3271To George Washington from Major General Philip Schuyler, 8 November 1776 (Washington Papers)
I have the Honor to inform your Excellency that General Gates has advised me of the retreat of the British Troops from Crown Point, the last of them left Crown Point on Monday Morning—Sir John Johnson is returned with them —I am most respectfully Your Excellency’s Most Obedient Humbe servt Be so good as to forward this Account to Congress as I have not time to write this going by the...
3272To George Washington from Major General Nathanael Greene, 9 November 1776 (Washington Papers)
Your Excellency letters of the 8 this moment came to hand—I shall forwa⟨r⟩d the letter to General Stevens by Express —The Stores at Dobbs ferry I had just given orders to the Quarter Master to prepare Waggons to remove them—I think the Enemy will meet with some difficulty in crossing the River at Dobbs ferry however tis not safe to trust too much to the expected difficulties they may meet...
3273To George Washington from John Hancock, 9–12 November 1776 (Washington Papers)
You will perceive from the enclosed Resolve, that Congress having reconsidered their Vote of the 14th Octr, have agreed to give the former Allowance of one Dollar & one Third of a Dollar to the Officers on the Reinlistment of every Soldier in the Camp. The compleating the Army being at present an Object of the utmost Importance, the Congress are desirous of adopting every Means in their Power,...
3274To George Washington from William Livingston, 9 November 1776 (Washington Papers)
Your Favour of the 7th Instant I had the Honour of receiving last Evening being accidentally in Town, where upon Occasion of it & some other publick Business I staid the whole Night. After sending for General Williamson, and beginning to prepare a Copy of your Letter for General Mercer, the Latter happen’d to come in person, and was of great Use in the Business before us. We examin’d Six or...
3275Petition from Miles Oakley, 9 November 1776 (Washington Papers)
The petition of Miles Oakley Humbly Sheweth That by his Labour and Industry he had procured himself a small peice of Land at the white plains Contiguous to the Court House that on it within the Last four or five years he built him a Comfortable and Convenient House and Barn. That he Kept an Inn for the Entertainment of Travellers which Enabled him to maintain his family which Consists of a...
3276To George Washington from Major General Nathanael Greene, 10 November 1776 (Washington Papers)
Your Excellencys favor by Col. Harrison of the 8th came to hand last Evening—I am takeing every measure in my power to oppose the Enemies landing, if they attempt crossing the River into the Jerseys—I have about 500 men posted at the different passes in the Mountains—fortifying—About five hundred more are marching from Amboy directly for Dobbs ferry —General Mercer is with me now—I shall send...
3277To George Washington from Lord Stirling, 10 November 1776 (Washington Papers)
I got to the landing place yesterday Afternoon with Haslets, Miles’s, & part of Wiedens with our Artillery, the remainder arrived in the Night and are now landing; the landing place is very inconvenient as at half-tide the Vessels are obliged to lay at the distance of 5 or 600 yards from the Shore which makes tedious work, with the few boats that are here; besides it is open to any Insult the...
3278To George Washington from Major General Nathanael Greene, 11–12 November 1776 (Washington Papers)
By Justice Mercereau of Statten Island I am informed that 10,000 Troops embarked on board of a number of Transports day before yesterday—Lord Dunmore was to command and that they were bound for South Caroline—A large number of Transports were getting ready to sail for England for Stores—Mercereau says that he saw a man from York yesterday that informed him he had been employ’d in constructing...
3279To George Washington from Lieutenant General William Howe, 11 November 1776 (Washington Papers)
The enclosed Letter having been intercepted and brought to me, I am happy to return it without the least Attempt being made to discover any Part of the Contents. I was yesterday favored with your Answer to my Letter of the 8th, and am perfectly satisfied from your Assertion, that the Delay in the Exchange of Prisoners has not arose from any Disregard to the Agreement on your Part, but from the...
3280To George Washington from Major General Philip Schuyler, 11 November 1776 (Washington Papers)
On Tuesday the 4th Instant no Sign of the Enemy was seen forty Miles North of Crown point—General Gates has sent a Flag with Lieutenant Evans; by the Return of which he will know if the Enemy are really gone into Winter Quarters, if so we shall do the like —I am in Hopes that in three Weeks, at farthest, we shall have Barracks sufficient for what Troops may remain in the Service—I propose 2500...
