46001To George Washington from Jonathan Trumbull, Jr., 27 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
Returng yesterday, from a Journey Eastward as far as Boston on which I had been employed for a Fortnight, I found your Excellencys Letter of the 16th waiting for me, with a Proposal for my joining your Family in Capacity of a Secretary—as your Excellency must e’er this begin to wonder at my Silence, I think it my Duty to make an imediate acknowlegement of the Recipt of your Letter, altho I...
46002To George Washington from Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 27 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have the Honor of your Letter of the 7th instant respecting Camp Equipage for the se of the Troops of this State—I am very sensible of the Importance of this Requisition & shall attend to it with particular Consideration—Our Genl Assembly will meet soon—when your Letter with One from the Q.M. Genl shall be laid before them—& hope Measures will be by then taken to make necessary Preparations...
46003To George Washington from Joseph Carleton, 28 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have the Honor to inclose your Excellency, an Act of this Board of yesterday, respecting the extra rations to be drawn in Kind by the officers of the Army. I have the Honor to be with the highest respect Your Excellencys Most obed. Hble Servt DLC : Papers of George Washington.
46004To George Washington from George Clinton, 28 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
I this Moment received by the bearer Colo. Nicoll Information of the appearance of a Party of the Enemy at the Minisink on the frontier of Orange and Sussex Counties as mentioned in the enclosed Copy of a Letter from Henry Wisner Esqr. of Goshen & an intercepted Letter certified by Saml Westbroeck Esqr. a Magistrate of New Jersey The Levies raised in the Northern Part of Orange County for the...
46005From David Humphreys to William Heath, 28 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
I am directed by His Excellency the Commander in Cheif to inform you that the Troops of the Massachusetts Line may receive four Months Pay. I have the honor to be Your most Obedt Servant DLC : Papers of George Washington.
46006From George Washington to Timothy Pickering, 28 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
The necessity of getting forward what Flour is upon the communication urges me to a measure which I would not wish to adopt could it be avoided. It is, to make use of a part of a sum of Money sent to the pay master General by the State of Massachusetts purposely for the payment of the troops of that line. You will in consequence of this receive a Warrant for 9000 Dollars of the new emission,...
46007To George Washington from Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau, 28 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have the honor to send to your Excellency a Letter which I write to the Ch. de La Luzerne concerning some propositions from Congress for the Supplying the French corps with provisions. This Letter will be followed by Mr De Menonville, first Deputy Adjutant General who shall receive your Excellency’s orders, as he passes thro’ New Windsor, that none of these operations may cross those which...
46008To George Washington from François-Jean de Beauvoir, marquis de Chastellux, 29 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
I take the liberty to recommend to your excellency the colonel Menonville, one of the adjudants general, a gentleman of great learning and capacity, and my peculiar friend for a long time past your excellency is already acquainted with the subject of his errand, by a letter of Count de Rochambeau. I was always convinced that nothing good can be done in this country, but under the direction and...
46009From George Washington to George Clinton, 29 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have received your Excellency’s favor of Yesterday, with the enclosures, by Colo. Nicoll. An order for the Ammunition had been previously given, in consequence of your first application. With respect to provision, of the Meat kind, I confess I am entirely at a loss by what means it can be supplyed to the Troops on the Frontier: the whole dependence of the Army for this Article is upon the...
46010From George Washington to John Flood, 29 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
If Jesse Cole, an Inhabitant of the City of New York, will undertake to communicate with me through the Channel that has been proposed to him, or any other which may be more direct and better—and will give me regular information of the enemys movements—strength—& designs, as far as he can come at them from good information & his own observation, particularly noting their...
46011To George Washington from Horatio Gates, 29 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
The last Letter I had the Honour to write Your Excellency was from Berkeley in Virginia the 15th of January. I wish it was discovered by what Artifice your Dispatches of the 8th of October were detain’d Sixty Four days with Evident Marks of their having been open’d before they reach’d me, as I already mention’d in my last Letter; The Injuries which the Public, as well as myself may have...
46012To George Washington from Udny Hay, 29 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have this moment recd the inclosed letter for Your Excellency respecting the exchange of salt for Fish, and shall immedeately apply for an express to carry it on, a constant expectation of the Arrival of the Commissary General in Town has been the reason why the board has so long delayd ariving to any resolution. If your Excellency should think proper to order the execution of this business...
46013To George Washington from William Heath, 29 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
I am this morning honored with yours of the 27th and Colonel Humphrys’ of the 28th. I shall take immediate measures to ascertain the number of prisoners of war who have been sent on as recruits from the Common wealth of Massachusetts, and write the civil Authority of the Common wealth on the ill policy and dangerous tendency of trusting the fortunes, lives and liberties of these States, to be...
