1From George Washington to William Livingston, 3 September 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have the Honor to inform your Excellency that the Operations of the present Campaign are tendg very seriously to the Southward—& that a large Detatchment of the American Army—with the whole of the French Troops, are now on the March for Virginia—As the Article of Supplies for the Army which will be collected in that Quarter, & which will probably be large, will be a Matter of the last...
2From George Washington to William Livingston, 23 November 1776 (Washington Papers)
⟨The⟩ Critical Situation of our Affairs ⟨and the move⟩ments of the Enemy make some ⟨further & im⟩mediate Exertions absolutely ⟨necessary—In⟩ order that you may have the ⟨fullest Repre⟩sentation and form a perfect ⟨Idea of what is⟩ now necessary, I have desired ⟨Colo. Reed to w⟩ait on You, and must refer ⟨You to him for⟩ Particulars. I am with great Respect & Regard Sir Your Most Obedt & Very...
3From George Washington to William Livingston, 21 June 1778 (Washington Papers)
I am now arrived myself on the East side of the Delaware, and the main body of the Army is on the Other from whence it will cross as soon as possible. This would have been effected in part to day, had it not been for the rain and the very doubtful appearance of the morning, which prevented the Troops from moving till it was late. The Afternoon will be employed in passing the Artillery and such...
4From George Washington to William Livingston, 5 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have the honor of yours of Yesterday. I ⟨may⟩ have been mistaken in my interpretation of you⟨r⟩ Militia Law, but it however leaves open a door ⟨for⟩ much litigation and delay. As you must certainly be best acquainted with the Circumstances of your own State, I intirely acquiesce with any mode which you may think most expedient in regard to calling out your Militia ⟨at⟩ this time. I think the...
5From George Washington to William Livingston, 1 June 1778 (Washington Papers)
I am honoured with yours of the 23d and 29th ulto. The person who delivered me your letter of the 17th was one of our hired Expresses. He is now out upon duty, but when he returns I will enquire how he came by the letter. The Christian Name of Bankson, who I begged the favor of you to keep an Eye upon, is Jacob, but as I am now satisfied concerning him, you need not trouble yourself further in...
6From George Washington to William Livingston, 16 July 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have the pleasure to transmit Your Excellency the inclosed Copy of a Letter from Brigadr Genl Wayne, which this moment came to hand. I congratulate you upon our success—and what makes it still more agreable, from the report of Capn Fishbourn who brought me Genl Wayne’s Letter, the post was gained with but very inconsiderable loss on our part. I have not yet obtained the particulars of the...
7From George Washington to William Livingston, 24 June 1782 (Washington Papers)
I have received your Excellency’s Letter of the 18th—And being much concerned for the Occasion, I am much obliged by a Communication of its Contents. My Instructions to Colo. Dayton were very pointed, strict and positive to prevent every Intercourse with the Enemy by Way of Elizabeth-Town, or any of the Jersey Posts, informing him that no Communication was to be held with the Enemy but by the...
8From George Washington to William Livingston, 21 November 1776 (Washington Papers)
I have this Moment arrived at this place with Genl Beals and Genl Heards Brigades from Maryland and Jersey and part of Genl Ewing’s from Pennsylvania. Three other Regiments left to Guard the Passes upon Hackinsack River and to serve as covering Parties are expected up this Evening. After the unfortunate Loss of Fort Washington it was determined to evacuate Fort Lee in a great Measure, as it...
9From George Washington to William Livingston, 10 May 1782 (Washington Papers)
I have the honor to enclose to your Excellency the Copy of a Letter to Colonel Dayton, prohibiting the practice of sending Flags from, or receiving them at any place except the Post of Dobbs Ferry—This I thought essentially necessary for many reasons, which I doubt not will occur to your Excellency, and therefore request your aid in carrying the measure into effect, and that you will be...
