Adams Papers Digital Edition

Adams Family Correspondence, volume 2

John Adams to Isaac Smith Sr.

John Adams to Abigail Adams
John Adams to Abigail Adams, 20 July 1776 JA AA John Adams to Abigail Adams, 20 July 1776 Adams, John Adams, Abigail
John Adams to Abigail Adams
Philadelphia July 20. 1776

I cannot omit the Opportunity of writing you, a Line, by this Post. This Letter will I suppose, find you, in some degree or other, under the Influence of the Small Pox. The Air is of very great Importance. I dont know your Phisician, but I hope he wont deprive you of Air, more than is necessary.

We had Yesterday, an express from General Lee, in Charlestown South Carolina, with an Account of a brilliant little Action between the Armament under Clinton, and Cornwallis, and a Battery on Sullivans Island. Which terminated very fortunately for America. I will endeavour to inclose, with this a printed Account of it.1 It has 53given Us good Spirits here and will have an happy Effect, upon our Armies at New York and Ticonderoga. Surely our northern Soldiers will not suffer themselves to be outdone by their Brethren so nearly under the Sun. I dont yet hear of any Massachusetts Men, at New York. Our People must not flinch, at this critical Moment, when their Country is in more danger, than it ever will be again perhaps. What will they say, if the Howes should prevail against our Forces, at so important a Post as New York for Want of a few Thousand Men from the Massachusetts?

I will likewise send you, by this Post, Lord Howes Letter and Proclamation, which has let the Cat out of the Bag.2—These Tricks deceive no longer. Gentlemen here, who either were or pretended to be deceived heretofore, now see or pretend to see, through such Artifices. I apprehend, his Lordship is afraid of being attacked upon Staten Island, and is throwing out his Barrells to amuse Leviathan, untill his Reinforcement shall arrive.

RC and LbC (Adams Papers). Enclosures, if actually sent, not found, but see notes below. Though not recorded in the JCC “Bibliographical Notes,” there is a broadside printing, without imprint, of the Lee and Howe documents mentioned in JA's letter, in MHi: Broadsides, under date of 19 July 1776.

1.

Gen. Charles Lee's letter from Charleston, 2 July, was read in Congress on 19 July and an extract ordered printed ( JCC , 5:593).

 2.

Lord Howe's letter was a circular to the colonial governors, dated from his ship off Massachusetts on 20 June and enclosing a proclamation of the same date which announced his powers, jointly with his brother, to grant pardons to Americans who would return to their allegiance. These were read in Congress on 18 July and the next day were ordered printed ( JCC , 5:574–575, 592–593). Texts will be found in Force, Archives , 4th ser., 6:1001–1002.