that application had been made to him by the officers concerned in the Rhode Island expedition for their pay, and desired to know whether the Continent or the states who funished the troops were to pay the expense thereof. This brought in the question which I hoped would never have been started, and, after a slight agitation in which I perceived it was the sense of Congress that the Continent ought to bear the expense, it was referred to a committee to examine the journals in this regard, and to report to Congress. Congress this day received a letter from Gen. Washington, dated near the Gulph Mill, December 14th, of which the following is an abstract : "On Thursday morning we marched from our old encampment, and intended to pass the Schuylkill at Madison's Ford, where a bridge had been laid across the river. When the first and part of the second Division had passed, found a body of 4000, under the command of Lord Cornwallis, possessed of the Heights. Our troops were obliged to repass the bridge, which prevented our getting over until the succeeding night. This manœuvre, on the part of the enemy, was not in consequence of any information they had of our movements; but was designed to secure the pass while they were foraging in the neighboring country. They were met in their advances by Gen. Potter, with part of the Pennsylvania militia, who behaved with bravery and gave them every opposition, till they were obliged to retreat from their superior numbers. We collected a good deal of forage and retired to the city the night we passed the river. No discrimination marked his proceedings. All property, whether friends or foes, that came in their way was seized and carrried off.” Gen. Washington, it seems, means to go into winter quarters at Wilmington, which I am afraid will be attended with pernicious consequences. WILLIAM ELLERY. December 19th. P. S. --- Lieut. Col. Barton, who arrived this day from the army, tells me that our army will hut this winter at Valley Forge, near the Schuylkill, and about twenty miles from Philadelphia. WILLIAM ELLERY TO Gov. Cooke. YORKTOWN, PENN., Jan. 4th, 1778. SIR: I very lately received a letter from Mr. Marchant, in which he informed me that our State was at so great an expense, and so deeply in debt, that he was afraid we should be obliged to emit more money, or reïssue that which will be collected by taxation; unless a warrant could be procured from Congress upon the Loan Office for a large sum; and proposed to me to make an application therefor. If the General Assembly should think proper to give me any directions on this head, I will execute them with the greatest cheerfulness, and not without hopes of success, provided Loan Office certificates can be negotiated, and will answer in payment of our debts. The demands upon the Treasury are at present so great and pressing that all the money now in it, and which may be collected by the Loan Offices for some time to come, will not, I am afraid, satisfy them; but if Loan Office certificates will answer our purpose, it is my opinion that Congress would grant warrants for them to a considerable amount, rather than we should be obliged to reïssue or emit money. In the letter which may be written to me on this subject, they will doubtless place the necessity they are under to make this application in a strong and striking point of light. The committee which was appointed to examine the Journals of Congress, and report the resolutions which have passed respecting the defence of our State, and recommending an attack on Rhode Island, have not yet reported; but I cannot entertain any doubt but that Congress will determine the expense of the late inglorious expedition to be Continental when the committee shall have reported. Perhaps it would be best not to apply to Congress for a warrant on the Loan Office till that matter shall be decided, as a great part of the expense, for the defraying of which a warrant may be desired, may have accrued by that expedition. We have nothing new, either foreign or domestic. As soon as acts shall have passed in pursuance of the late recommendations of Congress, I should be glad to have them transmitted to me. I am, with great respect, your Excellency's Most obedient, humble servant, WILLIAM ELLERY. Gov. COOKE TO THE PRESIDENT OF Congress. PROVIDENCE, Jan. 6th, 1778. SIR: -I had the honor of receiving your Excellency's several favors of the 1st and 28th of November, and 3d of December last, enclosing resolves of Congress, in consequence whereof I convened the General Assembly of this State on the 19th of December, ultimo. The several resolves being laid before them, they appointed Commissioners to meet at New Haven on the 15th of January, inst., agreeably to the recommendation of Congress of 22d November, and have ordered the two battalions of 600 men each, and a regiment of artillery of 300 men, to be raised for the defence of the United States. They adjourned until the second Monday in February next, then to take into consideration the several matters recommended by Congress, and I have not the least doubt but the General Assembly will readily adopt the measures proposed in said resolves. The harbor of Newport is filled with the enemy's ships of war, frigates, transports, etc., to the amount of nearly two hundred sail, and we hear that a descent upon the main land is in contemplation by the enemy from Rhode Island. There still remains unsold about eight hundred of the Continental tickets which were last sent to this State. You will please advise what is to be done with them. Your most obedient, humble servant, NICHOLAS COOKE. WILLIAM ELLERY TO Gov. Cooke. YORKTOWN, Jan. 14th, 1778. SIR: Congress hath lately resolved, for reasons specified in their resolution, to suspend the embarkation of Gen. Burgoyne and the troops under his command, until the convention of Saratoga shall be ratified by the Court of London, and notified to Congress. This circumstance, the arrival in Newport harbor of a number of men of war, some of them of the line, and my fears of our not being able to sustain an attack made by the troops at Rhode Island, joined by marines and seamen from those men of war, have made me anxious for the town of Providence, particularly against which