Benjamin Brown A.L.S., Ticonderoga, August 31, 1776 : to My dear spous [sic] [Reading?]

Benjamin Brown A.L.S., Ticonderoga, August 31, 1776 : to My dear spous [sic] [Reading?]

Fort Ticonderoga 1776

[2] p. ; 33 cm. (fol.)

MSS L1990.1.298 MB

Several officers of the American Revolution were named Benjamin Brown. Benjamin Brown, tanner of Boston and Reading, is probably the author of this letter. For biographical sketch, see Crane, Oliver A. History of the ancient and honorable Artillery Company, p. 80 and Crane, Ellery Bicknell. Historic homes and institutions and ... personal memoirs of Worcester County, Massachusetts, p. 306. Copies in library's Case file.|The first paragraph reflects his religious background: "I can enjoy no other religious exercise ... excepting morning & evening publick prayers ... and on the Sabath a sermon or two by Mr. Emerson of Concord [possibly William Emerson, 1743-1776] & Mr. Hitchcuk [i.e., Enos Hitchcock] of Beverly ...." He expresses satisfaction in having learned of his wife's dedication to prayers "ascending to heaven by the mouth of my sell beloved."|He then mentions his family business: "You tell me you have purchased some hemlock bark. I am glad to hear it and hope that the tanning and currying may be done well and seasonably which will be greatly to the support of the family."|"I have had but one drink of syder since I came to this place. I think I am tolerable respected [,] have dined with Gen.l Gates several times and have been swore at by him as many but no bones broken at present. I have often to go on fatigue commanding 3 or 4 hundred men whoo are fortifing the place but we have ben retarded from the work from Monday last to Thursday after [illegible] account of rainy wether[.]"|"We have seen nothing of the enemy nor learnt their situation since I have ben in this place ...."|"General Gates ... expects a warme attack from Bergoine and that soon. I hope we shall be ready to give them a warme reception. I see no fear or intimidation in the camp."|"I understand we ar going to be joind by Coln Phinis [Phineas Wright?] & Whitcoms [Asa Whitcomb's] Regiments from Boston[.]|"A number of our brigade are taken with the small pox and a number of others have colds and feever & agu."|"... [T]he place where I now am incampt is surrounded by water excepting the norwest part and there is redoubts and brest works for [missing text] defend that part, it being the place where many of the bones of our sons lay above ground to this day that was slain in the year 1762 ...."|On p. [2] he lists family and friends to whom he sends greetings.|"James has been very poor for some dayes but is on the mending hand by what I can learn from those that have the small pox they are mostly like to recover. Those from Reading that have it is Ephraim Pratt Kendle Emerson & poore old Chester. [W]e are in great danger of it but no enoculation is alow.d off when we find any broak out we sent them of[f] immediately to Fort George which is 80 miles distance."|"...[W]ith trew thankfulness to our kind & beneficent Preserver, but if otherwise be content with the will of heaven rather then I should flee my colours and fall into the lowest contemt especially when I am ingag.d in so noble and good a cause."|Horatio Gates and Rev. Enos Hitchcock were original members of the Society of the Cincinnati. Gates joined the New York Society; Hitchcock, the Rhode Island Society.|See also the Annual Report of the Anderson House Museum for 1990, pp.46-47 for background information relating to this letter.|Fragile, browned, and tattered, affecting some text

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