I have omitted some things in 1775 which must be inserted. On the 18th of September 1775. It was resolved in Congress, that a Secret Committee be appointed to contract for the Importation and delivery of any quantity of Gunpowder, not exceeding five hundred Tons. That in case such a quantity of Gunpowder cannot be procured to contract for the Importation of so much Saltpetre, with a...
21775 Septr. 18. Monday. (Adams Papers)
This Morning John McPherson Esq. came to my Lodging, and requested to speak with me in Private. He is the Owner of a very handsome Country Seat, about five Miles out of this City: is the Father of Mr. McPherson, an Aid de Camp to General Schuyler. He has been a Captain of a Privateer, and made a Fortune in that Way the last War. Is reputed to be well skilled in naval Affairs.—He proposes great...
3Editorial 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...
4General Orders, 18 September 1775 (Washington Papers)
The enquiry into the Conduct of Dr Church Director Genl of the hospital and the respective regimental Surgeons, to be held to morrow in General Heaths brigade. Varick transcript , DLC:GW . For the particulars of this inquiry, see General Orders, 7 Sept. 1775 .
5To George Washington from Lieutenant Colonel Loammi Baldwin, 18 September 1775 (Washington Papers)
I am constrained by the petitions of the officers & the Complaints of the Soldiers in our Regiment once more to Trouble your Excellency with the dificuties we Labour under for want of Fire Arms. By the returns this day received, there are wanting 43 Stands of Arms, with a small quantity of Powder, Ball, & Flints, to compleat the proportion allowed for each man—I should not now have had...
6From 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...
7To George Washington from Major Christopher French, 18 September 1775 (Washington Papers)
When I first return’d to this Place in compliance with your Directions I found the Gentlemen of the Committee (Messrs Seymoure & Pain) who came to us on our arrival seem’d satisfied with our having already given our Parole to the united Provinces, and I consequently supposed all matters were adjusted between them and us, but upon their meeting on Tuesday last they put in a new Clause to which...
8To George Washington from Samuel Langdon, 18 September 1775 (Washington Papers)
[Cambridge] 18 September [1775]. Certifies that Sgt. Samuel Woodward “is a Student of Harvard College in his last year & begs my Intercession that he may be discharged from his military services.” AD , DLC:GW . Samuel Woodward, a sergeant in Capt. Nathan Fuller’s company in the Massachusetts regiment commanded by Lt. Col. William Bond, was discharged on 20 Sept. and graduated from Harvard...
9To George Washington from Samuel Langdon, 18 September 1775 (Washington Papers)
[Cambridge] 18 September 1775. Asks GW’s “pardon for troubling him so often with Billets, but hoping for a favorable reception of another Certificate,” informs GW that Ens. John Child “is a Student of Harvard College now in his last Year, & is earnestly desirous of perfecting his public Education.” AD , DLC:GW . John Child (d. 1825), an ensign in Capt. Abner Craft’s company in the...
10To George Washington from Lieutenant Nathaniel Maynard, 18 September 1775 (Washington Papers)
Whereas I the Subscriber Sudingley Enter’d the Service in my Zeal for the Publick Safetey in Capacetey of a first Lieut. in Capt. Russell’s Companey of Coll Jona. Brewer’s Regiment, to the great detriment of my Private Interest, haveing left my Fammeley with onley An Age’d Father to take Care of my Farm render’d unfit to take Care of the same through the infermities of Age, and Laborer’s being...