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...
15211To George Washington from Noncommissioned Officers and Soldiers of Captains Thomas William’s and Jonas Hubbard’s … (Washington Papers)
[December 1775] . Petition for reimbursement of damages sustained on the Quebec expedition. “Some of your Pettitioners By Reason of the Badness of the Weather, at the Cold Season of the Year, Suffered Considerable Losses, by going up the River; and others by being Destitude of Provisions were obliged to Leave the Detachment and Return back from Sd Expedition; were at Considerable Expence in...
15212To George Washington from William White, December 1775 (Washington Papers)
[December 1775] . Declines appointment as an ensign in “Capt. Peters Company in Colono. Larnerds Regiment” and gives his reasons. ALS , sold by Parke-Bernet, Catalogue 1825, item 464, 29–30 April 1958.
15213To George Washington from William Dodge, 1775 (Washington Papers)
[1775] . “Your Petitioner being a man in years and being One troubled With rhumatizm and Other Disorders and being A man of Poor Sircomstance and having a Weakly Wife and a large Familey of Small Children and therefore begs of your Excelency to Give Me a Dismission from the Army for I am Not Able to go thorough the Hardships of this Winter and in Granting the Petitioner his Request You Will...
15214To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 1775 (Washington Papers)
Convinced of the utility, the necessity, at all times, of a well disciplined militia, to every free state; when the united wisdom of the continent, referring to the contest with the parent kingdom, called on every colony to prepare for the most unhappy events; and the more immediate recommendations of our provincial congress demanded a diligent application to the military art; deeming the...
15215General Orders, 1 January 1776 (Washington Papers)
This day giving commencement to the new-army, which, in every point of View is entirely Continental; The General flatters himself, that a laudable Spirit of emulation, will now take place, and pervade the whole of it; without such a Spirit, few Officers have ever arrived to any degree of Reputation, nor did any Army ever become formidable: His Excellency hopes that the Importance of the great...
15216To George Washington from Nicholas Cooke, 1 January 1776 (Washington Papers)
Upon Receipt of your Excellency’s Letter of the 23d ulto I employed Two Persons to apply to the Housekeepers in this Town individually for Blankets for the Army. They have collected about 180 which will be sent forward this Day. It is full as large a Number as I expected to procure considering how we have been exhausted by Supplies to various Parts of the Service. I shall immediately take...
15217To George Washington from John Smith, 1 January 1776 (Washington Papers)
Agreable to your desire to his Honor the Gove[r]nor, what Blankets could be collected in this Town are now sent you by Mr Hale who will give you the cost of them, the number sent is 182. am sorry the number is so small tho believe that a Quantity might be collected in the Country Towns in some little time if you think it needful please to let me know and I will endeavor to procure them. I am...
15218To George Washington from Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 1 January 1776 (Washington Papers)
I received the 20th of last month your Excellency’s Favour of the 15th enclosing a list of the Officers & Companies under the New Arrangment with the No. of men inlisted—and at the same time another of the 17th with the information from several persons, who then had lately came out of Boston—I return my thanks for both—by Accounts received from the various parts of the Colony, the recruiting...
15219General Orders, 2 January 1776 (Washington Papers)
That every Officer may be perfectly well acquainted with the establishment of the present Army, in Order that they may be govern’d by it, and make the Returns agreeable thereto—The General informs them, that each Regiment is to consist of a Colonel, a Lieut. Colonel, a Major, eight Companies, an Adjutant, a Quarter Master, Surgeon and a Surgeon’s Mate; whether a Chaplain will be allowed to...
15220To George Washington from Colonel Alexander McDougall, 2 January 1776 (Washington Papers)
I was honored with your favor of the 4th Ultimo, on the Subject of the Cannon. I should not have been So long Silent on this matter, but that none of the brass cannon were finished, till a few days ago, and the Convention were So much out of temper, by the powder lent to the Continental army not being repaid, which they greatly wanted for their own defence, that I thought it most expedient to...
