On this day 250 years ago in Cambridge, Massachusetts, General Washington conducted a Council of War with Major Generals Charles Lee, Artemas Ward and Israel Putnam, Brigadier Generals John Thomas, John Sullivan, Joseph Spencer, Nathaniel Greene, Horatio Gates and William Heath, Washington’s aide Lt. Col. Joseph Reed and presumably his aide Major Thomas Mifflin and other aides. Washington shared reports on

the State of the Ammunition which appears to be far short of the Return made some Time ago, & having explained in what Manner the Mistake had happened desires the Opinion & Advice of the Generals present on this Subject. Upon the Returns now made—the whole Stock of the Army at Roxbury & Cambridge & the adjacent Posts consists of 90 Bbbls or thereabouts.

It was proposed to make an Attempt on the Magazine at Halifax [Nova Scotia] where there is Reason to suppose there is a great Quantity of Powder—And upon the Question being severally put it was agreed to by a great Majority. & that the Detachment for this Enterprize consist of 300 Men. Also to endeavour to collect a Supply from the neighbouring Provinces of New Hampshire, Rhode Island & Connecticut.

Source: “Council of War, 3 August 1775,” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/03-01-02-0143. [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. 215–216.]