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

6 I had a high fevour last night, my Boddy being all coverd over with the pox, & an extreem fire and itching made me Very
uncomfortable. Col. Starks Regt. went to Sorell. this Day Mr. Grant a Cannadien Mert informd. that a large Fleet was arrivd at
Quebeck with 13,000 Regular Troops, a part of which were near Sorell. Genl. Thomson wend down the River with 1500 men from
Sorell to 3 Rivers, where we heard the Regulars were landing.
7 Rested poorly Last Night. the burning & Itching of the pox was very Tedious to bair. This Day I took Physick that workt severely,
but I was comfortable before night. a pleasant Day.
8 this morning we were awaked at day light with the report of Cannon Down the River which continewed with Short Intermissions till
about 9 o'clock. the cannonade was Very heavey supposed to be Genl. Thomson ingaged with the Regulars. God give us the
victory.
9 I rested very well last night, this Day the Pox that came out very fine the 5th, began to turn, & I was better at my Stomach. Col.
Pattesson, Majr. Scott & 4 other officers dind with me. Just at evning an Acct was brought that Genl. Thomson had engaged the
Regulars at ye 3 Rivers, 70 & got the advantage drov of the main body & had taken about 400 prisoners & was returning with them,
his amunition being nearly Expended, and was again attacked by 900 Regulars, who got the better of our troops, killing & taking
number, & when the informer came away, the Regulars was persueing & our troops fleeing before them.
10 Col. Dehaws 71 & Capt. Nelson & Capt. Butler 72 calld to see me as they were going to Sorell from the Seeders with there army.
they complaind greatly of Genl. Arnolds conduct at the Seeders that it was all togeather owing to him that the regular army with the
Canadians were not cut off & our prisoners retaken. Majr. Sull cam up to St. Ours 78 Sick with the mumps. Capt. Scott came up from
Sorell as informd that Genl. Thomson' army was returnd to Barkee that they had left about 20 men killd, which was inconsiderable
compaird with the loss of the Enemy, which is said to be above one hundred. Genl. Sullivan Sent out orders for 2000 Cannadian
militia to go down armd to Sorell to the assistance of our army.
11 I set out from the parish St. Ours for Shambalee in a battoe. I am Very weak & coverd with the scales of the Pox & unfit to travil.
Col. Bond & Col. Alden go with me. Our Servants out full with the small pox but not bad. Oliver has it Very light. we Dind at Armarble
Ourashe on the west side the River, where we had a fine diner & was kindly Entertained then we went up the River to an old & good
farmers where we lodgd & was kindly entertaind.
12 went up the River about 6 miles to Mr Ledjuay' where we were Very politely Entertained where we lodgd. a fine Day but wind a
head.
13 went up the River after Breakfast to Point Oliviers where we Dind at a Mass House with a french Preist & was very agreably
Entertaind by the Fryer, Mr. Lotbiniere. after Diner we went to Shambalee. Col. Hazel & Col. Antle informd me that there was at this
place & St. Johns and about them 2900 men Sick, chiefly of the Small pox that belonged to our army, which has broak us so that we
are poorly able to defent against so superior a force as we hear is coming against us & that Very nigh.
14. Last Night I lodgd in my Tent without taking any cold, & am very comfortable. I Breakfasted with Genl. Arnold, who Recd a letter
while at breakfast from Genl. Sullivan informing that he had recd a letter from Genl. Thomson who was a prisoner with the Regulars,
with Col. Erving 74 & Docr McKensey. Col. St. Clear was Just come in to Sorell Just alive thro fatiugue there is about 100 of our men
Still missing, but they hourly come scattering in, it is uncertain how many we have lost in this desperate action, it is reported that the
2 frenchmen Genl. Thomsons guides were Trators, there is but little dependane to be put upon any of them. we Just now hear that
10,000 of our enemies are landed on an Island oposit to Sorell about one mile distant. our camp is poorly fortified, & our forces not a
third in number that the Enemy is said to be, Genl. Burgoin [Burgoyne] 76 the most Experienced Gen. in the English service
Commands them. I am going tomorrow to St. Johns to give directions to fortify there in order to Cover our Retreat, which I think
must be soon without a miricle is rought in our favour, I hope we Shall be able to retreat with all our Artillery & Stores to Crown point,
which is the best that I can reasonably expect of hope for, there to make a Stand let what will come
15 we were all Employed in getting Battoes, Artillery & Stores up the Rapids & to St. Johns, the army from Sorell came up to
Chamblee. I went to St. Johns Laid out and directed some works at St. Johns & rode back to Chamblee. Kept the men at work
geting up Battoes, it Raind all night Very hard, Supt. & lodgd with Genl. Sullivan, Col. St. Clair, Col. Vorce 78 at Col. Hazens 77 in the
fort Chamblee.
16 Sunday. Cleard the fort of all the Stores at Chamblee got the Baggage away. I was orderd to the head of the rapids to forward
the Intrenching tools & then to St. trace 78 half way between Chambalee & St. Johns, where I had the most Savere fateague in
Loading the Battoes with the Stores & Baggage brought from Chambalee in carts to this place to get them above the Rapids, the
Vast No of Men sick & in the most distressing condition with the Small pox is not to be discribed & many officers Runing off Leaving
there men by the Side of the river to be taken care of by me or others. about 1 o'clock it was reported that the Regulars were at
Chambalee & were coming forward but it provd a mistake but it had the effect of sending great Numbers of officers & Soldiers upon
the run to St. Johns, & Some to the Oile of Noix79 & others could not be Stopt till they got to Crown point.
17 I lift St. Trace ½ after Seven O clock at Evning in the last Battoe & Got up to St. Johns about 11 o'clock at Night extreemly
fateagued. Lodgd with Genl. De Woolke.
18 this Morning the Genl. calld a Genl Council, which advised to abandon St. Johns, dismantle the fort and carry off all the Stores of
every kind. we immediately Sent off all the Battoes to the Oil of Noix with the Sick & with Stores, & the Battoes returned before night
for more & by 6 o'clock Every article was in the Battoes, the most of which went of & then we set fire to all the buildings on both
sides of the river burnt & Distroyed St. Johns & then I came off in the last Battoe with Genl. Arnold, & got up to the Oil of Noix about
12 at Night but had neither Bed or blanket & lay upon the thawt of the Battoe till day light, it was cold.
19 this Day a number of Battoes came up that were heavey Loaded to this place bring every kind of thing from St. Johns, which thus
far is the most Speedy & good Retreet from a Country that it was not possible for us to command against so great a Superiority of
force, Just in our rear. the Sick were orderd of to crown point, with the Doctors & the Carpenters & Smith to go also in the morning.
20 this morning I recd orders from Genl. Sullivan to be ready with my bagage & Intrenching tools on bord my battoe to go with him
up the Lake to look out a Convenient place to fortify or to proceed to Crown Point. about 4 o'clock I left the Oil Oix Noix with orders
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