4301From George Washington to Brigadier General James Mitchell Varnum, 8 October 1777 (Washington Papers)
I send you the foregoing duplicate of mine of yesterday to prevent any delay or disappointment from miscarriages; as it is of the utmost importance no time should be lost in forwarding the detachment to the place of its destination. The army here marches this morning from hence to the Baptist meeting house in Montgomery Town ship; whither you will direct your course by the shortest rout and...
4302From George Washington to Major General Horatio Gates, 3 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
General Mcdougall forwarded Major Grays letter to you, to me. I have no account from General Scott of any troops having lately gone from New York to the Narrows. The party that went to Jersey were reinforced, and perhaps that might have occasioned the mistake. I do not apprehend any attempt agt this Army, but to be prepared for contingencies, I am to desire, if the Enemy should make a...
4303From George Washington to John Hancock, 10 December 1776 (Washington Papers)
Since I had the honor of addressing you Yesterday, nothing of importance has occurred. In respect to the Enemy’s movements, I have obtained no other information, than that they have a number of parties patrolling up and down the River, particularly above. As yet they have not attempted to pass, nor do any of their patrols, though some are exceedingly small, meet with the least interruption...
4304From George Washington to William West, 28 February 1789 (Washington Papers)
The late Colo. Thomas Colvell, in his will appointed his Widow, your Brother and myself his Executors. Some persons in Britain, who consider themselves, under a Clause in the Will, as residuary Legatees, have been very importunate to have the resedue of that Estate remitted them, and some of the applications have been made in a very rude manner; this together with the necessity of making a...
4305From George Washington to Friedrich Wilhelm Ludolf Gerhard Augustin, Baron [von] Steuben, 8 November 1783 (Washington Papers)
I have been favored with your two Letters, the former inclosing sundry Discharges which were signed and returned to you immediately—the latter inclosing a Certificate for Jno. Sloan which is now returned with my certificate of his being entitled to the Pension. I will request Genl Lincoln to take measures for having those Invalids who are to go to West Point conveyed thither by water—this may...
4306From George Washington to Brigadier General Peter Muhlenberg, 9 September 1780 (Washington Papers)
I have been favd with yours of the 24th ulto. My letter of the 15th Augt will have fully answered you on the subject of appropriating part of the levies to filling up the two state Regiments—and on the cases of the prisoners who escaped from Charlestown. The late unfortunate stroke to the southward will render the exertions of the state and of every individual more than commonly necessary. I...
4307From George Washington to Philip Turner, 24 February 1780 (Washington Papers)
I have to acknowlege your letter of the 3d instant with its inclosure. It would give me much satisfaction to find so necessary a department as the medical on ⟨the⟩ most unexceptionable footing. But as [I] do not undertake to judge in cases of this nature I would imagine that Congress will adopt such changes as may appear best calculated to this end, and to reconcile any want of harmony which...
4308From George Washington to Brigadier General John Lacey, Jr., 11 April 1778 (Washington Papers)
I recd yours of yesterday inclosing the proceedings of a Court Martial against sundry inhabitants for supplying the Enemy with provision, and a Return of your Brigade. When you have gone thro’ the trials of the whole, I would recommend it to you to send such, as you think dangerous and who would join the Enemy if released, to the president, with a desire to confine them or put them to labour...
4309From George Washington to William Augustine Washington, 17 February 1793 (Washington Papers)
The last time I had the pleasure of seeing you, you promised (hearing me complain of the difficulty I found in procuring Oyster shells) to use your endeavors to engage the Skippers of the small Craft in your neighbourhood, to supply me. The season is approaching in which I shall stand in great need of them—and must suffer very much unless I can obtain a supply. Mr Whiting who looks after my...
4310From George Washington to John Page, 21 August 1777 (Washington Papers)
I was this Afternoon honored with your Letter of the 15th. The Order of the Board of Council to the Regiment at Alexandria, in consequence of the Advices they had received, I think perfectly right, and I shall write to the Commanding Officer of it, by this Conveyance, to remain there, subject to the direction of Congress—Your Board or Myself. The conduct of Genl Howe is extremely embarrassing....
