1To George Washington from George Clinton, September 1780 (Washington Papers)
I begg you to accept of my grateful Acknowledgment for the kind concern you are pleased to express for my ill State of Health, My disorder has been extreamly painful & of long duration; but I flatter myself I am now recovering, tho’ very slowly—Mrs Clinton and my Family join in best Respects to you & Mrs Washington with Dear Sir your sincere and Affectionate Humble Servant NHi : Vail Collection.
2To George Washington from Heman Swift, March 1781 (Washington Papers)
Agreable to your Excellencys Warrant McDowall was executed the 21st Inst. The Evening before his Execution he inform’dMessrs Strong & Prud oin Ministers of Hartford that Lee the man your Excellency sent from Newport and ordered confin’d in Goal at Hartford had given him a particular account of his intentions when he left New York, that he was employ’d by Sir Henry Clinton to pass through the...
3To George Washington from William Fitzhugh, 7 March 1781 (Washington Papers)
I had the Honor to Address you on the 20th of January last, in Answer to Your Acceptable favor of the 8th of Novr & gave you an Acct of the Proceedings of Our Assembly to that time—We Afterwards Pass’d Several Bills, Viz. to Accede to the Confederation—to Confiscate Brittish Property, & to raise recruits for the Army, By Classing Property, Every £16.000 to find a Man & on Failure, a Draught to...
4To George Washington from Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette, 7 March 1781 (Washington Papers)
Contrary Winds, Heavy Rains, Disappointments of vessels And Every Inconvenience to which we Had No Remedy Have Been from the day of My Arrival Combined Against our Embarkation. I Hope However we will Be on Board to Morrow Morning, and As Nothing Certain Has Been Heard from the french Ships, No time will be Lost on our part for the Celerity of the Expedition. The troops will embark five Miles...
5To George Washington from William Shepard, 7 March 1781 (Washington Papers)
The Genl Court Mertial orderd to Set by your Excellency for the Tryal of Mr John Collins being over I transmit to your Excellency the proceedings of sd Court. As it was out of my power to procure a Field officer in the Vicenity of this Post to Set as President as Cols. Shelden and Tupper were absent—on agreement of Mr Cheever and Collins I presided myself informing the Parties that the...
6To George Washington from John Armstrong, 8 March 1781 (Washington Papers)
Five Sabel months have passed over Since I last had the pleasure of writing yr Excellency & then unable to finish a letter of moderate length, of which indispossion I am fully recovered, but having passed the Sixty third of my age, find little capacity for active life except in the dreams of an intoxicated immagination, which ought to be corrected & the thoughts turned upward; permit me Sir to...
7To George Washington from Charles-René-Dominique Sochet Destouches, 8 March 1781 (Washington Papers)
je m’empresse de rassurer votre excellence sur l’evenement arrivé a la flûte Le Fantasque. L’officier que j’ai envoyé a bord de ce vaisseau me rend compte qu’il n’a essuié aucun dommage en s’echouant, et il se flatte qu’avec L’aide de la marée et le secours des chaloupes de L’escadre qui vont s’y rendre, ce vaisseau sera relevé en tres peu de temps. jespere que cet accident ne retardera mon...
8To George Washington from Christopher Ellery, 8 March 1781 (Washington Papers)
We Inhabitants of the antient Town of Newport, warmed with the purest sentiments of Esteem and respect, beg leave thro’ their Committe to Congratulate your Excellency upon your arrival at this Town the Capitol of the State of Rhode Island & Providence Plantations. Permit us to assure your Excellency, that Words are inadequate to express the Joy, which your presence has infused into the hearts...
9To George Washington from Thomas Jefferson, 8 March 1781 (Washington Papers)
I had the pleasure of receiving a Letter from General Greene dated High Rockford february 29 (probably march 1) who informs me that on the night of the 24th Colo. McCall surprized a subaltern’s guard at Hart’s mill, killed 8 and wounded and took 9 prisoners, and that on the 25th Genl Pickens and Lieutenant Colo. Lee routed a body of near 300 Tories on the Haw river, who were in arms to join...
