Primary Source Documents

Civilians and Soldiers in the War for Independence^*

Sally Wister was 15 years old at the time that she made these entries in a diary, writing them as if she addressed Deborah Norris. The Wisters, a Quaker family, also lived in Philadelphia, but moved to the countryside when it appeared that the British would occupy that city.

September, 1777: Yesterday… two Virginia officers called at our house, and informed us that the British army had crossed the Schuykill [River]…and that General Washington and army were near Pottsgrove. Well, thee may be sure we were sufficiently scared; however, the road was very still till evening. About seven o'clock we heard a great noise. To the door we all went. A large number of waggons, with about three hundred of the Philadelphia militia. They begged for drink, and several pushed into the house. One of those that entered was a little tipsy, and had a mind to be saucy. I then thought it time for me to retreat; so figure me (mightily scared, as not having presence of mind enough to face so many of the military) running in at one door, and out at another, all in a shake with fear; but after a little, seeing the officers appear gentlemanly and the soldier civil, I called reason to my aid.…They did not offer to take their quarters with us; so, with many blessings, and as many adieus, they marched off.…

September 26th: We were unusually silent all the morning.…About twelve o'clock, cousin Jesse heard that General Howe's army had moved down towards Philadelphia. Then, my dear, our hopes and fears were engaged for you.…I was standing in the kitchen.…when somebody came to me in a hurry, screaming, "Sally, Sally, here are the light horse!" This was by far the greatest fright I had endured.…They rode up to the door and halted, and enquired if we had horses to sell; he answered negatively. "Have not you, sir," to my father, "two black horses?" -- "Yes, but have no mind to dispose of them." My terror had by this time nearly subsided. The officer and men behaved perfectly civil…the men, to our great joy, were Americans.…

October 19th: Two genteel men of the military order rode up to the door: "Your servant, ladies," etc.; ask'd if they could have quarters for General Smallwood. Aunt F. thought she could accommodate them as well as most of her neighbors, -- said they could. One of the officers dismounted, and wrote "Smallwood's Quarters" over the door, which secured us from straggling soldiers.…Dr. Gould usher'd the men into our parlour and introduc'd them, -- "General Smallwood, Captain Furnival, Major Stodard, Mr. Prig, Captain Finley, and Mr. Clagan, Colonel Wood, and Colonel Line. These last two did not come with the General. They are Virginians.…The General and suite, are Marylanders.…How new is our situation! I feel in good spirits, though surrounded by an army, the house full of officers, the yard alive with soldiers -- very peaceable sort of people, tho'. They eat like other folks, talk like them, and behave themselves with elegance; so I will not be afraid of them, that I won't.

1		Why was Sally Wister so apprehensive and fearful in the presence of soldiers? What earlier events in the war might she have known about that prompted her concern?
2		Does the passage indicate any differences between the behavior of the militia and that of Continental Army officers?
3		Once she overcame her fear, what was Sally Wister's attitude toward the militia and the Continental Army? When she remarked, "How new is our situation!" to what might she have been referring other than the presence of the military?
4		Was the attitude toward and treatment of the army described here typical of relations between American civilians and American soldiers during the War for Independence?
5		What was happening in Philadelphia at the time that Sally Wister wrote her diary entries?