ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS EIGHT UNPUblished RevoLUTIONARY Letters. One from General Burgoyne, one from General Gates, two from General Heath, one from General Philips, one from John Hancock, one from John Adams, and one from General Artemas Ward. Contributed by Ferguson Haines. Sir. General John Burgoyne to Major-General William Heath. Cambridge, Jan'y 17th 1778. Your Commissary Mr Miller has met Mr Commissary Clarke, and I enclose you the report made to me in consequence of that meeting, in order that you may see whether Mr Clarke has made any mistake, and determine whether you abide by the demand as stated by Mr Clarke. I request the favour of your answer in the course of the day, and Mr Clarke will be ready to set out tomorrow. If you thought proper to depute any person at Cambridge to take his parole and examine his letters which at your desire will be very few in number, it will be an obligation to him; otherwise he will wait upon you at any time you shall appoint to morrow morning. I submit to you whether it would not be a circumstance of convenience and dispatch for the officer that goes to General Gates, to set out with Mr. Clarke; if so, he shall also wait upon you with his letters and give his parole. I take this opportunity to acknowledge the receipt of your favour last night, repeating your call of the names, size, age &c of the troops of the Convention; my opinionn ot being changed. I am under the necessity of referring you to my former letter upon that subject; assuring you at the same time, that if you will point out to me the instances you allude to, where similar demands have been made by British officers, and complied with, I will give the matter further consideration and further answer. In Canada I know the case was directly the reverse. I am Sir, Your obedient servant, P. S. Since writing the above Col Chace has delivered in an account amounting to 13175£: 6s: 11d. commission money at 5 per cent included; and he informs me that he has orders to demand the payment in hard money. I must desire you to let me know whether this is a determine you mean to abide by. J. B. (Indorsement on back of original letter, "last paragraph sent to Congress.") Dear General, Gen. Horatio Gates to General John Stark. War Office 24 January, 1778. The Honorable Congress having thought proper to direct an Irruption to be immediately made into Canada, and their Design being, in Part, communicated to you, by the Hon'ble James Duane, Esq.r, I am directed by that Honorable Body, to acquaint you that for wise and prudential Reasons, they have appointed Major General The Marquis De Fayette first in command, and Major General Conway second in Command, who will act in Concert with you in promoting the Interest, and political Views of the United States in Canada. I am confident, from my knowledge of your attachment to the Freedom of America, that you will cordially co-operate with them in every measure conducive to the public service. My Experience convinces me, and the opinion I entertain of you and your associates, the General officers, upon this important service, induces me to believe, that the Expectations of Congress will be fully answered by your hearty agreement with, and officer-like assistance to the Gentlemen above mentioned. There is not anything that will more recommend your many and good services to Congress, than your implicit Compliance with their wishes upon this occasion. I am Dear General Your most obedient Humble servant Horatio Gates, Pres't. Sir. Major-General Heath to Major-General Philips. Head Quarters, Boston April 16th 1778 In consequence of a late Resolution of the Continental Congress, the Troops of the Convention are to be removed into the Interior part of this state. The Royal Artillery and Advance Corps are to Hold themselves in Readiness to march for Rutland on Monday morning next. you will please to acquaint the officers of those Corps that any private affairs of the officers which request may be settled previous to their removal. I am sir your obdt serv't. W. Heath. Sir. Major-General Heath to Major-General Philips. Head Quarters Boston June 3a 1878 The 9th Reg must begin their march for Rutland on Tuesday morning next at Eight o'clock, of which you will please to give them notice. They are to take the same Rout and march the same distance each Day, as the last Division Did. If you wish to send a Quarter Master a Day or two before I have no objection. I think the Reg had best draw four Days Provisions the day before they march, and that Two or Three Days allowance be cooked for convenience on the Road. The Quarter Master of the Reg' will pay attention to this and will also apply to Major Hopkins for such waggons as may be necessary. Warm as I am in my resentments when I consider myself injured in the Character I hold in the British Army, I am also sensible of an obligation-And I am, therefore to thank you for the orders you gave for preserving decency and against insult at the Funeral of Lieutenant Browne. I am Sir, Your most obedient [Note.-The above letter was written 3 days after Phillips' famous letter to Genl Heath of June 17, 1778, published in Lossing, Vol. I., page 594, and undoubtedly refers to the same officer (Browne) who was shot by an American sentinel, on Prospect Hill.] Gentlemen. John Hancock to the Hon Board of War Castle Island, 5th Novemb'. 1779 The Return I made to your Hon' Board of the Carolina Negroes, who are the objects of the Resolve of the Assembly with respect to Cloathing, was short by one man; he being at work at Dorchester did not at that time fall under my observation, but is entitled to the advantage of the Resolve. As I have rec'd a message from you that the Cloathing is now ready, & as the poor Fellows are suffering for want of the cloathing, I am to request the fav' you will be pleased to deliver the cloathing to Mr. Salisbury whom I have sent up for the purpose, & I will myself see that the cloathing is properly deliver'd & I will then Lodge a Receipt with your Board in such manner as you shall Judge best. I am with much Respect Your very hum' Serv't We are much in need of a Bell, the old one being destroyed by the British. I wish your Hon ors could furnish one. Hon' Board of War. John Adams to Hon. Thomas Barclay. Amsterdam, May 24, 1784. Dear Sir. I am here to collect together the Bills and send them to you by Express. When this Express returns, I pray you to send by him, my Trunk and all my Cloaths. The Books you will deliver also to him or his order to be sent to me. Will you be so good as to pack the Trunk yourself, and see that the Books, Papers and Plate are well placed and fixed so that they may not shake too much. You will send the key, by him too, if the Trunk is not sufficient he must purchase another, if Mr Ridley has the Trunk, he will consider this Letter as to him. Upon a second Thought, perhaps it would be better to take out the plate and bring it in a small Box in the carriage with the Express. There are 96 Pieces of it. There are of the Bills 169 which I received of Messrs Freeman & Co formerly, and 375 which I received yesterday. As I have given them a Receipt for these Bills it will be necessary for you to give me one. You have only to sign a Receipt at the Foot of the List inclosed, which is a copy of the one I gave them. P. S. our Worthy Friend Mr Jay returns to his Country like a Bee to his Hive, with both Legs richly loaded with Merit and Honour. He has no doubt announced to Congress his Intention of returning, and this I presume will occasion some Changes in their arrangements, so that I dont think it probable I shall have occasion to go to Paris at all, at least I shall wait at the Hague their ultimate Directions. It is necessary for some one to be here, or our Credit will be in danger of running down so low, that we shall not obtain money enough to pay the Interest of what we have had. J. A. Major-General Artemas Ward to Gen' Committee of Supplies. Head Quarters Cambridge, June 18. 1775 Gentlemen. I am in immediate want of large ordnance, a Quantity of powder, and small Musket Balls. I am Gentlemen Gen' Committee supplies. Your humble Servant Artemas Ward. |