General Washington
arrived; our brigade was paraded to receive him; he rode along the line
quarters in Williamsburg.
SOURCE: J. B.
Lippincott & Co., Publisher, The Record of the Court at Upland, in
Pennsylvania. 1676 to 1681. And a Military Journal Kept by Major E. Denny, 1781
to 1795, p. 242
Officers all pay
their respects to the Commander-in-chief; go in a body; those who are not
personally known, their names given by General Hand and General Wayne. He
stands in the door, takes every man by the hand—the officers all pass in,
receiving his salute and shake. This the first time I had seen the General. We
have an elegant encampment close to town, behind William and Mary College. This
building occupied as an hospital. Williamsburg a very handsome place, not so
populous as Richmond, but situate on evenly, pretty ground; streets and lots
spacious—does not appear to be a place of much business, rather the residence
of gentlemen of fortune; formerly it was the seat of government and Dunmore's
late residence. A neat public building, called the capitol, fronts the
principal street; upon the first floor is a handsome marble statue of William
Pitt.
The presence of so
many general officers, and the arrival of new corps, seem to give additional
life to everything; discipline the order of the day. In all directions troops
seen exercising and manœuvring. Baron Steuben, our great military oracle. The
guards attend the grand parade at an early hour, where the Baron is always
found waiting with one or two aids on horseback. These men are exercised and
put through various evolutions and military experiments for two hours—many
officers and spectators present; excellent school, this. At length the duty of
the parade comes on. The guards are told off; officers take their posts, wheel
by platoons to the right; fine corps of music detailed for this duty, which
strikes up; the whole march off, saluting the Baron and field officer of
the day, as they pass. Pennsylvania brigade almost all old soldiers, and well
disciplined when compared with those of Maryland and Virginia. But the troops
from the eastward far superior to either.
SOURCE: J. B.
Lippincott & Co., Publisher, The Record of the Court at Upland, in
Pennsylvania. 1676 to 1681. And a Military Journal Kept by Major E. Denny, 1781
to 1795, pp. 243-4
Our division man the
lines again. All is quiet. Articles of capitulation signed; detachments of
French and Americans take possession of British forts. Major Hamilton
commanded a battalion which took possession of a fort immediately opposite our
right and on the bank of York river. I carried the standard of our regiment on
this occasion. On entering the fort, Baron Steuben, who accompanied us, took
the standard from me and planted it himself. The British army parade and march
out with their colors furled; drums beat as if they did not care how. Grounded
their arms and returned to town. Much confusion and riot among the British
through the day; many of the soldiers were intoxicated; several attempts in
course of the night to break open stores; an American sentinel killed by a
British soldier with a bayonet; our patrols kept busy. Glad to be relieved from
this disagreeable station. Negroes lie about, sick and dying, in every stage of
the small pox. Never was in so filthy a place — some handsome houses, but prodigiously
shattered. Vast heaps of shot and shells lying about in every quarter, which
came from our works. The shells did not burst, as was expected. Returns of
British soldiers, prisoners six thousand, and seamen about one thousand. Lord
Cornwallis excused himself from marching out with the troops; they were
conducted by General O'Hara. Our loss said to be about three hundred; that of
the enemy said not more than five hundred and fifty. Fine supply of stores and
merchandise had; articles suitable for clothing were taken for the use of the
army. A portion furnished each officer to the amount of sixty dollars.
SOURCE: J. B.
Lippincott & Co., Publisher, The Record of the Court at Upland, in
Pennsylvania. 1676 to 1681. And a Military Journal Kept by Major E. Denny, 1781
to 1795, pp. 248-9
Marched at 6 o'clock, three miles, and were reviewed by the General. Lay on our arms all night—3 miles.
SOURCE: Historical Society of Pennsylvania, Publisher, Journal of Lieut. William Feltman, of the First Pennsylvania Regiment, 1781-82, p. 5
The Commander in Chief reviewed the 2 Battalions Anspach. Baggage waggons ferrying over to Staaten Island. 43 Sail of Transports now in Princes Bay. Boats constantly arriving from New York to take off the Stores from hence.
SOURCE: G. D. Scull, Editor, The Montresor Journals, pp. 423-4
I find the drums beating, colours flying, and detachments of newly raised militia parading the streets;—the whole country appears determined to assume a military character, and this city, throwing off her pacific aspect, is forming military companies, a plan being laid for thirty-three; composed of all ranks and nations, uniting shoulder to shoulder, they form so many patriotic bands to oppose like the invincible Macedonian phalanx, the progress and increase of parliamentary authority. The Quakers, not to be behind in manifesting their aversion, have obtained permission of the city committee to make up two companies of Friends exclusively, and they are to be commanded by Samuel Marshall and Thomas Mifflin,1 both of that persuasion.
So powerful is the love of liberty, and so great the dread of ministerial designs, that the strongest prejudices and habits have given way and are controlled by the former.
The House this day having received a message from the governor with Lord North's conciliatory plan, has on a full debate rejected it, being resolved to adhere to the union.
1 See Supplement.
2 See Supplement.
SOURCE: George Atkinson Ward, Journal and Letters of the Late Samuel Curwen, Judge of Admiralty, etc., An American Refugee in England from 1775 to 1784, pp. 26-7
Having now joined Col. Miles's Regiment we were this morning ordered on parade, when we went thro' our manœuvres and evolutions with great applause.
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
This day continued on the ground: the soldiers washed their clothing and furbished up their arms and accoutrements, and in the evening at 7 o'clock we were reviewed by Gen. Wayne.
SOURCE: Historical Society of Pennsylvania, Publisher, Journal of Lieut. William Feltman, of the First Pennsylvania Regiment, 1781-82, p. 3
