LETTERS written by EBENEZER HUNTINGTON t \ • BOUGHT WITH THE INCOME OF THE SAGE ENDOWMENT FUND THE GIFT OF HENRY W. SAGE 1891 CORNELL UNIVERSITY LIBRARY 3 1924 088 026 327 Cornell University Library The original of tiiis book is in tine Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text. http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924088026327 EBENEZER HUNTINGTON LETTERS Heartman's Historical Series No. 2 LETTERS WRITTEN BY Ebenezer Huntington DURING THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION Three hundred and twenty Copies printed for CHAS. FRED. HEARTMAN. New York City K-BIUI^: Copyright Secured. The pleasure of having come into possession of this extremely important collection of letters and my inter- est in seeing them preserved for the historical use and reading of future generations are sufficient reasons for issuing this volume. In making up a sketch of the life of General Eben- ezer Huntington, no claim is made of introducing any new facts or original matter. I induced Mr. G. W. F. Blanchfield of Hartford, Connecticut, who discovered these letters to write this introduction although he is a new man in this field of literature. I think the mere fact of his discovery of these letters entitles him to the honor. Christmas 1914 Chas. Fred. Heaetman Number. . .%(\2r-°^ ^^0 Copies printed. FOREWORD Ebenezer Huntington was born December 26,1754, son of Jedediah Huntington of Norwich, and Faith Trumbull, of Lebanon; and grandson of Gen. Jabez Huntington and Elizabeth Backus, both of Norwich. His grandfather, Gen. Jabez, was one of the two Major Generals of the Militia, after the death of Gen. Wooster, in May 1777, he was appointed sole Maj. Gen. of the State forces. His father was appointed Col. at the beginning of the War, and at the close of it he received the appointment of Maj. Gen., having served from 1777 as Brig. Gen. Little is known of Ebenezer Huntington's earlier life, and all accounts published begin with his leaving Col- lege, on Friday, April 21, '75, when the tidings of the battle of Lexington were brought to New Haven. The tradition of his having left College without permission, is shown to be true by his letters dated Roxbury Camp, June 25th, & July 23rd, 1775. On July 25th, two days later than his last letter of complaint on this subject, he received his degree from Yale College, and on August 8th, following, he received an Honorary Degree of B. A. from Harvard College, and in 1785 an M. A. from Yale and Harvard Colleges. After leaving New Haven, he went direct to Wethers- field, where his brother-in-law, John Chester lived, who was Captain of an Alarm Company, and enlisting April 22, marched from there to Boston. In the Cincinnati Society Records, he dates his career from April 21, 1775, the day he left New Haven. On his arrival at Boston, he served as a private until Sept. 8th, when he received his appointment as first lieut. in Capt. Chester's Company, in Gen. Joseph Spencer's Regiment. On January 1st, 1776, he became first lieut. in Col. Samuel Wyllys's Regt., which was Spencer's regiment of 1775, and served with it to the close of the Boston siege, when he marched under Washington to New York. In June he was appointed captain taking part in the battle of Long Island, and near the close of the campaign performed the duties of Brigade Major under General Parsons. Soon after (Oct. 26, 1776) he received the temporary appointment of Deputy Adjt. Gen. to the troops stationed on the North River, under Maj. Gen. Heath, for the defence of the Highlands. He also received the appointment of Deputy Paymaster. Letters dated this year are from New York, Westchester, Peeks Kill, and Paramus, N. J. In 1777, Congress authorized Gen. Washington to raise sixteen (16) regiments in addition to those which were to be raised by the respective states, and in one of these, that of Col. S. B. Webb's, he was promoted January 1st, 1777, to the rank of Major. During the year it formed part of Gen'l Putnam's force on the Hudson, and on December 4th, 1777, he writes from Norwalk, Conn, of an expedition to Kings Street; December 11th finds him at Guilford, preparing for an expedition to Long Island, which met with failure, the regiment losing its Colonel and other Officers, Hunting- ton getting back safely. During the summer of 1778, he was with the troops in Rhode Island, taking part in the battle of August 29th, and the Lieut. Colonel leaving the service presently. Major Huntington commanded the regiment for more than two years. In December, 1779, he writes from Danbury, of the 10 march into the Jersies, and in February, 1780, from Morristown where they were in winter quarters, and in June, 1780, the regiment took part in the action at Springfield under Huntington's command. In the following autumn he was commissioned (Oct. 10, 1780) Lieut. Col. He had received the appointment before that but a dispute* arose between himself and Lieut. Col. Ebenezer Gray as to the seniority of rank which caused a delay, resulting, however, in Huntington's favor; his commission antedating Gray's by five days. The case was warmly contested, and was referred suc- cessively to the Governor and Council of Connecticut, to the Board of War, to Washington, and by the latter to a court of inquiry, consisting of Major-Generals Gates, Heath, and St. Clair, and Colonels Greaton and Ogden. A final decision was not reached until October, 1782. Huntington was detailed to serve as Lieut. Colonel of Col. Scammell's Light Infantry regiment, which formed the van of the army, and marched with Washington to Yorktown. After the death of Col. Scammell at the opening of the siege, Huntington commanded one half the regi- ment as a separate corps and Col. Laurens the other half, both being assigned to Lafayette's Light Division on the right of the Line. He also served as volunteer aid to Gen. Lincoln during the siege at Yorktown, and in that capacity witnessed the magnificent spectacle of the surrender of Corqwallis to the soldiers of liberty. In Trumbull's historical picture of the Surrender of Cornwallis, Gen. Huntington is represented in the group of American Officers, his portrait having been taken by the artist from life. He remained on duty with the army till the troops *See Letter of August 10, 177fi. 11 were disbanded, having served through the whole war from April, 1775, to May, 1783. General Huntington retired from the army to the peaceful pursuits of merchandise. But his experience and tact in military evolutions and discipline (he being considered one of the best disciplinarians of the army) made it desirable that he should be retained in the home service, and in 1792, Congress having evolved a system for the Militia of the states, his Excellency, Governor Samuel Huntington, appointed him a General, which position he held for 30 years, under the successive Governors, Wolcott, Trumbull, Treadwell, Griswold, Smith, and Wolcott. In 1799, he was appointed by President Adams, on the recommendation of General Washington, a Brigadier- General in the United States Army, raised upon the apprehension of a War with France. In 1810, and again in 1817, he was elected Member of Congress. He was noted for his fine manly form and military deportment. He was twice married. His first mar- riage, December 10, 1791, to Sarah Isham, of Colchester, Conn., by whom he had one son, Alfred Isham Hxmting- ton, who was born June 2, 1793. His wife died in 1793. He married again October 7, 1795, Lucretia Mary McClellan, of Woodstock, who died November 5,1819; by this marriage he had nine (9) children as follows: Wolcott, born Aug. 20, 1796. Louisa Mary, born Feb. 20, 1798. George Washington, born Nov. 22, 1799. Emily, bom Aug. 6, 1801. Nancy L., bom April 6, 1803. Walter, born Nov. 11, 1804. Sarah I., bom May 1, 1806. Elizabeth M., born Aug. 24, 1808. 12 Maria H., born Dec. 13, 1810. Brig.