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PROPERTY    OF   THE 


wmi^ 


Mfmries^ 


•  8  «  7 


ARTES      SCIENTIA      VERITAS 


1 


THE  LIFE 


OF 


TIMOTHY    PICKERING. 


VOL.    I.- 


/.'2J'^ 


i     • 


*.  •> 


.'.C 


THE  LIFE 


OF 


TIMOTHY  PICKERING 


BY  HIS  SON, 


OCTAVIUS   PICKERING. 


Volume  I. 


BOSTON: 
LITTLE,  BROWN,    AND    COMPANY. 

1867. 


Entered,  according  to  Act  of  Consfremi,  In  the  year  1967 1  by 

OCTAVIU8    PICKKUING, 

in  the  Clerk**  Office  of  the  District  Court  of  the  District  of  SUMachoaettt. 


r     / 


STEREOTYPED 
AT  THE  BOSTON  STEREOTYPE  FOUMDBY| 

19  Spring  Lane. 


Presswork  by  John  Wilson  and  Son. 


t 


yA^ir/Xy  Wi^yi" 


XIV  CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER    XX. 

Proceedings  of  Comwallis  at  Yorktown,        .         .         •         .  800 

Investment  of  Yorktown, 302 

Progress  of  the  Siege, 302 

Colonel  Seammell  mortally  wounded,      .  .         .         .  302,  803 

Postage  on  the  Quartermaster-General's  Letters,  .         .         .  306 

Surrender  of  Cornwallis,            .         .         .         .         .         .  307 

Plunder  of  surrendered  Tents  and  Stores,      ....  308 

Storekeepers  in  Yorktown  and  Gloucester,    .      .         .         .  311 

Officers  in  the  Quartermaster's   Department  not  entitled  to 

Half-pay, 311 

HI  Designs  against  Colonel  Pickering,       ....  314 

CHAPTER    XXI. 

Forage  in  West  Chester  County, 316 

His  Controversy  about  it  with  the  State  Agent  of  New  York,  316 

Sufferings  in  that  State  from  its  being  the  Seat  of  War,      .  318 
Views  of  the  State  Agent  and  the  Land-owners  respecting  the 

Forage,    .         .         . 319 

Their  Censure  of  Colonel  Pickering,          .         .         .         .  320 

His  Vindication, 322 

CHAPTER   XXII. 

Enmity  excited  by  his  Economical  Reforms,  .         .         .         .327 

Commendations  of  them,            .         .         .         .         .         .  327 

Further  Proceedings  relating  to  the  West  Chester  Forage,       .  330 

His  Letter  reflecting  on  the  New  York  State  Agent,   .         .  335 

A  Suggestion  by  him  as  to  Supplies  of  Food  for  the  Army,    .  338 


CHAPTER   XXIII. 

Further  Proceedings  respecting  the  West  Chester  Forage,       .  340 

The  New  York  State  Agent  sends  him  a  Challenge,   .         .  341 

His  Sentiments  on  Duelling, 342 

He  refuses  to  accept  the  Challenge, 343 


CONTENTS.  Xlii 


F; 


CHAPTER    XVII. 

Enterprise  against  the  British  on  Staten  Island,     .        .        .  260 

Its  Failure  attributed,  in  1808,  to  Colonel  Pickering,  .  260 

His  Vindication, 260 

His  contemporaneous  Account  of  the  Transaction,      .         .  263 

His  Satisfaction  in  his  Office, 265       *      ' 

Mr.  Peters  dissatisfied  with  being  on  the  Board  of  War,     .  266 
Publication   of    intercepted  Letters   in   Rivington's   ^'  Royal 

Gazette," 267 

Anecdote  of  Rivington, 267 

Correspondence  between  Colonel  Pickering  and  Colonel  Hughes,  267  .        -I^  IM  < 

Colonel  Pickering's  Domestic  Arrangements,  .         .         .270  ^        his  \ 

His  Disinterestedness, 273 

sonu 

CHAPTER    XVIII.  ,        P^^^^ 

he  ! 

Specie  Pajroents  and  Specie  Certificates,       .         .      276,  282,  285 
His  Letter  on  these  Subjects  to  Congress,  .         .         .         .         277 

Tender  Laws, 279,  283,  285  Join 

He  is  proposed  »for  the  Office  of  Secretary  of  War,         .         .     283  Qf  ^i 

Robert  H.  Harrison, 285 

Colonel  Pickering  proposes  Reforms  in  his  Department,  .     286  ^' 

Embarrassments  in  it, 288  pcrii 

His  Public  Spirit  and  Independence, 289  ^ 

Legacy  from  his  Friend  Colonel  Flower,     ....         291  ^ 

His  Aversion  to  Slavery, 291 


the 


trcii 

offu 
CHAPTER   XIX.  eiKN 


Skirmish  between  General  Lincoln  and  the  British  Troops,  292  ^ 

Junction  of  the  French  and  the  American  Armies,  .         .  293  '        hia 

Attempt  to  capture  Cornwallis  resolved  on,         .         .         .  293  ji 

March  of  the  Army  to  Yorktown,  .....  294 

Baltimore,  Georgetown,    .         .         .         .         .         .         .  295 

Alexandria,  Mount  Vernon,  Dumfries,  Fredericksburg,  .         .  296  tory 

Williamsburg,  Lord  Botetourt, 297 

Virginia  Ideas,     .........  298 

Agriculture  of  Virginia, 298  ^^  tlu 


of  r 


As 


PREFACE. 


From  various  causes  the  Biography  of  Colonel 
Timothy  Pickering  has  been  delayed  until  most  of 
his  friends  and  other  contemporaries  who  felt  a  per- 
sonal regard  for  him  have  passed  away ;  but  the  active 
part  which  he  took,  and  the  important  offices  which 
he  held,  first  in  the  American  Eevolution,  next  in 
the  Cabinets  of  President  Washington  and  President 
John  Adams,  and  afterwards  as  a  member  successively 
of  the  Senate  and  of  the  House  of  Representatives 
of  the  United  States,  give  to  the  record  of  his  life  a 
permanent  interest.  He  was  likewise  several  times 
employed  by  President  Washington  on  missions  to 
treat  with  dijBferent  tribes  of  Indians.  Some  of  his 
official  papers,  and  portions  of  his  private  correspond- 
ence with  eminent  men  of  his  day,  are  of  much  value 
in  relation  to  the  history  of  the  United  States ;  and 
his  efforts  to  induce  the  "  Connecticut  Settlers"  in 
the  valley  of  Wyoming  to  submit  to  the  jurisdiction 
of  Pennsylvania  connect  him  intimately  with  the  his- 
tory of  that  State. 

As  an  ardent  Federalist,  uttering  freely  his  opinions 
of  the  conduct  and  character  of  his  Democratic  oppo- 

(V) 


VI  PREFACE. 

nentSy  at  times  when  party  spirit  was  at  its  height^ 
he  made  political  enemies,  who  were  unsparing  in 
their  slanders  and  abuse  of  him  for  the  purpose  of 
destroying  his  influence.  The  bitter  animosities  of 
those  periods  have  subsided,  having  given  place  to 
new  ones,  between  new  political  parties  ;  and  the 
present  generation  and  its  successors  can  view  his 
character  with  impartiality. 

This  First  Volume  brings  his  Life  down  about 
three  years  beyond  the  end  of  the  war  of  the  Revo- 
lution. His  writings  are  very  numerous,  and  it  is  im- 
possible for  me  now  to  determine  how  many  volumes 
a  proper  selection  from  them,  with  appropriate  obser- 
vations in  relation  to  them,  will  occupy.  It  is  my 
intention  to  proceed  in  the  preparation  and  publicar 
tion  of  the  succeeding  volumes  as  fast  as  circum- 
stances may  permit 

Very  often,  in  giving  passages  from  Colonel  Pick- 
ering's letters,  I  can  only  have  recourse  to  the  rough 
draught  he  retained ;  a  comparison  of  which  with  the 
fair  copy  sent  would  no  doubt  in  some  instances  show 
verbal  discrepancies.  Grammatical  inaccuracies  and 
other  oversights  (which,  however,  seldom  occur),  I 
do  not  hesitate  to  correct 

0.  P. 

BosTOX,  Augusty  1867. 


CONTENTS 


OF 


VOLUME    THE    FIRST 


CHAPTER    I. 


Introdnction  by  John  Pickering, 
Timothy  Pickering's  Birth  and  Ancestry,     . 
Remarks  on  the  Depreciation  of  Paper  Money, 
On  the  Emancipation  of  African  Slaves,     . 
His  Wife  and  her  Father,       .... 
His  College  Life  and  his  Reminiscences  of  it, 
Correspondence  on  Playing  at  Cards, 


Paov 
1 

2 

6 
6 
7 
8 
9 


CHAPTER    II. 

He  assists  the  Register  of  Deeds, 

Cultivates  Music, 

His  Manner  of  Reading  and  Style  of  Writing     . 

His  Efforts  to  improve  the  Militia,  .         .         . 

The  Condition  of  the  Militia,      .... 

He  suppresses  a  disorderly  Practice, 

Becomes  a  leading  Whig  in  Salem, 

Vindicates  himself  and  the  Whigs  from  Reproaches, 

Conduct  of  the  Tories, 

He  is  not  a  Seeker  of  Popularity,  .... 


14 
.     14 

15 
.     16 

16 
17,26 

21 
.     21 

23 
.     26 


CHAPTER    III. 

He  is  admitted  an  Attorney  at  Law, 31 

Instructs  the  Militia  of  Marblehead, 31 

Applies  to  be  appointed  Clerk  of  the  Courts  in  Essex  County,  32 


VIU 


CONTENTS. 


Elected  to  Monicipal  Offices, 34 

His  Controversy  with  the  Rev.  Dr.  Whitaker,          .         .  .35 

His  Religions  Opinions, 36 

His  Controversy  concerning  the  Small-pox,      .         .         .  .39 

His  Disinterestedness, 41 

His  Letter,  on  the  Controversy,  to  the  Rev.  Bfr.  Weeks,  .  .    43 

His  Opinion  on  Duelling, 46 

His  Correspondence  with  Dr.  James  Latham,          •         .  .47 


CHAPTER    IV. 

Address  (written  by  him)  from  Inhabitants  of  Salem  to  Gov- 
ernor Gage  on  the  Boston  Port  Bill,         ....  49 

The  Governor's  Answer, 62 

Mr.  Pickering's  Interview  with  the  Governor,      ...  53 

Salem  Committee  of  Correspondence  call  a  Town  Meeting,      .  53 

Interview  of  the  Committee  with  the  Governor,  ...  54 

Members  of  the  Committee  arrested, 56 

Mr.  Pickering  elected  Register  of  Deeds,     ....  58,  59 

Elected  Colonel  of  Militia, 60 

Colonel  Leslie's  Expedition  to  Salem,           ....  60 


CHAPTER    V. 


Battle  of  Lexington, 

Colonel  Pickering  and  Salem  censured  in  regard  to  it, 
Vindicated  in  a  Memorial  to  the  Legislature,   . 
Resolve  on  the  Memorial,   ...... 

He  marches  a  Regiment  of  Militia  to  the  State  of  New  York, 
Vindicates  himself  as  to  the  Battle  of  Lexington, 
A  Meeting  of  Officers  at  Cambridge  after  the  Battle, 
Opinions  expressed  at  the  Meeting,      .... 

Josiah  Quincy,  Jr.,  returns  from  England, 

Effect  on  England  of  the  Non-Importation  Agreements, 


.  69 
69 

73-76 
76 

.  77 
78 

.  81 
81 

.  82 
82 


CHAPTER    VI. 

Mrs.  Higginson,  a  Friend  of  Colonel  Pickering, 
She  advises  him  to  leave  the  Whig  Party,    . 
His  Reply, 


.     83 

84 

.     84 


CONTENTS.  IX 

His  "  Flan  of  Discipline  for  a  Militia,"          .         •        •  .      85 

Correspondence  concerning  it, 86 

Massachusetts  directs  it  to  be  used  bj  the  Militia,           .  .       87 

Colonel  Pickering  appointed  to  Judicial  Offices,  .         .         •  88,  91 

The  Meeting  of  Officers  afler  the  Battle  of  Lexington,  •  •       89 

Their  Opinions  on  Future  Measures,          ....  89 

Salem  Men  tender  their  Services  to  Washington,  •         •  .       93 

Colonel  Pickering  chosen  a  Representative  for  Salem,         •  93 

CHAPTER   VII. 

He  is  placed  in  Command  of  a  Regiment  of  Essex  Militia,  .  94 
He  marches  the  Regiment  to  the  State  of  New  York,  .  94 

Mr.  McLean,  of  Danbury, 96 

The  Regiment  is  put  under  the  Command  of  General  Heath,  96 
Expedition  to  Eingsbridge  and  Fort  Independence,  •  .  97*104 
Colonel  Pickering  politely  entertained  by  Colonel  Phillips,  a 

Tory, 98,  99,  106 

Other  Occurrences  of  the  Campaign,  ....         104 

Inefficiency  of  General  Heath,       .         •         •         .      103,  109,  110 

CHAPTER   VIII. 

Colonel  Pickering  marches  his  Regiment  into  New  Jersey,  115 

Major  Theodoric  Bland,  of  Virginia,    .         .         •         .      ^  •     118 

Bound  Brook, 119 

Attempt  to  capture  a  Hessian  Guard, 120 

Gallantry  of  Major  Broughton, 120 

Severe  Snow-storm, 120 

Hardships  and  Sickness  of  a  Pennsylvania  Battalion,  •         122 

Interviews  of  Colonel  Pickering  with  General  Washington,  124, 126 
Colonel  Pickering's  Journey  Home,  .         .         .         •         126 

He  is  appointed  Adjutant^General, 129 

His  Correspondence  with  Washington  on  the  Subject,  129-136 

CHAPTER   IX. 

Colonel  Pickering  resigns  his  Civil  Offices,  •  .  •  .137 
Prepares  to  go  to  Head-quarters  as  Adjutaut^General,  •  137 
Scarcity  of  Linen  in  Salem, 138 

VOL.  L  b 


X  CONTENTS. 

His  Office  of  Register  of  Deeds, 139 

iDJuDctious  to  his  Wife  concerniDg  their  Son,  •  •  .  140 
Movements  of  General  Howe's  Armj,       .         •         •  142-151 

Outrages  committed  by  it, 142,  145 

The  New  Jersey  Militia, 142 

Skirmish  between  Morgan's  Riflemen  and  the  Enemy,  .  .142 
Lord  Stirling  attacked  by  superior  Numbers,  .  .  .  145 
The  Abilities  of  Howe  and  Burgoyne  compared,    .         •         .150 

Arriyal  of  Lafayette, 151 

Howe's  Object  the  Capture  of  Philadelphia,  •         •         •         .152 

Immorality  in  the  Armies, 153 

Capture  of  a  Hessian, 153 


CHAPTER    X. 

Battle  of  the  Brandywine,         .... 
The  Losses  on  each  Side,      •         •         •         . 
Report  of  the  Battle  to  Congress, 
Skirmish  on  the  16th  of  September, 
Lessons  suggested  by  these  Actions, 
Night  Attack  on  General  Wayne, 

Garrison  at  Fort  Mifflin, 

Want  of  Zeal  in  Pennsylvania, 

The  Militia  of  the  New  England  and  other  States, 

Conduct  of  People  of  Chester  County,  Pennsylvania, 


154-156 
.     155 

156 
.     159 

160 
.     162 

163 
164,  165 

164 
.     164 


CHAPTER   XI. 


battle  of  Germantown, 

Causes  of  the  Defeat  of  the  Americans, 

The  Halt  at  Chew's  House, 

Annoyance  from  Smoke  and  Fog,  .... 

Lessons  suggested  by  the  Battle,        .... 
Removal  of  the  Wounded  from  the  Field  of  Battle, 

The  Fences  in  Germantown, 

The  Obstruction  of  Fences,  how  to  be  obviated, 
The  Retreat  of  the  American  Array  after  the  Battle, 
The  Deputy  AdjutantrGeneral  mortally  wounded. 
Defences  of  the  River  Delaware,       .... 
Disaffection  of  Pennsylvanians  to  the  Cause  of  America, 


166 

168,  169,  177 

168,  177 

.     169 

170 

.     170 

170 

.     170 

171 

.     173 

174,  178 


175 


■■ 


CONTENTS. 


XI 


Losses  in  the  Battle  of  Germantown,         .         .  •         •  176 

Surrender  of  Burgoyne,        .         .         .         .         ,  .  .177 

Celebration  of  it  in  Washington's  Camp,   .         .  177,  178,  180 

Condition  of  Philadelphia  when  entered  by  Howe,  .  .179 

Count  Donop's  Attack  on  the  Fort  at  Red  Bank,  .         .  180 

Contest  on  the  Delaware,      .         •         .         .         .  •  .180 

Fort  Mifflin  rendered  defenceless, 181 


CHAPTER    XII. 


The  Board  of  War  newly  arranged, 183 

Colonel  Pickering  elected  a  Member  of  it,  •  .  .  .  183 
A  Letter  of  Fncouragement  from  him  to  his  Wife,  .  .185 
Reasons  for  his  accepting  a  Seat  at  the  Board  of  War,  187, 189, 190 
His  Letter  of  Acceptance, 188 


General  Mifflin  and  Colonel  Robert  H.  Harrison, 
Delicacy  of  Colonel  Pickering  towards  his  Deputy, 
Devastations  in  Pennsylvania  by  British  Troops, 
Escape  of  American  Officers,  Prisoners  of  War,   . 
Remarks  on  the  Probability  of  Peace, 
Accident  to  Colonel  Pickering,      .... 
The  Kindness  of  his  Relatives, 
His  Plan  of  Living  at  York,  Pennsylvania,   . 

Camp  at  Valley  Forge, 

Colonel  Scammell  appointed  Adjutant-General, 


188 
.     189 

192 
193,  194 

195 
.     196 

197 
.     198 

200 
.     201 


CHAPTER    XIII. 

Letters  between  Scammell  and  Colonel  Pickering, 
Distresses  of  the  Army  at  Valley  Forge,  . 
Commissary-General's  Department  inefficient,    . 

General  Mifflin, 

Colonel  Pickering's  Mode  of  Living  at  York,     . 

Letter  from  him  to  his  Father, 

His  Opinions  on  Marriage,        .... 

His  Benevolence  and  Tenderness, 

M.  Gerard,  Minister  from  France,     . 

Head-dresses  of  Ladies,        .... 

Colonel  Pickering's  Simplicity  in  Dress,     . 


203 

.  204 

204,  206 

.  206 

207 
.  209 

211 
.  213 

215 
.  215 

215 


xn 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER      XIV. 

Colonel  Pickering  and  Mr.  Peters  the  efficient  Members  of  the 

Board  of  War,  .    - 

Sweers,  Deputy  Commissarj-General  of  Military  Stores 
He  is  arrested  for  Frauds,  and  condemned,    . 
Letter  from  Colonel  Pickering  to  Mrs.  Sweers, 
Arrest  of  Colonel  Flower,  Commissary-General,    . 
Letter  from  the  Board  of  War  to  Congress  in  his  Favor 

Congress  offended  by  it, 

Proceedings  of  Congress  thereon,       •         .         .         . 
Colonel  Pickering  and  Mr.  Peters  apologize, 
Congress  satisfied,     ....... 

Letter  on  the  Subject  to  Mrs.  Pickering, 
Colonel  Flower  honorably  acquitted, 


.  216 

216 
.  216 

217 
.  218 

219 
.  221 

221 
.  222 

125 

.  225 

226,  227 


Letters  on  the  Subject  between  Colonel  Pickering  and  Mr. 

Peters,  in  1823, 227 

Anecdote  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Witherspoon,         ....     230 


CHAPTER    XV. 

« 

Reception  of  M.  Gerard,  the  French  Minister, 
Colonel  Pickering's  Father,  .         .         .         .         . 

Baron  Steuben's  "  Infantry  Regulations,"  . 
Colonel  Pickering  superintends  the  Publication  of  them, 
General  Sullivan's  Complaints  of  the  Board  of  War, 
Boston  suffering  for  Want  of  Food,       .         .         .         . 

Depreciation  of  the  Currency, 

Colonel  Pickering's  Frugality,        .         .         .         .         . 
His  Salary  as  a  Member  of  the  Board  of  War, 
The  Office  of  Judge  in  Massachusetts  proposed  to  him, 
His  Intention  to  be  a  Commission  Merchant, 


235 
235 
237 
237 
238 
242 
243 
243 
244 
246 
247 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

The  Quartermaster-General's  Department  newly  arranged, 

General  Greene  resigns  the  Office,     .... 

Colonel  Pickering  appointed  in  his  Place, 

The  Office  embarrassed  by  the  Want  of  Money, 

He  obtains  Authority  to  issue  Specie  Certificates,  . 

Incidents  connected  with  his  Office,    .... 


249 
2')0 
251 
255 
256 
257 


CONTENTS.  XV 

He  withdraws  his  Charges,  finding  them  erroneous,        •         .  845 

Vindicates  his  Conduct  relating  to  the  Forage,   •         .         .  345 

The  French  Quartermaster-General  accords  with  him,    .         .  346 

CHAPTER     XXIV. 

Difficulty  of  Communication  hj  Letters,    ....  848 

Modern  Facilities, -         .         .  348 

Arrangements  proposed  hj  him  as  Quartermaster-General,  349 

His  Public  Spirit, 850 

Other  Characteristics  of  him,              352 

Enmity  between  John  Adams  and  Thomas  Jefferson,     .         .  354 

Their  Reconciliation,         .......  354 

Mr.  Jefferson  as  characterized  by  Mr.  Adams,       .         .         .  855 

Letter-books  and  Papers  of  the  Quartermaster's  Department,  355 

Proposed  Resolutions  respecting  that  Department,       .         .  356 

Colonel  Pickering's  Objections  to  them,          ....  359 

Laboriousness  of  his  Office, 360 

CHAPTER     XXV. 

Return  of  Mrs.  Higginson,  a  Refugee,  to  Salem,  .         .         .  862 

Intolerance  manifested  against  her, 363 

Correspondence  between  Dr.  Orne  and  Colonel  Pickering,      .  365 

Colonel  Pickering  purposes  settling  in  Vermont,          .         .  370 

Writes  to  Ethan  Allen  about  buying  Land  there,    .         •         .  370 

CHAPTER     XXVL 

Illness  in  his  Family, 373 

His  Desire  to  return  to  Private  Life, 374 

Toils  and  Vexations  of  his  Office, 375 

Heavy  Taxes, 375 

Sufferings  of  Soldiers  for  Want  of  proper  Food  and  Clothing,  376 
Colonel  Pickering's  Domestic  Concerns,         .         •         •         .376 

CHAPTER    XXVII. 

New  Arrangement  of  the  Quartermaster's  Department,       .  380 
Colonel  Pickering  dissatisfied  as  to  Compensation,          .        .381 


XVI  CONTENTS. 

Importance  and  Difficulty  of  his  Office,  ....  381 
Misunderstanding  between  him  and  Dr.  Cochran,  •         .     882 

£xtreme  Illness  of  Mrs.  Pickering,  .         .         .  384, 385 

His  Letter  to  a  Sister  bereaved  of  a  Daughter,  .  .  .  385 
He  is  solicitous  concerning  his  future  Support,  -.         .         386 

Financial  Inconvenience  in  respect  to  Gold  Coins,  .         .887 

CHAPTER    XXVIII. 

Instance  of  his  Equanimity, 889 

Distress  at  Camp  for  Want  of  Forage,  ....     3B9 

Letters  of  Washington  and  Colonel  Pickering  on  the  Subject,  390 
A  Prayer  composed  by  Colonel  Pickering,  .  .  .  .393 
A  Letter  to  his  Mother,  and  Remarks  on  Old  Age,     .  396 

His  Arrest  for  a  public  Debt, 397,  398 

"  The  Temple  "  at  Newbutgh, 399 

Anniversary  of  the  Alliance  with  France  celebrated,  .  .  399 
Colonel  Pickering's  Intention  to  become  a  Merchant,  .         401 

Supposed  Views  of  England  and  France  concerning  the  United 

States, 403 

Anticipation  of  Peace, 405 


CHAPTER    XXIX. 

The  anonymous  •*  Newburgh  Addresses,"            .         .  .         406 

Letter  from  John  Armstrong,  signed  ^^  John  Montgars,"  407,  408 

His  Representations  of  the  Object  of  the  Addresses,  .  .         408 


CHAPTER    XXX. 

Armstrong's   Statement  respecting  the  Addresses  in  a  Mag- 
azine, in  1823,  411 

Letter  to  Washington  from  a  Member  of  Congress,  .  .  412 
Misrepresented  as  informing  of  a  Plot  against  Washingtou,  .  413 
Robert  and  Gouvemeur  Morris  and  Alexander  Hamilton,  .  413 
Colonel  Pickering's  Conduct  as  to  the  Addresses,  414,  415,  417 
Letter  from  Washington  to  Armstrong,  in  1797,  .  .  .  414 
Its  Genuineness  called  in  Question,    •  419,  420,  423,  425,  427 

Remarks  concerning  the  Addresses,  .  .  .  414,  417,  418 
Letter  from  Colonel  Pickering  to  Armstrong,     •         .         •         415 


CONTENTS.  XVU 

Armstrong's  Answer, 421 

His  Reasons  for  using  the  Signature  "  John  Montgars/'      .  421 

Uncertainty  of  Traditionary  Statements,        ....  422 

Dr.  Eustis  accused  of  writing  the  Addresses,     .         .        .  424 

CHAPTER    XXXI. 

Remarks  of  General  David  Cobb  on  the  Addresses,  .431 

Anecdote  of  Washington, 431 

Washington's  Letter  of  1797,  whether  genuine,  .  .  433,  434 
Colonel  Nicholas  Fish's  Remarks  on  the  Addresses,  .  .  435 
General  Ebenezer  Huntington's,   .........     435 

Dr.  James  Thacher's, 436 

Contemporaneous  Letter  of  Colonel  PickeriDg,  .  .  .437 
His  Account  of  the  Proceedings  on  the  Addresses,  437,  442,  443 
Recollections  of  Armstrong  and  Others  compared,  .         .     443 


CHAPTER    XXXII. 

Colonel  Pickering's  Attention  to  public  Economy,  •  .  447 
He  purposes  to  become  a  Merchant,  .  .  .  448,  455,  456 
His  Repugnance  to  dwelling  in  a  Slaveholding  State,  •         448 

yThe  Announcement  of  Peace, 448 

*  His  Correspondence  with  Robert  Morris  on  his  official  Accounts,    449 
His  Plan  for  the  Settlement  of  a  new  State  in  the  Western  Ter-  x 

ritory, 457 

His  Report  on  a  Military  Peace  Establishment,  .  .  .461 
His  Plan  for  a  Military  Academy  at  West  Point,        .         .         462 

CHAPTER    XXXIII. 

His  Views  as  to  his  future  Course  of  Life,  ....  464 
He  fears  that  the  Public  Debts  will  not  be  paid,  .         .         464 

His  Correspondence  with  General  Gates,  ....  465 
Compensation  to  the  Officers  of  the  Army,  .  .  466,  467 
The  Army  ill-used  by  their  Country,  .  .  .  466,  467,  473 
Colonel  Pickering's  Liberality  towards  the  Refugees,  .         469 

The  Chain  across  the  Hudson  River  at  West  Point,        .         .     470 

The  Disbanding  of  the  Army, 470,  471 

Mutiny  of  Pennsylvania  Troops, 474 

VOL.  I.  C 


XVIU  CONTENTS. 

Preparations  for  celebrating  the  Treaty  of  Peace,  .      476,  477 

•Refusal  of  the  British  to  surrender  the  Frontier  Posts,  .  476 
Effects  of  niiberality  towards  the  Tories,      ....     478 

Noah  Webster's  Spelling-Book, 479 

His  future  Distinction  predicted, 480 

CHAPTER    XXXIV. 

Washington's  Farewell  Address  to  the  Armj,    .         .  481,482 
Cannons  to  be  presented  to  Comte  De  Grasse,                 .         .     483 
Colonel  Pickering  draws  up  the  Answer  to  the  Farewell  Ad- 
dress,      .        ' 484,487 

His  Remarks  on  the  Address  and  on  the  Answer,       .         484,  487 

Evacuation  of  New  York, 485 

Celebration  of  Peace, 485-487 

The  Answer  to  the  Farewell  Address, 488 

Illiberal ity  towards  the  Tories,  .         .         .         .         .         491 

Letters  between  Colonel  Pickering  and  Major  Upham,  .         .491 

CHAPTER    XXXV. 

Necessities  of  the  Officers  on  the  Disbanding  of  the  Army,  493 
Colonel  Pickering  a  Candidate  for  the  Office  of  Secretary  of 

War,        .         .         . 493 

His  Correspondence  with  Mr.  Gerry  on  the  Subject,           .  494 

Also  with  General  Miffiin, .495 

Correspondence  with  the  Rev.  John  Clarke,        .         .         .  496 

Letter  from  Dr.  Joseph  Ome,       ......  498 

An  Office  in  the  Treasury  Department  proposed  to  Colonel 

Pickering, 499 

He  is  willing  to  accept  that  of  Secretary  of  War,       .  500,  501 

His  Opinion  of  Major  Cogswell,  Wagon-master-General,        .  502 

His  Remarks  on  Magistrates  in  a  new  Country,          .         .  502 

Death  of  his  Mother, 502 

CHAPTER    XXXVI. 

Plan  for  disposing  of  the  Territory  north-west  of  the  Ohio,  504 

Colonel  Pickering's  Views  on  the  Subject,  ....  504 
His  Objections  to  the  proposed  Ordinance  of  Congress,       .         506 


CONTENTS.  xix 

« 

His  Letters  to  Mr.  Rufus  King  respecting  the  Territory,  506,  509 
He  Objects  to  the  Admission  of  Slavery  into  it,  .         508,  509 

Letters  concerning  it  from  Mr.  King  and  Colonel  Grayson,  .  511 
Later  Proceedings  of  Congress  respecting  the  Territory,  .  511 
The  Philadelphia  Society  for  promoting  Agriculture,  .  .513 
Colonel  Pickering  elected  a  Member  and  Secretary,  .  .  513 
Claims  of  Virginia  on  Account  of  Lands  ceded  to  the  United 

States, 514 

He  declines  being  a  Commissioner  to  adjust  them,  .*         .     515 

His  Administration  as  Quartermaster-General,  .         .         .         517 

CHAPTER    XXXVII. 

He  desires  to  be  appointed  Treasurer  of  the  United  States,     .     520 

His  Correspondence  on  the  Subject, 520 

He  declines  being  a  Commissioner  to  treat  with  Indians,  .  522 
Is  a  Member  of  the  Society  of  the  Cincinnati,  .  522 

His  Remarks  on  Phillips  Academy  at  Andover,      .         .     524,  525 

And  on  Education, 524,  525 

Webster's  "  Spelling-Book "  and  "  Grammar,"  .  .  .529 
A  Plan  of  Colonel  Pickering  for  the  Education  of  Boys,  .  531 
Also  for  a  Farm  School  for  Boys  and  Girls,  .  .  .  531 
The  Poor  in  Pennsylvania  to  be  taught  gratuitously,  .  .532 
Religious  Sentiments  of  Colonel  Pickering,         .         .         .         533 

He  purposes  dwelling  in  Salem 533 

Noah  Webster's  Ingenuity,  Learning,  and  Vanity,       .         .         535 


fm^ 


APPENDIX. 

Colonel  Pickering's  Conduct  in  regard  to  the  Battle  of  Lex- 
ington,       539 

British  and  American  Losses  in  the  Battle  of  Brandy  wine,  545 

Propositions  for  settling  a  new  State  on  the  Ohio,  .         .  546 


LIFE 


OF 


TIMOTHY  PICKERING. 


CHAPTER  I. 

Introduction,  by  his  Son,  John  Pickering.  —  His  Birth  and  Ances- 
tors.—  His  Wife.  —  His  College  Life  and  his  Reminiscences 
of  it.  —  Early  Letter  to  his  Father. 

It  was  the  intention  of  the  late  John  Pickering  to 
prepare  and  publish  memoirs  of  his  father,  Colonel 
Timothy  Pickering,  with  selections  from  his  writings; 
but>  to  the  lasting  regret  of  his  friends,  the  labors  of 
his  profession,  and  the  time  required  for  the  revision 
of  his  "  Lexicon  of  the  Greek  Language,"  left  him  but 
little  leisure  for  the  accomplishment  of  his  design.  He 
wrote  a  few  pages,  which  follow,  beginning  with  the 
proposed  title-page  of  his  work :  — 

*'  Memoirs  of  Colonel  Timothy  Pickering,  of  the  American  Rev- 
olutionary Army :  With  Notices  of  Distinguished  Political  Con- 
temporaries, during  the  Administrations  of  Washington,  Adams, 
and  Jefferson :    With  Extracts  from  his  Correspondence. 

Non  oiylum  ardor  prava  Jnbentlum, 
Non  valtns  initantiB  tyrannl, 
Mentc  quatit  8oUd&.  —  JTbr. 

Mihl  Galba,  Otho,  Vitelliat,  nee  beneflclo  nee  injarift  oogniti.—  Tacit, 

He  who  flatten  the  dead  deceives  the  living.  —  JoAfMan." 

"Boston,  January  29th,  1840.  —  This  day,  being  the 
anniversary  of  my  father's  death,  I  resume  the  inter- 

VOL.  I.  1 


2  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING. 

esting,  yet  in  some  respects  painful,  occupation  of 
writing  a  memoir  of  his  varied  and  eventful  life,  to  be 
accompanied  with  select  parts  of  his  extensive  corre- 
spondence with  the  principal  public  men  of  his  time. 
I  began  to  make  the  necessary  preparation  for  the 
work  on  the  anniversary  of  his  birth,  July  17th,  1837, 
and  now  find,  before  I  am  aware  of  the  rapid  lapse  of 
time,  that  two  years  and  a  half  have  gone  by.  I  might 
still  find  an  apology  for  delay,  perhaps,  in  the  circum- 
stance of  being  still  compelled,  as  I  have  been  through 
the  most  of  my  life,  to  devote  my  time  to  the  labors  of 
my  profession,  in  order  to  support  my  family,  who  have 
the  first  claim  upon  me.  But  I  feel  deeply  the  weight 
of  that  filial  duty  which  demands  the  performance  of 
this  task,  —  important  in  a  public  as  well  as  private 
view,  —  and  I  am  sure  that  the  members  of  my  family 
will  cheerfully  submit  to  such  sacrifices  as  cannot  be 
avoided  in  this  case.  To  my  children  the  character  of 
their  grandparent  will  be  as  dear  and  as  important^  in 
some  respects,  as  it  has  been  to  myself;  and  I  feel  a 
strong  conviction  that  I  cannot  render  a  greater  service 
to  them  and  their  youthful  contemporaries,  than  by  a 
faithful  exhibition  of  his  public  and  private  life,  as  an 
exemplar  for  the  conduct  and  government  of  their 
own  lives. 

"  MEMOIRS,  &c. 

"The  subject  of  the  following  Memoirs,  Colonel 
Timothy  Pickering,  was  born  at  Salem,  in  the  State  of 
Massachusetts,  on  the  6th  day  of  July,  1745,  Old  Style 
[17th  of  July,  New  Style].  He  was  a  lineal  descend- 
ant of  John  Pickering  (one  of  the  early  colonists), 
who  emigrated  from  Great  Britain  to  America  in  the 


LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  3 

reign  of  King  Charles  the  Firsts  and  who  was  admitted, 
according  to  the  colonial  laws  of  that  period,  to  be  an 
inhabitant,  by  a  vote  passed  at  a  public  meeting  of  the 
town  [of  Salem],  on  the  7th  day  of  the  12th  month, 
1636,  corresponding  to  February  7th,  1637.*  A  brief 
account  of  this  first  settler,  and  of  his  descendants,  was 
collected  by  the  subject  of  these  Memoirs,  from  various 
family  papers,  in  the  year  1793,  and  entered  in  a 
memorandum-book  kept  by  him,  from  which  the  fol- 
lowing extracts  are  made :  — 

"*  Family  attachment,  the  interest  we  naturally 
take  in  events  relative  to  our  ancestors,  the  •  curios- 
ity (perhaps  the  vanity)  we  are  disposed  to  indulge 
in  tracing  our  descent,  and  the  gratification  it  may  aflford 
to  my  posterity,  induce  me  to  mark  such  simple  facts 
relative  to  the  family  of  which  I  am  a  member,  as  have 
come  to  my  knowledge ;  though  it  will  amount  to  little 
more  than  the  noting  of  their  births  and  deaths. 

"  ^  John  Pickering  [the  first  settler]  was  bom  in  Old 
England,  about  the  year  1615.  ...  He  had  two  sons, 
John  and  Jonathan.  .  .  .  The  last-named  John  Picker- 
ing f  was  the  father  of  John  Pickering,  my  grandfather. 
. . .  He  had  another  son,  named  William,  of  whom  I, 
when  a  boy,  heard  my  father  relate  the  following  story : 
That  in  Queen  Anne's  war  (at  the  beginning  of  the  pres- 
ent century)  he  was  the  master,  or  skipper,.of  a  fishing 

*<'The  form  of  the  vote  may  not  be  uninteresting  to  the  antiquarian: 
<  7th  of  12  Mo.,  1686.  Jno.  Pickering,  carpenter,  granted  to  be  [an]  inhab- 
itant/   J.  P." 

t  He  was  married  in  1657  to  Alice  Flint,  to  whom,  it  is  presimied,  the 
following  notice  has  reference :  '*  1652,  Nov.  80th.  Alice  Flint  was  presented 
for  wearing  a  silk  hood ;  bat  proving  herself  to  be  worth  £200,  she  was  ex- 
cused." —  Felt's  Annals  of  Salem,  p.  188. 

On  p.  817,  Mr.  Felt  states  that  this  John  Pickering  <*was  frequently  of  the 
Selectmen  [of  Salem].  He  was  a  capable,  enterprising,  and  public-spirited 
man."    O.  P. 


4  LITE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING. 

vessel ;  that  off  Cape  Breton,  in  calm  weather,  he  was 
attacked  by  a  shallop  contcaming  about  thirty  French- 
men. When  the  enemy  approached,  the  crew  were 
for  surrendering,  being  only  six  or  seven  in  number ; 
but,  as  they  had  each  a  musket,  and  their  vessel  was 
fixed  with  close  quarters,  William  Pickering,  the  master, 
told  them,  if  they  would  only  load  the  guns,  he  would 
fire  them  all  himself  They  did  so.  As  the  French- 
men rowed  up  astern  and  came  within  musket-shot,  he 
began  to  fire  out  of  the  cabin  windows.  They  rowed 
the  faster;  but  he  continued  firing  till  they  got  up  to 
the  stem ;  then  he  shut  fast  the  cabin  windows,  and 
they  all  ran  forward  to  the  forecastle,  in  which  were 
loopholes.  By  the  time  they  had  reached  the  fore- 
castle, the  Frenchmen  were  climbing  up  over  the  stem. 
He  renewed  his  fire,  and,  in  the  whole  defence  of  his 
vessel,  killed  and  wounded  so  many,  that  the  survivors 
took  to  their  shallop,  and  rowed  off  as  expeditiously  as 
possible.  This  signal  act  of  bravery  and  good  conduct 
procured  him  great  applause,  and  occasioned  his  ap- 
pointment to  the  command  of  the  Boston  Galley,  a 
ship  which  had  been  provided  and  armed  by  the  Prov- 
ince of  Massachusetts  for  the  protection  of  its  com- 
merce.* .  . . 

"  ^  It  rests  on  my  mind,  that,  when  a  boy,  my  father 
told  me  that  my  first  American  ancestor  (I  mean  the 

♦  "August,  1707.  Wm.  Pickering  is  commissioned  to  command  a  vessel 
for  protecting  the  fishery  at  Cape  Sable  against  the  French  and  Indians."  — 
Felt's  Annals  of  Salem,  p.  344. 

"  Mar.  16th,  1711.  Wm.  Pickering  is  appointed  by  the  Govemour  to  com- 
mand the  Province  Galley.  He  had  been  captain  of  her  previously."  —  lUd. 
p.  353. 

Colonel  Pickering  relates  another  anecdote,  derived  from  his  father,  respect- 
ing the  same  William  Pickering,  as  follows :  "  Being  afflicted  with  a  corn  on 
one  of  his  toes,  he  went  to  a  joiner's  shop,  .  .  .  put  his  foot  on  a  block,  and, 
taking  up  a  mallet  and  chisel,  struck  off  the  offending  toe  I  An  instance  of 
hardihood  extremely  rare."-^  Colonel  Pickkbino's  Memorandum- Book.  O.  P. 


LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  5 

John  Pickering  who  came  from  Old  England)  made  a 
journey  from  Salem  to  Connecticut,  with  a  view  to  find 
land  for  a  plantation  on  which  he  might  settle ;  but, 
returning  in  the  winter  season,  his  feet  and  legs  got 
frozen,  which,  rendering  him  a  cripple  for  life,  put  an 
end  to  the  project 

^  *  The  lot  of  land  on  which  my  brother  [John  Pick- 
ering] now  dwells  has  for  a  long  period  belonged  to 
the  family.*  ... 

"  ^  My  father,f  by  a  life  of  great  industry  and  frugal- 
ity, added  to  his  paternal  estate.  His  daughters  were 
decently  educated  according  to  the  custom  of  the 
times ;  and  to  his  two  sons  he  gave  a  regular  educa- 
tion at  the  Grammar  School  J  in  Salem,  and  afterwards 
at  Harvard  College. 

^  ^  The  tenor  of  my  father's  life  was  directed  by  his 
opinion  of  the  equal  rights  of  aU  mankind.  Hence  the 
dishonest  or  improper  conduct  of  the  men  possessed 
of  power  or  wealth  was   censured  without  reserve, 

♦  "  It  was  purchased  by  the  first  settler  [John  Pickering]  in  1642,  who 
bnUt  upon  it  a  wooden  house,  of  wiuch  the  frame  is  in  part  still  standing, 
and  in  a  sound  condition."  J.  P.  It  is  now  owned  and  occupied  by  John 
Pickering,  a  grandson  of  Colonel  Pickering.    O.  P. 

t  Colonel  Pickering's  grandfather,  John  Pickering,  '*  was  Selectman  [of 
Salem]  and  Representative  in  the  legislature.  His  decease  was  a  loss  to  the 
community."  —  Felt's  AnnaXs  of  Salemy  p.  374. 

Theophilus,  a  son  of  the  above-named  John  Pickering,  '*  was  educated  at 
Harvard  College,  Cambridge,  and  became  a  minister  of  the  gospel.  He  was 
settled  at  tiie  parish  of  Chebacco  [now  the  town  of  Essex],  in  the  town  of 
Ipswich,  Massachusetts.  He  lived  a  bachelor,  and  was  remarkable  for  the 
moderation  and  coolness  of  his  temper  and  his  steadiness  of  conduct,  when 
the  country  were  running,  with  fanatic  zeal,  after  the  celebrated  itinerant 
preacher,  George  Whitefield,  whom  and  whose  followers,  in  a  pamphlet  or 
two,  he  firmly  opposed.  He  was  also  noted  for  Ms  mechanic  genius,  and  the 
nice  order  in  which  all  his  affairs  were  put  and  preserved."  —  Coloxel  Pick- 
ering's Memorandum^ Book.    O.  P. 

X  Taught,  while  Mr.  Pickering  was  preparing  for  College,  by  William 
Walter,  from  July  19th,  1756,  to  September  6th,  1768,  and  by  Daniel  Epes, 
who  succeeded  Walter,  October  8th,  1758.    O.  P. 


6  LIFE  OP  TIMOTHY  PICKERING. 

while  he  was  disposed  to  apologize  for  the  poor  and 
uninformed.  All  his  actions  showed  that  he  deemed 
VIRTUE  alone  entitled  to  respect.  He  used  often  to  repeat 
the  words  of  Solomon,  —  "  The  fear  of  man  bringeth  a 
snare.^ 

"  *  Invincibly  pursuing  the  calls  of  rigid  justice,  he 
always  complained  of  the  wrongs  done  to  widows,  and 
orphans,  and  salary-men,  who  were  deeply  injured  by 
the  depreciation  of  the  paper  money  of  the  Province 
of  Massachusetts;  an  injury  which  he  thought  the 
Province  bound  in  justice  to  repair,  and  which  he 
urged  upon  all  who  fell  in  his  way,  who  had  any  influ- 
ence in  the  affairs  of  government 

"  ^  The  emancipation  of  the  enslaved  Africans  was  another 
favorite  topic  *  which  he  dwelt  upon  whilst  he  lived ; 
and  he  lived  long  enough  to  see  it  beginning  to  take 
place,  in  fact^  in  the  Province  of  Massachusetts,  soon 
after  the  commencement  of  the  late  Revolution,  which 
ended  in  the  establishment  of  the  Independence  of  the 
United  States.  It  was  not  until  the  Constitution  of 
Massachusetts  was  new  modelled,  in  1780,  that  in  that 
State  slavery  was  abolished,  f  the  judges  of  the  Su- 
preme Court  pronouncing  that  all  men  held  in  slavery, 
dwelling  within  that  State,  were  by  the  Constitution 
made  free ;  grounding  their  opinion  on  the  first  clause 
of  the  Declaration  of  Rights,  —  '^  AU  men  are  born  free 
and  equair 

"*My  father  enjoyed  almost  uninterrupted  health 
until  about  a  year  before  his  death  [in  1778],  when 

♦  "  1755,  Mar.  10.  —  Deacon  Timothy  Pickering  is  empowered  by  the 
town  to  petition  General  Court,  in  their  behalf,  against  the  importation  of 
negroes."  —  Felt's  Annalt  of  Salem  (edit.  1849),  vol.  ii.  p.  416.     O.  P. 

t  **  In  1769,  a  slave,  named  James,  sued  his  master,  Richard  Lechmere,  of 
Cambridge,  and  gained  his  cause.  This  was  prior  to  the  noted  decision  in 
the  King's  Bench,  which  liberated  James  Somerset."  —  Ibid,    O.  P. 


LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  7 

he  fell  into  a  decline,  attended  with  a  consumptive 
cough  *  My  mother  survived  my  father  several  years. 
I  saw  her,  for  the  last  time,  in  February,  1784.  At 
parting  she  said  ^she  should  never  see  me  again;" 
and  so  it  happened.' 

"  One  further  extract  from  these  notes  will  be  made, 
in  relation  to  Colonel  Pickering  himself  and  his  imme- 
diate family. 

"*0n  the  8th  of  April,  1776,  he  married  Bebecca 
White,  who  was  born  at  Bristol,  in  England,  on  the 
18th  of  July,  1754.  She  was  the  daughter  of  Benja- 
min White,  a  native  of  Boston,  who,  following  the  sea, 
became  engaged  in  the  British  navy.  ...  In  the  war 
of  that  period  between  Great  Britain  and  France,  he 
went  to  the  East  Indies,  master  of  the  Weymouth^  a 
sixty-four  gun  ship  [in  the  fleet  of  Admiral' Cornish].  He 
was  at  the  taking  of  Manilla  from  the  Spaniards,  and 
entitled  to  a  share  of  the  money  [four  million  dollars] 
stipulated  to  be  paid  for  its  ransom;  but  the  cause 
was,  it  seems,  finally  abandoned  by  the  British  court, 
and  no  part  of  the  ransom  was  ever  recovered  by  the 
captors.' "  f 

Here  terminates  the  portion  of  this  Memoir  prepared 
by  John  Pickering. 

*  Colonel  Pickering  used  to  relate  with  satisfaction  the  following  anecdote : 
When  his  father,  at  an  advanced  age,  was  setting  out  young  apple-trees,  to 
form  an  orchard,  some  one  asked  him  whj  he  took  that  trouble,  intimating 
that  he  was  performing  a  labor  from  which  he  would  derire  no  benefit,  as  in 
all  probability  he  would  not  live  to  partake  of  the  fruit.  HIb  reply  was,  '*  It 
will  do  somebody  good."    O.  P. 

t  See,  on  this  subject,  the  letters  of  *'  Junius  "  to  Sir  William  Draper,  who 
commanded  the  land  forces.  '*  Your  own  Manilla  ransom  most  dishonorably 
given  up.  . .  .  When  you  returned  to  Europe  you  zealously  undertook  the 
cause  of  that  gallant  army,  by  whose  bravery  at  Manilla  your  own  fortune 
had  been  established.  You  complained,  you  threatened,  you  even  appealed 
to  the  public  in  print.  By  what  accident  did  it  happen,  that  in  the  midst  of 
all  this  bustle  and  all  these  clamors  for  justice  to  your  ii\jured  troops,  the 


8  LITE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  [1763. 

Timothy  Pickering  was  admitted  into  the  Freshman 
class  in  Harvard .  College  on  the  20th  of  July,  1759, 
being  then  fourteen  years  of  age,  and  was  graduated  in 
1763.  The  rank  which  he  held  in  point  of  scholarship 
is  believed  to  have  been  creditable  to  him  ;  at  least  in 
his  first  year  (April,  1760),  books  were  given  to  him 
and  to  three  others  of  his  class,  as  testimonials  of 
merit.  It  is  true  he  often  lamented  the  little  pro- 
ficiency he  had  made  in  his  early  years.  Thus  in 
1777,  in  a  letter  to  his  wife,  he  says,  "  I  only  regret 
that  I  have  so  little  improved  Heaven's  invaluable 
gifts,  notwithstanding  all  the  opportunities  with  which 
by  a  kind  parent's  care  I  was  so  long  indulged.  In- 
deed, I  am  mortified  at  nothing  so  much,  in  my  past 
life,  as  my  neglect  of  the  means  in  my  hands  of  in- 
creasing my  knowledge : "  but  he  adds,  ^  Yet  I  have 
been  less  idle  than  many."  In  fact,  to  persons  conver- 
sant with  the  history  of  the  College,  it  must  be  appar- 
ent that  the  failure  of  the  scholars  to  make  great 
advances  in  learning  was  owing,  in  a  considerable 
degree,  to  the  imperfect  system  of  education  then  in 
operation. 

The  class  of  1763  was  remarkable  for  the  number 
of  its  members  who  rose  to  eminence  in  after  life. 
Among  them  were  Samson  Salter  Blowers,  Chief 
Justice  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  Nova  Scotia;  Jona- 
than Bliss,  Chief  Justice,  and  Joshua  Upham,  Associate 
Justice,  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  New  Brunswick ; 
Nathan  Cushing,  a  Justice  of  the  Supreme  Court  of 
Massachusetts;  and  Josiah  Quincy.  Junior,  renowned 

name  of  the  Manilla  ransom  was  suddenly  buried  in  a  profound,  and,  since 
that  time,  an  anintemipted,  silence  ?  Did  the  ministry  suggest  any  motives  to 
you  strong  enough  to  tempi  a  man  of  honor  to  desert  and  betray  the  cause 
of  his  fellow-soldiers?"  —  Letters  of  Junius,  Letter  3d.  See  also  Letters  4th 
and  25th. 


^T.  18.]  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  9 

as  a  whig  in  the  American  Revolution.  The  degree  of 
Master  of  Arts  was  conferred  on  Mr.  Pickering  in  1766.* 
The  following  letter,  written  by  him,  in  the  eighteenth 
year  of  his  age,  and  while  a  member  of  the  Senior  class 
at  Harvard  College,  is  given  as  being  the  earliest  speci- 


*  From  the  handwriting  and  some  other  circumstances,  it  is  presumed  that 
the  following  reminiscences  of  his  college  life  were  committed  by  him  to  paper 
but  a  short  time  before  his  decease :  — 

''Hasvard  Cou^oe. 

"  In  1769  there  were  four  public  buildings :  The  Old  College  [Harvard 
Hall],  burnt  in  the  year  [1764],  Massachusetts,  Stoughton,t  and  Holden 
Chapel. 

'*  In  Old  Harvard,  the  middle  room  in  the  lower  story,  the  whole  breadth 
of  the  building,  was  the  hall  where  all  dined  in  commons.  Every  scholar 
carried  to  the  dining-table  his  own  knife  and  fork,  and,  when  he  had  dined, 
wiped  them  on  the  table-cloth.  There  were  six  scholars  to  a  mess.  The 
standing  dish  was  fresh  beef  baked,  —  now  and  then  a  plain,  hard,  Indian- 
meal  pudding,  —  and  a  baked  plum  pudding  once  a  quarter.  For  supper 
they  had  their  choice,  to  enter  (probably  at  the  beginning  of  each  quarter) 
for  meat  or  pies,  or  for  a  pint  of  milk  and  a  size  of  bread.  For  want  of  room 
in  the  colleges,  I  boarded  in  private  houses  during  the  two  first  years.  The 
scholars  residing  in  the  colleges  provided  their  own  breakfast  in  their  cham- 
bers, and  their  tea  in  the  afternoon.  The  south-east,  comer  of  the  lower 
story  (of  course  fronting  the  yard)  was  occupied  by  the  butler ;  of  whom 
were  to  be  purchased  bread,  butter,  eggs,  and,  I  suppose,  some  articles  which 
are  now  called  groceries.  But  at  the  commencement  of  each  quarter  I  carried 
with  me,  from  home,  tea,  coffee  roasted  and  ground,  and  chocolate,  to  supply 
me  for  the  quarter. 

'*  The  north-east  comer  of  the  lower  story  was  occupied  for  a  kitchen. 

•*  Over  the  buttery  was  the  chamber  occupied  by  the  old  tutor,  always  called 
Old  Hancock,^  whose  mother  said  '  he  had  [a  head]  big  enough  for  a  council- 
lor.'   But  it  did  not  abound  in  brains. 

'*  In  the  middle  space  of  the  second  story,  over  the  dining-hall,  was  the 
college  library,  and  a  few  very  ordinary  articles  for  a  museum. 

•*  The  western  chamber  was  occupied  by  Professor  Winthrop  when  deliver- 
ing his  lectures  and  exhibiting  some  experiments  in  Natural  Philosophy.  The 
other  parts  of  Old  Harvard,  (including  the  cocklofts,  I  believe,  which  consti- 
tuted the  third  story,)  consisted  of  rooms  for  the  scholars. 


t  A  diagram  by  Colonel  Pickering  places  old  Stonghton  Hall  about  in  a  line  with  Hoi* 
Us  Hall,  and  iVonting  on  the  College  yard  between  Harvard  and  MassaohusettB  Halls. 
X  He  was  graduated  in  1727,  and  was  a  tutor  from  17i2  to  1767. 

VOL.  I.  2 


10  LIFB  OP  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  [176S. 

men  of  his  composition  that  has  been  preserved. 
The  amusingly  grave  answer  of  his  pious  father,  a 
deacon  of  one  of  the  churches  in  Salem,  is  indicative 
of  the  religious  instruction  Mr.  Pickering  received 
in  his  childhood  and  youth;    which,  although  when 


« 


Professor  Wigglesworth  read  his  theological  lectares  in  the  dining-hall. 
I  recollect  that  in  one  of  them  he  recommended  the  reading  of  Archbishop 
TiUotson's  works,  but  with  a  caution  to  beware  of  his  heresies. 

'*  Holden  Chapel  was  a  building  of  one  stoiy,  in  which  all  the  scholars  (in 
and  out  of  college)  assembled  for  prayers,  morning  and  evening.  On  either 
side  of  the  middle  aisle  were  ranges  of  seats,  with  backs,  (made  wholly  of 
oaken  wood,)  and  rising  one  above  another  to  the  side  walls.  The  door  was 
at  the  western  end,  and  the  pulpit,  or  raised  seat  for  the  President,  at  the  east* 
em  end.  In  this  room  also  were  delivered  the  short  declamations  which 
were  required  of  scholars  after  the  Freshman  year,  —  perhaps  three  or  four 
in  the  whole  collegiate  course. 

'*  The  next  oldest  tutor  was  Mr.  Marsh,  who  occupied  the  southern  chamber 
of  the  second  story  in  Stoughton  Hall ;  the  third  was  Dr.  Kneeland,  who  occu- 
pied the  north-western  room  in  the  second  story  of  Massachusetts  Hall ;  and 
the  fourth  was  Mr.  Thayer  (who  also  occupied  some  chamber  in  Massachu- 
setts Hall),  father  of  the  present  Dr.  Thayer,  of  Lancaster. 

'*  The  President's  field  (lying  north  of  his  house  and  the  meeting-house) 
was  in  grass ;  and  when  mowed,  it  was  the  business  of  the  Freshman  class  to 
make  the  hay. 

*'  The  building  of  Hollis  Hall  was  commenced  in  1759.  The  master  mason 
was  Colonel  Dawes,  father  of  the  late  Judge  Dawes,  of  Boston. 

'*  The  course  of  education,  as  it  took  place  in  Dr.  Ejieeland's  class  (that  to 
which  I  belonged),  was  as  follows  :  — 

"1.  Beciting,  without  translations,  Tully's  Select  Orations, — the  same 
which  had  been  read  at  school. 

"  2.  Some  (perhaps  six  or  eight)  of  the  books  of  Virgil's  iEneid,  —  forty 
or  fifty  lines  prescribed  for  a  lesson,  —  recited  with  oral  translations. 

"  8.  The  Greek  Testament  we  went  through. 

"  To  teach  us  to  reason  in  syllogisms,  we  read  Brattle's  Logic,  a  pamphlet 
in  the  Latin  language.  And  at  a  later  period  we  read,  in  part,  WoUebius's 
Divinity,  a  duodecimo  volume,  also  in  Latin,  of  which  an  edition  was  printed 
in  England,  and  imported,  for  the  use  of  the  College. 

"  In  the  Sophomore  year  we  read  Gordon's  Geography,  an  octavo  volume 
of  moderate  size ;  and  we  were  required  to  commit  to  memory,  and  repeat, 
whole  paragraphs,  descriptive  of  different  countries,  and  of  any  extraordinary 
things  they  contained.  For  an  instance  of  the  latter,  Gordon,  on  that  district 
of  Africa  called  Biledulgerid,  mentioned  the  ostrich,  their  rapidity  in  running, 
and*their  size,  saying,  '  They  were  as  tall  as  men  on  horseback.'  A  very  stupid 
member  of  the  class,  shutting  up  his  book,  and  with  a  vacant  face  and  monot- 


iET.18.]  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  11 

a  young  man  he  discarded  the  more  rigid  tenets  of 
his  father,  had  a  marked  influence  on  his  conduct 
through  life. 

Honoured  Sir:  It  is  the  common  opinion  of  people 
that  to  play  a  game  at  cards  is  (almost)  an  unpardonable 
crime.  But  what  renders  it  more  odious  than  other  diver- 
sions ?  Is  it  because  more  time  is  spent  in  it  than  in  other 
diversions?  But  why  is  more  time  spent?  Because  this  is 
a  pleasanter  and  more  sociable  entertainment.  And  what 
makes  it  so  entertaining  in  general  is,  that  less  pains  and 
care  need  be  used  than  in  some  other  diversions ;  whereas 
in  playing  checkers,  instead  of  unbending  the  mind,  after 
its  hibour,  there  is  more  thought  and  care  to  be  used,  and 
so  can  be  no  relief  to  the  tired  intellect.  Besides,  it  is 
a  dull,  unsociable  business;  and  a  stranger  would  rather 
think  they  were  exercised  with  a  fit  of  the  spleen,  than 
a  diversion,  to  see  them  poring  upon  a  piece  of  board, 


onous  voice,  attempting  to  recite  the  passage,  uttered  these  words :     <  The 
inhalitants  of  Biledulgerid  are  as  tall  as  men  on  horseback.'  * 

<*  I  think  it  was  in  the  latter  part  of  the  Sophomore  year,  or  fore  part  of  the 
next  year,  we  read  Locke  on  the  Human  Understanding.  Of  this  work  also 
we  were  required  to  commit  whole  paragraphs  to  memory,  and  to  repeat  them 
to  the  tutor.  This  mode  saved  both  tlie  tutor  and  the  scholar  the  trouble  of 
thinking,  —  one  to  ask  and  the  other  to  answer  questions  on  the  author's 
doctrines. 

'*  In  the  third  year  we  began  to  read  Desaguliers's  Natural  Philosophy,  — 
the  lessons  prescribed,  —  and  recited  (I  do  not  recollect  the  manner)  to  the 
tutor.  In  the  third  year  also,  I  think,  we  entered  on  Euclid's  Elements  of 
Geometry,  and  went  through  the  five  first  books.  This  was  to  me  a  very 
pleasing  study,  arising  from  the  ingenious  arrangement  of  the  problems  to  be 
solved,  —  all  the  preceding  preparing  for  the  solution  of  the  following.  In 
the  third,  as  well  as  the  fourth  year,  I  think,  we  were  admitted  to  Professor 
Winthrop's  chamber,  ...  to  attend  his  lectures  and  experiments  in  Natural 
Philosophy.  Mr.  Winthrop  also  attended  the  class  a  few  times  when  they 
were  learning  Arithmetic,  —  Ward's  Mathematics,  the  book  prescribed  for 
the  scholars'  use.    He  touched  on  a  few  matters  rapidly,  —  the  subjects,  of 


*  This  anecdote  derlTes  Ht  interest  from  a  cirruniBtanoe  which  Colonel  Pickering  seems 
to  have  omitted  inadvertently,  being  an  early  notice  of  the  serioasness  which  character- 
ised his  classmate,  Joslah  Quincy,  Junior.  The  student's  blunder  having  provoked  a 
general  laugh,  the  tutor  exclaimed  (in  Latin,  supposed  to  be  the  language  of  the  redta- 
tion-room),  *•  JBtiam  QuUeg  ridet," 


12  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  [1763. 

and  looking  with  as  much  intenseness  of  thought  as  if 
the  fate  of  empires  depended  upon  the  right  forming 
their  plan. 

People  are  apt  to  say  that  cards,  as  it  were,  intoxicate 
those  tliat  use  them,  and  that  thereby  they  squander  away 
their  money ;  that  they  are  a  thief  of  time  ;  are  apt  to  raise 
disputes,  &c.  But  what  one  thing  is  there  which  may  not 
be  used  to  excess?  Are  not  other  diversions  subject  to 
the  same  evils,  if  practised  beyond  measure  and  prudence  ? 
Why  then  so  great  an  outcry  against  cards,  as  if  they  were 
the  only  evil?  Even  the  diversion  of  checkers  may  be 
abused ;  and  may  persons  game  and  spend  their  time  and 
money  at  one,  so  may  they  at  the  other. 

I  would  not  forget  to  acquaint  you.  Sir,  that  you  were 
misinformed  with  regard  to  my  playing  cards ;  and  am  sorry 
I  have  been  the  cause  (through  the  ignorance  of  that  block- 
head) of  any  trouble  or  uneasiness  in  the  breast  of  so  kind, 
so  loving  a  father,  from  whom   any  gcutle   admonitions, 


course,  very  familiar  to  him,  —  but  to  the  novitiates  *  it  was  all  Greek.*    We 
derived  no  benefit  from  his  remarks. 

**  Such  was  the  miserable  course  of  education  with  Dr.  Knecland*s  class; 
and  now  I  never  see  Dr.  Hedge  (since  I  learned  that  hb  was  his  son-in-law) 
but  I  tliink  of,  and  not  without  some  indignant  feelings  towards,  his  father-in- 
law,  in  suffering  four  years  to  be  in  a  great  measure  wasted  in  reading  the 
few  books  above  mentioned,  while  he  was  studying  and  practising  physic.  In 
some  other  classes,  some  of  the  first  books  of  Homer's  Iliad  were  read.  But 
the  New  Testament  was  all  the  Greek,  and  Cicero's  Select  Orations  and  six 
or  eight  books  of  Virgil's  ^ncid  were  all  the  Latin,  we  were  required  to 
learn,  for  the  purpose  of  acquiring  a  knowledge  of  those  languages.' 


If 


In  a  memorandum,  made  by  one  of  Colonel  Pickering's  friends,  of  a  con- 
versation with  him  in  October,  1828,  he  is  represented  as  saying  that  he  was 
obliged  to  write  syllogisms ;  that  about  twice  a  year  he  declaimed  short  pieces 
of  his  own  writing;  and  that  this  was  all  the  cumpusition  in  English,  and  all 
the  declamation,  that  were  required  of  him ;  and  that  at  every  Commence- 
ment the  President  (Holyuke)  made  an  address  in  Latin.  It  is  not  improbable 
that  this  conversation  led  Colonel  Pickering  to  put  in  writing  his  recollections 
of  the  College  as  above  quoted. 

In  an  old  account-book  his  whole  expense  at  College  (not  including 
clothing  and  *Hhe  expense  at  Commencement")  is  set  down  at  £121  Is.  9d. 
lawful  money,  equivalent  to  $40G'45.  The  penalty  of  tlie  bond  given  as  secu- 
rity for  the  payment  of  his  quarter  bills,  **  viz.,  the  steward's,  glazier's,  and 
sweeper's  bills,"  was  £15  lawful  money. 


^T.  18.]  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  13 

reproofs,  or  advice  would  be  received  with'  that  respect 
and  regard  due  to  so  affectionate  a  father  by  your  duti- 
ful son, 

Tmo.  Pickering. 

H.  C.  [Habtasd  Collxos],  February  14th,  1763. 

His  father  replied,  — 

Dear  Son:  Serious  men  of  large  experience  have 
apprehended  that  the  diversion  of  playing  at  cards  (all 
things  considered)  is  not  expedient.  Pike  and  Hayward 
write  upon  it,  as  you  may  see,  in  their  Cases  of  Conscience 
judiciously  resolved.  However  pleasant  the  exercise  may 
seem  to  he  to  many,  yet  it  is  found  to  be  of  enchanting 
nature.  I  hope,  above  all  things,  you  will  seek  spiritual 
delights,  for  they  are  not  only  most  ravishing,  but  also  most 
essential.  All  mankind  naturally  most  affect  things  of 
sense ;  but  how  amazing  is  it,  that  rational  creatures  should 
so  much  affect  earthly  pleasures,  and  neglect  the  pursuit  of 
those  joys  that  are  eternal  1  You  know  my  mind.  You 
have  now  a  price  in  your  hand  to  get  wisdom.  I  hope  God 
will  give  you  an  heart  to  improve  it. 

We  are  all  in  health,  through  God's  goodness,  and  hope 
these  lines  may  find  you  so.  Let  us  hear  from  you  in  con- 
venient time. 

Your  affectionate  father, 

TmoTHT  Pickering. 

Salem,  February  18th,  1763. 

Playing  at  cards  would  have  been  a  waste  of  time 
for  one  so  much  occupied  in  public  business  and  so 
fond  of  reading  and  conversation  as  Mr.  Pickering  was; 
but  I  have  an  impression  of  seeing  him  once,  and  only 
once,  take  a  hand  at  whist 


X4  UEE   OF   TDCOTHT   FICKEBING.  [1763. 


CHAPTER   II. 

Mr.  Pickering  assists  the  Register  of  Deeds. — Cultivates  Music  — 
His  Manner  of  Reading.  —  His  Style  of  Composition.  —  His 
Services  in  the  Militia.  —  Condition  of  the  Militia.  —  He  puts  an 
End  to  a  disorderly  Practice  of  Firing.  —  Becomes  a  leading  Whig 
in  Salem. — Vindicates  himself  from  Reproaches  of  Tories. 

Immediately  after  leaving  college,  Mr.  Pickering 
began  to  write  as  a  clerk  in  the  oflSce  of  John  Hig- 
ginson,  Register  of  Deeds  for  the  County  of  Essex, 
assisting  him  almost  constantly  for  more  than  two 
years,  and  occasionally  afterwards  until  1774.  During 
the  same  period,  Mr.  Higginson  was  likewise  the  Town 
Clerk  of  Salem ;  and  in  the  performance  of  the  duties 
of  this  oflSce  he  received  frequent  aid  from  Mr.  Pick- 
ering. 

While  a  young  man,  Mr.  Pickering  devoted  much 
time  to  the'  cultivation  of  music.  He  had  a  nice  ear, 
a  soft  and  pleasing  voice,  and  correct  taste.  It  appears 
that  he  was  the  owner  of  a  spinet,  and  that  he  took 
a  few  lessons  on  the  violin;  and  in  1764  and  the  two 
following  years  he  gave  instruction  in  sacred  music 
to  classes  in  Salem  and  Marblehead.  In  1808  he  re- 
ceived a  letter  from  the  Reverend  John  Gushing,  of 
Ashburnham,  who  graduated  at  Harvard  College  one 
year  after  him,  in  which  the  writer,  endeavoring  to 
bring  himself  to  Mr.  Pickering's  remembrance,  says, 
"  I  was  one  who  attended  upon  the  instructions  of  old 
Mr.  Manning  to  learn  to  sing,  when  I  was  junior,  and 
near  a  dozen  of  my  classmates.  But  we  were  more 
indebted  to  you  for  our  instruction  than  to  our  master. 


^T.  18.]  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKEEING.  15 

You  were  the  first  that  introduced  treble.  Epes  Sar- 
gent and  Benjamin  Goodhue,  with  their  boy  voices, 
sung  it,  and  as  well  as  females."  Mr.  Pickering  was 
fond  of  simple  music,  and  had  an  aversion  to  pieces 
which  excited  wonder  by  the  mere  rapidity  and  diffi- 
culty of  execution.* 

The  same  sensibility  to  harmony  led  him  to  pay 
great  attention  to  his  manner  of  reading  aloud,  and  to 
his  style  in  composition.  His  hearers,  whether  he  read 
prose  or  poetry,  were  charmed  with  the  just  modula- 
tion of  his  voice,  and,  where  the  passage  demanded  an 
exhibition  of  emotion,  its  expressive  intonations;  too 
readily,  indeed,  would  a  generous  or  a  pathetic  senti- 
ment choke  his  utterance  and  su£fuse  his  eyes  with 
tears.f  In  writing,  while  he  deemed  perspicuity  to  be 
of  paramount  importance  to  every  other  qua,lity  in 
style,  he  aimed  at  making  his  periods  agreeable  to  the 
ear;  and  in  this  respect,  as  well  as  in  precision  and 

*  On  this  point  he  was  sustained  by  the  high  authority  of  Dr.  Burney, 
from  whose  **  Present  State  of  Music  in  France  and  Italy,"  (2d  edit.,  vol.  iii. 
pp.  108,  109,)  he  made  the  following  extracts.  Mentioning  a  convent  in 
Italy,  and  the  singing  of  the  nuns,  Dr.  Burney  says :  —  *'  One  of  them  had  an 
excellent  voice;  Aill,  rich,  sweet,  and  flexible,  with  a  true  shake  and  ex- 
pression ;  it  was  delightful,  and  left  nothing  to  wish  but  duration."  Then  he 
adds :  —  *'  Besides  the  organ  m  this  convent  for  choruses,  there  was  an  organ 
and  harpsichord  together,  which  was  likewise  played  by  one  of  the  nuns ;  and 
the  accompaniment  of  that  instrument  alone,  with  the  heavenly  voice  above 
mentioned,  pleased  me  beyond  description ;  and  not  so  much  by  what  it  did, 
MB  by  what  it  did  not  do :  surely  one  cannot  hear  too  much  of  such  a  melliflu- 
ous voice.  All  the  jargon  of  different  parts,  of  labored  contrivance,  and 
difficult  execution,  is  little  better  than  an  ugly  mask  upon  a  beautiful  fkce ; 
even  harmony  itself,  upon  such  occasions,  is  an  evil,  when  it  becomes  a  sov- 
ereign instead  of  a  subject." 

t  On  hearing  a  discourse  in  the  pulpit  indifferently  pronounced,  he  said  he 
would  willingly  excuse  a  clergyman  from  writing  a  sermon,  provided  he 
would  only  i^ead  weU  a  good  one  from  a  printed  volume.  Doubtless,  in  most 
cases,  a  congregation  would  derive  equal  benefit  from  the  services  of  their 
pastor,  and  at  the  same  time  promote  his  health  and  comfort,  if,  instead  of 
tasking  his  brain  to  produce  two  original  sermons  a  week,  they  would  be 
content  with  one  original  sermon  and  one  selected. 


16  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  [1769. 

purity  of  language,  force  of  expression  and  grammati- 
cal accuracy,  he  was  excelled  by  few  of  our  writers 
whom  the  American  Revolution  brought  into  notice. 

In  January,  1766,  Mr.  Pickering  was  commissioned 
by  Governor  Bernard  as  lieutenant  of  the  fourth  mili- 
tary company  of  foot  in  Salem,  in  the  first  regiment  of 
militia  in  the  county  of  Essex;  and  in  May,  1769,  as 
captain  of  the  same  company.  The  character  of  his 
mind  disposed  him  to  make  himself  thoroughly  ac- 
quainted with  the  duties  of  any  office  which  he  might 
take  upon  himself;  and,  in  addition,  the  critical  rela- 
tion of  the  Colonies  to  the  mother  country  impressed 
upon  him  the  necessity  of  having  a  well  drilled  and 
disciplined  militia.  Accordingly,  he  devoted  much 
time  to  the  study  of  the  military  art. 

In  1769,  still  a  lieutenant,  but  assuming  the  character 
of  a, very  old  man,  he  published  two  pieces  signed  "A 
Military  Citizen."  *  In  them  he  urges  the  importance 
of  putting  the  militia  of  the  Province  on  a  better  footing, 
and  points  out  means  for  accomplishing  that  end.  He 
observes,  that  formerly  not  one  officer  in  five  was  tolera- 
bly versed  in  the  manual  exercise  and  the  simple  evolu- 
tions. He  describes  the  proceedings  which  had  been 
usual  for  many  years  on  training-days.  The  companies 
were  called  out  four  days  in  the  year.     He  says :  — 

"The  men  were  ordered  to  assemble  at  nine  o'clock;  and 
perhaps  by  tea  they  were  all  mustered.  About  this  time 
also  the  officers  might  make  their  pompous  eutrduce  on 
the  parade.  .  .  .  The  men  were  ordered  to  form  ;  and  by 
the  time  this  was  efiectcd,  and  the  various  disputes  among 
the  men  as  to  their  places,  according  to  each  man's  humor, 
and  such  like  important  matters,  were  adjusted,  the  clock 

*  In  the  '*  Essex  Gazette  "  of  the  81st*of  January  and  21st  of  "February. 


JEt.  23.]  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  17 

might  strike  eleven.  Then  the  roll  was  called.  ...  If  the 
training-field  was  not  also  the  place  of  parade,  they  wheeled 
their  divisions  and  began  their  march  majestically  slow. 
And  here  the  notable  achievements  of  some  intrepid  sol- 
diers must  not  be  passed  over  in  silence.  Did  any  awkward 
or  uncommon  figure  of  a  man  come  in  sight  of  these  heroes, 
by  a  sudden  excursion  they  surprised,  surrounded,  and  for 
a  while  buried  him  in  fire  and  smoke ;  then,  with  self- 
approving  shouts,  and  breasts  glowing  with  the  thoughts  of 
their  valorous  deeds,  they  made  a  gallant  retreat,  and  again 
joined  the  main  body.  But  never  did  these  undaunted 
souls  breathe  more  heroic  ardor,  than  when  some  harmless 
maid  J  some  modest  fair  ^  drawn  by  the  irresistible  power 
of  curiosity  to  see  these  public  shows^  made  her  appearance. 
Then  they  summoned  all  their  courage,  then  they  exerted  all 
their  fire,  to  fill  with  dire  alarms  her  tender  breast. 

"At  length  they  arrived  at  the  place  of  exercise,  and  were 
.  .  .  ready  for  business  by  half  after  eleven,  or  twelve, 
o'clock.  Then,  if  any  oflicer  of  the  company  had  learnt  the 
words  of  command  for  the  manual  exercise,  they  were  given 
to  the  soldiers ;  and  sometimes,  perhaps,  a  posture-master 
was  set  for  their  imitation.  .  .  .  This  sometimes  was  re- 
peated ;  and  by  that  time  it  was  necessary  to  dismiss  the 
men ;  which,  after  a  volley  or  two,  was  accordingly  done. 
Thus  ended  the  forenoon. 

"The  officers,  &c.,  then  retired  to  a  tavern,  where  an 
elegant  entertainment  was  prepared,  and  wine  and  punch 
went  round.  .  .  .  By  half  after  three  .  .  .  they  were  tol- 
erably recruited ;  and  by  four  the  men  might  be  again  under 
arms,  and  were  exercised  as  before.  At  five  o'clock  they 
might  return  to  the  parade,  or  to  the  officers'  quarters,  where 
the  treat,  random  fire,  and  reiterated  volleys  finished  the 
exercises  of  the  day.     .  .  . 

"  One  day  was  commonly  spent  in  firing  at  a  mark ;  and, 
as  for  the  remaming  two,  the  operations  were  like  those 
before  described,  in  the  forenoon.  But  the  afternoons 
were  more  notably  distinguished." 

VOL*  L  3 


18  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  [1769. 

Then,  he  says,  a  troop  of  horse  charge  fiercely  a 
body  of  foot 

^The  foot  divide  and  open  a  passage  for  the  bounding 
steeds.  The  horse  drive  furious  through  the  lengthened 
lane,  beset  on  either  side  with  fire  and  smoke.  .  .  .  Then 
they  renew  the  fight  with  redoubled  ardor.  After  this  a 
third  attack  closes  the  dusty  scene.  The  parties  retreat  to 
seek  refreshment." 

To  keep  such  a  militia  on  foot,  Mr.  Pickering  regards 
as  an  injury  to  the  Province ;  a  mischievous  expense 
of  time,  of  money,  and  of  ammunition,  promoting  a 
disregard  of  all  order.  To  correct  the  evils,  he  recom- 
mends that  the  oflScers  should  acquaint  themselves  with 
military  discipline ;  should  meet  at  certain  times  for 
mutual  instruction ;  and  should  inform  the  sergeants 
of  everything  belonging  to  the  duty  of  a  soldier  and 
to  their  offices,  so  that  they  also  may  be  able  to  teach. 

"  If  the  methods  of  teaching  prescribed  in  the  Norfolk 
Exercise  be  observed,  particularly  to  do  it  at  first  in  small 
parties,  where  the  motion  of  every  man  may  be  seen  and 
every  en'or  corrected,  they  will  make  a  surprising  progress 
in  a  short  time.  And  as  the  men  will  by  this  means  be  fully 
employed,  they  will  have  neither  time  nor  .iuclination  to 
commit  the  many  disorders  before  mentioned.     .  .  . 

"These  are  observations  founded  in  fact  and  experience. 
.  .  .  The  officers  and  sergeants  of  the  several  companies  [in 
Salem] ,  it  seems,  have  taken  pains  to  acquaint  themselves 
with  all  the  parts  of  exercise  most  necessary  for  a  militia  to 
understand,  to  wit,  the  manual  exercise  and  most  usual  evolu- 
tions. And  the  efiects  are  answerable.  Their  militia,  I  have 
been  told,  is  the  best  in  the  Province,  and  perhaps  in  Amer- 
ica ;  not  only  for  their  military  skill,  but  also  for  their  good 
order  and  regularity  of  behavior.  But  I  am  further  informed, 
that  these  officers  have  not  stopped  here,  but  still  continue 


^T.  23.]  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  19 

to  meet  frequently  for  conversing  about,  and  perfecting 
themselves  in,  military  matters,  that  they  may  the  better 
discharge  the  duty  of  their  offices.  .  •  .  And  [the  fore- 
going method]  may  now  be  practised  with  greater  success 
than  ever,  as  the  militia  officers  have  an  opportunity  of  see- 
ing regular  troops ;  from  whom,  by  an  attentive  observation, 
they  may  gather  many  useful  hints,  to  facilitate  their  in- 
stnicting  the  militia ;  (and  fa»  est  et  ab  hoste  doceri.)^ 

He  observes,  that  it  behooves  men  of  fortune,  weight, 
and  figure,  more  than  others,  to  countenance  military 
exercises;  to  take  offices  in  the  militia;  and  this,  in 
order  to  do  their  country  service,  and  not,  as  many 
did,  merely  to  obtain  titles  of  honor ;  that  the  neglect 
of  gentlemen  accepting  commissions,  however,  to  qual- 
ify themselves  to  perform  their  duties,  "  makes  room 
for  the  operation  of  one  provision  in  the  Militia  Act, 
in  case  of  alarm ;  for  at  such  a  time  the  chief  officer 
...  of  each  regiment,  then  within  the  limits  of  it,  is 
imder  no  necessity  ...  to  go  forth  with  his  regiment 
...  to  meet  the  enemy,  but  may  appoint,  by  writing 
under  his  hand,  some  fit  person  to  take  his  place — a 
prudent  prcmision ; "  *  and  that,  in  consequence  of  the 
unconcern  of  men  of  influence  and  abilities  about 
offices  in  the  militia,  commissions  have  sometimes  de- 
scended into  the  lowest  hands,  and  in  such  cases  the 
militia  becomes  truly  contemptible. 

He  further  observes :  — 

"  While  the  French  had  footing  in  North  America,  we 

were  perpetually  harassed  by  them,  and   by  the  Indians 

-through  their  instigations.     But  the  attacks  made  by  these 

were  in  the  Indian  manner ;  and,  to  cope  with  them,  no  other 

discipline  was  necessary  than  being  good  marksmen   and 

dexterous  in  skulking  behind  trees  and  bushes.    ...    In  the 

—  — -_■  _       ■ _  

*  FtoTincial  Act  of  1699,  12  William  m.,  c.  1. 


20  LIFE   OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  [1770. 

late  war,  Great  Britain  and  the  Colonies,  with  their  united 
force,  have  entirely  subdued  the  French  in  North  America. 
Yes,  (God  be  praised !)  we  have  at  length,  after  many  suc- 
cessless efforts,  expelled  those  eternal  disturbers  of  our 
peace  as  well  as  of  the  peace  of  Europe." 

In  a  future  war  with  Great  Britain,  he  says,  France 
will  most  likely  make  attacks  against  our  seaports,  and 
her  regular  troops  must  be  met  by  a  well-disciplined 
militia,  until  succor  shall  arrive  from  the  mother 
country. 

Although  Mr.  Pickering  makes  France  the  ostensible 
enemy  to  be  opposed  by  a  well-disciplined  militia,  the 
irritation  then  prevailing  here  against  Great  Britain, 
and  the  significant  Latin  quotation,  sufficiently  intimate 
that  he  was  sounding  notes  of  preparation  in  view  of 
a  possible  conflict  with  the  mother  country,  in  defence 
of  the  rights  of  the  American  Colonies. 

The  "  military  skill "  and  the  '*  good  order  "  of  the 
Salem  militia,  which  received  the  commendation  of  Mr. 
Pickering  when  writing  anonymously,  it  will  readily 
be  imagined,  were  due  in  a  great  measure  to  his  own 
exertions. 

The  disorderly  practice,  above  mentioned,  of  firing 
towards  individuals,  was  suppressed  through  much 
effort  on  the  part  of  Mr.  Pickering,  as  related  by  him 
in  an  article  in  the  ^' Essex  Gazette"  in  1770.  His  chief 
object  in  that  article,  however,  it  will  be  seen,  was  to 
vindicate  himself  from  a  virulent  Tory  attack  upon 
his  conduct  and  character.  Certain  pieces,  signed 
^  Nauticus,"  published  in  that  paper,*  giving  an  unfar- 
vorable  "sketch  of  the  behavior  and  disposition  of 
those  people  [in  Salem]  called  Tories,"  were  ascribed, 
but  erroneously,  to  him.     A  reply  appeared  imder  the 

*  September  4th  and  18th,  and  October  9th,  1770. 


Mt.  25.]  LIFE   OF  TIMOTHY  PICKBBINa.  21 

signature  of  "Y,"  in  which,  addressing  "Nauticus," 
(meaning  Mr.  Pickering,)  the  writer  says ;  — 

"  There  was  a  time  when  the  friends  of  govemmeut  were 
your  friends ;  and,  if  your  opinions  are  since  changed,  be 
not  ashamed  to  confess,  that  to  popular  favor  you  look  for 
subsistence.  To  stem  the  torrent  of  political  detraction, 
and  boldly  to  avow  sentiments  which  derive  honor  to  you 
only  from  their  truth,  in  compensation  for  the  malevolence 
of  party,  was  once  your  boast;  but  the  prospect  is  now 
changed ;  empty  praise  was  your  reward ;  sincerity  brought 
no  emolument;  and  'Nauticus'  found,  to  his  sorrow,  that, 
in  these  degenerate  days,  to  be  good  was  not  to  he 
great.  .  .  .  You  will  not  blush  to  declare,  that,  allured  by 
a  cousideration  which  influences  the  greater  part  of  man- 
bind,  and  none  more  than  the  herd  of  clamoroua  pairiois, 
you  espoused  a  contrary  cause.  .  .  .  The  dread  of  shame 
was  an  obstacle  which  I  congratulate  you  on  having  sur- 
mounted ;  .  .  .  you  may  now  enjoy  the  wished-for  applause, 
and  reap  the  virtuous  satisfaction  of  having  bartered  hon- 
esty for  interest.  ...  I  leave  you  for  ever  to  the  uninter- 
rupted possession  of  that  happiness  which  can  result  from 
a  consciousness  of  having  stooped  to  the  lowest  fraud  for 
the  vilest  purpose,  sincerely  wishing  you  every  reward  that 
divine  or  human  justice  shall  annex  to  successful  perddy."  * 

Giving  an  absurd  construction  to  a  remark  of  "  Nau- 
ticuH,"  this  writer  also  accused  him  of  atheism. 

Mr.  Pickering,  having  evidence  that  these  reproaches 
were  aimed  at  him,  answered  them  under  his  own  name, 
examining  the  principles,  pretensions,  and  conduct  of 
the  Tories,  so  far  as  he  thought  it  necessary  for  his 
own  vindication.f    He  says ;  — 

"The  Tories,  the  better  sort,  the  Jriends  of  government,  all 
which  terms  denote  but  one  party  in  Satem,  are  possessed 
with  this  false  notion,  —  that  among  more  than  a  thousand 


"  Euex  Guetto,"  Sept.  26th,  1770.      f  Ibid.  Oct.  16th,  23d,  and  80th. 


22  LIFE  0*  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  [1770. 

Whigs  in  this  town,  there  is  but  one  of  abilities  sufficient  to 
write  the  pieces  signed  *  Nauticus ' :  else  why  are  they  so  un- 
willing to  believe  me  ?  since  I  have  positively  denied  my 
being  the  author.  But,  though  my  private  asseverations 
have  not  been  fully  credited,  possibly  an  open,  public  decla- 
ration will  ease  their  doubting  minds.  I  therefore,  in  this 
public  manner,  declare,  that  I  am  not  the  author  of  the 
pieces  signed  *  Nauticus*  5  neither  was  I  directly  or  indi- 
rectly concerned  in  writing  them  or  any  of  them." 

In  conjecturing  the  reason  which  induced  "Y."  to 
enter  the  lists  with  "Nauticus,"  Mr.  Pickering  says: — 

"  It  appears  to  be  this :  *  Y.,'  firmly  believing  that  I  was 
the  author  of  the  first  piece  signed  *  Nauticus,'  and  being 
conscious  that  every  material  fact  therein  related  was  true; 
in  revenge  for  my  supposed  boldness,  determined  to  form  a 
character  completely  infamous,  and  then  palm  it  upon  the 
world  as  an  exact  portrait  of  my  mind  and  actions." 

To  the  allegation  that  he  had  surmounted  "  the  dread 
of  shame,"  he  replies :  — 

'^As  there  never  was  a  moment  in  my  life  in  which  I  did 
not  glory  in  the  cause  of  liberty,  .  .  .  that  cause  in  which 
the  body  of  the  people  in  Salem,  in  this  Province,  and  in 
all  America,  are  so  zealously  engaged,  shame  for  espousing 
it  could  not  possibly  exist." 

On  "  Y.'s  "  imprecation,  that  "  Nauticus  "  may  enjoy 
"every  reward  that  divine  or  human  justice  shall  an- 
nex to  successful  perfidy,"  he  remarks :  — 

"This  is  the  coup  de  grdce^  —  the  completion  and  per- 
fection of  another  wish  openly  pronounced  by  a  Tory. 
Understanding  that  two  brothers  *  had  been  a  little  unwell, 
< It  is  a  pity,'  says  he,  'they  had  not  both  died;  they 
are  a  couple  of  worthless  fellows ! '    And  what  could  in- 

*  Mr.  Pickering  and  his  brother,  John  Pickering,  Junior. 


JEt.25.']  life  of  timothy  PICKBmNG.  23 

duce  him  to  frame  this  wish?  The  brothers  bad  never 
hurt  a  hair  of  his  bead,  nor  spoken  of  him  one  disre- 
spectful word.  It  could  proceed  only  from  a  hellish 
spirit  of  revenge,  because  they  had  virtue  enough  to  disre- 
gard the  opinions  of  the  greats  (who  are  not  always  wise^) 
when  they  thought  them  incompatible  with  the  liberty  and 
happiness  of  the  people ;  and  because  the  Tories  had  not 
been  able  (according  to  their  hopes)  to  amass  all  knowledge 
and  learning  to  themselves.*  But  this  was  a  vain,  ridicu- 
lous expectation ;  for,  if  the  people  are  not  scholars  and 
eloquent  orators,  they  can  think  justly,  and  act  firmly  and 
vigorously,  with  the  spirit  of  men  and  of  Englishmen. 
Similar  to  these  was  another  wish  of  a  Tory, — *  I  wish  to  the 
Lord  the  whole  town  of  Boston  might  sink  this  moment.' 
(He  had  just  heard  they  had  passed,  or  were  about  to  pass, 
some  firm  resolves.)  These  kind  expressions  of  love  to 
their  neighbor,  for  the  causes  above  assigned,  —  the  fre- 
quent practice  of  the  better  sort  in  all  nations,  —  together 
with  the  declaration  of  another  Tory,  *  that  too  many  persons 
among  us  had  liberal  educations,'  —  afford  the  strongest 
presumption,  that,  if  it  were  in  their  power,  the  Tories 
would  deprive  the  people  of  knowledge,  and  reduce  them 
to  a  state  of  absolute  iguorauce ;  ignorance  being  truly  the 
mother  of  slavery^  though  not  of  devotion,^ 

Mr.  Pickering  comments  on  the  arrogance  and  affeo- 
tation  of  the  Tories  in  calling  themselves  friends  of 
government,  and  asks, — 

**For  whom  was  government  instituted?  Was  it  solely 
for  the  aggrandizement  of  those  few,  who,  by  some  for- 
tunate accident,  have  been  bred  in  a  manner  which  the 
world  calls  genteel  f  or  to  protect  the  lives,  liberty,  and 
property  of  the  body  of  the  people?  Is  government 
supported  by  the  better  sort?    On  the  contrary,  has  not 

*  Mr.  Pickering  and  his  brother  seem  to  have  been  almost  the  only  persont 
in  Salem,  of  a  college  educationi  who  took  a  prominent  part  in  Whig  meas- 
nres  before  the  commencement  of  the  Revolution. 


24  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  [1770. 

every  attack  on  the  laws  and  constitution  proceeded  from 
that  class?  The  very  phrase,  *  friends  to  government*  is 
invidious,  and  carries  with  it  an  impudent  insinuation  that 
the  whole  body  of  the  people,  the  pretended  friends  to  gov- 
ernment excepted,  are  enemies  to  government;  the  bare 
suggestion  of  which  is  as  ridiculous  as  it  is  false.  Let  us, 
for  instance,  examine  this  town.  There  are  in  Salem  about 
five  thousand  inhabitants ;  and,  among  this  number,  perhaps 
forty  or  fifty  of  all  ranks,  sexes,  and  ages,  whom  the  WJiigs 
call  TorieSy  and  who  distinguish  themselves  by  the  terms 
better  sort  and  friends  to  government.  This  pitiful  number 
being  deducted,  the  remaining  four  thousand  nine  hundred 
and  fifty  are  called  the  scum  of  the  town^  the  dregs  of  the 
people.  .  .  .  Now,  can  any  person  of  common  sense  be- 
lieve, that  this  whole  town,  forty  or  fifty  excepted,  would 
be  glad  to  be  reduced  to  the  wretched  condition  I  have  just 
mentioned,  without  government,  laws,  or  order?  But  per- 
haps it  will  be  said  that  this  is  not  the  meaning  of  the  Tories 
when  they  .  .  .  declare  that  the  body  of  the  people  are 
enemies  to  government,  and  that  all  they  intend  by  it  is, 
that  the  people  are  unwilling  to  submit  <  to  the  powers  that 
be.'  Why,  this,  I  believe,  is  part  of  their  meaning,  and  in 
one  sense  it  is  true ;  and  then  the  case  will  stand  thus : 
Americans,  unwilling  to  put  on  the  chains  of  slavery  which 
have  been  forged  for  them  in  the  five  or  six  last  years,  have 
vigorously  opposed  the  diabolical  designs  formed  against 
them,  and  for  this  have  been  called  rebels  and  enemies  to 
government.  Though  it  is  my  firm  belief  the  king  has  not, 
in  any  part  of  his  dominions,  subjects  more  loyal  than  the 
inhabitants  of  the  British  Colonies.  The  Tories  among  them, 
on  the  contrary,  (being  better  bredj)  have  ever  stood  ready 
...  to  do  what  should  be  thought  a  decent  and  respectful 
compliance  with  the  benevolent  designs  of  a  wise  and  vir^ 
tuous  ministry,  concerning  the  freeborn  sons  of  America ; 
and  for  this  have  been  styled  friends  to  government.  But 
they  have  not  been  so  very  obedient  and  submissive  for 
nothing.    We  may  hence  be  able  to  solve  the  question,    .  .  • 


iET.26.]  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  25 

how  it  comes  to  pass,  that,  with  but  few  exceptions,  all 
those  among  us  who,  for  five  or  six  years  past,  have  been 
candidates  for,  or  possessed  of,  offices  of  honor  and  profit, 
have  shown  themselves  such  zealous  <  friends  to  govern- 
ment.'    .  •  • 

<^  These,  then,  are  the  men,  and  this  the  cause,  I  am  said 
to  have  deserted.  And  now,  admitting  that  I  was  once  a 
friend  to  both,  and  that  these  ^friends  of  government'  were 
once  my  friends,  will  any  honest  man  —  will  any  free 
American  —  blame  me  for  deserting  them?  I  trust  not. 
And,  if  I  am  not  to  blame,  then  there  can  be  no  necessity 
of  imputing  my  desertion  to  sinister  views.     .  .  . 

**'Bnt '  Y.'  all  along  takes  for  granted,  as  a  fact,  what  I  by 
no  means  admit.  He  supposes  that  once  I  entirely  adopted 
the  political  opinions  of  the  Tories.  But  this  I  utterly 
deny.  ...  It  is  true,  when  we  have  had  accounts  of  the 
rising  of  mobs,  and  of  their  cruel  treatment  of  some  per- 
sons, I  have  expressed  my  disapprobation  of  them,  and 
been  provoked  with  the  excessive  timidity ,'the  pusillanim- 
ity, of  others,  who  have  apprehended  themselves  in  danger 
from  them.  I  have  said  I  would  sooner  perish  on  the  spot, 
than  fly  before  a  headlong  mob  attacking  me  without  cause ; 
that  a  few  deaths  would  rouse  the  real  friends  to  gov- 
ernment, and  procure  solid  peace  and  tranquillity.  Also, 
by  my  accidental  situation  for  three  or  four  years  past,  I 
frequently  fell  into  the  company  of  the  friends  of  govern^ 
menty  and  a  considerable  share  of  the  conversation  turned 
upon  the  wicked,  selfish  motives  of  some  popular  leaders, 
in  their  opposition  to  government;  (substitute  governor 
and  ministry;)  and  if  what  they  [the  'friends  of  govern- 
ment'] said  was  true,  (and  I  knew  nothing  to  the  contrary,) 
their  [the  leaders']  motives,  I  confess,  were  bad  enough; 
and  I  could  then,  and  so  I  can  now,  brand  every  person 
acting  from  such  motives  only,  with  the  name  of  villain. 
And  what  then?    Does  all  this  prove,  that  I  was  at  any  time 

inclined  tamely  to  acquiesce  in  every  imposition  a  c t 

m y  [corrupt  ministry]  should  please  to  lay  upon 

VOL.  L  4 


26  LIFE    OF   TIMOTHY   PICKEBING.  [1770. 

US ;  or  that  I  thought  the  circular  letter  of  the  House  of 
Assembly  of  the  Proviuce  *  was  of  an  iDflammatory  uature, 
tending  to  create  unwarrantable  combinations,'  and  that  the 
House  ought  to  have  rescinded  the  vote  which  gave  rise  to 
that  letter ;  *  or  that  the  associations  of  the  merchants  and 
people  to  prevent  the  importation  of  British  goods  was 
illegal  and  unjustifiable  ?  f  Are  not  the  cause  of  American 
libci'ty,  and  the  pretended  patriotism  of  its  advocates,  two 
entirely  distinct  things?  It  is  true,  by  often  hearing  both 
so  artfully  blended  together,  at  a  time  when  I  thought  but 
little  about  the  matter,  I  was  sometimes  held  in  suspense ; 
but  I  never  disapproved  of  the  measures  above  mentioned. 
...  If,  therefore,  I  have  at  no  time  in  my  life  adopted 
the  political  opinions  of  the  Tories,  it  is  too  obvious  to 
remark,  that  I  could  not  change  thenij  and  take  up  other 
opinions^  although  all  the  offices  and  all  the  honors  and  all 
the  riches  of  all  the  Tories  in  Salem  were  to  be  my  reward 
for  so  doing.     •  .  • 

**  But  there  is  not  only  no  foundation  for  *  Y.'s '  charges 
against  me,  but  my  whole  life,  since  I  appeared  on  the 
public  stage,  has  been  a  contradiction  to  his  slanderous 
assertions.  I  appeal  to  the  whole  town,  I  appeal  to  the 
Tories  themselves,  whether,  as  an  officer  of  the  militia  for 
five  years  past,  (in  which  capacity  alone  I  have  had  an 
opportunity  *to  stem  the  torrent'  of  popular  prejudices, 
*  boldly  to  avow  sentiments  which  could  derive  honor  to  me 
only  from  their  truth,'  and  to  prove  that  the  civium  ardor 
prava  jvientium  could  not  shake  me  from  my  deliberate 
purpose,)  — whether,  I  say,  in  that  capacity,  I  have  not 
manifested  an  utter  disregard  to  mere  popular  opinions, 
even  though  they  were  riveted  and  strengthened  by  imme- 
morial custom.  I  will  instance  in  the  article  o(  firing.  It 
had  been  the  custom  in  Salem  from  my  earliest  remem- 
brance, and  for  fifty  or  perhaps  a  hundred  years  before,  to 

*  Letter  of  February  11th,  1768.    See  MarshaU's  <' History  of  the  American 
Colonies,"  (edit,  of  1824,)  pp.  871-376,  472. 
t  Ibid.,  p.  885. 


^T.  26.]  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  27 

fire  at  the  officers*,  under  the  senseless  notion  of  doing  them 
honor.  And,  not  content  with  this,  some  would  fire  at  all 
sorts  of  persons ;  and  it  gave  them  singular  satisfaction 
to  make  women  the  objects  of  their  dangerous  diversion. 
Nor  did  strangers  escape  the  hazard  and  inconvenience  of 
their  inhuman,  inhospitable  sport.  This  base  custom  I  set 
myself  to  oppose  and  destroy.  The  practice  appeared  to 
me  so  foolish  and  unreasonable,  that,  young  and  inexperi- 
enced as  I  was  with  the  manners  of  men,  I  had  no  concep- 
tion of  any  difficulty  attending  the  execution  of  my  design. 
Yet  I  had  no  sooner  begun  to  exert  myself  for  that  end, 
than  I  had,  not  the  soldiers  only,  but  almost  the  whole  town 
upon  my  back.  I  was  reproached  with  being  a  stiff,  obsti- 
nate, severe,  precise  fellow,  afraid  of  gunpowder,  a  coward, 
and  I  know  not  what.  Many  who  did  not  approve,  but 
condemned,  the  firing,  thought,  as  it  had  been  the  practice 
time  out  of  mind,  that  I  was  to  blame  in  opposing  it. 
^But  none  of  these  things  moved  me.'  Unintimidated  by 
all  the  obloquy  cast  upon  me,  I  still  persevered  in  my  de- 
sign. I  found  the  practice  I  was  endeavoring  to  eradicate 
was  condemned  by  many  thinking,  judicious  people.  That 
strengthened  my  hands ;  and  by  degrees  I  learned  to  bear 
unmerited  reproach  without  uneasiness ;  and  at  length  my 
endeavors,  seconded  by  some  of  my  brethren,  have  been 
crowned  with  success,  to  the  no  small  comfort  and  quiet  of 
the  town.  That  I  have  not  relaxed  in  my  endeavors  to  form 
an  orderly,  well-disciplined  militia,  maugre  all  opposition, 
the  whole  town  is  witness.  And  the  last  training-day  affords 
a  fresh  proof,  that  I  have  not  sought,  that  I  do  not  seek,  pop- 
ularity by  falling  in  with  the  prevailing  humor  and  inclination 
of  the  people,  when  that  humor  and  inclination  militate  with 
truth,  with  reason,  and,  in  the  instance  referred  to,  with  the 
rules  of  the  military  art.  What  happened  on  that  day  is 
well  known  in  the  town,  and  need  not  be  related.* 


*  On  some  occasion  a  soldier  in  Mr.  Pickering's  company  sainted  liim  by 
firing  at  his  feet;  whereupon  Mr.  Pickering  struck  him  with  the  flat  of  his 
sword.    It  is  merely  a  conjecture  that  this  was  *'  the  instance  referred  to." 


28  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  [1770. 

**  In  iSne,  those  who  are  most  intimately  acquainted  with 
me  knowy  that,  at  the  expense  of  popularity y  and  though 
loaded  with  reproach^  I  have,  with  undeviating  constancy, 
pnrsued  those  measures  which  I  thought  and  declared  to  be 
necessary  for  forming  a  militia  which  should  answer  the  end 
of  its  establishment ;  that  my  ruling  principle  was  to  aervej 
and  not  iopleasey  the  militia.  But  now,  if,  by  proceeding  in 
this  manner  and  on  this  principle,  I  have  at  length  obtained 
an  approbation  of  my  conduct,  who  can  be  so  unjust,  who 
can  be  so  cruel,  as  to  rob  me  of  the  only  reward  of  all  my 
labor  that  is  in  the  power  of  my  fellow-citizens  to  bestow  ? 
Yet,  in  defiance  of  all  these  facts,  <  which  were  not  done  in 
a  corner,'  the  writer  whose  signature  is  *Y.'  has,  with 
wanton  malice,  declared  to  the  world,  that  for  the  sake  of 
popular  favor  I  have  set  at  nought  my  honor^  my  cori- 
sciencCy  and  my  God. 

^But  some  transactions,  during  this  period,  for  accom- 
plishing the  design  above  mentioned,  deserve  to  be  related, 
as  they  will  tend  to  show  the  vanity  and  afifectation  of  the 
Tories  in  pretending  they  are  better  and  firmer  friends  to 
government  than  their  neighbors,  the  Whigs. 

"About  a  year  and  a  half  ago,  some  strangers,  one  of 
them  a  woman,  and  all  on  horseback,  were  passing  through 
the  town  on  a  training-day  morning,  just  as  the  soldiers 
were  assembling.  They  were  fired  at,  and  thereby,  and 
by  various  motions  and  flourishes  of  the  guns,  their  horses 
were  excessively  frighted,  insomuch  that  the  woman  was 
in  imminent  danger  of  her  life.  This  gross  insult  was  so 
highly  resented  by  some  gentlemen,  by-standers,  that  they 
made  a  regular  complaint  to  a  magistrate  [a  Tory] ,  praying 
that  the  oflender  might  be  dealt  with  according  to  law. 
But  the  complaint  was  rejected,  with  some  strange  answers 
which  I  have  forgot ;  but  the  conclusion  was,  (as  the  person 
told  me  who  presented  it,)  *  the  times  won't  bear  it;'  or, 
in  other  words,  it  having  been  an  old  custom,  he  [the 
magistrate]  should  displease  the  people.  About  the  same 
time,  a  complaint  was  presented  to  another  magistrate  [a 


Mr.  26.]  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKEKING.  29 

Tory]  against  another  person,  for  the  like  offence,  by  one 
who  is  now  a  Whiffy  whatever  the  Tories  may  think  he  was 
then.*  But  this  also  was  rejected  for  a  reason  similar  to 
the  former.  Another  reason,  it  is  true,  was  added,  but,  in 
my  humble  opinion,  a  very  frivolous  one. 

"  To  these  instances  of  denial  of  justice  I  might  add  one, 
of  the  actual  violation  of  the  laws  by  some  of  the  'friends 
of  government.'  But  ag  'Nauticus'  has,  in  his  iSrst  essay, 
given  a  particular  account  of  it,  I  shall  only  mention  the 
chief  circumstances  of  the  affair,  viz. :  <  A  committee  of 
trade  from  Boston,  coming  to  Salem  to  take  the  minds  of  the 
people  in  trade  there  respecting  the  importation  of  goods 
from  Great  Britain,'  a  person  was  procured  by  some  of  the 
Jriends  to  government  to  carry  a  message  to  said  committee 
(in  order  to  ten'ify  and  oblige  them  to  leave  the  town)  in 
these  words,  or  to  this  effect,  viz. :  *  That  thirty  or  forty 
men  were  assembled,  and  were  coming  to  tar  and  feather 
them ; '  and  a  letter  was  also  sent  them  importing  the  same 
thing.  As  the  offence  was  committed  against  strangers,  the 
Selectmen  thought  it  their  prudence  and  duty  to  make 
inquiry  into  the  matter,  that  the  offender  might  be  brought 
to  justice.  For  this  they  were,  by  one  of  the  *  friends  of 
government,'  called  informers;  and  their  complaints  to  the 
magistrates  were  utterly  disregarded.  Upon  this  I  shall 
only  remark,  in  the  words  of  an  excellent  writer,  that  *  the 
great  as  well  as  the  little  vulgar  are  liable  to  catch  the 
spirit  of  mobbing.' 

^I  would  not  have  it  understood  that  all  who  are  called 
Tories  deserve  the  same  character.  •  .  •  Some  of  them, 
who  are  in  office,  discharge  their  trusts  with  ability  and 
fidelity ;  and  I  congratulate  the  public  for  the  happiness  it 
enjoys  in  that  respect.  .  •  .  But  I  think  it  cannot  be 
thought  unreasonable  to  demand  of  the  Tories,  —  that  they 
for  the  future  claim  no  pre-eminence  above  their  fellow- 
citizens,  the  Whigs,  who  are  the  body  of  the  people,  by 
pretending  that  the  latter  are  enemies^  and  they  themselves 

*  Meaning  himself. 


30  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  [1770. 

the  only  friends  to  laws  and  good  govemment;  .  .  . 
that  they  no  longer  treat  with  contempt  the  united  voice 
of  a  whole  continent,  nor  pretend  that  the  measure  almost 
universally  adopted  for  the  preservation  of  the  liberties  of 
America,  was  rash,  imprudent,  unjust,  oppressive,  till  they 
clearly  and  plainly  show  it  to  be  so,  and  point  out  a  better ; 
—  that  the  friends  to  govemment^  instead  of  studiously 
avoiding  to  appear  in  town-meetiygs,  for  the  future  give 
their  attendance,  and,  in  the  debates  concerning  any  public 
matters,  give  their  opinions  freely;  which,  if  done  with 
moderation,  and  with  a  view  to  prevent  any  false  steps  and 
imprudent  resolutions,  I  dare  to  say  they  will  be  heard  with 
attention,  and,  if  their  proposals  are  not  adopted,  at  least 
they  will  be  treated  with  respect.  Will  the  true  patriot, 
the  real  friend  to  govemment,  because  his  opinion  in  pol- 
itics has  been  once  disregarded,  withdmw  himself  from  the 
community  of  which  he  is  a  member,  and,  without  even 
giving  his  advice,  suffer  his  fellow-citizens,  ('at  whose  pro- 
ceedings,' he  says,  *he  is  alarmed,')  by  their  hasty,  impolitic 
measures,  to  plunge  themselves  and  their  country  into  irre- 
trievable ruin  ?  No  !  —  *  He  is  the  true  patriot,  whose  love 
for  the  public  is  not  extinguished,  either  by  their  insensi- 
bility or  ingratitude,  but  [who]  goes  on  with  unwearied 
benevolence  in  every  public-spirited  attempt.' " 


JEi.  23-26.]  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHT  FICKEBINO.  31 


CHAPTER   III. 

Mr.  Pickering  admitted  an  Attorney  at  Law.  —  He  instructa  Militia 
of  Marblehead.  —  Applies  to  be  appointed  Clerk  of  the  Courts  in 
the  County  of  Essex. — Elected  to  Municipal  Offices.  —  His 
Controversy  with  the  Rev.  Dr.  Whitaker.  —  His  Controversy 
with  Dr.  Latham  and  others  about  Inoculation  for  the  Small- 
pox. —  His  Letter  to  the  Rev.  Mr.  Weeks. 

At  the  December  term  of  the  Court  of  Common 
Pleas  for  the  County  of  Essex^  in  1768,  Mr.  Pickering 
was  admitted  an  Attorney  at  Law.  I  have  not  been 
able  to  ascertain  with  what  barrister  or  counsellor  he 
pursued  his  legal  studies ;  perhaps  with  William  Pyn- 
chon.  He  practised  but  little  at  the  bar,  and  did  not 
attain  to  distinction  as  an  advocate;  and  the  various 
claims  upon  his  time  and  attention,  as  well  as  his  own 
statements,  preclude  the  idea  of  his  having  made  him- 
self a  well-read  lawyer.  Writing,  November  19th,  1773, 
to  one  who  sought  his  professional  services,  he  says,  — 

• 

^  I  thank  you  for  your  good  opinion  of  me,  and  readiness 
to  intrust  me  with  the  care  of  your  affairs  mentioned  in  your 
letter  of  the  11th  instant.  I  should  be  unworthy  of  that 
confidence,  if  I  did  not  confess  to  you,  that  I  do  not  pre- 
tend to  an  accurate  knowledge  of  the  law,  and  that  several 
years  are  elapsed  since  I  applied  myself  to  it;  for  your 
sake,  therefore,  and  my  own  honor,  I  decline  engaging  in  a 
matter  which  may  be  involved  in  the  intricacies  of  the  law.** 

In  1771,  a  militia  company  in  Marblehead  made  ap- 
plication to  Mr.  Pickering  to  instruct  them ;  to  whom 
he  replied,  that  it  would  be  advisable,  in  the  first  place, 


32  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  [1772. 

to  examine  whether  there  were  a  sufficient  number 
of  a  determined  resolution  to  persevere  in  the  exer- 
cise till  they  should  attain  to  some  good  degree  of 
perfection ;  in  which  case  he  would  assist  them ;  other- 
wise it  would  not  be  worth  while  for  the  company  or 
for  himself  to  make  a  beginning  * 

In  the  following  characteristic  letter  to  Andrew 
Oliver,  one  of  the  Justices  of  the  Court  of  Common 
Pleas  for  the  County  of  Rssex,  Mr.  Pickering  expressed 
a  desire  to  be  appointed  a  joint  Clerk,  with  Mr.  Bow- 
ditch,  of  the  courts  in  that  county.  He  had  previously 
made  up  a  portion  of  the  records  of  the  Court  of  Com- 
mon Pleas  and  of  the  Court  of  Sessions.  He  failed, 
however,  of  obtaining  the  appointment 

"  Salem,  July  8th,  1772. 

«  Sir  :  — 

^An  application  so  late  as  this  will  not,  I  hope,  be 
deemed  to  arise  from  a  want  of  respect,  or  be  produc- 
tive of  any  disadvantage  to  me ;  nor  an  address  in  writing 
thought  less  decent  than  a  personal  one.  The  latter  I  have 
sometimes  supposed  most  proper,  but  several  reasons  de- 
termined me  to  make  the  former.  In  that  way  I  can  deliver 
my  sentiments  more  clearly ;  and  (if  they  merit  considera- 
tion) they  may  be  considered  more  calmly  and  deliberately. 
Besides,  the  request  may  be  granted  or  denied  with  more 
ease  both  to  the  petitioner  and  the  judge ;  for  to  a  benevo- 
lent mind  it  must  give  pain  to  refuse  even  what  ought  to  be 
refused ;  and  a  man  of  liberal  and  generous  sentiments 
would  choose  rather  that  his  justice  or  his  bounty  should  bo 
manifested  in  his  actions,  than  in  the  warmest  professions 
of  favor  or  friendship. 

"  You  must.  Sir,  ere  now  apprehend  the  design  of  this 
letter,  if  you  have  never  heard  that  I  am  desirous  of  being 
appointed  joint  Clerk  with  Mr.  Bowditch.     This,  I  find, 

♦  An  article  by  the  late  Samuel  Swett,  Esq.,  in  the  "Boston  Daily  Ailvorti- 
bqt"  Bt^s  that  the  militia  of  Marblehead  ware  in  fact  drilled  by  Mr.  Pickering. 


.aSr.  27.]  LIFE  OP  TIMOTHY  PICKERINa  33 

would  be  agreeable  to  him,  and,  if  I  had  his  leave,  would 
urge  it  as  an  argument  in  my  favor.  I  am  sensible,  Sir, 
there  are  other  candidates  for  the  office,  who  have  doubtless 
severally  importuned  your  favor  in  their  behalf.  But  per- 
mit me.  Sir,  to  say,  that  I  know  but  one  case  in  which  favor 
can  properly  take  place :  that  is,  where  there  are  two  or 
more  candidates  of  exactly  similar  pretensions,  whose  quali- 
fications and  circumstances  are  in  nothing  different.  In  any 
other  case,  to  ask  the  office  as  a  matter  of  favor  I  should 
think  was  paying  but  an  ill  compliment  to  the  person 
requested  to  grant  it;  for  it  must  impeach  either  his 
understanding  or  his  justice.  The  power  of  conferring  this 
office,  I  take  it,  is  vested  in  the  Judges,  not  to  give  them 
an  opportunity  of  gratifying  a  friend  or  favorite,  but  that 
they  should  place  it  in  such  hands  as  are  most  likely  to  do 
the  public  the  best  service,  by  an  exact  and  diligent  per- 
formance of  the  duties  of  it. 

"Can  you  forgive  this  freedom,  Sir?  I  own  it  is  a  style 
unusual  from  the  mouth  of  a  petitioner.  But  should  I 
address  an  honest  man  of  delicate  sentiments  with  fawning 
adulation  and  servile  importunity  ?  Or  should  I  be  thought 
vain,  were  I  to  confess  myself  incapable  of  using  such  con- 
temptible means  of  supplying  my  wants  ?  Good  Sir,  after 
your  voluntary,  disinterested  interposition  in  my  favor  in 
a  military  concern,  (for  which  I  sincerely  honor  and  thank 
you,)  I  should  esteem  it  a  gross  affront  with  servile  sub- 
mission to  sue  to  you  for  the  office  as  a  matter  of  favor, 
except  in  the  case  before  mentioned.  Here,  therefore,  both 
for  your  honor  and  ray  own,  I  choose  to  rest  the  matter; 
and  with  your  determination,  be  it  for  or  against  me,  I  shall 
remain  satisfied.  I  request  the  office  merely  to  procure  me 
a  living y  not  to  add  to  thousands  already  in  possession.  In 
my  present  situation,  I  must  own,  I  have  enongh ;  but 
without  more  I  shall  for  ever  be  excluded  from  the  dearest 
connection  in  life.  Excuse,  I  pray  you,  this  liberty ;  and 
believe  me  to  be,  with  sincere  respect,  your  most  obedient 
servant 

'  Timothy  Pickering,  Jun." 

VOL.  L  5 


84  LIFE  OP  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  [1772-77. 

In  1772  and  the  five  following  years  Mr.  Pickering 
was  elected  one  of  the  Selectmen  and  of  the  Assessors 
of  the  town  of  Salem,  and,  in  1774  and  the  two  follow- 
ing years,  the  Town  Clerk. 

On  the  18th  of  May,  1773,  the  inhabitants  of  Salem 
chose  him  one  of  a  committee  of  five  persons  to  con- 
sider what  was  proper  to  be  done  respecting  a  commu- 
nication from  the  town  of  Boston  on  the  State  of  the 
Rights  of  the  Colonists.  A  report  was  made  on  the  7th 
of  June,  being  a  long  letter,  draughted  by  him,  to  the 
Boston  Committee  of  Correspondence.*  The  report 
asserts  the  right  of  towns,  in  their  corporate  capacity, 
to  meet  and  represent  the  grievances  which  afiect  the 
community,  and  them  as  parts  of  it,  and  to  endeavor 
to  get  them  redressed. 

On  the  11th  of  June,  1773,  the  town  voted  that 
the  Selectmen  should  be  requested  and  directed,  if 
occasion  should  happen,  to  act  as  a  Committee  of  Cor- 
respondence till  the  town  should  choose  a  special  com- 
mittee for  that  purpose.  On  the  17th  of  May,  1774, 
such  a  committee  was  chosen,  consisting  of  nine  per- 
sons, Mr.  Pickering  being  one  of  them.  On  the  13th 
of  March,  1775,  thirty  persons,  including  him,  his 
brother  John,  and  his  brothers-in-law  George  Williams 
and  Israel  Dodge,  were  chosen  a  Committee  of  Safety. 
On  the  same  day  a  committee  of  five,  including  him, 
was  chosen,  on  minute  men  and  the  mounting  of  field- 
pieces.  The  persons  on  the  Committee  of  Corre- 
spondence, elected  the  13th  of  March,  were  on  the 
11th  of  July  made  a  Committee  of  Safety  and  Cor- 
respondence. Again,  on  the  16th  of  October,  thirty 
persons  were    chosen    a   Committee    of   Safety   and 

*  In  the  << Essex  Gazette"  of  June  6th  and  15th,  1773,  and  the  *< Boston 
Gazette  "  of  June  14th. 


^T.  27-31.]  LEFB  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  35 

Correspondence,  Mr.  Pickering  being  the  one  first 
named.  In  March,  1776,  he  was  chairman  of  a  Com- 
mittee (consisting  of  fifteen  persons)  of  Correspondence, 
Inspection  and  Safety.  Being  a  more  correct  and  able 
writer  than  most  of  his  associates  on  these  committees, 
and  being  always  ready  to  perform  more  than  his  share 
of  any  labor,  the  burden  of  corresponding  with  other 
towns  fell,  of  course,  chiefly  upon  him. 

These  qualities  gave  him  a  prominence  in  some  of 
the  local  quarrels  in  Salem  and  its  vicinity;  while 
his  exertions  to  reform  abuses  exposed  him  to  much 
calumny. 

The  Third  Church  in  Salem,  of  which  Mr.  Pickering, 
his  father,  and  three  of  his  brothers-in-law  were  mem- 
bers, invited,  by  a  unanimous  vote,  the  Rev.  Nathaniel 
Whitaker,  D.  D.,  of  Norwich,  Connecticut,  to  become 
their  pastor.  Dr.  Whitaker  was  desirous  of  changing 
the  form  of  their  church  government  from  Congrega- 
tional to  Presbyterian;  to  which  change  the  church 
gave  a  qualified  assent,  reserving  to  the  church  and  to 
each  member,  in  case  of  controversy,  the  right  of 
appeal  to  an  ecclesiastical  council  from  the  vicinity, 
and  to  each  person  the  choice  of  being  judged  by  the 
"  brotherhood,"  rather  than  by  the  minister  and  elders. 
In  accordance  with  these  terms,  Whitaker  was  settled 
as  their  minister  in  1769 ;  but  he  soon  exhibited  an 
arrogant  and  domineering  temper,  and  departed  from 
the  spirit  of  his  engagement.  In  consequence,  dissen- 
sions arose  in  the  church,  and  fourteen  members  mani- 
fested a  desire,  and  claimed  the  right,  of  returning  to 
unmixed  Congregationalism.  A  long  controversy,  with 
crimination  and  recrimination,  was  carried  on  orally  and 
in  written  correspondence,  and  at  length  in  the  news- 
papers, between  Whitaker,  on  the  one  side,  and  Mr. 


36  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  [1774. 

Pickering,  in  behalf  of  the  disaffected  members,  on  the 
other.  The  advantage  in  argument  was  decidedly 
with  Mr.  Pickering.  The  result  of  the  controversy 
was,  that  the  connection  of  himself  and  others  with 
the  church  was  dissolved  in  the  latter  part  of  1774  or 
beginning  of  1775:  he  had,  however,  as  early  as  1772, 
ceased  to  attend  public  worship  under  Whitaker's  min- 
istry, being  not  only  disgusted  with  the  conduct  and 
character  of  the  man,  but  also  disliking  his  Calvinistic 
doctrines  and  his  style  of  preaching. 

At  that  time  the  Trinitarian  controversy  had  npt 
engaged  the  attention  of  Mr.  Pickering.  He  had  been 
brought  up  in  the  belief  of  the  doctrine  of  the  Trinity, 
and  never  heard  the  truth  of  it  called  in  question 
until  after  he  had  joined  the  army  in  1777 ;  when  one 
day  he  was  startled  by  the  remark  of  the  late  Peter  S. 
Du  Ponceau,  on  some  questionable  statement,  that  "  he 
would  as  soon  believe  the  doctrine  of  the  Trinity." 
This  induced  Mr.  Pickering  to  read  on  the  subject^ 
and  he  thereupon  became,  and  continued  through  life,  a 
Unitarian.  Without  bigotry,  he  was  a  reverent  believer 
in  Christianity,  never  trifling  with  things  sacred. 

In  October,  1772,  Mr.  Pickering  asked  for  a  dismis- 
sion from  Whitaker's  church,  (the  certificate  of  which 
dismission,  in  the  usual  form,  would  have  operated  as 
a  recommendation  of  him  to  other  churches;)  but  it 
was  not  granted,  Whitaker  objecting  that  he  had  not 
given  reasons  for  his  request,  although  at  the  same 
time  a  dismission  was  granted  to  other  persons,  and  no 
reason  demanded.     Mr.  Pickering  inquires,  —  * 

"Why  this  partiality,  Doctor?  Was  it  from  a  tender 
concern  for  me,  lest  Mr,  Dunbar's  church  should  refuse  me 

*  In  a  *'  Supplement  to  the  Essex  Gazette  "  of  March  15th,  1774. 


Mr,  28.]  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  37 

admission,  unless  I  came  recommended  from  yon  as  sound 
in  the  faith  f  On  the  contrary,  Doctor,  do  you  not  know, 
if  Mr.  Dunbar  and  his  church  were  as  great  bigots  about 
points  of  faith  as  some  I  could  name,  that  a  recommenda- 
tion of  me  as  sound  in  your  faith  would  be  a  fatal  bar  to  my 
admission  there  f  Did  any  one  object  to  my  moral  char- 
acter?   Did  not  you  acknowledge  that  it  stood  fair?  " 

Subsequently  a  hearing  before  the  church  was  ap- 
pointed in  the  case  of  a  dispute  between  Whitaker  and 
one  of  the  members  of  his  church,  and,  at  the  earnest 
request  of  the  latter,  Mr.  Pickering  consented  to  attend 
the  meeting.     He  says, — 

"Before  this.  Doctor,  I  had  been  importuned,  by  many 
of  the  brethren,  to  lend  them  my  assistance  under  the  diffi- 
culties subsisting  between  you  and  them.  I  thought  they 
had  been  injured,  and  assured  them  they  should  have  it. 
As  soon  as  the  meeting  was  opened,  (January  15th,  1773,) 
you  addressed  yourself  to  me,  and  said  I  had  (at  such  a 
time)  asked  for  a  dismission,  aud  you  desired  to  know 
whether  I  would  not  renew  my  request.  I  told  you  I  had, 
at  the  time  referred  to,  satisfactory  reasons  for  my  request ; 
but  now  had  very  good  ones  for  omitting  to  renew  it.  You 
urged  the  matter  with  some  warmth,  wishing,  no  doubt, 
now  to  have  me  dismissed ;  but,  finding  me  immovable,  you 
dropped  the  dispute." 

In  a  long  article  in  the  "  Essex  Gazette  '*  of  March 
8th,  1774,  Whitaker  mentions  the  disaflfection  of  "Mr. 
TinL  Pickering,  Jun.,  and  his  connections,  among  whom 
he  is,  as  it  were,  all  in  all"     He  also  says,  — 

**  It  is  easy  to  make  men  offenders  for  a  word,  and  fix  on 
such  instances  of  frailty  as  are  common  to  men,  especially 
when  under  great  trials  and  abuses :  of  these  they  may  find 
many  in  me,  and  perhaps  may  magnify  them  into  great 


38  UFE  OP  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  [1774. 

crimes ;  and  even  for  these  I  desire  to  be  humbled,  as  well 
as  for  greater  faults  which  lie  out  of  their  sight." 

He  had  complained  to  the  elders  of  his  church,  that 
Mr.  Pickering  had  made  allegations  against  his  temper 
and  conduct  In  Mr.  Pickering's  reply  *  is  the  follow- 
ing passage :  — 

"  You  tell  the  world,  Doctor,  you  have  two  credible  wit- 
nesses to  prove  that  I  said  *  I  would  not  take  a  dismission 
from  your  church  till  I  had  got  my  will,  or  would  tarry 
there  to  plague  you,  or  words  to  that  efiect.'  Considering 
the  manner  in  which,  from  undiscerning  men,  you  some- 
times extort  confessions,  I  am  not  surprised  at  your  saying 
you  have  such  witnesses.  But  if,  instead  of  two  witnesses, 
you  had  two  hundred,  I  should  not  fear  to  declare  I  never 
uttered  the  words  above  mentioned.  But  the  phrase  '  till  I 
bad  got  my  will '  indicates  such  a  sentiment  as  never  yet 
found  place  in  my  heart,  and  therefore,  I  am  confident,  never 
dropped  from  my  tongue.  I  have  told  you  already  for  what 
reasons  I  declined  takiug  a  dismission.  They  are  the  true 
reasons.  And  'tis  not  in  your  power.  Doctor,  to  prove 
aught  against  me  which  shall  induce  the  public  to  doubt  my 
sincerity  in  the  declaration.  You,  and  perhaps  some  other 
readers,  may  charge  me  with  vanity  for  what  I  have  just 
been  saying.  But,  Doctor,  I  am  ashamed  of,  I  despise,  the 
deep  confessions  of  heinous  sins,  without  naming  onCy  which 
are  ever  at  the  tongue's  end  with  some  men,  who  intend, 
no  doubt,  by  this  false  humility,  to  impress  on  the  mind  of 
the  hearer  a  strong  sense  of  the  meekness  and  contrition 
of  their  hearts.  These  confessions  are  the  ofi*spring  of 
gloomy,  and  sometimes  of  wicked,  minds,  and  inculcated 
as  the  highest  duty  by  priests  of  the  like  cast ;  in  conse- 
quence of  which,  many  are  induced  to  make  them,  even 
though  they  belie  their  own  consciences  in  so  doing.     But 

*  In  a  '*  Sapplement  to  the  Essex  Gazette  "  of  March  15fcby  1774. 


^T.  28.]  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKEBING.  39 

I  would  not,  Doctor,  presume  to  suggest  this  was  your  case 
in  your  public  confession,  printed  in  the  last  Gazette,  where 
you  say,  that,  besides  frailties  common  to  men,  you  are 
guilty  of  greater  faults,  which  lie  out  of  their  sight.'* 

A  subject  in  which  the  people  of  Salem  were  deeply 
interested  —  inoculation  for  the  small-pox  —  occasioned 
another  controversy  between  Dr.  Whitaker  ai4  Mr. 
Pickering,  in  which  both  parties  indulged  themselves 
in  personal  reflections.* 

In  September,  1773,  the  small-pox  broke  out  in 
Salem.  Subscriptions  to  the  amount  of  £1000  were 
made,  by  a  number  of  the  inhabitants,  for  the  purpose 
of  erecting  a  hospital,  which  was  to  be  entirely  under 
the  regulation  of  the  town ;  and  the  subscribers  were 
to  be  reimbursed  out  of  the  fees  paid  by  the  patients. 
The  hospital  was  built  accordingly,  and  Mr.  Pickering 
was  chosen  one  of  the  overseers.  Previously  to  thi» 
time,  Richard  Sutton,  in  England,  had  laid  claim  to 
improvements  in  the  mode  of  inoculation  and  treat- 
ment of  the  disease,  for  which  he  was  made  a  baronet  ^ 
and  James  Latham,  surgeon  to  the  King's  (or  Eighth) 
Regiment  of  foot,  professing  to  be  connected  with  Sut- 
ton, was  now  practising  the  ^  Suttonian  Inoculation,''  at 
Livingston's  Manor,  ^  New  York  Government,"  and  had 
acquired  extensive  reputation  from  dispensing  there^ 
and  in  other  parts  of  America,  "  the  advantages  of  the 
above  easy  and  successful  method  of  inoculation." 
According  to  this  method,  the  incision  was  made  with  a 

*  See  several  articles  in  the  '* Essex  Gazette,"  — by  Whitaker,  signed  ''A 
Doctor  of  Divinity,''  Gazette,  November  9th,  1773 ;  by  Mr.  Pickering,  the 
first  of  two  pieces  dated  Beverly,  November  22d,  Gazette,  November  23d; 
by  Mr.  Pickering,  dated  Beverly,  February  25th,  Gazette,  March  8th,  1774; 
by  Whitaker,  under  his  name.  Gazette,  March  22d ;  and  by  Mr.  Pickering, 
under  the  signature  of  *'  A  Plough- Jogger,*'  in  a  Supplement  to  the  Gazette, 
April  5th. 


40  LIFE  OP  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  [1774 

lanx3et  dipped  in  the  small-pox  virus,  without  a  thread ; 
and  it  was  pretended  that,  in  the  treatment  of  the  dis- 
ease, the  use  of  mercury  was  avoided.     In  compliance 
with  the  general  wish  of  the  inhabitants  of  Salem,  Mr. 
Pickering  went,  in  November,  to  the  Province  of  New 
York,  and  engaged  the  services  of  Latham  for  the  hos- 
pital.    At  that  time  he  thought  the  Suttoniau  to  be 
the  nest  method  of  inoculation.     A  writer,  however, 
in  the  "  Essex  Gazette,"  *  freely  declared  his  opinion, 
that  it  was  a  mere  imposture,  and  that  Latham  and 
other  Suttonians,  by  their  bold  pretensions  to  a  mighty 
secret,  to  a  most  extraordinary  method  of  inoculation, 
were  basely  practising  upon  the  credulity  of  the  com- 
munity, in  order  to  fill  their  pockets ;   and  he  com- 
mended the  practice  of  Dr.  Hall  Jackson,  who  was 
inoculating  in  the  hospital  belonging  to  Marblehead. 
In  an  answer  to  this  piece,  which  Mr.  Pickering  wrote 
for  a  Suttonian  advocate,  but  which  expressed  his  own 
sentiments  at  the  time,  he  says,  "Dr.  Latham,  I  am 
told,  is  to  attend  Salem  Hospital.     I  am  content,  there- 
fore, to  rest  the  merits  of  the  cause  upon  the  event" 
Abiding  by  this  test,  he  changed  his  opinion  of  La- 
tham's practice,  and  conceived  it  to   be   his  duty  to 
expose  it  as  an  imposture.     In  consequence,  he  wrote 
and  published  a  piece  signed  "A  Lover  of  Truth."f     It 
was  soon  well  known,  however,  that  he  was  the  author, 
—  a  fact  which  he  took  no  pains  to  conceal.     He  thus 
became   involved   in   a  newspaper  controversy   with 
Latham  and  his  friends,  who  treated  him  with  much 
asperity  and   personal   abuse;    to  whom   he   replied, 
under   the   same   signature  of  "A  Lover  of  Truth," 
with  more  moderation,  but  yet  with  a  sufl&cient  degree 

♦  Of  November  2d,  1778. 

t  In  the  '* Essex  Gazette"  of  February  15th,  1774. 


MT.2S.-i  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHT  PICKERDJQ.  41 

of  severity.  The  following  passage,  in  his  fourth  num- 
ber,* testifies  to  his  public  spirit  and  disinterested 
benevolence ;  — 

"But  who  could  imagine  that  P.  H.,  of  all  men,  would 
charge  me  with  a  breach  of  trust?  Has  he  forgot  his  zeal- 
ous attempt  to  apply  a  fund  established  for  inoculating  the 
poor,  to  raise  the  fees  of  Dr.  Latham  ?  to  raise  them  above 
the  sum  for  which  he  had  agreed  to  attend  the  hospital,  —  a 
sum  already  far  beyond  his  merit?  and  so  to  pervert  the 
good,  the  benevolent,  the  charitable  designs  of  its  founders? 
And  must  I,  must  others,  be  called  narrow  and  contracted 
because  we  refused  assent?  Are  my  subscribing  more 
lai^ly  to  the  hospital,  according  to  my  ability,  than  many 
others,  and  spending  nearly  the  whole  of  tbree  mouths  in 
its  service  without  a  farthing's  reward,  indubitable  proofs 
of  a  contracted  mind?  If  uot,  on  what  do  P.  H.  and  his 
associates  ground  their  bold,  injurious  assertion?  Is  it  on 
this,  —  that  I  have  been  less  disposed  t)ian  they  to  acquire 
the  name  of  generous,  by  lavishing  the  public  money?  to 
expose  the  patients  to  the  most  unreasonable  extortion? 
and  to  grind  the  face  of  the  poor  to  supply  myself  with 
the  means  of  riot  and  extravagance  ?  Or  on  this,  —  that  a 
largo  portion  of  my  life  has  been  spent  in  the  service  of 
my  friends,  my  fellow-citizens,  aud  my  country,  without 
other  reward  than  the  actions  themselveB  could  yield  to  a 
benevolent  mind?  If  these  things  will  uot  support  the 
charge,  I  am  ignorant  where  they  will  fix  it." 

In  bis  fifth  and  last  address  to  the  public,  as  "A 
Lover  of  Truth,"  f  he  writes, — 

**  The  important  points  which,  for  tiie  safety  of  my  fellow- 
citizens  and  countrjonen,  I  have  endeavored  to  establish,  are 
these : — 

*  In  tbe  "  Euex  Ouette,"  Hwcb  S9th,  1714. 
t  lUd.,  April  12Ui,  1774. 


42  UFE  OF  TIMOTHT  PICKEBING.  [1774. 

^  1.  That,  notwithstanding  all  insinuations  and  assertions 
to  the  contrary,  mercury  is  the  basis  of  the  Suttonian 
method  of  inoculation. 

^  2.  That  the  pretensions  of  the  Suttonians  to  new  and 
immensely  valuable  discoTeries  in  the  art  of  inoculation, 
beyond  all  that  was  known,  not  in  Europe  only,  but  even 
in  America,  were  barefaced  lies ;  and,  therefore,  — 

^  3.  That  the  Suttonians  are  a  company  of  impudent  im- 
postors, and  ought,  of  consequence,  to  be  marked  out  to  the 
public  as  objects  of  its  just  abhorrence  and  contempt. 

'^4.  It  appeared  to  me  highly  important,  that  Dr.  La- 
tham in  particular,  as  Sutton's  chief  craftsman  in  America, 
and  whose  practice  had  been  attended  with  such  fatal  mis- 
chiefs, should  be  painted  in  such  striking  colors,  that  even 
the  most  simple,  by  his  vain  boastings,  might  no  more  be 
deluded." 

These  strong  allegations  were  sustained  by  satisfac- 
tory proofs.  Mr.  Pickering  was  ably  supported  by  two 
of  his  friends,  —  the  Rev.  Asa  Dunbar,  who  published 
an  article  signed  ^  A  Friend  to  the  Public,"  *  and  Dr. 
Joseph  Orne,  who  published  one  or  more  pieces,  under 
the  signature  of  "  Marcellus."  f  Though  Mr.  Pickering 
was  aware,  when  he  began  the  attack  on  the  Suttonian 
method,  that  he  was  on  the  unpopular  side  of  the 
question,  J  yet  he  seems  not  to  have  anticipated  the 
outpouring  of  vituperation  and  scurrility  which  were 

*  '*  Essex  Gazette/'  March  16tb,  1774. 

f  In  the  course  of  the  controversy  it  was  intimated,  that  any  substantial 
improvement  in  inoculation,  as  practised  by  Sutton,  had  been  derived  from 
this  country ;  and  **  Marcellus  "  says,  *'  The  success  of  American  inocala- 
tion  has  given  the  amazing  reputation  which  the  art  deserves  and  enjoys."  — 
<<  Essex  Gazette,"  April  12th,  1774. —  See  also  Bees's  **  Cyclopaedia/'  art. 
Inoculation. 

t  **  A  Friend  to  the  Public  "  (the  Rev.  Mr.  Dunbar)  says,  "  The  *  Lover  of 
Truth,'  therefore,  in  administering  this  discipline,  though  he  has  been  incon- 
sistently accused  of  seeking  popularity,  is  engaged  in  an  undertaking,  wblch, 
when  he  began  to  write,  was  almost  as  unpopular  as  religion  itself." 


-ZBt.  28.]  LIFE    OP  TIMOTHY  FICKEBING.  43" 

lavished  upon  him;  and  he  was  chagrined  to  find  it 
more  difficult  to  change  the  public  opinion  than  he  had 
imagined^  Latham  continuing  to  be  upheld  by  many  of 
the  most  influential  inhabitants  of  Salem.  The  follow- 
ing extracts  from  his  correspondence,  on  this  same 
subject,  show  his  habits  of  thinking  at  that  time,  and 
how  grateful  to  him  was  the  encouragement  he  received 
from  his  friends. 

To  his  cousin,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Weeks,  the  Episcopal 
clergyman  at  Marblehead,  he  wrote,  — 

'<  Salex,  March  2d,  1774. 

^  .  •  .  You  may  remember,  a  meeting  of  the  subscribers 
to  our  hospital  was  notified  in  the  last  week's  'Gazette.' 
My  intention  in  this  was,  by  a  true  representation  of 
Latham's  conduct,  to  get  him  cashiered.  But  Prince,  I 
suppose,  from  the  little  ceremony  with  which  I  have  long 
treated  his  dear  crony  and  brother  doctor,  suspected,  my 
design,  and  mustered  the  whole  posse  of  Latbamites,  —  the 
Curwens,  the  Pickmans,  the  Vanses,  the  Bouths,  the  Spar- 
hawks,  and  others  of  less  blustering  note.  •  •  •  A  fuU 
meeting  was  what  I  desired.  But  I  little  expected  to  stand 
alone.  For,  though  I  had  many  well-wishers,  who  had  as 
thorough  a  contempt  for  Latham  as  I,  yet  some  of  them 
never  speak  in  public,  and  others  who  do  (Mr.  Pynchon 
and  Mr.  Goodale  in  particular)  were  silent  as  the  seats 
they  sat  on ;  and  scarcely  ten  words  were  spoken  against 
the  impudent  impostor,  but  by  me.  .  •  .  After  some 
other  matters  were  despatched,  Latham  was  brought  upon 
the  carpet,  and  many  fine  things  were  spoken  in  bis  praise. 
*He  was  a  gentleman,  a  man  of  sense,  honor,  and  integrity ; ' 
'twas  he  who  *  would  do  most  credit  to  the  hospital ; '  nay, 
one  of  the  herd,  who  is  apt  to  make  fine  speeches,  declared, 
*  that  on  him  the  salvation  of  the  hospital  depended.'  My 
answers  sufficiently  intimated  the  contrary  to  be  true.  .  .  . 
Curwen  said,  '  that  pains  bad  been  taken  to  hurt  Latham's 
character,'  evidently  meaning  by  me.     I  then  informed  the 


44  LIFE  OP  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  [1774, 

8ubscribei*s,  that,  so  far  from  endeavoring  to  hurt  Dr. 
Latham,  I  had  concealed  many  stories  I  heard,  on  my  jour- 
ney, to  his  discredit ;  because,  as  people's  hearts  were  set 
upon  him,  I  was  unwilling  to  throw  any  discouragements 
in  the  way ;  and  I  then  supposed  him  well  enough  qualified 
for  an  inoculator.  *  What  are  these  stories  ? '  said  one  and 
another.  <  Let  us  hear  them.'  So  I  rehearsed  them.  But 
they  were  made  light  of.  And  yet  some,  or  one,  of  his 
adherents  asked  why  they  were  not  told  at  first.  And  I 
have  heard,  since  the  meeting,  repeatedly,  that  I  am  up- 
braided for  concealing  those  very  things,  which,  after  they 
were  made  known,  and  after  all  or  most  of  Latham's  im- 
postures and  lies  had  been  clearly  detected,  did  not  prevent 
his  being  more  firmly  est^iblished,  so  far  as  the  vote  of  the 
subscribers,  with  only  one  or  two  dissenting  voices,  could 
do  it.  Such  absurd,  such  unreasonable  conduct  would 
once  have  surprised  me  greatly ;  and  I  must  confess  I  was 
disappointed ;  for  I  had  heard  so  much  fault  found  with 
Latham,  that  I  had  no  conception  of  a  possibility  of  his 
being  so  strongly  supported.  Nor  would  he  have  been,  but 
for  his  extensive  fame,  which,  though  acquired  by  such  dis- 
honest means,  numbers  were  not  ashamed  to  discover  their 
readiness  to  turn  to  their  own  emolument.  .  .  .  Since  I 
entered  on  the  public  stage,  (which  was  in  my  twentieth 
year,)  and  observed  the  conduct  of  mankind,  I  have  seen 
such,  almost  daily,  examples  of  inconsistency;  of  a  l)lind 
attachment  to  established  customs,  however  absurd  and 
mischievous,  and  for  attempting  to  eradicate  which  I  have 
incurred  the  reproaches  of  the  people ;  so  much  craft ;  so 
general  a  pursuit  of  wealth  and  honor,  by  any  means ;  so 
much  pusillanimity;  so  much  of  that  fear  which,  as  the 
wise  man  says,  *bringeth  a  snare,' —  that  I  blame  myself 
for  being  surprised  at  any  event  which  depends  on  such 
dishonest,  such  precarious  principles ;  and  which  yet,  to 
the  disgrace  of  humanity,  and  in  contempt  of  the  pure  and 
rational  religion  they  so  zealously  profess  to  admire,  seem 
to  actuate  the  minds  of  most  men.     From  these  considera- 


Mt.  28.]  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  45 

tions,  —  and  also  because  my  designs  to  serve  my  fellow- 
citizens  have  been  so  often  frustrated,  or  their  execution  has 
so  far  fallen  short  of  my  intention  and  my  ideas  of  perfec- 
tion in  those  cases,  through  the  pcrverseness  of  men,  even 
of  those  who  would  receive  at  least  a  partial  benefit,  —  I  have 
sometimes  been  almost  sick  of  the  world.  For  though,  by 
being  often  calumniated,  I  have  learned  to  bear  unmerited 
reproach,  and  may  say  with  truth  of  my  malicious  adver- 
saries, that  their  shafts  fly  hamiless,  yet  it  is  perhaps 
im])ossib]e  for  the  most  heroic  absolutely  to  escape  uneasi- 
ness. I  do  not  now  feel  the  least  pain  from  the  notoriously 
false  charges  and  vile  suggestions  against  me  in  the  last, 
and  in  this  week's  paper ;  yet,  on  the  first  perusal,  I  was, 
for  a  few  moments,  in  some  degree  unhappy.  Nothing 
but  the  uniform,  inflexible  rectitude  of  my  conduct  has 
supported  me.  Here,  indeed,  I  have  reason  to  triumph. 
Every  considerable  instance  of  opposition  during  my  life 
has  eventually  disgraced  my  opposers.  Latham's  zealous, 
bigoted,  interested  abettors  are  already  seized  with  shame 
and  remorse,  and  confess  their  errors.  I  feel  more  sensibly 
than  ever,  that  Truth  is  great  and  irresistible;  and  I  enjoy 
all  the  pleasures  of  a  complete  victory,  allayed  only  by  a 
reflection  on  the  piteous  situation  of  my  principal  hero. 

'^As  there  is  an  end  of  poor  Latham,  if  our  hospital 
should  be  continued  we  must  seek  a  physician.  I  have  no 
thought  of  any  but  Dr.  Jackson,  and  am  informed  he  is 
r^ady  to  attend  on  very  generous  terms.  At  our  March 
meeting,  which,  I  suppose,  will  be  next  Monday  sennight,  I 
expect  a  strong  opposition  to  its  continuance ;  but  moderate 
fees  for  the  physician  might  have  considerable  influence  on 
the  middling  and  poor  people.  I  should  be  glad,  therefore, 
to  know  the  terms  on  which  Dr.  Jackson,  in  the  frankness, 
the  generosity,  and  the  humanity  of  his  disposition,  would 
consent  to  attend. 

"Dr.  Latham's  punishment,  though  severe,  yet  I  trust 
you  will  judge  no  more  than  adequate  to  bis  offences.  With 
my  first  piece  be  was  continually  tormented.     Some  of  the 


46  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  [1774. 

Beverly  patients  told  Dr.  Orne,  that  he  was  often  storming 
about  ity  and  walked  the  platform  several  nights  in  mere 
rage ;  and  be* told  Colonel  Fowle  I  was  *a  damned  rascal.^  * 
If  be  was  so  stung  then,  what  must  be  bis  resentment  now? 
If  we  were  in  the  army,  I  should  expect  the  fashionable  * 
compliment.  Whether  I  shall  escape,  even  here,  is  a  mat- 
ter of  some  doubt  with  me.  But,  though  I  should  be 
unwilling  to  hazard  my  life  with  a  villain,  and  think  it  the 
highest  absurdity  to  put  honor  in  the  balance  with  a  brawny 
arm,  or  to  measure  truth  with  the  length  of  a  sword,  and 
should,  therefore,  refuse  a  challenge ;  and  although  life  is 
upon  the  whole  agreeable,  and  I  could  wish  to  live  for 
many  years  to  come,  yet  death  is  not  the  most  frightful 
monster ;  for  he  who  is  afraid  to  die  ought  to  be  afraid  to 
live,  and  must,  in  fact,  be  in  constant  terror.  But  neither 
death  nor  life  does  much  distress  me.  Few  are  the  bands 
which  tie  me  down  to  earth,  and  the  principal  happiness 
which  here  can  be  enjoyed  springs  from  the  social  inter- 
views and  cordial  amity  of  friends." 

To  the  Rev.  Asa  Dunbar  he  wrote  as  follows,  on* 
the  14th  of  March,  1774,  addressing  him  as  "my  best 
friend,"  and  commending  him  for  his  disdain  of  impos- 
ture and  deceit,  and  as  belonging  to  a  class  of  persons 
sometimes  called  imprudent,  because  they  dare  to  think 
for  themselves,  and  to  speak  what  they  think. 

<^This  imprudence  sometimes  runs  them  into  difficul- 
ties, through  the  perverseness  of  mankind.  *  But,'  to  use 
the  words  of  Dr.  Mead,  *  the  consciousness  of  doing  right 
is  beyond  all  praise,'  (I  add,  and  superior  to  censure,)  *  carry- 
ing with  it  its  own  reward ;  and  this  he  always  enjoys  who 
consults  the  public  good,  and,  by  his  actions,  shows  that  he 
thinks  he  is  born,  not  for  himself,  but  for  the  whole  world.' 


*  Mr.  Pickering  was  much  amused  by  one  of  his  expressions,  namely,  — 
"  Damn  the  *  Lover  of  Truth.' " 


Mt.  28.]  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  47 

Such  sentiments  have  enabled  me,  times  without  number, 
calmly  to  bear  unmerited  reproach.  Such  sentiments  roused 
the  *  Lover  of  Truth'  to  action.  You  know  the  consequence. 
But  your  approbation,  the  approbation  of  a  mind  so  enlight- 
ened, of  a  virtuous,  brave,  and  independent  spirit,  is  suffi- 
cient to  console  me  for  the  contempt  of  half  mankind. 
This  may  look  like  flattery :  but  I  speak  my  sober  senti- 
ments. To-morrow  you  give  the  world  a  noble  testimony 
of  the  motives  and  manner  of  my  writing.*  When  I  read 
it,  my  heart  expanded  with  grateful  joy." 

The  foregoing  letter  to  Mr.  Weeks  intimates  the 
possibility  of  a  challenge  from  Dr.  Latham.  From  the 
following  laconic  epistles,  it  may  be  inferred  that, 
if  violence  was  not  designed,  it  was  at  least  appre- 
hended :  — 

<<  Salem  Hospital,  March  19th,  1774. 

"  To  Captain  Pickering. 
"  Sm :  I  beg  you  will  do  me  the  favor  to  meet  me  at 
Mr.  Goodhue's  tavera,  next  Monday,  about  half  an  hour 
after  eleven  o'clock,  in  the  forenoon.  If  this  hour  is  not 
convenient  for  you,  please  to  inform  me  then  (or  before) 
what  time  after  five  o'clock,  in  the  afternoon,  you  can  be 
at  leisure  to  meet  me  there. 

« I  am,  Sir, 

"James  Latham.** 

"  Salex,  March  2l8t,  1774,  — Morning. 

"  To  Dr.  James  Latham,  at  Salem  Hospital. 
"  Sir  :  I  have  just  received  your  letter,  dated  at  Salem 
Hospital,  the  19th  instant,  in  which  you  request  me  to  meet 
you,  to-day,  at  Mr.  Goodhue's  tavern.  I  am  ignorant  of 
any  business  you  can  have  there  to  transact  with  me. 
When  you  have  informed  me  of  your  design  in  making 

*  In  a  piece  signed  "  A  Friend  of  the  Public,"  in  the  '<  Essex  Gazette  **  of 
March  16th,  1774. 


48  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  [1774. 

this  request,  I  shall  be  able  to  give  you  a  further  auswer. 
At  present,  I  can  only  assure  you  that 

"  I  am,  Sir, 

"  Timothy  Pickering,  Jr." 

These  controversies,  although  of  little  interest  at  the 
present  day,  were,  no  doubt,  permanently  useful  to 
Mr.  Pickering,  as  exercises  contributing  to  give  him  a 
facility  in  composition,  and  as  discipline  fitting  hira  to 
bear,  with  more  equanimity,  the  undeserved  reproaches 
of  political  opponents  at  subsequent  periods  of  his  life. 
One  of  his  antagonists,  after  the  excitement  respecting 
Latham  had  subsided,  testified  his  regret  for  the  pain 
he  must  have  given  Mr.  Pickering  by  the  harsh  stric- 
tures he  had  made  concerning  hira ;  but  Mr.  Pickering 
told  him  they  had  caused  him  very  little  uneasiness. 
At  this  statement,  the  gentleman  expressed  surprise, 
for  Mr.  Pickering's  severe  remarks,  he  said,  produced 
quite  a  different  effect  upon  him.  "  Yes,"  said  Mr. 
Pickering,  "  and  I  will  tell  you  the  reason :  my  pen 
was  pointed  with  truth." 


Mt.  28.]  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHT  FICKEBINQ.  49 


CHAPTER  IV. 

Address  from  Salem  to  Governor  Gage  on  the  Boston  Port  Bill.  — 
The  Governor's  Answer.  —  Mr.  Pickering's  Interviews  with  the 
Governor.  —  Arrest  of  Members  of  the  Salem  Committee  of 
Correspondence.  —  Mr.  Pickering  elected  Register  of  Deeds; 
also,  a  Colonel  in  the  Militia. — Colonel  Leslie's  Expedition  to 
Salem  to  seize  Cannon. 

While  taking  a  prominent  part  in  these  local  contro- 
versies, Mr.  Pickering  was  not  inactive  in  concerns  of 
greater  magnitude,  affecting  deeply  all  the  British  Colo- 
nies in  America.  The  Boston  Port  Bill,  by  which  that 
port  was  shut  against  commerce,  and  the  seat  of  gov- 
ernment was  transferred  from  Boston  to  Salem,  went 
into  operation  on  the  1st  of  June,  1774.  An  Address, 
written  by  him,  and  signed  by  one  hundred  and 
twenty-five  inhabitants  of  Salem,  and  on  the  18th  of 
June  presented  by  him  to  Governor  Gage,  will  be 
given  below.  But,  as  a  preliminary,  I  quote  a  passage 
relating  to  it,*  which  I  presume  is  from  the  pen  of 
Edmund  Burke :  — 

**  The  day  after  the  dissolution  of  the  Assembly,  a  most 
pathetic,  but,  at  the  same  time,  firm  and  manly,  Address 
was  presented,  from  the  merchants  and  freeholders  of  the 
town  of  Salem,  to  the  Governor.  We  cannot  forget  that 
this  town  was  now  become  the  temporary  capital  of  the 
Province,  in  the  place  of  Boston;  and  that  the  General 
Assembly,  the  Courts  of  Justice,  the  Custom  House,  and, 


*  Annual  Register  for  1775,  pp.  8,  9. 
VOL.  L  7 


50  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  [1774. 

80  far  as  it  could  be  done  by  power,  the  trade  of  that  port, 
were  removed  thither;  so  that  they  were  already  in  pos- 
session of  a  principal  share  of  those  spoils,  which,  it  was 
supposed,  would  have  eflectually  influenced  the  conduct  of 
that  people,  and  thereby  have  bred  such  incurable  envy, 
jealousy,  and  animosity,  between  the  gainers  and  sufferers, 
that  the  refractory  capital,  finding  herself  abandoned,  and 
being  left  alone  to  ruminate  upon  her  forlorn  situation, 
would  soon  be  reclaimed,  and  brought  to  as  full  a  sense  of 
her  duty  as  of  her  punishment. 

"  Whether  this  opinion  was  founded  upon  a  thorough 
knowledge  of  human  nature  in  general,  or  took  its  rise 
from  particular  instances,  which  were  extended  in  specula- 
tion to  the  whole,  may,  perhaps,  in  a  certain  degree,  be 
determined  from  the  following  generous  sentiments  of  the 
inhabitants  of  Salem.  They  say,  *  We  are  deeply  afflict- 
ed,' &c.* 

"  The  whole  Address  is  remarkable  for  the  propriety  with 
which  it  is  conducted,  and  the  justness  of  its  sentiments. 
They  treat  the  Governor  with  the  highest  respect,  and  hope 
much  from  his  general  character,  as  well  as  from  his  con- 
duct in  a  former  government ;  they  express  the  strongest 
attachment  to  the  mother  country,  the  deepest  concern  for 
the  present  unhappy  troubles,  and  the  most  fervent  wishes 
for  a  speedy  and  happy  reconciliation,  to  obtain  which  they 
are  willing  to  sacrifice  everything  compatible  with  the  safety 
and  dignity  of  British  subjects."  f 

*  Here  are  recited  the  second  paragraph  of  the  Address,  and  the  first  sen- 
tence of  the  third,  as  printed  below. 

t  In  Almon's  *^  Remembrancer,"  Vol.  II.  p.  22,  the  Address  is  published  with 
these  remarks  :  —  ...  **  Though  this  was  prior  to  the  commencement  of 
our  publication,  yet,  as  it  hath  been  highly  commended  for  the  sound  sense  it 
contains,  the  dignity  of  the  sentiments,  the  noble,  manly,  and  sober  spirit  of 
the  expressions,  an  obliging  correspondent  has  desired  it  may  be  preserved 
in  this  work.  .  .  .  Our  readers  will  thank  us  for  exhibiting  it  as  a  piece 
of  generous  disinterestedness  also,  and  an  honorable  contrast  to  the  conduct 
of  some  towns  in  this  kingdom,  and  in  Ireland,  who  endeavored,  with  an  un- 
feeling and  savage  avarice,  to  enrich  themselves  with  the  wreck  of  the  New 
England  fishery.*'    See  also  Ramsay's  *'  American  Revolution,"  Vol.  1. 124. 


Mt.  28.]  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  51 

The  following  is  the  Address. 

«  May  it  please  your  Excellency, 

"  We,  who  ai^e  merchants  and  freeholders  in  the  town  of 
Salem,  beg  leave  to  present  to  you  our  dutiful  respects  on 
your  appointment  to  the  government  of  this  Province.  The 
universal  tribute  of  thanks  and  applause  paid  you  for  the 
wisdom,  mildness,  and  exact  regularity  of  your  conduct  in 
another  command,  cannot  fail  to  excite  the  most  just  expec- 
tations that  this  Province  will  enjoy  the  happy  fruits  of  your 
benignity. 

"  We  are  deeply  affected  with  a  sense  of  our  public  calam- 
ities ;  but  the  miseries  that  are  now  rapidly  hastening  on 
our  brethren  in  the  capital  of  the  Province  greatly  excite 
our  commiseration ;  and  we  hope  your  Excellency  will  use 
your  endeavors  to  prevent  a  further  accumulation  of  evils 
on  that  already  sorely  distressed  people. 

^  By  shutting  up  the  port  of  Boston,  some  imagine  that 
the  course  of  trade  might  be  turned  hither,  and  to  our 
benefit ;  but  Nature,  in  the  formation  of  our  harbor,  forbids 
our  becoming  rivals  in  commerce  to  that  convenient  mart : 
and,  were  it  otherwise,  we  must  be  dead  to  every  idea 
of  justice,  lost  to  all  the  feelings  of  humanity,  could  we 
indulge  one  thought  to  seize  on  wealth  and  raise  our  for- 
tunes on  the  ruin  of  our  suffering  neighbors.  But,  so  far 
from  receiving  a  benefit,  we  are  greatly  injured  by  the 
shutting  up  the  harbor  of  Boston,  as  it  deprives  us  of  a 
market  for  much  the  largest  part  of  our  West  India  imports ; 
and  there  is  not  a  town  in  the  Province  but  will  feel  the 
ill  effects  of  it.  Permit  us,  then,  Sir,  to  apply  to  your 
clemency  and  justice  to  afford  us  every  alleviation  in  your 
power,  and  to  procure  for  us  every  possible  relief  from  this 
extensive  mischief. 

^  We  account  it  the  greatest  unhappiness  that  this  Prov- 
ince, which  has  ever  been  foremost  in  loyalty  to  the  Kings 
of  Britain,  —  in  its  efforts  to  defend  their  territories  and 
enlarge  their  dominions,  —  should  be  the  first  to  feel  our 
Sovereign's  severest  displeasure.     Our  fathers  fled  from 


52  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  [1774. 

oppression,  braved  every  danger,  and  here  began  a  settle- 
ment on  bare  creation.  Almost  incredible  are  the  fatigues 
and  difficulties  they  encountered  to  subdue  a  dreary  wilder- 
ness, filled  with  savage  beasts,  and  yet  more  savage  men ; 
but,  by  their  iuvincible  resolution,  they  rose  superior  to 
them  all,  and,  by  their  astonishing  efibrts,  greatly  facili- 
tated the  settlement  of  the  other  British  Colonies  in  Amer- 
ica. Yes,  Sir,  we  speak  it  with  grief, — the  sons  are  checked 
and  dishonored  for  exhibitiug  proofs  of  their  inheriting  some 
portion  of  that  spirit  which,  in  their  fathers,  produced  such 
astonishing  efiects. 

"  A  happy  union  with  Great  Britain  is  the  wish  of  all  the 
Colonies.  It  is  their  unspeakable  grief  that  it  has,  in  any 
degree,  been  interrupted.  We  earnestly  desire  to  repair 
the  breach.  We  ardently  pray  that  harmony  may  be  re- 
stored. And,  for  these  ends,  every  measure  compatible 
with  the  dignity  and  safety  of  British  subjects  we  shall 
gladly  adopt. 

"  We  assure  your  Excellency  we  shall  make  it  our  con- 
stant endeavor  to  preserve  the  peace  and  promote  the  wel- 
fare of  the  Province ;  and  hereby  we  shall  best  advance  the 
interest  of  our  Sovereign. 

"  In  these  times,  the  administration  of  government  must 
be  peculiarly  arduous  and  difficult ;  but  yours  we  wish  may 
be  as  easy  as  the  nature  of  things  will  possibly  admit,  and 
the  event  happy;  and  that  your  public  labors  may  be 
crowned  with  the  noblest  reward,  —  the  voluntary,  disin- 
terested applause  of  a  whole  free  people."  * 

♦  The  Governor  made  the  following  answer. 

"  Gentlemen  : 

**  1  thank  you  for  the  obliging  expressions  towards  me  confined  in  your 
Address,  and  be  assured  it  will  always  afford  me  sincere  pleasure  to  be  of  use 
to  the  inhabitants  of*  this  town,  or  any  individuals  in  the  Province. 

"  I  feel,  as  well  as  you,  the  inconveniences  that  the  inhabitants  must  suffer 
from  shutting  up  the  port  of  Boston,  and  should  be  glad  if  they  would  co- 
operate with  my  endeavors  to  extricate  themselves  from  them ;  but,  without 
their  assistance,  I  can  take  no  step  towards  their  relief.  I  am  sorry  that  the 
people  of  that  capital  should  have  given  such  repeated  provocations  to  the 


^T.  29.]  LtFB  OP  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  53 

Mr.  Pickering  also  draughted  an  address  to  the  Gov- 
ernor, from  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas  and  the  Court 
of  Sessions. 

Subsequently,  in  a  printed  letter  to  Governor  Sulli- 
van, dated  April  22d,  1808,  (page  23d,)  Mr.  Pickering 
says,  — 

**  Another  incident  it  may  not  be  improper  to  mention. 
While  the  seat  of  government  remained  at  Salem,  I  re- 
ceived a  note  from  the  Secretary  of  the  Province,  informing 
me  that  the  Governor  wished  to  see  me  at  the  Secretary's 
house.  I  went,  and  was  introduced  to  Governor  Gage. 
Taking  me  into  another  room,  he  entered  into  conversation 
on  the  then  state  of  things  —  the  solemn  league  and  cove- 
nant, and  the  non-importation  agreements.  In  the  conclu- 
sion, the  General  said,  *  Well,  there  are  merchants  who, 
notwithstanding  all  your  agreements,  will  import  British 
goods.'  I  answered,  *They  may  import  them,  but  the 
people  will  use  their  liberty  to  buy  or  to  let  them  alone.' " 

On  the  20th  of  August,  1774,  the  following  notice 
was  given  to  the  inhabitants  of  Salem :  — 

"  The  Committee  of  Correspondence  desire  the  merchants, 
freeholders,  and  other  inhabitants  of  this  town,  to  meet  at 
the  town-house  chamber  next  Wednesday,  at  nine  o'clock  in 
the  morning,  to  appoint  five  or  more  deputies,  to  meet  at 
Ipswich,  on  the  6th  of  September  next,  with  the  deputies 
which  shall  be  appointed  by  the  other  towns  in  this  county, 
to  consider  of,  and  determine  on,  such  measures  as  the  late 

King  and  the  British  nation,  as  to  force  them  to  take  the  present  measures  in 
support  of  their  authority.  Great  Britain  is  equally  desirous  as  yourselres 
of  a  happy  union  with  this,  as  well  as  every  other,  Colony,  and,  inheriting  the 
spirit  of  her  ancestors,  finds  it  necessary  to  support  her  rights,  as  the  su- 
preme head  of  her  extended  empire.  She  strives  not  to  check  that  spirit 
which  you  say  you  inherit  from  your  fathers,  but  to  inculcate  that  due  obe- 
dience to  the  King,  in  his  Parliament,  which  your  Others  acknowledged. 
<'  Salem,  June  18th,  1774." 


54  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKEEING.  [1774. 

acts  of  Parliament  and  our  other  grievances  render  neces- 
sary and  expedient.        « 

"  Salem,  August  19th,  1774." 

Some  of  the  proceedings  consequent  upon  this  no- 
tification are  detailed  in  the  following  letter  from  Mr. 
Pickering  to  his  brother-in-law,*  Paine  Wingate  :  — 

"  Salem,  August  the  25th,  1774. 

"  Deab  Sie  : 

"  It  will  be  agreeable  to  you  to  have  an  authentic  account 
of  the  recent  transactions  in  this  town. 

"Last  Saturday  notifications  were  posted  up  in  many 
places  of  the  town,  by  order  of  the  Committee  of  Corre- 
spondence, desiring  the  inhabitants  to  assemble  at  the  town- 
house  yesterday  morning  at  nine  o'clock.  ...  At  eight 
o'clock,  I  received  a  letter  from  the  Secretary,  informing 
me  that  it  was  his  Excellency  the  Governor's  f  desire,  that 
I  and  the  rest  of  the  Committee  of  Correspondence  would 
meet  him  at  Colonel  Browne's,  X  for  he  had  something  of 
importance  to  communicate  to  us.  We  waited  on  him  there 
at  nine  o'clock,  as  requested.  He  first  asked  us  if  we 
avowed  the  printed  notifications  for  the  meeting  of  the 
inhabitants  at  that  time.  Captain  [Richard]  Derby,  Jr., 
answered  in  the  affirmative.  Says  the  Governor,  *  As  you 
assembled  the  people,  'tis  your  duty  to  disperse  them ;  you 
are  the  source,  and  must  abide  the  consequences.'  Captain 
Derby  replied,  *Now  the  people  are  assembled,  they  will 
act  as  they  think  best.  We  cannot  oblige  them  to  disperse.' 
The  Governor  declared  it  was  an  unlawful  meeting,  for 
the  seditious  purpose  of  opposing  an  act  of  Parliament. 
Captain  Derby  answered,  'Neither  we  nor  the  people 
thought  we  were  opposing  even  an  act  of  Parliament,  much 

*  At  the  date  of  the  letter,  the  minister  at  Hampton  Falls,  and  subsequent- 
ly a  member  of  the  Senate  of  the  United  States  from  New  Hampshire.  He 
was  married  to  a  sister  of  Mr.  Pickering. 

t  General  Gage. 

}  A  Mandamus  CounciUor,  who  lived  at  Salem. 


JBt.  29.]  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKEBING.  65 

less  the  laws  of  the  Province.'  Says  the  Governor,  *  I  am 
not  going  to  enter  into  a  conversation  about  the  matter,  or 
to  determine  quirks  of  law ;  the  Attorney-General  and 
Colonel  Browne  (they  were  present,  as  well  as  the  Secre- 
tary) will  inform  (or  answer)  you  there.  I  came  here  to 
execute  the  laws,  (or  acts  of  Parliament,  I  forget  which,) 
and  I  am  determined  to  do  it.'  Some  other  things  passed, 
but  not  material,  and  the  Governor  concluded  thus:  'I 
desire  you  to  disperse  the  meeting  of  the  inhabitants ;  if 
they  disregard  you,  the  Sheriff  will  go  first ;  and  if  they  do 
not  then  disperse,  and  he  needs  support,  I  will  support  him, 
and  the  people  must  abide  the  consequences.'  The  Governor 
appeared  almost  the  whole  time  in  an  indecent  passion,  and 
uttered  the  closing  sentence  with  much  vehemence.  I  was 
told  by  Dr.  Holten,*  yesterday,  that  the  Governor  had  no 
rest  from  the  time  our  notification  appeared,  scarcely  sitting 
half  an  hour  in  a  day.  The  Attorney-General  and  the 
High  Sheriff  were  specially  summoned  for  the  purpose,  and 
orders  were  given  to  the  regiment  to  be  in  order,  who, 
accordingly,  equipped  themselves  as  if  for  battle,  and 
marched  from  their  encampment  near  our  fort  to  the  Neck 
gate,  where  the  main  body  (there  are  but  about  three  hun- 
dred men,  and  about  as  many  women  and  children)  halted 
and  loaded ;  then  about  eighty  marched  up  street,  almost 
to  brother  Williams's.  But  before  this  movement  of  the 
soldiers  was  known,  and  whilst  we  were  in  at  Colonel 
Browne's,  the  inhabitants,  being  assembled  at  the  town- 
house,  transacted  all  the  business  of  the  meeting,  which 
was  merely  to  choose  delegates  f  for  a  county  meeting  to 
be  held  at  Ipswich,  on  the  6th  of  September  next,  and 
were  actually  broke  up  before  we  got  to  the  town-house. 
To-ilay  Colonel  JVye,  by  express  orders  from  the  Governor, 
issued  a  warrant  for  apprehending  the  members  of  the  Com- 
mittee of  Correspondence,  who  ordered  the  notifications  to 

*  Of  Danyers ;  in  1778  a  member  of  Congress. 

t  Richard  Derby,  John  Pickering,  Jr.,  Jonathan  Ropes,  Timothy  Fickering, 
Jr.,  Jonathan  Gardner,  Jr.,  and  Richard  Manning  were  elected. 