10To George Washington from Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette, 8 March 1781 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 1st Inst. did Not Come to Hand Untill Last Evening, and I Hasten to Answer to His Contents, tho’ I will in a few Hours Be Better able to inform you of My Movements. From what I Hear of the difficulties to Convoy us down the Bay, I very much Aprehend the Winds will not permit any frigate to Come up. Comte de Rochambeau thinks His troops Equal to the Business, and wishes that...
11To George Washington from Solomon Southwick, 8 March 1781 (Washington Papers)
I most heartily congratulate your Excellency on your Arrival in this Town; but am greatly mortified that a severe Fit of the Rheumatism & c. has putt out of my Power to wait on your Excellency, in Person. Mr John Gardner, the Bearer, is an Assistant Commissary of Ishues at this Post, who will execute any Orders in my Department, which your Excellency may please to give, that may be in his...
12To George Washington from Ephraim Blaine, 9 March 1781 (Washington Papers)
I know it is your Excellency’s wish and the desire of Congress that no more posts should be established but such as might be necessary for the deposits of state supplies upon a line of communication from the Eastern to the southern states as pointed out by your Excellency. any aditional points are attended with a very considerable expense, and consume large quantities of our best Provisions....
13To George Washington from Elias Dayton, 9 March 1781 (Washington Papers)
Three persons upon whom I very considerably depended for for the discovery of every important movement or transaction of the enemy are apprehended and closely confined in New York, and I am just informed are sentenced to die. As it has become more dangerous, from the late great jealousy and circumspection shewn by the enemy, so it has become more difficult to find such as will undertake to...
14To George Washington from Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette, 9 March 1781 (Washington Papers)
Here I am at the Mouth of Elk River and the fleet under My Command will proceed to Annapolis where I am Assured they Can go without danger. They are protected By the Nesbitt of Twelve guns, Some Field pieces on Board the Vessel that carries Clel Stevens, and we are going to Meet one eight guns, and one six guns Vessel from Baltimore——With this Escort We May go as far As Annapolis—No Vessel of...
15To George Washington from John Sullivan, 9 March 1781 (Washington Papers)
Having Experienced so much Ingratitude myself, I cannot help feeling for those in Similar Circumstances. I Therefore take the Liberty of mentioning to your Excellency Colo. Derrick who I think has Sacrificed much in our Cause and has Experienced only Ingratitude in return. he first Entered in the Pensylvania Line as Captain, was afterward Transfered to the Artillery & perswaded by General...
16To George Washington from John Sullivan, 9 March 1781 (Washington Papers)
Your Excellencys Letter of the 20th of December, was refered to a Committee of which I have the Honor to be one. We yesterday gave in a Report which being read appeared satisfactory to Congress as no objection was made to it. I moved That previous to its being Considered it might be refered to your Excellency for your opinion upon which it was recommitted; and The Committee Instructed to...
17To George Washington from Daniel Brodhead, 10 March 1781 (Washington Papers)
I beg your Excellencies pardon for not returning the Rank of the Maryland officers in my last. I have this moment got Captn Heth’s and shall now enclose them together. By Letters lately received from the Moravian Indian Towns, it appears that we have lost the interest of the Cooshocking Indians, and by what I have heard from Brigadier Clark, it is more than probable that we shall have a...
18To George Washington from Ezekiel Cheever, 10 March 1781 (Washington Papers)
In obedience to your Excellencys orders Signify’d to me by Colo. William Sheppard to prosecute Mr John Collins alias John Collins late depy Comry milty Stores, before the Court Marshall held at this post for his Trial. I have attended that duty & hope treated the Cause with Justice and the Court with honour. When I caused Collins to be arrested, I determined notwithstanding his late Insolent &...
19To George Washington from Nathanael Greene, 10 March 1781 (Washington Papers)
Since I had the honor of addressing your Excellency last, there have been some changes in our circumstances. On the 2d Lieutt Colo. Lee with a detachment of Rifle-Men attacked the advanced of the British Army under Colo. Tarlton near Alamance, and killed and wounded, by report, about thirty of them. On the 6th the British moved down towards high Rock, either with a view to intercept our...
20To George Washington from Abraham Skinner, 10 March 1781 (Washington Papers)
In Obedience to your Commands of the 17th Ulto I have Exchanged a number of the Convention Officers who were Ordered to Elizabeth Town for the purpose of going into New York, against and for Officers of similar Ranks in possession of the Enemy as ⅌ the inclosed return No. (1). I have also Exchanged Lt Colonel Hamilton and others Claimed by the State of Virginia as their Prisoners for Colo....
