1To George Washington from George Clinton, 4 July 1775 (Washington Papers)
4 July 1775. Recommends the bearer, “Mr. White, the Son of Anthony White Esq’r of New Jersey. . . . Inspired with Love for our much injured Country he now vissits your Camp to offer his Service as a Vollenteer in the Army under your Command.” Hugh Hastings and J. A. Holden, eds., Public Papers of George Clinton , 10 vols. (1899–1914; reprint, New York, 1973), 1:208–9. This letter may be...
2To George Washington from George Clinton, 27 July 1775 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from George Clinton, 27 July 1775. On 25 Aug. GW wrote to Clinton : “Mr White presented me with your favour of the 27th Ulto.”
3To George Washington from Brigadier General George Clinton, 5 May 1776 (Washington Papers)
On my Arival here I went immediatly to Fishkill to make Inquiery about the Arms said to be stored at Wiltsys. I find that about a Week ago a certain Duncan Campbell a Major in the Ministerial Army taken on Board the Enemys Vessels at the Mouth of the Sorrel came to the Fish Kill on Board of an Albany Sloop landed there & put in Wiltsy’s Store a number of Chests & Trunks containing (as he said)...
4To George Washington from Brigadier General George Clinton, 15 July 1776 (Washington Papers)
I receivd your Favour of the 13th Instant yesterday at this Place previous to which about 9 oClock Satturday Morning the Signal at Fort Constitution being given & the Masters of two Sloops which about the same Time came too opposite my House having informed me that the Enemy had attacked New York the Evening before & that they judged by the Report of the Cannon that their Shipping had passed...
5To George Washington from Brigadier General George Clinton, 23 July 1776 (Washington Papers)
I am favoured with your Excellency’s Commands of the 17th Instant and am happy to find the Measures taken here for the Reception of the Enemys Shipping approved. Yesterday some of the Carpenters from Poughkeepsie arrived at this Place with the Fire-Rafts—They are constructed on the Plan lately transmitted to your Excellency by my Brother —We are busy preparing & hope to be able Tomorrow or...
6To George Washington from Brigadier General George Clinton, 2 August 1776 (Washington Papers)
I take this Opportunity by my Brother (now on his Way to Newyork to settle some Affairs of his Regimt) to acknowledge the Receipt of your Excellency’s Favour of the 26th Ulto & of informing you of our present Situation & that of the Enemy—On Thursday last the Shipping & Tenders fell down to the Mouth of Croton’s River where they have since continued at Anchor near the East Shore—Since which...
7To George Washington from Brigadier General George Clinton, 12 September 1776 (Washington Papers)
In Consequence of a Motion made in a late Counsel of Genl Officers (in which Contrary to former Determination) it was advised that the City of Newyork shoud be evacuated & that the Disposition of the Army shoud be changed & that those who adhered to the former Opinion shoud assign their Reasons for defending the City as one of those I now begg leave to lay before your Excellency the following....
8To George Washington from Brigadier General George Clinton, 21 January 1777 (Washington Papers)
I am this Moment honored with your Excellency’s Commands of the 19th Instant and shall not fail in exerting myself to the utmost of my Power in raising and marching the New Levies ordered by this State which I hope soon to effect —I have already nominated the Officers for Ulster & Orange Counties & fixed the Proportion of Men that the different Militia Regiments therein are to furnish with...
9To George Washington from Brigadier General George Clinton, 23 February 1777 (Washington Papers)
Being summoned to attend Convention a Day or two before the Express arrived here with your Excellency’s Letter of the 19th Instt I had not the Pleasure of receiving it till on my Return Home Yesterday Evening—Before this can reach your Excellency you will doubtless have a Return of the Men raised in this & Orange County pursuant to a Resolve of the Convention of this State with any Orders to...
10To George Washington from Brigadier General George Clinton, 14 March 1777 (Washington Papers)
I begg Leave to recomend Capt. Black & Lieut. Santford both of Colo. Malcom’s Regiment for Captains of the two remaining Companies for which your Excellency Directed me to appoint Officers. Their Charecters Well in private life as Officers are good & I believe they will [be] able to raise their Companies as the Men of that Regiment are strongly attached to their Officers; many of them have not...
