4271From George Washington to Robert Dinwiddie, 12 July 1757 (Washington Papers)
After Jenkins left this yesterday evening, the enclosed, from Capt. Dagworthy, came to hand. We have pretty many men, and very few arms here (that are fit for service). I must now beg the favor of your Honor, to send me a commission for holding General Courts’-martial; as I apprehend that which I had under the former act, was no longer in force, than while that act existed. Irregularity and...
4272From George Washington to Tobias Lear, 4 June 1795 (Washington Papers)
Your letters of the 26th & 29th Ulto have been duly received, but not adverting in time, that the Post returned on Wednesday I could not answer the latter, until this day. I pray you to continue your purchases in either of the Banks of Alexandria, or Columbia, or both; as you shall deem best; so far as the appropriated sums in your hands, belonging to me (to which add the three thousand...
4273From George Washington to Thomas Jefferson, 8 May 1791 (Washington Papers)
The round of business and of ceremony, which now engages my attention, only allows me leisure to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 10th of last month, which will receive a more particular consideration. I am, with great esteem Sir, Your most obedient Servant LS , DLC : Thomas Jefferson Papers. Jefferson sent his letter to GW at Wilmington, N.C., which the president reached on 24...
4274From George Washington to Brigadier General Thomas Conway, 5 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
a Letter which I receivd last Night, containd the following, paragraph. In a Letter from Genl Conway to Genl Gates he says—“Heaven has been determind to save your Country; or a weak General and bad Councellors would have ruind it.” I am Sir Yr Hble Servt. ADf , DLC:GW ; Varick transcript , DLC:GW . The Varick transcript is dated 9 November. However, Conway’s reply to this letter is dated 5...
4275From George Washington to John Adams, 14 June 1790 (Washington Papers)
The President of the United States and Mrs Washington request the pleasure of the Vice-Presidents and Mrs Adams’s company to dinner on Thursday next at four o’clock, an answer is desired. L , MHi : Adams Family Papers. No reply to this invitation has been found, nor is there a record of the dinner in GW’s diary, since he did not resume making entries until 24 June. Social relations between the...
4276From George Washington to Major General Arthur St. Clair, 2 February 1780 (Washington Papers)
The two Connecticut Brigades march this morning. I think you had best detain all the Men of that line, who are already down, who are cloathed and in other respects fit for duty—The others may be sent up under Officers to do Camp duty. I am &c. Df , in Tench Tilghman’s writing, DLC:GW ; Varick transcript , DLC:GW . See GW to St. Clair, 1 February .
4277From George Washington to David Forman, 16 October 1781 (Washington Papers)
I am much obliged by the Receipt of your Favor of the 2d instt which I received last Evening—I most sincerely thank you for the Care & Attention with which you keep me informed of the Motions of the Enemy at N. York. There can be no Doubt, but that Sir Hry Clinton will Attempt everything which he may think practicable, for the Relief of Lord Cornwallis—I cannot however imagine, that a...
4278From George Washington to Duportail, 20 August 1784 (Washington Papers)
The Marqs de la Fayette who arrived at this place on tuesday last, gave me the pleasure of receiving your letter dated at Paris the 16th of June—& of learning from it, that you had not relinquished the idea of visiting a Country, on whose theatre you have acted a conspicuous part. Be assured Sir, that at whatever time, & under whatever circumstances this may happen, I shall be among the first...
4279From George Washington to Major General Nathanael Greene, 26 March 1780 (Washington Papers)
I have, by this conveyance, written to Congress on the defects of the New System for supplyg the Army. I shall thank you for the News and politic’s of the Town. particularly on the Subject of finance (wch I think evy one ought to support) & the prevailing sentiment respecting our Southern Affairs—The currt opinion of sensible men, on the propriety and practicability of affording further...
4280From George Washington to Major General Alexander McDougall, 20 July 1779 (Washington Papers)
Our advices agree that the enemy have their whole force up the river, & by a letter dated last evening from Col. Butler I am informed they had made a debarkation at stoney point. Sir Harry may wish to retaliate for the loss of that post. I am therefore extremely anxious that we should be prepared to receive them, and of course that the arrangements pointed out in Yesterdays orders should be...
