1796 James Peale ( 1749-1831). Martha Dandridge Custis Washington (1731-1802) (Daniel Parke Custis) (George Washington)
What did she think of these stays? In a Dec. 30, 1775 letter to Elizabeth Ramsay, Martha described the conditions of her first visit.
“I have waited some days to collect something to tell, but allas there is nothing but what you will find in the papers – every person seems to be cheerfull and happy hear, - some days we have a number of cannon and shells from Boston and Bunkers Hill, but it does not seem to surprise any one but me; I confess I shudder every time I hear the sound of a gun – I have been to dinner with two of the Generals, Lee and Putnam and I just took a look at pore Boston & Charlstown – from prospect Hill Charlestown has only a few chimneys standing in it, thare seems to be a number of very fine Buildings in Boston but god knows how long they will stand; they are pulling up all the warfs for firewood – to me that never see any thing of war, the preparations, are very terable indeed, but I endever to keep my fears to myself as well as I can.”
Martha Washington to Elizabeth Ramsay, Dec. 30 1775, in Joseph E. Fields, comp. "Worthy Partner’: The Papers of Martha Washington,” [1994], 164. Image courtesy of
NYPL The New York Public Library.
Washington Taking Command of the American Army at Cambridge, MA July 3, 1775
Washington's Headquarters at Cambridge. In support of her husband, Martha Washington visited and stayed at army headquarters nearly every year during the Revolutionary War.
