A Journal of the Siege of Boston,

From June 15th to Nov. 16th, 1775.

BY LIEUT. BENJAMIN CRAFT.

The following Journal was kept by Benjamin Craft of Manchester, Mass. He was second lieutenant in Capt. Benjamin Kimball's company, of the 19th regiment, under the command of Cols. Mansfield and Hutchinson, and was in camp at Winter Hill. (See page 171 of this volume.) The Journal was published in the "Historical Collections of Essex Institute," Vol. III., Nos. 2, 3, 4 and 5, with copious notes therein, by S. P. Fowler, some of which are here entered.

JOURNAL.

CAMBRIDGE, June 15, 1775.

I arrived in town about 10 o'clock, A. M., and was received by Lieut. Dodge, Capt. Francis, Lieuts. Porter and Whait, and the rest of our people. I found them all in health, except Benja. Day, which I helped to a furlough. Attended prayers at 6 o'clock, P. M.; nothing remarkable.

We

16th. All in health, attended prayers morning and evening. Heard Mr. Learnard, a worthy man, who read a letter which contained good news. have great reason to be thankful for all the mercies we enjoy.

17th. All in health through the goodness of God. Heard of a man killed at Charlestown. About 2 o'clock we were all alarmed.

18th. Very hot day. Returned to our quarters, but were alarmed at 10 o'clock, which proving false, we returned much fatigued. A continued firing almost all day. This is a melancholy day for us here, Charlestown in ashes. Near sunset saw brother Lee and Mr. Brown. I desire to be thankful for this and all other mercies.

19th. Went to Ploughed Hill and saw a man shot through the neck by accident. Cold and dry.

20th. Continues cold and dry. One Stephen Danforth killed by accident, and one man shot through the thigh. Nothing strange. Some of our men are unwell.

21st. Still fair and dry. At work cutting fascines for breast-work. Returned to Cambridge and saw some people from Wenham. Capt. Francis gone home.

22d. Nothing stirring. Col. Glover's Regiment arrived from Marblehead. Dry weather.

23d. An alarm, but it proved false. It remains very dry. God's judgments seem to be abroad in the earth, may we forsake our sins.

24th. This morning there was an alarm, but it proved false. The regulars marched down Bunker's Hill, and our people took to their alarum posts, but they soon dispersed. Mr. Cleaveland came to see us and tarried all night. Lieut. Dodge gone home. Somewhat rainy.

25th-Sunday. Went to Winter Hill where the regiment were intrenching. It remaineth very dry. Some of our company dug up a man's bones, who was buried on his face. Returned to quarters.

26th. Went this morning to the Hill with our men to intrenching. Nothing remarkable.

27th. Mounted guard for the first time under the command of Lieut. Col. Smith of Ipswich. Had the pleasure of my brother's E. Craft and Nath'l Lee's company. Received a letter from my wife, all in health.

28th. One Anderson for many crimes sentenced to be whipped 28 lashes.

30th. There were whipped at the post to-day, two men, one 28 lashes, the other 78 lashes, and one man rode the wooden horse one hour. Benjamin Brown is sick.

July 1. All in health except Brown. Went to the Hill and obtained leave to go home. At half past ten set out and arrived at Manchester at sunset, and found my family in health. God's name be praised.

2d. Sunday, a rainy day, but through God's goodness I attended meeting. Heard Mr. Tappin preach, and saw three children christened, all born at one birth, belonging to Thomas

3d. Still at home, saw a number of friends.

4th. Set out for Cambridge, proceeded to Wenham and took Lieut. Dodge's boy and Lieut. White's. Arrived there about sunset, and found Benjamin Brown very sick. Fair weather.

5th. Still fair weather. I went down to Winter Hill where I had the pleasure of seeing my good friends the officers and people in good health with the exception of Brown. In the afternoon attended the funeral of Col. Gardner who was buried under arms.

6th. Fair weather, all in health but Brown, who continues very sick. The Lord make us thankful for so much health. Heard a man was drowned in Cambridge river. Two of our men deserted to the regulars. A great number of people from Beverly to see Capt. Francis. Capt. Kimball gone home, the man drowned belonged to Haverhill.

July 7th. Fair weather and very hot. We are in health but Corporal Brown, and he is something better. Nothing strange.

8th. This morning we were awaked by the cannons roaring just before day, and a considerable number of small arms, and the whole camp were alarmed. This alarm was caused by our men from Roxbury going to the enemies' out guard and setting on fire their guard house, and driving them to their intrenchments. We are in daily expectation of the regulars coming out.

