Delegates to Congress . Letters of delegates to Congress, 1774-1789, Volume 12, February 1 1779-May 31 1779
Electronic Text Center, University of Virginia Library

| Table of Contents for this work |
| All on-line databases | Etext Center Homepage |

Marine Committee to To: Jonathan Trumbull, Sr.


Sir
February 10th. 1779

   By an express from the Navy Board in the Eastern Departt. the Marine Committee had the honor of receiving your letter to them of the 22 January respecting the enemies armed Vessels in the sound, and the probabillity of taking or destroying them by joining the force of the Confederacy to the two State Ships. (1) They were anxious of adding the Confederacy to the Number of these Ships destined for an other service; But the Object you have in veiw is so very desireable, and the accomplishment of it from your representation attended with so little danger or delay, that they have fallen into the measure and consented to join the Confederacy to the State Ships. You suppose a few days will be sufficient to answer the ends you


-49-

have in veiw, and it is under this state of the case that I am by the direction of this Committee to inform your Excellency that Captain Harding will receive orders to Obey you, and take your directions for the government of his conduct in the proposed expedition, but not to exceed ten [days] after the Sailing of his Ship from New London in the said expedition tho should the service be performed in a shorter time the Captain is then to proceed with the Utmost dispatch agreeable to your Instructions.


I have the honor to be, Your Excellencys most Obedt, Hble servant,

S. Adams Chairman


Note: LB (DNA: PCC Miscellaneous Papers, Marine Committee Letter Book).


1 In his January 22 letter to the Eastern Navy Board, which the board had forwarded in a January 27 letter to the Marine Committee, Trumbull had proposed an attack on British shipping at Huntington Harbor, Long Island. Eastern Navy Board Letterbook, NN.