Connecticut Historical Collections

"Immediatuly after the batlle of Bunker's llillj in 1775, orders were issued fur raising a regiment of Oonnecucnt iruups, lor the term of five months, under Colonel Jede- diah Huntington, of Norwich. I enlisted under Captain Elihii Humphrey,' of Sims- bury. My other otheers were Lieut. Andrew Hilyer, Lieut. Ehenezer Fitch Bissel, and Ensign ytoughton; all of whom are men of character and reputation. Captain Elihu, as we generally called him, was the son of the Hon. John Humphrey, formerly one of the Governor's eoimeil, and a Justice of the Court of Common Pleas i'or the County of Hartford. Captain Elihu was a well bred gentleman ; liis friendly turn of mind, with a sweetness of disposition, secured him the love of all good men; his confidence and esteem procured him the eommitsion of Major, in the seconil cam- paign. He dying about the close of the year 177(5, left, as a legacy to his family, a name, whose reputation will not be forgotten during many generaiions. I knew him — I revered him — and I loved him. Lieut. Hilyer, (now Col. Hilyer,) was also of Simsbury. He was a handsome sprightly young gentleman, who had in early life re- ceived a college education. As an otlicer, his manner was una.s.suming, gentle and persuasive. Whenever he spoke, the soldiers heard him with pleasure, and whatever ■was his will was cheerfully complied with. E. Fitch Bissel, of Windsor, was second lieutenant. He was a gentleman, though not of the most easy and familiar turn; yet, for his steady, correct attention to the duties of his station, was well respected. 1 think he was advanced to a captainship the next year. He died many years ago. Of En- sign Stoughton, 1 remember but liltle. Sickness detained him long out ol camp. He was a tall well made man, and jjossessed a good military a|)pcarance. He was also from Old Windsor. The sergeants in this coinjiaiiy were, Aaron Pinney, Jacob Tuller, Daniel Higley, and Thomas Hayden; Jonathan Humiihrey, Jr. (afterwards Col. Humphrey,) was Clerk of the Roll; uU of Simsbury except Sergeant Hayden. Sergeant Piiiney was a man of a fu.iee and fiery countenance and commanding air, well becoming a .soldier of '75. Sergeant 7'uller was a man from wliom we did not expect much (lattery; his brow was generally knit together in a forbidding Irown. Sergeant Highy, wlio had been a sohlier in the old French war, was of a musical turn, and his old war songs made the time pass away to very good account. Seigeant Thomas Hayden was, no doubt, a military man ; but I should guess no soldier ever admired him for his pleasant airs. Jonathan Hum]ihrey, Clerk of the ]{oll, was a most charming companion; his social airs and pleasant countenance gamed the al- feetion and good wishes of all. He is long since dead, and lies buried near Major Elihu, in Hop i\leadow burying ground. Our company being suddenly enlisted, to the number ol about seventy-five, rank and file, orders were given foi all to meet on a certain day at the house of the Captain, well equipped, and ready to begin their march. " The Rev. Mr. Pitkin, of Farmington, was requested that day to preach the I'are- well sermon to the soldiers. At the hour appointed, we marched to the meeting house, where the ofllcers appeared in mililaiy style, with their appropriate badges ol' distinction, and the soldiers in proper order,' with their arms and accoutrements, as men prepared for battle. It was a full and ovei (lowing audience, all in high expecta- tion of hearing something new and charming from so gifted a preacher.' After his warm and fervent prayer to Heaven for the success and prosperity of the American armies, and the liberties and freedom of our country, he introduced his addiess, if I remember right, I'rom these woids: " Play the man for your country, and lor the cit- ies of your God; and the Lord do that which seemeth him gf)od." His seimon was well adapted to the occasion, and the spirit of the day. It was tender and pathetic- lively and animating. . It was like martial music; while it touched the finer feelings, it roused and animated for the dreadful onset — the shout of war and the cry of victo- ry ! Dui ing the tune of its delivery, abundance of tears were seen to How, from both old and young, male as well as female. The sermon being ended, the drums soon beat to arms. Being arranged in military order, we were again conducted to the Captain's house, and dismissea for a short time. Ingoing to ami from the meeting, we were followed and accompanied by a mixed multitude — fathers and mothers — wives and chiMren — sisters, friends and strangers. Now each soldier had the oppor- tunity of mingling for a few moments with his dearest friends and companions. The tender feelings of love — of friendship — of aflection — again burst ibrtfi. While the fond lather and tender-hearted mother are bidding adieu to their sons, the husband. 