1To George Washington from James McHenry, 31 January 1777 (Washington Papers)
In consequence of the inclosed application to Gen: Howe the sick privates and those who remained of the well were ordered off on parole under my care as Doctor, and the conduct of a bristish officer &c. But As the officer leaves them here, he gets no receipt. Six have died since our leaving New-York; But I flatter myself, should the weather moderate a little that most of the remainder will...
2To George Washington from James McHenry, 21 June 1777 (Washington Papers)
Observing it asserted in Gen. Howes letter to your Excy of the 21st April Ulto that “one half of the sick prisoners were recd into the British Hospitals—that the remainder were attended in their different places of confinement by their own Surgeons—and lastly that these Surgeons, without restriction were supplied with medicines for this purpose until it was discovered that they disposed of...
3From George Washington to James McHenry, 5 July 1777 (Washington Papers)
Your Letter of the 21st Ulto I received on Thursday last, for which I am extremely obliged to you. I never doubted, but that the Treatment of our prisoners in the Hands of the Enemy was such as could not be justified either upon the principles of Humanity or the practice of War. Facts were too stubborn & glaring to admit a more favourable supposition. But had the charge not been supported...
4To George Washington from James McHenry, 23 January 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have the honor to communicate to your Excellency (in addition to my information through Mr Tilghman of the 21st Instant) by Major General Lord Stirlings particular directions, that on the 17th a detachment of the enemy (of about two hundred men) from New York effected a landing on the Middletown shore (near one Thomas Browers)—But re-imbarked in the night, without penetrating the country, or...
5To George Washington from James McHenry, 18 July 1780 (Washington Papers)
I would beg leave to mention to your Excellency, a matter, in which I feel too much to be longer without laying it before you. The approaching campaign opening an interesting field, makes me desirous to appear, in a more military character, than that I now hold. I have also had before me for some time past, a prospect of visiting Europe; and especially those places where our interest is most...
6To George Washington from James McHenry, 14 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
As the within to Col. Tilghman is on business of a public nature, I have taken the liberty to inclose it under cover to your Excellency. I had a letter yesterday from Governor Lee containing the substance of an official dispatch from Governor Jefferson (the date not mentioned) by which it appears that Phillips was still on board his vessels at Portsmouth, but making a large collection of...
7To George Washington from James McHenry, 30 September 1781 (Washington Papers)
Having been elected one of the Senate for the State of Maryland I beg leave to resign the rank of Major which I hold in the army of the United States. With the greatest respect I have the honor to be Sir Your Excellency’s most ob. St DNA : RG 93—Manuscript File.
8To George Washington from James McHenry, 3 December 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have placed my resignation in the hands of one of the electors but he omitted forwarding it to Congress at the usual time. I now take the liberty to send it to your Excellency as the lateness of the resignation makes it rather improper on my own account for it to go to Congress from myself. I make no doubt but your Excellency when here suggested such measures as you saw necessary to be...
9From George Washington to James McHenry, 11 December 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have received your favor of the 3d Inst. inclosing your Resignation which I have delivered in to the Secy at War. I am convinced your transition from the Military to the Civil Line will be attended with good consequences, as you will be able to communicate that kind of information to the Body of which you are now a Member, which they often stand in need of in times like the present—And as...
10To George Washington from James McHenry, 20 January 1782 (Washington Papers)
I would have thanked your Excellency for your very interesting letter, if I had not waited to render my acknowledgements more valuable by the hand who should present them. It is at least one of the fairest in the world. I need not add that it is Mrs Lloyds. We are just about closing our session. The only novelty which it has given birth to, is a man called an Intendant, whom we have vested...
11From George Washington to James McHenry, 12 March 1782 (Washington Papers)
The fair hand to whom your letter of the 20th of Jany was committed presented it safe, & as you rightly observd—the value of it was enhanced by it. Good Laws—ample means—& sufficient powers—may render the birth of your Intendant a public benefit; and from the spirit of your people I hope these are provided— without them the appointment must be nugatory—Never, since the commencement of the...
