USA > Massachusetts > The story of western Massachusetts, Volume I > Part 35
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On the 25th they passed through East Mountain and Partridge- field and spent the night at Worthington, going as far as Chester- field the following day. There Thomas Thomson and John Howes deserted and, in July, 1779, the former married Margaret Ogilbe of that town, and the latter Hannah Buck of Gore.
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The 27th was wet and rainy but the troops went as far as North- ampton, and as the storm turned into snow and hail the following day, they stayed there for another day and night.
General Glover, having left Albany on October 23d with General Burgoyne, whose constitution was much shattered, here caught up with the troops. Burgoyne was quartered in the old Henshaw house, and it was in that house, on October 27, 1777, that he wrote to the Earl of Derby, in England, saying that he was then one hundred fifteen miles from Boston, hoped to reach Cambridge by November 5th.
On the 28th the troops crossed the Connecticut River and, after another wet day, spent the night at what was even then called "Old Hadley". Here Burgoyne lodged in the house of Colonel Elisha Porter, occupying the room on the lower floor, looking out on West Street. So much was he impressed with the kindness of his host that he presented him with his dress sword, which General Gates had returned to him at the time of surrender. It is a slender, triangular rapier, with hilt of solid gold and guard of elaborate design. The entire length of the blade is inlaid with gold filigree work and on the sides of the base, near the hilt are traced "G.R." and the British arms. The scabbard is of leather, ornamented with silver.
On the 30th the troops proceeded over the old stage road, pass- ing through the south end of Amherst, Belchertown, and the north- erly part of Palmer, then through Ware River to Western (Warren). On the next day Brookfield was reached, where a halt was made for the Greenfield contingent, and the Germans who had gone by the way of Kinderhook, so that all could get together to draw provisions. It was decided that the German division should thereafter follow the same route as the English, keeping a day's distance behind them, and on November 2nd the British marched through Spencer and Leicester and spent the night at "a small neat town called Worces- ter". On the 3rd they marched through Shrewsbury and spent the night at Northboro. November 4th they marched through Marl- boro and encamped at Sutton and on the following day marched to Weston. Some of the troops encamped there while a part went on to Waltham for the night. Thomas Anbury, one of the prisoners, wrote :
"The last town we left, before our arrival at this place was Weston, where we found the most convenient inn of any on the road. It is equal to most in England, the rooms commodious, provisions good and servants attentive; above all, the landlord is a friend to our Government and like all of that description, has been much perse- cuted. He was not without his apprehensions of being sent to prison for attentions shown to the officers who stopped at his house, which was nothing more than the common civility he showed to all his guests; in short he was deemed by the Americans a rank Tory".
"Our march from Westown to Cambridge was the most unpleasant of any as it rained incessantly and we reached the barracks on Pros- pect Hill very late in the evening, which were unfortunately in the
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worst condition imaginable for the reception of troops, being so much out of repair that we suffered severely from the inclemency of the weather; the barracks were, in fact, bare of everything; no wood and a prodigious scarcity of fuel, in so much that we were obliged to cut down the rafters of our room to dry ourselves. The method of quartering was dreadfully inconvenient; six officers in a room not twelve feet square. Permission was denied us to accommodate our- selves with rooms in this town, till General Burgoyne arrived and represented our situation to the Council at Boston, when it was reluctantly granted. We labored under many distresses and diffi- culties; every species of provisions was very dear and to our mis- fortune could hardly be procured for money".
Mrs. Winthrop, who was an eye-witness, said:
"The baggage wagons were drawn by poor, half-starved horses, but to bring up the rear was a noble looking guard of American brawny, victorious yeomanry, who assisted in bringing those sons of Britain to terms, some on wagons drawn by fat oxen, driven by joyous looking Yankees, closed the cavalcade".
For details of the experiences of the German prisoners, we are indebted to the letters of various German officers and to those of Madam Riedesel who continued with her husband during his deten- tion in this country.
