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a skilful artillerist will be sent to you to give you their advice and assistance in defending our towns and teaching our artillery.....

642. JOHN ADAMS to Mrs. Adams.1

My Dearest Friend,

PHILADELPHIA, 14 September, 1777.

You will learn, from the newspapers, before this reaches you, the situation of things here. Mr. Howe's army is at Chester, about fifteen miles from this town. General Washington's is over the Schuylkill, awaiting the flank of Mr. Howe's army. How much longer Congress will stay is uncertain. I hope we shall not move until the last necessity, that is, until it shall be rendered certain that Mr. Howe will get the city. If we should move, it will be to Reading, Lancaster, York, Easton, or Bethlehem, some town in this State. It is the determination not to leave this State. Don't be anxious about me, nor about our great and sacred cause. It is the cause of truth and will prevail. If Howe gets the city, it will cost him all his force to keep it, and so he can get nothing else. . . . .

Dear Sir,

643. HENRY LAURENS TO GEORGE GALPHIN.1

16th. Septem. 1777.

Although from Circumstances of our affairs 'tis impossible for me to reply so fully as I would otherwise have done to your favour received by the hands of the Reverend Mr. Holmes yet a total silence would be inexcusable.

I congratulate with your success in treating with the Creek Indians. I hold the States of So Carolina and Georgia as well as all the United States much indebted to your unwearied labours for the present good disposition of those Savages and as their continuance in this temper depends much upon your exertions so we are all bound to pray for your life and health.2

3 If this was the result of action on the part of Congress the resolution is not found in the Journals. Maryland had preferred a request, Aug. 28 (see the Journals, p. 692), for "a skilful engineer and an experienced artillerist". Congress referred the matter to Washington, who replied Aug. 29 (read in Congress Aug. 30), that he could not spare the officers at that time. This was reported to Governor Johnson by Chase, in a letter of Aug. 30 (N. Y. Pub. Library, Emmet Collection, no. 1619). Probably Le Brun and Pierre were sent by Washington in accordance with the request of Aug. 28. [642]1 Familiar Letters, p. 307.

2 Cf. no. 637, note 2, ante. "Altho' the Enemy's Army are so very near this city, Congress have not determined to remove neither will they unless they are forced." Cornelius Harnett to Governor Caswell, Sept. 13, N. C. State Records, XI. 762. [643] S. C. Hist. Soc., Laurens Letter-Book, 1776-1778, p. 169.

2 Cf. the Journals, Apr. 4, Oct. 20, 1777. See also ibid., Aug. 19, 1776. George Galphin was an Indian trader, whose residence, "Silver Bluff", was on the South Carolina side of the Savannah River. For a number of years he had an important part in affairs pertaining to the Georgia Indians. Galphin died in 1780; but a claim of his, growing out of the treaty of Augusta, 1773, with the Creeks and Cherokees, was prosecuted by his family against the state of Georgia, against the British government, and finally against the United States. The claim was allowed by the United States in 1848. The Galphin claim came into passing political notoriety because of the fact that it

I had intended to have presented the Indian Talk to Congress and to have made a proper representation of your merits, but from the day of Mr. Holmes arrival to the present moment we have been engaged in attentions to the attempts of baptized Savages at our very door to murder Burn and imprison in different classes every one in this quarter who have virtue enough to refuse their proffered pardons for doing their duty in the Cause in which you are also engaged.

Congress in the present Situation of affairs think it necessary to prepare for adjourning to Lancaster about 66 Miles West. perhaps before sunrise tomorrow I shall be on my journey some of us are already gone. I will continue here as long as most of the Company, but as I have ever loved free air and exercise and hate to be confined to a small room, I will not stay the very last man. when we are restored to tranquility whether here or else where you shall hear again from etc.

1

644. HENRY MARCHANT TO THE RHODE ISLAND ASSEMBLY.1 PHILADELPHIA, Sept. 17th, 1777

Gentlemen, Our accounts from the Northward are very favourable. By the Blessing of Heaven (and I most sincerely wish we more deserved it) We have Reason to expect a happy Issue to this Campaign. We had Intelligence that all the British troops had left Rhode Island, but I doubt it, Congress have requested if the Fact be true that one of your State Battalions may be forwarded to Peekskill, that we may be able to draw the Continental Force from thence as circumstances may Require. A Requisition of the like kind is gone to Connecticut, and will, I presume, to Massts.

My dear Sir,

645. JAMES LOVELL TO WILLIAM WHIPPLE.1

PHILADELPHIA, Sept. 17, 1777.

. . . . As to the affair at Brandywine, last Thursday, I doubt whether you will ever accurately know whether Fortune alone is to be blamed, or whether Sullivan and the Chief should not share with her in the Slandering murmurs. Knowledge of the Enemy's intentions on the Right Wing of our Army was certainly wanting. Genl. Washington and some good military men, especially the highest officers, do not charge the want to was pushed to a successful conclusion through the agency of William H. Crawford. See Milledge Galphin, Memorial to the Legislature of the State of Georgia (1817); White, Historical Collections of Georgia, p. 246; Knight, Georgia and Georgians, I. 242; and 31 Cong., 1. sess., House Rept., no. 334.

3 Laurens is alluding to the activities of Congress consequent upon Howe's approach to Philadelphia.

Cf. nos. 627, 631, 637, 642, ante, 646, 649, note 2, post.

[644]1 R. I. Arch., Letters to the Governors, 1777-1778, p. 27; Staples, R. I. in Cont. Cong., p. 150.

2 The intelligence turned out to be incorrect. See the Journals, Sept. 14, p. 742, note. The requisition to Connecticut does not appear in the Journals.

