Physical Description:
63 leaves, 14 x 21 cm. oblong quarto, bound volume. Notes:
The largest portion of the manuscript consists of the diary that
Thomas Foster kept from May 1782 through April of 1783, with
individual entries dated Feb. 15 1782, and end of July 1781. The
daily entries describe the weather, camp life, Foster?s duties and
discuss war news and rumors, especially anxious expectations of
peace. Embedded in the diary are copies of the "Resolve of Congress
Regarding Cloathing" (November 1779), two general orders about
"honorary badges of distinction" (1782 August 11 and 17), two
general orders regarding the proclamation of peace (1783, April 18
and 19), and a ditty entitled "Emperor of Rome Gaius Caligula"
"transcribed May 10th 1782 at New Winsor (sic)." Also included are
pay rolls for the "Extra Pay of the Armours" of the 3rd and 5th
Massachusets Brigades for the period from 1779 till December 1782
(the accounts were made 2for the time I was at work with Mr. Gray
stores for ye 3rd Brig.3 and when 2Mr. William Cook was my
Conductor"); miscellaneous personal accounts; an "Extract from the
London Magazine February 1778" with a calculation of the total
losses of the British Army; "Computation of the Dayly Expenses of
the Massachusetts Lines at Eleven pence per Ration for Man a Day,"
and accounts of various household expenses (1785). Biographical Note:
Thomas Foster of Middleborough, Mass. belonged to the 14th
Massachusetts Regiment, 3rd Massachusetts Brigade. In January 1781,
when the regiment was disbanded, Foster was transferred to the 7th
Massachusetts regiment commanded by John Brooks. The regiment was
part of the 1st Massachusetts Brigade and was assigned to Highland
Department that covered the area along the Hudson River, including
West Point. Foster was employed at the brigade stores, evidently as
a blacksmith. According to the note in the diary, he was
transferred on July 13 1783 "from Mr. William Cooks stores imploy
into ye Brig. Armory under the Inspection of Capt. Tuckerman and
began ye woks in the Traveling Forge Belonging to the first Mass.
Brigade." Subjects:
United States. Continental Army. Massachusetts Infantry Regiment,
14th (1777-1781) ; United States. Continental Army. Massachusetts
Infantry Regiment, 7th (1781-1783) ; Massachusetts -- History --
Revolution, 1775-1783 -- Regimental histories -- Sources. ; New
York (State) -- History -- Revolution, 1775-1783 -- Sources. ;
United States -- History -- Revolution, 1775-1783 -- Personal
narratives. ; United States -- History -- Revolution, 1775-1783 --
Peace. Form/Genre:
Diaries United States Revolution, 1775-1783. (aat) ; Military
records United States Revolution, 1775-1783. (aat) Physical Collection:
Orderly Books of the American Revolution.
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