Dear Sir 264. FRANCIS LEWIS TO ROBERT MORRIS.1 The Congress think it absolutely necessary that a Number of Brass Field Pieces should be cast as soon as possible and have directed the Ordinance Board to request that you would direct an enquiry to be made for such persons as are capable of conducting that Branch. Mr. Paine informed Congress that Mr Byers (who cast the Brass Cannon at New York) was then daily expected with his family at Phila and where there is an Air Furnace at which he might be employed; Congress is therefore anxious to know if Byers is at Phila and can be there employed, or if any other person can be found capable of conducting that work. It is necessary also to inform you that at Christeen I saw a quantity of Sea Coal, with some Copper, the latter said to be sent from New York. The Board of Ordinance imagine a Work of this kind may be erected in the Vicinity of this place, it being more convenient in getting supply of Sea Coal from Virginia, provided the Mettle can be procured with a proper person to conduct the Work, the latter is not to be obtained here; And as Congress has this Affair much at hart, they intreat you to make the strictest inquiry you can and inform them. Congress has this moment received letters from the General recommending in the most pressing terms the necessity of having a Number of Brass and Iron Cannon provided as early as possible for the next Campaigne on which he seems to say the fate of America in a great measure depends. he also strongly recommends an Augmentation of the Continental Battallions to 110-with five Battallions of Artillary 3-Thus far from the Ordinance Board.*. [264] Copied from the original, then in possession of Mr. Stan. V. Henkels of Philadelphia; Henkels, Catalogue, no. 1183, item 41. 2 Presumably Christiana, Del., usually called Christiana Bridge, sometimes abbreviated to Chris Bridge. 8 In a letter to Congress, Dec. 5, Washington had pointed out the futility of relying upon militia, and the urgent need of a larger standing army. Dec. 16 he returned to the subject with added emphasis. Dec. 20 he declared that, in consequence of the expiration of enlistments, ten days more would put an end to the existence of the army, suggested increasing the number of battalions to 110, and also urged the augmentation of the artillery. On Dec. 24 he asserted that, unless there were re-enlistments, of which he was not hopeful, the army would be reduced to not exceeding 1500 effective men. Dec. 31 he wrote to Robert Morris: "To-morrow the Continental troops are all at liberty. I. have promised them a bounty of ten dollars, if they will continue for one month. But here again a new difficulty presents itself: We have not money to pay the bounty, and we have exhausted our credit by such frequent promises, that it has not the weight we could wish. If it be possible, sir, to give us assistance, do it. Borrow money where it can be done. We are doing it upon our private credit. Every man of interest, every lover of his country, must strain his credit upon such an occasion. No time, my dear sir, is to be lost." The letter of Dec. 5 (read in Congress Dec. 6), those of Dec. 16 and 20 (read in Congress Dec. 26), and the letter to Morris are in Writings (ed. Ford), V. 66, 101, 112, 145 n., and in Force, Am. Arch., fifth ser., III., 1082, 1242, 1310, 1514. That of Dec. 24 is ibid., III. 1399. The Journals do not record its receipt by Congress. Some of Washington's letters on the subject were intercepted by the British (see Robert Morris to the commissioners at Paris, Dec. 21, ibid., III. 1332, and Wharton, Rev. Dipl. Corr., II. 231). Dec. 27 Congress authorized Washington to raise sixteen additional regiments. See nos. 268, 298, post. Cf. nos. 257, 259, ante. * Lewis doubtless means the cannon committee, of which he was made a member Dec. 24. He was not a member of the board of war and ordnance. Cf. no. 310, post. Dear Sir 265. ROBERT MORRIS TO GEOrge Washington.1 PHILADA. Decr. 26th. 1776 I have just rec'd yours of yesterday and will duly attend to those things you recommend to my consideration.2. Youl observe Mr. Clymer, Mr. Walton and myself, are appointed a Committee to transact the Continental business here that may be necessary and proper; and I apprehend it will frequently be necessary that we should know the substance of your Correspondence with Congress. Your letters to the President if sent open under our covers shall always meet dispatch and their Contents kept Secret, and when you think it improper we should see them before the Congress Seal them and they shall go forward untouched and if you do not approve of submitting them to our inspection at all write us freely and your wishes in that Respect shall be complyed with.