Worcester-Statewide County MA Archives Military Records.....Baldwin, Col. Jeduthan December 1755 Indian ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ma/mafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Nancy Poquette npoq@hotmail.com November 7, 2009, 8:50 pm JOURNAL OF COL. JEDUTHAN BALDWIN Page 3: December 1, 1755. I worked at clearing out the parade. Carried out the chips without the gate and onto the wall begun around the parade. 2 Drew the timber of the parade up onto the wall and hauled 2 logs out of the lake for boards. 3 The Colonel moved into his house. I was pulled down with others by a rope. The wall laid out. Brought into the camp 187 oxen. 4 Being Thanksgiving at NB. I was commanding officer for today and had the care of killing the cattle. We killed a large number of the oxen. Laid the sills of our house. 5 I went to killing cattle with all the men. The drovers went off. Captain Fay went off home with many of the sick. 6 I went to work at my house. Ensign Stone died and was buried. The rest of the cattle are killed. Page 4: 7 I worked at my house. 8 I was officer of the day. The beasts cut up and salted. Capt. Whiting lodged in his house. Several horses came in for the sick and Col. Fay. My chimney begun. Major Kingsbury moved into his house yesterday. Pleasant weather. I was very poorly. Went to David Stone’s funeral, who died in the morning. 9 Nothing remarkable happened. I worked at my house, cutting and salting beef. I finished my house. Moved in. Several horses came in for the sick from Connecticut. Heard of Col. Bagley at Fort Edward. 11 We cleared the parade, had all the men under arms. Moved S. Brown, Corp. Metcalf, and Thomas Layton and Benjamin Dolber out of the fort, sick. Went to meet Col. Bagley 2 ˝ miles down towards Fort Edward. Dec. 12 Hauled in Col. Plasted’s house for a guardhouse. 13 Throwed chips onto the wall to make room for the beef. In the forenoon I was taken sick. In the afternoon I had two blisters drawed and polticed. In the evening exceeding bad. 15 Being Sabbath. I grew worse. My fever settled, which was a slow fever. I had an extreme pain in my head, and body very much bound. I continued losing my strength and flesh till the 28th day, by which time I was brought almost to the gates of the grave, but Page 5 God appeared for me and blessed the means used for my recovery. I had 2 doctors, Bliss and Gott. I was well taken care of and my fever broke the 28th day of December, and then I begun to recover. Begun to gain strength, but slowly, till the 1st of January 1756. By this time I had a good stomach to my victuals, though bound in my body, for which I took physic every morning. The 28th December there came in one deserter. [1756] Jan. the 8 of Jan, came in another. 10 I eat some pancakes, which lay in my stomach and hurt me very much. 11 My victuals did not digest. Being Sabbath, it was spent in preparing to send letters and much as others have been here in time past in labor. 12 Being the 30th day since I walked abroad, blessed be God for his great goodness for raising me from a bed of sickness to such a measure of health as that I have been ____ this day to walk out of doors. This morning, when the gun fired, Lieut. Smith and 8 men went off, after one of the men had carelessly shot Sgt. Miller in the leg [a flesh wound] for Albany with letters. 13 I went abroad and was very comfortable. Dr. Bliss came from Fort Edward. 14 Capt. Engersoll came from Albany. Brought me two letters from my father and another from my uncle. I rained hard all day in showers. Page 6; 15 My brother, N. Baldwin was drooping. It was very pleasant weather. 16 It was weather pleasant. Brother N. Baldwin took physic. It snowed in the afternoon and it was warm. James Clerk died in the afternoon, son to John Clerk; he belongs to Pelham; came into the army from Chester. A post with privet letters went off in the night. Dec. the 1st, 1755, Nathaniel Brown from Waltham was taken sick. Took physic the 7th of December and died the 18th day [Jan 1756], in the morning. 