From George Washington to Colonel Timothy Bedel, 1 February 1776
To Colonel Timothy Bedel
Cambridge 1st February 1776
Sir
The Continental Congress, haveing Calld upon the Government of New Hampshire to raise a Regiment for the Service of the United Colonies—which they have accordingly Complied with—and appointed you to the Command1—I have to desire, that you will use all the deligence2 & dispatch possible, to raise the Said Regiment & march it into Canada takeing your Rout by Number four, and Onion River, where a Suply of provisions will be Laid up,3 by order of Major General Schuyler.
This Regiment is to be raised upon the Continental establishment, agreeable to the terms & requisitions of the Congress—as transmitted to the Honorable Convention of New Hampshire4—the necessity of Reinforceing our troops, posted before & forming the Blockade of Quebec—is too apparent, to need being dwelt on—I woud therefore have you order each Company to March, as fast as they are raised, and on their arrival put themselves under the Command of the General or Commanding officer in Canada.5
Your Colony will provide you with Such necessarys, as are indispensably wanting for the use of your Regiment, in the takeing up of which, and your expences on the March I reccommend the utmost Oeconomy, that Can be used Consistant with dispatch.6
You will take under your Care the Coghnawaga Indians, who are now here7 and Conduct them in the Safest, & most Agreeable manner to themselves, into Canada—You are to bear their expences, for which purpose I now give you a warrant on the paymaster General for the Sum of £100—L[awfu]l M[one]y. You must Keep a just account of its expenditure, & render the Same to the Commissary of the Northern department when you get there he will be advertized of this Matter and directed to Settle with you.8
these Sir are your Instructions, to which I doubt not you will pay a proper attention that you may have a share in the G[l]ory, of expelling the instruments of Ministerial Tyranny from that fair Province, is the Sincere wish of Sir Your most H. St9
Go: Washington
LS, in Stephen Moylan’s writing, CSmH; ADf, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW. GW’s draft differs somewhat in wording from the LS in several places. See notes below.
1. See the New Hampshire General Court to GW, 21 Jan. 1776. GW’s draft reads “Command of.”
2. GW’s draft reads “use the utmost deligence.”
3. GW’s draft reads “into Canada by the way of No. 4 & Onion River, on which Communication a supply of Provisions will be laid.”
4. See Hancock to the New Hampshire convention, 20 Jan. 1776, in , 3:119–20. GW’s draft reads “& agreeable to the terms & requisition of the Congress, as transmitted to New Hampshire.”
5. GW’s draft reads: “As the necessity of reinforcing our Troops Posted before, & forming the Blockade of Quebec, is too apparent to need description, I would have you order each Company to March as fast as they are rais’d—the whole putting themselves under the Command of the Genl or Commanding Officer in Canada, as fast as they arrive there.”
6. GW’s draft reads: “Such necessaries as are indispensably necessary for the use of your Regiment will, I expect, be provided for you by your Colony, in the doing of which, & on your March, I recommend the utmost Œconomy, that can be used consistent with dispatch.”
7. GW’s draft reads: “You will take under your care, Jean Baptist, together with the other Indians (now at this place) of the Coghnawaga Tribe.”
8. This warrant for $333⅓ or £100 was issued on this date (account of warrants signed, 10 Sept. 1775–12 Aug. 1776, DLC:GW). GW’s draft reads: “You will receive a Warrant upon the Pay master for the Sum of £100 Lawful with which you are to bear their Expences, rendering an Acct of the just expenditure thereof, for their use to the Commissary of the Northern department when you get there; who will be advertized of this matter & directed to settle with you.”
9. GW’s draft reads: “these Sir are my Instructions to which I doubt not You will pay a proper attention, I must again recommend your making all possible dispatch, & that you may have a share in the Glory, of expelling the Instruments of Ministerial Tyranny, from that fair Province is the sincere wish of Sir Your most obt st.”