31To George Washington from Brigadier General Alexander McDougall, 20 August 1777 (Washington Papers)
The Bearrer hereof Mr Philip Pelton is a known Friend to our Cause; He will communicate to you a matter of importance which prudence forbids I should commit to paper. I must refer you to him for particulars. But least he should forget to inform you; the Enemies Force to the Northward is but 5,600. Question him how we have received this intelligence, and it will be explained to your...
32To George Washington from Brigadier General Alexander McDougall, 17 September 1777 (Washington Papers)
I was honored a few minutes Since, with a Copy of your Excellency’s favor of the 14th instant. The Enemy’s Army which came into Jersey from different Quarters, were under the command of General Clinton assisted by three other General officers. Their Force must have been considerable as he was with them. The lowest amounts that can be relyed on, place them at 2000, others as Credible as high as...
33To George Washington from Brigadier General Alexander McDougall, 20 September 1777 (Washington Papers)
I had the Honor of addressing your excellency; on the 17th from Tapan. Colonel Durkee returned in the Evening; and brought unquestiable intelligence, that the Enemy had returned to Fort Washington, Newyork and Bergen; and from the last place to Staten Island. The next morning I marched for Paramus, in order to Collect Provisions; to Supply me on my March to join your Excellency; which I...
34To George Washington from Major General Alexander McDougall, 17 February 1778 (Washington Papers)
Doctor mcKnight, who attended me in my Illness, having asserted to me with great confidence that my Constitution had received So great a Shock, it was in Vain for me to think, of returning to the Army till the opening of the Campaign; was the reason of my removing so far from Camp, to a place of Safety. I think he was mistaken; for my Health is now perfectly restored; but I cannot say the same...
35To George Washington from Major General Alexander McDougall, 29 March 1778 (Washington Papers)
At Morris Town on the 21st instant, I was honored with the receipt of your Excellency’s favor of the 16th, containing your orders to take charge of these Posts, and inclosing the Commission to hold the Court of enquiry. The confidence you are pleased to place in me in this command, is very flattering to me, and calls for my utmost exertion to discharge it; and if posible agreeable to your...
36To George Washington from Major General Alexander McDougall, 3 April 1778 (Washington Papers)
I had the Honor to address you a few days since by General Knox; in which I informed your Excellency of the deranged State of this department. Since that I have received your favors of the 25th and 27th ultimo. The necessary orders are given at the Ferries, to the drivers of Catle and Stores for the Grand Army, to Cross the Deleware at East Town. And your orders respecting the recruits of the...
37To George Washington from Major General Alexander McDougall, 13 April 1778 (Washington Papers)
I am honored with the Receipt of your Favors of the 31st Ultimo & 6th Instant. The inclosures in the last have been forwarded agreeable to your Orders. No Service would be more agreeable to me than an Attack upon New-York, could I recommend it consistent with any probable Prospect of Success. But the Condition & Strength of these posts, utterly forbid it. Especially when the consequence of a...
38To George Washington from Maj. Gen. Alexander McDougall, 27 April 1778 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Maj. Gen. Alexander McDougall, 27 April 1778. On 1 May, GW wrote McDougall , “I return you my thanks for your favor of the 27th Ulto.” McDougall wrote in his journal for 27 April, “Mr Deane left this in the morning wrote Genl Washington the advice He brought” ( NHi : Alexander McDougall Papers).
39To George Washington from Major General Alexander McDougall, 6 May 1778 (Washington Papers)
Your Excellency’s favor of the 1st was handed to me last Night from Fish Kill. Agreeable to your request I inclose you a return of the Corps at these posts of the 27th Ultimo. It is far from being correct; but it is the best I can obtain. Col. Greatons and Aldens regiments are not yet ordered down from Albany; as the Stores there were exposed to a Coup de main of the Enemy, Till the River was...
40To George Washington from Major General Alexander McDougall, 21 May 1778 (Washington Papers)
I am honored with your favor of the 17th by Express; and shall wait your future Commands at this Place. I am entirely agreed with your Excellency in Opinion, that New-York will be the last place of the United States the Enemy will quit. The Inclosed from Colonel Graham is the last Advice I have had from that City to be relyed on. He commands a Corps of New Levies of near 200 men; now at...