17 Isaac Pratt was not well. 18 Being Lord’s day, I was officer of the day. 19 I went the grand rounds. In the morning, about ˝ after 6 o’clock, we was all alarmed by Capt. Rogers’ firing as he came in on the lake from the Lake Champlain, where he took 2 prisoners and brought them in with him. It rained in the afternoon. I began to draw a plan of the fort. 20 It was a wet day. A scout chased by the Indians at South Bay that went from Fort Edward. Page 7: 21 Cold and cloudy, Capt. Rogers lost a man that went into Fort Edward. At night we had a dance. 22 A pleasant day. Finished the well. 23 Finished the plan of the fort. I was Officer of the Day. 24 Fetched wood over the lake. The wind was south and warm. 25 Being Lord’s Day it was spent as others with many. Putnam punished for disobeying. 26 Lieut. Smith came from Albany with letters. 27 28 29 Capt. Rogers and 50 men went a scout. Joseph Bask left 2 Dollars and 4 coppers with me. 30 Two of the scout returned. At evening cleared the parade. 31 Two of the gunners deserted and was brought back about one hour after. Feb 1 Lieut. Woodwell and 16 of the carpenters went off for home. Carried 2 prisoners to Albany. 5 Capt. Rogers’ scout came in with one prisoner; left one sick. 6 wagons came in. 6 I went to bring in the sick. Samuel Lyon was drowned. 5 of my men went down in the wagons. Page 8: Samuel Sheppard, Wm. Barrat, Benaiah Studson, Jesse Fletcher, Francis Fletcher, went home. 7 Nothing extraordinary happened. 8 Being Lord's Day, the Hospital was begun, the ground laid out. 12 I went a scout with 21 men onto the top of the mountains. Sgt. Call Brook in the dungeon. 14 John Doty put under guard. 15 Being Lord’s Day all recreation as well as labor forbidden. Ensign Fales died and was buried. John Doughty tried and Received 10 lashes. 16 I had a letter from S Baldwin. Capt. Whiting went to Fort Edward. 17 25 wagons came in. Shot at marks. 2 Frenchmen came in from Crown Point. 18 The wagons went off. Lieut. Brown with the 2 French went to Albany. 19 I went to Capt. Rogers’ to dinner. 20 Capt. Whiting with Capt. Engersoll came up. 21 I went off with Capt. Whiting to Fort Edward about eleven o'clock at night with 16 men. 22 Being Lord’s Day, I tarried at Fort Edward. People were very modest. Colonel Whiting went home. 23 At Fort Edward in the afternoon I went with 6 gentlemen to find a road down the river. Returned at night. Page 9: Went to the coffeehouse with all the gentlemen. Rev. Mr. Norton came to the fort. Fort William Henry 24 I, with 16 men set off for Fort Wm. Henry, with Capt. Putnam and ten men for South Bay and Fort Wm. Henry and to Carralong. He came up the road with me four miles & then turned out east for S. Bay. I got home at sunset. For 3 or 4 days, cold weather. 27 Capt. Putnam came in. 28 We fixed for a scout 15 Days. 29 Capt. Putnam joined Capt. Rogers, myself & Capt. Parker, & we marched with 60 men towards Crown Point N. N. E. 12 miles. March 1 We sent back 5 of our men, not well. We marched north 10 miles. Saw a wolf chase a deer into the water, past Capt. Putnam’s Enterueil where the Indian town of trade, Mass house, cross and camps all standing. Very fine lands. Then altered N. N. West 4 miles. 2 We set out about sunrise. Marched over a very large mountain called Parker’s Mount, traveled N. all day about 10 miles camped on low land. Lodged not in a feather bed but on hemlock boughs. 3 We set out about sun an hour high. Traveled N by W. 7 miles. Came over several large mountains this day. In the after part of the day we marched N. N. E. 6 miles. Page 10: A snow fell today about 4 inches deep which made it very slippery and wet. 4 Traveled N. E. 11 miles today. 5th We marched N. E. till about 11 o clock & then we came in sight of Crown Point, 8 miles, then we altered our course and marched N. 6 miles. Lodged in sight of Crown Point without fire. It snowed in the forepart of the day but soon went off again. 6 About 2 o’clock in the morning as we went to cross the lake in order to waylay a road on the E. Side (for we, by information, expected to find a small village on the west side about 10 or 15 miles down N. from Crown Point, but there is none). Capt. Rogers fell off a ledge of rocks into the lake, 26 feet. With much difficulty he got out but it prevented our crossing this morning, for the ice was too weak. 7 Being Lords Day, we had kept very close all the day before, only as we moved to the edge of the lake 1/2 a mile in order to try to get over this morning. Capt. Rogers with 3 men went to see if the ice would bear us over, about 3 o'clock in the morning, but found the ice too week. We concluded to go and waylay the road from Crown Point to the Carralong. Marched S 12 miles to the road, where we lay just below the village till into night. 