I decided to transcribe this large file in segments of 12 kbs and post - because so many ask me for records of British troops in Boston at this time. Janice Farnsworth ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Subject: Diary of a British Officer in Boston in 1775 Part 1 Source: The Atlantic Monthly Magazine, Vol XXXIX. April 1877. No. CCXXXIV. To the Editor of the Atlantic Monthly: - The original diary from which you here print the most important passages came recently into the possession of one of my family. The writer's name nowhere appears in the diary, nor is there any such direct reference to himself as to designate his rank or name. But a careful examination of the diary and comparisons between what it discloses respecting the writer, his experiences and duties, and the records of the siege of Boston, the publications of the British War Office, orderly books and documents of that nature, put certain facts beyond a doubt. The writer was a subaltern office of the 4th King's Own regiment, attached while here to the light infantry company of that regiment. The diary begins not long after the arrival of this officer in Boston with the King's Own, which was in the early summer of 1774 and ends soon after his arrival in Halifax in the spring of 1776, following the evacuation of Boston. In these investigations we have been indebted to individuals interested in historic research and especially I may say to Prof. A. B. Gardner of West Point and Col. Frank M. Etting, of Philadelphia. The examinations and collations have reduced the list of possible authors to two, Lieut. Peregrine Francis Thorne and Lieut. David Hamilton, both in the King's Own during the siege of Boston. The historic enthusiasm of the centennial year brought out this manuscript, which was in the possession of the family of General Henry Burbeck of the U.S. Army, an office of artillery during the Revolutionary War. None of his descendants remember anything said by him on the subject, and he left no memoranda explaining how and where he obtained it. The most probable explanation is this: the King's Own soon returned from Halifax to re-engage in the war, Lieutenants Thorne and Hamilton with it, and took an active and distinguished part in the battles about New York, in the campaign in the Jerseys, and at Germantown and the Brandywine, and was quartered in the city of Philadelphia. It is known that the British troops quitted Philadelphia in great haste, so much so that they left behind them many things of importance, such as the orderly book at general headquarters, which were of con- siderable value to the Americans. Among the troops that first entered Philadelphia on the evacuation was the Maryland Artillery; and the manuscript shows signs, by certain endorse- ments, of having been in the possession of Lieut. Robert Willmott, an officer of that corps. The next possessor seems to have been Burbeck, then a captain of artillery, among whose papers one of his descendants lately found it, without, as I have said, any memorandum attached. The chief value of the diary is that it is believed to be the only journal by a British officer during the siege of Boston known to be in existence. It discloses no new facts of general importance, but it corroborates and explains many things of more or less interest, and has all the characteristics of genuineness. It is just such a journal as a young officer of a fashionable regiment would write, who was full of prejudice against a people of whom he knew nothing, and who jotted down matters which interested him at the time, without any suspicion that the transactions in which he was engaged would ever possess historic interest or claim the attention of the world. R. H. Dana, Jr. THE DIARY "At length is concluded the Glorious Campaign - of Boston Common." 1 [footnote 1 The King's Own and other regiments on their arrival in Boston were encamped for some months on the Common, as no barracks were in readiness for them, and a question had arisen whether the General Court was obliged to provide barracks, or not.] "Why could I be so stupid as not to keep a Journal of those five months, which will in future fill so respectable a place in the Annals of Britain; and would have furnished so noble a field for satire?" Tuesday, 15th Novr. "The four Battalions encamped on the Common (and four Companies of Artillery), viz. King's Own, 5th, 38th and 43d, the Royal W. Fusileers on Fort Hill, the 59th in the advanced Lines, all marched in to Winter Quarters, leaving the tents standing under the care of a small guard, that they might dry before they were packed up, as it had been wet weather for two days. The 10th, three Comps. of the 18th, the 47th, and 52d Regts. landed from their trans- ports and also went into winter Quarters. "Yesterday, in compliance with the request of the Selectmen, General Gage order'd that no Soldier in future should appear in the streets with his side arms. Query - Is this not en- couraging the inhabitants in their licentious and riotous disposition? Also orders are issued for the Guards to seize all military men found engaged in any disturbance, whether agressors or not; and to secure them, till the matter is enquired into. By whom? By villains that would not censure one of their own vagrants, even if he attemped the life of a soldier; whereas if a soldier errs in the least, who is more ready to accuse than Tommy? His negligence on the other hand has been too conspicuous in the affair of Cn. Maginis to require a further comment. "This day I mounted the first Line Guard.... 