USA > New Hampshire > Rolls of the Soldiers in the Revolutionary war, 1629 to 1725 > Part 33
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P. S. You will be pleased to excuse brevity, as I am in haste - must just add, your baggage is forward with us -
[Endorsed] from Colº Brasher July 1780.
[R. 6-98] [Colonel Brasher to Mr. Peabody.]
Head quarters, Paramus, 29th July 1780
Dear Sir ; I wrote you a few lines this morning, informing you that the Army was in motion - it halted here to day, and is under orders to proceed by 9 o'clock, tomorrow morning on its rout to king's ferry. - Thus my dear Sir, we are encreasing our easting from you, and I hope we shall have the pleasure of seeing you soon, if your health will permit it. Be pleased to present my respects to Colo Rem- sen and his Lady, and to my good friends in general - I am dear sir with esteem - Your most obedient Servt
Ab. Brasher
Hon'ble Nathaniel Peabody Esq"
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[R. 6-99] [Benjamin Brown to Colonel Peabody.]
Head Quarters Peekskill Augt Ist 1780
Dear Sir - I have just time to inform you, that we had liked to have lost every thing that was in the Cover'd Waggon - but fortu- nately only part of the waggon fell in the River near the shoar, and only wetted the Bottom of the paper Chest, and the under part of yours which induced Colo Brasher & myself to break it open with the advice of the Committee, and found a few of your Cloathing a little wet I have spread them out to dry - this accident happen'd in cross- ing the River - All our sugar and tea is gone. If you should see or hear of Colo Blane it would not be amiss to have a fresh supply. Lord Sterlings Baggage waggon two of Colo Biddles & one of G- were all over set in the middle of the River I suppose every thing is so wett, that they will be good for little - I have heard of no other accidents - If you can make out without discommoding yourself to pay Mr Thomas what I owe him I would take it as a very particular favour, as he will think very hard of me in keeping him out of his money so long . It is said the enemy have returned to New York - This is a distressed place for horses - no grass - no hay - nor no short forage - I shall take particular care to pack up your things again as soon as they are dry
Colº Peabody
I am yours &c Benjn Brown
[Nathaniel Peabody to Josiah Bartlett. Manuscript Collections, N. H. Historical Society.]
Copy
Morristown August 6th 1780.
Dear Sir, I have been lately favoured with your letter of the 13th May last (it went to Philadelphia, and I found it on its journey back to the eastward) acknowledging my letters of the 8th of February, and 17th of March last. Since which I have wrote you two very long let- ters, respecting various subjects ; in one I informed you of my being unexpectedly appointed one of a committee to a most disagreeable, arduous service, and requested you to continue to write me as often as possible, and promised in return, to give a line as frequent as my circumstances would by any means permit. And you will readily judge, that the business assigned the committee, has been more than sufficient to occupy the greatest mind, and engross the whole atten- tion. It has not been for want of true and real regard to you, and
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many others, that I have not wrote much oftener. For some time past, I have scarce wrote to my family once a month.
I cannot omit observing the manner in which your letter is con- cluded, you say, "I am without quiting old friends for new" &c, which mode of expression being to me new, I am entirely at a loss what ideas were meant thereby to be conveyed, for I never intimated, or even had a single thought, that you had so done, But if it is meant to imply a charge, I am still in more than three fold darkness about the matter, as I am totally ignorant which part of my conduct could warrant the suggestion, more especially with respect to you, Sir, in particular. However it is now time to begin my letter. I have been in camp from the latter end of April last, till since M' Emery returned home, during which time the Army underwent several changes ; they know what it is to want, but not to abound. I have seen them envi- roned in almost every species of distress. Though things begin to look a little more favourable. The Army increases fast, and a tol- erable prospect, all circumstances considered, of supplies. But I am not without great anxiety for the event of this campaign. There are many contingencies on which the fate depends. Besides which, there are, generally found, men in the councils of every nation, and people, who find means, under some plausible pretext or other, to render the best concerted plans abortive. Can we suppose the councils of America more virtuous, or her plans less vulnerable, than those of other nations ? Whenever anything decisive and important is set on foot ; designing men will always find out a Diana, or some other fa- vorite Goddess, in danger, and under her banners, with great zeal, alarm even the honest and well meaning among the citizens, and ex- cite them violently to oppose the measure, such envious zeal, and ma- levolent practices, ensure to the authors great confidence and applause, not only from the devotees to the invaded goddess, but many well meaning citizens, who suffer themselves to be led blindfold by their machinations ! This my friend is a lamentation, and shall be had for a lamentation ! Johnson's golden shrines may have made proselites to his master. Who knows the power of gold ? You and I, my friend, have not had the chance of knowing by diabolical experience :- if we had, I will venture to assert, it would not have influenced us in the manner I have but too much reason to believe it has some others, in whose power it is to do us much harm.
