101From George Washington to John Hancock, 1 April 1776 (Washington Papers)
An Express arrived here this Morning with a Letter from Governor Cooke of Rhode Island, of which the inclosed is a Copy. In consequence of this important intelligence, I immediately dispatch’d an Express after General Sullivan, who is on his March to Norwich with six Regiments and ordered him to file off to Providence if he should be so desir’d by Governor Cooke to whom I have wrote on the...
102From George Washington to John Hancock, 25 May 1781 (Washington Papers)
The great demand we shall have for powder in the proposed operations of the campaign constrains me to request a loan of this article, of the States who are possessed of it, to supply the deficiency of the Continental magazine. I therefore, Sir, earnestly request as great a loan of powder of the State of Massachusetts as can possibly be spared, and that the State would take most speedy and...
103From George Washington to John Hancock, 7 July 1777 (Washington Papers)
I was this morning honored with yours of the 5th with sundry Resolves of Congress to which I shall pay due attention. No change has taken place in the Situation of the Enemy upon Staten Island since I wrote to you on the 5th But I have this morning recd an account from Elizabeth Town which mentions that a person had just come from the Island who informs that small Craft are constantly plying...
104From George Washington to John Hancock, 4 July 1776 (Washington Papers)
This will be handed you by Col. Stevenson whom I have ordered with the captains of the Two Rifle Companies from Maryland to wait on Congress. they will point out such measures as they conceive most likely to advance the raising of the New Rifle Battallion and the persons they think worthy of promotion that have served in the three Companies here agreable to the Inclosed List. I am not...
105From George Washington to John Hancock, 29 September 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have the honor of yours of the 26th inclosing letters for Comodore Hazelwood and Capt. Alexander which I have forwarded to them. Lt Colo. Smith must have arrived at Fort Mifflin two days ago, as I heard from him at Ancocus Creek in the Jerseys. Colo. Nichola was in the Fort with about 60 of his Regt of Invalids and two Companies of Artillery of thirty each, and I advised him to withdraw what...
106From George Washington to John Hancock, 22 July 1776 (Washington Papers)
Congress having been pleased to appoint Mr Wilper to the command of a Company in the German Batallion now raising, I have directed him to repair to Philadelphia for their orders. From my acquaintance with him, I am persuaded his conduct as an Officer will meet their approbation, and thanking them for their kind attention to my recommendation of him I have the honor to be with Sentiments of the...
107From George Washington to John Hancock, 29 August 1777 (Washington Papers)
On my return to this place last evening from White Clay creek, I was honored with yours of the 27th, with sundry resolves of Congress, to which I shall pay due attention. The enemy advanced a part of their army yesterday to Gray’s hill about two miles on this side of Elk, whether with intent to take post there, or to cover while they remove what stores they found in the town, I cannot yet...
108From George Washington to John Hancock, 24 September 1776 (Washington Papers)
The post being about to depart I have only time to add, That no event of importance has taken place on this side Hudson’s River since my last of the 22d Instt. The Inclosed Letter received last night from Genl Greene, who now commands in the Jerseys, will give Congress all the information I have respecting the evacuation of powles Hook and the landing of the Enemy to possess It. I this minute...
109From George Washington to John Hancock, 7 January 1777 (Washington Papers)
I am happy to inform you, that the account of Genl Mercer’s death, transmitted in my last, was premature, though it was mentioned as certain by many who saw him after he was wounded; By intelligence from princeton yesterday evening, he was alive, and seemed as if he would do well; Unhappily he is a prisoner. had it not been for the information I had of his death, I would have tried to have...
110From George Washington to John Hancock, 15 November 1783 (Washington Papers)
The very favorable opinion you are pleased to entertain of my public conduct, and the kind expressions of personal friendship you have had the goodness to repeat in your Letter of the 15th Ulto could not fail to receive my warmest acknowledgments; had not the higher Motives of esteem & attachment already rivitted my affections to you. Accipt my best thanks for the present testimony of your...
