The full content of this document is only available to subscribing institutions. More information can be found via www.amdigital.co.uk
If you believe you should have access to this document, click here to Login.
| Field name | Value |
|---|---|
| Collection Reference Number | GLC06523 |
| From Archive Folder | Documents Relating to 1778 |
| Title | Jackson Hall to John Langdon regarding a clash between American and British forces |
| Date | 29 August 1778 |
| Author | Jackson, Hall (1739-1797) |
| Recipient | Langdon, John |
| Document Type | Correspondence |
| Content Description | Written by Hall, an army physician to Colonel Langdon as a commander of militia. Says day before yesterday the British fleet arrived with reinforcements for Newport. A retreat was ordered to their first encampment at midnight last night and was carried out in good order. Reports on a general action outside Newport after the retreat. Says "Our Army fought like Trojans! ... tomorrow morning will give the bloody dogs their Quietus." Claims American losses were less than 100 killed and 200 wounded. Mentions that his brother Woodbury Langdon survived unscathed. Says his friend Samuel Sherburne took a cannon shot to the leg, necessitating an amputation below the knee. Says he wants to give a fuller account "but indeed am so fatigued with operating[,] dressing, and so sleepy that I fear you'll not be able to read what I have already wrote." Postscript says a deserter was captured, tried, and shot. Provides a partial list of officers killed and wounded. |
| Subjects | Revolutionary War Military History Global History and Civics Foreign Affairs Navy Battle Injury or Wound Death Health and Medical Muster Rolls and Returns Desertion Death Penalty Military Law Prisoner |
| People | Jackson, Hall (1739-1797) Langdon, John (1741-1819) |
| Place written | Camp on Butt's Hill, Rhode Island |
| Theme | The American Revolution; Health & Medicine; Naval & Maritime; Law |
| Sub-collection | The Gilder Lehrman Collection, 1493-1859 |
| Additional Information | Jackson was involved in research to cure "dropsy" - the 18th century term for pulmonary edema. He read about work with a plant called the purple foxglove and that an English doctor had made digitalis from it. Since there was no purple foxglove in America, Jackson turned botanist. He sent to England for foxglove seeds and introduced digitalis to America. |
| Copyright | The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History |
| Module | Settlement, Commerce, Revolution and Reform: 1493-1859 |
| Transcript | Show/hide |