This week in Revolutionary War History, let’s discuss what was going on 250 years ago in and around the colonial Province of Massachusetts Bay. Last week, George Washington set out to make a detailed list of all soldiers in all regiments in his army. This is so he can send it to the Continental Congress to gauge supply needs for the encroaching winter. Colonel Benedict Arnold wrote from Maine, making great distance on he and his troops to Quebec. Just north of him, Ethan Allen had been captured outside Montreal. British ships are increasingly seen off the southern New England coast, creating further worries as supplies run low. Finally, the Chief Physician & Director General of the army is found to have committee treason.
On October 1, 1775, supplies are still on the mind of Washington, the Congress, and the men in the army. This fear is exacerbated by cooling temperatures. Without much supplies, Washington’s General Orders instruct “all the carpenters in their several regiments, to erect barracks for the regiments and corps they respectively belong to.” In other words, start building winter barracks and shelters in and around Cambridge.
On October 2, The Portsmouth Committee of Safety in New Hampshire writes to Washington, claiming they have captured a British ship, the Prince George. They say the ship had departed Bristol, England and was on its way to Boston but entered their harbor by mistake. The ship was “loaded with eighteen hundred & eighty barrels, & twenty four half barrels of flour, for the supply of General Gage’s army” and it “was taken possession of by our people this day.”
On October 3, Washington officially bans “games of chance,” or gambling, from men in the army. He specifically mentions “toss-up” and “pitch & hustle” as two coin games that cannot be played. Those found guilty of these crimes were to be “confined and punished for disobedience.”
Last week, it was discovered that the army’s Chief Physician, basically the first Surgeon General, had been found colluding with the enemy. Calling a Council of War on October 4, Washington and other major officers in the army discussed the truth of these accusations, calling Benjamin Church to testify. The official record states, “The General then asked the opinion of the Council severally whether it did not appear that Dr. Church had carried on a criminal correspondence with the enemy – to which they unanimously answered in the affirmative.” The Council and General both were unsure exactly how to enforce a punishment, nor did they have the authority to do many things. So, it was referred to the Continental Congress and John Hancock for guidance.
Upon receiving a letter pleading innocence and mercy from Benjamin Church, Washington still writes a lengthy letter to Hancock, President of the Continental Congress in Philadelphia. He begins, “I have now a painful tho a necessary duty to perform,” before laying out the charges. Finishing the explanation, he says he and Council of War “has [] unanimously agreed to lay it before the Honbl. Congress for their special advice, & direction. At the same time suggesting to their consideration, whether an alteration of the 28th Article of War may not be necessary.” He is proposing an alteration to the Article of War, a set of laws by the Congress, to allow him to more effectively punish such charges as they are becoming more prevalent.
On October 6, Washington writes to the Massachusetts General Court expressing the army’s need of firewood for the upcoming winter siege of Boston. He says, “evil is increasing & more alarming as the winter approaches.” Prices are going up, and lumbermen and woodcutters are hoarding supplies, refusing to sell to the army. This will be a prevalent theme in the weeks to come.
This Week In Revolutionary History…
By Sam Bishop