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STONE, AutMr of the Life and Times qf Sir WiUlam Johmon. " ItUMANI NIHll, ALIENUM." \M',A^^': JOEL MUNSELL, 18C7. Fliitercd according to Act of Congress in llie ycar.lWi", By J. MUNSEIJ., In llie Clerl4'i> Office of tlie Dit-trict Court of tlio United Stntcf, for the NortlU'rn ]>i*>trict of New Yorl<. TO JAxMES B. ANGELL, JJrcsibcnt of tl)c UniucrsitQ of bcrmont, WHO FIRST INSI'IHKI) MK WITH A I,OVK FOR TIIK (IKRMAN liANdlJAUK AN1> MTKRATI'UK, THIS VOLUM E 18 AFFECTIONATELV INSCRIBED. TRANSLATOR'S PREFACE. IIIK memory of Mudumc Hiudescl* will live in the hearts of Amerieiius, as long as let- ters shall euJurc. The child-like trust in Provi- dence, which alouc enabled her to leave u luxurious home and powerful friends, and follow her husband across a pathless ocean into a strange land, then almost a wilderness, for the sake of sharing with hiiu his trials and hardships, affords an example worthy of our study and admiration. Nor can any one peruse these touching records of a devoted, couj ugal love, chastened and sanctified, as it was, by an unaffected religious experience, without the consciousness of a higher ideal of faith and duty. A few detached and imperfectly translated portions of these letters were first published in English by General Wilkinson, in his Memoirs of my own Times, and wore afterwards copied into Professor Silliman's Tour in Canada. The work was sub- sequently more fully translated and given to the public in 1827. This translation, however, not only fails, in innumerable in- stances, to convey the ideas and spirit of the original, but omits nearly forty pages of the first and only German edition published * Ried-csel, pronounced Ro-day-zcl, with accent on second syllable. Tbc cock- neys in the British army pronounced it liud-bazcl. i g Th\\\sl.ATi)/rs I'llKhWi'K jit lleiTiii ill ISttd.' Wlicii, tlim-lMif, a lew iikhiiIik niiice, Mr. iMuiifioll projiosed tliut I slnnilil uiideitiiktMi new traiixlatioii witli original and i-xjilanalory imti's. 1 ciiloifd into tlio work witli alat-rity. I Iblt tluil it was a duty 1 <>\vi'd to tlio ineiiiory of one, wild, as tlio assucialc and IVicnd of Wasliin^toii and Sc'luiyliT. (larleti)n and Hiiijioym', was so ideiitilicd with the early struj;jili'H oi' our national i.-xistt'iui', to iiresiuit lier cha- racter to American readers in its true liiiht. In his attempt to do tills, the translator of the edition of 1S27 has been only partially successful ; and, while our thanks are justly due him for hih pioneer cH'orts in this direction, still, justice to .Madame Hiedesel forbids the incorporation of so incomplete a translation into our standard literature. • For the pa.ssajres which liave been omitted," says the translator in his preface to the edition of 1M27. "no apolojry will be re((uired by those who can read the original. The readinj^ purtioii of mankind has become so hostile to vuliiarity, so delicate, and in some respects so fastidi- ously refined, that many things and winds that were perfectly innocent and itioffensive, or only pervertible by the sagacity of proflipitcs and rakes, at a time not distant from that of Fielding and Smollett, are now considered utterly disgraceful, and are wholly banisbcd from polite literature." The etlcct of this passage is to leave \\\>(n\ the minds of those who have not read *it was entitled, ?ic | *8cnif? JMcifc unci) ^liiicricn | S^ricfc bcr | Wciienilin Don Micbcfcl | iiii? bicfor iHcifc i luib | uuihrciib iljtcf fccl;6j;il)rii)cii 9liif- entl;iilt« | iii9(mcrica | ,^iir Jcit bcJboi'tijjcii.^Uciijc* | in bcii CMil^rcii 177(5 bis 178:^ I iukIj ?ciiticl;lnnb nc|cl)ricbcit | 55crliii | bci '^aubc uiib -1783, written to Germany. /•/.' I \ s7, I T'lir s /■/.'AT''. I ( A". 7 (lie (iriuiiial. a toljillv I'lil-c iiii|irr,*si(iii. If \\w I'i'ikIitm uI' lliis voliiiiK! are so " fastiilioiisly ri'liiicil " us tn Ik; sliockiMl hy any tliiiif,' whic'li llu' imic and Invcly Madanio llii'dt'scl liaH written, it i« liiirli tiiud tiiat tiu- wdriis nf nm- cliastt'st aiitliorH bo put. out ol" tlieir ruac'li, until tlioir morbid scnsibiliticM bo ro«torod to a bcaltby tone. DesiLMicd lor no oyos but liiosc of iii'r inotlicr and licr family, these letters liav(^ an unstiulied I'limiliarity. There is, however, nothiiiir in them that ean oH'eml the correet and enltivated taste of any true man or won: in. Many of them were written amid tiic siekeuinji iiorrors of the eanip; and it is lior iirtlcRs and faithful delineations of the scones through which she passed, and the state of society in tiiis country at one of its most momentous epochs, thai triveto her story its hij^hcst charm and value. A translation of a pa-ssajre Ironi Weld's Voi/ikjc to North Ann- n'ra, in relation to tiio Indian cliief Tiniyendauegea, which forms the appendix to the German vidume, has boon omitted, as the original is accessible to the Knglisii reader. ]n its place wo give, as of far more interest, a pcrsomil sketch of tho baroness, including an account of her romantic courtship and The appendix to the edition of 1827, contains several letters from General lliede.^'el to Generals Washington and Gates. These letters are not reproduced in this volume, as they will soon appear in a translation of the Li/r imd W'n'litn/s of (itncral Jimhm-f, upon which I am now engaged. This work contains, besides Jliedcsel's military and personal jour- nal during his residence in America, many additional letters from Washington, Gates, Burgoyue, Schuyler, and other 8 TKA XSl.i TOirs ritFf'A IK. revniiitiimar}' cliiiriicU'rH, which liavi! lu'vcr hocn piililixliod in KiigllHh. T(t Kavitl M. Stone, T. W. Field, mid the lato Theodore ])wij;lit of Urimlilyn ; Friedrirli Kapp, CliarloH Coii^^'don, and l)avid T. Valentine of New York ; Hon. .Ind^'e Hay of Saratoga Sprinjin; and to my loved teacher and friend, I'rof'eHHor Kobin- Hon V. l>unn of Drown I'niverBity, I am indebted for kind and valuable HUg^estions. Nor muxt 1 forget to thank Mr. John (*. liiittre for the painH he Iuih taken with the nrtiHtie en}j;raving whieh I'orniH the frontispiece of thiH volume. One word further' in relation to the authenticity of the en- graving it>;. liiiii i'or llu'iii. I'i'dlxilil)' lio tliit'H nul kimw iiinrt' tliiiii tlial wliicli I Imvi! HtiiUid in my I)io;;rii|iliy oC tlir (Jtiiicral, wliicli was ('(itiiiiiuiii(riitt'il til me liy IiIh huh." Tito kiiiilri(WH of tlii.n rejily, ns well is the iir(im|it iinil M|i|in'- c'iativc rcHjKiiiHt! of liii'iit. ('ill. Kflkin<:iiii(l Itninii Nun l{iil(!iihaii to my n>i|ui'Ht, will, I iiin cunlidi'iit, (uiiiiiicikI ilicm tn tin- gi'utitudc of tlio American ]iiiblif. W 1 1,1.1.. M L. Stom; S(iriito(/ii Sj>n'ui/ii, Jiiniiiin/ \sl, 1H(»7. PREFACE TO THE GERMAN EDITION. OF those Gcrnian troops which England liirod for tho pnrposo of concuR'ring her revolted colonies, (Jeneral Itiedesel com- manded the Rrunswickers.* In the year 1770, he departed for America at tlic head of those troops, leaving his wife with the wish that she, together with their children, would follow him to that portion of the glol)e. This she did, and thus created the occasion for the let- ters which the reader will tind in this little volume. The authoress wrote them to her mother, the widow of Ihe minister of stale, his excellency Iterrvon JLissow, and a few intimate friends while upon her dangerous voyage and during lier sojourn in America. A few years subsequently, this correspondence came into the hands of her son-in-law, Count Henry Reuss the XLIV, grand-marshal and chamberlain to llu^ court of Berlin. The count took advantage of the leisure of one summer, which he spent with his i)areiits-in-law at their country-seal, to arrange the letters in order, and, on account of the great interest which they excited among all the relative's, he had tliem, the following winter, l)rinted as numuscript for the family, though only a very small numl)er of copies wro printed. General Kiidesel, however, did not live to see them in print, lie died on the sixth of January of the same year, while holding the •Early in tlie yunr 177(i, Eujiliind entered Into freaticH willi the smaller German Hiates to take into lier service '.iO.OOO ficrnian troops. The exact number of those hired was Ki.lKX). of these more than 4,(KM) were llriinswickers. Those latter, as stated in the text, were placed under the command of General Hiedesel. They consisted, according to Max Von Eelkini;, the learned and industrious (iernian histo- rian, of the foUowinj; troops: 1st, a retrimentof (dismounted) l)rai;oons. under I.ieut. Col. Baum. 2d, I'rince Frederick's re^iiment of Infantry ; I.ieut. (.'ol. I'ralorius. 3d, Khct's rejiiment of Infantry ; Lieut. Col. von Ehrenkrook. Itli, Riedescl's former rojiiment of Infantry ; Lieut. Col. von Specht. Oth, (irenadiers; Lieut. Col. Urey- num. Tth, Uitle Battalion (Jagers) : Lieut. Col. Barncr. PliEFA CE ro THE GEItilAN EHITIOS. 11 position of lieiitenant-genern), ami conunundant of llie city of Brunswick. Even witliout tliis liistorj- of tlie appearance of tliese letters, one can easily see from the letters themselves, tliat tiiey were not designed for publication ; still as it is not every thing intended for publication which is, for that reason, deserving of being printed, so there is cer- tainly much that is withheld from the i)ul)lic, which is worthy of being brought to its notice. Es])ecially, did this seem to nio to be the case with these letters ; and, accordingly, when one of these copies was presented me by th" right h(jnorable editor, I entreated him to allow me to prepare an edition for the pul)lic. The count granted the recpiest, with tiie remark, "Yes, certainly, if you think good can be accomplished b\' it." I am most assuredly of that opinion. If examples arc more heeded than mere precepts ; if fervid attachment in conjugal life ; if religious observance of the duties of a mother; if it is true that in all circumstances and situations of life, nothing atlbrds so nnich satisfaction as the consciousness of having acted according to the dictates of dutj- ; if sacrifices and self-denials of all kinds do not impair the ellbrts toward fultilling that duty; if a deter- mined resignation to unalterable circ\unstances ; if all this is worthy of imitation, and so much the more estimable as it is perhaps rarely to be found, especially among the higher classes ; then the publication of a l)ook wliicli exhit)its the actual practice of all these virtues, cer- tainly cannot be without profit. In .so far a-s truth is of more value than fiction, the greater will be the interest with which these letters will be read, because they rest upon facts, while in reading even the best of romances, the conviction that all was invented for the pur- poses of instruction, must, after all, lessen the atl'ectionate sympathy and weaken the moral etfect that had been intended. With the approbation of the highly respected and honorable editor, I have altered the title of this little work for the present edition. In the one designed only for the family it runs thus : "Extracts from the letters ami jjapcrs of General, Han)n de Kiede- "sel and his wife ne<^ Massow, concerning their common voyage to " America and fhcir sojourn in that country, compiled and arranged " by their son-in-law, Count Ileuss. Printed an nutniiitcfipt for the "familyr The great ninnber of l)ooks, which are now i)ublished, make it particularly desirable, if not for the general reader, at least for the trade, that l)ooks of similar contents should be distinguished as much as possible by the title, csik :'ially when they relate to joiirnci/i*. If, 11 lllll 12 PHEFACE TO THE OERM.LY EDITIoy. tliirfforc, a title is nuicli lietter if it is cliaiiuttciistic, I need nmke no apoloiiy for ealling this " Tlie Voya,<;c of Duty 'to Anieriea," espe- cially as ]Mrs. (teneral Hiedesel does not come tinder tlie category of those whom Yorick classes as travelers. Proofs of the correctness of tills discriminating title, the reader will find upon every page of the book, if indeed it is not literally justified on pages oO, 38, and 200.* That tlie title does not mention tlie letters of General Hiedesel, and the fragment of his journal which relates to the military opera- tions of the Knglish General Biirgoyne, must be excused by the fact that these letters are, iii> this connection, nothing but a part of a drama ; and the military report must be considered merely as an episode. A few typograi)hical errors, which I shall not allow to remain standing in a revised edition, the reader, I hope, will excuse — espe- cially as they consist, for the most part, of omissions of types which can be set right without difliculty. The vigucttc of the title page represents a prominent cape in the St. Lawrence river (cape Diamond), which is a tliousand feet above the level of the water, is the highest and most fortified point of Quebec, and, in fact, may be regarded as the citadel of the city. In addition, also, to the fact that this promontory presents a most pi(^tures(iue appearance, it is particularly deserving of being here given as an embellislmicnt, since it was the much longed for goal of the tedious voyage of the authoress, as well as the signal of its ter- mination. 1 have borrowed this suitable little ornament from Weld's Journey to j\'orth Ainiriat, a work that was issued from m^' publishing house at the same time with the letters of ^Irs. General Riedesel ; and the reading of which I can confidently recommend as \ery interesting to all those who wish to get a true and comprehensive idea of the recent condition of the free states of North America and the Canadas.f Caul Speneu. nerliii, May Sth, 1800. .a. * These designated pages will l)e found, in this translation. In the twenty-first letter, in the first portion of " The account of Sirs. Goncral Riedesel's journey from Wolfenbtlttel to Bristol," and in her remarks just previous to her departure from Cambridge to Virginia. t Weld sojourned in North America from the end of the year 1795 to the hegln- nlng of the year 1737. PERSONAL SKETCH. KEDERIKA VON MASSOW, iilUr- Wiirds Bamiioss Riedcsel, was born in 1T4(J. Her lather, Lord von Massow who was commissioned by Frederick II, a governing presi- dent of the allied army, acted as commissary in chief, and as audi was entrusted with tlie general management of atfairs. He was a man of sterling worth, and in every respect deserving of the trust reposed in him l)y that monarch. Being obliged to remain a long time at tlie theatre of war, and not wishing to be separated from his family, they were domiciliated near him. H(n-r von Ma.ssow seems to have been a genial gentleman, and his house was open to many officers, who eitlicr were quartered in the same place with him, or resided in the vicinity. He had also a sou in the allied army, and he, too, often brought his friends to the pa- rental roof Sirs. Massow, we are informed, was an extremely amiable lady, who untlerstood well how to do the honors of her house, at the same time that her husband licpt an excellent tr.bhr But that which more than all drew the young officers to this hospitable house, were the beautiful and lovely daughters of the commissary, who by their grace and unaffected manners bewitched not only the younger offi- cers, but the older and more experienced g<'nerals. Riedesel had been in official correspondence with llerrvon Massow for sometime previous to his becoming personally acquainted with him or his family. He was, therefore, on Ids first appearance at head-([uarters, received like an old acquaintance, and as such intro- duced to the meml)ci-s of ttie household; where, standing high, as he did, in favor with the duke Ferdinand, he was received with all the more distinction. Frederika (called by her own family Fritschen) made a deep im- 4 14 PEliSONAL SKETCtl OF prcssion upon tlic Iienrt of the yonnji cnviilry captain, and an alli- anre would have been proi>osed in tlie winter of IT.W-Ck), but for various adverse eireunistances arising from tlie war. In liis absence however, lie had a friend at court, in the jierson of the eccentric GUnther, who atHerwards became a distinguished oflicer; from wliosc corre8i)ondence we gather an amusing episode of the young lady. It seems that he did not jyarticularly enjoy her favor, and gives vent to his grief in a letter to liiedesel dated at Minden, the 2d December, as follows : " * * * Slie is truly worthy of the affection of such a deserving and distinguished man as yourself You must not regard what I write you on this subject as tlattery, which I detest. But, my friend, I nuist ask a favor of you. Frederika is very much preju- diced against me, and treats me like a coach horse, capricious))', and seems determined to discern oidy my bad (lualities. You know nie, however, and I can at least Halter myself of having this piece of good fortune. I{(?present my character to her in another and a better light. I should feel ver\' much grieved if a ladj' of so noble a character, and so many accomplishments as Frederika, should have such a bad opinion of me. I know that it is possible for you to convince her of the purity of my sentiments. She has confessed to Madam 11 ^^ that she loves vou most tenderlv. I congratulate you from the bot- torn of my heart, and hope that an early peace will aid you in attaining to the possession of so many charms. Now dear Hiedesel, adieu. Think occasionally, in the Intoxication of your joy, of poor Gunther, who, shut otf from all human intercourse, has no other pleasure, at present, than of knowing of your happiness, and of re- maining to the last moment of his life. Yours truly and sincerely, GUNTIIEK." His colonel, .Teannert, Avho also frequently visited the 3Iassow family, and knew the state of affairs between the parties, often in his dry manner, expatiated at length upon the beauty and loveliness of the jiingfruu, aiul prophesied an early peace. This friendship and interest often found expression in his official h-tters upon patrols and foraging, and was mingled in them with denunciations of his hard life and miserable cpiarters. Toward the end of the j'car 1762, Riedesel ventured to follow the dictates of his heart, and inform the duke of the state of his feelings in respect to Miss Massow, at the same time asking, with all due form, his permission to the union. The duke, who had known for a long time -V/fN. UK\KI!M. Ulh:i>Ksh:i.. 15 '< (l how miiUers stood, chccrfiilly consented, and eongratidiited him most graciouslj'. Neither liiedesel's parents nor those of ]Miss Massow had as yet given their formal consent to this union. The duke, there- fore, after the custom of those days, offered to act as negotiator, and retiuest their i)erniission to tlie mateii. lie accordingly wrote first to his brother, the reigning duke, and having obtained his approba- tion, applied on the 12th of December to the i)arents of the lovers, fortheir consent. This obtained, he did not rest salistied until he had himself arranged the nuptials at his head-ipiarters. Thus it was tluit the last days of th<; year were to be spi-nt, at\cr so many privations and dangers, in a joj'ful and happy union. The 21st of December was appointed for the marriage. There were bu.sy times in the little handet of Newhaus. Adjutants and artillery ollicers galloped up and down the streets, and all was ani- mation. Numbers of carriages containing richly dressed ladies were out, and the whole town gave indications of a gala day. As may naturally be supposed, there was no lack of parade, gifts and poems. The Duke Ferdinand, the heir to the tiirone. Prince Friederich, General llomboldt, Adjutant lieden, Private Secretary AVestphal, Colonels Schielfen, Oynhausen and Veltheim, and others, had their portraits painted in oil in full size, which they presented to the bride- groom in conunemoration of the day.* Four of the most beautiful ladies had their i)ictures taken, representing the four seasons — the bride impersonating spring. JIadamc Hiedesel, af\er the nuptials, remained with her family, while her husband marched w'ith his regiment into the duchy of Brunswick, and went into garrison at WolfenbUttel, where \w. pui- cliased a house. The close of the seven years' war soon at\er, gave opportunity for a few years of respite from hostile strife, until the revolution in America disturlu'd the domestic relations of the baroness. The following pages describe the adventures that l)efell her during the period in which she followed the fortunes of her husband and countrymen in America, and form one of tiic most interesting books tiiat have api)eare(l in connection with that memorable con- test. On her return to Germany, in 1788, she enjoyed a respite of four years from the alarms of war, when lier husband was advanced to the rank of lieutenant-general, and was sent into Holland to support the cause of the stadtholder; atler which he returned to * The portraits of these offlccrH, which liung in the micestral castle at Laiiter- bach, were destroyed in tliegcuerol pilUife'e of the place in 1«-18. rnrrr ifi PERSONAL SKBTCir. Lauterbiicli. In 1704 lie was •aiipointod coinmandant of the city of Brunswick, and died tlicrc in 1800. ^ludanic Hicdcsd survived licr husband ciglil years, and died at. Berlin, 39th iMardi, 1808, at tlie age of 02. "She rests l)y the side of lier beloved consort in the family vault at Lauterbach. Of her nine children three were living in 185(5, namely: Caroline, unmarried; America, widow of Count Bernsdorf; and Charlotte, the wife of Major Von SchOning, in the .service of the king of Saxony, llcr only son, George, died 4th August, 1854, at Buchwald in Silesia. Frede- rika, the second daughter of Madame Riedesel, who accompanied her in all her wanderings in America, became one of the most dis- tinguished women of her day. She married the Count Hcden (who died in 1854), and resided at Buchwald, which was the resort of all the celcl)rated men of the age. It was a favorite retreat of Hum- boldt, and also of Baron Stein. jMadame Iteden, accordingly, was on warm terms of friendsldp with the pronuncnt men of the time ; and, after her death, the king of Prussia, Friederich "William, witli whom she was intimate, caused a beautiful monument to be erected to her memory, with an a]ipropriate inscription. She left but one daughter, who was married to Baron von Rotenhan, at Reutweins- dorf, in Bavaria, with whom this branch of the fixmily of Riedesel dies out. L E T T E R S . JPVom General Riedesel to his Wife. Lkifeut, Feb. 22d, 1776. |E AREST WIFE : Never have I suffered more than upon my departure this morning. My heart was broken ; and could I have gone back wlio knows what I might have done. But, my darling, God has placed me in my present calling, and I must follow it. Duty and honor force me to this decision, and we must be comforted by this reflection and not murmur. Indeed, my chief solicitude arises from the state of your own health, in view of your ap- proaching confinement. The care of our dear daughters, also, gives me anxiety. Guard most preciously the dear ones. I love them most fondly. I am thus far on my journey without accident and in good health, although very tired in con.sequence of my anxiety of mind the past few days. I am hoping, however, ibr a refresh- ing sleep, and trust that you may be blessed in a similar manner. I have this evening been raised to the rank of major-general.* ♦The confidence which was roposed in Uicdesel is sliown in tlie following letter to him from his duke, written just previous to his receiving his promotion. It would seem, also, from the letter itself, that Kiedesel had expressed to the writer his solicitude at leaving his wife and family. BucNswicK, Feb. Uth, 1TT6. My Dearest Colonel Riedesel : I hnve received your report of this day, wherein you mention to me that every thing is arranged for to-morrow's march. Thank- fully acknowledging your faithful services and cordial sentiments toward me, I do not doubt, in the least, that you will acquit yourself to my perfect satisfaction with 18 hKTTKItS AM) ./or/t.\A/.S Therefore, my own Mrs. (letieriil, take g(»od care of your health, in order tliat you may follow me as (juickly as possible after your happy delivery. GiFIK.RN, Fk, MiitIi iHth, 177(1. J)oar Wife: Here am 1 upon the point of embarking, having entire trust in the mercy of that God who lias lovingly guided my steps up to the present time. Do not lot this news give you uneasiness, for, believe me, one can have a right good time t)n board a ship. I have very good company ; and when I arrive oft" the Fnglish coast, and have been transferred to a mau-of-war, my situation will be still more pleasant. It is therefore decided, that you are to go to Plymouth as soon as your health and that of our newly born little daughter •Orperlinps more literally "in nifirchlnntriin." This playful and sprinrlitly allu- sion to his own profession is entirely lost in the trnnslation of 1827, where the passage is tamely rendered, " I hope yon will be ready for the voya;;o." This, however, is only one out of innumerable instances in wliieh tlint translation, as stated in the preface, siijuuliy fails to convey the Kpiril of the original. 22 i.hrrt-iis .[\/i .ittiusM.s Ciiriiliiu', will pormit ; iiik'. tliat yi>ii will then) await llu' iicwm (if my arrival in Aiii*>rica. Ko not ini|iatit'nt. (mkI loves un too well not to lirin^' us to;:<>tiu>r a^iiin as soon as iiractii-alilo. iMy brotlicr will dint' with \\w to inorrnw, and tliun all will be over. 1 look forward to it with dt'cj) niflanclioly. Knibraco our children, yes, our dear ehildren lor mo. The sliiji awaits ine. liove me always. Take care of your |ireeious health tor my sake, and be assured that 1 urn over wholly thine. On Uoaui) tiik I'ai-i-as, Murvh 'l\»t, 177(5. Here we are still (juietly lyin;; before Stade, in conse((uenco of contrary winds ; we must therefore have jiatience. Never- theless wo shall to-day noon proceed to l''ryburg, which is not far from (iliickstadt, where we .shall wait for more favorable winds to carry us out to sea. and across to Krijiland. Mean- while we are (juite content. Your presence cndy is necessary to comiilete my hapitincss, fiu" I confess that I have the greatest longiiiji to see you onei' more. For your amusement, and tliat yon may seci how wo pass away our time, I, herewith, send my journal. First then, we have a state-room almost as large as your sitting-room. I'ljon both sides are two small cabins, in one of which is my bed, and in the other that of Captain Foy. In the state-room itself, on both sides, are fixed four beds, in which sleep Captains Ilenseb, (ierlach. and Cleve, and the captain of the horse, Fricke. The cashier, tlio keeper of the uiilitury- chest, and the secretary, are in that part of the ship reserved for the soldiers, a private stateroom having been put up espe- cially for them. I rise about seven o'clock in the morning, after having said my prayers in bed. We dress ourselves ((uickly, and breakfast after tlie Knglisli fashion upon tea and bread and butter. Then I go upon deck to smoke my pipe. After that I write or read, drink my coft'ee, walk up and down with both the Englishmen, iiF }f//>i. Hh:\h:itM. lUKrtKsKI. 2:1 aiitl with (iiu) or twi» |ii|H's iiKiri! |iiiss away niv <'>"i' until two (I'cliu'k wlieii wo havo (liinutr. Wn linvo iiino jKfrmms at taldo, have tliriu! ili.sliuH, and cat nearly an iiniii'. 