71From George Washington to John Hancock, 19 May 1776 (Washington Papers)
This will be delivered you by Genl Gates who sets out to day for Congress agreable to my Letter of Yesterday. I have committed to him the Heads of Sundry matters to lay before Congress for their consideration, which from the Interesting Intelligence contained in my last, appear to me of the utmost Importance and to demand their most early and serious attention. Sensible that I have omitted to...
72From George Washington to John Hancock, 20 May 1776 (Washington Papers)
Your favour of the 16th with several resolutions of Congress, therein Inclosed, I had not the honor to receive till last Night. before the receipt, I did not think myself at liberty to wait on Congress, altho I wish’d to do it; and therefore, the more readily consented to General Gates’s attendance; as I knew there were many matters which cd be better explaind in a personal Interview than in...
73From George Washington to John Hancock, 21 May 1776 (Washington Papers)
The Bearer, Mr Mersay being at Quebec when the Garrison Sallied & Obliged our Troops to an abandonment of the Siege & a precipitate retreat; I have taken the liberty to refer him to you for examination, that Congress may have such further Information of this unfortunate event as he possesses. I have the honor &c. LB , in Robert Hanson Harrison’s writing, DLC:GW ; Varick transcript , DLC:GW ....
74From George Washington to John Hancock, 3 June 1776 (Washington Papers)
I have perused the petition preferred by the Independant Corps of Boston and beg leave thro you to Inform Congress, that the Five Regiments there are extremely deficient in Arms, as are many Other Regiments in Continenta⟨l⟩ pay, and Submit It to their consideration whethe⟨r⟩ any part of the Arms lately taken, under these circumstances shou’d be delivered to the Gentlemen applying for them,...
75From George Washington to John Hancock, 7 June 1776 (Washington Papers)
I do myself the honor to Inform Congress that I arrived here yesterday Afternoon about One OClock, and found all in a state of peace & quiet. I had not time to view the works carrying on & those ordered to be begun when I went away, but have reason to beleive from the report of such of the General & other Officers I had the pleasure to see, that they have been prosecuted & forwarded with all...
76From George Washington to John Hancock, 8 June 1776 (Washington Papers)
In my Letter of yesterday which I had the honor of addressing you and which was designed to have come by post, but was prevented by his departure before the usual time, I mentioned my having received by Express a Letter and sundry papers from Genl Schuyler respecting Sr John Johnson, Copies of which I herewith transmit you for your inspection & perusal—they will shew you what measures were...
77From George Washington to John Hancock, 9 June 1776 (Washington Papers)
I was honoured Yesterday with your favor of the 7th with Its Inclosures. When Doctr Potts arrives I shall order him to Canada or Lake George, as may appear most proper. It is certainly necessary that he or Doctr Stringer shou’d go to the former. The Resolve respecting Genl Wooster’s recall, I will immediately Transmit him, with directions to repair hither without delay. The situation of our...
78From George Washington to John Hancock, 10 June 1776 (Washington Papers)
Since I did myself the honor of writing to you yesterday, I have had the satisfaction of seeing (and for a few Minutes conversing) with Mr Chase & Mr Carroll from Canada—their acct of our Troops, & the situation of Affairs in that department cannot possibly surprize you more than it has done me. but I need not touch upon a subject which you will be so well informd of from the fountain head....
79From George Washington to John Hancock, 13 June 1776 (Washington Papers)
I have the Honour of transmitting to Congress a Letter, which came by Express, last Night, from General Schuyler, inclosing the Copy of a Letter to him from Col. Kirkland—I have likewise inclosed the Copy of one directed to General Putnam, or the Commanding Officer at New-York. The Representations contained in these Letters have induced me, without waiting the Determination of Congress, to...
80From George Washington to John Hancock, 14 June 1776 (Washington Papers)
I herewith transmit you Copies of a Letter from Genl Schuyler and Its several Inclosures which I received since I had the honor of addressing you yesterday. From these you will learn, that Genl Thomas died the 2d Instant, and the apprehensions of our Frontier friends in this Colony that our Savage foes are meditating an attack against them. I must beg leave to refer you to a paragraph in the...
