21To George Washington from Richard Peters, 8 July 1777 (Washington Papers)
The Generals & Officers in the Northern Department complain heavily of a great Want of Arms & Cloathing for the Troops under their Command. The Field Officers of the New Hampshire Regiments have represented the Matter in the strongest Terms, & yet the greatest Quantities of both Arms & Clothes have arrived in their State. Mr Langdon, the Agent for the States at Portsmouth, gives himself credit...
22To George Washington from Richard Peters, 10 July 1777 (Washington Papers)
Col. D’Armand of the Corps late Ottendorff’s has applied to the Board for forty Musketts & ten Rifles to supply the like Number lost by the Soldiers. The Bo⟨ard thought it⟩ wrong to comply with this requisition on the Application being made to them in the first Instance without passing under your Excellency’s Notice who must be the best acquainted with the Propriety & Necessity of the...
23To George Washington from Richard Peters, 15 July 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have the Honour of your Letter of the 12th instant which I have communicated to the Board. General Sullivan has written concerning an Hudson Burr condemned at Sourland by a Court Martial as a Spy but says your Excellcy would not ratify the Proceedings desiring that the Man might be sent to Philada where he is now under Confinement, that the Board might discharge him if they knew Nothing...
24To George Washington from Richard Peters, 16 July 1777 (Washington Papers)
War Office, Philadelphia, 16 July 1777 . “The Bearer Mr Dupré is a very ingenious Armourer & was appointed by the State of North Carolina in that Capacity to the North Carolina Brigade & has employed several Assistants under him, who are also attached to the Brigade. But as there is no Continental Establishment for Persons in his way, the Board have given it in direction to me, to mention the...
25To George Washington from Richard Peters, 23 July 1777 (Washington Papers)
As no precise Account had ever been transmitted of the Strength & Situation of the Division under General Putnam I had it in Direction to write to him for Returns of the Numbers of Men, & the Situation of their Arms & Clothing, their Supplies & their Wants. I have the Honour of enclosing the Answer I received which is by no Means satisfactory to the Board who expected General Putnam would have...
26To George Washington from Richard Peters, 26 July 1777 (Washington Papers)
I was directed by the Board of War to send 200,000 Dollars for the Use of the Northern Department, but as the State of the Country is not certainly known it is thought safest to direct Robert Dunwiddie, who accompanies it to call on your Excellency for Advice & if necessary Assistance. The Money is guarded by a Party under the Comand of Lieut. who it is supposed cannot proceed to Albany &...
27To George Washington from Richard Peters, 3 August 1777 (Washington Papers)
The Officers of Regiments & Companies are separately & constantly applying for Arms & Necessaries. A few have produced the Ajut Generals Signature to their Returns of Deficiencies. The Demands are so great that there are not a sufficient Number in the Store to supply them. Each is anxious to get the whole of his Demand & let others shift as well as they can. There should be some Plan fallen...
28To George Washington from Richard Peters, 5 August 1777 (Washington Papers)
The Board have given Orders to the Commissary General to make a Return to your Excellency of every Thing in his Department as they have put all Arms Acoutrements & military Stores under your immediate Direction. All Arms repaired are under the Care of Col. Flower, but Orders for the Reparation of Arms must issue to Mr Thomas Butler—Chief Armourer, who has also Directions to put himself & his...
29To George Washington from Richard Peters, 6 August 1777 (Washington Papers)
The Board have employed the Bearer Mr James White to furnish a temporary Supply of Vinegar, Beer & Vegetables to the Army while they stay in their present Situation. As this Gentleman is not in the Commissary’s Department there will be some clashing unless your Excellency puts the Matter upon its proper Footing. Mr White will want Authority to get Waggons to hall the Articles he supplies & he...
30To George Washington from Richard Peters, 9 August 1777 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Richard Peters, 9 Aug. 1777. On that date GW’s aide-de-camp Richard Kidder Meade wrote to Peters from GW’s headquarters: “I have it in Command from his Excellency to acknowledge his reciept of your letter of this date His Excellency is sensible that the abuse which has come under the Notice of the Board of War is but too prevalent. Repeated orders have been issued to...
31To George Washington from Richard Peters, 19 August 1777 (Washington Papers)
There are about 80 Men with Officers for three Troops of Horse of thirty Men each now at Philadelphia. They came from North Carolina with General Nash’s Brigade & have been here for a considerable Time their Horses being sold as they were unfit for Service & the Board were so embarrass’d with the high Price of Horses & other Necessaries for sending them into the Field that they had determined...
