Camp Colo Baylor, and to recommend it to you to promote him to be a Colonel of a Regiment of Light Horse. As the Congress have been pleased to entrust me with the Execution of this Resolve, I must beg you will do me the Favour to give Directions to the Quarter Master, or other proper Person, to purchase as handsome a Horse for this Purpose as can be found. The Reason of my making this Application, is an Information I had received that some Light Horse were taken at Trenton, and are to be publicly sold for the Benefit of the Soldiery.

My dear Sir,

284. SAMUEL ADAMS TO JAMES WARREN.1

BALTIMORE, Jany. 1, 1777.

Our Affairs in Europe look well, and additional Measures have been taken here, to establish them in that Part of the World on a solid Foundation. I assure you Business has been done since we came to this place, more to my Satisfaction than any or every thing done before, excepting the Declaration of Independence, which should have been made immediately after the 19th of April, '75.

Our Ministers abroad are directed to assure foreign Courts, that notwithstanding the artful and insidious Representations of the Emissaries of Britain to the Contrary, the Congress and People of the United States are determind to maintain their Independence at all Events.2.

3

By this Conveyance you will have a Resolution vesting large Powers in General Washington, for a limitted time. It became in my Opinion necessary. The Hint I gave you some time ago I still think very important. Genl. Gates arrivd here the day before yesterday. I have conversd with him upon it. He told me he had conceivd it before and wishes the Measure may be tryed. It requires Secrecy and Dispatch.*

Sir

.

285. THE COMMITTEE IN PHILADELPHIA to the President of CONGRESS (JOHN HANCOCK).1

PHILADA. Jany 2. 1777

2

Lt. Colo. Johnson and Major Frazer of Waynes Pensylvania Battalion called on us this morning. they say, the men in that corps are as good Soldiers as any in America, but will not reinlist on any other

[284]1 Warren-Adams Letters, I. 281; Writings, III. 337 (dated Dec. 31, 1776). 2 See the Journals, Dec. 30, 1776, and no. 274, ante.

3 See the Journals, Dec. 27. Cf. nos. 268, 273, 275-277, ante, 426, post.

4 The allusion is probably to a suggestion, in Adams's letter to Warren of Dec. 6 (Warren-Adams Letters, I. 278), that the enemy's ships might be burned while locked in the ice.

[285] Library of Congress, Pap. Cont. Cong., no. 137, App., f. 57, no. 133, f. 25 (letter-book copy).

2 Francis Johnston and Persifor Frazer. Schuyler touched upon the question of Wayne's battalion in his letter of Dec. 10 (Force, Am. Arch., fifth ser., III. 1150), referred to a committee Dec. 24. It is not found what action, if any, Congress took concerning the matter. This letter of the Philadelphia committee was read in Congress Jan. 6.

Condition than being permitted to return home. those terms being granted them and complied with they have no doubt of getting every man, and they the Officers wou'd prefer them to fresh hands. We told them Congress had this matter before them upon the representation of Genl Schuyler etc., but they pressed us exceedingly to mention the matter to Congress and urge in favour of the Pensylvania and Jersey Troops being sent down soon as possible, as the Garrison can be easily maintained by the Eastern Militia untill the New Regiments are formed and ordered up again.3.

286. THE COMMITTEE IN PHILADELPHIA TO WILLIAM PALFREY.1 January 2nd 1777

William Palfrey Esq.

Sir,

Your letter to Congress of yesterday is now in our office, and which we shall despatch to Baltimore by Express.2. As we concur with you that the engagements with the soldi[e]ry should at all times be complied with, we shall recommend it to Congress to send you a sufficient supply of money.

In consequence of a request from his Excellency the General, We yesterday sent him Fifty Thousand Dollars for the purpose of Paying the 10 Dollars bounty you mentioned so that we hope the Army will suffer nothing untill you get a supply. . . . .

Dear Sir

287. ELBRIDGE GERRY TO JOSEPH TRUMBULL.1

BALTIMORE 2d Jany 1777

Your Favour of the 23d. Decr is just come to Hand and inclosed are the orders of Congress for importing Flower and Rice. I should have wrote by your young Gentleman, but he stopped at philadelphia. Capt Doughty will go off the 4th or 5th with 400000 Dollars, and the Loan Office Certificates will either be sent by Express or under his Care to each of the New England Commissioners, who will also receive the necessary Directions. I will move in the Morning for a Warrant on the Loan offices of Connecticut and Massachusetts for 300000 Dollars, in your Favour; which answers all that is mentioned in your Letter relative to Business.3

3 Concerning the committee in Philadelphia, see nos. 245, 254, 255, ante. [286]1 Library of Congress, Pap. Cont. Cong., no. 133, f. 24.

