GENERAL WASHINGTON to GENERAL SULLIVAN, in Canada. NEW YORK, 13 June, 1776.

'DEAR SIR,- Intelligence having been received of the unfortunate death of General Thomas, occasioned by the small-pox, the command of the army in Canada devolves on you. I am therefore to request your most strenuous exertions to retrieve our circumstances in that quarter from the melancholy situation which they are now in, and to perform the arduous task of bringing order out of confusion. I confess there is more room for enterprise and activity than I could wish; but then you will remember, that you and your colleagues will be entitled to the grateful thanks of your country, in proportion to the services you render.

'Being extremely hurried in sending despatches to Congress and General Schuyler, I have not time to write to you so fully as I could wish; and therefore shall only add my request, that you from time to time make me regular returns of the strength of the army, military stores, and any material occurrence. Wishing that you and your associates, under the direction of a gracious Providence, may lead your army to conquest and victory, I am, dear Sir, your most obedient servant.'

A number of letters from the Generals and Commissioners in the Northern or Canada Department, were read in Congress and referred to a committee, June 6. Others from the same quarter, with two from General Washington, were read and referred to the same committee, June 10; and on the next day two more from General Washington were likewise referred to the same committee. That committee, appointed on the 6th, brought in their Report on the 12th; and on the same day the Commissioners who had arrived from Canada, also brought in a Report. The two Reports were then referred to a committee of the whole Congress, and were some time under consideration on that, and again on the following day. The subsequent proceedings are given from their Journal.

IN CONGRESS. June 15. The Congress then resolved itself into a committee of the whole, to take into their farther consideration the Reports referred to them; and, after some time spent thereon, The Report from the committee of the whole being delivered in,

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'Resolved, That a committee of four be appointed to digest and arrange the several Resolutions agreed on in the committee of the whole, in order to be laid before Congress, * and that the same be referred to the committee now to be appointed.

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'June 17. The committee appointed to digest and methodize the Resolutions entered into by the committee of the whole, having performed that service, brought in their Report, which was taken into consideration; whereupon,

'Resolved, That an experienced General be immediately sent into Canada, with power to appoint a deputy adjutant-general, a

deputy muster-master-general, and such other officers as he shall find necessary for the good of the service, and to fill up vacancies in the army in Canada, and notify the same to Congress for their approbation; that he also have power to suspend any officer there, till the pleasure of Congress be known, he giving his reasons for so doing in the orders of suspension, and transmitting to Congress, as soon as possible, the charge against such officer; provided, that this power of suspending officers and filling up vacancies, shall not be continued beyond the first day of October next:

'That General Washington be directed to send Major-General Gates into Canada, to take the command of the forces in that Province:

'That General Washington be directed to send into Canada, such small brass or iron field-pieces as he can spare:

'That the committee appointed to provide medicines, be directed to send a proper assortment of medicines to Canada:

That the committee appointed to prepare stockings and shoes for the troops in Canada, be directed to purchase such other articles as may be wanted for the use of the soldiers in Canada, and send the same to Albany, that they may be forwarded to the army in Canada, and that they be particularly attentive to provide, in time, a sufficient number of leathern breeches and under-waistcoats, and such other winter clothing as may be necessary for them :

That the said committee be directed to forward, with all expepedition, to the Quarter-Master in Canada, such shoes as are already provided:

'June 18. Resolved, That General Washington be empowered and directed to nominate and send a deputy muster-master-general to Canada.

'June 19. Resolved, That the commissions granted by Brigadier-General Sullivan, to sundry officers in Canada, mentioned in General Washington's letter, be approved and confirmed; provided, General Gates and the general officers in Canada, on consultation, shall think the measure will conduce to the public service.

'June 21. The Congress then resumed the consideration of the Report from the committee of the whole; whereupon,

Resolved, That General Washington be directed to order an inquiry to be made into the conduct of the officers heretofore employed in the Canada Department: that the said inquiry be made at such times and places, as, in his judgment, shall be most likely to do justice, as well to the public as to the individuals; and that the result of the said inquiry, together with the testimonies upon the subject, be transmitted to Congress: that, moreover, all officers accused of cowardice, plundering, embezzlement of public moneys, and other misdemeanors, be immediately brought to trial: And

whereas, Congress is informed that an opinion has prevailed, that officers resigning their commissions are not subject to trial by a court-martial for offences committed previous to such resignation, whereby some have evaded the punishments to which they were liable, it is hereby declared that such opinion is not just.

'June 24. Resolved, That a committee to consist of a member from each Colony, be appointed to inquire into the causes of the miscarriages in Canada:

That the said committee have power to send for persons and papers.'

HON. RICHARD HENRY LEE to GENERAL WASHINGTON.

[PHILADELPHIA,] 13 June, 1776. 'It is more than probable, that Congress will order our friend Grates to Canada. His great ability and virtue will be absolutely necessary to restore things there, and his recommendations will always be readily complied with. You will find, that great powers are given to the Commander in that distant Department. The system for Canada, adopted since the arrival of the Commissioners here, will, I hope, be of essential service to our officers.

All good men pray most heartily for your health, happiness, and success, and none more than your affectionate friend.'

Wash. Writ.