11To George Washington from Brigadier General George Clinton, 21 March 1777 (Washington Papers)
Fort Montgomery, New York, 21 March 1777. Writes on behalf of a John Griffiths who wants to travel to England to attend to his wife’s estate. “Some Time since a Relative of Mrs Griffiths (I think a Brother) died in England & by his Will devised to her or her Son a considerable Estate in Lands on Condition the Devissee shoud return to England within a limitted Time & possess it—Mr Griffiths for...
12To George Washington from Brigadier General George Clinton, 18 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
Being from Home when your Excellency’s Letter of the 31st Ultimo was left at my House prevented my Answering it by the Return of the Express & till now I have not had any other Opportunity —Before the Receipt of it I had (in Consequence of Powers given me by the Convention of this State) ordered out about 1200 of the Militia of this & Orange County 500 of them to releive Colo. Pawling at the...
13To George Washington from Brigadier General George Clinton, 1 May 1777 (Washington Papers)
Immediatly on the Receipt of your Excellency’s Letter of 23d Ultimo I ordered one third Part of the Militia of Orange County to guard the Passes of the Highlands on the West Side of Hudson’s River to co,operate with the Militia, under Genl Heard if the Enemy shoud make any Attempts in that Quarter; but I am unhappy to find by a Return I have just received from Lieutenant Colo. Cuyper (who...
14To George Washington from Brig. Gen. George Clinton, 4 June 1777 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Brig. Gen. George Clinton, 4 June 1777. GW wrote George Clinton on 8 June : “Your favor of 4th Inst. I receiv’d this Morning.”
15To George Washington from Brigadier General George Clinton, 19 June 1777 (Washington Papers)
The weak State of the Post near Sydnam’s Bridge where my Brother commands he not having Men Sufficient to mount the necessary Guards or on the most urgent Occasion to send out a Party has induced me to take the Liberty of ordering there from this Post the other Two Companies raising under my Direction for one of the sixteen Additional Regiments and as they will now consist of about one hundred...
16To George Washington from Brigadier General George Clinton, 11 July 1777 (Washington Papers)
The Bearer Mr Connoly is the Person I formerly mentioned to your Excellency as a supernumerary Officer I having given a Warrant to him as first Lieutenant after the four Companies Officered by me were compleat—He has taken great Pains to recruit Men tho’ his Success has not been equal owing to the Resolve of this State in Favor of the five Regiments raised in it—There are two First...
17To George Washington from Brigadier General George Clinton, 24 July 1777 (Washington Papers)
I this Moment received your Excelllency’s Order of the Day for sending 30,000 Wt of Hard-Bread from this Post to King’s Ferry to be transported from thence to Head Quarters. The Hard Bread was sent here in Bulk and by the Time it was Stored so much broken as to render it almost unfit to be used as I have no empty Casks at this Place to put it in I fear it would be impossible to convey it to...
18To George Washington from Brigadier General George Clinton, 26 July 1777 (Washington Papers)
When I had the Pleasure of seeing your Excellency at Ramapogh I mentioned that the Terms for which the two Militia Regiments stationed at this Post were engaged in Service expired the last of this Month at which Time unless a Reinforcement is sent here by General Putnam the whole Strength we shall have at this important Station will be Colo: Dubois’s Regimt two Companies of Artillery and a...
19To George Washington from George Clinton, 9 August 1777 (Washington Papers)
Immediately on the Receipt of your Excellency’s Letter directing from 1000 to 1500 of the Militia of this and the State of Connecticut to reinforce this Garrison and the Army under General Putnam I issued Orders for drawing out 810 including Non Commissioned Officers from this State for the above Purposes. Since which I have been induced by the Situation of our Affairs to the Northward in...
20To George Washington from George Clinton, 13 August 1777 (Washington Papers)
As the inclosed Copies of sundry Letters whch were forwarded to me by the Council of Safety at Kingston together with Extracts of their Letters to me accompanying them contain a Description of the melancholly Situation of our Affairs to the Northward with a particular Account of two small Actions between Parties of the Enemy near Fort Schuyler and the Militia of Tryon County and Part of the...