*. . . Dear sir 266. ELBRIDGE GERRY TO JOSEPH TRUMBULL.1 BALTIMORE 26th Decr 1776 Your Favour of the 13th came to Hand Yesterday, and this Day Congress have ordered 400,000 Dollars to be sent You forthwith; the Residue can be better spared when this is expended, which You will give Notice of to Congress. You are also impowered to import Flower from Virginia or Maryland, and the Governor and Council of Virginia are desired to order 10,000 bbl. Flower to be provided on James, Rapahanock, York and Potomac Rivers and deliverd to your Order, with as much more as You shall direct. This is to be payed by your Order on the president of Congress for that purpose.2. . . . P. S. The Treasury have not yet been able to attend to your affair, but I believe will soon report upon it. is there no possibility of obtaining full Supplies of Vegetables and Vinegar for the Army? the British Troops are preserved from sickness by these Means only, and I fear We shall never have a Healthy and Vigorous Army without them.3 [265] Library of Congress, Letters to Washington, XII. 310; Letters to Washington (ed. Sparks), I. 310; Force, Am. Arch., fifth ser., III. 1428. 1419. 2 Washington's letter to Morris, Dec. 25, is in Force, Am. Arch., fifth ser., III. 3 See the Journals, Dec. 21, and nos. 253-255, ante. 4 Washington's reply, Dec. 27, is in Force, Am. Arch., fifth ser., III. 1443. Cf. no. 271, post. [266]1 Conn. State Lib., Joseph Trumbull Papers, no. 69. 2 See the Journals, Dec. 26. Cf. nos. 239, ante, 267, 287, post. Trumbull's letter to Congress, Dec. 13, is in Force, Am. Arch., fifth ser., III. 1202. Cf. Trumbull to Washington, ibid., III. 1203. 3 See the Journals, Dec. 28. Cf. nos. 145, 162, 166, ante, 419, 450, post. Sir; 267. THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS (JOHN HANCOCK) TO BALTIMORE, Decr. 27th 1776. After acknowledging the Receipt of your Favour of 13th inst. I am to inform you, that some Time since I transmitted a Resolve, empowering you to import any Quantity of Rice from Carolina you should think proper. In Addition to that Resolve the Congress have come to the enclosed, authorizing you (agreeably to your own Plan) to import such Quantities of Flour and other Provisions from the Southern States as you may judge necessary for the Support of the Army. The Delegates of Virginia will write immediately to the Governor and Council of that State to contract for the Delivery of ten Thousand Barrels of Flour to your order, for which Purpose you will please to send Vessels to take them in. Your draughts on me for Payment thereof, shall be duly honored.3 Joseph Trumbull, Esqr. Com3 Genl. etc. 268. FRANCIS LEWIS TO THE NEW YORK COMMITTEE OF SAFETY.' BALTIMORE 27th Decem. 1776. Gentlemen, 3 Your favor of the 5th. Instant per Lieut. Brit I have received with your resolves, relative to the frigate in Hudsons River, which I this day laid before the Marine Committee and meet their entire approbation. they are of opinion that whatever vessels belonging to the continent and are now in Hudsons river, should be also secured in Esopus Creek, or some other place of safety. the people belonging to the Brigantine and sloop may be disposed off at the discretion of your Convention. Congress approves of your recommendation of Lieut. Victor Bicker junr for the Marines, and as soon as the blank Commissions are [re]ceived from Philadelphia one shall be filled up for him and forwarded to you.*. . . I Í am also directed to inform you that congress, much approves of the frigates being fitted against the spring, and of your directing a sufficient number of Cannon to be cast at Salsbury, as none for your purposes can be procured from these parts. I must also beg that you would represent [267] Conn. State Lib., Joseph Trumbull Coll., no. 136; Force, Am. Arch., fifth ser., III. 1438. 2 See the Journals, Nov. 28. 3 Cf. no. 266, ante. [268] N. Y. State Lib., Minutes of the Committee of Safety, VII. 67 (copy). 2 A draft of the letter to Lewis, Dec. 5, is in the proceedings of the New York committee of safety, Force, Am. Arch., fifth ser., III. 357. The resolutions, passed Dec. 4, are ibid., III. 354. The resolutions and the letter are also in Jour N. Y. Prov. Cong., I. 734, 737. The copy in N. Y. State Lib. has "Company", evidently an error of the copyist. The Journals contain no record relative to the appointment of Lieut. Victor Bicker. His nomination by the New York convention was Dec. 4. See the resolutions cited in note 2, above. 5 See Force, Am. Arch., fifth ser., III. 330, 355, 359. Cf. the Journals, Nov. 28, Dec. 29. my present disagreeable situation to the Honble convention, which is that of being the only delegate from the state of New York attending Congress. My Colleagues Mr. Ph. Livingston and Colo Floyd departed for the Northward upon the adjournment of Congress to this place, so that our state is now unrepresented in Congress and of which the members highly complain, as there was never a more urgent necessity for its being full than at this time, occasioned by several members being detached on Committees and as many as could be spared left [in] Philadelphia to transact the necessary business there..... P. S. Congress has this day resolved to invest genl. Washington with powers for six months to regulate the armies in such manner as he with the advice of his general officers, shall think most conducive to promote the public good, of which shall transmit the convention a copy in my next. The Battalions are to be encreased to 110. It is hoped you will raise one more, i e six.. Sir, 269. THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS (JOHN HANCOCK) TO BALTIMORE Decer. 