[dateline] Watertown Decr. 3. 1775
[salute] My Dear Sir
I Returned from Plymouth last Wednesday after An Absence of about 10 days. In my way
I called on Mrs. Adams and found her pretty well, having recovered her Health after
a Bad Cold which threatoned A fever. From her I received the Inclosed Letter,
1 which I presume will give you A full Account of herself and Family. I came to Watertown
with full Expectation of receiving several of your favours. You may Guess my disappointment
when I found not One. Doctr. Morgan who with his Lady had lodged in my Chamber the
Night before had left a Packet Containing Letters &c. to your Friend, which I have
taken proper Care off. This Gentleman I have not yet seen. He was Attended next day
by the Surgeons of the Army, and Escorted to head quarters, in state. I propose to
see him Tomorrow,
{ 346 } and shall look on him with all the reverence due to so Exalted A Character as you
give him.
Revere returned here on Fryday. No Letters by him from you or my Other Friend at Congress.
I have run over my Sins of Omission and Commission, to see if they were Unpardonable
and at last presumed to Account for it from the Nature, and Magnitude of the Business
you are Engaged in, and the Constant Application it requires.
I Congratulate you on the success of our Northern Army. We have no late Accounts from
Arnold, but have sanguine Expectations that before this the whole Province of Canada
is reduced. You will no doubt have heard before this reaches you that A Lieutenant
Colonel and A Considerable Number of Men had come of
[f] from Arnolds detachment and returned here.
2
Our Army here have taken possession of and fortified Cobble Hill, which the Enemy
seem to view without any Emotion not haveing fired A Gun. It is said they Confidently
rely on our Army's dispersing when the Terms of their Inlistment Ends, and leaving
the Lines defensless, and an easy Conquest to them. Howe I believe has received such
Intelligence and Assurances from One Benja. Marston
3 who has fled from Marblehead to Boston. This fellow is A Cousin of mine. Had ever
any Man So many rascally Cousins as I have. I will not presume any danger of that
kind tho' I own My anxiety is great. Our Men Inlist but slowly and the Connecticut
Troops behave Infamously. It was with difficulty the General prevented their going
of
[f] in great Numbers last Fryday. However they Consented finally to return to their duty
till the Army could be Reinforced.
The General on the first day of our meeting had Represented to the Court the difficulties
he laboured under and the dangers he Apprehended, and desired A Committee to Confer
with him and the other General Officers. A Committee went down. The result of the
Conference was that 5000 Men should be immediately raised in this and New Hampshire
Colony and brought into Camp by the 10th. Instant, to supply the deficiencies in the
Army by the going off, the Connecticut Troops, and the Furlows the General is Obliged
to give the New Inlisted men by way of Encouragement. Genl. Sullivan Undertook to
raise 2000 of them, and we reported that the rest should be raised in several parts
of this Colony, and Yesterday sent off, more than 20 of our Members to Effect it,
4 knowing no Other way as our Militia is in a perfect state of Anarchy some with, and
some without Officers. If they don't succeed I know not where I shall date my next
letter from, but I have such An Opinion of my Countrymen as to believe
{ 347 } they will. The only reasons I know of that are Assigned by the Soldiers for their
Uneasiness, or rather backwardness to Enter the service again are the Increase of
the Officers wages lately made and the paying them Contrary to their Expectation,
and former usage by Calender instead of Lunar Months. The last I have given you my
opinion of in a former Letter,
5 and the first I think was very Unluckily timed. I have till lately thought it A favourable
Circumstance that so Many Men were raised in these Goverments. I begin to think Otherways
and many reasons operate strongly to make me wish for more Troops from the Southern
Goverments.
I Pity our Good General who has A greater Burthen on his Shoulders, and more difficulties
to struggle with than I think should fall to the Share of so good A Man. I do every
thing in My power to releive him, and wish I could do more. I see he is fatigued and
worried. After all you are not to Consider us as wholly Involved in Clouds and darkness.
The Sun shines for the most part, and we have many Consoleing Events. Providence seems
to be Engaged for us. The same Spirit and determination prevails to Conquer all difficulties.
Many Prizes have been taken by our Cruisers, and A Capital one last week carried into
Cape Ann, of very great value perhaps £20,000 sterling. A Brigantine from England
with a A Cargo Consisting of Almost every Species of Warlike stores except powder
and Cannon. 2,000 very fine small Arms with all their Accoutrements, four Mortars
one which Putnam has Christened and Called the
Congress the finest ever in America, Carcases, Flints Shells, Musket Balls, Carriages &c.
&c. These are principally Arrived at head quarters and the great Mortar is a Subject
of Curiosity. I hope we shall be Able to make good use of them before Long. A small
Cutter has since been taken loaded with provisions from Nova Scotia to Boston and
Carried into Beverly the first by a Continental Vessel, the second by A private one.
6 All serves to distress them and Aid us.
The Reinforceing the Army has Engrossed the whole Attention of the General Court since
their Meeting. The Manufactory of Salt Petre proceeds but slowly, tho it is made in
small quantities. Our General Committee seem to me too much Entangled with perticular
Systems, and general Rules to succeed. In practice they have done nothing. Coll. Orne
and Coll. Lincoln have made tryals in the recess and succeeded According to their
wishes. They Affirm the process to be simple and easy and that great quantitys may
be made. They shew Samples of what they have made, and it is undoubtedly good. No
Experiments with regard to Sulphur have yet succeeded. We have
{ 348 } good prospects with regard to Lead. Coll. Palmer has promised me to write you on that
Subject.
7
I hope soon to hear from you. The Confidence in the Congress prevailing among all
ranks of People is Amazeing, and the Expectation of great Things from you stronger
than ever. It gives me great pleasure to see the Credit, and reputation of my two
perticular friends, Increasing here.
8 Their late disinterested Conduct, as it is reported here does them much Honour. A
certain Collegue of yours has lost or I am mistaken A great part of the Interest he
Undeservedly had.
9 Major Hawley is not yet down.
10 What he will say to him I know not. Paine I hear is gone to Gratify his Curiosity
in Canada.
11 A good Journey to him. He may possibly do as much good there as at Philadelphia tho'
I find some People here would not have pitched on him for the Business we suppose
he is gone on, and perhaps there are some who would not have done it for any. Many
men you know are of many Minds.
12 My regards to my Friends. I thank Mr. Adams and Mr. Collins for their kind Letters.
Shall write Mr. Adams first opportunity. I am yr. Sincere Friend,
The Great Loss at Newfoundland of Men &c. I think may be Considered as An Interposition
of Providence in our favour.
13
Doctr. Adams has Just called on me to Acquaint Me that Mr. Craige who has been Apothecary
to the Army is like to be superceeded, and Mr. Dyre Appointed in his room.
14 As he Appears to me a very clever fellow and such Changes do us no good I could wish
it might be prevented.