11To George Washington from Brigadier General Anthony Wayne, 17 October 1777 (Washington Papers)
Altho’ I am Confident that your time is Necessarily taken up on the most Important business—yet my own Honor and Charecter—Induces me to Request your perusual of the Enclosed Defence —every part of which I have fully proved by Indubitable Evidence and however the Gentn who Composed the Courts of Enquiry may have Determined—yet so Concious am I of having done my Duty—that I am very Desirous of...
12To George Washington from Brigadier General Anthony Wayne, 22 October 1777 (Washington Papers)
I must Acknowledge that the Opinion of the Court of Enquiry has given me both pain and Surprise—Surprise to find Gentn go on the most Erronious ground in two facts from which they seem to found their Opinion i.e. with Reguard to the Distance, and the Carrying off of one of the Piquets. the Distance between the nearest part of the Enemies Camp and where I lay—was near 4 Miles w[h]ich was...
13To George Washington from Brigadier General Anthony Wayne, 19 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
The Light Infantry who were Encamped on the Right between third & fourth Street have Struck their tents this morning—their Picquets are drawn in—we took possession of the Advanced Redoubt made of Rails when they Vacated this day—I am just proceeding along the line to the left—they have turned out the Guards from a house near the City with a few of their Horse but don’t seem Inclined to...
14To George Washington from Major General John Sullivan and Brigadier Generals William Maxwell and Anthony Wayne, 23 … (Washington Papers)
May it please your Excellency, We the Subscribers, General Officers in the American Army, beg leave to represent, That we have severally been accus’d of unsoldierly Conduct, dangerous Neglect, and other Crimes, which, had they been prov’d, must have blacken’d our Characters as Officers, and sunk us beneath the Reproaches of our Country. In Consequence of these malicious Accusations, Courts...
15To George Washington from Brigadier General Anthony Wayne, 25 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
After the most Dispationate & Deliberate Consideration of the Question your Excellency was pleased to propose to the Council of General Officers last Evening; I am Solemnly and Clearly of Opinion; that the Credit of the Army under your Command, the Safety of the Country—the Honor of the American Arms—the Approach of Winter which in a few days will force you from the field—and above all the...
16To George Washington from Brigadier General Anthony Wayne, 1 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
The procuring good and easy Winter Quarters for the Troops under your Excellencies Command—and Covering the Country from the Depredations of the Enemy as far as Possible without too much fatigue to the Army—are Objects of the first Consequence, & to which too much Attention can not be paid. A Chain of Cantonments has been proposed (and Supported with very plausible Arguments) from Lancaster to...
17To George Washington from Brigadier General Anthony Wayne, 4 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
I am not for a Winters Campaign in the Open field—the Distressed and naked State of your Troops will not admit of it. But if taking post at Willmington & the Villages in it’s Vicinity—or Hutting at the Distance of about Twenty Miles West of Phila. (which will not only support the Honor & Reputation of Your Army in the eyes of the Enemy—and the States of Europe —but will give Confidence to...
18To George Washington from Brigadier General Anthony Wayne, 26 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
The Inhabitants from being acquainted with me are perpetually lodging their Complaints against the proceedings of the Deputy Commissaries Quarter Masters & Soldiery—they say that all the provision & Provender which they had laid up for their family use and Stock during the Winter, has been taken and Carried off by force—that money will not Replace it, and that they must either Starve or remove...
19To George Washington from Brigadier General Anthony Wayne, 28 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
If I am rightly Instructed, Genl Woodfords pretentions to rank is founded on his Serving as a Colonel in the State of Virginia against Govr Du[n] more in the Year 1775. I have no Idea of his being Entitled to rank in the Continental line from holding a Commission at that time in the State—especially if he Adverts to the Distinction which that State drew between the Rank of Militia, Minute men...
20To George Washington from Brigadier General Anthony Wayne, 25 February 1778 (Washington Papers)
I landed in New Jersey the 19th and proceeded to salem the same Evening—the next Morning I sent out several Detachment to Collect Cattle &ca pursuant to the within Order; at the same time Dispatched the enclosed Letter to B. Genl Ellis. It was difficult to meet any Cattle, Altho the Country abounded with them; as the Inhabitants had Secreted all such as were fit for our use in the...