ment, I believe he could very soon raise them; and I can recommend him as a man of activity and spirit, from what I have seen of him. I have the honor to be, &c.' Lond. ed. vol. i. p. 340. Wash. Writ. IN CONGRESS, December 6, 1776. A letter of the 5th, from General Washington, and one, of the 27th of November, from General Gates, at Albany, with a paper enclosed sent from the commanding officer at St. Johns, were read. December 7. A letter of the 6th, from General Washington, at Trenton, and one, of the 21st to 25th November, from General Schuyler, at Saratoga, with sundry papers enclosed, were read: 'Ordered, That they be referred to the Board of War. 'Resolved, That the Board of War be empowered and directed to exchange such of the Canadians as they shall think proper. 'Ordered, That the President write to the four New England governments, and request them to use their utmost influence in raising their respective quotas of troops, and to hasten their march, with all possible diligence, to the places appointed for their rendezvous, by General Schuyler. 'Resolved, That the Council of Safety of Pennsylvania be desired to suspend the farther execution of the request made to them on the 2d instant, to procure one thousand wagons: 'That the wagons procured, in consequence of the said request, be sent to the Quartermaster-General. 'Resolved, That Mr. Mease be directed to return to Mr. Levy the goods he had from him, and receive back the money advanced on that account; the said goods being sent for by the State of New York, on whose account, and by whose order, they were purchased.' December 9. A letter of the 8th, from General Washington, one, of the 23d November, from General Ward, enclosing one of the 9th of the same month from General Gates, were read. 'Resolved, That Mr. Risberg, the Assistant Quartermaster in Philadelphia, be directed to send by water to Christiana Bridge, the military stores sent from the army, and that they be safely lodged there till farther orders. 'Resolved, That the Council of Safety of Pennsylvania be requested to give the Continental officers, and all others, employed in removing the public stores from Philadelphia, whether by land or water, all the assistance in their power. 'Resolved, That a committee of three be appointed to prepare an address to the inhabitants of America, and a recommendation *The references of this Resolve and the two preceding it, may be found in the last three, December 2, p. 343. to the several States to appoint a day of Fasting, humiliation, and prayer. 'Resolved, That in case this Congress shall be under the necessity of removing from Philadelphia, it shall be adjourned to Baltimore. 'Whereas General Washington hath repeatedly applied, and hath yesterday renewed his application, for an immediate reinforcement for the defence of Philadelphia, and the State of Pennsylvania: 'Resolved, That the Council of Safety of Pennsylvania be requested, this day, to send expresses, that can be relied on, to the several counties, earnestly requesting that they march what troops they can collect, armed and provided in the best manner possible, to the army under the command of General Washington. 'Resolved, That expresses be immediately sent to the Committees of the counties of Cocil, Baltimore, Hartford, and Frederick, in Maryland, requesting that they apply, without delay, to the militia of their respective counties, and send forward, immediately, for the defence of the city of Philadelphia, and the reinforcement of General Washington's army, as many troops as possible, informing the said Committees that some assistance, in the way of arms, may be furnished here, to such as have no arms to bring with them: 'That an express be sent to the Council of Safety of Delaware, requesting them to send forward, immediately, for the purpose aforesaid, as many troops as possible, giving them the like information with respect to arms. 'Resolved, That the Board of War be directed to take care of the arms belonging to the Continent, and have them properly secured. December 10. A letter, of the 8th, from General Lee, at Morristown; one, of the 9th, from General Washington, with a letter, of the 6th, from General Heath, were read: 'Resolved, That the prisoners sent from the State of New Jersey by General Washington, and ordered to Fredericktown, in Maryland, be conveyed there by Captain Mountjoy Baily, with a guard of eighteen soldiers. 'Resolved, That General Mifflin be directed to repair immediately to the neighboring counties, and, by all the means in his power, rouse and bring them in, to the defence of Philadelphia. 'As the Congress deem it of great importance to the general good and safety, that General Mifflin should make a progress through the several counties of the State of Pennsylvania, to rouse the freemen thereof, to the immediate defence of this city and county, 'Resolved, That the Assembly be requested to appoint a com mittee of their body, to make the said tour with General Mifflin, in order to assist him in this good and necessary work. 'Resolved, That Major-General Putnam be directed to have the several recruits, and other Continental troops in Philadelphia, immediately paraded, and that he proceed, without delay, to make the proper defences for the protection and security of this city: That the Council of Safety of Pennsylvania be requested to give Major-General Putnam all the assistance in their power, for the execution of the above necessary business, by calling forth the inhabitants, and by any other means in their judgment proper. 'The Committee appointed to prepare an Address to the inhabitants of America, brought in a draught, which was read; and, being debated by paragraphs, was agreed to. 'Ordered, That the said Committee have it published and dispersed. 'Resolved, That the President write to General Washington, and desire him to send a party to watch the roads leading from New Jersey to Philadelphia, above Trenton, and give Congress the earliest notice of the enemy's motions. 'Resolved, That two of the Continental battalions, now raising in Connecticut, be stationed for the defence of the said State, in such parts thereof, as Governor Trumbull shall judge most conducive to the purpose, till Congress shall order otherwise. December 11. The Committee appointed to prepare a Resolution for appointing a day of Fasting and humiliation, brought in a Report, which was read and agreed to. 