JOHN ANDBEWS TO GENERAL WASHINGTON.

New-York Jail, June 23, 1776.

HONOURED SIR : The bumble petition of John Andrews, now confined in this jail on suspicion of theft: but I take the great God to be my witness I am innocent of the crime laid to my charge; it is only for swapping a pair of breeches with another man. I gave him six shillings to boot; and the same person that I got the breeches from is in prison at this time. May it please your Excellency, I, John Andrews, of the Seventh Regiment, have been confined for ten weeks past, and have no person upon earth to make my address to except your Excellency, hoping you will look down on me with an eye of pity, and have me set at liberty. And I, John Andrews, do further declare, that I am able and willing to serve in the defence of America as long as this disturbance lasts. No more, but remain your unfortunate petitioner,

JOHN ANDREWS.

P. S. May it please your Excellency we, fellow-prisoners, think it a duty incumbent on us to acquaint your Excellency with a conspiracy that is laid against you.

GENERAL WARD TO GENERAL WASHINGTON.

Boston, June 23, 1776.

SIR : I have the honour of your letter of the 16th instant. Agreeable to your directions I have ordered the Court of Inquiry to set for a rehearing of the complaint of Colonel Varnum against Lieutenant Merrill.

The letters to Major Small and Charles Proctor, Esq., I will forward, if any opportunity offers.

By desire of Colonel Campbell I have enclosed his letters, which he desires may be forwarded if there be no objection to them and an opportunity offers.

General Whitcomb does not accept his appointment, there fore I can have no relief by him, and I am so ill that I can attend but very little to any business.

I have just received information from several privateers that eleven sail of transports, under convoy of a frigate, are in the bay, standing in, and supposed to be part of the Scotch fleet; the privateers are all ordered out, and I have taken measures to secure the transports in case they should come into Nantasket Road.

I am your Excellency’s obedient, most humble servant,

ARTEMAS WARD.

To General Washington.

WILLIAM GORDON TO GENERAL GATES.

Roxbury, June 23, 1776.

FRIEND GATES : I am settling my literary affairs, and writing myself out of debt, but not taking leave I hope. Notwithstanding all the rumours and handbills that have been published, expect that I shall have more opportunities of corresponding before the storm bursts. Question whether Howe has yet sailed. Watch the wind and weather like an old Roman fortune-teller, and, from the signs in the heavens, infer that he will have a long passage, distance considered. Recollect that the sun has completed his northern tour, and is upon his return to the south; that the light southerly winds are beginning to fan the atmosphere; that the season will be exceeding hot in a few weeks; that the light moony nights will not suffer an enemy to land in the dark; and that the campaign is wearing away. A state of suspense and expectation is irksome; and yet I shall be willing to submit to it for weeks without hearing of an engagement, as the gaining of time is the gaining of advantages. You are sensible that I am a schemer; and though the whole generation sedom make much of their projects for themselves, yet others often profit by their thoughts; you will indulge me therefore. The Germans have no business to interfere in our contest with Great Britain. Let us, by way of retaliation, employ five hundred or a thousand Indians against them. The very appearance of such dark and painted enemies will go near to terrify them. I am, therefore, for providing that number to attack them whenever they shall land, and for keeping them ignorant of our having any, till they feel and hear and see them in the same instant. But how is all this possible? Here comes in the scheme. I am for making them all in a night’s time; only let the materials be provided by one that knows not of the design, or that can keep a secret, which quality in a commander is next to courage and conduct, and in some instances may supply the want of both. Separate your number of men, those that can best imitate the war-whoop, &c, of the Indians, without their suspecting any special intention. Let them be brave and daring; the officer be intrepid and enterprising, and that will give the example. Let oiled colours, black and red, with brushes, &c., quantum sufficit, be prepared, not forgetting blankets and earrings. I mention oiled colours, that the sweat and weather may not displace them. All things being in readiness, and the whole a secret from the Army and Yorkers, let the officer propose it as a sudden thought, urge the honour they will gain, and the good they may do, then lead the way, by stripping into buff, giving himself an Indian complexion, fixing on the earrings, &c. I can scarce think but that, if he is beloved, his men will do likewise; and, warmed with the thought and hope of success, be prepared to fall upon the foreign ers instantly, before these can gain intelligence. The Ger man soldiers, not knowing English, will not understand our people should they have occasion to speak to each other, and may think they are talking Indian, if they do but hollow it out well to each other. Were I present, and in the military, should be a volunteer in turning Indian. You will possibly smile at my sitting in my study and contriving such a scheme; and may be reminded of what the French General said to the Minister of State, when the latter, looking over the map, and giving his opinion, pointed with his finger and said, “Here you will cross the Rhine and penetrate into the country.” “Yes ! if it was as easy for me to execute as for you to point out the passage.” Well, then, be it as it will, I have gained something—matter to fill up my paper, which, in a time of dearth, is a valuable acquisition. You have already got all the news, excepting an anecdote or two. Lieutenant-Colonel Campbell had the fine new colours of his battalion with him, and finding that they were likely to be taken, he tore or cut them all to pieces and threw them into the sea. What is the proper punishment to be inflicted on him for thus destroying the colours? There was money on board to pay the battalion, which he has secreted, putting it up in paper like pounds of snuff. The Council will go near to be informed of it to-day.

I have been longing for your arrival, but shrewdly suspect that his Excellency will neither spare you nor any man of worth till the blow has been struck. Should the enemy be obliged, as I trust will be the case, to push off again to sea, then I expect to see some worthy officer coming post haste to take the command.

Don’t say that we have done nothing in this quarter since you left us. We have procured seventy-five tons of powder, besides a thousand carbines, &c. We have caught more than four hundred clever fellows called Highlanders, in company with a member of one of the most abandoned houses extant. We have secured their arms, and are going to employ many of them in husbandry and other works. I have got a servant from among them; the other left me, designing, I apprehend, to go on board, but was caught, and is in Boston jail.

You will tell me that, as to what I have mentioned, more thanks to Providence than any exertions of ours. So say I in every instance; and I am more and more convinced that if we are saved, it will be by Providence.

Have you read Price? Hazard should have lent it to you. Adieu, till I have been to the post for my letter, and then I may possibly have somewhat more to add; but whether so or not, you will be sure to present our best respects to Mrs. Gates, &c., &c.; and believe me to be your sincere friend and humble servant,

WILLIAMGORDON.

To Major-General Gates.

Though I have no child, yet I have recollected that yon have one, and but one; therefore I pray you, bow does he? Was Lee present, he would be ready to say, that’s right, for, love me, love my dog! Were I to write to him I would inquire after his dog.

Monday morning, June 24, 1776.—Nothing special; rejoice that our affairs in Canada seem to be mending. Let me hear from you soon.

JOHN BRADFORD TO GOVERNOUR TRUMBULL.

Boston, June 23, 1776.

GENTLEMEN : As I gave you an account by last post of the indisposition of Captain Harding, I thought it my duty,