-Gen. Huntington died June 17, 1834, in the 80th year of his age. The editor acknowledges his indebtedness to the following works for the facts relating to the life of Gen. Huntington. Johnson, H. P., Yale in the Revolution. Caulkins, History of Norwich. Vital Records of Norwich, 1659-1848. Huntington Family Memoirs. G. W. F. Blanchfield. Hartford, Conn. 13 To The Hon'ble Jabez Huntington Esq., Merchant Norwich Favored by Mr Robinson. New Haven April 15th 1774 Hon'd Sir In your last by Esq Sherman you wrote me that you Intend to send a horse for me next May should be glad if it is not Inconvenient you would Please to send of your own family with it for I have Several old Clothes that I want to have at Home and Cannot Carry them myself with other Necesaries. The Vacancy begins Generally the 6th Day of May, toward Night but as it Comes on friday so that Scholars that live at any great Distances Can not get home that week the President and tutors will (I believe) let them go away on thursday — Last Monday was freemans meeting here when they made Choice of Esq Bishop the first Deputy and after going round two or three times more made Choice of Esq Darling the Second Deputy, After that they tried hard to vote in the Petition which was drawn up at the Convention in Midletown but Could not Effect it at last they Divided the house and got it in by three Ma- jority have nothing further to write you but am in all Respects your Affectionate and Dutiful son Ebenezer Huntington P. S. The Deputies in the County are Pretty much as they were Last year there are but 3 New ones in this County. To Jabez Huntington Esq. Norwich. 15 Roxbury Camp Jvne 25th 1775 Hon'd Sir As I seldom have written to you perhaps you may think it is owning to Negligence but I afure you that is not the Case it is owing to my being so Prodigiously Hurried for the fall businefs in Flaxseed time is nothing to be Compared to the Fatigue I undergo Daily — get to bed att llo'Clock and up as soon as light appears with a great Deal of Care on my hands — Nothing has happen'd Lately worth Mentioning Except Yesterday, about 1 o' Clock the Regulars began Firing from the breast work and block house upon our lowermost Centinel & Main guard but did no harm, they Continued their fire till about 3 o'Clock, then they scour all Shells Carceses &C with a shott from their Cannons about four oClock two of our men very Imprudently ran down upon the neck to destroy the house their main guard was kept in. Suspecting they were then out, but they were fired upon by about thirty of the Regulars, who killed them, then went up to the bodies of the Dead and every one to a man thrust his Bayonet into their bodies — they might have easily taken them as they were both unarm'd but they rather choose to destroy them than take them Prisoners — (a Disgrace to the name of Britons) Our men in General did not regard their firing one half so much as they do a Shower of hail, those men belonging to the Train of Artillery from Rhode Island Espyed a Sheel falling ran up to it knocked out the (Phiz) (Fuse) and brought it up to the General with almost two Pounds of Powder in it, it is Strange that our People regard their firing no more than they do but 'it is Certainly true they do not Pay any Attention to it— We hear from Boston by a Gentlemen who made his Escape from thence in a fishing boat that Maj. Pitcairn, 16 Maj. Sherriff & Col Williams are Certainly killed and about thirty other officers and about twelve hundred Privates killed & wounded so that this lofs is a greater Proportion than it was in the Lexington Battle the Number of Wounded from Connecticut is 23, 13 Mifsing, N Hampshire 10 Mifsing Seventy four Wounded as to the lofs the Massachusetts Sustained I have not been able to Learn I am well & have been Well ever since I left home and as to Coming home in July I do not think at Present that I Can be With you so soon but Cannot tell should be Glad you would get a Certificate from President Daggett that I am in Regular Standing at College and likewife a Recommendation as I imagine I can have a Degree without Going to Connecticut for it if I have it Certified that I am in Regular Standing, for Doct Langdon hath given me Encouragement that he will give me one if N Haven President refuses it if I am denyed it only because of my tarry from College this Summer and my leaving it without Liberty in the Alarm Last April — I am Your Dutifull Son Ebenezer Huntington 17 The Hon'ble Jabez Huntington Esc fav'd of Mr Avery Camp at Roxbury June 29th 1775 Hon'd Sir I receiv'd your letter & Money Yesterday with a dozen of flints: you wonder why I want so many; the reason is this, My store is so situated that in Case the regulars should Come out I can no1 move anything out of it; therefor I shall have no reason for not fighting to defend it, which had I no other reason would be Suflfl- cient to Induce me to be Prepared for Defence — My Chest got safe to hand by Mr Morgan but was most grievously disapointed in not finding one or two Striped Jacketts in it, which I wanted and which might have been sent very Easily In my last to you I made mention about a degree, I inform'd you that there was a Chance of my having a degree Conf err'd upon me by Doct'r Langdon : Should be glad to have Liberty from you to purchase a suit of Cloths as my light Clothes were much dirtied for want of a Change before my Chest Came, which Obliged Me to ask Liberty for a new suit to make me appear Proper- ly Cloth'd at such a time, should I succeed — but at the same time would not be over Desirous as I am disposed to be as frugal as Pofsible I understand the Afsembly are Called together Concerning raising more troops should it so happen that Chester should be promoted and Mr Webb should get the Command of that Comp'y should be Extremely happy in having a first Lieut Birth under him at the same time would say that I would not Except of a Second Lieut Birth under him nor under any man in the world and Quit my businefs I find that threefourth of the Captains in this Province Pay are as unfit for their Station as I Should be for a 18 Gen'l in Command, not flattering myself would venture to say that I look upon myself fit f oi a Captaincy — As to news have none but what you have heard I am in all Refpects with proper Regards your Dutiful Son — Eben Huntington N B Should be glad you would show the lines above to some member of the lower house that would try to get me the birth above mention'd Eb Huntington 19 To The Hon'ble Jabez Huntington Esq. Merchant Norwich c /o Lieut Huntington Roxbury Camp July 23'D 1775 Hon'd Sir I wrote to you when at Hartford which by your letter you receiv'd I am very sorry that I have not yet received a Certificat of my regular Standing at College because then I could have had a Degree here without being beholden to President Daggett & it would have been but a trifling thing to have Certifyed me regular Standing I have Inclosed to you a list of the Council of this Province — you will see by the members against them thou that have ever been Appointed before — There was an unlucky Accident happened here Last friday about 6 o'clock a Carelefs Fellow belonging to a Company of this Province fooling with a Gun when it went of, Entered a little above the top of the Left breast of a young fellow belonging to the same Company and Came out in the same Direction drove the wad about half through — which was Extracted by Doct Cogswell Immediately who Drefsed the wound the young fellow Lay in great pain till about 9 o'Clock when he Expired The young fellow who shot the man has been in great trouble since the affair happened — Since I wrote you last I have Lamed myself but am much better though not so as to walk but very little — Pofsibly you may not have beared that our people have burnt the light house and brought away four men who took Care of the same but it is true I remain youi Dutiful Son — Eben Huntington Jabez Huntington Esq. Norwich 20 To Mr Andrew Huntington Merchant Norwich Fav'd you by your Brother Lieut Huntington Roxbury Camp July 23'd 1775 Dear Brother I Expected to have receiv'd a Letter from you before this time but it seems that you think but little of me Otherwife you would have wrote me before — I should have wrote to you and not waited for you to begin. I have been hurried with businefs so that I have not have time — the businefs that I have been Engag'd in hath been more fatigueing than Flaxseed businefs in the fall season — I have been trying for almost 5 Weeks to get Liberty to return & see you a little while but Can- not get it yet News, we have but little, and what little there is, is in the Letter Directed to father — I hope as soon as another Exprefs arrives from the grand Continental Congrefs to have better businefs & lefs Fatigueing that I now have — Give my Compliments to all Friend Love to your Wife & Children and to the other Brother & Sisters — If it is Pofsible I intend to see you before fall but it is very uncertain If I get a Birth I have a Profpect of which is Genteel & easy tho very steady & Confin'd — I am well as to bodily health, but lame for last Wednef- day I put out my ancle and it is so lame that I am Confin'd to my house — I remain your Friend & Loving brother Eben Huntington Andrew Huntington Merchant Norwich. 