A few days after the surrender, the captured officers were enter- tained in a most hospitable manner at the home of General Schuyler at Albany, whose fine property at Saratoga had just before been wantonly destroyed by Burgoyne. After giving a detailed account of her kind reception at Albany by General Schuyler's family, she said, on her departure for Boston :
"Fortunately I had kept by me my little carriage which carried my baggage. As it was already very late in the season, and the weather raw, I had my calash covered with coarse linen, which in turn was varnished over with oil, and in this manner we set out on our journey, to Boston, which was very tedious, besides being attended with considerable hardship. I know not whether it was my carriage that attracted the curiosity of the people to it, for it cer- tainly had the appearance of a wagon in which they carry around wild animals, and often I was obliged to halt because the people insisted upon seeing the wife of the German general with her children. For fear that they would tear off the linen cover from the wagon in their eagerness to see me, I very often alighted and by this means got away more quickly. However, I must say that the people were very friendly and were particularly delighted at my being able to speak English, which was the language of the country".
The German troops, 2,198 in number, under escort of Colonel Reid of the 2nd New Hampshire regiment, left the prison camp on October
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18th and commenced the march to Boston, with the British. All of the 19th was spent in crossing the Hudson, as only a small number of boats was available. Night overtaking them before they were again in marching order, they bivouacked in a meadow. On the 20th the two nationalities separated, the Germans going to Schaghticoke, "a hamlet composed of Dutchmen; a rich and highly interesting people". From this time on they found great abundance of apples. From these an immense amount of cider was made, both in New York and all the New England states, and was often kept from three to four years. At this place the Americans first began to steal the prisoners' horses, "an infernal proceeding which they kept up through the entire march". By way of comfort, they were told that they had either stolen them themselves or else had bought them from some person friendly to the king, who in turn had stolen the horses from them. They could not understand however, how the Americans could confound Canadian and German horses with theirs.
They passed many Dutch and German farm-houses. The farmers had immense stores of grain, large heaps of which lay in mows cov- ered with movable roofs. They went this day as far as Lansingburg (New City), a small town on the Hudson, but lately started, being only eight years old. It was founded by two individuals named French, who built beautiful dwellings and warehouses, but being Tories, they were forced to abandon their property to the bakers, smiths and artisans who quickly took possession. Many houses, how- ever, were standing empty. They found there a well equipped hos- pital, in which they met several wounded soldiers belonging to their army. The troops were obliged to bivouac at this place and encounter the discomforts of a snow and rain storm during the night. The day's march was ten miles.
On the 21st it rained and snowed during the entire day. The houses were a quarter of a mile and even more apart, and the roads were hilly and bad. After covering fourteen miles they arrived at Greenbush, and put up houses of boughs in a wood near the dwelling of a rich farmer named Woolesworth. During the night it froze hard.
On the 22nd the march was almost entirely through woods, in which, every little while, they came across miserable dwellings. After going twelve miles, they came to a plain lying between several hills, where was situated the borough of Kinderhook, consisting of about seventy houses. Riedesel said,-"This town was settled by Dutch- men, most of whom were loyal to King George. The most prominent house in the village belonged to a Tory named Van Shaak. It was built of stone and three stories high. This man showed them many attentions and was very kind to them. The rest of the people, who were Dutch by birth, were also kind. They had but one fault,-that is they were selfish and were as fond of money as a Jew. Every article they sold was terribly dear. Most of the houses were very well built and nicely furnished. The inhabitants in general, lived well. Their breakfast consisted of milk, tea, roast meat, baked apples and all kinds of rich butter-cakes. Those who were in com-
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paratively easy circumstances, had gilt frames on their mirrors, and very good pendulum clocks. Similar household furniture was found all along the road to Boston. As all the barns of the farmers were full of grain, they had to camp out in a neighboring wood".
Riedesel, the German commander left Albany on the 20th, riding in the calash with his wife and overtook his troops at Kinderhook where they were encamped in the woods and were having a day of rest. On the 24th they marched through Claverack, a small hamlet inhabited entirely by Frenchmen, the pastor of the place standing in the road with several of his flock and bestowing upon them his apostolic benediction.
