En passant. As Church said in his letter to the Regulars, Remember I Never deceived you. If your Congress don’t give better encouragement to the Privates, than at present is held forth to them, You will have No Winter Army. There must be some small bounty given them on the inlistment. A Strange Mistaken Opinion Obtains among the Gentlemen of the Army from the Southward and if I mistake Not in...
1402To John Adams from John Trumbull, 14 November 1775 (Adams Papers)
I had the satisfaction last evening of receiving your very friendly Letter, which was the more agreable for being unexpected. As I am setting out tomorrow on a short Tour to the eastward, I have taken the only leisure moment to answer it. You may easily guess how much I am flattered by your approbation of the little essay, you mention in yours. As to its being mysterious, as you term it, you...
1403To John Adams from James Warren, 14 November 1775 (Adams Papers)
I last Evening received yours by Capt. Gist, and this Morning by Fessenden. It gives me great pleasure to see things in such a fine way and you in such Choice Spirits. I Congratulate you on the takeing of St. John’s. This news Fessenden brings with him from Hartford. This gives us great Spirits. He says likewise that Arnold was within twelve Miles of Quebec. You must know that our Anxiety for...
1404To Benjamin Franklin from [David Hartley], 14 November 1775 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Public Record Office; copy: Clements Library Hartley’s cast of mind was similar to that of the peace negotiators with whom Franklin dealt during his last months in England. All of them regarded reconciliation as a problem to be analyzed, ordered, and reduced to rational terms from which a rational solution might emerge. Barclay and Fothergill pinned their hopes on negotiating by...
1405To Benjamin Franklin from [David Hartley], 14 November 1775 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Public Record Office I send you a copy of the petition from the County of Berks for lenient measures with America, which my Brother and I have signed with about a thousand others. Some time ago the ministerial agents began to move for vindictive addresses, and got many from boroughs, several of them by surprize and management, as I have been informed by public newspapers. All these...
1406General Orders, 14 November 1775 (Washington Papers)
This moment a confirmation is arrived, of the glorious Success of the Continental Arms, in the Reduction, and Surrender, of the Fortress of St Johns; the Garrisons of that place and Chamblee being made Prisoners of war —The Commander in Chief is confident, the Army under his immediate direction, will shew their Gratitude to providence, for thus favouring the Cause of Freedom and America; and...
1407To George Washington from the Fairfax County Committee of Correspondence, 14 November 1775 (Washington Papers)
By order of the Committee of this County There was Ship’d from hence by Messrs Henley & Call, the 18th of November 1774–157 barrl flour, in the Schooner Volitile, Capt. Woodbury, Amountg £215.10/—and the freight paid here £23.11/—also fifty bushls beans amount £10—and Eleven barrl bread & five barrels of Flour, by the Capts. Hilton & Rust—Amount £14.9.3—The Contingent Charges pay’d here...
1408To George Washington from Fielding Lewis, 14 November 1775 (Washington Papers)
You will receive this Letter by my Son George who accompanys your Lady, the Winter is so far advanced that I am fearfull she will have a very disagreeable Journey but I expect she will meet with every assistance she may have occasion for on the Road and should there be little Snow I make no doubt of her getting to you safe and before the weather is very cold; George is very desireous of...
1409To George Washington from William Ramsay, 14 November 1775 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from William Ramsay, 14 Nov. 1775. In a letter of 4–11 Dec. 1775 to Ramsay , GW referred to “your favour of the 14th Ulto.”
1410To George Washington from Lund Washington, 14 November 1775 (Washington Papers)
Inclose’d I send you an Ac[coun]t of money paid away by me Since you left Home with what I have Recieved from Mrs Washington & others—there are several sums of money which so soon as recieve’d were diliverd to Mrs Washington & therefore, were no longer in my Possession than whilst I was Countg it—I have also set it down that you may know who it was got from the money now in the House I have...
