21From George Washington to Joseph Reed, 25 June 1780 (Washington Papers)
I have been honored with Your Excellency’s favors of the 20th and 22d instants. I am exceedingly sorry to find you express a doubt of being able immediately to procure the number of 250 Waggons in the State of Pennsylvania—if we should be disappointed in that quarter, I know not where we are to apply. The Quarter Master General has, as you observe, a considerable number of Waggons laying idle...
22From George Washington to Joseph Reed, 19 June 1780 (Washington Papers)
The arrival of Admiral Arbuthnot at New York with a fleet of from sixty to seventy sail said to contain a part of the Southern army is an additional motive for extraordinary exertions at this juncture. West Point is far from being in security. Our stores and baggage in this state are almost at the mercy of the enemy, if they advance in force. A great proportion of the Jersey teams are in...
23From George Washington to Joseph Reed, 16 June 1780 (Washington Papers)
The Board of War having informed me, that the city-light horse were held in readiness to march to the army, whenever I should signify the necessity of their services —I am to inform your Excellency, that in the present posture of things, they would be of very great utility, and therefore I should be glad, they might march as speedily as convenient. If they ⟨come⟩ I hope they will be able to...
24From George Washington to Joseph Reed, 28 May 1780 (Washington Papers)
I am much obliged to you for your favor of the 23d —Nothing could be more necessary than the aid given by your State towards supplying us with provision. I assure you every idea you can form of our distresses will fall short of the reality. There is such a combination of circumstances to exhaust the patience of the soldiery that it begins at length to be worn out—and we see in every line of...
25From George Washington to Joseph Reed, 11 May 1780 (Washington Papers)
It has been represented to me by Brig: General Irvine, and by Lt Colo. Hay of the 10th Penna Regt that Michael Everly a Serjeant of that Regt was promised an Ensigncy by Colo. Humpton for his extraordinary exertions in inducing the Soldiers to reinlist, and upon many other services—From the above consideration and from the want of Subaltern Officers in the Regt I would recommend Mr Everly to...
26From George Washington to Joseph Reed, 28 April 1780 (Washington Papers)
I have had the honor to receive Your Excellency’s Letter of the 18th Instant. I am sorry to find the Council are apprehensive that difficulties will attend the collecting of the Supplies required of the State, by the Resolution of Congress of the 25th of February; but I cannot see that it is in my power to prevent them in any degree. Your Excellency and the Council will perceive on recurring...
27From George Washington to Joseph Reed, 23 February 1780 (Washington Papers)
I had last night the honor to receive Your Excellency’s letter of the 16th with the papers you have been pleased to refer to me. There is certainly a good deal of weight in the observations and objections which Colo. Hazen has made, and it were very much to be wished, that the supplies of Cloathing and necessaries in every instance were perfectly equal to the officers & men respectively,...
28From George Washington to Joseph Reed, 15 February 1780 (Washington Papers)
I am much indebted to your Excellency for announcing my election as a member of the Philosophical Society. I feel myself particularly honored by this relation to a society whose successful efforts for promoting useful knowledge have already justly acquired them the highest reputation in the literary world. I entreat you to pres[en]t my warmest acknowledgments, and to assure them that I shall...
29From George Washington to Joseph Reed, 4 December 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have the honor to inform Your Excellency and the Council—by the conveyance which now offers by Express—that Monday the 20th Instant is appointed for proceeding on the trial of Major Genl Arnold. The Court Martial will sit at the Camp in the vicinity of Morris Town. I have written to Mr Matlack and inform’d him of these circumstances —and I request the favour of Your Excellency to communicate...
30From George Washington to Joseph Reed, 25 November 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have received Your Favor of the 15th and am exceedingly sorry to find that your indisposition continued so long. I hope it is now entirely over—and that the change of season will prevent a return of it. As there is nothing that is more interesting to us, than œconomy in our public expenditures—both in money and provisions—I am happy that nothing more was done, with respect to your Militia,...
