Naval Documents of The American Revolution Volume 3 AMERICAN THEATRE: Dec. 8, 1775–Dec. 31, 1775 EUROPEAN THEATRE: Nov. 1, 1775–Jan. 31, 1776 AMERICAN THEATRE: Jan. 1, 1776–Feb. 18, 1776 Part 2 of 8 United States Government Printing Office Washington, 1968 Electronically published by American Naval Records Society Bolton Landing, New York 2012 AS A WORK OF THE UNITED STATES FEDERAL GOVERNMENT THIS PUBLICATION IS IN THE PUBLIC DOMAIN. 136 AMERICAN THEATRE In the Council of Safety, Saturday Evening, Dec. 16th, 1775. The Hon. Wm. H. Drayton applied for commissions appointing Capt. Stephen Seymour to be Second Lieutenant, and Capt. Jacob Milligan to be Third Lieutenant of the colony armed ship Prosper. And commissions were made out and signed accordingly. Ordered, That the domesticks of Lord William Campbell, which were on board the canow stopt last night, be immediately brought before the Council. Being brought accordingly, and it appearing, upon their examination, that some of his Lordship's effects had been put on bard the sloop , Alex- ander Mills, master, bound for Georgia. Resolved, That the said sloop be immediately stopt; that no goods whatever be taken out; and that all letters in possession of the master be demanded. Ordered, That the committee of observation be desired to cany the above resolution into execution. Ordered, That a guard be immediately placed about the house of Lord William Campbell, to prevent the removal of any of his Lordship's effects, until further orders, in order that such persons as may be injured by his Lordship's seizure and detention of their property, and encouraging, harbouring and protect- ing their runaway slaves, may be indemnified. 1. Collections of the South-Carolina Historical Society, III,87-91. 17 Dec. (Sunday) Sir Cambridge 17th Decr 1775. By sundry persons and accounts just from Boston, I am informed, that the Minesterial Army is in very great distress for want of fresh Provisions and having received intelligence that there are 200 fat Cattle on Block Island and some Transport Vessels cruizing that way, in quest of Necessaries for the Army, I must request you to have the Cattle &c removed from thence immediately, and from every other place where their Ships can come and take them of[q ; It is a matter of the utmost importance, to prevent their getting a Supply; If they can be hindered now, the advanced Season of the year and the Inclement weather, which we may expect ere long, will put it out of their power. I yesterday received the inclosed information from several persons who lately came out from Boston, which I thought my duty to transmit to you. It is more than probable, that the destination of the Troops may be very different from what they have given out; they may have made use of that to deceive in another Quarter. I am &c. Go Washington 1. Washington Papers, Varick Transcripts, LC. DECEMBER 1775 137 Camp at Cambridge, Decr 17th 1775. Walter Logan Esqr appearing before me this Day Declares - That on the 19th day of April last, he went to Boston; The twenty fifth of said month Sailed for Halifax & Nova Scotia - where he continued until1 about the sixth day of October last, when he embarked for Boston in a Brigt Captain Hanes, loaded with Live Stock, where he arrived the 16th of said month, and on the 17th Demanded a Pass to Newport Rhode Island, and having obtained one, Embarked on Board a Transport Snow Robinson, with provisions for the ships of war at that Port, where he arrived in three weeks, Staid there about fourteen Days, and then came to Needham, where he arrived on last Wednesday Evening - That he is now Comptroller of the Custom for the Port of Perth Amboy - New Jersey, and intends with leave Immediately to remove himself and Family to that place, and further saith not, which is presented to his Excellency General Wash- ington for Consideration, and for such orders as he shall think fit to give thereon - By kis Excellency's most obedient [&c.] W. Heath.2 1. Force Transcripts, LC. 2. Major General William Heath. Gentlemen, Providence Decemr 17th 1775. You will find in the Providence Paper the latest Intelligence we have from Quebec. Palmer further informs us that the Breaches in the Walls had been repaired with Fascines; and that the Inhabitants were very generally determined not to engage in Defence of the Place. A Letter from Lieut. Col [Christopher] Greene dated the 23d ulto acquaints his Wife that they arrived before Quebec Ten Days too late, and were obliged to retreat; & that General