'I'licn the talilti cldtli is taken (if}', and we spend nearly lialt'or tliree i|uarlerH nl' an li(i\ir drinkin;; diHbrent liealtliH as follows : Kiist, the kin;; ; •second, the duke ; tliird, yours and the cliildrcn ; I'oiirth, Cap- lain l'"oy's wile; fifth, a ^ood sea-voyaue ; and sixth, a sueeessl'iil expedition in Anieriea. At four o'cloek, all is finished. l''our bottles of wine are (uuisiuned daily, to^^cther with half a bottle of arraek * for punch. Afterwards I drink cort'ee with tlu) Kn^Iishiii' The remaining; ^(intlenien providi! for thelnselv(^s. .\fter eetli 1 visit tlu; other v(!ssels ; and in the evening' play a rubber of whist. At half-past tii^bt cold meat is brought, on — also wine for whoever will drink, and beer — and at ten o'clock all of us Jill to bed, aiul in this manner one day after another pusses by. Captain Foy ^oe.s from Dover to London to report hiniHelf to the kin^, and will rejoin me at Portsmouth. Upon his arrival there, I shall be transferred to a man-of-war, where every tiling will be more agreeably arranged for my comfort. (ieneral (iaue returned from America in this ship, at which time it had ei^ht .small state-rooms, an ajiartment for the gene- ral, and a dining room ; all of which will be ajj,ain fitted up. But of all this you shall hear in detail from me at i'ortsmouth, as also of the condition of things in America, and of the safest and ((uickest way for us ugain to see each other. On Boaui) tiik Pai.i.as, .1Aov7/ 23(/, 1770, on tlu' oiien sea at tlic Ked Ton, wlicrc the jiilols leave tlie sliips. Hero we are upon the open sea. The pilots arc about taking their departure, and, through them 1 write you my last letter from the extreme limits of (iermauy. Fear nothing; we are 1^ * I. e., spirituous liquor dletiUcd from rico. 24 LETTEHS A\0 JOCUSALS all very well, and I hope wc shall make the entire passage- across to Hpithead safely, and, once accustomed to the broad sea, reacli America in perfect health. Foy promises that I shall be off the heights of Spithead on Wednesday at the latest; and the first thing of which I shall think, will be to inform you of our arrival and of the state of my health. On Board tjie P.\i>i,as, opposite Dover, Mitrch -mth, ITTO. I write you the instant we come in sight of the English coast. Captain Foy, who goes to London, will post this letter from that city. I mention to you with satisfaction that I have not been imwell a moment; still less have I been sea-sick; but, on the contrary, have had a good appetite and good sleep the whole time. The soldiers, however, and also my servants, have mostly all been sick and yet remain so. The poor cook is so bad that he cannot do the least work, indeed, he cannot even raise his head. This is very inconvenient, since Captain Foy and )ny- self are obliged to attend to the cooking, which would amuse you could you see us. T will now give you a brief account of our voyage. Thursday, we sailed from Stade to Fryburg It was a magnificent specta- cle to see the beautiful villages upon both banks of the stream. Gliickstadt, a fine Danish fortress, we left upon our right. We were in fine .spirits, ate and drank heartily, and played whist in the evening. Friday, we made sail for Uitzebiittel or Cashaven, where we hove to at evening in order to land and see the city, and play a ruber of whist. Saturday we went to sea with a very gentle wind. We, how- ever, hardly believed that we were at sea. We were all well and eat with great appetite. From the Red Ton, where the Hanoverian pilots left us T wrote you my last letter. In the OF M/fS. (iKXK/lAL /tfKDESKL. 25 arternoon, fisheniicu from Helgoland came on board, and I bought, for two tlialcrs,* a large codfish, twenty haddocks, and four flounders, which I could not have obtained in Brunswick for ten thalors. Kainy weather now came on. Sunday morning we had a heavy fog, and tlie sea became boisterous. Two guns were fired from our ship to indicate to the other vessels the route for them to take. The fog now lifted, the wind and the waves rose, but still there was no storm. Now all were sick. The cook could not cook. Miiller could not dress me. A^alentine could find nothing. To sum up, great lamentation and great blundering arose on all sides. Hungry, i had nothing to eat. Finally, Captain Foy and my- self cooked a pea soup in the sailor's kitchen, and eat cold roast beef which made up our whole dinner. The soldiers eat nothing. Monday the weather was somewhat milder, and some of the people betame better, though most of them remained sick. Captain Foy and I once more cooked a portable bouillon soup, a cod with anchovy sauce, a ragout from roast beef, and a piece of roast veal with potatoes. Tuesday we had the most beautiful weather in the world, and a few of the people became again well. The soldiers cooked for thcv 'selves, but the cook still could do nothing. Foy and myself, therefore, again did the cooking. We had rice soup, yellow turnips witli beef, codH.'^h with anchovy sauce, and a ragout of veal. From a dis^tance one could see land. To-day, '.Vednesday, we are opposite Dover Captain Foy goes from us and takes this letter with him. Dearest angel, remember that every one may bo sick upim the water ; conse- ((uently, you will have very little help from your servants. You nmb',, therefore, choose the shortest route to Fngland. I think the best one will be by way of Calais. Captain Foy says that if Quebec is still ours, and there is no * A tlialer la Bcventy-five cents of American iiiouoy. 4 ^ 26 LETTERS A.\D JOVUXALS American army this side of jMontreal, not only lie, but General Carleton, also, will have his wife join him. You must posi- tively not set out on your journey before they do — then you can accompany them and travel with more safety, as yon will have company and attendance, and want for nothing. On Board the Pallas, in the harbor of Portsmouth, March 2m, 1770. You see, dear wife, that I let slip no ojiportunity to give you news from me. Here we are happily arrived in the harbor of J'lymouth, and I am on the point of going into the city to pay a visit to Admiral Douglas and the other generals who, like ourselves, are here for the purpose of embarking for America. Our servants are again well, and the cook has returned to my employ to the great benefit of my stomach. You cannot imagine a more beautiful spectacle than that which we had early yesterday morning at six o'clock, when we were so near to Calais that we could distinguish every house, while at the same time and from the same spot we could see the city of Dover on the English coast. At nine o'clock Foy left us to go to London, and. during the entire day, we sailed along the Eng- lish coast, and had every instant a view of a new town. People in the fields jiloughing. and travelers, all gazed curiously at our little fleet. In this manner time passed until evening; after which I slept peacefully, and at five o'clock this morning saw Portsmouth. By nine o'clock we had anchored; and are now on the point of going ashore. -44 Ox BoAiiD THE Pai,i..\s, bctwocn Portsmouth luul Plymoutli, April iU/i, 17T(i. Our departure from Plymouth followed sooner than T ex- pected; I'or the wind having become propitious we immediately weighed anchor, and day before yesterday at eleven o'clock OF .Vli-1. GEXEnAf, lilKOKsEL. 27 in tlie luorniug, we wore ott" — thirty sail strong — amid the salutes of all our cannon, and those of the fleet that were still lying oft' the harbor of Spithead. On the fifth, the wind became unfavorable and remained so until this morning. Now, we go with a good wind straight to Plymouth, where, it is true, we shall not stop, though I hope to find some means of sending this letter into the city. God be praised that he has kept your husband so healthy. Several officers, and among them, my English adjutant, are already sick; but T am still well, have a good appetite, and sleep soundly; and, therefore, hope to remain in health uutil I arrive in America. I think this will be the last letter that you will receive from me until our arrival in America. Possibly, however, on the way over, we may meet with some ship to whose care I can entrust a letter, for which opportunity I shall be constantly on the watch. There are still several points upon which T must give you advice. Before you leave Brunswick, you mast procure letters of introduction, in order that when in London, you may procure lodgings in a private house, and not at a hotel. Then you will be able to make a definite bargain for those days that you may remain there, for your lodging, breakfast, dinner and tea. And by doing in this manner, you will find yourself much better off" than if you had stayed at a public house where every thing is three times as dear. For example ; ibv seven days' lodging of myself, my two adjutants and our servants, one din- ner and seven suppers — the dinne- for twelve persons the supper for four — I was obliged to pay twenty-two pounds sterling, (n\ in our money one hundred and thirty-two thalers. This rule you will be obliged to observe at all places where you intend remaining some days. Should you go to Exeter, l^lymouth or Bristol (in which latter place ^[adame Foy is), you must ascertain, while in liondon. at what private houses you can obtain lodgings. Such private houses, where, for a definite sum, you may lodge and board, are plenty in England. V*,' «^^ 28 LEXTKIiS AXO JOULXALS I advise you farther, tliat while in London or olsewliere, you examine the class of vessels upon which travelers usually take passage, so that you can arrange your plans in reference to your sleeping arrangements; for you cannot have with you more than one child — the other must sleep with the nurse, and the smallest will he obliged to lie in a hammock. You must buy in London bouillon-cake, with which, should the fresli meat give out, you aud the children may have a good broth. On Board the Pallas, April 24th, 177G. Since the fourth instant — the day of our departure from Plymouth — we have sailed upon the great ocean, now with good, and now with bad winds; and three times already we have had such gales that we came near having a storm. All have been sick; but, thanks to God, I hold out well, with the best of health. We have now traveled over five hundred and seven full Ger- man miles from Stade, and have yet to make three hundred miles before we reach Quebec. In five or six days more, we shall, I hope, see the coast of Newfoundland, and shortly after arrive in the river 8aint Lawrence — when the voyage will be more agreeable, and the amount of sea-sickness lessened. Dearest, best wife, notwithstanding my love for you and my burning desire to see you again as soon as possible, if I had not given you my word that you should follow me, or had I known the hardships of so long a voyage, I would never have advised so lengthy a journey for you, especially with your children. I must confess that I tremble when T think of this great under- taking; but my word is given, therefore I must conform to circumstances, trusting that God will bestow his blessing upou it. But for God's sake, do not travel alone, and wait for Madame Foy, or some other lady of standing with whom you may embark OF M/i'S. UESKHAL lilKDKSEL. 2!t ill the same whip. JJiit it imist be !i lady who has already made the voyaue to Aiiieriea, and consequently knows what prepara- tions are necessary, and could help and advise you in case you or the childre- were sick. You must remcuiber, dearest wife, that you, a ' our children, and all your domestics may easily become sick on the way over, if not constantly, yet during strong winds ; for upon my entire ship there are not five men who have continued well ; and every one declares that it is a regular wonder that I am an exception to the general rule. In such a case, you would lie in bed with your children without the least help — having nothing to eat or drink — and having, moreover, not the least heart to render yourself the sliglitest assistance. Tlic crew of a ship, for the most part, are swine, loafers, and clowns, who cook nothing but salted meat half dressed, which is not at all fit to eat. One thing more : the water will finally become so bad and have such a bad smell, that you shall not be able to drink it; and you must, therefore, endeavor to take with you a filtering-stone, through which you can strain it. Vou must, also, either accustom the children to drink beer, or boil the water, that you intend to drink, the day before. My poor cook is almost always sick, which gives me consi- derable trouble. There are many days in which we do not know how or what to eat. JJesides, our fresh meat is all eaten up, and at present there is only salt meat and poultry. We shall soon begin to kill our sheep. The worst of it is, however, that through the sickness of our cook, there is no one to take care of the provisions, and consequently one portion of them is spoiled, and the other stolen. In fact, I must deceive you if I should say that our present life was agreeable. The best that can be said is, that, thanks to (lod, I find myself well, by reason of which I am enabled to bear with patience all these annoyances. 30 LETTEUS ASl) .lOl'ItSALS On Boakd tiik Pai.i.ah, two Icngues tills siilc of QiR'bi'c. I can give you no great description of our voyiigo ; for what can I say of nine weeks spent between heaven and ocean, where one day passed away the same as another. Here we are, after much hardship, still two miles from Quebec, where wo shall arrive this evening, but without tarrying, Cleneral Carleton having, before our arrival, driven the rebels from the vicinity of Quebec, and being now engaged in their pursuit. For this reason we shall continue our voyage up the river to join that general. It is yet too early to give you any advice re- specting your journey. Captain Foy thinks that we must first see whither the expedition will lead us. T, therefore, say nothing further than tliis — do not travel alone, or without some lady of standing, be it Mrs. (jeneral Carleton, or Madame Foy, or any other lady. I nuist close, as 1 shall be obliged to send this letter on board the man-of-war, where it will be taken care of As soon as I have joined Ueneral Carleton I will write you in detail about every thing that has happened, my own health, and your journey. Between Qiebec and Montkeal, June StJi, 1776. Here, in a few words, is every thing tluit has happened to me since our departure from Quebec on the first of June. We arrived off Quebec at six o'clock in the evening. 1 immediately went on shore to visit (rcneral Carleton, who welcomed me with much courtesy and friendliness, and invited me to dine with him on the next day. In order to form an idea of his personal appearance, place before you the Abbe Jerusalem; the figure, countenance, carriage and tone of voice, all precisely the same ; and give him a black gown and a wig, no one would be able to tell the difference. The second of June, after dining with General Carleton, 1 OF MIts. t.KXKIlM UIEDKSEL, 31 S!iw the rebel prisoners. In the evening' 1 paid a visit to Com- modore Doiii^his who eoniiniinds tlic fleet, and who, upon my departure, saluted me with thirteen discharges of cannon. The third, my birthday, T spent on board my ship. The order which I received from General Carleton — to leave my draj!;oon and Prince Frederick's regiment in garrison at Que- bec — did not seem to me entirely, just. Captain Foy was appointed adjutant-general and secretary to (ieneral Carleton. On the fourth, as it was tlie birthday of the king of Kngland, I waited with my whole body of officers upon the general to oflbr our congratulations. Salutes were fired from the fortress and all the vessels, and afterward we had a ball. The iifth, (ieneral Carleton bestowed upon me the command of a separate c(jrps. This I did not expect, and it has created great surprise. The sixth, as there was a favorable wind, I was dismissed by General Carleton, and sailed with my allotted corps. Here am I, therefore, at the present time of writing, upon Lake Cham- plain J but rest perfectly easy so far as regards the enemy. They have wholly disappeared; and we have not seen a single soul of them this side of liake Champlain. Dear soul, no place would be more comfortable for you than Quebec. You can, however, go conveniently to Montreal, and there await news from me, in lu'der that you nuiy know in which direction to follow us. In Montreal there is a very well managed post, so that you can very easily go upon land from one place to another; and I will make such arrangements that you shall find every thing comfortable for you on your arrival in that city. The land in this country will please you much : all of it that meets the eye is beautiful. li.v Pit.MHiK, .Jnnv •l^th, 1T7G. I have recently given you a detailed account of our arrival at Quebec. From there we went to Three llivers, where I, as 32 LETTKlis AST) .loVIiS.Ms well as all the f^eneralH, arrived to(i late for the affair whieh happened in that place. Thence we advanced iarthcr with the ships, and landed at Verjiere. Our march thus i'ar has been tiresome, but now we have rest.* My entire c((uipago has arrived, and we live well, but dearly. Our table usually consists of I'rom ten to twelve per,«ons, with six dishes ; but I am not able to maintain such an establishment for less than two guineas a day. A bottle of wine costs a thaler of our money. T am here alone with all the German troops. It seems that (Jeneral Carleton wi.shes me well. He marks me . The army is encamped for the purpose oi' remaining nearer together. I am posted very advantageously at a place called Savanne, where I command a separate corps. I have there- fore plenty of exercise, which I find very conducive to my health. The nights are beginning to be a little cold, and we already think and .speak of wiiitor-([uarters, into which [ think we shall withdraw in the month of October. What comfort would it be I'or me, if I could tlien (juietly enjoy the society of yourself and my children. Truly that would be worth more to me than all else. But where may you now be ! Perhaps on the broad sea; perhaps in great peril. During how many 5 UK. 34 I.ETTKIiS AM) ./or /{.VMS nights is my iiiirul filled with sucli caros lor your welfare I I hope that (lod will .xooii eiul my anguish, ami <,'raiit me the joy of weeing you in my arms. The fourth of this month, after exereisinij: my trcops, I j^avc to (Icneral Carleton and the prin- cipal officers of the army a f^reat dinner of thirty-six covers and twenty-six plates served twice. All seemed pleased. I did it in honor ol' my lord and his troojis ; and the effect of it has been p;ood, for I have made I'riends of every one, and stand well with all the officers and men. In Cami' at La Savanne, ^Sipf. 2S(1, 1770. At last, dear wife, I have received your letters of the 9th, 20th, and 30th of April, and 12th of 3! ay. All these letters have uiven me great comfort, and I have thanked tiod from the bottom of my heart, that you and the children are so well. I as heartily embrace you ami the children. Jt has also given me pleasure to liave this news confirmed by a gentleman just from England; and I thank Providence who has so blessed your journey. I know, dear wife, that you arrived in London safely on the 12th ; that about the 18th, you had gone to Bris- tol ; and that you and the children found yourselves well. O'Connel, whom Colonel Specht sent to London, him.self spoke with the landlord of the hotel where you lodged, and you had set out for Bristol only three h(nirs before his arrival. 1 do not direct this letter to England, but entrust it to the first ship that goes from here, in order that its captain, in case he falls in with you on his way over, may give it to you, and quiet and rejoice your heart with tlie news of my perfect health. You will find at Mrs. Murray's all needful information for your farther guidance. I shall have my winter-quarters at Three Kivcrs. where you may quietly await my return. OF MRS. OKXKIiAn nrKDRSEl. 3S Chown Point, on Board tlie WiiMliiiiglon, ii prizf taki'ii from lliti rclids, (kt. ',»(i, ITT(t. Wo liavc destroyed tlio fleet of tlie rebels, and taken jjosses- sion of Crown I'oint. We shall now yo into winter-(|narters. * Our c'iinipai^'n is at an end; and I shall }^o hack to Three Rivers, where I am to be stationed this winter, and await you with the greatest inipatieneo. (Hi how hapity i should be if you eaiue this winter and I could enjoy your j)leasaut society ! The wiuter-(juarters will be very (juiet. and I should be able to live entirely for you. (ieneral Carleton, like a hero, has routed the enemy's fleet, having left behind him his whole army. Ilo has very properly spared those that are married ; and if this war is carried on in a similar manner next year, I shall be surer of my life in the midst of it, than upon the parade grounds of Wiilf- enbiittel and Brunswick. If you are at sea. (Jencral JJurgoyne, who is the bearer of this letter, will do his utmost to have it delivered to you upon the ocean ; but if you arc still in Eng- land he will take pains to procure you a good ship next spring, and in this case it is only necessary for you to apply to him by letter. 1 am here for six days as a volunteer. We have been ♦The wiiiliT-iiiiiirli'rrt of the (JiTinaiis woro in nnd around Three Kivcr'!'. as far down as Clianilily, on the western side of Lake St. I'ierre. and helwei'ii the SI. Lawreneeand the Kiehelien. The more speeial divisions were as follows; The rt\'.'inient of Speeht as far down as Champlain. near Three Hivers. and the place called llatiseanip: the reLtinieiit of Hlielz from tin- last named place to Kort St. Anna. These rei,'inients sent olV delaeliments to the i)arishes south of the St. Lawrence. The dnifioons and reiiiineiits of Kiedesel were <|nartered in Three Rivern. Two squadrons of the former, and three companies of the latter, had the town assiffiied to them. The two otlier stpiadrons were transferred to Cape-de-ln- Madelaini., the two other companies to I'oint-dii-l.ae. The reitiments were also oblijfed to fend detachments to the iu>arest jiarlshes tlic ciiiiip of the robolH at Fort Ciirillon, iiiid have taivou tsuiiio jtriMoiiurri. TllKKK RiVKHM, Nov. 10, 1Y7(5. T have little more hope of seeiiij; you here this winter ; there- tore, I write you this letter in order that if you still reiiiaiii in Kii;^laiid, you may not ho without news from me. T find myself, thanks to (iod, well, but in great anxiety about your welfare, as I know not where you are. Yet I shall not murmur, if you do not come, althouj^h I should have taken mueh comfort in seeinj; you here, (iod, who governs all things according to his wise will, has, perhaps, saved you from any misfortune. The uncertainty as to your whereabouts at this late season of the year, gives me the most anxiety. I must now bring this to a close, as the post is about starting for Que- bec, and commend you to the guidance and protection of a kind Providence. I embrace you and our dear children, and coax myself into the belief that you will certainly come next spring. LeUers from Mrs. General Riedcsel to her Mother. WoLFKNRiiTTEli, March S, 1776. Dearest, best Mother : Your last leHer has made me almost beside myself. Some passages in i' would seem to indicate that you do not feel kindly toward me, and others again show so much anxiety and love, that it makes me right sick to be forced for the first time willingly to disobey you. Believe me, bowevcr, that if any thing could have made me hesitate, it would be the happiness of seeing you at my house. But I Oh' M/f.s. ilK\h:ii.\l. ltlKI>K^h:i.. :i7 uinli'rHtooil iiiyHoir in this iimttor, and know liow liiird it wiiuld bo lor nil) to f^o IVoni von ; iid roCnso >■"" "">' tliln;.', tiiid tliori!- i'oro, I I'orboro, in my Inst Ic^ttor l)(!l'oro tiiis, to \w<^ yon (o oonio to nn>. I conid nut unduro tliu tlion;.dit of .so|i;initin^ niysoit' IVoni yon, os|ioeiiiily tor ho Iom^ ii tinn^; tind yot, tlio tl>on;.dit tliat yon l>oi;;;od mo — nay, conimandod nu; to romain in-ro, made mo .siiuddor. Vet to ri^main, wlion tho bowl, tbo tond^M•l;^*t of iln^ '-epers came to me and begged that I would be pleased to ^^ t un wit)i them. I made choice of a French inn, and found . , rmuiodations very good. It wa ;, in truth, a magnificent hot, ;. " 1 every thing about it was most remarkably clean. The custom house officer came to search my baggage, which is very troublesome, but I had letters addressed to him ; and as soon as he heard that I desired to follow my husband to America, he very gallantly said that it would be cruel to worry the wife of a genera) who had gone to that land for the service of the king. And thus I came out all ridit. As I had been obliged to leave my carriage at Calais, I was forced to take a stage-coach from here to Jiondon, which was very expensive, since the baggage was charged for by the pound. I arrived at Jiondon on the evening of the 1st of June, and found there many people whom T knew, among others, (Jeneral Schlicifen, M. de Kurtzleben and Count Taube. My husband had written to the latter, and begged him to secure for me private quarters; but through fear that I might not come, he had omitted to do so — otherwise I would have had better and cheaper accommodations. Nevertheless, I was delighted to see such evidence of how much my husband had my voyage at heart, and how little he doubted that I would carry out my plan. I, therefore, rejoiced the more at not having allowed myself to be deterred from my journey. I must, however, mention a circumstance which, on my first arrival in London, ex- ercised an unfavorable influence upon the quality of my lodgings. I relied entirely upon my landlord at Calais, to whom I had been recommended; but 1 now believe that he abused my confi- dence, by taking advantage of it to convey over to England Olf it UK. GEXEUAL niEDKSEL. 43 inauy thiugs at my expense. lie said to me, also, that he should advise nie to take with us a trusty man for our protection, with- out whom [ would run a great risk. He, therefore, pretended to take great pains to find me such a one, and at length brought me an extremely well dressed man, whom he introduced to me as a nobleman, and a very good friend of his, who would, with pleasure, accompany me to London. I treated him with great civility, not knowing how I should sufficiently acknowledge so great kindness. I made the children sit opposite to me in order that he might have a comfortable seat; and, during the whole journey, endeavored to manage so that they should not trouble him. He gave himself, also, the manners of a man of conse- quence, and ate with me during the entire journey. I noticed, it is true, that trlie servants, in the different inns on the route, made themselves very intimate with him, but I did not think much of it at the time, as the gratitude, under wliicli I sup- posed I was to him, clo.sed my eyes. As soon as we arrived in London I asked for a good room, but how great was my astonishment when they conducted me into a very wretched apartment in the the fourth story. I supposed, however, that all the other rooms were already occupied, since Mr. de Forenee had assured me in Brunswick, that I should have magnificent lodgings. General Schlieffen and many others who came to call on me, especially three ladies to whom I had brought letters of introduction from the hereditary princess (at that time duchess of JJrunswick), were surprised to find me in such miserable quarters. The following day n)y landlord came to me with a thoroughly ashamed air, and very respectfully asked whether 1 knew the man with whom I had arrived, and whom I had requested him to entertain well — for I had not thought it exactly the thing to have him take his meals with me in London. I told him that he was a nobleman, who, at the request of :\rr. (Juildhaudin, my landlord in Calais, had been so courteous as to escort me on my journey. " Ah ! " answered he, " tlfis is one of his tricks. He is a mthl ih place and a 44 LKTTKIts ASh .lOCRSM.X groat swiiitllL-r, whom he hiis brouglit licro for his own purposes ; iiiid as T saw you sitting iu the carriage witli tliis man on your arrival, I confess that I did not believe you were wliat you pretended to be, and therefore judged that these rooms would be good enough I'or you. Since these people have been to call on you, however, I see how greatly mistaken I have been. I therefore beg your forgiveness, and entreat you to take another room, for which you shall not pay more than for this oim here, for 1 very much wish to rectify my mistake." 