56  LIFE    OF    TIMOTHY    PICKERING.  [1774. 

be  posted.  These  were  Captain  Richard  Manning,  brother 
Williams,  Mr.  Jonathan  Ropes,  Jonathan  Gardner,  Jr.,  Mr. 
Sprague,  and  myself.  Mr.  Warwick  Palfray  was  also 
included,  though  not  then  present.  Captain  Derby  was 
omitted,  being  absent  through  indisposition ;  but  he  had 
expressly  desired  his  brother  Gardner  to  inform  the  Com- 
mittee that  he  was  for  having  a  town-meeting.  The  High 
Sheriff  first  came  and  arrested  me.  I  went  with  him  to 
Frye's.  Mr.  Sprague  came  up,  and  the  Sherifi*  arrested 
him  also.  Frye  told  us  all  that  was  required  was  this,  — 
that  we  should  each  recognize  in  £100,  without  sureties, 
to  appear  at  the  next  Superior  Court,  to  be  held  at  Salem 
the  first  Tuesday  in  November,  to  answer  to  the  charge 
against  us  in  the  warrant;  which  was,  for  unlawfully  and 
seditiously  assembling  the  people  without  leave  from  the 
Governor,  contrary  to  the  laws  and  the  statute  in  that  case 
lately  made  and  provided,  Mr.  Spmgue  asked  me  what 
was  best  to  be  done.  I  told  him  I  thought  we  had  better 
recognize,  which  we  did.  My  motives  were  these  :  I  could 
conceive  no  prejudice  would  arise  to  the  cause  in  complying 
so  far.  The  warrant  was  issued  and  executed  by  lawful 
oflSccrs.  We  need  be  under  no  apprehensions  of  being  con- 
victed of  any  crime,  because  the  juries  will  be  appointed  as 
heretofore ;  (for  I  think  it  clear  that  no  jury  can  be  ap- 
pointed agreeably  to  the  act,  in  this  county,  till  next  March 
term,  and  perhaps  not  till  next  March  twelve  months;)  or 
if  a  jury  should  be  packed,  (which  is  scarce  possible,)  and 
we  convicted,  we  should  then  have  ample  reason  for  a  refu- 
sal of  submission.  If  we  opposed  now,  and  the  Governor 
should  persist  in  his  attempts  to  execute  the  laws,  a  tumult 
and  carnage  must  ensue ;  for  the  people  are  exasperated  to 
a  high  degree.  These  were  the  reasons  I  gave  the  rest  of 
the  Committee ;  and,  although  they  at  first  thought  it  would 
have  been  best  to  have  refused  to  enter  into  recognizance, 
yet  they  appeared  entirely  to  acquiesce,  (for  the  reasons  I 
gave,)  and  I  supposed  that,  when  arrested,  they  would  rec- 
ognize without  hesitation.     But  they  have  since  refused 


2ET.29.]  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  57 

before  the  Justice,  Fiye,  who  immediately,  I  am  told, 
posted  off  to  the  Governor  to  inform  him  of  it.  They  told 
Frye,  however,  that  they  should  be  ready  again  to  appear 
before  him,  if  summoned.  The  Governor,  I  doubt  not,^ 
will  pursue  the  matter ;  but  I  am  inclined  to  think  they  will 
comply,  for  the  reasons  above  mentioned,  which  I  shall  urge 
this  evening  at  our  meeting." 

Colonel  Frye  became  alarmed  by  the  excitement 
caused  by  the  arrests  made  under  his  warrant,  and,  in 
the  ^  Essex  Gazette  "  of  September  13th,  and  ^^  Salem 
Gazette  "  of  September  16th,  appeared  the  following 
paragraph,  signed  by  him,  but  draughted  by  Mr.  Pick- 
ering :  — 

"In  consequence  of  an  express  order  from  Governor  Gage, 
I  issued  a  warrant,  grounding  it  upon  the  late  act  of  Par- 
liament for  altering  the  Constitution  of  this  Province,  against 
seven  gentlemen,  members  of  the  Committee  of  Correspond- 
ence in  Salem,  for  causing  the  inhabitants  of  the  town  to 
assemble  for  the  purpose  of  choosing  delegates  for  the  late 
county  meeting  held  at  Ipswich;  in  consequence  whereof, 
two  of  them  were  arrested,  and  gave  bond  to  appear  at  the 
next  Superior  Court  to  be  held  at  Salem,  to  answer  for  their 
so  doing.  These  two  bonds  I  have  this  day  freely,  of  my 
own  accord,  delivered  up  to  the  persons  who  gave  them, 
and  have  recalled  the  warrant.  Further,  I  declare  that  I 
will  not  accept  of  any  commission  under  said  act  of  Parlia- 
ment, nor  do  anything,  either  in  my  public  or  private  capaci- 
ty, to  carry  it  into  execution.  And  therefore  hope  to  be 
restored  to  that  friendship  and  regard  with  my  fellow-citi- 
zens and  countrymen  which  I  heretofore  enjoyed. 

"P.  Frye. 

<<  Salem,  September  8th,  1774." 

On  a  scrap  of  paper,  in  the  same  handwriting  as 
the  recognizance,  (presumed  to  be  that  of  Frye,)  is  a 

VOL.  L  8 


68  IIFB  OP  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  [1774. 

memorandum,  —  ^  T.  Pickering  said  if  the  acts  were 
put  in  force,  we  should  wade  in  blood  firsts  or  to  that 
effect" 

After  the  decease  of  John  Higginson,  the  Register 
of  Deeds  for  the  county  of  Essex,  Mr.  Pickering  sent 
a  printed  circular,  dated  September  27th,  1774,  to  the 
freeholders  of  the  several  towns  in  the  county,  pro- 
posing himself  as  a  candidate  for  the  office.  Among 
other  things,  he  says,  — 

^I  am  happy  in  the  friendship  of  many  gentlemen  in 
sundry  towns  in  the  county,  who  have  heretofore  made  me 
acquainted  with  their  own  sentiments,  and  assured  me  I 
might  expect  the  united  suffrages  of  their  townsmen.  In 
such  cases,  their  kind  information  and  assistance  may  su- 
persede the  necessity  of  this  application,  but  perhaps  not  ren- 
der it  improper.  I  suppose  it  is  known  to  some  freeholders 
in  each  town  in  the  county,  that  I  have  a  long  time  assisted 
Mr.  Higginson  in  his  office ;  and,  of  course,  it  may  seem 
probable  that  I  am  sufficiently  acquainted  with  the  business 
of  it ;  but  this  is  a  point  in  which  you  ought  to  be  satisfied 
by  other  evidence  than  my  own.  If,  Gentlemen,  you  obtain 
this  satisfaction,  you  will  confer  on  mo  a  great  and  lasting 
obligation  by  giving  me  your  votes.  ...  To  determine 
your  votes.  Gentlemen,  you  will  think  yourselves  bound  to 
be  furnished  with  something  better  than  the  promises  of  a 
stranger,  —  and  as  such  I  must  consider  myself  to  most  of 
the  freeholders  in  many  towns  in  the  county.  In  these 
cases,  I  ground  my  request  entirely  on  the  testimonies  of 
gentlemen  acquainted  with  my  character,  and  whose  probity, 
honor,  and  judgment  are  well  known.  Their  declarations 
concerning  my  qualifications  and  past  behavior  will,  at  this 
time,  best  determine  the  freeholders  respecting  the  pro- 
priety or  impropriety  of  giving  me  their  suffrages ;  as,  if  I 
shall  be  so  happy  as  to  obtain  them,  my  future  conduct 
must  show  whether  I  really  deserved  them,  and  whether  I 
shall  merit  a  repetition  of  the  favor." 


2ET.29.]  LIFE  OP  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  59 

The  following  letter  to  the  freeholders  of  Essex, 
draughted,  apparently,  by  Richard  Derby,  Jr.,  accom- 
panied Mr.  Pickering's  circular.  It  was  signed  by  four 
of  the  Selectmen,  and  by  six  members  of  the  Commit- 
tee of  Correspondence,  of  Salem. 

«<  Salbm,  September  27tfa,  1774. 

"  Gentlemen, 

*^  As,  by  the  death  of  Colonel  Higginson,  a  vacancy  has 
taken  place  in  the  office  of  Register  of  Deeds  for  this 
county,  and  warrants  have  been  issued  for  the  election  of  a 
successor,  we  think  it  will  be  agreeable  to  you  to  be  in- 
formed, that  Captain  Timothy  Pickering,  Jr.,  (who  has  a 
freehold  in  the  county,  as  the  law  requires,)  will  undoubted- 
ly have  the  votes  of  the  freeholders  of  this  town ;  and  we 
can,  with  pleasure  and  sincerity,  recommend  him  as  a  person 
in  every  respect  well  qualitied  to  discharge  that  important 
trust,  more  especially  as  he  has,  for  some  years  past,  been 
thoroughly  conversant  with  the  business  of  that  office. 
This  town,  well  convinced  of  his  ability  and  assiduity,  have 
elected  him  into  the  most  important  town  offices ;  and,  im- 
mediately on  Colonel  Higginson's  resigning  the  office  of 
Town  Clerk,  he  was  elected  to  supply  his  place,  and  has 
discharged  that  and  his  other  offices  entirely  to  the  satisfac- 
tion of  the  town.  And,  should  you  now  give  him  your 
suffrages  for  Register  of  Deeds,  we  have  no  doubt  you  also 
will  soon  be  convinced  that  your  favor  was  properly  be- 
stowed, and  that,  by  intrusting  him  with  that  inipoiiant 
office,  you  will  in  the  best  manner  have  provided  for  the 
safety  of  those  writings  on  which  the  titles  to  your  free- 
holds are  founded. 

^  Hoping  you  will  concur  with  us  in  sentiment,  we  are, 
Gentlemen,  your  friends,"  &c. 

In  October,  Mr.  Pickering  was  elected  Register  of 
Deeds,  probably  without  opposition,  as,  on  a  reelection 
in  1776,  **  all  the  votes  were  for  him.'*    He  resigned 


60  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHT  PICKERING.  [1776. 

the  oflfice  about  the  end  of  May,  1777,  in  consequence 
of  his  acceptance  of  the  oflBce  of  Adjutant-General  of 
the  army  of  the  United  States. 

At  a  meeting,  on  the  13th  of  February,  1775,  of  the 
officers  of  the  several  companies  in  the  First  Regiment 
of  militia  in  the  county  of  Essex,  Mr.  Pickering  was 
elected  Colonel.  He  was  commissioned  accordingly, 
under  the  royal  government,  and  again,  on  the  14th 
of  February,  1776,  by  "  the  major  part  of  the  Council 
of  the  Massachusetts  Bay."  *  He  held  this  office  until 
some  time  after  he  had  joined  the  army  of  the  United 
States,  in  1777. 

On  the  26th  of  February,  1775,  Colonel  Alexander 
Leslie,  with  a  portion  of  the  Sixty-fourth  Regiment  of 
infantry,  was  despatched  by  General  Gage  from  Castle 
William,  in  Boston  harbor,  for  the  purpose  of  destroying 
some  cannon  at  that  time  in  the  North  Fields  in  Salem. 
By  internal  evidence,  and  the  circumstances  of  the 
case,  I  am  led  to  think  that  Colonel  Pickering  was  the 

« 

author  of  the  following  contemporary  account  of  the 
expedition  in  the  "  Essex  Gazette  "  of  Tuesday,  Feb- 
ruary 28th,  1775.t 

"  Last  Sabbath  the  peace  of  the  town  was  disturbed  by 
the  coming  of  a  regiment  of  the  King's  troops,  the  particu- 
lars relative  to  which  are  as  follows :  A  transport  arrived 
at  Marblehead,  apparently  manned  as  usual.  Between  two 
and  three  o'clock,  (as  soon  as  the  people  had  gone  to  meet- 


*  It  was  enacted  by  the  General  Court  of  MaMachasetts,  that,  after  the  19th 
of  September,  1775,  all  appointments  and  commissions  **  before  the  present 
meeting  of  this  General  Court,  made  or  granted  by  any  Governor  or  Lieuten- 
ant-Govemor,"  &c.,  should  be  nuU  and  void.  —  Ancient  Charters ,  ifCf  of 
Massachusetts,  p.  690. 

t  My  conjecture  derives  support  from  the  statement  of  Mr.  Charles  M. 
Endicott,  that  it  is  '*  believed  to  have  been  written  "  by  Colonel  Pickering. — 
See  '*  Proceedings  of  the  Essex  Institute,"  Vol.  I.  p.  122. 


JEt.  29.]  LITE   OP  TIMOTHY   PICKERING.  61 

ing,)  the  decks  were  covered  with  soldiers,  who,  haviog 
loaded,  aud  fixed  their  bayonets,  landed  with  great  de- 
spatch, and  instantly  marched  off.  Some  of  the  iuhabitante, 
suspecting  they  were  bouud  for  Salem  to  seize  some  mate- 
rials there  preparing  for  an  artillery,  despatched  several 
messengers  to  inform  us  of  it.  These  materials  were  on 
the  nSrth  side  of  the  N'orth  River,  and  to  come  at  them  it 
was  necessary  to  cross  a  bridge,  one  part  of  which  was 
made  to  draw  up  for  the  convenience  of  letting  vcsaela 
pass  through.  The  inhabitants  kept  a  lookout  for  the  ap- 
pearance of  the  troops.  The  vanguard  arrived,  and  took 
their  route  down  in  town  as  far  as  the  Lfong  Wharf,  perhaps 
to  decoy  the  inhabitants  thither  away  from  the  place  to 
which  the  main  body  were  destined.  The  main  body  ar- 
rived soon  after,  and  halted  a  few  minutes  by  the  town- 
house.  It  is  said  inquiry  was  immediately  made  by  some 
of  the  officers  for  a  half-brother  [John  Sargent]  of  Colonel 
Browne,  the  Mandamus  Councillor.  Be  this  as  it  may,  he 
was  very  soon  whispering  in  the  Colonel's  ear,  in  the  front 
of  the  regiment ;  and  when  he  parted  from  the  Colonel,  the 
regiment  marched  off  with  a  quick  pace  in  a  direct  course 
for  the  North  Bridge  ;  just  before  their  entrance  upon  which 
the  draw-bridge  was  pulled  up.  The  regiment,  however, 
pushed  forward  till  they  came  to  the  draw-bridge,  not  ob- 
serving (aa  it  seemed)  that  it  was  drawn  up.  The  Colonel, 
who  led  them,  expressed  some  surprise,  and  then,  turning 
about,  ordered  an  officer  to  face  his  company  to  a  body  of 
men  standing  on  a  wliarf  on  the  other  side  the  draw-bridge, 
and  fire.  One  of  our  townsmen*  (who  had  kept  alongside 
the  Colonel  from  the  time  he  marched  from  the  town-house) 
instantly  told  him  ho  had  better  not  fire ;  that  he  had  no 
right  to  fire  without  further  ordera.  '  Aud  if  you  do  fire,' 
8!(id  he, '  you  will  be  all  dead  men.'  .  The  company  neither 
fired  nor  faced. 

**  The  Colonel  then  retired  to  tiie  centre  of  his  regiment, 

*  Captain  John  Felt. 


62  LIFE  OP  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  [1776, 

assembled  his  officers,  and  held  a  consultation ;  which  being 
ended,  the  Colonel  advanced  a  little,  and  declared  he  would 
maintain  his  ground,  and  go  over  the  bridge  before  he 
returned,  if  it  was  a  month  first.  The  same  townsman 
replied,  he  might  stay  there  as  long  as  he  pleased ;  nobody 
cared  for  that.  The  half-brother  before  mentioned  (it  is 
said)  made  towards  the  bridge,  but,  seeing  the  draw-bridge 
up,  says, '  It  is  all  over  with  us.'  He  has  since  disappeared. 
Meanwhile,  two  large  gondolas,  that  lay  aground  (for  it  was 
low  water) ,  were  scuttled,  lest  they  should  cross  the  chan- 
nel in  them.  But,  whilst  one  gentleman,*  with  his  assistants, 
was  scuttling  his  own  gondola,  a  party  of  about  twenty  sol- 
diers jumped  into  it,  and,  with  their  bayonets  charged  against 
our  unarmed  townsmen  (some  of  whom  they  pricked), 
compelled  them  to  quit  it ;  but,  before  this,  a  sufficient  hole 
had  been  made  in  the  bottom.  This  attack  of  the  soldiei's, 
and  some  other  occurrences,  occasioned  a  little  bickering ; 
but,  by  the  interposition  of  some  of  the  inhabitants,  the  dis- 
pute subsided. 

^  At  length,  some  gentlemen  asked  the  Colonel  what  was 
his  design  in  making  this  movement,  and  why  he  would 
cross  the  bridge.  He  said  he  had  orders  to  cross  it,  and 
he  would  cross  it  if  he  lost  his  life,  with  the  lives  of  all  his 
men ;  and  now  (or  before)  asked  why  the  King's  highway 
was  obstructed.  He  was  told  it  was  not  the  King's  road, 
but  the  property  of  the  inhabitants,  who  had  a  right  to  do 
what  they  pleased  with  it.  Finally,  the  Colonel  said  he 
must  go  over ;  and  if  the  draw-bridge  were  let  down,  so 
that  he  might  pass,  he  pledged  his  honor  he  would  march 
not  above  thirty  rods  beyond  it,  and  then  immediately 
return.  The  regiment  had  now  been  on  the  bridge  about 
an  hour  and  a  half;  and,  everything  being  secured,  the  in- 
habitants directed  the  draw-bridge  to  be  let  down.  The 
regiment  immediately  passed  over,  marched  a  few  rods, 
returned,  and,  with  great  expedition,  went  back  again  to 

*  Major  Joseph  Sprague. 


-Et.  29.]  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  63 

Marblehead,  where  they  embarked  on  board  the  transport 
without  delay. 

''The  regiment  brought  with  them  lanterns,  hatchets, 
pickaxes,  spades,  handspikes,  and  several  coils  of  rope. 

"  When  all  the  circumstances  are  considered,  there  can 
remain  no  doubt  that  the  sole  purpose  of  this  manoeuvre 
was  to  steal  away  the  artillery  materials  before  mentioned. 
In  the  first  place,  the  regiment  was  taken  from  the  Castle,  so 
that  the  inhabitants  of  Boston  might  be  prevented  giving  us 
any  intelligence.  The  transport  arrived  at  Marblehead  a  con- 
siderable time  before  the  regiment  was  landed ;  but  the  men 
were  kept  snug  under  hatches.  As  soon  as  the  inhabitants 
of  Marblehead  had  got  to  meeting,  the  troops  landed,  and 
pushed  on  their  march  to  Salem,  and  proceeded  to  the  very 
spot  where  the  materials  for  the  artillery  were  lodged.  But, 
meeting  with  this  sad  rebuff,  and  finding  their  plot  was  dis- 
covered, they  then  made  a  retreat.  Tis  regretted  that  an 
officer  of  Colonel  Leslie's  acknowledged  worth  should  be 
obliged,  in  obedience  to  orders,  to  come  on  so  pitiful  an 
errand. 

**  Various  reports  were  spread  abroad  respecting  the 
troops.  The  country  was  alarmed;  and  one  company  ar- 
rived in  arms  from  Danvers  just  as  the  troops  left  the  town. 
We  immediately  despatched  messengers  to  the  neighboring 
towns,  to  save  them  the  trouble  of  coming  in ;  but  the 
alarm  flew  like  lightning  (and  fame  doubtless  magnified 
the  first  simple  reports),  so  that  great  numbers  were  in 
arms,  and  some  on  the  march,  before  our  messengers 
arrived.** 

If  the  above  narrative  has  been  rightly  attributed 
to  Colonel  Pickering,  it  may  be  presumed  that  he  wrote 
likewise  the  following  vindication  of  it,  printed  in  the 
succeeding  "Essex  Gazette"  of  March  7th: — 

**  The  account  published  last  week  in  this  paper,  ...  of 
the  march  of  the  Sixty-fourth  Begiment  (in  Draper's  true 


64  LITE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  [1775. 

account  'tis  called  a  detachment  of  the  Sixty-fourth  Regiment ; 
but  we  are  informed  only  fifteen  or  twenty  of  the  men  re- 
mained at  the  Castle  *) ,  is,  in  Mills  and  Hicks's  paper,  said  to 
contain  several  falsehoods,  f  In  answer  to  this  charge,  we 
say,  that  we  endeavored  to  collect  a  true  state  of  the  facts  by 
inquiring  of  those  who  were  eye  and  ear  witnesses.  In  the 
hurry  and  alarm,  there  might  be  a  misapprehension  in  some 
things ;  but  there  was  no  intention  to  detract  from  Colonel 
Leslie's  courage,  honor,  or  prudence,  or  deviate  from  the 
straight  path  of  truth ;  but,  to  establish  the  latter,  we  are  con- 
strained to  make  a  few  remarks  on  Draper's  account,  and  on 
that  published  by  Mills  and  Hicks.  The  latter  declare,  *they 
are  authorized  to  say,  that  the  Colonel  never  ordered  any 
part  of  the  troops  to  fire,  but  that  he  was  not  prevented 
from  giving  any  orders  he  should  have  thought  necessary' 
by  the  threat  of  the  townsman,'  —  as  they  say  was  insinu- 
ated in  our  account.  The  townsman,  and  others  of  the 
inhabitiints,  men  of  undoubted  veracity,  still  say  they  are 
absolutely  certain  that  the  Colonel  talked  about  firing  on 
the  people;  and  the  townsman  (who  stood  within  two 
yards  of  him)  declares  that  the  Colonel,  turning  to  an 
officer  near  him,  expressed  himself  in  this  manner :  '  You 
must  face  about  this  division  (or  company),  and  fire  upon 
those  people.'  This,  and  this  only,  occasioned  the  towns- 
man to  make  a  reply  (with  a  loud  voice,  for  his  resentment 
was  kindled  by  the  order  to  fire)  in  these  words,  as  exactly 
as  he  can  now  recollect :  *  Fire  I  You  had  better  be  damned 
than  fire !  You  can  have  no  right  to  fire  without  further 
orders.*  We  added,  in  our  account,  'The  company  neither 
fired  nor  faced.'     Whether  it  were  prudence,  or  want  of 

*  Dr.  Holmes  says  the  number  of  the  soldiers  with  Leslie  was  one  hundred 
and  forty.  —  Holmes's  American  Annals,  Vol.  II.  p.  203,  2d  edit.  Mr.  Kndi- 
cott  states  that  **  General  Gage  ordered  the  64th  regiment,  consisting  of  some 
three  hundred  men,"  to  embark,  &c.  —  Proceedings  of  the  Essex  bistitutej  Vol. 
II.  p.  105. 

t  Draper  published  *<The  Massachusetts  Gazette  and  the  Boston  Weekly 
News-Letter,"  and  Mills  and  Hicks,  ^'The  Massachusetts  Gazette  and  the 
Boston  Post  Boy  and  Advertiser; "  both  of  them  Tory  newspapers. 


iEx.  29.]  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  65 

orders  or  disposition,  or  any  other  motive,  that  prevented 
an  act  so  manifestly  unjustifiable  as  this  would  have  been, 
we  could  not  tell.  We  related  a  simple  fact,  —  that  ^  the 
company  neither  fired  nor  faced.' 

"^  Mills  and  Hicks  go  on :  <  Nor  is  there  the  least  truth 
in  what  is  asserted  of  the  Colonel's  having  pledged  his 
honor,  as  he  absolutely  insisted  on  going  over  the  bridge.' 
No  other  answer  to  this  will  be  required,  than  the  declara- 
tion of  the  clergyman  *  referred  to  in  Draper's  account. 
These  are  his  words :  *  Concerned  for  the  welfare  of  my 
townsmen,  I  addressed  Colonel  Leslie,  and  desired  the  sol- 
diei*s  imder  his  command  might  be  restrained  from  pushing 
their  bayonets.  He  told  me  they  were  much  insulted,  and 
intimated  to  me  his  determination  to  pass  over  the  bridge, 
but  concluded  with  saying,  if  the  inhabitants  would  lower 
the  bridge,  he  would  give  his  word  (and,  I  am  pretty  cer- 
tain, his  honor)  that  he  would  not  march  above  fifty  rods.' 
For  the  sake  of  those  who  are  strangers  to  the  clergyman, 
we  add,  that  he  is  a  gentleman  of  unimpeached  veracity, 
virtue,  and  honor,  and  universally  respected  by  the  inhab- 
itants for  his  manly,  prudent,  and  judicious  conduct  on  the 
occasion. 

^  The  declaration,  that  *  no  half-brother  of  a  Mandamus 
Councillor,  or  any  other  person^  in  Salerrij  whispered  or 
spoke  to  Colonel  Leslie  while  he  was  in  the  town  of  Salem,' 
is  very  extraordinary.  Even  Draper  admits  that  the  clergy- 
man conversed  with  him.  But  we  know  that  at  least  two 
other  persons  spoke  to  him,  though  in  a  strain  somewhat 
difierent  from  that  attributed  to  the  half-brother.  'TIS  a 
fact,  that  the  half-brother  was  in  the  front  of  the  regiment, 
whispering  or  talking  with  an  officer,  who,  the  inhabitants 
naturally  concluded,  was  the  commanding  officer  of  the  regi- 
ment ;  for  at  that  time  Colonel  Leslie  was  known  to  very 
few.  This  half-brother  afterwards  walking  with  one  of 
the  inhabitants  (while  the  soldiers  were  on  the  bridge), 
they  had  some  conversation  to  this  effect :     *  'Tis  all  over 

*  The  Bey.  Thomas  Barnard,  Jr. 
VOL.  L  9 


66  LIFE  OP  TBfOTHT  PICKERING.  [1776. 

with  them/  said  the  half-brother.  *  What  is  over? '  said  his 
companion.  He  replied ,  *The  bridge  is  drawn  up.'  *  What 
then  ? '  rejoined  the  other.  The  half-brother  then  whispered, 
*  They  were  going  after  the  cannon.'  It  must  be  granted 
that  these  circumstances  (especially  when  connected  with 
others  known  to  the  inhabitants)  might  very  justly  raise 
their  suspicions  that  he  was  the  informer.  If  he  is  not  in 
any  measure  guilty,  we  wish  his  innocence  may  appear.    .  .  . 

"  Tis  said,  also,  that  the  people,  discovering  Colonel 
Leslie's  intention  to  ferry  a  few  men  over  in  a  gondola  as 
soon  as  it  could  be  got  afloat,  jumped  into  her,  and  with 
axes  cut  through  her  bottom ;  that  Colonel  Leslie,  seeing 
this,  ordered  a  party  to  drive  them  out  of  her.  Some  of  the 
people,  however,  having  obstinately  refused  to  quit  her,  the 
soldiers  were  obliged  to  use  force.'  Strange  language  this, 
—  a  gentleman  obstinately  refused  to  quit  his  own  gondola  I 
And,  notwithstanding  the  hurry  and  bustle,  the  other  gon- 
dola was  not  scuttled  till  leave  was  expressly  given  by  the 
owner.  Yet,  for  doing  it,  the  blood  of  the  inhabitants  must 
be  drawn.  We  did  not  know  till  now  who  gave  this  violent 
order,  and  are  sorry  to  find  it  was  Colonel  Leslie.  The 
people  suspected^  not  discovered^  his  intention  to  ferry  over 
his  men  in  the  gondolas ;  and  could  not  conceive  that  the 
soldiers  had  any  other  right  to  interrupt  their  work  in  cut- 
ting the  bottoms,  than  the  right  of  arms ;  which  frequently 
regards  neither  law  nor  property,  when  standing  in  the  way 
of  their  designs  who  wield  them. 

"  The  minds  of  the  people  are  not  likely  to  be  soothed  by 
such  actions  as  we  have  been  speaking  of.  We  have  been 
cautioned  to  avoid  hypocrisy.  Without  hypocrisy,  it  may 
be  said,  that  the  serious  are  justly  offended  that  an  uproar 
and  disturbance  were  occasioned  on  a  day  of  public  worship, 
and  even  whilst  one  congregation  was  assembled.  But  this 
Sabbath-day  expedition  well  agrees  with  proclamations  *  for 
the  encouragement  of  piety  and  virtue." 

*  This  mnst  refer  to  Gkneral  Gage's  proclamation  of  July  2lBt,  1774,  in  the 
*<  Salem  Gazette  "  (a  different  paper  from  the  *'  Essex  Gazette  ")  of  July  29th. 


^T.  29.]  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  67 

The  writer  omits  the  names  of  persons  implicated 
in  the  resistance  to  the  King's  troops,  which  seems  to 
have  been  done  by  design,  to  avoid  rendering  any  indi- 
vidual a  conspicuous  mark  for  the  resentment  of  the 
British  government 

Dr.  Holmes  quotes  President  Stiles's  manuscripts 
to  the  effect,  that  Leslie  pledged  his  honor,  that,  if  the 
draw-bridge  were  let  down,  he  would  march  but  thirteen 
rods  over  it,  and  return ;  and  that  Colonel  Pickering, 
with  his  forty  brave  men,  faced  the  King's  troops.* 
Mr.  Endicott  produces  respectable  evidence  to  prove 
that  there  were  no  armed  men  on  the  north  side  of  the 
bridge,  and  that  Colonel  Pickering  was  on  the  south 
side.f  A  few  years  before  his  death,  Colonel  Pickering, 
in  referring  to  the  passage  in  Holmes,  observed  that 
"  thirteen  rods  "  should  have  been  "  thirty  rods."  I  do 
not  recollect  that  he  pointed  out  any  other  error,  and 
my  impression  has  been  that  he  was  on  the  north  side 
of  the  bridge,  with  a  number  of  men  armed  with 
muskets.  The  men  in  Danvers  and  Marblehead  were 
assembling  in  arms,  and,  from  the  irritation  previously 
existing,  it  might  reasonably  be  expected,  that,  in  the 
town  of  Salem,  containing  five  thousand  inhabitants,  as 
many  as  thirty  or  forty  men  would  repair  with  their 
arms  to  the  bridge.  In  the  two  articles  above  quoted, 
and  ascribed  to  Colonel  Pickering,  the  presence  of 
armed  citizens  is  not  mentioned.  Dr.  Charles  Pickering, 
his  grandson,  relates  a  conversation  with  a  very  intelli- 
gent old  lady,  the  late  Mrs.  Thomas  Sanders,  in  which 
she  said,  Mr.  Barnard,  in  interceding  with  Colonel  Leslie 
not  to  fire,  told  him  that  the  people  were,  as  he  saw 
them,  unarmed,  but  they  knew  where  they  could  pro- 

*  Holmes's  '*  American  Annals,"  Vol.  n.  p.  203,  2d  edit. 

t  "  Proceedings  of  the  Essex  Institute,"  Vol.  I.  pp.  Ill,  128,  ISO. 


68  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  [1776. 

cxire  fire-arms  in  a  few  moments,  and  every  individual 
knew  how  to  use  them.  The  "  unarmed  "  people,  Dr. 
Pickering  says,  may  have  been  those  on  the  south  side 
of  the  draw ;  but  Mrs.  Sanders  left  on  him  the  impres- 
sion, that  the  only  fire-arms  on  the  ground  were  in  the 
hands  of  the  British  troops. 

I  do  not  deem  it  important  to  the  reputation  of 
Colonel  Pickering,  or  of  Salem,  to  maintain  that,  in  a 
moment  of  so  sudden  and  great  excitement,  he  organ- 
ized a  military  opposition  to  Colonel  Leslie.  It  is  suffi- 
cient, that  he  and  many  of  his  townsmen  went  to  the 
bridge  with  promptness,  and  acted  with  the  resolution 
and  prudence  demanded  by  the  circumstances,  in  mak- 
ing the  first  resistance  in  the  American  Revolution, 
after  the  arrival  of  General  Gage,  to  a  body  of  British 
troops.* 

*  See  a  detailed  account  of  occurrences  connected  with  this  expedition  of 
Colonel  Leslie,  in  Mr.  Endicott's  article  in  the  *'  Pfoceedings  of  the  Essex 
Institute,"  Vol.  I.  p.  102. 


.<gt.29.]  life  of  timotht  fickebino.  69 


CHAPTEE   V. 

Battle  of  LexiDgton.  —  Colonel  Pickering  and  the  Salem  Militia  un- 
justly censured  in  Regard  to  it.  —  Salem  Memorial  and  Resolve  of 
the  Legislature  in  their  Vindication. — Colonel  Pickering  marches 
a  Regiment  of  Militia  to  New  York  and  New  Jersey. —  His  Views 
on  Public  Affairs.  —  General  Gage.  —  Josiah  Quincy,  Jr.  —  Eng- 
land distressed  by  American  Non-importation. 

A  PEW  weeks  after  Leslie's  excursion  to  SaJem,  Lieu- 
tenant-Colonel Smith,  with  a  larger  body  of  troops,  was 
sent  from  Boston,  in  another  direction,  for  the  purpose 
of  destroying  military  stores  collected  in  the  town  of 
Concord.  They  left  Boston  on  the  18th  of  April,  1775, 
at  night,  and,  on  arriving  early  the  next  morning  at 
Lexington,  came  upon  a  body  of  militia,  on  whom  they 
fired,  killing  eight  men  and  wounding  others;  after 
which  they  proceeded  to  Concord. 

Colonel  Pickering's  relation  to  the  battle  of  Lexing- 
ton was  afterwards  made  the  subject  of  misrepresenta- 
tion by  his  political  adversaries,  when,  for  party  purposes, 
his  character  was  to  be  held  up  to  reproach. 

On  the  19th  of  April  he  was  in  his  office  (the 
Registry  of  Deeds),  in  Salem,  when  Captain  Epes,  of 
Danvers,  came  in,  between  eight  and  nine  o'clock  in  the 
morning,  and  informed  him  that  a  man  had  ridden 
into  Danvers  and  reported,  that  the  British  troops  had 
marched  from  Boston  to  Lexington  and  had  attacked 
the  militia.  Epes  was  the  commander  of  a  company  be- 
longing to  Colonel  Pickering's  regiment,  and  he  asked 
for  orders.  Danvers  being  nearer  than  Salem  to  the 
scene  of  action,  Colonel  Pickering  gave  him  a  verbal 


70  LIFE  OP  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  [1775. 

answer,   that  the   Danvers  companies  should  march 
without  waiting  for  those  of  Salem. 

Colonel  Pickering  went  immediately  to  the  centre  of 
the  town,  and  soon  the  Selectmen  and  other  leading 
gentlemen  assembled  there,  at  Webb's  tavern,  in  School 
Street,  since  called  Court  Street  He  was  himself  chair- 
man of  the  Selectmen,  and  a  member  of  the  Committee 
of  Safety.  A  short  consultation  ensued.  Those  who 
knew  the  distance  of  Lexington  from  Salem,  and  its 
situation  relative  to  Boston*  (of  which  Colonel  Picker- 
ing ^  had  no  personal  knowledge,  and  but  an  indistinct 
idea  "  f ),  observed,  that  there  was  no  probability  of  the 
militia  of  Salem  being  able  to  fall  in  with  the  British 
troops  before  they  would  have  returned  to  Boston,  and 
that  the  marching  of  the  Salem  companies  would,  there- 
fore, be  useless.  Nevertheless,  it  was  deemed  expedient 
that  they  should  assemble  and  begin  their  march,  and 
for  this  sole  reason,  —  that  it  would  be  evidence  to 
their  fellow-citizens,  that  the  inhabitants  of  Salem  were 
of  one  mind  with  them,  and  disposed  to  cooperate  in 
every  measure  which  the  common  safety  required.  The 
four  companies  of  Salem  marched  accordingly,  muster- 


*  At  that  period  the  road  from  Salem  to  Charlestown  and  Boston,  and  to 
Lexington,  lay  through  Medford.  Salem  lies  north-easterly  and  Lexington 
north-westerly  from  Boston.  The  consecutive  distances  from  Salem,  as  given 
in  the  almanacs  of  that  time,  are,  — to  Danvers,  two  miles ;  Newell's,  in  Lynn, 
seven;  Maiden,  six;  Medford,  three;  Boston,  four;  in  all,  twenty-two  miles. 
But,  in  tracing  the  road  on  Borden's  Map  of  Massachusetts,  I  estimate  the  dis- 
tance from  Salem  to  Medford  to  be  about  fifteen  and  a  quarter  miles,  thence 
to  Winter  Hill  about  one  and  a  quarter,  and  thence  to  Bunker  Hill  about  two 
and  a  quarter.  By  the  same  map  I  make  Lexington  about  seven  miles  from 
Medford,  about  twenty-two  from  Salem,  about  eleven  from  Boston,  and  about 
nine  and  a  half  from  Charlestown  Neck.  Cambridge  lies  westerly  of  Charles- 
town,  and  the  roads  from  Cambridge  and  Medford  converged,  uniting  at 
Charlestown  Neck. 

t  Colonel  Pickering's  printed  letter  of  April  22d,  180^,  to  Goyemor  Sul- 
livan, p.  24. 


^T.  29.]  J.IFE  OP  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  71 

ing,  on  the  occasion,  nearly  three  hundred  men ;  but,  so 
strong  was  the  impression,  that  to  proceed  under  an  idea 
of  falling  in  with  the  British  troops  would  be  fruitless, 
that  the  companies  were  halted  perhaps  twenty  minutes 
soon  after  passing  the  Bell  tavern,  in  Danvers,  expect- 
ing every  moment  information  that  the  British  troops 
had  returned  to  Boston.  But,  after  a  short  consulta- 
tion among  the  officers  and  some  prominent  citizens  in 
the  ranks,  it  was  determined  to  push  forward  until  they 
should  receive  definite  intelligence.  At  Ne well's  tavern, 
in  Lynn,  the  men  halted  just  long  enough  to  refresh 
themselves  with  drink.  They  then  proceeded,  without 
stopping,  until  they  reached  Medford,  where  they  gained 
the  first  certain  information  that  the  British  troops 
were  on  their  return,  and  this  by  a  route  which  showed 
their  intention  to  get  to  Boston  by  the  way  of  Charles- 
town.  Colonel  Pickering  then  hastened  the  march 
of  his  men  on  the  great  road  from  Medford  to  Charles- 
town,  in  expectation  of  falling  in  with  them.  When  he 
had  reached  the  top  of  Winter  Hill,  he  saw  them  march- 
ing in  order  on  the  road  from  Cambridge  to  Charles- 
town,  and  also  saw  the  smoke  of  musketry  discharged 
at  them  by  some  scattered  militia  firom  so  great  a  dis- 
tance as  to  be  of  no  avail  The  British  troops  whom 
he  saw  did  not  return  a  single  shot;  the  militia  ap- 
peared to  be  entirely  out  of  their  reach.  On  the  first 
sight  of  the  British  troops,  he  halted  his  companies,  and 
ordered  them  to  prime  and  load,  in  full  expectation 
of  coming  to  an  engagement  While  they  were  in  the 
act,  or  at  the  moment  of  its  completion,  a  person  ar- 
rived with  a  message  from  General  Heath,  the  superior 
officer  on  the  field,  that  the  British  troops  had  artillery 
in  their  rear,  and  could  not  be  approached  by  musketry 
alone,  and  that  the  General  desired  to  see  Colonel 


72  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  [1776. 

Pickering.  Leaving  the  companies  in  thnt  position, 
he  went  across  the  fields  with  the  messenger,  and  met 
General  Heath  somewhere  on  the  ground  between  the 
Cambridge  and  Medford  roads  to  Charlestown.* 

During  the  short  time  that  he  was  with  General 
Heath,  he  saw  the  British  troops  ascending  Bunker 
Hill  —  the  hill  on  the  left  of  the  road  to  Charlestown, 
after  passing  the  low  neck  between  Mystic  and  Charles 
rivers.  It  was  then  about  sunset.  As  soon  as  the 
British  troops  gained  Bunker  Hill,  they  formed  in  a 
line  opposite  to  the  Neck,  and  General  Heath  judged 
that  any  attempt  upon  them  in  that  position  would  be 
idle.  The  next  day  they  entered  Boston.  Colonel 
Pickering  returned  to  the  Salem  militia,  and  led  them 
back  to  Medford,  where  they  remained  that  night, 
mounting  a  guard  at  the  bridge.  The  next  day  they 
returned  to  Salem. 

The  British  troops  who  first  marched  to  Lexington, 
and  thence  to  Concord,  were  eight  hundred  grenadiers 
and  light  infantry,  the  flower  of  the  royal  army ;  and 
on  their  return  they  were  recnforced  at  Lexington  by 
a  detachment  of  nine  hundred  men,  with  two  field- 
pieces,  under  Lord  Percy.  Of  these  numbers,  two 
hundred  and  seventy-three  were  killed,  wounded,  and 
taken  prisoners,  leaving  a  regular  force  of  fourteen 
hundred  efiective  men.f 

The  party  calumny  against  Colonel  Pickering  was,  that 


*  Colonel  PickeriDg  says  that  Heath ,  in  1807,  did  not  remember  this  inter- 
view, and  had  even  forgotten  his  person.  —  Letter  to  Sullivan  (April  22d, 
1808,  p.  25.)  — In  his  "  Memoirs,"  however,  Heath  says  that  when  it  **  had 
become  so  dusk  as  to  render  the  flashes  of  the  muskets  very  visible,  ...  an 
officer  on  horseback  came  up  from  the  Medford  road,  and  inquired  the  cir- 
cumstances of  the  enemy."  Colonel  Pickering  must  have  been  this  officer, 
though  on  the  march  from  Salem  to  Winter  Hill  he  was  on  foot. 

t  Bamsay's  '*  History  of  the  American  Revolution,"  Vol.  II.  pp.  187,  189. 


^T.  29.]  LIFE  OP  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  73 

he  had  a  fine  regiment  of  seven  hundred  men,  but  that 
he  was  dilatory  in  his  march,  owing  to  timidity,  or  to 
partiality  to  the  British ;  otherwise  he  might  have  inter- 
cepted the  British  troops  before  they  ascended  Bunker 
Hill,  and,  "  worn  down  as  they  were  by  fatigue,  and 
exhausted  of  ammunition,"  *  he  might  probably  have 
destroyed  them  or  compelled  them  to  surrender. 

Now,  the  Memorial  of  the  town  of  Salem  (extracts 
from  which  are  given  below)  proves  conclusively, 
that  he  had  with  him  fewer  than  three  hundred  men, 
and  that  there  was  no  censurable  delay  on  the  march. 
If  the  British  were  worn  down  with  fatigue,  how  much 
better  was  the  condition  of  his  men  ?  They  were  not 
accustomed  to  long  marches;  and  their  muskets  and 
cartridge-boxes,  carried  so  many  hours  in  a  hot  day, 
must  have  become  exceedingly  burdensome,  whereas  the 
British  regulars  were  habituated  to  similar  exertions. 
Their  march  was  nearly  as  long  as  that  of  the  detach- 
ment under  Lord  Percy.  They  had  had  no  food 
from  the  beginning  of  their  march.  Even  if  Colonel 
Pickering  might  by  possibility  have  intercepted  the 
British  troops,  and  if  he  might  have  conjectured  that 
they  were  much  fatigued,  he  certainly  could  not  know 
that  their  ammunition  was  exhausted.  Neither  is  this  phrase 
to  receive  a  strictly  literal  interpretation.  Dr.  Gordon 
and  General  Heath  say  they  had  only  "  a  round  or  two ; " 
but  this  small  quantity,  in  the  hands  of  some  twelve 
hundred  regulars,  together  with  the  two  field-pieces, 
would,  I  apprehend,  give  them  the  superiority  over 
three  hundred  militia,  for  the  short  time  the  conflict 
could  have  lasted. 

I  subjoin,  as  a  complete  vindication  as  well  of  Colo- 

•  Bancroft's  "Hietorj  of  the  United  States,"  Vol.  VII.  p.  309. 
VOL  L  10 


74  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  [1776. 

nel  Pickering  as  of  the  officers  and  men  under  his 
command^  portions  of  the  above-mentioned  Memorial 
of  the  town  of  Salem,  dated  the  10th  of  August,  1775, 
when  the  facts  were  fresh  in  the  memory  of  the  in- 
habitants *  This  document  appears  to  have  escaped 
the  recollection  of  Colonel  Pickering  when  adverting 
to  this  subject  in  his  letter  of  April  22d,  1808,  to  Gov- 
ernor Sullivan ;  f  neither  has  it  been  referred  to  by 
those  who  have  censured  his  conduct 

"To  THE  Honorable  the  General  Court 

OF  Massachusetts  Bay. 

"  The  town  of  Salem  humbly  showeth,  that,  many  calum- 
nies  and  misrepresentations  having  been  made  and  industri- 
ously propagated  concerning  the  conduct  of  the  town  upon 
and  since  the  19th  of  April  last,  in  consequence  of  which  its 
character  has  been  greatly  injured  and  some  of  its  inhabits 
ants  insulted  and  abused,  the  town  thinks  it  a  point  of  duty 
to  take  effectual  steps  to  vindicate  its  innocence,  and  pro- 
cure a  redress  of  those  grievances,  which  are  too  many  and 
too  heavy  any  longer  silently  to  be  endured,  and  therefore  beg 
leave  to  give  the  following  detail  of  facts :  — 

"On  the  19th  of  April,  very  soon  after  authentic  intelligence 
arrived  of  the  barbarous  deeds  of  the  King's  troops  at  Lexing- 
ton, the  inhabitants  mustered  in  arms,  and  near  three  hun- 
dred marched  off,  and  directed  their  course  according  to  the 
intelligence  they  were  continually  receiving  on  the  road  of 
the  situation  of  the  troops ;  but,  though  they  marched  with 
as  much  despatch  as  was  possible,  consistent  with  their  being 
fit  for  action  after  so  long  a  march  as  they  must  necessarily 
make,  yet  they  arrived  in  sight  of  the  troops  not  till  the  last  of 
them  were  marching  up  Bunker's  Hill.  Why  the  inhabitants 
of  Salem  should  be  so  highly  censured  for  their  conduct 
on  this  occasion,  the  town  cannot  conceive.  Thousands  of 
men,  nearer,  much  nearer,  the  scene  of  action,  either  stayed 

^        ♦In  Force's  "  American  Archives,"  4th  series,  Vol.  III.  col.  837. 
t  See  ante,  p.  70. 


^T.  30.]  UFB  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  75 

at  home  or  arriyed  do  sooner  than  the  Salem  militia.  From 
Milton  and  its  environs,  in  particular,  the  militia  got  as  far 
as  Cambridge  only,  at  the  same  time  that  the  Salem  militia 
arrived  at  Charlestown ;  yet,  by  a  strange  and  unaccounta- 
ble partiality,  the  inhabitants  of  Salem  only  are  reproached ; 
and  the  multitudes  near  at  hand,  who  never  stirred  an  inch, 
or,  though  they  lived  but  at  half  the  distance,  arrived  as  late 
as  the  Salem  militia,  are  entirely  excused.  In  short,  it  is 
most  absurdly  declared  by  many,  that,  if  the  Salem  militia 
had  not  been  negligent  and  pusillanimous,  the  King's  troops 
must  have  been  entirely  cut  off;  that  is,  fewer  than  three 
hundred  men  could  have  done  infinitely  more  in  one  or  two 
hours,  than  the  whole  body  of  militia  assembled  had  been 
able  to  perform  that  day." 

The  Memorial  then  specifies,  with  the  circumstances, 
the  instances  in  which  two  British  ships  of  war,  sta- 
tioned oflf  the  port  of  Salem,  had  been  permitted  to 
purchase  small  quantities  of  fresh  beef  and  veal  for  the 
use  of  the  officers, — "about  which  some  people  have 
made  such  a  clamor,  as  though  the  King's  troops  had 
from  Salem  a  constant  supply  of  fresh  meat,"  —  and  a 
few  articles  of  food  had  been  taken  to  Americans  in 
Boston  ;  and  it  concludes  as  follows :  — 

"This,  may  it  please  the  Honorable  Court,  is  a  brief, 
though  faithful,  narrative  of  facts ;  hence  it  may  be  judged 
how  injuriously  the  town  of  Salom  has  been  treated.  The 
town  cannot  forbear  to  express  its  astonishment.  What 
could  occasion  the  reproach  so  liberally  thrown  upon  us? 
What  motives  could  be  imagined  sufficient  to  tempt  us  to 
neglect  the  duty  we  owe  to  ourselves,  our  posterity,  and 
our  country?  What  proofs  have  we  given  of  our  iuseusi- 
bility,  that  we  should  neither  dread  the  curses  of  slavery, 
nor  feel  the  blessings  of  liberty?  What  could  we  have 
done  more  than  we  have  done,  to  secure  the  latter  to  oui*- 
selves  and  all  our  dearest  connections  ?    When  the  balance 


76  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  [1775. 

of  public  aflfairs  was  most  doubtful,  —  when  neither  money 
nor  the  means  of  payment  were  provided,  and  the  senti- 
ments of  the  Continent  were  unknown,  —  then  Salem  fur- 
nished every  needful  supply  in  its  power,  as  soon  as  the 
army's  wants  were  known ;  how  readily,  and  to  how  great 
amount,  the  Committee  of  Supplies  and  the  Treasurer  can 
inform.  We  have  continued  these  supplies,  and  the  town 
is  drained.     What  more  remains  for  us  to  do  ? 

"  Such,  may  it  please  the  Honorable  Court,  having  been  our 
conduct,  as  the  town  has  been  publicly  injured  and  defamed, 
we  may  justly  pray  for  a  public  vindication  by  the  Honora- 
ble Court,  without  which  our  wrongs  will  be  continued,  and 
probably  increased. 

"  A  true  copy  : 

"Timothy  Pickering,  Jr.,  Town  Cflerk" 

"In  a  legal  and  full  town  meeting  at  Salem,  the  10th  of 
August,  1775,  the  foregoing  petition  having  been  repeatedly 
read  and  delibei*ately  considered.  Voted  (without  one  neg- 
ative voice).  That  the  Town  approve  of  the  same,  and  that 
the  Town  Clerk  deliver  an  attested  copy  thereof  to  the  Rep- 
resentatives of  the  town,  to  be  presented  to  the  General 
Court. 

"Attested:      Timothy  Pickering,  Jr.,  Tovm  Clerk. ^ 

On  this  Memorial,  the  Council,  in  concurrence  with 
the  House  of  Representatives,  passed  a  Resolve^  — 

"  That  notwithstanding  many  ungenerous  aspersions  have 
been  cast  on  said  town,  there  is  nothing  appears  to  this 
Court,  in  the  conduct  thereof,  inimical  to  the  liberties  and 
privileges  of  America ;  but,  on  the  contrary,  in  many  in- 
stances, its  exertions  have  been  such  as  have  done  its 
inhabitants  much  honor,  and  been  of  great  advantage  to 
the  Colony." 

On  the  supposition,  however,  that  Colonel  Pickering 
might  by  possibility  have  been  "alert  enough"  to  en- 
counter the  British  troops,  his  steady  opposition  to  the 


^T.  29.]  UFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  77 

oppressive  measures  of  the  British  government,  and  his 
services  in  the  field  during  the  Revolution,  prove  that 
the  alleged  tardiness  was  owing  neither  to  ^  timidity/' 
nor  (as  suggested  in  Mrs.  Warren's  History*)  *^to  a 
predilection  in  favor  of  Britain."  The  tardiness,  if  any, 
was  caused  hy  his  belief  that  an  attempt  to  intercept 
the  British  troops  would  be  unavailing.  But  it  is  not 
improbable,  that  the  censure  has  been  occasioned  by 
his  very  energy  and  activity,  which  brought  him  so 
near  to  the  British  troops  that  the  community  felt  a 
disappointment  in  his  just  failing  to  meet  them.  Had 
he  marched  his  men  as  far  only  as  Maiden,  it  is  pre- 
sumed that  he  would  have  escaped  all  blame.f 

In  November,  1776,  an  act  was  passed  by  the  General 
Court  of  Massachusetts,  providing  that  one  quarter  part 
of  all  the  able-bodied  male  persons  within  the  State 
(with  certain  exceptions),  from  sixteen  years  and  up- 
wards, should,  either  by  voluntary  enlistment,  lot,  or 
draft,  be  appointed  and  held  in  readiness,  armed  and 
equipped,  to  march  at  a  minute's  warning,  to  serve  for 
a  term  not  exceeding  three  months  from  the  time  of 
their  march  from  home,  within  and  for  the  defence  of 
any  of  the  United  States,  when  they  should  be  called  out 
to  reenforce  the  Continental  army.  The  respective 
Brigadier-Generals  were  to  form  the  men  into  com- 
panies, as  nearly  as  might  be,  of  sixty-eight  men,  and 
the  companies  into  battalions,  making,  as  nearly  as 
might  be,  ten  companies  to  a  battalion,  and  to  appoint 
field  officers,  according  to  their  rank  in  the  militia,  to 
command  them. 


*  See  Appendix,  No.  I. 

t  In  the  Appendix  will  be  found  the  statements  of  sereral  individnals,  in 
accordance  with  the  Salem  Memorial,  in  respect  to  the  conduct  of  Colonel 
Pickering. 


78  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  [1776. 

In  pursuance  of  this  act,  the  militia  of  Salem  were 
assembled  in  the  meeting-house  of  the  First  Parish  on 
the  5th  of  December.  The  proceedings  on  the  occa- 
sion, and  the  part  which  Colonel  Pickering  took  in 
them,  are  related  by  him  in  the  following  letter  to 
Mr.  Jacob  Dodge,  an  intelligent  farmer,  who  once  lived 
near  him  in  Wenham,  but  had  become  an  inhabitant  of 
New  Boston,  in  New  Hampshire,  at  the  date  of  the  letter. 
Colonel  Pickering's  object  in  writing  to  Mr.  Dodge  is 
to  vindicate  himself  against  the  charge  of  misconduct 
in  respect  to  the  battle  of  Lexington. 

'*  Wenham,  April  6tb,  1812. 
"  SiB, 

^  The  account  you  gave  me  this  morning  of  the  false  tales 
spread  abroad  in  New  Hampshire,  especially  in  the  remoter 
towns,  where  correct  information  is  not  easy  to  be  had, 
induces  me  to  present  to  you  my  correspondence  with  Gov- 
ernor Sullivan,  in  which  I  have  stated  the  circumstances 
respecting  my  conduct  on  the  day  of  the  battle  of  Lexing- 
ton,—  not  a  syllable  of  which,  to  my  knowledge,  has  ever 
been  contradicted ;  and  which,  indeed,  numbers  yet  living  of 
my  townsmen  of  Salem  know  to  be  true,  some  of  whom  are 
Democmts,  and  would  eagerly  have  seized  on  any  misstate- 
ment, if  I  had  made  any. 

"  In  page  26  of  my  letter  to  Governor  Sullivan,  I  men- 
tion the  winter  campaign  of  1776-77  with  the  Massachusetts 
militia.  The  quota  of  Salem  consisted  wholly  of  volunteers. 
Upon  notice,  the  militia  assembled  in  the  meeting-house  in 
Salem  (now  Dr.  Prince's).  I  went  into  the  pulpit  and 
'addressed  them,  stating  the  critical  situation  of  our  public 
afikirs,  the  necessity  of  reenforcing  the  army,  —  the  enlist- 
ments of  the  troops  then  expiring,  —  and  that  it  was  at 
such  a  time  of  difficulty  and  danger  that  the  real  patriot 
would  show  his  zeal  and  devotion  to  his  country.  I 
then  concluded  my  speech  (which  was  extempore)  in  this 
manner :  — 


^T.  29.]  -     LIFB  OP  TIMOTHY  PICKEBING.  79 


U  i 


In  urging  you,  fellow-citizens  and  soldiers,  to  volun- 
teer your  services  on  this  occasion,  I  have  no  thought  of 
excusing  myself;  I  will  go  with  you,  and  partake  of  all  the 
hardships,  as  well  as  the  dangers,  of  a  winter  campaign.' 

^  I  then  left  the  pulpit,  and  marched  round  the  aisles  of  the 
meeting-house,*  and  in  a  few  minutes  was  followed  by  up- 
wards of  sixty  t  of  my  townsmen  (many  of  them  masters  of 
vessels),  rather  more  than  the  town's  quota.  The  county 
of  Essex  furnished  a  regiment  of  a  little  more  than  seven 
hundred  men,  who  marched  under  my  command  as  Colonel, 
and  performed  the  campaign  in  New  York  and  New  Jersey. 

^  The  following  questions  are  obvious  to  be  asked :  — 

'^  I.  If  I  had  shown  any  signs  of  cowardice  on  the  day  of 
the  battle  of  Lexington,  would  my  townsmen,  who  were 
with  me  that  day,  and  others  who  knew  all  that  passed, 
have  turned  out  as  volunteers,  the  next  year,  to  make  a  cam- 
paign under  my  command  ? 

^  II.  If  my  conduct  was  blamable  on  the  day  of  the  battle 
of  Lexington,  as  now,  for  party  purposes,  is  pretended, 
would  the  revolutionary  government  of  Massachusetts  have 
intrusted  me  with  various  important  offices  ? 

"Now,  that  government,  in  the  same  year,  1775,  after  the 
battle  of  Lexington,  appointed  me  a  Justice  of  the  Peace 
and  a  Judge  of  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas  for  the  County 
of  Essex ;  and,  what  was  still  more  important,  they  appointed 
me  sole  Judge  of  the  admiralty  or  maritime  court  for  the 
Middle  District  of  Massachusetts,  comprehending  Boston, 
Marblehead,  Salem,  Beverly,  Gloucester,  and  Newburyport ; 
into  which  were  brought  many  more  prizes  taken  from  the 
British  than  into  the  whole  State  beside.  I  held  these 
offices  until  I  went  to  the  army  under  General  Washington's 
immediate  command,  in  June,  1777.  In  the  period  of  less 
than  two  years  that  I  was  Judge  of  the  maritime  court,  about 


*  Preceded,  it  Is  said,  by  the  dmm. 

t  Eighty-six;  *' among  whom  were  gentlemen  of  the  first  character  in  the 
place."  —  Boston  GazetU  (December  9th,  1776). 


80  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  [1776. 

a  hundred  and  fifty  prizes  were  brought  in,  tried,  and  con- 
demned. 

"  In  my  letter  to  Governor  Sullivan,  (page  29,)  you  will 
see  that  I  was  appointed  by  Congress  a  member  of  the  Con- 
tinental Board  of  War,  in  conjunction  with  Genernl  Gates 
and  General  Mifflin.  This  was  near  the  close  of  the  cam- 
paign of  1777.  Now  take  notice,  that  the  late  Governor 
Samuel  Adams,  John  Adams,  late  President  of  the  United 
States,  and  Elbridge  Gerry,  now  Governor  of  Massachusetts, 
were  the  members  of  Congress  present  from  Massachusetts 
at  the  time  I  was  chosen  one  of  the  members  of  the  Board 
of  War. 

"  Will  any  man  of  common  sense  and  common  honesty, 
in  any  political  party  called  Democratic,  require  more  or 
better  proofs  that  my  conduct  on  the  day  of  the  battle  of 
Lexington  was  not  liable  to  censure  ?  And  what  stronger 
proofs  could  be  ofiered  them  in  support  of  my  integrity, 
fidelity,  and  patriotism? 

^  Whoever  knows,  or  shall  know,  these  facts,  and  yet 
continues  to  revile  me,  must  be  a  base  and  wicked  slanderer. 

"  I  am,  Sir,  your  old  neighbor  and  friend, 

"Timothy  Pickerino.'' 

On  the  morning  of  the  20th  of  April,  while  Colonel 
Pickering  was  at  Medford,  he  received  notice  that  a 
number  of  niilitia  oflBcers,  assembled  at  Cambridge, 
desired  to  see  him;  and  he  went  thither.  General 
Joseph  Warren  was  among  them.  They  were  consult- 
ing on  the  proper  course  to  be  pursued  in  consequence 
of  the  hostilities  of  the  preceding  day.  A  few  days 
afterward,  he  wrote  to  his  brother-in-law, Paine  Wingate, 
stating,  among  other  things  of  some  interest,  the  opin- 
ion expressed  by  him  at  that  meeting :  — 

"  Salem,  April  26th,  1775. 

"  I  received  your  favor  by  Dr.  Orne,  and  read  it  with  much 
satisfaction.     Your  sentiments  and  mine  respecting  public 


iEx.  29.]  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  81 

affairs  do  not  differ.  I  am  still  of  opinion  that  a  pacification 
upon  honorable  terms  is  practicable.  This  opinion  I  de- 
clared in  the  council  of  war  at  Cambridge  last  Thui-sday ; 
urging  strenuously  a  forbearance  of  hostilities,  and  praying 
that  we  might  act  only  on  the  defensive ;  at  least  till  the 
other  Colonies  were  consulted.  Some  declared  themselves 
of  the  same  opinion.  Others  thought  that  now  was  the  time 
to  strike,  and  cut  off  the  troops  before  they  were  reenforced ; 
and  then,  said  they,  the  day  will  be  our  own.  As  if  Great 
Britain  could  not  replace  three  thousand  men,  nor  land  at 
any  other  place  than  Boston  1  By  the  way,  I  do  not  see  what 
mighty  advantage  can  accrue  to  us  by  getting  possession  of 
Boston ;  none,  I  am  sure,  which  can  countervail  the  loss  of 
thousands  in  storming  the  town,  which  will  immediately  be 
beat  to  pieces  by  the  men-of-war.  I  had  twenty  to  one 
rather  make  an  attempt  upon  the  Castle.  Notwithstanding  the 
warmth  of  some  men,  by  all  I  can  now  learn,  the  only  capi- 
tal manoeuvre  at  present  will  be  the  enlisting  an  army,  and 
getting  it  disciplined,  ready  to  oppose  any  violence  which 
shall  be  offered  by  those  who  are  inimical  to  us.  And  this 
plan  I  do  not  find  that  any  one  objects  against :  on  the  con- 
trary, those  judicious,  moderate  men  who  have  hitherto 
opposed  the  measure,  now  think  it  necessary,  and  that  the 
late  expedition  of  the  troops  will  justify  us  therein.  The 
number  agreed  on  by  our  Congress  as  their  quota  of  thirty 
thousand,  to  be  raised  in  New  England,  is  thirteen  thousand 
six  hundred  men,  whom  tliey  have  already  begun  to  enlist. 
In  consequence  of  this  plan,  I  am  persuaded  that  no  imme- 
diate attack  is  intended,  either  upon  Boston  or  the  Castle. 
But,  if  what  is  reported  to-day  be  true,  I  cannot  pretend  to 
my  what  the  deceitful  baseness  of  Gage  and  the  indignation 
of  our  countrymen  may  produce.  We  are  told  that  he 
assured  the  inliabitants  of  Boston,  if  they  would  deliver  up 
their  arms,  he  would  permit  the  inhabitants  to  leave  the 
town ;  that  they  have  complied  with  the  condition ;  and 
that  now  he  refuses  to  let  the  people  go.  But  all  this 
wants  confirmation. 

VOL.   L  11 


82  LIFE  OP  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  [1776. 

"  Josiah  Quincy,  Jr.,  Esq.,  is  arrived  at  Gloucester,  and 
the  Selectmen  of  that  town,  in  a  letter  I  received  this  morn- 
ing, say  he  is  very  ill,  and  near  expiring.  Lyde,  with 
whom  he  came,  sailed  a  good  while  before  Callahan,  who 
got  in  some  time  ago. 

"  I  was  this  day  informed  by  one  of  the  Derbys,  who 
spent  the  last  evening  with  Callahan,  that  he,  though  in- 
clined to  Toryism  (as  the  term  is),  confessed  it  was  in 
vain  to  deny  the  distress  already  arising  to  Great  Britain  by 
means  of  the  non-importation.  Many  of  the  discharged 
manufacturers  have  taken  to  the  highways,  armed,  and  the 
jails  are  filled  with  them  already. 

*^  The  harbor  of  Marblehead  is  blocked  up  by  a  man-of- 
war  ;  *  ours  is  yet  free. 

"  P.  S.  I  hope  nothing  will  prevent  your  communicating 
to  me  your  plan  of  a  pacification  very  soon."  f 

*  See  Appendix,  No.  I.,  p.  541,  note. 

t  The  moderate  sentiments  expressed  by  Colonel  Pickering  at  the  abore- 
mentioned  meeting  of  officers  seem  to  hare  been  objected  against  him  as  a 
candidate  for  some  civil  appointment.  See  his  letter  to  Dr.  Holten,  posif 
p.  89. 


JEit.  29.]  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICEEBINO.  83 


CHAPTER    VI. 

Colonel  Pickering  rejects  Advice  to  join  the  Tories.  —  His  "  Plan  of 
Discipline  for  a  Militia."  —  Appointed  to  Judicial  Offices.  —  He 
and  others  form  themselves  into  a  Volunteer  Company,  and, 
through  him,  tender  their  Services  to  General  Washington.  — 
Chosen  a  Representative  for  Salem.  —  Salem  readj  for  a  Declar- 
ation of  Independence. 

Among  the  early  friends  of  Colonel  Pickering  was 
Mrs.  Higginson,  the  wife  of  John  Higginson,  the  Regis- 
ter of  Deeds  for  the  county  of  Essex.  Mr.  Higgin- 
son died  in  1774,  leaving  her  a  widow,  with  their 
only  child,  a  daughter.  She  was  a  woman  of  a  superior 
understanding ;  and,  entertaining  sentiments  in  favor 
of  the  government  of  Great  Britain,  and  expressing 
them  with  more  freedom  than  prudence,  she  rendered 
herself  unpopular.  In  consequence,  she  thought  her- 
self obliged  to  leave  the  country,  and  took  refuge  in 
Halifax,  Nova  Scotia.  There,  disdaining  to  be  depen- 
dent on  charity,  she  opened  a  school  for  the  support  of 
herself  and  her  daughter;  but,  in  1782,  before  the  ter- 
mination of  the  Revolutionary  war,  they  returned  to 
the  neighborhood  of  Salem,  choosing  to  subject  them- 
selves to  persecution  from  a  few  malevolent  or  narrow- 
minded  Whigs,  in  preference  to  remaining  in  exile. 
Soon  after  the  peace,  they  established  a  school  in  Sa- 
lem, which  enjoyed  a  high  reputation  for  many  years, 
first  under  their  joint  care,  and  subsequently  under 
that  of  Miss  Higginson  alone,  who  survived  her  mother. 
For  both  of  them  Colonel  Pickering  cherished  through 


84  I-IFE    OF   TIMOTHY   PICKERING.  [1776. 

life  a  most  affectionate  regard.  Mrs.  Higginson  wrote 
to  him,  from  Marblehead,  in  April,  1775  (probably  after 
the  battle  of  Lexington),  as  follows :  — 

"  As  I  fully  believe  our  long  acquaintance  has  produced  a 
sincere  and  lasting  friendship  for  each  other,  notwithstand- 
ing our  widely  differing  in  sentiment  as  to  politics,  you 
will,  I  hope,. forgive  my  troubling  you.  It  has  appeared 
plain  to  me,  that  you,  from  the  native  goodness  of  your 
heart,  never  thought  things  would  be  carried  the  lengths 
they  are.  I,  who  have  lived  longer  in  this  wicked  world, 
and  seen  so  much  of  it,  have  ever  been  fearful  of  what  is 
now  like  to  take  place.  I  cannot  but  say,  I  am  anxious  for 
all  my  friends,  and  particularly  for  you,  and,  as  I  judge 
you  have  a  fair  opening,  wish  you  to  make  a  handsome 
retreat  in  season.  You  never  can  fall  in  with  the  cruelty 
and  rage  against  the  friends  to  government,  many  of  whom 
you  are  personally  acquainted  with  and  esteem.  I  would, 
therefore,  beg  you  to  recollect  what  passed  when  you  re- 
turned me  here  Friday  last,  and  weigh  well  the  matter. 
*The  post  of  honor  is  a  private  station.' 


>» 


Colonel  Pickering  wrote  an  answer,  dated  Salem, 
May  2d,  1775. 

"  Dear  Madam, 
"You  as  rightly  *as  fully  believe  that  we  feel  a  sin- 
cere friendship  for  each  other ; '  and  let  it  be  lasting  as 
our  lives.  I  regret  the  separation  which  probably  must 
soon  tjike  place ;  but  God  grant  it  may  be  a  short  one. 
.  .  .  For  many  years  I  regarded  you  with  heartfelt  affec- 
tion ;  but  I  must  confess  (and  you  will  not  think  my  friend- 
ship is  now  less  warm  and  sincere  because  I  confess  the 
truth) ,  that  our  repeated  bickerings  (I  am  soiTy  to  use  the 
word,  but  everything  must  yield  to  truth,)  had  sensibly 
lessened  that  affection,  though  it  returned  with  all  its  force 
when  I  found  we  must  part;  and  'tis  now  heightened  by 


iEi.  SO.]  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERtNO.  85 

your  very  obliging,  aSectionate  letter,  which  I  have  just 
received  and  read.  Indeed,  I  formed  a  wish  that  you  might 
not  go,  and  was  casting  about  in  my  mind  in  what  manner 
I  could  provide  for  your  aafety  and  support,  when  Mr. 
Robie  came  in,  and  interrupted  my  auxious,  but  pleasing 
thoughts.  When  I  last  carried  you  to  Marblehead,  I  had 
it  in  my  heart  to  propose  a  mutual,  cordial  forgiveness  of 
every  thought,  woi-d,  or  look,  which  had  ever  borne  the 
aspect  of  seventy  and  unkindness ;  but  I  need  not  tell  you, 
that  I  am  less  prone  than  many  to  make  an  ado  about  such 
matters.  I  felt  all,  and  perhaps  more  than  1  could  have 
expressed ;  and  I  entirely  believed  your  feelings  were  kind 
and  friendly  as  my  own. 

"  You  do  me  justice  in  believing  that  I  have  au  aversion 
to  cruelty  and  rage  nguinst  those  called  '  friends  to  govern- 
ment,' some  of  whom  I  esteem  highly,  because  I  think  them 
possessed  of  great  integrity  and  worth. 

"  1  agree  with  you,  that  a  private  station  is  often  the  post 
of  honor ;  and  I  feel  not  the  ambition  for  titles  and  high 
places,  conspicuous  iu  some  men :  at  the  same  time,  I  think 
it  my  duty  not  to  desert  my  country  in  that  cause  which  I 
have  hitherto  espoused,  —  a  cause  which  I  believe  to  be 
founded  injustice,  although,  in  conducting  it,  many  irregu- 
larities may  have  been  committed  ;  a  cause  which,  if  given 
up,  or  the  supporters  of  it  be  overcome,  Liberty  itself,  I 
fear,  will  expire ;  and  at  present  I  do  not  feel  an  incliuu- 
tiou  to  survive  the  liberties  of  my  country. 

"But  whatever  becomes  of  me,  may  kind  Heaven  bo  your 
guardian  and  the  guardian  of  your  lovely  daughter,  whom  I 
pray  you  to  embrace  for  me." 

In  1775,  Colonel  Pickering  published  a  duodecimo 
volume  of  about  one  hundred  and  fifty  pages,  with 
copper-plate  engravings,  entitled  "An  Ea8_y  Plan  of 
Discipline  for  a  Militia."  It  was  not  a  mere  com- 
pilation, but  a  work  containing  many  Buggestions,  the 


I 


86  UFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  [1776. 

result  of  his  own  observation  and  reflection.*  Previ- 
ously to  its  publication^  Major  Joseph  Hawley^  then  a 
member  of  the  Provincial  Congress,  wrote  to  him,  under 
date  of  Cambridge,  February  3d,  1775,  — 

<*  I  hope  that  I  shall  have  the  pleasure  of  seeing  you  here, 
with  the  work,  the  very  beginning  of  next  week.  I  men- 
tion that  time  because  I  apprehend  that  the  session  is  likely 
to  be  short ;  and  I  have  conceived  so  highly  of  the  general 
utility  of  the  performance,  and  of  the  immediate  great  ad- 
vantages that  will  accrue  therefrom  to  the  militia,  as  that  it 
would  be  extremely  afflictive  to  me  to  return  home  without 
assurance  that  the  public  would  forthwith  receive  the  benefit 
of  your  generous  efibils  to  serve  them.  I  am  vastly  mis- 
taken if  your  plan  will  not  be  so  fully  approved  by  common 
sense,  as  that  it  must  infallibly  take,  and  certainly  balk  all 
the  attempts  of  envy  to  disparage  it.     .  .  • 

**  I  am.  Sir,  with  great  and  most  sincere  esteem,"  &c. 

In  a  letter  dated  Watertown,  January  10th,  1776, 
Samuel  Phillips,  Jr.,  (subsequently  the  founder  of  Phil- 
lips Academy,  at  Andover,)  exhibits  an  instance  of  his 
patriotism  and  of  his  liberality.     He  says,  — 

**  I  have  only  time  to  thank  you  for  your  favors,  and  ex- 
press my  satisfaction  on  the  prospect  of  the  public's  being 
served  so  materially  as  1  think  they  must  be  by  a  recom- 
mendation of  your  *Plan  of  Discipline.'    Be  this  as  it  may,  if 

*  He  devised  an  expeditious  method  of  sizing  a  company,  which,  he  sajs, 
was  "  particularly  adapted  to  a  militia,  for  whom  a  size-roll,  as  used  in  the 
army,  would  be  of  little  service,  on  account  of  the  perpetual  changes  of  the 
persons  or  sizes  of  the  men.  ...  It  was  first  published  in  1769,  in  the 
'Essex  Gazette'  of  October  24th,  whilst  the  troops  were  in  Boston,  and 
was,  I  am  informed,  immediately  adopted  by  one  or  more  of  the  regiments  in 
sizing  the  main  guard,  which,  being  composed  of  men  taken  from  every  com- 
pany in  the  regiment,  is  in  a  situation  similar  to  that  of  the  militia,  with  re- 
spect to  the  continual  change  of  persons."  —  Plan  of  Discipline^  p.  68, 
note. — Another  method  is  practised  now,  suited  to  a  different  mode  of  forming 
a  company. 


JEt.  30.]  UFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  87 

my  life  is  Bpared,  you  shall  not  be  at  one  farthing's  expense 
on  account  of  any  failure  in  the  sale.  Should  the  commu- 
nity be  so  blind  as  not  to  avail  themselves  of  so  importiint 
improvements  as  you  have  put  in  their  power»  I*  shall  be 
proud  to  be  any  way  accessory  to  the  preventing  a  burden 
falling  on  any  person  by  means  of  his  exertions  for  the 
general  good,  especially  when  such  exertions  were  attended 
with  no  small  expense." 

On  the  4th  of  March,  1776,  Colonel  Pickering  an- 
swered Mr:  Phillips :  — 

**  I  cannot  sufficiently  acknowledge  your  goodness  mani- 
fested in  your  letter  of  January  10th.  Such  an  instance  of 
unexampled  generosity  will  for  ever  demand  my  gratitude. 
You  might  well  suppose  I  had  not  received  that  letter, 
seeing  1  neglected  to  answer  it.  But,  believe  me,  dear 
Sir,  that  I  was  neither  insensible  of  the  obligations  laid  on 
me  by  such  a  favor  so  kindly  offered,  nor  wanting  in  respect 
to  the  noble,  generous,  amiable  author  of  it.  I  speak  my 
sober  sentiments,  for  I  love  you  too  well  to  flatter  you,  and 
I  hope  you  think  me  too  honest  to  be  capable  of  it." 

By  a  Resolve  of  the  Council  and  the  House  of  Rep- 
resentatives of  Massachusetts  Bay  of  May  1st,  1776, 
— reciting  that  '*  the  '  Plan  of  Military  Discipline,'  lately 
published  by  Timothy  Pickering,  Esq.,  appears  to  this 
Court  to  be  well  adapted  to  the  use  and  practice  of  a 
militia,  as  it  contains  all  the  motions  in  the  manual 
exercise  that  are  necessary  and  useful,  and  is  not,  like 
the  Sixty-fourth,  Norfolk  and  others,  clogged  with  many 
superfluous  motions,  which  only  serve  to  burden  the 
memory  and  perplex  the  learner ;  and  as  it  also  con- 
tains many  useful  manoeuvres,  &c.,  not  published  in  the 
Sixty-fourth/* —  it  was  ordered,  that  this  "  Plan  of  Dis- 
cipline "  should,  for  the  future,  be  used  and  practised  by 
the  militia  of  the  Colony.    In  the  same  year  the  book 


88  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  [1776. 

passed  to  a  second  edition.  It  was  superseded  by  the 
work  afterwards  published  by  Baron  Steuben ;  but  so 
late  as  March  4th,  1799,  General  Epaphras  Hoyt,  of 
Deerfield,  who  had  written  a  treatise  for  the  instruc- 
tion of  the  militia  of  Massachusetts,  sent  a  copy  of  his 
work  to  Colonel  Pickering,  with  the  remark,  "It  is 
with  pleasure  I  acknowledge  my  indebtedness  to  the 
*  Elements  of  Evolutions  and  Principles  of  Manoeuvres' 
in  your  *  Plan  of  Discipline  for  a  Militia/  Of  these  I 
have  made  free  use,"  &c. 

Although  Colonel  Pickering  was  not  a  well-read 
lawyer,  the  legal  knowledge  which  he  had  acquired, 
hi8  practical  good  sense,  industry,  and  application  to 
business,  (to  say  nothing  of  his  zeal  on  the  side  of  the 
Colonies  in  their  contest  with  the  mother  country,)  rec- 
ommended him  to  the  government  of  the  Province  for 
judicial  oflSces.  In  September,  1775,  he  was  commis- 
sioned as  a  Justice  of  the  Peace ;  and,  as  such,  he  took 
his  place  in  the  Court  of  Sessions.  In  the  same  autumn 
he  was  appointed  a  Justice  of  the  Inferior  Court  of 
Common  Pleas  for  the  County  of  Essex.  After  the 
July  term  in  1775,  the  sittings  of  this  Court  were  sus- 
pended until  July  term  in  1776,  at  which,  and  the  suc- 
ceeding term  in  September,  he  sat  on  the  bench.  On 
the  12th  of  December,  1775,  he  was  commissioned  and 
sworn  as  the  sole  Judge  of  the  maritime  court*  for 
the  counties  of  Suffolk,  Essex,  and  Middlesex.  This 
was  an  office  of  high  responsibility ;  for,  as  a  great 
many  privateers  were  fitted  out  by  merchants  and 
others  in  the  counties  of  Suffolk  and  Essex,  the  cases 
brought  before  the  Court  for  adjudication  were  numer- 

*  Under  a  statute  of  Massachusetts,  passed  in  1775,  entitled  *'  An  Act  for 
the  encouraging  the  fixing  out  of  armed  vessels  to  defend  the  sea-coasts  of 
America." 


^T.80.]  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  89 

ous,  and  in  some  of  them  property  to  a  large  amount 
was  in  question.* 

It  seems  that  Colonel  Pickering,  being  a  candidate 
for  appointment  to  some  judicial  office,  was  objected 
to  on  account  of  his  remarks  at  the  meeting  of  militia 
officers  at  Cambridge,  just  after  the  battle  of  Lexing- 
ton.f  In  consequence,  he  wrote  the  following  letter  to 
his  friend  Dr.  Samuel  Holten :  — 

"  Salem,  October  16tb,  1775. 

"  Dear  Sir, 

"  I  cannot  forbear  expressing  my  surprise  at  the  principle 
advanced  by  a  certain  gentleman,  with  respect  to  the  ap- 
pointment of  civil  officers.  To  be  consistent,  he  should  go 
one  step  farther ;  or,  rather,  he  might  be  more  explicit,  and 
say,  that  unless  a  man  have  a  brawny  arm  and  the  heart  of  a 
lion,  or,  in  other  words,  if  he  possess  not  the  prime  quali- 
ties of  an  executioner^  he  is  unfit  for  a  Judge/  But,  for  my 
own  part,  I  would  choose  to  bear  the  reproach  of  humanity, 
and  a  tender  feeling  for  my  brethren  of  mankind,  especially 
my  fellow-citizens,  on  the  point  of  being  exposed  to  all  the 
calamities,  the  numberless  calamities,  of  civil  war,  rather 
than,  upon  opposite  principles,  be  advanced  to  the  highest 
posts,  and  so  possess,  with  infamy,  the  reward  of  savage 
ferocity  and  barbarism.  What  does  common  sense  pro- 
nounce to  be  the  proper  qualifications  of  a  judge  ?  Are  they 
other  than  these,  —  integrity,  ability,  and  knowledge  of  the 
law?  Who,  in  searching  for  a  judge,  a  disceruer  between 
truth  and  falsehood,  right  and  wrong,  would,  before  all 
things,  inquire  for  a  man  of  conquering  attributes,  — for  a 
hero  ? 

"With  regard  to  the  instance  in  question,  'tis  true  I 
differed  in  opinion  from  some  others.  I  said  we  were  not 
prepared  for  war,  and  that  war  to  me  appeared  not  unavoid- 


*  See  the  letter  to  Jacob  Dodge,  ante,  p.  79. 
t  See  his  letter  to  Faine  Wingate,  arUe,  p.  80. 

VOL.  L  12 


90  UFB  OP  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  [1776. 

able :  hence  arose  my  wishes  still  longer  to  forbear  avowed 
hostilities.  Dr.  Warren  —  a  man  deservedly  esteemed  and 
honored  —  urged  strenuously  the  pushing  into  Boston  and 
cutting  off  the  troops  before  a  reenforcement  should  arrive. 
I  declared  instantly  my  opinion,  that  it  was  then  imprac- 
ticable. I  know  my  opinion  did  not  prevent  it ;  but  it  was 
not  done.  And  were  I  now  to  say,  even  now  the  Colonies 
are  unprepared  for  war,  the  declaration  would  not  be  wholly 
destitute  of  truth.  Ask  General  Washington  :  he  '11  tell  you 
he  is  obliged  to  remain  most  mortityingly  inactive,  and 
receive,  without  reply,  the  enemy's  unceasing  insults.  This 
he  declared  to  me  last  week.  But,  admitting  my  opinion  to 
be  unfounded, ^^ must  I  from  thence  be  concluded  my  coun- 
try's enemy,  or  timid  friend  ?  Suffer  me  to  mention  a  fact. 
In  1745,  in  our  House  of  Representatives,  this  question  was 
agitated  :  Is  it  practicable  to  take  Louisburg?  It  was  long 
and  calmly  debated,  and  at  length  determined  in  the  affirma- 
tive by  a  majority  of  one  voice  only.  What  now  was  to 
be  done  with  the  minority?  Should  they  be  expelled  the 
House  because  they  were  less  sanguine  than  their  brethren, 
and  be  excluded  from  offices?  The  cases,  I  think,  are  not 
unlike.  The  question  being  once  determined,  the  minority 
were  as  active  as  their  opponents  in  setting  forward  the 
expedition ;  and,  by  a  remarkable  series  of  fortunate  events, 
it  happily  succeeded.  God  grant  our  present  enterprise 
may  be  alike  successful  I  My  efforts  have  not  been  wanting, 
to  the  utmost  of  my  ability ;  and,  had  I  been  actually  a  mem- 
ber of  the  army,  I  could  scarcely  have  spent  more  time  in  ita 
service.  Since  the  19th  of  April,  one  month  would  much 
more  than  comprise  all  my  labor  and  attention  to  my  own 
affairs.  And  a  hundred  pounds,  lawful  money,  would  not 
tempt  me  again  to  go  through  the  application  and  fatigue  of 
writing  my  military  treatise.  You  will.  Sir,  excuse  this 
tedious  epistle.  I  am  bound,  in  justice  to  myself,  to  mention 
these  things,  to  show  how  extremely  unreasonable  it  would 
be  to  refuse  me  such  offices  as  I  am  qualified  to  discharge  for 
the  tridiug  cause  referred  to,  or  rather  for  no  cause  at  all. 


JEt.  80.]  LITE  OP  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  91 

I  do  not  say  this  because  I  regret  my  missing  a  certain  ap- 
pointment. I  repeat  what  I  told  you, — that,  whatever  I  may 
be  hereafter,  when  study  and  experience  have  matured  my 
judgment,  I  am  at  present  unfit  for  that  important  trust. 
Had  the  appointment  taken  place,  I  think  I  must  have  de- 
clined it,  lest  I  should  by  accepting  it  disgrace  myself  and 
injure  and  dishonor  my  country.  For  the  present  is  th^ 
most  important  period  since  the  Colony  was  founded;  and 
never  was  there  a  greater  necessity  of  filling  the  offices  of 
government  with  men  of  integrity,  ability,  and  knowledge, 
both  on  account  of  the  difficulty  of  the  times,  and  that  our 
adversaries  and  posterity  [may  have  no  ground]  for  vilify- 
ing, stinging  reflections ;  for  sorry  should  I  be  to  see  the 
Colony  again  reproached,  and  its  senators  and  leaders 
styled,  ignominiously,  *Dii  minorum  gentium  J* 

^*I  do  not  repeat  my  petition.  You  know  me;  so  do 
others;  and  your  discernment,  and  sense  of  the  dignity 
becoming  freemen,  will  lead  you  to  expect  no  servile  en- 
treaties from  me.  A  slave  may  present  them  at  the  shrine 
of  power ;  but  a  liberal  mind  will  reject  the  offering  with 
disdain. 

''I  am,  Sir,  with  great  regard,  your  obliged  friend,"  &c. 

Soon  afterward  Dr.  Holten  wrote  the  following :  — 

"  Watbbtowv,  NoTember  8d,  1775. 

''I  congratulate  you,  Sir,  on  your  appointment  as  a  Justice 
of  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas  for  the  County  of  Essex,  and 
one  of  the  Quorum  for  said  county ;  and  when  it  is  fully 
known  to  you  the  part  I  took  in  your  favor,  I  make  no 
doubt  you  will  consider  me  as  a  true  friend,  and  acting 
upon  no  other  principles  than  to  promote  the  welfare  and 
prosperity  of  my  country.** 

Colonel  Pickering  replied,  November  15th,  1775, — 


*  See  HutchinBon's  **HiBtoi7  of  the  FroTince  of  Kasaachusetts  Bay,"  Vol. 

n.  p.  8. 


92  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKEKING.  [1776. 

"  I  thank  you  for  your  kind  congratulations  on  my  ap- 
pointment to  the  offices  you  mention.  I  have  at  no  time 
doubted  your  being  my  real  friend.  But  (as  you  intimate) 
every  act  of  friendship  ought  to  be  exercised  in  perfect 
consistency  with  the  welfare  and  prosperity  of  one's  coun- 
try ;  and,  if  I  should  ever  so  far  mistake  my  talents  as  to 
request  an  employment  incompatible  with  those  supreme 
considerations,  'tis  my  wish  that  my  friends  may  as  stren- 
uously oppose  it,  as  in  other  cases  I  could  pray  them  to 
espouse  my  interest." 

Colonel  Pickering  wrote  the  following  letter  to 
General  Washington,  and  was  himself  one  of  the  vol- 
unteers therein  mentioned;  as  is  shown  by  the  Gen- 
eral's answer. 

"  Saleh,  January  Slst,  1776. 

"Sib, 
**  The  General  Court  of  this  Colony  having,  pursuant  to 
your  request,  issued  orders  for  raising  upwards  of  four 
thousand  men  to  serve,  in  the  army  that  is  under  your  Ex- 
cellency's immediate  command,  till  the  first  day  of  April 
next,  and  of  that  number  directed  that  ninety-one  be  en- 
listed in  the  town  of  Salem,  in  consequence  thereof  the 
militia  were  mustered  and  the  resolves  of  the  Coui*t  read 
to  them,  and  the  importance  of  manning  the  lines  at  Cam- 
bridge and  Roxbury  was  urged ;  but,  great  numbers  of  the 
inhabitants  being  at  sea,  many  impressed  on  board  the 
British  ships,  a  considerable  number  in  the  American  armed 
vessels  and  privateers,  one  hundred  employed  as  a  sea-coast 
guard,  and  perhaps  double  that  number  already  in  the  army, 
—  of  the  residue,  two  or  three  only  presented  themselves  to 
serve  on  the  common  establishment  of  the  army.  We  were 
therefore  induced  to  try  another  method,  and  the  Committee 
of  Safety  gave  the  enlisting  orders  to  a  worthy  man  and 
good  soldier  who  had  served  as  a  Lieutenant  in  the  army 
the  last  campaign,  and  offered  a  month's  pay  in  advance  to 
all  who  would  enlist  under  him.     But  this  measure  also 


Jir.  30.]  UFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  93 

proved  ineffectual.  Hence  the  persons  whose  names  are 
subjoined,  inhabitants  of  the  town  of  Salem,  convinced  that 
'tis  of  the  last  importance  to  the  United  Colonies,  and  essen- 
tial to  the  safety  of  this  Colony,  to  defend  the  lines  at  Cam- 
bridge and  Roxbury,  have  agreed  (aa  'tis  not  in  their  power 
to  do  anything  more  or  better)  to  form  themselves  into  a 
company  of  volunteers,  to  serve  in  the  army  till  the  first 
day  of  April  next  without  pay;  and  they  now,  Sir,  beg 
leave  to  tender  themselves  to  your  Excellency,  to  be  em- 
ployed OS  you  shall  think  best ;  and  pray  they  may,  by  the 
bearer,  who  is  one  of  the  company,  be  made  acquainted 
with  your  Excellency's  pleasure." 

An  answer  was  returned  by  General  Washington, 
under  date  of  Cambridge,  February  Ist,  1776. 

"Sib, 

"Your  favor  of  yesterday  I  received,  and  am  sorry  to 
hear  that  the  quota  of  militia  which  the  town  of  Salem  was 
to  furnish,  by  resolve  of  the  Honorable  General  Court, 
cannot  he  had. 

"  The  generous  tender  of  services  made  by  you,  Sir,  and 
the  rest  of  the  volunteers,  claims  a  return  of  my  sincere 
thanks.  Should  I  have  an  occasion  to  call  upon  them,  I 
shall  do  it;  at  present,  I  wish  them  to  continue  at  Salem, 
and  to  hold  themselves  in  readiness. 

"I  am,"  &c. 

The  town  of  SaJem,  in  May,  1776,  voted  to  send 
Representatives  to  the  General  Court,  to  be  chosen 
by  differently  colored  halh ;  and  Colonel  Pickering  was 
chosen  in  that  singular  mode ;  but  such  an  election 
was  held  to  be  void.  On  the  4th  of  June  he  was 
reelected  in  due  form  of  law.  The  town,  in  advising 
their  Representatives,  say,  that,  if  Congress  shall  de- 
clare the  independence  of  the  Colonies,  "  we  are  ready 
to  abide  by  the  decision." 


94  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHT  FICKEBmQ.  [1776. 


CHAPTER    VII. 

Colonel  Pickering  volunteers  a  second  Time.  —  Marches  a  Regi- 
ment of  Militia  to  the  State  of  New  York.  —  It  becomes  a  Part 
of  General  Heath's  Command.  —  Heath's  Inefficiency. — Various 
Incidents  of  the  Expedition. 

In  1776,  July  4th  and  13th,  it  was  resolved  by  the 
General  Assembly  of  Massachusetts  Bay,  that  the  Com- 
missary appointed  to  furnish  the  sea-coast  men  stationed 
at  Salem  be  directed  to  furnish  the  company  of  ma- 
trosses,  to  be  raised  and  stationed  at  Salem,  with  all 
necessaries  agreeably  to  the  sea-coast  establishment, 
and  that  this  company  be  under  the  order  and  direction 
of  Colonel  Pickering,  and,  in  case  of  his  absence  from 
Salem,  of  Major  Joseph  Sprague. 

In  a  preceding  chapter  *  it  is  stated  that  a  regiment 
of  militia,  numbering  a  little  more  than  seven  hundred 
men,  furnished  by  the  county  of  Essex,  was  placed 
under  the  command  of  Colonel  Pickering,  and  was 
called  into  actual  service,  and  that  it  performed  the 
campaign  in  the  States  of  New  York  and  New  Jersey. 
The  following  narrative  of  the  expedition  is  taken  from 
Colonel  Pickering's  journal  and  letters. 

He  left  Salem  on  the  24th  of  December,  and,  by  the 
way  of  Boston,  Walpole,  and  Attleboro*,  arrived  at 
Providence  on  the  26th. 

In  a  letter  to  Mrs.  Pickering,  dated  Providence,  De- 
cember 27th,  he  writes, — 

♦  Chapter  V.  pp.  78,  79. 


fix.  81.]  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHT  PICKBRmG.  95 

«r  arrived  here  yesterday  about'eleveu  o'clock,  A.  M., 
and  was  surprised  tt  meetiDg  Dr.  [Archelaus]  Piitoam,  who, 
with  the  rest  of  the  Salem  company,  I  supposed,  had  been 
far  beyond  Providence ;  but  I  found  General  Lincoln  had 
stopped  them,  and  he  yet  detains  us  till  he  receives  orders, 
from  the  Assembly  of  our  State,  either  to  proceed  or  stay 
here.  The  latter  will  be  extremely  agreeable  to  us,  if 
compatible  with  the  general  good;  and,  considering  the 
proximity  of  the  enemy  (they  being  several  thousand  strong 
at  Rhode  Island),  it  appeared  to  me,  from  what  the  General 
remarked  on  the  state  of  matters,  that  he  judged  it  would 
be  expedient  that  about  three  thousand  of  the  Massachusetts 
militia  should  tarry  here." 

^Journal.  —  The  28th,  at  evening,  received  General  Lin- 
coln's orders  to  march  my  regiment  for  Danbury  the  next 
day  at  noon  (Sunday).  I  gave  orders  accordingly  to  the 
captains,  and  the  regiment  marched  between  twelve  and 
one." 

On  the  30th  he  set  off  with  General  Lincoln  and  his 
aidfHle-camp,  and  Brigadier-General  Moulton  and  Brig- 
ade-Major Biimham.  Passing  through  Coventry,  Wind- 
ham, Hartford,  &c.,  they  arrived  on  the  2d  of  January, 
1777,  at  Danbury,  where  Colonel  Pickering  remained 
until  the  13th.  On  the  2d,  at  Southbury,  they  heard 
of  the  capture  of  the  Hessians  at  Trenton. 

TO  MBS.   FIOKERING. 

**DANBnBT»  January  12th,  1777. 

**  Until  this  morning  I  expected  to  go  into  the  Jerseys, 
but  have  received  orders  to  go  to  North  Castle,  about 
twenty-seven  miles  from  Danbury,  towards  New  York.  .  .  . 
Part  of  my  regiment  are  gone  to  Peekskill,  but  are  to  go 
down  to  North  Castle,  to  which  place  I  have  ordered  those 
companies  of  my  regiment  now  here.  I  go  myself  to-mor- 
row morning  by  sunrise,  in  company  with  Mr.  [Francis] 
Cabot,  for  North  Castle. 


96  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  ri777, 

"I  arrived  at  Banbury  on  Thursday  night,  the  2d  of 
January,  in  company  with  General  Lincoln,  who,  going  on 
the  next  day  for  Peckskill,  directed  me  to  tarry  here,  to 
forward  the  militia  as  they  arrived.  Two  companies  in  my 
regiment  are  not  yet  come  in  —  Danvers  and  Marblchead. 

"  I  have  been  most  kindly  entertained  here  at  the  house 
of  Mr.  John  McLean,  a  wealthy,  worthy,  sensible  Scotch- 
man, most  zealously  attached  to  the  public  cause  of  America, 
and  who,  with  a  degree  of  indignation,  mentions  the  in- 
gratitude of  his  countrymen  and  other  foreigners,  who  have 
made  their  fortunes  in  America,  and  yet  are  now  opposing 
its  best  interests,  the  essential  interests  of  the  country  sub- 
dued and  cultivated  by  those  men  whose  children  those 
ungrateful  wretches  are  now  striving  to  subject  to  the  yoke 
of  tyranny.  This  good  man  I  shall  ever  remember  with 
respect  and  love." 

TO  MRS.    PICKERING. 

"  Bedford  [N.  Y.],  January  14th,  1777. 

"Yesterday  I  walked  from  Danbury  to  this  place  —  twenty 
long  miles  —  in  company  with  Mr.  Cabot  and  two  other 
gentlemen.  I  am  now  within  about  six  miles  of  our  head- 
quarters at  North  Castle,  where,  I  am  here  informed,  Gen- 
eral Heath  is  arrived,  and  is  to  command.  My  regiment, 
with  a  number  of  other  Massachusetts  regiments,  are  ordered 
to  North  Castle.  In  my  next,  perhaps,  I  shall  be  able  to  tell 
you  something  of  our  operations.  God  grant  us  success, 
and  restore  me  with  honor  to  my  beloved." 

^Journal.*  —  Tuesday,  January  14th.  —  Walked  from 
Bedford  to  North  Castle,  about  six  miles.  About  four  o'clock 
marched  with  four  companies  of  my  regiment  thence  to 
Tarrytown,  about  ten  miles.  According  to  general  orders, 
formed  van,  flank,  and  rear  guards.  Reached  Tarr}'town 
between  eight  and  nine  o'clock.  No  barracks  provided,  nor 
barrack-master  to  find  them  ;  but  was  obliged  to  ramble  from 

*  See  a  contemporary  diary  in  "  Heath's  Memoirs,"  pp.  105-115. 


-EtSI.]  life  of  timothy  PICKERING.  97 

house  to  house  till  after  ten,  wheu  the  companies  were  cov- 
ered. Invited  by  the  General  [Lincoln]  to  keep  at  his 
quailers,  which  I  did ;  now,  with  him,  for  the  first  time 
since  I  marched,  lodging  on  the  floor.  Wednesday  and 
Thursday,  the  rest  of  my  regiment  got  in,  and  the  whole 
were  furnished  with  ammunition  and  provisions  for  an  ex- 
pedition to  Kingsbridge  and  its  environs. 

"Friday,  January  17th.  —  The  regiments  (Lovell's, 
Thacher's,  Frost's,  and  mine,  there  being  no  more  with 
General  Lincoln)  completed  their  preparations  for  the  ex- 
pedition, and  the  three  latter  were  ordered  to  parade  at 
Dobbs's  Ferry,  ten  miles  from  Kingsbridge,  at  eleven  o'clock 
at  night,  with  the  wagons,  one  to  one  hundred  men. 
Lovell's  regiment  marched  over  in  the  afternoon  to  join 
General  Heath's  division.  The  regiments  paraded  punctu- 
ally, and  about  twelve  at  midnight  the  whole  marched  ofi", 
my  regiment  leading,  followed  by  one  piece  of  artillery, 
brass  six-pounder,  commanded  by  Captain  Fleeming  (a 
Yorker) ,  and  then  by  Colonel  Thacher's  regiment.  Colonel 
Frost's  formed  the  van,  flank,  and  rear  guards.  It  was  a 
cold,  uncomfortable  night.  We  reached  Colonel  Phillips's, 
within  about  three  miles  of  Kingsbridge,  about  four  o'clock 
in  the  morning,  which  obliged  us  to  halt  an  hour,  that 
we  might  not  arrive  too  soon.  Then  we  marched  on  and 
reached  the  grounds  towards  Kingsbridge  at  broad  daylight 
on  Saturday  morning.  Saw  some  men  coming  out  of  a 
house,  supposed  to  be  soldiers ;  and  by  the  General's  order 
I  detached  two  companies  (Ward's  and  Evans's)  to  inter- 
cept them  and  any  others  they  might  find.  But  they  were 
a  little  too  late,  and  strangers  to  the  ground,  without  a 
guide ;  otherwise  they  would  have  suiprised  another  party 
of  thirty  or  forty,  whom  they  saw  running  away,  and  who 
left  their  blankets,  &c.,  in  their  barracks,  which  our  soldiers 
afterwards  took  away ;  and  there  and  at  other  places,  in  the 
course  of  the  day,  they  picked  up  considerable  plunder. 
As  soon  as  I  had  detached  those  two  companies,  by  the 
General's  orders  I  ascended  the  hills,  followed  by  Captain 

VOL.  L  13 


98  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  [1777. 

Fleeming  with  his  six-pounder,  and  advanced  towards 
Spiten-Devil  Creek,  but  had  no  guide,  and  knew  not  where 
to  find  it.  Halted,  advanced,  and  halted.  The  General  left 
me,  I  knew  not  when,  and  went  over  to  Valentine's  Hill.  I 
saw  him  not  again  till  night.  Between  eleven  and  twelve 
at  noon,  received  a  written  order  from  him,  directed  to 
Brigadier  Moulton  or  me,  to  go  to  Spiten-Devil  [Creek]  with 
my  regiment.  I  accordingly  advanced  again,  but  without  a 
guide  who  could  give  us  a  just  description  of  the  route  we 
were  to  take.  Advanced  with  a  small  party  to  reconnoitre ; 
discovered  a  few  of  the  enemy  near  Kingsbridge,  but  saw 
no  body  of  our  troops  on  the  other  side  to  cooperate  with  us ; 
and,  after  waiting  some  time,  till  towards  sundown,  hearing 
nothing  further  of  the  General,  the  men  having  had  no 
sleep  nor  refreshment  for  the  day,  except  a  little  frozen 
meat  and  bread,  I  retired ;  and  in  retiring  met  Chaplain 
Thaxter,  with  a  message  from  the  General  for  my  return 
with  my  regiment  and  the  artillery.  The  General  ordered 
the  troops  to  find  cover  for  the  night  where  they  could, — in 
the  woods,  or  by  retiring  to  the  nearest  houses,  after  a 
proper  guard  was  drawn  out  to  remain  on  the  hills  north- 
ward of  Fort  Independence. 

"In  the  forenoon  a  person  came  from  Valentino's  Hill, 
and  informed  that  Colonel  Thacher's  regiment  had  gained 
possession  of  one  fort,  and  had  from  thence  fired  on  Fort 
Independence.  But  the  fort  gained  proved  afterwards  to 
bo  only  a  poor  work  which  the  enemy  abandoned,  and  which 
our  troops  then  entered.  In  a  word,  the  proceedings  of 
the  two  divisions  at  the  southward  under  Generals  Heath, 
Wooster,  Parsons,  and  Scott,  were  fruitless.  Fort  Inde- 
pendence General  Heath  summoned  to  suiTender,  but  his 
demand  was  disregarded. 

«  Pursuant  to  the  General's  [Heath's]  orders,  the  troops 
retired,  except  Colonel  Frost's  regiment,  which  encamped 
in  the  woods.  General  Lincoln  and  aids-de-camp,  divers 
other  officers,  and  myself,  went  to  Colonel  Phillips's,  where 
we  were  entertained  with  the  greatest  politeness.     The 


x 


•J 


Mt.  81.]  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  ^"^  99 

Colonel  is  reported  a  Tory,  aud,  as  such,  has  been  secured, 
but  discharged  on  his  parole.  Nevertheless,  whether  it  was 
policy,  benevolence,  or  good  breeding,  a  more  agreeable 
reception  I  never  met  with. 

•*  Sunday  Morning,  January  19th. — I  returned  to  the  for- 
mer day's  grounds,  and  in  the  forenoon  rode  over  with  Gen- 
eral Lincoln  and  Brigadier  Moultou  to  confer  with  Generals 
Heath,  Wooster,  Parsons,  &c.  They  concluded  that  it  was 
practicable  only  to  forage ;  having  received  information,  by 
a  deserter,  that  the  enemy  at  Fort  Independence  and  Kings- 
bridge  were  greatly  reenforced.  Then  we  returned  to  our 
quaiters.  The  regiments  were  mustered,  and  their  baggage 
put  up,  in  order  to  march  over  towards  General  Heath's 
division,  to  facilitate  the  execution  of  the  intended  plan ; 
but,  before  night.  General  Heath  sent  an  express  to  desire 
General  Lincoln  to  make  no  movement,  some  interesting  in- 
telligence from  General  Washington  rendering  it  expedient, 
as  he  said.  We  retired  to  quarters.  Geneml  Lincoln,  and 
son,  and  myself  erected  a  hut  with  rails  and  straw,  and 
lodged  in  the  woods.  This  afternoon  the  wind  got  round 
to  the  southward,  and  the  weather  moderated. 

"Monday,  January  20th.  —  A  pleasant  day.  Detached 
one  hundred  and  sixty  of  my  regiment,  to  be  joined  with 
detachments  from  Lovell's,  Thacher's,  and  Frost's,  —  in  the 
whole,  five  hundred  men,  —  for  an  expedition  to  be  executed 
this  day ;  but  Generals  Heath,  Parsons,  &c.,  came  over,  and, 
with  General  Lincoln,  reconnoitred,  and  found  their  scheme 
impracticable.  I  was  appointed  to  command  the  detach- 
ment, with  Lieutenant-C!olonel  How  of  Thacher's  regiment^ 
and  Major under  me. 

"Tuesday,  January  21st. — Two  field-pieces,  covered  by 
a  hundred  musketeers,  were  ordered  to  the  hill  near  Spiten- 
Devil  Creek,  to  fire  a  few  shot  at  the  enemy  near  Kings- 
bridge,  which  was  done,  —  without  doing  any  execution. 
The  enemy  returned  the  fire  from  a  small  field-piece,  but 
they  always  overshot  us.  I  went  as  a  spectator.  The  dis- 
tance was,  I  judged,  about  half  a  mile  from  the  enemy. 


y 


\ 


100  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKEBING.  [1777. 

They  also  fired  several  shot  at  us  from  the  fort,  or  battery, 
northward  of  Fort  Washington  (which  also  was  in  sight, 
and  distant,  it  is  said,  from  Eingsbridge  about  four  miles), 
at  the  distance,  I  judge,  on  a  straight  line,  of  about  two 
miles.  These  were  eighteen-pound  shot,  very  well  thrown. 
One  struck  and  rebounded.  As  it  rose  we  discovered  it, 
and  saw  it  moving  slowly  through  the  air,  about  fifty  yards 
from  us,  till  it  pitched  again,  about  seventy  yards  from 
where  it  struck  first.  At  this  time  a  party  was  ordered  on 
fatigue  in  a  neighboring  wood,  to  make  chandeliers  and 
fascines  for  a  breastwork  to  open  on  Kingsbridge,  distant, 
perhaps,  half  a  mile.  Afterwards  we  returned  to  our  quar- 
ters, —  a  new  hut,  nicely  built,  and  covered  with  oak-leaves 
and  brush,  under  Mr.  Thaxter's  direction. 

"Wednesday,  January  22d. — Paraded  my  regiment  at 
daybreak.  In  the  evening,  having  made  a  large  fire  before 
our  hut,  some  sparks  flew  upon  our  roof,  covered  with  oak 
leaves,  and  in  a  minute  the  whole  was  in  flames ;  but  we 
lost  none  of  our  baggage.  This  obliged  us  to  find  a  house 
for  the  night ;  so  we  retired  to  General  Moulton's  quarters, 
and  lodged  on  the  floor.  I  slept  well,  and  was  recovered 
a  little  from  a  cold  I  caught  on  Saturday. 

"  Thursday,  January  23d. — In  the  afternoon  I  detached 
three  captains,  four  subalterns,  seven  sergeants,  seven  cor- 
porals, and  one  hundred  and  sixty  privates,  from  my  regi- 
ment, to  be  joined  with  detachments  from  Thacher's  and 
Frost's  regiments,  making,  in  the  whole,  about  four  hundred 
rank  and  file,  to  parade  at  four  o'clock  next  morning.  I 
was  directed  to  take  the  command  of  them,  if  my  health 
would  permit.  I  was  not  well  of  my  cold,  but  I  did  not 
decline  the  command.  This  afternoon  there  Was  a  skirmish 
between  a  party  of  Generals  Heath's  and  Wooster's  divisions 
and  the  enemy,  southward  of  Fort  Independence.  A  small 
number  of  the  Americans  were  killed  and  wounded. 

"  At  ten  o'clock  in  the  evening,  received  information  that 
the  detachments  made  in  the  afternoon  were  .discharged,  the 
matter  being  over  for  which  they  were  intended.  It  began 
to  sRtxSy  ip  tbeie^ening. 


^T.  81.]  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  101 

"  Friday,  January  24th.  The  snow  fell  last  night  about 
three  or  four  inches  deep,  and  this  morning  it  rained  hard, 
by  which  the  soldiers  were  generally  wet,  in  their  huts, 
through  to  their  skins.  General  Lincoln  sent  Major  Pop- 
kin,  one  of  his  aides-de-camp,  to  General  Heath,  for  orders 
relative  to  the  removipg  the  troops,  it  being  impossible  for 
them  to  continue  in  their  present  situation,  either  with  com- 
fort and  a  possibility  of  preserving  their  health,  or  safety,  — 
for  their  arms  were  wet  and  their  ammunition  would  soon 
be  spoiled.  Major  Popkin  was  gone  four  hours,  being 
detained  that  General  Heath  might  get  intelligence  from 
his  advanced  posts,  and  in  endeavoring  to  persuade  him  to 
consent  that  General  Lincoln's  division  might  retire  to  their 
old  quarters  at  Tarry  to  wn  and  Dobbs's  Ferry,  to  shift  and  dry 
their  clothes,  and  refresh  themselves,  after  their  fatigues ; 
but  General  Heath  would  consent  only  that  they  should 
retire  about  two  and  three  miles  to  the  nearest  houses.  But, 
notwithstanding.  General  Lincoln,  upon  considering  the 
uncomfortable  condition  of  his  troops,  and  uselessness  of 
their  arms  and  ammunition,  from  their  being  so  much  wet, 
consented  that  we  should  proceed  towards  our  old  quarters, 
and  in  the  mean  time  went  to  General  Heath  to  induce  him 

m 

also  to  consent,  saying,  as  he  left  me,  that,  if  General  Heath 
would  not  consent  to  a  necessity  so  urgent,  he  must  send  an 
express  to  stop  us.  We  accordingly  began  our  march ;  but 
such  had  been  the  fatigues  and  distress  of  the  men  from  cold 
and  want  of  cover  for  the  week  past,  that  the  impatience  of 
great  numbers  carried  them  off  without  orders,  and  it  was 
not  without  much  difficulty  that  I  could  collect  any  to  form 
a  body  capable  of  action,  to  secure  our  retreat.  Indeed,  the 
arms  and  ammunition  in  general  were  so  damaged  by  the 
rain,  that  we  could  have  made  but  a  feeble  resistance,  had 
the  enemy  sallied.  Tis  true  the  storm  rendered  a  sally  im- 
probable ;  besides,  we  moved  off  in  silence. 

**  On  the  march,  about  half  way  between  our  late  camp  and 
Tarry  town,  the  Brigade-Major,  Burnham,  brought  me  Gen- 
eral Heath's  positive  orders  to  march  to  Miles  Square.    But  it 


102  LIFE  OP  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  [1777. 

was  absolutely  impracticable  to  execute  them.  A  large  pro- 
portion of  the  men  had  by  this  time  arrived  at  their  quarters, 
and  full  three  fourths  of  my  regiment  were  ahead  of  me,  and  I 
on  foot,  with  my  pack  and  large  blanket  at  my  back  (which  I 
chose  to  carry,  that  I  might  know  what  soldiers  endured,  and 
to  make  them  more  easy,  seeing  I  endured  the  same  fatigues) . 
^  Besides,  had  my  regiment  been  then  embodied  and  under 
command,  I  should  hardly  have  attempted  to  turn  them  about, 
to  face,  in  the  afternoon,  a  driving  south-east  storm  of  rain, 
when  they  had  been  wet  to  their  skins  many  hours,  and,  for 
the  reasons  already  mentioned,  they  could  have  yielded  little 
assistance  to  General  Heath,  had  we  obeyed  his  orders. 
Indeed,  it  appeared  to  me  to  be  downright  cruelty  to  order 
them  there,  especially  as  no  important  advantage  was  held 
up  to  view  to  compensate  the  soldier's  fatigue,  nor,  indeed, 
any  reason  mentioned,  but  the  saving  General  Heath  and  his 
division  the  trouble  of  turning  out  of  the  houses  they  at 
that  time  occupied,  and  retiring  to  others  a  little  more 
remote  from  the  enemy ;  for,  as  to  the  enemy's  taking  pos- 
session of  the  ground  he  and  we  quitted,  it  was  ridiculous  to 
urge  that  as  a  reason  for  our  tarrying ;  for,  if  we  could  not 
drive  them  from  the  naked  hills,  how  could  he  expect  to 
take  Fort  Independence,  and  destroy  Kiugsbridge,  that  is 
open  to  the  fort?  against  which  that  ho  might  try  his  twenty- 
four-pounder  and  howitz.  General  Heath  also  urged  us  to 
stay.  These  were  his  reasons  for  the  orders  he  gave  for 
our  staying  in  our  miserable  huts,  in  cold  and  rain  and 
snow,  or  of  retiring  only  two  or  three  miles  to  houses,  where 
we  had  neither  clothes  to  shift  ourselves,  nor  any  refresh- 
ment save  beef  and  flour ;  for,  when  we  left  Tarrytown,  a 
week  before,  we  had  orders  to  take  only  our  blankets  and 
axes,  and  the  two  days'  provisions  we  had  cooked.  General 
Lincoln  expecting  but  a  short  expedition.  We  did  not  even 
take  our  camp-kettles ;  and  the  troops,  being  detained,  suf- 
fered a  good  deal  from  the  want  of  them,  eating  their  beef 
roasted  (many  without  salt)  on  the  coals,  or  held  in  the  fire 
at  the  end  of  a  stick  sharpened  and  run  through  the  slices. 


2Et.  81.]  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  103 

Indeed,  we  were  so  lucky  at  this  time  as  to  get  bard  bread, 
a  quantity  of  wbicb  had  been  prepared  for  the  expedition ; 
but  this  was  soon  gone,  and  for  two  thirds  of  the  week  flour 
was  dealt  out,  which  the  soldiers  made,  some  into  cakes, 
and  some  into  dumplings,  boiled  with  their  meat ;  for  we 
at  length  had  sent  for  our  camp-kettles. 

"  We  continued  our  route  to  our  old  quarters  at  Tarry- 
town  and  Dobbs's  Ferry. 

^Thus  ended  our  week's  expedition.  After  enduring  a 
variety  of  hardships,  we  returned,  doing  nothing  and  getting 
nothing  but  the  paltry  booty  of  a  few  blankets,  —  about 
forty,  —  a  box  of  candles,  a  parcel  of  osnaburgs,  and  about 
forty  small  arms,  all  not  making  a  single  wagon-load. 

"The  expedition  was  disgraceful.*  We  were  to  take 
Fort  Independence,  not  by  storm,  for  the  whole  army  was 
militia,  and  the  work  was  ditched,  fraised,  and  surrounded 
by  an  abatis;  not  by  regular  approaches,  for  we  had  not 
a  single  intrenching  tool ;  not  by  cannonade,  for  we  had 
only  three  six-pounders.  And  yet,  on  the  first  morning  we 
arrived,  General  Heath,  with  ridiculous  parade  and  ground- 
less, vain  expectation,  sent  in  a  summons,  demanding  the 
surrender  of  the  fort  I  The  garrison  must  have  been  fools 
and  arrant  cowards  to  have  regarded  it.  They  did  not 
regard  it.  After  arriving  at  Morristown,  I  understood  that 
part  of  the  plan  was  to  have  taken  New  York  itself,  f 

"The  only  fruit  of  the  expedition,  besides  the  trifling 
plunder  above  mentioned,  was  the  carrying  oflf  some  forage 
from  West  Chester  and  the  manor  of  Fordham,  the  fora- 
gers being  covered  by  Heath's  and  Wooster's  divisions,  and 
countenanced  by  ours.  But,  had  the  counsels  of  the  com- 
mander-in-chief (General  Heath)  been  decisive,  and  meai^- 
ures  proper  and  efl^ectual  taken  to  execute  them ;  had  the 
only  practicable  measure  (unprovided  as  wo  were  with 
necessaries,  and  after  the  failures  of  the  first  morning)  been 

•  See  Sparks*8  "  WriUngs  of  Washington,"  Vol.  IV.  pp.  280,  note,  807, 
808,  note, 
t  See  Letter  of  Washington  to  Heath,  ibid.  p.  280. 


104  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  [1777. 

pursued, — foraging  \  all  the  wagons  of  the  army  might 
have  been  employed,  and  the  whole  forage  carried  off  in 
three  days,  and  the  troops  returned  to  their  quarters.  And 
appareut  advantage  hence  arising  would  have  made  them 
more  contented,  even  if  their  fatigues  had  been  greater  than 
they  were  ;  for  the  soldiers,  constantly  struggling  with  many 
difficulties  and  fatigues,  and  yet  seeing  no  benefit  arising, 
were  angry  and  impatient. 

"It  seems  the  design  of  the  expedition  was,  if  possible, 
to  take  Fort  Independence,  destroy  Kingsbridge,  carry  off 
forage,  and  alarm  the  enemy,  so  as  to  draw  off  from  or  pre- 
vent their  reeuforcing  their  army  in  the  Jerseys.*  But  Fort 
Independence  is  not  taken ;  Kingsbridge  is  not  destroyed ; 
the  enemy  has  been  but  little  alarmed,  fpr  it  is  now  pretty 
clear  they  have  not  lessened  their  forces  in  the  Jerseys,  nor 
increased  them  at  Fort  Independence  or  Kingsbridge;  at 
the  latter  they  have  been  induced  to  throw  up  a  little  re- 
doubt. We  have,  as  before  mentioned,  carried  off  some 
forage. 

"Saturday,  January  25th,  1777.  —  Continued  at  Tarry- 
town  and  Dobbs's  Ferry ;  the  men  cleaning  their  gims,  and 
changing  and  drying  their  ammunition,  and  drying  their 
clothes. 

"Sunday,  January  26th. — Remained  still  at  Tarrytown, 
and  ordered  the  regiment  to  assemble  in  the  afternoon  to 
attend  divine  service ;  but  about  one  o'clock  received  orders 
to  march  immediately  to  Colonel  Phillips's.  This,  it  ap- 
peared to  me,  would  be  extremely  inconvenient ;  for,  as  my 
regiment  lay  cantoned  through  a  space  of  four  miles,  it  must 
take  so  long  a  time  to  transmit  orders  to  the  several  com- 
panies and  for  them  to  get  ready,  that  I  supposed  we  could 
not  reach  the  place  of  our  destination  till  nine  o'clock  at 
night,  and  then  we  must  hunt  for  quarters  in  unknown 
houses.  Besides,  although  I  had  given  timely  notice  the 
day  before  to  the  commissary,  and  he  had  promised  mo  he 

♦  See  Sparks's  "  Writings  of  Washington,"  Vol.  IV.  pp.  263,  266,  270,  280, 
303, 306, 307. 


iET.81.]  LIFE  OP  TIMOTHY  PICKERmG.  105 

would  have  the  provisions  ready  in  the  morning,  yet  it  was 
night  before  they  arrived ;  by  which  means  most  of  my 
regiment  had  no  victuals  for  the  day.  Issued  orders  for  the 
regiment  to  parade  near  Dobbs's  Ferry  at  two  o'clock,  Mon- 
day morning,  intending  to  be  at  Colonel  Phillips's  by  broad 
daylight.  But  some  companies  did  not  parade  in  season,  so 
that  it  was  near  seven  o'clock  when  the  regiment  arrived  at 
Phillips's.  There,  the  moment  I  arrived.  Brigadier  Moul- 
ton's  orders  were  delivered  me,  directing  me  to  march  to 
Tippet's  Hill,  near  Spiten-Devil  Creek.  I  proceeded  up- 
wards of  two  miles,  and  halted  where  we  must  turn  off  to 
the  right  to  go  to  Spiten-Devil  Creek,  collected  the  field 
officers  and  captains,  and  told  them  that  Captain  Jackson, 
with  his  company  of  the  train  with  a  six-pounder,  was  to 
have  come  with  us  from  Tarry  town,  but  had  not  obeyed  his 
orders ;  that  Brigadier  Moulton,  in  his  orders,  said  he  should 
follow  me  with  Colonel  Thacher's  regiment,  but  had  not 
done  it;  that,  therefore,  if  we  advanced  to  Tippet's  Hill,  it 
might  be  in  the  power  of  the  enemy  to  cut  off  our  retreat ; 
—  and  then  put  the  question,  whether  we  should  alone  ad- 
vance to  Tippet's  Hill.  They  were  unanimous  in  their 
opinion  that  we  ought  not  to  proceed  any  farther.  I  had 
previously  sent  guards  to  the  most  commanding  eminences. 

**  At  length  General  Lincoln  arrived.  I  informed  him  of 
the  reason  of  my  halting.  He  entirely  approved  of  my  con- 
duct, and  added,  that  he  had  no  intention  that  my  regiment 
should  proceed  alone.  Soon  after  our  arrival  where  we 
halted,  some  of  my  sentries  discovered  half  a  dozen  light- 
horsemen  by  Colonel  Cortland's,  between  us  and  Fort  In- 
dependence, for  which  place  they  soon  scampered  away. 
Thacher's  regiment  arrived ;  and  four  companies  of  mine 
were  ordered  to  advance  to  Tippet's  Hill  to  see  that  the  way 
was  clear,  and  to  watch  the  enemy.  When  Captain  Jackson 
came  up,  he  was  ordered,  with  his  piece,  to  Tippet's  Hill; 
but  his  horses  tired  by  the  way.  So  he  returned,  and  all 
of  us  (it  now  being  almost  dark)  retired  to  Colonel  Phillips's, 
and  the  nearest  houses  round  about  and  beyond  his.    I9 

VOL.  I.  14 


106  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  [1777- 

with  Colonel  Morrill,  Dr.  Putnam,  and  the  Salem  company, 
put  up  at  Colonel  Phillips's.  We  were  kindly  entertained. 
We  remained  here  quietly  the  next  day,  Tuesday,  January 
28th,  the  succeeding  night  and  following  day,  Wednesday, 
January  29th,  and  supposed  we  should  abide  there  the  third 
night ;  *  but  in  the  evening,  about  six  o'clock,  after  it  had 
been  snowing  several  hours,  I  received  General  Lincoln's 
orders  to  parade  my  regiment  at  eight  o'clock,  and  march 
to  our  old  quartera  at  Dobbs's  Ferry  and  Tarrytown.  The 
orders  came  so  late,  my  regiment  was  so  scattered,  and 
some  of  the  wagoners  being  out  of  the  way,  it  was  past  ten 
before  we  marched.  It  was  warm,  and  snowy,  and  I  did 
not  arrive  at  my  quarters  till  after  two  in  the  morning,  and 
was  as. much  fatigued  as  with  the  march  of  the  24th  instant 
in  the  rain,  although  I  now  marched  but  eleven  miles. 
After  I  had  refreshed  myself,  at  near  four  in  the  morning 
I  lay  down  in  my  blanket  and  slept  till  day,  about  two 
hours  and  a  half.  Yet,  notwithstanding  the  fatigue  and  so 
little  sleep,  I  felt  myself  well  and  sprightly  through  the 
day,  Thursday,  January  30th." 

In  a  letter  of  January  30th  to  Mrs.  Pickering,  having 
mentioned  these  two  marches,  he  adds, — 

"  With  a  pack  at  my  back  both  times.  Yet  I  was  but 
little  wearied,  and  out-travelled  multitudes  of  the  common 
soldiers.  My  toils  make  me  hungry.  I  eat  meat  two,  and 
generally  three,  times  a  day,  yet  fiud  no  inconvenience  there- 
from. At  dinner  I  rarely  get  anything  but  bread  and  meat ; 
in  the  morning  they  are  qualified  with  tea,  coffee,  or  choco- 
late.    This  is  a  specimen  of  my  manner  of  living." 

And  on  February  2d  lie  writes,  ^  Cheese,  butter,  and 
milk  are  rarely  to  be  met  with." 

*'  *  The  Colonel  and  his  lady,  particularly  the  latter,  evidently  began  to  be 
weary  of  us  after  the  first  night,  although  they  continued  to  treat  us  politely, 
and  fed  the  Doctor  and  me  at  their  own  table.  When  we  departed,  I  thanked 
them  for  their  hospitality.    The  Colonel  said  they  were  obliged  to  me" 


-aST.31.]  LTFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  107 

Journal. — "Friday,  January  Slst.  —  Remained  quiet  at 
Tarrytown.  In  the  evening  received  orders  to  march  my 
regiment,  with  bag  and  baggage,  the  next  day,  to  the  houses 
next  beyond  White  Plains,  on  the  road  to  New  York. 
Issued  orders  accordingly.  But,  the  regiment  being  posted 
in  scattered  houses  through  an  extent  of  six  miles,  it  was 
impossible  to  notify  them  in  such  season  as  for  them  to  get 
readj-  to  march  early.  It  was  two  in  the  afternoon  of  Sat- 
urday when  we  began  our  march,  and  we  arrived  at  our 
new  quarters  in  the  evening.  I  dropped  the  companies  as 
we  passed,  —  the  first  at  about  seven,  and  the  last  about 
eleven,  miles  from  Tarrytown.  I  attended  the  quartering 
the  whole  before  I  went  to  my  own  lodgings,  which  were 
near  the  centre  of  the  cantonment,  at  Mr.  Griffin's,  a  house 
on  a  hill,  about  a  quai-ter  of  a  mile  from  the  road,  the  same 
house  which  General  Howe  made  his  headquarters  last  sum- 
mer, after  the  battle  at  White  Plains,  from  whence  it  is 
distant  about  two  miles.  The  old  gentleman  has  no  child 
of  his  own,  but  a  second  wife ;  whose  former  husband  (Du- 
zenborough)  died  at  about  forty  years  of  age.  A  few  years 
before  his  death  he  weighed  upwards  of  three  hundred  and 
eighty  pounds,  and  at  his  death  was  supposed  to  weigh  four 
hundred.  He  was  about  six  feet  high,  and  died  of  exces- 
sive fat. 

**Mr.  Griffin  informed  me  that  Colonel  Carr,  of  the 
Twenty-ninth  Regiment,  was  brought  to  his  house  from  the 
battle  of  the  White  Plains,  and  died  there  of  his  wounds, 
and  in  the  very  bed-room  where  I  lodged. 

«  Sunday,  February  2d.  — Remained  quiet  at  Mr.  Griffin's, 
in  the  manor  of  Scarsdale.'^ 

In  a  letter  dated  *^  Manor  of  Scarsdale,  two  miles 
south  of  White  Plains,  February  2d,"  to  Mrs.  Pickering, 
he  says,  — 

"  I  am  informed  by  General  Lincoln,  that  there  are  three 
thousand  tons  of  hay  and  grain  on  the  lands  round  about 


108  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  [1777. 

here,  as  computed  by  the  New  York  Committee,  which  it 
is  intended  to  cart  ott',  to  prevent  their  falling  into  Howe*s 
hands ;  and  the  Massachusetts  and  Connecticut  militia  are 
to  furnish  guards  to  secure  the  persons  employed  in  doing 
it,  or,  in  the  military  phrase,  to  cover  the  foragers.  This 
being  the  business,  and  of  considerable  importance,  I 
imagine  we  may  remain  here  ten  days  or  a  fortnight. 
Where  we  shall  gq  then,  I  know  not.  I,  a  few  days  since, 
thought  we  should  have  been  called  into  the  Jerseys ;  but  it 
will  be  so  late  when  we  have  finished  our  present  business, 
that  it  will  seem  hardly  worth  while,  for  half  our  time  of 
service  is  already  expired. 

"  Since  we  left  Danbury  (January  13th) ,  we  have  been 
almost  continually  on  the  move,  and  I  have  gone  through 
as  much  fatigue  as  almost  any  person  in  my  regiment ;  yet 
I  am  as  well  and  hearty  as  ever  I  was  in  my  life." 

The  letter  was  accompanied  with  cuttings  of  the 
black  Burgundy  grape  for  his  brother,  of  which  he 
says,  "An  excellent  fruit,  and  so  hardy  that  the  vine 
will  bear  our  winters  without  extraordinary  pains.  . . . 
I  am  very  desirous  of  having  the  grape  propagated 
among  us." 

Journal.  —  "  Monday,  February  3d.  —  Still  at  Mr. 
Griffin's.     .  .  . 

«  Tuesday,  February  4th.  —  Still  at  Griffin's.  Went  to 
General  Lincoln's  quarters,  where  I  dined,  in  company  with 
General  Heath. 

"  Wednesday,  Februaiy  5th. — Remained  at  Mr.  Griffin's. 
Detached  three  captains,  six  subalterns,  twelve  sergeants, 
twelve  corporals,  and  one  hundred  and  twenty-eight  pri- 
vates, to  be  joined  by  detachments  from  Thacher's  regiment 
and  the  Connecticut  troops,  to  assemble,  at  one  in  the  morn- 
ing, at  Stephen  Ward's  house,  seven  miles  from  Fort  Inde- 
pendence, (ostensibly  to  reenforce  the  picket,  but  really,) 
intended  to  surprise  an  out-guard  of  the  enemy,  kept  at 


iEx.  31.]  LIFE  OP  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  109 

Valentine's  house,  about  a  mile  on  this  side  the  fort,  and  to 
take  one  Williams,  a  Tory,  who  gave  the  garrison  informa- 
tion of  our  first  approach  on  the  17th  of  January.  The 
detachments  assembled;  but,  like  other  enterprises  under 
the  direction  of  our  commander-in-chief  (G.  H.)  [General 
Heath] ,  the  design  was  not  prosecuted. 

"Thursday,  February  6th.  —  The  detachment  from  my 
regiment  returned,  most  of  them  in  the  morning,  having  no 
provisions  to  continue  out  during  the  day  (indeed  they 
could  have  done  no  service  by  continuing).  The  detach- 
ment from  Captain  Ward's  company  only,  remained  with 
Colonel  Enos  (who  was  to  command  the  whole),  and  took 
a  tour  with  him  to  New  Eochelle.  They  returned  at  night, 
fatigued  and  hungry." 

In  a  letter  to  Mrs.  Pickering,  dated  ^  Manor  of  Scara- 
dale,  about  thirteen  miles  eastward  from  Kingsbridge, 
Friday,  February  7th,  1777,  evening,"  he  wrote,  — 

.  .  .  "Yet  think  not,  from  my  impatience  to  see  you, 
that  I  am  discontented  with  my  service.  It  is  for  you  that 
I  wish  to  return ;  and  but  for  you  I  know  not  whether  I 
should  not  devote  myself  to  the  military  service  of  my 
countiy  while  it  should  remain  in  arms.  Not  that  I  am 
fond  of  war :  ^Peace  is  my  dear  deli ff lit, '  But  the  avarice, 
the  ambition  and  tyranny,  of  a  few  fellow-mortals  drive 
peaceful  men  to  arms. 

"  I  am  just  informed  by  a  messenger  from  General  Lin- 
coln, that  we  are  shortly  to  march  to  the  Jerseys,  to  join 
General  Washington.  I  wish  we  had  done  it  a  month  ago. 
We  are  all  sick  of  the  insignificant  expedition  this  way  under 
the  direction  of  General  Heath.  His  management  has  con- 
firmed the  opinion  I  ever  entertained  concerning  him.  He 
has,  in  the  estimation  of  every  discerning  man,  acquired 
nought  but  disgrace.  I  speak  my  mind  freely ;  you  know 
I  am  apt  to  do  it.  And,  if  my  own  conduct  should  be  as 
unworthy,  I  will  not  blame  the  world  for  reproaching  me 


110  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  [1777. 

with  it.  But  I  trust  in  God  I  shall  do  my  duty.  Joiu,  my 
dear  life,  my  other  self,  join  your  prayers  with  mine,  to  the 
Great  Supreme,  the  Lord  of  Hosts,  that  He,  in  the  hour 
of  danger,  in  the  day  of  battle,  should  I  be  called  to  it, 
would  support  and  protect  me ;  or,  if  I  fall,  that  it  may  be 
with  honor  to  myself  and  advantage  to  my  country.  And 
then,  O  Parent  in  heaven  I  be  a  father  to  the  fatherless, 
and  the  widow's  God  I  My  amiable  girl,  be  not  discour- 
aged. Heaven  will  protect  mc,  and  restore  me  to  your 
ai^ns.  How  often  (you  have  heard  me  remark)  have  I 
thought  many  events  against  me  1  Yet,  by  those  means, 
God,  in  whom  I  trusted,  hath  blessed  me  beyond  my  wishes. 
My  engaging  in  the  \^ar  grieved  you  to  the  heart.  But 
doubt  not  that  it  will  eventually  add  to  our  mutual 
felicity.     .  .  . 

"  When  my  ears  are  blessed  with  the  news  of  one  pro- 
pitious event,*  I  shall  be  at  ease. 

Journal. — "Friday,  February  7th,  evening.  —  At  half- 
after  eight  o'clock,  received  of  the .  Brigade-Major  the 
following  order  from  General  Lincoln  (who  received  the 
order  from  General  Heath  not  till  seven  o'clock),  to  wit: 
*  Colonel  Pickering's  Regiment  will  furnish  three  captains, 
three  subalterns,  nine  sergeants,  nine  corporals,  and  one 
hundred  and  ninety-one  privates,  including  those  who  are 
for  the  foraging  guard,  to  be  paraded  at  sunrise  to-morrow 
morning  at  Ward's.  Colonel  Pickering  will  take  the  com- 
mand of  those  from  General  Lincoln's  division.  North 
Street,  near  White  Plains,  February  7th,  1777.' 

"  I  was  more  angry  than  surprised,  that  General  Heath 
should  issue  an  order  so  unreasonably  late,  to  be  executed 
the  next  morning  by  sunrise,  although  my  regiment  was 
cantoned  through  a  space  of  five  miles,  which  he  well  knew. 
But  it  wjis  of  a  piece  with  his  other  proceedings.    I  directed 


♦  Hia  eldest  child,  the  late  John  Pickering,  was  bom  on  the  day  on  which 
this  letter  was  written. 


JEt.  81.]  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  Ill 

the  adjutant  immediately  to  make  out  the  details  for  the 
detachment,  and  deliver  them  to  the  several  captains,  which 
he  did.  I  marched  from  my  quarters  just  after  daylight  (it 
was  cloudy),  and  arrived  with  the  detachment  at  Ward's 
about  twenty  minutes,  or,  at  most,  half  an  hour,  after  sun- 
rise, distant  from  my  quarters  about  five  miles.  There  I 
found  Lieutenant-Colonel  How,  of  Thacher's  Regiment, 
with  a  detachment  of  about  one  hundred  and  forty  privates, 
besides  officers.  About  nine  o'clock,  Major  Wilcox,  of  the 
Connecticut  militia,  with  near  a  hundred  men,  joined  us. 
Their  orders  were  similar  to  my  own,  —  only  to  parade  at 
Ward's  at  sunrise.  Our  detachments,  united,  formed  a  body 
of  about  four  hundred  and  thirty  or  four  hundred  and  forty, 
including  officers.  Here  we  waited  impatiently,  expecting 
further  orders,  and  the  coming  of  wagons  to  forage,  which, 
it  was  intimated  to  me  by  the  Brigade-Major,  was  intended. 
But  after  thus  waiting  till  eleven  in  the  forenoon,  and  receiv- 
ing no  orders,  and  the  wagons  not  coming  (saving  those  of 
my  regiment,  which  came  by  my  direction).  Colonel  How 
and  Major  Wilcox  asking  what  should  be  done,  I  replied, 
that  in  my  opinion  we  should  be  justified  if  we  returned  to 
our  quarters;  that  it  was  a  lowery  day,  and  sometimes 
Tainy,  which  might  discourage  the  foragers,  and  prevent 
their  coming;  nevertheless,  as  I  had  no  doubt  it  was  in- 
tended to  forage,  if  it  was  agreeable  to  them,  we  would 
march  back ;  and,  if  we  met  the  foragers,  or  received  further 
orders,  well ;  we  would  proceed  accordingly ;  otherwise, 
return  to  our  quarters.  They  approved  the  proposal.  I 
marched,  and  was  followed  by  Colonel  How.  But  Wilcox's 
detachment,  I  afterwards  found,  stayed  at  Ward's.  After 
retiring  about  a  mile  and  a  half,  we  nlet  Mr.  Tompkins,  one 
of  the  directors  for  foraging,  with  the  following  orders  :  — 

**  *  Head-quabters  Kikostreet,  February  8th,  1777. 

« *  Sib, 
"  *  You  are  to  take  the  command  of  the  troops  that  are  to 
parade  at  or  near  the  house  of  Stephen  Ward  this  morning, 
designed  to  cover  the  foragers,  and  to  burn  such  forage  and 


112  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  [1777. 

grain  as  the  committee  of  the  Convention  of  the  State  of 
New  York  may  think  proper  to  direct. 

"  *  You  are  to  keep  your  detachment  in  good  order,  strictly 
forbid  and  prevent  plundering  and  every  species  of  insult 
and  abuse.  You  are  not  to  allow,  in  any  case,  any  house 
to  be  fired,  or  even  barn,  unless  specially  ordered  to  do  the 
latter  by  the  committee. 

"*  You  are  carefully  to  cover  the  foragers,  and  keep  out 
guards  and  scouts  for  your  own  security.  The  committee 
will  determine  the  limits  within  which  you  are  to  destroy 
the  forage.     You  will  be  careful  not  to  exceed  them. 

" '  I  am.  Sir,  your  humble  servant, 

"  *  W.  Heath,  M.  G. 

**  *  The  Commanding  Officer  of  the  Foraging  Party 
parading  at  or  near  Stephen  Ward'8.* 

"These  orders  were  delivered  to  me  sealed  up  (about 
half  after  eleven  o'clock) ,  with  the  following  indorsement :  — 

"  *  Sir, 
"  *  The  committee  are  of  opinion  that  it  will  not  answer 
this  day  to  burn  any  forage,  and  have  sent  Mr.  Tompkins 
to  pilot  the  troops  under  your  command  to  such  places  as 
will  be  best  adapted  for  covering  the  foraging  te^ms  which 
are  this  day  employed  in  carting  forage  from  New  Rochelle. 

"  *  By  order, 

"  *  W.  DUER. 

"  « 8th  February,  10  o'clock.' 

"  Having  read  these  orders,  I  led  back  the  troops  to 
Ward's,  and  thence  proceeded  with  the  whole,  conducted 
by  the  guide,  to  the  places  best  adapted  for  covering  the 
foragers,  where  we  remained  till  near  four  in  the  afternoon, 
when  Mr.  Tompkins  directed  us  into  a  cross-road,  so  as  to 
fall  in  the  rear  of  the  teams.  We  proceeded  accordingly ; 
but  he  afterwards  came  to  us  and  said  the  teams  he  found 
sufficiently  guarded,  and  that  we  need  not  wait;  upon 
which  we  returned  to  our  quarters.* 

"  ♦  While  we  waited  for  the  foragers,  their  director  rode  up  to  the  comer 
wliere  we  waited ;  but,  in  an  instant,  suspecting  us  to  be  enemies,  started  and 


JEt.  31.]  LIFE  OP  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  113 

"  The  march  to  Ward's  finished  our  trifling,  inconsequen- 
tial expeditions  under  General  Heath.  I  recollect  not  one 
where  the  measures  were  timely  and  duly  taken  for  execu- 
tion. In  the  last,  Mr.  Tompkins  informed  me  it  was  intended 
to  go  to  Frog's  Point,  a  good  way  beyond  Fort  Indepen- 
dence, in  order  to  bring  off  and  destroy  such  forage  as  the 
committee  should  think  proper;  but,  as  this  would  leave 
the  enemy  in  our  rear,  the  committee  expected  General 
Heath  would  have  furnished  them  with  seventeen  hundred 
men,  that  the  enemy  might  not  have  it  in  their  power  to 
cut  off  their  retreat ;  and  the  want  of  this,  more  than  the 
foul  day,  I  suppose,  induced  the  committee  to  write  me  as 
they  did. 

"After  we  had  been  loitering  several  days  in  the  environs 
of  Fort  Independence,  and  broken  the  carriages  of  two 
six-pounders  by  firing  a  few  ineffectual  shot;  after  the 
first  and  best  time  for  taking  the  fort,  when  the  troops  were 
fresh,  the  regiments  full,  the  men  in  spirits,  and  the  enemy 
under  some  surprise,  was  lost;  after  the  enemy,  from  our 
inactivity,  began  to  despise  us;  after  they  had  had  an 
opportunity  of  getting  one  or  two  twelve-pounders  into 
their  fort,  to  build  a  redoubt  at  Kingsbridge,  and  to  get  in 
the  best  manner  prepared,  —  General  Heath  sent  to  Peeks- 
kill  for  a  twenty-four-pounder  and  a  howitz,  with  balls  and 
shells.  He  tried  both.  With  the  twenty-four-pounder,  it 
seems,  one  man  was  killed  in  the  fort,  and  the  head  of  a 
puncheon  of  rum  knocked  in ;  but  with  the  third  shot  the 
carriage  broke.  A  few  shells  were  thrown,  and  broke  in 
the  air,  as  I  think  I  was  informed.  Soon  afterwards  the 
whole  army  retired  from  ten  to  fifteen  miles  from  the 
enemy,  as  is  before  mentioned. 

"  A  day  or  two  before  we  left  White  Plains,  a  party  of 
Yorkers  went  in  the  night  down  towards  the  fort,  and  con- 
cealed themselves  in  a  house,  in  order  to  trepan  some  of 
the  light-horse,  who  daily  made  excursions  six  miles  from 

rode  off.    I  caUed  and  assured  him  we  were  friends,  and  after  a  little  parley 
he  was  convinced.    The  matter  afforded  us  a  little  diTersion." 

VOL.  L  15 


114  LIFE    OF    TIMOTHY   PICKERING.  [1775. 

the  fort.  The  light-horse  caine  out  as  usual,  and  the  am- 
buscade killed  one,  took  his  horse,  and  wounded  another ; 
and  a  second  horse,  it  was  said,  in  running  off,  broke  his 
neck. 

"  Sunday,  February  9th.  —  Went  to  General  Lincoln's 
quarters.  He  gave  me  orders  to  march  my  regiment  next 
Tuesday  morning,  at  eight  o'clock,  from  White  Plains  to 
King's  Ferry  (over  the  North  River) ,  and  to  join  General 
Washington  with  all  possible  despatch.  I  issued  orders 
accordingly." 


^1.81.]  UDPB  OP  TIMOTHY  PICKEBING.  115 


CHAPTER   VIII. 

Major  Blandi  of  Virginia.  ^  Major  Broughton's  Gallantry.  —  Hard* 
ships  and  Sickness  of  a  Pennsylvania  Battalion.  —  Interviews 
with  General  Washington.  —  Massachusetts  Troops  praised  for 
good  Order.  —  Colonel  Pickering  appointed  Adjutant-General  of 
the  Army  of  the  United  States.  —  Letters  of  General  Washington 
and  Colonel  Pickering  on  the  Subject. 

Colonel  Pickering's  journal  and  letters  go  on  to 
detail  the  incidents  of  the  inarch  of  his  regiment 
until  its  time  of  service  expired,  and  of  his  journey 
home  to  Salem. 

Journal.  —  "Monday,  February  10th.  —  The  regiment 
drew  four  days*  provisions  for  their  march,  and  cooked  two 
of  them. 

"Tuesday,  February  11th. — A  thick  snow-storm,  which 
continued  all  day,  and  prevented  our  march.  The  snow 
fell  five  or  six  inches  deep.  I  supposed  also  that  Colonel 
Thacber's  regiment,  which  marched  on  Monday,  would  not 
march  from  North  Castle  in  the  snow,  and  so,  if  we  marched 
that  day,  we  should  find  no  barracks  at  night ;  and  my  con- 
jecture was  right.  Colonel  Thacher  himself  having  left 
North  Castle  on  Wednesday,  only  about  an  hour  before  I 
arrived  there ;  and  two  of  his  wagons  I  overtook  on  the 
road  thither. 

"  Wednesday,  February  12th.  — Marched  with  three  com- 
panies from  White  Plains  at  half  after  eight  o'clock,  and 
arrived  at  North  Castle  church,  distant  fifteen  miles  from 
my  quarters,  at  a  little  after  one  o'clock,  afternoon ;  and  all 
my  regiment  came  up  by  three,  and  went  to  such  houses  as 
they  could  find  for  barracks.  Some  of  the  wagons  did  not 
get  up  till  near  night.    Just  after  sunset  I  hired  two  horses, 


116  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  [1777. 

and  set  off  with  Mr.  Cabot  to  go  to  Crump  Pond,  eight 
miles  and  a  half,  to  find  Colonel  Thacher,  to  know  when  his 
regiment  would  be  out  of  my  way,  and  to  inquire  where 
my  regiment  could  find  cover  the  next  night ;  got  back  just 
after  eleven  at  night,  cold  and  hungry.  Went  to  bed  (on 
the  floor,  with  my  blanket)  about  twelve ;  slept  about  four 
hours  between  that  and  full  day.  The  landlord,  an  Irish- 
man, blunt,  but  hospitable." 

Colonel  Pickering  wrote  to  his  wife  from  North 
Castle  the  12th  of  February, — 

''I  continue  in  good  health,  and  hope  to  return  so  .  .  • 
the  beginning  of  April.  Nevertheless,  if  the  General 
[Washington]  should  desire  my  regiment  to  tarry  a  little 
while,  I  trust  I  shall  not  refuse  to  gratify  him  and  serve 
my  country.'* 

Journal,  —  "  Thursday,  February  13th.  —  Marched  by 
half  after  eight  in  the  morning  for  Crump  Pond,  or  Hanover, 
and  the  companies  went  to  quarters,  scattered  through  a 
space  of  five  miles,  some  companies  and  men  of  Thacher's 
regiment  being  in  our  way.  Ordered  the  companies  to  march 
the  next  day,  by  nine  o'clock  at  farthest,  for  Peekskill. 

"Friday,  February  14th. — Not  being  able  to  get  any- 
thing else,  I  ate  a  piece  of  bread  and  drank  some  water,  and 
set  off  (on  horseback)  before  sunrise  for  Peekskill,  sus- 
pecting I  should  find  Thacher's  regiment  in  my  way ;  and 
so  it  turned  out.  Colonel  Thacher  told  me  his  provisions 
for  his  regiment  could  not  be  drawn  as  ordered,  and  that 
caused  his  delay.  He  further  said  he  could  get  no  hay  at 
the  Quartermaster-General's  stores,  and  that  some  of  his 
men  were  obliged  to  go  back  for  want  of  quarters,  and 
others  made  fires  in  the  woods  among  the  snow.  For  these 
reasons  I  sent  orders  for  my  regiment  to  stop  and  retire  to 
their  quarters  at  Hanover.  But  some  were  so  advanced 
that  they  chose  to  try  to  find  new  quarters,  which  they 
effected;  others  retired.     Waited  on  General  McDougall, 


-ZEt.81.]  life  of  timothy  PICKERING.  117 

and  asked  his  advice  respecting  the  march  of  my  regiment, 
and  told  him  of  the  difBculties  about  provisions,  which  he 
said  he  would  endeavor  to  remedy.  Bode  back  to  Hanover 
in  the  afternoon,  and  gave  orders  for  the  march  of  the 
regiment. 

"  Saturday,  Februaiy  15th. — The  regiment  marched  to 
Peekskill,  and  found  Thacher's  still  there.  Drew  two  days' 
rations,  but  obliged  to  wait  for  them  till  afternoon  before 
the  whole  were  served;  and.  Colonel  Thacher's  men  not 
being  out  of  the  way,  many  of  my  companies  were  obliged 
again  to  retire  for  quarters.  I  gave  them  orders  to  be  at 
Peekskill  next  morning  as  early  as  possible,  by  nine  o'clock 
at  farthest,  to  cross  the  river. 

*«  Evening.  —  Heard  Colonel  Thacher's  regiment  had  at 
length  crossed  the  river.  Peekskill  is  a  small  village,  in  a 
low  vale,  between  two  large  hills,  and  contains,  perhaps, 
forty  small  dwelling-houses. 

"Sunday,  February  16th,  ten  o'clock. — The  companies 
that  retired  not  yet  arrived;  but  others,  lying  between 
Peekskill  and  the  ferry,  were  now  beginning  to  cross  the 
river.  —  One  o'clock,  all  the  companies  being  arrived  save 
one,  and  that  not  being  likely  to  come  up  soon,  I  left  Peeks- 
kill  and  went  down  about  five  miles  to  King's  Ferry; 
about  three,  crossed  the  river,  and  went  to  Colonel  Hay's, 
about  three  miles  from  the  ferry,  (he  is  a  commissary  for 
troops,)  where  I  found  Brigadier  Moulton  and  Major  Burn- 
ham,  Colonel '  Lasher  and  lady,  Mr.  Thomas  Smith  and 
lady,  and  Mr.  John  Smith.  The  Smiths  are  brothers  to 
Mrs.  Hay  and  to  the  celebrated  William  Smith,  author  of 
the  *  History  of  New  York.'  Here  I  supped,  and  spent  a 
cheerful  evening. 

"Monday,  February  17th. — Met  with  some  difficulty  in 
procuring  baggage-wagons,  for  of  those  impressed  by  the 
Assistant  Quartermaster  few  appeared;  but  Ward's  and 
Moody's  companies  being  at  length  furnished,  they  marched, 
after  the  others,  for  Eamapo,  about  fourteen  miles  distant. 
Captain  Marsh's  got  over  the  river  this  day,  drew  provisions. 


1 


118  LIFB  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  [1777. 

and  marched  on.  I  followed  them,  in  company  with 
Quartermaster  North,  and  reached  Ramapo  before  night. 
Several  companies  stopped  between  this  place  and  Eakiyat. 
From  the  river  to  Bamapo  you  meet  only  with  scattered 
farmers'  houses,  some  of  logs,  but  generally  of  stone. 

"Tuesday,  February  18th.  — Reached  Pompton  Plains, 
about  sixteen  miles  from  Ramapo.  The  whole  road  was 
plain,  between  a  ridge  of  mountains  on  the  north  and  hills 
to  the  south. 

"  Wednesday,  February  19th.  —  Went  with  the  companies 
within  about  five  and  six  miles  of  Morristown,  where  I  was 
informed  the  regiment  could  easily  find  cover;  intending 
the  next  day  to  march  in,  in  regimental  order.  But,  the 
houses  being  filled  with  troops,  I  was  obliged  to  order  the 
captains  to  find  cover  a  little  way  back,  which  they  did ; 
and  I  went  forward  myself  to  Morristown,  to  General  Lin- 
coln. I  informed  him  of  my  situation,  and  asked  his  orders 
for  the  next  day.  He  directed  me  to  march  to  Morristown, 
draw  provisions,  and  take  quarters  within  four  or  five  miles 
of  the  town.  I  returned  and  gave  orders  accordingly  to 
the  regiment.  This  night  I  retired  through  a  wood  with 
Captain  Ward  and  mess,  about  half  a  mile  from  the  road,  to 
one  Copperth wait's,  —  a  house  never  occupied  by  soldiers; 
a  hospitable  landlord,  and  a  handsome,  modest  landlady,  a 
native  of  Taunton,  in  Massachusetts  Bay. 

<*  Thursday,  February  20th.  —  Went  to  Morristown,*  and 
stopped  a  little  while  at  General  Lincoln's  quai^ters,  where 
I  found  the  landlord  (a  Yorker)  very  obliging,  as  well  as 
his  lady.  Here  was  Major  Bland,  a  Virginian,  who  com- 
manded six  troops  of  Virginia  light-horse, — an  excellent 
corps,  I  was  informed.  The  Major  appeared  to  be  a  man 
of  sense,  knowledge,  and  stability,  every  way  calculated  to 
make  an  excellent  officer. 

"  Friday,  February  21st. — We  marched  to  Bound  Brook, f 

«  *  This  is  a  pleajBant  town,  and  has  in  it  a  considerable  nnmber  of  large, 
well'bnilt  houses,  in  good  repair." 

*'  t  About  eight  miles  from  Morristown  is  the  house  where  General  [Charles] 
Lee  was  taken.    I  went  up  and  viewed  it." 


.Bt.81.]  life  of  timothy  FICKERINa  119 

seven  companies  getting  in  before  night.  The  other  three 
companies  arrived  the  next  day.  Quartermaster  Staits  led 
us  to  quarters ;  but  the  houses  were  so  scattered  that  the 
regiment  was,  as  usual,  extended  four  miles ;  the  company 
on  the  right  (Captain  Ward's)  about  eight  miles  from  Bruns- 
wick»  and  five  miles  from  the  landing  where  the  enemy  lay. 
My  quarters  were  at  Lefiert  Sebrun's,  a  good  old  farmer, 
where  I  found  great  cleanliness,  a  good  house,  and  hos- 
pitality. .  .  •  Bound  Brook  is  so  called  from  its  lying  by 
a  large  brook  which  divides  Somerset  and  Middlesex  coun- 
ties. Its  proper  name,  I  am  told,  is  Bridgewater,  and  it 
contains,  perhaps,  eighty  small  dwelling-houses  within  the 
compass  of  a  mile,  intermixed  with  a  few  lai^e  ones,  two 
stories  high;  but  the  buildings  in  general  are  much  de- 
cayed, not  more  than  one  in  ten  being  in  tolerable  order. 
The  land  is  very  level  in  the  village,  and  for  many  miles 
eastward,  southward,  and  westward,  but  yet  well  wooded. 
Southward  of  the  village  runs  Raritan  River,  which  goes 
down  to  Brunswick,  and  so  to  the  sea.  Tis  fordable,  as  I 
am  informed,  almost  anywhere,  except  in  freshets.  North- 
ward of  the  village  runs  a  mountain,  covered  with  wood, 
that  extends  north-eastward  a  good  way  towards  Quibble- 
town  ;  and  at  the  foot  of  this  mountain  runs  Bound  Brook. 
Its  two  branches,  uniting  near  the  village,  empty  themselves 
into  Raritan  River. 

"Saturday,  February  22d. — Rode  with  Brigadier-Gen- 
eral Warner  about  a  mile  and  a  half  down  towards  Bruns- 
wick, by  the  side  of  Raritan  River ;  and,  going  to  a  little 
rising  ground,  I  discovered  the  Hessian  sentry.  They 
keep  their  advanced  guard  about  three  miles  from  Bound 
Brook. 

"  Sunday,  February  23d.  — From  eight  in  the  morning  to 
three  in  the  afternoon,  was  travelling  all  over  the  village, 
with  Colonel  Sparhawk  and  Lieutenant-Colonel  Carter,  to 
see  if  their  regiments  could  not  be  stowed  closer,  to  make 
room  for  some  companies  of  mine  that  were  too  &lt  separated 
from  the  rest.    We  made  way  for  three  companies. 


120  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERINO.  [1777. 

"  Between  six  and  sevens  was  sent  for  by  General  Lin- 
coln. He,  General  Warner,  and  Colonels  Sparhawk  and 
Cai*ter,  were  assembled.  It  was  proposed  to  send  one 
detachment  of  three  hundred,  to  be  covered  and  supported 
by  another  of  three  hundred,  to  surprise  the  Hessian 
guard.  About  eight,  got  the  detail  for  my  regiment. 
At  ten,  or  soon  after,  the  companies  were  assembled,  . 
and  the  detachments  turned  out  and  formed  into  four 
companies.  They  proceeded  immediately  after  the  de- 
tachments from  the  other  regiments,  and,  having  joined 
them,  the  whole  marched,  and,  I  am  informed,  arrived  at 
the  ground  a  little  above  the  Hessian  guard,  about  two 
o'clock  in  the  morning.  The  sentries  saw  and  fired  at 
them;  upon  which  the  detachment  ran  on  towards  the 
guard-house,  and,  having  come  near  it,  received  a  volley 
from  the  guard.  Our  people  returned  the  fire,  and  the 
guard  fled.  It  seems  they  were  but  about  thirty  in  num- 
ber. Major  Broughton  went  forward  on  the  run  alone  a 
gunshot  from  the  detachment,  and  took  two  wagon-horses 
with  their  tackling,  and  a  Hessian,  who  was  tackling  them 
(it  was  afterwards  found,  by  the  prisoner's  information) 
to  carry  oflT  a  field-piece.  Another  Hessian  was  taken, 
with  nine  cattle.  The  detachments  immediately  returned. 
The  guide  conducted  the  first  detachment  in  such  manner  as 
to  fall  a  full  gunshot  or  more  above  the  guard-house.  He 
was  to  have  led  them  below  it;  in  which  case,  perhaps,  the 
whole  advanced  guard  might  have  been  taken.  But  it  was 
strong  moonlight,  though  cloudy,  and  a  body  of  men  might 
have  been  seen  at  a  considerable  distance.  This  possibly 
might  have  defeated  the  plan,  had  the  detachment  been 
rightly  conducted.  It  was  owing  to  Major  Broughton's 
uncommon  (though,  perhaps,  in  this  case,  imprudent)  bold- 
ness, that  anything  was  taken. 

"  Monday,  February  24th.  —  A  severe  snow-storm;  and 
I,  being  appointed  field-officer  of  the  day,  was  obliged  to 
be  out  in  the  worst  of  it.  At  one  o'clock  next  morning, 
set  out,  with  Mr.  Norris,  to  go  the  grand  round,  to  visit 


-Et.81.]  life  of  timothy  pickerino.  121 

all  the  guards  and  sentries.  It  was  five  before  we  got  to 
our  quarters.  For  four  hours  we  were  wading  about  in  the 
snow,  a  considerable  part  of  the  time  almost  up  to  our  knees ; 
and,  as  we  had  to  cross  fields,  and  get  over  fences,  frequently 
above  our  knees.  It  ceased  to  snow  between  three  and 
four  o'clock  in  the  morning  of  the  25th ;  so  that  it  snowed 
near  four  and  twenty  hours  fast,  and  more  snow  fell  than 
had  fallen  at  any  one  time  during  the  winter. 

"Tuesday,  February  25th.  —  In  the  afternoon,  as  soon 
as  I  had  received  the  reports  of  the  captains  of  the  several 
guards,  I  reported  to  the  General  what  they  reported,  and 
what  occurred  to  me  respecting  the  guards  and  sentries  in 
going  the  round.  Some  sentries  were  remiss,  but  generally 
[the  sentries  were]  vigilant. 

<*  Wednesday,  February  26th. — Ascended  the  mountain 
back  of  my  quarters.  Tis  pretty  high,  and,  the  country  all 
round  for  many  miles  being  level,  you  have  an  extensive 
prospect ;  and  in  summer  it  must  be  extremely  beautiful. 
You  will  see,  all  round,  the  green  fields  and  woods,  waving 
grain,  and  winding  glades  and  streams. 

"  Thursday,  February  27th.  — Rode  with  General  Lincoln 
to  view  the  grounds  on  the  left  of  my  regiment,  to  deter- 
mine where  the  guards  may  be  posted  to  most  advantage. 

"  Friday,  February  28th.  —  Went  again  to  the  mountain, 
and  viewed  the  country  round.  Quibbletown  was  in  full 
view  at  the  east,  distant  about  three  miles ;  and  we  saw  the 
steeple  of  Brunswick  church  above  the  tops  of  the  trees. 
Some  mountains  eastward  reared  their  heads.  I  am  in- 
formed they  lie  near  Newark,  distant  twenty  miles.  Between 
me  and  them  the  country  appeared  level;  and  on  other 
quarters  no  mountain  or  considerable  hills  appeared  but  at 
a  great  distance. 

^  This  day  a  flag  came  up  from  General  Howe,  directed 
thus,  — 

*  General  Washington, 

&c.  &c.' 

and  marked,  at  the  left  corner,  *  W.  Howe/ 
VOL.  L  16 


122  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  MCKBRINO.  [1777. 

« March  Ist,  Saturday.  —  Dr.  Putnam,  in  the  fore- 
noon, brought  me  a  billet,  of  which  the  following  is  a 
copy :  — 

"'Dear  Sib, 

''<As  our  battalion  is  so  unfortunate  as  not  to  have  a 
doctor,  and,  in  my  opinion,  dying  for  want  of  medicine,  I 
beg  that  you  will  come  down  to-morrow  morning,  and  visit 
the  sick  of  my  company.  For  that  favor  you  shall  have 
sufficient  satbfaction  from  your  humble  servant, 

"'James  Pigot, 

"  *  Captain  of  the  Eighth  Battalion  of  PennsylTania.' 
"*  QuiBBLBTOWN,  February  28th,  1777.* 

"  I  desired  the  Doctor  by  all  means  to  visit  them,  and 
administer  such  medicine  as  was  needed,  it  being  probable 
that  the  regimental  box  would  more  than  last  my  regiment. 
The  Doctor  was  very  ready  to  go,  and  went.  It  seems  that 
this  battalion  expected  a  physician  to  attend  them ;  but  he 
stopped  at  a  hospital  to  take  care  of  the  sick.  They  were 
raised  about  the  Ohio,  and  had  travelled  near  five  hundred 
miles,  as  one  of  the  soldiers  (who  came  for  the  Doctor)  in- 
formed me ;  for  about  one  hundred  and  sixty  miles  over  the 
mountains,  never  entering  a  house,  but  at  night  building 
fires  and  encamping  on  the  snow.  Considerable  numbers, 
unused  to  such  hardships,  have  since  died.  The  Ciolonel 
and  Lieutenant>>Colonel  are  among  the  dead. 

<<The  Doctor  returned,  and  told  me  he  found  the  battalion 
in  cold,  shattered  houses,  and  very  nasty,  to  which  causes 
he  partly  now  imputed  their  diseases.  Both  these  causes  it 
was  greatly  in  their  power  to  remove,  the  latter  entirely ; 
but  they  had  been  careless.  They  importuned  the  Doctor 
to  visit  them  again  to-morrow. 

"  Sunday,  March  2d. — Last  evening  received  two  letters, 
one  from  my  brother,  the  other  from  my  wife,  giving  me 
the  agreeable  tidings  of  the  birth  of  a  son,  &c.  Attended 
public  worship  at  Bound  Brook,  where  the  minister  of 
Woodbridge  (who  had  fled  and  left  all  to  the  enemy)  for 


-ffiT.81.]  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  123 

this  time  ofEciated,  and  preached  a  plain,  good  sennon,  from 
Psalm  xliv.  4.** 

Colonel  Pickering  wrote  to  his  wife  from  Bound 
Brook,  March  2d,  1777.  Eeferring  to  his  letter  dated 
at  North  Castle,  February  12th,  he  says, — 

"I  was  then  on  my  way  to  join  General  Washington, 
whom  I  expected  to  see  at  Morristown  the  Sunday  follow- 
ing ;  but  it  was  Wednesday  before  I  reached  the  town ;  and, 
*for  want  of  room,  and  because  some  of  my  companies  were 
a  good  way  in  the  rear,  the  regiment  did  not  get  in  till 
Thursday.  It  was  owing  chiefly  to  another  regimen^  of 
militia,  which,  having  orders  to  march  from  White  Plains 
before  us,  and  marching,  in  fact,  two  days  before  us 
(though  one  was  stormy,  and  we  both  lay  still),  was  yet 
always  in  our  way,  by  their  dilatory  marches ;  and  we  could 
not  pass  them ;  for  then,  the  houses  being  so  scattered,  my 
regiment  could  not  have  found  cover.  After  advancing  two 
different  days,  we  were  obliged  to  retire  again  to  find  quar- 
ters. ...  I  am  uncertain  when  we  shall  be  discharged. 
I  find  the  greater  part  of  my  regiment  have  set  their  faces 
eastward  ;  so  that,  if  General  Washington  desires  us  to  stay 
till  the  first  of  April,  I  am  afraid  few  will  tarry.  My  en- 
deavors, however,  shall  not  be  wanting  to  persuade  them 
to  stay.** 

Journal.  — **  Monday,  March  3d.  —  At  half  after  eight  in 
the  morning  set  off  with  General  Lincoln  for  Morristown, 
where  we  arrived  about  one  o'clock ;  but  we  were  detained 
by  the  way  on  account  of  a  letter  delivered  the  General 
from  General  Washington,  to  send  in  to  General  Howe  by 
a  flag.  I  took  this  opportunity  (the  first  that  had  pre- 
sented) to  write  to  Commissary  Loring  about  Captain 
[Addison]  Richardson  and  Lieutenant  [Gibsons]  Clough, 
of  Colonel  Hutchinson's  regiment,  prisoners  taken  at  Fort 
Washington,  to  know  if  they  were  yet  prisoners,  that  I 
might  send  in  the  parcels  of  money  I  had  for  them,  and 
requested  an  immediate  answer. 


124  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  [1777. 

"  On  our  arrival  at  Morristown  we  waited  on  General 
Washington.  General  Lincoln  mentioned  his  business,  re- 
specting the  pay  and  discharge  of  the  Massachusetts  militia. 
I  presented  the  steel  sword-hilt,  which  the  General  said  he 
accepted  as  a  singular  mark  of  respect,  and  desired  me  to 
call  upon  him,  on  my  return  home,  for  a  letter  of  compli- 
ments to  the  donors.  Then  General  Lincoln  and  I  retired ; 
for  the  General  was  engaged  in  business.  He  first  invited 
us  to  dine  with  him,  which  we  did  with  a  great  deal  of 
pleasm*e.  A  quarter  after  five  we  left  the  General's,  and 
went  about  four  miles,  to  General  Moulton's  quarters,  on 
our  way  to  Bound  Brook.  At  a  quarter  past  seven  in  the 
evening,  General  Lincoln  and  I  proceeded  for  Bound  Brook, 
where  we  arrived  about  eleven  at  night,  having  rode  forty 
miles  this  day. 

"  Tuesday,  March  4th.  —  A  detachment  of  better  than 
two  hundred  men  (eighty  from  my  regiment)  went  down 
towards  the  enemy,  to  cover  a  foraging  party.  They  got 
forage  and  returned. 

"  Wednesday,  March  5th.  — Being  field-officer  of  the  day, 
set  off  to  go  the  grand  round  twenty  minutes  after  eleven 
at  night,  and  was  more  than  four  hours  in  visiting  all  the 
guards  and  many  of  the  sentries.    The  latter  were  all  alert. 

"Thursday,  March  6th. — A  general  fast  through  the 
Jerseys,  by  order  of  Governor  Livingston,  pursuant  to  the 
recommendation  of  Congress. 

