Philadelphia Jan 22d 1776
My dear Col.
Having very little to communicate except our unfortunate attempt upon Quebec; a particular Account of which I have given to our mutual friend Col. Tayloe; I shou’d not now Trouble you, but to convince you that our correspondence shall not be broken off on my part. I hope Ld. Dunmore has left you spirits enough, Still to enjoy a little Xmas mirth, and to give him a warm reCeptiOn, if he shoud venture up Rapa. A few days agoe, a plan was formed in our Army at Cambridge, to burn about a dozen houses, the remains of Charles Town, beyond the Enemies fortifications on Bunker’s Hill which they used as barracks for part of their troops. It was effected in the night, & 7 prisoners taken. The Enemy was thrown into the greatest confusion & a universal firing, from all quarters, on every side & in the Air, continued a considerable time, to the great entertainment of our men, who came off unhurt.1 We have not yet got powder to effect any thing considerable in that quarter; And I fear the proper season will be over, before we shall. The French & Spaniards do not seem inclined to furnish us with military stores. Their politics plainly tend to drive us to extremity, that we may be forced to break off all connection with G. B. and join with them, which they know nothing but hard necessity can ever effect. Indeed the Ministry appear determined to leave us no alternative, but absolute submission, or foreign assistance. Which will be your choice my friend? Will it not be wise, in time to leave a people who are so corrupt, that their ruin must be inevitable?
I wish all happiness to Sabine Hall and [remain?] at all times my dear Colonel’s afft. Respectfull Servant,
Francis Lightfoot Lee
Receiver’s copy, Elsie O. and Philip D. Sang Deposit, Rutgers, Rutgers University Library.
1 Washington had included an account of this incident in his January 11 letter to President Hancock, which was read in Congress on January 22. See JCC, 4:77; and Washington, Writings (Fitzpatrick), 4:229 - 30.