'July 9, 1776. Resolved, That the Rev. Mr. Duché be appointed Chaplain to Congress, and that he be desired to attend every morning at 9 o'clock.' GENERAL WASHINGTON to GENERAL WARD. NEW YORK, 11 July, 1776. 'SIR,Since writing to you on the 9th instant, I have been honored with a letter from Congress, enclosing a Resolve, a copy of which is transmitted herewith, empowering me to call to the assistance of the army here, the other two regiments of Continental troops, now in the Massachusetts government, and not ordered in my last to be detached to join the Northern army. I am now to request, by advice of my general officers, that you will give immediate orders not only to them, but to the three destined for the northward, to repair with all possible despatch to Norwich, where they will embark.' Wash. Writ. Sparks, vol. iii. p. 461. SAME to the PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS. NEW YORK, 11 July, 1776. 'As I am truly sensible the time of Congress is much taken up with a variety of important matters, it is with unwillingness and pain, that I ever repeat a request after having once made it, or take the liberty of enforcing any opinion of mine after it is once given; but as the establishing of some office for auditing accounts is a matter of exceeding importance to the public interest, I would beg leave once more to call the attention of Congress* to an appointment competent to the purpose. For me, whose time is employed from the hour of my rising till I retire to bed again, to go into an examination of the accounts of such an army as this, with any degree of precision and exactness, without neglecting other matters of equal importance, is utterly impracticable. All that I have been able to do, (and that, in fact, was doing nothing,) was, when the Commissary, and Quarter-Master, and Director-General of the hospital, (for it is to these the great advances are made,) applied for warrants, to make them at times produce a general account of their expenditures. But this answers no valuable purpose. It is the minutia that must be gone into. 'I do not urge this matter from a suspicion of any unfair practices in either of the Departments before mentioned; and sorry should I be if this construction were put upon it, having a high opinion of the honor and integrity of these gentlemen. But there should nevertheless be some control, as well upon their discretion * Once more,' after his calls upon them, Jan. 24, May 5, pp. 160, 224. * as honesty; to which may be added, that accounts become perplexed and confused by long standing. I am well apprised, that a treasury office of accounts has been resolved upon, and an auditor-general for settling all public accounts; but, with all deference and submission to the opinion of Congress, these institions are not calculated to prevent the inconveniences I have mentioned; nor can they be competent to the purposes, circumstanced as they are.' July 12th, a quarter past eight, P. M.-'SIR, -The design of this is to inform Congress, that, about half after three o'clock this evening, two of the enemy's ships of war, one of forty and the other of twenty guns, with three tenders, weighed anchor in the bay opposite Staten Island, and availing themselves of a brisk and favorable breeze, with a flowing tide, ran past our batteries up the North River, without receiving any certain damage that I could perceive, notwithstanding a heavy and incessant cannonade was kept up from our several batteries here, as well as from that at Paulus Hook. They on their part, returned and continued the fire.' Lond. ed. vol. i. pp. 190, 192. Wash. Writ. Sparks, vol. iii. pp. 466, 468. GENERAL WASHINGTON to the SECRET COMMITTEE OF THE CONVENTION OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK. HEAD QUARTERS, 13 July, 1776. I have, some time ago, mentioned to the body, of which you are a committee, the necessity of falling upon some measure to remove from this city and its environs persons of known disaffection and enmity to the cause of America. The safety of the army, the success of every enterprise, and the security of all, depend so much on adopting the most speedy and effectual steps for this purpose, that I beg leave again to repeat it; and do most earnestly entreat you to adopt some plan for this purpose, or to give me your assistance in doing it, so as to remove those disquieting and discouraging apprehensions, which pervade the whole army on this subject. A suspicion that there are many Ministerial agents among us, would justly alarm soldiers of more experience and discipline than ours; and I foresee very dangerous consequences, in many respects, if a remedy for the evil is not soon and efficaciously applied. The removal of the Tory prisoners, confined in the jail of this city, is a matter to which I would solicit your attention. In every viw it appears dangerous and important. In case of an attack and alarm, there can be no doubt what part they would take, and none can tell what influence they might have. You will, gentlemen, do me the justice to believe, that nothing but the importance and necessity of the case could induce me to urge these matters, in which you have also an immediate and common interest.' Sparks, vol. iii. p. 470. Wash. Writ. SAME to the PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS. NEW YORK, 14 July, 1776. * About three o'clock this afternoon, I was informed, that a flag from Lord Howe was coming up, and waited with two of our whale-boats until directions should be given. I immediately convened such of the general officers as were not upon other duty, who agreed in opinion, that I ought not to receive any letter directed to me as a private gentleman. Upon this, I directed Colonel Reed to go down and manage the affair under the above general direction. On his return he informed me, that, after the common civilities, the officer acquainted him, that he had a letter from Lord Howe to Mr. Washington, which he showed under a superscription, "To George Washington, Esq. Colonel Reed replied, that there was no such person in the army, and that a letter intended for the General could not be received under such a direction. The anxiety to have the letter received was very evident, though the officer disclaimed all knowledge of its contents. However, Colonel Reed's instructions being positive, they parted. After they had got some distance, the officer with the flag again put about, and asked under what direction Mr. Washington chose to be addressed; to which Colonel Reed answered, that his station was well known, and that certainly they could be at no loss how to direct to him. The officer said they knew and lamented it; and repeated his wish, that the letter could be received. Colonel Reed told him a proper direction would obviate all difficulties, and that this was no new matter, this subject having been fully discussed in the course of the last year, of which Lord Howe could not be ignorant; upon which they parted. 