Displaying 1 - 20 of 25
In my last letter of the 29th of April by the General Gage Sloop I had the Honor to acquaint Your Excellency that a few of the Transports had got into this River. ー and I am now to inform you of the Arrival of the greatest part of them with Lord [Charles] Cornwallis & Sir Peter Parker, who joined us on the 3d of this month ー Two more of the Transports are since arrived, and there are now...
Date: 18 May 1776
Volume: Volume 5
I am sorry to inform you that it has been my unfortunate lot to have fallen into the hands of the Americans, in the middle of Boston harbour. But, when the circumstances, which have occasioned this disaster, are understood, I flatter myself no reflexion will arise to myself or my officers on account of it. On the 16th of June the George and Annabella transports, with two companies of the seventy-...
Date: 19 June 1776
Volume: Volume 5
Sir We have defeated the Rebel Fleet upon lake Champlain, three sail only out of 15 having escaped, the rest we have taken or destroyed, upon the news of this event reaching crown point the Rebels posted there, set fire to all the buildings and retired to Ticonderoga. His Majesty's Forces therefore are now in possession of the former place, but I fear the want of time (the severe season...
Date: 20 October 1776
Volume: Volume 6
. . . a warm Diversion upon the Coasts of the Massachuset's Bay, and New Hampshire, would not only impede the Levies for the Continental Army, but tend much to the Security of Our Trade, and indeed, it scarcely admits a doubt but that these Benefits must inevitably result from such an Arrangement; For as, on one hand, it is scarcely to be expected that those Provinces will part with men when...
Date: 3 March 1777
Volume: Volume 8
From different Conversations I have had on the subject of navigating in the River St Lawrence at this time of the year, and on the probability of Vessels getting to Quebec, I have been led to take the Opinions of Captains [Broderick] Hartwell and [John] Macartney upon the likelihood of the Cerberus and Transports arriving at Quebec, supposing they were now ready to depart: these Gentlemen assure...
Date: 12 October 1775
Volume: Volume 2
Sir, After having, in my Separate Letter of this day's date said so much upon the ideas which have been adopted of the great risque & little advantage that are to be expected from the Army continuing at Boston during the Winter season, unless a more favourable Prospect opens, & having also repeatedly suggested the advantages of recovering possession of New York, I have...
Date: 5 September 1775
Volume: Volume 2
Sir: I have the honour to inform you that I landed the 12th of last month at 11 o'Clock at night about three miles from hence with Lieut Lawrie, two Serjeants, & forty rank and file of the 14th Regiment, and after marching three miles into the country in search of Artillery we found in a wood nineteen pieces of cannon, some of them twelve, others nine, six & three pounders; seventeen of...
Date: 2 November 1775
Volume: Volume 2
I have sent Mr. Mowat Orders to put to Sea immediately to look for the Brig Nancy,2 and have given directions to set her on fire if found in Cape Anne Harbour and she cannot be cut out; if she is not there Lieutt Mowat is to cruize for her and bring her in, but I am inclined to think that she stood to Sea the late thick Weather, and the strong Northerly Winds since have prevented her...
Date: 12 November 1775
Volume: Volume 2
Captain Parker informs me that when Lieutt Mowat received his Order last Sunday night [November 12] the Canceaux had not sufficient Water in to go to Sea with, and that he was unavoidably obliged to remain until the Weather was more moderate to take it on board. I hope the Ordnance Brig2 and all others bound here will get in safe, but it was impossible for any Ship to keep her Station...
Date: 19 November 1775
Volume: Volume 2
Dear General Colonel [Moses] Kirkland who is the bearer of this, came here some short time ago from South Carolina, of which Province he is a Native; He is a man of very considerable property, Has very great influence amongst the people in the back part of that Country, He is an active, bold, enterprising man, & one in whom I realy beleive you might put the utmost confidence, & greatly...
