Proceedings of the New York Historical Association [1906]New York State Historical Association. Meeting
History
Proceedings of the New York Historical Association [1906]
New York State Historical Association. Meeting
New York (State) -- History -- Periodicals; New York State Historical Association -- Periodicals
A number of diaries and journals of the New Englanders [FN] in the
Campaign have been preserved and published, and from these, although
brief and illiterate in form, we gain an excellent idea of the events
of that period. The Colonial soldiery, looked down upon by the British
officers, were forced to perform the drudgery and manual labor necessary
in building and fortifying the camp, constructing its ditches and
breastworks, and throwing up its defenses. Incidentally it may be said,
it was the contemptuous treatment accorded the New England troops in
this and succeeding campaigns, which made the people of that section so
ready to throw off the British yoke later on. When not doing this work
they were compelled to act as wagoners, drivers, carpenters, road
makers, and the like. These various diaries speak in many places of work
of this menial character (for which these men had not enlisted, and
apparently did not care for), at and about "Half-Way Brook." General
Putnam in his Journal says, "During our stay at the lake, after our
return from Ticonderoga, we were employed in almost everything." The
Journal of an unknown Provincial Officer (see note), says, under date
of July 15th, "Nothing worth notice this day but working and duty came
on harder by orders from head-quarters." Both these journals mention a
"Sunday off" from work as a great treat and a rarity.
* * * * *
[FN] Among these may be mentioned the Journals of Rufus Putnam, cousin
of Israel Putnam, and afterwards a Revolutionary General; the "Diary of
Lieut. Samuel Thompson, of Woburn, Mass." (for which I am indebted to
Dr. Sherman Williams, of Glens Falls); the Journal of an Unknown
Provincial Officer in Col. Preble's Regiment of Massachusetts; "The
Memoirs of John Stark," and "Rogers' Journals."
From the 25th of May until the 22nd of October, when the fortifications
were dismantled and abandoned by General Abercrombie at the head of the
lake, Lieut. Thompson, according to his diary, was on constant duty,
either at the "Half-Way Brook" with a picquet guard, or at the lake. The
daily life and work of the soldiers is given in his diary in detail. It
also gives the names of a number of people who died from disease and
were buried at the "Half-Way Brook." He describes the return of the
English and Colonials from Ticonderoga, and under date of July 8th,
being at the head of the lake that day, there is the following entry in
his book:
"Saturday, Post came from the Narrows; and they brought Lord How to ye
Fort, who was slain at their landing; and in ye afternoon there came
in 100 and odd men, French prisoners into the Fort." These were Langy's
men captured at the fatal Trout Brook skirmish.
This testimony by an eye witness would go far to disprove the theory of
recent times, that Lord Howe's remains had been discovered at Trout
Brook; and it tends to confirm the statements of older historians, that
his remains were probably taken to Albany for burial.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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