2 [footnote 2 The old fortifications at the Neck were a little south of Dover Street. "The Lines" were in advance of these and crossed the Neck between Dedham and Canton Streets.] "...with Lieut Cl. Smith....3 [footnote 3 This was Lieutenant Colonel Francis Smith, who afterwards had command of the expedition to Concord. "....of the 10th. We relieved the 59th Regt. who immediately marched into Quarters; the place was not fit to receive a Guard, for the guard rooms were not half finished, having neither fireplaces or stoves fixed; the weather was so bad and the place so dirty that we could not walk about, which made it very disagreeable; but at night we were better as we got a stove fixed, when we were pretty comfortable the rest of the time. Wednesday, 16th. "This day the General was pleased to determine the winter alowance of money for lodgings; and the several quantities of fuel and candles; at the same time informing the Army that those indulgences are by no means to be considered as precedents for the future. "Quere - Why is not the 100 days Batt & Forage money, which has been long due the troops, paid them? Because Tommy feels no affection for his Army, and is more attached to a paltry economy, both in publick and private. Thursay, 17th. "All tents on the Common struck and delivered into the Quarter-Master General's store, to preserve for a second (what in reality were not fit for a first) Campaign. How mistaken is that economy which, to save a trifle, will hazard the lives of thousands! All the huts in rear of the camp also destroyed today.... "Sunday, 20th "Hard frost continues. A day or two ago the Commander in Chief applied to the Selectmen for the use of Faneuil Hall as a place for the troops to attend Devine Service. They most graciously refused to comply with his request, as a grateful return for his singular com- pliance with all their desires. "Was it for this he gave a protection of an Officer's Guard to their brick-kilns, to secure them from the labourers who had not been paid for their work? And after affording such protection asking to become a purchaser of the bricks, and receiving for answer, "No, they wer to be appropriated to other purposes than accommodating the King's Troops." "Was it because he disarmed the Troops to please them that the Selectmen think it incumbent them to oppose him in everything? But his......deserves it. It is not astonishing that the daily instances of the opposition of the People should tend to make him more earnestly attentive to them? Not long since a Corporal in the King's Own Regt., was confined by the express orders of the General for having ill treated as inhabitant. A Court of Enquiry was ordered, composed of Officers of the Regiment; the declaration of the inhabitant was taken and under a pretence that all his Witnesses were not in Town, the Corporal was remanded back to his confinement; about ten days afterwards a message came from Headquarters to the Com- manding Officer of the Regiment to inform him if the Corporal would beg the inhabitant's pardon he might be released; he refused unless the General positively ordered him, at same time declaring he would rather stand a General Court Martial than make a submission where he knew he was not in the wrong. In a few days an order came to release him without any condition; he immediately went to his Captain and begged leave to resign his Knott, as in the character of a private soldier he should be less exposed to complaints; observing that the whole foundation of the complaint against him was from his protecting a Sentry from the insults of a servant of a townsman, who would, had his complaint been well founded, have had him more severely punished - his manner of being released is a sufficient proof not only of the disposition of the people, but of the readiness of Mr. T_____y to give up a military, whether right or wrong. Monday, 21st. "Frost not so severe as yesterday. Captain Cain...1 [footnote 1 It was by his fatal letter to this Cane or Kane, that Dr. Benjamin Church's treachery was discovered and proof obtained of his being in the pay of the British Government. "...of the 43d appointed Town Major. The Commander in Chief issued orders for the several regiments to excercise every fine day and to fire with ball in all directions. It's obvious to the most inattentive observer that the American winters must be particularly favorble to parade duties. From Tuesday to Friday 25th, nothing worth remarking, except the 24th ordered that in case of fire the regiments to parade in their own barracks and then wait for the General's Orders. Went this evening to the Concert, and heard the most miserable of all female singers; however, she was once young and pretty, and a tolerable performer on the Edinburgh stage 12 or 13 years ago. Monday, 28th. Reported that Ld. Percy is to take the command of the Grenadiers and light Infantry and make an excursion up the country. Tuesday, 29th. This day heard by a Ship arrived at Salem from England that she sailed two days after the Scarborough, who remained but 36 hours in England after the delivery of the letters she took home from General Gage, when she was again dispatched with Answers. She is hourly expected. This day the Army ordered to be Brigaded as follows: Major-General Haldiman, Commander-in-Chief. First Brigade under Ld. Percy: the King's Own, Royal Welsh Fusileers, and 47th Regts. Brigade Major, Moncrieffe. Second Brigade, Brigadier Pigott. The 5th, 38th and 52d Regts. Brigade Major, Small. Thrid Brigade, Brigr. Jones. The 10th, 43d, 59th and detached Companies from the 18th & 65th, two of the latter and three of the former. Brigade Major, Hutchinson. Colonel Jones appointed Brigadier this day, and Col. Hutchinson of the R. A....1 [footnote 1 The Royal American or 60th Regiment. "...his Brigade Major. Dec. Thursday 1st. "John McDonald, Soldier, the light Infantry of the King's Own, was found dead this morning, he mounted Guard at the Lines yesterday and last night about 10 o'clock was seen exceedingly drunk, but not being confined, wandered into the rear of the Works where he was found early this morning dead. He was some distance below high water mark, and his forehead was much bruised, it is supposed that a fall among the stones on the beach had seconded the Yanky rum in his death. To be continued Part 2 Transcribed by Janice Farnsworth