obligd to write in more haste than I otherwise should have done, I am etc.1o

40

To SAMUEL WASHINGTON

[MS. H. S.]

[Camp at Cambridge, July 20, 1775.]

Dear Brothr: Agreeable to your request I am now set down to write to you, although in the first place I have scarce time to indulge inclination of the kind, and in the next place I do not know how, or whether it may ever get to your hands.

I came to this place the 3d instant and found a numerous army of Provincials under very little command, discipline or order. I found an enemy who had drove our People from Bunker's Hill strongly Intrenching and from accts had reason to expect before this, another attack from them; but as we have been incessantly (Sundays not excepted) employed in throwing up works of defense, I rather begin to believe now that they think it rather a dangerous experiment; and that we shall remain sometime watching the motions of each other, at the distance of little more than a mile and in full view. From the best accts we have been able to get the number of the Enemy amounts to between 10 and 12,000 men; part of which are in Boston, and part on Bunker Hill just by, our numbers including sick, absent &c are between 16 and 18,000; but then, having great extent of lines and many places to defend and not knowing where the attack may be made (as they have the entire command of the water and can draw their whole force to any one point in an hour or twos time without any person but the Commanding officer who directs it having the least previous notice of it) our Situation is a little unfavourable, but not so bad but that I think we can give them a pretty warm reception if

"From a photostat of the original through the kindness of David M. Matteson, of Cambridge, Mass.

SIEGE OF BOSTON

513

they think proper to make any advances towards us; their situation is such as to secure them from any attack of ours.

By what we can learn they are sadly distressed for want of fresh provisions. Beef (The milch cows in Boston) sells from one shilling to 18d sterling per lb. Mutton higher, and these only to be had for the sick. The number of those killed and wounded in the engagement on Bunker Hill could not fall short of 1100, ours did not exceed 400, a few more such victories would put an end to the present contest.

The village I am in is situated in the midst of a very delightful Country, and is a very beautiful place itself though small; a thousand pities that such a country should become the theater of war; a month from this day will bring on some Capital change I expect; for if the enemy are not able to penetrate into the Country, they may as well one would think, give up the point and retreat home; for if they stay at Boston and Bunkers Hill; and separated by a small Ferry, Charlestown which is part of the Neck; I say if they stay at those places forever the end for which they were sent cannot be accomplished; and to compel them to remain there is the principal object we have in view; indeed the only.

We have seen nothing of the riflemen yet, nor have we heard anything certain of them. I have only time to add my love to my Sister and the family and to assure you that I with unfeigned regard and truth Dr Sir etc.

P. S. In the late Ingagemt of the 17th ulto the enemy by the best accts we can get had 1040 Men killed and wounded, 92 were officers; our loss amounted to 139 killed, 278 wounded and 36 missing. Pray remember me kindly to Mr. Warner Washington and Family when you see them."1

"From the text printed in The New York Sun, Apr. 8, 1931.

*To ANTHONY WHITE

42

Camp at Cambridge, August 25, 1775. Dear Sir: Your favours of the 31st. Ulto, and ist. Instt. I have had the honour to receive; and you may believe me sincere, when I assure you, that it will give me pleasure to shew any kind of civility in my power to your Son, whose modest deportment richly entitles him to it. I am under some kind of Ingagement to a very worthy Gentleman" of my acquaintance in Virginia to appoint him one of my Aid de Camps; or more properly, I had wrote to him on this subject, his answer not received, should he decline the offer, as I know he is much engaged in other business, I shall, with pleasure, take your Son into my Family in that Capacity. in the meanwhile, I shall be happy in making his time as agreeable as possible to him whilst he remains in the Camp

In respect to Mr. Dunham, I thought it but a piece of candour to inform him, that I saw but little prospect of his getting an Imployment in his profession here upon which I believe he has changed his Plan. As I am almost always in a hurry, myself, and as I do not doubt but your Son will give you an Acct. of every remarkable occurance which happens In this Camp, I shall only add my best respects to your good Lady and family, and that I am with great esteem Dr Sir Yr. etc.

