American Theatre from February 19, 1776, to April 17, 1776
I am sorry to hear of your ill-fated fleet. We had it, I suppose because we wished it, that Hopkins had taken [Henry] Clinton, and his transports. How glorious would this have been! We have the proverb on our side, however, that "a bad beginning will end well." This applies to land and sea service.
Date: 7 March 1776
Volume: Volume 4
March 1776
Saturday 2
Moored at Boston
Mode & fair at ½ past 11 P M heard the report of several great Guns & saw a shell that was thrown into the town by the rebels soon after the Garrison began to heave shells & Shot from which time it Continued (Occasionally) with the rebels until
Sunday 3
5 A M & with our Garrison till 7. Got the ships Company all under Arms, bent the... Continue Reading
Date: 7 March 1776
Volume: Volume 4
I am in a poor situation to give you intelligence. I have but a very imperfect account of the military operations. The bombardment and cannonade of Boston begun on Saturday last, [March 2], and our army took possession of Dorchester Hill on Monday or Tuesday night, without any difficulty, and have strongly entrenched. What is to be next I know not. I presume you will have every particular from... Continue Reading
Date: 7 March 1776
Volume: Volume 4
My Dear Sir
I am greatly Obliged to you for your favour of the 6th of Feby which found me at Home sick & Confined, but had the Intended Effect it really made my Heart Glad. the want of powder you & I have often bitterly Lamented and if the pleasure of having it, is to be in proportion to the pain we have felt for the want of it, we may have a right to rejoice on its Arrival. I wish I... Continue Reading
Date: 7 March 1776
Volume: Volume 4
The heavy Cannon from New York are at poukepsie and preparations were making for transporting them by Land, which would occasion a vast and needless Expence, as they could not be sent from this place, if they were now here, nor from Fort George until the Lakes open ー One of the Committee who had them in Charge called upon me this Day for my Advice; which was to leave them on Board of the Vessel,... Continue Reading
Date: 7 March 1776
Volume: Volume 4
Mr. [Jacobus] Van Zandt, seconded by Mr. [Comfort] Sands, moved in the words following, to wit:
I move that a letter be wrote to the Continental Congress giving them a true copy of [the state of] this city and Colony, occasioned by the stoppage of provisions to the ships of war by order of General Lee.
The same being considered and unanimously agreed to,
Ordered, That Mr. [Thomas] Smith, Mr Van... Continue Reading
Date: 7 March 1776
Volume: Volume 4
... The Sloop we are fitting out is ready
2 but wait to know from the Congress what pay you alow the officers & saylors on board the smalest Continental Vessels, and the description of the Continental Colours. I beg you to furnish me with a Copy of these without delay, as the Public Service suffers, without regarding at whose expence the armament is to be. Send me... Continue Reading
Date: 7 March 1776
Volume: Volume 4
We hear by a Gentleman from Rhode Island, that the Macaroni privateer had taken a transport ship from London; it is said that there were found on board orders for General Howe only to act on the defensive, till further orders.
Date: 7 March 1776
Volume: Volume 4
For Ireland and Glasgow, The New Brig Hannah, John M'Naughton [McNachtane], Master, will sail in ten days. ー For passage apply to Walter and Thomas Buchanan and Company, or the Master on board the vessel lying at Lupton's Wharf.
This vessel has the best accomodations for cabin or steerage passengers. New-York, 7th March, 1776
Date: 7 March 1776
Volume: Volume 4
Mode. Breezes and Cloudy. PM our Boats Brought in & Anchd here the Brigg Diligence from [New] Providence,
2 ... Fir'd two Guns to bring Vessels too.
3
Date: 7 March 1776
Volume: Volume 4
An Applicatn made by the Jersey Delegates in Favor of a Demand of Michael Kearney was comd to the Comee on Gen Washingtons Letters, Ld Stirling had seized Kearneys Shallop and made Use of Her in taking the Blue Mountain Valley the Shallop being afterwards taken by the Enemy, the Prayer is for Compensation out of the Ship.
2
Date: 7 March 1776
Volume: Volume 4
I wrote you of yesterday's Date by an Express under Cover to General Washington, when I inform'd you every Circumstance that Occur'd necessary for your Go[v]ernment as to the Ships. I hope soon to hear of your having Rec'd my Letter & the Twenty five thousand Dollars as well as the plans all which I Sent under the Care of Coll [John] Bull & that I shall soon have a Rect for the money. I... Continue Reading
Date: 7 March 1776
Volume: Volume 4
My dear General
I have now the Pleasure of informing you that a Vessel long expected from France & Holland arrived a few Days ago with 25 Tons of Powder ー 300 Stand of excellent Arms & 1500 Weight of Salt Petre. ー We are hourly in Expectation of further Arrivals, but we must now soon expect some Ships of War in our River which I fear will cut off all further Enterprizes of the like Nature... Continue Reading
Date: 7 March 1776
Volume: Volume 4
At a Special Meeting of the Committee.
Resolved, That the Commodore order down to-morrow to Fort Island, three of the armed Boats that are in most readiness, where they are to remain 'til they are relieved by others, while they are down the River the Men are to be quartered at the pest House in the Rooms not occupied by Capt. Procter's Company, until sufficient Barracks on Fort Island are built.
Date: 7 March 1776
Volume: Volume 4
Resolved, That a Breast Work be immediately thrown up at the Point below Jesse Hollingsworth's, and that the Money in Mr Moale's Hands be appropriated to defray the Expence attending it
The Committee are Unanimously of Opinion, and do direct, that all the light Vessels in the Harbour be immediately carried down to Whetstone in order to be sunk in the Channel, to prevent the Vessels of War from... Continue Reading
Date: 7 March 1776
Volume: Volume 4
Ordered That Col. John Weems immediately march his Battalion to South River Ferry and quarter them there, Part on this, and Part on the other Side of the Ferry, and should the Man of War and her Tenders attempt any Landing there, that he be ready to repel them.
Ordered that a Copy of the above Order be immediately dispatched to Col. Weems by Express.
Date: 7 March 1776
Volume: Volume 4
No 32.
Gentn The Man of War of what particular Force we know not, and her Sloop or Schooner Tenders are now, we are certainly informed, up as high as South River. We are not certain that they may put into this. River; they have in Tow a Provision Vessel they seized in the Bay, If there be any Vessels loaded in your River, we would have you fall on the best Expedients you can, to secure them ー... Continue Reading
Date: 7 March 1776
Volume: Volume 4
Sir A ship of War and two Tenders have just hove in sight ー we request therefore that you will immediately repair to this City and order Captn [John Hawkins] Stone to march up with his Company as expeditiously as he can ー the Captain will call at Upper Marlbro' on his Way hither and receive such public Arms, as may be collected there by the Committee of Observation for Prince Georges County.
Date: 7 March 1776
Volume: Volume 4
Gent The Man of War with her Tenders have passed by this Harbour and are standing up the Bay, we presume for your Town.
Date: 7 March 1776
Volume: Volume 4
Sir The Man of War and Tenders are gone past the Mouth of the Severn, and are bound, as we believe, up the Bay to Baltimore-Town ー You are therefore to march immediately to Baltimore Town with your Battalion, and endeavour to repel any hostile Attempts, that may be made ー should any Powder or Lead be wanted, you may be supplied from Major Gaither's.
Date: 7 March 1776
Volume: Volume 4
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