Massachusetts-Bay. You best can determine, Sir, whether it is proper, on this occasion, for the forces under your command to march westward. But we are led to believe that it is of more important consequence to secure the several passes, with which nature hath bounteously fortified the eastern country, that if some unexpected chance of war should prove fatal to us in the first contest, the enemy may, by such means, receive a double check in his career of vengeance. We beg you to transmit this intelligence to the Provincial Camp with the utmost despatch. We are, Sir, your most humble servants,

By order of the Provincial Congress:

PETER V. B. LIVINGSTON, President.

To Major-General Wooster, Greenwich.

EXTRACT OF A LETTER FROM AN OFFICER OF RANK TO A GENTLEMAN IN LONDON, DATED BOSTON, JUNE 18, 1775.

We left Cork early in April, and after a very tedious and disagreeable passage of seven weeks, arrived here on the sixteenth day of this month. On our landing, we found every thing in the utmost confusion, partly arising from the murmurs of the soldiery; the difference of opinion among the superiour officers; the want of fresh provisions; the general unhealthiness of the troops; and, above all, the misery of the wretched inhabitants, destitute of food, raiment, or property. Whether it was an aggregate of all these, or a weakness arising from a sea-sickness, which commenced at the cove of Cork, and only left me on my landing, I will not pretend to say, but I have been totally confined to my room since last Saturday. Yesterday morning the troops were ordered under arms at three o’clock, on a boat being sent from one of the ships-of-war to acquaint us that the Provincials were raising works in order to besiege us, and put us between cross fires. Feeble as I was, I arose and dressed myself, and went down, to the Head-Quarters to offer my service. There were two reasons, however, which prevented their acceptance; one was the state of my health, the other, that the Regiment I belonged to was not ordered out. The troops destined for that service were landed on the Charles-town side, between eight and nine o’clock; but on account of the number of the Provincials, the troops did not begin the attack for a considerable time. In the prodigious confusion this place is now in, all I can tell now is, that the troops behaved with the most unexampled bravery; and after an engagement of nearly five hours, we forced the Provincials from their posts, redoubts, and intrenchments, one by one. This victory has cost us very dear, indeed, as we have lost some of the best officers in the service, and a great number of private men. Nor do I see that we enjoy one solid benefit in return, or are likely to reap from it any one advantage whatever. We have, indeed, learned one melancholy truth, which is, that the Americans, if they were equally well commanded, are full as good soldiers as ours; and as it is, are very little inferiour to us, even in discipline and steadiness of countenance. This sudden, unexpected affair, has had, however, one good effect upon me, for I find myself much better.

P. S. Since I wrote the above, I fell into a conversation with a gentleman who was present in both actions, and who told me that the King’s Troops must have been totally destroyed in each, had the Provincials known; their own strength, particularly on the former’s return from Lexington to Boston, on the 19th of April.”*

GENERAL THOMAS TO MASSACHUSETTS CONGRESS.

Roxbury Camp, June 18, 1775.

SIR: For the well ordering and regulating a Camp, there are some officers necessary that I find no establishment for, which, I suppose, was left by the former Congress for an after consideration; two, in particular, that I find very necessary, viz: an Adjutant and Quartermaster-General, the latter of which may make a great saving to the Province, as he would have the particular charge and control of all the camp utensils, inspection of quarters, &c., &c., which he would be accountable for. It is an office of great importance in many respects. Upon this matter being recommended to the Honourable Congress, I make no doubt they will be sensible of the utility of such officers. I am, Sir, with the greatest esteem, your most obedient servant,

JOHN THOMAS.

MASSACHUSETTS COMMITTEE OF SUPPLIES TO COMMITTEE OF SAFETY.

Supply Chamber, Watertown, Juno 18, 1775.

GENTLEMEN: We were handed an express from you to the several Towns, wherein you desire them to raise the Militia, which was not directed to us for any assistance; but Mr. Gill desired us verbally, as by your order, to furnish horses for the purpose, and despatch orders; which was not in our power, as we have no horses for our own necessary expresses; and as we apprehend its being wholly out of our department, it would not have that influence which it might have been expected from the Committee of Safety, whose department only it will be considered, if we had any spare horses to comply with such desire. We therefore hope, gentlemen, you will not depend upon us, however disposed we may be to assist for the publick safety, as it is out of our power. Your most humble servants,

DAVID CHEEVER, per order.

To the Committee of Safety.

CIRCULAR TO THE SEVERAL TOWNS IN MASSACHUSETTS.

Chamber of Supplies, Watertown, June 18, 1775.

GENTLEMEN: The welfare of our Country again induces us to urge your exertions in sending to the magazine in this place, what can be procured of the following articles, viz: salt pork, beans, peas, vinegar, and blankets; the prices whereof, as well as the carting, shall be allowed according to the custom of your place, which we desire you to certify. It is of the utmost importance that the Army should be supplied agreeably to the Resolve of the Congress; more especially with these articles; the four first of winch are necessary for the subsistence as well as the health of the men, and the others for their comfort. The occasion of the deficiency in blankets is mostly owing to a number of men enlisted from Boston, and other. Towns which have been vacated, and they all must be procured immediately, or our worthy countrymen will suffer.

As the country affords every thing in plenty necessary to subsist the Army, and we cannot, at present, obtain many things but by your assistance, we assure ourselves that you will act your parts as worthily as you have done, and hope that the event of all our exertions will be the salvation of our Country,

DAVID CHEEVER,

Per order of Comm. of Supplies.

To the Selectmen and Committee of Correspondence of the Town of.........

COLONEL BARTLETT TO GENERAL FOLSOM.

Kingston, June 18, 1775.

SIR: This moment one Mr. Moreton has come express from Cambridge, and has brought a letter from the Continental to our Congress, which I shall send to the President. He came from thence last evening: has rode all night, and informs that the Regulars came out of Boston yesterday to Charlestown, and had begun an engagement; that he is well assured that Charlestown is burnt, and that our people were, flocking down all last night to the Army. I shall send to the President to be at Exeter tomorrow morning. Desire that the rest of the Committee be notified. Your prudence will direct you about marching our men. In great haste I am, &c.

JOSIAH BARTLETT.

To General Folsom.

Copy sent to Doctor Thompson, Captain Whipple, Captain Moulton, Colonel McDuffee, and Committee of Safety, Newburyport.

Orders sent to Major Cilley, Captain Elkins, Captain

*LONDON, July 27, 1775.—The event of the Boston campaign may now be easily guessed. At first, it seemed to turn upon the question, whether the Colony Irregulars would stand the phalanxes of Regular Troops? That has been proved too clearly to be denied. It is now a question, which side will soonest be destroyed, and whether a victory to the Regulars, in which they lost one thousand men, and killed two hundred of the Provincials, is not the species of victory which will soon have all the effects of the severest defeat?