1To George Washington from Arthur St. Clair, 5 May 1774 (Washington Papers)
Tho. I am an utter Stranger I have taken the Liberty to write to you and request your Advice and Assistance for the Bearer Mrs Fraser the Widow of Mr John Fraser late of Bedford in this Province. Mr Fraser has in his life time often mentioned to me a great loss he met with at the Battle of the Meadows, and amongst his Papers, after his Death, an Account of it was found—The Colony of Virginia...
2To George Washington from Maj. Gen. Arthur St. Clair, 15 April 1777 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Maj. Gen. Arthur St. Clair, 15 April 1777. GW wrote St. Clair on 18 April: “I am favd. with your of the 15th.”
3To George Washington from Major General Arthur St. Clair, 17 July 1777 (Washington Papers)
Your Excellencys Letters of the 12th & 13th instt to General Schuyler have been by him communicated to me. Considering that my Letter to him of the 5th the day before I left Tyconderoga was not delivered, and one I wrote to him whilst on the March to this Place has miscarried, and that Your Excellency has had no Intimation of the Motions and Destination of our Army, I do not wonder that you...
4To George Washington from Major General Arthur St. Clair, 25 July 1777 (Washington Papers)
In my Letter to your Excellency of the 17th I believe I made a mistake with regard to the quantity of provisions at Tyconderoga, when I had the notice of the Enemy’s approach: I think it should have been twenty days, instead of ten. I am certain it did not exceed that; but the Commissary’s return, on which the Calculation was made, is, with many papers of consequence to me, fallen into the...
5To George Washington from Major General Arthur St. Clair, 17 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
Two Gentlemen, one from General Varnum and the other from the Fleet with Dispatches for your Excellency having this Moment arrived, we took the Liberty to open them—from their Contents I fear that our Journey will be to no great Purpose, but it is the general Sentiment that we proceed; and we shall endeavour to take such Measures as may be most conducive to the public Good, and return as soon...
6To George Washington from Major General Arthur St. Clair, 5 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
As you were pleased to desire my Sentiments upon sundry Matters, I have thrown them together upon the following Sheets without Method as they occurred to me—if they should happen to fall in with your Excellencys, it will be to me a convincing proof that I have not been mistaken. It has appeared to me that the Quarter Master Generals Department has been for some time very ill executed, from...
7To George Washington from Major General Arthur St. Clair, 15 November 1778 (Washington Papers)
I am sorry to inform you that Congress have not yet entered into the Consideration of my Court Mar[s]hal and that it will probably be three Weeks or a Month yet before they will take it up. This Delay is exceeding irksome but I am obliged to submit. one Reason given for it is that they cannot with any propriety go upon that untill General Lees is determined and it appears to me that they will...
8Council of War, 10 April 1779 (Washington Papers)
At a Council of War held at Head Quarters Middle Brook April 10th 1779. Present The Commander in Chief[,] Major Genls Sullivan[,] Greene[,] Ld Stirling[,] St Clair[,] D’Kalb, [Brigadier Generals] Smallwood[,] Knox[,] Woodford. The Commander in Chief states to the Council, that since the last meeting of Commissioners on the subject of an exchange of Prisoners, the result of which is contained...
9To George Washington from Major General Arthur St. Clair, 31 May 1779 (Washington Papers)
Your Excellencys Letter came to hand about seven OClock last Night at this Place. Colonell Hubley will set out to Day, and by him I shall write to Governour Reed about the Appointment of the necessary Officers after having consulted with the Gentlemen commanding Regiments; I believe they find some Difficulty in getting such Persons to serve as they would wish to recommend, which is the Reason...
10To George Washington from Major General Arthur St. Clair, 31 May 1779 (Washington Papers)
Previous to the Receipt of your Excellency’s Letter of this Day, (which arrived about four Hours ago) whilst I was examining the Ground pointed out for the Division to take Post in, I met with Coll Ogden, who informed he had seen a Person, (from New York last Night, that might be depended upon) who informed him that the whole of the Ennemy’s Army were marched towards White Plains. that a...
