On our arrival upon the island, we found the enemy had evacuated the place with the greatest precipitation, and were struck with horrour at the number of dead bodies, in a state of putrefaction, strewed all the way from their battery to Cherry-Point, about two miles in length, without a shovelful of earth upon them; others gasping for life; and some had crawled to the water’s edge, who could only make known their distress by beckoning to us. By the small-pox, and other malignant disorders which have raged on board the fleet for many months past, it is clear they have lost, since their arrival at Gwin’s Island, near five hundred souls. I myself counted one hundred and thirty graves, or rather holes, loosely covered over with earth, close together, many of them large enough to hold a corporal’s guard. One, in the middle, was neatly done up with turf, and is supposed to contain the remains of the late Lord of Gosport. Many were burnt alive in brush huts, which, in their confusion, had got on fire. In short, such a scene of misery, distress, and cruelty, my eyes never beheld; for which the authors, one may reasonably conclude, never can make atonement in this world.
The enemy left behind them, in their battery, a double fortified nine-pounder, a great part of their baggage, with several tents and markees, besides the three tenders, with their cannon, small arms, &c.; also, the anchors and cables of the Dunmore, Otter, and many others, to the amount, it is supposed, of twelve or fifteen hundred pounds. On their leaving the Island, they burnt some valuable vessels which had got aground. Mr. John Grymes’s effects on the Island have fallen into our hands, consisting of thirty-five negroes, horses, cattle, and furniture. Major Byrd, on the approach of our canoes to the Island, was huddled into a cart, in a very sick and low condition, it is said, and carried down to Cherry-Point, where he embarked. The second shot the Dunmore received cut her boatswain in two, and wounded two or three others; and she had scarcely recovered from the shock, when a nine-pounder from the lower battery entered her quarter, and beat in a large timber, from the splinters of which Lord Dunmore got wounded in the legs, and had all his valuable china smashed about his ears. It is said his Lordship was exceedingly alarmed, and roared out, “Good God, that ever I should come to this!” We had our information from one of his people that came ashore after the engagement, who was taken by our scouts; he likewise said that many were killed in the fleet, which had sustained some thousand pounds worth of damage. The Fowey and Roebuck were the lowermost ships; besides which, there were one hundred and large odd sail of vessels, which took their departure on Thursday afternoon, and are supposed to have gone into [the] Potomack. In this affair we lost not a man but poor Captain Arundel, who was killed by the bursting of a mortar of his own invention, although the General and all the officers were against his firing it. His zeal for the service lost him his life.
[A letter from a militiaman named Barrett Gray to Clepp Asquith of Burn Acres]
August 7th, 1776
My dear Mr. Asquith —
There is excellent news from here sir, excellent news. We have drove Lord Dunmore’s fleet out from the Chesapeake Bay, it is departed and shall not return, the Lord be praised. After their flight from Gwynn’s, they was moored near St. George’s Island and was pleased to send a small fleet up the Potomac, we reckon with an aim to sack General Washington’s home and take Lady Washington for a prisoner and free his servants, to his great confusion. But the Lord hath delivered us out of our distresses, and a fog came upon them, and we put up a strong fight, and they has gone out of the Bay entire. They head mayhap for New-York or some say one half the fleet to Jamaica for to sell the Ethiopian Reg. now there ain’t no use for them.
So sir we see the last of this dog Dunmore, blacker than hell, whose crimes shall be recalled in all ages and he be called cursed by all men. Let us sing the praises of JEHOVAH for He hath given us victory for He hateth the coward and despiseth the slave who seeks to take his master’s life. Now there is in all parts rejoicing.
I have made inquiries with those who recovered some few of the papers from the Devil’s Own Ethiopian Regiment, among which there is several morning reports with names of such slaves as escaped to Lord Dunmore’s side. There is none called Pro Bono nor called Gitney nor called Asquith. I reckon he never joined with Lord Dunmore, but set out straight for the forests, he is such a rogue.
I mislike to carry no word of him; but I know you shall be rejoiced at the news of our victory. The Lord be praised, and the hymns be led by
Your humble servant,
B. Gray
[From the diary of Josiah Gitney of the Novanglian College of Lucidity. The handwriting at this point in his diary is extremely enfeebled and palsied, occasionally illegible.]
