Displaying 1 - 18 of 18
I take the Liberty, of acquainting you that in obedience to Orders from the Honble the Marine and Secret Committees of Congress, bearing date the 9th ulto, I immediately repaired here in Order to proceed in the French Ship Amphitrite from hence to Charlestown South Carolina and thence to France, the intention of the Secret Committee was first to avail of this Ships Guns and Men to make a Cruizing...
Date: 3 June 1777
Volume: Volume 9
I am come here on a disagreeable errand — to Supercede you, against whom I have no cause of complaint. Delicacy would not permit my more early Appearance. I wished to give you time to consider Seriously whether your Suspension can be in any respect Owing to me: You must be convinced that it was not when you recollect that I was Appointed to command a far better Ship than the Ranger: Besides, I...
Date: 12 July 1777
Volume: Volume 9
You being nominated as Lieutenant of Marines in the Service of these States, are hereby Authorized and directed forthwith to Enlist as many Able Bodied Men as possible to Serve in the Navy under my Command2 —You are to enter All the good Seamen who present themselves — as Sundry petty Warrant Officers will be Appointed from Among them.
I will shortly send you with hand Bills for your...
Date: 15 July 1777
Volume: Volume 9
Inclosed I send a Copy of my last of the 17th Current from hence. — several officers have been Appointed since that time and I have reason to think that the Compliment will soon be completed both with respect to Officers and Men —
When I took Command of the Ranger she was scarcely half Rigged — and the workmen are now, and will be for some time necessarily Employed Colo Whipple writes you pr...
Date: 21 July 1777
Volume: Volume 9
Encouragement for seamen.
Whereas the seamen of these States have for some time past been dis couraged from entering into the navy, by thinking they have hitherto been unfairly dealt with in respect of prize money, and the regular payment of wages: Therefore, to remove all cause of future complaint, I will be answerable to every person who may enter to serve under my command, for the punctual...
Date: 26 July 1777
Volume: Volume 9
You are hereby Ordered and directed forthwith to proceed to Newburyport Boston and on your way there endeavour to assist Mr Charrier whom you will find enlisting Men to Serve in the Navy Under my Command — You are to present the Memorandum of Articles wanted for the Ranger to Messrs Livingston and Turnbull who will Oblige me by rendring you every possible Assistance. — but my principle design in...
Date: 27 July 1777
Volume: Volume 9
. . . I have been unhappy in reflecting that I have been no less than five times baffled in the various Services, which have been pointed out for my Honor arid benefit since my arrival at Boston in the Alfred, yet I mention not this as an excuse for my Silence, — I acknowledge that Silence to have been blameable. I have now the fairest Prospect of getting the Ranger compleatly manned — hitherto...
Date: 28 July 1777
Volume: Volume 9
As I learn from you, that the Seamen who have enter'd for the Ranger for One Cruize expect to receive an Advance of Forty dollars and that the Landsmen expect to receive an Advance of Twenty dollars as mentioned, in the hand Bills, ancl as I would by no means deceive any Man, who has Enter'd or may Enter to serve under my Command, it is proper that you should inform them, that at the time when...
Date: 29 July 1777
Volume: Volume 9
Inclosed you have sundry letters &c which you are at liberty to use at discretion — for I can unbosom myself to you with the utmost Confidence, — you have laid me under the most singular Obligations, & you are indeed the Angel of my Happiness; since to your Friendship I owe my present enjoyments, as well as my future prospects. — I will not attempt to thank you by letter, but endeavour to...
Date: 17 August 1777
Volume: Volume 9
Yesterday Genl Whipple shewed me a letter which he had Just receiv'd from you by return of Express wherein you mentioned my having Orders for France, I apprehend you allude to my former Orders from the Secret Committee, as I have receiv'd none lately to that Effect, as the Raleigh and Alfred have proceeded for France, should any Enterprize be adopted there I dread the thoughts of being set under...
Date: 24 August 1777
Volume: Volume 9
I am happy to hear of your safe arrival at Boston. — I am almost in readiness for Sea, so that I cannot hope for the pleasure of seeing you in Boston before my departure; you will oblige me much by a Copy of your prisoner's scheme of quartering the Officers and Men in different rates of the Enemies Navy and what he. conceives to be their duty respectively. — Thompson and Hinman are gone; and by...
Date: 24 August 1777
Volume: Volume 9
Yours down to the 21st is with me. — with respect to the Swivels unless they can be done this week the time will not now Admit to have them Cast — therefore desire Captain Bradford to Apply for Captain McNeills or any other Eight Short Swivels fit for Tops and Send them here without loss of time. — Should not Colo Fraizer continue determined to proceed in the Ranger the Qr Cask of Wine will be...
Date: 24 August 1777
Volume: Volume 9
As the Continental Ship of War Ranger under my command is nearly in readiness for Sea, and as I have particular Orders from Congress, to proceed with all possible expedition — I take the liberty applying to you for Authority to enlist a few Men from the Forts and Garrisons of this harbour, whereby I may be enabled with the greater facility to complete my complement, and to fulfil the intentions...
Date: 29 August 1777
Volume: Volume 9
I had the honor of writing to you from hence 3d day of June last — Copy whereof is here inclosed. Congress have thought fit to put the new Sloop of War therein mentioned, now called the Ranger under my command, and have authorized Genl Whipple, Colo Langdon and myself to appoint the Officers. When I took this command, the middle of last month; I found that the Cordage and Canvis which had at...
Date: 30 August 1777
Volume: Volume 9
Inclosed you have copies of sundry Letters &ca which I forwarded to you the 17th Ulto under cover to Messrs [Abraham] Livingston and [William] Turnbull and which I fully expected would have reached your hands in Boston but by carelessness or otherwise the Packet hath never reached their hands and is I fear entirely lost. — inclosed you have also the copy of my letter of 24th to Mr Morris and...
Date: 1 September 1777
Volume: Volume 9
Altho' I am not yet favored with your reply to my letter of 24th Ult. — I am unwilling to Ommit this Opportunity. — Inclosed you have sundry papers which you are at liberty to use at your discretion-the inclosed letter with that to Mr Hewes and the one which I shewed you last Winter to the Marine Committee contains my Sentiments on the present line of Rank. — I would lay down my life for America...
Date: 4 September 1777
Volume: Volume 9
As I have had no invoice of the Articles Supplied by Livingston and Turnbull I must request you to furnish me with the particulars and prices of those Articles which are comprehended in the "Sundries" mentioned in your Account — else I shall be unable to fix the prices when the Slops are served out and must of course suffer the Accounts to run into Confusion. — with respect to the Old St Georges...
Date: 10 September 1773
Volume: Volume 9
The inclosed letter to the committee of Safety having produced no effect2 — I think it my duty to lay it before you. The departure of the Ranger is now impeded Solely for want of the liberty which I then asked and which I now hope to obtain from you. — United as the Continent is its interest must take Precedence of all private concerns in every patriot Breast. — And as I hope I have...
Date: 20 September 1777
Volume: Volume 9