1 thanked him and begged that he would free me from this man as soon as possible. Me askc ' .lo, nevertheless, five or six guineas (I forget exactly how uiuch it was) for his escort. 1 can never forget this trick i/f ]Mr. (iuildhaudin, who, by the way, made use of my carriage w his uwu private specidative purposes. lie told me that I would have to leave it behind, as I would not be allovved to bring it into England; but I afterwards learned that he probably wished to hire it to travelers on their way to Germany, as he had often done this same thing with other carriages entrusted to his care. But in this calculation he was disappointed ; for as sii«n as 1 arrived iu London, 1 wrote to the minister. Lord N(M'tli, who immediately gave me permission to have the carriage brought to London free of all duty. This, it is true, detained me (juite a little while; but, at the same time, added much to my comfort and convenience. When 1 arrived in iiondon, niy eyes had suffered so much from having become overheated during my journey, that one of them became very much inflamed, and filled with considerable proud fle.sh. General Schlieffen desired nic earnestly to consult an oculist, and brought me the one who attended the tjuecn. lie appeared frightened at the condition in which he found my eye, but at once gave me hope of his being able to effect a cure. He put some kind of a powder into a (juill, and requested me to open my eye wide, which I did very confidently, not having any idea of the pain that awaited me. IJe then poured the whole powder into the eye, that it might eat away the proud /A J OF Mils. I! I-:. \ HUM. iiii:i>h:sh:i.. ir» flesli. 'I'lio i>iiiii I endured is indescribable; and .since tbon I liave never been able to brinj;' iny.solf to su})niit to this experi- ment; i'or whenever 1 attempted it, my eyes involuntarily closed themselves. However, it did me a .kivuxm.s two imkcd men boxinj;' with tho {iveiitcst fury. I >'iiw their blood flowiii;;' iind the raj,'c that was painted in their eyes. Little at't'iistonied to such a hateful sjiectaele, 1 ((uickly retreated into the innermost corner of the house to avoid hearing the shouts set up by the spectators whenever a blow was given or received. JJuring my sojourn in IJristol I had an unpleasant adventure. 1 wore a calico dress trimmed with green tafl'cta. This seemed particularly oH'ensive to the J3ristol people; for as I was one day out walking with Madame Foy, more than a hundred sailors gathered round us and pointed at me with their fingers, at the same time crying out '' French whore I " 1 took refuge as ((uickly as possible into the house of a merchant under pre- tense of buying something, and shortly after the crowd disj)ersed. Hut my dress became henceforth so disgusting to me, that as soon as I returned home I presented it to my cook, although it was yet entirely new. About three Knglish miles from Bristol there is a bath, called Hot Wells, which bears a striking resemblance to Wendefurth, nenrT51ankerburg, inthe llartz, except that at Hot Wells there arc many beautiful houses and a large assend)!y hall. One meets here many people who come for the purpose of bathing, '.rhey are mostly persons whose disease is of a pulmonary nature. Almost all the ladies ride on horse-back, on account of the mountains and rocky valleys; and those who are not able to ride sit behind a guide in a kind of saddle, which is made similar to a little arm chair. This place is the favorite resort during the summer months, but, as winter approaches, the crowd ilock to IJath, a town lying eight miles off. At Bath a person is never at a loss for amusement, for the place is perfectly lovely and full of )iiagnificent buildings. But \ saw it only in summer, when there is but little society there, and consequently found it very lonely. In the house in which I lived at Bristol, there was a Captain Kenton whose wife had renuiined in Boston with a daughter of T OF Mlts. liKSHItM. Illh'DKsh:!.. 49 fonrtcc'ii. lie loved tliom both dearly, and begf-ed ino to take cbarj^o of letter.s wlieii I sliould eiiibaik for Ainoriea. Upon my arrival there, 1 learned that a« her husband had not re- turned they had been imprisoned, and afterwards };reatly ill used. I will narrate this, however, in its proper place. I made still anotiier ncquaintaiiee in Bristol, which I shall alway.s dearly prize. The way of it was this .hist as I was .settiu" out from WoHenbiittel, a younj,' Mr. hce. nephew of the Ame- rican ^^'neral of that name, and a .stu(l(;nt at (,'aroline Collej,^e in Briuiswiek, gave me a .stronj-' letter of introduction to an Knulish banker, of the name of Ireland, at the .same time assuring' me I would find him very a<>;reeable, Although I placed little confidence in the recommendation cf this young man, yet I .sent the letter to the above mentioned banker, who lived six Knglish miles from the city. A day or two after, quite an elderly gentleman witli a very pretty wife called upon me, wlio.se friendship I had the good fortune to gain so .soon, that they begged me to visit them 1 therefore drove over to their place and dined with them. They lived in a magnificent country scat, beautifully situated, and surrounded by a most charming garden. I found there two mo.st lovely little girls — their daughtens — who constituted their entire happiness, al- though they wished very much for a son. They were rich and every thing anmnd them was on a magnificent scale. The.se good people showed me much friendship, and when I set out for rortsmouth, with the intention of embarking from that place, I was obliged to give them my Avord, that if the shij) — as often happened — should be ilelaycd, F would not sail after the middle of October. Afterward, haviu"; iust missed sailing T came back to London at the end of Septend)er. whence F wrote them in the spring that I was on the point of embarking. Immediately these good people came up to London, which is, I believe, about eighty -six Knglish miles from their country seat, to tender me their services. Finding, liowcvor, that they could give no assistance, but determined that I should want 7 l»^y ' 60 i.KTTKits .\.\r> jornxM.s Inr iKithiiii;. tlioy iiisintcd on my tiikiiij; witli ine lottors of introduction to tlioir tVion(ln in tlioHo portH in wliiili I niijilit, l)ossil)ly, be dftainL'il by c-ontrary windn. ACtor I bud siiloly anivud in (^ucbcf, and, ronseqnently, liad no I'lirtiier nuud ol' tbese Ictturs, I opcnod tbcni, and waw deeply moved on din- covering tbat tbcy liad cliarged all tlieir friends to wnpply mo with as mueb money as .1 migbt wish, without even liniitinjj!, the amount. When the wile was afterward delivered of a son, tbcy desired me to stand jjodmotber — an honor wbieli. in Kngland, is a ^reat mark of friendship. 1 have often wislied tbat this son miyht be able some time to eome to IJ unswiek, tbat I mij;bt re(|uite the jireat friendshiji bis parents sbowed to me, and which I shall never forget. 1 passed three or four months in llristol, and desired nothing more ardently than to follow my husband, especially as I knew tbiit (Quebec was still in the bands of the Knglish. Hut I could never induce .Madame Toy to go. She said that she must wait for letters from her husband. Meanwhile it continued to get later and later in the year. I wrote, tliercforc, to the mini.stov. Lord (ieorge Ciermaine, and begged his advice. lie answered me very politely, that it was indeed true tbat winter was drawing near, and that I must, therefore, the more wish to embark, especially since my husband had written for me. But since he had, at the same time, imposed the condition that I should travel with Madame Foy, and he saw me determined to follow his wi.shes in every particular, be did not know exactly what counsel to give me. At all events, however, lie would offer me a passage over in a packet-ship, if I could induce Madame Foy to accompany me. Hut all my endeavors in thig latter directionwere fruitless. At last tlie long expected letter from her husband in America came to hand. Upon this my impatience sbowed itself and also the irresolution of Madame Foy. Finally, I succeeded in persuading her to consent to our departure. I accordingly, again wrote to Lord (icrmaine, who very obligingly at once answered me to the effect that he owned I '//•■ Ml/s. ^A•.\7•7M/. lllKDHsHI,. 61 u imckot-Mliip that was t(i .snil witliuiii any dfln} ; tliiit hiuvniild lender mo all itn cabins tor my own use, and tliat of thdso wlni were tu a('inuii)any nui; mid that Mrn Fny i-uuld, therolliri', Hhani tlu'in witli mo \i' I m dusirod. I would, lie oontinuod, liiid t'vory tiling uii Ixmrd the ship nicely arranp'd lor my comt'ort, and tluit it jfavc itim infinite satisCaction to have it in liis power to nerve me. I afterwards learned that he actiuilly Kavc orders to have all necessary provisions put on hoard — not even t'-i'ttin^- a cow, that the children nii^-ht have milk. Vet, notwithstandinjj; this, the eaptain of the sailiiif-' packet, on his arrival in (.juebee, made my husband pay for all these articles. In proportion as the moment fi>r our departure approached, the more irresolute Madame l-'oy became She loved her comfort, and it gave her pain to leave her very pretty and well furnished house. Finally, however, we set out Wn- I'ortsmouth, where we were to embark. Here Madame Foy and licr sister found many oHieers who were old ac((uaintances, with whom they pas.sed a very gay evening: meanwhile 1 was busily cm- ployed in getting my children to bed. Thc«e officers told them that it was already too late in the year; that they would have an exceedingly unpleasant pa.ssagc ; that it was a thousand pities that such handsome ladies should expose themselves to so great risks; and nuiny things more to the same ett'ect, which I could not understand, not being a sufficient master of the lan- guage. However, it resulted in her telling me the same evcninu' that she should go back to Hristol. \ urgently besought her not to decide so ha.stily, and went to bed, she remaining with her company. The following morning at eight o'clock they came a id informed me that we must start back. 1 l>egged, I wept, but all in vain ; I'or she well knew that my husband had enjoined it upon me not to undertake the voyage without her. 8he had already sent back our cartman with our baggage to Bristol. I knew, therefore, that there was no help for it; our conveyance was before the door, and 1 had no alternative but to return. As we were driving out of the city, I saw a large 1iC-l', 52 LETTElts A.y/J .fOVJtX.lLS wap;on escorted by ;i guiird on lioi'rioback. I asked what tiiat meant r* j\ly Knulish maid (I had er^aged an Enj^lish woman in ]{ristol for my journey) trld me tliat it was money being conveyed on board the ship. At this reply my heart sank witliin me, and 1 remarked to Madame Foy, that if they risked so much money upon this sliip, it could not bo too late in the year for a safe voyage. '• Well," she answered me, " if you think so, why do you not attempt the passage ? " " Because you have prevented me from doing so," replied I, " by sending back our luggage to Bristol without consulting me." To this she rejoined in a bantering tone, that, as T was so ,'iised to follow them, which I did in a very few days. While on my Journey, I stopped over at a small, but neat town, the name of which has escaped my memory. As I was fearful lest I should be obliged to pay as much there as in Portsmouth, I called only for a small room, a leg of mutton and potatoes. The hotel itself was splendid, and all its inside surroundings of great elegance. The corridors, galleries — in one word, the whole housi was decorated on the outside with flower-pots and trees intertwined : between these were hung glass globes, in which were seen gold-tishes and birds. I was frightened at this ele- gance, and trembled for my guineas, especially when I saw my- self led into most beautiful apartments, and my table supplied bounteously with five or six delicate dishes. As the landlord insisted on waiting upon me at table himself, I said to myself, " That now costs a guinea more ! " The next morning I found my servants drinking coft'eo and chocolate, and eating tarts and other tit-bits, and could not restrain myself from administering to them a gentle reproof at their treating themselves to these delicacies, when they inu.st know that I was but poorly supplied with money. They assured mc that they had called for nothing more than tea, but that the landlord had said to them, that such brave servants, who were willing to follow their master 5(5 LETTKliS AXIf JOVliS'M.S and mistress to America, deserved to be well entertained. In sliort, there was no attention and courtesy with which I was not loaded. Finally, in fear and trembling, I called for my bill ; and behold, I had only to pay ten shillings ! I told the landlord that he had certainly made some mistake. " No," answered he, " I have made a fair profit, and think myself fortunate that T have it in my power to prove to you that there are honorable people in England. I admire your courage, and wish to convince you of it." Upon entering my carriage, I ibund it decorated with wreaths of flowers, and nosegays; and upon accidentally taking hold of the pockets of the wagon, [ found that the landlord had had the politeness to fill them with cakes and oranges for the children. I arrived in London toward the end of September, and soon afterward learned, to my great chagrin, that the ship, which I had so longingly awaited, had reached ]*ortsmouth, and imme- diately departed f.S'. GKXK/tAL IIIEDKSEL. 57 and, on the whole, was tolerably happy. Meanwhile, Madame Young renewed her old acquaintances, lived very expensively, bought gowns and head-dresses by the dozen, kept the* house full of milliners and mantua-makers, and, as soon as her pre- parations had all been completed, proposed that we together should visit the public resorts and private companies. I ex- cused myself on the ground that I was a nurse, and, therefore, could not leave my youngest child, and more than all, that I was too sad and uneasy on account of my absent husband, to attempt any such thing. I added, finally, that I feared, also, the great expense which it would entail; that she knew I expected money from Germany, and did not wish to abuse the confidence of my husband, who had provided for my expenses with a free and liberal hand. She took my refusal very badly, for her intention was to go out, and she had the idea that it would be more becoming if she had somebody as an escort. Instead, therefore, of being friendly as hitherto, she treated me with almost rudeness j and that which made matters still worse was, that her husband praised me for my great attachment to my children, which prevented me from going out. She accordingly came to me one day, and asked if I had yet found a lodging ? On account of their so often repeated invitations to remain yet longer with them, I had, indeed, not thought of it; still I answered that I had already taken the matter in charge. 8he replied that she knew of a place and would go with me to see it, and thereupon led me to a truly mean house, situated in a bad and remote street. I told her that I considered these quarters too common, and preferred rather to economize in other things than in my lodgings, which I must have respectable, as I had letters of introduction to several ladies of (juality, and wished to be in a position to receive them in a manner befitting their station. She answered me spitefully, that as I was such a good house- wife, and loved to be so retired, she had supposed these would be satisfactory. As we were being driven home, I noticed an advertisement 8 ■Hf. 58 LKTTEHS AM) .IOCIl\M.S! on ii corner house, in a good neiglibovliood. I went in at once, and found, it is true, a small dwelling, but one that was clean and respectable, for which they asked four pounds a week. I said that this was more than I was in a position to give, but I could assure thom that if they would let me have them at a lower rate, I should always be home in good time evenings, and have my door closed by ten o'clock. The landlady saw my children, and, as soon as she heard my history aiid the fiitalities that seemed to follow mc, she said to her husband : " Look now ! we have no children ; these will take the place of children at our house ; that is better than a few more guineas ! " She then let them to me for three pounds a week, including furni- ture, kitchen utensils, and washing materia!-,. I iunncdiately took my departure from my former hosts, and betook myself to my new quarters, where I found myself very happy ; for I was not only comfortably lodged, but my host and hostess became my warmest friends. I told them with perfect frankness, that it was my intention not to spend much ; that it was true my husband allowed me a liberal hand in my expenditure, but I was the more desirous of limiting myself on that very account. I further told them, that my whole capital, at that time, con- sisted often guineas, and that, perhaps, I should receive nothing more under six weeks. "Well," replied Mistress Eussell, my new landlady, " I will be your housekeeper, and buy your bread and meat, and as for the rest you shall be supplied by our- selves, which, as well as your rent, you can pay at your own convenience." They both taught my children English ; and wheii I was obliged to go out, I confidently left thom in their charge. When I was on the point of going away, the following spring, I noticed that the husband appeared very sorrowful and de- jected. T inquired after the cause. " Alas ! " said she, " it is your departure which distresses him so, and particularly, that of your little Caroline, and he has charged me to beg you to leave her with us." " What would you do with licr supposing Olf .vns. GEXETIAL niKDESEL. 59 I Kliould dio '{ " aaswcred I. " Oh," she rejoined, " the uioiiieiit you left her witli us, we should consider her as our own ciiikl, and give her our entire fortune." If I desired to buy some trifle for my children, the good woman invariably asked uic whether the expenditure would not exceed the sum which 1 had allowed myself. I was delighted to be with such high- minded people ; and I had yet more reason to thank Providence that it had taken me away from the Youngs, when, in the sequel, she contracted so many debts, that they came near arresting her, and did, indeed, levy on her effects. The hus- band shortly after fled the country from the same cause, and the wife, was finally, supported by her friends. I would have had, therefore, a thousand diff"erent vexations, if I had kept up my connection with those people. I cannot, however, suffi- ciently prai.se the good treatment [ received from the English nation. Even persons whom I did not know, came and offered me as much money as I might need ; and upon my expressing astonishment at this, and saying that they did not know but I might be passing myself off for other than I really was, they answered, that if I were an impostor I would not live so retired ; neither would I bestow so much care upon my children as 1 did. My friends advised me to present myself at court, as the queen had stated that it would give her great pleasure to see me. I had, therefore, a court dress made, and Lady George Germaine presented me. It was on New Year's day, 1777. I found the castle very ugly, and furnished in old fashioned style. All the ladies and gentlemen were stationed in the audience room. Into this room came the king, preceded by three cava- liers. The queen followed him, accompanied by a lady, who carried her train, and a chamberlain. The king went round to the right and the queen to the left. Neither passed by any one without saying something. At the end of the drawing- room, they met, made each other a profound bow, and then returned to the place whence they had started. I asked Lady Fl v-« m I , 60 LKTTKUS AM) Jorit.SAl.S III III Gcrnmine how I hIiouW act, and whether the king, as I had heard, kissed all the ladies? -'No," she replied, " only English women and marchionesses ; and that all one had to do, was, to remain quietly standing in her place." When, therefore, the king came up and kissed me, I was greatly amazed, and turned red as fire, since it was so entirely unexpected He immedi- ately inquired if I hud received letters from my husband '/ I said, " Yes, up to the 22d of November." " He is well," re- joined he, " I have inquired after him particularly ; every one is satisfied with him, and I hope the cold will not injiu'C him." I answered, that I believed and hoped, that, as he was born in a cold climate, the cold would not trouble him. " 1 trust so, also," said he, " but this I can assure you, that where he is, the air is very healthy and clear." Thereupon he saluted me in a very friendly manner, and passed along. As soon as he was out of hearing, I remarked to Lady Germaine that, by the kiss of the king, I had now become naturalized ! Shortly after, came the queen, who was, also, very friendly, and asked me how long I had been in London ? I said, " Two months." " I thought it was longer," she rejoined. " I have been in Lon- don," I continued, " only so long, but have been in England already seven months." She then asked, whether I liked it here? "Yes," I answered, "but all I wish for is to be in Canada." "Do you not then fear the sea?" she further asked, "I love it not at all " " Nor I either," rejoined I, "but I have no other means of again seeing my husband; I shall, therefore, joyfully make the journey." " I admire your mettle," said she, " for it is a great undertaking, especially with three children." From this conversation, I saw that she had heard more of me ; and I was, accordingly, additionally pleased at having been pre- sented at court. During this reception, I saw ixll the royal children, with the exception of one that was sick. They were ten in number, and all beautiful as pictures. As I had been so well received, I visited the queen several times afterward In the OA' .l//?.s', (IHXKII.XL ItlKDKSKl.. 61 Hpring, just before my departure to Pftrtsiuouth to embark, T paid a farewell visit to the queon, when she once more asked me if I had no fcar.s of such a frij;htful voyage ? And when I replied, that since my husband wished me to follow him, I did it with courage and delight, believing that I was thus perform- ing my duty, and that I was assured that were she in my place she would do the same; she replied, " Yes, but they wrote to me that you undertake this journey unknown to your husband." I answered, that she was a German princess, and well knew that I could not undertake this without the consent of my hus- band, as, in that case, I could not have the necessary money. " You are right," said she, " I approve of your resolution, and only wish you all imaginable success. What is the name of your ship? I shall often iu€|uire after you, and, upon your return to England, T hope you will visit me." Shekept her word, and often in(juired about me, and frequently sent her remembrances. General Burgoyne had promised my husband, that wc should travel together. I, therefore, asked tlie advice of Lord Ger- luainc, who informed me that a man-of-war was certainly safer ; but as one was wholly dependent on the vi-wain, who took no pay for the passage or expense of the voyage, it would be un- plea.sant, especially as I had children. He, therefore, rather counseled me to take a merchant-man. Mr. Watson, a rich London banker and a worthy man, who had already been three times lord mayor of that city (the same whase foot was bitten off by a shark while bathing once in the West Indies), had seen my husband in Canada, and promised to let me have his ship. General Howe, an old friend of my late father, and of mine, also, strongly advised me to accept it, and promised, for my greater safety, and in order, also, to give more conscijuence to the ship, a letter of marque, together with two officers aud sixty men. Mr. Watson liked this arrangement right well, as such an adjustment is of great advantage to the owners of ships; although it is in a measure neutralized by the fact that '41 ''i V'l! 02 I.KTTKItS AXn JOlllXM.!