421To John Adams from William Tudor, 19 July 1775 (Adams Papers)
I am much oblig’d by your Letter of 6th. Instant and will now attempt in Part to comply with your Request. Things have remaind tolerably quiet between the continental and ministerial Camps for a Week past. The Beginning of last Week a Detachment was sent in the Night to take all the live Stock that was on Long Island. They succeeded and brought away not only all the Quadrupeds but 17 Fellows...
422To Benjamin Franklin from Jonathan Williams, Jr., 19 July 1775 (Franklin Papers)
AL (incomplete) and draft: American Philosophical Society Yesterday being the Day appointed by Lord Dartmouth I waited on him, but he having a greater Number of Gentlemen at Levee than he could attend to, I was desired to call again to day: which I accordingly did. On my entring he said, Mr. Williams I have only to tell you, I have delivered your Petition into the Kings hands, but Things are...
423General Orders, 19 July 1775 (Washington Papers)
Varick transcript , DLC:GW .
424To George Washington from John Hancock, 19 July 1775 (Washington Papers)
Introduces the bearers, “Mr Ogden & Mr Burr of the Jerseys,” who “Visit the Camp not as Spectators, but with a View of Joining the Army & being Active during the Campaign. . . . Your Dispatches Reach’d me last Eveng. I shall forward you the Papers immediately. The Results of Congress you shall know as early as possible.” ALS , DLC:GW . The address includes the words “Favd by Mr Burr.” Matthias...
425To John Adams from James Warren, 20 July 1775 (Adams Papers)
I yesterday returned from Plymouth where I had opportunity of spending only three or four days in such a hurry of private Business as would scarcely admit of a single Meditation in the Calm retirements of the Fields. I Breakfasted in the Morning with your Sensible and Amiable Lady. She showed me a Letter from you. I read it with pleasure. I arrived here about 12 O Clock. You will say a late...
426General Orders, 20 July 1775 (Washington Papers)
Certain Drums in, and near Cambridge, very improperly beat the Revellie this morning before day; Although the Troops are ordered to be under Arms, half an hour before day light; it does not follow the drums are to beat at that time. The Reveille is to beat when a Centry can see clearly one thousand Yards around him, and not before. All Aids-de-Camp, and Majors of Brigade, are to keep regularly...
427From George Washington to Lund Washington, 20 July 1775 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: to Lund Washington, 20 July 1775. In a letter of 15 Oct. 1775 to GW , Lund Washington referred to GW’s letter of “July . . . 20th.”
428From George Washington to Samuel Washington, 20 July 1775 (Washington Papers)
Agreeable to your request I am now set down to write to you, although in the first place I have scarce time to indulge an Inclination of the kind, and in the next place do not know how or whether it may ever get to your hands. I came to this place the 2d Instant & found a numerous army of Provencials under very little command, discipline, or order—I found our Enemy who had drove our People...
429To George Washington from Benjamin Harrison, 21–24 July 1775 (Washington Papers)
I received your very acceptable favor of the 10th Instant by express, your Fatigue and various kinds of trouble I dare say are great, but they are not more than I expected, knowing the People you have to deal with by the sample we have here, the Congress have taken the two Regiments now raising in Conecticut into service, which with Rifle Men and Recruits to your Regiments will I hope make up...
430Proposed Articles of Confederation, [on or before 21 July 1775] (Franklin Papers)
AD : National Archives These articles and Franklin’s “Short Hints” for uniting the northern colonies in 1754 are the two occasions when he formulated his ideas of what an intercolonial constitution should be. Both formulations were developed in ways that he could not have anticipated. He and others reworked the “Hints” into the Albany Plan. He never reworked the present articles, and they were...
431General Orders, 21 July 1775 (Washington Papers)
Varick transcript , DLC:GW .