"Friday,  March  7th.  —  Received  most  urgent  orders  from 
the  General  to  remove  the  sick,  and  the  heavy  and  spare 
baggage  of  my  regiment,  a  few  miles,  back  of  the  moun- 
tains. Assembled  my  captains  and  consulted  them.  Cap- 
tain Ward  agreed  to  go  early  to-morrow  morning  to  find 
houses  for  the  reception  of  the  sick  and  the  baggage. 

"Saturday,  March  8th.  —  Another  detachment  sent  to 
cover  the  foragers,  part  (about  forty)  from  my  regiment. 
They  loaded  their  wagons  and  returned. 

"Sunday,  March  9th. — Attended  public  worship.  The 
minister  of  Bound  Brook  preached  from  Judges  v.  9.     He 


JRt.  31.]  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  125 

declared  bis  approbation  of  tbe  conduct  of  fhe  Massacbu- 
setts  troops  stationed  bere,  and  applauded  tbem  in  general 
for  tbeir  orderly  and  peaceable  bebavior.  His  compliment 
more  especially  regarded  tbe  two  regiments  wbicb  were 
bere  two  montbs,  — Sparbawk's  and  Wbitney's. 

"  Monday,  Marcb  lOtb,  to  Saturday,  Marcb  15tb.  — Notb- 
iug  remarkable.  On  Saturday  arrived  Mr.  Hiller  and  Mr. 
Page.     Tbe  latter  brougbt  me  a  letter  from  my  wife. 

"Sunday,  Marcb  16tb.  — Afternoon,  four  o'clock,  baving 
completed  tbe  regimental  pay  abstract  (wbicb,  witb  exam- 
ining tbe  muster-rolls  of  tbe  companies,  tbeir  abstracts,  tbe 
wagoners'  accounts,  and  giving  tbem  orders,  bad  employed 
me  tbe  last  balf  of  tbe  preceding  week),  and  got  tbe  Gen- 
eral's [Lincoln's]  certificate  to  it,  I  set  out  for  Morristown, 
and  arrived  at  Brigadier  Moulton's  quarters  (about  four 
miles  on  tbis  side  of  it)  jEit  balf  after  six,  taking  tbe  sbort- 
est  route  over  Dead  River.     Lodged  witb  tbe  Brigadier. 

"  Monday,  Marcb  17tb.  —  Went  to  Morristown,  got  my 
abstract  examined  by  Mr.  Palfrey,  P.  M.  G.  [Paymaster- 
General]  ,  and  a  warrant  from  General  Wasbington  for  tbe 
money,  by  ten  o'clock,  wbicb  was  immediately  paid,  to  tbe 
amount  of  eigbteen  tbousand  forty-two  dollars  and  a  tbird. 
In  tbe  afternoon  I  returned  to  Bound  Brook. 

"  Tuesday,  Marcb  18tb. — A  foraging  party  (one  com- 
pany delacbed  from  my  regiment)  went  and  got  eigbt 
wagon-loads  of  bay  and  cornstalks  at  tbe  same  place  wbere 
tbe  Hessians  took  tbree  loads  tbe  day  before ;  wbicb  occa- 
sioned a  skirmisb  eacb  day.  Yesterday  one  man  was  wound- 
ed near  tbe  knee, — a  flesb  wound ;  but  tbe  ball  lodged,  and 
was  cut  out  by  Dr.  Putnam.  Tbis  day  two  were  wounded, 
one  in  tbe  neck,  tbe  otber  in  tbe  knee;  botb  tbe  balls 
lodged,  and  were  cut  out.  Major  Brougbton  commanded 
tbe  party.  His  borse  received  a  ball  just  over  tbe  eye, 
wbicb  obliged  tbe  Major  to  dismount. 

"Wednesday,  March  19tb,  Thursday,  Marcb  20tb. — 
Nothing  remarkable. 

"Friday,  March  21st.  — Two  companies  only  of  my  regi- 


126  LEFB  OP  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  [1777. 

ment  remaining,  and  their  time  of  service  expiring  to-mor- 
row night,  the  General  gave  me  leave  to  go  to  Morristown 
to-morrow,  as  I  had  business  to  transact  there  relative  to 
the  regiment,  the  Major  remaining  to  command  those  com- 
panies. 

«  Saturday,  March  2 2d.  — Went  to  Morristown.  Finished 
my  business  with  the  Paymaster,  and  drank  tea  at  headquar- 
ters. General  Washington  and  his  lady  being  of  the  company, 
and  then  took  leave  of  the  General. 

**  Sunday,  March  23d.  —  Not  being  able  yesterday  to  see 
the  Quartermaster-General,  went  to  his  office  this  morning, 
and  did  not  finish  business  with  him  till  about  noon ;  when  I 
immediately  set  off  for  home,  and  reached  Pompton  Plains 
about  sunset  or  a  little  after,  stopping  at  my  old  hospitable 
landIord*8,  Peter  Van  Ness,  with  whom  I  lodged  on  my 
march  into  the  Jerseys.  He  lives  back  in  a  field  about  a 
quarter  of  a  mile  eastward  from  Pompton  church,  and 
twenty  miles  from  Morristown. 

«  Monday,  March  24th.  —  Having  been  unwell  near  a 
week,  and  weary  with  yesterday's  march,  I  did  not  rise  so 
early  as  I  intended,  and  so  did  not  get  away  from  Van 
Ness's  till  about  half  after  six.  I  then  marched  on  to  Pond 
church  (a  hexagon,  one  story  high,  of  stone),  about  six 
miles,  and  then  about  seven  miles  to  a  mill ;  just  before  I 
came  to  which,  Mr.  Rapalya,  the  son,  of  Long  Island, 
now  resident  in  the  Jerseys,  overtook  me,  and,  after  some 
conversation,  strongly  importuned  me  to  get  a  horse  to 
carry  me  to  the  river.  I  complied,  and,  by  this  mill, 
engaged  a  man  to  carry  me  forward.  We  rode  three  or 
four  miles,  and  stopped  at  Sovereign's  [Suffern's]  tavern. 
Here  we  were  confirmed  in  our  intention  of  going  to  New 
Windsor,  to  cross  the  North  River  there,  the  enemy's  ships 
blocking  up  King's  Ferry.  So  we  mounted  again,  and  soon 
entered  what  is  called  Smith's  Clove,  which  is  a  rough,  nar- 
row valley  (ctove,  in  Dutch,  signifies  valley) ,  of  near  twenty 
miles  in  length,  between  rocky  mountains,  some  of  which 
present  the  most  hideous  precipices.     Stopped,  after  riding 


^T.  81.]  MFB  OP  TIMOTHY  PICKEMNO.  127 

four  miles,  at  Sloot's,  and  dined  in  company  with  Colonel 

9  an  acquaintance  of  Mr.  Bapalya's,  who  last  year 

commanded  a  New  York  battalion.  Set  off  again,  and 
reached,  towards  night,  Smith's  tavern,  about  iSfteen  miles 
from  Slobf  s.  Here  I  was  obliged  to  part  with  my  horse, 
the  man  being  unable  to  carry  me  any  farther.  Meeting 
here  with  John  Smith  (with  whom  I  had  spent  an  evening 
at  Colonel  Hay's) ,  who,  as  well  as  Bapalya  and  I,  was  bound 
to  Fishkill,  I  set  forward  in  order  to  procure  other  horses^ 
to  accompany  them,  but  did  not  succeed.  However,  whilst 
I  was  making  inquiry,  along  came  an  honest  Irishman,  of 
Orange  County,  who  had,  last  campaign,  been  in  the  service 
under  Brigadier-General  George  Clinton,  of  that  county, 
and,  seeing  me  with  the  badge  of  a  field-officer,  and  on  foot, 
most  kindly  offered  me  his  horse,  and  insisted  upon  my 
riding,  saying  it  gave  him  pleasure  whenever  he  could 
oblige  a  friend  to  liberty ;  that  he  had  been  a  soldier  him- 
self, and  I  had  much  farther  to  walk  than  he.  So  he  got 
off,  and  I  mounted,  and  drove  on  with  an  easy  pace,  he 
walking  nimbly  and  running  in  order  to  keep  up ;  nor  could 
I  persuade  him  to  ride  till  we  had  travelled  about  six  miles, 
when  we  were  within  a  mile  of  Paddy  McDaniel's  tavern,  to 
which  I  walked,  and  there  lodged. 

^Tuesday,  March  25th.  — Set  off  a  little  before  sunrise, 
and  walked  to  New  Windsor,  about  five  miles,  where  I 
waited  an  hour  and  a  half  for  the  ferry-boat  to  come  over 
from  the  Fishkill  side ;  but  we  had  a  fair  wind,  and  crossed 
over  in  twenty  minutes,  about  two  miles.  Landed  and 
walked  up  about  four  miles  to  the  entrance  of  Fishkill 
town,  where,  meeting  Bradley  and  Lancaster,  two  of  my 
regiment  wagoners,  I  paid  them  off.  This  detained  me 
some  time,  so  that  it  was  past  eleven  o'clock  before  I  pro- 
ceeded on  my  journey.  I  walked  about  ten  miles,  and 
dined;  then  went  on,  and  about  three  quarters  after  six 
reached  Patterson's  tavern,  near  Morrison's  store,  about 
twenty-four  or  twenty-five  miles  from  Fishkill  Landing. 
Here  I  lodged. 


128  LITE  OP  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  [1777. 

"Wednesday,  March  26th.  — About  eight  o'clock  in  the 
morning  I  set  off  for  Danbury,  in  the  route  advised  by 
Patterson,  but  found,  on  my  arrival  at  Mr.  McLean's  (which 
was  at  one  o'clock),  that  it  led  me  a  length  of  sixteen  or 
seventeen  miles,  instead  of  thirteen  by  the  shortest  road. 

"Thursday,  March  27th. — Tarried  at  Danbury,  expect- 
ing Major  Broughton  and  Dr.  Putnam  would  arrive  by 
night,  with  my  great-coat,  boots,  &c.,  to  enable  me  to  ride 
home.  After  noon  Brigadier  Moulton  came  in,  and  told 
me  the  Major  and  Doctor  had  gone  the  other  road  home, 
by  the  way  of  Springfield. 

«  Friday,  March  28th.  —  We  set  off  from  Danbury  about 
half  past  nine  in  the  morning,  and  reached  Waterbury  at 
night,  —  about  thirty  miles. 

"  Saturday,  March  29th.  —  Arrived  at  Hartford  about 
four  in  the  afternoon,  —  thirty  miles. 

"  Sunday,  March  30th.  —  About  nine,  left  Hartford  and 
rode  to  Fellows's,  in  Bolton,  —  fourteen  miles ;  then  to 
Knapp's,  in  a  comer  of  Willington,  —  thirteen  miles ;  then 
ten  miles  to  Kendall's,  in  Ashford;  all  good  houses;  —  in 
all,  thirty-seven  miles  this  day. 

"  Monday,  March  31st.  —  Left  Kendall's  about  six  in  the 
morning  (it  was  rainy) ,  and  rode  to  Woodstock  to  break- 
fast ;  then  to  Oxford,  and  oated ;  then  to  Sutton,  and  dined 
late  at  Elliot's;  then  to  Wood's,  in  Westborough,  and 
lodged ;  —  forty  miles. 

"  Tuesday,  April  1st.  —  Rose  at  three  quarters  aft«r  four, 
and  set  off  at  six  in  the  morning,  and  rode  twelve  miles,  to 
a  tavern  in  Framingham,  where  I  breakfasted ;  thence  to 
Mr.  Dunbar's,  at  Weston,  —  eight  miles ;  thence  to  Med- 
ford,  and  then  home,  —  thirty  miles ;  —  in  all,  fifty  miles 
this  day." 

Colonel  Pickering^s  reputation,  and  his  recent  visits 
at  headquarters,  made  so  favorable  an  impression,  that, 
before  he  reached  home,  General  Washington  wrote 
a  letter  offering  him  the  post  of  Adjutant-General, 


iST.81.]  LITE  OF  TIMOTHT  PICEEBmO.  129 

which  he  declmed  at  firsts  but  afterward  accepted. 
This  subject  occasioned  the  following  correspond- 
ence :  — 

TO  COLONEL  FICKEBING. 

«  Hbai>-quabteb8,  Mobbibtowk,  March  80th,  1777. 

"Sib, 

"The  ofBce  of  Adjutant-General  being  vacant  by  the 
resignation  of  Colonel  Reed,  and  the  power  of  appointing 
a  successor  with  me,  I  am  induced,  from  the  good  opinion 
I  entertain  of  your  attachment  to  the  interests  of  the  United 
States,  and  your  military  character,  not  only  to  make  a 
tender,  but  most  heartily  to  wish  your  acceptance  of  it. 
It  will  give  me  much  pleasure  if  the  offer  meets  your  con- 
currence ;  and,  if  it  should,  I  must  request  that  you  will 
delay  no  time  in  repairing  to  head-quarters,  the  arrange- 
ment of  the  new  army  and  the  good  of  the  service  requiring 
that  the  post  should  be  immediately  tilled.  The  pay,  I 
presume,  you  are  acquainted  with ;  but,  lest  you  should  not 
be,  I  think  proper  to  mention  that  it  is  a  hundred  and 
twenty-five  doUars  per  month. 

**  Should  circumstances  put  it  out  of  your  power  to  ac- 
cept it,  —  an  event  I  hope  not  to  happen,  and  which  would 
give  me  concern,  —  you  will  be  pleased  to  send  the  express 
with  the  enclosed  letter  to  Colonel  William  Lee.  Other- 
wise, you  will  retain,  and  return  it  to  me  upon  your  arrival, 
which  I  trust  will  be  in  a  few  days. 

"  I  am.  Sir,  your  most  obedient  servant, 

"G?   WASmNOTON." 

TO  GENERAL  WASHINGTON. 

"  Salem,  April  9th,  1777. 

"Sm, 
^  I  esteem  it  a  singular  honor  done  me  by  your  Excel- 
lency in  offering  me  the  post  of  Adjutant-General ;  and  it 
pains  me  sensibly  that  I  am  obliged  to  decline  it.     It  is  an 

VOL.  L  17 


130  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  [1777. 

honor  to  which  I  did  not  aspire,  because  I  did  not  account 
myself  equal  to  the  important  business  of  the  office.  Your 
Excellency  does  not  mistake  my  attachment  to  the  interest 
of  the  United  States.  It  is  sincere  and  unalterable.  But 
my  military  character,  which  you  are  pleased  to  mention  as 
a  motive  to  the  appointment,  is,  in  my  own  estimation,  of 
no  great  account.  I  have,  it  is  true,  studied  the  rudiments 
of  the  military  art,  but  have  very  small,  or  rather  no,  pre- 
tensions to  capacity  and  skill  in  the  important  scenes  of 
war,  and  much  fear  I  should  disappoint  your  Excellency's 
expectations  concerning  me. 

"I  have  domestic  reasons  and  private  concerns  which 
powerfully  urge  my  staying  at  home ;  but  these  I  should 
not  mention,  did  they  exist  alone.  But,  besides  the  com- 
mand of  a  regiment  of  militia  on  the  sea-coast,  I  hold  divers 
civil  offices,  which  are  sufficient  to  engage  my  constant 
attention :  those  of  Judge  of  one  of  the  maritime  courts, 
Judge  of  the  inferior  Court  of  Common  Pleas,  acting  Jus- 
tice of  the  Peace,  and  Register  of  Deeds  for  the  county  of 
Essex.  The  exercise  of  these  offices  I  could,  without  any 
very  great  inconvenience,  quit  for  a  season ;  and  therefore, 
at  the  time  of  making  the  late  levy  of  militia,  as  there 
appeared  some  backwardness  in  the  people,  I  encouraged 
their  engaging,  and  stepped  forth  and  offered  my  own  per- 
sonal service. 

"Nevertheless,  I  would  for  ever  abandon  all  these  em- 
ployments, if  I  thought  myself  capable  of  doing  more  ser- 
vice to  my  country  by  acting  in  the  office  to  which  your 
Excellency  has  been  pleased  to  invite  me.  But,  as  I  do 
not  thus  think  of  myself,  and  conceive  it  not  difficult  to 
find  a  person  not  otherwise  employed,  and,  to  say  the  least, 
as  able  to  discharge  the  duties  of  the  office  as  I,  I  must  beg 
leave  to  decline  it. 

"I  am,  with  the  greatest  veneration, 

"  Your  Excellency's  most  obedient  servant, 

«  Timothy  PiCKEBma,  Jb." 


Mt.  31.]  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  131 

TO  GENERAL  WASHINGTON. 

"  Salem,  April  14th,  1777. 
«SlR, 

"  I  sent,  by  the  express,  an  answer  to  your  letter  respect- 
ing the  office  of  Adjutant-General,  and  gave  what  appeared 
to  me  sufficient  reasons  to  excuse  my  declining  to  accept  it ; 
but  I  have  since  been  uneasy  lest  you  should  deem  them 
otherwise,  and  that  I  was  too  willing,  under  the  civil  offices 
I  sustain,  to  shelter  myself  from  the  dangers  and  fatigues 
of  war,  —  an  opinion  which,  if  it  has  taken  place,  I  wish 
to  remove. 

^  The  case  was  this :  I  had  concluded  to  accept  the  office, 
but,  meeting  with  a  number  of  unavoidable  interruptions  in 
the  way  of  business,  was  unable  to  give  my  answer  to  the 
express  till  the  evening,  at  eight  o'clock,  at  which  time  I 
had  directed  him  to  call ;  and  it  was  then,  in  fact,  sealed  up, 
and  ready  to  be  delivered,  —  the  same  which  I  now  enclose 
to  your  Excellency.  But,  the  express  delaying  his  coming 
a  full  hour,  I  of  course  continued  to  revolve  the  matter  in 
my  mind,  and,  upon  a  review  of  the  reasons  on  both  sides 
of  the  question,  those  against  my  accepting  the  post,  in^ 
creased  by  the  suggestions  of  my  nearest  friend,  whose 
happiness  and  tranquillity  of  mind  lay  near  my  heart,  pre- 
ponderated, and  occasioned  the  answer  your  Excellency  has 
already  received.  Besides  the  reasons  there  given,  others 
weighed  with  me,  which  I  had  not  time  to  mention.  The 
civil  offices  I  sustain  yield  me  an  income  that  contents  me, 
and,  in  a  time  of  peace,  would  maintain  my  family.  These 
I  must  have  relinquished,  without  an  expectation  of  re- 
assuming  them.  Consequently,  had  I  taken  the  post  of  Adju- 
tant-General, and  some  cause  had  arisen  (an  event  far  from 
impossible)  rendering  it  expedient  for  me  to  quit  the  camp, 
I  should  have  returned  divested  of  the  principal  means  of 
supporting  my  family. 

«*  Whenever  I  thought  of  a  militaiy  employment,  the  con- 
dition of  my  eyes  was  no  small  discouragement  to  me.  I 
am  so  near-sighted  that  I,  although  placed  in  the  best  situa- 


132  LITE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  [1777. 

tioii,  cannot,  with  any  degree  of  accuracy,  discern  the  posi- 
tion of  a  body  of  men  beyond  the  size  of  a  single  regiment. 
It  is  true,  in  viewing  distant  objects,  my  spectacles  help  me 
to  see  nearly  as  well  as  people  in  general  do  with  the  naked 
eye ;  but  they  are  frail  things,  and  rain  or  snow  beating 
against  them  (I  found  in  the  winter's  campaign)  so  ob- 
structs the  vision  as  to  render  them  almost  useless.  My 
business  as  Register  of  Deeds  had,  by  my  absence,  got 
behindhand ;  it  seemed  to  be  daily  increasing,  and  my  office 
was  not  in  such  order  as  I  wished  to  leave  it  in  to  a  suc- 
cessor. These,  with  the  reasons  mentioned  in  my  former 
letter,  and  many  others  of  lesser  moment,  determined  my 
answer  in  the  negative.  I  regretted  the  proposal  could  not 
have  been  made  me  while  at  head-quarters,  where  I  could 
have  inquired  particularly  into  the  nature  and  extent  of  the 
office  of  Adjutant-General,  and  thence  judged  more  cer- 
tainly whether  or  not  I  was  able  to  discharge  the  ^luties  of 
it.  The  want  of  such  information  left  doubts  on  my  mind 
that  were  no  small  obstacle  to  my  accepting  it. 

**  On  the  other  hand,  I  am  sensible,  that  to  support  the 
army  is  of  essential  importance ;  that,  on  the  failure  of  it, 
besides  the  general  calamity  of  my  country,  every  prospect 
of  advantage  or  enjoyment  to  me  must  vanish.  I  have 
been,  therefore,  ever  ready  to  serve  the  public  to  the  utmost 
of  my  power.  But  perhaps  the  comforts  of  civil  life,  the 
love  of  ease,  the  enjoyment  of  my  friends,  and  the  power- 
ful allurements  springing  from  the  nearest  connection  on 
earth,  have  led  me  to  mistake  the  object.  From  a  sacred 
regard,  therefore,  to  the  interests  of  my  country ;  from  the 
ardent  desire  I  have  to  approve  myself  to  your  Excellency ; 
from  the  pain  it  has  given  me  to  deny  the  request  of  the 
Ust  of  men  to  whom  I  would  refuse  anything,  —  I  submit 
the  whole  matter  to  your  Excellency's  determination.  If, 
upon  a  view  of  all  circumstances,  you  judge  it  my  duty  to 
exchange  the  civil  for  a  military  life,  I  will  do  it.  And 
then,  should  the  office  of  Adjutant-General  (for,  from  what 
conception  I  have  of  it,  none  would  be  more  agreeable)  be 


-ffiT.81.]  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  133 

once  more  vacant,  or  any  other  post  or  employment  present, 
to  which  you  shall  deem  me  competent,  I  will  not  again 
confer  with  flesh  and  blood,  but  instantly  obey  your  Excel- 
lency's commands. 

"  I  beg  your  Excellency's  pardon  for  imposing  on  your 
patience  this  second  long  letter.  But  I  feared  lest,  by  my 
backwardness,  I  might  have  offended.  And  I  was  led  to 
make  the  above  tender  of  my  services  because  your  Ex- 
cellency's good  opinion  of  me,  and  the  urgency  of  your 
request,  have  raised  me  to  some  importance  with  myself. 

''  I  am,  with  the  highest  veneration  and  esteem  for  your 
Excellency,  your  Excellency's  most  obedient  and  most  hum- 
ble servant, 

«  Timothy  Pigkerino,  Jr." 

To  this  letter  General  Washington  replied :  — 

*'  Hbad-quabters,  M0RXI8TOWN,  April  25th,  1777. 

«  Sm, 

^  I  am  favored  with  yours  of  the  9th  and  14th  instant. 
Upon  the  receipt  of  the  first  I  had  no  hopes  of  seeing  you 
in  the  department  which  I  wished ;  but  by  the  latter  I  am 
pleased  to  find,  that,  upon  a  full  reconsideration  of  the  mat- 
ter, you  had  determined  to  accept  of  the  office  of  Adjutant- 
General,  provided  it  had  not  been  disposed  of.  I  am  obliged 
to  you  for  the  free  manner  in  which  you  unbosom  yourself 
to  me,  and  must  own  that  the  inducements,  both  of  a  civil 
and  domestic  nature,  which  influenced  you  upon  the  first 
view,  were  weighty  and  hard  to  overcome.  Colonel  Lee 
came  immediately  here  on  the  receipt  of  the  letter  which 
you  forwarded  to  him,  but  expressed  great  diffidence  of  his 
ability  to  execute  the  proposed  office,  and  candidly  recom- 
mended you  in  preference  to  himself.  As  I  can,  therefore, 
yet  confer  the  office  upon  you,  without  giving  the  least 
offence  to  Colonel  Lee,  I  now  confirm  my  first  offer,  and 
shall  expect  to  see  you  wherever  the  head-quarters  of  the 
army  may  be,  as  soon  as  the  situation  of  your  private  affairs 
will  admit,  which  I  hope  will  not  be  long,  as  I  can  assure 


134  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  [1777. 

you  your  presence  will  be  much  wauted ;  indeed,  it  is  so 
much  so  at  this  time,  that  this  important  office  is  in  a  man- 
ner unexecuted.  The  reason  of  your  hearing  nothing  of 
this  matter  when  you  were  here  was,  that  at  that  time  it 
was  expected  and  intended  that  General  Gates  was  to  re- 
assume  the  office  of  Adjutant-General ;  but,  his  presence 
having  been  afterwards  deemed  by  the  Congress  necessary 
to  conduct  the  army  at  Ticonderoga,  I  was  obliged  to  look 
round  for  some  other,  and  you  were  recommended  as  the 
properest  person  for  the  purpose. 

"  I  am,  Sir,  your  obedient  servant, 

**  G?  WASmNGTON." 

TO  GENERAL  WASHINGTON. 

"  BoBTOVf  May  7th,  1777. 

"Sir, 
**I  had  the  honor  to  receive  your  Excellency's  letter, 
by  Colonel  Lee,  conferring. upon  me  the  office  of  Adjutant- 
General.  And  since,  notwithstanding  all  my  objections, 
'tis  your  Excellency's  pleasure,  I  am  happy  to  declare  my 
acceptance  of  it.  At  the  same  time,  I  am  constrained, 
from  my  real  feelings,  again  to  express  my  fears  that  I  shall 
fall  short  of  your  Excellency's  expectations.  Few  people 
are  competent  judges  of  military  abilities;  and  most  are 
apt  to  form  their  opinions  very  superticially.  Hence  I  have 
as  often  been  mortified  as  pleased  by  the  favorable  senti- 
ments which  some  have  expressed  concerning  me,  conscious 
that  many  times  I  did  not  merit  their  applause.  I  know 
not  who  have  recommended  me  to  your  Excellency ;  I  wish 
they  may  not  have  judged  too  favorably  of  my  abilities. 
However,  I  am  determined  to  exert  myself  to  the  utmost 
to  serve  your  Excellency  and  my  country ;  and  if,  after  all, 
I  fail  of  executing  the  office  with  propriety,  seeing  I  at  first 
declined  it,  partly  from  an  apprehension  of  inability,  your 
Excellency  will  acquit  me  of  presumption  in  accepting  it  at 
your  repeated  request.  My  affiiirs  are  complicated,  but  I 
will  prepare  to  attend  you  with  all  possible  despatch.    Gen- 


JEt.  31.]  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKEBING.  135 

eral  Glover  accepts  the  post  assigned  him,  and  we  shall 
doubtless  go  to  head-quarters  together. 

^  I  am,  Sir,  your  most  obedient  servant, 

«  TmOTHY  PiCKEBING,  Jb/* 

In  reference  to  this  appointment,  General  Washing- 
ton wrote  to  the  President  of  Congress  :  — 

**  MoBRiBTOWir,  May  24th,  1777. 
«SlB, 

*<  I  beg  leave  to  inform  Congress,  that,  immediately  after 
the  receipt  of  their  resolve  of  the  26th  of  March,  recom- 
mending the  office  of  Adjutant-General  to  be  filled  by  the 
appointment  of  a  person  of  abilities  and  unsuspected  attach- 
ment to  our  cause,  I  wrote  to  Colonel  Timothy  Pickering, 
of  Salem,  offering  him  the  post  in  the  first  instance,  and 
transmitting,  at  the  same  time,  a  letter  for  Colonel  William 
Lee,  whom  Congress  had  been  pleased  to  mention,  to  be 
delivered  to  him  in  case  my  offer  could  not  be  accepted. 
This  conduct,  in  preference  of  Colonel  Pickering,  I  was 
induced  to  adopt  from  the  high  character  I  had  of  him,  both 
as  a  great  military  genius  cultivated  by  an  industrious  atten- 
tion to  the  study  of  war,  and  as  a  gentleman  of  liberal  edu- 
cation, distinguished  zeal,  and  great  method  and  activity  in 
business.  This  character  of  him  I  had  from  gentlemen  of 
distinction  and  merit,  and  on  whose  judgment  I  could  rely. 
When  my  letter  reached  Colonel  Pickering,  at  first  view  he 
thought  his  situation  in  respect  to  public  affairs  would  not 
permit  him  to  accept  the  post.  That  for  Colonel  Lee  he 
sent  immediately  to  him,  who,  in  consequence  of  it,  repaired 
to  head-quarters.  By  Colonel  Lee  I  received  a  letter  from 
Colonel  Pickering,  stating  more  particularly  the  causes, 
which  prevented  his  accepting  the  office  when  it  was  offered, 
and  assuring  me  that  he  would  in  a  little  time  accommo- 
date his  affairs  in  such  a  manner  as  to  come  into  any  mili- 
tary post  in  which  he  might  be  serviceable  and  thought 
equal  to. 

^  Here  I  am  to  mark  with  peculiar  satisfaction,  in  justice 


136  MFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  [1777. 

to  Colonel  Lee,  who  has  deservedly  acquired  the  reputation 
of  a  good  officer,  that  he  expressed  a  distrust  of  his  abili- 
ties to  fill  the  appointment  intended  for  him ;  and,  on  hear- 
ing that  Colonel  Pickering  would  accept  it,  he  not  only 
ofiered,  but  wished,  to  relinquish  his  claim  to  it  in  favor 
of  him,  whom  he  declared  he  considered,  from  a  very 
intimate  and  friendly  acquaintance,  as  a  first-rate  military 
character,  and  that  he  knew  no  gentleman  better,  or  so 
well,  qualified  for  the  post  among  us.  Matters  being  thus 
circumstanced,  and  Colonel  Lee  pleased  with  the  command 
he  was  in,  I  wrote  to  Colonel  Pickering  on  his  [Lee's] 
return,  who  accepted  the  office,  and  is  daily  expected.  In 
this  business,  I  beg  Congress  to  be  assured,  though  Colonel 
Lee  was  postponed  in  the  first  instance,  their  recommenda- 
tion had  its  due  weight ;  and  that  no  motive,  other  than  a 
regard  to  the  service,  induced  me  to  prefer  Colonel  Picker- 
ing. His  acknowledged  abilities  and  equal  zeal,  without 
derogating  from  the  merits  of  Colonel  Lee,  who  holds  a 
high  place  in  my  esteem,  gave  him  a  preference ;  and  I 
flatter  myself  the  cause  will  be  promoted  in  his  appoint- 
ment, especially  as  we  shall  have  two  good  officers  in  lieu 
of  one,  who,  I  am  persuaded,  will  do  honor  to  themselves 
in  the  line  in  which  they  move."  *  i? 

♦  Sparks's  "  Writings  of  Washington,"  Vol.  IV.  p.  482. 


Xr.  81.]  LIFB  OF  TIM0TH7  FICEEBINa.  137 


CHAPTER   IX. 

• 

Colonel  Pickering  resigns  his  Ciyil  Offices,  and  prepares  to  go 
to  Head-quarters  as  Adjutant-General.  —  Movements  of  the 
British  and  American  Armies.  —  Colonel  Pickering's  Injunctions 
to  his  Wife  respecting  their  Son.  —  Outrages  committed  by 
British  Troops.  —  Morgan's  Riflemen.  —  Lord  Stirling  attacked. 
—  The  Abilities  of  Howe  and  Burgojne  compared.  —  Arrival 
of  Lafayette.  —  Howe's  Object  the  Capture  of  Philadelphia. 

Colonel  Pigkerino^  having  determined  to  accept  the 
office  of  Adjutant-General,  presented  to  the  Council  of 
Massachusetts  Bay  the  following  petition,  which,  with 
the  proceedings  thereon,  though  they  may  now  be 
considered  as  rather  amusing,  and  as  making  too  much 
of  an  inconsiderable  matter,  were  probably  viewed 
at  the  time  in'  a  different  light*^  The  fact^  that  the 
shops  in  so  large  a  town  as  Salem  could  not  furnish  the 
materials  for  a  set  of  shirts,  is  a  serious  indication  how 
much  the  inhabitants  of  the  State  must  have  suffered 
from  the  scarcity  of  imported  goods. 

"  To  the  Honorable  the  Council  of  the  State  of  Massachusetts 
Bay,  Timothy  Pickering  humbly  showeth,  — 

^  That  some  time  in  March  or  April,  1776,  two  Continental 
soldiers  of  Colonel  Little's  regiment  being  found  in  Salem 
offering  linen  for  sale,  one  of  the  Selectmen  of  that  town, 

*  The  fltate  of  feeling  then  existing  in  Salem  may,  in  some  degree,  be 
inferred  from  a  clause  in  an  agreement,  dated  April  28th,  1777,  for  the  occu- 
pation for  one  year  of  **  the  half  hoase,  garden,  and  appurtenances  "  where 
Colonel  Pickering  lived :  —  "  Only,  if  the  inhabitants  of  Salem  are  driven  by 
the  enemy  from,  or  generally  leave,  the  town,  and  said  Pickering  quits  the 
said  house,  from  that  time  the  rent  is  to  cease." 

VOL.  L  18 


138  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING,  [1777. 

» 

suspecting  the  goods  were  stolen,  gave  information  thereof 
to  your  petitioner,  who  issued  a  warrant,  by  virtue  of  which 
they  were  apprehended ;  and,  upon  examination,  there  being 
clear  evidence  of  their  guilt,  your  petitioner  caused  them 
to  be  committed  to  prison ;  but  afterwards  released  them,  at 
Colonel  Little's  request,  to  join  their  regiment  then  ordered 
to  New  York,  he  engaging  to  see  them  properly  taken  care 
of;  that,  about  a  year  since,  your  petitioner  caused  all  the 
goods  found  on  them  to  bo  advertised  in  the  Boston  news- 
paper, but  no  owner  appeared ;  and  your  petitioner  having, 
at  the  request  of  his  Excellency,  General  Washington,  ac- 
cepted a  post  in  the  Continental  army,  which  he  will  join 
with  all  possible  despatch,  and  the  Honorable  Daniel  Hop- 
kins, Esq.,  to  whom  the  care  of  disposing  of  the  stolen 
goods  aforesaid  was  conunitted,  being  now  uuder  inocula- 
tion for  the  small-pox,  your  petitioner  prays  your  Honors 
to  empower  the  Honorable  Mr.  Derby,  or  some  other  gen- 
tleman in  the  town  of  Salem,  to  sell  the  goods  aforesaid 
immediately  (they  having  beeu  advertised  several  weeks)  ; 
and  that  your  petitioner  may  be  allowed  to  purchase  two 
pieces  of  the  linen  (or  enough  to  make  him  one  dozen  of 
shirts) ,  as  he  knows  not  where  else  to  procure  it,  and  has 
no  time  to  spare,  his  immediate  attendance  at  head-quarters 
being  pressed  for  by  the  General." 

"In  Council,  May  6th,  1777.  Read,  and  ordered  that  the 
prayer  of  said  petition  be  granted,  and  that  the  Honorable 
Daniel  Hopkins,  Esq.,  be  directed  to  empower  Mr.  Nathan 
Brown,  keeper  of  the  jail  in  the  town  of  Salem,  to  deliver 
two  pieces  of  linen  to  Colonel  Timothy  Pickering,  he  paying 
for  the  same  at  the  rate  fixed  by  a  late  Act  of  the  General 
Court,  first  being  appraised  by  the  Honorable  Kichard 
Derby,  Esq.,  or  such  others  as  he  shall  appoint. 

"John  Aveby,  Deputy  Secretary.''' 

In  consequence  of  joining  the  army,  Colonel  Pick- 
ering was  under  the  necessity  of  resigning  his  civil 
offices ;  but  he  hoped  to  be  re-instated  in  them  in  case 


Mr.  81.]  LTFB  OP  TIMOTHY  PICKERINO.  139 

he  should  survive  the  war.  He  therefore  addressed  the 
following  letter  to  the  freeholders  of  the  county  of 
Essex :  — 

"  Sjllbm,  May  8l8t,  1777. 

"Gentlemen, 
^  Being  appointed  to  a  post  in  the  army  of  the  United 
States,  I  am  obliged  to  quit  the  civil  offices  I  hold  in  this 
State,  and,  among  the  rest,  the  Registry  of  Deeds  for  the 
county  of  Essex.  My  absence  will  probably  be  during  the 
war.  This  renders  it  necessary  that  a  Register  be  chosen 
in  my  stead ;  but,  if  I  should  survive  the  war,  I  shall  return 
divested  of  all  those  employments  which  are  absolutely 
necessary  for  the  support  of  my  famUy.  For  this  reason, 
I  am  very  desirous  that  my  successor  as  Register  of  Deeds 
should  be  one  to  whom  it  would  not  be  inconvenient  to 
resign  the  office,  if,  on  my  return,  I  should  need  it  for  my 
maintenance.  My  brother  John  Pickering,  Jr.,  is  such  an 
one ;  and  I  earnestly  wish  he  may  be  elected.  He  has  con- 
sented to  take  the  office  if  the  freeholders  shall  please  to 
give  him  their  votes.  It  would  be  improper  in  me,  as  a 
brother,  even  to  hint  at  his  qualifications;  and  it  is  un- 
necessary, as  he  has  the  happiness  of  being  personally  known 
by  many  of  the  gentlemen  freeholders  in  each  town  in  the 
county.'* 

His  brother  was  chosen  accordingly,  and  by  succes- 
sive elections  he  held  the  office  until  1806. 

Colonel  Pickering  left  Salem  on  the  2d  of  June,  and 
arrived  at  head-quarters,  at  Middlebrook,  New  Jersey, 
on  the  17th.  The  next  day  his  appointment  as  Adju- 
tant-General was  announced  by  a  general  order  issued 
at  head-quarters. 

He  wrote  to  Mrs.  Pickering,  on  the  14th,  from  Peek^ 
kill,— 

^  I  arrived  here  last  night,  and  shall,  as  soon  as  possible, 
go  on  to  head-quarters.     From  the  authentic  intelligence 


140  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  FICKERINa.  [1777. 

received  here,  General  Washington's  army  is  not  so  strong 
as  I  wished,  and  supposed  it  was  from  accounts  received 
at  home.  Howe  doubtless  intends  a  movement  towards 
Philadelphia,  and  that  very  soon ;  and  at  present  General 
Washington  is  not  able  to  oppose  his  march.  However,  I 
hope  the  reenforcement  going  from  hence,  and  that  may 
come  from  the  southward,  with  the  addition  of  Ihe  Pennsyl- 
vania and  Maryland  militia  (which  I  cannot  but  suppose 
must  turn  out  on  this  pressing  occasion),  will  enable  General 
Washington  to  prevent  the  enemy's  getting  possession  of 
Philadelphia. 

^  This,  my  dear,  will  doubtless  be  a  warm  campaign,  and 
in  it  I  may  probably  be  frequently  exposed  to  danger ;  but 
I  hope  God  will  preserve  me,  and  at  the  same  time  enable 
me,  in  defiance  of  everything  dangerous  and  difficult,  to  per- 
form my  duty.  You  remember  who  *  congratulated  me  on 
the  birth  of  a  son,  <to  transmit'  (as  he,  with  his  usual 
gayety  and  romanticness,  expressed  it)  *  my  name  and  hon- 
ors to  future  generations.'  I  am  not  so  vain  as  to  imagine 
my  name  will  long  survive  my  exit.  Nevertheless,  by 
God's  favor,  neither  you  nor  your  son  shall  ever  blush  that 
I  was  your  husband  and  his  father.  I  wish  to  live  to  make 
you  happy,  to  educate  our  offspring,  and  to  serve  my  coun- 
try. But,  whether  living  or  dying,  God's  will  bo  done. 
He  orders  every  event  in  infinite  wisdom,  and  it  becomes  his 
creatures  cheerfully  to  acquiesce.  One  thing,  my  dearest, 
let  me  enjoin  upon  you ;  and,  if  I  see  you  not  again,  regard 
it  as  my  dying  speech^  —  Not  to  spoil  our  little  son  by  too  much 
fondness*  An  only  child,  an  only  son,  is  oftener  injured 
by  the  ill-judged  indulgence  than  the  severity  of  a  parent. 
Let  him  be  taught  obedience  and  modesty ^  at  the  same  time 
that  he  is  treated  with  the  affection  which  becomes  a  mother. 
If  his  life  be  spared,  let  him  have  the  best  education  in  your 
power;  a  liberal  one,  if  you  possess  the  means,  and  he 
should  discover  a  capacity  of  receiving  much  benefit  thereby, 
but  not  otherwise.     For,  my  dear,  I  have  seen  at  college 

*  Firobably  Dr.  Joseph  Orne,  of  Salem. 


JEt.  81.]  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  141 

such  miserable  geniuses,  that  not  all  the  powers  of  eai-th 
could  ever  make  them  scholars;  and  their  parents  made 
themselves  and  sons  ridiculous  by  sending  them  thither. 
It  were  much  better  to  instruct  such  children  in  merchan- 
dise, farming,  or  some  mechanic  art. 

^  I  have  written,  my  dear,  as  I  have,  because  we  know 
not  the  event  of  things  future.  But  let  it  not  grieve  you. 
Bemember,'that  I  am  still  alive  and  in  health ;  that  we  have 
a  wise  and  prudent  general ;  that  in  the  most  desperate  en- 
gagements there  are  many  chances  in  favor  of  life ;  and, 
above  all,  that  the  Lord  of  Hosts,  in  infinite  wisdom,  de- 
cides the  fate  of  nations.  And  He,  I  trust,  will  save  the 
American  States  from  tyranny  and  oppression,  and,  as  the 
means  to  effect  that  end,  will  crown  our  arms  with  wished- 
for  success.  We  may  probably  suffer  by  our  slackness  in 
forming  our  army;  but  I  doubt  not  we  shall  finally  be 
victorious." 

The  followiiig  extracts  are  taken  from  a  brief  journal 
kept  by  him,  and  from  his  letters.  But  of  both  he 
says,  in  a  letter  of  October  22d,  1777,  to  his  brother, — 

^  I  write  them  in  haste  through  necessity,  and  frequently 
so  long  after  any  event  of  importance,  that  I  can  write  no 
news,  unless  by  mentioning  our  affairs  in  more  modest 
terms.  Many  writers,  I  find,  exaggerate.  I  intended  always 
to  give  the  mere  truth.  But  I  have  not  been  able  to  keep 
a  regular  journal.  I  am  now  a  month  behind,  and  more 
hurried  than  ever.*' 

Many  of  his  most  important  letters  on  the  events^ 
of  the  war  were  addressed  to  his  brother-in-law,  Mr. 
George  Williama  Unfortunately,  they  have  not  been 
preserved. 

Journal. — "Wednesday,  June  18th,  1777.  —  A  flag  be- 
ing to  go  to  Brunswick,  I  sent  by  it  a  half  Johannes  and  a 
guinea,  to  be  delivered  to  Captain  Addison  Richardson,  of 


142  UPE  OF  TIMOTHY  FICEERINO.  [1777. 

Salem,  a  prisoner  taken  at  Fort  Washington,  and  now 
supposed  to  be  at  Long  Island. 

<<0n  the  17th,  nine  deserters  arrived  at  head-quarters; 
three  of  them  Germans  from  Rhode  Island,  two  British 
grenadiers  and  two  battalion  men  from  Brunswick  (one 
of  the  battalion  men  was  a  Courlander,  and  brought  off  his 
wife  and  child) ,  and  two  of  the  new  levies  from  Kings- 
bridge. 

^  On  the  19th,  three  more  deserters  came  in  from  Bruns- 
wick, one  a  British  soldier,  and  two  of  the  new  levies. 

^  On  the  18th,  two  lieutenants  of  grenadiers,  taken  by  the 
Jersey  militia,  were  brought  to  head-quarters,  and  twelve 
privates  were  taken  the  same  day. 

"  On  the  19th,  Greneral  Howe  decamped  with  the  greatest 
precipitation  from  Millstone  [New  Jersey] ,  and  retired  to 
Brunswick,  his  troops  burning  seven  or  eight  houses  on 
their  way,  and  having  plundered  all  the  houses  where  they 
had  been.*  Extreme  caution  marked  the  whole  of  Howe^ 
conduct.  That  part  of  his  army  which  had  advanced  to 
Middle  Bush  and  Millstone  had  no  tents,  but  lodged  in 
booths.  They  threw  up  eight  or  nine  redoubts,  but  com- 
pleted only  one  ;  three  of  them  encompassed  Howe's  quar- 
ters. They  began  to  retire  to  Brunswick  about  one  in  the 
morning,  and  the  whole  were  in  motion  by  eight  o'clock. 
They  left  soqpe  pots,  kettles,  blankets,  &c.,  behind  them. 
When  Howe  first  advanced,  the  Jersey  militia  turned  out, 
and  have  acted  with  great  spirit  and  bravery.  This  day, 
(June  19th),  about  two  hundred  of  Colonel  Morgan's  rifle- 
men were  ambushed  by  about  a  hundred  and  fifty  of  the 
enemy,  and  received  their  whole  fire ;  which,  however,  hurt 
not  a  single  man.  The  riflemen  returned  the  fire.  The 
enemy  fled,  leaving  eight  men  dead  on  the  field. 

"June  22d.  —  The  rear-guard  of  General  Howe's  army 
left  Brunswick  in  the  morning.  Several  detachments  were 
ordered  to  fall  on  their  rear ;  but,  having  been  before  posted 

•  See  Sparks'B  "Writmga  of  Waahington,"  Vol.  IV.  p.  409. 


Mt.  81.]  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERmG.  143 

at  considerable  distances  from  head-quarters,  and  it  being 
late  the  preceding  night  before  the  orders  could  be  sent  them, 
Howe  was  retiring  before  they  united.  Such  detachments, 
however,  as  did  arrive,  followed  him  about  four  miles ;  but 
he  was  too  strong  to  admit  of  a  direct  and  close  attack. 
He  retired  to  Amboy.* 

^It  being  reported,  on  good  grounds,  that  the  enemy 
were  crossing  over  to  Staten  Island,  the  whole  army  were 
ordered  to  supply  themselves  with  three  days'  provisions, 
and  be  ready  to  march  the  next  morning. 

^  June  23d.  —  The  rain  this  day  prevented  the  march  of 
the  army ;  so  they  were  to  get  ready  to  march  to-morrow.*' 

The  same  day  he  wrote  to  Mrs.  Kckeiing :  — 

**  Heab-quastebs,  MroDLB  Brook,  June  23d,  1777. 

**  I  embrace  the  first  opportunity  since  my  arrival  here  to 
write  you.  I  am  veiy  happy  in  the  General's  femily.  His 
secretaries  and  aides-de-camp  are  gentlemen  of  education, 
and  of  the  most  polite,  obliging  manners.  Yesterday  Gen- 
eral Howe's  army  decamped,  and,  from  the  best  accounts, 
are  all  retired  to  Amboy,  from  whence  the  passage  to  Staten 
Island  is  short  and  easy.  YSThat  will  be  their  next  attempt 
is  altogether  uncertain ;  but  I  am  inclined  to  think  the  game 
is  nearly  over  with  them.  I  believe  as  many  as  thirty 
deserters  from  the  enemy  have  come  in  since  my  arrival 
here,  which  was  on  Tuesday,  the  17th  inst. 

"In  the  execution  of  my  office,  I  have  received  all  neces- 
sary assistance  from  Colonel  Connor,  the  late  temporary 
Adjutant-Greneral ;  and  he  has  very  obligingly  offered  me 
any  further  aid  that  I  may  need. 

^I{  the  enemy  should  continue  the  war,  I  am  inclined 
to  think  it  may  be  nearer  my  home ;  for  surely  they  will  not 
go  far  southward  at  this  season.  Nothing,  I  think,  can  they 
have  in  view  but  to  distress  us ;  conquest  they  must  despair 
of.     When  I  left  home,  I  conjectured  that  one  campaign 

•  See  8parlu'«  <<  Writings  of  Washington/'  Vol.  IV.  p.  470. 


144  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  [1777. 

after  the  present  would  end  the  wan  I  now  believe  this 
one  year  ^ill  finish  it.  The  sooner  the  better »  for  the  sake 
of  the  livesy  health,  and  happiness  of  thousands.  And  then, 
also,  shall  I  return  to  enjoy,  with  my  Becky,  all  the  sweets 
of  domestic  life ;  that  quiet,  ease,  and  heartfelt  satisfaction 
which  spring  from  the  sincerest  friendship  and  the  ten- 
derest  love."     •  .  • 

With  our  knowledge  of  subsequent  events,  it  seems 
extraordinary  that  Colonel  Pickering  should  have  en- 
tertained so  sanguine  an  expectation  of  the  speedy 
termination  of  the  contest 

Journal.  —  "  June  24th.  —  The  army  marched  to  Quibble- 
town,  about  five  miles  from  its  encampment,  and  halted ; 
the  intelligence  respecting  Howe's  situation  not  being  such 
as  to  warrant  our  proceeding  to  Amboy,  where,  in  a  plain 
country,  he  might  attack  with  his  whole  force.* 

"  June  25th.  —  From  the  best  information  it  appeared 
that  nearly  Howe's  whole  force  was  still  at  Amboy.  Several 
detachments  were  yesterday  and  to-day  sent  down  towards 
the  enemy,  and  almost  the  whole  body  of  light-horse,  under 
Colonel  Bland,  who  fell  in  with  some  of  their  advanced 
guards,  and  was  fired  upon. 

'<  June  26th.  —  About  seven  in  the  morning  a  light-horse- 
man brought  word  to  the  General,  that  the  enemy  were  at 
hand,  within  two  miles  and  a  half.  The  General  ordered 
the  alarm-guns  to  be  fired.  The  men  ran  briskly  to  arms. 
Next,  a  light-horseman  of  the  enemy  was  brought  in  prison- 
er, taken  by  some  of  our  light-horse,  who  also  rescued  three 
others  of  their  brethren.  This  prisoner  said  he  was  taken 
not  more  than  two  and  a  half  miles  from  head-quarters  at 
Quibbletown.  It  was  surprising  to  the  General,  that  of  so 
many  parties  he  had  ordered  out  to  watch  the  enemy,  none 
gave  him  earlier  notice  of  the  enemy's  advancing.  How- 
ever, it  afterwards  appeared,  that  no  considerable  body  of 

♦  See  Sparkfl'8  "  Writings  of  Washington,"  Vol.  IV.  p.  472. 


^T.  81.]  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  145 

the  enemy  were  within  several  miles  of  Quibbletown  at 
that  time.  One  body  of  the  enemy  having  marched  to- 
wards our  left,  to  attack  and  pursue  Lord  Stirling,  who 
was  pretty  far  advanced,  General  Washington  ordered  the 
troops  at  Quibbletown  to  retire  to  the  mountains,  and 
guard  the  passes  to  our  old  encampment ;  which  was  done 
accordingly. 

"  Lord  Stirling,  having  with  him  only  General  Maxwell's 
brigade,  was  attacked  by  superior  numbers,  and  obliged  to 
retire.  Here  three  pieces  of  brass  artillery  (three  three- 
pounders)  fell  into  the  enemy's  hands,  but  the  ammunition 
wagons  were  saved.  Lord  Stirling  retired  to  Scotch  Plains. 
The  enemy  of  that  column  advanced  to  Westfield.  There 
were  skirmishes  between  the  enemy  and  other  detachments 
of  our  army.  What  loss  we  sustained  has  not  been  ascer- 
tained yet,  the  returns  not  having  been  made.  The  loss  of 
the  enemy  was  considerable. 

"June  27th,  28th.  —  The  enemy  returned  again  to  Am- 
boy,  markiug  their  way  with  the  most  wanton  devastation, 
burning  some  houses  and  plundering  others,  breaking  in 
pieces  and  destroying  what  was  not  portable.  Places  of 
public  worship  seem  everywhere  marked  as  objects  of  their 
fuiy  and  bigoted  rage.  At  Westfield  the  meeting-house 
was  converted  into  a  slaughter-house,  and  the  entrails  of 
the  cattle  thrown  into  the  pulpit.*     .  .  . 

"June  27th.  —  [Joseph]  Millet  arrived  at  head-quar- 
ters.'* t 

"July  2d.  —  General  Howe's  army  quitted  the  Jerseys, 
and  went  over  to  Staten  Island,  it  being  just  that  day 
twelve  months,  it  is  said,  on  which  he  landed  there  in 
1776.t 

"  July.  —  General  Sullivan  was  ordered  to  march  with 

♦  See  Sparks^  "Writings  of  Washington,"  Vol.  IV.  p.  479. 

t  Upon  the  appointment  of  Colonel  Pickering  as  Ai^utant-General,  Millet 
enlisted  in  the  army  for  the  purpose  of  attending  on  him  as  a  servant.  He  is 
often  mentioned  in  Colonel  Pickering's  manuscripts. 

X  See  "CoUections  of  ihe  Massachusetts  Historical  Society"  (for  1798), 
Vol.  II.  p.  67. 

VOL.  L  *    19 


146  LCPB  OF  TIMOTHY  PICEERINO.  [1777. 

his  diyision  to  Poinpton»*  and  from  thence,  in  a  few  days 
after,  to  the  Clove.** 

TO  MBS.    PICKERINO. 

<<Moaiu8TowN,  July  6th,  1777,  Sunday. 

"...  The  enemy  haying  entirely  quitted  Jersey,  and  the 
Greneral  suspecting  they  might  go  up  the  North  River,  the 
army  moved  up  from  Middle  Brook,  last  Thursday,  to  this 
place,  to  be  nearer  to  Peekskill.  General  Sullivan,  with  his 
division,  is  gone  about  twenty  miles  farther  on,  to  a  place 
called  Pompton.  What  led  the  General  the  more  to  appre- 
hend a  movement  up  the  North  River  was,  that  the  enemy 
from  Canada  were  about  to  attack  Ticonderoga.  We  shall  re- 
main here  till  Howe  makes  some  movement.  If  he  goes  up 
the  river,  we  shall  follow  him.  If  ho  goes  to  Philadelphia 
(of  which  I  think  there  is  little  danger) ,  we  shall  go  thither. 
But,  if  he  stands  off  with  his  fleet  to  the  open  sea,  we  shall 
not  know  where  he  is  going,  and  of  course  be  in  a  great 
quandaiy  which  way  to  steer.  Two  sailors,  by  one  of  whom 
I  send  this,  escaped  from  New  York  the  day  before  yester- 
day. They  say  the  talk  there  was,  among  some,  that  Howe 
was  going  to  Boston,  and,  among  others,  that  he  was  going 
to  Philadelphia.  We  are  greatly  at  a  loss  to  determine 
what  his  intentions  are ;  and,  since  he  was  disappointed  in 
his  plan  of  going  to  Philadelphia  by  land,  we  have  some- 
times suspected  that  Howe  himself  was  at  a  loss  which  way 
to  go.  But,  for  my  own  part,  if  the  enemy  make  a  real 
attack  on  Ticonderoga,  I  shall  wonder  if  Howe  does  not 
go  up  the  North  River.     .  .  . 

"P.  S.  I  am  so  crowded  with  business,  and  as  yet  with- 
out an  assistant,  my  friends  must  excuse  me  if  I  do  not 
write  to  them.  The  General,  a  week  ago,  desired  me  to 
get  a  deputy ;  which  I  shall  do  as  soon  as  I  can  light  on  a 
good  one."   ...  • 

Journal.  —  "July  11th.  —  The  whole  army  marched  from 
Morristown  to  Pompton  Plains,   about  seventeen  miles. 

*  See  Spark8*8  ''  Writings  of  WashingtoD,"  Vol.  lY.  p.  483. 


^T.  ^2,^  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  147 

Just  at  night,  received  a  letter  from  General  Schnyler, 
informing  that  General  St.  Clair  and  his  whole  army  had 
evacuated  .Ticonderoga  last  Sunday,  the  6th  instant,  leav- 
ing every  kind  of  stores  behind  them.* 

^  It  began  to  rain  before  dark.  All  the  brigades  had  not 
finished  pitching  their  tents. 

"  July  12th.  —  A  rainy  day.  13th,  the  same.  14th, 
marched  to  Van  Aulen's,  a  mile  east  of  Pond  church ;  15th, 
to  Sovereign's  [Suffren*s  or  Suffern's]  tavern,  near  the  en- 
trance of  Smith's  Clove. 

**  Sunday,  July  20th.  —  Went  from  Sufiern's  tavern  into 
the  Clove,  eleven  miles.  Head-quarters  at  Galloway's,  an 
old  log  house.  The  General  lodged  in  a  bed,  and  his  family 
on  the  floor  about  him.  We  had  plenty  of  sepawn  and 
milk,  and  all  were  contented. 

« July  23d.  —  Returned  from  the  Clove  to  Ramapo. 
25th,  marched  to  Pompton ;  26th,  to  Morristown ;  27th,  to 
Reading,  eighteen  miles  from  Coryell's  Ferry  over  the  Del- 
aware. 28th,  marched  to  the  ferry,  and  quaiiiered  at  a 
hearty  old  Quaker's  named  Oakham." 

TO  MRS.   PICKERING. 
**  MosRisTOWN,  July  26th,  1777,  10  o'clock,  evening. 

"After  the  enemy  left  the  Jerseys,  we  had  reason  to 
apprehend  they  intended  to  go  to  the  eastward,  or  up  the 
North  River.  This  induced  us  to  march  from  Middle  Brook 
to  Morristown,  thence  to  Pompton,  thence  within  eighteen 
miles  of  King's  Ferry,  and  thence  into  Smith's  Clove,  in  a 
route  that  would  carry  us  to  New  Windsor,  where  we  should 
have  crossed  the  ferry  to  Fishkill.  But,  having  advanced 
a  dozen  miles  into  the  Clove,  we  halted,  having  reason  to 
doubt,  fr*om  the  enemy's  movements  and  the  best  intelli* 
gence  we  could  obtain,  whether  they  were  bound  up  the 
North  River  or  to  the  eastward,  or  not.  At  length  we  had 
0ach  intelligence  as  induced  the  general  officers  to  think 

*  See  Sporkfl's  '*  Writings  of  Washington/*  VoL  IV .  pp.  485,  488. 


148  LIFE    OF   TIMOTHY   PICKERING.  [1777. 

Howe  intended  for  Philadelphia.  This  intelligence  was 
strengthened  by  a  letter,  written  with  Howe's  own  hand,  to 
General  Burgoyne,  in  which  he  says  he  is  going  to  Boston.* 
But  he  sent  it  out  by  a  man  who  had  been  confined  by  him 
in  the  provost  three  weeks,  and  on  whom  he  had  no  reason 
to  rely.  In  short,  it  was  not  doubted  but  he  sent  it 
on  purpose  by  such  a  messenger,  that  it  might  fall  into 
our  hands.  The  messenger,  at  the  first  guard  of  ours  he 
met,  delivered  it  up  to  the  ofiicer,  and  gave  what  other 
information  he  could.  We  had,  before  the  receipt  of 
Howe's  letter,  come  back  out  of  the  Clove.  We  are  now 
got  back  to  Morristown,  and  shall  proceed  on  towards 
Philadelphia ;  for  the  bulk  of  the  enemy's  ships  have  sailed 
from  New  York,  and,  it  is  supposed,  for  Philadelphia." 

Journal.  —  "July  31st.  —  We  marched  for  Philadelphia, 
where  the  General,  his  aids,  &c.,  arrived  about  ten  in  the 
evening,  leaving  the  army  behind.  In  the  morning,  about 
half  past  nine,  an  express  came  that  two  hundred  and 
twenty-eight  of  the  enemy's  ships  were  at  the  mouth  of  the 
Delaware,  which  occasioned  the  army  to  move  thither." 

TO  BfRS.    PICKERING. 

'*  Philadelphia,  August  1st,  1777. 

"  On  the  28th  of  July  we  arrived  on  the  banks  of  the 
River  Delaware,  at  Coryell's  Ferry,  about  thirty-two  miles 
from  Philadelphia  by  land,  and  there  we  halted.  Last  night 
the  General  and  his  family  arrived  here.  Yesterday  morn- 
ing, about  half  after  nine  o'clock,  an  express  came  to  the 
General  to  inform  him  of  the  arrival  of  the  enemy's  fleet 
at  the  Capes  of  the  river.  Orders  were  immediately  issued 
for  all  the  troops  upon  the  river  (being  eight  brigades)  to 
cross  with  all  despatch  possible ;  two  more  brigades  at  Mor- 
ristown,  under  General  Sullivan,  and  two  more  from  Peeks- 
kill,  are  to  follow  as  expeditiously  as  they  can.     All,  we 

♦  See  the  letter  in  Sparks's  "  Writings  of  Washington,"  Vol.  V.  p.  6. 


iET.  82.]  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  149 

trust,  will  arrive  before  the  enemy  can  take  any  decisive 
measures.  The  militia  from  this  State,  Jersey,  and  Mary- 
land will,  no  doubt,  turn  out  with  spirit.*  The  people  of 
the  city  seem  to  be  quite  at  ease,  and  not  by  any  means  to 
dread  the  enemy's  approach.  Fighting  there  must  be,  no 
doubt.  God  grant  we  may  give  them  an  overthrow,  which, 
if  general,  must  probably  decide  the  contest.  The  army  is 
in  high  spirits,  and  the  order  to  march  this  way  gave  uni- 
versal joy.  The  General  and  all  the  principal  officers  much 
prefer  the  enemy's  coming  here  to  their  going  up  the  North 
River,  or  to  New  England.  For  to  this  place  the  army  will 
have  but  little  way  to  march ;  and,  as  it  is  an  event  long 
expected,  it  is  presumed  the  people  are  better  prepared  to 
give  the  enemy  a  proper  reception.  However,  if  they 
should  even  gain  this  city,  the  cause  will  not  be  given  up 
as  lost;  the  enemy  will,  I  trust,  have  a  great  deal  more 
work  to  do  before  they  conquer  America.  Though  we  have 
met  with  many  losses,  yet  even  now  the  inhabitants  of 
America  'seem  not  to  be  actuated  by  a  becoming  ardor. 
Greater  sufferings  will  show  us  the  necessity  of  more  univer- 
sally spirited  exertions ;  and,  when  they  take  place,  we  shall 
undoubtedly,  under  Providence,  prevail  over  our  enemies. 
Tis  now  past  noon,  and  I  have  heard  nothing  more  of  the 
enemy's  fleet,  except  a  slight  report  that  they  were  still  at 
the  Capes,  which,  I  am  inclined  to  think,  is  true ;  for,  if 
they  had  made  any  considerable  progress,  we  should 
doubtless  have  heard  of  it.     So  much  for  news."     .  .  . 

Journal.  —  <*  August  1st.  —  The  army  arrived  at  its 
encamping  ground  between  Germantown  and  Schuylkill 
River. 

"August  2d  (Saturday).  —  Dined  with  Mr.  Goodhue, 
and  sent  letters  home  to  my  wife. 

«*  August  3d  to  7th.  —  Nothing  remarkable.  The  fleet 
that  had  been  seen  at  the  Capes  disappeared  the  31st  of 
July  at  night." 

*  This  prediction  was  not  yerifled.     See  the  letter  of  September  26th 
to  John  Pickering,  poit^  p.  164. 


150  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  FICEERINO.  [1777. 

In  a  letter  dated  Philadelphia,  August  2d,  to  his 
wife,  Colonel  Pickering  mentions  that,  to  the  sur- 
prise of  everybody,  Howe,  with  all  his  fleet,  left  the 
Delaware  on  the  31st  of  July,  standing  off  to  sea  in  a 
south-east  course ;  and  he  criticizes  a  conjecture  that  his 
plan  was  to  draw  our  army  from  the  North  River,  in 
order  that  he  might  go  up,  possess  himself  of  Peekskill 
and  other  Highlands,  effect  a  junction  with  Burgoyne, 
and  so  cut  off  the  communication  between  the  North- 
em  and  Southern  States.    The  letter  then  proceeds: — 

"Howe's  conduct  appears  to  every  one  to  be  strongly 
marked  with  want  of  judgment.  Indeed,  it  was  long  since 
thought  that  he  possessed  very  moderate  abilities ;  for  which 
reason  'tis  wished  by  all,  that  be  may  live  long  to  head  the 
British  armies.  Burgoyne  is  supposed  to  have  ability,  but 
to  be  too  sanguine  and  precipitate,  and  puffed  up  with 
vanity ;  which  failings,  we  hope,  may  lead  him  into  tnips 
that  may  undo  him.  But,  whatever  Howe  and  Burgoyne 
may  attempt,  nothing  is  to  be  despaired  of.  We  have  yet 
ample  resources,  and  only  want  a  sufficient  spirit  to  apply 
them ;  which,  I  trust  in  God,  we  shall  do  when  driven  by 
necessity.  ...  I  expect  we  shall  soon  be  on  the  march 
eastward  again,  in  this  uncomfoilable  month  of  August. 
Till  yesterday  we  have  hardly  felt  too  much  warmth. 
Should  Howe  proceed  southward  (which  the  most  judicious 
will  not  believe  is  his  intention),  the  climate  will  be  suffi- 
cient to  ruin  him,  without  an  army  to  oppose  him.  But, 
wherever  he  goes,  and  whatever  he  does,  I  hope  he  will 
allow  me  time  next  winter  to  return  and  see  my  friends." 

Journal.  —  *<  August  8th.  —  The  army  was  reviewed,  and 
in  the  afternoon  marched  about  nine  or  ten  miles  back  from 
Germantown.  But  it  was  a  hot  day ;  the  troops  fatigued 
by  being  under  arms  from  six  o'clock  in  the  morning  till 
one  or  two  in  the  afternoon ;  and  the  march  afterwards  hurt 
many  of  them,  especially  as  some  did  not  arrive  at  their 


^T.  32.]  LIFE  OP  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  151 

ground  till  late  in  the  evening.  But  the  General  did  not 
intend  they  should  have  moved  so  far  by  four  or  five  miles. 
The  Deputy  Quartermaster-General  miscalculated  the  dis- 
tance ;  and,  besides,  did  not  take  the  route  which  led  most 
directly  to  Coryell's  Ferry,  so  that  the  army  marched,  this 
and  the  following  day  but  one,  five  or  six  miles  for  nothing. 
Some  of  the  enemy's  fleet  seen  off  Sinepuxent. 

**  August  10th.  —  The  troops  came  to  ground  near  Ne- 
shaminy,*  or  Cross  Boads,  about  twenty  miles  from  Phila- 
delphia. 

^  August  14th.  —  The  army  still  on  the  same  ground. 
These  fourteen  days  in  August  have  all  been  uniformly  and 
intensely  hot.  Such  continual  melting-hot  weather  is  un- 
known in  New  England.  We,  in  that  space  of  time,  had 
frequent  showers  of  rain,  and  this  day  some  severe  thun- 
der.      .  .  • 

^  August  15th.  —  The  most  comfortable  day  in  August 
hitherto." 

TO  MBS.   nCKEBINO. 

"  Augast  20ih. 

^  There  has  been  an  addition  to  the  General's  family 
lately  —  the  Mai*quis  Lafayette,  of  one  of  the  first  families 
in  France,  a  young  gentleman  of  modest  manners.  Pos- 
sessed of  an  immense  fortune,  a  country  in  peace,  and  a 
wife,  he  left  France  to  acquire  military  glory  in  America. 
He  has  been  honored  by  Congress  with  the  i*ank  of  Major- 
General."*    .  .  . 

Journal.  — **  August  21st.  —  The  army  ordered  to  march 
to-morrow.  Letter  informing  that  the  enemy's  fleet  (one 
hundred  sail)  were  seen  standing  in  between  the  Capes  of 
Virginia.     The  order  for  marching  countermanded. 

**  August  22d.  —  The  army  ordered  to  march  northward. 
Countermanded,  the  news  of  the  enemy's  fleet  being  seen 

•  See  Sparka's  "  Writings  of  Washington,"  Vol.  V.  pp.  10, 36, 36  and  note ; 
128, 170, 172  (note),  454. 


152  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  [1777. 

in  Chesapeake  Bay  having  been  confirmed.  Afterwards  the 
army  ordered  to  march  towards  Philadelphia. 

"  August  23d.  —  The  army  marched  to  within  about  five 
{piles  of  the  city. 

"August  24th  (Sunday).  — The  army  marched  through 
the  city,  and  was  allowed  to  make  a  fine  appearance,  the 
order  of  marching  being  extremely  well  preserved.  We 
advanced  to  Derby. 

"  August  25th.  —  The  army  marched  through  Chester  to 
Naaman's  Creek,  the  General  and  family  advancing  to  Wil- 
mington (a  pretty  town  and  pleasantly  situated).  This  day 
the  enemy  landed  about  [six]  miles  below  the  head  of  Elk 
River. 

"  August  26th.  —  The  General  went  with  all  the  horse, 
save  Sheldon's,  to  reconnoitre. 

"  August  27th.  —  Captain  Hopkins  (of  Moylan's  regi- 
ment) took  a  midshipman  and  five  seamen,  near  the 
enemy's  quarters. 

"August  28th.  —  The  above  six,  and  two  more  pris- 
oners of  war,  and  six  German  deserters,  brought  to  Wil- 
mington. 

"  August  29th.  —  Twenty-three  soldiers,  taken  yesterday 
from  the  enemy,  brought  in  prisoners."     .  .  . 

TO  MBS.   FIGKERma. 

"  Wilmington,  Augurt  29th,  1777. 

"  ...  I  only  add  here,  that  we  are  about  twenty  miles 
from  the  enemy.  Their  design  is  to  get  to  Philadelphia, 
distant  from  them  about  fifty  miles,  and  from  us  about 
twenty-seven ;  and  'tis  our  design  and  duty  to  prevent  them. 
Fighting  will  ensue,  most  probably.  I  think  Howe  cannot 
retreat  with  honor  till  he  attempts  to  go  on  to  Philadelphia ; 
and  that  object  is  too  important  for  us  to  abandon  without 
the  most  vigorous  opposition.  .  .  ,  Our  troops  are  in  good 
spirits.  We  have  a  respectable  army  of  Continental  troops, 
and  wo  shall  be  aided  by  great  numbers  of  militia ;  so  that, 
in  human  probability,  we  shall  vanquish  our  foes.     We  are 


-ffiT.  82.]  LIFE  OP  TIMOTHY  FICEEBIKQ.  153 

doubtless  a  wicked  generation,  and  our  army  too  much 
abounds  in  profaneness  and  debauchery ;  nevertheless,  our 
enemies  do  not  fall  behind  us  in  vice,  but  rather,  I  believe, 
exceed  us,  and  have  besides  none  but  the  worst  motives  — 
the  motives  of  tyrants — to  steel  their  hearts  against  us; 
whereas  we  have  a  just  cause,  on  which  the  happiness,  not 
of  innocent  Americans  only,  but  of  the  thousands  of  poor, 
oppressed  people  in  every  kingdom  in  Europe,  depends,  to 
point  our  weapons  and  brace  our  arms,  to  urge  them  against 
the  mercenary  foe.  Such  a  cause  Providence,  I  hope,  will 
favor  and  succeed,  and  that  I  shall  return  according  to  your 
wishes ;  or,  if  not  *  crowned  with  the  laurels  of  victory,'  as 
you  express  it,  at  least  without  disgrace.  I  mean  to  do  my 
duty,  and  pray  God  to  inspire  me  with  all  that  fortitude 
which  my  station  demands.  The  hearts  of  all  men  are  in  his 
hands,  and  he  can  turn  them  as  he  will.  Having  never 
been  in  action,  I  know  not  what  would  be  my  feelings ;  but 
I  trust  in  God  I  shall  not  disgrace  myself,  nor  dishonor 
you."     .  .  . 

Journal. — "August  30th.  —  Twenty-five  soldiers  of  the 
enemy  brought  in  prisoners.     Two  deserters  besides. 

"  August  31st.  —  Two  grenadiers  brought  in  prisoners, 
and  three  deserters,  besides  five  sailors. 

"  September  1st.  ^ —  Seven  prisoners  and  one  deserter 
brought  in. 

«  September  2d.  —  One  prisoner.  He  was  pulling  pota- 
toes; the  owner  came  behind  him,  knocked  him  on  the 
head  with  a  hoe,  and  took  him  prisoner.  He  was  a  little 
Hessian.     .  •  . 

"  September  3d.  —  Three  Hessian  prisoners  brought  in, 
and  three  deserters. 

^  September  4th,  5*th.  —  Still  at  Wihnington.  6th, 
marched  to  Newport,  three  or  four  miles  beyond  Wil- 
mington. 

VOL.  L  20 


154  LIFB  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  [1777. 


CHAPTER   X. 

Battle  of  the  Brandjwine.  —  Report  of  it  to  Congress.  —  Skirmish 
on  the  16th  of  September. — Night  Attack  on  General  Wayne.  — 
Garrison  of  Fort  Mifflin.  —  Want  of  Zeal  in  Pennsylvania.  — 
Militia  of  Pennsylvania,  Delaware,  New  Jersey,  and  New 
England.  —  Conduct  of  some  Inhabitants  of  Chester  Comity, 
Pennsylvania. 

The  following  extracts  from  Colonel  Pickering's  jour- 
nal contain  memoranda  of  proceedings  of  the  American 
and  British  armies,  including  the  battle  of  the  Brandy- 
wine  and  a  later  skirmish  on  the  16th  of  September; 
and  they  set  forth  the  lessons  suggested  to  him  by 
those  actions. 

Journal. — "September  9th.  — Left  Newport  in  the  morn- 
ing before  daylight,  and  marched  to  Chad's  Ford ;  crossed 
it,  and  encamped  on  the  east  side  of  the  Brandywiue,  hay- 
ing information  that  the  enemy  had  marched  far  to  the  north 
of  Newport. 

"  September  10th.  —  At  Chad's  Ford,  —  hearing  the  ene- 
my appeared,  by  their  route,  designing  to  cross  the  Brandy- 
wine  at  that  place. 

"September  11th. — This  morning  a  cannonade  took 
place,  the  enemy  having  advanced  to  the  heights  opposite 
to  those  occupied  by  us,  on  the  other  side  of  the  ford.  A 
hot  skirmish  took  place  between  our  light  troops,  under 
Maxwell,  and  a  party  of  Hessians,  in  which  the  latter  were 
•  chiefly  killed  and  wounded,  not  thirty  running  away,  it 
being  judged  by  Maxwell  that  three  hundred  of  them  were 
killed  and  wounded.  The  enemy  made  no  attempt  to  cross 
at  this  place.     The  cannonade  was  mutual ;  theirs  did  us  no 


uEt.  82.]  LIFE  OP  TIMOTHY  FICKEBINa.  155 

harm,  save  killing  one  man.  The  enemy  remaining  paraded 
on  the  distant  heights,  and  continuing  the  cannonade,  in- 
duced me  to  think  they  did  not  intend  to  cross  at  Chad's 
Ford,  but  only  to  amuse  us  while  their  main  army  crossed 
at  some  other  place.  The  event  proved  the  conjecture  right. 
The  enemy's  main  body  crossed  the  Brandy  wine  six  or  eight 
miles  above,  on  our  right.  The  General  had  intelligence 
of  this  by  some  messengers ;  but  it  was  contradicted  by 
others ;  and,  the  information  remaining  a  long  time  surpris- 
ingly uncertain,  it  was  late  before  a  disposition  was  made 
to  receive,  the  enemy  on  that  quarter.  The  consequence 
was,  that  the  divisions  first  engaged,  being  too  far  distant  to 
be  supported  by  others,  were  repulsed ;  and  this  laid  the 
foundation  for  a  final  defeat.  Nevertheless,  Weedon's  bri- 
gade, which  got  up  a  little  before  night,  fought  bravely,  and 
checked  the  pursuit  of  the  enemy,  and  gave  more  time  for 
the  others  to  retreat.  This  engagement  on  the  right  began 
about  half  after  three  P.  M.,  or  four,  and  lasted  till  night. 
When  the  battle  raged  most  on  the  right,  and  the  Con- 
tinental troops  were  all,  save  Wayne's  division,  drawn  off 
to  the  right,  the  enemy  opposite  Chad's  Ford  began  a  most 
furious  cannonade,  which  was  as  warmly  returned  from  the 
park  of  artillery.  But  at  length  the  enemy  pushed  over, 
and,  after  an  obstinate  engagement  with  our  artillery  and 
Wayne's  division,  the  latter  retreated.  The  whole  army 
this  night  retired  to  Chester.  It  was  fortunate  for  us  that 
the  night  came  on,  for  under  its  cover  the  fatigued,  strag- 
glers, and  some  wounded  made  their  escape.  General  Arm- 
sti'ong's  division  of  Pennsylvania  militia,  being  stationed  at 
a  ford  two  miles  below,  were  too  far  off  to  lend  their  aid ; 
they  retreated  with  the  rest.  Although  we  left  the  field, 
yet  we  had  reason  to  think  the  enemy's  loss  greater  than 
our  own  in  killed  and  wounded.*    The  only  field-officer 


*  Creneral  Greene  estimated  the  loss  of  the  Americans,  In  kiUed,  iroimded, 
and  prisoners,  at  about  twelve  hundred ;  that  of  the  British  at  nearly  eight 
hundred.    General  Howe  reported  his  loss  at  ninety  killed,  four  hundred  and 


156  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  [1777. 

kiUed  on  our  side  was  Major  Bush,   an  amiable,  good 
officer." 

General  Washington  and  his  staff  arrived  at  Chester 
late  at  night,  and  took  up  their  quarters  in  a  house  in 
that  town,  all  of  them  very  tired.  The  General,  how- 
ever, said  he  must  send  to  Congress  a  report  of  the 
engagement,  and  called  upon  his  military  secretary, 
Colonel  Harrison,  to  prepare  the  despatch.  Colonel 
Harrison  desired  to  be  excused,  on  account  of  fatigue, 
and  requested  Colonel  Pickering  to  write  it  Colonel 
Pickering  retired  to  another  room,  made  a  draughty 
and  handed  it  to  Washington.  The  General,  having 
read  it,  said  it  was  very  well,  but  that  some  words  of 
encouragement  should  be  inserted,  as  that  he  hoped  to 
give  a  better  account  of  the  enemy  another  time.  Mr. 
Sparks  told  me,  that,  in  relating  the  circumstances  to 
him.  Colonel  Pickering  remarked,  that  this  was  a  very 
proper  and  a  very  important  suggestion.  The  letter 
was  altered  accordingly,  and  reads  as  follows,*  the 
amendment  being  in  Italics :  — 


eighty-eight  wounded,  and  six  missing;  and  the  loss  of  the  Americans  at 
about  three  hundred  killed,  six  hundred  wounded,  and  four  hundred  prison- 
ers.—  Lossing's  Pictorial  Field- Book  of  the  Rerolviion,  Vol.  II.  p.  178,  note 
2;  Sparks's  Writings  of  WashingtonfYol.  I,  p.  253;  H8im8ay*8  History  of 
the  American  Revolution,  Vol.  II.  p.  II;  Bancroft*s  History  of  the  United 
States,  Vol.  IX.  p.  400. 

Headley,  in  his  "  Life  of  Washington  "  (p.  258),  quotes  a  very  different  state- 
ment, <*  found  among  the  papers  of  General  James  Clinton,"  and  labelled  in 
his  handwriting,  —  ^^Tcikenfrom  the  enemy* s  ledgers,  which  fell  into  the  hands 
of  General  Washington's  army  ai  the  action  of  Germantown"  According  to 
this  statement,  the  whole  British  force  in  the  field  numbered  ten  tliousand  two 
hundred  and  eighty  men ;  Comwallis's  loss  was  one  thousand  and  eighty-eight, 
killed  and  wounded ;  and  Knyphausen's,  eight  hundred  and  ninety-eight ;  total, 
nineteen  hundred  and  eighty-six.  It  is  an  interesting  inquiry,  If  tliis  account 
was  authentic,  why  has  it  been  neglected  by  historians  ?  and  what  became  of 
the  ledgers  ?    See  Appendix,  No.  II.  page  545. 

♦  Copied  from  Sparka's  "  Writings  of  Washington,"  Vol.  V.  p.  57. 


iBT.82.]  LIFE  OP  TIMOTHY  PICKERmG.  157 

TO  THE  PRESIDENT  OP  CONGRESS. 

"  Chxsteb,  twelve  o'clock  at  night,  11th  September,  1777. 
**SlR, 

"  I  am  sorry  to  infonn  you  that,  in  this  day's  engage- 
ment, we  have  been  obliged  to  leave  the  enemy  masters  of 
the  field.  Unfortunately,  the  intelligence  received,  of  the 
enemy's  advancing  up  the  Brandywine  and  crossing  at  a 
ford  about  six  miles  above  us,  was  uncertain  and  contradic- 
tory, notwithstanding  all  my  pains  to  get  the  best.  This 
prevented  me  from  making  a  disposition  adequate  to  the 
force  with  which  the  enemy  attacked  us  on  our  right ;  in 
consequence  of  which,  the  troops  first  engaged  were  obliged 
to  retire  before  they  could  be  reenforced.  In  the  midst  of 
the  attack  on  the  right,  that  body  of  the  enemy  which  re- 
mained on  the  other  side  of  Chad's  Ford  crossed  it,  and 
attacked  the  division  there  under  the  command  of  General 
Wayne,  and  the  light  troops  under  General  Maxwell,  who, 
after  a  severe  conflict,  also  retired.  The  militia  under  the 
command  of  General  Armstrong,  being  posted  at  a  ford  about 
two  miles  below  Chad's,  had  no  opportunity  of  engaging. 

**But,  though  we  fought  under  many  disadvantages,  and 
were,  from  the  causes  above  mentioned,  obliofed  to  retire, 
yet  our  loss  of  men  is  not,  I  am  persuaded,  very  consider- 
able; I  believe  much  less  than  the  enemy's.*  We  have 
also  lost  seven  or  eight  pieces  of  cannon,  according  to  the 
best  information  I  can  at  present  obtain.  The  baggage, 
having  been  previously  moved  off,  is  all  secure,  saving  the 
men's  blankets,  which  being  at  their  backs,  many  of  them 
doubtless  are  lost.  I  have  directed  all  the  troops  to  assem- 
ble behind  Chester,  where  they  are  now  arranging  for  this 
night.  Notwithstanding  the  misfortune  of  the  day^  I  am 
happy  to  find  the  troops  in  good  spirits;  and  I  hope  another 
time  we  shall  compensate  for  the  losses  now  sustained.  The 
Marquis  de  Lafayette  was  wounded  in  the  leg,  and  General 
Woodford  in  the  hand ;  divers  other  officers  were  wounded, 

*  See  page  155,  note. 


158  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERmG.  [1777. 

and  some  slain ;  but  the  numbers  of  either  cannot  now  be 
ascertained. 

**  I  have  the  honor  to  be,"  &c., 

"  G9  Washington. 

^  P.  S.  It  has  not  been  in  my  power  to  send  you  earlier 
intelligence,  the  present  being  the  first  leisure  moment  I 
have  had  since  the  action." 

Journal.  —  **  September  12th.  —  This  day  the  army 
marched  to  the  Schuylkill,  part  crossing  and  marching  to 
our  old  camp  by  Schuylkill  Falls.  The  enemy  lay  still 
near  the  field  of  battle. 

"  September  13th.  —  The  rest  of  the  army  crossed,  and 
the  whole  collected  at  the  old  encampment,  vast  numbers 
of  stragglers  coming  in. 

"  September  14th. — The  army,  having  yesterday  cleaned 
their  arms,  and  received  ammunition  to  complete  forty 
rounds  a  man,  this  day  marched  up  a  few  miles  and  re- 
crossed  the  Schuylkill  at  Levering's  Ford,*  the  water  being 
nearly  up  to  the  waist.  We  lost  here  much  time,  by  reason 
of  the  men's  stripping  off  their  stockings  and  shoes,  and 
some  of  them  their  breeches.  It  was  a  pleasant  day,  and, 
had  the  men  marched  directly  over  by  platoons  without 
stripping,  no  harm  could  have  ensued ;  their  clothes  would 
have  dried  by  night  on  their  march,  and  the  bottom  would 
not  have  hurt  their  feet.  The  officers,  too,  discovered  a 
delicacy  quite  unbecoming  soldiers ;  quitting  their  platoons, 
and  some  getting  horses  of  their  acquaintances  to  ride  over, 
and  others  getting  over  in  a  canoe.  They  would  have  better 
done  their  duty,  had  they  kept  to  their  platoons  and  led  in 

*  In  a  letter  of  February  14th,  1827,  to  Chief  Justice  Marshall,  Colonel 
Pickering  says  the  army  recrossed  the  Schuylkill  at  Matson's  Ford.  *'  The 
water  appeared  to  be  two  feet  deep,  and  the  current  so  swift,  that  the  men  of 
each  platoon  locked  their  arms,  the  better  to  resist  its  force/*  A  map  by  John 
Hills,  published  at  Philadelphia  in  1800,  exhibiting  *'the  operations  of  the 
British  army  from  their  landing  at  Elk  River  in  1777,"  &c.,  puts  Levering's 
MiXU  on  the  Wissihickon,  which  creek  the  army  crossed.  A  place  near  these 
mills  may  have  been  caUed  LeTering's  Ford. 


-ZBx.  82.]  UFB  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  159 

their  men.  We  advanced  about  five  or  six  miles  that  night. 
Before  this  day's  march,  the  General  ordered  all  heavy  bag- 
gage to  be  separated  and  sent  away,  directing  the  officers 
and  men  to  retain  only  what  was  absolutely  necessary. 
This  order  was,  I  believe,  complied  with  very  punctually, 
all  expecting  we  should  soon  attack  the  enemy,  when  our 
baggage  would  be  an  unwieldy  encumbrance. 

"  September  15th.  —  We  advanced  to  the  Warren  tavern. 

"  September  16th.  —  About  nine  in  the  morning  we  were 
informed  that  the  enemy  were  advancing  towards  us.  The 
troops  got  under  arms,  and  the  baggage  was  sent  off.  An 
advanced  party  of  the  enemy  attacked  our  picket,  just  posted 
(about  three  hundred  strong) ,  who  shamefully  fled  at  the 
first  fire.  About  this  time  it  began  to  rain.  General  Scott, 
with  his  brigade,  was  ordered  to  advance  to  attack  this  party 
of  the  enemy,  or  skirmish  with  another  expected'  in  our 
front.  The  rain  increased.  It  was  now  discovered  that  the 
ground  on  which  the  army  was  drawn  up  for  battle,  particu- 
larly the  ground  where  the  park  of  ai'tillery  was  posted,  was 
not  well  chosen,  as  not  admitting  a  chance  of  saving  the 
cannon,  should  there  be  a  necessity  of  retreating.  So, 
after  some  hesftation,  the  orders  were  given  to  retire  to 
better  ground  in  our  rear.  Whilst  this  was  performing, 
the  rain  poured  down  vehemently;  and,  by  the  time  the 
whole  had  gained  their  new  ground,  the  arms  were  abso- 
lutely unfit  for  action.  After  remaining  here  a  little  while, 
orders  were  given  to  march  to  the  Yellow  Springs,  there 
being  no  prospect  of  the  rain's  ceasing,  and  our  ammunition 
being  in  danger  of  spoiling,  which  happening,  we  should 
have  been  in  a  manner  defenceless,  if  the  enemy  approached 
us  next  day.  This  was  the  reason,  I  presume,  for  the 
tedious  march  this  night  in  the  rain  to  Yellow  Springs,  a 
distance  of  [ten]  miles.  It  was  eight  or  nine  o'clock  before 
even  the  horse  arrived  there.*  The  brooks  were  swollen 
with  the  heavy  rain,  and  Pickering's  Creek  up  to  the  horses' 

*  See  Sparkfl'B  "  Writmgs  of  Washington/'  Vol.  I.  p.  251 ;  Vol.  V.  p.  66, 
map. 


160  LTFB  OF  TLMOTHT  PICKERING.  [1777. 

bellies,  so  that  the  passage  of  the  artillery  and  wagons  was 
difficult.  The  foot  passed  over,  in  a  single  file,  on  a  log  laid 
across  as  a  bridge  for  foot  passengers.  To  add  to  the  diffi- 
culties, the  night  was  dark.  The  wagons,  with  the  tents, 
&c.,  had  gone  another  road,  so  that  even  the  next  day  and 
following  night  the  troops  received  no  benefit  from  them,  a 
few  excepted.  However,  they  made  fires  in  the  wood,  and 
the  next  day  looked  tolerably  comfoilable. 

"  The  proceedings  of  the  battle  of  Brandywine  and  this 
day  (September  16th)  suggested  to  me  two  or  three  impor- 
tant lessons :  — 

«1.  To  reconnoitre  thoroughly  the  post  you  take,  observ- 
ing its  avenues,  and  what  ways  for  retreating ;  whether  the 
ground  be  the  most  advantageous,  or  better  be  at  hand ;  and 
for  every  general  officer,  at  least,  to  be  perfectly  acquainted 
(if  the  time  admits)  with  every  hill  and  vale  you  occupy, 
and  for  several  miles  round, —  with  every  place,  indeed,  by 
which  the  enemy  can  approach  you.  This  ought  to  be  the 
first  point  attended  to  in  taking  a  post.  Before  the  battle 
of  Brandywine,  we  had  time  to  have  viewed  all  the  ground 
,  several  miles  on  our  right,  but  did  not  do  it.  So  we  had 
September  16th. 

"2.  'Tis  of  very  great  importance  to  have  correct  maps 
of  the  country  which  is  the  seat  of  war. 

"3.  You  should  have  guides  perfectly  acquainted  with 
every  road.  These  men  should  be  timely  procured  before- 
hand, and  not  be  sought  for  just  at  the  critical  moment  when 
you  want  them. 

"  4.  The  great  destruction  of  ammunition  by  the  battle 
and  heavy  rain  the  16th,  shows  the  necessity  of  having  very 
large  stocks  ready  made  up;  otherwise  you  become  de- 
fenceless, or  are  rendered  incapable  of  any  enterprise  for  a 
long  time.  This  very  circumstance  obliged  us  to  keep  aloof 
from  the  enemy,  after  the  rain  of  the  16th,  for  a  considerable 
time,  not  being  able  fully  to  supply  the  men  with  a  comple- 
ment of  cartridges  till  they  had  made  some  up  themselves. 

"5.  It  was  a  happy  precaution,  taken  previous  to  the  action 


^T.  32.]  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  161 

of  the  11th,  to  pack  up  and  load  our  baggage,  by  which 
means  all  was  saved,  and  our  retreat  not  obstructed ;  and, 
as  the  event  of  battle  is  at  all  times  uncertain,  'tis  a  precau- 
tion that  should  generally  be  taken,  when  you  have  timely 
notice  of  an  expected  engagement.  One  circumstance, 
however,  was  unfortunate,  —  the  men  had  their  blankets  at 
their  backs,  which  encumbered  them  in  action ;  and  then, 
and  in  the  retreat,  they  threw  great  numbers  away.  Some 
also,  to  add  to  their  speed,  threw  away  their  muskets ;  the 
latter  deserve  severe  punishment,  and  the  former  are  not 
blameless. 

"  September  17th.  —  Part  of  the  army  marched  to  Read- 
ing Furnace,  where  they  were  joined  by  the  rest  the  next 
day;  from  which  time  to  the  22d  we  were  marching  the 
chief  of  our  time,  having  within  that  space  again  crossed 
over  the  Schuylkill  at  Parker's  Ford,  and  marched  down  to 
the  Trap,  where  we  halted  a  day  or  two,  when,  hearing  the 
enemy  were  tending  upwards  on  the  western  side  of  the 
river,  we  moved  up  on  the  other,  till  wo  arrived  at  our 
camp  near  Potsgrove.  Here  we  lay  till  the  26th,  on  which 
day  we  marched  downwards  as  far  as  Pennybacker's  Mills. 
But  before  this,  while  we  lay  near  Potsgrove,  the  enemy 
crossed  over  the  Schuylkill,  and  marched  towards  Philadel- 
phia ;  but  it  was  two  or  three  days  after  they  crossed  the 
river  before  they  entered  the  city,  which  was  fortunate  for 
us,  as  it  gave  time  to  our  people  at  Philadelphia  to  complete 
the  movement  of  stores." 

In  the  following  letter  to  his  brother,  Colonel  Pick- 
ering relates  some  of  the  facts  above  stated,  with  further 
proceedings  of  the  contending  parties.  He  mentions  a 
suggestion  made  by  him,  that  the  garrison  in  the  fort 
below  Philadelphia  should  be  reenforced  ;  compares  the 
militia  of  New  England  with  that  of  Pennsylvania  and 
Delaware,  and  comments  with  severity  on  the  luke- 
warmness  of  Pennsylvania  in  regard  to  the  conflicts 
taking  place  within  her  own  territory. 

VOL.  I.  21 


162  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKEBINO.  [1777. 

"  Camp  neab  Potsorote,  thirty-four  mileB  above  Fhilfldelpfaia, 

"  Near  the  River  Schuylkill,  September  25th,  1777. 

.  •  •  ''Although  our  loss  in  the  battle  of  Brandywine 
was  not  so  great  as  the  enemy's,*  yet  since  then  it  has  been 
much  larger ;  I  mean  by  straggling  and  desertions,  which,  I 
am  satisfied,  have  reduced  the  army  more  than  the  bare 
action.  After  that  battle  we  returned  to  within  seven  miles 
of  Philadelphia,  rested  two  nights,  cleaned  our  arms,  fur- 
nished each  man  with  forty  rounds  of  well-made  cartridges, 
then  recrossed  the  Schuylkill,  and,  after  several  marches, 
were  one  day  overtaken  by  a  most  severe  rain.  The  army 
had  just  been  arrayed  for  battle,  the  enemy  approaching.  It 
was  judged  best  to  shift  our  ground  for  a  position  more 
advantageous.  It  began  to  rain;  the  enemy  halted;  we 
marched  ten  miles  in  a  continual  rain  and  bad  roads ;  arrived 
late  in  the  evening  at  Yellow  Springs ;  men  fatigued,  arms 
wet,  ammunition  chiefly  spoiled  (perhaps  three  hundred 
thousand  cartridges)  ;  no  covering  for  the  men  (the  tents 
having  been  sent  off  when  the  battle  was  expected)  ;  rain 
all  night  and  part  of  next  day ;  another  march  to  Reading 
Furnace ;  then  we  returned,  and  again  crossed  the  Schuyl- 
kill in  order  to  obstruct  the  passage  of  the  enemy,  leaving 
one  division,  under  General  Wayne,  behind,  to  hang  upon 
their  rear.  The  second  or  third  night  the  enemy  fell  upon 
Wayne ;  they  exchanged  one  fire,  close ;  pushed  bayonets ; 
Wayne  retired ;  the  enemy  did  not  pursue,  but  retired  also. 
Next  day  Wayne  buried  fifty-six  of  his  men,  and  the  in- 
habitants said  the  enemy  buried  twenty-three  of  theirs,  and 
carried  qff  four  or  five  wagon-loads. 

"Information  that  the  enemy  were  proceeding  up  the 
Schuylkill  on  the  [west]  side  induced  us  to  march  up  like- 
wise on  this  side.  We  got  above  them,  and  then  they 
crossed  below  us  at  Swedes'  Ford.  We  wait  for  Wayne  to 
join  us,  and  McDougall  with  his  brigade  from  Peekskill. 
We  shall,  I  expect,  unite  to-morrow. 

"  Six  o'clock  P.  M.   I  have  just  heard  that  the  enemy  have 

*  See  page  155,  and  note. 


iET.32.]  LIFE  OP  TIMOTHY  FICKEBIKG.  163 

dropped  down  to-day  within  twelve  miles  of  Philadelphia. 
The  city  is  open  to  them.  The  day  before  yesterday  I  pro- 
posedy  in  presence  of  General  Washington,  Geberal  Knox, 
&C.9  that  at  least  one  company  of  artillerymen  and  a  suf- 
ficient nmnber  of  musketeers  should  be  sent  down  to  garrison 
the  fort  below  the  city,  which  defends  the  chevaux-de-frise. 
His  Excellency  assented  to  the  propriety  of  the  measure ; 
yet  nothing  was  done.  However,  yesterday  it  was  judged 
of  the  highest  importance  to  garrison  that  fort.  Accord- 
higly*  two  hundred  musketeers  and  two  good  artillery 
officers  were  despatched  to  cross  the  Delaware  at  Bristol. 
Had  this  step  been  taken  when  I  proposed  it,  it  might  have 
been  executed  without  a  circuitous  march  to  Bristol,  for 
the  enemy  had  not  then  crossed  the  Schuylkill.  However, 
I  trust  it  will  still  be  effected  with  safety.  If  the  fort  is  as 
tenable  as  represented,  I  presume  the  enemy  will  not  speed- 
ily pass  the  chevaux-de-frise ;  and,  if  Howe  is  not  aided  by 
the  fleet,  he  will  not  long  possess  Philadelphia,  I  am  per- 
suaded. But,  from  the  account  given  by  others,  it  seems 
that  a  height  on  the  Jersey  shore,  a  mile  from  the  foil; 
(which  is  near  the  opposite  shore,  back  of  which  the  large 
meadows  are  now  laid  under  water) ,  may  be  taken  pos- 
session of  by  the  enemy,  from  which,  by  their  guns  and 
mortars,  they  may  prevent  the  galleys  defending  the  chevaux- 
de-frise,  and  possibly  make  the  fort  too  warm  for  our  men. 
But  surely  the  fort,  at  the  distance  of  a  mile,  must  be  safe 
from  everything  but  bombs,  and  I  should  not  fear  much  from 
them  alone. 

**  To-day  it  rains.  To-morrow  morning,  at  nine  o'clock, 
we  march  and  join  McDougall.  Pretty  soon,  I  imagine,  wo 
shall  proceed  to  attack  the  enemy,  if  their  post  be  practica- 
ble. Were  Howe,  with  his  present  force,  in  New  England, 
and  General  Washington  with  so  many  Continental  troops 
as  he  will  have  when  joined  by  Wayne  and  McDougall,  I 
should  not  wish  for  a  better  opportunity  to  crush  him ;  for 
we  should  have  there  the  best  intelligence,  and  as  many 
militia  as  we  desired  for  a  short,  bold  push ;  but  here  we 


164  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  [1777. 

are,  in  fact,  in  an  enemy's  country.  I  am  told  upwards  of 
sixty-five  thousand  men  are  enrolled  in  the  militia  of  Penn- 
sylvania; yet  we  have  not  two  thousand  in  the  field,  and 
these  are  of  little  worth  and  constantly  deserting.  After 
the  action  of  the  11th,  and  the  enemy  took  possession  of 
Wilmington,  almost  all  the  militia  of  Delaware  State  also 
ran  home.  Some  Maryland  militia  join  us  to-morrow,  per- 
haps a  thousand  men.  Many  that  marched  from  home  have 
deserted.  Other  militia  are  coming  from  Virginia  and  Jer- 
sey, together  with  a  stout  and  good  State  regiment  from 
Virginia,  the  latter  perhaps  now  at  Lancaster.  The  Jersey 
militia  have  been  at  war  a  year,  are  embittered  against  the 
foe,  and  have  constantly  behaved  well  in  Jersey.  But  be- 
fore all  the  militia  arrives,  I  presume  we  shall  be  engaged, 
lest  the  fleet  should  get  to  the  city. 

(rl  had  heard  at  homo  of  so  much  contempt  and  ridicule 
thrown  by  the  southern  gentlemen  on  the  New  England 
militia,  that  I  expected  something  better  here ;  but  no  militia 
can  be  more  contemptible  than  those  of  Pennsylvania  and 
Delaware  ;  none  can  be  spoken  of  more  contemptuously  than 
they  are  by  their  own  countrymen.  And  how  astonishing 
is  it,  that  not  a  man  is  roused  to  action  when  the  enemy  is 
in  the  heart  of  the  country,  and  within  twelve  miles  of  their 
grand  capital,  of  so  much  importance  to  them  and  the  Con- 
tinent !  How  amazing,  that  Howe  should  march  from  the 
-head  of  Elk  to  the  Schuylkill,  a  space  of  sixty  miles,  with- 
out opposition  from  the  people  of  the  country,  except  a 
small  band  of  militia  just  round  Elk  1  (^^Sujch  events  would 
not  have  happened  in  New  England.  I  rejoice  that  I  can 
call  that  my  country.  I  think  myself  honored  by  it.  I 
hope  I  shall  not  do  anything  to  detract  from  the  applauses 
justly  its  due. 

"The  inhabitants  here  have,  of  a  long  time,  been  the 
most  abominable  extortioners ;  and  where  Howe  has  passed 
they  refuse  to  take  paper  money.  The  villains  in  Chester 
county  (between  the  Schuylkill  and  the  Brandy  wine)  re- 
fuse even  to  supply  our  poor  wounded  men  among  them 


Mt.  32.]  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  165 

with  necessary  provisions,  without  the  solid  coinA and  our 
surgeons  have  been  obliged  to  carry  provisions  to  them  from 
hence.  I  feel  in  some  degree  reconciled  to  Howe's  entering 
Pennsylvania  and  Philadelphia,  that  the  unworthy  inhabit- 
ants (of  which  'tis  apparent  a  majority  of  the  State  is  com- 
posed) may  experience  the  calamities  of  war,  which  nothing 

but  their  own  supineness  and  unfriendliness  to  the  American 

* 

cause  would  have  brought  on  them.  Possibly  Heaven  per- 
mits it  in  vengeance  for  theii^  defection,  that  their  country 
should  be  the  seat  of  war.  vjfpt  that  I  have  a  great  opinion 
of  the  morality  of  the  Americans  in  general ;  but  there  are 
surely  none  who  have  not  more  public  virtue  than  the  Penn- 
sylvanians.  However,  did  the  event  of  the  contest  depend 
on  the  goodness,  the  moral  virtue^  of  my  countrymen,  I 
should  despair  of  success.  But,  for  the  justice  of  our  cause 
and  the  sake  of  the  righteous  in  the  land,  I  hope,  and  I 
doubt  not,  God  will  in  the  end  grant  us  victory,  and  a 
consequent  happy  peac^  Yet  perhaps  many  trials  await 
UB.  All  our  afflictions  have  not  taught  us  humility.  Every 
species  of  vice  has  rather  prevailed  since  the  war  began.  In 
short,  look  where  you  will,  there  is  so  much  evil,  that  a  good 
man  would  scarcely  wish  to  live,  were  it  not  for  the  pleas- 
ures he  enjoys  in  the  small  circle  of  his  nearest  friends.  I 
sometimes  wonder  we  are  so  fond  of  life,  when  we  almost 
daily  meet  with  something  to  vex  our  souls.  ^But,  doubt- 
less, Shakespeare  has  assigned  the  true  reason,  —  an  un- 
certain futurity.  Yet  this  should  affect  none  but  infidels ; 
and  we  have  good  advice,  —  *Fret  not  because  of  evil  men.' 
We  must  do  our  duty,  and  await  our  appointed  time  till 
our  change  comes,  enjoying  what  bounties  Heaven  pleases 
to  besto^T> 

^  I  wish  to  hear  particularly  of  the  state  of  my  father, 
mother,  and  all  my  relations. '^    •  •  • 


166  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PIGKEBIKG.  [1777. 


CHAPTER   XL 

Battle  of  Grermantown. — Lessons  suggested  by  it. -^  News  of 

Bargojme's  Sarrender. 

The  subject  of  some  further  extracts  from  Colonel 
Pickering's  journal  and  letters  is  the  battle  of  German- 
town.  This  contemporary  account  of  that  battle  is  not 
only  interesting  in  itself,  but  important  in  its  bearing 
on  a  controversy  which  arose  many  years  afterward, 
on  that  subject,  between  William  Johnson,  a  Justice 
of  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  United  States,  on  the 
one  part,  and  Colonel  Pickering  and  Mr.  Sparks  on  the 
other.*  Colonel  Pickering  seems  to  have  forgotten 
that  he  held  such  a  document ;  as  otherwise  he  would 
probably  have  referred  to  it,  as  corroborating  his  state- 
ments founded  upon  his  recollection  at  the  time  of  the 
controversy. 

Journal.  — "  September  29th.  —  We  marched  from  Pen- 
nybacker's  Mills  down  to  Skippack,  within  about  twenty-five 
miles  of  Philadelphia. 

"  October  2d.  —  The  [army]  marched  about  five  miles 
farther  down  on  the  Skippack  road  to  Worcester  township. 

"  October  3d. — The  troops  were  got  ready  for  marching, 
it  being  intended  to  make  an  attack  upon  the  enemy  the 
next  morning.  In  the  evening,  about  eight  o'clock,  the 
troops  were  on  the  march,  in  the  following  disposition: 
General  Sullivan,  commanding  the  right  wing,  was  to  move 

*  See  the  *'  North  American  Review  '*  for  April,  1825,  p.  881,  and  for  Octo- 
ber, 1826,  p.  414 ;  and  the  '*  National  Intelligencer  "  of  December  5th,  1826, 
January  27th,  1827,  and  February  24th  (Supplement),  1827. 


.aBT.82.]  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKEBING.  167 

down,  with  his  and  Wayne's  divisions,  on  the  direct  road  to 
Grermantown,  preceded  by  Conway's  brigade,  which  was  to 
take  off  the  enemy's  picket,  file  off  to  the  right,  and  fall 
upon  the  enemy's  left  flank  and  rear,  while  Sullivan's  and 
Wayne's  divisions  attacked  them  in  front.  Maxwell's  and 
the  North  Carolina  brigades  were  to  form  a  second  line  in 
rear  of  Sullivan  and  Wayne,  General  Greene,  with  the 
left  wing,  was  to  move  down  the  North  Wales  road  to 
attack  the  enemy's  right,  the  front  line  of  this  wing  being 
composed  of  Greene's  and  McDougall's  divisions,  and  the 
second  line,  of  Stephen's ;  while  Small  wood,  with  his  Mary- 
land, and  Forman,  with  his  Jersey  militia,  were  to  attack 
them  on  their  right  flank  and  rear.  At  the  same  time  Gen- 
eral Armstrong,  with  his  division  of  Pennsylvania  militia, 
was  to  move  down  the  old  Egypt  or  Schuylkill  road,  and 
take  off  a  Hessian  picket  posted  there,  and  attack  the 
enemy's  left  wing  and  rear.  The  attack  was  to  begin  upon 
every  quarter  at  five  in  the  morning. 

^  This  disposition  appears  to  have  been  well  made ;  but 
to  execute  such  a  plan  requires  great  exactness  in  the  offi- 
cers conducting  the  columns,  as  well  as  punctuality  in  com- 
mencing the  march,  to  bring  the  whole  to  the  point  of 
action  at  once ;  and  for  this  end  it  is  absolutely  necessary 
that  the  length  and  quality  of  the  roads  be  perfectly  ascer- 
tained, the  time  it  will  take  to  march  them  accurately 
calculated,  and  guides  chosen  who  are  perfectly  acquainted 
with  the  roads.  It  is  also  necessaiy  to  assign  proper 
halting-places,  if  either  column  would  arrive  before  the 
appointed  hour.  All  these  points,  I  believe,  were  attended 
to  in  the  present  case ;  but  yet  I  understood  that  the  guide 
of  the  left  wing  mistook  the  way,  so  that,  although  the 
right  wing  halted  a  considerable  time,  yet  it  attacked  first, 
though  later  than  was  intended ;  that  halt  being  occasioned 
by  information  from  a  prisoner,  that  half  a  battalion  of  the 
enemy's  light  infantry  had  the  preceding  evening  advanced 
on  the  same  road  a  considerable  way  beyond  their  picket. 
It  was  necessary,  therefore,  to  make  a  disposition  to  secure 


168  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  [1777. 

that  party  of  light  infantry,  that  their  opposition  might  not 
frustrate  the  principal  design.  Such  a  disposition  was  in 
fact  made ;  but  the  enemy  had  retired  about  midnight  to 
their  camp. 

"  General  Conway's  brigade  formed  the  advanced  guard, 
and  in  the  morning,  October  4th,  attacked  and  drove  the 
enemy's  picket  at  Beggarstown  (which  is  the  upper  end 
of  Germantown).  The  rest  of  the  right  wing  followed  to 
support  Conway.  In  a  little  time  the  whole  got  engaged, 
save  the  North  Carolina  brigade,  which  was  not  brought  on 
to  the  attack  at  all.  The  other  brigades  drove  the  enemy 
before  them  a  mile  or  two  to  the  very  centre  of  German- 
town.  All  this  time  we  could  not  hear  of  the  left  wing's 
being  engaged,  for  the  smoke  and  fog  prevented  our  seeing 
them,  and  our  own  fire  drowned  theirs.  (General  Wash- 
ington went  with  the  right  wing,  attended  by  his  aides-de- 
camp and  myself.)  But  the  left  wing  had  engaged,  and 
both  wings  met  almost  in  the  same  point,  which  was  at  Mr. 
Chew's  house,  into  which  the  enemy  had  thrown  a  party 
(we  since  find  them  to  have  been  six  companies,  with  a 
Colonel  to  command  them)  that  annoyed  us  prodigiously, 
and  absolutely  stopped  our  pursuit ;  —  not  necessarily,  but 
we  mistook  our  true,  interest ;  we  ought  to  have  pushed 
our  advantage,  leaving  a  party  to  watch  the  enemy  in  that 
house.  But  our  stop  here  gave  the  enemy  time  to  recollect 
themselves  and  get  reenforced,*  and  eventually  to  oblige 
us  to  retreat;  for  this  period  was  all  suspense,  and  the 
brigades  not  well  collected  and  formed  in  the  mean  time. 
Indeed,  this  would  have  been,  perhaps,  impracticable,  for 
the  troops  were  greatly  broken  and  scattered,  great  num- 
bers having  left  their  corps  to  help  off  the  wounded,  others 
being  broken  by  other  means,  or  by  carelessness ;  for  officers 
and  men  got  much  separated  from  each  other,  neither  (in 
numerous  instances)  knowing  where  to  find  their  own. 

"  This  house  of  Chew's  was  a  strong  stone  building,  and 


*  Stedman  says,  that  by  the  delay  *'  time  was  afforded  to  the  rest  of  the 
British  line  to  get  under  arms.''  —-Eitiory  of  the  American  War,  Vol.  I.  p.  899. 


Ml,  32.]  LITE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  169 

exceedingly  commodious,  having  windows  on  every  side, 
so  that  you  could  not  approach  it  without  being  exposed  to 
a  severe  fire ;  which,  in  fact,  was  well  directed,  and  killed 
and  wounded  a  great  many  of  our  officers  and  men.  Sev- 
eral of  our  pieces,  six-pounders,  were  brought  up  within 
musket-shot  of  it,  and  fired  round  balls  at  it,  but  in  vain : 
the  enemy,  I  imagine,  were  very  little  hurt ;  they  still  kept 
possession.  It  was  proposed  (for  our  advanced  brigades 
•  had  driven  the  enemy  some  way  beyond  it)  to  send  a  flag 
to  summon  the  enemy  posted  there  to  surrender,  it  being 
urged  as  dangerous  to  leave  them  in  our  rear.  A  proposal 
was  made  to  leave  a  party  to  watch  them,  and  for  the  rest 
of  the  army  to  push  on.  But  a  flag  was  sent,  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  Smith,  Deputy  Adjutant-General,  offering  himself 
to  carry  it.  I  did  not  expect  to  see  him  return  alive.  I 
imagined  they  would  pay  no  respect  to  the  flag,  they  being 
well  posted,  and  the  battle  far  enough  from  being  decided. 
The  event  justified  my  apprehensions  :  in  a  few  minutes  Mr. 
Smith  was  brought  back  with  his  leg  broken  and  shattered 
by  a  musket-ball  fired  from  the  house. 

"During  this  time  there  was  a  cessation  of  firing ;  but  soon 
the  enemy  advanced,  and  our  troops  gave  way  on  all  sides, 
and  retired  with  precipitation.  This  retreat  surprised  every 
body  (all  supposing  victory  was  nearly  secured  in  our  favor)  ; 
but;  I  think  the  facts  before  mentioned  will  tolerably  well 
account  for  that  event.  Another  circumstance  also  contrib- 
uted to  it :  the  foggy,  still  morning  (the  air  moving  very 
little,  but  what  there  was  bringing  the  smoke  and  fog  in  our 
faces),  and  the  body  of  smoke  from  the  firing,  absolutely 
prevented  our  seeing  the  enemy  till  they  had  advanced  close 
upon  us.  This  also  prevented  the  two  wings,  and  even  the 
different  brigades  of  the  same  wing,  from  seeing  each  other 
and  cooperating  in  the  best  manner ;  nay,  I  am  persuaded 
they  sometimes  fired  on  each  other,  particularly  at  Chew's 
house,  where  the  left  wing  supposed  the  cannon-balls  fired 
by  the  right  at  the  hpuse  came  from  the  enemy.  In  a  word, 
our  disaster  was  imputed  chiefly  to  the  fog  and  the  smoke, 

YOL.  L  22 


170  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  [1777. 

which,  from  the  stillness  of  the  air,  remained  a  long  time, 
hanging  low  and  undissipated.  But,  on  the  other  hand,  it 
must  be  remembered,  that  the  fog  blinded  the  enemy  as 
well  as  ourselves,  though  it  certainly  injured  us  most. 

^This  battle  taught  me  the  absurdity  of  helping  off 
wounded  men  during  the  heat  of  action.  By  doing  it  you 
save  a  few  mangled  bodies,  but  most  probably  lose  a  victory. 
By  such  numbers  going  off  with  the  wounded,  the  ranks  are 
thinned  and  broken,  their  arms  dropped  and  lost,  and  few 
of  them  ever  return  to  the  charge.  Indeed,  it  furnishes  the 
timorous  with  an  admirable  pretext  for  deserting  their  duty. 
Frequently  from  two  to  five  and  six  men  were  seen  helping 
off  one  wounded  man ;  whose  death,  too,  from  the  badness 
of  his  wounds,  was  probably  inevitable  and  not  far  off.  By 
these  losses,  added  to  the  killed  and  wounded,  your  ranks 
must  be  so  broken  and  your  strength  so  greatly  reduced, 
that  it  can  never  be  matter  of  surprise  if  victory  declares 
against  you.  It  ought,  therefore,  to  be  an  established  rule, 
that  where  a  man  falls,  there  he  should  lie,  unless  his  own 
strength  and  the  assistance  of  the  drummers  and  fifers  could 
remove  him  from  the  field.  This  maxim,  to  some,  may 
appear  destitute  of  humanity ;  but  the  contrary  practice  is 
certainly  the  greatest  evil.  Rout  and  ruin  are  the  most 
probable  consequences.  Nor  is  there  much  tenderness  in 
hoisting  a  man  with  a  broken  limb  into  a  wagon,  and  then 
driving  over  rough  ways,  where  every  jar  tortures  his  inmost 
soul ;  and,  if  no  limb  be  broken,  he  will  probably  get  off  the 
ground  alone.  The  only  case  which  can  warrant  the  bring- 
ing off  wounded  men  during  the  action  is  when  you  main- 
tain the  fight  retreating. 

''  Another  capital  defect,  in  many  instances,  in  this  action 
was,  the  separation  of  the  officers  and  their  men ;  by  which 
means  to  rally  and  form  them  again,  when  broken,  was  a 
thing  impracticable. 

^  The  fences,  in  this  action,  were  exceedingly  troublesome. 
Germantown  abounded  with  small  enclosures,  strongly 
fenced  with  rails.    These,  in  some  instances,  were  attempted 


Mt,  82.]  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  171 

to  be  pulled  down,  and  in  others  the  troops  mounted  over 
them.  If  a  fence  is  to  be  thrown  down,  the  best  way  is  for 
the  whole  rank  to  pi'ess  it  two  or  three  times  backwards  and 
forwards,  and  then,  seizing  the  under  rails,  to  lift  the  posts 
out  of  the  ground  and  throw  the  whole  down  together ;  but 
if  the  fence  be  strongly  set,  the  best  way  is  to  get  over  it. 
Some,  indeed,  suggest  it  as  better  to  make  openings  in  it 
here  and  there,  that  the  troops  may  march  through  in  col- 
umns, and  then  form  again  in  line ;  but  I  cannot  agree  with 
them.  If  a  battalion  or  brigade  marches  up  regularly  to  a 
fence,  they  may  get  over  in  a  tenth  part  of  the  time  that  it 
would  take  them  to  go  through  in  columns  and  form  again, 
especially  if  the  troops  are  not  very  expert  at  manoeuvring. 
In  such  grounds  the  officers  ought  to  be  on  foot,  otherwise 
they  will  of  necessity  be  separated  from,  and  many  times 
fall  behind,  their  men. 

^  After  the  army  were  all  retreating,  I  expected  they 
would  have  returned  to  their  last  encampment,  about  twelve 
or  thirteen  miles  from  the  enemy  at  Germantown ;  but  the 
retreat  was  continued  upwards  of  twenty  miles ;  so  that  all 
those  men,  who  retired  so  far,  this  day  marched  upwards  of 
thirty  miles  without  rest,  besides  being  up  all  the  preceding 
night  without  sleep.  This  step  appeared  to  me  not  of  such 
pressing  necessity.  It  also  gave  the  enemy  an  idea  that  we 
were  greatly  galled  in  the  action,  and  thought  it  necessary 
to  keep  well  out  of  their  way.  On  the  other  hand,  I  own, 
had  the  enemy  come  out  in  full  force  the  next  day,  and  we 
had  stayed  at  our  former  encampment,  it  might  have  put  us 
to  much  trouble,  and  perhaps  loss,  unless  we  had  of  our- 
selves retired  early  in  the  morning ;  which  we  might  have 
done,  and  by  that  means  have  collected  our  men  with  more 
ease,  and  saved  them  much  of  the  preceding  day's  fatigue. 
Certain  it  is,  that  we  were  by  no  means  in  a  situation  to 
meet  the  enemy  till  after  we  had  made  up  a  new  stock  of 
cartridges.  But,  in  actions  well  disputed,  the  victors  are 
conmionly  too  sore  to  push  their  advantages.  The  refresh- 
ing their  men,  serving  them  with  anmiunition,  taking  care 


172  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  [1777. 

of  and  removing  the  wounded,  and  burying  the  dead,  will 
usually  find  them  employ  at  least  for  one  day.  But  where 
the  victors  can  possibly  pursue  immediately,  'tis  their  duty 
and  interest  to  do  it ;  for,  if  the  body  of  the  vanquished 
escape,  great  numbers  of  straggling,  fatigued,  and  wounded 
men  may  be  taken  prisoners,  with  perhaps  a  part  of  the 
baggage. 

"  October  5th.  —  This  day  and  the  following  the  stragglers 
had  ggnerally  joined  the  army  over  Perkiomen  Creek. 
After  remaining  here  a  few  days,  the  army  removed  to  Towa- 
mensing  township.  This  was  on  the  9th  of  October.  On 
the  15th  we  marched  down  again  to  Worcester  township,  to 
the  same  encampment  from  whence  we  moved  to  the  attack 
on  the  4th  instant." 

In  a  letter  to  Mrs.  Pickering,  dated  ^  Camp  at  Towa- 
mensing,  twenty-six  miles  above  Philadelphia,  October 
13th,  1777,  Monday  evening.  10  o'clock,"  he  wrote  :  — 

•  •  •  "  Just  at  the  edge  of  the  evening,  Captain  Randall, 
of  the  artillery,  now  a  prisoner  of  war  on  parole,  told  me 
he  was  going  home  to  Boston,  and  should  take  a  pleasure 
in  serving  me,  if  I  had  any  commands.  I  told  him  I  should 
embrace  his  obliging  offer  and  give  him  a  letter.  He  goes 
to-morrow  afternoon,  and,  as  I  know  I  shall  not  be  able  to 
spare  a  minute  for  myself  to-morrow,  I  determined  to  write 
before  I  lay  down  on  my  straw.  Now,  you  may  perhaps 
regret  that  I  have  no  better  lodging;  but  make  yourself 
easy.  I  never  slept  sounder,  or  was  more  refreshed  with 
sleep,  than  on  my  bed  of  straw,  wrapped  up  in  my  blanket. 
I  wish  every  soldier  was  as  happy.  Many  of  them  have 
neither  blankets  nor  straw.  They  make  up  fires,  indeed, 
which  render  their  lodging  tolerable.  In  the  two  general 
actions  at  Brandy  wine  and  Germautown,  especially  the  for- 
mer, the  men  lost  a  great  number  of  blankets. 

**I  believe  I  have  never  given  a  particular  account  to 
you  or  Mr.  Williams  of  the  two  actions  above  mentioned ; 


^T.  82.]  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  173 

and  I  dare  not  undertake  to  do  it  now;  for  I  should 
then  scarcely  get  to  bed  till  morning.  Mr.  Williams  de- 
sired me  to  give  him  weekly  the  copy  of  my  journal ;  but 
I  have  been  so  excessively  hurried,  that  I  could  keep 
none.*  Whenever  we  are  not  marching,  I  write  incessantly 
from  morning  till  night,  and  am  now  more  driven  than  ever, 
because  business  has  increased  and  I  have  no  assistant,  the 
Deputy  Adjutant-General  being  wounded  in  the  last  action ; 
and  I  fear  he  will  lose  his  leg.f  After  he  was  appointed, 
I  looked  forward  to  the  winter,  and  pleased  myself  with  the 
expectation  of  leaving  the  business  of  my  office  with  him 
while  I  made  a  visit  to  my  friends ;  but  now  I  cannot  guess 
what  I  shall  do  as  to  the  intended  visit.  Indeed,  the  great 
events  of  the  war  must  first  take  place,  before  it  can  be 
determined  whether  or  not  I  shall  enjoy  so  great  happi- 
ness. 

"  Not  long  since  I  pleased  myself  with  the  hope,  that 
Howe  and  Burgoyne  would  both  be  crushed  this  campaign ; 
but  Clinton's  taking  Fort  Montgomery  and  Peekskill,  and 
proceeding  up  the  North  River,  may  make  such  a  diversion 
as  to  give  Burgoyne  effectual  relief.  The  garrisons  at  that 
fort  and  at  Peekskill  were  much  too  weak  to  support  a  pass 
so  important.  About  two  thousand  men  had  been  drawn 
from  there  lately  to  reenforce  the  army  under  General 
Washington.  This  reenforcement  was  absolutely  necessary 
to  enable  him  to  cope  with  Howe :  and,  had  those  troops 
remained  at  Peekskill,  Clinton  probably  would  not  have 
gone  up  thither,  but  have  turned  his  arms  southward,  and 
come  to  the  assistance  of  Howe.    And,  with  regard  to  Howe, 


*  In  the  small  book  which  I  have  called  a  Journal,  many  of  the  entries  are 
yery  meagre,  and  Colonel  Pickering's  letter  to  his  brother  (page  162),  and 
the  remark  in  the  text,  show  that  they  were  not  all  made  daily  as  the 
occurrences  took  place,  but  some  of  them  several  days  after,  as  leisure 
permitted. 

t  Lieutenant-Colonel  Smith.  He  died  of  the  wound  on  the  26th  of  Octo- 
ber. Colonel  Pickering,  in  a  letter  of  November  2d  to  his  wife,  speaks  of  him 
as  *' a  youth  much  to  be  lamented.  He  was  active,  sensible,  and  brave;  of  a 
manly  and  generous  disposition.' 


t> 


174  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKEKING.  [1777. 

I  am  under  no  concern,  provided  we  can  keep  the  pass  of 
the  river,  and  prevent  the  ships  coming  up  to  the  city ;  of 
doing  which  I  think  we  have  a  reasonable  prospect. 

<<  As  my  friends  may  have  but  a  faint  idea  of  the  pass  and 
the  obstructions  of  the  river,  I  will  give  a  rude  sketch  of 
them."*     .  .  . 

^  There  are  five  ranges  of  chevaux-de-frise,  which  the 
enemy  must  pass  to  get  with  their  ships  to  the  city.  They 
have  moved  one  single  cheval-de-frise  a  little  way  (but  not 
sufficiently  to  let  them  through)  at  Billingsport ;  and  Com- 
modore Hazlewood  has  an  old  ship  ballasted  ready  to  sink 
in  its  place,  if  they  quite  remove  that  cheval-de-frise.  This 
Commodoi'e  commands  our  armed  vessels  in  the  river,  and, 
I  fancy,  is  a  capable,  brave  man.  Fort  Mifflin  is  on  a  low 
island,  called  Mud  Island,  where  we  have  a  garrison  of  two 
hundred  men.  Continental  troops.  The  enemy,  a  few  days 
since,  threw  up  in  the  night  the  redoubt  (No.  2),|  within  a 
small  distance  of  the  fort ;  but  next  morning  the  Commo- 
dore sent  in  some  of  his  galleys  to  the  shallow  water,  which 
silenced  the  battery,  and  made  fifty-six  of  the  enemy  who 
were  at  it  prisoners,  —  one  of  them  a  lieutenant  and  one  an 
ensign, — and  would  have  taken  twice  the  number,  but  a  party 
of  the  enemy  advancing  from  the  house  (No.  S)X  back  of 
them,  and  the  fort  beginning  a  fire  at  the  enemy,  half  of  the 
battery  men  ran  off  to  their  friends,  who  were  advancing. 
Province  Island  is  diked  all  round,  and,  by  cutting  the  dike, 
I  am  informed,  it  may  be  overflowed  at  every  tide.  Why 
the  dike  had  not  been  cut,  I  can't  devise.  I  presume  it  is 
done  now. 

"Red  Bank  is  a  good  eminence  on  the  Jersey  shore,  at 
which  we  have  about  four  hundred  men,  lately  sent  down. 
A  good  piece  of  work  had  (General  Knox  tells  me)  been 


» 


*  Here,  in  the  original  letter,  is  the  "  mde  sketch.' 

t  So  numbered  on  the  **  sketch  " ;  in  which  this  redonbt  is  placed  on  Prov- 
ince Island,  on  marshy  ground,  near  the  Delaware  River. 

X  This  house  is  represented  on  the  *'  sketch "  to  be  on  a  smaU  rising 
ground  on  Province  Island,  back  of  the  redoubt,  and  much  fkrther  from  the 
river. 


iBT.32.]  UFB  OF  TIMOTHT  PICKERING.  175 

raised  therQ  before,  to  defend  it  against  any  attack  by  land ; 
and  the  garrison  are  going  on  to  complete  the  fortification. 
While  we  possess  Red  Bank  and  Fort  Mifflin,  our  gondolas, 
galleys,  and  other  armed  vessels,  can  lie  between  them,  and 
effectually  prevent  (I  am  assured  by  judicious  men,  and 
well  acquainted  with  their  situation)  the  enemy's  getting 
up  a  single  cheval-de-frise  there,  and  without  getting  them 
up  they  cannot  pass.  And  the  Commodore  says,  in  his 
letter  received  yesterday,  that,  only  keep  him  supplied  with 
ammunition,  provisions,  and  men,  and  he  fears  not  what  the 
enemy  can  do  in  the  river.  And  these  supplies,  I  trust,  it 
will  not  be  impracticable  to  furnish  him  with.  He  speaks 
of  men,  because  many  have  deserted  him.  Two  captains 
and  their  whole  crews  left  him,  and  I  suppose  have  joined 
the  enemy.  But  out  of  the  Rhode  Island  regiments  which 
are  now  arrived  (two  of  them,  I  think,  have  gone  to  Red 
Bank  for  garrisoning  the  fort  there),  I  should  suppose  a 
supply  of  seamen  might  be  given  him;  and,  in  case  of 
absolute  need,  the  General  would  surely  give  orders  for  it. 
"  With  regard  to  the  army,  'tis  in  good  spirits,  and  reen- 
forced,  since  the  last  action,  by  the  arrival  of  some  troops 
from  Peekskill,  and  five  regiments  of  militia  from  Virginia, 
and  one  regiment  from  Virginia  well  disciplined,  being  the 
State  regiment.  But  Pennsylvania,  from  which  we  ought  to  / 
have  the  largest  reenforcements  of  militia,  has  now  but  about 
twelve  hundred  men  in  the  field ;  whereas  they  should  have 
as  many  thousand,  if  needed.  ^Sure  I  am,  that,  were  Boston 
situated  exactly  as  Philadelphia  is,  and  Howe  in  possession 
of  it,  twelve  thousand  of  the  militia  would  join  us  in  a  few 
days.  Indeed,  he  could  not  have  marched  in  New  England 
with  eight  or  nine  thousand  men  through  such  a  tract  of 
country  as  that  from  the  head  of  Elk  to  Philadelphia. 
General  Washington's  army,  aided  by  the  militia  which 
would  have  flocked  to  him,  would  certainly  have  destroyed 
him  utterly.  But  the  government  of  this  State  has  no 
vigor,  the  Constitution  being  generally  disliked.  And  in 
this  country,  too,  vast  numbers  are  Quakers,  and  disaffected 


176  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  [1777. 

to  US ;  and,  although  the  Quakers  profess  a  perfect  neutral- 
ity, yet  many — perhaps  I  may  say  most — of  them  manifested 
joy  at  Howe's  coming,  and  afforded  him  every  comfort  in 
their  power]^  However,  many  are  sick  of  their  bargain ; 
for,  wherever  the  enemy  went,  they  generally  took  all  their 
horses  that  were  good  for  anything.  Howe,  when  he  landed, 
promised  protection  to  the  peaceable.  But,  in  his  General 
Orders,  issued  soon  after,  he  offers  a  reward  of  a  guinea  to 
those  who  would  bring  to  the  Quartermaster-General  a  good 
horse,  and  for  others  in  proportion ;  and  less  sums  for  oxen, 
cows,  sheep,  and  swine,  making  no  exception  or  distinction 
with  regard  to  the  persons  from  whom  the  horses  and  cattle 
should  be  taken.  This  I  read  myself  in  one  of  their  orderly 
books  which  fell  into  our  hands. 

"  Yesterday  two  or  three  German  horsemen,  and  to-day 
four  British  light-horsemen,  were  taken  by  our  parties,  with 
their  horses  and  equipments. 

"  In  the  late  action  General  Agnew  was  killed,  and  we 
were  told  also,  by  divers  persons.  Sir  William  Erskine  was 
badly  wounded,*  and  General  Grant,  or  Grey,  moitally. 
But  these  horsemen  acknowledge  only  that  Agnew  was 
killed,  and  the  others  not  wounded.  One  of  the  German 
horsemen  said  General  Knyphausen  was  wounded  in  the 
hand;  another,  that  he  was  not  wounded  at  all.  These 
horsemen  say  the  enemy  lost  more  in  this  action  than  in  the 
battle  of  Brandywine  ;  and  two  or  three  persons,  who  came 
from  the  city  soon  after  the  action  at  Germantown  on  the 
4th  instant,  make  the  enemy's  loss  very  great,  as  much  as 
sixteen  hundred  killed  and  wounded. 

"Of  our  army,  Brigadier-General  Nash,  of  the  North 
Carolina  troops,  was  wounded  in  the  thigh  by  a  grape-shot 
or  cannon-ball,  of  which  he  is  since  dead.  Major  Sher- 
burne, of  Portsmouth,  aide-de-camp  to  General  Sullivan, 
also  soon  died  of  his  wound ;  and  a  Major  White  (an  Amer- 
ican, married,  I  think,  in  England),  who  came   over  to 

♦  See  Sparks's  "  Writings  of  Washington,"  Vol.  V.  p.  82. 


^T.  32.]  LIFE  OP  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  177 

America  to  partake  in  its  defence,  has  likewise  died  of  his 
wound.  A  few  days  before  the  action,  he  was  appointed 
volunteer  aide-de-camp  to  General  Sullivan.  Divers  of  our 
field  and  other  officers  were  taken  prisoners,  some  of  them 
being  wounded  and  some  not ;  and  a  number  of  our  men 
fell,  too,  into  the  enemy's  hands;  which,  in  a  retreat  in 
haste,  is  an  inevitable  consequence.  We  were  on  the  eve 
of,  and  expected,  a  glorious  victory.  Everybody  was  sur- 
prised at  our  troops  giving  way.  We  stopped  to  get  pos- 
session of  a  paltry  stone  house,  which  the  enemy  occupied, 
and  from  which  they  annoyed  us  much.  We  ought  to  have 
passed  it  by  (only  leaving  a  party  to  watch  it),  and  pushed 
after  the  enemy;  but  this  halt  gave  them  time  to  re- 
collect and  recover  themselves,  and  then  we  were  obliged 
to  retreat  in  our  turn,  after  we  had  driven  them  a  mile. 
Tis  half  past  eleven,  and  I  must  conclude  this  letter  of 
news.**    .  .  . 

In  the  following  letter  to  his  wife,  dated  ^  Canap  at 
Whitpain,  fifteen  miles  from  Philadelphia,  October 
20th,  1777,"  Colonel  Pickering  gives  an  account  of  the 
proceedings  in  camp  on  the  arrival  of  intelligence  that 
Burgoyne  had  surrendered.  He  also  remarks  on  the 
situation  of  General  Howe's  army  in  Philadelphia. 

.  •  .  z^bis  prospect  [of  peace]  is  now  nearer  than  ever. 
O,  my  dear,  we  cannot  sufficiently  admire  that  Providence 
which,  from  the  supposed  most  dreadful  calamity,  has  pro- 
duced the  greatest  good  to  these  States,  and  especially  to 
those  of  New  England.  What  evils  were  dreaded  from  the 
loss  of  Ticonderoga !  But  God  meant  it  for  good.  We  are 
saved,  and  our  vain-boasting  enemy  he  has  delivered  into 
our  handV.^ 

"  Last  Saturday,  the  18th  instant,  we  received  by  express 
the  truly  great  and  glorious  news  of  the  surrender  of  Gen- 
eral Burgoyne  and  his  whole  army  prisoners  of  war.  In  the 
afternoon,  just  before  sunset,  we  fired  thirteen  pieces  of 
cannon,  and  a  rejoicing  fire,  to  celebrate  the  victory. 

VOL.  I.  23 


178  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  FICEEBI5G.  [1777. 

<<The  following  General  Order  was  immediately  issued 
upon  receipt  of  the  news :  — 

^ '  The  General  has  his  happiness  completed  relative  to  the 
successes  of  the  northern  army.  On  the  14th  instant.  Gen- 
eral Burgoyne  and  his  whole  army  surrendered  themselves 
prisoners  of  war.  Let  every  face  brighten,  and  every  heart 
expand  with  grateful  joy  and  praise  to  the  Supreme  Dis- 
poser of  all  events,  who  has  granted  us  this  signal  success. 
The  chaplains  of  the  army  ai*e  to  prepare  short  discourses, 
suited  to  the  occasion,  to  deliver  to  their  several  corps  and 
brigades  at  five  o'clock  this  afternoon.' 

^  But,  in  the  interim,  news  arrived  that  the  enemy  were 
marching  towards  us,  which  occasioned  a  muster  for  another 
purpose,  and  prevented  the  chaplains'  making  the  intended 
preparations.  However,  the  enemy  pretty  soon  went  back 
to  their  quarters,  and  gave  us  an  opportunity  of  enjoying 
the  victory. 

^  I  wish  everything  here  was  in  as  prosperous  a  train  as 
at  the  northward;  but  that  will  probably  not  be  the  case 
till  we  have  more  Continental  troops,  or  Heaven  shall 
inspire  the  inhabitants  of  this  and  the  neighboring  States 
with  some  portion  of  that  zeal  and  animation  which  earned 
the  New-Englanders  to  the  field  in  multitudes,  and  which 
God  has  crowned  with  the  most  happy  success. 

<<  I  believe  I  remarked  in  my  last,  that,  while  we  kept  the 
pass  of  the  river  by  our  forts  and  armed  vessels,  we  had 
nothing  to  fear  from  Howe's  possessing  the  city.  I  am  still 
of  the  same  opinion ;  and  we  are  still  in  possession  of  the 
pass  of  the  river.  But  this  day  a  party  of  Hessians  crossed 
the  Delaware  to  Jersey,  probably  with  a  design  to  attack 
our  fort  at  Red  Bank.  But  such  reenforcements  have  been 
already  sent  as,  I  hope,  will  secure  that  as  well  as  the  other 
fort.  This  day  we  also  have  detached  about  two  thousand 
men  on  a  secret  expedition.  I  hope  it  may  produce  some 
good  effects ;  I  think  there  is  a  fair  prospect  of  it.*    The 

*  The  letter  not  being  sent  on  the  day  of  its  date,  Colonel  Pickering  inserted, 
'^  This  detachment  did  not  proceed,  but  are  refinforced  to-day  (October  22d} 
with  a  thousand  men,  and  will  now  go  on." 


Mt.  82.]  LIEB  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  179 

enemy  at  present  have  no  communication  with  their  shipping 
but  by  land  carriage^  over  the  Schuylkill,  through  Derby  to 
Chester,  off  which  their  ships  lie. 

^  Last  Sunday  the  enemy  entirely  evacuated  Germantown, 
and  retired  near  to  Philadelphia,  encamping  round  about 
the  city,  within  a  circuit  of  a  mile  or  a  mile  and  a  half  from 
it ;  and,  to  secure  this  camp,  they  have  thrown  up  a  number 
of  breastworks  or  redoubts.  This  will  render  an  attack 
upon  them  difBcult.  But,  if  the  militia  would  turn  out  with 
spirit,  we  might  reduce  them  without  fighting ;  I  mean,  by 
cutting  off  all  supplies,  either  inducing  them  to  abandon  the 
city,  and  retire  on  board  their  ships  with  loss  and  disgrace, 
or,  by  hemmmg  them  in,  obliging  them  to  surrender.  How- 
ever,  though  considerable  difScuIties  are  in  our  way  to  con- 
quest, I  hope  and  trust  in  God  they  will  be  removed.  Even 
in  times  far  more  distressing.  He  has  appeared  for  us,  and 
granted  us  prosperity  beyond  our  most  sanguine  wishes; 
above  all,  in  delivering  Burgoyne  and  his  army  into  our 
hands.  This  is  not  all.  General  Gates  will,  I  suppose,  be 
able  to  send  or  bring  such  reenforcements  to  this  army 
as  will  enable  us  finally  to  overcome  General  Howe.  But 
Gates  and  his  troops  are  at  a  great  distance,  and  it  will  be 
some  time  before  we  can  receive  his  aid.  Nevertheless,  if 
Howe's  present  vigorous  attempts  to  reduce  our  forts  on  the 
river  should  fail,  I  am  satisfied  he  will  soon  relinquish  the 
city  as  a  place  incapable  of  being  supported.  Indeed,  our 
information  from  the  enemy  is,  that  they  place  their  event- 
ual success  on  the  coming  up  of  their  ships.  They  are 
greatly  disappointed  in  finding  the  city  empty  of  stores  and 
provisions.  Everything  of  importance  was  removed ;  and 
the  inhabitants  are  already  in  a  starving  condition,  there 
being  very  small  supplies  from  the  country,  and  in  such  a 
city  but  a  few  of  the  inhabitants  lay  in  stocks  of  provisions, 
depending  on  the  daily  markets  for  their  family  supplies. 
We  are  assured  both  the  enemy  and  the  Tory  inhabitants 
have  longer  faces  than  when  the  former  first  entered  the  city, 
beginning  to  despair  of  getting  up  the  chevaux-de-frise. 


180  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  [1777. 

They  have  been  able  to  remove  none  yet,  and  have  only 
canted  two  a  little  in  the  lower  range."     •  .  • 

Journal.  —  "  October  2l8t.  —  The  army  moved  lower 
down  to  Whitpain  township,  within  fifteen  miles  of  Phila- 
delphia.    Head-quarters  at  Mr.  Morris's. 

"  November  2d.  —  The  army  marched  to  Whitemarsh, 
about  thirteen  miles  from  Philadelphia.  In  all  this  period 
from  the  battle  of  Germantown  on  the  4th  of  October,  noth- 
ing material  happened  in  camp.  Our  scouting  parties  only 
brought  in  a  few  prisoners.  But,  on  the  22d  of  Octo- 
ber, about  twelve  hundred  Hessians,  led  by  Colonel  Count 
Donop,  attacked  the  fort  at  Red  Bank,  and  were  repulsed 
with  the  loss  of  about  four  hundred  killed  and  wounded. 
Among  the  latter  were  Count  Donop  himself  and  his  Bri- 
gade-Major, both  of  whom  were  made  prisoners.  Our  loss 
in  killed  and  wounded  amounted  to  thirty-two  only. 

"  The  next  day  some  of  the  enemy's  ships  passed  the  lower 
chevaux-dc-frise,  came  up,  and  engaged  our  galleys ;  and, 
after  a  constant  cannonade  of  several  hours,  the  Augusta^ 
of  sixty-four  guns,  got  on  ground,  took  fire,  and  blew  up. 
Another  of  the  enemy's  ships  (since  found  to  be  the  Merlin^ 
of  eighteen  guns)  ran  aground,  and,  being  hard  pushed  by 
our  galleys,  the  crew  set  fire  to  her  and  left  her.  The  crew 
of  the  Augusta  also  escaped  (except  the  Chaplain,  Second 
Lieutenant,  and  forty  men,  who  were  blown  up  and  lost) , 
leaving  as  soon  as  they  found  the  fire  inextinguishable. 
These  instances  of  success  and  good  fortune  were  pleasing, 
and  gave  great  spirits  to  the  garrisons  of  the  forts  and  to 
our  fleet. 

"  I  forgot  to  mention,  that,  having  on  the  18th  of  October 
received  the  news  of  the  surrender  of  General  Burgoyne 
and  his  whole  army  to  the  army  under  General  Gates,  his 
Excellency  ordered  thirteen  pieces  of  cannon  to  be  dis- 
charged just  before  sundown,  followed  by  a  feu  de  joie. 
He  also  ordered  divine  service  to  be  previously  performed, 
expressive  of  our  gratitude  to  Heaven  for  this  signal  favor ; 


^T.  82.]  LIFE  OP  TIMOTHT  PICKERING.  181 

but  an  alarm  happened  in  the  afternoon  which  prevented 
the  chaplains  getting  prepared. 

**  Soon  after  the  enemy  arrived  at  Philadelphia  they  began 
to  throw  up  some  batteries  on  Province  Island,  from  whence 
they  cannonaded  and  bombarded  Fort  Mifflin  divers  times, 
but  to  very  little  purpose.  Between  the  20th  and  30th  of 
October  we  had  several  days'  heavy  rain,  which  swelled  the 
rivers  to  a  higher  pitch  than  had  been  known  for  thirty 
years.  Province  Island  was  laid  under  water,  and  the 
enemy's  guards  waded  up  to  their  knees,  and  some  to  their 
waists,  in  water,  to  mount  at  their  works.  This  same  flood 
also  carried  away  a  bridge  the  enemy  had  thrown  over  the 
Schuylkill  at  the  middle  ferry. 

**  November  10th.  — The  enemy  made  a  heavy  cannonade 
and  bombardment  upon  Fort  Mifflin,  and  have  continued  the 
same  daily  on  the  11th,  12th,  and  13th,  by  which  they  have 
nearly  ruined  the  defences  of  the  fort. 

**  Within  ten  days  past,  sixteen  of  our  light  dragoons, 
under  Captain  Craig,  fell  in  with  a  party  of  the  enemy, 
consisting  of  seven  light-dragoons  and  seven  foot-soldiers, 
all  armed,  and  took  the  whole  prisoners,  without  firing 
a  gun. 

^A  few  days  aft;er,  another  party  of  our  horse  had  a 
rencounter  with  a  party  of  the  enemy,  when  two  were  made 
prisoners  on  each  side ;  but  one  of  ours  was  a  French  gen- 
tleman, a  volunteer  in  Colonel  Sheldon's  regiment. 

**  November  16th.  — The  garrison  evacuated  Fort  Mifflin, 
the  defences  the  preceding  days  having  been  demolished, 
and  the  garrison  greatly  exposed  to  the  enemy's  fire,  par- 
ticularly from  a  floating  battery  of  theirs,  mounting  twenty 
twenty-four  pounders,  which  lay  so  near,  that  the  men  in 
her  tops  (for  she  was  an  old  East  Indiaman  —  the  Empress 
o/Bussia  —  cut  down)  could  fire  plump  upon  every  man 
who  showed  his  head  above  the  ruins  of  the  parapets,  while 
they  in  the  tops  were  surrounded  with  cotton-wool  bags. 
Tis  said  the  galleys  in  the  river  in  general  behaved  badly, 
or  they  might  have  taken  the  floating  battery,  or  obliged 


182  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  FICKEBINa  [1777. 

her  to  fly.*  The  old  garrison  had  defended  it  [the  fort] 
with  great  bravery,  and  were  worn  down  with  fatigue,  and, 
the  day  or  two  before  the  evacuation,  had  been  relieved  by 
the  New  England  troops ;  but  both  the  old  and  the  new 
garrison  behaved  with  great  bravery. 

"  November  20th.  —  By  two  New-England  sailors,  who 
escaped  from  the  enemy's  fleet,  we  are  informed  that  about 
forty  sail  of  vessels  arrived  from  New  York,  four  of  them 
vessels  of  war,  fifteen  with  light-horse,  three  or  four  with 
provisions,  and  the  rest  with  troops  on  board. 

"November  2l8t.  —  Early  this  morning  (before  day) 
there  was  a  cannonade,  which  continued  till  eleven  o'clock ; 
supposed  to  be  in  the  Delaware,  near  Red  Bank." 

•  8ee  Sparkfl'B  "Writings  of  Waahington,"  Vol.  V.  p.  161. 


J9T.82.]  UFE  OP  TIMOTHT  FICKERmO.  183 


CHAPTER   XII. 

The  Board  of  War  newly  arranged.  —  Colonel  Pickering  and 
Richard  Peters  elected  Members. — Colonel  Pickering's  Delicacy 
towards  the  Assistant  Adjutant-General.  —  Devastations  by  the 
British  Troops.  —  Escape  of  American  Officers,  Prisoners  of 
War.  —  British  Treatment  of  Prisoners.  —  Accident  to  Colonel 
Pickering. — The  Kindness  of  his  Relatives.  —  His  Plan  of  Living 
at  York,  Pennsylvania.  —  Colonel  Scammell  appointed  Adjutant- 
General. 

Before  the  17th  of  October,  1777,  the  Continental 
Board  of  War  consisted  of  members  of  Congress.  On 
that  day  the  War  Office  was  remodelled ;  and  it  was 
resolved,  that  three  persons,  not  members  of  Congress, 
should  constitute  the  Board.  Their  powers  and  duties, 
as  enumerated  in  the  resolve,  were  multifarious  and 
highly  important,  corresponding  in  general  to  those 
of  a  Secretary  of  War;  and  other  specific  services 
(comprehended,  in  the  resolve,  under  the  terms  'Ho 
execute  all  such  matters  as  they  shall  be  directed") 
were  from  time  to  time  required  of  them.*  General 
Thomas  Mifflin,  Colonel  Robert  H.  Harrison,  and  Colonel 
Pickering  were  elected,  on  the  7th  of  November,  the 
members  of  the  new  Board.f  Colonel  Pickering  ac- 
cepted the  appointment ;  but  his  successor  as  Adjutant- 
General,  Colonel  Alexander  Scammell,  not  being  elected 
until  the  5th  of  January,  1778,  J  he  continued  to  per- 


*  JoamaU  of  Congress,  October  17th,  1777.  f  IWd.,  November  7th. 

{  Ibid.,  Jaanarj  5th,  1778. 


\ 


184  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  FICKEBraa.  [1777. 

form  the  duties  of  the  office  until  the  13th  of  January. 
General  Mifflin  also  accepted  the  appointment  to 
the  Board  of  War.  Colonel  Harrison  declined  it 
On  the  24th  of  November,  1777,  it  was  resolved,  that 
two  additional  commissioners  should  be  appointed; 
and,  on  the  27th,  General  Horatio  Gates,  Colonel 
Joseph  Trumbull,  and  Richard  Peters,  Esquire,*  were 
elected.  General  Gates  was  appointed  President  of 
the  Board. 

On  the  10th  and  12th  of  January,  1778,  Congress 
chose  a  committee,  consisting  partly  of  members  of 
Congress  and  partly  of  members  of  the  Board  of 
War,  —  the  latter  being  Generals  Gates  and  Mifflin 
and  Colonel  Pickering, — to  repair  to  General  Wash- 
mgton's  head-quarters,  and  to  concert  with  him  a 
reform  in  the  arrangements  of  the  army.f  Colonel 
Pickering  remained  at  camp,  in  order  to  meet  the 
other  members  of  the  committee;  but,  on  the  20th, 
it  was  resolved,  that  the  members  of  the  Board  of 
War  should  be  excused  from  attending  on  that  busi- 
ness, and  that  General  Mifflin,  Colonel  Pickering,  and 
Colonel  Trumbull  should  be  directed  to  repair  imme- 
diately to  York,  Pennsylvania,  where  Congress  then 
held  its  sessions.  J  Before  he  left  the  camp,  Colonel 
Pickering  wrote  many  letters,  extracts  from  which  are 
given  below. 

The  letter  from  Mrs.  Pickering,  to  which  the  fol- 
lowing is  an  answer,  has  not  been  preserved ;  but  it 
must  have  told  of  her  distress  on  account  of  the 
absence  of  her  husband  and  his  exposure  to  the  dan- 
gers of  battle. 

*  Subsequently  Judge  of  the  District  Court  of  the  United  States  for  Fenn- 
sjWania. 
t  Journals,  10th  and  12th  of  January,  1778.  t  Ibid.,  20th  of  Januaiy. 


JEft.  82.]  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  185 

tv  "  Camp  at  Whitemabsh  Township,  November  4th,  1777. 

'  "  My  dear,  my  AMIABLE  BeCKY, 

**  Although  'tis  no  more  than  forty-eight  hours  since  I 
wrote  you  by  Mr.  Gary,  yet  yours  of  the  20th  ultimo,  this 
day  received,  excites  anew  my  tenderest  feelings,  and  com- 
pels me  to  begin  again.  .  •  •  But,  pleased  as  I  am  with  this 
proof  of  your  fond  afiectioni(T  do  not  wish  you  to  indulge 
such  melancholy  thoughts.  I  know  'tis  difficult  to  control 
the  mind.  That  little  wanderer  will  often  make  excursions 
where  wisdom  would  check  its  career,  but  strives  in  vain. 
However,  'tis  commonly  in  our  power  to  place  other  objects 
in  view  than  those  which  lead  to  misery,  —  such  as  business, 
amusing  books,  and  the  society  of  friends.  All  these  have 
a  natural  tendency  to  withdraw  the  mind  from  the  pursuit 
of  objects  which  give  it  pain.  But,  my  dear,  the  Christian 
rests  not  here,  but  seeks  and  finds  relief  from  other  views. 
The  Christian  grieves  not  as  those  who  have  no  hope  beyond 
the  grave,  but  looks  forward  to  a  glorious  immortality^ 
where  grief  and  care  shall  have  no  place.  Let  this,  my 
dearest,  be  our  support.  Often  have  I  experienced  its 
powerful  aid,  when  surrounded  with  difficulties,  dangers, 
and  distress.  Other  props  have  failed,  but  never  my  hope 
in  Heaven.  This,  raised  and  animated  by  prayer  to  the 
great  Supreme,  has  often  eased  my  burdened  soi^T)  Prayer 
is  the  natural  mode  of  converse  of  man  with  his  Maker ; 
and  highly  should  we  prize  the  condescending  grace  which 
invites  us  to  adopt  it.  Let  gratitude  warm  our  hearts  for 
that  and  all  other  blessings,  and  let  us  never  forfeit  them  by 
inattention  or  neglect.-  Let  our  confidence  in  God  never 
fail  or-  lessen;  for  that  alone  can  support  us  under  the 
severest  trials.  Let  us  reflect,  at  the  same  time,  on  our 
own  ignorance  and  short-sightedness,  which  often  lead  us 
to  view  those  events  as  most  adverse  and  unfoilunate 
which  Heaven  designs  for  our  best  good,  if  not  in  this 
world,  at  least  in  a  better.  To  the  Christian  every  event 
will  prove  a  benefit :  if  it  be  happy,  he  will  highly  enjoy 

VOL.  L  24 


/ 


186  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING*  [1777. 

it ;  if  afBictivo,  it  will  brighten  his  virtues,  and  lead  him 
forward  to  scenes  of  bliss  without  allay. 

<<  Eeflections  of  this  kind,  my  dear,  are  the  suggestions 
of  reason  and  Scripture.  But,  I  confess,  'tis  easier  to 
preach  than  practise  the  lessons  of  wisdom.  Notwithstand- 
ing the  glories  which,  we  believe,  will  in  another  world  be 
displayed,  great  beyond  the  power  of  the  human  imagina- 
tion to  conceive,  and  although  the  path  of  life  is  strewed 
with  cares,  pains,  and  perplexities,  still  we  are  fond  of 
living,  —  still  content  to  postpone  the  enjoyment  of  exalted 
bliss  beyond  the  grave.  Whence  arises  this  attachment  to 
life,  with  all  its  miseries,  especially  when  set  in  competition 
with  perfect  happiness  ?J:^  Is  it  because  the  first  is  present 

and  certain,  the  other  absent  and   unknown?     With  the 

infidel  this  may  operate  forcibly ;  but  why  should  it  strongly 
afiect  those  who  believe  their  peace  is  made  with  Heaven? 

^**"^r,  does  it  proceed  from  the  corruption  of  human  nature,  — 
from  perverse  inclinations  ?  This  I  cannot  admit.  ^A  desire 
of  life  is  the  strongest  of  all  our  passions ;  and  thethreator 
has,  I  believe,  implanted  none  in  vain.  Even  this  fond  love 
of  life  is  necessary  to  man.  Our  existence  is  designed  for 
the  accomplishment  of  some  noble  ends,  and  'tis  usually 
lengthened  to  a  certain  period.  Were  we  indififerent  to  life, 
few  would  live  out  half  their  daysT^  Tortured  with  pain, 
or  vexed  with  disappointment,  most  would  cut  the  slen- 
der thread,  and  thwart  the  views  of  Providence.  ^Hence, 
then,  I  conclude  'tis  lawful  to  indulge  this  fond  love  of  life, 
with  all  its  reasonable  enjoyments, — only  remembering,  that 
this  world  is  not  our  abiding-place ;  that  life,  at  longest,  is 
but  of  short  duration ;  and  that  we  ought  to  conduct  our- 
selves as  heirs  to  a  better  inheritanceT) 

**  These  reflections  on  human  life  need  not  lessen  our  hap- 
piness while  here ;  at  the  same  time,  they  may  well  serve 
to  bear  us  up  in  adversity,  and  prevent  our  souls  being 
weighed  down  with  grief,  even  at  the  most  distressing 
events.     With  this  view  only  have  I  made  them. 

^  November  13th,  morning.     ...     To  my  surprise  (and 


Mt.  82.]  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  187 

to  yours  it  will  be),  the  Congress,  by  a  resolve  passed 
the  7th  instant,  have  chosen  General  Mifflin,  Colonel  Har- 
rison (General  Washington's  Secretary) ,  and  myself  to  be 
a  Board  of  War ;  and,  for  a  variety  of  reasons  (which  I 
have  not  time  now  to  mention) ,  I  have  concluded  to  accept 
the  commission.  One  reason,  however,  I  will  tell  you :  I 
thought  it  would  give  ease  to  your  anxious  heart,  and  relieve 
my  friends,  particularly  my  mother,  from  all  distress  about 
me.  This  Board,  I  take  it,  will  reside  where  Congress  does. 
The  office  is  extensive  and  important,  and  therefore  my 
acceptance  is  with  diffidence.  However,  I  am  determined  to 
spare  no  pains  to  comprehend  and  perform  the  duties  of  it. 
I  ardently  hope  my  associates  will  accept.  General  Mifflin 
is  active,  sensible,  and  of  great  knowledge  in  business,  and 
my  friend  Colonel  Harrison  is  one  of  the  worthiest  of  the 
human  race.  The  salary  to  each  is,  I  understand,  to  be  two' 
thousand  dollars  a  year,  ^his  is  better  than  my  present 
pay  by  one  quai*ter.  This,  to  a  man  without  a  fortune, 
deserves  attention.  Not  that  I  am  mercenary :  everybody 
who  has  viewed  my  past  life  knows  the  contrary.  )  But 
a  wife  and  child  strongly  impress  my  mind  with  the  im- 
portance of  laying  up  something.  And  my  views  have 
extended  farther.  When  the  independency  of  America  is 
established  (as  I  trust  it  will  be),  a  Board  of  War  will  most 
probably  still  exist.  If,  therefore,  I  find  myself  equal  to 
the  duties  of  it,  and  give  satisfaction,  I,  by  accepting  now, 
may  doubtless  secure  a  permanent  suppo^  and  this  pros- 
pect, when  I  think  of  you  and  your  dear  babe,  gives  me  no 
small  joy.  Tis  possible  the  business  of  the  department 
may  call  me  eastward;  if  not,  I  imagine  you  will  be 
less  impatient  to  see  me,  as  being  removed  from  the  mili- 
tary line.    .... 

^ Adieu,   my  dearest!      Heaveu  guard  you  and  your 
infant  boy." 

To   Henry    Laurens^   President   of  Congress,   he 
wrote:  — 


188  UFB  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  [1777. 

"  Camp  at  Whitemabsh,  November  15th,  1777. 

"Sir, 
^I  was  honored  with  your  favor  of  the  8th  instant,  en- 
closing a  minute  of  Congress  intimating  my  appointment  to 
the  Board  of  War.  This  mark  of  their  confidence  demands 
my  sincere  acknowledgments.  I  accept  the  commission ; 
and,  as  speedily  as  the  situation  of  my  present  affairs  will 
admit,  shall  enter  upon  the  execution  of  it. 

"  The  business  of  the  department  I  am  not  fully  informed 
of,  but  conceive  it  to  be  very  extensive,  and  of  high  im- 
portance. As  such,  I  accept  the  office  with  diffidence.  I 
am  personally  known  to  some  gentlemen  in  Congress;  I 
wish  they  may  not  have  mistaken  my  abilities.  Often  an 
opinion  has  been  formed  of  them,  which,  however  flattering, 
was  really  a  source  of  mortification  to  me,  from  a  con- 
sciousness that  they  were  rated  too  high.  For  nothing, 
therefore,  can  I  engage,  but  my  industry  and  fidelity ;  and, 
if  application  will  enable  me  to  comprehend  and  execute  the 
duties  of  the  office.  Congress,  I  hope,  will  never  have  reason 
to  regret  the  appointment  with  which  they  have  been  pleased 
to  honor  me.     I  am.  Sir,*'  &c. 

To  Mrs.  Pickering  he  wrote  :  — 

"  Head-quahters  at  Whitemarsh,  NoTember  16th,  1777. 

"Colonel  Harrison  yesterday  went  to  Reading  to  see 
General  Mifflin,  being  in  some  doubt  whether  to  accept  or 
not.  I  hope  ardently  that  he  will,  because  he  is  a  sensible, 
a  diligent,  a  most  worthy,  honest  man,  with  whom  I  live  in 
the  greatest  harmony,  and  whose  inclinations  correspond 
with  mine.  ...  I  am  aware  of  the  vast  importance  of 
the  office ;  and  when  the  intention  of  Congress  to  appoint 
Colonel  Harrison  (the  General's  [Washington's]  first  Secre- 
tary) and  me  was  first  intimated  to  the  General,  I  was 
surprised,  deeming  the  office  above  my  abilities  and  knowl- 
edge. But  the  General  thought  the  Congress  made  a.  dis- 
creet choice,  observing  (to  Mr.  Harrison)  that  those  who 
had  been  in  the  army  could  best  judge  of  its  wants,  and, 


•  •  • 


Mt.  82.]  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  189 

having  felt  them,  would  of  course  most  probably  provide 
suitable  supplies,  so  far  as  the  means  were  in  their  power. 
I  suppose  the  General's  approbation  was  sent  to  Congress ; 
for,  in  a  few  days  after,  the  appointments  were  made.  I 
wondered  a  little  the  General  should  be  so  ready  to  part 
with  Colonel  Harrison,  because  he  was  his  acquaintance 
before  the  war,  had  been  with  him  two  years  as  Secretary, 
very  diligent  in  business,  and  high  in  his  estimation. 
Nothing  but  the  greater  public  good  could  have  induced 
him  to  part  with  Colonel  Harrison. 

'^  With  regard  to  myself,  I  think  I  can  do  as  much  public 
service  in  this  new  office  as  in  that  I  now  hold;  and,  at 
the  same  time,  it  will  be  attended  with  circumstances  much 
more  agreeable  to  me.  My  present  business  has  been  one 
continued  course  of  attention  and  unremitting  toil ;  for,  of 
the  five  months  I  have  been  in  the  service,  during  one  only 
have  I  had  any  assistance.  I  could  have  none  while  remain- 
ing in  the  General's  family,  because  my  deputy  could  not 
also  be  admitted.  The  General's  family  is  large,  and  I 
cannot  wonder  that  he  was  unwilling  to  increase  it.  I  only 
wish  he  had  sooner  explained  his  mind.  On  the  1st  of 
September  I  got  a  deputy  [Lieutenant-Colonel  Smith] ,  and 
then  first  found  that  he  could  not  make  one  of  the  family. 
This  put  me  in  a  situation  quite  disagreeable,  and  I  did  not 
expect  the  deputy  would  have  consented  to  serve ;  but  he 
did ;  and,  to  render  his  situation  as  tolerable  as  possible,  I 
went  to  board  with  him  while  at  Wilmington,  for  I  had 
quarters  at  a  house  close  by  head-quarters ;  but  this  lasted 
only  a  week,  when  the  army  marched.  In  two  or  three 
days,  the  General,  observing  my  absence  from  table,  sent 
one  of  his  aids  to  tell  me  that  he  feared  I  had  mistaken  him, 
and  that,  although  he  could  not  admit  of  an  addition,  to  his 
family  by  my  deputy,  yet  he  always  wished  me  to  make 
one  of  it.  I  told  the  aide-de-camp  (who  was  my  intimate 
friend)  I  had  not  mistaken  him ;  but,  as  it  was  inconvenient 
to  the  General  to  admit  my  deputy  at  the  same  time,  the 
situation  of  the  latter  must  be  so  disagreeable  that  I  could 


190  IJ^B  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  [1777. 

not  think  of  separating  from  him  in  such  manner.  After 
quitting  Wilmington,  we  were  so  continually  shifting  ground, 
and  in  places  where  houses  were  thinly  scattered  round,  there 
was  no  possibility  of  my  deputy's  being  elsewhere  than  at 
head-quarters ;  but  I  know  his  feelings  were  much  hurt  by  it. 

"  On  the  4th  of  October,  Lieutenant-Colonel  Smith  was 
wounded,  and  from  that  time  I  have  been  without  help. 
Many  wondered  I  did  not  get  another  deputy,  or  assistant ; 
but,  when  I  told  them  the  reason,  they  ceased  to  wonder,  and 
confessed  the  case  difficult.  But  I  will  not  tire  you  further 
with  this  detail.  Had  I  remained  any  longer  in  the  office 
of  Adjutant-General,  I  would,  upon  our  next  move,  and 
always  afterwards,  have  taken  separate  quarters,  and  got  a 
deputy.  This  would  "have  been  sometimes  very  inconven- 
ient, because  I  came  away,  you  know,  altogether  unprepared 
to  keep  a  table  of  my  own :  however,  I  should  have  been 
able  to  do  my  business  with  a  vast  deal  more  ease  and 
satisfaction,  though  I  must  have  lived  at  much  greater 
expense.     .  .  . 

"  My  new  appointment  I  revolved  in  my  mind  deliber- 
ately ;  a  variety  of  motives  conspired  to  lead  me  to  accept 
it ;  and,  after  concluding  that  I  could  serve  the  public  at 
least  to  as  much  advantage  as  in  my  present  office,  every 
personal  consideration  was  strongly  in  favor  of  my  accept- 
ing it.  A  more  laborious  office,  I  was  sure,  I  could  not 
have ;  and  the  hurry,  noise,  and  bustle  of  a  camp  are  less 
compatible  with  one's  ease  than  the  quiet  and  regular 
periods  of  labor  and  rest  to  be  enjoyed  in  the  country  in 
my  new  employment."     .  .  . 

Having  remarked  on  the  probability,  that,  if  his  con- 
duct as  a  member  of  the  Board  of  War  should  meet 
with  the  approbation  of  Congress,  he  might  be  con- 
tinued in  that  office  when  peace  should  be  established, 
he  proceeds : — 

...     «  When  my  friends  read  this  letter,  they  may  wonder 


Mt.  82.]  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  191 

at  the  facility  with  which  I  contemplate  a  separation  from 
them.  Much  pleasure,  indeed,  have  I  enjoyed  in  their  socie- 
ty, and  still  wish  to  enjoy.  Nowhere  can  I  expect  to  find  an 
equal  kindness  and  affection.  But  these  considerations  yield 
to  capital  advantages  to  one's  family;  and  every  married 
man  knows  that  a  wife  and  children  are  more  than  parents, 
brothers,  sisters,  and  other  relatives  combined.  Besides, 
the  business  of  my  department  may  probably  cany  me  in 
the  way  of  seeing  them  at  least  once  a  year,  which  is  as 
frequently  as  they  see  some  other  branches  of  the  family  not 
fifty  miles  distant ;  and  I  am  sure  they  would  hear  from  me 
as  often  as  they  do  from  them,  and  oftener. 

"  I  expect,  the  latter  end  of  this  week  or  the  beginning  of 
next,  to  set  off  for  Yorktown,  where  Congress  sits.  Millet  * 
will  go  with  me.  I  gave  him  full  expectation  of  my  serving, 
during  the  war,  in  the  military  line,  and  that  he  should  be 
with  me.  He  enlisted  on  that  footing  only.  Were  I  to 
leave  him  in  the  service,  I  should  disappoint  and  deceive 
him,  and  render  him  very  unhappy.  I  shall  therefore  pro- 
cure his  discharge,  which  I  think  the  General  will  grant 
without  difliculty.  The  bounties  Millet  has  received  from 
the  State  of  Massachusetts  Bay  and  from  the  town  I  shall 
be  ready  to  refund ;  and,  then,  he  will  be  a  cheaper  servant 
to  me  than  any  I  could  hire  at  this  time,  by  far ;  and  his  hon- 
esty,, care,  fidelity,  and  prudence  stand  unimpeached.'^   •  •  . 

In  another  letter  to  Mrs.  Pickeringj  dated  "  Camp 
at  a  place  called  the  Gulf,  on  the  western  side  of  the 
Schuylkill,  fifteen  miles  from  Philadelphia,  December 
13th,  1777,"  he  wrote,— 

..."  Contrary  to  my  expectation,  I  still  remain  in  camp. 
No  successor  is  appointed,  nor  a  deputy,  though  I  have  an 
assistant.  I  believe  I  have  already  told  you  that  Congress 
have  made  an  addition  to  the  Board  of  War.  Major-Gen- 
eral  Gates  is  appointed  President,  Major-General  Mifflin, 

*  See  page  145. 


192  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKEBING.  [1777. 