4281From George Washington to Major General Israel Putnam, 8 October 1777 (Washington Papers)
Congress having recommended it to me to send an Engineer to Fort Montgomery, I have instantly dispatched Lt Colo. Radier upon that Service. He is the second in command of four Gentlemen sent out by Docr Franklin and Mr Dean. The Congress have transmitted me Copy of a letter from you to them of the 29th Sepr in which you express your doubts of being able to defend the posts upon the North River...
4282From George Washington to Colonel Thaddeus Kosciuszko, 9 September 1779 (Washington Papers)
In consequence of yours of this morning I have ordered the Commy Genl to procure a supply of Rum if possible for the Men upon fatigue. I shall be glad to know whether there has been any special agreement to give the Artificers draughted from the line any thing extraordinary for their Work. If there has, they must be paid in Rum (if that was the agreement) or an equivalint in Money when they do...
4283From George Washington to Frederick Frelinghuysen, 7 November 1783 (Washington Papers)
I thank you for the polite attention you pay to me in your address and for the affectionate anxiety you Express for my happiness. With a heart deeply impressed by the happy issue of a long and painfull contest I most cordially participate with you in the general Joy and Earnestly join my wishes with yours for the future properity and happiness of our Country. The repeated proofs of unabated...
4284From George Washington to Anne-César, chevalier de La Luzerne, 8 June 1781 (Washington Papers)
I am exceedingly obliged to Your Excellency for your interesting Communication of the 1st instant. The Martinico Paper has been forwarded to the Count de Rochambeau. As You promise me the Pleasure of your Company the first Leisure Moment You can find I shall defer entering upon a Detail of public Officers until I shall have the Happiness of a personal Conversation. Indeed the Accidents which...
4285From George Washington to William Butler, 12 October 1782 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 19th of August never reached my hands untill yesterday—Colo. Richard Butler’s remaining at Carlisle was owing to the peculiarity of our circumstances, and not to any design of superseding you. It was imagined when he went from Philada, early in the Spring, that a detatchment of the Recruits might soon have been got in readiness to march to the southward under his command,...
4286From George Washington to James Bowdoin, 9 May 1789 (Washington Papers)
Since my arrival in this place I have been honored with your letters of the 18th of Feby and 24th of April. To meet the congratulations and assurances of support from those Characters whose opinions I revere, will be of no small service in enabling me to overcome the diffidence which I have in my own abilities, to execute properly the important and untried task which my Country has assigned...
4287From George Washington to Comfort Sands, 25 April 1782 (Washington Papers)
You will be pleased to issue provisions for the Subsistence of the Leviees of this State, which will be assembled at Fishkill in a few Days in Consequence of the Orders of Governor Clinton—taking Care that your Issues to them be made under the same Restrictions & Regulations as are established for your Government in the Issues made to the Continental Troops—& particularly observing that no Man...
4288From George Washington to Elizabeth Powel, 12 June 1787 (Washington Papers)
Genl Washington presents his Compliments to Mrs. Powell & begs to know at what hour she would choose to have the Carriage—at 7 Oclock it is to go to Mr & Mrs Lloyd. AL , ViMtvL . GW’s carriage was not available to him in Philadelphia after the end of July, and he was otherwise engaged on the last three Tuesday nights in July, suggesting that this missive to Mrs. Powel must have been dated no...
4289From George Washington to John Hancock, 21 July 1775 (Washington Papers)
I am particularly to acknowledge that Part of your Favour of the 10th Instt wherein you do me the Honour of determining to join the Army under my Command. I need certainly make no Professions of the Pleasure I shall have in seeing you—At the same Time I have to regret that so little is in my Power to offer equal to Col. Hancock[’s] Merits & worthy his Acceptance. I shall be happy in every Oppy...
4290From George Washington to Amelia Leigh Lloyd, 26 November 1782 (Washington Papers)
I have the honor to forward the enclosed Letters to you, and am respectfully Your most obedient most hble Servant P.S. I was upon the point of sealing the packet which contained the above when your favour of the 5th inclosing letters for your friends in England was presented to me. I have put the latter undr cover to Major Murray of New York, and have no doubt of their being in his hands in...
