Waiting with a great deal of impatience for a passage to Alexandria. I am informed that the Land is much better the higher you go up the River. If it is not, I will not settle in this part of the Country.
SOURCE: Nicholas Cresswell, The Journal of Nicholas Cresswell 1774—1777, p. 19
This day the Ship
came up. Captn. Knox and I hired a Boat to carry us to Nanjemoy on Potowmeck
River, about 60 Miles from Alexandria, which place I intend to go to as soon as
possible. Went up to Deep Creek and got our Baggage on Board the Boat. Parted
with Messrs. Baldwin, who are bound to Norfolk in Virginia. Got down to
Urbanna, but so late at Night obliged to sleep in the Boat all night.
SOURCE: Nicholas
Cresswell, The Journal of Nicholas
Cresswell 1774—1777, p. 16
Left Urbanna about 8
in the morning. Our Boat manned with three Negroes. At 2 in the afternoon got
into the mouth of Potowmeck River, which is about 12 Miles wide. A great number
of pleasant seats on the Banks of the River. At 10 in the evening came to an
Anchor in Majotack Creek.
SOURCE: Nicholas
Cresswell, The Journal of Nicholas
Cresswell 1774—1777, pp. 16-7
YORK. — Provision for transporting baggage, &c., and other necessary preparation. Commenced our march for Virginia; the weather pleasant and roads tolerably good. Passed through Frederick Town (Maryland), where were some British prisoners quartered; they turned out to see us. Next day reached the Potomac; here we were detained for want of craft—boats few and in bad condition. The artillery passed over first (a battalion of artillery accompanied the brigade). The second flat-boat had left the shore about forty yards, when the whole sunk. Several women were on board; but as hundreds of men were on the bank, relief soon reached them; none were lost—got all over. Proceeded a few miles and encamped. Struck our tents every morning before day. About eight or nine o'clock, as we found water, a short halt was made, the water-call beat; parties, six or eight from each company, conducted by a non-commissioned officer, with canteens, fetched water. Seldom allowed to eat until twelve o'clock, when the arms were stacked, knapsacks taken off, and water sent for by parties as before. Officers of a company generally messed together, sometimes more; one of their servants carried cooked provisions for the day; no cooking until night. Not acquainted with the country on our route, but understood that we were marching much about — very circuitous— keeping off the Blue Ridge close on our right. This to avoid the enemy and secure our junction with the Marquis Lafayette.
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. 238-9
Took up the line of march at sunrise; marched through Frederick Town, Maryland, where there was a number of British officers (prisoners), who took a view of us as we passed through the town. We made a very respectable appearance. We crossed the Pomock [Potomac] at Newland's ferry; were obliged to cross in bad scows. One unfortunately sunk, loaded with artillery, &c., and a few men, in which one Sergeant and three privates of our Regiment were drowned; encamped on this side of the river.
A number of us dined at the Tavern (or ornery as the Virginians call it.) The night turned out to be very heavy with rain, and we were obliged to take up our quarters in Col. Clapham's Negro Quarters, I mean a number of the officers of our Regiment. We rose early the next morning and breakfasted at said Ornery—18 miles.
SOURCE: Historical Society of Pennsylvania, Publisher, Journal of Lieut. William Feltman, of the First Pennsylvania Regiment, 1781-82, p. 3