4311From George Washington to Robert Lewis, 26 January 1798 (Washington Papers)
The return of your brother Howel, affords me a direct & safe opportunity of enquiring whether any, and if any, what money you have of mine in your hands? What are your prospects of collecting the past years Rents, seasonably —and when I may look for the receipt of them? I have been induced, by the experience & advice of my Manager, Mr Anderson—to erect a large Distillery at my Mill; and have...
4312From George Washington to Daniel Carroll, 22 December 1783 (Washington Papers)
I feel myself particularly happy in receiving the approbation of the Genl Assembly of Maryland, for those services which my Country had a right to demand, and which it was my duty to render in defence of it. Having happily attained the object for which we had drawn the Sword, I felicitated myself on my approaching return to private life, and I must acknowledge I anticipated an unusual degree...
4313From George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 21 July 1775 (Washington Papers)
I am to Acknowlage your Favour of the 17th Inst. informing me of the Destination of the Troops raising in your Colony; As the season is now advanced & the Enemy considerably reinforced we have the utmost Reason to expect any Attack that may be made will not be much longer delayed—I should therefore think it hig[h]ly necessary the new raised Troops should join the Army with all possible...
4314From George Washington to James Baker, 12 June 1757 (Washington Papers)
I embrace this opportunity of congratulating you upon your safe return; and of thanking you, for the Services you have done the public, in your late scout and skirmish. I was greatly surprized at not receiving an account of this matter from yourself: but am satisfied, there was some particular reason why I did not: For I can not believe that you, who have behaved so well in one respect, wou’d...
4315From George Washington to Major General Arthur St. Clair, 23 March 1779 (Washington Papers)
For the more speedy assembling of the Militia upon an emergency I have agreed with the Feild Officers in this and the next County to erect Beacons upon the most conspicuous Hills, the firing of which is to be the signals for the⟨m⟩ to repair to their different alarm posts. You will be pleased therefore to order a party from your division consisting of an Officer and 24 Men with Axes and four...
4316From George Washington to Colonel Joseph Trumbull, 28 May 1777 (Washington Papers)
Though your remaining at philadelphia longer, to compleat the Business, you are upon, may be a desireable circumstance, Yet, it is of infinitely more importance, that you should repair to Camp without a Moments delay. All our Troops in Jersey are nearly collected at a point. Every day, we are to hope, will bring in further Reinforcements. At this time, we are greatly distressed for provision,...
4317From George Washington to Colonel Stephen Moylan, 13 September 1777 (Washington Papers)
You will perceive by the Inclosed Letter fr⟨om⟩ Colo. Flowers to Mr Rittenhouse, that the removal of our Military Stores from French Creek is an Obje⟨ct⟩ of great importance. For the purpose a number of Waggons must be collected a⟨s⟩ soon as possible; I therefore desire that you will immediately detach Twenty Light Drag[oons] under an Active Officer without a moments loss of time to assist Mr...
4318From George Washington to General Henry Clinton, 26 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
By direction of Congress I transmit you the inclosed Copy of their Resolutions on the 21st instant respecting David Franks Esqr., by which you will perceive, he will not be permitted to act as Commissary to the British prisoners after the 10th of next month, and that it is their desire that your Excellency will nominate a proper person, who, having received their approbation, may succeed Mr...
4319From George Washington to Charles Lawrence, 28 September 1760 (Washington Papers)
For two years past Messrs Cary and Company have sent me a suit of Cloaths of your making, that dont fit me so well as I coud wish—this I attribute to some error in the measure that was sent. Having now occasion for 4 pair Breeches as underneath (for which Mr Cary will pay you) I have sent another measure for them, taken according to directions of a Taylor here: please to cut them out exactly...
4320From George Washington to the Board of War, 6 July 1780 (Washington Papers)
As we may now expect that Levies will be coming in from the States in a little time —and we shall have many occasional demands for Arms, I request that the Board will be pleased to order Three thousand Stand compleat, to be forwarded immediately to the North River. For fear of accidents in case the lower communication should be exposed by the removal of the Army—I think it will be prudent that...