4291From George Washington to Robert McKenzie, 11 June 1757 (Washington Papers)
The exorbitant expence, and bad precedent of giving to every Indian who is pleased to demand it, a Horse to ride, compel me to tell you, that a stop must be put to the practise, or the officer who directs it will be made liable for the cost. The Country will not allow it; Nor are you to give them liquor, but upon extraordinary occasions. I have the pleasure to inform you, that you are one of...
4292From George Washington to Gouverneur Morris, 18 August 1782 (Washington Papers)
Congress having again directed me to propose to the British Commander in Cheif at New York the appointment of Commissioners to settle forthwith a General Cartel for the exchange of prisoners—taking care that the Liquidation of accounts and settlement of the Balance due for the maintanance of prisoners be provided for therein—I have this day communicated their resolution to Sir Guy Carleton and...
4293From George Washington to Brigadier General Charles Scott, 17 August 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have been favd with yours of the 20th & 26th ulto. You will find the several matters contained in the former sufficiently answered in a letter which I wrote to you upon the 27th July. I am pleased to find by your last that you had at length a prospect of getting the remaining Troops equipped, and I hope that the account of the Enemy having left Charles Town will not damp your exertions nor...
4294From George Washington to William Heath, 17 December 1782 (Washington Papers)
It was not until the arrival of the last eastern Mail, that I was favoured with your Letter of the 29th Novembr. Of the Prisoners you mention to have returned from Canada, not more than five have come on to Camp; nor do I know what has become of the remainder of them; I wish (if it can possibly be avoided) they may not be lost to the public. The report of the relief of Gibralter has proved but...
4295From George Washington to the Portsmouth Committee of Safety, 5 October 1775 (Washington Papers)
I am to acknowledge the Receipt of your Favour of the 2d Instt informing me that the Ship Prince George Capt. Emms from Bristol to Boston with Flour for the Enemy by a Mistake of her Captain, & the spirited Conduct of some of the Inhabitants is now in your Possession. I cannot but consider this as a most providential Event, the State of this Army being alone defective in that Article. It would...
4296From George Washington to Battaile Muse, 7 November 1788 (Washington Papers)
Although it is my wish, & desire, that the Papers belonging to the deceased Colo. Fairfax was in the hands of his Executors, or in those of any other whom they may think proper to appoint to receive them—yet, prudence dictates to me the propriety of an order from them for their delivery. This, as I have never seen your power of Attorney—and as you decline sending your Waggon for them now, can,...
4297From George Washington to Major General Arthur St. Clair, 2 February 1780 (Washington Papers)
I have received Your 2d Letter of this date. As I wrote You this forenoon I leave the Enterprize in view entirely with You—and the execution to be attempted or not as You may judge proper from a full consideration of all circumstances—the intelligence you have received—and the characters of the persons who gave it. If it should appear to You that there is a strong probability of it’s...
4298From George Washington to John Hancock, 15 May 1776 (Washington Papers)
New York, [15] May 1776 . “Since my last of the 11th Instant which I had the honour to address you, nothing of moment or importance has occurred, and the principal design of this, is to communicate to Congress the Intelligence I received last night from General Schuyler by a Letter of the 10th respecting the progress of our Troops in getting towards Canada, not doubting of their impatience and...
4299From George Washington to John Noble Cumming, 19 March 1782 (Washington Papers)
I have recd your favor of the 13th Inst. At the request of Major Barber and Capt. Anderson I wrote to the Legislature of New Jersey expressing my approbation of the Exchange which was in negociation between those two Gentlemen, but it was upon the following condition, that the consent of all the Officers junior to Capt. Anderson, and who would be affected by the exchange, should be...
4300From George Washington to Major General Arthur St. Clair, 20 July 1779 (Washington Papers)
You will be pleased to examine critically the long hill in front of Fort Putnam, at the extremities of which The Engineer is commencing some works. Colo. Gouvion or Mr Rochefontaine will be able more particularly to designate the Hill I mean. The possession of this Hill appears to me essential to the preservation of the whole post and our main effort ought to be directed to keeping the enemy...