To George Washington from Major General Artemas Ward, 20 November 1775
From Major General Artemas Ward
Camp at Roxbury Novr 20th 1775
Sir
In Consequence of Genl Gates’s Letter Yesterday I have taken Care to order a strict Watch of the Harbour & all Vessels that may arrive whether they appear to be Transports or Provision Vessels.1
I have sent to Colo. Ward at Dorchester, who is in great need of a Glass, & renews his Request that the Glass which was carried away by Colo. Greaton’s Regt2 might be returned; as it will be of more Service there than any where else. It belongs to an infamous Tory, in Boston, who fled to sd Place for Protection. Capt. Vorce3 who I am informed has got the Glass (altho unwilling to own it) gave his Rect for it (as is reported) & pretends to claim it, therefrom—Colo. Ward Says he will give his Rect for it &, as it is circumstanced, I think your Excellency has a Right to order it to the Place where it will be most servicable, & submit it to your Excellency to judge which Place it ought to be at. I am your Excellency’s, most Humble Servant
Artemas Ward
LS, MHi: William Heath Papers.
1. Letter not identified.
2. John Greaton (1742–1783) of Roxbury became lieutenant colonel of Col. William Heath’s Massachusetts regiment in May 1775 and assumed command of it after Heath was made a Continental general. Greaton served until January 1783 as colonel of this regiment, which was designated the 24th Continental Infantry in 1776 and the 3d Massachusetts Regiment thereafter. He was named a brigadier general on 7 Jan. 1783 and died the following December.
3. Elijah Vose (1745–1822) of Milton served as a captain under Colonel Greaton to the end of 1776, and 1 Jan. 1777 he became major of the 1st Massachusetts Regiment commanded by his brother Joseph Vose. Promoted to lieutenant colonel on 21 Jan. 1777 and brevetted a colonel on 30 Sept. 1783, Vose remained in the army until November 1783.