The Campaign of 1776 around New York and Brooklyn Part 45

FLATBUSH, LONG ISLAND, June 30, 1778.

Wednesday, the 17th inst., the American Prisoners of war left Philadelphia. I embarked on board the Sloop Nancy, Capt. Hill. Sailed as far as Billings Port; then went on board the Brig Minerva, Capt.

Smith, in order to sail for New York. After a pa.s.sage of 12 days arrived at New York, being the 28th inst. The 29th I was paroled upon Long Island, and went to live at the House of Mr. John Lott. Our treatment, both officers and soldiers, while on board the shipping, was much better than I expected; our situation was as agreeable as circ.u.mstances would admit. We had the liberty of any part of the ship, and both officers and soldiers had a supply of provisions and a gill of Rum per man per day.]

"I was put on board with the other prisoners of war [at Philadelphia]

and sailed down the river Delaware, and went to New York. We were 12 days on our pa.s.sage. I was then put on my parole of honour and boarded with a plain Dutch family in Kings County, at the west end of Long Island. We were confined within the limits of said County.

At Flat Bush I became acquainted with a Mr Clarkson a man of science and of a large property, he owned the most extensive private Library that I had ever known in the United States, his wife had a capacious mind and she was remarkably distinguished for her piety. Mr.

Clarkson made me a welcome visitor at his house and gave me access to his library. He allowed me to take as many books as I chose and carry them to my lodgings. I there lived two years and six months devoting my time to reading. I read through a course of ancient and modern history. My exercise was hand labour and walking. I tended a garden one summer upon shares and my net profits were about twelve dollars.

The next summer I obtained the use of a small piece of Land and planted it with potatoes from which my net profits were 30 dollars. I was treated with great kindness by the family with which I lived. I endeavored to be always on the pleasant side with them and to be sure, not to be wanting in my attentions to my landlady. Here I learned that the little nameless civilities and attentions were worth a great deal more than they cost me. Here I was peculiarily situated to learn the human character: for the inhabitants in this county were all attached to the British Government and said the officers paroled there were all rebels, and that they would finally be hung for their rebellion, so that if any of us received any injury or met with any abuse from the inhabitants we could have no redress we must patiently bear it. The Dutch inhabitants were uncultivated yet many of them possessed strength of mind and were intelligent. They were mostly strangers to the sympathies and tender sensibilities which so much rejoiced the heart of friends with friends and promote the happiness of society.

But notwithstanding I was thus secluded from my particular friends and acquaintances yet I enjoyed my share of comfort and worldly felicity. I felt no disposition to murmer and repine in my then condition. Every day afforded me its enjoyments excepting a time when I had a pretty severe attack with the ague and fever which reduced me low. The whole term of my Captivity was three years and three months lacking one day. I was exchanged on the 3rd day of Jany 1781. I was taken from Flat Bush to New York and from thence conveyed to Elizabethtown in New Jersey and set at liberty."

[Original in possession of Hon. Dwight Morris, Bridgeport, Conn.]

[No. 58.]

BRITISH PRISONERS TAKEN BY THE AMERICANS ON LONG ISLAND

KINGS BRIDGE, August 29, 1776.

GENTLEMEN: I send to your care and safe keeping the following prisoners of war, taken on _Long Island_, on the 27th instant viz: Lieutenant _John Ragg_, of the Marines, Sergeant _David Wallace_, Corporal _Thomas Pike_ and _Edward Gibbon_, _William Smith_, _Isaac Hughs_, _Thomas Haraman_, _John Woodard_, _Edward Cavil_, _William Williams_, _William Coortney_, _Stephen Weber_, _John Smith_, _Samuel Morral_, _Thomas Sarral_, _Joseph Distant_, _Benjamin Jones_, _William Jones_, _William Pearce_, _John Hopkins_, _Henry Weston_, _Evan Evans_, and _John Morten_, Privates.

You will please to secure them in such manner as to prevent their escape, observing the order of Congress in this respect.

I am, gentlemen, with Esteem, Your humble Servant W. HEATH, Major General.

To the Committee of the Town of Fairfield [Conn.]

[_Force_, 5th Series, vol. i, p. 1215.]

[No. 59.]

A RETURN OF THE PRISONERS TAKEN IN YORK DURING THE CAMPAIGN 1776

[Transcriber's Note: For readability, the vertical text in the following table has been reduced to abbreviations, as follows:

Gn--Generals Co--Colonels LC--Lt. Colonels Mj--Majors Ca--Captains Lt--Lieutenants En--Ensigns Ch--Chaplains QM--Q. Masters Ad--Adjutants Su--Surgeons Cm--Comissaries Eg--Engineers WM--Wagon Masters Vo--Volunteers Pr--Privates

Other text has been abbreviated as follows:

8/27--Augt. 27th 9/15-16--Sept. 15 & 16th 10/12--Octr. 12th 11/16--Novr. 16th 11/18--Novr. 18th

L.I.--Long Island Y.I.--York Island W.P.--White Plains F.W.--Fort Washington F.L.--Fort Lee]

WHEN WHERE COMMISSIONED OFFICERS STAFF OFFICERS & PRIVATES.

TAKEN Gn Co LC Mj Ca Lt En Ch QM Ad Su Cm Eg WM Vo Pr WOUNDED

8/27 L.I. 2 3 4 2 18 3 11 3 -- 1 3 -- -- -- 3 1006 9 Officers, 56 Privates.

9/15-16 Y.I. -- 1 2 3 4 7 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 354

10/12 W.P. -- -- -- -- 1 2 -- -- 1 -- -- -- -- -- -- 35

11/16 F.W. -- 4 4 5 56 107 31 1 2 2 5 2 1 1 -- 2637 6 Officers, 53 Privates.

11/18 F.L. -- -- -- -- -- 1 1 -- 1 -- 3 -- -- -- -- 99

Total 2 8 10 10 79 160 43 4 4 3 11 2 1 1 3 4131

Copy

CHATHAM Jany 30th 1777

P.S. The original taken in New Jersey sent to Govr. Brooks.

A true copy taken from the Commissary General's, & brought from York by Major Wells.

[Original among Lieut.-Col. Henshaw's papers.]

[No. 60.]

LIST OF AMERICAN OFFICERS TAKEN PRISONERS AT THE BATTLE OF LONG ISLAND[252]

[Footnote 252: The left-hand column, naming the regiments, with the rank and number of officers captured, is taken from the report of Joseph Loring, the British Commissary of Prisoners.--_Force_, 5th Series, vol i., p. 1258. The names added opposite have been collated from official rolls, published and in ma.n.u.script, unless otherwise stated in notes.]

THREE GENERALS.

_Major General_ John Sullivan, _Brigadier General_ Lord Stirling, _Brigadier General_ Nathaniel Woodhull.[253]

[Footnote 253: Reference has already been made to Gen. Woodhull and Col. Johnston in the chapter on "The Battle of Long Island."]

THREE COLONELS.

Penn. Rifle Reg't 1 Col. Samuel Miles, Penn. Musketeers 1 Col. Sam. John Atlee, New Jersey Militia 1 Col. Phillip Johnston.[254]

[Footnote 254: [Transcriber's Note: see previous footnote.]]

FOUR LIEUT.-COLONELS.

Penn. Rifle Reg't 1 [Miles'] Lt. Col. James Piper,

Penn. Militia 2 { Lt. Col. Nicholas Lutz, { Lt. Col Peter Kachlein,

17th Continental Regt. 1 [Huntington's] Lt. Col. Joel Clark.