My dear Sir,

540. JOHN ADAMS TO JAMES WARREN.1

PHILADELPHIA, July 7, 1777

We have no Thoughts of leaving Thoughts of attempting it, but if Our Army, with the assistance of

Yours of June 22d recd. only today. Philadelphia. I believe Howe has no he has We are determined to keep it. the Militia, will be sufficient to defend it.. There is a loud Complaint here, about Arms. Eighteen Thousand Arms have arrived at Portsmouth and We know not what becomes of them. Other Arms have arrived in Mass., but We know not where they are, and it is said the Game Cock carried Six Thousand into Dartmouth. Where are they?...

2

I am weary enough of Complaints, concerning Navy Matters. I do all I can in public and private to stimulate, but all in vain. The Commissions were never sent untill 4 or 5 days ago by Mr. Sherman. The Instructions are not sent yet. Who is in Fault, I dont say. It is enough for me to answer for my own Faults. . .

My dear Sir.

541. JOHN ADAMS TO NATHANAEL GREENE.1

PHILADELPHIA July 7, 1777

I never before took hold of a Pen to write to my Friend General Green, without Pleasure, but I think myself obliged to do it now upon a Subject that gives me a great deal of Pain.

The Three Letters from the Generals Sullivan, Green and Knox, have interrupted the Deliberations of Congress, and given many of the Members of it much Uneasiness. They thought themselves bound, in Honour and Justice, to the great Body of People whom they represent, to pass the Resolution which, before this Letter reaches you, will be communicated to you by General Washington.

The Contract between Mr Deane and Monsr Du Coudray, is not yet decided upon. It is in itself one of the most delicate, and perplexing Transactions that has ever fallen in our Way: but those three Letters instead of relieving Us has only encreased our Mortification.2. . .

Nothing in this affair gives me more Pain, than the Necessity, you have laid Us under of passing a Resolution, which will lessen your Characters, and diminish the Confidence which the good People of America have in your Judgment, and attachment to the Principles of Liberty. But there

[540]1 Warren-Adams Letters, I. 339.

2 The reference is presumably to the arms which arrived in the Mercury and the Amphitrite. See no. 473, note 5, ante; also James Warren to his wife, Mar. 21, and to Adams, Apr. 23, Warren-Adams Letters, I. 301, 316.

3 See nos. 480, 485, 521, ante, and Warren to Adams, June 22, in Warren-Adams Letters. I. 334. [541]1 Adams MSS., Boston.

2 Concerning the letters of Sullivan, Greene, and Knox, see no. 539, ante, nos. 542, 543, post. Cf. no. 404, ante. For other aspects of the Du Coudray affair, see nos. 525, note 5, 539, note 9, ante.

was not one Member of Congress who dared to justify the Letters, very few who could say a word in Mitigation or Excuse. It was universally considered, as betraying the Liberties of the People, to pass them by uncensured. Some were even for dismissing all three of you instantly from the service, others for ordering you to Philadelphia, under arrest to answer for this offence.

The Resolution expresses an Expectation that some Acknowledgment or Apology will be made. I sincerely hope it will, for I think that on a cool Reconsideration of those Letters, the Impropriety and Danger of them must be manifest. I would be far from dictating to you, or giving advice unasked, but I really think, that a Declaration that you had no Intention to influence Congress, to contemn its Authority or infringe the Liberties of the People or the Priviledges of Congress, a Declaration that you have the fullest Confidence in the Justice of Congress and their Deliberations for the public good, is the least that you can do, provided you can do this with Truth and Sincerity, if not I think you ought to leave the Service.

Dear Sir

542. ELIPHALET DYER TO JOSEPH TRUMBULL.1

PHILADELPHIA July the 7th 1777

I wrote you a few days agoe by Coll. Stewart which hope you have Recievd. we have in the course of a few days received some very unpolite letters from two or three Gentn. of high rank and Esteem in the Army viz Genlls. Green Sullivan and Knox. if they had prudently wrote the same Matter to any particular friend Member of Congress and he had divulged it to his brethren no offence would have been taken and it might have answered every valuable purpose, but to write to Congress as a Body while they had a matter under consideration (I mean the affair of the Command of Monsr de Coudre) to dictate to or Influence their Conduct is looked upon by many as the highest Insult and Indignity and which they cannot pass by without the severest Censure, or otherwise must give up their own dignity and superiority to a few Gentn. of the Army, who will assume for the future to dictate and Influence all their measures, or if Congress do not at once yield they will resign their Commissions break up the Army and leave their Country to the total desolation and subjection of the Enemy. this is the Construction many put on their Conduct there is a number of us endeavour to palliate matters to soften the Asperity of Others tho all Condemn the manner of those Gentns. letters and the timeing of them. Indeed they will have a bad effect on the matter under Consideration. I believe there would have been great caution and prudence in that affair we readily felt for those Gentn. and the Indignity it might at

[542]1 Conn. Hist. Soc., Joseph Trumbull Papers.

