750. JAMES DUANE TO THE NEW YORK COUNCIL OF SAFETY.1 YORK TOWN Novr. 17772

Honourable Gentlemen

Your Dispatches of the 22d of October were safely deliver'd by the Express. I thought it adviseable, Mr Duer being absent a few days for the Benefit of Health, to detain him till Congress shou'd have time to deliberate and determine upon the delicate and important Propositions you recommend to their Attention. They are now submitted to a Committee and you shall be acquainted with the Result."

Every body here is sensibly touched at the melancholy catastophre which followd the Loss of the Passes in the high Lands. When so great a number of Troops were withdrawn I predicted the fatal Event. In calling away 1500 men Congress in my opinion went too far. I strenuously remonstrated against it; but in Vain. The Hopes of being able to subdue General Howe by such a Reinforcement preponderated: no body [nor] any member coud be Perswaded that it was in Sir Henry Clinton's power to give the State of New York the least disturbance. The Report of his having receivd Reinforcements was not credited. The unhappy

He relates further, “that altho a superior force of the enemy prevented his return up the rivers yet his operations in that quarter created a considerable diversion by drawing off a part of the enemys force from their main army and employing a number of armed vessels to protect the navigation of the Mississippi". Finally, he relates that he embarked from New Orleans for Philadelphia Nov. 15, 1778, with despatches from the governor to Congress but was taken and carried to New York," where he endured a long a cruel and expensive imprisonment". (Papers Cont. Cong., no. 42, VIII. 237.) Accounts of Willing's operations on the lower Mississippi indicate that the diversion which he created was chiefly an indulgence in plundering forays. See especially Claiborne, Mississippi, ch. xv.; Gayarré, History of Louisiana, III. 109-114; and Winsor, Westward Movement, pp. 156-158. Some account of Willing's invasion is related in a letter of Gov. Peter Chester to Maj.-Gen. Augustine Prevost, Mar. 21, 1778, in British Historical Manuscripts Commission, Report on American Manuscripts in the Royal Institution, I. 213. (See also ibid., pp. 197, 236.) In the George Rogers Clark Papers (ed. J. A. James) are two letters from Willing to Clark, writen from New Orleans Aug. 22 and Sept. 1, 1778, besides some other materials relating to the expedition. Some letters of Willing are in the Papers of the Continental Congress, and the correspondence of Oliver Pollock with the commercial committee in 1778 (ibid.) pertains in considerable measure to the Willing expedition. In a letter of Sept. 18, 1782, Pollock recounts in particular his own efforts in behalf of the project (Papers. Cont. Cong., no. 50, ff. 1-14).

[750] N. Y. State Lib., Revolutionary Papers, X. 213; Harvard Univ. Lib., Sparks MSS., XXIX. 431 (copy); Jour. N. Y. Prov. Cong., II. 439.

2 The date given this letter in Jour. N. Y. Prov. Cong. is Nov. 3. It contains however a postscript dated Nov. 22. In a passage of this letter here omitted Duane says: The confederation is completed and I expect will be forwarded by this conveyance, as it is in the press at Lancaster." According to Daniel Roberdeau, Nov. 16 (see no. 746, note 4, ante), the Confederation had not then been sent to Lancaster. Duane also speaks of a report prevailing that Fort Mifflin had already been evacuated. The Pennsylvania Evening Post of Nov. 17 carried an announcement of the evacuation on Saturday, Nov. 15. The absence of Duer, which Duane mentions, must have been from about Nov. 9 (see his letter of that date, no. 731, ante) to about Nov. 19, as his name does not appear in the Journals between those dates.

3 The council's letter of Oct. 22 is in Jour. N. Y. Prov. Cong., I. 1072, but its receipt

by Congress is not recorded in the Journals.

