41From George Washington to George Clinton, 23 July 1778 (Washington Papers)
I was last Night favd with yours, communicating the distressing accounts of the Ravages of the Indians upon the frontier of this State. I wish it were in my power to afford an adequate Releif, but as you are well acquainted with our force, and with what we have to oppose, I am certain you will think that I have done every thing possible. Colo. Butler having shifted his ground before my orders...
42From George Washington to George Clinton, 17 August 1778 (Washington Papers)
Mr Benson having signified to me, that you would stand in need of a flag to conduct some persons to the enemy’s lines on the 19th instant; I am to inform Your Excellency, that an officer will attend at Fish Kill on the day appointed to receive and execute the orders, which shall be given him for that purpose. I have the honor to be With the greatest respect Sir, Your most Obedt servt LS , in...
43From George Washington to George Clinton, 28 August 1778 (Washington Papers)
By a letter received this day from Colonel Malcom I learn that the time of service for which the militia in the Highlands is engaged is very near expiring. I am to request you will be pleased to order out a relief of from 500 to 1000 as expeditiously as possible. Besides the call for them to carry on the defences of the river, there is at this juncture an additional necessity for their...
44From George Washington to George Clinton, 1 September 1778 (Washington Papers)
I am extremely sorry that it is in my power to inform you, that a Captain Colson of the 5th Virginia Regiment a few days ago, violently wounded a Mr Vantassel of this State, of which he died in a little time after —The moment I was apprised of it, I directed a Letter to be written & sent to Genl Muhlenburg, to whose Brigade he belonged, to have him secured, in order that he might be delivered...
45From George Washington to George Clinton, 25 September 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have been honoured with yours of the 20th and 24th instants; the latter by Mr Harkermir who gives a melancholy account of the distresses of the inhabitants at the German Flatts. To defend an extensive frontier against the incursions of a desultory Enemy is next to impossible; but still if you think the addition of another Regiment, ill as I can spare it, or a change of position in the troops...
46From George Washington to George Clinton, 2 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
Capt. Machin has been employed since the year 1776 in the engineering Branch, without ever coming to any regular settlement for his Services. He does not chuse to fix any price himself, and I am really ignorant of what is just and proper. You have been a witness of a good deal of his work, and he is willing to submit the matter to your decision. Captain Machin holds a Commission in the...
47From George Washington to George Clinton, 8 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
I recd yours of yesterday inclosing a letter from General Nixon and a deposition respecting the abuse of several inhabitants of this State by some Officers of the Army. I shall immediately order the Officers to be secured untill Civil process shall issue against them. A flag Boat was standing up the River yesterday, with directions to proceed as far as Fishkill landing to take off the family...
48From George Washington to George Clinton, 16 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
I am favd with yours of the 15th containing the disagreeable account of the further ravages committed by the Indians. I will immediately order one Regiment to be held ready for the frontier service, and if, upon making a general arrangement of the Army, I find that more can be spared, I will make an addition to the number. As I am unacquainted with the direction of Anaquaga I shall be obliged...
49From George Washington to George Clinton, 17 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
I had the honor of writing to your Excellency yesterday, requesting your advice on the proposed expedition against Anaquaga. I have given Col. Cortland orders to get his regiment well clad, and prepared without delay, for this purpose, and to wait upon you himself to consult you fully on the most expeditious mode of proceeding and the previous measures proper to be taken. If the troops already...
50From George Washington to George Clinton, 18 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
I received your Excellency’s favour of yesterday in the Evening—Previous to that, I had written you a second letter on the subject of the expedition to Anaquaga; informing you, among other particulars, that Col. Cortlandts regiment was immediately to proceed to Poughkepsie and that the Col. himself would wait upon you to consult you fully on the measures proper to be taken. The representation...
51From George Washington to George Clinton, 19 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
I last evening recd the inclosed from Congress with a request that I would take measures for carrying the plan recommended by Colo. Hartley into execution. The advices which I have just recd from different quarters bear the strongest marks of an immediate evacuation of New York. These considerations induce me, should it be deemed expedient, to make an addition to Colonel Cortlands command by...
52From George Washington to George Clinton, 20 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have just recd the inclosed from Albany. It serves to shew the hostile intentions of the Indian Enemy, and consequently the necessity of counteracting them as vigorously as possible. I am with great Esteem Your Excellency’s most obt Servt LS , in Tench Tilghman’s writing, CSmH ; Df , DLC:GW ; Varick transcript , DLC:GW . GW enclosed the letter from Indian agent James Deane to Maj. Gen....
53From George Washington to George Clinton, 21 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
It is of the utmost importance that we should be thoroughly acquainted with the resources of this State in regard to Flour. Can it be procured in any considerable quantity, it will not only save the immense expence that arises upon the transportation from Jersey, Pennsylvania and Maryland, but it will enable us to lay up suitable Magazines, which I fear we shall not be able to establish...
54From George Washington to George Clinton, 24 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
Inclosed you have Colo. Butlers Journal of his expedition against Unadilla and Anaquaga You will perceive from that the Route he pursued and the difficulties he met from the Waters, even at this Season. Perhaps this may be of some service to you in forming a decisive opinion upon the Chemung expedition. Be pleased to return this Journal and Colonel Hartleys when you have done with them. I am...
55From George Washington to George Clinton, 2 November 1778 (Washington Papers)
I am honored with yours of yesterday, inclosing an Act of the legislature of your State empowering the Commy, under certain restrictions, to seize all Wheat, Flour or Meal in hands of Forestallers; or Wheat of the Year 1777 and Years preceding. I have immediately, in the absence of the Commissary General, transmitted this salutary law to the Asst Commy General, who is with the Army, that he...
