Catalogue description Correspondence from James Parker to Charles Stewart, (except pp. 147 - 151, addressed to Alexander Elmsley), taking the form of: J. P.'s Journal of his experiences during the Revolutionary War

A typescript transcription of the Journal is available in the Local History Library: Hq 920 PAR. A summary of the contents of the Journal with explanatory notes in brackets is given here to facilitate use and identification of persons and events. The Journal gives a first hand description of many of the principal engagements of the Revolutionary War, from the Loyalist standpoint, with details of British strategy

pp.1-4 Gwin's Island 8 - 16 July 1776

Lord Dunmore's last stand - smallpox - the "Dunmore" hit - the fleet attempts to escape - J. P. captured by the rebels

pp.5-6 18 - 26 June [sic: July] 1776

Events immediately after J.P.'s capture and conduct of the rebels

Events described here cover the period after J.P.'s capture and the reference to Lord Dunmore's "narrow escape" at Gwynn Island confirm the month as July, since he was driven thence 8 - 10 July 1776

pp.7-10 New York, 16 - 18 July 1777

Of military dispositions in the North - Circumstances of the capture of General [Richard] Prescott [during a night raid under Major William Barton]

General Buryoyne's attack on Ticonderoga

Of claims for compensation for losses sustained during the destruction of Norfolk

pp.11-14 20 - 29 July 1777

List of British regiments on the Expedition to New York

J. P. on board the "Fany"

[Howe's] fleet sailing for unknown destination, [with 15,000 troops and 260 ships]

31 July: fleet standing out of Delaware Bay [sighted by American troops on 30 July] -

Details of the voyage of Lord Howe's fleet [during the period when its whereabouts was unknown to Washington and the Americans]:-

22 July: anchors of the mouth of the Sassafras River [in the Chesapeake]

24 - 25 July disembarcation [at Head of Elk]

29 July - landing, with very few losses

Of American preparations in the Delaware and the Washingtons present position

pp.14-28 29 August - 24 October 1777

2 September - J. P. to march to meet Washington at Iron Hill [or Cocch's Bridge] - losses on each side [Americans retreated]. British advance Brandywine Creek [11] September 1777 [a British victory which for various reasons, they did not follow up]

Description of the Battle of Brandywine

J. P.'s sight of General Washington

Post mortem on Brandywine : losses and captures

13 September 1777

The Philadelphia Campaign - events following Brandywine

16 September - a major engagement at Warren Tavern - Washington's manoeuvres

21 September - the night attack on Paoli - rebels routed - casualties etc

22 - 23 September - Howe's manoeuvres to outwit Washington

24 September - news of Washington's position

25 September - British march into Germantown under Howe

26 September - British march into Philadelphia

27 September - of naval activities in Philadelphia - fate of rebel naval forces

28 September - of Parson [Jacob]

Duche - jailed [Chaplain of Congress and turncoat]

29 September - Duche freed - naval dispositions and activity on the Delaware - administrative affairs in Philadelphia

4 October - Washington's attack on Germantown - the Teugh [or Chew] House seige - casualties

7 October - Washington's position

8 October - News of General Burgoyne

A battle on 19 September [the first Battle of Saratoga]

11 October - fighting for the Delaware River Forts - British take possession of Province Island

18 October - General Winter's storming of Fort Montgomery [6 October 1777 in support of Burgoyne's Offensive]

22 October - Repulse [of the Hessian attack on Fort Mercer] at Red Bank

23 & 24 October - of the Hessian attack on Forts Mercer and Mifflin [Colonel von] Donop wounded

Destruction of the ships Augusta and Merlin - rebel prisoners: nationalities and figures

pp.29-36 1 - 26 November 1777

Defeat of General Burgoyne and the Saratoga Surrender. [17 October 1777]

15 November - British attack on [Fort Mifflin] - rebels abandon Mud Island

21 November - rebels abandon Fort Mercer

American ships abandoned and burned - river cleared, but "chevaux de frises" [underwater obstacles placed in the Delaware below Philadelphia]

23 & 24 November - General Burgoyne & troops to embark for Britain [in accordance with terms of Convention]