21 To Mr Andrew Huntington Merchant Norwich Fav'd of Col'o Trumbull Roxbury Camp Octo 3'd 1775 Dear Brother With Pleasure I fulfill my obligations to you in the Letter way — I should have wrote to you before but the great ur.easinefs which hath been in the Reg't about my Commifsion hath taken up all my time the matter is at Length in a measure Subsided though I can not say the OflBcers like the matter so well as I could wish — You will be much Surprised, to hear that our famous Doct'r Church that great pretended Patriot is now under a Special guard of a Capt'n & 40 Men for Correfponding with Gage and other of his Hellish Gang the Plot was discovered by his Mifs who is now with Child by him and he owns himself the father (for he has Difmifsed his Wife) she was the bearei of some of his Letters from this place to Newport to Cap't Wallace who hath the for- warding them to Boston — she left them with a man she Supposed friendly to Doct'r Church but was mistaken he having a Curiosity to know the Contents — Opened Them but they were wrote in Characters so that he was not able to understand them but Guefsing the contents brought the Letters & Girl to Gen'l Washington who after an Examination and 4 Hours underguard Con- fefs'd She Carried them from Doct'r Church — his tryal has not been yet but Suppose it will be e'er long — I wish that my Chest might be forwarded as I am in 22 want of sundry things that are in the Chest — as to news more than I have wrote have not any thing I am in all Refpects Your Friendly Brother (Gen') Eb Huntington P. S. Those Letters of Doct'r Church's & sundry others that were taken out of his Desk all of them wrote in Character on Decyphering will give you the contents when I shall become know- ing to them — Give my Love to your Wife & Other Sis- ter's & Brothers and also your Children — EbH 23 To Jabez Huntington Esq. Merchant Norwich cPost Camp at Roxbury Octo 5th 1775 Hon'd Parent I rec'd your letter by post dated 2d you mention about sending my Chest by Ben shall be glad to receive it I should have wrote to you before besides by Mr Wm Calkins but have had nothing material to mention Except yesterday About Doct'r Church when Cap't Trumbull Could tell you more particularly than I could write — Doct'r Church was yesterday before a meeting of the Generals but the news hath not any more tranf- pired. Night before last one of the Committee of Newbury Post arrived at Head Quarters with a large parcel of Letters they had taken out of a ship from London This ship 300 tons burden was taken by the boats from Newbury port with upward of 2000 bis of Flour and some English Goods the Contents of the Packet of Letters brought to the General is not yet made known but Suppose they must Contain something important as there is a large Packet of them The uneasinefs in the Regiment about my Commifsion still reamains but I am Directed by Gen'l Washington to take my place and am advised by almost all the Gen'ls & field Officers not to think of returning as my going up the point now will put it out of the power of any one that doth not belong to the regiment to come in hereafter — ^I hope the Officers will grow more easy as it makes it disagreeable — I am in all refspects your most Dutiful Son — ■ Eben Huntington 24 To Jabez Huntington Esq. Merchant Nonvich Roxbury Camp Nov 22'd 1775 Hon'd Sir This minute I rec'd your favour by post & Observe the Contents — Am very glad that I am clear of those difficulties as to the Reg't not only as it easies me, but as as it gives you Satifaction to hear those difficulties subside — ^The universal determination of the Soldiers from Connecticut seem to be for home at the Expiration of their Seven Months altho they have been repeatedly Solicited in Gen'l Orders to tarry longer. We have great reason to fear that our Enemies knowing our Situation will Endeavor to take the Advantage of it which if they do the Consequences will be worse than it is Generally thought. I have enclosed you a List of the Officers only of Col'o Wyllys Reg't upon the New Arrangement but will Endeavor to give you a list of the whole Brigade by next post Orders are now given out for one Officer out of Each of the new Companies to go on the Recruting Service — The 2'd Lieut of our Company is now out on that businefs when he returns, I expect to have an Oppor- tunity to go on the same businefs As to news we have none — Family in usual Health, Brother Joshua was well Yesterday — I am your very dutiful Son Ebenezer Huntington 25 The Hon'ble Jabez Huntington Esq. Merchant Norwich Fav'd by Mr Peleg Hyde Camp at Roxbury Jan'y 12th 1776 Hon'd Sir This day I rec'd your fav'd by Mr Newin in which you are pleas'd to say that I have not acknowledged your fav'd in which was inclosed a letter from Cap't Chester — That letter I rec'd dated Jan'y 2d I thought I had acknowledged it or should have done it before this time — As to filling up the new Army, it is carried on as well as could be expected considering how disgusted the Old Soldiers went home — As for my own Part I have in- listed but a few, but the Company is as forward as some others — the other two Officers are now on the recruiting service the Enf'n I hear has inlisted about 18 Men but do not know whether it may be relied upon — the other L't has been gone about 8 days — I made a Serg't belong- ing to Wethersfield who went home & inlisted twenty two men came to Camp and after he came to Camp was Encouraged by a Captain of the Reg't to Ensigney if he would join the 22 Men to his Company accordingly the fellow left me because I had not the Inlistments they had signed — I would not hold him nor his men — As to paying a Visit to my friends at home I lay by all thoughts of it at Present and conclude to wait till we have open'd intrenchments on Dorchester hill — I am your ever dutiful son Ebenezer Huntington P. S. Inlisted into Cap' Ham- chets Comp'y contain thirty nine men besides Commif- sion'd Officers 26 Mr. Andrew Huntington Merchant Norwich Fav'd you by L't Huntington Camp at Roxbury 21st Jan'y 1776 Dear Brother Your favour of the 11th Instant I this day Rece'd (I beUeve) by the hands of Mr Prince — You must have heard different accounts ere now from Quebeck than what you mention in your letter I wish it had been as you heard (that is it had not been worfe) Brave Mont- gomery is dead, but he dyed in defence of a glorious Cause, & I hope is happy — Poor Arnold escaped with a wound that Splinter'd the bone of his leg: tho' his wound was not bad, yet he was Obliged to be out so long, to make a safe retreat for his men, that he was much weakened with the lofs of Blood, & very much fatigued, The Aid de Camp of Gen'l Montgomery was killed — Maj'r Bigilow, & Meiggs are spoken highly of likewife Maj'r Ogden who acted as Major of brigade, who received a ball through his Shoulder — this young Gentlemen & one Burr who was Secretary to Col'o Arnold both came Volunteers from N Jerfey & are much spoken of as to Activity in the battle & great good Coiirage I wish to be able to give you the particulars of the whole battle but Imagine that you will be able to get it sooner through the Gov'r Hands — as I make no doubt he will have the particulars — I feel very anxious about Sister Lucy I hope