1To John Adams from Samuel Smith, 2 August 1798 (Adams Papers)
I take the liberty to enclose you the copy of a letter which I shall address to the Publick tomorrow—I think it my duty to apologize to you for repeating a conversation which passed at your table & for thus infringing on the rules of hospitality & society—The necessity of defending myself against what I conceived to be a misrepresentation will I flatter myself plead my apology— I have no right...
2To John Adams from Samuel Smith, 24 July 1799 (Adams Papers)
I Do myself the honor to Inclose you a publication of the Committee of this City, whether it will have the desired effect contemplated I cannot yet determine. The following Expression Induced me to address you. We are informed by the Sect. of War that the Finances of the U. S. did not admit of a larger appropriation than twenty thousand Dollars towards the fortifications to be erected near our...
3To John Adams from Samuel Smith, 1 December 1811 (Adams Papers)
I had the honor yesterday to receive your letter of the 25h. Ulto. in which you Say—“That Coll. Pickering in his letters to the people of the U.S has represented to the World, that a corrupt bargain was made between yourself and Brother on the One part and me on the other, that I Should dismiss the then Secy. of State from his office, as consideration of your Votes & influence for me at the...
4To Alexander Hamilton from Samuel Smith, 16 June 1793 (Hamilton Papers)
Before I receivd your Letter of the 8 Inst. I had Convers’d with Mr. Randolph who had nearly Satisfied my Mind. I had his permission to mention Such points of our Conversation as tended to Allay the fears of the people relative to a War & I have taken the Liberty to use some parts of your Letter to serve the same desireable purpose. These are those parts that prove the Imprudence of a...
5To Alexander Hamilton from Samuel Smith, 20 August 1793 (Hamilton Papers)
Yours of 17 Inst. I have recd. The late proceedings of the Executive give satisfaction to every Body. It is only Askd—why was not this done sooner to which I have answerd—that the President had promised lenient Measures & depended on the promise of Mr Genet respectg. the Vessells Commissiond in America being orderd off not to return & that he had pledgd his Honor to grant no New Commissions....
6To Alexander Hamilton from Samuel Smith, 27 August 1793 (Hamilton Papers)
Since my last I have inquird most particularly & find that there was not the Smallest Ground for the Report of Rendezvous houses being open’d for an Expedition to Providence. The Aristocratic French said that the Intention of the Volunteers being askd from the French Mercht Ships to man the Ships of War was to go agt. Providence & People generally wishing the Destruction of that Nest of...
7To Alexander Hamilton from Samuel Smith, 16 September 1794 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Baltimore, September 16, 1794. On September 19, 1794, Hamilton wrote to Smith : “I have had the pleasure of receiving your two letters of the 16th: instant.” Neither letter has been found. ] Smith referred to one of these letters when he wrote to William Pinkney, president of the Maryland Council, on September 21, 1794, as follows: “… In Consequence of a Letter I wrote to the Secretary of...
8To Alexander Hamilton from Samuel Smith, 14 January 1800 (Hamilton Papers)
Some Years past I had the pleasure to recommend Mr. W. Wilson to the secy. of War & he Obtained a Commission in the Artillery, in which he Conducted himself with honor & propriety. A Bad State of Health Compelled him reluctantly to resign. With A restoration of health his desire to a Military Life has again returned, permit me to recommend him to your Attention & to flatter myself that he may...
9Summons to Benjamin Franklin, with Memorandum by Him, 6–7 February 1772 (Franklin Papers)
ALS and ADS : American Philosophical Society Benjamin Franklin Esqr. without Deduction being on Account of the purchase and Transportation of Forage for the Use of the forces Commanded by Genl. Braddock by Warrant dated 21st. June 1755 ——£1000 The Sheriffs of London and Middlesex have process come into their hands against you for not passing your Accounts of the above Sum, to which they are to...
10To Benjamin Franklin from Samuel Smith, 2 September 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I take the Liberty to trouble you with a few Lines, which hope you’ll excuse, on seeing the immediate Necessity of my writing— I embark’d from Philada: for France & was unfortunately taken, haveing at the same Time with me a Sum, in Loan Interest Bills drawn on the Commissioners for the Thirteen United States of America at Paris, which was oblidg’d to...
