Papers of John Adams, volume 4
The Congress being Inform'd by a Letter from Genl. Washington, that two Thousand of the Continental Troops at Cambridge and Roxbury are deficient in Fire Arms, and that he has not been able to Purchase the Same from the Inhabitants or Obtain them from the Assemblies of the New England Colonies, have directed the General to make Returns to the Assemblies of the Numbers of men Inlisted from their Respective Colonies that are destitute of Arms, and to Dismiss from the service such of them as cannot be thus supplied.1
In Consequence of this, the Delegates from Massachusetts Bay think it their Duty to write to your Honour on the subject, and thro' you to Inform the Honl. Assembly, that for the better Regulating the army and Promoting the Means of Defence, the United Colonies are divided into Districts or Departments, and are to supply with Fire Arms the Continental Troops that shall be Rais'd by them Respectively and be in Want thereof.
The eastern District Consists of the NE Colonies, who during the 105whole of this Conflict have discover'd the firmest Attachment to American Liberty and the warmest Zeal and Ardor in it's Defence. Should they at any Time fail in this or Neglect to supply their Quota's of Men and Arms they must in Consequence hereof be the greatest Sufferers, and may Infer on themselves the Censure of the rest of the Continent.
We are fully Sensible that the late Difficulties of Raising Men and Procuring Arms in the Eastern District are justly Chargeable on the Mode adopted for Establishing the Army at Cambridge, but We hope for a Different Regulation in future, and shall use our utmost Endeavours that in any New Levies of Men the General Assemblies may have the Direction of the same, subject to the Controul of Congress.
We think it necessary to Inform the Genl. Assembly that in some of the Colonies all Persons whatever are Prohibited from Purchasing or selling Fire Arms to be carried from the same. The safety of the Eastern district may Possibly require the like Precaution.
We rejoice at the Success Attending the Measures of Massa: Bay for promoting the Manufacturing of Military Stores and think that a steady perseverance in the same Plan is the wisest Mode that the Colonies can Adopt for a permanent Establishment of their Rights and Liberties; We therefore hope that diligent Enquiry will be made for all the Manufactories of Fire Arms in the Colony, Who from Want of Means or other Circumstances are unemploy'd in this Business, and that Publick Works will be Erected for them with suitable Encouragement to engage them in the Service.
We sincerely Congratulate the Honourable Assembly on the happy Recovery of Boston from our Enemies and are fully Assured that this Opportunity of fortifying the Harbour will be successfully Improv'd and thereby an Assylum secured for the Ships of War and other Navigation of the Continent. We presume that Genl. Washington will see the Necessity of such a Measure and order some of the Cannon brought from Ticonderoga to be Appropriated to this Purpose, but should it otherwise happen we think there can be no Objection to the Assembly's taking such of the Cannon and Carriages at Cambridge as they have supplied and deducting from their Accounts against the Continent the charge of any Part thereof which they may have made in said Accounts; more especially as New York is better supplied with Cannon than New England, and the Reason there is to Expect another Visit from the Enemy in that Quarter, Renders every Precaution and preparation Necessary to Receive them.
106Read and sent down.
On 21 March the congress passed a resolve in response to Washington's continual complaints about the shortage of arms and the inability or refusal of the respective colonies to supply the need (
JCC
, 4:223). But this letter had a much broader purpose than merely conveying information. The delegates sought to spur the colony to new efforts in the American cause even though the British had left Boston and thus to dispel the “Languor of New England” that JA mentions in his letter to James Warren of 3 April (above). After the delegates' letter was read in the Council, it was referred to the House, which committed it to a three-man committee (Mass., House Jour.
, 1775–1776, 4th sess., p. 123). No further mention of it has been found.
