Extract of a Letter from a Gentleman in Cork to an Officer in Boston

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Extract of a Letter from a Gentleman in CORK to an Officer in BOSTON, dated AUGUST 19, 1775.

My imagination cannot point out the extreme uneasiness of your friends and relations here, at the very disagreeable situation you are in. Your letter of the 7th of July last has been some consolation, as by it find you and family were well. God protect you is all I can say, and to assure you of our hearty wishes that a speedy and happy reconciliation may take place. I promise you we are not a little alarmed here; for when all our Troops are gone, the rabble here, ' tis dreaded, will take advantage, and commit disorders of every kind. I see, from the War-Office, thirty-one Battalions are to go to you in the spring, each to consist of twelve companies of sixty privates, making twenty-two thousand men. Shocking work it is!

As to your private affairs, these had times, I will venture to give you my opinion: First, take great care to what officers you give your money, as these gentlemen' s bills oftener prove bad than otherwise; and as they are more liable to death than others at this time, you could never recover should any of their bills go back protested. In the next place, as you must be in a money-making way, and as affairs are in, at best, a very precarious situation, you should make lodgments of what you can spare, and as fast as you can in London. This is what I would do was I in your situation.

A list of the Battalions: enclosed in the above Letter.

Thirty-one Battalions to compose the American Army in the spring of 1776, each to consist of twelve Companies of sixty rank and file, making twenty-two thousand three hundred and twenty men, viz: Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, Seventh, Eighth, Tenth, Fourteenth, Fifteenth, Sixteenth, Seventeenth, Twenty-Second, Twenty-Third, Twenty-Sixth, Twenty-Seventh, Twenty-Eighth, Thirty-Fifth, Thirty-Seventh, Thirty-Eighth, Fortieth, Forty-Second, Forty-Third, Forty-Fourth, Forty-Fifth, Forty-Sixth, Forty-Seventh, Forty-Ninth, Fifty-Second, Fifty-Fifth, Sixty-Third, Sixty-Fourth, Sixty-Fifth. The Eighteenth and Fifty-Ninth are to return home.

Six Battalions of Hanoverians, three to Gibraltar, and three to Minorca; three Regiments to return home from Gibraltar, and two from Minorca.

Extract of a Letter from a Gentleman in Cork to an Officer in Boston. [1775-08-19] Anonymous; Continental Congress. [S4-V3-p0167] [Document Details][Complete Volume]