1411To John Jay from Alexander McDougall, 15[–16] November 1775 (Jay Papers)
Agreeable to my Promise to give you a memorandum of Severals acts and matters to be done relative to this Colony; I shall now mention them. The Troops, now at the Fort on Hudson’s river, being of different Regiments; and the minute-men to be sent ^ there as well as the former ^ having no Surgeon; it ^ will ^ be absolutly necessary, that one should be provided; in order to take Care of them in...
1412John Adams to Abigail Adams, 15 November 1775 (Adams Papers)
This I suppose will go by Mr. James Bowdoin who has just arrived here from London. He has been very obliging in communicating to me Pamphlets and News Papers in which last I find that some Parts of Novanglus have been retailed out there and have brought on a Battle in the public Papers between Hutchinson and Pounal. Mr. Bowdoin has been to Italy, Holland, France and England and is returned an...
1413From John Adams to Richard Henry Lee, 15 November 1775 (Adams Papers)
The Course of Events, naturally turns the Thoughts of Gentlemen to the Subjects of Legislation and Jurisprudence, and it is a curious Problem what Form of Government, is most readily and easily adopted by a Colony, upon a Sudden Emergency. Nature and Experience have already pointed out the Solution of this Problem, in the Choice of Conventions and Committees of safety. Nothing is wanting in...
1414From John Adams to Samuel Osgood , 15 November 1775 (Adams Papers)
Your first Letter to me is now before me. The true Cause why General Frie, has not received from me, any particular Intelligence, is that the Matter has been hitherto Suspended, and that I am under Such Engagements of Secrecy, that I could not in Honour acquaint him with any Thing that has pass’d in Congress. As Soon as I arrived in Philadelphia, I made it my Business to introduce General...
1415To Benjamin Franklin from Robert Crafton, 15 November 1775 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Public Record Office I can’t excuse myself from troubling you at this critical Juncture, having a very momentous Affair to communicate, with my poor Sentiments on it; and when a proper Conveyance offers, I should be glad of yours in return. A Peace and Union between G. Britain and America, is certainly worth some Sacrifice on each Part; and if a middle Line could be drawn; tho’ it should...
1416General Orders, 15 November 1775 (Washington Papers)
Lieutt Lyon of Major Johnson’s Company in the 34th Regt tried at a late General Court Martial whereof Col. Pattersons was president for “aiding and countenancing a mutiny in the Camp”—There being no proof of the Charge; the Court unanimously acquit the prisoner. Lieut. Soaper and Ensign Parker, tried at a Genl Court Martial whereof Col. Douglass was president, for “striking & abusing Lieuts....
1417From George Washington to Nicholas Cooke, 15 November 1775 (Washington Papers)
Cambridge , 15 November 1775 . “Inclosed you have a Copy of instructions given to Genl Sullivan on his departure for Portsmouth New Hampshire.” LS , in Stephen Moylan’s writing, NjMoHP ; Varick transcript , DLC:GW . The contents of this letter are nearly identical to the third, fourth, and fifth paragraphs of GW’s letter to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., of this date. See Circular Instructions for...
1418To George Washington from Lieutenant Colonel Joseph Reed, 15 November 1775 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Lieutenant Colonel Joseph Reed, 15 Nov. 1775. On 28 Nov. GW wrote to Reed : “Your favours of the 15th & 17th are come to hand.”
1419From George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 15 November 1775 (Washington Papers)
I received your favor of the 6th inst. in which you give a detail of Dr Chiney’s case as it appeared before you and Council, in which nothing but the fair side of his character appears. You may be assured Sir that his tryal will be impartial, that no insidious designs of his inemies will have weight, and that it will give me much plasure to find he can acquit himself of the crimes he is...
1420To John Adams from Samuel Chase, 16 November 1775 (Adams Papers)
I am well assured that a Supply of Powder is arrived at Statia, so writes Captain Waters on 10th. October. A Dutch Vessell bound to Surrinam has contracted with a Captain of this place for twenty five Tons, if he comes for it by Xmas. I have seen several of the principal Gentlemen here. They are wishing for the Destruction of Lord Dunmore and his fleet. Inclosed You receive the Terms on which...
