Lt. Col. Huntington's Letter. MORRISTOWN, March, 1780. DEAR SIR-In answer to your note this minute received, say, that the reasons why I was not at my Friend Stewart's Quarters, I was engaged to dine at Col. Gramby's, & stayed there the whole afternoon. When I left Col. Gramby's to go to Col. Stewart, it began raining very hard-roads excessive bad, being foggy. Knowing that you dined at headquarters, it appeared doubtful to me whether you would be there, tho' that would have been no excuse. I must depend on a sociable evening with you, & am confident that my wish to be there was as great as any of the Company that I should join them. I will be ready to wait on you to General Greene. When you call the Band will attend agreeable to your desire. My compliments to Colonel Stewart, & the other gentlemen with you. Assure them it was not want of inclination that prevented my honoring myself with their company the last evening. I am yours, sincerely, Friday Morn'g 8 o'clock. EBEN. HUNTINGTON. Lt. Col. Huntington's Letter. CAMP, near MORRISTOWN, April, 1780. DEAR WEBB-Before I received your note by Richard, I sent a lad with one to Morristown, but it was too late, you had gone. I have sent by Richard a few balls which I have procured, but as to powder, or more ball, I can send none without making use of the public cartridges, which I cannot think justifiable. I have so often made excuse for not visiting Mr. Lott's family (tho' never without really having one) that I am unwilling to repeat it, but am obliged to in justification of my own feelings, and in compliance to the true politeness I have received from that family. The Ct. Martial is not dissolved and expect it will sit to-morrow. I wish you to assure Mr. Lott that I am not callous to the civilities I have received; and to convince him, will as soon as I can, take my horse in the morning & just alight myself at Burwyck to spend the Day with the Family. As soon as the weekly return is made out I will send him two Carpenters agreeable to his desire for a week. Make my compliments to the family, & believe me. Colo. WEBB. Yours, sincerely. EBEN. HUNTINGTON. Lt. Col. Huntington's Letter. CAMP TAPPAN, 19th August, 1780. DEAR WEBB :-Inclosed you will receive the returns you wish for, except of those men enlisted since Jany. last, which do not pass through my hands, but are immediately to be settled with the P. M. Genl. in Camp. For that reason have made no mention of them to you. In my last, I made some mention of the uneasiness of the army; it hath not totally subsided, nor do I think it will soon. They seem willing to suffer any change thinking it cannot be the worse for them. The officers of your Reg't feel very sore at the neglect of the Board of War, in not forwarding the commissions agreeable to the arrangement long since sent on. His Excellency has wrote them once or twice about it. Day before yesterday I had an Interview with him. I stated the disagreeable situation of the Reg', but more particularly of myself in having the command of the Reg' and having my reputation at stake for their good conduct; when we have not officers enough to attend to the Police of it. He said he was sensible of their situation & would immediatly write the Board of War on the subject. I shall expect an answer next week. If they do not make the promotions ask'd for, the officers will Resign. They are fully determin'd not to remain in such a situation any longer, as we have only four duty officers in the Regiment & are order'd to have 9 companies agreeable to the arrangement of the army-one of which are in the Lt. Infantry; which leaves two companies to each officer in the Reg' instead of three officers to a company. My candle is nearly expired; and this I borrowed from Genl. Howe's quarters, to complete my Returns & give you a line. I have not been able to command a candle for six days past. We have no news from the Southward or N. York, worth mention. My love to the good People of my acquaintance with you. Tell them God Bless them, it is Saturday evening & I always think of my friends. The candle dies this moment; I shall be scarcely able to close the letter & it must go at Daylight. God Bless you, adieu. 