that they might the better understand such a maneuver; but a reconnoitering party having discovered that the enemy had left the upper end of the Island, and retreated into Newport, the troops embarked and proceeded over, formed on the opposite beach, and marched up and took possession of their works, which were not at all damaged. They evacuated them Saturday evening, upon finding our troops intended to land six miles below, and cut off their retreat. They drove off all the horses and all the cattle from the inhabitants, except one cow to a family, destroyed all their wheels and carriages of every kind, took quantities of provisions, and filled up most of their wells.

My people were supplied this day by Mr. Steward, of Salem, who preached for Mr. Swain, and he preached for me, and administered the Sacrament, which I had before appointed and could not well put by.

Aug. 10, Monday. This morning I crossed on to Rhode Island, and joined General Titcomb's Brigade. Dined with him and a number of gentlemen on the ground abroad, not having any quarters. Slept this night in the officer's room at the barracks in the fort taken up by Colonel Wade.

Last evening a fleet was seen off the harbor, of about eighteen or twenty sail, which came up near the Lighthouse and anchored. Several ships of the line, but unknown who, or from whence. About 10 o'clock the French fleet, that lay above the town of Newport, came to sail, and went out in pursuit of them. As they passed the town and forts, the ships began and kept up an incessant fire, until they were all passed. The roar of cannon at times was such as to make but one continued sound, without any distinction of guns. The fleet in the offing, which proved to be a fleet from New York, immediately put to sea, and by dark the French fleet in pursuit of them was out of sight of land.

.Aug. 11, Tuesday. The General procured a chamber for quarters at one Browning's, a Quaker. Invited me to live with him. This morning, the wind at N. E. blew pretty hard; cloudy and rainy. At 4 o'clock the whole army paraded, and was reviewed by the general officers. The order of battle and encampment: Front line, Varnum's and Cornell's Brigades on

the right, Glover's and Colonel Commanding Greene's do. on the left. The second line, commanded by Major-General Hancock, Lovel's Brigade on the right, Titcomb's on the left. The light corps, consisting of Jackson's Corps, Boston Independents and Light Infantry, and 50 men from each brigade in the front line, commanded by Colonel Commanding Leviston (Livingston?). The reserve, consisting of Holden's and Brown's regiments, commanded by Colonel Commanding West. A flanking division on each wing of the army, and a flanking party to each wing of each line, consisting of volunteers and militia. A body of horse, commanded by General Whipple. The right wing of the whole army commanded by MajorGeneral Greene; the left, by the Marquis de la Fayette.

Aug. 12, Wednesday. This morning, orders for the whole army to be paraded at 6 o'clock, for advancing toward the enemy's lines. The storm increasing violently, prevented. A great number of the militia, having no tents, were obliged to continue out in the storm without any shelter. Colonel Thorndike resigned, and Colonel Wadsworth appointed. Captains Brown and Cabot took lodgings at our quarters.

Aug. 13, Thursday. The storm exceeding severe; wind very high. Mr. Nat. Tracy lodged with us. Dr. Clark and Parsons, Colonels Wadsworth and Thorndike, with us. A sergeant and nine men deserted, belonging to the Twenty-second Regiment, British. Say the French ships dismounted the guns, and almost demolished two forts, and killed several men, on Monday.

Aug. 14, Friday. This morning the wind changed to the southward. At 4 o'clock in the morning troops turned out, examined their arms, and renewed their cartridges. Captains Cabot, Brown, and myself rode down near the enemy's lines. Saw Colonel Hichborn and his brother, Samuel. Orders for the army to march at 6 o'clock to-morrow morning. Several deserters.

Aug. 15, Saturday. At 6 o'clock a signal gun from the right fired as a signal for the whole army to parade. Half after six two cannons were fired for signals for forming into columns. Three cannons the signal for marching. The front line advanced in four columns, and the second line in two col

ums, commanded by their respective Brigadiers. Flanking divisions and flanking parties marched in their respective stations. The Light-corps advanced. The Light-horse advanced on the right for reconnoitering. Pioneers marched advanced of each division to remove walls, etc. The artillery and ammunition wagons between the first and second line; the baggage between the second line and the reserve. The reserve moved in one column. I had a fine prospect of the whole army as it moved off from Butt's Hill, where we first encamped. They made a very grand appearance. The army marched about three miles and halted. A council of war was held by the general officers, who advanced, and marked out the ground for encamping. No appearance of an attack from the enemy. The army extended quite across the Island from water to water. At 2 o'clock advanced and came upon the ground, about a mile and a half from the enemy's lines, directly in their front. They fired a few cannon. As soon as our brigade was halted on the ground, I returned to our old quarters and tarried the night. Was much pleased with the kindness and benevolence of Mr. Thomas Browning, at whose house we quartered.

