61From George Washington to John Hancock, 4 April 1776 (Washington Papers)
I was honoured with your favours of the 21st and 25 Ulto on the 2d Instant, the former by Mr Hanson &c.—the latter by Fessendon—I heartily wish the Money had arrived sooner, that the Militia might have been paid as soon as their time of Service expired —the disappointment has given them great uneasiness & they are gone Home much disattisfied, nor have I been without severe Complaints from the...
62From Benjamin Franklin to John Hancock, 13 April 1776 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : National Archives We have been here some Days waiting for General Schuyler’s Orders to proceed, which we have just received, and shall accordingly leave this Place to morrow. Tho’ by the Advices from Canada communicated by him to us, and as we suppose sent forward to you, I am afraid we shall be able to effect but little there. We had a heavy Snow here yesterday and the Waters are so...
63From George Washington to John Hancock, 15 April 1776 (Washington Papers)
I am now to Inform you that on the 4th Instant I set out from Cambridge and arrived here on Saturday last—I came thro Providence, Norwich and New London in order to see and expedite the embarkation of the Troops—The third Brigade under the command of General Green was at New London when I left It, where there was a sufficient number of Transports to embark them, and most probably wou’d have...
64From George Washington to John Hancock, 18 April 1776 (Washington Papers)
Permit me through you, to convey to the honorable Congress the Sentiments of gratitude I feel for the high honor they have done me, in the public mark of approbation contain’d in your favour of the 2d Instt, which came to hand last Night. I beg you to assure them, that, it will ever be my highest ambition to approve myself a faithful Servant of the Public; and that, to be in any degree...
65From George Washington to John Hancock, 19 April 1776 (Washington Papers)
I have this moment received a Letter from General Schuyler containing inclosures of a very important nature, Copies of which I imagine are contained in the inclosed Letter to you, & which I thought it my duty immediately to forward by Express, that they may be laid before the honorable Congress and proper measures pursued to prevent the fatal effects which are therein apprehended. For my own...
66From George Washington to John Hancock, 22 April 1776 (Washington Papers)
I was this day honored with the receipt of your favor of the 20th Instt. I have now the pleasure to acquaint you that the four Regiments design’d for Canada embarked Yesterday with a fair Wind for Albany under the Command of Colonels Greaton, Patterson, Bond & Poor, besides which there was a Company of Rifle Men, a Company of Artificers and two Engineers—The whole commanded by Brigadier...
67From George Washington to John Hancock, 23 April 1776 (Washington Papers)
In a Letter which I had the honour to receive from Congress some considerable time ago, they were pleased to ask what Rank aid de Camps bore in the army—from whence I concluded that they had adverted to the extraordinary trouble and confinement of these Gentlemen with a view to make them an adequate allowance; but nothing being since done, or said of the matter, I take the liberty unsollicited...
68From George Washington to John Hancock, 23 April 1776 (Washington Papers)
That I might be in readiness to take the Field in the Spring, and prepared for any Service Congress should think proper to send me upon this Campaign, I desired Colo. Reed when he left Cambridge in the Fall to get me a Sett of Camp Equipage—Tents—and a Baggage Waggon made at Philadelphia under his own Inspection and sent to me. this he informs me is now done & ready to come on—I have therefore...
69From George Washington to John Hancock, 25–26 April 1776 (Washington Papers)
I received by Last evenings post, a Letter from Joshua Wentworth Esqr. of Portsmouth, who I had appointed Agent for our Little fleet, in that Province, it is dated the 15th Instant, an extract from which, I have the honor of transcribeing for your perusal. “The 3d Instant Commodore Manly brought in the Brigte Elizabeth, One of the 3d Division, which Saild from Nantasket, with a valuable Cargo...
70From George Washington to John Hancock, 30 April 1776 (Washington Papers)
I mean thro you Sir to do myself the Honor of laying before Congress, a Copy of an Address transmitted them some time agoe by the Assembly of Rhode Island, which Governor Cooke favoured me with in the month of January, at the same time requesting me to Interest myself in procuring a body of forces on the Continental establishment for the defence of that Colony. I doubt not but the Address &...