William Ronald a prisoner of rebels

Of Robert Ritchie, a traitor for the rebels

pp. 37-40 Philadelphia 30 November 1777

Further details on Ronald and Ritchie 1 December 1777

pp.41-48 1 - 12 December 1777

5 December - [Howe's] sortie against Washinton's camp at Whitemarsh - American attack by General Irvine - his capture by British - British withdrawal and return to Philadelphia. 11 December 1777 - of Lord Cornwallis' departure

pp.49-52 13 - 17 December 1777

Lord Cornwallis's foraging expedition [& clash with vanguard of Washington's troops, bound for winter quarters at Valley Forge, on 11 December]

Return to Philadelphia with sheep and cattle

15 December - Cornwallis embarked for Britain

Of Congress's reprisals against Loyalists - their estates to be sold

pp.53-56 22 - 25 December 1777

British sortie to meet Washington, rumoured to be foraging at Wilmington

Reported American raid on Long Island [on 10 December 1777, by Colonel S. B. Webb, captured with his regiment]

J. P.'s examination of rebel deserters - their report on rebel conditions, recruitment etc

pp.57-60 29 March - 15 April 1778

Of General Charles Lee

Colonel Mawhood's engagement

With rebels at Quinton [Quintan's] Bridge [N.J., 18 March 1778, to counteract American foraging activities], Americans outmanoeuvred

Of Captain Alexander Campbell, accused of treachery - and testimony of his innocence - negotiations for exchange of prisoners at Germantown and Newton

Rebel General [Charles] Lee "paroled" [exchanged]

9 April - Lord Chatham [William Pitt] "got into the Ministry"

12 April - collapse of exchange negotiations

15 April 1778 - notice of intended Act of Parliament waiving right to tax colonies

pp.61-64 25 April - 5 May 1778

1 May - Americans under [Brigadier] General Lacey, harrassing British supply lines, attacked by British under General Abercrombie - American baggage abandoned

3 May - influx of rebel deserters and refugees, reported bad spirit amongst rebels etc. - of General [Charles] Lee -

5 May - J. P.'s consternation at confused state of public opinion - his own

pp.65-72 6 - 23 May 1778

Arrival of Sir Henry Clinton [Howe's successor in Philadelphia]

The Franco-American alliance [ratified by Congress, 4 May 1778]

Treaty of friendship and commerce [and treaty of alliance to become effective in event of war between France and England]

9 May - Indian troubles in Virginia

18 May - of pageant etc. in Philadelphia, - ill-timed? - [held to mark Howe's departure and including an extravaganza known as the "Mischianza"]

19 May - Clinton now C.-in-C. America

20 May - British meet [La]fayette in command of rebel forces at [Barren Hill] - [plan to trap them discovered and rebels escaped]

23 May - of political events and pessimistic climate of opinion on prospects for peace

pp.73-76 23 May - 1 June 1778

Rumoured imminent evacuation of Philadelphia and ensuing confusion

Howe embarked for Britain

26 May - conflicting reports on Washington's position - rumoured abandonment of whole American campaign "in case of a french war"

pp.77-80 3 - 13 June 1778

Evacuation arrangements [British strategy now to evacuate Philadelphia and move their garrison to New York but feared French naval interference with attempt by sea, so obliged to march through New Jersey with 10,000 troops and baggage]

10 June - negotiations between Congress and the Commissioners [the Peace Commission of the Earl of Carlisle] - a "Plan of Accomodation"

pp.81-92 17 June - 23 July 1778

Of the British march from Philadelphia towards Haddonfield & thence to Burlington - Lord Rawdon made Adjutant General

26 June - British arrival at Monmouth Courthouse

28 June - J. P.'s account of the Battle of Monmouth [Rebel strategy was confused. Command was given, after various changes of heart, to General Charles Lee, who disagreed with Washington's general strategy and made no plan of attack. He disobeyed Washington's orders, for which he was subsequently court-martialled and his command suspended. Lee retreated, Washington counter-attacked and the engagement probably ended in a tactical "draw". The battle was confused and the contemporary accounts vary a great deal, although J. P. refers to "Washington's victory". The battle was remarkable for being fought in scorching heat and many troops probably died of sun-stroke]