'I would not upon any occasion sacrifice essentials to punctilio; but in this instance, the opinion of others concurring with my own, I deemed it a duty to my country and my appointment, to insist upon that respect, which, in any other than a public view, I would willingly have waived. The passage of the ships of war and tenders up the river is a matter of great importance, and has excited much conjecture and speculation. To me two things have occurred, as leading them to this proceeding; first, a design to seize on the narrow passes on both sides of the river, being almost the only land communication with Albany, and of consequence with our Northern army; for which purpose they might have troops concealed on board, or that they would be joined by many disaffected persons in that quarter. Others have added a probability of their having a large quantity of arms on board, to be in readiness to put into the hands of the Tories, at the time they intend to make their attack. The second is, to cut off entirely all intercourse between this and Albany by water, and the upper coun try, and to prevent supplies of every kind going and coming. These matters are truly alarming, and of such importance, that I have written to the Provincial Congress of New York, and recommended to their serious consideration the adoption of every possi ble expedient to guard against the first two.' Lond. ed. vol. i. p. 195. Wash. Writ. Sparks, vol. iii. p. 473. To the CONVENTION OF THE STATE OF NEW York. HEAD QUARTERS, 17 July, 1776. 'GENTLEMEN,- Your letter of the 15th instant, covering the Resolution of the same date, was duly received, which I beg leave to say was noble, and does honor to your respectable body. It likewise adds a farther proof of your determination to afford me all possible assistance, in discharging the important duties of my office. It is impossible to say what may be necessary, but I shall conduct myself as the exigences of the case may require, and I doubt not your cheerful aid and assistance will be rendered when called for. I have the honor to be, Gentlemen, With respect and esteem, &c.' The Resolution referred to by the General. 'Resolved unanimously, That it is the opinion of this Convention, that, if his Excellency General Washington should think it expedient for the preservation of this State and the general interest of America, to abandon the city of New York and withdraw the troops to the north side of Kingsbridge, this Congress [or Convention] will cheerfully coöperate with him in every measure that may be necessary for that purpose.' To the COMMITTEE OF THE CITY OF NEW York. HEAD QUARTERS, New York, 19 July, 1776. 'GENTLEMEN, I enclose you a copy of the Resolution of the Convention of the State of New York, dated the 16th instant, recommending it to all the general and sub-committees, to apprehend and secure all those persons, whose going at large, at this critical time, they may deem dangerous to the safety of the State. As this city is hourly threatened with an attack from a powerful enemy, and as there is too much reason to apprehend from their vicinity to this city, and from the number of suspicious characters still in it, that they may receive intelligence, which may counteract all my operations for its defence, I strongly recommend it to you, to remove, for some time, all equivocal and suspicious characters. This appears to me to be the spirit of the Resolution of the Provincial Convention; and the propriety of it is founded on the law of self-preservation, and confirmed by the practice of all nations in a state of war. 'I esteem it my duty to add my recommendation to that of the Convention, that if, through an ill-timed levity, my attempts to secure this Province should be baffled, the blame of it may not be imputed to my want of vigilance. I have enclosed a list of persons represented as dangerous. As I can only speak from information, I must rely upon your taking proper steps with them; unless from your better knowledge, you determine them to be of a different character from that represented. I am, Gentlemen, &c.' Wash. Writ. Sparks, vol. iv. pp. 7, 8. The following is General Greene's account of some persons, of the character here referred to, taken prisoners by him on Long Island. 'I have examined the prisoners, and find them to be a poor parcel of ignorant, cowardly fellows. Two are tailors, and the other two, common laborers. They candidly confess, that they set off with an intention of going to Staten Island; not with any intention of joining the enemy, but only to get out of the way of fighting here. There has been a draft amongst the militia to fill the new levies, and it was rumored that these persons were drawn. It was also reported, that they were to go to the Northern army, and that almost all that went there either died or were killed. The prospect was so shocking to them, and to their grandmothers and aunts, that I believe they were persuaded to run away. Never did I see fellows more frightened. They wept like children, and appeared exceeding sorrowful. I beg your Excellency's direction how to dispose of them. They do not appear to be acquainted with one public matter. They have been toryish; I fancy not from principle, but from its being the prevailing sentiment in the country.' Sparks, vol. iv. p. 9. Note. Wash. Writ. GENERAL WASHINGTON to the PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS. 'SIR,- Enclosed I have the honor to transmit to you copies of a letter and sundry Resolutions, which I received yesterday from the Convention of this State. By them you will perceive they have been acting upon matters of great importance, and are exerting themselves in the most vigorous manner to defeat the wicked designs of the enemy, and such disaffected persons as may incline to assist and facilitate their views. In compliance with their request, and on account of the scarcity of money for carrying their salutary views into execution, I have agreed to lend them, out of the small stock now in hand, (not more than sixty thousand dollars,) twenty thousand dollars as a part of what they want; which they promise speedily to replace. * * I hope my conduct in this instance will not be disapproved.' Wash. Writ. |