The Pictorial Field-Book of the Revolution, Vol. 1 (of 2): or, Illustrations, by Pen And Pencil, of the History, Biography, Scenery, Relics, and Traditions of the War for IndependenceLossing, Benson John
History
The Pictorial Field-Book of the Revolution, Vol. 1 (of 2): or, Illustrations, by Pen And Pencil, of the History, Biography, Scenery, Relics, and Traditions of the War for Independence
Lossing, Benson John
United States -- History -- Revolution, 1775-1783
**** The place was very unhealthy at that time. The mortality from
sickness among the troops stationed there during the Revolution was
fearful; and so bad was the reputation of Whitehall in this particular
at the close of the war, that, when the lands of Skene were offered for
sale, no competitor appeared, and 29,000 acres were struck off at the
first offer of £14 10s. to an agent of the purchasers, John Williams.
Joseph Stringham, and John Murray.--Kellogg's Discourse, p. 14. A
remarkable case of longevity occurred near Whitehall. Henry Francisco, a
native of England, died near there in November, 1820, aged one hundred
and thirty-four years. He was present at the coronation of Queen Anne,
March 8th, 1702. He served in the French wars and in the Revolution, and
lived in this country nearly ninety years; since deceased.
Whitehall in 1814.--Ride to Fort Anne Village.--Site of the Fort.--
Present Appearance of the Locality
139is now left there. When another war was waged against us by the same
enemy, in 1812, this was again the theater of hostile preparations. The
block-house within the old fort was repaired, furnished with artillery,
and garrisoned for the defense of the place. Intrenchments and a
magazine were constructed on an island a few hundred yards north of the
village, and barracks were erected on the brow of the hill west of
Church Street, the remains of which have but recently been demolished.
The American fleet engaged in September 11, 1814 the battle of
Plattsburgh, with the vessels captured from the enemy in that
engagement, were anchored in the harbor at Whitehall soon after that
event; and the remains of some of the vessels of both nations may now be
seen decaying together in the lake, a short distance from the harbor.
After breakfast, on the morning of our arrival at Whitehall, I rode to
Fort Anne August 3, 1848 Village, eleven miles south, accompanied by the
editor of the "_Democrat_,"' whose inland attentions and free
communications of valuable knowledge concerning historical localities in
the vicinity contributed much to the pleasure and instruction of the
journey thither.
It is a pleasant little village, situated upon a gently undulating plain
near the junction of Wood Creek and East Creek, and exhibited a charming
picture of quiet and prosperity There I found a venerable kinsman,
nearly eighty years of age, who, in the vigor of manhood, fifty years
ago, purchased an extensive tract of land in this then almost unbroken
wilderness.
His dwelling, store-house, and barns occupy the site of Fort Anne, the
only traces of which are the stumps of the strong pine pickets with
which it was stockaded. It was built by the English, under General
Nicholson, in 1757, two years after the construction of Fort Edward. It
was a small fortress, and was never the scene of any fierce hostility.
Although ninety years had elapsed since its pickets were set in the
ground, what remained of them
* D. S. Murray, Esq.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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