George Washington Papers, Series 2, Letterbooks 1754-1799
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George Washington Papers, Series 2, Letterbooks 1754-1799 To THE NEW HAMPSHIRE LEGISLATURE Cambridge, March 14, 1776. Sir: Your favor of the 12th Instant I just now received and beg leave to assure you that the approbation which your Honbl. Council are pleased to express of my Conduct respecting the Operations against the Town of Boston, affords me the highest satisfaction. I am exceedingly sorry that it is not in my power at this time to comply with your requisition for powder and to make a return of what was generously lent for the Continental use, the low state of our store of that necessary Article, will not allow me to spare the smallest quantity, but hoping that I may get a further supply before long to enable me to do It, I shall be much obliged, If you will favor me with an account of what you furnished, that it may be repaid as soon as circumstances will admit of It. I am Sir, &c. To GOVERNOR NICHOLAS COOKE Cambridge, March 17, 1776. Sir: I have the Pleasure to inform you, that this morning the Ministerial Troops evacuated the Town of 39 Boston, without destroying it. and that we are now in the full possession; upon which event, I beg 39. An account of the evacuation, in the Boston Gazette, states that the enemy was seen to march from Bunker Hill about 9 a. m., and at the same time a great many boats. filled with troops, put off from Boston for the fleet, which lay below Castle William. Part of the Continentals came down the river from Cambridge by boats and landed at Sewells Point. General Ward's troops advanced from Roxbury and entered Boston from that direction. The command of the town was entrusted to General Putnam. leave to Congratulate you, and sincerely wish, if the Ministry persevere in the same unconstitutional and despotic measures, which too long have marked their conduct, that our opposition and resistance, in every Quarter, may be crowned with the success they have been here. George Washington Papers, Series 2, Letterbooks 1754-1799 http://www.loc.gov/resource/mgw2.008 Where their destination is, or what plans they have in view, is altogether unknown; most probably the next attempt will be against New York, or some more Southern Colony. However, I should think, tho' I do not believe they have any design against Rhode Island, that it will be adviseable to keep a strict look out; and submit it to you, whether it may not be proper against the time you apprehend they might arrive, to call in a number of the Militia and have them posted in proper places. I do not mean to direct the Measure, but only to mention It for your Consideration; to me it appears worthy of attention. I am &c. N. B. March 19th, the Fleet is still in King and Nantasket Roads. To LORD STIRLING Cambridge, March 19, 1776. My Lord: I am now to acknowledge the Receipt of your Favour of the 11th. Inst., and to give you my 49 Congratulations upon your late Appointment by the honourable Congress. If the Intelligence is true and to be depended on, which was brought by the Gentleman to New York, I think with you, that we shall have an Opportunity of securing and putting the Continent in a tolerable Posture of Defence and 49. Stirling, on March 1, had been appointed brigadier general. that the Operations of the Summer's Campaign will not be so terrible, as we were taught to expect 50 from the Accounts and Denunciations which the Ministry held forth to the Public. I have the Pleasure to inform you, that on the Morning of the 17th Inst. General Howe with his Army abandoned the Town of Boston without destroying it, an Event of much Importance, and which must be heard with great Satisfaction; and that we are now in full Possession of it. Their Embarkation and Retreat were hurried and precipitate and they have left behind them Stores of one Kind and another to a pretty considerable Amount, among which are several Pieces of heavy Cannon and one or two Mortars, which are spiked. The Town is in a much better Situation, and less injured than I expected, from the Reports I had received; tho' it is much damaged, and many Houses despoil'd of their valuable Furniture. George Washington Papers, Series 2, Letterbooks 1754-1799 http://www.loc.gov/resource/mgw2.008 The Fleet is still in King and Nantasket Roads; and where they intend to make a Descent next is altogether unknown; but supposing New York to be an Object of much Importance and to be in their View, I must recommend your most strenuous and active Exertions in preparing to prevent any Designs or Attempts, they may have against it. I have detached the Rifle Men and five Battalions from hence to your Assistance, which will be followed by others as Circumstances will allow. These, with what Forces are there, and can be assembled if there should be an Occasion, I trust, will be sufficient to hinder the Enemy from possessing the City or making a Lodgment 'till the main Body of this Army can arrive. I am, My Lord, &c. 50. The news brought by these gentlemen was to the effect that Great Britain bad engaged 10,000 Hanovarians and Hessians for service in America, and was endeavoring to obtain 10,000 Russians. Seven regiments (about 4,000 men) were to sail from Cork for the southern colonies and “That the french Ambassador at London had declared to the English Ministry that His Master did not mean to Meddle with the Quarrel between G. Britain and her Colonies which [while?] it was Carried on with its own force. But that he Could not be an Idle Spectator if any foreign Aid was made use of. (It was not then known in London that the french had any Troops in the West India Islands).” Stirling's letter is in the Washington Papers. To THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS Head Quarters, Cambridge, March 19, 1776. Sir: It is with the greatest pleasure I inform you that on Sunday last the 17th. Instant, about 9th O'Clock in the forenoon the Ministerial Army evacuated the Town of Boston, and that the Forces of the United Colonies are now in actual Possession thereof. I beg leave to congratulate you Sir, and the Honorable Congress on this happy event, and particularly as it was effected without endangering the 44 Lives and property of the remaining unhappy Inhabitants. I have great reason to imagine their flight was precipitated by the appearance of a Work which I had ordered to be thrown up last Saturday night, on an eminence at Dorchester, which lay nearest to Boston Neck called Newks Hill. The Town although it has suffered greatly, is not in so bad a state as I expected to find it, and I have a particular pleasure in being able to inform you Sir, that your House has received no damage worth mentioning, your furniture is in tolerable Order and the family pictures are all left entire and untouched. Captn. Cazneau takes charge of the whole until he receives further Orders from you. George Washington Papers, Series 2, Letterbooks 1754-1799 http://www.loc.gov/resource/mgw2.008 As soon as the Ministerial Troops had quited the Town, I ordered a Thousand men (who had had the small pox) under command of General Putnam, to take possession of the Heights, which I shall fortify in such a manner, as to prevent their return, should they attempt it; but as they are still in the Harbour, I thought it not prudent to march off with the main body of the Army, until I should be fully satisfied they had quited the Coast. I have therefore only detached five Regiments besides the Rifle Battalion to New York, and shall keep the remainder here 'till all suspicion of their return ceases. The situation in which I found their Works, 44. “We saw the ships under way about 8 in the morning and the River full of boats armed with soldiers. This gave an alarm and some suspected they were about to land at Dorchester, but having a full view of them with a glass from Plowed Hill, I found they were going on board the ships. 1 then took my horse, and rode down to Charlestown Neck, where I had a clear view of Bunker's Hill. I saw the sentrys standing as usual with their firelocks shouldered, but finding they never moved, I soon suspected what regiment they belonged to; and upon taking a clear view with my glass, found they were only effigies set there by the flying enemy. This convinced me that they were actually fled, for if they meant to decoy us, they would have taken away every appearance of man. By this time, I was joined by Colo. Mifflin, who, with my Brigade Major agreed to go up, sending two persons round the works to examine whether there was any of them in the rear of the works, while we went up in the front. I at the same time sent for a strong party to follow us on to the hill to assist us in running away (if necessary). We found no person there and bravely took the fortress defended by lifeless sentries. I then brought on a party to secure what we had so bravely won, and went down to the other works where we found all abandoned, but the works not injured in any part.