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COUNCIL OF WAR TO MESSRS. MARCHANT AND COLLINS.

STATE OF RHODE ISLAND, &C., IN COUNCIL OF WAR,

PROVIDENCE, June 10th, 1778.

GENTLEMEN : In pursuance of a resolution of Congress, and by virtue of a letter from Mr. Mease, the Clothier General, the Assembly in December last appointed John Reynolds, Esq., Agent Clothier for this State. As an immediate provision was necessary, Mr. Reynolds was supplied with a large sum of money out of the general treasury. The Governor gave the earliest information to Mr. Mease of the appointment. Mr. Reynolds did the same, and hath frequently written to him since for money and orders. But having no return of either, we have been obliged, as the necessities of the service required, to advance further sums from time to time to that department, until our account amounts to £46,946.

The officers of the two Continental battalions raised by this State, in consequence of a resolution of Congress of the 22d of November last, made applications to Mr. Reynolds for clothing. He, having no directions from his superiors, laid the affair before the Council of War, and requested their advice. Upon a conference, the necessities of the officers, and the generous intentions of Congress in the aforementioned resolve, being considered, Mr. Reynolds concluded to supply them, and to receive from them, until further orders, four shillings lawful money for what cost one shilling sterling, which was thought to be in just proportion to the wages of the officers. The Assembly having, agreeable to the recommendations of the Convention of Springfield, and the subsequent approbation of Congress, ordered a brigade to be raised for twelve months from the 16th of March last, and assigned the officers the same pay as those on the Continental service receive, which everybody knows is quite inadequate, did on the 31st of last month pass an order, that the Agent Clothier should supply them with clothing, and at such prices as are specified in the said resolve of Congress, upon their producing a certificate from Gen. Sullivan of the proportion to be furnished them respectively, agreeable to the said resolve.

Upon the application of Gen. Sullivan, the Assembly passed an order that all Continental officers doing duty in the State, although not belonging to the two Continental battalions, should be supplied in like manner.

Since the several transactions, Mr. Mease's letter, of which we enclose you a copy, came to hand. You will perceive by it that we are in danger of suffering very considerably and are thrown into the greatest difficulties. We request you to lay this matter before Congress, and to procure an approbation of our conduct as soon as possible.

The success with which some of our small cruisers have met with in the Sound, hath encouraged so many people to fit out armed boats, that the Secretary's office hath been suddenly and unexpectedly exhausted of commissions. We must desire you to procure and send forward a supply immediately.

We are, with great respect, gentlemen,

Your most obedient servant,

WILLIAM CODDINGTON, CLERK.

Signed by order and in behalf of the Council.

The letter of Mr. Mease, referred to as enclosed in the foregoing, is not on file.

Gov. GREENE TO MESSRS. MARCHANT AND COLLINS.

PROVIDENCE, June 13th, 1778. GENTLEMEN : - By advice of the Council of War, I have this day addressed a letter to Congress upon the state of this Government.

The convention at Springfield, and the subsequent approbation of Congress, have been so little attended to, that we have not a single man in the State from Massachusetts or Connecticut; and but about 120 or 130 from New Hampshire. It is true that the first mentioned state hath about 140 men at this post; but they are stationed in Swansey, together with a detachment of our artillery. So that instead of Massachusetts affording us assistance, we actually furnish men to defend the shore of that great state.

You will perceive by the copy of Gov. Trumbull's letter, which we inclose to the President of Congress, that they have determined to send us no fur ther assistance than is promised in that letter. We have this day appointed his Honor the Deputy Governor and the Hon. William Bradford, Esq., to proceed to Massachusetts and New Hampshire to solicit their respective quotas, and also to supply the deficiency of Connecticut; and request you to exert yourself in procuring the warmest recommendation of Congress of the measure, and forward it as soon as possible.

We have certain intelligence of the arrival at Newport of Gen. Brown, with the first battalion of his brigade, on Wednesday last.

Gen. Sullivan's express, by whom you will receive this, waits, which prevents me from adding anything more than that

I am, with great esteem and regard, gentlemen,

Your most obedient and most humble servant,
WILLIAM GREENE.

Gov. GREENE TO CONGRess.

PROVIDENCE, June 13th, 1778. From the extreme weak and defenceless condition of this State, the enemy have been enabled to burn the town of Bristol and part of Warren, captured a number of the inhabitants, and still are meditating further ravages. We have repeatedly wrote, in the most pressing terms, to the states of Massachusetts Bay, New Hampshire, and Connecticut, to send us that aid and assistance which was agreed to be complied with. From the two former we have received no satisfactory answers, and from the latter the enclosed letter from Gov. Trumbull, which sufficiently evinces that no succors can be expected there.

As neither of our sister states has furnished its quota of troops for our defence, it has distressed us beyond measure, and occasioned many of our sensible men to leave the State.

The General Assembly, at their second session in May, ordered that 839 men should be proportioned to the several towns, to be raised by the 10th of this current June, in order to complete our full quota of 1500 men. We have had returns from most of the towns, and find that the greatest part of them have raised their complement.

