374. JOHN ADAMS, DIARY.1

[February 21, 1777.]

21. Friday.. This morning, received a long card from Mr. H. expressing great resentment about fixing the magazine at Brookfield, against the bookbinder and the General. The complaisance to me, and the jealousy for the Massachusetts, in this message, indicate to me the same passion and the same design with the journey to Boston in April.3

Dear Sir

375. BENJAMIN RUSH TO ROBERT MORRIS.1

BALTIMORE Feby. 22. 1777

The question for raising the interest of our loan office tickets to 6 per cent. was attempted again the day before yesterday in Congress but was lost as formerly by a division of the States. Every post and express that arrives brings us complaints of the want of money, and asurances of the impossibility of getting it as the low interest of 4 per cent. These complaints are echoed daily from every corner of the room but to no purpose. The States that oppose the raising of the interest are Rhode Island, Connecticut, North and South Carolinas, and Georgia. Maryland is divided. It is worthy of notice here that only seven members of the congress who represent five of the above States decided the above question, contrary to the inclinations of not less than 17 members who represented the States that voted for raising the interest, and who represent at least 3rds of the people of America. This unjust mode of representation I hope will be altered in the confederation. If it is not it will end sooner or later in the ruin of the Continent. We shall attempt the important question once more before we adjourn to Philada. If we fail we are undone. Another emission of money will in my opinion be a public fraud which no Statenecessity can justify. The loss of two or three provinces would not hurt. our cause half so much as the news of our bankruptcy.

The Congress have concluded unanimously not to send a deputation of their body to General Lee. The present distracted situation of the Court of Britain, the characters and conduct of Lord and General Howe, and the disposition which Genl. Lee always shewed for negociations, and

[374]1 Works, II. 436.

2 See nos. 290, 300, 321, ante, the Journals, Feb. 20, and no. 435, post. The "book

binder " was Gen. Henry Knox.

3 In his Diary, for Feb. 17, Adams wrote: "Mr. Hancock told C. W. [Colunel Whipple?], yesterday, that he had determined to go to Boston in April. Mrs. Hancock was not willing to go till May, but Mr. Hancock was determined upon April. Perhaps the choice of a governor may come on in May. What aspiring little creatures we are! How subtle, sagacious, and judicious this passion is! How clearly it sees its object, how constantly it pursues it, and what wise plans it devises for obtaining it!" Works, II. 436. See no. 383, post.

[375] Copied from the original then in the possession of Mr. Stan. V. Henkels of Philadelphia; Henkels, Catalogue, no. 1183, item 93.

post.

2 See nos. 326, note 8, 340, 344, 346, 349, 352, 357, ante; cf. nos. 382, 384, 385,

conferences with the General Officers belonging to the british Army induced the Congress readily to adopt a suspicion that the royal Commissioners had suggested the maneuvre in order to suspend our military operations, and to divide and deceive the States. This suspicion was rendered the more probable from the circumstances of this, being about the time in which our Commissioners at the Court of France will urge the necessity of a speedy declaration in our favor, and which can only be prevented by the news that we are negociating with Great Britain. It is well known the conference with Lord Howe last summer had well nigh ruined our interest at the Court of France. The Congress have passed a resolution that will we hope satisfy the General that while we are jealous of our honor, we are determined to neglect nothing that concerns his safety, or private affairs.

We have yesterday appointed Colonels Poor, Glover, Patterson, Varnum, Wayne, Dehaes, Muhlenberg, Weedon, Jno. Cadwallider and Woodford Brigadiers General. Lord Sterling, with Messrs Mifflin, Sinclair,* Steven and Lincoln are Majors General.

376. WILLIAM WHIPPLE TO JOSIAH BARTLETT.1

My Dear Sir

BALTIMORE 22d Feby 1777

. . . after repeated requisitions of Genl : Washington, Congress have made a number of Genl Officers. The Genl: Proposal is, that there shod be a Major Genl: to every three Brigades and a Brigadier to every three Regiments. he also proposed three Lieut Genls: but this I believe will not be speedily comply'd with, as its the General opinion in Congress that the Senior Major Genl: may answer the purpose for the Present. Five are added to the list of Major Genls: and ten to the list of Brigadiers among the latter is Col: Poor who was strongly recommended by Genl: Gates as well as by the Commander in chief this will make a vacancy in your late arangement which I hope will be well fill'd. I only wish that real merit may influence the choice.2 I am fearful that sending men off in small Parties will be injurious to the recruiting service, as sending part of a company will backward the enlistment to complete it. I hope proper care will be taken to send good surgeons as much depends on them. Morgan and Stringer are both displaced, and the Medical Department will be put on a very different footing from what it was last Campaign You are sensible of the necessity of a reformation perticularly in that department and I hope great care will be taken in the appointment of Regimental Surgeons I also hope proper measure [s] will be persued by each state to furnish their respective Soldiers with cloathing for notwithstanding every method that can be taken by Congress, there will be but

