YALE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY

3 9002 06092 7937

 , i-, 1 1, .. , II ,'j

IM
YALE UNIVERSITY
LIBRARY

Gift of
Edith and Maude Wetmore
in memory of their father
George Peabody Wetmore
B.A. 1867

REPRINT

THE ORIGINAL LETTERS

WASHIIGTOI^ TO JOSEPH REED,

THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION.

EEEEEEBD TO IN THE PAMPHLETS O'F LOED MAHON AND ME. SPARKS.

BY
WILLIAM B. REED.

—<-*?*¦»-

PHILADELPHIA:
A. HAKT, LATE CAKEY AND HAET.
1852.

Cb3t.2/i

V II I L .\ 11 T. L !• II I .\ :
T. K. .VND P. (-,. riihl.T.y 1. PI1INTKK.=;.

INTRODUCTION,

The object of this republication of original letters
may be briefly stated. In or before the year 1834, I
forwarded to Mr. Sparks, then engaged in preparing
his edition of the Works of Washington, copies of a
series of letters from the Commander-in-Chief to my
ancestor, General Reed, written from Cambridge in
the years 1775 and 1776. They were private and
confidential, and, on that account, very interesting
and valuable. Mr. Sparks printed a number of
these letters. He thought it right to omit certain
passages in them, and to make some alterations of
phraseology, and it is possible, though I have no
recollection of it, he apprised me of having done so
at the time. He certainly did, at a later period,
in 1838.
In 1847, thirteen years after Mr. Sparks's publi
cation, appeared my Biography of Reed. In it, I
printed the Washington letters from the originals;
the only variations being occasional corrections of
grammar and spelling, and the omission of one or

two sentences, evidently the result of oversight on
my part.
In 1851, Lord Mahon published the fifth and
sixth volumes of " The History of England from
the Peace of Utrecht," and noticed the difference
of text between Mr. Sparks's work and mine.
Hence has arisen a controversy in which, on each
side, an appeal has, at least impliedly, been made to
me, as a disinterested witness, to place before the
public the exact truth with regard to these manu
scripts. I have thought it my duty to reprint the letters,
and to have them carefully collated, so that even
literal variations may be noted. It will thus be
seen that the imputed blemishes on Washington's
style, as a rapid and inartificial letter-writer, have
been much exaggerated. The originals are open
to the inspection of any one who may desire to
look at them. In adopting this course, and ab
staining from controversy, I am actuated by a
se^se of duty to all parties. Justice to Lord Mahon
obliges me to show exactly how this difiiculty
began. He has himself, in the handsomest man
ner, withdrawn one of the charges he made,
and is entitled to the testimony these documents
afford to the integrity of the motive which led to
the error. Justice to Mr. Sparks requires me to
relieve him, by the actual exhibition of the papers,
from the charge of having made additions to the
text of the Washington letters. Justice to mvself
and my character as a faithful contributor to his
tory, imperatively requires me to place distinctly

before the public the actual state of these manu
scripts, and to have them properly attested; for I
have felt, more than once, in the progress of this
discussion, that, should the original papers be de
stroyed, an accident to which manuscripts are espe
cially exposed, a serious imputation might rest on
me for having interpolated the very passages which
Mr. Sparks thought proper to omit. The only safe
rule seems to be that which was adopted by Chief-
Justice Marshall long ago. I have before me an
unpublished letter from him ta the printer of his
Life of Washington in 1804, in answer to an urgent
request for the suppression of a passage calculated
to give pain to living persons. The request was
assented to, but explicit direction given to mark
the fact that a passage 'was omitted. This course,
as far as possible, I endeavored to adopt in my Life
of Reed.
In the following pages, the reader will find accu
rately noted the variations between the original
manuscripts and the copies printed by myself' ^d
Mr. Sparks. I cannot, in justice, note one without
the other. In this way, an, accurate judgment may
be formed of the real extent of the alterations. I
have thought it best to reprint every one of the
letters which have been selected by Mr. Sparks, even
when he copied, not from my originals, but from the
letter-books, in order to show, as a mere matter of
literary curiosity, how far they differ.
The letters in question were part of a private
correspondence, the most friendly and unreserved.

rf^ence, in my opinion, their value. Their true
interest depends on being the exact transcript of
what the writers thought and wrote. It was the
hearty, familiar letter-writing of two friends, between
whom there had grown up, in the daily and hourly
intercourse of the same quarters/ in the " Rebel"
camp, the most implicit, unsuspecting coufidence.
Mr. Reed was not exactly, at the age of thirty-three,
of that class of thoughtless young men with whom it
has been intimated Washington, himself but little
over forty, was surrounded.* From June to Octo
ber, 1775, Washington and his "First Secretary"
had occupied the same house, lived at the same
table, shared the same dangers and responsibilities,
watched and counselled together as two men of af
fectionate unreserve are apt to do; and when they
were separated, the confidence was not interrupted,
the unreserve not broken; and Washington writing
to Reed in Philadelphia, was as if Washington were
talking to Reed, in the anxious seclusion of the head
quarters at Cambridge. Such are these letters in
their original form. At the time of their publica
tion, I had no doubt that it was my duty to print
them exactly as they were written. I have never
doubted it since.
The portions of the following letters omitted ac-
* North American Review, July, 1852, p. 203. I may venture
to observe that not a little of the asperity which has disfigured this
controversy is attributable to the very unkind tone which anony
mous writers (always more or less irresponsible) have thought
proper to adopt.

cidentally by me are nwld at the foot of each page,
and those omitted by Mr. Sparks are in Italics, his
changes of phraseology and omissions being marked
with a letter S. in the margin. WILLIAM B. REED.
Philadelphia, Nbtember 16, 1852.

LETTERS.
WASHINGTON TO REED,

Cambeidge, ith Novemher, 1775.
Deae Sie,
The Shipwreck of a Vessel,
said to be from Philadelphia to
Boston, near Plymouth, with 120
pipes of wine; 118 of •which}- are
saved — another from Boston to
Hallifax, near Beverly, with.
about £240 worth of dry goods
— the taking of a wood vessel,
bound to Boston, by ' Captain
Adams^and the sudden depart
ure of Mr. Randolph, (occa
sioned by the death of his
uncle,) are all the occurrences
worth noticing, which have hap
pened since you left this.^
I have ordered the wine and
goods to this place, for sale ; as
also the papers ; the latter may
unfold secrets that may not be
pleasing to some of your towns
men; and which, so soon as
known, will be communicated.
I have been happy enough^
to convince Captain McPherson,
as he says, of the propriety of
returning to the Congress — he
sets out this day, and I am
happy in his having an oppor-

' ¦¦ S. "of which one hundred and
eighteen."

S. "si"noe your departure."

^ S. "I have convinced."
" happy enough" is Italicized in
the original.

10

tunity of laying before them a
scheme for the, destruction ofthe
naval force of Gr. Britain. A
letter and journal of Colonel
Arnold's, to the 13th ultimo, is
come to hand,* copy of which I * S. "are" come to hand.
inclose t6 the Congress, and by
application to Mr. Thompson
you can see. I think he is in
Quebec, — if I hear nothing more
of him in five days I shall be
sure of it.
I had like to have forgot what
setf heaviest upon my mind; ' S. "sits."
the new arrangement of officers,
although we have not enough to
constitute the new corps, it /^a</i.° ° S. "has."
employed the general officers and
myself ever since Thursday last,
and we are nearly as we begun.
Connecticut wants no Massa-
chusets man in their corp. Mas-
sachusets thinks there is no
necessity for a Rhode Islander*
to be introduced amongst them;'' ' S. "into hers."
and New Hampshire says it's
very hard that her valuable and
experienced officers, (who are
willing to serve,) should be dis
carded, because her own regi
ments under the new establish
ment cannot provide for them.
In short, after a four\ days'
labour, I expect that numbers
of officers who have given in
their names to serve, must be

* These words "for a Rhode Islander" are not printed hj' me.
t Printed hy me as by Mr. Sparks "few."

11

discarded from Massachusets,^
(where the regiments have been
numerous, and the number in
them small,) and Connecticut^
compleated with a fresh recruit
of officers from its'" own govern
ment. This will be departing
not only from the principals of
common justice, but from the
letter of the Resolve agreed on
at this place; but at present I
see no help for it. We are to
have another meeting upon the
matter this day, when something
must be hit upon, as time is
slipping of. My compliments
to Mrs. Reed, and to all in
quiring friends. I am, with
sincerity and truth, dear sir.
Your affectionate humble
servant,
0° WASHINaTON.
"P. S. I had Just finished
my letter when <i blundering
Lieut'^' of the blundering Capt^
Ccrit, who had just blundered
upon two vessels from Nova
Scotia, came in with the acc' of
it, and before I could rescue my
letter, without hnowing what he
did, piclced up a candle and
sprinlded it with grease ; but
these are hind of blunders which
one can readily excuse. The
vessels contain hay, live-stock,
poultry, &c., and are now safely
m,oor'd in Plymouth harbour.
Yours, dsc.
O. w  n.

^ S.' "from tho Massachusetts
corps." ' S. "that of Connecticut."
1° S. "her."

^' The Postscript omitted by
Mr. Sparks.

12

II.

Cambeidoe,
2Qth Novr 1775.
Deae Sie
Your letters Qf ihe ith from
New York, 7 th and — from Phi
ladelphia, (the last by express^
are aU before ine, and gave me
the pleasure to hear of your
happy meeting ivith Mrs. Heed,
without any other accident than
that of leaving a horse by the
way.^^ The hint contain' d in the last
of your letters respecting your
continuance in my family; in
other words, your wish that I
could dispense with it, gives me
pain. You already, my dear sir,
knew my sentiments on this
matter; you cannot but be sen
sible of your importance to me :
at the same time, I shall again
repeat what I have observ' d to
you before, that I can never
think of promoting my conve
nience at the expence of your
interest and inclination. That
I feel the want of you, yourself
can judged when I inform you
that the peculiar situation of
Mr. Randolph's affairs obliged
him to leave this^* soon after
you did — that Mr. Baylor, con
trary to my expectation, is not
in the smallest degree a penman,
though spirited and willing —

S. Omitted by Mr. Sparks.,

" S. You can judge that I feel
the want, &c.
" S. "this place."

13

and that Mr. Harrison, though
sensible, clever,'^ and perfectly
confidential, has never yet mov
ed upon so large a scale as to
comprehend at one view the di
versity of matter which comes
before me, so as to afford that
ready assistance which every
man in my situation must stand
more or less in need of. Mr.
Moylan, it is true, is very oblig
ing; he gives me what assist
ance he can, but other business
must necessarily deprive me of
his aid in a very short time.
This is my situation: — judge
you, therefore, how much I
wish'd for yonr return, espe
cially as the armed vessels, and
the capitol change (in the state
of this army) about to take
place, have added an addi
tional'^ weight to a burthen be
fore too great for me to stand
under, with the smallest degree
of comfort to my own feelings.
My mind is now fully disclosed
to you, with this assurance sin
cerely and affectionately accom
panying of it, that whilst you are
disposed to continue with me, I
shall think myself too fortunate
and happy to wish for a change.
Doctr. Morgan, (as director
of the hospital,) is exceedingly
wanted at this place, and ought
not to delay his departure for
the camp a moment, many regu-

" S. "clear," obviously a mis
print.

'^ S. "a new weio;ht."

17 S. "of" omitted.
omitted by me.

It is also

14

lations being delayed,'^ and ac
counts postpon'd till his arrival.
1'/ have given G. S. and Col.
P. a hint of the prevailing re
ports in Connecticut, without
intimating from what quarter
they came (for indeed I have •
received them through different
channel's) in order to- put them
upon their guard ; they both deny
the charge roundly, and wish for
an oppertunity of vindication. I
thought as this information had
come to my ears in different ways,
it loas best to speak to these gen
tlemen in terms expressive of my
abhorance of such conduct, and
of the consequences that might
flow from it, and think ii will
have a good effect. The method
you have suggested of^ the ad
vanced pay, I very much ap
prove of, and would adopt but
for the unfortunate cramp'd
state of our Treasury, which
keeps us for ever under the
Hatches. Pray urge the neces
sity of this measure to such
members as you may converse
with, and the want of cash to
pay the troops for the months
of Octr and Nov^, as also to
answer the demands of the com
missary — quartermaster and —
contingencies. To do all this, a
considerable sum will be neces
sary. Do not neglect to put
that wheel in motion, which is

1^ S. "deferred."

18 The passage in Italics omitted.

™ S. "concerning the advanced
pay."

15

to bring us the shirts, medicines,
&c. from New York — they are
much wanting here, and cannot
be had, I should think, upon
better terms than on a loan from
the best of kings, so anxiously
disposed to promote the welfare
of his American subjects.
Dr. Church is gone to Gov.
Trumbull, to be -disposed of in
a Connecticut gaol, without the
use of pen, ink, and paper, — to
be convers'd with in the pre
sence of a magistrate only, and
in the English language; — so
much for indiscretion the doctor
will say. Your accounts of our
dependance upon the people of
Great Britain, I religeously be
lieve; it has long been my poli
tical creed, that the Ministry
durst nofi' have gone on as they '"¦ S. "would not have dared."
did, but under the firmest per
suasion that the people were with
them. The weather has been
unfavourable, however, for the
arrival of their transports,— ^only
four companies of the 17th re
giment, and two of the artillery,
are yet arrived by our last ad
vices from Boston.
Our Rascally^ privateersmen ^' S. "rascally" omitted.
go on at the old rate, mutinying
if they cannot do as they please.
Those at Plymouth, Beverly,
and Portsmouth, have done no
thing worth mentioning in y®
prize way, and no accounts are

16

yet received from those further
eastward. Arnold, by a letter whioh left
him the 27th ult. had then only
got to the Chaudiere Pond, and
was scarce of provisions : his
rear division, under the com
mand of the noble^ Colonel
Enos, had, without his privity
or consent, left him with three
companies, and his expedition
(inasmuch as it is to ¦ be appre
hended that Carlton, with the
remains of s'uch force as he had
been able to raise, would get
into Quebec before him,) I fear,
in a bad way ; for further
particulars I refer you to Mr.
Hancock, who has enclosed to
him^ copies of Arnold's and
Enos's letters. The last named
person is not -yet arrived at this
camp. I thank you for your frequent
mention of Mrs; Washington. I
expect she will be in Philadel
phia about the time this letter
may reach you, on har way
hither; as she and her conductor
(who lexpect^^mll be Mr. Cus
tis, her son,) are perfect stran
gers to the road, the stages, and
the proper place to cross Hud
son's River, (by all means avoid
ing New York,) I shall be much
obliged in^ your particular in-'
structions, and advice to, her. I
do^' imagine, as the roads are

^ 8. "the noble" omitted. It
is Italicized in the autograph by
Washington.

S. "to whom are enclosed."

S. "I suppose."

^ S. "by your particular in
structions.""^ S. "do" omitted.

17

bad, and the weather cold, her
stages must be short, especially
as / expect her horses wiU be
pretty much^ fatigued, as they
will, by the time she gets to
Philadelphia, have performed a
journey of at least 450 miles,
my express finding of* her
among her. friends near Wil
liamsburg, 150 miles below my
own house.
^"As you have mentioned no
thing in your letters of the can
non, &€., to be had from N
Yk, Ticonderoga, &c, I have,
in order to reduce the matte\r to
a certainty, employed Mr. Knox
to go to those places, compleat our
wants, and to provide such mili
tary stores as St. John's can,
spare. My respectful compliments to
Mrs. Reed, &c.
Be assured that I am,
Dear sir, with affectionate
regard,
G" WASHINGTON.
Flints are greatly wanted here.f

^ S. "I presume."
"^ S. "pretty much" omitted,
and "when they get to Phila
delphia" instead of "by the time
^he gets."

^ S. The
omitted.

rest of the letter

* The word "of" omitted bjr me, and printed " having found" by Mr.
Sparks. f This "P. S." omitted by me and by Mr. Sparks. It is written along
the margin in the original.

18

III.

Cambeidoe, 2Sth Nov. 1775.
Dear Sie,
By post I wrote to you yester
day in answer to your letter of
the \%th since which?' your fa
vours of the 15th and 17tli are
come to hand'. In one of thesi?^
you justly observe that the sud
den departure of Mr. Randolph
must cause your absence to be
the more sensibly felt. I can
truely assure you that I miss
you exceedingly, and if an ex
press declaration of thi^'^ be
wanting to hasten your return,
I make it ihost heartily, and
with some pleasure, as Mr.
Lynch, in a letter of the 13th
(received with yours,y* gives
this information. "In conse
quence of your letter by Colo
nel Reed, I applied to the Chief
Justice, who tells me the Su
preme Courts are lately held,
and that it will be some time
before their term will return,
that he knows of no capitol suit
now depending, and that it is
very easy for Colonel Reed to
manage matters so as not to let
that prevent his return to you ;*
I am sure Mr. Chew is so heart
ily disposed to oblige you, and

^' S. Part in Italics omitted.

'" S. "In one of them."

^ S. " of this" omitted.

^ S. " omitted."

* The words " that prevent" omitted by me.

19

^ S. "for."

to serve the cause, that nothing
in his power will be wanting."
I could wish, my good friend,
that these things may give a
spur to your inclination to re
turn, and that I may see you
here as soon as convenient, a^^
I feel the want of your ready
pen, &c. greatly.
What an astonishing thing it
is that those who are employed
to sigh the Continental Bills
should not be able or inclined
to do it as fast as they are
wanted. They will prove the
destruction of the army if they
are not more attentive and dili
gent. Such a dearth of publick
spirit* and^' want of virtue, such
stock-jobbing and fertility in all
the low arts to obtain advan
tages, of one kind or another,
in this great change of military
arrangem*, I never saw before,
and pray God'^ I may never
be witness to again. What will
be the ultimate^ end of these
manouvres is beyond my scan.
I tremble at the prospect. We
have been till this time enlisting '
about 8500 men. To engage
these, I have been obliged to
allow furloughs as far as 50 men
a^ Regiment; and the officers, I ^^ S. "to a regiment."
am persuaded, endulge as many
more.

^ S. "sMcA want.'

=' S. "pray God's mercy."

^ S. "ultimate" omitted.

* "Spirit" omitted by me.

20

The Connecticut troops will
not be prevailed upon to stay
longer than their term, (saving
those who have enlisted for the
next campaign, and*° mostly on
furlough,) and such a dirty,*'-
mercenary spirit pervades the
whole that I should not be at
all surpriz'd at any disaster that
may happen. In short, after the
last of this month, our lines will
be so weaken'd that the minute
men and militia must be call'd
in for their defense, — *^these
being under no kind of govern
ment themselves, will destroy
the little subordination I have
been labouring to establish, and
run me into one, evil whilst I
am endeavouring to avoid an
other ; but the lesser^ must be
chosen. Could I have foreseen
what I have,** and am like to ex
perience, no consideration upon
earth should have induced me
to accept this command. A
regiment or any subordinate
department would have been ac
companied with ten times the
satisfaction, — perhaps the hon
our. ^^ I think Unformed youin my
letter of yesterday, that we had
taken possession of* and had
fortified Cobble Hill, and several
points round the Buy, between

.,¦,;»

*° S. "and are."
*i S. "dirty" omitted.

*2 S. "and these."

S. The "kss.'

8. "experienced."

S. Passage in Italics omitted.

'Of" omitted by me.

21

that and Roxbury. In a night
or two more, we shall begin owr
work on Litchnwre's P^nt ;
when, doubtless, we shall be hon
our'd with their notice, unless
Gen'l Howe is waiting the fa
vourable moment he has been told
of, to aim a capitol blow; which
is my fixed Opinion.
The Congress already know,
from the general estimate given
in (for a month) what sum ^
will take to supply this*^ army;
and that -little less than 275,000
dollars will answer the purpose.
Pray impress this upon the
members, and the necessity of
forwarding the last s\im voted,
as 100,000 dollars will be but
a flea-bit^'' to our demands at
this time. ''^Did I not in one
of my late letters inform you, that
I had sent Mr. Knox throw New
York to General Schuyler to See
what artUlery I ccmld get from
those places ? He has been set ont
upon this business about ten days,
and I hope will fall in with the
Committee of Congress. Powder
is also so much wanted, that no
thing without it can be done.
I wish that matter respecting
the punctilio, hinted at by you,
could come to some decision of
Congress. I have done nothing
yet in respect to the proposed
exchange of prisoners, nor shall
I noio'^^ until I hear from them,

S. "the army.'

*'' S. "totally inadequate."
** S. Passage in Italics omitted.

*B g. "now" omitted.

