31From George Washington to Major General Benjamin Lincoln, 28 March 1780 (Washington Papers)
This will be delivered to you by Brigadier General Du Portail, Chief Engineer; a Gentleman of whose abilities and merit I have the highest opinion and who, if he arrives in time will be of essential utility to you. The delay that will probably attend General Clinton’s operations in consequence of the losses he has suffered on the voyage, makes me hope—his assistance will not come too late; and...
32George Washington to Major General Benjamin Lincoln, 30 March 1780 (Hamilton Papers)
Morristown [ New Jersey ] March 30, 1780 . Introduces and recommends Brigadier General Du Portail. Df , in writing of H, George Washington Papers, Library of Congress.
33George Washington to Major General Benjamin Lincoln, 15 April 1780 (Hamilton Papers)
Morristown [ New Jersey ] April 15, 1780 . Approves of plans for expedition against St. Augustine. Discusses situation in the South. Instructs Lincoln to “determine places of deposit” for provisions and forage in North and South Carolina. Df , in writing of H, George Washington Papers, Library of Congress.
34From George Washington to Major General Benjamin Lincoln, 15 April 1780 (Washington Papers)
I have successively received your several letters of the 23d and 28th of January 12th 14th and 23d of February, almost all of which were come to hand when I wrote you by General Du Portail, but by accident were not acknowleged. As far as it is possible for me at this Distance, and with a very inconsiderable knowlege of the Country, to judge, your reasonings on the best plan for an expedition...
35George Washington to Major General Benjamin Lincoln, 18 April 1780 (Hamilton Papers)
Morristown [ New Jersey ] April 18, 1780 . Asks Lincoln to employ Lieutenant Colonel Dubuysson “in such a manner as will enable him to indulge his ardor.” Df , in writing of H, George Washington Papers, Library of Congress. Lieutenant Colonel Charles François Dubuysson des Hays.
36George Washington to Major General Benjamin Lincoln, 28 April 1780 (Hamilton Papers)
Morristown [ New Jersey ] April 28, 1780 . Fears that loss of the “Bar” may mean loss of Charleston. Sends news of enemy’s movements and of the march of the Maryland Division. Df , in writings of George Washington and H, George Washington Papers, Library of Congress.
37From George Washington to Major General Benjamin Lincoln, 28 April 1780 (Washington Papers)
Since my last of the 15th Instant, I am favoured with Your two Letters of the 4th and 24th of March. The advices You give me greatly increase my anxiety for the fate of Charles Town and the State of South Carolina; and You will believe that my solicitude is not unmixed with considerations of personal friendship. The loss of the bar is a very serious loss—I hope it may not be a fatal one. This...
38From George Washington to Major General Benjamin Lincoln, 15 May 1780 (Washington Papers)
I have duly received your favor of the 9th of last Month, containing an account of the Enemy’s movements till that period. Since the receipt of this I have seen a Copy of a Letter from the Honble Mr Gervais, one of the Council, as low down as the 15th—and was happy to find by it that their Batteries, though they had been opened some days, had done You but very little damage; and I was made...
39From George Washington to Major General Benjamin Lincoln, 26 July 1780 (Washington Papers)
I transmit you the inclosed letter from Sir Henry Clinton in answer to your’s of the 5th Instant. I am exceedingly sorry to find that he seems to involve your Exchange with that of the Southern Army & to make it depend upon it. At this time, for the reasons I mentioned to you, & others which will readily occur, an Exchange of privates could not possibly be gone into with the least degree of...
40To George Washington from George Washington To Major General Benjamin Lincoln, 10 September 1780 (Washington Papers)
By a Letter I have received from Sir Henry Clinton of the 4th Instant, I find that the interview which has been proposed between You & General Phillips is to take place on the 19th of the Month, at Elizabeth Town. I presume Sir Henry Clinton informs You of this by the Letter I now transmit; and I need not add, that it will give me the highest pleasure if You can effect your exchange either for...