11To George Washington from Maj. Gen. Arthur St. Clair, 1 June 1779 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letters not found : from Maj. Gen. Arthur St. Clair, 1 June 1779. GW wrote St. Clair on 2 June: “I duly received your two Letters of Yesterday.”
12To George Washington from Maj. Gen. Arthur St. Clair, 2 June 1779 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found : from Maj. Gen. Arthur St. Clair, 2 June 1779. GW wrote St. Clair in a second letter of this date: “I have received your letter of this date ½ past eight.” GW also wrote St. Clair on 3 June: “I received your favor of yesterday at 10 OClock last night.” For a likely extract from this unfound letter, see GW to John Jay, 3 June (first letter), and n.2 to that document.
13To George Washington from Major General Arthur St. Clair, 3 June 1779 (Washington Papers)
Colonel Burr arrived here about 3 oClock, from General McDougal, and brings Intelligence of the Surrender of the Fort on Ver Planks Point yesterday, about eleven oclock by Capitulation. The Garrison are Prisoners of War, and the Officers have Liberty to wear their side Arms. I have no Letter from General McDougal, but he is clearly of Opinion the Ennemy mean to attack the Posts (at least Fort...
14To George Washington from Maj. Gen. Arthur St. Clair, 3 June 1779 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found : from Maj. Gen. Arthur St. Clair, 3 June 1779. GW’s secretary Robert Hanson Harrison wrote to St. Clair on this date, 11:30 P.M. : “General Woodford has transmitted His Excellency Your favor of this morning dated at ½ past ten A.M. ” ( DLC:GW ; see GW to St. Clair, this date, and the source note to that document).
15To George Washington from Major General Arthur St. Clair, 3 June 1779 (Washington Papers)
This Moment Mr Smith the Bearer of this arrived at my Quarters with a Letter to your Excellency from Colonell Hay which I opened as I wanted exceedingly Intelligence from the River. I find nothing in it that should induce me to alter the Design I had formed to move from this Ground to Night towards New Windsor, leaving my Artillery and Baggage, and Tents standing, of which I should have...
16To George Washington from Major General Arthur St. Clair, 3 June 1779 (Washington Papers)
On receiving your Excellencys Favour of this Day which came to hand about seven this Evening I thought it prudent to take the Advice of the Field Officers on the Movement I had proposed to make to-night, and they were unanimously against it—it is therefore laid aside; and the more readily that I am far from being satisfied with respect to the Ennemys Designs. The more I think upon it, an...
17To George Washington from Major General Arthur St. Clair, 4 June 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have this Moment received the inclosed Letter from Colonell Malcom, which has occasioned me some regret that I did not March last Night as I had purposed. I have no Accounts from the River to Day, but there is nothing extraordinary or I should have heard from the Parties, and I have seen a Person from the Neighbourhood of Kings Ferry, who says things are in the same Situation as when I wrote...
18To George Washington from Major General Arthur St. Clair, 13 July 1779 (Washington Papers)
Colonell Craig waits upon your Excellency to solicit leave of Absence for some Time for the Recovery of his Health—He has been for a considerable Time afflicted with the Scurvy and the Physicians advise him to go to the warm Springs in Virginia and he has requested me to signify to Your Excellency my Approbation of his Application. I cannot have any Objection to it as I am certain nothing but...
19To George Washington from Major General Arthur St. Clair, 27 July 1779 (Washington Papers)
As your Excellency has desired my Opinion with Respect to such offensive Operations as may be undertaken against the Ennemy, taking into Consideration the Strength of both Armies, and the State of our military Stores, I am very free to give it that our Position admits of no considerable Change, untill the Works here are finished, or so nearly so, as to leave the Completion of them in the Power...
20VI. From Major General Arthur St. Clair to George Washington, 4 October 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have been revolving in my Mind the Matters your Excellency had under Consideration last Night, and beg leave to submit my Sentiments upon them. They are however only broken hints as I have a very imperfect knowledge of the Local Situation, not having been upon the Grounds for many Years, and then not having viewed them in a military Light. From Fort Washington to the high Grounds at the...
