Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1876-03-29
A Hitherto Unpublished Letter .,
Washington to John Hancock.

Washington to John Hancock,
THE Centennial year will probably
bring to light many valuable historical
papers relating to the struggle for inde.
pendence-papers that have heretofore
been preserved in private families. and
the existence or preservation of which have
not been publicly known. Below is given
a copy of letter Of this kind written nv
Washington to John Hancock, Governor
of Massachusetts during the Revolution
The letter is dated New York, July II
1776. At that period the Northern Con-
tinental Army, as it was called. under the
command of Washington in person. was
in possession of this city, preparing to re.
sst the landing of Lord Howe's feet. then
on its way here from Great Britain. To
defend the city against invasion, Wash.
ington summoned to his assistance all the
troops then available in the Eastern and
Middle States. His letter to Hancock Is
call for endorsements from Massa.
chusetts, and is as follows:
New YORK. July II, 177e
SIR: Since writing you on the 9th inst (
have been honored with . letter from Con.
gress, inclosing resolve, copy of which
you have transmitted herewith, empowering
me to call to the assistance of the army here
the other two reg .ments of the Continental
troops now in the Massachu sets Govern
ment, and not ordered in my last to be de-
tached to join the Northern Army. am
now TO request, by advice of my general Off
GERS, that you will give immediate orders not
only to them, but to the three destined for
the northward, to repair with all possible
dispatch to Norwich, where they will EN-.
bark, it being the opinion of the general off.
GERS that it will be better for the whole as
well as the three intended for the northward,
as those to re-enforce the troops here, to take
this route in preference to any other. 1t may
turn out the most expeditions, and it is Ger.
tain that the men will be eased from the ia
tigues of long and disagreeable march at
this hot and uncomfortable season. 1t win
be necessary that you should write Mr.. Hunt
ington at Norwich TO prepare as many YES
sells as will bring the whole Of 'em. The
Quartermaster and COmmissaries you will
give the proper orders, so that they NAV
provide in each of their departments such
supplies OF necesSaries for the route rs NAV
be wanted have just now received your
favor OF the 4th inst, with the several In
closures. 1t is extremely unlucky that the
smallpox should prevail in the army at this
time, but such is the necessity that every pos
sible succor should be given to the troops
here, and those at the northward, at this
CIlticdl ptTlou, tudt IL Is Inc sentiment OF
myself and other general officers that the
whole of the regiments that are not infected
with the disorder should be instantly forward
ed. The calamities that would flow from its
being communicated to the whole army are
too obvious to need mention, and you will,
therefore, direct that the utmost care and at
tention be used TO prevent those that are well
from taking the infection, and for this and
that they may be kept separate and apart
from those thai have tbp 6iSnrdar Eyarv
precaution will not be more than necessary
to prevent the fatal consequences that will
attend their bringing and spreading it at
this time, and l trust that nothing in your
power to prevent it will be wan ting. Such
OF the men who are down with it, and those
you may suspect have received the infec-
ton, you Will put under a proper officer or
officers, to whom you will give orders 10 pro-
coed with them to this place as early rs pos
sible after they are well and clear of the infec-
ton. The company or such part OF the train
OF artillery as are there, must remain, in case
they should be wanted l request that you
will have an accurate and exact return made
OF all the military and other stores belonging
to the Continent, that | may be enabled to
transmit it to the Board of War and Ordnance,
agreeable TO their order. You will charge
the Commissary or conductor with the
care OF them, and that he will remain and
guard them in safe and secure manner.
lie must be active and vlgilant in his duty SO
that nothing may be lost or injured. | am,
sir, very respectfully, your most obedient serv
ant, GEO. WASHINGTON.
This letter is written on toolscap paper,
and covers four pages, with the British
coat OF arms and the crest of King George
stamped in water-marks on the paper 1t
is in good state of preservation, but is
yellow with age The letter was inner
tied by Mrs. Grace Denny Williams, OF
Leicester, Mass, a descendant of Han
cock, and a granddaughter of the revolu.
tionary heroine who melted her clock
weights and nodded the lead into bullets,
that her sons might 60 forth to battle.
When Louis kossuth, the Hungarian pa
triot, visited the United States in 1852,
Mrs. Williams presented the letter to him
as testimonial of her regard for his APP
probation of Washington's character On
leaving the country, Kossuth left the let.
ter in the possession of his friend and
admirer, Horace Greeley, by whom it
was given TO the writer.-N. Y. Nor
cary.
Penn township, Berks County, Pa,
b0aSfS pf "a woman hlacl-sp,;th She a