Displaying 1 - 20 of 239
Before this Letter can reach you, you must, undoubtedly, have received an Account of the engagement in the Massachusetts Bay between the Ministerial Troops (for we do not, nor cannot yet prevail upon ourselves to call them the King's Troops) and the Provincials of that Government . . .
General Gage acknowledges, that the detachment under Lieutenant Colonel Smith was sent out to destroy private...
Date: 31 May 1775
Volume: Volume 1
1775
July 5
To the Expence of myself & party reconnoitg the Sea Coast East of Boston Harbor [£]18.13.2
Date: 5 July 1775
Volume: Volume 1
The Continental Congress having been pleased to appoint Horatio Gates Esq. Brigadier General, and Adjutant General of the Army; he is to be obeyed as such; and all Orders transmitted through him from the Commander in Chief, whether written or verbal, are to be punctually and immediately obey'd.
The General (or in his absence) The Commanding Officer at Roxbury, to send a Report every day in...
Date: 9 July 1775
Volume: Volume 1
Sir I arrived safely at this place on the 3d instant; ー after a Journey attended with a good deal of Fatigue and retarded by necessary attentions to the successive Civilities which accompanied me in my whole route. Upon my arrival I immediately visited the several Posts occupied by our Troops, and as soon as the Weather permitted, reconnoitred those of the Enemy. I found the latter strongly...
Date: 10 July 1775
Volume: Volume 1
. . .Our lines on Winter and Prospect Hills, and those of the enemy on Bunker's Hill, are in full view of each other, a mile distant, our advance guards much nearer, and the sentries almost near enough to converse; at Roxbury and Boston Neck it is the same. Between these, we are obliged to guard several of the places at which the enemy may land. They have strongly fortified, or will fortify in a...
Date: 10 July 1775
Volume: Volume 1
The great Scarcity of fresh Provisions in their Army has led me to take every Precaution to prevent a Supply. For this Purpose, I have ordered all the Cattle & Sheep to be driven from the low Grounds & Farms within their Reach. A Detachment from Genl [John] Thomas's Camp on Wednesday Night [July 12] went over to Long Island and brought from thence 20 Cattle, and a Number of Sheep, with...
Date: 14 July 1775
Volume: Volume 1
The Commanding Officers of each Regiment to report the names of such Men in their respective Corps, as are most expert in the management of whale-boats.
Date: 15 July 1775
Volume: Volume 1
In these 8 days past there have been no Movements in either Camp of any consequence: On our side we have continued the Works without any Intermission, and they are now so far advanced as to leave us little to apprehend on that Score. On the side of the Enemy, they have also been very industrious in finishing their Lines both on Bunker's Hill and Roxbury Neck. In this interval also their...
Date: 20 July 1775
Volume: Volume 1
Sir Since closing the Letters which accompany this I have received an Account of the Destruction of the Light House, a Copy of which I have the Honor to inclose2 and of again assuring you that I am [&c.]
Date: 21 July 1775
Volume: Volume 1
Sir: Yesterday I had an Account that three Men of War and Nine Transports had Sail'd out of Boston and in Evening I received a Note the Copy whereof is inclosed. The great Distress they are in at Boston for fresh Provisions makes it extreamly probable they may make some depridations along the Coasts; I have therefore thought it Proper to give you the earliest Notice, that the owners of those...
Date: 26 July 1775
Volume: Volume 1
On the 2nd Inst. I arrived at this place, after passing through a great deal of delightful Country, covered with grass, (although the Season has been dry) in a very different manner to what our Lands in Virginia are.
I found a mixed multitude of People here, under very little discipline, order, or Government. I found the enemy in possession of a place called Bunker's Hill, on Charles Town Neck,...
Date: 27 July 1775
Volume: Volume 1
Nothing material has occurred in either camp since I had the honour of addressing you on the twenty-first instant by express. But on Tuesday [July 25] three men of war and nine transports sailed out of Boston Harbour, and stood a course about east-south east.
One Groves, who came out of Boston the same evening, informed the officer at one of the outposts, that the Transports had on board six...
Date: 27 July 1775
Volume: Volume 1
I have considered the Application made me yesterday from the General Court, with all the attention due to the Situation of the People, in whose behalf it is made, and the Respect due to such a Recommendation. Upon referring to my Instructions and Consulting with those Members of Congress who are Present, as well as the General Officers, they all agree that it would not be consistent with my Duty...
Date: 31 July 1775
Volume: Volume 1
The General thanks Major [Benjamin] Tupper, and the Officers and Soldiers under his Command, for their gallant and soldierlike tbehaviour in possessing themselves of the enemy's post at the Light House, and for the Number of Prisoners they took there, and doubts not, but the Continental Army, will be as famous for their mercy as for their valour.
Two Sub[altern]s. two serjeants, one Drum, and...
Date: 1 August 1775
Volume: Volume 1
I am Yesterday favored with yours of the 31st July; We have yet no certain Accounts of the Fleet which Sail'd out of Boston the 25th; but if our Conjectures and Information are just we may expect to hear of it every Hour. I am now, Sir, in strict Confidence to acquaint you, that our Necessities in the Articles of Powder and Lead are so great as to require an immediate Supply. I must earnestly...
Date: 4 August 1775
Volume: Volume 1
. . . The other [skirmish] happened at the Light House; A Number of Work men having been sent down to repair it, with a Guard of 32 Marines and a Subaltern. Major [Benjamin] Tupper, last Monday Morning [July 31] about 2 o'clock landed there with about 300 Men Attack'd them killed the Officer and 4 Privates, the remainder thereof, [3 of] which are badly wounded he brought off Prisoners with 10...
Date: 4 August 1775
Volume: Volume 1
We have Accounts this morning of two Explosions at the Castle, so that its Destruction may now be supposed certain. I have this morning been much alarmed with an Information, th'at two Gentlemen from Philadelphia, Mr. [Benjamin] Hitchborn and Captain White with Letters for General [Charles] Lee and myself and other Gentlemen have been taken by Captain [James] Ayscough at Rhode Island, and letters...
Date: 5 August 1775
Volume: Volume 1
In respect to the Boats &c. from Salem, I doubt, in the first place, whether they can be brought over by Land ー in the Second, I am sure nothing could ever be executed here by Surprize; as I am well convinced that nothing is transacted in our Camp, or Lines, but what is known in Boston in less than 24 hours, ー indeed, Circumstanced as we are it is scarce possible to do otherwise, unless we...
Date: 7 August 1775
Volume: Volume 1
It must give great concern to any Considerate Mind, that, when this whole Continent, at a vast Expense of Blood and Treasure, is endeavouring to Establish Liberties on the most secure and Solid Foundations, not only by a laudable Opposition of Force to Force, but denying itself the usual advantages of Trade; there are men among us so basely sordid as to Counteract all our Exertions, for the sake...
Date: 8 August 1775
Volume: Volume 1
We have had no Occurrence in the Camp for Several Days worthy of Notice: But by some Advices from Boston & several concurring Circumstances we have great Reason to Suspect a Part or the whole of the ministerial Troops are about to remove: New York is the Place generally talk'd of as their Destination: ー I give you the Intelligence as it came to me, but do not vouch for it's Authenticityー
Date: 10 August 1775
Volume: Volume 1