11To George Washington from Lieutenant Colonel Samuel Smith, 26 September 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have the pleasure to inform your Excellency that I have just arrived here, with my party, & expect to throw myself in to Fort Mifflin this night, the want of provisions has detained me much, & the men not being properly chosen for such an expedition has been a great stop to our march, Few of them have Shoes or Stockings, many of them without Coats or Blankets & scarce any who have more than...
12To George Washington from Lieutenant Colonel Samuel Smith, 27 September 1777 (Washington Papers)
I last night threw myself into this Garrison, where I am sorry to inform your Excellency that I find every-thing in the utmost Confusion, not as many Cartouches as will last one day, & the very necessary Cartouches for the Block houses not sufficient for an hour: 60 untrained Militia, are all the artillery men in the Fort, the provisions almost out. The Militia refused obedience to Capt. Treat...
13To George Washington from Lieutenant Colonel Samuel Smith, 2 October 1777 (Washington Papers)
Colo. Nichola with the advice of the Officers in Garrison withdrew his Invalids before the Arrival of your Excellency’s Letter so that the Command remains with me. The Enemy yesterday landed a number of men (below Billingsport and encampt last night within nine miles) some say 400. others 600. my Opinion is the first as we had intelligence of that number having march’d from Willmington for...
14To George Washington from Lieutenant Colonel Samuel Smith, 3 October 1777 (Washington Papers)
I sent yesterday an express to your Excellency with an account of the enemies having landed near Billingsport, which place they have now possession of, Our Militia evacuated it after bringing off all the stores and Spikeing up the Cannon. This event as I foresaw struck the fleet with much Panic, last night five Officers and 18 Men Deserted and a great part of the rest only wait for...
15To George Washington from Lieutenant Colonel Samuel Smith, 3 October 1777 (Washington Papers)
This will be delivered you by Majr Boyce who has reconnoitered the enemy now in Billingsport and reports their strength to be 1500 men at least 1300 of whom went from Phila. he will inform you of particulars. This evening the enemy have been reconnoitering us from the Meadows, what they intend I know not. Certainly their force scatterd in this manner must weaken them much. Their Shiping have...
16To George Washington from Lieutenant Colonel Samuel Smith, 6 October 1777 (Washington Papers)
From the best Intelligence the Enemy have withdrawn all their men from Billingsport (the night of the fourth Instant) except two hundred who seem much discourag’d, Your Excellencys Success (on which I sincerely congratulate you) has been of the utmost service, we have now no more Desertions, on the contrary some who went from the fleet have returnd. Had we a few men to sport on we might with...
17To George Washington from Lieutenant Colonel Samuel Smith, 7 October 1777 (Washington Papers)
Yesterday Evening the Enemy entirely evacuated Billingsport after having destroy’d our works, burnt the platforms, Houses[,] Gun Carriages &c. they have left all our own guns, one of which a twelve pounder they had taken out the spike and left it open. The works they threw up are entire We shall destroy them. The Commodore engag’d their Shiping last night and chas’d them down to Chester, where...
18To George Washington from Lieutenant Colonel Samuel Smith, 9 October 1777 (Washington Papers)
I Receiv’d your Excellencys Letter of the 7th and have read it to the Officers of the Navy which assists not a little to keep up their Spirits. Yesterday a large Scow was brought down the Schuylkil which we secur’d, after wounding One of their Men. Our Intelligence informs that Six Boats were ready to come down from the lower ferry and in the evening we heard that a large Body with 20 ps. of...
19To George Washington from Lieutenant Colonel Samuel Smith, 10 October 1777 (Washington Papers)
The Enemy have just crossed & are crossing in very considerable numbers to Province Island already they have begun to throw up Works & tomorrow morning I suppose will open on us which will oblige me to withdraw my men out of the Fort & Cover them the best in my power, they have about 20 Boats & if the Number we have seen on the opposite Shore are to cross there must at least be 800 or 1000, If...
20To George Washington from Lieutenant Colonel Samuel Smith, 11 October 1777 (Washington Papers)
Last Night the Enemy threw up a Battery in the rear of the Fort close to the Banks of the Meadow within Musket shot of us & had already got one piece of Artillery in it. We attacked it with the Floating Batteries[,] Block houses, Gallies, & 32 Pounder from the Battery & in short time obliged them to hoist the white Flag, as We were bringing off the prisoners another party ran down which the...
