11To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 9 January 1779 (Washington Papers)
Justice and the Public Interest require that all Allowances engaged to the Army should be punctually paid; We regret that the precautions which sometimes seem necessary to prevent frauds to the United States, often cause such Delays as eventually deprive the Soldiers of the Benefits promised them; We are led to make these Observations from the present Application of a pay Master in Behalf of...
12To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 16 January 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have the happiness to inform you that the box, containing the orderly books & some returns, which has been so long missing is found. It was carried to Reading, from whence it was lately brought to this city with Genl Mifflin’s papers. ’tis now at the War Office, & waits your orders. I am desired by the board to remind your Excellency of their request to know your sentiments relative to the...
13To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 5 March 1779 (Washington Papers)
Letter not found : from Timothy Pickering, 5 March 1779. GW wrote Pickering on 10 March : “I had the honor of your letter of the 5th Inst. with its inclosures.”
14To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 13 March 1779 (Washington Papers)
Letter not found : from Timothy Pickering, 13 March 1779. GW wrote to Pickering on 20 March : “I have the honor of yours of the 13th instant inclosing a Copy of a letter from Colo. Brodhead with an estimate of the Stores necessary for an expedition against Detroit.”
15To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 25 April 1779 (Washington Papers)
yours of the 22d inst. came to hand yesterday evening. I immediately sent orders to the Clothier General to send on to camp without delay all the shirts, over-alls & blankets in his possession, reserving only so many as were necessary to answer the orders given for supplying Colo. Proctors & Colo. Hartley’s regiments. The Clothier General informs me there will then remain but about 150...
16To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 18 July 1779 (Washington Papers)
Last evening an express arrived here from Charlestown, which place he left the 23d of June. He brought a letter of that date to the honble Mr Laurens, who gave the following extract, viz. “General Lincoln having received such intelligence of the intentions, strength & position of the enemy as rendered it advisable to attack them at Stono Ferry, did so on the 20th inst., about 7 o’clock in the...
17To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 5 October 1779 (Washington Papers)
Yesterday afternoon arrived here the armed Cutter Royal George of 14 guns, prize to the Pickering of Salem. Coming addressed to me, a number of private letters found on board fell into my hands. Some of them contained intelligence which seemed of importance sufficient to be communicated to your Excellency. I have therefore made in haste the inclosed extracts. The private sentiments & anecdotes...
18To George Washington from Colonel Timothy Pickering, 11 August 1780 (Washington Papers)
You will doubtless ere this reaches you, have been informed that Congress have been pleased to appoint me quarter master general. This was so totally unexpected, that it will take me some days yet before I can get ready to proceed to camp. In the mean time I shall make some necessary arrange⟨m⟩ents for conducting the business of the de⟨pa⟩rtment in this state and the other states s⟨ou⟩thward...
19To George Washington from Colonel Timothy Pickering, 28 October 1780 (Washington Papers)
Sensible how mortifying is Disappointment especially when the Object of our wishes is almost within our Grasp; aware that the supposed Cause of the Disappointment is ever the Subject of Censure and Resentment; and fearing your Excellency will deem me greatly culpable for the Failure of the late Enterprize of the Light Infantry; I beg you will do me the Favor to read the Orders I gave on the...
20To George Washington from Colonel Timothy Pickering, 10 November 1780 (Washington Papers)
In the arrangement lately made by Congress, and announced in general Orders, I observe that there is to be but one Regiment of artificers; and it is directed that this regiment be furnished by the State of Pennsylvania. I am in doubt whether this refers to Colonel Baldwins regiment only, or is intended to comprehend his & Colonel Flower’s regiment of artillery artificers; by uniting them, &...
21To George Washington from Colonel Timothy Pickering, 19 November 1780 (Washington Papers)
Four days ago I sent off an express to Springfield & Boston with letters to Otis & Henley—the Clothier at Springfield, Colo. Jabez Hatch my deputy at Boston, & to Mr Tuckerman his Assistant at Springfield—in all representing the naked condition of the troops, the near approach of winter, and the necessity of their instant exertions to forward the cloathing at both places to Newburgh. I had...
22To George Washington from Colonel Timothy Pickering, 14 January 1781 (Washington Papers)
This moment has been handed to me the inclosed copy of General Heath’s “Garrison orders” issued at West Point, apparently with a design to regulate the public issues at Fishkill; but which, if carried into execution, will unhinge all public business there, & go near to dissolve my department in the state. They were issued, I am warranted to say, at the instigation of Colo. Hazen, whose...
23To George Washington from Colonel Timothy Pickering, 14 January 1781 (Washington Papers)
In a memorandum of your Excellency’s which I recd at Totowa is the following—“Ox teams to be provided & used the next campaign.” In a resolution of Congress of the 10th of November is the following paragraph. “That if it be deemed preferable by the commander in chief that a proportion of the public horses should be disposed of for draught oxen, to be provided for the ensuing campaign, he be...
24To George Washington from Colonel Timothy Pickering, 25 January 1781 (Washington Papers)
I wrote last evening to Mr Humphrys, & gave him an account of my expectations respecting forage. The uncommon badness of the roads (either very rough or very miry) has prevented the farmers bringing in the forage the Justices of Ulster & Orange agreed to furnish & have in fact assessed: The present snow will enable them to come in. For instant relief to your Excellency’s horses I directed Mr...
25To George Washington from Colonel Timothy Pickering, 26 January 1781 (Washington Papers)
Of the seventeen teams impressed by Justice Chandler for the artillery, tents & intrenching tools, five only came in, & those too late to draw the artillery, which I completed with Continental horses by breaking up three double teams. The five single teams which came in I have caused to be loaded with two horsemans tents—75 common tents—& 75 axes besides two crow bars. These will go about six...
