you will groan under the weight of your chains, even should they be of gold, and your conscience, then more just than your heart was easy to touch, will be the avenging fury of the woes which you will have brought about.

And you, nations betrayed, harassed, sold, blush at your error; let your eyes be unsealed; leave this ground sullied by despotism; cross the seas, hasten to America; but embrace there your brothers; defend this noble people against the haughty rapacity of their persecutors; share their happiness; double their strength; assist them with your industry; make their riches your own, by increasing them. Such is the object of society; such is the duty of man, whom nature made to love his fellowmen, and not to slaughter them; learn from the Americans the art of being free, of being happy, of turning social institutions to the profit of each of the individuals who compose society; forget, in the honorable refuge which they offer to suffering humanity, the frenzy of which you were the accomplices and the victims; learn to know true greatness, true glory, true felicity; let the nations of Europe envy you and bless the moderation of the inhabitants of the New World, who will disdain to come and punish them for their crimes, and to conquer depopulated lands which are trampled on by cruel tyrants, and watered by the tears of downtrodden slaves.

[Honoré Gabriel Riquetti, Comte de Mirabeau], Avis aux Hessois, et autres Peuples de l'Allemagne (Euvres, Paris, 1822, VII, 1-8); translated for this work by George N. Henning.

179. Army Life (1776–1777)

BY CAPTAIN GEORG PAUSCH

(TRANSLATED BY WILLIAM L. STONE, 1886)

Pausch was in command of some Hanau artillerymen, hired as mercenaries by the English. His observations show the state of feeling between the English and German contingents, and the trials of the camp. Bibliography: Winsor, Narrative and Critical History, VI, 360.

[September 8, 1776.] THE Regiments are gradually drawing nearer

together; and some of them are advancing closer to St. Johns. Those of the boats which are completed and were on the river have mostly been transported toward Lake Champlain, which Lake is still in possession of both parties. We have two frigates on the

Lake; and from all appearances, there will be a demonstration against it without waiting for the arrival of the two thousand Brunswick troops, which left at the same time as I did, and are destined to act with us. The Rebels are said to be strongly entrenched on the other side [end] of the Lake among the mountains, and from 600 to 1000 Savages are said to form the attacking force of the right wing. We are all on foot; and I am sorry to say that I, also, am in the same fix. We cannot get a two wheeled calash-for which, too, we have to pay one shilling an hour without trouble and asking permission of one or another general. We even have to pay out of our own pocket, the above price per hour for the small carts of the peasants on which to transport the Company's baggage, clothing and other necessary articles. This expense I hope his Majesty, the King, will most graciously consent to make up to our Company; for we cannot, as yet, tell whether our means, including the money for our rations, will, or will not be sufficient.

For these several reasons, I cannot take into consideration those things which belong and are essential to, position; nor, can I form an idea, until God leads me there on foot, where we shall all meet together for action. This state of affairs will certainly make campaigns — such as no man, since the existence of Hessian troops, has ever witnessed in this world! According to an old history by a certain Italian King and Campaigner, the Hessian troops had, generally, one ass for the baggage of two officers; but I am very much afraid — and the English prophesy the same thing—that in a short time, each officer will have to gird a saddle on his own back and carry his own baggage!

[November 8.] Indeed, I have been, from the start, the most miserable and unfortunate of all the commanders of the German Companies. Each of my men who was sent to the Hospital was not only afflicted with dysentery, but, as the hospital doctors told me, talked day and night of fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters, cousins, and aunts- besides, also, talking over and repeating all kinds of German village deviltry calling now this one, and now that one by his baptismal name until they had to stop for actual want of breath! For this disease there is, as is well known, but one remedy in the world, viz: dear peace, and a speedy return; and with this hope I comfort my sick daily. With those still alive and well, I am perfectly satisfied; for they find plenty of solace in the Canadian girls and women. For this reason, and in their companionship they are happy and contentel. . . .

April [1777]. All the officers have to add money of their own, or

else live poorly. A bombadier, for example, has to pay for a pair of boots 20 florins; for a pair of leather pants 20 florins; for a coat, five times as much as in Hanau; and everything else in the same proportion. Why, a bottle of the poorest red wine costs, in our money, 36 kreutzers, and a bottle of Madeira 1 piastre! . . .

66

Regarding the charges against head-smith Brads concerning discipline, service and insubordination, the Brigadier General will send in his reports and protocols. I wish to gracious that I had never seen such a cuss;" also, I hope never to see another one like him. I fervently hope that he will sit in chains in a London jail-for this is all he is There is no more despicable beast in this world than he. He respects neither God nor his Superiors. This is the second time that he has been confined in jail. . . .

good for in this world.

[May 15.] For the last three weeks I have drilled every morning from 6 to 8 o'clock, after the lately introduced fashion with only one Company. In the afternoon, two of my cannon are served by the English, and two by men from my Company when [ball] cartridges are used. I, for one, never am present but send my officers instead — for the reason, that only an English captain is sent there, and only an English officer commands them on these occasions.

