From George Washington to Major General Artemas Ward, 2 March 1776
To Major General Artemas Ward
Cambridge 2d March—76. Saturday Evening
Sir,
After weighing all Circumstances of Tide &ca—& considering the hazard of having the Posts on Dorchester Neck taken by the Enemy, & the evil consequences which would result from it, the Gentlemen here, are of Opinion that we should go on there Munday Night.1 I give you this Early notice of it, that you may delay no time in preparing for it, as every thing here will be got in readiness to co-operate—In haste I am Sr Yr most Obedt Servt
Go: Washington
Remember ⟨the⟩ Barrels.2
ALS, owned (1975) by Dr. Paul Patterson of Albany, New York.
1. GW’s troops occupied Dorchester Heights on the night of 4 March.
2. This message is on the address sheet. The word “the” was torn off when the seal was broken and has been restored in another hand. For the use of barrels in the fortifying of Dorchester Heights, see GW to Ward, 3 Mar. 1776, and note 5.