VALLEY FORGE, 1777-1778.

DIARY OF SURGEON ALBIGENCE WALDO, OF THE CONNECTICUT LINE.

[Dr. Albigence Waldo was born February 27, 1750, at Pomfret, Connecticut. His medical preceptor was Dr. John Spaulding, of Canterbury. During the Revolution he served as clerk in Captain Samuel McClelland's Woodstock company, in the "Lexington Alarm;" July 6, 1775, was commissioned surgeon's mate of the Eighth Connecticut Regiment, Colonel Jedediah Huntington, but, owing to ill health, was discharged in September following. On December 14, 1776, the Connecticut Committee of War commissioned him chief surgeon of the armed ship "Oliver Cromwell." He was next commissioned surgeon (January 1, 1777) of the First Connecticut Infantry Regiment of the Line, and served while it was commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Samuel Prentice and Colonel Josiah Starr, and attached to Huntington's brigade of McDougall's division. This regiment was raised largely in New London County, Connecticut, and took the field in the spring at Peekskill, New York, where it remained until ordered by Washington to join the army in Pennsylvania in September of 1777. In the battle of Germantown the regiment was engaged on the left flank, and suffered some loss in killed, wounded, and missing. Ill health again compelled Surgeon Waldo to retire from the service, and he resigned October 1, 1779. He died January 29, 1794. His last lineal descendant, Charles A. Waldo, died in Florida in December of 1896.

We print Surgeon Waldo's diary from the manuscript kindly contributed by Mr. Amos Perry, of the Rhode Island Historical Society; the annotations are by the ED. PENNA. MAG.]

November 10, 1777.-Captain [Henry] Lee, of the Light Dragoons brought in Capt. Nichols of the English Packet whom he took prisoner at New Castle.' I heard Capt. Nichols observe that one hour before he was taken he had the following reflections:-" His Majesty has made me commander of a fine ship-a packet too; I need not ever fight. I have nothing to do but transport gentlemen and ladies of the first rank. I have a fine stock of provisions aboard, hens, turkeys, geese, pigs, ducks, wine and cider. I have a 1 1 See PENNA. MAG., Vol. XVIII. p. 494.

good interest at home, and what is above all, an agreeable family. I am not troubled in my mind. In short, I've nothing to make me uneasy, and believe I am the happiest man in the world."

Capt. Nichols was now the unhappiest man in the world. His reflections were turned upon the vicissitudes of life, the sudden changes of fortune and the variety of events that may happen to a man in the course of a few hours. If we would set our reasons to work and believe what is undeniably true that there is no dependence to be put on the wiffling wind of fortune, we could bear disappointments without anxiety. A man of the least observation will find every state changeable, and while he considers this mutability of time and things, he will be better prepared to undergo the misfortunes of life and the disappointments inseparable from it. When a disappointment overtakes us unguarded by such reflections, it often throws us into a fit of anger which vents itself on those connected with us in opprobrious words against the Providence of God.

An incessant cannonading at or near Red Bank this day. No salt to eat dinner with.1

November 11, 12, 13 & 14.-Nothing material happened. November 15.-An attack was made on Fort Mifflin by 4 ships, 4 Batteries, & 1 Gally. Our People fired from Fort Mifflin 1 Battery, 12 Gallies & two Shearbacks or small ships. The firing was incessant all Day. Our people defended themselves with unparallel'd bravery amidst a continual storm of Balls 'till at length when Capt. Lee's company of Artillery 2 were almost all cut off, and a reinforcement had stood at the Guns till 9 o'clock in the evening the Garrison evacuated the fort, after having spiked up the Cannon. Capt. Stephen Brown3 was kill'd by a shot from the round-top of a Ship that had hauled up in pistol shot of the Fort.

1 See PENNA. MAG., Vol. XIX. p. 84 et. seq.

"Captain James Lee, of Philadelphia, of Second Regiment Artillery, Colonel John Lamb.

3 He commanded a company of the Fourth Connecticut Line.

Mem.-Fort Mifflin was a Burlesque upon the art of Fortification.

November 19.-The Boston and Hampshire Regiments began to join the Grand Army. This Day Huntington's Brigade consisting of Prentice's,' Bradley's,2 & Swift's, march'd for Red Bank, which the Garrison Evacuated before we arrived. Greene's Division next day march'd for the same place, who, with Huntington's Brigade & the Garrison consisting of Varnum's Brigade met at Mount Holly 5 miles east of Burlington, where we Encamped till the Evening of the 25th. Mount Holly-so call'd from a little Mount nigh the town-is a Compact & Pleasant Village, having a great proportion of handsome women therein. Near this Town in a Wood, a Hermit has dwelt these 27 years, living on Bread and water. His bed is a hole dug in the ground about one foot and a half below the surface, and cover'd at pleasure with a board-over this is built a small bark hut hardly big enough for a man to sit up in. When he goes to bed he crawls into his hut and at the further end slips into his hole which he calls his grave, drawing over the Board and goes to sleep. He crawls night and morning on his hands and knees about two rods to a particular tree to pray. He says he was warned of God in a remarkable Dream when he first came to America to take this course of Life. He has many Latin and other Books in his lonely Cell, and is said to write considerably. He kisses every man's hand that visits him and thankfully accepts of what is gave him, except Money, which he refuses. His Beard is done up in a loose club under his chin, he is small of stature and speaks very fast, he talks but little English-chiefly German or Latin. 1 Lieutenant-Colonel Samuel Prentiss, First Connecticut Line. 'Colonel Philip Burr Bradley, Fifth Connecticut Line.

* Colonel Heman Swift, Seventh Connecticut Line.

4 Huntington's brigade of the Connecticut Line regiments of Prentiss, Bradley, and Swift (and joined by Webb's at Valley Forge), Varnum's brigade of Greene and Angell's Rhode Island Line regiments, and Durkee's and Chandler's Connecticut Line regiments comprised the division of General McDougall.

He says he shall come out purified & live like other folks if he continues in this State till he is eighty. He says he often wishes for Death, being frequently afflicted with pains of Body by this method of life. He never goes near a fire in the coldest time. Much is said about the reasons of his doing pennance in this manner, but chiefly that he murdered his own sister, and that he killed a Gentleman in a Duel while an officer in the French Service. He was also in the German Service among his countrymen the Germans.

November 25.-In the Evening we march for Haddonfield (not far from Red Bank) where we arrived in the morning of

November 26.-Lay in the Forest of Haddonfield, cold and uncomfortable. Two Hessian deserters came in who declar'd our little parties had kill'd a number of the Enemy-15 prisoners were bro't in, 2 women.

November 27.-Return'd to Mount Holly. Same Day Greene's Division and Glover's Brigade (who had arriv'd from the Northward 2 Days before) march to Burlington. Morgan with his Riflemen were left with the militia to harrass the Enemy as they were Recrossing the River from Red Bank to the City.

November 28.-The remainder of us marched to Burlington. P.M. the rear of the army crossed over to Bristol. A Storm prevented the Baggage going over this Night, which prevented Dr. L. & myself also crossing with our horses.

November 29.-Storm increas'd. About one p.m. An alarm was made by a report that the enemy were within 15 minutes march of the Town to take the Baggage. Those of us who had horses rode up to Burdentown. The Baggage and the Sick were all hurried out of Town the same way, but had not got 2 miles before they were turn'd back on its being a false Alarm. For the sake of good living however Dr. L.,' Parson E. & myself went to Burdentown

2

1 Probably Surgeon Samuel Lee, of the Fourth Connecticut Line.

Chaplain John Ellis, of the First Connecticut Line, and subsequently brigade chaplain of Huntington's brigade.