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We have just recievd a letter from the Officers of the independant Company of Spotsylvania which I have herewith inclos'd;2 I immediately call'd together this Company and had the vote put whether they would march to Williamsburgh for the purposes mentioned in that letter which was carried unanimously.
I have nothing more to add but that We are well assured you may depend on them either...
Date: 26 April 1775
Volume: Volume 1
Sir a master of a vesel that Came out of Boston Saturday Night in order to Take Charge of a vesel at Soneington in Coniticut Loaded with Malases to Purseed to New York as he Saith his aquaintances in the Country Inform that he has bin a Suspected Person & I Think it my Duty to forward him to your Exelencye for your Exemiation I am Sir [&c.]
Date: 10 July 1775
Volume: Volume 1
We understand here that Batteries, may be constructed at the entrance of the Bay of Boston so as to prevent the egress & regress of any Ships whatever. If this be fact, would it not Sir be a signal stroke to secure the Fleet & Army in and before Boston so as to compel a surrender at discretion. While I write this, I assure you my heart is elated with the contemplation of so great an event...
Date: 1 August 1775
Volume: Volume 1
Last evening Col. [Elisha] Porter delivered me your Letter of the 4th instant, to which I have paid all the Attention the importance of it demands.
This Colony the last Fall, not confiding entirely in the precarious Supply of Powder that might be expected from the Merchants, imported a considerable Quantity, though not so large as was ordered. The supplying the Inhabitants, who were in a Manner...
Date: 8 August 1775
Volume: Volume 1
The Committee appointed to take into consideration the Honbl Governor [Nicholas] Cooke's Letter of the 8th Instt, & to his Excellency, Genl Washington's Message of yesterday by Colo [Joseph] Read, beg leave to report by way of Letter to Genl Washington
In Council August 11th 1775ー
May it please your Excellencyー
We have taken into consideration the Honbl Governor Cooke's Letter, which your...
Date: 11 August 1775
Volume: Volume 1
Sir, Since my last to you Mr [Samuel] Ward One of the Delegates hath returned from the Congress. He informs me that some of the Bermudians have been at Philadelphia ー soliciting for Liberty to import Provisions for the Use of the Island. They gave Information of the Powder mentioned in your Letter to me, and were of Opinion it might easily be obtained. They were told by the Delegates that every...
Date: 11 August 1775
Volume: Volume 1
May it please your Excellency I herewith Send two men who deserted from the Lively Man of War this morning about 3 oClock and was taken up by our Guard at Chelsea Beach & Conducted to me by a file of men.
We have had a small brush with the Enemy to day which began about 12 oClock and ended about ¼ of One occasioned by 2 Bearges & 2 Sail Boats going upto the floating Battery that Lay near...
Date: 13 August 1775
Volume: Volume 1
The Committee of Safety for this City & Province being informed on Saturday last [August 12], that a Ship from Cork had come up to Gloucester with some passengers, Officers of the Ministerial Army, and a quantity of Cloathing for that Army at Boston, immediately sent down Capt [Thomas] Bradford with thirty Men to take those officers prisoners, and at the same time an Armed Boat, to bring up...
Date: 17 August 1775
Volume: Volume 1
Sir, ー Your Excellency's letter of the 14th instant is now before me, the contents of which I have duly considered. When it came to hand our small sloop-of-war was out upon the cruise which I mentioned to your Excellency in a former letter. She hath since returned. The sending her on the enterprize you proposed could not be done, without some new and further powers from the General Assembly,...
Date: 30 August 1775
Volume: Volume 1
Sir ー I am favoured with your Excellency's letter of the 31st instant, by Capt. [George] Baylor, who has purchased the warlike stores imported by Messrs. Clarke & Nightingale. The prices appear to be very high; but, considering the cost, expenses and risk, I believe they are as low as can be reasonably expected . . . The Committee appointed to act during the recess of the General Assembly...
