The March Begins: "We Had To Bivouac In Meadows Assigned To Us"
The area east of the Hudson River, across from Stillwater, New York, bustled with activity on October 19, 1777. Over 4,000 British and German soldiers, some with their wives and children, had crossed the river starting the day before. Their campaign to end the rebellion of Great Britain's American colonies was over. What would be years in captivity for most had just begun. Major-General Horatio Gates summarized the situation, writing: "... they are now upon their march towards Boston; General Glover, and General Whipple, with a proper Guard of Militia, escort them; and are to provide all such necessary Articles, as may be wanted upon the march….” [1] Private David How was one of those militia guards. His diary shows little progress for the first few days of the march. The British having crossed on the 18th, he wrote, "This Day [the 19th] we have been fixing For a march and at noon we Set out with the prisoners for to Guard th...