1To George Washington from Steuben, 6 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
The inclosed Copy of a Letter whose Original I Shall have the honor to present to your Excellency, will instruct you of the motives that brought me over to this Land. I shall add only to it that the Object of my greatest Ambition is to render your Country all the Services in my Power, and to deserve the title of a Citizen of America by fighting for the Cause of your Liberty. If the...
2To George Washington from Steuben, 25 April 1778 (Washington Papers)
With regard to the first question —We are to examine whether the Enemy may expect formidable Succours—if that be the case we ought to reinforce the army with the greatest dispatch, and strike a daring blow before those Succours arrive—The enemys force is estimated at 10000 men—if ours is under 20000 rank and file, the enterprise would be hazardous, and by exposing ourselves to a general action...
3To George Washington from Major General Steuben, 17 June 1778 (Washington Papers)
It gives me great Satisfaction to see that Your Excellency has taken Such a wise Step in my Department as to engage the General Officers and Field Officers of Regiments to take the Command of the Troops in our daily Exercise: Nothing could be more useful in the present moment —I had wished some time ago it might Soon be the Case, but in the meanwhile, I was endeavoring with the Gentlemen under...
4To George Washington from Major General Steuben, 18 June 1778 (Washington Papers)
My opinion on the different propositions offered for consideration in council yesterday —is as follows. The Intelligence we have hitherto received of the enemys movements, does not sufficiently assure us of his designs, to warrant an enterprise upon Philadelphia—and I believe it would be prudent not to abandon our position without being certain of the evacuation of the city—It would be still...
5To George Washington from Major General Steuben, 25 June 1778 (Washington Papers)
I arrived here this morning and found Genl Scott waiting intelligence, which has since arrived that the Enemy lay last night in two Columns one at Allens Town the other at Imlays Town, this morning about Eight oClock the Column from Imlays Town moved & took the Road to Monmouth Court House, we have not yet received any intelligence of the Column at Allens Town—Colo. Moylan has just arrived...
6To George Washington from Major General Steuben, 27 June 1778 (Washington Papers)
We arrived here this morning & it being the best position we can find to observe the motions of the Enemy—have remain’d—we have advanced our parties so near as to fire a Pistol at their Horsemen whilst feeding their Horses—They now lay encamped one Line on the main Road by the Court House & another Line extended on their left from the head of their Column which is not advanced One hundred &...
7To George Washington from Major General Steuben, 24 July 1778 (Washington Papers)
Your Excellency having been pleased to order me in the General Orders of 22d Instant to resume my Office of Inspector General & make my Arrangements accordingly, I beg leave to refer you to my letter of 17th June on the subject of the Inspection & to your kind Answer of 18th in which you granted me permission to go to York Town & desired me to lay before Congress such a Plan as would be most...
8To George Washington from Major General Steuben, 1 August 1778 (Washington Papers)
I cannot any longer defer acknowledging the many favors I have received from you & expressing my desire of your Excellencys continuing the same favorable sentiments towards me. Immediately after my arrival here Congress were pleased to appoint a Committee to hear my Proposals—the Committee consists of Gen. Reed Mrss. Boudinot & Chace, & meet for the first time on saturday 8th Inst.; in the...
9To George Washington from Major General Steuben, 18 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
The Enemys preparatives at New York—announce either an expedition really meditated—or perhaps only a Feigned one. In the first case let us examine what their plans may be. The first and most interesting is an expedition against Boston and the french Squadron—Six or Seven thousand men might be detached from New York—and the same number would remain to defend the island against all the Force...
10To George Washington from Steuben, 6 December 1778 (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Steuben, 6 Dec. 1778. On 19 Dec., GW wrote Steuben : “I had the honor of receiving a few days since your letter of the 6th instant.”
11To George Washington from Major General Steuben, 10 February 1779 (Washington Papers)
Letter not found : from Major General Steuben, 10 Feb. 1779. GW wrote Steuben on 26 Feb. : “Capt. Walker delivered me your favor of the 10th inst. with the Sequel of your Manuscript.”
