The following is an installment of “On This Day,” a series celebrating America’s 250th anniversary by following the actions of Gen. George Washington, the Continental Congress, and the men and women whose bravery and sacrifice led up to the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
Jan. 27, 1776
Cambridge, Massachusetts
It has been a handful of days since Gen. George Washington received word of the failure in the Dec. 31 battle for Quebec. Washington is depressed by the devastating loss of U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Richard Montgomery in the battle. Montgomery was leading an assault during a blizzard and died instantly from a British shot at point-blank range.
Washington writes to Benedict Arnold, one of his top commanders. Arnold nearly lost his life in the battle when a bullet fragment tore through his left leg, a wound that plagued him for the rest of his life.
Washington’s tone reveals a man in both grief and stubborn resolve, both mourning Montgomery’s death and worried about Arnold’s wounds:
To Brig. Gen. Benedict Arnold
Cambridge, Jan. 27, 1776
Dear Sir
On the 17 Inst. I received the melancholy account of the unfortunate attack on the City of Quebec, attended with the fall of General Montgomery, and Other Brave Officers & men, & your being wounded—This unhappy affair affects me in a very sensible manner, & I sincerely condole with you upon the occasion[.] But in the midst of distress, I am happy to find that suitable Honor[s] were paid to the remains of Mr Montgomery, & our Officers & Soldiers who have fallen into their hands, treated with kindness & humanity.
Haveing received no Intelligence later than the Copy of your Letter of the 2d to Genl Wooster,1 I would fain hope that you are not in a worse situation than you then were, tho I confess I have greatly feared that those2 misfortunes would be succeeded by others, on account of your unhappy condition & the dispireted state of the Officers & men If they have not, I trust when you are joined by three Regiments now raising in this & the Governments of Connecticut & New Hampshire—& two others ordered by the Congress from Pensylvania & the Jerseys, with the men already sent of by Col. Warner, that these misfortunes will be done away, and things resume a more favourable & promising appearance than ever.
I need not mention to you the great importance of this place, & the consequent possession of all Canada in the Scale of American affairs—you are well apprized of it—to whomsoever It belongs, in there favour probably, will the Ballance turn—If It is in ours, Success I think will most certainly crown our virtuou⟨s⟩ struggles—If It is in theirs, the contest at best, will be doubtfull, hazardous and bloody. the glorious work must be accomplished in the course of this Winter, Otherwise It will become difficult, most probably, Impracticable—For Administration knowing that It will be impossible ever to reduce us to a state of Slavery & arbitrary rule without It will certainly send a large reinforcement there in the Spring—I am fully convinced, that your exertions will be invariab⟨ly⟩ directed to this Grand Object, & I already view the approachg day, when you & your brave followers will enter this Importt Fortress with every honor & triumph attendant on victory & conquest, then will you have added, the only link wanting in the great chain of Continental union & Render the freedom of your Country secure.
Wishing you a Speedy recovery & the possession of those Laurels, which your bravery & perseverance justly merit, I am Dr Sir &c.
G.W.
ON THIS DAY: WASHINGTON WRITES THE ‘WEIGHT OF COMMAND GROWS HEAVIER BY THE HOUR’
Washington also writes to Maj. Gen. Philip Schuyler about another very sensitive matter. Washington is deeply concerned that Caughnawaga Mohawk leaders have offered warriors and commissions, despite having recently agreed to remain neutral. Their assistance could tip Canada, but urging them to abandon neutrality gives Washington pause:
“I am a little embarrassed to know in what Manner to conduct myself with Respect to the Coenawaga Indians now here—They have notwithstanding the Treaty of Neutrality which I find they entered into with you the other Day (agreeable to what appears to be the Sense of Congress) signified to me a Desire of taking up arms in Behalf of the united Colonies—The Chief of them and whom I understand is now the first Man in the Nation, intends as it is intimated to me, to apply to me for a Commission, with Assurances of raising four or five hundred Men, when he returns.
My Imbarrassment does not proceed so much from the Impropriety of encouraging these people to depart from their Neutrality (accepting their own voluntary Offer rather) as from the Expence which probably may follow—I am sensible that if they do not desire to be idle, that they will be for or against us—I am sensible also that no Artifices will be left unessayed to engage them against us—Their proferred Services therefore ought not to be rejected, but how far under the little Knowlege I have of these people’s policy and real Intentions & your Want of their aid I ought to go is the Question that puzzles me. I will endeavour however to please them by yielding in Appearance to their Demands—reserving at the same Time the power in you to regulate their Numbers & Movements of which you shall be more fully inform’d when any Thing is fixed—At present what they have mentioned is a Kind of Out of Doors Talk—They expect & are waiting to see Colo. Biddel (who promised to meet them here) before they open themselves fully.”