Forts Clinton and Montgomery were captured by Sir Henry Clinton, Oct. 6. Some account of the affair from the point of view of General Putnam, who was in command, may be found in his letters of Oct. 8 to Washington (Letters to Washington, I. 438, 441). See also his letters of Oct. 16 and 25 (ibid., II. 5, 15). An investigation was ordered by Congress Nov. 28.

measure was therefore adopted; to add to the misfortune General Washington had before orderd forward a thousand men. Indeed both he and Congress were led into an opinion that General Putnam's Army consisted of between seven and eight thousand men. Had it been really the Case, probably no mischief woud have ensued. I was among the unbelievers

The Loss of the Forts and the River Defences will I flatter myself be speedily and effectually repaird; Congress being determined to spare no Expence which shall be thought necessary. They view the Importance of Hudson's River and the Merit of our State in as high a point of Light as yourselves coud wish; and I am confident that there is nothing your Delegates cou'd ask on this occasion which woud be withheld. General Gates is already invested with ample Powers for every Purpose necessary to our Security...

751. THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS TO GEORGE WASHINGTON.1 York Town 22d. Novem 1777.

8

Your

SirThe last I had the honour of writing to you was dated the 19th. Excellency's Letter of the 17th. instant was [sic] inclosed Copy of a Paper from Mr. Zantzinger and a Return of deficiences in Clothing for the Army came since to hand and have been presented to Congress-and by their order Committed to the Boards of War and Treasury from whom no Reports have yet come up, I am thereby left without Instruction for making the necessary reply.*

My present business is to forward to Your Excellency under this cover an Act of Congress of the 20th Inst. for appointing Commissioners for Indian affairs in the Western Frontier and for divers other matters the Last of which is a request that Your Excellency will send Colo William Crawford to Pittsburgh to receive Orders from General Hand." I have the honor to be with every respectful sentiment Sir Your Excellency's Most Obedient Servant

HENRY LAURENS
President Congs.

His Excellency

General Washington.

This doubtless refers to the order of Sept. 12 to Putnam, to despatch 1500 men to reinforce General Washington. See the Journals, Nov. 5, and letters of Hamilton and Putnam to Washington, Nov. 2 to 15, Letters to Washington (ed. Sparks), II. 24-42. See also W. F. Livingston, Israel Putnam, ch. XXIII.

• Cf. no. 777, post.

[751]1 S. C. Hist. Soc., Laurens Letters, 1776-1779, no. 20.

2 No. 744, ante.

See the Journals, Nov. 21, Dec. 1, 10.

The action taken by Congress, Nov. 25, upon a report of the board of war, was probably in consequence of Washington's letter of Nov. 17.

5 See the Journals, Nov. 20. Some account of Col. William Crawford (of Virginia) is in Appleton, Cyclo. Am. Biog. See also the Journals, 1776, 1777, 1778 (index). In 1782 he conducted an expedition against the Wyandot and Delaware Indians, was captured by them, and burned at the stake. See Pa. Arch., first ser., IX. 557, 576. An account of the expedition, by N. N. Hill, jr., is found in Mag. of Western Hist., May, 1885. See also no. 746, ante, no. 766, post.

Sir,

752. THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS (HENRY LAURENS) TO
HORATIO GATES.1

YORK TOWN 23d Novem. 1777.

I had the honour of writing to you the 14th Inst: by the Express Fowler, since which Your favour of the [10th]2 came to hand covering several Papers these were immediately Committed to the Board of War and remain in that Channel unreported upon, therefore I am not possessed of means even for filling the blank in the third Line above.

Congress having received various intimations of a breach of the Convention of Saratoga on the part of Lieutt. Gen Burgoyne and particularly a serious address on that head from the Executive power of New York, have judged it their Duty to the people to make the necessary enquiries and for this purpose have formed several Resolutions under date the 22d Inst. a Certified Copy of which I shall have the honour of conveying with this. it is only needful for me to add the Voice of Congress repeating what is specially contained in the Resolves that you will be pleased to return an answer as speedily as possible. ..

