45901General Orders, 19 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
The Commander in Chief considering the scarcity of Hospital stores and the advanced season thinks proper to order a discontinuance of inoculation in the army. The prevent the small pox spreading amongst the recruits that may hereafter join the utmost care is to be taken to prevent their mixing with those who have lately had that disorder. He therefore directs that the patients now at the small...
45902From George Washington to Zebulon Butler, 19 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
Upon the receipt of this , you will instantly set out for the Army, and join your Regt as expeditiously as possible—This Order you will consider as explicit and peremptory—and not to be dispensed with, on any pretext whatever—No permission, for further absence can be of any avail, from any authority inferior to that of Congress. It is represented to me that there are some few of the...
45903From George Washington to Nathanael Greene, 19 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
I duly received your letter of the 17th of March inclosing the copy of one of the 16th to the President of Congress—The motives which induced you to hazard a battle appear to me to have been substantial—I am happy to find by your subsequent letter to Congress, that the retreat of Cornwallis in circumstances of distress corresponded with your expectations. I still however regard your affairs as...
45904To George Washington from William Heath, 19 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
The enclosed News paper came to hand the last evening, altho it is not of a very late date but the latest I have received. I have the honor to be with the highest respect your Excellencys most Obedt Servt MHi : Heath Papers.
45905To George Washington from Robert Howe, 19 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
In the letter I did my self the Honour to write your Excellency from New Hampshire on the 12th Instant, I Expressd an intention unless service Forbid it to Visit some of those Parts of that state which were worthy of Observation; But a Gentlman arriving from Boston and saying, that it was Currently & Credibly reported & believ’d, that the Whole Army was in motion, & movements of importance...
45906From George Washington to John Hurlbut, 19 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have received your favor of the 12th. Congress have not to my knowledge come to any determination upon the matter respecting the Wyoming Companies which has been referred to them by the Assembly of Connecticut—I can therefore do no more at present than to permit those Men who are peculiarly circumstanced as to their families to remain where they are untill the final pleasure of Congress...
45907To George Washington from Jeremiah Wadsworth, 19 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
I find by General Beville the Q.M. General of the French army that they propose if ordered to March by Land to West Point, to take their rout thro this Town; and hence to Litchfield &c. If every other circumstance wou’d permit I believe the Country wou’d be more benefited by their Marching on the Sea Coast—as there are more desaffected people thier than on the more inland routs—thier supplies...
45908General Orders, 20 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
The Honorable the Congress have been pleased to pass the following Resolve to which due attention is to be paid. By the United States in Congress assembled April 13th 1781 Resolved, That the Commander in Chief transmit to the Executives of the several States lists of the names of all the new levies belonging to each state respectively specifying their times of service and the sums due to them...
45909From George Washington to Board of War, 20 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
Inclosed is an estimate of Military Stores which will be necessary at Fort Pitt—it is formed partly upon the requisition of the Commanding Officer of Artillery there—but chiefly upon a presumption that a considerable quantity of the larger species of Stores will be expended by Colo. Clarke in an expedition against Detroit—At the request of the State of Virginia, I gave an order upon the...
45910To George Washington from Elias Dayton, 20 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
Soon after I received your Excellency’s letter, the person who was the subject of it communicated to me the following intelligence. Colonel Conolly with his corps to proceed to Quebec as soon as possible, to be joined in Canada by Sir John Johnson with a number of tories and Indians said to amount to three thousand. His rout is to be by Buck island, Lake Ontario and Venango and his object is...
45911From George Washington to John Durkee, 20 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
I was surprised to find by a Letter from Mr John Hurlbut of Wyoming that you had given permission for the Men belonging to the Army, who were Inhabitants of & now are at Wyoming to continue at that place until further Orders—You must be sensible such interference is very improper; & in future you will not presume to contravene the Resolutions of Congress, or Orders of Your Superior officers. I...
45912From George Washington to William Heath, 20 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
It was exceedingly proper to order the men who left the Detachment under the Marquis, to be confined—if the practice should prevail, severe examples must be made—but if it ceases here, and the number is small, it may not be worth the while to send them back, (Altho there should not be evidence sufficient to convict them here with certainty) lest the fear of Punishment should induce them to a...
45913To George Washington from William Heath, 20 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
This being the day appointed by your Excellency’s orders, for the execution of Robert Maples, alias John Walker, and Nathan Gale, directions were given for the necessary preparations to be made—and the troops have been paraded. Mr Hutton the Provost-marshal, who had received your Excellency’s warrants for the execution of the culprits, has attended—but has refused to perform the execution...