^. it, at the sauio time, exposes the ship to the risk of a fight. Mr. Watson sliowod iiic tlie ship, introdiu'cd jiie to the captain and the entire crew, and declared to them, that whoever shouhl offend nie, might expect tlie same punishment as if he had offended him, and, moreover, that any one of whom I com- plained, should he instantly discharged. The sliip was large and spacious, and was immediately ar- ranged as I wished. As 1 knew that it would please my liusband, I wrote to Madame Foy, and proposed that she .should take the journey with me. She accepted it, and all errors were forgiven and forgotten. We met at Portsmouth ; and on the 15th of April, 1777, we went on board of our ship. We were very busy the entire evening in arranging our things in order, and went to bed at nine o'clock. LETTERS FROM GENERAL RIEDESEL TO HIS WIFE. Three Hivers, April IGfh, 1777. What sad vicissitudes of liappiiicss and unluippiiicsH ! At the Tslc Aux Noir, news was broiight to nie, at tlic end of the last campaign, of the safe arrival of yourself and children at Quebec. I was beside myself with joy at the prospect of passing a most delightful and ((uiet winter in your society, and in the bosom of my beloved family ; but how dreadfully was I de- ceived in my expectations to find, upon my arrival here, instead of yourself, your last letter, brought by the ship, FiOndon, informing me that your journey would be postponed until spring. This was a thunder-clap, and the only consolation that remained to me was, that I could still thank Heaven that your- self and our dear children were at least all well. The ship, London, upon which it was expected you would have taken pa.ssage, arrived safely at Quebec, on the 8th of December, without the least disaster. Your apartments for yourself and our little family, had been quite comfortably fur- nished and fitted up ; and we would, therefore, have passed, perhaps, one of the happiest winters that we have ever spent to^other since our marriage. That hope is all turned to water. But God has so ordered it, and we must not murmur, but bow in submission to his holy decrees. I have endeavored to divert my mind from my grief, but in vain. I remained from the IJJth of December to the IGth of January, in Quebec, to pay my respects to General Carleton, and have been overwhelmed 1^^. Hi I.HITKIts AM) .nuilSALSt if i! I with courtcsicH and attciilionM. After my return, T oelcbratccl tlio (luei'ii's birlli-day by j^iviii^' a j;rfat dinner, a bail and a HUjuter; and nineo then, I'nlluwing the oxamiile of the other jienerals, I have continued to give a supper and a ball every week ; partly to j^ain the affection of the iuhabitantM of this place, and partly, also, to provide innocent pleasures for the othcers, and thus keep thcni from visiting public houses and bad conii)any. (Jeneral I'hilips made me a visit in the month of Ifebruary. I have at different times inspected our regiments in their wiTiter-((uarters ; and, in the bej;iniiing of March, (ieneral Carhiton, also, visited me here, and reviewed all our troops. He was perfectly satisfied with them all. T accompa- nied iiim to Montreal, where 1 spent eight days with him at (ieneral I'hilijjs's. On his way back, he staid with mo two days more. Since that time T have again been round to inspect our regiments, t spent the week after Kaster by myself in the country, in order to have quiet for my religious devotions; and now, as the present season is becoming bcaiitiful, and we flatter ourselves that we shall be able to receive vessels from, and dispatch them to Europe, I seize my pen to talk with you ; for I am yet uncertain whether, or when you arc coming, and at all events, I am determined that you shall not be without news from me. Still, I dearly wish that this letter. may have been written in vain, and that T nuiy have the joy of seeing you arrive upon the first ship. In this letter, you have a short account of every thing I have done during the past winter; and I will only say to you — in order to give you an idea of the swiftness with which one travels here in sledges — that from the 20th of February to tlie loth of April, 1 have been five hundred and eighty leagues (which is four hundred and thirty-five good German miles), partly on the snow, but chiefly on the frozen river St. Lawrence. As yet, T. do not know when the army will break up, preparatory to moving oi; New England. If you still come, as I continually flatter myself you will, remain quietly a few days at Quebec, iiF MUs. iih:\h:t!M. /{/KDKSK/,. t;r) wlioii! )(iu will Mtiiy witli my jiood IVicinl, Mr. Murray, wlio.sc wife is a nioritorioim iwrHon, Hho will ploiiMo you vory inurh ; and hIiouU wo have alrondy lirnkm uji our i|uarlc'r.s Iioro, (ako up your Hojouru at, Tlirc-o Rivor.x, wIhtc you will liiid luy (juar- tors vaeaut and jiroparcd lor ycui, to which ond, 1 shall Ifavi; iu tho saiuo housu all my HUpurfluouH l»ii;;t;aj;o. The j^raud vicar, M. Huiiitoujj;o, will hand you over tho keys ou ycuir arrival j and ht! aud the Touuaunuirt family will loud you all that you may need iu tho way of furiiituro. You will find a tolorablo garden, arranged with reference to walking, and to furnishing your cook with all necessary supplies ; and you can remain here until wu are permanently located on the other side of tho lake, iu Now Kngland. When this time arrives, I will endeavor to provide a largo ship for your passage over tho lake, and will send you a reliable otKcer, who will bring you to mo. I think it probable that when you arrive in Quebec you may not like tho place. Neither will the wife of (Jenoral Carletou bo a woman to your taste; she is too proud. Madame Murray, however, is a worthy woman. All the oflicers trace a resemblance in her to you, for which reason I have given her the preference over all other Wfuneii. {[ore at Three Rivers you will find three families who will overwhelm you with politeness, aud will do evm-y thing for you that you may wi.sji. First, the grand-vicar, who has a cousin by tlie name of Cabenac, a maiden of much wit, who \ am confident will plca.se you; then there is the family of Mr. Tounaucourt, a colonel of militia and a widower, but who has throe daughters, extremely well educated, who will be very good company for you ; and, lastly, a nunnery in which tlicro is, also, a seminary for young maidens, where both our oldest daughters can find pleasant amusement, f think you will prefer Three llivers to Quebec, on account of its ohoapuess, for one can live here for less than one-half of what it costs in Quebec or Montreal. 1 write this letter in duplicate, sending one to Knglaud, in case you have not started ou your journey, and the second 1) ^ 'M Hf- ■li;';' ii !! i, 66 LETTEliS ANT) JOVIiXALS to Quebec, where you will find it on your arrival at Mrs. Murray's. 1' , r r .'li I ( ' ■I Three Rivers, June 5th, 1777. Dearest Wife : On the 6th of last month, General Burgoyne arrived here from England, and brought me the good news that, when he left, you were on the puiut of setting out in the ship pf Mr. Watson. I have, therefore, expected you for the last four weeks with the greatest impatience, and am now obliged to set out from here, on account of the delay of your fleet, without having had the joy of seeing you — a circumstance which grieves me inexpressibly. But as it cuunot be helped, I will not murmur; for it is the will of God, who knows how to dispose every thing in the wisest manner, and more for our own good than we often believe. I depart this instant, my love, for St. John, in order to pass from that point through Lake Champlain to New England. I leave you jiitirely free to decide whether you had better remain in Quebec, Three llivers, or Montreal. I think that Three Rivers will suit you the best, because it is cheaper. There you will find a garden and a house thoroughly prepared for your reception, besides, also, your own countrymen, as Jiieutcnant Colonel Ehrenkron commands at that place. You will, more- over, be near our military chest, and, consequently, you need never lack for money. You will find, in addition, wine and various other things that still remain there. I leave here, also, Biihring, the ciijitiiln (I'dniK's of my company, that he may assist you in every thing, and show ^ ou how you may obtain the necessary provisions. Your servants can receive their supplies from the storehouse. I flatter myself that the inhabitants of the place wish me well, t am certain that they will treat you with courtesy. Should you wish to drive out with the children, you will be allowed only the post. That costs but one shilling for every > <4 CiiAMHLY, June 10th, 1777. Though removed from you, deiir wife, yet I am ever with you in spirit, and even now am seeking solitude, that T may the better talk to you, and in thought call back the pleasant hours, which we have spent with each other. Some days before my departure from Three Rivers, I com- mitted the blunder of leaving open the window of my sleeping room, in consequence of which I drew into my system a rheu- matic fever. This, it is true, passed off on the 6th, the day of my departure, but left me somewhat debilitated the first day of our march. Now, God be praised, I am again completely re- stored to health. To-morrow I go to 8t. John to give orders for the repairing of the boats. By this time I hope you have arrived at Quebec without any ill luck, and 1 await your first letter with the greatest impatience. I shall hardly have the heart to open it, for fear that something has happened to you or the children upon the journey. If, however, 1 find by it that you and the children are well, then will I thank (Jod and have unspeakable joy. In that case, our separation will not last much longer, as I shall have you conveyed hither the very moment that things become somewhat more tranquil with us. Time fails me to make this letter longer. Farewell, and do not be uneasy. God will be your and my protector in every event that may befall us. ■ '"il ■ \ m OF .V/l.ides of the shore at this place — the houses, the great cataract at Montmorency, and then Quebec, which we came in sight of at ten o'clock, on the morning of the llth. The throbbing heart-joy, which the first sight of this ardently wished for termination of our journey gave me, made all my limbs tremble. (Quebec, upon first coming into view, appeared (juito handsi'iiie, and, surveying the wliule prospect, I recalled the beautiful description which Eniilie Montague has given of it in her letters, and which I found very accurate.* The city of Quebec itself, however, is as dirty * Miulnmc ile IliodcHel mcuiiH Mrs. HrookesV Emily Mfmltujiie. Thu aiitluir ol llio TrarelK titrouijh the I\itti'hir I'art of Aiiif rica, in a S'frief ■'!' Letters (Lioiildimnt Anburcy) who liad roatlu'il (iiu'bof l)nt a IVw iiioiitli;* bt'l'oi' Madamo do Kiudcsel, thiiuijflit, that, in c.oiisoqiu'iioo of tlio dmastiitioiis occasioned diii'ini,' tlio last sioi;e, (iilol)i'C ' would l).v III) moans answer llie lieantilnl deseriplioii j,'iven liy tiie oleijant writer, Mrs. IJroolies, in lier Einilij Muntuyiie, Vol. 1, p. IM."—Sute of the trann- lutor, in the trunalatioii of 1S-J~. ^i- n 'Mrfl''^ 70 IKTTKnS A.Sn JOURyALS as possible, and very incomiiiodious, for one is obliged to ascend a great mountain in going through the streets. There are, also, few handsome houses, hut the inhabitants are polite people. While we were anchoring, an ineidentoccurredthatgave mo great satisfaction. Our ship's captain, who was a good man in other respects, but who had been seduced, through his relations with Madame Foy into behaving rudely toward me, came and begged my forgiveness, at the same time praying for my intercession to prevent the impressment of his sailors. It was the practice to examine every ship on its arrival, to see how nuiny sailors it possessed ; and if it was thought that there were too many on board, a portion of them were taken away to the king's ships. I used my solicitations for him, and was so fortunate as to have them granted. When it was known in Quebec that I was ncaring the city, I was saluted with cannon by all the ships in the harbor; and at twelve o'clock, noon, we saw a boat approaching us, contain- ing twelve sailors dressed in white, and wearing silver helmets and green sashes. These seamen had been sent to fetch me from the ship, and they brought me a letter from my husband, in which he wrote that he had boon obliged to set out for the army. This news greatly grieved and frightened me, but I resolved, at the same time, to follow him, even if I should be with him only for a few days. I seated myself, with my entire family, in the boat, in which I begged permission to take also Madame Foy and her sister. This request was granted; and I thus had the satisfaction of making them ashamed of the trouble they had occasioned me. At last we safely landed after much yearning desire and an eight weeks' voyage, at about one o'clock in the afternoon. When we reached land, I found a little carryall with one horse. This was the equipage of Mrs. Grcneral Carleton, which was sent with an earnest invitation to come and dine with her, and also to lodge at her house. I accepted the first, only, as I wished to follow my husband at once. At the General's, I was received by all with I'riendship. [ndeed they nK Mils. (iKSKltXI. ItlEDKsEL. 77 did not Hcom to know how tlioy hIiouM Hufficiontly oxpre«« their joy at my nrrivul, which tlicy assured nie would nmke my hus- band very liappy. Mrs. General Carleton, upon hearing,' of the fleet's arrival, and of my bcinj,' with it, had been so thouj-litful as to send off immediately a courier to her consort, to apprize him of my arrival, in order that he might rejoice my husband with the news. The ladies were astonished at seeinj^ me dressed like an Knglish woman; for having seen our soldiers' wives* arrive dres.sed in waist-coats, short cloaks, and roiuid caps with flebbe ; f tliey suppo.sed that this was the German custom. The Canadian fashion for a woman's dress is a very long cloak of scarlet cloth. The rich wear them of silk, and without this garment they never go out. The latter wear in addition, a kind of worsted cap with great colored loops of ribbon, which, by the way, distinguishes the nobility from the other classes. Indeed, the nobility pride themselves so much upon this head- dre.s8, that they could tear it from any native woman of plebeian rank, who should dare to adorn lierself with it. The large cloaks often conceal very bad and dirty clothes. They wear, also, in addition, an under-petticoat, and jackets with long sleeves; and when they go out, they wear upon their heads large capes which cover the whole head and face, and in winter are wadded with feathers. At two o'clock in the afternoon, we .sat down to table at Mrs. General Carleton's. * Tlie niimher of wives of Brunswick soldlora tliat accompniiied their Imsliands to America, was seventy-seven. + A liind of worsted or clotli ornament, coming down from eacii side of tlie cai) over tlie ears, very similar to the dogs' ears of the school-boys' caps in winter at the present day. V*i If" EXTllACT FROM A LKTTRR OF GENERAL UIKDESEL TO HIS WIFK. iSt. John, Jiiuf Viit/i, 1777. You are welcome, my dear iinj^ol, to the ('uiiiuliaii continent ! I littd just seated myselt' at table with the other jrenerals, at General Phillips's, when the courier arrived with the delij;htful intollif^ence, that the fleet from Portsmouth was already at the Isle do Bee, within siyht of Quebec; and that they already had the news, that you with the three children, wore on board, safe and well. You must, therefore, without doubt, have arrived in Quebec the same eveninj;' that the letter was written. The whole company expressed a common joy at the intelli- gence, and drank deeply to your auspicious arrival. The share which they all took in my good fortune gave me additional pleasure. I only wished that you had arrived eight days sooner, as I then would have had the happiness of seeing you; for I had intended, in case I heard of your arrival before passing down the river St. Lawrence, to return, and sec and embrace you. Now, however, it is too late, as I cannot go back. Mean- while, dear wife, let us have patience ; our separation shall not last long, only, indeed, until you can join me with somewhat of security, tranquility and comfort. As our correspondence can now be conducted with regularity, I beg you to keep for me a kind of diary of what you and the children do daily ; and in order that we may each know what the t)ther does, I herewith begin mine. At eight o'clock in the morning of June 5th, I left Three I.FirKHs \Mi .till HSM.S. n Rivors;* took dinner at Kivioro do lioiip, at the parHoniigo ; and Hlo[it lit MiiHsiiioiijjo, wlicro I ariivod vory tired. On tho Otli, I wont to Mortliitnix, wlioro I dined at nottn. In the after- noon, [ was lorried over tlie river St. liiiwrenec! in a ninot i/'irorre (a Itoat niapri/ing liim of oui coming. As the horrible weather still continued, the grand vicar liad the kindness to oH'er me a covered calash, which I accepted, and departed in it the following morning at six o'clock. This vehiile went so rapidly, that 1 could scarcely recover my breatli, and in addition to which I was so jolted about (as I was const.intly obliged to Imld my children), that I was completely beaten to pieces. I was, therefore, obliged at every post station, to stretch out my arms and walk around a little, to render my joints more lindjer. In guing to Ohambly, where it was possible that my hushand still was, T had to choose one of two roads. I took the one tlr.ough .Montreal, where I .'irrivcd >in the evening of tlui llltli ; passed the night tliere; and set out iIk' next 84 LETTtms .[.\J) Joun.WM.S ti- morninj:,' very early, that I might sec my husband as soon as possible. I reached Chanibly on the liUh, and innnediately eanght sight of a group if dfficers, and our coaclunan. whom my husband liad left there. I at once ran to him and asked where my hnsband was? "He lias driven over to Berthieux," he rei)licd, "to meet you" ( Uerthieux was fifteen English miles off!) Then I saw that I had chosen the wrotig road, and liad consequently missed him. Upon this, General Carleton, who W'as among the above mentioned party of officers, came up, and assured me that my husband would be back at the latest on the following day. He, thereupon, took his departure and went back to Quebec, after liaving delivered over the command of the troops to (ieneral Burgoyno. An adjutant of my hus- band remained witli me, and I awaited the following day — tlic 15th of June — with impatience. My children and my faithful Ilockel kept u constant watch on the high road, that they might bring me news of my husband's arrival. Finally, a calash was descried having a Canadian in it. I saw from a distance the calash stop still, the Canadian get out, come nearer, and fold the children in his arms. It was my husband ! As he still had the fever, lie was clothed (althougii it was summer) in a sort ol' cassock of woolen cloth bordered with ribbons, and to which was attached a variegated fringe of blue and red, ai'ter the Canadian fashion of the country. My joy was beyond all description, but the sick and feeble appearance of my husband terrified me, and a little disheartened nie. I found both my oldest daughters in tears — Gustava for joy at again seeing her father, and little Frederica because she saw him in this plight. For this reason she would not go to him at all, but said, " No, no! this is a nasty papa; my papa is pretty I " This conduct arose from the fact, that I had often shown her the picture of her father, and had, at those times, said that he had handsome clothes. 8he was, therefore, not prepared for him in this costume. 'J'lic very moment. how(.\er, that he threw off his Canadian coat, she tenderly embraced him. ill (tl<' Mlts. /:!■:. Mat At. HIKDESEI.. 85 My husband int'oniied inc. that as lie was on liis way to meet us, he had, in order to rest himself a little, taken dinner with Colonel Anstrnther, and had then learned, that a woman had just arrived I'roni Berthieux. lie at once Inid her brouj:^lit in, and asked her whether there was any news at that place ? " Nothinjj,' more," she replied, " than that a German woman with three children had arrived, who, they say, is the wife of a German general." " How many children did you say? " ((uickly asked my husband. "Three," answered she. After this last answer, he did not desire to know more, particularly as he had been made happy by learning that all of his three children lived, and had arrived ; for he had heard nothing from us the whole winter, as our ships were the first ones which had arrived this year. We remained with each other twi) happy days. I wished very much to follow my husband, but he would not agree to it. 1 was therefore foi'ced, to my great sorrow, to go back to Three Kivers, where I suffered yet more upon witnessing the departure of the troops against the enemy, while I, with my children, was obliged, alone and deserted, to return and live in a .strange land among unknown people. Sorrowful and very much cast down 1 traveled back. What a difference between tliis jiMirncy and that which I had made a little while beiore I Thi> tiuir I did not move so ({uickly; for at every post station, which re- moved me further from him I loved, my lieart was torn open afresh. As we were passing through a wood, 1 saw. .ill at once, some- thing like a cloud rise uji before our wagon. We were at first frightened, until we discovered tliat it was a flock of wild pigeons, which the}' call here tourtriH (turtle dovosj, and which are i'ound in such numbers, that the Canadian lives on them for more than six weeks at a (imc. lie goes to one of those pigeon hunts with a gun loaded with the snnillest shot; and when he comes in sight of them he makes a noise. I'hev then ffy uj), and he fires inttt the midst olthein, generally with ('onsiderable -fi Hf* I 80 /./■r/TK/.'s AX/) .Iiillt.WM.s liK'k ; \\)Y soiiietiincs he wouiuls two iir tlure hundred, wliicli lire anevward heaten to deatli with sticks. TIic Canadians sell part of tlic birds, and eat tlie rest, niakini; of them either soups or an excellent tasting fricassee, witli cream and garlic. At this time of the year one eats them every where, and generally meets with kindness from the inhabitants of the country, who, for the most part, live in good houses having large roduis and nice bed curtains. Kvei-y house has a spacious entrance liall, ami, at least, three or four apartments. AVheii a Canadian marries ott" his (laughter, he asks liis son-in-law whether he intends residing near him ; ami shcmld his a .swer be in the allirmative, he builds him a house ami stable lot far from liis own dwelling ; wliile, at the same tiuie, the surroiniding land is rendered productive. In this way. both the cultivation and thepopiilatioiiof the country arc greatly increased. 'I'lie houses are painti'd white, giving them a most beautiful look, especially if seen in passing through the St. liawrencc, for tlien their appearance, in the distance, is even more sjilendid. Kach dwelling has a little fruit garden ; and at evening, the herds returning homeward present a most charming sight. i'lvery wlurt! tlirougliout th.is country, the cows, as well as swine, are driven into the woods, aiul return at a given time to be milked. J!ut thoy do not neglect to furnish the ciittle on their return with plenty of fodder ; otherwise they welf, dressed in nun's apparel, that she besought me to b(!conK> a nun on the spot. •• liight willingly," I replied, " if you rtil' make my husband the prior, so that he can live with us." 8ne was so inexperienced that she believed this was possible. 8he left us. and shortly afterward we ftiuud her kneeling before a crucifix, and thanking (Jod for my conversion. Soon after I had my c'lildren brought in. Little Oustava began to weep, as soon as she saw me in this costume, and said, '' Dear mama I do not become a nun I beg you 1 " In order to ([uiet my children. 1 was obliged to take off my nun's M]i))arel quickly. 1^ ■.^^- hill ' Uw ■ 88 l.hriTHIts AX/i .lori/XMS N' ■:... t' if In this convent tlicre was also a scnninary for young lailio.s, who were tau{;lit all kinds of work. The nuns siny ex(iuisitely ; aiul as tliey sing in the t-hoir beliind curtains, one might readily imagine it to be the song of angels, My household occu|iations consisted chiefly in taking care of my children, some feminine work, and a little book reading. The officers who had been left behind at Tlueo llivers were not amiable. Among them was an ill-bred payuiaster general, whose rude behavior toward me often roused my indignation, and redoubled my uneasiness. As I waited for an opportunity to pay for my passage to Captain Arbuthnot, wliom T daily expected from Jlontreal,* T i)resented the paymaster with an order from my husband to pay me a hundred and fifty pounds sterling, lln refused to honor it. I asked liim if my husband was in his debt for any amount ? '• No," said he, " he has, on the contrary, a considerable balance yet in his favor ; " but as my husband was in danger and might any day be killed, he thought it advisable to act with deliberation. I was exceedingly pro- voked at this conduct, and told him that 1 was too much vexed ever again to apply to him; but I knew that if I should have the misfortune to lose my husband, there would still be coming to mo a quarter of liis yearly allowance, which amounted to considerable more than the sum for which I had asked him. " Yes, that is so,' sneeringly rejoined he, " but how about the pas.sagc-back?" -'That," replied I, " Heaven will take care of; " and I never again allowed myself to speak with him on the subject, bu*^ went to an English paymaster, who gave me not only the sum asked for, but in addition, offered to give me in future as much as I wished. I reported the whole affair to my husband, who thereupon became very angry, wrote liim a letter couched in very strong language, and gave him a most imperative injunction to pay uie just as much as I wanted. He now became more courteous ; and T had the luck to advance so ♦111 Moutrcnl tlicy buy fiir-skins vci-y clK'np. to sell iifriiiii in Kii','laii(l at a lii'avy advaiioi'-alnisiiicss ilial pays well.— .V(//« o/' .1M<. IHalnnl in llie orUjimil. (IF Mi!s. (,/-;\/:-/,'.\/. i;ii:i)i:sh:i.. 80 till' into liis good i;"-aces, that iil'tur his death letters were found umonyhis effects I'roiii his wile, in wiiieh she wrote him, '■ Y'oii write me so many beantil'nl thinjis about tlie ^^eneral's wile, that you make me ((uite Jealous!" Four years al'terward, 1 had the satisfaction /■:/.. !)l Ictl I'lir liiiii to do, |)ut t(» build ii •;rciil liro and inalvc i:(iii>idcni- lilc noise, hoping- in tliis way to rri;j,liti;n tlio HnakoH and keep tlioni oil'. His knowledji;!; ol' oiir danjicr, liowcvtu'. Iiad kept liini tVoni .siufpinii a wink tlui wliolo nij;lit. I'immi licarinu tliin, I wan very much terriliod, and remarked to liini, tiiat \v(! had iniinca.sura'uly iurreased our danger by lyinj; down upon tlie buslies, in which the .snakes like to hide. He iicknowied-i'ed that I was right, and said that if he had known at the time where we were, he wouM liave liad all tlie bushes taken away, or else would have begged us rather to remain in the boat, lie had first learned the fact, however, Ironi the people in our other boat, which hud overtaken as later in the eveuiuic. In the morning we found on every side the skins and slime of these nasty creatures, and accordingly, made haste to finish our break- fust. After our morning meal, we were ferried over lake Champlain, and came at noon to Fort John, where we were received by the commander witli kindness and much courtesy. Thus it was everywhere; so much was my husband loved, both by the English and by the inhabitants of the country. Here we again took our boats in order to reach a cutter, upon which we came to Wolf's island, where we remained tlie entire night on board the ship. During the uiglit we had a thunder-storm, which appeared to us the more terrible, as it seemed as if we were lying in the bottom of a caldron surrounded by mountains and great trees. The ibilowing day wc passed Ticonderoga, and about noon arrived at Fort (leorge, where we dined with Colonel Anstruther, an exceedingly good and amiable man, who commanded the (i2d regiment. In the afternoon we seated ourselves in a calash, and reached Fort Fdward on the same day, wliicli was the 14th of August. My husband had actually left this place the day before with the further iulvance of the army; but as soon as he heard of our arrival, he returned on the loth, and renuiined with us until the ItJth. On that day he was obliged, to my great sorrow, to rejoin the army. ]Jut immediately after the uulucky affair at Bennington, I had the \^ IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) % •^ 1.0 I.I S ^ IK 12.0 i4£ 1.8 1.25 1.4 1.6 .« 6" ► V] <9 /a /a <^A ^7*i -> •^^# % .> /^ Photographic Sciences Corporation 33 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 (716) 872-4503 ^