you will be able to tell me that she is better by next Letter — I wish to tell you something about Dorchefter but cannot, tho' Expect to be able to by the first of Feb'y I have inclosed you the Strength of Gen'l Spencers Brigade for your Curiosity — I venture to send it to my friends but should it get into the hands 27 of our Enemies it might be of great damage, by showing our Weaknefs just at this time you will see that it is not exposed I conclude by subscribing myself your friendly Brother Ebenezer Huntington P. S. A Paper came out of Boston last friday Intended to have got it and inclosed it to you but P Fanning first got it & has enclosed it to brother Joshua 28 Jabez Huntington Esq Norwich Roxbury Camp Feb 22d 1776 Hon'd Sir I rec'd your favour of ye 14th Instant, & (from) Brother, and Should have answer'd it before now, but Concluding an answer was not necefsary, have defer'd it till now — When Mamma was at Camp, I told her that I wanted some money sent to me, but have never received any — I have this day borrowed of Mr Fanning Sixty dollars which I shall be glad to replace when Convenient — I have never rec'd any money since I have been in Camp, except the Small Pittance of wages, which was due to me for service to the 10th Dec'r — You desir'd in your last an exact return of Cap't Hanchits Comp'y — 1 Cap't at Quebeck, 1 enf'n sick in Country, 1 L't going Recruiting toMorrow, — Inlisted into the Comp'y with N Commif Off'rs & Soldiers 53 Men one of which has deserted — 12 of the Comp'y sick and Judg'd unfit for duty by the Reg't Doctor We have the Promise from 2 Men that they will inlist in the morning — I was in hopes to have had some agreeable news about Boston or Dorchester to acquaint you with — but have not & an afraid as they seem to be adjourning from Week to Week that I shall not very soon — It is not so healthy in Camp as we wish, but the sick seem rather recruiting, tho' many are unfit for duty by reason of Violent Colds — Brother Jed buried one of his Off'rs yesterday and another lies sick but hope he will soon recover — Nothing further but Subscribe myself Your dutiful Son Eb Huntington 29 The Hon'ble Jabez Huntington Esq Norwich Fav'd of Mr Hyde Camp at Roxbury March 4th '76 Hon'd Sir This Night our Orders are to take Pofsefsion of Dorchester Hill under the Command of Brig'r Gen'l Thomas — Two thousand men including proper Officers to Parade at 6 o'Clock Past Dorchester to be Relieved at 3 o'clock to morrow morning by three thousand men including officers among which are the Col'o Maj Chester Maj Trumbull & Myself — ^we expect a warm Engage- ment at the same time think it uncertain as they must know that we shall go very strong & I hope strong enough to Repulse them should they dare to show their heads there — But the God of Battles along can deter- mine who is able to save us — you will undoubtly hear before this reaches you some flying Report about our taken Pofsefsion there — that you may think I am not unmindful about the danger I am going into I can tell you that my cloaths & Papers are properly secured in case that my maker should in his great good Pleasure so oidain that I should not live to Come off the Hill I must beg your Prayers for us in every Difficult time and Pray that we may succeed as we trust that we are fighting the Lords Battle — from Gen'l Spencers Brigade there are going this night 9 Cap'ts 27 Subalterns, 42 Serg'ts 42 Corp'ls 700 Rank & file— at 3 o'Clock to morrow morning 12 Cap'ts 36 Subalterns 57 Serg'ts 57 Corp'ls 863 Rank & file — I had like to have forgot to Acknowledge a Letter Rec'd the night before Brother went from this — the reason was because I was unwell but am better now I have no news to write further but remain your ever Dutiful Son Ebenezer Huntington Respects to Mamma Love to Brothers & Sisters 30 Jabez Huntington Esq Norwich Roxbury Camp 7th March 1776 Hon'd Parent Dorchester Hills are at last taken Pofsefsion of by our People who went on in the Even'g following the 4th March in a Party of 2000 men including. Proper Officers under the Command of Brigadier Gen'l Thomas who began two forts, one on each of the high hills, and two small Redoubts just as you Pafs the neck which Re- doubts were built to Play upon the floating Batteries that should attempt to annoy our People Pafsing the Neck This party was reliev'd at 3 o'Clock next morning by a larger Party of 3000 men Including Proper Officers — ^the Party was increas'd from 2 to 3000 in Expections of an Attack as soon as they should discover us — but we were unhappily mistaken — I say unhappily, because I believe it would have Put an End to the War in the N England Colonies, Had an Action taken Place — We went on so well Prepar'd that had they came out with a number suff't to withstand us, the town would have been in the hands of our great & brave Gen'l Putnam in a little time after they had come out — I wrote you the 4th March intended to have sent you by Mr Hyde but he has not taken it & I now send it by Post — I should Lengthen the letter but the Post is waiting — I am your Dutiful Son Eben Huntington 31 Jabez Huntington Norwich Camp at Roxbury March 21 '76 Hon'd Sir Since we have taken Pofsefsion of Dorchester Hill I have had the pleasure of receiving two letters from you the dates I have forgot and as the letters are both out of my Pocket you will excufe my acknowledging them otherways — When Doctor Turner set out from this Place I was in Boston & could not write to you but desir'd him to inform you that I wanted a horse to be sent to me immediately as I then expected that the troops would march to N York very soon & that I should march with them — but since he went away, the Comp'y which I had the Care of has been fill'd up & the Captaincy given to Jed'h Hyde which has so much disoblig'd me & all my friends that this morning By good advise I shall wait on his Excellency to resign my Commifsion unlefs some- thing can be done to Satisfaction tho' at the same time I request a horse to be sent — Last Sunday our troops marched in & took Pofsefsion of the town of Boston after the Regulars had evacuated it which they did about four o' Clock Sunday morning after Plundering everything they wanted without respect to Persons they were in so great fear of our following them as they quitted the Neck that they had filled up the streets in several Places with old Casks to stop our Progrefs and ran with great Haste & all the signs of fear Pofsible to be shown — The town of Boston is not so much destroy'd as I expected tho' it is destroy'd more at the North & at the south End than any where Elfe — Mr Cutlers family are well I have din'd there breakfasted & drank — there in the afternoon — 32 t' r f^^f^fr^ /A/y^^-vM ^ y^^^ ,/^. ^ /^?c^5» . ^ ^-'^a,/ «a,^;» ^ ^^^ / jit.# / ^at^^>-€-£ '^«-»-> ^^ / Z / ^ /P .4* *' ^f''?*-*- '^^ c^k--^^ ^J^r-T^ o-^^.'^' ^y r>.^r^A £-^ ^'•^ t>'Zi-<. -^i? A £^^.&^r f-'^y / "XCo^-a.^ «>v^?»i<^ «^i*j^ ^«^«-«-» » "=0 ^i^7 >4-.^>'i,-<^ /^-.^^"::;^^^"'^£;^^^-^^;^^ ^..^^omT^^ ..