Sunday, July 9. All in health and went to hear Mr. Leonard, who preached from Psalms, 46 chap., 8th verse, and preached well. In the afternoon heard Mr. Allen from Psalms, 59 chap., 1st and 2d verse, and he also preached very well. This Mr. Allen is the man who was the author of the "Watchman's Alarm." One man wip't to-day. Capt. Kimball not returned. Nothing strange except a flag of truce just gone up to Cambridge.

July 10th. Fair weather and very hot. Capt. Kimball returned about 12 o'clock. I am somewhat indisposed as to bodily health.

11th. A very hot day, and I am still unwell. Lieut. White left us for home last evening. Mr. Edward Lee came to see us last evening. Benj. Woodbury is unwell and I fear will have a fever. A gust of wind and rain.

12th. This day mounted guard under the command of Col. Nickerson. Very hot in the fore part of the day, and in the after part a very smart shower, with thunder and lightening for near two hours without intermission. But through the goodness of God we were all preserved. Lieut. Dodge has gone home to Wenham in order to enlist more men. This night I had a fine supper of boiled halibut. All in health except Mr. Benj. Brown and he is better. Benj. Woodbury is also something better.

July 13th. Came off guard sleepy and tired. Capt. Kimball came here on a court martial to try Col. Scammons.1 Last night departed this life a man belonging to Danvers, and attached to Capt. Prince's company. There is a considerable fireing between our people and the regulars at Roxbury. Some of our people went to Long Island yesterday morning, and took a number of sheep and some horned cattle. They also burnt some houses and hay. July 14th. Fair and clear. Lieut. White returned and Ensign Brown and Capt. came to see us. Capt. Kimball still on court martial. Ezekiel Leach and others came to join our company, and brought news of the sickness of my youngest child. I hope its sickness will not be unto death, and I desire to submit to the will of God. Capt. Richard Dodge and others took one hundred and odd sheep, and twenty cattle from Pudding Point.

July 15th. Fair weather. Sundry of our people complaining of sickness. Brown and Woodbury so recovered as to return home this morning. Went to our old quarters and waited upon Mrs. Porter to Winter Hill and around the encampment. Had two large pieces of cannon brought from Winter Hill to Ploughed Hill. Capt. Kimball still on court martial to try Col. Scammans. Heard from my family at Manchester to-day, that they continue unwell, which gives me great uneasiness.

16th. This forenoon went on fatigue instead of Lieut. White. In the afternoon I had the pleasure of going to Winter Hill to hear Mr. Murray, in company with Col. Shaw and Lieut. Deane, both of Connecticut, and Capt. Francis of Beverley, all worthy gentlemen but myself. Mr. Murray prayed well which affected me and many of his hearers. His prayers were adapted to the times and likewise his preaching. He was very successful in gaining the attention of his hearers, and said he believed the devil was a tory. I was told Mr. Murry was from Boothbay, but I have since been informed that he was not from that place. We have heard to-day from a man late from Boston, that there is a great amount of sickness amongst the regulars, and that they 1 Col. Scammons was tried for disobedience of orders, at the battle of Bunker Hill, and acquitted.

die very fast. Some twenty, some thirty pr day. A few days since a man of war sailed eastward from Boston, likewise several coasters, to obtain wood for fuel. All in health, through the goodness of God.

17th July. This morning fair and clear. All in health through the goodness of God. Capt. Kimball came off main guard. I am much confined as Lieut. Dodge has not returned. Very hot in the middle of the day. In the afternoon we had a very smart shower, and hard thunder. One clap of thunder broke near Winter Hill. After the shower some of us walked out, when I had the pleasure to meet Capt. Masters and Mr. Rogers, who went into our tent and afterwards visited our encampment and viewed our regiment under arms, saw them exercise and heard the orders of the day. Afterwards in company with Capt. Kimball, visited the College at Cambridge, and drank two bowls of punch, and eat some bread and cheese, which being done they proceeded to Watertown, while the Capt. and myself returned to our camp.

18. Fair weather. Arose as usual and manned the lines, and afterwards returned to our tents; at 6 o'clock the whole encampment, by general orders, were mustered under arms, except those on duty and fatigue, to hear a manifesto published by the Continental Congress.1

July 29, 1775. Arrived at home in Manchester, about 12 o'clock, and found my family in pretty good health. Saw a number of my friends. I understand Lieut. Dodge left the Camp, unwell, and came home to Wenham.

Sunday, 30th July. Still at home, and heard parson Tappan preach. In the afternoon, I dined with brother Lee, and in the evening visited Mr. Rogers and drank some punch. My children are some better.

