From George Washington to John Hancock, 21 July 1775
To John Hancock
Cambridge Camp July 21t 1775 5 oClock. P.M.
Sir
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 inclose1 & of again assuring you that I am with great Respect, Sir Your most Obed. Hbble Serv.
Go: Washington
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 Winship2 who lodg’d in the same House with an Officer of the Marines assures me they had exactly 1043 killed & wounded, of whom 300 fell on the Field or died within a few Hours. Many of the wounded are since dead.3
G. W——n
LS, in Joseph Reed’s writing, DNA:PCC, item 152; LB, DLC:GW; copy, DNA:PCC, item 169; Varick transcript, DLC:GW. A note on the letter-book copy reads “Sent by Fessenden Express.”
1. The enclosure was William Heath’s letter of this date to GW.
2. Amos Windship (1745–1813), a Boston physician, escaped from the city about this time by disguising himself as a sailor. He served without commission in the Continental hospital until he was appointed a surgeon’s mate at the beginning of 1776. In September 1776 he became surgeon on the brig-of-war Massachusetts and in January 1779 surgeon on the Continental frigate Alliance.
3. GW put British losses at 1,057 in his letter to Lund Washington of 20 Aug. 1775.