1777: "Heard an Account of the Success...at Trenton"

Sally Logan Fisher kept a diary, recording details of her daily life in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She was a Quaker and a British loyalist. These excerpts from Volume 1 of her diary were written at the end of December 1776 and beginning of January 1777, during the military events known as the Ten Crucial Days. Fisher noted the days/dates based on Sundays which she observed as the "first day," and usually attended a Quaker religious meeting of usually silent meditation. She mentions many family members, including "Mammy" (mother), "my Tommy" (husband), and Joshua and Jem (probably her young sons). 

Spelling and grammar is original. 

5th Day, a very rainy snowing wintry Day, so bad that I could not go to Mammys as usual, but staid at Home, my Tommy reading to me in the Afternoon & Evening in Lytton's History of England cleared up this Evening. David Franks came Yesterday from New York & brought a York News paper which we looked upon as a great prize.

6th Day, this morning heard an account of the success of our American Army against the English at Trenton on Christmas Night which was a very stormy Night, report says that General Washington crossed the River before Day at the head of a large body of his Army & surprised the Hessians & English before Day, that there was not a sufficient number there to oppose them, & that they surrendered themselves prisoners to General Washington except what betook themselves to flight, that he took above 700 prisoners & some Cannon with a thousands stand of Arms[.] this piece of News greatly elated [the?] Whigs & as much depress'd the Tories, but I sincerely hope & believe that before long General Howe will subdue their rebellious spirit & give them but little reason to rejoyce, — Friend Hallowel Sally Thomas, Sister Gilpin & Sister Hetty drank Tea with me the two latter staid till 9 o'clock.

7th Day morning at Home, afternoon went to see Mammy found her alone, & very much bent on living altogether in that House she now lives in, heard no political News, but the account of Yesterday confirmed.

12th mo' 29th Day / 1st Day, morning went to Meeting, William Brown & Betty Morris preached. Dr Bone called here after meeting & gave us a very melancholy account of the Sick Soldiers & says they have the true Camp Fever which is near a kin to the Plague, he says 15 or 20 frequently Die of a Day, that they bury 9 or 10 in a Grave & not above a foot under Ground, he thinks the Disorder will spread & that the Inhabitants are in great danger, in the Afternoon my Tommy, little Billy, Joshua & myself went down to see Sister Gilpin, in the Evening went to Meeting which was mostly silent but was a favor'd Meeting to me[.] Myers & Sally sup'd here Yesterday till 10 o'clock

2nd Day morning set off to go to see Grandmother with Joshua & Jem, but was interrupted by the way & turned back by a multitude of people going to see the Hessian Prisoners march to the Barracks some People think about 700 marched with some Women & Children, they looked but poorly clad, were dressed in Blue & their outside Cloathes appeared to be Dirty what is remarkable they say there is not among them one English or Scotch Prisoners but all Hessians, this morning my Tommy came with the Man who has the care of Burying the sick Soldiers, says it is not true that the Graves are so shallow, but that they Die so fast, that he cannot Dig Graves for them all & so digs a large Hole 15 feet square & 10 feet Deep & so burys them two tier, & that the highest Coffin is about 5 Feet under Ground. Drank Tea alone with my Tommy, spent the Evening very agreably at Samy Pleasants———

3d Day morning busy preparing for Myers & Sally who were invited to Dine with us, which they did & spent the Day very agreably— John Lloyd sup'd with us,

4th Day, morning at Meeting which was Silent, Thomas Gawthrop Dined with us Friend Lightfoot & Coz Samy Emlen here part of the Afternoon Sally Waln drank Tea with me & staid part of the evening after Supper my Tommy read me a Paper called the American Crisis a most violent seditious treasonable Paper wrote purposely to inflame the minds of the People & spirit them on to rebellion, calling the King a sottish & stupid stuborn worthless brutish man—heard to Day that our Army are going in great numbers towards Princeton, intending to make an entire conquest of the English if they can.