26To George Washington from Colonel Timothy Pickering, 9 February 1781 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found : from Col. Timothy Pickering, 9 Feb. 1781. On this date, GW’s aide-de-camp Alexander Hamilton wrote Pickering: “The General has anticipated the subject of your letter of this day” (see Pickering to GW, this date , source note).
27To George Washington from Colonel Timothy Pickering, 9 February 1781 (Washington Papers)
Last evening I received the inclosed letter from Colo. Lutterloh, which I think it my duty to lay before your Excellency. It describes a practice not new: but which I hoped to remedy by possitive injunctions to the state agents to deliver none except to the order of the Commissary of Forage, who has repeatedly written to the agents to that effect. The abuse however continues; and in some cases...
28To George Washington from Colonel Timothy Pickering, 18 February 1781 (Washington Papers)
General Knox informed me to-day that no artillery was to go from hence. I had previously ordered 50 draught horses to be impressed for transporting the artillery, amunition & tents. I now propose to dispose of them as follows: For the marquis de la Fayette’s waggon—4. a baggage tumbril for the artillery officers 3. three close waggons in which are to be carried from hence eleven horseman’s &...
29To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 24 April 1784 (Washington Papers)
No opportunity having presented during the winter, of sending your barge to Potowmack; when last in New York I left fresh directions to find a conveyance by the first vessel bound to Alexandria. I have this moment received advice that such a conveyance is engaged. Captain Brothes has agreed to deliver the barge at Alexandria, to colonel Fitzgerald, for whom I left a letter, requesting him to...
30To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 3 September 1790 (Washington Papers)
Generally speaking, no task could be imposed on me so ungrateful as that of applying for a public office. In the present instance, however, I feel little reluctance in doing it; because I know the application will be duly noticed, and the ultimate decision, whether for or against me, be governed by a just regard to the interests of the United States. By some of my friends I am informed that Mr...
31To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 5 September 1790 (Washington Papers)
The messenger to the Seneca nation set off this afternoon, with a letter addressed by me to their Sachems Chiefs & Warriors, informing them of my appointment from you to meet them under the authority of the United States; inviting the relations of the deceased Indians to come to Tioga on the 25th of October next; and expressing your desire that the chiefs of the Turtle tribe, & other Great Men...
32Enclosure: Estimate of the expense of necessaries for the meeting of the Seneca Indians at Tioga Octr 25. 1790., 25 … (Washington Papers)
4 barrels of Country rum 120 gall. @ at 3/. £ 18. 0.0 Provisions for 200 Indians 12 days, including the supplies they must receive when going home, viz. 3200 lbs. of beef @ 3 d. 40. 0.0 32 Cwts flour @ 15/. 24. . A silver gorget & other trinkets 10. . 1 Cwt of tobacco & pipes 2.10. 94.10.0 Provisions & necessaries for T. Pickering, & Colo. Wilson, agent for Pennsylvania, & for the...
33To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 4 December 1790 (Washington Papers)
In obedience to your orders I held a Conference with the Chiefs &c. of the Seneca nation of Indians at Tioga in this state. About 220 of all ages attended. The day of meeting proposed was the 25th of October: but they did not arrive until the 15th of November. Such delays, I am informed, are common with them; but in the present instance I believe are greatly to be attributed to the...
34To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 23 December 1790 (Washington Papers)
In obedience to your orders of the 4th of September last, I took the necessary steps for holding a conference with the Logstown Chiefs & warriors of the Seneca Nation of Indians; relative to the murders of two of their people at Pine Creek in Pennsylvania. I wrote to them by the express who at the same time carried a letter from the president of Pennsylvania. In my letter I informed them,...
35To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 8 January 1791 (Washington Papers)
Having been accidentally detained here longer than I expected, and a little leisure now presenting, I have thought it would not be misapplied in suggesting the means of introducing the art of husbandry, and civilization, among our Indian neighbours. In the treaty with the Creek Indians, I observe provision is made for furnishing them with domestic animals and instruments of husbandry, with a...
36To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 15 January 1791 (Washington Papers)
I intended to have done myself the honour of waiting on you in person: but a letter may give you less trouble. General Knox informed me that it would be agreeable to you that I should undertake the superintendency of the northern Indians; I mean particularly the Six Nations. I answered, That by the new constitution of Pennsylvania, a Continental appointment was declared to be incompatible with...
37To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 2 May 1791 (Washington Papers)
(Duplicate) Sir, Philadelphia May 2d 1791. Of the measures pursuing by general Knox, relative to Indian affairs, he doubtless makes to you the necessary communications. In those communications, he may, perhaps, have mentioned my being here, preparatory to my undertaking another mission to the Indians of the Six Nations, for the purpose of confirming the peace and friendship subsisting between...
38To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 27 August 1791 (Washington Papers)
I did myself the honour to call at your house to-day, to speak with you: but you were engaged with Mr Jefferson. And the time not admitting another opportunity (as I wish to leave town on Monday morning) you will permit me to communicate what I had to say, in writing. As you thought it expedient, I went to New York, to converse with Mr Osgood on the business of the post-office. The contracts...
39To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 7 January 1792 (Washington Papers)
Among the great duties of your high station, the selection of proper characters for public offices is not the least difficult, nor the least important. The multiplicity of applications, the diversity, and sometimes the contrariety of opinions, must often produce painful embarrassments: while a constant aim to provide for the public service, will frequently oblige you to disregard private...
40To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 21 March 1792 (Washington Papers)
The manner in which I have been employed to effect the present visit of the Chiefs of the Five Nations, renders me peculiarly interested that the negociations with them should conform with the direct object of the invitation. This object is indelibly impressed on my mind; it having been the main argument offered by me, to convince them of the real friendship of the United States. I feel...