1From Alexander Hamilton to Colonel Clement Biddle, [17 June 1777] (Hamilton Papers)
The whole army immediately to strike their tents, pack them up, and get themselves in every respect ready for an instant march. The Quarter Master General to have every thing in his department ready. Colonel Biddle will communicate the above order, to the Commissary & Pay Master General & Judge advocate. ALS , MS Division, New York Public Library. Although George Washington anticipated a...
2To George Washington from Colonel Clement Biddle, 16 September 1777 (Washington Papers)
I removed the Baggage to Howells Tavern 4½ miles from the Warren Tavern & there waited for orders but before any came by a direct Line part of the Artillery of the Park under Lt Colonel Strobach came on that road without knowing which rout to pursue but an Express arriving a few minutes after from Colo: Lutterloh D. Q. M. G. with a Verbal Order from him to send the Provisions & Rum for the...
3Warrant to Colonel Clement Biddle, 26 September 1777 (Washington Papers)
You are hereby authorized to impress all the Blankets, Shoes Stockings and other Articles of Clothing for the use of the Army, that can be spared by the Inhabitants in the Counties of Bucks Philada and Northampton, paying for the same at reasonable Rates, or give Certificates. Given at Camp near Potts Grove this 26th day of Septemr 1777. Df , in Tench Tilghman’s writing, DLC:GW ; Varick...
4From George Washington to Colonel Clement Biddle, 28 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
As the Season advances when falling weather and the badness of Roads will be almost insurmountable obstacles to the transporting forage from any distance—you are without delay to form magazines for our winters Supply contiguous to the Rear of the Camp—and to take every favorable opportunity of keeping them amply furnished—so that even in case of a series of bad Weather there may be no...
5To George Washington from Colonel Clement Biddle, 25 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
On a Review of the Waggon horses belonging to the united States and those impressed or on hire in service with the Army, such numbers have been found unfit for Service that the Army will not only suffer for want of an immediate Supply of Provision, & forage but those horses belonging to the States now will be unfit for Service on the Opening of the Campaign—A number of private Teams have been...
6George Washington to Colonel Clement Biddle, 20 November 1778 (Hamilton Papers)
Fredericksburg [ New York ] November 20, 1778 . Orders Biddle to impress forage for troops. LS , in writing of H, Historical Society of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia. Biddle was commissary general of forage.
7From Alexander Hamilton to Colonel Clement Biddle, 20 December [1778] (Hamilton Papers)
Headquarters [ Middle Brook, New Jersey ] December 20 [ 1778 ]. Requests minutes of trials of Charles Lee and Arthur St. Clair so that they can be published in general orders. ALS , Historical Society of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia. Lee was “suspended from any command in the Armies of the United States of North America for the term of twelve months.” St. Clair was acquitted ( GW John C....
8From George Washington to Clement Biddle, 29 May 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have received a Copy of Your Letter of the 27th Instant to Major General Greene, Quarter Master General upon the subject of forage. Your representation upon this head is very distressing and I scarcely know how to direct you upon the occasion. It is my wish that every possible respect should be paid in all cases to the Laws of this and every other State—and a sacred regard to the property of...
9From Alexander Hamilton to Colonel Clement Biddle, 3 June 1779 (Hamilton Papers)
I inclose you a letter for Mr. Writtenhouse accompanied by a Theodolite which you will be pleased carefully to forward him for The General. (Now on my own account) Gibbs informs me you were obliging enough to promise that care should be taken of my mare and her colt at your place. I leave her in charge of Mr. Wallace as my servant will be too much employed while we stay to carry her to your...
10From George Washington to Clement Biddle, 16 November 1779 (Washington Papers)
Whereas by the sudden Movement of the Army to winter quarters it will be difficult to procure the necessary Supplies of Forage, which by your representation Cannot be furnishd unless you are Authorised to impress the same, therefore you are hereby Authorised where Forage & pasture Cannot otherwise be procured, by yourself or Assistants & Forage Masters to impress the Necessary Forage for the...