Montgomery with 3 or 4000 Men were to embark the same Day about 45 Leagues above him in order to join Col. Arnold and attack the City. So that I have still Hopes the City is in our Possession. This will be delivered to you by Messrs Penet and Pliarne who arrived here in Capt Rhodes. They appear to be Persons of some Consequence, and I hope may be useful in beginning a Negociation with the Court of France for Assistance, which I look upon to be a most important Object. But I forbear enlarging upon this Subject although the Measure appears to me absolutely necessary; because the Congress are the best Judges how far they are ripe for such an Application. There is no Doubt but that Capt. Martindale in a fine Cruizer fitted out by General Washington from Plymouth is taken by One of the Enemy's Ships of War disguised as a Transport who made Sail from him with Drugs. It is re- ported that he had 55 Men killed and wounded out of 70.' 138 AMERICAN THEATRE -1 The stopping of Lord Dunmore's Progress in Virginia is an Object of Importance. Indeed I think he ought instantly to be crushed at all Expence and Hazard. I am, with great Regard Gentlemen [&c.] NichTooke Hon'ble S. Hopkins & S. Ward Esqrs 1. Cooke Papers, RIHS. 2. A report at complete variance with the facts. [Newport, December] 17. The Men oYWarat Noon sailed northward in hostile manner. 1. Diary of Ezra Stiles, YUL. Fort George, Decr 17.1 775 May It please Your Excellency, I returned from Ticonderoga to this place on the 15th instant & brought with me the Cannon, &c. It having taken nearly the time I conjectur'd it would to transport them here.-It is not easy to conceive the difficulties we have had in getting them over the lake owing to the advanced Season of the Year & contrary Winds-Three days ago it was very uncertain whether we could have gotten them over until1 next spring, but now please God, they shall go-I have made forty two exceeding strong sleds & have provided eighty yoke of Oxen to drag them as far as Springfield where I shall get fresh Cattle to carry them to Camp. The rout will be from here to Kinderhook, from thence into Great Barrington, Massachusetts Bay, & down to Springfield-There will scarcely be any possibility of conveying them from here to Albany or Kinderhook, but on Sleds the roads being very much gullied.-At present the sledding is tolerable to Saratoga about 26 Miles; beyond that there is none.-I have sent for the Sleds & teams to come up & expect to begin to move them to Saratoga on Wednesday or Thursday next, trusting that between this & that period we shall have a fine fall of Snow which will enable us to proceed further & make the Carriage easy-if that should be the case I hope in 16 or 17 Days to be able to present to your Excellency a Noble train of Artillery, the Inventory of which [is] inclos'd. I have been particular with respect to their dimensio[ns,] that no mistake may be in making their carriages as there are none here or Implements of any kind I also send a List of those Stores which I desir'd Colo McD[ougall] to send from N York. I did not then know of any 13 Inch Mortars which was the reason of my ordering but few Shells of that Size; but I now write to him fw 500 13 Inch, 200 5x0 Inches & 400 of 4% Inches.-If these sizes could be had there as I believe they can I should imagine it would save time & expence rather than to have them cast-if You should think otherwise or have made provision for them elsewhere you will please to countermand this order. There is no other News here of Col Arnold than that from Colo McCleans having burnt the Houses round Quebec Col Arnold was obliged to go to point aux DECEMBER 1775 139 tremble about 6 miles from the City, that Gen. Montgomery had gone to join him with a Considerable body of men & a good train of Artillery Mortars, &c. There are some timid & some malevolent Spirits who make this matter much worse, [but] from the different accounts which I have been able to collect, I have very little doubt that General Montgomery has Quebec now in his possession. I am [&c.] Henry Knox 1. Washington Papers, LC. JOURNALOF H.M.S. Phoenix, CAPTAINHYDE PARKER,JR.' December 17 75 At Single Anchor Sandy Hook Light House SBE'/2S Saturday 16th fir'd 3 Shot at Different times to bring Vessels too coming in The first part Modt Breezes & Cloudy. The Remainder light winds & hazy wth Drizling rain. PM at 1 Weighed and came to Sail. at 5 Anchord wth the Small Bower in 14 Fathom Veerd to '/2 A Cable Governor Island Bearing SE Distance 3/4 Mile.