22

or you, on this subject. I am
sorry Mr. White met with a
disappointment in the Jerseys,
as I could wish not to be under
the necessity, from any former
encouragement given him, of
taking him into my family. I
find it is absolutely necessary
that the Aids to the Command
er-in-Chief, should be teady at
their pen (which I believe he is
not) to give^ that ready assist
ance that is expected of them ;
^'I shcdl make a lame hand
therefore to have two of this
kidney. It would give me singular
pleasure to provide for those
two gentlemen mentioned in
your letter, but believe, me, it
is beyond' the powers of con
ception to discover^'' the absurdi
ties and partiality of these peo
ple, and the trouble and vexation
I have had in the new arrange
ment of officers. After five, I
think, different meetings of the
gen'l officers, I have in a manner
been obliged to give in^ to the
humour and whimsies of the
people, or get no army. The
officers of one government would
not serve in the Regiments of an
other, (although there was to be
an eiltire new creation) — a capf^
must be in this Regiment, a sub
altern in that company ; in short
I can scarce tell at this moment

™ S. "to render," and "read/^
omitted.
^ 8. Sentence in Italics omitted.

5" S. "to realize."

S. "to yield."

23

in what manner they are fixed.
Some time hence strangers may
be brought in, but it could not
be done now, except in an in
stance or two, without putting
too much to th^ hazard.
^I have this inst\ by express
received the agreeable news of tlie
capitulation of Montreal. The
acct of it, you also, undoubtedly
have. Poor Arnold, I wonder
where he is. Enos left him with
the rear division of his army,
and is now hear under arrest.
What can your brethren of the
law mean by saying your perqui-'
sites as Secretary must be con
siderable? I am sure they have
not amounted to one farthing.
Captain Blewer waits, and there
fore, I shall add ¦ no more than
that I am, dear sir.
Your most obedient and
affectionate servant,
G" WASHINGTON.
P. S.'^ Please to let Col" Lee
know that I answer'd his query
by last post respecting the arm'd
vessels of this Province, and those
fitted out by the Continent.

« S. "to hazard."
" S. Passage in Italics omitted.

S. Postscript omitted.

24

IV.

Cambeidoe, 30th Novr 1775.*
Deae Sie,
Two days ago I wrote fully to
you by Captain Blewer — to this
letter I refer, since which ycJur
favi^ of the 20th, ¦with the agree
able Postscript of the 21st, is
come to hand, and demands my
acknowledgments for the civility
intended Mrs. Washington by
you, &c.
I have a very singular plea
sure in informing off you, that
by express last night from Cape
Ann, I received the glad tidings
of the capture of the Nancy store-
ship from London, by Captn.
Manley, contents as pr the in
closed copy, '(taken by Mr.
Pierce, to save me, you must
know, the trouble of innumera-
tion.) He, unluckily, miss'd
the greatest prize in the world;
their whole ordinance, the ship
containing it being just ahead,
but he could not have got both;
and we must be thankful, as I
truly am, for this instance of
Divine favour; for nothing,
surely, ever came more a propos
— that no part of it may slip
throw my fingers, (for I have

* This letter is not printed at length in Mr. Sparks's coUection, but an
extract wiU be found iu a note at p. 157 of his 3d volume. The part ex
tracted is within brackets on the next page.
f " Of" omitted by me.

25

no doubt as this capture was
made in sight of the other ves
sell, of there being some bold
push to recover it) I instantly
upon receiving the acc*, ordered
four companies down to protect
the stores; teams to be impress'd
to remove them without delay;'
and Col" Glover to assemble the
minute men in the neighbour-
hood'of Cape Ann, to secure the
removal to places of safety.
The colouring of that affair at
Litchmore's Point has been ra
ther too high. [The alacrity of
the riffle,men and officers upon
that occasion did them honour,
to which Col Patterson's regi
ment and some others were
equally entitled, except in a few
instances ; but the tide, at that
time was so exceedingly high as
to compel a large circuit before
our men could get to the Causey,^''
by which means the enemy, ex
cept a small covering party, (dis
tant from the dry land on this
side near four hundred yards,)
had retreated, or were about to
imbark; all the shot therefore
that pass'd were at a great dis
tance; however, the men went
to and over the Causey, (except
as before mentioned,')^ spiritedly
enough. This little manouvre of the
enemy is nothing more than a
prelude. We have certain advice

S. "^causeway.'

^' S. "except as before
tioned" omitted.

men-

26

of a scoundrel from Marblehead,
a, man of property, having car
ried into General How a true
state* of the temper and disposi
tion of the troops, towards the
new Inlistment; and hath^^gbren
him the strongest assurances of
the practicability of making him
self master of these lines in a-
very short time, from the disaf
fection of the soldiery to continue
in service.^ I am endeavouring
to counteract him, how effec
tually time alone can show.
I began our bomb-battery on^'-
Litchmore's Point last night;
the workg party came off at
day^" without having met with
any interruption; the weather
favour'd our operations, the
earth being clear of frost ; nof
an officer in the' army but looks
for^ an attack. This has no
effect upon the Connecticut re
giments, they are resolved to go
off.] My best respects to Mrs.
Reed and any other friends. Be
assured I am, dear sir, y^' affecte
G° WASHINGTON.

=9 S. "hath" omitted, and
printed by me "having."

^ S. "disaffection of the soldiers
to the servicei."
«^ S. "at."

S. "ih the morning."

S. " there is not."

°* S. "who does not look for."

V.

Cambridge, Wth Deer 1775.
Deae Sie
Since my last I have had the
pleasure of receiving your fa-

¦*¦ Printed by me " statement."

27

^ 8. "on the road" omitted.

w S. "calculated."

vours of the 28th ulto. and 2d
inst*. I must a^in express my
gratitude for the attentions sAeiora^ ^^ S. "shown to.'
Mrs. Washington at Philadel
phia. It cannot but be pleasing,
altho it did ih some measure
impede the progress of her jour
ney o?i the road.^ I am much
obliged to you for the hints con
tained in both of the above let
ters, respecting - the jealousies
which you say are gone abroad.
I have studiously avoided, in all
letters intended^ for the publick
eye, I mean for that of the Con
gress, — every expression that
could give pain or uneasiness ; —
and I shall observe the same
rule with respect to private let
ters, further^ than appears abso
lutely necessary for the illucida-
tion of facts. I cannot charge
myself with incivility, or what,
in my opinion, is tantamount,
ceremonious civility, to the Gen
tlemen of this Colony; but if
such my conduct appears, I will
endeavour at a reformation, as
I can assure you, my dear Reed,
that I wish to walk in such a
line as will give most general
satisfaction. You know that it
was my wish at first to invite a
certain number of gentlemen^^ of
this Colony every day to dinner,
but unintentionally, '"I believe
by any body, we some how or
other missed of it; if this has

S. "any further."

"5 S. " the gentlemen."
'" 8. "I believe by any body"
omitted.

28

^ven rise to the jealousy, I can*
only say that I am sorry for it ;
at the same time I add, that it
was rather owing to inattention,
or more properly too much at
tention to other matters, which
caused me to neglect it. The
extracts of letters from this
camp which so frequently ap
pear in the Pens^ papers, are
not only written without my
knowledge, but without my ap- '
probation; as I have always
thought they must have a dis
agreeable" tendency ; but there
is no restraining men's tongues
or pens when charged with a
little vanity, as in the accounts
given of, or rather by the riffle-
men. With respect to what you have
said of yourself, and situation, to
what I have before said on this
subject,^^ I can only add, that
whilst you leave the door open
to my expectation of your re
turn, I shall not think of sup
plying your place — if, ultimate
ly, you resolve against coming,
I should be glad to know it, as
soon as you have determined
upon it.''^ The congress have
resolv'd well in respect to the
pay of and advance to'* the
men; but if they cannot get the
money signers to dispatch their

»i S. "unfavorable."

?« S. Transposed " I can (3nly
add to what I have before said
on this subject." The word
"before" omitted by me.

'3 S. "upon it" omitted.
'* S. " and advance to" omitted.

* Printed by me " I cannot say," &o.

29

business, it is of very little
avail, for we have not at this
time money enough in Camp to
answer the commissary's and
qur master's accts, much '^mor^
to pay and advance to the troops.
Strange conduct ihisP^
The acc* which you have giv"
of the sentiments of the people
respecting my epaduct is ex
tremely flattering, Pray God''''
I may continhe to deserve theih
'^in the perplex'd and intricate
situation I stand in. Our inlist
ment goes on slowlyf by the re
turns last Monday, only 5,917
men are engaged for the insuing
campaign; and yet we are told
that we shall get the number
wanted as they are only playing
off, to see what advantages are
to be made, and whether a
bounty cannot be extorted either
from the publick at large, or in
dividuals, in case of a draft;
time only can discover this. I
doubt the measure exceedingly.
The fortunate capture of the
storeship has supplied us with
flints and many other articles
we stood in need of — But we
still have our wants. ™ We are
securing our approach^ to Litch
more's Point, unable upon any
principle whatever to account for
their silence, unless it be to lull

» S. "less." ¦
"= S. "Strange, conduct thisl"
omitted.

'T.S. "Ipr?.y(^od."
'* .S. "in my perplexed and in
tricate situation."

'^ S. Part in Italics omitted.

* Printed "less" by me.

f Printed by me " slow.'

30

us into a fatal security to favour
some attempt they may have in
view about the time of the great
change they expect will take
place the last of this month. If
this be the drift, they deceive
themselves, for, if possible, it has
increa^d my vigilance, and in
duced me to fortify all the ave
nues ' to our camps, to guard
against any approaches ivpon
the ice.
If the Virginians are wise,
that arch-traitor to the rights of
humanity, Lord Dunmore,should
be instantly crush'd, if it takes
the force of the whole Colony to
do it — otherwise, like a snow
ball, in rolling, his army will
get size — some through fear~—
some through promises — and
some from* inclination joinin,g
his standard — but that which
renders the measure indispensa
bly necessary, is, the negros; —
for if he gets formidable, num
bers of them will be tempted to
join, who will be affraid to do it
without. I am exceeding happy
to find that that villain Connolly
is seized; I hope if there is any
thing to convict him, that lie will
meet with the punishment due to
his demerit and treachery.

¦* Printed by me "through." This passage about Lord Dunmore is
repeated, though not quite in so strong language, in a letter to Richard
Henry Lee, eleven days later, which is printed by Mr. Sparks, vol. iii.
p. 216.

31

We impatiently wait far accts
from Arnold — wcruld to God we
may hear he is in Quebec — and
that all Canada is in our pos
session. My best respects to Mrs.
Reed. I am, dear sir, yi"
affect" H'ble servt,
G° WASHINGTON.
P. S. The small-pox is in
every part ,of Boston — the sol
diers tliere who have never had
it, are, we are told, under in-
noculation, and consider' d as a
security against any attempt of
ours — a third ship-load of people
is come out to Point Shirley. If
we escape the small-pox in this
camp, and the country round
about, it will be miraculous.
Every precaution that can be, is
taken, to guard against this evil,
both by the General Oou/rt and
myself:
G. W  n.

VI.
Cambbidge, Ibth Deer 1775.
Deae Sie,
^Since my last, your favours ^" S. The passages in Italics
of the 7fh and Hth are come to omitted.
hand, as also the Sth; the first
last night, the second by Wednes
day's Post if or the several pieces
of information therein contain' d,
I thank you.

32

Nothing new has happened in
this quarter since my last, except
the setting in of a severe spell of
cold weather, and a considerable
fall of snow; which together have
interrupted our work on Litch
more's Point; which otherwise,
would have been compleated be
fore this. At first we only in
tended a bomb battery there, but
afterwards, constructed two re-
doidits, in one of which a mortar
will be placed at a proper sea
son — a line of communication
extends from the point of wood '
this side the Causey, leading on
to Litchmore's Point, quite up to
the redoubt. From. Boston and
Bunker's Hill both, we have re
ceived (without injury, except
from the first case slwtt) an ir
regular fire from cannon and
mortq,rs ever since the 17 th, but
have return'd none except upon
tlie ship ; which we soon obliged
to move off. At the same time
that I thank you for stopping
visiters in Search of preferment,
it will give me pleasure to show
civilities to others of your re
commendation. Indeed no gen
tleman that is not well known,
ought to come here, without let
ters of introduction as it puts me
in an awkward situation with re
spect to my conduct towards
them. I do not very welP' under- ^' 8. "much."

33

stand a paragraph in your letter
which seems to be taken from
mine to Col Hancock, express
ive of the unwillingness of the
Connecticut troops to be deemed
Continental. ^^If you did not
misconceive what Col Hancock
read — he read what I never
wrote ; as there is no expression
in any of my letters that I can
either recollect, or find, that has
a tendency that ¦way; further
than their unwillingness to have
officers of other governments
mixed in their corps, in which
they are not singular, as the
same partiality runs through
the whole. I have, in some mea
sure, anticipated the desires of
the Connecticut Delegates, by a
kind of representation to each of
the New England Governments
of the impracticability (in my
eyef of raising our compliment
of men by voluntary inlistments,
and submitting if* to their cout
sideration, whether (if the pow
ers of Government were suffi
ciently coercive) each Town
should not be called upon for
a proportionate number of re
cruits ; what they will do in the
matter remains to be known.
The militia w<=li^ have supplied
the places of the Connecticut
Regiments, behave muoh better
than I expected,^ under our
wants of wood, barracks, (for

'^ S. Sentence in Italics omitted.

S. "in my eye" omitted.

S^ "it" omitted.

^ S. "who.'

S. "they would."

34

they are not yet done,y blankets,
&c. : with tlies^ and such men^^
as are re-inlisted I shall hope,
if they will be vigilant and
spirited, to give the enemy a
warm reception if they think
proper to come out. Our want
of powder is inconceivable — a
daily waste, and no supply, ad
ministers^ a gloomy prospect.
I fear the destination^ of the
vessels from your port is so
generally known, as to defeat
the end. Two men-of-war (fortjy
gunsf^ it is said, put into New
York the other day, and were
instantly^^ ordered out, supposed
to be for Virginia.
I am so much indebted for
the civilities shown Mrs. Wash
ington on her journey hither,
that I hardly know how to go
aboufi* to acknowledge them.
Some of the enclosed (all of
which I beg the favour of you
to put into the post office) are
directed to that end. I shall
be obliged to you for presenting
my thanks to the commanding
officers of the two battalions of
Phila, for the honours"^ done her
and me, as also to any others
equally entitled. I very sin
cerely offer you the compliments
of the season, and wish you and
Mrs. Reed, and your fireside, the
happy return of a greai^ many
of them, being, dear sir, your

^'' S. " for they are not yet done"
omitted.
^ 8. "men."
^^ 8. "men" omitted.

* S. "present."
^ S. " detention," obviously a
misprint.^^ S. " forty guns" omitted.
"^ S. "immediately."

^ S. "to go about" omitted.

=« S. "honour.'

S. "great" omitted.

35
most obedt and affecte HWe
serv*, G" WASHINGTON. VII.
Cambridge, ith Jany 1776.
Deae Sie
^ Since my last I have re(^d ^ 8. Passage in Italics omitted.
your obliging favours of the \^th
and 2Zdulto. and thank you for
the articles of intelligence therein
contained, as I also do for ihe
buttons which accompanied the
last letter, altho' I had got a set
better, Ithink, made at Concord.
Iam exceeding* glad to find that
things wear a better face in Yir
ginia than they did some time
ago; hut I do not think that
any thing less than y" life or
liberty, will free the Colony from
the effects of Lord Dunmore's
resentments and villainies.
We are at length favour'd
with a sight of his Majesty's
most gracious speech, breathing
sentiments of tenderness and
compassion for his deluded
American subjects; the eccho
is not yet come to hand, but we
know what it must be, and as
Lord North said, and we ought
to have believed, (and acted ac
cordingly,) we now know the

* Printed by me " exceedingly."

36

w S. "hear.;" and "heard" by
me.

ultimatum of British justice.
The speech I send you; a vo
lume of them was sent out by
the Boston gentry, and farcical
enough, we gave great joy to
them, (the red coats I mean,y » 8. "the red
without knowing or intending omitted.
it, for on that day, the day
whioh gave being to the new
army, (but before the proclama
tion came to hand) we had
hoisted the Union Flag in com
pliment to the United Colonies;
but behold ! it was received in
Boston as a token of the deep
impression the Speech had made
upon us, and as a signal of sub
mission, so we learn^ by a per
son out of Boston last night.
By this time, I presume, they
begin to think it -strange that
we have not made a formal sur
render of our Lines. Admiral
Shuldam is arrived at Boston.
The 55th and greatest'"" part, if
not all the 17th regiment are
also got in there ;'"'¦ the rest of
the 5 regiments from Ireland
were intended for Hallifax and
Quebec; '¦"Hlwseforthefirst,have
arrived there, the others, we know
not where they are got to.
It is easier to conceive than
to describe the situation of my
mind for some time past, and
my feelings under our present
circumstances; Search the i;as<^"" "' S. Omitted.
volumes of history through, and

coats I mean"

^^ S. "the greater."
'-"' 8. "arrived."
'^^ 8. Sentence in Italics omitted.

37

I much question whether a case
similar to ours is to be found ;
to wit, to maintain a post against
the flower of the British troops
for sixmonths together, without
 "** and at the end of them,^"^
to have one army disbanded, and
another to raise,'-"^ within the
same distance of a reinforced
enemy; it is too much to at
tempt — what may be the final
issue of the last manouvre, time
only com tell.'"'' Iwish this month
was well over our heads. The
same desire of retiring into a
chimney corner, seized the troops
of New Hampshire, Rhode Isl
and, and Massachusets, (so soon
as their time expired,) as had
work'd'"^ upon those of Connec
ticut, notwithstanding many of
them made a tender of their ser
vices to continue till the lines
could be sufficiently strengthen
ed. We are now left with a good
deal less than half-rais'd regi
ments, and about five thousand
militia, who only stand ingaged
to the middle of this month,
when, according to custom, they
vrill depart, let the necessity of
their stay be never'"^ so urgent ;
thus it is, that"" for more than
two months past I have scarcely
immerged from one difficulty,
before I have"^' plunged into an
other. How it will end, God in
his great goodness will direct ; I

'"* 8. "powder." There is a
blank line dra-wn in the original.
«>5 S. "then."
'OS S. "to be raised."

'"^ 8. "can unfold.'

S. "wrought."

™ S. "ever," and by me.
"" S. "it is that" omitted.

"1 H "l^oor, "

S. "been.'

38

am thankful for his protection to
this time. We are told that we
shall soon get the army com
pleated, but I have been told so
many things which have never
come to pass, that I distrust
every thing.
I fear your fleet has been so
long in fitting, and the destina
tion of it so well known, that
the end will be defeated if the
vessels escape. How is the ar
rival of French troops in the
West Indies, and the hostile ap
pearance there, to be reconciled
with that part of the King's
speech wherein he assures Par
liament "that as well from the
assurances I have received as
from the general appearance of
affairs in Europe, I see no pro
bability that the measures which
you may adopt will be interrupt
ed by disputes with apy foreign
power." I hope the Congress will not
think of adjourning at so im
portant and critical a juncture
as this. I wish they would keep
a watchful eye to New York.
From Capt"' Sears' acct"-^ (now
here) much is to be apprehended
from that quarter. "^A fleet is
now fitting out at Boston, con
sisting of five transports and two
bomb-vessels, under convoy of the
Scarborough andFowcy men-of-
war. Three hundred, some say,

"^ 8. "from the account of Cap
tain Sears."
"' S. The rest of the letter in
Italics omitted.

39

others more, troops are on board,
with flat-bottom' d boats. It is
whisper'd, as if designedly, that
they are intended for New-Port,
but it is generally believ'd that
they are bound either to Long
Island or Yirginia; the other
transports are taking in water
and a good deal of bisquei is
baking, some say for the ship
ping to lay in Nantasket Road,
to be out ofthe way of ice, whilst
others think a more important
move is in agitation; all, how
ever, is conjecture. I heartily
wish you, Mrs. Reed and family,
the compV^ ofthe season, in which
the ladies here and family join ;
be assured that I am, with sin
cere affect"' and regard.