10From George Washington to William Livingston, 1 December 1776 (Washington Papers)
I wrote to you yesterday, but as from every Information of the Motions of the Enemy, their Intent seems plainly directed thro this State, and then on to Philadelphia, I cannot help calling upon you in the most urgent Manner, and begging you to fall upon proper Means to draw forth the Strength of your province to my Support. The Enemy’s advanced parties were last Night at Bonum Town four Miles...
11From George Washington to William Livingston, 14 March 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have the honor of yours of the 2d instant, and I can assure you I feel myself very sensibly affected by the strenuous manner in which you express the public regard of the State and your personal Friendship towards me. I only desire to be the object of both, while in your good opinion and that of the public I continue to merit them. We seem hitherto to have mistaken each other in respect to...
12From George Washington to William Livingston, 19 February 1780 (Washington Papers)
I have just received a letter from Mr Symmes one of the Supreme Judges of this state transmitting me a copy of a letter of the 14th instant ⟨to⟩ the Honorable the House of Assembly, on the subject of complaints made to him by soldiers in the Continental army of their being detained in service beyond the period for which they were engaged, and recommending the speedy direction and inquiry of...
13From George Washington to William Livingston, 29 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
I do myself the honor of transmitting the inclosed Resolve of Congress passed the 25th inst. I shall be obliged if you will, agreeable to the requisition therein made, order out One Thousand of the Militia of your State to continue in Service Four Weeks from the time they join the Army. I mention four Weeks because I think by your late Militia Law, you cannot insist upon their Service for a...
14From George Washington to William Livingston, 14 February 1778 (Washington Papers)
I do myself the honor of transmitting you a Letter from the Committee of Congress, now here. These Gentlemen have represented the distress of the Army for want of provision so fully and in so just a light, that I shall forbear to trouble you with further observations upon the subject. I shall only observe, that if the picture they have drawn is imperfect, it is because the colourings are not...
15From George Washington to William Livingston, 11 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
I had the honor of receiving yours of the 1st inst. some days since, but the Situation which the Army has been in, must apologize for my not answering it sooner. Genl Howe after making great preparations, and threatning to drive us beyond the Mountains, came out with his whole force last thursday Evening, and after maneuvering round us till the Monday following, decamped very hastily and...
16From George Washington to William Livingston, 13 July 1781 (Washington Papers)
I am just now honored with your Excellency’s Favor of the 8th instant, informg me of the Offer of a Number of Volunteer Horsemen from your State. I applaud Sir! this Spirit, which gives me much Satisfaction in its Contemplation—The Gentlemen deserve my best Thanks for their Tenders of Service; which I beg leave to present to them thro’ the Hands of your Excellency. We are at present so much...
17From George Washington to William Livingston, 2 August 1781 (Washington Papers)
I regret being obliged to inform Your Excellency, that I find myself, at this late period, very little stronger than I was when the Army first moved out of their Quarters. Of the Militia which were required of the State of New Jersey, and which were to have joined me by the 15th of July, none have come in. I am informed that the first party which rendezvoused at Morris Town returned home for...
18From George Washington to Brigadier General William Livingston, 8 August 1776 (Washington Papers)
Before this reaches you—You will undoubtedly have heard of the unexpected Arrival of the Carolina Army on Staten Island: which added to the Hessians & former Troops under Ld Howe exhibit a Force justly alarming. When I compare it with that which we have to oppose them I cannot help feeling very anxious Apprehensions. The new Levies are so incomplete the old Regiments deficient in their...
19From George Washington to William Livingston, 1 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
I think it not only incumbent upon me, but a duty which I owe the public, to represent to you the unaccountable Conduct of Brig: Genl. Newcomb at this critical time. As soon as the Enemy shewed a disposition to possess themselves of Billingsport and Red Bank I wrote to him in the most urgent manner to collect and keep up as many Militia as he possibly could to assist in the defence of Red Bank...
20From George Washington to William Livingston, 8 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
Intelligence has been sent me by a Gentleman living near the enemy’s lines, and who has an opportunity of knowing what passes among them, that four parties had been sent out with orders to take or assasinate Your Excellency—Governor Clinton—Me and a fourth person, name not known. I cannot say that I am under apprehension on account of the latter, but I have no doubt they would execute the...