1421To Benjamin Franklin from Margaret Stevenson, 16 November 1775 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I hope you and all your Dear family ar weel as to my Self, i am, in tolerable health but Confind to my Roome on acont my Leg wich is vere panfull a nights, but ho [oh? know?] if i could geat to America i should be hapey; but that is such a distant prospict that i fear never will be, so I shall never see you my Dearst freind, but only thinke and wish that I...
1422General Orders, 16 November 1775 (Washington Papers)
Motives of Oeconomy rendering it indispensibly necessary, that many of the Regiments should be reduced, and the whole put upon a different establishment; several deserving Officers, not from any demerit, but pure necessity, have been excluded in the New Arrangement of the Army, among these was Col. Whitcomb; but the noble Sentiments disclosed by that Gentleman, upon this Occasion, the Zeal he...
1423To George Washington from James Cleveland, 16 November 1775 (Washington Papers)
I Tack This oppertunity to Let you know how I have proseded In your bisness on the ohio First I proseded To the Tract Directed on the kanhawa 10990 acres as Directed I Sarchet That Extenceve Tract Fore Dayes To Find the best place To be gin my Impruve ments at lingth I Fixt in the great Bend Not be Cause it tis the best Land For it is all So Rich that I Saw no Choss but Thought I had reson To...
1424Instructions to Colonel Henry Knox, 16 November 1775 (Washington Papers)
You are immediately to examine into the state of the Artillery of this army & take an account of the Cannon, Mortars, Shels, Lead & ammunition that are wanting; When you have done that, you are to proceed in the most expeditious manner to New York; There apply to the president of the provincial Congress, and learn of him, whether Col. Reed did any thing, or left any orders—respecting these...
1425From George Washington to the Massachusetts Council, 16 November 1775 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: to the Massachusetts Council, 16 Nov. 1775. On this day James Otis, president of the Massachusetts council, wrote to GW : “The Council received your favour of this day by the Officer of the Guard.”
1426To George Washington from the Massachusetts Council, 16 November 1775 (Washington Papers)
The Council received your favour of this day by the Officer of the Guard, and thank your Excellency for your care, and as the Prisoners sent hither, are all disposed of, there will be no occasion for any guard until others are sent in; We have therefore returned the Guard and the Committee of Council, who are appointed to hear and examine &c. Prisoners in the recess of Court (a Copy of whose...
1427To George Washington from Lieutenant Colonel Joseph Reed, 16 November 1775 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Lieutenant Colonel Joseph Reed, 16 Nov. 1775. On 27 Nov. GW wrote to Reed : “Your Letter of the 16th by Post now lyes before me.”
1428From George Washington to Major General Philip Schuyler, 16 November 1775 (Washington Papers)
My last to you was the 5th Inst. I have since received your most agreeable Favour and its Inclosures of the 7th—The Surrender of St John’s is a pleasing Presage of the Reduction of Quebec in effecting which I hope Colonel Arnold will cooperate, the last Account from him is dated 13th October at the 2d portage from Kennebec to the dead River, from whence he had dispatched an Express to you and...
1429From George Washington to Major General Philip Schuyler, 16 November 1775 (Washington Papers)
I wrote you this Day by Express and informed you therein the great Necessity I was in for Ordonance Stores & ammunition, and that [I woud Send] Henry Knox Esqr. to New York to procure there as much as can be spared, from thence to proceed to you, that Gentleman will deliver you this Letter, I recommend him and the Business he goes upon to your Attention, should he find more Money than he...
1430From George Washington to Nathaniel Woodhull, 16 November 1775 (Washington Papers)
it was determined at t⟨he Conference⟩ held here in the Last Month, th⟨at Such Military⟩ Stores as Coud be spared from N⟨ew york Crown point⟩ Ticonderoga &a shoud be Sent he⟨re for the use of⟩ the Continental Army —as it wa⟨s not clear to me,⟩ whether I was to send for, or that they ⟨were to be sent⟩ to me, I desired Mr Reed on his way to ⟨Philada⟩ to enquire into this Matter—as I have ⟨not...