29 - 30 June - British move to Middleto[w]n and thence to Sandy Hook

1 July - British land on Long Island

6 July - arrival off New York of French fleet under D'Estaign - [Admiral] Lord [Richard] Howe in command of British naval forces

9 July - French outside Sandy Hook

Howe unable to attack until reinforced [Because of confusions with the pilot, the French did not get inside the Hook and D'Estaign decided to head for Newport without attacking]

Carlisles request for a Peace Conference - the rebels' conditions: British withdrawal and acceptance of independence. Strange behaviour of "the Governor" [George Johnstone, a member of Carlisle's Commission] - ingratiating himself with the French

23 July - French supposed gone to Delaware or Chesapeake [in fact to Newport]

pp.93-94 Camp at Yellowhook, Long Island, 25 July 1778

J. P.'s application for post of Agent for Prizes - reports part of his Journal missing

pp.95-98 2 - 14 August 1778

Letter of Carlisle's Peace Commission to Congress offering terms - unanswered - Governor [George] Johnstone's flattering letter to General [Joseph] Reid, Robert Morris and [Francis Dana] - "In my opinion he plainly hints of bribing them" [Johnstone did attempt to bribe the Congressmen named and this led to his resignation from the Commission on 26 August]

5 August - the French fleet at Rhode Island - General Pigot commanding garrison of 9,000 [but c.f. Boatner: 3,000] - rebel detachment under Lafayette

7 August - Lord Howe's fleet sails - scuttling of British ships to prevent falling to the French [c.f. Boatner: more destroyed than listed by J. P. - a panic measure by the British, inspired by the American movement up the east passage]

9 August - Colonel John Butler's loyalist raid on Wyoming Valley with Indian support [known as Wyoming Valley Massacre - records of slaughter and torture of civilians vary & possibly exaggerated. John Butler achieved strategic surprise and victory over rebels under Colonel Zebulon Butler]

10 August - of French settlement in North Carolina

14 August - Naval engagement of Newport, Rhode Island - tactical defeat for France - American naval forces - violent storm

Peace Commissioners still await reply from Congress

pp.99-106 16 August - 5 September 1778

18 August - details of naval engagement as above, damage sustained in storm

20 August - General Sullivan & rebel forces on Rhode Island

23 August - of reception in Philadelphia of M. [Conrad Alexandre] Gérard, first French minister to the States and ambassador in Philadelphia

29 August - of resignation of [George] Johnstone from Peace Commission - Report from Rhode Island - British under seige - French Navy withdrawn to Boston

5 September - rebel withdrawal from Rhode Island on Clinton's appearance

Disagreement between Sullivan and D'Estaign following Rhode Island defeat

Trial of General [Charles] Lee

Following his conduct in the Monmouth Campaign

J. P.: "I cannot...believe [the] Government will give us up with force here sufficient to crush the rebellion"

pp107-108 New York 6 September 1778

Clinton's forces massed on Rhode Island

pp109-112 1 - 11 November 1778

Release of Governor [William] Franklin [exchanged for John McKinley]

3 November - troops & fleet sail for West Indies under General Grant and [Admiral] Commodore Hotham

8 November - of Quakers in Philadelphia - anti-rebels - M. Gérard's quarrels with Continental Congress about currency, d'Estaign, etc. - Washington's crossing of Hudson River - of American Manifesto of 30 October 1778 threatening vengeance on enemies for barbarity etc

11 November - Peace Commission of Carlisle's Manifesto [40 day amnesty offer] expired without response from rebels - Rumoured British evacuation of New York

Peace Commissioners to go home

D'Estaign and French fleet sailed to West Indies pursued by British

Of J. P.'s meeting with Governor [William] Franklin

Expedition to the Southern Theatre under Colonel [Archibald] Campbell

pp113-116 New York 9 January 1779

J. P.'s personal & business financial matters - of his Negro slaves - of prospects for exchange of Jacob Elligood [? now a prisoner with rebels]

