301From George Washington to John Hancock, 19 August 1776 (Washington Papers)
I have Nothing of moment to communicate to Congress, as things are in the situation they were when I had last the Honor of addressing them. By a Letter from Genl Ward of the 12th, I find that Whetcombs Regiment on the 8th, and Phinneys on the 9th, Marched from Boston for Ticonderoga. Governor Trumbull also in a Letter of the 13th, Advises me that Wards Regiment in the service of the States was...
302From George Washington to John Hancock, 14 September 1776 (Washington Papers)
I have been duly honored with your favor of the 10th with the Resolution of Congress which accompanied It, and thank them for the confidence they repose in my Judgement respecting the evacuation of the City. I could wish to maintain It, Because I know It to be of Importance, But I am fully convinced that It cannot be done, and that an attempt for that purpose if persevered in, might & most...
303From George Washington to John Hancock, 13 May 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have reason to apprehend, from the information I have received, that desertions from some of the Virginia Regiments, now on their March, will, in all probability, be not less frequent, than they have been from some from Pensylvania, which are in Camp. There is cause to fear, they will be more common & certain. I am told, that Convict Servants purchased from their Masters by the Recruiting...
304From George Washington to John Hancock, 26 February 1776 (Washington Papers)
I had the honour of addressing you on the 18 and 21st Instt by Mr Hooper, since which nothing material has Occurred. We are making every necessary preparation for taking possession of Dorchester Heights as soon as possible, with a view of drawing the Enemy out—How far our expectations may be answered, Time can only determine; But I should think, If any thing will Induce them to hazard an...
305From George Washington to John Hancock, 16 September 1776 (Washington Papers)
On Saturday about Sunset Six more of the Enemy’s Ships, One or Two of which were men of War; passed between Governors Island & Red Hook and went up the East River to the Station taken by those mentioned in my Last —In half an Hour, I received Two Expresses, One from Col. Serjeant at Horn’s Hook (Hell Gate) giving an Account that the Enemy to the amount of Three or Four Thousand had marched to...
306From George Washington to John Hancock, 23 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have the honor to transmit you the inclosed pieces of intelligence, which I received this day from Genl Stephens, who, by my desire, employed persons to go into New York and Brunswick. I do not put intire confidence in the whole, but the principal reason of sending the intelligence forward is that proper measures may be fallen upon to find out and apprehend Thomas Long, mentioned in General...
307From George Washington to John Hancock, 25 July 1776 (Washington Papers)
Disagreeable as it is to me, and unpleasing as it may be to Congress to multiply Officers, I find myself under the unavoidable necessity of asking an Increase of my Aid de Camps—The augmentation of my Command—the Increase of my Correspondance—the Orders to give—the Instructions to draw, cut out more business than I am able to execute in time, with propriety. The business of so many different...
308George Washington to John Hancock, 14 September 1777 (Hamilton Papers)
Near Germantown [ Pennsylvania ] September 14, 1777. Is directing Major General Israel Putnam to send a second detachment of one thousand men to camp. LS , in writing of H, George Washington Papers, Library of Congress.
309From George Washington to John Hancock, 1 March 1777 (Washington Papers)
I was this Evening honoured with your favor of the 23d Ulto accompanied by sundry proceedings of Congress. Those respecting Genl Lee and which prescribe the treatment of Lt Colo. Campbell and the Five Hessian Feild Officers, are the Cause of this Letter. Though I sincerely commiserate the misfortunes of Genl Lee, & feel much for his present, unhappy situation, yet with all possible deference...
310From George Washington to John Hancock, 29 May 1777 (Washington Papers)
I this morning had the Honor of your Letter of the 27th with its Inclosures. I shall pay the strictest attention to the Resolutions transmitted me; However I am not without apprehensions, that the Regulation lately adopted, respecting Chaplains, will not answer. I recollect when One was assigned, in the course of last year, to Two Regiments, the prevailing Opinion was, and that founded on a...
