1From George Washington to Lieutenant Colonel Samuel Smith, 23 September 1777 (Washington Papers)
You will proceed with the detachment under your command to Dunks’s ferry on Delaware, if you find in your progress the way clear & safe. When arrived there, you will take the safest & most expeditious method of conducting the detachment to fort Mifflin; by water would be easiest & least fatiguing to your men; and if practicable & safe, will certainly be most eligible: otherwise you will cross...
2To George Washington from Lieutenant Colonel Samuel Smith, 26 September 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have the pleasure to inform your Excellency that I have just arrived here, with my party, & expect to throw myself in to Fort Mifflin this night, the want of provisions has detained me much, & the men not being properly chosen for such an expedition has been a great stop to our march, Few of them have Shoes or Stockings, many of them without Coats or Blankets & scarce any who have more than...
3To George Washington from Lieutenant Colonel Samuel Smith, 27 September 1777 (Washington Papers)
I last night threw myself into this Garrison, where I am sorry to inform your Excellency that I find every-thing in the utmost Confusion, not as many Cartouches as will last one day, & the very necessary Cartouches for the Block houses not sufficient for an hour: 60 untrained Militia, are all the artillery men in the Fort, the provisions almost out. The Militia refused obedience to Capt. Treat...
4From George Washington to Lieutenant Colonel Samuel Smith, 1 October 1777 (Washington Papers)
I am favd with yours of the 27th ulto by Major Mullen and am sorry to hear that you found Matters so much out of order at Fort Mifflin. Much must depend upon your activity and that of the other Officers in Garrison. Two Waggon loads of Ammunition were sent off from Trenton the moment Major Mullens arrived there and I have directed Mr Mease the Cloathier Genl to forward the necessaries wanted...
5To George Washington from Lieutenant Colonel Samuel Smith, 2 October 1777 (Washington Papers)
Colo. Nichola with the advice of the Officers in Garrison withdrew his Invalids before the Arrival of your Excellency’s Letter so that the Command remains with me. The Enemy yesterday landed a number of men (below Billingsport and encampt last night within nine miles) some say 400. others 600. my Opinion is the first as we had intelligence of that number having march’d from Willmington for...
6To George Washington from Lieutenant Colonel Samuel Smith, 3 October 1777 (Washington Papers)
I sent yesterday an express to your Excellency with an account of the enemies having landed near Billingsport, which place they have now possession of, Our Militia evacuated it after bringing off all the stores and Spikeing up the Cannon. This event as I foresaw struck the fleet with much Panic, last night five Officers and 18 Men Deserted and a great part of the rest only wait for...
7To George Washington from Lieutenant Colonel Samuel Smith, 3 October 1777 (Washington Papers)
This will be delivered you by Majr Boyce who has reconnoitered the enemy now in Billingsport and reports their strength to be 1500 men at least 1300 of whom went from Phila. he will inform you of particulars. This evening the enemy have been reconnoitering us from the Meadows, what they intend I know not. Certainly their force scatterd in this manner must weaken them much. Their Shiping have...
8To George Washington from Lieutenant Colonel Samuel Smith, 6 October 1777 (Washington Papers)
From the best Intelligence the Enemy have withdrawn all their men from Billingsport (the night of the fourth Instant) except two hundred who seem much discourag’d, Your Excellencys Success (on which I sincerely congratulate you) has been of the utmost service, we have now no more Desertions, on the contrary some who went from the fleet have returnd. Had we a few men to sport on we might with...
9From George Washington to Lieutenant Colonel Samuel Smith, 7 October 1777 (Washington Papers)
I am favd with both yours of the 3d and am sorry to find that so dastardly a spirit prevailing in the Navy, but I hope there will still be good men enough left to defend the Fort and obstructions till we can give them a decisive stroke by land. I have the pleasure to inform you that we made a general attack upon the Enemy at Germantown upon the morning of the 4th. We surprised them and threw...
10To George Washington from Lieutenant Colonel Samuel Smith, 7 October 1777 (Washington Papers)
Yesterday Evening the Enemy entirely evacuated Billingsport after having destroy’d our works, burnt the platforms, Houses[,] Gun Carriages &c. they have left all our own guns, one of which a twelve pounder they had taken out the spike and left it open. The works they threw up are entire We shall destroy them. The Commodore engag’d their Shiping last night and chas’d them down to Chester, where...