5th Day, morning & stept over to see Neighbour Evano. Dined at Mannys with Thomas Gawthrop, Nanny Daw & her Husband, Margaret Porter & John Lloyd, in the Afternoon Sister Gilpin Sister Fisher, drank Tea there, took up in the Evening to see Grandmother & heard that Peggy Howell has a Son Yesterday & was bravely sup'd at Mammys with John Lloyd

6th Day this morning my Tommy & Ben Charles took a ride on Horseback to Trenton. Sally Waln & myself took a Walk to the Factory & brought two pound of Cotton, returned & Dined alone, in the Afternoon went up to Cousin Salley Emlen, my Tommy returned in the Evening & we sup'd together & were agreably entertained in reading a York News Paper— an express came in to Day, which it is said brought word that the English had pursued out Army as far back as Trenton & that both Armies were engaged there at two oClock this morning & that General Washington said a few minutes would decided it & as we have heard nothing from there it is expected that the Americans are surrounded & have nobody left to tell the Tale.

7th Day morning took a Walk with Joshua & Jem, drank Tea at Mammys sup'd at Home, very unwell with a pain in my Face, this Evening a Paper came out from the Committee of Safety, unlike anything I ever before heard of except the Spanish Inquisition, declaring that every person who refused the Continental Money should be liable for the first offence to forfeit the Goods & a Sum of equal value, for the second offence to forfeit the same & to be banished what they are pleased to call this State, to what place & in what manner, they shall judge most proper, that all those who have been imprisoned & whose stores have been shut up by them on the account of their refusing it formerly are to be opened & they are to be subject to this new Law, after having experienced all the rigours of the old one, a most extraordinary instance of arbitary power, & of the Liberty we shall enjoy should thier Government ever be established, a tyranical Government it will prove from weak & wicked Men. ———

1st mo. 5th Day 1st Day. Did not go to Meeting to Day, being not very well, had no Company all Day, sup'd at Sister Hettys, heard no political News to Day, but confused reports about the engagment on 6th Day, sometimes our Hopes & sometimes our Fears prevail, a State of suspense a very painfull situation———

2d Day, morning went down to see Salley Allen but found her out, stops Myers, afternoon drank Tea with Sally Waln at Myers, Sally Fisher & Sammy sup'd with us, we remain in the same uncertainty about Politics that we did Yesterday 

3d Day, morning at Home Writing & at work, Coz Polly Emlen drank Coffee with me, my Tommy reading to me most of the evening in the History of England. Bro Charles & John Lloyd sup'd with us, heard to Day, but we can hardly believe it true that Washington is surrounded by 4 Companies of Troops each of them headed by a General———

4th Day much disapointed indeed but hope to bear it patiently, morning went to Meeting which was silent, in the Afternoon went to see Sally Allen at William Allens, where she had come a few Days before being turned out of her House by our Troops, because her Husband has gone over to General Howe, spent the Evening at Sister Gilpino with my Tommy.———

5th Day, morning at Home veiwing the the Eclipse of the Sun Dined at Mammys wtih Coz Sammy Emlen, Sister Hetty & Sally Fisher there at Tea my Tommy & I sup'd at Unkle Logans. 

6th Day all Day at Home busy at Work

7th Day, morning at Home in the Afternoon went up to Mammy, my Tommy & I drank Tea there sup'd at Home, my Tommy reading to me in Lyttons History of England, very melancholy account of the Sick Soldiers it is said I believe with truth that 59 have been buried of a Day, several of the Inhabitants have caught the Disorder & Died of it & there continues daily more sick coming in from all part of the Country that unless prevented by a kind Providence, there appears the greatest probability of the Disorders spreading in such a manner, as to make a real Pestilence, may the minds be properly humbled, under a deep sense of the calamities that seem to await us.

Source:

Sarah Logan Fisher diary, Volume 1, Historical Society of Pennsylvania.