11To George Washington from Brigadier General William Maxwell, 25 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
Agreeable to Your Excellencys request of last night that I should give my opinion this morning in writing concerning the making an attact on Philidelphia immediately. I am not for attacting it at present and will proceed to give some reasons why I would not Viz. It is but a few days ago; before Generals Green & Huntington crossed the Dellaware that we determined in a full council that an...
12To George Washington from Brigadier General William Maxwell, 1 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
Agreeable to Your Excellencys request of last evening, that we should give our opinion concerning the most eligible place for Quartering or incamping the Troops during the winter. As much has been said on the Subject of Quartering in different places some with a view of covering the Country, & others for recovering, recruiting, and gathering the Troops together for another Campaign and to ly...
13To George Washington from Brigadier General William Maxwell, 4 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
Your Excellencys Favour of yesterday I received concerning the Adviseability of a winter Campaign, and the practicability of an attack upon Philada with the Aid of a considerable body of Militia asembled at an apointed time and place. I do ashure Your Excellency I think the object a verry desireable one could it be put properly into execution and without tacking a winter Campaign to it, which...
14To George Washington from Brigadier General William Maxwell, 9 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
The Enemy having returned ingloriously and the season far advanced makes it necessary that the Troops should be fixed to some place for the Winter. I have now thought proper to mention to Your Excellency, a subject that I once tuched on before, which was, that it was absolutely necessary to relieve the Jersey Militia from their constant duty, by Continental Troops to enable them to fill up...
15To George Washington from Brigadier General William Maxwell, 25 April 1778 (Washington Papers)
Your Excellency Questions for consideration—handed to the Generals dated the 20th Inst. I have carefully considered. The first General plan of operation proposed, Viz. the recovery of Philadelphia, in my opinion is the most eligible and promises the most permanent success, I would recommend at first to begin with Blockadeing the City, till Billings Port and some other places in the Jersey was...
16To George Washington from Brigadier General William Maxwell, 11 May 1778 (Washington Papers)
I am now at the Cross roads refreshing the Men Major Haws sent me a light horse by way of crooked Billet that he was near there on his way to joyn me with the Cannon and Provisions I have heard nothing certain from Trenton or Bordenton to day but some flying reports that the Enemy was gone back when I get farther Inteligen[c]e I will inform you and am your Excellencys most obedient Humble...
17To George Washington from Brigadier General William Maxwell, 13 May 1778 (Washington Papers)
Letter not found : from Brig. Gen. William Maxwell, 13 May 1778. On 13 May, Tench Tilghman wrote Maxwell for GW: “His Excellency commands me to acknowledge the Rect of yours of this date” (see GW to Maxwell, 7 May, n.1 ).
18To George Washington from Brigadier General William Maxwell, 28 May 1778 (Washington Papers)
I arived at this place last evening, as did General Dickesons Artillery the others I left with Coll Dayton who was to stop at Penny Town last night to draw provisions; we had a wet morning of it, and wet the night before. When the Troops comes here I intend to halt them for the Remr of the day to draw more Provisions rest them selves and clean their Arms. I have had some talk with General...
19To George Washington from Brigadier General William Maxwell, 1 June 1778 (Washington Papers)
I inclose to your Excellency a Letter from Coll Shrieve which contains all the Inteligence we have in these parts. I inclose the whole to General Dickeson who I make no doubt will forward it immediate to you. One of my Pickets took up James Burnett with the Inclosed pass he says he belongs to the 12th Virginia Regt and I thought it improper to let him pass & go on board a Privateer I will send...
20To George Washington from Brigadier General William Maxwell, 5–7 June 1778 (Washington Papers)
I imbrace this opertunity to writ to Your Excellency by Major Conway who goes to Camp for sundrys the 4 Regts are in much want of. I have no intiligence from the Enemy that will alter what I sent by way of General Dickeson. They are lying verry still at Coopers Ferry and as far as Coopers creek & bridges where they keep a guard or centrys, in short they give us no opertunity to pick any of...