12To George Washington from Major General Steuben, 5 March 1779 (Washington Papers)
Your Excellencys obliging favor of 26 Ulto was handed me by Cap. Walker with the first part of the Regulations for the Exercise of the Infantry. I am much obliged by your Excellencys remarks on that Manuscript which I have corrected agreable thereto, and that it may not be defficient in perspicuity and correctness of diction I have submitted it to the Correction of a Gentleman in Town in order...
13To George Washington from Major General Steuben, 17 March 1779 (Washington Papers)
Your Excellency’s approbation of the Regulations I had the honor of presenting, gives me the greatest hopes that they will be easily reduced to practice, and prove agreeable to the Army. Encouraged by this hope, I Shall immediately present them to Congress for their Sanction. As I am convinced of the necessity of the Regulations taking place as soon as possible, your Excellency may depend I...
14To George Washington from Major General Steuben, 31 March 1779 (Washington Papers)
In my last I had the honor of informing your Excellency that the Regulations would be printed by the middle of April, till which time I proposed staying here in order to hurry the Work as much as possible. I did not then foresee a Thousand little things that retard the progress of the work & which now convince me it will be the last of April before it can be finished, I have therefore...
15To George Washington from Maj. Gen. Steuben, 22 June 1779 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letters not found : from Maj. Gen. Steuben, 22 June 1779. GW wrote Steuben on 1 July: “I have been favoured with four letters from you three of the 22d and one of the 27th.”
16To George Washington from Maj. Gen. Steuben, 27 June 1779 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found : from Maj. Gen. Steuben, 27 June 1779. GW wrote Steuben on 1 July: “I have been favoured with four letters from you three of the 22d and one of the 27th.”
17To George Washington from Maj. Gen. Steuben, 29 June 1779 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found : from Maj. Gen. Steuben, 29 June 1779. GW wrote Steuben on 1 July: “The proposals towards a monthly inspection contained in … your letter of the 29th appear in general to be very eligible.”
18To George Washington from Major General Steuben, 20 July 1779 (Washington Papers)
Genl McDougall return’d me yesterday the Inclos’d Plan for the formation of the Massachusets & North Carolina Brigades which he assures me will be perfectly agreable to the Commanding Officers of Regiments If your Excellency approves it, it may be publishd in orders & take place immediately. The movement of Genl Heaths Division & the late expedition of the Light Corps has hitherto prevented...
19To George Washington from Major General Steuben, 27 July 1779 (Washington Papers)
Our present situation is nearly the same as it was at the opening of the campaign. The enemy are still superior in number, their troops better provided. They possess more means of executing their projects by the help of their vessels. They are masters of our coast and of the entrance of the North River. The capture of Stoney Point has given a great advantage to our side. It has not only...
20To George Washington from Major General Steuben, 26–30 January 1780 (Washington Papers)
Being arrived here on the night of Saturday the 22d Inst. I delivered next Day Early in the morning Your Excellency’s Letter to the President of Congress, & I am informed but to day that the Board of War is charged to Confer with me on the present State of the Army. I do not know as yet what this Conference will tend to, There is a talk of a Committee being to repair to Camp, in Order to give...
21Enclosure: Major General Steuben to the Board of War, January 1780 (Washington Papers)
Delivered to the Board of War by Major General steuben on Friday Jany 28th 1780. The incomplete state & Extreme inequality of our Regiments of Infantry, against all good Order and regular formation, induced me last Campaign to present to H[is] E[xcellency] the Commander in Chief a Plan of formation for an Order of Battle, in which I joined Two and three Regiments together in Order to form a...
