On this day 250 years ago off Gwynn’s Island, Virginia, Governor Dunmore’s fleet weighed anchor and sailed out into the Chesapeake Bay. The British fleet which had numbered more than 100 ships, was reduced to 96 ships because of damage from Patriot cannon fire and lack of experienced seamen, but the Virginians were able to salvage several of the ships that had been scuttled by the British. With the abandonmemnt of Gwynn’s Island the British lost their last foothold in Virginia and would not return for another three years.

Source: Wrike at 87-88

On this day 250 years ago in New York City, Gen. George Washington wrote to the Massachusetts General Court (i.e., the general assembly of Massachusetts) about the recruitment of Native Americans in Maine who had volunteered for the Continental Army:

the Congress have been pleased to empower me, as you will perceive by the Inclosed copy of their Resolve, which I have the honor of transmitting you, to call to our aid so many of the St John’s, Nova Scotia and Penobscott Indians, as I might Judge necessary; At the same time they have desired that I should request the assistance of your Honble body in carrying their views into execution, and to assure you that whatever expences you may necessarily Incur in doing It, and as Incident to It, they will reimburse.

Esteeming their service of much importance, particularly If the Enemy should attempt an Impression into the Interior parts of the Country, I must entreat your kind Offices upon this occasion, and your friendly exertions immediately to engage on the best terms you can, Five or Six hundred Men of these Tribes, and have them marched with all possible expedition to Join the Army here.

Having professed a strong inclination to take part with us in the present contest, It is probable they may be engaged for less pay & on better Terms than the Continental Troops, but If they can not, they must be allowed It. The Term of their Inlistment should be for Two or three years unless sooner discharged, (the right of which should be reserved us) If they will engage for so long a time—If not, for such time as they will agree to, provided It is not too short: and It must be part of the Treaty, & enjoined upon ’em, to bring every man his Firelock If It can be possibly effected. As the Services they may render will probably depend on their early & timely arrival, It is unnecessary to suggest to you the necessity of the utmost dispatch in the matter.

Maine was part of Massachusetts at that time.

Source: “George Washington to the Massachusetts General Court, 11 July 1776,” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/03-05-02-0194. [Original source: The Papers of George Washington, Revolutionary War Series, vol. 5, 16 June 1776 – 12 August 1776, ed. Philander D. Chase. Charlottesville: University Press of Virginia, 1993, pp. 270–271.]

On this day 250 years ago in Albany, New York, Capt. Jeduthan Baldwin recorded in his journal that he

attended a Treaty between the Indians & Inglish, present a Comtt. of the City & county of Albany, Genl. Thomson & some other officers of the army & about 130 Chiefs & wariers from 2 Tribes of Mohawks, Oniadas, Tuskaroras, onondagos & Kiogos. the Indians were all seated in a large hall, when we went in they arose singly & came round in there turn & Shook hands with all of us, after this serimony was over we were all seated, the chairman of our Comtt arose & welcomd them to this place, was glad to see them in health & peace, & it gave us pleasure to have an opertunity to Smoak a pipe & drink togeather, & then sot down, pipes were brought for every Man with tobaco, then one of the Chiefs arose & said that they were glad to see so many of us there bretheren well & that they had an opertunity to Smoak a pipe with us, then a kind of Quaker meeting lasted near \ an hour, except some little conversation, Drank some Toddy togeather & then the Genl. Said he supposed that they were Tired with there Long Journey, that they had better sit & refresh themselves with some liqhquer that he Should order, that he Should call them togeather tomorrow, to Smoak a pipe togeather & have some further Conversation as Brothers, & then we withdrew from such a sent (proseeding from the Indians & Tobaco smoak, the room being Crowded), as you can have but a faint Idea of. at night the Indians had a great Dance.