31st. This morning, being at home in Manchester, and hearing a considerable firing of cannon, and being uneasy to know the cause, I waited with impatience until a man came along saying that our men were engaged in a fight. I set out from home immediately for Winter Hill, and at Salem heard various reports concerning the fight, and arriving at Newhall's I tarried all night.2

Tuesday, Aug. 1st 1775. Fair weather. Set out early for Winter Hill. Saw Mr. Appleton and a number of others from Ipswich, on the road. Arrived at Winter Hill at 8 o'clock, A. M., and found our people in good health. James Parker received an accidental wound which I hope will not prove mortal. A considerable firing of cannon and small arms, this afternoon. We had the liberty pole raised, and the flag hoisted and one twenty-four pounder discharged.

August 2d. This day the remainder of our men passed muster, and my son Benjamin with the rest, without any trouble. Mr. Jonathan Herrick came to see us, and brought news from my family. Last Monday, July 31st, our men killed and wounded fifty regulars and tories, on Nantasket Island, where the 1 This was a declaration of the Continental Congress, setting forth the causes and necessity of their taking up arms, and was read on the 15th of July, at Cambridge, before Gen. Washington and other general officers by President Langdon, of Cambridge College. It was afterwards, on the 18th, read on Prospect Hill, by the chaplain of Gen. Putnam's regiment, Rev. Mr. Leonard, and was received with such loud cheering as to alarm the British troops on Bunker's Hill.

2 This general alarm was caused during the night, by an attack of the British troops upon our intrenchments, and during the day by a party under Major Tupper, in dispersing the workmen in rebuilding the light house on Nantasket Point.

light-house stood. At Bunker's Hill we took three prisoners, and killed some of the regulars. We had two men killed.

3d. Last night two Indians were wounded by our sentries, and one of them is since dead. This morning went on fatigue at Winter Hill, with sixty men. At night, Lieut. White left us for home. Our men complain very much.

4th. A cool morning. Turned out pretty early, to man the lines at Winter Hill. After breakfast I was engaged with Lieut. Whipple and others, in building barracks. In the afternoon Lieut. Dodge received a furlough to return home to Wenham, which he improved. To-day a ship came up above Charlestown.

5th. I received orders to attend a court martial, to try Capt. Thomas Burns, for absenting himself from his company without leave. The court met at 10 o'clock A. M., with Capt. Newell, President, and Lieutenants Porter, Emerton and myself, members. After being sworn, we proceeded in our examination, and there appearing no evidence against Capt. Burns, we adjourned to meet at 2 o'clock, P. M. At 2 o'clock met again, the said Burns pleading not guilty. We brought in our verdict in his favour, and in our return desired the Colonel to discharge him from confinement. This, in my opinion, was a mean thing in our Colonel, to order an arrest for so small a matter. This afternoon it is said we are to remove to Chelsea, which puts us in confusion.

Sunday, August 6th. After breakfast, I went to Winter Hill to meeting, and heard Mr. Smith of Middleton, who preached from Jeremiah, 17th chap. 7th verse, and in the afternoon I had the pleasure of hearing Mr. Smith of Haverhill, from Isaiah, 55th chap. 4th verse, "a leader and commander of the people." He preached exceedingly well, and I wish I had a heart to profit by what I heard. Just after meeting two floating batteries came up Mystic River and fired several shots on Malden side, and landed a number of regulars, which set fire to a house near Penny ferrys which burnt to ashes. One Capt. Lyndsly, who was stationed there, fled with his company, and got before the women and children in his flight. We were all alarmed, and immediately manned our lines, and our people went down to Temple's Point with one field piece, and fired several shot, at the regulars, which made them claw off as soon as possible. Gen. Gage, this is like the rest of your Sabbath day enterprises. About sunset we were discharged, and came home, and in the evening had a letter from my wife, who informs me she is sick.

This

7th. Wrote a letter to my wife, and sent it home by Capt. morning our regiment mustered together about two hundred, with the drummajor at their head, to get another month's pay. A number of our company, of whom Benjamin Bennet and Jonathan Prince was chief, joined them. What the event will be, I know not. Heard that a man from Boston reports that the regulars are preparing to push us. To-day had the pleasure of seeing uncle Craft.

8th. This morning arose early, and set out for Cambridge, to get teams. After breakfast I went into the woods to cut timber for our house, with Sergt. Cross, Corporal Brown, and others. At 2 o'clock I returned, and received a letter from my wife, of the 7th instant. She informs me that my child is dangerously sick, which is sad news to me. There is considerable sickness in our camp at this time, though not a dying time. Fair weather.

August 9th. A cloudy day. Capt. Kimball very poorly. After breakfast