One Groves, who came out of Boston the same evening, informed the officer at one of the out-posts, that the transports had on board six hundred men, and were bound to Block-Island, Fisher’s-Island, and Long-Island, to plunder them and bring off what cattle they may find. The fellow returned again into Boston, under such suspicious circumstances, that it has led me to doubt the truth of his intelligence. A deserter, who came in afterwards, informs me that it was given out in their camp that they were either gone for Indians or fresh provisions, and that each transport had but twenty men on board. Upon this intelligence I immediately wrote to Governour Cooke, of Rhode-Island, and to General Wooster, that they might use proper precautions for removing the cattle off those islands and the coasts, and to prevent any surprise. As we are confirmed by every account in the scarcity of fresh provisions in the enemy’s camp, and particularly by this deserter, who says they have had none since the battle of Lexington, it is very probable this voyage may be only intended for a supply; but as it may possibly be otherwise, I thought it best to transmit the intelligence to the honourable Congress, that they may forward it to the southward, or take such other step as they may judge proper.

Since writing the above, three men (deserters) have come out, which make four in twenty-four hours. Their accounts correspond with those of the first who came out, and which I have related above.

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

GO. WASHINGTON.

GENERAL HEATH TO GENERAL WASHINGTON.

Camp at Roxbury, July 21, 1775.

SIR: I have the pleasure to inform your Excellency that Major Vose, of my own Regiment, besides securing the barley on Nantasket, yesterday morning landed on the Light-House Island with six or seven boats; the Light-House was set on fire and the wood-work burnt. The party brought off three casks of oil, all the furniture of the Light-House, about fifty pounds of gunpowder, a quantity of cordage, &c., an inventory of which will be forwarded to your Excellency. Some of the brave men who effected this with their lives in their hands, have just now applied to me, to know whether it was to be considered as plunder or otherwise. I was not able to determine this matter, but told them that I would lay the matter before your Excellency. I would beg leave to add, that these brave men were, some of them, at Grape-Island, Deer-Island, and at Long-Island, when each of those islands were stripped of their stock, &c.

I have the honour to be your Excellency’s most obedient and very humble servant,

W. HEATH.

To his Excellency General Washington.

ORDERS BY GENERAL WASHINGTON.

Head-Quarters, Cambridge, July 22, 1775.

A Court of Inquiry to sit forthwith; President, Doctor Foster; Doctor Warren and Doctor Eustace, members; to examine into a complaint exhibited by Mr. John Spalding, Surgeon to Gen. Putnam’s Regiment, against Mr. Penuel Chiney, Surgeon’s-mate of the said Regiment; all evidences to attend the Court.

Captain Israel Putnam, and Lieutenant Samuel Webb, being appointed Aids-de-Camp to Major-General Putnam, they are to be obeyed as such.

Regularity and due subordination being so essentially necessary to the good order and government of an army, and without it the whole must soon become a scene of disorder and confusion, the General finds it indispensably necessary, without waiting any longer for despatches from the General Continental Congress, immediately to form the Army into three grand divisions, and of dividing each of those grand divisions into two Brigades. He therefore orders that the following Regiments, viz: General Ward’s, Gen. Thomas’s, Colonel Fellows’s, Colonel Cotton’s, Colonel Danielson’s, and Colonel D. Brewer’s, compose one brigade, and be under the command of Brigadier-General Thomas; that General Spencer’s, Colonel Parsom’s, Colonel Learned’s, Colonel Walker’s, Colonel J. Read’s, Independents, compose another brigade, to be commanded by Brigadier-General Spencer. That these two brigades compose the right wing or division of the Army, and be under the command of Major-General Ward, and remain at Roxbury and its southern dependancies. That Colonel Stark’s, Colonel Poor’s, Colonel Reid’s, of New-Hampshire, and Colonel Nixons, Colonel Mansfield’s, Colonel Doolittle’s, of Massachusetts, be formed into another brigade, under the command of Brigadier-General Sullivan, and posted on Winter Hill. That Colonel Varnum’s, Colonel Hitchcock’s, Colonel Church’s, of Rhode-Island, and Colonel Whitcomb’s, Colonel Gardner’s, Colonel J. Brewer’s, Col. Little’s, of Massachusetts, be formed into another brigade, and commanded by Brigadier-General Green, and posted upon Prospect Hill, and these two brigades compose the left wing, or second division of the Army, under the command of Major-General Lee. That General Putnam’s, Colonel Glover’s, Colonel Frye’s, Colonel Bridge’s, Col. Woodbridge’s, Colonel Sergeant’s, be formed into another brigade, under the command of the senior officer therein, and until the pleasure of the Continental Congress be known, these two brigades to be under the command of Major-General Putnam; also a corps-de-reserve for the defence of the several posts north of Roxbury, not already named.

The arrangement now ordered to take place is to be made as speedily as possible, and the Majors-General are to see it done accordingly; some inconveniences may arise to certain individuals by this change, but as the good of the service requires it to be made, an alert and ready compliance is expected.

All applications from henceforward, by officers or soldiers, for leave of absence, are to be made to the Major-General commanding each division, who is to judge of the propriety of the application, and grant furloughs where they see cause, without applying to the Commander-in-Chief, provided it be not contrary to General Orders.

General Heath’s Regiment is to take post at No. 2, in lieu of General Ward’s; Colonel Patterson’s remains at No. 3; Colonel Scammons’s to occupy No. 1, and the redoubt between that and No. 2; Colonel Prescott’s Regiment to take post at the redoubt upon Sewell’s Point; Col. Gerrish’s Regiment to furnish the Companies for Chelsea, Malden, and Medford.

Head-Quarters, Cambridge, July 23, 1775.

As the Continental Army have unfortunately no uniforms, and consequently many inconveniences must arise from not being able always to distinguish the commissioned officers from the non-commissioned, and the non-commissioned from the privates, it is desired that some badges of distinction may be immediately provided; for instance, the Field-Officers may have red or pink coloured cockades in their hats, the Captains yellow or buff, and the Subalterns green; they are to furnish themselves accordingly. The Sergeants may be distinguished by an epaulette, or stripe of red cloth sewed upon the right shoulder, the Corporals by one of green.

The people employed to make spears, are desired by the General to make four dozen of them immediately, thirteen feet in length, and the wood part a good deal more substantial than those already made; those, particularly, in the New-Hampshire lines, are ridiculously short and light and can answer no sort of purpose; no more are therefor to be made on the same model.

The commanding officers of the different works and posts are once more enjoined to furnish themselves with a sufficient number of gabions and fascines, which are to stop up the entrances of their respective redoubts and lines, and to repair their works, which may either be damaged by the weather or the fire of the enemy. It is observed that several of the entrances of the redoubts are still left open without any sort of defence, the commanding officers of each redoubt are therefore ordered to cut a wide deep ditch at the entrances, and throw a bridge of strong plank across; this is to be done without delay.

John Davis, of Captain Foster’s Company, in Colonel Gridley’s Regiment of Artillery, tried for “desertion and