15181To George Washington from the Massachusetts Council, 23 December 1775 (Washington Papers)
[Watertown, Mass.] 23 December 1775 . Recommends for commissions several officers named in an enclosed letter from Col. Benjamin Ruggles Woodbridge. LS signed by William Sever, DLC:GW . Woodbridge’s undated letter to the council requests commissions for four officers whose names were omitted from the council’s letter of 24 Oct. to GW ( DLC:GW ).
15182To George Washington from Lieutenant Colonel Joseph Reed, 23 December 1775 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Lieutenant Colonel Joseph Reed, 23 Dec. 1775. On 4 Jan. 1776 GW wrote to Reed : “I have recd your obliging favours of the 19th & 23d Ulto.”
15183To George Washington from Lund Washington, 23 December 1775 (Washington Papers)
Your Letter of the 26th Novmbr I have recceve’d—in it you Express a desire to have your mill swamp cleard up for meadow in Consequence of a former letter (which you think may be a missg one) I was determine’d to have all the spare hands imploy’d in it this fall & winter, but we have had such repeated Rains that it is really impossible to worck in it—I have endeavour[ed] to keep the Coopers in...
15184To George Washington from William Watson, 23 December 1775 (Washington Papers)
The bearer Capt. Samuel Jackson comes with six prosoners, a Midshipman & five Sailors put by Capt. Talbot of the Nigar Frigate on board the Brigantne Peter, which Brigtn. was taken by sd Frigate about 18 days ago, near the Island of Barmudas, and orderd into Boston—This Brigantine was Retaken last Wednesday by our people, and was bra’t into this Port—Capt. Jackson the Bearer of this will...
15185General Orders, 24 December 1775 (Washington Papers)
By order of his Excellency General Washington, a Board of General Officers sat yesterday in Cambridge, and unanimously recommended the following Rations to be delivered in the manner hereby directed. Viz: Corn’d Beef and Pork, four days in a week. Salt Fish one day, and fresh Beef two days. As Milk cannot be procured during the Winter Season, the Men are to have one pound and a half of Beef,...
15186To George Washington from Phillips Callbeck, 24 December 1775 (Washington Papers)
Winter Harbor, District of Maine 24 December . “I should but ill deserve the generous treatment Your Excellency has been pleased to shew me had I not gratitude to acknowledge so great a favor. . . . Fearfull I should encroach on Your Excellency’s time I have declined giving You a detail of the continued distress and persecution that has attended me since I had the Honor of taking my leave—I...
15187From George Washington to Major General Philip Schuyler, 24 December 1775 (Washington Papers)
Your Favor of the 15th Instant came Yesterday to Hand, with Copies and Extracts of your late Letters to Congress—I have with great Attention perused them—I am very sorry to find by several paragraphs, that both you and General Montgomery incline to quit the Service—Let me ask you Sir, when is the Time for brave Men to exert themselves in the Cause of Liberty and their Country, if this is not?...
15188General Orders, 25 December 1775 (Washington Papers)
Varick transcript , DLC:GW .
15189To George Washington from Jonathan Glover, 25 December 1775 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Jonathan Glover, 25 Dec. 1775. A memorandum of a letter to Glover of 26 Dec., which Stephen Moylan apparently wrote on behalf of GW, begins: “Acknowledged rect of his of the 25th relative to the sloop Sally” ( DLC:GW ).
15190From George Washington to John Hancock, 25 December 1775 (Washington Papers)
I had the honour to address myself to you the 19th instant, Since which I have received undoubted information—that the genuine instructions given to Connolly have not reached your hands—that they Are very artfully Concealed in the tree of his Saddle & coverd with Canvas So nicely, that they are Scarcely discernable—that those which were found upon him are intended to deceive—if he was...
15191Enclosure: Estimate of Army Expenses, 25 December 1775 (Washington Papers)
A Gross Calculation of the Sum wanted to pay off the Army upon the Old establishment & to pay One Months pay advance to the New Established Regiments, with other necessary Contingent and Incidental Charges. To the pay of 34 Old Regiments for the Months of October, November & Decemr, Averaged a[t] 3500£ each Regiment £ 119000 To the Regiment of Artillery for the same time 3960 To the pay 27...
15192From George Washington to Fielding Lewis, 25 December 1775 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: to Fielding Lewis, 25 Dec. 1775. On 4 Feb. 1776 Lewis wrote to GW : “Your favour of the 25th Decr I have recd.”
15193To George Washington from James Lyon, 25 December 1775 (Washington Papers)
You doubtless remember to have seen an application from the committee of safety in this place, for leave to go against Nova Scotia, which might probably have been taken then with very little difficulty: But we were informed, that such an expedition could not be carried on at that time, with proper secrecy; & that there was imminent danger from the Kings ships. The same difficulties may,...
15194From George Washington to Lieutenant Colonel Joseph Reed, 25 December 1775 (Washington Papers)
Since my last your favours of the 7th, & 11th as also the 8th are come to hand—the first last Night—the 2d by Wednesdays Post; for the several pieces of information therein contain’d I thank you. Nothing new has happened in this Quarter since my last, except the setting in of a severe spell of cold Weather & considerable fall of Snow; which, together, have interrupted our work on Litchmeres...
15195To George Washington from Lieutenant Henry Edwin Stanhope, 25 December 1775 (Washington Papers)
Yr Excellency will no doubt be much surprised at being troubled by one, who is an entire Stranger to You; neither should I have been prompted to it but by the Desire of my enlargement, which I dont doubt but yr Excellency will grant, when the Circumstances are made known, viz. (that Captn Wallace offered some Prisonners in Exchange for me). The Respect with which I have ever heard yr...