22Enclosure: List of Returns Requested by the Board of War, January 1780 (Washington Papers)
The following Returns are to be sent immediately to the Board of War. Infantry 1. a General Return of the Number of Serjeants, Privates & Drummers & fifers whose times of Enlistment will expire by the first of July next Regimentally digested. 2d A like Return of the men employed out of the Regts as in the Commanders in Chiefs Guard, Waiters on Officers who are absent from their Regiments and...
23To George Washington from Major General Steuben, 12 February 1780 (Washington Papers)
Since I had the honor to write last to Your Excellency, I have heard nothing from Congress on the Army but the Resolves which I send you here inclosed. They have I doubt not been already sent to Your Excellency, & I would have transmitted them to you sooner, had I not been prevented by a fit of Sickness which has kept me these four or five Days, and does Still Continue. I beg you will Excuse...
24To George Washington from Major General Steuben, 14 February 1780 (Washington Papers)
The Day before I had the honor of receiving Your Excellency’s Letter of the 8th instant, I had sent you a Copy of the Resolutions of Congress, wherein was the number of Men which each state is to furnish for next Campaign If, as I hope, the Officers are not included, & if the Number of Men to be Employed out of the Line of Battalions, does not Exceed the proportion, our Army will be...
25To George Washington from Major General Steuben, 23 February 1780 (Washington Papers)
The Delay which must result from collecting the Returns of all the dispersed Corps which you mention in your Letter of the 18th inst. is a difficulty which I apprehended as soon as I Saw the Resolutions of Congress on that Object. Besides that it will be almost impossible to make out those Returns with the necessary Exactness, We shall Certainly lose two months at a Time when we ought not to...
26To George Washington from Major General Steuben, with enclosure, 15 March 1780 (Washington Papers)
Since the Departure of the last Letter I had the honor to write You, I have not in the least advanced in the Affairs which I had proposed to see brought to a Conclusion. Before it is known whether the Number of Regiments is to be preserved or whether an Incorporation is to take place, it is impossible to make any Calculations for the formation. I have exerted all the means in my Power to...
27Enclosure: Major General Steuben’s “Proposals for the formation of our Army for the next Campaign,” 13–15 March 1780 (Washington Papers)
The distribution of the Number of Men, which Each State is to furnish for next Campaign, permits us to Complete our Regiments of Infantry in the Line, to a Number, indeed, Below the Establishment, but which puts it, however in our Power to form Each Regiment into a Battalion, without changing the Principles of Formation, already Established in the Regulations. If We put Each Regiment on the...
28To George Washington from Major General Steuben, 28 March 1780 (Washington Papers)
The propositions I made to Congress respecting the formation of the Army, of which I had the honor of transmitting your Excellency a Copy, remain yet on their Table without any decision thereon; they have however set aside the Report of the Board of War on a Motion for reducing the Batallions, as you will perceive by the resolve annexed, so that all reduction or incorporation is now out of the...
29To George Washington from Major General Steuben, 6 April 1780 (Washington Papers)
I had the pleasure of receiving your favor of the 2nd Instant yesterday. The necessity there was of having something done for the additional Regiments induced me to write the Board of War a Letter, copy of which I now inclose your Excellency, pressing their immediate attention to those Corps, but tho’ some days have since passed & the necessity of coming to an immediate decision in this affair...
30To George Washington from Major General Steuben, 11 April 1780 (Washington Papers)
The Minister of France, has fixed on Monday next for his departure from hence for a Visit to your Excellency I have therefore order’d a Detachment of the Marechaussée to attend in order to escort him to Camp. I expect every moment to hear the Committee are named to consult with your Excellency; as mentioned in my last, and I have fixed on Friday next for my departure for Camp. I am with...
31To George Washington from Major General Steuben, May 1780 (Washington Papers)
the Inspection established in the Army has hitherto extended only to the Infantry in the Line of the Army the Cavalry Light Infantry & Independent Corps have yet no other Rules than the Articles of War Resolves of Congress & occasional Orders given them, their Discipline & manner of performing the Service is different as they have Commanders who have each prescribed such Rules as they thought...
