Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-03-19
SUPPRESSED BY SPARKS.
A Letter Of washington's Cnfavorably Com.
menting on New England Officers.

Letter of Washington's Cnfavorably Com
menting on New England Officers.
A great deal of interest has been created,
says the Baltimore Sun, by the discussion at
the Maryland Historical Society last meeting
of Washington's character and opinion as
shown in his letters. After some remarks by
Prof Herbert L. Adams of the Johns Hopkins
University upon the method of amending and
publishing the correspondence of Washington
used by Rev. Jared Sparks, Rev. Hail Harrison
of Ellicott City cited an instance in which
Sparks suppressed an urfavorable comment
upon the New England officers in the revolu-
ton. Mr.. Harrison said the letter in which
the comment was suppressed was now in the
possession of Mr.. Jos. Packard, jr. DIR. Adams
also said that some of Washington's letters
were defective in spelling and grammar.
The letter referred to by Mr.. Harrison was
written to Richard Henry Lee of Virginia and
dated Camp at Cambridge, August 49, I775.
1t was penned soon after Washington arrived
and took command of the army upon his ar
pointment to the post of commander -in-chief
by the Continental Congress. i he passages
omitted by Sparks are as follows. the exact
spelling. grammar and punctuation of the
original being retained:
As We have now nearly complicated our Lines
OF Defence, We have nothing more. in my opin-
ion, to fear from the Enemy provided we can
keep our men to their duty aad make them
watchful Il vigilant; but it is among the most
difficult tasks ever undertook in my life to
Induce these people to believe that there is or
can be, danger till the BayOnet is pushed at
their Breasts; not that 1t proceeds from any I'M
common proves, but rather from an unac-
countable kind of stupidity in the lower class
of these people which believe me prevails but
too generally among the officers of the Massa-
chusetts part OF the army who are nearly all
n 1, 4.
not q little to my difficulties; as there is no
such thing as getting officers of this stamp to
exert themselves in carrying orders into exc
cution-to curry favour with the men (by
whom they were chosen. 4 whose smiles
possibly they may think they may again rely)
seems to be one OF the principal objects of their
attention.
Il have made pretty good slam among such
kind of officers as the Massachusetts Govern
ment abound in since / came to this Camp, hav-
ing Broke one Col. and two Captains for cow
aruly behaviour In the action on Bunkers Hill
two Captains for drawing more provisions
and pay than they had men in their Company
and one for being absent from his Post when
the Enemy appeared there and burnt a House
just by it.-Beside these, L have at this time
one Col, one Major, one Captn. two subal-
terms under arrest for tryal-In short 1 spare
none, yet fear it will not all do as these Peo-
pie seem to be too inattentive to everything
out their Interest.
lAere LAS Deen so many great and capital
errors Il abuses to rectify--so many examples
to make & so little Inclination in the officers of
inferior Rank to contribute their aid to accom-
pllsh this work. that my life has been nothing
else (sInce came here but one continual round
OF annoyance fatigue; in short no pecuniary
recompense could induce me to undergo what
have especially as expect. by shelving SO lit
tic cOuntenance to irregularities l. publick
abuses, to render myself very obnoxious to q
greater part OF these People"
The parts quoted by Sparks relate chiefly to
military movements. The letter was copied by
Mr.. Packard several years ago from the original
IN the handwriting of Washington. Mr.. Pack
ard first saw the original in the summer of
1860, in the possession of Mrs. Ellen Lee Knapp,
a granddaughter OF Richard Henry Lee, at her
house in Washington. DC, and he borrowed it
for the purpose of making u copy from Mrs
hnapp's daughter. the wife OF Rev. John r.
Joyner Of Eerlin, Worcester county, Md. In
some places where the words were not plain
they were supplied from a copy which Mrs.
yoyner says was made by the late Herbert N.
Lathrop of New York city when the letter was
In better condition. A copy has been deposited
in the Maryland Historical Society library.