21To George Washington from George Clinton, 12 September 1777 (Washington Papers)
The Friends of Major Hatfield (who last year belonged to General Scott’s Brigade in our Army and was taken by the Enemy on Montresure’s Island, and is now a Prisoner with them) inform me that when your Excellency was in the Clove Mrs Hatfield (the Majors Wife) obtained your Permission to visit her Husband at Newyork and was conducted by a Flag from Elizabeth Town to Staten Island for that...
22To George Washington from George Clinton, 9 October 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have to inform you that in Consequence of Intelligence received by General Putnam from Genl Parsons (who lay with his Brigade at the White Plains) of the Enemy’s having received a Reinforcement from Europe, at New York, and that by their Movements there was Reason to believe they intended an Attack on Peekskill, and possess themselves of the Passes in the Highlands. The General immediately...
23To George Washington from George Clinton, 20 October 1777 (Washington Papers)
I had the Honor of receiving your Excellency’s Letter of the 15th Instant last Evening and am happy to hear that the Enemy have been repulsed in their Attempts upon the Cheveau de Frize since it would seem that their Quarters at Philadelphia may be rendered rather inconvenient unless they can gain Possession of the River. Two Days after the Loss of Fort Montgomery—2 Row Gallies & an Armed...
24To George Washington from George Clinton, 20 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
I was not honored with the Receipt of your Excellency’s Letter of the 3d Instant before Friday last —I am truely sensible that the Security of the North River is a Matter of the utmost Importance to the United States in the present War & that the Safety of this State in a more particular Manner depends upon it—It gives me real Concern therefore that so little has been yet done to effect...
25To George Washington from George Clinton, 16 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
I was Honoured with your Excellency’s Letter of the 29th December inclosing a Return of Colonels Livingston & Cortlandt’s Regiments some Days since—The Contents whereof I have communicated to the Legislature of this State now sitting at this Place & have most earnestly recommended them to their immediate Consideration. I have the Honor to be with the most perfect Regard & Esteem Your...
26To George Washington from George Clinton, 5 March 1778 (Washington Papers)
Your Excellency’s Favour of the 16th Ultimo has been delivered to me—The Distress to which the Army has been reduced by want of Provissions is no less surprizing than alarming—Your Excellency’s Idea of the Condition of this State is very just; No material Supplies can be drawn from it—The Attachment however of the Inhabitants to the American Cause as well as to the Commander in Chief will at...
27To George Washington from George Clinton, 8 March 1778 (Washington Papers)
I wrote your Excellency the 5th Instant informing you of the little Success I had in procuring a present Supply of Provision for the Army under your immediate Command—I am now happy in being able to tell you that since that Time I have had collected at the different Posts in West-Chester County so much more as will make in the whole 400 Barrels Pork which are all on the Way towards Head...
28To George Washington from George Clinton, 22 April 1778 (Washington Papers)
Tho’ the removal of a considerable Part of the Troops that were stationed at Albany to the Posts in the Highlands appeared to be a Measure expedient and absolutely necessary, I am nevertheless very apprehensive, that the withdrawing all the Troops from that Quarter (Gansevoort’s and Warner’s Regiments excepted) which I learn by a Resolve of Congress is to be the Case may be attended with bad...
29To George Washington from George Clinton, 8 May 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have received your Excellency’s Letters of the 24th & 30th of April last. In consequence of the first I have given Colo. Cooper, who lives in the Neighbourhood of Capt. Lieut. Crane, directions to use every Means in his Power to recover the Box, alluded to, with it’s Contents. I shall be happy if my apprehension of Danger from the Enemy on the Northern & Western frontiers of this State...
30To George Washington from George Clinton, 20 July 1778 (Washington Papers)
By the enclosed Copy of a Petition & Letter which I received on my arrival here; Your Excellency will observe that the usurped Government of Vermont have sentenced sundry of the Inhabitants of this State to Banishment; which Sentence General Starke has contrary to his Duty undertaken to carry into execution, by forwarding the Petitioners down the River to Genl Gates to be sent to the Enemy....