32To George Washington from Richard Peters, 21 August 1777 (Washington Papers)
Col. Bland informed me that the Enemy had thrown into the Rariton on their Departure from Brunswick two Cannon—one of 32 the other of 24 —If these Cannon could be raised & sent on to this Place they would be very useful in the Defence of the Chevaux de Frize as we have no spare Guns of that Weight of Ball. I mentioned this Matter to the Board who gave it in Direction to me to request your...
33To George Washington from Richard Peters, 5 September 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have the Honour of enclosing you Copy of a Letter which was addressed to a Member of Congress, & laid before the Board for their Consideration. It is sent to your Excellency for the Purpose of pointing out the Grievances complained of & which the Board are very willing to use their Endeavors to redress if they could be furnished with your Excellency’s Assistance in forming the Plan. It is...
34To George Washington from Richard Peters, 6 September 1777 (Washington Papers)
Congress having referred the foregoing Letter to the Board they did not choose to make Report thereon until they had consulted your Excellency upon the Subject. It is therefore sent you with a Request that you would give your Opinion thereon & if the Ration now given is according to any Establishment made by you, the Board will be obliged to you for Information of the Reasons inducing you to...
35To George Washington from Richard Peters, 9 September 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have the Honour to enclose you a Resolve of Congress relative to providing proper Means for the speedy Communication of Intelligence. The Board have it not in their Power to provide suitable Persons for the Purpose or they would not lessen the Number of Combatants in the Army, but are obliged to request your Excellency to appoint a sufficient Number of Expresses out of either Blands or...
36To George Washington from Richard Peters, 1 October 1777 (Washington Papers)
I had the Honour of your Excellency’s Letter of the 28th Ultimo which I recd but this Day. I have attended to the Business you were pleased to recommend as far as Circumstances will admitt & shall use every Exertion in my Power convinced as I am of the Necessity of adding every possible Strength to the Army at this important Juncture. I have given Directions for the Route of the Troops...
37To George Washington from Richard Peters, 2 October 1777 (Washington Papers)
One hundred & eighteen Recruits belonging to the 2d & 4th Virginia & 2d Maryland Regiments were sent off to Day. The Returns I have the Honour to enclose to you. Shoes have been furnished them but they want everything else—As I did not know where the Clothier or Commissary General’s Stores were deposited they are ordered to Reading on a Presumption that the Articles they want have been sent...
38To George Washington from Richard Peters, 7 October 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have the Honour to enclose by Direction of the Board a Number of Certificates relating to the Bearer Capt. Thomas Rowland who is sent to your Excellency to exhibit his Experiments before you or such Persons as you shall appoint. On his Return he will bring your Certificates of his Performances & Opinion of the Utility of his Scheme. It appears to the Board that the Plan proposed by Mr...
39To George Washington from Richard Peters, 18 October 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have the Honour to enclose all the Accounts we have in the Office of the State of Arms & military Stores. Lead is the most wanting & the Board have applied to Maryland & Virginia for an immediate Loan which it is hoped will be complied with as both those States have a considerable private Stock of this Article. Chiswells Mines are at Work on public Account & the Works are in but indifferent...
40To George Washington from Richard Peters, 24 October 1777 (Washington Papers)
I had the Honour of your Favour of the 21st inst. which is communicated to the Board & a Letter agreeable to your Desire is written to General Heath relative to the Lead imported into Boston on private Account —A Quantity is purchased of Messrs McClenachan & Caldwell which together with the Saltpetre & Sulphur imported by them into Dartmouth & also bought for Continental Use is orderd to...
41To George Washington from Richard Peters, 4 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
Mr Joseph Simons the Bearer has applied to the Board for Liberty to go into Philadelphia for the Purpose of settling his Accounts with Mr Franks the British Agent for Prisoners under whom Mr Simons has acted for some time past in supplying the Prisoners of War. The Board not being acquainted with the Circumstances of Matters so minutely as to judge of the Propriety of permitting Mr Simons to...
42To George Washington from Richard Peters, 6 November 1777 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Richard Peters, 6 Nov. 1777. On 11 Nov. GW wrote Peters: “I have before me your favors of the 6th & 7th Inst.”