11From George Washington to Clement Biddle, 8 December 1779 (Washington Papers)
Our prospects, with regard to Grain Forage, are so very alarming, that I think it incumbent upon me to transmit the substance of the Reports of your different deputies to Congress—You will therefore be pleased to furnish me with such Extracts from the inclosed, as relate directly to the scarcity of Forage and the means which seem principally to occasion the want —I shall issue a general order...
12To George Washington from Clement Biddle, 9 December 1779 (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Clement Biddle, 9 Dec. 1779 . GW wrote Samuel Huntington on 10–11 Dec. : “I would take the liberty to inclose a copy of a Letter of the 9th from Colo. Biddle.”
13To George Washington from Clement Biddle, 23 December 1779 (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Clement Biddle, 23 Dec. 1779 . GW wrote Biddle on this date : “I have received your favour of this date.”
14From George Washington to Clement Biddle, 23 December 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have received your favour of this date, inclosing a Copy of Mr Blanes letter requesting you to furnish him, for the Commissaries department with a quantity of the Indian Corn laid in for the use of your own —Notwithstanding the loss of some horses as you observe may be the consequence of affording him the supply—the present distress of the Army for the want of flour is such, that I cannot...
15To George Washington from Clement Biddle, 16 May 1780 (Washington Papers)
From my constant Attendance on the Duties of my Offices in Camp, I have been prevented from bringing the extensive accounts of the business which I have transacted to a settlement, altho’ I have sent them to be lodged at Philadelphia to be ready for the purpose when I should be called on by the Treasury board—They could not be completed til I could pay some further Attention to them, than was...
16From George Washington to Clement Biddle, 27 May 1780 (Washington Papers)
From the opinion I entertained of your services I was sorry to hear in the first instance when the matter was communicated to me, that You were about to leave the Army & had actually resigned your Commission to the Quarter Master General. An event is soon to take place which will still encrease my concern on this head. We have every reason to expect, that an Armament composed of Land & Sea...
17To George Washington from Clement Biddle, 28 May 1780 (Washington Papers)
As the Forage to be furnish’d by the different States will be wanted for the use of the Army and should be hastend to such points as it may most probably be consumed at, it will be necessary to apply to the executive Authority of the States of Virginia, Maryland, Delaware and Pennsylvania, not only to hasten the delivery of the Forage at the places name’d by your Excellency, but to give their...
18To George Washington from Clement Biddle, 28 May 1780 (Washington Papers)
The Opinion you are pleased to entertain of my past Service and my Capacity to be of further use, in Case of active Operations, does me the highest honour. I should not have proposed to retire if the Situation of my Accounts had not required my Attention to settling them, but the prospect of such a happy Event as the receiving powerful Aid from France to Co operate with us, will make it...
19From George Washington to Clement Biddle, 29 May 1780 (Washington Papers)
I have received Your Letter of the 28th. The Honourable the Committee in a circular Letter they have written to the States, have pressed them in the strongest terms, to furnish the supplies required of them by Congress, by their Act of the 25th of February; and the places for depositing the forage as well as other Articles, which had been agreed on, had been communicated to them before, by...
20To George Washington from Clement Biddle, 11 July 1780 (Washington Papers)
I have applied to the Justices & to the Contractor appointed by the State for this County, to furnish pasturage and meadow Grounds for Cuting Grass in the Vicinity of the Army to subsist the horses, but I have received very little Assistance from them altho’ the Forage Masters have attended on them for many Days for the purpose. The Justices now declare to me that they cannot subsist the...
21To George Washington from Clement Biddle, 11 July 1780 (Washington Papers)
The sufferings of our horses were realy alarming and I delay’d applying to your Excellency for a warrant to impress Grass, hay & pasturage until I found that they could not be supported by the Justices or Contractors in the way pointed out by the laws, and that the horses must perish or the inclosures of the Farmers be broke into without Authority or regulation—these Circumstances induced me...
