1To George Washington from Major Henry Lee, Jr., 23 November 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have the honor of your Excellency’s letr of the 21st instt. I assure you sir, the subject matter of it being entirely new to me, afforded much surprize. Mr Washington having unfortunately lost his charger, I supplyed him with one belonging to the Corps. This horse is very elegant, and still in his service. I have since communicated your Excellencys letr, and am informed, that the request is...
2To George Washington from Henry Lee, Jr., 22 May 1799 (Washington Papers)
I have waited here two weeks cheifly to try to finish my engagement with you—But all my endeavors are vain—I shall never recede from my exertions till I do accomplish the end, for no event of my life has given me more anguish. I would if you consider yr sale injurious rather relinquish the contract & give up the payments made, than to be the instrument of damage to you—The loss of money I am...
3To George Washington from Captain Henry Lee, Jr., 18 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
Col. Hellum of the militia, now a prisoner in Philada, in a memorandum of intelligence sent me this day, says, that an officer of the Anspachers engages to bring off three hundred of that corps, provided the command can be ensured him. He also mentions, that there are several persons throughout the country contracting for horses for the use of the Philada, light dragoons now raising. There are...
4To George Washington from Henry Lee, Jr., 25 December 1785 (Washington Papers)
The shallop I ordered your nuts and trees by, has arrived here and brought up one package—there will be another by another vessel. The apple is the Medley russitan, the pear is known among us by the Name of the Chantilly pear, and the cherry is coronation—all excellent in quality and merit good ground and proper exposure to the south. I hope Mrs Lee will be able to set out on thursday. We...
5To George Washington from Major Henry Lee, Jr., 11 June 1780 (Washington Papers)
On receipt of your Excellency’s letter directing the cavalry to halt, the corps were billeted in the vicinity of chester-town. Your lettr of the 8th inst. reached us on the 9th in the afternoon —The troops moved at three oclock, & arrived here this morning. We mean to halt & refresh for a few hours & then pursue our route to springfield—Your Excellency will please to favor me with your orders...
6To George Washington from Major Henry Lee, Jr., 25 July 1780 (Washington Papers)
Admiral Arbuthnot after many maneuvres off & on, has at length moved with his fleet towards Rhode-island & Sir Henry Clinton is preparing to push up the sound with an army. I have reced your Excllys let. of the 24th. I shall arrange matters here, & commit the execution of them to Cap. Rudulph, & pursue my route to Easton. I hope my orders may meet me there, as I wish to expedite the business,...
7To George Washington from Henry Lee, Jr., 11 November 1786 (Washington Papers)
I have your letter of the 31st octr besides the pleasure we all feel in knowing the health of Mount Vernon I am delighted and edified by your sentiments—This moment Genl Knox & Mr King left me having perused the part of your letr which respects the Insurgents—They expressed the highest satisfaction in finding that your retirement had not abated your affectionate zeal for the prosperity of...
8To George Washington from Major Henry Lee, Jr., 5 June 1779 (Washington Papers)
Being disappointed in not meeting with your Excellencys instructions which by a letter from Col. Meade was to have been lodged at General Green’s I have moved forward to this place, & intend to prosecute the route towards Paramus. I am happy to advise your Excellency, that the horses are in true order for service, but must lament, that no measures have been taken by the Commissary General of...
9To George Washington from Henry Lee, Jr., 12 March 1785 (Washington Papers)
Apprehending the escape of the season before your vessel may arrive, I have got the favor of Mr Hall to permit his servant to call at Mount-Vernon. He has twelve horse chesnut, twelve box-cuttings & twelve dwarf box-cuttings—you may have any supply of either box, you please to order—I can supply you also with cypress & holly which can be ready at the shortest notice—Perhaps we may have some...
10To George Washington from Major Henry Lee, Jr., 14 December 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have the honor of your Excellency’s letr accompanied with your two horses. I will have very great care taken with the foundered horse and will endeavor to procure in exchange for him during the winter a mare suitable to your purposes. It is matter of doubt with me, whether the old troop mare has not been spayed. This matter I can ascertain when I arrive at Burlington, as she came from the...
11To George Washington from Henry Lee, Jr., 21 Sept. 1779 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found : from Henry Lee, Jr., 21 Sept. 1779. On 25 Sept., GW wrote Lee: “I was yesterday favd with yours of the 21st.”
12To George Washington from Major Henry Lee, Jr., 18 July 1780 (Washington Papers)
I addressed your Excellency yesterday advising of Admiral Greaves arrival. I omitted mentioning a report prevalent here from the enemy, viz. that Monsieur Ternay had fallen in with the British squadron, had sunk one seventy four & had taken one sixty four—This is said to have happened off Cape Henrey. I transmit a very exact list of the British fleet. They have received 3000 marines from N....
