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sent an express to your Excellency, when I received your letter of the 16th, per Bennett. We then proceeded to make provision for the four regiments requested for your camp.
The 20th, at evening, yours of the 19th came to hand; whereby the number is reduced to three, which will be raised with all possible expedition. But money seems necessary to facilitate their march. Wish some provision could be made for it.
It is with difficulty we can furnish our men with arms, and depend that none of them will be detained when the service of these three regiments is ended. No arms can be supplied from this Colony for the Continent. The old gun-barrels brought from Ticonderoga, are retarded for want of locks; there are very few or none to be purchased, and the number made here are brought in but slowly. When your hurry will permit, please to send me a return of an account of the arms retained from this Colony, their apprizal, and the way to obtain payment, as the owners complain for want of them or their value.
I am, with great esteem and regard, your Excellency's most obedient humble servant,
JONATHAN TRUMBULL.
To General Washington.
JAMES WILKINSON TO GENERAL SULLIVAN.
Monday Evening, January 22, 1776.
SIR: In consequence of your friendly proposal yesterday, I have waited on General Gates. He is pleased with your intention, and will readily afford me every assistance in his power, but thinks it necessary that you should mention the affair to General Washington, who, he makes no doubt, will assent to your request. If I have the honour of being established in your brigade, I shall particularly study the execution of my duty, and ardently endeavour to introduce that friendly intercourse between the northern and southern gentlemen, which is truly essential to our common interests.
I beg an excuse for this scrawl, and am, very respectfully, your much obliged and really humble servant,
JAMES WILKINSON.
To General Sullivan.
P. S. Lest this is the only idle time which I expect to enjoy while I continue in the Army, I apply it in gratifying a curiosity I entertain of seeing Cape-Ann; for which place I purpose setting out early to-morrow morning.
J. W.
COLONEL HUNTINGTON TO GOVERNOUR TRUMBULL.
Camp at Roxbury, January 22, 1776.
HONOURED SIR: I enclose you a copy of General Orders, providing arms, &c. Have sent Lieutenant Huntington to purchase for my regiment. As the time allowed him by the order is short, I fear he will not be able to look up many among individuals, from whence, I suppose, they must come. If he should be so happy as to find a considerable number together, he may accomplish the business by the time. He is directed to procure one hundred, which I hope will be sufficient, with what the soldiers will furnish themselves. I have ordered him to let you know what success he meets with, that you may take such measures for a supply as you shall think proper and necessary.
We much lament the death of the brave General Montgomery; hope it will be rightly improved by the Army there and here. The impatience of the soldiers, and perhaps of the subordinate officers, was the immediate cause of it; it will teach us, (and there is too much need of the lesson,) not to depend on an arm of flesh.
Please give my love and duty to mother, son, brother, &c.
I am, most affectionately, and dutifully, yours,
JEDEDIAH HUNTINGTON.
To the Honourable Governour Trumbull.
MESHECH WEARE TO GENERAL WASHINGTON.
Exeter, January 22, 1776.
SIR: We have just received your Excellency's favour of yesterday's date, for answer to which, we beg leave to refer to the enclosed letter, in which it may be observed, our Assembly had taken up the matter of advance wages to the soldiery destined for Canada, in the same manner as intended by the Massachusetts Government.
We shall duly note your Excellency's kind intention, of refunding to this Colony the money they advance, as soon as the General Congress may remit you a sufficient supply; and we shall give the necessary directions that all accounts respecting these matters, may be correctly kept, and proper vouchers produced for the same.
In behalf of the Council and Assembly, I am your Excellency's humble servant,
MESHECH WEARE, President of Council.
To His Excellency General Washington.
NEW-HAMPSHIRE COMMITTEE OF SAFETY TO GENERAL WASHINGTON.
Colony of New-Hampshire, Exeter, January 21, 1776.
SIR: Your Excellency's favour of the 19th current, with the several enclosures, came to hand yesterday noon, bringing us the melancholy advices of the defeat of our Army before Quebeck, and the death of the brave General Montgomery, with a number of our friends and fellow-soldiers. A sad reverse this, indeed, of our affairs in Canada, which we are extremely sorry for, and regret.
Our Council and Assembly were just upon the point of adjourning to Monday, when your Excellency's packet was brought us, which determined us upon sitting again in the afternoon. The subject of your letters was immediately taken into consideration. The Assembly very readily and cheerfully agreed to, and resolved upon, raising a regiment in the western frontiers, as therein recommended, to march directly into Canada for the reinforcement of our brethren there; the regiment to consist of the number directed in the Continental establishment. The command is assigned to Colonel Timothy Bedel, who, having approved himself well at the siege of St. John's, is just returned from Canada, and we think will readily enter on the duty. The other Field-Officers being residents near Connecticut River, well acquainted with the people and country, we doubt not will be able soon to raise the whole number of men. The Lieutenant-Colonel, Joseph Waite, one of our Assembly, is already sent, and carries with him inlisting orders and money for the purpose, the Assembly having voted to pay each man two months' wages in advance for their encouragement. Directions are, also, gone out for the procuring provisions, and other necessaries requisite for their march from Connecticut River over to Onion River. We trust your Excellency will give General Schuyler timely advice, that he may forward what provisions may further be necessary to meet the troops at Onion River.
In our last to your Excellency, we mentioned our having in readiness one hundred and forty blankets to forward to Head-Quarters, which were just going, when, upon receiving these last advices, it was thought absolutely necessary to stop them, that they might be sent westward for the use of this regiment, as it is impossible to provide any quantity of blankets in that part of the country.
We are truly sensible of the expediency of a vigorous exertion to prevent the evils which may follow the repulse of our troops in Canada, and you may depend, sir, we shall not fail to do our utmost to forward this reinforcement.
In behalf of the Council and Assembly, I am, with great esteem and respect, your Excellency's most obedient, humble servant,
MESHECH WEARE, President.
To His Excellency General Washington.
INSTRUCTIONS TO THE COMMITTEE TO WAIT ON GENERAL WASHINGTON.
To the Honourable MATTHEW THORNTON, Esq., and JOSIAH MOULTON, Esq.:
You being appointed a Committee to wait on his Excellency General Washington, on the subject of his requesting a regiment from this Colony, to assist in guarding the lines two months, you are, therefore, desired to proceed to the camp, and inquire what number of men are there inlisted, or likely to engage in the regiment officered by
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