On June 3, 1776, General George Washington sent a letter to Major General Israel Putnam advising that the Continental Congress had approved sending 6,000 militiamen to Canada to reinforce Continental Army troops. Congress had initially authorized up to 9,000 militiamen but decreased the number after the disastrous defeat at the Battle of the Cedars, which severely weakened the American hold on Montreal and forced their ultimate retreat from Canada.

Washington also instructed Putnam to seek out the materials and carpenters needed to begin construction and deployment of congressionally approved “sundry Gundaloes [shallow-draft barges] and fire rafts [floating vessels packed with combustibles, tar, and gunpowder] to prevent the men of War and Enemies Ships from coming into the New York Bay or Narrows.”

Closer to home, Connecticut patriot Nathan Hale, a 21-year-old Continental Army captain, wrote a letter to his brother noting his local company’s growth and mentioning that General George Washington had been called to Congress to “advise on matters of Consequence”.

Sources:

https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/03-04-02-0343

https://www.facebook.com/NathanHaleHomestead