The Journal of Lieut. John L. Hardenbergh of the Second New York Continental Part 2

Monday, 21st.--Left Fort Jenkins in the morning, proceeded down the River and arrived at Northumberland town,[48] dined there, and proceeded to Sunbury and arrived there at 7 o'clock at night.

Tuesday, 22nd.--Laid still at Sunbury and loaded the boats with flour and beef.

Wednesday, 23d.--At 9 o'clock in the morning left Sunbury, proceeded up the River about eight miles.

Thursday, 24th.--Proceeded up the River till night and lodged on board the boat. In the night lost my hat.

Friday, 25th.--Proceeded up the River as far as Fort Jenkins and lodged there.[49]

Sat.u.r.day, 26th.--Left Fort Jenkins and arrived at the falls.[50] Got half the boats up the falls, which were drawn up by ropes.

Sunday, 27th.--Got up the rest of the boats, and proceeded up the River and halted along sh.o.r.e over night. Coll. Ogden's regiment from Jersey was sent down as a guard to us from Weyoming.

Monday, 28th.--At Revelle beat proceeded up the River to the upper falls. Got all the boats up, (one of which overset in going up) and arrived at Shawny flats about 4 miles from Weyoming.

Tuesday, 29th.--Left Shawny flats in the morning and arrived at Weyoming[51] about 7 o'clock in the morning, unloaded the boats and went up to camp in the afternoon to Jacob's Plains.

Wednesday, 30th June.--The regiment was mustered in camp at Jacob's Plains. While I was out on my voyage down the river, Gen. Sullivan arrived at Weyoming with troops to be employed on the expedition.[52]

Thursday, July 1.--Laid still.

Friday, July 2d; Sat.u.r.day, July 3d.--Remained at Jacob's Plains.

Sunday, July ye 4th.--Decamped from Jacob's Plains, crossed the river Sisquehannah and encamped on the west side the River, near forty fort[53] on a fine plain called Abraham's Plains.

Monday, 5th July.--Went out on a scouting party in order to hunt. Went up the River as far as Laghawanny Creek and returned at sunset. Met with no success.

During our stay at Weyoming we had nothing to do but to keep guard, and disciplining our troops; only a few that were employed in boating to carry provisions[54] up the River from Sunbury to Weyoming.

(From July 5th to July 31st no entry was made in the Journal).

Sat.u.r.day, the 31st of July.--About 3 o'clock in the afternoon we left Weyoming on our expedition. Our baggage being carried on pack horses, the provisions and artillery in boats, we marched as far as Lackawannick,[55] ten miles from Weyoming, and encamped.[56]

Sunday, Aug. first.--At 1 o'clock in the afternoon struck our tents and marched 7 miles to a place called Quialutimack.[57] The road was very difficult, the baggage did not arrive till towards day.

Monday, August ye 2d.--Laid still at Quialutimack.

Tuesday, Aug. 3d.--At 7 o'clock in the morning struck our camp, loaded our baggage, proceeded on our march and encamped at night in the wood.

Wednesday, Aug. 4th.--At 7 o'clock in the morning the General beat, struck our tents, proceeded on our march and encamped at night at Venderlips[58] Plantation. This day's march was very fatiguing. Our regiment was on the Rear Guard, the road very mountainous and difficult. We had the care of all the pack horses and cattle, which was very troublesome.

Thursday, Aug. 5th.--About 10 o'clock decamped, proceeded on our march and arrived at Wyalusing[59] and encamped there.

Friday, Aug. 6th.--Laid still at Wyalusing for refreshment.

Sat.u.r.day, Aug. 7th.--Laid still on account of rainy weather.

Sunday, August 8th.[60]--At six o'clock in the morning struck camp, moved from Wyalusing and encamped at evening at a place called Standing Stone.[61]

Monday, Aug. 9th.--At six o'clock in the morning struck our tents, proceeded on our march and arrived at Sh.e.s.h.ehung flats[62] and encamped there.

Tuesday, Aug. 10th.--Laid still at the Flats.

Wednesday, Aug. 11th.--At 6 o'clock in the morning struck tent, marched at 7 o'clock for Tyuga.[63] Our regiment and the 2d New Jersey regiment was ordered to cross the River at our encampment and proceed up the River on the opposite side, to take possession of the ground at Tyuga to cover the fording place for the army and horses to cross the River, arrived at Tyuga about 11 o'clock in the morning.[64]

At night Gen. Sullivan sent off a small scout[65] to discover Shemung[66] (of one Captain and seven men,) which lay about twelve miles up the Tiyuga branch.

Aug. 12.--The scout returned with news that the enemy seemed to be in great confusion and seemed to be moving off. The Gen'l left a guard at Tiyuga sufficient to guard the camp and marched with the rest of the army under cover of the night for Shemung, marched all night, the weather very dark, and nothing but an Indian path through the wood made it difficult.[67]

Friday, Aug. 13th.--About six o'clock in the morning we arrived at Shemung and found the enemy had left the town. On our approach we burnt the town, destroyed the corn, &c., and returned to Tiyuga. A small party of the Indians who had concealed themselves in the wood, fired on a small party of Gen'll Hand's Brigade, killed six men and wounded two without loss on their side.[68] A party of Gen'l Poor's Brigade was destroying corn, were fired upon by the enemy, killed one and wounded one.

