1711To George Washington from Colonel Oliver Spencer, 18 February 1777 (Washington Papers)
Notwithstanding Capt. Lyon has resigned as a Capt. in Coll Lee’s Regiment, I Do not think it was altogether, from his being Disapointed of some Expected Preferment in Some others, but, the Improbability of Col. Lee’s Regt being filled. Capt. Lyon has a fondness to the Service and I beleive would Accept of a Company in my Regt if your Excellency Approves of it, an answer will much Oblige your...
1712To George Washington from Brigadier General Philemon Dickinson, 19 February 1777 (Washington Papers)
By a person this moment returned from Brunswick whom I sent in on purpose; I have rec’d the following Intelligence, which I believe may be depended upon viz. Genl Howe & Lt Piercy arrived at Amboy on thursday last, with a reinforcement of five thousand Men, at which time one thousand men arrived at Brunswick —They are in great want of Forage at Brunswk & intend to come out very strong in a few...
1713To George Washington from Col. John Fitzgerald, 19 February 1777 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Col. John Fitzgerald, 19 Feb. 1777. Fitzgerald’s letter to GW of 19 Feb . begins: “Since Sealing my letter of this date.”
1714To George Washington from Colonel John Fitzgerald, 19 February 1777 (Washington Papers)
Since Sealing my letter of this date I met Maj. Morris, who told me he had now wrote a Letter to Sr Willm Howe, which in his Opinion could not be object’d to, & which he proposes sending by me. I have taken a Copy of it, which I Inclose for your Excellys Consideration—He shew’d me a Pamphlet he wrote in England & says he only wishes to act consistent with the Declarations made therein, & I am...
1715To George Washington from Colonel Thomas Lowrey, 19 February 1777 (Washington Papers)
By Information from Brunswick last night I have to inform your Excellency, the Body of English Troops now lying at Brunswick & the Landing have had a late Reinforcemt, the whole consists of between seven & eight thousand Men, This day a number more of them is expected to the same places—Genl Howe & Ld Piercy are arrived at Amboy with a number of Troops, it is expected a movemt will be made in...
1716To George Washington from Brigadier General Samuel Holden Parsons, 19 February 1777 (Washington Papers)
The Friends of Capt. Wells of Glassenbury in the State of Connectt have applied to me to procure Him exchangd & releasd from his Imprisonment; As tis not a Matter I am impowerd to transact I have referd them to your Excellency Capt. Wells’s Case is perhaps as distressing as that of any Prisoner, A Numerous Young Family, his Wife an Invalid; his Parents very aged these are the Persons who...
1717To George Washington from the Continental Congress Executive Committee, 20 February 1777 (Washington Papers)
The enclosed papers were sent to our Office this morning by the Council of Safety for our direction upon the subject matter of their contents: but we have deemed it the more elegible to transmit them to your Excellency and at the same time We beg leave to recal your attention to our letter to you respecting these prisoners wrote some time since. General Gates, who is now present, and to whom...
1718To George Washington from Brigadier General Philemon Dickinson, 20 February 1777 (Washington Papers)
Immediately upon the Receipt of your Excellency’s Letter, I sent an Express to Genl Putnam, & shall agreable to your request, give the earliest Intelligence of the Situation & movements of the Enemy, to Genl Green—I shall send into Brunswick on Saturday next, & hope to receive some interesting Intelligence; by the return of the Person sent. I have added a second Picket, they both stand 1¼...
1719To George Washington from Major General Nathanael Greene, 20 February 1777 (Washington Papers)
Your favor of the 18th came to hand last Evening—I shall pay due attention to its contents—but I fear my situation is too remote to carry on a communication of intelligence to advantage—Ever since I have been here I have been revolving the matter over and over in my mind respecting the subject of intelligence Nothing more elligible has occurd than the plan your Excellency suggests—but I hope...
1720To George Washington from William Livingston, 20 February 1777 (Washington Papers)
I received a Letter from Collo. Shreve yesterday from Burlington applying for a Barrack Master & Commissary, for wood & for straw; & informing me that the Barracks want repair; from what I collect that the Collo. intends to make Burlington the Seat of his Residence longer than I think his Duty to the Service, requires—He has not furnished me with a Return; but I am informd that he has with him...
