Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1824-07-15

TIMOTHY PiCKERING's ACCOUNT OF
HIMSELF.


II shall not trouble the reader with
long details. II may suffice to say, that
early in 1908, when marked hue was
drawn between wings aud tories, (the
party names of the day,) acted with
the former in all the measures Of my
countrymen. in opposition to British
taxation of the colonies-that in my
ma i've town was member Of the va
rious committees raised in that period,
to support III opposition; and that on
me devolved all the writing which oc-
casions called for:-That prior TO the
war which ensued, Twas elected, by the
freeholders OF my native county Essex,
Register of Deeds--That afser the COM
mencement of hostiIities, when Siassa-
chusetts organized provisional govern
ment, | was appointed Judge of tho
county court of common pleas, and sole
Judge OF the maritime court, to take
cognizance of prize causes. pursuant to
the resolutions of Congress, for the mid
die district of Massachusetts,, comprising
Boston, Marblehead, Salem. and other
ports in Essex. Into these places were
brought most of the prizes taken by the
armed vessels of Massachusetts The
number Of those prizes while held the
office, (which was until joined the army
under Gen. Washington's Immediate
command amounted to about one hun
dred and fifty.
In the autu I'm of 1915, the army be-
ing greatly reduced, by the expiration
of enlistments, and likely soon nearly
to be dissolved, there was call on
Massachusetts for many thousand of her
militia. ] marched as commander OF a
regiment of seven hundred men from
Essex.-The tour of duty terminated in
New Jersey, in March. i777. General
Wa ,hingtoa's head quarters were at
Morristown. Some time after my re-
turn home, ireceived from the General
an invitation to AXE thr office of adlu-
tant general In that capacity ! joined
the army at Middlebrook about the mid
die of the month of June. In Septem
/ Der happened the battle OF Brandywine.
Five days afterwards another general
battle was expected; but rain coming
on, the enemy halted, and, after some
slSirmishes between the advanced par
ties, the American army retired. In
October, the battle of Germantown took
place. After the capture Of Burgoyne's
army, General Washington, reinforced
by some brigades from the northern
army. took an advantageous position at
Whitemarsh, IA miles from Philadel-
phia. In the beginning Of December,
Sir William Howe led his army from
Philadelphia TO Chestnut Hill, about
three miles from the American army,
and on he morning of the third day af-
forwards, advanced, with his whole
force, appareniIs with the expectation,
or hope, of drawing Washington from
his advantageous position. The advan-
ced parties, and Morgan's rifle regiment,
engaged the British advanced parties
Washington retaining his station on the
hills, Howe returned TO Philadelphia
The american army then marched to
Valley Forge, on the western side Of the
river Schuy kill, and huttedfor the win
ter.
Some two or three months before,
Congress had constituted a Board Of
War. was appointed one of its MEM
bers, and took my seat there as soon as
successor in the Office OF adjutant
general was appointed, being the last of
January, i77s. Judge Peters was a
member oil the Board. and we were
joined by Generals Gates and Miflln;
but these two left the Board not long
erwards, and the bushes, of it rested
chiefly on Mr. Peters and myself. l
continued in this station until the sum
mer of so, when General Green re-
signed the office of Quarter Master
General. Very Unexpectedly that office
was proposed to me, aud by Roger
Sherman, then member of Congress,
man whose name, ia the annals of his
country, will descend to posterity among
the names of her eminent patriots and
statesmen. Having taken little time
to consider the proposition, informed
him would accept the office, should IL
please Congress to confer it. Itwas an
/ arduous undertaking, and he more em-
barrassing because continental money
/ was so deprecated as to be hardly worth
counting, and Congress bad no other
funds. Having accepted the office, |
addressed letter TO Congress. pr opo-
sing the expedient Of authorizing me to
value all services and supplies, in the
department, as if to be paid for in spe-