On a significant day during the Revolutionary War, General George Washington took time at his Cambridge headquarters to compose an unusually candid, eight-page letter to his younger brother, John Augustine Washington.

A Trusted Confidant

Of his nine siblings, George Washington maintained his closest relationships with two: his elder half-brother Lawrence, whom he admired greatly, and John Augustine, his younger brother.

John Augustine served as George’s trusted confidant throughout this period. He managed Mount Vernon and remained deeply engaged in Virginia’s revolutionary efforts, fostering a strong bond and frequent correspondence between the brothers.

Revealing the Army's Desperate State

The letter provided a rare window into the pressures Washington faced, contrasting sharply with his typically stoic public demeanor during the early war years.

Washington confessed the dire condition of the Continental Army. He revealed that at times, his soldiers possessed fewer than “30 rounds of Musket Cartridges a Man” while confronting 22 British regiments.

He admitted that he deliberately concealed these critical shortages from both allies and enemies to prevent the appearance of weakness. Despite these struggles, Washington expressed pleasure upon learning that his public reputation “stands fair.”

Strategic Maneuvers Near Boston

Washington detailed recent military actions, noting that he had received John Augustine's letter dated the 24th of the previous month. He lamented the general lack of arms and powder, noting the country was more deficient than imagined.

He explained that the army maintained its ground against the enemy despite the powder shortage. Furthermore, they managed to disband one army and recruit another within musket shot of twenty-two British regiments.

Washington recounted taking possession of Dorchester Point, which directly overlooked Boston and commanded the enemy's lines on the Neck. This required seizing two commanding heights, which, due to the frozen ground, necessitated using an “amazing quantity of Chandeliers and Fascines” for construction.

Forcing the Enemy's Hand

Under the cover of darkness on the night of the 4th, following three nights of heavy cannonade to distract the British, the materials were moved, and the heights were secured without a single casualty.

The British prepared to attack the new fortifications the following afternoon, but severe, tempestuous weather intervened, saving much bloodshed. Washington viewed this as an “Interposition of Providence,” though he lamented the missed opportunity for a decisive engagement.

The British Retreat and Aftermath

Anticipating trouble from the new works, the British resolved to retreat. They embarked on the 17th in great haste and confusion, leaving behind an estimated £30,000 to £40,000 worth of provisions and stores in Boston.

The retreating forces destroyed baggage wagons and artillery carts they had spent eighteen months preparing. The destruction of stores far surpassed the scale of Dunbar’s destruction after Braddock’s defeat.

From the 17th to the 27th, the British fleet remained in Nantasket and King’s Roads, nine miles from Boston, to take on water and prepare for sea. Washington immediately dispatched brigades toward New York and the Hudson’s River, recognizing their strategic importance.

Personal Reflections and Duty

Washington noted that Boston suffered less structural damage than anticipated, though inhabitants were plundered by departing soldiers. Loyalists who styled themselves as “Government Men” fled in worse condition than the King’s Troops.

These loyalists, having believed in Britain’s superior power and expected foreign aid, faced utter consternation upon the evacuation order. They chose exile by sea rather than face their countrymen.

Washington affirmed that he commanded an army under more difficult circumstances than perhaps any commander since the first institution of armies. He was often forced to conceal his difficulties, even from friends, which subjected his conduct to unfavorable interpretations.

He concluded by expressing gratitude for the positive feedback received from the General Court and the Selectmen of Boston, finding comfort in these testimonies of approbation for his conduct.