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Lunt, Paul; Green, Samuel A. (Editor) : Paul Lunt's Diary. May-December, 1775

For Private Distribution., Boston, MA, 1872

Privately printed in a small edition. Original publisher's light beige-gray paper wrappers. Text printed in black ink. Some pages are unopened. 6" x 9 1/2." Nineteen pages, complete. Pages are clean and intact overall except for light age toning throughout, slight darkening at top corners, a few wrinkles, and slightly chipped edges. Covers are clean and intact overall but have darkening on front and back, a few wrinkles, a few pencil markings, and chipping along edges (largest measures 1/2" x 1 3/4" on back near head of spine). A Very Good copy. This pamphlet contains reprinted diary entries that were kept by Paul Lunt between May and December 1775. In his Preface, editor Samuel A. Green states that George Lunt let him borrow Paul's diary and, with few changes, the diary is appears as it was originally written. Paul Lunt (1747-1824) was an American military officer who served in the Revolutionary War as a lieutenant. He was born in Newbury, Massachusetts and was a descendant of Henry Lunt, one of the first settlers of Newbury. He married Margaret Coffin (1755-1783). Paul was also part of Benedict Arnold's expedition to Quebec. After the expedition, there is little documentation on Paul, but it is known that he returned to Newbury to work as a farmer. In his diary, Paul writes about his "travels from Newburyport to Cambridge and in the camp" as part of a volunteer company organized and led by his relative, Captain Ezra Lunt. Ezra's company was the first volunteer company that was formed for the express purpose of joining the Continental Army. The company was stationed at Bunker Hill but later retreated due to the imminent British victory and capture of Bunker Hill. Most of Paul's entries are brief (about one sentence or two) but cover a wide range of topics. His descriptions of battles, attacks, and skirmishes and other military operations are interspersed with those of more peaceful subjects such as the weather and listening to sermons. In one of his first entries, Paul writes about "parading at two o'clock" and marching near Lechmere's Point where the company's guardsmen attacked a British barge. He also writes about how a group of his fellow soldiers were tasked with marching to Chelsea to try and drive away cattle and sheep from Hog and Noddle's Island. He later describes the British capture of Charlestown, Massachusetts. There are many notations about different military attacks and battles and the number of casualties sustained by both colonial and British forces. The latter part of Paul's diary appears to concentrate more on the weather. Among the last of his entries are acknowledgments of the births of his and Margaret's son, Paul (1777-?), and their two daughters, Sarah (1779-?), and Margaret (1781-?).. Book. Book Condition: Very Good. Binding: Soft cover

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