21From George Washington to William Livingston, 10 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have the honor of yours of Yesterday. I am sorry that you construed a part of my last letter into any kind of reflection upon the exertions of your State. I could not mean it as I am conscious they do not deserve it—As it happened from several particular Circumstances that the two thousand Militia voted to reinforce this Army could not leave the State, I only meant to urge the necessity of...
22From George Washington to William Livingston, 21 December 1778 (Washington Papers)
In my passage, through Elizabeth Town, a certain Hatfield was siezed by my order and committed to Jail, in consequence of an intercepted letter to him from New York, supposed by the initials to be from one Hilton, which clearly shows that Hatfield is concerned in a treasonable connexion and intercourse with the writer. The letter is not now in my possession; nor do I precisely recollect the...
23From George Washington to William Livingston, 3 March 1777 (Washington Papers)
The honour of receiving your favours 20th & 22d Ulto I am now to acknowledge. Some time past Colo. Shreve had my peremptory Order to march with such of his Battalion as was then inlisted: I therefore expected him every day ’till your Letter of the 20th informed me that he was then at Burlington. He has my Order repeated to march immediately to Princeton, there to remain under General Putnam...
24From George Washington to William Livingston, 27 May 1781 (Washington Papers)
Last night I returned from Weathersfield, where I have had an interview with His Excellency the Count De Rochambeau: in consequence of which, the French Army will commence its march, to form a junction with ours on the North River, as soon as circumstances will admit. The accomplishment of the object which we have in contemplation, is of the utmost importance to America, and will in all...
25From George Washington to Brigadier General William Livingston, 5 July 1776 (Washington Papers)
Your Favour of the 4th came safely to hand. The Situation of New Jersey is such & the Apprehension of the Inhabitants so justly excited that I have concluded to discharge the Militia from this Place except those from Morris County whose internal Situation is such as to leave them nothing to fear from the Enemy. These I have posted on Bergen in order to prevent any Communication & to give the...
26From George Washington to William Livingston, 8 October 1777 (Washington Papers)
I yesterday received certain intelligence that the enemy had proceeded up Hudson’s River from New-York and landed a body of men at Verplanks point a few miles below Peeks-Kill. This movement fully explains those appearances which lately induced General Dickinson to apprehend a second incursion into the Jerseys; and gives reason to beleive that, instead of that, the enemy meditate a serious...
27From George Washington to William Livingston, 21 August 1777 (Washington Papers)
I do myself the Honor to inclose you a Resolve of Congress which I have just received, directing me to call on you for one thousand Militia from the State of New Jersey to releive a like number of the Militia of the State of New York at present in garrison at the Forts upon Hudsons River, who are to march to the reinforcement of the Northern Army. The requisition makes no mention of any...
28From George Washington to William Livingston, 23 March 1779 (Washington Papers)
The possibility of the Enemys making incursions into this state has suggested the expediency of fixing Signals at places calculated to communicate the most speedy alarm to the Country; and of appointing convenient posts for the Militia to assemble at for Orders. I was therefore induced to request Lord Stirling a few days ago, from his more intimate acquaintance with the Country, to see the...
29From George Washington to William Livingston, 10 March 1780 (Washington Papers)
Since I had the Honor of writing to Your Excellency on the 26 Ulto—I have obtained Returns of Moylan’s & Sheldon’s Regiments of Light Dragoons, in which I find there are some Men belonging to the State of New Jersey. I inclose a particular Return of them, specifying the Terms of their engagements. I have the Honor to be with the greatest respect & esteem Your Excellency’s Most Obedt servant...
30From George Washington to William Livingston, 3 July 1782 (Washington Papers)
From the enclosed information of Captain Stevens, there is reason to apprehend the business of driving Cattle to the Enemy is carrying on with great artand assiduity—it would be a happy circumstance if the Villains concerned in it could be detected; I have therefore to propose to your Excellency that you will be pleased to take such precautions as you shall judge best calculated to learn...
