possibly remain an inactive Spectator of her Fall. Display therefore, I most earnestly entreat you that Virtue which alone can Save her, on this occasion. Let us convince our enemies, that as we entered into the present contest for the Defence of our Liberties, so we are resolved, with the firmest Reliance on Heaven for the Justice of our Cause, never to relinquish it, but rather perish in the Ruins of it. If we do but remain firm, if we are undismayed at the little Shocks of Fortune, and are determined at all hazards that we will be free, I am persuaded, under the gracious smiles of Providence, assisted by our most strenuous endeavours, we shall finally succeed agreeably to our wishes, and thereby establish the Independence, the Happiness, and the glory of the United States of America. As the Troops now in service belonging to the several States, will be considered as part of their Quota in the American Army, you will please to take such steps as you judge necessary to ascertain what number of the Troops, as well as what Officers will engage to serve during the war. I send by this Express, blank Commissions, to be filled up with such as you shall please to appoint. I also forward a Number of the Rules and Articles of War, altered by Congress and just published.* My dear Sir 140. BENJAMIN RUSH TO ANTHONY WAYNE,1 PHILADA. Septemr. 24th. 1776 My Compts. await Genl. Gates, and Genl. St. Clair. Tell the latter that I have done nothing since I took my seat in Congress with greater pleasure than in giving my vote for making him a Brigadr.2 and I wish for nothing more than to do the same justice to the merit of my friend Col. Wayne. Inter Nos, an attention in you to Genl. Gates may facilitate this matter if it should soon come before Congress.3 Sir 141. LEWIS MORRIS TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE NEW YORK PHILADELPHIA Septemr 24 1776 Since my arrival at Philadelphia the State of N York has had no more than a representation in Congress, and as the Gentlemen of the Committee for Indian Affairs were mostly out of Town, the whole of that necessary business has Devolved upon me.2. 4 See the Journals, Sept. 20. [140] N. Y. Pub. Lib., Bancroft Coll., Wayne Papers, I. 109 (copy). 2 See the Journals, Aug. 9. 3 Wayne was made brigadier-general Feb. 21, 1777. [141]1 N. V. Pub. Lib., Myers Coll., Declaration of Independence; Jour. N. Y. Prov. Cong., I. 654; Force, Am. Arch., fifth ser., III. 211. 2 Morris is explaining why, instead of resuming his command in the army, he had remained in Congress. See the proceedings of the New York convention, Sept. 16, Force, Am. Arch., fifth ser., II. 693, and a letter from the president of the convention to Morris, Oct. 8, ibid., II. 949; Jour. N. Y. Prov. Cong., I. 627, 666. A letter of the same date, signed by Philip Livingston, William Floyd, and Lewis Morris, referring to New York's quota of the eighty-eight battalions, says: "Four battalions is all that is required of New York, including those already raised." (Force, Am. Arch., fifth ser., III. 208). See ibid., pp. 217, 218, and no. 232, post. Sr. 141A. ROBERT TREAT PAINE TO S. P. EVE [?].1 PHILADA. Septr. 25th. 1776. Mr. Gerry delivered me a letter y sent by Major Cox; I have been a long time anxious to know the state of Gun Powder manufacture in our Government and have wrote repeatedly without being able to get any satisfactory information. We have had great success in making saltpetre, but witho1. great Care it will be all spoilt in making into Gunpowder. there have been some great instances here of miserable trash turn'd out for Gunpowder, which occasioned the Congress to appoint a Committee to enquire into the defect and procure a remedy.a . . . I am exceeding glad to find you turning yr. attention to this very important Manufacture. I hope you will not only make improvements in yr. own Works but communicate Knowledge to the other Powder makers and do what lays in yr Power to promote the manufac ture of good Powder for it must be a most cruel Vexation in the day of decision for Liberty or Slavery to have the Scale turn against us meerly thro' the defect of our own Powder. this matter has lain as a Burthen on my mind and has caused me to apply great attention to this manufacture. Congress have passed some resolves to prevent the bad manufacture of Powder and also the importation of bad Powder, (for much Powder which has been imported from abroad has proved exceed [sic] bad) and have recommended inspectors to be appointed to prove all Powder. this matter should be carefully attended to. Majr. Cox will describe to you the machine by which we made most of our Experiments. You will excuse the freedom I take in addressing you thus freely when you consider the real importance of the subject. I wish the Inhabitants of the United States were more intent upon providing and manufacturing the Means of defence, than making Governments with. providing for the means of their Support. Wishing you Success in yr. noble Efforts to promote that best Good of yr Country, its defence from powerful Enemies, I part your most hble Servt [Endorsed:] Mr. Paine to S. P. Eve [?] on Gun powder RT PAINE [141A]1 Copied from the original, then in the possession of Mr. Charles E. Goodspeed of Boston. 