USA > Connecticut > Fairfield County > Redding > The history of Redding, Connecticut : from its first settlement to the present time > Part 17
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Fort Edward, Aug. 29 .- Being wet we tarried till one o'clock before we set out. We went within five miles of Fort George.
Below Fort George, Aug. 30 .- We set out very early for Lake George where we arrived about nine of the clock. There I met with many of my acquaintance belonging to New Canaan under Capt. Baldwin of New Canaan which had the care of the Battoes. He gave us encouragement that we should have a passage over the lake next morning. Here I met Joseph Rockwell who left me at Albany.
Fort George, Aug. 31 .- About 9 of the clock we went on board the Battow for Ticonderoga, it being 35 miles. The wind being ahead we went only to Saberday Point, which is 24 miles from Fort George and lodged on green feather (Hemlock boughs).
Saberday Point, Sept. I .- We embarked on board our Battow very early. The wind being ahead we came to the landing about 9 of the clock, it being three miles from the Fort (Ticonderoga). Our regiment marched for Fort St. Johns* 2 days
*A British stronghold on the west shore of Lake Champlain.
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ago, and there we found about 150 of Coll. Waterbury's soldiers, the sick and the cowards, also Capt. Read came in last night by Skeensborough, This afternoon went to view the Fort. I found it a very strong beautiful fort.
Ticonderoga, Sept. 2 .- There is about 1000 of Coll. Waterbury's Regiment discharged ;** a large number of Coll. Hermen's Regiment discharged; how many I cannot tell. Coll. Herman's Regiment very sickly but not a man died till last night.
Ticonderoga, Sept. 3, Sunday .- The Gunsmith, Blacksmith, Carpenters and Joiners all went to work the same as any other day of the week.
Ticonderoga, Sept. 4 .- We are loading one sloop and 12 Battoes for St. Johns. Here is 37 of Coll. Waterbury's Regiment to go in one Battow. We got ready to embark on board about sun set; the wind being ahead the sloop could not sail. The Battow rowed off and left her. We rowed this night as far as Crown Point and landed about 12 in the night. Here we took up. our lodging some in the Battow, some went on shore it being very dark we could see now and then a light. Some got to the old French Barracks. As for my part Lieut. Briggs and I and 2 other soldiers got in an old house and took up our lodging among the fleas. It being very wet and cold we lodged very uncomfortably this night.
Crown Point, Sept. 5 .- I went to view the fort. I found it to be a very strong, curious fort. The Barracks within it are very beautiful, three in number, three stories high. The wooden work is consumed by fire. The stone work is all good and strong. I returned to our Boats and there we cooked a very good breakfast of venison. About 9 of the clock we embarked on board for our intended harbor in company with the other boats, the wind being very strong ahead we had to row 18 miles and put up in a place we called Shelter Harbor about 3 o'clock in the afternoon. The wind held so strong ahead we concluded to take up our lodging here this night in the woods. About sun set there came another Boat and lodged with us, the others being behind. Here we kept a guard all night. In the evening one of our soldiers could not be found, I being Sergeant of the Guard this night went to relieve the Sentinel about one o'clock. I being 15 rods from our encamp- ment in the thickest of the bush stept on a man which made me almost cry out "Indian." I knowing his voice did forbear.
Shelter Harbor, Lake Champlain, Sept. 6 .- The wind being fair we sailed up the lake a few miles. The wind soon turned ahead we being obliged to drop sail and row; we out rowed all the Battow and lodged on an island our boats crew alone.