^>^ /^^ ^^Xiy -^-^ ^^- • y&~j^^r^^ y Dear Sir Your favors of the 4th & 10th Ult came safe to hand, tho' rec'd only three days since, at the time I lec'd them I was on the Unes, but have since been reliev'd As I have been on duty so much for four Weeks past, I have not been able to get my Hutt Compleated but. am now paying my utmost attention to it I am in hopes, to get it Compleated by the first of Next Month, if the Weather is favorable — at present I have taken Quarters in one of the Officers Hutts where I expect to remain till my own is so far finish'd as to move into it — I ob- serve that in your letter you mention about being Con- tinued in the 3d Clafs of the Lottery — I wish it by all means beg you would pay attention to it for me, & I have not been able to hear a line from my good father since I left Norwich & as I left him much unwell am very Anxious, he used to write me & as I have rec'd no line from him have Supposed that his Indisposition is greater than when I left him, I wish you would write to me particularly about him — We have nothing new in this part of the World as to the Excursion the Enemy made at Elisabeth town, you must have had the Par- ticulars in the Newspapers, as it hath been Published and very Exactly — Congrefs are now deliberating about the Reduction of some of the Reg'ts What Reg'ts or what number will be reduc'd, I know not but suppose & wish the Greater part, as I think it very unnecessary & Expensive to keep so great a Number of Officers in 83 Service & so few Men — Pofsibly I shall be one of the Number, wish it may be the Case as I think it would be very agreeable, to live at Ease & Quietnefs once more (free from the Noise & Dim of Arms) & restore an Injured Constitution, too much worn in the Service of an Ungrateful Country I think this Winter must have been a very agreeable one with you; Horses in plenty & good Sleighing — A happy Circle plenty of the Necefsaries & Comforts of life & so free from Businefs as to have nothing Interfere with your Pleasures, except the 111 health of our good father should damp them — You ask me what Number of Troops have gone from N York who Commanded them & where bound — The Number is uncertain. Sir Henry is gone in Person, & I believe without any doubt bound to the Southward I wish my love & Respect to those with you & to whom due I am dear Brother Yours Affectionately Eben Huntington 84 Mount Pleasant, Hutts, 11th May 1780 Dear Sir By a letter from Mamma rec'd some days since I find that you suppose me in Debted to you for several letters, I may be for letters wrote, but not for letters rec'd I have rec'd but few letters from my friends since I left Connecticut and a very few of them from Norwich — I understand by a line from Brother Jed'h that his Waggon is to move towards Camp as soon as the Grafs hath grown suff't to subsist the Horses, I wish it may be soon, as I expect some stores in it — ^With an Expection that I may have an Opportunity of getting a Hatt when made, I wish you to get me an Elegant beaver one made, by Hinsman or such other person as you may think proper, I wish it very large & well made, the Size of the Crown is rather smaller than Brother Joshua, more than Commonly deep, & not Cock'd that part I will do my- self, I wish it may be done by the 1st of June — I am not entirely without Expections of a Visit into Con- necticutt, if I should do it I shall spare a day for my Norwich friends — Col' Grover now waiting Obliges me to Close by saying that I am dear Sir — Yours Sincerely Eben Huntington 85 Andrew Huntington Esq Norwich Bush Hutts N Jersey 4 Miles from Pasacik falls July 7 1780 Dear Sir I must Acknowledge some letters from my Norwich friends among which one from you, which should have been acknowledge'd before this, but our very rambly Situation will not admit of any Conveniency for writing, this I write on my knee — We took the field the 7th of last Month, not from Inclination but from Necefsity, as the Enemy moved so near our Hutts as Oblig'd us to send our Baggage into the Rear & for want of tents & teams to Carry them we have lain in the Woods without any Covering but what the Almighty gives the Brute ' Creation to which State we verge fast — Our whole Army when Collected amounted to About 2 /3'd of the force of the Enemy. When the Enemy first landed & advanced they were much harras'd by the Militia, which ' for some reason induc'd the Enemy to bum wherever they went — after lying in N Jersey sometime they Manovered as tho' they intended a move up the N River, in Consequence of which his Excellency March'd ■ toward W. Point with 5 Brigades, leaving behind Max- wells & Stark Brigads, the 23d the Enemy moved from Elizabeth town (to which Place they had Previously retir'd) toward Springfield where our troops lay except Parties advanced — our People fought them as they . advanc'd" btit when they had got to Springfield they endeavor'd to turn our left flank at the same time push- ing a heavy column toward our Centre, our troops - Repuls'd them on the left, tho' the Enemy gain'd the Pafs in the Centre After about 40 Minutes very heavy fireing — Col' Angells Reg with some small detachments from the line fought there Main force during the 40 Minutes Col' Angells Reg't lost 41 killed & Wounded out of about 160, officers Included — the Enemy suffered much by their own accounts — our troops behav'd well & receiv'd the thanks of Gen'l Green & the Commander in Chief about 3 o'Clock P. M. they retir'd our people harafsing their Rear, until they had got within their lines which they had hove up on Elisabeth town Point, the night following they Retreated to Statten Island & the 25th we began our March to Join the Main Army which lay at Ramapaugh except the Connecticut line which had moved on to W Point. We lie in the Woods as stated in the beginning of this letter, hoping to be able to have tents in a few days — The Rascally Stupidity which now prevails in the Coimtry at large, is beyond all descriptions they Patiently see our Illustrious Com- mander at the Head of 2,500 or 3,000 Ragged tho Virtous & good Men & be oblig'd to put up with what no troops ever did before Why dont you Reinforce your Army, feed them Clothe and pay them, why do you Suffer the Enemy to have a foot hold on the Conti- nent? You Can prevent it, send your Men to the field, believe you are Americans Not suffer yourselves to be dup'd into the thought that the french will relieve you & fight your Battles, it is your own Superiomefs that induc'd Congrefs to ask foreign Aid, it is a Reflection too much for a Soldier, You dont deserve to be freemen unlefs you can believe it yourselves, when they arrive they will not put up with such treatment as your Army have done they will not serve Week after Week without Meat without Cloathing, & paid in filthy Rags. I despise My Countrymen. I wish I could say I was not bom ih America, I once gloried in it but am now ashamed 87 of it — If you do your duty, tho' late, you may finish the War this Campaign, you must Immediately fill your Regiments, & pay your troops in Hard Monies they can not excit as Soldiers otherwise — The In- sults & Neglects which the Army have met with from the Country, Beggers all description, it must Go no farther they can endure it no longer, I have wrote in a Pafsion, indeed I am scarce ever free from it — I am in Rags, have lain in the Rain on the Ground for 40 hours past, & only a Junk of fresh Beef & that without Salt to dine on this day, rec'd no pay since last December Constituents complaining, & all this for my Cowardly Countrymen who flinch at the very time when their Exertions are wanted, & hold their Purse Strings as tho they would Damn the World, rather than part with a Dollar to their Army — I will leave this page & ask your Attention to the next — Enclosed you will receive an Order on Elijah Hubbard Esq Middletown for £ 3.000 which I wish to be pro- vided and laid out for me in Clothing — agreeable to following invoice — 3J^ yards Superfine Blue B'd Cloth 7 doz best white C't Buttons for the same, 3 yards Superfine White B'd Cloth, Lining for two Coats, Lining for two Jackets, indeed everything to make up the Cloth for Coat & the Underdrefs, also White Lining proper for 4 Vests & 4 breeches, 3 pr boot Stockings thread, the Hatt I wrote for some time since — If I have Credit or can pofsibly obtain it for these Articles I wish them immediately, the sooner the better, my Red Coats I cannot wear — Pray exert yourself for them, I stand in great need of everything mention — Yours &C Eb Huntington Make my love, Compliments &C to my friend & believe that I must wish to see them & have for five Weeks expected it, but am now induc'd to believe I shall I shall not see you soon — Adieu If Cap't Asa Waterman hath or should forward a trunk & bedding to you, I wish it sent on to me — 89 Mr. Andrew Huntington Wethersfield 27th November 1780 Dear Sir By a letter from Major Talmadge, we are inform'd that last Week he went over to Long Island with a Party of 80 Men, that he marched to a place called Coram about 16 Miles from where he landed indeed t'was almost acrofs the Island, where he attach'd Fort St George Garrison'd with 60 Men, Carried it & took about 40 Prisoners, on his Return to his boats, he burnt a