4321From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 29 November 1779 (Washington Papers)
Inclosed you will find a Copy of Genl Du Portails state of the Troops necessary for the defence of this Post. It may be very useful during your command—You will however be pleased to observe that the Enemy were, when it was made, in possession of the Posts at Kings Ferry, which not being the case now, a less number of Guards is necessary; such as are superfluous will readily occur to you, in...
4322From George Washington to Brigadier General Charles Scott, 25 May 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have received your favour of the 12th informing me of the enemy’s incursion into Virginia and the measures you were about to take in consequence at the request of the Governor, which I entirely approve—Before this, you will have been informed that your destination with the new levies and reinlisted men is to reinforce the Southern army—This appears to me a point so essential that I would not...
4323From George Washington to Edmund Randolph, 4 March 1795 (Washington Papers)
It is my desire that you would, with as little delay as can be avoided, examine all the acts of the last session of Congress; and report such parts as call for the particular attention of the Executive; that they may be put into a proper course of execution. L (letterpress copy), DNA : RG 59, Miscellaneous Letters; LB , DNA : RG 59, GW’s Correspondence with His Secretaries of State. The date,...
4324From George Washington to Colonel Henry Hollingsworth, 21 February 1778 (Washington Papers)
Your Letter of the 18th gives me pleasure by informing me that you have employed two active persons for the purpose of collecting Cattle and other articles of provision for the use of this Army, and that your brother whose zeal and knowledge of the Country will render him exceedingly useful is likewise exerting himself in this business; I am persuaded he will need no spur to his activity, if...
4325From George Washington to Nathaniel Stevens, 21 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
I should be glad to be informed by you, what quantity of Provisions, has within a few days arrived from the Eastward, & particularly of salted Meat from Connecticut, & what your immediate prospects are. I have written to the President of New Hampshire, urging that State to an immediate & regular compliance with the requisitions of Congress especially in the Article of Beef Cattle—I have also...
4326From George Washington to Major General Benjamin Lincoln, 19 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have wrote to General Herd to march the Militia assembled under his Command to this place —I am about making a new disposition of the Forces and shall give General Herd the necessary Orders upon his arrival here—You will send the 8th Pennsylvania Battalion commanded by Col: Broadhead to occupy the Posts General Herd leaves —You will please to give the Col: all the assistance in your power in...
4327From George Washington to John Cowper, 25 May 1788 (Washington Papers)
I have been duly favored with your letter of the 12th Inst. In answer thereto I beg leave to inform you that I am not disinclined to part with my moiety of the land purchased (by the deceased Colo. Fielding Lewis and myself) in North Carolina, provided a reasonable and adequate price can be obtained for it. For this land, that Gentleman and myself paid (to the best of my recollection) a...
4328From George Washington to Joseph Trumbull, 8 October 1776 (Washington Papers)
I have reciev’d your letter, requesting information, relative to the persons who are to draw the rations of the sick; ’Tis true, there was a general order, directing a payment of the rations, to the Director Genl, for those sick, who were lodg’d in the General hospital but the inconveniences, resulting to the sick, from this piece of duty being disputed and unsettled between the General and...
4329From George Washington to Thomas Barclay, 2 March 1789 (Washington Papers)
The letter which you addressed to me, on the 18th of last month, has come to hand; and requires that I should write to you a few words on the subject of it. Previous to the receipt of your letter, I had been apprised of your desires by Colo. Humphreys, and made acquainted with the favorable opinion of your services, entertained by the several public Characters from America in Europe. You will...
4330From George Washington to Henry Champion, Sr., 4 June 1779 (Washington Papers)
Our affairs are now at a most interesting crisis—The enemy appear to be bending their whole force in a vigorous operation against the Highland posts. We must take such positions as will render it impracticable to subsist the army, unless the most strenuous exertions are at once used to throw a very considerable quantity of Cattle on this side the river. You will instantly take every possible...