31From George Washington to Joseph Reed, 22 October 1779 (Washington Papers)
Three days ago I received your obliging favor of the 14th and was sorry to find you had been so much indisposed. Before this I hope you have perfectly recovered. Your early attention & that of the Assembly to my requisitions, have my warmest thanks—and the more so, from the situation in which they found you. I could wish however—that the three months service of the Militia had been made to...
32From George Washington to Joseph Reed, 30 August 1779 (Washington Papers)
By a letter from General Sullivan of the 20th I am informed that he expected to be joined by Genl Clinton at Tioga the day following—and to move forward the 23d. He expresses his apprehensions, that the stock of provisions, which he then had on hand, would not be more than sufficient, if enough, to carry him thro’ the Indian Country; and therefore wishes that a further supply may be deposited...
33From George Washington to Joseph Reed, 22 August 1779 (Washington Papers)
Mr Tilghman delivered me your favour of the 8th Instt for which, & the favourable sentiments expressed of me in your publication, addressed to the Printer of the Maryland journal, you will permit me to offer my grateful acknowledgements. The loss of Fort Washington simply—abstracted from the circumstances which attended it—was an event that gave me much pain, because it deprived the army of...
34From George Washington to Joseph Reed, 29 July 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have a pleasure in acknowledging the receipt of your obliging favor of the 15th Instt, and in finding by it, that the author of the queries “Political & Military” has had no great cause to exult in the favourable reception of them by the public. Without a clue, I should have been at no loss to trace the Malevolent writer; but I have seen a history of the transaction, and felt a pleasure...
35From George Washington to Joseph Reed, 9 July 1779 (Washington Papers)
Doctor Hodges will have the Honor of presenting this to Your Excellency. The Inclosed, a Copy of a Letter from Governor Trumbull, will inform you of the business he is upon. It is important & interesting and I am persuaded the Doctor will meet with every assistence that you can give him in the prosecution of it. I have the Honor &c. Df , in Robert Hanson Harrison’s writing, DLC:GW ; Varick...
36From George Washington to Joseph Reed, 15 May 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have not yet been favoured with an answer to the letter which I did myself the honor to wr[i]te you on the 27th Ulto—Whatever may be the determination of the Council respecting the alternative proposed of the fir[s]t of June or July for General Arnolds trial, I am anxious to be informed of it, that no time may be lost more than cannot be avoided—If the Witnesses are to be called from...
37From George Washington to Joseph Reed, 8 May 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have delayed acknowledging the receipt of your favor of the 1st in expectation that it would soon be followed by an official one which would enable me to take final measures on the subject of the trial. The explanation with which you have obliged me gives me pleasure in the same proportion as the disagreeable inferences I had drawn gave me pain—It wounds me sensibly to see appearances of any...
38From George Washington to Joseph Reed, 27 April 1779 (Washington Papers)
In a line of yesterday, as I did not think it proper to detain the express & delay the notice then given till I could prepare a more explicit answer, I only briefly acknowledged the receipt of your two letters in Council of the 24th and 25th inst, to which I should have added that of the 26th —I am now to enter into a particular consideration of their contents, and to offer such explanation as...
39From George Washington to Joseph Reed, 19 April 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have been honored with yours of the 14th instant. I shall not fail to recommend to the Officer, who will command upon the Susquehannah, the cultivation of a good understanding between the setlers at Wyoming and the inhabitants of Northumberland County. Upon estimating the Force necessary to be employed upon the intended Expedition, so as to give the most probable assurance of success, I find...
40From George Washington to Joseph Reed, 8–9 April 1779 (Washington Papers)
Your favor without a date, acknowledging the receipt of my letters of the 28th & [2]9th ulto came to hand a day or two ago. Colo. Patterson (as he is called) was a stranger even in name to me, till he came here introduced by Colo. Cox as a person capable of giving the best information of the Indian Country between the Susquehannah and Niagara of any Man that was to be met with; and as one who...
