The Military Journals of Two Private Soldiers, 1758-1775 Part 1

The Military Journals of Two Private Soldiers, 1758-1775.

by Abraham Tomlinson.

INTRODUCTORY REMARKS.

The conflict known in America as the _French and Indian War_, and in Europe as the _Seven Years' War_, originated in disputes between the French and English colonists, in the New World, concerning territorial limits. For a century the colonies of the two nations had been gradually expanding and increasing in importance. The English, more than a million in number, occupied the seaboard from the Pen.o.bscot to the St. Mary's, a thousand miles in extent; all eastward of the great ranges of the Alleganies, and far northward toward the St. Lawrence.

The French, not more than a hundred thousand strong, made settlements along the St. Lawrence, the sh.o.r.es of the great lakes, on the Mississippi and its tributaries, and upon the borders of the gulf of Mexico. They early founded Detroit, Kaskaskia, Vincennes, and New Orleans.

The English planted agricultural colonies--the French were chiefly engaged in traffic with the Indians. This trade, and the operations of the Jesuit missionaries, who were usually the self-denying pioneers of commerce in its penetration of the wilderness, gave the French great influence over the tribes of a vast extent of country lying in the rear of the English settlements.

The ancient quarrel between the two nations, originating far back in the feudal ages, and kept alive by subsequent collisions, burned vigorously in the bosoms of the respective colonists in America, where it was continually fed by frequent hostilities on frontier ground.

They had ever regarded each other with extreme jealousy, for the prize before them was supreme rule in the New World. The trading-posts and missionary-stations of the French, in the far Northwest, and in the bosom of the dark wilderness, several hundred miles distant from the most remote settlements on the English frontier, attracted very little attention until they formed a part of more extensive operations. But when, after the capture of Louisburg, by the English, in 1745, the French adopted vigorous measures for opposing the extension of British power in America; when they built strong vessels at the foot of Lake Ontario--made treaties of friendship with powerful Indian tribes--strengthened their fort at the mouth of the Niagara river--and erected a cordon of fortifications, more than sixty in number, between Montreal and New Orleans,--the English were aroused to immediate and effective action in defence of the territorial limits given them in their ancient charters. By virtue of these, they claimed dominion westward to the Pacific ocean, south of the lat.i.tude of the north sh.o.r.e of Lake Erie; while the French claimed a t.i.tle to all the territory watered by the Mississippi and its tributaries, under the more plausible plea that they had made the first explorations and settlements in that region. The claims of the real owner--the Indian--were lost sight of in the discussion; and it was a significant question asked by an Indian messenger of the agent of the English _Ohio Company_: "Where is the Indian's land? The English claim it all on one side of the river, and the French on the other: where does the Indian's land lie?"

The territorial question was brought to an issue when, in 1753, a company of English traders and settlers commenced exploring the head-waters of the Ohio. The French opposed their operations by force.

George Washington was sent by the Virginia authorities to remonstrate with the French. It was of no avail. The English determined to oppose force to force; and in the vicinity of the now-flourishing city of Pittsburg, in western Pennsylvania, the "French and Indian War" began.

Provincial troops were raised, and armies came from England. Extensive campaigns were planned, and attempts were made to expel the French from Lake Champlain and the southern sh.o.r.e of Lake Ontario. Finally, in 1758, three armies were in motion at one time against French posts remote from each other--Louisburg, in the extreme east; Ticonderoga, on Lake Champlain; and Fort Du Quesne, where Pittsburg now stands.

General Sir James Abercrombie commanded the expedition against Ticonderoga, accompanied by young Lord Howe as his lieutenant. The French were under the command of the marquis Montcalm, who was killed at Quebec the following year. The English and provincial troops rendezvoused at the head of Lake George, went down that sheet of water, attacked Ticonderoga, and were repulsed with great loss. It was this portion of that campaign in which the soldier served who kept the Journal given in the succeeding pages. It is a graphic outline picture, in few and simple words, of the daily life of a common soldier at that time.

During the campaign of 1759, Quebec was captured by the army under Wolfe; Lord Amherst, more successful than Abercrombie, drove the French from Lake Champlain; Sir William Johnson captured Fort Niagara; and all Canada was in virtual possession of the English, except Montreal. That fell early in the Autumn of 1760; and the struggle for supremacy in America, between the French and English, was ended for ever.

L.

MILITARY JOURNAL FOR 1758.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Lemuel Lyon FAC-SIMILE OF A PORTION OF THE Ma.n.u.sCRIPT JOURNAL.]

April 5 1758. I Lemuel Lyon of Woodstock Inlisted under Captain David holms of Woodstock in newingLand For this present Cannody Expordition[1]--I Received of Captain Holms 2.0s.0d.