Aug. 16, Lord's Day. Returned to camp. General Titcomb took quarters at Mr. Peleg Laughton's, a friendly Quaker, where we had very good accommodations. Almost the whole brigade on duty. No opportunity to attend public worship. At night began to throw up a redoubt upon a high eminence. near the enemy's lines. Went in the afternoon with a number of officers to view a garden near our quarters belonging to one Mr. Bowler-the finest by far I ever saw. It is laid out much in the form of my own, contains four acres, has a grand aisle in the middle, and is adorned in the front with beautiful carvings. Near the middle is an oval, surrounded with espaliers of fruit trees, in the center of which is a pedestal, on which is an armillary sphere, with an equatorial dial. On one side of the front is a hot-house, containing orange trees, with some ripe, some green, some blooms, and various other fruit trees of the exotic kind, curious flowers, etc. At the lower end of the aisle is a large summer-house, a long square containing three rooms-the middle paved with marble and

hung with landscapes and other pictures. On the right is a very large private library adorned with very curious carvings. The collection of French and English authors, maps, etc., is valuable.

The room is furnished with a table, chairs, etc. There are espaliers of fruit trees at each end of the garden, some curious flowering shrubs, and a pretty collection of fruit trees. The room on the left in the summer-house, beautifully prepared and designed for music, contains a spinnet. But the whole garden discovered the desolations of war and the want of a gardener to dress it. The Marquis de la Fayette took quarters at this house. A number of cannon fired from the enemy's lines this afternoon, but no damage done.

Aug. 17, Monday. Morning foggy. After it cleared away rode down to the lines with Colonel Thorndike. Had a fine view of the enemy's lines from the top of a house, about a quarter of a mile distant, and little advanced of our picket. The enemy had fired for some time in the morning, but had ceased for some hours. While we were on the house they begun their fire again from the redoubts. Several shot passed us on each side and fell beyond us. Made a shocking whistling. Soon after we left the house a shot came through it. Found our situation not very safe or agreeable. Stood by the Marquis when a cannon ball just passed us. Was pleased with his firmness, but found I had nothing to boast of my own, and as I had no business in danger concluded to stay no longer lest I should happen to pay too dear for my curiosity. [Heard from my friends in Connecticut.]

Aug. 18, Tuesday. Morning foggy. As soon as it cleared off the enemy began to fire on the works thrown up last night, which were considerable, but our men were so covered that they continued the works for the whole day-no damage done except one man wounded. One man had his cartouch-box carried away. Nine arms belonging to our brigade paraded on the ground near the intrenchment carried away by two balls. Captain Dodge escaped narrowly. IIad the honor to dine

* Colonel Robert Dodge, the life-long friend of Doctor Cutler, was born in 1743, and died in 1823. He was a soldier in the Old French war, and was with Wolfe at the capture of Quebec. He entered the Revolutionary War as Captain, served through the entire war, and rose

with General Hancock by particular invitation. Dined in great state. A large number of officers. The General very complaisant. Invited me to dine, breakfast, or to sup with him whenever it suited me, without any ceremony. After dinner a number of good songs.

Aug. 19, Wednesday. Foggy morning. Our first battery opened. A steady fire from both sides. Three hundred cannon fired by 10 o'clock. The enemy evacuated one redoubt before 12 o'clock. At the great rock on our left had a fine view secure from danger. Rode in the afternoon in pursuit of a fishing boat. A man in one of the trenches had his thigh cut off by a cannon ball and expired in an hour and a half.

Aug. 20, Thursday. Foggy morning. A steady fire through the day. Attended prayers this evening with the brigade for the first time, our situation not admitting of it before.

Aug. 21, Friday. The French fleet returned and came to anchor off the lighthouse, greatly damaged by the storm. The Languedoc, on board of which Count D'Estaing hoisted his flag, was dismasted and lost her rudder. One seventy-four missing. Took the Senegal and one bomb ketch. General and all of us invited to take luncheon with General Hancock. Found it rather an elegant dinner than a luncheon. We all rode down to the rock. Saw the fleet. We had two or three more batteries opened. Warm firing. Continually throwing shells from both parties. Saw several burst in the air.

tended prayers morning and evening.

At

Aug. 22, Saturday. Wind out. The three frigates in the river joined the fleet.

evening.

Warm firing. Prayers morning and

Aug. 23, Lord's Day. Expected to preach, and just prepared to go up to the brigade when the General received a letter from General Sullivan, informing him that the French fleet was so disastered they could by no means afford us any assistance, but were gone to Boston to refit. As the plan had ever been to take off eight or ten thousand men from the

to the command of his regiment. He represented Hamilton several years in the Massachusetts General Court.