t- volume tke fotittk of publicationd of fO aval cf&idto cy &ociety id now idduet) to Gfubdcvibetd, at Additional copied ic/kt 2)ol- eacfi may be obtained eitket tktougk membezd oz application to tke (gszcwtaiy, id tkat tke o)t tecjuedted membetd acknowledge tfie^ receipt oft/lid volume to c/J&t, c/oobett W. ibeedet, tke^ tke at /Oew *ectetaty of (^society, %4y c/iftk o^venue, a notice in addtedd, (oity, with of any change THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVAL HISTORY SOCIETY CERTIFIES THAT THIS COPY OF THE MARINE COMMITTEE LETTER-BOOK IS No.- OF FIVE HUNDRED COPIES, PRINTED FOR THE SOCIETY ONLY THE NAVAL HISTORY SOCIETY INCORPORATED BY ACT OF CONGRESS AUGUST 21, 1912 OFFICERS 1914 PRESIDENT REAR-ADMIRAL C. H. DAVIS, U. S. N. VICE-PRESIDENT HERBERT L. SATTERLEE SECRETARY AND TREASURER ROBERT WILDEN NEESER 247 Fifth Avenue, New York City BOARD OF MANAGERS JAMES BARNES REAR-ADMIRAL F. E. CHADWICK, U. S. N. COLONEL WILLIAM C. CHURCH REAR-ADMIRAL C. H. DAVIS, U. S. N. REAR-ADMIRAL C. F. GOODRICH, U. S. N. CHARLES T. HARBECK GRENVILLE KANE REAR-ADMIRAL S. B. LUCE, U. S. N. ROBERT W. NEESER HERBERT L. SATTERLEE REAR-ADMIRAL C. H. STOCKTON, U. S. N. COLONEL ROBERT M. THOMPSON EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE JAMES BARNES REAR-ADMIRAL C. H. DAVIS, U. S. N. GRENVILLE KANE ROBERT W. NEESER HERBERT L. SATTERLEE PUBLICATIONS OF THE NAVAL HISTORY SOCIETY tt VOLUME IV OUT-LETTERS OF THE CONTINENTAL MARINE COMMITTEE AND BOARD OF ADMIRALTY ^^yf.y y *. Sf t~v.-+s s~ OUT-LETTERS OF THE CONTINENTAL MARINE COMMITTEE AND BOARD OF ADMIRALTY AUGUST, I776-SEPTEMBER, 1780 EDITED BY CHARLES OSCAR PAULLIN OF THE CARNEGIE INSTITUTION OF WASHINGTON VOLUME I NEW YORK PRINTED FOR THE NAVAL HISTORY SOCIETY BY THE DE VINNE PRESS M DCCCC XIV Copyright, 1914, by THE NAVAL HISTORY SOCIETY CONTENTS OUT-LETTERS OF THE MARINE COMMITTEE T PAGE INTRODUCTION xx j 1776 Aug. 22 . To NATHANIEL SHAW, JR i Aug. 22 . To NATHANIEL SHAW, JR 2 22 . Aug. To CAPTAIN HOYSTED HACKER 3 Aug. 23 . To LIEUTENANT JOHN BALDWIN .... 3 Aug. 27 . To CAPTAIN WILLIAM STONE 5 Sept. 2 . To DANIEL TILLINGHAST 6 Sept. 20 . To CAPTAIN JOHN YOUNG 7 Sept. 21 .. To THOMAS GUSHING 10 Sept. 21 . To JOHN BRADFORD n Sept. 21 .. To CAPTAIN THOMAS THOMPSON . 12 Sept. 21 .. To CAPTAIN HECTOR McNEiLL 14 Sept. 21 . To JOHN LANGDON 15 Sept. 21 .. To CAPTAIN LAMBERT WICKES 16 Oct. i . To LIEUTENANT THOMAS ALBERTSON . .17 Oct. 3 . To HEWES AND SMITH 18 Oct. 4 . To WILLIAM BINGHAM 19 Oct. 9 . To STEPHEN HOPKINS 20 . 21 Oct. 9 . To THE RHODE ISLAND FRIGATE COMMITTEE 281131 CONTENTS PAGE Oct. 9 . To THE RHODE ISLAND FRIGATE COMMITTEE . 23 Oct. 9 . To CAPTAIN NATHANIEL FALCONER ... 24 Oct. 9 . To JOHN LANGDON 25 Oct. 9 . To THE NEW YORK CONVENTION .... 26 Oct. 10 . To COMMODORE ESEK HOPKINS 27 Oct. 10 . To HENRY TUCKER AND THOMAS GODET . 29 Oct. 13 .. To CAPTAIN NATHANIEL FALCONER . .31 Oct. 13 . CIRCULAR LETTER TO CONTINENTAL AGENTS . 32 Oct. 13 . To THE RHODE ISLAND FRIGATE COMMITTEE . 