Same Days, Different Perspectives and Experiences
September 20, 1777
Saturday
Diary of John Adams
Septr. 20. Saturday.
Breakfasted at Mrs. J. B. Smiths. The old Gentleman, his Son Thomas the Loan Officer, were here, and Mrs. Smith’s little Son and two Daughters. An elegant Break fast We had of fine Hyson, loaf Sugar, and Coffee &c.
Dined at Williams’s, the Sign of the Green Tree. Drank Tea, with Mr. Thompson and his Lady at Mrs. Jacksons. Walked with Mr. Duane to General Dickinsons House, and took a Look at his Farm and Gardens, and his Greenhouse, which is a Scaene of Desolation. The floor of the Greenhouse is dug up by the Hessians, in Search for Money. The Orange, Lemon and Lime Trees are all dead, with the Leaves on. There is a spacious Ball Room, above stairs a drawing Room and a whispering Room. In another Apartment, a huge Crash of Glass Bottles, which the Hessians had broke I suppose.—These are thy Tryumphs, mighty Britain.—Mr. Law, Mr. Hancock, Mr. Thompson, Mr. were here. Spent the Evening at Williams’s and slept again at Tuckers.
Mrs. Tucker has about 1600£ st. in some of the Funds in England, which she is in fear of loosing. She is accordingly, passionately wishing for Peace, and that the Battle was fought once for all &c. Says that, private Property will be plundered, where there is an Army whether of Friends or Enemies. That if the two opposite Armys were to come here alternately ten times, she would stand by her Property untill she should be kill’d. If she must be a Beggar, it should be where she was known &c. This kind of Conversation shews plainly enough, how well she is pleased, with the State of Things.
https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Adams/01-02-02-0007-0003-0005
George Washington, General Orders
Head Quarters [ ] Septr 20th 1777.
Parole: Cambridge.Countersigns: Roxbury. Watertown.
It is with the utmost concern, that the General observes, a continual straggling of soldiers on a march, who rob orchards and commit other disorders; and that many officers pay little or no attention to prevent a practice attended with such mischevious consequences, notwithstanding the orders relative thereto—The officers are reminded that it is their duty, and the General expects, that for the future, they know precisely, the number of men in their division or platoon; and where the time will admit of it, take a list of their names, previous to their marching; and that on a march they frequently look at their division to see if it be in order, and no man missing.
The General has reason to think that many officers neglect to call the rolls of their companies daily, agreeably to former orders, and that many cannot properly account for their absent men. This is a neglect of the most dangerous tendency, and if continued, the army will soon be greatly reduced—The General therefore calls upon all officers, in the most pressing manner, as they regard their duty, and the salvation of their country, to have the rolls called night and morning, and pay the most unremitting attention to prevent a loss of their men.
The General is informed, that vast numbers of men are sent off as guards to the baggage—The Brigadiers and officers commanding brigades are without delay to send proper officers to Reading, or wherever the baggage may be, to reduce those guards and bring with the greatest dispatch to the army, the greater part of them, and those the best men, with the best arms, leaving only so many officers and men as are absolutely necessary to guard the baggage—Col. Polk who commands these guards will see that as few officers and men as possible are left with the baggage1—some officers are also to be sent immediately to Philadelphia to bring away all soldiers which shall be found there.
The officers are also to see, that all soldiers who wait on officers, be armed, and do the duty of soldiers on any emergency, particularly that the fire of so many men be not lost in a day of action.
https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/03-11-02-0276
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20th at Day Break
The 2 Battalions of Guards took Post at Fatland Ford and Found the Rebels had likeways taken Post on the Opposite side where they shewed a Brass 6 – Pounder.
Washington pass’d the Schuylkill about 3 miles above this morning with most of his Army , only Leaving a Chosen Corps under General Wain to harrass our Rear when we marchd . This Corps we had intelligence consisted of two Brigades and were posted on the Lancaster Road not above 3 miles from the Rear of our Camp at Tredefferin .
At 8 in the Evening Major General Grey with the 2 Battalion Light Infantry , 42d , 44th Regiments , and 16 Light Dragoons went to Attack them , which they Accordingly did about midnight with great Suc- cess .
They Killed and Wounded between 4 and 500 with their Bayonets without a single shot being fir’d on our side . We had only one Officer ( Captain Wolfe 40th Light Company ) and 1 Sergeant Killed and 6 men Wounded . They return’d to camp before break of Day . The 40th and 55th Regiment went another way to intercept the Rebels in their Retreat but did not fall in with them .
Septr. 20th.
