to hoot him out of camp. There is a kind of mechanical courage excited by the necessity of the occasion, which may push a coward to venture on an act of heroism. This fact was now exemplified, for Captain E. reduced to the alternative of retrieving his character in a spirited manner, or of quitting the army in disgrace, came to the desperate resolution of deciding his fate by facing his bold antagonist in single combat. The usual arrangements being made, my services as surgeon were held in requisition. The parties took their stand at ten paces, and each discharged his pistol. But behold, a harmless explosion, no blood shed, not even a hair of their heads injured. But the combatants conducted like gentlemen of honor, of course harmony and mutual friendship were restored. Captain E. has the best cause of triumph, for he has rescued his character from the stigma of paltroon, to an honorable standing among the gentlemen officers.

14th. I rode with Major Meriweather to West Point; took our route through the woods over abrupt and rocky mountains, almost impassable for our horses. Spent an hour at General Parsons's head quarters, then crossed the North river to Fishkill. The next day we recrossed at Fishkill landing, and rode to New Windsor, thence we visited my friend Colonel Malcom at his seat fourteen miles

in the country. This gentleman, having resigned his office in the army, is beautifully situated on a farm west of the Hudson, retired from the bustle of war, and devoted to domestic affairs and rural enjoyments. We spent the night with this agreeable family, and Mrs. Malcom received, in the evening, the visits of a number of ladies and gentlemen. We returned to our camp the next morning, and found the brigade under marching orders.

16th. We marched from Smith's Clove through a thick wilderness, and over the prodigious high land mountains. My curiosity was excited by a

vast number of huge rocks, marked with fissures and cavities, occasioned by some stupendous power beyond our comprehension. These, with various brooks, winding in every direction, among rude clifts and precipices, afford a singular and romantic landscape. Our path was narrow and rugged, and probably will not again be traversed but by savages and wild beasts. We arrived here in the evening, without our baggage, and were obliged to seek lodgings among our friends. The next day dined with Dr. I. Thomas, and accompanined him to General Patterson's quarters, where we spent the evening, and I was introduced to Major Haskill, aid de camp to General Patterson. He is a native of Rochester, and Dr. Thomas of Plymouth, Massachusetts.

20th.—I have lately been favored with a letter from my friend Dr. D. Townsend, who is a surgeon in the military hospital at Providence, state of Rhode Island. He invites me to accept of the office of surgeon to the Massachusetts regiment commanded by Colonel Henry Jackson, which is now stationed at that place. My principal inducement to exchange my present station, for the proposed new appointment, is, that Colonel Jackson and all his officers are from my native state, and there is a prospect of receiving some compensation in clothing and other articles to which I could have no claim while serving in the Virginia line. It is proper, and on many accounts convenient, that officers should serve in the line of their own state; and though I have enjoyed the most friendly intercourse, and numerous kind favors from the Virginians, yet I cannot but prefer the manners and habits of the New Englanders.

21st. The officers of our regiment invited a select number of officers of the Pennsylvania line to dine on sturgeon, a large fish which Major Meriweather caught in the North river. This fish is a favorite with the Dutch, at Albany, and is on that account by some called Albany beef; but in my view

it is worse than horse beef, and it was merely an auxiliary at our table.

24th.-I have just had the satisfaction, with a number of gentlemen, of viewing a remarkably large fat ox, which has been presented by some gentlemen in Connecticut, to his Excellency General Washington. He is six feet seven inches high, and weighs on the hoof three thousand five hundred pounds, the largest animal I ever beheld.

Having resolved to resign my commission in Colonel Gibson's regiment, I shall in a few days commence my journey to Providence, and join the regiment commanded by Colonel H. Jackson. Colonel Gibson has favored me with a complimentary certificate of my services. It is with sincere regret that I bid adieu to those associates, for whom I have a strong attachment.