1721To George Washington from Robert Carter Nicholas, 20 February 1777 (Washington Papers)
My Son, Majr Nicholas, of the 10th Regiment embodied in Virginia, will have the Honor of presenting you with this Letter. Presuming on the Intimacy & Frindship I have had the Pleasure of cultivating with you, I take the Liberty of recommending him to your Countenance & Civilities. He stept forth very young in the Service of his Country & I trust will ever continue warmly devoted to her truest...
1722To George Washington from Capt. Benjamin Tallmadge, 20 February 1777 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Capt. Benjamin Tallmadge, 20 Feb. 1777. GW wrote to Tallmadge on 1 Mar . “in answer to yours of the 20th last Month.”
1723To George Washington from Lieutenant Colonel John Brooks, 21 February 1777 (Washington Papers)
Major Willm Hull, the Gentleman your Excellency was pleased to appoint to Colo. Michael Jackson’s Regt, finds some inconvenience in not haveing his Commission As your Excellency gave him his appointment (in the Room of Major Swasey) the Commissioners of this State, do not think, they have a Right to commissionate him. Coll Jackson still continues very lame & unfit for Duty; and I have no body...
1724To George Washington from the Continental Congress Executive Committee, 21 February 1777 (Washington Papers)
We have just rec’d the inclosed resolves from Congress which the President desires us to send forward to you, & we have the pleasure to inform you they are to adjourn next Tuesday from Baltimore to Philadelphia where we hope they may long remain undisturbed, so that the Public business may meet that dispatch which is now become so essentially necessary. Your Excellency will find herein a...
1725To George Washington from the New Hampshire Committee of Safety, 21–22 February 1777 (Washington Papers)
The Committee had the Honour to receive yours of the 23d Ulto. And are very Sensible of the great Dificulty’s you have been reduced to for want of a Regular Army. And at the Same time are Agreably surprized with the Glorious Stand you have made with so few men, and many of those wholly undisiplined. The Officers appointed for the new Army, have but lately come home, and without money to pay...
1726To George Washington from Richard Peters, 21 February 1777 (Washington Papers)
I am directed by the Board of War to inform you that it is the Opinion of Congress that the Men of the Corps of Virginia Light Horse under the Command of Major Bland receive the usual Bounty on their reinlisting for three Years or during the War into the Continental Service. General Ward having declined the Command of the Eastern Department I have it in Direction to enclose a Copy of his...
1727To George Washington from Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 21 February 1777 (Washington Papers)
I am honoured with yours of the first Instant and altho it would have made me very happy to have been able to procure a release of all our Officers in Captivity, I freely acknowlege and acquiesce in the Justice and Impartiality of the Measures You have taken respecting them. We have now granted to our Proportion of the sixteen Battallions the additional Bounty of Thirty three Dollars and one...
1728To George Washington from Brigadier General David Wooster, 21 February 1777 (Washington Papers)
I take this oppertunity to acquaint Your Excellency, that since General Heaths departure to Boston, I have taken Post at this place, with seven hundred men exclusive of Officers, being part of three Regiments from Connecticut, and Colol Humphreys Regt from the State of New York; which consists only of eighty five men Rank & file. Two Men of War lay continualy off this place; And at...
1729To George Washington from Brigadier General John Armstrong, 22 February 1777 (Washington Papers)
On my return from Baltimore & travelling the West⟨ern⟩ part of the County of York, I am favoured with your Excellencys Letter of the 19th Ulto —and Sorry to find that so few of the Pennsylvania Militia who were actually on foot ever reached to head Quarters & also for the Short Stay of those who did—when I spoke of 20,000 it was including the bones of the Old Army & her few new recruits. The...
1730To George Washington from Landon Carter, 22 February 1777 (Washington Papers)
If any thing could alleviate my feelings for you in your Pro virili retreat indeed! A Small remnant of an army, who respected their general & their country, more than they did a visit to their wives and families, under all the ravagements & ravishments of an enimy, if not properly withstood: I say if any thing could alleviate such feelings, it was my active anxiousness, to encourage the...