33 Oct. 13 . To JOHN LANGDON 33 Oct. 17 .. To CAPTAIN ISAIAH ROBINSON 34 Oct. 1 8 . To CAPTAIN JAMES ROBINSON 35 Oct. 1 8 . To CAPTAIN WILLIAM HALLOCK .... 36 Oct. 1 8 . CIRCULAR LETTER TO CONTINENTAL AGENTS . 36 Oct. 1 8 . CIRCULAR LETTER TO PRIZE AGENTS ... 38 Oct. 23 . To COMMODORE ESEK HOPKINS 41 Oct. 23 . To CAPTAINS JOHN MANLEY, HECTOR Mc- NEILL, AND THOMAS THOMPSON .... 42 Oct. 23 . To THE GOVERNOR AND COUNCIL OF NORTH CAROLINA 44 Oct. 25 . To JONATHAN TRUMBULL 45 Oct. 30 . To DANIEL TILLINGHAST 46 Oct. 30 . To COMMODORE ESEK HOPKINS 47 Nov. i . To CAPTAIN ELISHA WARNER 48 Nov. ii.. To CAPTAIN ELISHA WARNER 50 Nov. 14 . To JOHN WEREAT 52 Nov. 14 .. To LIEUTENANT ISAAC BUCK 54 Nov. 17 .. To LIVINUS CLARKSON AND JOHN DORSIUS . 55 CONTENTS Nov. 29 . To CAPTAIN ELISHA WARNER 5 6 Dec. .. To WILLIAM 14 BINGHAM 57 Dec. To CAPTAIN 25 JOHN NICHOLSON 58 1777 i . To LIEUTENANT Jan. JOHN BALDWIN . ... 59 Jan. 21 . To COMMODORE ESEK HOPKINS 60 Jan. 24 . To ROBERT MORRIS 61 Jan. 30 . To CAPTAIN NICHOLAS BIDDLE 63 Feb. i . To CAPTAIN JOHN PAUL JONES 65 Feb. 5 . To COMMODORE ESEK HOPKINS 70 Feb. 5 To ROBERT MORRIS 71 Feb. 7 . To JOHN BRADFORD 72 Feb. 9 . CIRCULAR LETTER TO CAPTAINS JAMES CAMP BELL AND WILLIAM ROGERS 74 Feb. 15 . To CAPTAIN NICHOLAS BIDDLE 75 Feb. 15 . To CAPTAIN ELISHA WARNER 79 Feb. 1 6 . To CAPTAIN JOHN NICHOLSON 80 Feb. 17 .. To CAPTAIN ELISHA WARNER 81 Feb. 1 8 . To LIEUTENANT THOMAS ALBERTSON ... 82 March 1 2 . To CAPTAIN JAMES ROBINSON 82 March 2 1 . To JOHN BRADFORD 84 March 2 1 . To ISAAC SMITH, EBENEZER STORER, AND WIL LIAM PHILIPS 85 March 2 1 . CIRCULAR LETTER TO WASHINGTON S AGENTS . 87 March 25 . To JOHN BRADFORD AND LEONARD JARVIS . 88 March 25 . To CAPTAIN JOHN PAUL JONES 89 March 29 . To CAPTAIN JAMES ROBINSON 89 Cxi 3 CONTENTS PAGE March 29 . To WILLIAM BINGHAM 90 Apr. 4 . CIRCULAR LETTER TO CAPTAINS J. B. HOPKINS, ABRAHAM WHIPPLE, AND DUDLEY SALTON- STALL 91 Apr. 8 . To CAPTAIN CHARLES ALEXANDER .... 92 Apr. 8 . To CAPTAIN JAMES NICHOLSON 93 Apr. 1 8 . To CAPTAIN BENJAMIN DUNN 96 Apr. 1 8 . To CAPTAIN ELISHA WARNER 97 Apr. 1 8 . To CAPTAIN ISAIAH ROBINSON 98 Apr. 19 . To CAPTAIN ISAIAH ROBINSON 100 Apr. 19 . To CAPTAIN BENJAMIN DUNN 103 Apr. 23 . To CAPTAIN ELISHA HINMAN 106 Apr. 23 . To CAPTAIN JOHN PECK RATHBURNE . .107 Apr. 26 . To CAPTAIN NICHOLAS BIDDLE 109 Apr. 26 . To LIVINUS CLARKSON AND JOHN DORSIUS . 114 Apr. 29 . To CAPTAIN NICHOLAS BIDDLE 117 Apr. 29 . RESOLUTIONS OF THE MARINE COMMITTEE . .118 Apr. 29 . To JOHN DUPUY 124 Apr. 29 . To CAPTAIN THOMAS THOMPSON . .125 Apr. 29 . To BENJAMIN FRANKLIN, SILAS DEANE, AND ARTHUR LEE 129 Apr. 29 . To CAPTAIN JAMES NICHOLSON 131 May i . To THOMAS JOHNSTON 131 May i . To LIEUTENANT AQUILLA JOHNS . .132 May 9 . To CAPTAIN JOHN PAUL JONES 133 May 13 .. To CAPTAIN JOHN YOUNG 134 May 1 6 . To CAPTAIN HOYSTED HACKER . .135 May 1 6 . To DANIEL TILLINGHAST 136 CONTENTS 26 . To THE RHODE ISLAND FRIGATE May COMMITTEE . 