Craft Masonry in Albany County, New York - Onondaga and Oswego ...

Shambalee May 14 1776
My Dear
Fort Chambly - 1840
these paper may serve to let you know where I was on perticuler Days, as I have kept a kind of Journal as I have gone a long tho
Very Short, it may give you some satisfaction. I have Through Divine goodness, enjoyed my health well & am Very hearty at this
time, tho something of a gloom has passed this way, by the retreat of our army from before Quebeck. the report is that about 500 of
our army is left Sick with the small pox (& otherwise) near Quebeck which are fallen into the hands of the Regulars with the artillery
& what little stores they had there.
15 left Shambalee with a fair wind about 10 o'clock in the morning, Saild Down the River 45 miles, thro a most beautifull Settlement
on Each side the River to Sorell. got down about 6 o'clock at evning.
16 Viewd the Grounds on both sides the river with Col. Wait & Col. Antle. 59 Dind & Drank Tea with Genl. Arnold. 60 Genl. Thomson
Came from Montreal. Capt. Barnard, M De la Marquisca, 61 an assistant Engineer came to Sorell. Capt. Badlam movd and took ye
Command of the artillery at Sorell.
17 about 10 o'clock this morning I was Inoculated for the Small Pox with Col. Bond, Col. Alden, 62 Majr. Fuller, Majr. Loring, 63 the
Revd. Mr Barnham, Docr. Holbrook & Lieut Oldham togeather in a mess by Dr. McKensey. Genl. Thomas came to this place from
Quebeck, left his army at the three rivers.
18 A General council sot & agreed to move the army Down to De Shambo 64 as soon as provision arivd, for the army, which at
present is scarce. the Army at ½ allowance.
19 Sunday. this is Observd but all the men at work that can be employed with tools at three breastworks at different places, one on
the point across the river. order that all the tool be brought in from the several works to go down with the army. Col. Greaton Dind
with me, & Col. St Clair Breakfasted with me. laid out some works, mounted some cannon & got the smiths to work. Genl. Arnal
went last night to montreal.
20 we had the news of Capt. Blisses 65 being taken (by the regulars & Canadians from Detroit) at the Seeders [Cedars] Above
Montreal with the provisions going to that place. this news gave a damp to the spirits of our people as hundreds of them had taken
the small pox, & others daily expecting to have it. Genl. Thomas Sick & not one barrel of provision in the Store & the men at half
allowance for several Days past, & no sertainty of any coming soon, was truly distressing. I went with Col. Bond, Col. Alden & Majr
Fuller up the river Sorell 13 miles to St. Ours. Lodgd at Col. Duggans.
21 Breakfasted at Col. Duggans, went up 3 miles to Capt. Lamoureux to see our Lodgings & returnd to Col. Duggans. Dind & then
went up with our Battoe to our agreable french Landlords Drank Coffey togeather, 60 Barrils of Pork went Down to sorell.
22 Genl. Thomas came up to St. ours sick with the small pox, we heard of our army being cut off at the Siders comand by Majr.
Sharburn66 with 170 men. Majr. Thomas & Col. Dind with us & informd that our army at 3 river wer sent for to com up to Sorell. Col.
Dehart went from Sorell with 450 Rifelmen & musketteers to Montreal & the Seeders 67 . the artillery Sent up from Sorell to
Shambalee where I was advised to move to prevent my falling into the hands of our Canadian enemy which some fiew now began
to show themselves unfriendly. Our Army being very much neglected the supplies not being sent forward in season proper for the
support of the army togeather with the distress ocationed by the spreading of the Small pox in the army, & other distempers 2 thirds,
were returnd unfit for Duty Ocationed a Cowardly and Shamfull retreat from Quebeck, Deshambo & from the 3 rivers to Sorell & this
Day I hear that Col. Poors & Col. Porters Regt. are retireing to St Johns to fortify that place. if this is the case when none persues
what may we expect when we are driven by the Enemy. I walkt about to the Neighbours a Visiting. fair Windy Day.
28 had a restless Night, a hard pain in my head & knees. I got up & after Breakfast I walkt with Col. Alden to Col. Duggans & back
again to Dinner, 5 miles, but the pain in my head continewd & several Pox apeard under the skin in my forhead, I eat a little diner,
but appetite & relish faild, living 8 Days without tasting the least relish of Salt in my Victuals or tasting any kind of Spirituous liquer.
Just now heard that the Army from the 3 rivers was com up to Sorell. Col. Poor marcht by with his Regt to Shambalee, Col. Porters
Regt marched by for St. Johns & they advised me to retire, as it was expected the army would leave Sorel soon, but my french
friends assure me that they will take the best care, that I shall have the first notice of any danger & that they will help me off should
the enemy persue, at several Housen where I have got aquainted these people are polite, kind & very friendly & are extreemly loth
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