45914From George Washington to William Heath, 20 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have from the necessity of the case respited the two Criminals ’till Tuesday. In the mean time the provost Martial must be tried for refusing to execute his Office as directed by the Warrant—perhaps the Court may make some allowance for the reasons he alledges. If you think there is no need of executing both for the sake of example and can find out which is the most atrocious character...
45915To George Washington from Samuel Huntington, 20 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
I am directed to transmit your Excellency the enclosed Copies of Letters, viz., one from his Excellency President Reed to me, the other from Mr Fowler to President Reed, with the consequent Resolve of Congress of the 19th Instant; directing that effectual Measures be taken to make Enquiry into & correct the Abuses therein mentioned and for bringing the Offenders to condign Punishment. This Mr...
45916From George Washington to William Hutton, 20 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
To William Hutton Provost Marshal of the Army of the United States of America Whereas at a General Court Martial held at West Point the 10th Instant by order of Major General Heath Major Graham president Robert Maples alias John Walker charged with "inlisting in Colonel Alden’s regiment by the Name of John Walker for during the War and deserting therefrom, also reinlisting by the name of...
45917To George Washington from Samuel Holden Parsons, 20 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
It is now five Days since I have first walked from my Bed to the I have moved as fair as I have any Right to expect since that continues very weak. I hope the Day to go abroad; and when I gain Strength sufficient hope a Journey will restore my Strength as well as Health; I am at present unable to attend to the Business you committed to my Charge; Captain Walker will take charge of those...
45918From David Humphreys to Timothy Pickering, 20 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
His Excellency wishes to be informed what success has attended the Measures taken for the transportation of the flour from Ringwood—what number of Teams were procured by the last impress &c. He also requests that you will direct the Forage Master Genl to provide Pasture, as convenient as possible to Head Quarters for the Horses which belong to himself & his Family. We shall shortly be much...
45919From Timothy Pickering to David Humphreys, 20 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
Between the 5th & 13th inst. were loaded at Ringwood fifteen double teams & twenty nine single teams, with 124 barrels of flour 1 barrel of biscuit 33 barrels of beans 2 hogsheads of salt 6 tierces of ditto 23 barrels—do– according to the report of Mr Skidmore the deputy waggon master, who saw them loaded. On his return hither the 14th inst. he met 17 more single teams on their way to Ringwood...
45920From George Washington to Thomas Proctor, 20 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
Your favor of the 9th did not reach me untill the 18th instant—I am sorry to find that the situation of your domestic affairs renders it necessary for you to quit the service—It always gives me pain to part with an Officer, but particularly so with one whose experience and attention has made him useful in his profession. I cannot in justice to you permit you to leave the Army without...
45921To George Washington from Nathaniel Stevens, 20 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
I would acquaint Your Excellency that I have consulted Mr Morrell, the Gentleman that proposed putting up a Quantity of Shad, and find him to be destitute of the Means of Purchase; He says he expects he can have a Sufficiency of Fish to fill six hundred Barrels for three Pecks of Salt per Barrel, but that he shall not be able to procure them upon Trust, and as it is not in my Power to promise...
45922To George Washington from Benjamin Tallmadge, 20 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
By an unfortunate mistake of the Express I was not hond with Your Excellency’s favor of the 8th instant ’till the 15th following, immediately after which I repaired to this Place & imbraced the first Opportunity to go over to Long Island on the business proposed. I returned here this morning & have, by different Persons, procured accurate drafts of the enemy’s Forts and Returns of their land &...
45923To George Washington from Jeremiah Wadsworth, 20 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
I took the Liberty yesterday to propose in a letter by General Beville that in case the french army marched to Head Quarters—thier rout shou’d be by the Sea Cost. since which I have received a letter from General Rochambeau ordering some preparations which will if made put it out of my power to furnish them on that rout—I find he has an Idea of Marching soon in May—the Country west of this...
45924To George Washington from John Arbuthnot, 21 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
If I had not been very busy when I Received your Letter dated the 25th of January last, complaining of the treatment of the Naval Prisoners at this place, I certainly should have Answered it before this time; And Notwithstanding I then thought, as I now do, that my own Testimony would have been sufficient to have put the truth past a doubt, I ordered the strictest Scrutiny to be made into the...
45925To George Washington from Lewis Garanger, 21 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have waited a long time for a favourable moment to be employed in the corps of artillery of the united states in the rank and under the conditions agreed upon between Mr Deare and Mr du Coudray, in the hope that it might take place without exciting any discontent among the artillery officers: but the operations which I have been in the last instance charged to execute in concert with some of...
