72. New Hampshire Men
BY MARQUIS DE CHASTELLUX
(1780)[191]
I PRESSED forward my horses, and hurried on to get the start of a
traveller on horseback,
who had joined me on the road, and who would have had the same
right with myself to the
lodgings, had we arrived together. I had the satisfaction, however, to
see him pursue his journey;
but soon learned, with concern, that the little inn where I proposed to
pass that night, was
occupied by thirteen farmers, and two hundred and fifty oxen coming
from New Hampshire. The
oxen were the least inconvenient part of the company, as they were left
to graze in a meadow
hard by, without even a dog to guard them; but the farmers, their-horses, and dogs, were in
possession of the inn. They were conveying to the army a part of the
contingent of provisions
furnished by New Hampshire. This contingent is a sort of tax divided
among all the inhabitants, on
some of whom the imposition amounts to one hundred and fifty, on
others to one hundred, or
eighty, pounds of meat, according to their abilities; so they agree
amongst themselves to furnish a
larger, or smaller sized ox, no matter which, as each animal is weighed.
Their conveyance to the
army is then entrusted to some farmers, and drovers. The farmers are
allowed about a dollar a
day; and
their expenses, as well as those of the cattle, are paid them on their
return, according to the
receipts which they are obliged to produce from the inn-keepers where
they have halted. The
usual price is from three-pence to five-pence English per night for each
ox, and in proportion at
noon.
I informed myself of these particulars while my people were
endeavoring to find me
lodgings; but all the rooms, and all the beds were occupied by these
farmers, and I was in the
greatest distress, when a tall, fat man, the principal person among them,
being informed who I
was, came to me, and assured me, that neither he, nor his companions
would ever suffer a French
general officer to want a bed, and that they would rather sleep on the
floor; adding, that they were
accustomed to it, and that it would be attended with no inconvenience.
In reply I told them, I was a military man, and as much
accustomed as themselves to
make the earth my bed. We had long debates on this point of
politeness; theirs was rustic, but
more cordial and affecting than the best turned compliments. The result
was, that I had a
two-bedded room for myself and my aides de camp.
Our new acquaintance did not terminate there: after parting
from each other, I to take
some repose, they to continue drinking their grog and cider, they came
into my room. I was then
employed in tracing my route by the map of the country; this map
excited their curiosity. They
saw there with surprise and satisfaction the places they had passed
through.
They asked me if they were known in Europe, and if it was
there I had bought my maps.
On my assuring them that we knew America as well as the countries
adjoining to us, they seemed much pleased; but their joy was without
bounds, when they saw
New Hampshire, their country, on the map. They called their
companions, who were in the next
room; and mine was soon filled with the strongest and most robust men
I had hitherto seen in
America.
On my appearing struck with their size and stature, they told
me that the inhabitants of
New Hampshire were strong and vigorous, for which there were many
reasons; that the air was
excellent, their sole occupation was agriculture, and above all that their
blood was unmixed: for
this country was inhabited by ancient families who had emigrated from
England.
We parted good friends, touching, or rather shaking hands in
the English fashion, and
they assured me that they were very happy to have an opportunity to
shake hands with a French
General.
[[191]]
Chastellux was a French officer who came
over with the fleet and army sent to help the armies in 1778.