Sat.u.r.day, Aug. 14th.--Laid at Tiyuga waiting for the arrival of Gen'l Clinton's Brigade, who came down the Susquehanna from the Mohawk River. A large detachment from the army was ordered up to join him.[69] The remainder of the army were employed in building a garrison at Tiyuga.[70] On the 22nd day of Aug't we were joined by Gen'l Clinton's Brigade.

Monday, Aug't 23d.--Laid still. Capt. Kimble of Col. Cilley's Regiment, Gen'l Poor's Brigade, was killed in his tent by accident with a gun being snapped by a soldier.

Tuesday, 24th Aug't.--The disposition was made and everything got in readiness for marching. The army encamped that evening agreeable to the order of march,[71] myself being drafted on the right flank, which was commanded by Col. Dubois.

Wednesday, 25th.--Laid still not being able to get ready to march on account of our pack horses.

Thursday, 26th.--Struck tents at 1 o'clock and marched about 3 miles up the Tiyuga Branch and encamped.

Friday, Aug't 27.--At 8 o'clock in the morning the Gen'l beat, struck tents at 9 o'clock marched off and encamped that night about 3 miles below Shemung by a large cornfield.[72]

Sat.u.r.day, Aug't 28th.--At 3 o'clock in the afternoon marched as far as Shemung and encamped.[73]

Sunday, 29th Aug't.--At 8 o'clock in the morning the signal for march was given. We marched about 4 miles when our Light corps fell in with the enemy on the opposite side of a defile with some slight works thrown up in their front. The light troops exchanged some shots with them and amused them whilst Gen's Clinton's and Poor's Brigades with the right flank were ordered to file off by the right and gain the enemy's rear, which to effect, we had to ascend a very steep hill which the enemy had possessed themselves of. Whilst we were gaining the rear, Col. Proctor with the artillery kept up a brisk fire on their works. On our ascending the hill they began to attack us. Our men undauntedly pushed on and gained the hill. The enemy went off in confusion, left their dead on the ground.[74]--About sunset we encamped on the enemy's ground.[75] We had one major, one Capt. and one Lt. wounded. The Capt. and Lieut. died of their wounds, also a few men wounded.[76]

Aug't 30.--Remained on the ground of yesterday. The greatest part of the army were employed in destroying corn which was in great abundance.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Map _SHOWING THE ROUTE OF SULLIVAN'S ARMY_ and _BATTLE FIELD OF NEWTOWN_ FOUGHT AUGUST 29TH 1779. ALSO THE LOCATION OF THE INDIAN TOWNS IN THE VICINITY, AND _CHEMUNG AMBUSCADE_. _FROM ACTUAL SURVEY_ BY GENL., JOHN S. CLARK AUBURN, N.Y. 1879.

THE HELIOTYPE PRINTING CO. 220 DEVONSHIRE ST. BOSTON.]

Tuesday, 31st Aug't.[77]--At 9 o'clock in the morning marched off; marched ten miles above Newtown and encamped on a large pine plain, forming a square with our camp to secure our pack horses and cattle.

Wednesday, Sept. 1st.--The signal gun fired at 8 o'clock in the morning. We marched at half past nine, marched about 6 miles through a flat level road at the end of which we entered a dark pine swamp, which continued four miles with almost impa.s.sable hills and valleys and arrived at 11 o'clock at night at Catharine's town.[78]

Thursday, 2d.--Laid still. Our line of march being confused by the badness of the road the day before.

Friday, Sept 3d.--The signal gun fired at 7 o'clock, the army marched off at 8 o'clock, marched about twelve miles and encamped in the wood on the east side of the Seneca Lake.[79] The land good and well timbered.

Sat.u.r.day, ye 4th Sept.--The Gen'l beat at 9 o'clock in the morning.

The army marched at 10 o'clock, marched 4 miles and halted.[80]

Sunday ye 5th.--The Gen'l beat at half past 9 o'clock, the army marched at 10 o'clock and encamped in a town called Candaya,[81] or Appletown.

Monday, Sept 6th.--At two o'clock in the afternoon left Appletown and marched about three miles and encamped in the wood.[82]

Tuesday ye 7th.--At 8 o'clock in the morning struck tents, marched off and crossed the outlet of the Ceneca Lake, where we expected to meet some opposition, but the enemy had left the town. We entered it, found a white child[83] in the town, supposed to be about 4 years old, it was supposed they had taken away from the frontiers, where they had destroyed and burnt. The Ceneca Lake is supposed to be thirty-six miles in length from south to north. The land along the east side appears to be a rich soil and well timbered. At the north end is the outlet which is a continual stream and considerable large. About three miles and a half from the outlet is the town Cannadasago or Ceneca Castle.[84]