America has it in her power, speedily, to put an end to this cruel and bloody war. If it is not done, ought there not to be an enquiry who has been the means of procrastinating the happy hour of peace and·independence ? I once read of a people, who were led by a cloud ; and I have known a people whose grand, multiformed, san he drin
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were often times in the midst of a fog. You will judge how dissimi- lar their situations I see a fog, or cloud, rising with a fire in the midst, which, if not soon dispelled, and extinguished, will in all proba- bility, greatly distress the army, if not totally mar the proposed oper- ations of this campaign !
The only object we can now have in view, must be to raise a n establish an Army for the war. Which must be done upon a perma- nent basis. The terms must be, both honourable, and profitable.
Can we expect men any longer to encounter every species of hard- ship, and danger, to fight our battles, without a prospect of some other reward, than cold, hunger, poverty, and disgrace ?
The raising of men by draft, or otherwise, for short terms, has been found burthensome to the citizens ; - and ruinous to the Army. We have always two Armies to feed and pay .- vast numbers continually coming and going, which sad experience has taught us, serves only to take off the honest husbandman from improving his farm ; lessen the produce of the earth ; - exhaust your treasury; destroy your arms ; - waste your ammunition ; - expend the magazines of provisions ; - greatly increase the necessity, but diminish the means of trans- portation.
In short it deranges every system, and renders calculations alto- gether uncertain. Upon this mode of proceeding, you can never have an Army in the field, by any means proportionable to the expense, or adequate to the indispensable demand of the service. For all this enormous toil and expense, what have we in return ? A few raw un- disciplined troops, raised for a short period ; by the time they are in- ured to a camp life, and with great fatigue to the officers, and expense to the United States, a little disciplined, and become in a de- gree martialists, capable of rendering service, the terms for ,which they were enlisted, expire! The Army derives but very little addi- tional strength from such recruits. Such aid must nevertheless be sometimes called forth, in cases of urgent necessity, but as auxiliaries only. They must not be too much depended on. The cause deserves other means for support. America has it in her power to furnish those means. The exigencies of the time, render it indispensible. For was it possible, in the nature of things, that our cause could be a little longer supported, in this way, without hazarding the loss of our allies ; - the increase of our enemies ; - and missing the golden op- portunity for establishing our independence ; the resources of the country would be incompetent for the purpose. The mines of Peru would scarce supply your treasury. The community could not long endure it.
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Can we, upon rational grounds, expect to pursue the war, with vigour, and success, or to negotiate a peace to advantage, while in our present labarynth ?
Our enemies, foreign and domestic fully comprehend our situation : They know where we are vulnerable, and where not. Can we expect new friends will rise up to our support ? Let us but have an army in the field, upon a proper establishment, such as the nature and impor- tance of the service absolutely demands, and America fully capable to furnish, and my life on the issue, such decisive measures being pur- sued on our part, other nations, convinced we are determined to be free, will step forth to our aid, and check the carear of our enemies : which will compel them, within and without, at home and abroad, in- stantly to relinquish all pretentions of conquest, and to sue for peace, almost on our own terms.
The whole dependence of our enemy for success, has not, for a long time been on the real weakness of America, but upon ruining our finances, which is well nigh compleated, and on our not having an army, properly established, in the field. It might not be improper to observe, in this place, that the usual calculations in all Armies, are, that a much greater proportion of men die by sickness, within the first four months of their entering a camp life, than for four years after that term is expired.
It might also be observed, that the usual disparity in pay, given to persons who turn out for a short time, and to the regular troops, can- not fail to impress the most disagreeable ideas among those who are engaged during the war.
