Watertown March. 6. 1776
[Extract]
. . . am glad to hear you have more Powder arrived at the southward, wish we had a larger quantity here ー General Washington Wrote to the Committee of Council the last week and Informed them of his Intentions in a few days of taking Possession of the Heights of Dorchester & desired we would send him Twelve or Fifteen hundred of our Militia, The Committee of Council accordingly ordered six Regiments to be ready at a minute's Warning to repair to the Lines at Roxbury & Dorchester, upon receiving Notice for that purpose from any of the General Officers; They accordingly repaired to the lines the fourth Instant & as they belonged Chiefly to the County of Suffolk Brigadier General [Benjamin] Lincoln went at the Head of them; on the night of the 4th Instant a large detachment of our army under General [John] Thomas took possession of two Hills in Dorchester they lie about half way between the late Governor Shideys House and the Castle, The Enemy at Boston never Attempted to Molest them, but on the Next day they fired a Number of Cannon but did no Mischief, This is an important acquisition especially as it was obtained without the loss of a Manー
The Ships are going on with the utmost Dispatch 2
I remain [&c.] Thomas Cushing
1. Mason-Franklin Collection, YUL. Gerry was a Massachusetts delegate in the Continental Congress.
2. The two Continental frigates building at Newburyport.