46014To George Washington from Samuel Huntington, 29 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
Your Excellency will recieve enclosed a Resolve of Congress of the 26th Instant, authorizing the quarter Master General to appoint Col. Champlin of Newport a Barrack Master to the French Army agreeable to the Sentiments expressed in your Letter of the 21st Instant. Also a Resolve of the same Date with the above mentioned, affixing the Pay of Captain Lieutenant of Artillery, and of Lieutenants...
46015To George Washington from William Shippen, Jr., 29 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
I beg pardon for delaying so long to return a thousand thanks to your Excellency for your polite & obliging Letter of February 14th. Since I left the public service I flatter myself I have been useful in qualifying young gentlemen for your hospitals & army as well as for private life—I impatiently wait to execute any commands you may still honor me with, & beg your & your good Ladys acceptance...
46016From George Washington to David Waterbury, 29 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
Captains scudder and Dean inform me that you had, from not being acquainted with circumstances, detained a Boat in which they had been over to Long Island. These Gentlemen were employed under my orders at that time and will have occasion to cross the sound every now and then as the business upon which they are engaged may require—You will therefore be pleased to give them up the Boat, and as I...
46017General Orders, 30 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
John Powel a Soldier in the New Hampshire line tried the 27th instant by the Brigade General Court Martial whereof Major Scott was president charged with "repeated Desertion" was found Guilty and sentenced to suffer Death more than two thirds of the Court agreeing. The Commander in Chief approves the Sentence. DLC : Papers of George Washington.
46018To George Washington from James Clinton, 30 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
I was honored with your Excellency’s Favor of the 17th inst. yesterday. I have communicated its Contents to Mr Rensselear, and expect in a few Days to have a satisfactory Account from him. It gives me peculiar Pain to be obliged to fill my Letters with Accounts which I am persuaded must be very disagreeable to you; but a Reguard to my Reputation and a Sense of the Duty I owe to my Country...
46019From Edward Hand to John Cochran, 30 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
His Excellency apprehensive that many of the men returned Sick Absent and in the service of the Hospitals are not now in being or cannot be particularly accounted for, has desired me to request you would furnish him as soon as possible with accurate returns from all the Hospitals under your direction on this side Susquehannah River. specifying the men’s names the Corps they belong to and time...
46020To George Washington from Richard Harrison, 30 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
I had the Honor of writing your Excellency on the 12th ulto & 3d Inst. advising of my purchase of a quantity of Soldiers Cloathing for Accot of the United States & inclosing Invoice for the same—The whole are now shipped and this is only intended to convey you a note of the Vessells in which they went, that your Excellency may know where to apply in case of delay, or want of proper...
46021From George Washington to Samuel Holden Parsons, 30 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have had the pleasure to receive Your Letter of the 20th Inst. and am glad to find by it, that You are in a fair way of recovering Your health again, and that the measures You had taken previous to Your illness have been attended with some degree of success. As soon as the circumstances will possibly admit, I wish the Detachment of Continental Troops at Danbury may be sent back to the Army:...
46022To George Washington from Samuel Holden Parsons, 30 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
The Fever by which I have been confined has left me exceedingly weak, and unable to attend to any business of importance, nor do I expect to recover my strength soon unless a Journey to which I am advised, shall restore me—I hope to be able to join the army by the forepart of June, but have no expectation of being sooner able to do my Duty there—Two severe Fevers in Six months are very...
46023To George Washington from Richard Peters, 30 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
We trust General Cornell will have informed your Excellency of the Measures we have taken from Time to Time on the Subject of Supplies & will have presented to you Copies of the Estimates we have made in which will appear to be included Demands for Articles necessary for the Campaign for all the Corps in the Army. We wish it had been in the Power of Congress to have complied with our Requests;...
46024From George Washington to Timothy Pickering, 30 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
I enclose to you a Letter for Major General Parsons; in which I have mentioned the return of a Detachment of about 80 Continental Troops, now at Danbury, and have suggested their being employed as an Escort to the Provisions to be forwarded from thence. The Commanding Officer will have Orders to afford every possible assistance to facilitate the transportation; and I must desire you will make...
46025From George Washington to Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau, 30 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have had the honor of receiving your Excellency’s and the Chevalier des Touche’s joint letter of the 25th and your own of the 26th. The absence of your light Frigates renders the plan which Major Tallmadge proposed impracticable for the present. We will, however, keep the enterprise in view, and may, perhaps, at some future time, find an opportunity of carrying it into execution with...
46026From George Washington to Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau, 30 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
I assure your Excellency, that I feel extreme pain at the occasion of that part of your letter of the 26th Inst. which relates to an intercepted letter of mine published by the enemy. I am unhappy, that an accident should have put it in their power to give to the world any thing from me, which may contain an implication the least disagreeable to you or to the Chevalier Des-Touches. I assure...
