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Copies of the Letter of Advice, Respecting the Battle of Lexington, and of the Different Communications, from Committee to Committee [From the Original Papers] Wallingford, Monday morning, April 24, 1775. Dear Sir:Col. Wadsworth was over in this place most of yesterday, and has ordered twenty men out of each company in his regimentsome of which have already set off, and others go this morning. He brings accounts, which come to him authenticated, from Thursday in the afternoon. The King's troops being reinforced a second time, and joined, as I suppose, from what I can learn, by the party who were intercepted by Colonel Gardner, were then encamped on Winter Hill, and were surrounded by twenty thousand of our men, who were entrenching. Colonel Gardner's ambush proved fatal to Lord Percy and another general officer, who were killed on the spot at the first fire. To counterbalance this good news, the story is that our first man in command (who he was I know not) is also killed. It seems, they have lost many men on both sides. Colonel Wadsworth had the accounts in a letter from Hartford. The country beyond here are all gone off and we expect it will be impossible to procure horses for our waggons; as they have or will, in every place employ themselves all their horses. In this place, they send a horse for every sixth man, and are pressing them for that purpose. I know of no way, but you must immediately send a couple of stout able horses, who may overtake us at Hartford possibly; where, we must return M. Noy's and Meloy's, if he holds out so far. Remember, the horses must be had at any rate. I am in the greatest haste, your entire friend and humble servant, JAMES LOCKWOOD N. B. Col. Gardner took nine prisoners, and twelve clubbed their firelocks, and came over to our party. Colonel Gardner's party, consisted of seven hundred, and the regulars eighteen hundred, instead of twelve hundred, as we heard before. They have sent a vessel up Mystick River as far as Temple's Farm, which is about half a mile from Winter Hill. These accounts being true all the King's forces, except four or five hundred, must be encamped on Winter Hill. At the instance of the gentlemen of Fairfield, just departed from hence, this is copied verbatim from the original, to be forwarded to that town. ISAAC BEARS New Haven, April 24, half-past 9 o'clock, forenoon PIERPONT EDWARDS Fairfield, April 24, 3 o'clock, afternoon. A true copy, as received per Express. THAD. BUR, AND'W. ROWLAND, ELIJAH ABEL Norwalk, April 24, 7 o'clock, afternoon. A true copy, as received per Express. JOHN HAIT, jr., DAVID WEBB, SAM'L HUTTON, DAN'L GRAY, JONA. WARNING Greenwich, April 25, 3 o'clock, morning. The above is forwarded to the Committee of Correspondence, at New York. AMOS MEAD A true copy, received in New York, 2 o'clock, P. M., Tuesday, April 25, 1775. No signature appears here for New York, and it is accounted for in this manner. Mr. Lockwood's letter, and all the signatures after it down to Baltimore are written in one hand writing on a sheet of paper; hence it is probable, the papers with the original subscribers, were withholden at Baltimore, and were copied there on that sheet of paper; in doing which, they omitted inserting the subscribers at New York. From Baltimore, the subscribers' names to the papers are in their own hand writing. A true copy, received at Eliz-town, 7 o'clock in the evening; Tuesday, April 25, 1775. JONA. HAMPTON, Chairman of the Committee. GEO. ROSS, JOHN BLANCHARD A true copy, received at Woodbridge, 10 of the clock, in the evening, Tuesday, April 25, 1775. NATHANIEL HEARD, SAMUEL PARKER, JONATHAN CLAWSON Three of a Committee The above received at New Brunswick, the 25th April, 1775, 12 o'clock at night. WM. OAKE, JAS. NEILSON, AZ. DUNHAM Committee A true copy. Received at Princetown, April 26, 1775, half-past 3 o'clock, in the morning. THOMAS WIGGIN, JONA. BALDWIN Members of Committee The above received at Trenton, on Wednesday morning, about half after 6 o'clock, and forwarded at 7 o'clock. SAM'L. TUCKER, ISAAC SMITH, AB'M HUNT Three of the Committee Philadelphia, 12 o'clock, Wednesday, received, and forwarded at the same time by LAMB. CADWALADER, WM. BRAADFORD, THO. PRYOR, ISAAC MALCHER Committee for the City of Philadelphia Chester, 4 o'clock, Wednesday, P. M., received and forwarded by FRANCIS JOHNSTON, ISAAC EYRE, SAM'L. FAIRLAMB New Castile, 9 o'clock, Wednesday evening, received, and forwarded. Z. V. LEUVENIGH, STEPHEN SPENCER Wednesday night, Christeen Bridge, 12 o'clock, forwarded to Col. Thomas Couch, Esq., who received it this moment, and he to forward it to Tobias Rudulph, Esq., Head of Elk, in Maryland. S. PATTERSON Night and day to be forwarded. 