July 4 1776
accidentally lost his Life. He think=
-ing that his Piece had Snaped was
taking it from his Face to Cock it
again when the Piece went off
kicked him in the Breast which
instantly killed him--
5. [July 1776] Went on
Guard at the Grand
Battery Capt
Wiley of Coll
McDou-
-gles Regt commanded the Guard he
was a most agreeable Gentleman
& with him I Spent the Time very
agreeably
6. [July 1776] Have the
News of the United Colon=
-ies being Declared free &
indepen=
-dent States by the Congress, may
they be able to Support themselves
free & Independent and never again
be braught under the Yoke of Bon=
-dage by Cunning & designing Men.
The whole Choir of our Officers, tog=
-ether with Col Baldwin & the
chief of his Officers went to a Pup
-lick House to testify our Joy at
the happy news of Independence
we spent the afternoon merily in play-
ing at Bowles for Wine, I was by good
fortune Set clear of the whole Recconing
before we departed an Accidental Mis-
-understanding happened in which I
gained the applause of each Individual