Sparks, vol. iii. p. 436. Note.

HON. JOHN ADAMS to GENERAL GATES.

[PHILADELPHIA,] 18 June, 1776. 'MY DEAR GENERAL, We have ordered you to the post of honor, and made you a Dictator in Canada for six months, or at least until the first of October. We do not choose to trust you, Generals, with too much power for too long a time.'

Wilkinson's Memoirs, vol. i. p. 61.

HON. ELBRIDGE GERRY to GENERAL GATES.

24 August, 1776.

'We want very much to see you with the sole command in the Northern Department, but hope you will not relinquish your exertions until a favorable opportunity shall effect it.'

Wash. Writ.

Sparks, vol. iii. p. 463. Note.

HON. JOHN ADAMS to MRS. ADAMS.

PHILADELPHIA, 16 June, 1776.

'The rumor you heard of General Gates will prove premature. I endeavored both here and with the General to have it so,* and should have succeeded, if it had not been for the loss of General

*That he should have the command of Boston.'

Thomas. Cruel small pox! worse than the sword! But now, I fear we must part with Gates for the sake of Canada.'

Letters of J. Adams, vol. i. p. 119.

GENERAL WASHINGTON to the PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.

NEW YORK, 23 June, 1776. 'In Canada, the situation of our affairs is truly alarming. The enclosed copies of Generals Schuyler's, Sullivan's, and Arnold's letters will inform you, that General Thompson has met with a repulse at Three Rivers, and is now a prisoner in the hands of General Burgoyne, who, these accounts say, is arrived with a considerable army. Nor do they seem to promise an end of our misfortunes there; it is greatly to be feared, that the next advices from them will be, that our shattered, divided, and broken army, as you will see by the return, have been obliged to abandon the country, and retreat, to avoid a greater calamity, that of being cut off or becoming prisoners. I shall have done upon the subject, and leave you to draw such conclusions as you conceive, from the state of facts, are most likely to result; only adding my apprehensions, that one of the latter events, either that they are cut off, or become prisoners, has already happened, if they did not retreat while they had an opportunity.

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At least our utmost exertions will be necessary, to prevent the advantages they have gained from being turned to our greater misfortunes.'

Lond. ed. vol. i. p. 168.

Wash. Writ.

Sparks, vol. iii. p. 432.

IN CONGRESS. June 25. A letter [the above] of the 23d from General Washington, with sundry letters from Major-General Schuyler, Brigadier-General Sullivan, Brigadier-General Arnold, and others, were laid before Congress, and read:

'Resolved, That the same be referred to the Board of War and Ordnance; who are desired to sit immediately, and report thereon as soon as possible. Eodem die, P. M.

'The Board of War and Ordnance, brought in their Report,

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whereupon,

'Resolved, That the number of men destined for the Northern Department, be augmented to four thousand:

That it be earnestly recommended to the Colony of New Hampshire, to send immediately one regiment of their militia to Massachusetts-Bay, two regiments of their militia to Connecticut, one regiment of their militia to augment the troops destined for the Northern Department.'

'Resolved, That letters be sent to the General Assemblies of the Colonies, from whence the several regiments of militia. are and have been requested, earnestly pressing them to be expeditious in raising and equipping their troops, and requesting the

several Assemblies to take upon themselves the care of providing the said troops with clothes, tents, and all necessary camp equipage, and assuring them that the United Colonies will be answerable for the expenses of the same.

June 26. Resolved, That a BOUNTY of ten dollars be given to every non-commissioned officer and soldier, who will enlist to serve for the term of three years.

'Ordered, That the Resolutions passed yesterday be sent to General Washington, and that he be desired to afford such assistance to the Northern or Canada Department, as he shall be enabled to do consistently with the safety of New York; and, from time to time, to give such directions as he may think expedient for the public service.'

GENERAL WASHINGTON to the PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.

NEW YORK, 29 June, 1776. 'SIR,I was last night honored with your favor of the 26th instant, and, agreeable to your request, shall pay proper attention to the Resolves it enclosed.

'I observe the augmentation Congress have resolved to make to the forces destined for the Northern Department, and the bounty to be allowed such soldiers as will enlist for three years. I hope many good consequences will result from these measures; and that, from the latter, a considerable number of men may be induced to engage in the service.

'I should esteem myself extremely happy to afford the least assistance to the Canada Department, in compliance with the desire of Congress and your requisition, were it in my power; but it is not. The return which I transmitted yesterday will but too well convince Congress of my incapacity in this instance, and point out to them that the force I now have is trifling, considering the many and important posts that are necessary, and must be supported, if possible.

'But few militia have yet come in, the whole being about twelve hundred, including the two battalions of this city, and one company from the Jerseys. I wish the delay may not be attended with disagreeable consequences, and their aid may not come too late, or when it may not be wanted. I have written, I have done every thing I could, to call them in; but they have not come, though I am told that they are generally willing.

The accounts communicated yesterday through Lieutenant Davidson's letter, are partly confirmed, and, I dare say, will turn out to be true on the whole. For two or three days past, three or four ships have been dropping in; and I just now received an express from an officer appointed to keep a look-out on Staten Island, that forty-five arrived at the Hook to-day; some say more and I