81From George Washington to John Hancock, 16 June 1776 (Washington Papers)
I do myself the honor to transmit Congress a Copy of a Letter covering Copies of other papers, which I received yesterday Evening from Genl Sullivan. The Intelligence communicated by him, is pleasing and Interesting, and such as must afford the greatest satisfaction, If the conduct the Canadians have discovered since his arrival among them, is Ingenuous & sincere. His Account is contrasted by...
82From George Washington to John Hancock, 17 June 1776 (Washington Papers)
The Inclosed came to my hands as a private Letter from Genel Sullivan—As a private Letter I lay it before Congress. The tendency (for it requires no explanation) will Acct for the contrast between it and the Letter of Genl Arnold. That the former is aiming at the Command in Canada, is obvious—whether he merits it or not is a matter to be considered; and that it may be considered with propriety...
83From George Washington to John Hancock, 17 June 1776 (Washington Papers)
I beg leave to inform Congress that General Wooster has repaired to Head Quarters in obedience to their Resolve transmitted him, and shall be extremely glad If they will give me such further direction about him, as they may conceive necessary—he is desirous of seeing his family in Connecticut as I am informed having been a good while from It—I shall wait their Instructions as to his future...
84From George Washington to John Hancock, 20 June 1776 (Washington Papers)
I am now to acknowledge the receipt of your favors of the 14 & 18 Instt and the Interesting resolves contained in them, with which I have been honoured. The several matters recommended to my attention shall be particularly regarded, and the directions of Congress and your requests complied with in every instance as far as in my power. The Instituting a War Office is certainly an event of great...
85From George Washington to John Hancock, 21 June 1776 (Washington Papers)
I was this morning honoured with your favor of the 19th Instant with sundry Resolves of Congress, which came to hand after I had closed mine of the 20th. I shall appoint a Deputy muster master General as soon as I can fix upon a proper person for the Office, and direct him immediately to repair to Canada. Mr Bennet the bearer of this delivered me a Letter to day from General Schuyler,...
86From George Washington to John Hancock, 21 June 1776 (Washington Papers)
This will be delivered you by the Chevalier de Kermorvan, and Monsieur de Vermonet—they are French Gentlemen just arrived in this Place, who have made Application to me, to be received into the Continental Service—They bring Letters to Dr Franklin and some other Gentlemen of the Congress—I suppose it will better appear from these Letters, than from any Information I can give, whether it will...
87From George Washington to John Hancock, 23 June 1776 (Washington Papers)
I herewith transmit you an Extract of a Letter from Genl Ward which came to hand by last nights post containing the agreable Intelligence of their having Obliged the Kings Ships to leave Nantasket road, and of Two Transports more being taken by our Armed Vessels with Two hundred and Ten Highland Troops on board. I sincerely wish the like success had attended our Arms in another Quarter, but It...
88From George Washington to John Hancock, 27 June 1776 (Washington Papers)
I this morning received by Express Letters from Genls Schuyler & Arnold, with a Copy of one from Genl Sullivan to the former and also of Others to Genl Sullivan, of all which I do myself the honor to transmit you Copies. they will give you a further account of the melancholy situation of our affairs in Canada, and shew that there is nothing left to save our Army there, but evacuating the...
89From George Washington to John Hancock, 27 June 1776 (Washington Papers)
Upon information that Major Rogers was travelling thro’ the Country under suspicious circumstances I thought it necessary to have him secured. I therefore sent after him. He was taken at South Amboy and brought up to New York. Upon examination he informed Me that he came from New Hampshire, the Country of his usual Abode, where [he] had left his family; and pretended he was destined to...
90From George Washington to John Hancock, 28 June 1776 (Washington Papers)
In compliance with the request of Congress contained in your favor of the 25 Instant and my promise of Yesterday, I do myself the honor to inform you that the Cost of a Ration according to the Commissary General’s estimate from the 1st of July to the 1st of December will be from 8d. to 8½ York Currency. Having discharged the Obligation I was under in this Instance and finding that many...
