Letters

Board of War to Executive Committee

Undated

War Office Baltimore 25t January 1777.

Gentlemen,

Your Letter to the President of the Congress with the Inclosures came to hand at a time when Congress was adjourn'd for two days, and the President being ill of the Gout, the Board of War have taken that part of the Letter into Consideration which relates to the removal of the Continental Stores from Philadelphia.1 Such a Step the Board conceives wou'd be attended with consequences very injurious to the American Cause, as it wou'd probably throw the people into a panick, and if it shou'd afterwards appear to have been premature might render us contemptible in the Eyes of our Enemies. By your Letter it appears that you have been inform'd, General Putnam has with him at Princetown a Body of Men not less than 6000, and that there are in Philadelphia three thousand. Upon this Representation, it is the opinion of the Board that it will not be prudent for you to remove any of the Stores, at least, until you shall hear from Congress which will meet on Monday next.2

Congress have appointed Mr. Thomas Butler Armourer, and he is gone to settle his Family affairs & will be at Philadelphia in about ten days.3 You will however get the Arms repair'd with all possible Dispatch & not detain the Men for want of them until his arrival with you.

Inclosed is a Resolve of Congress which the Board desire you to have printed & sent to all the Departments where Militia are employd. We are Gent. with the greatest respect,

Yr. most obedient, humble Servants,

Roger Sherman

Francis Lightfoot Lee

Samuel Adams

Notes

Receiver's copy, Papers of Continental Congress, item 147, U.S. National Archives and Records Administration, Washington, D.C. In the hand of Joseph Nourse and signed by Adams, Lee, and Sherman.

1 See Executive Committee to John Hancock, January 22, 1777.

2 On January 28 Congress confirmed the Board of War's "opinion" on this subject. JCC, 7:66.

3 See JCC, 7: 55. This day Joseph Nourse, acting in behalf of the Board of War, wrote a letter of introduction for Butler to the Executive Committee. PCC, item 147, fol. 45.