My dear Sir, Philadelphia Decr. 6th 1776

I have not heard from you a long time, owing I suppose to your unsettled State of Body which I understand has been vibrating 332between Boston & Taunton. Till I find you have at last decided in favour of the latter. I can assure you that the Expectation of your Removing from Taunton gave me much uneasiness & if ever I am able to spend my days there it will be an Addition to my happiness that you are with me. Our public affairs have been exceedingly agitated since I wrote you last. The loss of Fort Washington made way for that of Fort Lee & the dissolution of our Army hapning at the same time threw us into a most disagreable scituation.1 The interception of an Express gave the Enemy full assurance of what they must have had some Knowledge of before, the State of our Army & they took the Advantage of it; in two days after their possession of Fort Lee on the 20th ult. where we lost much Baggage & the chief of our battering Cannon, they march’d to Hackensack a pretty Town from thence to Newark driving Genl. Washington before them with his 3 or 4,000 Men, thence to Elizabeth Town by the 24th. Genl. Washington supposed by the best Information he could get that they were 10, or 12,000 Strong marching with a large Body of Horse in front & a very large train of Artillery. We began to be Apprehensive they intended for Philada. & Congress satt all Sunday Decr. 1, in determining proper measures on the Occasion. I will not describe to you the Scituation of the City. The prospect was really alarming. We could not fairly calculate a force sufficient to defend the City on so sudden a Call. but because Genl. Lee was on t’other side Hudson’s River, no help could be expected from Tionderoga, but to work we went. The Associators of the City were drawn forth & abt. 3000 with an addition of Artillery march’d. The Country Associators were called upon but there was no expection of sudden assistance from them. As the Week came on we had repeated Advices from the General of the unopposed Approach of the Enemy headed by General Cornwallis. On Monday we were informed by the Genl. that they were arrived at Brunswick & that he was retreating to the West side of Delaware River 30 miles from Philada. Brunswick is 60 miles from Philada. & stands upon a Wide River that is fordable at Low Water. They had not crossed the River & Genl. Washington exchanged some Cannon Shot with them before he retreated & we since find they lost some men & an officer. It was now a very rainy season & the travelling thrô all this Country exceeding mirey. We sent many Continental Stores into the Country & great Numbers of People are moving. The Shops have not been opned since Sunday. There was a real apprehension that we should be routed. I need not tell you what our Calculations were on the expecta­333tion of loosing this City. I had Called in my Accounts & prepared matters for a regular retreat, but on Thursday we found the Enemy had not crossed the Rariton i.e. Brunswic River, & by an Officer of my acquaintance whom Genl. Washington had sent with a Flag to escort a Prisoner to the Enemy in Exchange and who tarried two days with them I learn many particulars of them, that they were about 6,000 strong, abt. 40 Light Horse, that they left no troops at the places they marched thrô, & were surprized to find Newark & Eliza. Town evacuated by its Inhabitants, that they knew the State of our Army which induced them to make the Excursion; the Inhabitants of Prince Town & Trenton which lay between Brunswick & the Enemy are evacuated. The people left them on Sunday Night with Pannic & Precipitation, while the Enemy were as much afraid of aproaching as they were that they should; thus stands the matter this day, & we have no apprehension the Enemy will proceed further, for, as I should have told you, we heard yesterday that Genl. Lee with a large Body of Men was close in the rear of the Enemy.

Our Apprehensions now are from an Embarkation of six thousand men which we have pretty certain intelligence of. When we first heard it we expected it was designed for an Attack on Philada. by Water while the first Party penetrated by Land, but we are now Apprehensive for So. Carolina, Virginia, some say Newport.

The Enemy are in possession of a very large & valuable part of N. Jersey & the remaining part is greatly distressed by his Approach, but I hope this Affair will rouse them from that lethargy which occasioned this excursion, for had their militia been alert & resolute & given Genl. Washington the support they might have done, these Evils had not happned, but Stupidity & Carelessness have been the Lords of our ascendants this last month. Tis to no purpose to scold. Let us carefully ascertain our past Errors & amend them.

Sunday 8th.

Congress were called this morning on advice that Genl. Howe had joind Genl. Cornwallis with a Reinforcement & was marching on to Princetown. This Maneuvre induces us to think that the Expedition is agt. Philada. Monday 9th. Yesterday Gen. Washington crossed the Delaware, & the Enemy arrived at Trenton on the East side of it, (close quarters for Congress) 30 miles from Philada., fine road. Congress resolved if they were obliged to move to go to Baltimore in Maryland, 100 miles from hence. I have got leave to return home but shall remain here a while longer unless we are routed.2

334

I have this day received yours of Nov. 23d per Post, in wch. I have the assurance of yr. settlement at Taunton; I doubt whether I shall see you by Christmass as you desire, but nothing cou’d hinder me but attention to important Matters. Let my Wife see this Letter.

Dft. ; endorsed: “Dec. 1776 interesting.”

1.

RTP simply notes in his diary: Nov. 18 “heard that Fort Washington surrendered on Saturday last”; Nov. 19 “I went in co. with a Cmtte of Council of Safety Genl. Armstrong Genl. Rocheformoi & some other French Engineers to the Forts down the River”; Nov. 22 “heard that Fort Lee was abandoned by us taken possession of by the Enemy on Wednesday last”; Nov. 26 “apprehension that Genl. Howe was abt. marching to Philada.”

2.

