Page:Journal of an Expedition 1794.djvu/8

4 do the duty of a camp, and to accommodate themselves to their new situation. Here the necessary supplies and attention to providing the troops were multiplied on my hands; every one looking up to me for what they wanted here. I was highly gratified at the confidence which my men placed in me. Before night, I had my men in their tents, and well supplied with everything to make them comfortable.

14th. Being Sunday, lay in camp taking our ease. In the afternoon the Muster-master mustered us, and the valuers of our horses, Col. Forman and Mr. Vandusen, begun by valuing my horses.

15th. Lay in camp, preparing every necessary for our march; getting everything ready to proceed to Carlisle. Had orders to change our camp, which was done with speed and cleverness, and our tents again pitched and our men well under cover.

16th. Began to rain in the morning; wind N. E., threatening a storm; but cleared off by noon. Order to prepare for a march to-morrow. While at Trenton I spent my time very happy. Most of my old acquaintance were very civil, and we had cove (?) of gentlemen with us: new acquaintances were made with ease and facility among the oflBcers, and each one seemed happy to find the honor of the State likely to be so well supported by the cavalry.

17th. Orders for marching having been given, and notice that the Commander-in-chief of New Jersey intended taking command of the troops from the State, and honoring the cavalry by marching with them, we all prepared, and about 2 o'clock left Trenton. There I was fortunate enough to meet my amiable friends, Miss Cornelia and Hannah Lott, of whom I took leave. I also was so fortunate as to make an acquaintance with Miss Forman and Miss Milnor, two very fine girls, with whom I was very loth to part. We marched across the Delaware, (that is, forded it,) and reached Newtown that night. This is the county town of Bucks county, Pennsylvania. Here slender accommodations had been made, and the troops suffered for forage very much, particularly for hay.

18th. This morning several of the troops were unwell, owing to their having lain on the ground without straw. We however moved on with the whole corps for the Crooked Billet, at which place we arrived at about 2 o'clock. Here our camp was pitched in a very rough, bad piece of ground. It had been ridge-ploughed for wheat, and was all hills and hollows. On our march we had a shower, and towards evening the hemisphere began to thicken and look like a heavy gust. I had determined this morning that I would take up my quarters in my marquee this night, and had attended to the pitching of it accordingly; notwithstanding the appearance of the weather, which now grew more tempestuous, I took up my lodging in the marquee. The whole heavens appeared in a blaze, and peals of thunder succeeded each other so rapidly as scarcely to afford an interval for several