1To John Adams from Artemas Ward, 23 October 1775 (Adams Papers)
Yesterday I Received your favour of the fifth Instant, a week after the arival of Mr. Lynch, although I had been twice in his company be fore. I have indeavoured to treat the Gentlemen Committe with Decency and Politeness, I invited them to Roxbury twice. The day after I invited them Mr. Lynch came to Roxbury, but did not dine with me, he being Ingaged to dine with Genl. Washington as he...
2To George Washington from Major General Artemas Ward, 10 August 1775 (Washington Papers)
“Capt. Baldwin, the Bearer hereof, has been for three Months past engaged as an Engineer in the Service of the united Colonies. he was upon Bunker’s Hill, & behaved very well thro’ the Engagment. . . . He has no Birth in the Army, If any Vacancy presents, & he can be advanced I doubt not he will do Honor to his Office.” LS , DLC:GW . Although Jeduthan Baldwin (1732–1788) of Brookfield, Mass.,...
3To George Washington from Major General Artemas Ward, 17 August 1775 (Washington Papers)
I send you a prisoner who calls himself Terry Owen—he says he swam from Boston to Dorchester last night—His account of himself has been contradictory, and by Papers found with him which are sent by the Guards, it appears he has been engaged in the Service of the Enemy. From your Excellency’s Obedient and very humble Servant LS , M-Ar : Revolution Letters.
4To George Washington from Major General Artemas Ward, 19 August 1775 (Washington Papers)
Recommends for the command of a regiment “Colo. Wm Henshaw who before the Arrival of Genl Gates officiated as an Adjutant Genl being appointed to that Office by the provincial Congress.” LS , DLC:GW . William Henshaw (1735–1820) of Leicester marched to Cambridge with a regiment of Worcester Country militiamen shortly after the Battle of Lexington, and on 27 June the Massachusetts provincial...
5To George Washington from Major General Artemas Ward, 19 August 1775 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Major General Artemas Ward, 19 Aug. 1775. On 20 Aug. Horatio Gates wrote on behalf of GW to Ward: “The General has this moment received Your Letter of yesterday, he is surprized to hear that the men you Mention are posted in so insecure & defenceless a Scituation, & wishes you would repair to Squantum, & examine into all the Circumstances, & if you think it prudent,...
6To George Washington from Major General Artemas Ward, 22 August 1775 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Major General Artemas Ward, 22 Aug. 1775. On 25 Aug. Ward informed GW : “I wrote your Excy . . . the 22d Inst.”
7To George Washington from Major General Artemas Ward, 25 August 1775 (Washington Papers)
The Relations of Several Persons last out of Boston all tending to confirm our Belief that our active & restless Enemy are making large Preparation for some important Step & having ocular Demonstration that they have stript Colo. Hancocks Lime Trees as well as many other Trees in Boston which we are informed was done for the Purpose of making Facines[.] I beg Leave to suggest to your...
8To George Washington from Major General Artemas Ward, 25 August 1775 (Washington Papers)
Of the Ordnance, Implements, Ordnance Stores &c. which I wrote your Excy for the 22nd Inst: only the follg are sent Viz. two—12 Pounders—2 doz: Cannisters without powder, a proper complement of round Shot. Implements for the Cannon only 1 Sponge to each. also a Gin —The cannon recd can be of no service witht powder. It appears a little mysterious that all the articles were not sent as I am...
9To George Washington from Major General Artemas Ward, 29 August 1775 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Major General Artemas Ward, 29 Aug. 1775. On 30 Aug. Horatio Gates wrote on behalf of GW to Ward: “In answer to your Favor of Yesterday, I am commanded by His Excellency to say, that He is intirely of your Opinion, that three Hundred proper Men and Officers, should be Selected for the Batteau Service but is not certain, wheather Captain Davis is the person who ought to...
10To George Washington from Major General Artemas Ward, 31 August 1775 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Major General Artemas Ward, 31 Aug. 1775. On 31 Aug. Horatio Gates wrote on behalf of GW to Ward: “In Answer to your Favor of This Day to His Excellency General Washington, I have His Commands to say, that He approves of The Person being Appointed to the Command of the Boatmen being Declared in Publick Orders, before the Inlistment takes place.” MHi : Ward Papers.