41From George Washington to Joseph Reed, 5 April 1779 (Washington Papers)
Your favr of the 29th March reached me a day or two ago—I cannot conceive from whence can arise the antipathy of Colo. Proctor and His Officers to the Uniform adopted by all the other Regiments of Artillery. In every service, it is customary to distinguish Corps by particular Uniforms, and as Black and Red has been pitched upon for that of the American Continental Artille[r]y, it is...
42From George Washington to Joseph Reed, 29 March 1779 (Washington Papers)
Since mine of yesterday, I have received the inclosed extract of a Letter from General Maxwell at Elizabeth Town; which I send lest the suggestion contained in my letter should have made a deeper impression than I intended; which was no more than to hint at the advantages which might result from a systematical plan of assembling the Militia at certain points, on any sudden exigency & with more...
43From George Washington to Joseph Reed, 28 March 1779 (Washington Papers)
The enemy have some enterprize in view—New London, on Acct of the Frigates in the river, and because Boats have been preparing at the East end of long Island, and Troops for sometime past drawing thitherward, is supposed to be the object. Probably it is so —but as the Season is now approaching when either Negociation, or vigorous exertions must take place; and General Clinton doubtless will,...
44From George Washington to Joseph Reed, 26 March 1779 (Washington Papers)
I lately recd, from Colo. Proctor, a Return of the Names and Ranks of the Officers of his Regiment, which I called for in order to endeavour to settle the relative Rank of the line of Artillery —I observe that Colo. Proctor stiles his Regt “The pennsylvania State Regt of Artillery.” from whence I am led to imagine that the Regiment may have been, by some late act of Congress, returned to the...
45From George Washington to Joseph Reed, 4 March 1779 (Washington Papers)
Inclosed is a letter which I had written your Excellency, previous to the receipt of your favor by Mr Keen —If Congress have not given you official notice of their intentions relative to the defence of the Western frontier—You will be pleased to regard my letter on the subject in the light of a private and confidential intimation. I am with great regard and esteem Your Excellencys most obedt...
46From George Washington to Joseph Reed, 3 March 1779 (Washington Papers)
The President of Congress has transmitted me the instructions of the Assembly of your state to their delegates, founded on a representation of the distresses of your western frontiers—and farther the opinion of a Committee of the house on the subject of their defence—together with the two Resolves made in consequence. I am therefore to inform your Excellency that offensive operations against...
47From George Washington to Joseph Reed, 27 February 1779 (Washington Papers)
It is very probable, that necessity or choice, may induce us, to undertake some offensive operations against the Indians this summer in case the situation of affairs on the Sea-board will admit of any thing of this kind. At all events it will be necessary to obtain such information of the country and the avenues leading into it, as may be advantagiously applied under favourabl circumstances—I...
48From George Washington to Joseph Reed, 12 February 1779 (Washington Papers)
In my last I omitted to answer that part of your Excellency’s letter of the 5th inst. respecting Capt. Campbells proposal of attempting to bring off our Officers prisoners upon parole on Long Island. Was the measure justifiable, of which I have my doubts, it would in my opinion be impolitic. We could not hope to be compleatly successfull, and strict confinement would certainly be the fate of...
49From George Washington to Joseph Reed, 9 February 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have the honor of your Excellency’s favr of the 5th instant inclosing sundry Resolves of the Executive Council respecting the Conduct of Major General Arnold during his command in the City of Philada: previous to the Rect of your letter, General Arnold, who had arrived at Head Quarters the day before, had shewn me a letter from the Council to him accompanied by a Copy of the same Resolves,...
50From George Washington to Joseph Reed, 27 December 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have had the Honor to receive Your Excellency’s Letter of Yesterday—and I am extremely sorry that it is not in my power to inform the Council, with precision, in the several points of their inquiry. The State supplies of Cloathing hitherto sent to Camp, have been but small and partial. These, I believe, have been generally issued by Officers appointed by the respective states—and comformably...