21To George Washington from Brigadier General William Maxwell, 14 June 1778 (Washington Papers)
I take this oportunity by a Man of Coll Huggs that is going to Head Quarters to Inform your Excellency of any thing worthy of notice on this side. The Enemy is dayly giving out they are coming through the Jersey, by the best accounts they have 300 & odd two Horse waggons & above 100 four Horse waggons on this side at Coopers Ferry and they were Impressing Negros & others for drivers some days...
22To George Washington from Brigadier General William Maxwell, 24 June 1778 (Washington Papers)
I Received a Message from General Dickenson last night to return to Trenton again that the Enemy was in force in the other side of the Drawbridge and attempted to lay it but He had beat them off I could not go then as my People had been Marching all day with out Provisions besides I informed him I thought it was a faint of the Enemy & I would wait his further Intiligence of this Morning which...
23To George Washington from Brigadier General William Maxwell, 25 June 1778 (Washington Papers)
My Troops is all got into Quarters and I have Just now received a letter from Major Bloomfield of my Brigade who I sent to bring me crtain Intiligence Viz. he says he was at Mr Edwd Taylors in upper Freehold he dates at 7 P.M. He was within ¼ of a mile of their light Horse they on one hill and he on another the Enemy had Pitched their Tents at his first going there he now ashures me that they...
24To George Washington from Brigadier General William Maxwell, 1 July 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have the pleasure to Inform your Excellency that the Letter which accompanys this was delivered a little way below this place a few minutes ago, by a Capt. Murray one of General Clintons Ade D. Camps, I was surprised that he was not stoped sooner but the Militia did not know Your Excellencys former Orders I suppose and I suppose they purposely eluded Coll Morgan. He delivered General...
25To George Washington from Brigadier General William Maxwell, 5 July 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have to Inform your Excellency that the main body of the Enemy lyeth about 3 miles below middleton on a chain of Heights, that reaches from the bay to Shrewsberry River, which is verry narrow and not come[–]at[–]able. By several accounts they have been busy embarkquing since the night before last, (that is their Baggage only & possably some of their Artillery[)]. We have no certainty of any...
26To George Washington from Brigadier General William Maxwell, 26 July 1778 (Washington Papers)
I take this opertunity by Mr Furman to in form Your Excellency of what I know respecting the Enemy. Viz. the night before last a Deserter came in from the Island to Amboy seem’d to be verry intiligent; says, he is shure that the 5th Regt—10th 15th 27th 40th 55th Regts lyeth on Statten Island, besides some of the new Leveys; that the 15th came there the day before he Deserted. There is two...
27To George Washington from Brigadier General William Maxwell, 2 August 1778 (Washington Papers)
Letter not found : from Brig.Gen.William Maxwell, 2 Aug. 1778. On 4 Aug., GW wrote Maxwell : “I was last Night favd with yours of the 2d with a York paper.”
28To George Washington from Brigadier General William Maxwell, 7 August 1778 (Washington Papers)
Letter not found : from Brig. Gen. William Maxwell, 7 Aug. 1778. On 8 Aug., GW wrote Vice Admiral d’Estaing : “I have just received a letter from Brigadier General Maxwell … dated yesterday at nine oClock in the forenoon”; GW also wrote Maxwell on 8 Aug. : “I just now rec’d your favor of yesterday.” For quotations from Maxwell’s letter, see GW to John Laurens, 8 August .
29To George Washington from Brigadier General William Maxwell, 18 August 1778 (Washington Papers)
Letter not found : from Brig. Gen. William Maxwell, c.18 Aug. 1778. On 21 Aug., GW wrote Maj. Gen. Nathanael Greene : “By a Letter which I received yesterday from Genl Maxwell, inclosing one from Major Howell … it appears certain, that Sixteen of Lord Howes fleet entered the Hook on the 17th.” GW’s other correspondence with Maxwell around this time suggests that the travel time for letters...
30To George Washington from Brigadier General William Maxwell, 22 August 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have little to inform your Excellency of but even that will be more agreeable to you, I emajin than not to hear from us at all. I have intiligence almost dayly from the likelyest places for news. The Troops lyeth mostly as they did when I wrote you of the partys going to Cow neck which is still confirmed, & that a party had gone to Joyn Governor Tryon on the East of the Island. besides the...
