A Year With George Washington
January 4th, 1776 – In a letter written at Cambridge, Massachusetts, to Lieutenant Colonel Joseph Reed, General Washington bemoaned his lack of troops for a successful siege of Boston, yet was thankful to God for his protection and hope. He has the unenviable task of having to constantly disband one army while simultaneously raising another, all within the firing distance of the enemy…
“It is easier to conceive, than to describe the Situation of My Mind for sometime past, & my feelings under our present Circumstances; search the vast volumes of history through, & I much question whether a case similar to ours is to be found. to wit, to maintain a Post against the flower of the British Troops for Six Months together without—and at the end of them to have one Army disbanded and another to raise within the same distance of a Reinforced Enemy.”
In the same missive above, Washington cryptically reveals his lack of gunpowder to Reed and is so concerned that the British might capture his correspondence (thus discovering this fact), that he does not dare write the word down. Instead, he marks a simple dash, leaving it to the reader to suppose his meaning.
Washington also relates to Reed, with a layer of sarcasm, that he is now in possession of a copy of King George III’s October 26, 1775, speech before Parliament…
“We are at length favourd with a sight of his Majesty’s most gracious Speech, breathing sentiments of tenderness & compassion for his deluded American Subjects…”
He then conveys his amusement that before they had known of the King’s speech, his staff had raised a new flag resembling the Union Jack, interpreted by the occupiers in Boston to be an act of submission…
And, farcical enough, we gave great Joy to them (the red Coats I mean) without knowing or intending it, for on that day, the day which gave being to the New Army (but before the Proclamation came to hand) we had hoisted the Union Flag in compliment to the United Colonies, but behold! it was receivd in Boston as a token of the deep Impression the Speech had made upon Us, and as a signal of Submission—so we learn by a person out of Boston last Night—by this time I presume they begin to think it strange that we have not made a formal surrender of our Lines.
Washington then conveys to Reed troop movements and transport intelligence to a high degree of accuracy. The 17th and the 55th British Regiments would soon oppose him at Princeton…
Admiral Shuldam is arrivd at Boston. the 55th and greatest part, if not all, the 17th Regiment, are also got in there—the rest of the 5 Regiments from Ireland were intended for Hallifax & Quebec; those for the first are arrived there, the others we know not where they are got to.
Washington next conveys his fear that the Continental Navy’s first fleet would be rendered ineffectual as the winter weather, which delayed the plan to destroy British shipping in the Chesapeake Bay, was now too widely known to be successful…
I fear your Fleet has been so long in Fitting, and the destination of it so well known, that the end will be defeated, if the Vessels escape.
Finally, the weary Washington expresses to Reed his wish that the Continental Congress not adjourn at such a momentous time…
I hope the Congress will not think of adjourning at so Important, & critical a Juncture as this. I wish they would keep a watchful eye to New York.
Unknown to Washington, his wish had already been granted as Congress voted on December 13th not to adjourn for the Christmas Season.
Having an empowered and growing enemy encamped in Boston within firing range, a constant dearth of manpower, and scarcity of gunpowder (were he blessed to have any troops to use it), a lack of a Navy to aid him in the fight, a Congress ill-equipped to bolster his chance of success, and myriad other problems confronting him, Washington was still able to keep the American quest for liberty alive. Is it any wonder that many believe no other man could have succeeded as he did?
