51From George Washington to Major General Horatio Gates, 27 April 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have lately been informed by a Gentleman, actuated solely by a regard to the public good, and by an apprehension that we might fall short in the indispensible article of musket Cartridges particularly, that there are not, in his opinion, a sufficient number of Workmen kept employed, in the Elaboratories of Carlisle and Lebanon, to answer the exigencies of the Campaign. As the hint was thrown...
52From George Washington to Major General Horatio Gates, 1 May 1778 (Washington Papers)
I am honored with yours of the 25th and 29th last Month. As I have never heard any thing from Genl Heath respecting the Exchange of Genl Hamilton for Genl Thomson since his letter of the 6th January, copy of which I transmitted to Mr Peters in mine of the 25th January, I concluded that the exchange could not be effected; but that no means may be left untried to regain so valuable an Officer as...
53From George Washington to Major General Horatio Gates, 2 May 1778 (Washington Papers)
The inclosed from Doctr Gordon, came under cover to me in the order you will receive it. immediately upon the receipt of your Letter of the Ulto, I sent it to Genel Green, who informs me that he hath written very urgently to Mr Hughes to continue in Office, but hears, or fears, he will not do it. The Letter for Genl Lee you will please to forward, or deliver, if he is expected soon. I am Sir...
54From George Washington to Major General Horatio Gates, 17 May 1778 (Washington Papers)
From a variety of concurring circumstances and the general information of persons coming from philadelphia it would appear, that the Enemy mean to evacuate the City, and accordingly are preparing to embark. Some accounts are, that part of the Heavy Cannon & baggage are already on board, and the whole agree that all the Transports are taking in wood and water. Whether an evacuation is really...
55From George Washington to Major General Horatio Gates, 18 May 1778 (Washington Papers)
Inclosed you have a duplicate of a letter which I forwarded yesterday by an express. The accounts from Philadelphia since, still continue to increase, and confirm a design of the enemies evacuating the City. I beg you may transmit to Coll Ethan Allen the inclosed letter by some safe and certain conveyance. I am Sir your most obt and very humble servt LS , in James McHenry’s writing, NHi :...
56From George Washington to Major General Horatio Gates, 25 May 1778 (Washington Papers)
I was, yesterday, favd with your’s of the 21st inst. The Enemy have been constantly busy since my last in embarking their Cannon and Stores. I do not yet find, that any Troops have gone on board. They give out that they mean to attack this Army before they go off, but I rather think, if they move at all by land, that it will be across Jersey. Under this uncertainty, I cannot alter my position...
57From George Washington to Major General Horatio Gates, 26 May 1778 (Washington Papers)
I was not a little suprised to see by a letter from Colo. Hooper to Colo. Harrison, copy of which you have inclosed, that 728 Stand of Arms, which had come on as far as Sussex Court House, had returned to New Windsor, in consequence of directions given by Mr Andrew Taylor D. Q. M. Genl to Mr Lansing. Mr Taylor says this was done by your positive orders as appears by copy of his letter to Mr...
58From George Washington to Major General Horatio Gates, 29 May 1778 (Washington Papers)
I received yesterday your Letter of the 23d Inst. by General Huntington. If the States will not or cannot send their Quota of Troops into the Field, it is no fault of mine. I have been urgent in my requisitions on that head, and whatever consequences may arise from the deficiency, will not, I trust, be chargeable on me. I cannot detach the reinforcement you request. The Enemy are yet in...
59From George Washington to Major General Horatio Gates, 2 June 1778 (Washington Papers)
I am favd with yours of the 30th ulto. As there is the greatest probability that the whole Army will move to the Northward, I have desired Genl Knox to write to Colo. Lamb, to halt upon the East side of Hudsons River, at the most convenient place for forage for the Artillery Horses. I think he mentions Litchfeild. Inclosed you have a letter for Colo. Lamb, which please to forward ⅌ Express. I...