311From George Washington to John Hancock, 11 December 1776 (Washington Papers)
After I had wrote you Yesterday, I received certain Information that the Enemy after repairing Croswicks Bridge had advanced a party of about Five hundred to Borden Town. By their taking this Rout, it confirms me in my Opinion, that they have an Intention to land between this and Philadelphia, as well as above, if they can procure Boats for that purpose. I last Night directed Commodore Seymour...
312From George Washington to John Hancock, 5 January 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have the honor to inform you, that since the date of my last from Trenton, I have removed with the Army under my command to this place. The difficulty of crossing the Delaware on account of the ice made our passage over it tedious, and gave the Enemy an opportunity of drawing in their several cantonments and assembling their whole Force at Princeton. Their large Picquets advanced towards...
313From George Washington to John Hancock, 13 March 1776 (Washington Papers)
In my Letter of the 7 & 9 Instant which I had the honor of addressing you, I mentioned the Intelligence I had received respecting the embarkation of the Troops from Boston & fully expected before this, that the Town wou’d have been entirely evacuated—Altho I have been deceived and was rather premature in the opinion I had then formed, I have little reason to doubt but the event will take place...
314From George Washington to John Hancock, 9 August 1777 (Washington Papers)
Inclosed you will be pleased to receive Copies of Two Letters & Other papers which just now came to hand by different Expresses. Genl Heath’s Letter of the 2d Instant seems to make the intelligence respecting the Fleet, which he had obtained before, vague —if not entirely ill founded. I have the Honor to be Sir Yr Most Obedt Servant LS , in Robert Hanson Harrison’s writing, DNA:PCC , item 152;...
315From George Washington to John Hancock, 27 September 1776 (Washington Papers)
I have nothing in particular to communicate to Congress by this days post, as Our situation is the same as when I last wrote. We are now sitting on the business, the Committee came upon, which it is probable will be finished this Evening. the result they will duly report upon their return. I received Yesterday, the Inclosed Declarn by a Gentleman from Eliza. Town, who told me, many Copies were...
316From George Washington to John Hancock, 31 January 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have none of your favors unanswered at present. There is such a demand upon me from all Quarters for Money, which I am unable to answer, that I cannot help again pressing you to send on a Supply. The recruiting Service is almost at a stop here for want of Money, and Governor Trumbull writes me word that it is totally so in Connecticut. He adds, that their loan Officers cannot proceed in...
317From George Washington to John Hancock, 16 October 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have been duly honoured with your Favors of the 12th & 13th Instant, with their several Inclosures. In respect to the Resolution, directing a flag to be sent to Genl Howe, I am inclined to think, that the information upon which it was framed was without foundation. The Letters which have come from our Officers, who have been lately taken, generally mention that their treatment has been...
318From George Washington to John Hancock, 1 September 1777 (Washington Papers)
The latest and most material intelligence, which I have obtained respecting the Enemy, you will find in the inclosed papers, which I do myself the Honor of transmitting to you. How far the Enemy have it in view to extend themselves in a Line from Bay to Bay, I cannot determine; But the idea has taken place with Many, and it is said to be founded on their hints to some persons, who from...
319From George Washington to John Hancock, 21 June 1777 (Washington Papers)
I was last night honored with yours of Yesterday morning with its Inclosures, the Contents of which, I shall duly attend to. Having written fully Yesterday, and Nothing new occurring since, I have only to request that you will forward the papers respecting the Commissary’s department, as soon as possible. For want of some certain and fixed line of duty in this instance, the Commissary says, it...
320From George Washington to John Hancock, 14 December 1775 (Washington Papers)
I received your favour of the 2d instant with the Severall resolves of Congress therein inclosed—The resolves relative to Captures made by Continental armed vessells only want a Court establishd for trial, to Make them Complete, this I hope will be Soon done, as I have taken the Liberty, to urge it often, to the Congress. I am Somwhat at a Loss to Know whether I am to raise the two Battalions...
