1To George Washington from Nicholas Cooke, 12 July 1775 (Washington Papers)
I beg Leave to congratulate your Excellency upon your being appointed General of the Armies of the United Colonies; which hath given sincere Pleasure to every Friend of America, and will I hope prove glorious to yourself, and be attended with essential Advantages to your Country. The General Assembly of this Colony have the deepest Sense of the Necessity of a strict Union, and the most...
2From George Washington to Nicholas Cooke, 18 July 1775 (Washington Papers)
You will please to accept my Sincere Acknowledgments for your favor delivered me by General Green, on my Appointment to the chief Command of the American Army—The Voluntary Choice of Freemen contending in the great Cause of civil Liberty, & the concurring Approbation of the wise and good, at the same Time that they confer the highest Honour upon the Object of that Choice, demand the utmost...
3From George Washington to Nicholas Cooke, 26 July 1775 (Washington Papers)
Yesterday I had an Account that three Men of War and Nine Transports had sailed out of Boston—and in the Evening I received a Note the Copy whereof is inclosed. The great Distress they are in at Boston for fresh Provisions makes it extremely probable they may make some Depredations along the Coasts: I have therefore thought it proper to give you the earliest Notice that the Owners of those...
4To George Washington from Nicholas Cooke, 31 July 1775 (Washington Papers)
I am favoured with your Excellency’s Letter of the 26th instant; having just before the Receipt of it had Accounts by a private Hand of the Sailing of a Number of Men of War and Transports from Boston; which I conjectured were designed to supply the Enemy with fresh Provisions. I immediately sent the Intelligence to Block-Island together with a Quantity of Powder Ball and Flints to enable them...
5From George Washington to Nicholas Cooke, 4 August 1775 (Washington Papers)
I was yesterday favoured with yours of the 31st July—we have yet no certain Account of the Fleet which sailed out of Boston the 25th but if our Conjectures & Information are just we may expect to hear of it every Hour. I am now, Sir, in strict Confidence to acquaint you that our Necessities in the Articles of Powder & Lead are so great as to require an immediate Supply—I must earnestly intreat...
6To George Washington from Nicholas Cooke, 8 August 1775 (Washington Papers)
Last Evening Col. Porter delivered me your Letter of the 4th instant, to which I have paid all the Attention the Importance of it demands. This Colony the last Fall, not confiding entirely in the precarious Supply of Powder that might be expected from the Merchants, imported a considerable Quantity, though not so large as was ordered. The supplying the Inhabitants, who were in a Manner utterly...
7To George Washington from Nicholas Cooke, 11 August 1775 (Washington Papers)
Since my last to you Mr Ward One of the Delegates hath returned from the Congress. He informs me that some of the Bermudians had been at Philadelphia soliciting for Liberty to import Provisions for the Use of the Island. They gave Information of the Powder mentioned in your Letter to me, and were of Opinion it might be easily obtained. They were told by the Delegates that every Vessel they...
8From George Washington to Nicholas Cooke, 14 August 1775 (Washington Papers)
Your Favors of the 8. & 11th Instant are duly received the former I laid before the General Court of this Province, but one of the Delegates having communicated to them, what Mr Ward did to you of the Proceedings of the continental Congress touching this Powder; nothing was done towards providing Specie, that the Vessel might proceed to other Places, in Case of Disappointment at the first. I...
9To George Washington from Nicholas Cooke, 30 August 1775 (Washington Papers)
Your Excellency’s Letter of the 14th instant is now before me; the Contents of which I have duly considered. When it came to Hand our small Sloop of War was out upon the Cruize which I mentioned to your Excellency in a former Letter. She hath since returned. The sending her on the Enterprize you propose could not be done without some new & further Powers from the General Assembly which sat...
10From George Washington to Nicholas Cooke, 31 August 1775 (Washington Papers)
Last Night I received Information that Messr Clarke & Nightingale of Providence had imported a Quantity of Gun Powder, Lead & 500 Stand of Arms: Upon which I have dispatch’d Capt. Baylor one of my Aids de Camp to treat with those Gentlemen for the whole Importation if not otherwise dispos’d of. I have directed him to wait upon you immediately on his Arrival & must beg the Favor of your Advice...