13To George Washington from Maj. Henry Lee, Jr., 4 July 1779 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found : from Maj. Henry Lee, Jr., 4 July 1779. GW wrote Lee on 5 July: “Your letter of yesterday I recd this day.”
14To George Washington from Major Henry Lee, Jr., 29 December 1779 (Washington Papers)
Yesterday I informed Congress of the sailing of the second fleet —I now do myself the honor to advise your Excellency, that one hundd sail with horse & foot on board under convoy of five ships of the line & two frigates, left sandy hook on the evening of the 26th Yesterdays storm must have injured them exceedingly, as they had got but a little distance from the coast —It is reported that the...
15To George Washington from Maj. Henry Lee, Jr., 28 July 1779 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found : from Maj. Henry Lee, Jr., 28 July. GW’s aide-de-camp Richard Kidder Meade wrote Lee from West Point on that date: “By his Excys desire I wrote to you this morning requesting your attendance here on the very subject mentioned in yr letter of this date—He still requests you will come on after making the necessary inquireys in order that the scheme you propose may be adopted” (...
16To George Washington from Major Henry Lee, Jr., 22 July 1779 (Washington Papers)
Four deserters from the army encampped opposite Dobbs ferry, who left camp yesterday noon, & arrived here this moment, mention the embarkation of the British forces. They belonged to Lord Rodans [Rawdon’s] Corps, the orders for embarkation were not general, as that Corps was not included. They say it was rumoured among the troops that Baltimore is the place of destination. They report that...
17To George Washington from Henry Lee, Jr., 7 August 1786 (Washington Papers)
I had the pleasure of hearing from you last week, and have complied with your wishes respecting the china. No conveyance at present offers for Alexandria, but every day presents one to norfolk, from which place the correspondance up your river is frequent. I intend unless I should meet with a vessel for potomac, to send the box to Col. Parker naval officer at norfolk, and ask his special...
18To George Washington from Major Henry Lee, Jr., 5 January 1780 (Washington Papers)
I have the honor of your Excellency’s letr of the 28th, in which you are pleased to say that your objects in quartering the two Corps in monmouth county are “the covering the country & preventing the intercourse with the enemy.” Col. Armand is in Philada therefore it is not in my power to deliver any joint determination. It is not worth while to trouble your Excellency with an enumeration of...
19To George Washington from Maj. Henry Lee, Jr., 17 June 1779 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found : from Maj. Henry Lee, Jr., 17 June 1779. GW wrote Lee on 21 June: “While I was at West point I recd your favors of the 15th & 17th.”
20To George Washington from Major Henry Lee, Jr., 16 October 1780 (Washington Papers)
I waited on Col. Dey yesterday, but received no information favorable to the business you was pleased to charge me with. On my return last evening The Marquis mentioned to me the same matter as very eligible, & Col. Hamilton made some enquiry on the same subject. I communicate this to your Excellency, least a mention of it by those gentleman to you may alarm you, on the score of secrecy. Be...
21To George Washington from Major Henry Lee, Jr., 22 August 1779 (Washington Papers)
Lord Stirling was pleased to communicate to your Excellency my verbal Report to his Lordship of the 19th instant. I now do myself the honor to present a particular relation of the Enterprize which your Excellency was pleased to commit to my direction. I took command of the troops employed on this occasion on the 18th They amounted to four hundred Infantry composed of detachments from the...
22To George Washington from Major Henry Lee, Jr., 22 August 1780 (Washington Papers)
My Corps reached Slotterdam yesterday evening, where they halt this day. In the mean time I have hurried to Camp to receive your Excellencys orders for the disposal of them, on their arrival here. I gave orders to Capt. Rudulph to deliver Mr Andersons horse to him. The horse is gelded & Mr Anderson refuses him. When I left Monmouth, I directed Capt. Rudulph to be under the guidance of Gen....
23To George Washington from Maj. Henry Lee, Jr., 8 July 1779 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found : from Maj. Henry Lee, Jr., 8 July 1779. GW wrote Lee on 9 July: “I have received your letter of yesterday & thank you for the intelligence you communicated.”
24To George Washington from Major Henry Lee, Jr., 5 September 1780 (Washington Papers)
I have the honor of your Excellency’s letr of the 3d inst. transcribing a complaint exhibited by the Cheif Justice of this state against three officers of my corps. the following is the exact state of the matter. When orderd to Monmouth, I posted a party of horse in the vicinity of Brunswic for the speedy communication of intelligence. the inhabitants on whom they were quartered, being people...
25To George Washington from Henry Lee, Jr., 28 September 1798 (Washington Papers)
I have at length got to this place & will do myself the pleasure to call at Mt Vernon on my return home. In the mean time I shd be happy to hear whether you accede to my proposition when last with you of taking good property for the whole debt due to you. I have houses & lots in the fœderal city: well situated & which to close our business I would part with even at this present dull period,...