Colonel  Trumbull,  Mr.  Peters  (Secretary  to  the  present 
Board),  and  myself,  at  present  are  the  elected  members. 
Gates  and  Trumbull  being  at  a  distance,  the  Board  could 
not  be  formed  till  they  had  been  sent  to  and  it  was  known 
that  they  accepted.  Whether  they  have  accepted  or  not  I 
cannot  say.  I  hope  they  have.  The  Board  remaining  thus 
unsettled,  it  was  not  necessary  for  me  to  leave  the  camp ; 
so  now  I  expect  to  finish  the  campaign.  This,  I  trust,  will 
be  pretty  soon ;  for  the  weather  is  too  severe  to  keep  the 
field,  and  oiir  soldiers  suffer  much.  The  great  difficulty  is 
to  fix  on  a  proper  station  for  winter-quarters :  nothing  else 
prevents  our  going  into  them.  I  wrote  to  brother  John  (or 
Williams) ,  that  our  winter-quarters  would  probably  be  at  and 
about  Wilmington  (thirty  miles  below  Philadelphia) ;  but  it 
is  a  point  not  absolutely  determined.  The  day  before  yes- 
terday we  left  our  old  camp  at  Whitemarsh,  and  intended 
to  cross  the  Schuylkill ;  but,  to  our  surprise,  the  head  of 
our  column  had  but  just  passed  when  the  enemy  appeared, 
which  (their  strength  being  unknown)  induced  the  com- 
manding officer  to  recross  it.  We  halted,  and  looked  at 
each  other  some  time,  and  at  length  we  marched  to  a  new 
camp.  It  was  afterwards  found  that  the  enemy  were  about 
four  thousand  strong,  under  Lord  Cornwallis,  the  body 
consisting  of  the  grenadiers  and  light-infantry  and  some 
other  troops.  Half  this  number,  and  less,  could  have  easily 
prevented  our  crossing  the  river,  their  ground  was  so  ad- 
vantageous and  the  passage  so  difficult;  for  our  bridge 
would  only  admit  two,  or,  at  most,  three  men  to  go  abreast. 
Towards  night  the  enemy  retired,  and  yesterday  (or  rather 
last  night)  we  crossed  over  to  this  place. 

"  We  have  had  now  certain  information  that  this  body  of 
the  enemy  came  out  to  forage,  and  they  have  committed,  as 
usual,  great  devastations ;  but  'tis  some  consolation,  that 
these  calamities  have  fallen  upon  their  best  friends.  This 
is  the  county  of  Chester,  and  the  most  disaffected  in  Penn- 
sylvania. The  barbarous  wretches  even  refused  to  sell  their 
provisions  to  our  wounded  men,  after  the  battle  of  Brandy- 


^T.  32.]  LIFE  OP  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  193 

wine,  without  the  solid  coin  in  payment,  although  they 
were  ready  to  perish  with  hunger;  and  now  their  kind 
protectors,  the  British,  have  phmdered  them  without  mercy 
or  distinction.  Such  was  their  wantonness,  that  what  they 
could  not  carry  off  they  destroyed ;  as  in  breaking  furniture 
in  pieces,  ripping  open  beds,  and  scattering  abroad  the 
feathers,  &c.  With  a  sword  they  ripped  the  clothes  from 
the  back  of  one  woman,  and  cut  off  one  of  her  fingers. 
These  barbarities  will  doubtless  have  their  natural  effect,  — 
to  excite  the  resentment  and  alienate  the  affections  of  these 
people, — as  we  could  wish.  I  was  pleased  yesterday  to 
see  how  one  old  Dutchman  and  his  sons  were  exasperated. 
They  had  been  cruelly  plundered.  One  of  the  sons  watched 
his  opportunity,  and  killed  two,  wounded  two,  and  took 
one,  of  the  plunderers ;  and  the  old  man  (who  before  had 
hid  his  rifle)  said  he  would  go  home,  put  his  rifle  in  order, 
and  get  revenge. 

"If  we  had  gained  seasonable  intelligence  of  Comwallis's 
being  on  this  expedition,  we  might  probably  have  taken 
and  destroyed  the  whole  of  them ;  but  the  first  notice  we 
had  of  them  (for  they  marched  out  of  Philadelphia  in  the 
dead  of  night)  was  the  report  of  guns  in  their  engagement 
with  one  brigade  of  Pennsylvania  militia,  under  General 
Potter,  who  were  the  back-countrymen,  and  behaved  (three 
regiments  particularly)  extremely  well.  Comwallis  crossed 
the  Schuylkill  in  his  way  to  the  city  at  the  same  time  that 
we  were  crossing  hither.  Yesterday  Colonel  Bland,  with 
about  fifteen  horse,  got  intelligence  of  a  party  of  Hessians 
on  a  scout ;  he  rushed  upon  them  and  made  the  whole  pris- 
oners. The  party  consisted  of  a  sergeant  and  ten  men ;  but 
in  the  course  of  the  day  we  lost  four  of  our  light-dragoons 
killed  and  taken  prisoners  by  the  enemy. 

**  Yesterday  two  of  our  ofiScers,  prisoners  of  war,  made 
their  escape  from  Philadelphia;  and,  as  the  circumstances 
are  remarkable,  I  will  relate  them. 

"Captain  Plunket  was  a  captain  in  Colonel  Moylan's 
regiment  of  horse,  and  was  taken  prisoner  when  he  was  on 

VOL.  L  «  25 


194  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  [1777. 

the  point  of  taking  a  Hessian  lieutenant-colonel.  The 
uniform  of  Moylan's  regiment  is  red  faced  with  blue.  Two 
or  three  days  since.  Captain  Plunket  dressed  himself  clean, 
put  on  his  regimentals,  and  powdered  his  hair,  and  then 
marched  down  from  the  place  of  his  confinement  as  if  he 
had  been  a  British  officer,  the  sentries  thinking  him  to  be 
one,  and  paying  him  the  compliment  with  their  arms  as  he 
passed.  About  twenty  of  our  officers  were  confined  in  the 
same  room  with  Plunket,  and  they  were  sometimes  visited 
by  British  officers,  which  I  suppose  was  the  means  of  the 
sentries  being  deceived.  The  other  officer.  Lieutenant 
Whipple,  escaped  in  a  manner  still  more  extraordinary. 
He  one  day  put  on  a  plain  blue  coat,  and  by  some  accident 
there  was  in  the  room  a  broad-brimmed  hat.  This  also  he 
put  on.  One  of  the  other  officers  observed  to  him,  that  he 
appeared  very  like  a  Quaker.  He  walked  in,  unobserved, 
to  another  room  of  our  officers ;  but  soon  the  sentry  dis- 
covered him,  and,  seeing  the  young  Quaker,  asked  him  if  he 
belonged  there.  Whipple  (not  having  had  any  thought  of 
escaping)  was  at  first  confounded,  but,  recollecting  himself, 
answered,  no,  he  did  not  belong  there.  The  sentry  then 
took  him  out  to  the  Captain  of  the  guard,  who  examined 
him  strictly,  and  threatened  to  send  him  to  the  provost  for 
his  impudence  and  presumption  in  going  into  the  room 
where  the  rebel  officers  were  confined;  but  at  length  the 
Captain  dismissed  him,  and  bid  him  be  gone.  Whipple  took 
him  at  his  word,  and  came  out  of  the  city  in  his  Quaker's 
habit.  Plunket,  having  escaped  from  confinement,  bor- 
rowed the  dress  of  a  female  Quaker,  with  her  high-heel 
shoes,  &c.,  and  so  easily  obtained  a  pass.  Some  women  at 
the  same  time  brought  out  his  clothes. 

"About  a  fortnight  past,  Colonel  Rawlings  (who  was 
taken  at  Fort  Washington),  Major  Stewart  (taken  prisoner 
in  Sullivan's  expedition  to  Staten  Island) ,  and  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  Livingston  (taken  at  Fort  Montgomery) ,  all  made 
their  escape  from  a  prison-ship  at  New  York.  A  small  skiff 
came  alongside  in  the  evening ;  one  of  them  saw  it ;  in  five 


iET.  32.]  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  195 

minutes  they  were  in  it :  they  let  it  drift  by  two  or  three 
ships,  and  then  paddled  briskly  to  the  Jersey  shore.  .  .  . 
"Major  Stewart  is  a  fine  officer.  He  told  me  he  had 
intended  to  leave  the  service  at  the  close  of  the  campaign, 
but  now  he  would  fight  as  long  as,  and  wherever,  there  was 
opportunity.  Should  the  British  quit  America  on  account 
of  a  French  war,  he  would  then  go  to  France,  and  never 
cease  his  opposition.  Seven  days,  he  says,  he  was  kept 
without  food,  and  during  the  whole  time  of  his  confinement 
fared  badly,  and  was  treated  with  all  manner  of  insult. 
The  like  complaint  you  will  hear  from  almost  every  officer 
and  soldier  who  makes  his  escape.''     .  .  . 

The  next  day  he  wrote  to  Mrs.  Pickering :  — 

"  Sunday  Eyening,  nine  o'clock,  December  14th,  1777. 

.  .  •  "Brother  John  has,  since  I  left  home,  written  me 
two  affectionate  letters;  in  the  last,  lately  received,  he 
wishes  my  return  to  see  my  friends.  I  most  cordially  wish 
I  could  spend  the  ensuing  Thanksgiving  with  them.  I  wish, 
too,  for  opportunities  of  meeting  with  the  people  in  their 
assemblies  for  public  worship.  I  have  heard  only  three  or 
four  sermons  since  I  have  been  in  camp.  With  great  truth 
I  may  apply  to  myself  Pope's  words,  — 

« <  Ev'n  Sunday  shines  no  Sabbath-day  to  me.' 

"I  long  for  a  little  rest,  a  short  period,  at  least,  of  rel- 
axation, and  the  agreeable  intercourse  I  used  to  enjoy  with 
my  friends.  But  from  peace  alone  do  I  expect  these  bless- 
ings. Burgoyne,  I  am  told,  says  Britain  will  own  our 
independence,  and  enter  into  a  treaty  of  commerce;  and 
just  now  I  saw  a  letter,  informing  that  a  Major  Eustace, 
aide-de-camp  to  Lord  Cornwallis,  assured  a  Mr.  Willing, 
that  all  differences  with  America  would  very  soon  be  ac- 
commodated. But  Burgoyne  may  probably  mean  an  exclu- 
sive treaty  of  commerce  with  Britain  only,  and  Eustace  may 
expect,  possibly,  that  the  differences  will  be  accommodated 
by  our  subjugation.     However,  perhaps  the  expectation  of 


196  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  [1777. 

a  French  war  may  have  led  to  the  declarations  above  men- 
tioned. A  French  war  would  doubtless  procure  us  the 
most  speedy  relief,  and,  for  that  reason,  is  an  event  to  be 
wished  for :  at  the  same  time  I  can  hardly  reconcile  it  to 
my  conscience  to  wish  so  great  a  calamity  may  befall  any 
people.  But,  on  the  other  hand,  the  cause  of  America  I 
consider  as  the  cause  of  humanity,  and  that  this  land  will 
become  an  asylum  for  the  oppressed  in  every  nation  in 
Europe;  and  in  that  view  a  good  man  would  be  willing 
persoually  to  endure  many  afflictions. 

*«I  forgot  to  mention,  in  the  letter  enclosed,  my  escape 
from  great  danger.  My  horse,  in  leaping  over  a  very  low 
fence,  fell  down  upon  his  side  and  threw  me ;  but  I  received 
little  harm  from  this ;  but,  whilst  I  lay  entangled  with  my 
own  horse,  another  followed,  and,  in  leaping,  his  feet  came 
directly  over  me.  Had  his  feet  dropped  a  few  inches  one 
way  or  the  other,  he  might  have  ruined  me.  By  God's 
good  providence,  the  horse  did  not  touch  me.  This  is  the 
first  fall  I  have  had  since  I  have  been  in  camp.  The  ground 
was  hard,  a  little  sidelong,  grassy,  and  slippery." 

In  another  letter  to  Mrs.  Pickering  he  wrote :  — 

"  Camp  at  the  Valley  Forge,  December  2l8t,  1777. 

...  "  You  tell  me  you  embraced  the  opportunity  by  Mr. 
Goodhue  to  write  to  me,  though  you  had  nothing  new  to 
acquaint  me  with ;  and  yet  you  filled  up  nearly  three  pages. 
I  often  begin  to  write  to  you  without  a  single  idea  in  ad- 
vance; but  my  love,  ever  faithful  and  alive,  suggests  at  all 
times  some  things  which  I  conceive  you  wish  to  hear  besides 
the  news  of  the  day,  which  to  me  are  always  the  dullest  part 
of  my  letters.  I  am  always  happiest  when  I  am  adverting 
to  our  mutual  love  and  esteem,  and  to  those  circumstances 
which  particularly  respect  ourselves  and  our  little  son.  I 
often  contemplate  (and  it  has  been  my  principal  enjoyment) 
the  bliss  we  shall  feel  on  our  next  joyful  meeting,  though  I 
repine  deeply  that  it  is  probably  at  such  a  distance.  .  .  • 
I  think  on  your  peculiar  state,  —  without  father,  mother, 


JEx.  82.]  UFB  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKEBiNG.  197 

brother,  or  sister,*  and  wish  the  more  to  be  ever  present 
with  you,  that  in  the  care,  protection,  and  love  of  a  hus- 
band, you  may  find  ail  these  wants  more  than  supplied.  I 
am  indeed  happier  than  most  men  would  be ;  for,  though 
you  are  destitute  of,  yet  I  am  blessed  with,  all  those  dear 
relatives ;  and  such  affection  unites  the  family,  that,  even  in 
my  absence,  you  must  experience  from  my  parents,  brothers, 
and  sisters  all  the  fruits  of  parental  and  fraternal  love.  I 
am  deceived  if  you  do  not  find  in  them  all  the  kindness 
which  is  generally  to  be  expected  from  kindred  blood.  .  .  . 
I  remember  now  you  have  mentioned  their  kindness,  par- 
ticularly brother  Gardner's,  who  has  been  at  home,  has  had 
it  in  his  power,  and  has  laid  himself  out,  to  oblige  you.  He 
is  a  kind-hearted  man  as  lives ;  and  tears  of  gratitude  this 
moment  fill  my  eyes  for  the  substantial,  friendly  offices  he 
has  done  you.  My  sister  Gardner,  too,  with  the  strictest 
economy,  is  most  obligingly  generous.     .  .  . 

^  The  army  is  come  to  its  ground,  and  this  day  we  begin 
to  hut." 


•  •  • 


On  the  24th  of  December  he  again  wrote  from 
^  Camp  at  the  Valley  Forge  "  to  Mrs.  Pickering.  Ad- 
verting to  their  long  separation,  he  says,  — 


•  • 


^  This  is  the  fruit  of  war.  Ah  I  that  greater  ills  did 
not  attend  it  I  Compared  with  the  distresses  of  some,  ours 
are  but  slight  and  temporary  mconveniences.  We  still  live, 
and  are  even  happy  in  the  anticipation  of  future  joys, 
while  multitudes  have  fallen  by  the  iron  hand  of  war.  How 
many  tender,  fond  connections  have  been  broken  by  it  I  . 
How  many  parents'  hearts  have  been  rent  with  grief, — 
how  many  widowed  mates,  how  many  spotless  virgins  (like 
the  drooping  lilies),  have  bowed  their  heads,  oppressed 
with  sorrow,  —  at  the  loss  of  children,  husbands,  lovers! 
And,  my  amiable  mate,  the  possibility  that  that  might  bo 
your  lot  has  cost  me  many  a  tear.     But  God  has  spared 

*  She  had  a  sister,  but  then  liying  m  England. 


198  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICEERmG.  [1777, 

me,  in  mercy  to  ub  both,  in  kindness  to  my  parents  and 
friends,  in  favor  to  our  sweet  babe,  and,  I  hope,  not 
without  future  benefit  to  my  country.  Let  us,  my  dear, 
ever  gratefully  acknowledge  God's  goodness  to  us,  and 
devoutly  pray  for  the  continuance  of  it/'     •  .  . 

In  the  same  letter,  but  under  the  date  of  December 
29th,  he  writes:  — 


•  •  • 


'^I  remain  well,  and  soon  expect  a  summons  from 
Congress  to  repair  to  the  Board  of  War  at  Yorktown ;  for, 
contrary  to  what  I  had  heard,  .  .  .  that  General  Gates 
was  gone  to  Boston,  a  friend  of  mine  just  from  York  in- 
forms, that  Gates  had  accepted  his  appointment,  and  was 
daily  expected  there,  and  that  upon  his  arrival  the  Board 
would  be  formed.  I  understand  there  is  a  vast  field  of 
business  to  be  laid  open  to  the  Board,  so  that  I  despair  of 
V  seeing  you  till  the  spring.  Then,  I  hope  and  expect  to  re- 
turn with  you  and  your  boy.  .  .  .  The  information  of  my 
friend,  above  referred  to,  renders  your  coming  with  me  in 
the  spring  still  more  necessary  than  I  had  imagined ;  for, 
though  flour  at  Yorktown  is  less  than  four  dollars  a  hundred, 
and  beef  but  about  eight  pence,  lawful  money,  [eleven  cents 
and  one  ninth,]  a  pound,  yet  the  members  of  Congress  give 
thirty-seven  dollars  and  one  third  a  week  for  their  board, 
without  a  servant,  and  but  mi.ddiing  fare  into  the  bargain. 
This  sum  would  be  considerably  more  than  the  amount  of 
my  wages  per  week ;  of  course  I  cannot  live  in  that  manner. 
And,  as  the  necessaries  of  life  are  so  cheap  there,  'tis  plain 
this  dearness  of  board  must  be  a  most  abominable  extortion, 
and  enhanced  chiefly  for  cooking  your  food  and  finding  a 
bed.  Before  I  heard  this,  I  had  thought  of  a  scheme  for  living 
at  such  a  moderate  expense  as  would  enable  me  to  maintain 
you  and  our  son,  as  well  as  myself.  This  was  by  taking 
lodgings  two  or  three  miles  out  of  town.  At  that  distance 
I  imagine  I  can  live  at  a  quarter  of  the  expense ;  for  I  would 
buy  my  own  hay  and  firewood,  and  then  I  should  have  no 


Mt.  82.]  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  199 

one  to  pay  extravagantly  for  feeding  my  horse  or  my  fire ; 
for  Millet  can  do  both^  and  cook,  too,  extremely  well,  if 
need  be.  And  this  distance  would  by  no  means  hinder 
me  in  the  general  course  of  business.  On  the  other  hand,  as 
I  expect  close  application  will  be  necessary,  to  ride  or  walk 
that  distance  daily  will  be  extremely  beneficial,  if  not  neces- 
saiy,  for  my  health.  Now,  the  principal  necessaries  of  life 
being  thus  cheap,  were  you  with  me  to  conduct  the  family 
afiairs,  the  whole  might  ...  be  supported  at  much  less,  or, 
at  least,  without  greater  expense,  than  I  alone  at  board.  .  .  . 
"Tuesday  morning,  December  30th.  — I  might  have  told 
you,  that,  since  our  arrival  at  this  place,  which  was  on  the 
20th  instant,  I  have  been  at  my  own  quarters,  separate  from 
the  Generars  family,  at  whose  quarters  they  are  exceedingly 
pinched  for  room ;  and,  as  I  am  in  a  house  where  there  is  a 
family,  Millet  borrows  such  utensils  as  are  necessary  for 
cooking.  Had  I  conceived  how  much  satisfaction,  quiet,  and 
even  leisure,  I  should  have  enjoyed  at  separate  quarters,  I 
would  have  taken  them  six  months  ago.  For  at  head-quar- 
ters there  is  a  continual  throng,  and  my  room,  in  particular, 
(when  I  was  happy  enough  to  get  one,)  was  always  crowded 
by  all  that  came  to  head-quarters  on  business,  because  there 
was  no  other  cover  for  them,  we  having,  for  the  most  part, 
been  in  such  small  houses.  Besides,  at  head-quarters  much 
business  passed  through  my  hands,  which  is  now  done  by  the 
aides-de-camp,  and  I  get  rid  of,  being  absent." 

To  Mrs.  Pickering,  December  30th :  — 

.  .  .  **  Nothing  new  to-day,  save  the  coming  in  of  twenty- 
one  deserters  from  the  enemy,  who  deserted  within  a  few 
days  past.  Four  or  five  of  them  were  Americans,  whom 
they  had  taken  prisoners,  and  who,  to  save  themselves  from 
starving,  had  enlisted  with  them. 

"  A  small  party  of  twenty-five  men  and  two  or  three  sub- 
altern officers  of  the  New-England  troops  pushed  headlong 
after  the  enemy,  and  though  urged  to  return,  because  an 
ambuscade  laid  for  them  had  been  discovered,  yet  they 


200  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  [1778. 

pressed  on,  and  about  fifteen  were  taken.     This  happened 
yesterday. 

**  A  considerable  number  of  our  men  are  in  warm,  com- 
fortable huts ;  but  others  have  made  little  progress  as  yet, 
the  march  of  several  thousand  of  the  enemy  from  Philadel- 
phia to  Derby  (where  they  remained  till  the  28th)  having 
obliged  a  considerable  body  of  our  men  to  leave  their  work 
to  watch  them.  The  work  is  also  retarded  by  the  scarcity 
of  tools.  On  Christmas  day  it  snowed,  and  before  the  next 
morning  it  was  four  inches  deep.  The  weather  has  since 
been  clear  and  cold." 

Again  to  the  same : — 

*'  Camp  at  the  Vallet  Forob,  January  5th,  1778. 

.  .  .  "Yesterday  I  saw  my  friend  who  gave  me  the  in- 
formation [about  the  expenses  of  living  at  Yorktown] .  .  .  • 
This  friend  I  speak  of  is  Mr.  Boudinot,  of  New  Jersey, 
Commissary-General  of  Prisoners,  and  lately  elected  a  mem- 
ber of  Congress.  I  told  him  I  long  ago  determined  to  take 
lodgings  two  or  three  miles  from  the  town,  where  I  could 
get  convenient  house-room  and  stable ;  and,  if  I  could  not 
board  to  my  satisfaction  in  such  a  place,  that  I  would  then 
buy  my  own  provisions,  hay,  and  wood,  and  Millet  should 
be  housekeeper.  He  was  much  pleased  with  my  scheme, 
and  intends  to  live  with  me.  This  will  be  exceedingly 
agreeable  to  me,  as  he  is  a  most  woilhy,  honest,  judicious 
man,  and  we  ai*e  intimately  acquainted.  He  added,  that, 
when  you  camCf  it  would  be  still  more  agreeable.  Upon  the 
whole,  unless  some  very  material  changes  take  place,  I  am 
resolved  (since  you  consent)  to  bring  you  and  John  along 
with  me  in  the  spring.  My  mother's  fears  of  my  being  taken 
prisoner  are  altogether  groundless,  because  nothing  will  lead 
me  in  the  way  of  danger.  I  am  happy  to  find  my  father 
is  pleased  with  my  acceptance  of  a  seat  at  the  Board  of 
War:  ray  mother  and  you,  I  assured  myself,  would  be 
pleased  in  the  highest  degree.     .  .  . 

"  The  army  has  made  good  progi'ess  in  hutting ;  but  the 
want  of  tools  has  retarded  the  work.     The  huts  are  very 


^T.  82.]  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  201 

warm  and  comfortable,  being  very  good  log-houses,  pointed 
with  clay,  and  the  roof  made  tight  with  the  same.  The 
weather  is  now  very  mild,  which  is  exceedingly  favorable  to 
our  hutting;  but  'tis  a  melancholy  consideration,  that  hun- 
dreds of  our  men  are  unfit  for  duty,  merely  from  the  want 
of  clothes  and  shoes/' 

In  the  following  letter,  of  January  8th,  to  Mrs.  Pick- 
ering^ as  well  as  elsewhere,  Colonel  Pickering  puts  a 
moderate  estimate  on  his  knowledge  and  abilities, 
and  likewise  on  the  virtue  of  his  countrymen.  After 
mentioning  that  diflferent  employments  had  been  suc- 
cessively given  him,  which  furnished  him  the  means  of 
living  beyond  his  highest  expectations,  he  says,  — 

"  These  were  not,  I  presume,  wholly  undeserved.  I  only 
regretted  my  knowledge  and  abilities  were  not  more  equal 
to  their  importance.  You  will  smile  at  this.  But,  my  dear, 
I  speak  what  I  think;  at  the  same  time,  I  have  hoped  that 
an  upright  discharge  of  the  duties  of  my  various  offices 
would  in  some  measure  compensate  my  country  for  my 
other  wants.  Integrity  in  office  is,  I  fear,  too  rare.  Modes 
of  defrauding  the  public  have  taken  place,  which  I  hoped 
had  been  unknown  on  this  side  the  Atlantic.  And,  when  I 
view  the  general  depravity  of  manners,  I  sometimes  almost 
think  Europe  does  not  exceed  us  in  crimes,  ^^le  virtue  of 
the  Americans  is  often  sounded  in  our  ears ;  I  wish  there 
was  more  reason  to  boast  of  it.  However,  no  one  should 
despair  of  his  country.  Every  good  man  will  endeavor  to 
restrain  the  vicious,  and  defeat  their  pernicious  designs ;  at 
the  same  time,  by  bis  example  and  encouragement  he  will 
animate  and  support  the  virtuous ;  and,  if  the  effect  of  all 
his  efforts  fall  short  of  his  wishes,  he  will  nevertheless 
console  himself  with  this  reflection,  —  that  he  has  done 
hih  duty^ 

''Congress  have  at  length  appointed  a  successor  in  my 
office.     Colonel  Scammell  (who  is  a  Massachusetts  man,  but 

VOL.  L  26 


202  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  [1778. 

commands  a  New  Hampshire  regiment)  this  day  received 
a  letter  from  Congress  containing  his  appointment  to  be 
Adjutant-General.  I  wished  for  this;  for  Colonel  Scam- 
mell  is  allowed  to  be  an  excellent  officer,  and  he  has  here- 
tofore, with  General  Leo,  been  conversant  in  this  kind  of 
duty.  He  had  a  liberal  education  at  Harvard  College,  is 
sensible  and  brave.  Next  week  I  shall  set  off  for  York- 
town." 


JEt.  82.]  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKEBING.  203 


CHAPTEK   XIII. 

The  Board  of  War.  —  Correspondence  between  Colonel  Alexander 
Scammell,  appointed  Adjutant^General,  and  Colonel  Picker- 
ing. —  Valley  Forge.  —  Colonel  Pickering's  Father.  —  Opin- 
ions of  Colonel  Pickering  on  Marriage  and  on  Female  Dress. 
—  His  Benevolence  and  Tenderness.  —  66rard,  the  French 
Minister. 

On  the  30th  of  January  Colonel  Pickering  left  the 
camp  at  Valley  Forge  for  Yorktown,  Pennsylvania, 
to  enter  upon  his  duties  as  a  member  of  the  Board 
of  War ;  but,  the  Susquehanna  being  for  a  few  days 
impassable,  he  did  not  arrive  there  until  the  4th  of 
February. 

The  following  extracts  from  letters  of  Colonel  Scam- 
mell  show  that  Colonel  Pickering  did  not  overstate  the 
labors  of  the  Adjutani^General,  and  at  the  same  time 
they  are  a  testimonial  of  his  efficiency  in  the  oflBce,  and 
of  the  esteem  in  which  he  was  held  by  officers  of  the 
army. 

"  MuDDT  FoBOE,  Febmaiy  6th,  1778.         y 

•  .  •  ^We  miss  you  much  here,  and  believe  shall  miss 
you  more.  I'll  assure  you,  that  I  am  almost  tired  of  the 
berth  [of  Adjutaut-General],  and  believe  I  shall  wish  that 
I  never  had  accepted.  The  trouble  is  infinitely  more  than 
that  of  a  regiment,  —  more  especially  one  that  I  was  so  much 
attached  to  as  mine, — and  the  expense  vastly  greater  than 
when  I  only  commanded  my  regiment,  in  propoilion  to  the 
pay.  Here  I  have  no  opportunity  of  gaining  any  laurels ; 
whereas,  when  I  was  with  my  regiment,  I  stood  a  chance  of 
plucking  now  and  then  a  sprig. 


204  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  [1778. 

^  Besides,  to  hear  the  complaints  of  the  officers,  and  see 
the  miserable  situation  of  the  soldiery,  is  really  affecting.  It 
deeply  penetrates  my  inmost  soul  to  see  men  destitute  of 
clothing,  who  have  risked  their  lives  like  brave  fellows, 
having  large  arrearages  of  pay  due  to  them,  and  prodigiously 
pinched  at  times  for  provisions.  It  is  a  most  melancholy 
scene.  Desertions  increase  very  fast  among  us,  as  you  may 
see  by  the  return  of  the  army ;  and  I  am  really  apprehen- 
sive they  will  be  still  greater,  unless  regular  and  plentiful 
supplies  of  provisions  are  furnished  them.  Several  brigades 
have  been  without  their  allowance  of  meat,  this  is  the  third 
day.  God  grant  it  may  not  be  the  means  of  breaking  up 
the  army.  Discontent  runs  through  the  army.  Feed  and 
pay  our  soldiers  well,  and  they  will  pay  you  well  for  their 
board  and  wages.  At  such  a  time  as  this,  when  we  want 
to  have  our  army  filled  up,  such  sufferings  must  be  an  almost 
invincible  bar ;  for,  depend  upon  it,  [accounts  of]  the  treat- 
ment will  spread  like  lightning  through  the  United  States. 
My  dear,  worthy  friend,  for  Heaven's  sake  use  your  influ- 
ence to  have  regular  and  plentiful  channels  of  supplies 
^A  established,  both  of  provisions  and  clothing." 

"February  7th. 

.  .  .  "Can  you  lay  any  plan  to  get  Trumbull,  or  such 
another  man,  appointed  Commissary  vice  the  present  one?* 
Can  you  find  out  some  way  to  rouse  the  States  to  fill  up  the 
army  seasonably  ?  Cannot  regular  supplies  of  money  and 
clothing  for  the  army  be  furnished?  Your  good  judgment 
and  perfect  acquaintance  with  our  situation  are  much  de- 
pended upon.  Our  prospects  are  gloomy  at  present ;  fatal 
consequences  must  soon  ensue,  unless  the  above  questions 
can  be  fully  answered  and  complied  with. 

"  Your  affectionate,  anxious  friend, 

"Alexander  Scammell.'* 


*  William  Buchanan.      Jeremiah    Wadsworth  was  chosen,  April  9th, 
1778. 


^T.82.]  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERINa  205 

Colonel  Pickering  replied,  — 

"  YoBXTOWK,  Febmaiy  17th,  1778. 

**Deab  Sib, 

<*  Yours  of  the  6th  and  7th  instant  came  to  hand  yesterday. 

...  "I  am  very  sensibly  pained  for  the  distresses  of 
the  army ;  the  more  because  I  fear  they  may  not  be  of  short 
duration.  Clothing,  however,  I  hope  you  have  received  ere 
this  time ;  but  where  an  ample  and  constant  supply  of  flesh 
can  be  obtained  I  am  in  doubt.  Flour,  I  believe,  you  will 
not  want.  I  suppose  it  scarcely  possible  to  diminish  the 
ration  of  meat  and  increase  that  of  bread.  The  great  Tu- 
renne's  army  had  daily  two  pounds  of  bread  a  man,  and  little 
meat ;  and  this,  I  understand,  is  the  practice  of  the  German 
and  French  troops  to  this  day,  —  to  eat  much  bread  and 
little  flesh.  Marshal  Saxe,  I  recollect,  observes,  that  if  you 
give  a  full  supply  of  bread  to  the  Germans  they  are  always 
easy.  No  people  on  earth  eat  such  quantities  of  flesh  as  the 
English.  But,  if  our  troops  had  soups  every  day,  thickened 
with  good  bread,  a  much  less  quantity  of  meat  would  suf- 
fice. The  King  of  Prussia,  I  remember,  in  the  regulations 
for  his  infantry  (which  book  I  have) ,  enjoins  it  positively 
upon  his  officers  to  see  that  the  men  ^boil  the  pot  every 
day.'  And  I  suppose,  under  that  perfect  discipline  estab- 
lished in  his  armies,  this  and  every  other  regulation  is 
punctually  obeyed.  But,  for  the  establishment  of  such  an 
exact  system,  he  has  had  the  experience  of  repeated  wars 
to  discover  errors  and  defects,  followed  by  the  leisure  of 
peace  to  correct  and  supply  them.  Could  the  ai*my  be 
persuaded  to  eat  more  bread  and  less  meat,  the  want  of 
vegetables  would  hardly  be  felt ;  and  as  vegetables  are  not 
procured,  'tis  the  more  necessary  to  use  much  bread.  I  wish 
some  good  might  flow  from  these  hints.  Were  you  with 
your  regiment,  I  know  you  would  be  ready  to  try  the  ex- 
periment, and  by  your  own  example  induce  the  soldiery  to 
adopt  a  mode  of  living  so  salutary  both  to  them  and  the 
public.  Nothing  but  the  example  of  the  officers  would  pos- 
sibly avail  to  efiect  this  matter ;  and  perhaps  the  attempt 


206  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERINO.  [1778. 

could  not  be  made  without  the  danger  of  mutiny.  But  is 
there  no  other  officer  who  will  with  great  prudence  make 
the  trial?  or  is  the  very  proposition  visionary?  Think 
of  it. 

"  What  a  fatal  change  was  that  of  Commissary-General 
last  summer!  Congress,  too  late,  are  convinced  of  their 
error.  Besides  all  the  mischiefs  to  the  army  during  the 
campaign,  it  is  supposed  the  department  is  beyond  com- 
parison more  expensive  than  when  Colonel  Trumbull  con- 
ducted it.  He,  by  the  way,  accepts  his  appointment  to  the 
Board  of  War,  but  is  so  sick  at  present  as  to  keep  house, 
and  I  fear  will  not  come  here  for  a  long  time.  'Tis  ex- 
tremely unfortunate,  for  his  knowledge  of  the  Commissary's 
business  would,  I  trust,  point  out  the  way  to  obtain  full 
supplies  of  provisions.  Early  last  January  this  State  ap- 
pointed commissioners  in  each  county  to  buy  provisions  for 
the  army.  On  the  15th,  Congress  authorized  the  then  Board 
of  War  to  appoint  proper  persons  for  the  like  purpose,  and 
to  form  magazines  of  flour ;  but  they  were  not  to  thwart 
the  measures  of  the  commissioners.  The  Board,  accordingly, 
appointed  certain  men,  whom  they  called  superintendents, 
and  instructed  them  how  to  conduct.  These  men  happened 
to  be  in  opposition  to  the  Constitution.  The  State  grew 
jealous,  thinking  the  commissioners  were  equal  to  the  busi- 
ness. The  matter  was  by  the  Council  represented  to  Con- 
gress, who  have  finally  discontinued  the  superintendents 
east  of  the  Susquehanna  just  as  they  had  Bet  the  mills 
a-going.  The  Board  thought  their  instructions  would  effec- 
tually prevent  an  interference  with  the  commissioners ;  .  .  - 
they  were  intended  to  facilitate  their  measures.  Thus  a 
month  of  precious  time  has  been  lost. 

"The  Quartermaster-General's  department,  toOj  remains 
unsettled,  and  General  Mifflin,  who  knows  more  about  it 
than  anybody,  is  absent.  He  went  home  just  before  I  ar- 
rived; disgusted,  as  I  understood  from  Jonathan  Mifflin, 
at  the  jealousies  entertained  of  him,  at  camp  and  elsewhere, 
that  he  was,  or  had  been,  aiming  to  remove  General  Wash- 


^T.82.]  LIFE  OP  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  207 

ington,  —  a  thing  he  solemnly  disavows.  Congress  also 
have  lately  sent  him  a  resolve  requiring  an  account  of  all 
the  expenditures  in  his  department  of  Quartermaster-Gen- 
eral. By  such  means  public  business,  which  demands  instant 
attention,  and  is  essential  to  the  safety  of  the  States,  is  post- 
poned, although  the  campaign  is  at  hand  I  If  we  do  not 
lay  aside  jealousies  and  resentments,  and  apply  hard  to  real 
business,  we  shall  be  ruined. 

"  The  present  situation  of  public  affairs  reminds  me  of  the 
distracted  state  of  Britain  the  first  years  of  the  last  war. 
Would  to  God  we  had  some  great,  some  patriot  Pitt,  to 
rescue  us  from  impending  danger,  and  conduct  us  to  victory 
and  glory,  by  a  wise  arrangement  and  vigorous  execution 
of  public  measures  I     But  where  shall  the  man  be  found  ? 

"^  But  I  need  not  add  distress  to  the  melancholy  picture 
you  painted.  Yet  let  us  not  despair.  From  the  midst  of 
difficulties  we  have  repeatedly  been  relieved.  A  kind  Prov- 
idence has  saved  us,  and  I  trust  will  yet  render  us  secure, 
if  we  are  not  grossly  wanting  to  ourselves. 
^I  am,  dear  Sir,  your  friend  and  servant, 

"Timothy  Pickering." 

A  letter  to  his  wife,  dated  Yorktown,  February  14th, 
1778,  exhibits  the  simple  style  in  which  Colonel  Pick- 
ering lived  when  a  Commissioner  of  the  Board  of  War ; 
which,  however,  was  an  agreeable  contrast  to  his  pre- 
vious life  in  camp.  In  allusion  to  her  joining  him  at 
Yorktown,  he  says,  — 

"  'Tis  more  difficult  getting  a  habitation  than  I  expected. 
I  was  puzzled  to  find  a  place  to  lodge  at.  Finally  I  was  led 
to  the  widow  Mihmin's  (the  widow  of  a  Dutch  physician)  ; 
but  she  said  she  had  no  bed  but  one,  her  own,  nor  could 
furnish  me  with  diet.  I  told  her  I  could  find  both.  So  she 
consented  to  take  me  in.  I  am  happy  that  she  did ;  for  she 
is  a  very  neat,  clever,  obliging  old  woman,  and  has  agreed 
to  wash  and  mend  my  linen  and  stockings,  which  is  a  great 


208  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  [1778. 

thing  here.  What  her  price  will  be  I  do  not  know,  but  I 
am  sure  not  extravagant.  .  .  .  The  old  lady  often  puts  me  in 
mind  of  my  mother.  •  .  .  She  is  in  all  respects  very  kind 
and  motherly.  I  have  not  felt  myself  so  much  at  home  since 
I  left  Salem.  She  lived  all  alone,  and  now  sits  from  morn- 
ing till  night  at  her  spinning-wheel,  which,  by  the  way,  is  a 
very  modest  one ;  and  when  I  am  at  home,  writing  or  read- 
ing, it  gives  me  no  more  disturbance  than  the  purring  of  a 
cat.  She  has  one  decent  lower  room,  warmed  by  a  stove, 
after  the  German  &shion  (she  is  of  that  nation),  and  a  small 
kitchen,  furnished  with  every  necessary  utensil,  in  pretty 
order.  There  she  gets  her  own  victuals,  and  Millet  cooks 
for  me.  •  .  .  Besides  the  lower  room  and  kitchen,  there 
is  a  warm  chamber  where  I  lodge ;  in  one  corner  Millet  has 
fixed  me  a  little  cabin,  in  which  he  has  put  a  straw  bed,  and 
upon  that  my  mattress ;  a  bag  of  straw  makes  my  bolster^  and 
my  pillow  is  upon  that.  I  lie  between  my  sheet  doubled 
(the  other  sheet  was  stolen  from  me  at  Wilmington  last 
September)  ;  my  blanket  lies  double  upon  that,  and  my  great- 
coat and  other  clothes  over  all.  In  this  manner  I  have  every 
night  lain  warm  and  comfortable.  In  another  corner  of  the 
chamber  Millet  lies  on  a  bed  of  chaff,  furnished  by  the  land- 
lady. These  chaff  beds  are  very  good.  TTis  the  chaff  of 
wheat,  and  is  much  preferable  to  straw.  Millet  has  bought 
tolerable  veal  at  a  shilling  [thirteen  cents  and  a  third]  a 
pound,  butter  at  two  thirds  of  a  dollar,  eggs  at  one  third 
of  a  dollar  a  dozen,  and  potatoes  at  a  dollar  a  bushel ;  but, 
above  all,  he  gets  a  quart  of  good  milk  every  night  and  every 
morning,  which,  with  good  bread  (at  a  third  of  a  dollar  a 
loaf  of  about  six  pounds  weight) ,  makes  our  breakfasts  and 
suppers.  But  half  the  time,  as  we  dine  late,  we  eat  no  sup- 
pers ;  so  we  have  milk  enough  for  good  puddings.  The 
milk  costs  me  twelve  pence  a  quart.  At  the  next  door  Millet 
gets  excellent  beer  of  a  brewer  at  half  a  dollar  a  gallon. 
Thus  my  diet  is  perfectly  agreeable.  I  have  directed  Millet 
to  get  some  rice  and  Indian  meal,  and  when  these  are  ob- 
tained I  shall  want  for  nothing. 


iBr.  82.]  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  209 

*^  This  little  detail  I  thought  would  no  more  than  satisfy 
your  curiosity ;  at  the  same  time  I  supposed  it  might  divert 
you  and  my  friends.     .  .  • 

**  I  confess,  notwithstanding  all  I  have  said,  that  I  have 
many  doubts  about  the  expediency  of  your  coming  this  way 
so  soon  as  I  at  first  proposed.  I  say  so  soon^  because,  if  we 
regain  Philadelphia  in  the  course  of  the  next  camp|i|fA 
(which  I  trust  we  shall) ,  and  all  things  get  quiet  hept,  and 
I  be  likely  to  continue  at  the  Board  of  War,  I  shldl  then 
most  certainly  determine  to  bring  you  away  from  Salem, 
and  not  pass  another  winter  without  you." 

The  illness  of  Colonel  Pickering's  father,  which  in  a 
few  months  terminated  fatally,  occasioned  the  following 
letter :  — 

"  YoRKTOWN,  Februaiy  23d,  1778. 

"Mr  HONORED  Fathbb, 

« With  much  grief  I  received  the  account  of  your  indis- 
position, but  at  the  same  time  was  happ}'^  to  find  you  rather 
growing  better,  and  that  there  was  a  prospect  of  your  re- 
covery. Not  that  I  deemed  you  anxious  to  live  ;  I  supposed 
the  contrary ;  but,  whether  to  live  or  die,  I  know  you  are 
perfectly  resigned  to  the  will  of  Heaven.  But,  for  the  sake 
of  your  family  and  friends,  I  wished  you  to  live  yet  many 
years,  that  I,  too,  might  again  see  you,  and  manifest  that 
filial  duty  which  I  feel  and  would  cheerfully  pay  to  your 
latest  breath.  When  I  look  back  on  past  time,  I  regret  our 
difference  of  sentiment  in  great  as  well  as  little  politics,  as 
it  was  a  deduction  from  the  happiness  otherwise  to  have 
been  enjoyed.  Yet  you  had  always  too  much  regard  to 
freedom  in  thinking  and  the  rights  of  conscience  to  lay  upon 
me  any  injunctions  which  could  interfere  with  my  own 
opinion  of  what  was  my  duty.  In  all  things  I  have  endeav- 
ored to  keep  a  good  conscience,  void  of  offence  towards  God 
and  man.  Often  have  I  thanked  my  Maker  for  the  great- 
est blessing  of  my  life,  —  your  example  and  instructions 
in  all  the  duties  I  owe  to  God  and  my  neighbor.     They  have 

VOL.  I.  27 


210  LIFE   OP   TIMOTHY   PICKERING.  [1778. 

not  been  lost  upon  me,  though  I  am  aware  that  in  many 
things  I  have  offended  and  come  short  of  my  duty.  For 
these  things  I  am  grieved,  but  not  as  those  who  have  no 
hope.  I  am  deeply  indebted,  too,  for  your  care  in  my  edu- 
cation ;  I  only  regret  that  I  improved  my  time  no  better. 
But,  although  the  line  of  action  I  have  pursued  has  not  alwayii 
been  such  as  you  would  have  chosen,  yet  (but  I  boast  not), 
in  reg!ird  to  religion  and  morality,  I  hope  you  have  never 
repented  that  I  was  your  son.  By  God's  grace  I  will,  in 
my  future  life,  aim  at  higher  attainments  in  those  all-essen- 
tial points,  not  only  from  a  sense  of  duty  to  my  Creator, 
from  a  regard  to  my  own  happiness  here  and  beyond  the 
gi*ave,  but  that  I  may  never  wound  the  breast  of  a  parent  to 
whom  I  am  under  so  many  and  so  great  obligations.  My 
love  and  duty  to  you  and  my  mother,  conclude  me  your 

obedient  son, 

**  Timothy  Pickering.'' 

The  difference  of  sentiment  in  ^  great  politics,"  I 
suppose,  refers  to  the  forcible  resistance  to  the  mother 
country.  Nathaniel  Peaslee  Sargent,  a  Justice  of  the 
Superior  Court  of  Massachusetts,  who  had  married  a 
sister  of  Colonel  Pickering,  wrote  to  him  from  Haver- 
hill, April  12th,  1778  : — 

y  "  We  have  lately  been  at  Salem ;  found  all  our  old  friends 
well  but  our  honored  father,  who  continued  poorly  last 
Friday.  He  seems  to  retain  his  reason  pretty  well,  and 
goes  to  meeting,  but  is  as  much  inclined  to  Toryism  as 
ever."  * 


♦  He  could  not,  however,  have  approved  of  the  conduct  of  the  mother 
country  towards  the  Colonics ;  for,  in  a  communication  in  his  handwriting,  in 
the  City-Clerk's  office  in  Salem,  dated  October  21  at,  1765,  and  addressed  to 
]$ei\jamin  Lynde,  Moderator,  in  which  he  deprecates  inconsiderate  and  violent 
proceedings  against  the  Stamp  Act,  he  says,  **  We  would  not  be  here  under- 
stood as  though  it  was  our  principle  tamely  to  submit  to  every  law  made  by 
lawful  authority,  whether  it  be  right  or  wrong,  good  or  bad ;  for  this  would  be 
to  lower  ourselves  down  into  passive  obedience  and  non-resistance."    He  also 


^T.32.]  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  211 

Colonel  Pickering  pretty  uniformly  felt  confident  of 
the  ultimate  success  of  the  Americans  in  the  Revolu- 
tion ;  and,  in  a  letter,  dated  Yorktown,  March  6th, 
1778,  to  his  wife,  he  assigns  a  substantial  reason :  — 

•  ...  "I  enjoy  my  health  perfectly,  and  should  be  very 
happy,  if  our  public  affairs  wore  a  better  aspect.  If  we 
should  fail  at  last,  the  Americans  can  blame  only  their  own 
negligence,  avarice,  and  want  of  almost  eveiy  public  virtue. 
For  common  sense  will  inform  every  one,  that  a  country 
filled  with  four  or  five  hundred  thousand  men  able  to  bear 
arms,  and  having  all  the  necessary  means  in  its  hands,  can- 
not be  conquered  by  twenty  thousand  mercenaries,  unless 
it  is  totally  wanting  in  duty  to  itself."     .  •  . 

His  sentiments  in  regard  to  female  beauty,  and  on 
marriage,  and  his  benevolent  disposition,  are  exhibited 
in  a  letter  to  Mrs.  Pickering,  as  follows  :  — 

"  YoRKTOWN,  March  8th,  1778. 

...  "  Why  does  not  Clarke  *  write  to  me  ?  Tell  him  I 
heard  but  three  sermons  during  the  eight  months  I  was  in 
camp,  and  that  one  from  him  would  be  seasonable  and 
highly  acceptable.  His  call  to  the  metropolis^  I  hope,  will 
not  make  him  forgetful  of  his  friend  of  the  village.  •  .  • 
If  he  has  accepted  his  call,  I  presume  he  has  thought  of  a 
helpmeet  ere  this  time.  ...  He  used  formerly  to  ask 
my  advice  about  some  things.  Were  be  to  ask  it  about  the 
choice  of  a  wife,  I  should  remark  to  him,  that,  in  marrying, 

presidedi  as  moderator,  at  a  town-meeting  in  May,  1770,  respecting  a  non- 
importation agreement,  and  at  another  in  the  following  September,  at  which 
resolutions  were  passed  against  four  persons  as  violators  of  the  non-importa- 
tion agreement.  He  joined  in  a  subscription  in  July,  1776,  to  enable  a  com- 
mittee to  hire  the  men  ordered  to  be  levied  in  Salem  to  reenforce  the  northern 
army. 

*  The  Rev.  John  Clarke,  a  favorite  nephew  of  Colonel  Pickering.  At  this 
time  he  had  been  invited  to  become  a  minister  of  the  First  Church  in  Boston, 
as  the  coUeague  of  Dr.  Chauncy.  He  was  the  author  of  '*  Letters  to  a  Stu- 
dent," and  other  works. 


212  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  [1778. 

he  could  have  but  one  principal  aim  —  to  be  happy  with  a 
deserving  female;  of  consequence,  that  he  must  slight 
honors,  birth,  and  fortune,  if  not  accompanied  with  real 
worth.  On  the  other  hand,  I  should  not  expect  him  to  be 
captivated  with  very  engaging  qualities  under  an  ugly  form. 
Beauty,  or  an  agreeable  face  and  person,  is  lovely  and  com- 
manding. I  confess,  I  (yes,  even  /)  am  involuntarily  led 
to  respect  it  wherever  I  meet  with  it.  Be  not  alarmed,  my 
dearest !  —  that  very  circumstance  contributed  to  excite  and 
fix  my  fondness,  my  unalterable  attachment,  to  you.  An 
agreeable  form,  innocence,  simplicity,  good  sense,  and  a 
decent  education,  with  a  disposition  gentle,  faithful,  and 
affectionate,  are  the  only  foundation  of  real  happiness  in 
the  nuptial  state.  And,  that  there  may  be  no  deception 
and  disappointment  in  an  affair  the  most  important  in 
human  life,  the  contracting  parties  ought  to  be  perfectly 
explicit,  and  not  by  any  means  conceal  the  faults  and  foibles 
in  their  conduct  and  dispositions,  unless  they  can  and  will 
cure  them.  If  their  failings  would,  in  their  apprehension, 
disgust,  and  prevent  a  union,  if  discovered,  they  will  assur- 
edly mar,  if  not  destroy,  their  happiness  when  united.  And 
who,  that  has  any  prudence,  or  even  self-love,  would  plunge 
himself  in  misery  ?  And  what  miser}'  in  life  so  dreadful  as 
an  unhappy  marriage  1  Clarke  may  smile,  perhaps,  at  these 
remarks  from  an  old  bachelor,*  if  he  sees  them ;  or,  if  not, 
at  least  deem  them  unnecessary  with  regard  to  him.  But 
he  will  forgive  me,  as  he  knows  I  wish  him  every  happiness 
life  can  yield. 

"And  now,  my  Becky,  what  can  I  say  to  you  that  I 
have  not  told  you  over  and  over,  till  you  are  tired  with  the 
repetition?  Did  I  possess  a  creative  imagination,  I  would 
frame  some  story  to  amuse  you.  But  *  simple  truth,'  you 
know,  is  my  *  utmost  skill' ;  and  my  sincerity  and  fond 
affection  you  are  pleased  to  accept  in  the  room  of  qualities 
more  striking  and  brilliant.  .  .  .  But  few  of  mortiil  race 
possess  every  valuable  talent;  and  I  would  be  contented 


*  Colonel  Pickering  was  in  his  thirty-first  year  at  the  time  of  his  marriage. 


iET.82.]  MPB  OP  TIMOTHY  PICKEBING.  213 

with  my  mediocrity,  since  Heaven  has  so  ordained.  Thank- 
ful I  am  for  all  His  gifts,  but  for  none  more  than  for  a  spirit 
of  benevolence  towards  all  mankind,  —  a  wish  to  diffuse 
virtue  and  happiness  universally,  and  especially  to  study 
and  promote  the  felicity  of  those  with  whom  I  am  connected 
•by  the  tenderest  ties ;  and  of  these,  my  dear  Becky,  you 
are  the  first  and  chief.  Heaven  has  been  still  more  boun- 
tiful, and  given  me  you,  — you  who  possess  a  tender,  feeling 
heart,  that  is  kind  to  all,  and  perfectly  attuned  to  harmony 
and  love.  Oh  I  how  painful  is  the  separation  from  one  so 
amiable  I  How  much  does  it  grieve  me  to  leave  you  alone, 
and  for  so  many  long,  tedious  months !  "     •  •  • 

The  two  following  letters  from  Colonel  Pickering  to 
his  wife  relate  to  the  illness,  death,  and  character  of 
his  father,  and  furnish  one  of  many  evidences  of  a 
tenderness  of  feeling  which  some  persons  have  sup- 
posed he  did  not  possess.  The  first  is  dated  York- 
town,  April  26th,  1778. 

...  "  You  will  probably  be  informed  by  brother  John, 
before  this  reaches  you,  that  I  did  not  expect  to  see  you  this 
spring.  I  wrote  you  a  line,  at  the  same  time,  by  Captain 
Pike,  of  Newbury ;  but  I  could  not  bear  to  tell  you  then 
what  would  render  you  so  unhappy.  General  Gates  is 
ordered  by  Congress  to  take  the  command  on  Hudson's 
River ;  Colonel  [Joseph]  Trumbull  is  yet  unable,  through 
want  of  health,  to  attend  the  Board  [of  War],  nor  expects 
to  be  able  before  autumn,  and  has,  in  fact,  desired  Congress 
to  appoint  a  member  in  his  stead ;  and  I  am  not  certain  but 
General  Mifflin  will  leave  us  also,  to  take  the  lead  of  the 
Pennsylvania  militia,  in  case  the  enemy  should  make  a  push. 
I  do  not  know  anybody  who  would  be  so  likely  to  rouse  the 
militia  as  he ;  and  they  will  need  a  spur :  I  wish,  with  the 
sharpest,  they  may  have  feeling  enough  to  turn  out  briskly 
in  case  of  need.  In  this  state  of  things  it  is  impossible  for 
me  to  break  away.    I  could  not  consistently  with  my  honor 


214  I'U'B  OF  TIMOTHT  PICKERINa  [1778. 

or  duty,  neither  of  which,  I  am  sure,  you  would  have  me 
infringe.  I  am  sensibly  affected  on  another  account,  that 
I  cannot  at  this  time  go  home.  Millet  says  my  father  bid 
him  tell  me  that  he  should  probably  not  see  me  again,  if  I 
continued  much  longer  absent.  My  tears  flow  at  the  thought. 
Could  my  presence  or  aid  prolong  his  existence,  I  would  fly 
to  his  relief;  or,  if  my  father  were  anxiously  concerned  to 
see  me  before  he  drops  the  veil  of  flesh,  I  would  go  home. 
But  I  know  his  firmness  of  mind,  his  piety,  his  confidence 
in  Heaven,  and  thence  his  entire  resignation  to  the  will  of 
God ;  and  that  his  anxiety  is  not  to  live  long,  but  to  live 
well.  You,  my  dearest,  will  be  kind  enough  to  present  my 
duty  to  him  and  to  my  mother." 


•  •  • 


In  the  other  letter  alluded  to,  of  May  24th,  hav- 
ing learned  that  his  father  had  grown  weaker,  he 
says,— 

...  "I  was  in  hopes  the  warm  weather  would  have 
restored  him ;  but  now  I  fear  his  prediction  will  be  verified, 
and  that  I  shall  see  him  no  more.  Pray,  my  dear,  present 
him  with  my  affectionate  love  and  duty,  if  this  reaches  you 
before  he  leaves  all  mortal  cares.  It  would  have  been  a 
satisfaction  to  me  to  have  seen  my  father  again ;  and,  could 
my  presence  have  yielded  him  comfort  or  relief,  it  should 
not  have  been  denied.  But,  my  love,  the  consolations  of  a 
good  man  are  derived  from  a  higher  and  better  source  than 
any  on  earth.  .  •  .  His  family  have  abundant  reason  to 
be  grateful,  that  his  life  and  health  have  been  spared  so 
long."     .  .  . 

In  the  following  letter,  also  to  Mrs.  Pickering,  after 
a  notice  of  the  favorable  impression  made  by  Gerard, 
the  Minister  from  France,  then  just  arrived,  Colo- 
nel Pickering  criticizes  the  ladies'  head-dresses.  His 
taste  preferred  simplicity  both  in  dress  and  in  deport- 
ment 


Mt.  83.]  LIFE  OE  TIMOTHY  PICKERIN0.  215 

"  Philadelphia,  July  19th,  1778. 

...  «  The  Sieur  Gerard,  Minister  Plenipotentiary  from 
the  court  of  France,  arrived  in  the  French  fleet.  I  should 
take  him  to  be  fifty  years  old.  He  has  a  fine,  piercing  eye, 
and  a  most  agreeable  countenance.  Everybody  is  pleased 
vrHh  him:     He  speaks  English  tolerably. 

**  I  mentioned  to  you  the  enormous  head-dresses  of  the 
ladies  here.  The  more  I  see,  the  more  I  am  displeased 
with  them.  Tis  surprising  how  they  fix  such  loads  of 
trumpery  on  their  polls ;  and  not  less  so,  that  they  are  by 
any  one  deemed  ornamental.  The  Whig  ladies  seem  as 
fond  of  them  as  others.  I  am  told,  by  a  French  gentleman, 
they  are  in  the  true  French  taste,  only  tiiat  they  want  a  few 
very  long  feathers.  The  married  ladies,  however,  are  not 
all  infected.  One  of  the  handsomest  (General  Mifflin's 
lady)  I  have  seen  in  the  State,  does  not  dress  her  head 
higher  than  was  common  at  Salem  a  year  ago.  .  .  .  But 
you  know,  my  dear,  I  have  odd,  old-fashioned  notions. 
Neither  powder  nor  pomatum  has  touched  my  head  this 
twelvemonth,  not  even  to  cover  my  baldness.  The  latter  I 
find  a  very  common  thing,  now  men  have  left  off  their 
wigs.  I  observe  a  few  men — members  of  Congress  as  well 
as  others  —  like  plainness  and  simplicity  in  dress  as  weU 
as  I  do.** 


216  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  FICKBRINO.  [1778. 


CHAPTER   XIV. 

The  Board  of  War.  —  The  Business  of  the  Board  is  transacted 
chiefly  by  Colonel  Pickering  and  Richard  Peters.  —  The  Deputy 
Commissary-General  of  Military  Stores,  arrested  for  Frauds,  and 
condemned.  —  His  Principal,  Colonel  Benjamin  Flower,  arrested 
also,  but  honorably  acquitted.  —  Congress  offended  by  the  Part 
taken  in  the  Case  by  Colonel  Pickering  and  Mr.  Peters.  — Their 
Explanation.  —  Letters  at  a  later  Period  between  them  on  the 
Subject.  —  Anecdote  of  Dr.  Witherspoon. 

At  the  Board  of  War,  Colonel  Pickering  had  at  dif- 
ferent times,  as  associates,  several  distinguished  men ; 
but,  while  he  acted  as  a  member,  the  burden  of  the  office 
rested  upon  him  and  Mr.  Peters,  and  afterwards  upon 
Mr.  Peters  alone,  until  towards  the  end  of  the  war, 
when  the  duties  of  the  Board  were  transferred  to  a 
Secretary  of  War. 

An  unfortunate  occurrence  placed  both  of  them,  for 
a  short  time,  in  an  unpleasant  relation  with  Congress. 
On  the  20th  of  June,  1778,  the  Committee  on  the  Treas- 
ury reported  that  there  were  errors  in  the  accounts 
of  Benjamin  Flower,  Commissary-General  of  Military 
Stores,  which  indicated  fraud  on  the  part  of  his  deputy, 
Cornelius  Sweers;  whereupon  the  Board  of  War,  in 
obedience  to  an  order  of  Congress,  caused  Sweers  to  be 
arrested,  and  his  property  to  be  sequestered.*  On  the 
18th  of  July,  Sweers's  wife  wrote  to  Colonel  Pickering, 
saying  she  was  encouraged   to  address  him  by  ^the 

*  Journals  of  Congress,  June  20th  and  27th,  and  August  Ist,  Vol.  lY .  pp. 
862,  886,  488. 


^T.  83.]  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  217 

universal  good  character  she  had  heard  of  his  humanity 
and  tenderness*';  asserting  the  integrity  of  her  hus- 
band ;  representing,  that  in  the  service  of  process  she 
had  been  subjected  to  insult ;  that,  if  her  husband  had 
been  ^  a  person  of  mean  birth  and  brought  up  to  the 
crafts  of  the  world,  he  could  not  have  been  treated  with 
less  humanity " ;  and  that  she  and  her  family  were  in 
great  distress ;  and  requesting  Colonel  Pickering's  in- 
terposition, in  order  that  her  husband  might  be  brought 
to  a  speedy  trial,  and,  in  the  mean  time,  be  admitted 
to  bail. 

To  this  he  returned  the  following  answer :  — 

Fhiladklphia,  July  18th,  1778. 

"Madam, 

«I  hope  your  opinion  of  my  humanity  and  tenderness  is 
not  ill  grounded.  I  feel  every  disposition  to  relieve  the 
distressed.  But  justice  also  should  form  a  part  of  the  char- 
acter of  every  good  man.  Congress,  attentive  to  the  public 
interests,  upon  the  appearance  of  strong  marks  of  an  inten- 
tion to  defraud  the  States  of  considerable  sums  of  money, 
ordered  Mr.  Sweers  to  be  secured.  I  sincerely  wish  he  may 
prove  himself  innocent ;  but  till  this  is  done  he  must  una- 
voidably submit  to  many  inconveniences.  I  do  not  imagine 
his  situation  will  appear  to  the  unbiassed  singularly  hard, 
if  the  crime  with  which  he  is  charged  be  duly  weighed. 
The  public  have  a  right  to  be  secured  against  a  loss  in  the 
case.  Such  confinement  must  doubtless  be  more  irksome  to 
a  person  of  good  birth  and  delicately  brought  up ;  but  'tis 
fit  it  should  be,  because  such  a  one  will  commonly  be  in- 
trusted with  matters  of  great  concern,  which  demand  every 
tie  of  nature  and  sanction  of  law  to  secure  [them]  from  vio- 
lation. Nevertheless,  as  the  crime  alleged  is  pecuniary,  I 
should  suppose  Mr.  Sweers  might  be  set  at  liberty,  if  any 
means  can  be  contrived  to  secure  the  United  States  from 
any  loss,  if  fraud  should  appear.     I  will  therefore  make 

VOL.  L  28 


218  LIFE  OP  TIMOTHY  FICEEBINa.  [1778. 

known  to  the  Treasury  Board  your  wishes  and  offer  of 
sureties  without  delay,  and  take  such  other  steps  as  shall 
lead  to  procure  Mr.  Sweers  all  reasonable  relief.  I. am 
really  grieved  at  an  event  which  must  necessarily  give  you 
so  much  pain.  The  distress  must  unavoidably  be  so  great, 
that  no  person  of  the  least  sensibility  would  willingly  have 
added  to  it,  but,  in  executing  the  order  of  Congress,  have 
treated  you  and  3'our  family  with  all  possible  tenderness 
and  indulgence.     I  am,"  &c. 

On  the  1st  of  August  a  letter  from  the  Board  of 
War  was  read  in  Congress,  representing  that  Sweers 
had  been  secured  in  such  manner  as  the  Board  deemed 
sufficient  while  it  remained  doubtful  in  a  degree  whether 
or  not  he  had  been  guilty  of  frauds  against  the  States ; 
but  that,  the  matter  being  now  reduced  to  a  certainty, 
and  the  sums  deficient  amounting  to  many  thousand 
pounds,  the  Board  were  uneasy  at  his  remaining  guarded 
only  by  sentries.  Thereupon  it  was  ordered  by  Con- 
gress, that  Sweers  be  immediately  confined  in  the  public 
jail  in  Philadelphia,  and  that  he  be  charged,  generally, 
with  malconduct  in  his  office,  and,  particularly,  with  the 
crime  of  forgery. 

Sweers  then,  in  the  hope  of  obtaining  favor  for  him- 
self, wrote  letters  impUcating  his  superior;  and,  on 
the  3d  of  August,  Congress  passed  the  following 
orders :  — 

**  Colonel  Benjamin  Flower,  Commissary-General  of  Mil- 
itary Stores,  being  charged  with  malconduct  in  the  execution 
of  his  office,  — 

''  Ordered,  that  he  be  arrested  and  safely  kept  until  the 
further  order  of  Congress. 

"  Ordered,  that  the  Board  of  War  carry  into  execution 
the  above  order."* 

*  JoumalB  of  Congressy  Vol.  lY.  pp.  489,  440,  441. 


^T.  SS.;\  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  219 

The  next  day  the  following  letter  from  the  Board  of 
War  was  sent  to  the  President  of  Congress :  — 

"War  Ofpice,  August  4th,  1778. 

"Sir, 

"Yesterday  afternoon  the  Board  received  an  order  of 
Congress,  that  Colonel  Flower,  Commissary-General  of  Mil- 
itary Stores,  being  charged  with  misconduct  in  the  execution 
of  his  office,  should  be  arrested  and  safety  kept.  The  word 
arrest  J  in  military  language,  has  a  determinate  signification ; 
but  the  phrase  safely  kept  does  not  ascertain  the  manner  in 
which  Colonel  Flower  should  be  secured.  He  may  be  put 
under  guard,  or  confined  in  jail ;  the  latter  only  will  insure 
his  being  safely  kept.  But,  before  either  be  done,  we  entreat 
Congi-ess  to  permit  us  to  observe,  that  Colonel  Flower  has, 
till  this  time,  ever  sustained  the  fairest  character ;  that  in 
all  his  transactions  with  this  Board  he  has  ever  discovered 
the  strongest  marks  of  pure  integrity,  and  nice,  unblemished 
honor,  great  diligence,  knowledge,  and  activity  in  business, 
and  the  most  disinterested  patriotism.  In  one  word,  we 
should  have  pronounced  him  a  public  officer  of  singular 
worth.  Even  the  first  imputation  against  him,  —  that  of  a 
supposed  negligence  in  not  minutely  examining  Sweers's 
accounts  (if  in  fact  he  did  not) ,  —  we  believe,  arose  from  his 
own  guileless,  unsuspecting  honesty :  the  event,  however, 
would  have  taught  him  sufficient  caution  in  future. 

"With  these  sentiments,  it  was  matter  of  surprise  and 
grief  to  find  him  charged  with  malconduct,  and  such  mal- 
conduct  as  required  his  person  to  be  safely  kept.  But  our 
pain  did  not  spring  from  an  apprehension  that  he  would 
be  found  guilty.  We  felt  for  a  man  appearing  to  us  pos- 
sessed of  the  keenest  sensibility,  integrity,  and  honor.  He 
is  laboring,  too,  under  an  ill  habit  of  body,  the  effect  of  great 
fatigues  and  exposures  in  the  public  service  upon  a  con- 
stitution naturally  delicate.  We  even  feared  the  conse- 
quences might  be  fatal,  and  that  he  might  fall  a  victim  to 
the  malice  of  a  detected  villain,  unless  the  motions  of  an 


220  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  [1778. 

indignant  spirit  should  support  and  invigorate  a  feeble 
frame. 

<<  Possessed  of  sentiments  like  these,  Congress  will  see 
with  what  extreme  pain  and  reluctance  the  Board  must  have 
carried  the  resolve  into  execution,  had  Colonel  Flower,  at 
the  time  of  receiving  it,  been  within  our  reach.  We  may 
possibly  be  mistaken ;  but  we  are  still  sanguine,  that  Colo- 
nel Flower  will  manifest  his  innocence.  The  charge  origi- 
nates from  a  man  against  whom  there  is  clear  evidence  of 
the  most  palpable  frauds,  and  who,  though  conscious  of  his 
guilt,  has  had  the  effrontery  to  make  to  this  Board  repeated 
and  solemn  protestations  of  his  innocence.  We  know,  too, 
that  his  wife  (who  has  been  with  him  almost  continually 
since  she  came  to  town)  repeatedly  discovered  strong  marks 
of  resentment  against  Colonel  Flower,  and  dropped  intima- 
tions that  he  was  the  cause  of  the  severities  (as  she  called 
them)  of  her  husband's  confinement.  We  cannot,  therefore, 
from  a  view  of  all  circumstances,  but  conclude,  that  revenge 
and  some  other  obvious  motives  are  the  sole  foundation  of 
the  accusation  against  Colonel  Flower.  We  beg  leave  to 
add,  that  an  immediate  suspension  of  Colonel  Flower,  before 
any  steps  are  taken  preparatory  to  his  trial,  will  necessarily 
interrupt  and  retard  public  business,  and  in  the  midst  of  a 
campaign  may  prove  highly  injurious  to  the  States.  We 
have  not  the  most  distant  suspicion  that  he  would  attempt 
to  escape.  He  possesses  considerable  property  in  this 
city. 

"  For  these  reasons  we  beseech  Congress  to  excuse  an  im- 
mediate execution  of  the  order ;  or,  at  least,  that  a  military 
arrest  be  the  only  restraint  on  his  person ;  or,  if  the  order 
in  its  present  form  must  be  executed,  that  Congress  will  be 
pleased  to  declare,  explicitly,  what  is  intended  by  the  words 
safely  kept^  that  we  may  make  no  mistake  in  complying 
with  their  direction.  We  are,"  &c. 
«  By  order  of  the  Board, 

<*TiM.  Pickering, 

**  President.'' 


Mt.  33.]  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  221 

Upon  the  reading  of  this  letter  in  Congress,  on  the 
4th  of  August,  it  was  moved  to  resolve,  "  That  the  said 
letter,  signed,  *  By  order  of  the  Board,  Tim.  Pickering,* 
is  a  breach  of  the  privilege  of  Congress."  The  con- 
sideration of  this  resolution  was  postponed ;  and  it  was 
**  Resolved,  That  the  execution  of  the  resolution  of 
yesterday,  relative  to  the  arrest  of  Colonel  Benjamin 
Flower,  Commissary  of  Military  Stores,  be  committed 
to  Major-General  Arnold."  The  next  day  a  letter  from 
Arnold  was  read,  ^  informing  that^  in  pursuance  of  the 
resolution  of  Congress,  *  he  has  arrested  Colonel  Ben- 
jamin Flower  in  the  usual  manner,'  and  desiring  an 
explanation  of  the  resolution  with  respect  to  the  safe 
keeping  of  Colonel  Flower."  Whereupon  it  was  "Re- 
solved, That  Mr.  President  inform  Major-Gen  eral  Arnold, 
that  it  is  the  intention  of  Congress,  that  Colonel  Ben- 
jamin Flower  should  be  securely  kept  in  a  convenient 
room  under  a  suflBcient  guard." 

On  the  7th  of  August,  the  motion  made  on  the  4th 
respecting  the  letter  signed,  "  By  order  of  the  Board, 
Tim.  Pickering,"  being  withdrawn,  it  was  moved  to 
resolve :  — 

"That  it  is  the  duty  of  the  Board  of  War  implicitly  to 
obey  and  execute  every  order  or  direction  of  Congress, 
agreeably  to  the  terms  of  such  order  or  direction ;  and  that 
any  neglect  or  delay  in  executing  any  order  of  Congress, 
and  every  excuse  for  disobedience,  and  any  evasion  to  exe- 
cute such  order,  is  a  breach  of  duty,  and  derogatory  to  the 
authority,  honor,  and  dignity  of  Congress :  That  the  letter 
of  the  4th  instant,  signed,  'By  order  of  the  Board,  Tim. 
Pickering,'  cannot  be  considered  the  act  of  the  Board  of 
War,  because  the  resolve  of  Congress  of  the  21st  day  of 
April  requires  that  not  less  than  three  persons  be  present 
to  constitute  a  Board  of  War :  That  T.  Pickering,  Esq. ,  by 


222  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  [1778. 

writing  the  said  letter,  and  Richard  Peters,  Esq.,  by  assent- 
ing thereto,  were  guilty  of  a  high  insult  to  this  House : 
That,  by  requesting  Congress  to  excuse  them  from  an  im- 
mediate execution  of  their  order  to  arrest  and  safely  keep 
Colonel  Benjamin  Flower,  they  were  guilty  of  a  breach  of 
duty :  That,  by  requesting  Congress  that  a  military  arrest 
should  be  the  only  restraint  on  the  person  of  Colonel  Flower, 
they  were  guilty  of  a  disobedience  to  the  authority  of  Con- 
gress :  That  their  offering  reasons  to  prove  the  innocence 
of  Colonel  Flower  was  insolent  and  afirontive :  That,  by 
expressing  their  extreme  pain  and  reluctance  to  carry  [into 
execution]  the  resolve  of  Congress  to  arrest  and  safely  keep 
Colonel  Flower,  they  were  guilty  of  a  disobedience  to  the 
power  and  authority  of  Congress,  and  that  their  conduct 
was  insolent  and  affrontive  to  the  honor  and  dignity  of 
Congress.'' 

In  lieu  of  this  ebullition  of  excitement,  an  amend- 
ment was  moved,  directing  Colonel  Pickering  and  Colo- 
nel Peters  to  attend  at  the  bar  of  the  House,  to  answer 
questions  touching  the  order  requiring  the  Board  of 
War  to  arrest  and  safely  keep  Colonel  Flower^  and 
touching  their  letter  of  the  4th  of  August  The  con- 
sideration of  this  amendment  was  postponed  to  the  next 
day,  when  the  following  letter,  draughted  by  Colonel 
Peters,  and  addressed  to  the  President  of  Congress, 
was  read:  — 

<<  Wab  Office,  August  8th,  1778. 

"  Sib, 
"  We  are  extremely  concerned  to  hear,  that  a  letter  ad- 
dressed to  you  on  the  subject  of  Colonel  Flower's  arrest 
has  given  offence  to  Congress.  We  are  much  pained  at  the 
recollection,  that  the  attention  of  Congress  should  be  drawn 
off  from  more  important  concerns  by  any  proceeding  of  ours. 
We  mean,  on  every  occasion,  to  lend  our  feeble  aid  in 
forwarding  the  public  business,  and  never  intentionally  to 


JEt.  83,]  LIFE  or  TIMOTHY  PICKEEmG.  223 

embarrass  Congress,  or  thwart  their  measures.  In  the  case 
in  question,  we  thought  the  order  not  perfectly  clear,  and 
therefore  asked  an  explanation.  A  favorable  opinion  of 
Colonel  Flower,  acquired  by  an  attention  to  his  conduct  as 
a  public  officer,  and  our  feeling  for  his  present  infirm  con- 
dition, prevailed  too  far,  and  induced  us  to  mix  private 
sentiments  in  a  public  letter,  and  (we  confess,  very  improp- 
erly) to  travel  into  the  evidence  inducing  Congress  to  give 
the  order.  As  we  would  not  wish  anything  to  remain  on  the 
files  of  Congress  which  has  given  them  offence,  we  entreat 
the  return  of  the  letter,  especially  as  the  occasion  of  writing 
it  does  not  now  exist,  as  Colonel  Flower  is  confined,  agreea- 
bly to  the  intention  of  Congress ;  which  they  explained,  as 
we  are  informed,  to  General  Arnold.    We  are,''  &c. 

"Tm.  Pickering, 
<<  Richard  Peters.** 


Colonel  Pickering,  at  the  same  time,  wrote  to  the 
President  of  Congress  as  follows : — 

<*  War  Offios,  Augost  8th,  1778. 

"Sir, 
^'It  is  with  concern  I  hear  that  a  letter  sent  from  the 
Board  of  War,  the  4th  instant,  and  signed  by  me,  has 
given  offence  to  Congress ;  and  that  it  has  been  imagined, 
by  some  of  the  members,  that  my  colleague,  Mr.  Peters, 
was  the  principal  author  of  such  parts  of  it  as  have 
awakened  the  displeasure  of  the  Honorable  House.  As  I 
feel  my  honor  concerned  in  not  giving  weight,  by  my  silence, 
to  suspicions  which  may  prove  injurious  to  another  person, 
I  flatter  myself  Congress  will  pardon  my  taking  up  their 
time  in  simply  stating  to  them  in  what  manner  it  originated. 
Colonel  Flower  I  knew  was  a  man  of  exquisite  sensibility. 
He  was  sick,  though  abroad;  and  I  doubted  whether  he 
could  survive  a  close  confinement:  humanity  wished  him 
relief.  I  thought  him  an  officer  of  uncommon  fidelity,  and 
that  justice  demanded  our  testimony  in  his  favor.    It  hap- 


224  LIFB  OP  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  [1778. 

pened  that  I  heard  on  what  grounds  the  order  was  given. 
I  thought  the  world,  who  knew  Colonel  Flower's  character 
and  conduct  in  the  public  service,  and  the  character  of  Mr. 
Sweers,  would  deem  the  evidence  of  the  latter,  circum- 
stanced as  it  was,  too  slender  to  subject  the  former  to  the 
disgrace  and  inconveniences  of  being  put  in  safe  custody, 
/supposed,  therefore,  that  the  honor  of  Congress  was  con- 
cerned, and  that  it  was  our  duty,  as  public  officers,  to  give 
such  information  as  might  happily  prevent  the  execution  of 
a  measure,  which,  in  its  consequences,  might  detract  from 
the  dignity  and  lessen  the  influence  of  Congress.  Colonel 
Flower  being  the  active  head  of  a  very  important  depart- 
ment, I  feared  his  sudden  suspension  (which  might,  as  in 
similar  instances,  continue  for  months  before  a  trial  could 
possibly  be  had)  would,  in  the  midst  of  a  campaign,  prove 
greatly  injurious  to  these  States,  and  that,  from  a  regard  to 
the  public  interest,  we  were  bound  to  mention  it.  Added 
to  this,  the  order  did  not  appear  to  us  sufficiently  explicit ; 
which  induced  us  to  ask  an  explanation. 

^Impressed,  Sir,  with  these  sentiments,  in  the  simplicity 
and  warmth  of  my  heart  I  wrote  the  letter  in  question. 
Mr.  Peters  wrote  a  letter  on  the  occasion  in  a  different  form. 
I  ofiered  an  objection  to  it,  and  then  read  my  own.  We 
had  no  time  to  lose ;  the  day  was  far  spent.  We  feared  the 
House  would  rise ;  and  I  was  concerned  lest  we  should  miss 
the  only  oppoi*tunity  of  obtaining  a  relaxation  of  the  order 
before  Colonel  Flower  came  to  town.  So  Mr.  Peters, 
though  not  altogether  satisfied,  agreed  that  my  hasty  draught 
should  be  sent;  expecting,  as  he  has  since  informed  me, 
that  it  would  go  through  the  hands  of  Mr.  Duer,  who,  as 
one  of  the  Board,  would  judge  of  the  propriety  of  it. 
Whatever,  therefore.  Congress  may  determine  concerning 
it,  I  wish  the  consequences  may  be  confined  to  me.  It 
will  make  me  very  unhappy  if  my  rashness  should  subject 
another  man  to  censure.  I  am,  Sir,  respectfully,  your 
most  obedient  servant, 

"Tim.  PicKEBma.'* 


JEt.  88.]  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  225 

On  the  same  8th  of  August  it  was  resolved,  ^  That 
Congress  do  admit  the  letter  of  this  date,  signed,  *  Tim. 
Pickering '  and  *  Bichard  Peters,'  as  a  sufficient  atone- 
ment for  the  letter  of  the  4th  instant  signed,  ^By  order 
of  the  Board,  Tim.  Pickering.*  ^ 

Colonel  Pickering,  writing  to  his  wife  on  the  11th  of 
August)  says,  in  reference  to  this  aflair  of  Colonel 
Flower :  — 

^A  general  account  of  it  is  contained  in  the  enclosed 
letter  to  brother  Williams.  I  send  it  to  you,  because  it  is 
a  pleasure  to  me  to  communicate  it,  and  because  I  know 
you  would  wish  to  be  acquainted  with  everything  affecting 
my  character  and  conduct.  A  more  particular  account  I 
must  reserve  till  I  shall  be  indulged  the  happiness  of  giving 
it  to  you  with  my  own  mouth.  My  intention  is,  that  you 
should  keep  the  letter  to  yourself,  for  the  present ;  but,  if 
you  hear  any  reports  about  the  matter  to  my  disadvantage, 
then  deliver  the  letter  to  Mr.  Williams,  to  show  it  for  my 
justification. 

«*I  have  the  satisfaction  to  inform  you,  that  I  have  lost 
no  ground  by  the  affair,  unless  perhaps  with  the  illiberal  and 
cruel.  It  has,  I  am  told  by  some  friends,  represented  me 
in  an  amiable  light  to  every  candid  and  generous  mind. 
You,  my  sweet  girl,  I  know  will  do  me  the  justice  to  believe, 
that  I  acted  from  the  purest  and  most  disinterested  motives ; 
that  what  I  did  was  dictated  by  truth,  justice,  and  humanity. 
And  I  trust  you  know  also,  that,  when  acting  under  the  in- 
fluence of  those  principles,  it  is  not  my  temper  to  be  anxious 
about  personal  consequences.  Not  that  I  am  indifferent  to 
praise  or  censure ;  I  could  wish  for  the  approbation  of  all 
mankind ;  but,  to  give  me  any  pleasure,  it  must  be  attended 
with  a  consciousness  that  I  deserve  it.  Merely  to  gain 
applause,  I  do  not  recollect  that  I  ever  did  anything  in  my 
life.  If  it  followed  the  doing  what  appeared  to  be  my  duty, 
it  made  me  happy ;  if,  in  such  case,  it  was  denied  me,  yet, 

VOL.  L  29 


226  LITE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  [1778. 

conscious  of  the  rectitude  of  my  intentions,  I  enjoyed  tran- 
quillity and  peace  of  mind.     •  .  . 

*^I  did  not  know,  while  the  affair  above  mentioned  was  in 
agitation,  but  Congress  would  have  eased  us  of  our  anxiety, 
by  letting  me  go  home,  not  to  return :  perhaps  you  would 
not  have  been  sorry,  provided  I  had  nothing  to  reproach 
myself  with  as  the  occasion  of  it.'' 

In  another  letter  to  his  wife,  dated  the  18th  of  August, 
Colonel  Pickering  recurs  to  the  same  subject :  — 

"In  my  last,  by  Captain  Joseph  White,  I  enclosed  an 
account  of  the  proceedings  of  Congress  relative  to  Colonel 
Flower,  and  to  Mr.  Peters  and  me.  I  have  forgotten 
whether  I  mentioned  our  having  written  an  explanatory 
letter  to  Congress,  who,  thereupon,  voted  it  satisfactory. 
A  committee  of  Congress  have  since  examined  into  the 
charge  against  Colonel  Flower,  and  find  him  innocent ;  and 
so  reported  him  to  Congress,  and  moved  that  he  should  be 
discharged  with  honor:  but,  forgetting  one  small  circum- 
stance in  point  of  time,  it  gave  occasion  to  one  member  to 
propose  a  reexamination;  and  a  new  committee  was  ap- 
pointed accordingly.  But  I  would  venture  to  vouch  for 
Flower's  innocence  as  soon  as  for  my  own.  The  villain 
who  accused  him  confessed  to  the  committee,  that  he  could 
lay  nothing  to  Flower,  except  the  single  article  he  alleged 
against  him.  But  'tis  evident  the  rascal  persisted  in  this 
merely  because  he  first  raised  the  lie  and  afterwards  swore 
to  it.  And  the  committee,  on  examination  into  the  sup- 
posed fraud,  found  it  could  amount  only  to  eight  pounds 
odd,  of  which  there  was  not  the  shadow  of  proof  but  the 
accusation  of  an  abandoned  wretch  who  has  defrauded  the 
Continent  of  thousands,  and  for  which  he  was  then,  and  is 
still,  in  close  jail.  Had  Congress  been  disposed  to  receive 
the  information  the  Board  offered  them,  they  would  have 
prevented  much  distress  to  Colonel  Flower,  and  they  would 
have  prevented  a  diminution  of  their  own  honor  and  a  great 
loss  to  the  public ;  for  I  expect,  as  soon  as  Colonel  Flower's 


^.T.  33.]  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  227 

character  is  cleared  from  dishonorable  imputations,  that  he 
will  resign  :  and  a  more  honest  and  valuable  officer  I  do  not 
know  anywhere.** 

Justice  was  at  length  done  to  Colonel  Flower.  On 
the  24th  of  August,  the  committee  to  whom  were  re- 
ferred the  papers  relative  to  him  and  Sweers  reported, 
among  other  things,  that,  having  confronted  Sweers 
and  Colonel  Flower,  the  latter  positively  denied  every 
part  of  the  charge  against  him  by  the  former;  that 
Sweers,  during  his  examination,  appeared  to  be  under 
fears  and  apprehensions ;  that  Colonel  Flower,  during 
his  examination,  appeared  possessed  of  a  confidence 
of  his  innocence ;  and  that,  in  the  opinion  of  the  com- 
mittee, the  integrity  of  Colonel  Flower  stands  unspot- 
ted, notwithstanding  the  charge  by  Sweers. 

Thereupon  the  following  resolution  was  passed :  — 

"Whereas,  After  minute  inquiry,  it  has  appeared  to 
Congress,  that  the  integrity  of  Colonel  Benjamin  Flower, 
Commissary-General  of  Military  Stores,  remains  unspotted, 
notwithstanding  the  charge  by  Cornelius  Sweers,  Deputy 
Commissary-General  of  Military  Stores,  against  Colonel 
Flower,  for  fraud  in  his  office,  — 

"Resolved,  That  Colonel  Benjamin  Flower  be  discharged 
from  his  arrest,  and  permitted  to  resume  the  functions  of 
his  office." 

Many  years  later,  this  aflfair  became  the  subject  of 
the  following  correspondence  between  Judge  Peters 
and  Colonel  Pickering.  A  comparison  of  it  with  the 
foregoing  letters  and  Journals  of  Congress  will  show 
(as  might  well  be  expected)  some  inaccuracies  of  recol- 
lection. Mr.  Peters  mentions  certain  additional  cir- 
cumstances.    In  his  letter  dated  Belmont  (his  country 


228  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  [1778. 

seat,  near  Philadelphia),  September  17th,  1823,  he 
says :  — 

"Dear  Sir, 
**  By  mere  accident  I  took  up,  a  day  or  two  ago,  the  first 
volume  of  the  Secret  Journals  of  Congress,  sent  to  me  by 
the  Secretary  of  State,  who  is  authorized  to  distribute  them ; 
and,  at  the  opening  of  the  book,  the  81st  page  presented 
itself.  With  surprise  I  saw,  —  *  August  4th,  1778. — A 
letter  of  this  day^  from  the  Board  of  War,  •  .  .  was 
read.'  ** 

After  a  statement  of  specific  charges  contained  in 
the  motions  made  on  the  4th  and  7th  of  August^  the 
letter  proceeds :  — 

<<Then  a  sweeping  philippic  on  our  conduct,  as  insolent 
and  afirontive.  An  amendment,  in  lieu  of  the  whole,  was 
moved,  —  that  we  should  be  directed  to  attend  the  House 
to  answer  questions.  .  .  .  The  further  consideration  of 
this  wa»  postponed  to  the  next  day,  by  yeas  and  nays. 
Meantime,  several  of  the  members,  who  had  been  under 
much  prejudice  and  sensation,  but  had  reflected  calmly  on 
the  subject,  called  on  us,  in  a  friendly  way,  and  desired  us 
to  write  some  letter  which  would  afford  them,  and  possibly 
the  House,  an  opportunity  of  justifying  them  in  giving  the 
aflTair  the  turn  we  had  requested  :  that  was,  to  order  General 
Arnold,  who  then  commanded  the  troops  in  the  city,  to 
execute  the  order  of  Congress.  We  complied  with  their 
wishes ;  *  knowing  that  Arnold  could  arrest  Flower  only 
according  to  military  rules,  he  [Flower]  being  a  Colonel  in 
the  line,  commanding  the  regiment  of  artillery  artificers, 
as  well  as  Commissary-General  of  Military  Stores.  You, 
having  written  the  first  letter,  requested  me  to  write  the 
last,  which  I  accordingly  did.     There  were  no  other  mem- 

*  That  the  resolution  that  Arnold  should  make  the  arrest,  originated  with 
Colonels  Peters  and  Pickering,  seems  doubtful,  as  this  resolution  was  passed 
on  the  same  day  on  whieh  the  offensive  letter  was  read  in  Congress. 


^T.  38.]  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERINO.  229 

bers  of  the  Board,  either  active  or  attendant.  •  The  whole 
of  the  arduous  labors  was  generally  thrown  on  us ;  and  we 
cared  nothing  about  precedency.  Sometimes  one  of  us, 
and  sometimes  the  other,  styled  ourselves  President^  in 
letters  or  papers,  according  as  the  one  or  the  other  did  the 
business;  and  most  commonly  signed  without  such  addi- 
tion. After  you  left  me,t  the  Board,  very  commonly, 
consisted  of  myself ,  though  occasionally  others  attended. 
Sometimes  members  of  Congress  were  authorized  to  com- 
pose part  of  the  Board.  But  they  were,  ibr  the  most  part, 
solemn  witnesses. 

'<  I  calculated  the  last  letter  so  as  to  avoid  everything  like 
warmth,  and  yet  firmly  to  adhere  to  our  first  opinion,  de- 
claring, at  the  same  time,  most  sincerely,  that  we  had  not 
the  most  distant  idea  of  treating  Congress  with  disrespect. 
We  considered  ourselves  bound  to  regard  military  rank  and 
rules,  and  so  to  act  as  not  to  offend  the  feelings  of  the 
officers  by  treating  one  of  respectable  rank,  and  to  us  well 
known,  —  having  been  long  under  our  immediate  notice, — 
as  a  criminal,  guilty  of  a  base  and  scandalous  offence.  I 
concluded  the  letter  by  expressing  our  satisfaction  that  Goii" 
gress  had  placed  the  matter  in  the  train  we  had  suggested:  % 
which  had  been  done.  I  speak  from  memory,  which,  in 
such  cases,  is  yet  faithful ;  the  letters  and  all  the  War-Office 
papers  having  been  burnt  at  AVashington.  The  conclusion 
I  well  remember ;  because  some  member  of  Congress  had 
charged  me  with  writing  the  first  letter ;  declaring  you  to 
be  more  prudent.  Now,  the  fact  being  directly  the  reverse, 
you  —  d  la  mode  de  Pickering  —  wrote  (unknown  to  me, 

*  According  to  Colonel  Pickering's  letter  of  August  8th,  1778,  to  the  Presi- 
dent of  Congress,  Mr.  Peters  expected  that  their  letter  of  the  4th  would  go 
through  the  hands  of  Mr.  Duer,  one  of  the  Board.    See  page  224. 

t  About  the  5th  of  August,  1780,  when  Colonel  Pickering  was  appointed 
Quartermaster-General. 

X  This  allegation  seems  not  strictly  in  accordance  with  the  letter.  (See 
page  226.)  But  the  first  letter  to  Congress  requested  an  explanation  of 
the  terms  safely  kept,  in  the  order  to  arrest  Colonel  Flower,  and  the  conclu- 
sion of  the  second  letter  reminds  them  significantly y  that  to  General  Arnold, 
who  had  made  the  like  request,  they  had  explained  their  intention. 


230  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERmG.  [1778. 

who  would  not  have -so  done)  to  Congress,  that  you  had 
written  the  letter,  and  I  had  reluctantly  consented  to  some 
passages  in  it,  objecting  to  the  phraseology,  though  agi'ee- 
ing  cordially  in  the  general  sentiments.  Old  Dr.  Wither- 
spoon,  member  for  New  Jersey,  who  had  been  heated  up 
(as  were  the  members  of  Congress  generally)  by  the  novel 
and  supposed  atrocity  of  Flower,  and  always  had  voted  for 
the  censure  on  us,  said  '  he  was  glad  of  the  opportunity 
of  closing  an  unpleasant  business,  as  it  regarded  us,  who 
always  had  been  heretofore  known  and  esteemed  as  faithful 
officers.'  He  said,  sarcastically,  in  his  appropriate  style, 
that,  *  though  there  had  been  allegations  and  doubts  as  to 
the  writer  of  the  first  letter,  there  could  be  none  in  relation 
to  the  writer  of  the  second.  It  was  epigrammatical^  and 
had  a  sting  in  the  tail  of  it,  whereof  he  wjis  willing  to  bear 
his  share.'  This  was  related  to  me  by  my  friend  Robert 
Morris,  who  was  also  rejoiced  at  getting  rid  of  the  business, 
which  he  declared  he  had  not,  at  first,  sufficiently  under- 
stood. And  in  this  many  others  concurred,  who  occasion- 
ally and  amicably  conversed  with  me  on  the  subject.  The 
resolve  of  August  8th,  on  which  day,  it  appears,  our  last 
letter  was  dated,  recites  its  having  been  read ;  and  it  was 
moved  to  resolve,  *  That  Congress  do  admit  the  letter  of 
this  date,  signed  T,  Pickering  and  R.  Peters,  as  a  sufficient 
atonement  for  the  letter  of  the  4th  instant,  signed  By  order 
of  the  Boards  T.  Pickering  J*  After  a  motion  for  the  pre- 
vious question,  which  was  negatived,  the  main  question  was 
put,  and  carried  in  the  affirmative.  Thus  ended,  to  the  no 
small  pleasure  of  the  members  generally,  av  misconceived 
business ;  which  was  the  first  and  the  last  misunderstanding, 
or  want  of  harmony,  between  Congress  and  either  of  us, 
during  your  stay  in  the  Board,  or  my  abidance  in  the  de- 
partment from  its  first  institution,  in  June,  1776,  until  I 
turned  over,  in  November,  1781,  its  duties  to  General 
Lincoln  ;  as  may  be  seen  in  the  old  Journals  of  that  highly 
respectable  and  meritorious  body  of  Revolutionary  patriots, 
who  meant  well  even  in  their  errors. 


JEt,  83.]  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  231 

"  You  must  remember,  that,  on  the  information  to  Con- 
gress of  an  atrocious  villain,  Cornelius  Sweers  (a  deputy 
under  Colonel  Flower) ,  who  was  then  imprisoned  under  a 
charge  of  peculation  of  public  stores,  and,  whilst  in  durance, 
had  accused  the  Colonel  of  frauds  in  his  oflBlce,  to  gain  favor 
for  himself,  the  Board  was  ordered  ^to  arrest  and  confine 
Colonel  Flower  in  jail  J*  * 

"  This  was  deemed  by  us  unmilitary  and  hasty ;  though  we 
were  ready  to  cause  Flower,  although  we  knew  him  to  be 
innocent,  to  be  arrested  in  the  manner  all  officers,  by  the 
rules  of  military  discipline,  should  be  treated.  All  we 
wished  was,  to  give  Congress  the  opportunity  of  reconsid- 
ering the  matter  as  to  the  mode  of  inquiry  into  his  conduct. 
Arnold  ordered  a  Court  of  Inquiry,  or  Court  Martial;  I 
forget  which. t  But  the  result  was,  that  Flower  was  most 
honorably  and  justly  acquitted.  Sweers  was  tried  under 
State  authority,  and  found  guilty,  and  punished  by  fine, 
pillory i  and  imprisonment,  on  sundry  charges.  Both  trials 
were  fairly,. carefully,  and  ably  conducted,  and  our  views 
of  the  business  thus  indisputably  confirmed  and  appreciated. 
How  the  word  *  atonement '  crept  into  the  closing  resolution 
of  Congress,  I  cannot  account.  There  was  nothing  in  our 
letters  to  warrant  the  expression, ^  and  the  ultimate  issue 
fully  justified  us.  We  lamented,  more  than  anything  relat- 
ing to  ourselves,  that  Congress  had  been  induced,  by  a  too 
ardent  zeal  for  punishing  breaches  of  duty,  to  proceed 
rigorously  and  unjustifiably  against  a  meritorious,  and,  to 
us,  an  essentially  useful  officer,  whose  conduct  was  imme- 
diately and  constantly  under  our  observation;  and  that 
without  even  the  oath  of  the  unworthy  accuser.  See  old 
Journal  for  August,  1778,  p.  439. 

♦  "To  arrest  and  safely  keep"  were  the  terms  of  the  order  as  adopted; 
confinement  in  jail  was  proposed  in  previous  motions.  —  Journals  of  Corir 
gress,  Vol.  IV.  pp.  439,  440. 

t  According  to  Colonel  Fickering*s  letter  of  August  18th,  1778  (page  226), 
the  investigation  was  made  hy  committees  of  Congress. 

X  The  reader  of  the  second  letter  from  the  Board  may  perhaps  dissent 
from  this  opinion.     See  page  223. 


232  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  [1773 

<' There  is  not  one  of  the  members  mentioned  in  the 
Secret  Journal  of  yeas  and  nays  as  voting  on  the  several 
questions  —  in  all  twenty-five  —  now  alive.  So  that  we  are 
left  without  contemporary  witnesses ;  and  the  proceedings 
of  the  Court  Martial,  or  Inquiry,  are  burnt.  I  think  it  is 
incumbent  on  us  to  place,  somewhere,  a  full  explanation  of 
the  whole  matter,  as  the  Secret  Journal  is  now  published 
to  the  world.  I  always  understood,  and  was  so  informed 
by  several  of  the  members,  that  the  whole  proceedings  had 
been  obliterated  by  Congress. 

^  I  have  called  to  your  recollection  this  antiquated  trans- 
action, of  forty-five  years  of  age,  that  you  hiay  advise  what 
is  best  to  be  done.  At  least  we  should  leave  with  our 
friends  or  families,  to  guard  against  misrepresentations 
hereafter,  some  authentic  account  of  a  business  which  now 
appears  in  the  Secret  Journals  unmeritedly  to  reflect  on  our 
conduct.  Would  it  be  advisable  to  publish  anything,  and 
what,  about  it?  I  did  not  wish  to  publish  without  consult- 
ing you.  This  letter  contains  all  I  could  say  or  writQ  on  the 
subject. 

"With  a  sincere  esteem,  older  than  this  unnecessarily 
revived  Jittle  tornado,  always  aflFectionately  yours, 

**  Richard  Peters.** 

Colonel  Pickering,  doubtless  not  recollecting  that 
copies  of  the  letters  to  Congress  were  among  his  own 
papers,  wrote,  in  answer  to  Mr.  Peters,  on  the  21st  of 
October,  1823 :  — 

**  Your  statement  of  the  affair  brings  to  my  recollection 
the  substance  of  the  transaction ;  and  if  you  will  take  the 
trouble  to  make  a  formal  one,  to  leave,  by  duplicate,  in  the 
hands  of  our  children,  inperpetuam  rei  memorianij  we  will 
both  sign  it.  Send  me  yours,  signed  by  you,  which  I  will 
sign  and  keep.  I  will  make  out  the  duplicate,  sign  and  send 
it  to  you  for  the  same  purpose.  This  is  agreeable  to  your 
own  intimation,  at  the  close  of  your  letter,  and  better,  in 


JEt.  83.]  LIFE  OP  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  233 

my  present  view,  than  any  publication.  An  extremely  smalt 
number  of  persons  will  ever  see  the  Journals ;  and,  if  some 
malevolent  creature  .  .  .  should  give  publicity  to  the 
Flower  affair,  our  declaration  under  our  hands,  to  explain 
and  justify  our  conduct,  may  then  be  made  public,  either 
by  ourselves  or  our  posterity,  as  the  case  may  be. 

"  P.  S.  Our  reasons  for  not  arresting  Flower,  as  ordered, 
will  be  an  essential  part  of  your  statement.  I  do  not  re- 
member ever  to  have  signed  a  letter,  *By  order  of  the  Board,* 
as  President.*  If  I  wrote  a  letter,  I  signed  it;  and  you 
signed  yours." 

To  this  Judge  Peters  replied,  under  date  of  the  2d  of 
November,  saying  he  would  prepare  a  statement 

"'  I  will  do  it  the  first  moment  of  leisure ;  and  in  the  mean 
time  you  can  file  my  letter  to  you,  which  contains  all  I  can 
say  on  the  subject.  Some  such  explanation,  most  assuredly, 
we  should  leave  in  our  families ;  and,  if  we  should  be  com- 
pelled by  malevolence  or  gossiping  historiographers  to  pub- 
lish anything,  this  statement  may  be  at  hand  for  the  purpose. 
I  rejoice  that  my  career  has  been  such,  that,  either  from 
good  luck,  or  want  of  consequence  in  political  affaii's,  I 
have  been  very  much  exempted  from  the  necessity  of  public 
controversies.  I  believe  the  true  reason  is,  that  I  stand 
in  nobody's  way." 

*  Of  more  than  forty  letters  from  the  Board  of  War,  signed  by  Colonel 
Fickering,  of  which  I  have  copies,  not  one  has  the  addition  of  **  President," 
except  the  offending  letter  about  Colonel  Flower. 

veil.  L  30 


234  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  [1778. 


CHAPTER   XV. 

Reception  of  Gerard,  the  French  Minister.  —  Colonel  Pickering's 
{^  Father.  —  Steuhen's  Infantry  Regulations.  —  General  Sullivan's 
Complaints  of  the  Board  of  War.  —  Salaries  of  the  Members  of 
)  the  Board.  —  Depreciated  Currencj.  —  Colonel  Pickering's  Fru- 
;  gality.  —  The  Office  of  a  Judge  in  Massachusetts  proposed  to 
V  him.  —  His  intention  to  be  a  Commission  Merchant. 


The  following  extract  not  only  evinces  Colonel  Pick- 
ering's full  belief  in  the  maintenance  of  the  indepen- 
dence of  the  United  States,  but  contains  confident 
predictions  of  important  results  from  their  success  in 
the  war,  which  have  not  all  been  realized.  It  is  taken 
from  a  letter  to  his  wife,  dated  Philadelphia,  August 
7th,  1778. 

*'Must  not  superior  beings  be  struck  with  amazement 
when  they  behold  rational  creatures,  endowed,  too,  with  all 
the  qualities  requisite  to  form  the  kindest  and  most  friendly 
societies,  shedding,  with  savage  fury,  each  other's  blood? 
And  for  what?  To  possess  a  few  dirty  acres,  or  sordid 
gold ;  or,  perhaps,  only  for  the  pleasure  of  domineering. 
The  latter  seems  now  to  be  almost  the  only  motive  which 
induces  haughty  Britain  madly  to  continue  the  cruel  war 
which  her  avarice  first  began.  Though  conscious  that  our 
indepeudeuce  is  irrevocably  fixed,  she  is  too  proud  to 
acknowledge  it.  She  must  now  yield  up  more.  The 
United  States  will  not  make  peace  until  Canada,  Nova 
Scotia,  and  the  two  Floridas  are  also  recovered  to  freedom 
and  independence,  and  a  free  fishery  secured  to  New  Eng- 
land. Britain  has  long  been  the  tyrant  of  the  ocean  —  an 
element  which  Heaven  designed  for  the  equal  and  common 


iBT.  83.]  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKEmNG.  235 

use  of  every  nation.  She  will  not,  I  presume,  long  main- 
tain her  exclusive  dominion  over  it ;  and,  among  the  nations, 
the  rising  States  of  America  will  claim  an  equal  right  to 
traverse  every  part  of  it  uncontrolled.  .  .  .  She  did  not 
want  advisers,  who  saw  and  pointed  her  to  her  true  interest ; 
but  her  full-blown  pride  would  not  suffer  her  to  embrace 
it  by  doing  only  justice  to  the  people  she  despised." 

In  the  same  letter  is  this  anecdote  :  — 

"Yesterday  the  Sieur  Gerard,  Minister  Plenipotentiary 
from  the  court  of  France,  had  a  public  audience  in  Con- 
gress. The  letter  of  credence  from  Lewis  [Louis  XVI.] 
was  read.  The  Minister  was  then  presented  to  the  Presi- 
dent [Laurens]  and  members,  as  the  person  referred  to  in 
the  King's  letter.  He  then  addressed  the  President  and 
members  in  a  prepared  speech  in  French,  to  which  the 
President  replied  in  a  written  speech  in  English.  He 
then  withdrew.  The  matter  was  conducted  with  dignity 
and  propriety.  The  President  was  so  affected  with  the 
solemnity,  that  before  he  had  finished  his  speech  he  was 
seized  with  a  general  tremor,  [so]  that  he  had  some  trouble 
to  get  through  it." 

In  a  letter  dated  Philadelphia,  September  11th,  1778, 
to  his  wife,  Colonel  Pickering  recurs  to  the  death  and 
character  of  his  father.  He  also  mentions  his  proposed 
domestic  arrangements,  and  some  of  the  expenses  of 
living'  in  that  city.  From  the  prices  of  board  paid  by 
the  members  of  Congress  (twenty  dollars  a  week,  and 
at  one  house  thirty),  it  seems  that  they  were  made  to 
pay  for  their  oflBicial  dignity,  as  well  as  for  their  food 
and  lodging. 

"  Last  Monday  I  had  the  pleasure  of  receiving  j'our  favor 
of  the  19th  of  June.  .  .  .  This  letter  repeated  the  ac- 
count of  my  father's  death,  which  I  before  heard  from  Mr. 


236  LIFE  OP  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  [1779. 

Williams.  There  were  in  this  case  all  the  consolations 
friends  could  hare  wished  for.  He  doubtless  exchanged 
this  life  for  a  better,  and  in  his  last  moments  could  look 
back  with  pleasure  on  a  long  life  spent  in  the  fear  and 
sei-vice  of  God.  His  peculiarities  rather  deserve  respect, 
because  they  were  dictated  by  an  upright  heart,  and  were 
deemed  erroneous  only  because  they  did  not  coincide  with 
the  practices  or  fashions  of  the  world,  which  ever  was,  and 
is,  too  corrupt  to  be  governed  by  principles  founded  solely 
on  love  to  God  and  love  to  man.  .  .  .  By  neict  Monday's 
post  I  hope  to  receive  your  answer  to  my  letter  on  the  sub- 
ject of  your  coming  hither  with  me  in  the  fall.  In  one 
written  lately  I  informed  you  that  I  had  rented  a  house. 
...  I  hope  you  have  concluded  to  accompany  me  hither,  for 
every  reason  we  can  think  of,  except  the  separation  from 
our  friends.  ...  As  to  the  mode  of  conveyance,  I  think 
it  not  very  difficult.  The  mode  of  travelling  here  formerly 
was  in  stage-wagons,  similar  to  that  Captain  Nichols  goes 
home  in.  I  have  told  him  I  may  want  it  to  bring  my  family 
hither,  and  he  has  engaged  to  keep  it  till  I  get  home,  and 
to  give  me  the  refusal  of  it.  You  may  think  it  will  be  hard 
riding  in  such  a  carriage ;  but  the  middle  seat  is  not  bad. 
Besides,  I  will  get  the  seats  fixed  on  springs,  which  will 
make  them  easy  enough.  But  if  any  other  mode  of  con- 
veyance presents,  and  more  agreeable  to  you,  I  shall  cer- 
tainly prefer  it." 

The  manuscript  of  Baron  Steuben's  "  Regulations  for 
the  Infantry  of  the  United  States"  having  been  sub- 
mitted to  General  Washington's  examination,  he  wrote* 
to  the  Baron :  — 

"  One  precaution  is  rendered  necessary  by  your  writing 
in  a  foreign  tongue,  which  is,  to  have  the  whole  revised 
and  prepared  for  the  press  by  some  person  who  will  give 

♦  February  26th,  1779. 


^T.  33.]    *  LIFE  OP  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  237 

it  perspicuity  and  correctness  of  diction,  without  devi- 
ating fi-om  the  appropriate  terms  and  language  of  military 
science." 

Colonel  Pickering  having  formerly  published  a  work 
of  a  similar  nature,  and  being  habitually  attentive  to 
precision  in  his  own  compositions,  was  well  qualified  to 
perform  this  service;  and,  according  to  Mr.  Sparks,* 
he  ^'  superintended  the  publication  of  the  first  edition, 
bestowed  a  good  deal  of  pains  to  have  it  brought  out 
accurately,  and  probably  revised  and  corrected  the 
manuscript  for  the  press."  Colonel  Pickering,  by 
order  of  the  Board  of  War,  wrote  to  the  President  of 
Congress,  March  27th,  1779  :  — 

^The  Baron  Steuben,  Inspector-General,  having  formed 
a  83'stem  of  exercise  and  discipline  for  the  infantry  of  the 
United  States,  has  delivered  the  same  to  this  Board,  with 
a  request  that  we  would  present  the  same  to  Congress. 
This  we  have  now  the  honor  of  doing.  General  Washing- 
ton's remarks  have  been  incorporated  in  the  work.  It  has 
been  examined  with  attention  by  the  Board,  and  is  highly 
approved,  as  being  calculated  to  produce  important  advan- 
tages to  the  States.  We  beg  leave  to  join  the  Baron 
in  praying  it  may,  as  soon  as  possible,  have  the  sanction 
of  Congress,  that  it  may  be  committed  to  the  press  with 
that  expedition  which  the  advanced  season  of  the  year 
requires." 

In  a  friendly  letter  dated  "Camp,  Smith's  Clove,  New 
York,  June  12th,  1779,"  the  Baron  thus  acknowledges 
the  aid  he  had  received  from  Colonel  Pickering  :  — 

^'  Deab  Colonel, 
"  When  I  write  to  the  Board  of  War  to  complain  of  their 
not  granting  me  the  assistance  I  expected  from  them  in  my 

*  See  Sparks'B  "  Writings  of  Washington,"  Vol.  YI.  177,  and  note. 


238  LIFE  OP  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  [1779. 

operations,  it  is  not  to  my  friend  Mr.  Pickering  or  my 
friend  Mr.  Peters  I  write.  I  regard  and  esteem  you  equally, 
both ;  and  I  expect,  from  your  good  nature,  that  you  will 
not  find  fault  with  my  laying  before  the  Honorable  Board 
the  unhappy  circumstance  in  which  I  find  myself,  which' 
reduces  me  almost  to  despair. 

"  I  do  beg,  my  dear  Colonel,  you  will  lend  me  all  the 
assistance  in  your  power,  that  I  may  have,  without  delay, 
the  necessary  copies.  I  know  I  have  already  given  you  a 
considerable  deal  of  trouble ;  I  am  perfectly  sensible  that 
you  have  taken  all  possible  pains  for  the  correction  of  that 
work,  without  which  the  undertaking  would  never  have 
succeeded.  To  your  kind  assistance,  and  that  of  Captain 
Walker,  the  Regulations  owe  their  existence ;  you  have  it 
in  your  power  to  have  them  soon  reduced  into  practice. 

^*  Our  afiairs  are  now  in  a  more  critical  situation  than 
ever.  I  wish  we  may  make  up  by  good  order  for  what 
we  want  in  strength,  and  our  triumph  will  be  the  more 
glorious.*' 

The  inability  of  the  Board  of  War  to  meet  all  the 
demands  on  the  part  of  officers  in  the  army  subjected 
the  Board  at  times  to  undeserved  censure.  General 
Sullivan,  who  had  command  of  the  expedition  against 
the  Indians  of  the  Six  Nations,  and  bad  made  a  call 
upon  the  Board  for  large  quantities  of  clothing  and 
other  supplies,  complained  to  Congress  that  they 
had  not  been  furnished.  This  drew  forth  a  letter,  of 
August  4th,  1779,  from  Colonel  Pickering  to  Congress, 
in  behalf  of  the  Board,  in  which  he  detailed  the  requi- 
sitions made  by  General  Sullivan,  and  stated  how  far 
the  Board  had  complied  with  them.  Towards  the  end 
of  the  letter,  he  says :  — 

"  [General  Sullivan]  has  now  made  a  demand  of  one  thou- 
sand blankets  and  five  thousand  shirts,  which,  at  present, 
'tis  not  possible  to  comply  with.     Could  we  have  formed 


^T.  34.]  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERINa  239 

any  certain  judgment  of  the  quantity  of  clothing  requisite 
for  General  Sullivan's  army,  we  should  have  spared  no  pains 
to  supply  it ;  but  all  his  information  was  very  general :  we 
had  complied  with  every  requisition  from  the  Commander- 
in-Chief,  and  were  for  a  long  time  utterly  ignorant  of  the 
corps  destined  for  the  Indian  expedition,  excepting  those 
three  before  named.  Moreover,  General  Sullivan's  demands 
being  usually  on  a  large  scale,  we  deemed  some  caution 
necessary  in  granting  him  supplies.  He  asked  for  one 
thousand  spare  muskets  at  a  time  we  had  but  a  single  one 
in  store.  We  communicated  the  matter  to  General  Wash- 
ington, at  the  same  time  informing  him,  that  we  had  some 
time  before  ordered  two  hundred  stands  of  spare  arms  and 
accoutrements  complete  for  the  troops  under  General  Sul- 
livan; and  these  his  Excellency,  in  his  answer,  judged 
adequate  to  the  service.  From  this  view  of  the  matter 
we  humbly  conceive  it  will  appear,  that  the  Board  were  not 
in  fault,  if  General  Sullivan  has  not  been  supplied  with  the 
necessary  clothing  for  the  troops  under  his  command." 

Besides  complaining  to  Congress,  Sullivan  issued  a 
general  order  at  Wyoming,  on  the  21st  of  July  (which 
had  not  been  seen  by  Colonel  Pickering  when  he  wrote 
the  preceding  letter),  saying:- 

"  The  Commander-in-Chief  [Sullivan]  acquaints  the  army, 
that,  had  the  Board  of  War  complied  with  his  requisitions, 
and  even  their  own  engagements,  respecting  clothing,  the 
numerous  brave  and  virtuous  soldiers  at  this  post  would  not 
now  be  suffering  through  want  of  any  articles  in  that  way. 
Although  he  has  been  disappointed  from  time  to  time,  and 
has  almost  despaired  of  receiving  suitable  supplies,  yet, 
from  late  advice,  he  promises  himself  the  satisfaction  of 
relieving  the  absolute  necessities  of  the  troops  before  they 
move  from  hence." 

On  a  copy  of  this  order  Mr.  Peters  made  a  note : 
^  The  Board  never  made  a  single  engagement  on  the 
subject  with  General  Sullivan." 


240  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  [1779. 

By  a  letter  from  Mr.  Peters,  on  behalf  of  the  Board, 
to  General  Washington,  it  would  seem  that  Washing- 
ton had  been  addressed  by  them  on  the  subject  of 
Sullivan's  complaints. 

"  War  Office,  Angnst  28th,  1779.    - 

"  We  have  been  honored  with  your  Excellency's  favors 
of  the  21  St.  ...  We  return  your  Excellency  our  warm- 
est acknowledgments  for  the  candid  and  decisive  account 
you  have  given  to  Congress  of  the  charge  made  by  Gen- 
eral Sullivan  on  the  subject  of  clothing.  We  shall  think 
ourselves  fortunate,  if  calumny  must  fall  on  us,  to  have  it, 
ever,  so  clearly  in  our  power  to  exculpate  ourselves.  And, 
while  any  part  of  our  conduct  falling  under  your  Excel- 
lency's observation  meets  with  your  favorable  sentiments, 
we  with  much  sincerity  declare  there  are  very  few  quarters 
from  whence  censure  can  wound  our  feelings.  Your  senti- 
ments on  the  necessity  of  cultivating  harmony  among  per- 
sons engaged  in  the  same  pursuit  —  the  interest  and  safety 
of  our  country  —  are  perfectly  in  unison  with  our  opinions 
and  conduct.  Had  your  constant  example  been  followed 
by  General  Sullivan,  no  trouble  would  have  arisen  on  the 
present  occasion.  He  has  sent  us  a  copy  of  the  order  we 
complained  of,  and  still  insists  on  its  propriety.  His  letter 
accompanying  the  copy  is  so  full  of  forced  constructions 
and  uncandid  comments  on  our  letters,  with  such  ungenteel 
and  insulting  insinuations  superadded  thereto,  that  we  see 
little  prospect  of  his  doing  us  the  least  justice.  We  believe, 
however,  that  we  shall  put  an  end  to  the  controversy  with 
him  by  taking  no  further  notice  of  his  letter,  which  we 
cannot  answer  without  descending  into  paths  we  feel  our- 
selves above  treading.  We  will  leave  it  to  time  to  unde- 
ceive the  army,  whose  good  opinion  we  are  really,  on  all 
occasions,  anxious  of  possessing.  We  have  neither  leisure 
nor  inclination  for  personal  controversies."     .  .  . 

The  Board,  nevertheless,  sent  a  letter  *  to  Congress, 

*  Of  August  Slst.    See  Journals  of  Congress,  September  Ist,  1779. 


I 


iBT.  84.]  LEPB  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERINa  241 

enclosing  a  copy  of  the  general  order  issued  by  Gen- 
eral Sullivan,  and  "  representing  that  the  characters 
of  the  Board  are  made  very  free  with  in  General  Sul- 
livan's army,  who,  being  under  a  deception,  censure 
the  members  with  great  bitterness;  and  thereupon 
requesting  the  favor  of  Congress  to  appoint  a  com- 
mittee to  examine  into  their  conduct  and  proceedings 
on  this  subject"  *  A  conunittee  was  appointed  accord- 
ingly ;  but,  in  January,  1781,  when  it  was  proposed  to 
supersede  the  Board  of  War  by  a  Secretary  of  War, 
and  General  Sullivan,  Colonel  Pickering,  and  Mr. 
Peters  were  named  as  candidates  for  the  office,  Mr. 
Peters,  writing  to  Colonel  Pickering,  said :  — 

*«  Sullivan  is  doing  you  and  me  (particularly  Pillgarlic) 
ill  offices  on  the  score  of  the  old  complaint,  in  which  Con- 
gress left  our  letter  undecided  upon.'*  f 

The  following  letter  from  the  Kev.  John  Clarke, 
which  contains  an  interesting  statement  respecting  the 
situation  of  the  inhabitants  of  Boston,  furnishes  evi- 
dence of  Colonel  Pickering's  industry  and  of  his  hopeful 
disposition :  — 

"Boston,  October  2l8t,  1779. 

"Honored  Sib, 
**  Your  faithful  Millet  spent  the  last  evening  with  me,  and 
let  me  into  a  perfect  acquaintance  with  your  hopes,  pros- 
pects, and  affairs.     .  .  •     Your  friends  in  these  parts  are 

*  Journals  of  Congress,  September  1st,  1779,  Vol.  V.  p.  832. 

t  In  Lossing's  "Pictorial  Field-Book  of  the  Bevolution"  (Vol.  I.  p.  272, 
note  1),  it  is  said  that  General  Sullivan,  having  offended  some  of  the  members 
of  the  Board  of  War,  and  believing  himself  ill  treated,  resigned  his  commis- 
sion in  1779.  In  the  Journals  of  Congress  for  November  13th  and  30th,  1779 
(Vol.  V.  pp.  410,  440),  his  ill  state  of  health  is  assigned  as  the  ground  of  his 
resignation.  See  also  Hildreth's  "  History  of  the  United  States,"  First  Se- 
ries, Vol.  lU.  p.  289. 

VOL.   L  31 


242  UFB  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERINa.  [1779. 

extremely  anxious  about  your  situation.  My  mother,  in 
especial  y  is  very  apprehensive  you  will  ruin  your  constitu- 
tion by  a  too  close  attendance  upon  your  public  office.  O, 
Sir,  give  their  fears  a  proper  consideration.  Live  to  make 
your  amiable  consort,  to  make  them,  to  make  us  all,  happy. 
''In  Boston  we  are  much  alarmed  by  the  last  accounts 
from  Philadelphia.*  Some  are  not  a  little  apprehensive 
that  a  like  tragedy  may  be  acted  upon  this  stage.  But  I 
cannot  say  I  suffer  much  from  that  quarter.  It  appears  to 
me  we  are  in  a  far  more  likely  way  of  being  starved  ;  for  I 
doubt  whether  Egypt,  during  the  seven  years  of  famine,  was 
in  greater  distress  than  this  unhappy  town.  We  can  procure 
nothing.  Sir,  for  money ;  barter  is  the  only  method  of  com- 
merce which  now  prevails.  You  will  therefore  readily 
believe  that  the  circumstances  of  such  as  have  neither  salt, 
sugar,  &c.,  beggar  all  description.  It  is  my  firm  belief, 
that  we  are  the  wretchedest  people  under  heaven.  We 
have  depraved  every  virtuous  principle,  and,  was  Britain  to 
remove  her  troops  and  leave  us  to  our  independence,  it 
seems  to  me  we  should  be  incapable  of  enjoying  it.  Think 
not.  Sir,  I  am  now  raving  in  the  language  of  my  profession. 
Nothing,  I  am  sensible,  is  more  unamiable  than  such  a 
business ;  but,  when  I  take  a  view  of  that  base  principle 
which  actuates  so  great  a  part  of  my  countrymen,  when  I 
behold  such  wicked  pains  taken  to  elude  the  most  salutary 
measures,  I  see,  I  feel,  too  much  to  speak  upon  the  subject 
with  any  tolerable  composure.  But  you  will  not  be  dis- 
turbed by  anything  I  advance.  Tis  your  maxim,  I  well 
know.  Nil  desperandum;  and  Heaven  grant  it  may  be  to 
you  according  to  your  faith.  While  you  are  engaged  in 
affairs  of  state,  I  am  no  less  industrious  in  my  sacred  em- 
ployment. My  passion  for  it  daily  increases.  New  truths 
are  continually  breaking  in  upon  me. 

"  Yoiu:  obliged  nephew, 

**JoHN  Clarke." 

*  Of  a  riot,  in  which  three  persons  were  killed.    See  Lossing's  **PictoriAl 
Field-Book  of  the  Reyolution,"  Vol.  I.  p.  821. 


JEt.  84.]  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  243 

Some  of  the  inconveniences  suffered  by  Colonel 
Pickering,  and  the  frugality  he  was  compelled  to  prac- 
tise, resulting  from  the  depreciation  of  the  currency, 
are  set  forth  in  his  letter  to  a  committee  of  Congress, 
as  follows :  — 

*'  Wab  Ofticb  [Philadelphia],  November  22<i,  1779. 

<*  Gentlemen, 
"  Your  notification  to  the  officers  of  the  Board  of  War  to 
attend  the  committee  appointed  to  consider  what  allow- 
ances shall  be  made  for  their  past  services,  has  been  handed 
to  me ;  but,  instead  of  a  personal  attendance,  I  beg  your 
permission  to  state  in  writing  what  I  might  say  in  the 
matter.  In  October,  1778,  Congress  were  pleased  to  in- 
crease the  salaries  of  Mr.  Peters  and  me  from  two  thousand 
to  four  thousand  dollars,  assigning  as  a  reason  of  that 
increase,  that  our  situation  exposed  us  to  extraordinary 
expenses,  particularly  for  company.*  This  addition  to  our 
salaries  was  made  on  my  representation  of  the  necessity  of 
my  being  supported,  if  I  continued  in  the  office ;  and  I 
then  imagined  (living  with  the  frugality  to  which  I  had  been 
accustomed,  and  money  not  depreciating)  it  would  have 
been  barely  sufficient  for  the  purpose,  though  I  am  now 
convinced  it  would  have  fallen  short  even  of  that.  But  I 
have,  in  fact,  expended  upwards  of  fourteen  thousand  dol- 
lars for  the  mere  support  of  my  family  the  year  past ;  and 
the  expense  would  have  been  much  greater,  had  I  not  early, 
while  prices  were  low,  laid  in  stocks  of  some  necessary  arti- 
cles sufficient  to  bring  the  year  about,  and  at  the  same  time 
purchased  very  little  clothing ;  for  in  the  whole  year  I  have 
not  expended  in  this  article,  for  my  whole  family,  as  much 
as  would  now  buy  me  a  plain  suit.  But,  to  prevent  a  fur- 
ther accumulation  of  expense,  which  I  was  not  sure  would 
be  reimbursed,  and  which  otherwise  I  could  not  bear,  I 
have  done  more.  I  have  denied  myself  numerous  common 
gratifications.     I  have  not,  for  a  good  while  past,  kept  evep 

*  Journals  of  Congress,  October  16th,  Vol.  IV.  p.  699. 


244  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  [1779. 

a  single  horso ;  and  I  have  often,  to  my  great  mortification , 
deprived  myself  of  the  pleasure  of  company.  In  regard  to 
the  salary  proposed  for  the  Commissioners  of  the  War  Office 
for  the  current  year,*  it  is  a  trifle  compared  even  with  the  last 
year's  grant.  That  would  not  have  supported  a  family  small 
as  mine,  even  with  my  habitual  frugality ;  but  the  necessa- 
ries of  life  are  now,  upon  an  average,  at  least  ten  times  dearer 
than  they  were  a  year  ago,  when  that  grant  was  made  ;  and 
how  it  is  expected  we  can  exist  on  the  present  grant,  and 
with  an  increasing  depreciation  of  money,  I  am  not  able  to 
conjecture.  Our  family  expenses  are  necessarily  greater; 
and,  for  my  own  part,  I  must  buy  some  clothing,  for  my 
old  clothes  I  have  already  worn  on  both  sides.  I  am  also 
obliged  to  give  four  thousand  dollars  for  the  current  year's 
rent  of  the  indifibrent  house  I  occupy,  and  must  increase 
that  sum  in  proportion  to  the  depreciation  of  the  money. 
From  these  facts  the  committee  will  be  able  to  judge  what 
sum  will  be  necessary  to  make  good  the  deficiency  of  my 
salary  for  time  past.  A  year  ago,  when  I  had  the  honor  of 
addressing  Congress  on  the  subject  of  my  pay,  I  informed 
them  my  circumstances  demanded,  that,  whatever  business  I 
pursued,  it  must  support  me ;  and  that  if,  in  the  service  of 
the  public,  I  could  not  obtain  such  suppoil,  I  must  abandon 
it.  The  consequent  Act  of  Congress  imported,  I  thought, 
an  engagement  to  yield  me  such  support.  Had  I  not  thus 
conceived  of  the  matter,  I  should  then  have  quitted  the 
office ;  especially,  I  should  not  have  brought  my  family 
four  hundred  miles  from  home,  at  the  hazard  of  starving 
them.  I  can  form  no  idea  of  the  principle  on  which  the 
salary  proposed  for  the  current  year  was  estimated.  If  its 
manifest  insufficiency  was  intended  to  be  remedied  at  the 
year's  end,  it  had  been  better  (I  humbly  conceive)  to  have 
let  the  old  salary  remain ;  but  the  making  an  addition  to  it, 
joined  with  the  subsequent  declaration,  that,  if  the  money 
appreciates,  the  salary  is  to  be  proportionally  lowered,  leads 


♦  Fourteen  thousand  doUars.     See  Journals  of  Congress,  November  12th, 
1779,  Vol.  V.  p.  409. 


Mt.  84.]  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  245 

me  to  suppose  that  the  grant  of  fourteen  thousand  dollars 
was  deemed  adequate  to  the  expenses  of  the  current  year, 
taking  prices  as  they  now  are.  But,  after  the  facts  already 
stated,  I  need  not  observe  how  far  it  must  fall  short.  Yet 
I  have  not  a  wish  to  live  luxuriously ;  I  have  not  been  used 
to  it.  No  man  can  content  himself  easier  than  I  with  the 
utmost  simplicity  of  living.  It  has  long  and  often  pained 
me,  that  our  manners,  for  two  or  three  years  past,  have 
been  so  totally  opposite  to  it.  But  to  these  prevailing  man- 
ners I  must,  in  some  small  degree,  conform,  or  quit  a  public 
station.  I  am  aware  of  the  public  embarrassments  on  account 
of  the  currency,  and  that  many,  like  ourselves,  are  suffering 
in  the  public  service ;  and,  were  public  virtue  generally  ap- 
parent, as  at  the  beginning  of  the  contest,  we  would  with 
pleasure  devote  crur  time  and  all  we  possess  to  the  public 
service,  nor  ask  a  recompense.  But,  while  some  servants 
of  the  public  are  amassing  fortunes,  and  all  ranks  of  people 
pursuing,  with  so  much  avidity,  only  their  private  gain,  we 
are  unwilling,  for  their  sakes,  to  reduce  ourselves  to  beg- 
gary. In  respect  to  the  relative  amount  of  our  salaries,  I 
shall  say  nothing,  after  reading  what  Mr.  Peters  has  sug- 
gested on  that  head.  His  ideas  appear  to  me  perfectly 
just."  ♦ 

Mr.  Williams,  a  brother-in-law  of  Colonel  Pickering, 
wrote  to  him,  December  12th,  1779,  that  Judge  SuUi- 

*  In  a  letter,  dated  Philadelphia,  December  13th,  1779,  to  his  brother, 
Colonel  Pickering  says,  "  The  price  of  a  pair  of  man's  shoes  is  a  hundred  dol- 
lars ;  '*  flour  is  '*  from  ninety  to  a  hundred  pounds  [per  cwt.] ;  beef,  twenty- 
two  shillings  and  six  pence  [per  pound]  by  the  quarter  or  side ;  pork,  twenty- 
five  to  tliirty  shillings  [per  pound.] ;  ...  salt,  seventy -five  pounds  per  bushel ; 
rum,  twenty-five  pounds  [per  gallon] ;  sugar,  one  hundred  and  fifty  to  two 
hundred  pounds  [per  cwt] ;  Indian  com,  from  twelve  to  fifteen  pounds  [per 
bushel]."  At  that  time  a  dollar  in  specie  was  worth  about  twenty-six  dollars 
in  Continental  currency.!  In  September,  1780,  the  salary  of  the  Commission- 
ers of  the  Board  of  War  was  fixed  at  eighteen  hundred  and  fifty  dollars,  to  be 
paid  in  specie  or  other  current  money  equivalent  (Journals  of  Congress, 
September  13th) ;  and  by  a  subsequent  resolve,  it  was  to  **  have  retrospect  from 
that  day  to  the  2d  of  November,  1778.'*    (Ibid.,  November  15th,  1780.) 

t  LosBiiig*s  ''Flctoriai  Field-fiook  of  the  Bevolation,**  Vol.  I.  p.  310,  note  2. 


246  LITE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  [1779. 

van  said  he  wished  Colonel  Pickering  was  at  home,  as 
he  was  talked  of  to  fill  a  vacant  seat  on  the  bench  of 
the  Superior  (now  called  Supreme)  Court  of  Massachu- 
setts, and  that  his  brother,  John  Pickering,  believed  he 
would  have  the  offer  of  it  if  he  were  present 

In  his  answer  to  Mr.  Williams,  dated  Philadelphia, 
January  6th,  1780,  he  says:  — 

"  I  chose  to  put  by  itself  what  I  have  to  say  relative  to 
the  important  vacant  office  you  mention.  I  really  cannot 
tell  why  I  should  have  been  thought  of  to  fill  it,  as  my 
knowledge  of  the  law  is  very  small,  and  I  cannot  boast  of 
abilities.  .  .  .  Perhaps  an  opinion  of  my  integrity  might 
have  been  the  principal  cause.  Indeed,  the  knowledge  I 
have  of  the  law  (small  as  it  is)  would  enable  me  to  pursue 
the  study  of  it  with  more  facility,  were  I  to  devote  myself 
to  it ;  but,  setting  this  aside,  I  know  not  why  brother  John 
should  not  have  the  preference.  There  is  no  man  more 
upright ;  and  on  all  occasions  I  discover  in  him  the  obvious 
marks  of  an  understanding  and  penetration  superior  to  mine. 
I  should,  therefore,  be  well  pleased  to  see  him  raised  to  the 
vacant  seat.  It  will  probably  be  an  office  for  life;  and, 
whatever  may  be  the  case  now,  it  will  doubtless  hereafter 
yield  a  man  a  decent  or  genteel  maintenance.  But  is  any- 
thing more  to  be  expected  ?  If  not,  it  might  satisfy  brother 
John ;  *  but  would  it  enable  me  to  leave  anything  to  my 
children?  The  fear  that  it  would  not  is  an  argument 
against  my  accepting  of  it,  and,  indeed,  my  principal  objec- 
tion ;  for,  if  I  were  in  the  station,  by  devoting  my  attention 
to  it  I  should  hope  to  render  myself  not  altogether  unquali- 
fied for  it.  I  consider  it  as  a  most  honorable,  as  well  as 
important  office.  In  this  view  it  is  flattering  to  a  man's 
ambition,  and  I  know  not  any  man  wholly  destitute  of 
that  passion ;  which  is,  indeed,  a  necessary  one,  implanted 
in  us  by  our  Creator,  as  a  spur  to  the  best  and  noblest 
actions." 

*  Being  a  bachelor. 


JSt.  84.]  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  FICEEBING.  247 

After  a  request  that  his  friends  would  weigh  the 
advantages  of  the  proposed  office  with  those  of  a  scheme, 
which  he  had  long  contemplated,  of  going  into  business 
at  Philadelphia  as  a  commission  merchant  on  the  con- 
clusion of  the  war,  and  after  remarking,  that,  in  general, 
but  small  salaries  were  attached  to  civil  offices,  he 
proceeds : — 

"  I  recollect,  indeed,  that  about  1774  the  General  Court, 
by  a  kind  of  compulsion,  raised  the  salaries  of  the  Superior 
Court  judges  to  a  sum  tolerably  handsome,  to  prevent  Great 
Britain  doing  it ;  but  may  a  generous  allowance  be  expected 
now?  ...  I  may  add,  that  the  Continental  War  Office 
will  probably  be  continued,  which  will  yield  something 
clever  to  the  holders  of  it ;  but,  on  the  other  hand,  it  is  not 
improbable  (as  the  members  are  annually  elected) ,  that,  at 
the  end  of  the  war,  some  deserving  general  officers  may  con- 
stitute the  Board,  to  the  exclusion  of  the  present  members. 
I,  therefore,  on  the  plan  of  remaining  here,  reckon  very  little 
on  that  office,  and  place  my  dependence  on  the  commission 
business.  I  have  delivered  my  sentiments  with  frankness, 
and  I  expect  yours  and  my  friends'  will  be  given  me  with 
equal  freedom. 

"  P.  S.  I  forgot  to  mention  that  the  salary  voted  to  each 
member  of  the  Board  of  War,  for  the  year  to  come,  is  four- 
teen thousand  dollars,  which  will  not  half  support  me.  I 
expect  Congress  will  add  about  ten  thousand  dollars  to  the 
last  year's  salary,  which,  with  all  my  economy,  will  but 
about  clear  off  my  last  year's  score  of  expenses  in  this  ex- 
pensive place.  In  October,  1778,  the  four  thousand  dollars 
then  voted  me  would  buy  more  than  fourteen  thousand 
dollars  now.*  Congress  lately  voted,  that  about  the  1st  of 
May  they  would  remove  from  this  city,  and  on  the  first 
Monday  of  January  were  to  agree  on  what  place  they  would 

♦  See  Journals  of  Congress,  October  16th,  1778  (Vol.  IV.  p.  699),  and  No- 
rember  12th,  1779  (Vol.  V.  p.  409). 


248  LIFE  OP  TIMOTHT  PICKERING.  [1780. 

remove  to ;  but  the  consideration  of  it  is  postponed  for  a 
month  or  two.  Hartford,  Burlington,  Fredericktown,  in 
Maryland,  and  Fredericksburg  in  Virginia,  are  talked  of  as 
proper  places ;  but  I  much  doubt  whether  Congress  will 
move  at  all.  Should  they  move,  I  feel  little  inclination  to 
follow  them  to  either  of  the  places,  as  it  would  so  much 
interfere  with  my  commercial  plan." 

In  a  letter  of  June  6th,  1780,  Mr.  Williams  observes, 
that  in  former  days  the  salary  of  a  judge  of  the  Su- 
perior Court  was  two  hundred  pounds  (six  hundred  and 
sixty-six  dollars  and  sixty-seven  cents),  but  what  it 
would  be  under  the  new  Constitution  was  uncertain ; 
and  that  probably  an  appointment  would  not  be  made 
until  October. 

During  the  greater  part  of  the  years  1779  and  1780, 
in  which  the  Board  of  War  held  its  sessions  in  Philar 
delphia,  Colonel  Pickering  was  employed  by  some  of 
his  Massachusetts  friends  to  act  in  their  behalf  in  pro- 
curing the  condemnation  and  sale  of  several  prizes  sent 
in  to  that  city  by  their  privateera 


JEt.  84.]  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  FICEEHINa.  249 


CHAPTER   XVI. 

The  Quartermaster-Generars  Department  newly  arranged.  —  Gen- 
eral Greene  resigns  the  Office.  —  Colonel  Pickering  appointed  in 
his  Place.  ^  The  Office  embarrassed  by  the  Want  of  Money.  ^ 
He  obtains  Authority  to  issue  Specie  Certificates. 

On  the  20th  of  January,  1780,  Congress  passed  a 
resolve,  that  « three  commissioners,  one  of  whom  to  be 
a  member  of  Congress,  be  appointed  to  inquire  into 
the  expenses  of  the  staff  departments,  and  the  means 
of  retrenching  the  same ;  . . .  and  that  they  report  such 
arrangements  in  all  or  any  of  the  said  departments  as 
they  may  judge  expedient."  General  Schuyler,  General 
Mifflin,  and  Colonel  Pickering  were  chosen  to  be  the 
commissioners.*^  Subsequently  a  resolve  was  passed, 
that  Congress  return  their  thanks  to  General  Mifflin 
and  Colonel  Pickering  for  their  attention  to  the  busi- 
ness committed  to  them,  manifested  in  their  plan  for 
the  arrangement  of  the  staff  departments;  and  the 
report  of  the  commissioners  was  referred  to  a  com- 
mittee, who  were  to  consult  with  the  Commander-in- 
Chief  and  the  heads  of  the  staff  departments  on  the 
same,  and  such  alterations  as  the  circumstances  of  the 
army  might  render  necessary.f  What  alterations  were 
•  made  by  the  committee  does  not  appear ;  but  the  plan 
for  conducting  the  Quartermaster's  department,  as  re- 
vised by  them,  was  adopted  by  Congress  on  the  15th 
of  July.     General  Greene,  at  that  time  the  Quarter- 

*  Journals  of  Congress,  January  20th,  2l8t,  and  22d,  1780,  Vol.  VI.  pp.  29, 80. 
t  Ibid.,  p.  120,  April  14th. 

VOL.  L  32 


250  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHT  FICKESINa  [1780. 

master-General^  was  so  much  dissatisfied  with  the  new 
arrangement,  that  in  consequence  he  resigned  his  office. 
In  his  letter  of  resignation  *  to  Congress  he  says :  — 

"  However  willing  I  might  have  heen  heretofore  to  sub- 
ject myself  to  the  fatigue  and  difficulties  attending  the 
duties  of  this  office,  justice  to  myself,  as  well  as  to  the 
public,  constrains  me  positively  to  decline  it  under  the 
present  arrangement,  as  I  do  not  choose  to  attempt  an 
experiment  of  so  dangerous  a  nature,  where  I  see  a  phys- 
ical impossibility  of  performing  the  duties  that  will  be 
required  of  me.     .  .  . 

'<  It  is  unnecessary  for  me  to  go  into  the  general  objec- 
tions I  have  to  the  plan.  It  is  sufficient  to  say,  that  my 
feelings  are  injured,  and  that  the  officers  necessary  to  con- 
duct the  business  are  not  allowed.  Nor  is  proper  provision 
made  for  some  of  those  that  are.  .  .  .  Whoever  has  the 
least  knowledge  of  the  business  in  this  office,  and  the  field 
duty  which  is  to  be  done,  must  be  fully  convinced,  that  it 
is  impossible  to  perform  it  without  much  more  assistance 
than  is  allowed  in  the  present  arrangement." 

And  to  Washington  he  wrote  :f — 

"  The  principal  characters  on  whom  I  depended  are  left 
out,  and  many  parts  of  the  plan  it  is  impossible  to  i*educe 
to  practice.  .  •  .  When  I  take  a  view  of  the  religious  and 
political  prejudices  that  have  frequently  influenced  public 
bodies,  at  different  periods,  to  adopt  the  most  ruinous  meas- 
ures, I  am  not  surprised  to  see  an  attempt  to  change  a  sys- 
tem of  one  of  the  most  important  departments  of  the  army, 
in  the  most  critical  and  interesting  season  of  the  campaign, 
and  when  every  exertion  under  the  best  direction  is  incom- 
petent to  the  demands  of  the  service." 

•  Of  July  26th,  1780.    See  Sparks's  "Writings  of  Washington,"  Vol.  VIL 
p. 512. 

t  Ibid.,  p.  614,  July  27th,  1780. 


Mt.  35.]  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHT  PICKERING.  251 

This  office,  thus  encompassed  by  diflSculties  which 
General  Greene,  with  his  brilliant  talents  and  indomi- 
table energy  and  industry,  was  unwilling  to  encounter, 
was  proposed  by  Roger  Sherman,  a  member  of  Con- 
gress, to  Colonel  Pickering  for  his  acceptance ;  and  Mr. 
Sherman  parted  from  him  with  the  understanding  that 
he  would  not  decline  the  appointment 

On  the  5th  of  August,  1780,  Congress  passed  the 
following  resolutions :  — 

"Resolved,  That  the  absolute  refusal  of  Major-General 
Greene,  at  this  important  crisis,  to  act  under  the  new 
arrangement  of  the  Quartermaster-General's  department, 
has  made  it  necessary  that  the  office  of  Quartermaster- 
General  be  immediately  filled. 

"Resolved,  unanimously,  That  Congress  proceed  to  the 
election  of  a  Quartermaster-General. 

"  Congress  accordingly  proceeded,  and,  the  ballots  being 
taken,  Timothy  Pickering  was  elected.* 

"Resolved,  That  Timothy  Pickering,  Esquire,  having 
been  appointed  Quartermaster-General  upon  an  extraordi- 
nary emergency,  be  continued  as  a  member  of  the  Board 
of  War ;  but  that  the  exercise  of  all  his  powers  at  the  said 
Board,  and  his  pay  as  a  member  thereof,  be  suspended  dur- 
ing such  time  as  he  shall  continue  Quartermaster-General. 

"  That,  while  he  holds  the  office  of  Quartermaster-Gen- 
eral, he  have  the  rank  of  colonel,  and  the  pay  and  rations 
of  a  brigadier-general,  over  and  above  the  pay  allowed  the 
Quartermaster-General  in  the  late  [new]  arrangement  of 
the  Quartermaster's  department."  f 

*  Unanimously. 

t  Journals  of  Congress,  August  5th,  1780,  Vol.  YI.  pp.  154,  155.  The  pay 
of  Quartermaster-General  was  one  hundred  and  sixty-six  dollars  a  month ;  of 
Brigadier-General,  one  hundred  and  twenty-five  dollars ;  and  the  rations  for  a 
year  were  estimated  (Journals  of  Congress,  March  14th,  1782)  at  nine  hundred 
and  four  dollars ;  making  Colonel  Pickering's  whole  compensation  to  be  at  the 
rate  of  forty-three  hundred  and  ninety-six  doUars  a  year.  He  was  also  supplied 
with  forage  for  his  horses. 


252  UFB  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  [1780. 

The  appointment  having  been  made  on  the  5th  of 
August,  the  following  letter  to  Mr.  Sherman  was  probar 
bly  misdated  the  6th.  Some  expressions  in  it  seem 
to  indicate  that  Colonel  Pickering  had  seen  General 
Greene's  letter  to  Congress. 

"Sib, 

"  When  we  parted  this  morning,  it  was,  I  suppose,  on 
your  part,  with  an  expectation  that,  if  Congress  should 
think  proper  to  appoint  me  Quartermaster-General,  I 
should  not  decline  accepting  the  office.  But  I  beg  leave 
to  inform  you,  that,  on  a  further  consideration  of  the  matter, 
I  feci  exceedingly  embarrassed.  In  whatever  light  the 
department  is  viewed  at  this  time,  numerous  difficulties 
present  themselves.  Tis  in  the  midst  of  a  campaign,  and 
a  campaign  which  may  be  deemed  the  most  important  since 
the  commencement  of  the  war.  Tis  a  campaign  for  which 
but  partial  provision  has  been  made ;  and  the  state  of  the 
public  finances  almost  forbids  the  hope  that  deficiencies  will 
be  fully  supplied.  The  late  Quartermaster-General  has 
stood  high  in  the  opinion  and  favor  of  the  army  :  I  cannot 
pretend  to  equal  abilities  or  approbation.  I  have  no  rank 
in  the  army  ;  and  yet  without  rank  the  Quartermaster-Gen- 
eral might  not  have  that  weight  the  duties  of  his  office  will 
demand.  Having  adopted  a  new  plan  for  the  department, 
Congi-ess  will  doubtless  expect  a  reformation  conformable 
to  it;  but  the  practicability  of  such  reformation,  in  this 
stage  of  the  campaign,  may  be  doubted. 

"  Under  these  circumstances  it  would  be  with  the  utmost 
concern  I  should  accept  the  proposed  appointment;  and, 
independent  of  them,  I  would  choose  to  remain  where  I  am. 
Yet  I  am  not  disposed  to  shrink  from  difficult  services, 
where  it  appears  to  be  my  duty  and  I  possess  ability  to 
encounter  them ;  but  on  the  present  occasion  I  wish  to  be 
excused,  unless  my  acceptance  of  the  office  will  relieve 
Congress  from  embarrassments  absolutely  not  otherwise  to 
be  overcome." 


mr.  85.1  I-II^  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  253 

FROM   SAMUEL  HUNTINOTON,  PRESIDENT  OF  GONORESS. 

"Philadelphia,  Angast  5tii,  1780. 

"Sir, 

"Enclosed  you  will  receive  an  act  of  Congress  of  this 
day,  by  which  you  will  be  informed  that  General  Greene 
has  refused  to  act  as  Quartermaster-General  under  the  new 
arrangement  of  that  department,  and  that  you  are  elected 
Quartermaster-General.  I  am  persuaded,  that  in  this  criti- 
cal conjuncture  the  cause  of  our  country  will  overrule  every 
other  consideration,  and  incline  you  to  accept  this  appoint- 
ment, and  undertake  the  important  service  without  delay. 

"  Congress  being  under  the  necessity  of  making  a  new 
appointment,  their  minds  have  unanimously  fixed  upon 
you."     .  .  . 

The  President  then  states  the  substance  of  some  of 
the  resolves  above  quoted. 

Colonel  Pickering,  induced,  as  he  said,  "  by  a  kind 
of  political  necessity/'  accepted  the  appointment,  and 
wrote  the  following  letter  to  the  President  of  Con- 
gress :  — 

<<  Wab  OmoB,  August  7th,  1780. 

"Sir, 
"I  received  yesterday  your  favor  of  the  5th  instant, 
enclosing  an  act  of  Congress  appointing  me  Quartermaster- 
General.  I  will  not  decline  the  appointment,  though  it  be 
as  opposite  to  my  wishes  as  beside  my  expectation.  It  is 
indeed  a  very  honorable  appointm'lBut,  that  demands  my 
grateful  acknowledgments ;  and  it  is  rendered  still  more 
honorable  by  the  manner  and  circumstances  in  which  it  was 
made :  but,  under  the  present  numerous  and  peculiar  em- 
barrassments of  the  office,  I  fear  it  would  be  difficult  for 
much  greater  abilities  than  mine  to  acquire  honor  in  the 
execution  of  it.  The  public  in  general  may  not  distinguish 
between  defects  arising  from  the  singular  circumstances  of 
our  affairs  and  those  which  result  from  negligence  and  mis- 
management.    Congress,  however,  will  be  more  just,  and 


254  LIFE  OP  TIMOTHY  HCKERmG.  [1780. 

will  permit  me  to  rely  on  their  candor  for  a  favorable  inter- 
pretation of  my  conduct  in  the  execution  of  an  office  which, 
at  any  former  and  more  happy  period,  I  should  have  under- 
taken with  reluctance,  and  which,  at  this  time,  promises 
only  a  constant  succession  of  complicated  difficulties  and 
distress.  Nor  can  I  give  any  assurances  of  an  adequate 
performance  of  the  duties  of  Quartermaster-General,  but 
only  of  a  diligent  exertion  of  such  talents  as  I  possess,  and 
of  which  I  wish  Congress  may  not  have  entertained  too 
favorable  an  opinion.*' 

Joseph  Jones,  a  member  of  Congress  from  Virginia, 
wrote  to  General  Washington :  — 

"  On  Saturday  Colonel  Pickering  was  appointed  to  the 
office  of  Quartermaster-General.  .  .  .  This  gentleman's 
integrity,  ability,  and  attention  to  business,  will,  I  hope, 
not  only  prevent  the  evils  to  be  apprehended  from  a  change 
in  so  important  a  department  at  this  time,  but  will,  I  hope, 
be  able  to  reform  some  of  the  abuses  crept  into  that  busi- 
ness, and  lessen  the  amazing  expenditures  of  the  depart- 
ment. He  must,  if  he  accepts,  have  a  disagreeable  office 
in  the  present  state  of  our  finance ;  but  we  must  support 
him  all  we  can."  * 

Colonel  Pickering  gave  notice  of  his  appointment  to 
General  Washington,  then  at  head-quarters  at  Orange- 
town,  New  York,  in  the  following  letter :  — 

''Philadelphia,  August  11th,  1780. 

"Sir, 
"You  will  doubtless,  ere  this  reaches  you,  have  been 
informed  that  Congress  have  been  pleased  to  appoint  me 
Quartermaster-General.  This  was  so  totally  unexpected, 
that  it  will  take  me  some  days  yet  before  I  can  get  ready 
to  proceed  to  camp.     In  the  mean  time  I  shall  make  some 

*  Sparks's  **  Correspondence  of  the  Revolution,"  Vol.  III.  p.  53. 


-fflT.SS.]  LIFE  OP  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  255 

necessary  arrangements  for  conducting  the  business  of  the 
department  in  this  State  and  the  other  States  southward  of 
it.  The  gentlemen  concerned  in  the  department  with  the 
army  will,  I  hope,  cheerfully  continue  to  exercise  the  duties 
of  their  respective  offices  until  my  arrival  in  camp,  which 
shall  be  as  speedily  as  possible.'' 

On  the  12th  of  August,  a  few  days  after  his  appoint- 
ment to  the  office  of  Quartermaster-General,  Colonel 
Pickering  wrote  to  the  President  of  Congress :  — 

"  In  order  to  prevent  an  interruption  in  the  business  of 
the  Quartermaster-Grenerars  department,  an  immediate  grant 
of  at  least  one  million  of  dollars  *  appears  to  me  to  be 
indispensable  to  pay  for  the  transportation  of  stores  and 
provisions,  and  to  procure  forage  where  the  State  supplies 
prove  insufficient.  It  being  impossible  just  now  to  collect 
the  returns  and  information  by  which  the  state  of  the  depart- 
ment may  be  precisely  known,  I  cannot  at  this  time  make  a 
particular  estimate ;  but  the  demands  which,  for  some  time 
past,  have  been  laid  before  the  Board  of  War,  convince  me 
that  a  much  larger  sum  than  that  above  mentioned  will  very 
soon  be  necessary  to  continue  the  business  of  transportation 
and  the  purchase  of  forage  and  camp  equipage  ;  though,  till 
I  obtain  further  information,  I  request  the  grant  only  of  one 
million  of  dollars. 

"  Congress,  I  hope,  will  pardon  me  for  observing,  that  the 
public  funds  appear  so  inadequate  to  the  large  and  constant 
demands  made  on  them,  that  a  competent  supply  of  current 
money  for  the  Quartermaster-General's  department  cannot 
soon  be  expected:  at  the  same  time,  every  substitute  for 
current  money  hitherto  provided  seems,  for  a  good  while 
past,  to  have  been  received  in  payment  with  reluctance. 
Under  these  circumstances  a  measure  has  occurred  to  me, 
which  I  conceive  will,  in  many  instances,  greatly  relieve  me, 

*  Equivalent  to  fourteen  thousand  two  hundred  and  eighty-five  dollars^ 
upecie;  a  Spanish  dollar  being  then  worth  seventy  of  Continental  paper 
money. 


256  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERINa  [1780. 

and  which,  therefore,  I  beg  leave  to  mention.  It  is  this,  — 
that  the  Quartermaster-General  be  authorized,  for  all  ser- 
vices performed  or  articles  purchased  in  his  department,  for 
which  any  credit  is  given,  to  cause  the  prices  thereof  to  be 
fixed  in  specie,  and  certificates  given  for  the  same  to  be  paid 
in  specie,  or  other  money  equivalent,  at  the  times  which  shall 
therein  be  stipulated ;  and,  if  not  then  paid,  that  such  cer- 
tificates afterwards  bear  an  interest  at  the  rate  of  six  per 
cent,  per  annum  until  paid. 

"This  measure,  I  apprehend,  can  work  no  injury  to  the 
States,  and  will  do  only  simple  justice  to  the  public  cred- 
itors. It  is  a  measure  from  which  I  should  hope  to  derive 
substantial  benefits ;  while  certificates  in  the  usual  form  are 
held  in  tsuch  low  estimation,  that  no  good,  but  rather  mis- 
chief by  destroying  the  credit  of  the  department,  is  to  be 
expected  from  them. 

"I  am  sorry,  especially  at  such  a  time  as  this,  to  be 
obliged  to  request  Congress  to  make  me  an  advance  of  fifty 
thousand  dollars  *  on  my  personal  account ;  but  I  am  obliged 
to  purchase  hoi*ses  with  their  furniture,  and  almost  every 
species  of  camp  equipage,  with  necessary  stores,  before  I 
can  take  the  field ;  and,  on  a  calculation  I  have  made,  a  lesa 
sum  will  be  insufficient." 

Congress,  in  accordance  with  the  above  highly-im- 
portant suggestion,  passed  resolutions  requiring  that 
certificates  issued  in  the  Quartermaster's  and  Com- 
missary's departments,  for  services  performed  or  articles 
purchased  within  their  respective  departments,  should  be 
signed  by  the  Quartermaster-General  and  Commissary- 
General  respectively;  should  be  "given  for  specie  or 
other  current  money  equivalent";  and  should  "bear 
an  interest  of  six  per  cent,  per  annum  from  the  time 
stipulated  for  payment  until  paid."  These  certificates 
w^re  called  specie  certificates,  and  proved  eminently  use- 

*  Equivalent  to  8e?en  hundred  and  fourteen  doUars  in  specie. 


Mt.  86.]  LIPE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  257 

ful  to  Colonel  Pickering  in  administering  the  affairs  of 
his  department 

On  the  17th  of  September,  just  before  leaving  Phila- 
delphia for  the  army,  he  again  wrote  to  the  President 
of  Congress :  — 

"  Sunday  Morning. 

"Sir, 
"  I  would  have  done  myself  the  honor  of  waiting  on  you 
before  I  left  town,  but  for  almost  all  last  week  I  was  too 
unwell  to  be  abroad,  especially  in  the  evening,  and  the 
greater  part  of  the  time  so  ill  that  nothing  but  necessity 
would  have  induced  me  to  do  business.  I  am  still  indis- 
posed and  sore  from  a  fall  from  my  horse  this  day  week ; 
but  shall,  neveitheless,  set  out  for  camp  inunediately,  with 
melancholy  prospects  indeed  I  when  the  treasury  has  been 
empty  fortt/  days^  and  it  is  expected  by  the  army  (which  is 
in  the  greatest  distress) ,  that  I  shall  go  loaded  with  money. 
I  have  borrowed  money  to  defray  my  expenses  to  camp.  I 
am,  Sir,  with  the  greatest  esteem,"  &c. 

Some  incidents  connected  with  his  ofSce  are  men- 
tioned in  the  following  extracts  from  his  letters :  — 

TO  MRS.    FIGEERIN'O. 

<<  TsENTONi  September  19th,  1780. 

«I  have  the  pleasure  to  inform  you,  that  I  find  myself 
much  better  in  health  than  when  I  left  Philadelphia ;  and, 
as  my  business  required  my  resting  here  till  now,  I  am  so 
far  confirmed  as  to  proceed,  I  hope,  without  danger  or 
pain ;  for  Sunday's  journey  was  exceedingly  uncomfortable, 
every  step,  after  the  first  twelve  miles,  giving  me  much 
uneasiness. 

"I  have  appointed  a  deputy  for  Jersey  (Colonel  John 
Neilson),  whom  the  Governor  highly  approves,  and  who  is 
well  spoken  of  by  everybody.  From  the  short  conversation 
I  have  had  with  him,  I  have  good  reason  to  be  pleased  my- 

VOL.  I.  33 


268  LIPB  OF  TIMOTHT  FICKEBINa.  [1780. 

self.  He  appears  to  be  just  the  man  I  would  have  wished 
for;  and  I  persuade  myself  his  conduct  will  justify  my 
present  ideas  of  his  fitness  for  the  office."  * 

TO  THE  SAME* 

**  Camp  at  TafpaHi  September  27th. 

« I  have  met  everywhere  a  kind  reception  in  the  army. 
The  General  is  not  yet  arrived.  Arnold's  villany  has  occa- 
sioned his  stay  at  West  Point." 

TO  mS  BBOTHEB. 

*<  Camp  at  Totowa  [or  Totaway,  near  Passaic  Falls],  thirty-two 
miles  north-east  from  Morristowny  October  13th,  1780. 

<<  I  am  extremely  happy  in  your  appointment  of  Colonel 
Hatch  [as  Deputy  Quartermaster-General],  whom  indeed 
I  do  not  know,  but  who,  I  find,  sustains  an  excellent  char- 
acter, as  perfectly  upright,  and  possessing  talents  peculiarly 
adapted  for  the  employment,  f 

<<  I  have  found  less  embarrassment  in  the  office  [of  Quar- 
termaster-General] than  I  expected.  The  total  want  of 
money  (of  which  I  have  not  yet  received  a  farthing)  is  the 
occasion  of  almost  every  difficulty  I  have  to  encounter." 

TO  MBS.   FICEERmO. 

"Camp  Totowa,  October  18th,  1780. 

"My  condition  is  singularly  hard.  The  very  money  I 
borrowed  in  Philadelphia  to  defray  my  own  expenses,.!  have 
been  obliged  to  distribute  to  the  expresses  when  ordered  to 
one  place  and  another  with  public  despatches  I  besides 
near  ten  thousand  dollars  I  before  advanced  for  public 
services." 


*  Colonel  Neilson  performed  the  duties  of  the  office,  to  the  end  of  the  war, 
in  a  very  satisfactory  manner. 

t  Colonel  Pickering  sent  a  warrant  signed  in  blank  to  his  brother,  who  in- 
serted in  it  the  name  of  Colonel  Hatch.  Hatch's  conduct  in  the  office  justified 
the  appointment. 


-ffiT.SS.]  UFE  OP  TIMOTHT  PICKEBING.  259 

The  value  of  this  apparently  large  sum  may  be  esti- 
mated, in  a  degree,  from  a  fact  mentioned  in  the  same 
letter :  ^  Yesterday  I  purchased  a  horse  of  Mr.  Peabody 
for  twelve  thousand  dollars/'  ♦ 


*  In  August,  September,  and  October,  one  dollar  in  specie  was  worth, 
respectively,  seventy,  seventy-one,  and  seventy-two  dollars  in  Continental 
currency.  See  Lossing's  "  Pictorial  Field-Book  of  the  Revolution,"  Vol.  I. 
p.  819. 


260  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  [1780. 


CHAPTER   XVII. 

Failure  of  an  Enterprise  against  the  British  on  Staten  Island  at- 
tributed to  Colonel  Pickering.  —  His  Vindication.  —  His  Satis- 
faction in  his  Office.  —  Publication  of  Intercepted  Letters  of 
Members  of  Congress  and  Others.  —  Rivington's  "Royal  Ga- 
zette." —  Correspondence  between  Colonel  Pickering  and  Colonel 
Hugh  Hughes.  —  Colonel  Pickering's  Domestic  Arrangements.  — 
Disinterestedness  of  Officers  in  the  American  Army. 

In  the  year  1808,  when  Colonel  Pickering's  opposi- 
tion to  the  embargo  law  had  made  it  an  object  with 
the  Democratic  party  to  lessen  his  political  influence, 
the  failure  of  an  enterprise,  in  1780,  against  the  British 
on  Staten  Island,  was  alleged  to  have  been  owing  to 
misconduct  on  his  part  This  accusation  drew  from 
him  the  following  vindication,  published  in  the  "  Salem 
Gazette  " :  — 

"  The  *  Essex  Register '  of  the  13th  instant  has  been  put 
into  my  hands.  In  it  is  a  piece  from  the  *  Charleston  City 
Gazette,'  headed  ^Fidelity  and  Gallantry  of  Colonel  Pick^ 
ering  in  the  Campaign  of  1780/  stating  the  failure  of  an 
enterprise  against  a  British  post  on  Staten  Island  to  have 
arisen  from  a  want  of  fidelity  and  gallantry  in  me.  In  your 
*  Gazette '  of  the  16th  I  observe  the  same  piece  republished, 
with  several  remarks  subjoined  for  my  vindication.  The 
reflections  of  the  candid  and  intelligent  editor  of  the  *  Nor- 
folk Ledger'  are  alike  obvious  and  just.  Had  cowardice 
or  a  want  oi  fidelity  in  the  aflfair  spoken  of  been  manifested, 
it  is  impossible  that  General  Washington  should  have  allowed 
me  to  retain  the  important  office  of  Quartermaster-General, 
which  I  then  held,  and  which  I  continued  to  hold  to  the 


JEt.  86.]  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  261 

close  of  the  American  war.  I  may  add,  that,  if  there  had 
been  any  room  even  to  suspect  my  fidelity,  that  real  patriot 
and  upright  man  would  not  afterwards  voluntarily  have  con- 
ferred on  me  several  very  important  trusts  and  offices ;  I 
say  voluntarily;  for,  of  all  those  trusts  and  offices,  never 
one  was  asked  for  by  me.  K  any  of  my  friends  requested 
them,  or  any  of  them,  in  my  behalf,  it  was,  and  is,  to  me 
wholly  unknown.* 

"  Another  writer,  with  a  warmth  of  zeal  to  vindicate  a 
much  injured  man,  has  done  it  on  the  ground  that  no  such 
expedition  as  that  mentioned  in  the  ^Charleston  City 
Gazette '  had  been  undertaken  in  1780.  This  is  a  mistake. 
Such  an  expedition  was  projected,  but  with  secrecy ;  and, 
failing  in  the  execution,  its  object  could  not  be  generally 
known ;  and  hence,  probably,  this  writer  has  fallen  into  this 
mistake.  Against  what  post  the  expedition  was  intended, 
I  do  not  recollect;  but  access  to  it  was  to  be  gained  by 
water.     The  facts  were  simply  these  :  — 

"  I  had  recently  joined  the  army  as  Quartermaster-Gen- 
eral. The  boats  attached  to  the  army,  like  the  wagons^ 
were  imder  the  general  direction  of  that  department.  The 
repairs  of  both  pertained  to  the  corps  of  artificers  of  that 
department.  The  late  Colonel  Baldwin,  of  Brookfield,  com- 
manded that  corps.  He  had  just  reported  to  me  the  condi- 
tion of  the  boats  —  that  they  were  ready  for  service  —  and 
that  the  wagon-carriages,  on  which  the  boats  were  mounted, 
being  furnished  with  double-trees ^  none  need  be  carried  by 
the  wagoners  with  their  horses.  The  boats  were  at  some 
distance  from  the  army.  The  only  duty  incumbent  on  me 
was  to  give,  in  the  proper  time,  the  requisite  orders  to  the 

*  This  statement  is  repeated  elsewhere  by  Colonel  Pickering ;  but,  as  in 
other  instances,  his  memory  was  here  at  fault.    He  did  ask,  in  September, 

1790,  for  the  office  of  Postmaster-General.    It  was  giyen  to  him  in  August, 

1791,  without  A  repetition  of  the  request.  It  was  then  an  inferior  office, 
having  a  salary  of  only  fifteen  hundred  dollars,  and  not  entitling  him  to  a 
■eat  in  the  Cabinet.  But  his  argument  is  sustained  by  the  facts,  that  the 
office  of  Secretary  of  War  was  conferred  on  him  voluntarily,  and  that  of 
Secretary  of  State  almost  forced  upon  him,  by  President  Washington. 


262  LIFB  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERINO.  [178a 

Wagonmaster-Gcneral  to  transport  them.  And,  in  doing 
this,  I  repeated  the  words  of  Colonel  Baldwin  respecting 
the  double-trees.  Unfortunately,  either  Colonel  Baldwin 
mistook  the  fact  as  to  the  double-trees,  or  they  had  been 
taken  away  without  his  knowledge.  Consequently,  when 
the  horses  with  their  drivers  reached  the  boats,  they  could 
not  be  moved;  the  double-trees  being  the  movable  bars 
across  the  tongues  of  wagon-carriages  to  which  the  horses, 
by  their  traces  and  swingletrees  (whippletrees),  are  at- 
tached. 

''That  this  trivial  accident  relative  to  the  double-trees 
occasioned  a  disappointment  to  the  Commander-in-Chief,  to 
Lafayette,  and  to  others  acquainted  with  the  object  of  the 
enterprise,  there  can  be  no  doubt.  I  perfectly  remember 
stating  the  facts  immediately  at  head-quarters  to  Colonel 
Hamilton,  principal  aide-de-camp  to  General  Washington ; 
whose  answer  was,  that  the  General  attached  no  blame  to 
me.  And,  from  that  time  until  the  publication  in  the  'Essex 
Register'  (one  of  the  common  sewers^  of  lies  and  slanders), 
I  do  not  recollect  to  have  seen  or  heard  one  word  concern- 
ing it. 

"  In  this  affair  there  was  no  room  to  display  or  to  with- 
hold '  gallantry '  on  the  part  of  the  Quartermaster-General ; 
and,  if  there  had  been  any  want  of  '  fidelity,*  he  would 
have  been  tried,  and,  by  the  sentence  of  a  court-maitial, 
adequately  punished. 

"  TiMOTHT  PlOKERmO. 

«  Saleh,  August  18th,  1808." 

The  following  contemporaneous  letter  from  Colonel 
Pickering,  which  probably  he  had  forgotten,  and  which 
undoubtedly  relates  to  the  expedition  above  men- 
tioned, shows,  instead  of  a  want  of  fidelity,  that,  besides 
performing  his  simple  duty  of  issuing  his  orders,  he 
was  earnest  and  active  in  his  endeavors  to  have  them 
promptly  carried  into  efifect 


iET.86.]  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING-  263 

TO  GENERAL  WASHINGTON. 

"  Camp  at  Totowa,  October  28th,  1780. 

"Sir, 

"  Sensible  how  mortifying  is  disappointment,  especially 
when  the  object  of  our  wishes  is  almost  within  our  grasp ; 
aware  that  the  supposed  cause  of  the  disappointment  is 
ever  the  subject  of  censure  and  resentment;  and  fearing 
your  Excellency  will  deem  me  greatly  culpable  for  the  fail- 
ure of  the  late  enterprise  of  the  light  infantry,  —  I  beg  you 
will  do  me  the  favor  to  read  the  orders  I  gave  on  the  occa- 
sion, copies  of  which  I  enclose.  Each  was  given  on  the 
instant  of  receiving  from  Colonel  Hamilton  his  several 
communications  on  the  subject. 

"After  despatching  an  express  with  the  letter  No.  1,  and 
another  express  with  the  letter  No.  2,  and  the  instructions 
No.  3,  I  rode  myself  to  Major  Cogswell,*  that  I  might  be 
assured  of  his  having  received  my  orders.  He  amved  soon 
after,  having  received  my  letter  from  the  express,  whom  I 
had  directed  not  to  cease  riding  until  he  had  found  him. 
The  Major  instantly  wrote  his  orders  relative  to  the  removal 
of  the  boats,  and  sent  them  to  his  conductor  before  I  left 
him. 

