31To George Washington from Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 14 October 1776 (Washington Papers)
By Capt. Tinker, am inform’d of the Misfortune and Situation of the Row Gallies sent into the Continental Service from this State —and as Circumstances are alter’d respecting them, since my last to you on the Subject of dismissing their Crews and Arms, must again request your Attention to that Matter —That the Crew of the Crane , Capt. Tinker, who escaped, may be dismissed and admitted to...
32To George Washington from Captain Richard Varick, 14 October 1776 (Washington Papers)
I do myself the Honor to inclose Copy of a Letter from General Arnold to General Gates transmitted by the Latter from Tyonderoga & this Moment received in General Schuyler’s absence who is now on his Way to Saratoga. The Lead arrived at Fort George on Saturday last and was immediately forwarded —The powder left this on the same Day and is probably now at or near Fort George, where it will not...
33From George Washington to John Hancock, 11–13 October 1776 (Washington Papers)
I beg leave to inform you, that since my Letter of the 8th and 9th Instt, which I had the honor of addressing you, Nothing of importance has occurred, except that the Ships of War, which I then mentioned, in their passage up the River, took a Sloop that was at Anchor off the Mouth of Spitendevil, and Two of our Row Gallies, which they out sailed. The Crews finding that they could not prevent...
34From George Washington to Nicholas Cooke, 12–13 October 1776 (Washington Papers)
The situation of our Affairs and the approaching dissolution of the present Army, calling for every possible exertion on our part to levy a new one; and presuming that your State are about to make an arrangement of Officers for the Quota of Troops they are to furnish, and that they may wish to know those belonging to them who have served with reputation and bravery; I have thought it...
35General Orders, 13 October 1776 (Washington Papers)
The General expressly orders, that the men have four days provisions ready dressed , at all times, for which purpose the Commissaries, or the Deputies, are to keep the Butchers constantly killing, till such supply is had, and one man from every Mess is to be kept cooking—The commanding Officers of regiments, and others, are most earnestly requested to see this order carried into immediate...
36To George Washington from William Fitzhugh, 13 October 1776 (Washington Papers)
I had the Honor to recieve your favr of the 5th Inst. & am much Oblig’d to you. I hope you will forgive the trouble I have Given, & may Hereafter Give you by recommendations, & Shew no more regard to them, than you think, or may know they Deserve, As in my Scituation, I have many Applications, which might be thought unfriendly to reject, you may However, be Assur’d, That I will not Name to you...
37To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 13 October 1776 (Washington Papers)
I would have wrote your Excellency Earlier this morning, But have waited to have Intelligence from the Two Regiments near frogs Point, which I have but Just Received, a Large number of vessells, Ships, Brigs, Schooners, Sloops Lighters &c. Saild through Hell gate yesterday afternoon, and Came to anchor last night off Frogs Point, where they still remain, during the night, Lanthorns were...
38From George Washington to Colonel Thomas Tash, 13 October 1776 (Washington Papers)
Since I wrote you by Lt Colo. Welch upon the Subject of fixing on Quarters for your Troops, I have received from the Committee of Safety for this State such an Account of its alarming Situation owing to the numbers of disaffected, together with the little Confidence that can be placed on the Militia of some of the Counties, that I find it necessary to order a part of the New Hampshire Troops...
39To George Washington from Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 13 October 1776 (Washington Papers)
Since mine of the 11th Instant by express have Received pretty Sure Intelligence that a plan is forming by the Noted Majr Rogers a famous Partisan or Ranger in the last Warr now in the Service of Genl How on Long Island where he is Collecting a Battallion of Tories with Such as he can procure from the Main many of which we understand have lately Stole over to join him and who are perfectly...
40From George Washington to Major General Artemas Ward, 13 October 1776 (Washington Papers)
I have been favoured with your two Letters of the 3d & 6th Instt. in answer to the first, I am not only willing, but shall be much obliged by your Settling with the Gentn to whom Money was advanced for purchasing Arms & for which purpose I have transmitted a List of the Warrants that were drawn in their favor. Before I left Cambridge some of the Gentlemen, (three, four or more of them)...
41General Orders, 12 October 1776 (Washington Papers)
The General orders, that one man from every Mess, be kept cooking, till there are provisions dressed for three days—The Butchers are also to keep killing. Varick transcript , DLC:GW .
