Major General Joseph Spencer to General George Washington, January 7, 1778

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[Extract]

State of Rhode Island

Providence Jan^y. 7^th. 1778

May it please your Excellency

. . . There has Generally been about Six ships and Frigates of Force belonging to the Enemy, Round the Channel of Rhode Island, through the summer and fall Past: there is a large Number lately Arrived there of Transports, at least a Hundred, and in the whole now there, upwards of 20 ships, Frigates, and Sloops of War, Eight or nine of which of the line.¹ Lord Howe came there Last saturday:² they have lately been sounding in the Channel near Wanvick Neck, and we hear of some other preparations, that Indicate some designs against us. . . .

Jo^s Spencer

L, DLC, George Washington Papers, Series 4. Addressed flush left below signature: "His Excellency Gen^l Washington." Docketed: "Rhode Island 7^th/Jan^y 1778/from/Gen^l: Spencer/Ans^d 24^th." The letter also discusses provisioning problems for the army in Rhode Island and Spencer's desire to resign his command. On 24 Jan. Washington replied that he was aware Vice Adm. Howe had sailed for Newport with more than 100 transports to winter there. DLC, George Washington Papers, Series 4.

1. The ships of the line were Eagle, 64 guns, Nonsuch, 64 guns, Somset, 64 guns, Raisonable, 64 guns, Bristol, 50 guns, Chatham, 50 guns, with the storeships Buffalo, Grampus and Tortoise, former third rate ships of the line.

2. Howe arrived at Newport on Friday, 2 Jan.

Document Information

Date

1778 January 7

Author

Spencer, Joseph

Volume

Volume 11

Recipient

Washington, George (Gen., Continental Army)

Series

American Theatre from January 1, 1778 to March 31, 1778

Naval Documents of the American Revolution

Major General Joseph Spencer to General George Washington, January 7, 1778

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