"  The  next  day  (the  25th) ,  late  in  the  afternoon,  my  ex- 
press returned  from  King's  Ferry.  Mr.  Kiers,  the  Quarter- 
master there,  was  sick,  and  unable  to  do  anything;  but  the 
express,  agreeably  to  the  conditional  instructions  I  had  given 
him,  executed  the  orders  with  so  much  promptitude,  that 
the  next  day  he  put  into  the  boats  near  Sufiern's  three  and 
forty  oars.  He  informed  me  that  there  were  no  double- 
trees at  the  boats,  but  that  the  conductor  would  endeavor  to 
procure  some  of  the  neighboring  farmers ;  and,  if  he  failed, 
the  conductor  said  he  would  send  back  one  of  his  people 
to  fetch  them  from  his  quarters,  and  in  the  mean  time  get 
on  with  the  boats  as  far  as  he  could.  About  seven  that 
evening  I  sent  off  the  letter  No.  5  to  Major  Cogswell,  and 

*  Wagonmaster-General. 


264  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  [1780. 

immediately  afterwards  rode  myself  to  head-quarters.  With 
what  passed  there  Colonel  Hamilton  is  acquainted. 

"  On  the  first  notice  of  the  afinir  I  directed  Colonel  Bald- 
win to  repair  the  carriages  (which  I  went  to  examine)  of 
the  boats  in  camp,  and  get  them  ready  to  move  by  ten  the 
next  morning.  On  the  26th  I  went  to  the  boats  to  see  if 
they  were  in  readiness.  The  carriages  had  been  repaired, 
but  the  wheels  wanted  tar,  and  the  boats  thole-pins.  These 
defects  I  caused  to  be  remedied,  and  some  spare  thole-pins 
to  be  made,  lest  the  other  boats  should  be  deficient ;  and 
about  the  time  the  teams  were  fixed  to  them  the  boats  were 
ready  to  move. 

**  In  the  afternoon  I  rode  to  the  two  bridges  (hurrying  on 
the  boats  as  I  passed) ,  where  I  expected  to  find  the  boats 
from  Suffern's ;  but,  to  my  extreme  mortification,  they  had 
not  arrived.  I  immediately  rode  to  Dodd's,  where  I  found 
Major  Cogswell,  who  informed  me  the  boats  were  near  at 
band.  I  waited  a  little  for  the  arrival  of  some,  and  rode 
forward  to  meet  the  rest.  They  advanced  with  rapidity; 
and,  after  seeing  half  of  them  over  the  hill,  and  the  residue 
just  ascending,  I  returned  to  the  two  bridges,  where  I 
expected  to  meet  some  oflScer  with  orders,  whether  to  pro- 
ceed with  the  boats  or  stop  there.  For,  not  knowing  the 
distance  they  would  have  to  march  beyond  the  point  to 
which  they  were  ordered  to  proceed,  I  could  not  determine, 
though  I  feared  that  they  would  arrive  too  late.  But,  on 
coming  to  the  two  bridges,  whither  Major  Cogswell  had 
galloped  a  little  before  me,  he  presented  me  with  Major 
Laugborn's  orders  to  drive  on  the  boats  with  all  possible 
despatch,  and  they  were  pushed  accordingly. 

"  In  the  course  of  the  business  I  gave  many  verbal  direc- 
tions, all  tending  to  effect  a  punctual  execution  of  orders ; 
but  they  would  be  too  tedious  to  relate,  and  some,  as  they 
arose  from  the  occasion,  I  could  not  now  recollect. 

"  I  am  sorry  to  trouble  your  Excellency  with  so  long  a 
detail ;  but  I  have  felt  too  much  pain  not  to  attempt,  by  a 
relation  of  facts,  to  remove  any  unfavorable  impression  on 


Mt.  36.]  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  265 

your  Excellency's  mind,  which  the  event  of  the  affair  may 
have  produced.  I  should  also  be  happy  that  the  Marquis 
were  acquainted  with  the  state  of  the  matter  as  here  given, 
if,  in  your  Excellency's  opinion,  it  amounts  to  a  justifica- 
tion, or  will  in  any  degree  lessen  the  blame  I  may  other- 
wise incur. 

"  I  should  sooner  have  laid  before  your  Excellency  copies 
of  my  ordei*8  on  this  occasion,  with  such  remarks  as  I  have 
now  made ;  but  the  business  of  my  office,  especially  the 
writing  divers  public  letters,  which  did  not  admit  of  delay, 
prevented  me. 

"  I  have  the  honor,"  &c. 

It  seems  from  the  following  letter  from  Mr.  Peters, 
that  Colonel  Pickering  had  requested  of  the  Board  of 
War  a  commission  as  Quartermaster-General ;  but,  as 
none  is  found  among  his  papers,  he  may  have  been 
satisfied  with  Mr.  Peters's  suggestion,  that  the  vote  of 
Congress  by  which  he  was  elected  to  that  office  was 
equivalent  to  a  commission.  He  had  also  expressed 
himself  better  pleased  with  his  new  situation  than  with 
his  late  seat  at  the  Board  of  War ;  but  Mr.  Peters's 
caution  to  him,  not  to  rely  on  a  continuance  of  present 
flattering  appearances,  was  justified  by  the  event. 

"If  Stoddert*  and  I  can  hammer  out  a  form  for  your 
commission,  it  shall  be  sent.  (This  is  an  Irish  postscript, — 
at  the  beginning  of  a  letter.) 

"  Philadelphia,  November  4th,  1780. 

«  Deab  Sir, 
« I  have  been  made  happy  by  the  receipt  of  your  letter 
relative  to  your  personal  ease  and  agreeable  disappoint- 
ments.    I  have  not  received  more  pleasure  this  long  time 
than  I  felt  from  the  satisfaction  you  seem  to  enjoy.     I  had 

*  Benjamin  Stoddert,  Secretary  to  the  Board  of  War,  and  subsequcntlj 
Secretary  of  the  Navy  under  President  John  Adanu. 

VOL.  I.  34 


266  LTFB    OF   TIMOTHY   PICKERING.  [1780. 

anticipated  so  many  embarrassments,  that  I  almost  dreaded 
to  hear  from  you,  I  do  not  wonder  that  you  do  not  wish 
to  return  to  the  Board.  With  my  feelings  and  aversions, 
there  could  be  no  possible  change  for  the  worse.  I  am  a 
very  bad  correspondent,  and  therefore  I  beg  you  may  not 
conceive  I  forget  you  when  I  do  not  write.  You  are  very 
often  in  my  mind,  and  always  in  my  heart.  I  wish  most 
sincerely,  that  you  may  continue  in  the  ideas  you  have  of 
your  department ;  but  I  cannot  say  I  am  entirely  esLsy  on 
the  subject.  For,  though  a  patience  under  di£Ecultie8  may 
at  present  subsist,  there  is  a  point  beyond  which  toleration 
will  not  pass.  I  do  not  say  this  to  make  you  uneasy,  but 
to  render  you  less  susceptible  of  impressions  flowing  from 
a  security  grounded  only  on  present  appearances.  I  do  not 
say  these  appearances  will  not  continue ;  but  I  would  wish 
you  prepared  in  any  event.  For  my  part,  I  continue  averse 
from  public  business  and  eternally  wishing  to  leave  it ;  but 
I  hate  to  do  it  in  times  of  distress,  though  I  am  preparing 
my  afiairs,  so  far  as  I  can,  for  my  congS.  You  know  I  have 
no  personal  comfort  in  my  situation ;  and,  as  to  emolument, 
I  never  sought  it  in  any  place,  and  more  especially  where  I 
know  it  is  not  to  be  found.  Apropos,  I  have,  for  the  first 
time  in  my  life,  written  to  Congress  about  the  salary  of  the 
Board,  which  was  put  one  hundred  and  fifty  dollars  specie 
lower  than  it  was  originally.  The  comparison  with  others 
hui-t  me  more  than  the  sum.  I  have  requested  it  to  be  set 
right,  and  mentioned  that  you  were  eventually  concerned, 
either  in  compensation  for  past  depreciation,  or  future 
salary  on  your  return  to  the  Board,  and  therefore  desired 
anything  done  for  me  may  also  be  done  for  you.  I  don't 
know  what  success  my  application  may  have.  I  shall,  at  all 
events,  have  one  beatitude,  which  Mr.  Pope  reduced  to  an 
axiom,  — '  Blessed  is  he  who  expects  nothing,  for  he  shall 
never  be  disappointed.' 

"I  have  no  news  to  send  you  which  can  be  depended 
upon.  The  newspaper  is  enclosed.  There  is  generally 
such  a  farrago  of  lies  and  trash  in  the  papers,  that,  though 


JEt.85.]  life  of  timothy  PICKERING.  267 

you  may  now  and  then  be  amused  with  them,  in  general 
you  need  not  regret  Dunlap's  neglect  in  not  sending  them. 

"  What  sort  of  a  commission  do  you  want?  As  Quarter- 
master-General, Colonel,  or  what?  Is  not  the  Resolve  of 
Congress  a  sufficient  commission,  or  can  the  printed  form 
be  accommodated  to  your  case  ? 

**  I  have  seen  your  letter  by  Mr.  [John]  Laurance,  but 
not  the  bearer  of  it,  whom  I  esteem  on  his  own  account,  as 
well  as  his  being  your  friend. 

...  "I  have  some  touches  of  secret  history  to  tell  you, 
but  if  I  had  more  paper  I  would  be  cautious  in  committing 
it.  There  is  no  small  degree  of  sweating*  among  some 
gentlemen  on  the  score  of  the  mail  carried  into  New  York. 
*  Learn  to  be  wise  by  others'  harms '  is  a  good  maxim. 

^  I  am,  with  most  sincere  esteem,  yours, 

«  Richard  Peters." 

A  singular  correspondence  took  place  between 
Colonel  Pickering  and  Colonel  Hugh  Hughes,  his 
deputy  for  the  State  of  New  York,  the  latter  having, 
through  misconstruction  of  a  letter  from  Colonel  Picker- 
ing, believed  that  he  had  offended  him.  The  correspond- 
ence is  of  too  little  importance  to  be  given  at  length ; 

*  Occasionally!  indiscreet  letters  from  members  of  Congress  and  officers  in 
the  American  army,  found  in  the  mails  intercepted  by  the  British,  were  pub- 
lished in  New  York,  in  Bivington's  *'  Royal  Gazette."  Some  of  Colonel  Pick- 
ering's letters,  it  seems,  appeared  in  that  paper.  James  Lovell  wrote  to  him 
from  Philadelphia,  January  8th,  1781 :  *'  I  see  Jemmy  Rivington  has  catched 
you.  He  is  a  tell-tale  scoundrel,  is  he  not?  You  would  smile  to  hear  what 
work  the  interpreters  make  here  of  my  reference  to  some  salt  mackerel  which 
Gerry  promised  to  send  to  Mrs.  Clymer.  And  they  make  my  abbreviation  of 
Mastachusettt  relate  to  Romish  moft." 

The  curious  statement  is  made  in  Custis's  "  Recollections  of  Washington  '* 
(pp.  293,  296),  that  Rivington  was  all  the  while  in  communication  with  Gen- 
eral Washington.  He  was  a  publisher  of  books ;  and  *'  he  wrote  his  secret 
billets  upon  thin  paper,  and  bound  them  in  the  cover  of  a  book,  which  he 
always  managed  to  sell  to  those  spies  of  Washington  who  were  constantly 
visiting  New  York,  and  who,  he  knew,  would  carry  the  volumes  directly  to 
the  head-quarters  of  the  army.  The  men  employed  in  this  special  service 
were  ignorant  of  the  peculiar  nature  of  it." 


268  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  [1780. 

but  soine  passages  are  extracted  as  characteristic  of 
Colonel  Pickering.  It  would  seem  that  a  person  of 
the  name  of  Lewis  had  written  an  uncivil  letter  to  him, 
and  that  he  had  sent  a  sharp  answer,  for  which  Colonel 
Hughes  complimented  him  as  having  the  advantage  of 
Lewis.  He  wrote,  October  27th,  1780,  in  reply  to  the 
letter  of  Hughes :  — 

"  You  are  very  obliging  in  your  remarks  on  the  letters 
between  Colonel  Lewis  and  me.  Really,  Sir,  I  wish  ever  to 
be  civil  towards  all  men ;  but  not  unfrequently  inattention 
(not  designed),  especially  in  matters  that  have  as  much  of 
form  as  substance,  subjects  me  to  the  charge  of  want  of 
politeness.  This  inattention  is  a  fault  which  I  wish  to 
amend ;  but  it  springs  from  my  natural  disposition,  con- 
firmed by  habit.  For,  having,  from  my  earliest  remembrance 
of  reflections  of  the  kind,  looked  on  all  mankind  as  possess- 
ing equal  rights,  I  am  wont  not  to  make  those  distinctions 
between  the  high  and  the  low  which  gave  birth  to  the  term 
politeness,^ 

Hughes,  mistaking  the  period  at  the  end  of  the  first 
sentence  for  a  comma,  and  the  comma  after  "  Really, 
Sir,"  for  a  period,  construed  the  foregoing  passage  as 
an  unaccountable  strain  of  irony,  and,  in  a  second  let- 
ter, requested  an  explanation  of  the  sense  in  which 
Colonel  Pickering  had  understood  such  part  of  his  let- 
ter as  had  given  ground  for  suspecting  his  veracity  or 
his  sense  of  decorum,  and  intimated  that  he  would  rather 
resign  his  office  than  live  in  a  state  of  jealousy  and  sus- 
picion. Colonel  Pickering,  not  having  been  oflFended, 
nor  having  had  any  intention  of  giving  offence,  made 
merry  with  Hughes's  letter,  and,  being  much  puzzled 
by  it,  requested  a  sight  of  his  own  letter,  or  a  copy,  not 
having  taken  one.  He  then  proceeded  to  say  (Octo- 
ber 30th):  — 


-St.sb.]  life  of  timothy  picKERma  269 

**  My  dear  Sir,  so  far  from  being  offended,  I  read  your 
letter  with  much  satisfaction,  and  recollect  that  I  forbore 
taking  notice  of  the  first  pai'agraph  about  Colonel  Lewises 
affair,  only  because  it  appeared  too  flattering ;  and,  instead  of 
thanking  you  for  the  very  favorable  opinion  you  expressed 
of  the  propriety  of  my  letter  to  him,  went  on  to  confess  my 
general  want  of  prudence  and  politeness,  and  to  account  for 
it  from  my  natural  disposition ;  for  I  was  ever  prone  to  call 
a  cat  a  cat,  and  to  estimate  mankind  (how  proud  and  vain 
a  man,  you  will  say  I  indeed,  my  good  Sir,  I  do  pride  my- 
self in  the  consciousness  of  such  a  disposition)  not  by  their 
wealth,  titles,  or  connections,  but,  so  far  as  I  can  discern 
their  true  characters,  by  their  real  worth.     .  .  . 

"Permit  me  now  seriously  to  assure  you.  Sir,  — and  I  do 
it  with  perfect  sincerity,  —  that  I  had  not  the  most  distant 
idea  of  being  offended  with  you.  What  absurdity  I  was  guilty 
of  in  my  letter  I  do  not  know ;  but  this  is  certain, — that  your 
uneasiness  has  arisen  from  a  total  misconception  of  the  inten- 
tion of  it,  however  the  terms  might  waiTant  your  construc- 
tion. In  this  instance  we  may  see  what  is  probably  the 
ground  of  many  quarrels,  —  mere,  and  perhaps  mutual,  viis- 
apprehension.  But,  as  we  are  friends^  and  both  wish  to 
remain  so,  no  ill  consequence  can  follow  from  this  strange 
incident.  Perhaps  it  may  do  good ;  it  may,  in  time  to  come, 
prevent  our  drawing  too  hasty  conclusions  from  our  mutual 
expressions  in  matters  of  real  moment." 

In  the  same  letter  he  writes :  — 

"  Reflecting  lately  on  the  situation  of  my  family  in  Phila- 
delphia, and  that  the  motives  which  brought  it  thither  now 
had  ceased,  it  struck  me  as  the  most  eligible  step  I  could 
take,  that  it  were  better  to  remove  it  to  some  place  more 
within  my  reach,  and  where  I  could  support  it  at  much  less 
expense ;  and,  considering  where  may  probably  be  the  seat 
of  the  war  for  at  least  a  year  to  come,  I  concluded  that  a 
most  convenient  residence  would  be  somewhere  above  the 


270  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  [1780. 

Highlands,  not  far  from  the  Hudson.  Can  you  advise  me 
to  an  agreeable  position,  and  help  me  to  a  tolerable  shelter? 
I  wish  not  for  parade ;  convenience  and  comfort  outweigh 
all  other  considerations.  Mrs.  Pickering  will  be  an  easy 
and  kind  neighbor ;  she  has  two  fine  boys  and  two  honest 
maid-servants.  These  will  constitute  my  family.  .  .  • 
Your  information  and  assistance  in  this  affair  will  do  me 
the  greatest  kindness.** 

Colonel  Hughes  replied :  — 

"Fismcnx,  Korember  Stfa,  17da 

"Sir, 
^  I  now  declare  solemnly,  once  for  all,  that  there  is  no 
person  with  whom  I  have  ever  had  any  connection,  that  I 
would  sooner  serve  than  you." 

He  proceeds  to  account  for  and  to  excuse  his  mis- 
take of  the  meaning  of  Colonel  Pickering's  letter.  He 
states  that  he  has  found  apartments  for  Mrs.  Pickering 
in  as  elegant  a  farm-house  as  any  in  the  county,  in  a 
village  caUed  New  Hackinsack. 

"The  house  is  the  property  of  a  Dr.  Thorn,  a  person 
once  of  a  suspicious  character,  but  now  a  sworn  }Vhig.  .  •  • 
I  must  not  omit  acquainting  3'ou,  that  some  of  the  con- 
ditions arc,  that  Mrs.  Pickering  stays  no  longer  than  till 
spring,  if  it  should  be  found  inconvenient  for  the  family » 
and  that  no  forage  is  to  be  taken  but  what  can  be  spared 
without  detriment  to  his  stock.  A  temporary'  kitchen  is 
also  to  be  erected,  if  required ;  and  we  have  boards,  &c. 
Whatever  sheds,  stalls,  &c.,  shall  be  wanted,  must  be  sup- 
plied by  me,  if  there  is  not  room  in  the  Doctor's  stables, 
&c.  ...  I  expect  your  lady  will  be  very  happy  there,  as 
it  is  an  orderly,  good-natured  family,  and  the  Doctor's  wife, 
I  am  informed,  is  well  aflected  to  the  cause  of  her  country, 
whatever  he  may  be.  She  refuses  to  lodge  any  suspicious 
characters,  or  have  any  of  their  meetings,  &c.,  held  at  her 


1^ 


V  -.-■►^  I 


— -. -•'  i 


«     ll 


(... 


A    - 


•.   '^  . 


\ 


Mt.  85.]  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  271 

house.  The  Doctor  himself  is  naturally  a  good-natured, 
merry  fellow ;  tells  a  good  story,  and  sings  now  and  then 
an  old-fashioned  song." 

In  the  latter  part  of  November,  Colonel  Pickering's 
family  removed  from  Philadelphia  to  New  Hackinsack, 
to  the  house  of  Dr.  Thorn.  He  had  previously  written 
(November  7th)  to  Colonel  Hughes,  accepting  his  offer 
to  provide  their  necessary  winter  stores,  and  saying :  — 

"  You  will  perhaps  repent  of  your  readiness  to  serve  me ; 
for  I  am  not  very  scrupulous  in  requesting  the  kind  offices 
of  my  friends,  when  I  think  their  goodness  will  preveut 
their  giving  me  a  denial.  I  will,  however,  be  as  little 
troublesome  as  possible ;  and,  when  I  have  asked  as  much 
as  I  can  with  decency,  but  still  want  more,  I  must  get  Mrs. 
Pickering  to  be  my  mediatrix ;  against  whom  a  new  account 
may  be  formed,  and  the  enormity  of  my  debt  not  be  in- 
creased. 

**You  are  an  old  housekeeper,  and  have  anticipated  all 
my  wishes ;  and,  though  I  have  not  my  wife's  answer  re- 
specting a  permanent  residence  in  your  State,  yet,  as  she  is 
reasonable  in  her  desires,  and  ever  disposed  to  conform  to 
whatever  is  most  agreeable  to  me  and  most  consistent  with 
iny  interest,  I  have  not  the  least  doubt  that  the  proposal 
will  have  her  consent ;  besides,  should  she  choose  to  go  to 
New  England  again  next  spring,  she  will,  by  the  proposed 
removal,  have  performed  half  the  journey.  I  will,  therefore,, 
without  hesitation,  gladly  accept  of  your  offer  to  lay  up  for 
us  the  necessary  winter  stores." 

After  giving  directions  on  that  subject,  Colonel 
Pickering  says:  — 

"All  the  conditions  stipulated  by  Dr.  Thorn  I  am  willing 
to  comply  with.  His  stables  will  have  plenty  of  spare 
room  for  all  my  cavalry;  for  I  am  too  poor  to  keep  a  car- 


..  Jt  •• 


V 


272  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERmG.  [1780. 

riage,  and  of  course  shall  want  no  more  forage  than  the 
public  are  to  furnish  me  with ;  and,  as  I  shall  be  very  little 
absent  from  the  army,  there  will  be  seldom  an  occasion  of 
making  demands  on  the  Doctor's  haystacks ;  though  in  emer- 
gencies he  would  surely  be  too  good  to  deny  me,  at  least  on 
condition  of  repayment  in  kind ;  which  I  would  make,  even 
if  I  sent  to  Connecticut  for  forage  to  enable  me  to  do  it.  I 
doubt  if  any  room  will  be  wanting,  excepting  a  temporary 
kitchen;  and  this  I  believe  will  be  indispensable,  if  there 
be  not  already  a  place  to  cook  in  separate  from  that  of  the 
Doctor's  family.  But,  my  dear  Sir,  you  will  suffer  me  to 
make  one  condition,  —  if  public  workmen  and  public  stock 
are  made  use  of  in  furnishing  conveniences  for  myself  and 
family,  —  which  is,  that  you  will  take  the  trouble  to  charge 
me  with  the  real  value  of  everything  so  furnished.  There 
are  certain  things  to  which,  as  an  officer  in  the  army,  I  am 
entitled  at  the  public  expense  :  these  I  am  willing  to  accept, 
but  nothing  more,  without  paying  therefor.  My  indigna- 
tion. Sir,  has  often  been  kindled  at  a  different  conduct  in 
others,  and  I  will  not,  by  committing  a  fault  which  I  con- 
demn in  others,  lay  a  foundation  for  «eZ/^reproach ;  though, 
so  frequent  has  been  the  practice,  I  may  escape  the  reproach 
of  the  world. 

^  I  have  always  kept  a  cow  in  Philadelphia,  because  I  like 
milk  better  than  wine — because  I  prefer  it  to  all  other  food 
for  children  —  and  because  none  good  could  be  bought ;  but 
at  Dr.  Thorn's,  I  suppose,  I  can  get  milk  in  full  plenty.     .  .  . 

"  I  beg  your  pardon  for  troubling  you  with  such  a  detail, 
and  more  still  for  trespassing  on  your  time  for  a  mere  pri- 
vate affair;  but  in  the  end  I  hope  it  will  be  beneficial,  not 
to  myself  only,  for,  if  I  can  live  at  much  less  expense  at 
Hackinsack  than  in  Philadelphia,  I  shall  be  less  disposed  to 
ask  an  increase  of  pay  on  account  of  the  expenses  incurred 
in  supporting  a  large  family  at  camp. 

"P.  S.  Upon  reading  over  this  letter,  I  felt  a  wish  that 
neither  public  workmen  nor  public  materials  were  at  all 
employed  in  building  a  kitchen ;  for,  as  in  receiving  my  pay 


Mt.  86.]  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  273 

I  will  give  credit  for  the  real  value  of  them,  the  business 
may  perhaps  be  as  well  done  at  once  by  private  workmen 
with  private  stock,  if  to  be  obtained  on  a  short  credit ;  for 
by  New  Year's  day  I  will  pay  the  whole  expense  of  it.  If 
it  be  done  by  the  public  in  the  first  instance,  I  may  be 
reproached,  for  people  will  see  the  building,  but  not  your 
books  or  my  accounts.  I  mean  not,  however,  to  ask  you 
to  perform  impossibilities.  If  you  find  a  kitchen  neces- 
sary ...  for  the  comfort  and  convenience  of  my  family, 
let  it  be  built  at  all  events." 

Manifestations  of  disinterestedness  and  of  submission 
to  personal  inconvenience  for  the  benefit  of  the  public, 
were  not  of  rare  occurrence  in  the  army  of  the  Revo- 
lution. The  preceding  letter,  and  the  following  extracts 
from  others,  illustrate  Colonel  Pickering's  character  in 
these  respects :  — 

TO  HIS  BROTHER. 

"Newbuboh,  April  12th,  1781. 

"  You  mention  the  ten  half-joes  which  I  sent  for  by  Cap- 
tain Abbot.  My  necessities  have  obliged  me  to  call  for  a 
much  larger  sum  on  brother  Williams.  These  wants  will 
not,  I  hope,  always  continue ;  and,  in  the  end,  I  trust  I 
shall  not  lose,  though  I  do  not  expect  to  gain,  by  serving  the 
public.  The  depreciation  being  allowed  for  while  a  member 
of  the  Board  of  War,  there  is  now  a  balance  of  near  four 
thousand  dollars,  specie  value,  due  to  me ;  but  it  is  im- 
possible to  obtain  this  from  an  empty  treasury." 

TO  THE   SAME. 

"  Newbubgh,  April  16th,  1781. 

**  The  deficiency  of  my  salary  while  a  member  of  the  Board 
of  War  has  principally  occasioned  these  draughts.  That 
deficiency,  however,  Congress  have  agreed  to  supply,  which 
leaves  a  balance  still  due  to  me  of  three  thousand  nine  hun- 

VOL.   L  35 


274  UrE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERINQ.  [178a 

dred  and  fourteen  dollars  and  one  third,  specie.  But,  as  it 
is  impossible  to  obtain  this  at  present,  and  the  expenses 
attending  my  present  office  are  very  great,  I  hope  you  and 
my  other  friends  will  readily  excuse  the  draughts  I  am  con- 
strained to  make  on  them.  Could  I  appropriate  monthly  a 
part  of  the  public  moneys  I  receive,  in  discharge  of  my  pay, 
I  could  support  myself  henceforward ;  but  to  take  the  whole 
of  my  pay  in  this  manner  would  make  too  large  deductions 
from  those  moneys  while  I  am  so  scantily  supplied." 

FBOM  PETEB  ANSPAOH.* 

"  New  York,  October  6th,  1789. 

^I  am  almost  certain  that  no  case  similar  to  yours  and 
ours  is  to  be  met  with  anywhere,  to  wit,  that  a  Quarter- 
master-General and  his  own  immediate  assistants,  while 
possessed  of  as  much  public  money  as  would  answer  for 
amounts  due  to  them,  should  disburse  that  very  sum  (which 
was  no  more  than  their  own  duo)  among  the  sundry  cred- 
itors, for  the  mere  name  of  maintaining  public  credit,  and 
thereby  leave  themselves  moneyless." 

In  a  letter  from  Newburgh  of  December  28th,  1780, 
to  his  brother,  Colonel  Pickering  says,  respecting  his 
domestic  arrangements:  — 

"  I  believe  I  informed  you  or  Mr.  Williams  of  my  inten- 
tion of  removing  my  family  from  Philadelphia.  They  are 
with  me  at  this  place.  We  are  all  very  well.  As  I  had  no 
inducement  to  carry  my  family  to  Philadelphia  but  to  have 
them  with  me,  so,  on  my  removal,  that  inducement  ceased, 

*  Mr.  Anspach  served  under  Colonel  Pickering  in  the  Quartermaster-Gen- 
eral's department ;  first,  as  a  clerk,  from  September  Ist,  1780,  to  July  Slst, 
1781 ;  then,  as  paymaster,  until  December  Slst,  1782 ;  and  afterwards,  probably 
to  the  end  of  the  war,  as  an  assistant  quartermaster.  He  was  engaged  in  the 
settlement  of  Colonel  Pickering's  accounts  as  Quartermaster-General  when  he 
wrote  the  letter  above  quoted.  He  was  an  accurate  accountant,  a  worthy 
man,  and  warmly  attached  to  Colonel  Pickering. 


Mr.  86.]  LIFE  OP  TIMOTHY  FICEERIKG.  275 

and  every  reason  conspired  to  urge  my  bringing  them  from 
that  expensive  city.  I  have  now  but  one  family,  one  set 
of  servants  instead  of  two,  and  the  satisfaction  of  having 
my  wife  and  children  with  me.  Should  the  war  continue, 
as  it  doubtless  will,  another  year,  I  mean  to  find  some 
convenient  house  in  this  State  (probably  between  Fishkill 
and  Poughkeepsie) ,  where  my  family  may  remain  during 
the  next  campaign.'' 


276  UFB  OF  TIMOTHY  FICEERINO.  [1781. 


CHAPTER   XVIII. 

Specie  Payments  and  Specie  Certificates.  —  Letter  on  these  Subjects 
from  Colonel  Pickering  to  Congress,  —  Robert  H.  Harrison. — 
Colonel  Pickering  proposes  Reforms  in  his  Department.  —  Em- 
barrassments in  it.  —  His  Public  Spirit  and  Independence.  — 
Legacy  from  his  Friend,  Colonel  Flower.  —  His  Aversion  to 
Slavery. 

By  the  new  regulations*  of  the  Quartermaster's 
department,  the  salaries  of  its  officers  were  to  be 
paid  "  in  specie  or  other  money  equivalent " ;  and,  as 
before  mentioned,  by  a  resolve  f  of  Congress,  the 
Quartermaster-General  was  authorized  to  issue  cer- 
tificates of  debt,  payable  in  the  same  way.  Doubts, 
however,  were  entertained  by  some  persons,  whether 
a  real  equivalent  to  specie  was  intended  by  Congress ; 
which  doubts  were  strengthened  by  a  resolve,  that  the 
salaries  of  certain  dvU  officers,  which  had  been  made 
payable  "in  specie  or  other  current  money  equiva- 
lent," should  be  paid  in  bills  of  credit  of  the  "new 
emission."  J 

Colonel  Pickering  went  to  Philadelphia  in  February, 
1781  (arriving  there  on  the  24th),  for  the  purpose  of 
making  application  to  Congress  in  relation  to  the  sal- 
aries and  the  specie  certificates,  and  also  of  forward- 
ing the  movement  of  a  detachment  of  troops  under 
Lafayette. 


*  Journals  of  Congress,  July  15th,  1780.  f  Ibid.,  August  28d,  1780. 

}  Ibid.,  September  18th  and  25th,  and  November  15th,  1780. 


JBt.  86.]  UFE  OP  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  277 

On  the  2d  of  March,  at  Philadelphia,  he  wrote  to 
Mrs.  Pickering :  — 

**  I  found  our  old  acquaintances  well,  except  Mr.  Fooks,* 
who  is  much  better,  and  Colonel  Flower,  who  is  not  expected 
to  live  long.  I  went  to  see  him  the  day  I  arrived.  He  said 
he  had  never  expected  to  have  that  happiness.     •  .  • 

^  I  have  yet  had  little  time  to  speak  or  think  of  the  first 
object  of  my  journey,  being  busily  engaged  in  forwarding 
the  detachment.  ...  I  have  now  a  little  leisure,  and 
shall  frame  my  address  on  the  subject.  The  affair  is 
attended  with  embarrassments,  and  I  know  not  what  may 
be  the  result." 

He  accordingly  wrote  to  the  President  of  Congress, 
under  date  of  March  3d,  1781 : — . 

"  Sir, 

^  After  twice  requesting  of  Congress  an  explanation  of 
their  resolutions  relative  to  the  pay  of  the  ofiScers  of  my 
department,  and  the  certificates  I  am  authorized  to  issue,  I 
would  not  again  trouble  them  on  the  subject,  if  it  did  not 
appear  to  me  indispensably  necessaiy  to  come  to  a  decision. 
To  obtain  this  was  the  principal  cause  of  my  journey  hither ; 
though  I  was  charged,  at  the  same  time,  with  the  arrange- 
ments requisite  for  the  march  of  the  detachment  under  the 
command  of  the  Marquis  de  Lafayette, f  and  attention  to 
which  has  till  this  time  prevented  my  applying  to  Congress 
on  the  subject  of  this  letter. 

^  Trusting  to  the  plain  and  obvious  meaning  of  the  words, 
I  ventured  to  assure  the  persons  concerned,  that  the  moneys 
promised  to  be  paid  in  specie  or  other  current  money  equiv- 
alent would  really  be  so  paid,  and  that  no  bills  of  credit 

*  Paul  Fodks,  translator  of  languages  to  Congn^ss. 

t  See  letters  of  February  18th,  1781,  from  Colonel  Pickering,  and  of  March 
2d,  from  the  Marquis  de  Lafayette,  to  General  Washington,  in  Sparks's  ^*  Cor- 
respondence of  the  American  Revolution,"  Vol.  III.  pp.  238,  248.  The  Mar- 
quis's letter  shows  that  the  march  of  the  detachment  from  the  Hudson  Kiyer 
to  the  Head  of  Elk  was  performed  prosperously  and  expeditiously. 


278  LIFB  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  [1781, 

should  ever  be  tendered  to  them  as  such  equivalent,  unless 
they  were  current  among  the  people  at  the  rate  of  specie. 
By  these  assurances,  I  was  enabled  to  organize  the  depart- 
ment, and  to  issue  some  certificates  in  lieu  of  money.  But, 
as  doubts  still  rose  in  the  minds  of  many,  I  requested  of  Con- 
gress an  explanation  of  the  words  in  question.  A  resolution 
passed  thereon,  declaring  a  real  and  not  a  nominal  equiva- 
lent was  intended.  But  the  next  day  this  was  ordered  to 
be  reconsidered,  and,  some  time  after,  to  be  recommitted; 
and  thus  the  matter  rests.  These  proceedings  were  indeed 
represented  to  me  in  a  light  somewhat  different.      I  was 

told  that  the  resolution  of  October was  the  next  day 

repealed,  and  another  resolution  passed,  declaring  that  the 
salaries  and  contracts  fixed  and  promised  to  be  paid  in 
specie  should  be  paid  in  bills  of  the  new  emission  as  equiv- 
alent to  specie.  The  source  and  circumstances  of  the  infor- 
mation were  such  as  almost  to  exclude  a  doubt  of  the  truth 
of  it,  and  I  could  scarcely  withhold  my  full  belief,  —  when, 
turning  over  the  Journals  of  Congress  for  September  and 
November  (just  then  arrived),  I  found  that  the  salaries  of 
the  officers  on  the  civil  list,  which  in  the  first  month  had 
been  fixed  and  made  payable  in  specie  or  other  current 
money  equivalent,  in  the  latter  were  ordered  to  be  paid  in 
bills  of  the  new  emission. 

"  Well  knowing  what  would  be  the  fatal  effects  of  such  a 
resolution  respecting  my  department,  I  immediately  com- 
municated my  information  to  the  Commander-in-Chief,  who 
thereupon  gave  me  my  present  leave  of  absence.  And 
now,  although  the  representation  differed  from  the  fact, 
yet  it  appears  to  me  not  the  less  necessary  that  a  clear  and 
unequivocal  explanation  of  the  meaning  of  Congress  should 
be  given,  and  such  further  measures  adopted  and  uniformly 
pursued,  as  shall  recover  and  fix  the  confidence  of  the 
people.  I  am  aware  that  this  subject  is  not  without  embar- 
rassments ;  yet  the  path  of  justice  appears  plain  and  simple, 
and  with  justice  sound  policy  cannot  be  at  variance. 

"In   the    plan  for   the    Quartermaster's   department,   I 


JEt.  85.]  LIFE  OP  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  279 

supposed  Congress  intended  to  establish  a  permanent  prin- 
ciple, in  fixing  the  pay  of  the  officers  in  a  medium  not 
liable  to  the  continual  changes  of  paper  money,  by  a  reli- 
ance on  which  persons  suitably  qualified  might  be  encour- 
aged to  enter  into  the  public  service,  and,  receiving  a  just 
compensation,  not  be  tempted  to  pay  themselves  at  discre- 
tion. It  was  the  establishing  of  this  principle  which  led  me 
to  propose  the  issuing  specie  certificates.  I  had  not  then, 
nor  long  after,  any  knowledge  of  the  tender  laws  relative  to 
the  bills  of  the  new  emission ;  and  those  respecting  the  old 
emissions,  I  thought  had  either  been  repealed,  suspended, 
or  become  obsolete.  I  could  not  indeed  conceive  that  such 
laws,  which  the  experience  of  five  years  had  shown  to  be 
injurious  to  public  credit,  destructive  to  the  morals  of  the 
people,  and  beneficial  to  none  but  sharpers  and  fraudulent 
debtors,  would  ever  have  been  revived.  While  these  laws 
remain  in  force,  the  evils  of  which  I  complain  will  be  reme- 
diless. Were  Congress,  at  this  time,  to  declare,  in  the  most 
candid  and  explicit  terms,  that  the  salaries  of  persons  in  my 
department,  and  the  specie  contracts  they  have  made,  should 
be  paid  in  gold  and  silver,  or  other  moneys  really  equiva- 
lent, still  I  should  be  embarrassed ;  for  the  tender  laws  hang 
over  my  head,  and  threaten  severe  penalties  if  I  attempt  to 
act  honestly  by  rating  the  current  paper  money  at  its  jtist^ 
instead  of  its  legale  value.  Yet  there  is  not  a  single  mem- 
ber of  any  public  body  in  America  who  will  accept  a  paper 
dollar  of  the  new  emission  as  an  equivalent  to  a  silver  dollar. 
But  a  public  officer  must  tender  it  as  such.  Hai-d  condition 
to  an  honest  man  engaged  in  the  service  of  his  country  I 
Why  such  a  man,  in  his  public  office,  should  be  obliged  to 
do  what,  in  his  own  private  afiairs,  he  would  be  ashamed 
of,  I  know  not.  Credit,  or  the  reputation  of  integrity  and 
good  faith,  is  alike  essential  to  the  public  as  to  an  individual. 
The  want  of  public  credit  I  consider  a  greater  calamity  than 
the  war  itself;  for,  with  the  fair  faith  of  1775,  and  the  paper 
currency  established  on  its  present  funds,  we  could  soon  put 
an  end  to  the  war.     Embaritissed  as  our  affairs  are  at  this 


280  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  [1781. 

time,  yet,  with  money  equal  to  one  fourth  part  of  the  ex- 
penses of  the  department  for  the  current  year,  I  would 
engage  that  the  supplies  and  services  expected  from  it 
should  not  fail,  provided  the  iniquitous  tender  laws  were 
immediately  repealed,  and  such  solemn  public  declarations 
made  as  should  recover  the  lost  confidence  of  the  people, 
and  induce  them  to  believe  that  the  promises  made  them 
should  fiiithfully  be  performed.  But,  if  some  such  measures 
are  not  speedily  taken,  or  money  furnished  equal  to  the 
whole  expenses  of  the  department,  the  public  business  will 
essentially  suffer ;  and,  were  I  to  continue  in  office,  I  could 
not  be  answerable  for  deficiencies.  I  cannot  continue  unless 
enabled  to  do  substantial  justice. 

"  Diffident  of  my  abilities,  I  ever  supposed  that  an  opinion 
of  my  integrity  was  a  principal  inducement  to  my  election 
to  the  office  I  now  hold,  and,  by  discharging  the  duties  of  it 
with  a  certain  degree  of  propriety,  and  acting  uprightly,  I 
hoped  at  least  to  be  secured  from  censure.  But,  in  the 
present  state  of  things,  this  is  impossible.  A  failure  of 
supplies,  or  services,  will  incur  blame ;  yet  such  failures 
must  frequently  happen,  as  money  is  not  furnished  equal 
to  a  tenth,  perhaps  not  a  twentieth,  part  of  the  expenses 
of  the  department,  nor  is  there  public  credit  to  supply  its 
place.  The  public  faith,  so  often  shaken,  ceases,  in  a  great 
degree,  under  the  present  measures  of  government,  to  give 
security.     I  speak  from  information,  not  conjecture. 

"  The  uniform  course  of  my  walk  in  public  life,  I  should 
hope,  would  exclude  a  suspicion  that  the  fixing  the  value 
of  my  own  salary  was  an  object  with  me  in  my  present 
application.  Yet  it  is  possible  that,  in  the  minds  of  gen- 
tlemen to  whom  I  am  not  known,  that  suspicion  may  arise. 
To  such  my  professions  to  the  contrary  might  be  in  vain ; 
I  shall,  therefore,  waive  them.  But  with  sincerity  I  declare, 
that,  honorable  as  my  office  is  accounted,  so  great  is  its 
weight,  and  such  difficulties  attend  the  execution  of  it,  I 
am  willing  to  resign.  A  resignation  would  ease  me  of  a 
load  of  anxiety  by  no  means  pleasant  to  bear.     Or,  if  Con- 


iET.86.]  LIFB  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  281 

gress  are  now  of  opinion,  that  the  salary ,  which,  in  the 
midst  of  their  embarrassments  occasioned  by  the  resigna^ 
tion  of  my  predecessor,  and  the  fulness  of  their  approbation 
on  my  appointment,  they  were  pleased  to  grant  me,  is  too 
high  if  paid  in  solid  coin  or  its  just  equivalent,  I  am  con* 
tent  it  should  be  reduced  to  any  sum  they  shall  now  deem 
proper. 

^On  revising  this  letter,  I  see  that  I  have  spoken  my 
sentiments  with  freedom ;  yet  I  hope  without  offence.  My 
words  flowed  from  a  strong  conviction  of  the  necessity 
of  applying  a  radical  remedy  to  the  evils  under  which  we 
groan,  and  which  so  deeply  affect  me  as  a  public  officer. 
Could  I  have  expressed  myself  coldly  on  a  subject  so  inter* 
estiug,  I  must  have  been  as  insensible  to  my  own  honor  as 
to  the  public  good." 

Colonel  Pickering  wrote  to  his  wife  on  the  9th  of 
March,  1781:  — 

"  My  affair  is  before  Congress.  It  excited  general  atten- 
tion, and  is  committed  to  a  committee  of  the  whole  house. 
I  fear  their  decision  will  be  too  long  in  forming  for  me  to 
stay  here  till  it  is  made.  If  I  discover  a  proper  disposition 
in  Congress  to  establish  just  principles,  and  seriously  and 
diligently  devise  and  pursue  the  measures  which  the  public 
necessities  require,  I  will  return  without  waiting  their  de- 
cision. That  such  is  the  disposition  of  a  majority  of  the 
members,  I  doubt  not;  but  there  appears,  at  the  same 
time,  a  degree  of  timidity  which  makes  them  cautious  of 
going  to  the  bottom  of  the  bushiess.  But  'tis  time  to  have 
done  with  patchwork.  We  have  been  nearly  ruined  by  it 
already.  Such  fair  principles  must  be  established,  and 
open,  honest  measures  pursued,  as  shall  recover  the  public 
credit,  than  which  nothing  is  more  wanted,  nothing  is  more 
essential  to  the  welfare  of  the  United  States.  ...  I  intend 
to  leave  this  city  the  beginning  of  next  week,  if  the  pro- 
ceedings of  Congress  will  admit  of  it.  But  do  not  expect 
me  too  soon.     Congress,  like  other  large  assemblies,  are 

VOL.  I.  36 


282  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  [1781. 

slow  in  business ;  and  the  subject  I  have  laid  before  them 
is  of  the  first  magnitude.  It  concerns,  not  my  department 
only,  but  all  others,  and  every  individual  in  these  States, 
namely,  the  management  of  our  paper  currency.  I  have 
the  pleasure  to  inform  you,  my  dear,  (for  you  enjoy  what- 
ever gives  me  pleasure,)  that  some  members  expressed 
very  great  satisfaction  with  my  letter,  and  were  happy  that 
I  had  started  a  subject  on  which,  for  the  reasons  I  gave,  it 
was  evidently  time  to  come  to  a  fair  and  candid  decision.'' 

The  next  day  he  wrote  to  her  again :  — 

**  Our  friend  Mr.  Fooks  .  .  .  told  me  yesterday,  that 
my  application  to  Congress  was  spoken  of  in  high  terms  of 
approbation  by  divers  gentlemen  in  the  city.  If  it  produces 
the  effects  it  naturally  leads  to,  not  my  department  only, 
but  every  other,  and,  indeed,  every  honest  man  in  America, 
will  feel  the  benefit  of  it.  And,  should  the  consequences  be 
so  extensively  useful,  my  interference  will  be  a  source  of 
satisfaction  all  my  life  long.  Should  my  application  fail  of 
success,  I  shall  regret  it  exceedingly ;  because  I  think  the 
public  welfare  involved  therein.  To  convince  my  enemies 
(for  some  I  believe  I  have,  who  are  also  enemies  to  justice) 
that  my  personal  interest  was  not  an  object  with  me  in 
endeavoring  to  fix  the  value  of  the  salaries,  I  told  Congress 
that,  if  they  thought  my  present  salary  too  high,  they  might 
reduce  it  to  any  sum  they  should  now  judge  proper.  Of 
these  things  you  will  say  nothing  at  present;  I  mention 
them  because  I  know  they  will  give  you  pleasure ;  for  you 
will  value  what  does  me  honor  more  than  wealth." 

Congress  resolved :  *  — 

**  That  all  debts  now  due  from  the  United  States,  which 
have  been  liquidated  in  specie  value,  and  all  debts  which 
have  been  or  shall  be  made  payable  in  specie,  or  other 

*  Journals,  March  16th,  1781.    See  also  Journals,  May  22d. 


JBt.  35.]  XIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  283 

money  equivalent,  shall  be  actually  paid,  either  in  specie 
or  other  money  equal  thereto,  according  to  the  current 
exchange  between  such  money  and  specie. 

"  That  it  be,  and  hereby  is,  recommended  to  the  several 
States  to  amend  their  laws  making  the  bills  of  credit  emit- 
ted under  the  authority  of  Congress  a  legal  tender,  so  that 
such  bills  shall  not  be  a  tender  in  any  other  manner  than  at 
their  current  value  compared  with  gold  and  silver.'* 

The  letter  of  March  2d  to  Mrs.  Pickering,  above 
cited,  says:  — 

"  The  first  salutation  Mrs.  Hastings  gave  me  was,  that  I 
was  coming  to  live  here  again.  You  know  there  was  a  new 
plan  formed,  abolishing  the  Board  of  War,  and  proposing 
a  single  Minister  of  War  in  their  stead.*  It  seems  I  was 
in  nomination  for  this  new  ofSco.  General  Sullivan  and 
Mr.  Peters  were  my  competitors.  Colonel  Miles  saw  me 
as  I  arrived,  and  gave  me  a  hint  of  the  matter ;  which  sur- 
prised me  nearly  as  much  as  when  Mr.  S.  [Sherman]  called 
me  up  to  tell  me  I  was  nominated  to  be  Quartermaster- 
General.     But  you  need  say  nothing  of  this  affair." 

A  letter  of  an  earlier  date  (February  15th)  had  been 
written  by  his  friend  Samuel  Hodgdon,  but  had  not 
been  received,  in  which  Mr.  Hodgdon  says :  — 

"Permit  me  to  arrest  your  attention  for  a  moment  on 
a  subject  which,  as  an  American,  I  feel  interested  in.  I 
mean,  the  choice  of  a  suitable  person  to  superintend  the 
War  Department.  This  and  the  other  similar  appoint- 
ments for  the  other  branches  engross  the  whole  of  con- 
versation in  every  circle.  On  this  occasion  the  virtuous 
citizens  feel  and  lament  the  want  of  men  qualified  for  these 
important  trusts,  as  they  are  convinced  nothing  is  wanting 
to  bring  in  and  support  an  army  in  the  field,  sufiicient  to 

*  Journals  of  CoogreBS,  February  7tb,  1781. 


284  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  [1781. 

destroy  every  hostile  attempt  of  our  enemies  on  the  peace 
and  happiness  of  America,  but  men  of  integrity  and  knowl* 
edge  in  war,  to  preside  at  the  head  of  their  affairs.  In  this 
situation  they  have  again  cast  their  eyes  on  you.  Whether 
their  representatives  will  gratify  their  wishes,  by  making 
choice  of  you  as  Minister  or  Secretary  at  War,  time  alone 
can  determine.  I  have  myself,  in  free  conversations  with 
some  of  the  gentlemen  belonging  to  Congress,  mentioned 
the  matter,  and  have  always  received  for  answer,  *  What 
shall  we  do  for  a  Quartermaster-General?'  In  reply,  I 
have  demanded  whether  a  man's  merit  ought  to  prevent 
his  promotion.  Upon  the  whole,  were  you  present  on  the 
spot,  I  have  reason  to  think  you  would  once  more  expe- 
rience a  unanimous  choice  to  the  office  in  question ;  and 
you  will  do  me  the  justice  to  acquit  me  of  a  design  to  flatter, 
when  I  tell  you  that  this  is  mine  and  every  other  man's  wish 
that  I  have  heard  speak  upon  the  subject.  Your  own  good 
sense  and  delicacy  will  enable  you  to  act  right  on  the  occa- 
sion. General  Sullivan  and  Mr.  Peters  are  also  on  the 
nomination,  and  both,  I  am  informed,  very  desirous  to 
obtain  the  appointment ;  *  but,  as  Mr.  Lovell  has  prom- 
ised me  to  write  you  by  this  conveyance,  on  the  subject,  I 
add  no  more." 

While  he  was  in  Philadelphia,  Colonel  Pickering  was 
much  annoyed  by  the  information  in  a  letter  from 
Mrs.  Pickering,  dated  Newburgh,  March  7th,  1781 :  — 


♦  General  Sullivan,  in  a  letter  to  General  Washington,  March  6th,  1781, 
says  :  *^  I  was  nominated  against  my  will,  and,  if  chosen,  should  not  have  ac- 
cepted."—  Sparks's  "  Correspondence  of  the  Revolution"  Vol.  III.  p.  263. — 
Mr.  Peters,  in  reference  to  a  Report  before  Congress  in  favor  of  establishing  the 
oflSce,  wrote  to  Colonel  Pickering,  January  16th,  1781 :  "  I  doubt  whether  I 
shall  have  anything  to  do  with  the  matter ;  nor  do  I  wish  to  undertake  so  ardu- 
ous  a  charge.  ...  I  have  neither  vanity  nor  ambition  to  be  gratifled  in  this 
way."  With  his  ability  and  industry,  and  his  experience  in  the  War  Office, 
it  can  hardly  be  doubted  that  the  department,  had  it  been  confided  to  him, 
would  have  been  satisfactorily  administered.  The  election  of  the  Secretary 
of  War  was  postponed  until  October,  when  General  Lincoln  was  chosen,  and 
on  a  salary  of  four  thousand  dollars.  —  Journals^  October  let  and  SOth,  1781. 


iBr.  86.]  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKEMNG.  285 

"The  weather  has  been  very  unpleasant  for  this  week 
past,  and  unfortunately  we  have  had  no  wood  for  these  five 
days  but  what  we  have  borrowed,  and  of  that  but  a  scant 
supply.  Our  credit  in  that  way  begins  to  run  low  now.  I 
know  not  from  what  cause  it  proceeds ;  I  believe  no  great 
exertion  is  made  to  procure  any  wood." 

He  replied,  on  the  13th :  — 

"  I  cannot  express  in  terms  sufficiently  strong  my  grief 
and  indignation  at  your  late  sufferings  and  the  cause  of 
them.  The  information  came  to  hand  last  evening,  and 
kept  me  awake  half  the  night.  I  am  to  the  last  degree 
impatient  to  return.     .  .  . 

"  P.  S.  My  mind  is  so  much  agitated,  I  can  scarcely  attend 
to  business.  Congress  have  made  such  progress  on  the  sub- 
ject of  my  letter,  that  I  hope  earnestly  two  or  three  days 
will  so  ripen  their  measures  as  to  enable  me  to  return." 

On  the  20th  of  March,  1781,  he  wrote  to  Mrs.  Picker- 
ing:— 

''Congress  have  at  last  come  to  such  conclusions  as  I 
desired  respecting  specie  salaries  and  certificates,  and  have 
recommended  a  repeal  of  the  iniquitous  tender  laws.  .  .  . 
I  know  at  present  of  nothing  to  detain  me  here  beyond  to- 
morrow night,  provided  Congress,  in  the  interim,  can  hold 
up  any  prospect  of  furnishing  money  for  enabling  me  to 
procure  the  great  supplies  necessary  for  the  next  campaign ; 
but  I  shall  not  wait  for  their  grants. 

"This  will  be  delivered  to  you  by  my  worthy  friend, 
Colonel  Harrison,  who  is  going  to  head-quarters,  though 
not  to  stay  any  longer  with  the  army.  He  is  appointed  a 
judge  of  the  Supreme  Court  in  Maryland,  a  place  of  honor, 
and  with  a  salary  adequate  to  his  support.  He,  like  me,  is, 
above  all  things,  fond  of  domestic  life,  and,  after  devoting 
so  many  years  of  his  life  to  the  public  in  the  field,  embraces 
with  joy  this  opportunity  of  retiring.  For  your  sake,  my 
dearest,  as  well  as  my  own,  I  most  earnestly  hope  that  this 


286  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERINa.  [1781. 

year  may  relieve  me  from  the  busy,  bustling  scenes  of  war, 
and  that  such  means  of  supporting  a  family  may  present 
as  shall  never  more  require  our  separation." 

Before  leaving  Philadelphia,  he  wrote  two  long  letters 
(dated  March  21st  and  24th)  to  the  President  of  Con- 
gress, in  which  he  represented  the  necessity  of  allowing 
to  some  of  the  officers  in  his  department  forage  and 
rations,  and  an  increase  of  compensation  beyond  the 
pay  fixed  by  the  late  regulations  of  the  department 
He  also  argued  that  several  oflBces,  including  those  of 
the  Assistant  Quartermaster-General,  the  Commissary  of 
Purchases,  and  the  issuing  Commissaries  at  posts,  might 
well  be  abolished.  Some  officers  he  had  already  dis- 
charged, as  being  unnecessary. 

He  suggested  the  abolition  of  the  regiment  of  arti- 
ficers, whose  pay  he  estimated  at  six  thousand  eight 
hundred  and  fifty-three  dollars  and  one  third  a  month, 
and  the  employment  of  a  director  of  artificers,  four 
master  workmen,  four  foremen,  and  one  hundred  jour- 
neymen, who  would  do  as  much  (and  beyond  com- 
parison better)  work  as  the  regiment,  and  whose  pay 
would  amount  to  onlv  three  thousand  four  hundred  and 
twenty  dollars  a  month  *     He  says :  — 

"That  I  have  interested  views  in  the  reformation  here 
proposed,  I  will  not  deny.  The  saving  to  the  public  in  such 
immense  sums  as  an  adoption  of  these  or  similar  measures 
would  produce,  would  be  a  source  of  pleasing  reflection  to 
me  during  life.     But  I  hope  it  will  not  be  deemed  unlawful 

♦  General  WaBhington  wrote  to  Colonel  Pickering,  January  Ist,  1781 :  "In 
general,  though  they  [the  corps  of  artificers]  receive  liigh  wages,  as  far  as  they 
have  come  under  my  observation  they  appear  to  work  little,  and  the  officers 
to  have  forgotten  the  end  of  their  appointment,  and  to  have  assumed  the 
appearances  and  pretensions  of  offlcern  of  the  line,  instead  of  accommodatiDg 
themselves  to  the  spirit  of  their  stations." 


^T.  35.]  LIFB  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  287 

to  derive  from  them  another  advantage.  A  small  portion 
of  the  moneys  so  saved,  distributed  among  some  of  the 
ofiScers  in  my  department  so  as  to  accommodate  their  pay 
and  allowances  to  circumstances,  to  the  importance  of  their 
offices,  and  the  quantity  of  business  they  transact,  would 
retain  them  in  the  public  service,  would  give  them  content, 
and  relieve  me  from  the  trouble  and  anxiety  which  their 
quitting  the  service  would  occasion." 

Mr.  Hodgdon  wrote  to  Colonel  Pickering  from  Philar 
delphia,  on  the  16th  of  April :  — 

**  Nothing  further,  that  I  can  learn,  has  been  done  with 
any  of  your  matters  since  you  left  this ;  only  I  was  informed 

by  General  that  his  Excellency  did  not  approve  of 

your  plan,  and  that  be  never  thought  he  would." 

In  reply  (April  22d),  Colonel  Pickering  said :  — 

'^  As  to  the  rejection  of  the  plan,  it  is  rather  a  relief  than 

a  matter  of  regret  to  me*     General ,  I  suppose,  plumes 

himself  on  the  event.  He  is  welcome.  I  would  rather  re- 
joice when  the  public  interest  was  evidently  promoted.  I 
thought  (such  was  my  weakness)  that  two  hundred  thousand 
hard  dollars  ^er  annum  were  worth  saving.  I  declared  (and 
with  sincerity)  that  I  did  not  want  to  be  the  executor ;  but 
is  there  no  man  in  the  United  States  whose  abilities  can 
comprehend  and  execute  the  plans  proposed,  in  addition  to 
the  duties  of  the  Quartermaster's  department?  And  why 
can't  he  be  appointed?  If  the  half  of  that  sum  can  be 
saved  by  him  to  the  public,  I  will  not  stand  in  his  way  a 
moment." 

The  Board  of  War  approved  of  many  of  Colonel 
Pickering's  recommendations ;  but  it  does  not  appear 
by  the  Journals,  that  Congress  acted  in  express  refer- 
ence to  them.     The  artificers,  however,  were  reduced 


288  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  [1781. 

to  one  company  for  the  main  army,  one  for  the  south- 
ern army,*  and  one  at  Carlisle ;  and  on  the  resignation 
of  Charles  Pettit,  Assistant  Quartermaster-General,  his 
office  was  abolished.-}- 

In  another  letter  (March  30th)  to  the  President  of 
Congress,  Colonel  Pickering  represented,  at  much  length 
and  in  strong  terms,  the  distresses  of  his  department 
for  want  of  money ;  that  the  credit  of  the  United  States 
was  at  the  lowest  ebb;  and  that,  unless  he  were  furnished 
with  money,  public  business  would  either  cease  alto- 
gether, or,  where  partially  continued,  it  would  be  with 
the  greatest  difficulty  and  disadvantage.  Towards  the 
end  of  the  letter  he  gives  the  reasons  of  his  having 
remained  so  long  in  Philadelphia,  saying :  — 

"To  this  long  letter  I  beg  leave  only  to  add,  that  I  have 
continued  here  with  an  expectation  that  my  infoimation 
might  be  of  some  use  in  framing  those  economical  arrange- 
ments which  I  have  had  the  honor  to  lay  before  Congress  ; 
to  obtiiiu  those  additional  allowances  for  some  officers  in  my 
department  which  their  services  and  stations  require ;  to 
propose  those  amendments  in  the  systems  already  estab- 
lished, and  those  additional  provisions,  which  are  herein 
suggested ;  and,  above  all,  to  procure  money  for  the  pur- 
pose mentioned  in  my  estimates  for  a  part  of  the  services  of 
the  ensuing  campaign.  But,  in  regard  to  the  latter,  I  must 
return  hopeless.  The  Board  of  Treasury,  to  whom  it  was 
referred  to  find  the  way  and  means  of  supplying  the  money 
demanded,  have  not  the  least  prospect  of  furnishing  a  single 
shilling.  Of  consequence,  no  material  provision  can  be 
made  of  the  articles  necessary  to  enable  the  army  to  take 
the  field.  Many  of  them  require  time  in  preparing;  but 
without  money  they  cannot  be  begun." 

*  Journals  of  Congress,  March  29th,  1781. 
t  Ibid.,  June  20th,  1781. 


Mt.  86.]  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICEEBING.  289 

The  following  cogent  extract  on  the  same  topic  is 
from  a  letter  of  the  21st  of  April,  1781,  to  the  President 
of  Congress,  written  after  Colonel  Pickering's  return 
to  New  burgh :  — 

<<  I  do  not  mean  to  be  continually  wounding  the  ears  of 
Congress  with  tales  of  public  poverty  and  distress.  These 
already  are  but  too  well  known  ;  and  till  there  is  some  pros- 
pect of  relief  I  shall  not  think  it  necessary  to  repeat  them. 
Permit  me,  Sir,  only  to  say,  once  for  all,  that,  if  camp 
equipage,  forage,  and  other  supplies  in  my  department  shall 
fail ;  if  transportation  shall  cease ;  if  the  necessary  officers, 
artificers,  watermen,  and  laborers  shall  abandon  the  ser- 
vice ;  in  a  word,  if  the  business  of  the  department  shall 
absolutely  stop,  —  the  blame,  I  hope,  will  not  be  thrown  on 
me.  If  any  other  man  can,  without  money,  carry  on  the 
extensive  business  of  this  department,  I  wish  most  sincerely 
he  would  take  my  place.  I  confess  myself  incapable  of 
doing  it." 

Having,  in  a  letter  of  the  8th  of  May,  1781,  to 
Mr.  Hodgdon,  mentioned  great  losses  sustained  by  his 
brothers-in-law,  Gardner  and  Williams,  by  the  capture 
of  their  ships  at  St.  Eustatia,  by  Admiral  Bodney,  he 
adds,  in  the  spirit  of  the  period  :  — 

**  These  misfortunes  affect  me  not  only  as  a  brother,  but 
as  a  borrower  of  money.  I  depended  on  Mr.  Williams  for 
a  supply  of  cash  on  every  occasion.  I  shall  decline  drawing 
on  him  in  future,  and  must,  therefore,  mortgage  or  sell  a 
piece  of  land  for  my  support.  However,  I  remember  the 
time  when  I  would  cheerfully  have  parted  with  one  half  or 
the  whole  of  my  little  patrimony,  for  ever,  to  have  put  an 
end  to  the  war,  and  to  estiiblish  our  liberties.  I  can  still 
do  it  without  murmuring,  if  it  be  necessary." 

VOL.  L  37 


290  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  [1781. 

It  seems,  from  the  following  letter  to  Mr.  Hodgdon, 
that  Colonel  Pickering  had  enemies  desirous  of  having 
him  removed  from  his  office ;  but  who  they  were,  and 
what  were  the  grounds  of  discontent,  are  not  mentioned. 
The  abolition  proposed  by  him  of  certain  offices  was 
not  agreeable  to  some  of  the  incumbents ;  and  it  may 
be  presumed  that  due  allowance  was  not  made  by 
others  for  the  impossibility  of  performing  the  duties  of 
Quartermaster-General  satisfactorily  without  money. 

*<  Newbuboh,  May  22d,  1781. 

^  All  things  and  circumstances  considered,  I  conclude  to 
give  up  all  thoughts  of  buying  Colonel  Flower's  mare. 
Before  she  would  be  of  use  I  may  be  a  private  man.  I  am 
well  satisfied  the  efforts  of  some  persons  will  not  be  wanting 
to  effect  it.  But  I  defy  their  malice  as  much  as  I  detest 
their  principles ;  not  because  I  think  they  cannot  succeed, 
but  because  their  success  would  not  mortify  me.  Con- 
scious of  upright,  and  diligent,  and  even  laborious  endeavors 
to  perform  the  duties  of  my  office,  they  cannot  hurt  me, 
though  I  should  be  removed  from  office.  I  sometimes  think 
that  the  day  is  fast  approaching  when  *  the  post  of  honor ' 
will  be  *  a  private  station.'  B^mk  and  office  I  can  quit  with- 
out a  sigh.  With  pleasure  I  should  handle  the  peaceful 
instruments  of  husbandry ;  for  /  can  dig^  though  I  am 
ashamed  to  beg.  I  believe  I  am  neither  vain  nor  envious ; 
but  I  think  too  highly  of  the  dignity  of  human  nature,  of 
the  equal  rights  of  all  mankind,  —  or,  if  you  please,  I  have 
too  much  pride,  —  to  worship  at  the  shrine  of  any  individual, 
or  collection,  of  my  fellow-mortals.  But  this  unaccommo- 
dating disposition  may  create  mo  enemies  who  will  aUempt 
my  ruin ;  but,  as  I  said  before,  they  cannot  hurt  me.  The 
tenor  of  your  letter,  with  the  complexion  of  one  or  two 
lately  received  from  another  quarter,  have  given  rise  to 
these  reflections.  But  I  have  done.  ...  I  thank  you  for 
the  information   respecting  the  bequest  of  my  deceased 


/      N 


JEt.  35.]  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  291 

friend.*     It  is  a  handsome  one,  and  given  in  terms  that 
cannot  fail  to  please. '* 

Mr.  Hodgdon  informed  Colonel  Pickering  that  a 
negro  giri,  about  thirteen  years  old,  had  been  brought 
into  Philadelphia  in  a  prize  vessel,  and  would  probably 
be  sold ;  and  he  inquired  whether  Mrs.  Pickering  would 
not  like  to  have  her  as  a  servant.  Colonel  Pickering's 
dislike  of  slavery  is  shown  in  his  answer,  dated  June 
13th,  1781:  — 

"  My  wife  would  be.  well  pleased  with  the  services  of  the 
negro  girl,  if  she  is  a  good  one.  Her  moving  condition 
renders  it  dilQSicult  to  get  help,  and  therefore  one  bound  to 
her,  or  one  of  the  family,  always  to  go  with  her,  will  be 
convenient;  but  we  will  never  have  a  slave.  ...  As  a 
servant  for  years,  we  should  not  object ;  but  you  will  prob- 
ably be  directed  to  sell  her  for  the  most  she  will  fetch.  If, 
however,  the  owners  were  to  consent  to  let  us  have  her  for 
five,  six,  or  seven  years,  at  a  reasonable  price,  the  girl  then 
to  be  free,  we  shall  be  willing  and  glad  to  have  her,  pro- 
vided she  manifests  a  good  disposition." 

*  Colonel  Benjamin  Flower,  Commissary-General  of  Military  Stores.  Writ- 
ing to  Mr.  Hodgdon,  the  deputy  of  Colonel  Flower,  under  date  of  Newburgh, 
May  5th,  Colonel  Pickering  says :  "  Mr.  [Samuel]  Adams  called  here  to- 
day ;  he  informs  me  that  our  friend  Colonel  Flower  is  at  length  relieved  from 
the  miseries  of  life.  Considering  his  situation,  this  event  must  rather  yield 
comfort  than  distress  to  the  surviving  Mends  who  saw  the  anguish  of  his 
wasting  disease.  I  assure  myself  you  will  have  no  competitor  for  the  succes- 
sion.   I  wish  you  success  in  every  undertaking,  for  I  know  you  will  deserve  it." 

The  bequest  was  as  follows :  *'I  give  unto  my  beloved  and  much  respected 
friend,  Colonel  Timothy  Pickering,  as  a  small  testimony  of  the  great  esteem  I 
bear  for  him,  my  brace  of  elegant  pistols,  made  by  Joseph  Perkins,  my  cara- 
bine, taken  trophy  at  the  engagement  of  Princeton,  my  small  sword,  with  a 
leathern  scabbard,  and  my  saddle  and  bridle."  Colonel  Flower  was  grateful 
for  the  interposition  of  Colonel  Pickering  and  Mr.  Peters  on  his  behalf,  which 
led  to  the  misunderstanding  between  them  and  Congress.    See  page  219  et  seq. 


292  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHT  HCKEBINQ.  [1781. 


CHAPTER   XIX. 

Skirmish  between  General  Lincoln  and  British  Troops.  —  Junction 
of  the  French  and  the  American  Armies.  —  Attempt  to  capture 
Comwallis  resolved  on.  —  March  of  the  Army  to  Yorktown. — 
Baltimore.  —  Mount  Vernon.  —  Williamsburg.  —  Lord  Bote- 
tourt. —  Virginia  Ideas.  —  Agriculture  of  Virginia.  —  Comwal- 
lis's  Forces,  and  his  Proceedings. 

In  the  early  part  of  the  campaign  of  1781,  it  was 
the  intention  of  General  Washington  to  lay  siege  to 
the  city  of  New  York;  but,  in  consequence  of  the 
failure  of  cooperation  on  the  part  of  the  French  fleet, 
he  gave  up  the  project,  and  resolved  upon  attempting 
the  capture  of  Comwallis.  The  part  borne  by  Colonel 
Pickering,  and  the  incidents  affecting  him,  during  the 
campaign,  are  shown,  in  some  measure,  by  a  short 
journal  kept  by  him,  and  by  some  of  his  letters,  from 
which  the  following  extracts  are  taken :  — 

Journal.  —  "  June  27th.  — Joined  the  army  encamped  at 
Peekskill. 

"  July  2d.  —  The  army  marched  to  Tarrytown.  At  sun- 
down pursued  their  march,  and  early  the  morning  of  the 
3d  reached  Valentine's  Hill.  General  Lincoln  with  his 
command,  who,  the  night  of  the  2d,  had  gone  down  the 
river  with  a  view  of  taking  some  of  the  enemy's  works,  and 
making  a  lodgement  on  York  Island,  was  disappointed.* 
But,  lauding  about  Phillips's,  they  accidentally  fell  in  with 
a  party  of  yagers^  who,  supported  by  other  troops  from 
York  Island,  maintaiued  a  severe  skirmish  with  General 

♦  See  Sparks's  "  Writings  of  Washington,"  Vol.  VIII.  pp.  97,  98. 


mi.  86.]  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  298 

Lincoln,  with  a  large  and  very  disproportionate  loss  to  the 
latter.  The  combatants  seem  to  have  parted  by  consent ; 
or,  rather,  General  Lincoln  retreated,  and  the  enemy  did 
not  pursue.*  General  Washington,  with  others,  reconnoi- 
tred at  a  distance  the  enemy's  works  at  the  north  end  of 
York  Island,  and  then  the  troops  retired,  and  lay  on  their 
arms  the  night  of  the  3d,  at  Valentine's  Hill. 

"4th. — The  army  marched  up  on  the  east  side  of  Saw- 
mill Biver,  and  formed  an  encampment  on  the  first  hills 
eastward  of  it,  the  road  from  Dobbs's  Ferry  (from  which 
we  were  distant  about  two  miles  and  a  half)  to  White 
Plains  running  between  the  front  and  rear  lines. 

"5th.  —  The  French  army  from  Rhode  Island  arrived, 
and  formed  their  camp  on  the  left  of  the  American  camp. 

"  In  this  position  the  two  armies  lay  until  the  19th  of 
August,  in  the  mean  time  all  preparations  going  on  for  the 
siege  of  New  York. 

"August  15th. — But  about  the  15th  a  packet  amved, 
informing  that  Count  de  Grasse,  who  commanded  the 
French  fleet  in  the  West  Indies,  intended  to  sail  for  the 
Chesapeake,  and  not  for  New  York.  The  design  against 
New  York  thus  failing,  the  General  communicated  to  me 
his  intentions  to  march  with  a  pai*t  of  the  army  to  Virginia, 
to  attempt  the  capture  of  Cornwallis,  the  destination  of  the 
French  fleet  rendering  that  the  only  enterprise  of  moment 
that  could  then  be  undertaken." 

In  a  published  letter  f  to  Governor  Sullivan  of  April 
22d,  1808,  Colonel  Pickering  says :  — 

*  In  a  letter  to  his  wife,  dated  '<  Camp,  July  6th,  1781,'*  Colonel  Pickering 
says:  ** General  Lincoln  commanded  a  detachment  which  was  attacked  hj 
the  enemy,  and  overpowered  hy  superior  numbers.  Our  loss  is  not  yet  ascer- 
tained ;  about  forty  wounded  were  brought  off.  .  .  .  We  are  now  encamped 
about  a  dozen  miles  from  the  enemy,  at  Eingsbridge.  To-day  the  French 
army  joined  us." 

On  the  14th  he  desires  her  to  send  him  a  barrel  or  two  of  cider,  for  his  use 
at  camp,  accompanying  his  request  with  the  remark,  ''The  French  are 
fond  of  cider,  but  hate  grog.** 

t  "  Interesting  Correspondence  between  .  . .  Goremoor  Sullivan  and 
Colonel  Pickering."    • .  .    Boston,  1808,  p.  29. 


294  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  [1781. 

**  The  project  of  besieging  the  city  of  New  York,  in  1781, 
having  been  relinquished,  and  the  siege  of  Yorktown,  in 
Virginia,  resolved  on,  I  received  General  Washington's 
orders  to  prepare  immediately  for  the  march  of  a  part  of 
the  army  to  that  place,  and  for  the  transportation  of  artil- 
lery, and  of  all  the  stores  requisite  for  the  siege.  This 
was  done." 

Journal. — "August  19th.  —  The  removal  of  the  stores 
of  the  American  and  French  annies  being  effected,  the 
two  camps  were  this  day  broken  up,  and  the  two  armies 
marched  for  King's  Ferry.  General  Heath  only  remained, 
with  the  residue  of  the  X.  H.,  M.,  and  C.  [New  Hampshire, 
Massachusetts,  and  Connecticut]  lines  about  two  days,  when 
he  marched  and  encamped  at  Peekskill.* 

"  20th,  Monday.  —  This  morning  the  detachments  from 
the  American  army  reached  King's  Ferry,  and  began  to 
cross ;  and  such  despatch  was  used  that  day,  the  foUomng 
night,  and  Tuesday  morning,  that  the  baggage,  park,  and 
American  troops  had  crossed  by  noon  of  the  21st.  It  was 
the  27th  before  the  whole  of  the  French  army,  their  artil- 
lery and  baggage,  had  crossed. f 

"27th. — I  proceeded  to  near  Suffern's,  having  seen  the 
thirty  bateaux,  quartermaster's  stores,  &c.,  so  far  on  their 
way. 

"  29th.  —  I  joined  the  American  troops  at  Brunswick 
Landing. 

"  30th.  — Rode  from  Brunswick  Lauding  to  Philadelphia, 
sixty  miles." 

He  wrote  to  Mrs.  Pickering,  from  Philadelphia.,  Sep- 
tember 7th :  — 

"  I  am  just  on  the  point  of  setting  out  for  Virginia.  The 
fairest  prospects  present  of  complete  success.     Besides  the 

♦  See  Spark8*8  "  Writings  of  Washington,"  Vol.  VIII.  p.  186. 
t  Itid.,  pp.  139, 140,  note. 


-Et.86.]  UFE  of  timothy  PICKERING.  295 

great  superiority  in  ships  to  the  British,  the  French  have 
landed  upwards  of  three  thousand  men  southward  of  Corn- 
wallis,  to  prevent  his  escape  into  Carolina." 

Journal.  —  "  September  7th.  —  At  sunset  left  Philadel- 
phia, and  the  next  day  arrived  at  the  Head  of  Elk.  That 
morning  the  Commander-in-Chief  had  left  Elk  and  pursued 
his  journey  to  Virginia.** 

From  the  Head  of  Elk,  Colonel  Pickering  wrote,  on 
the  9th  of  September,  to  his  wife :  — 

"Here  I  am,  my  dearest,  in  perfect  health.  Presently  I  set 
out  for  Williamsburg  by  land.  It  will  be  a  seven  or  eight 
days'  journey,  and  give  me  an  opportunity  of  seeing  Mary- 
laud  and  Virginia.  I  hope,  in  a  little  time,  to  congratulate 
you  on  the  capture  of  Cornwallis  and  his  army.  Should 
we  succeed  at  all,  the  work,  I  think,  will  be  short;  and  the 
only  chance  of  ill  success  will  arise  from  this, — that  Corn- 
wallis may  possibly  attempt  to  save  himself  by  flight,  by 
marching  his  army  up  the  country,  and  then  pushing  to 
South  Carolina.  But  a  few  days'  delay  will  render  this 
impossible,  as  our  troops  will  soon  surround  him." 

Journal.  —  "September  9th. —  I  proceeded  for  Williams- 
burg, where  I  arrived  the  16th. 

"  From  the  Susquehanna  to  Baltimore,  the  country  in 
general  presents  you  with  nothing  very  agreeable.  The 
soil  is  for  the  most  part  ordinary.  Baltimore  is  a  pretty 
town;  the  houses  are  of  brick,  and  well  built.  Tis  well 
situated  for  trade,  at  the  head  of  the  Bay  of  Chesapeake, 
and  has  depth  of  water  sufficient  for  vessels  of  as  great 
burden  as  are  generally  used  in  the  merchants'  service. 
The  town  contains  perhaps  six  hundred  dwelling-houses. 

"  Georgetown,  on  the  north  side  of  the  Potomac,  is  about 
forty-five  miles  from  Baltimore,  contains  about  eighty  or  a 
hundred  houses,  and  is  well  situated  for  trade.  'Tis  said 
to  be  two  hundred  miles  from  the  mouth  of  the  river.    Two 


// 


296  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKEBINQ.  [1781. 

or  three  miles  above  Georgetown  are  falls  in  the  river, 
which  put  an  end  to  the  navigation  from  the  bay.  But  the 
Potomac  extends  far  into  a  rich  country  above,  and  must 
greatly  facilitate,  at  certain  seasons,  the  transportation  of 
its  produce  to  market. 

"Eight  miles  below  Georgetown,  and  on  the  opposite 
side  of  the  river,  stands  the  town  of  Alexandria,  in 
Virginia;  for  the  Potomac  is  the  boundary  between  this 
State  and  Maryland.  This  town  is  more  than  twice  as 
large  as  Georgetown,  and,  before  the  war,  was  rapidly 
increasing,  the  course  of  trade  being  turned  to  it ;  which, 
at  the  same  time,  prevented  or  checked  the  growth  of 
Georgetown.  At  this  place  the  Potomac  is  about  a  quar- 
ter or  a  third  of  a  mile  wide,  and  will  admit  vessels  of  five 
hundred  tons  burden.  At  Alexandria  'tis  of  double  that 
width,  and  deeper. 

"  Ten  miles  below  Alexandria  is  Mount  Vernon,  the  seat 
of  General  Washington.  It  is  on  an  elevated  bank  of  the 
Potomac,  where  the  river  winds  agreeably,  and  from  whence 
you  have  a  fine  and  extensive  prospect  of  the  country,  as 
well  in  Maryland  as  Virginia.  The  house,  it  seems,  was 
an  old  one,  to  which  many  additions  have  been  made,  and, 
like  other  patchwork,  exhibits  nothing  striking. 

"Colchester  and  Dumfries  (the  first,  twenty,  the  other, 
thirty  miles  from  Alexandria)  are  small  villages,  situated 
on  creeks  that  run  into  the  Potomac,  from  which  they  are 
only  a  few  miles  distant.  Dumfries  was  said  to  be  one  of 
the  capital  landings  for  tobacco.  Vessels  can  come  up  only 
to  the  mouth  of  the  creek,  to  which  the  tobacco  must  be 
carried  in  scows  four  or  five  miles  from  the  landing.  Of 
late  years  (before  the  war)  considerable  quantities  of  wheat 
were  brought  from  the  country  back,  and  exported  from 
Dumfries. 

"  Fredericksburg  is  a  pleasant  town,  and  agreeably  situ- 
ated on  the  southern  side  of  the  Rappahannock,  which  is 
there  perhaps  three  hundred  and  fifty  yards  wide.  Vessels 
of  a  hundred  or  a  hundred  and  fifty  tons  may  come  to  load 


Mt.ZG,]  life  of  TIM0TH7  FICEEBING.  297 

at  this  great  tobacco  landing.  Tis  fifty-five  miles  from 
Alexandria,  and  about  a  hundred  and  ten  from  Williams- 
burg. It  contains  as  many,  or  more,  houses  than  Alex- 
andria. 

^  About  fifty  miles  from  Fredericksbui^  you  cross  the 
northern  branch  (called  Matapony)  of  York  River;  and 
about  twenty-four  miles  farther  on,  you  cross  the  southern 
branch  (which  is  four  times  as  large  as  the  other),  called 
Pamunkey,  at  a  place  called  Ruffin's  Ferry.  Travelling 
from  hence  thirty-six  miles,  you  arrive  at  Williamsburg. 
This  is  a  pleasant  town,  situated  about  midway  between  York 
and  James  Rivers.  A  creek,  or  creeks,  from  both  come  up 
near  the  town ;  one  within  a  mile,  where  craft  drawing  five 
or  six  feet  of  water  may  unload.  It  has  one  very  spacious 
street,  said  to  bo  a  mile  in  length.  At  the  extremities,  and 
bounding  the  view,  are  two  large  buildings,  which  have  a 
grand  and  elegant  appearance ;  at  the  west  end,  the  college, 
at  the  other,  the  Capitol,  or  State  House.  About  the  centre 
of  this  street,  but  retired  perhaps  two  hundred  yards,  with  a 
large  court  in  front,  stands  the  palace^  the  residence  of  their 
Governor.  It  is  two  stories  high,  and  has  a  decent  appear- 
ance outside,  but  nothing  magnificent.  The  rooms  were 
finished  in  a  rich  and  costly  manner ;  but,  since  the  war,  they 
are  wholly  defaced.  In  the  centre  of  the  Capitol,  and  encir- 
cled by  iron  pales,  stands  the  grand  marble  statue  of  Lord 
Botetourt,  the  last  but  one  of  their  Royal  Governors.  He 
stands  in  a  graceful  posture  of  address,  with  his  left  hand 
at  his  side,  holding  his  coronet  under  his  arm,  and  in  the 
other  hand,  with  the  arm  a  little  extended,  a  roll  of  parch- 
ment. His -countenance  seems  marked  with  sixty  years. 
He  was  almost  adored  by  the  Virginians,  who  still  speak  in 
raptures  of  his  virtues  and  his  elegant  and  engaging  man- 
ners. 

'^  In  a  building  near  the  palace  are  to  be  seen  the  remains 
of  the  richly-ornamented  state  coachj  which  was  brought 
over  with  Lord  Botetourt,  and  once  used  by  him  to  carry 
him  from  the  palace  to  the  Capitol.    Tis  a  clumsy  machine, 

VOL.  L  38 


298  UFB  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  [1781. 

and  enormously  heavy , — perhaps  equal  to  two  common 
wagons.  It  is  gilded  in  every  part,  even  the  edges  of  the 
tires  of  the  wheels.  The  arms  of  Virginia  are  painted  on 
every  side.(^The  motto  of  the  arms  led  me  to  remark  how 
peculiarly  disposed  the  Virginians  have  been  to  adopt  ideas 
of  royalty  and  magnificence.  For  instance,  the  residence 
of  their  Governors  was  not  a  *  Province  Housed  but  a  Pal- 
ace ;  the  building  in  which  the  General  Assembly  met  was 
not  even  a  State  Ilouse^  but  '  the  Capitol,^  But  the  motto 
of  their  arms  reminded  me  of  the  style  of  dominion  assumed 
by  Eastern  monarchs,  who,  among  other  titles  of  magnifi- 
cence, call  themselves  'Lords  of  the  whole  earth.'  The 
motto  is.  En  dat  Virginia  quartanij  —  that  is,  *  Virginia 
gives  a  fourth  quarter  to  the  world/] 

"On  the  whole  road  from  Alexandria  to  Williamsburg, 
the  country  is  so  generally  level,  and  presents  so  uniformly 
woods  (a  large  proportion  pitch-pine),  corn  and  tobacco 
fields,  (the  prospect  being  ever  bounded  by  very  short  lim- 
its,) that  the  eye  is  tired  with  the  sameness  of  the  scene. 
Every  field  almost  is  skirted  with  woods,  so  that  your  view 
seldom  exceeds  a  mile  in  extent ;  and  for  a  large  proportion 
of  the  way  you  can  see  but  a  few  rods  on  either  hand,  as 
the  road  is  lined  with  thick  woods. 

**  The  surface  of  the  ground  is  generally  sandy ;  but  you 
very  commonly  find  clay  beneath  the  soil,  at  the  depth  of 
one  or  two  feet  or  more ;  and  this  clay,  if  by  deep  plough- 
ing, or  otherwise,  it  were  mingled  with  the  sandy  surface, 
I  should  suppose  would  furnish  a  perpetual  supply  of 
manure. 

"  The  great  articles  of  culture  in  Virginia  are  Indian  com 
and  tobacco.  They  also  raise  considerable  quantities  of 
excellent  wheat ;  and  every  plantation  yields  some  cotton, 
which  is  of  a  fine  texture,  and  whiter,  though  shorter,  than 
the  West  India  cotton.  The  soil  is  admirably  adapted  to 
the  culture  of  lucern,  and  they  have  many  low  grounds 
fitted  to  the  production  of  timothy ;  but  neither  of  these 


^T.86.]  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKEMNG.  299 

grasses  is  geuerally  cultivated;  and  southward  of  the 
Rappahannock  you  meet  with  no  other  long  forage  than 
[Indian]  com  blades  and  tops."* 

*  At  the  end  of  the  journal  are  a  few  memorandums  on  the  ordinary  prod- 
uce of  lands  in  the  lower  parts  of  Virginia.  In  regard  to  cotton,  Colonel 
Pickering  says :  — 

"  A  light,  mellow  soil,  pretty  rich,  wiU  produce  [per  acre]  two  thousand 
pounds  of  cotton,  which,  when  ginned  (by  which  process  the  seeds  are  taken 
out),  will  yield  five  hundred  pounds  of  clean  cotton;  which,  before  the  war, 
sold  for  a  pistareen  [twenty  cents]  a  pound. 

"  Cotton  seeds  are  commonly  planted  about  the  middle  of  April.  When 
the  stalks  are  about  eighteen  inches  high,  they  nip  off  the  tops,  to  make  the 
larger  pods,  and  to  ripen  them  the  sooner.  The  branches  from  the  stalks  are 
likewise  to  be  nipped,  and  all  suckers  broken  off.  Most  plant  the  cotton  in 
hills,  but  Mr.  Holt  says  it  is  better  in  drills,  and  commonly  two  feet  apart; 
but  it  would  doubtless  be  stiU  better  to  sow  it  three  or  four  feet  apart,  to 
admit  the  hoe-plough." 


800  LIFE  OF  TIM0TH7  PICEESINQ.  [1781. 


CHAPTER   XX. 

Investment  of  Yorktown.  —  Progress  of  the  Siege.  —  Snrrender  of 
Comwallis.  —  Colonel  Scammell  mortally  wounded.  —  Postage 
on  the  Quartermaster-General's  Letters.  —  Plunder  of  surrendered 
Tents  and  Stores.  —  Storekeepers  in  Yorktown  and  Glouces- 
ter.—  Officers  in  the  Quartermaster-General's  Department  in 
Regard  to  Half  Pay.  —  III  Designs  against  Colonel  Pickering.  — 
Expensiveness  of  Living  in  Philadelphia. 

The  letters  and  journal  of  Colonel  Pickering  contain 
accounts  of  further  proceedings  and  incidents  con- 
nected with  the  siege  of  Yorktown. 

He  wrote  from  Williamsburg,  September  21st,  1781, 
to  Samuel  Hodgdon :  — 

"  The  departure  of  the  French  fleet,  in  pursuit  of  the 
British,  induced  the  General  (then  on  his  way  to  Williams- 
burg) to  direct  the  troops  to  stay  at  Annapolis  till  he  should 
hear  further  relative  to  the  two  fleets.  That  of  the  French 
having  soon  returned,  and  with  it  that  from  Bhode  Island, 
the  troops  were  ordered  down.  Yesterday  the  first  division 
arrived  in  James  River,  and  the  whole  are  expected  to-day, 
the  wind  being  northerly.  The  unavoidable  delay  in  getting 
forward  our  troops  and  stores  has  given  Comwallis  time  to 
strengthen  himself  by  many  works ;  but  they  are  not  *  im- 
pregnable.' In  a  day  or  two,  I  suppose,  we  shall  move 
down  to  York  and  commence  the  siege.  By  the  last  of 
October  I  hope  to  congratulate  you  on  the  enemy's  sur- 
render. Comwallis,  however,  will  doubtless  make  an  obsti- 
nate defence.  Though  his  talents  are  moderate,  he  is  known 
to  be  brave  and  persevering.  He  is  said  to  have  a  hundred 
sail  of  vessels  at  York.  From  these  he  has  probably  re- 
ceived a  reenforcement  of  a  thousand  men,  at  least.    The 


Mt.  86.]  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKBKING.  301 

guns  of  the  ships  of  war  he  is  mounting  on  his  batteries. 
His  whole  force  may  amount  to  six  thousand  men,*  of 
whom  four  thousand  five  hundred  are  supposed  to  be  regu- 
lar troops.  He  had,  perhaps,  two  thousand  negroes,  with 
whose  labor,  chiefly,  he  has  raised  his  works.  By  hard  fare 
and  severities  these  wretches  have  suffered  exceedingly; 
many  have  perished,  and  many  are  coming  off.  Those  that 
are  become  unfit  for  labor,  the  enemy  doubtless  wish  to  get 
rid  of.  Their  toils  have  saved  his  regular  troops  fresh  for 
the  siege. 

<<  It  is  Comwallis's  duty  to  make  the  best  defence  in  his 
power ;  but  it  is  said  some  of  his  officers  have  been  heard 
to  say  they  *  expect '  (to  use  their  own  words)  *  to  be  Bur- 
goyned.'  Indeed  I  see  scarcely  a  possibility  of  their 
escaping.  The  weather  here  is  fine  often  till  Christmas; 
and  there  is  little  probability  of  a  British  naval  force  supe- 
rior to  that  of  the  French,  now  consisting  of  thirty-six  sail 
of  the  line.  I  shall  be  disappointed  if  Comwallis  stands  a 
siege  of  six  weeks.  Our  whole  regular  force,  when  collected, 
will  amount  to  fifteen  thousand  men.  K  Cornwallis  resists 
so  long  such  a  superiority,  in  works  suddenly  raised  of 
earth,  he  will  deserve  great  credit. 

''At  present  we  want  nothing  but  horses  and  wagons. 
Those  which  came  on  from  the  northward,  I  expect,  will 
arrive  here  in  five  or  six  days.  In  the  mean  time,  we  shall 
muster  so  many  as  will  enable  us  to  move  to  invest  the 
enemy.     .  .  . 

"P.  S.  Remember,  I  write  you  nothing  now,  nor  shall  I 
hereafter,  iov  publication y  but  merely  for  the  information  pf 
yourself  and  a  few  friends.  If  I  should  have  no  objection 
to  your  publishing  any  intelligence  in  future,  I  will  tell  you 
so.  —  September  24th.  The  first  division  did  not  land 
entirely  till  yesterday.  The  second  is  expected  to-day. 
Nothing  new,  except  that  a  vessel,  with  three  British  officers 
from  Charleston,  ran  into  the  French  fleet  and  was  taken. 

*  Lossing  says  about  seren  thousand.  —  Pictorial  FiM'Book  of  ike  Revoli^ 
iion,  Vol.  II.  pp.  510,  526. 


302  LIFE  OP  TIMOTHY  PICKEKING.  [1781. 

Journal.  —  **  September  28th.  —  The  allied  army  marched 
from  Williamsburg  to  the  vicinity  of  York.  .The  French 
took  their  position  on  the  left. 

"  September  29th.  —  The  American  army  marched  over 
a  bridge,  and  took  a  position  extending  from  the  morass, 
which  separated  us  from  the  French  army,  to  beyond  the 
Hampton  road  from  York. 

•*  September  30th.  —  Colonel  Scammell,  in  reconnoitring, 
was  wounded  and  taken  prisoner.  He  was  barbarously 
wounded.  .  .  .  The  enemy  in  York  treated  him  kindly 
afterwards,  particularly  the  surgeons.  He  was  suffered  to 
go  to  Williamsburg  on  parole." 

In  a  letter  to  his  wife,  dated  "  Camp  before  York- 
town,  October  1st,"  he  wrote :  — 

"The  enemy  have  abandoned  some  of  their  outworks, 
which  will  probably,  in  some  degree,  shorten  the  siege."  * 

Journal.  —  "  October  7th.  —  The  enemy  fired  frequently ; 
but  appear  not  to  have  discovered  our  working  parties  in 
the  trenches. 

"  October  8th.  —  The  troops  in  the  trenches  completing 
the  first  parallel  and  two  redoubts.  A  battery  also  was 
begun  this  night  on  our  right,  near  the  bank  of  York  River, 
and  forwarded  greatl}%  so  that  by  the  9th  at  night  it  was 
finished.  Another  battery  was  erected  towards  the  left  of 
the  American  parallel.  The  French  troops  erected  the  like 
works,  and  their  parallel  united  with  ours. 

"October  9th.  —  The  artillery  and  stores  were  carried  to 
the  batteries. 

"  October  10th.  —  ...  Evening,  eight  o'clock.  A  house 
in  York  on  fire,  supposed  to  be  Secretary  Nelson's. 

"October  11th. — The  fire  discovered  last  evening  was 

♦  See  Sparks's  "  Writings  of  Washington,"  Vol.  VIII.  p.  169.  Some  oc- 
currences connected  with  Colonel  Pickering's  department  are  mentioned  in 
his  letter  of  October  6th  to  General  Washington,  in  Sparks's  "  Correspond- 
ence of  the  American  Bevolution,"  Vol.  III.  p.  418. 


JEt.  86.]  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  303 

not  of  a  house  burning  in  York,  but  the  British  frigate 
Charon,  in  the  river.  She  was  of  fifty  guns,  and  was  set  on 
fire  by  red-hot  shot  thrown  from  a  battery  of  the  Marquis 
St.  Simon's.  She  had  been  previously  stripped  by  the 
enemy,  who  had  mounted  her  cannon  on  the  batteries  in 
town, 

^  The  firing  from  all  our  batteries  continued  during  this 
day.  In  the  evening  a  second  parallel  was  begun  and 
completed  during  the  night,  without  annoyance  from  the 
enemy. 

"  October  12th.  —  The  cannonade  and  bombardment  con- 
tinued.    13th.  —  The  same.** 

Colonel  Pickering  wrote  to  Mrs.  Kckering  on  the 
11th  of  October :  — 

"  It  may  give  you  some  pleasure  to  be  informed  of  the  pro- 
ceedings of  the  allied  aimy,  especially  as  the  present  object 
of  their  attention  is  important,  and  generally  interesting, 
so  that  the  event  of  this  expedition  may  capitally  affect  our 
negotiations  for  peace.  September  28th,  the  armies  marched 
to  the  vicinity  of  York ;  and  then,  and  on  the  29th,  invested 
the  place.  .  .  .  We  have  had  very  few  men  killed ;  and 
not  one  oflScer,  as  I  recollect,  has  been  hurt,  excepting  Colo- 
nel Scammell,  who  was  unfortunately  wounded  and  taken 
prisoner  the  30th  of  September,  while  reconnoitring  a  work 
the  enemy  had  abandoned.  It  was  barbarously  done ;  for, 
after  two  dragoons  had  him  their  prisoner,  a  third  came  up 
and  shot  him  through  the  side.  Of  this  wound  he  died  the 
6th  instant,  at  Williamsburg,  lamented  by  all  who  knew 
him,  and  who  valued  friendship,  integrity,  and  truth.  The 
French  have  had  an  officer  or  two  badly  wounded," 

The  larger  part  of  the  preceding  letter  is  omitted, 
many  of  the  facts  therein  mentioned  being  more  fully 
stated  in  the  following  extracts  from  a  letter  to  Samuel 
Hodgdon,  dated  the  11th  of  October,  nine  o'clock  in 


304  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  [1781. 

the  evening.   This  letter  is  written  in  the  form  of  a 
journal. 

"  October  6th.  —  Until  this  day  the  armies  were  occupied 
in  debarking  and  getting  up  their  stores  and  cannon  from 
James  River,  at  landings  six  or  seven  miles  distant  from  oiur 
camp,  —  in  opening  communications  through  a  morass,  — 
and  in  making  fascines,  saucissons,  pickets,  and  gabions. 
In  the  evening  of  this  day  the  trenches  were  opened,  and 
by  morning  the  first  parallel  was  in  great  forwardness,  and 
two  redoubts  begun.*  It  was  fortunately  cloudy,  and  it 
rained  gently;  otherwise  the  moon  (just  passed  the  full) 
might  have  proved  very  injurious,  by  discovering  us  to  the 
enemy.     Not  a  man  was  hurt  during  the  night. 

"  October  9th.  —  By  this  time  our  first  parallel,  with  two 
redoubts,  were  nearly  complete,  and  two  batteries  erected 
by  the  American  army. 

"October  10th.  —  This  morning  our  two  batteries  were 
opened.  The  French  army  opened  two  more,  besides  one 
on  their  left  near  York  River.  The  whole  have  continued 
firing  shot  and  shells  to  this  moment  (October  11th),  and 
the  noise  of  the  cannon  and  mortars  is  now  sounding  in 
my  ears. 

"Yesterday,  Secretary  Nelson  came  out  of  York.  He 
was  put  under  no  restraint  by  the  enemy.  He  says  onr 
shells  had  great  effect.  The  enemy  retired  for  shelter  under 
the  bank  of  the  river,  but  the  shells  annoyed  them  there. 
He  said  a  boat  had  arrived  from  New  York  with  two  Majors 
on  board,  who  said  a  British  fleet  of  thirty  sail  would  come 
to  relieve  Cornwallis  in  seven  daj's.  It  seems  that  Com- 
wallis's  army  depend  on  this ;  which,  by  the  way,  is  a  con- 
fession they  have  no  alternative  for  safety,  and,  that  failing, 
that  they  must  fall.  I  conceive  it  to  be  in  the  power  of  the 
Count  de  Grasse  to  disappoint  their  hopes ;  and  yet  I  con- 
fess I  am  a  little  afraid  that  at  least  some  relief  may  be  thrown 
in,  of  stores  if  not  of  troops ;  for  in  a  case  so  important  the 

♦  See  Sparks'B  "  Writings  of  Washington,"  Vol.  VIII.  p.  173.       . 


JEt.  86.]  LITE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERINO.  305 

British  will  run  great  hazards ;  and  they  may  hope  that  a 
prolongation  of  the  siege  may  oblige  us  to  raise  it.  How- 
ever, eventually,  I  cannot  but  look  for  complete  success. 

''Last  evening,  the  Charon,  of  fifty  guns  (said  to  be  set 
on  fire  by  hot  shot  from  a  French  battery),  and  another 
vessel,  were  burnt  between  York  and  Gloucester,  and  this 
morning  a  third.  Cornwallis  has  now  only  one  frigate  (the 
Guadaloupe)  left  for  his  principal  naval  force.  The  Charon 
had  been  dismantled  to  furnish  cannon  and  stores  for  the 
enemy's  batteries. 

**  Knox  damns  the  Pennsylvania  shells,  as  not  being  well 
cast,  varying  greatly  in  weight,  and  especially  for  not  being 
proved.  As  a  proof  of  the  latter,  they  observed  that  the 
cores  have  not  been  well  cleaned  out ;  so  that,  if  they  in  fact 
passed  a  proof,  it  is  not  a  full  evidence  that  they  are  sound, 
as  any  holes  might  be  stopped  up  by  the  remains  of  the 
cores.  He  and  Bowman  [Baumau  ?]  say,  Faesch's  are  per- 
fect.    Bowman  proved  them. 

''I  observed  to  you,  that  the  batteries  had  continued  firing 
from  the  time  they  were  first  opened  to  this  moment  (say 
forty  hours),  and  the  artillery  gentlemen  suppose,  with 
great  effect.  But  though  I  am  ready  to  acknowledge  their 
abilities,  yet  I  do  not  imagine  they  can  work  miracles.  We 
know  what  has,  in  times  past,  been  the  effect  of  British 
cannon  against  our  earthen  defences,  and  I  cannot  think 
ours  to  be  essentially  different.  At  the  present  distance  of 
our  batteries  (say  five  hundred  yards),  they  might  fire  till 
Christmas  without  materially  lessening  the  enemy's  force. 
The  shells,  falling  in  a  variety  of  places,  are  doubtless 
troublesome,  and  do  some  mischief.  I  am  impatient  to  get 
nearer  to  the  enemy,  that  our  work  may  be  more  speedily 
accomplished,  and  our  ammunition  not  thrown  away.  Corn- 
wallis prudently  reserves  his  till  that  time.  He  scarcely 
answers  one  shot  in  fifty. 

''This  night,  I  expect,  our  approaches  commence.  The 
engineers  chose  to  complete  our  first  parallel,  with  the  re- 
doubts and  batteries,  that  we  might  be  perfectly  secure  from 

VOL.  I.  39 


306  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  [1781. 

the  enemy's  sallies,  however  vigorous,  before  they  began  a 
second.  This  is  doubtless  right ;  but  I  think  we  might  have 
dug  with  more  advantage  than  we  have  fired  these  two  days 
past,  during  which  very  little  work  has  been  done.  But  I 
do  not  pretend  to  be  a  competent  judge,  as  I  am  neither  an 
artillerist  nor  an  engineer.  Yet,  after  eight  or  ten  hours' 
firing  of  our  batteries,  looking  with  ^  glass,  I  could  discern 
no  injury  done  to  the  enemy's  works.  They  were  induced  to 
fill  up  the  embrasure  in  one  work,  and  to  draw  their  cannon 
behind  the  merlons  in  another;  for,  as  I  told  you  above, 
they  did  not  return  our  fire.* 

*^  Three  quarters  past  nine.  The  firing  continues  frequent. 
It  may  be  useful  now,  if  our  workmen  are  making  their 
approaches.  But  I  shall  hear  the  firing  with  more  pleasure 
when  our  cannon  are  mounted  on  the  batteries  which  shall 
be  erected  beyond  the  next  parallel." 

An  inadvertence,  probably,  on  the  part  of  Congress, 
which  was  mortifying  to  Colonel  Pickering,  and  which 
might  have  proved  injurious  to  the  public  service,  is 
disclosed  in  the  following  letter  to  the  President,  dated 
«  Camp  before  York,  October  11th"  :  — 

"  Two  or  three  days  since,  I  had  the  mortification  to  be 
i*efused  the  letters  in  the  post-office  addressed  to  me,  unless  I 
paid  the  postage.  Before  that  time  the  postmaster  had  con- 
tented himself  with  charging  me  with  the  postage  of  letters. 
Those  above  referred  to  were  all  on  public  business,  and  I 
wished  to  take  them  up ;  but  the  want  of  money  obliged  me 
to  leave  them  in  the  office,  where  they  still  remain. 

^I  entreat  the  attention  of  Congress  on  this  subject. 
Certain  officers  of  the  army  receive  their  letters  free  from 
postage.  The  letters  of  the  principal  staff  must  generally 
be  at  least  as  necessary  and  important ;  I  cannot  even  con- 
jecture one  tolerable  reason  for  the  distinction.  Nor  can  I 
discern  any  public  advantage  in  the  regulation  obliging  the 

♦  See  Sparks's  "  Writings  of  Washington,"  Vol.  VIU.  pp.  177,  178. 


JEt.  36.]  LIFE  OP  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  307 

latter  to  pay  for  public  letters.  There  may,  however,  be 
very  good  reasons  for  it ;  and  I  should  not  attempt  to  con- 
trovert it,  were  I  furnished  with  the  means  of  complying 
with  it.  But,  as  the  matter  now  stands,  I  must  either  obtain 
my  letters  by  the  post,  without  payment,  or,  if  this  be  in- 
admissible, I  shall  be  obliged  to  direct  all  my  deputies  to 
cease  sending  me  any  papers  by  the  post,  and  to  suspend 
their  communications  till  other  conveyances  present." 

This  letter  was  read  in  Congress  on  the  22d  of 
October,  and  it  was  thereupon  "  Resolved,  That  letters 
to  and  from  the  Quartermaster-General  be  carried  free 
of  postage."^  * 

Journal,  — "  October  14th.  —  In  the  evening  the  American 
light  infantry  stormed  and  took  the  enemy's  left  redoubt  on 
the  bank  of  the  river.  The  French  grenadiers  took  their 
next  advanced  redoubt.  The  former's  loss,  about  thirty-six 
non-commissioned  officers  and  privates  killed  and  wounded, 
and  five  or  six  officers  wounded.  The  French  lost  about  a 
hundred  troops  killed  and  wounded.  This  night  communi- 
cations were  opened  by  trenches  from  the  first  parallel. 

^  15th.  — The  enemy  made  a  sally  and  spiked  a  few  can- 
non, with  little  loss  on  either  side. 

"  16th.  —  New  batteries  opened  on  the  enemy. 

"  17th.  — Lord  Cornwallis  beat  the  chamadef  and  offered 
to  surrender. 

«*  19th.  — The  capitulation  was  signed." 

On  the  17th  Colonel  Pickering  wrote  to  his  wife : — 

"  On  this  memorable  day,  in  1777,  Burgoyne  surrendered. 
On  this  present  day.  Lord  Cornwallis  has  proposed  a  sur- 
render. A  suspension  of  hostilities  has,  in  consequence, 
taken  place.     The  negotiation  is  not  yet  settled,  nor  do  I 

*  Journals  of  Congress,  Vol.  VII.  p.  207. 


308  LIFE  OP  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  [1781. 

know  the  terms  proposed.  This  event  is  unexpected ,  and 
can  be  accounted  for  only  on  supposition  that  the  enemy 
want  provisions  or  warlike  stores,  for  their  works  would 
admit  of  yet  many  days'  defence ;  though,  on  the  14th,  in 
the  evening,  we  took  two  of  their  most  detached  redoubts, 
which  gave  us  great  advantage,  and  at  once  brought  our 
batteries  near  the  enemy's.*  Cornwallis  has  made  a  very 
feeble  resistance:  one  sally  only  he  attempted,  and  that  a 
trivial  one.  I  congratulate  you,  my  dear  Becky,  on  the  near 
prospect  of  the  success  we  wished  for.  I  trust  the  treaty 
will  soon  be  closed.  This  great  event  will  give  a  happy  turn 
to  our  affairs,  and  perhaps  by  next  spring  procure  peace  to 
America." 

By  the  following  letter  from  Colonel  Pickering  to 
General  Washington,-}-  it  appears  that  much  property^ 
especially  tents,  surrendered  by  Cornwallis,  was  lost 
through  mismanagement,  arising  from  opposition  on 
the  part  of  some  American  and  French  ofl&cers  to  the 
orders  of  Colonel  Pickering :  — 

"  Camp,  October  23d,  1781. 

«  Sm, 

"  Agreeably  to  your  Excellency's  orders  on  the  19th  in- 
stant to  me,  to  take  possession  of  the  enemy's  public  stores 
pertaining  to  my  department,  I  went  to  York  myself  with 
my  storekeeper,  and  at  the  same  time  desired  Colonel 
Dearborn  to  go  to  Gloucester,  with  an  assistant  of  the  store- 
keeper, for  the  puri^ose  of  receiving  the  stores. 

"  At  Gloucester  the  dragoon  horses  with  their  accoutre- 
ments, and  the  wagon  horses  and  wagons,  were  delivered 
up  that  day,  and  the  whole  committed  by  Colonel  Dearborn 
to  militia  guards.  The  same  evening  the  dragoon  horses 
were  driven  out  of  Gloucester  and  delivered  to  the  care  of 


♦  See  Sparks'8  "  Writings  of  Washington,"  Vol.  VIII.  pp.  179,  180. 
t  In  Sparks's  '*  Correspondence  of  the  American  Revolation,"  Vol.  III. 
p.  427. 


JEt,  36.]  LITE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  309 

the  Duke  de  Laiizun's  legion  ;  and,  by  the  enclosed  certifi- 
cate and  oath  of  Major  Boyton,  it  appears  that  no  changes 
were  made  between  the  receipt  of  those  horses  from  the 
British  and  the  delivery  of  them  to  the  Duke's  legion. 

"  On  the  20th  I  sent  over  the  superintendent  of  the  horse- 
yard  with  a  party  of  men,  and  a  written  order,  to  take  charge 
of  the  cavalry  horses ;  but  Colonel  Sheldon  told  my  assist- 
ant (Mr.  Mix)  that  they  should  retain  the  horses  till  there 
was  an  order  from  your  Excellency  to  deliver  them  up.  So 
the  superintendent  remained  at  Gloucester.  During  the 
20th  and  2l8t  I  had  persons  waiting  at  Gloucester  to  receive 
every  species  of  property  pertaining  to  my  department,  with 
a  party  of  men  for  fatigue  and  guards.  As  soon  as  the 
prisoners  left  their  tents  on  the  21st,  Mr.  Mix  applied  to 
the  officer  of  the  French  guards,  and  told  him  his  orders  and 
business ;  but  he  refused  to  let  him  tike  a  tent  unless  he 
could  produce  an  order  from  your  Excellency,  Count  Ro- 
chambeau,  or  General  Choisi.  The  time  would  not  admit 
of  an  application  to  either.  Night  came  on,  and  the  tents 
were  chiefly  stolen.  In  two  hours  the  persons  I  had  assigned 
for  that  service  would  have  had  them  in  store.  Early  that 
morning  I  sent  Mr.  Mix  with  a  note  to  head-quarters,  men- 
tioning the  embarrassment  given  me  by  the  French  and  the 
militia  guards ;  but  your  Excellency  was  gone  to  the  fleet ; 
though  Mr.  Trumbull  said  you  had  previously  written  to 
General  Choisi  on  the  subject.* 

"  Colonel  Dearborn  informs  me  that  a  large  proportion  of 
the  public  stores  thus  lost  (tents  particularly)  were  taken 
away  by  the  soldiers  and  women  in  the  British  hospitals ; 
so  that,  of  one  hundred  and  ten  new  tents  returned  in  the 
Eightieth  Regiment,  only  four  or  five  were  left.  This  in- 
formation he  received  from  the  Quartermaster  to  that  regi- 
ment. Some  French  soldiers  were  yesterday  found  there, 
loading  two  boats  with  tents.     Colonel  Dearborn's  coming 

♦  Referring,  probably,  to  the  letter  since  printed  in  Sparks's  "Writings  of 
Washington,"  Vol.  VIII.  p.  182,  which  requests  that  every  precaution  may 
be  taken  "to  prevent  the  loss  or  embezzlement  of  the  arms" 


310  LIFE  OP  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  [1781. 

probably  prevented  their  completing  their  design ;  but,  in 
defiance  of  him,  they  carried  off  what  they  had  got. 

"  The  French  have  placed  safeguards  over  the  houses  at 
Gloucester  where  the  British  officers  are  quartered,  so  that 
no  American  officer  on  duty  there  can  obtain  any  shelter, 
unless  in  the  vilest  hovels.  I  conceive  it  to  be  absolutely 
necessary  that  these  and  the  French  guards  over  the  stores 
be  removed,  as  well  as  the  guards  of  the  militia;  their 
places  to  be  supplied,  as  fat  as  shall  be  found  necessary,  by 
Continental  troops. 

"  I  request  to  be  favored  with  your  Excellency's  direc- 
tions respecting  the  public  stores  and  tents  carried  off  by 
the  people  in  the  British  hospitals.  Colonel  Dearborn  will 
present  this,  and  explain  more  circumstantially  the  pro- 
ceedings at  Gloucester." 

By  a  return,  dated  the  19th  of  October,  1781,  by 
Thomas  St.  John,  Assistant  Deputy  Quartermaster  of 
Comwallis,  there  were  twenty-five  bell  tents  and  seven 
hundred  and  seventy-seven  soldier's  tents  in  the  pos- 
session of  the  British  army  at  the  time  of  the  capitu- 
lation. The  money  in  the  military  chest,  surrendered 
by  the  British,  was  two  thousand  one  hundred  and 
thirteen  pounds,  six  shillings,  sterling.* 

*  The  foUowing  receipt  was  given  by  Peter  Anspach,  the  Paymaster  in 
the  American  Quartermaster-General's  department :  — 

"  York,  Viboibtia,  24th  October,  1781. 

'*  Received  from  David  Thomas,  Esquire,  Deputy  Paymaster-General  of 
his  Migesty's  forces  in  North  America,  by  the  hands  of  Captain  George  Val- 
lancey  and  William  Campbell,  Acting  Deputy  Paymasters-General,  the  sum 
of  £2113  6s.  sterling,  dollars  at  4s.  8d.  —  being  the  amount  of  cash  in  their  pos- 
session on  public  account  at  the  capitulation  of  the  garrisons  of  York  and 
Gloucester  —  pursuant  to  an  order  from  Earl  Comwallis,  dated  24th  October, 
1781,  for  which  I  have  signed  three  receipts  of  the  same  tenor  and  date,  to 


serve  but  for  one.  ^ 


**  (Signed)  Peter  Ahbpach. 

"  (Countersigned)  Geohge  Vallancet, 

William  Campbell, 

Joint  Acting  Paymasters' General,'* 


^J 


iBT.  36.]  LIFB  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  311 

By  the  ninth  article  of  capitulation  *  the  traders  in 
York  and  Gloucester  were  to  be  allowed  three  months 
to  dispose  of  their  effects,  ^the  allied  armies  having 
the  right  of  preemption."  Notice  was  given  to  the 
traders  as  follows :  — 

^  This  right  has  not  yet  been  exercised :  until  it  is,  and 

permission  afterwards  given  to  those  merchants  and  traders 

to  sell  their  effects,  whoever  shall  be  found  to  have  disposed 

of  any  paii;  of  them,  unless  it  be  to  public  agents,  will 

thereby  infringe  the  treaty  and  incur  a  forfeiture  of  the 

whole. 

"Timothy  Pickebing,  Quartermaster-Generai. 

«  York,  October  22d,  1781." 

About  thirty  traders  sent  in  lists  of  their  goods; 
of  whom  the  Quartermaster-General  and  other  officers 
eagerly  bought  —  partly  on  public  account  and  partly 
for  their  individual  use  —  various  articles^  amounting 
in  value  to  more  than  three  fourths  of  the  above-men- 
tioned sum  surrendered  in  the  British  military  chest 

The  following  extract  from  a  letter  from  Colonel 
Lutterloh,  Commissary-General  of  Forage,  exhibits  his 
opinion  of  the  nature  and  importance  of  the  Quarter- 
master's department  He  complains  that  provision  had 
not  been  made  for  a  just  compensation  to  its  officers^ 
and  that  its  services  towards  effecting  the  capture  of 
Comwallis's  army  had  not  received  from  Congress  f  a 
due  share  of  commendation. 

"Tkxkton,  Noyexnber  24th,  1781. 

''I  must  also  beg  you  will  be  pleased  to  consider  the 
situation  of  us  all  in  your  depai-tment.  We  are  certainly 
the  worst  off.     We  are  obliged  to  spend  our  own  money, 

•  Sparks'8  "  Writings  of  Washington,"  Vol.  VIII.  p.  636. 
t  See  JoumaU,  October  29th,  1781. 


312  LITE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  [1781. 

have  a  great  [deal  of]  trouble,  much  blame  of  everybody, 
and  very  little  thanks  or  reward  to  expect.  The  heads  in 
the  staff  department  have  certainly  the  greatest  share  of  all 
the  proper  movemenjts  of  an  army,  and  its  proper  existence 
depends  upon  the  good  conduct  of  that  body ;  but,  when- 
ever any  public  thanks  arc  given,  no  mention  ever  is  made 
of  our  services.  The  aids  of  generals  commonly  run  away 
with  great  applause,  and  their  service  is  commonly  only  to 
carry  messages  and  feast  on  plentiful  tables,  —  a  business 
which  is  in  no  comparison  with  ours.  While  they  advance 
in  fortune  and  high  character,  we  labor  under  silence  for  a 
pitiful  pay,  which  is  at  an  end  when  we  leave  the  service, 
and  all  our  troubles  are  forgotten.  .  .  .  There  is  no  proper 
provision  made  for  a  man  that  serves  well.  Even  the  doc- 
tors' establishment  is  better.  Their  compensation  at  four 
dollars  a  day  and  half  pay  for  life  is  an  object  for  a  man  to 
look  upon  as  a  sufficiency  for  his  troubles.  I  beg,  there- 
fore, you  will  see  if  Congress  will  not  grant  us  a  better 
existence  [subsistence] .  I  must  also  beg  you  will  get  us 
money.  The  little  sums  I  received  from  you  and  Mr. 
Anspach  are  all  gone,  and  more  of  my  own." 

Why  the  Quartermaster-General  and  the  officers  in 
his  department  should  not  have  had  the  promise  of 
half  pay  or  commutation,  is  not  very  apparent;  but 
their  case  is  not  embraced  by  the  Acts  of  the  Old  Con- 
gress on  the  subject.  This,  however,  has  proved  to  be 
a  matter  of  no  consequence,  as  the  nation  broke  its 
faith  with  the  officers  to  whom  its  promise  was  made. 

The  only  entry  in  Colonel  Pickering's  journal  after 
the  19th  of  October  is  the  following :  — 

"  November  6th.  —  The  American  troops  separated ;  the 
Pennsylvanians,  Mary  landers,  and  Virginians  marching  to 
the  southward,  and  the  Jersey  and  other  northern  troops 
to  the  northward.  This  day  I  left  the  late  camp  and  came 
to  Williamsburg." 


Mr.  86.]  LITE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  313 

On  his  return  from  Torktown  to  Philadelphia,  he 
wrote,  November  30th,  to  Mrs.  Pickering: — 

"  I  arrived  here  last  evening  in  perfect  health.  I  fear, 
from  what  Colonel  Miles  tells  me,  that  you  have  heard  a 
groundless  report  of  my  having  been  dangerously  ill, 
which  must  have  gtven  you  much  unnecessary  pain.  I  was 
unwell,  and  for  a  day  or  two  totally  unfit  for  business, 
but  not  in  the  least  apprehensive  of  danger  from  it,  though 
it  was  a  bilious  disorder,  to  which  the  country  is  subject. 
In  about  twenty  days  I  was  again  in  good  health,  and  have 
since  gained  so  much  flesh,  that  my  clothes  begin  to  feel 
tight  upon  me. 

"  The  day  before  yesterday  I  left  the  Head  of  Elk,  in  the 
storm,  and,  in  a  plain  road,  where  I  saw  no  danger,  my 
sulky  was  overset  by  a  small  stump  which  escaped  my  notice. 
This  hurt  me  a  little,  and  has  scratched  my  face ;  but  two  or 
three  days  will  rid  me  of  complaint  from  this  accident.    .  .  • 

"  I  have  not  received  a  syllable  from  you  since  Tatham  [an 
express]  came  to  camp  near  York ;  and  I,  on  my  way  hither, 
recollected  that  I  had  been  too  negligent  in  writing  to  you 
since  the  surrender  of  Cornwallis ;  but  the  consequent  hurry 
of  business  and  ipy  sickness  prevented  ;  and  on  my  recovery 
I  expected  so  soon  to  return,  that  I  thought  it  unnecessary 
to  write.  My  detention  here  has  been  unexpected.  How 
long  I  shall  be  kept  here  is  uncertain,  as  the  General  is 
here,  and  will  remain  perhaps  two  months.  But  I  shall 
endeavor  to  set  off  for  Newburgh  the  beginning  of  next 
week:  at  any  rate,  I  am  resolved  to  keep  Thanksgiving 
with  you,  if  I  am  obliged  to  come  back  again  to  Philadel- 
phia soon  after." 

To  his  brother  he  wrote  from  Philadelphia,  on  the 
2d  of  December :  — 

"  I  arrived  here  the  29th  ultimo,  in  good  health,  from 
Virginia.  By  the  5th  or  6th  instant  I  expect  to  leave  this 
place  and  proceed  to  Newburgh,  where  I  left  my  wife  and 

VOL.  L  40 


314  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING,  [1781. 

children  when  I  went  on  the  expedition  to  Virginia.  I  pre- 
sume she  has  informed  my  friends  at  Salem  of  her  having 
another  son,*  born  on  the  8th  of  October.  .  .  .  After  the 
surrender  of  Coiiiwallis,  when  I  found  that  would  close  the 
campaign,  I  promised  myself  the  pleasure  of  visiting  Salem ; 
but  I  fear  I  shall  be  disappointed.  I  must  return  hither 
again  shortly,  as  the  General  stays  here  on  account  of  the 
arrangement  for  the  next  campaign.  On  this  business  I 
may  be  detained  here  during  the  month  of  January." 

In  the  following  letter,  Colonel  Lutterloh  speaks  of 
a  cabal  in  Congress  against  Colonel  Pickerixig ;  but  who 
were  the  members  engaged  in  it,  or  what  was  the  cause 
of  their  dissatisfaction,  does  not  appear.f 

'*  BuKLiNOTON,  December  Ist,  1781. 

"Now,  as  a  friend, — which  I  hope  you  take  me  for, — you 
have  a  number,  and  persons  in  Philadelphia  in  the  great 
Council,  who  work  against  you.  I  hope  their  devilish 
projects  and  designs  will  fall  through.  General  Lincoln  is 
your  friend,  and  speaks  in  most  high  terms  of  you ;  which 
you  fully  at  all  times  merit.  I  avoided  to  go  to  Philadel- 
phia, on  purpose  not  to  bring  myself  into  troubles,  into 
which  some  speeches  and  manufactured  cabals  would  have 
brought  me,  which  I  knew  were  brewing  against  you." 

Possibly  Lutterloh's  allusion  to  a  cabal  against  him 
may  have  occasioned  the  air  of  discontent  in  the 
following  letter  to  Mrs.  Pickering,  dated  the  4th  of 
December. 

"  The  date  put  to  this  letter  reminds  me,  that  this  day 
three  years  we  parted  from  our  friends  at  Salem,  and  in 
just  such  pleasant  weather  as  this ;  but,  perhaps,  on  that 
side  the  mountains  where  you  dwell,  it  may  now  be  cold 

*  Henry  Pickering,  bdtn  in  the  Hasbrouck  house,  at  Newburgh,  previously 
the  head-quarters  of  Washington, 
t  See  page  290. 


JRt.  86.]  LITE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  315 

and  dreary.  How  swift  the  days  have  rolled  along !  What 
varied  scenes  have  we  passed  through  I  But  these,  I  hope, 
will  make  us  wiser  and  better.  The  more  I  see  of  the 
world,  the  more  I  see  causes  of  disgust;  and,  were  it  not 
for  the  dear  names  of  wife  and  children^  I  should  care  very 
little  how  short  my  stay  was  in  it.  I  write  in  melancholy 
mood ;  and  yet,  perhaps,  I  had  never  less  cause  to  be  cast 
down ;  but  trifling  matters  sometimes  discompose  us,  and 
we  cannot  always  comlnand  our  own  feelings.  I  long  to 
be  with  you ;  then  I  can  unbosom  myself,  and  talk  over  a 
thousand  things.  Tis  a  happiness  to  have  a  friend  to  whom 
I  may  commit  myself  without  restraint.  Tis  doubtless  best 
for  us  to  meet  with  causes  of  disgust :  it  makes  us  think  of 
futurity,  —  an  existence  hereafter,  —  freed  from  the  vexa- 
tions incident  to  our  living  here.  In  that  existence  alone 
I  look  for  consolation ;  in  the  faith  of  that  alone  I  find  it, 
when  troubles  or  vexations  affect  me. 

"  I  believe,  in  a  letter  written  yesterday,  ...  I  mentioned 
my  return  hither,  after  making  a  visit  to  Newburgh,  and  I 
knew  not  but  my  stay  here  might  then  be  of  long  continu- 
ance, which  induced  me  to  wish  to  bring  you  with  me ;  but 
I  now  expect  sufficient  work  will  be  cut  out  for  me  on  the 
North  River,  and  I  shall  consequently  be  generally  with 
you  at  Newburgh.  Indeed,  after  inquiring  to-day  for  a 
house  here  for  your  reception,  I  found  rents  so  insufferably 
high,  wood  and  other  necessaries  in  general  so  extravagant- 
ly dear,  I  was  nearly  discouraged,  before  I  was  informed 
that  public  business  would  require  my  residing  for  the  most 
part  at  Newburgh.  This,  I  know,  will  be  most  for  my  inter- 
est, and  perhaps  (all  things  considered)  more  agreeable  to 
us  both,  than  the  round  of  diversions  in  this  city,  which  are 
attended  with  every  species  of  extravagance,  in  which  we 
must  have  partaken  (however  ill-suited  to  my  purse)  in 
some  degree,  or  been  pronounced  very  singular,  and  have 
suffered  repeated  mortifications.'' 


316  LIFE  OP  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  [1781. 


CHAPTER   XXI. 

Controversy  between  Colonel  Pickering  and  the  State  Agent  of 
New  York  concerning  Forage  in  West  Chester  County.  —  Suf- 
ferings in  the  State  of  New  York  from  its  being  the  Seat  of  War. 
—  Views  of  the  State  Agent  and  the  Land-owners  respecting  the 
Forage.  —  Their  Censure  of  Colonel  Pickering.  —  His  Vindi- 
cation. 

Among  the  many  vexations  to  which  Colonel  Picker- 
ing was  exposed  in  the  execution  of  the  multifarious 
duties  of  his  ofl&ce,  was  a  controversy  with  Colonel 
Udny  Hay,  State  Agent  of  New  York.  It  related  to 
forage  taken  by  the  allied  American  and  French  armies 
from  estates  in  the  county  of  West  Chester.  Some  of 
these  estates  had  been  sequestered  or  confiscated  by 
the  State;  others  belonged  to  persons  who  had  fled 
from  them  on  account  of  the  vicinity  of  the  British 
troops,  and  who,  in  consequence,  were  locally  called 
"  Refugees." 

On  the  1st  of  July,  1781,  the  legislature  of  New  York 
passed  an  act  authorizing  the  Commissioners  of  Seques- 
tration to  permit  the  State  Agent  to  collect  any  forage 
or  other  supplies  for  the  army  which  might  be  found 
on  sequestered  or  confiscated  estates  in  the  county  of 
West  Chester,  to  be  disposed  of  by  the  Agent,  like  other 
supplies  furnished  by  the  State  for  the  use  of  the  army. 

On  the  5th  of  July,  Colonel  Hay  wrote  a  letter  to 
Colonel  Pickering,  enclosing  a  copy  of  this  law,  and 
saying,  that  he  had  desired  the  bearer.  Captain  William 
Brown,  his  assistant,  to  show  to  Colonel  Pickering  his 
instructions  for  executing  the  law.    The  object  of  the 


.ai.Sa.]  UFB  OF  TIMOTHT  PICKEHING.  317 

law  was  to  make  the  United  States  a  debtor  for  the 
forage  taken  by  the  army  in  West  Chester  County ;  but, 
as  the  lands  lay  desolate  and  waste,  having  been  within 
th^  enemy's  lines,  and  if  the  American  army  had  not 
encamped  there  the  forage  would  either  have  been  con- 
sumed by  the  enemy  or  have  perished  on  the  ground. 
Colonel  Pickering  was  of  opinion  that  the  consumption 
of  this  forage  ought  not  to  create  a  charge  against 
the  United  States.  He  therefore  expressed  surprise  at 
the  communication  from  Colonel  Hay,  according  to 
whose  statement  he  refused  to  pay  any  respect  to 
this  act  of  the  New  York  legislature.  Colonel  Hay, 
in  conversations  and  In  letters,  insisted  that  the  United 
States  were  bound  to  make  compensation  to  the  State 
of  New  York  and  to  the  Refugees.  Colonel  Pickering 
was  willing  to  ascertain,  as  nearly  as  practicable,  the 
quantity  and  value  of  the  forage  consumed,  and  to  give 
certificates  of  the  facta ;  but  he  refused  to  certify  —  what 
Colonel  Hay  demanded  —  that  the  consumption  of  the 
forage  created  a  debt  against  the  United  States. 

He  wrote  to  Colonel  Hay,  from  the  Camp  near 
Dobbs's  Ferry,  under  the  date  of  July  26th,  1781  :— 

"I  am  misinformed  if  this  opinion  [that  the  United  States 
ought  not  to  bo  charged]  is  not  current  in  the  French  as 
well  as  in  the  American  army.  At  the  head  of  the  latter  I 
may  quote  the  opiotun  of  the  Commander-in-Cbtcf ;  which, 
being  known,  was  sufficient  to  teach  mc  cuutioa  how,  as  a 
public  officer  subject  to  his  command,  I  nctcd  in  direct 
opposition  to  it.  Now,  although  for  an  act  of  injustice  no 
man  should  find  shelter  under  any  name,  buwcvcr  great, 
yet,  as  an  apology  for  a  supposed  error  in  judgment,  one  may 
certainly  be  allowed  to  quote  the  opinion  of  a  superior.  .  .  . 
I  am  wholly  ignorant  of  myself  if  either  an  arrest,  —  which 
you  have  repeatedly  held  up  to  my  view,  —  or  even  the  actual 


318  LIFE  OP  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  [1781. 

imprisonment  of  my  person,  for  a  debt  really  or  supposed 
to  be  due  from  the  United  States  to  any  particular  State, ' 
or  any  individual  subject  of  it,  would  at  all  influence  my 
determination.  A  seizure  of  my  person  or  property  for  a 
debt  contracted  by  me  as  a  public  officer,  I  should  indeed 
consider  as  an  act  of  cruel  injustice ;  and,  even  if  it  were 
warranted  by  law  (of  which,  however,  I  may  at  least  ex- 
press a  doubt),  yet  'tis  an  act  against  which  the  common 
sense  of  mankind  revolts.     .  .  • 

''That  any 'one  should  imagine  I  wished  to  deprive  this 
State  of  one  particle  of  its  prpperty,  is  doing  me  great  in- 
justice. I  have  seen  its  exertions ;  I  have  been  a  witness 
to  its  sufferings.  I  have  represented  them  to  Congress.  I 
have  spoken  of  them  on  all  occasions.  To  Congress  I  said, 
« The  people  in  the  State  of  New  York  are  under  very  pecu- 
liar disadvantages.  Their  trade  with  the  neighboring  States 
is  so  confined,  the  troops  have  been  so  long  unpaid,  and 
the  public  officers  there  have  for  so  long  time  past  been  fur- 
nished with  so  little  money,  at  the  same  time  that  the  army 
has  drawn  thence  such  considerable  supplies,  — money,  of 
consequence,  must  be  extremely  scarce.  For  its  quota  of 
supplies,  not  money,  but  State  certificates,  were  given.  In 
addition  to  these  supplies,  the  army  make  large  draughts  on 
this  State  for  forage,  lumber,  wood,  &c.,  and  the  service  of 
teams;  for  all  which  no  consideration  can  in  general  be 
given  but  certificates,  and  these  not  receivable  in  taxes; 
whereby  the  inhabitants  of  that  State  are  exceedingly  dis- 
tressed. There  is  nothing  which  the  army  wants  and  that 
State  can  furnish,  that  is  not  taken  by  impress,  when  not 
otherwise  to  be  obtained,  which  often  happens.  The  people 
submit  to  these  oppressions  (for  such  undoubtedly  they  are, 
though  unavoidable)  with  astonishing  patience,  partly  from 
a  conviction  that  the  articles  so  obtained  are  essential  to  the 
army,  and  partly  through  the  influence  of  the  military,  who 
either  are  in  fact,  or  are  expected  to  be,  called  to  enforce 
the  execution,  if  opposed.  Other  States,  out  of  the  army's 
reach,  experience  no  such  oppression.    The  inhabitants  make 


JEt.  86.]  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  319 

their  own  terms  for  supplies  and  services  required  of  them, 
and,  without  money  or  promise  of  speedy  payment,  refuse 
to  yield  either/ 

"To  Mr.  Morris,  the  Superintendent  of  Finances  of  the 
United  States,  I  have  represented  the  distress  of  Colonel 
Hughes,  Deputy  Quartermaster,  of  this  State,  for  want  of 
money,  —  that  his  small  warrant  of  twenty  thousand  new- 
emission  dollars,  on  the  loan  office  of  this  State,  was  not  yet 
paid  off;  ...  and  that  *  almost  all  persons  of  course  re- 
main unpaid  for  services  and  supplies:'  (then  subjoining,). 
*  These,  added  to  the  debts  of  the  old  department,*  would 
have  long  since  put  a  stop  to  public  business  here,  were  there 
not  a  peculiar  energy  in  the  Executive  f  of  the  State,  and  a 
military  force  at  hand,  to  carry  into  effect  every  necessary 
order.  If  any  relief  can  be  afforded,  I  know  not  where  it 
can  be  better  applied.  It  is  due  to  the  public  officers  and 
to  the  inhabitants  of  the  State.  The  United  States  will 
also  be  benefited,  for  the  doing  the  public  business  here 
wholly  without  money  increases  the  public  debt  beyond 
conception.' 

**  I  have  said  thus  much  to  justify  myself  from  groundless 
aspersions ;  and,  in  a  matter  so  interesting  to  me  as  a  man, 
and  still  more  as  a  public  officer,  I  trust  you  will  excuse  me, 
even  if  you  should  deem  me  tedious." 

Colonel  Hay,  being  dissatisfied  with  the  answer  to 
his  letter,  proposed  that  the  decision  of  Congress  on  the 
point  in  dispute  should  be  obtained,  to  which  Colonel 
Pickering  assented. 

The  views  of  the  parties,  with  some  of  the  measures 
proposed  by  them  respectively,  and  the  spirit  in  which 
the  controversy  was  conducted,  are  pretty  fully  dis- 
closed in  the  letter  given  below  from  the  Refugees  to 
Colonel  Pickering,  and  his  reply. 

*  Of  Quartermaster-General,  previous  to  the  appointment  of  Colonel  Pick- 
ering, 
t  GoTeznor  George  Clinton. 


320  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  [1781. 

A  meeting  of  the  Refugees  was  held  at  White  PlainSi 
on  the  31st  of  July,  1781,  at  which  it  was 

"  Resolved,  unanimously,  That  a  letter  he  wrote  to  the 
Quartermaster-General  of  the  American  army,  demanding 
of  him  pay  for  what  forage,  or  other  articles,  he  has  obtained 
from  either  of  their  farms,  and  cit  the  same  time  giving  him 
their  opinions  of  his  conduct,  as  Quartermaster-General. 

"  Resolved,  unanimously.  That  Colonel  Udny  Hay,  State 
Agent,  prepare  a  draught  of  said  letter. 

"  On  the  said  letter  being  read,  paragraph  by  paragraph, 
the  same  was  unanimously  agreed  to." 

This  letter,  dated  at  White  Plains,  July  30th,  1781, 
was  as  follows :  — 

"  Sir, 
'<  Astonished  at  the  information  of  an  attempt  being  made 
to  take  by  force,  for  the  use  of  the  army,  the  produce  of  our 
farms,  without  making  us  the  least  recompense,  nay,  even 
refusing  an  acknowledgment  by  which  we  would  obtain  pay 
hereafter,  and  having  met  this  day  and  appointed  Robert 
Graham,  Esquire,  Judge  of  this  county,  as  our  chairman, 
the  Agent  of  the  State,  at  our  request,  favored  us  with  a 
correspondence  between  you  and  him,  that  has  fully  con- 
firmed the  inforjnation  we  had  received,  and  which  impels 
us  to  tell  you,  Sir,  (for  your  unprecedented  and  unwarranted 
attempt  to  trample  on  the  laws  of  that  State  to  which  we  are 
subject,  and  of  which  we  have  [been]  and  ever  will  be  the 
firm  and  unshaken  supporters,  forbids  every  degree  of  deli- 
cacy,) that  we  are  determined  to  have  full  and  speedy  sat- 
isfaction for  the  insults  offered  us,  by  taking  such  steps  as 
the  laws  of  our  country  will  warrant  for  compelling  you  to 
do  us  justice ;  while  we  cannot  refrain  from  smiling  with 
disdain  at  the  folly  of  any  individual,  however  high  in  sta- 
tion, presuming  openly,  and  without  the  smallest  necessity, 
to  set  the  law  at  defiance.  We,  nevertheless,  should  think 
it  necessary  to  show  our  immediate  indignation  at  such  a 


Mt.  36.]  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  321 

character,  were  we  not  withheld  from  doing  so  by  that 
love  of  our  country  and  regard  for  the  general  cause 
which  induced  us  at  first  to  quit  these  habitations  and 
these  fields  which  you  wish  to  prove  our  right  and  title  to 
extinct. 

"  Actuated  by  these  motives,  and  at  the  particular  request 
of  the  State  Agent,  not  from  the  smallest  inclination  to  show 
you  any  favor,  we  shall  defer  putting  the  law  in  execution 
till  the  10th  of  next  month ;  against  which  time  you  will 
probably  have  received  such  instructions  from  Congress,  to 
whom,  we  are  informed,  you  have  wrote  on  the  subject,  as 
may  prevent  any  further  altercation. 

"  We  have  carefully  read  over  the  Agent's  letter  to  you 
and  your  answer,  taken  both  up  by  paragraphs,  aud  made 
the  necessary  comparisons,  aud  would  make  no  observation. 
Sir,  on  the  absurdity  and  childishness  of  your  reasoning, 
but  impute  that  to  the  weakness  of  your  head,  did  not  the 
wickedness  of  your  heart  appear  too  glaring  for  us  to  pass 
over  unnoticed,  in  your  attempt  to  make  it  be  believed  your 
illegal  practices  have  been  commenced  and  pursued  in  con- 
sequence of  an  opinion  received  from  our  illustrious  Com- 
mander-in-Chief. The  well-known  character  of  that  great 
man,  his  exerted  attention  on  every  occasion  to  support  the 
rights  of  individuals,  the  sacred  regard  he  has  ever  shown 
to  the  civil  authority  and  laws  of  this  State,  all  join  in 
defeating  your  wish  to  make  us  believe  he  would  counte- 
nance the  infringement  of  a  law,  did  he  even  think  the  law 
in  itself  improper  or  impolitic.  Be  assured,  therefore,  we 
have  not  the  most  distant  idea  of  your  being  able  to  screen 
yourself,  in  an  illegal  act,  under  a  shield  which  would  give 
you  such  importance. 

"We  have  thus.  Sir,  with  that  liberty  which,  as  free  citi- 
zens of  America,  we  claim  as  one  of  our  most  invaluable 
privileges,  declared  our  opinion  of  your  late  proceedings 
respecting  the  forage  taken  by  your  directions  in  this  county ; 
and  our  determination  is  firmly  fixed  to  assert  our  rights, 
and  rescue  our  property  out  of  the  hands  of  every  invader 

VOL.  L  41 


322  LIFE  OP  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  [178X. 

thereof,  whether  under  the  color  of  an  open  enemy,  a  secret 
Tory,  or  a  self-interested  and  designing  Whig, 

"  We  have  requested  Captain  William  Browu  and  Mr. 
Francis  Chaudinet  to  deliver  you  this  letter  at  your  office  in 
camp,  and  beg  your  answer,  directed  to  their  care  at  the 
widow  Miller's,  White  Plains. 

^I  am,  Sir,  in  behalf  and  by  the  unanimous  order  of  the 
Refugees  of  West  Chester  County,  met  at  Mr.  William 
Field's,  your  most  obedient,  humble  servant, 

<'RoBEBT  Graham,  Chairman^* 

The  preceding  letter  was  accompanied  by  a  long 
private  one  from  Colonel  Hay,  dated  the  Ist  of  August^ 
insolent  in  manner,  and  abounding  in  misconstruction 
of  Colonel  Pickering's  language  and  conduct 

In  his  reply  to  the  Refugees,  dated  at  Camp  near 
Dobbs's  Ferry,  August  3d,  1781,  Colonel  Pickering 
says :  — 

"  Gentlemen, 
"I  received  a  letter,  dated  the  30th  ultimo,  signed  Robert 
Graham,  Chairman,  in  behalf  of  the  Refugees  of  West  Ches- 
ter County.  I  should  have  been  more  surprised  than  I  was 
at  the  contents,  had  I  not  believed  you  had  been  unwarily 
drawn  into  the  measure  by  gross  misrepresentations  of  my 
character  and  conduct.  Had  I  not  supposed  you  thus  de- 
ceived, I  should  have  returned  your  letter  unanswered,  the 
terms  of  it  are  so  indecent,  so  improper,  so  unbecoming  the 
honorable  characters  you  profess  to  maintain  as  the  sup- 
porters of  the  laws  and  liberties  of  your  country.  But,  as 
your  reproaches  have  arisen  -from  mistake  and  misrepre- 
sentation, I  am  willing  to  undeceive  you ;  and  this,  much 
more  to  prevent  my  usefulness  as  a  public  officer  being  les- 
sened, than  from  any  concern  for  my  personal  reputation ; 
for  this  would  sustain  no  injury  from  such  an  attack  as 
yours,  in  the  opinion  of  any  gentleman  to  whom  I  am  per- 
sonally known. 


\\ 


Mt.  36.]  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  323 

"You,  Gentlemen,  have  been  made  to  believe,  that  I  have 
first  knowingly  committed  an  act  of  palpable  injustice,  and 
this,  in  a  case  wherein  I  am  totally  disinterested,  in  which  I 
cannot  gain  or  lose  one  farthing,  in  which  there  is  no  con- 
ceivable motive  to  do  wrong !  —  and  then,  to  cover  this 
unjust  act,  that  I  falsely  accused  the  Commander-in-Chief 
as  giving  countenance  to  it  I  You  were  not  aware.  Gentle- 
men, of  the  enormity  of  the  crimes  you  have  thus  ground- 
lessly  laid  to  my  charge.  .  .  .  By  the  supposed  act  of 
injustice  I  exposed  myself  to  the  resentment  of  the  Refugees, 
to  the  frowns  of  your  legislature,  and  to  the  displeasure  of 
the  whole  body  of  the  people  of  this  State.  By  the  supposed 
false  accusation  of  the  Commander-in-Chief,  I  subjected 
myself  to  his  indignation,  and  to  be  broken  with  infamy  I 
Yet  these  are  crimes  which  you  have  imputed  to  me ;  to  a 
man  who,  for  divers  years  past,  has  executed  several  im- 
portant public  offices  without  the  imputation  of  the  smallest 
crime  I  to  a  man  who,  after  such  experience  of  his  fidelity, 
was  called  by  the  unanimous  voice  of  Congi*ess  to  his  pres- 
ent office  I  to  a  man  (to  whom  indeed  you  must  have  been 
strangers,  and  whom  you  should  not  therefore  have  so  rashly 
censured)  who,  from  his  earliest  youth  to  the  present  hour, 
has  sustained  the  reputation  of  unspotted  integrity  and  truth  ! 
.  .  .  Guilt,  you  are  sensible.  Gentlemen,  implies  knowl- 
edge. I  have  doubtless  often  erred  through  ignorance  and 
mistake.  .  .  .  And  it  was  only  for  a  supposed  error  in 
judgment^  that  I  sought  for  countenance  in  the  opinion  of 
the  Commander-in-Chief.     .  •  . 

"Sufier  me  now  to  inquire  what  foundation  there  was  for 
80  much  calumny. 

"  You  begin  to  this  effect :  that  you  were  informed  that  I 
had  attempted  to  take  by  force,  for  the  use  of  the  army  ('tis 
fortunate  that  it  was  not  for  my  own  use),  the  produce  of 
your  farms,  without  making  you  the  least  recompense ;  that 
I  even  refused  giving  an  acknowledgment,  by  which  you 
could  obtain  payment  hereafter ;  and  that  the  correspond- 
ence between  Colonel  Hay  and  me  had  fully  confirmed  that 


324  LIFE    OF   TIMOTHY   PICKERING.  [1781. 

information.  The  word  forces  in  the  sense  in  which  you  use 
it,  seems  hardly  applicable  to  the  case  in  question.  How- 
ever, I  do  not  mean  to  dispute  about  words.  It  is  a  fact, 
that,  when  the  army  marched  into  this  county,  every  man 
turned  out  his  horse  and  his  ox  to  feed  where  he  pleased 
(excepting  into  fields  of  grain,  which,  I  believe,  were  gen- 
erally preserved  till  ripe),  nobody  appearing  to  forbid  it. 
After  some  days  (I  do  not  recollect  how  many),  Mr.  Brown 
brought  me  a  letter  from  Colonel  Hay,  State  Agent,  en- 
closing an   extract  of  a  law  of  this   State.*  .  .  . 

''I  expressed  some  surprise,  for  I  had  entertained  the 
same  opinion  that  generally  prevailed  in  the  army,  that  the 
forage  consumed  here  would  not  become  a  charge  against 
the  United  States.  As  Mr.  Brown  had  come  instructed  to 
collect  the  forage  v I  asked  him  where  he  was  to  carry  it ;  he 
answered,  « Up  above.'  I  asked  him  if  he  had  men,  and  tools, 
and  teams  to  cut  and  carry  it  away.  He  replied  that  he  had 
not,  but  depended  on  the  army  for  those  things.  This  was 
the  substance  of  what  passed  between  us,  as  nearly  as  I  can 
recollect ;  and,  being  very  busy,  I  referred  him  to  Colonel 
Lutterloh,  the  Commissary  of  Forage ;  but  (I  do  not  know 
why)  Mr.  Brown  neglected  to  call  on  him.  I  heard  little 
said  on  the  subject  afterwards,  till  Colonel  Hay  came  down. 
I  believe  I  repeated  to  him  what  had  passed  between  Mr. 
Brown  and  me.  We  conversed  some  time  on  the  subject, 
and  finally  I  told  him  I  should  not  choose  to  come  to  a  de- 
termination until  I  had  consulted  the  Commander-in-Chief. 
I  accordingly  mentioned  the  matter  to  his  Excellency.  He 
immediately  said  that  he  thought  the  demand  a  very  ex- 
traordinary one,  or  words  to  that  eflfect.  I  observed,  that 
the  State  had  made  a  law  concerning  it,  at  the  same  time 
presenting  him  with  the  extract  from  it  which  I  received 
from  Colonel  Hay.  He  cast  his  eyes  on  it,  and  said,  *I 
think  it  is  a  strange  (or  a  very  strange)  law.'  This  conver- 
sation I  communicated  to  Colonel  Hay. 

"Thus,  knowing  the   General's   opinion  from  his  own 

•  See  page  816. 


iET.36.]  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  325 

mouth,  I  did  not  think  myself  warranted  in  giving  such 
certificates  as  Colonel  Hay  desired,  that  would  positively 
make  the  United  States  debtors  for  all  the  forage  con- 
sumed by  the  army  in  this  county.  I  believe  I  then  pro- 
posed that  Colonel  Hay  should  himself  speak  to  the  General, 
to  get  his  determination.  He  afterwards  informed  me  that 
he  did  so,  but  that  the  General  declined  intermeddling  in 
the  matter,  or  even  giving  an  opinion  on  the  subject.  This, 
however,  was  not  satisfactory  to  me.  If  the  case  had  been 
so  very  clear  as  you  seem  to  think  it,  why  should  the 
Commander-in-Chief,  whose  justice  no  one  will  call  in 
question,  hesitate  to  direct,  or,  at  least,  advise  me,  to 
give  the  certificates  demanded?  This  circumstance  alone 
should  have  rendered  you.  Gentlemen,  more  cautious  than 
to  have  rashly  accused  me,  as  you  have  done,  of  the  infa- 
mous crime  of  telling  a  falsehood^  for  quoting  his  opinion 
as  agreeing  with  my  own. 

"  As  to  a  recompense  for  the  forage,  I  grant  I  did  not 
ofl:er  any,  not  being  convinced  that  it  was  justly  due ;  but 
that  I  refused  giving  an  acknowledgment  whereby  such 
recompense,  if  judged  right,  might  be  obtained  hereafter, 
is  not  true.  I  was  willing,  to  the  best  of  my  recollection, 
even  the  first  day  I  saw  Colonel  Hay,  to  give  him  a  certifi- 
cate for  that  end ;  but  he  has  ever  demanded  one  of  a 
diflferent  kind,  which,  without  further  inquiry,  would  make 
the  United  States  chargeable.  In  the  letter  to  Colonel 
Hay,  I  say  explicitly,  that,  <in  adjusting  this  business,  I 
have  no  other  object  in  view  than  to  avoid  an  improper 
charge  against  the  United  States.  Any  certificate  of  facts, 
with  that  caution,  I  am  content  to  give.'  Afterwards,  it  is 
true,  I  propose  a  particular  form,  but  subject  to  alteration 
if  not  approved,  for  I  say  expressly,  *  in  some  such  form  as 
this';  which  plainly  implies  a  willingness  to  alter  it,  if 
objected  to.  For  the  purpose  of  ascertaining  the  quantity 
of  forage  consumed  by  the  army.  Colonel  Hay  proposed 
two  methods :  first,  to  find  the  number  of  horses,  oxen, 
and  fat  cattle  belonging  to  the  army,  which  had  subsisted 


326  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKBRING,  [1781. 

on  forage  growing  in  this  county;  or,  second,  to  have 
appraisers  appointed  to  estimate  ttie  forage  used  by  the 
anny,  distinguishing  what  was  taken  from  confiscated  or 
sequestered  estates,  and  what  from  the  lands  of  individuals ; 
according  to  which  certificates  should  be  given.  It  being 
thus  referred  to  my  choice  to  take  one  or  the  other  of  these 
two  ways  of  ascertaining  the  forage  used  by  the  army  in 
this  county,  I  preferred  the  former,  and  proposed  calling 
for  returns  to  fix  the  number  of  cattle  subsisted  as  above 
mentioned,  according  to  which  certificates  should  be  given 
that  would  entitle  the  owner  of  the  lands  to  payment,  if  it 
should  finally  be  adjudged,  by  those  who  had  a  right  to 
determine  the  point,  that  justice  required  such  forage  to  be 
paid  for.  Colonel  Hay  subjoined  a  number  of  questions, 
to  which  he  desired  answers,  in  case  I  closed  with  neither 
of  his  propositions ;  but,  as  I  agreed  substantially  to  the 
first,  such  answers  were  unnecessary. 

"Colonel  Hay,  after  reading  my  answer  to  his  letter, 
proposed  taking  the  sense  of  Congress  on  the  affair.  I 
readily  agreed  to  it.  He  said  he  would  write  to  the  Dele- 
gates of  the  State,  and  I  told  him  that  I  would  write  to  the 
President  of  Congress.  I  did  so,  and  ordered  an  express 
to  be  ready  to  take  the  letters  as  soon  as  his  should  be 
brought  to  my  ofiSce. 

"The  business  being  thus  submitted,  and  at  Colonel 
Hay's  own  motion,  to  the  decision  of  Congress,  I  confess  I 
was  not  a  little  surprised  at  being  presented,  six  days  after- 
wards, with  a  letter  written  with  so  much  acrimony  as  yours, 
and  could  not  avoid  thinking  that  much  industry  had  been 
used  to  excite  your  bitter  resentment  when  there  was  so 
little  ground  for  it. 

"Now,  Gentlemen,  permit  me  to  ask,  In  what  part  of 
these  transactions  do  you  discover  any  foundation  for  accus- 
ing me  of  the  heinous  crimes  you  have  laid  to  my  chaise? 
Besides  those  already  noticed,  you  speak  of  my  *  trampling 
on  the  laws  of  the  State.'  That  is  a  strong  expression,  and 
means  a  contemptuous  disobedience  to  those  laws.     But  I 


JEt.  86.]  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHT  PICKERING.  327 

am  not  conscious  of  any  such  thing.  I  have,  on  the  con- 
trary, ever  spoken  of  this  State  with  the  highest  respect. 
But  suffer  me  to  ask,  Gentlemen,  whether  a  particular 
State  may  not  pass  a  law  which  an  officer  of  the  United 
States  might  justly  hesitate  to  obey.  Suppose  the  army 
were  in  Jersey,  and  that  the  legislature  of  that  State  had 
made  a  law  fixing  the  price  of  hay  at  twelve  pounds  a  ton 
(and,  being  sovereign  and  independent,  it  could  pass  what 
law  it  pleased),  while  New  York  set  it  only  at  six,  agree- 
ably to  the  Act  of  Congress.  Suppose,  then,  that  the  agent 
of  Jeraey  should  demand  of  me  certificates  for  forage,  taken 
there  by  the  army,  at  that  rate :  would  you  think  me  justi- 
fiable in  complying  with  it?  Would  you  not  rather  think 
I  went  far  enough  in  offering  a  certificate  of  facts,  until  the 
United  States  in  Congress  (whose  servant  I  am)  should 
determine  whether  the  price  of  forage  demanded  by  Jersey 
should  be  allowed  ?  But  the  legislature  of  New  York  have 
made  a  law  authorizing  a  demand  of  pay  for  forage,  for 
which  it  was  generally  thought  in  the  army  no  recompense 
at  all  ought  to  be  given.  I  was  of  that  opinion.  The  prin- 
cipal officers  of  the  army,  whom  I  heard  speak  of  it,  held 
the  same  opinion ;  and,  I  have  told  you  already,  it  was  the 
opinion  of  the  Commander-in-Chief. 

*^  Under  these  circumstances,  Gentlemen,  what  was  my 
duty  ?  What  more  could  I  have  done  with  propriety  than 
I  have  offered  to  do?  B>e  pleased  to  bear  in  mind,  that  I 
am  an  officer  of  the  United  States^  under  oath  '  to  discharge 
the  trust  reposed  in  me  with  justice  and  irUegrityy  to  the 
best  of  my  skill  and  understanding.^  What  judgment,  then, 
would  you  have  formed  of  my  attention  to  the  duties  of  my 
office,  of  my  'justice  and  integi'ity,'  if  I  had  pursued  the 
line  of  conduct  required  of  me,  in  direct  opposition  to  my 
<  understanding'  of  what  was  just  and  upright,  in  contempt 
of  the  opinion  of  the  principal  officers  of  the  army,  and 
especially  of  the  Commander-in-Chief?  Yet  I  do  not  say 
this  opinion  was  not  an  erroneous  one  :  I  never  said  it  was 
not;   but  it  was  an  opinion,  supported  as  it  was  by  the 


328  LITE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  [1781. 

authorities  I  have  mentioned,  by  which  I  thought  my  con- 
duct ought  to  be  govcmed. 

**  I  forbear.  Gentlemen,  to  remark  on  those  reproachful 
expressions  with  which  every  paragraph  of  your  letter  is 
dishonorably  marked.  I  have  written  this  reply,  not  to 
retort,  not  to  irritate,  but  to  inform.  I  have  aimed  at 
giving  you  a  true  detail  of  facts,  according  to  the  best  of 
my  recollection.  If  there  be  any  circumstance  which  de- 
mands a  further  explanation,  I  am  ready  to  give  it.  I  wish 
only  to  have  my  conduct  fairly  understood.  I  ask  for  jus- 
tice only,  and  not  favor,  from  any  man.  Though  poor,  yet 
I  feel  myself  perfectly  independent.  Having  neither  ambi- 
tion nor  avarice  to  gratify,  I  am  not  even  under  a  tempta- 
tion, much  less  am  I  disposed,  to  do  an  unjust  or  an  improper 
act,  knowingly,  for  the  sake  of  pleasing  any  man,  or  any 
body  of  men.  What  appears  to  be  right,  whether  agree- 
able or  disagreeable  to  others,  I  mean  ever  to  pursue.  Yet 
I  am  not  indifferent  to  the  opinion  of  my  fellow-men;  I 
wish  my  actions  to  meet  with  their  approbation.  To  this 
period  I  have  received,  generally,  such  approbation ;  yet  I 
never  used  any  species  of  bribes  or  flattery  to  obtain  it.  I 
never  even  asked  for  any  one  of  the  offices  I  have  held 
under  the  United  States.  Yet  I  have  been  appointed  to 
three  very  important  offices  in  succession,  one  of  them 
under  the  immediate  observation  of  the  delegates  of  your 
Stale  and  of  all  the  members  of  Congress,  for  upwards  of 
two  years ;  but,  after  this,  to  have  unanimously  elected  me 
to  an  office  of  such  magnitude  as  the  present,  if  I  at  all 
deserve  the  character  you  have  so  freely  given  me,  must 
have  shown  them  to  be  as  destitute  of  wisdom  as  regard- 
less of  the  interests  of  their  country, 

"  I  am,  Gentlemen, 

"  Your  much  injured  fellow-citizen, 

"  Timothy  Pigkerino,  Q.  Jf.  O. 

^  P.  S.  I  have  received  no  answer  from  Congress  on  the 
question  submitted  to  their  decision." 


JBt.SO.]  life  of  timothy  PICKERING.  329 


CHAPTER   XXII. 

Enmity  excited  by  Colonel  Pickering*s  Ek;onomicaI  Reforms. — 
Commendation  of  his  Retrenchments.  —  Further  Proceedings 
relating  to  the  West  Chester  Forage.  —  His  Letter  to  Gov- 
ernor George  Clinton,  justifying  his  own  Conduct,  and  cen- 
suring the  State  Agent.  — A  Suggestion  made  by  him  as  to 
Supplies  of  Food  for  the  Army. 

Writing  to  Samuel  Hodgdon,  on  the  7th  of  August, 
1781,  Colonel  Pickering  says:  — 

^  Retrenchments  and  reformations  in  the  management  of 
our  public  affairs  will  (as  you  suppose)  ever  meet  with 
my  concurrence ;  notwithstanding  I  have  created  not  a  few 
enemies  by  stirring  in  this  business  as  far  as  I  have.  To 
yoUy  as  my  friend,  I  can  relate  an  anecdote.  Colonel  Day- 
ton, the  other  day,  addressed  me  thus:  'I  heard  a  hand- 
some compliment  paid  you  a  few  days  since.'  *0n  what 
account?'  said  I.  He  replied,  *  A  gentleman  of  the  Jersey 
brigade,  who  had  been  over  to  the  army,  on  his  return  told 
me  that  all  the  other  staff  departments  were  making  com- 
plaints against  you ; '  adding,  *  I  was  exceedingly  glad  to 
hear  it;  for  it  was  high  time  to  make  retrenchments  of 
public  expenses,  and  I  am  glad  that  somebody  is  attempt- 
ing it.' 

**  Since  my  propositions  relative  to  the  commissariats,  I 
have  obsei*ved  appearances  in  8ome  (not  all)  of  the  staff, 
which  indicated  feelings  that  would  give  rise  to  such  com- 
plaints as  Colonel  Dayton  referred  to.  I  have  found  that 
my  proposals  about  the  commissariats  were  grossly  misrep- 
resented in  the  army;  and  these  misrepresentations  (and 
it  is  not  difficult  to  discern  who  were  interested  to  make 

VOL.  L  42 


330  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERINO.  [1781. 

them)  excited  jealousies,  as  though  /  were  ambitious^  and 
desirous  of  grasping  at  every  staff  department  that  could 
be  managed  without  particular  professional  knowledge. 
But  you  will  recollect  that  I  was  willing  to  quit  the  direc- 
tion, not  only  of  the  depai-tmont  if  extended,  but  even  of 
the  office  I  was  actually  invested  with. 

"  But  I  have  a  new  set  of  enemies  !  stirred  up  by  Colonel 
U.  Hay,  because  I  hesitated  to  give  ceitificates  for  the  forage 
consumed  by  the  army  in  this  county,  where  the  lands  gen- 
erally lay  desolate  and  waste.  .  .  .  The  Refugees,  at  a 
meeting  where  he  was  present,  lately  wrote  me  a  letter  on 
the  subject,  filled  with  abuse  from  one  end  to  the  other.  It 
was  a  perfect  piece  of  ribaldry,  dictated,  I  verily  believe, 
by  Colonel  Hay  himself.*  I  told  the  bearer  of  it  (one  of 
Hay's  assistants)  that,  if  I  treated  it  as  it  deserved,  I  should 
trample  it  under  my  feet.  It  was  signed  by  the  ^Chearman* 
of  the  meeting,  who,  in  the  letter,  is  said  to  be  the  Judge 
of  the  county.  The  abuse  was  so  extremely  gross,  I  told 
the  bearer  it  disgraced  the  chairman  and  the  Refugees,  but 
not  me;  that,  however,  I  considered  Colonel  Hay  as  the 
instigator  in  the  whole  affair.  I  confess  it  at  first  excited 
some  resentment;  but  I  now  view  it  with  the  most  calm 
indifference.  As  these  plain  farmers  have  been  inflamed 
and  drawn  into  the  measure  by  Colonel  Hay,  without  being 
sensible  of  the  impropriety  of  writing  such  a  letter,  I  intend 
going  to  their  next  meeting  (next  Thursday) ,  to  give  them 
a  plain  narrative  of  facts,  and  show  the  cruelty  and  injustice 
of  their  accusations. 

"  Colonel  Hay  cannot  easily  be  forgiven ;  for  this  proceed- 
ing took  place  three  days  after  it  had  been  mutually  agreed 
between  us  (on  his  own  motion)  to  refer  the  point  in  dis- 
pute to  the  decision  of  Congress." 

Colonel  Pickering  attended  the  meeting  of  the  Refu- 
gees on  the  9th  of  August^  at  North  Castle.     To  a 

*  The  resolutions  of  the  Refugees  (page  820)  say  as  much. 


Mr.  86.]  UFB  OF  TIMOTHY  MCKERINQ.  331 

question  put  to  him  in  writing,  whether  he  would  give 
such  certificates  for  the  forage  taken  as  were  agreeable 
to  the  laws  of  New  York,  and  consonant  to  such  as  he 
usually  gave,  he  made  answer,  that  he  was  content  to 
appoint,  immediately,  one  person,  the  Refugees  to  ap- 
point another,  (these  two,  in  case  of  disagreement,  to 
choose  a  third,)  to  ascertain  the  quantity  and  value  of 
the  forage  taken ;  agreeably  to  which  certificates  should 
be  given,  the  form  of  which  might  be  like  this :  — 

"  I  certify  that (hay,  grain,  or  pasturage,  which- 
ever it  may  be),  of  the  value  of ,  has  been  taken, 

for  the  use  of  the  American  army,  from  the  estate  of  A  B 
(or  a  confiscated  or  sequestered  estate),  in  the  county  of 
West  Chester." 

He  subjoined:  — 

"  As  the  only  point  in  question  has,  by  mutual  agreement 
between  Colonel  Hay  and  me  (and  at  his  own  motion), 
been  submitted  to  Congress,  I  cannot  with  propriety  or 
decency  undertake  to  determine  it,  until  I  am  made  ac- 
quainted with  the  decision  of  Congress  thereon.  Colonel 
Hay  at  the  same  time  said  he  should  not  think  himself 
bound  by  such  decision.'' 

The  next  day  a  number  of  the  Refugees  instructed 
their  agents  to  apply  to  the  Quartermaster-General,  and 
endeavor,  agreeably  to  his  proposal,  to  determine  the 
value  of  the  forage  used  by  the  army,  fixing  the  value 
of  pasture  upon  the  principle  that  hay  was  worth 
about  three  pounds,  in  specie,  per  ton.  If  the  Quarter- 
master-General consented  to  enter  upon  the  business 
immediately,  no  action  was  to  be  commenced  against 
him  before  the  20th  of  August,  unless  an  answer  should 
be  previously  received  from  Congress,  and  he  should 


332  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKEKING.  [1781. 

then  refuse  giving  such  certificates  as  were  demanded 
on  the  9th.  The  agents  were  desired,  on  all  difficult 
matters,  to  take  the  advice  of  the  State  Agent,  pro- 
vided it  was  not  contradictory  to  the  spirit  of  the 
instructions 

Colonel  Pickering  wrote,  on  the  12th  of  August^  a 
second  letter  to  the  President  of  Congress,  requesting 
an  immediate  determination  respecting  the  forage,  and 
stating  that  the  matter  had  become  more  serious ;  that 
on  the  9th  instant  he  attended  a  meeting  of  the  Refu- 
gees, and  he  had  no  doubt  the  whole  business  would 
have  been  amicably  adjusted,  had  not  Colonel  Hay 
stirred  up  their  passions  whenever  they  discovered  a 
disposition  to  listen  to  moderate  measures  ;  that  Colonel 
Hay  urged  them  to  commence  suits  against  Colonel 
Pickering  immediately;  and  that  they  afterwards  grew 
more  cool,  and  agreed  to  suspend  their  suits  until  the 
20th  instant,  and  in  the  mean  time  to  act  agreeably 
to  the  proposal  Colonel  Pickering  had  made. 

On  the  13  th  of  August,  Colonel  Pickering  wrote  to 
his  wife :  — 

"I  have  the  pleasure  to  inform  you,  that  Colonel  Hay's 
violent  proceedings  agaiust  me  are  condemned  by  all  the 
gentlemen  in  the  army  whose  opinions  I  have  beard ;  par- 
ticularly by  men  of  such  discernment  as  Colonel  Hamilton 
and  Judge  Laurance ;  *  and  I  am  satisfied  Colonel  Hay  is 
not  a  little  chagrined.^ 

In  a  letter  of  the  14th  of  August,  Colonel  Hay  pro- 
poses a  meeting  with  Colonel  Pickering,  with  three  or 
four  mutual  friends,  in  order  to  discuss  the  question 


*  Judge  Advocate-General  of  the  army,  and  from  1796  to  1800  a  Senator 
of  the  United  States  from  the  State  of  New  York. 


JBt.  86.]  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  333 

of  granting  certificates  in  the  usual  form.    In  this  he 
says  he  has  two  views :  — 

"  The  first,  to  bring  about  a  speedy  and  amicable  settle- 
ment before  the  next  meeting  of  the  Refugees,  without 
which  I  will  venture  to  predict  there  will  soon  be  such  a 
rupture  between  the  inhabitants  of  the  State  and  you,  as 
will  tend  further  to  clog  the  business  of  your  very  impor- 
tant department,  already  too  much  embarrassed  by  unavoid- 
able causes.  The  second  is,  that,  should  you  not  comply 
with  this  requisition,  I  may  have  an  opportunity  of  show- 
ing them  the  various  proposals  I  have  made  and  you  have 
rejected. *' 

. 
Colonel  Pickering  replied  on  the  15th :  — 

"  I  have  already  fully  explained  myself  on  the  subject 
of  your  letter  of  yesterday ;  and  I  am  sorry  my  explana- 
tions have  failed  in  any  degree  to  answer  my  wishes ;  which 
are,  to  inform  and  convince  those  who  were  strangers  to 
facts,  and  to  put  the  mat^r  in  so  clear  a  light,  that  the  arts 
of  designing  men,  who  desire  to  foment  differences,  might 
be  ineffectual . 

^  Having  submitted  the  matter  to  Congress,  their  decis- 
ion I  am  bound  to  wait  for  and  obey.  When  that  amves, 
I  shall  immediately  act  in  consequence  thereof.  And,  lest 
there  should  be  an  unnecessary  delay,  I  have  wrote  a  second 
time,  by  express,  representing  the  necessity  of,  and  entreat- 
ing, their  immediate  decision.  In  the  mean  time,  I  shall 
not  be  intimidated  by  any  threats,  for  I  have,  from  the 
beginning,  offered  to  do,  in  this  affair,  whatever  was  con- 
sistent with  my  duty ;  and  disinterested  men,  of  discern- 
ment and  candor,  acknowledge  it.  I  have  also  shown  every 
disposition  to  cultivate  harmony  with  this  State,  and  the 
citizens  thereof  concerned  in  this  business ;  nor  would  any- 
thing but  an  adherence  to  my  duty  induce  me  to  hazard  an 
interruption  of  it.  But,  as  I  have  acted  entirely  in  a  public 
character,  without  any  private  views  (none  such,  indeed,  can 


334  LIFB  OP  TIMOTHY  FICKBRING.  [1781. 

possibly  exist) ,  I  am  willing  to  abide  the  consequences  of 
my  conduct." 

The  next  day  he  wrote  again  to  Colonel  Hay :  — 

"  Mr.  William  Keese,  the  bearer,  is  come  down  for  the 
purpose  of  joining  with  such  person  as  shall  be  chosen  by 
the  agents  of  the  owners  of  the  lands  where  the  army  have 
consumed  any  forage  in  this  county,  in  making  appraise- 
ments of  the  quantities  eaten  or  taken  from  those  lands 
respectively,  and  the  value  thereof,  agreeably  to  the  pro- 
posals I  made  at  the  meeting  of  the  Refugees  on  the  9th 
instant. 