[September] 23 [1776] It was my Purpose to investigate the Owl its neck & I am in a Pet for still I have no such Creature. I spake to Aina, saying, Aina yesterday I wishd you would bespeak an Owl for me. She was impert. & now it is Afternoon & no Owl. V. cold this day & the Trembling is vexatious. I hv ceas’d the Course of Lime for the Irruptions only grow, my Arm is all involved with them, & I divine phps twas the Lime. Mr. Clark came today about his Fee & I told Aina inform him I am not at Home. She is an impert. Hussey & tells me he knowth I am here. Well damn his Eyes, knows he the Work in which I am engaged?
24 Still persisting that terrible icy Sensation beneath the Skin of the Arm, as cold Serpents aslither. It is a bad Sensation, it is a v. bad Sensation & I move my Arm but it doth not give over. I consider puncturing the Arm again & disturbing the Muscle.
25 The House is filled with Whispers & Exclamations. I will not believe it haunted but prepare to delve into the Plasticity of Sound. I vow I hear Laughter.
26 Aina says she shall leave me if I carry on thus. I say & a fine Thing too for she is a negligent Slut.
27 A very bad Day, I was under Apprehensions that there was a Trap-Door beneath my Bed, & that my dead Brothers were in a Convocation there, & waited til I slept to creep out and [illegible]. I have soothed myself with nervine bitters. [Illegible sentence.]
28 A Circumst. most startling. Yesterday Rain fell exceeding hard & it is black at all Hours. In the Day, I writ Letters to the French. Come Evening, I am in my Chair & I hear a Tread upon the Stair & I call out Aina, Aina, but tis not her. I am fill’d with Apprehensions. The nervous Particles are in full Operation, & the Spirits agitated, with conspicuous vaporous Disordering in the whole of the Pulmonary Apparatus & the Arm.
The Door open & it is Octavian, I thought at first it was a Specter & took up the Poker. I demanded whether he had come to deliver me my Bane & he did not speak but closed the Door & sat upon my other Chair. His Countenance it is hard, devilish hard.
For a long Time we sat & each regarded the other. I could little imagine a subject of Discourse & at last fell asleep. When I awoke this morning he hath builded me a Fire in the Grate.
He did not speak & I at length gave it out that Mr. Sharpe was receiv’d of his final Reward, to which Oct. saith he had heard thus upon the Road or he should not have come. Then said I, He did not wake from his Slumber, & Oct. saith that he knew that as well. Then said I, You & Dr. Trefusis provided the fatal Dose. You are his Killers, which he was not backward in owning.
I know not what hath alter’d my Boy, that he be so cruel.
29 The Sabbath come, Oct. inquired did I wish to attend Services, he should assist me. I wisht him not to touch me & told him to remain at a distance.
30 Would I could scrape the Skin off my Arm without prejudice. Continual Pain & today my Palsies barely allow me to eat. The Boy makes v. free use with my Library. He spent the Day by my Fire, reading Volumes. They all must be sold, said I.
October 3. I asked him today How did you come here? to which he says I come from New-York, where a Ship hath [illegible]. Is this House much alter’d I asked him. He saith that the Wood upon the Walls is v. injured from the Redcoats & that the Balustrades be taken for Kindling. This I denied & he said Do you not recall the other Rooms? & I replied, I recall perfectly Boy; but he led me out of my Chamber & t
was as he said.
Do you remember this beautiful Place, said I & he replied I recall it sir. Was there not a wonderful Felicity here when we were in our great Days? Your Mother was the Cynosure of all Eyes. He led me back into my Chamber.
He hath spent the Day in writing at my Table.
4 It hath long been a Subject of great Interest
It hath
I have long been concerned in the question, Whether Reason is inherent in the World, & is simply clouded by the Frailties of Mortal Man, or whether Reason is but an imperfect Illusion, & further, whether Man is a Reasonable Creature hamper’d by Passions, or a Passionate Creature hamper’d by Reason; & whether, if Reason prevailed, that had made him more generous in his Motions. I am sensible that I believed one Way once but I aver that our College’s Defeat is due to an imperfect Understanding of this Question.
Today for a space of five Minutes perhaps I became assured that the Answer to this lay in the Sheet upon my Bed, & did I wind it one Way around my Hand, I was sensible of Reason predominating, & the other, Passion was at the Core, I rapidly twined it each Way seeking which was Right, until the Distemper lifted, & I saw my Folly. Returned to my Senses, I lay by the Twist of Sheet. I hope Octav. did not witness my Phrenzy.
