“DUNMORE.

“God save the King!"[533]

On account of this, on the 31st of December, Gen. Washington wrote the President of Congress as follows:—­

“It has been represented to me, that the free negroes, who have served in this army, are very much dissatisfied at being discarded.  As it is to be apprehended, that they may seek employ in the ministerial army, I have presumed to depart from the resolution respecting them, and have given license for their being enlisted.  If this is disapproved of by Congress, I will put a stop to it."[534]

This letter was referred to a committee consisting of Messrs. Wythe, Adams, and Wilson.  On the 16th of January, 1776, they made the following report:—­

     “That the free negroes who have served faithfully in the
     army at Cambridge may be re-enlist—­therein, but no
     others."[535]

This action on the part of Congress had reference to the army around Boston, but it called forth loud and bitter criticism from the officers of the army at the South.  In a letter to John Adams, dated Oct. 24, 1775, Gen. Thomas indicated that there was some feeling even before the action of Congress was secured.  He says,—­

“I am sorry to hear that any prejudices should take place in any Southern colony, with respect to the troops raised in this.  I am certain the insinuations you mention are injurious, if we consider with what precipitation we were obliged to collect an army.  In the regiments at Roxbury, the privates are equal to any that I served with in the last war; very few old men, and in the ranks very few boys.  Our fifers are many of them boys.  We have some negroes; but I look on them, in general, equally serviceable with other men for fatigue; and, in action, many of them have proved themselves brave.

“I would avoid all reflection, or any thing that may tend to give umbrage; but there is in this army from the southward a number called riflemen, who are as indifferent men as I ever served with.  These privates are mutinous, and often deserting to the enemy; unwilling for duty of any kind; exceedingly vicious; and, I think, the army here would be as well without as with them.  But to do justice to their officers, they are, some of them, likely men.”

The Dunmore proclamation was working great mischief in the Southern colonies.  The Southern colonists were largely engaged in planting, and, as they were Tories, did not rush to arms with the celerity that characterized the Northern colonists.  At an early moment in the struggle, the famous Rev. Dr. Hopkins of Rhode Island wrote the following pertinent extract:—­