11From George Washington to Nicholas Cooke, 18 September 1775 (Washington Papers)
Your Favours of the 9th, 14 & 15th Instt have been duly received: The Readiness of the Committee to co-operate with me in procuring the most authentick Intelligence & dispatching Captn Whipple for this Purpose, is peculiarly satisfactory, & I flatter myself will be attended not only with Success, but the happiest Consequences to the publick Cause—I should immediately have sent you Notice of...
12To George Washington from William Woodford, 18 September 1775 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from William Woodford, 18 Sept. 1775. On 10 Nov. GW wrote to Woodford : “Your favor of the 18th of September came to my hands on Wednesday last.”
13Editorial Note on the Secret Committee, 18 September 1775 (Franklin Papers)
On September 18, 1775, Congress established what became one of its principal institutions for waging the war, the secret committee. Its nine members, Franklin among them, were elected the next day. Their chief responsibility was to obtain arms and ammunition, and the methods of doing so had been worked out some months earlier. Nonexportation had been relaxed to permit produce, with a few...