[page 20]

16.

given that the flotilla was made up of 26 war vessels gathered before the port[58], we set about building redoubts straightaway. Those who were still well and able had to work on the redoubts day and night, while scurvy was developing from day to day! Consequently, in a company of 110 men there were not more than 18 to 20 able-bodied men, all the others had been struck with scurvy.

Ausfall machen, dan sie waren 26 Krieg-Schiffe starck vor dem Haffen, allda mußte täglich geschantzt werden. Diejenige so noch gesund waren mußten Tag und Nacht arbeiten auf den Schantzen wobey die Kranckheit nemlich der Sparbock von Tag zu Tag noch stärcker eingerissen ! So daß die Compagnien von 110 Mann starck nur noch biß 18 – 20 Mann brauchen konten, der Überest ware allen von Scharbock angesteckt.

As all the inhabitants had at present come back to the town and everyday would see the misery of the very large number of sick men, who for the most part could no longer stand on their own legs and yet were forced to take their walk, they pitied them greatly and did as much good for them as they could. The worst misfortune was that no doctor had any other remedy or advice to give against scurvy than to force them to walk, which is what they did[59]. As 200 to 300 individuals were dying each day, we hastened to discover the true remedy. Most of the time with this illness the heart is healthy, and in a half hour dead and alive etc.

Weilen nun jetzt wiedrum alle Einwohner in der Stadt waren, und täglich das Jammer gesehen deren vielen krancken Leutte, worunder der mehrste Theil auf keinen Fuß stehen konte, und doch täglich gezwungen waren zum spatzieren gehen, hatten sie sehr grosses Mitleiden mit ihnen und ihnen alles guts gethan. Das gröste Elend ware, daß keine Docter oder Doctoris konten Mittel und Rath finden, vor den Scharbock als dasjenige daß man sie zwingen solte zum spatzieren gehen wie es auch geschehen ist. Bald darauf hatte man das rechte Mittel gesehen, daß täglich biß 2-300 gestorben, seyn. Diese Kranckheit bestehet mehrstentheils aus gesundem Hertzen, und in einer halben Stund todt und lebendig etc.

At present, we were feeling very happy in our camp, as in our vicinity we had 2 beautiful neighbors who lived in a windmill, one was named Hanne and the 2^nd, Malle; they knew a few snippets of German and soon they opened a bar where they offered eau-de-vie;

Jetzt aber befanden wir uns sehr wohl in unserm Lager dan wir hatten in unsrer Nachbahrschafft 2 schöne Nachbahrin, die in einer Wind-Mühle woh-neten worunder eine mit Namens Hanne die 2te Malle, welche schon etwas gebrochen Teutsch redeten welche sich auch also bald einen Brandenwein-Room an-schaffeten

[réclame]

worauf

https://gallica.bnf.fr/iiif/ark:/12148/btv1b10110846m/f11/pct:0,0,50,100/,700/0/native.jpg

Strasbourg, Médiathèque André Malraux, ms f 15, p. 20.

[agrandir]

Notes

58. The French troops were faced with the threat of the Royal Navy and a reaction by the British in New York. The fleet Flohr speaks of was launched in pursuit of the French convoy, led by Admiral Arburthnot. Sir Henry Clinton, general in chief of the English forces, intended to attack Newport with part of his garrison and with the help of a strong Royal Navy fleet, but he was prevented from doing so by the arrival of Washington and his troops near New York. Admiral Rodney’s arrival with his reinforcements worried the leaders of the allied forces, who expected an attack on Newport. It did not come since Rodney was very late. The French were also under the threat of a British attack up to the beginning of winter, which explains the hasty construction of defensive positions. The British generals’ inactivity was advantageous as it allowed the French corps to establish a solid base in Newport and to recuperate from the Atlantic crossing.

59. The “scurvy” in question here does not refer to the illness caused by a serious vitamin C deficiency, very common on ships until the middle of the eighteenth century, which was when doctors, notably the one on the Cook expedition, had large stocks of citrus loaded on board for the sailors. The proposed remedy: walking, suggests instead an allusion to travelers’ illness (supra, note 52).