Baldwin was an Assistant Engineer who General Washington had ordered to Canada to prepare fortifications for the Continental Army and was on his way north to Canada at that time. He did not know that he had been promoted to Lieutenant Colonel but would learn nine days later of his promotion. Later that year Baldwin would be promoted to Colonel and assist in engineering fortifications at Ticonderoga and West Point, serving until the end of the War.

Sources: The Revolutionary Journal of Col. Jeduthan Baldwin, 1775-1778, edited by Thomas Williams Baldwin, Bangor, Maine: De Burians (1906) at pp. 38-39, accessed at https://archive.org/details/financingofaswan00unit/page/n115/mode/2uphttps://www.encyclopedia.com/history/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/baldwin-jeduthan

On this day 250 years ago in Philadelphia, the Continental Congress instructed the Committee of Indian Affairs “to prepare a plan of an expedition against Fort Detroit” and further

Resolved, That no Traders ought to go into the Indian country without license from the agent in the department; and that care be taken to prevent exorbitant prices for goods being exacted from the Indians.

Resolved, That a ton of powder be sent to Mr. G[eorge] Morgan, to be distributed to such Indians as the agent shall be convinced are in our interest.

Resolved, That measures be immediately taken to procure goods to supply the Indians at the treaties ordered to be held with them.

Resolved, That the Line between the Indians and these Colonies, agreed upon at Fort Stanwix, ought to be adhered to, and no Surveys or Encroachments made of their Lands.  And that the late Attempt to survey Montours Island on the Ohiom, is unjustifiable and ought immediately to be cancelled.

Unfortunately for the Native Americans, the Continental Congress did not enforce these Resolutions and subsequent Congresses abandoned them altogether.

Sources: https://americanfounding.org/entries/second-continental-congress-april-29-1776/; https://www.jstor.org/stable/27766115?seq=1

On this day 250 years ago fifty miles east of Cape Ann, Nova Scotia, the British ship Elizabeth was captured by the American ship Hancock and two other privateers after a brief fight.  In addition to the ship and its captain and crew, the privateers captured 13 British soldiers, 46 Loyalists, four people who were enslaved by the Loyalists, and the Elizabeth’s cargo. From the privateers’ perspective the most valuable part of the capture was a large store of rum, but the cargo also included eighteen full barrels of flour and essentially all the cloth and linen in Boston.

As part of his departure plans, General Howe had ordered that cloth and linen be seized from Boston merchants so they would not be used for uniforms for the Continental Army. In the days prior to their departure from Boston, Crean Brush and four other Loyalists on board the Elizabeth, had with the backing of British troops seized: from merchant Samuel Dashwood, nine large trunks and two large chests of silks and cloth “with great force and violence” and at “terror of myself and family” from their threat that “if any person should presume to interrupt . . . they would thrust their bayonets into such a person”; “the Value of Twenty Two hundred & Sixty Pounds Sterling . . . in Linens, Checks & Woolens”; from merchant John Rowe; and additional clothing goods from merchants Samuel Austin, Cyrus Baldwin, John Barrett, Samuel Partridge, and John Scollay. Crean Brush was already wanted in both Vermont and New York for outrages against Patriots and he would end up imprisoned for almost two years years for stealing these goods and other crimes.

Source: Eric Wiser, “Hell’s Half-Acre: The Fall of Loyalist Crean Bush”, Journal of the American Revolution (Jan. 19. 2022) accessed at

Hell’s Half-Acre: The Fall of Loyalist Crean Brush

On this day 250 years ago, in one of his final acts at his headquarters in Cambridge, Massachusetts, General Washington issued orders to most of his command to march the New York as the expected next target of the British fleet that departed Boston. He left only “four or five regiments” behind under the command of Major General Artemas Ward to guard against a return of the British to Boston or elsewhere in New England.