Magazine of Forage of about 300 tons of Hay & return 'd safe — in taking the Fort he had one man Wounded, th'o Slightly- Let me tell you this Town are about Procuring two fine Shirts for each of their Officers in the Line of the Army, Pray dont be behind hand (I want a Couple) in doing good — Congrefs have given or rather resolved to give each of the Lads who took Andre, 200 Dollars Annually in Specie for Life, & have order'd a Silver Medal to be given each of them, with a Copy of the Resolve in their favor — By letters from Camp, I find that I am Arranged on the New Establishment, which is by no means pleasing; I have wrote my friends in hopes to get it Altered but fear I shall not be able — After wishing my love to you I Subscribe myself Yours Sincerely Eben Huntington 90 Andrew Huntington Esquire Norwich Weth'd 25th Jan'y '81 Dear Brother When I was at Northampton I saw a Mr Strong (whom Mr Strong of Norwich wrote to about board) who told me he had wrote to Mr Strong every thing necefsary about it I got brother Zach' in with some difficulty at 9s / per Week at a Mr John Hunts, a very Clean place — I was at Hadly and Amherst, our friends were all very well & desired much Love & Compliments to the families at Norwich as doth your Affectionate Brother Eben Huntington P. S. I have wrote Brother Jed'h every Particular about Bills & Notes to be negotiated at the treasury & Commifsion of Loans — 91 Andrew Huntington Hartford 2d March 81 Dear Brother Your favor respecting the State Notes was duly rec'd, at present the treasurer will not do anything about them, he says he can not untill some other businefs is Compleated, nor can he tell how soon it will be in bis power — I rec'd a line from Brother Joshua respecting a small Bill for Paper supplied the Forts at N London, the Committee of Pay table will give no orders in Conti: for that reason I have return'd the Bill by Doctor Turner that it may be properly made in State Money as that is the only Currency which the pay table will give orders io — I have also inclosed three setts of Bills for 12 Dollars each in favor of Brother Jed'h also his Cer- tificate, which beg you to deliver him, his other Matters which he wrote me about I shall attend to — (One letter to the family must excuse me at this time) I wish Brother Joshua to raise me £50, Solid if it can be done no other way he must sell one of my State Notes for as much as it will fetch if it is not above £50, State Money, I must raise that sum in hand at all Hazards — With the most Affectionate feelings to the families I subscribe myself Your very Humble Serv't Eben Huntington State Money at Hartford is two & a half for one Conti: 75 92 Andrew Huntington Merchant Norwich Light Infantry Camp Dobbs Ferry August 2d 1781 Dear Sir Since I left Norwich, I have not been favored with a line from you, but by letters lately rec'd from Sister Nancy by Brother Jed'h, am inf orm'd my friends are in usual health, & that no material Alterations has taken place in Respect to our good Father, hope you will be able to inform me he has recover'd his usual Health & Spirits — Nothing has happen'd lately worthy your information. Our Kingsbridge Expedition you must have long since had the Particulars of, hope soon to give you some intelligence of Consequence, altho' at Present we remain very peaceable in Camp — The Enemy have no post without Kingsbridge except a small Garrison in Fort N 8 which is on or rather near Harlem Creek about a Mile below Kingsbridge toward Morifsania, they very seldom venture out more than a Mile this side Kingsbridge toward our Camp except the Horse Thieves of Delancys From the Repeated Promices of his Excellency the Governour & Council to the Committee Previous to their leaving Connecticut, we have from time en- couraged the Officers & Soldiers to wait with Pa- tience, & that they would without any Doubt receive some Money soon they have waited with earnestness but are now almost outrageous, they Complain of the 111 Usage they receive from the State, the more they Suffer the more the State insults them by their 93 Neglect, you have no right to expect their Services a Moment Longer, they have served you from the 1st of Jan'y 77 & have rec'd but just their Wages for 77, the rest is due, you obliged them to Loan you two Years, & now withhold the Interest; They have since the Loaning of those two Years, served you 18 Months' have rec'd three Months Nominal Pay in Old Continental Money (at 75 for one) we have borne till we can bear no longer, you must pay us in Gold, or find other Servants, & those who ask no Wages — If we meet such Treatment from you when our Services are so much wanted, what can we expect at the Close of the Campaign (should it be Glorious) when you have no further need of our Services, but Insult & Injury in a triplicate Proportion from what we have already rec'd should it be in your power to inflict so great an Allow- ance from a Store which ought to be exhausted — We are serving with the French Army where the Ofiiceis dine in Luxury & give us frequent invitation to their tables, we can't go to them, because we can not return the Compliment, Cloath feed & Pay us & you may have any Services you wish, but you must not expect nor shall you receive but little more without, I do not aim at you Personally, I can excuse you & many more, but the State at large, don't deserve freedom, nor no other People on Earth, who are neither willing to Con- tend for Freedom Personally or for those who will defend their Cowardly Souls, Think one Moment at the very time you ought to have had your troops all in the field Cloath'd & Disciplin'd (will say no more about pay) you are just forwarding your three Months Men, & them to be the Subject of the Drill during their Service — Excuse me I am warm, & angry at the State, but still am yours Sincerely — 94 This letter will not be signed nor will you need any signation to know the Writer — My Love to your good Lady & the rest of the Circle Joshua was to have forwarded some Salt fish & a Case of Wine, I have heard nothing about them since I left Norwich tho' should be very happy to, or even to know whether they have been forwarded & are safe 95 Andrew Huntington Norwich Connecticut To the Care of Gen'l Huntington Peeks Kill Camp before York 10th October 1781 Dear Sir. Ten days si ace I wrote you by some Seamen bound to N London & Norwich who had been captured at Sea by the Enemy & recaptured by our good Allies and Landed in this State, that they might return to their friends, at the time I wrote we had but just disem- barked in James River after coming down the Bay from the Head of Elk, since while I think I wrote, but by what Conveyance or when am not able to say, this will be forwarded to Gen'l Huntington, who takes charge of all my letters bound further Eastward — Since I wrote you we have removed as you see by the date of this, on our approach the Enemy evacuated their out works & began Strengthening their more interior ones we have attac'd their abandoned out works & tum'd them against York & since then run our first Parallel & built our Batteries on it & open'd them yesterday, at present we have about 30 heavy pieces open'd on the town, but in 6 days more unlefs his Lordship Complains of our fire, we shall have upward ol Ninety including Mortars to teaze him with, which must Inevitably from his Situation oblige him to Surrender Yours Sincerely without Signature 96 Andrew Huntington Esquire Norwich By David Mattison Connecticut Village 16 March 82 Dear Sir Since leaving Norwich, I have not been favoured with a line from any of my friends except from General Hvmtington, If I was to judge from the Leisure you had when I left you, but little doubt would remain of the want of time, the reasons why I don't hear from you. I will not undertake to judge of, but you may rest afsure'd I shall be happy to hear from you as often as you can make it Convenient, as I feel very anxious about our good father, whose situation was very disagreeable when I last heard from him, tho' better than when I parted with him — We are Hutted between two very high hills about Eight Miles from Fish