1776: "Revive The Drooping Spirits of the Rebels"

Ambrose Serle arrived in the American Colonies in 1774, serving as an undersecretary for the British Secretary of State in the Colonies. By 1776, Serle was a clerk of reports and joined Lord Howe's British army continuing his secretarial work. He kept a diary of his experiences during the American Revolution from 1776 to 1778. This selected excerpt from December 1776 includes Christmas Day and the early news of the Battle of Trenton. 

Spelling, grammar and capitalization is original. Some spelling or clarifications are provided in [brackets]. 

Wednesday 25th.

Dined with Lt. Col. Clerk of the 43d. Regt. [Regiment] with Mr. Strachey &c. Nothing material occurred in Conversation, &c. The Troops remain in statu quo in the Jersies. 

Thursday, 26th December.

A most tempestuous Day, Frost, Wind & Snow, confined me wholly to my Apartment; I employed myself in preparing materials for the Press, in reading, &c. 

Friday, 27th.

Heard the very unpleasant News of a whole Brigade of Hessians under Col. Rall being taken Prisoners at Trenton by a large Body of Rebels, and at nine o'clock in the Morning. I was exceedingly concerned on the public Account, as it will tend to revive the drooping Spirits of the Rebels and increase their Force, and extremely chagrined on my own Account as it will detain me probably for a further Space of Time from my longed-for Home, and the happy Enjoyment of my Family and Friends. Above all, I feel myself inexpressibly concerned on the Account of my most affectionate Wife, who will receive the Information of Delay with the more Disquietude, as I have given her Hopes of my returning Home at no long Date.

One of the Mr. Allens of Philadelphia called upon me at Tea, and gave me large & particular Information of the State of Things and the Temper of the People in the Province of Pennsylvania: He is positive that three fourths of the People are against Independency; that the Continent is under the Dominion of a desperate Faction, formed by the worst Characters upon it; that the Inhabitants in general begin to have their Eyes open relative to the Nature & Consequences of the Dispute; and that the Germans and Quakers in particular have changed their Sentiments upon this Controversy. - But, alas, they all prate & profess much; but, when You call upon them, they will do nothing. Our Northern Army in the Spring will be of more Service to us, under Providence, than all the provincial Troops, under the Denomination of Friends, throughout America. To govern America, it must be conquered; and it must be no lax Governmt. [government] to retain the Conquest. It may seem an extraordinary Proposition, but I believe it a true one - It may be conquered with more Ease than governed, if no Change be made upon the Conquest in our System of colonial Policy.

I shd. [should] have mentioned, that Mr. Allen observed, that "the Vanity & Insolence of this, Country, wch [which] are beyond all Bound, had led it into the present Scrape" - a Truth, which I was by no means disposed to contradict.

Saturday, 28th.

Dined at Ld. [Lord] Shuldham's, with Govr. [Governor] Tryon, and some officers of the Army & Navy. Much of our Conversation turned upon the disagreeable News of yesterday. The Number taken amounts to about 900 men, 6 field Pieces, and some ordinary Iron Guns. . . 

[Journal continues; end of excerpt] 

Source:

Ambrose Serle, The American Journal of Ambrose Serle, Secretary to Lord Howe, 1776-1778 (San Marino: The Huntington, 1940), pages 109-113.