Date: 20 November 1775
Volume: Volume 2
When Captain Tollemache Sailed from hence the latter end of August he had Orders to seize any Ship or Vessel with Rice and to send her to Boston; Captain Thornborough of the Tamer then stationed at Charles Town had similar Directions; indeed all the Ships have long had Orders to seize and send to Boston every kind of Provision and Grain for the use of this Garrison. The Tamer and Cruizer Sloops...
Date: 23 November 1775
Volume: Volume 2
Your Excellency can make no request or proposal for the good of his Majestys Service that I will not readily attend to, and heartily assist to carry into execution, whenever there is a Probability of Success. Before and since I had the Honour of your Letter, I have been making the most diligent Enquiries about Marblehead and Cape Anne Harbours. At Marblehead I am informed the Rebels have a...
Date: 26 November 1775
Volume: Volume 2
On Tuesday the 14th of this month Lord Dunmore with the Detachment of the 14th Regiment that I have the honour to command, and some Volunteers, embarked in boats, & after going up the Southern branch of Elizabeth river, we landed about day light four or five miles below the Great-Bridge with an intention to dislodge a number of men in arms from North Carolina, who had taken passession of that...
Date: 26 November 1775
Volume: Volume 2
The report here is that General Gage is gone home, and that you are appointed to Succeed him, if so, from my heart I give you Joy, and am well persuaded you will soon evince to the World that you are well deserving the Honor conferred on you, by your Soverign; I must inform you that with our little Corps I think we have done wonders, We have taken and destroyed above four Score pieces of Ordnance...
Date: 30 November 1775
Volume: Volume 2
Dear General The bearer of this whose name is John Eustace is the Son of an unfortunate widow Gentlewoman in this Country, I have had the Care of Him for these three Years past, and have given him the best Education this Country could afford. He is a very good latin scholar, of exceeding good Spirit, & quick parts, of excellent temper, & good disposition, has conceived a great desire to...
Date: 2 December 1775
Volume: Volume 2
I wish it was in my power to give your Excellency more Satisfaction on the Subject of your Letter, which I had the Honour to receive Yesterday, but altho' fully sensible of the Distresses this Garrison will be subjected to by the Rebels taking its Supplies; Yet it is impossible entirely to prevent it with the Men of War alone at this Season. All that I can do is to place the Kings Ships in the...
Date: 13 December 1775
Volume: Volume 3
We have just been informed of a Circumstance, which were it not so well authenticated I should scarcely think credible ー it is, that Colonel Allen who (with his small party) was defeated and taken prisoner near Montreal, has been treated without regard to decency, humanity, or the rules of War ー that he has been thrown into Irons & suffers all the hardships inflictd upon Common Felons ー I...
Date: 18 December 1775
Volume: Volume 3
I have had the Honour to receive your Letters of the 2d and 3d instant, the last inclosing Extracts from a Dispatch from Lord Dartmouth, one of his Majesty's Principal Secretaries of State to your Excellency, fully acquainting me with the Scope of his Majesty's Intentions respecting the present War with the Rebels. The Mercury is the Ship with me best calculated for the Service proposed to the...
Date: 5 January 1776
Volume: Volume 3
Sir, I had the honour to receive your Letter of the 24th December last the 1st Instant by Captain Otta, who came Passenger from Barbadoes in a Tender belonging to the Squadron under my Command, which then happened to be waiting the arrival of the Packet from England to bring my dispatches from thence; He also brought me Letters from Captain [B.C.] Payne and Lieutenant [Henry] Chads, with Copy of...
Date: 10 February 1776
Volume: Volume 3
The 22d. November, we receiv'd here the disagreeable news from Quebec, of General Burgoyne's misfortune: soon after the Lieutenant Governor1 and Council sat, and wrote me a letter to apply for the removal of the Rebel Prisoners.
I wrote to Sir George Collier to inform him, as it was reported that General Burgoyne's Army were brought Prisoners to Boston, I gave it as my...
Date: 2 January 1778
Volume: Volume 11