31To George Washington from Brigadier General Anthony Wayne, 2 September 1778 (Washington Papers)
In Obedience to your Excellencies Desire I have Maturely Considered the Questions which you were pleased to put to the Board of General Officers yesterday, the purport of which was As to the first, I can’t Conceive what Advantage we should Derive from any Movement to the Eastward at this time —on the Contrary would we not by a Movement that way give an Opening to the Enemy to cut off all our...
32To George Washington from Brigadier General Anthony Wayne, 7 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
In Obedience to your Orders of the 2nd from Fish Kill, I sent Lieut. Colo. Williams with a Proper Detatchment to Repair the Road to Litchfield. Quarter Master Alexander has just Returned & makes the following Report of the Road & Encamping Grounds viz. 1st days March from Genl St Clair Quarters to Talmans & Soles, Bridges 12 Miles 2nd To Preston 10 Miles (very Stony Road) 3rd To Mount Tom 8...
33To George Washington from Brigadier General Anthony Wayne, 18 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have Deliberately Considered the State of facts which your Excellency was pleased to lay before the Council of General Officers, together with the Questions Arising therefrom. The first of which has already been Decided upon by Determining that a Detatchment shall March towards Boston. The Season being now far Advanced—and the troops begining to Suffer from the Keeness of the Weather & want...
34To George Washington from Anthony Wayne, 27 November 1778 (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Anthony Wayne, 27 Nov. 1778. On 28 Nov., GW wrote Wayne : “I recd yours of Yesterday late last Evening.”
35To George Washington from Brigadier General Anthony Wayne, 20 January 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have been long wishing for the pleasure of seeing you in Camp but Conclude from the Multiplicity of Buisness in which you are Engaged that it will be some time before we shall Experience that Satisfaction. Our City is completely finished. it’s Regularity is equal to any on the Continent—& it’s Internal police at least as regular as that of Phila. I can Assure your Excellency that we are much...
36To George Washington from Brigadier General Anthony Wayne, 10 February 1779 (Washington Papers)
I did myself the Honor of writing to you the 20th ultimo mentioning that I was necessitated to be here at the meeting of the Assembly of this State—& that I shou’d take the liberty of waiting on you the first of this Instant for leave of Absence . I was unfortunately deprived of the pleasure of seeing you by passing down the Jersey shore whilst you were on your way for camp on the Pennsa side...
37To George Washington from Brigadier General Anthony Wayne, 28 February 1779 (Washington Papers)
Having been absent from this City on a Visit to my farm—it was not until this moment I had the Honor of Recg your favor of the 16th, it gives me sincere pleasure to find that the Construction, and Disposition of the Pennsa Barracks meet your Approbation. when the Arrangement of the Army ⟨ mutilated pe⟩rmit the formation ⟨ mutilated ⟩ny movement ⟨ mutilated ⟩py to Receive ⟨ mutilated ⟩. In the...
38To George Washington from Brigadier General Anthony Wayne, 23 March 1779 (Washington Papers)
I am this moment Honored with your’s of the 16th Containing the Affidavits & Extract of a letter from Govr Levingston, the Enclosed Naritive of Mr Archer will shew you something of the Nature of the Complaint —I hope it will [not] be persuming too much on your Excellency’s good nature to Recapitulate the Circumstances which Immediately relate to myself. some time in January—at an early hour in...
39To George Washington from Brigadier General Anthony Wayne, 16 April 1779 (Washington Papers)
From a full Conviction that a well disciplined Corps of Horse & foot (under good Officers) would be of the Utmost Utility—as well as from a wish to serve two Worthy young Gentlemen: i.e. Mr McPherson & Mr Archer—I took the Liberty to Suggest to some members of Congress & of the board of War, the Idea of raising two Companies of Infantry to Consist of One Hundred light men, to be Annexed to...
40To George Washington from Brigadier General Anthony Wayne, 18 May 1779 (Washington Papers)
I was honored with yours of the 8th Instant, & am fully convinced of the force, as well as propriety of your Objections to the plan which I took the Liberty to Suggest—Indeed the reasons against it are so just, & so pointed that had they sooner Occured, I certainly shou’d not have Intruded upon your Excellencies time & patience on that Occation. I am now to Inform you that I have succeeded so...