Lake Champlain, Sept. 7 .- The wind being fair we sot sail this morning the west side of the lake about 10 of the clock. The wind rose so very high and the lake so extremely rough that it broke our mast. We dropped our sails as quick as possible and went to rowing, being still on the west side of the lake and the wind strong in the South East-a dreadful rough, rocky shore. We made for it. We came within one rod of the shore it being so rocky we could not land without losing our Battow perhaps many of our lives, being exceeding heavy loaded. Some cried "Push her ashore." The officers were a mind to go around a point a little ahead of us. We had one sailor aboard, Nehemiah Gorham, who stept to the helm, turned her stern to the shore, and said, "The boat will not live to go around that Point !" He told us to double man the oars and we would try for an Island about
** Their term of enlistment had expired.
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40 rods from us against the wind. We all clapped to the oars and rowed with much difficulty and great distress. Every wave seemed as if it would swallow up our small boat; but through the mercy of God we all arrived safe at the small Island. We had not been here long before we saw the sloop and other boats pass by us on the other (East) side of the Lake the wind being south east, the Lake was not so rough that side, which made us wish ourselves with them. We tarried here till about 4 o'clock afternoon when the wind ceasing a little we hoisted sail again and sailed until about 8 in the evening and took up our lodging in the wood our boats crew alone.
Lake Champlain, Sept. 8 .- We sot sail very early. About 8 o'clock we over- took the sloop aground 8 miles this side of Islandore. As we sailed by the Quar- ter Master General spoke to us in a speaking trumpet and said St. Johns was taken day before yesterday. We shot a gun and Huzzaed. About 8 o'clock we came to Islandore to our Regiment which landed here the 4th instant. I soon heard that St. Johns was not taken. They went out on scout about 1000 men, and came to within a mile and a half of the Fort where they were fired upon by some Indians and Regulars. They returned the fire. There was a hot fire for about 15 minutes. They run off and we retreated back a few rods and put up a Breast work. We lost 8 men and 6 wounded. 4 of Major Hobby's, 4 of Capt. Mead's killed, Major Hobby and Capt. Mead wounded and 4 privates. In the evening they flung bombs at us and drove us out of our Breast work. We retreated back about a mile and put up another Breast work and tarried here till day.
Islandore, Sept. 10, Sunday .- There are orders for 25 men out of every com- pany to go to Shambalee about 4 miles above St. Johns. Our company was called out to see who were willing to go. The number turned out very soon. We cooked our victuals and carried 4 days allowance and clothes to shift ourselves once. About 4 of the clock in the afternoon we set out on our journey. As we came near the place where we had our first fight we discovered the enemy before they saw us, some on the shore and some on the Lake in Batteaux. We fired at those on the shore. They returned the fire-grape shot from their swivel boats and small arms from the shore. Our row gallies fired on their boats. The fire continued about 10 minutes very hot, then they ran off. We kept our ground till day. We found one Regular and two Indians dead. We suppose we killed some on the water, and wounded some, but not certain. We stripped the Regular and found a very fine gun and sword-the gun with two Barrels the neatest I ever saw, a fine watch some money, and very neatly dressed.
St. Johns, Sept. 11 .- Morning we returned back to Islandore very much fa- tigued and tired out.
Islandore, Sept. 12 .- Very wet and cold for the season. Our allowance is only pork and flour which makes very hard living.
Islandore, Sept. 13 .- We built a fashen (fascine) battery and placed two can- non in order to command the Lake that the enemy may not come upon us. Cold and uncomfortable weather for the season.
Islandore, Sept. 14 .- Fitting up to go to St. Johns as quick as possible in order to take the Fort.
Islandore, Sept. 16 .- Our Regiment is called out to see who will go by land and who by water. General Schuyler this morning set out for home. Brigadier General Montgomery commands by land Col. Waterbury by water. Of our Regi- ment Capt. Douglas' and Capt. Reads company's go by water. Orders is out for
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all to hold themselves in readiness to strike their tents to morrow morning at the Beat of drum. This day a party of our men went to Shambalee.
Islandore, Sept. 17, Sunday .- We have orders to strike our tents and pack up our baggage in order to march for Fort St. Johns. We all embarked about II of the clock. We came within about two miles and a half of the Fort, when the Land forces landed and marched forward one mile and encamped. We lay on the water till night. They fired cannon and Bomb shells at us. Our row gallies fired 45 cannon balls at them but no damage done.