Kills and en- tirely sequestered from the World, or the pleasures thereof, & at Present without any News — I have ever had an Idea of Poverty, but never experienced it more, I have but 2 /3 £ M'oy only & am in debt Eleven dollars which I have borrowed, to buy Potatoes, butter &C but I am in hopes that a Relief will Come, previous to the Expiration of that 2 /3, as I shall take good Care of it- Wishing you & friends Health and happinefs I sub- scribe myself Affectionately Yours Eben Huntington 97 Colonel Howell Woodbridge Glastenbury Wethersfield 5th May 1782 Dear Sir I am Called on as Mustering Officer to give a Returns tomorrow Evening of all Men in the Army Consider'd as belonging to Hartford Coimty, which I can not do unlefs I can obtain it from some one of the County Committee, would therefore esteem it a particular favor if you will make out a list of the Men for me, that I may Copy by same & forward to the General — Was I not obliged to attend the Rendezvouz at Hartford to morrow, I should not have asked so much from you but would have waited on you & made out a Copy, but as it is must request the same of you — I will send for it tomorrow Evening unlefs you have an Opportunity to forward the same by some of the Men who attend the Rendezvous — With Respect & Esteem Your Humble Servant Eben Huntington Col' Woodbridge 98 Andrew Huntington Merchant Norwich Hon'd by Mr Judson Camp Verplanks Point 4th September 82 Dear Sir We moved our Camps from the Highlands to this Place the 1st Instant, & I believe merely to get new gromid, as we have no Object in view Offensive, & for the defensive our last position was best, we have but little else to do but discipline our men, getting them ready to take pofsefsion of N York when the Enemy shall leave it — Our Expectations are great as to the Evacuation of New York, Betts are nearly equal, the Enemy have evacuated Charlestown, an order for the evacuation or rather information was given for it, the 12th Ult to the Inhabitants of Charlestown by the Gen'l commanding there, the Garrison is daily expected at New York — a British fleet is hourly expected at N York, they have been spoke with on the Coast, Pofsibly to Convoy the Garrison — I am wishing my love to be given Sister & the Neighbourhood Yours Affectionately Eben Huntington 99 Andrew Huntington Esq Norwich Connecticut Camp Verplank Point 4th Oct' 1782 My Dear Sir Your favor of the 17th & 23d Ultimo were Duly- received for which am much obliged to you — Brother Gen'l on his return home was able to give you all the news then with us, & since his leaving us we have not a single word — In regard to the Subject of a horse, I dare not give you much encouragement, as there are but few Horses worth having in the Q M Gen'l hands, and those when sold are to be bid off at Vendue for his Notes only which he has been giving this Campaign, (which are de- preciated 25 per Cent,) and many other publick Stores in the like pay, and as those notes & Securities are bad property it will not do to speculate in them, and as they are depreciated so much, & the pofsessors dis- couraged as to the payments, every thing will go high, and those Notes are as valuable to the publick as Cash for they must be redeemed this fall, — I intend to obtain a horse from the Q M Gen'l for myself if it can be done Cheap, but I really believe that Horses are 15 or 18 if not 25 per Cent Cheaper out of Camp than in — Brother Jed'h is with you & I think can better advise you than myself — Wishing my Compliments & Love to the Circle & your Health & happinefs I subscribe myself Yours Affectionately Eben Huntington 100 Col' Joshua Huntington Garrison West Point 13th Nov'r 1782 Dear Sir Inclosed you will receive an Order in my favor on the treasurer of the town of Norwich, which I wish you to Negotiate for me, if it can not be done, beg you will write me that I may secure it some other way — We have no news at present from any Quarters, the Reduction of the Regiments has employed much of our time for a fortnight past, for particulars I refer you to Cap't Durkee who will deliver you this My best Wishes attend you & Circle Yours Sincerely Eben Huntington 101 Andrew Huntington Norwich Garrison West Point 9th Dec'r 1782 Dear Sir So good an Opportunity as this by Frank I am un- willing to let pafs by without a line, th'o I have it not in my power to acknowledge the Rec't of a single line from you for a very long time — Since the troops have come on to the Point the two youngest Reg'ts have been reduced & only three remain, at which reduction I await'd myself of the Opportunity to get out of Col' Webbs Reg't and am now in Col' Butlers — We have no news of any kind here, the troops are very uneasy for want of pay & have appointed a Committee to wait on Congrefs to Obtain Pay & some other Matters which they consider themselves as fully entitled to, th'o not in so much need of — The Event of the Embafsy must be agreeable to the Line, or I dread the Consequences — Should the Sleighing be good I shall endeavour to pay you a short visit during the Winter but it is by no means certain. Wishing you & the Circle Health & Happinefs I subscribe Yours Sincerely Eben Huntington 102 Colonel Joshua Huntington Norwich To the Care of Mr Wm Coit Hartford Wethersfield 13th March 1783 Dear Sir I have spoken to Brother Jack ab't the money you rec'd from Capt. John Belding, would in Consequence of which conversation advise you to write Brother Zack & request him to pay the same — The Waggon has arrived from Camp & will set off again this Morning — & I shall take my distance & departure this Afternoon or to morrow morning — Since I wrote Brother Zack I have received the long wish'd for letter & two others from Brother Jed'h the last dated 7th Inst' at which time the family was well & no Confirmation of Peace — I have left the Notes for Mr Rodman with Brother Chester and the form of a Rec't agreeable to Brother Jed's wishes If Mr Rodman can make it pofsible to return the same Notes to Jed'h it will be pleasing & I think he will be able, if M Benj' Huntington don't deliver them to the Treasurer until Mr Rodman can look about himself Love to the Circle Yours Aif ectionately Eben Huntington 103 Mr Andrew Huntington Merchant Norwich West Point 29th March 83 Dear Sir Permit my Congratulations to you as Peace being agreed on — The Commander in Chief has announced it to us, & tho he rec'd his Information from the Sec'y of Foreign Affairs, still Congrefs has no Official Acc't but the news comes by Cadiz from the Marquis la fayette who on receiving the account from Paris & orders for the fleet not to sail, Dispatched a boat to Philadelphia to the French Minister, and at the same time wrote the Gen'l & Congratulated him on the Confirmation of peace — we have not the least doubt of it, & that very soon we shall be disolved as a Military body, & Join with our Countrymen in the Walks of Private Life. Wishing Love to the Circle I subscribe Yours Eben Huntington 104 Mr Andrew Huntington Merchant Norwich By Serg't Reynolds West Point 16th April 1783 Dear Sir Your letter by Mr Goodale, was received as was one from Brother Joshua & another from Brother Zach to whom I shall not be able to write at this time — I observe by your letter that Whipple was not able to obtain his wages from the town for want of his Notes not being forwarded to the Selectmen — I wrote the Selectmen the 16th of March in which letter were contain 'd Whipples Notes which I rec'd from Mr Beers on their older, amounting to £19 17 8 payable in two Notes, & for- warded the same by Nathan Edgerton as being a good Conveyance, at which time I wrote you & Brother Joshua, am not a little surprized that they have not been received — I wish you to inform the Select Men the Situation the matter is in that some Steps may be taken for Securing the Notes by Advertizing them in Case they are not yet received — The Conveyance was so good that Gea'l Huntington sent sundry Articles to the family & no account of their being received — I Congratulate you on the Confirmation of Peace — & Subscribe myself Yours Sincerely Eben Huntington 105 Mr Andrew Huntington