To George Washington from John Hancock, 24 July 1776

From John Hancock

Philadelphia July 24th 1776.

Sir,

I do myself the Honour to enclose sundry Resolves, to which I must entreat your Attention.1

The Congress, you will there find, reposeing the most entire Confidence in your Judgment, have left the Disposition of the Troops at New York, the Flying Camp, and Tyonderoga, wholly with you; being fully assured, you will make such an Arrangement, as in your Opinion, will conduce most to the Public Good.2

The Commissioners appointed to audit the Accounts of the Army in the York Department, have been with me. They are preparing to set out, as soon as possible; and I expect, will be at New York in a few Days.3

You will observe, the Congress have empowred the Commander in Chief in each Department, to negotiate an Exchange of Prisoners; which you will please to conduct agreeably to the enclosed System.4

I have wrote to Genl Schuyler, and forwarded a Copy of the enclosed Resolves.5 I have the Honour to be, with the highest Esteem & Respect, Sir, your most obed. & very hble Servt

John Hancock Presidt

LS, DLC:GW; LB, DNA:PCC, item 12A.

1. The enclosed resolutions of 16–24 July concern various military matters in the New York and northern departments, including the sending of reinforcements to the flying camp from Virginia and New Jersey, the exchange of prisoners, approval of GW’s loan of money to the New York convention, and approval of Knox’s plan to raise another battalion of artillery (DLC:GW; see also JCC description begins Worthington Chauncey Ford et al., eds. Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774-1789. 34 vols. Washington, D.C., 1904–37. description ends , 5:564–65, 567, 591, 597–99, 602, 605–7, and Hancock to GW, 26 July, and note 1).

2. Congress passed this resolution on 23 July (DLC:GW; see also JCC description begins Worthington Chauncey Ford et al., eds. Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774-1789. 34 vols. Washington, D.C., 1904–37. description ends , 5:602).

3. For Congress’s resolution of 16 July appointing these commissioners, see Hancock to GW, 17 July, n.1, and JCC description begins Worthington Chauncey Ford et al., eds. Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774-1789. 34 vols. Washington, D.C., 1904–37. description ends , 5:564–65.

4. In its resolution of 22 July Congress stipulated that exchanges were to be made thus: “One Continental Officer for One of the Enemy, of equal Rank, either in the Land or Sea Service, Soldier for Soldier, Sailor for Sailor, & One Citizen for Another Citizen” (DLC:GW; see also JCC description begins Worthington Chauncey Ford et al., eds. Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774-1789. 34 vols. Washington, D.C., 1904–37. description ends , 5:599).

5. See Hancock to Schuyler, this date, in Smith, Letters of Delegates description begins Paul H. Smith et al., eds. Letters of Delegates to Congress, 1774–1789. 26 vols. Washington, D.C., 1976–2000. description ends , 4:533–34.

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Source Project: Washington Papers
Title: To George Washington from John Hancock, 24 July 1776
Author: Hancock, John
Recipient: Washington, George
Date: 24 July 1776

Reference

Cite as: “To George Washington from John Hancock, 24 July 1776,” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/03-05-02-0327. [Original source: The Papers of George Washington, Revolutionary War Series, vol. 5, 16 June 1776 – 12 August 1776, ed. Philander D. Chase. Charlottesville: University Press of Virginia, 1993, p. 443.]

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