06/25/2026
Dr. Jonathan Potts was no stranger to travel. The 31-year-old doctor, born in southwest Pennsylvania, had crossed the ocean to study medicine at Edinburgh University, then returned home to open his own practice in Reading, PA. In the spring of 1776, he embarked on his biggest, and most dangerous, adventure yet.
Potts was a fervent supporter of colonial rights who had offered his medical services to the army throughout 1775, inspecting Pennsylvania’s troops and providing medicines. In the spring of 1776, he saw an opportunity for advancement. He petitioned Congress for an appointment as the director of the military hospital in the Canadian Department. The position had already been given to Dr. Samuel Stringer, but Potts was made Stringer’s second-in-command.
By June 25, 1776—250 years ago today—Potts had reached New York City, where he met the army’s adjutant general, Joseph Reed. Reed and Potts could have known each other before the war; Reed was from Philadelphia, where Potts had studied medicine before Edinburgh. Whether or not they had met before, Potts received Reed’s approval. Reed wrote a letter of introduction to General John Sullivan, the commander of the army in Canada. The letter described Potts as “a gentleman of Character in every respect & most indisputable Zeal in the publick Cause.”
Potts would need that zeal to carry him through a difficult campaign season. By the time he arrived in northern New York, the Canadian Department no longer existed. The army, riddled with smallpox and other diseases, had retreated to the Ticonderoga area. Potts was named director of the military hospital at Fort George. While there, he would have to treat thousands of sick soldiers while coping with severe shortages of staff, supplies, and medicine. Potts had his work cut out for him.
The Fort Ticonderoga Museum holds over 40 documents relating to Potts. Follow along on our social media this summer and fall to learn how he coped with the challenges of army service and treated the Northern Army’s illnesses.
Learn more about this letter (object ID MS.1969) on the Ticonderoga Online Collections database: https://fortticonderoga.catalogaccess.com/archives/29828