60From George Washington to Major General Horatio Gates, 5 June 1778 (Washington Papers)
I this day recd yours of the 2d instant. The Arms arrived at Camp yesterday. If you will advert to the copy of the orders sent by Majr Taylor after Mr Lansing, you will find that I had every reason to think that the Arms were going back to New Burgh by your orders. He is so pointed, that he says in a P.S. “It is Major Genl Gates’s positive orders.” If he by making use of your name, when he was...
61From George Washington to Major General Horatio Gates, 12 June 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have your favr of the 8th instant with its several inclosures. Whether the intention of the Enemy is to make the present Campaign offensive or defensive, time alone must discover: But if the former, I cannot think they mean to operate against the Eastern States in any other manner, than by laying waste their Coast, and destroying their Sea port towns. they will never venture into a Country...
62From George Washington to Major General Horatio Gates, 17 June 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have been favoured with your Letter of the 9th Instant, and thank you for the reports made by General parsons & Captain Van Buren. With respect to the rank of the Officers in Colonel Lamb’s Regiment, I can give you no information. The divided state of the Corps has prevented an arrangement being made. I would advise you, as the only expedient for the present, to appoint a good board of...
63From George Washington to Major General Horatio Gates, 18 June 1778 (Washington Papers)
This morning about sun-rise the rear of the enemies army evacuated Philadelphia. To-day and to-morrow morning, our whole army will move towards the Delaware; and should the enemy march rapidly thro’ the Jersey, I shall proceed Northward as expeditiously as possible. My movements however will be influenced by theirs. In your quarter you will take the proper measures on this occasion; and let me...
64From George Washington to Major General Horatio Gates, 20 June 1778 (Washington Papers)
I think it necessary to inform you by the return of the express who brought your packet for Congress, that I am now with the main body of the army within ten miles of Coryells ferry. General Lee is advanced with six brigades, and will cross to-night, or early to-morrow morning—By the last intelligence the enemy were near Mount-Holly, and moving on very slowly—but as there are so many roads...
65From George Washington to Major General Horatio Gates, 21 June 1778 (Washington Papers)
I arrived here this day at noon. Two divisions of the army have crossed the Delaware; the remainder will cross tomorrow. The enemy, by the last intelligence, was moving on slowly—the head of their column had only reached Mount Holly. Their shipping had gone down the River below Reedy Island, except two, which lay opposite to it. These appearances seem to decide, that they intend to traverse...
66From George Washington to Major General Horatio Gates, 27 June 1778 (Washington Papers)
Between 11 & 12 to day I received your favor of the 25 by Major Armstrong. The movement you proposed to make I highly approve and thank you for it. Whether any reinforcements would have come from york is a matter which neither of us can determine—but this will certainly prevent it. I wish you to take every means in your power to keep up their ideas of an attack & have not the smallest doubt...
67From George Washington to Major General Horatio Gates, 28 June 1778 (Washington Papers)
I received your favor of the 24th Instant, last night. I wish the corps of foreigners you mention could be posted in a less exceptionable place. I leave it to you to take such measures as you may think most expedient in the present case. In my letter of yesterday I pointed out the situation of the two armies. This morning at 4 O’clock the enemy began to move—we are following them fast—and mean...
68From George Washington to Major General Horatio Gates, 29 June 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have the honor to inform you that at seven oClock yesterday morning, both armies advanced on each other—at noon they met on the grounds near Monmouth Court house, where an action commenced—we forced the enemy to retire, and encamped on the Field of battle—they took a strong post in our front, well secured on both flanks by a Morass and thick woods—and remained there till midnight at which...
69From George Washington to Major General Horatio Gates, 3 July 1778 (Washington Papers)
My last to you was upon the 29th June. I have the pleasure to inform you, that the loss of the Enemy, in the action of the 28th, was more considerable than we at first apprehended. By the Returns of the officers who had charge of the burying parties, it appears, that they left 245 non commd and privates on the Feild, and 4 Officers, one of whom was the Honble Col: Monkton of the Grenadiers....