32To George Washington from Major General Steuben, 15 June 1780 (Washington Papers)
I have the honor to inclose your Excellency a Letter from Major Lee by which you will perceive that two Men had deserted from the first Post he visited this morning & perhaps others will be found gone from the other Posts. I was utterly unacquainted with your Excellencys intentions of releiving Major Gibbs or I should have represented the necessity of keeping Those Troops on the Lines who...
33To George Washington from Major General Steuben, 18 June 1780 (Washington Papers)
I have recd intelligence of the arrival of the British fleet at New York by various persons by the enclosed Letter from Majr Lee being the last your Excellency will find that two Regiments have crossed and Joind the Body on this side. I have the Honor to be with respect Your Excellencys most obt & very Hum. sert LS , DLC:GW . Steuben enclosed two letters of this date from Maj. Henry Lee, Jr....
34To George Washington from Major General Steuben, 20 June 1780 (Washington Papers)
The more I reflect on the situation of our Affairs, the more I think my presence necessary at the No. River, where many Arrangements are necessary previous to the Troops taking an Active part in the Campaign. This induces me to request your Excellency to consider the propriety of relieving me at this Post. I cannot but confess. I am the more induced to wish this, from the disagreable situation...
35To George Washington from Major General Steuben, 24 June 1780 (Washington Papers)
The first object of my attention on my arrival here was to collect together all the Spare Arms &c. to be ready for the Drafts, (who are, as I am told, coming in great numbers) —they are to be returnd to the Field Commissary immediately & a return of them given to General How. There being no object to call my attention immediately at this Post I have determined to go on the other side & afford...
36To George Washington from Major General Steuben, 9 July 1780 (Washington Papers)
Aussi dificile et presque impossible il est de tracer un plan pour les operations d’une Campagne, Quand on ne peut pas Comter avec sureté sur les Moyens qu’on peut Employer. Notre situation presente exige de prendre une partie-pour ne pas perdre L’Avantage d’un secour Eficace que nous Esperons d’un jour à L’autre de la part de Nos Allies. Dans un Moment ou Nous etions mieux prepares de notre...
37To George Washington from Major General Steuben, 14 July 1780 (Washington Papers)
I am just returned from West Point where I have been making some necessary arrangments towards preparing for an Offensive Campaign I have represented to Genl How the absolute necessity of exempting the Recruits from fatigue Duties that they may be renderd as serviceable as the short time we have for this business will allow. We have in the 8 Brigades in this Department about 3000 Old soldiers,...
38To George Washington from Major General Steuben, 18 July 1780 (Washington Papers)
Colonel Debois has this moment been with me, who has been desired by Governor Clinton to wait on me to receive my advice & instructions in regard to the formation of the three State Battns consisting of fifteen hundred men which he informs me will arrive in Fish Kill next Monday. In consequence of which I have delivered him some of the Regulations for the Army; which I have desired him...
39To George Washington from Major General Steuben, 22 July 1780 (Washington Papers)
To avoid all disorders which may result from drawing by seperate Corps, I proposed in my last Letter to your Excellency, that the Light Infantry should draw nothing as a Seperate Corps, except their Rations, distributed by a Commissary Their Forage—by a Forage Master, and their Amuniton by a Conductor, who are to be appointed particularly for the Light Infantry —The Arms—Accoutrements, Camp...
40To George Washington from Major General Steuben, 28 July 1780 (Washington Papers)
Previous to the reception of your two Letters of the & Instant I had been informed of our disappointment with regard to the Arms expected from France; Mr Izard made no secret of their detention or the cause —The distress I foresaw this disappointment would bring upon us determind me on a measure for which, if disapproved by your Excellency, I must be answerable. I engaged General Howe to write...