41To George Washington from Brigadier General Anthony Wayne, 3 July 1779 (Washington Papers)
In Obedience to your Excellencies Orders I have Reconnoitre the Situation of the Enemy at Stony point & the approaches to them in the best manner that Circumstances would admit & Returned late last evening to this place. The sketch herewith transmitted (which differs but little from that made the Other day by Colo. Butler) will give you a General Idea of the Strength of their Works on the West...
42To George Washington from Brigadier General Anthony Wayne, 4 July 1779 (Washington Papers)
I took the Liberty to mention to your Excellency the difficulty that the Light Corps experience in receiving the necessary Supplies of Clothing not being in a Situation to Apply to their Respective Regiments for the articles they may from time to time want. to remedy which, the Field Officers of the Corps propose the following plan Viz. “A Brigade Quarter Master to be Appointed to each Brigade...
43To George Washington from Brigadier General Anthony Wayne, 9 July 1779 (Washington Papers)
Enclosed is a Letter from Genl St Clair who has sent Lieut. Butler (a Brother of the Colonels[)] to take the place of Lieut. Gibbons in the Infantry—I believe them both deserving Spirited young Officers—but can’t think myself justified in the Exchange of any Officer belonging to the Corps—least it shou’d lay a pre[ce]dent for Other exchanges from every Division and every Regement in the...
44To George Washington from Brigadier General Anthony Wayne, 10 July 1779 (Washington Papers)
Your Excellency must have Observed how wretched our Officers were armed—many of them without any—of Consequence should they ever come to a Charge in place of producing an example of fortitude to their men they must Inevitably be the first to give way—an example much easier adopted by the human mind than the former— especially by the private Soldier who can’t conceive his Honor or duty...
45To George Washington from Brigadier General Anthony Wayne, 14 July 1779 (Washington Papers)
I am this moment honored with your’s of this day & note the Contents—I shall effect the Interview you wish in the least Suspicious manner possible. every thing will be in readiness at the time you mention—I shall do myself the Honor to enclose you the plan & Disposition tomorrow. Interim I am Your Excellencies Most Obt Huml. Sert ALS (photocopy), ViU : Gwathney Autograph Collection microfilm;...
46To George Washington from Brigadier General Anthony Wayne, 15 July 1779 (Washington Papers)
On the 11th Colonels Butler & Febeger with myself Reconnoitred the Enemies works at Stoney point in the most Satisfactory manner possible—and are decidedly of Opinion that two attacks & one faint ought to be made agreeable to the Enclosed plan & Disposition, which I now transmit. by the unanimous Voice of the Field Officers present as well as by your Excellencies permission, I have ventured to...
47To George Washington from Brigadier General Anthony Wayne, 16 July 1779 (Washington Papers)
The fort & Garrison with Colo. Johnston are ours—Our Officers & men behaved like men who are determined to be free. Yours Most Sincerely ALS , DLC:GW ; copy, enclosed in GW to George Clinton, this date, sold by Christie’s, Sale No. 1770, 5 Dec. 2006, no. 324. A letter from GW’s secretary Robert Hanson Harrison to an unknown recipient, written on this date, reads: “His Excellency requests you...
48To George Washington from Brigadier General Anthony Wayne, 16 July 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have now the pleasure to assure you of the surrender of the Fort, at Stoney Point; and transmit you herewith, a return of the Killed, wounded, prisoners, ordinance, and military stores. It is with infinite satisfaction I acknowledge to you, that the officers, and men under my command behaved with the greatest bravery, and fortitude. Too much praise cannot be given to Leiutenant Colo. Fleury,...
49To George Washington from Brigadier General Anthony Wayne, 17 July 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have the honor of giving you a full & particular relation of the reduction of this post by the light Infantry under my command. On the 15th instant at twelve o Clock we took up our line of march from Sandy beach, distant 14 miles from this place; The roads being exceedingly bad and narrow, and having to pass over high mountains, through deep morasses, and difficult defiles, we were obliged...
50To George Washington from Brigadier General Anthony Wayne, 20 July 1779 (Washington Papers)
Your’s of this date I recd this Moment —Mr Archer’s Conduct as well as Major Fishbourns was highly Meritorious, the Circumstances you mention of Mr Archers having no Rank in our Line Induces me to wish him to be the Messenger—otherwise from equal Merit Major Fishbourn wou’d expect it—I could spare them both a little time as I shall be Obliged to retire for a few days. The Officers who led the...
