Commodore Samuel Davison to the Pennsylvania Galley Captains, June 20, 1776

Document

Transcription

Ship Montgomery, 20th May [sic June] 1776.

Sir:

Have to advise you I have Received from the Honourable the Committee of Safety, my Commission and Instructions to act as Commander in Chief of the Naval Armament of this Province, In consequence of which you'll Immediately Unmoore from your Stations and Moore on the East side of Fort Island, in the most convenient place; In consequence, Request your Immediate answer in writing.

Your most Obdt

Saml. Davison²

To	[Endorsements]
Henry Dougharty, Esqr,	Will Recive no orders from Comdr Davison.
John Rice, Esqr,	In Town.
John Hamilton, Esqr,	Will Recive no Orders from Comdr Davison.
Richard Eyers, Esqr,	Will Recive no Orders from Comdr Davison.
James Blair, Esqr,	in town.
James Montgomery, Esqr,	Will Recive no Orders from Comdr Davison.
Alexander Henderson, Esqr,	Will Recive no Orders from Ditto.
Thomas Moore, Esqr,	Will Recive no Orders from Ditto.
Hugh Montgomery, Esqr,	Will Receive no Orders from Ditto.
Thomas Houston, Esqr,	In town.
Lieutenant [Robert] Hume,	Will Reciv no Orders from Comdr Davison
Lieutenant [Benjamin] Thompson,	Comply with Orders.

1. Hazard, et al., eds., Pennsylvania Archives, 1st series, IV, 759. Davison forwarded the foregoing to the Committee of Safety on the same day, heading it "A true Copy of Orders sent to the Commander of each of the Twelve Gallies stationed between Fort Island and the Main," and with the following appended: "The Commr of the Amonttion Sloop sd he would oBey Orders. Mr. Edward York 2d Lieut of Ship Montgomery, heard the Captns of the Galleys say the Amonition Sloop should not move from her Station. I sent Mr. Edward York, of Ship Montgomery, with the Orders, as the other side Returned with the answers as entered Down."

2. A fragment of a further letter from Davison to the Committee, reads:

When Mr York returned on Board with the Answers of the C[apts] of the Gallys I went down into the Cabin with the Clark to Copy their said answers whilst below the Capts Came alongside with all their Yolls man'd and Entered the Ship in a very Hostil manner Coursing Swaring to hawl Down the Pendant th[o] neither Knew Davison nor the Committee of Saf[ety nor] the Ships Officer said the[y] Should not have the Pendant the Bat[tery] Boat Comeing on Board Arm'd I haild her & Ordered her back to the Battery Capt [William] Gamble swore the[y] would fetch fire sloop & the Gallys & Blow the Ship to the Divel it [was] the Particular Desire of the Board to me when sent Down to Esue out my Orders if Insulted or treated with Contempt to be Calm & temperate in my Proceedings & to enter into no Contest Whatsoever my Orders from the Board was to Return at five OClock & being seven before I left the Ship [remainder torn.]

Committee of Safety, Navy Papers, Pa. Arch.

Document Information

Date

1776 June 20

Author