31To George Washington from George Clinton, 21 July 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have this Moment received the disagreable Account of Springfield and Andreas Town on the Western Frontier of Tryon County being destroyed by the Enemy Copies and Extracts of the several Letters forwarded to me on that Subject and the Copy of a Letter from Colo. Vroman to General Ten Broeck containing Information of the Enemy’s being on their March up the west branch of Delaware River against...
32To George Washington from George Clinton, 24 July 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have received your Letter of the 23d instt inclosing one to General Schuyler which I immediatly forwarded to him—I am sensible, that however distressing the Situation of our Western Frontier may be, that your Excellency has taken every Method to Afford it Security that is in your Power consistant with the general good of the Service—I wou’d not wish therefore that any Representation of mine...
33To George Washington from George Clinton, 29 August 1778 (Washington Papers)
I am this moment honored with the Receipt of your Excellency’s Letter of Yesterday; In consequence of which it shall be my first Business to order out a Detachment of the Militia to strengthen the Garrisons in the Highlands; tho’ I much doubt (considering the large proportion which are constantly kept out on the frontiers) whether I shall be able to march and keep out at those Posts for any...
34To George Washington from George Clinton, 7 September 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have received your Excellency’s Letters of the 27th of last Month & 1st Instant. I am greatly concerned for the Unhappy Fate of Van Tassel, who I am informed always maintained a good Charecter & his Familly have afforded many Proofs of their Attachment to the Cause of their Country in which some of them have been great Sufferers. At the same Time as Capt. Colson has already Quit the Army...
35To George Washington from George Clinton, 19 September 1778 (Washington Papers)
By the last Flagg which arrived from New York I received Certifi cates from the Commissary Genl of Prisoners there, with Proposals for exchanging Stephen Lush (late my Brigade Major & taken at Fort Montgomerie<)> for Henry Cuyler—Cornelius Van Tessel for Alexander White and James Dole for Abraham Maybie. As I conceive the exchanges advantageous I mean to agree to the Proposals, and to direct...
36To George Washington from George Clinton, 20 September 1778 (Washington Papers)
By the enclosed Copies of Letters which were forwarded to me by Genl Ten Broeck and came to hand this forenoon, your Excellency will receive the disagreable Intelligence of the destruction of the valuable Settlements of the German Flatts by the Enemy and the Loss of 100 head of Cattle which were destined for Fort Schuyler. As I have not received any Account of this Affair or of the Disposition...
37To George Washington from George Clinton, 24 September 1778 (Washington Papers)
I wrote your Excellency on the 20th Instant inclosing an Account of the Destruction of the German Flatts on the Mohawks River. Since I have been favoured with a Letter from Colo. Bellinger of which the inclosed is a Copy giving the particulars of that Unhappy Affair—Colo. Bellingers Letter was handed to me by Mr Herkimer Brother to the late General Herkimer who (as he is well acquainted with...
38To George Washington from George Clinton, 3 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have received your Excellency’s Letter of the 2d Instant by Capt. Machin. I am entirely unacquainted with the Allowances that have been made to Officers for extra Duty and am therefore an improper Judge of the Allowance—which ought to be made to Capt. Machin for this Service. While I had the Command at the Works when Capt. Machin was employed as Engineer, he was in that Capacity exposed to...
39To George Washington from George Clinton, 8 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
I am extreamly sorry to trouble your Excellency about an Unhappy Affair which I am sensible will give you Pain—Last Evening I was favoured with the inclosed Letter from Genl Nixon giving an Account of some violent and unprovoked Abuses having been lately committed by Officers of the Army on three of the Subjects of this State. The Parties injured mean to seek Justice of the Offenders in the...
40To George Washington from George Clinton, 15 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
I am unhappy in being again obliged to trouble your Excellency with the further disagreable Intelligence from our Western Frontier contained in the inclosed Copies of Letters which I have just now received from Colo. Cantine and Colo. Thusten. I find it impossible to secure the Frontier Settlements against the Depredations of the Enemy by the utmost Exertions I am able to make with the Militia...