[645]1 Pa. Mag. of Hist. and Biog., XXII. 383; Library of Congress, Force Trans., Whipple, p. 411; N. Y. Pub. Lib., Bancroft Coll., Langdon-Elwyn Papers (copy).

Sullivan. But as he was under the Order of Congress for a Court of Enquiry as to Staten Island, the Maryland officers in his Division, the Delegates of that State, the great Burk,2 the Friend of St. Clair, and the connexion of Schuyler accomplished to cast such Reflections upon his want of capacity to direct a Wing of our Army in this critical Day, that a Majority after demolishing old DeBowe [de Borré], effected the Resolve to recall Sullivan till his Conduct should be enquired as per former orders. Agreeable to the Prophecy of the minority, the Commander in Chief has written in the most pressing manner for a suspension of the Order of Recall which being carried, Che moved that a Direction might go to put the Maryland Troops under some other M. Gl. which would have been in effect throwing out Sn, for the soldiers of other Divisions would be unwilling to serve under a Man discarded by the Marylanders if the Generals would consent to exchange. R—d joined and had the Delaware inserted with Maryland. But those States were the only yeas, which agreeable to modern petty Practice were booked with the Nays by the request of M▬▬d.o .

4

646. WILLIAM WILLIAMS TO THE GOVERNOR OF CONNECTICUT (JONATHAN Trumbull).1

[Ho]nd Sir

1

PHELADEL., 17 Sepr 1777 Wed. Morn

Congress remain, here, but begin to talk and have indeed voted to move to Lancas [ter], if they are obliged to remove. it is about 60 miles west of this: 'tis sorely against my Will to move that Way.2. . .

647. THOMAS BURKE TO THE GOVERNOR OF NORTH CAROLINA (RICHARD CASwell).1

Dr. Sir:

PHILADELPHIA, Sept. 17th, 1777.

This unfortunate General [Sullivan]2 has ever been the Marplot of our Army, and his miscarriages are I am persuaded owing to a total want of military Genius, and to one of that sort of understandings which is unable to take a full comprehensive view of an object, but employs its activity in subtle senseless refinement. Thus persuaded I thought it my duty to endeavour to have him removed from his command, and I suc

2 Thomas Burke, see his letter to Caswell Sept. 17 (no. 647, post), and that to Sullivan Oct. 12 (no. 686, post).

See the Journals, Sept. 14; cf. ibid., Sept. 10 (p. 727, note).

* Samuel Chase. See the Journals, Sept. 16.

5 George Read.

• See the Journals, Sept. 14, 16. For the outcome of the inquiry concerning the Staten Island affair see the Journals, Oct. 16 and 20. See also nos. 681, 684, 702, post. Cf. Amory, Life of Sullivan, p. 38 et seq.

[646]1 N. Y. Pub. Lib., Emmet Coll., no. 1568, Declaration of Independence.

2 See the Journals, Sept. 14, and nos. 637, 642, 643, ante, and no. 649, note 2, post. [647]1 N. C. State Recs., X1. 620.

2 Burke had been describing the battle of Brandywine (which in part he had witnessed), criticising in particular Sullivan's action therein. A more specific criticism is found in his letter to Sullivan Oct. 12 (no. 686, post). See also nos. 681, 684, 702, post.

ceeded so far as to have a resolution passed for recalling him, but General Washington remonstrated against it at so critical a time, and the execution is now left to his discretion.

648. JOHN ADAMS, DIARY.1

[September 18, 1777.]

18. Thursday. The violent north-east storm, which began the day before yesterday, continues. We are yet in Philadelphia, that mass of cowardice and Toryism. Yesterday, was buried Monsieur Du Coudray, a French officer of artillery, who was lately made an Inspector-General of artillery and military manufactures, with the rank of Major-General. He was drowned in the Schuylkill, in a strange manner. He rode into the ferry-boat, and rode out at the other end into the river, and was drowned. His horse took fright. He was reputed the most learned and promising officer in France. He was carried into the Romish Chapel, and buried in the yard of that church. This dispensation will save us much altercation.2

Dear Sir,

649. HENRY LAURENS TO JOHN LEWIS GERVAIS.1

18th. September 1777.

All our affairs are undoubtedly in a better appearance than they were three days ago, but fright has driven some great Men to do precipitantly what I strongly urged as necessary to do cooly and deliberately as soon as we learned of Mr. Howe's landing at Elk, but I suffer the fate of all wise Men, my counsel is not always attended to. no wise man however can suffer with more patience and indifference. Some who smiled at the proposition are gone in a hurry, embarrassed-others are now on the wing. we keep enough to make a Congress and thats all. I shall remain as long as any. I sent my baggage forward some days ago and can easily transport my self, but I am really in a comfortable State of confidence that General Washington will be victorious in the next engagement which will probably happen this Evening or tomorrow. be that as it may I am ready to go or to remain and may do either with a good face. my advise was not to go, but to prepare for going, that we might not be endangered to have our last moments which ought [to] be spent in the most Serious and Solemn deliberations and orders, perplexed by a thousand different opinions and reflextions how to dispose of our bodies and worldly Estate." we spent lately upwards of 4 hours in that sort

See the Journals, Sept. 14 and 16; cf. no. 645, ante.

[648]1 Works, II. 437.

2 Du Coudray's death occurred Sept. 15. On that day Congress had accepted the offer of Du Coudray and a number of French officers who had accompanied him to serve as volunteers. See the Journals, Sept. 15 and 17. Cf. nos. 559, 581, 586, 641, ante, and no. 734, post.

[649]1 S. C. Hist. Soc., Laurens Letter-Book, 1776-1778, p. 170.

2 Cf. nos. 627, 643, ante. See also nos. 650-653, 656-661, 698, post.

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