Rumoured British plan to leave the Continent

Criticisms of American administration

pp117-118 New York 19 January 1779

Personal and business matters

Quarrels amongst principal rebels [Robert] Morris concerned in the Silas Deane controversay [accused of embezelling £200,000 via Hortalez & Cis. - a fictitious company through which France helped finance the Revolution]

Morris cleared

pp119-122 24 January - 28 February 1779

Peace Commissioners' report in Britain - new determination to crush colonies

31 January - of capture of St. Lucia from French by British under General Grant and Admiral Barrington [12-28 December 1778]

3 February - of capture of Savannah, Ga., by British under Genral Prevost and Colonel Campbell [from Americans under General Robert Howe - 29 December 1770]

7 February - Loyalists on Rhode Island hoping to form fighting corps under Governor Franklin

28 February - Washington gone to New London

pp123-126 11 April - 5 May 1779

On possibility of plan for taking tobacco out of Virginia - on J. P.'s giving information about parts of the Continent to General Mathew - tribes of Indians ready to join Loyalists in South

On joining the fleet at Staten Island

pp127-130 5 - 18 June 1779

Sir Henry Clinton's plans - situation of Washington - false reports of rebel victories

pp131-134 1 - 29 August 1779

News from West Indies - [Admiral John] Byron left St. Lucia to reinforce St. Kitts - d'Estaigns capture of St. Vincent [16 June] and Grenada [4 July]. British attack - inconclusive engagement

American occupation of Stony and Verplancks Points [attacked by Anthony Wayne 16 July]

19 August - Henry Lee's rebel raid on Palushook [Paulus Hook, N. J., an isolated British post]

Commanded by Major Sutherland - British reinforcements too late - Sutherland subsequently court - martialled

Attempts to exchange Colonel Elligood unsuccessful

Political events - prospect of ruin for Loyalists

pp135-142 11 October - 19 November 1779

Sullivan's attacks on Indiian allies of British

Sir James Wallace, missing with £30,000 pay for troops in South [he was captured off Savanah by French]

25 October - Scattering of French fleet [following disastrous defeat of D'Estaign at Savannah 9 October 1779]

Evacuation of Stony and Verplancks Points by British - and of Rhode Island, garrison sent to King's Bridge

31 October - British raid by Queen's Rangers from Amboy to Somerset

[17 October], Colonel Simcce [commander] wounded & captured - rebel commander killed

14 November - Taking of Fort Stanwix (or Schwyder), 2 Novemner, by Sir John Johnson [Loyalist leader] & others

19 November - of defeat of French fleet at Savannah [see above]

J. P.'s verdict on "the fatal brothers" [William and Richard Howe, army and navy commanders, respectively, in America, whose conduct of American affairs was severely criticised by many, including the subsequent C.-in-C., Sir Henry Clinton - and was the subject of a pamphlet war and a Parliamentary enquiry - both inconclusive]

For events next in chronological sequence see 920 PAR/I/13/2

pp143-146 N.D. [?June 1780]

Economic situation - counterfeit money circulating - threat of revolt amongst rebels [Events during the Springfield Raid]. British attack on Elizabethtown - General Maxwell in command of Americans [he resigned July 1780]

Rebel escapes including Governor [William] Livingston [Governor of New York]

pp147-151 Correspondence from J. P. to Alexander Elmsley

28 September - 11 October 1780

Recounts the history of Benedict Arnold's treachery - of Washington and the Rebels - his negotiations with Major André, British representative

His discovery and flight & his betrayals to British - with comments on his infamous character - the subsequent execution of André - preparations for the Virginia Expedition

pp151-154 Hampton Road [?] November - 14 January 1781

Events following Charleston Expedition of Clinton, 1780 and American Surrender on 12 May. Cornwallis left in command

British dispositions in the South and favourable situation before the defeat of British under Ferguson [at King's Mountain, South Carolina, 7 October 1780

General Leslie sent [from New York to Chesapeake] - lands at Portsmouth Virginia

22 November - fleet [with Leslie] sails [from Portsmouth]

14 December - arrival at Charleston

British troop dispositions

24 December - treachery of Benjamin Wynne, his trial and conviction

Situation of both armies - British under Cornwallis and Leslie and rebels under Green[e]