2 See the Journals, Jan. 6.

3 See Washington's letter to Morris, Dec. 31, Force, Am. Arch., fifth ser., III. 1514; cf. his letter of Dec. 30, ibid., III. 1488.

[287] Conn. State Library, Joseph Trumbull Papers, no. 70.

2 See the Journals, Nov. 28, Dec. 26, 28. Cf. no. 266, ante, and no. 331, post. A letter from Hancock to Joseph Trumbull, Jan. 1, enclosing these resolves, is in the Conn. State Library, Joseph Trumbull Papers, no. 137. Captain Doughty (presumably John Doughty; see Heitman, Hist. Reg.) and Mr. James Bate, a deputy of Trumbull, were sent by Trumbull on a mission to Washington and to Congress. See Trumbull's letters of Dec. 13, Force, Am. Arch., fifth ser., III. 1202, 1203.

3 See the postscript of Jan. 3, below.

I am informed that in the New York Papers is the Copy of a Letter from the C. G. to a Mem' of Congress wherein Colo Reed is censured; I have not seen it, or heard to whom it is directed-but shall not be surprized if to myself.*. . . .

[P. S.] Jany. 3d. the order proposed in the first part of this Letter having passed Congress is now inclosed." I think it will be necessary to inform yourself from the Loan Office Commrs. who of them is or may be best supplyed with Money and inform the Treasurer that he may send an order accordingly.

in the Evening- I am just come from a Visit to our good Friend General Gates who is on the Recovery, which will doubtless give you pleasure. I suspect that a mercenary party at Albany have endeavoured to gravel you in supplying the army. pray inform me whether you can [esta]blish a Magazine of provisions at Bennington for an army of 10000 Men for three Months and keep up the usual Supplies notwithstand opposition and without the assistance of the Albany Gentleman;' and if not, whether it would be a good plan to direct a certain Quantity to be provided in or near Albany by the York convention or General Schuyler to Supply the Militia that may occasionally come in, or answer any other Demands that may be found necessary during the next Campaign? and also what Quality of provisions and Quantity should be thus ordered? I think your powers and Connections may render this needless; but as it can be done without interfering in your Department, if you think there is the le[ast] Chance of it's being necessary and advise thereto, [it] shall be adopted. the Bearer brings the Certificates to the Commissioners of the loan offices in N England.

288. SAMUEL CHASE TO THE MARYLAND COUNCIL OF SAFETY.1 BALTIMORE TOWN, Jany. 3rd. 1777

Gentlemen.

. . . . Mr. Carroll informs Me that an Application was heretofore made to Congress relative to the Case of Milne and Jenkins, and declined Giving any opinion. I have given the State of their Case to the Georgia Delegates. I will write you further on this Subject.2.

our State is as yet unrepresented.3

4 The initials "C. G." are for commissary general, that is, Joseph Trumbull. An intercepted letter of Joseph Trumbull to William Williams, dated Nov. 18, 1776, was printed in Hugh Gaine's New York Gazette, Dec. 9, and was transmitted to Congress by General Schuyler in a letter of Dec. 30. The Trumbull letter is in Force, Am. Arch., fifth ser., III. 1497; Schuyler's letter (read in Congress Jan. 13) is ibid., III. 1495. See also nos. 331, 423, post.

5 See the Journals, Jan. 3. In a letter of Mar. 5 to Congress, Trumbull says that the warrant for this $300,000 has not been received. Duplicate orders were sent by Hancock Mar. 16 (letter to Trumbull, Mar. 16, Conn. State Library, Joseph Trumbull Papers, no. 141).

man

The allusion is probably to Walter Livingston. See no. 124, ante.

Gerry first wrote "with or without the assistance". The word printed "Gentlemay be Gentlemen. See note 6, above.

[288]1 Md. Hist. Soc., Red Book, III. 30; Arch. of Md., XVI. 11.

2 See no. 238, ante; cf. no. 318, post.

The council's reply to this letter, Jan. 10, is in Arch. of Md., XVI. 34.

289. THE COMMITTEE IN PHILADELPHIA TO GEORGE WASHINGTON.1 PHILADA. Jany 5th. 1777

Sir,

The uncertain rumours of your Excellency's success between Trenton and Prince Town and at the latter place, leave us in a most anxious state of suspence, hoping every moment to be relieved therefrom by an express with dispatches from you

We informed Congress of your situation on Thursday Evening at Trenton and prepared them to expect some important event consequently they will have an anxious interval of suspence as we now have 2

We remain Your Excellencys Obed Servants

Your Favour of the 3d. inst. I recd. yesterday at two O'Clock in the Afternoon, and this Morning laid it before Congress, who approve highly of your sending the Information it contains, and are infinitely anxious to hear the Event. It is now one O'Clock, P. M. and no Express as yet arrived; a Circumstance, which, in my Opinion, augurs well. I have the Honour to be, with Sentiments of Esteem,

Sir, your most obed. and very hble Sevt.