21To George Washington from Richard Harrison, 12 March 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have purchased at this place, for Acct & use of the United States, a Quantity of Soldiers Cloathing, Invoice of which, by order of his Excellency John Jay Esqr. I have herewith the Honor of inclosing for your Excellency’s Inspection—Half of them are already on board two Vessells bound for Boston, and the Residue I expect will follow in a short time by two others destined for the same port....
22To George Washington from Solomon Southwick, 13 March 1781 (Washington Papers)
In the time of the Alarm last Summer, I was obliged to borrow Bread-kind to feed the Militia, call’d in on that Occasion. Not being able to procure a Sufficiency otherways, I applied to the Marquis La Fayette and General Shattelaux for one Hundred Barrels of Flour, who with great Politeness told me I might have that Quantity or more, and gave Derections for the French Commissary to let me have...
23To George Washington from Philemon Dickinson, 14 March 1781 (Washington Papers)
On receipt of your Excellency’s favor of the 1st inst: I immediately returned to Jersey and have given the necessary direction, agreable to your Orders—I shall remain here some Days longer, when I shall return to my Family in Town, for a short time; should anything happen during my absence, I shall instantly be informed by Express, & your Excellency may be assured, of my immediate attendance....
24To George Washington from Alexander Mitchell, 14 March 1781 (Washington Papers)
Agreeable to Orders I Arrived at this place the 18th of Jany last. Since Which time I have been Makeing the Necessary Preparations for the defince of this Post against the opening Campaign. I have Arrected a New Magazine & a New Store both Within the Works; & have provided Timber for Raising the fort all Round as it Wass Much Impaired, I have Made and stored a quantity of Cartredges; so that I...
25To George Washington from Samuel Holden Parsons, 14 March 1781 (Washington Papers)
In consequence of your Excellencys directions I have to this time been pursuing the objects of the Enqury you have ordered: but have not been able to make the Discoveries wished for with a sufficient degree of precision, to make any attempt to secure the Persons concernd. I believe it is certain that an Association is formd to submit to British Government, on the terms of the last...
26To George Washington from Elias Dayton, 15 March 1781 (Washington Papers)
The fleet of which I gave your Excellency advice in my last, set sail & left the hook the day before yesterday about ten oClock. The account which I transmitted of the number of sail, of troops and the horses embarked was, I believe strictly true. Two frigates only sailed out with them, but I could not learn with certainty whether any part of Arbuthnot’s fleet were to join them on their way....
27To George Washington from Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette, 15 March 1781 (Washington Papers)
The Number of Small frigats and Privateers that Are in the Bay Has Made it impossible for me to Carry the Detachement farther down than Annapolis, and I Have Requested the Governor of Maryland as well as the principal officers of the detachement to give out that we were going to join General Greene. But the object of the Expedition is so perfectly known every where that our Sole dependance to...
28To George Washington from Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau, 15 March 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have received your Excellency’s Letter of the 11th instant. The report mentioning the number of ships in the British fleet, seems to me to be accurate and confirmed by the correspondance of M—— T—— and by the prisoners arrived on board a flag: they have 7. ships of the line 2. 50 gun ships and 4. 44 gun ships with some frigates. The Troops for the embarkation according to M—— T—— is only of...
29To George Washington from Friedrich Wilhelm Ludolf Gerhard Augustin, Baron [von] Steuben, 15 March 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have the pleasure to inform your Excellency of the Marquis arrival at this place yesterday. he will write himself by this Opportunity. The great delay in this Expedition gives me much uneasiness which is not lessened by the amazing tranquillity of the Enemy-- knowing the preparations making against them. I can only account for it by their exploiting some Assistances unknown to us-- As I...
30To George Washington from John Parke Custis, 16 March 1781 (Washington Papers)
It would render me happy could I inform you that the assembly which was called on the first instant, for the purpose of recruiting the Army and Treasury , were likely to adopt plans which would prove efficacious for either purpose but; alas! the reverse, I fear, will happen. Patrick Henry, who possesses the most unbounded influence upon this House, is, in my opinion, the most absurd politician...