The following is an installment of “On This Day,” a new 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. 13, 1776
Cambridge, Massachusetts
The situation was dire. Far fewer firearms had been collected by year’s end than he had expected. Nearly all of the weapons on hand had already been issued to recruits. The Army was facing a crisis. In response, Gen. George Washington penned an urgent letter to the Massachusetts General Court asking what weapons they could provide for the cause.
Gentn
It is exceedingly painful to me, to give you so much trouble as I have, and am like to do in the support of our Lines, and the Arrangement of the New Army—But my difficulties must, in their consequences, devolve trouble on you.
To my very great Surprize I find, that the whole number of Arms which have been stopp’d from the discharg’d Soldiers, amt to no more than 1620, and of that number, no more than 120 are in store, the rest being redeliver’d to the Recruits which have come In. I also find from the report of the Recruiting Officers, that few Men are to be Inlisted who have Arms in their hands, and that they are reduced to the alternative of either getting no Men, or Men without Arms—Unhappy Situation! What is to be done, unless these Governments will exert themselves in providing Arms from the sevl Towns, or in such other manner as to them shall seem speedy & effectual?
To account for this great deficiency would be tedious, and not much to the purpose—suffice it generally to say, that it has arisen from two causes—the badness of the Arms of the old Army, which the Inspectors, & valuers of, did not think fit to detain; & to the disobedient Regiments, which, in spite of every order I could Issue to the Contrary (even to a solemn threat of stopping the pay for the Months of Novr and December of all those who should carry away their Arms) have, in a manner by Stealth borne them away.
I am glad to hear by a Gentleman of your Honble body, who does me the honr to be the bearer of this Letter, that you have for sometime past been collecting Arms at Watertown, whilst a good deal of dispatch has been used in making them else where—I beg to know how many I can rely upon, as the recruits now coming in from the Country will be useless without—It is to no purpose I find, to depend upon Imported Arms. What you can furnish, I must take in behalf of the Continent; & will, upon notice, send some Gentlemen to receive them—Will it, be prudent to apply to such of the Militia as are going of for their Arms? leaving it optional in them, cannot be amiss, but will the necessity of the case justify the policy of detaining them? I ask for information.2 being with great truth, and esteem Gentn Yr Most Obedt H. Ser⟨t⟩
Go: Washington
Two weeks after the deadly defeat in Quebec, Washington remains unaware that Richard Montgomery has been killed, Benedict Arnold has been severely wounded, and the attack on Quebec has failed.
ON THIS DAY: WASHINGTON ASKS BENEDICT ARNOLD FOR SUPPLIES
Philip Schuyler, a key major general in the Continental Army, writes to Washington of the fate of the Canadian campaign:
“I wish I had no Occasion to send My Dear General this Melancholly Account. My Amiable Friend the Gallant Montgomery is no more. The Brave Arnold is wounded & we have met with a severe Check, in an unsuccessful Attempt on Quebec.”