Diary of Sergeant James McMichael, September 1, 1776

Having now joined Gen. Mifflin's Brigade, we were all paraded by his orders, when he entertained us with a political discourse, wherein he shewed the propriety of evacuating Long Island, together with the evil consequences which would have attended the maintaining of it.

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. 199

Diary of Reverend Enos Hitchcock, Sunday, June 1, 1777

No Service A. M. dined at the Generals²—Letters from General Gates inform of Col^o Meigss capturing 70 men on Long Island & destroying some Stores also y^t the Troops in Canada are going to the Southard — Divine Service at Six ^oClock I Chron 19, 17, very warm.

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² At Brigade Headquarters, General Patterson's, probably.

SOURCE: Amos Perry, The Town Records of Rhode Island, Publications of the Rhode Island Historical Society, New Series, Vol. 7 (1899), p. 110

Journal of Lieutenant Isaac Bangs, April 29, 1776

As the Continental Congress had ordered 6 More Regiments for Canada, the Genl gave out orders for Genl Sullivan with that Number should embarque for Albany. These orders were given out on the 27th, and Many of the Men sailed for Albany this Day. 'Tis reported that this unexpected order is in Consequence of an Express which was lately sent to the Congress containing disagreeable News, & which they chuse not to divulge.

They will be tolerably strong at Canady, 10 Regts having gone from hence, besides the Army in those Parts before. The Brigade under Genl Green was ordered to take the birth of Gen' Sullivans brigade on Long Island, as Genl Sullivan is ordered for Canada. The other 3 Brigades together with the Artilery are to encamp without the City on the Day after tomorrow. An old Whore who had been so long Dead that she was rotten was this Day found concealed in an out House at the Holy Ground.

SOURCE: Edward Bangs, Edited, Journal of Lieutenant Isaac Bangs, April 1 to July 29, 1776, p. 31

Diary of Sergeant James McMichael, August 22, 1776

The enemy having landed on Long Island, our brigade was paraded and ordered thither. After leaving our camp, the order was modified — one-half to proceed to Long Island, the remainder to be in readiness to follow at a moment's notice. The First Battalion together with our musketry, and the Delaware Blues, went to the island and we were ordered to our tents.

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, pp. 197-8

Diary of Sergeant James McMichael, August 24, 1776

At 10 A. M., we all marched from our encampment and crossed St. George's ferry to Long Island. Just after we had joined the brigade, we had a heavy cannonade, with some small arms. This night we camped in the woods, without tents, in a hard rain. Sentries firing all night.

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. 198

Diary of Sergeant James McMichael, August 27, 1776

At sunrise we were ordered to march easterly from near Flatbush a few miles, when we discovered the enemy coming against us with 5000 foot and 500 horse. We numbered just 400. We at first thought it prudent to retire to a neighboring thicket, where we formed and gave battle. Here my right hand man fell, shot thro' the head. We were attacked by the enemy's left wing, while their right endeavoured to surround us. Their superior numbers forced us to retire for a short distance, when we again formed and fought with fortitude until we were nearly surrounded. Having by this time lost a great number of men, we were again forced to retreat, when we found that the enemy had got between us and the fort. Then despairing of making good our retreat we resolved to die rather than be taken prisoners, and thus we were drove from place to place 'till 3 o'clock P. M., when we agreed to attempt crossing the mill-pond, that being the only way left for our escape. Here numbers were drowned, but it was the will of Providence that I should escape, and at half past three, we reached the lines, being much fatigued. The enemy advanced rapidly and endeavoured to force our lines, but were repulsed with considerable loss. They afterwards marched towards the Narrows, where they found our First Battalion and the Delaware Blues under command of Col. Hazlet. These battalions were chiefly cut off, we were ordered to cover their retreat, which exposed us in open field to a heavy fire from the enemy 'till evening—the remainder of our troops brought us 23 prisoners. At dark we were relieved and ordered to St. George's ferry to take refreshments. Thus happened the memorable action on Long Island, where the enemy attacked and defeated Lord Stirling's brigade, consisting of the following regiments: Colonels Miles, Atlee, Smallwood and Hazlet. Major General Sullivan, Brig. Gen. Lord Stirling were taken prisoners, also Col. Miles and Atlee; Lieut. Col. Piper—all of our regiment also, 19 commissioned officers, 23 sergeants, and 310 rank and file. My preservation I only attribute to the indulgent Providence of God, for tho' the bullets went around me in every direction, yet I received not a wound.

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, pp. 198-9

Journal of Lieutenant Isaac Bangs, April 14, 1776

The Wind not being favourable before this Day, we set Sail with a Favourable Wind, and got past Connecticut River & were obliged to put back to black Point. The Next Day we set sail about 1 o'clock, & the next day about 2 o'clock we arrived at Turtle Bay, between Hell Gate and New York. Here we were obliged to tarry till the next day at 9 o'clock for Orders. We set sail, & at 10 arrived in the City of New York, our desired Port, on the 17 of April. For about 10 Miles below New York the Passage between the Maine & Long Island was very Narrow. On both sides many very elegant Country Seats, & at Hell Gate a handsome & well-constructed Fort lately built by our People. At Turtle Bay are 4 large & beautifull Stores made for the Use of the King's Stores & Amunition, &c. From this Place the Yorkers took a very large Quantity of Bombs & Shot; but the Enemy had conveyed the Powder away before. Near this Place are several elegant & beautifull Country Seats, Several evacuated by the Tories. I visited the Garden of one Gentleman in which was a Summer House which the Gardener shewed me in which were many curious Flowers, &c.; but the greatest Rarity was Orange, Lime, Pomgranet, & Citron Trees all Bearing Fruit. The Lemons were the largest & best that ever I saw, as also the Oranges, both sweet and sour. One Lime tree had 5 different Sorts of Fruit growing at once besside Blossoms.