43To George Washington from Richard Peters, 7 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
The Board after making every Enquiry they can & after viewing the Subject in every Light they are capable of are convinced of the Necessity & Rictitude of siezing Blanketts Shoes & Necessaries for the Army from People of all Characters who can possibly spare them & from the disaffected altho the Measure should expose them to the greatest Difficulties which however cannot be greater than the...
44To George Washington from Richard Peters, 11 November 1777 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Richard Peters, 11 Nov. 1777. On 27 Nov. GW wrote Peters : “I was duly favd with yours of the 11th inst.”
45To George Washington from Richard Peters, 28 November 1777 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Richard Peters, 28 Nov. 1777. GW wrote to Peters on 14 Dec. that “Your several favs. of the 28th Novem. and 4th and 5th instants came duly to hand.”
46To George Washington from Richard Peters, 4 December 1777 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Richard Peters, 4 Dec. 1777. GW wrote to Peters on 14 Dec. that “Your several favs. of the 28th Novem. and 4th and 5th instants came duly to hand.”
47To George Washington from Richard Peters, 5 December 1777 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Richard Peters, 5 Dec. 1777. GW wrote to Peters on 14 Dec. that “Your several favs. of the 28th Novem. and 4th and 5th instants came duly to hand.”
48To George Washington from Richard Peters, 8 January 1778 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Richard Peters, 8 Jan. 1778. GW wrote Peters on 24–25 Jan. : “I have recd your favr of the 8th instant.”
49To George Washington from Richard Peters, 6 May 1778 (Washington Papers)
A Capt. William Scull has been employed by your Excellency to survey the Country from Derby to Lancaster which he informs he has nearly completed. Enclosed you have a Copy of a Resolution of Congress relative to the Survey of the Susquahanna & several Creeks running into it. The Board have employed Messrs Villefranche, Capitaine & Bedeaulx three French Officers recommended to them for the...
50To George Washington from Richard Peters, 12 May 1778 (Washington Papers)
The Board ever since their Institution have been anxiously endeavoring to establish a Communication on a permanent Footing from the lower Parts of North Carolina to your Camp in Order that the Supplies of Provisions & Stores might be reduced as nearly to a Certainty as our Circumstances & the Nature of the Bussiness would admitt. They have procured the Promises of Assistance from the...
51To George Washington from Richard Peters, 13 May 1778 (Washington Papers)
In the Winter when our Army was weak & the Country much exposed to the Ravages of the Enemy. there were five hundred Militia ordered to be stationed on the Communication between the Delaware & Schuylkill for the Protection & Escort of the Provisions & Stores both stationary & passing to Camp. Two hundred of these were ordered to Easton, one hundred to Bethlehem & two hundred to Reading at...
52To George Washington from Richard Peters, 28 July 1778 (Washington Papers)
Col. Nicola complains that altho’ his Corps might be exceedingly useful in Garrison were he enabled by its Numbers to turn out sufficient Guards yet from the great Inattention of the Officers commanding Regiments or Corps in Camp who repeatedly give Discharges from the Service to Men very capable of Duty in the Invalid Regiment his Number is now very small. I am therefore to request your...
53To George Washington from Richard Peters, 19 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Richard Peters, 19 Oct. 1778. GW wrote Peters on 11 Nov. : “I have been honored with yours of the 19th 27th 28th and 29th Ulto.”
54To George Washington from Richard Peters, 27 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
The Board have been honoured with yours of the 18th inst. & will be much obliged to your Excellency to give Orders for an exact Account being taken by the issuing Clothier of the Blanketts that we may know from the Marks & Numbers of the Packages in what Invoice those so very small are contained & endeavour to trace the Imposition. Enclosed you have for Information Copy of the Board’s Order to...
55To George Washington from Richard Peters, 28 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Richard Peters, 28 Oct. 1778. GW wrote Peters on 11 Nov. : “I have been honored with yours of the 19th 27th 28th and 29th Ulto.”
56To George Washington from Richard Peters, 29 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Richard Peters, 29 Oct. 1778. GW wrote Peters on 11 Nov. : “I have been honored with yours of the 19th 27th 28th and 29th Ulto.”
57To George Washington from Richard Peters, 12 November 1778 (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Richard Peters, 12 Nov. 1778. On 23 Nov., GW wrote Peters : “I have your favr of the 12 th .”