12To George Washington from James McHenry, 5 April 1782 (Washington Papers)
Doctor Craik gives me but a moment to acknowlege your Excellency’s letter of the 12 of last month. I think precisely with your Excellency in your observations on the war. Its prosecution is certainly intended, and it is our business to bring as early as possible a respectable force into the field. Shall I tell you, that we inlist but slowly, and that I am very apprehensive our Assembly will be...
13To George Washington from James McHenry, 14 July 1782 (Washington Papers)
This packet will be delivered you by Mr Lindsay manager of the Baltimore Theatre, who waits upon your Excellency to solicit a change in the parole of the band of musick at Frederick to this place. If this favor can be granted it will be adding essentially to the obligations which this Town is under to your Excellency, by increasing its pleasures. I would suppose the Band can have no objection...
14From George Washington to James McHenry, 18 July 1782 (Washington Papers)
Mr Lindsay handed me your favor of the 14th—the disposition of the Prisoners is not with me, but I have accompanied your request to the Secretary at War, and have no doubt of his acquiescence—If the Ladies should derive as much additional pleasure from the attainment of this Band, as I wish them, they will soon be at the summit of happiness. At present, we are inveloped in darkness; and no...
15To George Washington from John Lynch, 20 July 1782 (Washington Papers)
I beg the Favour of your Excellencys excusing my taking up your time by interfereing with That multiplicity of Business of a higher nature and purpose. A Mr Kennedy left this town and joined the British at the beginning of those times from whom he received the Commission of Captn—he is nearly relatied to my wife on account of Which he Sent me out in the year 1777 a Deed of Gift wherein he...
16From George Washington to James McHenry, 15 August 1782 (Washington Papers)
If the Commanders of the Fleets and Armies of our late, most Gracious Sovereign , in America; are not guilty of more duplicity than comports with candid Minds; we are now advanced to that critical & important Crisis, when our hands are to be tried at the Arts of Negociation. In a Letter which I have receivd and forwarded to Congress, from Sir Guy Carlton & Admiral Digby, are these Words "We...
17From George Washington to James McHenry, 12 September 1782 (Washington Papers)
I am pained to find by your Letter of the 30th Ulto, that you cannot get rid of your fever. Try change of Air—come to the Camp—Any thing to remove a disorder which seems to pursue you with unabating obstinacy, & may, if suffered to run on you any longer, become too powerful for Medicine. The Army has at length taken the Field, and is Encamped at this place; waiting a junction with the French...
18To George Washington from James McHenry, 30 September 1782 (Washington Papers)
I am now able to reply to your letter of the 12th instant. I thought to have done it sooner, but I ventured to Annapolis upon a little piece of business before I had quite subdued the remains of a fever, where I had a relapse which confined me once more to my bed. I am at present likely to enjoy better health. You suppose the prospects of peace the order a little further back. I fear this to...
19To George Washington from James McHenry, 10 October 1782 (Washington Papers)
I wrote you upon a variety of matters by Major Lynch, and as some of them were interesting I hope the latter has met with no disasterous accident. I am once again a man of health after five fevers; each of which was violent and obstinate enough to have condemned a constitution much stronger than mine; and yet mine does not give any marks of what it has so recently suffered. I am now going to...
20From George Washington to James McHenry, 17 October 1782 (Washington Papers)
In a visit to the Post of Dobb’s Ferry last Saturday, I accidentally met with Majr Lynch at that place, & received from him your letter of the 30th Ulto. In a time like this, of general uncertainty with respect to the designs of the British Court, it is not at all wonderful to find men enquiring at every Corner for News—The North sends to the South, and the South to the North, to obtain it....
