The New Hampshire Gazette And Historical Chronicle

CAMBRIDGE, July 6, 1775.

Last Sabbath came to Town from Philadelphia, his Excellency George Washington, Esq; appointed by the Continental Congress, General and Commander in Chief of the American Forces, and was received with every Testimony of Respect due to a Gentleman of his real Worth and elevated Dignity. His Excellency was accompanied by the Hon. Charles Lee, Esq; and a Number of other Gentlemen.

The Continental Congress have also appointed the Hon. Artemas Ward, Charles Lee, Philip Schuyler, and Israel Putnam, Esquires, Major Generals, and Horatio Gates, Esq; Adjutant General, of the American Army.

The following Addresses have been presented to his Excellency General Washington and the Hon. Major General Lee.

To his Excellency GEORGE WASHINGTON, Esq;
General and Commander in Chief of the Continental Army.

May it please your Excellency,

The Congress of the Massachusetts Colony, impressed with every Sentiment of Gratitude and Respect; beg Leave to congratulate you on your safe Arrival: and to wish you all imaginable Happiness and Success, in the Execution of the important Duties of your elevated Station: While we applaud that Attention to the public Good, manifested in your Appointment, we equally admire that disinterested Virtue; and distinguished Patriotism, which alone could call you from those Enjoyments of domestic Life, which a sublime and manly Taste; joined with a most affluent Fortune, can afford, to hazard your Life, and to endure the Fatigues of a War, in the Defence of the Rights of Mankind, and the Good of your Country:

The laudable Zeal for the common Cause of America, and Compassion for the Distresses of this Colony, exhibited by the great Dispatch made in your Journey hither fully justify the universal Satisfaction we have with Pleasure, observed on this Occasion; and are, promising Presages that the great Expectations formed from your personal Character and military Abilities, are well founded.

We wish you may have found such Regularity and Discipline already established in the Army, as may be agreeable to your Expectation. The Hurry with which it was necessarily collected, and the many Disadvantages arising from a Suspension of Government, under which we have raised, and endeavoured to regulate the Forces of this Colony; have rendered it a Work of Time. And though in great Measure effected, the Completion of so difficult, and at the same Time so necessary a Task is reserved to your Excellency; and we doubt not will be properly considered and attended to.

We would not presume to prescribe to your Excellency. but supposing you would choose to be informed of the general Character of the Soldiers who compose this Army, beg Leave to represent, that the greatest Part of them have not before seen Service. And although naturally brave, and of good Understanding, yet for Want of Experience in military Life, have but little Knowledge of divers Things most essential to the Preservation of Health, and even of Life. The Youth in the Army are not possessed of the absolute Necessity of Cleanliness in their Dress, and Lodging, continual Exercise, & strict Temperance, to preserve them from Diseases frequently prevailing in Camps; especially among those who, from their Childhood, have been used to a Laborious Life.

We beg leave to assure you, that this Congress will, at all Times be ready to attend to such Requisitions as you may have Occasion to make to us; & to contribute all the Aid in our Power, to the Cause of America, and your Happiness and Ease, in the Discharge of the Duties of your exalted Office.

We most fervently implore Almighty GOD, that the Blessings of divine Providence may rest on you: That your Head may be covered in the Day of Battle: That every necessary Assistance may be afforded; and that you may be long continued in Life and Health, a Blessing to Mankind.

His Excellency's Answer.

GENTLEMEN,

In tendering you my grateful Acknowledgments for your kind Congratulations on my Appointment, and Arrival, demand my warmest acknowledgments, and will be retained in grateful Remembrance.

In exchanging the Enjoyments of domestic Life for the Duties of my present honorable but arduous Station, I only emulate the Virtue and public Spirit of the whole Province of Massachusetts-Bay, which with a Firmness, and Patriotism without Example in modern History, has sacrificed all the Comforts of social and political Life, in Support of the Rights of Mankind, and the Welfare of our common Country. My highest Ambition is to be the happy Instrument of vindicating those Rights, and to see this devoted Province again restored to Peace, Liberty and Safety.

The short Space of Time which has elapsed since my Arrival does not permit me to decide upon the State of the Army. The Course of Human Affairs forbids an Expectation, that Troops formed under such Circumstances, should at once possess the Order, Regularity and Discipline of veterans. Whatever Deficiencies there may be, will I doubt not, soon be made up by the Activity and Zeal of the Officers, and the Docility and Obedience of the Men. These Qualities united with their native Bravery and Spirit will afford a happy Presage of Success, and put a final Period to those Distresses which now overwhelm this once happy Country.

I most sincerely thank you, Gentlemen, for your Declarations of Readiness at all Times to assist me in the Discharge of the Duties of my Station: they are so complicated and extended, that I shall need the Assistance of every good Man, and Lover of his Country; I therefore repose the utmost Confidence in your Aids. In Return for your affectionate Wishes to myself, permit me to say, that I earnestly implore that divine Being in whose Hands are all Human Events, to make you and your Constituents, as distinguished, in private and public Happiness, as you have been by ministerial Oppression, by private and public Distress.

GEO. WASHINGTON.

To the Honorable CHARLES LEE, Esq; Major General of the Continental Army.

SIR,

The Congress of the Massachusetts Colony, possessed of the fullest Evidence of your Attachment to the Rights of Mankind, and regard to the Distresses which America in general, and this Colony in particular, are involved in, by the impolitic, wicked and tyrannic System, adopted by Administration, and pursued with relentless and savage Fury, do, with Pleasure embrace this Opportunity to express the great Satisfaction and Gratitude they feel on your Appointment as a Major General in the American Army.

We sincerely congratulate you on your safe Arrival here, and wish you all possible Happiness and Success in the Execution of so important a Trust. We admire and respect the Character of a Man who, disregarding the Allurements of Profit and Distinction his Merit might procure, engages in the Cause of Mankind, in Defence of the Injured, and Relief of the Oppressed. From your Character, from your great Abilities and Military Experience, united with those of the Commander in Chief, under the Smiles of Providence, we flatter ourselves with the Prospect of Discipline and Order, Success and Victory.

Be assured, Sir, that it will give us great Pleasure to be able to contribute to your Happiness. May the Favours and Blessings of Heaven attend you. May divine Providence guard and protect you, conduct you in the Paths of Honour and Virtue, grant you the Reward of the brave and Virtuous, the Applauses of Mankind, and the Approbation of your own Conscience and eternal Happiness hereafter.

His Honour's Answer.

To the Gentlemen of the Provincial Congress of Massachusetts.

Gentlemen,

NOTHING can be so flattering to me as the good Opinion, and Approbation of the Delegates of a free and uncorrupt People. I was educated in the highest Reverence for the Rights of Mankind, and have acquired a long Acquaintance, a most particular Regard, for the People of America. You may depend therefore, Gentlemen, on my Zeal and Integrity.----I can promise you nothing from my Abilities. God Almighty grant us Success equal to the Righteousness of the Cause. I thank you, Gentlemen, for an Address which does me so much Honour, and shall labour to deserve it.

His Excellency GENERAL WASHINGTON has appointed Thomas Mifflin, Esq; his Aid de Camp, and Joseph Reed, Esq; his Secretary. Samuel Osgood, Esq; is Aid de Camp to the Hon. Major General Ward; and Samuel Griffith, Esq; is Aid de Camp to the Hon. Major General LEE.

None of the Men who have been raised by this and several other Colonies, are, in future, to be distinguished as the Troops of any particular Colony, but as the Forces of THE UNITED COLONIES OF NORTH AMERICA, into whose joint Service they have been taken by the Continental Congress, and are to be paid and supported accordingly.