71The Commissioners to Canada to John Hancock, 1 May 1776 (Franklin Papers)
LS : National Archives After some difficulty and delay in getting thro’ the ice of Lake George, we arrived here on monday last and were very politely received by General Arnold who at present commands in this Post. It is impossible to give you a just idea of the lowness of the Continental credit here from the want of hard money, and the prejudice it is to our affairs. Not the most trifling...
72From George Washington to John Hancock, 5 May 1776 (Washington Papers)
I have so often, and so fully communicated my want of Arms to Congress that I should not have given them the trouble of receiving another Letter upon this Subject, at this time, but for the particular application of Colo. Wain of Pensylvania who has pointed out a method by which he thinks they may be obtain’d. In the hands of the Committee of safety at Philadelphia, there are, According to...
73From George Washington to John Hancock, 5 May 1776 (Washington Papers)
I am honoured with your favor of the 30 Ulto and observe what Congress have done respecting the Settlement of the Paymasters accounts. This seems expedient as he is out of office, and I am certain will be attended with but little, if any difficulty, nothing more being necessary than to compare the Warrants with his Debits, and the receipts he has given with his Credits. I wish every other...
74The Commissioners to Canada to [John Hancock], 6 May 1776 (Franklin Papers)
LS and copy: National Archives In our letter of the 1st. instant, we informed you of the lowness of the Continental credit in this Province and the necessity of a speedy supply of hard money: unless this very essential article arrives soon, our forces will suffer exceedingly from the want of many necessaries, particularly flour, which might be laid in much cheaper here than it could be...
75From George Washington to John Hancock, 7 May 1776 (Washington Papers)
At a quarter after Seven this Eveng, I received by Express a Letter from Thos Cushing Esqr., Chairman of a Committee of the Honorable Genl Court, covering one to them from the Committee of Salem, Copies of which I do myself the Honor to lay before Congress, that they may Judge of the Intelligence contained therein, and direct such measures to be taken upon the occasion as they may think proper...
76The Commissioners to Canada to [John Hancock], 8 May 1776 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : National Archives With this You will receive Copies of our two preceding Letters. We find Ourselves obliged to repeat the Necessity of sending immediately the Supply of hard Money therein mentioned. We have tried in vain to borrow some here for the immediate Occasions of the Army, either on the public or our own private Credit. We cannot even sell Sterling Bills of Exchange which some of...
77The General Court to the Massachusetts Delegates, 9 – 10 May 1776 (Adams Papers)
Inclosed you have an Account of Powder supplyed the Army lately before Boston, by this Colony. We have not been able to procure the proper Vouchers for the delivery of the whole of it to the Army, but as it was delivered on the day of the Battle at Bunker Hill and at other times of Alarm and Confusion, we trust that neglect will be excused. The Account is not supposed to contain the whole of...
78From George Washington to John Hancock, 9 May 1776 (Washington Papers)
When I was on the Road from Cambrid[g]e to this Place, I received a Letter from a Gentleman who subscribed it, Le Baron de Colbiac . He therein mentions that he was a Captain of Dragoons in the French Service, that he comes to offer his Service to the United Colonies, that he attempted to come about the latter End of November, was taken by an English Frigate commanded by Capt. Young with 160...
79The Commissioners to Canada to John Hancock, 10 May 1776 (Franklin Papers)
LS : National Archives By Col: Campbell, who arrived here early this morning from Quebeck, we are informed that two men of war, two Frigates and one Tender arrived there early on monday the 6th. instant about eleven o’clock the enemy sallied out, to the number, as is supposed, of one thousand men. Our forces were so dispersed at different posts, that not more than two hundred could be...
80From George Washington to John Hancock, 11 May 1776 (Washington Papers)
I am now to acknowledge the receipt of your favors of the 4 & 7 Instt with their several inclosures, & am exceedingly glad that before the Resolution respecting Lt Colo. Ogden came to hand, I had ordered him to Join his Regiment, and had quelled a disagreable spirit both of mutiny and desertion which had taken place & seemed to be rising to a great degree in consequence of It—In order to...