July 1st.-Engaged to spend this evening with General Patterson, and Dr. Crowell, and to breakfast with the Reverend Mr. Avery and Mr. Hitchcock, and shall immediately set off for Providence, in company with Dr. Skinner.

I left West Point, in company with Dr. Skinner, on the 2d instant, and on the 3d, arrived at Crompond, where my favorite young horse was seized with the horse distemper, and I was put to the cruel necessity of disposing of him for not one half his real value. Pursued our journey through Litchfield and Farmington, in Connecticut, and the next day reached Hartford, a well built handsome town on Connecticut river, and the capital of that state. Having crossed over to East Hartford, we found the whole country in a state of alarm in consequence of the enemy's having landed at New Haven, and their committing depredations among the inhabitants. A spirit of revenge seemed to pervade the whole country, and the militia were marching from all quarters to encounter and arrest the progress of the invading foe. We passed through Windham, and arrived

at this place on the 8th instant. Here I had an interview with my old friends Drs. Brown and Townsend, surgeons of the hospital. I was by Dr.Townsend introduced to Colonel Jackson, and his officers, and I commenced my duty by visiting the sick soldiers of the regiment. The field officers of this regiment are Colonel Henry Jackson, Lieutenant Colonel David Cobb, and Major Lemuel Trescott. It is now learnt that the party of the enemy that landed at New Haven, was commanded by Governor Tryon, and consisted of three thousand men. They met with a powerful resistance from the militia, which occasioned skirmishing, and a considerable loss on each side. After plundering the inhabitants of Fairfield and Norwalk, they maliciously destroyed both these flourishing towns, with their houses of religious worship, by a general conflagration.

13th.-Dined with Colonel Jackson, and in the afternoon rode with Major Trescott to Pawtuxet, a very pleasant ride of about five miles.

21st. By express from General Washington to General Gates, we are informed of a glorious victory, which a detachment of our army, commanded by the intrepid General Wayne, obtained over the enemy at Stony point, situated on the banks of the North river. In consequence of this intelligence thirteen cannon have been fired at the several posts in this department. Extract from General Gates' orders.

Providence, July 21st, 1779.

"The General congratulates the army on the glorious success of Brigadier General Wayne, and the gallant troops under his command, in taking by assault the enemy's fortified post at Stony point, and with the point of the bayonet alone, forcing the garrison to surrender at discretion, not one man escaping. This signal and brilliant victory was gained with the loss of but fifteen men killed, and the general and eighty three wounded, while on the part

of the enemy, five hundred soldiers and twenty officers were killed, wounded and taken prisoners, with all their cannon, arms, military stores and provisions."

30th.-Dined at head quarters with a number of gentlemen, was introduced to General Gates by Dr. Brown. General Gates is the commander in chief in this department; his capture of General Burgoyne at Saratoga, in 1777, has given him eclat and popularity as a brave and skilful warrior. He displays the complaisant manners of a gentleman; in conversation he is affable and interesting, but appears better versed in military tactics than in subjects appertaining to general science. He adopted the profession of arms in his early days, and his prowess and valor, as well as his zeal and partiality for our country, are incontestably established.

Congress have recently passed the following resolve in favor of an American heroine: "that Margaret Corbin, who was wounded and disabled at the attack of Fort Washington, whilst she heroically filled the post of her husband, who was killed by her side, serving a piece of artillery, do receive during her natural life, or the continuance of the said disability, the one half of the monthly pay drawn by a soldier in the service of these states; and that she now receive, out of the public stores, one complete suit of clothes, or the value thereof in money."

Mr. T. an ensign in our regiment, has for some time discovered symptoms of mental derangement. He is frequently strolling abroad, and amusing people with his wit and humor, or arresting attention by his solemn appeals to the Deity. Yesterday he intruded himself at General Gates' head quarters, and after some amusing conversation, he put himself in the attitude of devotion, and prayed that God would pardon General Gates for endeavoring to supersede that godlike man Washington. The General appeared to be