15221To George Washington from Major General Artemas Ward, 2 January 1776 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Major General Artemas Ward, 2 Jan. 1776. On 2 Jan. Robert Hanson Harrison wrote to Ward: “In Answer to yours of this date by Mr Pope, I am to inform you by his Excellencys command, that he desires you to send a Captn, Two Subaltern & fifty men to take Charge of the Military Stores, provisions &c. at Squantum & to remain there till further orders” ( DLC:GW ).
15222General Orders, 3 January 1776 (Washington Papers)
The Continental Rules and Articles (as lately amended) for the better Government of the Troops of the Thirteen United Colonies, are now to take place; all Trials are therefore to be under those Articles; and in Compliance with the first, all Officers are to subscribe them—Each Colonel, or commanding Officer of a Regiment, or Corps is to send to the Adjutant General for a set for each Company,...
15223Circular to Jonathan Glover, William Bartlett, and William Watson, 3 January 1776 (Washington Papers)
You have annex’d a Copy of the Resolves of the Continental Congress respecting Captures made, or to be made, by Armed Vessels fitted out at the Charge of the united Colonies & others in Compliance With the Resolution of the 20th Ultimo you must on receipt hereof Libel such Vessels as have been taken by the Lee Shooner or any other of the Contineltal Arm’d Vessels, which may be now under your...
15224To George Washington from Colonel John Glover, 3 January 1776 (Washington Papers)
I am to informe your Exellencey, that John Thorner, (Stuward) willi⟨am⟩ Clark, wm Wallis, & thos Gerthrop, Seamen, of the Ship Janney Capt. Foster: made an attem[p]t to Desert from Said Ship, & to Go on board His Majestys Ship Foye, (now at ancor before this Harbour) but was Discoverd, & prevented by information of andrew Rogers Second Mate, & John Roberson, Cabin boy of Said Ship, whom I have...
15225To George Washington from Major General Artemas Ward, 3 January 1776 (Washington Papers)
Capt. Kellog applies for Leave to take the Command of Capt. Hubbard’s Compy who is now in Canada. Capt. Kellog has behaved like a good Officer the past Campaign & is desirous of the above Favor only upon this Account: he imagines he can be very serviceable in gitting the Compy fill’d up; & is willing to resign the Command to Capt. Hubard when he returns from the Northward; if he desires to...
15226General Orders, 4 January 1776 (Washington Papers)
Varick transcript , DLC:GW .
15227From George Washington to John Hancock, 4 January 1776 (Washington Papers)
Since my last of the 31st Ulto I have been honoured with your favour of the 22d, Inclosing sundry resolves, which shall, in matters they respect, be made the rule of my conduct. The resolution relative to the Troops in Boston, I beg the favour of you Sir, to assure Congress, shall be attempted to be put in execution, the first moment I see a probability of success, and in such a way, as a...
15228To George Washington from the New Hampshire Provincial Congress, 4 January 1776 (Washington Papers)
Sir—A complaint being made to the Congress of this Colony by our pay-master Col. Saml Hobart Esq. residing at Medford that he has within a few Days past been extremely ill treated by a party of Colo Stark’s Regiment without any apparent just cause, By which means a sum of money to the amot of Two hundred & sixty pounds has been pilfer’d from him, and at the same time the Honour of the Colony...
15229To George Washington from the Northampton Committee of Safety, 4 January 1776 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from the Northampton Committee of Safety, 4 Jan. 1776. On 24 Jan. Robert Hanson Harrison wrote to this committee: “I am commanded by his Excellency General Washington to Inform you, that Major Hawley laid before him your Letter of the 4 Instant. As to discharging the persons therein mentioned from confinement, his Excellency leaves the matter entirely with you, either to do...
15230From George Washington to Lieutenant Colonel Joseph Reed, 4 January 1776 (Washington Papers)
Since my last, I have recd your obliging favours of the 19th & 23d Ulto & thank you for the Articles of Intelligence therein containd; as I also do for the Buttons which accompanied the last Letter, althô I had got a sett, better I think, made at Concord. I am exceeding glad to find, that things wear a better face in Virginia than they did sometime ago; but I do not think that any thing less...