11To George Washington from Major General Artemas Ward, 7 September 1775 (Washington Papers)
Last Evening a large Ship & a large Brig arrived at Boston, and this morning a Ship of War, a Transport Ship & a Topsail Schooner sailed from thence. From Your Excellency’s most obedient humble Servant LS , DLC:GW .
12To George Washington from Major General Artemas Ward, 20 November 1775 (Washington Papers)
In Consequence of Genl Gates’s Letter Yesterday I have taken Care to order a strict Watch of the Harbour & all Vessels that may arrive whether they appear to be Transports or Provision Vessels. I have sent to Colo. Ward at Dorchester, who is in great need of a Glass, & renews his Request that the Glass which was carried away by Colo. Greaton’s Regt might be returned; as it will be of more...
13To George Washington from Major General Artemas Ward, 21 December 1775 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Major General Artemas Ward, 21 Dec. 1775. On this date Robert Hanson Harrison wrote to Ward: “His Excellency has commanded me to acknowledge the receipt of your Letter of this date.”
14To George Washington from Major General Artemas Ward, 2 January 1776 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Major General Artemas Ward, 2 Jan. 1776. On 2 Jan. Robert Hanson Harrison wrote to Ward: “In Answer to yours of this date by Mr Pope, I am to inform you by his Excellencys command, that he desires you to send a Captn, Two Subaltern & fifty men to take Charge of the Military Stores, provisions &c. at Squantum & to remain there till further orders” ( DLC:GW ).
15To George Washington from Major General Artemas Ward, 3 January 1776 (Washington Papers)
Capt. Kellog applies for Leave to take the Command of Capt. Hubbard’s Compy who is now in Canada. Capt. Kellog has behaved like a good Officer the past Campaign & is desirous of the above Favor only upon this Account: he imagines he can be very serviceable in gitting the Compy fill’d up; & is willing to resign the Command to Capt. Hubard when he returns from the Northward; if he desires to...
16To George Washington from Major General Artemas Ward, 9 January 1776 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Major General Artemas Ward, 9 Jan. 1776. On this date Horatio Gates wrote to Ward: “By His Excellencys Command, I am to acquaint you in Answer to your Letter of this morning, by The Orderly Adjutant: that he approves for the present of your sending the Remainder of Captain Bisels Company to Squantum but thinks hereafter a Good Militia Company had better be Station’d at...
17To George Washington from Major General Artemas Ward, 22 March 1776 (Washington Papers)
I am now to inform your Excellency that I am in such an ill State of Health that I do not think myself capable of doing the duty which to be done by me through the ensuing Campaign in the Station I am now in; and to eat the Continental Bread & not do the duty is what I am much averse to; therefore I must beg leave to resign my Command & to withdraw from the Army after the expiration of this...
18To George Washington from Major General Artemas Ward, 11 April 1776 (Washington Papers)
I am to inform your Excellency that Col. Glover applied to me for a Warrant upon the Paymaster Genl to pay those Men who are in the Service of the Continent, on board the Continental Privateers just arrived from a Cruise, but I did not think myself authorised by your Instructions to grant a Warrant; he informed me the Men would not be induced to go out again unless they received their pay, I...
19To George Washington from Major General Artemas Ward, 12 April 1776 (Washington Papers)
I am to inform your Excellency, that Col. Warren, the Paymaster Genl acquaints me he has not Money enough left in the Treasury (since what was drawn for the Commissary and Quarter Master) to pay the five Regiments which remain here, for the month of March. Mr Quarter Master Parke had a Warrant for £5500.12 and Mr Commissary Avery had a Warrant for £4500 to defray the expences in their several...
20To George Washington from Major General Artemas Ward, 19 April 1776 (Washington Papers)
This day I received a letter from the Paymaster Genl informing me that he cannot without an immediate supply of money pay the drafts that must soon be made upon him. The Commissary & Quartermaster having drawn such large sums, with what has been drawn to pay the men on board the Continental Privateers, &c. that the Treasury is nearly exhausted: And unless there should be an immediate suply, we...
21To George Washington from Major General Artemas Ward, 27 April 1776 (Washington Papers)
I have the Honour of your Excellency’s Letter of the 18th Instant, and immediately took measures for carrying your designs respecting the Vessels into execution. I have inclosed a Letter containing Accounts &c. from Doctr Brown, and an Account from Mr Singletary; and wait your Directions respecting them. There are several accounts similar to Mr Singletary’s yet unsettled. Should your...