[Footnote 1: Canada expedition.]

May 30. Received 3,-16-0.

June, 2nd. We arrived at Colonal Maysons at 12 o'Clock and marched from their to Landard[2] Abits & Sergent Stone treated us their--then we marched to mansfield to Deacon Eldridgs about four o'clock--then we marched to Bolton to Landard trils, and we gave 7d a night for horse keeping.

[Footnote 2: Landlord. The proprietor of an inn or tavern was universally called _landlord_. The t.i.tle is still very prevalent.]

Wednesday 7th. We had Carts to press,[3]--then we marched of from their to Landard Strengs in Harford and from their to Landard Geds & had raw Pork for dinner--then we marched to Landard Crews and the Chief[4] lodges their--My mess lodged at a private house one Daniel Catlins.

[Footnote 3: To take carts for the military service. Under martial law, any private property may be used for the public good. A just government always pays a fair price for the same.]

[Footnote 4: Probably General Lyman, who was the commander-in-chief of the Connecticut forces at that time.]

Thursday 8th. Marched of and arived at Landard Gessels and their we went to Brecfirst and then we marched from their to our stores in Litchfield[5] to Squire Sheldings and then to Landard Buels and lodged their and our Captain was sent for to a man in another Company that had fits.

[Footnote 5: In Litchfield county, Connecticut.]

Friday 9th. Then marched from their and we had nu teams presed their and we arrived at Landard Hollobuts in Goshen from their to widow Leggets in Cornwell[6] and from their to Coles in Cainan[7] & lodged their.

[Footnote 6: Cornwall.]

[Footnote 7: Canaan.]

Sat.u.r.day 10th. Marched to Lawrences and from thence to Landard Bushes in Shefield 7 mile and went to diner--thence marched and arived at one Garnt Burges and lodged their and our Ensign went to Prayer with us--

Sonday 11th. Marched into the Paterroon Lands[8] to Landard Lovejoys & went to diner had a hard shower then marched into Cantihook[9] to one Hayer Carns the Stone house & lodged their & from thence to Cantihook Town to one Bushes and slept their.

[Footnote 8: Livingston's manor, in Columbia county. The estates of Livingston, Van Rensselaer, and others, who received grants of land from government, on certain conditions, in order to encourage immigration and agriculture, were called Patroon Lands, and the proprietors were ent.i.tled Patroons, or patrons.]

[Footnote 9: Kinderhook.]

Monday 12th. At Cantihook.

Tuesday 13th. Marched and arived at the half way house in Albany & Bated, & then into Green Bush[10] by Son down and lodged their in Ranslays Barn.

[Footnote 10: Now East Albany, on the east side of the Hudson river.]

Wednesday 14th. Stil at Albany and their I first shifted my clothes and washed them--then we had 6 rounds of powder & ball & had orders from Colonel Whiting to go to Senakada[11]--this day Asel Carpenter came to Albany.

[Footnote 11: Schenectady.]

Thursday 15th. We went over the River Early to receive our rations in provision and in money and we marched 2 Miles and stoped and refreshed ourselves their half an hour and Lieut. Smith came up and we received our Abilitan money.[12]

[Footnote 12: Billeting-money--that is, money to pay for lodgings at private houses. When soldiers are quartered at private houses, it is said that such ones are _billeted_ at such a house, &c.]

Friday 16th. We had Prayers in our company at 3 Ock then all marched of but 14 and they stayed here to guard Lieut Smith and the money and yesterday Mr. Holmes sot of for Home and I giv 5 pence for carring my letter--we stayed here til 5 oclock this afternoon and we heard nothing from Lieut Smith and we had no provisions so we marched for Scanacata[13] and we got in at Son down well & their was a Larrom[14]

this night.

[Footnote 13: Schenectady.]

[Footnote 14: Alarum, or alarm.]

Sat.u.r.day 17th. Stil at Schenacata[15] and we moved into our Barrocks and Barnabas Evings was taken poor with a working in the Body Ben denny was taken very poor.

[Footnote 15: Schenectady.]

Sonday 18th. I was first called upon guard with 15 more. My turn came first at 11 oclock--this afternoon 3 ock Lieut. Smith come up with our abilitan money.

Monday 19th. Stil at Schenacata and their was a rigiment of province men[16] come up to Schenacata and this night 25 of our men went over the River west 1 mile to guard wagon Horses--this day a short training 1 Regiment.

[Footnote 16: Provincial troops, or American soldiers. The English troops were called regulars.]

Tuesday 20th. Their marched of 3 Hundred of the Bay Forces[17] for Fort Edward[18] and I received my abilitan in full 1.8s.0d.