111From George Washington to John Hancock, 22 February 1790 (Washington Papers)
I have been honored with your Excellencys letter of the 10th inst. enclosing a Resolve of the Senate & House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and sundry documents relative to the Eastern boundary of the United States. Previous to the receipt of your Excellency’s letter I had laid this subject before the Senate of the United States for their consideration, with such...
112From George Washington to John Hancock, 30 September 1776 (Washington Papers)
Since I had the honor of addressing you last nothing of importance has transpired, tho from some movements yesterday on the part of the Enemy it would seem as if something was Intended. The inclosed memorial from Lieut. Colo. Sheppard of the 4th Regiment, I beg leave to submit to the consideration of Congress, and shall only add that I could wish they would promote him to the Command of the...
113From George Washington to John Hancock, 18 July 1777 (Washington Papers)
I just now received a Letter from Genl Schuyler of the 14th Inst. inclosing the Proceedings of the Council of War, which he alludes to, a Copy of which and of his Letter, I herewith transmit. He represents matters in a distressing point of view. I beleive they are bad—but, I hope, they are not so alarming as they are painted by him. My Letter of the 12th would advise Congress, how far his...
114From George Washington to John Hancock, 21 March 1777 (Washington Papers)
I was last night honoured with your Letter of the 17th Instt covering Sundry Resolutions of Congress, which shall have my attention. Having charged Major General Greene, who will probably be in philadelphia to day, with such matters as I wished to refer to the consideration of Congress, I have nothing to trouble them with at this time, or material to inform them of. I have the Honor to be with...
115George Washington to John Hancock, 28 August 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of July 20th. came safely to hand, together with the Memorial of Monsieur de Latombe of the 7th. of June, and the Resolve of the Legislature of Massachusetts of the 24th. of the same month. On considering the nature of the difficulties which have occurred in the execution of the Consular Convention, they appeared to be such as could not be removed but by a legislative Act. When...
116From George Washington to John Hancock, 6 March 1777 (Washington Papers)
I do myself the Honor to transmit you, the inclosed Copy of a Letter from Genl Lee received by a Flag on Tuesday last. you will perceive from thence his wishes & expectations of seeing some Members of Congress in consequence of his Letter upon that Subject. None of the passports which he mentions were sent out, though the Letter came by Genl How’s permission, as the Others did. I should be...
117From George Washington to John Hancock, 16 July 1777 (Washington Papers)
I beg leave to congratulate Congress on the Captivity of Major Genl Prescot & One of his Aids. The particulars of this fortunate event, you will find in the Inclosed Extract of a Letter this Minute received from Genl Spencer, which I presume are at large in the packet Mr Greenleaf will deliver. Lt Colo. Barton & the Small handfull under his Command, who conducted the Enterprize have great...
118From George Washington to John Hancock, 5 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
The inclosed from Monsr le Chevr de Dreudhomme de Borre, with the papers annexed to it, were received this day by the Eastern Mail —It appears that by an agreement with Mr Dean he is to have the Rank and Pay of a Brigadier General in our service—I imagine by this, that he is a Man of real Merit—If you think proper to confirm Mr Dean’s appointment, be pleased to inform me of it, and return the...
119From George Washington to John Hancock, 19 September 1776 (Washington Papers)
Since I had the honor of addressing you Yesterday, Nothing material has occurred, However It is probable in a little time, the Enemy will attempt to force us from hence, as we are informed they are bringing many of their Heavy Cannon towards the Heights and the Works we have thrown up. they have also Eight or Nine Ships of War in the North River, which It is said, are to Canonade our right...
120From George Washington to John Hancock, 18 May 1776 (Washington Papers)
I do myself the honor to transmit to you the Inclosed Letters and papers I received this morning in the State they now are, which contain sundry matters of Intelligence of the most Interesting nature. As the Consideration of them may lead to important consequences and the adoption of several measures in the military line, I have thought It advisable for Genl Gates to attend Congress; he will...
