The Journal of Solomon Nash, July - September, 1776
The second part of the journal of an artilleryman who served in the Revolution.
From: 1776 C.E. To: 1776 C.E.
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From Journal of Solomon Nash, A Soldier from the Revolution, 1776-1777 by Solomon Nash, printed 1861.
Monday July ye 1d this Day Yerry warm—Employd as Befor—this night orders to Be in radiness—So Ends this 24 hours.
Tusday July ye 2d first part misty and rany—their was about 50 or 60 sail of the fleet at Sandy hook got under way and Came through the narrows and anchored of against Stratin Island—we ware all in preparation for a Battle Expecting them here to town
Wednsday July ye 3d the first part Smart Showers of rain—the Ships Drawd themselves in a Line Close by Straten Island—some of the troops went ashore on Straten Island.
Thirsday July ye 4—Last Night Capt. Dancy's Companey went towards Elizebath town with 2 12 pounders to Ingage a tender and fired on her Verry Briskly and hirt her so much that they ware oblige to run on shore at Straten Island—our people took posesion of hur—one of Capt. Drury's Sargent was Cilled—By an Exedent—ther was a Capt. of a ship taken By one of our Boats—So Ends this 24 hours—Clear and pleasent.
Fryday July ye 5. Clear and pleasent—there was a sentry shot—he Blead to Death—it was suposed to Be Dun By a torey out of a window But they Could not find him—one man was Cild with a Britch of a gun.
Saturday July ye 6th Clear and pleasent—Som fireing—the ministerials troops pitcht their tents on Straten Island—So End this 24 hours.
Sunday July ye 7th Clear and pleasent—a prisoner in goal this Day Insuled the goal and several others—A file of men was orderd to Quell the mob in goal—they was oblige to Cill said prisoners—There was several men run away from the men of ware but no grate Enteligence from there.
Monday July ye 8. Clear and pleasent—our men Employd to work in the Labeterry.
Tusday July ye 9th pleasent Employd as Befor—at C o'clock all ye Rigerment was ordered to parade and have the Declarration of Independence Read and three Chears given after Read.
Wednesday July ye 10th Clear. Last night King George's Image that was Erectted here was over set and to Day Cut in to peaces.
Thirsday July ye 11—Clear and warm—Nothing Remarkable—tou men run away from the Ships—their was five ships Came into the fleet at Straten Island.
Fryday July ye 12th this Day Clear and pleasent—this afternoon 2 men of ware and 3 Boom sail vesells Came from Straten Island and run up the north river—our people fired smartly upon them and shot them threw sevrel times—we had six men cilled, three wound By our Cannons which went off Exedently—they fired at the Citty, But did not much Damage So Ends this 24 hours.
Saturday July ye 13th this Day pleasent—Nothing Remarkable—Employd at the Labeterry—So Ends this 24 hours.
Sunday July ye 14th wet and showerry—we Took two Barges—So Ends this 24 hours.
Monday July ye 15th this Day pleasent—Nothing remarkable—So Ends this 24 hours.
Tusday July ye 16th—this Day pleasent—Employd in the Labetery—I received two Letters from home—So End this 24 hours.
Wedensday July ye 17th this Day warm—a flag of truce came from the shiping to our Lines—So Ends this 24 hours.
Thirsday July ye 18th this Day warm—Nothing Remarkable—So Ends this 24 hours.
Fryday July ye 19th this Day pleasent—Nothing Remarkable—so End this 24 hours.
Saturday July ye 20th this Day pleasent—about 11 o'Clock their was a flag a truce Came to town and was atended By the generals.
Sunday July ye 21st this Day Clear and pleasent. Nothing Remarkable—I sent two Letters home by Levt. Shaw—So Ends this 24 hours.
Monday July ye 22d this Day pleasent— a vast maney men upon fatique makin Brastworks round the park.
Tusday July ye 23d this Day warm and Clear. Nothing Remarkable to Day.
Wedensday July ye 24 to Day warm— Employd as usual. I was taken not Verry Well. So Ends this 24 hours.
Thirsday July ye 25th first part showery—Nothing remarkable—so Ends this 24 hours.
Fryday July ye 26th this Day warm—Employd as useuel on these Days—it is Verry sickly in our army here at New York.
Saturday July ye 27th this Day warm—Tou rowe galley Came in here this after Noon—there was one rowe galley Lanched here— So Ends this 24 hours.
Sunday July ye 28th Clear and warm this Day two of our row galley went up the north river this Evening one of our Campany Departed this Life. Belonged to Norton—his name was Jn. hager.
Monday July ye 29th this forenoon Clear and warm—afternoon we all in our Company atended the funirel of Jn. hager.
Tusday July ye 30th first part showery—Later part Clear and warm—yesterday arived here some troop from the Bay government.
Wednesday July ye 31st this Day Clear and warm—this afternoon we attended a funirel of one that Belonged to Burbank's Company. So Ends this Month,
thirsday August ye 1st this month Begins pleasent—some Sholgers arived here—two more ro galleys went up the North river.