St. Johns, Sept. 18 .- Our land forces built a large breastwork around their en- campment in order to lay siege against the Fort. Resolved to take the Fort or lose our lives.
St. Johns, Sept. 19 .- They cut a road toward the Fort in order to draw their cannon. The Shambalee party took this day 12 waggon loads of Provision, Rum, Wine, & Ammunition, from the Regulars and received no damage from them. Toward night the Regulars came out upon the Shambalee party. They wounded 3 of our men and took 2 prisoners. Our men took some provisions and drove them to the fort.
St. Johns, Sept. 20 .- A number belonging to the water craft went to work with them on land-we cut a road and made bridges within half a mile of the Fort. They fired Bomb shells and cannon Balls more or less every day at us but they have done us no damage by it.
St. Johns, Sept. 22 .-- We went to building a fasheen Battery about 100 rods this side of the Fort. We carried them through the bushes very still undiscovered by the Regulars till just at night a boat came along the lake about 12 Rods from the shore. A party discovered them, crept down in the bushes by the side of the Lake till they came against us, when they fired on them. They all dropt in the boat. They soon fired on us from the Fort, grape shot, cannon balls, and Bomb- shells did rattle. General Montgomery very narrowly escaped, a Bomb shell fell within three feet of him but we received no damage from them this day.
St. Johns, Sept. 23 .- They went to work at the Breast works. They fired on us and killed one man with a cannon ball through the body. The breast work is now about 4 feet high.
St. Johns, Sept. 24, Sunday .- A number of the water craft men went to work with those on the land at building a fasheen Battery about a half mile from the Fort in order to place two cannon to command the latter. They fired on us all day but no damage done.
St. Johns, Sept. 25 .- We placed two mortars in our upper breast work and 2 cannon in the other Battery about 50 rods below. About 3 of the clock in the after- noon we began to play upon them. There was a very hot fire on both sides until night but I believe no great damage done.
St. Johns, Sept. 26 .- It being very wet cold uncomfortable weather but little business done this day.
St. Johns, Sept. 27 .- The storm continued till about 3 in the afternoon: then the fire began very hot on both sides till night. They killed one of our men with a Bomb shell and wounded one. What damage we did them is uncertain. Begins to storm rain again.
St. Johns, Sept. 28 .- The storm continues, a cold wet uncomfortable day. But little firing this day.
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St. Johns, Sept. 29 .- The fire is very hot on both sides, both Bomb shells and cannon balls but little damage that I know.
St. Johns, Sept. 30 .- Cold stormy weather. Firing on both sides but little dam- age done.
St. Johns, Oct. I, Sunday .- The storm continues very cold. We went to work at Breast work round our encampment for fear of the Canadians and Indians. There is talk that 2000 of them are coming against us but hope it is nothing but camp news. But little firing this day.
St. Johns, Oct. 3 .- Cold, stormy weather yet. 250 Canadians built a breast work the east side of the Lake about 100 Rods from the Fort. Firing on both sides every day but no great damage done.
St. Johns, Oct. 4 .- About 10 of the clock the Regulars went across the Lake in a floating Battery, which was begun for a sloop but never finished, in order to drive off the Canadians. They fired cannon at them about half an hour and then with small arms. They attempted to force our Breast work. There was a very hot fire on both sides about half an hour. The Canadians stood their ground well. The Regulars retreated back to their row galley and rowed back to the Fort. The Canadians received no damage except one man wounded. What damage the Reg- ulars received is uncertain.
St. John, Oct. 5 .- Last night the old scow came in from Ticonderoga. This day we have carried it to our Bomb Battery in order to play on the Fort. This day very pleasant.
St. Johns, Oct. 6 .- We placed the old scow in the Bomb Battery in order to play on the Fort. This evening we flung 8 Bombs on the Fort. They flung 24 at our encampment. No damage done.
St. Johns, Oct. 9 .- This evening about 50 bomb shells flung on both sides. No damage that I know of.
St. Johns, Oct. II .- This evening about 40 Bomb shells on both sides. But little damage done except one man's thigh broke with a Bomb shell.
