the 1. A Happy new year 1776 Behold the man three score and ten upon a
Dying Bed he'se run his race and get no Grace and Awful Sight indeed
Nothing very remarkable this 1 day of January 1776 Anoquedomina.[199]
[Footnote 199: Anno Domini.]
the 2. Nothing strange this day.
the 3. 20 men out of each Regement in Roxbury side to cut
fachines[200] I believe we have it by and by.
[Footnote 200: Fascines.]
the 4. Nothing remarkable this day.
the 5-7. Nothing strange.
the 8. At night some of our brave heroick Americans went Past the
Enemys Brest Work at Bunker hill and burnt several housen at the foot
of Bunker hill and took 5 men and 1 woman Prisoners and came of as far
as copple hill when the flames began to extend and the enemy that were
in the fort perceiving a number of men gather round the fire &
suposing them to be our men they kept up a bright fire for the space
of near half an hour upon their own men devillightfooly[201]
they[202]....
[Footnote 201: Delightfully.]
[Footnote 202: When Charlestown was burned,
fourteen houses escaped the flames. These were
occupied by the British; and, on the 8th of
January, General Putnam sent Major Knowlton
(afterward killed at Harlem), with a small party,
to set those houses on fire. The affair was
injudiciously managed, and, before all could be
fired, the flames of one alarmed the British in the
fort. They discharged cannons and small-arms in all
directions, in their confusion and affright. At
that moment a play, called "The Blockade of
Boston," written for the occasion by General
Burgoyne, was in course of performance in the city.
In the midst of the scene in which Washington was
burlesqued, a sergeant dashed into the theatre and
exclaimed, "The Yankees are attacking Bunker's
hill!" The audience thought it was part of the
play, until General Howe said, "Officers, to your
alarm-posts!" Then women shrieked and fainted, and
the people rushed to the streets in great
confusion.]
the 9. Nothing remarkable this day.
the 10. Nothing very remarkable this day it was very cold.
the 11. Nothing very remarkable this day.
the 12. All furlows stopt this day.
the 13. Nothing strange this day.
the 14. Being Sunday nothing remarkable this day.
the 15. This day we heard that the regulars had taken Providence and
burnt all the housen except two.[203]
[Footnote 203: Sir James Wallace commanded a small
British flotilla in Narraganset bay, during the
summer and autumn of 1775. He was really a
commissioned pirate, for he burnt and plundered
dwellings, and stores, and plantations, wherever he
pleased. The fact above alluded to was the plunder
and destruction of the houses on the beautiful
island of Providence (not the town of Providence)
by that marauder, at the close of November, 1775.
He also desolated Connanicut island, opposite
Newport; and every American vessel that entered
that harbor was seized and sent to Boston.]
the 16. Nothing remarkable hapened this day at night we were all
ordered to Ly upon our arms.
the 17. This day we had the disagreeable news that our men were
defeated that went to Quebeck and that General montgomery and colonel
Arnold were either killed or taken Prisoners but we Pray God thy news
may prove falce[204] at night it was thought their was a spy out from
Boston and our centrys fired at him but we dont know the Sertainty of
it cold weather for the Season.
[Footnote 204: Arnold, with only seven hundred men,
appeared before Quebec on the 18th of November, and
demanded its surrender. He was soon compelled to
retire, and, marching up the St. Lawrence twenty
miles, he there met, in December, General
Montgomery, with a small force, descending from
Montreal. They marched against Quebec, and, early
in the morning of the 31st of December, proceeded
to assail the city at three distinct points.
Montgomery was killed, Morgan and many of the
Americans were made prisoners, and Arnold, who was
severely wounded, retired to Sillery, three miles
above Quebec.]
the 18. Nothing strange this day.
the 19. This day we heard that our men had taken a Ship Loaded with
Gunpowder the truth of it we have not yet Learned but we hope it will
prove true.[205]
[Footnote 205: Several of the prizes captured by
Manly and others contained powder and arms; and
late in December, Colonel (afterward General) Knox
arrived from Ticonderoga with forty-two sled-loads
of cannons, mortars, lead, balls, flints, &c. By
the close of January, powder became quite plentiful
in the American camp.]
the 20. Nothing remarkable this day.
the 21. Ditto.
the 22. Nothing strange.
the 23. Nothing remarkable.
the 24. This day capt Pond came from Wrentham Nothing remarkable.
the 25. Nothing remarkable this day.
the 26. Nothing very remarkable.
the 27. Nothing remarkable this day.
the 28. Nothing remarkable.
the 29. This day we moved to Dorchester into the widow Birds house.
the 30. Nothing strange this day.
the 31. Ditto.