On this day 250 years ago, in Philadelphia, the President of the Continental Congress, John Hancock

informed Colo. Washington that the Congress had yesterday, Unanimously made choice of him to be General & Commander in Chief of the American Forces, and requested he would accept of that Appointment; whereupon Colo. Washington, standing in his place, Spake as follows.

“Mr President, Tho’ I am truly sensible of the high Honour done me in this Appointment, yet I feel great distress, from a consciousness that my abilities & Military experience may not be equal to the extensive & important Trust: However, as the Congress desire i⟨t⟩ I will enter upon the momentous duty, & exert every power I Possess In their service & for the Support of the glorious Cause: I beg they will accept my most cordial thanks for this distinguished testimony of their Approbation.

“But lest some unlucky event should happen unfavourable to my reputation, I beg it may be rememberd by every Gentn in the room, that I this day declare with the utmost sincerity, I do not think my self equal to the Command I ⟨am⟩ honoured with.

“As to pay, Sir, I beg leave to Assure the Congress that as no pecuniary consideration could have tempted me to have accepted this Arduous emploiment at the expence of my domestk ease & happi⟨ness⟩ I do not wish to make any proffit from it: I will keep an exact Account of my expences; those I doubt not they will discharge & that is all I desire.”

Source: “Address to the Continental Congress, 16 June 1775,” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/03-01-02-0001. [Original source: The Papers of George Washington, Revolutionary War Series, vol. 1, 16 June 1775 – 15 September 1775, ed. Philander D. Chase. Charlottesville: University Press of Virginia, 1985, pp. 1–3.]

Also on this day in Charlestown, Henry Laurens is elected President of the Council of Safety to govern South Carolina when the Provincial Congress is not in session.

Cashin at p. 130.

On this day 250 years ago, Gen. Artemas Ward, the commander-in-chief of the Army of Observation besieging Boston ordered three Massachusetts regiments (Col. William Prescott’s, Col. James Frye’s and Col. Ebenezer Bridge’s) and one hundred and twenty men from a Connecticut regiment under the command of Thomas Knowlton to fortify Bunker Hill on Charlestown Peninsula. That night General Israel Putnam and Colonel William Prescott commanded the men as they began constructing fortifications on Bunker Hill and Breeds Hill overlooking Boston.

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