26To George Washington from Major Henry Lee, Jr., 13 October 1780 (Washington Papers)
I have made it my business to see the person who was Capt. Browns guide. From a minute examination of him I am confident that Gen. St Clair was named to deceive, that Capt. Brown did not see or hear from Gen. St Clair, & that Capt. Brown passed himself on his conductor as a person engaged in our service, altho’ his object was to communicate with some gentleman of consequence among us—I am apt...
27To George Washington from Major Henry Lee, Jr., 17 January 1780 (Washington Papers)
My last letter to your Excellency was antedated by one day, so that the business of collecting supplys for the army commenced sooner than then reported. I found the countys to which I was sent very patriotic, & the magistrates anxious to give every aid to the army. Salem has fully complied with the demand from her. one hundd & seventy head of good cattle & twenty barrels of flower are on the...
28To George Washington from Major Henry Lee, Jr., 30 June 1780 (Washington Papers)
I examined the country directed by your Excellency yesterday. I find a position most convenient for an army on the road by Captain Marsailles to Col. Dey’s. Having passed Marsailles house one mile, you arrive at the junction of the Paramus & Dey’s road. Here commences the position I allude to, & continues along Deys road. a very copious branch of water runs close to the camp in front—smaller...
29To George Washington from Major Henry Lee, Jr., 30 November 1779 (Washington Papers)
Since my last I have received no material intelligence from New York. I transmit herewith an accurate memorandum of the enemys navy on this station. The troops are billeted on the inhabitants: it seems as if Gen. Clinton was waiting for the arrival of a packet before he takes any measures for the ensuing campaign or some obstructions are in the way, of which we are unadvised. Two Fleets of...
30To George Washington from Captain Henry Lee, Jr., 21 February 1778 (Washington Papers)
This country does not answer our excpectation with respect to waggons. Consequently the conveyance of the salt provision &c. collected at this place will not be so expidetious as could be wished. A drove of cattle from seventy to an hundred head, will set out tomorrow from Middletown. We do business very regularly visiting in our route each & every farm, & taking with us every article...
31From George Washington to Capt. Henry Lee, 3 November 1777 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: to Capt. Henry Lee, Jr., c.3 Nov. 1777. Lee’s letter to GW of 3 Nov. is docketed in part “Ansd.”
32To George Washington from Captain Henry Lee, Jr., 20 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
I am to inform your Excellency of an action, which happened this morning, between a party of the enemy’s dragoons, & my troop of horse. They were near two hundd in number, & by a very circuitous route endeavoured to surprize me, in quarters. About day break, they appeared, we were immediately alarm’d, & manned the doors & windows. The contest was very warm; the British dragoons trusting to...
33To George Washington from Henry Lee, Jr., 2 March 1786 (Washington Papers)
I did myself the honor to write to you some days past: since which an Arabian stud horse has arrived in this City & has been announced in the gazettes a present to you, from his Catholic Majesty. I consider it not improper to inform you that the printers have mistaken the matter, the horse being sent to Mr Jay. Our fœderal distresses gather fast to a point. New Jersey has refused the...
34To George Washington from Henry Lee, Jr., 9 Aug. 1779 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found : from Henry Lee, Jr., 9 Aug. 1779. On 10 Aug., GW wrote Lee: “I have received your letter of yesterday.”
35To George Washington from Major Henry Lee, Jr., 26 January 1780 (Washington Papers)
I do myself the honor to enclose a letter from Captain McLane. The transmission of his request throws me into an awkward situation. I beg your Excellency will be pleased to favor me with your answer as I wish to set out directly for Virginia. I have never yet thanked your Excellency for the affectionate remind of a debt due: I have got a mare for you which I mean to deliver to Mr Lunn...
36To George Washington from Captain Henry Lee, Jr., 16 March 1778 (Washington Papers)
Enclosed are some letrs received this morning pr dragoon from Wilmington. By intelligence from Philada we learn that a large fleet sailed from thence on friday last; they had with them a number of flat-bottomed boats. My intelligencer did not know the design of this expidition. Conjectures in the city were various. Some insinuated that Wilmington was the object; others, that they were gone on...
37To George Washington from Henry Lee, Jr., 12 May 1799 (Washington Papers)
I found yr letter by Mr Anderson last evening at my lodgings & took the earliest opportunity of conversing with Mr Page on its contents Mr Page says that on his first conversation with Mr Harrison he rated his property at five pounds pr acre, but that on a subsequent meeting he fell to 50/ pr acre, for which price he could have purchased the land. He offered 45/ & proposed renewing the...