Robt. Morris Esqr. and others of the Come.

JOHN HANCOCK Presidt

The Resolution sent you some time ago respects the Magazine at York, is superceeded by the subsequent Resolve ordering one at Carlile."

Sir,

291. THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS TO GEORGE WASHINGTON.1 BALTIMORE 6th Jany. 1777.

The enclosed Resolves, which I have the Honour of transmitting, call for your immediate Attention; and I am to request, you will take

[289]1 Library of Congress, Letters to Washington, XIII. 18.

2 A part of the committee's letter to Congress, Jan. 2, 3, is printed ante (no. 286). See the Journals, Jan. 6, and no. 290, post. A letter from the committee to Congress, Jan. 5, read Jan. 8, is in Arch. of Md., XVI. 28. See also nos. 294, 295, post. [290]1 Library of Congress, Papers Cont. Cong., no. 58, f. 15.

2 The Journals (Jan. 6) mention the letter as dated the 2d and 3d. Cf. nos. 291,

297, post.

See the Journals, Dec. 21, 27 (pp. 1033, 1044), Washington to Congress, Dec. 20 (Writings, ed. Ford, V. 112, ed. Sparks, IV. 232), and nos. 300, 321, 374, 435, post. [291] Library of Congress, Letters to Washington, XIII. 20; Letters to Washington (ed. Sparks), I. 323.

Measures in Pursuance thereof as soon as possible. Genl. Lee's Situation seems to be extremely dangerous and critical; and from Genl. Howe's Behaviour to him, it is highly probable, he will be brought to a Trial for Desertion. Genl. Lee, it is said, by Mr. Eustace, his Aid de Camp, having addressed two Letters to Genl. Howe, received them both back again unopened, and enclosed under a Cover directed to Lieutenant Colo Lee. I hope the Flag, which Congress ordered to be sent to make Inquiry into the Manner in which he is treated, has been dispatched; and a Remonstrance in Consequence of it, should the Information you have received of his Treatment, have rendered that Step necessary.

You will please to propose an Exchange of the six Hessian Field Officers for him, and at the same Time, make Inquiry whether the Report which Congress have heard of Mr. Stockton's being confined in a Common Jail by the Enemy, has any Truth in it, or not.3

By a Letter which Congress yesterday received from Mr. Morris' we are informed, that Genl. Cadwalader, with the Troops under him, had joined your Army-that the Enemy were at Trenton-that the two Armies were divided only by a Creek, and that a General Engagement was hourly expected. In the mean Time, Congress are infinitely anxious to hear the Event; and humbly hope, that Victory has declared in Favor of those, whose sacred Cause should inspire them with Ardor, on every solemn Appeal to that Being, who hateth all Injustice, Tyranny, and Oppression. I have the honor to be, with every Sentiment of Esteem and Respect, Sir,

your most obed. and very hble Servt.

JOHN HANCOCK Presidt.

P. S. If the Desire of Congress to procure Genl. Lee's Exchange cannot be effected, and the Enemy, preferring the Gratification of Revenge to the Civility they owe their Hessian Auxiliaries, determine to keep or to abuse him, it will be very agreeable to Congress that their Determination, with the enclosed Resolve be made known to the Hessians as fully as possible. To secure Genl. Lee as effectually as may be from personal Insult and Injury, Congress have come to the present Resolution; which you, Sir, are desired to convey to Genl. Howe, with all convenient Dispatch. It will be very agreeable to Congress that the Hessian Field Officer intended to be exchanged for Colo. Ethan Allen be sent to notify it to Genl. Howe, taking his Parole to return in a fixt Time, if Colo. Allen is not returned in his Place. It will fall within the Wish of Congress if Colo. Rahl, or one of the Hessian Officers, should be also sent with the

2 Maj. John Eustace.

3 A part of Hancock's letter to Robert Morris on the same day (no. 290, ante) is almost identical with these passages. Cf. nos. 297-299, 360, post; also Richard Henry Lee to Patrick Henry, Jan. 9, in Letters (ed. Ballagh), I. 246, and Henry, Patrick Henry, III. 36. See also the Journals, Feb. 20, and nos. 366, 367, 371, post.

In regard to Richard Stockton, see Benjamin Rush to Richard Henry Lee, Dec. 30, 1776, Force, Am. Arch., fifth ser., III. 1487; also no. 347, note 6, post.

4 See no. 290, ante, and no. 297, post.