21To George Washington from Major General Arthur St. Clair, 28 January 1780 (Washington Papers)
I arrived at Colonell Hazens Quarters the Night before last and Yesterday, with him, visited the several Posts, which I found to be Raway, Cranes Mills, Connecticut Farms, Elizabeth Town, and New Ark. Elizabeth Town and New Ark are occupied by small Detachments only, and Guards are posted at DeHarts and Halsteds Points—a small Guard is also kept at the new blazing Star, from the Post at Raway....
22To George Washington from Major General Arthur St. Clair, 29 January 1780 (Washington Papers)
Your Excellencys Letter enclosing one to Doctor Mallet came to hand too late for that to be sent to new York to day; it shall be sent tomorrow and the Answer forwarded as soon as it arrives. The Troops are at present pretty comfortably quartered, but, in order to make it as easy to the Inhabitants as possible, they necessarily take up much Ground, which would still be the Case were the Houses...
23To George Washington from Major General Arthur St. Clair, 31 January 1780 (Washington Papers)
In consequence of your Excellencys wish to have a small Body of Horse engaged during the Ice’s remaining passable, I came here to consult with Mr Caldwell upon the most proper method of carrying it into Execution—He is of Opinion that it may be done, but with some difficulty: and that it can scarcely be expected that they will provide their own Forage—however we shall make the Attempt; and...
24To George Washington from Major General Arthur St. Clair, 2 February 1780 (Washington Papers)
I received your Excellencys favour of Yesterday but was at New Ark when the Messenger arrived here, and as it was Night when I returned; detained him untill this Morning least I might have something to communicate. The Intelligence I obtained at New Ark was of little Consequence—but the Person repeats that the Numbers upon Staten Island and at the Hook are as he before informed from all that...
25To George Washington from Major General Arthur St. Clair, 2 February 1780 (Washington Papers)
The Attack upon Buskerque as we have digested it, will be conducted in the following Manner—Colonell Hazen with two hundred pickd Men will pass at Halsteds Point and march across the Country, avoiding if possible every House, untill he arrives in the Rear of Donglasses House, which is, as we are informed, near the lower part of the Cantonement, and is to make the Attack—Colonell Willet with...
26To George Washington from Major General Arthur St. Clair, 4 February 1780 (Washington Papers)
The Enterprise intended against Buskerque’s Corps, the Night before last, I was obliged to give up after every thing was ready for the Execution —The Column that was to have been led by Colonell Hazen would have had seven or eight Miles to march thro’ the Woods, and, as the Night became very dark, and the Air thick, he was unwilling to trust altogether to the knowledge of the Guides without...
27To George Washington from Major General Arthur St. Clair, 7 February 1780 (Washington Papers)
Nothing Extraordinary has happened here since my last, neither have I received any Intelligence of Consequence—My Man from New-York not yet being returned; I expect to see or hear from him this Evening—It is said that in consequence of the Report of some Deserters who got in to Paulus-Hook from Connecticut Farms, the day before the Detachment was relieved, that Post is reinforced every Evening...
28To George Washington from Major General Arthur St. Clair, 10 February 1780 (Washington Papers)
The Author of the enclosed Letter to yourr Excellency has been waiting at Elizabeth Town for some time past in Expectation of receiving Permission from New York to go in —He is tired out, and wishes to run all hazards rather than be longer detained—His Permission from Governour Reed I have seen. My Messenger that went in to New York is not yet returned —The easterly Storm that happened two...
29To George Washington from Major General Arthur St. Clair, 11 February 1780 (Washington Papers)
The Enemy made an incursion into this State this Morning about an hour before Day, in three different places from Staten Island, and one from Paulas Hook—A par⟨ty of a⟩bout three hundred commanded by Colonel Simcoe ⟨lan⟩ded at Woodbridge—A small party in Raway Neck, & the most considerable Body at DeHarts Point, and marched to Elizabeth Town—The Guards at Elizabeth Town and Woodbridge were...
30To George Washington from Major General Arthur St. Clair, 20 February 1780 (Washington Papers)
The Ennemy made another Attempt last Night, about eleven oClock, to surprise the Party at New Ark and plunder the Town, but being happily discovered on their Approach, by the Patroles, the Guard, and the Inhabitants were alarmed and obliged them to retire without their effecting any thing, except carrying of[f] two Men, one of whom is supposed to have purposely thrown himself in their...