YIII.
Cambridge, I'lth Jany 1776.
Deae Sie
The bearer presents an oppor
tunity to me of acknowledging
the receipt of your favour of
the 30th ult. (which never came
to my hands till last night,) and
if I have not done it before, of
your other"* of the 23d _pre- "* S. "letter."
ceding. The hints you have commu
nicated from time to time, not
only deserve, but do most sin
cerely and cordially meet with

40

my thanks. You cannot render
a more acceptable service, nor in
my estimation give^^^ a more "^ S. "me."
convincing proof of your friend
ship, than by a free, open, and
undisguised account of every
matter relative to myself, or
conduct. I can bear to hear of
imputed or real errors ; the man
who wishes to stand well in the
opinion of others must do this,
because he is thereby enabled to
correct his faults, or remove"' "' S. "the"
prejudices which are imbibed
against him ; for this reason, I
shall thank you for giving me
the opinions of the world upon
such points as you know me to
be interested in; for as I have
but one capitol object in view,
I could wish to make my con
duct coincide with the wishes of
mankind as far as I can consist
ently. I mean without depart
ing from that great line of duty,
which, though hid under a cloud
for some time from a peculiarity
of circumstances, may neverthe
less bear a scrutiny. My con
stant attention to the great and
perplexing objects which con
tinually rise to my view, absorbs
all lesser considerations, and in
deed, scarcely allows me time'" '" 8. "time" omitted.
to reflect that there is such a
body in existence as the General
Court of this Colony, but when
I am reminded of it by a Com-

41

mittee ; nor can I upon recol
lection, discover in what in
stances, (I wish they would be
more explicit,) I have been in
attentive to, or slighted them.
They could not surely conceive
that there was a propriety in
unbosoming the secrets of an
army to them; that it was ne
cessary to ask their opinion of
thro-wing up an intrenchment,"^ "^ 8. " or."
forming a battalion, &c. &c. : it
must therefore be what I before
hinted to you, and how to re
medy it I hardly know, as I am
acquainted with few of the mem
bers, never go out of my own
Lines, or"^ see any of them in "^ 8. "nor."
them. I am exceeding"" sorry to hear '^ S.»" exceedingly."
that your little fleet has been
shut in by the frost. I hope it
has sailed e'er this, ahd given
you some proof of the utility of
it, and enabl'd the Congress to
bestow a little more attention to
the affairs of this army, which
suffers exceedingly by their over
much business, — or too little at
tention to it. — We are now with
out any money in our treasury,
powder in our magazines,"' arms "' S. "or."
in our stores. We are without
a brigadier (the want of -wAicA"" "" S. "whom."
has been twenty times urged)
engineers, expresses, (though a
committee has been appointed
these two months to establish

42

"" S. "discontented officers"
Italicized by Mr. Sparks.

them,) and by and by, when we
shall be called upon to take the
field, shall not have a tent to
lay in, — apropQS, what is doing
with mine?
These are evils but small in
comparison of those which dis
turb my present repose; our in
listments are at a stand; the
fears I ever entertained are real-
iz'd; that is, the discontented
officers"'* (for I do not know how
else to acct for it) have thrown
such difficulties or stumbling-
blocks in the way of recruiting,
that I no longer entertain a hope
of compleating the army by vo
luntary inlistments, and I see
no move or likelihood of orie,'^ '^ 8. "of one" omitted
to do it by other means. In the
two last weeks we have inlisted
but ab* 1000 men, whereas, I
was confidently bid'^ to believe,
by all the officers I conversed
with, that we should by this
time have had the regiments
nearly compleated. Our total
number upon paper amounts to
abt 10,500 ; but as a large por
tion of these are return'd '^"not
join'd, I never expect to receive
them ; as an ineffectual order
has once issued to call them in,
another is now gone forth, pe
remptorily requiring all officers,
under pain of being cashier'd,
and recruits as"' being treated
as deserters, to join their re-

S. "led," and so by me.

S. "'not joined" Italicized.

"' S. "of.'

43

spective regiments by the first
day of next month, that I may
know my real strength ; but if
my fears are not imaginary, I
shall have a dreadful acc* of the
advanc'd month's pay. In con
sequence of the assurances given
and my expectation of having at
least men enough Inlisted to
defend our lines, to which may
be added my unwillingness of^
burthening the cause with unne
cessary expence, no relief of
militia has been order'd in to
supply the places of those who
are releas'd from their ingage-
ment to-morrow, and oji"^ whom
(tho' many have promised to
continue out the month) there
is no security of their stay.
Thus am I situated with re
spect to men,— with regard to
arms, I am yet worse of: — be
fore the dissolution of the old
army, I issued an order directing
three judicious men of each bri
gade to attend, review, and ap
praise the good arms of every
regiment — and finding a very
great unwillingness in the men
to part with their arms, at the
same time not having it in my
power to pay them for the months
of Novi" and Dec'', I threat'ned
severely, that every soldier who
carried'^" away his firelock with
out leave, should never receive
pay for those months; — yet so

"^ S. " to burthen."

"9 S. " as to."

"" S. "should carry."

44

many have been carried of, partly
by stealth, but chiefly as con
demned, that we have not at
this time 100 guns in the stores,
of all that have been taken in
the prize-ship and from the sol
diery, notwithstanding our regi
ments are not half compleat : —
at the same time I am told, and
believe it, that to restrain the
Inlistment to men with arms,
you will get but few of the
former, and still fewer of the
latter whioh would be good for
anything. How to get furnished,
I know not — I have applied to
this and the neighbouring colo
nies, but with what success, time
only can tell. The reflection
upon my situation and that of
this army, produces many an
uneasy'^' hour, when all around
me are wrapped in sleep. Few
people know the predicament we
are in, on a thousand accounts —
fewer still will believe, if any
disaster happens to these Lines,
from what causes"''^ it flows. I
have often thought how much
happier I should have been, if,
instead of accepting of'"^ a com
mand under such circumstances,
I had taken my musket upon
my shoulder, and entered the
ranks ; — or if I could have jus
tified the measure to posterity
and my own conscience, had
retired to the back country, and

S. "unhappy."

S. "cause," and so by me.

S. "of" omitted.

45

lived in a wigwam. If I shall
be able to rise superior to these,
and many other difficulties which
might be innumerated, I shall
most religiously believe that the '
finger of Providence is in it, to
blind the eyes of our enemys ; —
for surely, if we get well throu
this month, it must be for want
of their knowing the disadvan
tages we labour under.
Could I have foreseen the dif
ficulties which have come upon
us — could I have known that
such a backwardness would have
been discovered m"* the old "* S. "among."
soldiers to the service, all the
generals upon earth should not
have convinced me of the pro
priety of delaying an attack upon
Boston till this time. When it
can now be attempted, I will
not undertake to say, — but this
much, I will answer for, that no
opportunity can present itself
earlier than my wishes — but as
this letter discloses some Inte
resting truths, I shall be some
what uneasy till I hear it gets
to your hand, although the con
veyance is thought safe.
We made a successful attempt,
a few nights ago, upon the houses
near Bunker's Hill; a party un
der Majr Knowlton crossed upon
the mill-damn (the night being
dark), and set fire to and burnt
down Eight out of 14 which

46

were standing, and which we
found they were daily pulling
down for fuel — five soldiers and
the wife of one of them inhabit
ing one of the houses were
brought of prisoners; another
soldier was killed; none of ours
hurt. Having undoubted informa
tion of the Imbarkation of
troops (somewhere from three
to 500) at Boston, and being
convinced that they were de
signed either for'^= New York "* S. "the."
Government (from whence we
have some very disagreeable
acc*s of the conduct of the To
ries) or Virginia, I dispatched
Genl Lee a few days ago in
order to secure the city of New
York from falling into their
hands, as the consequences of
such a blow might prove fatal
to our interests. He is also to
inquire a little into the conduct
of the Long Islanders, and such
others as have by their conduct
and declarations proved them
selves Inimical to the common
cause. To effect these purposes,
he is to raise Volunteers in Con
necticut, and call upon the troops
of New Jersey, if not contrary
to any order of Congress.
By a ship just arrived at
Portsmouth, (New Hampshire)
we have London prints to the
2d of Nov'' j» containing the ad-

47

dresses of Parliament, which
contain'^^ little more than a re
petition of the speech, with as
surances of standing by his Ma
jesty with lives and fortunes.
The Captis (for there were three
or four of them passengers) say
that we have nothing to expect
but the most vigorous exertions
of administration, who have a
dead majorityupon all questions,
although the Duke of Grafton
and General Conway have joined
the minority, as also the Bishop
of Peterborough. These cap
tains affirm confidently that the
5 regiments from Ireland cannot
any of them have arrived at
Hallifax, inasmuch as thalF" by
a violent storm on the 19 th of
October, the transports were
forced (in a very distressful'^
condition) into Milford Haven
( Fafe),"^ and were not in a con
dition to put to sea when they
left London, and that the wea
ther has been such since, as to
prevent heavy-loaded ships from
making a passage by this time.
One or two transports, they add,
were thought to be lost; but
these arrived some considerable
time ago at Boston, with 3 com
panies of the 17th regiment.
Mr. Sayre has been committed
to the Tower, upon the informa
tion of a certain Lieutnt or Ad
jutant Richardson (formerly of

"¦' 8. "that" omitted.

S. "distressed."

'^^ 8. "Wales" omitted.

48

yr city) for treasonable practices
— an intention of seizeing his
Majesty, and possessing himself
of the Tower, it is said in the
crisis, — but is admitted to bail
himself in £500, and two sure-
tys in £250 each. What are
the conjectures of the wise ones
with you, of'*° the French **° S. "as to."
armament in the West Indies ?
But previous to this, is there
any certainty of such an arma
ment? The captains, who are
sensible men, heard nothing of
this when they left England —
nor does there appear any ap
prehensions on this score in any
of the measures or speeches of
administration. I should think
the Congress will not — ought
not to adjourn at this important
crisis; but it is highly necessary,
when I am at the end of a"' second ^*^ 8. "the."
sheet of paper, that I should ad
journ my acc* of matters to an
other letter. I shall, therefore,
in Mrs. Washington's name,
thank you for yi" good wishes
towards her, and with Ae?-'*^ com- ''*^ S. "her" omitted.
plimts added to mine to Mrs.
Reed, &c., conclude, dr sir, yr
sincere and affect^ serv*.

49

IX.
Cambeidqb, 23d Jan. 1776.
Deae Sie
Real necessity compells me to
ask you whether I may enter
tain any hopes of your returning
to my fenuly? If you can make
it convenient, and will hint the
matter to Col. Harrison, I dwe
venture to say that Congress
wiU make it agreeable to you in
every shape they can. My busi
ness increases very fast, and my
distresses for waht of you aZoJig''**, '" 8. "increase with it."
•with it. Mr. Harrison is the
only gentleman of my family
that can afford me the least as
sistance in writing. He and Mr.
Moylan, whose time must now
be solely imployed in his de-
partmeht of commissary, have
heretofore afforded me their aid,
and I have hinted to them, in
consequence of what yOu signi
fied in some former letter, that
each (as they have really had a
great deal of trouble), should
receive one-third of your pay,
reserving the other third, con
trary to your desire, for your
self: — my distress and embar
rassments are in a way of being
very considerably increased by
an occurrence in Virginia, which
¦will, I fear, compel Mr. Harri
son to leave me, or' suffer con
siderably by his stay. He haa
4

50

wrote,'** however, by the last
post, to see'*^ if his return cannot
be dispensed with. If he should
go, I shall really be distressed
beyond measure, as I know no
persons able to supply your
places (in this part of the world)
with whom I would chuse to
live in unbounded confidence.
'*^In short, for want of an ac
quaintance with the people hith-
erward, I knowi^of none which
appear to me qualified for the
office of Secretary.
The business, as I hinted to
you before, is considerably in-
Creased by being more compre
hensive, and at this time ("''from
the great changes which have
and are happening every day)
perplexed; so that you would
want a good writer and a me-
thodica.1 man, as an assistant, or
copying clerk; — ^^such an one I
have no doubt will be allowed,
and the choice I leave to your
self, as he should be a person
in whose integrety you can eon-
fide, and on whose capacity, care,
and method, you can rely. At
present, my time is so much
taken up at my desk, that I am
obliged to neglect many other
essential parts of my duty : — it
is absolutely necessary, there
fore, for me'*^ to have persons
that can think for me, as well
as execute orders. '*^This it is

'** 8.
145 g.

written.
'ascertain.'

"° S. Sentence in Italics omitted.

•S. Transposed.

'*» S. "for me" omitted.

"° S. Passage in Italics omitted.

51

that pains me when I think qf
Mr. White's expectation of com
ing into my family if an open
ing happens. I can derive no
earthly assistance from such a
man, and my friend Baylor is
much such another, although as
good and as obliging a person
as any in the world. As it may
be necessary that the pay ofthe
under Secretary should be fixed,
that you may, if you incline to
return and should engage one,
know what to promise him, I
have wrote'^ to Col. Harrison
and Mr. Lynch on this subject.
"' The interruption of the post
has prevented the receipt of any
Utters from the southward since
this day week, so that we have
but little knawledge of what is
passing in that quarter. The
Unfortunate repulse of-our troops
at Quebec — the death ofthe brave
and much to be lamented Gen^
Montgomerie, and wounding of
Col. Arnold, will, I fear, give a
very unfavourable turn to our
affairs in that quarter, as Ihave
no opinion at all of W- — r's en
terprising genius.
Immediately upon the receipt
of the unfortunate intelligence,
and General Schuyler's intima
tion of his having no other de
pendance than upon me for men,
I address' d Massadhusetts, Con
necticut, and N. Hampshire, (in

'^ S. "written."
"' S. The rest of the letter in
Italics omitted.

52

behalf of the Continent') for a
regiment each, to be mo/rched
forewith into Canada, and
there continued, if need be, till
the \st of Jan'y, upon the same
establishment of those raising for
these Lines. It was impossible
to spare a man from hence, as
we want Eight or Nine thousand
of our Establishment, and are',
obliged to depend upon militia
for the defence of our works:
equally improper did it appear
to me to wait (situated as our
affair^ were) for a requisition
from Congress, after '^ several
days' debate, perhaps, when in
the meanwhile all might be lost:
— the urgency of the case, there
fore, must appologize to Congress
for my adoption of ihis measure.
Governor Trumbull, indeed, a«-
ticipated my request, for he and
his Council of Safety had voted
a regiment before my request
had reached him. The Geni
Court here have also voted an
other, and I have no doubt of
New Hampshire's doing the like,
and that the whole will soon be
on their march. Ihave this in
stant received a letter from New
Hampshire, in answer to mine,
informing me that they have fully
complied with my request of a
regiment, appointed the field-
officers, and will have the whole
in motion as soon as possible.

63

Colonel Warner, and others, we
are told, are already on their
march, so that it is to be hoped,
if these bodies have but a good
head, our affairs may still be
retrieved in Canada before the
King's troops can get reinforced.
They are pulling down the
houses in Boston as fast as pos
sible, and we have lately acct>
from thence which it is sadd may
be relied on, that General Clin
ton is actually sailed from thence
with a detachment (no accounts
making it more than 500) for
ihe Southward, some say Vir
ginia,. others New York, but all
is conjecture. Whether this is
the fleet that has been making
up for some time at Nantasket,
or another, I cannot with cer
tainty say. In niy last, I in
formed you, Ithink ofthe expe
dition I had sent General Lee
on to New York. Should CUn
ton steer his course thither, I
hope he will m,eet with a for
midable and proper reception.
I shall conclude with informing
you, that we should have had a
formidable work on Litchmore's
Point long ago, if it had not
been for the frost, and that if
Congress mean that we should
do anything this winter, no time
must be lost in forwarding pow
der. I have ordered in militia
to take advantage of circum-

54

stances, but I see no appearance
as yet of a bridge. I am with
the greatest truth and sincerity,
Dear Sir,
Yours affectionately,
G» WASHINGTON.

Cambeid&e, Zlst of Jan.
My deae Sie,
In my last ("Vate not recol
lected) by Mr. John Adams, I
communicated my distresses to
you, on account of hiy want of
your assistance. Since this,'^^ I
have been under some concern
at doing ofit,'^ lest it should pre
cipitate your return before you
were ripe*^ for it, or bring on a
final resignation, which I am
unwilUng to think of, if your
return can be made convenient
and agreeable. True it is, that
from a variety of causes, my
business has been, and now is,
multiplied and perplexed, whilst
the means of execution is'^
greatly contracted. This may
be a cause for my wishing you
here, but no inducement to your
coming, if you hesitated before.
I have now to thank you for
your favors "'0/ the Ibth, IQth,
and 2Qth inst, and for the seve
ral articles of intelligence which
they convey. The account given

"" S. "date not recollected"
omitted.

'^ 8. " I have been since."
'"* S. " having done it."
"5 S. "are ready."

«' S. Omitted.

55

of your Navy, at the same time
that it is exceedingly uhfavour-
able to our wishes, is a little
provoking to me, inasmuch as it
has deprived us of a'^ necessary
article which otherwise would
have been sent hither, but which
a kind of fatality, I fear, will
forever deprive us of. In the
instance of New York, we are
not to receive a particle of what
you expected would be sent from
thence — the time and season is
passing away, as I belieye the
troops in Boston also* will, be
fore the season for taking the
field arrives. I dare say, they
are preparing, for it now, as we
have undoubted intelligence of
Clinton's lea-^ving Boston with a
number of trqop8 '^%by different
accounts, from four or flve hun
dred to 10 companies of grena
diers, and nine of light infantry)
believed to be design'd for Long
Island or New York, in conse
quence of assurances from Go
vernor Tryon of a powerful aid
from the Tories there.
I hope my countrymen (of
Virginia) will rise superior to
any losses the whole Na-vy of
Great Britain can bring on them,
and that the destruction of Nor
folk, and threatened''''' devasta
tion of other places, will have

S. "necessary articles."

"' S. Sentence in Italics omitted.

S. "attempted."

" Also" omitted by me.

56

no other effect than to unite the
whole country in one indissolu
ble band"^ against a Nation
which seems to be lost to every
sense of virtue, a/nd those feelings
which distinguish a civilized peo
ple from the most barbapous sal
vages.* A few more of such
flaming arguments as were ex
hibited at Falmouth and Nor
folk, added to the sound doctrine
. and unanswerable reasoning con
tained in the pamphlet "Com
mon Sense," -will not leave
numbers at a loss to decide
upon the propriety of a sepera-
tion. By a letter of the 21st inst.
from*** Wooster, I find that Ar
nold was continuing the blockade
of Quebec the 19th, which under
the heaviness of our loss there,
is a most -favourable circum
stance, and exhibits a fresh
proof of Arnold's ability and
perseverance in the midst of
difficulties ; the reinforcement
ordered to him, will, I hope,
compleat the entire conquest of
Canada this winter ; and "^but
for the loss of the gallant chief
and his brave followers, I should
think the rebuff rather favour-

*^ S. "bond;" and the sentence
in Italics omitted.

»«= S. "General Wooster."

8. "except for."

• This sentence is stronger than any other I find in the public or private
letters. It seems to me of value, as sho-ffing what the calm, deUberate,
loyal ¦Washington, the reluctant rebel against Imperial authority, at so early
a date as January, 1776, thought and wrote of the Mother country and its
ministers.

57
able than otherwise; for had the
country been subdued by such
a handful of men, 'tis more than
probable that it would have been
left to the defence of a few, and
rescued from us in the Spring : —
our eyes will now not pnly be
Open to the importance of hold
ing it, but the numbers 'which
are requisite to that end. '"*I» '^ 8. Sentences in Italics omit-
return for your two beef and ted. ,
poultry vessels from New York,
I can acquaint you that our
Commodore Manley has just
taken two ships from > White
Haven to Boston, with coal and
potatoes, and sent them into
Plymouth, and fought a tender
(close by the light-house where
the vessels were taken), long
enough to give his prizes time to
get off, in short, till she thought
it best to quit, the combat, and
he to move of from the men-ofl
war, which were spectators of
this scene. In my last, I think
I inform'd you of my sending
General Lee to New York, with
intention to secure the Tories
of^ Long Island, &e., and to "* S. "on."
prCTera^,"®' if possible, the king's '¦^ S. "preventing."
troops from making a lodgment
there; but I fear the Congress
will be duped by the represent
ations from that Government, or
yield to them in such a manner
as to become marplots to the
expedition; — the city seems to

58

be entirely under the govern
ment of Tryon, and the Captain
of the man-of-war.
Sirs. Washington desires "^'I '^' 8. "me to-thank."
wiU' thank you for the picture - ;
sent her. Mr. Campbell, whom
I never saw to my knowledge,
has made a very formidable
figure of the Commander-in-
chief, giving him a sufficient
portion of terror in his counte
nance. Mrs. Washington also
desires her compliments to Mrs.
Reed, &e., as I do, and with the ,
sihcerest regard and affection, I
remain, dear sir.
Your most obedient servant,
G" WASHINGTON,

XL
Cambeidge, February 1, 1776.
My pear Sir, ' ; '
I had wrote'^ the letter here- '^ 8. "written."
with enclosed, before your favour
of the 21st came to hand. The
account given of the behaviour
of the men under General Mont
gomerie is exactly consonant to
the opinion I have* form'd of
these people, and such as they
will exhibit abundant proofs of
in similar cases whenever called
lipon. Place them behind a
parapet, — a breast-work, — stone

* Printed by me " had."

59

wall, — or any thing that will
afford them shelter, and from
their knowledge of a fire-lock,
they will give a good account of
tlieir'^^ enemy; but I am as well
convinced as if I had seen it,
that they will not march boldly
up to a work, — or stand exposed
in a plain, — and yet, if we are
furnished, with the means, and
the weather will afford us a pas
sage and we can get in men, (for
these three things are necessary)
something must be attempted.
The men must be brought to
face danger ; they cannot allways
have an Intrenchment or a stone
wall as a safeguard or shield, '
and it is of essential importance
that the troops in Boston should
be destroyed if possible, before
they can be reinforced or re
move. — This is clearly my opin
ion, — whether circumstances will
admit of the tryal, and if tryed,
what will be the event,'''" the all-
wise Disposer of them"'- alone
can tell.
"''The evils arising from short,
or even any limited Inlistment of
the troops, are greater, and more
extensively hurtful than any per
son [not an eye-witness to them,)
can form any idea of. It takes
you two or three months to bring
new men in any tolerable degree
acquainted with their duty; it
takes a longer time to bring a

"'"' S. "the.'

