68751To George Washington from the Pennsylvania Delegates, 6 July 1775 (Washington Papers)
We inclose a Resolution of our Assembly authorising us to recommend proper Officers for the Battalion of Rifflemen to be raised in this Province, and a Letter from the Committee of York County, where a Company of an hundred Men has been raised. We therefore beg Leave to recommend Mr Michael Dowdle for Captain; Mr Henry Miller for first Lieutenant; Mr John Dill for second Lieutenant; and Mr...
68752General Orders, 7 July 1775 (Washington Papers)
It is with inexpressible Concern that the General upon his first Arrival in the army, should find an Officer sentenced by a General Court Martial to be cashier’d for Cowardice—A Crime of all others, the most infamous in a Soldier, the most injurious to an Army, and the last to be forgiven; inasmuch as it may, and often does happen, that the Cowardice of a single Officer may prove the...
68753General Orders, 8 July 1775 (Washington Papers)
Ordered that the main guard on no Account whatever, be without a Drum, which is to beat to Arms on any Alarm and be followed by all the drums in the Camp; On which every Officer and Soldier is immediately to repair to the Alarm post. The Commanding Officer of each Regiment or Corps in Cambridge as soon as the Men are paraded after an Alarm, to send an Officer to Head Quarters for orders. The...
68754To George Washington from the Fairfax Independent Company, 8 July 1775 (Washington Papers)
Your favor of the 20 Ulo notifying your Intended departure for the Camp, we Received; and after transmitting copies to the different officers, to whom it was directed, we laid it before a full meeting of your Company this day—At the same time that they deplore the unfortunate occasion, that calls you, their patron, friend & worthy citizen from them, & your more tender connections, they beg...
68755From George Washington to Lund Washington, 8 July 1775 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: to Lund Washington, 8 July 1775. In a letter of 15 Oct. 1775 to GW , Lund Washington referred to GW’s letter of “July 8th.”
68756General Orders, 9 July 1775 (Washington Papers)
The Continental Congress having been pleased to appoint Horatio Gates Esqr. Brigadier General, and Adjutant General of the Army; he is to be obeyed as such; and all Orders transmitted through him from the Commander in Chief, whether written, or verbal, are to be punctually, and immediately obey’d. All soldiers, more than two a Company, who are at present absent on Furlough, and all Officers,...
68757Council of War, 9 July 1775 (Washington Papers)
At a Council of War held at Head Quarters Cambridge July 9th 1775. Present His Excelly General Washington M. Generals Ward B. Genls Thomas Lee Heath Putman Greene Gates. The General laid before the Council a Letter from Mr Warren President of the Congress of Massachusetts Bay inclosing a Letter from Mr Gerry of Marblhead dated July 8th. 1. A Question was proposed & considered viz. What is the...
68758General Orders, 10 July 1775 (Washington Papers)
The General Court Martial of which Col. William Prescott was president, having tried William Pattin of Col. Gridley’s regiment, and found him guilty of “threatening and abusing a number of persons, when prisoner in the Quarter Guard:” The Court sentence the prisoner to ride the wooden Horse, fifteen minutes. The General approves the sentence, and orders it to be put in execution at the head of...
68759Editorial Note (Washington Papers)
In preparation for the writing of this letter, GW composed a list of topics which he wished to be covered in it. Those undated notes, which are printed here, apparently were then used by Joseph Reed to make a rough draft of the letter. Reed’s draft has not been found, but a draft written by him was reported to be in the possession of James Wilkinson in the early nineteenth century. The...
68760I. Notes for Letter, 10 July 1775 (Washington Papers)
The time of my arrival. The Situation of the Troops—Works—& things in genl—Enemy on Bunkers Hill. The almost impossibility of giving up the present Incampment in the Face of the Enemy, & after so much work has been bestowd notwithstanding our Situation from the devidedness of it, & length of our lines &ca is by no means desirable. The exceeding difficulty of getting returns of the Forces &ca...
