1To Benjamin Franklin from [Duportail], [after 29 December 1776] (Franklin Papers)
AL : University of Pennsylvania Library J’ai l’honneur de vous envoyer, Monsieur, un etat imprimé des officiers du Corps du genie afin que vous puissiéz vous assurer que vous n’avéz pas un seul de nous. D’un autre coté si vous consultéz quelque militaire instruit et sans prévention, il vous dira qu’aucun officier d’artillerie comme d’infanterie ne peut remplacer l’ingenieur pour ce qui...
2Louis Lebègue de Presle Duportail to the American Commissioners, [29 December 1776] (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society This is the first appearance of one of the important French volunteers. The American army suffered from a dearth of engineers, and the commissioners had been instructed to obtain four competent ones. Duportail (1743–1802) had graduated from the military school at Mézières and joined the corps of engineers at the age of eighteen. In 1776 he completed a new...
3To Benjamin Franklin from Joseph-Etienne Bertier, 29 December 1776 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Il me tarde bien qu’un rheume et un crachement de sang n’arrêtent pas l’empressement que j’ay d’aller marquer en persone le respect, l’attachement, et la reconoissance dont je suis et seray toute ma vie pénetré pour l’illustre Mr. franklin. J’espère que le Seigneur exaucera bientôt mes voeux, et que je vous exprimeray de vive voix, ce que je souhaiterois...
4To Benjamin Franklin from Benjamin Vaughan, 29 December 1776 (Franklin Papers)
AL : Library of Congress B. Vaughan presents his best respects to Dr: Franklin and incloses him some papers for perusal at his leisure . He sends them for several reasons. To shew, first, that neither his head nor his heart have been unoccupied upon the subject of America; to prove in the next place, under what disadvantages every man enters upon the subject, without information from thence;...
5General Orders, 29 December 1776 (Washington Papers)
The Abstracts for Payment of the Troops to be made out, and lodged with the Generals Secretary for the Months of November and December. The unnecessary Baggage of the Army to be deposited for the present, at New Town, as the Sick also are till they can be removed to Philadelphia agreeable to the directions of Doctr Shippin or Doctr Cockran—But Small Guards to be left with the Baggage & those...
6From George Washington to John Hancock, 29 December 1776 (Washington Papers)
I am just setting out, to attempt a second passage over the Delaware with the Troops that were with me on the morning of the 26th. I am determined to effect it, if possible but know that it will be attended with much fatigue & difficulty on account of the Ice, which will neither allow us to cross on Foot, or give us an easy passage with Boats. Genl Cadwalader crossed from Bristol on the 27th...
7From George Washington to Lieutenant General William Howe, 29 December 1776 (Washington Papers)
I take the Liberty of inclosing you a Letter for Genl Lee, which I must beg the favor of you to have forwarded as early as possible, as it contains a draft upon Major Small for a Sum of Money of which I fear the General will be in want. A Division of prisoners of the 7th Regt with Captain Newmarsh, crossed the River at Easton and went in without Mr Moylans Knowledge. From the irregularity of...
8To George Washington from Hugh Hughes, 29 December 1776 (Washington Papers)
I have endeavour’d to comply with your Excellency’s Instructions, relative to the Department, as far as Time and Circumstances would permit. The Tents, to the Amount of about eight Hundred, good and bad, have been forwarded to Fishkill, as well as the entrenching Tools, Pots and Camp-kettles, unless it be those rec’d within three or four Days. I have order’d an exact Return to be made from the...
9From George Washington to Major General Charles Lee, 29 December 1776 (Washington Papers)
I have the pleasure of enclosing you a Letter from your Freind Robt Morris Esqr. with a draft on Major Small for £116.9.3. S⟨tg⟩. It will afford me the highest satisfaction to receive a Line from you, informing me of the State of your Health and your Situation, in both of which I hope you are as happy as a person under your Circumstances can possibly be. Such further Supplies as you may have...
10To George Washington from Brigadier General William Maxwell, 29 December 1776 (Washington Papers)
I arrived here the 24th past 11, ocloack at night found things not in so good a state as I could wish. General McDougal Commanded and as he seemed to be well aquainted with the state of the Troops and where the different necessarys was most likely to be found to support them I was not anctious to take much of the Command upon me for some days but assisted all I could He says I must take it all...