[March 1776, cont.] -Trees, (a miserable Shelter
From
Storms & March Winds) for the Regu=
-lars had previously Set fire to alm=
-ost all the Houses & Barns on the
Neck, two Barns & three Small Houses
only being left & of these only the
Bar
-ns were So Situated as to afford Shel-
-ter for the Army of 25 Hundred
Men or thereabouts, because of their
Distance from our the Works we
were building -- therefore no perticu=
-lar Regiments could be Stationed
there, & it was absolutely necessary
to keep at least that Number of
Men constantly upon the Hills, &
these must be drawn from those at
Roxbury, this G Party together
with
the Guards at
Roxbury kept half
of our Men on duty constantly,
& many being taken ill about that
Time, Some with what we termed
the Hill Fever, & others with real
Sickness, many Men were obliged
to be on Duty two Days & Nights
Successively
moreover because of the dangerous
Scituation of the Causeway we were
obliged to Send on our Reli go on
to relive the Parties on the Hills