Papers of John Adams, volume 3

103 To James Warren, 27 July 1775 JA Warren, James

1775-07-27

To James Warren, 27 July 1775 Adams, John Warren, James

To James Warren

Philadelphia July 27. 1775 Dear sir

The Congress have this Day, made an establishment of an Hospital and appointed Dr. Church Director and surgeon1 and have done themselves the Honour of unanimously appointing the Honourable James Warren Esqr of Plymouth in the Massachusetts Bay, Paymaster General of the Army. The salary of this officer is one hundred Dollars Per Month. It is an office of high Honour and great Trust.

There is another Quantity of Powder arrived in New Jersey about 5000 Weight from So. Carolina—and it is said that another Boat has arrived in this River with about Six or Seven Tons. It will be ordered to the Generals Washington and Schuyler.

We have voted fifty Thousand Dollars, for Powder to be got immediately—if possible.2

I begun this Letter only to mention to you a Number of young Gentlemen bound to the Camp. Mr. George Lux, son of a particular Friend of my Friend Chase. Mr. Hopkins and Mr. Smith all of Baltimore in Maryland. Mr. Cary is with them son of Mr. Cary of Charlestown—neither Father nor son want Letters.

Your fast day Letter to me, is worth its Weight in Gold. I had by that Packett Letters from you, Dr. Cooper Coll. Quincy, and Mrs. Adams, which were each of them worth all that I have received from others since I have been here.3

RC (MHi:Warren-Adams Coll.); docketed: “Mr J. A. Letter July 1775 X.”

Benjamin Church held this position until 20 Sept., when he resigned because of charges made by various regimental surgeons that he was seeking to abolish their hospitals in favor of a general hospital. Hearings ultimately exonerated him. He was arrested as a British spy on 29 Sept. ( JCC , 2:211; Sibley-Shipton, Harvard Graduates , 13:380–398; Allen French, General Gage's Informers, Ann Arbor, 1932, p. 171–197).

On 27 July the congress voted two sums of $25,000 to merchants in Philadelphia and in New York for the purpose of importing gunpowder ( JCC , 2:210–211).

Warren's fast-day letter was that of 20 July (above). The letter from Samuel Cooper has not been found. Quincy's letter was that of 11 July (above), and those from AA, 12 and 16 July ( Adams Family Correspondence , 1:243–251).

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