Date: 2 September 1775
Volume: Volume 1
[Extract]
I have the pleasure to inform your Excellency that on the seventh Instant, Capt [Samuel] Tucker commander of the armed Schooner Hancock took two Brigs in the Bay, (within sight of the Men of War) and carried them into Lynn. One of them was from Cork, ninety tons burthen, laden with Beef, Pork, Butter, and Coal; ー the other was from the Western Islands laden with Wine and fruit, about an...
Date: 9 May 1776
Volume: Volume 5
As to news, you must be nearer to its fountain head than I am, if America can be said to have such a place at this time. I can only say A few Gentlemen from Richmond & Essex, have retaken a Prize that a Dunmore Tender impudently came, and took at Hobbs hole (a mere Nest of Tories). As soon as it was known they pursued her in Open boats amidst showers of Swivel balls & bullets; & had...
Date: 9 May 1776
Volume: Volume 5
Dear Sir I had the Honor to receive Your Excellency's Favor of the 3d instant, by Mr Bennet; which was delivered on Wednesday Evening, General [John] Sullivan arrived here at six that Afternoon, half an Hour before that I returned from Fort George, having embarked General [William] Thompson with the last of his Brigade, on the Morning of the preceeding Day. ー
Immediately on the Receipt of your...
Date: 10 May 1776
Volume: Volume 5
The Particulars of the Engagement in the River below this City, tho at present it is over, are so variously reported, that it is impossible to give any consistent Representation of it. It is certain however that the King's Ships have quitted their Stations, and have fallen down the River as low as Reedy Island. When the Gondolas began the Attck, they were almost as high up as Chester.
Date: 10 May 1776
Volume: Volume 5
Dear General I found It impossible to leave Town to Day as I had intended, It is lucky That I did not, for I just now received an Express from Fort George advising me that amongst the Nails I had ordered from Canada there were very few of those wanted for the Bottoms of the Boats, This Account has plunged me into almost Inextricable Difficultys as I can procure only four hundred Weight in this...
Date: 11 May 1776
Volume: Volume 5
By Captn. [John Paul] Jones in the Providence I have sent you as many of your Officers and Soldiers as I could Collect but some of them that I took onboard are Sick and some have left the Fleet, for what Reason I can't tell
Shall Collect as many of those that are left behind as soon as possible and send them by the first Opportunity and Advertize the Remainder as Deserters tho' the Officers tell...
Date: 12 May 1776
Volume: Volume 5
Sir/ I arrived here the 9th Instant, but did not take the Command till today, as Colo [Isaac] Nicol did not think himself releived before.
The Fortifications intended here with a few improvements will render them almost impregnable, and impassable if a Boom was thrown Across the River Oposite them; which I think very Practicable as the River at this Place is no more than 500 Yards ー its Depth 18...
Date: 14 May 1776
Volume: Volume 5
This Moment Capt [William] Goforth arrived with sundry Letters and papers to me; Copies of all which I do myself the Honor to enclose to your Excellency.
The Distress our Army is in from their Variety of Wants is truly affecting and gives me the most poignant Anxiety ー Some of the inclosed papers observe that General [William] Thompson's Brigade carried only ten Days provision with them, but this...
Date: 15 May 1776
Volume: Volume 5
...I shall venture to give your Excellency my sentiments of the necessity & importance of an immediate expedition against Nova Scotia, in as few words as I can.
If our late intelligence from Great Britain can be relied on, I apprehend none of our troops in Canada can be spared, whether Quebeck is, or is not, in our hands. Nova Scotia has heared of our intention to reduce that Province, as...
Date: 16 May 1776
Volume: Volume 5
I this moment Returned from Still Water where I have been To give Some Directions about Conveying the provisions forward to our Troops in Canada immediately upon the Receipt of The Letters which I forwarded to your Excellencey I Draughted a Number of Men for the Batteaus from the Regiments here being well Convinced that the Men appointed for that purpose would not in a year Carry forward...
Date: 16 May 1776
Volume: Volume 5