But why should I trouble you, thus much with my thoughts upon a matter with which you are so fully acquainted ; especially, as I am sure your knowledge of public affairs, and daily observation, must suggest to your mind, ideas more adequate to the subject in question.
If I have been ung - [remainder obliterated] in expressing my sen- timents, your candour will impute it to zeal, and not to a want of rec- titude of intention.
I cannot conclude, without mentioning the high sense I entertain of the honor and merit due to that State, for its decisive and spirited exertions at this critical, and alarming juncture : It is confessed by many that not another State in the union has a claim to higher, if there is one to equal merit, with the State of New Hampshire, upon this occasion.
It is, at present, my fixed determination, that nothing but a want of health shall prevent my coming home in all September. I have been in this place about a week in hopes that a little relaxation from business, may aid in restoring me to a tolerable state of health.
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At present, my situation is rather unfavourable. In addition to the pulmonic complaint I formerly had, behold a hectic grins me full in the face ; and thongh my pale front at this time is less brazen than usual ; yet I am fully determined to parry the insults, and baffle the assaults of that grim tyrant.
You will please to make my best compliments to Mrs Bartlett, and to the president and gentlemen of the council of safety.
I am, Dear Sir, With great esteem, Your sincere friend, most obedient and very humble serv
Nath1 Peabody
The honourable Josiah Bartlett Esq.
[R. 6-100] [Mr. Lovell to Mr. Peabody.]
Aug. 8th 1780
Dear Sir - I am sorry you are so unwell - The Post Rider has y' Boots, or rather has a pair made for Somebody Else but such as Roney thinks must suit you exactly - except the whim of the Gutter Seame, which He thinks could not be trusted to one Journeyman in twenty and nine tenths of the old ones are gone privateering. - He will take the Boots back if they do not suit - but he cannot find other Legs that he would recommend.
You will give your Directions about payment 2 Guineas or the Exchange which is 70 at lowest - I paid a hard Doller for a Tumbler yesterday because I would not pay 75 - Will Col. Pickering be aided as he ought to be or will he be obstructed by a formidable Combi- nation of Malignants calling themselves Whigs & Patriots ?
I make no Comment upon the Necessity which was imposed upon the Public of a new Choice J. L.
[Superscribed] Honble Nath1 Peabody, Jersies To the particular care of the Post Rider - James Lovell
[R. 6-101] [Noah Emery, Jr., to Mr. Peabody.]
Exeter 12th Augst 1780-
Dear Sir - According to your desire I called on M' Hobart at Hartford for your Chest, he was gone out of Town with the Key of his Store not to Return under 2 or 3 days by which means could not get sight of it, the State Waggons were also gone to Camp before I
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got Home but I have Sent your order to Leavitt (by Capt Guile who has gone forward with a Drove of Horses) with Directions to get the Chest & bring it home. I have Enquired of our friend Dudley Respecting the appointment of new Delegates, he says they don't superceed you (but your Standing is as before) which you will see by the Inclos'd Copy. Dudley promised to write you but could not get time to put pen to Paper, but be assured you have his Best Wishes - The Committee seem to be well pleased with my appointment, but I fear they will neglect to write for the others you mentioned to me (unless you desire it of them by writing) there is no forage yard, no Issuing Comy no Hospital no Post Office Established in Exeter and I fear never will be so that business may be done here in a Regular Manner - But Beg of you to Have them all fixed if Possible - as you know the absolute Necessity of them at this time - Mr Hazzard has Condesended so far as to have the mail opened at Hampton (which has not been done yet) Thus you see how this State is Im- posed on by a few Individuals, Either for want of Spirit in the Authority or properly Exercising what they Have - Shall be much oblig'd to you for the Resolves of Congress Respecting the Comy & Q Mr Departments - you will please to Excuse the freedom I take in writing & believe me with the greatest Esteem & Regard Dear Sir your most obedt Hble Servt Noah Emery Jur
[Endorsed] From Noah Emery Jur. with a vote of the State Augt 80 -
[Addressed] Honble Nathaniel Peabody Esq' Head Quarters.
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[R. 6-102] [Mr. Peabody relative to Post-office at Exeter.]