2 Complaint against the powder manufactured at the powder-mill of Oswell Eve was presented June 7, and a committee (Wisner, Paine, and R. R. Livingston) was appointed to investigate the defect and take measures to remedy it. See the Journals, June 14. Aug. 6 Benjamin Rush was added to this committee. Aug. 28 the committee reported some regulations, which were adopted and printed (see Bibliographical Notes, the Journals, VI. 1125). An additional resolve was passed Sept. 2. Nothing has been learned concerning S. P. Eve. The powder-mill of Oswell Eve was located at Frankford, Pa. A petition from him to the Pennsylvania committee of safety, dated Mar. 22, 1776 (Force, Am. Arch., fourth ser., V. 464), was referred to Congress May 3. A committee was appointed upon it, but there is no record of a report. Dr. Sir, 142. JOHN ADAMS TO JAMES WARREN.1 Sept. 25, 1776 This Express carries a new Plan of an Army 2 I hope the Gen. Court without one Moments delay will Send Commissions to whole Corps of their officers, either by Expresses or Committees to New York, and Ticonderoga, that as many Men may be inlisted without delay as possible. It may be best to send a Committee with full Powers to each Place. There is no Time to be lost. I inclose you a sett of Articles as lately amended.3 Discipline I hope will be introduced at last. I am, JOHN ADAMS 143. EDWARD RUTLEDGE TO THE PRESIDENT OF SOUTH CAROLINA (JOHN RUTLEDGE).1 [PHILADELPHIA, September 25, 1776.] The Congress are resolved to raise Eighty eight Battalions to continue during the War we mean to re-inlist all those who are now engaged if they will serve. It is not intended by the Resolutions that you should raise Six Battalions over and above what you now have but that they should be re-inlisted to serve during the war.2 [142]1 Warren-Adams Letters, I. 275. 2 See the Journals, Sept. 16, also nos. 139, ante, 143-145, 147, 148, post. Evidently the Articles of War, adopted Sept. 20. The task of revising the rules of war was assigned to the committee on spies June 14 (a committee consisting of John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, Edward Rutledge, James Wilson, and Robert R. Livingston, appointed June 5). A report was brought in Aug. 19 and further considered Sept. 19. See no. 85, note 6, ante, and some remarks of Adams there quoted. Again, in his Autobiography, under the dates Sept. 19 and 20, he comments upon the Articles: "This was another measure that I constantly urged on with all the zeal and industry possible, convinced that nothing short of the Roman and British discipline could possibly save us. "The articles are inserted in the Journal of this day, and need not be transcribed; they are the system which I persuaded Jefferson to agree with me in reporting to Congress. They fill about sixteen pages of the Journal. In Congress, Jefferson never spoke, and all the labor of the debate on those articles, paragraph by paragraph, was thrown upon me, and such was the opposition, and so undigested were the notions of liberty prevalent among the majority of the members most zealously attached to the public cause, that to this day I scarcely know how it was possible that these articles could have been carried. They were adopted, however, and have governed our armies with little variation to this day." Works, III. 83. 4 Apart from the Articles of War, Adams had been instrumental, according to his own statement, in bringing about the resolution in behalf of discipline passed Sept. 19 (brought in by the board of war, in accordance with instructions, Sept. 18). "This resolution was the effect of my late journey through the Jerseys to Staten Island. I had observed such dissipation and idleness, such confusion and distraction among officers and soldiers, in various parts of the country, as astonished, grieved, and alarmed me. Discipline, discipline, had become my constant topic of discourse and even declamation in and out of Congress, and especially in the board of war. I saw very clearly that the ruin of our cause and country must be the consequence, if a thorough reformation and strict discipline could not be introduced. My zeal on this occasion was no doubt represented by my faithful enemies, in great secrecy, however, to their friends in the army; and although it might recommend me to the esteem of a very few, yet it will be easily believed that it contributed nothing to my popularity among the many." Ibid. [143] MS. Journal of the South Carolina General Assembly, 1776, p. 211. Extract of a letter of Edward Rutledge, transmitted by the president of South Carolina to the legislature. 