81From George Washington to John Hancock, 15 May 1776 (Washington Papers)
New York, [15] May 1776 . “Since my last of the 11th Instant which I had the honour to address you, nothing of moment or importance has occurred, and the principal design of this, is to communicate to Congress the Intelligence I received last night from General Schuyler by a Letter of the 10th respecting the progress of our Troops in getting towards Canada, not doubting of their impatience and...
82From George Washington to John Hancock, 17 May 1776 (Washington Papers)
I this moment received by Express from Genl Schuyler an account of the melancholy prospect and reverse of our affairs in Canada: and presuming that the Letters which accompany this, will give Congress full information upon that Subject, I shall only add, that Genl Schuyler in pursuance of Orders from the Honble Commission[e]rs has directed Brigr Genl Sullivan to Halt his Brigade, as a further...
83From George Washington to John Hancock, 18 May 1776 (Washington Papers)
I do myself the honor to transmit to you the Inclosed Letters and papers I received this morning in the State they now are, which contain sundry matters of Intelligence of the most Interesting nature. As the Consideration of them may lead to important consequences and the adoption of several measures in the military line, I have thought It advisable for Genl Gates to attend Congress; he will...
84From George Washington to John Hancock, 19 May 1776 (Washington Papers)
This will be delivered you by Genl Gates who sets out to day for Congress agreable to my Letter of Yesterday. I have committed to him the Heads of Sundry matters to lay before Congress for their consideration, which from the Interesting Intelligence contained in my last, appear to me of the utmost Importance and to demand their most early and serious attention. Sensible that I have omitted to...
85From George Washington to John Hancock, 20 May 1776 (Washington Papers)
Your favour of the 16th with several resolutions of Congress, therein Inclosed, I had not the honor to receive till last Night. before the receipt, I did not think myself at liberty to wait on Congress, altho I wish’d to do it; and therefore, the more readily consented to General Gates’s attendance; as I knew there were many matters which cd be better explaind in a personal Interview than in...
86From George Washington to John Hancock, 21 May 1776 (Washington Papers)
The Bearer, Mr Mersay being at Quebec when the Garrison Sallied & Obliged our Troops to an abandonment of the Siege & a precipitate retreat; I have taken the liberty to refer him to you for examination, that Congress may have such further Information of this unfortunate event as he possesses. I have the honor &c. LB , in Robert Hanson Harrison’s writing, DLC:GW ; Varick transcript , DLC:GW ....
87From George Washington to John Hancock, 3 June 1776 (Washington Papers)
I have perused the petition preferred by the Independant Corps of Boston and beg leave thro you to Inform Congress, that the Five Regiments there are extremely deficient in Arms, as are many Other Regiments in Continenta⟨l⟩ pay, and Submit It to their consideration whethe⟨r⟩ any part of the Arms lately taken, under these circumstances shou’d be delivered to the Gentlemen applying for them,...
88The General Court to the Massachusetts Delegates, 6 June 1776 (Adams Papers)
At the same time that we think Ourselves obliged to acknowledge the vigilance and care of our Delegates to the defence of our Colony, and the attention of the Congress to an impartial defence of every part of the united Colonies, in the late provision made for the Massachusetts Bay, their Resolve for adding three more Battalions to those left for the defence of it; we conceive it necessary to...
89From George Washington to John Hancock, 7 June 1776 (Washington Papers)
I do myself the honor to Inform Congress that I arrived here yesterday Afternoon about One OClock, and found all in a state of peace & quiet. I had not time to view the works carrying on & those ordered to be begun when I went away, but have reason to beleive from the report of such of the General & other Officers I had the pleasure to see, that they have been prosecuted & forwarded with all...
90From George Washington to John Hancock, 8 June 1776 (Washington Papers)
In my Letter of yesterday which I had the honor of addressing you and which was designed to have come by post, but was prevented by his departure before the usual time, I mentioned my having received by Express a Letter and sundry papers from Genl Schuyler respecting Sr John Johnson, Copies of which I herewith transmit you for your inspection & perusal—they will shew you what measures were...