432From George Washington to John Hancock, 21 July 1775 (Washington Papers)
Since I did myself the Honour of addressing you the 14th Instt, I have received Advice from Govr Trumbull, that the Assembly of Connecticut had voted, & that they are now raising two Regiments of 700 Men each, in Consequence of an Application from the Provincial Congress of Massachusetts Bay. The Rhode Island Assembly has also made an Augmentation for this Purpose: these Reinforcements, with...
433From George Washington to John Hancock, 21 July 1775 (Washington Papers)
I am particularly to acknowledge that Part of your Favour of the 10th Instt wherein you do me the Honour of determining to join the Army under my Command. I need certainly make no Professions of the Pleasure I shall have in seeing you—At the same Time I have to regret that so little is in my Power to offer equal to Col. Hancock[’s] Merits & worthy his Acceptance. I shall be happy in every Oppy...
434From George Washington to John Hancock, 21 July 1775 (Washington Papers)
Since closing the Letters which accompany this I have received an Account of the Destruction of the Light House, a Copy of which I have the Honour to inclose & of again assuring you that I am with great Respect, Sir Your most Obed. Hbble Serv. P.S. I have also received a more authentick Account of the Loss of the Enemy in the late Battle than any yet receivd. Doctr Winship who lodg’d in the...
435To George Washington from Brigadier General William Heath, 21 July 1775 (Washington Papers)
I have the Pleasure to inform your Excellency that Major Vose of my own Regiment; beside⟨s⟩ securing the Barley on Nantasket; yesterday morning Landed on the Light-House Island with Six or Seven Boats, the Light House was set on Fire and the wood work Burnt, the Party brought off Three Casks of Oyl, all the furniture of the Light house, about 50 wt of Gun Powder, a Quantity of Cordage &c. (an...
436From George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 21 July 1775 (Washington Papers)
I am to Acknowlage your Favour of the 17th Inst. informing me of the Destination of the Troops raising in your Colony; As the season is now advanced & the Enemy considerably reinforced we have the utmost Reason to expect any Attack that may be made will not be much longer delayed—I should therefore think it hig[h]ly necessary the new raised Troops should join the Army with all possible...
437Amendment to Jefferson’s Draft of the Congressional Response to Lord North’s Conciliatory Resolution, [on or before 25 … (Franklin Papers)
AD : Library of Congress On March 3, 1775, Dartmouth transmitted to the colonial governors Lord North’s conciliatory resolution, introduced in the House of Commons on February 20 and passed on the 27th. The assemblies of New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Virginia took the position that an answer must come from Congress, to which the New Jersey delegates transmitted the resolution on May 26. On...
438To Benjamin Franklin from [David Hartley], 22 July 1775 (Franklin Papers)
Transcript: Library of Congress I take the opportunity of writing a line to you by Capt. Read, tho. I have not any thing now to say. We seem rather on this side the water to be expecters of news and events; more especially as to the proceedings and proposals from the Congress. As to my own opinion and wishes, they continue the same. I can only wish generally for peace, and for such measures on...
439General Orders, 22 July 1775 (Washington Papers)
A Court of Enquiry to sit forthwith, President Doctor Foster, Doctor Warren, and Doctor Eustace, Members, to examine into a Complaint exhibited by Mr John Spalding, surgeon to General Putnams regiment against Mr Penuel Chiney—Surgeon’s Mate of the said regiment: All Evidences to attend the Court. Capt. Israel Putnam and Lieut. Samuel Webb, being appointed Aids-de-Camp to Major General Putnam;...
440To George Washington from Captain Joshua Davis, 22 July 1775 (Washington Papers)
Pursuant to your Excellency’s Orders I herein Render an Account of such necessarys as will be wanting to Compleat One hundred Whale Boats for the Service—As Also for keeping Said Boats in good repair. Wanted for Manning the Boats, 601 Men exclusive of Officers Necessarys for the Boats N.B. A Clerk of Stores & Provissions will be necessary. LS , DLC:GW . Joshua Davis, a ship captain from...