2 See the Journals, Sept. 16. Cf. no. 143A, post. Dear Sir 143A. WILLIAM HOOPER TO ROBERT R. LIVINGSTON.1 PHILADA. Sept 25, 1776 I thank you for your very obliging letter of the 9th of this Instant. The Congress have ordered 88 Regiments to be raised for the next Year's service to continue during the War I wish this may save the dreadful Consequences of short Enlistments as calling forth the Militia upon Exigencies, were one to persist in the method hitherto pursued, the Contest would be of short duration, our Treasury would soon discover its weakness.2 Juniper Lees Express arrived here last night 3—he left Lee at Georgia, the Congress Express within a day and half ride of him-Possibly Lee may be here in a day or two. Adiew I scrawl this amidst the confusion of Congress at the Treasury board Dear Sir Yours truly WM HOOPER 144. ELBRIDGE GERRY TO JOSEPH TRUMBULL.1 PHILADELPHIA Sepr 26th 1776 I have only Time to advise You that General Schuyler finds himself so uneasy at the Northward from the Reflections of the people that he proposes to resign, from which We have Reason to hope that Harmony will ensue.2 the Army is to consist the ensuing Year of eighty eight full Batalions to be enlisted for the War, the Officers to have Bounties of Land, the Men one hundred Acres each and twenty Dollars. the Express is Waiting. my Respects to all Friends and believe me to be Colo Trumbull 8 yours sincerely E GERRY 145. WILLIAM WILLIAMS TO JOSEPH TRUMBULL.1 PHILADEL. 26 Sepr 1776 1 Dear Sir I recd yours of the 19th. have you recd mine contains an extempore Acco. of the Nego": wh. Ld Howe.2 Congress have directed You to [143 A]1 Furnished by courtesy of Mrs. W. A. Read of New York City. 2 See the Journals, Sept. 16; cf. nos. 135, 139, 142, 143, ante, 144, 147, 148, post. 8 Letters of General Lee were read in Congress Sept. 25. He reported to Congress in person Oct. 7. The nickname "Juniper was probably applied to General Lee because of his sharp tongue; but no other instance of its use has been found. [144]1 Conn. State Lib., Joseph Trumbull Papers, no. 67. 2 Schuyler's resignation, dated Sept. 14, is in Force, Am. Arch., fifth ser., II. 333. Cf. no. 138, ante, and no. 145, post. See also Joseph Trumbull to Gen. Gates, Sept. 20, Force, Am. Arch., fifth ser., II. 417. 3 See the Journals, Sept. 16. [145]1 Conn. State Lib., Joseph Trumbull Papers, no. 567. 2 Sept. 7, no. 113, ante. purchase Salt and put up Provisions as You shall judge necessary for next year's army trust You have recd it from the Presidt. They have alarming Accs. from the No. Army that the Sick have nothing but bread and meat, not so much as Ind: meal nor any kind of Vegetable etc. and the Sick perish for want etc.* and have sent a Comte of Mr Stocton and Clymer to enquire into all the Circumstances of that Army in order to make Them as comfortable as possible," and the Idea of a Contract for that Departmt. is received and adopted and the Comte are instructed to endeavor to make one, upon Schylers Plan, of which They have a Copy. Suppose it will ease You of a heavy Burden. three wod have been sent but they cod not find a 3d man, two had been successively chosen and begd off, and then it was concluded to send but the two. tis also said the Jersey Troops have nothing but bread and meat and that none of the Troops have their just rations, and that there is jobbing and cheating, tho nobody directly blames You and surely you have powerful Friends and Supporters but there is great uneasiness that your Deputies or somebody grossly fails etc. tis very possible they may soon be for enter. into a Contract for the York Army, and have you continue Comissary. they say tis his business only to issue and be a Check upon the Contractor. I tell Them if They make a Contract then You ought by all means to have the offer of it, and they [say] yes by all means. what relates to the Y." army is only out of Doors talk, and I cant say it will be any thing else, but very likely it may, tho nothing yet moved. 8 If it shod be the Case shod be glad to know Your mind about contracting etc. I trust the Comte, will see you on the road, to get what advice and assistance They can from You. I think Mr Clymer is a very good sort of a Man, and Mr Stocton is not bad. I forgot whether I told You Gen. Schuyler had resigned.10 it has not been acted upon but I imagine it will be accepted, but am sensible it will cause great heart burning in many members, and they will curse N Engld. as having by malicious Clamors forced him to it etc. etc. the Measures are taken for forms a new Army as you will have seen; and learnd pr. Mr Sherman etc. also I hope it will succeed, wish to know how it is relished in the Army. it is of the last importance to have it succeed. as I have but a moments Time cant look over your Letter to know whether I shod have mentioned any 3 See no. 113, ante, and nos. 162, 166, 172, post; also the Journals, Sept. 25, 27, Oct. 5, 9, 16. 4 Cf. nos. 162, 166, 266, post. 5 A report from Stockton and Clymer, dated Oct. 26, is in Force, Am. Arch., fifth ser., II. 1256. See the Journals, Nov. 4. 6 The plan proposed by Schuyler is in his letter of Aug. 25 (read in Congress Aug. 31). The letter is in Force, Am. Arch., fifth ser., I. 1151. See the instructions to the committee appointed to go to Ticonderoga, Sept. 25; also no. 124, ante, and nos. 162, 164, 166, 172, 175, post. The Journals, Sept. 25 (p. 823), show that the word "three" was erased and "two" substituted, the alteration evidently having been made on the 26th (p. 828). See no. 164, post. 8 See no. 166, post. 9 York, i. e., New York. 10 See nos. 138, 144, ante; also note 12, below. |