Sources: “George Washington to Major General Artemas Ward, 29 March 1776,” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/03-03-02-0422. [Original source: The Papers of George Washington, Revolutionary War Series, vol. 3, 1 January 1776 – 31 March 1776, ed. Philander D. Chase. Charlottesville: University Press of Virginia, 1988, p. 561.]; “Orders and Instructions for Major General Israel Putnam, 29 March 1776,” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/03-03-02-0421. [Original source: The Papers of George Washington, Revolutionary War Series, vol. 3, 1 January 1776 – 31 March 1776, ed. Philander D. Chase. Charlottesville: University Press of Virginia, 1988, pp. 560–561.]; “General Orders, 29 March 1776,” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/03-03-02-0420. [Original source: The Papers of George Washington, Revolutionary War Series, vol. 3, 1 January 1776 – 31 March 1776, ed. Philander D. Chase. Charlottesville: University Press of Virginia, 1988, pp. 559–560.]

Also on that day in Philadelphia, John Adams wrote to his wife Abigail Adams of the death of his friend and Delegate from Rhode Island, Samuel Ward:

We have this Week lost a very valuable Friend of the Colonies, in Governor Ward of Rhode Island, by the small Pox in the natural Way. He never would hearken to his Friends who have been constantly advising him to be inoculated ever since the first Congress began. But he would not be perswaded. Numbers, who have been inoculated, have gone through the Distemper, without any Danger, or even Confinement, but nothing would do.—He must take it in the natural Way and die.

I hope that Americans today will join John Adams in remembering Samuel Ward as “a stedfast Friend to his Country upon very pure Principles.” But unlike Ward, I hope that they will be persuaded by Adams’ advice to be vaccinated rather than risk contracting “the small Pox . . . in the natural Way and die.”

Source: “John Adams to Abigail Adams, 29 March 1776,” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Adams/04-01-02-0238. [Original source: The Adams Papers, Adams Family Correspondence, vol. 1, December 1761 – May 1776, ed. Lyman H. Butterfield. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1963, p. 366.]

On this day 250 years from his headquarters in Cambridge, Massachusetts, General George Washington reported to John Hancock, the President of the Continental Congress that:

When I had the honor to address you the 19th Instt upon the evacuation of the Town of Boston by the Ministerial army, I fully expected as their retreat and embarkation were hurried and precipitate, that before now they wou’d have departed the harbour, and been far in their passage to the place of destination: But to my surprize and disappointment the Fleet is still in Nantasket road. The purpose inducing their stay, is altogether unknown, nor can I suggest any satisfactory reason for It; On Wednesday night last before the whole of the Fleet fell down to Nantasket, they demolished the Castle & Houses belonging to It by burning them down, and the several Fortifications—they left a great number of the Cannon, but have rendered all of them, except a very few, entirely useless by breaking off the Trunnions, and those they spiked up, but may be made serviceable again; some are allready done

Sources: “George Washington to John Hancock, 24 March 1776,” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/03-03-02-0390-0001. [Original source: The Papers of George Washington, Revolutionary War Series, vol. 3, 1 January 1776 – 31 March 1776, ed. Philander D. Chase. Charlottesville: University Press of Virginia, 1988, pp. 522–525.];

On this day 250 years ago in Paris, France, Jacques Barbeu-Dubourg wrote to Benjamin Franklin to recommend a volunteer from France, Gilles-Jean Barazer de Kermorvan, to the Continental Army:

I very seriously think that the Chevalier de Kermorvan is one of the best Men your Country can acquire, he has already embraced its sentiments, and neither demands nor has the ambition of obtaining any Rank, untill his Zeal and talents have been experienced. He is even willing to devote himself to all dangers as a simple Volunteer with as good and Chearfull a Will as if he had the cheif Command, besides he appears to me well instructed in the Military Art 

Kermorvan would arrive in America in June and be commissioned as a Lieutenant Colonel in the Continental Army’s Corps of Engineers. He managed the construction of fortifications on the Delaware River and designed fortifications at other locations on the Atlantic Coast before joining Daniel Morgan’s Riflemen and serving heroically at Saratoga. Lt. Col. Kermorvan would return to France in 1778.