"" S.- "result."
"' 8. "events."
'" S. The rest of this letter in
Italics omitted.

60

people of the temper and genius
of these into, such a subordinate
way of thinking as is necessary
for a soldier; — before this is ac
complished, the time approaches
for their dismissal, and you are
beginning to make interest with
them for their continuance for an
other limitted period; inthe doing
of which you are oblig'd to relax
in your discipline, in order as it
were to curry favour with them,
by which means the latter part
of your time is employ'd in un
doing what the flrst was accom
plishing, and instead of having
men always ready to take ad
vantage of circumstances, you
must govern your movements by
the circumstances of your Inlist
ment. This is not all; by the
time you have got men arm'd
and equip' d, the ¦ difficulty of
doing which is beyond descrip
tion, and with every new sett you
have the same trouble to encoun
ter, without the means of doing
it. — In short, the disadvantages
are so great and apparent to me,
that I am convinced, uncertain
as the continuance ofthe war is,
that the Congress had better de
termine to give a bounty of 20,
80, or even 40 Dollars to every
man who will Inlist for the whole
time, be it long or short. I in
tend to write my sentiments fully

61
oji this subject to Congress the
first leizure time Ihave.
I am exceeding sorry to hear
that Arnold's wound is in an
unfavourable way ; his letter to
me of ihe 14<A ulto. says nothing
of this. I fancy Congress have
given sonie* particular direction
rejecting Gen,^ Prescot. Ithink
th^ ought for more reasons than
ons. I a/m slncerdy and affection
ately, your most obedient ^servant,
G" WASHINGTON.
Be so good as to send the en- '
closed letter of Randolph's to the
Post- Office.

XIL
Cambridgb, Febr 10,, 1776.
My Dear Sie
"^Your obliging favours of the "^ S. Sentence in Italics omitted.
28<A ult. and \st inst. are now
before me, and claim my par
ticular thanks for the polite at
tention you pay to my wishes in
an early and regular communi
cation of what is passing in your
quarter. If, my dear sir, you conceive
that I took anything -wrong or
amiss that was conveyed in any
of your former letters, you are
really mistaken; I only meant

¦* "Some" omitted by me.

62

to convince you that nothing
would give me more real satis
faction than to know the senti
ments which are entertained of
me by the publick, whether they
be favourable or otherwise ; and
urged as a reason, that the man
who wished to steer clear of
shelves and rooks, must know
where they lay. I know — but
lo declare it, unless to a friend,
may be an argument of vanity"* "* S. Transposed.
— the integrety of my own heart.
I know the unhappy predicament
I stand in. I know that much is
expected of me. I know that with
out men, without arms, without
ammunition, without any thing
fit for the accommodation of a
soldier, that little is to be done,
— ^^nd, which"^ is mortifying, I "^ 8. "-what."
know that I cannot stand justi
fied to the world, without ex
posing my own weakness, and
injuring the cause by declaring
my wants, which I am deter
mined not to do, further than
unavoidable necessity brings
every man acquainted with ym.
If, under these disadvantages,
I am able to keep above water,
(as it were)"" in the esteem of "^ S. "as it were" omitted.
mankind, I shall feel myself
happy; but if, from the unknown
peculiarity of my circumstances,
I suffer in the opinion of the
world, I shall not think you
take the freedom of a friend, if

63

you conceal the reflections that
may be cast upon my conduct.
My own situation fed^"" so irk
some to me at times, that if I
did not consult the publick good
more than my own tranquility I
should long e're this have put
every thing to"^ the cast of a
Dye. So far from my having
an army of 20,000 njen, well
armed, &c., I have been here
with less than one-half of it,"^
including sick, furloughed, and
on command; and those neither
armed or cloathed as they should
be. In short, my situatioh has
been such that I have been
oblig'd to use art to conceal it
from my o-wn officers.
'^The Congress, as you ob
serve, expect, I believe, that I
should do more than others, —
fl>r whilst they compel me to In
list men without a bounty, they
give 40 to others, which will, I
expect, put a stand to our Ifilist-
ments; for notwithstanding all
the publick virtue which is
ascrib'd to these people, there is
no Nation under the sun, (that I
ever came across) pay greater
adoration to money than they do
— Iam pleaid to find that your
Battalions are cloathed and look
well, and that they are filing of
for Canada — Iwish I could say
that the troops here had altered
much in Dress or appearance.

'"•8.

"^ S. "on.'-

^7ij S- )" that number.'^

iS. (Passage in Italics omitted

64

Our regiments are little more
than half convpleat, and recruit
ing nearly at a stand — -In all my
letter^ I fail not to mention of
Tents, and now perceive that no
tice is taken of y application.
Ihave been convinced, by Gene
ral Howe's conduct, that he has
either been very ignorant of our
situation (which Ida not believe,)
or that he has received positive
orders (which, Ithink, is natural
to conclude) not to put anything
to the hazard till his reinforce
ments arrive ; — otherwise there
has been a time since the flrst of
December, thai we must h^ve
fought like men to have main
tained these Lines, so great in
their extent: The party to Bun
ker's HilP^^ had some good and
some bad men engaged in it.
One or two Courts have been
held on the conduct of part of
'^"it: — to be plain, these people
— '^among friends — are not to
be depended upon, if exposed ;
and any man will fight well, if
he thinks himself in no danger
— I do not apply this to these
people — I suppose it to be the
case -with all raw and undisci
plined troops.
You may rely upon it, that
transports left Boston six weeks
ago -with troops ; where they are
gone to (unless drove* to the

^» S. "sent to Bunker's HiU."

"' 8. "them."
'^ 8. "among friends" omitted.

Printed by me "observe" — a misprint.

65

West Indies) I know not. You
may also rely upon General
Chnton' s saiUng from Boston
about 3 weeks ago, with about
four or five hundred men — his
destination I am also a stranger
to. I am sorry to hear of the
failures you speak of from
France; but why will not Con
gress forward part of the powder
made in your province? They
seem to look upon this as the
season for action, but will not^
furnish the means, — But I will
not blame them — I dare say the
demands upon them are greater
than they can supply. The
cause must be starved till our
resources are greater, or more
certain within ourselves.
With respect to myself, I
have never entertained an Idea
of an accommodation since I
heard of the measures which
were adopted in consequence of
the Bunker's HUl fight. The
King's speech has confirmed the
sentiments I entertained upon
the news of that affair, — and if
every man was of my mind, the
ministers of G. B. should know
in a few words upon what issue
the cause should be put. I
would not be deceived by artful
declarations or specious pre
tences ; nor would I be amused
by unmeaning propositions ; but
in open, undisguised, and manly

66
terms, proclaim our wrongs and
our resolutions to be redressed.
I would tell them that we had
born much — that we had long
and ardently sought for recon
ciliation upon honourable terms
— rthat it had been denied us —
that all our attempts after peace
had proved abortive, and had
been grossly misrepresented^
that we had done everything
that could be expected from the
best of subjects — that the, spirit
of freedom bea^ too high in us '
to submit to slavery — and that
if nothing else would satisfie a
Tyrant and his diabolical min
istry, we were determined to
shake of all connexions with a
state so unjust and unnatural.
This I would tell them, not un
der covert, but in words as clear
as the sun in its meridian bright
ness. I observe what you say in
respect to the ardour of chim
ney-corner Heros. I am glad
their zeal is in some measure
abated, because if circumstances
will not permit ua to make an
attempt upon B  , or if it
should be made and fail, we
shall not appear altogether so
culpable. I entertain the same
opinion of the attempt now
which I have ever done — I be
lieve an assault will be attended
with considerable loss, — and I

67

believe it would succeed, if the
men should behave well ; with
out it, unless there is equal bad
behaviour on the other side we
cannot. As to an attack upon
B — ¦ — Hill (unless it could be
carried by surprize) the loss I
conceive -would be greater in
proportion than at Boston ; and
if a defeat should follow, would
be discouraging to the men, but
highly animating if crown'd
with success — Great good or
great evil would consequently
result from it, — '^it is quite a
different thing to what you left,
being by odds the strongest fort
ress they possess, both in rear
and front.
The Congress having ordered
all captures to be tried in the
Courts of Admiralty of the dif
ferent goverhments to which
they are sent, and some irrecon-
cUable difference arising between
the resolves of Congress, and the
law of this Colony respecting
the proceedings or something or
another'^ which always happens
to procrastinate business here,
has put a total stop to the tryals,
to the no small injury of the
publick as well as great griev
ance of individuals. Whenever
a condemnation shall take plaCe,
I shall not be unmindful of your
advice respecting the hulls, &c.
Would to Heaven the plan you

'^ 8. Sentence in Italics omitted.

»

"^ S. "or another" omitted.

68

speak of for obtaining arms may
succeed — the acquisition would
be great, and give fresh life and
vigour to our measures, '^''as
would the arrival you speak of;
our expectations are kept alive,
and if we can keep ourselves so, ,
and^^ spirits up another sum
mer, I have no fears of wanting
the needful after that.
'^^As the number of our In-
listed men were too small to un
dertake any offensive operation,
if the circumstances of weather,
&c. should favour, I ordered in
(by application to this Govt,
Connecticut and New Hamp
shire) as many regiments of
militia as would enable, us to
attempt something in some many
Tier or other— they were to have
been here by ihe first ofthe month,
but only a few straggling compa
nies are yet come in. Tlie Bay
towards Roxbury has been froze
up once or twice pretty hard, and
yesterday single persons might
have crossed, I believe, from
Litchmore's Point, by picking
his way : — a thaw, I fear, is
again approaching. We have
had the most - laborious piece of
work at Litchmore's Point, on
acc* of the frost, that ever you
saw. We hope to get it finished
on Sunday. It is within as com
manding a distance of Boston
as Dorchester Hill, though of a

'^as ^' S. Omitted.

'^ S. "our" inserted.

S. Passage in ItaUcs omitted.

69

different part — Our vessels now
and then pick up a prize or two.
Our Commodore (Manley)- was
very near being catched about
8 days ago, but happily escaped
¦with'*" vessel and crew, after
running'^" ashore, scuttling, and
defending her. I recoUect no
thing else worth. giving you the
trouble of, unless you can be
ainused by reading a letter and
poem addressed to me by Mrs.
m''^ Miss Phillis Wheatley. In
searching over a parcel of papers
the other .day, in order to de
stroy such as were useless, I
brought it to light again: — at
first with a -view of doing justice
to her greats poetical genius, I
had a great mind to publish the
poem, but not knovring whether
it might not be considered rather
as a mark of my owh vanity than
as a compliment to her, I laid it
aside, till I came across it again
in the manner just mentioned.
I congratulate you on your elec
tion, although I consider it the
coup-de-grace to my expectation
of ever seeing you resident in
this camp again.'^ I have only
to regret the want of you, if
that should be the case, and I
shall do it more feeUngly as I
have experienced the good effects
of your aid. — I am, with Mrs.
Washington's compliments to

*» S. "his vessels."
«» S. "the former ashore."

'«> 8. "Mrs. or" omitted.

'«» S. "great'f omitted.

S. "with me, this campaign."

70

Mrs. Reed, and my best respects
added,"^ dear sir.
Your most obedient and affec
tionate humble servant,
G. W.

«^ S. "added" omitted.

XIII.

Cambridge, February 26«A, 1776.
Deae Sie,
'^A line or two from you by
Colonel BuU, which came to
hand last evening, is the only
letter I have received from- you
since the 2\st January — this
added to my getting none from
any other correspondent south
ward, leads rhe to apprehend
some miscarriage. I am to ob
serve, thoiigh, that the Satur
day's post is not yet arrived, —
by that I may possibly get letters.
We have, under as'^ many dif
ficulties, perhaps, (on account
of hard frozen ground,) as ever
working parties engaged, com
pleated our work on Litchmore's
Point ; we have got some heavy
pieces of ordinance placed there,
two platforms fixed for mortars,
and every thing but tlie ihing'^
ready for any offensive operation.
Strong guards are now mounted
there, and at Cobble Hill.
About ten days ago, the severe
freezing weather formed some
pretty strong ice from Dorches-

S. Passage in Italics omitted.

IB7 g "^e have, under many
difficulties, on account of hard
frozen ground, completed our
work on Litchmore's Point."

S. "but the thing" omitted.

71

ter to Boston Neck, and from
Roxbury to the Common. This
I thought (knowing the ice could
not last) a favourable opportu
nity to make an assault upon
the troops in town. I proposed
it in council; but behold ! though
we had been waiting all the year
for this favourable evdnt, the
enterprise was thought too dan
gerous ! Perhaps it was — per
haps the irksomeness of my
situation led - me to undertake
more than could be warranted
by prudence. I did not thinks
so, and am sure yet that the
enterprise, if it had been Utider-
taken with resolution, must have
succeeded; without it, any would
fail; but it is now at an end,
and I am preparing to, take post
on Dorchester"'^ to try if the
enemy will be so kind as to
come out to us. Ten regiments
of militia, you must know, had
come in to strengthen my hands
for offensive measures; but what
I have here?"" said respecting the
determinations in council, and
possessing of Dorchester Point,
is spoken under the rose.

'^ S. "Heights."

«» S. "here" omitted.

March 3d, 1776.
'"" The foregoing was intended
for another conveyance, but be
ing hurried with some other mat
ters, and not able to complete it,
it was delayed; since which your

S. Omitted.

72

favors of the 28th January, and
1st and 8th of February, are
come to hand. For the agree
able account contained in one of
them of your progress in the
manufacture of powder, and
prospect of getting arms, I am
obliged to you, as there is some
consolation in knowing that
these useful articles ¦will supply
the- wants of some part of the
Continental troops, although I
feel too sensibly the mortification
of having them withheld from
me — Congress not even thinking
it neeessary to take the least
notice of my application for
these things.
I hope in a few nights to be
in readiness to take post on
Dor Chester, ^"^ as we are using '"* S. "Point."
every means in our power to
pro-vide materials for this pur
pose, tbe ground being so hard
froze^ yet, that we cannot in- '*'''-S. "frozen."
trench, and therefore are obliged
to depend entirely upon chanda-
liers, fascines, and screwed hay
for our redoubts. It is expected
that this work will bring on an
action between the King's troops
and ours.
General Lee's expedition to
New York was founded upon
indubitable evidence of General
Clinton's being on the point of
sailing — no place'"'' so likely for -"* 8. " was so likely."
his destination as New York,

73

nor^^ no place where a more ""^ S: "and."
capitol blow could be given to
the interests of America "^than '"' S. "than- there" omitted.
there. Common prudence, there
fore, dictated the necessity of
preventing an evil which might
have proved irremediable, had
it happened, but I confess to
you honestly, I had no idea of ,
running the Continent to the
expense which was incurr'd, or
that such a body of troops Would
go from Connecticut as did, or
be raised upon the terms they
were. You must know, my
good sir, that a Capt. Sears was
here, with some other gentlemen
of Connecticut, when the intel
ligence of Clinton's imbarkation
(at Igast the imbarkation of the
troops) oanie to hand. The
situation of these lines would hot
afford a detachment — New York
could not be depended upon, —
and of the troops in Jersey we
had no certain information,
either of"' their numbers or ^ S. "as to."
destination. What then was to
be done ? Why, Sears and these
other gentlemen assured me, that
if the necessity of the case was
signified by me, and that Gene
ral Lee should be sent, one
thousand volunteers (requiring
no pay, but) supplied with pro
visions only would march im
mediately to New York, and.
defend the place till Congress

74

could determine what should be
done, and that a line from me
to Governor Trumbull, to obtain
his sanction, would facilitate the
measure. This I accordingly
wrote, in precise terms, intend
ing that these volunteers, and
such of the Jersey regiments as
could be speedily assembled,
should be thrown into the city
for its defence, and for disarm
ing the Tories upon Long Island,
who, I understood, had become
extreamly insolent and daring,
when behold! instead of volun
teers consisting .of gentlemen
without pay, the Governor di
rected men to be voluntarily
enlisted for this service, upon
Continental pay and allowance.
This, you will observe, was con
trary to my expectation and
plan. Yet as I thought it a
matter of the last importance to
secure the command'^ of the
North River, I did not thinlc'"^
it expedient to countermand the
raising of the Count regiments
on account of the pay; if I
have done wrong, those mem
bers of Congress who think the
matter ought to have been left
to them, must consider my pro
ceedings as an error of judgment,
and that a measure is not always
to be judged of" by the event.
It is moreover worthy of con
sideration that in cases of ex-

'"^ S. "communication."
™ S; "deem."

"" S. "of" omitted.

75

treme necessity (as'" the pre- "" S. "like."
sent) nothing but decision can
insure success, and certain I am
that Clinton had something more
in view by peeping into New
York than to gratify his curi
osity, or make a friendly visit to
his friend Mr. Tryon, — however,
I am not fond of ''stretching my
powers; and if the Congress
will say "thus far and no far
ther you shall go," I will pro
mise not to offend whilst I con
tinue in their service. I observe
what you say in respect to my
wagon, &c. I wanted nothing
more than a light travelling
wagon (such as those of New
Jersey) with a secure cover
which might be under lock and
key, the hinges being on one
side, the lock on the other. I
have no copy of the memoran
dum of the articles I desired
you to provide for me, but think
one and a half dozen of camp-
stools, a folding table, rather
iwo,"'^ plates and dishes, were "'^ 8. Omitted.
among them; what I meant
therefore, was that the bed of
this"^ wagon should be con- "^ 8. "the."
structed in such a manner as to
stow these things to the best ad
vantage. If you cannot get
them with you, I shaU despair
of providing them here, as work
men are scarce and most exorbi
tantly high in their charges.

76

What I should aim at is, when
the wagon and things are ready
-(which ought to be very soon,
as I do not know how soon we
may beat a march) to buy a
pair of clever horses, same co
lour, hire a careful driver, and
let the whole come come off at
once, and then they are"* ready
for immediate service. I have no
doubt bui"^ that the Treasury,
by application to Mr. Hancock,
will direct payment thereof ¦with
out any kind of difficulty, as.
Congress must be sensible that
I cannot take the field without
equipage, and after I have ohce
got into a tent, I shall not soon
quit it.

"* S.'" win be."

^" S. "but" omitted.

March 1th.
""The Rumpus which every
body expected to see between the
Ministerialists in Boston and our
troops, has detained the bearer
till this time. On Monday night
I took possession of the Heights
of Dorchester with two thousand
men under the command of
General Thomas. Previous to
ihis, and in order to divert the
enemi/s attention from the real
object, and to harass, we began
on Saturday night a cannonade
and bombardment, which with
intervals was continued through
the night — the same on Sunday,
and on Monday, a continued

"" 8. The part in Italics omit
ted. See, however, the letter to
' Congress of same date, in which
the same intelligence is com
municated, though in a far more
formal tone.

77

roar from seven o'clock till day
light was kept up between the
enemy and us. In this time we
had an officer and one private
killed, and four or five wounded;
and through the ignorance, I
suppose, of our artillerymen,
burst five mortars (two thirteen
inch and three ten inch) the
"Congress'' one of them. What
damage the enemy has sustained
is not known, as there has not
been a creature out of Boston
since. The canonade, &c., ex
cept in the destruction of the
mortars, answered our , expecta
tions fuUy; for though we had
upvjards o/300 teams in motion
at the same instant, carrying on
our fascines, and other materials
to the Neck, and the moon shin
ing in itsfuU lustre, we were not
discovered till daylight on Tues
day morning.
So soon as we were discovered,
every thing seemed to be prepar
ing for an attack, but the tide
failing before they were ready,
about one thousand only were
able to embark in six transports
in the afternoon, and these fall
ing down towards the Castle,
were drove on shore by a violent
storm, which arose in the after
noon of that day, and continued
through the night; since that they
have been seen returning to Bos
ton, and whether from an ap-

78

prehension that our works are
now toO' formidable to make any
impression on, or from what
other causes I know not, but
their hostile appearances have
subsided, and they are removing
their ammunition out of their
magazine, whether with a view
to move bag and baggage or not
I cannot undertake to say, but
if we had powder, (and our
mortars replaced, which I am
about to do by new cast ones as
soon as possible) I would, so soon
as we were sufficiently strength
ened on the heights to take pos
session of ihe point just opposite
to Boston Neck, give them a dose
they would not well like.
We had prepared boats, a de
tachment of iOOO men, &c., &c.,
for pushing to the west part of
Boston, if they had m,ade any
formidable attack upon Dor
chester. ""I wUl not lament or "' 8. To the end of this para-
repine at any act of Providence graph is given in a note, vol. iii.
because I am in a great measure, p. 306.
a convert to Mr. Pope's (pinion,
that whatever is, is right, but"" I "'^ "and I think."
think everything had the appear
ance of a successful issue, if we
had come to an engagement on
tliat day. It was the 5th of
March, which I recalled to iheir
remembrance as a day never to
be forgotten; an engagement was
fully expected, and I never saw

79

spirits higher, or more ardour
prevailing. Your favour of the 18th ulto.
came to my hands by post last
night, and gives me much plea
sure, as I am led to hope I shall
see you oj^'^ my family again :
the terms upon which you come
will be perfectly agreeable to
me, and I should think you uei-
ther candid nor friendly if your
communications on this subject
had not been free, unreserved,
and divested of that false ^kind
of modesty which too often pre
vents the elucidation of points
important to be known.
Mr. Baylor, seeming to have
an inclination to go into the
artillery, and Col. Knox'^" de
sirous of it, I have appointed
Mr. Moylan and Mr. Palfrey
my aid-de-camp, so that I shall,
if you come, have a good many
writers about me. I think
my countrymen made a capitol
mistake when they took Henry
out of the Senate to place him
in the field, and pity it is he
does not see this, and remove
every difficulty by a voluntary
resignation. I am of opinion
that Colonel Armstrong (if he
retains his health, spirits, and
vigour) will be as fit a person
as any they could send to Vir
ginia, as he is senior officer to
any now there, and I should

^ S. "kind of" omitted.

