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Browsing: Adams Family Correspondence, Volume 2
Docno: ADMS-04-02-02-0052
Recipient: Adams, Abigail
Date: 1776-08-11
Nathan Rice to Abigail Adams
[dateline] Ticonderoga August. 11th. 1776
[salute] Mrs. Adams
Inclosd I send you a Copy of General Carltons Orders of the 7th. Instant, which we
received by Major Biggelow of Connecticut, who was sent by the Genl. the 28th. ult:
with the Resolutions of Congress, concerning the Carteel stipulated by Genl. Arnold,
at the Cedars, which was, not to ratify it, unless they would deliver up Capt. Foster and those Officers who were present
and suffered the Savages to Murder the Prisoners in cool Blood.1 The Flagg arrived, and after a Stay of a few Days, (in which Time was treated with
Politeness) was dispached, with a Party commanded by Capt. Fraizer [Frazier], to escort him over the Lake.
The Capt. delivered him a Letter, subscribed to George Washington Esqr. He not knowing
the Resolution of Congress in that Respect, altho he greatly disliked the Superscription,
says “I can take it,” at the same Time, the Capt. gave him the inclosed with the Letter,
saying that is for you. But Major Biggelow very discreetly refused it.—The Captain
insisted on the Majors going with him, putting a Sergt. with the Flagg Boat, whom
they had furnished with a Number, and who distributed them to the Men. Thus we have
it, cut and dried, an End to Truces. Mr. How, however was more [agreea]ble2 and wished a more free Intercourse with our [army?].
Now for the Assassination mentioned.—One Lieutenant Whitcomb, in our Army an old Indian
Hunter, was sent on a Scout, and if possible to get a Prisoner. His Party which was
four, by some means all left him, one Deserted to the Enemy. In the Character of a
french Peasant he visited them, after the Desertion however he had like to have been
taken, before he left the Place, he discovered an Officer riding by, as he lay conceald
in the Bushes, and considering him as his enemy and being accustomed to such Things,
having also a great fancy for his Watch and Sword as he says, he fired upon him. Not
killing him Dead on the Spott, he was obliged to make his Escape. It proved to be
no less than Brigadr. Genl. Gordon, who received two Balls in his Shoulder of which
Wound he died next Day. This se[ems] rather Murder, but it is treating them on[ly] in their own Way.
The Malitia are comeing in fast, but am a little surprised they receive such Bounty
for no longer Time, and the Continental Army to pay it who have never received any
and born the whole.
[salute] I am with the greatest Respect your humble Sert.,
[signed] N Rice
RC (Adams Papers); addressed: “To Mrs. Abigail Adams Braintree N England.” Enclosure (Adams Papers): copy, in Rice's hand, of Gen. Sir Guy Carleton's orders, “Chamblee,” 7 Aug. 1776,
prohibiting, on account of the recent “Assassination” of Brig. Gen. Patrick Gordon,
all emissaries and messages from “Traitors in Arms against their King”; see, further,
note 1.
1. The events alluded to here and below were sequels to the surrender, in May, by an
officer Thomas Jefferson called “The scoundrel, Major [Isaac] Butterfield,” of a body
of New Hampshire troops at The Cedars, some forty miles above Montreal. Gen. Arnold
marched to their rescue, but too late, and was obliged to sign an ignominious cartel
in order to prevent further butchery among the captives by the Indians serving with
Capt. George Forster, the British officer to whom Butterfield had surrendered. Congress
investigated the affair, rejected in part the cartel, and sent Maj. John Bigelow to
inform Carleton and Burgoyne. The reply, directed to Washington and supposedly from
Carleton but bearing the marks of Burgoyne's style, contained the orders of which
a copy was enclosed in the present letter. Rice gives details on both this transaction
and the waylaying of Gordon by an American scout within the British lines that are
not available in other accounts. See JCC, 5:420, 446, 454–458, 468, 475, 533–539 (text of Congress' report and resolutions
on the cartel), 601, 695; Jefferson, Papers, ed. Boyd, 1:396–404, 459–460; Washington, Writings, ed. Fitzpatrick, 5:465–467.
Cite web page as: Founding Families: Digital Editions of the Papers of the Winthrops and the Adamses, ed.C. James Taylor. Boston: Massachusetts Historical Society, 2016.
http://www.masshist.org/apde2/
http://www.masshist.org/apde2/