Papers of John Adams, volume 5
1777-04-23
The General Assembly of this State frequently receives Petitions from Soldiers who have met with losses while in the Army, some who were inlisted Soldiers and some who serv'd as Militia Men—praying that they may be made good to them. Others who were taken sick on the Road and have been at an Expence pray that their Accounts may be allowed. I mention this to you that if you think proper you may propose to Congress to give some general Order in this respect. I think if this State pays such Accounts they should be repaid by Congress, unless each State should pay their own Soldiers—and if so, it should be known.
I beg leave to inform you that We have given liberty to Privateers
We have orderd 2000 Militia to be detached to Rh. Island.1
We have expell'd Coll Bowers from the House.2
We have impowerd Coll Craft to reinlist his Regiment for 3 Years.
The House has sent to the Board for concurrence a Resolve recommending the Town to instruct their next Years Delegates or Rep. to prepare a new Constitution of Government.
The Board have propos'd to us by Message that this matter might not be taken up now.3 The House have answered that this is the best time—and desir'd the Board to concur their Resolve.
We have granted Mons. Faneuil4 who lately applied to Congress for lieve to raise a French Regiment £700 to bear his and his Officers Expences that they may return home.
The House is determind to carry into Execution the Bill against Monopoly and Oppression5—and are about passing an Additional Act.
The Board have concurrd our Resolve relative to Government with an amendment—viz That in forming the Constitution the Board shall have a Right of negativing.
The House have not acted upon the amendment yet.6
I mean to oblige your Honour by communicating these matters. 158If I miss my Aim Your Candour I depend upon to excuse me. I am Your Honors most obedient & very hum serv in hast
On 12 April the General Court called upon the militia regiments of seven eastern counties plus Worcester co. to furnish the men to march at once to Rhode Island for reinforcing Gen. Spencer. They were to serve two months (Mass., Province Laws
, 19:877–878).
For his refusal to accept Continental currency in payment for debts owed to him and for saying he had always opposed independence, Jerathmeel Bowers of Swansea was deemed on 7 April unworthy to hold any commissions under the Massachusetts government (same, 19:865–866).
The Council message stressed that the times were too dangerous and unsettled for constitution-making: Rhode Island was asking for military help; the British could descend on Boston; and secret enemies would seize upon any opportunity for trouble-making. The system of government approved by the congress and in use for nearly two years might better be continued until conditions were right. Pennsylvania, where some officeholders had resigned in disgust, was a good example of the consequences of hasty action (Records of the States, Microfilm, Mass. A.1a, Reel No. 13, Unit 2, p. 248–253).
Faneuil was one of a growing swarm of French officers who sought employment in the Continental Army. Washington, who had received from Faneuil more than one scheme for recruiting men, warned the congress of the uselessness of many of these foreign officers, who, he believed, were merely adventurers (
Writings, ed. Fitzpatrick, 7:169–171). On 13 March the congress responded by resolving to discourage them from coming to America. Their lack of knowledge of English and their desire for field-grade commissions put major obstacles in their path. Yet on 24 March the congress did give Faneuil a brevet commission of colonel, but without pay or rations (
JCC
, 7:174, 196).
That is, the act regulating prices.
The resolution that passed on 5 May included the Council with the House in one body for the purpose of making a constitution (Mass., Province Laws
, 19:932–933).
1777-04-23
I have been very Unwell and Absent for A fortnight. I returned here Yesterday. While I was at home I had the great pleasure of receiving several of your favours, perticularly those of March 31. April 1st. and 3d. with the Inclosures, and since my return yours by Capt. Arnold of the 6th. Instant. I think myself greatly Obliged to you for the Entertainment as well as Intelligence and Information derived from them. As these have all come safe I regret the loss of that that you say contained the bold truths.1
I am pleased to see our Affairs in so good A way. I think A war in Europe must soon take place. It is Impossible that under all Circumstances, it should even by the Meaness of Britain be prevented, and if our Army is Obtained with the powder and Arms 159sent us by the kindness of Providence I beleive we shall be ready and Able to fight Britain with or without A war in Europe, especially if their funds begin to fall. Almost every thing is done to fill up the Army, and since the Arrival of the Arms here they are all on the March. On Sunday last arrived here A french Ship loaded with Goods, on Account of private Adventurers.2 Her Cargo is very valuable and Consists of some Articles much wanted. Arms she has a few, and has 5000 Blankets. She is Armed with Guns, has A Commission to make reprisals if disturbed, and the super Cargo is ready to take Continental Bills. I begin to be very easy about their Credit, and to Conceive they will be as valuable as silver.