the enemy would, in my opinion, bend their whole force, if they should think there was any probability of success. Impressed with these anxious feelings, I have represented the State of Rhode Island to Congress in such a manner as to procure a resolution recommending it to the states of New Hampshire, Massachusetts Bay, Rhode Island and Connecticut, to immediately furnish and constantly keep up, in the State of Rhode Island, the troops stipulated by the Committee which met at Springfield last July. The President will immediately transmit to you authentic copies of the resolutions hinted at, and also of other resolutions entered into in consequence of Gen. Spencer's letter, whose resignation Congress has accepted. I am suspicious that the enemy will consider the suspension of the embarkation of Gen. Burgoyne and his troops an infraction of the Convention, attempt to rescue those troops, and at the same time pour their resentment on our State. If these should be their ideas, it seems to me that Providence will be their first object. Because when possessed of that town, they might communicate by spies with Burgoyne, a day might be fixed by them for the latter to burst with his troops through the guards, and at the same time the enemy might advance from Providence to meet and receive them. If the Assembly should not think this chimerical, they will without doubt be on their guard, and make the best preparation they can to repel any attempt that may be made upon our State. Apprehensions of an attempt of this kind have induced Congress to recommend it to the state of Massachusetts Bay to increase the number of the guards upon Burgoyne's troops, and to the New England states to furnish and keep up their quotas of men in the State of Rhode Island as before mentioned. The provision made for the payment of troops in that quarter, will prevent any demands upon our treasury in future. I hope that this consideration, the question about the payment of the expense of the late inglorious expedition not being yet decided, will induce our State to put off any application they may have in contemplation to make to Congress, as long as they can. We have nothing new. Both armies are very quiet. Heartily wishing that everything in our quarter may be so until we shall be ready to make a vigorous effort for the recovery of Rhode Island, I continue to be, with great respect, Your Excellency's most obedient, humble servant, WILLIAM ELLERY. P. S.--I have not had the honor of a letter from the Assembly since I have been here. Gov. COOKE TO WILLIAM ELLERY. STATE OF RHODE ISLAND, SIR: -Your favors of the 14th ult. and 4th instant, have come to hand. We find that the expense of the late intended expedition against Rhode Island hath been mentioned in Congress, and some doubts have arisen whether the same ought to be Continental. We cannot imagine that the heavy expense which hath arisen from that fruitless attempt will be charged upon the states only which furnished the men and necessary supplies; if that is to be the case, this State is ruined, as the army rendezvoused within it, and were chiefly supplied by us. The expedition had been long in contemplation before the last attempt was made to carry the same into execution. We received a letter from the honorable President of Congress, dated the 10th of April last, wherein he says "In the present situation of the British army, it is much to be wished that an attack could be made upon the enemy in your State, which, whatever success may attend it, would at least cause a diversion of their forces in New Jersey, if it could be speedily undertaken." A resolve passed the Congress on the same day, recommending the General Assembly of this State to attempt it, with the assistance of Massachusetts Bay and Connecticut. The state of Massachusetts came into the measure, and we appointed a committee to wait upon the Governor and Assembly of Connecticut, who went to Hartford and had a conference with their General Assembly, but the situation of affairs in Connecticut at that time was such that they could not afford us sufficient aid, and the project was laid aside. In the beginning of September last, Col. Trumbull called upon the Council of War here, with propositions from Gov. Trumbull for undertaking a descent upon Rhode Island. We readily acceded to the proposal, and immediately wrote to the state of Massachusetts Bay, which concurred in the measure. Upon the expedition being agreed upon, we sent to Gen. Spencer, informing him that we would furnish him with everything in our power, in order that the expedition might be terminated with success. And, that nothing might be wanted therein, we furnished the General with upwards 1000 men more than we engaged or expected, and with all the military and hospital stores, teams, and with whatever money and everything else he required. The failure cannot be attributed to us, as you may observe by the enclosed extracts from the Court of Inquiry. The causes we shall not pretend to point out. The letters which we received from Mr. Marchant, our delegate at Congress, frequently mentioned that an attempt upon Rhode Island would be attended with good consequences, and we were stimulated to engage in the undertaking by the recommendation we had received from Congress, and from motives of promoting the general good of the United States, and had the expedition been attended with success, as there was good reason then to have imagined, it would have been of signal service. We cannot, we will not entertain a doubt but what Congres will make the same a Continental expense; for, if it is not, it will at once prevent any state from exerting itself in the common cause. Our treasury is so far exhausted, that, notwithstanding this little State hath taxed itself £96,000 the year past, we have been obliged to borrow £10,000, part of the last tax assessed, which was to have been burnt, in order to furnish the officers with recruiting money. We expect to replace the sum, when we can get money from the Continental treasury. We are making out our account against the Continent, and expect to complete it and forward it soon. In the interim, I am, sir, in behalf of the Council of War, Your most obedient, humble servant, NICHOLAS COOKE. |