military skill,) by no means to relax in the discipline of your respective companies.

*

I have the honor to be, &c.

TO JOHN AUGUSTINE WASHINGTON.

DEAR BROTHER,

Philadelphia, 20 June, 1775.

I am now to bid adieu to you, and to every kind of domestic ease, for a while. I am embarked on a wide ocean, boundless in its prospect, and in which, perhaps, no safe harbour is to be found. I have been called upon by the unanimous voice of the Colonies to take the command of the Continental army; an honor I neither sought after, nor desired, as I am thoroughly convinced, that it requires greater abilities and much more experi

* The reply of the Independent Company of Alexandria to this letter is an evidence of the warm attachment of his friends, at the same time that it is remarkable for the sentiments it expresses, even at so late a day, in regard to a conciliation with Great Britain.

"Your favor of the 20th ultimo, notifying us of your intended departure for the camp, we received, and, after transmitting copies to the different officers, to whom it was directed, we laid it before a full meeting of your company this day. At the same time that they deplore the unfortunate occasion, that calls you, their patron, friend, and worthy citizen, from them and your more tender connexions, they beg your acceptance of their most hearty congratulations upon your appointment to the supreme military command of the American confederated forces. Firmly convinced, Sir, of your zealous attachment to the rights of your country, and those of mankind, and of your earnest desire, that harmony and good will should again take place between us and our parent state, we well know, that your every exertion will be invariably employed to preserve the one and effect the other.

"We are to inform you, Sir, by desire of the company, that, if at any time you shall judge it expedient for them to join the troops at Cambridge, or to march elsewhere, they will cheerfully do it. We now recommend you to the favor of Him, by whom kings reign and princes decree justice, wishing all your counsels and operations to be directed by his gracious providence to a happy and lasting union between us and Great Britain."

ence, than I am master of, to conduct a business so extensive in its nature, and arduous in the execution. But the partiality of the Congress, joined to a political motive, really left me without a choice; and I am now commissioned a General and Commander-in-chief of all the forces now raised, or to be raised, for the defence of the United Colonies. That I may discharge the trust to the satisfaction of my employers, is my first wish; that I shall aim to do it, there remains little doubt. How far I may succeed, is another point; but this I am sure of, that, in the worst event, I shall have the consolation of knowing, if I act to the best of my judgment, that the blame ought to lodge upon the appointers, not the appointed, as it was by no means a thing of my own seeking, or proceeding from any hint of my friends.

I am at liberty to inform you, that the Congress, in committee, have consented to a Continental currency, and have ordered two millions of dollars to be struck for payment of the troops, and other purposes, and have voted fifteen thousand men as a Continental army, which number will be augmented, as the strength of the British troops will be greater than was expected at the time of passing that vote. General Ward, General Lee, General Schuyler, and General Putnam are appointed MajorGenerals under me. The Brigadier-Generals are not yet appointed. Major Gates is made Adjutant-General. * I expect to set out to-morrow for Boston, and

* General Ward had already been appointed, by the Provincial Congress of Massachusetts, commander of all the forces raised by that colony, and was now in Cambridge at the head of the army. Generals Lee and Schuyler were in Philadelphia, and accompanied the Commander-in-chief to New York. Lee continued with him to head-quarters. Putnam was in Cambridge, commanding the Connecticut troops. Gates was at his seat in Berkley County, Virginia, but speedily joined the army.

Lee was a colonel on half-pay in the British army, but he resigned

hope to be joined there in a little time by ten companies of riflemen from this province, Maryland, and Virginia. For other articles of intelligence, I shall refer you to the papers, as the printers are diligent in collecting every thing that is stirring.

I shall hope that my friends will visit and endeavour to keep up the spirits of my wife, as much as they can, for my departure will, I know, be a cutting stroke upon her; and on this account alone I have many disagreeaable sensations. I hope that you and my sister, although the distance is great, will find so much time this summer as to spend a little of it at Mount Vernon.