We must request the serious attention of Congress to the real unhappy, distressed and defenceless condition of this State, and that some mode of defence may be adopted that can be relied upon, as we cannot longer depend upon receiving any aid agreeable to the convention of Springfield. The enemy have received a reïnforcement at Newport. Gen. Brown arrived there on Tuesday last, with one battalion of his Brigade.

The following are extracts from the enclosed letter from Connecticut:

HARTFORD, June 5th, 1778.

SIR: Your letter of the 26th ult. has been duly received, as also Major General Sullivan's, and laid before the General Assembly in their present session, and, on their serious and mature consideration, I am to inform your Excellency, that the Assembly, although they are sensible of your need of further aid and feel for your distresses, yet apprehend it is not in their power, consistent with our own immediate safety, and many other attentions to and engagments in the common cause, to afford you at present the assistance they would cheerfully do, would our circumstances and ability permit.

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The stipulation in this behalf, at Springfield the last year, was then as near as possible, performed on our part; but future events could not have

been foreseen, and from the nature of the thing, it could not be understood to be perpetually binding; but with or without the obligations of any previous contract, we shall be equally willing to afford any of our sister states, on all occasions, every assistance in our power.

I am, sir, with great respect,

Your Excellency's most obedient and humble servant,
JONATHAN TRUMBULL.

MESSRS. ELLERY, MARCHANT AND COLLINS TO GOV. Greene.

YORKTOWN, June 20th, 1778.

SIR-Mr. Collins received the day before yesterday, and brought forward instructions from the Council of War. By the last letter from Mr. Ellery and Mr. Marchant, you perceive that they were not unmindful of, and had not delayed to impress upon Congress, the critical situation of our State, and the late ravages there committed. There needs no information or complaint against the Clothier General. We shall, as soon as we have the least prospect of success, urge a further supply of moneys to our State, but it cannot immediately be done. We shall also press the necessity of some armed vessels for our bay; but we are rather fearful of not succeeding in such an application. A letter from Gen. Sullivan, pointing out the utility, would however strengthen our efforts.

The enemy evacuated Philadelphia last Thursday morning. Three thousand of their troops were on board ship, hauling down the river; the rest were in the Jerseys, nearly opposite the city. Their destination uncertain. Our whole army were immediately on the march. Gen. Maxwell, with about 2000 men, had previously been ordered into the Jerseys; Gen. Arnold was ordered, with a small detachment, to take the command of the city. Congress have given their answer to the British Commissioners. The inclosed newspaper, of this day, will give your Excellency the whole proceedings which, on our part, we doubt not, will be satisfactory to every American Whig. Confederation was this day taken up by Congress, and we are in hopes of soon seeing it completed; for this is the grand corner

stone.

We are, with great respect to the Honorable

The General Assembly, their and your Excellency's

Most obedient and very humble servants,

WILLIAM ELLERY.

HENRY MARCHANT.
JOHN COLLINS.

MESSRS. ELLERY AND MARCHANT TO Gov. Greene.

YORKTOWN, June 27th, 1778.

SIR:- Your Excellency's letter of the 13th instant, came to hand, as also one other of the 11th instant, from the Council of War. Your Excellency's letter addressed to Congress was also received. We observe a mistake made by the Council. In their instructions to us of the 4th of June, they say the State had advanced to the Deputy Clothier, £70,000. In their letter of the 11th instant, they say they have advanced to that department until their accounts amount to £46,946. Such material mistakes are liable to lead us into errors and inconsistences with Congress. In the last letter from the Council of War, they mention a letter from Mr. Mease, which they say they enclose, but it was omitted. However, we have, from our first knowledge of the late attempts of the enemy upon our State, reflected upon the subject with seriousness, and pressed for relief of any kind; and upon the receipt of the letters from your Excellency and the Council of War, we have again applied with ardor and unremitted zeal, and have obtained warrants for 250,000 dollars, which the President will enclose to the State; also orders for supplying the military chest there with 300,000 dollars; also an order for 2000 stand of arms, which order will be forwarded by the Board of War to Gen. Sullivan; also a resolution for building three galleys on certain conditions; also an order to Gen. Washington to send the Rhode Island battalion, now in camp, to our State, if it can be done consistently with the general interest. We place no great expectations from that resolution, unless the campaign should soon end successfully on our part in the Jerseys, and which, by the blessing of God, we have great hopes of. The papers and Capt. Talbot will inform you of the state of affairs there. We hope, if at length our sister states come forward, that our long distressed State will, in consequence of these resolutions, be again put upon ground that shall enable her to make a powerful and successful opposition to the attacks of our enemies, and that by making the wisest application of the moneys, and holding our hands with resolution from Continental advances in future, unless by immediate and express request of Congress, that our State finances may get into a better situation, and in a regular course of reduction.

The matter respecting clothing advanced to our officers at four shillings sterling for one shilling, is laid before a committee. We shall give you the earliest intelligence of the result. We are in hopes the State and the Deputy Clothier will be justified, although it is said the advance was not quite

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