70From George Washington to Major General Horatio Gates, 9 July 1778 (Washington Papers)
I yesterday met yours of the 6th on the march to this place, at which, the front division of the Army arrived in the morning. They halt this day and will march again at one OClock tomorrow Morning. The other divisions follow at a days distance. I am glad to hear that every thing will be ready at Kings ferry to transport the Army and hope that measures will be taken to keep the passage open...
71From George Washington to Major General Horatio Gates, 11 July 1778 (Washington Papers)
I am now as far advanced as this place from whence the left wing of the Army marched to day about Four miles. According to my present Ideas, it will move tomorrow morning, under the Baron de Kalb towards the north River, with a view of passing it, at Kings Ferry. The right wing and second line, which form the remainder, being greatly fatigued by their march and the intensely hot weather, will...
72From George Washington to Major General Horatio Gates, 14 July 1778 (Washington Papers)
The report of a French Fleet’s being on the Coast, as mentioned in my letter of the 11th is confirmed. I received last night advices from Congress, that a Ship of 90—2 of 80—8 of 74—1 of 64 and 4 of 36 Guns were off Chingoteague on Wednesday last, where they fell in with, and sunk the Lydia of 26 Guns on a cruise from New York. The Fleet is under the command of Admiral Count D’Estaing, and was...
73From George Washington to Major General Horatio Gates, 14 July 1778 (Washington Papers)
I am just favord with your Letter of yesterday. The right wing and second line of the army marched this morning from hence and will be at Haverstraw tomorrow, where I also expect to be at the same time. I shall be glad to see you there without delay to confer on the several subjects of your letter, and on some other matters of importance. I wrote to you last night communicating the...
74From George Washington to Major General Horatio Gates, 19 July 1778 (Washington Papers)
Inclosed you have the arrangement of the Army. Be pleased to draw off Sherburns, S. Webbs and J. Livingstons Regiments to Kings Road or somewhere upon your left flank with orders to hold themselves in readiness to march at a moments warning; and whenever Baron Kalb with the front division of the Army arrives near your Camp be pleased to order Enos’s and McClenachans [McClellan’s] Regiments to...
75From George Washington to Major General Horatio Gates, 20 July 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have been favoured with your two Letters of to day, (one inclosing a return) for which I thank you. I am now about Six miles from where the Court House at the plains was, & shall set out immediately for Reuben Rights, which will be my Quarters for the present. I am Sir Yr Most Obedt servt LS , in the writing of Robert Hanson Harrison, NHi : Gates Papers. The letter enclosing a return has not...
76From George Washington to Major General Horatio Gates, 21 July 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have been favoured with yours of this date with the Inclosures, respecting the prisoners sent from Bennington. previous to it’s coming to hand, I received a Letter from Governor Clinton, with a Copy of an Address from the prisoners to him & of a Letter from the Committee of Albany; all remonstrating against the proceedings had against these men. Under these circumstances, as I am determined...
77From George Washington to Major General Horatio Gates, 2 August 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have just received the inclosed from the board of war —I beg of you to inform me what steps have been taken in consequence of the resolves of the 11th of June last—What troops you had in contemplation for the expedition into the country of the Senecas—What number you conceive adequate to the service—What were your prospects of supplying them with provisions—stores and other necessaries—And...
78From George Washington to Major General Horatio Gates, 10 September 1778 (Washington Papers)
The superiority of naval force, which the enemy at present possess over our allies, rendering it not improbable, that they may be tempted to undertake a co-operation, by sea and land, for the capture or destruction of the French fleet, in the Port of Boston, it appears expedient, that our dispositions, so far as is consistent with the other important objects of our attention, should be...