56From George Washington to George Clinton, 5 November 1778 (Washington Papers)
I last evening recd the inclosed letter and depositions from Congress, from which it appears that the inhabitants of Minisink are under apprehensions of another visit from the enemy. Under present appearances I think Colo. Cortlands Regiment may as well move over towards Delaware and take such a position as will best answer the purpose of protecting the settlements. Upon delivery of the...
57From George Washington to George Clinton, 5 November 1778 (Washington Papers)
I shall be exceedingly obliged to you for information, either from your own knowledge or that of others, whether there is a possibility of marching a Body of troops from the head of Susquehannah across the Country to Niagara. Among many other Routes pointed out for carrying the War into the Indian Country, when circumstances will permit, the above has been mentioned as one. The distance...
58From George Washington to George Clinton, 18 November 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have this moment recd your Excellency’s favr of yesterday containing the disagreeable account of the destruction of Cherry Valley settlement, the loss of Fort Alden and of Colo. Aldens Regiment. Upon the first intimation of the seige of the Fort, which I recd from Genl Hand by letter of the 13th, I directed Brig: Genl James Clinton to march immediately to Albany with the two remaining...
59From George Washington to George Clinton, 29 November 1778 (Washington Papers)
I was favoured to day with your Letter of the 26 Instant. It gave me extreme concern to hear of the complaint, which you transmitted. There is nothing I wish for more, than a happy understanding between the Inhabitants and every part of the Army—and this I have constantly endeavoured to promote. I have written to Major Strang & Mr Hyatt, inclosing a Letter to Major Lee with a copy of the...
60From George Washington to George Clinton, 29 December 1778 (Washington Papers)
I received Your favor of the 18th Instant and am sorry for the accident that has happened to Mr McDowell. Whether his Barn was destroyed through design or otherwise—does not alter the injury as to him—and he seems equally intitled to reparation in either case. I do not know, however, that I am authorised to direct it to be made, and therefore shall be under the necessity of submitting the...
61From George Washington to George Clinton, 25 January 1779 (Washington Papers)
Your favor of the 29th December only reached me a few days ago—I shall lay before Congress, that part of Your Excellency’s letter, which respects the payment of those supplies which you were under the necessity of taking out of the regular line—after the loss of the Highland Posts—as it is not in my power to order the present Quarter Master and Commissary General to discharge accounts prior to...
62From George Washington to George Clinton, 4 March 1779 (Washington Papers)
The president of Congress has transmitted me Your Excellencys letter to the delegates of New York, representing the calamitous situation of the North Western frontier of that State—accompanied by a similar application from the Pennsilvania Assembly—and a Resolve of the 25th directing me to take the most effectual Measures for the protection of the inhabitants and chastisement of the indians....
63From George Washington to George Clinton, 6 March 1779 (Washington Papers)
The annexed Letter written previous to the Receipt of Your Excelly’s favor of the 3d inst. will serve as an Answer to the principal part of its contents. The intelligence I have to communicate to Your Excelly is I apprehend, no more than will have already been transmitted to you by the Delegates of your State. It is in brief as follows—That the King of Spain has declared he will not be an...
64From George Washington to George Clinton, 12 March 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have received the letter which Your Excellency did me the honor to write the 7th inst: with the depositions of Capt. Laurence and Thomas Minor—relative to Col. Holdridges seisure of the schooner General Howe. As I am informed that a complaint on the same subject has been laid before Congress—and am ignorant what orders they may have given in consequence—I have given conditional directions to...
65From George Washington to George Clinton, 15–16 March 1779 (Washington Papers)
The 1st April ensuing the times of about a 1000 of the troops under the command of Genl McDougall will expire. These returning home will leave the Highland posts in a state much weaker than is proper for them to experience in the approaching Season. I shall endeavour to replace them as far as in my power—But in addition to what I may be able to do, it will be expedient to fall upon some plan...
66From George Washington to George Clinton, 5 April 1779 (Washington Papers)
The time not being very remote, in which our intended operations must commence—it is necessary to put some of the troops designed for the expedition in motion, to the several points from whence they are to operate. In consequence of this—the troops now at Minisink will be immediately ordered from that post. As this circumstance may create apprehensions in the minds of the people for their...
67From George Washington to George Clinton, 9 April 1779 (Washington Papers)
In the close of my letter of the 5th Instant, I had the pleasure to acknowlege your favors of the 18th & 21st Ultimo. Besides the 80 battalions of Infantry, it is the intention of Congress to preserve as many of the 16 additional and other corps as can be kept up by means of incorporation, or continued in their present condition—considering at the same time such of the men composing these...
68From George Washington to George Clinton, 17 April 1779 (Washington Papers)
It is determined, that the force, which is to move by way of the Mohawk River, upon the intended Expedition, shall rendezvous at Conojohare by the 10th of May. This will oblige me to call off the detachments from General Clintons Brigade which are now at Saratogha, Lake George and some other places upon your northern Frontier. Warners Regiment will remain but by a letter which I recd from...
69From George Washington to George Clinton, 3 May 1779 (Washington Papers)
I am honored with your favor of the 25th of last month. The readiness with which you comply with all my requests, in prosecution of the Public service has a claim to my warmest acknowledgments. I am glad to hear of the measures the state has taken for raising a thousand men, and of your expectation that the number would be soon completed—I hope the intelligence from Col. Cantine will not...
70From George Washington to George Clinton, 15 May 1779 (Washington Papers)
It appears by the certificates in possession of Thomas Done, the bearer of this letter that he was a soldier in a company of Artillery commanded by Capt. Lamb, and that he lost his sight in the service. He has applied to me to direct him in what manner he may obtain the public provision made for persons in his situation. As the company to which he belonged was raised in the state of New York,...