George Washington Papers

To George Washington from John Hancock, 3 September 1776

From John Hancock

Philada Sepr 3d 1776.

Sir,

I do myself the Honour to enclose you sundry Resolves, by which you will perceive that Congress having taken your Letter of the 2d Inst. into Consideration, came to a Resolution, in a Committee of the whole House, that no Damage should be done to the City of New York.

I have sent Expresses to order the Battalions up to Head Quarters agreeably to the Resolves herewith transmitted; & likewise to the several States to the Northward of Virginia to send all the Aid in their Power to the Army.1 I have the Honour to be, with perfect Esteem & Regard, Sir your most obed. & very hble Servant

John Han⟨cock⟩

LS, DLC:GW; LB, DNA:PCC, item 12A. The signature of the LS is mutilated.

1The first of the enclosed resolutions of 3 Sept. informed GW that “the Congress would have especial Care taken, in case he should find it necessary to quit New York, that no damage be done to the said City by his Troops on their leaving it; the Congress having no doubt of being able to recover the same, thô the Enemy should for a time obtain Possession of it” (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 , 5:733). In a second resolution Congress ordered three Continental regiments from Virginia, two from North Carolina, and one from Rhode Island to march immediately to reinforce the army at New York and recommended that the Massachusetts General Court send a militia regiment to Rhode Island to replace the regiment taken from that state. Congress also recommended that the states north of Virginia send “all the aid in th⟨eir⟩ power” to GW’s army (DLC; 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 , 5:733–34, and Hancock to Certain Continental Officers and to Certain States, 3 Sept., 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 , 5:95–97).

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