To George Washington from Major General Joseph Spencer, 12 January 1777
From Major General Joseph Spencer
Providence 12th Jany 1777
Dear Genl
Your Excellency’s Orders of the 14th I did not receive untill the 23d of Decemr; at that Time no Militia had arrived from New England. I had heard a Day or two before that some belonging to the Massachusetts State were on their Way as far as Litchfield. I set out on my Journey the 24th day of Decemr met no Troops untill I had passed New Haven, between N. Haven and Providence, I met some belonging to three Regts from the Massachusetts Bay, they all came by the Way of providence, I endeavour’d to hasten them all forward, as I knew Troops were much wanted at the Westward. I arrived at providence the 1st of Jany—I found that Gen. Lincoln who had been there with four Regts a few Days was gone forward with all his Troops for the Westward, and that no Troops were then at providence, that were raised with a Design to strengthen the Western Army.1 Since my Arrival here and to this Time the Army in these parts by the best Returns I can get hath not amounted to 3000 Rank & File.
A Committee from the several N. England States had met at providence some Days before my Arrival, to determine what Army must be raised in this part of the Country, and fix their several Numbers to raise, they set untill the 2d Inst. and concluded to raise 6000 Men to be stationed hereabouts.2
By the best Accounts we can get here, the Enemy at New port are 5 or 6,000 strong, they have there three Genls vizt Clinton, Lord purcy, and presscott—there is a considerable proportion of Hesseians, but whether a Hesseian Genl is there or not I cannot learn.
A Day or two after my Arrival Capt. Lindsey & Capt. prince of Colo. pickerings Regt from the Massachusetts Bay came to Town, both of them had only 87 Men Rank & File, the Army being so very weak here I ordered them to stop—and they are still here.3
This State have three Brigr Genls that are in the Service, to wit West, Varnum, and the French Gentleman Mr Malmedy, recommended for an appointment by Genl Lee to Govr Cook4—the latter is employed chiefly in directing about the Fortifications, he seems to be a faithful sensible Gentleman.
Genl Arnold hath not yet come to Town.5 his Brigade Major bro’t forward your Excellency’s Letter of the 22d Ulto which I received the 9th Inst. containing a disagreeable Account of your Army, much worse than the Accounts I had formerly received respecting it. The Distress your Excellency’s last Letter, would otherwise have given me, was in a great Measure prevented by the joyfull Tidings I had received, of the happy success your Excellency had been favour’d with on the 26 ulto in captivating 919 of the Enemy & taking five brass Field pieces &c. on which I beg Leave to congratulate your Excellency—this greatly revives the drooping Spirits this Way; and we are waiting with Anxiety in Hopes of farther good News from your Excellency’s Army.
As it is probable this Army will be kept up for some Time here—I beg Leave to suggest whether it is not best to have it immediately supplied in the continental way, and that a Deputy Commissary and Quarter Master be forthwith sent here; it will be very difficult to keep along in any other Way—there is great need of some Horses being provided to move the Field pieces, as occasion may require, as well as many other Things needless now to mention.
Your Excellency may be assured that I shall chearfully consult with Genl Arnold and every other Genl Officer in every Matter of Importance shall endeavour to my utmost to cultivate a happy Union and Agreement with them, as well as to gain the approbation of your Excellency, and that of my Country, at this post. I shall send advice weekly for the future, to your Excellency, if convenient Opportunity for Conveyance can be obtain’d. I am with great Respect and Esteem your Excellency’s most Obedt huml. servt
Jos. Spencer
LS, DLC:GW.
1. Maj. Gen. Benjamin Lincoln’s division of Massachusetts militia was detained briefly in Providence by the Rhode Island council of war before proceeding to New York (see the Massachusetts council to Stephen Hopkins, 26 Dec. 1776, in “Mass. Council Journal,” Oct. 1776–Feb. 1777 sess., 367).
2. Spencer is referring to the convention of four New England committees, presided over by Stephen Hopkins and William Bradford of Rhode Island, that met at Providence on 25 Dec. 1776 to discuss the question of paper currency and the continental credit and to consult with the Rhode Island council of war about raising an army for the defense of Rhode Island. On 27 Dec. the convention recommended that the New England states halt the emission of paper money and supply their treasuries by taxation and borrowing, and on 29 Dec. the convention resolved to defend Rhode Island with a force of 6,092 troops consisting of 1,900 Massachusetts militia, 1,092 Connecticut militia, 300 New Hampshire militia, 1,800 Rhode Island militia, and 1,000 Continental troops. The remainder of the convention’s efforts were aimed at “affixing and regulating the Prices of the necessary and convenient Articles of Life” and preventing monopolies. The convention adjourned on 2 January. On 15 Feb. 1777 Congress approved the convention’s actions to defend Rhode Island and curtail the depreciation of paper money but referred the measures taken to regulate prices to the other states for further consideration (see , 7:124–25). The proceedings of the committee are in DNA:PCC, item 66.
3. Col. Timothy Pickering’s Essex County militia regiment left Salem on 24 Dec. to join General Lincoln’s force at Providence. Asa Prince (1747—p.1781) served as a captain in Col. John Mansfield’s 5th Massachusetts Regiment from May to December 1775, and Nathaniel Lindsey (1746–1798) of Marblehead commanded several schooners after the war.
4. William West (1732–c.1816) of Scituate, R.I., served as brigadier general of the Rhode Island militia in a temporary capacity until 4 Mar. 1777. He commanded the 3d Regiment of Providence County militia from May 1777 to May 1779, when he once again began serving as brigadier general. François Lellorquis de Malmedy (d. 1781) served as chief engineer and director of Rhode Island’s defensive works with the militia rank of brigadier general from December 1776 to March 1777 (see , 8:64, 67, 186–87). The Continental Congress commissioned Malmedy a colonel in the Continental service on 10 May 1777, and he served to April 1780 (see , 7:346). For Charles Lee’s letter recommending Malmedy, see Lee to Nicholas Cooke, 7 Dec. 1776, in , 8:111–12.
5. Benedict Arnold arrived at Providence on this date (see Arnold to GW, 13 January).