41To George Washington from Major General Steuben, 10 September 1780 (Washington Papers)
By the State of Affairs that Your Excellency has been pleased to lay before the Council of War, our Situation seems such, that it will be extreemly difficult to determine, what should be our Operations during the Course of this Campaign. The only thing that appears Certain, is, that neither Circumstances nor the means we have, permits us, in the Present moment, to think of any Offensive...
42To George Washington from Major General Steuben, 23 October 1780 (Washington Papers)
It is with the Greatest satisfaction I Acquaint You that the Plan of Arrangement for the Army, which Your Excellency sent to Congress has been Agreed to Yesterday without any Alteration. The granting half pay for life to the Reduced Officers has met with some Opposition, but the Proposition has not only passed; but it was Resolved immidiately after, to extend these Advantages to all the...
43To George Washington from Major General Steuben, 24 November 1780 (Washington Papers)
your Excellency has no doubt, heard before this time, of the Departure of the Enemy from Portsmouth; as Governor Jefferson in his Letter informs you of all the circumstances of this retreat, I will refer you to it for particulars. I am now hastening, as much as possible, the Departure of General Lawsons Corps for the Southward; It consists of about 200 Horse and 300 Infantry, Inlisted till the...
44To George Washington from Major General Steuben, 17 December 1780 (Washington Papers)
Your Excellency has doubtless been informed by General Green of his intentions to leave me in this State. I have hitherto deferred writing myself in hopes of being able to give a more favorable account of my Operations—the account however is by no means so flattering as I could wish. I found every thing here in the utmost confusion, the exhausted state of the Finances obliged the executive...
45To George Washington from Major General Steuben, 28 December 1780 (Washington Papers)
The more difficult it becomes to recruit our Armies, the more it becomes necessary to redress the Abuses that tend to the diminution of our Battalions. By Your Excellency’s direction, a Number of those Abuses, such as Small Detachments, Standing Guards &c., have been laid aside in the Northern Army; but here, those faults against Military Order Still Subsist, & are carried to a greater Excess...
46To George Washington from Major General Steuben, 8 January 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have waited a moments leisure from the hurry & confusion of these eight days past to give Your Excellency a Detail of the Enemies Movements in this State. So early as the 31st of Decembr the Governor informed me of a Fleet of 27 Sail having arrived at Willoby point, in Consequence of which I immediately dispatched Col. Senf, & one of my Aids de Camp, down the south side of the River to...
47To George Washington from Major General Steuben, 11 January 1781 (Washington Papers)
I had the honor to address your Excellency the 8th inst., giving you a detail of what had passed down to that date. The Enemy laying Still at Westover the 9th, and some Vessels which had lain at the mouth of the Appamatox dropping down that Day to their Fleet, I thought it Evident they had no design against Petersburg, and therefore ordered the few Militia who were assembled there to march to...
48To George Washington from Major General Steuben, 29 January 1781 (Washington Papers)
My last informed your Excellency of the Enemys having passed Hoods on their way down the River —the 12th I marched with 700 Militia to Cabbin point the Continental Troops being too naked to keep the Field had been sent back to Chesterfield Court House. The 14th the Enemy landed at Hardys ferry 22 Miles below Cabbin point & began their March towards Smithfield—Supposing that Colo. Parker with...
49To George Washington from Major General Steuben, 1 February 1781 (Washington Papers)
I had the honor of addressing your Excellency the 29 Instant informing you of the Enemies movements down to that date they remain at Portsmouth where they are throwing up some works for their defence. Among the greatest mischiefs occasioned by this invasion is the total derangement of all the measures we were taking for the support of the Southern Army—the calling out the Militia will...
50To George Washington from Major General Steuben, 12 February 1781 (Washington Papers)
I had the honor to address your Excellency the [ ] since then nothing material has occurred in this quarter the Enemy laying quiet in Portsmouth. The Letter of which the enclosed is Copy came yesterday by Express not being certain that General Green had wrote your Excellency by the same Conveyance I inclose copy of his Letter to me by an omission in dating the Letter I am uncertain where he...