3281To George Washington from Major General Charles Lee, 12 November 1776 (Washington Papers)
This instant came express from Colonel Tupper (station’d opposite to Dob’s Ferry) one David Keech—the substance of his intelligence is as follows—that The Enemy began their march at 9 this morning down the River with their baggage Artillery &ca—that the Man of War and two Store Ships had just set sail and were making down—I mean those which came up last—that Three Ships still lye off Terrytown...
3282To George Washington from Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 13 November 1776 (Washington Papers)
Your favours of the 6th 7th & 10th Instant are recieved, and am much Oblidged to your Excellency for the early Notice given me in that of the 6th of the supposed Embarkation of about three thousand of the Enemy and of their destination. Your’s of the 7th advising of the Approaching Dissolution of a large part of our Army is truly Alarming, and that season drawing near am Sensible will be most...
3283To George Washington from the Board of War, 14 November 1776 (Washington Papers)
The Congress having received Information that a considerable part of the Enemy’s Fleet had sailed from Sandy Hook to the Southward, & judging that immediate Steps were necessary to be taken for the preservation and Defence of this City, were pleased to vest us with all their powers to effect this important Business —As Genl Mifflin has a considerable Influence in this place, the Board judge it...
3284To George Washington from John Hancock, 14 November 1776 (Washington Papers)
The enclosed Letter from Mr Searle, a Gentleman of Honour & a Friend to the Cause of America, I am commanded by Congress to forward to you with the utmost Expedition. The uncertain Destination of the Fleet therein mentioned, makes it absolutely necessary that you should be informed of the Intelligence as soon as possible, that you may make such Dispositions of the Troops under your Command as...
3285To George Washington from Major General Artemas Ward, 14 November 1776 (Washington Papers)
Yesterday Captns Skimmer & Tucker in the Continental armed Schooners Franklin & Hancock arrived here after a cruise of eight weeks; four days after they sailed they took a large West India Ship laden with Rum & sugar, but as she is not arrived I fear she is retaken. About a fortnight since they took two Brigs near Newfoundland which they brought in with them, one is laden with four hundred &...
3286To George Washington from Major General Nathanael Greene, 15 November 1776 (Washington Papers)
Inclosd you have a letter from Col. Magaw —the contents will require your Excellencys Attention[.] I have directed Col. Magaw to defend the place until he hears from me[.] I have order’d General Hands Brigade to hasten on—I shall go to the Island soon. I am dear Sir your Excell. Obedient Servant ALS , DLC:GW . Although this letter is not dated, it is docketed in GW’s writing: “Majr General...
3287To George Washington from John Hancock, 16 November 1776 (Washington Papers)
Since my last Nothing material has occurred here, nor have I any Thing in Charge from Congress, except to request you will negotiate an Exchange of the Hessian Prisoners at Elizabeth Town under the Care of Mr Ludwick as soon as possible. They have been treated in such a Manner during their Stay in this City, that it is apprehended, their going back among their Countrymen, will be attended with...
3288To George Washington from Lieutenant Colonel William Palfrey, 17 November 1776 (Washington Papers)
I would beg leave to acquaint you that agreeable to your Orders I have fix’d my Office at this place, and should be extremely glad to be inform’d whether I am to pay any Warrants but what I receive from your Excellency[.] General Lee has sent me several, which I have paid, but am afraid the business is not conducted with the regularity it us’d to be, under the inspection of your Secretary[.]...
3289To George Washington from the Board of War, 18 November 1776 (Washington Papers)
The Hancock and Adams, loaded from France with military Stores and other Articles for the Use of the Continent, was taken by a Rhode Island Privateer, and carried into the Port of Dartmouth in New England. The Muskets, Powder, Lead and Gun-flints are to be delivered, by Virtue of the enclosed Resolution of Congress, to the Order of this Board. We have wrote to the Committee of Bedford, in...