15231From George Washington to Henry Edwin Stanhope, 4 January 1776 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: to Henry Edwin Stanhope, 4 Jan. 1776. Stanhope’s letter to GW of 25 Dec. 1775 is endorsed in Robert Hanson Harrison’s writing: “Ansd the 4 Jany 1776.”
15232General Orders, 5 January 1776 (Washington Papers)
The Majors of Brigade, to order the Adjutants to be exact, and punctual, in making their Weekly Returns of the Strenght of each regiment; Also a seperate Return of the Numbers inlisted in the course of last week, at Orderly time to morrow—The weekly Returns to be according to the Form lately sent by the Adjutant General. The Regimentals, which have been made up, and drawn for, may be delivered...
15233To George Washington from Colonel Henry Knox, 5 January 1776 (Washington Papers)
I did myself the honor to address your Excellncy from Fort George on the 17 Ult.—I then was in hopes that we should have been able to have had the Cannon at Cambridge by this time the want of Snow detain’d us some days & now a cruel thaw, hinders from Crossing Hudsons River which we are oblig’d to do four times from Lake George to this Town—the first severe night will make the Ice on the river...
15234To George Washington from Major General Charles Lee, 5 January 1776 (Washington Papers)
The consequences of the Enemy’s possessing themselves of New York have appear’d to me so terrible that I have scarcely been able to sleep from apprehensions on the subject—these apprehensions daily increase—You have it in your power at present to prevent this dreadfull event—if I do not mistake, the Congress have given you authority to take any step in that place as well as here which you...
15235To George Washington from Major General Philip Schuyler, 5–7 January 1776 (Washington Papers)
I do not hesitate a Moment to answer My Dear General’s Question in the Affirmative, by declaring that now or never, is the Time for Every Virtuous American to exert himself in the Cause of Liberty & his Country, and that it is become a Duty, cheerfully to sacrafice the Sweets of domestic Felicity to attain the Honest & Glorious End, America has in View, & I can with a good Conscience declare,...
15236General Orders, 6 January 1776 (Washington Papers)
The General is informed, that a Custom hath prevailed, at the Main Guard, in Cambridge, of permitting prisoners to be absent, upon their parole; he therefore orders a total stop be put to this practice for the future; Any Officer offending herein, will be immediately put in Arrest, and tried for disobedience of orders. The frequent application for Flags at Roxbury, having been found...
15237To George Washington from John Adams, 6 January 1776 (Washington Papers)
As your Excellency has asked my Opinion of General Lees Plan, as explain’d in his Letter of the fifth instant, I think it my Duty to give it, although I am obliged to do it in more Haste than I could wish. I Suppose the only Questions which arise upon that Letter are whether the Plan is practicable; whether it is expedient; and whether it lies properly within your Excellencys Authority,...
15238To George Washington from William Bartlett, 6 January 1776 (Washington Papers)
After Receiving yours ⅌ Yesterday togeather with The Resolve of Congress inclos’d I find by Examining there appears to me to be a Contr[a]diction in this parragraft which I now inclose a Coppy which please to inform me. Resolved that all Transport Vessels having on board any Troops Arms Ammunition Cloathing provissions or Military or Naval Stores of what kind Soever, and all Vessels to...
15239From George Washington to Nicholas Cooke, 6 January 1776 (Washington Papers)
I received your favour of the 1 Instt and return you my thanks for the Blankets, and your promise of having more procured, as they are much wanted: I did not see Mr Hale who brought them, nor the Account, or the Money should have been Transmitted you by his return—You will please to draw on the Quarter Master General and It shall be immediately paid. I have seen General Lee since his...
15240To George Washington from John Hancock, 6–21 January 1776 (Washington Papers)
I have the honor of enclosing you sundry resolutions passed yesterday respecting Mr Lowell. The Congress are desirous to know your opinion what rank it would be proper the aids de camp of the general Officers ought to hold in the army and on this head I am directed to write to you & request yr answer. Just after the receipt of your letter Conolly & Cameron were brought to town. By some...
