to day till I am ashamed to look back at the time, which has elapsed since my arrival here. Between you and me, I think we are in an exceedingly dangerous situation, as our numbers are not much larger than we suppose those of the enemy to be. They are situated in such a manner, as to be drawn to any point of attack, without our having an hour's previous notice of it, (if the General will keep his own counsel;) whereas, we are obliged to be guarded at all points, and know not where, with precision, to look for them.' Life of R. H. Lee, vol. ii. p. 1. Wash. Writ. Sparks, vol. iii. p. 26. GOVERNOR TRUMBULL to GENERAL WASHINGTON.* 13 July, 1775. 'Suffer me to join in congratulating you on your appointment to be General and Commander-in-Chief of the troops raised or to be raised for the defence of American liberty. Men who have tasted of freedom, and who have felt their personal rights, are not easily taught to bear with encroachments on either, or brought to subinit to oppression. Virtue ought always to be made the object of government; justice is firm and permanent. 'His Majesty's Ministers have artfully induced the Parliament to join in their measures, to prosecute the dangerous and increasing difference between Great Britain and these Colonies with vigor and military force; whereby the latter are driven to an absolute necessity to defend their rights and properties, by raising forces for their security. The honorable Congress have, with one united voice, appointed you to the high station you possess. The Supreme Director of all events has caused a wonderful union of hearts and counsels to subsist amongst us. Now, therefore, be strong and very courageous. May the God of the armies of Israel shower down the blessings of his Divine Providence on you, give you wisdom and fortitude, cover your head in the day of battle and danger, add success, convince our enemies of their mistaken measures, and that all their attempts to deprive these colonies of their inestimable constitutional rights and liberties, are injurious and vain.' GENERAL WASHINGTON to JONATHAN TRUMBULL, Governor of Connecticut. 'CAMBRIDGE, 18 July, 1775. 'SIR,- Allow me to return you my sincere thanks for the kind wishes and favorable sentiments expressed in yours of the 13th Mr. Trumbull was first appointed Governor in 1769, and by successive reelections continued in that office until the close of the Revolutionary war, when, at the age of 73 years, he declined another election. instant. As the cause of our common country calls us both to an active and dangerous duty, I trust that Divine Providence, which wisely orders the affairs of men, will enable us to discharge it with fidelity and success. The uncorrupted choice of a brave and free people has raised you to deserved eminence. That the blessings of health, and the still greater blessing of long continuing to govern such a people, may be yours, is the sincere wish of, Sir, yours, &c.' Ibid, p. 31. SAME to the SAME. 'CAMBRIDGE, 18 July, 1775. 'SIR,It is with no small concern, that I find the arrangement of general officers made by the Continental Congress, has produced much dissatisfaction. As the army is upon a general establishment, their right to supersede and control a Provincial one, must be unquestionable; and in such a cause, I should hope every post would be deemed honorable, which gave a man an opportunity to serve his country. 'A representation from the Congress of this Province, with such remarks as occurred to me on this subject, is now before the Continental Congress. In the mean time, I beg leave to assure you, that unbiased by any private attachments, I shall studiously endeavor to reconcile their pretensions to their duty, and so dispose them as to prevent, as far as possible, any inconvenience to the public service from this competition. 'I have the honor to be, &c.' Ibid, p. 32. GENERAL WASHINGTON to the PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS. CAMP AT CAMBRIDGE, 20 July, 1775. 'Next to the more immediate and pressing duties of putting our lines in as secure a state as possible, attending to the movements of the enemy, and gaining intelligence, my great concern is to establish order, regularity and discipline, without which our numbers would embarrass us, and, in case of action, general confusion must infallibly ensue. In order to this, I propose to divide the army into three divisions. At the head of each will be a general officer; these divisions to be again subdivided into brigades under their respective brigadiers. But the difficulty arising from the arrangement of the general officers, and waiting the farther proceedings of the Congress on this subject, have much retarded my progress in this most necessary work. I should be very happy to receive their final commands, as any determination would enable me to proceed in my plan. 'General Spencer returned to the camp two days ago, and has agreed to serve under Putnam rather than leave the army entirely. I have heard nothing from General Pomroy; should he wholly retire, I apprehend it will be necessary to supply his place as soon as possible.' Lond. ed. vol. i. p. 12. Wash. Writ. Sparks, vol. iii. p. 33. GENERAL WASHINGTON to JOHN AUGUSTINE WASHINGTON. 'CAMP AT CAMBRIDGE, 27 July, 1775. 'DEAR BROTHER, - On the 2d instant I arrived at this place after passing through a great deal of delightful country, covered with grass, (although the season has been dry,) in a manner very different from our lands in Virginia. 'I found a mixed multitude of people here, under very little discipline, order, or government; the enemy in possession of a place called Bunker's Hill, on Charlestown Neck, strongly intrenched, and fortifying themselves; part of our own army on two hills, called Winter and Prospect Hills, about a mile and a quarter from the enemy on Bunker's Hill, in a very insecure state; another part at this village; and a third part at Roxbury, guarding the entrance in and out of Boston. My whole time, since I came here, has been employed in throwing up lines of defence at these three several places, to secure, in the first instance, our own troops from any attempts of the enemy; and, in the next place, to cut off all communication between their troops and the country. 