104 SI BIS BURY. the wife, the children — brothers, sisters and besf friends — are exchanging, hs fur the last time, tlie token of their love, and the best affeciious of the heart. " In the midst of this mint^lini,' scene of sorrow, liie drums beat to arms. Soldiers, take your places is the word ; the line of march is formed ; we add one more wishful, lingering look, while nianv a silent tear bespeaks the real feeling of the heart. " The word is given. "We begin our march wiili silence, downcast looks, and pen- sive feelings and reflections. We were now leaving our homes, our friends, and all our pleasant places behind, and wliicli our eyes miglit never again behold. The most of us hfid not, at that time, i believe, been twenty miles from home. After marching awhile, we began to give way to more cheerful ami lively feelings. We marched about eight miles that afternoon; at night put up at James Marsh's inn. Here, for the first lime, I slept as a soldier on ihe door, with a cartridge-box for my pillow. At tliat perioil, horse wagons being very little in use, an ox team was provided to carry our provision for the way, and a barrel of rum. Our provision was salt pork and peas. Wherever we stopped, a large kettle was hung over the fire in which the salt meat was put without freshening, and the dry peas without soaking. Cooks and stewards were appointed who took charge of the table department. When all was ready, a stroke on the drum was the signal to begin to eat; and we were gencially hungry enough to stand in need of no great urging. While jjassing through Connecticut, the females were very polite, in lending us knives and forks; but, alter entering Massa- chusetts, we were not allosved the like favor, without jiledging money, or some other kind of security — the people saying ihey had lost many of their spoons by the soldiers who had gone before us. Our bread was hard biseiiit, in which there was a small quantity of lime, just suliicient to make the month sore. They were so hard that the soldiers called them candlestick bottoms. " Now, for the first time, we ti'avelled on tlie Lord's dav, under arms, and past meet- ing houses in the lime of public worship, wilh drums and lifi-.s playing martial mirsic; all which was calculated t(j afford to a New England man some doulns and retlections, whether God would be as well jjleased \vh\\ such paiade and military performance, as if we had stayed at home to read our Uibles, or went to meeting to hear the minis- ter. But military discipline and the habits of u soldier, soon eifected a degree of re- laxation in most of us. In process of time, many once jiious, at least in form and appearance, came into the practice of treating all days nearly alike; yet there were some who kept up the practice of reading Watts' Psalms and Hymns, as a book of devotion. " It is very natural to expect, that soldiers under arms are not generally inclined to the same degree of civility as others, or as they ought to be ; though this is not always the case. Yet, at the period at which I am speaking, and during our march, it was not uncommon, if a soldier thought himself not well Iriiitted by the inn-keeper, ta shew his resentment by shooting a ball through his sign. "In our march through Connectieut, the inhabilanis scemctl to view us with tokens of joy and gladness, anil by them we were tiealeil wall louimon civility, and a re.-pect due us as soldiers; but wlieu we came uilo M.i^-.o-hii I'li-^. and advanced ntMier to Roston, the inhabilanis wherever we ^lopprd, sn nicd to have no iu-ller o|m.ion of us (eicept the oihcers) than if we had been a bandilli oi ro-ncs and thieves. This served to moriify our feelings, and someiimes drew iVom iis e.vpres.sions of angry resentment. " After about nine or ten days' marching, in company wilh our ox team, loaded with our salt pork, peas, and candlestick bottoms lor bread, and the bai rel of rum to- cheer our spirits and wash our feet, which began to be very sore by travelling, we came to Roxbury, the place of our destinaiivm. There the phice of our encampment was already marked out, and a part of our regiment on the spot. For every six soN diers there was a tent provided. The ground it covered was about six or seven feet square. This served for kitchen, parlor and hall. The green turf, covered with a blanket, was our bed and bedstead. When we turned in lor the night, we had to lie Eerfectly straight, like candles in a box: this was not pleasant to our hip bones and nee joints, which often in the night would walce us, and bcLMo turn over. Our house- hold utensils, allotrether, vvere an iron pot, a canteen, (u- wooilen bottle liolding two quarts, a pail, and wooden bowl. Each had to do his own washing, and lake his turn at the cookery." Slmsburij, ( W/icctog,) July 28lh, 17G8. L.vsT Saturday we had heiesuch a storm of hail as perhaps has not been known in the memory of man. The forenoon of that day was extremely hot; about noon a very black cloud began to rise, which in about two hours produced a heavy rain, atlended wilh violent thunder. When the rain abated, theie came on hail, which increased so much that the last hail stones which feU were supposed to be full the bulk of goose- S 0 L' T n 1 N G T O N . 105