15241To George Washington from the Massachusetts Council, 6 January 1776 (Washington Papers)
[Watertown, Mass.] 6 January 1776 . Recommends Abel Thayer and John Lynds of Col. John Fellows’s regiment for Continental commissions. LS , signed by Walter Spooner, DLC:GW . John Fellows (1734–1808) of Sheffield commanded a Massachusetts regiment in the Continental army until the end of 1775 and served as a brigadier general of the Massachusetts militia from 1776 to 1780. Abel Thayer...
15242To George Washington from the New York Committee of Safety, 6 January 1776 (Washington Papers)
Capt. John Hodge of New York arrived in the last Night from Lisbon, & left that place Seven weeks ago to Morrow. He says that on the 8th of October last about S.W. from Cape Clear about 125 Leagues, he met two East India Men & a Cat or North Country Collier, very full of Troops, the first Division of Seven Sail, with five full Regiments bound from Cork to Boston, which first Division had then...
15243General Orders, 7 January 1776 (Washington Papers)
The Adjutant General will this day deliver to the Brigade Majors, the number of the new Articles of war, necessary for each Regiment, in their respective Brigades; and that no mistake, in regard to the said Articles may possibly happen; each Book is signed by the Honorable John Hancock Esqr. President of the Continental Congress; and countersign’d upon the Title page, by William Tudor Esqr....
15244From George Washington to John Adams, 7 January 1776 (Washington Papers)
You will excuse me for reminding you of our conversation the other evening, when I inform’d you that General Lee’s departure for New York is advisable upon the Plan of his Letter, & under the Circumstance I thene mention’d, ought not to be delayed. In giving me your opinion of this matter I have no doubt of your takeing a comprehensive view of it. That is you will not only consider the...
15245From George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 7 January 1776 (Washington Papers)
Your favor of the 1st inst. I received and heartily thank you for your kind salutations—I was happy to hear of the great unanimity in your Assembly and of the several salutary Laws they passed, which shew them to be well attached to the Common Cause, and to have taken proper measures for supporting it. Inclosed you have the account of the lead from Crown Point agreeable to your request —The...
15246General Orders, 8 January 1776 (Washington Papers)
It is exceedingly astonishing to the General, that he is yet without those Returns, which were called for on the first & third Instants; it is impossible that the business of an Army can be conducted with any degree of regularity, or propriety, where so much inattention prevails, and he desires that the commanding Officers of such regiments, as are conscious of their neglect, in the instances...
15247Instructions to Major General Charles Lee, 8 January 1776 (Washington Papers)
Having undoubted Intelligence of the fitting out of a Fleet at Boston, and of the Imbarkation of Troops from thence, which from the Season of the year, & other Circumstances must be destined for a Southern Expedition—and having such Information as I can rely on, that the Inhabitants (or great part of them) on Long Island in the Colony of New York are not only Inemical to the Rights and...
15248To George Washington from the Stonington Committee of Safety, 8 January 1776 (Washington Papers)
The Comtee of Correspondence & Safety in this place, to whose Consideration Your Excellency, by letter dated the 27th of Novr last was pleased to refer the affair of one Denny, and his captur’d Vessel & Cargo; having on the first of December transmitted to You, Their Proceedings relative thereto; beg leave now to report further—that (having notified all Persons concern’d) after a full hearing...
15249From George Washington to Pierre Van Cortlandt, 8 January 1776 (Washington Papers)
Having undoubted Intelligence of the fitting out of a Fleet at Boston, and the Embarkation of Troops from thence, which from the season of the year & other circumstances must be destin’d for some expedition South of this—and having such information as I can rely on, that the Inhabitants of Long Island in your Governmt, or a great part of them are not only inimical to the rights and liberties...
15250General Orders, 9 January 1776 (Washington Papers)
The General thanks Major Knolton, and the Officers and Soldiers, who were under his command last night; for the Spirit, Conduct and Secrecy, with which they burnt the Houses, near the Enemy’s works, upon Bunkers-hill—The General was in a more particular manner pleased, with the resolution the party discover’d in not firing a Shot; as nothing betrays greater signs of fear, and less of the...