The following gentlemen we recommend for commissions, they being friends to the present cause, and have signed the General Association: Dr. John Williams, Colonel; Platt Smith, Esq., Lieutenant-Colonel; Messrs. Nathan Hawley and Hamilton McColister, Majors; Mr. John Jones, Adjutant; Mr. Seth Sherwood, Quartermaster, Likewise, the names of the inferiour Officers in each District:

DISTRICT OF WHITE CREEK: Ebenezer Clark, Esq., Captain; Charles Hutchinson, First Lieutenant; Edward Savage, Second Lieutenant; and Daniel McClary, Ensign.

ARGYLE: Alexander Campbell, Captain; Samuel Pain, First Lieutenant; Peter Gilchrist, Second Lieutenant; and John McDougall, Ensign.

KINGSBURY DISTRICT: Asa Richardson, Captain; Adiel Sherwood, First Lieutenant; Nehemiah Sealey, Second Lieutenant; and Samuel Harris, Ensign.

SCHEENSBURGH DISTRICT: Jeremiah Burroughs, Captain; Levi Stockwell, First Lieutenant; Elisha Tousea, Second Lieutenant; and Silas Granger, Ensign.

BLACK CREEK DISTRICT: Alexander Webster, Captain; John Hamilton, First Lieutenant; George McKnight, Second Lieutenant; and Samuel Crossett, Ensign.

Signed by order of the Committee:

SETH SHERWOOD, Chairman.

To the Honourable Members of the Provincial Congress.

GENERAL WASHINGTON TO GOVERNOUR TRUMBULL.

Cambridge, September 21, 1775.

SIR: It gives me real concern to observe, by yours of the 15th instant, that you should think it necessary to distinguish between my personal and publick character, and confine your esteem to the former. Upon a reperusal of mine of the 8th instant, I cannot think it bears the construction you have put upon it; and unless that construction was the most obvious, I should have hoped that the respect I really have for you, and which I flattered myself I had manifested you, would have been the most favourable. In the disposition of the Continental Troops, I have long been sensible that it would be impossible to please, not individuals merely, but particular Provinces, whose partial necessities would occasionally call for assistance. I therefore thought myself happy that the Congress had settled the point, and apprehended I should stand excused to all for acting in the line which not only appeared to me to be that of policy and propriety, but of express and positive duty. If to the other fatigues and cares of my station that is to be added of giving reasons for all orders, and explaining the grounds and principles on which they are formed, my personal trouble would perhaps be of the least concern. The publick would be most affected. You may be assured, Sir, nothing was intended that might be construed into disrespect, and, at so interesting a period, nothing less ought to disturb the harmony so necessary for the happy success of our publick operations.

The omission of acknowledging in precise terms the receipt of your favour of the 5th instant was purely accidental. The subject was not so new to me as to require long consideration. I bad had occasion fully to deliberate upon it, in consequence of applications for Troops from Cape-Ann, Machias, New-Hampshire, and Long-Island, where the same necessity was as strongly pleaded; and in the two last instances the most peremptory orders were necessary, to prevent the Troops from being detained. I foresaw the same difficulty here. I am by no means insensible to the situation of the people on the coast. I wish I could extend protection to all, but the numerous detachments necessary to remedy the evil would amount to a dissolution of the Army, or make the most important operations of the campaign depend upon the piratical expeditions of two or three men-of-war and transports.

The spirit and zeal of the Colony of Connecticut are unquestionable; and whatever may be the hostile intentions of the men of war, I hope their utmost efforts can do little more than alarm the coast.

I am, with great esteem and regard for both your personal and publick character, Sir, your most obedient and very humble servant,

GEORGE WASHINGTON.

To Governour Trumbull.

GENERAL WASHINGTON TO CONTINENTAL CONGRESS.

[Read September 23, 1775.]

Camp at Cambridge, September 21, 1775.

SIR: I have been in daily expectation of being favoured with the commands of the honourable Congress, on the subjects of my two last letters. The season now advances so fast that I cannot any longer defer laying before them such further measures as require their immediate attention, and in which I wait their direction.

The mode in which the present Army has been collected has occasioned some difficulty in procuring the subscription of both officers and soldiers to the Continental Articles of War. Their principal objection has been that it might subject them to a longer service than that for which they engaged under their several Provincial establishments. It is in vain to attempt to reason away the prejudices of a whole army, often instilled, and, in this instance at least, encouraged by their officers, from private and narrow views. I have therefore forbore pressing them, as I did not experience any such inconvenience from their adherence to their former rules as would warrant the risk of entering into a contest upon it, more especially as the restraints necessary for the establishment of essential discipline and subordination indisposed their minds to every change, and made it both duty and policy to introduce as little novelty as possible. With the present Army, I fear such a subscription is impracticable. But the difficulty will cease with this Army. The Connecticut and Rhode-Island Troops stand engaged to the first of December only, and none longer than to the first of January. A dissolution of the present Army therefore will take place, unless some early provision is made against such an event. Most of the General Officers are of opinion the greater part of them may be re-enlisted for the winter, or another campaign, with the indulgence of a furlough to visit their friends, which may be regulated so as not to endanger the service. How far it may be proper to form the new Army entirely out of the old, for another campaign, rather than from the contingents of the several Provinces, is a question which involves in it too many considerations of policy and prudence for me to undertake to decide, It appears to be impossible to draw it from any other source than the old Army, for this winter; and as the pay is ample, I hope a sufficient number will engage in the service for that time at least; but there are various opinions of the temper of the men on the subject, and there may be great hazard in deferring the trial too long.

In the Continental establishment, no provision has been made for the pay of artificers, distinct from that of the common soldiers; whereas under the Provincial, such as found their own tools were allowed one shilling per diem advance, and particular artisans more. The pay of the Artillery also now differs from that of the Province—the men have less, the officers more; and for some ranks no provision is made, as the Congress will please to observe, by the list which I have the honour to enclose, No. 1. These particulars, though seemingly inconsiderable, are the source of much complaint and dissatisfaction, which I endeavour to compose in the best manner I am able.

By the returns of the Rifle Companies and that Battalion, they appear to exceed their establishment very considerably. I doubt my authority to pay these extra men, without the direction of the Congress; but it would be deemed a great hardship wholly to refuse them, as they have been encouraged to come. The necessities of the Troops having required pay, I directed that those of the Massachusetts should receive for one month, upon their being mustered and returning a proper roll; but a claim was immediately made for pay by lunar months, and several Regiments have declined taking up their warrants on this account. As this practice was entirely new to me, though said to be warranted by former usage, here the matter now waits the determination of the honourable Congress. I find in Connecticut and Rhode-Island this point was settled by calendar months; in Massachusetts, though mentioned in the Congress, it was left undetermined, which is also the case of New-Hampshire.

The enclosure, No. 2, is a petition from the subalterns, respecting their pay. Where there are only two of these in a Company, I have considered one as an Ensign, and ordered him pay as such, as in the Connecticut Forces. I must beg leave to recommend this petition to the favour of