61From George Washington to Major General John Sullivan, 10 June 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have to acknowledge your favor of the 26th Ulto. Considering the weak condition of your command I am not surprised at the enemies incursion. It was what you had reason to expect, tho’ without force sufficient to prevent the stroke. You are informed, you tell me, that the superior bounty and privileges for serving in the continental army, is the great reason why you experience so much...
62From George Washington to Major General John Sullivan, 17 July 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have the pleasure to inform you, of what you have probably heard before this time, that the Admiral Count D’Estaing has arrived upon the Coast, and now lays off Sandy Hook, with a fleet of twelve Ships of the Line and four Frigates belonging to his most Christian Majesty. The design of this fleet is to co-operate with the American Armies, in the execution of any plans, which shall be deemed...
63From George Washington to Major General John Sullivan, 22 July 1778 (Washington Papers)
When I had the pleasure of writing to you on the 17th Inst.—I mentioned the probability of an enterprize being meditated against Rhode Island, as the next capital object, in case the shallow entrance at Sandy Hook, should frustrate admiral d’Estaings first design of an attack, upon the Enemys Fleet, in new York Harbour, The most experienced Pilots have been employed in sounding, and after the...
64From George Washington to Major General John Sullivan, 27 July 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have thought it expedient to permit General Greene to go to Rhode Island, to take a part in the Enterprize, intended against the Enemy in that Quarter. You know his merit and his services, as well as I do, and therefore I need not add on that head. When the Marquiss Fayette set out, I put Varnums & Glover’s Brigades under his command, and, according to his instructions, they were to act in...
65From George Washington to Major General John Sullivan, 28 July 1778 (Washington Papers)
I was this morning favoured with your Two Letters of the 24 & 26th Instant with the papers to which they referred. I am exceedingly happy to find, that your efforts to prepare for the intended enterprize ag⟨ai⟩nst the Enemy, had succeeded so well—and that ⟨things in⟩ general were in so promising a train. With respect to the Enemy’s force in y⟨our⟩ Quarter, I think your Estimate must be far too...
66From George Washington to Major General John Sullivan, 31 July 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have been favd with yours of the 27th 10 Oclock A. M. Upon opening of it, I was much disappointed at not hearing of the Count D’Estaing’s arrival, who I hope will have made his appearance off the Harbour of Newport before this time, as a Reinforcement passed Maroneck the day before Yesterday Morning. I wish it had been in my power to have spared a larger detatchment of Continental Troops,...
67From George Washington to Major General John Sullivan, 4 August 1778 (Washington Papers)
I was, last Evening, favd with yours of the 1st instant, which releived me from the greatest anxiety, as so much longer than the usual time of passage had elapsed, since the Count D’Estaing left the Hook. I am very happy to hear your presages of a good understanding between the Count and yourself in respect to command. I wish you had mentioned how many of the Enemy’s ships of War were in the...
68From George Washington to Major General John Sullivan, 10 August 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have been duly favoured with yours of the 6th. I regret much the tardiness of the militia, as every moment is infinitely precious, and the delay, it produces, may not only frustrate the expedition, which is a matter of the greatest importance in itself; but may expose the French fleet to some fatal disaster. I have no doubt of your utmost exertions to forward the business with all dispatch....
69From George Washington to Major General John Sullivan, 16 August 1778 (Washington Papers)
On Thursday I received your favor of the 10th Instant, advising of your descent on Rhode-Island—of the arrival of the British fleet & of Count D’Estaing’s pursuing them. Since this I have not had a single tittle of intelligence on the subject of your operations—and of course I have been in a disagreable state of suspence and anxiety. I must earnestly request that you will be more frequent in...
70From George Washington to Major General John Sullivan, 19 August 1778 (Washington Papers)
Your favour of the 17th came to hand an hour and a half ago; and at the same time, that I regret extremely the Count not being arrived, for whose fate, I feel the greatest anxiety, I am happy to learn, that you had been able to extricate yourself from the difficulties you laboured under, and that you had so favourable a prospect before you—I shall wait the issue with the most anxious...