Merchant Norwich West Point 12th August 1783 Dear Sir When I left Norwich I was in expectation that the Definitive Treaty would have arrived before this, & that before the close of this Month I should have been with you, but it appears not as yet, and when to fix on for a period to celebrate it, is difficult tho' we most earnestly wish it, that we may return to private Life with all the care & Comfort, that an ungrateful Coun- tryman will permit — how much that will be, God Knows when we are become, not only the objects of abuse in the publick prints, and called the Harpies & Locusts of the Country, but am even so Obnoxious as to be Mobbed, and that under the Eyes of the Civil Authority if not under their Direction — God grant us Govern- ment, as States, free & independent, or give us a King, even tyranny is better than Anarchy — and I am well convienced the people do not know to distinquish between Liberty and licentiousnefs — If you have no particular Cloth procured for me, I wish you to get me enough to replace that you had of me of the same Colour or nearly so, that I may get my Regimentals aside soon after I get home, & lay them up against a revolution, which will happen in Eighteen Months, unlefs govern- ment is supported — God blefs you and my Brother Adieu Eben Huntington 106 Mr Andrew Huntington Merchant Norwich To the care of Mr John Moore New York West Point 2d September 1783 Dear Sir Since I last wrote you, I have not been favored with a line from you or any of the family, th'o by a letter from Mr Fanning to the General am informed that Brother Joshua has been very low and dangerous, but at the time he wrote was thought better and indeed on the recovery am very happy to hear it — ^at the time this letter arrived here, the Gen'l & myself was up the River, we have been a tour up to Saratoga on the Hudson, and to Schenectady on the Mohawk River, and are in rap- tures with that Country, and if the present dirty spirit which prevails through Connecticut should continue, I think it not unlikely that we shall leave the State of Connecticut, and settle in this, or go further west — for we can not be very happy to continue with a people who criminate us for making them free, it is too ungrateful, & I think I may say that a person who is capable of Ingratitude is capable of every rascality My love to the family & Circle Adieu Yours Affectionately Eben Huntington 107 Andrew Huntington Merchant Norwich By Pettingal Dear Sir West Point 6th September 83 Three days since I wrote you by way of N York, at that time not expecting a more direct Conveyance but anxiety has induced me at length to send a soldier on purpose to carry letter & bring in news from Norwich, beg you will be so good as to favor me with every thing worth notice by his return, we have no news at this post or from the South, all our news, is of commutation, and that from the Hartford paper, the Lad who carries this has leave of absent for twelve days, & will call on you the Evening before he leaves home for this post — With much Affection for the Circle I subscribe myself Yours Eben Huntington 108 A Return for a Suit of Clothing for the Band of Musick belonging to the Officers of Col. Sam B. Webbs Battalion Timothy Olmstead 2 2 2 Epraphras Jones 2 2 2 Solomon Goodrich 2 2 2 John Steel 2 2 2 Stephen Moulton 2 2 2 Prosper Hosmer 2 2 2 William Hooker 2 2 2 Jared Bunce 2 2 2 8 8 8 16 8 16 8 16 It is desir'd that the Uniform may be Yellow if to be had: if not then White, but be it White or Yellow, wish it may be fac'd with Scarlet, Lin'd with white, & White Underdrefs — White Buttons — Warren 30th Dec'r 1778 E Huntington Maj'r Com- mand'r Col' Sam B. Webbs Battalion Warren 7th Jan'y 1779 Sir Procure the above Articles & make Report to me that your Expenses may be paid by the public I Varmun B G 109 Major Huntington Providence 29th April 1779 I do Certify on Honour that the Within Bill was made out for Clothing which Gen'l Sullivan desir'd Gen'l Varmun to inform me of, as it was a Gratuity to the Band of Musick, over and above the Continental Allowance of Clothing. Eb Huntington Maj'r no INDEX Abott, Col 60, 64 Anderson, (Abiel) ... 58 Andre, 90 Angells, Col 87 Arnold, (Benedict) . . 27, 50 Avery, Mr 18 Baker 49 Beers, Lt 72 Beers, Mr 105 Belding, Capt. John . . 103 Bigelow, Maj. (Timothy) 27, 64 Billy 61 Bishop, 15 Bissell, Capt. Fitch ... 44 Brewster, Capt 44 Bruse, Maj 43 Buckingham, Mr. ... 60 Buell, Maj 68 Bunce, Jared .... 109 Burgonyne's 65 Burr, Aaron 27 Burroughs, 58 Butler, Col 102 Calkins, William ... 24 Carpenter, Mr. . 43, 46, 54, 57 Champion 39 Chester, Capt. (John) 18, 26, 30, 33, 39, 41, 43, 46, 50, 54, 72, 103 Church, Dr. (Benj.) . 22, 23, 24 Clark, Col 44, 58 Clinton, Gen. George . . 56 Cogswell, Dr. (James) . . 20 Coit, Capt. (Oliver) ... 58 Coit, Wm 103 Cornhill, Brig. Gen. ... 79 Crane, Maj 45 Cutler, Mr 32 Daggett, Pres. ... 17, 20 Darling, 15 Delancy, Col. ... 66, 93 Dewett, Lt 43 Douglass, Col 46 Durkee, Capt 101 Edgerton, Nathan . . 105 Elderkins, Dr 60 Ellis, Dr 83 Elys, Col 68 Erastus, 48 Fanning, P. 28, 29, 79, 80, 107 Fanning, (Capt. Thomas) . 47 Gage, 22 Gale, Mr. William, ... 34 Gates, Gen 36, 50 Glover, (Col) 46 Goodale, 105 Goodrich, Solomon, . . 109 Gray, 74 Green, Gen 39, 87 Grover, Col 63, 85 Guyon, 35 Hanchit, Capt. (Oliver) 26, 29 Hart, Capt 68 Heart, Lt. Jon' .... 48 Heath, Gen 55, 56 Hender, Thos 48 Hinsman, 85 Holdridge, Capt. (H) . . 46 Hooker, Wm 109 Hosmer, Prosper . . . 109 Hubbard, Elijah ... 88 Hudson, Mr 68 Humphreys, Maj. ... 46 Hunt, John 91 Huntington, Andrew . 47, 60 Huntington, Benj. 24, 48, 103 Huntington, Colonel, 36, 42, 44, 50, 54, 56, 59, 60 Huntington, Ebenezer 43, 109 Huntington, General , 60, 63, 70 Huntington, Hannah . . 62 Huntington, Jabez. . 15, 71 Huntington, Jedediah, 29, 34, 46, 85, 91, 92, 93, 96, 97, 100, 103, 105 Huntington, Joshua, 25, 28, 43, 50, 55, 79, 85, 92, 95, 101, 105, 107, 110 Huntington, Lieut. 20, 21, 27 Huntington, Lucy ... 27 Huntington, M. Sister . . 64 Huntington, Nancy ... 93 Huntington, Samuel . . 71 Huntington, Zachariah, 91, 103, 105 Hyde, Jed'h. ... 32, 54 Hyde, Joel, Capt. 34, 36, 42 Hyde, Peleg 26, 6 8 Hyde, Mr 30, 31 Ingraham, Capt. Jackson, Colonel Jones, Epraphraa Judson, Mr. . . Keyes, (Amasa) . Lafayette, Marquis Langdon, Dr. . . Lee, Dr. . . . 43 . 109 . 74 . 99 . 36 . 104 17, 18 . 45 48 74 65 55 60 74 97 50, 51 75 Lee, General, Sir Henry, 37, 45, 50, 54, 55, 56 Leffingwell, John Leonardus, . . Leonard, . . . Leslie, Colonel Lester, Mr. . . Livingston, Colonel Mattison, David Maxwell, McDonald, Col. . Meap, M. . . . Meiggs, (Return Jonathan), 27, 66, 67 Meloney 58 Meslin, General . . 49, 61 Middletown, Montgomery, (Gen. Richard) 27 Moore, John .... 107 Morgan, Mr 18 Moulton, Stephen . . 109 Moylom, Col 49 Munford 68 Mumford, Thos. . . 72, 73 Necombe 60 Newin, Mr 26 Norton, Mr 44 Ogden, (Aaron) Moj. . . 27 Olmstead, Timothy . . 109 Parsons, General . . 52, 68 Peck, (Wm.) .... 36 Perkins, Capt. . 35, 48, 60 Perkins, 49 Pettingal, 108 Phelps, 59 Pitcairn, Maj 16 Post, John 67 Powell, 58 Prince, Mr 27 Putnam, Gen. (Israel) . 31, 57 Reynolds, Sergt. ... 105 Richard, Samuel ... 48 Rivington, 68 Robert, Capt 60 Robinson, Mr 15 Rodman, Mr 103 Roger 50, 51 Rowes, Mr 33 Shaws, Mr '^3 Sergent, (Col.) ... 46, 57 Sherriff, Maj 17 Sherman, 15 Silliman, Col 46 Southwick, 80 Spencer, Gen. (Joseph E.), 27, 30, 54 Stark 86 Steel, John 109 Sterling, Lord ... 39, 42 Stillwell, Elias .... 48 Strong, Mr 91 Sullivan, Gen. . 42, 50, 54, 110 Talmadge, Maj 90 Thomas, Brig. Gen. (John), 30, 31 Thomas, C. B 34 Trumbull, Gov 60 Trumbull, Col. (John), 22, 24, 30, 43, 49, 50, 60, 73 Trumbull, Maj 36 Truner, Dr. (Philip), 32, 45, 92 Varmun, 1 109,110 Wallace, Capt. ... 22, 73 Warner, Robert .... 48 Washington, Gen. George, 22, 24, 40, 50, 55, 56, 57, 61, 87 Waterman, Capt. Asa. 76, 79, 80, 89 Webb, Col. Samuel B., 18, 42, 44, 45, 58, 67, 68, 76, 77, 79, 82, 102, 109 Webb, J 61 Wells, Maj. . . 36, 42, 44, 54 Whipple, 105 Whiting, Charles ... 36 Whittlesey, Mr 73 Williams, Colonel ... 17 Williams, Sergt 80 Woodbridge, Col. Howell . 93 Wyckham, Mr 68 Wyllys, Col. (Samuel), 25, 41, 42,46