1From George Washington to William Greene, 22 August 1781 to 24 August 1781 (Washington Papers)
The failure of the necessary Aids requested from the several States, together with some other Circumstances, have determined me to abandon what was held as our first Object in the Operations of the present Campaign, & Obliged me to an Alteration of my Measures. A Detatchment from the American Troops, with the whole of the French Army, are now on their March to Virginia: I expect to find the...
2From John Adams to the President of Congress, 22 August 1781 (Adams Papers)
The Constitution of this Country is such, that it is difficult to discover the general Sense. There have been all along Circumstances in which it might be discerned; but these were so feeble, and so susceptible of Contradiction and Disguise, that some extraordinary Exertions were necessary to strike out unquestionable proofs of the Temper and Opinion of the Nation. Last Spring, the Part of...
3From John Adams to the President of Congress, 22 August 1781 (Adams Papers)
The late glorious Victory, obtained by Admiral Zoutman over Admiral Parker, is wholly to be ascribed to the Exertions of Amsterdam. Pretences and Excuses would have been devised, for avoiding to send out the Fleet, and indeed for avoiding an Action, when at Sea, if it had not been for the Measures which have been taken to arouse the Attention and animate the Zeal of the Nation. The Officers...
4To John Adams from Edmund Jenings, 22 August 1781 (Adams Papers)
I have the Honor of receiving your Excellencys Letter, of the 18th. Instant, This Day. Indeed, Sir, the Dutch have Acted Nobly. They have astonished their Friends and confounded their Ennemies and have shewn that the contempt, in which they have hitherto been held, did not result from the Body of the people. But whilst this Engagement in the old stile may serve as an Hint to the English ought...
5From Alexander Hamilton to Elizabeth Hamilton, 22 August 1781 (Hamilton Papers)
In my last letter My Dearest Angel I informed you that there was a greater prospect of activity now than there had been heretofore. I did this to prepare your mind for an event which I am sure will give you pain. I begged your father at the same time to intimate to you by degrees the probability of its taking place. I used this method to prevent a surprise which might be too severe to you. A...
6From Benjamin Franklin to Peter Blake, 22 August 1781 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft) and copy: Library of Congress The Congress having judged that the private Trade carried on with England under various Pretences, is prejudicial to the general Interest of the United States, and having lately pass’d several strong Resolutions for preventing it; I cannot presume to give any Countenance to it by the Passport you desire. I have the honour to be Sir, In answer to Blake’s...
7From Benjamin Franklin to the Marquis de Castries, 22 August 1781 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft) and copy: Library of Congress I received the Letter your Excellency did me the Honour of writing to me the 19th Instant, enclosing the Copy of a Letter from the Procureur General au Parlement de Bretagne, respecting the Complaint of the Judges of Painbceuf, against the Captains of American Vessels, who often put their Sailors into Prison there without Authority from the said...
8From Benjamin Franklin to Francis Coffyn, 22 August 1781 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft) and copy: Library of Congress I received the Letter you did me the honour of writing to me on the 18th Instant, recommending the Case of Thomas Beer and Samuel Steevens, Ropemakers, who have been obliged to flee from England on Account of their having assisted our Prisoners to escape, and who desire to go to America. It is very expensive and difficult to transport Families in Time...
9[Diary entry: 22 August 1781] (Washington Papers)
22d. 23d. 24th. & 25th. Employed in transporting the French Army, its baggage & Stores over the river. On 23 Aug., GW and Rochambeau visited West Point ( CROMOT DU BOURG [Marie François Joseph Maxime, Baron Cromot du Bourg]. “Diary of a French Officer, 1781.” Magazine of American History with Notes and Queries 4 (1880): 205–14, 293–308, 376–85, 441–52; 7 (1881): 283–95. , 307).
10General Orders, 22 August 1781 (Washington Papers)
That part of the Orders of the 19th of June last which relates to the Transportation of Baggage is so explicit that the General thinks it unnecessary to add anything on the Subject. Yet as the Detachment now under the particular direction of Major General Lincoln are to consider themselves as Light troops who are always supposed to be fit for action and free from every encumbrance—He cannot...