Congress President John Hancock in 1775 Formally Calls the Colonies to the Cause: “For the protection of our liberties and safety of our lives…”

A letter to a major colony authorizing the raising of its first Continental regiment

 

Just days later, Congress would learn of King George III’s “Proclamation for Suppressing Rebellion and Sedition”

 

The only call for mobilization for the Continental Army sent to a future state we have ever seen on the market

The Revolutionary War broke out in Massachusetts on April 19, 1775. At that time, some delegates were already en route to Philadelphia to attend the Second Continental Congress, which would convene on May 10, 1775. Notable delegates included Benjamin Franklin and John Hancock; the latter would be elected President of Congress and gain everlasting fame. In Massachusetts, the Provincial Congress, formed when British military governor Thomas Gage dissolved the legislature in 1774, argued that “General Gage hath actually levied war” against them, and Massachusetts patriots hoped Congress would side with them and suggest a mechanism for creating a civil government to manage the colony.

The Second Continental Congress took over the war effort in June 1775, although the general order so stating was not published until July 4. On June 14, 1775, Congress authorized creation of a continental army. It appointed George Washington of Virginia as commander-in-chief and sent him to Boston to meet the troops in July. These troops were not Continental Army men, as that army had not yet come into existence, but mainly Massachusetts militia. Along the way, commissions for officers and calls to raise troops were, in a fairly ad hoc fashion, sent out by Congress to a handful of locales.

Meanwhile, even as war preparations were initiated, Congress resolved at the same time to continue to seek reconciliation with the British. Congress prepared for the King the famous Olive Branch Petition, approved on July 5, 1775. It stated in part, “We, therefore, beseech your Majesty, that your royal authority and influence may be graciously interposed to procure us relief from our afflicting fears and jealousies, occasioned by the system before mentioned, and to settle peace through every part of your dominions, with all humility submitting to your Majesty’s wise consideration whether it may not be expedient for facilitating those important purposes, that your Majesty be pleased to direct some mode, by which the united applications of your faithful colonists to the throne, in pursuance of their common councils, may be improved into a happy and permanent reconciliation; and that, in the mean time, measures may be taken for preventing the further destruction of the lives of your Majesty’s subjects; and that such statutes as more immediately distress any of your Majesty’s colonies may be repealed.” A hopeful Congress adjourned for a respite on August 2, 1775.

Throughout the summer of 1775, King George III, no compromiser, had been urging his ministers to declare the American colonies to be in a state of rebellion. An official government declaration would allow the military to pursue more aggressive measures against the colonists, and allow the King to punish English supporters of the American cause. Those were his goals. On August 13, 1775, William Penn, representing the Continental Congress, arrived in Bristol, England, carrying Congress’s Olive Branch Petition to the King. George III refused to see Penn or receive the petition. Instead, he issued A Proclamation for Suppressing Rebellion and Sedition on August 23, 1775, declaring America to be in a state of “open and avowed rebellion.” It further stated that the rebellious colonies were subject to severe penalty, as was any British subject who failed to report the knowledge of rebellion or conspiracy. King George III’s Proclamation was tantamount to a declaration of war against the colonists, and literally transformed loyal subjects into traitorous rebels.

When it reconvened in mid-September, Congress awaited word from Britain. Then, in early October, General Washington began to send alarmed intelligence of British naval movements, and rumors of the King taking a pro-war position, as setting the stage for a more protracted conflict. On November 1, the astonished Congress would receive news of the King’s Proclamation for Suppressing Rebellion and Sedition. This meant war, and Congress moved to create a viable Continental Army, far in excess of the puny 900 men who were with General Washington at the time. Calls to build the army would be prepared and issued, and soon.

Congress authorized for 1776 a Continental Army of 20,372 men organized into 26 regi­ments of 728 officers and men each. This would be an organized, centrally managed Continental Army, and Congress lost no time in building it. They called for troops days later.

