Putnam, with the Brigadiers Sullivan, Green, and Heath, to compose the Court of Inquiry. All evidences and persons concerned to attend the Court.

The Court will sit at General Putnam's house; the Judge Advocate to attend.

Head-Quarters, December 21, 1775.

Head-Quarters, Cambridge, December 22, 1775.

Head-Quarters, Cambridge, December 23, 1775.

The Colonels and commanding officers of the new established Regiments, will each of them receive, on Monday next, from the Adjutant-General, a warrant for eight hundred dollars, to pay their men for their blankets. An exact account of the distribution of this money is to be kept, and rendered when called for, particularizing the men's names, the companies they belong to, and the towns they come from.

The Captains of the Militia companies, are again called upon to make out exact return-rolls of their men, specifying the towns they come from, and the regiments they are joined to.

The General expects from the officers and soldiers a strict obedience, to the general standing orders, forbidding rambling from camp without leave, and hopes every person will exert himself in his particular station to preserve order, and that alertness so necessary in an army within cannon shot of their enemy.

Head-Quarters, Cambridge, December 24, 1775.

By order of his Excellency General Washington, a Board of General Officers sat yesterday in Cambridge, and unanimously recommended the following rations to be delivered in the manner hereby directed, viz:

Corned Beef and Pork, four days in a week,

Salt Fish one day, and fresh Beef two days.

As Milk cannot be procured during the winter season, the men are to have one pound and a half of Beef, or eighteen ounces of Pork per day.

Half pint of Rice, or a pint of Indian Meal per week.

One quart of Spruce Beer per day, or nine gallons of Molasses to one hundred men per week.

Six pounds of Candles to one hundred men per week, for guards.

Six ounces of Butter, or nine ounces of Hog's Lard per week.

Three pints of Peas or Beans per man per week, or vegetables equivalent, allowing six shillings per bushel for Beans or Peas, two and eight pence per bushel for Onions, one and four pence per bushel for Potatoes and Turnips.

One pound of Flour per man, each day; hard Bread to be dealt out one day in a week, in lieu of Flour.

The above allowance is ordered to be issued by the Commissary-General to all the troops of the United Colonies serving in this Department, until the honourable the Continental Congress, or the Commander-in-chief, thinks proper to alter it.

Captain Weniworth Stewart, of Colonel Phinney's Regiment, tried at a General Court-Martial, whereof Colonel Bricket was President, for "disobedience of orders, and gross abuse to Lieutenant-Colonel March, of the said regiment." The Court are unanimously of opinion that Captain Stewart is guilty of repeated abuse to Lieutenant-Colonel March, and, therefore, adjudge that he ask pardon of Colonel March, before all the officers of the regiment, and at the same time receive a severe reprimand from Colonel Phinney.

John Wales, in Captain Williams's Company, Colonel Greaton's Regiment, tried at the above Court-Martial for "robbing the Quartermaster-General's store." The Court find the prisoner guilty of a breach of the forty-ninth Article for regulating the Massachusetts Army; and, therefore, adjudge him to receive ten lashes upon the bare back with a cat-o'-nine-tails.

The General approves the above sentences, and orders them to be executed the first fair day.

Head-Quarters, Cambridge, December 25, 1775.

GENERAL WASHINGTON TO JOSEPH REED.

Cambridge, December 25, 1775.

DEAR SIR: At the same time that I thank you for stopping visiters in search of preferment, it will give me pleasure to show civilities to others of your recommendation. Indeed, no gentleman that is not well known, ought to come here without letters of introduction, as it puts me in an awkward situation with respect to my conduct towards them.

I do not very much understand a paragraph in your letter, which seems to be taken from mine to Colonel Han-cock, expressive of the unwillingness of the Connecticut troops to be deemed Continental. There is no expression in any of my letters, that I can either recollect or find, that has a tendency that way; further than their unwillingness to have officers of other Governments mixed in their corps; in which they are not singular, as the same partiality runs through the whole. I have, in some measure, anticipated the desires of the Connecticut Delegates, by a kind of re-presentation to each of the New-England Governments of the impracticability of raising our complement of men by voluntary inlistments, and submitting to their consideration whether, if the powers of Government are sufficiently coercive, each town should not be called upon for a proportionate number of recruits. What they will do in the matter remains to be known. The militia, who have supplied the places of the Connecticut Regiments, behave much better than I expected they would under our want of wood, barracks, and blankets. With these men, and such as are reinlisted, I shall hope, if they will be vigilant and spirited, to give the enemy a warm reception, if they think proper to come out. Our want of powder is inconceivable. A daily waste, and no supply, presents a gloomy prospect. I fear the detention of the vessels from your port is so generally known, as to defeat the end. Two men-of-war, it is said, put into New-York the other day, and were immediately ordered out, supposed to Virginia.

I am so much indebted for the civilities shown to Mrs. Washington on her journey hither, that I hardly know how to acknowledge them. Some of the enclosed (all of which I beg the favour of you to put into the post-office) are directed to that end, and I shall be obliged to you for presenting my thanks to the commanding officers of the two battalions of Philadelphia, for the honour done to her and me, as also to any others equally entitled.

I very sincerely offer you the compliments of the season, and wish you and Mrs. Reed, and your fireside, the happy return of many of them, being, dear sir, yours, &c.

GEORGE WASHINGTON.

To Joseph Reed, Esq.

ROBERT H. HARRISON TO GENERAL WARD.

Cambridge, December 25, 1775.

SIR: I am commanded by his Excellency to inform you that he is very apprehensive that the troops in Boston, when the bay is frozen sufficiently hard for them to pass, will take the bay that is on the marsh unless it is removed. You will, therefore, be pleased to have notice given to the persons owning it to take it away and secure it immediately, or his Excellency will be under the necessity of having it burnt.

I am, sir, your most obedient, humble servant,

ROBERT H. HARRISON.

To Major-General Ward.

COLONEL MOYLAN TO WILLIAM BARTLETT.

Cambridge, December 25, 1775.

SIR: Your letter of the 20th instant, is come to hand. As the corn and oats are wanting for the use of the army, Colonel Mifflin must have them. He will give the price you mention for the one-third belonging to the captors. As to the other two-thirds, it is of little consequence what price is fixed thereon. Colonel Glover must certainly have been mistaken when he informed you that his Excellency was willing that the com and oats should be disposed of at your place. It could not be his meaning, as he knew the want the Quartermaster was in for them. I wish you