31From George Washington to William Livingston, 5 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
I had the honor of receiving your Excellencys favor of the 21 Septr this morning. By what means it has been So long delayed, I cannot conceive. The conduct of Crowel appears to me to have forfeited the protection he derived from the flag and to justify in point of right the detention of his person and the confiscation of the Vessel and her effects. The obligation of a flag is reciprocal. On...
32From George Washington to William Livingston, 9 May 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have the honor to inclose your Excellency the examinations of two of the inhabitants of this state David Urmston & Bn Pound taken before Brigadier General Knox—The practice of seducing the soldiery and aiding them in deserting to the enemy has arisen to such an alarming height, that unless some severe examples can be made it must be attended with the most pernicious consequences. How far the...
33From George Washington to William Livingston, 26 August 1780 (Washington Papers)
In mine of the 20th instant, I desired Your Excellency to discharge the whole of Colo. Seely’s Militia, except about one hundred for the purpose of a Guard at Morris Town, and to direct the September Class to hold themselves in readiness to come out upon the shortest notice. I would only wish you to continue those orders, but not to call out the Classes, except about one hundred Men for the...
34From George Washington to William Livingston, 2 June 1779 (Washington Papers)
General Greene has informed me that he addressed your Excellency some time since upon the subject of Waggons, and suggested that it would be necessary, owing to the difficulties of procuring them in the ordinary way, for the Legislature to authorise Col. M. Foreman to impress them in cases of exigency. I would take the liberty to add, that it appears to me indispensibly necessary for the...
35From George Washington to William Livingston, 21 December 1779 (Washington Papers)
The situation of our army at this time compared with that of the enemy makes it necessary we should be very much upon our guard. They have more than double our force collected at New York and we are mouldering away dayly. They have been some time past making a show of embarkation; but whether it is sincere or a mere feint to lull us into security is not easy to tell. But If they really design...
36From George Washington to William Livingston, 16 March 1780 (Washington Papers)
I have received your Excellencys letter of the 8th of this month, in favor of Capn Fitzrandolph. The Captains known zeal and usefulness entitle him to consideration; and I shall be very well pleased, if we can effect any thing towards his relief or releasement. At present commissioners from the enemy, and on our part, are sitting at Amboy, for the purpose of an exchange of prisoners. Should...
37From George Washington to Brigadier General William Livingston, 28 June 1776 (Washington Papers)
Since Writing the above we have certain Advice that a Fleet of 130 Sail left Halifax the 9th Inst. bound to Sandy Hook—And We have little doubt but General How is arrived there within these few days in the Grey Hound —A Moments Time therefore is not to be lost—The Plan proposed by your Provincial Congress of raising the Men as Volunteers upon a Bounty appears to me to be totally inadequate to...
38From George Washington to William Livingston, 8 March 1777 (Washington Papers)
I this Moment had the Honour to receive your two favours of the 3d Inst. With pleasure I will forward your Letters to Mr Jay by the first Opportunity. How can an Assembly of Gentlemen, Eyewitnesses to the distresses & Inconveniences that have their principal source in the Want of a well regulated Militia, hesitate to adopt the only remedy that can remove them! And stranger still, think of a...
39From George Washington to William Livingston, 24 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
I am honored with yours of the 22d. It gives me great pleasure to find that your Legislature have undertaken to procure a Quantity of Blankets and other Cloathing, by Civil Authority, which mode ought ever to be adopted instead of the Military. I have given orders to have all the Officers, who were vested with powers to collect these Articles, immediately recalled, except Colo. Forman, for...
40From George Washington to William Livingston, 17 December 1782 (Washington Papers)
I am favord with your Excellencys Letter of the 7th of this Month. I Should be very happy in using every endeavour in my power to procure the release of Mr Reading and would apply to Sir Guy Carleton in his behalf if such an application was like to be attended with the desired effect but Sir Guy’s Command does not extend to Canada—on which the Posts in the back Country are dependant—General...