31To George Washington from Major General Arthur St. Clair, 22 February 1780 (Washington Papers)
Soon after I parted with your Excellency I met with the Horseman from New Ark—The Person I had sent over was in Paulus Hook, and reports that Horses passed on the Ice, to and from New York, on the twentieth, and it still appeared to be strong— That the Hook is entirely open to the River, except the Redoubts, Block House, and a little Fort of an oval Form next to the Barracks, which he says...
32To George Washington from Major General Arthur St. Clair, 23 February 1780 (Washington Papers)
I am extremly apprehensive that the Rains of yesterday, together with the high Winds from the eastward last Night, have rendered the Enterprise on Paulus Hook impract[i]cable; I shall however make the Experiment, and have given Orders for the March of the Troops in such manner as that the whole, by three different Routs, will be assembled at New Ark by twelve oClock at Night, which will leave...
33To George Washington from Maj. Gen. Arthur St. Clair, 23 February 1780 (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Maj. Gen. Arthur St. Clair, 23 Feb. 1780. On 24 Feb. , GW wrote St. Clair: “I recd yours of yesterday late last night.”
34To George Washington from Major General Arthur St. Clair, 27 February 1780 (Washington Papers)
I was sitting down to inform your Excellency that I had received all the Intelligence respecting Paulus Hook that I thought necessary, and had made my Arrangements for carrying the Attack on that Place into Execution this Evening, when I received an Account from New Ark that the Ice in the North River is broken up; the Bay at Communé Pas quite clear; and that what remained along the Shore,...
35Enclosure: Minutes of Prisoner Exchange Negotiations, 10–14 March 1780 (Washington Papers)
Minutes of the proceedings of the Commissioners, on the part of His Excellency General Washington and of His Excellency General sir Henry Clinton. The Commissioners being met, agree to the following preliminaries. That copies of the powers should be interchanged, and they were interchanged accordingly. That the limits of the neutral ground should extend three miles round Amboy, that Town being...
36To George Washington from Major General Arthur St. Clair, 29 March 1780 (Washington Papers)
After reflecting upon the several Matters that your Excellency was pleased to lay before the Council Yesterday, my Opinion in general is that, at present no Detachment can with propriety be made from this Army. for which Opinion my Reasons are That our operating Force, if all collected to a Point, is inferior to that of the Ennemy in New York and its Dependencies; and that from the Expiration...
37To George Washington from Major General Arthur St. Clair, 3 July 1780 (Washington Papers)
The Reduction of New York together with the british Army, is certainly, of all Others, the most desirable Object, as it would put an immediate End to the War; But the Siege of any Place, altho’ not regularly fortified, furnished with such a Garrison as that will be, is a very serious Business, and tho’ it may finally succeed, carries not with it that Degree of probability that, in our...
38To George Washington from Major General Arthur St. Clair, 12 July 1780 (Washington Papers)
The Fleet having entered the Bay of New York, and that City being the Object, it appears necessary to pass some Vessels of Force through the Narrows in order to oblige the Ennemy to discover their Intention with regard to Staaten Island. If they do not mean to keep Possession of it the Garrison will be instantly withdrawn. But it may be that they may chuse to sacrifice some Part of their...
39To George Washington from Major General Arthur St. Clair, 9 September 1780 (Washington Papers)
The Attack upon New York always appeared to me a very doubtful and hazardous Enterprise. I think it now out of the Question altogether, from the advanced Season of the Year; the scantiness of our Force; the precariousness of our Supplies; and the want of a sufficient Fleet, in which a decided Superiority is necessary to give the Undertaking the least probability of Success. If the second...
40To George Washington from Major General Arthur St. Clair, 7 October 1780 (Washington Papers)
I received your Excellencys letter of yesterday and am very glad that you have ordered up the Troops which are to compose the Garrison, as it is very necessary they should be here, that Things may be got into some kind of order before the Winter. at present they are very much deranged. The laying in a proper stock of fire wood is a very heavy, but a very essential Business, and the Militia...
