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not already suggested upon the occasion; and being of Sterne's opinion, that 'before an affliction is digested, consolation comes too soon, and after it is digested it comes too late, there is but a mark between these two, almost as fine as a hair, for a comforter to take aim at," I rarely attempt it; nor should I add more on this subject to you, as it will be a renewal of sorrow, by calling afresh to your remembrance things that had better be forgotten. "My principal pursuits are of a rural nature, in which I have great delight, especially as I am blessed with the enjoyment of good health. Mrs. Washington, on the contrary, is hardly ever well; but, thankful for your kind remembrance of her, joins me in every good wish for you, Mrs. Trumbull, and your family. "Be assured, that with sentiments of the purest esteem,

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NOTE.-See Allen's and Elliott's Biographical Dictionaries, National Portrait Gallery, Massachusetts Historical Collections, the Records of the State of Connecticut, and the American Quarterly Register of August, 1841.

AN

EPITOME

OF THE ACTS OF THE GOVERNOR AND COUNCIL OF SAFETY, OR THE COMMITTEE OF WAR, CALLED BY THE GOVERNOR, AND HELD AT DIFFERENT PLACES, FROM THE 7TH DAY OF JUNE 1775, UNTIL THE 6TH DAY OF MAY, 1778.

Ar a meeting of the Governor and Council, or Committee of War, called by his Honor, and held at Lebanon, Wednesday, June 7, 1775.

His HONOR, the Governor.

PRESENT.

The Hon. Deputy Governor, GRISWOLD.

The Hon. Jabez Huntington, William Williams, Nathaniel Wales, Jedediah Elderkin, Joshua West, and Benjamin Huntington, Esq'rs., Council of Safety.

William Williams was appointed Clerk.

THE Governor laid before the Board, letters from the Committee of War, the Committee of Safety, and of Supplies, from Massachusetts, and from Generals Spencer and Putnam, at the camp near Boston, all earnestly requesting a quantity of powder to be sent them forthwith. The Governor and Council ordered 50 whole barrels of powder to be sent to the care of Generals Putnam and Spencer, containing 100 pounds each, the property of this colony; to be packed into common barrels, and the vacant room filled with rye or other grain.

the

Col. Parsons, with the company under his immediate command, and company under Capt. Chapman, were ordered to march and join the Connecticut troops, at the camp near Boston. Giving the officers in said camp authority to purchase such quantity of fish and lard for the troops at said camp, as should be necessary.

IN SESSION, (at Lebanon,) June 17. (Samuel Huntington added.)

The Governor laid before the Committee, letters from Congress, from Generals Spencer and Putnam, &c., for a further supply of pow. der, at the camp near Boston, &c.

Ordered 50 gun locks of Uri Hanks, at $2 each.

The six companies of Col. Parsons' regiment, at New London, under Lieut. Col. Tyler, were ordered forthwith to march to the camp near Boston, and to be supplied with ammunition out of the colony stores. Ten additional barrels of powder were ordered to be sent to Generals Putnam and Spencer from Norwich.

IN SESSION, (according to adjournment,) June 19.

The news of the Charlestown engagement was received at Lebanon, on the night of the 18th inst., at 10 o'clock.

Mr. Bissell was ordered to send to the army all the cloth he had, for tents, (sufficient for 40 tents); and Commissary Trumbull, to procure the remainder, and get them all made by the poor tent makers who escaped from Boston, (i. e.) enough to supply Gen. Putnam's regiment.

A letter from Col. Wolcott, requesting a supply for Col. Hinman's regiment, at Ticonderoga, was approved. A letter in answer to Col. Hinman's was also approved.

Our troops near Boston, were directed to have fresh beef three days each week.

The company under Capt. T. Perritt, were ordered to remain at Boston, unless the generals should suppose their continuance unne

cessary.

The Governor was advised by the Board, to give orders to the officers and soldiers, to yield obedience to the general commanding officer of the troops of Massachusetts, while they acted in that province, until further orders.

The Assembly of New York, made a request for Gen. Wooster's and Col. Waterbury's regiments, to march within five miles of the city of New York, as they expected troops from Great Britain.

Gen. Wooster was ordered to send two of his companies to New London, and with the remaining seven companies, and Col. Waterbury's regiment, to march to within five miles of New York.

The powder expected from New York, was stopped at Stamford; it was ordered to be sent for, and immediately forwarded to Boston.

IN SESSION, July 13.