"  I  did  not  consider  myself  bound  by  those  proposals, 
seeing  they  were  rejected  by  the  Refugees  and  you ;  yet, 
as  my  intentions  were  the  same  from  the  beginning,  namely, 
to  give  a  certificate  of  facts,  where  required,  so  I  could 
have  no  objection,  on  general  principles,  to  an  adherence 
to  the  proposals  I  had  made.  The  ill  treatment  I  have 
received  from  you,  and,  through  you,  from  the  Refugees, 
would  indeed  warrant,  or  at  least  excuse,  ray  throwing 
every  possible  embarrassment  in  your  way;  but  resent- 
ment will  have  no  influence  on  my  conduct:  I  am  still 
ready  to  take  any  proper  measure  in  my  power  to  ascer- 
tain the  quantity  and  value  of  the  forage  in  dispute,  that 
the  owners  of  the  lands,  if  pronounced  entitled  to  a  com- 
pensation, may  have  the  proper  evidence  of  their  respec- 
tive dues.  .  .  .  Mr.  Keese,  therefore,  may  proceed  to 
the  appraisement  of  the  forage  taken  from  the  sequestered 
lands,  as  well  as  the  lands  of  Refugees." 

Colonel  Hay  wrote  to  Colonel  Pickering  on  the  same 
day:  — 

"  The  Assistant  State  Agents  have  my  orders  to  fall  in 
with  your  proposals  of  the  9th  instant  for  the  present,  and 
until  I  have  advice  from  proper  authority  to  adopt  another 
method." 


Mr.  86.]  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKEBING.  335 

He  says  he  will  not  suppose  that  *^the  arts  of  design- 
ing men/'  &c.,  is  intended  against  him,  as  his  conduct, 
though  warm,  has  b^en  open  and  unequivocal ;  and  he 
insinuates  that  every  one  concerned  has  not  been  actu- 
ated by  principles  equally  honest  and  honorable. 

From  the  following  letter,  dated  at  King's  Ferry, 
August  26th,  1781,  addressed  by  Colonel  Pickering  to 
George  Clinton,  Governor  of  New  York,  it  would  seem 
that  the  arrangement  thus  acquiesced  in  by  all  parties 
had  fallen  through. 

"Sm, 

"I  fear  your  Excellency  has  heard  already  too  much  on 
the  subject  of  the  forage  taken  by  the  army  in  the  county 
of  West  Chester ;  yet,  as  my  character  has  been  unjustly 
aspersed  by  some  men  who  have  other  views  than  to  pro- 
mote the  public  good,  I  think  it  my  duty,  holding  an  office 
of  so  much  importance  as  that  of  Quartermaster-General,  to 
request  your  Excellency's  attention  to  the  enclosed  papers, 
which  contain  a  state  of  facts,  which  I  also  wish  to  have 
communicated  as  you  shall  think  proper. 

"  Although  many  observations  occur  which  could  further 
tend  to  justify  my  conduct  in  this  business,  yet  I  will  waive 
them,  and  rely  on  what  is  contained  in  the  papers  above 
mentioned ;  only  begging  leave  to  refer  your  Excellency  to 
John  Laurance,  Esquire,  Judge  Advocate-General,  for  in- 
formation of  what  passed  at  the  meeting  of  the  Refugees  on 
the  9th  instant.  He  will,  I  doubt  not,  satisfy  you,  that,  so 
far  from  aiming  at  an  amicable  settlement,  as  Colonel  Hay 
had  ever  pretended,  he  was  the  sole  cause  of  preventing  it. 
The  Refugees  have  now  no  means  left  of  ascertaining  their 
respective  dues,  for  which  perhaps  they  may  blame  me  ;  but 
your  Excellency  will  judge  whether  it  is  not  rather  due  to 
their  violent  advocate.  For,  from  the  beginning  of  my  con- 
versations with  Colonel  Hay  on  the  subject,  I  offered  to  give 
any  certificate  of  facts,  which  would  have  answered  every 
purpose  the  Refugees  could  reasonably  wish  for.     However, 


336  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  [1781. 

as  resentment  for  the  ill  treatment  I  have  received  will  have 
no  influence  on  my  conduct  towards  the  proprietors  of  the 
lands  in  West  Chester  County,  so  I  shall  not  decline  com- 
municating to  them  any  information  in  my  power  respecting 
the  quantity  of  forage  taken  by  the  American  army  from 
those  lands.  The  entire  quantity  may  be  ascertained  with 
some  degree  of  accuracy  by  the  returns  of  the  number  of 
horses  and  working  oxen  employed  with  the  army  while  in 
that  county,  —  which  I  will  transmit  to  Colonel  Hughes,  — 
and  by  the  returns  of  fat  cattle,  which  doubtless  can  be  fur- 
nished by  the  superintendent  of  live  stock. 

"  I  have  taken  the  liberty  of  referring  your  Excellency 
to  Judge  Laurance  for  information  in  the  case  before 
mentioned,  because  Colonel  Hay  will  probably  produce  cer- 
tificates of  the  propriety,  firmness,  and  even  decency  of  his 
behavior  at  that  meeting.  It  may  seem  strange  that  a  man 
whose  conduct  had  been  evidently  governed  by  those  prin- 
ciples should  think  of  getting  certificates  to  prove  it.  Colo- 
nel Hay  asked  for  and  obtained  them,  as  I  was  informed. 
One  gentleman,  indeed,  who  had  understanding,  candor,  and 
fortitude  to  think  and  determine  for  himself,  did  not  sign  it. 
This  was  Mr.  E.  S.  Burling,  clerk  of  the  meeting.  He 
ofiered  to  sign  the  certificate  if  the  word  decency  were  struck 
out.  Your  Excellency  will  judge,  from  this  circumstance, 
what  kind  of  firmness  Colonel  Hay  exhibited,  and  whether 
another  word  would  not  more  properly  characterize  his  con- 
duct at  the  meeting.  Colonel  Hay  may  attempt  to  palliate 
all  his  virulence  towards  me  by  haranguing  on  the  suffer^ 
ings  of  the  Refugees,  and  the  injustice  of  depriving  them  of 
their  property ;  but  I  will  venture  to  say,  that  all  his  bustle 
and  clamor  on  the  occasion  sprung  from  another  source  than 
a  tender  concern  for  the  interests  of  the  State,  or  the  suf- 
ferings of  the  Refugees,  and  that  the  afi*air  of  the  forage  was 
only  used  as  a  handle  to  promote  his  private  designs.  But 
he  has  overshot  his  mark,  and  convicted  himself  of  having 
used  too  much  violence,  by  adopting  at  last  the  proposition 
which  I  substantially  made  near  a  month  before. 


-aST.  86.]  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  337 

"  Colonel  Hay  had  ever  professed  a  respect  for  me,  and 
repeatedly  expressed  his  desire  to  render  every  assistance 
in  his  power  to  my  department.  These  professions  were 
continued  until  his  receipt  of  my  letter  of  the  26th  of  July, 
and  even  longer ;  for  he  had  the  art  to  make  the  Refugees 
meet  at  the  White  Plains  July  31st,  and  believe  that  he 
still  wished  not  to  embarrass  me,  by  desiring  that  their  suits 
might  be  postponed ;  and  yet  he  himself  wrote  the  infamous 
letter  signed  by  Judge  Graham  in  behalf  of  that  meeting  1 
And  this  letter  he  doubtless  prepared  before  the  Refugees 
assembled.  I  observe  it  was  dated  July  30th,  and  the  pro- 
ceedings of  the  meeting  bore  date  the  31st.  This  irritating 
transaction,  too,  your  Excellency  will  observe,  was  but  three 
or  four  days  after  the  matter,  on  his  own  motion,  had  been 
refeiTed  to  the  decision  of  Congress  for  the  purpose  of  effect- 
ing an  amicable  settlement!  All  these  proceedings  were 
likewise  subsequent  to  the  writing  of  a  piece  of  scurrility, 
published  in  Loudon's  paper  *  of  the  9th  of  August,  which 
was  designed  by  the  writer  to  represent  me  in  a  ridiculous 
point  of  light.  I  do  not  hesitate  to  pronounce  Colonel  Hay 
the  author  of  it.  The  style  corresponds  exactly  with  that 
which  he  exhibited  at  the  meeting  of  the  Refugees  on  that 
same  day ;  there  are  divers  references  in  it  to  some  letters 
which  I  wrote  to  Congress  last  March  on  the  subject  of  re- 
trenchments (some  of  which  they  were  pleased  to  adopt), 
and  which  Colonel  Hay  unluckily  told  me  he  had  read  when 
in  Philadelphia;  aad  the  original  appeared  in  the  hand- 
writing of  one  of  his  people  or  dependants.  It  was  left  at 
the  printer's  some  weeks  before  it  was  published,  Loudon 
having  refused  to  print  it ;  but  the  person  who  brought  it 
at  last  insisted  on  its  being  printed.  The  true  history  of 
the  affair  to  which  this  piece  alludes  is  contained  in  the  en- 
closed extracts  of  the  letters  of  May  10th  to  General  Wash- 
ington, and  from  and  to  Mr.  Tilghman,  his  aide-de-camp. 
The  plan,  however,  was  not  pursued,  and  I  had  no  other 

*  Loudon's  "  New  York  Packet/*  then  printed  at  Fishkill,  but  subsequently 
at  New  York,  after  the  evacuation  of  that  city  by  the  British  troops. 

VOL.   L  43 


338  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  [1781. 

concern  in  the  affair.  I  do  not  even  recollect  to  have  heard 
one  word  on  the  subject  after  that  day,  until  I  was  told  the 
fish  *  were  spoiled  and  thrown  into  the  river.  I  will  only 
observe  here,  that  one  Monell  and  another  assistant  of  Colo^ 
nel  Hay's  were  (as  I  have  been  informed)  the  undertakers 
to  catch  and  cure  the  shad  for  the  army. 

"  As  I  had  never  injured  Colonel  Hay,  but,  on  the  con- 
trary, from  the  character  given  of  him,  had  thought  and 
spoken  of  him  with  respect,  I  can  account  for  his  unprovoked 

•  The  extracts  referred  to  are  these  :  — 

Colonel  Pickering  to  General  Washington.  —  '*I  am  informed  that  about 
sixty  barrels  of  shad  came  down  yesterday  from  Esopus.  As  this  article  of 
proviii$ion  is  for  an  immediate  supply,  I  beg  leave  to  suggest  the  expediency 
of  bringing  down  daily  all  that  arc  cauglit.  Two  or  three  pettiaugers  may  be 
employed  in  this  service ;  and,  with  the  wind  as  it  is  to-day,  they  may  run  from 
Esopus  to  West  Point  in  five  or  six  hours ;  and,  if  the  wind  be  adverse,  they 
can  get  down  in  two  tides.  If  this  mode  be  adopted,  the  immense  expense  of 
salt  and  barrels,  and  the  great  loss  of  time  in  putting  up  the  shad,  will  be  saved. 
If  three  quarters  of  a  bushel  of  salt  be  allowed  for  salting  one  barrel  of  shad, 
then  the  salt  for  tlie  sixty  barrels  already  brought  down  was  worth  two  hun- 
dred and  seventy  hard  dollars ;  for  it  sells  currently  at  six  hard  dollars  per 
bushel,  and  will  probably  grow  dearer  soon.  Should  six  hundred  barrels  be 
caught  during  the  season,  the  salt  thus  consumed  will  be  worth  twenty-seven 
hundred  hard  dollars.  To  this  are  to  be  added  the  price  of  half  the  barrels 
(for  probably  half  will  be  lost),  three  hundred  dollars,  and  the  price  of  pack- 
ing, of  the  cost  of  which  I  am  ignorant,  but  it  wiU  be  considerable.  But  in 
the  way  here  proposed,  all  these  expenses  will  be  saved,  and  the  troops 
receive  daily  an  agreeable  supply  of  fresh  provisions,  as  a  change,  with  their 
salt  meat.'* 

Lieutenant-Colonel  Tilghman  to  Colonel  Pickering,  May  10th,  1781.  —  '*  His 
Excellency  very  much  approves  your  plan  of  bringing  down  the  shad  daily,  — 
only  taking  care  to  give  each  cargo  as  much  salt  as  will  secure  them  against 
a  passage  longer  than  the  common  calculation.** 

Colonel  Pickering  to  Lieutenant-Colonel  Tilghman,  May  10th,  1781.— 
'*  Your  favor  of  this  date  is  just  received.  I  know  not  who  has  the  direction 
of  the  shad  fishery,  and,  if  I  did,  I  have  no  authority  to  put  the  business  in 
a  new  train. 

'*The  pettiaugers  I  can  order  to  be  got  ready  to  saU  at  a  moment's  warn- 
ing ;  and,  for  the  security  of  the  fish  against  the  accident  you  mention  (which, 
however,  can  scarcely  happen),  each  boat  may  take  and  keep  on  board  a  bar- 
rel or  two  of  salt.  But  somebody  must  be  authorized  to  contract  for  the 
delivery  of  the  fish  from  the  seine,  and  an  order  given  for  the  salt,  of  which  I 
presume  there  is  already  enough  at  Esopus  to  answer  every  demand  on  the 
proposed  plan.*' 


iET.  36.]  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  339 

abuse  but  on  one  principle^  —  his  wish  to  oust  me  out  of 
office.  Early  in  the  dispute  I  suspected,  from  his  manage- 
ment, that  this  was  his  design,  that  he  might  come  in  as 
deputy  for  ^he  State  of  New  York,  under  some  principal  who 
with  him  was  plotting  to  destroy  my  reputation,  as  the  sure 
means  of  getting  me  displaced.  Some  circumstances  since 
made  known  to  me  put  this  almost  beyond  a  doubt.  But 
I  cannot  avoid  despising  attempts  so  basely  conducted, 
because  I  am  sure  they  will  be  ineffectual,  and  because  a 
removal  from  my  office  (so  it  were  not  with  disgrace) ,  far 
from  distressing,  would  relieve  me  of  a  very  heavy  and 
painful  burden. 

"  I  beg  your  Excellency's  pardon  for  these  observations. 
But,  while  I  continue  in  my  present  office,  it  is  of  public  im- 
portance that  I  support  my  reputation;  and  it  is  on  this 
ground  alone  that  I  trouble  your  Excellency  with  this  letter 
and  its  enclosures." 


340  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  [1782. 


CHAPTER   XXIII. 

Further  Proceedings  respecting  the  West  Chester  Forage.  —  The 
New  York  State  Agent  sends  a  Challenge.  —  Colonel  Pickering 
refuses  to  accept  it.  —  His  Sentiments  on  Duelling.  —  He  with- 
draws the  Charges  complained  of,  on  finding  them  erroneou^.  — 
He  vindicates  his  Conduct  relating  to  the  Forage.  —  His  Views 
sustained  by  the  French  Quartermaster-General. 

On  the  Yth  of  September,  Colonel  Pickering  being 
then  on  his  way  to  Yorktown  on  the  expedition  against 
Comwallis,  Congress  passed  a  resolve,  — 

''That  Major-General  Heath  .  .  .  cause  immediate  and 
equitable  measures  to  be  taken  for  ascertaining  the  quantity 
of  forage  expended  by  the  allied  army,  in  the  county  of 
West  Chester,  which  hath  not  been  accounted  for;  and 
that  he  direct  the  Deputy  Quartermaster  in  that  depart- 
ment to  give  certificates  accordingly  to  the  State  Agent 
of  New  York,  or  any  other  person  or  persons  authorized 

r 

to  receive  the  same."* 

What  progress  was  made  in  this  business  under 
General  Heath  I  have  not  learned ;  but  the  adjust- 
ment of  some,  if  not  all,  of  the  claims  appears  to  have 
reverted  to  Colonel  Pickering.  He  appointed  in  Sep- 
tember, 1782,  John  Keese,  and  in  June,  1783,  Charles 
Tillinghast,  to  attend,  on  the  part  of  the  United  States, 
to  the  appraisement,  by  arbitrators,  of  the  quantities  and 
values  of  the  timber,  wood,  forage,  &c.,  taken  by  the 
army  from  sequestered  and  confiscated  estates  in  the 

*  Journals  of  Congress,  Vol.  VII.  p.  184* 


-aST.  87.]  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  341 

State  of  New  York ;  and  they  certified  respectively, 
the  one  in  December,  1782,  the  other  in  July,  1783, 
that  the  sums  found  by  the  arbitrators,  amounting  to 
upwards  of  fifty-one  thousand  dollars,  as  the  values 
of  property  taken  from  such  estates  in  the  counties 
of  West  Chester,  Dutchess,  Orange,  and  Ulster,  were 
just  charges  against  the  United  States. 

No  further  correspondence  appears  to  have  been 
held  between  Colonel  Hay  and  Colonel  Pickering 
until  the  beginning  of  the  year  1783,  when  the  fol- 
lowing letter  was  handed  to  Colonel  Pickering  by 
Major  Nicholas  Fish  and  Major  John  Armstrong :  — 

"  Nbwbuboh,  January  15th,  1788. 

"Sir, 
"The  ignominious  light  in  which  you  endeavored  to 
exhibit  my  private  character  and  reputation,  in  your  letter 
of  the  26th  of  August,  1781,  to  his  Excellency  Governor 
Clinton,  must  be  atoned  for,  either  by  a  proof  of  the  asser- 
tions you  there  make,  or  in  such  other  manner  as  it  would 
be  equally  improper  in  me  not  to  demand,  as  in  you  to 
refuse  to  grant.  The  gentlemen  who  do  me  the  honor  to 
deliver  this  will  acquaint  you  with  the  reasons  which  pre- 
vented a  much  earlier  application  on  this  subject,  and  I 
flatter  myself  they  are  such  as  will  appear  to  you  not  only 
admissible,  but  even  satisfactory.  These  gentlemen,  too, 
are  informed  of  the  mode  of  settlement  I  have  determined 
to  adopt,  which,  having  been  formed  on  the  most  mature 
deliberation,  cannot  be  receded  from;  and,  if  you  are 
equally  inclined  with  me  to  an  immediate  settlement  upon 
generous  principles,  we  shall  soon  have  an  opportunity  of 
meeting  each  other.     Till  then,  I  am  your  most  obedient 

servant, 

"Udny  Hay.'* 

Colonel  Pickering,  on  the  same  day  that  he  received 
this  letter,  apparently  in  order  to  leave,  in  case  the 


842  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  MCKBEING.  [178S. 

affair  should  in  any  way  cost  him  his  life,  a  record  of 
his  sentiments  on  duelling,  and  of  his  conduct  in  rela- 
tion to  the  challenge,  made  the  following  minutes  of 
his  conversation  with  Majors  Fish  and  Armstrong :  — 

"  Newburgh,  January  15th,  1783. — Major  Fish  and  Major 
Armstrong  delivered  me  a  letter,  of  this  date,  from  Colonel 
Udny  Hay,  referring  to  a  letter  of  mine,  dated  the  26th  of 
August,  1781,  to  Governor  Clinton,  in  which  I  enclosed  the 
papers  exhibiting  a  state  of  the  dispute  between  Colonel 
Hay  and  me,  relative  to  the  West  Chester  forage  used  by 
the  army  in  July  and  August,  1781.  In  that  letter  Colonel 
Hay  says  I  endeavored  to  represent  him  in  an  ignominious 
light ;  for  which,  in  the  letter  now  delivered  me  by  Major 
Fish  and  Major  Armstrong,  he  demands  atonement,  either 
by  a  proof  of  the  assertions  I  had  made  in  my  letter  to  the 
Governor,  '  or  in  such  other  manner  as  it  would  be  equally 
improper  in  him  not  to  demand,  as  in  me  to  refuse  to 
grant.' 

"The  two  gentlemen,  bearers  of  Colonel  Hay's  letter, 
said,  that,  if  I  chose  the  first  of  the  two  modes  above  men- 
tioned, Colonel  Hay  was  ready,  or  willing,  to  have  the 
matter  laid  before  some  officers  to  be  mutually  chosen  by 
us ;  or  to  admit  of  a  retraction  of  my  asseitions. 

"  We  had  considerable  conversation  on  the  subject,  in  the 
course  of  which  I  expressed  my  consent  to  have  the  afiair 
laid  before  officers  mutually  chosen ;  that,  whenever  I  had 
done  an  injury  to  any  man,  I  should  cheerfully  make  him 
reparation ;  that,  when  convinced  of  an  error,  I  thought  it 
infinitely  more  honorable  to  retract  than  to  maintain  it. 

"The  gentlemen  withdrew  to  dine,  agreeably  to  their 
engagements.  On  their  return,  after  dinner,  it  appeared 
that  they  had  seen  Colonel  Hay.  They  then  showed  me  a 
note  to  this  efiect,  as  nearly  as  I  can  recollect,  namely: 
that,  if  the  afiair  were  referred  to  the  judgment  of  officers 
mutually  chosen,  and  they  should  decide  against  me,  I 
should  either  fight  Colonel  Hay,  or  make  concessions,  and 


iET.  87.]  LTFB  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  343 

accordingly  write  one  letter  to  Governor  Clinton,  and  one 
letter  to  Colonel  Hay,  of  which  th6y  should  be  at  liberty 
to  make  such  use  as  they  should  think  proper. 

"  On  this  we  (Major  Fish,  Major  Armstrong,  and  myself) 
had  some  conversation,  the  result  of  which  was  to  this  effect : 
I  repeated  my  readiness  to  make  reparation  for  an  injury, 
on  its  being  made  to  appear ;  that  so  much  time  had  elapsed 
since  the  dispute  between  us  had  happened,  I  presumed 
Colonel  Hay's  resentments  had  cooled,  as  well  as  my  own ; 
that  the  affair  would  now  admit  of  a  temperate  discussion ; 
that  if  it  should  appear  that  I  had  pronounced  my  suspi- 
cions of  Colonel  Hay,  at  which  he  had  taken  offence,  on 
too  slight  grounds  (for  I  had  only  expressed  my  suspicions, 
though,  perhaps,  in  strong  terms),  I  should  not  hesitate  to 
declare  it ;  that  I  presumed  Colonel  Hay  would  not  demand 
any  mean  concessions,  neither  would  I  make  them,  and 
that  I  would  sooner  die  than  deny  the  truth  ;  that  I  should, 
if  decided  to  have  committed  an  error,  be  ready  to  declare 
it  in  a  letter  to  the  Governor ;  and,  as  it  was  observed  that 
a  retraction,  to  do  justice,  must  be  as  public  as  the  injurious 
assertion,  so  I  should  have  no  objection  to  insert  in  the 
letter  to  the  Governor  the  same  expression  which  I  used 
in  my  former  letter  to  him  of  the  26th  of  August,  1781, 
to  wit,  that  it  might  be  communicated  as  he  should  think 
proper. 

"  As  to  the  alternative  of  •  fighting,'  I  was  neither  afraid 
nor  ashamed  to  say,  that  I  should  not  fight.  Duelling  was 
an  absurd  and  barbarous  practice.  It  decided  not  whether 
a  man  was,  or  was  not,  in  an  error,  and  sometimes  scarcely 
whether  he  was  brave  or  a  coward ;  that  I  had  no  doubt  of 
Colonel  Hay's  intrepidity, — I  had  heard  it  mentioned  in  some 
actions  or  enterprises  at  the  northward ;  *  that  I  had  con- 
nections too  tender  to  put  my  life  at  stake  in  such  manner 
as  was  proposed ;  that  I  was  a  poor  man,  and  had  a  wife 

*  At  the  capture  of  the  fort  at  Stony  Point,  in  July,  1779,  '^Lieutenant- 
Colonel  Hay  was  wounded  in  the  thigh,  while  fighting  with  firmness  in  the 
heat  of  the  action.*'  —  Thacher's  Military  Journal^  p.  211. 


344  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  [1783. 

and  three  children,  who  would  be  miserable  without  me; 
that,  but  for  these,  my  attachments  to  life  were  very  slen- 
der ;  that  I  was,  besides,  influenced  by  principles  of  reli- 
gion against  duelling;  that,  from  my  first  knowledge  of 
things,  I  had  ever  held  the  practice  in  abhorrence,  and 
determined  not  to  give  or  accept  a  challenge ;  that,  how- 
ever, if  attacked,  I  should  certainly  defend  myself;  that, 
if  any  concessions  I  should  think  proper  to  make  were  not 
satisfactory  to  Colonel  Hay,  he  must  then  take  such  meas- 
ures as  he  saw  fit. 

"  The  gentlemen  observed  that  it  was  not  Colonel  Hay's 
wish  to  fight,  but  to  settle  the  matter  in  the  other  way; 
that  duelling  was  (as  I  had  described  it)  an  absurd  thing, 
which  they  both  condemned,  and  that  nothing  but  custom 
could  be  pleaded  in  favor  of  it ;  that  they  knew  many  who 
were  alike  principled  against  it.  They  said  that  they  inter- 
fered as  friends,  and  wished  to  have  the  afi*air  amicably 
settled. 

"  Resuming  the  subject,  I  obsei'ved,  that  I  thought  I 
had  expressed  my  sentiments  so  clearly  that  nothing  could 
be  misunderstood.  *  Very  clearly,'  the  gentlemen  replied. 
Then,  speaking  again  of  duelling,  I  closed  with  these 
words,  that  'I  much  less  feared  to  die  than  to  ofi*end  that 
Being  who  had  given  me  existence.' 

"T.   PiCKERINO." 


No  allusion  is  found,  in  the  manuscripts  of  Colonel 
Pickering,  to  the  subsequent  negotiation  which  must 
have  taken  place  between  him  and  the  friends  of 
Colonel  Hay.  The  unpleasant  affair  was  terminated 
by  the  following  letter  from  Colonel  Pickering  to 
Governor  Clinton:  — 

<'Newbcboh,  March  SUi,  1783. 

"Sir, 
"On  the  26th  of  August,  1781,  I  wrote  to  your  Excel- 
lency a  letter,  enclosing  copies  of  sundry  papers  relative  to 


Mt.  87.]  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  345 

the  forage  taken  by  the  army  in  West  Chester  County  during 
that  and  the  preceding  month. 

"In  that  letter  are  two  passages,  which,  Colonel  Hay  ob- 
serves, detract  from  his  reputation.  The  subject  led  me  to 
notice  a  piece  of  scurrility  published  in  Loudon's  paper  of 
the  9th  of  August,  of  which,  for  the  reasons  mentioned  in 
that  letter,  I  supposed  Colonel  Hay  to  be  the  author.  I 
believe  every  man  of  candor  will  think  the  circumstances 
there  related  warranted  the  suspicion.  However,  Colonel 
Hay's  friends  have  assured  me  that  he  disavows  it,  declaring 
that  he  was  not  the  author  of  it.  I  am  satisfied  with  the 
declaration,  and  withdraw  my  suspicion. 

''  In  another  part  of  the  letter,  there  is  expressed  a  sus- 
picion that  Colonel  Hay  was  aiming,  by  the  steps  of  which 
I  complained,  to  get  me  removed  from  my  office,  with  a 
view  to  introduce  himself  into  the  department.  This  origi- 
nated in  the  manner  there  suggested ;  but  the  circumstances 
alluded  to,  which,  when  the  suspicion  was  raised,  and  while 
resentment  was  still  awake,  served  to  confirm  it,  I  see,  on  a 
review,  are  too  light  to  support  it.  This  suspicion,  there- 
fore, without  hesitation,  I  retract. 

"  As  divers  inhabitants  of  this  State  took  offence  at  my 
refusing  to  pay  for  the  West  Chester  forage,  and  (I  am 
sorry  to  hear)  that  refusal  is  still  viewed  in  such  a  light  by 
some  as  to  prejudice  my  interest  and  reputation,  I  beg  leave, 
on  this  occasion,  to  remark,  that  in  this  refusal  it  was  not 
possible  for  me  to  have  any  personal  views ;  nor  could  it  be 
imagined  that  I  would  knowingly  do  wrong,  at  the  hazard  of 
my  character,  to  save  the  value  of  that  forage  to  the  public ; 
yet  I  have  been  accused  of  intentional  injustice,  although  I 
acted  in  strict  conformity  to  the  opinion  of  the  Commander- 
in-Chief,  expressed  to  me  on  the  occasion.  This  I  publicly 
avowed  at  the  time.  But  I  have  since  accidentally  met  with 
other  evidence  of  it  than  my  own  declaration.  This  is 
contained  in  the  letter  of  General  Bdville,  Quartermaster- 
General  to  the  French  army,  of  which  I  request  permission 
to  enclose  a  copy.      This  letter  was  in  answer  to   mine 

VOL.  L  44 


346  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  [1789. 

requesting  returns  of  the  horses  and  cattle  of  the  French 
army,  while  they  lay  in  West  Chester  county,  to  be 
transmitted  to  General  Heath,  to  be  communicated  to  the 
arbitrators.* 

"  Under  this  view  of  the  affair,  I  persuade  myself  your 
Excellency  will  think  me  excusable  in  refusing  to  ac- 
knowledge the  United  States  debtor  to  the  owners  of  the 
soil  where  the  forage  in  question  was  taken.  Certificates 
to  ascertain  the  quantities  so  taken,  to  be  produced  in  proof 
of  their  claims,  if  the  latter  were  admitted  by  Congress,  I 
did  not  deny  them.  I  cannot,  therefore,  but  think  myself 
unfortunate  to  be  for  this  cause  an  object  of  displeasure  to 
any  individual  in  the  State. f 

*  The  letter  from  General  B^yille,  dated  Williamsburg,  April  dOth,  1782, 
says,  "  The  foraging  of  the  French  armj  about  the  camp  of  Fhillipsburg 
has  been  in  consequence  of  the  orders  of  Count  de  Rochambeau,  who  had  been 
told  by  his  Excellency,  General  Washington,  that  we  ought  to  consider  our- 
selves as  being  upon  an  enemy's  ground,  and  behave  accordingly,  because  the 
greatest  port  of  the  country  was  inhabited  by  disaffected  people,  and  the  former 
properties  of  the  friends  of  the  cause  were  by  tliat  time,  and  had  been  long 
ago,  entirely  forsaken.  Indeed,  the  forage  which  has  been  moved  was  noth- 
ing but  wild  grass,  and  would  have  remained  useless ;  no  value  could  be  fixed 
upon  it 

"  In  regard  to  the  dry  forage  already  collected  in  the  bams,  we  have  taken 
it,  sword  in  the  hand,  on  the  sea-shore,  down  upon  the  Sound,  and  almost  in 
sight  of  the  enemy,  because  we  knew  that  the  same  forage  was  engaged  to  be 
soon  after  delivered  to  the  enemy.  You  know,  Sir,  that  it  is  a  constant  rule 
in  war  not  to  pay  anything  for  the  forage  when  it  is  intended  for  the  enemy. 

**  However,  we  keep  good  registers,  and  are  able  to  produce  a  right  and  fiill 
account  of  our  consumption,  if  we  are  ordered  to  do  it  by  his  Excellency, 
General  Washington." 

t  At  a  later  period  letters  on  business  passed  between  Colonel  Hay  and 
Colonel  Pickering,  showing  that  neither  party  cherished  unkind  feelings  to- 
wards the  other.  Thus,  Colonel  Hay  writes,  on  the  12th  of  August,  1788, 
**  Accept  of  my  sincere  congratulations  on  your  return  to  your  family  from 
your  late  equally  extraordinary  as  unmerited  confinement,'*  and  believe  me  to 
be,  with  every  sentiment  of  respect,"  &c.  In  his  answer,  October  8th,  Colo- 
nel Pickering  says,  "  I  feel  myself  sensibly  obliged  by  your  congratulations," 
&c.  Again,  January  19th,  1792,  when  Colonel  Pickering  was  Postmaster- 
General,  Colonel  Hay  wrote,  **  Should  you  have  an  inclination  to  forward 
such  a  measure,  and  choose  to  enter  into  a  contract  with  me  [for  carrying  th« 


*  At  Wilkesbarr^,  In  Pennsylvania.    See  Vol.  II. 


JBt.  87.]  LIFE  OP  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  347 

"  The  former  part  of  this  letter  for  Colonel  Hay's  justifi- 
cation, and  the  latter  for  my  own,  your  Excellency  will 
please  to  communicate  as  you  shall  think  proper. 
"I  have  the  honor  to  be,"  &c., 

"  Timothy  Pickering,  Q.  M.  G." 

mail  from  Albanj  to  Canada],  H  is  probable  that  mj  terms  would  not  be 
deemed  extraTagant.  ...  I  have  the  honor  to  be,  with  real  sentiments  of 
respect  and  esteem,"  &c. 


348  MFB  OF  TIMOTHY  FICKEBING.  [17M. 


CHAPTER   XXIV. 

Difficulty  of  Communication  by  Letters  in  Contrast  with  Modem 
Facilities.  —  Arrangements  proposed  by  Colonel  Pickering  as 
Quartermaster-General.  —  His  Public  Spirit.  —  Other  Charac- 
teristics of  him.  —  Enmity  between  John  Adams  and  Thomas 
Jefferson,  and  their  Reconciliation.  —  Mr.  Jefferson  as  charac- 
terized by  Mr.  Adams.  —  Letter-Books  and  Papers  of  the 
Quartermaster's  Department.  —  Proposed  Resolutions  of  Con- 
gress respecting  that  Department.  —  Colonel  Pickering's  Objec- 
tions to  them.  —  Laboriousness  of  his  Office. 

The  facility  with  which  the  government  of  the 
United  States,  from  time  to  time  during  the  recent 
attempt  of  the  Southern  States  to  secede  from  the 
Union,  raised  enormous  sums  of  money,  presents  an 
extraordinary  contrast  to  the  financial  difficulties  under 
which  the  Congress  of  the  Confederation  (and,  in  con- 
sequence, the  Quartermaster-General)  were  obliged  to 
struggle.  An  illustrative  instance  of  those  difficulties 
is  exhibited  by  the  following  passage  in  a  letter  from 
him  to  General  Washington,  in  which  the  failure  of 
the  conveyance  of  letters  is  attributed  to  the  want 
of  the  small  amount  required  to  pay  express  riders.* 
The  emptiness  of  the  public  treasury  was  owing,  not 
so  much  to  the  poverty  of  the  country,  as  to  the  weak- 
ness of  Congress,  whose  powers  were  overshadowed 
by  the  ^  States'  Rights  "  of  the  period. 

*  See  also  pages  806,  807. 


Mt.  86.]  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  349 

"  Nbw  Wdtosob,  January  17th,  1782. 

''Colonel  Miles  has  informed  me  that  delays  have  hap- 
pened in  the  carriage  of  letters  from  Count  de  Roehambeau. 
The  most  probable  cause  is  the  want  of  money  to  support 
the  expresses.  Before  I  left  Virginia,  the  chain  was  fixed 
from  the  Bowling  Green  northward,  agreeably  to  your  or- 
ders ;  and,  fearing  the  want  of  money  might  occasion  failures, 
I  authorized  Major  Claiborne  to  apply  to  this  use  so  much  of 
the  money  arising  from  the  sale  of  the  stores  at  Yorktown 
as  should  bo  necessary.  He  was  to  sell  such  only  as  were 
not  necessary  for  the  public  service.  Mr.  Yeates  [Deputy 
Quaitermaster  for  Maryland]  informs  me,  that  the  want  of 
money  for  the  riders  renders  it  extremely  difficult  for  him 
to  forward  letters  through  his  district.** 

In  the  beginning  of  February,  1782,  Colonel  Pick- 
ering went  to  Philadelphia  for  the  purpose  of  making 
the  arrangements  necessary  in  his  department  for  the 
ensuing  campaign,  expecting  to  stay  a  few  weeks  only ; 
but,  in  consequence  of  the  inability  of  Mr.  Morris,  the 
Superintendent  of  Finance,  to  furnish  him  with  the 
money  required  for  the  public  service,  he  was  obliged 
to  remain  there  several  months. 

In  letters  of  the  8th,*  15th,  and  16th  of  February, 
to  the  Commander-in-Chief,  he  states  that  a  general 
return  in  his  department  is  forming,  which,  from  the 
multiplicity  of  articles,  will  be  voluminous,  and  that  he 
will,  as  soon  as  possible,  complete  it  and  lay  it  before 
his  Excellency.  In  the  mean  time,  he  submits  to  his 
consideration  some  things  on  which  an  early  decision 
seemed  requisite. 

In  some  of  his  suggestions  he  had  regard  to  economy 
in  the  expenditure  of  the  public  money.  Thus,  in 
concurrence  with  the  opinion  of  General  Lincoln,  the 

*  See  Sparks's  **  Correspondence  of  the  Revolution/'  Vol.  III.  p.  477. 


350  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHT  FICKEBINO.  [1789. 

Secretary  of  War,  he  was  in  favor  of  purchasing  the 
ox-teams  required  for  the  ensuing  campaign,  in  prefer- 
ence to  hiring  them;  as  he  found,  on  making  an  estimate, 
that  the  first  mode  would  be  attended  with  much  less 
expense.  Again,  the  number  of  horses  with  the  army, 
he  said,  was  so  small,  compared  with  the  number  when 
the  horse-yard  was  established,  that  the  care  of  the 
yard  might  be  committed  to  the  Wagon-master-General. 
It  was  then  under  the  charge  of  a  separate  officer, 
called  the  Superintendent  of  the  Horse-yard.  Fur- 
ther, it  had  been  customary  to  have  a  Superintendent 
of  the  Roads,  to  direct  the  necessary  repairs ;  but  he 
said  the  good  condition  of  the  roads  particularly  con- 
cerned the  Wagon-master-General,  and  to  him  the 
direction  of  the  repairs  might  be  left.  The  Wagon- 
master-General,  he  thought,  would  be  able  to  perform 
these  two  services  without  difficulty.  On  the  other 
hand,  although  he  confessed  it  was  ^^an  ungracious  time 
to  propose  measures  that  would  increase  the  public 
expenses,"  nevertheless,  he  thought  it  reasonable,  and 
accordingly  proposed,  that  additions  should  be  made 
to  the  salaries  and  to  the  number  of  rations  of  some 
of  the  officers  in  his  department.  In  general,  his  sug- 
gestions met  with  the  approval  of  the  Commander-in- 
Chief 

A  letter  to  Mrs.  Pickering,  dated  at  Philadelphia,  Feb- 
ruary 19th,  1782,  manifests  a  readiness  to  incommode 
himself  rather  than  urge  his  just  claims  against  an 
impoverished  public  treasury.  Having  mentioned  that 
he  had  drawn  upon  his  brother  for  a  hundred  dollars, 
and  upon  his  brother-in-law  Mr.  Williams  for  four  hun- 
dred, he  adds: — 

^  I  have  desired  some  land  may  be  sold,  if  this  draught 
proved  inconveuieut  to  Mr.  Williams.    I  chose  to  make 


-Bt.  36.]  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKEBING.  351 

this    draught  rather  than   heg  even  my   dues   from  the 
public." 

In  the  same  letter  he  expresses  his  opinion  of  a 
fashion  which  was  satirized  by  Addison  early  in  the 
last  century,  and,  after  one  or  more  intermediate  revi- 
vals, has  lately  been  resuscitated. 

"  There  is  here  a  Mrs.  Lloyd,  an  English  lady,  celebrated 
for  her  beauty:  she  almost  engrosses  the  conversation  of 
the  town.  .  .  .  She  is  introducing,  I  am  told,  the  odious 
fashion  of  hoops.  The  emulation  of  all  classes  here  (Friends 
excepted)  to  imitate  the  extravagance  of  the  prevailing  fash- 
ions will  bring  many  a  family  to  distress,  if  not  to  ruin.  I 
am  happy  that  this  circumstance  is  of  so  little  consequence 
to  me  personally,  and  that  you  possess  a  prudence  and  dis- 
cretion so  perfectly  accommodated  to  my  situation. 

'<  I  was  never  more  impatient  to  see  you  and  our  sweet 
boys.  I  have  yet  much  to  do ;  enough,  I  fear,  to  keep  me 
here  yet  three  weeks.  General  Washington  is  going  to 
Newburgh  as  soon  as  his  arrangements  here  are  made ;  per- 
haps in  four  weeks." 

He  wrote  to  Mrs.  Pickering  again  on  the  21st:  — 

"Of  my  private  money,  received  for  my  bills  on  Mr. 
Williams  and  my  brother,  I  have  advanced  upwards  of  a 
hundred  dollars  on  public  account ;  if,  therefore,  you  should 
need  any  money  before  my  return,  ask  Mr.  Anspach  to  sup- 
ply you." 

On  the  24th,  however,  he  sent  her  forty  crowns,  that 
she  might  ^*  not  have  occasion  to  ask  any  money  from 
Mr.  Anspach." 

On  the  8th  of  April,  the  anniversary  of  his  marriage, 
he  gave  utterance  to  his  feelings  in  the  following  letter 
to  his  wife :  — 


352  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  FICKEBINO.  [1783. 

"  Hail,  happy  day  I  May  the  sun  ever  shine  upon  thee, 
with  rays  equally  bright  and  benign  I  On  this  auspicious 
day,  my  dear  Becky,  we  joined  our  hands  I  On  this  day, 
as  the  years  revolve,  let  us  ever  join  our  hearts  in  grate- 
ful praise  to  that  kind  Providence,  which,  by  a  variety  of 
unlooked-for  events,  effected  our  union  I  How  much  hap- 
piness has  already  resulted  from  it !  How  much  more  do 
we  pleasingly  anticipate  I  Even  those  untoward  circum- 
stances, which,  for  the  moment,  occasioned  an  interruption 
of  it,  —  the  war  especialh%  which  has  so  often,  and  for  so 
long  periods,  put  us  asunder,  —  will  ultimately  heighten 
our  eujoj'ments.  We  shall  better  know  the  value  of  domes- 
tic sweets.  Domestic  joys  apart,  the  world  has  no  allure- 
ments. Possessing  them,  with  health,  the  world  cannot 
destroy  our  peace." 

To  the  minds  of  many  of  his  contemporaries,  Colonel 
Pickering  presented  himself  only  in  the  character  of 
forbidding  sternness ;  and  the  idea  was  countenanced 
by  the  general  earnestness,  and  occasionally  the  vehe- 
mence, of  his  expressions,  as  well  in  his  speeches  and 
writings  as  in  conversation,  against  political  or  other 
abuses  and  the  authors  of  them.  But  many  of  his 
letters  (some  of  them  already  quoted)  show  that  his 
disposition  was  marked  by  habitual  benevolence  and  a 
ready  sympathy.  The  following  passages  in  two  letters 
to  his  wife  are  inserted  as  evidence  of  the  tenderness  of 
his  nature ;  the  rather,  as  they  relate  to  his  son  John 
Pickering,  afterwards  well  known  as  an  American 
scholar.  In  the  first  letter  are  some  just  observa- 
tions respecting  the  manner  of  treating  children. 

<*  Philadelphia,  April  15th,  1782. 

"  I  spent  yesterday  (Sunday)  at  the  Falls  [of  Schuylkill]. 
I  took  John*  with  me.     General  Mifflin  and  Mrs.  Mifflin 

*  Then  fiye  years  old. 


iBT.86.]  LIFE  OE  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  353 

returned  from  Beading  before  night,  which  gave  an  oppor- 
tunity of  their  seeing  John.  He  pretty  readily  accepted 
the  General's  hand,  but  I  could  not  persuade  him  to  go  to 
Mrs.  Mifflin.  He  is  too  much  abashed  before  all  strangers ; 
yet,  in  such  cases,  he  seems  to  show  more  of  a  sturdy,  un« 
complying  disposition  than  of  shame  [diffidence] .  In  such 
cases,  most  people  are  apt  to  be  importunate  in  their  ques- 
tions and  entreaties  addressed  to  him ;  which  only  makes 
the  matter  worse.  Besides,  not  one  in  fifty  uses  the  soft, 
alluring  tone  of  fond  affection:  they  do  not  feel  it;  and 
this  is  not  strange.  Even  those  who  have  children  find 
their  affections  generally  confined  to  their  own  offspring; 
or,  if  they  look  on  others  with  any  degree  of  delight,  such 
children  must  possess  some  extraordinary  qualities  of  coun- 
tenance and  dispQsition.  Parents  are,  I  believe,  too  apt 
to  expect  a  like  earnest  and  fond  attention  from  others, 
towards  theif  children,  as  they  feel  themselves.  I  have 
taken  some  pains  to  reason  myself  into  a  contrary  opinion 
and  conduct,  as  this  is  to  think  justly,  and  is  the  way  to 
prevent  frequent  mortifications.  .  .  .  Early  last  evening, 
John  said  he  wanted  to  go  home,  —  that  is,  to  Nancy,  at  our 
house ;  and,  being  urgent,  I  indulged  him,  going  with  him 
myself.  But  yet  I  could  not  persuade  him  to  stay  without 
me.  The  moment  he  discovered  that  I  was  going  to  lodge 
at  the  General's,  he  insisted  on  going  over  with  me ;  and  I 
was  obliged  (*Ah,  papa!'  you  will  cry)  to  gratify  him. 
Before  sunrise  I  rose  and  left  him.  He  awaked  before  I 
returned,  got  up,  dressed  himself,  and,  running  into  the 
other  room,  asked  eagerly,  *  Where  is  my  papa?'  He 
waited,  however,  with  tolerable  patience,  till  I  returned. 
To  wean  him  a  little  from  this  attachment  to  me,  I  thought 
it  best  to  leave  him  to-day  with  Nancy ;  but  it  grieved  me 
to  slip  away  from  him,  though  he  had  before  half  consented 
to  stay,  on  my  telling  him  I'  would  come  up  again  to- 
morrow. Always  when  I  have  been  alone  with  him,  he 
asked  questions  and  conversed  with  an  air  and  countenance 
so  sweet,  he  won  greatly  on  my  affections." 
VOL.  L  '45 


354  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  [1782. 

\  «*  Philadelphia,  April  29th,  1782. 

"  This  day,  at  farthest,  I  had  fixed  for  my  departure ;  but 
Mr.  Morris  is  not  ready  for  me,  and  desires  me  to  stay  still 
longer,  without  determining  the  day  when  he  can  let  me  go. 
I  hope,  however,  he  will  ascertain  this  in  two  or  three  days. 
I  am  extremely  uneasy  at  this  detention. 

"  I  was  yesterday  (Sunday)  at  Mr.  Peters's.  They  have 
moved  to  Belmont.  ...  I  took  John  with  me.  After 
dinner  I  crossed  over  to  the  Falls,  and  should  have  re- 
turned to  town  in  the  evening,  if  John  would  have  parted 
with  me ;  but  he  cried  so  piteously  I  could  not  leave  him ; 
and  he  was  so  jealous  of  my  giving  bim  the  slip,  that  when 
I  proposed  going  over  only  to  General  Mifflin's,  he  said  I 
meant  to  go  to  town ;  and  I  could  not  pacify  him  until  I 
pulled  out  my  watch  and  left  it  in  pledge  for  my  return. 
This  morning  I  brought  him  with  me  to  the  city." 

The    late   John   Lowell,   Esquire,    in   a   letter   to 
John    Pickering,    dated    *^Roxbury,    November    8th, 
"^823,"   says:  — 

"I  send  you  an  interesting  letter  from  your  fiither  to 
Congress  in  1782,  a  copy  of  which  he  sent  to  mine^  probably 
because  he  was  at  that  time  in  Congress  and  your  father 
wished  his  support  in  a  most  just  and  honorable  claim.  It 
shows  that,  forty-one  years  since,  your  father  had  the  same 
perspicuity  of  style,  frankness,  disinterestedness,  public 
spirit,  and  self-devotion  which  have  marked  his  wliole  life. 
...  I  think  extracts  from  it  might  be  very  properly  and  ad- 
vantageously used ;  and  surely,  when  Adams  and  Jefferson, 
two  originally  bitter  enemies  (or  their  friends,  I  know  not 
who)  combine  to  blast  his  fame,  and  that  of  my  father,  it 
is  time  to  vindicate  both ;  not  by  paragraphs  in  newspapers, 
but  by  authentic  facts  in  an  historical  form^  which  will  for 
ever  put  at  rest  all  doubts  about  their  public  services,  and 
place  where  they  ought  to  be  their  accusers. 

...  "  When  I  speak  of  Jefferson's  combining  with  Mr. 
Adams,  I  refer  to  a  lato  letter  from  Jefferson  to  Adams,  in 


iET.  36.]  LITE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  355 

which  he  tells  him  he  does  not  think  the  worse  of  him  for 
the  honnble  abuse  of  himself  in  the  Cunningham  Letters,  and 
proceeds  to  frost  over  his  old  enemy  with  the  whitest  loaf- 
sugar,  interspersed  with  cornucopias  and  sugar-phims.* 

"Just  before  Mr.  Adams  wore  ship  to  follow  in  the  wake 
of  his  son,  who  had  just  gone  in  stays, f  he  said  in  my 
presence,  with  great  emotion,  'Jefferson  is  the  deepest 
dissembler  and  most  artful  hypocrite  I  ever  knew '  —  and  no 
man  knew  him  better.     Forgiveness  is  an  ennobling  virtue. 

"  I  have  this  moment  had  JeflFerson's  letter  to  Adams  read 
to  me  by  one  of  his  [Adams's]  relatives,  who  was  ordered 
never  to  let  a  copy  of  it  go  from  him  or  from  his  family.  It 
is,  in  truth,  a  queer  document.  I  refused  to  hear  ity  because 
I  would  not  be  intrusted  with  a  secret.  I  refused  again ; 
but  it  was  insisted  upon  that  I  should,  and  I  submitted. 
It  is  nothing  but  that  mutual  enemies  exasperated  them 
against  each  other  improperly,  and  they  had  now  kissed  and 
made  up." 

A  memorandum  by  Colonel  Pickering,  dated  the  10th 
of  November,  1823,  concerning  those  papers,  says:  — 

"  In  a  letter  .  .' .  from  John  Lowell,  ilsquire,  to  my  son, 
John  Pickeriug^j^s  the  following  statement  [two  letters]  in 
my  handwritiu^Pmne  at  Philadelphia  in  April,  1782,  during 
our  Revolutionary  war.  I  copy  it  now,  because  my  letter- 
books  and  papers  relating  to  the  Quartermaster's  department 
are  not  to  be  found.  When,  in  1787,  I  moved  with  my 
family  from  Philadelphia  to  Wyoming,  I  left  in  a  chest  or 
chests,  or  trunks,  all  those  books  and  papers  in  the  office 
of  the  Commissary  of  Military  Stores,  then  kept  at  Carpen- 
ter's Hall,  —  Samuel  Hodgdon  the  Commissary.  J 

♦  See  "  Correspondence  between  the  Hon.  John  Adams  .  .  .  and  the  late 
William  Cunningham,  Esq."  Boston,  1823,  pp.  10,  131,  145,  197 ;  also,  an 
extract  from  Mr.  Jefferson's  letter  in  *■  The  Life  of  Thomas  Jefferson,'  by  Ran- 
daU,  Vol.  III.  p.  493. 

t  This  LB  an  allusion  to  the  conduct  of  John  Quincy  Adams  and  his  father 
in  joining  the  Democratic  party  during  the  presidency  of  Jeffisrson,  on  the 
occasion  of  laying  an  embargo. 
*    X  ^^  seems  not  improbable  that  they  were  afterwards  deposited  in  the  office 


356  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERINO.  [1783. 

^The  statement  was  found  by  Mr.  Lowell  among  his 
father's  papers ;  and  to  his  father,  then  a  member  of  Con- 
gress, I  must  haye  sent  it,  that  he  might  be  fully  acquainted 
with  the  subject,  and  prepared  to  advocate  the  claims  or 
support  the  objections  I  presented  to  the  committee  of 
Congress,  so  far  as  he  should  deem  them  well  founded,  when 
the  report  of  that  committee  should  be  discussed." 

It  appears  that  a  report  of  the  committee,  consisting 
of  Messrs.  Cornell,  Scott,  and  Dickinson,  was  referred  to 
the  Secretary  of  War,  and  that,  on  his  report^  Congress 
passed  a  resolution,  April  23d,  that  supernumerary  lieu- 
tenants who  should  accept  employments  in  the  staff 
departments,  should  be  entitled  to  the  pay  and  sub- 
sistence belonging  to  their  rank  in  the  line,  as  a  com- 
pensation for  their  services  in  the  staflj  without  any 
other  allowance  whatsoever.* 

The  same  committee  prepared  another  report,  as 
follows :  — 

*^  The  committee  appointed  to  arrange  the  ofBcers  in  the 
staff  departments  of  the  army,  and  to  fix  their  pay,  on  con- 
ference with  the  Secretary  at  War,  beg  leave  to  submit  the 
following  resolutions :  — 

"  Resolved,  That  all  resolutions  passed  before  the  22d  day 
of  April,  1782,  so  far  as  they  respect  the  several  grades, 
pay,  and  allowances  [of  officers]  in  the  Quartermaster- 
General's  department,  serving  with  the  armies  of  the  United 
States,  be,  and  they  are,  hereby  repealed. 

"  That  there  be  one  Quartermaster-General  to  the  armies 
of  the  United  States,  who  shall  be  appointed  by  Congress, 

of  the  Secretary  of  War,  and  were  consumed  when  that  building  was  burned 
down  in  1800.  If  not  destroyed,  it  is  remarkable  that  the  ardor  of  historical 
research  respecting  the  Revolution  has  not  brought  them  to  light.  Some 
books  and  papers  relating  to  the  accounts  of  Colonel  Pickering,  as  Quarter- 
master-General, have  come  into  my  hands  since  his  death ;  but  yery  few  of 
these  have  an  historical  value. 
^  Journals  of  Congress,  Vol.  VII.  p.  358. 


4 


Mt.  36.]  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  357 

and  receive  the  same  pay  as  a  major-geaeral,  and  his  other 
allowances  shall  be  the  same  as  those  of  a  brigadier. 

"That  the  Quartermaster-General  appoint  the  following 
officers  in  his  department,  who  shall  do  such  duties  in  the 
department  as  he  shall  direct ;  to  be  taken  from  the  line  of 
the  army. 

"  That  there  be  one  deputy  quartermaster  to  the  South- 
ern army,  who  shall  receive  the  pay  of  a  brigadier-general, 
including  his  pay  as  an  officer  in  the  line  of  the  army,  and 
also  the  rations  and  subsistence  allowed  by  the  resolutions 
of  the  22d  of  April,  1782,  which  shall  include  what  he  is 
entitled  to  in  the  line  of  the  army,  and  forage  for  three 
horses. 

"That  there  be  one  deputy  quartermaster  to  the  main 
army  from  the  line  of  field  officers,  who  shall  receive  fifteen 
dollars  per  month  in  addition  to  his  pay  in  the  line,  and 
as.  many  assistant-quartermasters  to  the  main  and  separate 
armies  as  he  may  think  necessary  and  the  Secretary  at  War 
approve  of,  to  be  taken  from  the  lieutenants  of  the  army, 
agreeably  to  the  resolution  of  the  23d  of  April,  1782,  who 
shall  each  be  allowed  forao^e  for  one  horse. 

"  That  there  be  two  wao^on-masters  for  the  main  and  South- 
ern  army,  who  shall  not  be  below  the  rank  of  captain,  and 
be  allowed,  in  addition  to  their  pay  in  the  line  of  the  army, 
each  fifteen  dollars  per  month,  and  forage  for  two  horses, 
including  what  they  are  allowed  in  the  line. 

"That  there  be  two  forage-masters  for  the  main  and  South- 
ern army,  to  be  taken  from  the  line  of  the  army  in  the  same 
manner,  each*  of  whom  shall  be  entitled  to  the  same  allow- 
ances as  the  wagon-master. 

"  Resolved,  That  Colonel  Timothy  Pickering  be,  and  he 
is,  continued  Quartermaster-General." 

In  regard  to  these  resolutions,  Colonel  Pickering 
addressed  to  the  committee  the  two  following  letters, 
being  the  "  statement "  furnished  by  Mr.  Lowell :  — 


358  LIFE  OP  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  [1782. 

*  "Philadelphia,  April  27th,  1782. 

"  Gentlemen, 

"  You  were  yesterday  pleased  to  put  into  my  hands  your 
proposed  arrangement  relative  4:o  my  department.  I  have 
read  it  with  attention;  and,  after  the  fullest  consideration 
of  it,  if  I  give  my  opinion,  I  must  pronounce  it  imprac- 
ticable :  — 

"  Because  no  gentlemen  of  the  line  will  undertake  some 
of  the  most  important  and  burdensome  ofBces  for  the  trifling 
additional  pay  to  be  allowed  them ;  — 

"  Because  among  the  deranged  lieutenants  suitable  char- 
acter to  perform  many  duties  of  assistants  in  my  department 
may  probably  not  be  found ;  in  which  case  recourse  must  be 
had  to  the  line ;  — 

**  Because,  the  duties  of  captains  and  subalterns  in  the 
line  being  light  and  easy,  and  not  employing  a  fourth,  part 
of  their  time,  they  will  not  quit  those  stations  (which  at 
the  same  time  are  posts  of  military  honor)  and  submit  to 
the  constant  drudgery  of  business  in  my  department  for 
nothing ;  — 

"  Because  there  are  some  duties  in  the  department  which 
commissioned  officers  will  think  it  derogatory  to  their  char- 
acters to  |)erform ;  — 

"Because  it  will  compel  the  dismission  of  some  staflf 
officers  who  have  served  as  long,  and  with  as  much  merit, 
as  any  of  the  deranged  lieutenants,  and  whose  experience 
also  in  their  offices  clearly  entitles  them  to  a  preference  for 
the  public  good  ;  —  and 

"Because,  by  the  rules  prescribed  by  the  committee, 
officers  who  were  deranged  in  1780,  by  virtue  of  the  resolves 
of  October  3d  and  21st,  but  accepted  offices  in  my  departs 
ment,  must  now  be  dismissed ;  while,  by  the  same  rules, 
provitiion  is  to  be  made  for  officers  at  this  time  demnged  in 
the  manner  directed  by  the  same  resolves ;  which,  doubt- 
less, will  be  deemed  an  unjust  distinction. 
"  1  have  the  honor  to  be,"  &c. 

"  Timothy  Pickebing,  Q.  M.  (?•'* 


Mt.  36.]  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  FICEEBINQ.  359 

To  the  same  committee  he  wrote  again :  — 

<'Fhiladelphia,  April  ^Stb,  1782. 

"  Gentlemen, 

"  111  stating  my  objections  to  the  arrangements  you  have 
proposed  respecting  my  department,  I  passed  over  unnoticed 
the  proposition  relating  to  myself,  for  I  did  not  observe  that 
it  would  produce  an  alteration  of  the  appointments  originally 
granted  to  me ;  but  it  seems  I  was  mistaken,  and  that  by 
the  expression  <  his  other  allowances  shall  be  those  of  a  brig- 
adier,' the  committee  meant  to  comprehend  only  provisions 
and  forage.  But  to  this  alteration  I  have  abundant  reason 
to  object. 

"  If  the  committee  will  recur  to  the  Journals  of  Congress 
of  the  5th  of  August,  1780,  they  will  find  the  following 
resolves.*     .  .  . 

"These  resolutions,  I  conceive,  show  sufficient  cause  why 
my  original  appointments  should  not  be  changed ;  and  the 
committee  will  probably  think  it  unnecessary  for  me  to  offer 
any  other  reasons.  Nevertheless,  I  would  not  rest  myself 
on  these  resolves,  but  willingly  relinquish  a  part  of  my  pay, 
if  it  appeared  to  me  at  all  disproportioned  to  the  importance, 
the  duties,  and  the  responsibility  of  the  office.  For  my 
views  were  never  mercenary.  I  never  wished  to  make  a 
fortune  in  a  public  office.  That  I  now  hold  was  given  me 
unsolicited,  and  accepted  with  reluctance ;  for  the  crisis  was 
too  important,  the  emergency  too  extraordinary,  the  em- 
barrassments arising  from  the  public  poverty  too  distressing, 
to  render  the  office  desirable.  If  a  knowledge  of  the. per- 
plexities of  Congress  on  that  occasion,  if  honor  or  profit^  if 
any  private  views  whatever,  had  influenced  me,  I  might  have 
made  conditions,  and  obtained  terms  much  more  advan- 
tageous.' But  I  felt  no  such  disposition.  I  wished  not  to 
embarrass,  but  to  relieve,  and  therefore  accepted  the  office 
with  such  appointments  as  Congress  voluntarily  granted  me. 

The  committee  have  proposed  that  my  pay  should  be  the 

• 

*  Quoted  before.    See  pager  251. 


360  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  [1782. 

same  as  a  major-generars ;  but  I  have  too  little  vanity,  or 
too  much  pride,  to  feel  the  least  elevation  on  the  comparison ; 
nor  do  I  know  why  his  pay  should  be  the  measure  of  mine, 
when  the  two  offices  bear  so  slight  a  resemblance.  His  is  a 
life  of  ease  and  pleasure ;  mine,  of  uninterrupted  anxiety  and 
toil.  For  half  the  year  a  major-general  may  be  on  furlough, 
and  of  the  other  half  he  may  spend  three  fourths  in  his 
private  amusements,  or  the  enjoyment  of  his  friends :  but 
with  my  office  such  indulgences  are  impracticable;  not  a 
day  passes  in  which  I  am  free  from  public  business  or  pub- 
lic cares.  Though  I  make  no  pretensions  to  military  skill, 
yet  I  am  sufficiently  informed  of  the  cotnmon  duty  of  a 
general  officer  to  know  that  it  is  extremely  light  and  easy. 
He  may,  indeed,  be  exposed  to  danger  in  battle,  —  perhaps 
once  in  a  year ;  and,  if  he  possesses  extraordinary  talents, 
having  a  command,  he  will  then  exhibit  them,  and  be 
rewarded  with  glory.  But  I  am  not  exempted  from  danger. 
In  a  general  action  I  must  follow  the  Commander-in-Chief, 
and  be  exposed  to  every  hazard  that  attends  his  person  or 
the  delivery  of  his  orders. 

"  In  regard  to  the  persons  necessary  to  be  employed  under 
me,  I  desire  nothing  more  than  will  induce  proper  charac- 
ters to  engage  in  the  public  service.  I  have  no  attachments 
to  any  now  in  office  beyond  what  their  conduct  in  office  has 
produced.  Among  them  all,  one  only  was  known  to  me 
previous  to  my  appointment.  Where  a  regard  to  justice 
and  the  public  good  do  not  require  their  continuance,  I  shall 
very  cheerfully  endeavor  to  supply  their  places  with  gentle- 
men'from  the  line,  that,  as  far  as  possible,  the  expenses  of 
the  department  may  be  reduced ;  and  whatever  arrangements 
Congress  shall  adopt  I  will  diligently  strive  to  carry  into 
execution ;  only,  if  by  blending  of  characters,  or  too  rigid 
an  economy,  .some  necessary  offices  become  vacant,  —  for 
any  failure  in  conseqtience  thereof  I  shall  not  be  deemed 
responsible." 


Mt.  86.]  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  361 

It  does  not  appear  by  the  Journals  of  Congress  that 
the  report  commented  on  in  these  letters  was  ^ever 
laid  before  that  body.  The  committee  may  have  been 
satisfied  with  Colonel  Pickering's  reasoning,  and  so 
have  concluded  to  let  the  matter  drop.  An  attempt 
had  been  made  before,  in  March,  by  two  members  from 
New  Jersey,  to  reduce  his  compensation  to  the  pay  and 
allowance  of  a  major-general ;  but  their  motion  was  set 
aside  by  the  previous  question,  all  but  one  of  the  other 
members  voting  against  them.* 

*  Colonel  Pickering's  original  pay,  independent  of  rations  and  forage,  was 
thirty-four  hundred  and  ninety-two  dollars  per  annum ;  the  pay  of  a  majors 
general,  nineteen  hundred  and  ninety-two  dollars.  By  resolutions  of  Congress 
of  the  23d  and  29th  of  October  and  the  8d  of  December,  1782,  the  pay  of  the 
Quartermaster-General  was  established  at  two  thousand  dollars  per  annum, 
and  the  value  of  his  rations  at  seven  hundred  and  twenty  dollars,  from  and 
after  the  Ist  of  January,  1783. 

VOL.  I.  46 


862  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKEBING.  [1788. 


CHAPTER   XXV. 

Return  of  Mrs.  Higginson,  a  Refugee,  to  Salem.  —  Intolerance 
manifested  against  her.  —  Correspondence  between  Dr.  Joseph 
Ome  and  Colonel  Pickering.  —  Colonel  Pickering  purposes 
buying  and  cultivating  Wild  Land  in  Vermont. 

Colonel  Pickering's  friend,  Mrs.  Higginson,  having 
become  impatient  of  her  exile  in  Halifax^  returned  to 
Salem  before  the  contest  with  the  mother  country  was 
ended.^  Finding  that  the  animosity  against  her  still 
existed,  and  apprehending  persecution  from  some  of 
her  townsmen,  she  wrote  a  letter  to  Colonel  Pickering, 
dated  at  Beverly,  May  28th,  1782,  asking  for  advice 
and  assistance  from  him  and  Mr.  John  Lowell,  then  a 
member  of  Congress.    She  says :  — 

<<  My  desire  to  return  to  my  native  land  has  been  uniform ; 
and,  as  I  advanced  in  life,  I  have  thought  it  every  year  more 
necessary,  as  I  could  not  think  of  leaving  one  that  I  ought 
to  provide  for,  destitute,  dependent,  and  absent  from  her 
connections,  in  case  I  should  be  taken  away.  This,  joined 
with  your  desire,  and  the  repeated  desire  of  many  of  my 
friends  here,  and  the  ardent  inclination  Hetty  had  to  revisit 
and  fix  here,  brought  me  last  fall  to  a  determination  to  take 
the  first  opportunity  to  return ;  which  I  should  have  done 
then,  but  the.  only  cartel  after  that  was  so  crowded  that  I 
could  not  eflTect  my  purpose.  My  friend  and  father,t  ^^' 
Prince,  this  spring  got  permission  from  Sir  Andrew  Snape 
Hammond  for  the  schooner  Patty  to  become  a  cartel ;  and, 
after  every  legal  step  was  properly  attended  to^  and  the 
strictest  attention  paid  that  nothing  that  could  possibly  give 

*  See  page  83.  t  FigoratiTely. 


JEt.  86.]  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  363 

offence  should  happen,  I  embarked,  and,  after  a  passage 
of  four  days,  arrived  in  Salem  harbor,  where  I  desired  the 
captain  to  hail  a  boat,  and  sent  on  shore  for  leave  from  the 
Selectmen  to  land,  with  my  daughter,  which  was  immedi- 
ately granted ;  and  I  was  met  on  the  wharf  by  numbers  who 
gave  me  a  hearty  welcome,  and  the  next  day  I  had  leave 
to  land  my  baggage.  .  .  .  Thus  far  I  was  happy;  but, 
the  next  day,  one  or  two  (for  there  were  no  more)  made 
it  their  business  to  stir  up  some,  and  a  certain  Doctor  of 
Divinity  *  was  doing  all  in  his  power  that  I  might  be  sent 
back.  My  friends  thought  it  best  I  should  go  to  Boston, 
and  be  in  the  way,  in  case  I  should  be  called  on  by  author- 
ity. There,  also,  I  had  friends,  and  waited  from  Wednes- 
day to  Saturday  without*  being  notified  to  appear.  On  my 
return  to  Salem,  I  found  that  my  being  there  was  disagree- 
able ;  and  my  friends  and  relations  in  Beverly  had  been  to 
see  me  while  I  was  at  Boston,  and  invited  me  to  see  them. 
On  Sunday  morning  I  went  there.  When  I  left  Halifiix  it 
was  judged  we  were  on  the  eve  of  a  peace,  and  I  knew  not 
of  a  law  that  would  operate  against  me,  but  hoped  to  find 
you  and  Mr.  Lowell  in  the  Massachusetts,  whose  friendship 
I  depended  on,  and  whose  advice  and  assistance  would  have 
been  a  support  and  comfort  to  me.  I  came  to  stay,  and  am 
too  far  advanced  in  life  to  take  an  unnecessary  voyage,  if  I 
can  avoid  it  without  creating  a  disturbance  in  the  State.  .  .  . 
I  would  write  Mr.  Lowell,  but  it  would  be  only  copying 
this ;  for  I  have  endeavored  to  state  my  case  as  exactly  as 
my  fatigued  situation  will  permit  me,  and  hope  my  towns- 
men will  not  hurry  me  to  depart  out  of  this  State  till  I  can 
hear  from  you,  which  I  hope  will  be  by  the  return  of  the 
post." 

Colonel  Pickering  replied :  — 

"  Philadelphia,  June  19th,  1782. 

"  I  was  happy  to  hear  of  your  arrival,  which  the  news- 
papers first  announced  to  me^  though  you  were  not  named ; 

•  The  Key.  Dr.  Whitaker. 


364  LIFE  OP  TIMOTHT  PICKERING.  [1782. 

and  more  happy  to  know  it  of  a  certainty  by  the  receipt  of 
your  letter,  little  suspecting  the  embarrassments  you  recite 
in  the  last  part  of  it. 

<<  I  have  been  so  long  absent  from  Massachusetts  (three 
years  and  a  half) ,  I  know  very  little  about  its  affairs ;  but 
Mr.  Lowell  gave  me  a  very  sensible  relief,  when  he  informed 
me  of  divers  cases,  clearly  much  more  exceptionable,  in  the 
view  of  the  law,  than  yours,  where  nevertheless  the  parties 
have  been  suffered  to  return  and  remain  unmolested.  From 
his  account  of  the  matter,  I  persuade  myself  you  will  meet 
with  very  little  trouble,  except  from  such  worthless  charac- 
ters as  a  certain [Doctor  of  Divinity] , 

who,  conscious  of  their  infamy,  greedily  seize  every  op- 
portunity of  acquiring  some  little  popularity,  therewith  to 
varnish  over  their  crimes  and  cover  their  reproach.  But 
the  efforts  of  such  wretches  will  be  fruitless  against  the 
powerful  support  of  such  numbers  of  gentlemen  of  the 
first  character  and  influence  in  Massachusetts  who  are  your 

friends ;  and,  if  the  virulence  of  that (call  him  by 

the  name  he  merits)  should  urge  him  to  push  every  legcd 
advantage,  I  should  even  hope  an  exception  might  be  ob- 
tained in  your  favor  by  a  special  Act  of  the  Assembly. 

"  Mr.  Lowell  has  promised  to  write  to  divers  of  his  friends 
on  the  subject,  and  to  enumerate  the  various  cases  that  have 
occurred  within  his  recollection,  to  be  advanced  as  prece- 
dents against  your  persecutors. 

"  I  should  be  singularly  happy  to  see  you  and  Hetty,  but 
I  much  doubt  whether  I  shall  be  able  to  visit  Massachusetts 
till  the  war  is  over.  I  beg  you  and  her  to  accept  my  kindest 
wishes  for  your  peace  and  welfare.     .  .  • 

"  P.  S.  Mr.  Lowell  observed  that  it  would  be  best  not 
to  throw  yourself  in  the  way  of  inquiries,  or  seek  any  for- 
mal admittance,  but  to  be  quiet  and  silent." 

One  of  Colonel  Pickering's  early  and  intimate 
friends,  and  by  marriage  a  nephew,  was  Dr.  Joseph 
Ome,  a  skilful  physician   and  a  man  of  geniua    A 


Mt.  86.]  UFB  OP  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  865 

few  letters  passed  between  them  during  the  Revohi- 
tion.  In  one,  dated  at  Salem,  June,  1782,  Dr.  Ome 
writes :  — 

"  Dear  Sir, 

^  I  won't  preteud  that  any  of  my  letters  have  miscarried, 
which,  you  know,  is  a  very  common  apology  for  negligence ; 
for,  in  truth,  I  own  I  have  not  written  to  you  these  two 
years.  I  have  observed  that  letter- writing  is  always  taken 
up  by  idle  people  for  amusement,  or  by  busy  people  as 
business.  As  we  grow  old,  and  our  domestic  or  secular 
concerns  impress  our  attention,  we  give  less  to  our  friends, 
that  we  may  have  the  more  to  ourselves ;  and  no  juvenile 
amusement  whatever  is  so  generally  and  so  certainly  laid 
aside,  as  writing  letters  of  friendship  and  acquaintance. 

"  But,  if  I  neglect  any,  I  have  not  forgotten  all  my  friends. 
I  never  recollect  the  many  interesting  and  agreeable  hours 
you  and  I  have  enjoyed  together,  but  with  a  strange  mixture 
of  pleasure  and  regret ;  and  though,  Heaven  knows,  I  would 
not  wish  to  travel  again  through  this  world,  yet  I  would  give 
much  to  transfer  many  of  the  happier  scenes  of  it  to  this 
hour,  and  give  them  one  more  cordial  enjoyment. 

^^jmh  weary  to  death  of  this  dreadful  war.  It  is  attended 
with  such  irregular  distribution  of  property,  such  inversion 
of  order,  such. decay  of  morals,  so  much  public  distress  and 
private  extravagance,  that  a  man  who  knows  and  wishes  the 
real  advantage  of  mankind  cannot  look  on  the  whole  without 
pain^  And  I  own  it  gives  me  a  melancholy  pang  every 
time  I  reflect  that  my  country  will  to  me,  probably,  never 
again  be  in  peace ;  for  we  have  been  so  often  disappointed 
in  our  hopes,  that  I  have  learned  to  place  no  degree  of  con- 
fidence in  the  fine  stories  told  us  of  the  *  probability  of  this 
blessed  event. 

^  I  suppose  you  do  not  often  get  a  minute  account  of  the 
state  of  matters  among  your  friends  here ;  and,  as  I  feel 
unusually  stupid  this  aftiernoon,  I  can  luckily  avail  myself 
of  your  curiosity  for  the  anecdotes  and  stories  of  the  day 
at  Salem. 


366  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  [1782. 

qNow,  blessed,  I  say,  be  those  nimble  heads  (I  never  had 
one  of  them)  who  can  run  you  through  a  hundred  pages 
without  treading  on  one  matter  of  fact  the  whole  wa^y^  It 
seems  to  me  as  mysterious  as  for  a  man  to  go  from  one 
place  to  another  without  passing  through  the  intermediate 
space,  —  a  piece  of  legerdemain  which  St.  Thomas  Aquinas 
thinks  may  be  a  note  or  two  above  the  address  of  common 
devils.  I  never  could  get  a  pair  of  stilts  of  this  sort  that 
suited  my  imagination.  '/Whenever  I  have  trusted  myself 
only  a  moderate  distance  from  good,  honest  terra  firma^  I 
have  always  repented  iO  ...  I  wove  this  in,  my  friend, 
as  an  interior  and  inherent  mark  of  the  genuineness  of  this 
letter,  and  now  return  to  my  matters  of  fact. 

"  Your  old  friend  Mrs.  Higginson  has  returned  from  Hali- 
fax ;  but,  as  she  is  liable  by  law  to  be  sent  back  agaii\  (sexu 
non  obstante) ,  and  as  she  is  personally  as  disagreeable  to 
the  people  as  any  male  absentee,  there  was  so  great  a  fer- 
ment among  the  people,  that  she  is  obliged  to  live  among 
her  friends  at  Beverly.  P.  H.,  by  the  way,  poor  devil !  is 
sadly  reduced ;  and  he  is  not  pitied  here.  He  equipped  a 
large  privateer  ship  to  cruise  oflf  our  harbor,  &c.  She  was 
unsuccessful,  and  it  hurt  him  prodigiously.* 

"  Your  brother  Williams  has  lost  a  great  deal  of  his  estate, 
and  it  frets  him  not  a  little,  f  I  don't  much  wonder  at  it, 
when  people  have  been  raised  by  the  war  fi'om  the  lowest 
indigence  to  affluence.  The  old  gentleman  is  puzzled  to  see 
into  the  plan  which  sinks  so  good  a  friend  to  the  Common- 
wealth into  humbler  circumstances. 

"  Your  brother  John  is  entirely  occupied  with  the  various 
offices  of  Register,  Town  Treasurer,  and  Just.  Pac.  Since 
he  has  released  himself  from  turning  the  great  wheel  at 


♦  "  P.  H."  (presumed  to  be  Dr.  Prince,  a  physician,  mentioned  in  Mrs.- 
Higginson's  letter,  page  362,)  was  the  writer  of  some  scurrilous  pieces  against 
Colonel  Pickering  in  the  *^  Essex  Gazette,"  in  his  controversy  with  Dr.  Latham 
concerning  the  small-pox.    See  pages  41,  43. 

t  By  captures  of  ships  in  which  he  had  an  interest. 


Mt.  36.]  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERINa.  367 

Boston,*  John,  I  think,  is  much  less  captious  than  he  used 
to  be.     .  .  . 

"  This  town  suffers  now  pretty  severely  for  the  intoxica- 
tion of  past  successes.  We  have  almost  constantly  large 
men-of-war  in  our  sight,  and  they  take  a  deal  of  property 
from  the  merchants.  For  my  part,  being  altogether  occu- 
pied in  administering  vomits  and  other  such  refreshments, — 
God  help  the  while,  —  I  slide  along  merrily  enough.  Having 
(and  I  devoutly  thank  Heaven  for  the  boon)  a  wife  formed 
on  purpose  to  make  a  man  happy,  when  I  look  round,  after 
so  long  a  shipwreck,  and  see  myself  again  settled  entirely 
to  my  wishes,  and  my  children  so  admirably  directed  and 
supplied,  and  attended  with  so  much  tenderness  and  human- 
ity, I  declare,  Pickering,  I  forget  I  ever  was  miserable  for 
a  moqaent. 

^  This  letter  is  long  enough.     I  am  afraid  you  will  knit 

your  brows  (ut  moris  est)  and  say,  *I  wonder  Dr.  Ome 

thinks  I  can  attend  to  his  stuff.'    Tis  true  you  are  Q.  M.  6., 

and  I  am  without  dignity  or  title ;  but  I  am,  notwithstanding, 

your  anxious  well-wisher, 

"J.  Obne. 

"  P.  S.  I  want  to  see  your  young  'Military  Citizens,'  — 
*  Lovers  of  Truth,'  f — &c.,  &c.,  &c.  I  want  to  see  if  they 
have  got  that  good  old-fashioned  look  that  my  old  friend 
carried  away  with  him ;  or  whether,  being  born  under  differ- 
ent stars,  political  as  well  as  climatical  (never  be  afraid  to 
make  a  word  when  you  are  in  a  hurry),  they  are  not  differ- 
ently moulded.  ...  I  long  exceedingly  to  see  Mrs.  Pick- 
ering ;  but  I  never  expect  to  again,  for  I  imagine  now  that 
you  will  tarry  till  the  war  is  ended,  and  I  am  certain  I  can- 
not hold  out  so  long.  I  am  happy  to*  hear  that  you  are 
settled,  at  last,  in  a  manner  that  must  be  so  much  more  to 
her  comfort  than  the  disturbed  life  you  have  sometimes  led 
in  the  neighborhood  of  the  camp." 


*  That  is,  being  a  Bepresentatiye  in  the  General  Court  from  Salem. 

t  Signatures  under  which  Colonel  Pickering  wrote  in  the  "Essex  Gazette." 


368  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  FICKERINO.  [1782. 

Colonel  Pickering  answered  Dr.  Ome  in  a  letter 
'^  dated  at  New  Windsor,  August  18th,  1782. 

^  The  business  in  which,  for  two  years  past,  I  have  been 
engaged,  has  left  me  less  time  than  I  could  formerly  com- 
mand to  write  to  my  friends ;  and  yet,  in  all  that  period,  I 
might  have  wrote  often,  if  my  leisure  moments  had  been 
improved.  But  I  believe  you  have  assigned  one  true  reason 
of  our  mutual  silence ;  to  which  I  may  add,  that,  however 
strong  our  friendships,  however  warm  our  affections,  a 
long-continued  separation  greatly  abates  their  force.  Tis 
almost  four  years  since  lye  took  each  other  by  the  hand, 
and  in  a  space  short  of  four  years  you  have  forgotten  an 
affliction  that  drew  from  us  mutual  tears  I  Happy  forget- 
fuluess !  We  should  thank  Heaven  for  the  boon,  which 
lessens  the  miseries  of  human  life  I  I  congratulate  you, 
my  dear  Sir,  that  you  are  again  so  happily  settled  that 
you  can  forget  the  days  wherein  you  were  afflicted ;  or,  if 
they  recur  (and  we  would  not  altogether  lose  the  powei 
of  recollection),  the  remembrance  of  them  serves  but  to 
make  the  heart  more  tender^  and  thence  more  sensible  of 
present  joys. 

"  I  thank  you  for  the  remembrance  of  my  wife.  I  have 
a  most  affectionate  one,  whose  highest  wish  is  to  make  me 
happy.  This  has  induced  a  cheerful  acquiescence  in  alt  the 
circumstances  (some  not  the  most  pleasing)  of  my  varied 
life.  Wearied  at  last  with  changes,  and  sick  of  the  vagrant 
life  of  a  soldier,  and  her  family  increasing,  I  have  now  fixed, 
as  she  wished,  her  residence  for  the  war.  At  present  she 
has  .in  agreeable  situation  on  the  banks  of  the  Schuylkill, 
five  miles  from  Philadelphia.  I  parted  from  her  last  Mon- 
day. She  had  greatly  recovered  from  the  ill  health  in  which 
she  left  the  dirty  spot  where  I  am  now  writing.  Her  three 
boys  were  with  her,  and  will  furnish  abundant  scope  for  her 
attention,  as  well  as  her  affections.     .  .  . 

f  You  will,  perhaps,  be  surprised  to  hear  me  say  that  I 
do  not  feel  that  attachment  tp  my  native  soil  with  which  I 


iET.  37.]  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERINa  369 

grew  lip !  But  I  have  been  absent  from  it  so  long,  —  h^ve 
seen  so  many  other  places  where  a  man  may  be  happy,  — 
and,  where  my  family  resides,  finding  that  to  be  my  home, — 
I  should  now,  with  few  painful  sensations,  relinquish  it  for 
ever  as  a  place  of  residence.  In  that  spot  where  I  could 
find  the  best  support  for  my  family,  accompanied  with  the 
means  of  educating  my  children,  there,  with  satisfaction,  I 
could  pitch  my  tent,  and  bid  to  Salem  and  to  Massachusetts 
a  lasting  adieu  I  Not  that  eveiy  part  of  the  Union  is  alike 
to  me ;  my  aflections  still  flow  in  what  you  will  deem  their 
natural  order,  —  towards  Salem,  —  Massachusetts,  —  New 
England,  —  the  Union  at  large^I  have  resided  a  longer  or 
shoiler  time  in  several  of  the  States,  and  had  some  inter- 
course with  the  citizens  of  them  all.  In  every  place  we 
may  form  some  connections  to  replace  those  we  lose ;  and 
in  any  place,  other  circumstances  being  agreeable,  I  find  I 
could  be  contented. 

"  *  I  am  weary  of  this  dreadful  war,  but  shall  never  live 
to  see  the  end  of  it.'  You  have  not  forgot,  I  see,  to 
speak  in  hyperboles.  But  what  limits  have  you  set  to 
your  existence?  Do  you  expect  to  quit  the  stage  in  ten 
years?  or  even  in  twenty?  If  Heaven  or  the  healing  art, 
preseiTe  you  one,*  I  dare  venture  to  say  you  will  see  your 
country  in  peace.  With  pleasure  I  have  often  looked  for- 
ward to  this  period,  and  ever  felt  a  singular  reluctance  at 
the  thought  of  quitting  the  world  before  its  arrival ;  but, 
that  arrived,  I  could  for  myself,  with  a  degree  of  resigna- 
tion, sing,  Nunc  dimittis.  /x et  I  confess  my  wish  to  live 
still  longer.  I  wish  to  see  my  country  rise  in  agriculture, 
arts,  and  commerce,  beyond  any  former  period  of  her  exist- 
ence; and  there  is  good  ground  to  expect  that  she  will 
exhibit  an  instance  of  rapid  and  prosperous  increase,  of 
which  the  world  can  produce  no  exampleX^ 

"I  have  been  very  angry  with  you  and  some  others  at 
Salem,  that  you  have  kept  me  in  ignorance  of  every  domes- 
tic occurrence  these  two  years.    .  •  •    I  still  know  but  little 

*  Dr.  Orne  died  in  1786. 
VOL.   L  47 


370  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  [1782. 

of  the  state  of  most  of  the  families  of  my  friends,  in  whose 
happiness  I  feel  myself  interested. 

^  I  do  not  certainly  promise  myself  a  visit  to  Salem  till 
the  war  is  ended.  It  will  give  me  great  pleasure  to  see  my 
friends.  Some  whom  I  include  in  that  description  are  yet 
unknown ;  but,  for  the  sake  of  those  I  know,  and  to  whom 
they  are  dear,  I  value  them ;  and  to  all,  who  shall  inquire 
after  me,  I  beg  you  to  present  my  affectionate  regards.'' 

Although  at  one  time  Colonel  Pickering  had  indulged 
in  sanguine  expectations  of  engaging  in  a  profitable 
business  as  a  commission  merchant  in  Philadelphia,  he 
felt  that  the  want  of  a  larger  capital  stock  than  he  pos- 
sessed would  be  a  serious  obstacle  to  success.  In  con- 
sequence, he  entertained  the  idea  of  purchasing  and 
cultivating  a  tract  of  wild  land  in  Vermont,  and  wrote 
the  following  letter  on  the  subject,  addressed  to  General 
Ethan  Allen.  No  answer  is  found  among  Colonel  Pick- 
ering's manuscripts,  and  perhaps  his  letter  may  not 
have  been  sent ;  but  it  shows  his  views,  at  the  time,  in 
regard  to  his  future  course  of  life. 

• 

"  Xewbuboh,  Augofit  4th,  1782. 

**  Sir. 
"  Having  been  engaged  in  public  affairs  from  the  com- 
mencement of  our  dispute  with  Great  Britain,  and  in  the 
service  of  the  United  States  since  November,  1776,  —  my 
employment  also  having  prcchided  me  from  the  smallest 
attention  to  my  private  concerns,  —  my  circumstances  are 
by  this  time  sufficiently  distressing.  When  I  look  forward 
to  the  conclusion  of  the  war,  and  view  myself  with  a  grow- 
ing family  totally  unprovided  for,  I  feel  no  small  degree  of 
anxioty.  Q  see  how  difficult  it  will  be  to  insert  myself  in 
business  in  the  old  States.  To  begin  trade  to  advantage,  a 
capiUil  stock  will  be  requisite,  to  which  my  little  patrimony 
is  altogether  inadequate ;  and  the  public  offices  to  which  I 
might  form  pretensions  are  already  filled  by  those  who, 


iET.  37.]  LIFE  OP  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  371 

having  remained  at  home,  were  at  hand  to  step  into  any 
vacancy  as  it  fell.  Thus  situated,  my  only  resource  is  a 
new  country,  where  lands  can  be  obtained  on  easy  terms ; 
where  I  can  support  myself,  and  make  beneficial  establish- 
ments for  my  children.  These  views  naturally  point  me  to 
Vermont,  where  I  shall  be  happy  to  become  a  proprietory) 
and,  though  our  acquaintance  was  so  transient  that  you  may 
perhaps  have  forgotten  me,  yet  your  own  military  character 
and  generous  disposition  will,  I  am  persuaded,  induce  you 
to  listen  with  pleasure  to  the  request  of  a  fellow-soldier.  ^_I 
ask  your  friendly  interposition  and  recommendation  to  those 
gentlemen  who,  with  you,  have  influence  in  the  councils  of 
the  State,  to  procure  me  a  grant  of  a  township,  on  the  usual 
terms,  or  such  as  the  government  of  Vermont  shall  have  the 
goodness  to  indulge  me  with.f) 

On  the  presumption  that  the  General  Assembly  of 
Vermont  would  regard  the  public  services  of  their  peti- 
tioners, Colonel  Pickering  states,  that,  in  the  autumn  of 
1776,  he  was  vested  with  the  command  of  a  regiment 
of  militia,  raised  in  the  county  of  Essex,  with  which  he 
inarched  to  reenforce  the  main  army ;  and  that  after- 
wards he  held,  successively,  the  offices  of  Adjutant- 
General  and  member  of  the  Continental  Board  of  War. 
He  says  further :  — 

^In  1780,  on  the  resignation  of  Major-General  Greene, 
being^pressed  by  the  unanimous  call  of  Congress  to  fill  the 
vacant  office,  I  relinquished  my  seat  at  the  War  Office,  and, 
though  it  was  surrounded  with  embarrassments  at  that 
extraordinary  emergency,  I  consented  to  take  upon  me  the 
very  important  and  burdensome,  but  to  me  unprofitable, 
office  of  Quartermaster-General,  which  I  now  hold. 

"This  detail,  I  trust,  you  will  not  deem  impertinent; 
and  your  judgment  and  friendship  will  lead  you  to  make 
the  proper  use  of  it.  If  my  duty  with  the  army  will  by 
any  means  permit,  I  shall,  before  winter,  do  myself  the 


372  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  [1782. 

honor  to  wait  on  you,  and  gratify  my  wishes  in  viewing 
the  rising  State  of  Vermont.     •  .  • 

^*P.  S.  I  take  the  freedom  to  enclose  to  your  care 
and  patronage  a  petition  to  the  General  Assembly  of 
Vermont.'* 

I  In  April,  1783,  he  says  he  has  given  up  the  inten- 
tion of  being  concerned  in  lands  in  Vermont ;  as  the 
State  of  New  York  appeared  to  be  determined  to 
recover  that  territory,  and  the  security  of  any  grant 
which  he  might  obtain  under  the  government  of 
Vermont  would  be  doubtful. 


Mt.  87.]  UFS  OF  TIMOTHT  FICKERINa.  S73 


CHAPTER   XXVI. 

niness  of  Colonel  Pickering's  Family.-^ His  Desire  to  return  to 
Private  Life.  —  Toils  and  Vexations  of  his  Office. — Taxes. — 
Sufferings  of  American  Soldiers  for  Want  of  proper  Food  and 
Clothing. 

In  the  autumn  of  1782,  Colonel  Pickering  was 
oppressed  with  the  labors  and  perplexities  of  his 
office.  He  was  likewise  made  anxious  by  the  state 
of  his  family,  whom,  he  had  flattered  himself,  he  had 
placed  in  a  healthy  and  agreeable  situation  at  the 
Falls  of  the  Schuylkill.  The  fever  and  ague  became 
prevalent  there,  and  his  wife,  one  of  his  children,  a 
man-servant  and  two  maid-servants,  were  ill,  all  at  the 
same  time,  with  that  disheartening  malady.  Before 
their  recovery,  another  child  and  another  man-servant 
were  seized  with  it,  and  the  unhealthiness  of  the  situa- 
tion rendered  it  almost  impossible  to .  procure  other 
servants  to  perform  the  duties  of  those  who  were  thus 
disabled.  These  labors  and  afflictions,  and  his  desire 
to  escape  from  the  trammels  of  office,  are  spoken  of 
with  much  feeling  in  the  following  passages  in  letters 
to  his  wife  and  to  his  brother. 

To  his  wife,  under  the  date  of  "  Camp,  Verplanck*s 
Point,  September  6th/'  he  wrote:  — 

**  The  constant  hurry  I  have  been  in  since  this  day  week 
(within  which  the  army  has  moved)  has  almost  prevented 
my  thinking  of  you  ;  but,  when  a  moment  for  recollection 
offers,  I  please  myself  with  reflections  on  you  and  our  sweet 
boys ;  and  this  is  the  only  pleasure  of  that  kind  which  for 


374  LIFE  OP  TIMOTHY  HCKEBINa  [178a. 

some  months  I  expect  to  enjoy.  We  have  both  had  great 
occasion  for  patience;  but  the  time  fast  approaches  when 
we  shall  separate  no  more  while  life  endures;  for  I  can 
scarcely  contemplate  anjrthing  with  satisfaction  but  what  is 
connected  with  the  ease  and  tranquillity  of  a  private  citizen. 
This  war  once  over,  I  shall  wish  to  abandon  for  ever  all 
public  employments.  To  mark  the  progress  of  my  growing 
trees,  the  increasing  culture  of  my  land,  to  reap  the  fruits 
of  my  own  labor,  to  enjoy  them  with  you  and  our  smiling 
offspring,  will  yield  more  solid  joys  than  the  highest 
offices,  than  the  most  splendid  titles,  or  than  princely  in- 
comes." 

Again  he  wrote  to  her  on  the  12th  of  September : — 

^  Last  Monday  I  received  a  letter  from  Major  Hodgdon 
which  greatly  distressed  me.  By  it  I  found  that  you  and 
most  of  the  family  were  sick.  He  comforted  me,  however, 
in  the  expectation  that  your  indisposition  was  not  danger- 
ous, and  that  in  a  week  or  ten  days  all  would  probably  be 
well.  God  grant  it  I  How  happy  would  it  make  me  could 
I  now  sit  by  you  to  administer  relief  with  all  the  tenderness 
and  attention  which  my  affection  could  prompt  I  Mrs.  Flow- 
er is  extremely  kind ;  we  have  reason  to  value  her  friend- 
ship, as  well  as  Mr.  Hodgdon's,  for  they  are  real  friends  in 
time  of  need.  I  hope,  my  dearest,  that  you,  the  children, 
and  family  will  speedily  recover.  You  must  be  careful  of 
yourself,  and,  at  all  events,  get  such  help  about  you  as  will 
prevent  your  having  occasion  for  any  fatigue :  in  such  a  case 
you  must  not  regard  the  expense." 

In  another  letter  to  her^  of  the  19th  of  September, 
he  makes  inquiries  about  the  produce  of  the  land 
attached  to  the  house  occupied  by  her,  and  says :  — 

**  I  shall  thank  Heaven  when  my  family,  my  fields,  and 
flocks  will  be  my  only  care.  My  life  at  present  is  a  con- 
Btant  scene  of  hurry,  trouble,  and  yexation,  which  no  per- 


iET.  87.]  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKEKING.  375 

sonal  considerations  would  influence  me  to  endure.  But 
the  war  will  not  last  for  ever ;  I  hope  in  God,  not  another 
campaign." 

In  the  following  letter  to  his  brother,  in  which  he 
mentions  the  diflficulties  and  vexations  attending  the 
execution  of  his  oflBce,  he  likewise  commiserates  the 
destitute  condition  of  the  sick  soldiers,  and  contrasts  it 
with  the  luxury  indulged  in  by  other  citizens.  Heavy 
taxes,  he  says,  are  the  subject  of  general  complaint 
They  would  seem  to  be  the  inevitable  consequence  of 
every  protracted  war. 

**  Camp,  Vebplakck's  Point,  September  22d,  1782. 

Evening,  9  o'clock. 

"  I  received  your  favor  of  last  May  by  Captain  Haffield 
White  but  a  day  or  two  since.  He  made  an  apology  for  its 
detention.  I  felt,  as  I  ought,  the  kindness  and  affection 
expressed  in  it.  The  public  is  indeed  to  the  last  degree  un- 
grateful; but  I  recollect  once  repeating  a  sentiment,  that 
*  the  ingratitude  of  one's  country  should  not  deter  a  good  man 
from  serving  it.'  Yet  many  times  the  trials  of  my  patience 
are  so  severe,  the  difficulties  and  vexations  I  am  obliged 
often  to  encounter  are  so  intolerable,  that  I  am  frequently 
on  the  point  of  resolving  to  quit  an  office  so  burdensome 
and  a  service  so  ungrateful.  No  personal  considerations 
would,  indeed,  tempt  me  to  continue.  My  greatest  source 
of  relief  is  in  the  prospect  of  a  speedy  termination  of  the 
war.  In  this  view  I  wish  not  to  abandon  the  public  service 
till  I  can  enjoy  the  fruit  of  so  much  toil  in  the  blessings 
of  peace. 

<<The  latest  accounts  inform  us  of  the  embarkation  of 
troops  at  New  York,  and  many  circumstances  indicate  an 
evacuation  of  it;  but  'tis  an  event  by  no  means  entirely 
depended  on.     .  .  . 

^  I  was  astonished  at  the  enormous  amount  of  our  taxes 
which  you  paid  the  last  year.     If  all  estates  paid  in  the  like 


376  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  [1782. 

proportion,  instead  of  eight  millions  of  dollars,  the  taxes  - 
would  reach  to  as  many  pounds,  besides  the  internal  taxes 
of  each  state.  Everybody,  go  where  I  will,  is  complaining 
of  the  heavy  taxes ;  yet  those  paid  the  United  States  are 
to  the  last  degree  insignificant.  Hence  I,  among  other 
public  officers,  am  embarrassed  beyond  conception.  But 
that  is  not  the  worst.  Those  brave  and  deserving  soldiers, 
many  of  whom  have  for  six  years  exposed  their  lives  to  save 
their  country,  who  are  unhappy  euough  to  have  fallen  sick, 
have  for  a  month  past  been  destitute  of  every  comfort  of 
life.  The  only  diet  provided  for  them  has  been  beef  and 
bread,  the  latter  generally  sour !  while  the  citizens  in  gen- 
eral of  the  United  States  indulge  a  luxury  to  which,  before 
the  war,  they  were  strangers !  But,  with  all  our  boasted 
patriotism,  virtue,  and  humanity,  would  a  stranger  think 
this  possible  ?  Would  to  God  it  were  not  true  !  Would  to 
God  that,  in  a  land  blessed  with  the  best  food  in  abundance, 
the  army  were  not  served  with  the  worst!  that  the  sick 
were  not  left  to  perish  for  want  of  wholesome  diet,  or 
with  the  cold  for  want  of  proper  clothing.  But  few  see 
these  distresses,  and  fewer  feel  them ;  hence  the  wretched 
are  left  to  endure  an  increase  of  misery.  But  I  cease  to 
wound  your  feelings  with  this  tale  of  woe.  You  will  regret 
the  occiision  as  much  as  I,  and  both  can  only  lament  what 
we  cannot  remedy." 

He  wrote  from  this  place  many  letters  to  his  wife, 
from  which  the  foUow^ing  passages  are  extracted :  — 

*'  Camp,  Vebplanck's  Point,  September  24th,  1782. 

^  I  continue  in  health,  but  have  had  such  a  load  of  busi- 
ness to  go  through,  and  withal  so  much  vexation  (more  I 
never  endured) ,  that  I  am  greatly  emaciated.^ 

«<Camp,  October  8d. 

^  I  have  been  obliged  by  your  letters  of  the  23d  and  25th 
ultimo.  I  am  sorry  that  you  are  like  to  be  the  last  to  feel 
the  pleasures  of  health  restored.     Amidst  your  distress. 


Mt.  87.]  LIFE  OP  TIMOTHY  PICKEEING.  377 

had  I  been  with  you,  I  should  still  have  enjoyed  some  sat- 
isfaction, —  the  satisfaction  of  attending  to  your  wants,  and 
of  administering  the  means  of  relief.  But,  denied  this  com- 
fort, I  am  happy  that  you  have  not  been  destitute  of  friends. 
The  proofs  of  real  friendship  I  expected  only  from  those 
who  have  exhibited  such  striking  marks  of  it.  I  know  you 
feel  towards  them  all  the  gratitude  their  kindness  merits, 
for  you  have  a  grateful  heart.     •  •  • 

« I  feel  now  some  regret  that  you  left  the  North  River, 
for  I  shall  take  my  quarters  in  Captain  MitchelFs  house, 
where  I  can  live  independently.  But,  were  you  to  be  with 
me,  you  would  be  a  witness  to  all  the  disagreeable  circum- 
stances which  attend  the  execution  of  my  office,  amidst 
clamorous  creditors,  and  the  unceasing  demands  of  the  army. 
On  the  whole,  it  is  (saving  this  unlooked-for  sickness) 
probably  best  as  it  is.  I  shall  strive  to  be  with  you  pai-t  of 
the  winter,  and,  for  this  end,  endeavor  so  to  aiTange  my 
business  as  to  leave  it  without  injury  to  the  public.  I  have 
some  expectation  that  the  army  will  go  early  into  winter- 
quarters.  When  they  are  all  hutted,  I  can  doubtless  leave 
them  for  a  while." 

"  Camp,  Vebplanck's  Point,  October  7tli,  1782. 

"  Mr.  Hodgdon  wrote  me  the  2d  instant,  informing  that 
you  remained  very  weak,  and  that  the  physician  advised  your 
removal  to  the  city,  where  you  might  be  better  attended, 
saying  that  good  nursing  would  be  more  beneficial  than 
his  medicines.  I  hope,  my  dearest,  you  have  not  hesitated 
to  follow  his  advice,  and  that  you  are  now  comfortably 
lodged  with  John  at  Mrs.  Ha&rt;ings's.  When  I  objected 
lately  to  your  removal  to  the  city,  as  Mr.  Hodgdon  pro- 
posed, I  referred  only  to  a  lasting  one;  to  a  temporary 
removal,  for  the  recovery  of  your  health,  I  could  not  possibly 
have  any  objection.  In  this  respect,  I  beg  you,  my  love, 
always  to  follow  what  your  condition  shall  require.  You 
have  prudence  on  which  I  can  implicitly  rely.  In  what 
concerns  your  own  health,  or  that  of  the  children,  never 

VOL.  L  48 


378  LIFE  OP  TIMOTHY  PICKERINa.  [1782. 

think  of  the  expense :  health  and  life  are  too  valuable  to 
be  sacrificed  to  trifles.  If  it  should  be  necessary,  we  can 
retrieve  such  losses  by  a  more  rigid  economy  when  in  full 
health.  Wait  not  a  moment  for  my  advice  in  cases  requir- 
ing a  speedy  decision.     .  .  . 

^  I  remain  in  good  health,  and  in  some  measure  relieved 
from  the  toil  and  difficulties  which  deprived  me  of  every 
pleasure,  though  I  have  still  some  arduous  matters  to  ac- 
complish with  very  inadequate  means." 

"  Camp,  Ykkfulbck's  Point,  October  24th,  1782. 

"On  the  16th  Mr.  Hodgdon  wrote  me  that  you  and  the 
children  were  on  the  recovery,  and  that  you  were  so  sen- 
sible of  gaining  strength  that  you  proposed  riding  out.  I 
was  happy  to  hear  this,  especially  as  I  considered  it  as  a 
preparative  to  your  journey  to  Newburgh.  In  three  days  I 
shall  there  take  up  my  winter-quarters  in  the  house  where 
Mitchell  dwelt.  I  had  not  thought  it  so  agreeable,  and 
the  situation  so  pleasant.  The  house  and  appendages  are 
already  convenient ;  I  shall  render  them  more  so.  ... 
The  outhouses  will  be  just  what  we  want.  You  remember 
Captain  Mitchell  had  a  good  garden ;  that  he  kept  horses, 
cows,  pigs,  and  poultry,  —  all  that  a  family  needs,  —  with 
accommodations  for  them.  Now  that  I  am  possessed  of 
these  conveniences,  and  can  keep  them  while  the  war  con- 
tinues, do  you  not  imagine  that  I  have  repented  your 
removal  with  the  children  to  Pennsylvania,  —  especially  to 
the  sickly  banks  of  the  Schuylkill?  General  Lincoln  is 
here.  Three  mornings  ago  I  was  conversing  with  him  and 
the  Commander-in-Chief.  '  *  You  bring  Mrs.  Pickering  and 
the  family  to  winter-quarters  ?  *  said  the  Secretary  at  War. 
*  No ;  but  I  have  wrote  Mrs.  Pickering,  proposing  that  she 
should  take  a  journey  to  Newburgh,  and  tarry  with  me  two 
months,  leaving  her  children  and  cares  behind,  as  the  best 
means  of  restoring  her  health.'  'Has  Mrs.  Pickering  been 
sick  ?  •  said  General  Washington.  *  Very  ill.'  *  But  she  will 
be  anxious  about  the  children  if  she  leaves  them  behind,' 


2Et.  87.]  LITE  OP  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  379 

said  the  General ;  *  and  I  think  you  had  better  move  your 
family.'  Could  I  say  nay  to  a  thought  so  much  in  unison 
with  my  feelings  ?  and  will  not  prudence  approve  what  will 
so  materially  lessen  my  expenses  ?  But  the  latter  will  de- 
pend on  circumstances.  Perhaps  I  shall  cease,  on  the  1st 
of  January  next,  to  be  a  public  officer :  if  not,  the  war 
may  end  by  spring.  Either  of  these  events  would  render  a 
total  removal  inconvenient.  I  am  therefore  at  present  only 
solicitous  to  have  you  take  the  journey,  and  to  indulge  me 
with  your  company  for  two  months ;  by  the  expiration  of 
which  I  can  doubtless  take  you  back  to  our  children." 


380  LIFB  OP  TmOTHT  PICKERING.  [1782. 


CHAPTER   XXVII. 

New  Arrangement  of  the  Qnartermaster-Grenerars  Department.  — 
Colonel  Pickering  dissatisfied  as  to  Compensation.  —  Importance 
and  Difficulty  of  his  Office.  —  Misunderstanding  between  him  and 
Dr.  Cochran,  Director  of  the  Military  Hospital.  —  Mrs.  Picker- 
ing's extreme  Illness.  —  Colonel  Pickering  solicitous  about  the 
Means  of  his  future  Support.  —  Financial  Inconvenience  in  pay- 
ing out  Gold  Coins. 

The  intimation  of  Colonel  Pickering,  in  the  preceding 
chapter,  that  on  the  1st  of  January  he  might  cease  to 
be  a  public  officer,  is  explained  by  a  letter  of  the  24th 
of  October,  1782,  to  Mr.  Hodgdon. 

Mr.  Hodgdon  had  written  to  him  on  the  23d  of  Sep- 
tember :  — 

"  The  department  of  which  you  are  principal  is  now  under 
consideration  [in  Congress] .  A  report  was  formed  on  it, 
the  21st  instant,  by  the  Secretary  of  War,  for  the  inspection 
of  the  committee  long  since  appointed ;  since  which  nothing 
has  transpired.  The  above-cited  report  makes  great  abridg- 
ments in  the  numbers  formerly  employed,  but  is  silent  on 
the  salaries  to  be  allowed." 

Again,  on  the  9  th  of  October,  he  had  said :  — 

"Yesterday  your  department  came  under  consideration. 
The  report,  if  accepted,  will  in  general  please  you.  A 
major-generars  pay  is  allowed  the  principal.  On  this  I 
will  make  no  comment.  The  whole  to  take  place  on  the 
1st  of  January  next." 

He  had  probably  written  another  letter  on  the  same 


^T.  87.]  UFB  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  381 

subject,  which  is  missing.  A  resolve  of  Congress  was 
passed  on  the  23d  of  October,  establishing  the  Quarter- 
master-Generars  pay  at  one  hundred  and  sixty-six 
dollars  and  sixty-six  cents  a  month. 

To  the  above  letters  of  Mr.  Hodgdon  Colonel  Pick- 
ering replied :  — 

'*  CiJfP,  Vesplangk'b  Ponrr,  October  24th,  1782. 

"The  reform  of  the  regiments,  I  perceive,  is  not  abso- 
lutely certain ;  the  C.  in  C.  [Commander-in-Chief]  judges  it 
inexpedient  and  impolitic.  General  L.  [Lincoln]  told  me 
something  of  the  report  about  my  own  department,  but  not 
a  word  of  the  pay^  and  I  would  not  ask  a  question  concern- 
ing it.  But  what  came  to  me  from  another  quarter  con- 
vinces me  that  Congress  are  not  planning  any  of  these 
reformations  with  the  candor  and  dignity  which  become  the 
representatives  of  a  nation.  They  know  I  am  a  poor  man, 
and  thence  may  think  me  dependent;  but  I  thank  God  I 
am  a  stranger  to  such  a  sentiment.  I  am,  indeed,  a  poor 
man;  but  I  feel  myself  perfectly  independent.  I  thank 
God  I  have  courted  the  favor  of  no  man ;  that  I  have  flat- 
tered no  man.  To  some  I  have  made  r presentations^  but 
asked  no  favors.  Why  should  I  ?  Am  I  the  servant  of  any 
individual  in  power?  Did  I  accept  this  office  for  my  own 
sake?  For  the  pleasure,  the  honor,  or  profit  that  would 
attend  it?  I  call  God  to  witness  that  I  did  not.  I  have 
served  my  country^  under  circumstances  and  emergencies 
peculiar  and  extraordinary,  and  am  now  to  be  treated  with 
ingratitude.  My  present  pay,  large  as  some  gentlemen  may 
think  it,  is  not  an  adequate  reward  for  the  complicated  duties 
of  my  office ;  or,  if  it  is,  the  salaries  of  most  of  the  public 
servants,  and  of  some  high  in  office,  are  double,  triple,  and 
quadruple  of  what  they  ought  to  be.  There  are  three  offices 
in  the  United  States  which  are  arduous  and  important,  — 
those  of  the  Financier,  Commander-in-Chief,  and  Com- 
mander of  the  Southern  army :  these  excepted,  I  defy  any 
man  to  name  another  requiring  half  the  resource,  —  that  is. 


382  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  [1782. 

half  so  laborious,  and  at  the  same  time  half  so  difficult 
in  the  execution, — as  that  of  Quartermaster-General.  The 
same  office  in  the  French  army  (an  army  not  so  large  as 
ours)  in  point  of  labor  and  difficulty  is  nothing  in  com- 
parison. He  [the  incumbent]  has  no  teams  to  procure,  no 
drivers,  no  forage,  no  camp  equipage,  nor  the  vast  variety 
of  other  stores  which  are  required  from  me ;  and,  particu- 
larly, is  not  required  to  procure  them  without  money.  He 
is  not  driven  to  a  thousand  shifts  and  expedients,  and  to 
make  a  variety  of  arrangements  which  the  peculiarity  of  our 
service  demands,  and  which  keep  the  mind  continually  on 
the  rack :  yet  he  is  allowed  one  hundred  and  sixty-six 
louiS'tTors  a  month,  while  Congress  are  about  to  reduce  mine 
to  as  few  dollars/  But  Congress  may  do  as  they  please; 
yet  it  behooves  them  to  do  justice.  Will  it  be  said,  ^He  serves 
the  monarch  of  France,  and  /a  poor  republic?'  Granted. 
But  let  America  assume  the  manners  as  well  as  the  ruime  of 
a  republic,  and  let  Congress  set  the  example,  and  then  I 
will  cheerfully  submit  to  anything.  But  I  have  done.  I 
will  not  weary  you  with  a  longer  dissertation  on  the  subject, 
nor  trouble  myself  about  mischiefs  to  come ;  sufficient  to  the 
day  is  the  evil  thereof.     .  .  . 

"  P.  S.  I  take  no  copies  of  the  lettera  I  write  you ;  if  you 
are  at  the  trouble  of  preserving  them,  perhaps  some  may  be 
eventually  of  use  to  me." 

A  misunderstanding  occurred  between  Dr.  John 
Cochran,  Director  of  the  Military  Hospital,  and  Colo- 
nel Pickering,  the  Doctor  complaining,  in  opprobrious 
language,  that  suitable  quarters  had  not  been  asigned 
to  him  and  other  persons  in  his  department  A 
letter  from  him,  dated  the  4th  of  November,  ended  in 
these  words :  — 

"When  you  receive  this,  you  will  be  two  letters  in  my 
debt:  I  forgive  you  the  balance,  and  this  shall  close  the 
correspondence.      Should  you  conceive  your  feelings  in- 


JEt.  87.]  UFB  OP  TIMOTHY  PICKEBINa.  383 

jured  by  this  reply  to  your  scurrility,  I  am  ready  to  give 
you  any  satisfaction  you  may  demand,  where  pen,  ink,  and 
paper  are  not  concerned." 

The  letter  which  gave  occasion  to  Dr.  Cochran's 
animadversions  has  not  been  found ;  but  that  the  term 
BcwrriMy  was  unjustly  applied  to  it  by  an  angry  man,  I 
have  little  doubt  To  the  one  above  quoted  Colonel 
Pickering  replied:  — 

'^Newbuboh,  November  6th,  1782. 

"Sib, 

"  Although  you  have  given  me  an  acquittance  of  all  obli- 
gation to  continue  our  correspondence  by  letters,  yet  an 
unlucky  conjecture  in  one  paragraph  of  your  last  letter 
constrains  me  to  reply.  I  should  sooner  have  done  it,  but 
have  had  too  much  business  on  my  hands  to  attend  to  it. 

"You  imagine  *my  feelings  may  be  injured'  by  the* con- 
tents of  that  letter.  Be  assured,  Sir,  they  are  not  hurt  in 
the  least :  it  is  not  possible  they  should  be ;  for  in  all  that 
mass  of  words,  covering  almost  three  pages  in  folio,  there 
is  not  a  single  expression  of  wit  *  to  excite  ridicule,  nor  of 
satire  to  bite,  nor  of  reproach  that  is  founded  in  truth.  As 
to  the  latter,  your  imagination  has  supplied,  or  given  a  col- 
oring to,  facts ;  and  opinions  so  formed  (for  what  in  your 
anger  you  have  written  you  doubtless  believed)  will  neces- 

*  This  ifl  doing  a  little  injustice  to  the  Doctor ;  for  there  is  wit,  but  I  sup- 
pose not  founded  on  fact,  in  his  remark,  **  In  assigning  quarters  .  .  .  some 
of  the  gcnUemen  of  the  department  which  I  have  the  honor  to  superintend  .  .  . 
have  been  cooped  up  in  a  smoke-house,  where  the  only  alleviation  to  their 
misfortune  was  the  want  of  fuel,  which  you,  in  the  abundance  of  your  eco- 
nomical systems,  withheld  ft-om  them." 

The  irritation  on  the  part  of  Dr.  Cochran  must  have  been  but  temporary, 
for,  he  being  in  1788  the  Continental  loan  officer  for  the  State  of  New  York, 
and  being  assisted  in  his  office  by  Peter  Anspach,  who  had  undertaken  to 
adjust  the  accounts  of  Colonel  Pickering  as  Quartermaster-General,  Colonel 
Pickering  wrote  to  Anspach,  '*  Please  to  present  my  compliments  to  Dr. 
Cochran,  and  my  thanks  for  so  obligingly  receiving  my  papers  into  his  house ; " 
and  in  January,  1789,  Dr.  Cochran  sends  his  compliments  to  Colonel  and 
Mrs.  Pickering. 


384  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKEBING.  [1782. 

sarily  be  erroneous.  I  therefore,  unasked,  forgive  you  all 
the  wrong  and  all  the  injury  you  fancied  it  could  do  me. 
In  this  spirit  I  pass  over  every  other  part  of  your  letter 
without  an  observation,  one  sentiment  excepted,  in  which 
you  manifest  some  regret  at  differing  even  with  me.  It  is, 
indeed,  most  pleasant  to  live  in  peace  with  all  men :  besides, 
resentments  entertained  commonly  hurt  the  subject  more 
than  the  object  of  them ;  and  it  is  particularly  dis£^reeable 
to  be  at  variance  with  men  whom  our  employments  often 
unavoidably  throw  us  in  the  .way  of.  I  may  add,  that  a 
difference  between  public  officers  whose  businesses  have 
any  connection  or  dependence  one  on  the  other,  may  prove 
injurious  to  the  public  interest.  For  these  reasons  we  ought 
to  live  at  least  on  terms  of  common  civility ;  more  is  not 
absolutely  necessary,  nor  probably  will  ever  exist ;  but  if 
there  be  less,  it  will  not  be  the  fault  of 

Your  humble  servant, 
"Timothy  Pickebino,  Q.  M.  GJ* 

Mrs.  Pickering,  after  having  nearly  recovered  from 
the  fever  and  ague,  had  a  relapse ;  and  on  the  9th  of 
November  Dr.  Wistar  wrote  to  Colonel  Pickering,  "  It 
is  Mrs.  Pickering's  most  earnest  request  that  you  may 
be  as  expeditious  as  possible  in  coming  to  Philadelphia. 
Her  situation  is  such,  that,  unless  an  alteration  for  the 
better  takes  place  very  shortly,  she  must  sink  under  the 
weight  of  her  disorder  in  a  very  little  time.*'  On  the 
receipt  of  this  intelligence,  Colonel  Pickering  set  off  as 
soon  as  possible,  and  arrived  at  Philadelphia  about 
the  15th  of  November.  The  cheering  influence  of  his 
presence,  if  it  did  not  save  Mrs.  Pickering's  life,  certainly 
had  a  marked  effect  in  promoting  her  recovery.  He 
refers  to  her  case  in  the  following  letter  of  condolence 
to  his  sister,  Mrs.  Sargeant,  who  had  recently  been 
bereaved  of  a  daughter,  Mrs.  Pickman. 


Mt.  37.]  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  385 

**  Newbubgh,  February  9th,  1783. 

"Dear  Sister, 
"My  friends  at  the  eastward  have  been  so  deficient  in 
their  correspondence,  that  it  was  not  till  the  middle  of  last 
month  that  I  was  informed  of  the  death  of  Betsey  Pickman. 
I  felt  and  lamented  this  severe  stroke.  I  lamented  for  j'our 
sake,  for  her  husband's  sake,  and  for  the  sake  of  the  tender 
offspring  she  left  behind  her.  At  any  time  I  should  have 
mourned  sincerely  the  loss  of  a  niece  so  amiable  as  Betsey ; 
but  I  felt  it  more  sensibly  when  I  reflected,  and  that  caused 
the  reflection,  on  my  own  escape  from  a  like  calamity.  The 
scene  of  distress  from  which  Providence  had  so  recently 
saved  me,  rushed  on  my  memory,  and  excited  every  tender 
sentiment  of  sympathetic  woe.  My  wife,  who  was  endeared 
to  me  by  every  good  and  gentle  quality  a  woman  can  possess, 
had  been  some  time  sick.  She  was  sick  when  Betsey  died, 
but  in  the  following  month  was  herself  on  the  very  verge  of 
death.  She  was  given  over  by  her  friends,  and  even  her 
physicians  almost  despaired  of  her  recovery.  Knowing  how 
diflScult  it  would  be  for  me  just  then  to  leave  the  army,  she, 
bearing  her  sickness  with  unexampled  patience,  did  not  urge 
my  being  sent  foi.  At  length,  however,  doubting  herself 
whether  she  should  recover,  with  deep  anxiety  she  asked 
for  me.  I  flew  to  see  her,  and,  to  my  inexpressible  joy, 
found  her  past  the  crisis  of  danger,  though  still  confined  to 
her  bed,  and  extremely  weak.  My  presence  gave  a  spring 
to  the  powers  of  returning  health,  and  she  recovered  with 
unusual  rapidity.  While  you  mourn  your  own  loss,  though 
not  as  those  who  have  no  hope,  your  affection  will  lead  you 
to  join  your  joy  with  mine,  that  Heaven  has  restored  to  me 
and  my  charming  boys  one  of  the  best  of  wives  and  tender- 
est  of  mothers."     .  .  . 

Colonel  Pickering  remained  in  Philadelphia  some 
time  after  bis  wife's  recovery,  partly  for  the  purpose 
of  conferring  with  a  committee  of  Congress  on  the  new 
arrangement  of  his  department,  which  was  to  go  into 

VOL.  L  49 


386  LITE  OF  TIMOTHY  FICKERIKG.  [1782. 

effect  on  the  1st  of  January,  1783  *  In  the  following 
letter  to  his  brother  he  refers  to  this  subject,  and  like- 
wise to  his  future  course  of  life  afler  the  termination 
of  the  war. 

'*  Philadelphia,  December  14th,  1782. 

*^  A  new  arrangement  of  the  Quartermaster's  department 
has  lately  been  made.  In  some  respects  it  is  evidently 
impracticable,  on  account  of  the  inadequacy  of  the  pay 
proposed  in  divers  instances,  which  must  prevent  suitable 
characters  continuing  in  or  accepting  of  those  offices.  I 
have  therefore  objected  to  it,  and  a  committee  are  appointed 
for  the  purpose  of  reviewing  the  plan.  I  expect  to  have  a 
conversation  with  them  on  the  subject  to-morrow  or  next 
day,  which  over,  I  shall  return  to  the  army,  where  any  letter 
from  you  will  find  me.     My  quarters  are  at  Newburgh. 

^'  In  the  summer  past  I  hoped  we  should  not  have  another 
campaign ;  but  I  now  fear  we  shall.  The  prospect  of  peace 
led  me  to  look  forward  for  some  business  by  which  my  fam- 
ily might  be  supported  when  the  war  is  over,  but  without 
absolutely  fixing  on  any,  from  the  contingencies  which  may 
happen  in  the  interim  to  alter  my  views.  I  cannot  but  feel 
some  solicitude  on  this  head  ;  though,  while  I  can  get '  meat, 
clothes,  and  fire,'  my  mind  will  not  be  distressed.  I  did 
determine  to  attempt  a  visit  to  my  friends  at  the  eastward 
this  winter,  and  will  yet,  if  it  be  possible,  though  I  am  not 
sanguine  in  my  expectations  of  doing  it.  I  want  exceed- 
ingly to  see  them;  and  at  the  same  time  I  should  know 
whether  any  and  what  prospects  in  Massachusetts  (to  which 
I  am  now  so  much  a  stranger)  would  present  to  me  in  the 
way  of  business.  In  the  mean  time  it  will  give  me  great 
pleasure  to  be  infoimed  of  the  situation  of  our  family  in 
paiticular.  Our  mother,  I  suppose,  nearly  despairs  of  see- 
ing me  or  my  family ;  but  I  hope  we  shall  all  live  to  meet 
again.     I  presume  my  friends  write  much  oftener  than  I 

*  See  Journals  of  CongresB,  October  28d,  1782. 


^T.87.]  LIFE   OP  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  387 

hear  from  them  (for  I  scarcely  receive  a  letter  in  six 
months)  ;  but  committing  their  letters  to  private  hands, 
they  generally  miscarry." 

From  the  two  following  letters  it  is  inferred,  that,  as 
Quartermaster-General,  he  was  supplied  by  Mr.  Morris, 
the  Superintendent  of  Finance,  with  gold  coins  from  the 
bank  at  Philadelphia  at  their  value  by  weight;  that 
the  weights  of  the  coins  severally  were  greater  than 
was  required  by  law  for  their  current  value ;  that  hence, 
in  paying  them  by  tale,  there  would  be  a  loss  to  the 
amount  of  such  excess  in  weight ;  and  that,  if  he  would 
prevent  this  loss  from  falling  upon  the  public  or  upon 
himself,  he  was  under  the  necessity  of  reducing  the  coins 
to  the  standard  weight  by  clipping  them :  and  it  seems 
this  work  was  to  be  done  either  by  himself  or  at  his 
own  expense.  Although  no  injury  to  the  public  was 
designed,  it  is  not  surprising  that  he  should  complain 
of  the  proceeding  as  a  ^^  shameful  business  "  imposed  on 
him  as  a  public  officer. 

The  first  letter  is  from  Mr.  Hodgdon. 

"  Ordnance  Office,  December  28d,  1782. 

"The  Financier  will  not  permit  the  Continent  to  be  a 
loser  by  the  gold.  The  consequence  is  obvious.  You  must 
select  all  the  French  guineas  and  leave  them  for  exchange 
in  this  city,  as  well  the  light  as  the  overweight,  as  their 
current  value  is  not  equal  in  the  State  of  York ;  the  other 
pieces  must  be  clipped.  The  price  demanded  is  one  penny 
for  each  piece ;  but  this,  it  seems,  cannot  be  allowed.  It 
only  remains,  therefore,  for  you  to  say  whether  you  will 
pay  it,  or  cut  the  pieces  to  the  standard  weight  yourself. 
This  last  mode  has  been  preferred  by  Mr.  Peirce,*  and  he 
informs  me  it  is  easily  and  speedily  executed  with  common 
shears.     Should  you  adopt  this  mode,  your  ingenuity  would 

*  The  PaTmaster-General  of  the  armj. 


388  LITE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  [1782. 

make  the  process  still  easier.  The  matter  should  be  kept 
a  secret,  as  the  army,  not  acquainted  with  circumstances, 
might  suspect  fraudulent  intentions.  I  think  you  had  better 
come  in  to-morrow  morning.*' 

Colonel  Pickering  returned  the  following  answer :  — 

"Falls  of  Schutlkill,  December  24th,  1782. 

"  I  received  your  favor  by  James.  If  I  come  to  town  I 
shall  be  harassed  with  a  hundred  applications,  which  may 
prevent  my  doing  the  preparatory  business  to  my  setting 
off'  to-morrow.  Be  so  good  as  to  leave  the  French  gold  at 
the  bank,  taking  notes  for  the  amount ;  unless  you  can  get 
crowns  instead,  which  would  in  some  degree  compensate 
the  loss  I  must  sustain  on  the  other  gold,  —  for  a  loss 
I  am  sure  there  will  be  after  the  utmost  care.  The  res- 
idue of  the  gold  I  will  thank  you  to  bring  with  you  in  my 
wagon.     .  .  . 

"I  must  trouble  you  for  the  necessary  apparatus  for 
clipping.  'Tis  a  shameful  business,  and  an  unreasonable 
hardship  on  a  public  ofBcer.  I  am  not  certain  that  I  will 
receive  any  more  bank  gold  on  such  odious  conditions.  A 
pair  of  good  shears,  a  couple  of  punches,  and  a  leaden  anvil 
of  two  or  three  pounds  weight.  Will  you  inquire  how  the 
goldsmiths  put  in  their  plugs?  .  •  .  Please  to  get  the 
rates  at  which  all  gold  coins  current  here  do  pass,  and  at 
what  weights."     .  .  . 

Whether  Colonel  Pickering  actually  made  use  of  the 
implements  thus  requested  does  not  appear :  at  any 
rate,  he  did  not  save  himself  harmless ;  for,  in  a  letter 
dated  Newburgh,  January  26th,  1783,  to  Mr.  Hodgdon, 
he  says :  — 

"I  have  an  opportunity  of  sending  you  some  bullion; 
which,  with  what  I  left  you  at  Philadelphia,  will  go  near  to 
reimburse  me  for  the  loss  on  the  gold  received  from  the 
bank." 


^T.37.]  LIFE  OP  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  389 


CHAPTER   XXVIII. 

Distress  at  Camp  for  Want  of  Forage.  —  Correspondence  of  Gren- 
eral  Washington  and  Colonel  Pickering  on  the  Subject.  —  A 
Prayer,  composed  by  Colonel  Pickering.  —  His  Arrest  for  a 
Public  Debt. —  The  "Temple"  at  Newburgh.  —  Celebration 
of  the  Anniversary  of  the  Alliance  with  France.  —  Colonel 
Pickering's  Intention  to  become  a  Merchant.  —  Supposed 
Views  of  Great  Britain  and  France  concerning  the  United 
States.  —  Peace  anticipated. 

Colonel  Pickering  left  the  Falls  of  the  Schuylkill 
on  the  27th  of  December,  1782,  for  Newburgh,  where 
he  arrived  on  the  2d  of  January,  1783.  On  the  way 
he  met  with  a  provoking  misadventure,  which,  how- 
ever, occasioned  only  a  manifestation  of  equanimity 
and  of  a  considerate  regard  for  the  feelings  of  his 
servant.     He  notices  it  in  a  letter  to  his  wife. 

"  PoMPTON,  January  Ist,  1788. 

"  Thus  far  I  am  arrived  in  safety  ;  and  to-morrow  I  shall 
be  at  Newburgh.  Some  time  was  lost  by  the  breaking  of 
the  swingle-trees  and  pole  of  the  wagon,  about  four  miles 
on  the  other  side  of  Morristown.  These  accidents  hap- 
pened, one  on  the  back  of  the  other,  just  as  it  grew  dusky 
on  Sunday  evening.  Robert  said  he  believed  we  were 
bewitched;  but  I  could  assign  a  reason  for  our  ill  luck  more 
easily,  and  without  having  recourse  to  nesromorncy,  namely, 
a  want  of  his  usual  care ;  for,  while  it  was  yet  light,  he  ran 
the  wagon  plump  against  a  large  stump  three  feet  high,  and, 
of  consequence,  easy  to  be  seen,  if  he  had  had  his  eyes 
about  him.  This  broke  both  the  swingle-trees,  and,  soon 
after,  occasioned  the  breaking  of  the  pole.     However,  I  did 


390  LIFB  OP  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  [1788. 

not  drop  a  word  of  blame  upon  Robert.  The  most  vigilant 
are  sometimes  off  their  guard.  Instead  of  finding  fault 
(Robert  himself  was  not  a  little  troubled  with  the  misfor- 
tunes),  I  cheerfully  remarked,  that  it  was  'better  so  than 
worse.'  Perhaps  such  a  reflection  in  serioits  misfortunes 
would  be  one  of  the  most  useful  consolations ;  for,  in  most 
cases,  it  is  easy  to  conceive  that  worse  evils  might  have 
befallen  us,  and  there  are  none  in  which  we  have  not 
reason,  amidst  our  calamities,  to  be  thankful  to  the  boun- 
teous Author  of  all  good." 

An  interesting  letter  from  General  Washington 
crossed  him  on  his  journey,  in  which  are  detailed 
distresses  at  camp  on  account  of  the  deficiency  of 
forage :  — 

"  HsAD-QUABT£B8,  Nbwbuboh,  December  25th,  1782. 

«  Sib, 
<<  The  bad  state  of  affairs  in  your  department  is  such  as 
makes  your  presence  indispensably  necessary  with  the  army. 
The  complaints  of  all,  from  the  Major-General  down  to  the 
lowest  staff  officer  entitled  to  keep  a  hoi*se,  are  aggravated 
to  the  highest  possible  degree,  on  account  of  the  continual 
want  of  forage.  As  a  specimen  of  the  distress  which  has 
fallen  under  my  own  observation,  you  may  be  assured  my 
horses  have  been  four  days  without  a  handful  of  hay,  and 
three  of  the  same  without  a  mouthful  of  gi*ain ;  since  which 
I  have  been  induced  to  order  forage  to  be  purchased  with 
my  own  private  money,  at  any  expense,  rather  than  see 
them  perish  before  my  eyes.  But  I  am  now  informed  it  is 
fourteen  days  since  the  horses  of  the  army  have  had  either 
long  or  short  feed  of  any  kind  whatever.  All  business 
which  ought  to  be  performed  by  officers  serving  on  horse- 
back must  cease  to  be  done.  Some  of  the  general  officers 
have  seut  away  every  horse  into  the  country ;  others  have 
notified  me  that  it  will  not  be  possible  for  them  to  attend  at 
head-quarters  on  any  occasion,  even  the  most  pressing,  their 
horses  being  too  weak  to  carry  them,  and  they  unable  to 


JEt.  87.]  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKBBINa.  391 

walk  60  great  a  distance.    Nor  can  I  expect  the  field-officers 
of  the  day  to  perform  their  duties  any  longer. 

"  There  is  another  public  inconvenience  which  will  pi'oba- 
bly  happen,  and  of  which  it  will  be  proper  to  give  the  Post- 
master-General timely  notice ;  that  is,  the  total  incapacity 
of  the  dragoon  horses  destined  to  escort,  or  rather  to  caiTy , 
the  mail,  to  proceed  any  longer.  He  must  therefore  expect 
that  in  which  this  letter  goes  to  be  the  last  which  will  be 
received  from  the  eastward  through  this  mode  of  con- 
veyance until  new  arrangements  shall  take  place,  as  the 
dragoons  were  obliged  to  bring  the  last  week's  mtiil  from 
Morristown  a  considerable  part  of  the  distance  on  their 
backs,  and  as  their  horses  have  had  no  forage  from  that  day 
to  the  present. 

^How  far  these  evils  are  absolutely  irremediable,  I  do 
not  undertake  to  decide ;  but,  if  they  can  be  avoided,  I  am 
certain  I  need  not,  in  addition  to  all  the  other  ill  conse- 
quences, attempt  to  enforce  the  ill  economy  which  inust 
result  from  the  unparalleled  scarcity,  by  an  example  which 
General  Gates  has  just  mentioned,  that,  for  want  of  forage 
to  the  value  of  five  pounds,  he  has  lost  a  public  team  of 
horses  worth  more  than  one  hundred  pounds. 

**  My  principal  objects.  Sir,  in  giving  you  this  detail  of 
particulars,  are,  to  convince  you  that  the  distresses  and 
clamors  for  want  of  forage  have  never  been  so  great  at  any 
former  time  as  at  the  present  moment ;  to  request  you  will 
lay  a  state  of  the  matter  before  the  Superintendent  of 
Finance ;  and,  after  making  the  best  arrangements  in  your 
power  to  procure  a  future  supply,  that  you  will  proceed 
without  loss  of  time  to  join  the  army. 

^  I  am.  Sir,  your  most  obedient,  humble  servant, 

"GS   WASmNGTON." 

In  a  letter  to  Mr.  Hodgdon,  quoted  below,  Colonel 
Pickering  accounts  satisfactorily,  so  far  as  concerns 
himself,  for  this  scarcity  of  forage,  alleging,  at  the 
same  time,  that  it  was  not  so  great  as  it  had  been 


392  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  [1788. 

generally  represented  to  be.  Without  calling  in  ques- 
tion the  truth  of  General  Washington's  statement,  that 
his  own  horses  had  not  had  a  handful  of  hay  nor  a 
mouthful  of  grain  for  three  days,  and  that  General 
Gates  had  lost  a  valuable  team  of  horses  from  starva- 
tion, indicating  a  sufficiently  "  bad  state  of  aflkirs,"  one 
may  be  inclined  to  doubt  the  correctness  of  his  infor- 
mation derived  from  other  persons,  that "  it  is  fourteen 
days  since  the  horses  of  the  army  have  had  either  long 
or  short  feed  of  any  kind  whatever."  * 

In  a  letter  to  Mr.  Hodgdon,  dated  at  Newburgh, 
January  12th,  1783,  is  the  following  passage  :  — 

"Notwithstanding  all  that  you  have  read,  the  want  of 
forage,  depend  on  it,  was  neither  new  nor  extraordinary. f 
Just  such  clamors,  from  people  of  irritable  passions,  I  heard 
as  long  ago  as  1 7 79,  particularly  from  Baron  S  [teuben] .  But 
all  deficiencies  of  that  period  are  forgotten.  The  fact  was, 
that  in  December  last  the  roads  were  so  intolerably  bad,  the 
country  people  could  not  bring  their  forage  to  market,  though 
actually  offered  the  cash  on  the  delivery.  They  would  sell 
at  their  own  barns ;  but  the  Continental  teams,  which  had 
been  employed  in  the  bad  roads  from  the  time  the  army 
moved  to  winter-quarters,  were  worn  down.  I  was  fully 
aware  of  this  difficulty,  and,  when  the  army  took  the  field 
last  August,  kept  an  office  open  at  Newburgh  on  purpose  to 
receive  and  pay  for  forage,  of  which  I  proposed  to  form 
magazines,  to  last  till  the  first  of  January  at  least ;  but  I 

*  The  allegation  is  countenanced,  however,  by  a  paragraph  in  the  **  Boston 
Daily  Evening  Traveller  "  of  April  21  st,  1866,  in  which  it  is  said  that  a  **  cruel 
experiment  in  France  "  has  shown  that  a  horse  can  live  "  twenty-five  days  with- 
out solid  food,  merely  drinking  water.  He  may  live  seventeen  days  without 
eating  food  or  drinking.  He  can  only  live  five  days  when  consuming  solid  food 
without  drinking."  If  this  statement  is  not  incredible,  it  may  be  presumed  that 
the  horses  were  at  rest  while  subjected  to  the  experiments ;  whereas  those  in 
the  army  would  be  used  until  they  became  unserviceable,  and,  in  consequence, 
would  be  the  sooner  exhausted. 

t  For  instance,  the  like  want  was  felt  in  1780.  See  Marshall's  "  Life  of 
Washington,"  Vol.  IV.  p.  216. 


Mt.  37.]  LIFB  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  393 

never  could  procure  money  enough  to  purchase  the  supplies 
requisite  for  the  army  in  the  field.  As  soon  as  the  snow 
fell,  the  farmers  readily  came  in.  Colonel  Tilghman  came 
to  Philadelphia  about  the  middle  of  December.  Speaking 
of  the  gentlemen  in  my  office,  says  he,  *  They  do  very  well.' 
Whence  you  may  conclude  that  the  evil  complained  of  was 
not  of  long  standing." 

Of  the  numerous  letters  from  Colonel  Pickering  to 
his  wife,  the  following  is  one  of  the  most  remarkable. 
It  is  dated  at  Newburgh,  Sunday  evening,  January 
12th,  1783.  After  expressing  his  affection  for  her  by 
many  terms  of  endearment,  he  goes  on  to  say :  — 

«  My  heart  melts  with  gratitude  to  that  kind  Being  who 
gave  us  life ;  who,  in  ways  so  unlooked  for  and  extraordi- 
nary, effected  our  union;  who  formed  our  minds  m  the 
same  mould  (for  in  what  do  we  not  think  alike?)  and  our 
hearts  with  the  same  tender  passions,  equally  ardent  and 
sincere, — hearts  which  swell  with  mutual  love  —  with  the 
dearest  affection  for  our  amiable  offspring  —  with  sympathy 
for  all  mankind  —  with  equal  gratitude  to  our  beneficent 
Creator. 

"  O  thou  great,  almighty,  self-existent  Being,  by  whom 
are  all  things ;  who  madest  the  world  and  the  inhabitants 
thereof;  who  didst  give  us  understanding  to  see  and  ac- 
knowledge thy  wisdom,  power,  and  goodness,  —  all  glory  be 
to  thee. 

"  Deign,  O  thou  exalted  but  beneficent  Creator,  deign  to 
hear  the  humble  praises,  and  to  listen  to  the  prayers,  of  thy 
lowly  servants  and  suppliants.  Thou  hast  condescended  to 
call  us  thy  offspring.  O,  accept  the  grateful  thanks  of  us 
thy  children.  How  numerous  are  thy  mercies,  O  God ! 
And  who  can  tell  of  all  thy  lovingkindness !  How  won- 
derful our  origin  !  How  feeble  and  helpless  our  infancy  I 
How  surrounded  with  dangers  our  childhood  1  How  ex- 
posed to  temptations  our  youth !     Yet,  O  God,  we  are 

VOL.  L  50 


394  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  FICKERIKa.  [178S. 

supported  and  preserved.  Thy  watchful  providence  has 
been  our  safeguard.  By  thy  power  have  we  been  pro- 
tected. And  thy  goodness  hath  made  us  mutually  happy. 
Oy  still  preserve  us  in  our  riper  years ;  prolong  our  lives ; 
and  let  our  affection  be  commensurate  with  our  days.  0» 
accept  our  ardent  thanks  that  we  are  indulged  with  that 
alleviation  to  the  many  disquietudes  attendant  on  humanity. 
May  the  happiness  we  feel  in  that  affection  lead  us  to  thee, 

0  thou  Source  of  love.  But,  while  our  hearts  expand  with 
conscious  joy,  may  we  recollect  that  our  abode  here  is  tem- 
porary ;  that  we  are  but  sojourners  on  earth ;  that  there  is 
another  and  a  better  country,  of  which  those  who  love  thee 
in  sincerity  shall  become  the  blest  inhabitants.  With  pleas- 
ure, therefore,  let  us  anticipate  our  departure  hence,  after 
we  have  fulfilled  thy  wise  purposes,  O  Almighty  God,  and 
performed  the  various  offices  in  life  which  our  stations  and 
connections  require.  O,  grant  us  the  lives  of  our  tender 
offspring.  May  we  see  them  grow  up  in  thy  fear,  and 
become  extensively  useful  in  society.  Enable  us  to  per- 
form our  duty  towards  them;  and  may  we  experience  all 
those  grateful  returns  which  parental  love  and  filial  affec- 
tion can  give  rise  to.  Happy  in  each  other,  happy  in  our 
children,  and  blessed  with  the  benignant  smiles  of  thy  kind 
providence,  —  grant,  O  most  merciful  God,  that  we  may 
attain  to  a  good  old  age ;  and  then,  if  it  be  thy  will,  may 
we  not  know  the  pangs  of  separation.  Having  our  sins  for- 
given through  the  atonement  of  thy  Son,  our  Saviour,  and 
our  minds,  by  the  constant  practice  of  piety  and  virtue, 
fitted  for  the  society  of  the  happy  spirits  in  heaven,  receive 
us  into  the  mansions  of  eternal  bliss.  And  thine,  O  gracious 
God,  almighty  and  all-wise,  shall  be  the  glory.     Amen. 

"  I  wrote  you,  my  dear  Becky,  a  letter  this  day :  yet  I 
could  not  restrain  my  inclination  to  dwell  on  so  pleasing  a 
subject,  nor  forbear  to  express  those  sentiments  of  warm 
affection  which  irresistibly  urged  me  to  give  them  utterance. 

1  have  been  conducted  involuntarilv  to  the  conclusion  which 
you  have  just  read,  and  thus,  without  design,  fulfilled  my 


JEt.  87.]  LIFE  OP  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  395 

promise,  —  to  compose  and  transmit  you  a  prayer ;  that, 
though  so  far  asunder,  we  might  unite  our  hearts  in  one 
address  to  our  heavenly  Father.  If,  my  dearest,  these 
sentiments  accord  with  your  feelings,  as  I  persuade  myself 
they  will,  let  us  every  day  devoutly  express  them.  They 
will  yield  us  comfort  in  the  repetition,  and  tend  to  establish 
our  hearts  in  piety  and  virtue.* 

**  Farewell,  my  dear  Becky.    Be  Heaven's  peculiai*  care." 

In  allusion  to  the  foregoing  letter,  he  wrote  to  Mrs. 
Pickering  on  the  19th  of  January :  — 

«  The  letter  which  accompanies  this  was  written,  as  you 
will  see  by  the  date,  a  week  since ;  but  no  good  private  con- 
veyance has  presented.  I  was  sorry  for  the  delay,  for  I 
fondly  hoped  the  perusal  would  give  you  pleasure  equal  to 
mine  in  writing  it." 

In  the  same  letter  of  the  19th  he  mentions  the  receipt 
of  one  dated  "Salem,  the  4th  of  January,"  from  his 
brother-in-law  Williams,  informing  him  of  losses  sus- 
tained, by  some  of  his  relations,  by  British  captures; 
also  telling  him  that  his  mother  grows  old  and  somewhat 
childish,  that  she  mourns  the  absence  of  him  and  his 
family,  and  that  a  few  lines  to  her  would  please  her 
much.     Colonel  Pickering  says :  — 

*  In  the  *'  London  AthensBum  "  for  the  12th  of  February,  1859,  is  a  letter 
from  the  late  Baron  Aiderson  to  his  son  at  school,  exhibiting  a  similaritj  of 
sentiment.  He  says,  **  I  think  of  you  every  day,  morning  and  eyening  in 
particular,  and  please  myself  in  thinking,  that  when  papa  and  mamma  are 
praying  for  their  dear  boy,  he  may  be  doing  so  for  them.  There  is  a  story 
of  two  lorers,  who  agreed  at  the  same  hour  to  go  and  look  at  the  moon  every 
moonlight  night ;  and  that  was  a  tie  between  them,  for  they  felt  as  if  they  were 
together.  How  much  better  is  it  to  be  looking,  not  to  the  thing  created,  but 
to  God  himself  I  That  is  indeed  to  be  together  really :  to  be  praying  all  of  us 
at  once  to  him,  is  to  be,  as  it  were,  united  through  him  for  ever,  and  to  make 
a  beginning  of  heaven  on  earth.  My  own  dear  boy  wiU  remember  this,  and 
we  shall  not  be  separaled  then,  but  every  day  IJe  together  in  spirit,  if  not  in 
bodily  presence." 


396  LIFE    OF    TIMOTHY   PICKERING.  [1783. 

"  I  will  enclose  you  Mr.  Williams's  letter.  You  will  there 
see,  and  regret,  the  misfortunes  of  our  friends.  These, 
among  a  thousand  others  daily  occurring,  admonish  us  to 
beware  of  indulging  too  fond  hopes  of  prosperity,  even 
amidst  the  most  promising  views.  .  .  .  What  is  there  on 
eailh  to  bind  us  to  it?  Nought,  my  dearest  life,  but  the 
tender  feelings  of  domestic  connections.  My  wife !  My 
children !  These  are  the  endearing  names  which  soften 
every  fibre ;  which  make  me  forget  the  numerous  ills  of 
life,  and  wish  to  live.  But  is  it  desirable  to  reach  to 'great 
old  age  ?  Certainly  not.  The  moment  our  reason  and  use- 
fulness begin  to  fail,  we  should  pray,  if  it  were  the  will  of 
Heaveu,  to  be  taken  hence.  You  will  see  in  Mr.  Williams's 
letter  what  suggested  to  me  this  reflection.  In  consequence 
I  have  written  a  short  letter,  of  which  the  enclosed  is  a 
copy.*  I  thought  it  would  soothe  and  comfort  old  age. 
The  name  of  mother  is  to  be  respected.  An  aged  mother 
demands  my  veneration.  You  know,  too,  my  dear  Becky, 
who  was  her  darling  son  !  I  hope  I  feel  a  becoming  grati- 
tude for  her  unbounded  tenderness  and  care. 

"I  had  a  large  table  set  yesterday.  Mrs.  Washington 
and  Mrs.  Hand  f  honored  me  with  their  company.  They 
expressed  their  wishes  that  you  had  been  here :  but  what 
were  mine,  do  you  think,  my  dear  Becky?    Yet  my  heart 

*  *'Dear  and  Honored  Mother, 

"Although  the  long  period  of  four  years  has  elapsed  since  I  had  the 
happiness  to  see  jou,  yet  I  have  continuallj  borne  you  in  my  memory  with 
that  respect  and  affection  which  were  due  to  you.  I  did  hope  to  see  Salem 
this  winter,  but  it  is  impossible.  The  war,  I  trust,  will  soon  end,  and  then 
I  shall  have  that  pleasure. 

"  You  have  been  informed  of  the  sickness  of  my  wife  and  children  last 
fall,  and  of  their  recovery.  The  three  boys,  I  persuade  myself,  would  give 
you  a  great  deal  of  pleasure  could  you  see  them.  The  youngest,  Henry,  I 
think,  resembles  you  greatly,  much  more  than  either  of  the  others.  His 
mamma  is  of  the  same  opinion.  John  is  grown  a  lusty  feUow.  He  is 
thoughtful,  careful,  and  very  docile.  Tim  is  active,  sprightly,  and  full  of 
frolic.  Harry  promises  to  be  what  we  could  wish  him.  I  have  given  you 
this  account  of  my  family  because  the  relation  I  know  will  give  you  pleasure. 
I  remain  your  dutiful  son,  T.  Fickerimo/' 

t  Wife  of  Edward  Hand,  the  Adjutant-General. 


iET.  37.]  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING*  397 

is  divided ;  and  when  I  wish  you  with  me,  I  check  myself, 
and  ask,  What  then  would  become  of  our  dear  boys?  Be- 
sides, I  do  not  desire  you  to  be  a  witness  of  the  numerous 
disquietudes  to  which  I  am  exposed.  Towards  evening,  I 
had  just  handed  Mrs.  Washington  and  Mrs.  Hand  to  their 
carriages,  and  turned  round  to  go  into  the  house,  when  a 
sheriff  presented  me  with  a  writ  I  It  gave  me  no  alarm ;  and 
do  not  suffer  it,  my  dear,  to  discompose  even  your  counte- 
nance. It  was  for  a  public  debt,  said  to  be  due  to  a  man  whom 
I  never  saw  nor  heard  of.  It  seems  that  he  had  been  buying 
up  my  certificates,*  and  on  them  grounded  his  action.  I 
have  given  bail,  and  mean  to  defend  the  suit  to  the  last 
extremity.  None  but  men  who  deserve  worse  names  than 
I  choose  to  give  them  would  bring  such  vexatious  suits : 
if  it  be  possible,  I  will  disappoint  them.  But  what  a  ciiiel 
oppression  is  this,  —  that,  when  the  public  is  unable  to  pay 
its  debts,  its  innocent  servants  must  be  made  personally 
liable !  Congress  recommended  the  prohibition  of  such 
suits ;  but  this  State  did  not  adopt  the  recommendation. 
With  equal  justice  upwards  of  ten  thousand  such  suits 
might  be  brought  against  me.  If  in  the  end  I  get  into  a 
stronger  house  than  is  necessary  to  hold  me,  I  must  send 
for  you  to  live  in  the  neighborhood.  One  comfort,  at  least, 
will  arise,  —  I  shall  have  a  respite  from  public  business,  and 
leisure  to  pay  my  attentions  to  you.  Be  cheerful  and  easy, 
my  dear  Becky,  as  I  am  at  this  moment :  kind  Heaven  will 
be  our  Guardian.     Adieu." 

On  the  27th  of  January  be  tells  Mrs.  Pickering  that 
he  is  solicitous  to  have  her  acknowledge  the  receipt  of 
the  letters  of  the  12th  and  19th,  adding,  "  I  esteem 
them  more  (and  I  hope  you  will  think  them  more  val- 
uable) than  any  I  ever  wrote  you." 

Immediately  after  his  arrest,  he  addressed  a  letter  f 

*  Specie  certificates,  signed  and  issued  by  Colonel  Pickering  as  Quarter- 
master-General.   See  page  256 ;  also  Journals  of  Congress,  August  23d,  1780. 
t  See  Sparks's  "  Correspondence  of  the  Revolution,"  Vol.  III.  p.  544. 


398  LIFE  OP  TIMOTHY  PICKERINa  [1788. 

• 

to  General  Washington,  mentioning  the  fact,  and  that, 
to  prevent  any  injury  to  the  public  by  taking  him  from 
his  office,  he  had  given  bail ;  that  the  plaintiff,  Melano- 
thon  L.  Wolsey,  was  said  to  be  a  trader  at  Poughkeep- 
sie,  who  had  been  purchasing,  at  a  very  great  discount, 
specie  certificates  signed  by  Colonel  Pickering;  that 
the  suit  was  doubtless  grounded  on  such  certificates ; 
and  that  the  State  of  New  York  had  not  complied  with 
the  recommendation  of  Congress  to  pass  a  law  exempt- 
ing public  officers  from  such  suits.*  The  letter  con- 
cludes :  — 

"  I  am  singularly  unfortunate  in  being  subjected  to  suits 
on  specie  certificates ;  for  it  was  at  my  instance  that  Con- 
gress passed  the  act  authorizing  me  to  issue  them.  My 
motive  was  to  do  the  best  possible  justice  to  the  public 
creditors,  by  fixing  their  dues  in  specie,  and  allowing  them 
the  interest  of  their  money,  which  I  saw  it  was  impossible 
for  the  public  promptly  to  pay.'* 

In  a  letter  to  Mr.  Hodgdon,  of  January  21st,  on  this 
subject,  he  says :  — 

<'I  will  disappoint  the  vexatious  suitor.  I  will  much 
rather  go  to  jail  than  show  him  any  public  property  to 
satisfy  his  debt ;  and,  thank  God,  I  have  no  private  prop- 
erty in  the  State." 

He  was  not,  however,  reduced  to  the  alternative  of 
either  paying  the  debt  or  going  to  jail.  In  a  letter  of 
the  2d  of  April,  to  Mrs.  Pickering,  he  says:  — 

<<  With  unusual  pleasure,  my  dearest,  I  now  write  you 
concerning  myself.  This  State  [New  York]  has  passed  a 
law  respecting  suits  against  public  officers  for  public  debts, 
which  will  insure  me  from  a  jail  at  least  eleven  months ; 
and  the  same  reasons  which  they  mention  as  the  ground  of 

*  JoomalB  of  Ck>ngTe80,  March  19th,  1782. 


-Et-37.]  life  of  timothy  PICKERING.  399 

the  Act  must  produce  a  continuance  of  it  if  requisite ;  so  I 
am  easy  on  this  score.** 

In  the  following  passages  in  two  letters  to  his  wife, 
on  the  celebration  of  the  anniversary  of  the  alliance 
with  France,  he  speaks  of  a  building  erected  for  the 
use  of  the  officers  of  the  army,  and  proposed  to  be  called 
The  Tempk  of  Virtue ;  but  at  the  dedication  it  was  better 
named  simply  The  Temple^  —  a  name,  however,  seldom 
applied,  as  in  this  instance  it  was,  to  a  hg-hovM.  It  was 
in  this  building  that  Washington  afterwards  assembled 
the  oflScers  of  the  army,  to  take  into  consideration  the 
noted  "  Newburgh  Addresses." 

"NswBUBOH,  Febmary  5th,  1783. 

*<  Mr.  Lloyd  is  still  h^ere,  but  will  be  ready  to  set  off  to- 
morrow if  he  pleases.  But  perhaps  he  will  stay  to  see  the 
review  of  the  troops  and  the  celebration  of  the  treaty  of 
alliance  between  the  United  States  and  France,  the  anni- 
versary of  which  fortunate  event  recurs  to-morrow. 

"  Perhaps  you  have  heard  of  a  large  building  erecting  for 
the  common  use  of  the  officers  of  the  army.  Dr.  Evans, 
one  of  our  chaplains,  was,  I  believe,  its  projector.  He  ex- 
pects to  preach  in  it  on  Sundays.  The  officers  expect  to 
have  their  dancing  assemblies  there.  To-morrow  they  will 
meet  there  to  give  and  receive  the  congratulations  which 
the  anniversary  suggests.  The  Commander-in-Chief  has 
ordered  a  cold  collation  to  be  provided  there  for  all  the 
officers  of  the  army,  and  the  gentlemen  and  ladies  in  the 
neighborhood.  If  you  and  I  took  pleasure  in  public  assem- 
blies, I  should  wish  you  there  with  me ;  but  such  bustling 
scenes,  so  far  from  pleasing,  disturb  my  tranquillity.  It  is 
in  a  small,  select  society  only  that  we  must  look  for  pleasure  ; 
for  there  alone  resort  friendship  and  sincerity.*' 

•  See  LosBing'B  "  Pictorial  Field-Book  of  the  Revolution,*'  Vol.  II.  pp. 
117,  118,  where  the  building  U  described  and  represented. 


400  LIFB  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  [178S. 

"Febniaiy  6th,  Erening,  9  o'clock. 

"I  have  returned  from  the  'Temple  of  Virtue.'  Alas! 
how  little  will  it  deserve  the  name  1  for  how  little  virtue 
is  there  among  mankind  I  How  small  the  number  whose 
actions  are  not  dictated  by  their  interest  or  passions  !  AVith 
that  small  number  it  would  be  a  happiness  to  dwell.  Some 
such  there  are  in  every  society.  Some  such  will  occasiou- 
ally  enter  the  army's  public  building,  and  give  color  for  the 
title  the  good  Doctor  has  chosen  for  it.  He  pronounced 
an  oration  in  it  to-day  to  a  crowded  audience.  The  Com- 
mander-in-Chief and  all  the  officers  were  there  assembled. 
Mrs.  AVashington,  Mrs.  Knox,  Mrs.  Hand,  and  some  others 
of  the  sex  were  present.  You  have  lost  nothing  by  being 
absent.  Even  the  oration  fell  vastly  short  of  my  expecta- 
tions. Whole  years  so  spent  would  yield  me  less  pleasure 
than  with  thee,  my  love,  one  single  day.  O,  indulgent 
Heaven,  hasten  the  time  when  we  shall  meet  again,  no  more 
to  part.  But,  ah  I  my  love,  what  do  we  promise  to  our- 
selves in  future  time  ?  You  know,  that  though  I  am  frugal, 
yet  I  am  not  thrifty ;  and  by  my  personal  industry  I  must 
acquire  the  means  of  supporting  thee  and  thy  sweet  boys. 
Thy  diligence  also  must  aid  my  labor." 

He  expresses  his  opinion  that  she  will  be  content 
to  dwell  in  a  cottage  and  not  repine  at  the  homely  fore 
their  own  fields  shall  supply,  if  Heaven  so  ordain ;  but 
his  prayers  will  ask  for  her  an  easier  lot. 

In  the  early  part  of  1783  it  was  supposed  that  Gen- 
eral Lincoln  was  about  to  resign  the  office  of  Secretary 
of  War;  in  relation  to  which  Colonel  Henry  R  Lut- 
terloh,  a  Prussian,  who  had  recently  served  as  Commis- 
sary-General of  Forage  under  Colonel  Pickering,  wrote 
to  him  the  following  affectionate  letter,  dated  the  11th 
of  February :  — 

^  As  General  Lincoln's  post  is  to  be  vacant,  I  would  advise 
you,  as  a  friend,  to  take  it.     I  am  well  persuaded  you  con 


iEx.  37.]  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  401 

get  it ;  and  I  am  also  certain  that  the  public  will  have  more 
decisive  service  done,  and  you  will  please  the  army  better, 
and  live  happier  with  your  own  family.  Mrs.  Pickering  will 
like  it  better.  And  in  that  post  you  can  make  plans  for 
the  best  [good]  of  the  army,  and  save  the  public  large  sums, 
which  nobody  else  will  be  able  to  do.  Excuse  my  hints, 
which  flow  out  of  a  heart  that  wishes  you  well.  Pray  give 
my  respects  to  Mrs.  Pickering,  and  believe  me  to  be,  with 
great  esteem,*'  &c. 

In  two  letters  to  his  brother-in-law,  Mr.  George 
Williams,  both  dated  "Philadelphia,  February  17th, 
1783,"  Colonel  Pickering  unfolds  a  plan  of  entering  into 
mercantile  business.     He  says :  — 

"  I  have  been  here  two  or  three  days  on  public  business. 
Since  my  arrival,  such  intelligence  has  been  received  as 
renders  a  speedy  peace  indubitable.  This  agreeable  pros- 
pect has  determined  me  to  mention,  what  for  some  time 
past  I  have  had  in  contemplation  to  propose  as  soon  as  the 
war  should  be  happily  terminated :  this  is,  to  undertake 
in  this  city  the  management  of  mercantile  business  on 
commission  for  my  friends  and  such  other  gentlemen  at  the 
eastward  as  should  think  proper  to  employ  me.  Having 
spent  so  many  years  in  the  service  of  my  country,  person- 
ally so  unprofitably,  and  having  a  family  to  provide  for, 
my  thoughts  have  been  necessarily  turned  to  the  means  of 
making  such  provision  where  there  was  the  greatest  proba- 
bility of  success,  as  in  the  business  above  mentioned.  A 
very  considerable  intercourse  between  the  Eastern  States 
and  this  city  formerly  subsisted,  and  I  suppose  will  soon  be 
resumed.  The  connections  requisite  for  this  end,  I  imagine, 
are  not  yet  gencnvUy  formed.  I  am  therefore  solicitous  to 
have  my  intentions  immediately  made  known  to  my  friends 
and  acquaintances  at  the  eastward,  and  that  they  will  do  me 
the  kind  office  to  communicate  them  to  such  others  as  they 
judge  can  forward  my  views. 

VOL.  L  51 


4C2  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  [1788. 

^  That  a  prompt  and  punctual  attention  might  at  all  times 
be  paid  to  the  commands  of  my  friends  and  others,  I  thought 
it  would  be  expedient  to  form  here  a  connection  with  a  gen- 
tleman equally  disposed  with  myself  to  serve  them  faithfully. 
This  consideration,  and  a  knowledge  of  his  acquaintance 
with  business,  has  determined  me  to  propose  to  Mr.  Samuel 
Hodgdon,  of  Boston,  who  is  well  known  to  you,  and  who 
for  several  years  has  resided  here,  to  undertake  the  business 
jointly  with  me.  This  he  has  agreed  to.  ...  We  are 
both  at  present  in  public  service ;  but,  as  soon  as  peace  shall 
be  established,  we  shall  be  ready  to  execute  the  orders  of 
our  correspondents.     .  .  . 

"  You  know  my  circumstances  too  well  to  suffer  any  mer- 
chants to  expect,  at  the  commencement  of  the  business,  that 
we  shall  make  any  advances.  Whatever  remittances  they 
shall  make,  and  whatever  merchandise  they  shall  consign  to 
us,  will  be  diligently  and  faithfully  applied  and  disposed  of 
for  their  benefit. 

"  It  is  possible  that  the  Revolution  in  America  may  give  a 
new  turn  even  to  our  home  commerce,  and  that  the  trade 
of  the  Eastern  States  may  be  transferred  from  Pennsylvania 
to  Maryland  and  Virginia,  from  whence  tobacco,  as  well  as 
flour,  may  be  now  fi'eely  exported.  I  wish  you,  therefore, 
to  take  this  into  consideration,  to  learn  the  opinion  of  the 
merchants  thereon,  and  to  advise  me  accordingly.** 

Mr.  Williams,  in  his  reply,  dated  "  Salem,  March  23d,* 
communicates  information  and  advice,  and  promises 
his  aid,  but  says  that  some  of  Colonel  Pickering's  near 
friends  disapprove  of  his  plan,  thinking  that  he  might 
get  a  good  living  in  Salem,  and  that  he  has  been 
much  talked  of  as  a  candidate  to  fill  a  vacancy  then 
existing  on  the  bench  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  Mas- 
sachusetts. 

Indulging  m  agreeable  anticipations  of  success  in  his 


^T.  37.]  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  403 

commercial  project,  Colonel  Pickering  wrote  to  his  wife, 
in  the  letter  of  April  2d,*  before  quoted :  — 

"The  other  cause  of  my  present  satisfaction  is  a  letter 
from  Jbrother  Williams,  which  is  just  come  to  haud.  .  .  . 
He  informs  me  that  the  merchants  of  Salem  will  give  me 
their  business  at  Philadelphia,  and  Andrew  Cabot  has  prom- 
ised all  their  business  from  Beverly.  .  .  .  Mr.  AVilliams 
will  speak  to  the  other  Eastern  merchants  as  he  meets  them. 
He  approves  of  my  plan,  and  says  he  had  often  thought 
of  it  for  me.  My  brother  gives  his  consent.  I  had  a 
letter  from  him  a  day  or  two  since.  He  says,  if  I  should 
go  to  settle  at  Salem  again,  the  voice  of  my  country  would 
introduce  me  to  any  vacant  office  ;  but  you  know  my  mind 
on  that  head.  Upon  the  whole,  my  dear  Becky,  the  pros- 
pect is  pleasing  as  I  could  wish ;  and  I  trust  we  shall  be 
able  to  live  agreeably,  especially  as  you  have  no  vanity,  and 
I  no  ambition,  to  prompt  us  to  live  above  our  income." 

The  following  letter,  dated  "  Newburgh,  the  6th  of 
March,  1783,"  to  Mr.  Hodgdon,  contains  speculations  of 
Colonel  Pickering  on  the  prospect  of  peace,  and  on  the 
probable  views  and  conduct  of  Great  Britain :  — 

"  You  ask  my  opinion  about  peace.  With  pleasure  I  give 
it.  I  think  it  is  near  at  hand.  Or,  if  there  be  not  a  general 
peace,  yet  I  think  Britain  will  cease  all  hostilities  against 
the  United  States  by  water. 

"Everybody  sees  how  solicitous  she  is  to  recover  our 
affections,  for  the  sake  of  regaining  our  trade.  If  the  war 
continues,  now  that  the  terms  of  peace  between  her  and  us 
are  agreed  on,  Britain  will  endeavor  to  throw  the  odium  of 
it  on  France,  to  exasperate  her  own  subjects,  and,  if  possible, 
to  inspire  us  with  the  like  sentiments.  Suppose,  besides, 
that  Britain  should  recall  her  commissions  for  making  prizes 

*  See  page  S98. 


404  LIFE    OF   TIMOTHY   PICKERING.  [1783. 

of  American  vessels,  declaring  that  no  unarmed  American 
vessels  should  be  subject  to  capture,  —  what  would  follow? 
The  merchants  would,  to  a  man,  strip  their  vessels  in- 
stantly of  all  their  warlike  furniture,  and,  with  the  same 
hands,  provisions,  and  expense,  presently  fit  out  double, 
triple,  and  quadruple  the  number  of  ships  and  vessels  now 
employed,  and  with  proportionate  profits.  Thus  the  British 
commerce  would,  in  turn,  be  left  unmolested  by  us,  except- 
ing only  by  our  two  public  frigates,  —  which  would  recipro- 
cally be  subject  to  capture;  and,  with  great  success,  the 
prizes  which  two  frigates  could  make  would  not  be  worth  a 
minute's  consideration.  I  am  speaking  now  on  supposition 
that  the  war  continues ;  for  we  can  have  no  peace  by  treaty 
/  without  the  concurrence  of  France,  though  I  believe  we 
shall  have  a  peace  in  fact. 

"  You  will  readily  trace  the  numerous  advantages  Britain 
will  derive  from  such  a  stroke  of  policy.  We  cannot  trade 
directly  to  her  dominions ;  but  her  merchants  will  carry 
their  merchandises  to  every  neutral  poH  in  Europe  and 
America,  where  the  American  vessels  will  infallibly  receive 
them,  whatever  attempts  are  made  to  prevent  it.  This  very 
consideration,  too,  may  have  some  influence  with  France  to 
induce  her  more  readily  to  agree  to  a  peace.  And  if  France, 
to  whom  we  are  under  so  many  obligations,  can  be  satis- 
fied, I  confess  I  care  little  for  our  other  associates  in  war. 
Neither  Spain  nor  Holland  had  the  smallest  regard  to  us  in 
entering  into  the  war :  *  I  feel,  therefore,  very  indiflTerent 
about  their  interests;  and  Britain  has  not  gained  enough 
from  either  to  aflTect  the  balance  of  power  in  Europe.  The 
time  will  come,  if  we  remain  united,  when  we  shall  hold  the 
scales. 

"These  hints  are  enough;  nor  have  I  now  time  to  en- 
large.    .  .  . 

*  In  an  oflScial  letter  of  the  16th  of  January,  1797,  to  General  Pinckney, 
Minister  Plenipotentiary  of  the  United  States  at  Paris,  he  shows  that,  by  their 
own  declarations,  this  is  equally  true  of  the  Court  of  France.  See  American 
State  Papers,  Wait's  edition,  Vol.  II.  p.  48. 


^r.  37.]  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  HCKERINO.  405 

"  P.  S.  If  my  conjectures  prove  true.  New  York  will  soon 
be  evacuated,  pai-t  of  the  garrison  goiug  to  Canada,  aud  the 
rest  to  the  West  Indies." 

He  wrote  again  to  Mr.  Hodgdon,  on  the  11th  of 
March,  upon  the  same  subject,  giving  the  sentiments 
of  two  of  his  old  friends  (Tories),  then  in  the  city  of 
New  York. 

"  I  lately  wrote  you  my  sentiments  in  regard  to  peace. 
Since  then  a  Sulemite,  from  New  York,  passing  here  [New- 
burgh],  showed  me  some  open  letters  from  divers  refugees 
there,  among  the  rest  Parson  Walter  (my  old  schoolmaster, 
who  sent  me  his  compliments) ,  who  says, '  There  will  doubt- 
less be  peace  this  summer,  at  least  with  America.'  Another 
letter  announces,  in  the  strongest  terms,  the  near  approach 
of  peace.  Waiter  talks  about  staying  befiind  after  the  gar- 
rison departs,  —  is  assured  by  his  friends  he  may,  notwith- 
staudiug  he  is  a  '  proscribed  traitor,'  —  but  says  he  will  not 
continue  '  if  he  must  encounter  sour  looks  and  ill  treatment.' 
My  old  chum,  Upham,  the  lawyer,  who  married  Murray's 
daughter,  is  aid  to  Sir  Guy  [Carleton] .  He  has,  I  perceive, 
a  daughter  in  Boston,  and,  in  bis  letter  to  his  friend  there, 
expresses  an  expectation  or  hope  of  returning.  Upham  is 
a  good-hearted  fellow,  and  pi-obably  would  not  have  joined 
the  enemy  but  for  his  marriage  connectiona." 


