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 :...
45951To George Washington from Samuel Huntington, 23 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have been honored with your Excellency’s Letters of the 16th & 18th Instant. Your Excellency will observe by the enclosed Resolve of this Day, that it is the Sense of Congress on receiving the Information contained in your Letter of the 16th of the Proposals you have made respecting the Exchange of General Burgoyne, that you be authorized to proceed in perfecting the Exchange if you shall...
45952To George Washington from Thomas Jefferson, 23 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
On the 18th instant the enemy came from Portsmouth up James river in considerable force, tho’ their numbers precisely are not yet known to us. they landed at Burwells ferry below Williamsburg & near the mouth of Chickahominy above it. this latter circumstance obliged Colo. Innes who commanded a body of Militia stationed on that side the river to cover the country from depredation, to retire...
45953To George Washington from Henry Knox, 23 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
Mr Ruddock, Deputy Commissary of Military Stores, at Fishkill, has handed me an order from the board of war, for discontinuing the post at Fishkill, so far as it relates to the department of the Commissary General of Military Stores, dismissing the said Mr Ruddock and all the Officers under him, and ordering all the military stores in his possession to be delivered to the D.Q. Master of the...
45954To George Washington from Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette, 23 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
Great Happiness is derived from friendship, and I do particularly Experience it in the Attachement which Unites Me to You. But friendship Has its duties, and the Man that Likes you the Best will Be the forwardest in Letting you know Every thing where You Can Be Concerned. When the Ennemy Came to your House Many Negroes deserted to them. This piece of News did not affect me much as I little...
45955From George Washington to Robert R. Livingston, 23 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have to acknowledge, & thank you for your favor of the 16th which covered a Letter from the Marqs de la Fayette dated the 30th of Jany. That letter does not contain any News of considerable moment relative to public affairs—Altho’ the Marquis does not pretend to speak of the plan of the Campaign; his sentiments in general appear to be—That Britain will make a desperate effort to prosecute...
45956To George Washington from Peregrine Fitzhugh, 24 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
My Father will have the honor to acknowledge by this conveyance the favor of your letter of the 24th Ulto & to return his thanks with which mine are tendered for the signal mark of your Excellency’s Friendship notified thro’ a paragraph of it, an additional one to the many I have experienced and shall ever retain a proper sense of. Having been led to believe (tho’ only from report) that Genl...
45957To George Washington from Ebenezer Hazard, 24 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have received Information by Letters from Philadelphia that another of our Mails has fallen into the Hands of the Enemy; this is a distressing addition to our late misfortunes of that Kind, though from the Circumstance of your Excellency’s having recommended the Road through the Clove as the most eligible, and the universally good Character of the Rider, there can be no Suspicion of either...
45958From George Washington to Hugh Hughes, 24 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
It having been represented to me that the Quarter Master at Fishkill hath neither public or private Teams for the transportation of the salted Provisions now at & in the neighbourhood of that Place to the Army, & that he hath applied in vain to the Justices of that District for impress Warrants. And it being absolutely necessary in Order to prevent the greatest calamities & distresses that the...
45959To George Washington from Fielding Lewis, Sr., 24 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
My bad state of health has confined me within doors ever since last October and at times reduced very low I am something better this week past and am yet hopefull that good weather and exercise may give me some relief; the old Lady has been very ill, is now out of danger and will soon be able to leave her room, my family are well, Betsy will shortly enter into the marriage State with Mr Chas...
45960From David Humphreys to Timothy Pickering, 24 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
I am commanded by His Excellency to forward the enclosed Letters from Genl Heath and Major Reese, and to inform you, that he is utterly averse to a military impress, except on great occasions, and when no other expedients can be devised to answer the end proposed. Because he apprehends it may tends to irritate the minds and alienate the affections of the well disposed people from the Army,...