Burgoine he says is very active and enterprizing, fond of Surprizes and Night Attacks and Alarms. He entreats me to inculcate a most unremitted Vigilance, to guard against Surprizes, specially in the Night.

- We have a most miraculous Militia in this City, brought into Existence out of Nothing since the Battle of Lexington. Measures are taken here and at New York to procure Powder. But we must be Sparing of that Article. The Supineness of the Colonies hitherto concerning it, amazes me. Genl. Lee and Major Gates are very fond of a Project of procuring Pikes and Pike men.1 I hope we shall send you some Rifle Men; they shoot with great Exactness, at amazing Distances.

3

They are casting Pateraras and making Amuzettes in this City, and preparing for War, with an alacrity which does them Honor.

[No signature.]

SAMUEL ADAMS TO JAMES WARREN

PHILADELPHIA, June 10, 1775

DEAR COLL. WARREN, I have been impatiently waiting for the Fulfillment of your Promise to write to me, but I can easily excuse you knowing that your hands as well as mine must be full at this important glorious Crisis. The Battle of Lexington will be famed in the History of this Country. Four Accounts of it have doubtless by this time reached England. Our insulting Enemies there must be convinced that Americans are not such dastardly Cowards as a Coll. Grant and others have represented them to be, and our Friends have received a sure pledge that we will not desert them by deserting ourselves, and leave them to the Contempt of those most contemptible Wretches the King's Ministers. Whether the People of England will hereby be brought to reflect on their own Danger, or whether their pride will be touchd at this

1 March 20, 1776, Congress directed Colonel Magaw to have a pike or spear made, and on the following day he submitted two samples. Journals of the Continental Congress, IV. 218, 224.

2 A corrupt form of pedrero, a piece of ordnance originally for discharging stones. 3 A light field-cannon, invented by Marshal Saxe.

4 James Grant (1720-1806).

unexpected and signal Defeat of British Troops is to me uncertain. If their Resentment should run high against us, our Friends will have a political Game to play, to turn the whole Force of that Resentment upon the Authors of these Disturbances, viz. Hutchinson and the Ministry. It is however the Duty of America to be still upon its Guard, for there is no Dependence to be had on the People of England, and I am convinced most abundantly that it is the Determination of the K. and his Ministers to establish arbitrary Government in the Colonies by Acts of Parliament and to enforce those Acts by the Sword. Could the publick Sentiment be otherwise it would be a Delusion leading directly to Destruction. The Spirit of Patriotism prevails among the Members of this Congress but from the Necessity of things Business must go on slower than one could wish. It is difficult to possess upwards of Sixty Gentlemen, at once with the same Feelings upon Questions of Importance that are continually arising. All mean the Defence and Support of American Liberty and Matters are finally well decided; I have endeavored to Act with that kind of Prudence which I dare say, when I shall explain my Conduct to you, you will not condemn.

Mr. Fessenden a Courier from your Congress arrived here yesterday. I could not help flattering my Self that your pressing Demand was political, but I was much pleasd to see every Gentleman present anxiously sollicitious to relieve the Necessities of and yield a full Supply to the "American Army before Boston." Our worthy President has Communicated to yours a Resolution for this purpose.2

Every Step is taking here for the procuring of Gunpowder from abroad and setting up the Manufacture of it in America and I believe they will be successfull.

Mr. Mifflin assures me that large Quantities are expected in a few Weeks in this place and 200 Barrels every hour.

If our Army behave with Spirit this Summer (as I am confident they will) and their Efforts are succeeded, I trust in God, we shall be superior to all future Difficulty. Be cautious of the enterprising

I Josiah Fessenden.

3 Thomas Mifflin (1744-1800).

2 Journals of the Continental Congress, 11. 83.

Spirit of Burgoin and Howe. Dr. Church1 left us this Morning. I disclosd to him as much as I could consistent with the Injunctions I am under. I refer you to him for particulars. Present my affectionate Regards to all the Friends of Liberty, especially the Circle of our Acquaintance. Pray write to me. Adieu my Friend. S. ADAMS

JAMES WARREN TO JOHN ADAMS.