406  LIFE  OP  TIMOTHT  PICKERING.  [1783. 


CHAPTER   XXIX. 

The  '*  Newbargh  Addresses.*'  — Letter  from  John  Armstrong,  signed 
'^  John  Montgars,"  respecting  them.  —  Representations  bj  Arm- 
strong of  the  Object  of  the  Addresses. 

TowABDS  the  end  of  the  war  great  uneasiness  pre- 
vailed among  the  officers  and  soldiers  of  the  American 
army  in  regard  to  the  compensation  due  for  their  ser- 
vices. In  consequence,  in  the  month  of  December,  1 782, 
a  memorial  on  the  subject  was  drawn  up,  and  a  com- 
mittee of  officers  selected  to  lay  it  before  Congress,  then 
sitting  at  Philadelphia.  A  report  was  received  from 
the  committee  which  was  not  satisfactory  to  the  officers 
of  the  army,  and  on  the  10th  of  March,  1783,  the  first 
of  the  anonymous  inflammatory  letters,  well  known 
under  the  name  of  the  "Newburgh  Addresses,"  was 
circulated  in  the  camp  at  Newburgh.  At  the  same 
time  the  general  oflScers,  the  field  officers,  and  some  of 
a  lower  rank,  were  requested,  by  an  anonymous  notifi- 
cation, to  meet,  on  the  11th  of  March,  1783,  to  consider 
what  measures  should  be  adopted  to  obtain  a  redress 
of  their  grievances.  The  Commander-in-Chief,  in  gen- 
eral orders,  reprobated  this  invitation  as  an  irregular 
proceeding,  and  requested  the  officers  to  assemble  on 
the  15th,  to  hear  the  report  of  their  committee.* 

On  the  14th,  Colonel  Pickering  wrote  to  his  wife, 
then  at  the  Falls  of  Schuylkill :  — 

"  My  journey  to  Albany  is  deLayed  on  account  of  a  meet- 
ing of  the  officers  of  the  army,  which  is  to  be  to-morrow,  to 

•  See  Spark8*8  »*  Writings  of  Washington,"  Vol.  VIII.  p.  652. 


Mt.  87.]  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  407 

consider  of  a  representation  they  shall  make  to  Congress  for 
the  purpose  of  obtaining  such  decisions  as  will  secure  the 
settlement  of  their  accounts,  and  the  ultimate  payment  of 
their  debts.  If  the  business  is  conducted  with  prudence,  it 
may  have  the  best  effects  in  promoting  the  success  of  those 
salutary  measures,  proposed  and  proposing  by  Congress,  for 
the  purpose  of  establishing  such  permanent  revenues  as  will 
insure  the  payment  of  the  army  and  other  public  creditors. 
In  this  view  the  meeting  has  my  hearty  concurrence.  But 
should  rashness  govern  the  proceedings,  the  consequences 
may  be  such  as  are  dreadful  even  in  idea.  God  forbid  the 
event  should  be  so  calamitous  I " 

Nearly  thirty^seven  years  later,  a  correspondence  con- 
cerning the  Newburgh  Addresses  was  commenced  by  a 
letter  to  Colonel  Pickering,  dated  "Albany,  January 
20th,  1820,"  and  signed  "John  Montgars,"  in  which  the 
writer  says  he  has  been  employed,  for  several  years,  uponi 
a  history  of  the  United  States,  and  has  brought  down 
the  work  to  the  time  when  the  anonymous  letters  made 
their  appearance ;  and  he  requests  Colonel  Pickering'^ 
"  recollections  of  this  aflFair." 

Colonel  Pickering  sent  an  answer,  but,  as  he  had 
never  before  heard  of  a  person  named  John  Montgar^ 
he  declined  a  compliance  with  his  request  It  appeared 
afterwards,  by  the  acknowledgment  of  John  Armstrong, 
that  the  letter  was  written  by  him  under  the  assumed 
name  of  John  Moniffars. 

This  correspondence  will  illustrate  the  fallibility  of 
memory  as  to  events  of  distant  date,  however  im- 
portant, even  in  persons  who  were  deeply  interested 
in  them  at  the  time  of  their  occurrence. 

The  letter  sigiied  "John  Montgars"  was  as  fol- 
lows:— 


408  life  of  timothy  pickering.  [1788. 

"Sir, 

"  I  have  been  employed,  for  some  years  past,  in  writing 
the  military  and  political  history  of  the  United  States,  and 
have  brought  down  the  work  to  the  last  year  of  the  war  of 
the  Revolution,  when  the  anonymous  letters  made  their 
appearance.  On  comparing  the  accounts,  as  well  written 
as  verbal,  given  of  the  character  and  object  of  these  papers, 
I  find  much  diversity  of  opinion  and  statement. 

"  Ist.  They  are  represented  by  some  as  part  of  a  delib- 
erate and  studied  plan  to  break  down  the  civil  authority, 
and  to  erect  on  its  ruins  a  military  despotism,  and  that  it 
required  the  vast  influence  of  General  Washington  to  pre- 
vent this  dreadful  catastrophe. 

<*  2d.  That  the  clamor  was  altogether  artificial,  and  em- 
ployed only  to  give  a  sort  of  political  and  moral  finishing 
to  the  character  of  Washington  and  the  army. 

"  3d.  That  the  letters  were  projected  and  written  merely 
as  auxiliaries  to  the  fiscal  measures  of  that  day. 

"  Those  who  hold  the  first  of  these  opinions  appear  to 
rely  on  some  insulated  passages  found  in  the  letters  them- 
selves ;  on  the  resolution  of  the  oflScers  rejecting  the  advice 
they  contained  ;  and  on  the  acrimony  with  which  the  General 
speaks  of  the  designs  of  the  writer. 

"  Those  who  hold  the  second  opinion  quote  only  the  im- 
punity of  the  author,  the  continued  friendship  and  confi- 
dence in  which  he  lived  with  the  first  officers  of  the  army 
so  long  as  it  remained  together,  and  the  succession  of  high 
political  trusts  which  he  has  held  since.  It  is  evident,  how- 
ever, that,  striking  as  these  facts  are,  they  ai'e  not  sufficient 
to  justify  the  conclusion,  that  a  man  of  Washington's  habit- 
ual dignity  and  uprightness  would  connive  at  a  pantomime 
of  the  kind  alleged,  and  much  less  that  he  would  make  him- 
self the  Punchinello  of  the  show. 

"The  third  opinion  holds  a  middle  place  between  the 
solemnity  of  the  first  and  the  levity  of , the  second,  and 
takes  as  its  foundation  some  highly  important  and  acknowl- 
edged facts,  to  wit,  the  derangement  in  the  public  finances ; 


i&r.  87.]  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERINQ.  409 

the  fears  and  sufferings  of  public  creditors,  civil  and  mili- 
tjiry ;  the  recommendation  of  a  national  impost  by  Congress 
as  the  only  efficient  means  of  complying  with  the  public 
engagements ;  the  adoption  of  this  measure  by  nine  States 
out  of  the  twelve,  and  the  very  pertinacious  and  highly  cen- 
surable rejection  of  it  by  Ehode  Island.  Other  facts,  less 
known,  give  this  opinion  much  appearance  of  probability, 
particularly  the  mission  to  the  army  of  Colonel  W.  Stewart 
from  the  seat  of  government,  and  the  representations  made 
by  him  of  the  prevailing  sentiment  of  Congress  and  of  the 
Department  of  Finance,  on  the  necessity  of  the  army's 
peaking  a  more  decisive  language  than  had  been  hitherto 
held.  But,  on  this  supposition,  the  difficulty  recurs,  —  why 
such  importance  given  to  transactions  of  so  harmless  a  char- 
acter as  to  means ^  and  so  useful  as  to  object?  The  supple- 
mentary facts,  it  is  said,  explain  this  difficulty.  They  are 
stated  to  be  as  follows,  namely :  that,  while  these  measures 
were  maturing,  through  the  agency  of  Stewart  and  other- 
wise, and  while  appearances  justified  the  belief  that  the 
course  indicated  for  the  army  would  be  promptly  and  gen- 
erally adopted,  a  letter  was  received  by  the  Commander-in- 
Chief  from  a  Mr.  Hardy,  of  Virginia,  then  a  member  of 
Congress,  advising  him  that  a  conspiracy  of  the  very  worst 
character^  having  for  object  the  demolition  of  our  free  con-- 
stitutionSj  and  the  destruction  of  the  General's  authority^ 
was  in  embryo,  and  would  soon  show  itself  in  some  overt 
act ;  and  that  Robert  and  Gouverneur  Morris  and  Alexander 
Hamilton,  &c.,  were  at  the  bottom  of  the  plan;  that  infor- 
mation like  this,  coming  from  a  quarter  in  the  probity  and 
intelligence  of  which  the  General  placed  entire  confidence, 
could  not  pass  unheeded;  and  that  so  soon,  therefore,  as 
the  first  Address  appeared,  it  was  identified  with  the  schemes 
of  these  supposed  conspirators,  and  measures  were  immedi- 
ately taken  to  stigmatize  the  author,  and  defeat  the  advice 
he  had  given ;  that  accordingly,  when  the  officers  assembled, 
the  Commander-in-Chief  opened  the  discussion  with  a  speech, 
strongly  marked  with  suspicion  of  the  designs  of  the  writer 

VOL.   L  62 


410  LIFE  OP  TIMOTHT  PICKEBING.  [1788, 

or  writers ;  and  to  show  that  this  was  neither  hastily  nor 
unadvisedly  entertained,  he  read  to  the  meeting  the  letter 
of  Mr.  Hardy  aforesaid^  or  an  extract  from  it,  containing 
the  statetnent  above  given ;  and  that  upon  this  were  founded 
the  measures  subsequently  taken  by  the  officers. 

^  In  this  view  of  the  subject  most  of  the  difficulties 
attending  it  disappear.  Hardy's  assertions  or  insinuations, 
though  no  doubt  well  meant,  were  ill  founded,  and  led  to 
suspicions  which  ought  never  to  have  been  excited.  As, 
however,  this  conclusion  turns  altogether  on  the  truth  of 
the  facts  alleged,  and  as  these  may  have  been  misrepre- 
sented, my  apology  for  giving  you  the  trouble  of  reading 
this  long  letter,  and  for  requesting  from  you  your  recollec- 
tions of  this  affair,  is  purely  a  desire  to  see  truth  prevail ; 
for,  in  the  language  of  Tacitus,  I  am  able  to  say,  *Mihi 
Galba^  Otho^  Vitellius^  nee  beneficio  nee  injurid  cogniti.* 

'^  Your  answer,  by  mail,  addressed  to  me  at  this  place, 
and  under  cover  to  Jesse  Buel,  Esq.,  will  reach  me  prompt- 
ly and  safely,  and  confer  a  great  obligation  on, 

"  Sir,  your  most  respectful  and  obedient  servant, 

"John  Montgabs.'' 


JEt.  87.]  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHT  PICEESING.  411 


CHAPTER   XXX. 

Statement  respectiDg  the  Newburgh  Addresses,  in  a  Review  by 
Armstrong,  in  1823.  —  Letter  to  the  Commander-in-Chief  mis- 
represented as  implicating  Robert  and  Gouvemeur  Morris  and 
Alexander  Hamilton  in  a  Plot  to  displace  him. — The  Part  taken 
by  Colonel  Pickering  relative  to  the  Newburgh  Addresses. — 
Letter  purporting  to  be  written  in  1797  by  Washington  to 
Armstrong.  —  Its  Genuineness  questioned.  —  Recollections  and 
Reasonings  of  Colonel  Pickering  and  Governor  Brooks  respect- 
ing the  Addresses.  —  Armstrong's  Reasons  for  using  the  Sig- 
nature ^'  Montgars.''  —  Dr.  Eustis  accused  of  writing  the 
Addresses. 

No  further  notice  was  taken  by  Colonel  Pickering  of 
Armstrong's  letter  until  after  the  appearance,  in  ^  The 
United  States  Magazine  and  Literary  and  Political  Re- 
pository "  for  January,  1823,  of  a  review  of  Johnson's 
"  Sketches  of  the  life  and  Correspondence  of  Nathanael 
Greene,  Major-General,"  &c.  In  this  review  it  is  said, 
that,  in  the  autumn  of  1782,  a  memorial  to  Congress 
was  drawn  up,  representing  the  sufferings  of  the  army 
on  account  of  their  pay  being  in  arrear,  and  asking  for 
relief; — that  Major-General  McDougall,  and  Colonel  Og- 
den,  and  Colonel  Brooks'^  were  selected  as  a  committee 
to  present  the  memorial; — that  on  the  25th  of  January, 
1783,  a  committee  of  Congress  made  a  report  upon  the 
memorial,  and  thereupon  Cons^ress  passed  certain  resolu- 
tio„„t-that .  reA  to  J  sjy  fiom  a.eirconuoi^ 
tee  attending  on  Congress  was  received  early  in  March, 

*  Afterwards  GoYcmor  of  Massachiuetts. 

t  See  Journals  of  Congress,  January  25th,  1788. 


412  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHT  PICKERING.  [1788. 

declaring  the  inauspicious  aspect  of  the  moment  in 
relation  to  their  commission ;  *  —  that  the  communica- 
tion of  this  report  to  the  army  was  thought  to  pre- 
sent a  fit  occasion  for  assembling  the  officers,  and  for 
passing  a  series  of  resolutions,  which,  in  the  hands  of 
their  committee  and  of  their  auxiliaries  in  Congress, 
would  furnish  a  new  and  powerful  lever  for  operating 
on  the  two  States  which  had  refused  their  assent  to 
the  application  of  Congress  for  power  to  levy  a  duty  of 
five  per  cent  on  imported  goods ;  —  but  that,  ^  to  this 
end,  there  was  yet  wanting  the  interposition  of  a  hand 
which  should  touch  with  some  ability  the  several  chords 
of  sympathy  and  feeling  that  belonged  to  the  case,  and 
thus  secure  to  the  deliberations  and  their  result  that 
tone  and  energy  without  which  they  would  be  a  dead 
letter ; " —  and  that  Armstrong,  ^  yielding  to  the  solicitar 
tions  of  his  friends,  in  a  few  hours  produced  an  address, 
which  was  believed  to  be  peculiarly  adapted  to  its  object 
Nor,  according  to  the  historian,  was  its  effect  less  distin- 
guished than  its  reception ;  for,  besides  being  approved 
and  applauded,  all  appeared  to  be  ready  to  act  on  the 
advice  it  contained." 

The  reviewer  then  mentions,  that  the  Commander-in- 
Chief  had  received  a  letter  from  Mr.  Harvie,f  of  Virginia, 
informing  him  that  a  plan  was  matured  at  the  seat  of 
government  aiming  professedly  at  establishing  public 
credit,  and  supporting  national  authority,  but  that  its 
real  object  was  to  overturn  republicanism,  and  to  build 
on  its  ruins  a  government  of  despotic  or  monarchical 
character ;  that  a  part  of  the  plan  was  to  put  in  the 
place  of  Washington,  as  Commander-in-Chief,  some  one, 

♦  Sparks's  "  Writings  of  Washington,"  Vol.  VIII.  pp.  661,  662. 
t  In  the  letter  of  "  Montgars "  it  is  Hardy.    Two  members  of  Congress 
from  Virginia  were  named,  respectively,  Hardy  and  Hwrvu. 


«T.  87.]  LITE   OB'  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  413 

who,  holding  from  the  faction,  would  be  better  disposed 
to  support  their  projects  ;  and  that  agents  were  already 
employed  with  the  army  to  accomplish  these  purposes. 
"  Nor,"  continues  the  reviewer,  "  did  the  writer  stop 
here  :  he  went  on  to  indicate  the  authors  of  the  plan, 
and  pointed  distinctly  at  Robert  and  Gouvemeur  Mor- 
ris and  Alexander  Hamilton." 

The  reviewer  further  says,  that  this  communication, 
^  though  utterly  unfounded  in  the  facts  it  assumed,'* 
excited  in  Washington  "a  momentary  alarm  ibr  him- 
self and  his  country." 

"Under  its  impulse,  he  identified  the  Address  with  the 
machinations  of  bis  enemies,  ascribed  it  to  the  pen  of  one  or 
more  of  the  imuginary  triumvirate,  and  denouuced  it  as  the 
first  stop  in  tbc  progress  and  development  of  a  deep  and  dan- 
gerous conspiracy.  When,  on  the  15th  of  March,  1783,  the 
army  had  assembled  under  the  general  order  of  tbe  11th,  this 
extraordinary  letter  was  not  merely  refeiTed  to,  but  publicly 
produced,  and  read,  and  commented  on,  by  the  Conmiaiidcr- 
in-Chief,  aiid,  substantially,  became  the  basis  of  the  pro- 
ceedings of  that  memorable  day.  We  ask,  then,  how  it  has 
happened,  that  a  document  so  important,  and  which  alone 
furnishes  a  clew  to  the  conduct  and  opinions  of  both  tbe 
General  and  the  army  on  that  important  occasion,  should 
not  have  been  mentioned  by  any  chronicler  of  the  times,  or 
biographer  of  Washington." 

The  reviewer  answers  his  own  question  by  supposing 
that  the  letter  must  have  escaped  their  research  ;  and 
he  conjectures  that  it  was  destroyed  by  Washington 
himself,  under  a  conviction  of  its  errors  and  injuaticcj 
in  order  to  prevent  it  from  doing  further  injury.  As 
circumstances  in  support  of  his  conjecture,  ho  mentions 
the  particular  esteem  and  confidence  with  which  Wash- 
ington subsequently  regarded  the  Morrises  and  Uam- 


414  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  [1788. 

ilton,  and  the  offer  made  by  him  of  a  high  employ- 
ment ("  not  accepted  ") "  to  the  acknowledged  author  of 
these  very  Addresses."    In  a  note  (page  43)  he  says :  — 

''To  these  circumstances,  and  with  the  same  view,  we 
may  add,  that  Timothy  Pickering  (then  Quartermaster- 
General,  and,  if  we  do  not  mistake,  the  only  person  who, 
on  the  15th  of  March,  opposed  himself  to  the  course  recom- 
mended by  Washington  and  adopted  by  the  army)  became, 
at  a  subsequent  period,  his  Secretary  of  War.** 

Near  the  close  of  the  review  is  a  letter  purporting  to 
be  from  Washington  to  Armstrong,  as  follows :  — 

**  Philadelphia,  23d  Febmaxy,  1797. 

"Sir, 

<' Believing  that  there  may  be  times  and  occasions  on 
which  my  opinion  of  the  anonymous  lettera  and  their  author, 
as  delivered  to  the  army  in  the  year  1783,  may  be  turned  to 
some  personal  and  malignant  purpose,  I  do  hereby  declare, 
that  I  did  not,  at  the  time  of  writing  my  address,  regard  you 
as  the  author  of  the  said  anonymous  letters ;  and  further, 
that  I  have  since  had  sufficient  reason  for  believing  that  the 
object  of  the  author  was  just,  honorable,  and  friendly  to  the 
country,  though  the  means  suggested  by  him  were  cer- 
tainly liable  to  much  misunderstanding  and  abuse. 

"I   am.   Sir,   with   great   regard,   your  most    obedient 

servant, 

"George  WAsmNOTON." 

After  reading  the  review,  Colonel  Pickering  wrote, May 
6th,  1823,  to  Governor  Brooks,  requesting  his  recollec- 
tions concerning  the  Addresses,  and  saying,  that  Judge 
Johnson  has  ascribed  them  to  Gouverneur  Morris;* 

*  Governor  Brooks,  in  his  answer,  says,  "Judge  Johnson's  hypothesis  .  . . 
is  destitute  of  support.  In  reference  to  the  second  letter,  the  thing  was  im- 
possible, as  the  Judge  ought  to  have  known.  Mr.  Morris  was  at  the  time  iu 
Philadi4phia.  The  general  order  noticing  the  first  letter  was  issued  on  the 
11th  of  March,  1783,  and  the  next  morning  the  second  letter  appeared." 


iET.  87.]  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERINQ.  415 

that  his  reasoning  on  the  subject  is  absurd  in  the 
extreme ;  that  the  review  above  mentioned,  of  which 
Armstrong  was  doubtless  the  author,  had  appeared, 
wherein  it  was  stated  that  the  letters  were  written  by 
Armstrong ;  and  that  he  (Colonel  Pickering),  and  he  sup- 
posed ever)^  officer  in  the  army,  had  never  doubted  it 
He  thinks  that,  if  the  extraordinary  letter  from  Harvie 
had  been  read  to  the  officers,  he  should  have  remem- 
bered it ;  but  he  cannot  recollect  that  Washington  read 
anything  besides  his  address.  And  as  to  his  (Colonel 
Pickering's)  being  the  only  person  who  opposed  the 
course  recommended  by  Washington,  he  says :  — 

"  Now,  my  memory  must  have  greatly  failed  me  indeed, 
if  there  was  any  opposition  from  any  quarter ;  and  surely 
not  from  me,  who  had  no  interest  in  the  question  which  so 
deeply  concerned  the  oflBcers  of  the  line.  As  Quartermaster- 
General,  my  compensation  was  in  my  own  hands.  I  was,  in 
fact,  a  mere  spectator." 

The  answer  from  Governor  Brooks  was  delayed  until 
the  6  th  of  September,  1823,  in  consequence  of  a  pro- 
tracted illness.  Nearly  two  years  after  the  receipt  of 
it.  Colonel  Pickering  wro.te  a  letter  to  Armstrong,  dated 
the  15th  of  July,  1825,  in  which  he  says:  — 

"On  the  28th  of  January,  1820,  I  received  a  letter,  dated 
the  20th,  at  Albany,  and  signed  John  MontgarSy  requesting 
a  communication  of  my  recollections  concerning  the  anony- 
mous letters  addressed  to  the  oflBcers  of  the  army,  at  New- 
burgh,  in  March,  1783.  On  the  29th  I  acknowledged  the 
receipt  of  the  letter,  but  declined  a  compliance  with  the  re- 
quest of  a  man  of  whom  I  had  never  heard.  My  letter  was 
addressed  to  Mr.  John  Montgars,  Albany.  This  strange 
name,  connected  with  the  subject  of  the  letter,  excited  my 
curiosity  to  know  who  should  caiU  for  my  answer.  I  there- 
fore wrote  to  the  postmaster  (whom  I  had  never  seen,  but, 


416  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  [1788. 

having  taken  bis  paper,  called  <  The  Plough  Boy/  had  cor- 
responded with  him  on  agricultural  subjects),  requesting 
him  to  take  notice  of  the  person  who  should  call  for  it. 
After  sending  my  answer  to  the  post-office,  I  again  atten- 
tively read  the  letter  signed  John  Montgars.  The  hand- 
writing then  appeared  to  be  that  of  a  lady,  and  wholly 
difierent  from  the  signature  and  the  superscription,  which 
struck  me  as  being  the  handwriting  of  John  Armstrong,  the 
writer  of  the  anonymous  letters ;  and  then,  transposing  the 
letters  of  the  strangely-sounding  name  Montgars^  I  found 
it,  adding  one  r,  to  be  Armstrong,  All  these  circumstances 
authorized  the  conclusion  that  you  had  written  the  letter 
signed  John  Montgars.  This  last  attentive  perusal  of  the 
letter  also  directed  my  observation  to  its  concluding  request, 
—  to  address  my  answer  to  the  care  of  Jesse  Buely  Esquire^  — 
which,  occupied  as  was  my  mind  with  the  subject  itself,  I 
bad  passed  over  unheeded.  So  I  wrote  again  to  the  post- 
master, desiring  him,  with  his  own  hand,  to  deliver  my 
answer  to  Mr.  Buel.'' 

^  Montgars^s  story  of  Mr.  Harvie's  letter  was  a  perfect 
novelty,  and  I  was  sure  had  no  foundation  in  fact.  What 
could  give  rise  to  such  a  tale  was,  indeed,  to  me  utterly 
incomprehensible.  However,  although  I  had  no  reason 
to  be  pleased  that  you  should  attempt,  by  such  a  course 
of  proceeding,  to  draw  from  me  any  sort  of  information, 
yet,  leaving  Montgars^s  letter  on  file  merely  as  a  subject 
of  amusement,  I  should  never  have  troubled  you  with  any 
notice  of  it,  had  you  not  introduced  my  name  and  the  same 
story  of  Ilarvie's  letter  into  your  review  of  Judge  Johnson's 
*  Sketches  of  the  Life  of  General  Greene.'  I  call  it  your  re- 
view, in  the  full  persuasion  that  you  wrote  it.  In  addition 
to  the  circumstances  before  mentioned,  I  considered  the 
story  of  Harvie's  letter  recited  in  the  review,  as  it  had  l^ecn 
before  stated  by  John  Montgars^  as  fixing  the  identity  of 
authorship,  and  that  you  wrote  both. 

^ .  .  .  Although  confident  that,  at  the  meeting  of  the  offi- 
cers on  the  15tb,  pursuant  to  the  general  orders  of  the  11th 


iEx.  87.]  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  417 

of  March,  1783,  no  opposition  to  the  course  recommended  by 
Washington  and  adopted  by  the  officers  was  made  by  me 
or  by  any  other  officer,  and  although  I  considered  it  certain 
that  such  a  letter  as  you  state  Mr.  Harvie  had  written  to 
the  General  was  not  read  by  him,  nor  commented  upon  or 
adverted  to  by  him,  yet,  to  obtain  the  most  perfect  satis- 
faction on  both  points,  from  a  most  unexceptionable  witness, 
I  wrote  to  Governor  Brooks,  who,  you  know,  at  the  interest- 
ing period  referred  to,  was  a  colonel  in  the  Massachusetts 
line,  and  one  of  the  committee  who  brought  in  the  resolu- 
tions adopted  by  the  officers.  At  the  same  time  I  informed 
him,  that,  on  the  receipt  of  his  answer,  I  should  write  to 
you  or  to  the  editor  of  the  Magazine  on  the  subject  of  those 
errors.  But  the  severe  sickness  of  the  Governor,  a  pro- 
tracted convalescence,  the  necessity  of  some  research,  and 
the  cares  of  his  office,  prevented  his  favoring  me  with  an 
answer  until  September.  This  answer  confirmed  my  own 
recbllections ;  but  by  that  time  the  affair  had  grown  old,  and 
I  felt  much  apathy  concerning  it.  A  few  months  ago, 
however,  it  was  reported  that  you  were  engaged  in  writing 
the  History  of  the  United  States,  —  as  John  Montgara  had 
before  assei'ted;  and  then  I  again  intended  to  write,  to 
inform  you  of  the  two  errors  above  mentioned,  —  Harvie's 
letter  and  my  opposition.  And  now,  after  so  much  pro- 
crastination, I  give  you  Governor  Brooks's  information, 
perfectly  corresponding  with  my  own  recollections.  I  told 
him  that  I  had  never  doubted,  and  supposed  no  officer  in 
the  army,  at  the  time,  doubted  your  being  the  author  of  the 
anonymous  letters ;  and  that  on  the  cover  of  my  manuscript 
copies  it  was  noted,  in  my  own  handwriting,  that  the  letters 
were  written  *By  J.  A.  Jun.,'  *  your  father  being  then  living. 
"  Governor  Brooks,  in  his  letter  to  me,  [of  the  6th  of 
September,  1823],  says,    *My  impressions  respecting  the 

*  This  indorsement  is  not  dated,  and  it  may  have  been  made  long  after  the 
deUyery  of  Washington's  address  to  the  officers ;  so  that  it  does  not  prove  the 
point  for  which  it  is  adduced.  See  Colonel  Pickering's  letter  of  March  16th, 
1783,  to  Mr.  Uodgdon,  p.  437. 

VOL.   L  53 


418  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING,  [178S. 

writer  of  the  Ncwburgh  arionymous  letters  were,  at  the  time 
of  their  being  published,  and  ever  since  have  been,  similar 
to  your  own.  The  story  told  by  the  reviewer  of  General 
Washington's  having  publicly  read  and  commented  upon  a 
letter  from  Mr.  Harvie,  is  altogether  fictitious.  No  letter 
whatever  was  read  by  the  General  when  be  addressed  the 
officers ;  nor  was  any  writing,  or  source  of  information, 
touching  the  subject  of  the  meeting,  mentioned  by  him» 
excepting  the  anonymous  letters.' 

**  Governor  Brooks  then,  mentioning  the  report  of  the 
army  committee  at  Philadelphia  having  been  read  to  the 
officers  and  considered,  recurs  to  the  subject  of  the  General's 
address,  and  says,  'The  address  was  acted  upon  by  itself; 
and,  being  put  into  the  hands  of  a  committee,  of  which  Gen- 
eral Knox  was  chairman,  the  committee  reported  a  number 
of  resolves,  which,  without  opposition  or  discussion,  were 
accepted.' 

''  The  Governor,  after  numerous  details  and  observations, 
further  says,  '  I  have  been  thus  particular  in  order  to  show 
that  the  assertion  of  the  reviewer,  that  you  were  the  only 
person  who  opposed  the  measures  recommended  by  General 
Washington  on  the  15th  of  March,  and  adopted  by  the  army, 
is  destitute  of  foundation.  There  was,  as  you  rightly  inti- 
mate, no  opposition  from  any  quarter.'  In  truths  personally 
I  had  no  interest  in  the  pending  question  about  half  pay  or 
commutation, — a  question  so  highly  interesting  to  the  officers 
of  the  line.*     For  their  sufferings,  indeed,  I  felt  very  sen- 

*  Although  he  was  not  entitled  to  half  pay  or  commatation  (see  page  312), 
it  would  seem  that  he  was  '*  personally  "  interested  in  having  proTision  made 
fbr  the  payment  of  the  public  creditors.  In  1825  he  wrote  to  Judge  John- 
son,  '*  I  had  no  arrears  of  pay  to  demand ;  my  compensation  was  in  my  own 
hands ;  "  but  here  his  memory  was  certainly  at  fault,  for  it  appears  that  he  did 
not  apply  the  public  money  received  by  him  to  the  payment  in  fiiU  of  the  sums 
due  either  to  himself  or  to  his  assistants  (see  page  274) ;  and  in  a  letter  to 
Robert  Morris,  of  the  Ist  of  April,  only  seventeen  days  after  the  meeting  of 
the  officers,  he  said,  "  I  am  now  indebted,  for  moneys  borrowed  of  my  friends 
since  the  22d  of  February,  1781,  for  the  support  of  my  family,  upwards  of 
nineteen  hundred  hard  dollars."  At  the  same  time  about  four  thousand  dol- 
lars were  due  to  him  as  a  member  of  the  Board  of  War.    See  pp.  452,  454. 


2Bt.  37.]  LIFE  OP  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  419 

sibly,  and  most  cordially  wished  them  relief.  Affected  by 
such  sentiments,  I  doubtless  expressed  them  in  the  conver- 
sations of  the  time.  The  justice  of  their  claims  was  so 
palpable,  apparently  so  irresistible,  the  upright  heart  of 
Washington,  and  perhaps  an  idea  of  a  successful  interpo- 
sition from  the  influence  of  his  name  and  character,  then  so 
highly  exalted  and  in  almost  universal  estimation  supremely 
meritorious,  produced  a  confidence  that  adequate  provision 
for  doing  complete  justice  to  the  army  would  be  made.  The 
expression  of  this  confidence  by  the  General  doubtless  had 
a  powerful  influence  on  the  assembled  officers,  and  induced 
on  their  part  a  reciprocation  of  that  confidence  ;  *  fully  con- 
vinced,* say  they,  *  that  the  representatives  of  America  will 
not  disband  or  disperse  the  army  until  their  accounts  are 
liquidated,  the  balances  accurately  asceii;ained,  and  adequate 
funds  established  for  payment ; '  including  the  half  pay  or 
commutation.  But  the  separate,  sovereign  States  withheld 
the  means  of  providing  such  funds;  the  army  was  dis- 
banded,—  and  cheated. 

"The  letter  dated  February  23d,  1797,  and  published  in 
the  review  as  from  Washington  to  you,  concerning  the 
anonymous  letters,  occasioned,  generally,  no  small  degree 
of  surprise ;  and  some  doubts  have  been  entertained  of  its 
authenticity.*  I  have  been  well  informed  that  no  such 
letter  is  to  be  found  among  Washington's  archives ;  and 
the  declaration  in  the  letter,  that,  at  the  time  of  writing  his 
Address,  he  did  not  regard  you  as  the  author  of  the  anony- 
mous letters,  is  an  enigma.  His  military  secretary  and  aids 
mingled  among  the  officers  of  the  army,  and  of  these  the 
united  voices  would  have  pronounced  you  to  be  the  author. 
Now,  in  considering  the  anonymous  letters  in  the  military 
cabinet,  the  first  question  obviously  must  have  been,  *  Who 
wrote  them  ? '  and  the  answer  of  the  military  family  must 
have  been,  'The  officers,  with  one  voice,  ascribe  them  to 
Armstrong.'     How,  then,  could  you  be  wholly  forgotten, 

*  Mr.  Sparks  publishes  the  letter,  without  calling  in  question  its  genuine* 
nesB.  —  Writings  of  WaMnffton,  Vol.  VIII.  p.  666. 


420  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  FIGKEBINa.  [1783. 

and  not  regarded  as  the  author  of  those  letters?  The  in- 
terrogatory intimation,  in  the  General's  address,  that  the 
writer,  instead  of  a  friend  to  the  army,  'was  rather  an 
insidious  foe,  —  some  emissary  perhaps  from  New  York,' 
would  seem  to  me  to  have  been  suggested  to  aggravate  the 
offence  of  the  writer,  and  to  produce  an  increased  excite- 
ment in  the  persons  addressed,  rather  than  as  indicative  that 
such  was  the  General's  belief.  The  general  strain  of  the 
address  shows  that  he  then  thought  the  writer  of  the  anony- 
mous letters  highly  criminal,  and  therefore  warranting  the 
above-mentioned  suggestion." 

Governor  Brooks,  in  his  letter  to  Colonel  Pickering, 
considers  the  authorship  of  the  Newburgh  Addresses  to 
be  placed  beyond  question  by  Armstrong's  review  of 
Johnson's  "  Life  of  Greene  *' ;  but  he  says :  — 

^  I  should  not  have  expected  to  meet  the  assertions  of  the 
reviewer,  that  the  author  of  the  anonymous  letters  did  not 
lie  concealed  a  single  month  ;  that  in  the  year  1783  he  made 
no  secret  of  his  having  written  them,  and  that  in  the  year 
1803  he  republished,  acknowledged,  and  defended  them. 
For,  although  the  facts  as  stated  might  have  been  true,  yet 
the  avowal,  I  am  confident,  never  reached  me." 

In  regard  to  the  supposed  letter  of  1797,  in  which 
Washington  is  made  to  say  of  the  Newburgh  Addresses, 
that  he  had  <'  had  sufficient  reason  for  believing  that  the 
object  of  the  author  was  just,  honorable,  and  friendly 
to  the  country,"  Governor  Brooks  says:  — 

"It  seems  most  extraordinary  and  inexplicable  that  the 
President  should  have  written  8uch  a  letter  to  General  Arm- 
strong. It  had  not  been  solicited,  and  no  circumstances 
appear  which  could  have  called  for  such  a  communication. 
•  .  .  But  there  are  other  considerations  connected  with  the 
President's  letter  to  Mr.  Armstrong,  as  there  were  other 


Mt.  87.]  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERINQ.  421 

parties  equally  with  him»  under  any  view  of  the  case,  entitled 
to  an  explanation,  —  I  mean  the  public,  and  more  especially 
the  army.  For  there  can  be  no  doubt  the  tone  of  public 
opinion  respecting  the  design  and  tendency  of  the  New- 
burgh  letters  was  given  and  maintained  by  the  address 
and  other  documents  of  General  Washington.  A  similar 
remark  will  apply  to  the  army,  though  with  some  limitation. 
What  the  impressions  on  the  General's  own  mind  were, 
when,  on  the  15th  of  March,  1783,  he  addressed  the  officers 
of  the  army  respecting  the  character  of  those  letters,  is  best 
leiirued  from  the  measures  he  took  to  counteract  their  influ- 
ence. But  they  must  have  been  strong  and  deep  to  have 
warranted,  or  to  have  drawn  from  him,  so  grave  and  solemn 
an  appeal  to  the  honor,  the  patriotism,  and  the  sober  judg- 
ment of  the  army,  as  his  was  on  that  occasion." 

Governor  Brooks  controverts  the  assertion  that  the 
design  of  the  writer  of  the  Newburgh  Addresses  was 
honorable  and  friendly  to  the  country,  and  states  the 
disastrous  consequences  which  probably  would  have 
flowed  from  the  measures  there  recommended ;  but  he 
argues  that  the  idea,  which  he  says  was  entertained  by 
some  persons  at  the  time,  that  a  revolt  of  the  array 
was  feasible,  and  to  be  efiected  with  the  greatest  facility, 
was  a  delusion. 

In  answer  to  Colonel  Pickering's  letter  of  the  15th 
of  July,  1825,  Armstrong  wrote,  on  the  6th  of  October, 
as  follows :  — 

<*  The  anagram  which  gave  you  so  much  trouble,  and  even 
some  degree  of  offence,  was  employed  with  two  views 
equally  innoxious :  the  one,  to  secure  to  the  documents  I 
might  obtain,  an  impartiality  wholly  uninfluenced  by  the 
name  of  the  applicant,  or  by  any  supposed  relation  in  which 
he  stood  to  the  transaction  inquired  into ;  the  other,  to  avoid 
being  gazetted  as  a  writer  of  history  until  I  had  better 


422  UFB  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  [178S. 

assured  myself  that  my  health,  and  habits,  and  family  ayo- 
cations  would  enable  me  to  go  through  the  labor  necessarily 
connected  with  such  an  undertaking.  As  a  device  for  sur- 
prising you  into  the  admission  of  any  fact  of  doubtful  occur- 
rence, it  would  have  been  equally  base  and  bungling,  and 
quite  as  inapplicable  to  your  character  as  unworthy  of  my 
own.  What  I  asked  was,  not  an  approval  of  any  statement 
of  mine,  but  your  best  recollection  of  a  public  and  interest- 
ing fact ;  and  be  assured,  that  had  my  respect  for  you  been 
less,  either  on  the  score  of  intelligence  or  integrity,  you 
would  not  have  been  troubled  with  an  application  from  me 
in  any  form  or  under  any  name.'' 

Then,  after  observing  that  traditionary  details  ought 
to  be  received  with  great  circumspection,  and  that  the 
narratives  of  even  ear  and  eye  witnesses  often  differ 
very  materially,  and  sometimes  expressly  contradict 
each  other,  he  says:  — 

<<  Between  your  recollection  and  mine,  in  relation  to  the 
southern  letter  and  its  influence  on  the  proceedings  of  the 
15th  of  March,  1783,  there  is  a  similar  discrepancy,  and,  of 
course,  another  proof  of  the  uncertainty  of  historical  evi- 
dence. In  support  of  your  belief,  you  quote  the  respectable 
authority  of  the  late  Governor  Brooks,  given,  at  your  in- 
stance, upwards  of  forty  years  after  the  ti-ansaction  to  which 
it  refers,  and,  if  my  inference  from  your  letter  be  just,  when 
Mr.  Brooks  was  literally  on  his  death-bed;  while,  on  the 
other  hand,  I  am  able  to  sustain  mine  by  that  of  another 
and  equally  respectable  member  of  the  committee,  whose 
statement  was  spontaneously  made,  within  a  month  after  the 
meeting,  in  a  sound  state  of  both  mind  *  and  body,  and  in 
an  official  letter   (transmitting  a  copy  of  the   resolutions 

*  Colonel  Pickering,  in  a  subsequent  letter  to  Armstrong,  repels  the  in- 
ference that  Brooks  was  not  in  a  sound  state  of  mind,  saying,  **  I  am  sore 
there  was  no  ground  for  such  a  supposition ;  his  mind  and  memory  i^peared 
to  me  as  clear  and  unclouded  as  at  any  period  of  his  life.**  Brooks  lived  tiU 
March  1st,  1825,  nearly  eighteen  months  after  the  date  of  his  letter. 


-ffiT.  37.]  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  423 

adopted)  to  a  general  officer,  commanding  a  separate  and 
distant  department.  You  will  at  once  perceive  that  I  allude 
to  the  hite  General  Hand.* 

"Another  disagreement,  though  of  minor  importance, 
relates  to  the  part  taken  by  you  in  the  hasty  discussion 
given  to  the  subject  at  the  Public  Building.  That  I  did 
believe  you  to  have  been  opposed  to  the  course  pursued  on 
that  occasion,  is  true ;  and  that  this  belief  resulted  from  im- 
pressions made  by  your  public  speech,  is  also  true;  but, 
if  even  actions  be  liable  to  misconstruction,  how  much  more 
so  are  words  I  It  is  enough  that  you  now  disavow  the  im- 
putation, as  I  am  far  from  supposing  that  either  my  com- 
prehension of  your  meaning  then,  or  my  recollection  of 
your  language  now,  can  be  more  correct  than  your  own. 
In  any  future  notice,  therefore,  that  I  may  have  occasion  to 
take  of  the  business,  I  shall  be  careful  to  correct  the  state- 
ment made  in  the  review." 

Armstrong  next  examines  the  objections  made 
against  the  genuineness  of  the  letter  of  1797,  from 
President  Washington.  To  the  objection  that  the  letter 
is  not  found  in  the  Washington  archives,  he  replies, 
.that,  were  there  no  similar  omissions  in  these  records, 
the  circumstance  would  barely  furnish  a  presumption 
against  its  genuineness ;  whereas  it  is  well  known  that 
there  are  gaps  in  Washington's  letter-books. 

The  other  objection  he  alleges  to  be  merely  argu- 
mentative, resting  on  gratuitous  facts,  but  which,  even 
if  granted,  he  says,  will  not  support  the  conclusion 
drawn  from  them;  for,  supposing  that  Washington 
believed  as  he  said  or  insinuated  that  he  did,  w^h 
regard  to  the  character  and  motives  of  the  author  of 
the  anonymous  letters,  and  that  he  was  assured  at  the 
same  time  of  his  person,  it  was  his  obvious  duty  to 

•  *  Then  Adjutant-General.  He  was  at  the  meeting,  but  was  not  a  member 
of  the  committee. 


424  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  FICfKERINO.  [1788. 

bring  him  to  light  and  to  punish  him ;  but,  as  he  omitted 
to  do  either,  it  followed  that  he  uttered  opinions  which 
he  did  not  seriously  entertain,  or  that,  not  having  it  in 
his  power  to  identify  the  author,  he  was  unable  to  do 
more  than  he  did.  But  Armstrong  denies  that,  on  the 
15th  of  March,  1783,  the  anonymous  letters  were 
unanimously  ascribed  to  him  by  the  officers  of  the 
army.     He  says :  — 

"On  the  very  day  of  the  meeting  I  heard  the  letters 
ascribed  to  not  less  than  five  different  persons,  among  whom 
the  real  author  was  not  mentioned.  Nor  did  this  difference 
of  opinion  cease  with  the  meeting,  nor  even  with  the  war ; 
in  proof  of  which  I  need  but  recall  to  your  memory  the 
pei*secution  suffered  by  the  late  Governor  Eustis,  in  the 
town  of  Boston,  on  the  testimony  of  an  ofiicer  of  the  old 
anny,  and  on  the  ground  that  he  (Eustis)  was  the  writer  of 
these  very  letters, — a  charge  so  seriously  made,  so  generally 
believed,  and  so  pertinaciously  urged  by  a  large  and  respec- 
table party  in  the  district,  that,  to  escape  its  effects,  the  suf- 
ferer was  driven  to  the  expedient  of  an  expurgatory  oath." 

It  is  difficult  to  reconcile  these  assertions  with  the 
statement  in  the  review,  that  the  author  of  the  anony- 
mous letters  did  not  lie  concealed  a  month,  and  that 
in  1783  he  made  no  secret  of  his  having  written  theuL 
In  1800,  when  Dr.  Eustis  was  the  Democratic  candidate 
for  election  as  a  member  of  Congress  for  the  district  of 
Suffi)lk,  in  Massachusetts,  a  statement  by  Dr.  Eustis,  un- 
der his  name,  was  published  in  the  Boston  newspapers, 
in  which  he  says  he  has  been  "  announced  the  author  " ; 
and  he  "declares  most  solemnly ^^  but  not  ^ under  aath^^ 
that  the  charge  is  false.  He  was  also  accused  of  being 
at  least  an  abettor  in  the  production  and  distribution 
of  the  letters.     To  this  imputation  he  did  not  reply.* 

*  See,  in  the  *'  Columbian  Centinel "  of  the  29th  of  October,  1800,  Dr. 
Eustis's  declaration,  and  the  pieces  signed  "A  Citizen,"  and  "An  Elector; '* 


^T.  37.]  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICEEBIN6.  425 

If  the  letter  attributed  to  Washington  was  genuine, 
the  election  in  Suflfolk  afforded  a  fair  opportunity  to 
Armstrong  to  come  to  the  rescue  of  Eustis,  his  old  fel- 
low-soldier and  friend^  and  then  a  member  of  the  same 
political  party,  by  publishing  that  letter ;  which,  being 
addressed  to  Armstrong,  would  have  shown  that  in 
1797  Washington  understood  him  to  be  the  writer  of 
the  Addresses,  and  so  would  have  relieved  Dr.  Eustis 
from  an  imputation  he  was  anxious  to  repel ;  while,  at 
the  same  time,  the  tone  of  the  letter  would  have  les- 
sened the  odium  resting  on  Armstrong  himself. 

After  Armstrong  had,  in  his  review,  in  1823,  ac- 
knowledged himself  to  be  the  author  of  the  letters. 
Dr.  Eustis  admitted  to  Dr.  Thacher  that  he  was  "  in  the 
secret,"  and  communicated  information  respecting  them ; 
which  previously  he  had  declined  doing.*  From  this  it 
would  seem  that  Dr.  Eustis  had  not  been  aware  of  Arm- 
strong's avowal  in  1803, —  a  singular  circumstance,  if 
the  avowal  was  explicit  That  it  was  so,  is  the  purport 
of  Armstrong's  statement,  that  in  1803  he  republished, 
acknowledged,  and  defended  the  letters. 

Armstrong  says  further :  — 

"Having  thus  briefly  examined  the  two  objections  as 
stated  by  you,  it  may  not  be  amiss  to  subjoin  a  short  sketch 
of  my  own  impression  with  regard  to  their  rise  and  prog- 
ress. Though  the  General's  letter  was  written  early  in 
1797,  and  was  read  by  several  persons  entirely  capable  of 
deciding  whether  it  was  or  was  not  genuine,  neither  surprise 
nor  doubt  was  excited  by  it.  It  was  seen  and  regarded  as 
an  act  of  justice  to  me,  and  even  to  himself,  who  had  some 
years  before  actually  appointed  me  to  an  ofiice  of  high  trust 
and  conlidencc,  without  a  shadow  of  application  on  my  part. 

and,  in  the  paper  of  the  Ist  of  November,  a  piece  signed  **  Foneoil  Hall,"  and 
certificates  of  William  Hull  and  Bei^amin  Bussell. 
*  See  the  letter  of  Dr.  Thacher,  on  page  436. 

VOL.  L  54 


426  LOPE  OF  TIMOTHY  FIGKEBINa  [178S. 

Iq  this  unimpeached  condition  it  remained  till  1803,  when 
(having  been  forced  into  a  political  controversy  of  warm 
and  personal  character)  I  was  charged »  on  the  evidence  of 
the  anonymous  letters,  '  with  enmity  to  Washington,  and  a 
design  to  excite  the  army  to  insurrection.'  In  repelling 
these  absurd  charges,  I  was  naturally  led  to  mention  the 
General's  letter  of  the  23d  of  February,  1797,  and,  if  I  do 
not  mistake,  to  quote  a  portion  of  it ;  which  produced  a 
demand,  on  the  part  of  my  antagonist,  for  the  letter  in 
extenso.  This  call  was  promptly  complied  with ;  but,  the 
printer  having  committed  an  error  in  the  date,  the  letter 
itself  was  now  required ;  and  not  unreasonably,  since  a  sub- 
mission of  it  to  public  inspection  was,  no  doubt,  the  shortest 
and  surest  method  of  determining  whether  the  error  was 
really  one  of  the  types,  or  the  excuse  a  mere  fiction  of  the 
printer.  This  second  call  was  accordingly  neither  refused 
nor  evaded.  The  letter  was  instantly  placed  in  the  office 
of  the  'Plebeian,'  with  instructions  that  it  should  be  shown 
to  any  person  of  any  party  who  had  a  desire  to  see  it. 
When  I  say  that  my  principal  antagonist  was  the  late 
Barent  Gardenier,  I  need  hardly  add  that  the  document 
underwent  a  very  thorough  examination;  the  result  of 
which  was  a  discontinuance  of  all  further  attacks  on  its 
genuineness. 

''  Such  is  the  real  history  of  the  first  appearance  of  the 
doubts  and  surmises  which  have  existed  on  this  subject; 
but,  though  publicly  refuted  by  the  production  of  the  letter 
itself,  what  can  be  easier  than  to  give  them  a  resurrection  ? 
Ignorance  of  the  facts  I  have  just  stated,  or  a  forgetfulness 
of  them,  or  a  desire  to  renew  the  controversy,  may  at  once 
produce  this  effect ;  and  my  labors  must  be  renewed,  or  I 
must  submit  quietly,  or  at  least  silently,  to  the  old  and  ex- 
ploded imputation.  In  discussing  some  of  Judge  Johnson^s 
dreams,  a  year  or  two  ago,  it  became  necessary  for  me  to 
mention  this  letter ;  and,  anticipating  a  question  concerning 
its  genuineness,  I  suggested  a  mode  by  which  the  Judge 
might  become  personally,  or  by  proxy,  a  party  to  the  inves- 


Mr.  ST.]  UTB  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERINO.  427 

ligation ;  but,  perhaps,  not  choosing  to  be  convinced  against 
his  will,  he  declined  the  invitation;  and  there  rests  the 
business  between  him  sxid  me.  Fortunately  men  more 
competent  than  himself,  as  well  with  regard  to  the  knowl- 
edge as  the  impartiality  necessary  to  the  inquiry,  have  not 
declined  the  task ;  and  I  accordingly  subjoin  a  copy  of  a 
certificate  of  one  who  will  not  be  suspected  of  being  a 
dupe,  and  still  less  of  combining  with  another  in  giving 
credit  and  currency  to  an  imposture,  which,  from  his  inti- 
mate acquaintance  with  General  Washington's  handwriting, 
it  would  be  so  easy  for  him  to  detect.  I  mean  the  late 
guest  of  the  nation,  General  de  Lafayette.  It  is  in  the 
following  words :  '  I,  the  undersigned,  do  certify,  that  the 
foregoing  letter  is  a  true  and  literal  copy  of  one  signed  by 
the  late  General  Washington^  in  his  proper  handwriting, 
and  addressed  within  to  John  Armstrong,  Esq.,  and  with- 
out to  General  John  Armstrong,  Rinebec,  Manor  of  Liv- 
ingston,—  franked  and  dated  Philadephia,  Feb.  23d,  1797. 
Lapayette.*  ^ 

To  some  minds  the  question  may  present  itself,  — 
If  Armstrong  was  conscious  of  the  genuineness  of  the 
letter,  and  satisfied  that  he  had  produced  convincing 
proof  of  it,  why  should  he  anticipate  the  probability 
that  it  would  be  again  called  in  question?  With 
respect  to  Lafayette's  certificate,  it  may  be  observed, 
that  the  circumstances  under  which  it  was  made,  and 
the  object  of  it,  are  not  set  forth ;  that  it  does  not 
appear  that  his  attention  was  called  to  the  suspicion 
resting  on  the  genuineness  of  the  letter ;  and  that,  if 
the  object  was  to  prove  it  genuine,  no  reason  is  given 
why  he  did  not  certify  on  the  letter  itself,  rather  than 
on  a  copy  of  it,  that  it  was  in  the  handwriting  of  Wash- 
ington. 

Armstrong  says  the  exculpation  ^was  regarded  as 
an  act  of  justice  to  me.'*    But  why  should  Washington 


428  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  FICKEBING.  [1788. 

do  any  act  in  the  premises  ?  He  had  not  named  Arm- 
strong in  his  address  to  the  officers ;  nor,  according  to 
Armstrong,  did  he  then  suspect  him  to  be  the  writer 
of  the  anonjnnous  letters ;  neither  is  it  probable,  that, 
even  in  1797,  this  fact  was  with  Washington  anything 
more  than  a  suspicion  founded  on  mere  rumor ;  for,  by 
Armstrong's  own  statement,  the  authorship  was  a  sub- 
ject of  controversy  so  late  as  1800,  when  Dr.  Eustis 
was  a  candidate  for  office.*  Moreover,  Dr.  Eustis,  his 
confidential  friend,  did  not  consider  the  injunction  of 
secrecy  removed  from  his  lips  until  the  appearance 
of  the  review,  in  1823,  of  Johnson's  Life  of  General 
Greene.f 

On  the  other  hand,  the  allegation  that  the  letter 
of  1797  was  actually  written  by  Washington,  derives 
support  from  the  subsequent  statement  of  Colonel 
Pickering  in  relation  to  acts  done  by  Washington  just 
before  he  retired  from  the  Presidency,  as  well  as 
from  the  letter  of  General  Cobb,  quoted  in  the  next 
chapter.  J 

In  writing  to  Judge  Johnson,  March  9th,  1825, 
Colonel  Pickering  refers  to  the  letter  from  President 
Washington  of  the  23d  of  February,  1797,  "eight 
days  prior  to  the  termination  of  his  presidency,"  and 
states  certain  facts  as  countenancing  the  idea  that  the 
letter  might  be  genuine.     He  says :  — 

'^Just  at  the  close  of  his  administration ,  Washington 
appears  to  have  thought  it  expedient  to  state  some  things 
in  which  his  opinion  and  testimony  might  be  useful,  perhaps 
necessary,  for  the  public  good  and  the  establishment  of 
truth.  Hence  his  letter  to  Mr.  Adams,  his  elected  succes- 
sor, dated  February  20th,   1797,    .  .  .   recommending  to 

*  See  page  424.  f  See  Dr.  Thacher's  letter,  on  page  436. 

}  See  page  431. 


-Et.  87.]  LIFB  OF  TIMOTHY  PICEEBING.  429 

him  ^not  to  withhold  merited  promotion  from  Mr.  John 
Quincy  Adams,  because  he  was  his  son.'  .  .  .  Three  days 
after  his  letter  to  Adams,  that  to  Armstrong  bears  date. 
And  on  the  3d  of  March,  the  last  day  of  his  presidency, 
he  wrote  his  letter  *  to  me,  as  Secretary  of  State,  in  which 
he  specified  seven  letters,  to  Lund  Washington  and  others, 
which,  in  1777,  were  published  by  the  British  or  their  Tory 
adherents  in  New  York,  as  General  Washington's;  and, 
after  a  minute  detail  of  facts  to  falsify  the  enemy's  state- 
ment concerning  them,  he  says,  '  I  hare  thought  it  a  duty 
that  I  owed  to  myself,  to  my  country  and  to  truth,  now  to 
detail  the  circumstances  above  recited ;  and  to  add  my  sol- 
emn declaration,  that  the  letters  herein  described  are  a  base 
forgery.' " 

*  In  Sparkfl's  "  WritiiigB  of  Washington,"  Vol.  XI.  p.  192. 


430  LIFE  OF  TIM0TH7  PICS£BINO.  [178S. 


CHAPTER   XXXI. 

Remarks  of  Dayid  Cobb,  Nicbolas  Fish,  Ebenezer  Huntington, 
James  Thacher,  and  Colonel  Pickering,  on  the  Newborgh  Ad- 
dresses.— Anecdote  of  Washington.  —  Supposed  Plot  to  estab- 
lish a  Monarchy.  —  Further  Discussion  of  the  Genuineness  of  the 
Letter  purporting  to  be  written  bj  Washington  to  Armstrong.  — 
Armstrong's  Talents.  —  Supposed  Letter  from  Colonel  Harvie.  — 
Contemporary  Letters  of  Colonel  Pickering.  —  Proceedings  on 
the  Addresses  at  a  Meeting  of  the  Officers.  —  RecoUections  of 
Armstrong  and  others. 

After  receiving  the  lastrinentioned  letter  from  Arm- 
strong, Colonel  Pickering  wrote  to  General  David  Cobb, 
Colonel  Nicholas  Fish,  General  Ebenezer  Huntington, 
General  William  Hull,  and  Dr.  James  Thacher,  officers 
in  the  American  armTy  of  the  Revolution,  giving  his 
own  and  requesting  their  recollections  respecting  the 
Newburgh  Addresses. 

In  his  letter  to  General  Cobb,  after  mentioning  Arm- 
strong's assertion,  that  Washington  read  to  the  officers 
a  letter  from  Colonel  Harvie,  in  which  it  was  stated 
that  a  plan  was  matured  at  the  seat  of  government  to 
overturn  republicanism  and  set  up  a  monarchy,  and  to 
put  down  the  Commander-in-Chief,  and  that  Robert  and 
Gouverneur  Morris  and  Alexander  Hamilton  were  the 
authors  of  the  plan,  he  says  :  — 

^  Never  was  I  more  astonished  than  on  i*eadiDg  the  above 
account  of  such  a  letter  from  Colonel  Harvie.  When  the 
General  delivered  his  address  to  the  officers,  I  stood  within 
ten  feet  of  him ;  and  if  such  a  letter  had  been  ready  and 
commented  upouj  by  him,  I  deeni  it  absolutely  impossible 


Mr.  87.]  UFB  OF  TIMOTHY  FICKERING.  431 

that  I  should  not  have  noticed  and  remembered  it,  impli- 
cating, as  it  did,  so  criminally,  such  eminent  men  as  Robert 
and  Gouvemeur  Morris  and  Alexander  Hamilton.  ...  I 
recollect  that  the  General,  having  begun  to  read  his  address 
without  his  spectacles,  presently  paused ;  and,  while  pulling 
them  out  of  his  pocket,  he  said,  '  I  have  grown  gray  in  the 
service,  and  am  now  growing  blind.' " 

General  Cobb,  who  was  an  aid  of  General  Washington, 
wrote,  in  reply,  fix)m  Taunton,  November  9th,  1825 :  — 

"  I  was  not  present  at  the  meeting  of  the  officers  in  the 
Temple  at  Newburgh  in  March,  1783 ;  but,  within  a  fort- 
night after,  I  joined  the  family  at  head-quarters,  where  the 
circumstances  of  that  meeting  and  the  anonymous  letters 
were  the  subjects  of  our  frequent  conversations.  From 
this  source  of  information,  I  am  confident  you  are  correct 
in  saying  that  neither  Harvie's  letter  nor  any  other  writing 
or  observation  was  communicated  by  the  Commander-in- 
Chief  at  the  time  he  delivered  his  address,  excepting  a  few 
words,  the  purport  of  which  you  have  recited.  You  will 
permit  me  to  repeat  them  as  I  had  them  from  Secretary 
Trumbull.  When  the  General  took  his  station  in  the  desk 
or  pulpit,  which,  you  may  recollect,  was  in  the  Temple,  he 
took  out  his  written  address  from  his  coat  pocket,  and  his 
spectacles,  with  his  other  hand,  from  his  waistcoat  pocket, 
and  then  addressed  the  officers  in  the  following  manner : 
'  Gentleman,  you  will  permit  me  to  put  on  my  spectacles, 
for  I  have  not  only  grown  gray,  but  almost  blind,  in  the 
service  of  my  country.'  This  little  address,  with  the  mode 
and  manner  of  delivering  it,  drew  tears  from  [many]*  of 
the  officers.  As  you  were  present,  you  may  perhaps  recol- 
lect this  circumstance. 

"  Prior  to  the  appearance  of  the  first  anonymous  letter, 
reports  were  in  circulation,  that  the  leading  men  of  the 
government  at  Philadelphia  had   made  arrangements  for 

*  Some  such  word  as  many  or  most  seems  to  have  been  acddentaUy  omitted. 


432  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  [178S. 

formiug  a  monarchical  goyernment  in  the  United  States, 
instead  of  a  republic.  Washington  was  to  have  the  offer 
of  the  throne ;  but,  finding  that  he  abhorred  their  system, 
and  would  not  accept  their  offer,  they  proceeded  by  anony- 
mous letters  and  agents  to  corrupt  the  army,  in  hopes  of 
compelling  him  into  a  compliance.*  General  Gates  and  his 
aid,  Armstrong,  were  in  the  plot ;  the  anonymous  letters 
came  out  of  Gates's  family,  and  were  privately  communicat- 
ed by  Armstrong  to  the  officers  in  the  huts.  This  circum- 
stance, no  doubt,  gave  rise  to  the  report,  or  opinion,  that 
he  was  the  author  of  them ;  but  this  was  never  the  opinion 
of  head-quarters.  The  first  letter,  in  particular,  was  ever 
considered  as  coming  from  a  pen  far  above  Armstrong's 
mark^  and  perhaps  from  one  second  only  to  Junius ;  the 
other  letter  was  of  a  minor  character.  It  is  true,  as  Arm- 
strong observes,  that  others,  besides  himself,  were  chai'ged 
with  being  the  author  of  the  letters.  Eustis,  our  late  Grov- 
emor,  was  one ;  others  I  do  not  recollect. 

"  I  never  heard  of  Harvic's  letter  before :  if  the  G)m- 
mander-in-Chief  ever  received  such  a  letter,  it  was  unknown 
in  his  family,  or,  at  least,  unknown  to  me ;  but  that  he  was 
acquainted  paii:icularly  with  the  machinations  at  Philadel- 
phia I  have  no  doubt. f  Whether  the  characters  implicated 
in  Harvie's  letter  were  concerned  in  the  plot,,  is  a  matter 
of  no  importance  in  my  mind ;  for  much  greater  characters 


*  General  Cobb  and  Armstrong  agree  in  the  statement,  that,  about  the  time 
of  the  Newburgh  Addresses,  there  were  machinations  at  Philadelj^hiafor  estab- 
lishing a  monarchy ;  but  they  differ  in  one  important  point,  —  Cobb  asserting 
that  Washington  was  to  be  compelled  to  accept  the  throne ;  Armstrong,  that 
he  was  to  be  supplanted.  Possibly  both,  in  their  indistinct  recollection,  had 
reference  to  an  occurrence  ten  moiiths  before,  when  a  proposal  to  make 
Washington  king  in  fact,  though  not  in  name,  was  rejected  by  him  in  a  tone 
*'to  preclude  most  effectually  any  farther  advancea."  —  Sparks's  Writings 
of  Washington,  Vol.  VIII.  pp.  300,  301  (note),  898. 

t  See  letter  from  Washington  to  Hamilton,  of  the  16th  of  April,  1783,  in 
Sparks's  "  Writings  of  Washington,"  Vol.  VIII.  p.  419 ;  —  Sparks's  "  Life  of 
Gouvemeur  Morris,"  Vol.  I.  p.  251 ;  —  letter  from  Hamilton  to  Washington^ 
of  the  11th  of  April,  1788,  in  Sparks's  "  Correspondence  of  the  American 
Revolution,"  Vol.  IV.  p.  17. 


JBt.87.]  life  of  timothy  PICKERING.  433 

than  they  were  at  the  head  of  it.  I  have  ever  considered 
that  the  United  States  are  indebted  for  their  republican 
form  of  government  solely  to  the  firm  and  determined 
republicanism  of  General  Washington  at  that  time. 

"  The  President's  letter  to  Armstrong,  in  1797,  I  believe 
to  be  genuine,  from  two  sentiments  therein  expressed,  —  the 
one,  'that  at  the  time  of  writing  his  address,  he  did  not 
regard  him  as  the  author  of  the  anonymous  letters ; '  the 
other,  <  that  the  author  had  honorable  and  friendly  views  to 
his  country,  although  mistaken  ones,'  &c.  These  I  believe, 
indeed  I  may  say  I  know  them,  to  be  the  opinions  of  the 
President. 

**  You  observe  that  Judge  Johnson,  in  his  *Life  of  General 
Greene,'  ascribes  the  Newburgh  anonymous  letters  (letter, 
I  should  say)  to  Gouverneur  Morris.  In  this  he  meets  my 
opinion,  and,  I  believe,  the  unanimous  opinion  of  head- 
quarters. I  should,  therefore,  say,  that  Armstrong's  avow- 
ing himself  the  author  of  those  letters  (of  the  second  he 
may  have  been,  with  assistance)  is  to  be  set  down  to  the 
score  of  vanity  altogether.* 

"  I  have  thus  freely  communicated  to  you,  for  your  private 
satisfaction  and  amusement,  some  of  the  opinions  and  trans- 
actions of  head-quarters  at  the  most  eventful  period  in  the 
life  of  Washington,  and  I  have  to  request  that  they  go  no 
further;  for,  if  I  am  called  upon  to  verify  my  asseitions,  I 
can  make  no  defence.  My  witnesses  are  all  dead,  and  I  can 
only  appeal  to  the  Court  of  Heaven." 

The  propriety  of  publishing  General  Cobb's  letter, 
in  disregard  of  his  request,  may  possibly  be  questioned; 
but  his  testimony  seemed  to  be  too  important  to  be 
omitted  in  a  history  of  the  Newburgh  Addresses.  The 
letter  exposes  him  to  no  imputation  other  than  that 
of  misrecoUection  in  regard  to  an  early  occurrence, 
and  of  erroneous  opinions.    In  these  respects  he  stands 

♦  See  Sparks's  "  Writings  of  Washington,"  Vol.  VIII.  pp.  419.     But  Arm- 
strong's claim  is  sustained  by  Dr.  Eustis,  as  hereafter  stated  on  page  436. 

VOL.   I.  65 


434  UFE  OF  TIMOTHY  FICKEBIKa.  [1788. 

on  equal  ground  with  Colonel  Pickering  and  other 
contemporaries  here  quoted^  and  needs  ^make  no 
defence.'* 

If,  as  he  alleges,  it  was  never  the  opinion  at  head- 
quarters that  Armstrong  was  the  writer  of  the  anony- 
mous letters,  and  if  Cobb  himself  continued  incredulous 
in  1825,  the  simple  fact,  that  the  person,  whoever  he 
might  be,  to  whom,  in  1783,  Washington  attributed  the 
^  blackest  designs,"  was  afterwards  thought  by  him  to 
have  acted  from  good  motives,  does  not  furnish  very 
strong  ground  for  writing  to  Armstrong  the  letter  of 
1797  on  the  mere  surmise  that  he  was  the  person  in 
question. 

Without  denying  the  genuineness  of  the  letter  of 
1797,  it  seems  to  me,  that,  on  a  view  of  all  the  cir- 
cumstances, we  may  at  least  return  the  Scotch  verdict 
in  doubtful  cases  —  ^  Not  proven.'* 

On  the  foregoing  letter  from  General  Cobb,  Colonel 
Pickering  has  made  this  indorsement :  — 

'<  I  never  heard  of  the  monarchical  plot  herein  mentioned ; 
nor  do  I  know  of  the  greater  men  in  Philadelphia  (where 
Congress  then  sat)  than  Robert  and  Gouvemeur  Morris  and 
Alexander  Hamilton,  whom  Harvie,  in  the  supposed  letter, 
is  made  to  name  as  the  plotters.  The  idea  of  a  design  of 
those  three,  or  of  any  members  of  Congress,  to  set  up  a 
monarchy,  is  too  ridiculous  to  have  been  contemplated,  at 
that  time,  by  any  man  of  sense ;  and  I  am  astonished  that 
Cobb  should  believe  (as  his  letter  imports)  in  its  reality.* 
And  he  most  eiToneously  underrates  Armstrong's  talerUs^ 
which  are  certainly  of  a  high  order.  The  second  letter  is 
just  such  as  the  occasion  called  for,  and  did  not  admit  of 
the  glowing  sentiments  exhibited  in  the  first.'' 

*  Nevertheless  the  establishment  of  a  monarchy  was  proposed  to  Washings 
ton  in  May,  1782,  as  before  mentioned.    See  page  432,  note. 


Mt.  37.]  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERINO.  435 

Colonel  Nicholas  Fish^  also  an  aid  of  Washington, 
was  absent  in  West  Chester  County  at  the  time  when 
Washington  addressed  the  officers ;  but  he  says,  in  a 
letter  of  November  30th,  1825 :  — 

"  On  my  return  a  few  days  thereafter,  I  heard  all  that  had 
taken  place,  even  the  circumstance  of  the  General's  spec- 
tacles, as  stated  in  your  letter,  and  the  effect  produced 
by  it,  but  never  heard  a  word  of  Mr.  Harvie's  conspiracy 
letter.*' 

He  is  confident  that  if  such  a  letter,  implicating 
Robert  and  Gouverneur  Morris  and  Alexander  Ham- 
ilton, had  been  read,  he  should  not  have  forgotten  it ; 
and  of  the  like  opinion  were  Colonel  Aaron  Ogden, 
of  New  Jersey,  and  the  officers  of  the  New  York 
Society  of  Cincinnati,  with  whom  Colonel  Fish  had 
conversed. 

General  Ebenezer  Huntington,  in  a  letter  to  Colonel 
Pickering,  dated  at  Norwich,  December  28th,  1825 
says :  — 

"At  the  time  those  celebrated  Newburgh  letters  made 
their  appearance  in  camp  at  West  Point,  I  was  absent  there- 
from on  a  visit  to  Connecticut,  and  did  not  return  until  the 
meeting  of  the  officers  had  been  held  for  their  considera- 
tion. .  .  .  The  subject-matter  under  consideration  at  that 
meeting  of  the  officers  was,  on  my  return,  minutely  detailed 
to  me  by  the  officers  who  attended ;  .  .  •  but  I  have  not 
the  smallest  impression  on  my  mind,  that  I  ever  heard  of 
any  plot  to  overturn  the  republican  institutions  of  our 
country,  at  that  period  to  which  you  allude,  say  1783, 
excepting  so  far  as  we  may  apply  that  term  to  the  anony- 
mous letters." 

Dr.  James  Thacher  wrote  from  Plymouth  the  5th 
of  January,  1826,  and,  after  mentioning  that  Captain 


436  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERINa.  [1783. 

James  Sever,  of  Kingston,  near  Plymouth,  was  at  the 
meeting  of  the  officers,  he  says :  — 

"  He  [Sever]  is  positive  that  no  such  letter  as  Armstrong 
mentions  was  ever  produced  on  that  occasion.  He  believes, 
with  me,  and  with  all  others  that  I  have  conversed  with, 
that  it  is  a  vile  fabrication,  and  a  most  gross  absurdity. 
The  characters  named  as  the  conspirators  were,  it  is  well 
known,  among  the  warmest  friends  of  Washington.  It  is 
very  strange  that  no  one  has  ever  exposed  Armstrong's 
falsehood  to  the  public  view.  When  I  was  about  to  pub- 
lish my  Journal,*  I  had  some  conversation  with  Dr.  Eustis 
on  the  subject  of  the  anonymous  letters,  wishing  to  draw 
something  from  him  that  I  might  publish;  but  he  would 
give  me  no  information.  After  Armstrong's  publication  in 
the  'Magazine'  I  again  introduced  the  subject  to  Dr.  Eustis, 
and  he  freely  acknowledged  that  he  was  in  the  secret ;  and 
added,  that  Armstrong  had  written,  besides  the  anonymous 
letters,  something  which  was,  as  he  termed  it,  much  worse, 
but,  finding  himself  already  in  trouble,  he  deemed  it  most 
prudent  to  suppress  it.  I  am  of  opinion,  that,  had  Arm- 
strong met  with  much  encouragement,  he  would  have  been 
the  means  of  effecting  nearly  the  destruction  of  the  army 
and  our  country." 

In  his  letter  to  General  Hull  (to  which  no  answer 
is  found),  Colonel  Pickering  wrote  :  — 

"An  attempt  to  use  the  force  of  the  remnant  of  the  army 
in  rebellion  against  the  government  of  our  country,  would 
have  been  absurd^  because  success  was  too  impracticable 
to  be  hoped  for.  Besides,  the  army  could  not  have  been 
brought  into  the  measure ;  while  the  alarm  to  be  excited 
by  the  intimation  not  to  disband  until  funds  were  provided 
for  the  ultimate  payment  of  the  an'ears  due  to  the  army, 

*  It  was  published  in  1828,  under  the  tiUe  of  "  Military  Joomal  during  the 
Americiui  Revolutionary  War." 


^T.  37.]  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  437 

might  have  induced  the  deliDquent  States  (Rhode  Island, 
and  I  believe  Maryland,  which  refused  to  grant  imposts 
and  other  taxes)  to  concur  with  the  other  eleven  States  in 
making  such  just  and  adequate  provision.  The  establish- 
ment of  such  funds  would  have  raised  the  final-settlement 
notes  to  par,  or  near  it/' 

Paley,  in  his  "  Horae  Paulinae,"  observes,  in  reference 
to  the  authentication  of  historical  facts,  ^The  great 
object  of  modern  research  is  to  come  at  the  epistolary 
correspondence  of  the  times.  Amidst  the  obscurities, 
the  silence,  or  the  contradictions  of  history,  if  a  letter 
can  be  found,  we  regard  it  as  the  discovery  of  a  land- 
mark; as  that  by  which  we  can  correct,  adjust,  or 
supply  the  imperfections  and  uncertainties  of  other 
accounts."*  This  remark  is  strikingly  applicable,  in 
the  case  of  the  Newburgh  Addresses,  to  the  following 
important  letters  from  Colonel  Pickering  to  Mr.  Hodg- 
don,  his  Assistant  Quartermaster-General,  at  Philadel- 
phia, and  to  Mr&  Pickering. 

"Newbuboh,  March  16th,  1788. 

"  My  dear  Sir, 

"By  this  conveyance  Congress  will  be  furnished  with 
copies  of  the  proceedings  of  the  officers  of  the  army  at 
their  meeting  yesterday,  of  which  I  gave  you  an  intimation 
in  my  last.  That  you  may  not  be  kept  in  suspense  about 
the  origin  and  ground  of  this  transaction,  and  for  the  grati- 
fication of  yourself  and  friends,  I  enclose  you  copies  of  the 
anonymous  papers  which  gave  the  alarm,  and  of  the  general 
orders  consequent  thereon.  I  wish  I  could  send  you  also  a 
copy  of  the  proceedings  yesterday ;  but  I  have  them  not. 
But  I  can  recite  them  substantially. 

"  The  Commander-in-Chief  attended,  and  addressed  the 
assembly  (composed  of  the  general  and  field  officers,  and 


•  « 


Paley's  Works,'*  Boston  edit,  of  1812,  Vol.  V.  p.  288. 


438  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKEEING.  [178S. 

an  officer  from  each  company,  and  the  principal  staff)  in  a 
handsome  speech,  which  he  read,  having  (as  he  said)  com- 
mitted his  thoughts  to  writing,  that  he  might  express  them 
with  more  perspicuity  and  connection.  It  was,  in  sub- 
stance, declaratory  of  the  merits  of  the  army,  of  the  repu- 
tation they  had  gained,  and  which  was  spread  through  all 
Europe,  —  of  his  affection  for  his  fellow-soldiers, —  his 
anxiety  lest  they  should,  by  a  precipitate  action,  excited 
by  such  inflammatory  pieces  as  the  anonymous  Addresses, 
tarnish  their  well-earned  glory,  —  his  readiness  to  render 
them  every  aid  in  his  power  to  relieve  their  sufferings  and 
procure  them  justice,  —  of  his  confidence  in  the  good  dis- 
positions of  Congress  towards  them,  —  and  that  rash  meas- 
ures now  might  defeat  the  very  ends  they  had  in  view.  He 
also  expressed  his  abhorrence  of  the  insidious  designs  of  the 
writer  of  the  anonymous  Addresses,  and  even  intimated  that 
he  might  be  an  emissary  (or  in  league  with  one)  from  New 
York. 

"After  this  the  General  [Washington^  read  a  private 
letter  of  the  27th  of  February  (I  imagine  from  Mr.  Jones, 
of  Virginia)  from  a  member  of  Congress,  written  without 
the  most  distant  expectation  of  its  being  used  on  such  an 
occasion ;  but,  containing  sentiments  and  information  perti- 
nent to  the  occasion,  he  thought  himself  justified  in  the 
communication  of  it.  This  letter  was  written  with  calmness 
and  great  good  sense ;  mentioning  the  measures  Congress 
were  pursuing  to  obtain  permanent  revenues,  and  his  hopes 
of  their  succeeding,  the  reasons  which  prevented  prompt 
decisions,  and  his  wishes  that  the  army  might  a  little  longer 
persevere  in  that  line  of  patient  endurance  which  had  hith- 
erto done  them  so  much  honor. 

"  The  General  having  then  withdrawn,  and  General  Gates 
assumed  the  chair,  General  Knox  moved  a  vote  of  thanks 
to  the  Commander-in-Chief  for  *  his  excellent  speech.'  It 
was  carried  nem.  con, 

'^  A  committee  was  chosen  to  draught  such  resolutions  as 
might  be  proper  for  the  assembly  to  adopt, — General  Knox, 


JEt.  37.]  UFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  439 

Colonel  Brooks,  and  a  Captain  Howard  were  the  members 
of  it,  —  to  report  in  half  an  hour.  They  reported  three 
resolutions,  which,  as  well  as  I  can  recollect,  were  to  this 
effect :  — 

^  The  1st.  Expressive  of  the  patriotic  motives  which  first 
induced  them  to  take  up  arms ;  and  a  determination  not  to 
sully,  by  any  unworthy  conduct,  the  honor  they  had  gained 
with  the  price  of  their  blood. 

'^2.  To  desire  Congress  not  to  disband  or  disperse  the 
army  until  their  accounts  were  liquidated,  the  balances  due 
ascertained,  and  funds  for  payment  established,  —  half  pay 
or  a  commutation  efficaciously  included. 

"  3.  To  request  the  Commander-in-Chief  to  present  a  copy 
of  these  resolutions  to  Congress,  enforced  by  his  own  rep- 
resentations. 

<<  After  these  three  resolutions  had  been  debated  (if  a 
conversation  between  three  persons,  in  so  numerous  an 
assembly,  deserves  the  name  of  a  debate ;  for  there  were  no 
more  speakers,  unless  of  a  word  or  two,  or  short  motion), 
altered,  amended,  and  agreed  to,  a  fouilh  was  added,  of 
thanks  to  their  committee  at  Philadelphia  for  the  wisdom 
and  prudence  with  which  they  had  conducted  their  business, 
and  a  desire  that  General  McDougall  would  continue  at  Phil- 
adelphia until  the  objects  of  his  mission  were  accomplished. 
Then  a  fifth  resolution  was  moved,  which,  though  it  cor- 
responded with  the  ideas  of  the ,*  and 

doubtless  was  therefore  produced,  yet  it  is  my  private  opin- 
ion that  the  army  will  be  ashamed  of  it.  They  had  suffi- 
ciently expressed,  in  the  close  of  the  third  resolve,  their 
disapprobation  of  insidious  attempts  and  evil  machinations 
of  designing  men.f     I  would  have  opposed  it;  but,  having 

*  Commander-^n- Chief  must  be  intended.    See  Sparks's   ^'Writuigs  o£ 
Washington,"  Vol.  VIII.  p.  897. 

t  In  the  third  resolye  it  is  declared  that  a  speoiy  decision  of  Congress  on 
the  memorial  presented  by  the  army  "  would  produce  immediate  tranquillity 
in  the  minds  of  the  army,  and  prevent  any  further  machinations  of  designing 
men  to  sow  discord  between  the  civil  and  military  powers-  of  the  United  States. 
The  resolution  above  caUed  the  "fifth"  (in  the  ^^ Writings  of  Washington 


440  LITE  OP  TIMOTHY  PICKEBING.  [178S. 

been  obliged,  on  the  former  resolutions » to  speak  so  often 
(amidst  the  general  speechlessness  of  the  assembly),  I  did 
not  choose  to  rise  again.  Besides,  from  the  evident  current 
of  the  meeting,  I  found  that  nobody  would  venture  to  second 
me.  But  I  could  not  belie  my  own  feelings,  and  therefore 
would  not  sanctify  the  vote  in  question  by  holding  up  my 
hand.  I  do  not  know  whether  there  was  another  exception. 
This  fifth  resolution  was  to  this  effect,  —  That  the  army 
viewed  with  abhorrence  and  indignation  the  insidious  at- 
tempts of  the  writer  of  the  two  anonymous  and  *  infamous  * 
Addresses  to  the  army,  which  were  subversive  of.  all  order 
and  discipline. — And  thus,  my  friend,  that  body  of  officers, 
in  a  moment,  damned  with  infamy  two  publications,  which, 
during  the  four  preceding  days,  most  of  them  had  read 
with  admiration,  and  talked  of  with  rapture  I  Mobile  vuU 
gual  Some  confidential  friend  will  explain  the  two  last 
words. 

"  Who  was  the  author  of  the  pieces  I  know  not.  Being 
unable  to  hit  on  any  n^an  in  the  army  as  equal  to  so  truly 
Junian  a  composition,  I  supposed  the  first  piece  had  been 
brought  from  Philadelphia;  but,  the  second  making  its 
appearance  the  very  evening  after  the  publication  of  the 
general  order  of  the  11th,  it  was  clear  the  writer  was  at 
hand.  If  his  design  was  insidious ;  if  he  meant  to  draw 
the  army  to  revolt  and  sedition ;  if  selfish  or  ambitious  mo- 
tives pointed  his  pen,  —  let  him  be  damned  I  But  examine 
calmly.  Will  not  his  pieces  admit  of  a  more  favorable  con- 
struction? What  should  we  expect  from  an  enlightened 
spirit,  from  an  officer  of  keen  sensibility,  who  had  sus- 
tained the  toils  and  dangers  of  seven  campaigns?  who 
(to  use  his  own  words),  during  that  long  period,  ^had  felt 

the  fourth  in  order),  was,  *<  That  the  officers  of  the  American  armj  yiew  with 
abhorrence,  and  reject  with  disdain,  the  infamous  propositions  contained  in  a 
late  anonymous  Address  to  tfie  officers  of  the  army,  and  resent  with  indignation 
the  secret  attempts  of  some  unknown  persons  to  collect  the  officers  together  in 
a  manner  totally  subversiye  of  all  discipline  and  good  order." 

The  Newburgh  Addresses  and  the  proceedings  upon  them  are  printed  in 
full  in  "  Sparks's  Writings  of  Washington,"  Vol.  VIII.  pp.  661-666. 


iET.  37.]  LEFE  OP  TIMOTHY  PICKERINO.  441 

the  cold  hand  of  poverty  without  a  munnur»  and  seen  the 
insolence  of  wealth  without  a  sigh,' —  wealth  growing  from 
the  soil  which  he  and  his  fellow-soldiers  had  enriched  with 
their  blood?  who,  when  he  saw  sweet  Peace,  with  her 
attendant  blessings,  dawning  on  the  land  which  his  sword 
had  contributed  to  save,  could  for  himself  look  forward 
but  to  indigence  and  wretchedness?  who,  when  Gratitude 
should  have  spread  her  joyful  arms  to  embrace  him,  saw 
even  Justice  barring  the  door  against  him  ?  What,  I  repeat, 
from  such  a  character  might  be  expected?  Still  longer 
patience  and  t&me  submission?  or  those  warm  eflfusions 
of  the  heart,  which,  with  great  and  animating  truths,  mingle 
some  drops  of  extravagance  and  error?  Had  the  army 
(the  most  deserving  of  all  public  creditors)  no  cause  to  be 
alarmed,  when  they  had  seen  the  obstinacy  of  a  single  petty 
State  *  defeat  the  wise  and  salutary  measure  of  the  impost? 
Had  they  no  cause  to  be  alarmed,  when  that  great  and 
upright  man,  the  superintendent  of  the  finances  of  their 
country,  had  declared  that  circumstances  had  postponed 
the  establishment  of  public  credit  in  such  manner  that  he 
feared  it  would  never  be  accomplished ;  that  he  must  quit 
his  office,  because  his  continuance  would  compel  him  to  be 
the  minister  of  injustice?  Was  it  manly,  then,  implicitly 
to  believe  the  suspicions  against  that  writer?  Was  it  wise 
to  adopt  a  resolution  that  would  brand  with  infamy  the  man, 
the  brother  officer,  whose  watchful  eye  and  able  pen  might 
discover  and  save  them  from  the  evils  which  ingratitude  and 
injustice  might  bring,  or  sufier  to  fall,  upon  them? 

"  But  I  will  tire  you  no  longer  with  my  remarks.  You  will 
make  your  own  comments,  and  I  shall  be  glad  to  see  them. 

"1  wish  you,  when  you  have  leisure,  to  read  to  Mrs. 
Pickering  this  letter  and  the  papers  which  are  the  subject 
of  it ;  I  cannot  repeat  them  -to  her.  Save  also  this  letter, 
for  I  have  no  copy.  You  will  consider  beforehand  to  whom 
you  may  show  it  without  danger.  Demler  |  carries  it,  with 
the  despatches  from  head-quarters.      He  can  bring  back 

*  Rhode  Island.  t  An  assistant  quartennaster. 

VOL.   L  56 


442  LITE  OF  TmOTHT  PICEEBING.  [178ft. 

• 

what  money  and  notes  you  can  procure »  as  mentioned  in 
my  public  letter  of  this  date. 

I  am,  my  dear  friend,  very  sincerely  yours, 

«*Teiiotht  Pickerino.'' 

To  Mrs.  Pickering  he  wrote  on  the  same  day  (the 
16th  of  March) :  — 

"  The  meeting  of  the  oflGicers  mentioned  in  my  last  (which 
I  sent  open  to  Mr.  Hodgdon)  was  held  yesterday :  an 
account  of  the  result  I  now  send  to  Mr.  Hodgdon.  Tis  too 
long  to  repeat,  and  I  have  told  him  to  show  it  to  you.  If 
he  forgets,  ask  him  for  the  papers.  The  result  of  this  meet- 
ing has  given  me  another  instance  of  the  fickleness  of  popular 
assemblies,  and  shown  how  easily  a  fluent  orator,  with  plau- 
sibility only  to  support  him,  may  govern  them  as  he  will. 
The  gi'eat  object  1  had  in  view  at  the  meeting  is  effected,  — 
I  mean,  the  informing  of  Congress,  that  it  was  the  wish  of 
the  armv  not  to  be  disbanded  until  their  accounts  were 
settled,  SLud/unds  established  to  pay  them.  In  this  measure 
I  extended  my  views  beyond  the  army.  I  cast  my  eye  on 
the  numerous  public  creditors,  who  at  present  have  but  a 
hope  that  they  will  ever  be  paid.  I  considered  the  reputa- 
tion of  my  country  as  at  stake  in  this  great  question  of 
establishing  funds  to  pay  the  public  debts.  I  did  not  desire 
the  army  to  disband  until  this  essential,  all-important  point 
were  gained.  The  wish  of  the  army  to  this  effect  being 
communicated,  I  knew  that  Congress  and  the  governments 
of  the  States  would  make  some  useful  and  necessary  reflec- 
tions on  it.*  But  by  the  last  resolution  of  the  meeting,  / 
think  the  army  will  suffer  in  its  reputation,  and  consequently 
in  its  present  views.  Some  others  think  differently.  The 
reason  of  my  opinion  you  will  see  in  the  letter  to  the  Major 
[Hodgdon].  Let  him  see  this,  as  it  contains  some  senti- 
ments which  I  forgot  to  express  to  him." 

*  See  the  letters  of  Hamilton  to  Washington  of  Febniaiy  7th,  1783,  in 
Bparks's  *^  Correspondence  of  the  American  Reyolution,"  Vol.  III.  p.  550, 
and  March  17tb,  1783,  in  Vol.  IV.  p.  6. 


Mt.  87.]  LIFE  OF  TIM0TH7  FICKEBING.  443 

He  wrote  again  to  Mr&  Pickering  on  the  18th  of 
March;  ajB  follows:  — 

''  In  my  letter  of  last  Sunday  I  mentioned  the  meeting  we 
had  last  Saturday.  ...  As  I  foresaw,  so  I  find,  that  the 
officers  generally  disapprove  the  resolution  in  which  the 
anonymous  publications  are  called  in/amotis,  although  none 
of  them  would  venture  to  object  at  the  meeting.  They 
have  conducted  like  the  greater  part  of  mankind,  who  suffer 
themselves  to  be  overawed  by  those  who,  for  their  wealth 
or  offices,  are  called  great  men.  I  shduld  not  have  contented 
myself  with  giving  that  vote  my  silent  negative,  if  the  former 
part  of  the  proceedings  had  not  shown  me  that  I  should 
stand  alone  the  butt  of  resentment  to  the  C.  in  C.  [Com- 
mander-in-Chief] and  some  officers  who  implicitly  adopted 
his  opinion. 

''  I  am  in  some  doubt  about  a  general  peace,  but  I  have 
very  little  that  the  British  will  leave  New  York  before  the 
first  of  June.  This  will  relieve  the  United  States  in  some 
degree,  and  I  am  not  certain  that  it  will  not  be  more  useful 
than  universal  peace.  The  union  of  the  States  is  shaken  by 
our  own  divisions ;  and  no  funds  are  established  to  pay  the 
public  debts.  For  these  reasons  absolute  peace  mi2:ht  at 
L  time  be  detrimental. 

*'  I  feel  some  solicitude  for  our  future  support ;  yet,  as 
neither  of  us  have  so  much  pride  as  to  put  us  above  any 
honest  calling,  I  trust  in  Providence  that  we  shall  not  want. 
Farewell,  my  love !  In  every  possible  situation  I  shall 
strive  to  make  you  happy.** 

From  these  letters  it  appears  that,  when  Washington 
read  his  address  to  the  officers,  Armstrong  was  most 
probably  not  regarded  by  him,  and  certainly  not  by 
Colonel  Pickering,  as  the  author  of  the  anonymous 
letters;  and  that  on  this  point  Armstrong  was  more 
accurate  in  his  recollection  than  Colonel  Pickering  or 
Governor  Brooks.    He  was  also  right  in  asserting  that 


444  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  [1783. 

a  letter  from  a  Virginia  member  of  Congress,  or  an 
extract  from  it,  was  read  by  Washington ;  but  he  erred 
in  assigning  it  to  Hardy  or  Harvie,  and  in  alleging  that 
it  implicated  Robert  Morris,  Gouvemeur  Morris,  and 
Alexander  Hamilton  in  the  supposed  conspiracy  against 
Washington.  General  Hand,  to  whom  Armstrong  refers 
p^  an  authority,  was  at  the  meeting  of  the  officers,  and 
may  have  written  that  a  letter  was  read  to  them  by 
the  Commander-in-Chief;  but  it  is  impossible  that  he 
should  within  a  month  have  described  it  as  implicating 
those  gentlemen.  Brooks  and  Cobb  were  mistaken  in 
saying  that  no  letter  whatever  was  communicated  to 
the  officers  by  Washington,  and  that  his  address  was 
acted  upon  by  itself;  while,  in  denying  that  such  a  letter 
was  produced  as  Armstrong  describes,  implicating  the 
Morrises  and  Hamilton,  Colonel  Pickering  and  the  gen- 
tlemen whom  he  consulted  are  sustained  by  unques- 
tionable evidence.  In  a  manuscript  pamphlet,  noted 
on  the  cover,  by  Colonel  Pickering,  "Anonymous  Ad- 
dresses ...  by  J.  A.,  Jr.,"  are  copies,  made  at  the  time 
by  one  of  his  clerks,  of  the  anonymous  letters,  of  Wash- 
ington's address,  of  the  resolutions  of  the  officers,  and 
of  a  "letter  from  a  member  of  Congress  to  General 
Washington ; "  which  last,  there  is  no  reason  to  doubt, 
is  a  copy  of  the  paper  communicated  to  the  officers  at 
the  meeting.  A  recurrence  to  Sparks's  "  Correspond- 
ence of  the  American  Revolution  "  (Vol.  HI.  p.  554), 
where  the  whole  letter  is  published,  shows  that  this 
manuscript  presents  only  portions  of  it*    It  agrees  with 

J  III-         —  - 1  - -       -     • • " 

*  These  portions  leave  out,  as  irreleyant,  remarks  on  Vermont,  but  con- 
tain the  rest  of  the  letter  with  the  significant  omission  of  these  sentences : 
"Whether  to  temporize,  or- oppose  with  steady,  unremitting  firmness  what  is 
supposed  to  be  in  agitation,  of  dangerous  tendency,  or  that  may  be  agitated, 
must  be  left  to  your  own  sense  of  propriety  and  better  judgment;  **  **Thal 
we  shall  have  peace  soon  is  almost  reduced  to  a  certainty;  but  my  fears  are, 


^T.  87.]  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  445 

the  abstract  in  Colonel  Pickering's  letter  to  Hodgdon, 
.  where  it  is  correctly  attributed  to  Joseph  Jones.  On 
a  perusal  of  the  letter  as  published  by  Sparks,  the 
reader  will  perceive  that  it  makes  no  allusion  to  either 
of  the  Morrises  or  to  Hamilton. 

Armstrong's  allegation,  that  Colonel  Pickering 
opposed  the  course  desired  by  Washington,  though 
questioned  by  Colonel  Pickering  and  positively  denied 
by  Governor  Brooks,  is  perhaps  not  void  of  foundation. 
Brooks  says,  *^The  committee  reported  a  number  of 
resolves,  which,  without  opposition  or  discussion,  were 
accepted."  Here  his  recollection  is  clearly  inaccurate ; 
for  Colonel  Pickering,  in  his  letter  written  to  Hodgdon 
the  next  day,  says  they  were  "  debated  (if  a  conversation 
between  three  persons,  in  so  numerous  an  assembly, 
deserves  the  name  of  a  debate  ...  ),  altered^  and 
amended^  The  resolves,  as  reported  by  Knox,  proba- 
bly had  the  previous  approbation  of  Washington ;  *  and, 
from  the  tone  of  the  letter  to  Hodgdon  it  may  be 
inferred  that  in  their  original  form  they  were  not  sat- 
isfactory to  Colonel  Pickering,  and  that  he  had  spoken 
on  them  "  so  often,"  and  in  opposition  to  parts  of  them, 
in  order  to  obtain  the  amendments  which  were  adopted. 
As  he  says,  in  his  letter  of  March  16  th  to  Mrs.  Picker- 
ing, that  the  great  object  he  had  in  view  at  the  meeting 

it  will  not  be  attended  with  those  blessings  generally  expected.  There  are  so 
many  great  questions,  very  interesting  to  particular  States,  unsettled,  that  it 
is  difficult  to  avoid  uneasy  impressions  for  the  consequences."  The  first  pas- 
sage might  have  afiected  unpleasantly  the  minds  of  the  officers ;  the  last  was 
discouraging,  and  would  have  fostered  their  discontent.  It  would  also  seem 
to  have  been  thought  politic  to  keep  out  of  sight  the  expectation  of  a  speedy 
peace.  Hamilton  wrote  to  Washington  on  the  7th  of  February,  **  It  appears 
to  be  a  prevailing  opinion  in  the  army,  that  the  disposition  to  recompense  their 
services  will  cease  with  the  necessity  for  them."  —  Sparks's  Correspondence 
of  the  American  Revolution^  Vol.  III.  p.  550;  Sparks's  Writings  of  Wdsh^ 
ingion,  Vol.  VIII.  p.  396. 

♦  See  Sparks's  "  Writings  of  Washington,"  Vol.  VIII.  p.  397. 


446  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKEBING.  [1788. 

was  effected,  —  the  informing  of  Congress  that  it  was 
the  wish  of  the  army  not  to  be  disbanded  until  their 
accounts  were  settled,  and  fxmd»  established  to  pay  them^ 
—  I  infer  that  the  resolutions,  as  amended,  received  his 
vote  in  their  favor.  As  to  the  additional  resolution, 
calling  the  anonymous  Addresses  w^amaus,  he  says  ex- 
pressly that  it  was  displeasing  to  him,  and  that  he  would 
not  vote  for  it,  but  that  he  did  not  express  his  objeo- 
tions  at  the  meeting. 

The  letter  to  Hodgdon  affords  an  answer  to  Arm- 
strong's earnest  question,  how  it  has  happened  that  a 
document  so  important  as  the  ^  extraordinary  letter  '* 
from  Harvie  ^^  should  not  have  been  mentioned  by  any 
chronicler  of  the  times  or  biographer  of  Washington,'* 
and  puts  an  end  to  his  benevolent  theory,  that  Washr 
ington  must  have  ^^stroyed  it  in  order  to  prevent  its 
being  made  the  instrument  of  any  new  or  additional 
injury.  It  is  plain  that  it  never  had  any  existence, 
except  in  the  very  erroneous  representation  by  Arm- 
strong of  the  letter  from  Joseph  Jones. 

In  answer  to  Colonel  Pickering's  letter,  Mr.  Hodgdon 
wrote  from  Philadelphia  the  26th  of  March: — 

"I  am  exceedingly  indebted  to  you  for  your  very  kind 
communications.  They  afforded  myself  and  confidential 
friends  a  rich  repast.  At  some  leisure  hour  I  will  give  you 
my  sentiments  on  the  proceedings,  a  part  of  which  I  think 
very  extraordinary.  The  Addresses  are  read  here  with 
admiration,  and   the  author  universally  celebrated.      The 

's  *  letter  to  Congress  on  the  occasion  is  said  to  be 

a  great  performance,  superior  to  anything  of  the  kind  that 
has  yet  made  its  appearance." 

*  Doubtless  Commander-in-Chiefs.    Bee  the  letter  to  Congress  in  Sparks^t 
"  Writings  of  Washington,"  Vol.  VIU.  p.  896. 


iET.87.]  LIFB  OF  TIMOTHT  PICKEBING.  447 


CHAPTER   XXXII. 

Colonel  Fickering^s  Attention  to  Public  Economy.  —  His  Purpose 
to  enter  into  Mercantile  Business.  —  His  Repugnance  to  dwelling 
in  a  Slave-holding  State.  —  The  Announcement  of  Peace.  —  His 
Correspondence  with  Robert  Morris  on  the  Accounts  of  the  Quar- 
termaster's Department.  —  His  Public  Spirit.  —  His  Plan  for  the 
Settlement  of  a  new  State  in  the  Western  Territory  by  Officers 
and  Soldiers  of  the  American  Army. — His  Report  on  a  Military 
Peace  Establishment.  —  His  Plan  for  a  Military  Academy  at  West 
Point. 

In  anticipation  of  peace,  Colonel  Pickering  manifested 
his  disposition  to  promote  public  economy,  by  reducing 
the  staff,  and  consequently  the  expenses  of  his  depart- 
ment In  a  letter,  dated  at  Newburgh,  the  25th  of 
March,  1783,  to  his  wife,  he  expressed  regret  that  it  was 
not  in  his  power  to  relieve  her  from  the  troublesome 
business  of  a  removal  from  the  Falls  of  Schuylkill  to 
Philadelphia,  and  that  he  could  not  make  her  a  visit  on 
"  the  auspicious  eighth  of  April "  (their  wedding-day), 
his  duties  requiring  his  presence  in  the  State  of  New 
York.     He  said  further :  — 

"  I  have  no  deputy.  Major  Cogswell  *  is  yet  absent,  and 
I  shall  not  call  on  Colonel  Lutterloh  for  assistance,  as  I  mean 
now  to  desire  him  to  close  immediately  all  the  business 
of  his  department,  and  to  put  the  purchases  of  forage  on 
another  footing,  without  employing  a  commissary  of  forage. 
So  the  whole  weight  of  the  department  will  lie  immediately 
upon  me,  and  undoubtedly  require  my  continuance  in  this 
State  until  May,  and  perhaps  longer ;  but,  by  the  first  of 
June,  I  have  strong  expectations  that  I  shall  write  you  from 

*  W4igon-ma8ter-GeneraL 


448  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKBBING.  [1788. 

the  city  of  New  York.     That  event  will  enable  me  to  snatch 
a  few  days  to  be  devoted  to  you.     ... 

"I  have  received  from  brother  Williams  a  letter,  ac- 
knowledging the  receipt  of  mine  on  the  subject  of  my 
settling  at  Philadelphia.  I  see  that  he  approves  the  plan. 
...  I  observe  he  takes  hold  on  the  idea  I  started,  •  .  . 
that  the  trade  which  would  now  be  most  profitable  to  Mas- 
sachusetts would  lie  with  Maryland  and  Virginia,  where 
tobacco^  as  well  diS  flour ^  may  be  obtained.  And  what  should 
you  think  of  going  farther  southward?  To  Baltimore,  for 
instance?  To  Alexandria,  or  Norfolk,  in  Vii^nia?  I  con- 
fess my  own  repugnance  to  dwelling  in  a  country  where 
such  multitudes  of  the  human  species  are  degraded  to  the 
condition  of  the  brute  cre^ion.  They  begin,  however,  to 
emerge  from  this  barbarous  custom.     .  .  . 

*<This  moment  I  am  interrupted  by  a  rap  at  the  door. 
All  in  bed  but  myself,  who  wake  for  you.  I  let  the  mes- 
senger in ;  he  presents  me  a  paper  with  these  words :  '  A 
general  peace  is  concluded'  I  My  heart's  darling  joy,  you 
have  already  exulted  in  this  happy  news;  and  soon,  bj 
God's  will,  shall  I  be  restored  to  your  tender  embraces. 
Then  we  will  again  rejoice ;  then  will  we  pour  out  the  grate- 
ful effusions  of  our  souls  to  that  great  and  merciful  Being 
who  has  carried  us  in  safety  through  a  calamitous  war,  and 
given  us  the  object  of  our  wishes.  O  for  a  country  deserv- 
ing of  such  blessings  I  But  God  is  gracious  even  to  the 
unthankful  and  unjust.  His  mercy  endureth  for  ever.  Ex- 
alted be  his  name.  In  him  we  will  repose  our  confidence, 
and  in  his  loving-kindness,  to  preserve  our  lives  and  the  lives 
of  our  sweet  babes,  and  to  give  us  a  competency  with  con- 
tentment.    Contentment  will  make  a  poor  man  rich."  * 

—         — ■ -  -     —  -_■_-. 

♦  The  letter  was  to  have  been  handed  to  Mrs.  Pickering  by  Colonel  Gou- 
vion,  of  the  French  army,  and  she  was  requested  to  **  show  him  every  civility, 
as  a  most  worthy  man,  justly  beloved  by  aU  who  know  and  will  acknowledge 
his  merits."  But,  on  account  of  the  news  of  peace,  he  postponed  his  journey 
to  Philadelphia,  writing  to  Colonel  Pickering,  '*  I  must  stay  in  camp  to  take 
my  share  of  the  joy  which  will  be. felt  by  all  my  fellow-officers,  in  a  moment 
when  they  see  their  hardships,  labors,  and  perseverance  crowned  with  the 
glorious  success  which  was  the  only  object  we  aimed  at." 


^T.  87.]  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  449 

He  wrote  the  next  day,  the  26th  of  March,  to  his 
brother :  — 

"  The  joyful  news  of  peace  will  reach  you  ere  this  arrives. 
Nevertheless  I  will  mention  the  substance  of  the  intelli- 
gence which  arrived  last  night  at  head-quarters. 

"  The  Marquis  de  Lafayette  had  arrived  at  Cadiz,  to  pro- 
ceed with  the  Comte  D'Estaing  on  the  grand  expedition 
against  Jamaica ;  but,  the  treaty  of  peace  having  been  signed, 
the  Comte  and  the  Marquis  despatched  a  sloop  of  war  with 
the  intelligence,  which  was  fortunate  enough  to  be  the  first. 
The  despatches  were  delivered  to  the  General  by  a  youth 
whom  the  Marquis  took  with  him  from  America,  and  sent 
hither  for  the  pui'pose.  One  paper  calls  the  treaty,  which 
was  signed  the  2l8t  of  January  by  the  belligerent  powers, 
^  t?ie  preliminaries  to  a  general  peace,*  But  a  letter  from 
the  President  of  Congress  to  Governor  Livingston  calls  it-  a 
*  definitive  treaty.'     .  .  . 

"  The  General's  letters  were  from  the  Minister  of  France 
and  the  Secretary  for  Foreign  Affairs,  in  which  they  con- 
gratulate him  on  the  close  of  the  war.  A  messenger  yesterday 
arrived  here  from  New  York  with  information  that  the  Brit- 
ish were  calling  in  all  their  cruisers.  The  Secretary  for 
Foreign  Affairs,  by  permission  of  Congress,  sent  his  under- 
secretary to  Sir  Guy  Carleton  with  the  intelligence  received 
from  Cadiz :  so  all  doubt  of  the  great  event  is  precluded." 

A  passage  in  a  letter  from  Mr.  Hodgdon,  of  the  26th 
of  March,  was  the  occasion  of  a  remarkable  correspond- 
ence between  Colonel  Pickering  and  Robert  Morris. 
Mr.  Hodgdon  wrote:  — 

^  I  cannot  at  present  obtain  further  supplies  for  paying 
off  Colonel  Neilson's  department.  Mr.  Morris  insists  upon 
^  settlement  of  your  accounts  previous  to  any  more  advances. 
I  have  told  him  you  were  doing  all  in  your  power  to  compass 
this  very  desirable  business,  and  that  an  advance  of  money 

VOL.  I.  57 


450  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  [1788. 

for  the  purpose  requested  would  fecilitate  it.  I  hope  yet  to 
prevail,  but  wish  you  would  write  him  on  the  subject,  as  I 
think  it  would  further  my  endeavors." 

Colonel  Pickering,  in  consequence,  wrote  to  Mr. 
Morris :  — 

'^Nbwbuboh,  April  Ist,  1783. 

"Sib, 

''  In  a  letter  of  the  26th  ultimo,  addressed  to  me  by  Mr. 
Hodgdon,  are  these  words :  '  Mr.  Morris  insists  upon  a 
settlement  of  your  accounts  previous  to  any  more  advances.' 

"I  have  not  forgotten,  Sir,  your  earnest  desire  to  have 
my  accounts  settled ;  it  is  impossible  I  should  forget  it ;  for 
nothing  hangs  upon  me  with  so  great  a  weight.  J^eace  is 
arrived,  when  I  hoped  to  have  engaged  in  some  private  call- 
ing that  would  do  more  than  keep  my  family  from  starving. 
But  I  see  that  the  final  settlement  of  the  numerous  and 
extensive  accounts  of  my  department,  scattered  from  one 
end  of  the  Continent  to  the  other,  will  not  be  accomplished 
in  six,  perhaps  not  in  twelve  months.  This,  you  will  readily 
conceive,  must  render  me  extremely  unhappy.  After  spend- 
ing seventeen  years  in  various  public  services  for  a  bore 
subsistence,  I  am  now  arrived  at  a  period  in  life  which 
demands  that  I  fix  on  some  employment  which  shall  be 
advantageous  and  permanent.  Pressed  by  the  tenderest 
concerns  to  make  such  an  aiTangement,  every  intervening 
day  that  postpones  it  gives  me  pain.  On  this  account, 
therefore,  the  information  repeated  in  the  first  paragraph  of 
this  letter  could  not  but  occasion  me  much  uneasiness ;  but, 
as  it  seemed  to  imply  a  want  of  confidence  in  me,  it  was 
peculiarly  distressing.  I  have  formerly  felt  myself  happy 
in  your  good  opinion,  though  I  confess  to  you  I  took  no  pains 
to  acquire  it ;  for  I  never  anticipate  the  consequences  of  my 
actions,  —  whether  they  will  procure  me  censure  or  applause. 
When  general  approbation  has  followed  my  endeavors  to 
promote  the  public  good,  it  has  given  me  pleasure;  but 
when   disapprobation,   or  reproach  (as  it  has  sometimes 


Mt.  37.]  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  451 

happened),  has  ensued,  still  I  have  not  been  without  a  con- 
solation, —  the  best,  indeed,  an  honest  man  can  wish  for,  — 
a  consciousness  of  upright  intentions,  and  the  countenance 
and  encouragement  of  a  few,  the  wise  and  good. 

"Suffer  me  to  hint  at  the  circumstances  under  which  I 
was  induced  to  take  the  direction  of  the  Quartermaster's 
department. 

**  General  Greene  had  abruptly  resigned.  Congress  were 
exceedingly  embarrassed.  Some  member  (who,  I  know  not) 
named  me  to  succeed  him.  Mv  consent  was  asked,  and 
reluctantly  given.  I  was  not  ignorant  of  the  deranged  state 
of  our  public  affairs,  and  the  total  want  of  a  valuable  medi- 
um. I  foresaw  the  great  difficulties  that  would  attend  the 
execution  of  the  office,  and  therefore,  in  my  first  letters  on 
the  subject,  declared  that  <  I  expected  neither  pleasure,  nor 
honor,  nor  profit.'  From  that  hour  my  life  has  been  a  series 
of  toil  and  vexation.  Unfortunately,  too,  no  business  in 
which  I  had  formerly  been  engaged  had  introduced  me  to  a 
knowledge  of  accounts ;  and  hence'  I  was  not  sufficiently 
aware  of  the  importance  of  the  subject  and  of  the  necessity 
of  making  those  arrangements  which  alone  could  effect  reg- 
ular and  speedy  settlements.  The  trifling  sums  received 
for  transacting  business  of  such  extent  added  not  a  little  to 
my  difficulties  on  this  score.  Small  payments  were  made 
on  the  spur  of  pressing  emergencies,  and  matters  left  un- 
finished. Early  in  1781  I  endeavored  to  procure  the  assist- 
ance of  a  very  accomplished  accountant ;  but,  after  keeping 
me  many  months  in  suspense,  he  declined  serving,  because 
J  could  not  promise  him  a  regular  payment  of  his  salary. 
After  my  return  from  Virginia,  at  the  close  of  that  year,  I 
engaged  another;  but  public  business,  that  unexpectedly 
intervened,  detained  him  some  months,  which,  together 
with  my  long  stay  last  year  in  Philadelphia,  prevented  his 
joining  me  until  October,  1782. 

^  All  these  causes  have  conspired  to  put  my  accounts  in 
arrear,  and  to  occasion  some  irregularities,  by  which  /, 
though  not  the  public^  may  suffer.      The  agency  of  the 


452  LIFE  OP  TIMOTHY  PICKERINa  [1788- 

department  being  soon  to  end,  I  shall,  from  every  motive, 
public  and  private,  close  all  my  accounts  with  as  much 
expedition  as  the  nature  of  the  business  will  admit.  Those 
of  my  deputies  who  have  not  yet  finished  their  accounts, 
promise  a  speedy  completion  of  them. 

"Until  I  accepted  this  cursed  office,  though  necessity 
compelled  me  to  live  frugally,  yet  I  had  the  satisfaction  of 
keeping  nearly  clear  of  private  debts ;  for  I  had  resolved 
not  to  encumber  the  only  hope  of  my  family,  in  case  an 
unlucky  accident  befell  me,  —  my  little  patrimony.  But 
I  have  not  kept  my  resolution.  I  am  now  indebted,  for 
moneys  borrowed  of  my  friends  since  the  22d  of  February, 
1781,  for  the  support  of  myself  and  family,  upwards  of 
nineteen  hundred  hard  dollars.  When  I  received  these 
loans,  I  reckoned  on  my  funded  certificate  of  near  four 
thousand  dollars,  given  for  my  arrearages  as  a  member  of 
the  Board  of  War ;  but  you  have  lately  declared  that  you 
fear  the  public  credit  will  never  be  established.  Some  of 
my  friends  had  expressed  the  same  apprehension,  and  I  have 
since  ordered  my  patrimony  to  be  sold  to  pay  my  debts.  I 
had,  indeed,  an  additional  motive,  just  then,  to  order  the 
sale  of  my  estate.  The  legislature  of  New  York  paying 
no  attention  to  the  recommendation  of  Congress,  nor  to  my 
earnest  petition,  for  exemption  from  suits  for  public  debts, 
I  expected  to  be  left  a  prey  to  the  avaricious  and  merciless 
speculators  in  public  securities.  But  justice  and  gratitude 
to  my  friends  required  that  their  dues  should  not  be  left  to 
the  discretion  of  my  public  creditors.  This  legislature  have, 
at  last,  enacted  that  execution  shall  be  stayed  until  the  first 
day  of  March  next. 

"This,  Sir,  is  my  present  situation.  If,  instead  of  bor- 
rowing, I  had  appropriated  public  money  for  my  entire 
support  to  the  amount  of  my  pay,  I  should  have  been  justi- 
fied ;  for,  when  I  accepted  the  office,  I  announced  to  Con- 
gress my  poverty,  and  that  I  was  unable,  without  a  grant  of 
money  for  the  purpose,  even  to  equip  myself  for  the  field. 
But  the  public  wants  have  not  left  me  at  liberty  to  do  what 
more  prudent  people  would  not  have  omitted. 


Mt.  87.]  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  453 

"You  can  now  judge,  Sir,  what  must  have  been  my  feel- 
ings on  reading  the  paragraph  above  quoted  from  Mr. 
Hodgdon's  letter.  The  declaration  imports  either  that  your 
confidence  in  my  integrity  has  ceased,  or  that,  byVitholding 
money,  I  may  be  induced  to  hasten  the  settlement  of  my 
accounts.  But  the  latter  will  thereby  be  inevitably  retarded* 
If  the  former  has  taken  place,  I  shall  have  nothing  more  to 
say  on  the  subject.  If  Mr.  Hodgdon  has  misapprehended 
your  expression,  I  shall  be  sorry  to  have  troubled  you  with 
this  long  letter.  As  things  are  now  circumstanced,  it  is  of 
serious  consequence  to  me  to  be  early  informed  of  the  grouud 
on  which  I  may  expect  to  stand.  I  am  unhappy  enough  to 
read  your  resignation ;  but  to  be  consigned  over  with  sus-* 
picions  to  the  unequal  resources  of  your  successor  will  be 
worse.  I  remain,  Sir,  with  great  respect,  your  most  obedi- 
ent servant. 

"Timothy  Pickering,   Q.  M.  G. 

"  P.  S.  I  intended  this  as  a  private  letter ;  but  if,  for  any 
cause,  you  choose  to  consider  it  as  a  public  one,  I  shall 
acquiesce." 

The  next  day  he  wrote  to  Mr.  Hodgdon  a  letter,  in 
which  he  alludes  to  the  preceding  one  to  Mr.  Morris, 
and  says :  — 

"I  know  not  how  it  will  affect  him ;  I  hope,  agreeably  to 
my  wishes ;  if  not,  I  quit  the  army  directly.  But  I  think 
it  will  operate  as  it  should  do." 

The  following  is  Mr.  Morris's  answer  to  the  letter 
addressed  to  him. 

"Offxcb  of  FiNAi^CE,  April  7th,  1788. 

"Deab  Sir, 
"I  have  this  moment  received  your  letter  of  the  first 
instant,  and  read  it  with  as  much  pain  as  I  believe  you  to 
have  felt  in  writing  it.     I  neither  give  nor  withdraw  my 


454  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHT  PICKERINO.  [1788. 

confidence  on  trivial  ground.  You  had  it  fully,  and  you 
have  it  stiil,  in  the  same  extensive  degree  as  ever. 

**  I  knew  some  of  the  circumstances  which  prevented  the 
settlement  of  your  accounts,  and  I  believed  there  were  others, 
as  from  your  letter  I  am  now  convinced  that  there  were.  I 
did  not,  therefore,  press  you  so  hard  on  that  subject  as 
otherwise  I  should  have  done.  I  have  been  myself  accused 
and  abused  in  Congress  for  the  forbearance.  I  shall  state 
to  the  committee  appointed  to  inspect  my  ofBce  the  reasons 
you  assign,  and  so  far  consider  your  letter  a  public  one  as 
to  lay  it  before  them.  In  the  mean  time,  I  pray  you  to  urge 
on  the  settlement  as  fast  as  possible,  —  I  mean  the  settle- 
ment of  accounts  under  my  administration. 

**  On  the  subject  of  your  own  pailicular  affairs  I  have  but 
little  to  say ;  but  that  little  will,  I  think,  be  satisfactory.  I 
conceive  myself  authorized  to  discharge  your  arrearages  of 
pay  as  Commissioner  of  the  Board  of  War,  and  will  do  so 
whenever  you  shall  think  proper. 

"I  am,  with  very  sincere  esteem,  Sir,  your  most  obedient 

and  humble  servant, 

"Robert  Morris.*' 

To  this  letter  Colonel  Pickering  replied  :  — 

"  Nbwburgh,  April  14th,  17S8. 

"  Sir, 

"  I  have  been  honored  with  your  letter  of  the  7th,  and  feel 
as  I  ought  the  force  of  the  obligations  so  much  candor  and 
friendship  impose  on  me.  I  have  nothing  so  much  at  heart 
as  to  comply  with  your  wishes  in  the  speedy  settlement  of 
my  loublic  accounts,  which  is  at  the  same  time  so  essential 
to  my  ease  find  interest. 

"  In  regard  to  *  my  own  particular  affairs,'  which  you  so 
kindly  notice,  —  while  I  receive  the  benefits  to  be  derived 
from  your  indulgence,  I  wish  it  to  be  with  the  least  possible 
inconvenience  to  you.  With  this  view  I  beg  leave  to  inform 
you,  that  a  draft  on  Mr.  Lovell  for  two  thousand  dollars 
will  enable  me   to  reimburse  the  sums   borrowed  of  my 


^T.  37.]  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  455 

friends,  and  conveniently,  as  they  live  at  Salem.  The  resi- 
due of  my  arrears  as  a  member  of  the  Board  of  War  may 
be  placed  in  any  situation  you  think  proper,  in  which 
I  may  command  it.  I  recollect  that  the  public  were  some 
time  ago  possessed  of  bank  stock  which  it  was  wished  to 
have  disposed  of:  if  any  remains  in  that  predicament,  it 
would  be  agreeable  to  me  to  have  three  or  four  shares,  which 
I  might  sell  again  when  my  business  or  necessities  should 
require  it.  The  balance  Mr.  Hodgdon  will  receive,  and  in 
my  behalf  attend  to  the  whole  negotiation  whenever  you 
shall  please  to  call  for  him.  With  the  most  respectful 
attachment  and  esteem,  I  remain,"  &c. 

In  a  letter  to  Mrs.  Pickering,  dated  at  Newburgh,  the 
6th  of  April,  he  recurs  to  his  future  course  of  life. 

"  Peace  does  not  yet  arrive  to  my  relief.  I  am  impatient 
for  the  official  accounts,  that  I  may  be  released  from  public 
engagements  and  enter  the  paths  of  private  life,  —  that  I 
may  engage  in  pursuits  that  will  insure  a  support  for  j'^ou 
and  our  boys,  and  that  will  enable  me  to  live  always  with 
you.  I  am  unhappy  at  every  day's  absence.  I  wish  to  con- 
tribute to  your  pleasure,  and  to  ease  you  in  every  burden. 
I  would  smooth  for  you  the  path  of  life.  *I  would  wish  to 
make  it  elegantly  smooth ;  that  it  were  decked  on  every 
side  and  carpeted  with  joys.'  All  things  premise  fairly.  I 
am  encouraged  to  expect  the  correspondence  of  merchants 
in  different  quarters.  This  morning  Mr.  Oilman,*  of  Ex- 
eter, called  upon  me.  ...  He  said  my  character  was  well 
known  in  New  Hampshire,  and  he  doubted  not  that  I  should 
get  all  the  business  from  thence.  ...  If  in  this  way  I 
am  enabled  to  support  you  and  my  children  agreeably,  if  I 
can  lay  up  such  a  competent  fortune  as  will  secure  us  from 
want,  I  shall  be  satisfied.  If  I  could  do  this  without  many 
years*  labor,  I  should  be  more  pleased ;  because  there  are 

*  John  Tajlor  Gilman,  a  member  of  Congress  from  New  Hampshirei  and 
afterwards  the  Governor  of  that  State. 


456  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING,  [1783. 

some  studies  aud  pursuits  which  I  should  gladly  engage  in 
for  the  benefit  of  society.  I  have  only  to  regret  that  my 
want  of  abilities,  of  learning,  and  of  fortune  forbids  my  car- 
rying those  pursuits  to  such  lengths  and  to  such  early  con- 
clusions as'  the  mischiefs  I  wish  to  check  aud  prevent 
pressingly  require.  But  I  will  reserve  the  pleasure  of  a 
particular  explanation  of  my  views  until  I  can  speak  to  you 
face  to  face." 

To  what  objects  his  philanthropic  views  had  relation, 
does  not  appear ;  perhaps  agriculture  and  education. 

A  letter  of  the  6th  of  April  from  Sir  Guy  Carleton 
informed  General  Washington,  that  he  had  received 
official  intelligence  that  preliminary  articles  of  peace 
with  France  and  Spain  were  signed  on  the  20th  of 
January,  and  that,  in  pursuance  of  orders  from  the 
King  of  Great  Britain,  he  should  publish,  on  the  8th  of 
April,  proclamations  declaring  a  cessation  of  arms,  as 
well  by  sea  as  by  land. 

In  a  letter  dated  Newburgh,  April  6th,  addressed  to 
Mr.  Hodgdon,  Colonel  Pickering  says: — 

"  Mr.  Williams  wrote  to  me  that  some  of  mv  friends  were 
extremely  desirous  of  my  returning  to  Salem,  and  some 
merchants  were  of  opinion  it  would  be  most  for  my  interest. 
I  cannot  conceive  on  what  grounds  the  latter  form  their 
opinion.  However,  I  have  sent  my  final  determination  not 
to  return  to  Massachusetts  to  peddle  in  trade  or  starve  in  a 
public  office.  I  have  told  Mr.  Williams  that,  if  this  com- 
mission plan  does  not  succeed,  I  will  settle  in  a  new  coun- 
try, where,  if  my  life  is  spared  for  a  few  years,  I  can  at 
least  leave  a  plantation  to  each  of  my  children." 

A  letter  of  the  7th  of  April  to  Mr.  Hodgdon  has 
already  been  quoted,  in  which  Colonel  Pickering  said 
he  had  renounced  his  purpose  of  buying  wild  land  in 


JEt.  37.]  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKEBINQ.  457 

Vermont.  In  the  same  letter  he  went  on  to  speak 
of  a  subject  of  more  importance  than  his  private  con- 
cerns. 

**  But  a  new  plan  is  in  contemplation,  —  no  less  than  form- 
ing a  new  State  westward  of  the  Ohio.  Some  of  the  prin- 
cipal officers  of  the  army  are  heartily  engaged  in  it.  About 
a  week  since,  the  matter  was  set  on  foot,  and  a  plan  is 
digesting  for  the  purpose.  Enclosed  is  a  rough  draught 
of  some  propositions  respecting  it,  which  are  generally 
approved  of.  They  are  in  the  hands  of  General  Hunting- 
ton and  General  [Rufus]  Putnam  for  consideration,  amend- 
ment, and  addition.  It  would  be  too  tedious  to  explain  to 
you  in  writing  all  the  motives  to  attempt  this  measure,  and 
all  the  advantages  which  will  probably  result  from  it.  As 
soon  as  the  plan  is  well  digested,  it  is  intended  to  lay  it 
before  an  assembly  of  the  officers,  and  to  learn  the  inclina- 
tions of  the  soldiers.  If  it  takes,  an  application  will  then 
be  made  to  Congress  for  the  grant  and  all  things  depend- 
ing on  them.  1  shall  have  much  to  say  to  you  on  this 
subject.** 

The  propositions  were,  in  substance,  —  That  the 
United  States  should  purchase  of  the  natives  a  tract 
of  land  described  in  the  plan,  being  a  large  portion  of 
what  is  now  the  State  of  Ohio;  that,  in  the  first  instance, 
lands  should  be  assigned  to  the  officers  and  soldiers  of 
the  army,  to  fulfil  the  engagements  of  the  United  States 
made  by  certain  resolutions  of  Congress,  and  that  all 
associators  who  should  actually  settle  in  the  new  State 
within  one  year  after  it  was  ready  for  settlement  should 
receive  certain  additional  quantities  of  land;  that  this 
increased  provision  should  extend  to  all  officers  and  sol- 
diers who  had  performed,  in  the  whole,  three  years'  ser- 
vice, whether  in  service  or  not  at  the  end  of  the  war ;  that 
the  surplus  lands  should  be  the  property  of  the  State ; 

VOL.  L  58 


458  LIFE   OF   TIMOTHT   FICKEBIKO.  [1788. 

that  every  grantee  should  make  certain  improvements 
on  his  land  within  a  certain  time^  otherwise  it  should 
he  forfeited  to  the  State ;  that,  to  enable  the  associar 
tors  to  undertake  the  settlement  of  the  new  State,  the 
United  States  should  defray  the  expenses  of  their  march 
thither,  furnish  utensils  of  husbandry  and  live  stock 
necessary  for  beginning  the  settlement,  one  ration  of 
bread  and  meat  for  three  years  to  every  man,  woman, 
and  child,  to  every  soldier  a  suit  of  clothes  annually, 
and  to  every  officer  and  soldier  arms  and  ammunition 
for  the  security  of  the  State  against  the  Indians,  —  the 
cost  of  all  these  articles  to  be  charged  to  the  accounts 
of  arrearages  due  to  the  members  of  the  association 
respectively ;  that  a  constitution  for  the  new  State 
should  be  formed  by  the  members  of  the  association, 
at  a  meeting  to  be  called  for  that  purpose,  previous  to 
their  beginning  the  settlement,  — "  the  total  exclusion 
of  slavery  from  the  State  to  form  an  essential  and 
irrevocable  part  of  the  constitution " ;  that  the  State  so 
constituted  should  be  admitted  into  the  confederacy 
of  the  United  States ;  that  delegates  should  be  chosen 
by  the  associators,  at  the  meeting  above  mentioned,  to 
represent  them  in  Congress  so  soon  as  the  new  State 
should  be  erected ;  and  that  the  associators  should 
agree  on  some  general  temporary  rules  for  the  pre- 
vention and  punishment  of  crimes  and  for  the  preserva- 
tion of  peace  and  good  order. 

The  concluding  proposition  was  as  follows :  — 

"  That,  the  associators  having  borne  together  as  brethren 
the  dangers  and  calamities  of  war,  and  feeling  that  mutual 
friendship  which  long  acquaintance  and  common  sufferings 
give  rise  to,  —  it  being  also  the  obvious  dictate  of  humanity 
to  supply  the  wants  of  the  needy,  and  alleviate  the  distresses 
of  the  afflicted,  —  it  shall  be  an  Inviolable  rule  to  take 


iET.87.]  LIFE  OIF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  459 

under  the  immediate  patronage  of  the  State  the  wives  and 
children  of  such  associators,  who,  having  settled  there, 
shall  die,  or  by  cause  of  wounds  or  sickness  be  unable  to 
improve  their  plantations  or  follow  their  occupations,  dur- 
ing the  first  twenty-one  years ;  so  that  such  destitute  and 
distressed  families  shall  receive  such  public  aids  as,  joined 
with  their  own  reasonable  exertions,  will  maintain  them  in  a 
manner  suitable  to  the  condition  of  the  heads  of  them; 
especially  that  the  children,  when  grown  up,  may  be  on  a 
footing  with  other  children,  whose  parents,  at  the  original 
formation  of  the  State,  were  in  similar  circumstances  with 
those  of  the  former." 

Mr.  Hodgdon  read  the  ^*  propositions "  to  Colonel 
Pickering's  school-fellow  and  friend  Mr.  Stephen  ffig- 
ginson,  then  a  member  of  Congress,  who  exclaimed, 
"  This  is  Pickering,  I  swear."  The  rough  draught  was 
in  his  handwriting,  and  was,  no  doubt,  his  composi- 
tion, but  probably  with  the  introduction  of  suggestions 
made  by  other  officers  with  whom  he  had  conve.rsed. 
Mr.  Hodgdon  expressed  the  opinion,  that,  even  if  Con- 
gress should  grant  all  that  was  asked  of  them,  the  plan 
would  never  be  carried  into  effect.  This  might  have 
been  the  case.  But  the  mode  here  proposed  of  making 
a  settlement  and  forming  a  State  in  new  territory  does 
not  seem  to  be  visionary  or  impracticable.  Even  if  it 
was  so,  an  enthusiastic  scheme  of  our  forefathers,  in 
which  so  much  generosity  of  sentiment  is  shown, 
brought  forward  at  a  period  in  the  history  of  the 
country  presenting  a  condition  of  affairs  so  novel,  and 
to  them,  after  their  toils,  and  dangers,  and  sufferings, 
so  exciting,  is  entitled  to  a  kindly  regard.  As  the  dawn 
of  the  State  of  Ohio,  and,  indeed,  of  the  five  great  States 
formed  out  of  the  territory  north-west  of  the  Ohio  River, 
particularly  with  respect  to  the  perpetual  exclusion  of 


460  LIFE    OF   TIMOTHY   PICKBBING.  [1783. 

slavery  from  them,  these  ^propositions"  are  interesting^ 
and  are  worthy  of  preservation  * 

In  a  letter  of  the  8th  of  Aprils  Colonel  Pickering 
wrote  to  his  wife :  — 

<<This  moment  an  officer  has  arrived  at  head-quarters 
with  despatches  from  Sir  Guy  Carleton  announcing  the 
arrival  of  a  packet  at  New  York  with  a  confirmation  of 
peace.  O,  Heaven  be  praised  I  Through  many  a  doubtful 
day  we  have  been  preserved ;  and  now  our  wishes  are 
crowned  with  peace,  liberty,  and  independence !  How 
cheaply  purchased  with  eight  years'  war!  How  much 
reason  have  they  to  rejoice  who  are  alive  to  see  this 
day  1  *' 

In  a  letter  to  Mr.  Hodgdon,  dated  at  Newburgh,  the 
14th  of  April,  Colonel  Pickering  wrote  :  — 

'^  There  is  a  report  that  official  accounts  of  peace  are 
arrived  from  France  at  Philadelphia.  I  am  anxious  for  it, 
that  we  may  have  our  festival ;  till  then  I  cannot  leave  the 
army :  not  because  the  pleasure  to  be  derived  from  it  will 
detain  me ;  one  hour's  domestic  bliss  is  of  much  more  value. 
Yet  I  should  be  unwilling  to  be  absent  at  the  celebration 
of  the  day  which  crowns  our  toils  with  glory.  Such  cele- 
brations would  give  more  pleasure  if  they  took  place 
promptly ;  but,  in  general,  so  much  time  is  spent  in  prei>- 
aration,  that  expectation  grows  weary  and  indifferent. 
Those,  indeed,  who  on  these  occasions  anticipate  nothing 
with  so  much  delight  as  bacchanalian  revels,  have  other 
feelings.  But  I  could  never  derive  any  pleasure  from 
scenes  of  intoxication. 

"Just  now  I  was  casting  my  eye  over  a  newspaper,  and 
met  with  Dr.  Smith's  advertisement  of  his  Falls  plantiition 
to  be  leased,  *  having  been  occupied  last  year  by  Colonel 
Pickering,  Q.  M.  G.,  and  the  year  before  by  his  Excellency 

*  See  tlie  '*  Appendix,"  No.  III.  page  546,  where  they  are  printed  in  fiilL 


Mt.  37.]  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  461 

the  Minister  of  France.*  I  was*  sorry  to  see  it.  My  coun- 
trymen eastward  will,  if  they  meet  with  it,  think  me  an 
extravagant  fellow.     ... 

"  P.  S.  General  [Rufiis]  Putnam  is  warmly  engaged  in 
the  new-planned  settlement  over  the  Ohio.  He  is  very 
desirous  of  getting  Hutchins's  map.  Mr.  Aitken  had  them 
to  sell.     If  possible,  pray  forward  me  one." 

On  the  18th  of  April  he  wrote  to  Mrs.  Pickering 
from  Newburgh :  — 

"  No  day  is  yet  fixed  here  for  rejoicing ;  and,  upon  con- 
sidering the  treaty  and  proclamation,*  &c.,  I  am  afraid  the 
day  is  not  so  near  as  I  had  imagined.  The  proclamation  is 
not  of  peace^  but  to  cease  hostilities.  The  final  treaty  of 
peace  is  not  yet  arrived." 

General  Washington,  having  received  from  a  com- 
mittee of  Congress  a  letter,  in  which  they  ask  his  opin- 
ion on  military  establishments  proper  to  be  adopted 
by  the  United  States  on  the  conclusion  of  the  war, 
requested  some  of  the  principal  officers  in  the  army, 
and  among  them  Colonel  Pickering,  to  communicate 
to  him  their  opinions  on  the  subject  Mr.  Sparks 
says :  f  — 

"  The  report  handed  in  by  Colonel  Pickering,  then  Quar- 
termaster-General to  the  army,  is  interesting  from  the  man- 
ner in  which  many  topics  are  discussed,  and  particularly 
from  the  suggestions  it  contains  respecting  the  establish- 
ment of  a  military  seminary  at  West  Point." 

In  this  report,  dated  at  Newburgh,  April  22d,  1783, 
are  the  following  observations :  — 

*  Agreed  upon  by  Congress  on  the  11th  of  April,  and  published  in  the  Amer- 
ican camp  on  the  19th.  See  Sparks's  **  Writings  of  Washington,"  Vol.  VIII. 
pp.  425,  667. 

t  Spark«'8  "  Writings  of  Washington,"  Vol.  VIII.  p.  417,  note. 


462  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  FICKEBIN6.  [1783. 

**  I  will  take  the  liberty  to  add  a  page  or  two  on  the  sub- 
ject of  military  academies,  which  have  been  mentioned  as 
proper  to  be  erected  where  the  Continental  arsenals  shall  be 
established.  At  the  same  places,  also,  it  has  been  supposed 
that  founderies' and  manufactories  for  all  kinds  of  military 
stores  may  be  established  to  advantage.  But,  if  these  plans 
are  not  impracticable ^  I  am  clear  that  at  present  they  are 
inexpedient, 

^  Whence  are  to  come  the  students  at  these  academies  ? 
We  have  not  (and  God  forbid  we  ever  should  have)  either 
a  nobility  or  noblesse;  and  our  laws  of  inheritance  will  save 
us  from  elder  brothers  to  whom  business  will  be  unneces- 
sary, as  well  as  from  younger  sons  bred  in  too  much  indo- 
lence or  delicacy  to  acquire  a  living  by  their  own  industry. 
And  without  a  standing  army  none  will  find  an  interest  in 
studying  the  military  art,  as  a  profession.  The  few  (and  in 
a  country  of  husbandmen,  merchants,  and  mechanics,  they 
will  be  very  few)  whose  genius  shall  prompt  and  whose 
fortunes  shall  enable  them  to  pursue  extensively  the  study 
of  the  military  art,  can  travel,  and  find  in  Europe  schools 
already  established  on  the  most  perfect  plans,  where  they 
may  acquire,  with  the  greatest  facility,  all  that  knowledge 
of  the  military  art  of  which  they  are  capable.  All  the  arts 
and  sciences  which  form  the  basis  of,  or  are  connected  with, 
the  military  art,  are  already,  or  will  be,  taught  in  the  Ameri- 
can universities,  as  soon  as  the  respective  States  shall  be 
able  properly  to  endow  them. 

"  If  anything  like  a  military  academy  in  America  be  prac- 
ticable at  this  time,  it  must  be  grounded  on  the  permanent 
military  establishment  for  our  frontier  posts  and  arsenals, 
and  the  wants  of  the  States,  separately,  of  officers  to  com- 
mand the  defences  on  their  sea-coasts. 

'<  On  this  principle  it  might  be  expedient  to  establish  a 
military  school,  or  academy,  at  West  Point;  and,  that  a 
competent  number  of  young  gentlemen  might  be  induced 
to  become  students,  it  might  be  made  a  rule,  that  vacancies 


^T.  87.]  LIFE  Oy  TIMOTHT  PICKERING.  463 

ill  the  standing  regiment*  should  be  supplied  from  thence, — 
those  few  instances  excepted  where  it  would  be  just  to  pro- 
mote a  very  meritorious  sergeant.  For  this  end,  the  num- 
ber which  shall  be  judged  requisite  to  supply  vacancies  in 
the  standing  regiment  might  be  fixed,  and  the  students  who 
are  admitted  with  an  expectation  of  filling  them  limited 
accordingly.  They  might  be  allowed  subsistence  at  the 
public  expense.  If  any  other  youth  desired  to  pursue  the 
same  studies  at  the  military  academy,  they  might  be  admit- 
ted, only  subsisting  themselves. 

^  These  students  should  be  instructed  in  what  is  usually 
called  military  discipline,  tactics,  and  the  theory  and  prac- 
tice of  fortification  and  gunnery.  The  commandant,  and 
one  or  two  other  ofiScers  of  the  standing  regiment,  and 
the  engineers,  making  West  Point  their  general  residence, 
would  be  the  masters  of  the  academy,  and  the  inspector- 
general  superintend  the  whole." 

*  In  the  preceding  part  of  his  report  he  estimated  that  one  standing  regi- 
ment, in  addition  to  a  well-regulated  militia,  would  be  a  sufficient  military 
peace  establishment  at  that  time. 


464  UFB  07  TIMOTHT  PICEEBma.  [1788. 


CHAPTER   XXXIII. 

Colonel  Pickering's  Views  as  to  his  fatare  Course  of  Life.  —  His 
Fear  that  the  Public  Debts  will  not  be  paid.  —  His  Liberality 
towards  the  Refugees.  —  Correspondence  with  General  Gates.  — 
Compensation  to  the  OflScers  of  the  Army.  —  The  Army  ill  used 
by  their  Country.  —  Mutiny  of  Pennsylvania  Troops.  —  Prepara- 
tions to  celebrate  the  Treaty  of  Peace. — Refusal  of  the  British  to 
surrender  the  Frontier  Posts.  —  Noah  Webster's  Spelling-Book. 
—  His  future  Distinction  predicted. 

Soon  after  the  arrival  of  the  news  that  peace  had 
been  made  with  Great  Britain,  Colonel  Pickering  pro- 
ceeded to  carry  into  effect  his  long-contemplated  plan 
of  going  into  business  as  a  merchant. 

He  wrote  from  Newburgh  on  the  26th  of  April,  1783> 
to  Paine  Wingate,  his  brother-in-law :  — 

"  You  will  permit  me  to  congratulate  you  on  the  return 
of  peace.  I  have  enjoyed  with  a  degree  of  traosport  this 
happy  event ;  but  I  confess  I  should  be  still  more  happy 
could  I  discover  a  better  disposition  among  the  governments 
to  make  a  certain  provision  for  the  payment  of  the  public 
debts  at  home  and  abroad.  No  permanent  revenues^  I 
fear,  will  be  established ;  and  positive  taxes  on  lands  and 
other  property  will  appear  so  burdensome,  that  the  people 
will  probably  murmur  under  the  weight,  if  they  do  not 
refuse  to  bear  it.  By  a  Philadelphia  paper  of  the  19th 
instant,  I  see  that  the  Assembly  of  South  Carolina  have 
rejected  the  impost  act  by  a  majority  of  sixty-three  to 
twenty-three. 

'*  It  has  for  some  time  past  been  my  intention  to  settle  at 
Philadelphia.  I  have  had  enough  of  public  offices  to  be 
tired  of  them.     By  returning  to  Massachusetts,  I  might 


iEx.  37.]  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  465 

obtain  one  deemed  respectable ;  but  I  know  not  one  in  the 
State  which  will  yield  a  man  more  than  a  decent  support, 
without  enabling  him  to  lay  up  a  penny  for  old  age  or  a 
destitute  family.  I  have  made  known  to  my  friends  at  the 
eastward  my  determination  to  undertake,  at  Philadelphia, 
commercial  business  on  commission.  .  .  .  The  prospects 
promise  success.  Should  I  be  disappointed,  I  should  much 
prefer  a  settlement  in  some  part  of  the  back  country  to  any 
other  mode  of  life  which  I  can  pursue.  I  wish,  indeed,  I 
were  younger ;  but,  even  at  this  time  of  life,  a  new  country 
presents  me  with  prospects  more  advantageous  for  my 
family  than  any  other  business  I  could  engage  in,  that 
above  mentioned  excepted.  .  .  .  Perhaps  it  may  fall  in 
your  way  to  aid  my  designs." 

In  pursuance  of  these  designs,  he  entered  into 
copartnership  with  Mr.  Hodgdon,  by  articles  of  agree- 
ment dated  the  10th  of  May,  1783,  for  the  term  of  two 
years.  The  connection  was  continued,  however,  much 
longer.  This  business  did  not  answer  his  expectations, 
not  yielding  him  an  income  sufl&cient  for  the  support 
of  his  family. 

In  his  correspondence  of  that  period,  incidents  are 
mentioned  and  sentiments  expressed  by  him  which 
have  an  interest,  some  of  them  in  relation  to  himself, 
his  family,  or  his  friends ;  others,  to  public  affairs. 

On  the  19th  of  May,  General  Gates,  in  a  despond- 
ing letter  concerning  the  illness  of  his  wife,  requests 
Colonel  Pickering  to  lay  her  case  before  Dr.  Eustis 
and  Dr.  Townsend.  He  likewise  makes  inquiries  re- 
specting the  prospects  of  the  officers  of  the  army. 
He  says :  — 

"  The  beginning  of  last  winter  I  took  leave  of  you  upon 
your  setting  out  from  Newburgh  for  Philadelphia.  Little 
did  I  then  think  your  very  great  distress  would  so  soon  be 

VOL.  L  59 


466  LBPB   OF   TIMOTHY   PICKBBING.  [17«8. 

my  unhappy  lot.  Ycm  were  presently  reliered  by  flie 
recovery  of  Mrs.  Pickering ;  but  of  such  relief  I  have  no 
prospect.  All  looks  dark,  and  threatens  a  fatal  issue.  I 
have  too  much  cause  to  fear  you  will  never  see  your  old 
friend  again.  Thus  am  I  upon  the  verge  of  being  left  the 
most  forlorn  of  mankind ;  and  there  is  only  wanting  my 
death  to  close  the  shocking  scene.    God's  will  be  done.    •  •  • 

^  I  think  it  will  be  impossible  for  me  to  join  the  army 
before  their  dissolution,  as  I  am  told  the  whole  are  to  be 
disbanded ;  but  you  may  know  better,  who  are  so  much 
nearer  head-quarters.  It  would  give  a  moment's  relief  to 
the  melancholy  that  oppresses  me,  could  I  hear  from  you. 
Your  kind  remembrance  will  come  up  through  the  hands 
of  [Major  John]  Armstrong,  who  is  fixed  in  Philadel- 
phia.    .  .  . 

^How  do  you  go,  and  how  have  you  been  able  to  go 
on  ?  I  have  heard  of  different  schemes  that  have  been  pro- 
posed to  the  army.  They  appeared  to  me  Utopian ;  I  dare 
say  they  did  so  to  you.  Is  the  commutation  generally 
accepted?  And,  if  so,  is  there  the  smallest  probability  of 
the  Assemblies  of  all  or  any  of  the  States  confirming  it  to 
the  officers?  If  not,  how  basely  and  ungratefully  are  we 
treated  I  I  can  live,  it  is  true,  without  it ;  but  I  feel  as 
poignantly  for  the  distresses  of  the  poor  fellows  who  have 
been  our  faithful  companions  through  the  war,  as  if  tliose 
distresses  were  all  my  own.     .  .  . 

"  That  Heaven  may  preserve  you  and  yours  is  the  wish 
of,  dear  Colonel,  your  affectionate  friend  and  humble  ser- 
vant, 

"Horatio  Gates." 

Although  Colonel  Pickering  was  not  personally  inter- 
ested *  in  the  half  pay  for  life,  or  commutation,  prom- 
ised by  Congress  to  officers  who  should  serve  until  the 
end  of  the  war^  his  answer  shows  his  sympathy  for 

*  See  page  812. 


Ml.  37.]  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  467 

such  officers,  and  his  strong  sense  of  the  injustice 
which  he  rightly  anticipated  would  be  done  to  them 
by  individual  States.  In  his  reply  to  General  Gates, 
dated  Newburgh,  May  28th,  he  wrote  :  — 

**  Your  favor  of  the  19th  I  duly  received,  and  lament  for 
your  distress.  Should  the  event  your  heart  forebodes  take 
place,  your  situation,  I  confess,  will  be  forlorn.  My  own, 
so  similar  at  the  time  you  mention,  enables  me  to  feel  a 
sympathetic  woe.  Yet  I  will  not  pretend  that  in  any  event 
my  distress  could  equal  yours ;  for,  amidst  the  anguish  of 
my  heart  under  the  expected  loss  of  Mrs.  Pickering,  I  had 
still  some  source  of  consolation  in  the  dear  pledges  of  our 
mutual  love.  In  that  distressing  hour  I  felt  relief  in  appeal- 
ing to  the  mercy  of  that  Being  to  whose  wise  providence  you 
express  your  resignation.  It  Is  at  such  periods  we  are  wont 
to  make  these  appeals.  We  then  see  the  frailty  of  every 
earthly  thing,  the  uncertainty  of  every  earthly  enjoyment, 
and  thence  we  are  led  to  look  for  support — where  indeed  it 
can  alone  be  found — in  the  goodness  of  our  all-wise,  almighty 
Parent.  But  when  brighter  scenes  present,  such  serious 
impressions  are  too  apt  to  wear  off,  and  at  length  to  disap- 
pear. In  kindness,  therefore,  we  are  visited  with  repeated 
afflictions,  if  haply  we  may  thence  be  influenced  to  fulfil 
the  gracious  intentions  of  the  Deity.  If  I  preach,  the  sol- 
emn occasion  will  excuse  it ;  and  I  beg  you  to  receive  it  as 
a  proof  of  my  sincere  regard.     .  .  . 

^I  am  inclined  to  think  that  the  want  of  money  may 
induce  Congress  to  consent  to  the  wishes  of  the  Financier 
in  discharging  speedily  the  men  engaged  for  the  war.  I 
wish  it  for  many  reasons,  public  and  personal.     .  .  . 

"  The  commutation  is,  I  believe,  universally  accepted  by 
the  army.  Some,  I  hope  the  most,  of  the  States  will  make 
it  good ;  but  some,  there  is  too  much  reason  to  think,  will 
never  consent  to  it,  Connecticut  in  particular.*     While  the 


♦  See  Sparks's  "  Writings  of  Wwhington,"  Vol.  IX.  p.  6,  note. 


468  LIFE    OF    TIMOTHY    PICKERING.  [1783. 

army  was  necessary  to  their  safety,  they  were  willing  the 
officers  should  believe  in  the  justice  of  their  country,  and 
that  the  promised  compensation  for  their  extraordinary  suf- 
ferings and  services  should  never  be  denied  them.  But 
these  are  already  forgotten ;  the  hour  of  danger  is  past, 
and  avarice  and  meanness  have  usurped  the  places  of  grati- 
tude and  justice.  I  have  seen,  in  a  life  by  some  years 
shorter  than  yours,  so  many  instances  of  public  and  private 
injustice  and  baseness,  as  to  have  often  made  mo  sick  of  the 
world ;  but  then  the  goodness  of  a  few,  and  especially  the 
tender  ties  of  wife  and  children,  have  again  reconciled  me 
to  it.  For  their  sakes  I  still  wish  to  live ;  and  still  do  I 
hope  to  sec  you  relieved  from  the  melancholy  which  now 
oppresses  you,  in  the  recovery  of  Mrs.  Gates,  the  confirma- 
tion of  her  health,  and  the  continuance  of  your  own  :  being, 
my  dear  Sir,  with  great  sincerity,  your  friend  and  servant, 

"  Timothy  Pickering." 

Mrs.  Higginson,  in  a  letter  of  the  19tb  of  May, 
informs  Colonel  Pickering  that,  after  living  in  Beverly 
some  months  in  a  retired  manner  in  order  to  escape 
persecution  from  Whigs  in  Salem,  she  has  returned  to 
Salem;  that  she  has  taken  possession  of  her  house 
there,  and,  with  her  daughter,  has  opened  a  school; 
that  she  has  much  pleasure  in  supporting  herself;  and 
that  she  hopes  it  may  be  consistent  with  his  interest 
to  return  to  Salem  to  live. 

She  adds :  — 

"  In  this  I  suppose  I  am  selfish ;  but  I  readily  forgive  my- 
self, as  I  think  this  spot,  where  all  your  connections  and 
former  friends  are,  must  be  more  agreeable  to  you  when 
you  return  to  private  life.  .  .  .  We  w^nt  you  here  to 
stem  the  torrent  of  curses  that  are  vented  on  Sunday  even- 
ings by  the  reverend  Doctor  [Whitaker].  If  you  recollect 
Ernulphus's  curses  in  Tristram  Shandy,  they  are  weak, 
insignificant,  childish  things,  compared  with  that  patriotic 


Mt,  37.]  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  469 

divine's  against  the  poor  refugees.^  Our  Saviour  says, 
*  Bless  your  enemies ' ;  the  Doctor  bids  all  his  hearers  curse 
them,  and  says  thej/  *U  be  cursed  if  they  don't." 

Colonel  Pickering's  reply,  dated  at  Newburgh,  the 
15tb  of  June,  is  evidence  of  his  liberality  towards  the 
refugees  (but  with  discrimination),  as  well  as  of  the 
constancy  of  his  aflFection  for  an  old  friend  who  belonged 
to  that  class. 

"Dear  Madam, 

"I  have  this  evening  received  your  favor  of  the  19th 
ultimo,  and  wait  not  a  moment  to  acknowledge  the  pleasure 
it  gave  me.  ...  I  admire  the  spirit  that  determined  you 
to  the  means  of  independence.  It  was  a  virtuous  pride, 
which  no  one  more  eminently  possesses,  which  no  one  can 
support  with  more  honor,  .  .  .  Happy  should  I  be,  could 
I  make  it  consistent  with  my  interest  to  become  your  neigh- 
bor, as  I  am  your  friend.  But,  though  my  residence  will 
probably  be  fixed  in  Philadelphia,  I  hope  ere  long  to  visit 
Salem.     .  .  . 

"  I  have  been  sorry  to  sec  the  virulent  temper  so  generally 
manifested  against  the  absentees  and  refugees  indlscruni^ 
nately.  There  have  been  many  who  have  been  suffered  to 
remain  always  amongst  us,  by  whose  exchange  for  an  equal 
number  of  refugees  the  country  would  be  gainers.  The 
ravings  of  the  reverend  Doctor  are  such  as  I  should  expect. 
His  natural  disposition,  religious  principles,  and  insignifi- 
cance but  on  subjects  of  popular  clamor,  will  account  for 
his  bitter  curses  on  refugees.  Some  there  are,  indeed, 
whom  the  country  can  never  forgive ;  and,  unfortunately, 
their  crimes  are  imputed  to  the  whole  body  without  distinc- 
tion. I  find  it  is  worth  a  man's  popularity  to  say  a  word  in 
favor  of  the  most  deserving  —  of  characters  truly  innocent 
—  of  men  who,  instead  of  injuring,  have,  during  the  war, 
been  rendering  benefits  to  this  country !  For  speaking  in 
favor  of  such,  I  perceive,  many  good  men  have  this  year 


470  LIFE    OF   TIMOTHY   PICKERING.  [I78S. 

lost  their  elections  in  Massachusetts.  Dispositions  still 
more  violent  appear  in  other  States.  Time,  which  works 
wonders,  may  cool  them;  but  it  will  then  be  too  late  to 
repent. 

**  You  call  Hitty  my  pupil ;  but  I  claim  no  right  to  the 
title  of  her  preceptor :  3'et,  if  she  can  fancy  herself  under 
any  obligations  of  duty,  I  beg  she  would  discharge  them  by 
writing  me,  with  her  own  hand,  two  lines  of  acknowledg- 
ment. I  will  then  immediately  sign  a  quitclaim  to  evei^'- 
thing  but  her  friendship;  yours  and  hers  I  hope  ever  to 
preserve." 

After  the  receipt  of  satisfactory  intelligence  that 
peace  had  been  made.  Colonel  Pickering  was  much 
occupied  in  the  disbanding  of  the  troops,  and  in 
making  sale  of  various  military  stores.  In  general, 
his  directions  for  the  latter  purpose  to  the  subordinates 
in  his  department  would  not  interest  the  reader ;  but 
the  following  inquiry  concerning  the  chain  which  was 
stretched  across  the  Hudson  River  at  West  Point,  to 
prevent  the  passage  of  British  ships  of  war,  —  a  few 
links  of  which  are  preserved  at  that  place  as  a  Revo- 
lutionary relic,  —  is  deemed  an  exception.  It  is  in  a 
letter  to  Mr.  Hodgdon,  dated  at  Newburgh,  the  22d  of 
May. 

**  I  wish  also  to  be  informed  weekly  of  the  price  of  bar 
iron.  Application  has  been  made  for  old  cannon,  shot,  and 
shells.  Nancarron  once  run  up  some  cannon.  I  suspect  he 
will  give  so  much  higher  price  for  them  as  will  pay  for  their 
transpoi'tation  to  Philadelphia.  Please  to  inquire  of  him 
what  he  will  give  per  ton.  The  great  chain  at  West  Point 
contains  upwards  of  sixty  tons  of  excellent  Stirling  iron. 
The  links,  you  may  recollect,  are  about  thirty  inches  long, 
made  of  bars  about  two  inches  square.  If  it  be  sold  here, 
I  am  doubtful  if  it  will  fetch  much  more  than  half  the  price 


jet.87.]  life  op  timothy  pickerinq.  471 

of  bar  iron.     Pray  inquire  if  it  will  answer  to  send  it  to 
Philadelphia." 

On  the  26th  of  May,  Congress  passed  a  resolution, 
that  furloughs  should  be  granted  to  the  non-comniis- 
sioned  officers  and  soldiers  enlisted  to  serve  during  the 
war, — who  should  be  discharged  as  soon  as  the  defini- 
tive treaty  should  be  concluded,  together  with  a  propor- 
tionate number  of  commissioned  officers ;  and  that  the 
Secretary  of  War  and  the  Commander-in-Chief  should 
take  the  proper  measures  for  conducting  those  troops, 
in  a  manner  convenient  to  them  and  to  the  States 
through  which  they  should  pass,  to  their  respective 
homes. 

Not  knowing  of  the  passage  of  this  resolution, 
Colonel  Pickering  wrote  to  his  brother,  on  the  27th 
of  May,  from  Newburgh :  — 

^  I  am  impatient  to  have  the  army  disbanded,  that  I  may 
return  to  dwell  with  my  family  and  engage  in  private  pur- 
suits. I  am  impatient,  because,  from  the  slackness  of  the 
States  in  paying  taxes,  the  embarrassments  of  public  officers 
are  rather  increasing.  I  am  impatient,  because,  by  the  dis- 
solution of  the  army,  our  public  burdens  will  be  so  essen- 
tially lessened,  and  the  States  thereby  enabled  to  commence 
those  measures  which  are  necessary  to  do  justice  to  the 
army  and  the  public  creditors.  I  hope  the  men  enlisted  for 
the  war  (which  comprehends  more  than  half  the  army)  will 
shortly  be  discharged.  It  is  the  wish  of  the  Financier ;  and 
his  opinion,  grounded  on  the  most  cogent  reason,  I  hope 
will  prevail.  That  reason  is,  that,  if  the  whole  army  be  long 
continued  together,  they  will  eat  up  the  money  with  which 
he  could  otherwise  give  them  two  or  three  months'  pay  when 
discharged.  If  the  definitive  treaty  were  arrived,  I  think 
the  whole  army  would  be  discharged,  and  the  few  troops 
necessary  on  frontier  posts,  and  for  guards  of  the  arsenals, 


472  LIFE    OF    TIMOTHY    PICKERING.  [1783. 

engaged  on  new  and  cheaper  terras.  This  will  be  called 
the  peace  establishment y  which  Congress  now  have  under 
consideration." 

On  the  same  day  he  informed  Mr.  Hodgdon  that  he 
had  requested  money  of  Mr,  Morris,  because  the  sale 
of  some  public  horses  yielded  neither  money  nor  notes. 
He  added :  — 

"1  told  the  officers  of  the  array  that,  as  they  had  not 
received  their  notes  for  their  three  months'  promised  pay, 
I  would  accept  their  orders  on  their  paymasters.  This  was 
agreeable  to  them,  and  raised  the  average  price  of  the 
horses  to  fifty-two  dollars." 

Mrs.  Pickering  wrote  to  him  on  the  27th  of  May, 
from  Philadelphia,  that  their  three  children  were  ill, — 
one  of  them  dangerously  ill,  —  and  that,  in  conse- 
quence, she  herself  was  not  well,  and  she  much  needed 
his  presence. 

He  replied  on  the  5th  of  June,  from  Newburgh :  — 

"  I  was  grieved  at  your  situation  as  described  in  your 
letter,  surrounded  with  sick  children,  yourself  unwell ;  aud 
grieved  I  am,  also,  that  it  is  impossible  for  me  to  go  to 
your  assistance.  I  pray  God  to  preserve  you  and  them, 
and  to  restore  all  to  perfect  health.     .  .  . 

"  The  army  are  beginning  to  separate.  All  the  men  en- 
listed for  the  war  (which  comprehends  a  great  majority) 
are  to  be  immediately  sent  home.  A  proportion  of  the 
officers  are  to  go  with  them.*  .  .  .  When  the  arra^'^  is 
thus  diminished,  my  cares  will  be  somewhat  lessened.  This 
movement  of  the  army  will  prevent  my  journey  to  Albany, 
&c.,  until  the  troops  which  are  to  be  discharged  shall  be 
gone." 

*  See  Journals  of  Congress,  May  2Gth,  1783. 


iET.37.]  LIFE    OF    TIMOTHY    PICKERING.  473 

In  several  letters  he  wrote  in  strong  terms  of  dis- 
approbation of  the  manner  in  which  a  large  portion 
of  the  troops  were  sent  home  on  furlough,  in  pursu- 
ance of  the  resolution,  before  mentioned,  of  the  26th 
of  May. 

Thus,  on  the  7th  of  June,  to  Mr.  Hodgdon:  — 

**  The  army  is  disgusted  at  the  manner  in  which  they  are 
sent  about  their  business^  —  without  pay,  and  without  even 
thanks,  for  eight  years'  toils  and  dangers !  Tis  painful  to 
think  of  it,  and  of  the  wretched  condition  of  great  numbers 
in  consequence  of  the  service." 

To  Mr.  Hodgdon  again,  on  the  12th :  — 

"  The  army  has  been  separated  in  a  manner  the  most 
disgusting  that  could  have  been  invented.  Universal  dis- 
satisfaction has  appeared.  Neither  Congress  nor  the  C.  in 
C.  [Commander-in-Chief]  have  paid  the  smallest  tribute 
to,  or  even  acknowledgment  of,  such  meritorious  services. 
This  circumstance,  joined  to  the  distress  of  the  army  for 
want  of  even  as  much  pay  as  would  defray  the  expenses 
of  their  journey  home,  has  justly  excited  general  disgust. 
The  officers  of  the  York  line  have  presented  a  manly,  ele- 
gant, and  affectionate  address  to  the  Baron  S[teuben],  but 
have  not  even  taken  leave  of  the  C.  in  C.  The  address  and 
auswer,  I  understand,  will  be  published." 

To  Mrs.  Pickering,  on  the  17th:  — 

"The  army  think,  and  justly,  that  they  are  ill  used  by 
their  country.  They  have  been  dismissed  abruptly,  with- 
out money,  and  even  (what  it  was  easy  to  give)  without 
thanks." 

And  to  his  brother,  on  the  18th :  — 

"  We  have   yet  no   news  of  the  definitive  treaty ;   the 
greater  part  of  the  army  is,  however,  discharged,  though 
VOL.  L  60 


474  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKEJUNG.  [1788. 

not  in  a  manner  that  was  acceptable.  For  want  of  pay 
their  distresses  were  unexampled.  They  bad  neither  the 
means  of  paying  their  little  debts  in  camp,  nor  their  neces- 
sary expenses  in  going  home.  Their  sufferings  and  services 
seem  already  to  be  forgotten  by  multitudes.  I  hope  in  time 
that,  on  proper  information  to  the  people  and  Assemblies, 
they  will  feel  the  demands  of  justice  and  gratitude,  and  take 
effectual  means  to  satisfy  them.  The  half  pay,  or  commu- 
tation, is  as  really  due  to  the  officers,  by  solemn  contract, 
as  their  original  pay.  It  does  not  concern  me ;  but  I  wish 
the  army  to  receive  their  dues,  and  that  the  country  may 
recover  its  reputation  for  justice  and  good  faith." 

On  the  24th  of  June  he  wrote  to  his  wife  coDceming 
the  mutiny  of  troops  in  Philadelphia,  where  she  then 
resided :  — 

"  Though  in  the  midst  of  tumult,  I  hope  my  dear  Becky 
remains  undisturbed.  An  express  has  arrived  this  after- 
noon, by  whom  Mr.  Hodgdon  has  sent  me  an  account  of 
the  mutiny  of  the  Pennsylvania-  troops.*    Before  this  reaches 

*  Mr.  Hodgdon,  in  a  letter  dated  at  Philadelphia,  the  22d  of  June,  sajs :  — 
'*  The  bearer  comes  express  from  the  President  of  Congress  to  the  Com- 
mander-in-Chief.    The  business  I  bolieye  to  be  the  mutiny  of  the  day,  of 
which  take  the  following  as  an  authentic  account :  — 

"  Soon  after  the  arrival  of  the  troops  from  Charleston,  it  was  judged  best 
to  remove  some  of  the  others  out  of  the  barracks  for  their  reception,  as  thej 
were  incapable  of  holding  all  of  them.  Previous  to  the  removal,  the  furloughs 
were  tendered  them,  and  refused.  The  consequence  was,  an  order  to  pay  no 
man  his  three  months*  but  such  as  should  receive  a  furlough.  A  few  com- 
plied, and  did  receive  them ;  the  remainder  were  marched  out  of  town  for 
Lancaster.  On  the  road  they  mutinied,  and,  having  again  appointed  their 
sergeants  to  command,  determined  to  return  to  the  city.  They  arrived  here 
about  one  o'clock,  and  immediately  paraded  before  the  State  House,  £rom 
whence  they  made  detachments  to  the  several  deposits  of  stores.  I  was  hon- 
ored with  five  sentries,  and  no  person  could  approach.  These  precautions 
being  taken,  they  demanded  an  audience  with  Congress.  General  St.  Clair, 
Colonel  Porter,  and  others  addressed  them,  but  for  some  time  to  little  effect. 
The  President,  coming  out  of  Congress,  was  arrested  and  ordered  back,  but 
afterwards  suffered  to  proceed.  About  four  o'clock  they  were  prevailed  on  to 
retire  to  the  barracks,  and  depute  six  of  their  number  to  meet  Congress  at  six 


Mt.  87.]  UFB  OP  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  475 

you,  I  trust  the  uproar  will  cease :  should  it  be  other  wise, 
I  think  you  will  have  nothing  to  fear.  Nobody  can  be 
interested  to  disturb  you,  and  you  dwell  in  a  quiet  part  of 
the  town.  However,  if  the  mutiny  continues,  it  may  be 
advisable  to  suspend  John's  going  to  school,  and  to  keep  the 
children  out  of  the  street.  But  your  prudence  would  man- 
age all  this  as  it  should  be,  without  any  suggestion  from  me ; 
but  a  husband's  and  a  parent's  care  is  wont  to  be  officious. 

"  Orders  are  given  for  the  march  of  troops  hence  to  quell 
the  mutineers ;  but  I  have  no  idea  that  it  will  be  necessary 
to  march  far.  Tis  a  pity  that  five  hundred  undisciplined 
troops  (and  such  I  understand  are  the  mutineers)  should 
spread  and  continue  terror  through  that  great  city." 

In  the  following  letter  to  Mr.  Hodgdon,  dated  at 
Newburgh,  the  27th  of  August,  are  shown  the  prepara- 

o'clock,  and  relate  their  particular  grievancefl.  Thus  the  matter  rests  at  the 
writing  of  thisy  —  five  o'clock.  It  seems  they  demand  one  month's  pay  in 
specie,  three  months'  pay  in  notes  payable  at  six  months,  and  a  fuU  settle- 
ment of  their  accounts,  with  a  fUnded  certificate  for  the  balances  due  them 
respectively." 

In  a  second  letter  from  Mr.  Hodgdon,  dated  the  23d  of  June,  is  the  fol- 
lowing passage :  — 

"  Another  express  is  caUed  for,  the  business  the  same  as  by  the  last.  At 
six  o'clock  last  evening,  Congress  met ;  and,  though  nothing  of  their  doings  has 
transpired,  appearances  evince  that  they  sensibly  feel  the  insult  of  yesterday. 
The  soldiery  has  had  no  communication  with  them,  nor  will  they  have,  be  the 
event  what  it  may.  I  sincerely  pity  Congress  in  th^  present  unprotected 
state.  They  feel  themselves  of  no  importance,  and,  if  something  is  not  done 
to  give  energy  to  their  proceedings,  they  must  shortly  appear  contemptible. 
What  they  have  done  to  occasion  a  total  desertion  by  the  States,  and  make 
themselves  a  derision  to  individuals,  I  am  yet  to  learn.  That  the  army  at 
large  is  hardly  treated,  they  and  all  men  allow ;  but  that  they  have  been  Uie 
cause  of  it,  they  positively  deny.  The  present  commotion  springs  from  a 
mutinous  disposition,  once  and  again  successflil,  and  C.  [Congress]  think  it 
has  been  cherished  and  nursed  by  the  officers  of  the  line,  —  a  belief  that  aggra- 
vates the  insult  exceedingly,  as  they  suppose  that  this  line  has,  upon  a  general 
scale,  fared  as  weU  or  better  than  any  other  in  the  Union.  But  I  will  not 
enlarge.  The  foregoing  observations  were  collected  from  a  recent  interview 
with  two  or  three  principal  characters,  and  is  in  confidence." 

Sec,  on  this  subject,  Journals  of  Congress,  June  21st  and  July  Ist ;  Mar^ 
shaU's  "Life  of  Washington,"  Vol.  IV.  p.  615;  and  Sparks's  "Writings  of 
Washington,"  Vol.  VIII.  pp.  464,  468. 


476  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  [1783. 

tions  making  by  the  army  for  the  celebration  of  the 
definitive  treaty  of  peace,  the  early  arrival  of  which 
was  expected.  The  refusal  of  the  British  to  surrender 
the  frontier  posts  is  also  mentioned. 

