Baltimore, December 18th, 1776.
The movements of the enemy’s army in the Jerseys, by which the neighborhood of Philadelphia had become the seat of war, determined Congress to adjourn from thence to this town, where publick business will be entered on the 20 instant, unless a sufficient number of members should be assembled to begin sooner. At this place the publick business can be conducted with more deliberation and undisturbed attention, than could be the case in a city subject to perpetual alarm, and that had necessarily been made a place of arms.1 The propriety of this measure was strongly enforced by the continental Generals Putnam and Mifflin, who commanded in Philadelphia, and who gave it as their opinion, that, although they did not consider the town as liable to fall into the enemy’s hands but by surprise, yet that possibility rendered it improper for Congress to continue there.
So long as the American Army kept together the enemy’s progress was extremely limited, but they knew and seized the opportunity of coming forward, which was occasioned by the greater part of the army dispersing in consequence of short enlistments; and this indeed was a plan early founded on hopes of accommodation, and for the greater ease of the people.
When a new Army is assembled, the enemy must again narrow their bounds, and this demonstrates the necessity of every State exerting every means to bring the new levies into the field with all possible expedition. It is the only sure means of placing America on the ground where every good man would wish to see it.
The British army is at present stationed along the Delaware from above Trenton, on the Jersey side, to Burlington, about 20 miles above Philadelphia. General Washington, with near 6000 men, is on the river side, opposite to Trenton; and the gondolas, with other armed vessels, are stationed from Philadelphia to Trenton, to prevent the passage of the Delaware. General Lee, with about 5000 men, remains on the enemy’s rear, a little to the westward of their line of march through the Jerseys.
In this State, if the country associators of Pennsylvania, and from this neighborhood, reinforce the General with a few thousands, so as to enable him to press the enemy’s front, it may turn out a happy circumstance that they have been encouraged to leave their ships so far behind.
We have good reason to expect a general war in Europe soon, and we have such proof of the friendship of France, as to leave little doubt of the willingness of that country to assist us.
The enclosed handbill will sufficiently instruct the Americans what treatment they are to expect from the cruel disturbers of their peace, and evince the necessity of the most speedy and manly exertions to drive these foes of the human race from this continent.2
I am, &c.,
Richard Henry Lee.
Printed in William Wirt Henry, Patrick Henry, Life, Correspondence and Speeches, 3 vols. (New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1891), 3:33 - 35.
Printed also in James Curtis Ballagh, The Letters of Richard Henry Lee, Volume 1, 1762 - 1778, pp. 229 - 30.
1 For further information on the meeting place and activities of Congress while in Baltimore, see Edith R. Bevan, "The Continental Congress in Baltimore, Dec. 20, 1776 to Feb. 27, 1777," Md. Hist. Magazine 42 (March 1947): 21 - 28.
2 For the handbill from Buck’s County, N.J., describing "scenes of desolation and outrage" resulting from the march of British and Hessian troops through New Jersey, see W. W. Henry, Patrick Henry, 3:35 - 36; and Evans, Am. Bibliography, no. 15037.