41From George Washington to Major General Benjamin Lincoln, 8 November 1780 (Washington Papers)
I have now the pleasure to congratulate you upon your exchange—The certificate of it will be transmitted to you by the Commissary of Prisoners—Majrs Bailey and Jackson are also exchanged. I do not mean by this notice to hasten your return to the Army, for that alas! is upon the eve of its annual dissolution & consequently of the Enemys advantages—I am of opinion that your influence, and...
42From George Washington to Major General Benjamin Lincoln, 11 December 1780 (Washington Papers)
I have received your favors of the 25th & 28th of last Month, and it gives me very great pleasure to find that you are appointed to a Committee the subject of whose deliberations you are so well acquainted with—and it adds not a little to my satisfaction to hear, that it is generally composed of Gentlemen remarkable for their good sense & patriotism, at a time when there never was greater...
43From George Washington to Major General Benjamin Lincoln, 9 January 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have had the pleasure of receiving your favor of the 25th of December. If prejudices will still prevail against experience, the fatal effects of temporary inlistments must be endured to the risque, if not the ruin, of the cause. The discontents and jealousies arising from this source have at length broke out in the Pennsylvania Line as you will have been informed by General Knox before this...
44From George Washington to Major General Benjamin Lincoln, 10 February 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have been duly favored with your Letters of the 7th 17th & 25th of Janry—The distractions in one part of the Army, and distresses in the other, have engaged me so far as to prevent my acknowledging them until the present time. In addition to the perplexities occasioned, in the first instance, by the revolt of the Pennsylvania Line—the subsequent arrangements for quelling the Insurgents, if...
45From George Washington to Major General Benjamin Lincoln, 21 February 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have lately been obliged to make so large a temporary detachment, that it becomes indispensibly necessary to call in the Recruits from the States nearest at hand. You will therefore be pleased to dispatch orders to the superintending Officers to send forward, to the Army, such as may have come in to the places of rendezvous, and to exert themselves to collect and send in any which may yet be...
46From George Washington to Major General Benjamin Lincoln, 27 February 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have received your favor of the 15th. I am glad to hear of Colonel Laurens’s departure—He wrote to me a few days before he sailed and mentioned in the warmest manner your exertions to get the Ship mann’d —The few Continental soldiers you spared on the occasion were well bestowed considering the importance of Colonel Laurens’s mission. By a Resolve of Congress of the 4th of January, the Board...
47From George Washington to Benjamin Lincoln, 4 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
Every day convinces me that the Enemy are determined to bend their force against the southern States, and that we must support them powerfully from this Quarter, or they will be lost. Except such support is given in time, it will be ineffectual—The enemy will not only have established themselves in posts, but in the affections of many of the people. The pennsylvania Line is already ordered to...
48From George Washington to Benjamin Lincoln, 21 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have recd your favors of the 2d and 13th Inst. Major Clarkson has communicated the Matter for which I am referred to him in your last. It seems a clue which may lead to an ample discovery of what has been some time suspected, provided the Emissary is sincere. But Major Clarkson cannot tell me whether he proposed to make himself known to me or whether he is to communicate his discoveries to...
49From George Washington to Benjamin Lincoln, 11 May 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have received your favors of the 26th of April and of the 3d inst. I am pleased to hear so flattering accounts of the prospects of Men and of some kinds of supplies, but so great are my apprehensions on the score of provisions, that I am sending General Heath purposely to the Eastern States to represent our distresses and to endeavour to fix a plan for our regular supply in future. I refer...
50From George Washington to Benjamin Lincoln, 13 June 1781 (Washington Papers)
I did myself the Pleasure to write you under the 11th May ulto—which went on by the Hand of Maj’r Genl Heath, who was instructed with a particular Commission to the Eastern States—In that Letter I mentioned your comg on to join the Army. Least the above Letter should by any Means have misscarried, I take this Opportunity to mention my Wishes to you again—& to request you will be pleased to...