At 4 oClock we marched from Perkyomen and proceeding down the great road we Cross’d Skippack near to which we turned S. B. W. and proceeded near to Paulin ford where we encamped in Providence Township Philada. County we this day had a fair view of the Enemy’s Encampment being only separated by the Schuylkill & a small hill
SEPTEMBER 20 , Saturday .
Early in the morning I drew the verse , page 318 , ” And he shall redeem Israel from all his iniquities ” ( Psalm 130 : 8 ) . The marauders who are following the American army are still stopping in to complain of hunger and thirst , etc. Isaiah 58 may also be applied here in the sense , ” Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry ? ”
The two armies are near each other , the American on this side of the Schulkiel and the British on the other . Our weak vessels baked bread twice today and shared what little there was with the sick and wretched [ D : without charge ] .
In the evening a nursemaid came with three English children of a prominent family which is fleeing from Philadelphia . Since night had fallen , they could not go on and pleaded to be put up ; we took them in and gave them such accommodation as we had . ” Given to hospitality , ” Romans 12:13 , espe- cially toward little children who are as angels . There were also two Negroes , servants of the English family . They secretly wished that the British army might win , for then all Negro slaves will gain their freedom . It is said that this sentiment is almost universal among the Negroes in America .
September 21, 1777
Sunday
Diary of John Adams
Septr. 20. Saturday.
Breakfasted at Mrs. J. B. Smiths. The old Gentleman, his Son Thomas the Loan Officer, were here, and Mrs. Smith’s little Son and two Daughters. An elegant Break fast We had of fine Hyson, loaf Sugar, and Coffee &c.
Dined at Williams’s, the Sign of the Green Tree. Drank Tea, with Mr. Thompson and his Lady at Mrs. Jacksons. Walked with Mr. Duane to General Dickinsons House, and took a Look at his Farm and Gardens, and his Greenhouse, which is a Scaene of Desolation. The floor of the Greenhouse is dug up by the Hessians, in Search for Money. The Orange, Lemon and Lime Trees are all dead, with the Leaves on. There is a spacious Ball Room, above stairs a drawing Room and a whispering Room. In another Apartment, a huge Crash of Glass Bottles, which the Hessians had broke I suppose.—These are thy Tryumphs, mighty Britain.—Mr. Law, Mr. Hancock, Mr. Thompson, Mr. were here. Spent the Evening at Williams’s and slept again at Tuckers.
Mrs. Tucker has about 1600£ st. in some of the Funds in England, which she is in fear of loosing. She is accordingly, passionately wishing for Peace, and that the Battle was fought once for all &c. Says that, private Property will be plundered, where there is an Army whether of Friends or Enemies. That if the two opposite Armys were to come here alternately ten times, she would stand by her Property untill she should be kill’d. If she must be a Beggar, it should be where she was known &c. This kind of Conversation shews plainly enough, how well she is pleased, with the State of Things.
https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Adams/01-02-02-0007-0003-0005
George Washington, General Orders
Head Quarters [ ] Septr 20th 1777.
Parole: Cambridge.Countersigns: Roxbury. Watertown.
It is with the utmost concern, that the General observes, a continual straggling of soldiers on a march, who rob orchards and commit other disorders; and that many officers pay little or no attention to prevent a practice attended with such mischevious consequences, notwithstanding the orders relative thereto—The officers are reminded that it is their duty, and the General expects, that for the future, they know precisely, the number of men in their division or platoon; and where the time will admit of it, take a list of their names, previous to their marching; and that on a march they frequently look at their division to see if it be in order, and no man missing.
The General has reason to think that many officers neglect to call the rolls of their companies daily, agreeably to former orders, and that many cannot properly account for their absent men. This is a neglect of the most dangerous tendency, and if continued, the army will soon be greatly reduced—The General therefore calls upon all officers, in the most pressing manner, as they regard their duty, and the salvation of their country, to have the rolls called night and morning, and pay the most unremitting attention to prevent a loss of their men.
The General is informed, that vast numbers of men are sent off as guards to the baggage—The Brigadiers and officers commanding brigades are without delay to send proper officers to Reading, or wherever the baggage may be, to reduce those guards and bring with the greatest dispatch to the army, the greater part of them, and those the best men, with the best arms, leaving only so many officers and men as are absolutely necessary to guard the baggage—Col. Polk who commands these guards will see that as few officers and men as possible are left with the baggage1—some officers are also to be sent immediately to Philadelphia to bring away all soldiers which shall be found there.
The officers are also to see, that all soldiers who wait on officers, be armed, and do the duty of soldiers on any emergency, particularly that the fire of so many men be not lost in a day of action.
https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/03-11-02-0276
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