Papers of John Adams, volume 4

Enclosure: Benjamin Greenleaf to James Warren, 30 April 1776 Greenleaf, Benjamin Warren, James Enclosure: Benjamin Greenleaf to James Warren, 30 April 1776 Greenleaf, Benjamin Warren, James
Enclosure: Benjamin Greenleaf to James Warren
Sr1 Watertown April 30. 1776

The Letter from which the Extract that accompanies this was taken, you may consider, as wrote by Capt Willson who lately arrivd from Bordeaux, in a Vessell belonging to Newbury-port. As he is a Gentleman of Reputation, it may be worth communicating to you.

A Vessell I am told is also arrivd at Newbury port from Bilboa which 155brings Intelligence Nearly like this communicated by Cap Wilson—with this Addition that 10,000 are destind to Quebec 10 000 to New York and a like Number to assist Lord Dunmore—about 7000 are left according to this plan to be sent to Boston or whereever else they may be wanted. Your most Obedt Serv.

B Greenleaf

Extract of a Letter from a Master of a Vessell who lately arrived upon this Continent from France, which he left about the middle of March— “Upon my Arrival here, I was extremely glad to hear of the good Success of this Country against her unnatural Enemies, who are collecting all the Force possible to make Head against us. The Account at Bordeaux is that 20 thousand Hessians and Hanoverians2 are at Embden ready to embark on board English Ships to join 12 thousand English and sail immediately for America. This however you may depend upon, that about 40 Sail of Transports sail'd from Plymouth the 10th. of March for America, with about five thousand Soldiers on board—(they had been some months before as far to the Westward as Cape Finisterre, and all put back by Stress of Weather, and dispers'd in different ports—one run on Shore in Ireland and the Capt and almost all on board perished—) I suppose by this Time they are very near this Coast.”

The content of all or some notes that appeared on this page and the next in the printed volume has been moved to the end of the preceding document.

RC (Adams Papers); addressed: “To The Honble. John Adams Esq Member of Congress Philadelphia”; docketed: “Warren. Apr 30. 1776 ans. 12 May”; “J. Warren April 30th 1776.”

156 1.

Greenleaf's letter was addressed to James Warren “present” and apparently forwarded to JA along with the extract from Captain Willson's letter. It is docketed in JA's hand, “Mr. Jos. Greenleaf Ap 30. 1776.”

2.

These figures are somewhat exaggerated. At this time the British hired 17,775 troops from Brunswick, Hesse-Kassel, and Waldeck. During the whole course of the Revolution a total of 29,875 German troops was employed (Christopher Ward, The War of the Revolution, 2 vols., N.Y., 1952, p. 208–209).