My sincere regards attend you both, and the little ones, and I am your most affectionate brother.

his commission, by a formal letter to the Secretary at War, as soon as he was appointed major-general by the Congress, and before he received a commission in the American army. He had been a soldier from his youth, and had seen much service in America during the French war, and afterwards in Europe. When he received this appointment, he had been only about eighteen months in the colonies, but that time had mostly been spent in travelling. He thus formed many acquaintances, and inspired the public with a high opinion of his military character. His friend Gates had induced him to buy lands in Virginia, beyond the Blue Ridge, where he sometimes resided. Gates, also, had been an officer in the British army. He was a captain at Braddock's defeat, where he was wounded; and he rose afterwards to the rank of major, which he resigned, and retired from the service, purchasing lands and settling himself as a planter in Virginia. A friendly intercourse had long subsisted between him and Washington. He was appointed Adjutant-General by the Congress, at the express solicitation of the Commander-in-chief, with the rank of brigadier. General Washington wrote to him immediately after his appointment, and Gates replied in very cordial terms, adding in conclusion; "I will not intrude more upon your time, only to assure you, that I shall not lose a moment in paying you my personal attendance, with the greatest respect for your character, and the sincerest attachment to your person." Gates arrived in Cambridge before the middle of July. Both Lee and Gates had passed several days at Mount Vernon six weeks previously, just before Washington left home for the Continental Congress.

TO THE MEMBERS OF THE CONTINENTAL CONGRESS,

GENTLEMEN,

PHILADELPHIA.

New York, 25 June, 1775.

The rain on Friday afternoon and Saturday, the advice of several gentlemen of the Jerseys and this city, by no means to cross Hudson's River at the lower ferry, and some other occurrences too trivial to mention, which happened on the road, prevented my arrival at this place, until the afternoon of this day.*

*The following is an extract from the Journals of the New York Provincial Congress.

"June, 25th. - A letter from General Schuyler being read, dated at New Brunswick, June 24th, informing this Congress that General Washington, with his retinue, would be at Newark this morning, and requesting this Congress to send some of its members to meet him, and advise the most proper place for him to cross the Hudson River on his way to New York;

"Ordered, that Messrs. Smith, Hobart, Gouverneur Morris, and Richard Montgomery go immediately to Newark, and recommend to General Washington the place, which they shall think most prudent for him to cross at."

News came at the same time, that Governor Tryon was in the harbour, just arrived from England, and would land that day. The Congress were a good deal embarrassed to determine how to act on this occasion; for though they had thrown off all allegiance to the authority of their governor, yet they professed to maintain loyalty to his person. They finally ordered a colonel so to dispose of his militia companies, that they might be in a condition to receive "either the Generals, or Governor Tryon, whichever should first arrive, and wait on both as well as circumstances would allow." Events proved less perplexing than had been apprehended, as General Washington arrived several hours previous to the landing of Governor Tryon.

Before General Washington left Philadelphia, he reviewed in that city several companies of infantry, rangers, riflemen, artillery, and a troop of light-horse, amounting in all to two thousand men under arms. They escorted him out of the city, and the troop of light-horse accompanied him to New York. He remained in New York till the 26th, when he departed under the escort of several military companies, passed the night at Kingsbridge, and the next morning proceeded on his journey. The Philadelphia light-horse left him at Kingsbridge, and returned.

In the morning, after giving General Schuyler such orders, as, from the result of my inquiry into matters here, appear necessary, I shall set out on my journey to the camp at Boston, and shall proceed with all the despatch in my power. Powder is so essential an article, that I cannot help again repeating the necessity of a supply. The camp at Boston, from the best account I can get from thence, is but very poorly supplied. At this place, they have scarce any. How they are provided at General Wooster's camp, I have not been able yet to learn.*

Governor Tryon is arrived, and General Schuyler is directed to advise you of the line of conduct he moves in. I fear it will not be very favorable to the American cause.

I have only to add, that I am, with the greatest respect and regard, gentlemen, your most obedient and obliged humble servant.

* General Wooster commanded the forces, which had been raised by Connecticut, and which were stationed on the shores of Long Island Sound, to protect the southern borders of that colony. On the 15th of June, a rumor having been spread, that a regiment of British troops was soon to be landed in the city of New York from Ireland, the Provincial Congress invited General Wooster to march within five miles of the city for its defence, and while there to be under the command of the Continental Congress, or that of New York. This request being approved by the government of Connecticut, General Wooster marched eighteen hundred men to the neighbourhood of the city, on the 28th of June, where he remained several weeks. MS. Journal of the New York Provincial Congress.

In reply to General Wooster's letter of consent, the Congress add; "We beg leave to testify to you our high sense of the readiness, which you show to assist our colony. That honest zeal, which inspirits the bosom of our countrymen in Connecticut, commands our admiration and praise."