68761II. Letter Sent, 10–11 July 1775 (Washington Papers)
I arrived safe at this Place on the 3d Instt, after a Journey attended with a good deal of Fatigue, & retarded by necessary Attentions to the successive Civilities which accompanied me in my whole Rout —Upon my Arrival, I immediately visited the several Posts occupied by our Troops, & as soon as the Weather permitted, reconnoitred those of the Enemy. I found the latter strongly entrench’d on...
68762To George Washington from John Hancock, 10 July 1775 (Washington Papers)
Since my last to you, nothing has Taken place in Congress particularly Respecting your Department. I by order of Congress forward you the Declaration, & Address to the People of England. I must beg the favour you will Reserve some birth for me, in such Department as you may Judge most proper, for I am Determin’d to Act under you, if it be to take the firelock & Join the Ranks as a Volunteer. I...
68763From George Washington to Benjamin Harrison, 10 July 1775 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: to Benjamin Harrison, 10 July 1775. On 21 July Harrison wrote to GW : “I received your very acceptable favor of the 10th Instant by express.”
68764From George Washington to Richard Henry Lee, 10 July 1775 (Washington Papers)
I was exceeding glad to receive a Letter from you, as I always shall be whenever it is convenient, though perhaps my hurry, till such time as matters are drawn a little out of the Chaos they appear in at present, will not suffer me to write you such full and satisfactory answers, or give such clear, and precise accts of our Situation & views, as I could wish, or you might expect. After a...
68765To George Washington from Alexander Scammell, 10 July 1775 (Washington Papers)
General Folsom begs leave to lay before your Excellency a Memorandum of what is immediately wanted at Winter Hill. Viz. three Teems, 20 Wheelbarrows. two Thousand Tenpenny Nails Four, Inch Augres. A Gouge, and four Chizzles. ALS , MHi : Norcross Papers. At the end of this document GW wrote “The Committee, or Commissary of supplies is desired to furnish the above things immediately if to be...
68766From George Washington to Major General Philip Schuyler, 10–11 July 1775 (Washington Papers)
I receivd your Favor of 1st Inst. by Express from New york; but as I am exceedingly hurried in making out my Dispatches for the Hble Congress at Philadelphia it is not in my Power to answer it in so full a Manner as I wish. Notwithstanding Governor Tryon’s plausible Behaviour I recommend it to you to watch him narrowly and as any unlucky Change of Affairs on our part may produce in him a...
68767To George Washington from Brigadier General John Thomas, 10 July 1775 (Washington Papers)
A Maister of a vesel that Came out of Boston Saturday Night in order to Take Charge of a vesel at S[t]oneington in Coniticut Loaded with malases to Purseed to New york as he Saith his aquaintance in the Country Infor[m] that he has bin a Suspected Person & I Think it my Duty to forward him to your Exelency for you[r] Exemi[n]ation[.] I am Sir with Respect you[r] mest obeduet Humble Servt ALS ,...
68768From George Washington to James Warren, 10 July 1775 (Washington Papers)
After much Difficulty & Delay I have procurd such Returns of the State of the Army as will enable us to form a Judgment of its Strength. It is with great Concern I find it far inadequate to our general Expectations and the Duties which may be requird of it. The Number of Men fit for Duty in the Forces raisd in this Province including all the Out Posts and Artillery does not amount to Nine...
68769General Orders, 11 July 1775 (Washington Papers)
The Court Martial of which Col. William Prescott was president is dissolved. A General Court Martial to be assembled at Cambridge, as soon as possible, to try such prisoners as shall be brought before them: All Evidences, and persons concern’d to attend the court. The General understanding, there is a bad Custom prevailing, of the Non-Commissioned Officers and soldiers absenting themselves...
68770General Orders, 12 July 1775 (Washington Papers)
The Adjutant General will deliver at orderly time, a certain number of printed returns, to the Adjutant of each regiment; so that no excuse can for the future be admitted, for not making regular and exact Returns when demanded; as it is only filling up the Blanks, with the Numbers proper to be placed in them. The Commander in Chief will not for the future, admit of any palliative for making a...