22To George Washington from Major General Artemas Ward, 28 April 1776 (Washington Papers)
By Mr Harrison’s Letter of the twenty second Instant, I am informed your Excellency can not supply me with the Cash I wrote for; I am very sorry as there are many demands on the Commissary and Quartermaster, which are not all of a late date. I have made out Warrants for the payment of the five Regiments here for the month of February, and have found it necessary to give Warrants for the...
23To George Washington from Major General Artemas Ward, 3 May 1776 (Washington Papers)
Yesterday afternoon a Vessel arrived at Newbury from Bilboa in twenty nine days, the Captain of which informs, that on the fourtee[n]th of April in longitude 45, from London he spoke a Vessel from Plymouth in England, who informed him that three days before he parted with a fleet of sixty sail of Transports bound for Boston under the Command of Admiral Howe, having on board twelve thousand...
24To George Washington from Major General Artemas Ward, 4 May 1776 (Washington Papers)
Your Letter of the twenty ninth of April is just come to hand. Agreeable to your desire I shall give an account of what has been done towards fortifying the Harbour. The Forts on Fort Hill in Boston, Charlestown Point, and Castle Point, are almost compleated, with a number of heavy Cannon mounted in each; a Work is in good forwardness on Noddles Island, and a Detachment of the Army is at work...
25To George Washington from Major General Artemas Ward, 9 May 1776 (Washington Papers)
By Mr Harrison’s Letter of the second Instant, I am acquainted that you have been informed “the Regiments stationed on Dorchester Heights and Bunker Hill have not been employed in carryin[g] on the works for the defence of Boston,” which Representation is an injurious falsehood; and I beg to be informed who made it. I have paid the strictest attention to your Instructions, and constantly...
26To George Washington from Major General Artemas Ward, 12 May 1776 (Washington Papers)
Boston, 12 May 1776 . “The Bearer has this moment arrived with some accounts from England, I have directed the Asst Q. M. Genl to furnish him with a Horse and money to carry him to New York, which Horse he is to deliver to the Q. M. Genl at New York.” LS , PHi : Dreer Collection; LB , MHi : Ward Papers. The bearer was undoubtedly George Merchant who arrived at GW’s headquarters with his...
27To George Washington from Major General Artemas Ward, 17 May 1776 (Washington Papers)
I have the pleasure to inform your Excellency that the Armed Schooner Franklin, Captain Mugford this day took and bro’t into this Harbour a large Ship from Cork, Several other armed Schooners were in company. A Bill of Lading I have inclosed, by which you will see that she is a very valuable Prize; she carried four three pounders, and is about three hundred tons burthen. She came out the...
28To George Washington from Major General Artemas Ward, 19 May 1776 (Washington Papers)
Your favour of the thirteenth Instant is Just come to hand, inclosing Colo. Varnums petition, by which I perceive he makes a charge against me, because I did not redeliver (as he is pleased to call it) some men upon request of one Capt. Lane. The case was thus, if I remember right, Lane came to me, & said he had Supplyed a man with money, to inlist men for Colo. Varnums Regt, and that he had...
29To George Washington from Major General Artemas Ward, 20 May 1776 (Washington Papers)
I am to inform your Excellency that yesterday afternoon Captain Mugford in the armed Schooner Franklin, fell down in order to go out on a Cruise but got a ground near Point Shirley in the Evening. Major Frazers little armed Schooner went down at the same time with the Franklin, and anchored not far from her; about midnight a number of sail and other Boats from the Men of War attacked the two...
30To George Washington from Major General Artemas Ward, 27 May 1776 (Washington Papers)
I am to inform your Excellency that Mr Bartlett the Agent at Beverly has purchased the Brigantine Hannah for the Continent, at five hundred and twenty pounds. Captain Bradford of Boston having represented to me that he had an order from Robert Morris Esqr. Member of Congress, one of the Marine Committee, to provide a good sailing Vessel for Continental Service and that the Brigantine would...
