Re: A letter to Uncle John Armstrong

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Posted by Col. John Armstrong on April 09, 2001 at 18:03:57:

In Reply to: A letter to Uncle John Armstrong posted by Drum Major Armstrong on April 07, 2001 at 12:31:11:

: April 7th 1759
: Camp Reastown
: at Ft. Bedford
: To LTC. John Armstrong
: Ft. Augusta
: Commanding
: Dearest Uncle,
: I know when we last spoke,I mentioned that my next letter to you would be after we reached Ft. Frederick, well something is afoote
: and I thought it best to send this whilst my sences remain clear!
: There appears some strange illness has arose here and has claimed our own Sgt. MacWilliam's mindset,and very possible that of his relation Pvt. Gunn. They speak in an odd language quite like Dutch,yet different, something like a drunken highlander speaking his native tongue,but worse! There is great consern from Regt. as well as the entire stockade. And I also wanted to relay that I may not be going to Ft. Frederick after all,there appears to be a commanders meeting in Albany with Gen.Webb? If the Provincal Units are included mayhaps I'll see you there?
: Have you been to Carlisle as of late? Have you any news of my Mothers well being?
: My brother sends his well wishes!
: All my best to you.
: "Your most humble servant"
: Edward
: Drum Major
: 77th Regt.Gren.Coy.
: Edward Armstrong

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
April ye 9th, 1759

TO: Regt’l Drum Major EdwardArmstrong
77th Reg’t,
Montgomery’s
Gren Co’y
Reas Town Camp, near Bedford town

Dear Nephew Edward,

It was nice to receive your recent dispatch. I have moved from Augusta to Carlisle for the time being, as there is much to do here and Ft. Augusta is in very good hands at this moment. They are well-drilled and supplied there, and the Indian trade is going well. And speaking of Carlisle, I saw your mother just this morning. She is doing well, Edward. Be sure to tell Ian. Her financial troubles are now under control, and the administrator of her affairs I hired seems to have gotten her well on the way to stability once again. We will, however, continue to employ him in that position so she does not slip away again.

I am sorry to hear of the strange illness of Sgt MacWilliam, and am in hopes that it is soon passed. The “Dutch Fever,” as it is called, is certainly a strange malady. I have seen it a time or two in this Regiment. Fortunately, it does not spread throughout a stockade as does diseases like smallpox.

I am sorry to hear that you may not be at Ft. Frederick, Edward. I intend to send a Company from Augusta, and I may be there myself. I am not aware of a meeting in Albany with Gen. Webb, so apparently Provincials are not included. You know how the regulars treat us! It makes me laugh sometimes at their abject arrogance!

I am sending, on a separate sheet, a Desertion Notice I had published in Mr. Franklin’s paper, The Pennsylvania Gazette, recently for Capt. Croy to post in the town, if he would. We have been publishing these lists for awhile, it seems to be working. We are retrieving quite a few of these men, and are in hopes that their very public punishment will deter others from following suit.

Edward, I read with some dismay, your information about Ian’s attitude and behaviour. I am arranging for him to be transferred to my First battalion so I may, perhaps, be a more stable influence on him. The request has started through channels and I was assured that it would be approved. Please say nothing to him until it IS approved, but I wanted you to know. It is, after all, in his best interest. Continuation of his behaviour will result only in you having to apply the cat-of-nine-tails to him, and that would not be good at all.

My best to Capt. Croy and the others,

Uncle John

John Armstrong,
Col. Commanding
1st Battalion Pennsylvania
Carlisle

*attached to this dispatch as a separate sheet*

Carlisle, March 25, 1759.

DESERTED from the first Battalion of the Pennsylvania
Regiment, the following Soldiers, viz.

PHILIP SNODERLY, a German, about 22 Years of Age, 5 Feet
10 Inches high, wore his own Hair.

NICHOLAS HAVELINGER, a German, about 27 Years of Age, five
Feet 7 Inches high, of a dark Complexion, and wore a Cotton
Cap.

JOHN CLOYAN, a German, about 24 Years of Age, 5 Feet 7
Inches high, and had short black Hair. All the above wore
their regimental Coats, green Cloth, faced with red, red
Waistcoats, and Buckskin Breeches.

ABRAHAM LATCHER, a German, about 20 Years of Age, 5 Feet 2
Inches high, had short black Hair, and wore a green Waistcoat,
a short red Jacket under it, and a Pair of Buckskin Breeches.

JOHN BILLING, a German, about 26 Years of Age, 5 Feet 8
Inches high, of a sanguine Complexion, and wore a green
regimental Coat, and red Jacket.

They all took their Arms and Accoutrements with them. It
is supposed they are lurking on the Eastern Frontiers.

Whoever apprehends the said Deserters, and confines them
in any Gaol, or delivers them to the commanding Officer of any
Garrison, within the Province of Pennsylvania, shall receive
Two Pistoles Reward for each.

John Armstrong, Col Commander of
the First Battalion of the Pennsylvania Regiment.

