The Pennsylvania evening post — Philadelphia, Pa., 1776-08-20 00:00:00, page 2

The following ADDRESS of General Roberoeau to the
Pennsylvania Associators at Amboy is published by order
of the Convention of Pennsylvania.
JOHN MORRIS, jun. Secretary.,
Gentlemen)
AS it hath pleased Providence, for the exercise of our
patience, and for the defence of that freedom which
we inherit from the Great Giver of all things, to call us from
our families to the field ; and as 1 have the honor of being
your General Officer, I trull you will take it well in me to
endeavor to pointout to you whatever appears neceflary either
for your own particular good, or the more noble object—the
good of all.
It is our unavoidable lot to live in the day of trial ; and,
part, as 1 am persuaded, from the haughty dis-
J '^ e Eolith nabobs towards us, that a day of
Tloidy Reparation mutt one time or other have happened ; on
that account, I lay, 1 think it my duty to rejoice, and to
reckon it among the number of my felicities in this world,
'"s;.' hath happened at a time when I can bear my part
therein. Lwe can leave peace and freedom to our children
and posterity, we leave them a fortune more valuable than
gold;
" s '° °" r present condition as soldiers in camp, I would
advise you to reflect, that a young army, lo suddenly collected,,
and havii g every thing to learn and provide, will unavoidably
be put to many inconveniencies, especially at firft, It is a
new life to us all, and young, beginners in every state must
expert trouble: But as we have taken up thc /w^tf, so like
wise mult we take up the crojsot a soldier, and go through
t^e difficulties as well as the dangers of the field.' Hardship
is the icidxr $ fate, and there is as much true nonor in beard
ing it with a manly fortitude as in facing the<annon of an
enemy. Patience under difficulties is one of the firft virtues
in a military charafier, and -without which no man, how
ever brave, will be a soldier.
A number of complaints have been very justly made re
fpe&ing the provision delivered out by the Cemmiharies, and
1 allure you, that no care or duty has been, o (hall be Want
ing in me, in concurrence with my senior in command, Gen.
Mercer, to have the provisions good, andt e quantities jurty
given out ; yet after all we must not expect to have things
about us with that order and economy with which we had
them at home. In times like these some facrifice of conve
niency must always be made to necessity. And if any man
among us is so loft to all sense of virtue in this im portantdruggie
for life, liberty and property, and the conservation of them to
polarity, who cannot, for a fhert time, put up with a soldier's
fare, that be may afford his country that service she calls for,
and which is greater than in all probability will ever be in
his power, through his whole life, to render again, such a
man is beneath mine and every honest Americanos refpe& or
notice, four reasonable complaints will be remedied, and,
until that can be accomplished, I recommend it to you to
Ihew youv good sense by your good nature,, and.put up with
things as well as you can..
But I find myfelf under the unpleasant necessity oftaking
notice of a diffatisfied spirit, which some how or other has
crept in among some of us, Of.your valour I have no doubt,
and I warn you as friends and fellow soldiers, that you lilfen
not to those (Ihould there be such among us) who would Ilir
up difeobtent and uneasiness. Let us go homp, has been the
cry of some. What, my friends, turn your backs oa your
enemies in three or four weeks time ! Is it worth , putting the
Continent to the expence of equipping and marching a body
C men for the service only of „Tw days, and half- that time
412
spent in going and coming! Besides, can'you expert any
thing lels than that the enemy will follow you to your
homes, joined by a large body of Tories, that will flock to
them the moment you leave this spot ? But we have wives
and families, you'll fa^ And oar business is at flake; the
more reason then you have to stay, you are the very men
whose duty it is not to go. Here is the spot to make your
defence, jf you have a mind to keep the enemy from ravage
ing your country, fight them on the tea ihore. If you would
preserve your property and families in peace, then let not
those who would destroy the one and dittrefs thw other, set
their foot upon your Chores. And if any of you have wives,
connexions, friends or relations, who urge you to return,
they may just as well invite the enemy to come along with
you. There is no difference, in effeH, between retreating
and being defeated ; confider it well, gentlemen; think
for your country's good ; look but across the water, and for
your honor lake never let it be laid that an army of fixpenn,
soldiers, picked up from prisons and dungeons, freed from
transportation, the whipping-post, and the gallows, fighting
in the world of causes and for the word of Kings,, bore thej
fatigue of war with dourer hearts than you.
That we have left a number of difa'defted men behind us,
who have contributed nothing or no jud proportion to the
service of the country which gives them bread, and which has'
railed them from p>verty to plenty, is true, and too true; and
that there are others who are meanly seeking to enrich them
selves by your abfepce is equally true, but let not their vices
be our example ; if they have faded in duty, it is no reason we
Ihould.—And 1 have the pleasure of informing you that the
Convention has taken that matter under conhderatijn, as
Appears by the following extract from their proceedings.
In C. O NV E.N TION, July 23.
" Whereas the Associators of* this state, on the requifitidri A
"of the Honorable Continental Congress, have freely and.
" bravely gone into the field for the defence of the common
liberties of America, while the N?n-Aff)ciators remain at
" home in peace and security, without affording, by personal
" service or otterwife, tbatjuft and necessary assistance the,
" owe.to the state. for.their protection,
" Therefore, Resolved, That this Convention will take
" themed ofedtual measures to render the burthen and ex
" pence of the inhabitants of this date juR and equal." —I
have now, gentlemen, to remind you of the condition on
which- you marched and engaged in the present service, which
was, to continue therein " until the Flying damp of ten thou
" find men could he colkaed to relieve you, unlefsyou feould it
'' jooner dijebarged g^ongre/sJ'—rThefe, gentlemen, are the
express words. 4 hay^wrote to the Convention, to haifen the
completion of the Flying Camp, and I need not point out to
you the ruin and def^reion that would follow were : any of
you to quit your ftafyn before you are relieved; the enemy%
in that case, would be encouraged to attack either those
who were brave eridtigh to remain, or the army at New-York)
and perhaps a thousand of your brethren may, fall for ever,
hundred of you which at this time should withdraw from duty ;
a circumstance, gentlemen, you would never, through life,
be able to reconcile to your consciences, especially as it A
poffibie that by our formidable numbers and unanimous spirit,
the enemy may be disheartened from attacking us.
lam desirous, gentlemen, of-having- the % matter plain],
understood among you all ; and I Ihould be deficient in duty
both to you ^nd the public were 1 to speak-a language that
might te dto deceive or ample you. I have no interest dif
tin& from yours to make my entreaties necessary; the cause is
as much yours as ^ine; you have the Tame at flake which!