58To George Washington from Richard Peters, 20 November 1778 (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Richard Peters, 20 Nov. 1778. On 27 Nov., GW wrote Peters : “I have received your favor of the 20th Inst.”
59To George Washington from Richard Peters, 24 November 1778 (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Richard Peters, 24 Nov. 1778. On 4 Dec., GW wrote Peters : “I had the honor of receiving yours of the 24th ulto.”
60To George Washington from Richard Peters, 11 December 1778 (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Richard Peters, 11 Dec. 1778. On 20 Dec., GW wrote Peters : “I have recd a letter of the 11th inst. from the Secy of the Board [of War].”
61To George Washington from Richard Peters, 16 December 1778 (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Richard Peters, 16 Dec. 1778. On 20 Dec., GW wrote Peters : “I have the honor of yours of the 16th instant.”
62To George Washington from Richard Peters, 7 January 1779 (Washington Papers)
The Board beg Leave to remind your Excellency of the large Number of Mittens on Hand & as the Canada Expedition is not likely to go on, to ask your Opinion, whether they should be still kept in Store or issued to the Troops at Camp. The Ranks are so much weakned & there are so many Abuses committed by Officers taking Soldiers for Servants that the Board are about reporting to Congress a...
63To George Washington from Richard Peters, 10 January 1779 (Washington Papers)
At the Desire of Mr Duane I send your Excellency sundry Papers relative to the Western Expedition under Genl McIntosh. Should it be in our Power to give any further Information it will be immediately communicated on Request. No authentic Intelligence has been received at this Office from Genl McIntosh since his March from Beaver Creek but we hear after leaving a Garrison at that Post where he...
64To George Washington from Richard Peters, 20 January 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have the Honour of enclosing to your Excellency Copies of General St Clair’s Claim of Rank & of General Arnolds Letter in Consequence. Copies have also been interchangeably sent to the Parties. They are sent to your Excellency agreeably to the Usage in such Cases that you may take such Measures in the Matter as you shall deem expedient. I have the Honour to be with the greatest Respect your...
65To George Washington from Richard Peters, 11 February 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have the Honour of transmitting you a Copy of a Regulation the Board intend to report to Congress on a Subject which the Letter preceding it will explain. It is sent for your Excellency’s Perusal & Remarks that if you should think proper either to amend it or propose a better Plan the Board being furnished with your Answer may lay it before Congress. It is with Reluctance that the Board...
66To George Washington from Richard Peters, 22 February 1779 (Washington Papers)
The Board have recieved disagreeable Accounts of the Situation of Affairs at the Convention Barracks in Albermarle County Virginia where great Disorder & Confusion prevail in almost every Department. One great Source of the Evils is that there is no Person there of sufficient Authority to harmonize & conduct the whole Machine. The Officers of the Convention too are by no Means disposed to...
67To George Washington from Richard Peters, 27 March 1779 (Washington Papers)
Letter not found : from Richard Peters, 27 March 1779. GW wrote Peters on 2 April : “I have been honored with yours of the 27th March.”
68To George Washington from Richard Peters, 12 March 1788 (Washington Papers)
It is with the greatest Pleasure that I recieve your Commands respecting the Harrows. I have in Consequence spoke to the Smith & pointed out some Improvements, where I think mine has Defects. I never had seen one in the Construction of mine & therefore the Idea was theoretical but it has answered in Practice to my utmost Expectations. I have never however applied it on so large a Scale as to...
69To George Washington from Richard Peters, 27 April 1788 (Washington Papers)
I was honoured yesterday with yours of the 6th instant. I am glad the Scarcity Seeds came to Hand. It will not be too late to plant the Roots as they will be preserved sufficiently by the Sand I had them packed in. When you come to make the Comparison of this to any other Forage dont forget to take into your Account the Summer ⟨str⟩ippings which come in when Clover is burnt up. This with the...
70To George Washington from Richard Peters, 27 June 1788 (Washington Papers)
On my Arrival from an annual Tour my Affairs compel me to take over the Susquahanna I have the Honour of your Letter of the 8th inst. The Crops in the western Country as fine as ever I saw them but those within 40 or 50 Miles of Philadelphia execrably bad, owing to the Snows not having covered them in the Winter added to a bad Stile of farming which too commonly prevails. My Grain is among the...