5 It hath come before me that Aina hath rented out the Experimental Chambers to a Family of Smiths. This doth explain the ghostly Halloos. Aina — say I — do you believe it is encompassed within your Station to lease portions of this Estate, & she pert as a dog saith It was her Station to buy us Victuals & for such she need Money. Oct. then submitted that the Smith & his Family were respectful & generous & I objected They shall melt down the Silver. Aina saith Sir the Silver is gone Months ago. I said to Octavian, We are a little reduced in our Circs. But our Suffering shall not be indefinite if Aina would only purchase me an Owl & some other Sundries so I might restore our College to its former Glory & win again the Approbation of our Trustees.
The Boy & I shall be once more the Wonder of the World, say I, the Wonder of the World. His Studies continue apace & he reads & writes all day by the Fire. I taught you to read, Boy, say I, & he says, I am sensible of your Generosity. He is ever a Blessing as was his dear Mother. In the Evening I remember her.
7 I demanded that I survey the Family of Smiths, wishing that I might observe their Work, to determine what Deficiencies might be found in their Processes that might be rectified by the guiding Hand of rational Inquiry. Oct. demurred, using as his Excuse my Infirmity and the small Distance to their Shop. I spake to him in the strongest possible Terms of my Authority, and he seems much chastened & quieter.
8 I quizzed the Boy on what manner of Smiths. He did not seem to know, and I asked, viz. Goldsmiths, Silversmiths, Coppersmiths, Whitesmiths, Brightsmiths, which, Boy? He believes they are pewterers. Said I, Then look ye, do they cast both hollowware & sadware? See? Do they cast in soapstone or brass? That hath silenced him.
9 Today I asked Octavian to fetch me the Natural History of Ælian. He did but I could not read the Greek, something being amiss with my Eyes. He brought the Candle closer but the Letters were repellant & I believe were merely our Letters backward. I fear that it
10 Oct. introduced me to the Table of the Smiths today. They are not of the finest but they met me with Humility & we had an excellent Meal, I regaled them with many Tales of our Successes.
12 Where is Pro Bono? said I. I know not, said Octavian, He & I parted in New-York. I inquired why he & Pro Bono were in New-York. Oct. would not reply.
14 At my importuning, Octavian conveyed me this day to the Smiths’ Shop, which is on Hawkins Street, it was not agreeable. They were a dirty, low Sort of People & haughty. They after a Time neglected my Questions entirely & when the Son was burnt by his own Clumsiness accus’d me of Meddling. The Son call’d me many Names I shall not deign to repeat & tho’ the Father sought to mollify he did so merely for Fear of their Rent & I informed them to [illegible] & they are to be out in the Morning. My Arm v. troublesome this day & I have asked Octavian to heat it a Bath & administer a pill rolled of camphor & gum asafœtida. Those Scoundrels are below but they shall be out tomorrow.
15 There is Shouting from below-Stairs. I have [illegible] until after Noon. [Next sentence illegible.]
16 I look’d up from my Book, having fall asleep, & found Octavian scratching upon his Writing, an infernal Scratching that tore the Paper & witnessed him take the Book in which he wrote & fling it at the Table & in a childish Fit hurl it to the Floor. I bade him Steady, Steady, but he came to me and stood before me, as he would offer me Violence. I cried out & recalled him to his Duty & the Hazard of a Slave laying Hand upon his Master & he had the impertinence to say he was not this eight Month my Slave & left the Chamber.
He doth not comprehend my full Palsy nor how Agitation inspires its Assaults through the Disequilibrium of the Humors, viz. the Superabundance of Bile. He is in a Fury but he doth not consider how such a frightful State might upset the Systems of those around him, he hath no Mind to it. I must hold my Arm against the Bedstead even to write, so great is the Trembling.
In all such Buffets it behooves us to use Patience with the Offenders, that they might be brought back to the Path of Right. Tho’ I should use a Switch if I might.
