The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1856-07-17

At the ginning of the revolution the southern colonies
,.sl 900 Connecticut the iodfth State rank Mas
sachusetts yana each third larger than
New York, which Was even sxeelled BY Connecticut
South Carolina may challenge comparison with Massa-
chusetis on the muslerro the pension list she yields
TO her supremacy The citizens of the latter whatever their
achievements may have been the battlefield have al
ways fallen with alaeriy into hollow squares before the
treasury, and have been formidable 10 IL than
''artny with banners" sE s5
Now, sir let see something d the galianfy Of Massa
chasets in he VIZ q t ffSaun!icn which has been 50
CURED while the British we're in possession Of Boston, and
the American forces under General Washington were be-
leaguering IT, Gen. Washington in letter To his brother
John Augustine Washington, dated Scamp at Cambridge
July %, l77b," says: s.aa at7....
al found mixed multitude Of people here under very
little discipline, order, or government" saE
In letter to the president of the Council of Massachu-
ses Bay, dated August l7T5a month after be arrived
there-Gen. Washington says Eli
By general return made to me for last week. find
there great numbers Of soldiers and
officers who absent themselves from duty the greater part
homes different parts OF the country some employed by
their officers their farIs and Others drawing pay from
or for hire NY Utmost esetons have not been able 10
vent this base and pernicioas conduct." ....f@
In aleter to the president of Congress- dated Sepetn-
Der 2l, l775, he says: saal ls aTa.aar ss. E's II
The necessities Of the troops having required pay d.
month upon their being mustered and returning proper
roi but claim Immediately made for pay by lunar
months and several regiments have declined taking their
warran Is on this account" r
In letter the president of Congress dated November
III, l775, Gen. Washington says; -.1s ........
The trouble have in the arrangement of the army
to In expectation of promotion aloof to
what advantage they could make for themselves whilst
So great confusion arising from these
and many other circumstances that found alb
on the plan resolved on in the conference though have
kept the spirit Of it the necessity
The gas; aSs.a %osd admit The dsay with The soldiers
They viii enlist until they know their colonel lieutenant
GO, n. and S g ,hi. i 70 4.
done and have given out enlisting orders"
In letter the president of Congress- dated November
2s l775when the year for which the had enlisted
was near It's close-he says: ..-sals. szs 49,.
The number enlisted since my last two thousand FIVE
hundred and forty men and sorry be necesstated
TO mention you the gregons want of public spirit which
s
the nnd likely to be deserted in most critical
time. Those that have enlisted must have urough which
have been obliged to grant to fifty at time from each
regiment"
In letter Joseph Reed of date November 2s l77b he
says:
"such dearth of public spirit and such Of virtue
advantages Of kind another in this great change
military arrangement never before, and pray Gods
In.
the end Of these man@uvres is beyond my scan remble
the prospect We have been till this time enistng
been Obliged to allow uroughs as far =. y men 70 rss
ment; and the officers, am persuaded indulge many
should mot AZ all Be- surprised disaster thar may hap
pen In short alter the last Of this month lines will be
IN sr their defence and these being under 90 Kind Of soS
themselves, will destroy the little subordnation
have been laborng to establish and run me into one evil
be chosen. Could have foreseen what have experienced
aud am likely to experience no consideration upon earth
should have induced TO accept this command. reg
any subordinate department would have been
accompanied by ten times the satisfaction, and perhaps the
honor"
ta and large number encamped in full view Of the Amer
ican army.
In letter to Gen. Schuyler dated December 5, l775
Gen. Washington says:
would willingly hope that nothing will induce you quit
the service and that in time order and subordnation will
take the place Of confusion and command be rendered
agreeable" ... ...l" 81.
Gen. Schuyler in the letter which this was reply,
had said:
Nothing can .urp. the imp.tenee Of the troops from
the New England os colonies to get to their rs.ds Near
any duty but administered that grand specific
di,ehsrse-they instantly acquired hsalt6 and rather
than be detained few Lake George
took march from here Of two hundred miles with the
greatest alacrty."
General Washington says in letter to Gov. Reed, Of
Pennsylvania;
I'm the last weeks we have enlisted but about two
Thousand men, whereas confidently led believe by
a the officers with that should By this time
have bad the regiments nearly completed Our total
Der amounts to ten thousand Eve hundred bat large
portion Of them returned not joined expect
them order has been issued another
going forth peemptory requiring all officers pain Of
being oahieed and recruits Of being treated deserter
join their regiments BY the frat day Of next month that
may know my real strength" de-, DC. ~.
month later when the danger had increased and with
1t the socitude Of Washington when every appliances be
master Of had been exhausted augment the army
he says;
$50 far from my having an army Of 10000 men, well
including sick furoughed, and command and these
neither armed clothed they should be In short nv
situation has been such that have been obliged 10 arts
10 conceal II from my own ofhcers."
He charges them with carrying of the arms Of the
country. He says: ..'...
chiefly condemned that have not at this time hun
dred guns In the sore OF all that have been taken
prlzebip and from the sodiery, notwithstanding the reg
ments are not half completed" a..
nigh, multiply similar extracts but do not care 10
press this subject further that history shall
sdjudge the claims Of South Carolina and Massachusetts,
OF blood and Of treasure my State furnished her share
Aer l777 at no time there than 6000 British
troops in New England. Why they swept away
Why did not the 600 valiant heroes Of Massachusetts,
alone scatter them with their daring courage7 Sir,
where were these valiant men fyou find out where
they were Mr. Speaker you do than the British
ever did. Ht sf.
pass now, sir to smother point We have waged two
with Great Britain during brief existence
Of the powers Of the earth Let invoke history 10
show the Of Massachusetts in the last warhs
OF 1912. e.rs ........,. ....s.... .....tr.
In auding TO the aggresons Of Great Britain against
us the memorial OF the Boston merchants TO Congress
says: