening
to our former encampment.
SOURCE: “Diary of
Lieutenant James McMichael,” William H. Egle, Editor, Pennsylvania
Archives, Second Series, Vol. XV: Journals and Diaries of the War of the
Revolution with Lists of Officers and Soldiers, 1775-1783, p. 195
Vessels being ready
to transport the Troops to Port Penn, we embarked at noon, and stood down the
River.
SOURCE: “Diary of
Lieutenant James McMichael,” William H. Egle, Editor, Pennsylvania
Archives, Second Series, Vol. XV: Journals and Diaries of the War of the
Revolution with Lists of Officers and Soldiers, 1775-1783, p. 195
At daylight we
arrived at Port Penn, where we remained until 2 P. M., when we proceeded a few
miles into the country and encamped.
SOURCE: “Diary of
Lieutenant James McMichael,” William H. Egle, Editor, Pennsylvania
Archives, Second Series, Vol. XV: Journals and Diaries of the War of the
Revolution with Lists of Officers and Soldiers, 1775-1783, p. 195
At Reveille marched
for Dover, Kent county, where we arrived at dark, after a fatiguing march.
SOURCE: “Diary of
Lieutenant James McMichael,” William H. Egle, Editor, Pennsylvania
Archives, Second Series, Vol. XV: Journals and Diaries of the War of the
Revolution with Lists of Officers and Soldiers, 1775-1783, p. 195
Left Dover at 9 A.
M., for Lewestown.
SOURCE: “Diary of
Lieutenant James McMichael,” William H. Egle, Editor, Pennsylvania
Archives, Second Series, Vol. XV: Journals and Diaries of the War of the
Revolution with Lists of Officers and Soldiers, 1775-1783, p. 195
Arrived at Lewes at
11 A. M.
SOURCE: “Diary of
Lieutenant James McMichael,” William H. Egle, Editor, Pennsylvania
Archives, Second Series, Vol. XV: Journals and Diaries of the War of the
Revolution with Lists of Officers and Soldiers, 1775-1783, p. 195
The Roebuck,
man-of-war, and the Liverpool, with three tenders, came into the Bay, but the
detestible Tories hearing of the riflemen having arrived evacuated the town.
SOURCE: “Diary of
Lieutenant James McMichael,” William H. Egle, Editor, Pennsylvania
Archives, Second Series, Vol. XV: Journals and Diaries of the War of the
Revolution with Lists of Officers and Soldiers, 1775-1783, p. 195
Several scouting
parties sent out, who having captured the officers of the Tories, swore them to
be true to Congress, and then dismissed them.
SOURCE: “Diary of
Lieutenant James McMichael,” William H. Egle, Editor, Pennsylvania
Archives, Second Series, Vol. XV: Journals and Diaries of the War of the
Revolution with Lists of Officers and Soldiers, 1775-1783, p. 196
At 4 P. M., we
embarked for Marcus Hook, and having a favorable wind, we reached our desired
haven July 1, at 10 A. Μ.
SOURCE: “Diary of
Lieutenant James McMichael,” William H. Egle, Editor, Pennsylvania
Archives, Second Series, Vol. XV: Journals and Diaries of the War of the
Revolution with Lists of Officers and Soldiers, 1775-1783, p. 196
Marched from Marcus
Hook at Reveille, proceeded through Chester, Derby and over Schuylkill and
arrived at Philadelphia at 2 P. M.
SOURCE: “Diary of
Lieutenant James McMichael,” William H. Egle, Editor, Pennsylvania
Archives, Second Series, Vol. XV: Journals and Diaries of the War of the
Revolution with Lists of Officers and Soldiers, 1775-1783, p. 196
At 2 o'clock P. M.
marched from our quarters to Stamper's Wharf [between Dock and Spruce Streets]
where we embarked for Bordentown.
SOURCE: “Diary of
Lieutenant James McMichael,” William H. Egle, Editor, Pennsylvania
Archives, Second Series, Vol. XV: Journals and Diaries of the War of the
Revolution with Lists of Officers and Soldiers, 1775-1783, p. 196
Arrived at
Bordentown at sunrise, and were ordered to proceed to Amboy. At 2 P. M. we
marched. When near to Allentown, Capt Farmer's gun went off accidentally and
shot a soldier of his own company. Reached Allentown at 6 P. M. and encamped.
SOURCE: “Diary of
Lieutenant James McMichael,” William H. Egle, Editor, Pennsylvania
Archives, Second Series, Vol. XV: Journals and Diaries of the War of the
Revolution with Lists of Officers and Soldiers, 1775-1783, p. 196
At 6 A. M. resumed
our march-passed thro' Cranberry at noon, and reached Brunswick at dusk.
SOURCE: “Diary of
Lieutenant James McMichael,” William H. Egle, Editor, Pennsylvania
Archives, Second Series, Vol. XV: Journals and Diaries of the War of the
Revolution with Lists of Officers and Soldiers, 1775-1783, p. 196
Left Brunswick and
reached Perth Amboy at noon, where we discovered the enemy on Staten Island.
The inhabitants seem to be friends to our present struggle.
SOURCE: “Diary of
Lieutenant James McMichael,” William H. Egle, Editor, Pennsylvania
Archives, Second Series, Vol. XV: Journals and Diaries of the War of the
Revolution with Lists of Officers and Soldiers, 1775-1783, p. 196
At Reveille were
informed that the enemy had landed at Elizabethtown, which caused us to be
marched there. On arrival at 2 o'clock, we found the alarm was a false one. We
determined to cross to Staten Island that night to visit the troops of Gen.
Howe, but a hurricane arose which prevented our embarkation. We afterward
ascertained that we would have been cut off, had we landed.
SOURCE: “Diary of
Lieutenant James McMichael,” William H. Egle, Editor, Pennsylvania
Archives, Second Series, Vol. XV: Journals and Diaries of the War of the
Revolution with Lists of Officers and Soldiers, 1775-1783, p. 196
This morning
received orders to resume our former station at Amboy, and at 10 o'clock left
Elizabethtown. This night we joined Gen. Mercer's brigade, no longer to take
orders from an officer under a Brigadier General, for we now act as Continental
troops, tho' raised for the defense of Pennsylvania.
SOURCE: “Diary of
Lieutenant James McMichael,” William H. Egle, Editor, Pennsylvania
Archives, Second Series, Vol. XV: Journals and Diaries of the War of the
Revolution with Lists of Officers and Soldiers, 1775-1783, p. 196
This day 1000 of the
Pennsylvania militia came to Perth Amboy. A rifleman was shot by the enemy
going in a boat to Staten Island.
SOURCE: “Diary of
Lieutenant James McMichael,” William H. Egle, Editor, Pennsylvania
Archives, Second Series, Vol. XV: Journals and Diaries of the War of the
Revolution with Lists of Officers and Soldiers, 1775-1783, p. 196
At the beating of
Tattoo a boat was hailed by our sentries, going down Raritan river. This
alarmed us all and occasioned us to stand by our arms and go to our alarm
posts. On being brought to shore we found the crew had deserted her, and only a
few swivel balls on board.
SOURCE: “Diary of
Lieutenant James McMichael,” William H. Egle, Editor, Pennsylvania
Archives, Second Series, Vol. XV: Journals and Diaries of the War of the
Revolution with Lists of Officers and Soldiers, 1775-1783, p. 196