S- "being desirous."

80

think could give no .pffence ; but
to place Colonel Thompson there
in the first command, would
throw every thing into the ut
most confusion, for it was by
mere chance he became a colo
nel upon this expedition,, and
by greater chance he became
first colonel, in this army; to
take him then from another
colony, place him over the heads
of several gentlemen under, or
with whom, he has served in a
low a«cZ^^ subordinate character, ^ 8. "low and" omitted.
would never answer any other
purpose but that of introducing
endless confusion, — such a thing
surely cannot be in contempla
tion, and knowing the mischiefs
it would produce, surely Colonel
Thompson would have more
sense and a greater regard for
the cause he is engaged in, than
to accept of it; unless some un
common abilities or exertions
had given him a superior claim.
He must know that nothing
more than being a captain of
horse in the year 1759 (I think
it was,) did very extraordinarily
give him the start he now has,
when the rank was settled here :
— at the same time he must
know another fact, that several
officers now in the Virginia ser
vice, were much his superiors
in point of rank, and will not, I
am sure, 'serve under him. He

81

stands, first Colonel here, and
may, I presume, put in a very
good and proper claim to the
first brigade that falls vacant.
But I hope more regard will be
paid to the service than to Send
him to Virginia. The bringing
of Colonel Armstrohg into this
army as Major-General, however
great his merit, would introduce
much confusion. Thomas, if no
more, would surely quit, and I
believe him to be a good man.
If Thomas supplies the place of
Lee, there will be a vacancy for
either Armstrong or Thompson^
for I have heard of no other
valiant son of New Ehgland
waiting promotion since the ad
vancement of Pry, who has not,
and I doubt will not do much
service to the cause; ^'^at pre- "^ 8. Omitted.
sent he keeps his room, and talks
learnedly of emetics, cathartics,
&c. For my own part, I see
nothing but a declining life that
matters him. I am sorry to
hear of your iU-fated fleet. We
had it, I suppose, because we
wished it, that Hopkins had
taken CUnton and his trans
ports. How glorious would this
have been 1 We have the pro
verb oy^ our side, however, ^^ 8. "on our side."
that a bad beginning will end
well : — this applies to land and
sea service. The account given
of the business of the Commis-
6

B2

sioners from England seems to
be of a piece with Lord North's
conciliatory motion of last year,
built upon the same foundation,
and if true that they are to be
divided among the Colonies to
offer terms of pardon, is as in-
siilting as that motion, and only
designed, after stopping all in
tercourse with us, to set us to
view in Great Britain as a peo
ple that will not hearken to any
propositions of peace. Was there
ever thing more absurd than to
repeal the very acts which have
introduced all this confusion -and
bloodshed, and at the same time
enact a law to restrain all inter
course with the Colonies for
opposing them ! The drift and
design is obvious ; but is it pos
sible that any sensible nation
upon earth can be imposed upon
by such a cobweb scheme or
gauze covering* — but enough
^^or else upon a subject so co- ^°° S. The rest of the letter
pious I should enter upon my omitted.
fifth sheet of paper. I have, if
length of letter will do it, al
ready made you ample amend
for the silence which my hurry
in preparing for what I hoped
woidd be a decisive stroke, obliged
me to keep. My best respects to
Mrs. Reed, in which Mrs. Wash-

* Here is one of the oversights in my book, plainly the result of accident.
The words "nation upon earth can be imposed upon by such a cobweb
scheme or gauze covering" are omitted by me.

83

ington joins, concludes me, dear
sir. Your most obedient
affectionate servant,
G" WASHmGTON.
March 9(A.
Colonel Bull still waiting to see
a little further into the event of
things, gives me an opportunity .
of adding, that from a gentle
man out of Boston, confirmed
by a paper from the Selectmen
there, we have undoubted in
formation of General Howe's
preparing with great precipi
tancy to embark his troops ; for
what place we know not ; Hali
fax, it is said. The Selectmen,
being under dreadful apprehen
sion for the town, applied to
General Robinson to apply to
General Howe, who through
General Robinson has inform'd
them that it is not his intention
to destroy the tovra, unless his
Majesty's troops should be mo
lested during their imbarkation,
or at their departure. This pa
per seems so muoh under covert,
unauthentieated, and addressed
to nobody, that I sent word to
them (that is the Selectmen)
that I could take no notice of
it ; but I shall go on with my
preparations as intended. The
gentlemen above mentioned, out
of Boston, say that they seem
to be in great consternation

84

there, that one of our shot from
Lamb's Dam disabled six men,
in thejr beds, and that tbe. Ad
miral, upon discovering our
works next raorning, informed
the General that, unless we were
dispossessed of them, he could
not keep the King's ships in the
harbour; and that three thou
sand men, commanded by Lord
Percy, were actually imbarked
for that purpose. The issue of it
you have been informed before.
Y-ours, &c.
G. W.

XIV.

Cambeidge, March 19iA, 1776.*
My deae Sie,
We have at length got the
ministerial troops in this quarter
on shipboard. Our possessing
Dorchester Heights, as mention
ed in my last, put them (after
they had given over the design
of attacking us) into a most
violent hurry to embark, which
was still further precipitated on
Sunday morning by our break
ing ground on Nukes' Hill, (the
point nearest the town,) the
night before. The whole fleet

* This letter is not published by Mr. , Sparks. I am tempted lo reprint
it mainly on account of its spirited tone — much more attractive than the
stateliness of ¦Washington's style in writing to Congress.

85

is now in Nantasket and King's
Roads, waiting for I know not
what, unless to give us a parting
blow, for which I shall endeavour
to be prepared.
The hurry in which they have
imbarked is inconceivable ; they
have not, from a rough estimate,
left less than £30,000 worth of
his Majesty's property behind
them, in provisions and stores,
vessels, rugs, blankets, &c. ;
near thirty pieces of fine heavy
cannon are left spiked, which
we are now drilling — a mortar
or two — the H. shells, ka. in
abundance, — all their artillery-
carts, powder-Wagons, &o. &c.,
which they have been twelve
months about, are left with such
abuse as their hurry would per
mit them to bestow; whilst
others, after a little cutting and
hacking, were thrown into the
harbour, and now are visiting
every shore. In short, you can
scarce form an idea of the mat
ter. Valuable vessels are left
with only a mast or bowsprit
cut down — some of them loaded;
— their works all standing, upon
examination of which, especially
that at Bunker's Hill, we find
amazingly strong; twenty thou
sand men could not have carried
it against one thousand, had that
work been well defended. The
town of Boston was almost im-

86

pregnable — every avenue forti
fied. I have already marched
the riflemen and five regiments
for New York ; I cannot spare
more, whilst the fleet hover in
our harbour. So soon as they
are fairly gone, more will follow
with all expedition, as I shall
do myself, as I suppose New
York to be the object in view.
I ¦write you in much haste, and
therefore can only add that I
am, dear sir.
Your most obedient and
affectionate servant,
G. WASHINGTON.
P. S. I impatiently wish to
see you.

XV.
Cambeidoe, March 25th, YilQ.
My deae Sie,
Since my last, things remain
nearly in statu quo. The ene
my have the best knack at puz
zling people I ever met with in
my life. They have blown up,
burnt, and demolished the castle
totally, and are now all in Nan
tasket 'RoaA.—have"^ been there ^ 8. "They have."
ever since Wednesday, what do
ing^' the Lord knows. Various ''^ 8. "what they are doing."
are the conjectures; the Bos-
tonians think their stay there
absolutely necessary to fit them
for sea, as the vessels neither in

87

themselves nor loading was'^ in ^ S.
any degree fit for a voyage, being
ZoacZecZ'^' in great haste and much ^ S.
disorder. This opinion is cor
roborated by a deserter from one
of the transports, who says they
have yards, booms, bowsprits,
&c. yet to fix. Others again
think that they have a mind to
pass over the equinoctial gale
before they put out, not being
in the best condition to stand
one — others, that they are wait-
iruf^ reinforcements, (which I
believe ihey have received^' as
I have had an account of the
sailing of fifteeh vessels from the
West Indies, ^^and thai that
number have been seen coming
into the Road.) But my opinion
of the matter is, that they want
to retrieve their disgrace before
they go off, and I think a favour
able opportunity presents itself
to them. Tiey have now got
their whole force into one col
lected body, and no posts to
guard. We have detached six
regiments to New York, hav^
many points to look to, and on
Monday next ten regiments of
militia which were brought in to
serve tiU the 1st of April, staracZ'^* ^* S.
disengaged. From former expe
rience, we have found it ejMaZ^y^ ^* S.
practicable to stop p. torrent as
these people, when their time is
up ; if this should be the case

"nor their lading were."
"having been loaded.''

S. Omitted ; obviously a ty
pographical error.
S. "has arrived."
S. Omitted.

"^ 8. "and have."

"wiU be."
"as."

88

now, what more favourable open
ing can the enemy wish for, to
make a rush^ upon our lines — "^^ S. "a push."
nay, upon the baok of our lines
at Roxbury? as they can land
two miles from them, and pass
bihind. I am under more ap
prehension from them now than
ever, and am taking every pre
caution I can to guard against
the evil ; but we have a kind of
people to deal with who will not
fear danger till the bayonet is at
their Iweast, and then are sus
ceptible enough of it. I am for
tifying Port Hill in Boston, de
molishing the lines on the Neck
there, (as i< ts^ a defence against ^ 8. "as they are.'
the country only,) and maki?^ ^^ S. "making."
such other dispositions as appears
necessary for a general defence.
I can spare no more men, till I
see the enemy's back fairly
turned, and then shall hasten to
New York. You mention Mr.
Webb in one of your letters ai^^ ^^ S. "for."
an assistant; he will be agree
able enough to me, if you think
him qualified for the business.
What kind of a hand he ¦vn-ites,
I know not; I believe but a
cramped one — latterly none at
all, as he has either the gout or
rheumatism in^" both. He is '^ S. "or."
a man fond of company, of*' °*' S. "and."
gaiety— and of^ a tender con- "" 8. "and 'is of."
stitution ; whether, therefore,
such a person would answer

89

your purpose so well as a plod
ding, methodical person, whose
sole business should be to ar
range his papers, &c. in such
order as to produce any one at
any instant it is called for, and
capable, at the same time, of
composing a letter, is what you
have to consider. I can only
add that I have no one in view
myself, and wish you success in
your choice, being with great
truth and sincerity.
Dear sir, your affectionate
servant, G" WASHINGTON.
P. S. I have taken occasion
to hint to a certain gentleman
in this Camp, without introduc
ing names, my apprehensions of
his being concerned in trade.
He protests most solemnly, that
he is not, directly or indirectly,
^'^and derives no other profit than -*^ 8. Omitted.
the Congress allows him for de
fraying the expenses, to wit, 5
per cent, on the goods purchased.

XVI.
Cambridge, April Isf, 1776.
Deae Sir,
^*By the express which I sent ^** S. In Italics omitted.
to Philadelphia aJ'ew days ago,
I wrote you a few hasty lines;
Ihave little time to do more now,
as I am hurried in despatching

90

one brigade after another for
New York, and preparing for
my own departure by pointing
out the duties of those that re
main behind me.
Nothing of importance has
occurred in these parts, since my
last, unless it be ihe resignations
of Generals Ward and Fry,
and ihe reassumption of the
former, or retraction, on account
as he says, of its being disagree
able to some of the officers. Who
those officers are, I have not
heard. I have not enquired.
When the application to Con
gress and notice of it to me came
to hand, I was disarmed of in
terposition, because it was put
upon the footing of duty, or con
science, ihe General being per
suaded thai his health would not
allow him to take that share of
duty that his office required.
The officers to whom the' resig
nation is disagreeable, have been
able, no doubt, to cormince him
of his mistake, and that his
health will admit him. to be alert
and active. I shall leave him
tiU he can determine yea or nay,
to command in ihis quarter.
General Fry, that wonderful
man, has made a most wonder
ful hand of it. His appoint
ment took place ihe \lih Janu
ary ; he desired ten days ago
that his resignation might take

91

place the Wth April He has
drawn three hundred and seven-
ty-flve dollars, never done one
day's duty, scarce been three
times out of his house, discovered
that he was too old and too in
firm for a moving camp, but
remembers that he has been
young, active, and very capable
of doing what is now out of his
power to accomplish; and there
fore has left Congress to find out
anoiherman capable of niaking,
if possible, a more brilliant figure
than he has done; add to these
the departure of Generals Lee
and Thomas, taking some Utile
account of S—  r and H — ;— ,
and then form, an opinion ofthe
G  Is of this army, their coun
cils, c&c.
Your letter df the 15th ult.
contained a very unfavourable
account of the Carolinas, but I
am glad to find by the subse
quent one of the 2^d^ that the ^ S. Omitted.
prospect brightens, and that Mr.
Martin's first attempt, ^(i^roM^A ^« S. Omitted.
those universal instruments of
tyranny, the Scotch,) hath met
with its deserved success. The
old proverb of the first blow
being half the battle cannot bet
ter apply than in these instances,
the spirits of the vanquished be
ing depressed in proportion as
the victors get elated.
I am glad to find my camp

92

equipage in such forwardness; I
shall expect to meet it, and I
hope you, at New York, for
which place I am preparing to
set out on TJhursday or Friday
next. The accounts brought by
Mr. Temple of the favourable
disposition in .the Ministry to
accommodate matters does not
correspond with their speeches
in Parliament; — how then does'
he account for their inconsist
ency ? If the commissioners do
not come over with full and
ample powers to treat with Con
gress, I sincerely wish they may
never put their feet on American
ground, as it must be self-evident
(in the other case,) that they
come over'*' with insidious in- ^' 8. "they will."
tentions; to distract, divide, and
create as much confusion as pos
sible; how then can any man,
let his passion for reconciliation
be never'^ so strong, be so "^ S. " ever."
blinded and misled, as to em
brace a measure evidently de
signed for his destruction? No
man does, no man can wish the
restoration of peace more fer
vently than I do, but I hope,
whenever made, it will be upon
such terms as will reflect honour
upon the councils and wisdom
of America. With you, I think
a change in the American repre- *
sentation necessary ; frequent
appeals to the people can be

93

attended with no bad, but may
have very salutary effects. My
countrymen, I know from their
form of government and steady
attachment heretofore to royalty,
will come reluctantly into the
idea of independency, "but time
and persecution brings many
wonderful things to pass; and
by private letters which I have
lately received from Virginia, I
find "Common Sense" is work
ing a powerful change there in
the mihds of many men.
The four thousand men de
stined for Boston on' the 5th, if
the ministerialists had attempted
our works on Dorchester, ^^ or the
lines at Roxbury, were to have
been headed by Old Put.^*
But he would have had pretty
easy work of it, as his motions
were to have been regulated by
signals, and those signals from^'
appearances. He was not to
have made the attempt unless
the to'wn had been drained, or
very considerably weakened of^^
its force.
^' J believe 1 mentioned in my
last to you, thai all those who
took upon themselves the style and
title (in Boston) of governmeni s
men, have shipped themselves off

^8 S. "Dorchester Heights."
'^ S. "General Putnam."

251 O ii\,„ "

S. "by.'

^» S. "of."
^^ S. The rest of this letter
omitted; similar language being
found in a letter to John Augus
tine Washington,' written the
day before.

-* Itis printed "Old Put" in my book, as a quotatioii. Hence it has
been assumed that ¦Washington so used it. On reference now, however, to
the original, I find it is -written "headed by Old Put," without the quotation
marks.

94

in ihe same hurry, but under
greater disadvantages than the
King's (I thimc it idle to keep
¦up the distinction of ministerial)
troops have done, being obliged
in a manner, to man iheir own
vessels; seamen not being to be
had for ihe King's transports,
and submit to all ihe hard/ships
that can be conceived. One or
two of them have committed what
it would, have been happy for
mankind if more of them had
done, long ago ; the act of sui
cide. By all accounts a more
miserable set of beings does not
exist than these; taught to believe
that the pdwer of Great Britain
was almost omnipotent, and if
it was not, that foreign aid was
at hand, tliey were higher and
more insulting in iheir opposition
than the regulars themselves.
When ihe order issued therefore
for embarking the troops in Bos
ton, no electric shock, no sudden
flash of lightning, in a word, not
even the last trump, could have
struck them with greater conster
nation; they were at iheir wit's
end, and conscious of their black
ingratitude, chose to commit them
selves in ihe manner before de
scribed, to the mercy of the winds
and waves in a tempestuous sea
son, rather than meet their of
fended countrymen; and with
ihis declaration I am told ihey

95
have done it, that if they could
have thought that the most abject
submission would have procured
peace for them, ihey would have
humbled themselves in the dust,
and kissed the rod that should
he held out far Chastisement.
Unhappy wretches ! Deluded
mortals ! Wcmld it not be good
policy to grant a generous am
nesty, and conquer these people
hy a generous forgiveness ?*' I
am, with Mrs. Washington's com
pliments joined with my own to
Mrs. Reed, dear sir.
Your sincere and affectionate
friend and servant,
G" WASHINGTON.
P. S. Ihave this instant re
ceived an express from Governor
Cooke, informing me that a man
of war is just arrived in the
harbour at New Port, and thai
twenty-seven sail of vessels (sup
posed to he part of the fleet from
Bostori) are within Secenet Point.
I have ordered General Sulli
van's brigade, which marched
from hence on Friday afternoon,
to file off immediately for Provi
dence, and General Greene's,

* This sentence, "¦Would it not be good policy to grant a generous
amnesty, and conquer these people by a generous forgiveness?" and the
parenthetical phrase, in whioh ¦Washington says it is idle longer to make a
distinction between royal and ministerial troops, are not to be found in the
letter to John Augustine ¦Washington. They are, it seems to me, worth
preserving, for one of them certainly very much qualifies the bitterness of
¦Washington's tone towards the Loyalists.

96

which was to begin its march
to-day, to repair immediately to
that place. G. W.

XVII.

New Yoek, April 15, 1776.-*
Deae Sir,
Your favour of the 13th was
this Inst, put into my hands —
scarce tinuF* enough to acknow
ledge the receipt of it (by this
Post), and to thank you for your
great care and attention in. pro
viding my Camp Equipage —
^'whatever ihe list you sent may
fall short of your intention of
providing, can be got here; and
may be delayed; as the Want or
not of them, will depend upon
circumstances. I am exceedingly conperned
-to hear of the divisions and
Parties which prevail with you,
and in the Southern Colonies on
the score of Independence, &c.
— these are the shelves we have
to avoid or our Bark will split
and tumble to pieces — here lays
our great danger, and I almost
tremble when I think of this
rock — nothing but a disunion
can hurt our cause — this will
ruin it, if great prudence, tem-

S. "scarcely in time."

^ 8. Passage in Italics omitted.

* Of this letter I printed but a part in my Memoir, vol. i. p. 189. It
will be found in Mr. Sparks's work, vol. iii. p. 357. I have the original.

97

per and moderation is^ not
mixed in our councUs and made
the governing principles of the
contending parties.
When, my good sir, will you
be -with me ? I fear I shall have
a difficult card to pl.a,y in this
Government,'^'' and could wish*
for your assistance and advice to
manage it. I have not time to
add more, except that with great
sincerity and truth I am. Dear
Sir, Yr most obedt and affect h^^
serv*
G° WASHINGTON.
'^P. S. Mrs. Washington, &c.
came the Harford Road, and
not yet arrived — detain'd by ihe
illness (on the Road) of poor
Mr. Custis, who is now better
and coming, ora.f

'^ 8. "are" — so printed by me.

¦'^' S. "(New York)" inserted
after government.

S. Postscript omitted.

xvin.

BtiuNS-wiCK, Novemb. 30, 1776.J
Deae Sie,
The enclosed was put into my
hands by an express from the'^
White Plains. Having no idea

^8 S. "the" omitted.