But where to start? Lying as it did between the two great cities of New York and Philadelphia, and a potential breadbasket for the army, was the colony of New Jersey. On October 9, Congress issued the first call for New Jersey troops in a resolution. “Resolved, That it be recommended to the Convention of New Jersey, that they immediately raise at the expense of the Continent, two battalions of eight companies each, and each company of sixty-eight privates, officered with one captain, one lieutenant, one ensign, four sergeants, and four corporals. That the privates be enlisted for one year, at the rate of five dollars per calendar month, liable to be discharged at any time on allowing them one month’s pay extraordinary. That each of the privates be allowed, instead of a bounty, one felt hat, a pair of yarn stockings, and a pair of shoes: the men to find their own arms. That the pay of the officers, for the present, be the same as that of the officers in the Continental army ; and in case the pay of the officers in the army is augmented, the pay of the officers in these battalions shall, in like manner, be augmented from the time of their engagement in the service.”

The similar order went out at the same time to the state of Pennsylvania. Congress knew the central colonies would need mobilization quickly.

On October 12, just days later, for both PA and NJ, as reported in the Journals of Congress, Congress further resolved “That each Captain and other Commissioned Officer, while in the recruiting service of this Continent, or on their march to join the Army, shall be allowed two Dollars and two-thirds of a Dollar per week, for their subsistence; and that the men who enlist shall, each of them, whilst in quarters, be allowed one Dollar per week, and one Dollar and one-third of a Dollar when on their march to join the Army for the same purpose.

“That the President transmit to the Convention of New-Jersey blank Commissions, to be filled up by the said Convention, to the Captains and subaltern Officers in the said two Battalions; and that the appointment of the Field-Officers be, for the present, suspended, until the Congress shall take order on that matter. The form of the enlistment to be in the following words: I, . . . . , have this day voluntarily enlisted myself, as a Soldier in the American Continental Army, for one year, unless sooner discharged, and do bind myself to conform, in all instances, to such rules and regulations as are or shall be established for the government of the said Army.”

Hancock wrote the New Jersey Provincial Assembly that very day calling for troops, and issuing an inspirational message about what Americans were fighting for. Letter signed as President of Congress, Philadelphia, October 12, 1775, “To the members of the Convention of New Jersey.” “Gentlemen: Some late intelligence, laid before Congress, seems to render it absolutely necessary, for the protection of our liberties and safety of our lives, to raise several new battalions, and therefore the Congress have come into the inclosed resolution, which I am ordered to transmit to you. The Congress have the firmest confidence that, from your experienced zeal in this great cause, you will exert your utmost endeavors to carry the said resolutions into execution with all possible expedition.

“The Congress have agreed to furnish the men with a hunting-shirt, not exceeding the value of one dollar and one-third of a dollar, and a blanket, provided these can be procured; but these are not to be made part of the terms of enlistment.” As a PS was added, “By order of Congress, I forward you forty-eight blank commissions for the captains and subaltern officers in the New Jersey battalions.”

This is among the most important letters of Hancock that we have ever seen on the market.

With the British making tactically aggressive moves, the Mid Atlantic states took up the call. A copy of the above resolutions plus Hancock’s letter was laid before the Provincial Congress of New Jersey on October 13, 1775. To hasten the enlistment of men for the two battalions, New Jersey ordered two hundred copies of the advertisement to be printed: “In Provincial Congress, held at Trenton, the 26th day of October, 1775. Whereas, The Honorable Continental Congress have recommended to this Congress that there be immediately raised in this Colony, at the expense of the continent, two battalions, consisting of eight companies each, and each company to consist of sixty-eight privates, and officered with one captain, one lieutenant, one ensign, four sergeants, and four corporals, on the following conditions: That the privates be enlisted for a year, at the rate of five dollars per calendar month, liable to be discharged at any time on allowing one month’s pay extraordinary; that each of the privates be allowed, instead of a bounty, a felt hat, a pair of yarn stockings, and a pair of shoes: the men to find their own arms. That each captain and other commissioned officer, while in the recruiting service of this continent, or on their march to join the army, shall be allowed two dollars and two-thirds of a dollar per week for their subsistence; and that the men who enlist shall, each of them, whilst in quarters, be allowed one dollar per week, and one dollar and one-third of a dollar when on their march to join the army, for the same purpose.

“The form of enlistment to be in the following words: “‘I, – , have this day voluntarily enlisted myself as a soldier in the American Continental Army for one year, unless sooner discharged; and do bind myself to conform in all instances to such rules and regulations as are or shall be established for the government of the said army.’”

An extraordinary rarity, this is the only call for mobilization for the Continental Army sent to a future state we have ever seen on the market.