1[Monday August 12. 1776.] (Adams Papers)
Monday August 12. 1776. A Letter from General Washington of the 8th. with sundry Papers enclosed, and one from General Mercer, with one inclosed to him from Colonel Dickinson, were read: Resolved that the Letter from General Washington, with the Papers inclosed, be referred to the Board of War. Commodore Hopkins had his hearing, as in the Journal. On this Occasion I had a very laborious task,...
2Abigail Adams to John Adams, 12 August 1776 (Adams Papers)
Yours 30 of July reachd me by Saturdays post, and found me with Johnny and Tommy quite Recoverd from the small Pox. When I first came to Town I was made to believe that the small pox was a very light disorder, and one might pass through it with little or no complaints. Some such instances no doubt there are, and Light it is in comparison of the Natural way, or what it formerly was. As I never...
3John Adams to Abigail Adams, 12 August 1776 (Adams Papers)
Mr. A. setts off, to day, if the Rain should not prevent him, with Coll. Whipple of Portsmouth: a Brother of the celebrated Miss Hannah Whipple, a sensible and worthy Man. By him I have sent you two Bundles of Letters, which I hope you will be carefull of. I thought I should not be likely to find a safer opportunity. By them, you will see that my private Correspondence alone, is Business...
4John Adams to Abigail Adams, 12 August 1776 (Adams Papers)
Mr. A. and Coll. Whipple, are at length gone. Coll. Tudor went off with them. They went away, about Three o Clock this afternoon. I wrote by A and Coll. Whipple too. By the latter I sent two large Bundles, which he promised to deliver to you. These middle States begin to taste the Sweets of War. Ten Thousand Difficulties and wants occur, which they had no Conception of before. Their Militia...
5To John Adams from Jonathan Mason Jr., 12 August 1776 (Adams Papers)
Your favour of July the 18th came safe to hand. I consider it as a favour, this amid so great a variety of business, of the first importance, you have condescended so freely to offer me your advice, my situation warmly calling for it. The Obligation will be ever fresh in my memory, which in addition to many others I have received from yourself and your agreeable Lady, how to compensate for I...
6From Alexander Hamilton to the Convention of the Representatives of the State of New-York, [12 August 1776] (Hamilton Papers)
It is necessary I should inform you that there is at present a vacancy in my company, arising from the promotion of Lieutenant Johnson to a captaincy in one of the row-gallies, (which command, however, he has since resigned, for a very particular reason.) As artillery officers are scarce in proportion to the call for them, and as myself and my remaining officers sustain an extraordinary weight...
7The Pennsylvania Convention: Order to Pay George Ross and Others, 12 August 1776: résumé (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Rosenbach Foundation <August 12, 1776: A note to the council of safety to pay George Ross, Timothy Matlack, and Henry Slagle £10,000 in the public service of the state of Pennsylvania, signed by Franklin as president of the convention, attested by John Morris, Jr., as secretary, and addressed to Jno. M. Nesbitt. Below Franklin’s signature is an order to pay, dated August 13 and signed by...
8To Benjamin Franklin from the Chevalier de Kermorvan, [12 August 1776?] (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society J’ai reçû l’honneur de votre Lettre. J’ai lû avec le plus grand plaisir votre judicieuse dissertation sur mon plan de défense. J’ai parfaitement senti les raisons qui feront qu’on ne l’executera que quand l’ennemi seroit descendu. Vos peuples ne veulent pas travailler et ne voyent de danger que quand l’ennemi est sur eux. Le travail d’un camp rétranché...
9To Benjamin Franklin from Mehetable Newland, 12 August 1776 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society As Mr. Newland has the honour of being known to you, I have taken the liberty of asking the favour, whether you have heard, any thing of him, sence he Embark from New York for Quebec. From the deferent reports of the Success of our Troops, at that place, I am under the greatest uneasiness for his Welfare. Sir from the thousand Amiable qualities of your...
10General Orders, 12 August 1776 (Washington Papers)
The business of granting passes proving burthensome to Messrs Berrien, Ray & Wilmot; three others are added to them, viz.: William Goforth, John Campbell and Samuel Cowperthwaite, any passes signed by either of them are to be allowed. The Honorable The Continental Congress have been pleased to appoint the following Gentlemen, Majors General of the Army of the United States. viz.: William Heath...
11To George Washington from John Bradford, 12 August 1776 (Washington Papers)
I am honour’d with your Excellencys Signature under the 5th Instant, directing me to take the necessary Care of all the Warlike Stores, and Necessaries, for an Army, till I may receive Orders from the proper Authority. your Excellency may rely on the Strictest punctuallity in Complying with any future Orders I may Receive. I have not Omitted since I have been in this department giving a...