11 o'clock Saturday eve. COLONEL SAML. B. WEBB, Wethersfield, EBEN. HUNTINGTON. Connecticut. Lieut. Col. Eb. Huntington's Letter. CAMP TEN EYCK, 4 miles from Hackensack, 2 from New Bridge, DEAR SIR:-Our news is small, tho' possibly I may tell four days ago a duel was fought between Lt. Peyton and another officer, both of them of Maryland Horse; Peyton was killed, the other wounded. The next day a duel was fought between Baskenridge, Wm. Livingston & a Mr. Stack, volunteer in the Marechosa Horse. Livingston was killed, & buried the night before last at Hackensack. I pity poor Eliza. I have not yet been able to obtain the commissions from the Board of War agreeable to the arrangements long since made out, nor doth it appear probable I shall soon. It embarrasses me very much. The officers are very much dissatisfied at the neglect. They think the board do not intend to fill the vacancies. The Right wing of the army, except the 2d Conn. commanded by Maj. Gen'l Greene, went on a foraging party last Saturday & to obtain provisions for our starved army Down Past Powles Hook to the Point of Bergen next Staten Island, and without any molestation from the enemy they obtained considerable forage & some beef. The rascality of our troops was equal to the British. They plundered the inhabitants villainously, and I believe offered that violence to some for which the British are universally condemned. One of the Pennsylvania line was immediately hung up for his conduct without ceremony. You will think it strange that the army at this season should be starving, but I can assure you that the troops previous to the time above mentioned, and while that party were out, rec'd no meat. For six days they rec'd only lb. pork (for meat), and that was taken by force from the inhabitants. They received their flour daily, but no meat but what I mentioned in the six days. Your own feeling will be too keen on the relation without their being aggravated by one who was a sharer in the distress. We are now in a country in which paper money is not worth a straw. We have nothing but what the Commissary Store affords us & God knows that is poor enough; beef sometimes tho' not always, and that very often poor, which we ought not to expect at this You must change your Congress that new system may be formed for your army. They cannot exist as an army otherwise. Make my love to Mr Webb & family, Peter Colt, &c., James Lockwood, &c., & believe me to be yours, &c. season. EBEN. HUNTINGTON. Lt. Col. Eb. Huntington's Letter. CAMP TAPPAN, 1st Oct., '80. DEAR WEBB:-Your favour of yesterday's date was handed me last evening very unexpectedly, for which I thank Miss Banker. You ask about Arnold. I can only say that last Saturday he deserted to the enemy without completing his hellish plot; which was to deliver up the post at West Point. Mr. André of the British Army, an aid to Sir Henry, and adjutant General to the army at the Request of Arnold, went from New York to meet Arnold, which he did at Joshua Smith's, and there received every plan and return from Arnold which he wanted. On his return to N. York he was taken below all our first guards by two persons who live by plunder on the enemy & had virtue sufficient to withstand every offer of reward he could make or any threat for refusing to let him pass after he had a permit from Arnold. It was the most unfortunate train of good fortune in detecting Arnold that could possibly have happened. The particulars which you wish would fill a ! 1 volume, & I am utterly unable at this time to give them to you correctly. Sam. Wyllys hath not been gone two hours, & Ezra Bull lies snoring on the ground. Gen'l Lincoln was not able when he met Mr. Phillips at Elizabethtown to agree to an exchange of families. I hear nothing said of a general exchange. Wyllys and the other officers whom I recommended are promoted and feel happy. Give my love to Betsy, Hetty, and the rest of your family. Tell them God bless them. I wish to be at the N. Branch, but I do not expect it. If honest Dick and his Lady are with you, let them know I remember my old N. York friends. Your gun you sent for is now at Wethersfield, sent there last spring by John Burnham. I have a great deal to say to you, & had we not the last evening drank our Sweethearts and wives in some very fine sherry, I would finish the sheet. I cannot add to the scroll only by once more giving my love to the dear girls & subscribing myself your friend. EBEN. HUNTINGTON. Jack Wyllys, William Walker, & Ezra Bull, desire their compliments. I believe Bull is honest, tho' he is not quite awake. COLONEL WEBB. Lt. Col. Huntington's Letter. WETHERSFIELD, 22 November, 1780. DEAR WEBB :- -When I last wrote you, it did not enter my mind that so long a time would have elapsed without seeing or hearing from you; but soon after I wrote, the Reg' left Headquarters for West Point, which place I left on the Regiment's arrival, & with an expectation of not seeing them again this winter, but flattering myself that I should have seen Col. & Mrs. Webb, & Sister Hetty at Wethersfield, as at that time I had great suspicions of a clandestine marriage, as I used to tell you when at the Hutts. I wish you to give my love to Betsey & Hetty. Tell them their presence at Wethersfield is absolutely necessary to make us happy this winter, as to your being here, you may suppose we can do without you, if you will give us the good people with you. Last week we began the little family dances for the winter, Brother Jack gave the first, a very clever one, but I must confess |
