Philadelphia, 6 April, 1777.
You have had many rumors propagated among you which I suppose you know
not how to account for. One was that Congress, the last summer, had tied
the hands of General Washington, and would not let him fight,
particularly on the White Plains. This report was totally groundless.
Another was that at last Congress untied the General, and then he
instantly fought and conquered at Trenton. This also was without
foundation, for as his hands were never tied, so they were not untied.
Indeed, within a few days past a question has been asked Congress, to
the surprise, I believe, of every member there, whether the General was
bound by the advice of a council of war? No member of Congress, that I
know of, ever harbored or conceived such a thought. "Taking the advice
of a council of war" are the words of the General's instructions, but
this meant only that councils of war should be called and their opinions
and reasons demanded, but the General, like all other commanders of
armies, was to pursue his own judgment after all.
Another report, which has been industriously circulated, is that the
General has been made by Congress dictator. But this is as false as the
other stories. Congress, it is true, upon removing to Baltimore, gave
the General power to raise fifteen battalions, in addition to those
which were ordered to be raised before, and to appoint the officers, and
also to raise three thousand horse, and to appoint their officers, and
also to take necessaries for his army, at an appraised value. But no
more. Congress never thought of making him dictator or of giving him a
sovereignty. I wish I could find a correspondent who was idle enough to
attend to every report, and write it to me. Such false news,
uncontradicted, does more or less harm. Such a collection of lies would
be a curiosity for posterity.
The report you mention in your last, that the British administration had
proposed to Congress a Treaty and terms, is false, and without a color.
On the contrary, it is now more than ever past a doubt that their fixed
determination is conquest and unconditional subjugation. But there will
be many words and blows too, before they will accomplish their wishes.
Poor, abandoned, infatuated nation! Infatuation is one of the causes to
which great historians ascribe many events, and if it ever produced any
effect, it has produced this war against America.
Arnold, who carries this, was taken in his passage from Baltimore. He
sailed with Harden for Boston. They took fifteen vessels while he was on
board the man-of-war. Your flour was highly favored with good luck.