1From George Washington to John Hancock, 13 August 1776 (Washington Papers)
As there is reason to beleive that but little Time will elapse before the Enemy make their Attack, I have thought It advisable to remove All the papers in my hands respecting the Affairs of the States from this place. I hope the Event will shew the precaution was unnecessary, but yet prudence required that It should be done, Lest by any Accident they might fall into their hands. They are all...
2From George Washington to John Hancock, 14 August 1776 (Washington Papers)
Since I had the honor of addressing you on Monday Nothing of Importance has Occurred here, Except that the Enemy have received an Augmentation to their Fleet of Ninety Six Ships—some Reports make them more: In a Letter I wrote you Yesterday by Lieutt Colo. Reed, I advised you of this, but presuming It may not reach you so soon as this will, I have thought proper to mention the Intelligence...
3From George Washington to John Hancock, 14 August 1776 (Washington Papers)
This will be delivered you by Captn Moeballe, a Dutch Gentleman from Surinam, who has come to the Continent with a view of Entering into the Service of the States, as you will perceive by the Inclosed Letters from Mr Brown of Providence and General Greene. What other Letters & Credentials he has, I know not, but at his request have given this Line to Congress to whom he wishes to be...
4From George Washington to John Hancock, 15 August 1776 (Washington Papers)
As the situation of the Two Armies must engage the attention of Congress and lead them to expect, that, each returning day will produce some Important Events, This is meant to Inform them that Nothing of Moment has yet cast up. In the Evening of Yesterday there were great movements among their Boats and from the Number that appeared to be passing and repassing about the Narrows, we were...
5From George Washington to John Hancock, 16 August 1776 (Washington Papers)
I beg leave to inform you that since I had the pleasure of addressing you Yesterday Nothing Interesting between the Two Armies has happened. Things remain nearly in the situation they then were. It is with peculiar regret and concern that I have an Opportunity of mentioning to Congress the Sickly condition of our Troops. In some Regiments there are not any of the Field Officers capable of...
6From George Washington to John Hancock, 17 August 1776 (Washington Papers)
The circumstances of the Two Armies having undergone no material alteration since I had the honor of writing you last, I have nothing particular or Important to communicate respecting them. In my Letter of Yesterday I forgot to mention the arrival of Lord Dunmore here. By the examination of a Capn Hunter who escaped from the Enemy and came to Amboy on the 14th transmitted me by Genl Roberdeau,...
7From George Washington to John Hancock, 18 August 1776 (Washington Papers)
I have been honoured with your Favor of the 16th with Its Inclosure and am sorry It is not in my power to transmit Congress a Copy of the Treaty as they require, having sent It away with the Other papers that were in my Hands. The Resolution they have entered into respecting the Foreign Troops, I am persuaded would produce Salutary Effects, If It can be properly circulated among them. I fear...
8From George Washington to John Hancock, 19 August 1776 (Washington Papers)
I have Nothing of moment to communicate to Congress, as things are in the situation they were when I had last the Honor of addressing them. By a Letter from Genl Ward of the 12th, I find that Whetcombs Regiment on the 8th, and Phinneys on the 9th, Marched from Boston for Ticonderoga. Governor Trumbull also in a Letter of the 13th, Advises me that Wards Regiment in the service of the States was...
9From George Washington to John Hancock, 20 August 1776 (Washington Papers)
I was yesterday Morning favoured with yours of the 17th, accompanied by Several Resolutions of Congress, and Commissions for Officers appointed to the late Vacancies in this Army. I wrote some days ago to Genl Schuyler, to propose to Genls Carleton & Burgoyne an Exchange of prisoners in consequence of a former Resolve of Congress authorizing their Commanders in each Department to negociate...
10From George Washington to John Hancock, 21 August 1776 (Washington Papers)
Inclosed I have the Honor to transmit you a Copy of my Letter to Lord Howe as well on the Subject of a Genl Exchange of prisoners in the Naval Line, as that of Lieutt Josiah in particular, and of his Lordships Answer, which for Its matter and manner, is very different from Genl Carletons Orders which were forwarded Yesterday. The Situation of the Armies being the same, as when I had the...
