Very, very cold! Delaware frozen over. Three sleighloads of us went to Darby to Joseph Rudolph's, Joseph Fox, Robert Smith, Robert Erwin and wife, William Jones and Mrs. Gray, his intended, and two daughters, Hannah Gardner, John Biddle, Leonard Stoneburner, my wife and self.
SOURCE: Jacob Cox Parsons, Editor, Extracts from the Diary of Jacob Hiltzheimer, of Philadelphia, 1765-1798, p. 12
Went to Middle Ferry (Jonathan Humphreys') to see how high the water was at twelve o'clock last night. It moved the chairhouse about 100 yards. Thomas Shoemaker and I measured at the hay barrack, below the house, where the water left a mark, and found it had been five feet four inches.
SOURCE: Jacob Cox Parsons, Editor, Extracts from the Diary of Jacob Hiltzheimer, of Philadelphia, 1765-1798, p. 13
Last night heavy rain with thunder and lightning. The Moravian meeting house was struck.
SOURCE: Jacob Cox Parsons, Editor, Extracts from the Diary of Jacob Hiltzheimer, of Philadelphia, 1765-1798, p. 13
Camp at Ashley Hill.
Ranks thinned very much; deaths not so frequent. Our situation as to ground, a
handsome one, and, as far as I can judge, eligible, but assuredly the climate
is severe upon northern constitutions. Gentlemen who can afford it, reside
during summer in the city and spend the winter in the country. An unpleasant
week's command. At a bridge over Ashley, six or seven miles from camp, where
the great road from Charleston to the upper country crosses, a subaltern and
thirty men have been stationed. It became my turn. Orders were to suffer no
people to pass or repass without proper permit. It was now pretty well known
that the enemy would soon evacuate the city. Many poor devils had taken
protection and followed the British in; provisions scarce in town, and those
people sick of their situation-they were anxious to get back to their old
places of abode in the country. Some very miserable objects came out—whole
families, battered and starving. Was sure, upon my representation,
leave would be given to let them pass. Stated the business in writing, and
dispatched a sergeant. No—ordered not to let them pass; thought this an
unnecessary cruelty.
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. 252-3
Marched at sun[rise] to Mr. Old Fields, Manœuvres retrograde and many, the troops almost worn out, Very hot weather.
SOURCE: Historical Society of Pennsylvania, Publisher, Journal of Lieut. William Feltman, of the First Pennsylvania Regiment, 1781-82, p. 6
A wet morning; cleared up 10 o'clock.
This day we had a Feu de Joie in celebration of our Independency of America, After that was over the Pennsylvania line performed several mancouvres, in which we fired; had the thanks of the Marquis, The feu de joie was with a running firing from right to left of the army,
SOURCE: Historical Society of Pennsylvania, Publisher, Journal of Lieut. William Feltman, of the First Pennsylvania Regiment, 1781-82, p. 6
Cloudy day.
SOURCE: Historical Society of Pennsylvania, Publisher, Journal of Lieut. William Feltman, of the First Pennsylvania Regiment, 1781-82, p. 8
Wet morning and a cloudy day.
SOURCE: Historical Society of Pennsylvania, Publisher, Journal of Lieut. William Feltman, of the First Pennsylvania Regiment, 1781-82, p. 8
A clear and fine morning.
SOURCE: Historical Society of Pennsylvania, Publisher, Journal of Lieut. William Feltman, of the First Pennsylvania Regiment, 1781-82, p. 8
Intense heat.
Arrived 6 Sail of Merchantmen under Convoy of the Liverpool in whom came Sir
Henry Clinton and his suite.
SOURCE: G. D. Scull,
Editor, The Montresor Journals, p. 427
Very Squaly weather, came to Sail at 4 o’clock P. M. saluted the french Admiral & rec’d nine guns in return this is the first salute ever pay’d the American flagg.
