A very rainy morning, so like to prove. The officers in the
house all day.
[Afternoon.] The General and officers drank tea with us, and
stay'd part of the evening. After supper I went into aunt's where sat
the Gen'l, Col. Line, and Major Stodard. So Liddy and I seated ourselves at the
table in order to read a verse-book.
The Major was holding a candle for the Gen'l, who was
reading a newspaper. He look'd at us, turn'd away his eyes, look'd again, put
the candlestick down, up he jump'd, out of the door he went.
"Well," said I to Liddy, " he will joinus when he comes
in."
Presently he return'd, and seated himself on the table.
"Pray, ladies, is there any songs in that book?"
"Yes, many."
"Can't you favr me with a
sight of it?"
"No, Major, 'tis a borrow'd book."
"Miss Sally, can't you sing?"
"No."
Thee may be sure I told the truth there. Liddy, saucy girl,
told him I cou'd. He beg'd and I deny'd; for my voice is not much better than
the voice of a raven. We talk'd and laugh'd for an hour. He is very
clever, amiable, and polite. He has the softest voice, never pronounces
the R at all.
I must tell thee, to-day arriv'd Col. Guest1 and
Major Letherberry; the former a smart widower, the latter lawyer, a sensible
young fellow, and will never swing for want of tongue.
Dr. Diggs2 came Second-day; a mighty disagreeable
man. We were oblig'd to ask him to tea. He must needs prop himself between the
Major and me, for which I did not thank him. After I had drank tea, I jump'd
from the table, and seated myself at the fire. The M——— followed my example,
drew his chair close to mine, and entertain'd me very agreeably.
Oh, Debby; I have a thousand things to tell thee. I shall
give thee so droll an account of my adventures that thee will smile.
"No occasion of that, Sally," methinks I hear thee say,
"for thee tells me every trifle." But, child, thee is mistaken, for I
have not told thee half the civil things that are said of us sweet creatures
at "General Smallwood's Quarters." I think I might have sent the
gentlemen to their chambers. I made my adieus, and home I went.
_______________
1 MORDECAI GIST, son of Captain Thomas
and Susan (Cockey) Gist, was born in Baltimore, Maryland, in 1748. He was
educated at St. Paul's Parish School, Baltimore County, and at the
outbreak of the Revolution
was a merchant doing business on Gay Street. At the beginning of the
War the young men of Baltimore formed the Baltimore Independent
Company, and in July, 1776, elected Gist Captain. He had
command of this company until January 14, 1776, when he was appointed
Major of a battalion in Smallwood's Maryland Regiment. December 10,
1776, he was made Colonel of the Third Maryland Regiment. In January,
1779, Congress appointed him a Brigadier-General in the Continental Army, and
he took command of the Second Maryland Brigade and served to the
close of the War. After the Revolution he resided upon a plantation
near Charleston, South Carolina, in which city he died, September 12, 1792, and
was buried in Old St. Michael's churchyard.
2 This is doubtless COLE DIGGS, of King
William County, Virginia (son of William
Diggs, of Denbigh), who became Cornet of the First
Regiment of Virginia Light Dragoons, December 6, 1776, and
Lieutenant, April 7, 1778. He resigned May 4, 1778. Bland MSS., Cong. Lib.,
Wash.; MSS. of the Revolution, State Lib., Richmond, Va.; Va. Cal.
State Papers, VIII., 164; Heitman; William and Mary Quart.,
I., 19.
SOURCE: Albert Cook Myers, Editor, Sally Wister's
Journal A True Narrative Being A Quaker Maiden's Account Of Her
Experiences With Officers Of The Continental Army, 1777-1778, pp.
91-4