22To George Washington from Clement Biddle, 22 July 1780 (Washington Papers)
Your warrant of 11th instt for impressing Forage has expired and in Case it should be necessary for the Army to Continue at this Ground it will not only be necessary to extend the Time for which the warrant was granted, but also the distance for impressing, as the Limits to which the last warrant was confined, cannot longer subsist the Army, but in Case you should approve of extending the...
23From Alexander Hamilton to Colonel Clement Biddle, [20 August 1780] (Hamilton Papers)
Mr. Laurence who will deliver you this, is I am informed, a character that by his attachment to the cause, his suffering, &c. has a claim to all the indulgence we can show him with consistency. All his grass is gone. He expects soon to have his hay taken away and then he says his cattle and his family in consequence must starve. If you can manage to spare him without incurring the charge of...
24From Alexander Hamilton to Colonel Clement Biddle, [16 September 1780] (Hamilton Papers)
There is to be an interview at Elizabeth Town the 19th. between General Lincoln General Philips, The British & American Commissaries of Prisoners. You will endeavour to provide them, with forage, and for this purpose if you please, take the directions of General Lincoln. Yr Obed serv. ALS , Historical Society of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia. Major General Benjamin Lincoln had been taken prisoner...
25From George Washington to Clement Biddle, 15 May 1783 (Washington Papers)
It is reported to us, that, Goods in Phila. are now selling below the prime cost—or below what formerly was the prime cost of like articles in England. Should this be the case, of which none can judge better than your self, it would suit me very well to procure for my Family the following articles. 1000 Ells of German Oszabgs or Ticklinburg Sterlg—prime Cost 4 pr of Linn at abt 18d. 4 Do Do 2/6...
26To George Washington from Clement Biddle, 28 May 1783 (Washington Papers)
I am honourd with yours of the 13th inst. with a List of a number of Articles for your farms in Virginia—a great quantity of Goods have been sold at our Vendues much lower than first Cost in Europe or what they could have been purchased at in peace, but they are not well chosen Goods for this Country, nor have few or any of those kinds which you want been sold yet at so low prices, but such...
27From George Washington to Clement Biddle, 11 June 1783 (Washington Papers)
Your favor of the 28th of May in answer to my Letter of the 15th of the same Month, is at hand. I shall rely upon your care & attention for the purchase of the Articles mentioned in the lattr—those most wanted, & which are most essential to me are the Blankets & Ticklinburg for my Negros and these are not in immediate demand. Apropos, did I not when the Army was leaving the Cantonment of...
28To George Washington from Clement Biddle, 23 July 1783 (Washington Papers)
I was honourd with your favour of 11th ulto. I called on Mr Rittenhouse to enquire for the Theodolet which you sent under my Care to be repaired in 1778—he says that he has it in good Order, tho’ taken to pieces & lay’d up—he will have it put together that it may be ready when you direct it to be called for. I have procurred 10 pieces of Ticklenberg of a good quality at 15d. per Ell and 200...
29From George Washington to Clement Biddle, 13 August 1783 (Washington Papers)
Upon my return from a Tour to the Northern & Western parts of this State I found your Letter of the 23d Ulto but not in time to give you an acknowledgement by the last Post, and to thank you for your attention to my Commission—I now do it—& by this opportunity have requested the Superintendent of Finance to repay you the Sums which you have advanced for my use; with a Commission thereon. but...
30To George Washington from Clement Biddle, 17 September 1783 (Washington Papers)
The Blankets & Osnabrigs were sent to the Care of Mr Richardson by a waggon which was going there & the Expence very little more than the freight would have been by water & wt. less risque—they were arrived safe & delivered to Mr Lund Washington. The other Articles orderd by you will be most or all of them procured in time to send by a vessel which is here from Potomack & shall be directed to...