We had last Sunday A prize brought into Plymouth. She was bound to Antigua with A load of Beef and butter, and last Evening I heard of the Arrival of Another at Cape Ann, with 2000 bbs Beef and pork.3 I suppose she was bound to York. The Amazeing damage we should have done them as well as the Advantages derived to ourselves make me Execrate the policy of stoping our privateers. I always Opposed it. We have now got A resolve passed to let them loose on Conditions they will Cruize with Manly under his Command 25 days,4 perhaps we shall make A fleet of 10 or 12 sail of them soon and some of them 20 Gun Ships. We hope by this to sweep one of their fleets, and to do great Execution. We have for Encouragement Engaged An Indemnification for losses which prizes are not sufficient for. I can easily Conceive we might have had A fine fleet of our own by this time. Our frigates in Concert might have taken several of theirs, that have for the most part Cruized single. Your Ships are however in harbour here, but is said have Consented to sail together. Last Evening the Board of War received An Express from Cape Ann, that the Milford5 and A tender were yesterday nigh there and took A Schooner. They are Endeavouring to get out Manly and McNeal to take her.
We are sending A reinforcement of 2000 Men to Rhode Island. A draft from the Militia for 2 Months. What the state of the Enemy is there I am not Able to say. I believe their land force is Inconsiderable. I was told Yesterday not more than 1400.6 I wish your Ships at Providence were out. There is no difficulty in Effecting it, and I wish the troops on the Island whether 1400 or 4000 were driven of
I have this Moment an Account of an Arrival at Portsmouth of great Consequence.8 The perticulars of the Cargo as they come to us are as below. There came in her A Colonel and A Number of Officers of the Train to the Number of 24.
58 Brass Cannon and Carriages
Tents for 10,000 Men
Cloathing for 12,000 Men
Stands of Arms 5,700
Powder about 10 Tons
Great Numbers Blankets
Lead and Ball. uncertain how much
3 Months passage Arrived last Sunday.
See JA to Warren, 6 April, note 2 (above).
The ship was from Bordeaux (Independent Chronicle, 24 April).
Probably the prize captured by Capt. Robert Parker, commander of the New Hampshire privateer Portsmouth (same;
Naval Docs. Amer. Rev.
, 7:1226).
The General Court resolution was passed on 22 April (Mass., Province Laws
, 19:902–903).
British naval vessel under the command of Capt. Andrew Barkley (
Naval Docs. Amer. Rev.
, 7:1264).
The original British force at Newport was considerably reduced by Gen. Howe's drawing off men in making ready for his forthcoming campaign. In February, Howe wrote Lord George Germain that he had removed from Rhode Island one British brigade, as well as companies of grenadiers and light infantry. Percy was left with one troop of the 17th light dragoons (thirty-seven men plus officers) and one British and two Hessian brigades. Two regiments to a brigade would mean a total per brigade of a little over one thousand officers and men if the regiments were at full strength (Howe to Germain, 12 Feb., Gentleman's Magazine, 47:141; Edward E. Curtis, The Organization of the British Army in the American Revolution, New Haven, 1926, repr. Wakefield, Engl., 1972, p. 4–6).
Capt. John Ayres had commanded a vessel in Washington's fleet and ships taking part in prisoner exchanges (
Naval Docs. Amer. Rev.
, 7:passim).
The ship Amphitrite from France (Independent Chronicle, 24 April;
JCC
, 7:335). This was one of the vessels under charter to Roderique Hortalez and Co. (
Naval Docs. Amer. Rev.
, 8:397, note). For the colonel mentioned, see Warren to JA, 27 April, note 4 (below).