corrected, now deprived of support, is annihilated. Let us offer him pure hearts, unsoiled by private hatred or public dissention; and let us, with one will and one voice, pour forth to the Lord that hymn of praise, by which Christians celebrate their gratitude and his glory."

January, 1782.-The huts which we now occupy were erected the last winter by some of the Massachusetts troops, a short distance from the banks of the Hudson, and called New Boston, they afford us a very convenient and comfortable accommodation. Orders having been received for all the troops that have not gone through the small pox to be inoculated, I commenced this business a few weeks since, and inoculated about two hundred, including women and children. Their accommodations were not such as their circumstances required; we were unprovided with proper articles of diet, and a considerable number were seized with putrid fever, which proved fatal in several instances.

March 10th.-A singular incident occurred in the sixth regiment to day. Two soldiers were eating soup together, and one forbid the other eating any more; as he did not desist, his comrade gave him a blow with his fist on the side of his head, on which he fell to the ground and instantly expired. On close examination, I could discover no bruise or injury which could enable me to account satisfactorily for his death.

An unhappy controversy has subsisted for some time between Captain H. and Lieutenant S. both of the first Massachusetts regiment. Captain H. was esteemed a man of modest merit and unexceptionable character, he has long commanded a company and proved himself brave in the field, and a good disciplinarian. Lieutenant S. though a good active officer, is assuming, high spirited and values himself on what he deems the principles of honor and the gentleman. Having imbibed a strong pre

judice against his captain, and probably calculating on promotion, he took unjustifiable liberties, and in violation of honor and decency aspersed his character with unfounded calumnies. The friends of the parties interposed and endeavored to effect a reconciliation. S. affected an acquiescence; in consequence of which the contention apparently subsided. But still retaining in his breast the old grudge, he renewed his calumnies and was determined to provoke his captain to a personal combat; and though contrary to his nature, and to his principles, he was compelled to the alternative. Captain H. obtained a furlough, visited his friends in Massachusetts, made his will, and arranged his worldly affairs. Having returned to camp it was agreed to meet in the field according to the rules of duelling. The tragical result is, that Captain H. received a mortal wound and died in three hours after, and S. escaped with a wound in his arm. Thus has this imperious young man, to gratify a sordid passion, sent into eternity a man whom he ought to have respected as his superior in every point of view-deprived the public of a valuable officer, and a wife and three children of a husband and father. Barbarous and cruel murderer! you have violated the laws of God and man, should you escape punishment in this life, what must be your doom in the awful day of retribution? The friends of Captain H. in Massachusetts manifested their abhorrence of this murderous deed, and endeavored by a legal process to bring S. to condign punishment. They procured a sheriff in the state of New York, where the crime was committed, who repaired to camp with assistance, took the opportunity when the regiment was on parade, and demanded of the colonel that S. should be delivered up to the civil authority. The colonel reluctantly pointed out the man, the sheriff advanced towards him, and S., soldier like, unsheathed his sword and stood in defiance. The sheriff, unaccustomed to the

sword, was intimidated, and finally retired from the field without the prisoner.*

April 5th.-Having completed the inoculation of the soldiers and attended them through the small pox, and my professional duty being considerably diminished, I have obtained a furlough for forty five days to visit my friends in Massachusetts, and shall tomorrow commence my journey to Boston, in company with my friend, Dr. Eustis.

May 30th.-I returned to New Boston last evening from Boston, having been absent forty four days, which is one day short of my furlough; our journey to Boston occupied nine days, being impeded by foul weather and bad roads. We were on horseback, attended by a servant, and took our route through Connecticut and Providence. Here we spent a pleasant evening with Lieutenant Governor Bowen, he and Dr. Eustis engaged in conversation respecting the properties of coffee; Governor Bowen, asserted, that it is a sedative, while the Dr. contended for its stimulant effects, and he certainly had the best of the argument. Having arrived at Boston, Dr. Eustis kindly introduced me to his father's family, where I received hospitable and polite civilities. I proceeded to Plymouth and Barnstable, where I had the satisfaction of a family interview, after an absence of four years. Great preparations are making at West Point, to celebrate the birth of the young Dauphin of France; being in alliance with his Most Christian Majesty, propriety requires that we should celebrate the joyous event of the birth of his first son. His Excellency General Washington, has in general orders, given an invitation to all officers of the army, and they are requested to invite any friends or acquaintance they may

*In the year 1786, a regiment was raised in the state of Massachusetts for the purpose of an Indian expedition. Lieutenant S. presented his pretensions as a candidate for a commission, but notwithstanding a respectable recommendation from several general officers, the Governor and council rejected the application with disdain.

nounced by the discharge of thirteen cannon and accompanied by music. The guests retired from the table at seven o'clock, and the regimental officers repaired to their respective commands. The arbor was, in the evening, illuminated by a vast number of lights, which being arranged in regular and tasteful order, exhibited a scene vieing in brilliancy with the starry firmament. The officers having rejoined their regiments, thirteen cannon were again fired as a prelude to a general feu de joie, which immediately succeeded throughout the whole line of the army on the surrounding hills, and being three times repeated, the mountains resounded and echoed like tremendous peals of thunder, and the flashing from thousands of fire arms in the darkness of evening, could be compared only to the most vivid flashes of lightning from the clouds. The feu de joie was immediately followed by three shouts of acclamation and benediction for the Dauphin, by the united voices of the whole army on all sides. At half past eleven o'clock, the celebration was concluded by the exhibition of fire works very ingeniously constructed of various figures. His Excellency General Washington was unusually cheerful. He attended the ball in the evening and with a dignified and graceful air, having Mrs. Knox for his partner, carried down a dance of twenty couple in the arbor on the green grass.

June 20th.-Dined by invitation with Major General Howe, at his quarters at Robinson's house, with several respectable guests.

23d. The officers of our regiment prepared an entertainment and invited a respectable party. At three o'clock, we repaired to an arbor erected for the occasion, under which a long table was spread, and a variety of dishes arranged in proper style; we prided ourselves on our camp dinner as being almost on a par with that of a country gentleman. A band of military music attended, and we finished with toasts and songs in social glee.

July. Our brigade moved out of huts on the first instant, and encamped at Nelson's point, on the bank of the Hudson opposite West Point.

On the 4th, the anniversary of the declaration of our Independence was celebrated in camp. The whole army was formed on the banks of the Hudson on each side of the river. The signal of thirteen cannon being given at West Point, the troops displayed and formed in a line, when a general feu de joie took place throughout the whole army.

A most barbarous and horrid transaction of the royal refugees a few weeks since, has excited universal indignation throughout our army. It is the cruel murder of Captain Joshua Huddy, of New Jersey, who, being commanding officer of a detachment stationed at the block house in Monmouth county, was attacked by a party of refugees from New York, on Sunday, the 24th March, and after bravely defending himself till he had expended his ammunition, was taken prisoner and carried into New York. He was closely confined till April 8th, when without even the form of a trial, he was told that he was ordered to be hanged; accordingly on the 12th, he was carried over to the New Jersey shore, by a party of refugees under the direction of one Captain Lippincot, and there hung on a tree and left with the following label affixed on his breast. "We the refugees, having with grief long beheld the cruel murders of our brethren, and finding nothing but such measures daily carrying into execution-we therefore, determine not to suffer without taking vengeance for the numerous cruelties; and thus begin, and I say, may those lose their liberty who do not follow on, and have made use of Captain Huddy as the first object to present to your view; and further determine to hang man for man while there is a refugee existing. Up goes Huddy for Philip White."

The refugees pretend to justify this violent act, by asserting that Captain Huddy, some time before,