From George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 5 October 1775
To Jonathan Trumbull, Sr.
Camp at Cambridge October 5. 1775
Sir
By a Person from Boston the Day before yesterday we learn that a small Fleet consisting of a 64 Gun Ship a 20,1 2 Sloops of 18 Guns. 2 Transports & about 600 Men sailed as yesterday. They took on Board 2 Mortars, 4 Howitzers & other Artillery from which we suspect they intend to bombard some Town on the Coast.2 General Gage is recalled Genl How commands in his Place. We have some late Accounts from England but see no Prospect of an Accomodation; General Gages Acct of Bunkers Hill is returned & corresponds pretty much with ours as to kill’d & wounded. You will please to forward the inclosed to the Commissary General with all Expedition3 & believe me Sir Your most Obedt & very Hbble Servt
Go: Washington
LS, in Joseph Reed’s writing, ViU; LB, Ct: Trumbull Papers; LB, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW. The LS is endorsed in part “recd 6th at Eveng ⅌ Bennet.” The express rider was Elijah Bennet.
1. A twenty-gun ship. The informant was Mr. Fiske of Salem. See GW to the Portsmouth Committee of Safety, this date.
2. The squadron attacked Falmouth in the District of Maine on 18 October. See GW to Hancock and GW to Nicholas Cooke and Trumbull, both 24 Oct. 1775.
3. Joseph Reed informed Joseph Trumbull in the enclosed letter of this date, “By Express the Evening before last the General received Dispatches from the Congress wherein among other things he is desired to lay before them an Estimate of the Expence of the Army during the Winter: As your Department includes the most considerable Branch of Expence he requests you would with all Expedition give him your Sentiments on this Subject for his Government in answering this Dispatch. It is not supposed to be absolutely necessary to fix the number of Men as you can take any given Number upon which the Estimate may be made which will increase or diminish according to the Number actually employed—I must refer you to the Governr for what little News since you went away—Poor Dr Church is certainly ruined” (DLC:GW).