321From George Washington to John Hancock, 28 June 1776 (Washington Papers)
In compliance with the request of Congress contained in your favor of the 25 Instant and my promise of Yesterday, I do myself the honor to inform you that the Cost of a Ration according to the Commissary General’s estimate from the 1st of July to the 1st of December will be from 8d. to 8½ York Currency. Having discharged the Obligation I was under in this Instance and finding that many...
322From George Washington to John Hancock, 14 January 1777 (Washington Papers)
I embrace this Opportunity, by Mr Hopkins of informing you that the Enemy remain upon their old Ground at Amboy and Brunswic. Our Accounts still confirm their want of Forage, which I hope will increase. If their Horses are reduced this Winter it will be impossible for them to take the Feild in the Spring. Genl Warner with two Regiments from Massachusets are arrived here, Genl Heath with the...
323From George Washington to John Hancock, 4 October 1776 (Washington Papers)
Before I knew of the late resolutions of Congress which you did me the honour to Inclose in your Letter of the 24th, and before I was favourd with the visit of your Comee, I took the liberty of giving you my Sentimts on several points which seem’d to be of Importance. I have no doubt but that the Comee will make such report of the State & Condition of the Army as will induce Congress to...
324From George Washington to John Hancock, 27 November 1776 (Washington Papers)
I do my self the Honor to acknowledge the receipt of your favors of the 21st & 24th with their Several Inclosures. The execution of the Resolves has been & will be attended to, as far as in my power. I have wrote to Genl Schuyler to send down as early as possible, the Troops in the northern department from this and the State of Pensylvania. The proposition for exchanging Mr Franklin for Genl...
325From George Washington to John Hancock, 24 December 1776 (Washington Papers)
That I should dwell upon the subject of our distresses cannot be more disagreable to Congress than it is painfull to myself. The alarming situation to which our Affairs are reduced, impells me to the measure. Inquiry and investigation which in most cases serve to devellope and point out a remedy, in ours, present more & greater difficulties. ’till of late I was led to hope from report, that no...
326From George Washington to John Hancock, 9 February 1776 (Washington Papers)
The purport ⟨o⟩f this Letter, will be directed to a single object—through you I mean to lay it before Congress, and at the same time that I beg their serious attention to the subject, to ask pardon for intruding an opinion, not only unasked, but in some measure repugnant to their Resolves. The disadvantages attending the limited Inlistment of Troops, is too apparent to those who are eye...
327From George Washington to John Hancock, 28 September 1776 (Washington Papers)
Being about to cross the North River this morning in order to view the post opposite and the Grounds between that and powles Hook, I shall not add much more than that I have been honored with your favor of the 24th and Its several inclosures, and that since my Letter of Yesterday no Important event has taken place. As Colo. Hugh Stephenson of the Rifle Regiment ordered lately to be raised, is...
328From George Washington to John Hancock, 5 December 1776 (Washington Papers)
As nothing but necessity obliged me to retire before the Enemy, & leave so much of the Jerseys unprotected, I conceive it my duty, and it corresponds with my Inclination to make head against them so soon as there shall be the least probability of doing it with propriety. That the Country might in some measure be covered, I left two Brigades consisting of the Five Virginia Regiments and that of...
329George Washington to John Hancock, 2 June 1777 (Hamilton Papers)
Middlebrook Camp [ New Jersey ] June 2, 1777. Encloses news from Northern Department. Deplores deficiency of troops. States that Colonel Elias Boudinot is going to Philadelphia to discuss exchange of prisoners. Df , in writing of H; last line and postscript in writing of Robert Hanson Harrison, George Washington Papers, Library of Congress. Boudinot was commissary general for prisoners,...
330From George Washington to John Hancock, 22 September 1776 (Washington Papers)
I have nothing in particular to communicate to Congress respecting the Situation of our Affairs, It is much the same as when I had the honor of addressing you last. On Friday night, about Eleven or Twelve OClock, a Fire broke out in the City of New York, near the New or St Pauls Church, as It is said, which continued to burn pretty rapidly till after Sun rise the next morning. I have not been...