31To George Washington from Brigadier General William Smallwood, 31 March 1778 (Washington Papers)
The Evening of the 29th I was favored with yours of the 28th Inst., Mr Richmond copying my Ltr omitted the Date, & my being much hurried prevented my adverting to the Omission. You must have been misinformed respecting the Quantity of Hay remaining between Chester & this Place; pursuant to your Original Orders directing my taking post here &c., I have drawn chief of our Supplies of Forage &...
32To George Washington from Brigadier General William Smallwood, 8 April 1778 (Washington Papers)
Inclosed is a letter, I fancy from Governor Johnson, forwarded by the bearer hereof Mr Burrell who informs me that he left his son about fourteen Months ago with his Brother about 12 Miles above Philada upon the Schuylkill to Learn the Bleaching trade, his Brother having taken refuge with the Enemy Carried his son without his Privity with him & having understood that his brother sent the boy...
33To George Washington from Brigadier General William Smallwood, 13 April 1778 (Washington Papers)
I was favor’d with yours of Yesterdays Date, & your Orders shall be strictly complied with respecting the choice of Officers and Men who may be best qualified to execute the Service you have in view. I have no Baggage or Stores here but such as cou’d readily move in the Regimental Waggons at half an hours warning with the Troops—but if you view our Detention here necessary, ’till the Stores...
34To George Washington from Brig. Gen. William Smallwood, 17 April 1778 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Brig. Gen. William Smallwood, 17 April 1778. On 18 April, GW wrote to Smallwood , “I have this moment recd yours of yesterday by Capt. patton.”
35To George Washington from Brig. Gen. William Smallwood, 27 April 1778 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Brig. Gen. William Smallwood, 27 April 1778. On 30 April, GW wrote Smallwood , “I have been favord with yours of the 27th Inst.”
36To George Washington from Brigadier General William Smallwood, 5 May 1778 (Washington Papers)
By this Opertunity, I transmit the Inclosed Letters, & Mr Franklins Accts of Provision, Cloathing & Cash, furnish’d our Prisoners by him, to be Address’d to Mr Boudinot, which were handed me to day by Lieut. Croxall who has obtain’d his Parole for a Fortnight —to day there was two men of War, Eight Transport Ships, & two Schooners with some Troops on board pass’d by here, & it is said there...
37To George Washington from Brigadier General William Smallwood, 17 May 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have inclosed you the Proceedings and sentence of a Court Martial against one Jetson a person who for some time past has been not less dreaded, than fam’d for his Infamous Practices of Piloting the Enemy in the Night and Aiding them in kid-napping the more virtuous Inhabitants, particularly those who have Manifested an Attachment to, & have been active in Support of the Common Cause, and...
38To George Washington from Brigadier General William Smallwood, 18 May 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have dispatch’d two Officers one to Governor Johnson at Annapolis & the other to the head of Elk for the purposes you required the result of which upon their return shall take the earliest opportunity of Communicating and in the Interim the troops shall Constantly be held in readiness to move at a Minutes warning. Just before I recd your favour I had wrote you yesterday, The party detach’d...
39To George Washington from Brigadier General William Smallwood, 19–20 May 1778 (Washington Papers)
Agreeable to your orders I sent Capt. Norwood to obtain a List of the Stores at the head of Elk, who returned this Evening with the Inclosed Lists from Hollingsworth, Rodolph & Huggins who could give no Acct of the Stores in the Peninsula below and at Charles Town, but Colo. Hollingsworth informs Capt. Norwood there were near as much more at those Stages & that he daily expected Several...
40To George Washington from Brigadier General William Smallwood, 22 May 1778 (Washington Papers)
The Officer detach’d to Annapolis has just return’d with dispatches from Governor Johnson which I now forward ⅌ Express & it is with pleasure I am led to acquaint you that I think the full Complement of your requisition will shortly rendevous at the head of Elk. Three Hundred recruits have ariv’d here within this three days and near as many more expected daily—Colo. Pope has swept Bomba Hook &...