753. RICHARD HENRY LEE TO SAMUEL ADAMS.1

My dear Sir,

1

YORK the 23d. Novr. 1777.

The confederation is not yet returned from press but we expect it will in a day or two when it will be sent forward, and with it will come this letter. We have strongly pressed the speedy consideration and return of the Confederation, and we have urged the necessity of immediate and extensive Taxation, regulation of prices, and other Measures of finance, oeconomy, and effectual recruiting the army. I know my friend Mr. John Adams will say the regulation of prices wont do. I agree it will not singly answer, and I know that Taxation with Oeconomy are the radical cures. But I also know that the best Physicians sometimes attend to Symptoms, apply palliatives and under favor of the Truce thus obtained, introduce cause removing medicines. Let us for a moment check the enormity of the evil by this method, whilst the other more sure, but more slow methods secure us against a return of the mischief. The middle and southern States (particularly the insatiable avarice of Pennsylvania)

[752]1 N. Y. Hist. Soc., Gates Papers, XI.; Library of Congress, President's LetterBook, I. 37. 2 Gates's letter of Nov. 10 was read in Congress Nov. 18.

3 See the Journals, Oct. 31, Nov. 3, 6, 8, 19, 21, 22, Dec. 1, 12, 17, 18, 23, 26, 27, 1777, and Jan. 2, 3, 8, 12, 13, 1778; also nos. 756, 779, 782, 786, 791, post. The letter from the New York council of safety, dated Nov. 5, read in Congress Nov. 18, is in Jour. N. Y. Prov. Cong., I. 1075.

[753] N. Y. Pub. Lib., Samuel Adams Papers; Letters of Richard Henry Lee (ed. Ballagh), I. 353.

2 See nos. 738, 746, 749, ante, nos. 754, 760, 765, 766, post.

3 See the report on the letter of Stephen Hopkins and the proceedings of the committees of the Eastern states, the Journals, Nov. 22, 26, 27 (see also ibid., Aug. 18, Sept. 10, Oct. 27, Nov. 13). Cf. nos. 723, 736, 738, ante, nos. 754, 760, 764, 765, 772, post. See also Dyer to Trumbull, Mar. 12, 1778, in the next volume of these Letters.

having refused to join in the plan formerly, rendered the experiment on your part inconclusive and partial; therefore I do not think Mr. Adams's argument drawn from that trial quite decisive against the Measure. I incline to think that the necessity of the case will now procure its adoption universally, and then we shall see what great things may be effected by common consent. The American conduct has already shattered and overset the conclusions of the best Theorists, and I hope this will be

another instance.

3

Two days ago I moved the immediate recall of Mr. Deane, which was agreed without dissent,* and tomorrow is appointed for choosing a Commissioner in his place. Our friends Mr. John Adams and Mr. Denny are in Nomination, with some others. This appointment was strongly pressed on me in Congress," but my dear friend, rigid as you are in these matters, I am sure you would have admitted my apology. I feel the obligations of public duty very powerfully, but when these duties can be better discharged by others, why may not the private ones be suffered to prevail? Why may not chari liberi have their weight, when such a sacrifice is not necessary for the public service. I remember that in some points our opinion differed respecting Mr. Deane, but I feel myself obliged to think that he has pursued his best judgement for the good of his Country when he made those distressing contracts, and perhaps his peculiar situation compelled him to carry them further than he might otherwise have done. Be this as it may, after Congress had so strongly determined concer [n]ing these, it would have been out of all character to have continued him. Yet this is a matter of great delicacy and I am not well satisfied with the whole of it. If our friend Mr. Adams should be chosen, I have earnest hopes that he will accept. The loss of time. that will attend his refusal, independant of other considerations, renders it of much consequence that he should not refuse.