121From George Washington to John Hancock, 12 January 1777 (Washington Papers)
I am honored with yours of the 6th inclosing several Resolves of Congress respecting an Exchange to be proposed between General Lee and the Hessian Feild Officers taken at Trenton. Colo. Rall died the day after the Action and we left one of the Majors so ill of his Wounds, that I am in doubt of his recovery. I can however make an Offer of all that remain, in exchange for Genl Lee, except one,...
122From George Washington to John Hancock, 10 August 1782 (Washington Papers)
Your Excellency will permit me to introduce to your particular Notice & Attention M. Genl D. Choissny, who will have the Honor to present this Letter. As an Officer old in Command, & eminent for his Services, he has the Honor to be placed at the Head of the Troops destined for the Expedition proposed by the Marquis de Vaudreuil against Penobscot, provided that Enterprize should be attempted....
123From George Washington to John Hancock, 2 June 1781 (Washington Papers)
The proposed operations of the campaign will occasion such a demand for heavy cannon and military stores, as to exceed the number and quantity of those articles immediately in possession of the Continent. This insufficiency obliges me to apply to such of the neighbouring States as can afford us any assistance, with a full confidence that the importance of the object, and the apparent...
124From George Washington to John Hancock, 9 May 1776 (Washington Papers)
When I was on the Road from Cambrid[g]e to this Place, I received a Letter from a Gentleman who subscribed it, Le Baron de Colbiac . He therein mentions that he was a Captain of Dragoons in the French Service, that he comes to offer his Service to the United Colonies, that he attempted to come about the latter End of November, was taken by an English Frigate commanded by Capt. Young with 160...
125From George Washington to John Hancock, 2 December 1776 (Washington Papers)
I arrived here this morning with our Troops between Eight and Nine oClock, when I received the Honor of your Letter of the 1st with its Inclosure. When the Enemy first landed on this side the North River, I apprehended that they meant to make a push this way, and knowing that the force which I had, was not sufficient to oppose ’em, I wrote to Genl Lee to cross with the Several Continental...
126From George Washington to John Hancock, 27 July 1775 (Washington Papers)
Nothing material has occurr’d in either Camp since I had the Honour of addressing you on the 21st Instt by Express. But on Tuesday 3 Men of War & 9 Transports sailed out of Boston Harbour & stood a Course about E.S.E. One Groves who came out of Boston the same Evening informed the Officer at one of the Out Posts, that the Transports had on Board 600 Men & were bound to Block Island, Fishers...
127From George Washington to John Hancock, 9 January 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have been honored with your Excellency’s favors of the 17th of November and 22d of December. The first, by some accident, had gone forward to Philadelphia and only reached me, by the post from thence, the 7th instant. Your Excellency will have had good reason to suppose me guilty of neglect, in not answering, sooner, so polite a renewal, on your part, of the correspondence which had been...
128From George Washington to John Hancock, 25 July 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have the honor to inclose you a couple of letters which Monsieur Davout the bearer of this delivered me in his behalf. You will perceive by them that he is desirous of entering into our service, and what his pretensions have been in his own Country. I have referred him to Congress to determine on what footing he is to stand with us. He requests me to mention that he would be glad of...
129From George Washington to John Hancock, 8 October 1777 (Washington Papers)
As General How’s Operations are in this Quarter & his Object in all probability fixed for this Campaign, I am induced, to submit it to the consideration of Congress If the Whole or a part of the Regimt of Artillery commanded by Colo. Harrison, should not be immediately ordered to join this Army. In the late Actions, the Corps under Genl Knox has suffered severely, and it is so reduced by the...
130From George Washington to John Hancock, 9 May 1777 (Washington Papers)
The inclosed is Copy of a letter which was handed to me by M. Mottin de la Balme from Silas Dean Esquire: For a more particular account of his Merit and Services, I must refer you to himself. I have sounded him, as to his expectations, and find that nothing under a Lieutenant Colonelcy of Horse will content him. If you should, from his own account, or from what you can collect from others,...