The Governor laid before the Council various letters; and one he had prepared, congratulating Gen. Washington on his appointment,

&c.; another line hinting at Gen. Spencer's uneasiness, &c., on being overlooked, and with a small alteration to gratify Gen. Spencer, after he came in, &c., to have him remain at Roxbury, &c.

Samuel Huntington and William Williams, Esq'rs., were desired to wait on Gen. Spencer, at Gray's Inn, and confer with him on his uneasiness, and endeavor to remove his dissatisfaction, and reconcile him to pursue the service; which they did.

IN SESSION, (at the Governor's house,) in the afternoon, July 13. In the afternoon, Gen. Spencer attended at the Governor's house, when a long conference was held on the subject of his being superseded by Gen. Putnam, which he thought to be hard and resented it. At length, however, he was persuaded to return to the army; and returned to camp with letters to Gen. Washington.

An Indian, by the name of Cognahue, brought despatches from the Indian country.

Capt. Potter, from Coos, came with a written request for powder, but was refused by the Board.

The two companies of Gen. Wooster's regiment, stationed at New London, (the one of them was then at New Haven,) were ordered to march directly to the camp near Boston.

Surgical instruments were not to be included in the £30, allowed for the purchase of medicine for the 8th regiment.

IN SESSION, July 24, (9 o'clock. A. M.)

A post by the name of Judd, had arrived with letters from Ticonderoga, informing the Council that the troops there were destitute of tents, &c. The Governor was advised to write the Congress of New York to provide and send Col. Hinman's regiment at Ticonderoga, a suitable number of tents.

Two thousand barrels of flour were sent to Norwich, by Congress, for the army near Boston, and desired by Gen. Washington to be forwarded to the army; the freight of which was paid by this colony.

William Williams, Nathaniel Wales, Capt. Deshon, and Capt. Hall were appointed to enquire at Norwich, New London, New Haven, Middletown, Hartford, &c., for proper vessels to be used for armed vessels, and the terms on which they could be procured, &c., and report on the 2d of August (then) next.

At the request of Gen. Washington, the Council advised to order the colonels of the 7th and 8th regiments, to march their regiments as soon as possible, in whole or part companies, to the camp near Boston, and be placed under the commander-in-chief of the continental army.

IN SESSION, August 2.

The committee appointed to view vessels, &c., for armed vessels, &c., made a verbal report, that many vessels could be had on good terms, but that no one of them was perfectly accommodated for a vessel of war; that people differed about the policy of the measure; some thought we could not compete with the British ships; that it would provoke insult, and expose our sea coasts and vessels inward bound to greater danger; and others that it would be a protection. The Council ordered a brig, called the Minerva, owned by Capt. William Griswold, of Wethersfield, of 108 tons, to be prepared for an armed vessel, according to a resolve of the Assembly. Also to charter some small vessel, a fast sailer, of about 20 or 30 tons, and prepare her with such warlike materials as would be needed, to be used chiefly as a spy vessel, to run from place to place, to carry intelligence, discover the enemy, &c. Capt. S. Niles, of Norwich, was appointed captain. B. Huntington, Esq. and Capt. Deshon were appointed to find and fit out and furnish said small vessel.

IN SESSION, August 3.

Giles Hall was appointed captain of the brig Minerva, at £7 per month; Thomas Horsey, of Derby, 1st lieutenant; James Hopkins, 2d lieutenant; Timothy Larrabee, steward; S. Backus, cook; 1 carpenter, 1 pilot, 40 seamen, and 40 soldiers or marines. Capt. Hall was directed to raise the men, and to be paymaster of said seamen and marines or crew, and the Governor desired to grant the commissions and warrants for the officers. Said brig Minerva was chartered at 4 shillings, lawful money, per ton, per month, and pay for the extra damage.

The Council ordered two companies, viz: Maj. Latimer's and Capt. Shipman's, to be stationed at New London.

It was ordered, that four of the 6 pound cannon at New London should be delivered to J. Huntington, of Norwich, for the defence of Norwich.

IN SESSION, August 7.

Mr. Huntington, &c. reported, that they had not yet found a suitable small vessel to be fitted out as a runner and cutter:-they were ordered to make further enquiry.

The news of three or four men-of-war, and eight or ten other ships appearing off New London, (on the 6th of August inst.,) by express; and being further informed by Col. Huntington, that they were bear. ing for Fisher's Island, with the design of taking the stock, &c. The

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