21From George Washington to James McHenry, 23 October 1782 (Washington Papers)
I am pained because I cannot answer the expectation & request of your letter of the 10th Instt—which only came to my hands on Sunday by the Post—to your satisfaction. To make such an application as you require to the Financier, would, I know, be unavailing—first, because he has most decidedly, refused to adjust, & discharge the claim of any Officer who is a resident in, & the subject of the...
22To George Washington from James McHenry, 2 February 1783 (Washington Papers)
One of the best old ladies in the world who has one of the cleverest young ladies for a daughter has requested my endeavours for the recovery of a negroe man of hers in your army. I inclose you a note of hers on the subject, and have to intreat your Excellency that you will order an enquiry and have the negroe restored. I recollect to have been told by Major Reed in Virginia something of this...
23From George Washington to James McHenry, 18 February 1783 (Washington Papers)
Immediately on the Rect of your Letter to me of the 2nd of the Month I orderd an inquirey to be made after the Negro—and have reced the inclosed Letter from Colonel Vose in answer. Had the Negro been in Camp I should have been happy in restoring him to Mrs Dulany—as well on account of her own Merit as the pleasure it would have afforded you, to have obliged a Lady who has so clever a Daughter....
24To George Washington from James McHenry, 15 April 1783 (Washington Papers)
Because I have no reason to believe myself forgotten, notwithstanding you have not written to me for a long time. I would not leave Philadelphia without congratulating with you upon an event the most fortunate for America, and the most glorious for my general. You have carried us through a long war; you have not sunk under the severest tryals; and you live to see a country enjoy the blessings...
25From George Washington to James McHenry, 24 April 1783 (Washington Papers)
Immediately upon the Receipt of your letter of the 15th expressive of your wish to go to the Court of Versailles, or London as Official Secretary to the Embassy; I wrote to Messrs Livingston & Maddison on the subject, & mentioned you in warm terms to them—the Letters will go by this days Post. I thank you very sincerely for your kind congratulation on the approaching Peace; none can enjoy it...
26From George Washington to James McHenry, 14 May 1783 (Washington Papers)
You will see by the inclosed Copies, which are answers to my letters to Mr Livingston and Mr Madison, upon what footing the appointments to Foreign Courts stand. If these Gentlemen should leave Congress previous to the taking place of this Event—Your friends in Congress should advise you thereof, & of the time at which these elections may probably be made—and I can facilitate your wishes by...
27To George Washington from James McHenry, 31 July 1783 (Washington Papers)
You will forgive me for not writing to you sooner and attribute it to its real cause, not want of the sincerest inclination, but of Censure. Perhaps before this reaches you the president will have transmitted our resolve for bringing you here and relieving you from that disagreable situation of which you have so justly complained in your letter to Congress. I was chairman of the committee on...
28From George Washington to James McHenry, 6 August 1783 (Washington Papers)
After a tour of at least 750 Miles (performed in Nineteen days) I returned to this place yesterday Afternoon, where I found your favor of the 31st Ulto intimating a resolution of Congress for calling me to Princeton, partly as it would seem, on my own account, and partly for the purpose of giving Aid to Congress; but the President not having sent on the Resolution I am left ignorant of the...
29To George Washington from James McHenry, 11 August 1783 (Washington Papers)
I am just now honored with your letter of the 6th. You have indeed gone over a great deal of ground in a very short time. The first motive for bringing you here was to get you out of a disagreeable situation, to one less disagreeable. The second was to get your assistance and advice in the arrangements for peace. It may be necessary besides to consult you respecting promotions, and on a...
30To George Washington from James McHenry, 18 August 1783 (Washington Papers)
I am going to receive your thanks for putting it in your power to do good. A Miss Howard, a citizen of Annapolis, of an amiable character and reputable connections married a Capn Le Vacher de Vanbruen, a French gentleman. The Capn served with reputation in our army from the year 1776 til the capture of Lord Cornwallis when he obtained a furlough to visit France. He embarked in the Favorite...