On July 6, two days after the Declaration of Independence was adopted and sent to the printer, John Hancock, a Massachusetts delegate and president of the Congress, wrote a cover letter to accompany the document when it was sent to the various colonies. One of the copies was sent General George Washington, commander in chief of the Continental Army stationed in New York City. The Congress, read the cover letter, had been debating on the greatest question that could ever “come before them, or any other assembly of men.”