31To George Washington from Major General Artemas Ward, 3 June 1776 (Washington Papers)
Boston, 3 June 1776 . Encloses “the Judgement of a Court of Enquiry upon the Complaint of Col. Varnum against Lieut. Merril. And a Return of this Division of the Army. Some of the Articles which General Putnam sent to me for are on the way to Norwich, and the most of them will set off tomorrow morning.” LS , DLC:GW ; LB , MHi : Ward Papers. This return has not been identified. The enclosed...
32To George Washington from Major General Artemas Ward, 6 June 1776 (Washington Papers)
Inclosed is the Invoice of the Ordnance Stores which I have forwarded to Norwich to the Care of Capt. Huntington to be forwarded from thence by him to New york, agreeable to General Putnam’s request in his letter to me of the twenty fourth of May. All those Articles were taken in the Ship Hope lately brought into this Harbor by Captain Mugford. I am Your Excellency’s Obedient Humble Servant LS...
33To George Washington from Major General Artemas Ward, 9 June 1776 (Washington Papers)
Yours of the twenty eighth of May, I received last evening, and shall give immediate attention to all your Directions. I sent forward the first of last week under the care of Genl Putnam’s Son to be forwarded to New york, five hundred Barrels of powder, five hundred Carbines, and all the other articles which were wrote for. The remaining three hundred Carbines to compleat the eight hundred I...
34To George Washington from Major General Artemas Ward, 16–17 June 1776 (Washington Papers)
Last evening I received Major Harrison’s Letter of the tenth Instant, and agreeable [to] your desire have directed Lieut. Machin to be ready as soon as possible to set out for New York. The thirteenth Instant at evening I order’d five hundred men with proper officers, a detachment of the Train with a thirteen inch Mortar, two eighteen pounders, and some small Cannon, under the command of Col....
35To George Washington from Major General Artemas Ward, 20 June 1776 (Washington Papers)
I have to inform you that the Continental Privateers brought into this Port the eighteenth Instant another Scotch Transport with a Highland Company of Grenadiers on board consisting of upwards of an hundred with their Officers, with a few arms more than what belonged to the Company. Each Transport brings a considerable quantity of provisions for the Troops. The prisoners are going into the...
36To George Washington from Major General Artemas Ward, 23 June 1776 (Washington Papers)
I have the honour of your Letter of the sixteenth Instant. Agreeable to your Directions I have ordered the Court of Enquiry to set for a rehearing of the Complaint of Col. Varnum against Lieut. Merrill. The Letters to Major Small and Charles Proctor Esqr. I will forward if any opportunity offers. By desire of Col. Cambell I have inclosed his Letters which he desires may be forwarded if there...
37To George Washington from Major General Artemas Ward, 30 June 1776 (Washington Papers)
Your Letter of the twenty third instant I received last Evening, and shall carry your Orders into execution as soon as possible. The General Assembly of New Hampshire some time since applied to me for the powder which that Colony lent the Continent last Summer, I referred them to your Excellency for an Order, but since the retreat of General Sullivan they have urged the great necessity of...
38To George Washington from Major General Artemas Ward, 4 July 1776 (Washington Papers)
By yesterdays post I have the honour of your letter of the twenty sixth June and have this morning forwarded the two hundred Carbines agreeable to your directions. I have inclosed a Return of this Division of the Army. Also a Return of the Scotch Prisoners. By the next post I hope to be able to make a Return of the Scotch Cargoes. The Small pox prevails to such a degree in Boston, and so many...
39To George Washington from Major General Artemas Ward, 11 July 1776 (Washington Papers)
Agreeable to your Directions I have forwarded all the Arms and Accoutrements fit for use that were in the Hands of the Agents, lately taken from the Scotch Prisoners. The Agents, without my knowledge, parted with part of the Arms; part of them were taken by the Commander of a Connecticut Privateer who assisted in taking the Transports; and some I am told were thrown overboard by the Prisoners,...
40To George Washington from Major General Artemas Ward, 11 July 1776 (Washington Papers)
Inclosed are the Invoices of the Cargoes taken on board the Scotch Transports, which I received from the Agents. I am Your Excellency’s Obedient Humble Servant P.S. I have just received an account from Cape Ann that two Ships were the sixth instant sent into that Harbour by a Privateer lately fitted out from this Town; the prizes were from the West Indias, one had four hundred hogsheads of Rum...