11From George Washington to John Hancock, 22 August 1776 (Washington Papers)
I do myself the Honor to transmit Congress, a Copy of a Letter I received yesterday Evening by Express from Genl Livingston—Also Copies of three Reports from Colo. Hand. Though the Intelligence reported by the Spy on his return to Genl Livingston, has not been confirmed by the Event he mentions, an Attack last night, there is every reason to beleive that One is shortly designed. The falling...
12From George Washington to John Hancock, 23 August 1776 (Washington Papers)
I beg leave to inform Congress that Yesterday morning & in the course of the preceeding night, a considerable body of the Enemy amounting by report to Eight or Nine thousand, and these all British, landed from the Transport Ships mentioned in my Last at Gravesend Bay on Long Island, and have approached within three miles of our Lines, having marched across the Low, cleared Grounds, near the...
13From George Washington to John Hancock, 24 August 1776 (Washington Papers)
The irregularity of the Post prevents your receiving the early and constant Intelligence it is my Wish to communicate. This is the third Letter which you will, probably, receive from me by the same Post. The first was of little or no consequence, but that of yesterday gave you the best Information I had been able to obtain of the Enemy’s Landing, and movements upon Long Island. Having occasion...
14From George Washington to John Hancock, 26 August 1776 (Washington Papers)
I have been duly honoured with your favors of the 20th & 24th and am happy to find my Answer to Ld Drummond has met the approbation of Congress. whatever his views were, most certainly his conduct respecting his parole is highly reprehensible. Since my Letter of the 24th, All most the whole of the Enemies fleet have fallen down to the Narrows, and from this circumstance—the Striking of their...
15Lieutenant Colonel Robert Hanson Harrison to John Hancock, 27 August 1776 (Washington Papers)
I this minute returned from our Lines on Long Island where I left his Excellency the General. From him I have It in command to Inform Congress that Yesterday he went there & continued till Evening when from the Enemy’s having landed a considerable part of their Forces and many of their Movements, there was reason to apprehend they would make in a little time a Genl Attack. As they would have a...
16From George Washington to John Hancock, 29 August 1776 (Washington Papers)
I was last night honoured with your favor of the 27th accompanied by sundry Resolutions of Congress. Those respecting the officers &c. that may be wounded in the service of the States are founded much in Justice, and I should hope may be productive of many salutary consequences—As to the Encouragement to the Hessian Officers, I wish It may have the desired effect, perhaps It might have been...
17From George Washington to John Hancock, 31 August 1776 (Washington Papers)
Inclination as well as duty would have Induced me to give Congress the earliest Information of my removal and that of the Troops from Long Island & Its dependencies to this City the night before last, But the extreme fatigue whic⟨h⟩ myself and Family have undergone as much from the Weather since the Engagement on the 27th rendered me & them entirely unfit to take pen in hand—Since Monday...
18From George Washington to John Hancock, 2 September 1776 (Washington Papers)
As my Intelligence of late has been rather unfavourable and would be received with anxiety & concern, peculiarly happy should I esteem myself, were It in my power at this time, to transmit such information to Congress, as would be more pleasing and agreable to their Wishes—But unfortunately for me—Unfortunately for them, It is not. Our situation is truly distressing—The check our Detachment...
19From George Washington to John Hancock, 4 September 1776 (Washington Papers)
Since I had the Honor of addressing you on the 2d Our affairs have not undergone a change for the better, nor assumed a more agreable aspect than what they then wore. The Militia under various pretences of sickness &c. are daily diminishing & in a little time I am persuaded, their number will be very inconsiderable. On Monday night a Forty Gun Ship passed up the Sound between Governor’s & Long...
20From George Washington to John Hancock, 6 September 1776 (Washington Papers)
I was last night honored with your favor of the 3d with sundry Resolutions of Congress, and perceiving It to be their Opinion and determination that no damage shall be done the City in case we are obliged to abandon It, I shall take every measure in my power to prevent It. Since my Letter of the 4th nothing very material has occurred, unless It is that the Fleet seem to be drawing more...