'A letter, of the 10th, from General Washington, at the Falls of Delaware, was read; 'Resolved, That General Putnam be directed to order parties of active, spirited men, with proper guides, to cross from Philadelphia to New Jersey; and, under the conduct of good officers, to act as harassing parties, and get the best intelligence of the motions and situation of the enemy, directing them to send frequent daily intelligence through him to Congress, of the discoveries they shall be able to make, of the enemy's movements and situation. 'Whereas a false and malicious report has been spread by the enemies of America, that the Congress was about to disperse ; 'Resolved, That General Washington be desired to contradict the said scandalous report, this Congress having a better opinion of the spirit and vigor of the army, and of the good people of these States, than to suppose it can be necessary to disperse; nor will they adjourn from the city of Philadelphia in the present state of affairs, unless the last necessity shall direct it.' This last Resolve, with its preamble, may be found in Sparks's Washington, vol. iv. p. 210. Note. The General's views respecting it, were pretty plainly expressed in the first paragraph of the following letter. GENERAL WASHINGTON to the PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS. 'SIR,I last night received the favor of Mr. Thompson's letter, enclosing the Proceedings of Congress of the 11th instant. As the publication of their Resolve, in my opinion, will not lead to any good end, but, on the contrary, may be attended with some bad consequences, I shall take the liberty to decline inserting it in this day's orders. I am persuaded, if the subject is taken up and reconsidered, that Congress will concur with me in sentiment. I doubt not but there are some who have propagated the report; but what if they have? Their remaining in or leaving Philadelphia, must be governed by circumstances and events. If their de parture should become necessary, it will be right; on the other hand, if there should not be a necessity for it, they will remain; and their continuance will show the report to be the production of calumny and falsehood. In a word, Sir, I conceive it a matter that may be as well disregarded; and that the removal or staying of Congress, depending entirely upon events, should not have been the subject of a Resolve. * 'The intelligence we obtain respecting the movements and situation of the enemy is far from being so certain and satisfactory as I could wish, though every probable means in my power, and that I can devise, are adopted for the purpose. The latest I have received, was from Lord Stirling last night. Upon the whole, there can be no doubt but that Philadelphia is their object, and that they will pass the Delaware as soon as possible. Happy should I be if I could see the means of preventing them; at present, I confess, I do not. All military writers agree that it is a work of great difficulty, nay impracticable, where there is any extent of coast to guard. This is the case with us; and we have to do it with a force, small and inconsiderable, and much inferior to that of the enemy. Perhaps Congress have some hope and prospect of reinforcements; I have no intelligence of the sort, and wish to be informed on the subject. Our little handful is daily decreasing by sickness and other causes; and without aid, without considerable succors and exertions on the part of the people, what can we reasonably look for or expect, but an event that will be severely felt by the common cause, and that will wound the heart of every virtuous American, the loss of Philadelphia ? The subject is disagreeable; but yet it is true. I will leave it, wishing that our situation may become such as to do away the apprehensions which at this time seem to fill the minds of too many, and with too much justice.' Lond. ed. vol. i. p. 341. Wash. Writ. *The Secretary of Congress. IN CONGRESS, December 12.-A letter, of the 11th, from General Washington, was read: 'Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of War. 'Resolved, That the two companies raised in the town of Westmoreland, be ordered to join General Washington, with all possible expedition. 'Resolved, That the Continental Apothecary be directed immediately to pack up all the Continental medicines, and send them to the Quartermaster-General: " That the Quartermaster-General be directed to remove all the medicines belonging to the Continent in Philadelphia, to a place of security: 'That the frigate Randolph be put under the direction of the Continental General commanding in Philadelphia, to act as he shall direct, for the defence of this city, and preventing the enemy from passing the Delaware: 'Resolved, That Elisha Sheldon be appointed Lieutenant-Colonel commandant of a regiment of Cavalry on the Continental establishment, with the rank and pay of a colonel of Foot; and that General Washington be authorized to appoint the other officers to the said regiment; and that the Colonel, with his officers, proceed, without delay, to raise and discipline the said regiment; and that they repair to and join the army under the command of General Washington, by companies, as soon as each company shall be complete: * 'That General Washington be empowered to advance to Colonel Sheldon such sums of money as may be necessary for the service. 'Resolved, That the Continental General commanding in Philadelphia, be directed to defend the same to the utmost extremity, against the attempts of the enemy to get possession of it; and that, for this end, he apply, from time to time, to the Council of Safety of Pennsylvania for their aid and assistance. 'Resolved, That Mr. Robert Morris be empowered to borrow a sum, not exceeding 10,000 dollars, for the use of the Marine Committee; and Congress will indemnify him. 'Resolved, That the arms, ammunition, and clothing, in or near the city of Philadelphia, be put under the direction of General Putnam; and that Mr. J. Mease and all other persons, having Continental stores in care, make immediate return of the same to General Putnam, of the quantities and kinds of each, and where the same are placed, that the General may take order therein, either for safety or use, as he shall judge proper. 'Resolved, That General Putnam be authorized to employ all the private armed vessels in this harbor, for the defence and secu * See the closing paragraph of the General's letter, Dec. 11, p. 353. |