Sources: “Jacques Barbeu-Dubourg to Benjamin Franklin, [24 March 1776]: extract,” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Franklin/01-22-02-0232. [Original source: The Papers of Benjamin Franklin, vol. 22, March 23, 1775, through October 27, 1776, ed. William B. Willcox. New Haven and London:: Yale University Press, 1982, pp. 390–391.]; https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gilles_Jean_Marie_Barazer_de_Kermorvan

On this day 250 years ago in New York City, an effigy of Royal Governor Tryon was paraded through the streets and then hung from a gallows. A paper was attached to the effigy that read:

William Tryon, late Governor of this province, but now a professed rebel and traitor to its dearest rights and privileges, as well as to his native country, who, in order to extinguish every spark of American liberty, and recommend himself to the favor of a brutal tyrant, and an insidious court, did illegally, unjustly, and cruelly, shed the blood of an innocent and worthy citizen, when he had the command in North Carolina. For which, and his numberless traitorous practices against the liberties of this country, he is to suffer the just demerits of his atrocious villany, as a warning to all others,

 “Calm thinking villains, whom no faith can fix,
Of crooked counsels, and dark politics.”

Secondly. –Behold the bloody tool of a sanguinary despot, who is using his utmost efforts to enslave you!–”With how secure a brow, and specious form he gilds the secret traitor!“

Thirdly. –Tories take care!!!

Governor Tryon was not in the city but had fled to the protection of a British warship in New York Harbor.

Source: The Constitutional Gazette, New York, New York, March 23, 1776 quoted in https://historycarper.com/1776/03/23/tryons-effigy/

On this date 250 years ago in Philadelphia, the Continental Congress issued a commission to Captain William Shippen to command a ship “as a privateer, in order to guard and cruize on the coast of Virginia” and also agreed to sell gunpowder to Shippen for the ship. This was the Congress’s first authorization of a privateering — for profit naval actions where the privateers were allowed to retain the proceeds of the cargo of British ships that they capture.

Source: Journals of the Continental Congress at 225 accessed at https://archive.org/details/us_congress_continental/lljc004/page/224/mode/2up

On this day 250 years ago three miles northeast of Fort Johnson, off the coast of Charlestown, South Carolina, the sloop Comet of the South Carolina Navy commanded by Capt. Joseph Turpin captured the larger brig HMS General Clinton and its crew that included the pilots that the British needed to navigate in Charlestown Harbor. This was the first time the South Carolina Navy captured a British warship.

Sources: https://revolutionarywar.us/year-1776/;

On this day 250 years ago in Boston, four Selectmen (similar to city council members today) of Boston, John Scollay, Thomas Marshall, Timothy Newell, and Samuel Austin, signed a letter that was carried under a flag of truce to the Continental Army lines at Roxbury and then delivered to General Washington:

As his Excellency General Howe is determined to leave the Town with the Troops Under his Command. a Number of the Respectable Inhabitants being very Anxious for its preservation & Safety, have Applyed to General Robertson for this purpose, who at their request has communicated the same to his Excellency Genl Howe, who has assured him that he has no intention of destroying the Town Unless the Troops under his Command are molested during their Embarkation, or at their departure by the Armed force without, which declaration he gave Genl Robertson leave to communicate to the Inhabitants; If such an Opposition should take place we have the greatest reason to expect the Town will be exposed to Intire destruction. as our fears are quieted with regard to Genl Howe’s Intentions. we beg we may have some Assurances that so dreadfull a Calamity may not be brought on by any measures without—as a Testimony of the truth of the Above we have signed our Names to this paper Carried out by Mesrs Thomas & Jonathan Amory & Peter Johonnot who have at the earnest Intreaties of the Inhabitants through the Lt Governor Sollicited a flag of Truce for this purpose.

Although they had remained in Boston under British occupation during the siege, the four Selectmen were all Patriots, and would be reelected as Selectmen after the British evacuated Boston. Thomas Marshall would become an officer in the Continental Army and serve until the end of the War. However, the messengers who delivered the letter — Thomas and Jonathan Amory and Peter Johonnot — were Loyalists, and Washington and his officers were initially skeptical of the claim that General Howe had agreed not to destroy the city.