.V o^ L, A . Smylli. who lied to Canada, hiil. siibr^rciiiciilly. i-old llir lied House to Caplaiii K/.i'kii'l Ualdwiij, wlioocciiiiicd it a^-a lavrni iiiilil hr liiiill and rc'iiiovid to lliv la\crii owiicd. !^iili»(i|iic>iitly. liy .Major Sproll. The Kiel H(in;/ Su/7, ist'iti. After the Kri'iidi war, the fort illcat ion al Kort Kdward hecatiie ko dila|iidated, thai it was seldom occupied liy any of the troops that were slalioncd there. Canada ln'in<; now comiiiered, il was supposed there would lie no further use for it ; and, accord- iiiu'ly. just liefore the revolnlionary war. Dr. Smyth erected from the (/(7(;vx of the fort, till' Ued lloiisi' for his own dwelling;. Ituri.'iiyiu' very iiatui I'ly, therefore, took this house for his head-iinarters, The order which designulcd the •' Ucd nuiii A \/> -inrnsM.s. 95 aiiionj^ tlio juivates, jriowiiiL; nut nl' tla-ir lutt uii(l('rstainlin<^ cacli (ithcr's laii<:uaj;o. yet tlicy wen; mmui sottled, e!m- jilexiou of art'airs so mucli. that the enemy were beaten with considerable loss; ami IJrii^adier Kra/.cr, as well as all the ntti. cers of his eor|)S, exjircsscd to the general their most lively jrratitude.* After this aflair. General IJurj^oyne j;atbcrcd his army to- limici'd mill circiiliitc'd iiinoiiir llutn liy cmi-'snHi's nfilic cticiny with niiicli ml nnd iiidii^'lry. .Ir.ildiisy (d pivdili'i'iidii in the alluiinriii id' )>iiri> miil >c|ijiiiiii' roiii- iiiiiniN. I'viT cul)^isl•' miiiiiii: imnp- cd' dillri'ciil >-liil<'s: and a ~iilid iindcnnci' id' jiid^rnicnl in llicciinMiiandcr in cld(d'. nl'lcn appraiMi nainiw naliimal |iai'lialily. ■• I ••(iiiri'sr'. I \va^ nincli a••^is|(•d In inainlaiidnL' innliality In an army \\m* ciini- poHi'd, liy the IVanlv. r'pii'iud. and lii>nl<' cliaiartcr I liad tn ilral willi. In Majiii' (icnrral Hii'ilrMl : —a cliaiactcr uhlcli win* very I'aiiy Impri'i'^i'd iipun my mind, anil wlilcli no iHais of inliinny. danu'i'i- and illolrcs?'. jiavr tiincc rll'accd : lint addnvB wah ^tlll riMpiUltr to siroiid Ills /ral. and iIIIViim' it tlniiiiL'li tlii'(ii'i'inaii rank!*, and I Mliidli'd ti> tlirow llii'in intu >ltiiatiiiii> llial nili:lil l'Im' tluin coiilldi'nri' In tlicnr- Hi'lvi's. rrcdit with their prlnci'. anil alac rily in llu' pin>iill iil' an mti'i-prisi'. wlilcli, when its dillli'iillirs wvw ii>n'de-el{. wiih whuiii he had already I'lPUiilit in the Seven Years' war. in (iermaiiy. wllh L'leat valur."- llhtitrij iif till flenmtii Aii.tilhirh" in Aiinricii. (ieneial Hnnroyiie in his ollUlal repiirl nl'lliis aellon. due- mily partial justice to (ierinaii vnlor on this iHrnsion. "Major (Jeiieial I{lede-e'" he says, "and the troops under his I'unimand wished to partake ol' the lionor. and they eatne at the rlirhl lime to i;el it. ' He tail-, however, to mentloii the I'ael. that It was the tier- mans who liirned the seales and assisted the Ihitl-li out id' their strait. ^tr-. 06 IKTTFIIS A. YD ./'yr/.'.V.I/..s' ficnu-r ill SkecnslHirdii^h. On the 12th of July, (lonenil |{ie(h'sel Wiis di'tadieil with nix hattalions. with orders to posst hiiii«:lf ill thi- vii'iiiify of CuMth' Town,* in order to erente in the niiiid ol'tlie enoiiiy » siis|>ieioii tliat liis object was a demonstra- tion upon the Conncctieut river. In the meanwhile, General IJurj-oyne iiad the roads repaired. t and bej;aii to advance uj)on Fort Hdward. by way of Fort Anne.]; At the same time, and while lie was marcliinji upon Fort Kdward, (ieneral lliedesel received orders to follow the Fiiif^lish in that direction, wliich he did, and united himself aj;ain with the army on the 'id of Au<;ust. While at this place, (ieneral JJuriioyne determined to detach a corps iinihu- Jiieutenaiit (^oloiiel IJauni to IJennin^ton. for the luirjiose of seizing a considerable maj;azino of stores in that town; an expedition that General IJicdesel thoujilit very unad- visable. and ajiainst which he emphatically contended. Not- withstanding this, however, it was undertaken, and as it was tliiiiiubt that liicntenant Colonel liauni had too small a force to contend with the enemy, liieutcnant Colonel IJre^mann — al&o contrary to the judgment oi' General IJiedcscl — was sent to sniipoit him This affair, on the llltli, at Mennin^ton, turned out very unluckily. The enemy was four or five times stroii,i:er than the troops sent a-iainst him. The distance prevented Lieutenant Colonel IJrcymaun from comiiii: up early enouj;h ; * Cii^llcTdwii -till' iircsciit Cnstli'loii. VI..— Is di'scrilicd lis licinir. al llils period, 'a wii'itlu'd piaii'. coiisisiiiur "f only Iwciily iniiTnil)!!' dwelling' liniisi's. Ilio owiiiTs (il'wliicli wiTc Ibr tlir iiiiifl pari palriDls." + t;iin'ial Hiin.'i)viii' iicil iiiily had to repair Die roads, hiil to cm a road lliroiii.'li a priiiHval luresi and llu' worst Jiind ol' a loresl. lull of swamps and wiiMi-l'alls, DiiriiiL' liis inareli lo Fori lylward alone, lie liad lo liiiild lorly liriclu-is, and lay eor- diiroy roads oI'Iol's across Hie swamps, one ol'wlilcli was two miles in leiitrlli. ^ Fort St. .\nne. al this lime, exisleil only in name. It consisied of a s(inar(\ formed liy palisades, willi loop-holes lielween lliem. Inside of Ihe enclosure were a w relclied liarrack and a storehouse luiill of wood. The .\mericans set it on lire when they evacuated the place : but a violent shower haviiii.' set in and extiiifiliished Hie llames. tlie work of destriiction was only partially accomplished. The hrickx of tlie I'oiindations that were still siandin;.' were used hy tlic (ierinaiis. on takiiii,' possession, to liiiild ovi'iis. OF Mils. liESKIlM. l!lb:i)Ksh:i.. 97 and, iK'Ci»i-diiii;ly, hotli coqis wcn'o lieiitcii (nie iil'tor iinotlii;!-. 'J'lie men as well as their resiieetive chiel's acttil very bravely, but tliey were the vietinis of having been stationed tni> far from tlie army, witliont the slij^htest eommuiiication. This unfortunate affair eaused a sud(K;ii eessation of all our operations. Our boats, jirovisious — in faet, notliing was re- ceived froni Fort (leor-e. The army, tlierefore, could not advance farther, and the despondent wpirit)< of the enemy became suddenly so elated, that its army jrrew daily stronj^er. On the 8th of Auj^ust, (Jeneral Kiedesel was detached with three battalions to John's Farm,* between Forts (ieor<,'e and Kdward, for the purpose, not only of covering the communica- tion with Fort (ieorge, but to promote the conveyance of the convoy to the army. There, in that place, he was comj)letely cut oft' from the army ! So he entrenched himself in a strongly fortified camp, that he might be able to defend himself to the last man. Tiie main army were stationed during the whole of this time at Edward's House and Fort Miller; one battalion being plae-u at Fort Kdward for the purpose of keeping up tiie communication. Jt was natural to expect that when the army .shoidd advance toward Albany, intermediate forts wimld be established along the Ilud.son river, to keep up continually communication with Fort (ieorge; but (Jeneral JJurgoyne, fearing that by such measures his army would bo very much weakened, determined upon an entirely difterent \r/,'\M.S As siHiii as tin' ]ir()visions anil all dtlicr necessary suiijilies for the army were culleefed, the eainj) liroke ii|i i>n tlu! lltli of Se|itenil)er ; on the l.'Jtii, the army hail i-ndrely iia>seil the lliidson river, and on the 1 Ith, eneam])eil on the hei>:hts of .Saratopi. On the IStliiit murehed to the lu'i^dits iil'l)oviij;at,anil on the 17th. was at Swords's house. All these marches were at-tended with exeeedini; harilsliiji,asall theroadsand hridires had to he repaired, and we were oltlij;cd to make very cautious recon- iioissances. .\ still worse cireumstanco was. that the course of the Iliulson is such, that the rid^'c of hills on either side is now close to it and now far oft'. The columns were thus forced to inarch on tin; flats ami on the hei,i;hts. and. were, thert'l'ore, very often half an hour's distance from each other, nuiny times with- out an ened at 15en- ninirton ; and this, to}.'ether with the raising of the siege of Fort Stanwi.\ by the American (icneral Arnold — a siege that liad been undertak«Mi by the Knglish liieiitenant ('olonel St. l-eger — raised the sjiirits of the enemy so amazingly, that the militia poured forth in crowds from the provinces of New llani])- shireand New York. Three brigades, also, arrived from the army of Washington and Putnam ; anddcneral (,iateswassentby(iene- ral Washington to take command of the army. Hy this means the American army which at the end of .July and the begin- ning of August, was only about four or five thousand strong, now increased to between fourteen and twenty thousand men. With this considerable force the enemy advanced first as far a.s Stillwater, and afterward encamped three tniles this side upon the heights of IJimese's House,* where his right wing was sup- ported by the Hudson river. This wing was protected in front by a large, marshy ravine, and behind, its lines were screened * So spelled III tile iiriiriiial. I'roliiilily no imiiie liiis been jrlven in nx mnny illf- ferelil \viiyt> iik IliN. Some « filers spell It lieiiiis : olliers Helmiiis: wliili'. iiirain. W. ('. Wilkinson ilieiileiiaiit in Hie IWd Hrilisli re;.'iininl. anil .i^sistaiit eiiirineeil in Ills map ul'tlie Held olaetion. made on the spot, spi tis It llniniiis. OF VUS. UFShliAI. lill-:/>KSFf. !l!t b^' Mil iihali- 'till' Ift'i wiiiu i-xleiidcd on to ii licijilit. iipini tho t(t, iiiid Un left Hunk wim iikewiso scrconod, rn the >idi- of tin' hill, liy f'ollod trues. 'J'lu' lii'i>.cli(.«i were as st»c|) Itoliind ii.s in Irmit ; and it was u|i general in- ehief, niarehed n|ioii the heights at ortr iij:ht hand ; and tho third eolunin, whitli niarehed still more to the ri}.'ht, were eoinpo-sed of the I'razer corps, and the eorp-- of Lieutenant (' (iine h;id not reecived the lea-t iiitellii.'enee I'roni (Jciniral IJuriroyne, he dis]iatehed Captain Willoe to him. The Latter n-turned after three- t.K7'Tf:/{s A\/i .lnlli.\M.s oil t'l the cin'iiiy'H riirlit flunk Tin- Kii^^lisli k-ll wiin: \va^t just oil llic [MMiii III' ri'tri'utiiij!;. .llf. tlic-ri-Con'. at once roriiicil llic Ht'Vcii '-<|iiiik. As soon us tl\o I'liiL'li^h lurccivcd this iiHivciiifiit, tlioy nillioil, iinii. ill a i*linri tiiiif. tluM'iii'iny was i;oiiijiii't«'ly Injattin ; anil liml not niii;lit coiih' on. it wmiiil liiivc been euwily possible to hiive drivrii. at tin: sami- linu-. his broken ranks into his (aiiii> in the frrcatijst tlisikiilci' Niiilit ii.\d regiment, stationed at the .Saw-mill, who were all ♦'■The Urlli-'li and CliTimiii IriKips bivnimckid im llio ImllU-fidd llif Briilis- wkkiTs l•olnllo^i«;^ in jmrt llu ritrlu «in(.', ll wa;' a silent uli'hl. No ullior sounils weri' liruril. i'\<'r)>l thi' ^rroiiiiiiii.'a«(l i-iLrliiiii; ol Ihr woiinilod, mid lln' iliallonglng (if the sciitrli'H," - 7'/ie AiiwUiary Tniuixi in America. nh- Mils. i.h:\h:iiM. iiii'DEsh:!,. 101 eaptiircd. Our piovisiuns wen; (Mil dtl', riMliiciiijj; our daily raliiiMs til uiH' |iiiuiiil III' moat ami mic of lireail; a trial. Iinwcvcr, wliicli iiiir siiMii-rs huro with the i^rcatof^f i'nrtitudi;. As nur Hituatimi ht'caiiie irmii day tn day iiiiirc <-ritieal, and tlic |iusitiiiii III' tlu' I'iMMiiy lifiiii: tun striiMi,', and liis army Inn iiuiiit'rnMs to attack liiin, (Iciicral liur^rnyiu*, mi tlu- Ith iil' ()ctiilit>r. calli'd ^Minerals I'luHijis aiul Hicdcscl, ami |{ri;;adi('r (Ii'iicral l'"ra/,or into liis presence, for the purpose of consulting; with them ujmn the best cuurst! to he purHucd under the present state nl' affairs. For his part, he proposed to leave all the supplies and hnats lor ii lew daj'8 ill one of the entrenehinents, under the eare ol' ii force of abcuit eij^lit hundred men, und to attack the eiu'my upon his left flank, and turn his rear. Hut as we knew as little of the roads as of the positinn of the enemy's left win^, and as three or four days must certainly elapse hefore we could bring about un cnj^u<;eincnt, iind as, moreover, it would be danjrerous to leave our weakly j,'uaided majra/.ines for so lonf^ a time, it was determined, after mature deliberation upon these and still other circumstanecs, to hold a second ennference upon the evenini; of the oth. At this meeting, (leneral lliedesel dis- tinctly declared, that our situation was of such a nature that if we did mit march against the enemy within one (biy. to attack him and bring affairs to a crisis, it would be expedient to move back again to the liatten kill; and after having passed the Hudson in rear of the Hatten kill, where we could not again be cut off from Fort Ocorge, to await (Jeneral (Minton's move- ments in ojiening communication. Mrigadier (ieneral Frazer fell in with this npinion of (Ieneral liiedesel. (Ieneral I'hillips would give no advice whatever, and (Jeneral Hurgoyne, with whom it went hard to make a thoroughly backward movement, declared that, on the 7th, he would make a reconnoissance as near as possible to the enemy's left wing, in order to a.scertain whether or not it could be attacked. In the first case, he would on that very day, the 7tb, immediately attack the enemy ; but if, on the contrary, the enemy's position was too strong, be would, V- Illl I.KTTKHs AM) .H)l ItSM.S on tlic lllli (if Oftiiltcr. al >twv nlriMit tn tlii> MattiMi kill. As III! iHTsistcil ill this ilftcnniiiiiliciii, tlicrc rt'iiiiiiiicd imtliiii^' iltc til (lclf. wliu wan ac(iiin|m- iiieil fnnii tin' i-aiii|i liy (icncrals liiodcsi-l, I'liiHipi and Kra/.iir. In tliret! (■"iiiiniis, we advanced t(i within idiout a ((iiarlor (if an huur's inarcli uf tliu cnt-iny's loft win^', wIkti' wo mi't a |inrtiiiii (if tlio cnoniy (M'oii|iyini.r a liuiiso ( Woisor't* hiniso); dnivo him out, and tmik jiofifofsidii (if tlio rihiii;: ij;r(iiind, which, Imwovor, wiLS .siirniundod mi Ixitli sidos with wikkI.s. While we were dolilioratin;; in this iilaeo, htiw wo could push tlie rccdiiiKiiM- Maiico .xtill further, the oiieiny attacked the left winj; of our coniniand, and flunj; himself with t. reatest force u|ioii tlio Kiijilish grenadieis standiii;; in the wood, liientenant Colonel Speeht, who commanded the centre, maintained \m iiositioii for a hinji time, and would have su.staiiuKl himself still loiij;er, luid not my liord IJalcarras, who was stationed on his riicht flank, been ordered hack thronj;h some inisunderstandiiiLi. As he wa.s now attacked in frmit and on Imth flanks, he found himself, with lii.s three hundred men, forced to retreat. Thereiiiion, the enemy pressed forward from all sides, and (leiieral l{ur^'(jyiie at onoe ordered a retreat ujioii the ;^ieat riidoulit on the rij^ht win^ of the l"'razer corps. Scarcely had the troojis reached there, wlien the enemy attacked the redoubt with the i^roatost fury, but without success ; and we held it until the next morninj^. Hut the Hreymaiin corps, hardly two hundred men stronj.^, and attacked in front and on both flanks, j^ave way after liieutcnant Colonel IJreymann was killed. Now, but unfortunately too late, (ieneral Hurfjoyno determined to make a retreat to tlie IJatten kill. Hefore the break of day on the niornini;- of the Sfh. we left our jiosition and drew ofl* into i\w valley where our supplies were. We were obliyod, however, to stop over u day, as our "/■• I//.'.s, /.A'.VAA' I/. l,'IH>h:sh:i.. lo:i h'iH|iital ('(Mild iiiil III' MMiiicr lriiii.<'|M)r(('il. In ilic cM'iiiiii^ \v<' set (Mil nil mil' irti'(':it. iiinl (ii'iii'i'al liicilcM'l wiis |>lii'('(l in (■iiiiiiiijiikI III' till' Viiii^ii.inl. with iiistnirtiiiiis tn crn.-s ilic lliui- i^iill Mini |Mi>t liilii-cit' lii'liilnl (lie Itatli'li kill. lint M'Ml'ri'lv llilil III' iiri'ivt'il at hiiviijiat, wlicii lie received ludei'."' tn liali. A day \va> tliiis ilHL'lef*.«*|y waited, til iMir fji'tati'Sl iiiiiii/.eiiiiiit, in tin; evuiiiiifr, we a;:aiii iimiclied, iiiid jmHscd ii.l I ill, inar Sarat erns."* the ' idsmi. The a/iu\ , thei'e- t'lire, (III tlie lOtii, UwV ii|i a |iii.>ii'iiiii at Sarati^a .>liieh, in Iced, was strung mi the Kit win^ tnwanl the Ki li kill, but in thi! eeiiti'i and mi the riuht wiiiir, was r^n f'anltv that it was itniins- sihle to inaiiitain it. 'I'lie same rveiiin^' tin; eiitire ann} ul' tin- enemy eaiiie up. On this same il:r-, we had d(;s|iat('lii d t wo re<:inieiits under the emiimand nl' l/ieu'emiiitCulniiel Smitherlaini mi this side ut'the lludsnn river. ti> recmimiitro the mad which led >ii l''iirt i'ldwanl. and had sent with him the engineer, ('a|ilain Twiss, to repair the hridjics. Lioiittinanf ('ulinitd Sniitherland actually ^'ot within an hmir's march nf l''i>rt Kdvvard. and was prcjiariii^' tu mend the chief hridiic, when lie received the un- fiirtunate order to return. On the morninu oi' the llth. the enemy, with three hriirades, passed l'"isli kill in lull view ol' our army, with the intentim! nl' attaekiiijr mir rear. He was so liirtunate as to capture mir hoals. and also iiiak(! prismiers ufaii officer with thirty men. and a urcat part ol' our hoatmen. A *'I'lii' rriiiirr iiiii^l Ivriir in miiiil lli;il IliU i-^ imiI tin' SiiiiiIul'.m WiiliTiiiir pliirr nl' moilcrn ilnv^. Imt llic nlil Inwii ol SaralnL'a. l\inL' ii|mi|i (lie iiiiir:.'in nl llic lliiil^nii river. .\l tills lliiu'. Ilic SanilcPL'M. Iirrr rclcinil In in llir Irxl. was a silhiL'i' nl -nini' tlilrly i-'nlaU'il liniir^c-. Inralnl nn llii' i'Il'IiI lianii nl' llii' llalli'ii kill, wlilcli i'tii|ili<'-< inin llii' llnihiMi. I nnliirnnii-' In llii)- villaiii' \\n* llir nld niililarv wmk. I'nrl llanl.v. ralli'd allcr (InMiimr llaiil.v. and iTi'cli'd in I In- llf-l Kri'iiili war. 'I'ln- lim-s nrcnlii'iiiliiniiil cinliiaccil alinni lllli'cn acrci'nI'L'iniiMd. 'I'lir niiliT ^\■n^k^> wliiili .ire iMiniidi'd Hniilli on the iiorlli Imnk '*' fi^li rri'i'k il-'i^li kill), iiiid ra>t mi llirwc-l Imnknl'llu' lliiili'iin. .vet il.'^'ni I'cliilii llii'U|i|H'»niiU'corai*li'niii;fnrtilii'alinii. llinnan hniit'H, l°niain convened, and it was resolved that the proposals of (Icneral Gates, just received, should he accepted, hut, as tlicy were only prelimina- ries, and many suhse(|uent articles were to he settled hei'ore (leneral IJurjioyne could sign the capitulation, the time given (two o'clock in the afternoon) was too short; and it was accordingly proposed to appoint two stafi-oflicers from hoth sides, who should settle hetween them the secondary articles and arrange for both parties the ratification of the treaty. Upon our side Lieutenant Colonel Southerland and Captain Craig were appointed ibr this purpose. The commissioners renuiincd together until eleven o'clock in the evening, by which time all that we had asked for was accorded by the enemy. There was, it is true, a sending backwards and forwards to (icnoral IJurgoync, upon various trifling points, but, as the commissioners of the enemy granted every thing that our's asked, (he hitter, who were i'ully authorized to conclude the treaty, promised upon the word of honor ol' themselves and (ieneral Burgoyne, that the capitulation should be sent back the following morning ratified by (ieneral Burgoyne ; it being understood, in the meanwhile, that the cessation of hostilities should continue. The commissioners came back at twelve o'clock at nisrht. The same night a deserter from the enemy's camp came into our's, and told us that he had learned, through a third hand, that the English General Clinton had not only taken possession of the entrenchments of the Highlands, but that he had, eight days previously, moved up to J'^sopus with his troops and fleet, and must, in all probability, have arrived by this time at Albany. General Burgoyne and several officers were so much elated by this doubtful intelligence, that a great desire arose to break the whole capitulation. A council of war was, accordingly, once mure convoked, ami the following <|«cstions proposed for its consideration : »»l OF M/,'S. (iKXKUM. lUEDKi^KL. 101) 1st. Whetlicr a treaty which had been definitely settled by fully empowered connnissioners — even after the promise of the general to ratify all that the connnissioners had agreed upon — could be broken with honor 'i 2d. Whether the intelligence ju.st received was sufficiently reliable to authorize us to break so advantageous an agreement in our present situation '! 8d. Whether the army had, indeed, a sufficiently reliant spirit to defend their present position to the last man ? On putting the first question, fourteen votes against eight declared that a treaty, which had been closed upon such terms, and in which the enemy had granted all our demands, could not be broken without a violation of honor. Upon the second question, the votes were also divided. Those voting in the negative, based their opinion en the ground that the intelligence brought over by the deserter was all of it only hearsay. It would be adifl'erent matter if (Icncral Clinton himself had sent a courier, or if the man had really seen Clin- ton's army; and, even assuming thiit General Clinton was actually at ^-Esopus, the distance from there was so great that he could not help us a particle in our melancholy situation. To the third (juestion, all the officers of the left wing an- swered in the affirmative. IJut the officers of those regiments composing the right wing, and stationed on the low ground, answered that all the soldiers would certainly display great courage if they should attack the enemy, hut that, as all the defects of our position wore well known, it might be ((ucstioned whether they would be able to resist an assault. In order, however, to gain time, a middle cour.sc was atteniptod, namely: (ieneral 1?urgoyne, early on the morning of the lOth, wrote a letter to (ieneral dates, in which he informed him that he had received, the previous night, from deserters and others, intelligence to the effect, that he had, while the negotiations were yet in progress, detached a considerable portion of his force to Albany. .\s this was against faith and honest dealing, he s*-. no LKTThlUS AS I) .KnnSM.X could not ratify tlio capitulation until ho was convinced that the opposinji; army was tliree or lour tin\es lar/•'> and con, (jeneral IJurgoyne, finally, determined to ratify, and there- upon the ratified capitulation was sent over by ^Iaj(U' Kinjj;ston. On tlic 17th of October, tiie army marched off, and every thing was performed according to the articles of capitulation, (reneral dates had his entire army, which was this side of the Hudson, marched over on to the opposite bank of the Fish kill. Some officers who were ordered to review it for the purpose of countintr, found that it was between twenty-three and twenty- four thousand men strong. (ieneral lliedesel ordered that none of the colors should be surrendered to tlie enemy with the arms; but that the staffs should be burned, and the cloths carefully packed up. These orders were strictly carried out, so that every cue of the German regiments retained its colors. The memoir from which the preceding is an extract, is dated at Stillwater, on the day after the capitulation at Saratoga — the 18th of October — and signed and attested by all those officers who were, at that time, commanders of the German regiments and battalions. As a supplement, it may lune be added, that after tlie captured army had arrived at Cambridge, near Boston, the American congress did not ratify the stipulated article in the capitulation, that the troops should be shipped from Boston to PiUgland, and they were, therefore, obliged, contrary to the treaty, to remain in America us prr.' jorttsALs. This point (tccasionod a j;ro!it debate in congress. Upon the qnestion whctlier, in roi-aid to tills particuhir artirlo, the capi- tulation sliould be strictly adhered to, the votes were divided ; and It was only owing to the influence and insinuations of (ieneral Lafayette — at that time with the Americans — that the aft'air, as already mentioned, was decided to tlic detriment of the Miigllsh and (icrman troops; for he, easily foreseeing an impending rupture between Kngland and France, wished to guard against the king of Kngland having the use of this army elsewhere. To overcome all the scruples of congress, Jiafayette cited the case of Kloster Seven, in the Seven Years' war, when the Knglish allowed themselves to break the capitulation. When General Hurgoyne brought forward the first rough draft of the capitulation, General Hiedesel advised him to propose rather to General Gates, that the troops should return to Canada without arms, and on the condition, that they should not .serve during this war against the Americans unless ex- • changed. IJut General IJurgoyne was of the opinion it would be useless to, think of it, as such a proposition would not be entertained by the enemy for a moment; and, therefore, pro- posed that the troops should be transported to IJoston, and from there shipped to England. Afterwards, however, when this thing was talked over during the march, the adjutant general of General Gates, gave it as his opinion, that this stipulation would probably have been agreed to, as, on account of the great scarcity of provisions, they had been at their wits' ends to know how they should support the troops on the march to Boston. If, therefore, (Jcneral Burgnyne had followed the advice of General Hiedesel, this army would have been saved to England; could have been employed elsewhere ; and thus been spared the many hardships which it afterward experienced. CONTINUATION OF MRS. GENERAL RIEDE- SEL'S ADVENTURES. ^Wlien the army again moved, ou the lltli of September, 1777, it was at first inteuded to leave me behind; but upon my urgent entreaties, and as other hidies were to follow the army I reneived, finally, the same permission. We made only small day's marches, and were very often sick; yet always contented at being allowed to follow. I had still the satisfiiction of daily seeing my husband. A great part of my baggage I had sent back, and had kept only a small summer wardrobe. In the beginning all went well. We cherished the sweet hope of a sure victory, and of coming into the "promised land;" and when we passed the Hudson river, and General Uurgoyne said, " The English never lose ground," our spirits were greatly exhilarated. But that which displeased me was, that the wives of all the officers belonging to the expedition, knew beforehand every thing that was to happen; and this seemed the more singular to me, as I had observed, when in the armies of the Duke Ferdinand, during the Seven Years' war, with how much secrecy every thing was conducted.* But here, on the contrary, » Lictenant A.il.urcy made a si.nilar re.nark, ,vl,on the army was yet In Canada • W c have more dnnserons encMuio. a. lu.nR., than any we have to enconnter abroad '■ for all the rannacfons that are to take place, are publicly known, Ions before !!.«; areolHcallygncn out in orders; and I n,ake no doubt, but you will be as m eh snrpr .ed a. the genera, [«urgoyneJ wa.. when I tell you, that the w'.ole opTral ' of the ensuing campaign were canvassed for several days before he arrived, who no 15 •%>-. ^ m Ill i.hrrh/i's AX/) .nuiisM.s the Aiiicricans were apprised beforeliaiid of all our intentioiiH; so tliat at every plaee wliere we eaine tlioy already awaited uh; a eircunistaiicc whieli hurt us exceedingly. On the I'.lth of September, tlicro was unaft'air between the two armies, which, it is true, ended to our advantage ; altlnmgh wc were, nevertheless, obliged to make a halt at a place called Freennin's farm. I was an eye witness of the whole affair ; and as I knew that my hu.sband was in the midst of it, T was full of caro and anguish, and shivered at every shot, for I could hear every thing. I saw a great number of wounded, and what was still more har- rowing, they even brought three of them into the house where I was. One of these was Major Ilarnage, the husband of a lady of »iur company ; another, a lieutenant, whose wife, also, was of our ac(|uaintanco; and the third, a young Knglish officer of the name of Young. Major Ilarnage, with his wife, lived in a room next to mine. lie had received a shot through the lower part of the bowels, from which he suffered exceed- ingly. A few days after our arrival, I heard plaintive moans in another room near me, and learned that they came from Young, the young English officer just mentioned, who was lying very low. I was the more interested in him, since a family of that name had shown me much courtesy during my sojourn in England. 1 tendered him my se.vices, and sent him provisions and re- (toiil)t eiippoBcd that In slvlnj; out liin orders, he ^vn.