51From George Washington to Joseph Reed, 24 December 1778 (Washington Papers)
I had not the honor of receiving your Excellency’s favor of yesterday till late in the evening. I am very sensible of the high mark of esteem and attention intended me by the Supreme Executive Council, and I shall be happy to receive the honor of their visit at 11 o’clock this morning. I thank you for the polite manner in which you have been pleased to convey their desire for that purpose, and...
52From George Washington to William Livingston and Joseph Reed, 17 December 1778 (Washington Papers)
To prevent as far as possible the intercourse between the inhabitants of these States and the enemy in New York, I have given positive orders to Genl Maxwell, who commands at Elizabeth Town, to permit no persons being inhabitants of or coming from any of the States to pass to Staten Island or New York without permission has been first obtained from their respective Governors or legislative...
53From George Washington to Joseph Reed, 12 December 1778 (Washington Papers)
Your favor of the 7th Instt by Mr Laurens came to my hands a day or two ago; previous to which, I should have done myself the pleasure of congratulating you (which I now do very sincerely) on your late election to the government of Pensylvania, had not Sir Harry’s late extra Manœuvre up the North River kept me upon the March, & counter-march, from the 5th till yesterday; when I arrived at...
54From George Washington to Joseph Reed, 27 November 1778 (Washington Papers)
I am upon the eve of my departure for Winter Quarters, but shall not quit my present roof untill I acknowledge, and thank you for your obliging favor of the 25th Ulto. Unless the Officer who commanded the dispersed Dragoons of Baylor’s Regiment was directed by Mr Caldwell to Trenton, he was not only guilty of an unpardonable piece of indiscretion, but disobedience of Orders; for he was...
55From George Washington to Joseph Reed, 23 November 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have the honor of transmitting the Committee of arrangement the inclosed from Colonel Cadwallader. It is in answer to my letter at the white-plains, which accompanied one of the committee’s on the same subject. I could wish the committee to consider, if there is any method, yet remaining, by which his scruples might be removed, and the affair settled in a conclusive and satisfactory manner....
56From George Washington to Joseph Reed, 6 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
I had the honor of receiving three days since your letter of the 30th of September; and should have answered it at once but was delayed by being separated from my papers, a recourse to which was necessary to assist my memory. I recollect, that in a conference with the Committee of arrangement on the subject of inlisting prisoners and deserters, I gave my opinion explicitly against the...
57From George Washington to Joseph Reed, 15 June 1778 (Washington Papers)
I thank you very much for your friendly favor of this date, and your polite attention in submitting the draught of your Letter to Govr Johnston to my perusal —I return it again, but before you transcribe a fair copy I would wish to see you upon the subject of it. perhaps there are some parts of it which might receive a small alteration—In the present situation of things all corrispondence of...
58From George Washington to Joseph Reed, 2 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
If you can with any convenience let me see you to day I shall be thankful for it—I am abt fixing the Winter cantonments of this army, and find so many, & such capitol objections to each mode proposed, that I am exceedingly embarrassed, not only by the advice given me, but in my own judgment, and should be very glad of your sentiments on the matter without loss of time. In hopes of seeing you,...
59From George Washington to Joseph Reed, 23 June 1777 (Washington Papers)
Your favors of the 12th and 18th Instt are both before me; and, on two Accts have given me concern; first, because I much wishd to see you at the head of the Cavalry, and secondly by refusing of it, my arrangements have been a good deal disconcerted—As your motives for refusing the appointment are, no doubt, satisfactory to yourself, and your determination fixed, it is unnecessary to enter...
60From George Washington to Joseph Reed, 11 June 1777 (Washington Papers)
Your favour of the 4th was given to me by Jos. Arrowsmith just as Mr Peters inform’d me, he was about to set out for Phila.—I could not resist the Inclination however of detaining him long enough to write you a short Letter to thank you, as I do most sincerely, for the friendly and Affectionate Sentiments containd in yours of the above date towards me, and to assure you, that I am perfectly...