12To George Washington from Major General Nathanael Greene, 12 August 1776 (Washington Papers)
Colo. Hand reports this morning a twenty Gun Ship that came in last Evening fird as She past through the Narrows—and was Answerd by the Admiral—Four Ships went through the Narrows Yesterday—they are at Anchor along New Uttrect Shore. Twenty five Sail of ships are seen at a great distance at Sea coming in. If your Excellency think Col. Varnum deserveing promotion and another Brigadier is to be...
13From George Washington to John Hancock, 12 August 1776 (Washington Papers)
I have been duly honoured with your favors of the 8 & 10th Instts with their several Inclosures. I shall pay attention to the Resolution respecting Lieutt Josiah, and attempt to releive him from his rigorous Usage. Your Letters to such of the Gentn as were here, have been delivered—the rest will be sent by the first Opportunity. Since my last of the 8 & 9th the Enemy have made no movements of...
14From George Washington to John Hancock, 12 August 1776 (Washington Papers)
This will be handed you by Colo. Campbell from the Northern Army, whom the Inclosed Letter and proceedings of a Genl Court Martial will shew to have been in arrest and tried for Sundry matters charged against him. As the Court Martial was by Order of the Commander in that department—the Facts committed there—the Trial there, I am much at a loss to know Why the proceedings were referred to me...
15From George Washington to Major General Charles Lee, 12 August 1776 (Washington Papers)
Notwithstanding I shall probably feel the effect, I do most cordially and sincerely congratulate you on your victory over Clinton and the British Squadron at Sullivans Island—A victory undoubtedly it is, when an Enemy are drub’d, and driven from a Country they were sent to Conquer—such is the case of Clinton and Sir Peter Parker, who are now with the Fleet & Army at Staten Island, where Genl...
16To George Washington from Brigadier General William Livingston, 12 August 1776 (Washington Papers)
Your Letter of the 8th Instant I recieved on a Journey to Brunswick on Friday last, when I had an Opportunity of Conferring with our Convention and urging your Excellency’s requisition relating to the Militia, the propriety of which is so obvious—I returned on Saturday Evening and delayed answering your favour in hopes of recieving the resolution of Convention thereon—I have just been favoured...
17To George Washington from Brigadier General Hugh Mercer, 12 August 1776 (Washington Papers)
Give me leave to Introduce to your Excellencys notice—Colo. Attlee of the Pennsylva. Troops—His experience and Attention to every part of the service entrusted to his direction—will I am perswaded secure to him your Regard—Col. Burd will march this Afternoon with about Three hundred men of the Flying Camp—including One Compy of Rifle men, Volunters, from CumberLd—Commanded by Capt. Steel. I...
18From George Washington to the New York Convention, 12 August 1776 (Washington Papers)
As the time is certainly near at hand & may be hourly expected, which is to decide the fate of this City & the Issue of this Campaign, I thought it highly improper that Persons of suspected Character should remain in places where their opportunities of doing mischief were much greater than in the Enemies Camp—I therefore have caused a number of them to be apprehended & removed to some Distance...
19From George Washington to Major General Artemas Ward, 12 August 1776 (Washington Papers)
Your Letter of the 4th Instant is safe to hand. an answer to the Several particulars it contains will be given soon, time will but allow me to Request your forwarding with all possible Dispatch, Two 13 Inch Sea Mortars of the best in Boston to this place with their Beds & every thing Compleat. I am sir Yr &c. LB , in Samuel Blachley Webb’s writing, DLC:GW ; Varick transcript , DLC:GW .
20To George Washington from Major General Artemas Ward, 12 August 1776 (Washington Papers)
This day I have forwarded one hundred Barrels of powder for Norwich, there to be deposited agreeable to your directions; I have also forwarded a Chest of Arms to the care of Messieurs Huntingtons to be by them sent to New York; an Invoice of them is here inclosed. Whetcombs Regiment march’d the eighth Instant and Phinney’s the ninth, for Ticonderoga. Last week Mr Glover, the Agent, was in Town...
21To John Jay from Robert Livingston, 12 August 1776 (Jay Papers)
I wrote Coll o . Porter, by Express, desiring him to Spare me two of his moulders to assist my hands, in Casting doubleheaded Shott, & the Trux you desired me to cast for the Convention of the State of New York; he wrote me immediately that he Could not possibly fulfill the orders he had from his Honor The Governour if he Spared one of his hands; upon which I went out to Speak with him my Self...
22Jefferson’s Outline of Argument Concerning Insubordination of Esek Hopkins, 12 August 1776 (Jefferson Papers)
The Commodore’[s] excuse for not going to Southern colonies agreeable to orders . Before he left capes of Delaware, he heard the Liverpool was joined to Ld. Dunmore , which made enemy an overmatch, and many of his men sea sick. He did not go to N. Carolina because [he] received intelligence the enemy’s force had gone from there and from S. Cara. to Georgia. (His men recovered as he got to the...