7

754. RICHARD HENRY LEE TO THE PRESIDENT OF NEW HAMPSHIRE (MeSHECH Weare).1

Dear Sir,

YORK the 24th of November 1777

We have finished the confederation and it will go forward to the States in a few days, with strong exortation to consider and return it quickly. In this great business dear Sir we must yield a little to each other, and not rigidly insist on having everything correspondent to the partial views of every State. On such terms we can never confederate. If we take a view of the World, we shall find that numbers are by no means a just criterion to fix the relative riches of States. Of old times * See the Journals, Nov. 21, Dec. 8. Cf. nos. 565, 586, ante, nos. 760, 766, 768-770, 5 Francis Dana. See note 6, below.

post.

See the memorandum of Henry Laurens, Nov. 21, in the Journals (Ford), p. 947, note I; also no. 769, note 8, post. Adams was elected Nov. 28.

7 See no. 559, ante.

[754]1 Mass. Hist. Soc., C 81, A 14; Library of Congress, Force Trans., Weare, p. 48; Letters of Richard Henry Lee (ed. Ballagh), I. 359.

take Tyre and Scythia-Germany and Carthage. In Modern look at Holland and Poland-England and Germany. But the truth is that let wealth flow into a Country from whatever cause, it will forever reflect value upon the lands of that Country, and they rise in value in proportion to the influx of wealth. Thus the value of lands in England has doubled and trepled as commerce has brought wealth into the Island. For my own part, I doubt extremely whether Virginia will not pay more by the pres [e]nt Mode than if it had been determined by numbers. But I am satisfied that the mode now fixt is the most just, and so fiat justicia, ruat Coelum. We have recommended extensive taxation, sinking the provincial currencies, and regulating prices. I think that if the States will vigorously execute the recommendations of Congress, we shall, under providence, be a safe and happy people.2. ..

Sir

755. THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS (HENRY LAURENS) TO THE GOVERNOR OF NORTH CAROLINA (RICHARD CASWELL).1 YORK 25th. Novemr 1777

My present duty is to Convey a Resolve of Congress of this date in which your Excellency is requested and enabld to perform an essential Service to the United States, by appointing proper persons for Purchasing and others for manufacturing in the State in which you preside certain articles of Leather for the use of the Army

Congress have been encouraged to give your Excellency this trouble by the Delegates from North Carolina and have only in view the general Interest of these States. Nothing therefore is needful for me to add but a reference to the Resolve."

Dear General

756. JAMES LOVELL TO HORATIO GATES.1

YORK 27 Novr. 1777.

This present Carryer will perhaps throw you into a dilemma. We want you in different places, but most of all in a third which you are not called to ballance about. We want you most near Germantown.3

2 Cf. no. 753, ante.

[755]1 Library of Congress, President's Letter-Book, I. 39; N. C. State Recs., XI. 685. 2 See the Journals, Nov. 25.

[756] N. Y. Hist. Soc., Gates Papers, XI.; N. Y. Pub. Lib., Bancroft Coll., Revolutionary Papers, III. 227 (copy).

2 Gates was elected a member of the board of war Nov. 27. A memorandum of Henry Laurens (Papers Cont. Cong., no. 19, III. 165), Nom. 24 Board of War Maj. Gen. Gates Richd Peters Esq.", shows that Gates and Peters were nominated the same day on which the resolution was adopted to enlarge the board. In a letter to Gates, Nov. 17 (Gates Papers, vol. XI.), Lovell says: Prepare yourself for a jaunt to this Place. Congress send for you. I have ten thousand things to tell." See nos. 757-761, post.

3 That is, to supplant Washington. Doubtless this was the principal one of the "ten thousand things" which he wished to talk about. In the Samuel Adams Papers (N. Y. Pub. Lib.) is a letter from Jonathan D. Sergeant to Lovell, dated Nov. 20, wherein Washington is denounced for his feebleness and for "such blunders as might have disgraced a soldier of three months' standing". Adams has taken great pains to obliterate the signature. Cf. nos. 689, 700, ante.