Troops raised, or to be raised, for the defence of American liberty.

Men who have tasted of freedom, and who have felt their personal rights, are not easily taught to bear with encroachments on either or brought to submit to oppression. Virtue ought always to be made the object of government; justice is firm and permanent.

His Majesty’s Ministers have artfully induced the Parliament to join in their measures, to prosecute the dangerous and increasing differences between Great Britain and these Colonies with rigour and military force, whereby the latter are driven to an absolute necessity to defend their rights and properties by raising forces for their security.

The honourable Congress have proclaimed a Fast to be observed by the inhabitants of all the English Colonies on this Continent, to stand before the Lord in one day with publick humiliation, fasting, and prayer, to deplore our many sins, to offer up our joint supplications to God for forgiveness, and for his merciful interposition for us in this day of unnatural darkness and distress.

They have with one united voice appointed you to the high station you possess. The Supreme Director of all events hath caused a wonderful union of hearts and counsels to subsist amongst us. Now, therefore, be strong and very courageous. May the God of the Armies of Israel shower down the blessing of his divine providence on you; give you wisdom and fortitude; cover your head in the day of battle and danger; add success; convince our enemies of their mistaken measures; and that all their attempts to deprive these Colonies of their inestimable constitutional rights and liberties are injurious and vain.

I am, with great esteem and regard, Sir, your most obedient humble servant,

JONATHAN TRUMBULL.

His Excellency George Washington, Esquire.

Newburgh, Ulster County, New-York, July 14, 1775.

Whereas we, the subscribers, have refused to sign the Association within the time limited by the Provincial Congress; and whereas our troubles with the Mother Country continue to increase, and we are now convinced that we have no other alternative left but to repel force by force, or submit to slaves: Sensible that this is our deplorable situation, and in order to continue to link our chain of friendship still more firm, and to convince our friends and the friends of American liberty in general, we do hereby solemnly and sincerely swear on the holy evangelists, that we will from henceforth, heartily agree and consent to whatsoever our Continental and Provincial Congresses have, or may do, direct, ordain, and appoint, for the preservation of our constitutional liberties; and that we will, as much as in us lies, discourage the spirit of opposition that has too unhappily prevailed in some parts of this Country. That we will, from time to time, bear and pay our quota of all expenses with the rest of our brethren in America, that has already or hereafter may accrue, in defending our liberties aforesaid. And we do hereby further swear, that we make this declaration and oath of our own free will and voluntary consent; and in testimony whereof, we have hereunto set our hands this 14th day of July, Anno Domini, 1775.

GENERAL WASHINGTON TO CONTINENTAL CONGRESS.

Camp Cambridge, July 14, 1775.

SIR: Since I did myself the honour of addressing you on the tenth instant, nothing material has happened in the camp. From some authentick and later advices of the state of the Ministerial Troops, and the great inconvenience of calling in the Militia in the midst of harvest, I have been induced, for the present, to waive it; but in the mean time recruiting parties have been sent throughout this Province, to fill up the Regiments to the establishment of the Provincial Congress. At the same time that I received these advices, I also obtained a list of the officers of the enemy killed and wounded in the late battle at Charlestown, which I take this opportunity to enclose. The great scarcity of fresh provisions in their Army, has led me to take every precaution to prevent a supply; for this purpose I have ordered all the cattle and sheep to be drove from the low grounds and farms within their reach. A detachment from General Thomas’s camp on Wednesday night went over to Long-Island, and brought from thence twenty cattle and a number of sheep, with about fifteen labourers, who had been put on by a Mr. Ray Thomas to cut the hay, &c. By some accident they omitted burning the hay, and returned the next day at noon to complete it; which they effected, amidst the firing of the shipping, with the loss of one man killed and another wounded.

Last evening also a party of the Connecticut men strolled down on the marsh at Roxbury and fired upon a sentry, which drew on a heavy fire from the enemy’s lines and floating batteries, but attended with no other effect than the loss of one killed by a shot from the enemy’s lines. In the mean time we are on both sides continuing our works, but there has been no other movement than what I have noticed above. I shall endeavour to give a regular and particular account of all transactions as they occur, which you will please to lay before the honourable Congress.

I have the honour to be, Sir, your most obedient and very humble servant,

GO. WASHINGTON.

The Hon. John Hancock, Esq., President of Congress.

A true Account of the Officers of the Ministerial Troops killed and wounded at the battle of CHARLESTOWN, JUNE 17, 1775.

Fourth Regiment.—Captain Balfour, Captain West, Lieutenant Barn, and Lieutenant Brown, wounded.

Fifth Regiment.—Major Mitchell, wounded; Captain Downes, killed; Captain Jackson, Captain Manden, Lieutenant Crocker, Lieutenant Clintock, Ensign Charlton, and Ensign Balaquire, wounded.

Tenth Regiment.—Captain Fitzgerald, Captain Parsons, Lieutenant Pettigru, and Lieut. Hamilton, wounded; Lieutenant Verner, wounded, since dead.

Fourteenth Regiment.—Lieutenant Bruce, killed; Ensign Haskett, wounded.

Eighteenth Regiment.—Ensign Richardson, wounded; Lieutenant-Colonel Abercrombie, killed; Capt. Blackney, Lieutenant Cochran, Lieutenant Beckwith, and Lieutenant Lenthall, wounded.

Thirty-Fifth Regiment.—Captain Lyon, killed; Captain. Drew, wounded, since dead; Lieutenant Campbell, wounded; Lieutenant Bard, killed; Lieutenant Messey, wounded.

Thirty-Eighth Regiment.—Major Bruce, Capt. Boyd, and Captain Cocker, wounded; Lieutenant Dutton, killed; Lieutenant Christie, Captain House, Lieutenant Myers, and Lieutenant Lewney, wounded; Major Stork, wounded, since dead; Quartermaster Mitchell and Ensign Mitchell, wounded.

Forty-Third Regiment.—Major Spendlove and Captain McKenzie, killed; Lieutenant Robbetain, Lieutenant Dalrymple, wounded.

Forty-Seventh Regiment.—Major Smith, Captain England, Captain Craiger, Captain Alcock, and Lieut. Gold, wounded; Lieutenant Wellard, killed; Lieutenant England, wounded; Lieutenant Heyler, killed.

Fifty-Second Regiment.—Major Williams, Captain-Major Maddison, and Captain Smith, killed; Captain Wilson, Lieutenant Thompson, Lieutenant Crawford, Lieutenant Higgins, and Ensign Chetwind, wounded; Ensign Grannis, wounded, since dead.

Fifty-Ninth Regiment.—Lieutenant Haynes, wounded.

Sixty-Second Regiment.—Captain Horsford, Captain Follier, wounded; Lieutenant Dalrymple, killed.

Sixty-Fifth Regiment.—Captain Hudgeon, killed; Captain Sinclair, Lieutenant Paxton, Lieutenant Smith, and Lieutenant Haler, wounded.

Sixty-Seventh Regiment.—Captain Shamoin, Aid-de-Camp to General Howe, killed.