ADAMS MSS. WATERTOWN, June 11, 1775

MY DEAR SIR, - Since my last I have waited with Impatience to hear from you. I mean individually. The public Expectation to hear from the Congress is great. They don't complain, but they wonder that the Congress should sit a month without their receiving something decisive with regard to us. I presume we shall have it in due time; at least that nothing will be wanting in your power to relieve the distresses of your Country. I intended to have devoted some part of this Day to write to you, but have been diverted by Calls that I could not dispence with. Since I knew of this Opportunity I have not been able to get a minute till now when the Express is just going off. You will collect from the publick Letter by this Express our Sentiments with regard to the necessity of assuming civil Government constantly increasing upon us; what we apprehend to be the strength of our Enemies, and what have been and still are the subjects of some of our Contemplations. I have not time to add any thing more with regard to our proceedings or the state of the Army. I can only say we have difficulties enough to struggle with. I hope we shall do well at last. It is said General Howe gives out that he intends soon to have a frolic with the Yankees. They are ready for him, and wish for nothing more. Their Grenadiers and Light Infantry have been exempted from duty for ten or twelve days. We were greatly elated this morning with an Account that you had voted 70,000 men, and 3,000,000 sterling to be struck off in Bills for their support. Our Joy was

1 Benjamin Church, Jr. He was bearer of a letter from the Provincial Congress of Massachusetts to the Continental Congress. Ib., 76.

2 One of the rumors of the day. It was not until June 22 that the Congress voted to make its first issue of bills of credit-2,000,000 dollars resting on the credit of the twelve confederated colonies. Journals of the Continental Congress, II. 103.

damped at 10 o'clock by a Letter from your Brother Cushing. I wish it had miscarried, that I might have enjoyed the pleasure a little longer of contemplating the dignity of your Conduct, as well as the rising Glory of America. His Letter was dated the Ist. Instant; and if he had been in the Clouds for seven years past, I think he would have had as just Ideas of our situation and necessities as he has expressed to his Friend Hawley.1 He thinks a very inconsiderable reinforcement is to be expected, and when arrived, that Gage will not have more than 5 or 6,000 men, and queries whether we had not better discharge part of our Army, to prevent involving ourselves in an immense Debt; a hint that we are to expect no support from the Continent; but at the same time talks of an Union and the Day is ours, as saith Dr. Franklin...

JOHN HANCOCK TO JOSEPH WARREN 2

SUNDAY MORNG, 18 June, 1775. PHILADA.

MY DEAR SIR, - I intended writing you a long Letter, but am prevented by my Attention to the orders of Congress in Dispatching an Express and writing to Govr. Trumbull on matters of infinite Importance. In short from my Scituation in Congress I have great Duty to Do, but I will persevere even to the Destruction of my Constitution. I am under a strict Injunction not to Communicate the Doings of Congress, but two or three Circumstances having Taken place in Congress which affected our Army, inducd me to ask Leave to mention them, which I obtain'd with this positive Direction that at present they be not mentiond in the Newspapers which you will please to observe.

The Congress have appointed George Washington, Esqr., General and Commander in Chief of the Continental Army. His Commission is made out and I shall Sign it to morrow. He is a Gentleman you will all like. I submit to you the propriety of providing a suitable place for his Residence and the mode of his Reception. Pray tell Genl. Ward of this with my Respects, and that we all Expect to hear that the Military Movements of the 1 Joseph Hawley.

2 This letter was received by James Warren as the successor of Joseph Warren as presiding officer over the Provincial Congress.

Day of his Arrival will be such as to do him and the Commander in Chief great honour.

General Ward is appointed Second in Command and am sure you will Approve this. General Lee is Appointed third in Command, but have not his Answer, As to the last Appointment. I hope it will Turn out well. I say no more on that head. Genl. Washington will set out in a few Days. Would it not be proper to have a Troop at the Entrance of our Province to escort him down; and then the Fort ready to Receive him. Pray do him every honour. By all means have his Commission read at the head of the whole Forces. I can't write Genl. Ward; do mention to him my hurry and lay your plans well.

The Congress have also order'd Ten Companies of Rifle Men from this Province, Maryland and Virginia of 68 Men each properly officerd, to proceed immediately to join the Army near Boston. This is a good Step and will be an excellent additional Strength to our Army. These are the finest Marksmen in the world. They do Execution with their Rifle Guns at an Amazing Distance. The Congress have also Determined upon 15,000 Men as a Continental Army. The Committee of the whole Congress have agreed to Report that Two Million of Dollars be emitted in Bills for the Use of the Continent to pay Troops, etc. This is all I am allowed to mention.

I have sent you the Orders for a Fast thro' the Continent which please to make publick.2

The Inclos'd Letters please to Deliver. Remember me to Genl. Ward, Heath, Dr. Cooper and all Frends, particularly to my good Friend J. Pitts. I have supplied Fessenden with Twenty pounds Lawf. Money wch I could ill spare, you will order it Returnd me here, inclos'd is his Rect. Do Write me. We know nothing of our Friends in Boston. How is Gill.

Adieu, I am in great haste, yours without Reserve.

JOHN HANCOCK

I send you a copy of a Letter from London-what Rascalls they are there. We will do for them.

I Journals of the Provincial Congress (Mass.), 391, 398.

2 For July 20.

3 John Pitts (1737-1815). See Memorial... of James Pitts. 1882.