Morristown 30th Aug 1780
Sir - I have just recd a letter from the president of the State of New Hampr Complaining exceedingly, that nothing is yet done with respect to establishing a post office in Exeter and directing the Post rider that way - he observes that he had lately seen M' Haz- zard but obtained nothing further than only that M' Hazzard had condesended to promise that the presidents Letters should be so put up, as to be left at Hampton falls ! ! I leave you Sr. to Judge - whether this was all the State had reason to expect from what had passed between you & me upon that Subject, and now Sir I have
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only to ask a particular favour that you will be so very obliging as to inclose to me your explicit determination upon the premises, that the state may know what to rely upon and take her measures accordingly, for unless something is done the state will immediately remonstrate against paying one farthing for the support of the office - you will pardon my being thus urgent upon the occasion, as it is a duty I owe to the State, and I am censured for not having the matter sooner settled. The presidents Letter is very long & upon a variety of important subjects or I would have sent it to you. The Honble Mr Mathews who will deliver this letter will take Charge of any answer you shall be pleased to give.
I have the hon' to be &c
Richard Beache Esq'
[Endorsed] Copy of a letter to M' Beache Augt 30-80
[R. 6-103] [Mr. Lovell to Mr. Peabody.]
Sept' 5th 1780
Dear Sir - I was much relieved from anxiety about you, by the Receipt of your Litter yesterday dated two days before. And I was further most' seasonably relieved from a Portion of Chagrin into which I had been thrown by accounts from my Family mortifying in every View -"my Wife my only Daughter & my oldest Son in their Beds, the first having been bled twice, on the same day; the rest of the Family wanting not only Comforts, but necessaries having in vain attempted to borrow even of the Great Man." Your Friendship proffered to me in such a critical Hour had great effect in dissipating my Chagrin. I afterwards recd a Letter from Doct" Holten dated at Boston which was proof that, so far as money could answer my Family was relieved on the 18th of the month. - We have but ill news from the Southward though I am persuaded we have it worse than the facts are. Gates was very ill many days before the action and his Conduct after it appears to spring from Paine I shall be sorry to find him anything worse than mistaken. We are just at this Period behind-hand, but things will brighten. Mathews tells us that we are to have no offensive opperations this year. I am sorry for it. We must aim to get a stable medium or we shall not even have defensive, and it seems to be the Disposition of some great .merchants here to damn all attempts towards a fixt Cur- rency. I wish you would be more explicit as to y' views of moving,
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perhaps I may be yr Companion eastward, tho I should like to see the End of Ar. Lee's affairs here.
Yrs affectionately J. L.
[Addressed] Free - Honble M' Peabody at Morris Town [Endorsed] Sept 5 Letter from M' Lovell - Recd Sept 27th
[R. 6-104]
[Mr. Lovell to Mr. Peabody.]
Sept' 12th 1780
Dear Sir - Yours of the 8th reached me yesterday. I am glad to find you are in some degree on the Recovery. You make me soli- citous to spend some midnights with you in reciprocal Communica- tions about the Saints in general & Mary in particular. We had a good Plan of Living wth Col. Pickering which is destroyed.
We have no prospect of getting out of our present indecent Situ- ation, where we are liable to have the Discredit of all the loud bois- terous profane and tawdry Language that flows out of our Parlour Windows, as well as to Chagrins very numerous [of] other Kinds. I presume you may have seen Gen1 Gate's Letter of Aug. 20 at length. You must also have heard Flings at his Conduct ----
Ill Luck I fear will do away his past meritorious Deeds. I wish he had stuck with the Continentals and have left the Militia to be rallied by their own particular officers. You do not say whether you intend to Visit here. I suppose you know that M' Sullivan is come Delegate, & Agent in the Vermont Business, as to the little dry Body I find it very spunging, it must be thrown aside, especially as it was never necessary others of an opposite nature being close at hand. I must not go to other Subjects. I shall lose the Post.
Yours affectionately J. L.
[Endorsed] from M' Lovell Sept 12, 1780- Recd Sept 14th
[R. 6-105] [Major Gibbs to Mr. Peabody.]
Head Quarters Bergen County Sept 16th 1780
Dear Sir - On my arrival here, after I had the pleasure of seeing you, I mentioned to His Excellency [General Washington ] what you
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desired me, respecting the Camp furniture you was so obliging as to offer for the use of his family.
He told me he would be glad to have them, as they would be of service during the Campaign.
