Enlistment
“One of the above-mentioned squads, wanting to procure a man, the lieutenant told them that he thought they might persuade me to go for them, and they accordingly attacked me, front, rear and flank. I thought, as I must go, I might as well endeavor to get as much for my skin as I could.” (p. 41)
Uncle Sam
“Uncle Sam was always careful to supply us with these articles [arms and equipment], even if he could not give us anything to eat, drink, or wear.” (p. 42)
Vaccination
“I was soon after this transaction ordered off, in company with about 400 others of the Connecticut forces, to a set of old barracks a mile or two distant in the Highlands to be inoculated with the smallpox.” (p. 43)
Twisted ankle
“I was obliged to hop on one foot all the way (upwards of five miles), not being able in the whole distance to procure a stick to assist me, though I often hobbled to the fences on each side of hte road in hopes to obtain one.” (pp. 46-7)
Hunger
“I had now to travel the rest of the day, after marching all the day and night before and fighting all the morning. I had eaten nothing since the noon of the preceding day, nor did I eat a morsel till the forenoon of the next day, and I needed rest as much as victuals.” (p. 49)
Dark humor
“Here I had the good luck (or rather bad luck, as it turned out in the end) to find an ox’s milt, which had escaped the hogs and dogs. With this prize I steered off to my tent, threw it upon the fie and broiled it, and then sat down to eat it without either bread or salt. I had not had it long in my stomach before it began to make strong remonstrances and to manifest a great inclination to be set at liberty again. I was very willing to listen to its requests, and with eyes overflowing with tears at parting with what I had thought to be a friend, I gave it a discharge.” (p. 50)
Resentments
“Great men get great praise, little men nothing.” (p. 63)
Battles / Campaigns
- Hudson Valley
- Fort Mifflin
- [Brandywine] / Germantown
- Valley Forge