2 Doubtless no. 529, ante. Colonel Stewart was probably Charles Stewart, colonel of New Jersey militia, elected commissary-general of issues June 18. Cf. nos. 543, 544, post. However, Dyer mentions in his letter of July 8 (no. 543, post) that he sent such a letter by a young Southern officer.

least be Construed to be to place Monsr de Coudre in a rank superior to them it would have been opposed, and believe never would have taken place, but these Gentn. before the matter was so much as debated in Congress have thrown in their threats to them as a body that if they do this etc. they will immediately leave the Army. it embarrasses every free step both in debate and Conclusion, for if they now refuse which I dare say they before would have done to give de Coudre a Superior Command instead of being Imputed to their Justice and prudence it will be entirely attributed to their fear occasioned by the threats of those Gentn. and the Consequence will be, in every matter for the future we must be either Dictated to or threatned by the Army if we do not do this, or that, or just what they please, they will give up the cause or goe over to the Enemie, Sacrifice their Country, etc.

they will easily see the Impropriety, and I believe they were in no danger before. am extremely sorry it has happened. how severe the conclusions will be I know not. some threaten hard, others Indeavour to moderate. the times are truly Critical and I think those Gentn. would not wish to lessen the authority Esteem or dignity of Congress, as their own and Countrys honor Safety and Liberty so much at present depend upon its being preserved, and whatever may be the result I hope they will take it patiently consider themselves as Imprudently (at least) giving an occasion. a few reflections will be for their honour and all may be set right. they must Consider their Country at Stake which I hope they preferr above every thing else even their own particular honor, or life, (I mean in the manner in which it may be effected in Compromising this matter which I hope would establish, instead of wounding it in the least. as they threaten to resign, it is a wonder if Congress dont tell them they may just when they please but I hope these Gentn love their Country too well. This is a most unhappy affair and our old Friend D[e]an has been in more Instances than one, Imprudent to the last degree. he has brot us into the most unhappy Dilemma in several of his Contracts and Stipulations with Gentn sending over Swarms of Commanders Pensioners etc. I dare say no more at present upon the Subject and trust you will Improve what is said with caution and prudence. if these Gentn knew how Congress were embarrassed and plagued with D-ns Imprudence and his [sic] they would rather pity than Insult. I did not think it best to write to either of the gentn. directly, but to you that you might deal out to them or either, any part you think proper, that they may be prepared. Numbers in C[ongress will Meliorate and Soften down as far as possible, and hope those Gentn. will not be averse to some reasonable Concessions or at least if they are told as they threaten that they may give up their Commissions as soon as they please the Congress is ready to receive them yet they will persist to serve their Country, and preferr Jerusalem above their Chief Joy. I write this with the Utmost Friendly disposition and design towards them. hope all will be properly setled but the General Cause must not suffer. make the best of this letter for a few days then burn it hope you will see the Gentn. as soon as possible if in your Neighbourhood or

some of them and let them know the friendly hints you have had from a Mem. of Congss. etc. Can say no more Am Sincerely Yours

Sir

[P. S.]. . . .*

ELIPHT DYER

543. ELIPHALET DYER TO JOSEPH TRUMBULL.1

10 oClock PHILADELPHIA July 8th 1777

2

I received yours of the 7th this moment by express I wrote you by Brown yesterday but he has not yet left Town waiting for Mr Hancocks dispatches am very sorry you have not recievd my first which I sent by a young Southern Officer who promised particular care in delivering it 2 I remember I therein on the whole advised you to accept, with the advice of Mr Law and Coll. Williams but I then had no Idea of the plague and Trouble you had to goe through but hope it will not be of long duration the grounds of my advice was principally the publick good am Sensible many Inconveniences and much Confusion will arise on this New Regulation but hope it may not be of long duration and it must be Supposed if a person of your experience should leave the Army it most probably would be much worse. youll find by Mr Stewart that the wages of the Depty. and sub Commissys. are somewhat raised your Clerk from 40 to 50 dolls pr month tho am persuaded it is insufficient Considering his residence must be in Philadelphia but dare say it will soon be raised as believe the others will if on Tryal it is found Insufficient it is a general observation in Congress that there is room to rise but no way to fall. I hope Mr Stewards arrival may give you some relief. . . . . these New regulations were all come into before my arrival I have since procured some addition to the Wages but it will take some time before the Subject can be taken up again without being Troublesome and a thousand other matters Crouding. it is impossible for me to Judge for you in this matter as I cannot be fully acquainted with the Troubles and difficulties you have to encountre. your letter to Congress seems to carry with it an acceptance but suppose if you should find on Tryal that the embarrassments are too great to Struggle with, you may on giving seasonable Notice no doubt

