Today in Johnson City History, Friday, October 24, 2025
A letter to John Hancock, Johnson City Steam Laundry continues in the news, a very unique quilt show as we "Get Involved!"
October 24, 1775: Two hundred and fifty years ago today, George Washington penned the following letter to John Hancock. As usual, the original spellings and punctuations have been preserved.
“Sir
“My Conjecture of the Destination of the late Squadron from Boston in my last has been unhappily verified by an Outrage exceeding in Barbarity & Cruelty every hostile Act practised among civilized Nations. I have inclosed the Account given me by Mr Jones a Gentleman of the Town of Falmouth of the Destruction of that increasing & flourishing Village. He is a very great Sufferer & informs me that the Time allowed for the Removal of Effects was so small that valuable Property of all kinds & to a great Amount has been destroyed. The Orders shewn by the Captain for this horrid Procedure by which it appears the same Desolation is meditatd upon all the Towns on the Coast made it my Duty to communicate it as quickly & extensively as possible. As Portsmouth was the next Place to which he proposed to go, General Sulivan was permitted to go up & give them his Assistance & Advice to ward off the Blow. I flatter myself the like Event will not happen there as they have a Fortification of some Strength & a Vessel has arrived at a Place called Sheepscot with 1500 lb. of Powder.