I will not mention the particular articles wanted, but should be glad you would order on all that are good and fit for use of the different kinds. We have nothing new in this quarter, the General and family are well, wishing you a full reestablishment of your health, I have the honor to be with great Respect Dear Sir
your most obedt hum1 Servant
C. Gibbs P. S. I should be much obliged to you to forward the inclosd - The Hono1 Nath1 Peabody Esq
[Addressed] The Honble Nathan1 Peabody Esq' Morris Town
[Endorsed] from Major Gibbs Sept 1780
[R. 6-108] [Mr. Peabody to General Greene.]
Copy
Morristown Sepr 18th 1780 -
Dear Sir - Your agreeable favour of the 6th instant came safe to hand the 8th -and I should have done myself the pleasure of ac- knowledging it much sooner, had it not been that I waited in hourly expectation to receive some intelligence from M' Mathews which might be worth your reading, but alas, I am disappointed, for tho he has wrote me several letters, he has omitted giving me the informa- tion I wish to obtain.
Nothing in my present situation, except seeing and Conversing with my friends, could be more agreeable than receiving letters from them, and give me leave to assure you sir there is not one among the few I dare at this day call friends whose Correspondence I should higher value, or whose letters would be more eagerly and Gratefully Embraced than those you shall at any time favour me with. The very polite and affectionate manner in which you have expressed your wishes respecting my health and welfare cannot fail to impress on a generous mind indelible sentiments of friendship and excite grate- ful returns -
When with horror I contemplate the ill timed and worse calculated revolutions alluded to in your letter, the Convulsions they must occasion and the train of distressing embarrassments that will con-
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sequently result therefrom, I am overwhelmed with astonishment, and filled with holy indignation at the parracidical Conduct of the authors. The "thing " for Conducting your late department appeared in bye Corners, and your letter of resignation thereupon sent to Con- gress before I left Camp and I have the satisfaction of reflecting That I then fully Joined with my Coleagues in representing to Con- gress the probable Consequences of your resignation, and of making a Change of men or measures at so late a period in the Campaign, and have shared largely in the hon' of being Censured for giving our sentiments upon the subject - and have to regret our sentiments had not then been more fully expressed, in language emphatical as the subject is important, which would then as now have satiated my mind.
When with a distressed Army, and injured Country, I condole the loss of your abilities in the Q. M. Gen. Department - at the same time I do most Cordially Congratulate you as a friend, a Gentleman a Gen1 in our Army, on the happy occasion of your being freed from an office the duties of which you had faithfully discharged with so much toil and fatigue, and which had ended in discontent and un- merited disgrace - But let me add I feel a degree of solace in reflect- ing that the rancour of our Enemies, the Enemies of our Country promp'd them no further. The whole of the late Conduct of C-ss relative to you Sir, and to the Committee, had it appeared in any other age than the present or in any other body of men than those who resort together in Chestnut Street Philada it would have been a Phenomenon astonishing to all who beheld it. However I can assure you sir that the favourable opinion you imagine the Gentlemen of the Army have Conceived of the well meant intentions of the Com- mittee, will ever be esteemed a Grateful over ballance, for all the ill treatment they have, or may experience from any other body of men.
As to the Gentleman who is to'succeed you as Q. M. Gen1 his Character- as a private Gent and as a Lawyer was Good - and I most sincerely wish his abilities and exertion on the present occasion may prove Competent for the important purposes of his appointment.
And if we may Judge of future events by past occurrences - the manner in which he executed the office of Adjutant Gen' while in that Department, The rapid and decisive movements he has made since his present appointment leaves us no room to doubt but his piercing Eye will run to & fro through the Department beholding the good, and the Evil that is done in it - That his systematic nod will alone be sufficient to put the whole machine, instantly, in - In fine that he will take up the Complex business of the motion Department as a very little thing.
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Our southern affairs at present wear an unfavourable aspect - but wish they may soon put on a different Complexion - for I must here observe that my opinion of Gen1 is not at all lessened by what has happened at the Southward since his Command there - unless on examination it should prove that he had been Guilty of Treachery to his Country, or Temerity in his operations against the Enemy neither of which have I ever had the least reason to suspect he would be guilty of from my first acquaintance with him even unto this day.
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