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,...
45961To George Washington from Joseph Reed, 24 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
I am desired by the Supreme Executive Council, to transmit to your Excellency, the inclosed Memorial from the Officers of Colonel Proctors Artillery. They importunately press for an answer, but the Council have declined it, untill they could be favoured with your advice and opinion. The Officers have this day intimated that if not redressed they propose to resign we can not approve the...
45962To George Washington from Francisco Rendón, 24 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
Yesterday afternoon Anchored in this River two American schooners from the Havana, from whence they sailed on the 12th Inst. by which I have received Letters from the governor & Captn General of said Place under date of the 10th giving me a Detail of the following Intelligences: That on the 4th January Ultimo, my Masters Arms had re taken the Fort Called San Juan de Nicaragua on the Spanish...
45963To George Washington from Matthias-Alexis, chevalier de La Rochefermoy, 24 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
Jai lhonneur de vous faire Part de mon arrivée avec mon fils qui est dans L’armée de Monsieur Le Compte De larrochambeau, nous Sommes dans Le moment d’attaquer nos ennemis, donnés moy La Satisfaction d’etre à même de pouvoir vous témoigner ainsy qu’au Congré & à ma Patrie, L’occasion en Qualité d’encien officier Général Sous vos ordres de Soutenir & La Gloire de Lamerique & D’un officier Connu...
45964To George Washington from William Shepard, 24 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
I received your Excellencys favor of the 23d Ult. respecting—Mr Collens—and this Department; mark’d well the contence—made preperations immediately to send Collens to the Navy Board, the Night preceeding the Day he were to go he broak goal, made his escape & has not ben heard of since; the Goaler advertised him, & I sent the Crime, Sentence &c. to be Publish’d, for Example. have Receiv’d a...
45965To George Washington from Nathaniel Stevens, 24 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
In Obedience to Your Excellency’s Directions of the 21st Instant, I have requested the Agent of Massachusetts State to furnish us the first and third Weeks in each month with one hundred & forty Beef Cattle to be delivered at this place in two equal Droves the one at the first and the other the Middle of the Weeks, also Ninety head every two weeks from the Agent for Connecticut to be delivered...
45966To George Washington from Heman Swift, 24 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of Your Excellency’s favor of the 16th Inst:, am unable to inform you of the number of Recruits which are at Danbury (if there be any at that place), there are none at the other places of Rendezvous, we have constantly sent them on to Camp as fast as they could be collected, excepting those who have been mustered out, which of late has been near one...
45967To George Washington from Benjamin Tallmadge, 24 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
I had the Honor of writing to Your Excellency on the 20th instt from Fairfield, immediately after which I set out for this Place, where I arrived on the 22d—after Communicating my business to Count Chatellaux, I waited on their Excellencys the Count De Rochambeau & the Chevalr Destouches, with Your Excellency’s Letter. I feel myself under great Obligations to Your Excellency for the very...
45968From George Washington to Daniel Brodhead, 25 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
The information contained in yours of the 27th ulto corresponds with intelligence I rece’d a few days ago, by a good channel, from New York. It is that Colo. Conolly (who you must very well know) is to collect as many refugees as he can at New York and proceed with them as soon as the season will permit to Quebec—That upon his arrival in Canada he is to join Sir John Johnson and that they are...
45969To George Washington from Joseph Carleton, 25 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
The board do themselves the honor to transmit your Excellency, copy of a Letter of the 24th Instant from Mr Udny Hay on the propriety of exchanging a quantity of Salt on the North River for Shad, and to request (should it appear expedient) that your Excellency will be pleased to take such order in the matter, as may be most conducive to the Interest of the United States. I have the Honor to be...
45970From George Washington to George Rogers Clark, 25 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
At the request of His Excellency Govr Jefferson I have already given orders to the Commandant of Fort Pitt to afford you every assistance in his power in the procuration of your intended expedition. I, a few days ago, received a piece of intelligence from New York which it may be material for you to know—It is—that Colo. Conolly who formerly lived upon the Ohio, who was taken in the year 1775...
45971From George Washington to Isaac Craig, 25 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have recd your favr of the 15th—The present State of Colo. procters Regt does not admit of your Company’s being made up to its full complement, but I have, by this conveyance desired Genl St Clair to let you have as many Men as will put you on a level with the others. This is all that can now be done—I have already desired the Board of War to send six artificers to Fort Pitt, you may avail...
45972To George Washington from William Heath, 25 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
Colonel Scammell, returned with me the last evening from Head-Quarters, I find by some expressions, his great desire to serve in the Light Infantry this Campaign, he observed that no Field Officer during the war, had been taken from the New Hampshire Line to serve in that Corps, I sincerely wish if agreable to your Excellency, and it can be effected with out inconvenience, that Colonel...
45973To George Washington from William Heath, 25 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
The Assistant paymaster-general has informed me that 240000 dollars, new emission, is sent to the pay-office by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to pay the troops of their line. The Committee from the army now at Boston lately informed me by letter that they had agreed with the Common-wealth on a complete settlement for the last years pay—and that in case any money arrived at the pay-office,...
45974From George Washington to Hugh Hughes, 25 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
I enclose you a Warrant for impressing of Teams on the present important occasion—but if there is any other means in Your power of forwarding the Provisions, I would not have military coercion made use of—if this is the only alternative now left to prevent the Army from starving, let the measure be carried into execution immediately with the utmost prudence & precaution. I am Sir Your Most...
45975From George Washington to Samuel Huntington, 25 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
Since my letter of the 14th to your Excellency on the subject of an immediate supply of provision for Fort Pitt, I have received the following intelligence, thro’ a good Channel, which makes the measures I then recommended more indespensably necessary—"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...
45976From George Washington to John Carlile, 25 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
You will furnish a prudent discreet officer & 20 Men to impress Teams for the transportation of the salted Provisions at & in the vicinity of Fishkill—The Officer will take directions from Colo. Hughes the Dep. Qr Mastr Genl of the State. I am Sir Your Hble Servt. DLC : Papers of George Washington.
45977To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 25 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
On the 21st inst. I wrote to the leading Justice (Mr Burt) in Warwick relative to the procuring teams to transport the flour from that place to New Windsor: but have received no answer: and am now apprehensive that my application will be fruitless. And the supply on hand (as appears by the commissary’s return this day received) is so trifling, I dare not wait any longer my request for an...
45978From George Washington to Timothy Pickering, 25 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
The supply of flour for the Army must be kept up regularly, And the Means of transportation must be calculated accordingly. Should all other expedients for bringing on the flour from Ringwood, Warwick and the Deposits on the communication from Pennsylvania, prove abortive—Should the Justices refuse to issue Warrants for the impress of Teams—or should their Warrants not be attended with...
45979To George Washington from Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau, 25 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
Major Tallmadge has delivered us the Letter of the 8th instant that your Excellency has favored us with. We have conjointly with him examined the plan of Loed’s neck fort, and he has given us all the intelligences which his zeal and sagacity which he has shewn in several actions, have procured him. By his report, it appears that there are 750. men garrisoned in that itshmus; that the fort is...
45980From George Washington to Arthur St. Clair, 25 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have recd your favors of the 6th and 15th. I am sorry to find from the last, that unavoidable obstacles have been thrown in the way of the march of the 1st division of the line at the time you expected. I can only recommend to you to get them off as soon as possible and in as good temper as possible. It is essential that General Greene should be regularly advised of the motions of those...