41To George Washington from Brigadier General William Smallwood, 26 May 1778 (Washington Papers)
Upon rect of your favour of 23d Inst. late at Night, the next morning early I gave orders Immediately for the removal of such Stores and Baggage as were retain’d here, to one Bells between Kennett Square and Chads-ford, proposing to take a position on the most Advantageous ground between Gibsons & Chads-ford, as nearly opposite to Dilworths as the ground wou’d Admit, which position not Knowing...
42To George Washington from Brigadier General William Smallwood, 26 May 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have just recd your favour of the 25th Inst. & am happy to find the Measures I had Adopted have in a great Measure Coincided with your views and the Possition you have recommended, I had just finished my Letter to send by Mr Fitzhugh, shall send the Express off with him —I hope my reasons for remaining here thus long will Suffice for deviating from your orders in not Marching Immediately as...
43To George Washington from Brigadier General William Smallwood, 29 May 1778 (Washington Papers)
The Waggons not returning from moving the tents ’till yesterday and the weather proving wet on Wednesday, prevented my Marching that day, but we arived here yesterday after having got all the Quartermaster and Commissaries stores under way before we left Wilmington, we have taken a possition about a mile back of Chads Ford but are not fix’d being about now to reconitre and fix upon an...
44To George Washington from Brigadier General William Smallwood, 30 May 1778 (Washington Papers)
The Prisoners of War I shall send of to Lancaster early in the morning, and the tories I shall take the most elligible method of disencumbering myself off immediately. It appears from a letter which I recd from Colo. Hollingsworth on the 27th Inst. that there are a Number of Stores remaining yet at the head of Elk, but if Mr Wade has forwarded the Waggons which I directed, and they have been...
45To George Washington from William Smallwood, 2 June 1778 (Washington Papers)
Letter not found : from William Smallwood, 2 June 1778. In his letter to Smallwood of 5 June , GW mentions “your last of the 2d Inst., with which I w⟨as⟩ favoured.”
46To George Washington from Brigadier General William Smallwood, 5 June 1778 (Washington Papers)
I had Intelligence yesterday afternoon from Newcastle, that upwards of one Hundred Sail of Transport Ships lay off reedy Point, the Admiral off New Castle, & that upwards of fifty Sail more pass’d down yesterday; I have not heard from that Quarter to Day, I have understood that a draft of Marines from each Armed Vessel was ordered up to Philadelphia, and Capt. Rumford informed me four Sloops...
47To George Washington from Brigadier General William Smallwood, 7 June 1778 (Washington Papers)
The Horse you required are forwarded, the troops ariv’d here last Night, and I hoped to have had the pleasure of seeing you in Camp to day, but the weather proving very wet, will Delay our getting up ’till Tomorrow—Capt. Lansdale has just return’d & also Mr Thornton, you’l observe below the Number of Ships, and where Anchored, they bring Intelligence of; which I believe may be depended on, as...
48To George Washington from Brigadier General William Smallwood, 8 June 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have inclosed you the proceedings, and Sentence of a Court Martial on the tryal of Capt. Norwood, it gives me much pain to trouble you with such business, when I am sensible your engagements are pressing, and your time taken up with bussiness of much more Importance, but from pure Motives of Public good, I find myself constrained to trespass on you thus far, to prevent in future the Service...
49To George Washington from Brigadier General William Smallwood, 18 June 1778 (Washington Papers)
I think an enterprize against the Enemy in their present Situation in Philadelphia, would be impolitic, and avail nothing, as they either have it in view to evacuate the City upon an Attack, or throw in a reinforcement, both which would be practicable and in the attempt much might be risk’d, which if crowned with Success, would not afford any material Advantage. From a Comprehensive view of...
50To George Washington from Brigadier General William Smallwood, 2 September 1778 (Washington Papers)
I am clearly of opinion no movements or Opperations in this army ought to be undertaken, ’till we can with more Certainty ascertain the designs of the Enemy, which from their present Manœuvres, and the aspect before us, is difficult to limit, with any degree of precission, so as to render our movements secure, or to hold up any great prospect of success; they must have had two objects in view...
