Journal of Sally Wister, October 26, 1777

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 fav^r 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.

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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