To George Washington from the Massachusetts Provincial Congress, 5 July 1775
From the Massachusetts Provincial Congress
In Provincial Congress [Watertown, Mass.] July 5th 1775
This Congress had Ordered the inclosed Resolution to be prepared and sent to Generals Ward & Thomas. but By the agreable event of your Excellency’s appointment to the Chief command of the American Army and arrival at Camp, the propriety of that Step ceases. we mean not to dictate to your excellency but presume that To Secure the health of the Army and relief for the sick, will naturally engage your Attention.1 Every thing in the power of this Congress to enable you to discharge with ease the duties of your Exalted and important station will be by us attended to with the greatest alacrity—If the inclosed Resolution has that tendency we attain the end intended by transmitting to you the same. and are with respect yr Excellencys most humble Servants
Df, M-Ar: Revolution Letters.
1. On 1 July the provincial congress instructed three members, Dr. John Taylor, Joseph Fox, and Daniel Bragdon, “to bring in a resolve, directing how the sick and wounded shall be removed to the hospitals.” The committee’s report, submitted later that same day, was accepted without change, and a copy was ordered to be sent to Artemas Ward at Cambridge and John Thomas at Roxbury. On 4 July the provincial congress appointed another committee, consisting of John Pickering, Jr., George Partridge, and Ichabod Goodwin, to prepare a letter to GW “informing him of the provision this Congress has made for the sick and wounded of the army.” That committee reported the next day, when the letter printed here was approved (, 436–37, 445, 455–56). The text of the 1 July resolution which was enclosed with this letter appears with minor changes in wording as the last paragraph of General Orders, 7 July 1775.