day.

the 5-7. Nothing strange.

the 8. At night some of our brave heroick Americans went Past the
Enemys Brest Work at Bunker hill and burnt several housen at the foot
of Bunker hill and took 5 men and 1 woman Prisoners and came of as far
as copple hill when the flames began to extend and the enemy that were
in the fort perceiving a number of men gather round the fire &
suposing them to be our men they kept up a bright fire for the space
of near half an hour upon their own men devillightfooly[201]
they[202]....

[Footnote 201: Delightfully.]

[Footnote 202: When Charlestown was burned,
fourteen houses escaped the flames. These were
occupied by the British; and, on the 8th of
January, General Putnam sent Major Knowlton
(afterward killed at Harlem), with a small party,
to set those houses on fire. The affair was
injudiciously managed, and, before all could be
fired, the flames of one alarmed the British in the
fort. They discharged cannons and small-arms in all
directions, in their confusion and affright. At
that moment a play, called "The Blockade of
Boston," written for the occasion by General
Burgoyne, was in course of performance in the city.
In the midst of the scene in which Washington was
burlesqued, a sergeant dashed into the theatre and
exclaimed, "The Yankees are attacking Bunker's
hill!" The audience thought it was part of the
play, until General Howe said, "Officers, to your
alarm-posts!" Then women shrieked and fainted, and
the people rushed to the streets in great
confusion.]

the 9. Nothing remarkable this day.

the 10. Nothing very remarkable this day it was very cold.

the 11. Nothing very remarkable this day.

the 12. All furlows stopt this day.

the 13. Nothing strange this day.

the 14. Being Sunday nothing remarkable this day.

the 15. This day we heard that the regulars had taken Providence and
burnt all the housen except two.[203]

[Footnote 203: Sir James Wallace commanded a small
British flotilla in Narraganset bay, during the