3 Cf. nos. 539, 541, ante, and also no. 543, post.

Besides a postscript by Dyer, there is a brief postscript written and signed by William Williams. [543] Conn. Hist. Soc., Joseph Trumbull Papers.

2 Evidently the letter dated "June 1777", no. 529, ante. The "young Southern Officer" by whom it was sent has not been identified. See, however, no. 542, note 2, ante.

The Journals, June 10. Cf. nos. 517-520, 522, 529, ante.

4 The Journals do not seem to bear out this statement. In the wage schedule established June 16 the clerks of a commissary-general and a deputy commissary-general were to receive 35 dollars a month and two rations. Aug. 7 the salary of the clerk of a commissary-general was raised to 50 dollars a month. These salaries applied to both the issuing and the purchasing sections of the commissary department. A modification of the salary of assistant commissaries of issues will be found under July 2, and of that of deputy commissary-general of issues under Aug. 7.

See the Journals, July 2; also note 4, above.

6

resign. it has been several times mentioned in Congress that there is a large quantity of flower up at Lancaster and that way purchased by Walton and in danger of spoiling. I just mention it that you may take that care which belongs to you.

7

Am with Sincere regards

Your
E DYER

[P. S.] The Congress will Insist on some retractions from those Genll. officers Who have wrote the letters I mentioned in my last. I hope they may be Induced to make them in some proper manner, and soon, as they esteem their honour so much concerned as I fear the consequences will be serious if not done.

Dear Sir

8

544. ELBRIDGE GERRY TO JOSEPH TRUMBULL.1

3

PHILADELPHIA 8th July 1777

I recd your Favour of yesterday, and am glad to hear that Mr Stewart 2 and Mr Hoop are at the Camp; Mr Buchannan* is altogether under your Direction. true it is, the Commissary General of purchases can only appoint a Clerk, but it is also true, that he is exempted from Blame on account of the Misconduct of officers not of his appointment. if the Salary is not Sufficient for your Clerk, who certainly ought to be a reputable person, Congress will undoubtedly make the necessary addition. Your Memorandum shall be revived as soon as I can attend the Treasury Board, which will probably be to Morrow. With respect to the salt which I have in the Massachusetts, if a Vessel can be obtained, it will be sent to the Southward; but I wanted to know whether it can be well spared to New York, if it cannot be sent to N Carolina.'. . . .

Sir,

545. THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS TO JOSEPH TRUMBULL.1

PHILADA. July 8th. 1777.

I enclose to you sundry Commissions for Officers in your Department, which I must request you will please to deliver to them.2

6 See the Journals, Aug. 2, 7; also Trumbull's letters of June 15 (no. 529, note 3,

ante), and no. 554, post.

7 See the Journals, June 27, July 23.

8 See nos. 539, 541, 542, ante.

[544] Conn. Hist. Soc., Joseph Trumbull Papers.

2 Charles Stewart, elected commissary-general of issues June 18. See no. 542, note 2, ante. 8 Robert Hoops of New Jersey, elected, July 1, deputy commissary-general of issues in place of Matthew Irwin (see the Journals, June 18, 26). Cf. no. 550, post.

4 William Buchanan of Maryland, elected deputy commissary-general of purchases June 18. He was elected commissary-general of purchases Aug. 5, in place of Joseph Trumbull, who had resigned. He served until April, 1778, being succeeded by Jeremiah Wadsworth, See no. 550, post.

5 See the regulations, in the Journals, June 10. As to salaries, cf. no. 543, ante. 6 See no. 548, post.

7 See nos. 517, 518, 533, ante, no. 546, post.

[545] Conn. State Lib., Joseph Trumbull Papers, no. 143.

2 Probably the officers appointed June 18. See nos. 543, 544, ante.