[Reminiscences of Dr. John Cochran, Surgeon General of the Continental Army] A.D., ca. 1875

[Reminiscences of Dr. John Cochran, Surgeon General of the Continental Army] A.D., ca. 1875

[S.l., ca. 1875]

18 p. ; 32 cm.

MSS L1970.15 M MB

In pencil at head of p. [1]: Written by John Cochrane grandson of Dr. John Cochrane [sic] & brother of my maternal grandmother / Beatrice W.B. Cobb
Manuscript dates from after 1871 -- see p. 4, where the 1871 Chicago fire is mentioned.
"Doctor John Cochran was Surgeon General and Director of the military hospitals of the army of the Revolution. He served as such during the whole war, and at its conclusion and the retcovery of peace, resumed the practice of Surgeon & Physician in the city of New York.... Attached to General Washington's staff, and the brother in law of General Philip Schuyler ... he enjoyed frequent intimacy with the general officers of the army, as well as with Washington and with La Fayette [sic] whose personal physician he was...." p. [1]
"He had two sons, James Cochran the elder and Walter Livingston Cochran the younger.... The two sons were of an age at the termination of the war, to feel the edge of curiosity and mature enough to record correctly its observations. I have often heard Walter L. Cochran, who was my father, and his brother James, my uncle, repeat interesting anecdotes of the men and events of those times." p. [1]
Anthony Wayne's popularity with the soldiers and his action at the storming of Stony Point, including the sword given by Wayne to Cochran are mentioned on pp. 2-3.
Paul Jones: as a house guest of Cochran and Jones's habit of keeping loaded pistols under his pillow - p. 3.
Washington and La Fayette [sic] in camp: mentions the convivial spirit enjoyed by the three officers, the sobriquet "the good Doctor Bones" applied to Cochran, Lafayette's pistols and watch as gifts to Cochran, the former having been lost in the Chicago fire of 1871; Washington's camp furniture as gifts to Cochran, only one of which a mahogany tea table, remained in the family at the time of this writing. - pp. 3-5
Washington and Gouverneur Morris: describes a dinner party at which other officers, including Knox, Green[e], St[e]uben, Hamilton, Wayne, and Robert Morris enjoy "[h]eavy drinking at the table was the custom of those days". Morris, apparently as a result of a wager, takes an unexpected liberty with Washington. pp. 5-6
Aaron Burr: "My father exxpressed his astonishment at Burr's indifference to this crisis of his fortunes [one vote needed to make Burr President.] But Burr made light of the matter. Relates a perilous incident involving a boat attempting to cross the Hudson during a storm. - pp. 6-7
Federalism and Democracy: class distinctions "beginning gradually to fade .... The Federalist party included those whose wealth and family constituted ... an aristocracy, while those of democratic tendencies gravitated with the Republican party." Relates an incident involving a tailor, Woolsey Rogers and "wicked Bill Livingston." - pp. 7-8
The Federalist: related an incident involving his uncle James Cochran's recalling the 'good old days: "I do declare John, it was a pleasure to live in those times when a Federalist could knock a Democrat down in the streets, and not be questioned about it." - p. 9
Goveurneur Morris: recounds the occasion of Morris' broken leg, which resulted from his horses' bolting and dragging his carriage over the leg. "Though his leg was broken the habit was not, and ever after, as the horses were brought up, the scene was reenacted with intemperate commands [to stay, unrestrained while Morris took his seat in the carriage], restless horses, and a broken leg." - pp. 9-10
Washington whipping an enslaved man: when Dr. Cochran was travelling to Washington's headquarters at Newburg, "in passing at a spot somewhat withdrawn from the thoroughfare,... they suddenly came upon Washington, with horsewhip in hand, laying heavy and thick blows upon Pete, his offending black slave...." pp. 10-11
Chancellor Livingston, Egbert Benson and the merino sheep mania: refers to Linvingston's importing a merino ram as the impetus for a "passion for merino sheep" and relates an amusing exchange between Livingston and Benson regarding breeding those animals. pp.11-12
Mrs. Dewitt Clinton: "Kate Jones, a famous belle of the day and afterwards ... the surviving widow of Dewitt Clinton, when dancing with ... a scion of English nobitilty, slipped and fell. Her partner greeting her mishap with immoderate laughter, she sprang from the floor and buffeted him so sharply in the face, that his mirth was quenched, while that of the company exceeded all bounds." - pp. 12-13
Alexander Hamilton: An account of Hamilton's submission of a definition of a libel. - pp. 13-14
General Philip Schuyler: mentions his "self denying conduct towards General Gates", the "magnanimity with which he reinforced the confidence ... of the Northern Army" and his efforts to obtain rent from tenants in arrears. - pp. 14-16
General Schuyler & the Dutchmen of the Mohawk: "His intimate knowledge of ... hydrography revealed to him the practicability of a system ... which could connect the lakes with the Atlantic...." Relates his efforts to convince the "Dutchmen" whose lands bordered the route to support him. "The canal was dug and the locks were built." - pp 16-18
John Cochran, the surgeon, and John Cochrane, the author, were members of the New York State Society of the Cincinnati.
Gift of Francis W. Hatch, Massachusetts Society

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