21To George Washington from Lieutenant Colonel Samuel Smith, 12 October 1777 (Washington Papers)
I wrote you this day giving an Accot of the Enemies having erected a Battery in the Rear of our Northwest Block House close to the Banks of the Meadow, in which we took 56: Soldiers & 2 Officers, An Officer with a party came down under the Sanction of the flag & took & kept possession of it. we have made two or three fruitless Attempts to Storm it, in the last of which we had Some few kill’d &...
22To George Washington from Lieutenant Colonel Samuel Smith, 14 October 1777 (Washington Papers)
I wrote your Excellency the 12th Instant on which night the enemy threw up a long Breast Work on the high ground at province Island, which Enfilades our principal Battery. I got some small assistance from Colo. Green Yesterday and threw up a blind on the platform which with two others I intend throwing up to day, will in some measure make the men who work the Guns secure. I presume they have...
23To George Washington from Lieutenant Colonel Samuel Smith, 16 October 1777 (Washington Papers)
The Enemy have open’d three Batteries on us. one in front of the pest Houses which with Recache rakes the whole Garrison, from whence they throw Red Hot Balls, as yet without Success. Another in Rear of our N. W. Block House in which they have Some Royalls an 8 In. Howitz. & 1 p[ai]r Artillery 12 p[ounde]r. I believe the other in Rear of the Mud Battery in which as yet they have but one 8 In....
24To George Washington from Lieutenant Colonel Samuel Smith, 18 October 1777 (Washington Papers)
I wrote your Excellency the Second day the enemy open’d their batteries; they have since continued a fire from their two Bomb Batteries and red hot balls from their works at the Port [pest] houses, as yet without much damage. Yesterday an unlucky shell fell in a barracks where the soldiers had gone contrary to orders, which killed one and wounded 3 others, two of them very slightly. They have...
25To George Washington from Lieutenant Colonel Samuel Smith, 20 October 1777 (Washington Papers)
I received your Excellencys favor of the 19th in which I observe you have thought proper to send the Baron d’Aranot to take the command of this Garrison. There will, therefore, be no further occasion for me here, as the party of Infantry left, of what I brought here, does not now exceed 80 men, which will scarce be a command for Maj. Ballard, and farther draft must be made for the artillery. I...
26To George Washington from Lieutenant Colonel Samuel Smith, 26 October 1777 (Washington Papers)
I recd your Excellys Order to remain in the Garrison & Shall obey it, when I wrote I expected there would not have been that Occasion for my being here which I now See there will, Baron d’Arendts ill State of Health will oblige him to retire to Red Bank for three or four days perhaps more, whether Coll Green or I are to Command I know not, I presume I am to have the Command untill an express...
27To George Washington from Lieutenant Colonel Samuel Smith, 30 October 1777 (Washington Papers)
I received your Excellency’s favor of the 28th. I am happy to hear of a sufficient reinforcement. If they arrive in time I have no doubt we shall keep the fort. The enemy have been afloat for three days. The weather must have done them much harm. Their bridge on Schuylkill broke, and we secured 12 of their boats with the planks on them which composed part of the bridge. This must stop,...
28To George Washington from Lt. Col. Samuel Smith, 31 October 1777 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Lt. Col. Samuel Smith, 31 Oct. 1777. GW wrote Smith on 1 Nov. that “I have this moment receiv’d your favor of Yesterday.”
29To George Washington from Lieutenant Colonel Samuel Smith, 3 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have this Inst. the honor to receve your Excellency’s Letter of the 1st. Genl Vernum has arriv’d and will send me 200 men this morning. Genl Foreman has some Cloathing of small consequence, which I am to have this day, We by order of Genl Vernum begin this day to take the Inhabitants Cloaths I fear it will be a very poor Resource, this Garrison must be well cloathed or they will perish. I...
30To George Washington from Lieutenant Colonel Samuel Smith, 4 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
I wrote your Excellency yesterday am happy to find I was mistaken, The enemy have not constructed a Battery on their work as I then expected, I was deceiv’d by the Water being much lower than usual which left a greater part of the Wreck naked. General Varnums reinforcement arriv’d yesterday. Last night about 8. OClock we were alarm’d with the rowing of Boats between this and province Island....