8 About 4 o clock in the morning we marched 1 1/2 mile to the Upper Village but we hid our packs on the Point at a barn. Page 11: The fields was plowed which we went through, & made a large track. I kept in a house with 21 men. Capt. Rogers, Capt. Putnam & Capt. Parker kept in a barn about N. E. 80 rods with 34 men, expecting every minute to take a prisoner. Capt. Rogers & Capt. Parker went 3 scouts this day, but could find none of the French out of reach of their cannon. We kept very close till after sunset, without victuals or drink. About 9 o clock at night we set fire to 9 barns & 2 houses (in the barns were large quantities of wheat, oats and some peas) & then we came off, about S by W 4 miles. In the 2nd barn set on fire was an Indian asleep, which was burned, so that we had to carry him. Lodged on wet land. Lay cold. 9 Marched about south 18 miles. Waded through a river. Carried the man burned very much. We followed the enemy for several miles. Lodged without fire. 10 We concluded to leave Capt. Putnam, Capt. Rogers & 6 men (& the man that was burned nigh the lake) in order to find a good wagon road to or by the Carralong, and I was to lead the scout home & send down bateaux in the lake for them. I traveled S. W. 6 miles, crossed the Notch of the mountains marched W. 3 miles. Came to Putnam’s Brook, marched S. 6 miles. In the morning we crossed a road the French & Indian scout of 160 had made the day before, who was alarmed by the great Page 12: fires at Crown Point a Monday evening, & their cannon about daybreak a Tuesday morning. We lay about half a mile this night from where the French camped a Tuesday night. They wrote on the trees that if they could catch us they would burn us or we should them directly. We lodged this night without camp. 11 Marched S. S. W. 18 miles got to Fort Wm. Henry about 2 o’clock in the afternoon. The men very weak & faint, having nothing to eat for some time. 13 The men under arms. Colonel Bagley’s letters received, & one of the government acts. 14 Being Lords Day. Writing letters to send home. Hardly anything of religion to be seen. Capt. Rogers came home with Capt. Putnam & Smith. About 1 o clock in the morning Capt. House, Capt. Ingersoll & Capt. Mason set out for Boston. 15 Capt. Rogers set out for Boston about sunset. Capt. Putnam to the other fort. 16 Nothing remarkable happened. Ensign Taylor set out to Fort Edward with 25 men to bring up sauce to this Fort Wm. Henry. 17 The Mohawks went a scouting. Set our pots. 18 For fish, it being very pleasant weather. 19 All hands getting wood. 4 of the Mohawks came back. Page 13: 20 Ensign Taylor came in from Fort Edward with sauce for the Colonel. 21 Being Lord’s Day, cloudy weather. 22 We cleared out all the barracks & the men shifted. 23 Salting beef, pitching tents. 24 It snowed. The 4 Indians came in from Ticonderoga with a French scalp. Also inform of 3 large parties coming out from that place lately. 25 There came in 20-odd wagons loaded with sale [salt?] chiefly. Salting beef. Lieut. Wade & Smith, news of Swago being attacked. 26 All hands to getting wood. In the forenoon the wagons went down, all but three, with Lieut. Smith, Sergeant Peter Jineson went home. About 2 o'clock we was alarmed by the Mohawks firing that went down with the wagons, Sent 2 men down to Fort Edward to see what the news was. 27 All hands to salting beef. A scout of 43 men from Fort Edward at 3 o'clock came here. Brought news that the Indians had scalped 2 men belonging to Fort Edward about 5 miles down the river in Moses Creek, who were after fish in a bateau. They were killed in the morning. About 5 o'clock in the afternoon, Lieut. Smith returned with 8 or 10 wagons loaded with rum & molasses & sugar. The scout from Fort Edward went directly up the lake in bateaux in order to waylay nigh the mouth of Wood Creek. Page 14: We sent a scout, Lieut. Poor with 10 men down the west side at 8 o'clock at night. 