27th. 1776. The enclosed Resolves, which I do myself the Honour of forwarding, will inform you of the Steps taken by Congress in the present critical State of our Affairs. Your Favour of the 23d. inst. came to Hand, and was immediately laid before Congress.2 The uneasiness you mention therein, with regard to your Want of proper powers, is, no doubt, by this time removed, Congress having authorized the Committee in Philada. to adopt such Measures in the Business of the Continent, as they shall judge proper. You will therefore, in Conjunction with Mr. Clymer, and Mr. Walton act, not only in Marine Matters, but in all others, as you shall think necessary, and most conducive to the public Good.. ... 270. THE COMMITTEE IN PHILADELPHIA TO GEORGE WASHINGTON.1 PHILADA. Decemr. 28th 1776. Dear sir 2 We have received a letter from Colo Fleming of the 9th Virginia Regiment which is on its march from the Eastern Shoar and • The copy has here "from", and "be" for by, a few lines below. 8 See the resolves in the Journals, Dec. 12 (p. 1027), 27, and the circular letter, ibid., Dec. 30. Cf. nos. 275-277, post. See the Journals, Dec. 27; also no. 264, note 3, ante, and no. 298, post. [269]1 Library_of Congress, Papers Cont. Cong., no. 58, f. 5; Mass. Hist. Soc., Hancock Letter-Book, VI. 87; Force, Am. Arch., fifth ser., III. 1437. 2 Morris's letter of Dec. 23 is in Force, Am. Arch., fifth ser., III. 1370. It was read in Congress Dec. 27, and the resolves enclosed were doubtless of that date. 8 See the Journals, Dec. 21, and no. 255, ante. [270]1 Library of Congress, Letters to Washington; Pap. Cont. Cong., no. 133, f. 28 (letter-book copy); Force, Am. Arch., fifth ser., III. 1458. 2 Col. Thomas Fleming. See Morris to Fleming, Dec. 27, Force, Am. Arch., fifth ser., III. 1439; also Morris to Benjamin Hogeland, the same date, ibid., III. 1439. we have ordered them a supply of money at the Head of Elk and the necessary Cloathing to be got in readiness against they come here. We also expect the Pensylvania Regulars that have been lately raised in the back Counties of this State and we understand Militia and other reinforcements are coming from Maryland and Virginia. You may depend we will give every assistance in our power to forward these reinforcements to you and that we shall assist and advise far as we are able in every Publick department here. We have considered that part of your Excellencys letter of the 25th Inst. to Mr. Morris that relates to the Seamen in the Two New England Battalions whose times expire with this Year,3 and shou'd any of them obstinately persist in being discharged from your Service on New Years day, We think it adviseable to prevail on them to come down here and assist in getting the Frigates out. when they come we will make the best bargain we can with them and if nothing else will do, we will engage to send them home in one or two of those ships. If they come on these terms we think Capt Read and his officers shou'd come with them that we may if possible get away the Washington, as well as the Delaware. Congress are very anxious to have these ships out and will be pleased if this measure is pursued. We cannot avoid mentioning, that we dont think it adviseable to exchange your Hessian Prisoners at this time. We think their Capture affords a favourable opportunity of making them acquainted with the situation and circumstances of many of their Country men who came here without a farthing of property and have by care and industry acquired plentifull Fortunes which they have enjoyed in perfect Peace and tranquillity, untill these Invaders have thought proper to disturb and destroy those possessions. it will be proper to seperate the Officers from the Men and to Canton the latter in the back Counties which may be done by the Council of Safety untill the Congress are consulted thereon. We remain with perfect regard and Esteem Your Excellencys most Obedt and most hble Servants. Your Committee have opened their office and given Publick Notice of their daily attendance to transact such Continental business as may be * See the suggestion in Washington's letter to Morris, Dec. 25, Force, Am. Arch., fifth ser., III. 1419. [271] Library of Congress, Pap. Cont. Cong., no. 137, f. 41, no. 133, f. 6 (letter-book copy); Force, Am. Arch., fifth ser., III. 1458. |