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Comments:
: : April 7th 1759
: : Camp Reastown
: : at Ft. Bedford
: : To LTC. John Armstrong
: : Ft. Augusta
: : Commanding
: : Dearest Uncle,
: : I know when we last spoke,I mentioned that my next letter to you would be after we reached Ft. Frederick, well something is afoote
: : and I thought it best to send this whilst my sences remain clear!
: : There appears some strange illness has arose here and has claimed our own Sgt. MacWilliam's mindset,and very possible that of his relation Pvt. Gunn. They speak in an odd language quite like Dutch,yet different, something like a drunken highlander speaking his native tongue,but worse! There is great consern from Regt. as well as the entire stockade. And I also wanted to relay that I may not be going to Ft. Frederick after all,there appears to be a commanders meeting in Albany with Gen.Webb? If the Provincal Units are included mayhaps I'll see you there?
: : Have you been to Carlisle as of late? Have you any news of my Mothers well being?
: : My brother sends his well wishes!
: : All my best to you.
: : "Your most humble servant"
: : Edward
: : Drum Major
: : 77th Regt.Gren.Coy.
: : Edward Armstrong

: ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
: April ye 9th, 1759

: TO: Regt’l Drum Major EdwardArmstrong
: 77th Reg’t,
: Montgomery’s
: Gren Co’y
: Reas Town Camp, near Bedford town

: Dear Nephew Edward,

: It was nice to receive your recent dispatch. I have moved from Augusta to Carlisle for the time being, as there is much to do here and Ft. Augusta is in very good hands at this moment. They are well-drilled and supplied there, and the Indian trade is going well. And speaking of Carlisle, I saw your mother just this morning. She is doing well, Edward. Be sure to tell Ian. Her financial troubles are now under control, and the administrator of her affairs I hired seems to have gotten her well on the way to stability once again. We will, however, continue to employ him in that position so she does not slip away again.

: I am sorry to hear of the strange illness of Sgt MacWilliam, and am in hopes that it is soon passed. The “Dutch Fever,” as it is called, is certainly a strange malady. I have seen it a time or two in this Regiment. Fortunately, it does not spread throughout a stockade as does diseases like smallpox.

: I am sorry to hear that you may not be at Ft. Frederick, Edward. I intend to send a Company from Augusta, and I may be there myself. I am not aware of a meeting in Albany with Gen. Webb, so apparently Provincials are not included. You know how the regulars treat us! It makes me laugh sometimes at their abject arrogance!

: I am sending, on a separate sheet, a Desertion Notice I had published in Mr. Franklin’s paper, The Pennsylvania Gazette, recently for Capt. Croy to post in the town, if he would. We have been publishing these lists for awhile, it seems to be working. We are retrieving quite a few of these men, and are in hopes that their very public punishment will deter others from following suit.

: Edward, I read with some dismay, your information about Ian’s attitude and behaviour. I am arranging for him to be transferred to my First battalion so I may, perhaps, be a more stable influence on him. The request has started through channels and I was assured that it would be approved. Please say nothing to him until it IS approved, but I wanted you to know. It is, after all, in his best interest. Continuation of his behaviour will result only in you having to apply the cat-of-nine-tails to him, and that would not be good at all.

: My best to Capt. Croy and the others,

: Uncle John

: John Armstrong,
: Col. Commanding
: 1st Battalion Pennsylvania
: Carlisle

: *attached to this dispatch as a separate sheet*

: Carlisle, March 25, 1759.

: DESERTED from the first Battalion of the Pennsylvania
: Regiment, the following Soldiers, viz.

: PHILIP SNODERLY, a German, about 22 Years of Age, 5 Feet
: 10 Inches high, wore his own Hair.

: NICHOLAS HAVELINGER, a German, about 27 Years of Age, five
: Feet 7 Inches high, of a dark Complexion, and wore a Cotton
: Cap.

: JOHN CLOYAN, a German, about 24 Years of Age, 5 Feet 7
: Inches high, and had short black Hair. All the above wore
: their regimental Coats, green Cloth, faced with red, red
: Waistcoats, and Buckskin Breeches.

: ABRAHAM LATCHER, a German, about 20 Years of Age, 5 Feet 2
: Inches high, had short black Hair, and wore a green Waistcoat,
: a short red Jacket under it, and a Pair of Buckskin Breeches.

: JOHN BILLING, a German, about 26 Years of Age, 5 Feet 8
: Inches high, of a sanguine Complexion, and wore a green
: regimental Coat, and red Jacket.

: They all took their Arms and Accoutrements with them. It
: is supposed they are lurking on the Eastern Frontiers.

: Whoever apprehends the said Deserters, and confines them
: in any Gaol, or delivers them to the commanding Officer of any
: Garrison, within the Province of Pennsylvania, shall receive
: Two Pistoles Reward for each.

: John Armstrong, Col Commander of
: the First Battalion of the Pennsylvania Regiment.

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