41To George Washington from Major General Arthur St. Clair, 2 November 1780 (Washington Papers)
In cantoning the Troops there are two Objects which seem to claim particular Attention—The securing West Point; and covering Jersey in such a manner as to preserve an easy communication with Pennsylvania. But West Point requires 2800 Men, and for the northern Posts dependent upon it, and the necessary Detatchments below, a thousand more will not be an extravagant Allowance. I will suppose that...
42To George Washington from Major General Arthur St. Clair, 7 January 1781 (Washington Papers)
Your Excellency has heard of the shameful Defection of the Pennsylvania Line, and I am very much concerned to inform You that as yet, there is no Prospect that we know of of any Desire appearing in them to return to their Duty. I happened to be in Philadelphia the Day the Accounts of it arrived there, and set out early next morning in Company with the Marquis de la fayette to make trial of...
43To George Washington from Major General Arthur St. Clair, 8 January 1781 (Washington Papers)
Your Excellency will have received an Account of the serious Nature of the Mutiny of the Pennsylvania Troops and their apparent Disposition to keep Post at Prince Town by the Marquis’s Letters and mine of Yesterday. Since Which we have no Accounts from them—but last Night a Person was sent to Us, charged with a Letter to their Leaders by Sir Henry Clinton who with Genl Kyhausen, is upon...
44To George Washington from Major General Arthur St. Clair, 9 January 1781 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found : from Maj. Gen. Arthur St. Clair, 9 Jan. 1781. On 12 Jan., GW wrote St. Clair regarding “your letter of the 9th.”
45To George Washington from Major General Arthur St. Clair, 11 January 1781 (Washington Papers)
I was favoured last Night with a Letter from the Comittee of Congress dated the 9th Instant; by which I am informed that the Mutineers were on their March to Trenton; that Matters wore a favourable Aspect with regard to them, and there were great Hopes that every thing would be accommodated in an amicable Manner. But as there is no mention made of the Principles I fear Governor Reeds Proposals...
46To George Washington from Major General Arthur St. Clair, 14-15 January 1781 (Washington Papers)
Morristown, N.J., 14–15 Jan. 1781 . “Negotiations with mutineers; settlement of the enlistment question; quietness of the British; wish to return to Pennsylvania; detachment to be ordered to the Pennsylvania huts.” The remainder of the letter reads: “Janry 15th. Since writing the above I have received Your Excellencys Letter of the 12th and can now inform You with certainty that Terms are...
47To George Washington from Major General Arthur St. Clair, 17 January 1781 (Washington Papers)
In Obedience to your Excellencys Desire by your favour of the 12th, I set out the night before last from Morris Town and got to this Place this Morning, where I have had an interview with Colonell Butler. My Information with Respect to the Negotiation which I communicated on the 15th was right —The Terms of it are that all those enlisted for the Bounty of twenty Dollars, and whose Enlistments...
48To George Washington from Major General Arthur St. Clair, 2 March 1781 (Washington Papers)
Your Excellencys Letters of the 3d and 13th of February came duly to hand, but I delayed answering them from an Expectation that you was a⟨bs⟩ent from the Army, and because I had nothing explicit to inform you of with regard to the Recruiting, that Business not having come before the Assembly untill yesterday, although General Wayne, General Irvine and myself have constantly attended to press...
49To George Washington from Arthur St. Clair, 29 January 1784 (Washington Papers)
In Answer to your Circular Letter of the 28th ulto I have the Honor to inform You that Notice has been communicated to all the Delegates of the Society of this State (except Major Edwards) of the Time and Place which your Excellency has fixed for the general Meeting of the Cincinnati agreeably to the original Institution. It would be very proper that all the Delegates should attend, but I fear...
50To George Washington from Arthur St. Clair, 20 April 1784 (Washington Papers)
I was favoured with Your Letter of the 22d of February—if any thing could have induced me to postpone my Journey it was your Wish that I should do so—indeed I should have been extremly glad to have met the Society of the Cincinnati, but I had made such Arrangements last fall, previous to my being appointed a Representative, that I cannot dispense with going to the back-Country at this time,...