On this day they marched seventeen miles to "the wretched village of Nobletown" (Hillsdale, New York), where they were forced to encamp in the open air on account of the scarcity of houses. The night became so frosty that in the morning they looked like sugar coated toy men.
On the 25th, after passing over miserable, stony and rocky roads, that led partly through woods, they arrived at Great Barrington, where they took up their quarters, having marched thirteen miles. A rougher and more spiteful people they never saw. Their patience was often stretched to its highest tension on account of the churlish treatment they received. Most of the officers were not allowed to cross their thresholds, but, in common with their soldiers, had to take up their quarters in stables and barns. This place had a fine and well built church. Hitherto the roads, leading through the valleys had been good, but now they led over mountains and grew constantly worse. Riedesel here complained that Colonel Reid, not being a good soldier, directed their march toward the best taverns. All his expostu- lations were in vain, the commander being intent only on having things as comfortable as possible for his own men. After reaching the mountains, a terrible rain storm made the roads even worse. The teams for the transportation of the provisions and the sick were to have been changed at Great Barrington, but as they had not been ordered previously, it was impossible to collect them, and an unneces- sary halt had to be made. Finally, a sufficient number were obtained to carry the provisions but the sick were obliged to remain there. An American commissary by the name of Thillemann, a German by birth, who remained behind to send them forward afterwards, took much pains to induce the prisoners to desert and enlist in the American Army.
On the 26th, in terrible weather, they passed through Tyringham and West Otis, a region of forests and veritable wildernesses. At first they swore at the abominable roads, but ceased when they found they became worse, as cursing could not do them justice. Presently they entered a large and wild mountainous region called "the Green- woods", "dismal enough to silence the most disobedient child by threatening to send it there if it did not behave". After marching seventeen miles they "encamped in this American Caucasus", while, to make things still more uncomfortable, it rained the entire night. As
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several men had dropped out on account of the fatigue and want of shoes, they were forced to encamp near Spring's house, which was nearly between the two Spectacle ponds. The road traveled was through West Otis, then southerly and easterly through the northern part of Sandisfield.
On the 27th is rained still more and the number of stragglers increased. "The roads became so horrible that a curse was merely a waste of breath". After maching eleven miles, they took up can- tonments in twenty different houses, near Gray's house, about three
Eagle Tavern, West Springfield, 1888 Approximate site of West Springfield Trust Company.
miles from Blandford. In these houses, seven regiments and their escort of seven hundred men were quartered. A part of the troops continued on and slept in the Blandford Church. So great was the desire to obtain shelter there that the town authorities feared the galleries would fall from the weight of the troops. People living in the town in recent years remember hearing tales of the bringing of the Hessian fly in the straw in the wagons.
On the 28th orders were given to march as far as West Spring- field. The weather alternated between rain, snow and hail, and the wind was so piercing that no matter how warmly they were wrapped in their cloaks, it penetrated to the marrow. In addition, their wet clothes froze as stiff as iron. The march was so disorderly that prisoners and men belonging to the escort fell behind and lost their way. Two grenadiers were frozen to death in the woods and many pack horses were lost in the same way. The oldest soldiers admitted that they had never experienced such a march. On arriving at West- field, " a very neat village", the experience they had passed through
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that day so aroused the sympathies of the inhabitants that they opened their doors to them. Riedesel succeeded in making friends and in finding shelter for his men.
On the north side of Main Street, a few steps east of the rail- road, stood until some fifty years ago, a house long occupied by Lyman Lewis. This was a tavern kept by Alexander Grant, and there Riedesel's officers were quartered. A boy in the Grant family remem- bered seeing a sentinel pace back and forth before the door and he stopped to look at him as he went to school. He also remembered that one of the officers died there and his body was laid out in the corn house. The buttons removed from the gaiters of this officer were long worn by one of the Grant family.