Fryday August ye 2d this Day warm—there was a Larem we Exspectd ye Ships Down that Lay up the north river.
Saturday August ye 3d this Day warm—Nothing remarkable.
Sunday August ye 4th this Day pleasent—all our Rigemcnt Cleard from fateque—we here yesterday one of our galleys Engaged the pheonix and rose men of war—our gallys huld them saverl times and they Did our gallys much hirt—they kiled 3 of our men and wounded 13.
Monday August ye 5th Very warm this 24 hours—it is Verry Sickly in our army.
Tusday August ye 6th Nothing remarkable—so Ends this 24 hours—Verry warm.
Wednesday August ye 7th Nothing remarkable—the Enemy still Lays at Straten Island—this 24 hours Ends warm.
Thirsday August ye 8th Nothing remarkable — some men arived here from the Bay State—So End this 24 hours with some rain.
Fryday August ye 9th Clear and warm—orders for the four partys of the artilarry men that Belong to the feild peices to Join four Brigads.
Saturday August ye 10th Clear and warm—Capt. Rool with 30 men from Abington arived here.
Sunday August ye 11th to Day Somthing Showerry—I recived two Letters from home and one from James Gloyd.
Monday August ye 12th to Day somthing Cool—it is still Verry Sickly in our army I Being Verry Porley myself.
Tusday August ye 13—to Day Yerry warm—there was about 20 sail came in Below But where they came from we Cant tell yet.
Wednesday August ye 14. To Day plea sent—this afternoon we hear that the ragulars are Landing on Long Island, But no sartinty of it.
Thirsday August ye 15th this Day first part Showerry Latter part pleasent orders to holde ourselves in radiness for a Battle and to keep three Days provisions to Care with us where we should Be Cald to goe.
Fryday August ye 16th this 24 hours pleasent—this Day part of Genl. Lee's troops arived here from South Carolina and their is more of them Coming.
Saturday August ye 17th—we hare that Last Night one of our fire Ships that was Built up the north river set out to Burn the phenox But mist her But Burnt one of the Tanders. So Ends this 24 hours—Somthing rany.
Sunday August ye 18th to Day rany this morning about Eight o'clock the phenix and the Rose with their tou Tenders that Lay up the north river run Down By the Town to the fleet we fired Smartly on them and they Lickwise on us But Cild none of us—we split 4 32pr.
Monday August ye 19. to Day Somthing Couler it is Verry Sickly in our army yet and a great many Dies Everry Day—So Ends this 24 hours.
Tusday August ye 20th to Day nothing Remarkable—So Ends this 24 hours—Clear and pleasent.
Wednesday August ye 21st this Day pleasent—there was a flage truce came to towne with a Letter to Genl. Worshington for the Congress.
Thirsday August ye 22d Last Night their was a hard Squall of Thunder and Lightning it Cill'd 10 or 12 men and Struct one gally But Did not Cill any a Board of her— this Day the Enemy
Landed upon Long Island our peple Engaged them But Could not Drive them off—two feiid peces went from york and 7 or 8 Thousand Battalan men.
Fryday August ye 23d this morning we her that the Enemy ware oblige to retreet But have no Sartingty of it yet—So Ends this 24 hours—I sent tou Letters hom.
Saturday August ye 24th we here that our men made the Enemy retreet about 2 mils—to Day Conl. was put under the Provo gard for writing to Genl. how that he would Poizen the water when he was rady to Cora up to Engage our men—he was shure Poizining his owne rigerment and as many more as he Could. So Ends this 24 hours Clear and pleasent.
Sunday August ye 25th Nothing remarkable— the Enemy still are In Campt upon Long Island and our army are In Campt near them So Ends this 24 hours Clear and pleasent.
Monday August ye 26—this Day their was an Engagement which Did not Last Long—their was 4 or 5 of our men Cilld and some wounded—we toke some things from them.
Tusday August ye 27— this morning a party of about 200 and 2 feild peaces was surrounded By the Enemy and maid our Peopel retreet and took the Peaces kiled and took some of our men and sone after the Enemy Surrounded another party of our men about 1200 and 2 feild peaces they made our men Leive the peaces with the Loss of Capt. Levt. Carpenter Comander of the feild peices with the Loss of some of the Battillian men and one Coln.
Wednesday August ye 28th we here that Genl. Suliphant and Lord Starling was taken yesterday—Some firing on Both Sides at Long Island.
Thirsday August ye 29th our people and the Enemy Keep their own Lins—the Considerable firing on Both Sids—it is Verry raney on these Days.
Fryday August ye 30—Verry rany—Last Night about 10 o'clock our men had orders to retreet of Long Island— thay Likwise Did and got of all our feild peaces and amunition and the men all got of By Sunrise this morning the Enemy fired som at Last Boats that Left the Island our men Left goveners Island the Enemy fired at our Boats when Left govnrs Island and Cilld and wounded 3 or 4. Ginl Suliphent Came to Town upon the porrol of oner til to morrow 7 o'Clock.