Source: “Boston Selectmen to George Washington, 8 March 1776,” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/03-03-02-0314. [Original source: The Papers of George Washington, Revolutionary War Series, vol. 3, 1 January 1776 – 31 March 1776, ed. Philander D. Chase. Charlottesville: University Press of Virginia, 1988, pp. 434–435.]

On this day 250 years ago in Boston, the British Army awoke to discover that the Continental Army had erected two forts on Dorchester Heights within cannon shot of the British troops in Boston and the British Navy in Boston Harbor. The British commander General William Howe exclaimed

My God, these fellows have done more work in one night than my army could do in three months

General Washington had selected March 5 for the occupation of Dorchester Heights because it was the anniversary of the Boston Massacre and encouraged his troops to

Remember, it is the fifth of March, a day ever to be forgotten; avenge the death of your brethren

Because the American fortifications were at an elevated position on Dorchester Heights it was almost impossible for cannons on board the Royal Navy ships in the harbor to reach the forts, and most of the British artillery in Boston also could not reach the Continentals. For that reason, Howe immediately decided he had no choice but to capture the forts on Dorchester Heights and proceeded to put his men on board ships to be ferried to the base of Dorchester Heights. Fortunately for his men and the Continental Army, the weather intervened to prevent a repeat of the terrible bloodshed that had occurred the previous year when the British charged the American fortifications on Breed’s Hill on the opposite side of Boston.

The diary of James Thacher, a Surgeon’s Mate in the Continental Army, provides the best account of what happened on this day

At about four o’clock our regiment followed to the heights of Dorchester, as a relief party. On passing Dorchester Neck I observed a vast number of large bundles of screwed hay, arranged in a line next the enemy, to protect our troops from a raking fire, to which we should have been greatly exposed, while passing and repassing.

The carts were still in motion with materials ; some of them have made three or four trips. On the heights we found two forts in considerable forwardness, and sufficient for a defence against small arms and grape shot. The amount of labor performed during the night, considering the earth is frozen eighteen inches deep, is almost incredible. The enemy having discovered our works in the morning, commenced a tremendous cannonade from the forts in Boston, and from their shipping in the harbor. Cannon shot are continually rolling and rebounding over the hill ; and it is astonishing to observe how little our soldiers are terrified by them. During the forenoon we were in momentary expectation of witnessing an awful scene ; nothing less than the carnage of Breed’s hill battle was expected. The royal troops are perceived to be in motion, as if embarking to pass the harbor, and land on Dorchester shore, to attack our works. The hills and elevations in this vicinity are covered with spectators to witness deeds of horror in the expected conflict. His Excellency General Washington is present, animating and encouraging the soldiers, and they in return manifest their joy, and express a warm desire for the approach of the enemy ; each man knows his place, and is resolute to execute his duty.

Our breast works are strengthened, and among the means of defence are a great number of barrels, filled with stones and sand, arranged in front of our works; which are to be put in motion and made to roll down the hill, to break the ranks and legs of the assailants as they advance. These are the preparations for blood and slaughter! Gracious God! if it be determined in thy Providence that thousands of our fellow creatures shall this day be slain, let thy wrath be appeased, and in mercy grant, that victory be on the side of our suffering, bleeding, country.

The next day Thacher continued his journal to explain why the British called off their assault.