^ comnuiiiicatiiif; an cntiro Hi'crct. ♦ ♦ * (Jrcat cccri'cy, on tlie contrary, wan ()l)Hervi'd in tlio Anicriam amiy."— Montreal, May ai. 177". vol. I. p. "^W. Tlie work from wliich tliis extract Im taken, if intlie Slate Lil)rary. at All)any, X. Y. A paiiMa^'e, also, from tlie IliMonj of the O'ennan Avfiliaries in America — an iii- valunlile work, by the? way. an it is made up of the manuscrii)t journals of those otllcers and i)rivates who served in the war — explains the reason of this want of secrecy more fully. " The country peoi)le. whom Burjjoyne met on Ids march, pretended to be jrood royalists, which he implicitly believed ; so that he allowed them not only to bear their arms as hitherto, but to walk about the whole cam)) nt their option, and without any restraint. These men, however, were anythinf.' but royalists. They, coiiseipiently, improved the opportunity, jjaining intelligence of all the occurrences in tlie army by appearances, and forthwith C(mimunicated to tlie commanders of the eiu'my's forces, that whicli llicy had seen and heard." r OF Mils. iih:xh:iiM. iiih:i)t:sh:i.. 115 iVoslmu>iits. III! oxpiTSMfcl a j^'rwit ilosiro to hoc iiis hoiicliiotross, us ho oalloil 1110. I wont t(i him, and found him lyinj,' on « litth! straw, for he liad lost his camp O(|niim,no. Ilo was a youn;-' man, pmbahly oij;litoon or ninotoon yoars ohl ; and, actually, tlio own nojihcw of the Mr. Youn-;, whom 1 had ivuown, and tho only scm of his parents. It was only for this reason that he grieved; on account of his own sufferings ho uttered no complaint. He had bled considerably, and tlioy wished to take off his log, but he could in>t bring his mind to it, and now mortification liad sot in. I sent him pillows and coverings, and my women servants a mattress. I redoubled my care of him, and visited him every day, for which I received from the sufferer a thou.sand blessings. Finally, they attempted tho amputation of the limb, but it was too lato, and he died a few days afterward. As ho occupied an apartment close to mine, and tho walls wore very thin, I could hear his lust groans through the partition of my room. I lived in a pretty well built house, in which I had a largo room. The doors and the wainscot were of solid cedar, a wood that is very common in tliis vicinity. They burn it frequently, especially when there aro many midges around, as these in.sects cannot stand tho odor of it. It is said, however, that its smoke ia very injurious to tlio nerves, so much so, indeed, as to cause women with child to bring forth prematurely. As we were to march farther, I had a large calash made for nie, in which I, my children, and both my women servants liad seats; and in this uianner I followed the army, in tho midst of tho soldiers, who were merry, singing songs, and burning with a desire for victory. We passed through boundless forests and magnificent tracts of country, which, however, were abandoned by all the inhabitants, who fled before us, and reinforced the army of the American general, Gates. In the sequel this cost us dearly, for every one of them was a soldier by nature, and could slioot very well ; besides, the thought of figliting for their fatherland and their freedom, inspired them with still greater courage. ii<; IKTIKIIS .Wit .KilltSM.S. During tliis time, my liuHbaiul wftS oblimnl to oncniiip with tlio iiiiiiii bddy (if tlio army. I remaiiit'd iilioiit iiii liuur'H niiircli bi'hiiul the army, and vinited my husband ovory iiKirniiij; in the I'limp. Very often I took my noon meal with liim, but niowt of the time lio came over to my <(uarters and eat with me. The army were cnj^aj,'ed daily in Hinall ."skirmishes, but all of them of little eonHe((iienee. 31y poor liuHband, however, durinj; the whole time, eould nut ^et a chaneo oitlier to ^o tu bed or nndre.xH. As the sea.'ion had now beeome more inclement, a Colonel WillianiH of the artillery, observing,' that our nmtual vLsits were very fati;j;uing, offered to have a house built for me, with a chimney, that .should not cost more tlian five or six gui- neas, and which I eould steadily occupy. I took him up,* and the house, which was twenty feet s(|uaie, and had a good tirc- plaee, was begun. They called it the block-house. For such a structure, large trees of equal tliickness are selected, which are joined together, making it very durable and warm, espe- cially if covered with clay. I was to remove into it the follow- ing day, and was the more rejoiced at it, as the nights were already damp and cold, and my husband could live in it with me, us he would then be very near his camp. Suddenly, how- ever, on the 7th of October, my husband, with the whole general staff, decamped. Our misfortunes maybe said to date from this moment. I had just sat down wit4i my husband at his quarters to breakfast. Cieneral Frazer, and, I believe, Generals Burgoyne and I'hillips, also, wore to have dined with me on that same day. I observed considerable movement among the troops. My husband thereupon informed me, that there was to be a reconnoissancc, wliich, however, did not surprise me, as this often happened. On my way homeward, I met many savages in their war-dress, armed with guns. To my question where they were going, they cried out to me, " War ! war ! " which meant that they were going to figlit. This completely over- * A Koimliie Yankeu cxprcBsloii, but, novertholess, literally so In the origiuul. <«►•. iittt o ta m n CO J.KTTEHS .\.\Ii ,/of/,'XA/.s. MO whelmed inc, and I liad scarcely got back to my quarters * when I heard skirmish in J.^ and firing', wliich by degrees, became constantly heavier, until, finally, the noises became frightful. It was a terrible cannonade, and I was more dead than alive. About three o'clock in the afternoon, iu place of the guests who were to have dined with me, they brought in to me, upon a litter, poor General Frazer (one of my expected guests), mor- tally wounded. Our dining table, which was already spread, was taken away, and in its place they fixed up a bed for the general. I sat in a corner of the room trembling and quaking. The noises grew continually louder. The thought that they might bring in my husband in the same manner was to me dreadful, and tormented me inces.-iantly. The general .said to the surgeon, " Do not conceal any thing from me. Must I die?" The ball had gone through his bowels, precisely as in the case of 3Iajor Ilarnage. Unfortunately, however, the general had eaten a hearty breakfast, by reason of which the intestines were distended, and the ball, so the surgeon said, had not gone, as in the case of 3Iajor Ilarnage, between the intes- tines, but through them. I heard him often, amidst his groans, exclaim, " Oh, fatal ambition ! Poor General IJurgoyne ! My poor wife ! " I'rayers were read to him. He then sent a mes- sage to General Burgoync, begging that he would have him buried the following day at six o'clock in the evening, on the * Tho qimrtiu-!' wliicli Mr^^. UUdcsol then ()(;oii|)iwl. iiiul in wliich (ioiionil Fruzer died. lm« Hiiice boiMi liiiowu as IIk' Smllli lldiisc, and iiiiist not hi.' ('(inlbiindcd (as lias soiiu'tinii's lieen doiii') witli tlic lu'iid-i|iiai'tci-t! of niir;,Myno, iu wliidi llii! liannioHH had lluit moniiiiir talii'n ))i-califie, or dieam of ghiry l)eside the crystal waterH of llie Netfs. Death in itself in not terrible; hut he came to .Ame- rica for cdtlsh advancement, and thouf,'li bravely true as a soldier, he died uneon- f'OV'iX."— Huiicrufl'n Itvlution of the Ikalli of Frazer, Voi. IX, p. ll'.l. + The heiu'ht occupied by Burgoyne on the isth, which ran parallel with the river until it approached (ieneral (iates's camp. i^^. •fFP- 122 LKTTEHS A.\l) JOCllXALS my Imsband in the midst of the enemy's fire, and therefore T could not think of my own danj^er.* Tlie order had gone forth that the army should break up after the burial, and the horses were already harnessed to our calashes. I did not wish to set out before the troops. The wounded Major Ilarnage, although he was so ill, dragged him- self out of bed, that he might not remain in the hospital, which was left behind protected by a flag of truce. As soon as he observed me in the midst of the danger, he had my children and maid servants put into the calashes, and intimated to me that I must immediately depart. As T still begged to be al- lowed to remain, he said to me, " well, then your children at least must go, that I may save them from tlie slightest danger." He understood how to take advantage of my weak side. 1 gave it up, seated myself inside with them, and we drove off" at eight o'clock in the evening. The greatest silence had been enjoined ; fires had been kin- dled in every direction ; and many tents left standing, to make the enemy believe that the camp was still there. We traveled continually the whole night. Ijittle Frederica was afraid, and would often begin to cry. I was, therefore, obliged to hold a pocket handkerchief over her mouth, lest our whereabouts should be discovered. At six o'clock in the morning a halt was made, at which every one wondered. General liurgoyne had all the cannon *(;ciu'ral I!iir;,' liatennx. loaded with provi- sions!, which had not Ix'en ahle to keep pace willi the troops, to come abreast.'" — State of the Kviitilition^ j). ITO. + 1. e., lost his presence of mind. t General Ilnrijoyne's three aid-de-eaini)s were Captain Lord Petersham. Lieu- tenant Willbrd, and Charles (ireen. The i)arole of liiirfroyne's officers — the ori- ginal of which is in thepossessicmof J. \Vini;ateTlioniton, Es(i.,of lioston, Mass.— makes no mention of any officer by the name of Patterson. Mrs. Hiedesel, wliose spellinj,' of Eni;lish names is natnrally not always accurate, jirolmbly means Lord Petersham, who was afterward Karl of Uarringlon, Viscount I'elersliam, and in ITitS, lientenant ueneral in the liritish army. §The jrallant hearini; of the answer, which (ieneral Gates retnrned. by Cliaiilain llriidenel, lo the letter wliidi linrgoyne sent him by Lady Ackland, recommending '4h. !!• : "kii 'I 1,1 12 i LKlTEliS AM) Juni.SALS fUiiiiliiir Jiiid bciiiitiful cngniviiiij; of this event in existence. T saw lier aj^aiu afterward in Albany, at which time her husband was almost entirely recovered, and both thanked me heartily for my advice. On the 9th, we spent the whole day in a pouring rain, ready to march at a moment's warning. The savages had lost their courage, and they were seen in all directions going home. The slightest reverse of ibrtune discouraged them, especially if there was nothing to plunder. My chambermaid did nothing, cursed her situation, and tore out her hair. I entreated her to compose herself, or else she would be taken for a savage. Upon this she became still more frantic, and asked, " whether that would trouble me '( " And when I answered " yes," she tore her bonnet oft' her head, letting her hair hang down over her face, and said, '• You talk well I You have your husband ! IJut we have luithing to look forward to, except dying miserably on the one hand, or losing all we possess on the other ! " Respecting this last complaint, I promised, in order to quiet her, that I her to the iirotection of the American coniniiiiider, rcdDiiiuls fo iiuicli to the honor, Bj)irit, mid hi;.'lmiiii(U'dn('sM of the writer, tliat it is liere j^iveu entire. The letter, itself, i^< not, we believe, i,'enenilly linown. sakatooa, ocl ni/i, nn. Sir: I have Ihe honor to reecive yonre.xeelletiev'H letter Iiy Lady .\ekland. The rei-peet due to her ladyship's rank, and the tenderness due to her jierson and sex, were alone sntlleient seeiirities to entitle her to my iirotection, if yon eon-ider my preeedini,' condnet w ilh respeet to those of yonr army whom the Ibrtniic of war lins placed in my hands, I am snrprisod that yonr excellency should tliink that I could consider the ^.'reatest attention to Lady Ackland in the lij.'lil of an ol)liijation. The cruelties which mark the retreat of yonr army, in Imrinn^' f,'entlemcn's and farmers' liousesas they pass alonjr, is almost, amoni,' civilized nations, without a precedent. They shoidd not endeavor to ruin those they coidd iu)t coufpu'r. Tliis conduct betrays more of Ihe vindictive malice of a bigot, than the generosity of a soldier. Yonr IVlend, Sir I'^ranciM Clark. l)y the information of tlio director-general of my hospital, langnishes under a dangerous wound. Every sort of tenderness and uttentUm is paid to him as well as to all the wounded who have fallen into my hands, and the hospital, whiLh yon were obliged to leave to my mercy, I am. Sir, Yours, IIOUATIO OATKS. To (.icucral Uiirgovne. OF M/IS. dH.XEltAL IIIKDKSKI.. 125 would make good all tlie losses of herself and the other maid. Tlie latter, my good Lena, although also very much frightened, said nothing. Toward evening, we at last came to Saratoga, which was only half an hour's march from the place where wc had spent the whole day. I was wet through and through hy the frcfjuent rains, and was ohliged to remain in this condition the entire night, as I had no place whatever where I could change my linen. I, therefore, seated my.sclf before a good fire, and un- dressed my children; after which, wo laid ourselves down together upon some straw. I asked General Phillips.* who came up to where we were, why we did not continue our retreat while there was yet time, as my husband had pledged himself to cover it, and bring the army through ? ''Poor woman," an- swered he, "I am amazed at you! completely wet through, have you still the courage to wish to go further in this weather 1 Would that you were only our commanding general ! He halts because he is tired, and intends to spend the night here and give us a supper." In this latter achievement, especially, General Burgoyne was very fond of indulging. lie spent half the nights in singing and drinking, and amusing himself with the wife of a commissary, who was his mistress, and who, as well as he, loved champagne. | On the 10th, at seven o'clock iu the morning, I drank some * Ociioral I'liilliiJK, who i« rtcwciilicd by hi^- (•iiiitcinpornru'n iiii an •• lioiionililo. just. iiiKl ui)i-if,'lit man," was an ohl and intimate rricnil (ifCionoi'al Uicilosol. witli wlioiu ho had fotijjht on tin; side of tlie allies in the Seven Years" war,' + •• While the army were siitleriiif,' from cold and hiin^'er. and every one was look- inj; forward to the immediate future with apprehension, Sehnyler's house was ilhiminatod, and rung with Hinginjr, laui,'hter, and the jiniilinu; of <;lasses. There Bnrgoync was i^ittint;. with some merry companions, at a dainty siipjier, while the chumpai,'ne was flowinj,'. Near liim sat the lieautifiil wife of an Englisli commis- sary, hiH mistress. Great as the calamity was, the Irivoloiis j;eneral still kejjt up his orgies, 8ome were of opinion that he had made that Ine.Kciisahle stand, merely for the sake of pftssinij a merry night, I{io(U'S(^l thought it iiiciinilient on him to remind Hiirgoync of tlie danger of the halt, hiit the latter returned all sorts of eva- sive ausweru,"— The Geitmin Auxiliaries in America. I f '*h. 12G /.KTTK/fs A.\/) ./oru.y.iLs tea by way of rcfrcshiiieiit ; and wo now liopcd IVoui one inoinent to another, tliat at last we would again pit under way. Gene- ral Huri^oyne, in order to cover our retreat, caused the beautiful houses and mills at Saratoga, belonging to Oeneral Schuyler, to be burned. An English officer brought some excellent broth, which he shared with me, as I was not able to refuse his urgent entreaties. Thereupon we set out upon our march, but only as far as another place not far from where we had started. The greatest misery and the iitmost disorder prevailed in the army.* The commissaries had forgotten to distribute provisions among tlie troops. There were cattle enough, bat not one had been killed. 3Iore than thirty officers came to mc, who could endure luingcr no longer. I had coffee and tea made for them, and divided among them all the provisions with which my carriage was constantly filled; for we had a cook who, although an arrant knave, was fruitful in all expedients, and often in the night crossed small rivers, in order to steal from the country people, sheep, poultry and pigs. He would then charge us a high price for them — a circumstance, however, that we only learned a long time afterward. At last my provisions were exhausted, and in despair at not being able to bo of any further help, I called to me Adjutant Oeneral Patterson, f who hap- pened at that moment to be passing by, and said to him pas- sionately : " Come and see for yourself these officers, who have been wounded in the common cause, and who now are in want of every thing, because they do not receive that which is due them. It is, therefore, your duty to make a representation of this to the general." At this he was deeply moved, and the result was, that, a quarter of an hour afterward. General Kurgoyne came to me himself and thanked me very pathetically for hav- * Ooneral Wilkinson, who lind llio jirivilose of knowing Madame Ricdescl per- sonally, calls lier tho "amialilo. tlic acconiiilislicd. and dJL'niflod liaroncss." "T liavi' more lliaii onci'."" mivs he. " seen lii-v i-liamiiii:: l)liic eyes licdrwcd with li'aiH at the recital oC her i*iifVcriiii.'s."" t Sec note on i)rtj;e I'iJ. OF Mils. CESFUM niF.DF.sEl. y>*i \\v^ reminded him of his duty. lie added, moreover, that a {■eiieral was much to be pitied wlien lie was not properly served nor iiis commands obeyed. I replied, that T hefr.U'cd his pardon for bavin-,' meddled with thinjis wliieh, 1 well knew, a woman had no business with, but that it was impossible to keep silent, when I saw so many brave men in want of every thing, and had notbinj-- more to give them. Thereupon lie thanked me once more (althougli I believe that in his lieart he has never forgiven me thi>j lashing), and went from me to the officers, and said to them, that he was very sorry for wliat had happened, but he had now through an order remedied every thing, but why had they not come to him as liis cook stood always at their service. They answered that Englisli officers were not accustomed to ■ visit tlie kitchen of their general, and that they had received any morsel from me with pleasure, as they were convinced I had given it to them directly from my heart. He then gave the most express orders that the provisions should be properly distributed. This only hindered us anew, besides not in the least bettering our situation. The general seated himself at table, and the liorses were harnessed to our calashes ready for departure. The whole army clamored for a retreat, and my husband promised to make it possible, provided only that no time was lost. But General Hurgoyne, to whom an order had been promised if he brought about a junction with the army of General Howe, could not determine upon this course, and lost every thing by his loitering. About two o'clock in the after- noon, the firing of cannon and small arms was again heard, and all was alarm and confusion. My husband sent me a mes.sa"e telling me to betake myself forthwith into a house which was • not far from there. I seated myself in the calash with my children, and had scarcely driven up to the house, when I saw on the opposite side of the Hudson river, five or six men with guns, which were aimed at us. Almost involuntarily I threw the children on the bottom of the calash and myself over them. At the same instant the churls fired, and shattered the arm of '*' 12S I.ETTKIts AM) .iDlltSM.s a pour Kn^lisli soklior beliiiid us. who was already wounded, uiid Wiis also on tlio point of retreating' into the house. Imme- diately after our arrival a friuhtl'iil cannonade bej;an, j)rineii)ally direeled against tlie house in whieh we had soujj;ht shelter, probably because the enemy believed, from seeing so many people floekiiig nround it, that all the generals made it their head-quarters. Alas I it harbored none but wounded soldiers, or women ! \\c were finally obliged to take refuge in a cellar, in which I laid myself down in a cornIr. Vorsten. the l)ublisher of the former's beautitul book of Tin Ifiidsim. The house and cellar were sketched by Mr. I.ossinir on the spot, befure they were allowed by the farmers in the vicinity to yo to ruin. r WKf^tmilm^^^^^^^'^ rivHiint (1S(m) appi'urancc nl' tlio limisc. in tlii! culliir ol' wlilcli, Mrd. Uledi'91'1 stayed duriii!,' I In- (.'aniuniade. im^^ *) The Cellar. 1 •if. .. it*. If'' 'l iir y/.'s. i;F\h'i!\i, iiih:i>h:sh:!.. li':> rofuj,'o. It ciin.sisti'd df du'.'c licuutit'iil cellars, splcmlidly arcluMl. I |ini|)(is((l tliat tlif imist (laii^cniiislv wimumIciI of fho (iflicdrM slidiild lie linniulit iiitd (tiic nf tlu'iii ; tliat, the wimcii sliould remain in aiicitlit-r; and that all tlio rest should stay in the third, whieh was nearest the entrunee. I had Just ^^liven th(> cellars a ;:oiid s\vee](inu, and had I'mniuated them hysprink- linj; vinegar uu biirnin>; coals, and ea(di one had I'oiiiid his place prepared ibr him — when ii fresh and terrihlt; cannonade threw us all once more into alarm. .Many jpcrsons. who had no riulit to eoiiu) in, threw themselves ai^ainst fhi; door. .My children were already under the cellar st(>ps. and we would all have ])een crushed, if (iod had not j;iven me strenj:tli to place iny.sclf before the door, and with e.vtended arms prevent all from coming in ; otherwise every one of us would have lieeii •severely injured. Kleven cannon halls went throu;;h the house, and we could plainly hear them rollinjr over (Uir he.-ids. One poor soldier, whose leg they were about to amputate, having been laid upon a tabic for thib purpose, had the other leg taken off by another cannon ball, in the very middle of the operation.* His comrades all ran off, and when they again came back they found him in one corner of the room, where he had rolled in his anguish, scarcely breathing. I was nnu-e dead than alive, though not so much on account of our own danger, as for that which envelo))ed my husband, who, however, fre(|uently sent to see bow I was getting ahmg, and to tell me that he was still safe. The wife of Major TIarnage, a Madame Reynels, the wife of the good lieuten;int who the day previous had so kindly shared bis broth with me, thewMi'e of the connnissary, and myself, were the only ladies who were with the urmy.f We sat together * This nnfm'tiiiiate mnii was a Hritish siii'in'oii by tin' luiiiir iif .Idiics. Tin' can noil hall I'lilcrt'd tlio northeast corner of the wall, and the hole was still visihie until tlie hoiiso wan allowed to I'all to decay, u lew years since. I Lady Harriet Ackland, It will be recollected, had fjone to the American camp to nurse licr husband. 17 ^►i; 180 LKTTIilts A.y/j .lalliXALS bewailing our fnte, when one came in, upon which they all bcjj^an whimpering, looking at the same time exceedingly sad. I noticed this, and also that they cast silent glances toward me. This awakened in my mind the dreadful thought that my hus- band had been killed. I shrieked aloud, but they assured me that this was not so, at the same time intimating to me by signs, that it was the lieutenant — the husband of our companion — who had met with misfortune. A moment after she was called out. Ilcr husband was not yet dead, but a cannon ball had taken oft" his arm close to the shoulder. During the whole night we heard his moans, which resounded fearfully througli the vaulted cellars. The poor man died toward morning. We spent the remainder of this night in the same way as the former ones. In the mean time my husband came to visit me, which lightened my anxiety and gave me fresh courage. On the fol- lowing morning, however, we got things better regulated. Major llarnage, his wife, and Mrs. lleynels, made a little room in a corner, by hanging curtains from the ceiling. They wished to fix up for me another corner in the same manner, but I pre- ferred to remain near the door, so that in case of fire I could rush out from the room. I had some straw brought in and laid my bed upon it, where I slept with my children — my maids sleeping not far from us. Directly opposite us three English officers were (juartercd — wounded, it is true, but, nevertheless, resolved not to be left behind in case of a retreat. One of these was a Captain Green, aid-de-camp of (Jeneral Phillips, a very valuable and agreeable man. All three assured me, upon their oaths, that in case of a hasty retreat, they would not leave me, but would each take one of my children upon his horse. For myself, one of my husband's horses constantly stood saddled and in readiness. Often my hu.sband wished to withdraw me from danger by sending me to the Americans; but I remon- strated with him on the ground, that to be with people whom I ■\vould be obliged to treat with courtesy, while, perhaps, my husband was being killed by them, would be even yet more OF MUS. HKXEIIAL KIEDESKL. 131 painful than all I was now forced to suffer. He promised nie, therefore, that I should henceforward follow the army. Never- tlieless, I was often in the nij^jht filled with anxiety lest he should march away. At such times, I have crept out of my cellar to re- assure myself, and if I saw the troops lying around the fires (for the nights were already cold), I would return and sleep quietly. The articles which had been intrusted to me caused me much uneasiness. I had fastened them inside of my corsets, as I was in constant terror lest I should lose some of then', and I resolved in future never to undertake such a commission again. On the third day, I found an opportunity for the first time to change my linen, as my companions had the courtesy to give up to me a little corner — the three wounded officers, meanwhile, standing guard not far off. One of these gentlemen could imitate very naturally the bellowing of a cow, and the bleating of a calf; and if my little daughter Frederica, cried during the night, he would mimic these animals, and she would at once become still, at which we all laughed heartily. Our cook saw to our meals, but we were in want of water ; and in order to queuch thir.st, I was often obliged to drink wine, and give it, also, to the children. It was, moreover, the only thing that n-.y husband could take, which fact so worked upon our faithful uockcl, that he said to me onff day, " I fear that till;, guic"' ,; H-inks so much wine, because he dreads falling >uto cap^ivit}, and is therefore weary of life." The continual di iu^ in which my husband was enconipasse(^. was a constant source of Hnxiety to me. 1 was the only one of all the women, whose husband had not been killed or ,, '1, and I often said tc myself — especially since my husband was phiced in such great danger day and pight — " Shall I be the only fortu- nate one?" lie never came into the tent at night; but lay outside by the watch-fires. Tlis a'onc was sufficient to have caused his death, as the nighta A^ere damp and cold. As the great scarcity of v/ntm' contuiuoc', we at last found a Holdier's wife who had fhe cearage lo bring water I'rom the "*••. 