51To George Washington from Brigadier General William Smallwood, 17 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
Two of the Questions stated yesterday by your Excellency to the Council respecting Detatchments being sent towards Boston, & against the Indians & disaffected on the Frontiers of this State, being determined, require no farther Observations or Reply. The Uncertainty of the Enemys Views—their Strength, & superior Advantages to effect Speedy Operations—The present State of, and the disciplining...
52To George Washington from Brigadier General William Smallwood, 28 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
Capt. Marbury Quarter Master of the first Maryland Brigade waits on you to obtain an order for Clothing and Blankets for my Brigade agreeable to the Inclosed returns, which the troops are in extreme want off particularly Blanketts, the want of which has already Subjected many of our Men to sickness, and from the Approaching cold weather cannot Longer be dispensed with, part of the first, and...
53To George Washington from Brigadier General William Smallwood, 30 December 1778 (Washington Papers)
When I waited on you the other Evening, before your departure to Philadelphia, I found you too much engaged to impart my Sentiments on two Subjects, which I have ever had in view to mention at the close of the Campaign—There are Circumstances in my present Situation, which have long wounded my Feelings, & have become so injurious, that they must I fear force me (tho’ with Reluctance) to quit...
54To George Washington from Brigadier General William Smallwood, 7 January 1779 (Washington Papers)
Yesterday I recieved your favour dated the 1st Inst., and in pursuance of your Order have directed Lieut. Hugoe of the fifth Maryland Regiment to repair to, and take Command of the Soldiers in the Shoe Factory at New Ark, and have given him proper Instructions for this purpose, he Marches down Twenty of the Nine Months Men, who have inlisted in that Regiment, as they are altogether from the...
55To George Washington from Brigadier General William Smallwood, 11 February 1779 (Washington Papers)
Letter not found : from Brig. Gen. William Smallwood, 11 Feb. 1779. GW wrote Smallwood on 12 Feb. : “Upon considering the contents of your letter of yesterdays date—it appears to me proper that they shd be communicated to Baron de Kalb.”
56To George Washington from Brigadier General William Smallwood, 9 March 1779 (Washington Papers)
Our Field Officers desire me to request your Opinion on the following Questions, as they judge the Resolve of Congress of the 24th November to be silent thereon. Does a Title to Promotion, upon a vacancy previous to the 16 Sept.—76, give Rank from the Time such Vacancy happend, & ought to have been filled, whether the Party acted in it, under Brevet or otherwise? If it does, are the Officers...
57To George Washington from Brigadier General William Smallwood, 6 April 1779 (Washington Papers)
The within is a State of the Officers present & Absent in the seven Regiments of our Line now on this Ground—It also specifies the Officers recommended as Persons best qualified for the Recruiting Service, by their Respective Commandants who they think can be spared, tho you will observe it will leave some of the Regiments very thin of Officers —I have endeavored in drawing out these Officers...
58Council of War, 10 April 1779 (Washington Papers)
At a Council of War held at Head Quarters Middle Brook April 10th 1779. Present The Commander in Chief[,] Major Genls Sullivan[,] Greene[,] Ld Stirling[,] St Clair[,] D’Kalb, [Brigadier Generals] Smallwood[,] Knox[,] Woodford. The Commander in Chief states to the Council, that since the last meeting of Commissioners on the subject of an exchange of Prisoners, the result of which is contained...
59To George Washington from Brigadier General William Smallwood, 27 July 1779 (Washington Papers)
In reply to the Propositions stated yesterday by your Excellency to the Board —after considering the Circumstances of our present Situation with respect to our Supplies of Provision—the unfinished State of the Fortifications at West Point—our present Strength & that of the Enemy—I think it inelligible to attempt any active Operations against their Main Army on the East Side of the North River...
60To George Washington from William Smallwood, 13 Aug. 1779 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found : from William Smallwood, 13 Aug. 1779. On 15 Aug., GW wrote Smallwood: “I have received Your Letter of the 13th.”