'To do this, and to prevent them from penetrating into the country with fire and sword, and to harass them if they do, is all that is expected of me. 6 If effected, it must totally overthrow the designs of Administration, as the whole force of Great Britain in the town and harbor of Boston can answer no other end, than to sink her under the disgrace and weight of the expense. The enemy's strength, including marine forces, is computed, from the best accounts I can get, at about twelve thousand men; ours, including sick and absent, at about sixteen thousand; but then we have to guard a semicircle of eight or nine miles, to every part of which we are obliged to be equally attentive; whilst they, situated as it were in the centre of the semicircle, and having the entire command of the water, can bend their whole force against any one part of it with equal facility. This renders our situation. not very agreeable, though necessary. However, by incessant labor, Sundays not excepted, we are in a much better posture of defence now, than when I first came. 'Our works and those of the enemy are so near, and the space between is so open, that each sees every thing the other is doing. 'I shall conclude, with my best wishes and love to my sister and the family, and compliments to any inquiring friends. Your most affectionate brother.' GENERAL WASHINGTON to MAJOR GENERAL SCHUYLER. 'I am much easier with respect to the public interest since you arrived at Ticonderoga, as I am persuaded those abilities and that zeal for the common welfare which have led your country to repose such confidence in you, will be fully exerted. From my own experience I can easily judge of your difficulties in introducing order and discipline into troops, who have from their infancy imbibed ideas of the most contrary kind. It would be far beyond the compass of a letter, for me to describe the situation of things here on my arrival. Perhaps you will only be able to judge of it from my assuring you, that mine must be a portrait at full length, of what you have had in miniature. 'Confusion and discord reigned in every department, which, in a little time, must have ended either in a separation of the army, or fatal contests with one another. The better genius of America has prevailed, and most happily the Ministerial troops have not availed themselves of their advantages, till I trust the opportunity is in a great measure passed over. 'I must recommend to you, what I endeavor to practice myself, patience and perseverance.' Ibid. p. 41. To the Speaker of the General Assembly of Massachusetts Bay. 'CAMP AT CAMBRIDGE, 31 July, 1775. 'SIR, I have considered the application made to me yesterday from the General Court, with all the attention due to the situation of the people in whose behalf it is made, and the respect due to such a recommendation.* Upon referring to my instructions and consulting with those Members of Congress who are present, as well as the general officers, they all agree, that it would not be consistent with my duty to detach any part of the army now here on any particular Provincial service. This will appear the more proper, when it is considered, that every town, and indeed every part of our sea-coast, which is exposed to these depredations, would have an equal claim upon this army. * By a committee, the General Court had made application for a detachment from the army, to protect the eastern part of the province from some apprehended depredations on the coast. Similar applications were often repeated during the war, the ob jects of which General Washington steadily labored to effect, by unremitted exertions to protect and defend the whole country. (See letter to Gov. Trumbull, Sept. 21, and many others.) "It is a misfortune of our situation which exposes us to these ravages, and against which, in my judgment, no such temporary relief could possibly secure us. It would give me great pleasure to have it in my power to extend protection and safety to every individual; but the wisdom of the General Court will anticipate me in the necessity of conducting our operations on a general and impartial scale, so as to. exclude any just cause of complaint and jealousy.' RALPH IZARD to GEORGE DEMPSTER, ESQ. Ibid. p. 44. 'WEYMOUTH, [Eng.] August 1, 1775. You wished to be informed of the proceedings of the Continental Congress. They are kept so secret, that nothing has transpired but a few articles, which they have allowed to be published, such as their directions to the City and County of New York; how to conduct themselves, if any of the King's troops should arrive in their Province; their orders that no more provisions should be sent to the island of Nantucket than is necessary for the inhabitants, lest the Newfoundland Fisheries should from thence be supplied, and their Resolution, that no money be furnished the British army for their bills of exchange. The Congress, by these few specimens, seem to be proceeding with great wisdom. 'I make no doubt, but, if America should be driven to the ne cessity of disuniting herself from Great Britain, that the world. would see the firmest and freest Constitution formed, that any people were ever blessed with.' Cor. of R. Izard, vol. i. p. 110. GENERAL WASHINGTON to the PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS. 'CAMP AT CAMBRIDGE, 4 August, 1775. 'SIR, I am to acknowledge the receipt of your favor of the 24th July, accompanied by two hundred and eighty-four commissions, which are yet much short of the necessary number. I am much honored by the confidence reposed in me, of appointing the several officers recommended in mine of the 10th ultimo. * In the renewal of these commissions some difficulties occur, in which I should be glad to know the pleasure of Congress. The general officers of Massachusetts have regiments; those of Connecticut have both regiments and companies; and the other field officers have companies each. In New Hampshire, the general officers have no regiments; nor the field officers companies. In Rhode Island, the general officers have no regiments; but the field officers have companies. Should the commissions now to be delivered, pursue these different establishments, there will be a distinction between the general and field officers of |