45926To George Washington from William Heath, 21 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have been honored with your two favors of the 20th. I am informed that twelve or thirteen men have deserted from the light infantry—but few of them have come to their regiments. It is generally thought, that such as have not come in are lurking in the vicinity of the post to hear how those who have come in are treated. The subaltern who was with Captain Pope and who had the immediate charge...
45927To George Washington from Hugh Hughes, 21 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have the Honour to Inclose your Excellency the Knife you sent me. If the Point is not agreeable, it shall be alter’d whenever your Excellency is pleased to order it back. Permit me to assure you that I have not been inattentive to the accommodation of your lady or self. I sent to Hartford in order to know if a Fare of Salmon could be had, and was inform’d that none could be procured on...
45928From George Washington to Samuel Huntington, 21 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
His Excellency the Count De Rochambeau, when I was at Rhode Island, made an application to me to have Colonel Champlin of New port appointed a Barrack Master under Authority of Congress, to be attached to the French Army—His reason was—that a native vested with the authority of our own government might act with more propriety and efficacy than a foreigner, or even a native merely employed by...
45929From George Washington to Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette, 21 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
Though the situation of Southern affairs would not permit me to recall your corps to this army, yet it was with great reluctance I could resolve upon seeing you separated from Head Quarters—My friendship for you makes me desirous of having you near me, and there will occur frequent occasions in cooperative measures in which it would be of the greatest utility I should have it in my power to...
45930From George Washington to Benjamin Lincoln, 21 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have recd your favors of the 2d and 13th Inst. Major Clarkson has communicated the Matter for which I am referred to him in your last. It seems a clue which may lead to an ample discovery of what has been some time suspected, provided the Emissary is sincere. But Major Clarkson cannot tell me whether he proposed to make himself known to me or whether he is to communicate his discoveries to...
45931To George Washington from Richard Peters, 21 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
The Friends of Capt. James Willing are pressing to have him exchanged & his long Sufferings entitle him to it. He is not in our Department & we are told holds only the Rank of Captain & that of an armed Boat. The Enemy have conceived him to be of so much Consequence as to claim a Lieut. Colonel for him. This seems un r easonable but there is a Lieut. Col. Rogers in the State Prison at...
45932To George Washington from Friedrich Adolph von Riedesel, 21 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
Several German Officers of the Convention of Saratoga having applied to me to be exchanged on account of their particular private affairs, I made a requisition accordingly to Major General Phillips to propose such an Exchange to Your Excellency, and in answer to my request General Phillips communicated to me Your letter of the 25th of January to His Excellency Sir Henry Clinton, in which the...
45933From Abraham Skinner to Alexander Hamilton, 21 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
The 18th instant, I answered His Excellency’s Letter of the 14th in a line addressed to Colo. Tilghman—since which I have received The General’s Letter of the 16th and shall pursue the directions contained in it respecting the Demand of our Privates. As I know of no other Prisoners beside Lieutt General Burgoyne absent from America on Parole. I will dispatch the Letter addressed to Sir Henry...
45934To George Washington from Friedrich Wilhelm Ludolf Gerhard Augustin, Baron [von] Steuben, 21 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
The preparations of the Enemy at Portsmouth indicating an intention of operating offensively and the number of Militia in the Field being too small to afford the least prospect of resistance, I thought it prudent to remove every species of Public Stores to some distance in the Country and on the 16th Instant gave orders for that purpose. The 18th Fourteen Sail of Vessells came up the River as...
45935From George Washington to Nathaniel Stevens, 21 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
I should be glad to be informed by you, what quantity of Provisions, has within a few days arrived from the Eastward, & particularly of salted Meat from Connecticut, & what your immediate prospects are. I have written to the President of New Hampshire, urging that State to an immediate & regular compliance with the requisitions of Congress especially in the Article of Beef Cattle—I have also...
45936To George Washington from Nathaniel Stevens, 21 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
Your Excellency’s Favor of equal Date I have received: There has fifty Barrels of Salt Provisions & twenty six Cattle arrived from Connecticut since the Ninth Instant and Eighty Cattle from Massachusets. My immediate Dependence for a Supply was upon the Salt provisions put up in the latter, which appears to be about five thousand Barrels of Beef and three thousand Barrels of Pork deficient: In...
45937General Orders, 22 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
John Williams alias Andrew Forster soldier in the 6th Massachusetts’ regiment tried the 19th instant by the general court martial whereof Major Graham is President for "Desertion" was found Guilty and sentenced to suffer Death more than two thirds of the court agreeing. The Commander in Chief approves the sentence and orders him to be executed on Tuesday next. Mr William Hutton Provost Marshal...
