Letter from Benjamin Rush to Richard Henry Lee. Mercer is improving after wounding at Princeton. More news of Princeton. "We are much blamed by the Whigs and ridiculed by the Tories for leaving Philada. so suddenly.", American Philosophical Society
Letter from Benjamin Rush to Richard Henry Lee. Rush asks on behalf of Hugh Mercer to inform his wife Isabella Gordon that he is improving after his significant wounding from bayonets. Mercer would die of his wounds a few days later, although Rush writes that "there are reasonable hopes of his recovery." Rush describes Mercer's injuries in detail. He goes on to describe the Battle at Princeton, including number of wounded on both sides and the death of Captain Leslie. In describing the death of Captain Leslie, Rush writes, "I wept for the first time for a victory gained over british troops. Our attachment to each other was reciprocal for when I was introduced to a Capt. McPher[]son in order to dress his wounds, he asked if I was the Dr Rush who used to correspond with Capt Leslie. I told him I was - He Told me that he had heard his friend Leslie say a thousand times that he forgot in [] the political enemy in [] personal friend." Rush describes the village of "Princetown" as so deserted that "you would think it has been desolated with the plague and an earthquake as well as with the calamities of war." Rush details the current state of the village. Rush completes his letter by describing the retreating British Army and other matters related to the army and the war., American Philosophical Society
Letter from Benjamin Rush to Richard Henry Lee. Suggests commissary send supplies to American prisoners of war. Rumors that the British have raised large numbers of Russians and Germans to serve in America; news of Battle of Trenton reaches New York., American Philosophical Society
Letter from Benjamin Rush to Richard Henry Lee on January 14, 1777. Rush informs Lee that he left Hugh Mercer, who he believes is "out of danger" but is very weak from blood loss and cannot be moved. (Mercer had already died on January 12.) He then describes a "Leiut. Yeates of Col. Reed's Virginia Regiment" who had just died. Rush writes that his death merits "the attention of the congress" and describes Yeates' death at the hands of a British soldier in a cruel and merciless fashion. He continues, "[t]he Savages murdered a clergyman a chaplain to a battallion of militia in cold blood at Trenton after he had surrendered himself, and begged for mercy. His name was Rosborough." Rush writes a description of American prisoners of war stating, "I wish the attention of congress could be roused in behalf of our poor fellows." Rush concludes his letter with more information about the war including possible Russian involvement., American Philosophical Society
A personal letter from Julia Rush, in her family's estate Morven, to Benjamin Rush, in Philadelphia. Julia writes of her household and caregiving responsibilities, stating she “has her hands full I assure you.” Julia writes of her and Benjamin’s children's health, describing a home remedy she made to heal a toothache, and requests that Benjamin delegate some housekeeping chores in Philadelphia, giving him detailed instructions for this work such as pickling "morella" cherries. She also mentions the "adjournment of Congress” and spending an "afternoon in company with Mr. Jacob Read."
