Col. Joseph Reed to Colonel Baldwin, at Chelsea, Enclosing a Letter from Dr. Church

Page v2:1748

SIR: In full confidence of your prudence and secrecy as a soldier, a man of honour, and a friend to your Country, the General has directed me to communicate to you a scheme he is about to put in execution to obtain constant and authentick intelligence from Boston. The plan is this: the enclosed letter will be delivered by you to one Dewksbury, who lives about four miles from you towards Chesly Point; he will deliver it to a waterman, whom he can depend on, who will convey it to one John Carnes, a grocer, in the south part of Boston. The answers, and such intelligence as he can procure, will be forwarded to you through the same channel, which you are to transmit to his Excellency by express immediately. As the success of the project, and the life of the man in Boston, may depend upon your conduct, let it not escape you to the nearest friend on earth; and, for fear of accident, destroy this letter as soon as you are sufficiently master of its contents. When you see Dewksbury give him the above caution in the strongest terms, and so to pass from him to the other. Your good conduct and discretion in this matter will not fail to be duly noticed. I am, Sir, your most obedient servant,

J. REED, Secretary.

To Colonel Baldwin.