Letter from General Washington to Governour Cooke

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Cambridge, December 17, 1775.

SIR: By sundry persons and accounts just from Boston, I am informed that the Ministerial army is in very great distress for want of fresh provisions, and having received intelligence that there are two hundred fat cattle on Block-Island, and some transport vessels cruising that way in quest of necessaries for the army, I must request you to have the cattle, &c˙, removed from thence immediately, and from every other place where their ships can come and take them off. It is a matter of the utmost importance to prevent their getting a supply. If they can be hindered now, the advanced season of the year, and the inclement weather, which we may expect ere long, will put it out of their power.

I yesterday received the enclosed information from several persons who lately came out from Boston, which I thought my duty to transmit to you. It is more than probable that the destination of the troops may be very different from what they have given out. They may have made use of that to deceive in another quarter.

I am, &c˙, GEORGE WASHINGTON.

To Governour Cooke, Rhode-Island.