Lt. Col. Henry Dearborn's Journal Entry for the Battle of Newtown, August 29, 1779

Lt. Col. Henry Dearborn, a veteran of Bunker Hill and Saratoga, commanded the 3rd New Hampshire in Maj. Gen. John Sullivan's campaign against the Iroquois. He left this entry in his journal about the Battle of Newtown.

(Punctuation and spelling are original)

The march'd at 9 o'clock a.m. proceeded about 5 miles when our light troops discover'd a line of breastworks about 80 rods in their front which after reconnoytering were found to extend about half a mile in length on very advantageous ground with a large brook in front the river on their right a high mountain on their left & a learge settlement in their rear called New Town. Their works ware very artfully mask'd with green bushes so that the discovering them was an accidental as it was fortunate to us Skirmishing on both sides commenc'd soon as we discover'd their works which continued until our Disposition was made with was as followeth viz. The Artillery to form in front of their works cover'd by Genl. Hands Brigade Genl. Poos Brigade and riflemen to turn the Enimies left & fall in their rear supported by Genl Clintons Brigade Genl Maxwells Brigade to form a Corps de reserve the left flanking division & light Infantry to pursue the Enimy when they left their works At 3 P.M. Genl Poor began his rout by Collums from the right of Regts by files we pass'd a very thick swamp so cover'd by bushes for near a mile that the Collums found great difficulty in keeping their order but by Genl Poors great providence & good conduct we proceeded in much better order than I expected we possibly could have done After passing this swamp we inclin'd to the left crossed the creek that runs in front of the enimies works On both sides of this creek was a large number of new houses but no land cleared soon after we pass'd this creek we began to assend the mountain that cover'd the Enimies left Immediately after we began to Assend the Mountain We ware saluted by a brisk fire from a body of Indians who ware posted on thsi mountain for the purpos of preventing any troops turning the left of their works at the same Instant that they began their fire on us they raised the Indian yell or war whoop The riflemen kept up a scattering fire while we form'd the line of Battle which was done exceeding quick we then advanced rappedly with fix'd bayonets without fireing a shot altho they kept up a steady fire on us until we gain'd the summet of the Moutain which is about half a mile We then gave them a full volley which oblig'd them to take to their heels Col Reids Regt was on the left of the Brigade was more severely attackt than any of part of the Brigade which prevented his advancing as far as the rest After we ha scower'd the top of the mountain (in doing which Lt Cass of our regt tommohawked an Indian with the Indians own tommahawk that was slightly wounded) I being next to Col Reid on the left finding he still was very severely ingag'd nearly on the same ground he was first attackt on though proper to reverse the front of the Regt & moove to his assistance I soon discovered a body of Indians turning his right which I turn'd about by a full fire from the regt This was a very seasonable releaf to Col Reid surrouned that he was reduc'd to the necessaty of reetreating or making a desperate push with the bayonet the latter of which had had began to put in execution the moment I gave him releaf The Enimy now all left the field of action with precipitation & in great confusion pursued by our light Infantry about 3 miles They left a number of their packs blankets &c on the ground Half an hour before the action became serious with Genl Poors Brigade the Artillery open'd upon their works which soon made them works too warm for them. We found of the Enimy on the field of action 11 Indian warriers dead & one Squaw took one might man and one negro prisoners from whom we learnt that Butler Commanded here that Brandt had all the Indians that could be mustered in the five Nations that there was about 200 whites and a few of which were British regular troops It seems their whole force was not far from 1000 These prisoners inform us their loss in killed & wounded was very great the most of which they according to custom carried off 

Our loss in Genl Poors Brigade kill'd and wounded is

                                                                          Kill'd   Wounded

Major                                                                0             1              Major Titcomb

Capt                                                                  0             1              Capt Clays

Lt                                                                      0             1             Lt. McCawley died the same night

Non commissioned officers & privates     3            29

Our loss in Kill'd & wounded in the whole Army except Genl Poors Brigade was

Kill'd - - - - - 0 Wounded - - - - - - 4

At sunset the army Incamp'd on the ground lately occupied by the Enimy