27th April, 1775, half-past 4 o'clock, A. M., received, and forwarded to Patrick Hamilton, Esq., in Charlestown by TOBIAS RUDULPH, and JOSEPH GILPIN Baltimore, April 27th, 1775, received 10 o'clock, P. M. JOHN BOYD, Chief of Committee A true copy, received in Annapolis, Friday, April 28th, 1775, half after 9 o'clock, A. M., and forwarded at 10, per Express. MAT. TILGHMAN, CH. CARROLL, of Carrollton, CHAR. CARROLL, J. HALL, THS. JOHNSON, jr., SAM'L CHASE Committee of Correspondence for Maryland Alexandria, Friday, 8 o'clock, P. M. We received the enclosed from Annapolis, at 6 o'clock. Please forward it to Fredericksburgh. I am for self and the Committee of Correspondence, in this place, Gentlemen, your hum. servt. WM. RAMSAY To the Committee of Correspondence in Dumfries. Gentlemen:The enclosed came to hand this morning, about 10 o'clock. In one hour, I hired the bearer to convey it to your place, to the different Committees. For self, and the Committee of Correspondence in this place, I am, gentlemen, your most obt. hum. servt. WILLIAM CARR Dumfries, April 30, Sunday. To the Committee of Correspondence at Fredericksburgh. By Express. Fredericksburg, Sunday evening, half-past 4. Gentlemen:The enclosed arrived here, about an hour ago, and is forwarded to your Committee by your very hum. servts. JS. MERCER, GEO. THORNTON, MANN PAGE, jr., HUGH MERCER Committee King William, May 1st, 1775. Gentlemen:The enclosed arrived here to-day, and is forwarded to your Committee by your most obt. servt. CARTER BRAXTON Surry County, May 2d, 1775. Gentlemen:The enclosed arrived here this evening, and is forwarded by your most obt. hum. servt. ALLEN COCKE Williamsburg, 2d May, 1775. Gentlemen:The enclosed is this moment come to hand, and I forward it to you by Express, with the request, of the Committee of Williamsburg that you will be pleased to forward the papers to the Southward, and disperse the material passages through all your parts. I am very respectfully, gentlemen, your mo. ob. set. RO. C. NICHOLAS, Chairman Smithfield, May 3d, 1775, 5 o'clock in the morning. The enclosed arrived here this morning, and is forwarded to your Committee of Correspondence by your humble serts. ARTH'R. SMITH, NATHANIEL BURNE To the Committee of the County of Nancimond, or any of them. An Express from Boston. Gentlemen:The enclosed is this moment come to hand, and we forward it to you by Express, with the request of the Committee of Nancimond, and you will be please to forward them to the Southward. I am, gent., your mo. ob. sert. WILLIS RIDDICK, WILLS COWPER Nancimond, May 3d, 1775. To the Committee of Chowan, North Carolina. Gentlemen:The enclosed papers we have just received, and forward them by Express to you. To be sent to the southward. We are, gentlemen, your obt. ser. THE COMMITTEE OF THE COUNTY OF CHOWAN May 3d, 1775. To the Committee of Correspondence for the town of Edenton. By Express. Edenton, May 4th, 9 o'clock, 1775. Gentlemen:The enclosed is this moment come to hand, and we forward to you by Express, with the request, that you will be pleased to forward the papers to the Committee of Craven County immediately, and disperse the material passages, through all your parts. We are, gentlemen, your obt. humb. servts., THO. JONES, CHAS. BONDFIELD, JNO. GREEN, WILLIAM BENNETT, JNO. HAMILTON, JOS. BLOUNT, Chairman, ROBT. HARDY, ROB. SMITH, S. DICKINSON To the Committee of Beaufort County Beaufort County, May 6th, 1775. Gentlemen:The enclosed is this moment come to hand, and we forward to you by Express, with the request, that you will forward the different papers to the southward immediately. We are, gentlemen, your obt. hum. serts. ROGER OSMOND, WM. BROWN To the Committee of Craven County. Bath, 6th May, 1775. Dear Sir:In haste have sent to request you will peruse the enclosed papers; and that you will do, by opening the packet herewith sent, the moment it comes to your house. Get three or four of your Committee to write a line, and send the whole enclosed to the next southward Committee, with the utmost dispatch. We are, dear sir, with regard, your most humb. servts., WM. BROWN, ROGER OSMOND To Abner Nash, Esq., or either of the Committee for the County of Cravenper Express. New