Francis Hutcheson to Major General Frederick Haldimand, January 26, 1776

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[Boston]

January 26 ー Yesterday two Vessells were taken by a Rebell Privatier off the Light House, & carried into Cowhasack Harbour, they were spoke with last week, and said they were from Whitehaven & Cork, with Pork and Coal for this Place;² O the Glory of the British Navy. two flags flying with all the Pomp of War, and Yankies can spit in their face ー The News from Canada of Montgomerys defeat and being Killed is Confermed, we have great hopes this Willgive a Change to affairs in that Country.

By two deserters come in this day we hear that [Charles] Lee is gone with a Detachment of 1500 Men to New York, to oblige the Torys there & on Long Island, to take the Oath he imposed on the People of Rhode Island, which you'll see in the News papers....

Admiral Graves Sails on Sunday and no man ever left a place less regretted

1. Haldimand Papers, BM. Continuation of January 25, 1776 letter.

2. The ships Happy Return and Norfolk, taken by John Manley in Washington's schooner Hancock, and carried into Plymouth, not Cohasset. Another British officer, Lieutenant Colonel Stephen Kemble, noted in his diary on January 25: "I am not certain if positively this day a Ship and Brig were taken by the Rebels very near the Light House, no Man of War being in the Road to Succour them." "The Kemble Papers," Collections of the New-York Historical Society for the Year 1883 (New York, 1884), I, 65.

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1776 January 26

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