As the Ships of War now building in this and other Colonies for the Continental Service, will want Commanders, who will I conclude be appointed by Congress, I beg leave to mention to you a Capt. Fellows,1 late of Boston, who was bred to the Sea and is recommended as a very good Man for a Commander, and I have been desired to mention him to you. He appears to me to be a Man of activity and Spirit, a clear head and an enterprizing genius; he is about forty years old, has used the London trade, West Indies &c., been many years Master of a Ship and successful in his Business. Perhaps you may know him much better than I do. I have nothing in view but the public Service, and never will recommend a Man from any other motive.
General Ward is now stationed in Boston, the other Generals are all going Southward. The Regiments here are employed in fortifying the Town and Harbour.
If General Ward should have leave from the Congress to resign, my office will cease of course, and if there should be any Continental Service, to which I might be thought equal, I should be willing to engage in it. Since Genl. Ward has talk'd of resigning I have had the offer of a genteel Post in a marching Brigade; but I cannot leave Genl. Ward 107without great difficulty so long as he continues in his present Command and in his ill state of health. As I engaged in the Service the first Day of the War, I wish (if Providence spares my Life and health) to see the last.
I have just been informed that the Congress have given leave to the American Ships of War to make prizes of all British Vessels.2 I take this to be a leading step to Independency, any thing short of which is trifling (in my humble opinion) and unworthy of America.
I beg leave to propose a Question for your deep consideration, viz, If the Americans unite in an independent Commonwealth, offer a free trade to all Nations, except Britain and her dependences, and make an American Law That no Person or Persons belonging to Britain or to her dependences shall be permitted to have any trade or intercourse with America, until Britain has made satisfaction for the injuries and losses sustained by this War—would she not be finally obliged to comply with this just requisition? I conceive that Britain cannot support her superiority over her natural Enemies, at Sea, without a large share of the American commerce, which she ever will have so long as a harmony subsists between the two Countries, if we are a separate State, and when Britain is convinced, (and time will do it) that her sovereignty and glory on the Seas greatly depends (if not her very being as a Kingdom) on a friendly intercourse with America, she will she must, comply with our righteous demands of separation.
As a Soldier, I ought to ask pardon for offering my rude sentiments on politicks to a Senator of America—but you will excuse me for turning my thoughts a few moments from the din of Arms to something more civil. I am Sir Your Obedient and most Humble Servant,
P.S. Five Regiments and one Company of the Train of Artillery are to remain here until further orders to fortify the Town and Harbour; all the other remaining Regiments and Companies are to march tomorrow. Genl. Ward is of the opinion that a larger force ought to have been left here, as so great a part of the Army was raised in this Colony. There are now of the Massachusetts men eleven Regiments, near a Regiment of the Train, besides Companies of Artificiers, &c. &c. on their march to assist the other Colonies, with the best Arms, Field pieces &c that have been collected from the several parts of this Colony since the commencement of the War—besides those that are gone to Canada. However I trust we shall be able, by the Smiles of Heaven upon our Arms, to defend our Colony with what is left; and if we should it will reflect honor upon the Massachusetts her 108sending so formidable an Army to support the United Colonies—and stretching out a powerful Arm to defend her distant Brethren. It will make us respectable among our Sister Colonies, and through the World; and altho' some are very uneasy on account of so large a part of our force being sent out of the Colony, yet for the sake of the many and great advantages which may result from it, I am willy3 to risque defending the Colony with the force we have now.4
There are yet remaining in Nantasket Road two of the Enemy's Ships of War, and two or three Transports; we are meditating a plan for their removal.
Procs.
, 2d ser., 20 [1906–1907]: 47; Allen, Mass. Privateers
, p. 108, 185, 326, 327). The command of the two vessels being built in Massachusetts was offered to Capts. John Manley and Isaac Cazneau (
JCC
, 4:290).
For the act see
JCC
, 4:229–232.
An obsolete form (
OED
).
In his reply of 16 April JA asked whether Ward in his wish for independence would be satisfied with the opening of the ports and the licensing of privateers. If not, would “nothing do, but a positive declaration that we never will be reconciled upon any terms?” JA expressed his confidence that time would bring the colonies to a common understanding (to Ward, 16 April, DLC: Force Transcripts, Misc. Corr.).