TO THE NEW YORK LEGISLATURE

[H. L.]

Camp at Cambridge, October 13, 1775. Sir: I am to thank you for your Favour of the 4th. Instt. inclosing the Advices from England of 26t. July and 8. August. A few Days ago I apprized the Committee of New York of the sailing of a small Fleet from Boston with Artillery to bom

42

"Anthony Walton White. (See Washington's letter to Anthony White (vol. 4, p. 50). Robert Hanson Harrison.

MERCER AFFAIR

515

bard a Town. I did not then know that the Provincial Congress was sitting or the Advice would have been directed to them. I now Sir, beg Leave to acquaint you that the Fleet then mentioned has been seen standing N.N.E. So that we apprehend it is destined against some Town on the Coast of this Province, New Hampshire, or perhaps to Quebec.

We have no Occurence in the Camp worthy of Notice: Both Sides are making all Preparation for Winter.

I am with the most respectful Regards to the Provincial Congress, Sir Your etc.**

44

*To JOHN TAYLOE

[H. L.]

Camp at Cambridge, December 11, 1775.

Dear Sir: In a Letter which I have receiv'd from Mr. Lund Washington dated the 24th. Ulto are these Words: "I got a Letter the other day from Mr Mercer wherein he says that Colo. Tayloe and himself thinks that the Money due upon Bond for the Sale of Colo. Mercers Estate, or at least all those Bonds that are due from Maryland, or near here, should be paid to me; those in Berkley, Frederick &c to Mr. Mercer; as he was going up there and that they would Advertise the People of it”

It is sometime ago since I desird Mr. Washington to deliver all the Bonds; and every paper in my possession relative to the Sale of Colo. Mercer's Estate, and the Power under which we acted to you; either in person, or to your written order as I found it would not be in my power to return to Virginia this Fall, and consequently utterly impossible for me to be of any further assistance to Colo. Mercer and his Mortgagees. This he informs me he has done. From hence forward then the matter rests wholely with you. But as a friend to you, to Colo. Mercer, and to Mr. James Mercer, I must express my entire

"The original L. S. is in the writing of Joseph Reed.

disapprobation of the latter's having any share in the Collection of those Debts arising from the Sale of the Estate. I am surprizd indeed at Mr. Mercers wishing to have any hand in it, notwithstanding I firmly believe he means well, and to save expences by it as there is, in my opinion, a striking Impropriety in it. for you will please to consider Sir, that it was from the great dislike which Colo. Mercer and his Mortgagees had to the conduct of Mr. Jas. Mercer (tho I think very undeservedly) and from a suspicion of his unfair dealing, that the Estate was taken out of his hands, and our Powers arose. Would you then suffer that very Estate, after it is converted into Cash and in the most dangerous Situation it can be touched to return into his hands again? especially after knowing that he has a capitol claim upon it which he wants to secure in preference to other Debts the priority of which are contended for? I really think that this Step, if taken, will be improper; highly offensive to our Constituents, and may Involve difficulties unforeseen, and unintended at present.

I would not be understood to cast any Reflections on Mr. James Mercer, I have no reason to do it, his conduct throughout the whole of this business has appeared to me in an exceeding fair point of view, but the temptation is too great to let a Man play the whole game himself. In other Words, to put it in his power to apply money to the discharge of one Debt in which he is Capitolly concern'd, instead of remitting it to discharge another in which he is not Interested at all. In short Sir, after having declared that I can no longer consider myself as Colo. Mercers Attorney it is presumptions to give my opinion of this matter so freely, and yet, as I wish a happy conclusion to it, I shall take the liberty of suggesting, whether it would not be better to appoint Colo. Francis Peyton to Collect the whole of these Debts as he was at the Sale, privy to every transaction attending it. acquainted with the People, Centrical, and wd. I dare say