3 See no. 366, note 3, ante.

4 Arthur St. Clair.

[376]1 Dartmouth College Lib., Bartlett Correspondence, vol. I., 1774-1778. 2 See the Journals, Feb. 18-22. Cf. no. 363, note 3, ante.

8 See the Journals, Feb. 14, 20, 27; also no. 298, ante, no. 431, post.

a scanty supply unless the different states pay perticular attention to their own men Inclos'd is a copy of a letter from Genl. Lee which gave me no small uneasiness when I first heard of it least some might think it expedient to comply with the request, but to my great joy when it came before Congress there did not appear one advocate for the measure, it evidently appearing to be a scheme of those incendiaries (the two Howe's) to amuse, and slaken our measures, but they are disapointed! Lee at the same time wrote to Genl: Washington desiring him to send one of his aids de camp to him and his dogs which I suppose the Genl: has comply'd with. soon after Lee was taken Genl: W.— was directed to offer six Field officers for him, that being the price of a Major Genl: and at the same time to assure Howe that the treatment that Lee received shod be exactly retaliated on them, which promise I hope will be religiously adheer'd to!*. ..

377. THE COMMITTEE IN PHILADELPHIA TO GEORGE WASHINGTON.1 PHILADA. Feby 22d. 1777

Sir

We have dispatched an express to Congress this morning with your letter of the 20th which will be with them in time to prevent their adjournment next Tuesday from Baltimore. We have had a conference with the Council of Safety and after communicating to them the intelligence contained in your Excellencys letters to Genl Gates and that to Congress We requested them to give immediate orders for putting all their Forces by Water into the best posture they possibly can. we also advised their collecting such of the Militia as have not been in actual service into such readiness, as to be subject to immediate orders. this can be done without giving any alarm, or at least any general alarm. Genl Gates will station proper Officers at New Town and give orders respecting the Boats on the Jersey side of Delaware. the present Cold Weather had made so much Ice in the Rivers and Creeks that they cannot be brought over, therefore if any sudden movements of the Enemy make it necessary, they must all be destroyed. We read with much concern one paragraph in your Excellencys letter to Genl. Gates relative to the removal of the Public Stores, in which you are pleased to cast a blame, that we do not deserve every requisition and recommendation of yours has been strictly and instantly attended to by this Committee. we have complyed with your wishes in every instance and done all that our situation wou'd enable to promote the Public Service in every line that came under our notice. 'tis true that our judgement was against removing the Public Stores from this city since your success at Trenton and Prince Town for various reasons that are not necessary to enumerate at this time, but not depending on our own 4 See no. 366, note 3, ante.

[377]1 Library of Congress, Letters to Washington, XIII. 306.

2 See the Journals, Feb. 24, 25, 27, and nos. 382, 384, 387-389, 392, 393, post. See also no. 344, note 2, ante.

3 Washington's letters to Gates, Feb. 19, 20, are in the Library of Congress, Washington Papers.

judgement or inclination, we stated to Congress your recommendation's on that Subject and our opinion with some reasons in support of it and they were pleased to order them to remain untill other events shou'd happen that might make a removal necessary, and Now Sir that you again recommend this business, We will give immediate orders to every department to hold the Stores in readiness to be carried away at an hours warning. thus much we thought necessary to say in our own defence, assuring your Excellency at the same time that no board ever did or will pay more attention to your recommendations than this Committee. With the most ardent wishes for Your success and glory

5

We remain your Excellencys Most devoted and Obedt hble Servants

Sir,

ROBT MORRIS,

GEO CLYMER
GEO WALTON.

378. THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS (JOHN HANCOCK) TO

GEORGE WASHINGTON.1

BALTIMORE Feby. 23d. 1777

As I am empowered to adjourn the Congress from Baltimore to Philada, on next Tuesday, and shall set out myself on Wednesday, I must request you will please to direct your Letters to me at Philada, the Powers of the Committee of Congress in that Place expiring on our Arrival there.2. .

