Adams Papers Digital Edition

Adams Family Correspondence, volume 1

Isaac Smith Sr. to John Adams

John Adams to Abigail Adams
John Adams to Abigail Adams, 15 May 1776 JA AA

1776-05-15

 John Adams to Abigail Adams, 15 May 1776 Adams, John Adams, Abigail
John Adams to Abigail Adams
May 15. 1776

Mr. Church setts off, tomorrow Morning. I have sent this Morning by Mr. William Winthrop, about half a dozen Letters containing Papers &c. Have nothing new to write.

We have been very busily engaged for 4 or 5 days in procuring Assistance for Boston.1 Congress has at last voted three Additional Battallions for Boston and that the five old ones be filled up, and We shall send you a Major General and a Brigadier General—Gates and Mifflin I hope but cant promise.2

410

With much Pleasure I learn that, the People of Town and Country as well as the Troops are at length aroused and active to fortify Boston Harbour. I hope they will learn to make and use Fire ships and Fire Rafts.

RC (Adams Papers).

1.

See the resolves of 14 May concerning “the eastern department” ( JCC , 4:355–356).

 2.

The choice was to rest with Washington. On 16 May Congress elected Gates a major general and Mifflin a brigadier general in the Continental service ( JCC , 4:359); and on the same day the five Massachusetts delegates signed a letter (of which the text is in JA's hand) informing Washington of this fact and saying “that no Officers in the Service would be more agreable to Us” than those two (PHi: Gratz Coll.).