* Printed by me "-jrish."
f Here, the series of what may be called strictly private letters ends,
and occasionally what ¦Washington -wrote began to be recorded in Letter
Books. But even at later dates, as will be seen, he contihued to -write to
General Reed confidential and familiar letters which were not transcribed.
J The original of this letter, relating to the difficulty -with General Lee,
is not in my hands. I copied from Mr. Sparks, and he, I presume, from
the Letter Book, for this, I am informed, is the first of the letters entered
in the Letter Books. - I now print from the Letter Book.
7

98

of its being a private letter,
much less suspecting the tend
ency of the correspondence, I
opened it, as I had done aU let
ters to you from the same place
and Peck's HUl, upon the busi
ness of your office, as I conceived
and found them to be. This,
as it is the truth, must be my
excuse, for seeing the contents
of a letter which neither incli
nation, nor intention would have
prompted me to. I thank you
for the trouble and fatigue you
have undergone in your journey
to Burlington, and sincerely
wish your labours may be
crowned with the desired suc
cess. With best respects to
Mrs. Reed,
I am, dear sir, &c.
G" WASHINGTON.
"^"P. S. The Petition referred =* Postscript omitted.
to I keep.

xtx.
Camp above Teenton Falls,
2Zd December, me.*
Deae Sie,
The bearer is sent down to
know whether your plan was
attempted last night, and if not.

-* I am led to reprint this letter, dated but two days before the battle of
Trenton, the original being in my possession, having been recovered since
the publication of Mr. Sparks's work. Mr. Sparks copied it (vol. iv. p.
241) from ¦Wilkinson's Memoirs.

99

to inform you, that Christmas
day at night, one hour before
day, is the time fixed upon -for
our attempt on Trenton. For
Heaven's sake, keep this to
yourself, as the discovery of it
may prove fatal to us; our num
bers, sorry Iam'"' to say, being
less than I had any conception
of; but necessity, dire necessity
will, nay must, justify any^ at
tack. Prepare, and in concert
with Griffin, attack as many of
their posts as you possibly can,
with a prospect of success; the
more we can attack at the same
instant, the more confusion we
shall spread, and greater^^ good
will result from it.
If I had not been fully con
vinced before, of the enemy's
designs, I have now ample testi
mony of their intentions to at
tack PhUadelphia so soon as the ,
ice will afford the means of eour
veyance. As the Colonels of the Conti
nental regiments might kick up
some dust about command un
less Cadwallader is considered
by them in the light of a Briga
dier, which I wish him to be, I
desired General Gates, who is
unwell and applied for leave to
go to Philadelphia, to endeavour,
if Ms health would permit him,
to call and stay two or three
days at Bristol in his way. I

^* S. "am I;" and so printed
by me and Wilkinson.

'"^ S. "an," and by me
clearly a misprint.

my,

^' S- "the greater."

100
shall not be particular; we could
not ripen matters for oar"^ attack "'* 8. "an."
before the time mentioned in the
, first part of this letter, so much
out of sorts, ahd so much in want
of every thing are the troops un
der Sullivan, &c. ^^Letmeknow ^^ S. This sentence is omitted
by a careful express.the plan you by WUkinson.
are to pursue. The letter here
with sent, forward on to Phila
delphia. I cduld wish' it to be
in time for the Southern post's
departure, which will be, I be
lieve by eleven o'clock to-mor
row. I am, dear sir,
Your most obedient servant,
G" WASHINGTON.
P. S. I have ordered our men
to be provided with three day's
provisions ready cooked, with
which and their blankets, they
are to march ; for if we are suc
cessful, which Heaven grant,
and the circumstances favour,
we may push on. I shall direct
every ferrj- and ford to be well
guarded, and not a soul suffered
to pass without an officer's going
down with the permit; do the
same with you.
To Joseph Reed, Esq. — or in
his absence to Jno. CadwaUader,
Esq., only, at Bristol.

101

XX.

Head Ques. Middle Beook,-*
May 29ih, 1777.
Deae Sir,
Congress having empowered
me by a Resolve, transmitted
this morning, to assign one of
the Generals, ah-eady appointed,
to the command of the Light
Horse, I mean that' you should
act in that line, if agreeable to
yourself, and wish^ you, ih such "^ 8. "I wish."
case, to repair to Gamp, as soon
as you can.
I am, Dr sir, with great es
teem, yr most obedt gerv*,
G" WASHINGTON.

XXL
CiMP AT Middle BkoOk,
June 11th, im.f
Dear Sie,
Your favour of the 4th was
given to me by Jos Arrowsmith
just as Mr. Peters inform'd me,
he was about to set out for Phi
ladelphia. I could not resist
the inclination, however, of de
taining him long enough^ to
write you a short letter, to thank

* This letter (except the signature) is in the hand-writing of a secretary.
AU the rest now reprinted are complete ¦Washington autographs.
f Both Mr. Sparks and I have accidentally misprinted the date of this
letter. Inthe original, it is clearly the eteDcraiA and not the "fourteenth"
of June.

102

you, as I do most sincerely, for
the friendly and affectionate sen
timents contain'd in your's of
the above' date towards me, and
to assure you, that I am per
fectly convinc'd of the sincerity
of them.
True it is, I felt myself hurt
by a certain letter, which ap
pear'd at that time to be the
eccho of one from you. I was
hurt, not because I thought my
judgment wrong'd by the ex
pressions contain'd in it, but
because the same sentiments
were not communicated imme
diately to myself. The favour
able manner in which yotir
opinion upon all occasions, had
been received — the impression
they made — apd the unreserved
manner in which I wished, and
required them to be given, en
titled me, I thought, to your
ad-vice upon any point in which
I appeared to be wauting. To
meet with anything, then, that
carried with it a complexion of
withholding that advice from me,
and censuring my conduct to an
other, was such an argument of
disingenuity, that I was not a
little mortified at it. However,
I am perfectly satisfied that mat
ters were not as they appeared
from the letter alluded to.
I sincerely wish that you may
accept the appointment of Con-

103

gress, and the post I am desirous
of placing you in, and must beg
to be favour'd with an answer
immediately upon the subject,
as the service wiU not admit of
delay. A general officer in that
department would not only take
of a great deal of trouble from
-me, but be a means of bringing
those regiments into order and
service with much more facUity
than it is in my power, divided
as my attention is, can possibly
do.* Mr. Peter's waiting obliges
me to conclude, and I do it with
great truth.
Dear sir, your obedient and
affectionate servant,
G" WASHINGTON.

XXII.
¦Vallet-Forge, June Ibth, 1778.f
Dear Sir,
I thank you very^ much for ^' S. " very" omitted.
your friendly favor of this date,
and your polite attention in sub
mitting the draught of your let
ter to Gov. Johnston to my pe
rusal — I return it again, but
before you transcribe a fair copy,
I would wish to see you upon
the subject of it — perhaps there

* "Possibly to do;" and so printed by Mr. Sparks.
f This letter was not published in my Memoir. The original manuscript
is in my possession. It is not in the Letter Books.

104

are some parts of it which might
receive a small alteration — In
the present situation of things
all correspondence of this nature
must, and will be weighed and
scanned with a scrupulous ex
actness; and even compUment,
if carried far, may not pass en
tirely uncensured.
There is another consideration
with me."^ Congress perhaps
at this instant are deliberating
on ^^ara answer to give the Com
missioners to an address they
have received from them. Should
^"a letter therefore from a Mem
ber (in which light you will be
considered)^' hold out senti
ments different from theirs,^"
an unfavourable use will doubt
less"^ be made of it. I am dear
sir, &c.
To General Reed, at Major
Henry's.

'^^ S. "consideration which
weighs."
**' S. " on an answer to the ad
dress which they have received
from the commissioners."
'^'o S. "Should your letter there
fore considered as coming from
a member contain."
""' 8. "(in which light you wiU
be considered)" omitted.
^'^ 8. "repugnant to."
^'» S. "more than probably."

XXIII.

Fkedeeioksburg, *'*m ihe State of
New York, Novr. 27, '78.-*
Deae Sir,
I am upon the eve of my de
parture for Winter Quarters, but
shall not quit my present roof

2'4 S. Omitted.

* Of this letter I printed but a portion at p. 141, vol. ii., and iu that
probably followed Mr. Sparks's text as a matter of convenience, for I find
his variations from the MS. all copied by me. This letter is not recorded
in the Letter Books.

105

until I acknowledge, and thank
you for your obliging favor of
the '25th ult.
Unless the officer who com
manded the dispersed. Dragoons
of Baylor's Regiment was di
rected by Mr. CaldweU to Tren
ton, he was not only guilty of
an unpardonable piece of indis
cretion, but disobedience of or
ders; for^^ he was instructed to ="" S. "as."
collect the scattered remains of
that Regimt and repair -with
them, to such place (out of the
common rout of the waggons)
as the Quarter mr. should direct
— I have ordered an enquiry >
into his conduct on this^" occa- ¦• ^" S. "that.'
sion. •
It is most Je-voutly to be
wished that some happy, expe
dient could be hit upon to re
store credit to our paper emis
sions; and punish the infamous
practice of forestalling — and
the'" engrossing such articles as
are essentially necessary to the
very existence of the army — and
which hy these practices,^^ comes
to it thro' the hands of these
people at 50 p. ct. advance, to
the great injury and deprecia
tion of our money, by accumu
lating the quantum, necessary
for ordinary purposes to an enor
mous"' sum, which must end in
a total stagnation of all pur-

*' S. "the" omitted; so by me.

^'^ S. "this means;" and so
printed by me.

'"^ 8. "amazing;" and 'so print
ed by me.

106

chases, unless some remedy can
be soon, and effectually, applied.
It is also -most devoutly to be
wished that faction was at an
end, and that those to whom
everything dear and valuable is
entrusted, would lay aside party
views, ahd return to first jirin-
ciples. — Happy — happy — thrice
happy country, if such was^° the '*'' S. "were;" .so by me.
government of it. — ^But alas ! we
are not to expect that the path
will he'^' strewed with flowers — ^* S. "is to be;" so by me.
That great and good Being who
'rules the Universe hafe disposed
matters otherwise and for wise
purposes, I am persuaded.
As my letter to Congress of
this date has carried?^ a full ^^ 8. "given;'' so by me.
acet of the Cantonment of the
Troops, and other matters of
public concernmt, I have no
need to repeat ihcm''^ to you as ^ 8. "it;" so by me.
an individual member. — The
conduct of the enemy at New
York and Rhode Island is too
misterious to be accounted for
by any rule of common sense —
The Transports containing their
second Imbarkation still remain
in the harbour — for what pur
pose is^ not easy to conjecture. ^ S. "it is;" so by me.
I shall hope, when the army
gets a Uttle settled in Winter
Quarters that the comee of ar
rangement will perfect the good
work they begun"^ in the Sum- »^ S. "began;" so by me.
mer, and draw order from the

107

Chaos we have been in for a
long time past. —
It is eleven o'clock at night,
and I am to set out early in the
morning, for which reasons I
shall only add my thanks for
the favourable sentiments you
are pleased to entertain for, and
have expressed'^ for me. — But
in a more especial manner, for
your good wishes and prayers. —
With sincere regard^^ and affec
tion — and with compliments to
BIrs. Reed, I am, Dr Sir,
Yr most Obedt and ObUged
G" WASHINGTON.

^ 8. Omitted; and by me.

^^ S. "esteem;" and so by me.

XXIV.

Middle Brook, Bee. 12, 1778.*
Deae Sje,
Your favour of the 7th inst.,
by Mr. Laurens, came to my
hands a day or two ago, pre
vious'^ to which I should have
done myself the pleasure of con
gratulating you (which I now
do very sincerely) on your late
election to the government of
Pennsylvania, had not Sir Har
ry' sf late'^^ extra manoeuvre up
the North-River kept me upon
the march and countermarch
from the 5th till yesterday;

S. "previously."

^» S. "late" omitted.

-* This letter is in the Letter Books.

f "Sir Henry's.'

108

when I arrived at these, my
quarters for the winter, and
employed too much of my at
tention ™to investigate his de
signs, to indulge in more agree
able amusements.
What did or could prompt
the Knight to this expedition,
^"is beyond the reach of my con
ception, considering the unsea-
sonableness of it. Three things
only appeared to me probable :
a rescue of the Convention
troops, a stroke at the rear of
our army, or a surprise of the
posts in the Highlands. The
two first I had seen perfectly
out of his reach before I left the
North-River; and not conceiving
that he could miss it so much
in point of intelligence as to
mistime matters so egregiously,
(if either of the other twc?^ was
his object,) it followed, of conse
quence, that the last must be
his aim ; and though I had left
them,* as I thought, in, a state
of security, and in the hands of
a good officer — McDougall, I
could not help being uneasy lest
som^ disaster might befall
them^ — andf posted back from
Elizabethtown on ihe morning
of the 5th, and got within twelve
or fifteen miles of King's Ferry,
when I was met by an express

'^ 8. "for investigating his de
signs to allowme to indulge," &c.

^ S. "I am at a
cover."

loss to &!m-

'^ S. "two first."

'^ S. "a disaster."
==» S. "might happen."
=^ S. "at four o'clock of
morning."

the

* "Ilim."

f Printed "L"

109

informing me that the enemy
had landed at that place, ^'"set
fire to two small log'd houses,
destroyed nine barrels of spoiled
herrings, and had set sail for
New- York.'*
Thus ended this notable expe
dition, which was conducted (in
the preparation) with so much
secrecy, that all the flag-boats to
and from the city were stopped,
and not a mouse permitted to
creep within their lines. The
only bad consequence we have
felt from it, (and, as the weather
has turned out, not a trifling
one,) is that it has delayed the
Virginia, Maryland, and Penn
sylvania troops four days in
hutting, and has occasioned them
to march through snow and bad
roads to come at their ground,
instead of having sunshine and
good ones, which was the case
before the storm on Thursday
last. It gives me very sincere plea
sure to find that there is likely
to be a coalition of the Whigs
in your State, (a few only ex
cepted,) and that the Assembly
of it areF^ so well disposed to
second your endeavours in bring
ing those murderers of our cause
— the monopoUzers, forestallers,
and engrossers to condign pun-

^'^ 8. "burned two or three log
houses with nine barrels of spoilt
herrings, and had re-embarked
and sailed for New York again."

"^ 8. "of it" omitted— "are"
printed, "is."

* So, literally, in the original, though Mr. Sparks in his first Tpampllet
expresses some doubt as to the accuracy of my text.

110

ishment. It is much to be la
mented that each State, long ere
this, has not hunted them do^wn
as the'^ pests of society, and the
greatest enemies we have to the
happiness of America. I would
to God that onff^ of the most
-' atrocious in each State was hung
in gibbets upon a gallows five
times as high as the one pre
pared by Haman. No punish
ment, in my opinion, is too
great for the man who can
"build his greatness upon his
country's ruin.''
General Lee's publication in
Dunlap's Gazette of the 3rd inst.,
(and I have seen no other,) puts
me in a disagreeable situation.
I have neither leisure nor incli
nation to enter the lists with
him in a newspaper : and so far
as his production points to per
sonality, I can- and do from my
inmost soul despise it; hni when
he has most barefacedly misre
presented facts in some places,
and thrown out insinuations in
others that have not the smallest
foundation in truth, not to at
tempt a refutation is a tacit ac
knowledgment of the justice of
his assertions; for though there
are thousands who know how
unsupported his piece is, there
are yet tens of thousands that
know nothing of the matter, and
will be led naturally to con-

"» S. "the" omitted

.S..

Ill

clud^ that bold and confident
assertions, uncontradicted, must
be founded in truth.
It became a part of General
Lee's plan, from the moment of
his arrest, (though it was an
event soUcited' by himself,) to
have the world beUeve that he
was a persecuted man, and that
party was at the bottom of it.
But however convenient it may
have been* for his purpose to
estabUsh this doctrine,^' I defy
him or his most zealous partisans
to adduce a singlef instance in
proof of it, unless bringing him
to tryal at his own request is
considered in this light.
I can do more; I wUl defy
any personj out of my own
famUy to say that I have ever
mentioned his name after his
tryal commenced, if it -was to
be avoided; and when itwa^"^
not, if I have not studiously
declined expressing any senti
ment of him or of his beha'viour.
How far this conduct accords
with his, let his own breast de
cide. If he conceives that I
was opposed to him because he
found himself disposed to enter
into a party against me — if he
thought I stood in his road to
preferment, and therefore that
it was convenient to lessen me

™ S. "believe."

»" S. "belief.'

^"^ 8. "it was" omitted.

* " It may have been" omitted.
X "Man."

f Printed by me "simple.'

112

^"^ 8. "apprehension from"
omitted.

in the esteem of my countrymen,
in order to pave the way for his
own advancement — I have only
to observe, that as I never en
tertained any jealousy of, or
apprehension from^"^ him, so
neither did I ever* do more
than common civUity and a
proper respect to his rank re
quired, to conciliate his good
opinion. His temper and plans
were too versatile and violent to
attract my admiration ; and that
I have escaped the venom of his
tongue and pen so long, is more
to be wondered at- than applaud
ed; as it is a favour thafi"* no ^" S. '.'of which."
officer under whose immediate
command he ever served has
the happiness (if happiness can
be thus denominated) of boast
ing. Were I to give in to private
conveniency and amusement, I
should not be able to resist the
invitations of my friends to
make Philadelphia (instead of a
squeezed up room or two) my
quarters for the winter. But
the affairs of the army requires a
constant attention and presence,
and circumstanced as matters are
at this juncture^^ calls for some
degree of care and address to
keep it from crumbling. As
peace and retirement are my

^ 8. "time."

'^ "Ever" omitted.

113

ultimate aim, and the most
pleasing and flattering wisM"^ of
my soul, everything advancivif"
of this end contributes to my
satisfaction, however difficult and
inconvenient in the attainment,
and vrill reconcile any place and
aU circumstances to my feelings,
whilst I remain^ in service.
The officers of the army must
be grateftJ for your endeavours
to serve them; and those of your
own State wiU, I trust, feel the
salutary effects of your exertions
in their favour. They reaUy
merit it, and resignation must
cease to be wonderful, when it
is a fact too notorious to be de
nied that officers cannot live in
the army under present circum
stances, 'whilst they see others
enriching themselves by an in
finity of ways. These are severe
tests of public virtue, and should
not in point of policy be pushed
too far.
With sincere regard and affec
tion, and with oompUments to
Mrs. Reed, I am, dear sir.
Your most obedient friend
and servant, G" WASHINGTON.*

"hope." "promotive."

^ S. "continue.'

* The above letter — at least so I am informed by a friend who has
examined the records in the Department of State at ¦Washington — is the
first of my manuscript collection which is to be found in the Letter Books.
I presume Mr. Sparks printed from the Letter Books, and this was probably
not among the copies I sent him. The text of the original and the Letter
Book certainly do not agree literally.

114

XXV.
Middlebeook, Mar. 28, 1779.*
Dear Sir,
The enemy have. some enter
prize in view. — New London, on
account of the Frigates in the
river, and because boats have
been preparing at the East ehd
of Long Island, and Troops for
some time past drawing thither
ward, is supposed to be the ob
ject. — Probably it is so — but as
the season is now approaching
when either negociation, or vig
orous exertions mv,st take place;
and General Clinton^™ Aouht\e^%& ^" 8. "must take the place of
will, in the latter case, and in inactiyity, and as General CUn-
pursuance of the predatory plan ton."
talked of (by the minority and
not disa vowed by administration)
attempt something that will give
eclat to his arms. I should not
be much surprized if some vig
orous efforts were used against
Annapolis, Baltimore, or even
Phila itself. — I do not mean
with a view to hold either of
these places but to plunder or
destroy them — General Clinton
(under pretence of visiting the
Troops) is now at the East end
of Long Island with Sir Wm.
Erskine — Admiral Gambler is
gone to Rhode Island — and one

* But a part of this letter was published by me, vol. ii. p. 72. This
letter is, I believe, not in the Letter Book.

115

of my most intelligent corre
spondents informs me if" is
surmised that the Troops at that
place are to be withdrawn —
Transports with provisions have
gone from New York toward f
Rhode Island — and a number of
Privateers have been detained
from their cruises and sent along
with them — Upon the whole, I
cannot help suspecting that the
preparations have been too long
making — too formidable^ and
too open for any enterprize
against New London; for^'^
which place the fears of the
people are up ;^'^ and as we
cannot tell where it may fall,
we should, as far as human pru
dence, and the means in our
hands will enable us, be guarded
at all points — The sole purpose
therefore of this letter is to
suggest to^'* your consideration
the expediency of adopting, in
time, some general plan (with
out taking notice of the present
suggestion, thereby creating,
probably unnecessary fears) for
giving an alarm to the MiUtia
of the country, and for fixing^'^
places of rendezvous for them,
that in cases of sudden emerg
ency they may be quickly assem
bled^'" free from tumult or dis
order; for be assured if any
thing is attempted against the

'» S. "that it."

S. "to.'

concerning.

"^ 8. "awake.'^

'« S. "for."