St. Johns, Oct. 12 .- This day Seth Chase of Capt. Mead's Company died that was wounded yesterday. Nothing remarkable only very cold.
St. Johns, Oct. 14 .- We opened a Battery on the east side of the Lake about 60 rods from the Fort where two twelve Pounders are placed and played on the Fort with all our cannon and mortars. The hottest fire this day ever hath been done here. We flung some Bombs in the Fort; what damage done I know not.
St. Johns, Oct. 15, Sunday .- Last night Ezra Morehouse of Capt. Dimons Regi- ment died with sickness. One man killed at the east Battery. The most fire this day ever hath been in one day yet.
St. Johns, Oct. 16-19 .- Three more cannon placed at the east Battery. Firing on both sides every day.
St. Johns, Oct. 20 .- Last night about 8 o'clock the Regulars at Shambly Fort resigned themselves prisoners after two days seige, with one cannon, there being 80 men, 20 swivels, 50 barrels powder, and 500 stands of arms.
St. Johns, Oct. 21 .- This day we sent a flag of truce to see if they would give liberty to bring the prisoners and baggage by the Fort at the Lake. They were immediately granted liberty and they were brought this day aboard of our sloop' and schooner.
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St. John, Oct. 22, Sunday .- They beat a parley at the Fort and sent a Flag of truce to see if our General would send in three women which are amongst our prisoners, they being officers wives, now in the Fort. The General immediately sent them in.
St. John, Oct. 23-24 .- The prisoners set out for Hartford under the command of Col. Whiting. Firing more or less every day.
St. Johns, Oct. 25 .- One of the Battalion of Yorkers killed with a cannon Ball in camp this day.
St. Johns, Oct. 27 .- We moved our cannon and mortars from the gun and bomb battery the west side of the Lake to Headquarters in order to carry them to the north side of the Fort.
St. Johns, Oct. 28 .- We packed up our baggage and marched four miles and encamped 2 miles above the Fort. This night we built a Fasheen Battery about 50 Rods north side of the Fort.
St. Johns, Oct. 29, Sunday .- The Regulars discovered our Battery. We guard- ed it with 100 men, I being one of the Guard. They flung upwards of 100 Bomb shells, some cannon and grape shot at us. Wounded one man, broke two guns. One Bomb shell broke within 4 feet of me which made me almost deaf. I believe there were 20 shells broke within two rods of me. This night we dragged four cannon and five mortars to this Breast work in order to play on the Fort.
St. Johns, Oct. 30 .- But little firing this day. This night we played these can- non and mortars.
St. Johns, Nov. I .- We opened our Battery about 9 o'clock. There was the hottest fire that hath been yet about six hours and they beat a parley and set a flag of truce.
St. Johns, Nov. 2 .- They sent a flag of truce out three times before the matter was settled. The business being settled about 7 o'clock they resigned themselves Prisoners. They are to march through the country with their own private property with the honors of war giving up the Fort and all the King's stores.
St. Johns, Nov. 3 .- About 8 of the clock we marched into the Fort there being a large artillery, about 600 stands of arms, about 600 Prisoners.
St. Johns, Nov. 5, Sunday .- We have received orders to march to morrow to Montreal. The Prisoners marched for Hartford this day.
St. Johns, Nov. 6 .- We marched 10 miles this day towards Montreal.
Lapaine, Nov. 7 .- We marched 6 miles into Lapaine town and there pitched our tents. The weather being cold makes it very uncomfortable living in tents.
Lapaine, Nov. 10 .- The snow is almost over shoes, a very cold, stormy day, which makes it very uncomfortable for poor soldiers who live in tents.
Lapaine, Nov. II .- About 8 o'clock we struck our tents and marched about half a mile to the River St. Lawrence and embarked on board the Batteaux and rowed about six miles toward Montreal and landed on St. Paul's Island, about 3 miles from Montreal. This evening at the firing of a cannon Governor Carlton and all the Regulars embarked on board the shipping with all the King's stores and sailed down the River.
