From George Washington to the New York Provincial Congress, 7 June 1776

To the New York Provincial Congress

New-York June 7th 1776

Gentlemen,

I suppose you have received from the Congress two Resolutions, for the Reinforcement of our Army in Canada, but, lest you should not be apprized of them, I take the Liberty to enclose you a Copy1—I most earnestly request, you will exert every Endeavour, to furnish the Quota expected from your Province, as speedily as possible—General Schuyler is extremely importunate for a Supply of Men, and it is altogether out of my Power, to afford them from the Troops here, as they by no Means exceed the Number requisite for the Defence of this Place. I have the Honour to be with much Respect Gentlemen your most obedient Servant

G. Washington

LB, in Alexander Contee Hanson’s writing, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW.

1. GW apparently enclosed copies of the Continental Congress’s resolution of 1 June requesting New York to furnish a battalion of 750 militiamen to serve in Canada and its resolution of 3 June calling on the colony for 3,000 militiamen to reinforce the Continental army at New York City. The other quotas for Canada were 3,000 militia from Massachusetts, 1,500 militia from Connecticut, and 750 militia from New Hampshire. For New York City the other quotas were 2,000 militia from Massachusetts, 5,500 from Connecticut, and 3,300 militiamen from New Jersey (JCC description begins Worthington Chauncey Ford et al., eds. Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774-1789. 34 vols. Washington, D.C., 1904–37. description ends , 4:410–13). The provincial congress also received those resolutions on this date from Hancock enclosed in his letter to the provincial congress of 4 June (N.Y. Prov. Congress Journals description begins Journals of the Provincial Congress, Provincial Convention, Committee of Safety, and Council of Safety of the State of New-York, 1775–1776–1777. 2 vols. Albany, 1842. (Microfilm Collection of Early State Records). description ends , 1:481–82). For the provincial congress’s response to the resolutions, see ibid., 486–91.

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Source Project: Washington Papers
Title: From George Washington to the New York Provincial Congress, 7 June 1776
Author: Washington, George
Recipient: New York Provincial Congress
Date: 7 June 1776

Reference

Cite as: “From George Washington to the New York Provincial Congress, 7 June 1776,” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/03-04-02-0362. [Original source: The Papers of George Washington, Revolutionary War Series, vol. 4, 1 April 1776 – 15 June 1776, ed. Philander D. Chase. Charlottesville: University Press of Virginia, 1991, p. 455.]

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