S. "fixing on."

S. "may quickly assemble."

116
City* of Phila, the preparations
for it will be hid?" under the ^" 8. "held.
darkest veil-^and the movement
when the plan is ripe for execu
tion, will be rapid.
As my motive to this sugges
tion is good I will offer no
apology for the freedom, but
assure you that I am -With great
respect, Dr sir, yr most obed. servant,
G° WASHINGTON.
His Excelly,
Joseph Reed, Esqr, Presidt.

XXVI.
Hbad-Quaetees, Middlebeook,
May Sth, 1779.
Dear Sir,
I have delayed acknowledging
the receipt of your favour of the
1st, in expectation that it would
soon be followed by an official
one which would enable me to
take final measures on the sub
ject of the trial.
The explanation -with which
you have obliged me gives me
pleasure in the same proportion
as the disagreeable inferences I
had drawn gave me pain. It
wounds me sensibly to see ap
pearances of anyf distrust of my
equal attention to the security

' The City of" omitted by me. f " Any" omitted by me.

117

and welfare of the different
States; and"'" my ardent desire
to cultivate mutual confidence
and harmony with every one,
-will always make me glad to
find any apprehensions I may
entertain on this delicate sub
ject* unfounded."'-"
I am also happy to find if^
your opinion that the footing on
which General Arnold's trial is
now put will be agreeable. If
the Council think the needful
testimony can be ready by the
1st of June, it will come on
then. As I do not hear from
them, and time is slipping away
fast, I enclose a letter to Gene
ral Arnold, fixing the trial at
that day weekf^ you will' be
pleased to have delivered"'''' to
him in caSe it corresponds with
the sense ofthe Council; other
wise it is to be returned to me ;
but at all events I beg you will
press a decision, as General
Arnold has again signified his
anxious desire to me that the
trial may be brought on, and as
the sooner it is, the more conve
nient it vrill be to our military
arrangements. Speaking of witnesses, you
say Congress have declined ex
ercising any compulsory power
over their officers on the occa^

"'^. 8. "and" omitted.

"'" 8. "ill-founded.'
^ S. "itis."

"^' S. "week" omitted.
"^ S. "which you will please to
cause to be delivered."

* Printed "object" by me.

118
sion; where any ^erao^i.'"'^ in the "^ 8. "persons.'
miUtary line is?^ summoned, as "^ 8. " are."
I mentioued in my letter to the
Council, it is my duty to order
their attendance, which I shall
of course do. With respect to
these, therefore, the interposi
tion of Congress would be un
necessary. With very great regard and
esteem, I am, dear sir, .
Y'' most obed. servant,
G'* WASHINGTON.*

XXVII.
West-Point, Julyl^lh, 1779.-J-
Dear Sie,
I have a pleasure in acknow
ledging the receipt of your
obliging favour J of the 15th
inst., and in finding, hy it, that
the author of the Queries "Po
litical and Military," has had
no great cause to exult in the
favourable reception of them by
the public.
Without a clue, I should have
been at no los^^ to trace the "^ 8. "no great loss."
malevolent writer; but I have
seen a history of the transaction,
and felt a pleasure mingled with

* This is in the Letter Book.
f There is an intermediate letter of 20th May, 1779, of which I have not
the autograph, and probably copied from Mr. Sparks's test. There is one
also of the 5th July, '79, which I did not print. This letter of 29th July
is in the Letter Book. J "Letter."

119

"^' 8. "can better be accounted
for."

pain, at the narration. To stand
well in the estimation of one's
country, is a happiness that ho
rational creature can be insensi
ble of. To be pursued, first,
under the mask of friendship,
and when disguise would suit no
longer, as an open calumniator,
with gross misrepresentation,
and self-known* falsehoods, car
ries an alloy which no temper"^ "^ 8. "no mind."
can bear with perfect composure.
The motives which actuate
this gentleman are better under
stood?" by himself than me. K
he can produce a single instance
in which I have mentioned his
name (after his tryal commenced)
where it was iri my power fo
avoid it, and when it was not,
where I have done it withf the
smallest degree of acrimony or
disrespect; I -will consent that
the world shall view my charac
ter in as disreputable a light as
he wishes to place it. What
cause then there is for such a
profusion of venom, as he is
emitting upon all occasions, un
less by an act of public duty, in
bringing him to tryal, at his
own solicitation, I have disap
pointed him, and raised his ire,
or conceiving'^ that in propor
tion as he can darken the shades
of my character, he illuminates

S. "or he conceives."

* "Self-known" is Italicized in the original.

f "on."

120

his own. Whether these, I say,
or motives yeff^ more dark and
hidden,^ gpvem him, I shall
not undertake to decide, nor
have I time to inquire into them
at present.
If I had evfer assumed the
character of a military genius,
and the officer^'- of experience,
if, under these false colours, I
had solicited the command I was
honoured with, or if, after my
appointment, I had presump
tuously driven on under the
sole guidance of my own judg
ment, and self-will, and misfor
tunes, the result of obstinacy
and misconduct, not of necessity,
had followed, I should have
thought myself a proper object
for the lash, not only of his, but •
the pen of every other writer,
and a fit subjecf^ of public re
sentment. — But when it is well
known that the command, in a
manner was forced upon me —
that I accepted it with the ut
most diffidence, from a con
sciousness that it required
greater abilities, and more ex
perience than I possessed, to
conduct a great military ma
chine embarrassed as I knew
ours must be, by a variety of
complex circumstances, an(^*
as it were but Uttle betiei'"^
than a mere chaos — and when
nothing more was promised on

S. "still."
S. "hidden and dark.'

^' S. "an officer."

»?? S. "subject."

S. "object.'^

""* 8. "being.'-
«=» S. "more."

121

my part than has been most
inviolably performed, it is rather
grating to pass over in silence
charges, which may impress the
uninformed, tho' others know
that these charges have neither
reason nor truth to support
them, and that a simple nar
rative of facts would defeat all
his assertions, notwithstanding
they are made with an effrontery,
which few men do, and for the
honor of human nature none
ought, to possess.
If this gentleman is envious
of my station, and conceived
that I stand ih his way to pre
ferment, I can assure him, in*
most solemn terms, that the
'first wish of my soul is to re-
turnf to that peaceful retire
ment, and domestick, ease and
happiness from whence I came
— To this end, all my labours
have been directed; and for this
purpose have I been more than
four years a perfect slave ; en
deavouring under as many em
barrassing circumstances as ever
fell to one man's lot to encoun
ter, and as pur^ motives as
ever man was influenced by, to
promote the cause and service I
had embarked in.
You may form a pretty good
judgment of my prospect of a

S. "plain and simple."

5'? S. "thinks.'

""^ 8. "with as pure;" and by
me.

* "The most."

f Printed by me "retire."

122

•%¦

brilliant campaign, and the figure
I shall cuf'^ in it, when I inform
you, that excepting about 400
recruits from the State of Mas
sachusets^*" (a portion oi which,"*'
I am told, are children hired at
about 1500 dollars each for 9
months service) I have had no
reinforcement to this army since
last campaign, while our num
bers have been, and now are
diminishing daily by the ex
piring term of men's services,
to say nothing (d the natural
waste by sickness — death — and
desertion. Discouraging as all"*^ this is,
I ^feel more from the state of
our currency, and the little at
tention which hitherto appears
to have been paid to our finances,
than from the smallness of our
army — and yet (Providence hav
ing so often taken us up, when
bereft of othei^ hope) I trust
we shall not fail even in this. —
The present temper and dispo
sition of the people to facilitate
a loan — to discountenance specu
lation — and to appreciate*' the
money iV" a happy presage of
resulting good, and ought to
be cherished by every possible
means not repugnant to good
order and government.
With you, I conceive that
great events are comprized in
the next six months — and wish

""» 8. "jnake in it."

=" S. "Massachusetts Bay."
"*' 8. "whom.'*

^ S. "all" omitted.

S. "every other;" and by

me.

"** 8. "to raise the value of."
^' 8. "are."

123
I had such information as would
carry me along with you in
opinion, that Spain has declared
in our favor. — But having no
knowledge of facts to ground
such a belief on, I am apprehen
sive that the natural sloth of
one Court, and the intrigues and
artifices of the other, -will keep
things in a state of negotiation
till the effect of the present ex
ertion of G. B., this campaign,
is known, when, possibly, a new
scene may open."*" ^ S. "and some new scene
The public are already pos- open to our view."
sessed of the Uttle military oc
currences of this Quarter — I
need not repeat them — some'
considerable movement of the
enemy is in agitation, but of
what nature — and where point
ed, I have not yet been able to
discover — Lord Cornwallis is
arrived, and a number of troops
(it is said) are hourly expected.
My respectful complimts at
tend Mrs. Reed and the ladies
of yr family — with very great
esteem and regard,
I am, Dr Sir,
Yr most obedt and affec^
Hble Servt,
G" WASHINGTON.
His Exeely, Joseph Reed, Esq.

124

XXVIIL

West Point, Augt. 12d, '79.*
Dear Sir,
Mr. Tilghman deUvered me
your favour of the Sth Inst.,
for which and the favourable
sentiments expressed of me in
your publication, addressed to
the Printer of the Maryland
Journal, you will permit me to
offer my grateful acknowledge
ments. The loss of Fort Washington
simply — abstracted from the cir
cumstances which attended it,
was an event that gave me much
pain, because it deprived the
army of the services of many
valuable men-ata critical period,
and the pubUc of many valuable
lives, by the cruelties which
were inflicted upon them in
their captive state. — But this
concern received additional
poignancy from two considera
tions which were but little known,
and one of ihem"*'f never will
be known to the world, because
I shall never attempf*^ to pal
liate my own foible^' by ex
posing tJie error"^ of another,
nor indeed could either of them
come before the public unless
there had been such a charge as
must have rendered an enquiry

'*'' S. "did not appear, one of
which."
"*^ 8. "attempt" omitted.
"*" 8. "faults."
""" 8. "those of."

* This is in the Letter Book. f Printed by me "some of them."

125

into the causes of this miscar
riage necessary. — The one was
a noncompliance in General
Greene with an order sent him
from White Plains before I
marched for the western side of
Hudson's River to withdraw the
artillery, stores, &c., from the
Fort, allowing him, however,
some latitude for the exercise
of his own judgment as he was
upon the spot, and could decide
better fi'om appearances and cir
cumstances than I the proprieti^'
of a total evacuation. — The other
was a Resolve of Congress in ihe
emphatic words,"^^
"Friday,""" Oct. 11th, 1776."
"Resolved, that General Wash-
"ington be:desired, if it be prac-
" ticable, by every art and what-
" ever expence to obstruct effect-
" ually the navigation of the
"North River, between Fort
"Washington and Mount Con-
" stitution, as weU to prevent
"the regress of the enemy's
" Frigates lately gone up, as to
"hinder them from receiving
"succours." When I came to Fort Lee and
found no measures taken for^*
an evacuation in consequence of
the order aforementioned — when
I found General Greene, of
whose judgment and candour I
entertained a good opinion, de
cidedly opposed to it, — when I

S. "on- the propriety."

""^ 8. "in the strong and em
phatical words, following." It
is printed "emphatical" by me.
"'" 8. "Friday" omitted; also
by me.

S. "towards;" so also by me.

126

found other opinions comci(iM!<^"
with his — when the wishes of
Congress to obstruct the naviga
tion of the North River, and"^
which were delivered in such
forceable terms to mc,""' recur
red — when I knew that the easy
communication between the dif
ferent parts of the army then
separated by the river depended
upon it — and lastly when I con
sidered that our policy led us
to waste the campaign without
coming to a general action on
the one hand, or to snffer^"^ the
enemy to overrun the country
on the other, I conceived that
every impediment which""' stood
in their way was a mean to an
swer these purposes, dnd^"" when
thrown into the scale of""'- those
opinions which were opposed to
an evacuation caused that war
fare in my mind and hesitation
which ended in the loss of the
garrison, and being repugnant
to my own judgment of the
advisability""^ of attempting to
hold the Post, filled me with the
greater regret.
The two great causes which
led to this misfortune (and
which I have before recited) as
well perhaps as my reasoning
upon it, which occasioned the
delay, were concealed from pub
lic view; of cours^"" left the
field of censure quite open for

""" S. "so coincident;" printed
by me "coincident."
""" S. "and" omitted..
^' 8. "to me" omitted.

S. "suffering;" so by me.

""" 8. "that."
»S. "these."
""^ 8. "vrith."

8. "advisableness;" so by

""^ 8. "and of course."

127

any, and every labourer who in
clined to work in it, and afforded
a fine theme for the pen of a
malignant writer, who is always""*
less regardful of facts than the
point he wants to estabUsh where
he has the field wholly to him
self, and where concealment of
a few circumstances will answer
his purpos^"-^OT where a small
transposition of them -will give
a very different complexion to
the same transaction."""
Why I have run into such a
lengthy^"' discussion of this
point — at this time — 1 ara at a
loss myself to tell — I meant but
to touch it, en passant, but one
idea succeeded to another, till it
would seem that I had been
preparing my defence for a
regular charge.
My ideas of what seems to
be the only mode left to keep
our Battalions to their estab
lishment or near it, you are
already acquainted with,* as
they were conveyed at large to
the Comee at Valley Forge, in
'78. — I have seen no cause
since to change my opinion on
this head but abundant reason
to confirm me in it."^ No man
dislikes short and temporary en
listments more than I do — No
man everf had greater cause to

S. "always" omitted.

""" 8. " answers his p.urposes."
""" 8. "thmg."
""'¦ 8. "Ions."

""" 8. "confirm it."

* "With" omitted.

f "Ever" omitted.

128

reprobate and even curse""^ the
fatal policy of the measure thah
I have — Nor^'" no man (with
decency) ever opposed it more
in the early part of this contest;
and had my advice respecting
this matter been pursued in the
years seventy five and six, our
money would have been upon a
very different estabUshment in
point of credit to what it is at
ihis day,"" as* we should have
saved millions of pds in bounty
money, and the consequent evils
of expiring armies, and new
levies. — But those hours are
passed never to be recalled —
such men as compose the bulk
of an army are in a different
train of thinking and acting"'^
to what they were in th^'" early
stages of the war, and nothing
is now left for if* but an an
nual and systematical mode of
drafting; which while we retain
the stamina of an army (engaged
for the war) will be the best,
indeed"'" I see no other substi
tute, for voluntary enlistments
— In fact it will come to this,
for there are people enouf" (old
soldiers) who will hire?" as sub
stitutes, and the difference will
be, that instead"'" of the public's
emitting, or borrowing money to
pay iheir bounties (which is en-

""^ 8. "and even curse" omitted.
"'" 8. "Nor" omitted.

"" 8. "from what it now is."

"'^ 8. "and acting" omitted.
"'" 8, "those."
=?* S. "for it" omitted.

"'" 8. "indeed" omitted.

"'" S. "now."
"" 8. "hire themselves."
"'" 8. "in lieu."

* "And.'-

129

larged greatly eveiy new en
listment) these sum^ will be
paid by individuals— yrill in
crease the demand for circu
lating cash — and; as with all
other commodities in demand,
raise the value of it by multi
plying the means of its use.^^
How far those governments
which are rent and weakened
by intestine?"' divisions have
energy enough to carry statutes
of this natur^ into execution
I do not pretend to be a com
petent judge, but such as are
well estabUshed and organized,
I am sure can do it — Thos^
that are not, the propriety of
the measure is so necessary and
obvious, that I should entertain
little doubt of their success in
the experiment.
The spunge which you say
some gentlemen have talked of
using, unless there can be a
discrimination and proper saving
clauses provided (and how far
this is practicable I know not)
would be unjust and impoUtic
in the extreme. — Perhaps, I do
not understand what they mean
by using the spunge — If it be
to sink the money in the hands
of the holders of it, and at theii^"^
loss, it cannot in my opinion be
justified?^ upon any principle of
common policy — common sense
— or common honesty. — But
9

"" Si "the bounties which in
crease rapidly."
'«' S. "bounties."

^ S. "for using it."
»»" S. "internal."
"^ S. "kind."
5" 8. "As to those."

«« S. "their own."
"^ S. "stand justified upon any
principles."

130

how far a man, for instance, who
has possessed himself of 20
paper dollars by means of one,
or the value of one, in specie,
has a just claim upon the public
for more than one of the latter
in redemption, and in that ratio
according to the periods of de
preciation, I leave to those who
are better acquainted with the
nature of the subject, and have
more leizure than I have to dis
cuss. — To me a measure of this
kind appears substantial justice
to the public, and each indi
vidual;"^' ,but whether it is ca
pable of ^-administration I have
never thought enough of it to
form any opinion.
"^ We have given the enemy
another little stroke at Powles-
hook — an acct of which is trc^ns-
mitted to Congress by this con
veyance,- and will, I presume, be
handed to ihe public — in the
nuean while I have tlie pleasure
to inform you that aU 160 pris
oners and the colours of the
Garrison were brought off.
I am with great esteem and
regard, Dr Sir,
Yr most obed' and affe
Hble Servt,
G" WASHINGTON.
His Excelly,
Joseph Reed, Esqr,
President.

"^ 8. "to individuals."

^ S. The passage in Italics
omitted.

131

XXIX.
West Point, Oct. lid, 1779.*
Dear Sir,
Three days ago, I received
your obliging favor of the 14th,
and was sorry to find you had
been so much indisposed. — Be
fore this I hope you have per
fectly recovered. — Your early
attention arid that of the As
sembly to my requisitions have
my warmest thanks, — and the
more so, from the situation in.
which they found you. I could
wish, however, that the three
months service of the Miliitia
had been made to commence,
only from the time of their
joining the army. — I need not
enter into a detail of reasons for
this -with you, as your own
judgment and experience will,
I am persuaded, have already
anticipated them. Your inten
tion of leading your MUitia, in
case they are brought to the
field, is a circumstance honor
able to yourself and flattering
to me. The example alone
would have its weight, but se
conded by your knowledge of
discipline — abilities,^^ activity "^ 8. "your abilities."
and bravery, it could not fail of
happy effects. Men are influ
enced greatly by the conduct of

-* This is in the Letter Books.

132
their superiors — and particularly
so, where they have both their
confidence and affection.
With respect to the point to
which you call my recoUection —
I confess — ^when you intimated
your desire of Continental rank
to me, as it passed cursorily
through my mind — ^it struck- me
as a matter of indifference; — or
at least as one against which no
important objections then oc
curred inasmuch as it was to
have no operation in the Une ;
however, I must now candidly ¦
acknowledge, and shall"^ do it 'w S. "I shall."
without hesitation, from motives
of general duty — from a confi
dence in your friendship as well
as in your zeal for .the public
service — and from the express
authority of your letter — that
having maturely weighed the
subject — and examined the con
sequences to which it might
lead — ^I think it cannot be ob
tained — either with a view to
the purpose you mentioned,
when you first broached the
point to me — or -with respect to
the present occasion for which
the Militia are called out.
The discontents — ^the jealous
ies — ^the uneasinesses that have
prevailed in the Army; the com
plaints which have been added
on acc* of rank being conferred
out of the common course, are

133

all opposed to the measure. —
These uneasinesses, my dear sir,
tho' not quite so prevalent
among the different ranks of
officers as they were, are far,
very far, from being done away
— and would, I fear, proceed to
more than their former height
upon any supposed injury, whe
ther real or imaginary — ^to what
they esteemed?^ their rights. —
Among the General Officers and
those next in rank, there would
be much reason to apprehend
this, as they (particularly the
former) have loudly complained
on the subject of rank being

™' S. "esteem."

given.

even where motives of

national policy— and indeed ne
cessity — ^were urged to justify
it, and reliicfantly"'' yielded to
it, merely from that considera^
tion. From hence, and as in
your case this consideration
could not be urged — ^I should
fear that it would be attended
with greater disgust — ^not from
any personal, indi-vidual objec
tion, but from an idea that the
appointment itself materially
affected their rights and those
of the officers in general. Hence
it is that I have uniformly with
held my aid to"^ all appUcations
for brevet commissions to for
eigners and others who had"^ or
were about to quit the service —

S. "they reluctantly-"

S. "from all."
S. "had quitted."

134

professedly — never to interfere
with the line of our army.
The situation of our officers
is delicate — and perhaps re
quires a greater degree of atten
tion, than that of any others, —
deriving no emoluments from
the service, but rather losing at
the best — patriotism and a love
of honor are the motives to their
continuing in it. These must
be the considerations which in-
fluence the conduct of by far the
greatesf"" -part — and tho' by "^ S. "greater."
these motives the officers are
placed in a much more respect
able point of view than if they
were governed by interest, yet
the ties are not sufficiently-
strong?^ to induce their submis- """ 8. "are not so strong."
sion, or at least -without great
difficulty, to any measures they
esteeni injurious.
For these several reasons I
cannot in policy advise to any
measures that might have a
tendency to obtain if^ for you. "^ S. " obtain the rank."
Nor do I think, after mature
reflection, that the rank being"^ "^ 8. "that its being given.''
given by brevet which is con
trary to the present views of
Congress and their own resolves
(24th Nov. 1778, and 20 Feb.
1779), founded on the discon
tents which a contrary practice
had created — or circumscribed
in its extent by any qualifica
tions which could be thought
of would alter the matter, or

135

produce the least change in
the sentiments of the officers.
In any case, the ideas of rank
and precedence would occur, —
and I have too much reason to
beUeve would give great uneasi
ness. The temper of the gene
ral officers is at this moment a
good deal soured — Their dis
tresses proceeding from the
amazing depreciation of money
on"^ one hand and a*"" discrimi
nation of Congress in the aUow
ance of subsistence on the other,
needs*^' no fresh leaven to set
their discontents a working ;*"^
Rank then being the greatest,
if not the only benefit they are
likely to derive for their perse
verance in service and injured*""
fortunes, they become more and
more tenacious of its value, and
attend the distribution of it -with
a watchful eye. I have been
rather prolix on this subject,
but thought'"* it incumbent on
me to assign the reasons which
govern my opinion, because I
wish you to be convinced, *""that
I do not want inclination to com
ply where Ican do it consistently
with any ofyour wishes. With
very great esteem and regard,
I am, Dr Sir,
Yr most obed* and
Affecte Hble Serv*,
G" WASHINGTON.
His Excelly,
Joseph Reed, Esq.