41To George Washington from George Clinton, 17 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
I am favored with your Excellency’s Letter of Yesterday. Anaquaga lies on the Susquehanah about a West Course from Kingston in Ulster County—different Routes may be taken to it, the first by the Way of Peinpach or Minisink which is situate on the Delaware about 40 Miles West of New Windsor, the second is from Rochester twenty five Miles South West of Kingston as described in Colo: Cantine’s...
42To George Washington from George Clinton, 21 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have received your Excellency’s Letter of yesterday. The Account it contains of the hostile Intentions of the Enemy so perfectly agreeing with that communicated in Colo. Hartley’s Letter and other Intelligence is thereby rendered indisputable. My Brother General Clinton will have reached your Excellency before this with a Description of the different Routes to Chemung and a short Plan for...
43To George Washington from George Clinton, 25 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
I am favoured with your Excellencys Letters of the 21st & 24th Instant—The Legislature have now under their Consideration Measures for enabling the Commissarys to procure a Supply Of Flour for the Army In Consequence of a Letter which I received two Days since from Genl Green I recommended to them the appointing of suitable Persons in each District to ascertain the Quantities of Flour & Wheat...
44To George Washington from George Clinton, 1 November 1778 (Washington Papers)
I do myself the Honor to forward to your Excellency by Express an Act of the Legislature passed Yesterday the more effectually to provide Supplies of Flour, Meal and Wheat for the Army that the Commissary may take the earliest Opportunity of availing himself of the Advantages intended by it. I beg Leave to suggest that if the Commissary was to order into the State and deposit with his...
45To George Washington from George Clinton, 6 November 1778 (Washington Papers)
I am honored with the Receipt of your Letters of Yesterday with their Inclosures. I will make it my Business to forward your Excellency’s Letter to Colo. Cortlandt—as I am not sufficiently acquainted with the particular Situation of the Minisink and other Settlements on the Delaware to be able to point out the Spot he ought to occupy for their Protection I will take the Liberty of desiring him...
46To George Washington from George Clinton, 7 November 1778 (Washington Papers)
About two Weeks hence the Commissioners will be ready (as they have informed me) to send off the last Cargo of Persons who have refused to take the Oath of Allegiance, as prescribed by Law, to this State and are sentenced to be banished within the Enemy’s Lines. I have therefore to request that your Excellency will be pleased to direct the Commanding Officer at West Point to furnish an Officer...
47To George Washington from George Clinton, 17 November 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have just now received the inclosed very disagreable Accounts of the Desolation of Cherry Valley by the Enemy and of their having taken Fort Alden by Storm on the 14th Instant which at the Request of General Hand I now forward your Excellency by Express. I mean if I do not hear that the Enemy have left the Frontiers to set out for Schenectady on Thursday to assist General Hand. I shall not...
48To George Washington from George Clinton, 19 November 1778 (Washington Papers)
I am honored with your Excellency’s Letter of yesterday. I have not received any new advices from General Hand since I wrote to your Excellency. The Substance of the last accounts I have forwarded to Count Pulaski and Colo. Cortlandt —but I doubt their being able to attempt any thing against the Enemy on their Return to Tioga if that should be their Rout the Delaware and other Rivers between...
49To George Washington from George Clinton, 21 November 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have just recd a Letter from Genl Hand accompanying one to your Excellency and am happy to learn by the Accounts it contains that the situation of Affairs on the Western Frontier is not so bad as we had Reason to expect. The General requested me to write to your Excellency respecting the Disposition of the Troops in that Quarter but as my Brother’s Brigade is ordered there any thing I can...
50To George Washington from George Clinton, 26 November 1778 (Washington Papers)
It gives me Pain to trouble your Excellency with the inclosed Complaint against some Gentlemen in the Military Line and agreable to the Law of this State for regulating Impresses of Forage &ca to request that the Offender be delivered over to the Civil Magistrate. I am Dear Sir with the greatest < mutilated > & Regard Your most Obedt servt LS , DLC:GW . The enclosed letter from Joseph Strang...