Riedesel himself was entertained for the night by "Landlord Fowler", in the old tavern called "Harrison's Tavern", which he built and in which he died. The house is still standing, on the south side of Main Street, though the hand-carved, ancient doorway is now in the Metropolitan Museum in New York. The landlord's daughter was a very pretty woman, and tradition says that the general not only danced with her but courteously kissed her good-bye at the door, when he took leave in the morning. They found it the custom in this place to put lightning rods on the churches and all the handsome buildings and houses, to prevent their being struck by lightning. From here and even as far as Boston, they found this invention of the learned Franklin in universal use, both in the cities and in the country. They had never seen anywhere, larger cattle or swine, although along the Connecticut River they found oxen weighing 1,800 pounds and hogs 500 pounds.
On the 29th, the rain continued, accompanied by snow and hail. The roads were still bad, but not so dreadful as before. After cov- ering seven miles they arrived at West Springfield, "a village of scattered houses with its own church". By entreaties and various representations, Riedesel succeeded in obtaining quarters for his men and they were taken into the houses of the villagers. The people were "tolerably kind, but damned inquisitive". From this village and in fact from the entire neighborhood, whole families came to visit them, going from house to house to gaze upon the prisoners. From the general, down to the common soldier, all had to stand inspection. The higher the rank of the person so visited, the longer they stayed and "sized him up". They offered chairs to the pretty girls and by this means gained time partially to revenge themselves by staring at them in return. Finally, they became tired of that sort of thing, as one party after another continued to enter their rooms without knock- ing. They actually believed that their hosts charged an admission fee to see them. Encampment was made on the common and Riedesel was, by invitation, the guest of Rev. Dr. Lathrop. Riedesel's horse was there shod by the father of Sewall White. The beauty of the valley led at least a dozen to desert and become residents.
Apollos Miller became a farmer; John Andrice Isenee, a farmer, who was killed by lightning while haying in the Agawam meadows;
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Godfrey Vanganeer, commonly called "Old Wagoner", a miller; David Hartunk, a mason; Valentine Worthy, weaver; Thomas Pollock, weaver; Hendrick Salter, tailor; Frederick Stockman, shoe- maker; Thomas Ewing, farmer; and Dr. Hilliam, a physician who lived to an advanced age with an extensive practice in Chester, Blandford and Granville. Dr. Brewer went over from Springfield to attend some of the sick Germans and as the paymaster's chest was empty, he was given the chest in payment.
One of the officers kept notes regarding the Negroes who were found on most of the farms west of Springfield.
"The negroes here are very prolific, like the rest of the cattle. The young ones were well fed, especially while they were still calves. Moreover, slavery is very bearable. The negro is to be looked on as the servant of a peasant; the negress does all the coarse house- work, and the black children wait on the white children. The negro can take the field in the place of his master, and so you do not see a regiment in which are not large numbers of blacks, and there are well-grown, strong and sturdy fellows among them. There are also, many families of free blacks here, who occupy good houses, have means and live entirely in the style of the other inhabitants. It looks funny enough when Miss Negress pulls up her wooly hair over a cushion, puts a little shade-hat on her head, wraps herself in her mantle and shuffles along the road in this finery, with a slave negress waddling behind her".
On the 30th the troops had a day of rest. "It was the custom of the women and girls in this neighborhood either to sit upon side saddles or ride upon pillions placed at the backs of their husbands or gallants. Very often a young beauty might be seen leading an entire cavalcade at full gallop. The young 'bucks' with their miser- able clothing and female trappings, looked as if they had stolen their attire from the women themselves".
On October 31st Riedesel crossed the Connecticut to "East Spring- field", to make arrangements with the authorities of that place for a supply of provisions. In the meantime, the troops remained at West Springfield, enjoying a much appreciated rest, providing an opportunity for repairing their torn clothing and shoes. Part of the troops succeeded in crossing the river, where, notwithstanding their entreaties, they were relegated into a wood three and a half miles easterly, by the Committee of Springfield.