182 LETTERS AND JOrJiX^^LS river, for no one else would undertake it, as the enemy shot at the head of every man who approached the river. This woman, however, they never molested ; and they told us afterward, that they spared her on account of her sex. I endeavored to divert my mind from my troubles, by con- stantly busying- myself with the wounded. I made them tea and .coffee, and received in return a thousand benedictions. Often, also, I shared my noonday meal with them. One day a Canadian officer came into our cellar, who could scarcely s md up. We at last got it out of him, that he was almost dead with hunger. I considered myself very fortunate to have it in my power to offer him my mess. This gave him renewed strength, and gained for me his friendship. Afterward, upon our return to Canada, I learned to know his family. One of our greatest annoyances was the stench of the wounds when they began to suppurate. One day I undertook the care of Major Plumpfield,* adjutant of General Phillips, through both of whose cheeks a small musket ball had passed, shattering his teeth and grazing his tongue. lie could hold notliing whatever in his mouth. The matter from the wound almost choked him, and he was unable to take any other nourishment, except a little broth, or something li(juid. We -had Rhine wine. I gave him a bottle of it, in hopes that the acidity of the wine would cleanse his wound. lie kept some continually in his mouth; and that alone acted so beneficially that he became cured, and I again accjuired one more friend. Thus, in the midst of my hours of care and suffering, I derived a joyful satisfaction, which made nie very happy. On one of these sorrowful days, General Phillips, having expressed a desire to visit mc, accompanied my husband, who, at the risk of his own life, came once or twice daily to see me. i * Prnbnbly ( 'iipt.ltn Tliomas Hlomclk'ld. This ofKriT. m-conlinsr to (ii'iionil Wil- kiiisun. WHS, ill l.sKi, moinbi'r ul' iiiuliimuMit lor I'lymoiilli, major gont'iiil in tlie unuy, liciiK'Uiiut coloiii'l of tlie royal artillery, ihicl' t'i|Ui.'rry, and marshal to the king. OF MUH. GEN En At ItlEDEHEL. i;i3 He saw our situation, and heard me earnestly beg my husband not to leave me behind in case of a hasty retreat. Then, as he marked my great reluctance to fall into the hands of the Ameri- cans, he spoke in my behalf; and as he was going away he said to my husbaud, "No! not for ten thousand guineas would I come here again, for my heart is entirely, entirely broken !" Not all of those, however, who were with us deserved our compassion. There were, also, poltroons in our little company, who ought not to have remained in the cellar, and who after- wards, when we became prisoners, took their places in the ranks and could parade perfectly well. In this horrible situation wc remained six days. Finally, they spoke of capitulatiisg, as by temporizing for so long a time, our retreat had been cut oflF. A cessation of hostilities took place, and my husband, who was thoroughly worn out, was able, for the first time in a long while, to lie down upon a bed. In order that his rest might not be in the least disturbed, I had a good bed made up for him in a little room; while I, with my children and both my maids, laid down in a little parlor close by. But about one o'clock in the night, some one came and asked to speak to him. It was with the greatest reluctance that I found myself obliged to awaken bin). I observed that the message did not please him, as he immediately sent the man back to head-quarters, and laid him- self down again considerably out of humor. Soon after this, (jeneral Burgoyne requested the presence of all the generals and staff officers at a couucilof-war, which was to be held early the next morning; in which he proposed to break the capitu- lation, already made with the enemy, in conse([uence of some false information just received. It was, however, finally de- cided, that this was neither practicable nor advisable; and this was fortunate for us, as the Americans said to us afterwards, that had the capitulation been broken we all would have been massacred ; which they could have done the more easily, as wc were not over four or five thousand men strong, and had given them time to bring together more thau twenty thousand. 'V» 184 LETTERS AXD JOUIiXALS On the luornint;^ of the IGth of October, my husband was again obliged to go to liis post, and I once more into my celhir. On this day, a large amount of fresh meat was distributed among the officers, who, up to this time, had received only salted provisions, which had exceedingly aggravated the wounds of th. .,,en. The good woman who constantly supplied us with water, - ^ > s capital soup from the fresh moat. I had lost all appc.iti iid had the whole time taken nothing but crusts of bread dipji. ' "n wine. The wounded officers, my companions in misfortune, cut oflF the best piece of the beef and presented it to me, with a plate of soup. I said to them that T was not able to eat any thing, but as they saw that it was absolutely neces- sary I should take some nourishment, they declared that they themselves would not touch a morsel until I had given them the satisfaction of taking some. I could not longer withstand their friendly entreaties, upon which they assured mo that it made them very happy to be able to ofter me the first good thing which they themselves enjoyed. On the 17th of October the capitulation was consummated. The generals waited upon the American general-in-chief, (jlates, and the troops laid down their arms, and surrendered them- selves jirisoners of war. Now the good woman, who had brought us water at the risk of her life, received the reward of her ser- vices. Every one threw a whole handful of money into her apron, and she received altogether over twenty guineas. At such a moment, the heart seems to be specially susceptible to feelings of gratitude. At last, my husband sent to me a groom with a message that I should come to him with our children. T, therefore, again seated myself in my dear calash ; and, in the passage through the American camp, I observed, with great satisfaction, that no one cast at us scornful glances. On the contrary, they all greeted me, even showing compassion on their countenances at seeing a moth.er with her little children in such a situation. I confess that I feared to come into the enemy's camp, as the ttF MliS. (IKSEKAL llIh:i>E.i)ei' in celc- bratinii dl the birthday ol'my husband. I had invited to it all tho {"CiieraLs and nthcers. Tlie ( 'arter.>*, uIho, were there. Gene- ral IJnruoyno sent an e.\(;use iii'ter he had made us wait till oi^ht o'clock in the eviuiinj;. ' lie invariably excused liiinseli', on various pretenses, I'roiii coniing to see us, until his dc|iai'turo for J'liiiiiand, when he came and made me ii great many apolo- gici<, but to which I made no other answer than that I should be extremely sorry it' he had •;t)ne out of liis way on our account. \Vc danced considerably, and our cook jireparcd us a magnilicent supper of more than eighty covers. Moreover, luir court-yard and garden wt'rc illuminated. As the birthday of tlie king of England came upon the following day, which was the fuurtii, it was resolved that we would not se])aratc until his health had been drank; which was done with the most hearty attachment to his person and his interests. Never, I believe, has •• (iod save the King" been sung with more enthusiasm or more genuine good will. Kveu both my oldest little (hiughters were there, liavingstaid up to see the illumination. All eyes were full of tears; and it seemed as if every one present was proud to have the spirit to venture to do this in the midst of our enemies. Kven the Carters could not shut their hearts against us. As soon as the company separated, we perceived that the whole house was surrounded * Thin Amei'lcnii niamicr DrniDviiii.' Iioiisos is as unkiKiwii tn the Kiif.'lish nt llio present (lay nn It was to Mrs. Hiedcsel almost a (•cntllfy since. A ireiitlenian last year dsillil. eliaiiciiii.; tii lie in a (•iinipaiiyorintelliL'enl and educated Kiii,'lisli iKuiiiIe, in Kntrland. alluded, in the eoiirseof cdnvei-sation. to this ciistoni. iii>vt>\i hastily eninini;' from all direction hy whicdi means so many jKioplo came toi^ether so soon th.it it would have been a very difficult thinj^ to effect a landinji'. We lived very happily and content^ us on the wjiy. The confidingmanner of the child touched hini, and he gave his promise and faithfully kept it. I traveled always with the army, and often over almost impassable roads.* The captain, who was very strong and always at hand, sprang from his horse at every dangccous place, and held our wagon. Our old yager, Rockel, who was with me and was much delighted at this assistance, as he was very much fatigued, often sat quietly on his box and contented himself with crying, " Captain ! " Instantly he wa" down from his horse. I did not like him to use such * A u'linipsc (if that which Mrs. Riodoiid endured on this journey is afforded us by the folh)\vinu' fjraphic description of one scone on the march, from tlie diary of one of tlie (ieruian otHcers wlio was with Mrs. Kiedesd and tlie troops at tlie time : "Tlie roads were covered l)y a glazeil frost ; and a cold and jjierciuij wind drove tlie snow and rain into tlie faces of the marcliinsj; troops. IJeinj,' very much weak- ened by their inevions privations, they were unable to reach their designated quarters for the night, and therefore halted at midniglit in a wood, wliere they bivouacked in tlieir drenched clothes, without even straw upon which to lie down. It was an awful night of storm and tempest. N'akcd rocks, lik.jso many iihaiitonis, pointed towards tlie heavens ; mountain streams dashed unceasingly over miglity pieces of rock; and in the ploughed up ravines stood lofty, dark lir.-'. in whose tops the wind whistled dismally. The prisoners endeavored to shelter tlicmsches as well as they could, from the blowing gale and the falling snow and rain, tiy taking refuge in the deep crevices of the rocks and the dense tliickets."' 1!> 146 LETTERS AND JOVSNALS freedom ; but it amused tlie good captain so much that he begged me not to notice it. I had always provisions with me, but carried them in a second, small wagon. As this could not go as fast as we, I was often in want of every thing. Once, when we were passing a t'>wu called Hertford,* where we made a halt, which, by the wa appened every fourth day, we met General La Fayette, whom my hus- band invited to dinner, as otherwise he would have been unable to find any thing to eat. This placed me in rather an awkward dilemma, as I knew that he loved a good dinner. Finally, however, I managed to glean from what provisions 1 had on hand enough to make him a very respectable dinner. He was so polite and agreeable that he pleased us all very much. He had many Americans in his train, who were ready to leap out of their skin for vexation, at hearing us speak constantly in French. Perhaps they feared, on seeing us on such a friendly footing with him, that we would be able to alienate him from their cause, or that he would confide things to us that we ought not to know. He spoke much of England, and of the kindness which the king had shown him in having had all objects of interest shown to him. I could not keep myself from asking him how he could find it in his heart to accept so many marks of kindness from the king, when he was on the point of depart- ing in order to fight against him. Upon this observation of mine he appeared somewhat ashamed, and answered me, " It is true that such a thought passed through my mind one day, when the king oflered to show me his fleet. I answered that I hoped to see it some day; and then quietly retired, in order to escape from the embarrassment of being obliged to decline, point blank, the ofler, should it be repeated." Some, however, charged him with being a 'spy in England, npon which he immediately went to America. One day we came to a pretty little place, but our supply ♦Hartford, Conn. OF MBS. GKNEliAL RIEDEHEL. 147 wagon not having been able to follow us, we could not endure our hunger longer. Observing a quantity of butcher's meat in the house in which we put up, 1 begged the hostess to let nie have some. >' I have," answered she, " several different kinds. There ia beef, veal, and mutton." My mouth already watered at the prospect. " Let me have some," I said, " I will pay you well for it " Snapping her fingers almost under my very nose, she replied, " You shall not have a morsel of it. Why have you come out of your land to kill us, and waste our goods and possessions? Now you are our prisoners; it is, therefore, our turn to torment you." " See," rejoined I, " these poor children, they are almost dead with hunger." She remained* inflexible. But when, finally, my tliree and a half year old little daughter, Caroline, came up to her, seized her by the hand, and said to her in English, " Good woman, T am very hungry ! " She could not longer withstand her : she took her in a room and gave her an egg. "No," said the good little child, " I have still two sisters." At this the woman was touched, and gave her three eggs, saying, « I am just as angry as ever, but I cannot withstand the child." She then became more gentle, and offered me bread and milk. I made tea for ourselves. The woman eyed us longingly, for the Americans love it very much; but they had resolved to drink it no longer, as the famous duty on the tea had occasioned the war. I offered her a cup, and poured out for her a saucer of tea This mollified her comp-letely, and she begged me to follow her into the kitchen, where I found the husband gnawing at a pig's tail, while his wife, to my great satisfaction, brought out of the cellar a basket of potatoes. When she came back he reached out to her his tit-bit. She ate some of it, and gave it back to him in a little while, when he again began to feast upon it. I saw this singular mutual entertainment with amazement and disgust; but he believed that hunger made me begrudge it him, and he reached out to me the already thoroughly gnawed tail. What should I do? Throw it away, and not only injure his ■^H- :*•;! \T "•'.I'iim >.' 148 LEI'TKIIS AXl) JOUnXALS I' feelings, but lose my loved basket of potatoes ! I accordingly took it, pretended to eat it, and quietly threw it into the fire. We had now made our entire peace with them. They gave mc my potatoes, and I made a good supper off them, with excellent butter. But besides this, they moved us into three pretty rooms with good beds. The next morning we again set out on our journey, and still, on every hand, drew upon us the curiosity of the inhabitants. Upon reaching the bank of the Hudson river,* we were quar- tered at the house of a boatman, where we were given, as a special mark of favor, a half-finished room without windows. We hung our bed clothes before them, and slept upon some straw, as our baggage wagon was broken, and we had, therefore, no beds. In consequence of this accident, also, we had, unfor- tunately, neither coff'ce, nor tea, nor sugar, -vhich had often, upon this journey constituted our only refreshment. Our landlady, a perfect fury, finally allowed us, on the following morning, when our things had arrived, to breakfast in her room, as it was in the month of December, and we could not make a fire in our room. ]Jut we were unable to induce her to let us have a table to ourselves ; and we were not once permitted to sit down to hers, until she, with her children and servants, had finished breakfast, which consisted of what had been left * Mr?. Kii'rtesel and the troopn struck tlic Hudson nt Fislikill. WluMi tlicy ar- rivod aX that i)lacc, Wasliiiigloii, on liorsoback, attcndod by his staft', saw them march by. A journal of a IJrunswick ollUcr, HiK'akin}; of the American commander- in-cliief on tliis occasion, naively says : — •' He reviewed all our divisions, and was very polite to our ortieers. All that, in ffcncral. can be said on the sulyect of the said general amounts to this; that it is a pity, a man of his character and talents is a rel)el to his kins,'.'' Mrs. Kiedcsel and the first division of the troops reached Lancaster in the latter part of December. The credulous inhabitants of that town had been hoa.Ked with tlie story, that the kin;.' of Kujiland had made a present of the worthy town of Lan- caster to CJeneral Uiedesel, to reward liini for his services, and that the latter had now come to take possession of the place with liis troops. The irritati(ni of the l)eople, accordin<;ly, was so roused against the (ieruian general, that serious conse- (piences were at first feared: and it was a long time l)efore tlieycoidd be convinced of tiie falsity of tlie report. OF MliS. O EN Eli A L RIEDEfiEL. 149 over from the evening meal, viz : cabbage, liam, and the like, with coffee and coarse sugar. They left us a filthy table, which we were first obliged to clean before we could use it. And yet they insisted that we should put every thing in order, and re- place the cups and saucers in a perfectly clean condition ! At the least remonstrance they pointed us to the door. She did all this to torment us, for she was an anti-royalist. Unfortu- nately, a storm, with adverse winds, came up, so that we, as the boatman assured us, could not cross the river without danger. The wicked woman insisted, notwithstanding, that we should go ; and it was only after many entreaties, that we obtained permission to remain two days longer. On the third day, the husband, with a perplexed air, came and announced to u£ that we must go. I entreated him to think of our danger, and at least to accompany us, as I should then have more courage to attempt the passage over. lie promised to take us over him- self; and we embarked upon a little boat with one sail; but as he shoved it from the land, our man sprang up and out of the boat, and left us only one sailor, who did not understand very well how to guide the tiller. We were, therefore, on acco\int of his unskillfulness, and the contrary winds, driven hither and thither in the river for more than five hours, until, at last after a thou- sand anxieties, we landed upon the opposite shore. Even then we were still obliged to wade up to the knees through a morass, till we came to the house of Colonel llorbovn * — a very rich man, where we were to lodge. f ♦Probably Osborn. t Mi>. Uit'di'scl (loos not ('xa!.'.i.'i'nil« Iho peril of lior piisfafro across tlio Hudson in this storm; and knowini,' men at the lime were surprised that she escaped wilhonl accident. Indeed, the treatment she received from the inhabitants of tlu; towns throui,'h whidi slie passed on this jonrinn-. was siieli as to excite the indlsna- tion of Colonel Troup, who luid been detailed to accompany the party to its ilestination. In a letter to (ieneral (iates. dated at Sussex Court House. January 3d, I'Tlt, Colonel Troup writes: •■ You canmit inia;.'ini' wiiat dillleulties we liad to overcome on our marcli hither. The jn'ople of almost every house wliere we stopped, seemed to deli^dil in reiulerini.' otu' slay with theui as uni)leasant as they possibly could, 1 am sorry to add, lluil lliey behaved very iniproi)eriy to Lady '"d*- / : , w 160 LETTERS AND JOVRXALS In that place, I had a small room, it is true, but a good one, for niyscU", husband, children, and both my maids; in which, however, the adjutants had to take breakfast, dinner and tea. As I wished to change my stockings on account of my feet being completely soaked, I begged our officers to go out long enough for mc to do this. In the meantime they went into the kitchen to warm themselves, and while there, suddenly the host came in, took them by the arms, ex- claiming at the same time, " Here, you nasty royalists! ia it not enough that I harbor you ; can you not sometimes leave me in peace ?" He had just come in from the field ; and in his coarse cloth garments, his long beard, 'snd his dirty linen, looked so like a bear, that we trembled before him. His wife, however, was kind. On the following day, which was Sunday, she begged me to drink coft'ee with her after dinner. Scarcely had I seated myself, when the husband entered looking much more respectable, as he had shaved himself, and put on his Sunday linen. As I could not yet forget the scene of the day before, I got up and wished to leave the room. But he shut the door and asked me, " Are you afraid of mc ? " " No," answered I, " T am afraid of no one, not even the devil, whom you so resem- bled yesterday." " But to-day," replied he, " 1 look much Ricdescl. They coiilil not disiiiisfi from their miiidi* the cruelty with which onr prisoners have been treated. I'art of tlieni were nfraid of biding plundered, otliers of being murdered l)y lis. A young woman, wlio liad been married only shortly before, wept continually, crying and gnashing her teeth for almost two hours running, merely because I asked her to let Lady Kiedesel slee]> in her chamber, where she kept some gowns, petticoats, i)ots. and the like. The rudeness with which they treated ns, of every degree and kind, was carried to such a point, that since my departure from Cambiidge, I have always stood in the greatest fear. Lady Kiedesel, the general and his family, have testitled to me, in every way, their esteem and kindness. A few minutes ago. they and the children, before setting out for Easton, were in the best state of health." And in another letter to tiates, shortly after, he writes : " The army has made a stand at Middlebrook ; and the; otticer, who was dispatched by Lord Sterling to attend Lady Kiedesel to Virginia, assures me that they are well salistled with their lodgings, In spite of his assurances, however. I cannot disengage myself from my private opinion, which, I am persuaded, does not much difl'er from yours." OF MliS. GENERAL RIEDESEL. 151 bettor." " Yes," said I, " ncvertlieless, I desire to got out of the way of f|fther discourtesies." 3Iy demeanor, instead of vexing, pleased him, He took me by the hand, and urged me to sit down again in my chair. " I am not so bad as you think," said he, "you please me, and if I had no wife I would marry you." " But," rejoined I, " how do you know that I would have you ? " " That," said he, " we should soon see. I am very rich; the whole landscape, as far as you can see, is mine, my wife is already old ; 1 think, therefore, you had better remain here." From this moment, I could have h?d every thing that the house afforded ; for the good wife was deligi, having, on our journey, passed throuj^h the pro- vinces of Connecticut, New York, Now Jersey, Pennsylvania and Maryland, and having traveled in twelve weeks, six hundred and seveuty-eight Knglish miles. The house in which we lived, and the entire estate, belonged to an Italian,* who, as ho was to be absent for some time, gave it up to us. We looked forward longingly to the, departure of himself, wife and daughter, for not only was the house small, but more than all, the scarcity of provisions seemed to trouble them — a circumslanco which caused the husband to exercise a kin dof guardianshij) over us. Tlius, when he had a ram killed, he gave us on the first day, nothing more tlian the head, the neck, and the giblets, although I repre- sented to him that more than twenty persons wore to nuike a meal off them. He assured mo that a right good soup might bo made ol' these articles, and gave us besides, two heads of cabbage, with which, and half of a putrid ham, wo were obliged to be satisfied. The troops had been expected earlier, and accordingly many oxen and swine had been killed for food; and, as salt was very scarce, they cut th(; meat into ijuarters, placed it in a vault in the earth, and scattered between the pieces ashes instead of salt which answered equally as well. But as in this part of the country, the sun, even in January, often shines out very warm, all the top layers were spoiled. The meat was brought to us on a wheel-barrow ; but we were often obliged to throw the whole of it away, although sometimes we could wash it, in which case wo salted and hung it up in smoke. The day of our arrival, when I had scarcely enough for dinner to satisfy us alone, I saw with tears, eight of our officers ride up just before dinner. What * The name of this ItiiUnn is siippoiti'd tn Imvo l)euu .Muz/.ui. h OF MRS. iiESKUM. lilKDh'SKL. inr) cdulJ wo d(» butslmre with tlioni tlie little wo Imd '( Tlu; troops wore Htiitii)rie(l at Oharlottsvillo, two hours ride from us. To roaeli them we wore obli,nod to j^o throuuli a very beaiitifiil piece of woods. At (irst they endured many privations. They occu- pied hlock-hou.scs, which, however, wore without plaster, and des- titute of doors and windows, so tliat tlicy were very cold inside. They worked, however, with great industry to build them.selves better dwellings; and, in a short time, I saw a pretty little town spring up. Behind each barrack, they laid out gardens and constructed pretty little inclosnrcs Ibr poultry. Afterwards, when the old provisions were consumed, tliey received fresh meat and meal enough to uiako bread. As this hitter was Indian meal, it served them for omelets and dumplings ; so that now they were in want of nothing but money. Very little of this latter commodity was sent to them by the English, and it was diffi- cult sometimes to obtain credit — a circumstance whicli often- times gave great, inconvenience to the common soldiers. In the middle of tlie month of February tlie fruit trees, which were already in blos,som, were all killed by the night-frost. As .soon as the temperature of the air would allow, wo had the garden and tlie field tilled and planted; and, as our landlord went oft' three weeks after, we took possession of every thing — swine, wild turkeys, etc. Some of the latter weighed over fifty pounds, and were perfectly tame ; but when spring came, they all flow off to hatch their eggs, which they had laid in the forests. We gave them up for lost, but they all came back and brought with them a great number of young ones. We had built for us a largo house, with a groat drawing-ro(mi in the centre, and Uj)on each side two rooms which cost my husband one hundred guineas. It was exceedingly pretty. Many of the negroes brought us every thing that we needed, in the sliape of poultry and vegetables. Every week. General Phillips and ourselves killed, by turns, an ox and two pigs. Very soon we wanted nothing. ]5ut tlie heat bothered us very much in .summer ; and we lived in constant terror of ruttle- •,ii". II I 15G LETTERS AX/) ,1 or II \ Ms Hiiukes. Tlio friiitH a\m wiiro uatoii into, liy tliree kiiula til' ticks.* Wo had, umrcovcr, vory heavy thiiiiclor wtoriiiH, hiHtiii(j; for fivf (ir nix days at a tiiiio, and ariMiinjmiiu'd Ity tt'iiijichts whiuli toru iqi l>y tlic mots inoro tliaii oiio limidiod triHi.s in onr vicinity. Tiie tires stdud very hionely, and their nidts were liglitly covered, uh the stronj;' wimls Mew away t'niin tiieni the eartli, wiiicli was inustly j^aiid. Hesidcs all this, the negroes and herdsmen often made fires under the trees, for whieh they cared nothing. IJy reason of this the trees were more easily blown down. Often wliole foreats wore set on tire, and burned down in order to obtain new land. At night, we were obliged to leave our windows open, that we might be able to draw in fresh air, and sleep. Thereupon, three or four nasty bats, three times as largo as with us, would wake us up, and wo were ob- liged to spend half the night in chasing them around the room. On one occasion a jier.xon came in the night to my husband, to tell him that the stable, whieh was a new one, was in danger of being blown down by the wind. Every one ran out to prop it up, except myself, who was left alone with my children, and women servants. The wind continually grew stronger. A great piece of the chimney fell into the room; tlie whole house rocked ; and I remained half the niiiht in the greatest fear of beiny, killed by a fragment. Wo were often frightened in this imuinor. We had no chairs to sit on, only round blocks, which we also used for a table, laying boards upon them, in this manner we lived for three f or four months, ])retty contentedly ; my husband, only, was always sad, and could not at all endure the heat, which * .