American Theatre from December 1, 1774, to May 20, 1775
I have this moment by the Fowey's Tender received a Letter from Lord Dunmore, a Copy of which I inclose; I would readily send a two decked ship to Virginia, but the preservation of this post and perhaps the whole Army here depends upon the Naval Force in this Harbour. I therefore cannot in the present State of Affairs send any more of the Capital Ships from hence; indeed the Somerset is unfit to... Continue Reading
Date: 15 May 1775
Volume: Volume 1
By a Letter from Lord Dunmore, Governor of Virginia, the people in that Colony were taking up Arms in all parts of it, and his Lordship was threatened with every Species of Violence unless he restored some Gunpowder, which he had thought proper to remove from a Magazine in Williamsburgh on Board the Fowey and Magdalen Schooner; and the Commotion becoming more general his Excellency applied to... Continue Reading
Date: 15 May 1775
Volume: Volume 1
My Lord, I received yesterday a Letter from Lord Dunmore of which I transmit your Lordship a Copy; His Situation appears so very alarming that I fear the Assistance in my Power to give him will avail but little I have however Sent him an Order for the Company of the 14th Regiment at [New] Providence, and most part of the Remainder of said Regiment at St Augustine, as he thinks any Assistance... Continue Reading
Date: 15 May 1775
Volume: Volume 1
The Marines which arrived yesterday (part of 600 expected) encamp'd today on the Common.
Date: 15 May 1775
Volume: Volume 1
May 1775
Monday 15
Off Castle William [Island Boston Harbor]
at 7 A M sent the long Boat after 3 Rebels in a Canoe, but they landed before she came up & being joined by a great Number of their own body fired several shot at the Boat. made a signal for her to return. Rowd Guard as before.
[P M] at 9 saw a Number of armed Men on Dorchester Hill.
Date: 15 May 1775
Volume: Volume 1
May 1775
Monday. 15.
The Land about Marshfield S W b W 4 or 5 Leagues
at ½ past 10 [A M] fired a Shot to bring a Sloop too ー Little Wind and Hazey Wr P M, at 2 spoke a Sloop from Cape Codd for Casco Bay; sent a Petty Officer and 2 Men to carry her into Boston; at 6 spoke a Sloop from Cape Ann to the Wt Indies with Lumber; at 9 spoke the Diana Schooner, and ½ past fired several Musquets and... Continue Reading
Date: 15 May 1775
Volume: Volume 1
It is said that two Tenders were plundering or intended stealing Sheep at No-man's Land &c ー & that the Dartmo[uth] p[eo]ple man'd out and took both & bro't them in to Dartmo ー Some of the Man o' Wars' Men were wounded, but none killed on either side.2
Date: 15 May 1775
Volume: Volume 1
I Received yours 11th Instant and you may Depend on my Supplying you with the Quantity of Powder you Mention Vizt Six Hundred half Barrels ー I am now Getting a Vessel in Readiness and Intend she shall Sail in a few Days I shall Call on You Next Week. I Am Sir [&c.]
Date: 15 May 1775
Volume: Volume 1
Tuesday, [May] 15 [16].2 Contrary winds. Col. [Benedict] Arnold, with thirty men took the boat, and proceeded on for St. John's, leaving to Capt. Sloan the command of the vessel with the sailors; and me to the command of the soldiers on board: About 12 o'clock, while beating down, we espied a boat, sent out our Cockswain to bring her in, it proved to be the French post from Montreal,... Continue Reading
Date: 15 May 1775
Volume: Volume 1
We have this moment received by express from Albany, the within authentick intelligence of the fortress of Ticonderoga having been surprised and taken by a detachment of Provincials from Connecticut and the Massachusets-Bay. And as we do not conceive ourselves authorized to give any opinion upon a matter of such importance, we have thought proper to refer it to the Congress; and that the people... Continue Reading
Date: 15 May 1775
Volume: Volume 1
The president informed the Congress that he had put into his hands this morning a letter from [Robert and John] Murray containing a number of papers which he was desired to lay before the congress, the purport of them he did not know as he had not had an opportunity of reading them.
Ordered to lye on the table That the president look them over [and then lay them] before they are laid before the... Continue Reading
Date: 15 May 1775
Volume: Volume 1
May 1775
Monday 15.
York S S W Glocester Point No off shore ½ a Mile
A M the parties of seamen and Marines returned from the Governour's at Williamsburgh.
Date: 15 May 1775
Volume: Volume 1
My Lord The Commotion in this Colony, of the Cause of which I gave your Lordship an Account in my letter No 26 dated the 1st of May, has obliged me to Shut myself in, and make a Garrison of my house, expecting every moment to be attacked. There is scarce a County of the whole Colony wherein part of the People have not taken up Arms and declared their intention of forcing me to make restitution... Continue Reading
Date: 15 May 1775
Volume: Volume 1
You will have heard before this reaches you of the "actual commencement of Hostilities" in New England against the Inhabitants by the Kings Troops & more particulars of the Action of the 19th April than we yet know of in this Country ー the Associated Colonies have taken the alarm & but three days ago I put the Question "is it your pleasure Gentlemen to agree with your Committee"? when the... Continue Reading
Date: 15 May 1775
Volume: Volume 1
May 1775
Tuesday 16th
at ½ past 11 P M heard 2 Guns in the Offing, answered with 1 Nine pounder & sent the Boats out
Date: 16 May 1775
Volume: Volume 1
Whereas, it is recommended by the Council of War, that fifty-four Whale-Boats be, provided for the use of this Colony immediatelyー
Resolved, That a copy of said Vote of the Council of War be transmitted to the Committee of Supplies, and they be desired to procure & place said Boats, agreeably to the recommendation by the Council of War.
Date: 16 May 1775
Volume: Volume 1
Ordered, That Mr. [James] Sullivan, Capt [Josiah] Stone, Colo [Michael] Farley, Major [Eleazer] Brooks, and Doctr Rawson, be a Committee to take into consideration a verbal information of the Capture of three Vessels, by a Kings Cutter, at Dartmouth, and the retaking two of them, & 15 Marines prisoners
The Committee who were appointed to consider the information from Dartmouth reported. The... Continue Reading
Date: 16 May 1775
Volume: Volume 1
I tarried Yesterday in hope of seeing you here, but suppose you was necessarily prevented from coming ー it's necessary for me to set out this Morning that I may know in Time whether my Employers will engage in the Adventure p your Schooner Macaroni ー and beg you will detain her untill you receive Intelligence from me, which I will forward immediately after I have consulted them ー I have left with... Continue Reading
Date: 16 May 1775
Volume: Volume 1
Received of William Thompson Thirty One pounds ten shillings Sterling Money which I promise to deliver to Capt James Packwood2 Master of my Schooner Macaroni, bound from New London for the West Indies, and to give Directions to said Packwood to lay out the same in purchase of good Gun Powder at the lowest price he can buy it, to be brought back in said Schooner for Accot of said... Continue Reading
Date: 16 May 1775
Volume: Volume 1
A fair gale, we overtook Col. [Benedict] Arnold in the boat, took him on board, and at night arrived within thirty miles of St. John's, when the wind fell, and the vessel was becalmed. We immediately armed our two boats, manned them with thirty-five men, and determined by dint of rowing to fetch St. John's and take the place and the King's sloop by surprize at break of day.
Date: 16 May 1775
Volume: Volume 1
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