31From George Washington to Clement Biddle, 20 September 1783 (Washington Papers)
The last Post brought me your favor of the 17th. I am sorry Mr Morris did not pay the money at the time and in the manner I expected—Inclosed I send you Eight Hundred Dollars in Bank Notes, & will write to you more fully in a day or two; business prevents me from doing it at this moment. I am Dr Sir Yr Most Obedt Servt DLC : Papers of George Washington.
32From George Washington to Clement Biddle, 2 October 1783 (Washington Papers)
On the 20th of last month, I wrote you a few lines, & send therewith Eight hundred Dollars in Bank Notes, which (tho’ I have heard nothing from you since) I hope got safe to hand. Such articles of the Linen kind as yet remain unpurchased (of the Invoice transmitted to you the 15th of May last) I wish to have postponed ’till Mrs Washington comes to Philada, which will be in a few days, that she...
33To George Washington from Clement Biddle, 5 October 1783 (Washington Papers)
I received your favour with the Eight hundred dollars in Bank notes and am since honoured with yours of 2d inst. I shall delay the forwarding the Linens ’til Mrs Washington arrives to choose them. The Blankets and Ticklenburghs were not purchased of Mr Abel James or at the prices they then sold at out of Stores—Such Articles as those, which were in very great demand, tho’ other Goods were very...
34To George Washington from Clement Biddle, 7 October 1783 (Washington Papers)
I wrote your Excellency by General Greene to which I beg leave to refer. Permit me to introduce to you the Count de Wengierski a Polish nobleman who is makeing the tour of America & wishes to pay his respects to you. He was particularly recommended to me which induces me to take this Liberty. I have the honour to be Your Excellencys Most Obedient & very hum. servt DLC : Papers of George...
35From George Washington to Clement Biddle, 14 December 1783 (Washington Papers)
Gen: Washington’s Complimts to Colo. Biddle—Begs to know if the Vessel for Alexandria will Sail today—and whether Colo. Biddle has procured the Articles required. If more money is wanted Colo. Biddle will please to name the Sum—and the Genl would be glad to receive the Acct. PHi : Washington-Biddle Correspondence.
36From George Washington to Clement Biddle, 8 January 1784 (Washington Papers)
Be so good as to send me by the Post, or any other safe & expeditious conveyance, 70 Yards of livery lace three quarters, or Inch wide; or any width between—Direct it to the care of the Postmaster in Alexandria. The lace should be red & white. I will thank you also for sending me, if an oppertunity should offer soon by Water, one hundred weight, or even a Barrel of good Coffee. Pray forwd the...
37From George Washington to Clement Biddle, 17 January 1784 (Washington Papers)
On the 8th I wrote to you for 70 Yards of livery lace (red & white, 3/4 or Inch wide, or any width between) to be sent by the Post; or any other safe & expeditious conveyance. Lest that letter should have miscarried I repeat my request, as I am in immediate want of the article. I did, at the sametime desire that one hundd weight, or a Barrl of good Coffee might be sent me by the first Vessel...
38From George Washington to Clement Biddle, 5 February 1784 (Washington Papers)
On the 8th of last month I wrote to you for 70 yards of Livery Lace, of which I was in immediate want, and requested to have it sent by the Post to Alexandria—As there is some reason to believe the Post has hardly gone through, yet, I beg leave to repeat my want of it, & to pray it may be sent as soon as possible—The lace should be red & white, Inch, or 3/4 of an Inch wide, or any where...
39To George Washington from Clement Biddle, 22 February 1784 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Clement Biddle, 22 Feb. 1784. On 10 Mar. 1784 GW wrote to Biddle : “I have received the Lace & two-pole chain, accompanied by your favors of the 22d & 29th ulto.”
40To George Washington from Clement Biddle, 29 February 1784 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Clement Biddle, 29 Feb. 1784. On 10 Mar. 1784 GW wrote to Biddle : “I have received the Lace & two-pole chain, accompanied by your favors of the 22d & 29th ulto.”