\ kind of insect wliicli oven now iiill'fts the ccmtli, espodaliy tlii"^"ii' tioii ol'Ivoiitucky. t Mrrt. Ifoidom;! isyet rcmemlxM'pd in Vlrgiiilu. Tradition dcscri !nf5 lit tldn tinu! conHidcriiblL' eiii/ioiiiKi/iif, and a liaiidsomc and lovely l in tlu! cnffravini,' acciimi)anyini: lliir< volnnici. Slic is also I'cporti'd usii. dcrod licrscir an ol)jcct of wonder, in ridintr in lioots, after wlial wasllicn ealle • tin' Kimipean fasliion. Slie was nMdoul)le(lly in advanee of her aije. and l)y keeping licr feet warm and repudiatini; pasteboard soles, sliowed lier slerlfiii; sense. .- lisv- is seen -' ren Oh MHS. liKSKU.iL UIHnKSKl.. 157 stood itt Olio liuii(lr«!tl iiiul tlirou doj^rtioH, niul wiw oxuooiliii^ly ojt- jircssivo. Wo endeavored to cheor him up us nmoli hh poMMible. Ah hooii hm till) V(.',!^t!tiil)Ii!s lieiidii to j^row in our pirdon, lie look consideraljlo rtiitisl'aotion in Ijusyiuj^ liiiiiselt' in pirdening. Hut UH lie would wear no hat on hiw head on account of hiiviug much licachu'ho and its iineoinf'ortalilc feeling, he met witii an acci- dent, which I will prescndy relate, that was the beginning' of my greatest sufferiiigH. I was engaged in pulling to rights our new house and my husband'H room, when I heard a noise out of doors. I ran to the window and saw my hushand being carried into the house by some men. His face was lilue, his hands white, his eyes iixed, and great drops of sweat stood upon his forehead. He had received a sun-stroke. I was more dead than alive ; and the children uttered piercing shrieks. We immedi- ately laid him down, and tore otf all his clothing. Fortunately the surgeon of our regiment, who was already with us, happened at tlio moment to be in, and at once opened a vein. He now reco- vered his speech and told us that as he was walking through the garden, the sun shone down intensely upon his head; and he had been scarcely able to reach the hou.se when his adjutant arrived ; had it not been for this timely aid he would have been killed. My (iod I what would then have beco ne of me and my little child- ren in the midst of captives, so far from home, and in an enemy's land ! Even now my hair stands on end whenever I think of it. As soon as my husband again came to himself, he took me by the hand, and gazed upon me with an affectionate look. One could not but observe that he considered himself very dan- gerously ill. If I went away even for au instant, he became very uneasy and followed me with his eyes. The physician, whom we had summoned, came ; and after we had used all pos- sible care, (xod was finally pleased to preserve for me my beloved husband. 15ut for many years afterward he suffered from pains in the head, and from debility, which made him grieve the more over his situation. The use of a certain bath in A'iryinia, which is called I'lede- 158 LETTEBS AND .Jori{.\AhS rick-spring, was prescribed for liiiu,and we accordingly journeyed thither. 1 believe that lie incr(!»sed his disorder by always wet- ting his head before bathing; and what was still worse was, that in spite of all we could do, his hair would remain damp. His fretfuluess continued and the thought of his imprisonment worried him more than ever. At night he could not sleep. I therefore hit upon the expedient of reading to him in a particu- larly drowsy tone. This was successful, for he always went to sleep. His hands and feet were constantly blue, and cold as ice. When- ever I thought that I might safely venture to lie down, hi.s aii'^uish would invariably wake him up. Every thing irritated him. One day aA^irginian came into my room, and said that he Wfis ?urious to see a German woman, eying me, at the same time, from head to foot. I was delighted at the idea of enjoying my- self over something. Hut when, at his request, I brought him to my husband, the latter was so moved at the idea of his situa- tion compelling him to be gazed upon at the whim of this or that man, that the tears came into his eyes, and I sincerely re- pented of having been so inconsiderate. We made at J"'rederiek-S])ring, the acquaintance of General Washington's family, and also of Madam Garel — !i very lov- able woman — and her husband. She was an ardent American patriot, but reasonable, and we became great friends. She spent most of the forenoons with us. At such times Captain Gcisnnr played the violin and I sang Italian airs, which gave her the greatest delight. One day, while thus engaged, a countryman, from whom wc had endeavored by many kind words to obtain fresh butter, came in upon us. As the Americans, generally, are fond of music, he listened attentively, and when I had finished, asked me to sing it once more. I asked him sportively what he would give nie for it ''. as I did nothing gratis. " Two pounds of butter," he at once answered. The idea pleased nu;, and 1 began to sing. '• IMay auotiier one," said he. as soon as T had finished, " but something lively." At lengtli 1 sang so much, that the next morning, he brought me four or five pounds of fresh butter. OV iUiS. UF.SKUM ItlKDEsEL. 159 He, also, had his wife with him, and entreated me to sing once more. I thus succeeded in winning their aftection ; and after- wards I lacked for nothing. The best of the joke was, that lie actually believed I wished to be paid for my singing, and won- dered njuch when I paid them for the butter which they supposeu they had already sold. The Virginians are generally inert, a fate which they attri- bute to their hot climate; but on the slighest inducement, in a twinkling, they leap up and dance about ; and if a reel — ,an English or a Scotch national dance — is played for them, immedi- ately the men catch hold of the women who then jump up as if they were possessed; but as soon as they are led back to their chairs they sit on them like blocks of wood, llcgardiug the prac- tices of the people in this part of the country, one cannot give a pleasant description. For example, they informed us that two maidens had been got with child by their father; a circumstance, which, it is true, occasioned some talk, but which, nevertheless, remained unpunished. Another man also, who thought his d;.ughter-in-law handsomer than his wife, proposed an e.vcliatigo to his son, who consented, on the condition, that his father should give with the mother, two cows and two horses. The exchange was accordingly made, and the whole afl'air excited no farther comment.* The landed proprietors in A'irginia own many negro slaves, and treat them badly. Many of them are allowed by their mas- ters to run naked until they are fifteen and sixteen years old, and the dre.ss which is then given them, is scarcely worth wear- ing. 'J'he slaves have an overseer who leads them out at day- break into the field.*, where they aie obliged t(j work like beasts * If tlu' sloi'ios which odiiic to us from our wi'slerii froiilior nri' to be believed, euc'h gwdjin are not unei)iiinioii. Xor, indeed, need we i;o to the west for Bueli examples of ijruoraiice. A few months since, a man livim,' in Warren county, New York.nanjed I'eterVrasUee, swapped liis wife for that of auotlier man. irivin>,' a cow to boot : and wlici he was told liy the authorities of tlic town llial sueli a transac- tion was invalid, li^ si'i'med hi^'hly otfended at what lie considered their imperti- nent interference w)th his individual riifhls 1 ■H^' IGO LETTEIl.S AXD JOUIiXALS or receive beatings ; and when thoroughly exhausted and burned by the sun , they come into the house. They are given Indian meal called hominy, which they make into pastry. But often they arc tired and had rather sleep for a couple of hours, when they are again obliged to go to work. They view it as a misfortune to have children, as they in turn will become slaves and wretched men. As they have not the time to cultivate the little land which they have, they possess nothing, and are only able by the sale of poultry to scrape together sufficient money to clothe themselves. Still, there are also good masters, who can be easily told, by their slaves being well clothed and housed. Under such auspices, the negroes are also good servants, and are very faithful and much attached to their masters. That wicked masters have disaffected servants is not to be wondered at. During our sojourn at this bath, my husband received news which gave us all much pleasure; namely, that he and General Phillips, with their adjutants, had permission to go to New York, in order to be exchanged. My husband, upon this, went back to Colle, to make arrangements for the maintenance, in his absence, of the troops, the command of which he handed over to Colonel .Spccht, and to take measures for the sale of our su- perfluous things, and especially, our new house, which we had as yet not lived in — in which situation, indeed, we at various times afterwards found ourselves. We were often troubled in this way; for we would come to a place, expecting to remain for some time, but we would scarcely get our things to rights, at infinite pains, when we would receive an order, bidding us, in- stantly to depart. This time, however, every one was rejoiced. I set out from this bath, in the month of August, 1777, to join my husband in York-town, Pennsylvania. Madame (!arel. the clever woman, whom I have already mentioned, had begged me to visit them at their country seat, in the province of Maryland, in case we should be in the vicinity. I, therefore, determined to do it now. Captain Freeman, one of my husband's English adjutants, remained with us. Captain Edmonston had been ^ ^ OF MltS. (IKXKIIM niEDKsEI.. 161 cxchaiiired through the intercession of his Cather. He was so de- voted to the interests of'uiy husband, and it gave him so much pain to leave liim, that the latter was even obliged to persuade him to retura to England. His departure affected >is deeply, especially when lie said, " T am certain that I shall never see you again." On our journey to the country-scat of Mrs. Ciarel, Captain Freeman saw a black snake — which, liowever, is not danger- ous — licking a frog and swallowing him down. Crying out sportively, " I declare myself the Knight of the I'^rog," he drew his sword, and split the snake open, when lo I the frog hopped out of its stomach, thoroughly alive; at which we all were greatly amazed. Before we arrived, 1 was overturned with my wagon, but without the slightest injury. I had advised Ma- dame Garel of my arrival, and she sent a man on horseback to meet me. After I had passed through a very pretty hamlet, iuhabited by pure negroes — each of whom had his garden, and understood some handicraft — we drove through a large court- yard, to a very beautiful house, where the whole family received us with a joyful welcome. The family consisted of an old latlier- in-law, eighty-four years of age, of a spriglitly humor, and the most extreme neatness, upon whose venerable countenance, ap- peared happy contentment j four perfectly lovely grandchildren ; and their kind, beloved mother, our amiable hostess. We were served upon silver, and entertained, not, it is true, with much di.^play, but with taste. Nothing was wanting for our comfort. iShe said to me that, as she hoped I would remain with her a long time, she had received me as if I belonged to the family. The garden was magniticent ; and, on the following day, she drove us out to show us her vineyard, which was splendid, and disi)layed great taste, in fact exceeding my expectations. l''irst, we went through ii great fruit garden. Then we ascended the vineyard by a winding path, which led up to the toj) of the hill. IJetween every vine, a poplar-rose anir ]iiirfy liouu'Iit a (lUiiiitity of it. Tliure won; also vory clovor eabiiict-inakors, workcrw in stool, and oxooliont sniitlis. Wo had vory luuoh wisliod to sue I'liiladolphia, which is only twolvo or thirtoon niilos I'rom Uothii-honi, and to which place there is a clear, iiood road, liut as this was not allowed to my husband and tlio other gontlonien. and, a,s f wished to share with my beloved liushaiid his joy,s and sorrows, I cheerfully }j;avo it up. While at IJetli- loheni wc often wont to church, and enjoyed the .splendid sinj;- ing. The wife of the minister died while wo were there. We saw her laid out in a se]iarate enclosure, witli bars, waiting for burial; for hero thoy never keep a dead body in the house. Finally, at the end of November, 177!>, we again set out from ]Jothlehom. .My husband, (lOiioral Phiili])S, and their .several aid decamps, had not, indeed, boon exchanged, but pormi.'^sion liad been received for them to go to Now Vork on [)arole. 1 did not wish to call again on the Van Horns, for I despise doul)lo dealing people ; but wo had the fatality of having our wagon break down before their vory door, so that I was forced to tarry with them until the d, image could be repaired. 1 did not, how- ever, remain over night at their liouse; and when thoy again asked tluit we .should recommend them, and assured us of their devotion to the king, in wliose army the head of the family had served as a colonc:!, I answered c(ddly that I believi'd be did not need our rec!i|li. ITT:i. tlic L'dvcrnnicnl liiinsi' iicciiU'iilally ciiii^'lil lliv. So rapid was llic priiL'rcss iil'ilii' ilanu's ilial in a I'cw nionicnls alter tlic alarm was irivcii. a lliiuk <'iiin(l of snidkc and llanio piTvad<'d llic wliolf liniliiinj;. and in less Ijian Iwo luinis ll was cMliicly consniMcd. Kniin lliis dicadlul i(MillaL'iali(jn, inilliini;- in llic huildin;;. rxci'pl a lew arlirli'sol liiniilun'. taken linni one oriiic par- lors was saved. 'I'lie niannerin wiiieli llw lire iiri},'iiiate(l was not diseoveivil. 'I'lie deep snow wliieli covered the idols of the other ImildiiiL's in tlu' eity. ccnitrilinted towards their proleition, anil the lire tlicir six courses, tlieirtluve side ser- vices, and llieir profusion of llsii, llesliaiid fowl ; l)ut at len.utli their resources failed ; many articles of food couhl no louirer i)e olitained, and others were so dear as to ex- haust tlie means of the wealtinest. A turkey was cheap at four dollars, (iood meat could seldom he procured, and ve^'elahles were extravairantly dear. Fifty dollars, says an eye witness, would not feed a IHniily for two days. Sir Henry Cliuton en- treated tiie farmers in the vicinity to l)rinL! i" provisions, but in vain. Nor was lie more successful in tlie foraiiini,' parties he sent out. At siu'ht of the enemy, the alarm was },'iven. 'I'he farmers of Weslport and Soulliport, of I':iizabelh-lowu and Itahway, hastily buried their corn and oats beneath the snow, and old liimily furni- ture was carried otf at midnii;lit and hidden in tlie depths of the forest. The Itri- tish lorairin!,' parties, accordingly, found tlie harns empty, the cattle driven oil', and tlie farm-houses deserted. In their ra!,'e tlie forai,'er» set tire to the old homesteads, and desolated whole districts -- thus iucreasini; the general misery without accom- plishing tlie least jjood. 22 170 IKTTKIts AM) .lorriXM.n wlioflicr I wua satiBficd with my (|Uurlor8 't My hoiirt wns too full ol' tli!ink('ulii(;,s« Ibr nil tlio kiiidiicHs that had buou shown nil', nut. til jiivo full vent ti) my I'tiidiiiys in this roj^anl ; and I at last oxjiressod tlio wish to know personally my nohlu heno- factor wiio liad treated nie with sn mueli delieatty. He laii;;hed, and just at that moment my husband stepped in and said tn mc, '• That is the man who has shown us so much kindness!" I was so deli;^hted at seeinji him. that I eonld not find words to express my I'eelinj^s. Upon seeinj:,- my emotion the man was very much aiVeeted. [ have invariably received I'rom him the the jireatcst proofs of iiis Iriendship. 'I"he country residence of (lencral Clinton, where we went, was an hour's ride from the city. The grounds were beaut ifid, ns was also the house ; but the hitter was arranjred more for a summer residence, and, as we liad come fliere in the month of Deccndter, we suffered much from the cold. Notwithsfandiuf^' this, however, the inoculation was perfectly successful. Accord- inj:ly, as it was now completed, and we had nothinj!,' more to fear from the infection, we yot ourselves in readiness to return to the city, aniian'iil. T f ■■ OF MliS. aKXaUAL HIKHESEL. 173 IJut I was obli^eJ to open tlic hall with one ni' the geucra!> by u t'oruiai uiiauot. i\Iy situutioa as well as my bashCiiliiess was the oocaijiou of my tluiikii:;^- luysell' very awkwarJ. In order, however, to remove my timidity, tliey all assured me that I did very well, aud must dance ouee more ; aud the result w;ii.s, that 1 daaced several Enj^lish u luces. At sui)per, I was obli<;vd, as I represented the (fueen, to sit undor a canopy, and drink the first toast. I was certainly mucl. touched at all the marks of friendship I received, although extremely tired; still, in order to show my gratitude, I cheer- fully stayed as long as possible, aud remained until two o'clock in the morning. Not only on this oecasiou. but during the whole of my sojourn in this place, I was loaded with kindness; and [ passed the remainder of the winter very pleasantly, with rhc exception of suffering very much from the cold, iis the com- missary had not had a sullieient quantity of wood cut. To save expon.-*!, he had this work done by his negro slaves ; and the winter setting in earlier tlian usual, aud it being impossible, as the river was frozen half over, to bring in wond either by boats or sledues, many of the garrison suffered for fuel. We, indeed, received an order for it; but how did that help the matter since there was no wood to be had '. V\'e weri,-, therefore, often obliged t"': or:'ow wood of General Tryon for Saturday and Sunday, which we .vould return (ui ^londay if we received any. 'i'lic cold was so intense, that I frequently made the children lie in bed in ordi'r to keep th(mi warm. Wood often could not be purchased for money ; and if by chance a little was fir sale, it cost ten pounds by the cord. I have myself pai, sat with the children before the fire-place in which tlie la.st stick was burning, and .said to him, ''Mev,''r before have J been envious, but now the distress and i»aiu which these poor children suffer, make me so; for just now there has come to our very door Jnur wagons filled with wood. How happy would 1 be if I only had some of it ! " Scarcely had I thus f^pokeu, when a servant brought me a message froni Major Brown, stating that he had sent me these loads of wood with his compliments, and begging us to send to him whenever we should again be out of fuel. Imagine my joy, and my eagerness to thank our guardian anucl. 1 had scarcely .seen his lace, as the lyuig-in chamber of milady had been so dark. Home days after I was at a ball wliere he also was expected to be present. Ue had been described to me as a man with a \ery [>romincnt tiu-ncd up no.se. For such a per.son, theiefore. I lookc. MilUri'il t-fVi'ivly in lliul iiakiiuMit wiiiluf ' fiF MRS. (rI-:.\Elt.lL h'lKDKsKL. 175 ho had not been fiMo to go to sleep <|uictly t!i(> whole night, through fear that the dispositions which he hud already made for our relief would not arrive suflieicntly speedy. These '•■ dii-positions " consisted in giving the order tn cut down some of the trees in the great avenue in front of the city; * and when this proceed- ing was objected to on the ground that it would make consider- able damage, he replied, that it was much better to spare a few trees than to have a family, who had served the king with so mucli zeal, suffer from want. He further told me that in future we must, under all circumstances, whenever any thin.; was want- ing that it belonged to the eouunissary to supply, apply directly to him. Tliis actiuaintance was of great advantage to us. .'Nly husband was supplied with many kinds of jnovisions ; with In- dian meal, part of which we used for bread and p;irt for cake, and aho with salted meat, which latter article, however, was entirely useless to us, as we received nmre than we could consume; and it often was so uneatable that 1 gave it away to gi;t rid of it, es])ccially since our .servants were also supplied wi(h the same kind of food J'hc major, accoidlngly. advi.sed us to pursue ihc same plan in this regard as the oiuer generals, viz: to exchange our meat for hoxes of tallow and caudles of spermaceti (wliicii burn better and are more beautiful t'um those of wax), and also for butter, which they did gladly, as they were obliged to sup- ply the soldiers with meat. By this means, we saved consider- * Prr.liuhly. the pro-cnt Wiil! street. .\ll the princiiiiil hiu'hwiiys ofthe eity were ildonied at this period wiih luxuriaiil sliiul<: tree.-. A eelehniled truveh'r, whi. visited New Vorli.jiist iJicvidns ti) the ftrHv.-d of (ioveiiiorTryou, thiisdeserilK's llie Viiridiis liiiids tlion gnuvinjrlii tlieeity, " [n tlieetiief streets tlieruarp trees planted, whieii ill siiniiiie- irive them a line appeiinjiice. and during; the e-cccHnive heat at tliat time, a fiord a eoolin:; shade. I iMimd it, e.Ntreniely pleuxant !>, wiilli in tlie town, for it seemed qnil(; lilie a f,'arden. TIk; trees whieh are plunn-d for this |)ur- poho are chii tly of i wo Itiuds ; the water lieaeh is tlie most iiuiiierons. and irivo an ai;reeal.>ie shade in snmmer l>y its larire and niniierons leaxes. The loen>-t tree is liliowise fre(|Uent : its ftne leaves and ilio odorifemus scent wliieh evhnles fri^n its tlowerf, make it very proper for 'leiOL' plnntrd in the streets, near the house- anil in the iinrdens. There are lilvewisetinie iicis and e!m- in these walks, but they are not. hv r.r. so fre<|lient as the otliers. One seldom meets with trees of lie- sam.' -ort adjoiniiis eaeli otln r, Ihey lieini,' in irenenil plaeed •■illernalely." 17(1 u:tt1':i;.-< a.\ij jouiixals able. We were now no l(iu<,'or troubled for the want of wood, for they broke to pieces an old and worthless shlji in order to furnish us with fuel, and from this time we received weekly two eorda of fire-wood. A little while before my confinement I had a dreadful friij^lit. One of our servants brought mo somethin:.;', and I noticed that his eyes rolled, and that he could scarcely speak. 1 was terrified, and attempted to run out of the room, but lie ran ahead of me, fell down, slammed to the door in Iiis fall, and innncdiatcly was tittackcd with an awful infirmity.* As he lay directly in i'ront of the door, rendering it impussiblc for me to escape, 1 began to call out and shriek. The persons in the house endeavored to conu; in to my assistance, but the lock was sprung and they were oldiged to break open the door, Kveii then, the poor man had to be pushed aside to ntake room ; and 1 was linally obligc nij e|iik'|itii' lil OJ' Mils. (,H\h'llM. IIIKIiKSI-T,. 1 i I seemiri<>.y in jest, I answered that I tlianked liiin for the cnution, and would endeavor to uuard iiiyself against tlio weakness oi' talk- ing constantly of this journey, into wliicli limit I might otlicrwi:;e easily have fallen. On my :, was the only sponsor, was obliged to leave town on a short expedition, that the mime of America was forgotten ; and we were obliged afterward to have it placed (Hi the parisli register. Tlie same day, my eldest daughter was seized with a dangerous illness, called uMlnna infantile, and soint; days afterward my third child became also very sick ; and., I. therefore, lay in bed between both my almost dying children. IJut if my heart sulfered deeply, my body had by this time become enured to hardship, and I got along nicely, although I was in the first days of my continenient. Si.v weeks afterward, my husband per- suaded nie to accompany him to a dinner given by General Tryon. This had been concerted betwceu them for a ])articular object; for while I was absent my husband liiul tliecliild inocu- lated by an Hnglish j)hysician, as the small-pox was raging violently in the city. He. therefore, bad it done without my knowledge in order to save me anxiety, iind he would j)robably liave succeeded, had not his taflierly uneasiness betrayed him. 15nt he was continually going every instant to look at the child, 178 i.trrTKiis AM) .loriiXAis and ill a little while, siiid, " Alas ! how pale she is," or, " She is certainly sick ;" so that 1, womlering at all these expressions, at last, said, that he must most assuredly have a reason I'or I'eel- ing so uneasy, and asked him it' he had had the child inoculated? Immediately I rolled hack the sleeves, and there sure enou^li were two pocks on each arm. I must conCess that for a moment T was quite provoked; still I appreciated the good intention of my hushand. The child was so bad that we feared we should lose her. My p(Hir husband was inconsolable, accusing himself of being the cause of this misfortune; and 1 had enough to do in keeping up his spirits. But (iod be praised it came out all right in the end. The experiment, however, did not termi- nate so Imppily with a nobleman who followed our example, for he was so unfortunate as to lose his child. Throughout the whole winter, tienorals Phillips, Tryon and I'atterson were our constant friends and guests, and every week we gave a gentleman's dinner party. This was all that we could afford to do, as every thing was so terribly high in the city. At the end of the winter fleneral Tryon mailed for England, but just before his departure, he sent to my house, unbeknown to nic, magnilicent furniture, tapestry, carpets, and curtains, besides a set of silk hangings for an entire room. Never shall I forget the many marks of friendship which I have received from almost every one of this excellent nation ; and it will always be to me a source of satisfaction to be able at any time to be of use to the English, as I have learned by experience how plea- sant it is to receive kindness from foreigners. About this time our friendly relations began with our excel- lent friend (ieneral Clinton, who was the gencral-in-chief of the English army in the southern provinces of America. As is the case with every Englishman, it was at first very difficult for our ae((uaiiitaiice to ripen into intimacy. His tirst call upon us was one of ceremony, as he came as general in-chief, attemled by his entire staff'. As his general appearance and conversation weri' agreeable, I said to his friend, (ieiicral I'hiliiiis, that I f>F Mf/s. GKXKhWL llfKDEsKI.. 17!) rej^rcttcd that he treated us witli so much ceremony, and that a more friendly manner wouhl liave l)etter aceiu'ded with our i'eel- inj^H. Alterwardti lie invited us out to his country-seat to spend the summer, an invitation which was accepted. His country residence was magnificent, a most beautiful situation, orchard, and uieadovvs, and the Hudson river running directly in front of the house. Every thing was placed at our disposal, including I'ruits oi' the most delicious flavor; indeed, of this latter arti- cle we had more than we could eat. Our servant-^ feasted on peaches even to satiety, and our horses, which roamed through tlie orcliards, eagerly ate the fruit from the trees, disdaining that upon the ground, which every evening we had gathered up and given to the pigs to fatten them. It seems almost incredible, but nevertheless it is true, that with notliing but this fruit we Hittened six pigs, the flesh of which was capital, only the fat was somewhat soft. Peach, apricot, and other iruit trees, are raised here, witliout espaliers, au