The anxious day has closed, and the enemy has failed to molest us. From appearances, however, there are strong reasons to suppose, that they have only postponed their meditated work till another day. It is presumed that the martial fire, which has been enkindled in the breasts of our soldiery, will not be extinguished during the night, and that they will not rest quietly under their disappointment. Early in the morning of the 6th, our regiment was relieved from its tour of duty, and I bade adieu to Dorchester heights, without being called to dress a single wound. Not more than two or three men were killed or wounded during the twenty four hours. Some of the British troops were seen to embark, and pass down towards the castle last evening, to be in readiness, it was supposed, in conjunction with others, to attack our works this morning; but a most violent storm came on in the night, and still continuing, obliges General Howe to abandon his enterprise, and thus has a kind Providence seen fit to frustrate a design, which must have been attended with immense slaughter and blood shed. General Howe must now be sensible of his exposed situation, and be convinced of the immediate necessity of evacuating the town of Boston, if he would prevent the sacrifice of his fleet and army.

Corporal Moses Sleeper was not part of the force that occupied Dorchester Heights but recorded in his diary what happened from his vantage point

Tuesday March th 5 last night about 8 O Clock the Canonading began & heald till Sunrise our people Intrenc’d upon Dorchester hills Last night one man killd with a Shell & two Wounded, belonging to a Party Comd by Leut burbank On Leach mores point this morning Our Regt. Was drawd out to go Into Boston Marchd with all Our Accutrements at 8 O Clock to the Grand Parade from thence was to embark In to the Boats Waited 4 hours for the motion of the Enemy & finding they were not Comeing out we Were Dismisd about 4 OClock

Wednesday March th 6 Last nigh a verry heavy Gale of Wind the wind at So West Cleard of this Morning

History correctly records the Continental Army’s occupation of Dorchester Heights as the pivotal maneuver that forced the British to evacuate Boston and that it was bloodless. But the diaries of the participants show that it was not altogether bloodless. I had hoped to identify the “one man killd with a Shell & two Wounded, belonging to a Party Comd by Leut burbank” mentioned by Corporal Sleeper or the “two or three men . . . killed or wounded” mentioned by Surgeon’s Mate Thacher, but to no avail. Whoever these men were, we should all honor their memory and sacrifice today.

Sources: https://www.nps.gov/articles/000/revolutionary-war-diary-of-moses-sleeper.htm; https://historicaldigression.com/2026/03/05/witness-to-the-occupation-of-dorchester-heights-march-5-1776/; https://revolutionarywar.us/campaigns/1774-1776-boston-campaign/; https://www.nps.gov/articles/000/fortifying-dorchester-heights.htm#_ftn3; https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/March-4/american-forces-occupy-dorchester-heights; https://www.nps.gov/articles/000/fortifying-dorchester-heights.htm#_ftn3; https://www.nps.gov/articles/000/gen-thomas-and-son-at-dohe.htm; https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=26921; Fiore, Jordan D. & Susan E. Schruth, “The Noble Train of Artillery”, 200 Years Ago and Today, Commonwealth of Massachusetts Bicentennial Commission (1976) at p. 21

This weekend and next week in 2026, the National Park Service has sponsored multiple events to commemorate the occupation of Dorchester Heights and the subsequent Evacuation of Boston by the British https://home.nps.gov/articles/000/evacuation-day-250.htm

On this day 250 years ago at his headquarters in Cambridge, Massachusetts, General George Washington wrote to Continental Congress President John Hancock and to Washington’s aide Lt. Col. Joseph Reed, who were both in Philadelphia, regarding the calamitous state of the Continental Army around Boston. The letter to Hancock included:

I am exceedingly sorry, that I am under the necessity of applying to you & calling the attention of Congress to the State of our Arms, which is truly alarming. Upon the dissolution of the Old Army, I was apprehensive that the New, would be deficient in this Instance, and that the want might be as Inconsiderable as possible, I gave it in orders that the Arms of such men as did not reinlist, should be (or such of them as were good) retained at the prices which should be affixed by persons appointed to inspect & Value them; . . . I hoped by these precautions, to have procured a considerable number: But Sir I find with much concern, that from the badness of the Arms, & the disobedience of too many in bearing them of, without a previous inspection, that very few were collected—Neither are we to expect, that many will be brought in by the New recruits—the Officers who are out Enlisting, having reported that few men who have Arms will engage in the Service, and that they are under the disagreable alternative of taking men without Arms, or of getting none. Unhappy situation and much to be deplored! especially when we have every reason to convince us, that we have to contend with a formidable Army, well provided of every necessary, and that there will be a most vigorous exertion of Ministerial vengeance against us, as soon as they think themselves in a condition for It. I hope It is in the power of Congress to afford us releif; If it is not, what must, what can be done?