131From George Washington to John Hancock, 5 June 1777 (Washington Papers)
Inclosed, you will receive a Copy of a Letter from Genl Howe of this date. You will perceive, how extremely pressing he is for an Answer to the demands in his Letters of the 21st of April and 22d Ulto. As I referred the consideration of them to Congress in mine of the 28th of May, requesting their Opinion, I entreat, that they will not defer giving it, that I may return an Answer. I shall...
132From George Washington to John Hancock, 14 August 1776 (Washington Papers)
This will be delivered you by Captn Moeballe, a Dutch Gentleman from Surinam, who has come to the Continent with a view of Entering into the Service of the States, as you will perceive by the Inclosed Letters from Mr Brown of Providence and General Greene. What other Letters & Credentials he has, I know not, but at his request have given this Line to Congress to whom he wishes to be...
133From George Washington to John Hancock, 16 September 1777 (Washington Papers)
I arrived here last night with the Army and am now so far advanced, as to be in a position to meet the Enemy on the Route to Swedes Ford, if they should direct their course that way. Their situation, I believe, from the best information I have been able to obtain, is nearly the same it was Yesterday Evening when I wrote you. I have ordered All the Troops to be refreshed this Morning, as they...
134From George Washington to John Hancock, 20 February 1777 (Washington Papers)
The principal design of this, is to inform you, that we have strong reasons to beleive, that the Enemy are on the point of making some push. What their Object is, whether to beat up our Quarters and to extend their own—to make a large forage and collection of provender, of which they are in great want—or to turn their views towards the Delaware, is a matter of incertainty; But it seems...
135From George Washington to John Hancock, 21 August 1777 (Washington Papers)
I do myself the Honor to inclose you a Copy of Doctr Franklin’s Letter in favor of Count Pulawski of Poland, by whom this will be handed to you. I some time ago had a Letter from Mr Deane, couch’d in terms equally favorable to the Character & Military Abilities of this Gentleman. How he can with propriety be provided for you will be best able to determine—he takes this from me, as an...
136From George Washington to John Hancock, 29 August 1776 (Washington Papers)
I was last night honoured with your favor of the 27th accompanied by sundry Resolutions of Congress. Those respecting the officers &c. that may be wounded in the service of the States are founded much in Justice, and I should hope may be productive of many salutary consequences—As to the Encouragement to the Hessian Officers, I wish It may have the desired effect, perhaps It might have been...
137From George Washington to John Hancock, 30 November 1775 (Washington Papers)
I had the honour to write you the 28th Instant by Captain Joseph Blewer—Last evening I received the agreeable account of the Schooner Lee, Comanded by Captain Manly haveing taken & Carried in to Cape Ann a Large Brigantine bound from London to Boston Loaden with Military Stores, the Inventory of which I have the pleasure to inclose you —Cape Ann is a very open Harbour and accessable to Large...
138From George Washington to John Hancock, 15 August 1776 (Washington Papers)
As the situation of the Two Armies must engage the attention of Congress and lead them to expect, that, each returning day will produce some Important Events, This is meant to Inform them that Nothing of Moment has yet cast up. In the Evening of Yesterday there were great movements among their Boats and from the Number that appeared to be passing and repassing about the Narrows, we were...
139From George Washington to John Hancock, 27 June 1776 (Washington Papers)
Upon information that Major Rogers was travelling thro’ the Country under suspicious circumstances I thought it necessary to have him secured. I therefore sent after him. He was taken at South Amboy and brought up to New York. Upon examination he informed Me that he came from New Hampshire, the Country of his usual Abode, where [he] had left his family; and pretended he was destined to...
140From George Washington to John Hancock, 30 July 1781 (Washington Papers)
I did myself the Honor to address your Excellency under the 25th June last—requestg that you would be pleased to order 600, of the Militia of your State, which I Supposed to be raising under a former Requisition, to be sent to Albany for the Protection of the Northern & Western Frontier of the State of N. york—to this Letter (as indeed to several others of much earlier Date) I have not had the...