Bern, 6th of May, 1775. Gentlemen:The enclosed arrived here about an hour past, and is forwarded immediately to you; and desire you will keep a copy of James Lockwood's letter. And send them on as soon as possible to the Wilmington Committee. We are, gentlemen, your obt. servts., SAM. SMITH, B. COGDELL, JOHN GREEN, WILLIAM TISDALE, THOMAS M'LIN, A. NASH, JOSEPH LEECH, JOHN FONVIELLE, WM. STANLY, JAMES COOR N. B.We have enclosed our last paper, which gives an account of the first beginning of the battle; which please to send to Wilmington, &c., and send all the bundle of papers forward as soon as possible you can. To the Committee of Onslow County. Onslow, Sunday morning, 10 o'clock, May 7th. Gentlemen:About an hour past, I received the enclosed papers. Disperse them to your adjoining county. Keep a copy of James Lockwood's letter. And pray write us, what to do. We are for Onslow. WM. CRAY, SETH WARD, JOS. FRENCH, EDW'D. WARD, ROBERT SNEAD Inclosed is the last Gazette for Brunswick. To the Wilmington and Brunswick Committees. For Cornelius Harnett, Esq., Col. John Ash, or any one of he Committee for Wilmington. Express. New River, May 7, 1775. Received, and forwarded by WILL'M. CRAY Dear Sir:I take the liberty to forward by Express, the enclosed papers, which were received at 3 o'clock this afternoon. If you should be at a loss for a man and horse, the bearer will proceed as far as the Boundary-house. You'll please direct to Mr. Marion, or any other gentleman to forward the packet immediately to the southward, with the greatest possible dispatch. I am with esteem, Dear Sir, your most ob. sert. CORNS. HARNETT Wilmington, May 8th, 1775, 4 o'clock in the afternoon. P. S. For Godsake send the man on without the least day; and write to Mr. Marion to forward it by night, and by day. To Richard Quince, Esq., Brunswick Brunswick, May 8th, 1775, 9 o'clock in the evening. Mr. Isaac Marion, Sir:I take the liberty to forward by Express, the enclosed papers, which I have just received from Wilmington. And I must entreat you to forward them to your Committee at George-Town, to be conveyed to Charles-Town, from yours with all speed. Inclosed is the newspaper giving an account of the beginning of the battle; and a letter of what happened after; pray don't neglect a moment in forwarding. I am your humb. sert. RICH'D QUINCE To Isaac Marion, Esq., at the Boundary Dear Sir:Though I know you stand in no need of being prompted when your country requires your service; yet, I cannot avoid writing to you, to beg you to forward the papers containing such important news. And pray order the Express you send, to ride night and day. I am, dear sir, in the greatest haste, your most ob. servt. R. HOWE 8th May, 1775. Isaac Marion, Esq., Boundary Boundary, May 9th, 1775, Little River. Gentlemen of the Committee:I have just now received Express from the Committees of the northward Provinces, desiring I would forward the enclosed packet to the southern Committees. As yours is the nearest, I request for the good of your country, and the welfare of our lives and liberties, and fortunes, you'll not lose a moment's time; but dispatch the same to the Committee of Georgetown; to be forwarded to Charles Town. In the mean time, am gent'n., Your oblg. hum. serv., &c., ISAAC MARION To Danness Hankins, Josias Allson and Samuel Dwight, Esquires, and Messrs. Francis and John Allston, gentlemen of the Committee for Little River Gentlemen:The enclosed papers were just now delivered to me, by an Express from Little River. I make not the least doubt, but you will forward them with the utmost dispatch, to the General Committees at Charles Town. I am, gent'n. your very hum. sert., BENJA. YOUNG Wednesday, 1 o'clock, 10th May, 1775. To Paul Trapier, Esq., Chairman of the Committee at Georgetown Gentlemen:We have received your letter, and shall be careful to execute with all the diligence in our power, whatever you have recommended. We send you by Express, a letter and newspaper, with momentous intelligence this instant arrived. We are your humble servants, PAUL TRAPIER, S. WRAGG, P. TRAPIER, jr., ANTHONY BONNEAU Half past 6, Wednesday evening. The Committee of Intelligence in Charles-Town, to the care of the Honorable William Henry Drayton, Esq. Per Express. (From Documentary History of the American Revolution, by Gibbes, Volume 1, pp. 82-91) Doc ID: Gibbes, v. 1, p. 082a Date: 4/24/1775 |
Last modified: 7/8/03/CLN.
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