A Second Continental Congress.
In light of the bloody events in Massachusetts, a Second Continental Congress representing all 13 colonies has convened in the city of Philadelphia. The Congress will attempt to order the military situation in accord with agreement among all the Colonies. It will seek as well to center parlays with London in one place and with all colonies in unison. The Second Congress will be presided over by John Hancock of Boston as Peyton Randolph is not in good health and cannot continue his duties from the previous such congress.
In these few months since the glorious battles at Lexington and Concord, the military effort has been ad-hoc. Various Militias have driven out Tory officials and seized Royal munitions. Thereunto, the first accomplishment of the assembled representatives has been to create from the several Colony Militias a single Continental Army and to name a General to lead it. Geo. Washington of Virginia, who saw considerable duty in the French War, is to be Commander-in-Chief with Artemas Ward, Charles Lee, Philip Schuyler and Israel Putnam as majors-general. Congress has also exerted itself in the mercantile interests of the thirteen colonies – all American ports are now open mooting the odious Navigation Acts.
Despite the creation of the Continental Army, the Congress expects that the division between all colonies and the Crown to be eventually be set right to the benefit of all. To this end, the Congress has approved the Olive Branch Petition to the British Crown in a gesture of reconciliation.