The National pride and arrogant conduct of these people allow them to command my men, while I am not permitted to command theirs!

I lately requested Gen. Phillips that he would furnish me powder for my own drill. This request he at once granted. This was at one o'clock. At three o'clock, it was countermanded through the influence either of the Major or some one else. Jealousy was the cause of my not being allowed to drill separately any longer; and I was thus forced to drill at 4 o'clock in the afternoon, according to their orders and by their drums, which my men do not understand at all, and who, if I left them to drill alone, would be totally demoralized. In fact, the Devil of Jealousy has been aroused because the English see that my men drill quicker and more promptly, and because, also, the spectators do us the justice publicly to acknowledge this to be the case. Hence, instead of the former friendship between us, there is now enmity. They imitate our Artillery in different things, as, for example, in the matter of our wipers of which they are having some made for their 3 and 6 pound cannon. Every day, to my disgust, I have to practice the [lately] introduced quick-step, which we do not have, nor do they have it in Prussia nay not in the world, except in the chase, with fast horses

and good dogs! This is a splendid exercise for the men in winter; but in the summer, when the weather is warm, it is detrimental to the health of the men. It has no good result except to make the spectators laugh for by this manoeuvre no closed ranks could be kept in an attack upon the enemy. In case, therefore, of a retreat we would not only fare badly, but would be exposed to the well deserved censures of the European and American press. . .

Maj. Williamson got it into his head that he could order me to forbid my men going out in the evening with their sabres. But I told him that I would not dare receive such an order from any one except my Gracious Prince, and therefore I could not obey him: further: that should I meet any one of my men either during the day or at the time for retiring at 9 o'clock, going to his quarters without his sabre, I should have him flogged the next morning. I further said, that it was a standing order at our Capital, where four or five battalions were collected at a time, that no soldier in uniform should be without his side-arms.

Since then, I have never been asked to do this; and in fact, it would fare ill with my men were such an order enforced since were they to depend on boxing for protection, some would return to Germany crosseyed and some blind! . . .

[May 17.] Respecting that miserable rascal and head-smith, Brads I gave it as my opinion that the fellow had already been somewhat punished; and as I did not wish to belittle the General, the wretch had better be released from further punishment, and allowed to continue at his work.

In time of war, I find sentences of this kind out of place, as long, that is, as the offence is not a criminal one. Prompt punishment such as running the gauntlet, whipping, or confining in fetters for a time — is the best that can be done on these occasions, as by these light punishments, the service does not suffer.

19th. Brought to a close, the 19th of May, 1777, in the Winterquarters at Montreal. It looks, now, as if we were on the point of starting; and, perhaps, we will really do so before the end of the month.

Captain [Georg] Pausch, Journal (translated by William L. Stone, Albany, 1886), 69-121 passim.

180. An Investigation of British Military Prisons

(1778)

BY COMMISSARY-GENERAL ELIAS BOUDINOT (ABOUT 1800) Boudinot was sent by New Jersey to the Continental Congress, and later became president of that body. At the time of this episode he was in charge of British prisoners and exchanges. The cruelties of the British prison-ships in New York, and the corresponding cruelties suffered by the loyalists in the Connecticut copper-mine prison at Simsbury, are typical of an age when ordinary criminals were treated with much the same barbarity, both in England and in America. - Bibliography: Jane J. Boudinot, Life of Elias Boudinot; Winsor, Narrative and Critical History, VII, 87-88.

THE

HE Complaints of the very cruel Treatment our Prisoners met with, in the Enemy's Lines rose to such a Height that in the Fall of this Year 1777 the General wrote to Gen' Howe (or Clinton) repeating their Complaints and proposing to send an Officer into New York to examine into the Truth of them - This was agreed to and a regular Passport returned accordingly-The General ordered me on this Service - I accordingly went over on the third of February, 1778 in my own sloop — . . . We arrived at the Wharf of New York a little before Sundown, when I sent the Sergeant to the Commandant of the City (who was General Robertson whom I had formerly known,) to inform him of my Arrival and request to land-... The General with great Politeness assured me that tho' Lodgings were prepared, yet I might go where I pleased, on consideration of my breakfasting with him in the Morning This I promised to do & retired -Taking it for granted that I was to be put under the expected Restrictions in the Morning, I waited on the General at Breakfast . . . The General answered me, that he knew We had heard strange Stories within our Lines of their Conduct to our Prisoners - That he had rejoiced that Gen' Washington had taken the Measure of sending me in to examine for ourselves, for that he was sure that we should find them a parcel of damned Lies That he had ordered every Place that I should choose to visit to be freely opened to me, and that as I was a Gentleman, all that he expected was, that I should behave as such; and that I might use my own Pleasure & go where I pleased I confess I was surprised at this generous Conduct; and immediately replied, that I could not accept this gentlemanly Offer - That I had come on a fair and open Business. . . That therefore I should not see a Prisoner or have any Communication with one, but in the Presence of a British Officer, who I hoped he would oblige me by appointing to attend me - The General expressed