31To George Washington from Brigadier General William Maxwell, 26 August 1778 (Washington Papers)
Your Excellency may depend on the following; as I have it from a Gentle Man of Varacity that came from Long Island yesterday Viz. Lord How went the day before yesterday off Barren Island out of the Hook and that day 4 Regts went down Long Island one of them Turnbuls, new levys, they said they were going on board of the Fleet to act as Marines but an express follow’d them that night, and they...
32To George Washington from Brigadier General William Maxwell, 27 August 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have the pleasure to Inclose to Your Excellency Major Howels Journal. I have it confirmed by another channel that the 7 Vessels of the Cork Fleet is arived, the day before yesterday; and that Lord How Sailed with his Fleet the same day to the Eastward; this is all I have at present only that I have Just got another Packet from the Commissioners to Congress and sent it on —I am Your...
33To George Washington from Brigadier General William Maxwell, 28 August 1778 (Washington Papers)
I forwarded to your Excellency yesterday a Journal from Major Howel with an Acct of Lord Hows being saild to the East Ward, 6 or 7 of the Cork Fleet having arived in the Hook &Ca which is all confirmed; it is likewise confirmed that the 4 Regts returned that was going on board the Fleet. Genl Clinton is on long Islan, it is said with 8000 Men but one half is most likely as I have both...
34To George Washington from Brigadier General William Maxwell, 31 August 1778 (Washington Papers)
Coll D’Hart having some bussiness to transact at Camp, he has obtained my leave for that purpose. I have had intiligen[c]e from New York though not d[i]rectly or by so good authority as I could wish, yet it is believed & I believe it, that a part of Birons Fleet has arived about 3 days ago Viz. five large Ships, that the Officers has been seen and spoke with in New York. I have attempted to...
35To George Washington from Brigadier General William Maxwell, 12 September 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have some thing to lay before your Excellency which is far from being agreeable and I do ashure you that I have done every thing in my power to prevent it, unless I had put your orders to me into publick Orders here. I have herewith sen you the proceedings of a General Court Martial where two Capts. is tryed for disobedience of Orders. I think the Evidence is quite full especialy agains Capn...
36To George Washington from Brigadier General William Maxwell, 14 September 1778 (Washington Papers)
I believe I can inform you Excellency that Lord How is returned to New york with the whole or greatest part of his Fleet. This I had last night from N.Y. and to day confirmed by Major Howel so far that 29 Sail went in. The Brest Fleet is much talked of but no one knows where it is. It is said that with Genl Clinton came Lord Cornwalles & Sir Wm Arskin but that the Troops they took with them...
37To George Washington from Brigadier General William Maxwell, 15 September 1778 (Washington Papers)
I inclose to Your Excellency by Coll Balor three Letters from England that may amuse You a little some of which has not gone through the Enemys hands—if Your Excellency will please to return them to me I will send them to the owners Every intiligen[c]e seems to confirm that ten Regts is ordered to the West Indias and is supposed to sail sho[r]tly I have likewise incllosed to Your Excellency...
38To George Washington from Brigadier General William Maxwell, 17 September 1778 (Washington Papers)
This will Accompany to Your Excellency a Packet brought from England by the same Hand that brought Mrs Rights & the other letter I sent You. I thought to have sent some person over last night, but the Storm was so high it was impossable I had 9 Saylors Deserters Yesterday, from Byrons Fleet; they say there is above 2,000 of them sick on Statten Island where they have a Vast many Sails Pitched...
39To George Washington from Brigadier General William Maxwell, 19 September 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have Your Excellencys Orders from Coll Harrison to try to inform you what the 29 Sail of Vessels were that Major Howell mentions I understood they were all Victualers or chiefly so as far as he knew that many of them was armed Victualers 6 or 7 of them was from Cork & the rest from England. The report of a party making ready to Imbarque still prevails some says they are going to Boston...
40To George Washington from Brigadier General William Maxwell, 20 September 1778 (Washington Papers)
I was Honoured with Your Excellencys Favour of the 19th Inst. about noon to day, it accompany one to Coll Ogden[,] Barber & some others as Coll Ogden is gone to Philada to day on some private Bussiness I opened his letter, but as I did not know what he wrote to Your Excellency last I can return nothing on that subject. I suppose he thought by this time to have much to send you and so did I,...