9151From George Washington to Major Benjamin Tupper, 20 October 1775 (Washington Papers)
Whereas Information has been given to me that two Vessels the one belonging to Holmes & the other to Coffin, both Persons of known Enmity to the United Colonies are now laying at Martha’s Vineyard, intending to proceed to Boston with their Cargoes for the Benefit & Refreshment of the ministerial Troops there—These are therefore to require you to seize the said Vessels, with their Cargoes, &...
9152General Orders, 21 October 1775 (Washington Papers)
The Officers of Col. Gridley’s regiment, and Major Crane’s Corps of Artillery, who are inclined to engage in the service of the United Colonies, for one Year from the day of the expiration of their present term of service, are to deliver in their Names and the Rank they now possess to the Adjutant General to morrow Morning at ten OClock; such as disincline to remain any longer in the service,...
9153General Orders, 22 October 1775 (Washington Papers)
The Deputies from the Honorable Continental Congress, having arrived in this camp; in order to confer with the General, the several Governors, of Rhode Island, & Connecticut, the Council of massachusetts bay, and the president and Convention of New Hampshire; on the continuing an Army for the Defence & support of America, and its Liberties; all Officers, who decline the further Service of...
9154General Orders, 23 October 1775 (Washington Papers)
Col: David Brewer of the 9th Regt of Foot, tried at a General Court Martial, whereof Brigdr Genl Thomas was president, for “procuring a Lieutenant’s Commission for his son, an unexperienced boy of 16, or 17 Years of Age, and returning him as in the public service from the 24th of April, and drawing his pay for the month of August; during all which time the said boy, was at home, in his fathers...
9155From George Washington to Lund Washington, 23 October 1775 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: to Lund Washington, 23 Oct. 1775. On 5 Nov. Lund Washington wrote to GW : “I have just reciev’d two letters from you Octbr 15th & 23d.”
9156General Orders, 24 October 1775 (Washington Papers)
The General approves the sentence of the General Court Martial, in yesterday’s orders. Varick transcript , DLC:GW .
9157From George Washington to Nicholas Cooke and Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 24 October 1775 (Washington Papers)
The inclosed Information, being of the highest Importance, I thought it proper to transmit it to you with all Dispatch. I am Sir yr mo. Ob. Servt LB , in Edmund Randolph’s writing, DLC:GW ; Varick transcript , DLC:GW . The letter-book copy is addressed to Cooke and is followed by a note reading “A Letter in the same Words was written to Governor Trumbull of Connecticut.” Trumbull’s letter book...
9158From George Washington to the Falmouth Committee of Safety, 24 October 1775 (Washington Papers)
The Desolation, and Misery, which ministerial Vengeance had planned, and, in Contempt of every Principle of Humanity, has been so lately brought on the Town of Falmouth, I know not, how Sufficiently to detest. Nor can my Compassion for the general Suffering, be Conceived beyond the true Measure of my Feelings. But my Readiness to relieve you, by complying with your Request, signified in your...
9159Agreement with John Fisk, 24 October 1775 (Washington Papers)
Articles of agreement between George Washington Esqr. Commander in Chief of the Continental Army, for himself and his successors in the said command, and John Fisk. Witness, That the said George Washington doth hereby bind himself, to receive of the said John Fisk, any Quantity of Powder not exceeding twenty Tons; for each Pound of which he engages to pay the said Fisk, four Shillings lawful...
9160From George Washington to John Hancock, 24 October 1775 (Washington Papers)
My Conjecture of the Destination of the late Squadron from Boston in my last has been unhappily verified by an Outrage exceeding in Barbarity & Cruelty every hostile Act practised among civilized Nations. I have inclosed the Account given me by Mr Jones a Gentleman of the Town of Falmouth of the Destruction of that increasing & flourishing Village. He is a very great Sufferer & informs me that...
9161From George Washington to Nathaniel Woodhull, 24 October 1775 (Washington Papers)
Your Favour of the 12th Instant I duly received, and thank you for inclosing Captain Thompsons Information. The Contents of the Deposition, now transmitted to you, are of such a Nature, that I thought, no Time should be lost in giving you the earliest Notice of them. I am Sir yr mo. obt Servt LB , in Edmund Randolph’s writing, DLC:GW ; Varick transcript , DLC:GW . Some member of GW’s staff...
9162General Orders, 25 October 1775 (Washington Papers)
Otway Byrd Esqr. is appointed to act as Aid-de-Camp to Major Genl Lee, during the Absence of Samuel Griffen Esqr. and is to be obeyed as such. For the future Peas and Beans are to be valued by the Commissary General at Six shillings, lawfull money a bushel. Varick transcript , DLC:GW . Byrd continued to serve Lee as an aide-de-camp after Griffin’s return.
9163From George Washington to Major Christopher French, 25 October 1775 (Washington Papers)
I now set down to give a final Answer to your Application respecting your Swords—Dr Franklin confirms what I before mentioned that the Priviledge claimed was no Part of the Stipulation made at Philadelphia, but passed without Discussion. Having made Inquiry I find the Rule with Regard to the Indulgence in Question is, that Prisoners do not wear their Swords. I therefore cannot approve of it,...
9164General Orders, 26 October 1775 (Washington Papers)
As several of the Officers have not yet signified their intentions respecting the requisitions contain’d in the orders of the 22nd Instant, and as the Nature of the Case will admit of no delay—The General directs, that every Officer in the army, do forthwith declare to his Colonel or Commanding Officer of the regt to which he belongs, whether he will, or will not continue in the service, until...
