Name/Title
Petition from Colonel James Hammond to General George WashingtonEntry/Object ID
HHV 012.56Description
Days after the Declaration of Independence was signed, a petition dated July 15th from Lieutenant Colonel James Hammond was sent from Tarrytown to George Washingtion, requesting troops. As the second in command of the "First Battaillon of Militia in Westchester County," Hammond wrote of 'the Enimies Ships of War ...are arrived up the North River as Far as Tarrytown...with a Hostile design to distress us." Although he states that "...a Number of volunteers a considerable number of People are collected to our assistance...," most of the were farmers and worried about getting in the Harvest, too. Crops were "... now fit for Collection and in a Suffering condition for want of laborers."Subject Person/Organization
George Washington (1732-1799), James Hammond (1727-1810)Collection
Miscellaneous Manuscript CollectionTranscription
Transcription
To the Honorable George Washington Esq. of Commander in the Chief of the United States in America
May it please your Excellency to take into Consideration our humble Petition. Whereas two of the Enemies Ships of War with their Barges and Tenders are arrived up the North River as far as Tarrytown we Suppose with a Hostile design to distress us with the concurrence of the Congress and assistance of the Committee and by the forwardness of a Number of Volunteers a considerable number of People are collected to our assistance, most of whom are very anxious about their Harvests, which are now fit for collection and in a Suffering condition for want of laborors. We therefore humble petition your Excellency to send us such a Number of Troops as your Excellency shall judge proper, to Secure the Inhabitants up and down the River from the cruel Designs of the Enemy – as to further particulars must beg leave to refer your Excellency to the bearer Cap.Dutcher
In name of the officers here present I have the honor to Subscribe myself
Your Excellency's
Most obed. Huml. Servt.
James Hammond
Lieut. Colln of the first
Battalllion of Militia in
Westchester County
Tarrytown
15 July 1776Transcriber
Catalina HannanOther Names and Numbers
Other Numbers
Number Type
Former NumberOther Number
M 264