137 i . To CAPTAIN . June THOMAS THOMPSON . .137 June 17 . To NATHANIEL SHAW, JR ^g June 17 . To CAPTAIN SAMUEL CHEW 140 June 17 .. To JOHN DESHON !42 1 8 . To CAPTAIN . June JOHN PAUL JONES . .143 June 1 8 . To WILLIAM WHIPPLE, JOHN LANGDON, AND JOHN PAUL JONES I45 June 26 . CIRCULAR LETTER TO CAPTAINS GRENNELL AND HODGE 146 26 . THE June To NEW YORK COUNCIL OF SAFETY . .147 June 26 . To JAMES WARREN, WILLIAM VERNON, AND JOHN DESHON 148 July 5 . To CAPTAIN JOHN YOUNG 150 July ii.. To THE NAVY BOARD OF THE EASTERN DEPART MENT 152 Aug. 25 . To LIEUTENANT JOHN STEVENS 153 Aug. 27 . To MAXWELL AND LOYALL 154 Sept. 6 . To CAPTAIN THOMAS THOMPSON . .155 Sept. 10 . To COMMODORE STEPHEN HOPKINS .... 156 Sept. 10 . To DANIEL TILLINGHAST 157 Sept. 26 . To COMMODORE JOHN HAZELWOOD . .157 Sept. 26 . To CAPTAIN CHARLES ALEXANDER . .158 Oct. 23 . To CAPTAIN JAMES NICHOLSON 160 Oct. 24 . To CAPTAIN NICHOLAS BIDDLE 161 Oct. 26 . To THE NAVY BOARD OF THE EASTERN DEPART MENT 163 Nov. 5 . To THE NAVY BOARD OF THE MIDDLE DEPART MENT 1 66 CONTENTS PAGE Nov. 6 . To CAPTAIN JAMES NICHOLSON ..... 167 Nov. 12 .. To THE NAVY BOARD OF THE EASTERN DEPART MENT ........... 168 Nov. 13 .. To THOMAS GUSHING ....... 172 Nov. 13 . To JOHN DESHON ........ 172 Nov. 13 . To DANIEL TILLINGHAST ...... 173 Nov. 17 .. To STEPHEN HOPKINS ....... 174 Nov. 17 . To DANIEL TILLINGHAST ...... 176 Nov. 22 . To JONATHAN HUDSON ....... 177 Nov. 22 . To SAMUEL AND ROBERT PURVIANCE . .178 Nov. 22 . To THE NAVY BOARD OF THE EASTERN DEPART MENT ........... 179 Nov. 27 . To THE NAVY BOARD OF THE MIDDLE DEPART MENT ........... 1 80 Nov. 29 . To MAXWELL AND LOYALL ...... 180 Dec. 2 . To THE NAVY BOARD OF THE EASTERN DEPART MENT ........... 181 Dec. 2 . To CAPTAIN JAMES NICHOLSON ..... 182 Dec. 2 . To JONATHAN HUDSON ....... 183 Dec. 2 . To JOHN LANGDON ........ 184 Dec. 12 .. To THE NAVY BOARD OF THE MIDDLE DEPART MENT ........... 184 Dec. 19 .. To CAPTAIN JAMES NICHOLSON ..... 186 Dec. 20 . To CAPTAIN JAMES NICHOLSON ..... 186 Dec. 20 . To PATRICK HENRY ........ 187 1778 Jan. 7 . To THE NAVY BOARD OF THE MIDDLE DEPART MENT 188 CONTENTS PAGE Jan. 10 . To WILLIAM SMITH jgg Jan. 13 . To CAPTAIN THOMAS READ 190 Jan. 13 . To JONATHAN HUDSON 192 Jan. 1 6 . To THE NAVY BOARD OF THE EASTERN DEPART MENT 193 20 . Jan. To SAMUEL AND ROBERT PURVIANCE . .195 Jan. 22 . To THE NAVY BOARD OF THE MIDDLE DEPART- PARTMENT 196 Jan. 28 . To CAPTAIN JAMES NICHOLSON 197 Jan. 29 . To CAPTAIN JOHN BARRY 198 Jan. 29 . To THE NAVY BOARD OF THE MIDDLE DEPART MENT 200 Feb. 12 . To THE NAVY BOARD OF THE EASTERN DEPART MENT 201 Feb. 23 . To THE NAVY BOARD OF THE EASTERN DEPART MENT 202 Feb. 24 . To WILLIAM SMITH 204 Feb. 28 . To NATHANIEL SHAW, JR 204 Feb. 28 . To THE NAVY BOARD OF THE EASTERN DEPART MENT 205 March 4 . To STEPHEN STEWARD 206 March 4 . To CAPTAIN JAMES NICHOLSON 207 March 4 . To THOMAS JOHNSTON . 208 March 6 . To THE NAVY BOARD OF THE EASTERN DEPART MENT 209 March 1 1 . To CAPTAIN JOHN BARRY 214 March 26 . To CAPTAIN JOHN BARRY 217 Apr. 3 . To JOHN LANGDON 218 Apr. 6 . To THE NAVY BOARD OF THE EASTERN DEPART MENT 219 CONTENTS PAGE Apr.