St. Paul's Island, Nov. 12, Sunday .- We embarked on board the Batteaux and rowed within one mile of town and landed and marched into the suburbs, and
R. H. ym
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lodged in houses this night. The Canadians kept a guard round the walls of the city this night.
Montreal, Nov. 13 .- We marched into town about 9 o'clock to the Barracks. and cleaned them out in order to live in the same.
Montreal, Nov. 15 .- Began to enlist soldiers to tarry the winter coming. Cold stormy weather.
Montreal, Nov. 16 .- Fitting ourselves to return home. Orders to march to. morrow very early .*
Montreal, Nov. 17 .- We embarked on board the Batteaux and rowed across to Longgine and marched six miles to Lapaine, and lodged in houses this night. Ex- treme cold for the time of year.
Lapaine, Nov. 18 .- Marched to St. Johns 18 miles, it being a very frozen time we marched through dry.
St. Johns, Nov. 19, Sunday .- All hands at work fitting to set sail to morrow morning. Ordered to embark at the firing of the morning gun.
St. Johns, Nov. 20 .- The wind being ahead so that we can not sail; About sun- set the wind turned to be fair but very little air stirring. All ordered to be aboard as we may be ready to set sail if the wind should rise. Cold winter weather. The ice is hard so that it will bear horses and carts.
St. Johns, Nov. 21 .- The wind being fair we set sail about 9 o'clock. There being but very little wind we sailed only 15 miles to Islandore and lay aboard the sloop it being a very stormy, uncomfortable day.
Islandore, Nov. 22 .- The wind being almost ahead we set sail and sailed about one mile. We made such poor way ahead we dropt anchor and lay this day on the cold Lake. It being a very stormy day lodged aboard this night.
Lake Champlain, Nov. 23 .- The wind being ahead we towed the sloop about 3 miles. It being a stormy winter-like day the sloop's crew lodged aboard except myself and two more who lodged in a French House very comfortably.
Lake Champlain, Nov. 24 .- The wind ahead we towed the sloop about 50 rods and dropt anchor. Again in the afternoon we towed about 4 miles and dropt anchor. All lay aboard the sloop this night.
Lake Champlain, Nov. 25 .- The wind almost ahead and very calm. We only sailed about 10 miles : all lay aboard the sloop this night it being a very stormy night.
Lake Champlain, Nov. 26, Sunday .- Being a very cold snow storm the wind in the north we sailed about 60 miles to Crown Point, and dropt anchor and lodged at the Point this night.
Crown Point, Nov. 27 .- Set sail before sunrise for Ticonderoga, it being very calm. We arrived at Ticonderoga about 3 o'clock in the afternoon it being 15 miles.
Ticonderoga, Nov. 28 .- We drawed three Batteaux I mile and a half by land into Lake George in order to cross the Lake to morrow in the morning.
Ticonderoga, Nov. 29 .- We embarked on board the Batteaux this morning, the wind being strong ahead we rowed only 12 miles to Saberday Point, and lodged there this night on the cold ground, the snow being about six inches deep.
*The effort to enlist men would seem to have failed.
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Lake George, Saberday Point, Nov. 30 .- The wind being strong ahead with much difficulty we rowed 24 miles to Fort George. Lodged this night in the Bar- racks.
Fort George, Dec. I .- Our baggage being brought in sleighs we marched 17 miles, two miles below Fort Edward, and lodged at Esquire Tuttles.
Fort Edward, Dec. 2 .- We marched 18 miles to Saratoga and lodged at San- dered Bemejess, it being a very wet night.
Saratoga, Dec. 3, Sunday .- The snow being gone we left our sleighs and got carts and marched 16 miles to the New City, it being a very muddy day.
New City, Dec. 4 .- Marched 12 miles to Albany and loaded our baggage aboard the sloop in order to set sail to morrow morning.
Albany, Dec. 5 .- The wind being strong ahead we lay this day in town waiting for the wind to turn in our favor.
Albany, Dec. 6 .- The wind being near west we set sail about 9 o'clock.
