To George Washington from John Hancock, 29 January 1777

From John Hancock

Baltimore Jany 29th 1777.

Sir,

You will percieve from the Resolves herewith transmitted, that the Letters which Congress have recieived from Genl Fermoy & several other French Officers, are referred to your Consideration, without a particular Recommendation in Favour of either of those Gentlemen. I do myself the Honour to enclose their Letters. A Representation to Congress from Colo. Kermovan, I transmitted this Morning by the Colonel.1

I have wrote to the Govr of Virginia on the Subject of the enclosed Resolve.2

Your Favour of the 22d inst. I had the pleasure of recieving—and this Day laid the same before Congress. I have the Honour to be with perfect Esteem & Respect Sir your most obed. Servt

John Hancock Presidt

As some Steps have been Taken with Respect to the Magazines at Brookfield & Carlile the Congress judge it best they should be Erected there in preference to the other places mention’d by Genl Knox.

LS, DLC:GW; LB, DNA:PCC, item 12A. The postscript of the LS is in Hancock’s writing.

1. The enclosed copy of Congress’s resolution of 28 Jan. referring to GW letters from the French officers are in DLC:GW (see also 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 , 7:65). The letters of La Rochefermoy and Kermovan to Hancock were apparently written on 15 and 24 Jan., respectively (see ibid.). On 31 Mar. Congress resolved to direct Major General Gates to employ La Rochefermoy and the other French officers in the northern department (see ibid., 211).

2. Hancock enclosed a copy of Congress’s resolution of 29 Jan. indicating its inability to arm the 2d and 7th Virginia regiments and requesting the governor and council to supply the arms (DLC:GW; see also ibid., 68–69). Hancock’s letter to Gov. Patrick Henry of this date is in DNA:PCC, item 12A (see also Smith, Letters of Delegates description begins Paul H. Smith et al., eds. Letters of Delegates to Congress, 1774–1789. 26 vols. Washington, D.C., 1976–2000. description ends , 6:159). Hancock also enclosed copies of Congress’s resolution of 28 Jan. concerning the removal of military stores from Philadelphia and resolutions of 29 Jan. directing the Continental treasurer to reimburse the state of Connecticut $33,333⅓ for its expenditures in raising and outfitting Col. Elisha Sheldon’s regimen of light horse and to advance $450,000 to Q.M. Gen. Thomas Mifflin “for the public service” (DLC:GW; see also 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 , 7:66, 70, and GW to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 11 Feb. 1777).

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Source Project: Washington Papers
Title: To George Washington from John Hancock, 29 January 1777
Author: Hancock, John
Recipient: Washington, George
Date: 29 January 1777

Reference

Cite as: “To George Washington from John Hancock, 29 January 1777,” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/03-08-02-0188. [Original source: The Papers of George Washington, Revolutionary War Series, vol. 8, 6 January 1777 – 27 March 1777, ed. Frank E. Grizzard, Jr. Charlottesville: University Press of Virginia, 1998, pp. 179–180.]

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