To George Washington from the Massachusetts Council, 5 June 1780
From the Massachusetts Council
State of Massachusetts Bay
Council Chamber Boston June 5th 1780
Sir,
The Distresses of the Inhabitants of the Co’os Country arising from their being nearly situated to Canada a large Territory governed by the Enemies of the United States & Inhabited by Savages the Natives of America have induced Genl Bailey & Col. Chase principal Gentlemen there, well known to be firmly Attached to Interest of the United States to give this Board, a particular Account of their Circumstances which Colo. Hazen will as particularly State to your Excellency.1 The fertility of the Co’os, The Quantity of Wheat, Rye & Indian Corn now on hand & the prospect from the growing Crop make them an object worthy the Attention of these States, & the friendly Disposition of the Canadians makes their Defence more easy & practicable. Should Indians, Tories & Britains combine to invade that Country, at present defenceless & destroy the Settlements, Magazines & their flourishing Fields we may place it to the essential Loss of the United States.
We Thought it our Duty to suggest to Your Excellency, That should their Defence be esteemed necessary & practicable, either by Stationing Troops there, or by sending a Force into Canada to improve the Good Disposition of the Canadians, to Throw off the Brittish Yoke or in any other way you may point out. We are clearly of Opinion This State will with Alacrity Aid a Detachment of the Continental Army joined with the Militia of Connecticut & New Hampshire in the Defence of so fine a Country.2 In the Name & behalf of the Council I am, Your Excellency’s Most Obedt & very humble Servt
Jer: Powell Presidt
LS, DLC:GW; Df, M-Ar; copy, MHi: Miscellaneous Bound Collection. GW’s secretary Robert Hanson Harrison wrote on the cover of the LS: “by an Act of the 1st of June State of N. Hampshire authorised to raise 250 Men for defence of the Frontier.” For this act of Congress, see Samuel Huntington to GW, 3 June, n.4.
1. Col. Moses Hazen wrote Timothy Bedel from “Waltham 12 miles from Boston” on 6 June. That letter reads in part: “Genl: Bayley Col: Chase and myself have been Eight Days at Boston on hard Labour we have However succeeded so far as to find a Genl Disposition of the People in Power to under Take what we all wish—Genl: Bayley set off yesterday evening to meet the assembly of New Hampshire at Exeter with a letter from the Council of this State to that at Exeter on the subject of, and a Recommendation to secure the grain in your quarter and to Call out the Militia Immediately for your Protection—You must therefore exert yourselves in the former as much Depend on it—I myself am charged with a letter from the Council of Boston to the Commander in Chief” (, 4:363). Hazen arrived at Jockey Hollow no later than 15 June. On that date, he wrote militia colonel Jonathan Chase from “Campt Near Morristown.” Hazen’s letter reads in part: “I hope & have some reason to beleve that all things will go well and to our wishes yet I am not without my Fears as the Enemy Keep at Charlestown and other circumstances may possibly divert the attention of our Rulers to that which they may think of greater moments—The Marques is warm & the commander in Cheif is steady to the point” (, 4:367).
2. For GW’s reply, see his letter to Jeremiah Powell of 28 June.