 | Letters of Mrs. Adams, |  |
TO JOHN ADAMS.
I received yours of June 10th, for which I thank
you. I want you to be more particular. Does every
suffer? And can they believe, with what patience
and fortitude we endure the conflict? Nor do we
even tremble at the frowns of power.
You inquire of me who were at the engagement
at Grape Island. I may say, with truth, all of Weymouth,
Braintree, Hingham, who were able to bear
arms, and hundreds from other towns within twenty,
thirty, and forty miles of Weymouth. Our good
friend, the Doctor,[1]
is in a miserable state of health,
and hardly able to go from his own house to my
father's. Danger, you know, sometimes makes timid
men bold. He stood that day very well, and generously
attended, with drink, biscuit, flints, &c., five
hundred men, without taking any pay. He has since
been chosen one of the Committee of Correspondence
for that town, and has done much service, by establishing
a regular method of alarm from town to town.
Both your brothers were there; your younger brother,
with his company, who gained honor by their good
order that day. He was one of the first to venture
on board a schooner, to land upon the island. As to
Chelsea, I cannot be so particular, as I know only in
general, that Colonel Putnam commanded there, and
had many gentlemen volunteers. We have two companies
stationed in this town; at Germantown, Captain
Turner; at Squantum, Captain Vinton; in Weymouth,
one; in Hingham, two, &c. I believe I shall
remove your books this week to your brother's. We
family a retreat at Deacon Holbrook's. Mr. Cranch
has one at Major Bass's, in case of necessity, to which
we hope not to be driven. We hear, that the troops
destined for New York are all expected here; but
we have got to that pass, that a whole legion of them
would not intimidate us. I think I am very brave,
upon the whole. If danger comes near my dwelling,
I suppose I shall shudder. We want powder, but,
with the blessing of Heaven, we fear them not.
Write every opportunity you can.
| Letters of Mrs. Adams, | |