9165From George Washington to Major General Philip Schuyler, 26 October 1775 (Washington Papers)
Your several Favors of the 12th & 14th Instant came safely to Hand, though not in the proper Order of Time with their several Inclosures. You do me Justice in believing that I feel the utmost Anxiety for your Situation: that I sympathize with you in all your Distresses, and shall most heartily share in the Joy of your Success—My Anxiety extends itself to poor Arnold, whose Fate depends upon...
9166General Orders, 27 October 1775 (Washington Papers)
In making out the Pay Abstracts for the Month of September; the Colonels and commanding Officers of Corps, are not to include any Officer, or Soldier, on the Detachment with Col. Arnold; as he drew full pay for that Month, for every Man under his command. Varick transcript , DLC:GW .
9167From George Washington to the Massachusetts General Court, 27 October 1775 (Washington Papers)
Gentlemen: The continued accumulation of price, and the scarcity which prevails throughout the camp, for the several articles of wood, hay, &c., oblige me to address your honourable Houses again upon this subject. The distress of the Army for these necessaries, I fear, will be followed, with the most dreadful effects to the general cause in which we are engaged, unless some speedy and...
9168General Orders, 28 October 1775 (Washington Papers)
The General Court Martial whereof Col. Bridge was President is dissolved. It is recommended to the Non-Commissiond Officers and Soldiers, whose pay will be drawn in Consequence of last Thursday’s orders (especially to those, whose Attachment to the glorious Cause in which they are engaged, and which will induce them to continue in the service another Year) to lay out their money in Shirts,...
9169From George Washington to Anthony White, 28 October 1775 (Washington Papers)
Sir,—I could not let Mr. White depart this Camp without paying you the tribute of a Letter. When I wrote to you last, I thought it not at all unlikely, that he might have been one of my Family before this, as I was not sanguine in my expectation of the Gentleman’s (to whom I had written before I had spoke to yr. son on this Subject) coming this way. By the last Post I received a Letter from...
9170General Orders, 29 October 1775 (Washington Papers)
Varick transcript , DLC:GW .
9171From George Washington to Nicholas Cooke, 29 October 1775 (Washington Papers)
Your Favour of the 25 Inst. came safely to hand. Capt. Whipple’s Voyage has been unfortunate, but it is not in our power to Command Success, tho’ it is always our duty to deserve it. I hope he will be mo⟨re⟩ Successful in his intended Voyage. If it ⟨is⟩ proposed in Consequence of the Direction of the Congress I think it proper you shoud apprize him that two Schooners have Sailed from hence to...
9172From George Washington to Richard Henry Lee, 29 October 1775 (Washington Papers)
As you will be fully informed of every matter and thing relative to the army, by your own Committee I should not have given you the trouble of a Letter at this time were it not on Colo. Reeds acct—He is, as I presume you may have heard, concernd in many of the principal Causes now depending in the Courts of Pensylvania and should those Causes be press’d for tryal by his brethren of the...
9173From George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 29 October 1775 (Washington Papers)
Since I had the pleasure of addressing you last no material occurrence has happened in our Camp. Depy Governor Griswold was very desirous to take the minutes of the Conference with the Delegates of the Continental Congress, with him, but they were so lengthy the time did not admit of it—As soon as they can be copied fair they shall be transmitted. I was somewhat surprised to find, that in one...
9174General Orders, 30 October 1775 (Washington Papers)
Varick transcript , DLC:GW .
9175From George Washington to John Hancock, 30 October 1775 (Washington Papers)
The Information which the Gentlemen who have lately gone from hence can give the Congress of the State & Situation of the Army would have made a Letter unnecessary if I did not suppose there would be some Anxiety to know the Intentions of the Army on the Subject of their Re-inlistment. Agreeable to the Advice of those Gentlemen & my own Opinion, I immediately began by directing all such...
9176From George Washington to Lieutenant Colonel Joseph Reed, 30 October 1775 (Washington Papers)
After you left this yesterday Mr Tudor presented me with the Inclosed—as there may be some observations worthy of notice I forward it to you, that it may be presented to the Congress; but I would have his remarks upon the frequency of General Courts Martial consider’d with some degree of caution, for although the nature of his Office affords him the best oppertunity of discovering the...
9177From George Washington to James Warren, 30 October 1775 (Washington Papers)
At the Instance and Request of the Committee of Cape Ann, I dispatched Major Mason, to survey and make a Report of, such Works of Defence, as were already constructed there, and how far any new one might be necessary. From his Observations and account I find, that a Battery may be erected there, to the great Advantage, and Security of the Place. But the small Stock of Artillery, belonging to...
9178From George Washington to Lund Washington, 30 October 1775 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: to Lund Washington, 30 Oct. 1775. On 12 Nov. Lund Washington wrote to GW : “Yours of the 30th Octbr I recievd last night.”
9179General Orders, 31 October 1775 (Washington Papers)
As many Officers, and others, have begun to inlist men for the Continental Army, without Orders from Head Quarters; The General desires, that an immediate Stop be put thereto; that the inlistments be return’d; and that no person for the future, presume to interfere in this matter, ’till there is a proper establishment of Officers, and those Officers authorised and instructed in what manner to...
9180General Orders, 1 November 1775 (Washington Papers)
The General recommends it to those Officers, who have signified their Intention to continue in the service of the United Colonies another Campaign, not to run themselves to any expence in procuring Coats and Waistcoats until they are arranged into proper Corps and the Uniforms of the Regiment they belong to ascertained; which will probably be in a few days. Varick transcript , DLC:GW .