1. The previous Saturday was 27 September. For Congress’s meeting at Lancaster on that date and its adjournment to York, see 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 , 8:755. Congress reconvened at York three days later.

2. Hancock enclosed copies of the following letters regarding recent events in the northern department: Benjamin Lincoln to Horatio Gates, 14, 17, 20 Sept., Gates to Lincoln, 15, 17, 19 Sept., Gates to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 17 Sept., John Brown to Lincoln, 18 Sept., and Gates to Hancock, 22 Sept. 1777 (two letters). All of the copies are in DLC:GW.

Horatio Gates’s first letter to Hancock of 22 Sept. from Bemis Heights, N.Y., reads: “Friday morning I was inform’d by my Reconnoitring parties, that the Enemy had struck their Camp, and were moving towards our Left. I immediately detach’d Coll [Daniel] Morgan’s Corps, consisting of the Rifle Regimt and the Light Infantry of the Army to observe their Direction, and Harrass their Advance; this Party at half after twelve, fell in with a Picquet of the Enemy which they Drove, but the Enemy being Reinforc’d, after a brisk Conflict, they were in turn obliged to Retire, this Skirmish drew the main Body of the Enemy, and a Brigade from my Left to support the Action, which, after a short Cessation was Renewed with great warmth and Violence—At this instant, hearing from Prisoners, that the whole British Force and a Division of Foreigners had engaged our Party, I reinforc’d with four more Regiments, this continued the Action till the close of Day, when both Armies retir’d from the Field—Inclos’d is a Return of our Loss, and I am well Assur’d by the concurrent Testimony of Prisoners and Deserters of various Characters that General Burgoyne, who commanded in person, receiv’d a wound in his left Shoulder, that the 62d Regimt was cut to pieces, and that the Enemy suffer’d extremely in every Quarter where they were Engaged. The general good Behaviour of the Troops, on this important Occasion, cannot be surpassed by the most Veteran Army, to discriminate in praise of the Officers would be Injustice, as they all deserve the honour and applause of Congress—Lieut. Coll [Andrew] Co[l]burn and Lieut. Coll [Winborn] Adams, with the rest of the unfortunate Brave, who fell in their Country’s cause, deserve a lasting monument to their Glory—The Armies remain encamp’d within two Miles of each other. The 17th Inst. I wrote to all the neighbouring States, and pressingly Demanded the immediate March of their Militia, when a proper Reinforcement arrives, I hope to give your Excellency more interesting Intelligence—Inclos’d is a Return of the Army, which, but barely equals that of the Enemy” (DLC:GW).

Hancock also enclosed a copy of Congress’s resolution of 27 Sept. directing the Board of War to cooperate with GW “in devising and carrying into Execution the most effectual measures for Supplying the Army with Fire Arms, Shoes, Blanketts, Stockings, Provisions & other necessaries, and that in executing this Business those Collections be confind as much as Circumstances will admit to Persons of disaffected and equivocal Characters” (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 , 8:755).

3. On 4 Sept. the Continental frigate Randolph under Capt. Nicholas Biddle captured a British brig and two other ships, which he then took into Charleston harbor (see Biddle to Robert Morris, 12 Sept. 1777, in Naval Documents description begins William Bell Clark et al., eds. Naval Documents of the American Revolution. 12 vols. to date. Washington, D.C., 1964–. description ends , 9:919–20). The enclosed newspaper probably was the 11 Sept. 1777 edition of the South-Carolina and American General Gazette (Charleston).