1From John Adams to Daniel Hitchcock, 3 August 1776 (Adams Papers)
Your obliging Favour of the 22, Ultimo came duely to Hand, and I thank you for it. A free Correspondence between the Members of Congress and the Officers of the Army, will probably be attended with Advantages to the public by improving both the Councils and Arms of America. The Burthen of contracting for Cloaths, Arms, and Accoutrements, for the Regiments ought not to lie upon the Collonells....
2To Thomas Jefferson from Edmund Pendleton, 3 August 1776 (Jefferson Papers)
I have [been] beating my brain about your old Opinion that our Land tenure should be merely Allodial, and a New Opinion frequently mentioned during the last convention, that the unappropriated Lands should all be sold for the benefit of the commonwealth; and it was thrown out, that Congress had some thoughts of taking up this business as a Continental Fund. As to this Last I hope No such Idea...
3To John Jay from Gouverneur Morris, 3 August 1776 (Jay Papers)
If you play Truant thus, Le tout est perdue . How do you expect that your unruly Horses can be kept in Order by a Whip and a Spur. They want the Reins. On Tuesday next it is to be determined as to the Seat of our General. Unless &c a . &c a . I would not give a Fig for your Resolution. This is not the worst of it make haste, Yours ALS , NNC ( EJ : 6959 ). Address mutilated. Endorsed....
4Elbridge Gerry to Samuel and John Adams, 3 August 1776 (Adams Papers)
Since I wrote You from New York, I have spent most of my Time in endeavouring to get Information of the true State of Things in the eastern Colonies. With Respect to the Levies for New York and the northern Department they are nearly compleated. I have wrote to the president giving an Account of them and proposing an order of Congress for reinforcing the Army at New York with one of the...
5General Orders, 3 August 1776 (Washington Papers)
That the Troops may have an opportunity of attending public worship, as well as take some rest after the great fatigue they have gone through; The General in future excuses them from fatigue duty on Sundays (except at the Ship Yards, or special occasions) until further orders. The General is sorry to be informed that the foolish, and wicked practice, of profane cursing and swearing (a Vice...
6To George Washington from Brigadier General Thomas Mifflin, 3 August 1776 (Washington Papers)
By an Express from Col. Tupper I am informd that two of his Captains have been up to reconnoitre the Ships. The Phœnix is fast aground —The Rose ¾ of a Mile on this Side of her—The Gallies are under Way & will probably begin their Attack at 11 OClock as the Ships are not more than 12 Miles from them. I am Sir your Servt ALS , MH : Dearborn Collection. The Phoenix “grounded on a flat off of...
7To George Washington from Lieutenant Colonel Benjamin Tupper, 3 August 1776 (Washington Papers)
I am now to inform your Excellency that my Flag being hoisted on board of the Washington I came up with the Ships & attacked at ¼ past One this Afternoon—The Pheonix fired the first Gun which was return’d by the Lady Washington whose Shot went thro the Pheonix—Upon my Orders the Lady Washington put about to form a Line the tide was such that the Washington & Spit fire was exposed to the Broad...
8John Adams to Abigail Adams, 3 August 1776 (Adams Papers)
The Post was later than usual to day, so that I had not yours of July 24 till this Evening. You have made me very happy, by the particular and favourable Account you give me of all the Family. But I dont understand how there are so many who have no Eruptions, and no Symptoms. The Inflammation in the Arm might do, but without these, there is no small Pox. I will lay a Wager, that your whole...
9[Saturday August 3. 1776.] (Adams Papers)
Saturday August 3. 1776. A Letter from Neil McLean, referred to the Board of War.
10From John Adams to Samuel Holden Parsons, 3 August 1776 (Adams Papers)
Your Favour of 24. July is before me. Your Observations concerning the Encouragement We ought to give, to soldiers to inlist I think are just, but a Wisdom Superiour to mine determines otherwise, and therefore I must take it for granted that it is Superiour Wisdom to live from Hand to Mouth, to depend upon fresh Reinforcements of raw Militia every three Months, instead of a regular well...