"  I  missed  of  the  General ;  he  went  down  the  river.  He 
will  not  return  again,  unless  to  celebrate  the  definitive  treaty 
at  West  Point,  when  he  will  invite  Messieurs  le  Congres 
to  accompany  him.  There  is  a  mighty  colonnade  erecting, 
near  two  hundred  feet  long  and  eighty  broad.  ,  Twenty 
thousand  lamps  arc  made,  and  the  posts  erected  to  display 
the  fireworks  extend  a  hundred  and  fifty  or  two  hundred 
yards.  I  wish  the  winter  storms  may  not  demolish  the 
colonnade  before  the  treaty  arrives. 

"  Ilead-quarters  are  moved,  bag  and  baggage,  which  will 
ease  me  of  some  trouble. 

"  Colonel  Villefranche  and  Captain  Fairley,  who  went  with 
Baron  Steuben  to  Canada,  returned  yesterday.  Haldiman 
would  not  sufler  the  Baron  to  see  the  frontier  posts.  He 
said  the  war  w^as  not  over ;  there  was  only  a  cessation  of 
hostilities ;  and  that  he  should  surrender  no  post  until  he 
received  explicit  orders  from  home.  So  Steuben  is  come 
back ;  but,  being  unwell,  he  stopped  at  Saratoga,  and  sent 
the  two  gentlemen  forward  with  despatches  to  the  General. 
Villefranche  is  gone  on  to  Princeton.  By  him  I  wrote  to 
the  General  that  I  should  suspend  all  preparations  *  until  1 
received  his  further  orders.  But  for  this  I  should  have  set 
out  to-morrow  for  the  northward.  I  am  really  glad  that 
this  unexpected  turn  has  stopped  expensive  proceedings 
that  must  have  been  fruitless.  You  will  judge  a  little  of 
that  northern  climate  by  this  circumstance,  that  on  the  tenth 
instant  they  had  ice  in  Canada  as  thick  as  a  dollar.  It  was 
indeed  extraordinary,  but  the  winter  there  sets  in  early. 
The  two  gentlemen  told  me,  they  said  in  Canada  it  was  too 
late  to  visit  the  frontier  posts  on  the  lakes,  even  if  they 
were  permitted  to  proceed. 


•  •  • 


For  taking  possession  of  the  frontier  posts. 


Mt,  88.]  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  477 

"If  the  whole  detachment  should  not  have  marched, 
be  pleased  to  get  my  unmade  suit  of  clothes  forwarded 
under  Davis's  care.  My  wife  will  give  them  to  you.  The 
definitive  treaty  may  arrive,  and  I  have  only  a  turned  coat 
to  appear  in.  Please  to  desire  my  wife  to  wrap  up  the 
bundle  in  divers  folds  of  osnaburgs,  to  prevent  its  wearing 
or  staining." 

In  general,  Colonel  Pickering  was  indifferent  to  pub- 
lic shows ;  but  he  was  so  much  exhilarated  by  the  news 
of  peace,  that  he  appears  to  have  entered  heartily  into 
the  celebration  of  the  definitive  treaty.  He  alludes  to 
it  in  the  following  letter  to  his  wife,  dated  at  Newburgh, 
the  29  th  of  August :  — 

"It  is  not  a  fortnight  since  I  left  you.  ...  As  I  was 
musing,  on  my  journey,  I  endeavored  to  contrive  how  you 
should  pay  me  a  visit.  We  all  hope  the  definitive  treaty 
will  soon  arrive.  Great  preparations  have  been  and  are 
making  at  West  Point  to  celebrate  that  event.  I  asked 
myself  why  you  could  not  be  present.  We  have  a  chair, 
and  the  Major  [Hodgdon]  will  be  solicitous  to  come.  Why 
can't  you  come  together?  *  But  the  roads  are  bad.'  True, 
on  one  route ;  but  you  may  travel  by  Princeton,  Brunswick, 
Elizabethtown,  and  so  to  King's  Ferry,  where  I  can  meet  you 
in  my  barge,  and  bring  you  to  West  Point  and  Newburgh. 
What  say  you  to  this?  But  this  will  be  an  occasion  so 
extraordinary,  and  the  exhibition  so  splendid,  I  wish  greatly 
that  John  could  accompany  you.  He  is  old  enough  to  re- 
member it  as  long  as  he  lives.     .  .  . 

"  By  the  post  I  desired  the  Major  to  call  on  you  for  my 
unmade  suit,  that  I  might  get  it  made  up  here  before  the 
event  in  question  takes  place." 

Colonel  Pickering  informed  his  wife,  on  the  27th  of 
May,  that  he  intended  shortly  to  make  a  tour  to  the 
northward,  to  Albany  and  other  places,  to  dispose  of 


478  LIFB  OP  TIMOTHY  FICEERINa.  [178S. 

public  property  in  that  quarter,  and  said  he  should  **  also 
be  gratified  in  viewing  the  scenes  of  action  at  Benning- 
ton and  Saratoga,  which  led  to  the  important  event  of 
the  capture  of  Burgoyne/'  The  excursion,  however, 
was  postponed.  On  the  8th  of  September  he  wrote  to 
her  on  that  subject :  — 

^'  To-morrow  morning  I  set  out  on  a  tour  of  pleasure  and 
of  business  jointly.  Dr.  Eustis,  and  Major  CogswelU  and 
Mr.  Anspach  are  in  the  company.  We  intend  to  visit  Sara- 
toga, Ticonderoga,  and  Crown  Point;  on  our  return,  to 
see  Bennington,  the  capital  of  Vermont,' Schenectady,  and 
possibly  Fort  Schuyler.  It  may  be  a  ten  days*  or  a  fort- 
night's tour. 

"September  9th. — It  rains,  and  our  journey  must  be 
suspended  till  the  weather  changes.  Every  information 
concurs  to  show  that  the  British  will  probably  leave  New 
York  early  in  October." 

On  the  same  day  (the  9th)  he  wrote  to  his  brother : — 

<^I  believe  that  New  York  will  be  evacuated  early  in 
October.  The  madness  of  the  violent  Whigs  has  retarded 
this  measure  by  exciting  the  fears  of  thousands  of  well- 
disposed  people,  who  have  been  within  the  British  lines,  and 
thereby  driving  them  from  the  country,  to  its  great  injury, 
and  the  no  small  emolument  of  the  British,  who  will  get 
Nova  Scotia,  &c.,  well  peopled." 

He  wrote  again  to  his  wife  on  the  29th  of  Septem- 
ber, from  Newburgh,  respecting  the  celebration :  — 

"Last  evening  I  returned  from  the  northward.  .  .  . 
And  you  had,  as  I  proposed,  determined  to  make  me  a 
visit.  •  .  .  But  must  it  depend  on  a  contingency  —  the 
arrival  of  the  definitive  treaty  ?  or  the  departure  of  the  Brit- 
ish from  New  York?  Whichever  event  comes  first  will 
occasion  a  public  entertainment  and  display  of  the  fireworks 


JEt.  38.]  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKEBINO.  479 

at  West  Point,  and  I  will  expect  you.  But  if  neither  hap- 
pens while  the  weather  and  the  roads  are  tolerable,  I  will 
save  you  the  trouble  of  so  long  a  journey.  In  three  days  I 
can  easily  travel  to  Philadelphia.  I  do  not,  however,  mean 
to  forbid  your  coming  hither,  but  only  to  save  you  from 
the  fatigue  of  a  journey,  if  it  should  not  be  your  choicei 
independent  of  a  public  exhibition  of  fireworks,  &c.,  on 
80  joyful  an  occasion  as  either  of  those  events  before 
mentioned." 

In  a  letter,  dated  at  Springfiield,  the  29th  of  Sep- 
tember, Mr.  Sargeant^  his  brother-in-law,  wrote  to  him 
as  follows:  — 

**We  had  some  pleasing  expectations  that  you  would 
come  to  the  northward  this  fall.  I  hope  we  shall  not  be 
disappointed.  I  want  to  talk  over  many  of  the  affairs  of 
the  war.  .  •  •  Your  sister  wants  to  catechize  you  a  little 
for  your  spending  so  much  of  your  time  in  the  service  of  the 
public.  She  fears  you  have  not  sufficiently  regarded  your 
own  interest.  Tis  the  only  fault  she  has,  I  can't  make  the 
dear  woman  quite  so  much  of  a  patriot  as  I  could  wish." 

The  celebrity  which  the  name  of  Noah  Webster  has 
attained  lends  an  interest  to  the  following  letter.  It 
appears  by  it  that  the  numerous  duties  of  Colonel  Pick- 
ering^s  oflSce  did  not  prevent  him  from  turning  his 
attention  to  the  subject  of  education,  in  regard  both  to 
its  public  importance  and  to  the  instruction  of  his  own 
children.  The  letter  is  addressed  to  his  wife,  and  is 
dated  at  Newburgh,  the  31st  of  October. 

"  By  the  eastern  post  yesterday  I  was  lucky  enough  to 
receive  the  new  Spelling-Book  [Webster's]  I  mentioned  in 
my  last,  and,  instead  of  sleeping  (for  I  had  a  waking  fit 
which  prevented  me) ,  I  read  it  through  last  night,  except 
that  I  only  examined  a  part  of  the  different  tables.     I  am 


480  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICIUIRING.  [1783. 

much  pleased  with  it.  The  author  is  ingenious,  and  writes 
from  his  own  experience  as  a  schoolmaster,  as  well  as  the 
best  authorities ;  and  the  time  will  come  when  no  authority, 
as  an  English  grammarian,  will  be  superior  to  his  own. 
It  is  the  very  thing  I  have  so  long  wished  for,  being  much 
dissatisfied  with  any  spelling-book  I  had  seen  before.  I 
now  send  you  the  book,  and  request  you  to  let  John  take  it 
to  his  master,  with  the  enclosed  letter ;  for  I  am  determined 
to  have  him  instructed  upon  this  new,  ingenious,  and  at  the 
same  time  easy  plan.  There  are,  you  will  see  by  the  Intro- 
duction, two  more  parts  to  come  to  complete  the  plan.  I 
am  a  stranger  to  Mr.  Webster,  but  I  intend,  when  I  can 
find  leisure,  to  write  him  on  the  subject,  using  the  liberty 
(which  he  requests)  to  suggest  some  little  matters  which 
may  be  altered  and  improved  in  his  next  edition  ;  for  I  thiuk 
the  work  will  do  honor  to  his  country,  and  I  wish  it  may  be 
perfect.  Many  men  of  literature  might  think  it  too  trifling 
a  subject ;  but  I  am  of  a  diflferent  opinion,  and  am  happy 
that  a  gentleman  of  Mr.  Webster's  genius  and  learning  has 
taken  it  up.  All  men  are  pleased  with  an  elegant  pro- 
nunciation, and  this  new  Spelling-Book  shows  children  how 
to  acquire  it  with  ease  and  certainty." 


JEt.  88.]  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHy  PICKERING.  481 


CHAPTER   XXXIV. 

General  Washington's  Farewell  Address  to  the  Army. — Cannons  to  be 
presented  to  the  Corate  De  Grasse.  —  Colonel  Pickering  draws  up 
the  Answer  of  the  OflScers  to  the  Farewell  Address. — His  Remarks 
on  the  Address  and  on  the  Answer.  —  General  Knox's  Draught  of 
an  Answer.  —  Evacuation  of  New  York.  —  Celebration  of  Peace. 
—  Friendly  Letters  between  Colonel  Pickering  and  his  College 
Classmate,  Major  Upham,  of  the  British  Army. 

Congress  having  issued  a  proclamation,  dated  the 
18th  of  October,  1783,  thanking  the  armies  of  the 
United  States  for  their  faithful  services,  ordering  that 
such  part  of  the  troops  as  were  enlisted  for  the  war 
should  be  discharged,  and  permitting  the  officers  on 
furlough  to  retire  from  the  service.  General  Washing- 
ton, on  the  2d  of  November,  issued  his  "Farewell 
Orders  to  the  Armies  of  the  United  States." 

It  does  not  appear  that  Colonel  Pickering  ever  had 
any  cause  for  enmity  to  General  Washington,  or  that 
Washington  ever  addressed  to  him  an  angry  word ;  so 
that  it  is  difficult  to  account  for  a  hardness  towards 
Washington  which  occasionally  betrays  itself  in  his 
letters.  A  reason  suggested  by  some  of  his  observar 
tions  about  flattery,  as  well  as  by  his  natural  disposi- 
tion, may  have  had  an  influence  in  the  case ;  but  it  is 
not  an  entirely  satisfactory  explanation.  This  is,  that, 
as  he  entertained  a  less  exalted  opinion  than  most  of 
the  officers  did  of  Washington's  military  talents,  the 
fulsome  adulation  on  the  part  of  some  of  them  excited 
his  disgust,  and  so  drew  from  him  expressions  of  an  oppo- 
site character.     The  application  of  these  remarks  will 

VOL.  L  61 


482  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  [1783- 

be  seen  on  reading  his  letters  relating  to  the  "  Fare- 
well Orders,'*  and  to  the  answer  presented  by  the  oflB- 
cers ;  which  was  drawn  up  by  him.  His  opinion  that 
the  "  Orders  "  were  too  long,  and  that  the  title  given 
to  them  was  not  a  happy  one,  may  be  just;  but  he 
undervalues  them.  He  refers  to  them  in  the  following 
passage  in  a  letter  to  Mr.  Hodgdon,  dated  at  New- 
burgh,  the  5th  of  November.  After  intimating  that 
he  shall  not  go  to  Philadelphia  until  towards  the  end 
of  the  month,  he  proceeds :  — 

'^This  delay  will  disappoint  one  whose  expectations  I 
wish  ever  to  gratify ;  but  more  business  remains  to  be  done 
this  month,  preparatory  to  the  winter's  settlement,  than  I 
looked  for.  I  expect,  too,  that  the  British  will  leave  New 
York ;  and  I  would  not  choose,  nor  would  it  be  proper  for 
me,  to  be  absent  then.  The  dissolution  of  the  army  will 
follow  of  course,  and  this  will  require  my  being  here. 

"  Yesterday  General  Knox  sent  me  General  Washington's 
•Farewell  Orders.*  You  will  doubtless  see  them  in  print, 
with  the  answer  (if  the  term  is  admissible  as  the  counter- 
part of  orders)^  —  though  orders  seems  to  be  an  unlucky 
title  (given  by  son  Excellence  himself)  for  an  affectionate 

taking  of  leave.     Truly but  it  will  be  safest  for  you  to 

make  your  own  comments  when  you  see  them ;  or  wait  a 
little,  and  some  zealous  devotee  will  save  you  the  trouble, 
and  at  a  dash  declare,  that  'they  proceeded  from  the  imme- 
diate inspiration  of  Heaven.'  They  are  very  long;  which 
I  am  sorry  for,  unless  they  contained  more.  I  wish  they 
would  better  correspond  with  such  an  answer  as  might  he 
given.  What  sort  of  answer  will  be  made,  I  know  not. 
Knox  desires  me  to  go  to  the  Point  [West  Point]  to-day, 
to  consult  upon  it ;  and  I  am  going.  You  will  imagine  to 
what  kind  of  address  I  shall  put  my  name :  to  such  a  one 
you  will  see  it,  or  not  at  all.  He  [Washington]  has  virtues 
to  which  I  would  pay  the  tribute  due." 


iET.  88.]  LIFE   OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  483 

In  the  same  letter  he  speaks  as  follows  of  two  brass 
cannons,  trophies  taken  from  the  British,  intended  to  be 
presented  to  the  Comte  De  Grasse  :  — 

"  By  the  way,  General  Knox  wrote  me,  a  day  or  two  since, 
that  the  Commander-in-Chief  was  importunate  to  have  sent 
on  the  two  six-pounders  designed  for  Comte  De  Grasse. 
They  are  finished  by  Billings,  of  Poughkeepsie.  I  saw 
them  yesterday,  and  they  are  neatly  done,  with  pertinent 
emblems.  But,  pray,  to  whom  are  those  two  to  be  pre- 
sented which  the  Frenchman  is  doiug  in  Philadelphia? 
You  carried  me  to  see  one  of  them ;  and  it  has  ever  lain 
in  my  mind,  that  those  were  for  Comte  De  Grasse.  How- 
ever, the  two  engraved  by  Billings  will  be  forwarded  in  a 
day  or  two,  and  that  pair  preferred  which  are  most  elegantly 
executed ;  for  I  am  confident  there  are  these  duplicates.'' 

He  received  from  General  Knox  the  following  letter, 
dated  at  West  Point  the  12th  of  November :  — 

**  The  officers  universally  agree  to  the  Address.  If  you 
will  please  to  come  down  to-morrow,  we  will  present  it. 
The  General  has  not  yet  arrived,  but  he  will  be  here  cerr 
tainly  to-day.     I  am,'*  &c. 

On  that  day  he  wrote  to  Mrs.  Pickering,  from  New- 
burgh  :  — 

**  Mr.  Hodgdon  told  me  (what  I  expected)  that  you  ha<J 
sent  me  a  letter  in  the  mail  that  was  stolen.  But  do  not  let 
that  accident  prevent  your  writing  by  the  post.  If  imper- 
tinent people  now  and  then  open  our  letters,  they  will  dis- 
cover no  mischief;  but  if  they  have  hearts^  they  may  learn 
to  love  as  we  do ;  and  surely  the  world  will  be  nothing  th^ 
worse  for  it.     ... 

"The  Commander-in-Chief  was  to  be  at  West  Point 
to-night.     You  have  doubtless  seen  in  the  newspapers  his 


484  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  [1788. 

Farewell  Address  (called  Orders)  to  the  army.  It  was 
thought  proper  that  the  officers  here  should  return  an 
answer.  The  answer  agreed  on  universally  is  enclosed. 
Tis  to  be  presented  to  the  General  to-morrow.  Perhaps 
your  curiosity  may  prompt  you  to  read  it ;  but  let  nobody 
else  read  it,  the  Major  [Hodgdon]  excepted,  until  you  see 
it  published  in  the  newspapers.  The  answer  is  to  be  pre- 
sented to  the  General  by  a  committee,  who  are  General 
McDougall,  General  Knox,  and  your  humble  servant. 
Though  it  is  rather  modest,  or,  in  other  words,  does  not 
abound  with  panegyric^  yet  I  think  it  will  be  graciously 
received;  for  there  is  enough  in  it  to  please  a  modest 
man.'' 

On  the  16th  of  November  he  wrote  to  Mrs.  Pick- 
ering :  — 

"  Those  happy  events,  the  hopes  of  which  animated  me 
during  the  war,  at  length  have  arrived.  The  definitive 
treaty  of  peace  is  concluded,  and  will  be  celebrated  by  the 
Commander-in-Chief  and  the  officers  of  the  army  in  New 
York  on  the  Ist  of  December.  The  British  are  to  evacuate 
the  city  on  the  22d  instant.*  I  have  informed  Mr.  Hodg- 
don of  this,  and  invited  him  to  meet  me  there.  I  have  also 
told  him  that  I  was  almost  tempted  to  ask  the  favor  of  your 
company,  .  .  .  but  I  am  almost  afraid  to  hazard  yon  on 
such  a  journey  at  this  disagreeable  season.  .  .  .  By  the 
last  post  I  sent  you  the  proposed  address  of  the  officers  to 
the  Commander-in-Chief.  A  few  words  were  afterwards 
altered ;  and  yesterday  we  presented  it  to  him.  I  send  by 
this  conveyance  a  copy  of  it  to  Mr.  Hodgdon  for  publica- 
tion :  of  course  you  will  see  it  complete  in  the  news- 
papers." 

To  Mr.  Hodgdon  he  wrote  on  the  same  day  as  fol- 
lows :  — 

*  Delayed  tiU  the  25th. 


jEt.  88.]  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  485 

• 

"I  have  the  pleasure  of  announciDg  to  you,  that  Sir  Guy 
Carleton  has  fixed  on  the  2l8t  instant  for  the  evacuation  of 
his  outposts,  and  on  the  22d  for  the  complete  evacuation  of 
the  city  of  New  York  and  its  dependencies.  In  consequence, 
two  companies  of  artillery  commanded  by  Major  Bowman 
[Bauman  ?] ,  with  four  six-pounders  (all  trophies,  engraved 
with  the  times  and  places  of  their  capture  from  the  enemy) , 
the  light  infantry,  and  the  First  and  Fourth  Massachusetts 
Eegiments,  have  this  day  marched  for  the  envii*ons  of 
Kingsbridge,  to  be  prepared  to  take  possession  as  the 
British  relinquish  the  posts.  The  whole  detachment  will 
amount  to  eight  hundred  or  a  thousand  men.  On  the  1st 
of  December  the  Commander-in-Chief  intends  to  celebrate 
in  New  York  the  definitive  treaty  of  peace :  and,  that  all 
persons  disposed  to  be  present  may  have  notice  thereof, 
the  enclosed  garrison  order  is  to  be  published  in  the  news- 
papers. You  will  be  pleased  to  hand  it  to  the  printers  in 
Philadelphia  without  delay. 

"I  also  enclose  you  a  letter  and  address,  which  were 
presented  to  the  Commander-in-Chief  yesterday.  The 
whole  are  written  just  in  the  manner  the  printers  are  to 
publish  them.*     .  .  . 

"  By  Tuesday  or  Wednesday  next  I  shall  leave  this  place 
and  join  the  detachment  near  Kingsbridge,  and  enter  the 
enemy's  posts  with  them.  I  shall  probably  remain  at  New 
York  until  the  celebration  of  the  peace  is  over ;  soon  after 
which  (perhaps  directly  from  the  city)  I  purpose  to  visit 
Philadelphia.  You  will  have  an  inclination  to  be  present 
at  the  celebration,  and  I  shall  be  happy  to  meet  you  there. 
I  am  almost  tempted  to  invite  Mrs.  Pickering ;  but  the  season 
is  disagreeable,  and  I  do  not  know  to  whom  she  could  com- 
mit the  care  of  the  children  in  her  absence.  At  any  rate, 
I  would  not  have  her  come  crowded  and  jolted  in  the  stage. 

"  Mrs.  Knox  tells  me  she  shall  go,  with  all  her  family, 
into  the  city  in  three  or  four  days  after  we  have  possession, 

*  Instructions  are  here  inserted  in  regard  to  punctuation,  Italics,  and 
capitals. 


486  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKEBING.  [1788. 

remain  till  the  celebration  of  peace,  and  then  proceed  home 
to  Boston,  —  no  more  to  return. 

"  West  Point  and  dependencies  will  be  left  with  one  regi- 
ment ;  all  the  rest  of  the  troops  will  be  discharged  in  De- 
cember, as  soon  as  the  New  York  business  is  finished.  So 
large  a  body  of  troops  go  in  to  prevent  the  mischiefs  which 
the  violence  of  parties  might  otherwise  occasion,  before  the 
civil  power  obtains  its  due  influence.*     .  .  . 

"  The  public  business  on  which  Kell  is  sent,  I  hope,  will 
be  promptly  accomplished.  It  will  be  impossible  for  me  to 
fulfil  my  duty  or  the  General's  orders  without  cash."  f 

Mr.  Hodgdon  and  Mrs.  Pickering  determined  to 
attend  at  the  celebration,  and  he  informed  Colonel 
Pickering  that  he  had  engaged  a  passage  from  Philar 
delphia  to  New  York  "  in  the  stage-wagon  that  goes 
through  in  two  days,"  and  that  for  their  comfort  in  the 
carriage  he  had  agreed  to  pay  for  three  seats. 

Supposing  the  fireworks  to  have  been  previously 
prepared  at  West  Point,  the  small  sum  of  one  thousand 
dollars,  still  required  for  the  celebration  at  New  York 
of  so  important  an  event  as  a  general  peace,  and  the 
difficulty  of  procuring  that  small  sum,  may,  in  these 
days  of  wealth  and  profusion,  excite  a  smile. 

Colonel  Pickering  wrote  another  letter  to  Mr.  Hodg- 
don, on  the  16th  of  November,  on  the  same  all-important 
article  of  "  cash,"  saying  :  — 

"I  have  sent  Kell  express  to  Philadelphia  for  the  purpose 
of  bringing  on  the  five  thousand  dollars  for  which  I  last 
wrote  you,  and  an  additional  sum  of  one  thousand  dollars 

♦  On  the  19th,  Sir  Guy  Carleton  wrote  to  Washington,  "I  have  received 
repeated  information,  . .  .  that  a  deliberate  combination  has  been  formed  to 
plunder  the  town  whenever  the  King's  troops  shall  be  withdrawn."  If  sach  a 
plan  was  contemplated,  no  attempt  was  made  to  put  it  in  execution.  See 
Sparks's  **  Writings  of  Washington,"  Vol.  VUI.  pp.  646,  601. 

t  See  the  next  letter. 


^T.  38.]  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  487 

in  cash^  or  in  orders  on  somebody  at  New  York  who  will 
certainly  answer  them.  The  movement  of  the  detachment 
of  artillery,  light  infantry,  and  two  regiments  of  infantry  to 
the  city,  and  their  demands  for  wood  and  forage  for  one 
month,  or  at  least  three  weeks,  together  with  the  expenses 
to  which  I  shall  be  put  in  fulfilling  the  views  of  the  Com- 
mander-in-Chief relative  to  the  celebration  of  the  peace, 
require  that  I  be  supplied  with  one  thousand  dollars  in  cash. 
To  insure  to  me  a  supply  in  time,  and  to  furnish  the  Pay- 
master-General [Peirce]  with  another  thousand  dollars,  to 
enable  him  to  give  their  subsistence  to  those  officers  who  go 
with  the  troops  to  New  York,  the  Commander-in-Chief  has 
written  to  Governor  Clinton,  requesting  the  loan  of  two 
thousand  dollars,  to  be  repaid  by  Mr.  Peirce  and  me  as  soon 
as  we  receive  the  money  from  Philadelphia.  But  whether 
the  Governor  has  any  money  by  him  is  uncertain.  .  .  . 
Be  pleased  to  apply  instantly  to  the  Superintendent  of 
Finance  with  information  of  the  nature  and  necessity  of 
this  demand." 

To  Mr.  Hodgdon  he  wrote  again  from  Newburgh 
on  the  17th  of  November.     He  says:  — 

<*Mr.  Demler  has  returned  from  the  Governor,  who  un- 
fortunately had  no  money ;  so  that  a  supply  by  Kell,  either 
in  cash  or  orders  payable  in  New  York  at  sight,  is  of  abso- 
lute necessity.     .  .  . 

"  By  Kell  you  will  receive  authentic  copies  of  the  officers' 
answer  to  the  Orders.  I  think  it  may  be  marked  as  the 
Italians  do  some  strains  of  their  music,  — moderato ;  and  yet 
I  think  it  must  have  been  tolerably  acceptable.  In  one 
passage  the  word  magnanimity  was  proposed  where  I  had 
written  prudence ;  and,  as  there  is  magnanimity  in  a  firm 
perseverance^  I  did  not  scruple  to  make  the  alteration. 
The  committee  for  drafting  the  answer  were  General  McDou- 
gall.  General  Knox,  and  T.  P.  The  first  was  busy,  and 
wrote  nothing;  the  second  had  written,  but  said  he  had 
not  finished.     There  is  a  boldness  in  his  conceptions  which 


488  LEFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  [1788. 

pleases  me;  there  were  many  passages  which  struck  me 
very  agreeably ;  but  he  declared  his  preference  of  the  other, 
and  it  was  universally  adopted,  with  a  few  verbal  altera- 
tions. It  is  sufficiently  long,  and  it  seemed  proper  that  it 
should  bear  some  proportion  to  the  Orders.*  These  gave 
fair  openings  to  the  remarks  on  the  conduct  of  some  of  the 
States,  which  appeared  to  be  well  warranted,  and  which 
gave  a  due  length  to  the  answer,  without  stuffing  it  with 
fulsome  adulation.  When  I  next  hear  from  or  see  you,  I 
shall  learn  what  opinion  is  formed  of  it.** 

The  answer  was  presented  on  the  15th^  with  the 
following  note:  — 

"Sm, 
"  The  officers  of  the  part  of  the  army  who  agreed  on  the 
enclosed  address  having  committed  to  us  the  honor  of 
presenting  it,  with  great  pleasure  we  now  offer  to  your 
Excellency  this  testimony  of  their  affectionate  attachment 
and  respect. 

We  have  the  honor  to  be,  with  perfect  consideration,  Sir, 
your  Excellency's  most  obedient  and  most  humble  servants, 

"A.  McDouGALL,  Major-General. 
"H.  Knox,  Major-- General, 
"T.  Pickering,  Quartermaster-General/' 

The  answer  was  as  follows :  — 

**  To  his  Excellency,  General  Washington,  Commander- 
in-Chief  OP  THE  Armies  op  the  United  States  op 
America. 

"  We,  the  officers  of  the  part  of  the  army  remaining  on 
the  banks  of  the  Hudson,  have  received  your  Excellency's 
serious  and  farewell  address  to  the  armies  of  the  United 
States.     We  beg  your  acceptance  of  our  unfeigned  thanks 

*  General  Washington's  address  occupies  five  pages  in  Sparks's  "  Writings 
of  Washington,"  Vol.  VIII.  p.  491 ;  the  answer  is  about  half  as  long. 


^T.  38.]  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERINO.  489 

for  the  commuuicatioQ,  and  your  affectionate  assurances  of 
inviolable  attachment  and  friendship.  If  your  attempts  to 
insure  to  the  armies  the  just,  the  promised  rewards  of  their 
long,  severe,  and  dangerous  services  have  failed  of  success, 
we  believe  it  has  arisen  from  causes  not  in  your  Excel- 
lency's power  to  control.  With  extreme  regret  do  we 
reflect  on  the  occasion  which  called  for  such  endeavors. 
But,  while  we  thank  your  Excellency  for  these  exertions  in 
favor  of  the  troops  you  have  so  successfully  commanded, 
we  pray  it  may  be  believed,  that  in  this  sentiment  our  own 
particular  interests  have  but  a  secondary  place,  and  that 
even  the  ultimate  ingratitude  of  the  people  (were  that  pos- 
sible) could  not  shake  the  patriotism  of  those  who  suffer  by 
it.  Still,  with  pleasing  wonder  and  with  grateful  joy  shall 
we  contemplate  the  glorious  conclusion  of  our  labors.  To 
that  merit  in  the  Revolution,  which,  under  the  auspices  of 
Heaven,  the  armies  have  displayed,  posterity  will  do  justice ; 
and  the  sons  will  blush  whose  fathers  were  their  foes.  Most 
gladly  would  we  cast  a  veil  on  every  act  which  sullies  the 
reputation  of  our  country.  Never  should  the  page  of  his- 
tory be  stained  with  its  dishonor ;  even  from  our  memories 
should  the  idea  be  erased. 

^We  lament  the  opposition  to  those  salutary  measures 
which  the  wisdom  of  the  Union  has  planned;  measures 
which  alone  can  recover  and  fix  on  a  permanent  basis  the 
credit  of  the  States ;  measures  which  are  essential  to  the 
justice,  the  honor,  and  interest  of  the  nation.  While  she  was 
giving  the  noblest  proofs  of  magnanimity,  with  conscious 
pride  we  saw  her  growing  fame,  and,  regardless  of  present 
sufferings,  we  looked  forward  to  the  end  of  our  toils  and 
dangers,  to  brighter  scenes  in  prospect.  There  we  beheld 
the  Genius  of  our  country  dignified  by  sovereignty  and  in- 
dependence, supported  by  justice,  and  adorned  with  every 
liberal  virtue.  There  we  saw  patient  Husbandry,  fearless, 
extend  her  cultured  fields,  and  animated  Commerce  spread 
her  sails  to  every  wind.  There  we  beheld  fair  Science  lift 
her  head,  with  all  the  Arts  attending  in  her  train.     There, 

VOL.  I.  62 


490  LIFE  OF  TmOTHT  PICKERING.  [1788. 

blessed  with  Freedom,  we  saw  the  human  mind  expand; 
and,  throwing  aside  the  restraints  which  confined  it  to  the 
narrow  bounds  of  country^  it  embraced  the  world.  Such 
were  our  fond  hopes,  and  with  such  delightful  prospects 
did  they  present  us.  Nor  are  we  disappointed.  Those 
animating  prospects  are  now  changed  and  changing  to  recUi- 
ties;  and  actively  to  have  contributed  to  their  production 
is  our  pride,  our  glory.  But  Jcstice  alone  can  give  them 
stability.  In  that  Justice  we  still  believe.  Still  we  hope 
that  the  prejudices  of  the  misinformed  will  be  removed,  and 
the  ails  of  false  and  selfish  popularity,  addressed  to  the 
feelings  of  avarice,  defeated.  Or,  in  the  worst  event,  the 
world,  we  hope,  will  make  the  just  distinction.  We  trust, 
the  disingenuousncss  of  a  few  will  not  sully  the  reputation, 
the  honor,  and  dignity  of  the  great  and  respectable  majority 
of  the  States. 

"We  are  happy  in  the  opportunity  just  presented  of 
congratulating  your  Excellency  on  the  certain  conclusion 
of  the  definitive  treaty  of  peace.  Relieved  at  length  from 
long  suspense,  our  warmest  wish  is  to  return  to  the  bosom 
of  our  country,  to  resume  the  character  of  citizens ;  and  it 
will  be  our  highest  ambition  to  become  useful  ones.  To 
your  Excellency  this  great  event  must  be  peculiarly  pleas- 
ing ;  for,  while  at  the  head  of  her  armies,  urged  by  patriot 
virtues  and  magnanimity,  you  persevered,  under  the  pressure 
of  every  possible  difficulty  and  disappointment,  in  the  puiv 
suit  of  the  great  objects  of  the  war,  —  the  freedom  and  safety 
of  your  country, — your  heart  panted  for  the  tranquil  enjoy- 
ments of  i^eace.  We  cordially  rejoice  with  you  that  the  period 
of  indulging  them  has  arrived  so  soon.  In  contemplating 
the  blessings  of  liberty  and  independence,  —  the  rich  prize 
of  eight  years'  hardy  adventure,  —  past  sufierings  will  be 
foi^otten ;  or,  if  remembered,  the  recollection  will  serve  to 
heighten  the  relish  of  present  happiness.  We  sincerely 
pray  God  this  happiness  may  long  be  yours,  and  that,  when 
you  quit  the  stage  of  human  life,  you  may  receive  from  the 


JBt.  88.]  LIFE  OP  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  491 

Unerring  Judge  the  rewards  of  valor  exerted  to  save  the 
oppressed,  — of  patriotism  and  disinterested  virtue. 

"West  Point,  15th  November,  1783." 

Many  Whigs  in  the  State  of  New  York,  some  of  them 
members  of  the  legislature,  manifested  a  disposition  to 
adopt  harsh  measures,  contrary  to  the  treaty  of  peace, 
against  the  Tories  who  remained  in  the  State  after  the 
termination  of  the  Revolution ;  and  Colonel  Pickering 
wrote  an  article,  dated  in  April,  1784,  under  the  sig- 
nature ^  Spectator/'  addressed  to  "  The  Printer  of  the 
New  York  Packet,"  (but  whether  published  or  not  I  do 
not  know,)  in  which  he  urged  a  more  humane  and 
generous  course  of  conduct  He  had  previously  been 
happy  to  avail  himself  of  an  opportunity  to  exemplify 
his  views  in  the  following  letter  to  Mr.  Joshua  Upham,* 
his  classmate  and  chum  at  Harvard  College,  who  had 
borne  arms  on  the  side  of  the  mother  country,  and  who 
was  about  to  depart  from  the  city  of  New  York  with 
the  British  army.  Mr.  Upham  entertained  like  liberal 
sentiments. 

"  West  Point,  NoTember  14th,  1783. 

"Dear  Sir, 
"  After  an  absence  of  so  many  years  and  a  long  contest 
which  had  continued  the  separation,  when  peace  returned 
I  expected  the  pleasure  of  seeing  you ;  but,  the  time  of 
your  departure  is  so  near  at  hand,  an  interview  will  be  im- 
possible. I  beg  you  therefore  to  accept  this  evidence  of  my 
remembrance  of  you  as  a  valued  acquaintance  and  friend, 
the  impressions  of  whose  worth  the  prejudices  of  party  hAve 
not  obliterated;  being,  dear  Sir,  with  great  regard,  your 

most  obedient  servant, 

"T.  Pickering. 
"Major  Upham." 

*  Subsequently  a  judge  of  the  Superior  Court  of  the  Proyince  of  New 
Brunswick. 


492  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  [1784. 

To  this  the  following  answer  was  returned :  —  • 

"  New  York,  NoTember  18th,  1788. 

"Deae  Sib, 

**  I  thank  you  for  your  obliging  letter  of  the  14th.  Since 
the  termination  of  the  late  unhappy  public  contest,  I  have 
ever  promised  myself  the  pleasure  of  meeting  you  before  I 
should  leave  the  country.  The  time  of  my  departure  is 
now  so  near  that  I  cannot  have  that  pleasure.  This  I  very 
much  regret.  Am  exceedingly  gratified  at  the  liberality  I 
have  experienced  from  the  gentlemen  of  your  army.  Hope 
their  example  will  soon  be  followed  by  my  countrymen  in 
general.  The  public  quarrel  at  an  end,  why  should  indi- 
viduals continue  the  contest? 

"  I  leave  the  country  for  the  winter  from  pecuniary  con- 
siderations, not  from  resentment;  nor  am  I  ashamed  to 
confess  that  I  very  much  regret  the  separation,  though  for  a 
time  only.  I  need  not  assure  you  that  I  look  back  to  our 
former  friendship  with  much  pleasure.  It  is  not  possible 
that  diflerence  in  opinion  on  national  questions  could  have 
abated  private  friendships.  I  hope,  at  some  future  period, 
not  far  distant,  to  meet  you  in  peace  and  quiet,  and  when 
every  personal  animosity  and  individual  resentment  shall  be 
forgotten  by  all  parties  and  descriptions  of  our  countrymen. 
Accept  my  best  wishes  for  your  happiness,  and  believe  me 
to  be,  dear  Sir,  most  sincerely,  your  friend  and  humble 

servant, 

"  JosuuA  Upham." 


iBi.  88.]  LITE  OP  TIMOTHT  PICKEBINQ.  493 


CHAPTER   XXXV. 

Necessities  of  the  Officers  on  the  Disbanding  of  the  Army. — 
Colonel  Pickering  a  Candidate  for  the  Office  of  Secretary  of 
War.  —  He  declines  being  a  Candidate  for  an  Office  in  the 
Treasury  Department.  —  Traits  in  his  Character.  —  His  Re- 
marks on  Magistrates  in  a  new  Country.  —  Death  of  his 
Mother. 

The  following  letter  to  Mr.  Hodgdon  repeats  the 
story  of  the  poverty  of  the  public  treasury,  the  neces- 
sities of  the  army  ofl&cers,  and  Colonel  Pickering's 
sympathy  for  them  :  — 

"Nbwbuboh,  January  12th,  1784. 

...  "A  larger  portion  than  I  expected  of  the  money  I 
last  received  has  also  been  paid  to  officers  in  lieu  of  trans- 
porting their  baggage.  I  was  prompted  by  my  own  feelings, 
and  General  Knox's  very  urgent  representations,  to  make 
the  gentlemen  libend  allowances,  as  essentially  requisite 
to  enable  them  to  travel  home  without  begging  or  extreme 
distress;  they  having  received  no  pay  these  six  months, 
nor  any  subsistence  *  for  the  last  month." 

General  Lincoln,  the  Secretary  of  War,  having  sent 
in  his  resignation,  Congress,  on  accepting  it,  voted 
that  he  should  continue  to  perform  the  duties  of  the 
ofl&ce  until  the  12th  of  November,  1783.f  Afterwards, 
on  the  26th  of  January,  1784,  when  the  subject  of 
a  successor  was  in  agitation,  Mr.  Hodgdon  wrote  to 
Colonel  Pickering,  saying   that,  in   a   letter  to  Mr. 

*  Money  in  lieu  of  rations. 

t  JoumalB  of  Congress,  October  29th,  1788. 


494  UFB  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  [1784. 

Elbridge  Gerry,  he  had  put  the  question,  ^  Might  not  our 
friend  Pickering  be  eligible  ?  ...  I  only  suggest  it 
for  your  consideration,  as  I  have  never  heard  him  say 
a  syllable  on  the  subject."  This  occasioned  a  corre- 
spondence between  Colonel  Pickering  on  the  one  part 
and  Mr.  Gerry  and  General  Mifflin  on  the  other. 

To  Mr.  Gerry  Colonel  Pickering  wrote,  under  date 
of  Philadelphia^  February  20th,  1784,  as  follows:  — 

^  Since  my  arrival  here,  Mr.  Hodgdon  has  handed  me 
your  favor,  ...  in  which  you  kindly  answer  his  intimation. 
I  have  hence  been  led  to  reflect  on  the  matter,  and  for  many 
reasons  cannot  but  express  a  wish  to  obtain  the  appointment. 
The  business  of  the  war  office  in  time  of  peace  will  not 
exclude  one  from  an  attention  to  private  concerns ;  and,  on 
that  principle,  I  imagined  an  appointment  (if  any  were 
made)  would  be  fixed.  I  mean,  that,  the  duties  of  the  office 
being  in  time  of  peace  greatly  circumscribed,  a  moderate 
salary  would  be  allowed,  in  expectation  that  the  Secretary 
might  engage  in  private  business.  On  this  principle  it 
would  be  agreeable  to  me ;  and,  I  should  suppose,  advan* 
tageous  to  the  public.  With  every  part  of  the  business  of 
the  office  I  have  been  conversant ;  and  the  office  I  have  last 
held  in  the  army  has  made  me  acquainted  with  every  addi- 
tional object  which  can  now  come  under  consideration  at 
the  war  office.  If  any  troops  are  to  be  kept  up,  if  any  estab- 
lishments are  to  be  made  for  frontier  posts,  the  method  of 
furnishing  and  transporting  the  necessary  supplies  will  be 
familiar  to  me ;  and  the  management  of  the  whole  business 
may  be  committed  to  the  Secretary  at  War  as  the  principal 
executive  officer  for  what,  during  an  extensive  war,  is  neces- 
sarily distributed  into  many  departments. 

<<  I  might  mention  some  grounds  for  claiming  the  office, 
such  as,  that  the  appointment  of  Quartermaster-General  was, 
in  fact,  only  a  suspension  of  my  seat  at  the  Board  [of  War]  ; 
.  .  .  that,  instead  of  receiving  any  gratuity  at  the  close  of 
my  service,  my  pay  was  declared  to  be  reduced,  from  the 


-ffiT.  88.]  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  495 

commencement  of  1783,  to  near  one  half  the  original  ap- 
pointment ;  and  that  I  never  made  any  claims  for  half  pay 
or  commutation,  although  a  very  large  proportion  of  officers 
who  received  it  were  in  service  for  much  shorter  periods. 

"  I  have  not  a  doubt  of  your  friendship  in  the  matter,  as 
far  as  shall  consist  with  the  public  good  and  the  justice  due 
to  others.  It  would  give  me  paiu  to  see  the  office  held  as 
a  sinecure  by  a  man  who  did  not  need  or  deserve  the  indul- 
gence, but  none  to  find  it  bestowed  on  one  more  deserving 
than  myself." 

Mr.  Gerry  replied,  in  a  letter  dated  at  Annapolis,  the 
26th  of  February,  1784  :  — 

"  I  have  communicated  your  letter  of  the  20th  to  several 
confidential  friends,  who  assure  me  of  their  disposition  to 
appoint  you  to  the  office  therein  mentioned.  Another  gen- 
tleman *  is  nominated,  as  I  am  informed,  by  the  General ; 
and  I  cannot  say  whether  it  will  produce  a  competition,  or 
what  will  be  the  issue  thereof.  This  you  may  rely  on :  you 
have  a  preference  in  my  mind,  and  will  be  proposed,  unless 
there  is  the  strongest  probability  of  the  inefficacy  of  such  a 
measure." 

To  General  Mifflin,  President  of  Congress,  Colonel 
Pickering  wrote,  on  the  5th  of  March,  1784,  that,  tired 
of  public  offices,  it  had  been  his  intention,  so  soon  as  he 
should  have  done  with  the  office  he  then  held,  to  continue 
the  rest  of  his  life  a  private  citizen ;  but  that  a  sugges- 
tion to  him,  that  he  might  probably  obtain  the  appoint- 
ment of  Secretary  of  War,  had  led  to  reflections  on 
the  duties  of  the  office  during  peace,  and  his  own 
situation  and  future  prospects  in  private  business ;  and 

*  Probably  General  Knox.  See  a  letter  of  March  24th,  1785,  from  Knox  to 
General  Washington,  in  Sparks's  **  Correspondence  of  the  American  Revolu- 
tion," Vol.  IV.  p.  98,  and  one  from  Washington  to  Knox,  of  June  18th,  1786, 
in  Sparka'8 ''  Writings  of  Washington,"  Vol.  IX.  p.  108. 


496  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  [1784. 

neither  of  the  latter  appeared  such  as  to  relieve  him 
from  anxiety  in  regard  to  the  support  of  his  family  and 
the  education  of  his  children.  He  was  therefore  solici- 
tous to  secure  ^  a  certain  subsistence  "  in  the  War  Office. 
He  sets  out  his  pretensions  to  the  appointment,  and 
says,  if  he  should  obtain  it,  he  should  consider  the 
present  office  of  Quartermaster-General  as  merged  in 
the  other,  and  manage  the  business  of  both  offices  for 
the  pay  annexed  to  the  office  of  Secretary  of  War. 

The  election  of  a  Secretary  of  War,  however,  was 
postponed  until  the  next  year. 

In  the  beginning  of  April,  1784,  Colonel  Pickering 
removed  his  office  from  Newburgh  to  New  York,  where 
he  expected  it  would  continue  some  months. 

The  following  correspondence  between  him  and  his 
relatives,  the  Rev.  John  Clarke  and  Dr.  Joseph  Ome, 
exhibits  their  views  of  some  points  in  his  character, 
and  likewise  their  affectionate  regard  for  him. 

In  a  letter  dated  Boston,  the  3d  of  March,  1784,  Mr. 
Clarke  wrote :  — 

"  I  hjive  lost  mi/  dear  little  son.  He  died  of  a  quinsy. 
My  bosom  still  bleeds  :  Mrs.  Clarke  is  inconsolable.  Time, 
however,  will  effect  the  cure,  which  philosophy  and  religion 
often  attempt  in  vain.  But  I  need  not  wound  your  heart 
with  those  sorrows  which  pierce  my  own.  I  know  the 
strength  and  ardor  of  your  affection,  and  that  you  can 
easily  feel  for  me  on  this  very  distressing  occasion.*' 

Colonel  Pickering  returned  the  following  answer, 
dated  New  York,  the  11th  of  April:  — 

'<  It  is  more  than  a  month  since  a  letter  from  Mr.  Williams 
announced  to  me  the  sudden  death  of  your  child.  Having 
left  him  in  perfect  health  but  a  few  days  before,  it  was  mat- 
ter of  surprise,  as  well  as  grief,  to  learn  that  he  was  no  more. 


jEt.  38.]  LIFE  OP  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  497 

Had  I  imagined  that  any  topic  of  consolation  could  have 
been  suggested  by  me,  which  had  not  previously  occurred 
to  your  own  mind,  I  should  have  written  to  you  without 
delay.  But  I  even  doubt  the  efficacy  of  any  such  attempts. 
When  the  heart  is  deeply  wounded,  I  believe  that  time  alone 
can  heal  it.  AH  the  efforts  of  art,  I  suspect,  serve  only  to 
retard  its  cure,  or  make  it  bleed  afresh.  My  writing  now, 
perhaps,  will  but  renew  your  sorrow.  There  is,  however, 
at  some  stages  of  it,  a  placid  grief,  which  is  rather  soothing 
than  painful.  The  heart  is  softened,  and  conscious  tender- 
ness gives  us  pleasure. 

^  Some  time  since  I  recollect  meeting  with  a  volume  of 
Sir  William  Temple's  Works,  and  I  chanced  to  read  his  letter, 
to  (I  think)  the  Countess  of  Essex,  on  the  death  of  her 
favorite  son.  I  was  charmed  with  it ;  but  my  mind,  in 
respect  to  myself,  was  at  ease.  No  son  had  been  torn  from 
me ;  and  I  will  not  pretend  to  judge,  in  such  case,  what 
must  be  the  feelings  of  a  parent's  heart.  Yet,  if  you  have 
not  read  that  letter,  I  would  recommend  the  perusal 
of  it."  * 

In  the  same  letter  he  requests  Mr.  Clarke  to  send 
him  ^Dr.  Chauncy's  work  on  the  duration  of  future 
punishments,  as  soon  as  it  arrives  from  London." 

Mr.  Clarke  wrote  to  him  again  on  the  30th  of  August, 
1784,  as  follows  :  — 

"I  am  sorry  to  hear  of  the  inflammation  in  your  eyes. 
•  .  .  You  want  them  on  many  accounts.  As  a  merchant, 
you  cannot  do  without  them.  But,  as  a  passionate  admirer 
of  female  beauty,  it  would  be  happy  for  you  if  you  had  the 
hundred  eyes  of  Argus. 

"I  am  very  glad  you  received  the  book.t  It  will  afford 
you  the  highest  entertainment  when  you  are  able  to  peruse 


♦  See  "  The  Worka  of  Sir  William  Temple,"  London,  1814,  8vo.,  Vol. 
m.  p.  619. 
t  Dr.  Channel's  treatise  on  **  The  Salvation  of  All  Men." 

VOL.  I.  63 


498  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICEEBING.  [17M. 

it.  The  criticisms  are  all  just.  And  I  think  the  arguments 
must  convince  all  persons  of  ingenuity  and  candor.  At 
least,  it  must  excite  them  to  examine  the  principles  of  their 
education,  and  to  have  abundant  charity  for  persons  of  a 
different  sentiment.*' 

Dr.  Ome,  in  a  letter  dated  October  10th,  1784, 
says:  — 

'<  You  are  such  a  Proteus  in  character,  that  I  do  not  know 
how  to  address  you.  Formerly  I  could  always  touch  the 
very  string  I  wished,  and  be  in  unison  with  you  at  a  thou- 
sand miles  distimce.  Under  the  semblance  of  a  Plough- 
jogger^  a  Military  Citizen^  or  a  Lover  of  Truths*  I  could 
always  detect  and  prattle  with  my  honest  friend,  whom 
the  revolutions  of  time  and  the  casualty  of  war  have  now 
removed  out  of  my  sight,  and,  what  is  worse,  beyond  my 
knowledge.  However,  as  I  always  thought  your  heart  as 
immutable  as  anything  human,  I  will  confidently  go  on  as 
usual ;  and,  notwithstanding  the  fictitious  attributes  which 
accidents  have  thrown  round  the  man,  I  will  appeal  plainly 
to  that  interior  spirit,  which,  1  trust,  is  still  simple  and  un- 
changed, as  it  was  always  void  of  decoration.  The  many 
vibrations  you  have  made  (now  you  must  forgive  my  impu- 
dent speculation,  but),  your  vibrations  from  music  through 
law  and  arms,  and  thence  to  trade,  make  me  suspect  that 
you  are  not  fixed  yet.  I  do  not  believe  you  will  die  a  mer- 
chant, for  I  think  that  your  probity  is  not  of  the  right  sort 
to  make  you  rich,  since  it  is  not  merely  professional  and 
accommodating,  as  it  ought  to  be  for  that  purpose ;  and, 
as  I  firmly  believe  that  you  were  made  to  stand  at  the  head 
of  one  of  your  various  professions,  and  supposing  that  the 
pendulum  of  your  vocations  has  vibrated  to  one  extreme, 
and  is  now  on  its  return  in  a  contrary  direction,  so  I  am 
persuaded  that  either  music  or  law  will  bring  you  up,  and 
that  you  will  be  for  life  either  a  singing-school  master  or 

*  Signatures  of  newspaper  articles  written  by  Colonel  Pickering. 


iET.  39.]  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  499 

a  jndge ;  but,  as  singing  masters  and  eunuchs  are  equal 
objects  of  my  loathing,  I  cannot  abide  this  as  any  part  of 
the  alternative,  and  my  scheme  obliges  me  to  place  your 
Honor  on  our  Superior  Bench,  where  God  grant  you  may 
long  flourish.  If  you  should  make  one  more  aberration  and 
wander  up  to  the  Ohio,  won't  this  be  called  oscillating  in  a 
cycloid  ?  I  don't  know ;  but  this  is  certain, — that  'tis  utterly 
beyond  my  plan,  and  demolishes  more  plausible  speculations. 
It  would,  however,  be  a  curious  circumstance  that  a  judge 
of  the  Superior  Bench  of  the  sovereign  Commonwealth  of 
Massachusetts  should  come  within  one  of  being  a  school- 
master ;  but  not  without  its  parallel,  for  the  learned  judge 
Sewall  came  within  half  a  one  ...  of  being  a  minister 
at  Beverly  ;  which,  in  the  day  of  it,  of  all  human  degradations 
on  the  clerical  scale,  would  have  been  the  vilest." 

Congress  having  determined  to  put  the  treasury  in 
commission,  Dr.  Holten,  a  member  from  Massachusetts, 
in  a  letter  dated  at  Trenton,  the  4th  of  December,  1784, 
inquired  of  Colonel  Pickering  whether  it  would  be 
agreeable  to  him  to  be  appointed  one  of  the  com- 
missioners. In  his  answer,  dated  at  Philadelphia,  the 
7th  of  December,  Colonel  Pickering  desired  to  be  made 
acquainted  with  the  plan  on  which  the  Board  was  to 
be  constituted  before  giving  a  decisive  answer.  He 
observed :  — 

"  The  duties  of  the  Board  may  require  other  abilities  than 
I  possess,  or  may  be  incompatible  with  my  present  views 
and  situation.  You  will  permit  me.  Sir,  to  observe,  that, 
after  devoting  my  whole  mature  life  to  the  public  to  my 
fortieth  year,  I  deem  it  my  duty  to  aim  at  some  provision 
for  my  family  when  I  leave  it.  I  am  attempting  something 
in  the  commercial  line ;  but  I  confess  my  prospects  are  not 
very  flattering.  I  should,  therefore,  more  readily  listen  to 
overtures  for  a  public  employment.  But  in  this  case  the 
necessary  style  of  living  might  consume  at  least  my  whole 


500  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERINa.  [17M. 

salary.     At  the  same  time  you  will  readily  believe  that  my 
desires  are  confined  within  bounds  of  moderation. 

^  At  present  there  remain  various  services  to  be  performed 
in  the  Quartermaster*s  department,  which  require  some 
knowledge  of  the  office ;  besides  adjusting  a  multitude  of 
outstanding  debts.  So  long  also  as  any  troops  are  kept  up, 
such  services  will  be  called  for.  To  have  them  performed  as 
to  the  directory  part,  without  any  expense  to  the  public,  I 
once  proposed  to  the  late  President  of  Congress  [Mifflin], 
that  during  peace  the  office  of  Quartermaster-General  should 
be  annexed  to  that  of  Secretary  at  War.  At  the  same  time, 
the  duties  of  both  offices  were  so  familiar  to  me,  I  thought 
it  would  not  be  deemed  officious  that  I  offered  myself  as  a 
candidate  for  that  of  Secretary  at  War,  with  the  Quarter- 
master's duties  annexed.  This  office  would  be  perfectly 
agreeable  to  me.  It  would  afford  me  leisure  to  settle  all 
accounts  and  demands  in  the  Quartermaster's  department, 
and  not  absolutely  exclude  me  from  paying  some  attention 
to  private  business  when  it  fell  in  my  way.  I  am  led  to 
mention  private  business  because  I  imagine  the  salary  to  be 
annexed  to  the  office  will  not  be  considerable  enough  to 
maintain  even  Tne,  with  decency,  in  this  expensive  place, 
without  the  aid  of  private  business." 

On  the  11th  of  December,  Dr.  Hoi  ten  replied,  saying, 
that  the  powers  of  the  Board  were  the  same  as  those  of 
the  late  Financier,  but  that  the  subject  of  alterations 
was  before  a  committee  of  Congress.     He  added :  — 

«*  There  is  to  be  a  Secretary  at  War  appointed,  and  some 
of  your  friends  here  wish  you  to  be  in  this  department,  and 
some,  in  the  other.  As  to  myself,  I  wish  you  to  have  that 
place  which  is  most  agreeable  to  you,  knowing  that  the  place 
you  accept  will  be  well  filled.  However,  I  have  nominated 
you  to  the  Board  of  Treasury,  as  I  think  it  is  not  likely  the 
two  offices  you  mentioned  will  be  joined,  and  I  consider  the 
Board  of  Treasury  as  being  likely  to  be  most  profitable." 


Ml,  39.]  LIFE  OP  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  501 


Colonel  Pickering  wrote  a  second  letter  to  Dr.  Hol- 
ten,  dated  at  Philadelphia,  the  26th  of  January,  1785, 
respecting  the  office  of  Commissioner  of  the  Treasury, 
saying :  — 

"  I  learnt  from  your  answer  [to  the  first  letter] ,  that  the 
powers  of  the  Board  had  not  been  defined.  One  term  will 
probably  be  an  abjuration  of  all  private  business.  Of  this  I 
was  apprehensive,  and  Mr.  Gerry's  information  confirms  it. 
But  divers  other  reasons  .  .  .  had  determined  me  to  decline 
the  ofiice  before  I  conversed  with  Mr.  Gerry  concerning  it. 
I  find  also,  by  him,  that  the  candidates  are  numerous; 
and  I  should  be  sorry  to  stand  in  the  way  of  gentlemen 
better  qualified  for  the  station.  ...  I  am  highly  obliged 
by  your  attention  to  me,  and  beg  your  acceptance  of  my 
sincere  thanks;  but  I  also  request  you  to  withdraw  your 
nomination  of  me  to  the  ofiGlce  in  question. 

"  There  is  another  office  to  which  I  should  have  no  objec- 
tion, —  that  of  Secretary  at  War.  To  this  perhaps  I  have 
some  pretensions,  and  this  I  should  gratefully  accept.  .  .  . 
But  even  for  this  office  I  am  not  so  solicitous  but  that  I  shall 
cheerfully  acquiesce  in  the  appointment  of  some  other  per- 
son, whose  abilities  and  disposition  will  enable  him  to  render 
to  the  public  more  valuable  services  than  I  can  presume  to 
promise." 

On  the  8th  of  March,  1785,  General  Knox  was  chosen 
Secretary  of  War.  On  this  subject  General  Gates  wrote, 
on  the  18th  of  May,  1785,  to  Colonel  Pickering,  «I 
most  sincerely  wished  you  to  succeed  to  the  War  Office ; 
but  you  have  been  an  honest  Quartermaster-Geiteral, 
and,  of  course,  deserve  to  starve."  General  Knox,  how- 
ever, for  his  important  services  in  the  Revolution,  was 
equally  entitled  to  the  favorable  regard  of  Congress. 
'  An  officer  in  the  Quartermaster-Generars  depart- 
ment, of  whom  Colonel  Pickering  entertained  a  very 


502  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKEBING.  [1785. 

favorable  opinion,  was  Major  Thomas  Cogswell,  Wagon- 
master-General :  Colonel  Pickering  wrote  to  him  on  the 
14th  of  January,  1784 :  — 

**  The  great  object  of  our  warfare  being  accomplished,  the 
army  disbanded,  and  your  services  as  Wagon-master-General 
to  cease  to-morrow,  be  pleased  to  accept  my  sincere  thanks 
for  the  judicious  and  effectual  assistance  you  have  given  at 
all  times  in  the  execution  of  your  office,  and  your  readiness 
to  lend  your  aid  in  any  services  of  my  department.  I  wish 
you  every  success  in  your  future  life,  and  remain,  with 
much  esteem,  dear  Sir,  your  friend,"  &c. 

It  appears  that  Major  Cogswell,  having  a  tender  of 
the  offices  of  a  judge  and  a  justice  of  the  peace  in  *^  a 
new  country,"  manifested  his  confidence  in  Colonel 
Pickering  by  consulting  him  on  the  expediency  of 
accepting  them,  and  that  Colonel  Pickering  gave  him 
his  views  on  the  subject  in  a  letter  dated  at  Philadel- 
phia, the  1st  of  February,  1785,  as  follows:  — 

'<  You  ask  my  advice  about  a  matter  of  which  you,  from  a 
knowledge  of  circumstances,  can  form  the  best  judgment. 
In  new  countries,  as  well  as  old  ones,  magistrates  are  neces- 
sary. A  knowledge  of  the  law  is  doubtless  requisite  to 
enable  a  gentleman  to  act  as  a  judge  or  justice  most  accepta- 
bly to  his  fellow-citizens  and  to  his  own  satisfaction.  But 
in  a  new  country  an  extensive  or  accurate  knowledge  of  the 
law  is  not  looked  for ;  there  is  no  object  to  induce  gentle- 
men to  acquire  that  knowledge.  All  therefore  which  can  be 
expected  is,  that  government  will  put  in  commission  men  of 
integrity  and  of  good  understanding.  The  latter  I  am  sure 
you  possess,  and  of  the  former  your  own  consciousness  will 
determine.  Were  I  on  the  spot,  I  am  pretty  certain  that 
I  should  advise  you  to  accept  of  both  offices.  As  you 
are  disposed  to  read,  you  will  very  soon  acquire  more  law 
knowledge  than  most  of  your  brethren  in  office  possess. 


Mt.  89.]  LIFE  OP  TIMOTHY  PICKERmO.  503 

Purchase  immediately  Blackstone's  ''Commentaries  on  the 
Laws  of  England,"  Burn's  "Justice  of  the  Peace,"  and  your 
own  State  laws. 

...  "  But,  however  important  is  the  knowledge  of  the 
law  to  a  justice  of  the  peace,  there  is  one  quality  which  I 
deem  much  more  impoilant,  especially  in  the  country ;  that 
is,  a  benevolent  disposition,  which  shall  induce  him  to  com- 
pose differences  among  his  neighbors,  and  discourage  their 
going  to  law  one  with  another.  Such  a  magistrate  is  an 
honor  and  a  blessing  to  his  country ;  but  a  pragmatical  fel- 
low, who,  like  a  pettifogging  lawyer,  encourages  strifes 
among  his  neighbors,  is  one  of  the  greatest  mischiefs  a 
country  can  be  cursed  with.  I  need  not  say  you  have  a 
mind  superior  to  such  conduct.  But  the  former  character 
you  will  certainly  aspire  after :  for  that  you  will  be  held  in 
honor ;  for  that  you  will  be  revered  as  a  magistrate,  and  be 
loved  as  a  father." 

Colonel  Pickering's  brother  having  written  a  letter 
informing  him  that  their  mother  died  on  the  12th  of 
December,  1784,  intestate,  and  oflFering  to  pay  him  a 
small  sum  for  his  share  of  her  eflFects  if  he  consented, 
but,  if  not,  asking  what  he  would  have  done  with  the 
property,  he  replied,  February  5th,  1785 :  — 

"An  aged  person,  with  her  infirmities,  could  not  wish  a 
continuance  of  life ;  and,  when  an  aged  Christian  dies,  the 
relatives  cannot  mourn.  I  am  happy  that  my  other  relatives 
are  well ;  especially  that  you  are  much  better  than  you  were 
last  winter.  .  .  .  You  need  not  have  doubted  my  being 
perfectly  satisfied  with  your  allowance  .  .  .  for  my  share 
in  our  mother's  effects.  I  know  you  are  inviolably  just, 
and  am  therefore  always  content  with  your  determinations 
on  our  connected  interests ;  and  I  trust  we  are  both  of  so 
accommodating  dispositions,  that  an  umpire  between  us  will 
never  be  called  for." 


604  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  FICKERINa.  [1786. 


CHAPTER   XXXVI. 

Plan  for  Disposing  oF  the  Lands  north-west  of  the  Ohio.  —  Colonel 
Pickering's  Views  on  the  Subject.  —  His  Objections  to  the  proposed 
Ordinance  of  Congress  concerning  that  Territory.  —  Letters  from 
Mr.  Rufus  King  and  Colonel  William  Grajson.  —  Later  Proceed- 
ings of  Congress  more  in  Accordance  with  Colonel  Pickering's 
Views.  —  He  is  elected  a  Member  of  the  Philadelphia  Society  for 
Promoting  Agriculture.  —  Declines  being  a  Commissioner  on  the 
Claims  of  Virginia  for  defending  Territory  ceded  to  the  United 
States.  —  His  Administration  of  the  Quartermaster-GeneraVs  De- 
partment. 

The  subject  of  disposing  of  the  territory  ceded  by 
individual  States. to  the  United  States  being  before 
Congress,  then  sitting  at  New  York,  Colonel  Pickering 
/  wrote  to  Mr.  Elbridge  Gerry,  a  member  from  Massa- 
chusetts, as  follows :  — 

**  PHILADELPHIA)  Mafch  Ut,  1785. 

"  As  you  have  expressed  your  wishes  to  bo  concerned  in 
the  purchase  of  lands  on  the  other  side  of  the  Alleghany 
Mountains,  through  our  agency,  we  think  it  very  material 
to  your  interest  as  well  as  our  own,  that  we  be  informed, 
if  possible,  what  plan  Congress  will  probably  adopt  in  dis- 
posing of  those  lands  which  lie  north-west  of  the  Ohio.  If 
they  mean  to  permit  adventurers  to  make  a  scramble  for 
them  (as  has  been  the  case  in  this  State  and  Virginia),  it 
will  behoove  us  to  engage  seasonably  with  some  enterprising 
but  confidential  character,  to  explore  the  country  and  make 
locations.  But  I  should  rather  suppose  Congress  would  fall 
on  a  more  regular  plan,  as  that  of  surveying  a  district  or 
districts  for  a  Sttite  or  States,  dividing  the  same  into  coun- 
ties and  townships,  and  then  selling  these  townships  at  public 


^T.  89.]  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICHKERING.  505 

auction ;  the  surveyors  to  be  ordered  to  add  to  their  surveys 
such  explanations  as  would  enable  purchasers  to  judge  of  the 
value  of  the  lands.  The  officers  and  soldiers  of  those  States 
which  have  made  no  provision  of  lands  for  their  troops,  may 
perhaps  have  their  district  alike  surveyed,  and  their  several 
portions  assigned  to  them  by  lot.  I  am  aware  these  surveys 
would  be  expensive ;  but  this  is  an  expense  which  must  inevi- 
tably be  borne,  in  whatever  way  the  locations  and  divisions 
shall  be  made.  If  the  surveys  be  made,  as  above  proposed,  by 
persons  appointed  by  Congress,  the  expenses  may  neverthe- 
less be  charged  to  the  purchasers  or  assignees,  who  are  now 
obliged  to  bear  the  like  expenses  of  locations,  surveys,  and 
patents  in  this  State  and  Virginia.  In  this  way  the  settle- 
ment of  that  country  may  bo  effected  with  regularity  and 
with  much  more  safety  than  in  the  desultory  way  practised 
in  the  States  before  mentioned,  and  with  much  greater 
advantage  to  the  United  States.  If  but  a  single  State  be 
sold  on  the  other  side  of  the  Ohio,  settlers  will  flock  thither 
immediately.  As  soon  as  more  lands  shall  be  wanted, 
another  adjoining  State,  surveyed  into  townships  as  before 
(and  these  townships,  too,  should  be  divided  into  lots), 
may  be  set  up  for  sale ;  and  so  in  succession  as  lands  are  in 
demand. 

"  All  subsequent  sales,  in  this  way,  would  probably  be 
increasing  in  their  amount  in  proportion  to  the  increase  of 
settlers  in  the  adjoining  State  or  States.  But,  if  adven- 
turers should  be  permitted  to  ramble  over  that  extensive 
country,  and  take  up  all  the  most  valuable  tracts,  the  best 
lands  would  be  in  a  manner  given  away;  and  the  settlers 
thus  dispersed  it  will  be  impossible  to  govern :  they  will 
soon  excite  the  resentments  of  the  natives,  and  bring  on  an 
Indian  war,  to  the  destruction  of  multitudes  of  the  settlers, 
and  to  the  injury  of  the  public. 

"The  ideas  here  suggested,  I  am  sensible,  are  rather 
foreign  to  the  interest  of  persons  who  would  speculate  in 
those  lands ;  but  they  appear  to  me  adapted  to  promote  the 
public  interest,  and  therefore  I  shall  be  pleased  if  a  plan 

VOL.  L  64 


606  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICEERINa.  [1786. 

of  the  kind  proposed  be  pursued.  But  if  there  must  be  a 
scramble^  we  have  an  equal  right  with  others ;  and  therefore 
the  information  desired  in  the  beginning  of  this  letter  maj 
be  of  essential  importance.  How  soon  do  you  expect  to  go 
to  the  eastward  ? 

"  Your  answer  to  this  letter  will  very  much  oblige  your 
sincere  friends,  who  wish  to  advance  your  interest  with 
their  own." 

Mr.  Gerry  enclosed  to  Colonel  Pickering  a  draught 
of  the  ordinance*  for  disposing  of  the  lands  in  the 
western  territory,  and,  being  about  to  return  home, 
requested  him  to  communicate  his  views  to  Mr.  Rufus 
King,  then  a  member  of  Congress  from  Massachusetts, 
to  whom  Mr.  Gerry  handed  Colonel  Pickering's  letter. 
In  consequence.  Colonel  Pickering  wrote  at  much 
length  to  Mr.  King,  under  date  of  March  8th,  1785, 
commenting  on  the  proposed  ordinance.     He  says: — 

y  "  The  first  paragraph  orders  the  manner  of  dividing  each 
new  State  [into  hundreds']  ;  but  it  seems  to  me  it  will  be 
found  impracticable.  Each  hundred  is  to  be  ten  miles 
square,  and  each  mile  to  consist  of  six  thousand  and  eighty- 
six  feet.  Yet  the  lines  making  the  eastern  and  western 
boundaries  are  to  be  true  meridian  lines ;  but  meridian  lines 
converge  as  you  increase  the  latitude,  and  to  such  a  degree, 
that,  if  you  take  any  meridian,  say  at  the  thirty-ninth  de- 
gree of  latitude,  and  on  that  parallel  set  off  ten  geographi- 
cal miles  (equal  to  sixty  thousand  eight  hundred  and  sixty 
feet)  from  such  meridian,  and  then  proceed  northward  to 
the  forty-first  degree  of  latitude,  and  there  from  the  same 
meridian  set  off  the  like  number  of  ten  geographical  miles, 
their  extremity  will  be  about  eighteen  hundred  feet  beyond 
the  meridian  of  the  like  extremity  at  the  parallel  of  thirty- 
nine  degrees.     I  am  aware  that « mathematical  accunicy  in 

*  In  the  Journals  of  Congress  of  May  28th,  1784. 


^T.  89.]  LIFE  OP  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  507 

actual  survej's  may  not  be  expected ;  but  a  difference  of  six 
hundred  yards  in  ten  miles  must  surely  produce  material 
errors.** 

This  objection  was  disregarded  by  Congress ;  for,  by 
the  ordinance  of  May  20th,  1785,  it  was  detennined 
that  the  territory  should  be  divided  into  townships  of 
six  miles  square,  "by  lines  running  due  north  and  south, 
and  others  crossing  these  at  right  angles,  as  near  as  may 
be,  unless,"  &c.  The  Act  of  Congress  of  the  10th  of 
May,  1800,  obviates  the  difficulty  by  providing  for  a 
survey  of  fractional  sections. 

Colonel  Pickering  offered  some  verbal  amendments 
of  the  ordinance  reported,  and  made  several  sugges- 
tions respecting  the  survey  and  sale  of  the  lands.  He 
observed,  that,  if  they  should  be  sold  by  auction,  the 
United  States,  to  prevent  their  selling  too  low,  might 
bid  once  on  every  sale ;  or  might  fix  a  minimum  price 
per  acre.  He  repeated  his  proposition,  that  the  lands 
in  one  State  should  be  first  sold,  and  then,  as  a  de- 
mand arose,  those  in  another,  and  so  on  in  succession. 
Although  there  were  difficulties  in  the  mode  of  sale 
suggested  by  him,  he  thought  it  would  be  more  advan- 
tageous to  the  treasury,  and  cause  extensive  settle- 
ments to  be  made  sooner,  than  if  all  the  best  lands 
were  suffered  to  be  picked  up  at  a  limited  price  all  over 
that  vast  country,  as  they  might  be,  on  the  plan  proposed 
in  the  ordinance ;  at  least  so  far  as  the  purchase  from 
the  Indians  extended.  He  put  the  question,  whether, 
instead  of  leaving  each  register  to  devise  distinguishing 
marks  for  his  land-warrants,  as  proposed,  it  would  not 
be  best,  as  a  guard  against  counterfeits,  to  have  the 
same  devices  for  the  whole ;  and,  in  illustration,  he 
added,  "  The  Paymaster-General,  in  issuing  his  notes, 
intended,  by  having  the  blanks  filled  up  by  different 


608  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  [1785. 

hands,  to  guard  against  forgeries ;  but  in  the  event  it 
facilitated  the  practice  of  counterfeiting."  He  intimat- 
ed that  it  might  be  expedient  for  Congress  to  reserve 
salt-licks  and  salt-springs,  with  lots  around  them  well 
wooded,  for  the  supply  of  fuel  for  salt-works  which 
might  be  erected;  and  to  make  proper  regulations 
respecting  them,  in  order  to  prevent  their  falling  into 
the  hands  of  persons  who  might  neither  manufacture 
salt  themselves  nor  suflFer  others  to  do  so,  or  of  persons 
who  would  extort  from  the  settlers  exorbitant  prices 
for  an  article  so  indispensable :  and  he  said  that 
perhaps  coal  and  lead  mines  might  deserve  a  like 
consideration. 

He  remarked  further  :  — 

*^^ater  communication  in  that  country  will  always  be  in 
the  highest  degree  interesting  to  the  inhabitants.  It  seems 
very  necessary  to  secure  the  freedom  of  navigating  the  rivers 
to  all  the  inhabitants  of  all  the  States.  I  hope  we  shall  have 
no  Scheldta  in  that  country.  To  obviate  this  difficulty  in 
part,  a  division  of  it  into  States  by  natural  boundaries  has 
been  thought  of;  but  this  will  make  some  of  the  States  too 
large,  and  in  many  of  them  throw  the  extremes  at  such 
unequal  distances  from  the  centres  of  the  governments  as 
must  prove  extremely  inconvenienj^  Whether  the  divis- 
ions agreed  to  by  Congress  the  23crof  April  last  be  the  best 
possible,  seems  doubtful.    They  are  certainly  very  unequal." 

Since  that  day  they  have  been  much  altered.  The 
letter  concludes  thus  :  — 

(^There  is  one  article  in  the  report  of  the  committee  on 
which  that  act  was  made,  which  I  am  extremely  sorry  to 
see  was  omitted  in  the  act.  The  committee  proposed,  that 
after  the  year  1800  there  should  be  no  slavery  in  the  new 
States.  I  hardly  have  patience  to  write  on  a  subject  in 
which  what  is  right  is  so  obvious  and  so  just,  and  what  is 


JEt.  89.]  LIFE  OP  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  509 

wrong  is  so  derogatory  to  Americans  above  all  men,  so 
inhuman  and  iniquitous  in  itse^fZ^  But  I  have  no  time  to 
proceed  without  hazarding  the  loss  of  a  conveyance  by  this 
post.  I  may  use  the  freedom  of  another  letter  by  the  next, 
if  time  will  permit/' 

Accordingly,  in  another  letter  of  the  same  date,  he 
resumed  the  subject.  In  this  he  states,  that  the  holders 
of  Virginia  land-warrants,  who  did  not  go  in  person  to 
make  locations,  had  been  obliged  to  give  to  adventurers, 
who  undertook  to  explore  the  country  and  make  loca- 
tions for  them,  one  quarter,  one  third,  or  perhaps  more 
generally  one  hal/^  of  the  lands,  tor  their  trouble,  and 
had  been  exposed  to  impositions;  that,  on  his  plan, 
these  exorbitant  allowances  will  be  done  away  with, 
and,  every  acre  expressed  in  a  warrant  being  secured 
to  the  purchaser,  he  will  be  disposed  (as  he  can  well 
aflFord)  to  give,  on  an  average,  one  third  more  than 
if  the  locations  were  made  in  the  other  way;  and 
that  Congress  may  require  the  purchaser  to  pay  fees 
at  such  rates  as  will  eventually  reimburse  to  the  United 
States  all  the  expenses  of  the  surveys  and  sales. 

He  says  further :  — 

**  In  looking  over  the  Act  of  Congress  of  the  23d  of  April 
last,  and  the  present  report  of  an  ordinance,  relative  to  these 
lands,  I  observe  there  is  no  provision  made  for  ministers  of 
the  gospel,  nor  even  for  schools  and  academies.  The  latter 
might  have  been  brought  iuto  view ;  though,  after  the  admis- 
sion of  Slavery^  it  was  right  to  say  nothing  of  Christianity, 
Yet  so  glaring  an  inconsistency  would  not  have  occasioned 
much  surprise.  It  is  easy  to  be  inconsistent.  Congress 
once  made  this  important  declaration,  —  'that  all  men  are 
created  equal ;  that  they  are  endowed  by  their  Creator  with 
certain  unalienable  rights ;  that  among  these  are  life^  liberty^ 
and  the  pursuit  of  happiness ' ;  and  these  truths  were  held 


510  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERmG,  [1786. 

to  bo  self-evident.  These  great  truths  were  echoed  through 
the  United  States.  Nevertheless,  a  proposition  for  prevent- 
ing a  violation  of  these  truths  in  a  country  yet  unsettled, 
and  from  which  such  violation  might  easily  have  been  ex- 
cluded, did  not  obtain  I  What  pretence  (argument  there 
could  be  none)  could  be  offered  for  its  rejection?  I  should, 
indeed,  have  objected  to  the  period  proposed  (the  year  1800) 
for  the  exclusion  of  slavery ;  for  the  admission  of  it  for  a 
day  or  an  hour  ought  to  have  been  forbidden.  It  will  be 
infinitely  easier  to  prevent  the  evil  at  first,  than  to  eradicate 
or  check  it  in  any  future  time.  How  would  Congress  wish 
the  new  States  to  be  settled  ?  By  slaves  or  by  freemen  ? 
Take  any  given  period, — say  fifty  years  :  Will  those  States, 
in  that  time,  have  more  acres  of  improved  lands  by  the 
admission  than  by  the  exclusion  of  slaves  ?  In  respect  to 
population  and  improvement,  compare  Pennsylvania  with 
Maryland  and  Virginia,  particularly  the  latter.  The  con- 
clusion is  obvious.  But  why  do  I  expostulate  with  you, 
who  already  see  all  the  reasons  on  this  subject  in  points  of 
view  more  striking  than  I  can  place  them?  Forgive  me 
if  my  solicitude  to  prevent  the  greatest  of  evils  has  ren- 
dered me  prolix.  To  suffer  the  continuance  of  slaves  till 
they  can  gradually  be  emancipated,  in  States  already  over- 
run with  them,  may  be  pardonable,  because  unavoidable 
without  hazarding  greater  evils ;  but  to  introduce  them  into 
countries  where  none  now  exist — countries  which  have  been 
talked  of,  which  we  have  boasted  of,  as  asylums  to  the 
oppressed  of  the  earth — can  never  be  forgiven.  For  God's 
sake,  then,  let  one  more  effort  be  made  to  prevent  so  terrible 
a  calamity.  The  fundamental  constitutions  for  those  States 
are  yet  liable  to  alterations,  and  this  is  probably  the  only 
time  when  the  evil  can  ceitainly  be  prevented.     .  .  . 

"  I  hope,  Sir,  you  will  find  no  cause  to  regret  the  trouble 
of  reading  my  three  long  letters.  The  subject  is  of  the 
first  importance ;  and  the  hints  I  have  thrown  out,  I  flatter 
myself,  will  not  be  deemed  uninteresting." 

To  these  letters  Mr.  Bang  replied  :  — 


iET.  89.]  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  511 

"New  York,  16th  April,  1786. 

"The  best  return  in  my  power  to  make  you  for  your 
ingenious  communications  on  the  mode  of  disposing  of  the 
western  territory,  is,  to  eiKjlose  for  your  examination  the 
form  of  an  ordinance  reported  to  Congress  on  the  subject.* 
You  will  find  thereby,  that  your  ideas  have  had  weight  with 
the  committee  who  reported  this  ordinance ;  and  I  have  only 
to  add,  that  I  shall  hold  myself  particularly  obliged  by  your 
further  communications  on  this  subject. 

"  I  likewise  enclose  you  the  report  of  a  committee  on  a 
motion  for  the  exclusion  of  slavery  from  the  new  States. 
Your  ideas  on  this  unjustifiable  practice  are  so  just,  that  it 
would  be  impossible  to  differ  from  them." 

On  the  IQth  of  April,  1785,  Colonel  Pickering  wrote 
to  Mr.  Hodgdon  on  the  same  subject,  as  follows  :  — 

"Mr.  King  has  sent  me  the  last  report  [in  Congress] 
about  the  western  territory.  I  see  a  great  and  general  con- 
formity to  my  ideas  suggested  to  him.  I  am  still  confident 
that  plan  is  the  most  eligible  for  the  public  interest ;  and, 
if  it  be  thrown  aside,  I  should  believe  it  to  be  done  to  give 
an  opportunity  for  speculators  (or  rather  land-jobbers)  to 
make  immense  fortunes  at  the  public  expense." 

Colonel  William  Grayson,  of  Virginia,  wrote  a  letter      . 
to  Colonel  Pickering,  dated  New  York,  April  27th,/ 
1785,  making  a  little  addition  to  the  history  of  the 
western  territory,  and  showing  a  warm  friendship  for 
Colonel  Pickering.     He  says  :  — 

^Since  my  arrival  I  have  been  busily  engaged  in  assisting 
about  framing  an  ordinance  for  the  disposal  of  the  western 
territory.  I  think  there  has  been  as  much  said  and  wrote 
about  it  as  would  fill  forty  volumes ;  and  yet  we  seem  far 

*  Reported  on  the  14th  of  April  by  a  committee  of  which  Mr.  King  and 
Colonel  Grajson  were  members. 


512  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKEBIKa.  [1785. 

from  a  conclusion :  so  difficult  is  it  to  form  any  system 
which  will  suit  our  complex  government,  and  where  the 
interests  of  the  component  parts  are  supposed  to  be  so 
different.  I  made  a  motion  .  •  .  three  days  ago,  which  has 
nearly  divided  the  Continent  [meaning  Congress]  into  equal 
moieties :  the  object  of  it  was  to  double  the  quantity  of 
surveying,  and  to  sell  the  lands  in  townships  and  sections 
alternately.*  This  I  did  under  the  impression  that  it  would 
accommodate  both  the  Eastern  and  Southern  States.  How- 
ever, this  has  been  strongly  objected  to,  and  both  sides 
adhere  to  their  opiniousj)so  that  here  we  stick,  without  any 
movement  either  retrograde  or  progressive.  I  enclose  you 
the  draught  of  the  ordinance  as  it  stands,  which  you  will 
be  kind  enough  to  keep  in  your  hands  in  such  a  manner  as 
to  prevent  it  from  being  published, — this  being  against  rule. 
1  believe  it  will  pass  ultimately  in  a  shape  very  like  this. 
At  least,  none  of  the  great  principles,  except,  perhaps,  the 
one  alluded  to,  will  be  changed.  By  it  you  will  observe, 
that  there  is  no  office  created  by  it  worth  your  acceptance. 
If,  in  the  arrangement  of  the  Post-Office,  or  any  other 
matter,  anything  occurs  which  may  be  worth  your  notice, 
I  will  do  myself  the  pleasure  of  informing  you  of  it ;  and 
I  can  assure  you,  with  great  truth,  it  will  give  me  real  sat- 
isfaction to  do  everything  in  my  power  towards  accomplish- 
ing any  object  which  you  may  have  in  view. 

^  I  am,  with  my  compliments  to  the  family,  your  affec- 
tionate friend,"  &c. 

The  ordinance  reported  was  adopted  by  Congress  May 
20th,  1785,  modified,  however,  in  the  details;  and  alterar 
tions  were  subsequently  made,  April  21st,  1787,  and  July 
9th,  1788.  The  ordinance  of  the  20th  of  May  was  silent 
on  the  subject  of  slavery ;  but,  on  the  16th  of  March 
preceding,  Mr.  King  oflfered  a  proposition,  that  there 

*  This  motion  does  not  appear  in  the  Journals  of  Congress ;  but  a  motion 
for  the  sale  of  the  lands  in  the  way  suggested  was  ailerwards  made  by  Mr. 
McHeniy,  and  adopted.    See  the  Journals  for  May  4th,  5th,  and  20th,  178& 


jEt.  39.]  LEFB  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  513 

should  be  neither  slavery  nor  involuntary  servitude  in 
any  of  the  States  to  be  formed  out  of  the  territory  above 
mentioned,  otherwise  than  in  punishment  for  crimes ; 
^  and  that  this  regulation  should  be  an  article  of  com- 
pact, and  remain  a  fundamental  principle  of  the  consti- 
tutions between  "  each  of  those  States  and  the  thirteen 
original  States.  It  was  voted  that  this  proposition  be 
committed ;  but  I  find  no  further  notice  of  it  until  it 
makes  its  appearance  in  the  celebrated  ordinance  of 
July  13th,  1787,  "  for  the  government  of  the  territory 
of  the  United  States  north-west  of  the  River  Ohio."  * 

One  section,  numbered  16,  in  each  township,  was 
reserved  for  the  maintenance  of  public  schools;  and  this 
example  has  been  followed  generally,  since  the  adop- 
tion of  the  Federal  Constitution,  in  the  disposition  of 
public  lands,  but  no  section  has  been  reserved  for  re- 
ligious or  charitable  uses.  Salt-springs,  with  adjoining 
lands  for  the  manufacture  of  salt,  have  sometimes  been 
reserved  from  the  general  sales,  subject  to  future  dis- 
position by  Congress. 

In  1785  Colonel  Pickering  was  elected  a  member 
and  Secretary  of  the  Philadelphia  Society  for  promoting 
Agriculture.  In  a  letter,  dated  Philadelphia,  April 
20th,  to  his  brother,  he  says :  — 

f  The  founders  are  among  the  principal  chanicters  here7\ 
.  .  .  The  society,  without  my  knowledge,  elected  me  their 
secretary.  On  account  of  my  business  I  wished  to  be 
excused ;  but  they  were  urgent,  and,  as  the  chief  of  the 
writing  (arising  at  its  establishment)  was  already  done,  and 
the  election  was  but  for  one  year,  I  acquiesced.  There  may 
be  honorary  members  residing  in  other  States.  If  you 
have  no  objection,  I  will  nominate  you.     .  .  .   /The  society 


**  See  the  paragraph  introductory  to  the  perpetual  articles,  and  the  sixth  of 
those  articles,  in  tlie  Journals  of  Congress  for  Julj  13th,  1787. 

VOL.   I.  65 


514  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  [1786. 

wish  to  promote  a  general  attention  to  the  subject  of  agri- 
culture, and  hopo^eir  institution  will  give  rise  to  a  similar 
one  in  each  State.^ 

An  appointment  of  much  importance  to  the  public 
^  was  proposed  to  Colonel  Pickering  in  the  following 
letter  from  Mr.  Rufus  King:  — 

*<New  York,  May  8th»  1785. 

"When  Congress  accepted  the  cession  of  western  terri- 

\tory  from  Virginia,  they  engaged  to  reimburse  Virginia  the 
Amount  of  her  expenses  in  protecting  the  lands  ceded  during 
the  late  war.*  A  commissioner  is  to  be  appointed  by  Con- 
gress, another  by  Virginia,  and  a  third  by  the  two  first, 
who,  or  a  major  part  of  whom,  are  to  ascertain  the  sums  to 
be  reimbursed  as  aforesaid.  \If  your  engagements  are  such 
as  would  permit  your  acceptance  of  the  appointment  under 
Congress,  it  would  give  great  satisfaction  to  a  number  of 
your  friends,  and  remove  an  apprehension  that  at  present 
obtains,  that  the  United  States  are  in  danger  of  being  charged 
with  a  very  enormous  sum  to  defray  the  expenses  of  Gren- 
eral  Clark's  expedition  to  the  Kaskaskies.  ^ 

"It  may  require  three  months  or  more  to  execute  the 
business.  The  salary  is  at  the  rate  of  fifteen  hundred  dol- 
lars the  year,  and  authority  [is  given]  to  employ  as  many 
clerks  as  may  bo  necessary  at  five  hundred  dollars  the  year. 
The  pecuniary  consideration,  I  am  sensible,  cannot  be  an 
inducement ;  but  the  opportunity  of  essentially  serving  the 
United  States  will  be  a  powerful  motive.  If  you  can  con- 
sistently accept  this  appointment,  I  should  thank  you  to  [let 
me]  know  it.  ^  think  Congress  will  know  the  interest  of 
their  constituents  too  well  not  to  elect  you  if  you  can  serve. 

"The  lands  ordinance  is  not  yet  through.  We  have 
been  obliged  so  far  to  give  up  the  plan  of  townships  as  to 
admit  the  sale  of  one  half  of  the  townships  in  lots  of  a  mile 
square.  7 

*  See  Journals  of  Ck>ngre88  for  October  10th,  1780,  and  April  Idth,  178l». 


iET.89.]  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  515 

"  I  will  enclose  you  the  ordinance  so  soon  as  it  passes ; 
which  I  hope  will  be  the  case  in  two  or  three  days." 

In  answer,  Colonel  Pickering  wrote,  May  12th,  that 
his  engagements  were  incompatible  with  the  service  in 
question.  Congress  subsequently  appointed  General 
Samuel  H.  Parsons,  and  Virginia,  Colonel  Edward  Car- 
rington,  their  respective  commissioners,  and  these  two 
made  choice  of  Colonel  Pickering  for  the  third ;  but 
he  wrote,  on  the  23d  of  September,  to  General  Par- 
sons :  — 

"  To  ascertain  the  sum  due  to  Virginia  for  defending  the 
western  territory  is  of  great  moment  to  the  United  States, 
her  demands  being  very  great.  It  would,  Sir,  give  me  great 
pleasure  to  join  you  and  Colonel  Carrington  in  executing 
this  business  of  your  commission ;  and  I  am  sorry  to  decline 
it,  because  it  will  occasion  delay  :  but  it  would  so  materially 
interfere  with  my  own  engagements,  particularly  in  settling 
the  accounts  of  my  late  department,  that  I  cannot  accept  the 
appointment  with  which  you  have  proposed  to  honor  me." 

Colonel  Carrington,  having  resigned,  was  succeeded 
by  Colonel  William  Heth,  of  Virginia,  who,  on  the  13th 
of  February,  1786,  wrote  to  Colonel  Pickering  as  fol- 
lows (after  alluding  to  General  Parsons) :  — 

"It  is  our  mutual  wish  to  appoint  you  the  third  com- 
missioner, and,  if  you  can  be  prevailed  on  to  join  us,  I  shall 
engage  iu  the  business  with  much  more  satisfaction  than  I 
can  at  present  promise  myself;  but,  that  you  may  see  my 
sentiments  in  full  on  this  head,  and  that  you  may  judge  of 
the  kind  of  men  with  whom  I  wish  to  be  concerned,  I  have 
handed  you  the  enclosed  [letter  to  General  Parsons]  with  a 
flying  seal.  I  will  therefore  only  add,  that  I  feel  a  pleasure 
in  thus  having  an  opportunity  of  assuring  you  that  I  am, 
dear  Sir,  with  much  ajffection  and  esteem,  your  friend,"  &c. 


516  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  [1786. 

Referring  to  Colonel  Heth's  proposal.  General  Par- 
sons wrote,  "  To  this  I  do  most  cordially  agree,  if  you 
can  consent  to  afford  your  assistance." 

These  urgent  letters  being  unavailing,  Colonel  Car- 
rington,  then  a  member  of  Congress,  wrote  to  Colonel 
Pickering,  April  16th,  1786,  as  follows:  — 

"In  consequence  of  a  request  of  Colonel  Hetb,  my  suc- 
cessor in  the  commission  for  western  accounts,  and  with  the 
consent  of  General  Parsons,  who  is  now  here,  I  again  try 
you  upon  the  point  of  acting  as  a  third  person  in  that  busi- 
ness. I  am  well  assured  that,  upon  the  allowance  hitherto 
held  out  by  Congress,  it  could  not  be  expected  that  any 
gentleman  could  afford  to  go  from  home  upon  it;  but  if  you 
will  go,  provided  an  adequate  allowance  can  be  obtained, 
Congress  must  again  be  tried  thereupon.  Be  good  enough 
to  write  by  the  next  post  how  far  you  may  possibly  be 
brought  into  the  measure,  that  I  may  judge  whether  it  will 
be  worth  while  to  make  a  trial ;  in  which  communication,  I 
assure  you,  I  will  not  conceive  you  in  any  terms  to  have  so 
committed  yourself  as  to  be  under  an  obligation  to  accept 
after  the  allowance  is  fixed  upon." 

Colonel  Pickering  persisted  in  declining  the  appoint- 
ment. 

He  received  a  letter  from  Mr.  King,  dated  New  York, 
May  30th,  1785,  stating  that  the  question  of  abolishing 
the  department  of  Quartermaster-General  was  before 
a  committee  of  Congress,  and  inquiring  what,  if  any, 
advantage  would  arise  from  keeping  the  department  in 
existence.    In  the  same  letter  Mr.  King  says :  — 

"  I  transmit  you  a  copy  of  the  laud  ordinance  as  it  finally 
passed.  All  parties  who  have  advocated  particular  modes 
of  disposing  of  this  western  territory  have  relinquished 
some  things  they  wished,  and  the  ordinance  is  a  compromise 
of  opinions." 


^T.  89.]  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  517 

Colonel  Pickering  wrote  on  the  Ist  of  June  to  Mr. 
King :  — 

"  In  respect  to  the  Quartermaster's  department,  I  reply, 
that  as  soon  as  other  provision  shall  be  made  for  performing 
the  few  occasional  duties  required  of  it,  it  may  be  abolished. 
More  than  a  year  ago  I  proposed  to  some  gentlemen  that 
those  duties  should  be  given  in  charge  to  the  Secretary  at 
War.  He  may  need  an  agent  or  agents,  according  to  cir- 
cumstances, to  execute  his  orders.     .  .  . 

"  You  favored  me  with  a  draught  of  your  motion  for  the 
exclusion  of  slavery  on  the  other  side  of  the  Ohio.  Did  it 
prevail,  or  was  avarice  powerful  enough  to  reject  it?" 

The  oflBce  of  Quartermaster-General  was  abolished 
on  the  25th  of  July,  1785,  Colonel  Pickering  having 
continued  to  hold  it  until  that  time. 

In  the  "Life  of  General  Greene,"  edited  by  Mr. 
Simms,  after  a  statement  that  Greene  had  placed  the 
Quartermaster-Generars  department  "  in  very  good  con- 
dition, all  things  considered,"  it  is  remarked  :  — 

"  His  successor,  though  of  unquestionable  ability  and  in- 
tegrity, was  not  so  foilunate.  The  department  suffered  in 
his  hands,  and  six  months'  experiments  were  sufficient  to 
satisfy  the  worst  enemies  of  Greene,  as  well  as  his  best 
friends,  how  much  injury  had  been  done  to  the  country  by 
the  captious  and  cruel  interference  which  had  driven  him 
from  duties  he  was  so  peculiarly  calculated  to  fulfil.* 

Specifi^c  instances  of  short-coming  on  the  part  of 
Colonel  Pickering  are  not  pointed  out  in  that  volume, 
and  I  am  not  aware  of  the  grounds  on  which  his 
administration  of  the  department  is  justly  a  subject 
of  disparagement.     Towards  the  close  of  the  war  (in 

*  See  *'The  Life  of  Nathanael  Greene,"  edited  hj  W.  Gilmore  Simms, 
p.  89.  . 


618  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  [1784. 

December,  1782),  as  before  mentioned,*  the  want  of 
forage  was  complained  of;  but,  in  1780,  when  General 
Greene  was  Quartermaster-General,  there  was  a  like 
deficiency :  concerning  which  Marshall  says, "  The  sup- 
plies for  the  forage  department  had  failed ;  and  a  great 
proportion  of  the  public  horses  had  perished  or  been 
rendered  unfit  for  use."  f  General  Greene  and  Colo- 
nel Pickering  have  each  the  same  justification  for  such 
a  condition  of  aflFairs,  namely,  that  he  was  not  furnished 
by  the  government  with  the  money  required  to  pur- 
chase the  necessary  supplies.  Under  Colonel  Pickering 
the  scarcity  of  supplies  would  have  been  still  greater 
than  it  was,  had  not  Congress,  at  his  suggestion  and 
solicitation,  enacted  that  the  payments  and  the  prom- 
ises in  his  department  should  be  made  on  a  specie 
standard  by  means  of  his  ^  specie  certificates." 

If,  however,  it  be  true  that  "  the  department  suffered 
in  his  hands"  (which  is  by  no  means  conceded),  let  it 
be  remembered,  that  General  Greene  relinquished  it 
because,  in  his  opinion,  the  performance  of  the  duties, 
under  the  new  arrangement,  was  a  "  physical  impossi- 
bility ; "  X  that  Colonel  Pickering,  nevertheless,  under- 
took the  management  of  the  department,  and,  with  slight 
variations  in  the  compensation  of  his  assistants,  carried 
it  into  effect ;  that  he  was  appointed  "  in  the  most  crit- 
ical and  interesting  season  of  the  campaign,"  §  and  when 
the  public  treasury  was  empty;  that  the  memorable 
march  of  the  army,  and  the  transportation  of  artillery 
and  stores  from  the  State  of  New  York  to  Virginia,  for 
the  siege  of  York  town  and  capture  of  Cornwallis,  was 

•  See  page  390. 

t  Marshall's  "  Life  of  Washington,"  Vol.  IV.  p.  216. 
X  See  his  letters  to  Congress  and  to  Washington,  in  Sparks'8  "  Writings  of 
Washington,"  Vol.  VIII.  pp.  513,  615. 
§  Ibid.,  p.  515. 


^T.  39.]  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  519 

successfully  effected  under  his  direction ;  and  that  he 
was  continued  in  the  office  of  Quartermaster-General 
until  long  after  the  war  of  the  Resolution  was  brought 
to  a  close.  It  is  not  to  be  doubted  that  Greene  would 
have  conducted  the  department  under  the  new  arrange- 
ment as  well  as  any  man  could  have  done ;  how  much 
better  than  Colonel  Pickering,  must  be  a  matter  of 
opinion.  With  respect  to  the  latter,  I  rest  satisfied 
with  the  following  remarks  of  Chief  Justice  Marshall. 
The  last  clause  of  the  quotation  is  applicable  equally 
to  Colonel  Pickering  and  to  his  predecessor. 

"  Colonel  Pickering,  who  succeeded  General  Greene,  pos- 
sessed in  an  emlueut  degree  those  qualities  which  fitted  him 
to  combat  and  subdue  the  difficulties  of  his  department.  To 
great  energy  of  mind  and  body  he  added  a  long  experience 
in  the  affairs  of  the  Continent,  with  an  ardent  zeal  for  its 
interests ;  and  General  Greene  himself,  and  some  of  the 
former  officers,  at  the  request  of  the  Commander-in-Chief, 
continued,  for  some  time  after  their  resignation,  to  render 
all  the  services  in  their  power ;  but  there  was  an  absolute 
defect  of  means,  for  which  neither  talents  nor  exertions 
could  compensate."  * 

Perhaps  no  one  estimated  Greene*s  talents  more 
highly  than  Colonel  Pickering.  He  regarded  him  as 
a  sagacious  statesman,  and  as  the  ablest  general  in  the 
American  Revolution. 

As  to  the  supposed  injury  to  the  United  States 
occasioned  by  the  change  in  the  head  of  the  Quarter- 
master's department,  it  is  well  known,  and  the  fact  is 
shown  by  the  volume  edited  by  Mr.  Simms,  that  it  was 
more  than  counterbalanced  by  Greene's  eminent  services 
in  the  Southern  States;  services,  too,  which  probably  no 
other  man  in  the  country  was  competent  to  render. 

♦  Marshairs  "Life  of  Washington,"  Philadelphia,  1806,  Vol.  IV.  p.  242. 


520  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  [1785. 


CHAPTER   XXXVII. 

Colonel  Pickering  desires  to  be  appointed  Treasurer  of  the  United 
States.  —  Declines  being  a  Commissioner  to  treat  with  the  In- 
dians. —  Is  a  Member  of  the  Society  of  the  Cincinnati.  —  His 
Remarks  on  the  Constitution  of  Phillips  Academy  at  Andover, 
and  on  Education.  —  Noah  Webster's  Spelling-Book  and  Gram- 
mar.—  Webster's  Ingenuity,  Learning,  and  Vanity.  —  Plan  of 
Colonel  Pickering  for  the  Education  of  Boys ;  also  for  a  Farm- 
School  for  Boys  and  Girls.  —  He  would  have  the  Poor  taught 
gratis.  —  He  purposes  retiirning  to  Salem  on  a  certain  Event. 

Upon  information  that  Mr.  Hillegas,  the  Treasurer 
of  the  United  States,  intended  to  resign,  Colonel  Pick- 
ering wrote  to  Mr.  King,  from  Philadelphia,  the  9th 
of  June,  1785:  — 

"  If  such  vacancy  happen,  I  shall  then  bo  willing  to  stand 
a  candidate  to  supply  it,  if  there  be  a  prospect  of  obtiiiniug 
an  election.  But  for  this  I  do  not  mean  to  become  a  soli- 
citor. If  there  be  several  candidates,  let  him  who  is  equal 
to  the  duties  of  the  office,  and  at  the  same  time  most  deserv- 
ing of  the  confidence  of  his  country,  be  elected." 

Mr.  King,  in  his  answer,  dated  the  17th  of  June, 
says :  — 

"  I  do  assure  you  that  my  duty  could  not  be  more  faith- 
fully discharged  in  the  appointment  of  a  successor  to  Mr. 
Hillegas  than  by  aiding  your  election." 

On  the  16th  of  June  Colonel  Pickering  wrote,  on 
the  same  subject,  to  Mr.  Samuel  Osgood,  saying :  — 

"  I  have  since  considered  of  the  connection  that  will  sub- 
sist between  the  Treasury  Board  and  the  Treasurer;  and 


^T.  39.]  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  521 

thiit  you,  as  a  member  of  that  Board,  would  naturally  wish 
for  a  Treasurer  whom,  while  your  judgment  should  approve, 
your  friendship  might  embrace.  If  I  have  an  interest  in 
either,  you  will  excuse  the  trouble  of  this  letter.  Its  sole 
object  is  to  authorize  you  to  say  I  will  serve,  if  elected : 
though  this  you  will  not  say,  unless  you  deem  the  public 
good  connected  with  the  appointment." 

On  the  19th,  after  the  receipt  of  Mr.  King's  letter 
of  the  17th,  he  wrote  to  him:  — 

"  I  beg  leave  to  enclose  a  copy  [of  the  letter  to  Mr.  Os- 
good], in  which  you  will  see  my  motive  for  addressing  him. 
The  extent  of  the  motive  is,  perhaps,  not  quite  obvious.  In 
directing  the  finances  of  these  States,  there  will  occur  many 
points  of  equal  difficulty  and  importance  to  resolve.  Diffi- 
culties may  arise  particularly  from  the  oppositions  of  inter- 
ests of  different  States.  In  all  cases  of  difficult  determination, 
it  was  ever  a  relief  to  me  if  I  could  previously  discuss  the 
subjects  with  a  confidential  friend.  If  this  friend  were  wiser 
than  myself,  so  much  the  better ;  if  otherwise,  yet  the  mere 
act  of  putting  questions,  if  answered  only  by  monosyllables, 
would  tend  to  elucidate  the  subject.  If  I  do  not  deceive 
myself,  Mr.  Osgood  would  repose  a  confidence  in  me  as  a 
friend,  and,  besides  the  common  acts  of  society,  would,  in 
the  view  above  suggested,  derive  some  satisfaction  from  my 
appointment.  This  explanation  could  not  have  been  given 
in  my  letter  to  Mr.  Osgood  ;  and  to  you  I  make  it  in  perfect 
confidence.  For,  while  those  who  know  me  would  know 
that  it  proceeded  from  a  diflerent  source,  yet  others  might 
place  it  to  the  account  of  vanity.  We  often  form  the  truest 
judgments  by  changing  situations.  Were  Mr.  Osgood's 
and  mine  reversed,  with  eagerness  I  should  seize  the  occa- 
sion which  would  give  me  a  friend  like  him." 

Mr.  Osgood,  writing  to  Colonel  Pickering  on  the 
26th  of  June,  says :  — 

VOL.  L  66 


522  LIFE  OP  TIMOTHY  FICKEBINO.  [1785. 

"  Should  a  new  choice  take  place,  it  would  give  me  the 
sinccrest  pleasure  if  the  appointment  should  fall  upon  you. 
Your  past  faithful  sendees  entitle  you  to  much  more  than 
this  appointment.*' 

The  expected  vacancy  in  the  office,  however,  did 
not  take  place. 

Mr.  Wolcott  having  resigned  his  place  as  one  of 
the  commissioners  for  holding  treaties  with  the  Indians, 
Colonel  Pickering,  in  July,  was  nominated  in  Congress 
to  succeed  him ;  but  he  declined  being  a  candidate  for 
the  office. 

The  Society  of  the  Cincinnati,  formed  by  officers  of 
the  army  on  the  termination  of  the  war,  was  organized 
on  the  13th  of  May,  1783.  The  mode  by  which  it  was 
to  be  perpetuated  occasioned  much  clamor.  On  the 
decease  of  a  member,  he  was  to  be  succeeded  by  his 
eldest  male  descendant,  or,  in  failure  of  such  descend- 
ant, by  a  collateral  relative  who  might  be  judged  worthy 
of  becoming  a  member  of  the  Society.  From  this  it 
was  apprehended  that  the  institution  was  creating  an 
incipient  order  of  hereditary  nobility.  Colonel  Pick- 
ering did  not  regard  it  as  threatening  danger  to  the 
community ;  but  he  became  a  member  with  some  reluc- 
tance on  account  of  its  insignificance  compared  with 
its  lofty  pretensions.  One  of  the  original  articles  of  its 
constitution  proposed  ^^an  incessant  attention  to  pre- 
serve inviolate  those  exalted  rights  and  liberties  of 
human  nature,  for  which  they  have  fought  and  bled, 
and  without  which  the  high  rank  of  a  rational  being 
is  a  curse  instead  of  a  blessing."  At  the  first  general 
meeting  in  Philadelphia,  in  May,  1784,  a  more  modest 
constitution  was  drawn  up,  and  was  recommended  to 
the  State  branches  for  adoption,  in  which  the  heredi- 
tary provision  was  omitted ;  and  thereupon  the  public 


^T.  39.]  LIFE   OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  523 

dissatisfaction  gradually  subsided  ;  *  but  a  majority  of 
the  State  branches  did  not  agree  to  this  change  in  the 
mode  of  admitting  new  members.f  The  Society  has, 
nevertheless,  proved  harmless,  showing  that  the  outcry 
against  it  might  well  have  been  spared ;  and  the  benev- 
olent distribution  of  its  income  among  indigent  officers 
and  their  families  has  been  extremely  useful.  Colonel 
Pickering  had  many  pleasant  interviews  with  his  friends 
at  the  annual  meetings,  in  Boston,  of  the  Mas^sachusetts 
branch  of  the  society.  His  diploma  bears  the  date  of 
October  31st,  1785;  but  the  following  remarks,  made  by 
him  in  1823,  in  reference  to  a  passage  in  Johnson's 
"Life  of  General  Greene,"  J  indicate  that  he  became 
a  member  of  the  Society  at  the  time  when  it  was 
organized. 

<<This  institution  is  here  noticed,  and  the  idle  alarm  it 
created  through  the  United  States.  I  presume  it  origi- 
nated with  Knox,  and  that  the  draught  of  the  project  was 
his.  It  bore  the  marks  of  bis  pomposity,  aud  assumed  an 
importance  —  *to  preserve  the  rights  and  liberties  of  human 
nature^  —  corresponding  with  his  disposition. 

"  Nothing  could  more  surprise  me  than  the  general  alarm 
to  which  it  gave  rise ;  for  I  felt  a  solid  objection  to  subscribe 
to  the  institution,  because  it  assumed  so  much  importance, 
when  I  saw  it  was  really  so  insignificant.  That  a  small 
number  of  officers,  who,  compared  with  the  great  body  of 
their  republican  fellow-citizens,  were  but  as  a  drop  in  the 
bucket,  should  arrogate  to  themselves  the  sublime  duty  of 
preserving  the  rights  and  liberties  of  human  nature,  —  cer- 
tainly by  maintaining  them  in  our  own  country,  —  when 


♦  See  Sparks's  «*  Writings  of  Wasliington,"  Vol.  IX.  p.  500. 

t  See  Thacher's  "  Military  Journal  of  the  American  Revolution,"  p.  894; 
••North  American  Review"  for  October,  1863;  and  "New  American  Cyclo- 
paedia," art.  Cincinnatt, 

X  Vol.  II.  p.  409. 


524  LIFE    OF    TIMOTHY    PICKERING.  [1785. 

they  were  the  common  and  interesting  care  of  all  our 
fellow-citizens  I  I  did,  however,  subscribe  to  the  institu- 
tion, but  absolutely  and  purely  to  avoid  the  reproach  of 
singularity ;  for  I  supposed  all  the  officers  of  the  army 
would  become  members  of  the  society." 

Mr.  Samuel  Phillips,  Jr.,  has  already  been  mentioned 
as  a  friend  who  generously  and  patriotically  encour- 
aged Colonel  Pickering,  in  the  beginning  of  the  Revo- 
lution, in  the  publication  of  his  "  Plan  of  Discipline  for 
a  Militia."  *  The  same  liberal  spirit,  but  on  a  larger 
scale,  was  exerted  by  him,  in  conjunction  with  Mr. 
John  Phillips,  in  1778,  in  founding  Phillips  Academy 
at  Andover;  and  some  letters  passed  between  him 
and  Colonel  Pickering  in  relation  to  the  statutes  of 
the  Academy. 

Mr.  Phillips  wrote  the  following  letter,  dated  at 
Boston,  the  6th  of  May,  1785:  — 

"  I  might  make  many  apologies  for  so  long  delaying  to 
comply  with  your  request  respecting  the  constitution  of  the 
Academy  with  which  I  am  connected.  ...  I  have  now 
sent  you  a  copy  of  the  whole  instrument  (bounds  of  land 
and  sums  of  money  excepted),  for  your  inspection,  wish- 
ing to  communicate  such  pnrts  only  as  may  be  of  service. 
My  main  object  in  being  po  particular  was,  that  you  might 
have  the  fullest  view  of  the  design,  and  that  I  might,  with 
more  propriety,  ask  the  favor  of  his  remarks  whose  counsel 
and  aid  as  a  trustee  I  much  relied  on,  had  we  been  so  for- 
tunate as  to  have  had  his  residence  in  the  State.  The 
general  plan  I  still  think  good ;  and,  although  difficult  to 
be  executed,  I  do  not  despair.  The  composition  in  some 
parts  I  wish  to  have  altered,  and  propose  making  a  new 
draught  before  the  next  trustee  meeting,  which  will  be 
early  in  July :  if,  before  that  time,  you  can  find  it  conven- 

*  See  page  86. 


^T.  89.]  LIFE  OF   TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  525 

ient  to  favor  me  with  such  thoughts  as  shall  occur,  both  as 
to  form  and  substance,  you  will  much  oblige  your  sincere 
friend/' 

In  his  answer,  dated  Philadelphia,  May  29th,  Colonel 
Pickering  said :  — 

"  Your  obliging  letter  of  the  6th,  enclosing  a  copy  of  the 
Constitution  of  the  Academy  at  Andover,  was  handed  me 
last  evening  by  Mr.  Parsons.  I  have  not  since  found  time 
to  consider  it  in  such  a  manner  as  would  be  requisite  to 
comply  with  your  request.  I  will  endeavor  to  do  it  within 
the  limited  time ;  though  I  can  hardly  flatter  myself  with 
being  able  to  make  any  communications  of  consequence 
enough  to  merit  your  attention. 

**  I  am  charmed  with  the  leading  thought  in  the  institu- 
tion, —  that  the  master's  attention  to  the  morals  and  dispo- 
sitions  of  the  youth  is  to  exceed  every  other  care.  But  there 
is  one  article  which  I  should  wish  to  see  materially  altered. 
And  this  alteration  would,  in  my  view,  render  it  more  con- 
formable to  'the  first  and  principal  object  of  this  institution, 
—  the  promotion  of  true  piety  and  virtue,*  The  article  I 
refer  to  defines  the  fundamental  principles  of  the  Christian 
religion.  Now,  as  Christians,  and  serious  and  enlightened 
Christians,  have  never  yet  been  able  to  agree  on  what 
should  be  deemed  the  fundamental  principles  of  their  reli- 
gion, I  really  wish  it  had  not  been  attempted  to  define  them 
in  laying  the  foundation  of  this  institution.*  To  instance 
in  one  point:  All  Christians  believe  in  the  existence  of 
One  True  God ;  but  multitudes  of  devout  and  well-informed 
Christians  cannot  admit  of  a  plurality  of  persons  in  the 
Godhead,  because  it  is  a  doctrine  not  merely  beyond  their 
reason,  but  inconsistent  with  their  ideas  of  possible  exist- 
ence, and  a  doctrine  which  they  do  not  find  in  the  words  of 
Christ  or  his  Apostles.    I  am  sure  the  institution  originated 

*  The  statutes  of  the  founders  specify  the  prominent  doctrines  of  Calvinism, 
and  make  it  the  duty  of  the  master  to  inculcate  them  upon  the  students. 


526  LIFE    OF   TIMOTHY   PICKERING.  [1785. 

in  benevolent  motives,  and  that  it  was  intended  to  be  a 
liberal  one;  yet  the  position  above  mentioned  (to  say 
nothing  of  some  others)  greatly  narrows  its  foundation. 
If  it  be  practicable  now  to  alter  the  article  in  question,  the 
hint  here  given  will  be  sufficient ;  if  no  alteration  can  be 
admitted,  I  rest  satisfied  in  your  discernment  and  charity 
for  the  continuance  of  your  good  opinion,  any  difference  of 
sentimeut  on  controverted  points  notwithstanding. 

*^  I  may  resume  the  consideration  of  this  article  in  a  future 
letter :  at  present,  I  have  only  time  to  add,  that  I  am,  with 
the  truest  respect  and  esteem,  dear  Sir,  your  friend  and 
servant.  ** 

In  a  second  letter  to  Mr.  Phillips,  dated  June  ISth, 
he  says :  — 

"  On  the  29th  ultimo  I  acknowledged  the  receipt  of  your 
letter  of  the  6th  of  that  month,- and  made,  in  haste,  a  few 
observations  on  that  part  of  the  plan  of  your  Academy  which 
describes  the  principles  of  religion  in  which  the  scholars 
shall  be  instructed ;  expressing  my  opinion,  that  it  were 
better  to  leave  the  articles  of  religion  undefined.  This 
opinion  seems  to  be  warranted  by  the  Constitution  itself; 
for,  in  stating  the  qualifications  of  the  principal  instructor, 
it  is  only  required  that  he  be  a  Protestant  professor  of  the 
Christian  religion^  and  of  exemplary  manners.  And  what 
more  would  you  demand  or  wish  for  in  the  pupils  committed 
to  his  charge  ?  Establishments  in  matters  of  religion  or  gov- 
ernment once  made,  and  confirmed  by  the  pmctice  of  some 
years,  it  is  in  the  highest  degree  difficult  to  alter,  whatever 
errors,  alisurditics,  or  follies  may,  in  the  progress  of  man- 
kind in  knowledge,  be  discovered.  The  Liturgy  and  Ser- 
vice of  the  Church  of  England  are  a  familiar  instsmce  of  the 
former,  and  every  government  in  the  world  of  the  latter. 
Even  the  recent  Constitution  of  Pennsylvania,  though  pal- 
pably defective  in  the  formation  of  its  legislature,*  yet, 

*  Then  consisting  of  only  one  body. 


L 


-aST.iO.]  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  527 

after  seven  years'  confirmation,  appeared  to  be  unalterable. 
The  most  enlightened  members  of  the  State  repeatedly  en- 
deavored to  bring  the  Constitution  under  a  review,  in  order 
to  supply  that  and  other  defects ;  but  in  vain.  Nothing  but 
the  flagrant  evils  which  may  result  from  these  defects,  and 
be  sensibly  felt  by  the  people,  will  ever  effect  a  change : 
such,  at  least,  are  my  fears.  And  I  am  apprehensive  that 
the  provision  made  in  different  Constitutions  of  these 
States  for  revising  and  altering  them  at  regular  periods  —  a 
provision  so  wise  and  pleasing  in  theory  —  will  too  seldom 
be  realized. 

"  It  is  submitted  to  the  discretion  of  the  trustees,  at  some 
future  period,  to  erect  a  large  building  for  the  accommo- 
dation of  at  least  fifty  scholars  with  boarding,  besides  the 
master  and  his  family.  I  have  heard  colleges  compared  to 
monasteries,  as  tending  to  produce,  in  a  degree,  the  vices  of 
monks.  Be  this  as  it  may  in  respect  to  youth  in  the  strict- 
est sense  of  the  word,  it  seems  evidently  inexpedient  to 
throw  children  together  in  such  numbers.  So  many  as 
would  compose  an  ordinary  family  would  be  enough  to  com- 
mit to  the  care  of  one  couple,  the  heads  of  a  private  family. 
I  say  couple,  because  I  would  never  place  children  to  board 
but  in  the  houses  of  married  people,  or  of  those  who  had 
been  married,  and  of  choice  with  those  who  were  or  had 
been  parents. 

^  The  plan  in  general  appears  to  be  so  well  digested,  that 
I  should  not  have  hazarded  any  remarks  upon  it,  if  you  had 
not  requested  them ;  much  less  should  I  have  noticed  any 
defects  in  the  composition.  But,  as  you  suggested  such  de- 
fects by  your  proposed  amendments,  I  read  the  plan  with 
some  attention  to  that  particular.  The  remarks  on  tiie  com- 
position you  will  find  in  the  enclosed  paper. 

"I  observe  that  the  trustees,  at  their  annual  meeting,  are 
to  examine  into  the  proficiency  of  the  scholars.  Is  it  not 
also  expedient  to  provide  for  a  quarterly  examination  ?  But 
what  avail  examinations,  if  conducted  in  the  usual  way? 
I  mean,  by  previously  instructing  the  scholars  in  those  j^ar- 


528  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  [1786. 

ticular  lessons  to  which  the  examinatious  are  to  be  confined. 
If  we  would  know  what  progress  a  boy  has  made  in  a  dead 
or  foreign  language,  does  not  common  sense  obviously  show 
that  his  books  should  be  opened  at  the  discretion  of  the 
examiner,  and  the  boy  there  set  to  construe  and  to  parse? 
If  we  would  discover  his  knowledge  in  geography,  shall  we 
hear  him  repeat  certain  articles  which  he  has  purposely  been 
directed  to  commit  to  his  memory  ?  Or  shall  we  not  rather 
ask  the  solution  of  any  problem,  or  description  of  any  coun- 
try, taken  at  discretion  ?     .  I  • 

"  What  ought  a  Commencement  to  be  ?  A  real  representa- 
tion of  the  abilities  and  knowledge  of  the  youth  proposed  to 
be  graduated.  What  is  a  Commencement  f  A  farce.  Is 
it  not  a  prostitution  of  the  honors  of  a  university  to  bestow 
desrrees  on  scholars  who  cannot  stand  an  examination  in  its 
prescribed  course  of  education?  ...  Is  this  evil  past  a 
cure?  Is  it  impracticable  to  make  a  better  provision  for 
the  tutors  at  Cambridge  ?  Cannot  the  tuition  money  be  so 
increased,  as,  with  the  salaries  granted  by  government,  to 
enable  the  tutors  to  marry  and  support  families  ?  And  if 
such  provision  were  made,  are  there  any  so  opposed  to 
nature,  to  reason,  and  to  religion,  as  to  'forbid  to  marry'? 
When,  by  such  an  early  provision,  the  best  instructoi-s  might 
be  procured  and  retained,  shall  the  provision  actually  made 
be  capable  of  permanently  retaining  only  the  worst?  The 
modes  of  education  in  our  schools  and  universities,  especially 
the  latter,  are  greatly  defective.  A  reform  is  evidently  to 
be  wished  for.  In  this  I  know  not  whose  exertions  in  Mas- 
sachusetts would  be  more  effectual  than  yours ;  and  to  you  I 
wish  the  honor,  and  to  society  the  happiness,  which  such 
effectual  exertions  cannot  fail  to  produce." 

Colonel  Pickering  proposed  a  few  verbal  alterations, 
by  which  the  phraseology  of  the  Constitution  of  the 
academy  would  have  been  improved  :  no  change,  how- 
ever, was  made,  either  in  form  or  substance,  in  eon- 
sequence  of  his  suggestions. 


JEt.  40.]  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  529 

Having  several  sons,  he  felt  deeply  interested  in  the 
subject  of  education;  and,  in  October,  1785,  he  began 
a  correspondence  with  Mr.  Noah  Webster,  to  whom  he 
was  at  that  time  a  stranger.  He  tells  him  that  he  is  so 
well  pleased  with  his  Spelling-Book  and  Grammar  (the 
first  and  second  parts  of  his  "  Grammatical  Institute  "), 
that  he  wishes  to  have  them  introduced  universally 
into  our  schools,  being  convinced  of  their  superiority 
to  any  other  used  in  America,  but  that  he  has  failed 
in  an  attempt  to  have  them  adopted  in  the  Episcopal 
academy  in  Philadelphia,  the  trustees,  he  was  informed, 
being  fearful  of  injuring  the  academy  if  they  should 
introduce  a  spelling-book  with  which  the  people  were 
totally  unacquainted.  He  believes  no  one  of  them 
had  taken  the  pains  to  examine  the  "  Institute."  The 
practical  character  of  his  mind  is  shown,  in  a  small  but 
not  unimportant  matter,  in  his  remarks  to  Mr.  Webster. 
He  suggests  the  expediency  of  printing  the  Spelling- 
Book  in  two  parts.     He  says :  — 

"The  master  of  one  of  my  children  was  so  obliging 
as  to  let  him  use  your  Spelling-Book ;  but  before  he  had 
learnt  his  letters  and  a  dozen  of  the  tables,  the  book  was 
worn  out.  It  is  true  he  was  a  careless  boy ;  but  there 
are  many  such  boys.  I  therefore  earnestly  wish  you  to 
think  of  such  a  division.  The  key  for  pronouncing  the 
vowels,  arranged  in  the  clearest  order,  and  fully  explained  — 
the  alphabet  —  the  double  letters  —  and  about  half  a  dozen 
tables  of  words  most  proper  for  children  to  begin  with, 
perhaps  would  be  enough  for  their  primer.  These  would 
be  comprehended  in  a  few  leaves ;  but  the  leaves  should  be 
of  thick  strong  pape'r,  and  of  a  tolerable  fineness,  to  take  a 
fair  impression  from  a  large  and  good  type.  That  called 
[pica?]  appears  to  me  most  suitable;  for  the  letters  ought 
to  be  perfectly  fair  and  accurate,  to  enable  a  child  to  dis- 

VOL.   L  67 


630  LIFE    OF    TIMOTHY    PICKERINQ.  [1785. 

tinguish  them.  The  utility  of  such  a  primer  will  be  obrious ; 
but  I  have  this  further  view  in  requesting  you  to  undertake 
it.  In  the  first  place,  the  pronunciation  and  spelling  will 
be  formed  on  true  principles.  In  the  next,  as  nothing  of 
the  kind  is  extant,  there  will  be  no  Dilworth,  or  any  other 
imperfect  spelling-book,  to  interfere  with  it;  and,  being 
comprised  in  a  few  leaves,  its  cheapness  will  recommend  it 
to  parents.  Then,  your  principles  and  plan  being  once 
adopted  in  the  primer,  I  think  the  introduction  of  your 
whole  *  Institute'  will  follow  of  course.** 

Mr.  Webster  replied  from  Baltimore,  October  28th: — 

"  I  have  just  had  the  satisfaction  of  receiving  your  favor 
of  the  19th  current,  and  acknowledge  myself  honored  by 
your  attention  to  my  publications.  I  have  ever  been  a 
little  surprised  that  the  *  Institute '  found  little  or  no  sale  in 
Philadelphia,  the  first  city  in  America,  when  it  is  generally 
received  in  the  Northern  States,  in  New  York,  and  in 
Charleston,  South  Carolina.  I  must  impute  it  to  inatten- 
tion. 

"  Your  idea  of  dividing  the  first  part  strikes  me  favorably, 
and  it  is  probable  will  have  its  effect.  The  edition  you  have 
seen  is  the  second ;  the  third  and  the  fourth  are  printed  on 
larger  types,  — pica^  —  which  is  probably  the  type  you  left 
a  blank  for  in  yours.     .  .  . 

"  I  have  begun  a  reformation  in  the  language,  and  my  plan 
is  yet  but  in  embryo.     .  .  . 

"On  my  return  I  shall  make  some  stay  in  Philadelphia, 
and  probably  shall  read  my  Lectures  in  that  city.  As  I  am 
the  first  American  who  has  entered  on  such  important  plans, 
and  a  youth,  as  well  as  a  Yankee,  I  shall  need  the  counte- 
nance of  gentlemen  of  your  established  character. 

"In  order  to  prepare  the  minds  of  people  for  such  an 
event,  I  could  wish  that  a  paragraph  may  be  inserted  in  a 
Philadelphia  paper,  informing,  that  I  may  be  expected  to 
read  a  course  of  Lectures  on  the  English  language  some 
time  this  winter." 


Mr.  40.']  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  631 

From  letters  of  Mr.  Webster  and  memoranda  of 
Colonel  Pickering,  it  appears  that  the  latter  examined 
the  first  part  of  the  'Institute*  very  carefull}^  and 
noted  minutely  inaccuracies,  omissions,  and  instances 
of  spelling  and  pronunciation  in  which  he  differed 
from  Mr.  Webster,  and  that  Mr.  Webster  acquiesced  in 
the  justness  of  many  of  his  criticisms. 

In  a  letter  of  April  28th,  1786,  to  some  person  in 
New  York,  he  sketches  a  plan  of  education  for  boj^s 
until  they  arrive  at  the  age  of  fifteen  years,  varied 
according  as  they  design  to  enter  a  college,  or  to  become 
merchants,  masters  of  vessels,  mechanics,  or  farmers. 
Although  superseded  now,  perhaps,  in  the  progress  of 
society,  the  following  testimonials  tend  to  show  that  it 
was  an  improvement  on  the  systems  of  education  then 
prevalent  Mr.  Webster,  in  a  letter  of  May  21st,  1786, 
said:  — 

• 

"  I  am  in  haste,  and  can  only  observe,  that  the  mode  of 
education  you  have  described  is  generally  agreeable  to  my 
ideas.  I  wish  it  might  be  adopted  in  all  our  commercial 
towns,  and  shall  use  my  influence  for  this  purpose." 

The  Rev.  John  Clarke,  of  Boston,  wrote,  June  9th :  — 

'^  I  admire  your  system  of  education.  I  have  shown  it  to 
several  gentlemen  of  superior  judgment :  they  also  admire 
it;  and,  with  some  additions,  they  request  it  may  appear  in 
print.  To  say  the  least,  you  have  furnished  an  excellent 
groundwork  for  a  treatise  upon  that  subject." 

Colonel  Pickering  also,  probably  about  the  same  time, 
drew  up)  at  much  length,  a  ^^plan  for  establishing 
schools  in  a  new  country,  where  the  inhabitants  are 
thinly  settled  and  the  children  are  to  be  educated  with 
a  special  reference  to  a courdYy  life"    His  plan  proposes 


532  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  [1786. 

that  three  or  four  hundred  acres  of  land,  consistmg  of 
meadow,  tillage,  and  wood  land,  in  convenient  propor- 
tions, should  be  appropriated  for  the  use  of  a  school, 
and  that  ^  both  boys  and  girls  should  be  taught  to  read, 
write,  and  cipher.  The  boys  should  also  be  instructed 
in  every  useful  branch  of  husbandry  and  gardening, 
and  the  girls  in  every  kind  of  work  necessary  for  farm- 
ers' wives  to  know  and  practise.'* 

Nor  was  he  unmindful  of  the  cause  of  education 
when  he  was  a  member  of  the  Pennsylvania  Conven- 
tion in  1789, 1790,  for  revising  the  Constitution  of  that 
State.  The  following  proposition  being  before  the  con- 
vention, to  wit,  "  A  school  or  schools  shall  be  established 
in  each  county  for  the  instruction  of  youth,  and  the  State 
shall  pay  to  the  masters  such  salaries  as  shall  enable 
them  to  teach  at  low  prices,"  Chief  Justice  McKean 
moved  an  amendment  by  adding  the  words  "  and  the 
poor  gratis^  Colonel  Pickering  introduced  as  a  sub- 
stitute for  the  whole,  "The  legislature  shall  provide, 
by  law,  for  the  establishment  of  schools  throughout  the 
State,  in  such  manner  that  the  poor  may  be  taught 
gratis''  This  clause,  amended  by  inserting  after  legis- 
MurCy  the  words  "a«  soon  as  convementlg  may  hel^  was 
adopted  by  the  Convention  and  ratified  by  the  people 
as  a  part  of  the  Constitution.* 

Having  been  informed  that  his  brother  was  in  the 
last  stages  of  consumption,  Colonel  Pickering  wrote  him 

•  See  "  Minutes  of  the  Convention,"  &c.,  21,  44, 140, 144 ;  and  "  Minutes  of 
the  Grand  Committee  of  the  Whole  Convention,"  &c.,  75.  The  merit  of  intro- 
ducing the  provision  that  the  poor  should  be  taught  gratis,  has  been  ascribed 
to  Colonel  Pickering ;  and,  as  he  was  familiar  with  the  fact  that  thej  were  so 
taught  in  Massachusetts,  it  is  not  unlikely  that  he  suggested  it,  either  in  debate 
or  in  conversation ;  but,  according  to  the  official  statement  in  the  text,  the 
honor  of  formally  proposing  it  to  the  Convention  is  due  to  Mr.  McKean. 
Colonel  Pickering  concurred  with  him,  only  substituting  a  better  form  of 
expression* 


^T.  40.]  LIFE   OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  533 

the  following  letter,  intended  to  soothe  his  last  moments. 
The  religious  sentiments  therein  expressed  show  a  wide 
departure  from  the  Calvinistic  doctrines  in  which  Colo- 
nel Pickering  had  been  educated.  The  letter  is  dated 
at  Philadelphia,  January  26th,  1786. 

"Dear  Brother, 
"  By  Mr.  Williams  and  Mr.  Clarke  I  have  been  informed 
of  your  illness ;  and  by  the  latter,  that,  not  expecting  a  con- 
tinuance of  life,  you  wish  for  that  relief  which  death  only 
can  afford.  Long,  my  dear  Brother,  did  I  hope  might  be 
spared  a  life  so  valuable  to  your  friends  and  to  society.  In 
this  last  stage  of  it,  your  own  reflections  will  console  you. 
The  mixed  pleasures  of  this  world  can,  indeed,  keep  but 
slender  hold  of  the  dying  Christian,  who  sees  in  prospect  an 
immortal  reign  in  happy  life.  If  not  here  on  earth,  yet  in 
that  blest  state,  I  firmly  believe,  we  shall  meet  again.  The 
benevolence  of  the  Deity  is  unbounded  as  his  power,  and 
unlimited  as  his  existence.  Man  was  made  for  happiness, 
and  shall  not  miss  of  it.  Even  the  unthankful  and  unjust 
shall  eventually  be  saved ;  much  more  they  whose  lives  have 
been  spent  in  doing  good.  With  unfeigned  affection,  my 
dear  Brother,  I  bid  you  farewell,  commending  you  to  God, 
our  Father  who  is  in  heaven." 

On  the  same  day,  at  Philadelphia,  he  wrote  to  Mr. 
Williams,  his  brother-in-law :  — 

"  Since  my  last  I  have  daily  reflected  on  the  hint  you  gave 
me  of  returning  to  Salem.  I  have  also  taken  a  general  view 
of  my  expenses  and  income  in  this  place,  and  am  convinced 
the  latter  will  not  defray  the  former.  I  am  no  longer  in 
public  oflice,  and  see  no  prospect  of  an  adequate  increase  of 
commercial  business  to  support  me.  It  was  an  apprehen- 
sion of  this  which  last  year  induced  me  to  purchase  a  large 
interest  in  the  new  lands  in  this  State^  that  I  might  retire 
to  them  as  a  resource  for  my  present  support,  and  a  valuable 


534  UFB    OF   TIMOTHY    PICKERING.  [1786. 

estate  for  my  children,  in  case  the  failure  of  commercial 
business  should  render  it  necessary.  But  to  return  to 
Salem  will  be  much  more  agreeable,  provided  I  can  there 
obtain  a  competency. 

'^The  disposition  my  brother  has  made  of  his  estate  is 
perfectly  agreeable  to  me ;  and,  if  he  had  thought  proper  to 
order  it  in  any  other  manner,  still  I  should  have  been  con- 
tent.* If  I  return,  I  suppose  the  farm  may  continue  entire, 
on  my  allowing  a  suitable  rent  to  each  proprietor.  I  have 
considered  of  the  management  of  it,  and  am  inclined  to  think 
it  practicable  to  pay  sufficient  attention  to  it,  although  I 
should  hold  the  offices  enjoyed  by  my  brother.  To  obtain 
these  offices  will  be  a  matter  of  considcnible  consequence. 
You  mentioned  Mr.  Phillips's  f  wish  to  know  my  intention. 
I  shall  now  be  much  obliged  to  him  and  my  other  friends  for 
their  assistance  in  procuring  me  the  Register's  office  and  a 
seat  on  the  bench  of  the  inferior  court,  should  they  become 
vacant." 

Writing  the  next  day  to  Mr.  John  Gardner,  his 
nephew,  and  referring  to  the  probable  decease  of  his 
brother,  he  says :  — 

"This  circumstance  will  induce  me  to  return  to  Salem, 
where  I  expect  to  spend  the  remainder  of  my  days,  pro- 
vided I  obtain  the  same  offices  your  uncle  now  holds,  and 
which  formerly  were  held  by  me." 

In  furtherance  of  his  design,  he  prepared  a  circular 
letter  to  the  Selectmen  of  the  several  towns  in  the 
county  of  Essex,  to  be  communicated  to  the  electors  in 
case  his  brother  should  die,  saying  that  he  resigned  the 
office  of  Register  of  Deeds  when  called  to  the  field,  and 
that,  prompted  by  the  wish  to  return  to  Salem  and 

*  Colonel  Pickering's  brother  owned  a  valuable  farm  wiUiin  the  township 
of  Salem,  and  he  had  probably  made  a  will  devisingportions  of  it  to  bis  sisters, 
or  some  of  them,  and  to  Colonel  Pickering,  in  severalty. 

t  Samuel  Phillips,  Jr.,  of  Andover. 


iET.40.]  LIPB   OF   TIMOTHY   PICKERING.  535 

dwell  among  his  friends,  he  desired  to  be  reinstated  in 
that  office.  His  intention  of  returning  to  Salem  was 
relinquished  in  consequence  of  an  improvement  taking 
place  in  the  health  of  his  brother,  who  was  reelected. 

Had  the  illness  of  his  brother  terminated  in  death, 
it  would  probably  have  changed  materially  the  current 
of  Colonel  Pickering's  life.  He  would  have  returned 
to  Salem,  and  probably  have  been  reinstated  in  the 
offices  of  Eegister  of  Deeds  and  Judge  of  the  Court  of 
Common  Fleas  for  the  coimty  of  Essex,  in  which  case 
he  and  his  family  would  have  escaped  the  distresses 
hereafter  mentioned,  occasioned  by  his  removal  to 
Wyoming.  On  the  division  of  the  people  of  the  United 
States  into  two  great  parties  after  the  adoption  of  the 
Federal  Constitution,  he  would  doubtless  have  been  a 
decided  Federalist ;  and  this,  in  conjunction  with  hi» 
reputation  and  his  exactness  in  the  business  of  the 
office,  might  perhaps  have  assured  his  reelection  as 
Register  of  Deeds  for  several  years ;.  but  it  is  not  im- 
probable that  President  Washington  would  have  se- 
lected him  for  some  employment  under  the  general 
government. 

In  the  winter  and  spring  of  1785  and  1786,  Mr. 
Noah  Webster  delivered  his  course  of  lectures  on  the 
English  language  in  Philadelphia,  New  York,  and  other 
places,  as  well  as  in  Baltimore.  From  the  following 
passage  in  a  letter  of  Colonel  Pickering  to  Mr.  John 
Gardner,  his  nephew,  it  appears  that  he  could  do  justice 
to  Mr.  Webster's  merits,  although  displeased  by  his 
vanity  and  egotism :  — 

"  Philadelphia,  July  4lh,  1786. 

"With  respect  to  Mr.  Webster,  you  must  have  noticed, 
that,  with  a  competent  share  of  good  sense,  he  possessed  a 
quantum  aufficit  of  vanity,  so  that  he  really  overrated  his 


536  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  [1786. 

own  talents.  He  imagined  that  he  was  a  good  reader,  but 
I  had  so  rawch  friendship  for  him  as  to  point  out  his  defects ; 
and,  though  it  was  evidently  a  little  mortifying,  he  thanked 
me  then,  and  has  since  made  his  acknowledgments  by 
letter.  He  was  particularly  defective  in  reading  poetry  \ 
and  this,  perhaps,  as  much  as  anything,  disgusted  his  audi- 
ence. In  truth,  there  was  so  much  of  egotism,  especially 
for  a  young  man,  apparent  in  his  communications,  as  to 
prevent  his  hearers  receiving  the  satisfaction  which  might 
otherwise  have  been  derived  from  many  ingenious  observa^ 
tions.  For  my  own  part,  I  esteem  him  for  his  ingenuity, 
learning,  and  industry.  The  object  of  his  pursuit  is  an  im- 
portant one,  and  divers  of  his  lectures  received  the  private 
approbation  of  several  of  the  most  discerning  and  critical 
hearers.  Dr.  Shippen  told  me  that  his  8on  attended  one 
evening,  and  was  very  much  disgusted ;  but  added,  that  his 
son  had  not  given  him  a  fair  chance.  The  Doctor  himself, 
one  evening  particularly,  expressed  himself  to  me  in  terms 
of  very  sensible  pleasure,  and  acknowledgment  of  Webster's 
spirit  and  ingenuity.  I  have  taken  the  liberty,  in  a  letter 
since  his  departure,  to  tell  him  that  diffidence  in  a  public 
lecturer,  especially  in  a  young  man,  was  essential  to  the  art 
of  pleasing.  As  to  the  encouragement  he  met  with,  I  do 
not  think  it  was  to  be  boasted  of;  at  the  same  time, 
bating  the  truly  displeasing  marks  of  vanity,  I  think  the 
encouragement  received  was  less  than  he  deserved.  But 
Philadelphians  have  ever  appeared  to  me  to  have  an  over- 
weening opinion  of  their  own  literary  acquirements,  as 
well  as  other  excellences.  Some  time  ago.  Dr.  Ewing,  in 
recommending  for  the  college  at  New  York  a  mathematician 
who  had  been  in  a  subordinate  station  at  the  University  here, 
to  complete  his  eulogium,  added,  <  He  was  sure  he  would 
have  no  equal  eastward  of  the  Hudson.'  Mr.  Webster  has 
repeated  his  lectures  at  New  York,  and,  he  wrote  me,  to  an 
audience  about  as  numerous  as  that  at  Philadelphia.  He 
said  that  Dr.  Sa.msay  and  other  members  of  Congress 
approved  and  patronized  his  design,  and  his  execution  of 


JEt.W.]  life  op  timothy  PICKERING.  537 

it  thus  far,  and  encouraged  him  to  go  on ;  particularly  to 
attempt  a  reform  of  the  English  alphabet,  so  as  to  give  a 
distinct  character  to  every  distinct  sound,  and  to  lot  no  one 
Bound  be  signided  by  more  than  one  character.  This  would 
introduce  some  new  letters  and  expunge  several  of  the  old 
ones.  Dr.  Franklin  wrote  a  paper,  some  years  ago,  on  this 
subject,  which  he  showed  to  Mr.  Webster.  By  the  way, 
the  Doctor  treated  Mr.  Webster  with  respect,  and  expressed 
himself  thus  on  his  '  Sketches  of  American  Politics '  (a  pam- 
phlet written  by  Mr.  Wel)stor  with  that  title),  —  that  it  was 
very  well  written.  This  remark  regarded  that  part  of  the 
pamphlet  which,  in  a  forcil)le  manner,  pointed  out  the 
necessity  of  altering  the  Federal  gtivernmeut,  and  enlarging 
the  powers  of  Congress.  Mr.  Webster  has  since  written 
to  the  Doctor,  submitting  to  his  censure  a  plan  for  reform- 
ing the  alphabet,  and  requesting  the  Doctor's  permissioa 
of  dedicating  to  him  his  lectures,  which  he  intends  shortly 
to  publish. 

"I  believe  you  did  not  hear  Mr.  Webster's  lectures. 
Among  other  things,  he  showed  the  glaringly  improper  pro- 
nuncintioD  of  many  words  in  all  the  States ;  but  there  seemed 
to  be  fewer  in  New  England  than  elsewhere.  .  .  .  The 
lectures  were,  I  believe,  never  intended  as  a  catchpenny 
scheme ;  but  they  served  to  explain  and  recommend  the 
principles  on  which  his  '  Grammatical  Institute  '  was 
founded." 

VOL  I.  68 


APPENDIX. 


No.  I.  (pp.  77,  82.) 

BATTLE  OP  LEXINGTON, 

Thb  imputation  or  insinuation  of  pusillanimity  or  dilatoriness 
on  the  part  of  Colonel  Pickering,  in  regard  to  the  battle  of  Lexing- 
ton, appears  in  several  historical  works.  Gordon,  in  his  ^^  History 
of  the  Rise,  Progress,  and  Establishment  of  the  Independence  of  the 
United  States  of  America,"  *  says,  ^^  Colonel  Pickering,  of  Salem, 
had  the  command  of  a  fine  provincial  regiment.  Had  he  pushed  on 
with  his  men,  so  as  to  have  headed  the  Britbh  before  they  had  gained 
Charlestown  Neck  (and  he  was  near  enough),  they  must  have  clubbed 
their  firelocks,  for  they  were  quite  wearied  out  with  the  services  of 
the  day,  and  had  but  a  round  or  two  of  ammunition  remaining.  No 
satisfactory  reason  has  been  assigned  for  the  want  of  greater  alert- 
ness in  Colonel  Pickering's  regiment." 

In  Mrs.  Mercy  Warren's  "History  of  the  American  Revolu- 
tion," f  it  is  said,  "Had  the  militia  of  Salem  and  Marblehead 
have  come  on,  as  it  was  thought  they  might  have  done,  they  would 
undoubtedly  have  prevented  this  routed,  disappointed  army  from 
reaching  the  advantageous  post  of  Charlestown.  But  the  tardiness  of 
Colonel  Pickering,  who  commanded  the  Salem  regiment,  gave  them 
an  opportunity  to  make  good  their  retreat.  Whether  Mr.  Pick- 
ering's delay  was  owing  to  timidity,  or  to  a  predilection  in  favor  of 
Britain,  remains  uncertain ;  however  it  was,  censure  at  the  time  fell 
very  heavily  on  his  character." 

General  Heath's  "  Memoirs  "  contains  the  following  passage :  % 
"  The  militia  continued  to  hang  on  the  rear  of  the  British,  until  they 
reached  Bunker's  Hill,  in  Charlestown ;  and  it  had  become  so  dusk, 
as  to  render  the  flashes  of  the  muskets  very  visible.  At  this  instant 
an  officer  on  horseback  came  up  from  the  Medford  road,  and  in- 

•  Vol.  I.  p.  484.  t  Vol.  I.  p.  187.  I  Page  14, 

(689) 


540  UFE  OP  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  [Apfsitdix. 

quired  the  circamBtAnces  of  the  enemy ;  adding,  that  about  seven 
hundred  men  were  close  behind,  on  their  way  from  Salem  to  join 
the  militia.  Had  these  arrived  a  few  minutes  sooner,  the  left  flank 
of  the  British  must  have  been  greatly  exposed,  and  suffered  con- 
siderably ;  perhaps  their  retreat  would  have  been  cut  off.  As  soon 
as  the  British  gained  Bunker's  Hill,  they  immediately  formed  in  a 
line  opposite  to  the  Neck  ;  when  our  General  [Heath]  judged  it  ex- 
pedient to  order  the  militia,  who  were  now  at  the  Common,  to  halt 
and  give  over  the  pursuit,  as  any  further  attempt  upon  the  enemy, 
in  that  position,  would  have  been  fruitless." 

Colonel  Pickering's  regiment  was  composed  of  the  militia  of 
Salem,  Beverly,  Danvers,  Middleton,  and  Lynn.  The  foregoing 
extracts  seem  to  suppose  the  whole  regiment  to  have  been  with  him  ; 
whereas  the  Salem  "  Memorial "  *  puts  it  beyond  controversy,  that  he 
was  accompanied  by  only  the  Salem  companies,  four  in  number, 
mustering,  on  this  occasion,  ^*  near  three  hundred  men."  f  Con- 
sidering the  uniform  and  prominent  opposition  of  Colonel  Pickering 
to  the  arbitrary  measures  of  the  British  government  from  the  year 
1770,  and  perhaps  from  an  earlier  date,  and  his  military  services  in 
the  regular  army  during  the  Revolution,  besides  his  twice  coming 
forward  as  a  volunteer  in  the  early  part  of  the  contest  on  a  call  for 
militia,  the  accusation  of  timidity,  or  of  a  predilection  in  favor  of 
Britain,  is  absurd.  That  his  character  did  not  suffer  contempo- 
rary injury,  with  those  best  acquainted  with  it,  is  proved  by  the 
facts,  that,  besides  the  important  offices  conferred  upon  him,  as  men- 
tioned in  his  letter  to  Jacob  Dodge,  X  his  name  stood  first,  in  October, 
1775,  on  the  Committee  of  Safety  chosen  by  his  townsmen  ;  that,  on 
an  election  of  Register  of  Deeds,  in  the  beginning  of  1776,  by  the 
inhabitants  of  his  own  county,  ^^  all  the  votes  were  for  him  " ;  that 
in  July,  1776,  by  a  resolve  of  the  General  Assembly  of  Massachusetts 
Bay,  the  company  of  sea-coast  men  and  the  company  of  matrosses 
stationed  at  Salem  were  put  under  his  order  and  direction ;  and 
that  in  May,  1777,  Washington  appointed  him  Adjutant-General  of 
the  army  of  the  United  States. 

*  See  before,  page  74. 

t  General  Heath's  mistake  as  to  the  number  may  have  arisen  from  the  fact, 
that  in  December,  1776,  Colonel  Pickering  took  the  command  of  a  new  regi- 
ment of  seven  hundred  men,  furnished  from  the  whole  county  of  Essex,  for 
three  months'  service,  which  marched  into  the  State  of  New  York,  and  there 
became  subject  to  the  orders  of  General  Heath,  as  before  related. 

}  See  page  78. 


1776.]  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  541 

In  Frothingham's  "  History  of  the  Siege  of  Boston,"  *  &c.,  it  is 
said,  .  .  .  ^^  While  Colonel  Pickering,  with  the  Essex  militia,  seven 
hundred  strong,  threatened  to  cut  off  their  retreat  to  Charlestown." 
The  author  cites  as  an  authority  a  letter  of  Washington,  dated  May^ 
31st,  1775,  in  which  he  says,  ^*  If  the  retreat  had  not  been  as  precipi- 
tate as  it  was,  —  and  God  knows  it  could  not  well  have  been  more  so, 
—  the  ministerial  troops  must  have  surrendered  or  been  totally  cut  off; 
for  they  had  not  arrived  in  Charlestown  (under  cover  of  their  ships) 
half  an  hour,  before  a  powerful  body  of  men  from  Marblehead  and 
Salem  was  at  their  heels,  and  must,  if  they  had  happened  to  be 
up  one  hour  sooner,  inevitably  have  intercepted  their  retreat  to 

Charlestown."  t 

The  erroneous  number  ''  seven  hundred  "  seems  to  have  been  adopt- 

ed  by  Frothiugham  from  Heath's  '^  Memoirs."  The  statement  of 
Washington  has  the  appearance  of  being  made  on  his  own  knowl- 
edge of  facts,  and  derives  importance  from  the  weight  of  his  char- 
acter. But,  on  turning  to  the  letter  in  Sparks,  it  is  seen  that  it  was 
written  at  Philadelphia,  and  that  the  paragraph  from  which  the  quo- 
tation is  taken  begins,  ^^  From  the  best  accounts  I  have  been  able 
to  collect  of  that  affair,  indeed  from  every  one,  I  believe  the  fact, 
stripped  of  all  coloring,  to  be  plainly  this, — that  if  the  retreat,"  &c.  (as 
above).  These  accounts  probably  exaggerated  the  force  from  Salem, 
and  in  regard  to  Marblehead  were  certainly  incorrect.  The  militia 
of  this  town  did  not  begin  their  march,  on  the  19th  of  April,  until  ten 
o'clock  at  night ;  I  before  which  hour  the  British  troops  were  safe  in 
their  position  on  Bunker's  Hill. 

In  a  more  recent  publication  is  the  following  passage :  Had  the 
retreat  of  the  British  troops  ^*  been  delayed  a  half  hour  longer,  or 
had  Pickering,  with  his  fine  regiment  from  Salem  and  Marblehead, 
been  alert  enough  to  have  intercepted  them  in  front,  it  was  thought 
that,  worn  down  as  they  were  by  fatigue,  and  exhausted  of  ammu- 

•  Page  78. 

t  See  Sparks's  "Writings  of  Washington,**  VoL  II.  p.  407. 

X  See  a  statement  on  the  authority  of  Captain  Russell  Trevett,  who  com- 
manded the  Marblehead  militia  on  the  occasion,  in  the  "  North  American  *'  (a 
newspaper  published  at  Baltimore)  of  April  13th,  1808.  It  is  there  said,  that, 
in  consequence  of  there  being  two  ships  of  war  (the  Lively,  of  twenty  g^ns, 
and  another  ship,  of  sixteen)  in  the  harbor  of  Marblehead,  and  of  the  absence 
of  many  of  the  inhabitants  on  fishing  voyages,  the  Selectmen  and  the  Com- 
mittee of  Safety  determined  that  the  minute-men  should  not  depart  till  ten 
o'clock  at  night,  when  they  should  proceed  without  noise ;  and  that  tliLs  was 
done  accordingly. 


542  LTFE  OF  TIMOTHT  FICKEBIN6.  [Afpkicdiz. 

nition,  thej  must  have  sarrendered."  *  As  has  already  been  stated. 
Colonel  Pickering's  force  consisted,  not  of  his  whole  regiment,  bat 
of  the  four  Salem  companies  alone ;  and  the  militia  of  Marblehead 
did  not  belong  to  his  regiment. 

It  is  remarkable,  that  the  most  authentic  and  trustworthy  docu- 
ment relative  to  the  Salem  militia  in  connection  with  the  battle  of 
Lexington,  —  the  contemporary  ^^  Memorial"  of  Salem,  —  seems  to 
have  escaped  the  notice  of  every  one  of  these  historians.  It  was 
in  print -f  before  the  publication  of  Frothingham's  work  and  of  the 
seventh  volume  of  Bancroft. 

I  subjoin  other  statements  concerning  the  battle  of  Lexington, 
giving,  as  I  believe,  a  more  correct  view  of  Colonel  Pickering's 
conduct  in  reference  to  that  event,  than  is  contained  in  the  Histories 
above  quoted. 

Major  Joseph  Hiller,  an  officer  in  one  of  the  Salem  companies  in 
1775,  and  subsequently  the  collector  of  the  ports  of  Salem  and  Bev* 
erly,  wrote  the  following  interesting  letter  to  my  brother,  the  late 
John  Pickering:  — 

"Lakcasteb,  ICarch  13th,  1809. 
"Sm, 

*'  The  desire  you  intimated,  when  I  lately  saw  you,  to  know  any 
circumstances  I  could  inform  you  of  respecting  the  events  which 
took  place  in  Salem  on  the  19th  of  April,  1775,  has  engaged  my 
attention,  and  the  following  observations  are  the  result.  Being 
unable  to  find  in  my  possession  any  private  memorandums  relating 
particularly  to  the  subject,  few  opportunities  having  occurred  to  con- 
verse with  contemporaries  upon  it,  and  thirty-four  years,  singularly 
marked  with  events,  having  elapsed,  little  or  nothing  interesting  is 
left  within  my  recollection  to  communicate,  which  you  have  not 
already  obtained  from  the  best  sources. 

^^The  calamities  and  apprehensions  which  prevailed  throughout 
the  American  Provinces  previous  to  that  period,  and  the  patriotic 
virtues  they  brought  into  action,  must  be  familiar  to  you,  and  that 
in  the  display  of  these  latter  Salem  was  behind  none. 

^^  In  every  well-regulated  community  there  are  generally  some 
prominent  characters  whose  discretion,  activity,  and  firmness  are 
resorted  to  on  all  momentous  occasions.  Such  characters  that  town 
could  then  boast.     I  need  not  tell  you  who  was  eminent  amongst  the 

*  Bancroft's  "History  of  the  United  States,"  Vol.  VII.  p.  809. 

t  See  Force's  *' American  Archives,"  4th  Series,  Vol.  III.  column  387. 


1776.]  LDTB  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  643 

eminent;   the  various  places  where  Colonel  Pickering  stood  may 
for  ever  tell  with  pride  who  occupied  them. 

'^  The  march  of  the  British  troops,  under  Colonel  Leslie,  into  the 
town  of  Salem,  the  last  of  February,  1775,  and  the  attendant  circum^ 
stances,  had  increased  the  apprehensions  of  the  people,  and  a  general 
expectation  of  an  eruption  somewhere  was  manifest ;  nevertheless, 
the  alarm  which  shook  the  town  on  the  morning  of  the  19th  of  April, 
that  the  British  troops  had  marched  out  of  Boston  and  had  attacked 
our  people  at  Lexington,  lost  none  of  its  force.     The  sensations 
it  excited  are  beyond  my  powers  of  description.     The  report  was 
vague,  but  its  probability  was  believed.     The  people  collected  in 
various  parts  of  the  town,  and  concentrated  in  Court  Street.     Colo- 
nel Pickering  was  upon  the  ground;  his  usual  energies  were  put 
into  action.     Afler  a  short  consultation  with  the  Selectmen,  Com- 
mittee of  Safety,  and  other  gentlemen  was  held,  the  several  militia 
companies  were  embodied  and  equipped  with  a  rapidity  correspond- 
ent to  the  occasion,  and  soon  after  marched,  in  hopes  to  receive 
some  direct  information  on  their  route.    The  companies  halted  a  short 
time  in  Danvers,  —  I  think  near  the  confluence  of  the  roads  ;  but,  no 
intelligence  being  obtained,  they  resumed  their  march  with  increased 
rapidity,  which,  with  trifling  interruption,  was  uniformly  continued 
till  they  arrived  at  Medford,  and  from  thence  to  Winter  Hill ;  and, 
in  this  last  part  of  the  march  more  especially,  a  serious  expectation  of 
actual  engagement  and  a  solemn  determination  to  act  with  firmness, 
so  far  as  I  could  judge  from  what  I  heard  and  saw,  was  generally 
manifest ;  but,  when  we  arrived  at  the  summit  of  the  hill,  we  saw  we 
were  too  late :  the  British  troops  had  gained  the  opposite  hills,  and 
were  fast  collecting  in  force.     It  was  naturally  a  subject  of  regret, 
that  we  had  not  been  able  to  arrive  sooner ;  but  from  no  circum- 
stance which  I  was  ever  acquainted  with  did  I  ever  think,  that 
blame  could  attach,  either  to  the  officer  or  those  under  his  command, 
for  this  event.     Attempts  of  this  kind,  however,  have  been  made ; 
but  I  believe  they  have  universtiUy  failed  of  effect  with  every  im- 
partial and  fair  mind,  and  that  those  who  have  obtained  correct 
information  upon  the  subject  have  been  satisfied  that  it  was  only  a 
subject  of  regret  as  an  event  that  could  not  be  controlled.     It  has, 
nevertheless,  been  fashioned  into  a  weapon  by  party  malice,  and 
occasionally  brandished,  for  the  vilest  purposes,  against  the  inflexible 
patriot  whose  life  has  been  devoted  to  the  best  interests  of  his  coun- 
try ;  but  those  who  know  Colonel  Pickering  know  that  these  and 
similar  efforts  cannot  affect  him,  and  that  their  buzz  can  excite  only 
his  pity  or  contempt. 


644  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  FICEEBINO.  [Affendix. 

'*  I  have  given  you  evidence,  Sir,  that  I  could  communicate  noth- 
ing new  to  you  upon  the  subject  of  jour  inquiry ;  and  my  only 
apology  for  writing  upon  it  is  the  respect  I  owed  to  your  request. 
'^  I  am,  Sir,  with  great  regard,  yours, 

"Jos.   HiLLEB." 

In  a  memorandum,  dated  April  13th,  1811,  given  to  my  brother 
John  Pickering,  and  labelled,  in  his  handwriting,  ''  Captain  Jos. 
White's  observation  at  Essex  Bank  as  to  T.  Pickering's  conduct 
April  19, 1775,**  Mr.  White  is  represented  as  saying,  ^^  he  did  not  like 
Colonel  Pickering,  as  he  considered  him  a  man  who  delighted  in 
controversy,  &c. ;  but  said,  that  before  the  Revolution  he  was  a  very 
active  and  useful  man  in  public  affairs,  —  no  man  more  so  ;  and,  as 
to  the  Lexington  affair,  he  ought  not  to  be  blamed  for  that,  for  he  did 
all  that  a  man  could  do,  all  that  was  in  his  power  to  do  (or  words  to 
that  effect), — and  added,  ^This  I  can  say  from  my  own  knowledge.' " 
Mr.  White  was  the  elderly  gentleman  who  was  murdered  at  Salem  in 
1830.  He  is  entitled  to  credit  for  manliness  and  candor ;  for,  at  the 
period  of  his  remarks,  the  Democratic  party,  to  which  he  belonged, 
was  much  incensed  against  Colonel  Pickering. 

Having  expressed  to  my  friend,  Mr.  John  C.  Gray,  a  wish  that 
he  would  put  on  paper  his  recollections  of  what  his  father,  the  late 
William  Gray,  an  eminent  merchant,  and  at  one  time  Lieutenant- 
Governor  of  Massachusetts,  had  said  on  this  subject,  he  wrote  to  me, 
under  date  of  August  24th,  1858,  as  follows :  — 

'^  In  reply  to  your  request,  I  have  to  say,  that  my  father,  as  has 
been  more  than  once  stated  in  the  public  prints,  marched  from  Salem 
under  your  father's  command  on  the  19th  of  April,  1775.  It  is  well 
known  thdt  the  Salem  troops  did  not  arrive  in  time  to  take  part  in 
the  memorable  conflict  of  that  day.  I  recollect  distinctly,  that  I 
once  inquired  of  my  father  whether  this  failure  to  arrive  was  owing 
to  any  want  of  due  exertion  on  the  part  of  the  troops  or  their  com- 
mander, and  that  his  answer  was  decidedly  in  the  negative.  .  .  • 
The  conversation  to  which  I  refer  was  held,  I  think,  about  the  time 
of  our  last  war  with  England.  I  have  always  inferred  from  it,  as 
well  as  from  other  conversations  with  my  father  in  relation  to  the 
events  of  that  day,  that  Colonel  Pickering  and  every  man  under  his 
command  exerted  themselves  to  the  utmost  to  come  within  reach  of 
the  enemy." 


1777.]  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  545 

No.  11.  (p.  156.) 

BATTLE  OF  BRANDYWINE. 

Two  newspapers,  published  in  Boston,  namely,  the  ^^  Continental 
Journal,"  of  November  6th,  1777,  and  the  "Boston  Gazette,"  of 
November  10th,  (and  doubtless  newspapers  published  elsewhere  in 
the  United  States,)  contain  the  following  statement,  but  without  any 
voucher  for  its  authenticity :  — 

"  State  and  Disposition  of  the  British  Forces  at  theBaitle  of  Brandy ^ 
wine,  Seployiiter  11,  1777,  at  the  Upper  Ford,  under  Lieutenant^ 
General  Lord  Cornwallis  :  — 

Rilled  and  wounded. 
"  2  Regiments  British  Grenadiers,        >     , ^j^    .....     g, « 

2        do.  Light  Infantry,  j  

2  Brigades  of  British 2240 360 

1  do.      of  Hessians, 800 60 

Ferguson's  Rifle, 80 46 

4860  1078 

*'*'3Iiddle  Ford,  under  General  Gray  [6^rey]. 

2  Battalions  Guards,      ...     .    .     ...     500 

2        do.       42d  Regiment  Highlanders,     700 
2         do.        72d        do.  do.    .     .     700 


1900 
^^ Lower  Ford,  Chad's,  under  Lieutenant- General  Knyphausen, 

2  British  Brigades,  consisting  of  4,  5,  ^ 

10,  15,  23,  27,  28,  40,  49,  and  55th  ^  2240 580 

Regiments, J 

1  Brigade  Hessians, 800 28 

Queen's  Rangers 480 290 

8520 898 

67GO 


10280 1976  " 

These  figures,  denoting  the  number  of  the  British  forces  in  the 
field  and  of  their  loss  in  the  battle,  coincide  with  those  in  a  ^^  Life 
of  Washington  "  by  Headley  (p.  258),  except  that  he  states  the  loss  of 
Lord  Cornwallis's  brigade  of  Hessians  to  be  seventy,  instead  of  sixty, 
and  consequently  makes  the  total  loss  of  the  British  nineteen  hun- 
dred and  eighty-six. 

In  the  ^^  Historical  Magazine "  for  March,  1867,  (published  by 

VOL.  L  69 


546  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  [Appexdzz. 

» 

Mr.  Henry  B.  Dawson,  Morrisania,  New  York,)  at  page  148,  are  sev- 
eral letters  from  Captain  William  Beatty,  of  the  Maryland  line,  to  hia 
father.  In  one,  dated  Skippack,  October  13th,  1777,  he  says  he  had 
previously  sent  the  particulars  of  the  battle  of  Brandywine  ^^  except 
a  return  that  was  taken  at  Germantown  battle,  which  gives  an 
account  that  the  enemy's  loss  at  Brandywine  was  nineteen  hundred 
and  seventy-six  killed  and  wounded." 

This  evidence,  if  reliance  is  to  be  placed  on  it,  supports  Colonel 
Pickering's  impression  that  the  British  loss  in  killed  and  wounded 
exceeded  that  of  the  Americans  (see  page  162)  ;  and  that  their  force 
on  the  field,  which  he  speaks  of  loosely  as  amounting  to  eight  or  nine 
thousand  men  (see  page  175),  was  less  than  it  is  usually  represented 
to  have  been.  But  he,  and  more  especially  General  Washington, 
must  have  been  informed  of  the  above  statement  of  the  British  loss, 
and  I  know  not  how  to  account  for  their  silence  respecting  it  (for  I 
am  not  aware  that  it  is  alluded  to  by  either  of  them),  except  on  the 
presumption  that  they  did  not  deem  it  woithy  of  credit. 


No.  in.  (p.  460.) 
STATE  OF  OHIO. 


'^  Propositions  for  settling  a  new  State  by  such  officers  and  soldiers 
of  the  Federal  army  as  shall  associate  for  that  purpose : 


a 


1.  That  the  United  States  purchase  of  the  natives  that  tract  of 
country  which  is  bounded  by  Pennsylvania  on  the  east,  the  River 
Ohio  on  the  south,  a  meridian  line  drawn  thirty  miles  west  of  the 
mouth  of  the  River  Scioto  on  the  west, — this  meridian  to  run  from  the 
Ohio  to  the  Miami  River,  which  runs  into  Lake  Erie,  —  and  by  this 
river  and  Lake  Eric  on  the  north. 

^^  2.  That,  in  the  first  instance,  lands  be  assigned  to  the  army  to 
fulfil  the  engagements  of  the  United  States  by  the  resolutions  of  the 
IGth  of  September,  1776,  August  Idth  and  September  dOth,  1780, 

» 

to  wit :  — 

**  To  a  major-general, llOO  acres. 

"  brigadier-genenil,        850      ** 

"  colonel, 500      *' 

'^  lieutenant-colonel,       .........  450      *' 


1783.]  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKEBING.  547 

« 

"To  a  major, 400  acres. 

"  captain, ' 300     " 

"  lieutenant, ,  200     " 

"  an  ensign,  or  cornet, 150     " 

^'  a  non-commissioned  officer  and  soldier,     .     .     .  100     " 

"  the  director  of  the  military  hospitals,    •     .     •     ,  850     ^* 

'^  chief  physician  and  purveyor,  each,      .     •     •     .  500     ^* 

"  physicians,  surgeons,  and  apothecary,  each,  .     .  450     ** 
"  regimental  surgeons  and  assistants  to  the  pur- 


400     " 
veyor  and  apothecary,  each, 


^'  hospital  and  regimental  surgeons'  mates,  each,    .     300 


(( 


"  3.  That  all  associators  who  shall  actually  settle  in  the  new 
State  within  one  year  aher  the  purchase  shall  be  effected,  and  notice 
given  by  Congress  or  the  committee  of  the  associators  that  the  same 
is  ready  for  settlement  (such  notice  to  be  published  in  the  news- 
papers of  all  the  United  States),  shall  receive  such  additional 
quantities  of  land  as  to  make  their  respective  rights  in  the  whole  to 
contain  the  following  numbers  of  acres,  to  wit :  — 

''  A  major-general, 2400  acres. 

"  brigadier-general, 2200      " 

"  colonel,        2000      " 

'*  lieutenant-colonel, IHOO      '* 

''  major, •     •  ICOO      " 

"  captain, 1400      " 

"  lieutenant, 1200      " 

"  ensign,  or  cornet, 1000      " 

"  sergeant, 700      " 

Other  non-commissioned  officers  and  soldiers,  each,       GOO      ** 

And  fifly  acres  more  for  each  member  of  a  family,  besides  the 
head  of  it. 

"  4.  That  the  rights  of  the  officers  in  the  medical  department  be 
increased  in  like  manner  on  the  same  condition. 

"  5.  That  all  officers  in  the  other  staff  departments,  who  shall 
actually  settle  in  the  new  State  within  the  time  above  limited,  shall 
receive  rights  of  land  in  the  proportions  last  stated,  on  an  equitable 
comparison  of  their  stations  with  the  ranks  of  the  officers  of  the  lice 
and  the  medical  staff. 

"  6.  Tliat  this  increased  provision  of  lands  shall  extend  to  all 
officers  of  the  line  and  staff,  and  to  all  non-commissioned  officers  and