41From George Washington to William Livingston, 4 May 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have received the honor of your two letters, both of the 1st instant. I have generally been so happy as to agree with your Excellency in sentiment on public measures; but an instance now occurs, in which there happens to be a difference of opinion. I am extremely apprehensive that very disagreeable consequences may result from an increase of the standing pay of the militia. It would create...
42From George Washington to William Livingston, 18 June 1780 (Washington Papers)
I have received advice which appears to be direct, that the Legislature of this State has determined on a draft from the Militia to serve for the Campaign under their own Officers, instead of b⟨eing⟩ incorporated with their Continental batallions. This mode if adopted, will be attended with so many inconveniencies, if followed by the States in general, will be so absolutely pernicious to all...
43From George Washington to William Livingston, 18 June 1782 (Washington Papers)
I perceive by your Excellency’s letter of the 10th, that I have not been fully understood by Mr Lott—when that Gentleman applied to me for permission for himself and Son in Law Mr Livingston to go into New York, my Answer, as nearly as I can recollect, was "I thought he had been well acquainted with my determination, not to give passports to Citizens, unless they should previously have...
44From George Washington to William Livingston, 7 December 1779 (Washington Papers)
You have both obliged and amused me, by your communication of the 27th. I have not seen the piece to which you allude; but I should be more surprised had you been suffered to escape without paying a tax so antient and customary. When one is over rated in this way, it is very natural to complain, or to feel disgust at the ingratitude of the world; tho’ I beleive with you, that to persevere in...
45From George Washington to William Livingston, 2 February 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have the honor to acknowlege the receipt of your favour of the 26 ulto. The recent detection of the wicked design you mention gives me the most sensible pleasure, and I earnestly hope you may be alike successful in discovering and disappointing every attempt, that may be projected against you, either by your open or concealed enemies. It is a tax, however, severe, which all those must pay,...
46From George Washington to William Livingston, 1 August 1780 (Washington Papers)
From our present advices a considerable part of the Enemy’s force are gone to Rhode Island with a view of reducing the Armament from France. We can give them no succour from hence by detaching, on account of the distance and the difficulty there would be if not impracticability, of subsisting the Troops with bread. There is no other mode which promises them relief, so far as it may depend on...
47From George Washington to William Livingston, 3 February 1777 (Washington Papers)
I am favor’d with yours of 1st Inst., & shall be happy to hear that your House will adopt the Measures you propose recommding to them. Our Army is in much the same situation as when I had the pleasure of seeing you here, we have lately had two Skirmishes with large Bodies of the Enemy, in which they have little to boast of, & would have had Less , had not a Colonel of ours behav’d Ill in each,...
48From George Washington to William Livingston, 22 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have been favor’d with your letter of the 13th inst. I must refer you for the particular circumstances attending the surprize of Colo. Baylor’s Regiment to those Officers and men who made their escape, and who are now in the Jersey’s. Those persons also in whose houses the Dragoons were quartered, may be able to assist in your report to Congress. And should any deserters have come from the...
49From George Washington to William Livingston, 9 March 1777 (Washington Papers)
The Council of Safety of Pennsylvania has done me the honour to communicate to [me a] piece of Intelligence of Importance, which they received from Colo. Gurney: A Copy of which is inclosed. I wish it may rouse the Gentlemen of your Assembly to prepare for the worst Event—In my Opinion the present Time is of infinitely greater Worth than is generally supposed. Vain and useless will all our...
50From George Washington to William Livingston, 22 April 1779 (Washington Papers)
The inclosed is a letter to you in your official character; this you will be pleased to receive as private and confidential—to explain, for your own satisfaction the reasons which will oblige me to draw off Maxwells brigade from its present position and will prevent my replacing them by other troops. I have for a long time past been preparing for a decisive expedition against the six nations,...