Washington writes to Second Continental Congress President John Hancock candidly admitting that he is still learning the ground around him in New York, finding defenses incomplete and the situation demanding constant adjustment.

He spends the rest of the day sending off several correspondences from his new headquarters in the bustling city. At the top of his mind? Canada. 

Despite the pending British attack on New York, he decides to order four regiments northward, something that seriously weakens his command strength in a city still home to a robust population of Loyalists. In one of his correspondences, he writes to Maj. Gen. John Thomas, pledging 2,000 men to be sent toward him with all haste.

ON THIS DAY: ON HIS FIRST DAY IN NEW YORK, WASHINGTON DOESN’T WASTE ANY TIME

To Major General John Thomas

New York April 15. 1776

Dear Sir

I am to acknowledge the receipt of your favor of the 7th Instt and cannot but express my Concern at the great deficiency of the Regiments destin’d for Canada, but as I am sensible of the necessity of having a respectable body of Troops in that Country, I am now preparing to send you four of the strongest Regiments in the Service and you may rely upon it, no time shall be lost in getting them forward as fast as possible, they will amount to about 2000 Rank & file and will go to Albany by Water—I have wrote General Schuyler by this opportunity and desir’d him to make the necessary preparations for their Subsistence, and doubt not he will speedily dispatch them to you.

I most sincerely wish you Success equal to the importance of the Cause—and am very respectfully Sir Your most obedt Servt