79From George Washington to Major General Horatio Gates, 11 September 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have been favoured with your Letter of this date. I am always willing to grant requests where I think the good of the service will admit of it, and I am particularly so, when the requests are urged by Others besides the party, in whose behalf they are made. However, in the present instance of your application, I cannot do it with any degree of propriety, as I conceive. Colo. Kosciusko has...
80From George Washington to Major General Horatio Gates, 13 September 1778 (Washington Papers)
As it is more than probable that the road Leading to Danberry is out of order, I would wish you to send a party under a proper Officer to repair it, as far as that place, that should you receive orders to move on, you may have as little hindrance as possible. I am Sir Yr Mo. Obet Sert LS , in Richard Kidder Meade’s writing, NHi : Gates Papers; Df , DLC:GW ; Varick transcript , DLC:GW . Brig....
81From George Washington to Major General Horatio Gates, 15 September 1778 (Washington Papers)
You will early to morrow morning with the division under your command, begin your march from Bedford —and proceed by easy marches to Danbury—near which place you will take a position—in the choice of which, regard is to be had to two capital objects—1st the maintaining a communication with the divisions between you and the North River, for mutual support and the security of the Posts in the...
82From George Washington to Major General Horatio Gates, 26 September 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have been favoured with your Letter of the 23d Inst. That the Enemy have a movement in view seems more than probable—but whether they mean to leave—or still to act on the Continent, is a point difficult to determine. If they move from New York and the latter is their plan, I think with you, that they will direct their force to the Eastward. The french squadron under Count D’Estaing, is an...
83From George Washington to Major General Horatio Gates, 28 September 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have yours of this date inclosing the proceedings of a Court Martial upon Colo. Brewer. General Scott was directed to send you intelligence, if the Enemy made a serious advance; but as they have hitherto kept their main Body upon Valentines Hill, and only sent out Foragers as far as the plains, he has thought there was no occasion to trouble you. The party in Jersey lay still in Bergen...
84From George Washington to Major General Horatio Gates, 30 September 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have received advice, that a considerable body of the enemy, in addition to those already in the Jerseys, had crossed the North River on the morning of the 28th and landed at a place about two miles from Orange Town. There are rumours, that they were marching towards Kakeate and had detached a party to take possession of the Clove; but these want confirmation. They have surprised and cut off...
85From George Washington to Major General Horatio Gates, 1 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
I do not find that the Enemy are advancing on the West side of the River. From the latest accounts they were at the liberty pole and at the Newbridge near Hackensack; and from many circumstances and the conjectures of the Officers in their Neighbourhood, it would seem that foraging is the principal object of their expedition. I was very apprehensive that they would possess themselves of some...
86From 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...
87From George Washington to Major General Horatio Gates, 5 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
I am much obliged to you for your several communications of the 3d and 4th Inst. The relation of the two deserters is certainly of a serious complexion, could we confide in its reality. But the reasons for denying it any great degree of credit are not a few. Of the different observers in New-York and those places proper for attending to the motions of the fleet, not one has made any return of...
88From George Washington to Major General Horatio Gates, 7 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of yesterday reached me in the night—Your observations on the probable intentions of the enemy are forcible—The capture or destruction of the French fleet appears to be the most important object they can have on the continent; and it is very possible they may have it in contemplation, though the time they have lost since they have had the superiority at sea and the advanced season...
89From George Washington to Major General Horatio Gates, 10 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
I recd yours of yesterday by Majr Marshall who delivered the prisoners Farnsworth and Blair to the provost. The Crime of passing counterfeit Bills of Credit, by which our currency has been extremely depreciated, added to the strong suspicion of their being both Spies, will render it necessary to have them executed according to their Sentences. I shall direct a sensible Clergyman to get as...
90From George Washington to Major General Horatio Gates, 11 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
Your favour of yesterday was handed me in the afternoon—I thank you for the communication of Major Gray’s letter. I have received a correspondent account from another quarter, with only this difference, that there is said to have been forty instead of twenty five sail in the Sound. I am assured by the Gentlemen who are charged with procuring intelligence in the Jerseys, that the English fleet...