141From George Washington to John Hancock, 17 July 1776 (Washington Papers)
Col. Hand having informed me that he means to purchase Regimentals for his Battallion in Philadelphia, I must take the liberty to request you will have the Nine Thousand dollars resolved by Congress on the 12 Ulto to be paid him here for that purpose, to be advanced to him or his order there. The state of our Chest is extremely low and many pressing demands against It, besides as the Cloaths...
142From George Washington to John Hancock, 4 June 1781 (Washington Papers)
One thousand Militia in addition to four hundred Troops having been deemed necessary to the security of the fleet, in the harbour of Newport, after the departure of the land Forces, I am to request Your Excellency to give orders for Five hundred from the State of Massachusetts to repair to Rhode Island as soon as they shall be demanded by His Excellency the Count de Rochambeau—The State of...
143From George Washington to John Hancock, 2 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
Your Favor of the 25th I received on Monday Afternoon. You have my warmest wishes for your recovery, and I shall be happy, if your recess should be attended with benefits superior to your most sanguine expectations. Your exertions to promote the Genl Interest I am well convinced will be unceasing and that every measure, the situation of your health will permit you to pursue will be employed to...
144From George Washington to John Hancock, 26 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
I was last night honored with your Letter of the 25th with sundry Resolves of Congress. Such of them as are necessary for my government & conduct, I shall strictly attend to. The Money and Bills for our prisoners, had better be transmitted to Elias Boudinot, Esquire, to whom I shall give directions, to adopt ways and means for sending the same, and for a proper appropriation and distribution...
145From George Washington to John Hancock, 8 May 1782 (Washington Papers)
As the plan of Campaign must depend entirely on the means that are put into my hands, of which I have scarcely a conjectural knowledge at this time—and, on the force of the Enemy at their different Posts—I shall be obliged to your Excellency (as the communication between Boston & Hallifax is open to Flags, which frequently pass) for the most accurate account which you can obtain, covertly, of...
146From George Washington to John Hancock, 17 June 1776 (Washington Papers)
I beg leave to inform Congress that General Wooster has repaired to Head Quarters in obedience to their Resolve transmitted him, and shall be extremely glad If they will give me such further direction about him, as they may conceive necessary—he is desirous of seeing his family in Connecticut as I am informed having been a good while from It—I shall wait their Instructions as to his future...
147From George Washington to John Hancock, 21 July 1775 (Washington Papers)
Since closing the Letters which accompany this I have received an Account of the Destruction of the Light House, a Copy of which I have the Honour to inclose & of again assuring you that I am with great Respect, Sir Your most Obed. Hbble Serv. P.S. I have also received a more authentick Account of the Loss of the Enemy in the late Battle than any yet receivd. Doctr Winship who lodg’d in the...
148From George Washington to John Hancock, 29 March 1777 (Washington Papers)
I last night had the Honor to receive your Letter of the 26th Instt accompanied by sundry Resolves of Congress & some other papers. The arrival of the Arms—Locks & Flints you have been pleased to mention, is a most fortunate & happy event. I join you most sincerely in congratulations upon the occasion. I have not yet obtained a certain account of the expedition against & destruction of Peek’s...
149From George Washington to John Hancock, 9 November 1776 (Washington Papers)
I have the honor to transmit you a Copy of a Letter from Genl Gates to Genl Schuyler, and of another paper containing intelligence respecting the Northern Army, and the situation of the Enemy in that department. they this minute came to hand, and to them I beg leave to refer you for particulars. By every information I can obtain, and the accounts I had last night by Two deserters, who were...
150From George Washington to John Hancock, 1 July 1777 (Washington Papers)
Yesterday afternoon the Enemy totally evacuated Amboy and encamped Opposite to it on Staten Island. General Scot entered directly after, and posting Guards to secure any Stores they might have left, he withdrew his Brigade & halted about Four Miles from thence. This it was expedient to do, It being night when he entered, and his remaining there might have induced the Enemy, whose Boats were...