Major General Benjamin Lincoln to George Washington, 13 April 1781
From Major General Benjamin Lincoln
Boston April 13th 1781
My Dear General
I was Yesterday honored with your Favor of the 4th Inst.1
Every attention is paid to collect and forward the Troops with dispatch from all the Counties saving those in the eastern part of this State they, by a resolve of the Assembly in their last session, were detained untill the pleasure of your Excellency & of Congress could be known, with respect to their being further detained for the defence of those Counties.2 As soon as your Excellency informed me3 that you could not accede to the measure, I wrote and informed the Governor of it of which the Assembly were acquainted, but did not repeal their former resolve.4
I expect there will be an Assembly tomorrow and that they will order the Troops instantly to march.5
You mention the return of the Officers—nothing prevents it but the want of Money many have not a shilling to enable them to do it—A great proportion of the Officers sold their depretiation Notes and are not benefitted by the order for the payment of them The committee appointed by the General Court in their last session to settle with the Army declined the Trust so that nothing has been done in the recess.6
As soon as the Court are together I will apply to them for an Order directing the Treasury to give the preference, in paying the Officers, to those who are ordered on.
By the inclosed papers your Excellen[c]y will have all the News in this Quarter.7
Major Clarkson will have the honor to deliver this, I have sent him that he may viva, voce give your Excellency a particular State of matters here and the general Sentiments of the people, and relate a matter which I dare not commit to writing.8 I am my Dear General With every Sentiment of Esteem Your Excellency’s most obedt & most humble Servt
B: Lincoln
LS, DLC:GW; Df, MHi: Benjamin Lincoln Papers.
1. See GW to Lincoln, 4 April.
2. The Massachusetts legislature had resolved on 9 Feb. to detain “all the troops raised or to be raised, in the counties of York, Cumberland and Lincoln … until the further pleasure of Congress and his Excellency General Washington, respecting their future destination be known, but subject in the mean time to the orders and disposition of the Honorable Major-General Lincoln within said counties, or either of them.” The legislature also wanted the governor to write GW, “representing the critical and distressing situation of the three eastern counties in said Commonwealth, but more especially the county of Lincoln; the importance of said counties to this and the United States of America, as well as to the enemy, who now consider said counties as one principal object of their attention.” The governor also was called upon to request that GW appoint the troops from the eastern counties “to the immediate defence of said counties, and that they remain within the same during the present unfavorable appearances there, and that his Excellency General Washington will be pleased to order how said troops shall be officered and arranged” (, pp. 266–69, quotes on 266, 268–69). For concern over Penobscot, see Rochambeau to GW, 18 March and 6 April, and GW to Rochambeau, 21–22 March and 10 April; see also Destouches to GW, 15 April.
3. The words “at Newport” appear at this point on the draft (see n.4 below).
4. Lincoln had written Massachusetts governor John Hancock from Newport on 6 March: “General Washington arrived here this fore noon I have had an opportunity to converse with him respecting our eastern country and the propriety of retaining the troops raised in the three lower counties for the defense of them.” GW believed “the measure can by no means be assented to as Congress have ordered all the troops southward of the Jersies to join the southern army so that the main army must be composed of the New England line New York and the Jersey which forbids his assenting to any detachments.
“I wish the Assembly had know[n] this before they were adjourned for the security of the eastern country is certainly an object which should claim our attention I know the Court thought it so and had they not believed that these troops might be retained they would probably have made other provision. I hope Congress has been addressed on the subject for it is perculearly hard for our State to guard its extensive sea coast part of which is now in possession of the enemy, without the aid of the continent. …
“I wish I had a little new to send you I have none which I dare warrant as authentic. Genl Washington was succoured with every mark of respect & joy” (MHi: Lincoln Papers). For GW’s visit to Newport, see his letter to Alexander Hamilton, 7 March, source note, and Newport Citizens to GW, same date.
5. For legislative action, see Lincoln to GW, 26 April, and n.2 to that document.
6. See “Resolve Directing the Method How the Committee Appointed to Settle with the Army Shall Settle With Them,” passed on 2 March (, pp. 299–300).
7. The enclosed newspapers have not been identified.
8. Lincoln wanted to recruit a spy (see GW’s reply to Lincoln on 21 April).