51From George Washington to Benjamin Lincoln, 1 July 1781 (Washington Papers)
The object of your present command consisting of two Regiments (formed into 4 Battalions) under the command of Colo. Scammell and Lieut. Colo. Sprout—of a detachment of artillery under the command of Capt. Burbeck—of the Corps of Watermen under the command of Major Darby, and the Water Guard under the command of Capt. Pray, is to attempt the surprise of the enemy’s posts upon the North End of...
52From George Washington to Benjamin Lincoln, 2 July 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have this moment received your favor, and have only to express my wish that you will cross as soon as possible & take possession of the Heights of Kings Bridge so as to support the Duke de Lauzun & prevent the Enemy from attempting to cut him off by that way or to prevent their retreating if they are out. I shall be at Valentines Hill in Mile Square by tomorrow morning if practicable. I am...
53From George Washington to Benjamin Lincoln, 11 July 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have just been informed the Refugees have been impressing Horses to day—If they have any design, it is against our Piquets, this hint will be sufficient to excite unusual vigilance. I am Dr Sr DLC : Papers of George Washington.
54From George Washington to Benjamin Lincoln, 6 August 1781 (Washington Papers)
On perceiving that I should be under the necessity of drawing down the Continental troops from the State of New York, I wrote upon the 25th of June to General Fellows desiring that 600 Militia (part of the quota required from the State of Massachusetts) might be marched from the Counties of Hampshire and Berkshire and those contiguous to them to Albany and take their orders from the Officer...
55From George Washington to Benjamin Lincoln, 24 August 1781 (Washington Papers)
The detachment under your command is to march to Springfield in New Jersey by two Routes. The left Column with which you will go is to be composed of the Light Troops and York Regiments (if Courtlands should get up in time) and four light Feild pieces with the Baggage of these Corps. The right Column is to consist of the park of Artillery— O’dnance Stores—The Quarter Masters and Commissary’s...
56From George Washington to Benjamin Lincoln, 28 August 1781 (Washington Papers)
The Troops composing the Detat c hment under your Command may, till they are united with the Force in Virginia, be formed into three Brigades—Vizt—The light Infantry, to be commanded by Colo. Scammel, on the Right—The two York Regiments under Brigr Genl Clinton on the Left—& Hazens, Jersey & Rhode Island in the Center. You will march Tomorrow at four oClock in the morning—in two Columns—for...
57From George Washington to Benjamin Lincoln, 29 August 1781 (Washington Papers)
Last Evening I received advice from Gnl Forman of the Arrival of 18 large Ships of War, which were discovered Yesterday morng standg in from the Southward—a Frigate had gone out from the Hook to speak with them—& was retung back again, having sent out a Boat towards them—The Conjecture was that it may be the Fleet of Admiral Hood from the W. Indies—I expect to hear further this Night or...
58From George Washington to Benjamin Lincoln, 31 August 1781 (Washington Papers)
Upon Enquiry I have too much Reason to fear we shall not be able to secure Craft eno’ to embark all our Troops, Stores, Baggage, Cannon &ca upon the Water—in which Case some must go by Land—You will be pleased to consult Colo. Lamb, respecting the heavy Cannon, Carriages, Military Stores & Baggage, & find what will be most cumbersome & heavy to transport by land, & let that have the first...
59From George Washington to Benjamin Lincoln, 31 August 1781 (Washington Papers)
Since my Letter of this Morng—upon Consultation with Count Rochambeau, I find him inclined to march the French Troops by Land from Trenton to Head of Elk—which will give a larger proportion of Craft for the American Stores & Troops. You will therefore, notwithstandg my preceedg Letter, after allotg a sufficient Number for the French Baggage &ca (their Request is Six)—first put on Board the...
60From George Washington to Benjamin Lincoln, 7 September 1781 (Washington Papers)
A skilful Navigator, and a man of respectable character should be appointed Commodore—He is to give to each Skipper his Orders—fix signals for the whole to be governed by—to keep them in compact order—run them to Burwells Ferry, or James Town on James River, where they are to debark unless they meet other orders, on the passage—and to return with all possible expedition to Baltimore for the...