1To George Washington from Brigadier General John Cadwalader, 3 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
whether the army under your Excellency’s command should continue in the field this winter; and whether it is expedient to call to your assistance a great body of militia to make an attack on the City, are very important Questions—the determination of which may decide the fate of America—They therefore require our most serious consideration. It is certainly usual with all nations, in every cold...
2To George Washington from Major John Clark, Jr., 3 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
One of my Spies this moment arrived from the City, which place he left this Day at 12, oClock—he confirms the account transmitted you this Day at one oClock with respect to the Enemy pressing Horses & Carriages—but seen no Boats &c. on Carriages—he went thro the greatest part of the City assures me Troops are quarter’d in almost every House—they are pulling down a great many frame Buildings...
3To George Washington from Major John Clark, Jr., 3 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
Col: Laurens Letter came to hand this morning. I am sorry a Guard of Militia under the Command of Colonel Warner took up one of my Friends going into Philada which has prevented my getting some very material intelligence as I had formed a channel through which every thing in that way wou’d have come with secrecy & for that purpose had sent a little provision to my Correspondent in Philada from...
With great pleasure to ourselves we discharge our duty by inclosing to you your Commission for representing these United States at the Court of France. We are by no means willing to indulge a thought of your declining this important service, and therefore we send duplicates of the Commission and the late Resolves, in order that you may take one sett with you, and send the other, by another...
5To George Washington from Captain Charles Craig, 3 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
The enemy have not made any movement since I had the Honour of Adressing Your Excellency. I have been inform’d since my last, that, the Number that Crossed Schoolkill Consisted of Three Thousand Men, with six field pieces, The Took a Number of flat Bottom’d Boats, with which the intend to Cross on your Excellencys rear, the enemy are very Diserous to Know where our Stores and Baggage are at...
6To George Washington from Brigadier General Duportail, 3 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have examined anew with all the attention of which I am capable, the Project of attacking the English and it still appears to me too dangerous—the great Body of Militia with which we might be reinforced for this purpose does not give me any additional hope of succeeding—it is not the number of Troops which is of importance in this case, but it is the quality, or rather their nature and...
7Certificate Authenticating Extracts from Minutes of the Georgia Assembly, 3 December 1777 (Franklin Papers)
AD : Historical Society of Pennsylvania I do hereby certify whom it may concern, that the Papers herewith connected under my Seal, viz. the Extract from the Minutes of the Assembly of Georgia, signed by Henry Cuyler, Clerk; and the Instructions to Capt. De la Plaigne signed by N W. Jones Speaker, are genuine and authentic Papers. Notation in Franklin’s hand: Certificate in favour of Capt...
8To John Adams from Elbridge Gerry, 3 December 1777 (Adams Papers)
I received your Favour of the 19th Novr on my Way to this Place; and the Business which your Friend Mr. Smith requested You to negotiate, shall be carefully attended to and performed. I thank You, for the Intelligence conveyed, and would endeavour to recollect in Return, what has transpired at Congress, had not our Friend Mr. Lovell, who as a faithful and accurate Intelligencer as well as on...
9To George Washington from Major General Nathanael Greene, 3 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
The Subject under Consideration before the board is whether a plan to draw together a large Body of militia in aid of the continental Troops in the dead of winter to attack General Howe in his winter quarters is eligible or not. However desireable the destruction of General Howe’s army may be & however impatient the public may be for this desireable event; I cannot recommend the measure. I...
10To George Washington from Major General Johann Kalb, 3 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
When your Excellency recommended sometime ago the Consideration of the practicabity of an attack on the Ennemy, I was already of opinion for Such an attack if it was possible to make an attempt on the City behind the lines, either by Sending troops in Boats down Delawar River to land on, or below the wharf, or by crossing Schuylkill river below middleferry either by throwing over Bridges or...