Transcription of Jonathan Forman Diary September 21, 1794-October 25, 1794 Jonathan Forman Papers, 1794, DAR.1937.10, Darlington Collection, Archives & Special Collections University of Pittsburgh Library System Transcribed by Katie Berry & David R. Grinnell, May, 2020 Digital Page 1 (illegible: Incorrect) Journal of Our March into Pennsyl= =vania against the insurgents of that state --taken from Minutes, on the March at Fort Littleton, not Having time do it begin it sooner. -- Monday September 22? 1794 Sunday Septem 21st 1794 Sett out from home having Mrs. Foreman ill with the Fever, and myself very unwell arrived and lodged Sunday night at Mr. Peter Conover’s. Monday 22d Sett out at day light, and arived at Trenton about 10 O’ Clock A.M. --On my arrival found my arrival, found my Regiment in readyness to Cross the Delaware; immediately prepared myself to Join them, which I did at the Crooked Billet 9 Miles Newton 10 miles from Trenton, and settled my rank with Colos Davenport & Stark in presence of Genl Bloomfield, Brigadier of the Detachment.— Remarks Newton is a tolerable pleasant place & the county Town of Bucks Co. -- Tuesday After taking leave of Gen’. Bloomfield (a Cleaver Fellow) took command of my regiment and proceeded to the Crooked billet about 11 Miles. -- Remarks the morning (illegible: Lowery or Lousy), the After= =noon more pleasant. We halted about one hour before sunsett. The Country improved and tolerable pleasant-- The Regimnt considerably messy & disorderly, and being accquain- Ted with none of the officers, except Capt. Marsh, made my duty more disagreeable.--- same day appointed Mr. Jonathan Ogden Q Master to the Regiment in place of Mr. Vankirk who returned --- Digital Page 2 Wednesday 24th Marched a little after Sunrise and proceeded to Morris Town 15 ½ miles --remarks Morris Town is pleasant Village, situated on the Schuylkill where the canal is digging to the Delaware and is about 4 years since made the County Town Of (blank space) County -- The joy of our arrival here was testified by the ringing of bells and hurras from the county house. Our Encampment was regular and pleasant --- left Capt. Wool. Sick here--- Thursday 25th Marched early in the morning and proceeded 21 ½ miles to Potts Grove. -- Remarks-- The morning clear and pleasant , passed through the Trah, a growing place, the country in general pleasant, The weather changed in the afternoon & became rainy, which obliged me to get the regiment billted, which was done, without difficulty, the inhabitants being rous’ed and glad of our Arrival—Potts Grove is not a thriving Town though an Old one, and exceedingly pleasant in its situation near the banks of the Scuylkill -- lodged this night by pressing invitation with Cols. Nicols, an officer of the old Army, th’o not an acquaintance.-- Fryday 26th The morning, fine -- Marched at half an hour after Sunrise, and proceeded to Reading distant 18 miles, where we arrived about an hour before sunsett.--- Remarks Reading is a very considerable Town, at least ¾ of a miles in length, with some very good Buildings, but in general they have been built with loggs & filled in; The Place is Situated on the river Schuylkill it was considered as one of our principle Posts; but we could procure but trifling supplies. The Regiment having now marched five days successively; became their clothes became dirty Digital Page 3 And their Feet exceeding sore being generally unaccus= =tomed to so hard duty, I therefore thought it neces= -asary, to halt for the refreshment and cleansing for three Days—There I first formed a Mess, with my two Majors Kipp & Bould, Capts. Marsh & Schenck & Adjt Lysle, and drew provisions for for myself & Waiter ---Showery & very Warm those 3 days Tuesday September 30th The Morning Lawery, Crossed the Ferry and marched to Wornensdorf (probably: Womelsdorf) Tns 14 miles – Wormensdorf is a Small Town Inhabitants chiefly Germans; a few Good Stone Buildings but principally of loggs; the nights cold & Slept for the first night in my Tent half frose, waking at every relief of the Centry --- Wednesday Octo 1st Marched at Synrise, Gen’l White with a detachment of Horse, being with us; proceeded firstly to Myers Town, where, an Itenerant Person, having insulted the Officer of my rear Gd. was ordered under guard which he refused, and Contended with the guard & endeaversed to rest the Army from the Centinel, who being an Old Solider Bayoneted him of which he died shortly. -- this circumstance gave me considerable Trouble, as there was about 500 Irish digging a Canal into the Sculkill, who were much enraged, one of whom I was obliged to put under Guard, untill I cou’d report the circumstances myself to a civil Magistrate, which I did at Lebanon 14 Miles from Wormsldorf; who being friendly to our March did what he cou’d and dare: in our favor; by sending two Constables on with me to Harrisburgh.