46027To George Washington from Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau, 30 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
Mr De Menonville, first Deputy-Adjutant-General, whom I have announced in my Last to your Excellency, will have the honor of delivering you this Letter. he shall receive your Excellency’s orders and instructions about the Letter of credit of Mr Franklin which We have upon Congress, and about the offers which we have had made to us by Congress for the Supplying with provisions the French corps....
46028From George Washington to Friedrich Wilhelm Ludolf Gerhard Augustin, Baron [von] Steuben, 30 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
It gives me great satisfaction, My Dear Baron, amidst the innumerable sollicitudes and embarrassments, with which I am surrounded, that I can unbosom myself with perfect security, to my confidential friends, and at the same time assure myself of their best advice & assistance in the management of the most delicate matters. At this moment, I will frankly confess to you, I am extremely perplexed...
46029From George Washington to Benjamin Tallmadge, 30 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
Your two favors of the 24th & 25th have been duly received. Fully impressed with the idea of the Utility of early, regular & accurate communications of the kind in contemplation—I shall make no difficulty in acceding to the proposal contained in Your Private Letter from N. Port of the 25th—But at the same time, I am engaging in behalf of the United States, a liberal reward for the services of...
46030From George Washington to Jeremiah Wadsworth, 30 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have been favored with Your Letters of the 19th and 20th Instant. General Beville having made the tour from Rhode Island to Camp, and back again on different routes; and having taken every precaution, to obtain an accurate knowledge of the Country and Roads, will be able to advise and settle with the Commanding Officer of the french Army, which will be the most convenient route for the march...
46031From George Washington to Lund Washington, 30 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 18th came to me by the last Post. I am very sorry to hear of your loss—I am a little sorry to hear of my own—but that which gives most concern, is, that you should go on board the enemys vessels & furnish them with refreshments. It would have been a less painful circumstance to me, to have heard, that in consequence of your non compliance with their request, they had burnt...
46032To George Washington from François-Jean de Beauvoir, marquis de Chastellux, April 1781 (Washington Papers)
I was confined in my bed and very sick when I received the favor of your letter. that letter came on purpose, and proved as an encouragement to get the better of my desease. I did not judge proper to depart with a life so much honoured and endeared to me by your friendship. the respect and attachment that I profess for your excellency are such that they may indeed claim a distinction but, dear...
46033To George Washington from Thomas Arnold, 1 May 1781 (Washington Papers)
At the battle of Monmouth, on the 28th of June 1778, I was so unfortunate as to loose a leg—I was returned, and drew pay in the regiment until the 1st of November 1779—I have since had a transference to the corps of Invalid in Boston by Colonel Greene, and joined it the 1st of June last—Soon afterwards, I returned to Rhode Island and at the particular request of Colonel Greene took a command...
46034From George Washington to Board of War, 1 May 1781 (Washington Papers)
Your favr of the 21st ulto reached me on the 28th—Should there be no Naval Officer of Capt. Willings Rank who has a prior right of exchange, I shall be very glad to see his effected, as he has been peculiarly severely treated by the enemy, but if Lt Colo. Rogers is a continental prisoner of War I cannot consistently permit him to be exchanged for Capt. Willing solely, without making a...
46035From George Washington to Henry Clinton, 1 May 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have been authorised, since my letter of the 16th of April, to revoke the demand, then made, of the return of Lieut. General Burgoyne to America. If letters of recall have not been already transmitted to him, you will be pleased to suspend them: If they have, you will be so obliging as to take the earliest opportunity to countermand them. I have the Honor to be Your Excellencys Most obt and...
46036From George Washington to Elias Dayton, 1 May 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have received the Communications, which you did me the favor to make, in Your Letter of the 20th Ultimo. The knowledge of the present state of the Enemy in New York & its dependencies with regard to the total strength, and the particular disposition of the Corps, is of so great and interesting importance, that I must request you will have the goodness to turn your earliest & strictest...
46037To George Washington from Nathanael Greene, 1 May 1781 (Washington Papers)
My public letters to Congress will inform your Excellency of our situation in this quarter. We fight get beat and fight again. We have so much to do and so little to do it with, that I am much afraid these States must fall never to rise again; and what is more I am perswaded they will lay a train to sap the foundation of all the rest. I am greatly obliged to your Excellency for ordering the...
46038To George Washington from William Heath, 1 May 1781 (Washington Papers)
The enclosed news-paper came to hand the last evening. Major Flagg, who commands on the lines informs me that Mr Pines one of our guides, had been below, where he learnt that it was currently reported the 17th dragoons are to embark, and, it is said, Sir Henry Clinton with them—that Arnold is expected in New York—and is to command on the lines. Our situation at this post grows more alarming on...