51To George Washington from Brigadier General Anthony Wayne, 27 July 1779 (Washington Papers)
The Circumstances situation & Numbers of this Army, as well as that of the Enemy—which your Excellency was pleased to lay before the Council of General Officers last evening —I have fully Considered, & am of Opinion that something ought to be attempted in order to draw Genl Clinton’s attention towards Kings Ferry, which will not only give great Security to the Adjacent States—but leave it in...
52To George Washington from Brig. Gen. Anthony Wayne, 30 July 1779 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found : from Brig. Gen. Anthony Wayne, 30 July 1779. GW wrote Wayne on this day: “Your favor of this date came duly to hand.”
53To George Washington from Brigadier General Anthony Wayne, 31 July 1779 (Washington Papers)
It was not until 10. OClock this morning that I was honored with your favor of yesterday, (& not as Commanding Officer of the Light Corps, but as your Excellency desires ) I now give my Opinion on the point you require. The Enemy will certainly profit so far by their late misfortune at Stoney point, as to provide for, or guard against a Surprize, & to find out, & Strengthen the most Vulnerable...
54To George Washington from Brigadier General Anthony Wayne, 18 August 1779 (Washington Papers)
A deserter from the 64t British who left Stoney point last night Informs that it was reported, that a Large fleet of Shipping with troops on board had arrived at Sandy Hook, that Sixty Transports was said to be proceeding up the River—but knows nothing of the Intentions of the Enemy, they continue hard at work on their fortifications & have enclosed them in the Rear with Pickets—& Surrounded...
55To George Washington from Brigadier General Anthony Wayne, 30 August 1779 (Washington Papers)
I believe every man has his Volarnarable part—& if ever a poor fellow was more sorely tro[u]bled to find it out than me, I sin[c]erely pity him. When you can have a Leisure Moment I wish you to ⟨peruse⟩ the Enclosed as Numbered—I believe the cause of Complaint is removed & harmony again taken place. I do not think it Originated in this Corps—at le[a]st I have some ground to apprehend the...
56To George Washington from Brigadier General Anthony Wayne, 7 September 1779 (Washington Papers)
I returned late last evening from Reconnoitring the Enemy at Stoney point, & find that they have nearly Completed their works —which Consist of One Advanced Redoubt on the Hill Commanding the ferry, way enclosed & finished, with a good Abbatis & Block House to fire over the parapet in barbet. The large work is also Enclosed the parapet raised much higher than usual & fraised in the most...
57To George Washington from Brigadier General Anthony Wayne, 14 September 1779 (Washington Papers)
Enclosed is a Letter from Mr Measam proposing the Clothing of the Light Corps in a Complete Uniform of Blue & Red —as many of them are very Ragged—especially the Virginia Line whose coats are so worn out that they are Obliged to Substitute Linnen hunting Shi[r]ts—and as the Corps is made up of Officers & men from each Line—it can’t be deemed partiallity to any One State when a proportion of...
58To George Washington from Anthony Wayne, 20 Sept. 1779 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found : from Anthony Wayne, 20 Sept. 1779. On 21 Sept., GW wrote Wayne: “Your letter of yesterday evening came to hand late last night.”
59To George Washington from Brigadier General Anthony Wayne, 23 September 1779 (Washington Papers)
I was honored with yours of the 21st Instant on my return from the Enemies Lines last evening, containing a Complaint of a Young Gecock concerning some violences said to be committed against him in my Corps. I shall agreeable to your Excellency’s Orders give you the Circumstances & Cause of that treatment as far as came within my knowledge. a Constant & Disorderly practice of fireing in the...
60To George Washington from Brigadier General Anthony Wayne, 24 September 1779 (Washington Papers)
I intended to do myself the honor of waiting on you this morning, but my foot being a little painful, & the appearance of the Sixteen Gun Sloop of War, with a Galley & a few boats round the Dunderberg point, determined me to remain in my Quarters, shou’d anything further turn up your Excellency may depend upon the earliest Intelligence. I wished to have spoke to you on Major McCormicks affair...