3290To George Washington from Major General Nathanael Greene, 18 November 1776 (Washington Papers)
The much greater part of the Enimy march’t off from Fort Washington and above Kings Bridge this morning—their rout appeard to be towards New York—One of the Train of Artillery came across the River last Night on a Raft by his account the Enimy must have sufferd greatly on the Northside of Fort Washington—Col. Rollings Regiment was Posted there, and behaved with great spirit—Col. Magaw could...
3291To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 18 November 1776 (Washington Papers)
On the 12th Inst. I called a Council to consider & determine upon the Posts most important & proper to be occupied by our Troops—There were present Brigadier Generals James & George Clinton, & Scott, (General Morris, Col. Dewer, & Col. Putnam, whom I invited to sit with us)—After Deliberation it was thought best to make the following Disposition of the Troops at this post for the present...
3292To George Washington from Major General Charles Lee, 19 November 1776 (Washington Papers)
The recommendation of General Green which you transmited to me threw the Officers to whom I communicated it into so great a flame of discontent that I ventur’d notwithstanding your orders to hesitate—They accus’d him of partiallity to his connexions and Townsmen to the prejudice of men of manifestly superior merit[.] indeed it appears from the concurrent testimony of unbias’d Persons that some...
3293To George Washington from Richard Peters, 19 November 1776 (Washington Papers)
I am directed by the Board of War to inform your Excellency that they have given Orders for the immediate Collection of all the Prisoners in New Jersey, Pennsilvania—and those in the more Southren States. They are to be sent to Fort Lee agreeable to your Excellencies Desire, but a considerable Time will elapse before the Whole can possibly arrive. There are a great Number in Virginia whose...
3294To George Washington from Colonel Rufus Putnam, 19 November 1776 (Washington Papers)
Sence your Exelency left this place I have Ben to Antonies Nose & I Beleve there is no danger of the Enimys attempting to possess it Nor will it Be Nesessary we Should occupye it. I have also Ben a Toure up peaks kiln Hallow about Eleven mile N. Eastward then through the High lands Into the Fishkiln Country and down to the North River then Returned by the Poast Road which I found to be good...
3295To George Washington from Maj. Gen. Charles Lee, 20 November 1776 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Maj. Gen. Charles Lee, 20 Nov. 1776. GW wrote Lee on 24 Nov. : “I have received your favor of the 20th.”
3296To George Washington from Lund Washington, 20 November 1776 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Lund Washington, 20 Nov. 1776. In his letter to Lund Washington of 10–17 Dec. , GW acknowledged receiving “yr Letters of the 20th & 26th Ulto.”
3297To George Washington from John Hancock, 21 November 1776 (Washington Papers)
I have the Honour to transmit the enclosed Resolves, in Obedience to the Commands of Congress. They are so explicit, that I shall only request your Attention to them. You will percieve from the Vote of Congress, the Sense of that Body with Regard to the Necessity of furnishing the Troops for the new Army, as soon as possible; a Copy of which, I have forwarded to the respective States agreeably...
3298To George Washington from the New York Committee of Safety, 23 November 1776 (Washington Papers)
The Committee of safety have the Honor of your Excellency’s Letter of the 16th Instant which was Immediately referred to the Committee for Arranging the Officers to serve in the four Battallions to be raised in this State. The committee are Extremely happy to find that the measures adopted by the state of Massachusets Bay for Augmenting the Pay of their Troops has been Reprobated by the...
3299To George Washington from the Pennsylvania Council of Safety, 23 November 1776 (Washington Papers)
The uncertain intelligence which we have received respecting the movements of General Howe’s Army, and the evacuation of Fort Lee, renders it absolutely necessary for us to apply to your Excellency for further, and more perfect information concerning these movements, and we earnestly request your Excellency will inform this Board if it is your judgment that he intends for this state, and such...
3300To George Washington from Richard Peters, 23 November 1776 (Washington Papers)
I am directed by the Board of War to acquaint your Excellency that agreeable to your Request Directions were given to those who had the Charge of Prisoners immediately to march them in Companies to Fort Lee. But having received Information that that Post has been evacuated they have countermanded the Orders & directed that they be sent to Brunswick of which I beg Leave to advise your...