SOURCE: Dr. Ezra Green, Diary of Ezra Green, M.D., Surgeon on Board the Continental Ship “Ranger,” Under John Paul Jones, from November 1, 1777 to September 27, 1778, p. 19
1 Jones, in his letter to the naval committee, dated Feb. 22, 1778, reporting this important recognition of our flag, says:—
“I am happy to have it in my power to congratulate you on my having seen the American flag, for the first time, recognized in the fullest and completest manner by the flag of France I was off this bay [Quiberon Bay] on the 13th inst., and sent my boat in the next day to know if the Admiral would return my salute. He answered that he would return to me as the senior continental officer in Europe, the same salute as he was authorized to return to an Admiral of Holland, or any other republic, which was four guns less than the salute given. I hesitated at this, for I had demanded gun for gun.
“Therefore I anchored in the entrance of the Bay at a distance from the French fleet; but after a very particular inquiry, on the 14th, finding that he really told the truth, I was induced to accept his offer, the more as it was an acknowledgment of American Independence.
“The wind being contrary and blowing hard, it was after sunset before the Hanger was near enough to salute La Motte Piquet with thirteen guns, which he returned with nine. However, to put the matter beyond a doubt, I did not suffer the Independence to salute until the next morning, when I sent word to the Admiral that I would sail through his fleet in the Brig and would salute him in open day. He was exceedingly pleasant, and returned the compliment also with nine guns.”
SOURCE: Dr. Ezra Green, Diary of Ezra Green, M.D., Surgeon on Board the Continental Ship “Ranger,” Under John Paul Jones, from November 1, 1777 to September 27, 1778, p. 19
Fleet got underway and left us at anchor contrary to Expectations, about 12 O’clock it being very windy we came to sail, ran out of the Bay without a Pilot, attempted to the Northward of Belisle, but did not succeed, put back hoping to run into the Bay again, but could not weather the Rocks, in the midst of our Trouble having narrowly escap’d over setting the Ship, were alarm’d with the cry of Fire—after all our endeavours to procure a Pilot were in vain, & night coming on, bore away and ran out to the Leward of the Island, very squaly still.
SOURCE: Dr. Ezra Green, Diary of Ezra Green, M.D., Surgeon on Board the Continental Ship “Ranger,” Under John Paul Jones, from November 1, 1777 to September 27, 1778, p. 19
At Reveille were
informed that the enemy had landed at Elizabethtown, which caused us to be
marched there. On arrival at 2 o'clock, we found the alarm was a false one. We
determined to cross to Staten Island that night to visit the troops of Gen.
Howe, but a hurricane arose which prevented our embarkation. We afterward
ascertained that we would have been cut off, had we landed.
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. 196
Wrote to Mr. Shaw & Polley—weather moderated—took pill—paid Brother Moses 2£ LM.
SOURCE: Amos Perry, The Town Records of Rhode Island,
Publications of the Rhode Island Historical Society, New Series, Vol. 7 (1899),
p. 107
took powders—rainy—took pill
SOURCE: Amos Perry, The Town Records of Rhode Island,
Publications of the Rhode Island Historical Society, New Series, Vol. 7 (1899),
p. 107
fair Day—
SOURCE: Amos Perry, The Town Records of Rhode Island,
Publications of the Rhode Island Historical Society, New Series, Vol. 7 (1899),
p. 107
Sunday. rainy—feel poorly—
SOURCE: Amos Perry, The Town Records of Rhode Island,
Publications of the Rhode Island Historical Society, New Series, Vol. 7 (1899),
p. 107
Wind W. N. W. Pleasant little breeze and clear Weather, all Sail set, at 4 P. М. in Starboard Steering sails, the Wind inclining to the N. W. Set stay sails fore and aft, in Royals, in M. T. M. steering sail and Mizn T. G. Sail, Set Royals Mizn T. G. sail &c. at Meridian fine pleasant breeze and clear Weather, all sail set: Distance 176. Lat. observed 41.4. Long. 56.27.
SOURCE: New York Historical Society, Publisher, Collections of the New York Historical Society for the Year 1883: The Kemble Papers, Vol. 1 1773-1789, p. 3
Wind N. W. Pleasant and clear weather, all sail set. In Royalls squally, in T. G. steering sails, wind W. N. W. Set Royalls T. G. stearing sails, &c. Flattering, the wind inclining to the S. W. Shift steering sails, driver &c. Distance 154. Lat. observed 42.5. Long. 53.17.
SOURCE: New York Historical Society, Publisher, Collections of the New York Historical Society for the Year 1883: The Kemble Papers, Vol. 1 1773-1789, p. 3