41To George Washington from Major General Alexander McDougall, 2 September 1778 (Washington Papers)
His Excellency the Commander in chief of the American Army informed the Council of General officers conven’d at His quarters last night, that General Sullivan with the Army under His Command had retired on the 29th Ultimo to the North End of Rhode Island, and that the Enemy from the best information the General could obtain, had embarked about Four Thousand Troops on Board of ⟨a⟩ number of...
42To George Washington from Major General Alexander McDougall, 1 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
The van of my division arr[i]ved at Mr Menezies House; at 8 this morning, when I received your Excellency’s orders, throˆ Colonel Laurence, to Halt my Division on the first Convenint Ground; and there wait further orders, which is accordinly done. From the appearance of the Country near us, I fear Forage will be a Scarce Article. Mr Van Zandt who is the Bearrer of this, will convey to me any...
43To George Washington from Major General Alexander McDougall, 9 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
You may remember, I informed you this morning, I had Sent Col. Putnam to inspect the roads to Farmington; and directed him to cause Such routs be mended from this, throˆ the Severals Towns you mentioned, to that Town, as he on inspection should Judge most eligible for the march of the Army. I beg leave to inclose his report on this Subject, handed to me by the Bearer, who returns to the Party...
44To George Washington from Major General Alexander McDougall, 21 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
It is extremely difficult, to give your Excellency a satisfactory or conclusive Opinion on the Questions proposed to the Council of war. As to the Enemy’s Design to operate against Boston, I think it very improbable. The only Object that remains there, considering the Experience he has had, of the general Attachment of the people of the Country to America; and his relinquishing the Possession...
45To George Washington from Major General Alexander McDougall, 28 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
General Nix[on] has applied to me, to signify my approbation of his applyg to your excellency for leave to Vissit his numerous Family, and to provide for them before the winter Setts in. As I know he has a very numerous Family, and the Colonels of his regiments are Careful men, I have no objection to his having Such leave. But as your excellency is better informed of what Service is in...
46To George Washington from Major General Alexander McDougall, 3 November 1778 (Washington Papers)
Since I had the Honor to address you last, I was favoured with your Excellencys Commands of the 24th Ultimo; throˆ Farmington. If the Enemy had appeared in the neighbourhood of Connecticut, or near it, I should not have considered the spirit of my first orders, binding to remain at Hartford, till I should receive others, as I knew the object of marching the Troops, from Fredericksburgh and...
47To George Washington from Major General Alexander McDougall, 9 November 1778 (Washington Papers)
I was honored with your Favor of Yestarday in the Evening. The two Connecticut Brigades are still on this ground & will probably be well supplied for a few Days. Nixon’s is advanced to Woodbury, seven miles from hence. General Huntington has applied to me to put their Officers to the respective Corps as they are arranged agreeable to the New-Establishment, as the rejected Officers are gone...
48To George Washington from Major General Alexander McDougall, 13 November 1778 (Washington Papers)
Unless the new ara[n]gement takes place now, Many officers of Companies will not have the benefit of the orders for furloughs, as they are to have officers promoted from Serjeants and for the reasons I have mentiond. My affairs and those of the Division did not permit me to Sett off as I intended, but expect to do it in an Hour. I have the Honor to be, Your very Humble Servant ALS , DLC:GW ....
49To George Washington from Major General Alexander McDougall, 17 November 1778 (Washington Papers)
I am honored with your favor of 14th instant, thro^ General Huntington; and I am perswaded he will obey your excellency’s commands, respecting the new arangement of the line of his State; and take every posible Care of the Division in my absence. I was happy enough in finding Mrs Macdougal recovered of her illness; and shall therefore join the Division on Saturday next; if no pressing call...
50To George Washington from Major General Alexander McDougall, 5 December 1778 (Washington Papers)
It was not until late in the evening of the 2d instant, that Patterson and Learnards Brigades arrived at Fish Kill. As they were much fatigued by the deep roads, I permited them to repose two days till I could determine on proper places for their winter Cantonment. At noon yesterday I arrived here, to inspect the Post, and give the necessary orders for the winter. In the evening I received...
