“Massachusetts Congress to New-Hampshire Congress.
Watertown, June 1, 1775.
Gentlemen: We send you enclosed a copy of a letter from Colonel Arnold, commander of the Troops at Ticonderoga and Crown Point, together with a copy of a letter from the Speaker of the House of Representatives for the Colony of Connecticut, by which you will be acquainted with the present situation of those fortresses, and the measures necessary to be taken for serving and defending so valuable acquisitions. You will doubtless agree with us in sentiment, that it is a matter of the greatest importance that those places remain in our possession, in order to secure our frontiers from the depredations of our enemies, if they should attempt to attack us from that quarter, of which there appears to be great danger. It was the agreement of this Colony that four hundred men, and one hundred Pounds of money, should be raised for the reduction of the place, and it is our determination to contribute our full proportion toward securing the acquisition.
By the letter from the Speaker of the House of Representatives for Connecticut, you will find that that Colony have voted to send immediately to their assistance four companies and five hundred weight of powder, and we suppose that the Troops are upon their march there.
And we most earnestly request that you would continue your endeavours, likewise, for the speedy and effectual security of the aforementioned places, which, considering the importance of the affair, and the ready disposition which you have discovered for the defence of the common cause, leaves us no room to doubt of your compliance therewith.
Joseph Warren, President.”
To the Provincial Congress of New-Hampshire.
Source: Peter Force, ed., Massachusetts Congress to New-Hampshire Congress, in
American Archives, Fourth Series, Vol. II, pp. 876-877
Commentary: Despite severe shortages of every kind hobbling the Patriots’ siege of the British in occupied Boston, Joseph Warren was proving himself an adaptable and far-sighted leader. He was involved with Benedict Arnold from the outset in encouraging the seizure of Fort Ticonderoga. Here Warren appeals to New Hampshire to send a fair share of militia to assure that the strategic fort and its heavy cannon remained in American hands.
Months later, following an epic winter trek, under the immediate direction of Henry Knox, General George Washington installed those cannon on Dorchester Heights, thereby forcing the British to evacuate Boston on March 17, 1776. Joseph Warren never lived to see the successful deployment of the guns of Fort Ticonderoga.
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