^" 8. "on the one."
*"" 8. "the."
*"' 8. "need."
"» S. "at work,"

*"" S. "in the service" "and for
their injured."

S. "but I tkought."..

«" S. "that I do not want in
clination to comply with your
wishes, in any instance when it
is within the reach of my power
consistently to aid them."

136

XXX.
MOBBisTowH, Uay 28<i, 1780.*
Deae Sie,
*"/ am much obliged to ymx ** S. Omitted.
for your favor of the 2Sd. — No
thing could be more necessary
than the aid given by your State
towards supplying us with pro
vision. — ^I assure you every idea
you can form of our distresses
¦will fall short of the reality. —
There is such a combination of
circumstances to exhaust the
patience of the soldiery that- it
begins at length to be wom out
— and we see in every line of
the army the most serious fea
tures of mutiny and sedition. —
AU our departments — aU our
operations are at a stand— and
unless' a system very different
from that which for a hn^ *" S. "which has for a long
time prevaUed be immediately time."
adopted throughout the States,
our affairs must soon become
desperate — beyond the possi
bility of recovery.
If you were on the spot, my
dear sir, if you could see what
difficulties surround us on every
side — how unable we are to ad
minister to the most ordinary
calls of the service — you would
be convinced that these expres
sions are not too strong, and

* This is in the Letter Book.

137

that we Jiave almost ceased to
iope.'™ — ^The country in gene
ral is in such a state of insensi-
biUty and indifference to its
interest,*"' that I dare not flatter
myself with any change for the
better. The Committee of Congress
in their late address to the seve
ral States have given a just
picture of our situation, — ^I very
much doubt its making the de
sired impression, and if it does
not, I shaU consider our lethargy
as incurable. — The present junc
ture is so interesting that if it
does not produce correspondent
exertions, it -wiU be a proof that
motives of honor, pubUc, good
and even self-preservation have
lost their in.fluence upon our
minds. — ^This is a decisive mo
ment — one of the most (I vfiU
go further and say th,e most)
important America has seen. —
The Court of France has made
a glorious effort for our deUver
ance, and, if we disappoint its
intentions by our supineness, we
must become contemptible iu
the eyes of all mankind; nor
can we, after that, venture to
confide that our aUies wiU per
sist in an attempt to establish
what it -mil appear we want
incUnation or ability to assist
them in.
Every -view of our own cir-

*"^ S. "and that we have every
thing to dread. Indeed I have
almost ceased to hope."
"s S. "interests."

138

cumstances ought to determine
us to the most vigorous efforts ;
but there are considerations of
another kind that should have
equal weight — The combined
fleets of France and Spain last
year -were greatly superior to
those of the enemy — The enemy
nevertheless*'" sustained no ma
terial damage, and at the close
of the campaign have given*''' a
very important blow to our al
lies. — This campaign the differ
ence between the fleets from
every account I have been able
to collect wiU be very*'' incon-
sideralble — indeed it is far from
clear that there will nqt be an
equality — ^What are we to ex
pect will be the case if there
should be another campaign ? —
In all probabiUty the advantage
will be on the side of the En
glish, and then what will become
of America ?-^-We ought not to
deceive ourselves. — The mara-
time resources of Great Britain
are more substantial and real
than those of France and Spain
united. — Her commerce is more
extensive than that of both her
rivals; and it is an axiom that
the Nation which has the most
extensive commerce will always
have the most powerful marine.
Were these arguments less con
vincing the fact speaks for it
self — her progress in the course

S. "Nevertheless the enemy."
, S. "gave.",

S. "very" omitted.

139

of the last year is an incontest-
ible proof.
It is true that France in a
manner created a Fleet in a very
short space, and this may mis
lead us in the judgment we
form of her naval abilities. But
if they bore any comparison
with those of Great Britain how
comes it to pass tbat, with all
the force of Spain added, she
has lost so riiuch ground iri so
short a time as now to have
scarcely a superiority. We
should consider what was done
by France as a violent and un
natural effort of the government
which for want of sufficient
foundation cannot continue to
operate proportionable effects.
In modern wars, the longest
purse must chiefly determine
the event — I fear that of the
enemy will be found to, be so^-
though the Government is deep
ly in debt and of course poor,
the Nation is rich and their
riches afford a fund which will
not be easily exhausted. — Be
sides, their system of public
credit is such that it is capable
of greater exertion than that of
any other nation. Speculatists
have been a long time foretell
ing its downfall, but we see no
symptoms of the catastrophe
being very near. — I am per
suaded that it will at least last

140
out the war, and then in the
opinion of many of the best
politicians it wUl be a national
advantage. — If the war should
terminate successfully, the cro-wn
wiU have acquired such influ
ence and power that it may at
tempt anything — and a bank
ruptcy will probably be made a
ladder to climb to absolute au
thority. Administration*'^ niay *" S. "The administration."
perhaps wish to drive matters to
this issue — ^at any rate they wiU
not be restrained by an appre
hension of it from forcing the
resources of the State. It will
promote their present purposes
on which their aU is at stake,
and it may pave the way to
triumph more effectually over
the constitution. — With this
disposition, I have no doubt that
ample means wiU be found to
prosecute the war with the
greatest vigor.
France is in a very different
position. The abilities of her
present financier hai^* done "* S. "have."
wonders. — ^By a wise adminis
tration of the revenues, aided
by advantageous loans, he has
avoided the necessity of addi
tional taxes. — But I am well
informed, if the war continues
another campaign, he wiU be
obliged to have recourse to the
taxes usual in time of war which
are very heavy — and which the

141
people of France are not in con
dition to indure for any duror-
tion.*" — When this necessity *" S. "for a long time.'
commences, France makes war
on ruinous terms; and England
from her individual wealth will
find much greater faciUty in
supplying her exigencies.
Spain derives great wealth
from her mines, but not so
great as is generaUy iihagined.
Of late years, the profit to go
vernment is essentially dimin
ished — Commerce and industry
are the best mcan^*' of a nation;
both which are wanting to her.
I am told her treasury is far
from being so well filled as we
have flattered ourselves — she is
also much divided on the |)ro-
priety of the war — there is a
strong party against it. The
temper of the nation is too
sluggish to admit of great ex
ertions — and though the Courts
of the two Kingdoms are closely
Unked together, there never has
been in any of their wars a per
fect harmony of measures, nor
has it been the case in this;
which has already been no small
detriment to the common cause.
I mention these things to
show that the circumstances of
our allies, as well as our own,
call for peace ; to obtain which,
we must make one great effort
this campaign. — The present in-

142

stance of the friendship of the
Court of France is attended
with every circumstance that
can render it important and
agreeable ; that can interest our
gratitude or fire our emulation.
If we do our duty we may even
hope to make the campaign de
cisive on ihis Continent.*" — But
we must do our duty in earnest
— or disgrace and ruin will at
tend us. — ^I am sincere in de
claring a full persuasion that
the succour will be fatal to us,
if our measures are not adequate
to the emergency.
Now, my dear sir, I must ob
serve to you, that much -will
depend on the State of Pennsyl
vania — She has it in her power
to contribute without comparison
more to our success than any
other State; in the two essen
tial articles of flour and trans
portation. — New York, Jersey,
Pennsylvania and Maryland are
our flour countries ;' — Virginia
went little on this article*'^ the
last crop (and her rescources are
called for to the Southward). —
New York, by Legislative co
ercion, has already given all she
could spare for the use of the
army. Her inhabitants are left
with scarcely a sufficiency for
their own subsistence — Jersey,
from being so long the place of
the army's residence is equally

*" 8. "of this contest.'

'" S. "produced little of this
article."

143
exhausted. — Maryland has made
great exertions; but she can stiU
do something more — Delaware
may contribute handsomely in
proportion to her extent — But
Pennsylvania is our chief de
pendence — From every informa
tion I can obtain, she is at this
time full of flour. — I speak to
you in the language of frankness
and as a friend. — I do not mean
to make any insinuations unfa
vourable to the State. — I am
aware of the embarrassments the
government labours under from
the open opposition of one party
and the underhand intrigues of
another. — I know that with the
best dispositions to promote the
public service you have . been
obUged to move with circum
spection. — But this is a time to
hazard and to take a tone of
energy and decisifti. -All par
ties but the disaffected -will ac
quiesce iri the necessity and give
their support — The hopes and
fears of the people at large may
be acted upon in such a manner
as to make them approve and
second your views.
The*'" matter is reduced to a *'' 8. "This."
point — either Pennsylvania must
give us all the aid we ask of her,
or we can undertake nothing.
We must renounce every idea
of a co-operation, and must con
fess to our allies that we look

144

wholly to them for our safety—
This wiU be a state of humiliar
tion and Uttleness against which
the f^eUngs of every good Ame
rican ought to revolt. — Yours, I
am con-vinced, -will. — Nor have I
the least doubt that you -will em
ploy all your influence to ani
mate the legislature and the peo
ple at large. — The fate of these
States hangs upon it — God grant
we may be properly impressed
¦with the consequences.
I wish the legislature could
be engaged to vest the executive
with Plenipotentiary powers. I
should then expect everything
practicable from your abilities
and zeal. This is not a time
for formality or ceremony. — The
crisis in every point of view is
extraordinary — and extraordi
nary expedients are necessary —
I am decided in this opinion.
I am happy to hear that you
have a prospect of complying
with the requisitions of Congress
for specific supplies — that the
spirit of the City and State
seems to revive and the warmth
of party rfecZme.""— These are
good omens of our success —
Perhaps this is the proper pe
riod to unite.
I am obliged to you for the
renewal of your assurances of
personal regard — *^My senti
ments for you, you are too well

*» S. "to decline."

"' S. "You are too well ac
quainted with my sentiments."

145
acquainted with to make it ne
cessary to tell you with how
much esteem and regard I am,
Dr Sir, Yr most obedt and affe
Hble Servt,
G" WASHINGTON.
^I felicitate you on the in- «» S. P. S. omitted.
crease of your family. — Mrs.
Washington does the same, and
hegs her particular respects and
congratulations to Mrs. Reed —
to which permit me to add mine.

XXXI.
Head Quarters, Bekqen County,
July ith, 1780.-*
Mt Dear Sir,
Motives of friendship, not less
than of public good, induce me
with freedom to give you my
sentiments on a matter, which
interests you personally as well
as the good of the common cause.
I flatter myself yo-u*^ will receive *^ 8. "that you.'
what I say in the same spirit
which dictates it, and that it
wiU have aU the influence *^cir- ^ S. "which."
cumstances will possibly permit.
The Legislature of Pennsyl
vania has vested you in case of
necessity, with a power of de
claring Martial Law throughout
the State, to enable you to take

* This is in the Letter Books.
10

146
such measures as the exigency
may demand; so far the Legis
lature has done its part. — Eu
rope — America — the State itself
will look to you for the rest. —
The power vested in you will
admit of all the latitude that
could be desired, and may be
made to mean anything *''^ihe *^ S. "which-"
public safety may require — If it
is not exerted proportionably,
you will be responsible for the
consequences. Nothing, my dear Sir, can be
more delicate and critical than
your situation-^a full discre
tionary power lodged in your
hands in conjunction with the
Counqil — great expectations in
our allies and in the People of
this country — ample means in
the State for great exertions of
every kind — a powerful party
on one hand to take advantage
of every opening to prejudice
you — on the other popular in
dolence and avarice averse to
every measure inconsistent with
present ease and present interest
— In this dilemma there is a
seeming danger, whatever side
you take; it remains to choose
that which has least real danger,
and will best promote the public
weal. This in my opinion clearly
is to exert the powers entrusted
to you with a boldness and vigor
suited to the emergency.

147
In general, I esteem it a good
maxim that the best way to pre
serve the confidence of the peo
ple durably, is to promote their
true interest — there are particu
lar exigencies when this maxim
has pecuUar force — When any
great object is in view, the popu
lar mind is roused into expecta
tion and prepared to make sacri
fices both of ease and property ;
if those to whom they*^ confide *^ 8. "the people."
the management of their affairs
do not call them to make these
sacrifices — and the object is not
attained, or they are involved in
the reproach of not having con
tributed as much as they ought
to have done towards it — they
will be mortified at the disap
pointment — they ¦will feel the
censure, and their resentment
will rise against those who with
sufficient authority have omitted
to do what their interest and
their honor required. — Exten
sive powers not exercised as far
as was necessary have I believe
scarcely ever failed to ruin the
possessor — The Legislature and
the People in your case would
be very glad to excuse them
selves by condemning you. — '
You would be assailed with
blame from every quarter — and
your enemies would triumph.
The party opposed to you in
Government are making great

14,8
efforts. — I am told the bank
established for supplying the
army is principally under the
auspices of that party; it ¦will
j,undoubtedly give them great
credit with the People, and you
have no effectual way to counter
balance this but by employing
all your influence and authority
to render services proportioned
to your station. — Hitherto, I
confess to you frankly, my dear
sir, I do not think your afiairs
jj are in the train which might be
wished; and if Pennsylvania
does not do^its part fully, it is
of so much importance in the
general scale that we must fail
of success, or limit our views to
mere defence.
I have conversed with some
gentlemen on the measure of
filling your battalions — they
seemed to think you could not
exceed what the Legislature had
done for this purpose. — I am of
a very different sentiment'"' — *^ 8. "I am of very different
The establishment of Martial sentiments."
Law implies, in my judgment,
the right of calling any part of
your citizens into military ser
vice, and in any manner which
may be found expedient ; and I
have no doubt the draft may be
executed. I write to you with the free
dom of friendship, and I hope
you will esteem it the truest

149
mark I could give you of it.
In this view, whether you think
my observations well founded or
not, the motive will, I am per
suaded, render them agreeable.
*^In offering my respects to Mrs. *^ S. Omitted.
Reed, I must be permitted to ac
company them with a tender of
my very warm acknowledgments
to her and you, for tlie civilities
and attention both of you have
been pleased to show Mrs. Wash-
ington, — and for ihe honor you
have done me in calling ihe young
Christian by my name.
With the greatest regard,
I am, Dr Sir,
Yr Affecte Hble Serv*,
G° WASHINGTON.
His Exeely, Joseph Reed, Esq.

XXXII.
Head Qbs, Passaic Falls,
Oct. l%th, 1780.*
Dear Sir,
By your favor of the third
from Bethlehem, I perceive my
letter of the first had not got
to your hands ; but I have the
pleasure to find that the business
you were upon anticipated the
purposes of it, and was in a fair
way to answer the end.

¦* This, I believe, is not in the Letter Books.
10*

150

Arnold's conduct is so ¦villain
ously perfidious, that there are
no terms ihat^''^ can describe the *^" 8. "which."
baseness of his heart — That over
ruling Providence which has so
often and so remarkably inter
posed in our favor, never mani
fested itself more conspicuously
than in the timely discovery of
hia hoirid intention to surrender*^ ¦"" S. ''design of surrendering."
the Post and Garrison of West
Point into the hands of the
Enemy. — I confine my remark
to this single act of perfidy, for
I am far from thinking he in
tended to hazard a defeat of this
important object by combining
another with it, altho' there were
circumstances which led to a con
trary belief. — The confidence and
folly which has"^' marked the *^' S. "have."
subsequent conduct of this man
are of a piece with his viUainy;
and all three are perfect in their
kind. The interest you take in my
supposed escape, and the man
ner in which you speak of it,
claim my thanks as much as if
he really had intended to involve
my fate with that of the Garri
son — and I consider it as a fresh
instance of your affectionate re
gard for me.
As I do not recollect ever
to have Jield*^" any very par- *== S. "had."
ticular conversation with Gene
ral Schuyler respecting Arnold,

151
I should be glad to obtain a
copy of the Letter in which you
say my "opinion and. confidence
in him (Arnold) is conveyed in
terms of affection 'and approba
tion.'' — Sometime before or after
Arnold's return from Connecti
cut (the conversation made so
little impression on me that I
know not which) General Schuy
ler informed me he had received
a letter from Arnold intimating
his intention of joining the army
and rendering such services as
his leg would permit — adding
that he was incapable of active
service — ^but could discharge the
duties of a stationary command,
without much inconvenience or'
uneasiness to his leg. — I an
swered that as we had a pros-
gect of an active and vigorous
campaign, I should be glad of
General Arnold's aid and assist
ance, but saw little prospect of
his obtaining such a command
as appeared to be the object of
his wishes, because it was my
intention to draw my whole
force into the field when we
were in circumstances to com
mence our operations against
New York, leaving even West
Point to the care of Invalids
and a small Garrison of Militia;
but if after this previous de
claration, the command of ihaf^" *"" S. " the."
Post — for the reasons he as-

152

signed — would be more conve
nient and agreeable to him, than
a command in the field, I shbuld
readily endulge him — having
had it hinted to me by a very
respectable character, a member
of Congress (not Genl Schuyler)
that a measure ,of this kind
would not be unacceptable to
the State most immediately in
terested in the welfare, and
safety, of the Post.
This, to the best of my know
ledge and recollection, is every
syllable that ever passed between
General Schuyler and me re
specting Arnold, or any of his
concerns— rthe manner, and the
matter, appeared perfectly unin
teresting to both of us at the
time. He seemed to have no
other view in communicating
the thing than because he was
requested to do it — and my an
swer, dictated by circumstances,
you already have — but how it
was communicated the letter
will shew.
That this Gentln'^ (Genl «4 g «t,jj^^ q^^i Schuyler."
Schuyler) possesses a share of
my regard and confidence I shall
readily acknowledge — a pretty
long acquaintance with him — an
opinion of his abUities — his in
timate knowledge of our circum
stances — his candor, as far as I
have had opportunities of form
ing a judgment of it — added to

153

personal civUities and proofs of
a warm friendship, which I never
had a doubt of, would leave me
without excuse were I to with
hold these from him.
What ascendency he may have
over the army is more than I
can tell — ^but I should not be
surprized if he stands in a fa
vourable point of ¦view with re
spect to their esteem. — The
means he took to acquire a true
knowledge of their distresses,
while he was with it*"^ — the re
presentations he made to pro
cure relief — and his evident en
deavours to promote the objects
for which he was appointed —
seems"^" to have made this a
natural consequence.
*"'That pari of your letter
which respects the exchange of
prisoners wUl be made the sub
ject of a particular letter — and
shall accompany this.
With great esteem and regard,
I am, Dr Sir,
Yr most obed* and affe
Hble Servt,
G" WASHINGTON.

^" 8. "them."

"'' S. .Omitted.

XXXIII.
Head Qm, 20ihNov. 1780.
Dear Sir,
Your favor of the 15th is just
come to hand. I cannot suffer

154
myself to delay a moment in
pronouncing"' if Arnold by the «« S. "that."
words (in his letter to his wife)
"I am treated with the greatest
" politeness by General Washing-
" ton and the officers of the army
" who bitterly execrate Mr. Reed
"and the Council for their vil-
" lainous attempt to injure me,"
meant to. comprehend me in the
latter part of the expression, that
he asserted an absolute falsehood.
It was at no time my inclina
tion, much less my intention to
become a party in his cause —
and I certainly could not be so
lost to my own character as to
become a partizan at the mo
ment I was called upon officially
to bring him to tryal.*
I am not less mistaken if he
has not extended the former part
of the paragraph a Utile too far.
True it is he seZ/'-envited some
civilities I never meant to shew
him (or any officer in arrest) —
and he received rebuke before
I could convince him of the im
propriety of his entering upon a
justification of his conduct in
my presence — and for bestowing
such illiberal abuse, as he seemed
disposed to do, upon those whom
he denominated his persecutors.
Although you have done me
the ju.stice to disbelieve Arnold's

* The Italics are those of the autograph.

155

assertion to his wife, a regard to
my own feelings claims a de
claration of the falsehood of it
from. Dear Sir,
Yr most obet and affecte
Hble Servt,
G" WASHINGTON.
His ExceUy,
Joseph Reed, Esq.

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