Washington, George

Autograph letter signed ("Go: Washington"), 4 pages (9 1/8 x 7 1/2 in.; 233 x 190 mm) on a bifolium (watermarked posthorn in shield | D & C Blauw), Cambridge, 12 March 1776, to John Tayloe; short marginal tear to second leaf, tiny holes at intersecting folds. Red cloth folding-case, maroon morocco labels.

Descendants of George Mercer (Sotheby's, 15 December 1986, lot 89)

The Papers of George Washington, Revolutionary War Series, ed. Chase, 3:456–57

From Dorchester Heights, Washington forces the British to evacuate Boston.

In 1773, George Washington and John Tayloe, together with George Mason, were given power of attorney to settle the tangled financial affairs of the Mercer family, Virginia friends and neighbors whose lands in Fauquier, Loudon, and Prince William counties had been mortgaged to multiple creditors. With his customary conscientiousness, Washington continued to pursue this matter even while conducting the siege of Boston. This letter begins with Washington responding to Tayloe's several questions about administering the Mercer estate—including the method of paying English creditors.

"I have just had the pleasure to receive your favour of the 6th Instt. ... I do not know a better hand than Colo. Francis Peyton to collect the Money due to the Sales of Colo. Mercers Estate—when collected, if the Situation of Affairs will admit of any Intercourse with Great Britain, I think the Bills may be made payable under good Indorsers to the Mortgagees, agreeable to the Power of Attorney under which we acted. As it never was my Intention to charge Colo. Mercer, or the Mortgagees any Commission for the trouble I took in the matter (unless something unknown to me at present should cast up) so, on the other hand I never intended to make myself, or Estate liable for Protested Bills—I see no propriety or justice in it—if every precaution wch prudence dictates, is taken in the purchase of Bills no more can be expected.—no more will I do.

"What Lawyer to advise you to engage in the Room of the Attorney Genl I know not—you are much better acquainted with the Abilities of Gentlemen at your Bar than I am, and know better how to chuse. Mr Mercer it cannot possibly be, because he is a party, & I believe he has engaged both Mr Pendleton and Mr Wythe on his Side.—The person next in reputation (if those Gentlemen are retaind) should meet our choice; & him, as above, you can better point out than I can."

Mercer business dispensed with, Washington devotes the second half of his letter to a vivid description of his army's efforts to dislodge the British from Boston, which they had occupied since the battles of Lexington and Concord the previous April. The bombardment here described was made possible by the arrival of Henry Knox's "noble train of artillery" from Ticonderoga.

"All my Military Operations have been so restrained for want of Powder, that little has been done to effect till within these eight days; when determining to take Post on Dorchester Neck (South of Boston, & with our other Works in a manner encircling of it) I found it necessary to draw of the Enemys attention from that spot as much as possible; in order to this, and at the sametime to harass them, I began on Saturday Night the 2d Instt a Canonade and Bombardment of Boston—continu'd it on Sunday Night—and on Monday Night without the least Intermission, during which time (that is on Monday Night) I began my Works on Dorchester, and had so effectually diverted their attention from my main design that before Morning we were so securely fixed as to bid them defiance. ..."

Washington's report seems to imply that even the forces of nature favored the Continental Army: "upon discovering what we were about the next Morning, they made great preparation to come out and Attack the Work, & had Imbarkd 3000 Men in Transports for the purpose: whilst all their light Infantry and Grenadiers were to have Imbark'd in Flat-bottomd Boats to their Aid, but a storm which arose, or an appearance which they liked not, in our preparation to receive them, occasioned a disimbarkation and now they are preparing with the utmost precipitation to quit the Town; for what other place time only can tell; but as New York is most likely to be their object, I shall endeavour to meet them there."

Five days after Washington wrote this letter, General Howe sailed out of Boston Harbor with 12,000 British troops and Loyalists, bound for Nova Scotia rather than for New York. In return for being able to evacuate Boston without interference, the British did not burn the city. Such gentlemanly understandings were not representative of the siege of Boston. Washington's final summation of the operations on Dorchester Heights reveals a grimmer side of the conflict: "Our loss in this whole Canonade has been 6 killed & about as many wounded. theirs we know not, except that Six Men in one Barrack, & by one Ball, had all their Legs taken off."