On our arival we found Houses provided for both Officers & Men. Our Regt was barracked in Water Street near to Pecks Slip, & we had 2 Rooms for the officers of our Company in D. Barkleys on the Same street near our Company.

SOURCE: Edward Bangs, Edited, Journal of Lieutenant Isaac Bangs, April 1 to July 29, 1776, pp. 23-4

Journal of Lieutenant Isaac Bangs, April 19, 1776

I spent the greatest part of my Time in viewing the City, which I found vastly surpassing my Expectations. The City is nearly as populous as the Town of Boston; the Publick Edifices greater in number, yet not in general so grand & Magnificent as those of Boston. I found the Town, or City, scituated between two Rivers. The one Runing about North, called the North River, is the same which is navigable up as far as Albany, about Miles; the other River is that which seperateth Long Island from the Continent, and runs Easterly, one part of which is called Hell Gate (very metaphorically so called). In the Town we found every street leading from the Water almost stoped with Breast Works built by Genl Lee on his arrival in this Town, to prevent the Enemy from landing to set fire to the Town. On the South west part of the Town, which is a Point between the two Rivers, is a very strong & costly Fort built by the Kings Troops & many masons men for the Protection of the City from the Enemy.

On the outside of the Fort at the Edge of the wall was a Battery, erected at a vast Expence to the King, built of hewn stone, the outside about ten feet high, the inside filled up to form a plane that the Wall was not more than a foot and a half high. Over this the Cannon were to play; but as so low a wall would not be a sufficient cover for our Men, our People were busily employed in making a Turf Wall upon the stone Wall, & when we arrived had almost finished as compleat a Battery as ever I saw. Several other Fortifications were erected in this Town, which made it tolerably strong & safe against any attacks of the Enemy. From the above mentioned Fort a spacious street running east notherly in a right line, reached without the Town about 1 Mile. In this, near the Fort, is the Equestrian Statue of King George 3d, a Present from himself to this City.¹ The design was in imitation of one of the Roman Emperors on Horseback. The Man George is represented about 1/3 larger than a Natural Man; the Horse, in proportion, both neatly constructed of Lead guilt with Gold, raised on a Pedestral of white Marble, about 15 Feet high, enclosed with a very elegant Fence about 10 feet high, the 2 lower feet Stone, the remainder of open worked Iron; the inclosure was oval, containing about ¼ of an acre of beautifull green. This, with several Churches and other Elegant buildings on either side of the spacious street, form a most beautifull prospect from the Fort. Opposite the Town on the south is the Town of Brooklinn on Long Island, at about 1 Mile distance. The Town of Brooklinn with the adjacent Hills, on which are several elegant Country Seats, (20) I visited, and took a full view of the Waterworks that are making to convey Water through the City (that from the Pumps being very bad & unwholesome to that degree that the Inhabitants buy Water for Coffee, &c. from Carts that are employed to carry it about the City). These Works were began about 12 Months since at the City Expence, to defray which they issued Bills that are current as other Money. A Dutchman undertook the Jobb for a certain sum, & hath already performed the most difficult part of the Work, tho not with that success that was expected by the Citizens, as they say. He saith he hath done as well as he promised. The Work that is already done (the most difficult part) is to convey Water from the side of an Hill nigh a Pond to the top of the Hill, which being higher than any part of the City, the Water is to be conveyed in Pipes through the City. As the Man that attended spoke very broken English & the Machiene was not at Work, it was with great Difficulty that I understood the Construction of the Machiene; & to pretend to give a perticular discription of this Work would be folly in me, as I could by no means do it Justice. The first part of the Work was the Well, about 40 feet Diamiter, and to appearance about 30 feet to the surface of the Water. In this Well was the Engine, which forced the Water almost to the Top, & from thence through a Wooden Tube up to the Top of the Hill, which was about 5 Rods distance and about Feet perpendicular above the Top of the Well. At the Top of the Hill was an artificial Pound, whose superficies was about 4 of an Acre, and when filled, the Water would be about 8 or 10 Feet deep; from hence the Water was to be conveyed (as I before said) in Pipes through the City. All of this I could easily understand; but the grand Question was how was the Machiene in the Well first actuated & continued its motion? This I was surprised to find was wholly done by the Power of Boiling Water.

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¹ I have since been informed it was bought by the subscription of the Gentlemen of this City. - I. B.

SOURCE: Edward Bangs, Edited, Journal of Lieutenant Isaac Bangs, April 1 to July 29, 1776, pp. 24-6