Springfield was an exceedingly lively little village with very pretty houses. It is true that the houses lay from fifty to one hundred paces apart, but this space was either a yard or a garden, which was separated from the street by a fence. The gardens also contained statues. This place was a veritable magazine for the storage of weapons for the Americans, and it also had a small but very well built armory or arsenal. They here saw various parks of artillery with their trains and, among other things, twelve entirely
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new four-pounders of French make. The store and magazine houses were filled from top to bottom and workmen of all trades were seen in all the houses, engaged in the manufacture of ammunition wagons, guns, etc. They saw there, wagons which could not have been better made in England. Order prevailed everywhere; an old man with a large gray overcoat attracted their attention by his scolding and the noise which he made. They learned that he was Master-General of Ordnance.
During their march, prisoners who had been captured at Ben- nington, were met with in almost every place. They had been farmed out amongst the inhabitants who had the use of them in return for furnishing board, lodging and safe keeping. Some wished to go on to Boston with their comrades while others were satisfied to remain where they were. At Springfield, Riedesel found Cornet Johann Balthasar Stutzer and Chaplain Melzheimer of the Regiment of Dragoons, and Lieutenant Theodore Frederick Gebhardt of the Grenadier Battalion. Stutzer had been severly wounded but the other two only slightly.
Subsequent history shows that Chaplain Melzheimer and Cornet Stutzer were sent to Rhode Island for exchange in September, 1778. Stutzer died November 29, 1821, as a pensioned lieutenant colonel in Brunswick. Melzheimer deserted from his regiment May 11, 1779, and joined the American army. Gebhardt died June 3, 1810, in Brunswick, as a pensioned lieutenant colonel.
In 1895 two skeletons were exhumed on Long Hill in Springfield. The skull of one was fractured at the crown by a blow from some heavy instrument and the right ankle bone, near the foot, showed a cut nearly an inch and a half long. The second skeleton did not bear so many traces of violence, but the left side of the skull was crushed by a blow. At the time it was a question as to whose bodies these were, but later a local woman solved the mystery by calling to mind a story of her gradfather, Roderick Lombard, who lived near by. He was a Tory in sympathies, and after the Battle of Bennington, harbored two Hessians, who were wounded there and brought to his house. He kept them secretly and when they died, buried them in the field where these skeletons were found, so that these would seem to be the remains of the two soldiers.
From Boston, Major General William Heath wrote to Wash- ington,-
"I have given orders for the prisoners and guards being supplied with provisions at the different (military) stores on the route from Springfield to this place, as it will be almost impossible to obtain them otherwise. With respect to the victualing of them here, I objected to it, but I have consented until I can obtain your Excel- lency's pleasure".
From Springfield, on November 2, 1777, General Glover wrote to General Heath at Boston,-
W. Mass .- I-23
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"I am happy to find such steps have been taken as will supply the prisoners till they get to the place where they are to be cantoned. I have ordered on from Kinderhook one hundred barrels of flour, the greatest part of which is arrived at this place. Fifteen hundred barrels more will be on as soon as the roads will permit".
On the 1st of November, the prisoners resumed their journey and marched to Palmer,-"a miserable hamlet some twelve miles distant", where from necessity they were obliged to encamp. From this place, as far as Boston, mile stones were set up at the distance of every mile. The place of encampment was in front of the Deacon Brainerd house, then a tavern, and it is probable that General Riedesel and family were entertained there. During the encampment there, a child was born to the wife of one of the soldiers and a soldier died. The next day his body was interred in the old bury- ing ground in the village. The place of the burial was preserved in the minds of some local people and, long after, it was indicated by a piece of iron pipe located about seventeen feet south of the Benjamin Walker monument on the southwest border of the cemetery. Apparently the Germans were not impressed with the appearance of King's Row in 1777. News of their coming had preceded the prisoners and there were many there besides the young women whose curiosity brought them out in force to see the wonderful procession. Palmer had furnished nineteen men in Lieut. Joshua Shaw's Com- pany, who fought at Saratoga, and their friends at liome doubtless turned out to see the prisoners they had helped to capture.
On the 2nd their march led through Western (Warren), a village containing good houses and wealthy inhabitants, to Brookfield, fif- teen miles farther, where they joined the English troops. The people of the village refused to admit them into their houses, claiming that neither General Gates nor Colonel Reid, who commanded the escort, could demand it of them.
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