4331From George Washington to Nicholas Lewis, 16 November 1793 (Washington Papers)
While I acknowledge that all power is derived from the people, and that the Federal Government has been instituted for their happiness, I cannot but unite in the attachment expressed by the freemen of Albemarle to the Constitution of the U. States. Harmony with foreign Nations is a blessing which we ought to prize & to cherish; & from a desire of cultivating it the proclamation was issued....
4332From George Washington to James McHenry, 22 June 1799 (Washington Papers)
I have been desired by Mr Saml Love, of Loudoun County, in this State, to mention to you his wish to contract for furnishing Horses for the Army. I have informed him that I am unacquainted with the mode in which it is contemplated to obtain Horses, leaving the business of contracts & supplies to the departments to which they are assigned; but that I would mention his name to you in the way he...
4333From George Washington to John Jay, 30 November 1789 (Washington Papers)
The President of the United States presents his best Compliments to the Chief Justice of the United States and his Lady, and encloses them Tickets for the Theatre this evening. As this is the last night the President proposes visiting the theatre for the season, he cannot deny himself the gratification of requesting the company of the Chief Justice and his Lady—altho’ he begs at the same time...
4334From George Washington to Brigadier General Anthony Wayne, 9 November 1779 (Washington Papers)
I rode down to this place to see General Sullivan and to be in the way should the enemy, by their late preparations upon Staten Island seem to threaten any thing serious. But having heard nothing to make me beleive that they will come over in any considerable force I shall return part of the way to West point this Evening. From a variety of circumstances, but particularly for want of Water to...
4335From George Washington to Colonel Stephen Moylan, 5 January 1780 (Washington Papers)
The Board of War are anxious to compleat an arrangement of the four Regiments of Cavalry, and have wrote to me on that account —You will therefore be pleased to forward that of your Regiment as speedily as possible. As this will be put upon Record in the War office and will be the scale by which all future promotions will take place, I must request you to be as particular as possible in...
4336From George Washington to Brigadier General William Smallwood, 1 March 1778 (Washington Papers)
Yours of the 27th ulto was delivered to me by Express and that of the 28th by Colo. proctor, who saw the British Ships and Craft on their return, they had passed Marcus Hook. He says it was reported that they had burnt Salem, he does not know the truth of this, but he saw a great smoke in that quarter. When I heard last from Genl Wayne he was at Haddenfield, and I hope will return safe with...
4337From George Washington to the Massachusetts Council, 12 May 1779 (Washington Papers)
I do myself the Honor of transmitting you a Copy of an Act of Congress of the 1st Instant. The defenceless condition of the very important and interesting posts on Hudson’s river for the want of Cannon—and the impracticability of procuring ’em elsewhere, were the motives to it’s adoption. And I have directed General Heath to have the few heavy pieces belonging to the United States, which are...
4338From George Washington to Colonel Theodorick Bland, 24 July 1777 (Washington Papers)
The Enemy’s Fleet having left Sandy Hook and gone to Sea, you are requested to proceed forthwith with the Regiment under your Command to the City of Philadelphia and Receive directions from the Commanding Officer there. You will take no Heavy Baggage with you, but leave it to follow under the Care of an Officer & proper Guard. I am Sir Yr Most Ot Servant Df , in George Lewis’s writing, DLC:GW...
4339From George Washington to the U.S. Senate, 2 January 1795 (Washington Papers)
A spirit of discontent from several causes arose in the early part of the present year among the Six Nations of Indians, and particularly on the ground of a projected settlement by Pennsylvania at Presqu’ Isle upon Lake Erie. The papers upon this point have already been laid before Congress. It was deemed proper on my part to endeavour to tranquilize the Indians by pacific measures....
4340From George Washington to Anne-César, chevalier de La Luzerne, 23 May 1781 (Washington Papers)
The letter which I have the honor to inclose from the Count de Rochambeau will, I imagine, inform your Excellency of the intended march of the French Army towards the North River and the destination of the Kings Squadron now is the Harbour of New port, if circumstances will admit of the respective movements. I should be wanting in respect and confidence were I not to add that our object is New...
