To George Washington from Captain Richard Dodge, 22 July 1775
From Captain Richard Dodge
Chelsea [Mass.] July the 22 1775
Sir
thes are the Remarcks tackin on Sd Day from four to 6 Saw noth[i]ng From 6 to 8 Saw tow Brigs Bound out and tow B[o]tes from the Casel1 to Boston—from 8 to 10 Saw 10 Botes Loded wit⟨h⟩ armed men from Boston to Chals.—from 10 to 12 Saw 18 Botes Pasing and Repasing Loded—one transport Bound out—from 12 to 2 Saw 19 Botes from Boston to Chals. full of men—12 from Chalston to Boston ful of men—from 2 to 4 Saw one Schoner Coming in apeard to have a Nomber of men—9 Botes from Chaleston to Boston—from Boston to Chals. 23 Botes Loded with men and Horses—from 4 to 6 Saw 8 Botes from Boston to Chals. Loded with men one tranesport went and Sterd East—Sir I ame your Houmble Servent at command
Richd Dodge Capt.
ALS, DLC:GW.
Richard Dodge was commissioned a captain in Col. Samuel Gerrish’s Massachusetts regiment on 19 May 1775 and served at least until the end of the year. Dodge’s company was posted at Chelsea as early as 14 July 1775. See General Orders, 13 July 1775, n.2. Over the next few months Dodge or his superior officer, Lt. Col. Loammi Baldwin, sent GW almost daily reports on ship traffic in Boston Harbor. The subsequent reports, similar in content to this letter, are enclosures in Joseph Leach’s writing.
1. The fortress Castle William stood on Castle Island in Boston Harbor a short distance east of Dorchester Neck.