51To George Washington from Major General Alexander McDougall, 9 December 1778 (Washington Papers)
I am honored with yours of the 7th instant from Paramus. Sir Harry Clinton was informed there were fifteen Hundred Barrels of Provission at Kings Ferry. The object of it is expected. His expedition as you conjectured was founded on false information. He secured a litle Broken Fish, which was all the acquisition of his enterprise to the Kings Ferry. The detachment of his, that marched out to...
52To George Washington from Major General Alexander McDougall, 10 December 1778 (Washington Papers)
I had the Honor to address you yesterday Evening. Extreme bad weather prevents my setting out for West Point, as I intended. It has always been difficult to supply this Post in Winter, with Forage—Your Excellency will readily conceive, how much this must now be increas’d, by the long Continuance of the Army in it’s Vicinity. Upon full Enquiry into, and Report upon the expected Supplies of this...
53To George Washington from Major General Alexander McDougall, 11–15 January 1779 (Washington Papers)
I was honored in due time, with your favor of the 16th Ultimo from Paramus. The pressing duties of the Post, obliged me to defer an answer to the Several important Questions on which you were pleased to ask my opinion. I was the rather induced to this, as I presume, they were Stated on a Supposition that the Enemy would soon evacuate the united States, but there is no appearance now or Since I...
54To George Washington from Major General Alexander McDougall, 19 January 1779 (Washington Papers)
I had the Honor to address you very fully, on the 15th Instant, by the stated Express on the West Side of the River. Since that, the Gentleman (Captain Bedlow) I wrote for, on the Subject of Niagara arrived; and is the Bearer of this. He is a man of Virtue, great Integrity and Understanding; served in the last war, a Lieutenant in the Navy on Lake Ontario. He will be able to give Congress, or...
55To George Washington from Major General Alexander McDougall, 25 January 1779 (Washington Papers)
I had the Honor to address you by Captain Bedlow. I have not been favored with any of your’s, since that from Paramus of the 16th Ultimo. Your being absent from the Army, occasioned the Caution on the Address of my late Letters, “not to be opened [but] by the Commander in chief.” I take the Liberty to inclose correct Copies, of my Orders for Permits of Provision below, and the Regulation of...
56To George Washington from Major General Alexander McDougall, 4 February 1779 (Washington Papers)
My last address to your Excellency was of the 25th Ultimo by the Stated express’s. I have not been favored with any of yours Since the 16th of december. The works at Kings-Ferry, will be ready for the Cannon and Compleat to receive the Troops, long before those can now be transported from the Eastward. west Point can very ill, Spare any heavy for the Ferry. Col. woods regt having finished...
57Major General Alexander McDougall’s Estimate of Enemy Strength, 16 February 1779 (Washington Papers)
The Corps on the other Side, have been compared with the Official Letters and paragraphs, in the Enemies Papers; relative to the embarkation and arrival of the Troops at Barbadoes &ce, and Georgia, but neither of those, are among these —It is certain there are 14 Companies of Light Infantry at South Hampton, and its very seldom, that the Battalion is sent on remote Service, from its flank...
58To George Washington from Major General Alexander McDougall, 4 March 1779 (Washington Papers)
In a few Days, I hope to be able to make your Excellency, a full report of every Department at these Posts. On the first of April, 847 of the nine month’s mens time of Service expires—Vizt 357 of Patterson’s, 187 of the late Learned’s, and 303 of Nixon’s Brigade. By the last week’s Return, I have 1653 present fit for Duty, exclusive of the necessary Commands, for protecting my Front, and...
59To George Washington from Major General Alexander McDougall, 20 March 1779 (Washington Papers)
I was honored in due Season, with your Favors of the 9th 14th and 25th Ultimo; and the 6th 16th and 17th Instant. All that can be done, to defeat the Object of the Enemy, if he intends up this River will be done. I have waited for a leisure Moment, to give particular Answers to all your Commands; as well as to report in Detail, the State of the Works, and every Department at these Posts—But...
60To George Washington from Major General Alexander McDougall, 21 March 1779 (Washington Papers)
I had the Honor to address you Yesterday, by the Express which handed me your’s —The other with whom I intended to transmit these Inclosures, went off unknown to me. The Gold by Mr Lawrance and Colonel Malcom was received in due Time—You have herewith some of the first Fruits of it —The Person, who brought me General Tryon’s Letter of November has, so establish’d his Reputation with the Enemy,...