To George Washington from Lieutenant Colonel Loammi Baldwin, 2 August 1775
From Lieutenant Colonel Loammi Baldwin
Chelsea [Mass.] Augt 2d 1775
May it Please your Excellency
Inclosd are the Observations taken by the Sentinal Posted upon Powder horn Hill and also two Letters in one cover Directed to Mr Nathl Noyes, Andover. which I thought Proper to Send for your Excellencies Perusal.1
Nothing Extraordinary has hapned Scince yesterday⟨.⟩2 Two Boats only have come over with Passengers from Boston this day. I am your Excellencys most Obediant Humbe Servnt
Loammi Baldwin Liut. Colo.
ALS, DLC:GW.
1. “A Return of the observations of the Day august the 2d” in Joseph Leach’s writing is in DLC:GW. Of the two letters to Nathaniel Noyes, one was apparently that of 1 Aug. 1775 from his father Belcher Noyes, a copy of which GW enclosed in his letter to Hancock of 4–5 Aug. 1775. See notes 25, 29, 30, and 36 to that document. Nathaniel Noyes (1743–1823), a Boston apothecary, left Boston for Andover in May 1775 and did not return until the British evacuated the city in the spring of 1776.
2. Baldwin’s report of 1 Aug. was sent to Horatio Gates: “I am just informed that there was this forenoon about 1400 regulars paraded in Boston, and afterward marched down in order to go over to Charles Town Heights as they call Bunker hill. Suppose they are all over before this time—Another person told me there was not more than 1000 men, and that they were going to reinforce Bunker hill. I send the observations as usual—It gives me unspeakable satisfaction that my conduct is approved of by the General. Nothing that his in my power to perform shall be wanting to render his Excellency’s command easy and life happy. . . . I trust you will give the enclosed to the General” (Sprague transcript, DLC:GW).