38To George Washington from Henry Lee, Jr., 17 October 1786 (Washington Papers)
In my last letter I detailed the eastern commotions and communicated my apprehensions of their objects & issue. G. Knox has just returned from thence and his report grounded on his own knowledge is replete with melancholy information—a majority of the people of Massachusetts are in opposition to the government, some of their leaders avow the subversion of it to be their object together with...
39To George Washington from Henry Lee, Jr., 27 August 1797 (Washington Papers)
I have not time to pay my respects as I intended, in as much as I cannot leave town this evening & my long absence from home forbids my loosing another day. My demands on Philadelphia unless the yellow fever interrupts the Philadelphians will be settled in Septr. I then shall have some of Wilsons money, on which fund I counted when I bought yr land. I now enclose a negotiable note for 1000 Ds....
40To George Washington from Major Henry Lee, Jr., 15 August 1780 (Washington Papers)
I have returned from the business committed to my direction by your Excellency, & am so far on my route to join the army. Captain McLane with his Infantry has come up. The fatigue of the troops has induced me to halt for a few days to refresh them. your Excellency will please to direct whether this halt shall be long or short. I have the honor to be with perfect respect your Excellys most ob....
41To George Washington from Major Henry Lee, Jr., 21 July 1779 (Washington Papers)
The enemy again landed this morning on Stoney-point. I conjecture this debarkation to be serious: as their baggage tents &c. are also on shore. General Stirling’s brigade compose the present garrison; the General commands. The few wounded men left behind the other day, I have taken the liberty to send on board ship. They are received on the same terms & are to be conside[red] in the same point...
42To George Washington from Henry Lee, Jr., 16 February 1786 (Washington Papers)
You desired to hear from me now and then, when I left Virginia. I obey your wishes with pleasure, & must assure you, that I continue to feel the same unabating zeal to administer to your happiness, which my public duty formerly commanded from me. I wish that my communications may be always agreable; I apprehend your solicitude for the honor & prosperity of a nation formed under your auspices...
43To George Washington from Captain Henry Lee, Jr., 4 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
Agreeable to your Excellency’s direction I have informed myself minutely with the country in the vicinity of Radnor-meeting-house. To effect the object of your Excellency’s wishes, vizt security to the camp: I conceive it absolutely necessary to establish two posts of horse. The one to appertain to the picquet, & patrole one mile, more or less, in advance of the advanced centinel. The other to...
44To George Washington from Henry Lee, Jr., 3 Oct. 1779 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found : from Henry Lee, Jr., 3 Oct. 1779. On 7 Oct., GW wrote Lee: “Your favor of the 3d inst. came to hand yesterday.”
45To George Washington from Maj. Henry Lee, Jr., 27 June 1779 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found : from Maj. Henry Lee, Jr., 27 June 1779. GW wrote Lee on 28 June: “I have rec’d your letter dated yesterday.”
46To George Washington from Captain Henry Lee, Jr., 19 February 1778 (Washington Papers)
In pursuance of your Excellencys instructions I waited on Gen. Smallwood. I received from him every aid, he was able to afford. From enquiry, I found that the country between Christiana-bridge & duck creek abounded in good teams. I immediately furnished myself with a list of the several hundreds that make up the township or county of Newcastle. Into every hundred I detached partys of horse...
47To George Washington from Henry Lee, Jr., 21 April 1786 (Washington Papers)
Your very polite reply to my two letters reached me a few days past. It is impossible for my mind so thoroughly impressed with testimonials of your friendship, when that friendship operated both to my honor and happiness to ascribe any act of yours in which I am interested to disregard or neglect. My cheif object in my correspondence with you, was to manifest the unabated respect which...
48To George Washington from Major Henry Lee, Jr., 28 June 1780 (Washington Papers)
I wrote your Excellency this morning. Since which I have acquired more explicit knowledge of the enemy’s situation in Bergen Woods. They certainly may be expelled the country. Perhaps they may be made prisoners. It would give peace to the inhabitants for twenty Miles around & very much assist agriculture. Scarce a night passes but ten or twelve horses are stolen. Another good consequence would...
49To George Washington from Captain Henry Lee, Jr., 9 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
In compliance with your Excellency’s orders received by Lieutenant Lindsay, I have been engaged in acquainting myself with the roads which communicate with the left of the army. Being a stranger in that quarter, it has taken some time to be informed accurately, which is the occasion of this late report. Near the ten mile stone, below the Buck-tavern, the gulph mill road takes out from the...
50To George Washington from Major Henry Lee, Jr., 19 June 1780 (Washington Papers)
I have had variety of intelligence from the enemy this day—none very pointed or material—But it is of such a tenor, that I am firmly of opinion you will hear of Genl Clintons being before West point in less than 48 hours. Be pleased to excuse this laconic note, it proceeds from the anxiety I feel—I will be more full tomorrow If requisite—this wind is very fair. I am very affcy your Exclys h:...