Gerry, Elbridge, 1744-1814 to James Warren

Written by Gerry as delegate from Massachusetts to the Continental Congress to Warren as a member of the Continental Navy Board. References Warren's letter of 23 October 1777, in which he found news of General John Burgoyne's surrender at Saratoga earlier that month. In that letter Warren expressed misgivings about the terms of surrender that General Horatio Gates gave to Burgoyne, known as the Articles of Convention. Gerry says he had the same misgivings, but says Gates was justified in giving generous terms because Sir Henry Clinton was making moves to reinforce Burgoyne. Says that they finished working on the Articles of Confederation that evening and that they will be sent to the states shortly for consideration. Says John Adams left Congress two days previously and includes two letters that he received at York after he left (not included here). Gerry says he opened them on instructions of Adams. One, which he did not read, was in a female hand that he assumes is Abigail Adams. Postscript says it appears Fort Mifflin in Philadelphia will be attacked soon. Gerry's information was correct as Fort Mifflin fell on 16 November 1777.