Our Treasury is almost exhausted, and the demands against it, very considerable; A constant supply of money to answer every claim & exigency, would much promote the good of the service; In the common affairs of life, It is usefull; In War, it is absolutely necessary & Essential—I would beg leave too, to remind you of Tents, and of their importance; hoping that If an opportunity has offered, you have procured them.

I fear that our Army will not be raised to the New-establishment in any reasonable time, If ever; the Enlisting goes on so very slow, that It almost seems at an end.

To Reed, Washington wrote:

we are now without any Money in our treasury—Powder in our Magazines—Arms in Our Stores—We are without a Brigadier (the want of which has been twenty times urged)—Engineers—Expresses (though a Committee has been appointed these two Months to establish them)—and by & by, when we shall be called upon to take the Field, shall not have a Tent to lay in—a propos, what is doing with mine?3

These are Evils, but small in comparison of those, which disturb my present repose. Our Inlistments are at a stand—the fears I ever entertaind are realiz’d—that is, the discontented Officers (for I do not know how else to acct for it) have thrown such difficulties, or Stumbling blocks in the way of Recruiting that I no longer entertain a hope of compleating the Army by Voluntary Inlistments, & I see no move, or likelihood of one, to do it by other mean’s

Sources: “George Washington to Lieutenant Colonel Joseph Reed, 14 January 1776,” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/03-03-02-0062. [Original source: The Papers of George Washington, Revolutionary War Series, vol. 3, 1 January 1776 – 31 March 1776, ed. Philander D. Chase. Charlottesville: University Press of Virginia, 1988, pp. 87–92.]; “George Washington to John Hancock, 14 January 1776,” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/03-03-02-0061. [Original source: The Papers of George Washington, Revolutionary War Series, vol. 3, 1 January 1776 – 31 March 1776, ed. Philander D. Chase. Charlottesville: University Press of Virginia, 1988, pp. 84–87.]; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0NSgW4YTobE

General Washington did not know it yet but he was to soon learn even more calamitous news from Canada. On this day 250 years ago from “Camp Before Quebec,” Brig. Gen. Benedict Arnold (although when he wrote the letter Arnold would not have known of his promotion 4 days earlier to brigadier general and would have assumed he was still a colonel) wrote:

I make no Doubt you will, soon hear, of Our Misfortune, on the 31. Ulto, and be very Anxious to know Our Present, Situation. Our loss, and repulse struck an Amaseing Panick, into both Officers, & Men, and had the Enemy improved their Advantage, Our affairs, here must have ben Intirely ruined It was not in my power to Prevail on the Officers to Attempt, saveing, Our Mortars, which had ben Placed in St Roque’s, of Course they fell into the hands of the Enemy —Upwards of One hundred Officers, and Soldiers, Instantly set of for Montreal and it was, with the greatest difuculty I could persaude the rest to make a stand. . . . Our Present force is only Seven hundred

The previous day Maj. Gen. Philip Schuyler wrote Washington from Albany a

Melancholly Account [that] the Gallant Montgomery is no more. The Brave Arnold is wounded & we have met with a severe Check, in an unsuccessful Attempt on Quebec

and forwarded to Washington detailed reports of the losses at Quebec.

Source: “Brigadier General Benedict Arnold to George Washington, 14 January 1776,” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/03-03-02-0060. [Original source: The Papers of George Washington, Revolutionary War Series, vol. 3, 1 January 1776 – 31 March 1776, ed. Philander D. Chase. Charlottesville: University Press of Virginia, 1988, pp. 81–84.]