21From George Washington to John Hancock, 7 September 1776 (Washington Papers)
This will be delivered you by Captn Martindale & Lieutt Turner who were taken last Fall in the Armed Brig Washington, & who with Mr Childs the 2d Lieutt have lately effected their escape from Hallifax. Captn Martindale and these Two Officers have applied to me for pay from the 1st of January till this time, But not conceiving myself authorized to grant It, however reasonable It may be, as they...
22From George Washington to John Hancock, 8 September 1776 (Washington Papers)
Since I had the honour of addressing you on the 6th Instt I have called a Council of the General Officers in order to take a full & comprehensive view of our situation & thereupon form such a plan of future defence as may be immediately pursued & subject to no other alteration than a change of Operations on the Enemy’s side may occasion. Before the Landing of the Enemy on Long Island, the...
23From George Washington to John Hancock, 11 September 1776 (Washington Papers)
I was yesterday honored with your favor of the 8th Instt accompanied by Sundry Resolutions of Congress, to which I shall pay the strictest attention and in the Instances required make them the future Rule of my conduct. The Mode of Negotiation pursued by Lord Howe I did not approve of, But as Genl Sullivan was sent out upon the business and with a Message to Congress, I could not conceive...
24Lieutenant Colonel Robert Hanson Harrison to John Hancock, 12 September 1776 (Washington Papers)
His Excellency being called from Head Quarters to day on business of Importance which prevents his Writing, I therefore do myself the honor to inform Congress of what has happened since his Letter of Yesterday. Last Evening the Enemy transported a number of Men from Buchanans to Montezors Island, and by their several movements more strongly indicate their Intention to land somewhere about...
25From George Washington to John Hancock, 14 September 1776 (Washington Papers)
I have been duly honored with your favor of the 10th with the Resolution of Congress which accompanied It, and thank them for the confidence they repose in my Judgement respecting the evacuation of the City. I could wish to maintain It, Because I know It to be of Importance, But I am fully convinced that It cannot be done, and that an attempt for that purpose if persevered in, might & most...
26From George Washington to John Hancock, 16 September 1776 (Washington Papers)
On Saturday about Sunset Six more of the Enemy’s Ships, One or Two of which were men of War; passed between Governors Island & Red Hook and went up the East River to the Station taken by those mentioned in my Last —In half an Hour, I received Two Expresses, One from Col. Serjeant at Horn’s Hook (Hell Gate) giving an Account that the Enemy to the amount of Three or Four Thousand had marched to...
27From George Washington to John Hancock, 18 September 1776 (Washington Papers)
As my Letter of the 16th contained Intelligence of an Important nature, and such as might lead Congress to expect, that the evacuation of New York and retreat to the Heights of Harlem in the manner they were made, would be succeeded by some other Interesting event, I beg leave to inform them, that as yet nothing has been attempted upon a large and general plan of Attack. About the time of the...
28From George Washington to John Hancock, 19 September 1776 (Washington Papers)
Since I had the honor of addressing you Yesterday, Nothing material has occurred, However It is probable in a little time, the Enemy will attempt to force us from hence, as we are informed they are bringing many of their Heavy Cannon towards the Heights and the Works we have thrown up. they have also Eight or Nine Ships of War in the North River, which It is said, are to Canonade our right...
29From George Washington to John Hancock, 20–21 September 1776 (Washington Papers)
I have been honored with your favor of the 16th with Its Inclosures. to prevent the Injury and abuses which would arise from the Militia and Other Troops carrying away Ammunition and Continental property, I have published the substance of the Resolves upon the Subject in General Orders. Since my Letter of Yesterday Nothing of Importance has cast up. The Enemy are forming a large and extensive...
30From George Washington to John Hancock, 22 September 1776 (Washington Papers)
I had flattered myself that the Congress would before this Time have forwarded the amended Articles for the Government of the Army. But as they have not I think it my indispensable Duty to lay before them the Necessity, the absolute Necessity of forming an Article against plundering, marauding & burning of Houses—such a Spirit has gone forth in our Army that neither publick or private Property...