4341From George Washington to Thomas Wharton, Jr., 13 September 1777 (Washington Papers)
I must request you would immediately give some publick notice to the inhabitants of the City not to entertain or harbour the soldiers in their houses. And in order to oblige those, who have straggled into town, to join their respective corps, they are to deliver them up to the patroles, which will pass thro’ the town, in order to collect all stragglers & in case of refusal, to turn out, the...
4342From George Washington to Colonel Adam Stephen, 20 July 1776 (Washington Papers)
Your Letter of the 4th Instt came duly to hand. I thank you for yr kind congratulations on the discovery of the vile Machinations of still viler Ministerial Agents. I hope the untimely fruit of their Intentions will in the end recoil upon their own heads—all the measures heretofore projected, has done so I think, except in Canada, where an unaccountable kind of fatality seems to have attended...
4343From George Washington to Benjamin Lincoln, 4 December 1781 (Washington Papers)
I beg leave to refer to your attention the inclosed letter from Capt. Swan, particulary so much of it as respects the furnishing three hundred sets of Horse Accoutrements which only want Bits and Stirrups to compleat them. The swords which are the most essential Weapons for Dragoons with their Belts should also be procured if possible. I presume a certain proportion of Cloathing will be...
4344From George Washington to Eleazar Wheelock, 12 December 1775 (Washington Papers)
Cambridge 12 December 1775 . “Acknowledged receipt of two Letters. Thankd him for information respecting Major Rogers & inclosed a Letter for him, which was Saved with other papers thrown over board by Capt. Forster.” LB , in Stephen Moylan’s writing, DLC:GW ; Varick transcript , DLC:GW . The abstract is taken from the memorandum in the letter book. No copy of the full letter has been found,...
4345From George Washington to William Cooper, 20 February 1796 (Washington Papers)
The lands which I hold on, or near the Mohawk river, are in Partnership with Mr Clinton (late Govr of New York) who has had, & continues still to have (by a Power of Attorney) the disposal of them. It is not in my power to inform you at what price he has lately sold any—but of this you can easily be informed by a line to that Gentleman. Or if you desire it, I will write to him myself on the...
4346From George Washington to Thomas Jefferson, 26 February 1792 (Washington Papers)
The P—— returns the enclosed Report to Mr J—— Boundary, and the Navigation of the Missisipi are clearly defined—The propositions respecting Commerce he presumes is equally so, but having little knowledge of this subject he trusts to the guards provided by Mr J——. The P—— has put one or two queries in the Margin of the Report merely for consideration. AL , DLC : Thomas Jefferson Papers. For...
4347From George Washington to Alexander Hamilton, 31 August 1792 (Washington Papers)
The enclosed Letter was written agreeably to the date, but by an accident, was omitted when my other letters were sent to the post office on Monday last; since wch ‘till yesterday afternoon, I have been absent from home. On my return, amongst other Letters I found the enclosed from the Inspector of the 5th survey in the State of North Carolina. The picture drawn by him of the temper of the...
4348From George Washington to Francis Adrian Van der Kemp, 27 September 1788 (Washington Papers)
The letter with which you was pleased to favor me dated the 29th of Augt came duly to hand, and afforded me the pleasure of hearing that you had made a purchase agreeable to your wishes in the vicinity of Esopus—I sincerely hope that it may prove an agreeable retreat, and a happy Asylum from your late troubles in Holland. The Mangal Root which you saw growing in my Garden is not, I believe, of...
4349From George Washington to Major General Stirling, 25 May 1779 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of yesterday inclosing a plan of operations for the ensuing campaign came to my hands this Morning—Communications of this kind are always pleasing to me, because it is my earnest wish to avail myself of every useful hint, and to have my own opinions strengthned by the concurrance of others—but where circumstances are either not well known, or not duly ballanced, a plan may appear...
4350From George Washington to Thomas Johnson, 6 March 1795 (Washington Papers)
About the 20th of last month I received a letter from you dated at George Town the 12th of Jany—but which, I presume, ought to have been dated the 12th of February. It came to hand at a time when the Session of Congress was drawing to a close, and of course when the business of it pressed upon me. I therefore laid it aside to be acknowledged by Mr Potts, but missing that opportunity, I was...