Connecting History Series (Entry 2)
Volunteer researcher, Cynthia N., heads off this series by examining the diary of Lt. Henry Stirke and his connection to several fascinating historical events.
Volunteer researcher, Cynthia N., heads off this series by examining the diary of Lt. Henry Stirke and his connection to several fascinating historical events.
Ivory portrait of Lt. Stirke
REVOLUTIONARY WAR DIARY
OF BRITISH LT. HENRY STIRKE
1776-1778
The Rare
Books Collection of Morristown
National Historical Park has in its collection a diary
written by British Lieutenant Henry Stirke during his assignment with the 10th Regiment of Foot, during the Revolutionary War. It covers the period from 1776-1778, during which period Lt. Stirke was fighting on the British side. In his diary he chronicles the activities of his regiment, associated regiments, and Hessian forces.
written by British Lieutenant Henry Stirke during his assignment with the 10th Regiment of Foot, during the Revolutionary War. It covers the period from 1776-1778, during which period Lt. Stirke was fighting on the British side. In his diary he chronicles the activities of his regiment, associated regiments, and Hessian forces.
Most of the
entries are quite short, in which he objectively records the events of the day.
However, throughout his diary, he makes careful note of the injuries and deaths
that occur in his own regiment and those with which he travelled. He expresses
regret for the death or injury of anyone in the British regiments.
An entry for
June 20, 1776 reads:
“A very
melancholy accident happen’d; a Portuguese Sailor belonging to the Nautilus
Merchantman, slip’d between our Transport and their boat, and was drownded.”
It might be
thought that toward the end of Lt. Stirke’s assignment in the War with America,
he might have become inured to the injuries and deaths of his compatriots.
However, in his later entries he continues to note the individual deaths and
injuries of his comrades.
During this
same time period, his diary shows an unempathetic view of losses sustained by
the enemy Rebel troops during the whole conflict. He exhibits a pronounced emotional detachment
in his description of a very bloody massacre of Rebel troops at Paoli, PA.
On September 21, 1777, he writes:
On September 21, 1777, he writes:
“About 12
O’Clock last night, Genl: Grey with ye: 2d: Battalion of Light Infantry, 42d:
& 44th: Regts:, with some Light Dragoons Surpris’d Genl: Waines
brigade in their Camp, (which lay in our Rear, in order to insult us on our
march) and without firing a Shot, put about 300 of the Rebels to Death with ye:
Bayonet, and took 200 prisoners with all their baggage ~ Our loss was 1 Captn:
[Captn: Wolfe] kill’d, with a Sergt:, and private; and 1 Lt: Wounded”.
He was very
careful to note those wounded and killed on the British side, but expressed no
empathy for the 300 Rebels who were bayonetted to death. Perhaps the
psychological mechanism of the dehumanization of the enemy was his emotional
defense against the horrors of war.
Lt. Stirke’s
diary provides a contemporary, British-biased view of many of the events of the
war. He was present in New York when a fire destroyed a large portion of
Manhattan. General Washington’s troops were forced to flee, and the British
troops occupied the city.
Lt. Stirke writes, on September 22nd, 1776:
Lt. Stirke writes, on September 22nd, 1776:
“About 1
O’Clock in the morning a fire broke out in New York, which consum’d about a
fourth part of the City – It was set fire to in different places, by some of
they Rebels that Conceal’d themselves in the Town – several were caught in the
very Fact, and immediately put to death; and others have been taken up on
suspicion – Two very handsome Churches Genl: Robinsons House, and Valuable
furniture, with many other fine Houses were reduc’d to Ashes – “
September 22 entry- side one
Sept 22 entry- side two
Throughout
most of his diary, Lt. Stirke makes entries on a regular basis, noting the
movements and activities of his regiment and associated regiments. He and his
regiment followed General George Washington across the state of New Jersey. He
writes that they “arriv’d at
Prince Town; appointed for their Winter Quarters” on December 15, 1776.”
He is
thunderously silent about the events that occurred in late December 1776 and
the beginning of January, 1777, when the colonists achieved major victories at
the battles of Trenton and Princeton.
A few months
later, sometime after February 1, 1777, he refers to the defeat of the Hessian
troops in Trenton by General Washington’s army:
“That
unlucky affair of Colonel Ralls’s [the Hessian Colonel] at Trent Town,
happening soon after; [after his December 15, 1776 entry] caus’d a Genl: change
of Quarters in the Jerseys, to the Whole Army. The Light Infantry took post at
the Bridge of Brunswick, about a mile above the Town; where we spent a Very
Disagreeable Winter, continually harress’d in Observing the motions of the
Enemy…”
Lt. Stirke’s
diary illustrates very clearly that the same events can often be interpreted in
different ways, intellectually and emotionally, depending upon the filter
through which they are viewed by the various participants. A different history
can, and usually is, written by both sides.
Blog entry by volunteer researcher, Cynthia N.
Photos by volunteer Steve Newfield.
Photos by volunteer Steve Newfield.
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