Present. His Excellency Genl Washington

His Excellency the Commander in Chief informed the Council that in Consequence of the Resolution of two Councils of War held at this Place on the 16th & 18th ult. he had applied to this Government, Connecticut, & New Hampshire for the Regiments then voted ー

That those Regiments were come, and coming in, and if complete would amount (Officers included) to 7280 Men ー that the Regiments of the United Colonies at those Incampments by Saturday's Return amounted to 8797 Men fit for Duty besides Officers, and 1405 Men on Command which might be ordered to join their respective Regiments immediately ー that our Stock of Powder was so small as to afford but little Aid from Cannon & Mortars ー and therefore that small Arms must be our principal Reliance in any Event till a Supply could be obtained ー that in the State Boston Harbour had been all this year and now is, a Bombardment might probably destroy the Town without doing much Damage to the Ministerial Troops within it, as there were Transports wooded & watered with a View more than probable to take them in upon any sudden Emergency ー Consequently that might not produce the desired Effect, if those Transports were sufficient for the Embarkation of the Army ー that from the best Intellignce which had been procured the Strength of the Army in Boston did not much exceed 5,000 Men then fit for Duty ー that considerable Reinforcements were expected, and when arrived they would undoubtedly endeavour to penetrate into the Country, if their Strength should be sufficient, or remove to some other Part of the Continent, if not, and thereby greatly harrass and fatigue our People by constant marching and countermarching, for which in the present Situation of Affairs, they neither would or could be provided ー therefore that a Stroke well aimed at this critical Juncture might put a final End to the War, & restore Peace & Tranquility so much to be wished for ー for these Reasons, and under these Circumstances, & as Part of Cambridge & Roxbury Bays were so frozen as to admit an easier Entry into the Town of Boston than could be obtained either by Water, or through the Lines on the Neck, the General desired to know the Sentiments of the General Officers respecting a general assault upon the Town ー

The Question being put & their Opinion demanded ー

Resolved that an assault on the Town of Boston in the present Circumstances of the Continental Army, is for the following Reasons judged improper.

Because it is the Opinion of this Council that the King's Forces in Boston comprehending new raised Corps and armed Tories amount to a much larger Number than 9000 furnished with Artillery, assisted by a Fleet, and possessed of every Advantage the Situation of the Place affords ー the Officers in Proportion to the Number of Men are so many, that the Troops there may be said with Propriety to be doubly officered.

Because our Army at present is very defective in the Numbers this Council declared to be sufficient for the Purposes of offensive War, and also deficient in Arms to the Amount of 2000 Stand ー The Militia ordered and expected here by the first of the Month, are not more than Half arrived, so that to assault the Town of Boston guard the Works & Stores there remain only 12,600 Men, Militia, commissioned & non-commissioned Officers included, a Force not more than sufficient to defend the Lines and maintain the Blockade

Because it appears to the Council by the Report of a Majority of the Generals commanding Brigades that upon discoursing with the Field Officers of their respective Regiments, upon the Subject of an Assault, they in general declared a Disapprobation of the Measure as exceedingly doubtful ー

Because if an Assault shou'd be found practicable & expedient at any Time, it was declared highly necessary that it should for some Days be preceeded by a Cannonade and Bombardment.

His Excellency the Commander in Chief then required the opinion of the Council whether it would be adviseable to begin a Cannonade & Bombardment with the present Stock of Powder.

Resolved that a Cannonade & Bombardment will be expedient & adviseable as soon as there shall be a proper Supply of Powder, and not before, and that in the mean Time, Preparations should be made to take Possession of Dorchester Hill with a View of drawing out the Enemy, and of Noddle's Island, if the Situation of the Water & other Circumstances will admit of it.

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