441To George Washington from Captain Richard Dodge, 22 July 1775 (Washington Papers)
thes are the Remarcks tackin on Sd Day from four to 6 Saw noth[i]ng From 6 to 8 Saw tow Brigs Bound out and tow B[o]tes from the Casel to Boston—from 8 to 10 Saw 10 Botes Loded wit⟨h⟩ armed men from Boston to Chals.—from 10 to 12 Saw 18 Botes Pasing and Repasing Loded—one transport Bound out—from 12 to 2 Saw 19 Botes from Boston to Chals. full of men—12 from Chalston to Boston ful of men—from...
442To George Washington from William Trent, 22 July 1775 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from William Trent, 22 July 1775. On 4 Aug. GW wrote to Trent : “Your Letter of the 22d Ulto came to my hands a few days ago.”
443John Adams to Abigail Adams, 23 July 1775 (Adams Papers)
You have more than once in your Letters mentioned Dr. Franklin, and in one intimated a Desire that I should write you something concerning him. Dr. Franklin has been very constant in his Attendance on Congress from the Beginning. His Conduct has been composed and grave and in the Opinion of many Gentlemen very reserved. He has not assumed any Thing, nor affected to take the lead; but has...
444John Adams to Abigail Adams, 23 July 1775 (Adams Papers)
Have only Time to send by this Opportunity a Token of Remembrance. The Fast was observed here with a Decorum and solemnity, never before seen ever on a Sabbath. The Clergy of all Denominations, here preach Politicks and War in a manner that I never heard in N. England. They are a Flame of Fire. It is astonishing to me, that the People are so cool here. Such sermons in our Country would have a...
445From John Adams to William Tudor, 23 July 1775 (Adams Papers)
We live in Times, when it is necessary to look about Us, and to know the Character of every Man, who is concerned in any material Branch of public affairs, especially in the Army. There will be a large Number of Voluntiers in the Army perhaps. Certainly there will be many young Gentlemen from the southern Colonies, at the Camp. They will perhaps be introduced, into Places, as Aid du...
446From John Adams to James Warren, 23 July 1775 (Adams Papers)
I have many Things to write you, which thro Haste and Confusion, I fear, I Shall forget. Upon the Receipt of General Washingtons Letter, the Motion which I made Some Days before, for appointing General Thomas first Brigadier, was renewed and carried, So that the Return of the Express will carry his Commission. I hope that this will give all the Satisfaction which is now to be given. You ask me...
447General Orders, 23 July 1775 (Washington Papers)
As the Continental Army have unfortunately no Uniforms, and consequently many inconveniencies must arise, from not being able always to distinguish the Commissioned Officers, from the non Commissioned, and the Non Commissioned from the private; it is desired that some Badges of Distinction may be immediately provided, for Instance, the Field Officers may have red or pink colour’d Cockades in...
448From George Washington to Brigadier General John Thomas, 23 July 1775 (Washington Papers)
The Retirement of a general Officer, possessing the Confidence of his Country & the Army; at so critical a Period, appears to me to be big with fatal Consequences both to the Publick Cause, & his own Reputation. While it is unexecuted, I think it my Duty to make this last Effort to prevent it; & after suggesting those Reasons which occur to me against your Resignation, your own Virtue, & good...
449From George Washington to James Warren, 23 July 1775 (Washington Papers)
I have had an Application made to me this day by the Several Captains of Colo. Phinneys Regiment from Casco Bay. They represent that their Men Enlisted & have marched down upon a Promise that they should receive 40/ Advance & Billeting Money at 8d. ⅌ Day—that under this Expectation they left their Familys destitute & have detaind the Teamsters to carry back their Money—They have met with some...
450Enclosure: Benjamin Church to John Fleming, 23 July 1775 (Washington Papers)
I hope this will reach you—three Attempts have I made without Success in effecting the last the Man was discovered in attempting his Escape, but fortunately my Letter was sewed in the Waisband of his Breeches, he was confined a few Days, during which Time you may guess my feelings. but a little Art and a little Cash settled the Matter: tis a Month since my Return from Philadelphia, I went by...