91From George Washington to Major General Horatio Gates, 18 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
I imagine General Poors Brigade is by this time in motion agreeable to the determination of the Council on Friday. I desire that the next Brigade in course may follow, with directions to the commanding Officers to proceed by very slow marches to Harford, where they are to halt for further orders. Be pleased to impress upon the Officers the necessity of keeping up the strictest discipline upon...
92From George Washington to Major General Horatio Gates, 20 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
Since I wrote to you last I have recd accounts from New York which I think may be depended upon that the greatest part if not the whole of that Garrison are upon the point of embarking. A considerable number had embarked. Upwards of one hundred sail of square rigged Vessels besides a great number of Sloops and schooners fell down to the Hook on the 16th and 17th. Under these circumstances I...
93From George Washington to Major General Horatio Gates, 21 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
I am just now favoured with your letter of this instant. The motions and movements among the enemy still continue to point the same way with the late information which I transmitted. I am Sir Your most obt servt LS , in James McHenry’s writing, NHi : Gates Papers. See GW to Gates, 20 October .
94From George Washington to Major General Horatio Gates, 24 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
A fleet of about one hundred and sixty sail supposed to contain 7, or 8000 men having left the Hook the 19th and early the 20th; I Yesterday morning, put three Brigades, Nixons, Parsons and Huntingtons in March, under Major General McDougal to join you at Hartford. You will be pleased to open a correspondence with Generals Heath & Sullivan, in order to obtain from them instant information of...
95From George Washington to Major General Horatio Gates, 25 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
In my last of the 24th, I advised you of the sailing of a fleet from the hook on the 19th and early the 20th supposed to contain those troops which we had repeatedly heard were embarked. I have just received advices thro’ different channels, and which cannot but be certain and authentic, that there were none but invalids and officers of reduced corps on board—and that the troops which had...
96From George Washington to Major General Horatio Gates, 27 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
I received last night your two favours of the 25th with their inclosures. The intelligence from Major Gray corresponds in many respects with the general tenor of my advices—The circumstance of the Merchants packing up is what I have not yet obtained any satisfactory account of and is what I am particularly desirous to have ascertained, as it would be decisive of the enemy’s intention to...
97From George Washington to Major General Horatio Gates, 29 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
Colo. Harrison transmitted you by my direction yesterday, together with some dispatches to yourself from Congress, the copy of a Resolve inclosed to me, directing you to repair to Boston and take the command in the Eastern district. On the departure of the fleet which sailed from the Hook the 19th and 20th, I recommended to General Heath to call out a body of Militia from the vicinity of...
98From George Washington to Major General Horatio Gates, 1 November 1778 (Washington Papers)
I received yesterday, your favor of the 28th Ulto, and was sorry to find you were in want of flour. I had a Letter written immediately to the Commissary upon the occasion—and from his account, I hope you have obtained a supply before this. He says three or four parcels had gone from Danbury for Hartford in the course of the Week, and that more was on the road from Fredericksburg. Besides these...
99From George Washington to Major General Horatio Gates, 3 November 1778 (Washington Papers)
In my Letter of the 29th Ulto, I transmi<tted> you a Copy of a Resolution of Congress, directing the removal of the Convention Troops; a copy similar to which had been forwarded before to General Heath. By a Letter from him of the 28th, he asks whether it may not be best for their Heavy baggage to be sent by Water. It appea<rs> to me that it will, and it may be waterborne, as far as the falls...
100From George Washington to Major General Horatio Gates, 5 November 1778 (Washington Papers)
Inclosed I transmit you an Extract from a Letter just received from Lord Stirling, advising that a fleet of 108 sail left the Hook & stood to sea on the morning of the 3d. I have no other intelligence than what this contains. You will be pleased to forward the Letters for His Excellency Count D’Estaing & the Honble Mr powell. I am Sir Your Most Obedt servant P.S. You will find inclosed a...