George Washington Papers
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https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/03-01-02-0032

To George Washington from John Hancock, 5 July 1775

From John Hancock

Philadelphia July 5th 1775

Sir

Since my last to you by Alexander the Express nothing has Taken place in Congress that particularly Respects your Department.

By Direction of the Congress I now Transmitt you by Mr Fessenden our Return Express,1 the Rules & Articles pass’d by Congress for the Government of the Troops under your Command,2 I wish them safe to hand. I have not Time to add, but that I am with much Respect, Sir Your most Obedt hum. servt

John Hancock President

Should you have Occasion for a further Supply of Commissions, please to Inform me & they shall be immediately Transmitted you.

ALS, DLC:GW. This letter is docketed in Joseph Reed’s writing “Congress Letter July 5th 1775 Recd July 10th—acknowldgd July 11th.” See GW to Hancock, 10–11 July 1775.

1Josiah Fessenden, a courier for the Massachusetts provincial congress, frequently carried dispatches between GW and the Continental Congress during the next several months.

2For a discussion of the Continental articles of war, see Richard Henry Lee to GW, 29 June 1775, n.3. On 30 June, the same day that the articles were approved by the Continental Congress, a committee of three delegates was appointed to have the articles printed as soon as possible (JCC description begins Worthington Chauncey Ford et al., eds. Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774-1789. 34 vols. Washington, D.C., 1904–37. description ends , 2:122–23). They were subsequently printed by William and Thomas Bradford as Rules and Articles, for the Better Government of the Troops Raised, or to Be Raised, and Kept in Pay by and at the Joint Expence of the Twelve United English Colonies of North-America (Philadelphia, 30 June 1775).

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