68771To George Washington from Nicholas Cooke, 12 July 1775 (Washington Papers)
I beg Leave to congratulate your Excellency upon your being appointed General of the Armies of the United Colonies; which hath given sincere Pleasure to every Friend of America, and will I hope prove glorious to yourself, and be attended with essential Advantages to your Country. The General Assembly of this Colony have the deepest Sense of the Necessity of a strict Union, and the most...
68772To George Washington from the Massachusetts Committee of Supplies, 12 July 1775 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from the Massachusetts Committee of Supplies, 12 July 1775. On 12 July Horatio Gates wrote on behalf of GW to the committee of supplies: “His Excellency General Washington has commanded me to acknowledge the receipt of your letter dated this day from Watertown; when the application was made yesterday, to know the Quantity of Tents Boards, & Sails, that could be procured...
68773To George Washington from Edmund Pendleton, 12 July 1775 (Washington Papers)
My friend Mr George Baylor will be the bearer of this, who has caught such a Military Ardor as to travel to the Camp For instruction in that Art, I beg leave to recommend him to your Countenance & Favor, not only on Account of his worthy Father, but from my Opinion of his own Merit. He is a Lieutent in our independant Company & has gained great Applause there by his diligent Attention to the...
68774To George Washington from the Virginia Delegates, 12 July 1775 (Washington Papers)
Recommend “the bearer Mr George Baylor, not only on Account of the memory of his worthy Father, wth whom you was acquainted, but For his own merit . . . . His Ardor in the noble cause has drawn him to your school for instruction & emploiment as far as his services may be required.” LS , in Edmund Pendleton’s writing, CtY : Pendleton Papers. In addition to Pendleton, the letter was signed by...
68775General Orders, 13 July 1775 (Washington Papers)
As the Army will be forthwith form’d into Brigades: The Adjutant General will at Orderly Time this day, deliver to the Adjutant of each Regiment, a Number of printed Returns, one of which, must be immediately fill’d up, and sign’d by the Commanding Officer of each regiment, and sent as soon as possible, to the Adjutant General; by the Adjutant of each Regiment; on the Back of the Return, it...
68776To George Washington from Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 13 July 1775 (Washington Papers)
Suffer me to join in Congratulating you, on your appointment to be General and Commander in Chief of the Troops raised or to be raised for the Defence of American Liberty. Men who have tasted of Freedom, and who have felt their personal Rights, are not easily taught to bear with encroachments on either, or brought to submit to oppression. Virtue ought always to be made the Object of...
68777To George Washington from Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 13 July 1775 (Washington Papers)
I have to observe to your Excellency, That the Honorable Congress have altered the Arrangement of the Generals appointed by our Assembly, Wish the Order we adopted had been pursued, Fear Generals Wooster and Spencer will think they have reason to complain. They are Gentlemen held in high Estimation, by Our Assembly, and by the Officers and Troops under their Command. There are reasons to fear...
68778General Orders, 14 July 1775 (Washington Papers)
As the Health of an Army principally depends upon Cleanliness; it is recommended in the strongest manner, to the Commanding Officer of Corps, Posts and Detachments, to be strictly diligent, in ordering the Necessarys to be filled up once a Week, and new ones dug; the Streets of the encampments and Lines to be swept daily, and all Offal and Carrion, near the camp, to be immediately buried: The...
68779From George Washington to John Hancock, 14 July 1775 (Washington Papers)
Since I did myself the Honour of addressing you the 10th Instt nothing material has happened in the Camp. From some authentick & later Advices of the State of the Ministerial Troops & the great Inconvenience of calling in the Militia in the midst of Harvest, I have been induced for the present to waive it; but in the mean Time recruiting Parties have been sent throughout this Province to fill...
68780General Orders, 15 July 1775 (Washington Papers)
The Commanding Officers of each Regiment to report the Names of such Men in their respective Corps as are most expert in the management of whale boats. When any Commission’d, or non Commission’d Officer is sent upon any Detachment or Duty of Honor, or Fatigue, or to see the execution of any particular work: He is, so soon as the service is perform’d to make a Report thereof to his commanding...