1431To Thomas Jefferson from Edmund Pendleton, 16 November 1775 (Jefferson Papers)
Former labours in Various Public emploiements now appear as recreations compared with the present, which affords a scanty allowance for food and sleep; I mention this as an Appology to you and my other freinds for not having wrote more frequently. The Committee having now Adjourned for a fortnight, I am at home and mean to write for Next Post as I set out on a small mountain excursion...
1432[17th of November 1775.] (Adams Papers)
On the 17th of November 1775. A Letter from Gen. Washington, inclosing a Letter and Journal of Colonel Arnold, and sundry papers being received, the same were read, whereupon Resolved that a Committee of seven be appointed to take into Consideration so much of the Generals Letter, as relates to the disposal of such Vessells and Cargoes belonging to the Ennemy, as shall fall into the hands of,...
1433The Pennsylvania Committee of Safety to the Lancaster County Committee, 17 November 1775 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Library of Congress We have considered your respectful answer to our application for the public Arms in the County of Lancaster, and are fully satisfied with the reasons you assign for retaining them for the use of the poor Associators in said County, and have only to acknowledge your Zeal in the Public Cause and to desire you will send to us, the names of the persons in whose hands the...
1434General Orders, 17 November 1775 (Washington Papers)
Lieut. Correy of Col. Prescotts Regt tried at a late General Court Martial, whereof Col. Patterson was president, for “Forgery and defrauding his Men of their pay[”]—The Court were unanimously of Opinion, that Lieut. Correy was guilty of defrauding some of his men of their Blanket money, and of attempting to defraud others of their Coat Money, and therefore adjudge the prisoner to be...
1435To George Washington from Samuel Freeman, 17 November 1775 (Washington Papers)
Being prevented by a sudden departure from Watertown, from waiting on your Excellency as I fully intended I think it proper, by way of Letter, to inform you that our General Court have appointed The Hon. Joseph Fry Esq. “to take the command of the Men station’d in the County of Cumberland, who were raised for the Defence of the Sea Coast until their further Orders; And have impower’d him upon...
1436To George Washington from Lieutenant Colonel Joseph Reed, 17 November 1775 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Lieutenant Colonel Joseph Reed, 17 Nov. 1775. On 28 Nov. GW wrote to Reed : “Your favours of the 15th & 17th are come to hand.”
1437From George Washington to Major General Artemas Ward, 17 November 1775 (Washington Papers)
As the Season is fast approaching when the Bay between us and Boston will, in all probability be close shut up, thereby rendering any movement upon the Ice as easy as if no Water was there—and, as it is more than possible that General Howe, when he gets the expected reinforcements will endeavour to relieve himself from the disgraceful confinement in which the Ministerial Troops have been, all...
1438John Adams to Abigail Adams, 18 November 1775 (Adams Papers)
Your kind Letter of the 5th. Inst. came to Hand yesterday by Captain McPherson. I admire your skill in Phisiognomy, and your Talent at drawing Characters, as well as that of your Friend Marcia from whom at the same Time I received several important Characters, which you shall one day see. I agree with you in your sentiments that there is Reason to be diffident of a Man who grossly violates the...
1439General Orders, 18 November 1775 (Washington Papers)
There was a mistake in the Entry of the General Orders of Yesterday. The Hon: the Continental Congress ha[ve] thought proper to allow the first and second Lieutenants, the same pay, viz: Eighteen Dollars a month to each and the Ensigns thirteen Dollars and ⅓ of a dollar. The Commissary General to order all the Horns of the Bullocks, that are killed for the Use of the Army, to be saved, and...
1440To George Washington from Britannicus, 18 November 1775 (Washington Papers)
The enclosed Papers I Received a few days ago. I suppose they came from Mr Hitchborn. He appears very certain the Preston might be taken, but from her Situation, and being unrigged, it will be very Difficult, if not Impossible to secure her, for as soon as daylight appears, she might be Beat to pieces by the Batteries of the Town, to which she would be a fair mark; or she might be retaken by...
