Odell, Jackson
John M. McDonald interview — 1847-09-15
Jackson Odell (1792-1849) was a son of John Odell (1756-1835), one of the Westchester Guides. He informs John Macdonald that he spoke with Dr. Lyman Cook regarding papers pertaining to Colonel Christopher Greene and Major Ebenezer Flagg of the 1st Rhode Island Regiment that were in the hands of General Thomas Thomas. Both Dr. Cook and Jackson Odell were present at a gathering at the home of General Thomas when the latter brought out papers relating to several American generals and officers, including George Washington, Colonel Greene, Major Flagg, and General William Heath. These papers were taken by Loyalist Colonel James DeLancey at the Battle of Pines Bridge, and then given to General Thomas by DeLancey before he left Westchester County at the end of the war. The papers were destroyed after General Thomas’s death.
Manuscript page facsimiles
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Transcription
- Hufeland Index Page 499 -
Sepr. 15. Jackson Odell called upon me at Mr. Putney’s who had gone to New York the same evening. He informed me that he saw Dr. Cook this summer and talked with him about the Greene and Flagg papers which General Thomas showed &c. at his house twenty seven years ago or more (I think it was just previous to the great contested election of Tompkins and Clinton. It was in the winter, and there were present General Philip Van Cortland, General Thomas, Pierre
- Hufeland Index Page 500 -
C. Van Wyck, Dr. Cook, and himself (Major Jackson Odell). Somewhat late in the evening General Thomas brought in two old pocket books, and said to him (Jackson Odell) “here are some curious relics of the Revolutionary War. You are the youngest man and must read them.” They then sat up till two or three o’clock in the morning reading and examining them. Among the papers were Greene’s and Flagg’s commissions, numerous letters between them and General Heath, and particularly a letter from Genl. Washington to Colonel Greene, in which after some suggestions and advice in relation to the employment of his force in West Chester was this remarkable order. “At all events take Colonel DeLancey!” In General Heath’s letter of instructions to Greene he mentioned the Cromwells of Harrison as persons well affected, and upon Greene might rely. Among other persons were numerous lists of suspected
- Hufeland Index Page 501 -
persons, Tories, Whigs, &c. Dr Cook’s recollections of all these facts concurred with Mr. Odell’s. The papers in question were taken by DeLancey at Davenport’s house, May 14th 1781, and sent by him to General Thomas before he went to England in 1783. After General Thomas’s death, they were unfortunately destroyed. Heath’s, Flagg’s and Greene’s letters were written for the most part upon very coarse blue paper of New England manufacture. Mr. Isaac Vermille is at present very sick. He says, however, that very considerable information may be obtained from Frederick Rich of Mile Square who is an intelligent man and well acquainted with Colonel Emmerick and other officers on the lines.