41To George Washington from Major General Artemas Ward, 15 July 1776 (Washington Papers)
I am this moment favoured with your Excellency’s Letter of the Eleventh Instant: I have also received yours of the seventh and ninth; I have paid and shall pay the utmost attention to all your Directions. Two Regiments will march Thursday morning, one on Friday; and the other two as soon as they are well, which I trust will be in ten days. As the small pox prevailed so much in Boston the...
42To George Washington from Major General Artemas Ward, 22 July 1776 (Washington Papers)
The Company of Artificers in the Continental Service here, under the care of Capt. Eayrs, your Excellency did not mention in your directions respecting the Troops, and I must request your directions respecting said Company. It is a very good Company, and if such a Company be wanted in the Continental Service I believe a better cannot be had. Sargent’s and Hutchinson’s Regiments marched the...
43To George Washington from Major General Artemas Ward, 25 July 1776 (Washington Papers)
Herewith is inclosed Returns of the Stores in this Division of the Continental Army. I shall immediately send to the Agents to furnish those Articles mentioned in Mr Webb’s Letter of the eighteenth Instant, and shall comply as far as is in my power with all Your Directions therein. As soon as the Regiments are able to march I shall give orders therefor, and immediately retire. I am Your...
44To George Washington from Brigadier General Artemas Ward, 29 July 1776 (Washington Papers)
Yesterday the armed Schooners Franklin and Hancock, commanded by Captains Skimmer and Tucker, sent into Marblehead a Ship from Hallifax bound to New York with refugee Tories and Tory Goods on board. The Invoices which Mr Glover the Agent sent me, I have inclosed. The same day Captain Burk in the armed Schooner Lee came into Marblehead to refit, having a few days since engaged a Ship and a...
45To George Washington from Major General Artemas Ward, 4 August 1776 (Washington Papers)
I have the honour of your Letter of the 29th of July. I am much surprised to hear that the Carbines are not all yet arrived at New york, I forwarded them all agreeable to Your directions, and the last two hundred went from this place the fourth of July for Norwich to the care of Mr Huntington, to whom I wrote every time I sent Arms, or other Articles which were ordered to New york, to forward...
46To George Washington from Major General Artemas Ward, 12 August 1776 (Washington Papers)
This day I have forwarded one hundred Barrels of powder for Norwich, there to be deposited agreeable to your directions; I have also forwarded a Chest of Arms to the care of Messieurs Huntingtons to be by them sent to New York; an Invoice of them is here inclosed. Whetcombs Regiment march’d the eighth Instant and Phinney’s the ninth, for Ticonderoga. Last week Mr Glover, the Agent, was in Town...
47To George Washington from Major General Artemas Ward, 19 August 1776 (Washington Papers)
Your Letter of the twelfth Instant I received Saturday Evening; I gave immediate attention to your Orders, and as it was judged extremely difficult, if not impracticable, to convey the Mortars by land, I gave Orders to the proper persons to prepare every thing necessary for conveying them by water, and to work day and night until they were compleated. This day they will go on board of Lighters...
48To George Washington from Major General Artemas Ward, 22 August 1776 (Washington Papers)
Your Excellency’s letter of the thirteenth Instant came to hand last Evening; and agreeable to your Directions I shall order Capt. Burbeck with his Company of Artillery, and the Company of Artificers, to march as soon as possible for Norwich and from thence to go by water to Norwalk, and New york. I am Your Excellency’s most Obedient Humble Servant Postscript: Major Wadsworth, was appointed...
49To George Washington from Major General Artemas Ward, 26 September 1776 (Washington Papers)
The State of New Hampshire applied to me to furnish a thousand men who are soon to march for Newyork from that State, with ammunition, and as they were likely to march without ammunition, unless furnished out of the Continental Store, and as the public Cause might suffer by their not being supplyed, I therefore supplied them with 500 lb. powder & 1000 lb. ball, hoping this quantity by might...
50To George Washington from Major General Artemas Ward, 29 September 1776 (Washington Papers)
Boston, 29 September 1776 . “Having been informed that the Army was in great want of cooking utensils, and there being fifty five Copper Camp kettles and twenty nine Iron Pots and Kettles in the Store here, I have this day sent them forward with directions to the Waggoner to make the utmost expedition in going to the Army and to deliver them to Your Order as soon as he arrives.” LS , DLC:GW ;...