46039From George Washington to Samuel Huntington, 1 May 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have been honored with your Excellency’s favors of the 20th and 23d ulto. I shall take as early measures as circumstances will admit for having an enquiry into the conduct of Colo. Brodhead and the Deputy Quarter Master at Fort pitt. Mr Fowlers Charges are so very diffuse, that I shall be obliged to call upon him to specify them more particularly, and I apprehend there will then be a...
46040To George Washington from Samuel Huntington, 1 May 1781 (Washington Papers)
Your Excellency will receive enclosed, a Letter from Mathias Halsted with several other Papers, representing the Misconduct of John Adam Deputy Commissary of Prisoners, which they have thought proper to refer to the Commander in Chief, that due Enquiry may be made respecting the Transactions of this Office, and the Facts complained of & stated in those Papers. I have also enclosed the Copy of...
46041To George Washington from Jonathan Johnson, 1 May 1781 (Washington Papers)
After my best wishes for the good of the service—I have to acquaint your Excellency that Capt. St John of the 2d Connecticut Regt—formerly of the 5th Regt is desirous of a discharge from the service—as he will present his own Resignation for that purpose, I shall offer nothing on the subject further than my duty to him requires—Captn St John has served in the Regt with me this five years past...
46042To George Washington from Joshua Loring, Jr., 1 May 1781 (Washington Papers)
Memorandum for His Excellency the Commander in Chief As We are indebted to the Rebels 300 Privates, and from the best Information I have been able to procure, we have still 1000 Men if not more Prisoners with them, I beg leave to submit it to the Consideration of His Excellency The Commander in Chief, whether it would not be adviseable, to order all the Rebel Privates Prisoners at Charles Town...
46043To George Washington from Richard Peters, 1 May 1781 (Washington Papers)
There has been for some time past an Uneasiness among the Officers of Cavalry entitled to the Rank of Major if that Corps is on the same Footing with the Infantry with respect to Promotion & Number of Officers in the Construction of the 2d Section of the Resolve of the 3d of October 1780. The Point is whether the Words " with the same Number of commissioned Officers as at present " refers to...
46044To George Washington from John St. John, 1 May 1781 (Washington Papers)
Having been ever sensible of the importance of the present struggles between America & Great Britain, and from a full conviction of the Justice of our Cause, I early engaged in the services of my Country with a design never to quit it until a peace was settled upon honorable Terms, but by reason of some unforeseen Events, the Situation of my Family is such as loudly calls upon me to retire to...
46045From George Washington to Abraham Skinner, 1 May 1781 (Washington Papers)
You will be pleased to forward the inclosed to Sir Henry Clinton by the speediest conveyance—As it is to revoke the recall of General Burgoyne you may proceed fully upon the instructions of the 12th of April and endeavour to accomplish the exchange of that Officer upon the terms specified therein. I am &c. DLC : Papers of George Washington.
46046From George Washington to Friedrich Wilhelm Ludolf Gerhard Augustin, Baron [von] Steuben, 1 May 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have received your favor of the 15th. Had it been possible for you to have carried your plan of marching suddenly into North Carolina into execution it would most probably have occasioned the ruin of Lord Cornwallis—But this is one of the thousand instances which daily shew the evils resulting from feeding and paying troops which can only be used for local purposes. The arms which Capt. la...
46047To George Washington from Nathaniel Stevens, 1 May 1781 (Washington Papers)
I would inform Your Excellency that I have employed Judge Wynkoop of Esopus and Mr Merrell of New Windsor to procure Six or Seven hundred Barrels of Shad for the Army, who are not to give more than three Pecks of Salt for two hundred and twenty pounds of cleaned Fish. I inclose my weekly Return, and have the Honor to be with due Respect, Your Excellency’s most obedient servant, DLC : Papers of...
46048General Orders, 2 May 1781 (Washington Papers)
At a General Court Martial held at Westpoint the 24th April and continued by adjournments ‘till the 1st instant—Major Graham president. Ensign Murdoch McPherson of Colonel Hazen’s regiment, was tried, charged with "Neglect of duty in leaving the guard under his command (having Prisoners in charge) on his way to Easton, at which time a number made their escape. " The Court on consideration are...
46049To George Washington from Pierre François, chevalier de Béville, 2 May 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have the honour to inform you of my arrival yesterday at Middle-town through Danbury. this Road from King’s ferry to Middle town is much better than that through lin field and deserves to be preferred though there is neither hay or straw to be found in both roads. I Intend tomorrow to take notice of that from middle-town to Colchester which I am already informed of is very bad; but in case I...
46050From Edward Hand to Elias Dayton, 2 May 1781 (Washington Papers)
I did myself the pleasure of writing to you the 28th of March last importing his Excellency’s surprize that the Jersey Brigade had not made returns to the orderly Office since the late arrangement took place in the army and desiring that you might be punctual in sending a Monthly state of the Line to the orderly Office so as to reach it by the last Saturday in every Month, yet no return has...