17 I am astonished; Pro Bono hath a Wife, saith Octavian. I inquired why he [illegible]. Then says I, Where is your Fellow Murderer Dr. Trefusis? — He is beyond harm, saith Octavian. — He is in the Grave? — At this, the Boy suffered some Confusion, then to asseverate, My Tutor is deceased, Sir. — Then, said I, he is in Hell, for what he hath done to me and to Dick Sharpe, to which the Boy had no Reply.
Whenever I move — seek to move without Palsy — I curse him who hath brought me low & for he was a Betrayer, an Adder I nursed in my Bosom. I yet recall his simpering Face as he offered us Tea. Sir, you have made me an old Man as you were. In one Stroke you added to me twenty Year, I extremely wish you damned.
18 The Boy is [illegible]. I asked him again of Pro Bono’s Bride & their Location. Oct. will not reply, but informs me that it is a hidden Place, & that when he leaves me — mark this! — leaves me — he shall fly to them. You shall not leave, say I. — Says he, I shall, sir. — And again, say I, You shall not. & I demanded to be told of this Refuge of Slaves. Oct. says only that Others have gone before them, & that it is a considerable Voyage, & that he knows not whether any of them shall reach the Place. — You shall never reach it, say I, for if you stir without this House, you shall be taken by the Watch. — Said he, You have no Power over me, sir. — Said I, No Power, Boy? I have every Power. You shall not in any wise leave. — How may you obstruct me? — I shall tell the Watch! And they shall rush to apprehend you! — He rose and stood. — Tell them, said he. Tell the Watch of me.
He left the Chamber.
I lay in my Bed. He is an ungrateful Wretch. He is returned now, and writing, but he is [illegible] to be hung in a Gibbet, were there equal Justice, he is of so contrary a Temper, he is
22 I for three days have [illegible]. I even now barely can admit Food.
23 I live yet, I live yet. I walked with Oct.’s Aid around the Chamber many Revolutions & that is good. I told Oct. I have suffered illness since his Mother’s Death & I avow the procatarctic cause is a Splenetic Vapor released by her Corpse in the Autopsy, for which I have [illegible] all manner of Infusions & Specifics but still cannot rid myself of the Distemper.
24 When I was walking today, I fell and am greatly bruised. I am in some fear, for twas Octavian tripped me. He saith, I did no such Thing, Sir, but I am sensible of his Resentment. He offered his Foot in my Path, which he denies. He works all Hours at his Writing, copying out some dirty Volume onto fair, & I believe does not sleep.
27 I wish I had an Apparatus with to experiment on Dephlogisticated Air. I requested Octav. to bespeak an Apparatus from a Glazier but he would not & defied me. This Evening, again he tripped me & I fell to the Floor; & again he denied All.
28 Do you recall the Transit of Ve
nus? said I. Those were some fine Times, when Lord Cheldthorpe was among us & this House admitted the first Men among all Nations. — Oct. replied he did recall that circumstance.
30 My Fear of the Boy grows, why has he returned? Tonight he brought me my Soup, & said he had cooked it himself. I tasted it several Bites & then said I would not eat it more. He asked, Why, sir?
He had put Pebbles in it, they were in the Bowl. Octavian, said I, why have you put Stones in it? — I have not, sir. — Then this? — I know not how those appeared there.
31 I cannot sleep for hearing his Breath & I know he is by. I cannot abide how little we know other men’s Motive Parts, I speculate might there be a Manner in which we might map the Springs of the Brain & its Excitations? When I was a Child I believed so. We should be happier could we see each other’s Thoughts & there should be no Deceit. Perhaps investigate Trepanning.
[November] 4 This Eve Octav. lit us a Fire & sate upon his Chair & moved me to mine. This seemed a pleasant Evening until he announced that he has completed his Work & the Time hath come for his Leaving. — You cannot leave, say I. I have Need of you here. — (As I spake it, sensible of the Spleen Disemboguing nervous Vapors & the whole Frame altering in its chemical Condition.) — I shall leave tomorrow, said he. — What of our Work together? — We have no Work together, sir. — How! I have devoted near Two Decades to you. — To the Study of me. — & I do not wish you disappear from View. — If that is our Work together, then our Work, said he, is complete. — I have Volumes of Data, said I, and you shall in a Stroke render them all useless. — They are gone, sir. — They are in no wise gone, I replied. I preserved them in Canaan against the Occupation. I brought them back to this place. — He shakes his Head. — Lead me, say I, to the Interdicted Room.
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