George Washington to John Hancock, 2 June 1781
To John Hancock
New Windsor, 2d June 1781.
Sir,
The proposed operations of the campaign will occasion such a demand for heavy cannon and military stores, as to exceed the number and quantity of those articles immediately in possession of the Continent.1 This insufficiency obliges me to apply to such of the neighbouring States as can afford us any assistance, with a full confidence that the importance of the object, and the apparent probability of success, will induce a ready compliance, according to their respective abilities.2
If the States do not give the assistance requested, the most favorable moment that has happened during the war will be lost, and our weakness be too conspicuous, as well to our good Allies as to our enemies.
Upon these principles I apply to the State of Massachusetts for the loan for the campaign, of eight pieces of heavy cannon with travelling carriages, either 24 or 18 pounders, as may be most convenient. and for the delivery of two 13 inch sea mortars, which the enemy left at Boston when they evacuated it in 1776.3 Col. Crane of the artillery, who is in Boston, will receive and endeavor to transport them to this river. The situation of the quarter master’s department, for want of money, also constrains me to request the State to give the Dep. Q. Master & Col. Crane the necessary assistance to forward these and other essential articles.4
The urgency of knowing as soon as possible what we shall have to depend upon induces me to request an immediate answer to this, and my letter of the 25 ult., from Weathersfield, respecting the loan of Powder.5 I have the honor to be, with great respect, Your Excellency’s most obedt servt
Go: Washington
LS, in Henry Knox’s writing, M-Ar; copy, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW.
Hancock presented GW’s letter on 9 June to the Massachusetts legislature, which then formed a committee to report “what Number of Heavy Cannon with traveling Carriages, and what quantity of Powder can be spared for the purpose mention’d in said Letter.” After receiving the committee’s report on 12 June, the legislature resolved on 18 June that Hancock “write to General Washington, that the Genl Court expect the return of the Mortars, Cannon & Powder lent from Castle Island, & Fort Hill” (). Hancock replied to GW on 15 Aug. (DLC:GW; see also GW to Hancock, 15 June, postscript, and n.4 below).
1. For the intended operations, see The Wethersfield Conference and Aftermath, 14 May–16 June, editorial note.
3. The British abandoned only one of their four 13-inch mortars (see , 69, and the return dated 22 March 1776, printed as an enclosure with GW to Hancock, 27 March; see also Brigadier General Henry Knox’s Artillery Estimate for 1778, 10 Nov. 1777).
4. Col. John Crane subsequently left Massachusetts with this artillery (see William Heath to GW, 4 July 1781, and n.8).
5. See GW to Hancock, 25 May, found at GW to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., same date, source note.