15196From George Washington to Lund Washington, 25 December 1775 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: to Lund Washington, 25 Dec. 1775. On 17 Jan. 1776 Lund Washington wrote to GW : “Your Letter of the 25th Dembr I have got.”
15197General Orders, 26 December 1775 (Washington Papers)
A Court of enquiry, consisting of Major Genl Putnam President, and Brigadiers Genl Heath, Sullivan, & Greene members, held by Order of His Excellency the General, to examine into the Cause of a Complaint exhibited by a number of Field Officers, and others in Genl Sullivan’s Brigade, against the Commissary General, Joseph Trumbull Esqr.—The Articles in the Complaint were . . . First, “For not...
15198From George Washington to Burwell Bassett, 26 December 1775 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: to Burwell Bassett, 26 Dec. 1775. On 27 Jan. 1776 Bassett wrote to GW : “Your favour of the 26 of Decr is just come to hand.”
15199From George Washington to Richard Henry Lee, 26 December 1775 (Washington Papers)
Your favour of the 6th Instt did not reach this place till Saturday Afternoon. the Money which accompanied it, came seasonably, but not (as it was so long delayed) in quantum Sufficit—our demands at this time being peculiarly great for pay, and advance to the Troops—pay for their Arms—Blanketting &ca Independant of the demands of the Commissary & Quarter Master General. Lord Dunmores Letters...
15200General Orders, 27 December 1775 (Washington Papers)
The Regimental Quarter Masters are forthwith to settle with and give receipts to the Commissary General, or his deputies, the day they next draw, they are to take the whole of the Provision & weekly allowance, then due. The Colonels, who have purchased Cloathing at the Qr Mr General’s Store, for the Use of their Men, are directed to discharge their respective Debts, out of the Monies they are...
15201To George Washington from Matthew Thornton, 27 December 1775 (Washington Papers)
Your favour of the 23d Instant Respecting the Great want of Blankets for the Army, I Receeiv’d this Day; & Communicated the Same to the Congress now Setting, Who Immediately went into the Consideration, And Resolv’d to take the Most speedy and effectual method, in order to purchase all that Can be Spared within this Colony; tho’ we are fearful whether any Considerable Number can be Obtaind:...
15202General Orders, 28 December 1775 (Washington Papers)
As the time is just at hand, when the Massachusetts, New Hampshire & Rhode Island Troops (not again inlisted) will be released from their present Engagement, the General recommends to them to consider, what may be the Consequence of their abrupt departure from the lines; should any Accident happen to them, before the New Army gets greater Strenght, they not only fix eternal disgrace upon...
15203General Orders, 29 December 1775 (Washington Papers)
The Commissary General having estimated the value of the different Species of Provisions, which constitute a Ration under the Continental Allowance, and finding it to amount to seven pence, half-penny lawful money—The General having seen the said Estimate, approves of it, and orders that they be settled with accordingly. The General was in great hopes that a sufficient Sum of money, would have...
15204To George Washington from the Gloucester Committee of Safety, 29 December 1775 (Washington Papers)
At the request of Mesr Jacob Green & Co. owners of the Sloop Speedwell Cory Master lately taken by Capt. Broughton and sent into this Harbour we have, maturely considered the within Inclo. Accot so farr as its carried out and are of opinion that the Charges are reasonable and that the Losses were sustained And are further of opinion that the Captors in Justice should pay it with the remainder...
15205From George Washington to the Massachusetts General Court, 29 December 1775 (Washington Papers)
Having never considered the four Independant Companies, which have been doing duty at Braintree, Weymouth & Hingham in the same point of view, as the rest of the army, Altho some Orders may have gone to or for them, Thro the hurry of business, nor Included them in my returns to Congress, according to the Brigade Majors report from Roxbury, I do not think myself Authorized to direct pay for...
15206General Orders, 30 December 1775 (Washington Papers)
As the want of a timely supply of Cash, has prevented the discharged Men, from receiving more than one Months pay at this time, the Qr Mr General may withold his Accounts until the next payment, when his Charges against the several Regiments must be paid. The Commissary General is to serve provisions, or the Value thereof; to the discharged Men to carry them home, allowing one Ration for every...
15207To George Washington from Lieutenant Colonel Joseph Reed, 30 December 1775 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Lieutenant Colonel Joseph Reed, 30 Dec. 1775. In a letter of 14 Jan. 1776 to Reed , GW acknowledged “the receipt of your favour of the 30th Ulto.”
15208To George Washington from Lund Washington, 30 December 1775 (Washington Papers)
Your Letter of the 11th Inst. I have recieved, tho too late to prevent my writeg to Mr Mercer, that I woud in consequence of Colo. Tayloe’s Instruction diliver the Bonds to him, which I did by Post, The Post from the Northward did not come until after the Southward Post set out owing to the Ice in the River—I will again write by Post on monday to Mr Mercer, not to send for the Bonds, for that...
15209General Orders, 31 December 1775 (Washington Papers)
Varick transcript , DLC:GW .
15210From George Washington to John Hancock, 31 December 1775 (Washington Papers)
I wrote you the 25th instant, Since which I am not honoured with any of your favours—the estimate I then inclosed you, was Calculated to pay the troops &a up to the first of January—that Cannot be done for want of funds in the Paymaster General’s hands—which Causes a great murmuring amongst those, who are going of. the monthly expences of this Army amt to near 275,000 Dollars, which I take the...