28 Being Lords Day. All hands to cutting wood. The wagons to bringing it home in the forenoon & beating up for volunteers in the afternoon. 2 men this morning from Fort Edward bringing news of 300 of the enemies waylaying the road between Fort Edward & Saratoga. A Mohawk came from General Johnson brings no news. We sent about noon 4 men in the birch canoe to overtake the party that went out yesterday. 29 All hands getting cooper stough [stuff?]. The scouts came in at night. 30 All hands getting cooper stough [stuff?]. Capt. Grant & Hobby with their party went to Fort Edward. 31 Snowed. Two men went to Albany. April 1 Very cold. 2 Capt. Parker went after cooper stough with all hands but got but little. 3 Went after Sader for whaleboats. 4 Being Lords Day, I served the Lord with all my might. 5 All hands to work. I hewed cedar logs to be sawed. 6 Went in the barge with Lieut. Poor & others for pleasure. It was very squally & bad sailing. 7 In the morning I went over the lake after cooper stough [stuff]. Page 15: Lieut. Ogden came up & brought the sorrowful news of the death of Dr. Samuel Brigham of Marlboro. 8 Lieut. Ogden went off for Albany. I received 2 letters yesterday & two this morning; two from my father, one from my Uncle Samuel B. & one from John Martyn Jr. Joe Bush died. 9 I went over the lake after cooper stough [stuff?] Set a colpit [coal pit?] in the afternoon. 10 I went down the lake to Wheelers Island after hoop poles with Lieut. Smith, Ensign Sellon, Taylor & Glasier. A campaign went with the barge & 4 bateaux. 11 Sgt. James Archibald, James McNeal, John Mitchell of Londonderry, Isaac Gallon of Springfield, Wm. Bennett of Framingham, & Jonathan Sillaway, set out on a scout down the lake. 12 Monday morning about 10 minutes after four o clock the sentries heard 3 or 4 guns fired down the lake, Soon after a whole relay of 30 or 40 guns together, after that several scattering guns, we concluded McNeal was beset & sent Lieut. Poor down with 9 men in two bateaux to see what the firing was. They went off at 6 o’clock and came back at 2 o’clock in the afternoon with the bodies of McNeal, Callon & Bennett, which they Page 16: found dead on an island about 12 miles down the lake. They were all stripped, shot, scalped and cut in the most awful manner. We doubled our guards this night, a post went down. Gj h en. [?] We suppose the other three are either killed or taken as they are not found. 13 Sgt. Akins came in, in the morning. In the afternoon we fitted up our guns & about dusk Sgt. Darling with 7 men went a scout on the East Mountains down the lake. He & the men with him see many enemy & heard more. Several of them followed them up within half a gunshot of the fort. We fired an alarm 3/4 after eight o'clock at night. 14 Sgt. Allen came across from Fort Edward with one man more, came away at 12 o'clock at night, & got here about 3 o'clock. We fired another alarm 1/2 after 4 o'clock this morning. Cleared out all the York annex, filled sand bags, laid 2 platform & made all the preparation for an attack that is possible, the enemy appear very bold and daring. 15 A long storm of rain holds for several days in which time they make no appearance. They blew at N. E., which caused the lake to run very high & continued till the 20. All the officers of the garrison agreed to take their turns to stand one in each bastion 2 hour at a time every night, all night. 22 Sgt. Akin went to 'tother fort. Derling shot all the French at the Upper Island. Page 17: See the smokes on the side of the mountain. 23 Heard dog bark. J. Fletcher died. 24 Lieut. Rogers with 20 men came up, 5 of our Sgts. 25 Lords Day. Sent 2 men down east to Albany at night. 26 Monday the men slung their packs to go home. 27 Catched a large number of fish. Cleared the garrison. 28 Saw bateaux or canoes go off from the Upper Island. Abel Brown died & was buried the same day. 29 30 A post from Albany brings news of relief coming. May 1 Rainy day. 2 Being Lords Day. Indian canoes seen down the lake. 3 Cleared out the garrison. 4 James Fowler died in the morning 4 o clock. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ma/worcester/military/indian/other/baldwin971gmt.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/mafiles/ File size: 17.5 Kb