Sir,

1

379. THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS TO HORATIO GATES.1 BALTIMORE Feby. 23d. 1777.

As the State of the Army is by no Means such as could be wished, and in Point of discipline and Order has suffered much since you relinquished the Department of Adjutant General; In Confidence therefore that you will retrieve it, and place it again on a respectable Footing, I am directed by Congress earnestly to solicit you to reassume the Office of Adjutant General, with your present Rank and Pay.2

* See the Journals, Jan. 28.

5 Such an order, to James Mease, is in the Library of Congress, "U. S. R." In a letter to Washington, dated "Feby. 29th ", the committee says: "We Issued orders in writing to every Department here, that have the care of Public Stores to be prepared for the removal of them and to the quarter Master General to supply the Number of Waggons necessary for each departmt. but we felt distressed exceedingly at the necessity of doing so, because the expence and destruction occasioned thereby is terrible." Library of Congress, Letters to Washington, XIV. 39. [378] Library of Congress, Letters to Washington, XC. 92.

2 See the Journals, Feb. 17, 25; also nos. 344, note 2, 377, note 2, ante. "The Inclos'd for Genl. Washington, I leave open for your perusal as also the Resolves Inclos'd after Reading please to Seal and Send by Express to him with the other letters for the Genl Officers. The letters to Gates and Mifflin, please to deliver them." Hancock to Morris, Feb. 23, Henkels, Catalogue, no. 1183, item 11.

[379] N. Y. Hist. Soc., Gates Papers, VIII.; Mass. Hist. Soc., Hancock Letter-Book, VI. 148; Library of Congress, Papers Cont. Cong., no. 58, pt. II., p. 143.

2 See the Journals, Feb. 20.

The Good of the Service, which is so essentially concerned in your complying with the Desire of Congress on this Occasion, will, I make no Doubt, induce you to gratify their Wishes. At the same Time I am persuaded, you will always add to your own Happiness, whenever you can any Ways promote the Cause of American Liberty and Independence. I have the Honour to be, with great Respect, Sir

your most obed. and very hble Serv.

Honble Major Genl Gates

JOHN HANCOCK Prest

380. THOMAS BURKE, ABSTRACT OF DEBATES.1

Feby 24th A Letter from General Washington 2 was read Informing Congress that General How and Lord Piercy had come over from New York to Brunswick with a reinforcement of Troops and heavy Artillery, that he apprehended the Enemy Intended to enlarge their Quarters and procure Forrage in Jersey or to march towards Philadelphia, that he was not in a Condition to prevent either. the Congress went into a Committee of the whole hereupon, and General Washington was Ordered to call to his aid all the Continental Troops under General Heath on the North side of the River, and all that were in Providence, to write letters to all the Collonels in the States North of Maryland ordering them to send the recruits to Join him as fast as they were raised, except such Regiments as were Destined for the Northern Department. the Board of War was ordered to write similar letters to all the other States North of North Carolina, and the state of New York was requested to supply the place of General Heath with Militia. New Jersey and Pensylvania were also requested to reinforce General Washington with Militia from each.*

To this Report of the Committee of the whole was subjoined a Declaration of Congress that it was their Intention to reinforce the General so as to enable him not only to Curb and Confine the Enemy within their present Quarters but with the Blessing of God Entirely to subdue them before they are reinforced. This pompous Paragraph was very much Condemned by some Gentlemen as an unworthy Gasconade, and it was warmly debated. North Caroli [na] observed that Threats were unbecoming a Private Gentleman, and much more unbecoming a Political Body That this pompous boast if not realised would render the Congress exceedingly rideculous, and there was great reason to fear it would not, that our vigor ought to appear by Efforts, not Words, that at best it was an useless

[380] N. Y. Pub. Lib., Emmet Coll., no. 1162; N. C. State Recs., XI. 383; Harvard Univ. Lib., Sparks MSS., no. 36, p. 459 (copy).

2 See the Journals, Feb. 24, and no. 377, ante. Washington's letter, dated Feb. 20, is in Writings (ed. Ford), V. 240, (ed. Sparks), IV. 325. See Hancock to Washington, Feb. 25, Letters to Washington (ed. Sparks), I. 347.

3 Hancock's letter to the New York convention, Feb. 25, is in Calendar of N. Y. Hist. Manuscripts: Revolutionary Papers, I. 640. See the convention's reply, by Abraham Ten Broeck, its president, ibid., I. 641. See also Jour. N. Y. Prov. Cong., I. 829, 830.

4 There are several considerable variations between this text and that in N. C. State Records. The summary of the resolves there given is not quite accurate.