Displaying 1 - 20 of 61
Yesterday a Party from the United American Army was ordered to take the Cattle, Hay, &c. from Noddle's and Hog Islands. While executing their Orders, they were attacked by a Number of the King's Troops from Boston, in an armed Schooner,2 a Sloop, and 8 or 10 Boats belonging to the Men of War: A brisk Fire began about Four o'Clock, P.M. and continued most of the Night, then ceased a...
Date: 28 May 1775
Volume: Volume 1
The General Much Approves of the Vigilance & Courage of the Officers and Soldiers under the Command of Col. [Ephraim] Doolittle in the late Action at Chelsea, & has ordered 2 Barrils of Rum to be dealt out to them in equal portions for their Service.
Date: 28 May 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 General's Express that ought to have left this Four days ago, is not yet gone. I therefore set down to give you some description of our Situation here, & that of the Enemy. The Enemy are situated on Bunker & Breed's Hills, both on the Peninsula, where the late Town of Charlestown stood, & within reach, & under the Cover of the Guns from the Batterys in the Town of Boston...
Date: 11 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
Sir, Though I have not the misfortune of personally knowing you, yet I am perfectly acquainted wit,h your character, which is obnoxious to common fame. Were you actuated in your present proceedings from principles misinformed, it would be the duty of every discerning man to point out your error, and rectify your mistake ー but when frequent remonstrances are of no effect and repeated acts of...
Date: 30 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
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
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
Gentlemen I am directed by his Excellency Genl Washington to acknowledge the Receipt of your Favour last evening p Express, & to thank you for your Zeal & Activity in forwarding the Intelligence
As every early Notice had been given of the Sailing of this Fleet & the very Island mentioned which it has Plundered: The General cannot help being some what surprized, that effective Measures...
Date: 9 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
I have considered the Papers you left with me Yesterday; those of them which relate to [Ichabod] Jones shew him to be a malignant & inveterate Enemy to his Country and I trust he will meet with his Deserts; but I have such various & important Matters requiring my constant Attention that I must beg Leave to refer him and all others under Similar Circumstances to the Authority of the...
Date: 11 August 1775
Volume: Volume 1
Sir: Your Favors of the 8th and 11th Inst are duly received; the former, I laid before the General Court of this Province, but one of the Delegates communicated to them what Mr. [Samuel] Ward did to you, of the proceedings of the Continental Congress touching this Powder, nothing was done towards the providing of Specie, that the Vessel might proceed to other Places in case of a Disap pointment...
Date: 14 August 1775
Volume: Volume 1