during the six year I lived with Capt Sadler, I never Saw the inside of a School house, except about three weeks. he was very illiterate himself, and took no care for the education of his family; but this was not all I was made a ridecule of, and otherwise abused for my attention to books, and attempting to write, and learn Arethmatic, however, amidst all those discouragements I made Some advances in writeing and Arethmatic, that is I could make Letters that could be under stood, and had gon as far in Arethmatic as to work the rule of three (without any teacher but the book) - Oh! my Children beware you neglect not the education of any under your care as I was neglected.

In March 1754 I was bound apprentice to Daniel Mathews of Brokfield, to the Millwights trade; by him my education was as much neglected, as by Capt Sadler, except that he did not deny me the use of a Light for Study in the winter evenings

I turned my attention chiefly to Arethmatic, Geography, and history; had I ben as much engaged in Learning to write well, with Spelling, and Gramer, I might have ben much better qualified to fulfill the duties of the Succeeding Scenes of Life, which In providence I have ben called to pass through. I was zealous to obtain knowledge, but having no guide I lawfully required - and pay & deliver such and so much of said estate as shall be remaining upon your account (the same being first examined and allowed by the Judge of Probate for the time being) unto the said minor when he shall arrive at full age, or otherwise as said Judge, by his decree or sentence, pursuant to law shall limit and appoint-and also to take care of the person of said minor

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, and the seal of said Court of Probate-Dated at Worcester the 12th day of April, A. D. 1752, & in the 25th year of his Majestys Reign —

JOSEPH WILDER By order of the Hon. Judge J. CHANDLER. Regr.

knew not where to begin nor what course to pursue, hence neglecting Spelling and gramer when young I have Suffered much through life on that

account

March 15th 1757. The war between England and France which commeced in 1754 Still continuing I engaged in the provential Service, to Serve to the 2d day of February following. I was attached to Capt Eben Learneds Company of 100 men. April 30, we marched from Brookfield and reached Kenderhook, about 18 mile below Albany, on the 6th of May.

dureing our Stay at Kenderhook, Capt Learned prayed with his Company Morning and evening, and on the Sabath read a Sermon. (Oh! how the times have changed.) –

May 18th the Company left Kenderhook, and arrived the Same day at Green bush, opposet the City of Albany.

May-21st our Company reached Scocook, a Dutch Settlement on Hoofuck river, three mile from the Hudson, deserted by the inhabitents on account of the War.

June 9th the Company joined Colo Fry1 at Stillwater, and on the 11th Marched to Saratoga (a place Sence famous in history for the capture of a British army under the Command of Gen1 Burgoyn in 1777.)

June 14th Col° Fryes Regiment, consisting of Seventeen companys, Left Saratoga, and on the 15th arrived at Fort Edward

July 8th being a Volunteer in the Ranging Servis, I was detached on a Scout for Six days under Lt Col

1 Joseph Frye, Colonel of a Massachusetts Regiment of Foot.

lings with 22 men. we marched on the rout towards South bay about 10 mile, and encamped

July 9th after marching about 10 mile further, he then Sent three of us forward to go to the bay & bring him an account of the distence to it, that we might go the Lighter we Left our Blankets and provision with the Scout, but the distence was much further then was expected, and we were not able to return untill neer Sunsett, to the place where we left the party, they were gon, and carried off our Blakets and provisions. the officer had taken fright, and run away fupposing we ware killed or taken.—we attempted to track them but to no purpos, believeing they could not be farr off we fiered a gun but recived no answer our Sittuation was by no means agreable, having nothing to cover us from the Natts & Musketoes (with which that country abounds beyond description) but a Shirt and Breech Clout.

July 10th we fiered guns but to no purpos, and Spent the fore-noon in Search of there trale but in vain, July 11th we returnend to Fort Edward having ben Forty eight hours without any thing to eate, and Spent two nights in company with the Natts and Musketoes.

July 12th Collins came in with the rest of the party they confefsed they heard our evening gun, but Supposed the Indians had gotten us and were after them, in confequence of which they took there way to Fort William Henry, and there reported that we were either killed or taken. Mr Collins character undoubtedly Suffered, but he easily passafied us and we did not complain - however when an officer is brought to Solicit his Soldiers not to complain of him, he must feal Small in his own eyes, as well as Contemptable in the eyes of others. it was undoubtedly extreamly

unfoldier like to leave us in the woods in the maner he did if our Long absence gave cause of alarm, he ought to have with drawn but a Small distence, and placed himsef in ambush and to have posted two men under cover to watch our return, or the approach of the enemy had any appeared. —

July 23d about 8 oclock in the morning a large party of Indians fired on the guard of the Carpenters, within half a mile of the Fort we had 13 killed and

one missing

This was the first Sight I had of the Indians Butchering, and it was not very agreable to the fealings of a young Soldier, and I think there are few if any who can view Such Scenes with indifference-

the Enemy Left none of there dead or wounded behind in the afternoon about 250 men under the command of Capt Israel Putnam1 marched in pursute. we marched on the Indian trale untill Sun Set Capt Putnam then ordered three of us to follow the trale a mile or more further, and there lie close untill quite dark, to observe if any came back, for Said he "if they do not embark in there boats to night they will Send a party back to See if they are pursued" we went acording to ordor but made no discovery. and here I would remark that Capt Putnams precaution Struck my mind very forceally, as a maxim allways to be observed whether you are pursuing or are purfued by an enemy: especially in the woods. it was the first Idea of Generalship, I recollect to have treafured up.

August 3d, this morning a french army, Said to be about 15000, besides a large body of Indians from Cannada, Lade Seage to Fort William Henry, the

1 Major-General Israel Putnam, of Revolutionary fame. His father and Rufus Putnam's grandfather were half-brothers.

Seage continued untill the 9th when the Garison capitulated.

Fort William Henry Stood on the margen of Lake George neer the Southwest corner 1334 miles from Fort Edward and about 70 mile from Abany. it was a reguler Square with four Bastions, the walls consisted of timber and earth, with ditch &c capable for a time of resisting a cannonade & bombardment, the Garison confisted of between three and four hundred, British regulers, abut half a mile east of the Fort, Sepperated from it by a Swamp and Creek, was about 1500 proventials encamped within a low brest work of Logs. on these the French made no Serious attack, and they might at any time have forced there way throug the enemy, posted in that quarter, but the next morning, viz the 10th of August, as the proventials were paraded to march to Fort Edward agreably to cappitulation, the Indians fell on them, and amost horrid butchery enfued, those who escaped with there Lives were Striped almost naked. many in makeing there escape were lost in the woods where they wondered Several days without food, one man in perticuler was out ten days, and there is reason to believe Some perrished, in perticuler the wounded, but the number murdered & mifsing was never known

to me

General Webb Lay all the time of the Seage at Fort Edward with not Lefs then four thousand men, acording to my Judgment, and for a confiderable part of the time with a Larger number by the coming up of the Militia of New York. General Webb was informed every day of the Seage, by an exprefs, from Colo Munroe, of the afairs at the Lake. he knew the French had attempted northing on the provential Camp. it was the opinion of many oficers that he