1441From George Washington to Nicholas Cooke, 18 November 1775 (Washington Papers)
Your favor of the 13 Inst. by Mr Phillips I received; In answer thereto you will be pleased to Order the Officers and men that have been stationed at Block Island, to march to this Camp; Reinforcements are wanting, & probably will be, when they are here, they will be Incorporated in the Continental army, if they Choose it; The many circumstances attending the new arrangement of which, had in...
1442To George Washington from Major General Philip Schuyler, 18 November 1775 (Washington Papers)
I do Myself the Honor to congratulate Your Excellency on the Surrender of Montreal Inclose You Copy of the Terms that were proposed and allowed as also Copy of sundry Letters from a Mr Brook Watson, & that of General Montgomery to me; to Congress I have only sent Extracts of the last, for prudential Reasons. In your Hands it is safe. Since my last to Your Excellency I have been more particular...
1443To John Adams from Charles Lee, 19 November 1775 (Adams Papers)
I receiv’d your obliging letter and cannot express the pleasure I feel in standing so high in your opinion as without flattery I esteem you a Man of excellent judgment and a singular good heart. Some of the queries You offer to my consideration are perhaps above my sphere, but in a post or two I shou’d endeavour to answer ’em, had I not hopes of conversing with You soon in propria persona. I...
1444General Orders, 19 November 1775 (Washington Papers)
The Brigadier Generals to make Returns of the Number of Teams necessary, to furnish their respective divisions with wood, and the teams appointed for each division, to be continually employed in the service of that division, and not to be shifted, from division to another, as great Confusion arises thereby, some Regiments having a double Stock of wood, while others, are suffering for want. The...
1445From George Washington to John Hancock, 19 November 1775 (Washington Papers)
I received your favors of the 7th & 10th instant with the Resolves of the Honble Congress, to which I will pay all due attention—As Soon as two Capable persons Can be found, I will dispatch them to Nova Scotia, on the Service resolved on in Congress —the Resolve to raise two Battallions of marines will (if practicable in this Army) entirely derange what has been done; it is therein mentiond...
1446To George Washington from James Lovell, 19 November 1775 (Washington Papers)
I wish at this Time to waive the Expression of my Veneration of your Character, in a still-lively Hope that Providence will bless me with the Opportunity of attempting it by the united sincere Language of my Eyes & Lips; tho’ even that must prove inadequate. Personally a Stranger to you, my Sufferings have yet affected your benevolent Mind; and your Exertions in my Favor have made so deep an...
1447To George Washington from Lieutenant Colonel Joseph Reed, 20–21 November 1775 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Lieutenant Colonel Joseph Reed, 20–21 Nov. 1775. On 30 Nov. GW wrote to Reed : “your favr of the 20th with the agreeable Post[s]cript of the 21st, is come to hand.”
1448General Orders, 20 November 1775 (Washington Papers)
The Colonels & commanding Officers of regiments, upon the new Establishment, are forthwith to send one Officer, from each Company upon the recruiting Service into the Country, they are to take with them a Copy of the recruiting Instructions as contain’d in General Orders of the 12th Instant, and comply strictly therewith; care to be taken not to leave any Company under the old establishment...
1449To George Washington from Colonel Benedict Arnold, 20 November 1775 (Washington Papers)
My last was of the 14th Instant from Point ⟨Levi⟩ —the same Evening I passed the St Lawrance without Obstruction, except from a Barge, on which we fired & killed three Men, but as the Enemy were apprised of our coming, and the Garrison augmented to near seven hundred Men, besides the Inhabitants, it was not thought proper to attempt carrying the Town by Storm, but cut off their Communication...
1450From a Friend to America, 20 November 1775 (Washington Papers)
As the present seems the Suitable Season for Endeavouring to procure a Stock of Powder, your Excy will indulge a few thoughts on this Important Subject, even though they should not be wholly pertinent. I beg leave to propose to your Excy’s Consideration, that a good Schooner, a prime Sailor, should proceed as soon as may be, to Havre de Grace (in the English Channel) with a Suitable person on...