1731To George Washington from the Continental Congress Executive Committee, 22 February 1777 (Washington Papers)
We have dispatched an express to Congress this Morning with your letter of the 20th which will be with them in time to prevent their adjournment next Tuesday from Baltimore, We have had a Conference with the Council of Safety and after Communicating to them the intelligence Contained in your Excellencys letters to Genl Gates and that to Congress We requested them to give immediate orders for...
1732To George Washington from Colonel Thomas Hartley, 22 February 1777 (Washington Papers)
I received your Favour of the 3d inst. recommending Lieutenant Harrison—and tho’ an Appointment had in some Measure taken Place, yet hope to be able to take in Mr Harrison—I have wrote to him to meet me at Baltimore next Week—when I shall fix the Matter. I intended to have gone towards Virginia last Week—but the Recruiting Service hereabout, and the Providing Arms prevented it. The greater...
1733To George Washington from William Livingston, 22 February 1777 (Washington Papers)
In pursuance of the inclosed Resolution I am to desire the Favour of your Excellency to explain the Nature of the Oath to be Administred by virtue of your Proclamation, as soon as your Leisure will permit. I have had frequent Complaints of the Troops stationed at the two Ferries at Trenton, & at another above it, respecting their Conduct towards Passengers; As that they oblige them under...
1734To George Washington from Brigadier General George Clinton, 23 February 1777 (Washington Papers)
Being summoned to attend Convention a Day or two before the Express arrived here with your Excellency’s Letter of the 19th Instt I had not the Pleasure of receiving it till on my Return Home Yesterday Evening—Before this can reach your Excellency you will doubtless have a Return of the Men raised in this & Orange County pursuant to a Resolve of the Convention of this State with any Orders to...
1735To George Washington from Major General Horatio Gates, 23 February 1777 (Washington Papers)
I had the Honour to receive your Letters of the 19th & 20th on Fryday Night, The principal parts thereof have been fully answer’d by the Honble The Committee of Congss, their Letter will also be deliverd to Your Excellency by Colonel Fitzgerald; Colonel De Haas left this City the day after I sett out for Morris Town, & is not yet returnd, I understand his Son was extreamly Ill, which...
1736To George Washington from John Hancock, 23 February 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have the Honour to enclose you sundry Resolves of Congress, to which I have only Time to refer your Attention, nor indeed, is any Thing further necessary as they are so very explicit. I have forwarded Commissions to the Majors General, and shall forward, by the next Opportunity, Commissions for the Brigadiers General. As I am empowered to adjourn the Congress from Baltimore to Philada on...
1737To George Washington from Brigadier General Peter Muhlenberg, 23 February 1777 (Washington Papers)
The Honble The Continental Congress, pass’d a Resolve the 21st of last Month, Ordering that part of my Regiment, which was still to the Southward to return to Virginia, & that all the Companies belonging to the Regiment, should be Recruited to their full Complement of Men, & Marchd to Camp as soon as Compleat. The Detachment from the Southward Arrivd here this Week, in a Shattred Condition,...
1738To George Washington from Brigadier General Samuel Holden Parsons, 23 February 1777 (Washington Papers)
having receivd Information that a Vessel was laden with Provisions in a Harbour on the East End of Long Island & bound to New York I sent Lt Wait with a Party of Men to bring her over to the Main; they left this Place the 16th Inst., but the Shippers of the Wheat &c. having receivd some Information of the Party coming over, removd the Provisions into different Parts remote from the Water that...
1739To George Washington from Jonathan Bryan, 24 February 1777 (Washington Papers)
24 February 1777 . “The Bearer John White Esquire is appointed Colonel of the fourth Battalion of Musquetry, for the State of Georgia; and as we are in great want of Men, we are obliged to send him to the northern States, on the recruiting Service.... Your Excellency we are well assured will give him every indulgence & encouragement, when we inform you of our alarming Situation, surrounded...
1740To George Washington from Maj. Gen. Stirling, 24 February 1777 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Maj. Gen. Stirling, 24 Feb. 1777. GW wrote Stirling on 25 Feb . that “I was last night favoured with your Letter of the 24th Instt.”