Saturday, August ye 31st to Day ye fleet Came up Nearer the Town our people went to Governers Isld and fired at the Shiping Sevrel time with Cannon that our people Left their and they returned the fire and fired savral tims at our rogalys as they went By the grand Battry to go up ye north river. So Ends this month.
Sunday September ye 1st to Day Part of our Company moved to tirCal Bay the Shiping Drawd nearer the town.
Monday September ye 2d Last Night our men went to Goveners Island and fachd of 4 or 5 Cannon this afternoon the Regulars tok porseseion of Governers Island and fired all the Cannon of that our people Left their—So Ends this 24 hours—pleasent.
Tusday September ye 3d this morning Before it was Light a 20 gun Ship Capt. Wallis went up the East river as far as tircul Bay our men went with 2 12pr one hoit and fired one hoit Shell
in to her Quarter with other Pamog which made lier move her Station.
Wednesday September ye 4th Clear and warm. Nothing Remarkable to Day.
Thirsday September ye 5th this afternoon major Grain with a Party of Artilary men went with 3 18pr and fired at the Ship that Lay up the East river and holed her saveral times and they fired at our men But Did not hurt any Except major Crain in one of his feet So Ends this 24 hours Clear and pleasent.
Fryday September ye 6th Nothing remarkable to Day Clear and pleasent.
Saturday September ye 7th this Day Clear and pleasent—this Evening the Shiping Espied our guard Boats and fired at them. So Ends this 24 hours.
Sunday September ye 8th Nothing Remarkable to Day—two Belonging to our Company Died at the hospital.
Monday September ye 9th our men fire some to the Enemy at helsgate and they Return the fire.
Tusday September ye 10th to Day the Ragulars Landed about 6000 on one of the Islands Caled the two Brothers—Luke and rogers went to join their Party.
Wednesday September ye 11th Nothing Remarkable—Clear and pleasent—Some firing at Hell Gate on Both Sids.
Thirsday September ye 12th the Enemy fired Some Cannon Bals from Long Island to our forts in the City and our men fired some at them orders for all the sick to move out to Kings Bridg Likwise all the Tems Employd in giting our warlike Stors out of Town So Ends this 24 hours Clear and pleasent.
Fryday September ye 13th to Day four Ships took the advanteg of the wind and Tide and run up Betwixt read hok and governers Island as far as horns hook and their anchored—we are still giting in radiness to retret.
Saturday, September ye 14th to Day Clear and pleasent Nothing remarkable—so Ends this 24 hours.
Sunday September ye 15. this morning the Brigades in ginrel ware ordred to retreet out of town about 8 o'Clock their was 3 ship went up By the town about 4 mils thay fired smartly at the
town about 10 o'Clock the Enemy Landed at tircul Bay then we that was Left in the town was ordred to retreet But Bing to Late the Enemy haded us So that we ware oblige to make our escape as well as we Could But they Did not take maney of our men Now they have Prosesion of the town. (28)
Monday September ye 16—this morning the Enemy Came to force our Lins where our people had arected about 7 or 8 mils from town—But our men made them retreet and killd some of them and wounded and took a grate many more without Loss of many of our men.
Tusday September ye 17th Nothing remarkable to Day.
Wednesday September ye 18. Clear and pleasent to Day. So Ends this 24 hours.
Thirsday September ye 19—Nothing remarkable to Day—I Being not well Left the Laboratory and Joined our Company—So End this 24 hours.
Fryday September ye 20th Clear and pleasent—Nothing Remarkable—So Ends this 24 hours.
Saturday September ye 21th this morning about 1 or 2 o'Clock their was a Large fire in the City of York But how much was Burnt we have no Sartinty nor how it got a fire. So Ends this 24 hours.
Sunday September ye 22d—Nothing remarkable to Day. I recivcd 2 Letters from home.
Monday September ye 23d—To Day Their was a man sentenced to Be Shot for Deserting while in the Engagment the weke Before But was repreved after he kneled Down to Be Shot.
Tusday September ye 24th Clear and Pleasent this Day—the got Powels hook But Did not take any guns or amunission.
Wednesday September ye 25. Nothing remarkable—I sent a Letter and Somthings home.
Thirsday September ye 26th Verry Cold Last Night and this morning—So Ends this 24 hours.
Fryday September ye 27. Clear and windey this afternoon their was two 13 inch morters with iron beds arived here from Boston and was on Loaded By fort worshington— So Ends this 24 hours.
Saturday September ye 28th to Day their is 400 of our men that was taken at Queback Cleared from the Enemy upon the Parol of honour that they will not take up arms against the King of England again—So Ends this 24 hours.
Sunday September ye 29th Nothing remarkable—Clear and pleasent. So Ends this 24 hours.
Monday September ye 30—to Day Exceding windy—So Ends this month at fort Worshington.
Nash, Solomon. Journal of Solomon Nash, A Soldier From the Revolution, 1776-1777: now first printed from the original manuscript. Charles I. Bushnell, 1861.
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