45938To George Washington from John Durkee, 22 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
Receeived yours of of the 20th instant, am sorry to find myself under your Excellencys Displeasure respecting the Men at Wyoming—when Colo. Butler was in Camp in January he represented to General Parsons that several Men of the independent Company commanded by Capt. Spaulding had Families & were not likely to be of any Service to the public if called to do Duty in a marching Regiment as they...
45939From George Washington to Nathanael Greene, 22 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
Since mine to you of the 19th I have received your letter of the 29th of March, with the Copy of one to Congress of the 30th. The sequel of Cornwallis’s late movements do as much honor to you as discredit to him. He is so far baffled—’Tis deplorable that the composition of your force did not enable you to make it more. The project you had adopted of endeavouring to transfer the War has many...
45940To George Washington from Nathanael Greene, 22 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have inclosed your Excellency a Copy of my Letter to Congress, that you may be enabled to judge of the miserable situation of our affairs. I have the honor to be with due deference and respect Your Excellencys most obedt & most hble ser vt . DLC : Papers of George Washington.
45941From David Humphreys to William Heath, 22 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
It is His Excellency’s pleasure that One of the two Prisoners, belonging to the Massachusetts Line, now under sentence of Death for desertion, should be pardoned. He therefore requests that you will be pleased to Order that One of the two Culprits, whose crime shall appear to you the least aggravated, to be finally pardoned, and released from his confinement. I have the honor to be With the...
45942From George Washington to Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette, 22 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have received your several letters of the 11th 12th two of the 13th and two of the fifteenth. I am extremely concerned at the temper of your detachment and the desertions that are taking place. I imagine however these would have been nearly as great in any other corps that might have been sent, and after the Pensylvania line I think it would have been ineligible to detach any other state...
45943From George Washington to Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette, 22 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
Since writing the inclosed your several letters (acknowledged in my public one of this date) are come to hand—all of them except that of the 12th arrived at Hd Quarters within the course of one hour. The reasons assigned in some of your letters—and others which have occurred to me—chiefly of a political nature—assure me that great advantages will be derived from your being wherever the French...
45944To George Washington from Benjamin Neilly, 22 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
Reports having long prevaild in this Department that Colonel Brodhead was purchasing Land and appropriating Public Money to purposes for which it was not intended; And that he also had allowed a Girl that he kept to take unbecoming Liberties with some of the Officers, which occasioned the Officers to Assemble to consider of these reports; which being done it appeared to be the general Opinion,...
45945To George Washington from Benjamin Neilly, 22 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
Viz. That Colonel Brodhead had suffered Nancy McCally (his Girl) to sell a Table made by the public Artificers, at the same time refusing the Officers necessary furniture for their Barracks. An Intimation that Colo. Brodhead had receivd 60,000 Dollars to Recruit his Regiment, and was wantonly sporting said Money away contrary to that purpose. That Colonel Brodhead had suffered Nancy McCally to...
45946To George Washington from Billy Porter, 22 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
This may Certify Capt. Benjn Warren of 7th Massts Regt. Having domestic Affairs that calls him to leave The service, that I apprehend it more to his injury To continue in service than it will be to the service To have him leave it; & that I know of no public accounts he has unsettled in the regimt would therefore on his solicitation recommend Him for a Discharge from the service. DNA : RG...
45947From George Washington to Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau, 22 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have been honored with your Excellency’s favors of the 15th and 18th instants. I am obliged by the care which you promise to take of my packet for Mr Laurens. Major Tallmadge, who your Excellency will have seen before this reaches you, has been upon Long Island, and there obtained intelligence that the British Fleet had returned to New York. From whence I conclude that the whole are there. I...
45948To George Washington from William Stephens Smith, 22 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
After having recovered from a very severe fever, which attack’d me on my passage from Annapolis to the Head of Elk, and confined me to my bed at the last mentioned place, for ten day’s. I arrived in this City the night before last, rendered very weak by the violence of the disorder tho’ at present recovering fast. When the Marquis received your Excellency’s Orders for his present movement, he...
45949General Orders, 23 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
Major Gibbs having been in the late arrangement of the Army appointed to, and having joined the second Massachusetts Regiment the Commander in Chief takes occasion to express his Approbation of his Conduct while in the command of his Corps of Guards and to return him thanks for his very particular attention to the several Duties incident to that Station. DLC : Papers of George Washington.
45950To George Washington from William Heath, 23 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
The enclosed is this moment put into my hand. While your Excellency is with the army, I think it improper for me to grant warrants impress—I therefore beg leave to submit the necessity of an impress warrant being granted for the purposes within mentioned. The case, most certainly, is very urgent. I have the honor to be With the greatest respect, Your Excellency’s Most obedient servant, DNA :...