The diary fills the last pages of a manuscript book entitled "Aaron Barlow's Book of Orders at New York, began June 13, A. D. 1775," the first twenty-four pages being taken up with the General and Regimental Orders issued while the troops lay at New York and up to the capture of the fort at Islandore.
In the Fishkill Campaign, Oct. 5-19, 1777, Col. Barlow served as En- sign in Captain John Gray's Company, 4th Connecticut Militia. In April, 1780, he was commissioned Lieutenant in Captain Jesse Bell's Com- pany, Col. Bezaleel Beebe's Regiment of State troops, and served on the Westchester front. In May, 1781, we find him a Lieutenant of the coast guard at Green Farms. After the war he achieved distinction in civil life. He served a term as Deputy Sheriff of Fairfield County, was four terms in the Connecticut Legislature, in October, 1792, May and Octo- ber, 1794, and May, 1795. In the militia service he rose through the grades of Captain and Major to be Lieutenant-Colonel of the 4th Con- necticut Regiment. He was interested with his brother, Joel Barlow, in several industrial enterprises, notably the building of a grist mill (on the site of the one now occupied by J. L. Blackman) for the kiln drying of corn for export to the West Indies. He is also said to have establish- ed an iron foundry with his brother Joel in Weston, probably at the present Valley Forge. Joel Barlow often spent his college vacations with his elder brother, Aaron, and is said by family tradition to have written his Vision of Columbus in this house. In 1800, Col. Barlow went to Norfolk, Va., and died there the same year of yellow fever.
AARON SANFORD.
Aaron Sanford, the first male member of the Methodist Episcopal Church in New England, bapt. May 29, 1757, settled in the centre and lived in the old colonial house on the brow of the hill overlooking the
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valley of Little River, now untenanted. He was the leader of the little class of Methodists organized in Redding by Jesse Lee in 1790. The Methodist circuit preachers in their rounds often shared his hospitality, and held their meetings in his house. Later in life he became an accept- able local preacher in that church. His diary, beginning in 1818 and ending in 1844, is in the possession of his grand-daughter, Miss Julia H. Sanford, and shows in a striking way his religious devotion and deep conscientiousness. He records going to prayer meeting, class meeting, and quarterly meeting in Danbury, Ridgefield, Loantown, Norfield, Starr's Plain, Lee's Chapel, Egypt School-house, and other places, and speaks of meeting the sick and praying with them. Jan. 16, 1821, he records: "I went to Nath. Couch's and saw all the children of Thomas N. Couch, late deceased, and talked about religion and prayed with them." March 30, 1823: "I went to meeting. Mr. Hunt preached. In the intermission my Daughter Hannah spoke with power. It was ren- dered a great blessing." (When one recalls how rigorously the "Stand- ing Order" enforced the Pauline injunction, "Let your women keep silence in the Churches," this was indeed an innovation.) May 2, 1824. he records that "Alice Miller (the Girl) preached. I went." (Perhaps the first instance of a woman's preaching in New England.)
Prayer meetings, class meetings, band meetings, love feasts, quarter- ly meetings, camp meetings, and society meetings are mentioned as among the means of grace enjoyed by these early Methodists .*
STEPHEN R. MALLORY.
"Stephen Russell Mallory, second son of Charles Mallory, of Red- ding, Conn., was born in the West Indies in 1814, and came to the United States when but three months old. In 1819 he accompanied his father to Florida, and was placed at an 'old field school' near Mobile, from whence he was removed to the academy at Nazareth, Pa., where he spent several years. He returned to Florida in 1830, and established his residence at Key West, where he embraced the profession of law. Mr. Mallory filled many important trusts under the State and General Governments, and was collector of the customs and superintendent of the revenue at Key West, under Mr. Polk. In 1850 he was elected to the United States Senate for the term of six years." The above is from Gleason's "Pictorial Companion" for 1853. Mr. Mallory's subsequent career as Secretary of the Confederate Navy is familiar to the reader.
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