On Tuesday, Dec. 10, RTP began preparations for his journey home to Taunton. He detailed the journey in his diary:

10 Cold day froze last night. Congress prepared to move to Baltimore agreable to the vote of yesterday: I put a Box of 8 bottels of port Wine on board Schooner Defiance Eliphalet Williams Master to carry to Dighton. I pack’t up my things: Genl. Washington crossed the Delaware at Trenton last Sunday & Genl. Howe follow’d him to Trenton that night. The Associators of Philada. are mustering to reinforce Gen. Washington, & the Inhabitants of Philada. are moving out their Effects.

11 Delivered my Trunk (containing books & papers & wch. I could not bring home) to Mr. Hancock to be carried in his Waggon to Baltimore & sent from thence to me by Land or Water; small snow last night & this morning raw cold air. At 11 oClock sat out for home. Din’d at Wilke’s Tavern, Abington 10 1/2m, thence to Bogarts 16m lodged. Small snow to night.

12 Cold morning. Rode to McCauley’s to Breakfast 4m thence to Pattersons Ferry on the Delaware 14m. My best horse was taken sick. Rode up the River to Sharrel Ferry 3m. Col. Hoosickes of the German Battallion stationed here to prevent the Boats wch. were collected from up & down the River from falling into the hands of the Enemy: going into the Ferry Boats, my at the back of my sulkey, got sunk under water & filled. Dindd at Tavern over the River, thence to Pitts Town 8m. Put up at Davis’s. My horse very sick. Spent the Evening drying my Cloaths.

13 Fine day. My Horse died. Dind at Mr. Moor Furmans late of Philada. & Sup’d. Tryed all day to get a Horse in vain.

14 Raw cold. Heard that Genl. Lee was taken yesterday by a Party of Light Horse at Baskerridge abt. 18m from where I was. Borrowed a horse of Mr. Furman & rode to Bascarts 5m. Could not get a horse there. Borrowed a Boy to go to Musceinecunk Brook & bring Mr. Furmans Horse back. Bad road 6m. Bought a Bay Horse of John Fleet 6 yrs. old for 80 Dollrs. wth. no Shoes. Din’d at Johnsons. Rode new horse in Sulkey to Hacketts Town 14m. Put up at Col. Thomsons. Tollerable Road. Very cold PM froze hard at night.

15 Ground hard froze. Fine day. Rode to Wiers 6m. Got my horse shod. Rode to Joseph Willings 23m lodged. Heard that Newport was taken possn. of by the Enemy.

16 Sat out at Sunrise rode to Col. Hathorn’s at Warwick 14m. Breakfasted, thence to Jacksons in Chester 10m. Thence to Dubois 10m. Lodged.

17 Sat out 7 oClock very cold morning. Rode to Shatts at New Winsor 7m. Breakfasted; got over the ferry, 1 o’Clock. Dined at Carpenters on t’other side of the River. Rode to Fish Kiln 7m. Spent Evning with the members of the Convention of New York. Went to Col. Brinkerhoof & lodged 1 1/2m & lodged. Cold. John Mosine Scott Esqr. & Family were at this house.

335

18 Cold morning. Rode to Storms 81/2m breakfasted, thence to Bakers 8m to Drapers 8m put up. Poor house.

19 Very cold morning. Rode to Daytons in Kent & mountainous Rocky road, the worst I have met with yet 8m. Did not get there till 12 oClock. My chair horse failing. I walked the bigger part of the way. Fair day. Breakfasted, thence to Cogswells New Milford 6m. Bad Road thence to Stones in Litchfield 5m thence to Litchfield Town 6m. Put up at Stantons.

20 Cloudy dull morning. Rode by Philips in Harrington 5m thence by Yates in Edge of Farmington 6m to Strongs here the bad road End, thence to Coles 5m. Small snow. Put up.

21 Snowd last night & all day Stormy.

22 Cloudy dull morning. Snow knee deep & some what drifted. Sat out & rode to Hartford 10m by 12 1/2 oClock. Met many Militia men going to join the Army. Din’d at Colliers & rode to Middletown. Bad riding for Snow. Put up at Biggelows. Spent Evening wth. Govr. Trumbull at Col. Hamlens.

23 Breakfasted with Govr. Trumbul & wrote to Mr. Hancock. 12 oClock set out for Hartford. Arrived at 3 oClock. In Evning I prepared a discription of a forged Iron Cannon & sent it to Govr. Trumbull.

24 Very cold morning. Fixed my Sulkey on Runners & sat out. Rode to Orcutt in E. Hartford 6m thence to Kimballs 10m. The road not sufficiently hard for slaying. Heavy bad travelling.

25 Fine morning cold. Rode to Stores 71/2m to Clark’s in Mansfield din’d 8m thence to Kendalls 6m. Put up. The road very bare of Snow. Hard Travelling. Had my Great Horse in Slay to day. Pleasant day.

26 Raw cold morning. Began to storm snow. Rode to Grosvenors in Pomfret 6m. Very severe storm of Hail & Snow. Breakfasted. The storm increased so that I put up, a very cold storm.

27 Very fine morning. Rode to Felchers in Killingsley 6m. The Snow that fell being mixt with Hail & hard froze made the travelling good. Breakfasted, thence to Wilmots 11m. Dind, thence to Busseys 4 1/2m. Lodged.

28 Cloudy raw morning. Rode to Eddy’s 8m. Breakfasted, thence to Providence 4m. Put up Richd. Olney’s, dind Mr. Clark’s Evning wth. Comttee from Massachusetts.

29 Fair. Attended the Cmttee’s of N England & Gen. Assembly of Rhode Island. Dind with Massa. Cmttee. PM. visited the Lines at Providence. Ev’ning wth. Genl. Lincoln.

30 Fair cold. Rode to Dyer’s in Attleborô & dined 12m thence home 9m. Found my Family well; after a very fatiguing Journey.