61From George Washington to Joseph Reed or Colonel John Cox, 7 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
I am informed, there is a certain Mr Smith, who has been lately taken up by General Lincoln as a spy & sent to Philadelphia under that character. I believe for several reasons that he is the man who was imployed by you to act for Us, in that capacity, and that the apprehending him is a mistake, which may be attended with ill-consequences. Lest he should be precipitately tried and punished, I...
62From George Washington to Joseph Reed, 14 March 1777 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: to Joseph Reed, 14 Mar. 1777. Reed writes to GW on 22 Mar. “to acknowledge your Excellys Favour of the 14th Instt.”
63From George Washington to Joseph Reed, 23 February 1777 (Washington Papers)
Your Letters of the 13th and 18th Instt are both to hand—the last in date arrived first, the first this Morning only—I am sorry, upon the footing you have put it, and under the apprehensions you seem to be, that I did not accept your Commission as Adjt Genl when you offered it, tho your fears cannot be realizd, because at that time it was mentiond in Genl Orders, that you having resign’d,...
64From George Washington to Joseph Reed, 19 January 1777 (Washington Papers)
Your Letters of the 16 & 17th Inst. are both before me. I have come to a Resolution to recall the Protections given by Genl Howe, & am now preparing something by way of Proclamation for that purpose in order that the Country may stand upon the same Footing or friends distinguished from Foes. I have also Issued something in general Orders explaining the former Orders relative to the...
65From George Washington to Joseph Reed, 15 January 1777 (Washington Papers)
The Inclosed was intended to have gone by the Express who brought me your last Letter. He came in the Evening of the 13th was desired to call early next Morning, & I have never seen or heard of him since. Many days ago I wrote to Genl Putnam (supposing him to be at Princeton) to have the Stores rescued from the hands of the Militia who had borne them off, and had no doubt but he had done it....
66From George Washington to Joseph Reed, 14 January 1777 (Washington Papers)
I very much approve of your visiting Genl Putnam, as I cannot acct for his remaining at Crosswicks instead of removing to Princeton, as I have desird in several of my Letters. I would have him keep nothing at Princeton (except two or three days provisions) but what can be moved of at an hours warning—in that case, if good Scouting Parties are kept constantly out, no possible damage can happen...
67From George Washington to Colonel Joseph Reed, 12 January 1777 (Washington Papers)
Yours of the eleventh is Come to hand if the account the prisoners give be true it is a very agreeable & important one. the order you Sent to Colonel Winds has interferd with a plan, Concerted by Generals Sullivan & Maxwell, whenever you have occasion to order a Movement of any part of the Army, it will be best to apply to the Commanding Officer, Lest it may, [(]as it has in the present...
68From George Washington to Colonel Joseph Reed?, 27 December 1776 (Washington Papers)
I was this morning favoured with yours & thank you much for your kind congratulations & wishes. I regret much the Accident that prevented the passage of our Troops. had it not been for that cause and the Several attacks intended, had been made, I am persuaded our Plans would have succeedd to our warmest wishes. I have several Letters to write & therefore must refer you to Colo. Cadwalader who...
69From George Washington to Colonel Joseph Reed, 23 December 1776 (Washington Papers)
The bearer is sent down to know whether your plan was attempted last Night—and if not, to inform you that Christmas day at Night, one hour before day is the time fixed upon for our Attempt on Trenton. For heaven’s sake keep this to yourself, as the discovery of it may prove fatal to us, our numbers, sorry I am to say, being less than I had any conception of—but necessity, dire necessity...
70From George Washington to Colonel Joseph Reed, 30 November 1776 (Washington Papers)
The inclosed was put into my hands by an Express from the White Plains. Having no Idea of its being a Private Letter, much less Suspecting the tendency of the Correspondence, I opened it, as I had done all other Letters to you, from the Same place and Peekskill, upon the business of your office, as I Conceived and found them to be. This as it is the truth, must be my excuse for Seeing the...