Mixed Messages

On February 21, 1776, Josiah Bartlett of New Hampshire wrote to John Langdon, "I Believe it is certain the British parliament has ordered all American vessels to be Seized, as you will see by the publick papers. Two of the outward bound vessels fitted out by the Secret Committee [of the Continental Congress], for the purpose of necessaries, are taken and Carried to the West Indies, the master of one has got back. In short we have nothing to Expect from Brittain, but war & Bloodshed, notwithstanding the pretence of sending Commissioners here to treat."

 Paul H. Smith, et al., editors, Letters of Delegates to Congress: Vol. 3: January 1, 1776-May 15, 1776 (Washington, D.C.: Library of Congress, 1978), page 293.

The mixed messages of British political and military leaders seemed both sinister and absurd to Americans. In a 1782 letter to former aid Tench Tilghman, George Washington remarked that General Sir Guy Carleton "gives strong assurances of the pacific disposition of his most gracious majesty, by Land," while at sea Admiral Robert Digby "gives proofs" of King George III's "good intention of capturing every thing that floats on the face of the Waters; and of his humane design of suffocating all those who are taken thereon, in Prison Ships, who will not engage in his Service."

Washington remarked, "To an American whose genius is not susceptable of refined Ideas, there would appear some little inconsistency in all this; but to the enlarged and comprehensive Mind of a Briton, these things are perfectly reconcilable."

Kind Treatment

On February 20, 1776, the Pennsylvania Committee of Safety wrote to the President of Congress, John Hancock, about the prisoners in the town of Lancaster, "From the information given to this Committee, we learn that the kind treatment given them meets with very improper and indecent return; that they often express themselves in most disrespectful and offensive terms, and openly threaten revenge whenever opportunity shall present."

Given the proximity of Lancaster to escape routes by water, the Committee of Safety recommended not only that Congress separate the officers from the men but separate the officers from each other, "either dispersed of in different towns, or dispersed among the farmers in the country, where their opportunities of doing mischief will less correspond with their inclinations."

Many factors contributed to the distribution of prisoners in America. In a letter to British General Sir William Howe, dated April 9, 1777, General George Washington referred to "the dispersed situation" of British and Hessian prisoners "taken at a more early period of the War, thro' the different States, arising from the circumstances of their captivity and a regard to their better accomodation...."

You can read the Committee of Safety's letter at the American Archives web site courtesy of the Northern Illinois University Libraries.  Please find George Washington's April 9, 1777 letter to Howe regarding prisoners by searching the web site dedicated to The George Washington Papers at the Library of Congress, 1741-1799.

His Name is Paine

On Feb. 19, 1776, John Adams wrote to British-born American General Charles Lee a letter "to introduce to your Acquaintance a Country man of yours and a Citizen of the World, to whom a certain Heretical Pamphlet called Common Sense, is imputed.  His Name is Paine.  He is traveling to N. York for his Curiosity and wishes to Gentln, whose Character he so highly respects."

Paul H. Smith, et al., editors, Letters of Delegates to Congress: Vol. 3: January 1, 1776-May 15, 1776 (Washington, D.C.: Library of Congress, 1978), page 277.

I Despise the Bigot

On Feb. 19, 1776, Congressman Josiah Bartlett from New Hampshire received a Feb. 2  letter from his wife.  Bartlett wrote, "When I read at the Close of your letter, and account of the Death of my good friend, John Wadleigh, it very sensibly affected me, for I had received no account of his being worse than when I left home."

Bartlett recalled, "I had really a great value of him, and think the Town & Especially that part of it, have met with a great loss in his Death.  I Can[']t help Calling to mind the many hours, pleasant Conversation I have had with him, and tho' he had Some Sentiments Different from mine, yet I really Loved & Esteemed him, and I Despise the Bigot, who Can have no Esteem or friendship for any man, whose religious are Different[.]"

Paul H. Smith, ed., Letters of Delegates to Congress: Vol. 3: January 1,1776-May 15, 1776 (Washington, D.C.: Library of Congress, 1978), 277.

Adams on Charles Carroll

From Philadelphia, John Adams wrote on February 18, 1776 to fellow-New Englander James Warren about Charles Carroll of Carrollton.  Explaining that Carroll was an important addition to a committee visiting Canada, Adams wrote, "I was first introduced to him, about Eight Months ago...and was much please with his Conversation.  He has a Fortune, as I am well informed, which is computed to be worth Two hundred Thousand Pounds Sterling.  He is a Native of Maryland, and his Father is still living.  He had a liberal Education in France, and is well acquainted with the French Nation. He Speaks their Language as easily as ours--and what is perhaps of more Consequence than all the rest, he was educated in the Roman Catholic Religion, and still continues to worship his Maker according to the Rites of that Church."

Paul H. Smith, et al., editors, Letters of Delegates to Congress: Vol. 3: January 1,1776-May 15, 1776 (Washington, D.C.: Library of COngress, 1978), 275.