1From George Washington to Brigadier General Duportail, 30 June 1778 (Washington Papers)
You will immediately proceed to Philadelphia, with such of your assistants, as you shall think necessary, to take a full and complete survey of the city the River Delaware and their environs, in order from a collective view of the whole, to form a well-digested plan, for the defence of the River and consequently the city. You are well aware, that in case of an attempt to approach the city by...
2From George Washington to Brigadier General Duportail, 27 August 1778 (Washington Papers)
You will proceed as speedily as convenient to the Highlands and examine the several fortifications carrying on there for the defence of the North River. When you have done this you will make me a full report of their state and progress, with your opinion of any alterations or additions which may appear to you necessary in improvement of the present plan. In doing this, you will of course...
3From George Washington to Brigadier General Duportail, 19 September 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have perused the memorial which you delivered relative to the defence of the North River at this place —and upon a view of them highly approve what you have offered upon the Subject—Col. Kosciousko who was charged by congress with the direction of the forts and batteries—has already made such a progress in the construction of them as wd render any alteration in the general plan a work of too...
4From George Washington to Brigadier General Duportail, 29 September 1778 (Washington Papers)
You will proceed forthwith to Boston in the State of Massachusettes Bay. You will examine into the state of the fortifications which have been erected and are erecting for the defence of that Town against a Land attack; and you will form a plan, from a view of the whole local situation of the place, which shall appear best calculated to give it the most effectual security, that circumstances...
5From George Washington to Brigadier General Duportail, 31 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have received your favour of the 20th, inclosing your remarks on the state of the fortifications already erected for the defence of the Town of Boston, and on such amendments and additions as appear to you necessary to render them effectual. Your reasonings and observations appear to be strong and well founded; but at this distance, and without so perfect a knowlege of the local...
6From George Washington to Brigadier General Duportail, 24 November 1778 (Washington Papers)
The estimate you delivered me some time since of the Cannon wanted for the works of West Point, having been, by some accident mislaid, I am to request you will deliver a copy of it to the President of Congress—which you will be pleased to do as speedily as possible. I am With great consideration and esteem—Sir Your most Obed. servant. Df , in Alexander Hamilton’s writing, DLC:GW ; Varick...
7From George Washington to Brigadier General Duportail, 8 February 1779 (Washington Papers)
Congress has by an act of the 2d inst. directed me to order an Engineer to proceed to south Carolina for the service of the southern Department—if I shd judge it necessary. As I think the presence of a skilful Engineer indispensible in that Country I am to desire that you will detach one of the Corps—with directions to repair to Charles Town and take the orders of Major General Lincoln or the...
8From George Washington to Brigadier General Duportail, 29 March 1779 (Washington Papers)
I am sorry to find by yours of the 20th that you have met with so many delays and disappointments in the prosecution of your plan for taking a survey of the Delaware. Altho’ I am anxious to see you in Camp, I shall be very unwilling to recall you while there is the least prospect of your rendering any service; I must therefore desire you to point out to that public Body before which you may...
9From George Washington to Brigadier General Duportail, 9 April 1779 (Washington Papers)
A body of troops is ordered to rendesvous at Wyoming on the Susquehanna. There will be some works to be carried on in that quarter which will require an Engineer. You will readily conceive the nature of frontier fortification and will be pleased to send a Gentlemen in your department whom you judge proper for the purpose. He had best proceed in the first instance towards Sunbury where he will...
10From George Washington to Brigadier General Duportail, 27 July 1779 (Washington Papers)
You will be pleased to make an arrangement of the officers who have presented themselves for appointments in the companies of Sappers and Miners, which I will transmit to the Board of War to obtain their commissions —The numerous drafts that have [been] made from the line for different purpose⟨s,⟩ would make it inconvenient at this time to take out others for the purpose of forming these...