91From George Washington to John Hancock, 29 June 1776 (Washington Papers)
I was last night honoured with your favour of the 26 Instant and agreable to your request shall pay proper attention to the Resolves It inclosed. I observe the augmentation Congress have resolved to make to the forces destined for the Northern department & the bounty to be allowed such Soldiers as will Inlist for three years. I hope many good consequences will result from these measures, and...
92From George Washington to John Hancock, 30 June 1776 (Washington Papers)
I had the pleasure of receiving your favor of the 29th early this morning with which you have been pleased to honor me, together with the Resolves for a further augmentation [of] our Army. The Battallion of Germans which Congress have ordered to be raised, will be a Corps of much service, and I am hopefull that such persons will be appointed Officers as will complete their Inlistments with all...
93From George Washington to John Hancock, 3 July 1776 (Washington Papers)
Since I had the honor of addressing you and on the same day, several Ships more arrived within the Hook, making the number that came in then a hundred & Ten, and there remains no doubt of the whole of the Fleet from Hallifax being now here. Yesterday evening fifty of them came up the Bay, and Anchored on the Staten Island side. their views I cannot precisely determine, but am extremely...
94From George Washington to John Hancock, 4 July 1776 (Washington Papers)
This will be handed you by Col. Stevenson whom I have ordered with the captains of the Two Rifle Companies from Maryland to wait on Congress. they will point out such measures as they conceive most likely to advance the raising of the New Rifle Battallion and the persons they think worthy of promotion that have served in the three Companies here agreable to the Inclosed List. I am not...
95From George Washington to John Hancock, 4–5 July 1776 (Washington Papers)
When I had the honor to address you on the 30th Ulto, I transmitted a Copy of a Letter I had received from a Gentleman, a member of the Honble Genl Court, suggesting the improbability of Succours coming from thence in any reasonable time either for the defence of this place, or to reinforce our Troops engaged in the Canada expedition. I am sorry to Inform you that from a variety of...
96From George Washington to John Hancock, 8 July 1776 (Washington Papers)
Congress having resolved to raise a Regiment of Germans to counteract the designs of our Enemies, I must beg leave to recommend to their notice John David Wilpert, now a first Lieutenant in Col. Shee’s Battallion, to the office of Captain in said Regiment. I am personally acquainted with him and know that he Joined the Virginia forces under my command in the year 1754 and continued in service...
97From George Washington to John Hancock, 10 July 1776 (Washington Papers)
I am now to acknowledge the receipt of your two favors of the 4 & 6 Instt which came duly to hand with their Important Inclosures. I perceive that Congress have been employed in deliberating on measures of the most Interesting nature. It is certain that It is not with us to determine in many Instances what consequences will flow from our Counsels, but yet It behoves us to adopt such, as under...
98From George Washington to John Hancock, 11 July 1776 (Washington Papers)
I was honoured with your favor of the 8th Instant by Yesterday morning’s Post with the several Resolves to which you referred my attention. I shall duly regard them, and attempt their execution as far as I am able. By virtue of the discretionary power that Congress were pleased to vest me with, and by advice of such of my General Officers as I have had an opportunity of consulting, I have...
99From George Washington to John Hancock, 12 July 1776 (Washington Papers)
The design of this is to inform Congress, that at about half after three oClock this Evening Two of the Enemies Ships of War, one of Forty and the other of Twenty Guns with three Tenders weighed Anchor in the bay opposite Staten Island and availing themselves of a brisk & favourable breeze with a flowing Tide run past our Batteries up the North river without receiving any certain damage that I...
100From George Washington to John Hancock, 14 July 1776 (Washington Papers)
My last of friday evening which I had the honor of addressing you, advised that Two of the Enemies Ships of War & three Tenders had run above our Batteries here and the Works at the upper end of the Island. I am now to Inform you, that Yesterday forenoon receiving Intelligence from Genl Mifflin that they had past the Tanpan Sea and were trying to proceed higher up, by advice of R. R....