[page 57]

41.

41.

toward Bätgards Tawern, an inn located in a lovely region where we did not come across a single dwelling all day. As soon as we made camp we could see only the sky and the crowd, and one could wonder where all these people had come from; there the General ordered another ball. On the 21st, we continued on, 9 miles to Honds Tawern, an inn.

Bätgards-Tawern ein Wirthshauß in einer schönen Gegend alda traffen wir den gantzen [Tag ?] durch kein Hauß an. Sobald wir das Lager geschlagen hatten sahe man nichts mehr als Himmel und Volck daß es zum Erstaunen ware wo die Leute herkamen alda wurde wiedrum ein Baal vom General an-gestellet. Den 21ten brachen wir wiedrum alda auf 9 Meillen biß Honds-Tawern ein Wirthshauß.

On the 22nd, we set off again for 12 miles to Werb Plain, a beautiful domain in a lovely and pleasant region; on the same day we went through Liks Kiel, a small town; we had a day of rest in Werb Plain.

Den 22ten brachen wir alda wiedrum auf 12 Meillen biß Werb-Plain ein schöner Schändelmans-Hoff in einer schönen und angenehmen Gegend selbigen Tag passierten wir Liks-Kiel ein kleines Städtgen wir hatten alda Rastag zu Werb-Plain.

On the afternoon of the 24th we packed up camp and crossed the North River near Königs Fery near Fort Layayette[123]. This river measures 2 English miles in breadth and can be traced all the way to Canada. We made camp on the other side of the river and carried all the equipment to the other side.

Den 24ten nach Mittag brachen wir auf und passierten den Nord-Fluß bey der Königs-Fery nahe bey dem Fort Laffayete dieser Fluß ist 2 engellische Meillen breit und ziehet sich biß in Canada. Über dem Fluße auf der andern Seite schlugen wir unser Lager und schaffeten die Equipage auch hinüber.

On the 25th we set off again for 18 miles to Saffrantz, a small town in a pleasant region where anyone would have liked to stay. It is true that in this region it is a pleasure to come across other men, as we had not met many before; upon entering a home, the first thing they asked of you was whether you wanted to stay in their home, they wanted to hide you until

Den 25ten brachen wir alda auf 18 Meillen biß Suffrantz ein Städtgen in einer angenehmen Gegend wo es jedermann gefiehle zu bleiben. Auch seynd in selbiger Gegend die Mans- Leute sehr angenehm weil man gar nicht viel angetroffen hat, wann mann alda in ein Hauß gekommen ist ware das erste daß sie fragten ob man nicht wolte bey ihnen bleiben sie wolten ihn verstecken biß die

https://gallica.bnf.fr/iiif/ark:/12148/btv1b10110846m/f29/pct:50,0,100,100/,700/0/native.jpg

Strasbourg, Médiathèque André Malraux, ms f 15, p. 57.

[agrandir]

 Notes

123. This fort was not called Fort Lafayette at the time, as is indicated by Closen in his diary, p. 105: “The crossing of the North River at King’s Ferry is protected by two forts, one of which, on the right bank, was named Stony Point, and the other, on the left bank, Verplank’s Point. The latter is notable for the peculiarity of the defenses that M. de Gouvion constructed there. (This fort has since been renamed Fort Lafayette. [author’s note: Closen wrote his diary in the 1820s])”. . This fort was later renamed, probably right after the end of the conflict, as a tribute to the young marquis. This proves the author consulted an up-to-date map after his time in America.