41From George Washington to Clement Biddle, 10 March 1784 (Washington Papers)
Since last post I have received the Lace & two-pole chain, accompanied by your favors of the 22d & 29th ulto for which I thank you. From what you have written concerning the Sieves, it is to be feared I did not sufficiently explain myself in speaking to the sizes of the meshes —You say, “the largest is of iron wire, as there was none of brass so coarse in Town”—& again, “the second & third are...
42From George Washington to Clement Biddle, 6 May 1784 (Washington Papers)
You will do me a favr by executing the enclosed Memms. The reason why I had rather the wine (had of the Chevr de la Luzerne) should be paid for by a third person, shall be given to you when I see you. To send the articles wanted by the first Vessel bound to Alexandria, would be very convenient, & you wd do me a kindness to agree for, & express what the frieght shall be. I have suffered great...
43From George Washington to Clement Biddle, 7 May 1784 (Washington Papers)
As the oppertunity to Potomack will be good, I return the Box you sent me the other day, in order that it may go by the Ship Fortune with the other things—As my purchase of any of the sorts of Wine (enumerated in my letter of yesterday) will depend upon the price, which sometime ago I heard was incredibly low, you would oblige me, if you know the rates they are at present, by the information—I...
44From George Washington to Clement Biddle, 18 May 1784 (Washington Papers)
Rather than wait, & thereby hazard delay, I would purchase Copper at the present price for all the purposes mentioned in your estimate, the Spouts, or Trunks excepted—the want of these, as they do not retard the Work may remain a while longer. Pray let me have your Acct before Nine oclock, as I hope to set off soon after that hour & wish to pay the Balle before I go. I am Yr Obedt & affe Servt...
45To George Washington from Clement Biddle, 10 June 1784 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Clement Biddle, 10 June 1784. On 30 June GW wrote to Biddle : “Your favor of the 10th Instt . . . is come safe to hand.”
46From George Washington to Clement Biddle, 30 June 1784 (Washington Papers)
Your favor of the 10th Instt covering an Invoice of Goods shipped by the Betsey Captn Broadhurst is come safe to hand—the Vessel is also arrived at Alexandria; and I shall send up this day for the things—I wish the Mattrasses had all been among them as the Season is wasting fast in which they are most useful. I have perused the accts you have delivered in at sundry times and find the debits &...
47From George Washington to Clement Biddle, 28 July 1784 (Washington Papers)
The Mulatto fellow William who has been with me all the War is attached (married he says) to one of his own colour a free woman, who, during the War was also of my family—She has been in an infirm state of health for sometime, and I had conceived that the connection between them had ceased—but I am mistaken—they are both applying to me to get her here, and tho’ I never wished to see her more,...
48From George Washington to Clement Biddle, 4 August 1784 (Washington Papers)
Since my last to you, I have obtained from Baltimore (by means of Colo. Tilghman) a House-Joiner—and as the season for working in mortar will soon be over; & that of intermitants is approaching—I pray you to decline purchasing either the Joiner or Bricklayer formerly requested. I am Dr Sir &c. LB , DLC:GW . See Tench Tilghman to GW, 27 July , and GW to Biddle, 30 June 1784 .
49From George Washington to Clement Biddle, 3 November 1784 (Washington Papers)
I have not yet received a statement of my Acct with you. It would give me pleasure to have it at full length—and soon. I wish you would add to it 100 lbs. of fresh & good (red) clover seed, to be sent by the first vessel to Alexandria, as I should be glad to receive it before Ice may impede the navigation of this or Delaware river. I requested the favor of Mr Bourdinot (late president of...
50To George Washington from Clement Biddle, 29 January 1785 (Washington Papers)
I just met with a Sloop going immediately for Potowmack by which I have time to send the Two bags of Grass seed received from mr Boudinot which the Captain has promised to deliver if possible at Mount Vernon otherwise to mr Thompson at Colchester. The other kind of Grass seed I could not yet procure tho’ I have applied to every person in Town who collects those Articles & to several farmers. I...