The following is an installment of “On This Day,” a series celebrating America’s 250th anniversary by following the actions of Gen. George Washington, the Continental Congress, and the men and women whose bravery and sacrifice led up to the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

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Gen. George Washington sits down at his headquarters in Cambridge to write an unusually candid, eight-page letter to John Augustine Washington, his younger brother. 

Of his nine siblings — three brothers, two sisters, three half-brothers, and one half-sister — he was closest with two: his elder half-brother, whom he idolized, Lawrence Washington, the first child of their father Augustine Washington and his first wife Jane Butler, and his younger brother, John Augustine.

John Augustine was George’s trusted confidant. He managed Mount Vernon during the French and Indian War, and he was deeply involved in Virginia’s revolutionary efforts. This led to frequent correspondence and strong affection between them, as detailed in Ron Chernow’s biography of Washington.

The letter between the brothers is long, emotional, and detailed. It gives a window into how Washington was often stoic during the early years of the American Revolution. Washington vividly recounts the maneuver that forced General William Howe to abandon Boston. 

Washington confesses the Army’s desperate condition, revealing that at times his soldiers had “not 30 rounds of Musket Cartridges a Man” while facing 22 British regiments. 

Washington admits that he hid these shortages from both friend and foe to avoid exposing weakness. He’s pleased to hear, however, that his reputation still “stands fair.”

George Washington to John Augustine Washington

Your Letter of the 24th Ulto was duely forwarded to this Camp by Colo. Lee. and gave me the pleasure of hearing that you, my Sister and family were well. after your Post is established to Fredericksburg the Intercourse by Letter may become regular and certain (& when ever time, little of which God knows I have for friendly corrispondances, will permit, I shall be happy in writing to you)—I cannot call to mind the date of my last to you, but this I recollect, that I have wrote more Letters to than I have received from you.

The Want of Arms, Powder &ca, is not peculiar to Virginia—this Country of which doubtless, you have heard such large and flattering Accounts, is more difficient of each than you can conceive, I have been here Months together with what will scarce be believed—not 30 rounds of Musket Cartridges a Man. have been obliged to submit to all the Insults of the Enemy’s Cannon for want of Powder, keeping what little we had for Pistol distance. Another thing has been done, which added to the above, will put it in the power of this Army to say what perhaps none other with justice ever could. We have maintain’d our Ground against the Enemy under the above want of Powder—and, we have disbanded one Army & recruited another, within Musket Shot of two and Twenty Regimts, the Flower of the British Army when our strength........

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