-- The afternoon rainy Thursday Octor 2d The Morning clear, but the Marching bad proceeded to Homelstown 14 miles -- Remarks the Afternooon rainy, but on our Arrival found the Inhabitants, very Friendly Offering their Homes for the reception for the Men, that we did not pitch our Tents. Fryday Octor 3d Marched early in the Morning for a Harrisburgh where we Arrived about 12 O clock – here I had sent forward, the constit Constables; and Digital Page 4 in the morning early had detached Sam’ R. Steward Esq., who had come out with the Regiment a Volunteer; for the purpose of making inquiry & founding the Judges of the Court with respect to Burrell who killed the man at Myers Town -- this being the County (illegible word) of Dauphin, in which the accident happened on my arrival the Constables met me with Joy, and Mr. Stewart informed me that three Judges, had given their opinion that they con’d take no cognizance of the Mate Matter, and reffered it to the Governor of the State, then at Carlisle, which gave general satisfaction-- About 1 O’clock rec’d information of the Presidents approach on which, I had the Regiment Paraded, timely for his reception, & considerably to my satisfaction – Being Afterwards invited to his Quarters; He made inquiry into the cir= =cumstances of the man; & seemed satisfied with the information ---At Harrisburgh we rec’d Attention & great politeness General Hannah was particularly so --- Harrisburgh, is the most growing & pleasant Place we have yet seen in the State of Pennsylvania it is situated on the Susquehanah--- Saturday Octor 4th Commenced xing (crossing) the Troops, at Day light but for want of a sufficient number of boats, cou’d not the get the Regt over before 10 OClock, then proceeded to Carlisle dist 18 miles and arrived about ½ an hour before sunsett; Escorted by Capt Conover Troop – for ½ a Mile before our Entrance Sunday Octor 5th--- Remained at Carlisle; Breakfast at Gnl. Howells. The Weather Clear & Cool--engaged in, dismissing the Baggage Waggons; & writing home Monday 6th Dined with the President -- nothing remarkable -- Tuesday 7th Nothing remarkable. -- Weather clear Wednesday 8th Clear Weather -- the whole Officers, marched in procession to be Digital Page 5 Introduced to the President. ---- Thursday 9th Engaged in procuring Clothing for the Regimt -- weather good Recd orders for Marching the next day. --- Fryday 10th At 10 O Clock; the Signal was given for preparing to Marching; the 2d Signal at 11 & the 3d at 12 OClock PM; just Finished my letter to Mrs. F under cover to Mr. G. H. Remson N. York. -- Marched at 1 O Clock P.M.: Carlisle is a Considerable is a Town with a Markett. Twisce a Week in the County of ( blank ) Proceeding this day to Mount Rock, so called only from It’s being Rockey, with only one House. --- dist 7 Miles Saturday 11th Marched at 8 in the Morning of Shippingburgh (illegible word) 14 miles -- a tolerable pleasant Street of Logg Houses -- on duty Saturday 12th Marched at 8 for Straus burg dist. 14 miles also a Village of one Street at the foot of the Tuscarora Mountains; here the 17 of the Whiskey Boys as they call themselves; had erected a Pole ½ an hour before Adjnt Lyyle, of the Regiment Arrived. but the inhabitants had prudently taken it Down before our arrival. ---- Sunday 13th Marched at Sunrise for Fort Littleton dist near 19 Miles; having to Cross 3 large Mountains Tuscurata successively each about three miles over -- arrived at Fort Littleton with The Regiment & of Part artillery at Sun Sett. but our Tents & baggage cou’d not reach us till 1 OClock at night - & Cols Gurnisses Regt being in the rear of the Baggage did not ge up till the Next Morning on accnt of which delays we lay Still --- Monday 14th Continued at Fort Littleton, where there is no traces of a Fort & but one house of any consequence Digital Page 6 Kept by Cols Bird; at this Place having more leisure than usual took up my Journal from recollection & notes of distances on the route. --- Tuesday 15th Marched about 9 OClock and Encamped at Sunsett at the Foot of Sidling Hill dist. about 14 miles, in about 8 miles arrived at the Juniata -- which is called the Crossings, or Narrowings, from the road going between two considerable Mountains -- arrived at Camp about Sunsett -- Wednesday 16th About 8 OClock Marched a little after Sunrise for Hartleys Marched about 8 OClock from the Hartleys’ and arrived at Bedford about 4 O Clock from Hartley’s, in helath and & good order – Thursday 17th Remarks -- Bedford is a Town of about 100 Houses with some good building’s but the greatest part are Logg Homes -- it is a County Town, with a Court House; & a new brick Markett house, which is not yet used as one. --- Thursday 17th --- Continued in Camp; west of the Town. The Weather dry & Cool. Fryday 18th Remained in Camp -- nothing Remarkable.-- Saturday 19th Remained in Camp; Cols Davenport arrived with his Regimt. --- Sunday 20th Remained -- preparing Pay Rolls – Monday 21s Continued – recd -- one Mos. Pay – Tuesday 22d Busied in n preparing to March Digital Page 7 Wednesday 23d The Weather Clear. Marched to Mount Rock distant of 7½ miles --The March easy, nothing remark= =able in the Place. – Thursday 24th Marched at 7 OClock, The morning clear. on duty.-- The Country Mountainious, Arrived at Hughes Encamp= =ment about an hour before Sunsett.-- and shortly after the air thickened and began to rain.--- Fryday 25th The Morning very Rainy.
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