42To George Washington from the Board of War, 12 October 1776 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from the Board of War, 12 Oct. 1776. On 22 Oct. Robert Hanson Harrison wrote to the Board of War: “I am directed by his Excellency, whose business has called him from hence, to acknowledge his receipt of your Favors of the 12th and 15th Instt, and to inform you in Answer to the first, that he will mention the case of the French Gentn to Genl Lee, and obtain his Opinion as to...
43To George Washington from Major General Nathanael Greene, 12 October 1776 (Washington Papers)
I am inform’d a large body of the Enemies Troop have landed at Froggs point. If so I suppose the Troops here will be wanted there. I have three Brigades in readiness to reinforce you; General Clintons Brigade will march first. General Nixons next and then the Troops under the command of General Roberdeau. I dont Apprehend any danger from this quarter at present[.] if the force on your side are...
44To George Washington from Robert R. Livingston, 12 October 1776 (Washington Papers)
I should do injustice toward the politeness & attention with which your Excellency has been pleased to listen to the crude opinions which I have some times offered if I did not (without any appology) deliver my sentiments on the present alarming state of this Colony & submit to your Excellencys better judgment such measures as will (in my Idea) be most likely to eleviate the evills I...
45To George Washington from Colonel Joseph Phillips, 12 October 1776 (Washington Papers)
The Address of Joseph Phillips, Colonel of a Battalion of Jersey Levies, Sheweth: That your Excellency’s adressor, hath viewed with infinite regret, the Enemies Ships of War passing by us up the North River, opposite Mount Washington, with impunity: owing in a great measure, he humbly conceives, to the bad Construction of some of our Batteries, & the want of others in more suitable places: To...
46General Orders, 11 October 1776 (Washington Papers)
Col. Ewing, Lt Col. Penrose, Major Fitzgereld, Capts. Thorne, Ballard, Packay, and Yates, to sit as a Court of Enquiry into the Conduct of Col. Van Cortlandt, and Major Dey, towards each other; to meet this afternoon at 3’O’Clock, at the Court Martial Room, and make report as soon as possible to the General—Brigade Majors to give them immediate notice. —Talmadge Esqr: is appointed Brigade...
47Recruiting Instructions for Colonel Edward Hand, 11 October 1776 (Washington Papers)
You are immediately to Inlist such of your Regiment or any other Troops raised in the Province of Pennsylvania as are able of Body & Willing to enter into the Service of the United States of America upon the following Terms. 1st. You are not to inlist any but Freemen able of Body & under the age of 50 carefully avoiding all persons Labouring under any Lameness or other Defect of Body...
48From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 11 October 1776 (Washington Papers)
The Ships which have got up the River with their Tenders (and now two of our Row Galleys) must be well attended to, or they may undertake something against our Stores, Craft, or &ca at Spiten devil—delay no time therefore in having some Work thrown up at the Mouth of that Creek for the defence of what lyes within, & to prevent Surprizes. A Small number of Troops Imbark’d on Long Island...
49To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 11 October 1776 (Washington Papers)
I have Just Received the Honor of yours of this Day’s date, and am fully Convinced that a Work should be thrown up without the Least Loss of Time at the mouth of Spiten devil—If Colonel Putnam and Colo. Knox Can be spared a few hours I wish Your Exellency would please to Send them Here in Order to Trace out a Proper Work, and Determine what Ordnance will be necessary to be Mounted at the Mouth...
50To George Washington from Edmund Randolph, 11 October 1776 (Washington Papers)
I congratulate your Excellency, as a Friend to the Reputation of Virginia, and the Interests of the Continent, that Colo. Harrison is again restored to the Councils of America. During his Absence at the Northward, he had been appointed one of our privy Council, but refused to qualify, as such. This afforded him an Opportunity, to vindicate himself from those malicious Insinuations, which first...
51From George Washington to Major General Philip Schuyler, 11 October 1776 (Washington Papers)
I this Morning received Your Favor of the 7th inst., and am to inform You, That It is not in my Power to supply You with a single Nail, nor are they to be procured in Philadelphia, as General Mifflin tells Me, Who has just returned from thence. For Want of them, we are building here, Huts of sod, Logs &ca to cover the Troops & Which I am in Hopes will make a tolerable Good shift. Since My...
52To George Washington from Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 11 October 1776 (Washington Papers)
In Consequence of your favour proposing a Descent on Long Island; Altho I was so Unhappy as not to be Able to Meet Generals Clinton & Lincoln at this place as requested, I Applied to the State of Rhode-Island, And Obtain’d their Consent & Orders that Colo. Richmond and such part of his Battallion, as shall not inlist on board the Continental Vessells, should Assist in the Enterprise. Coll...
53From George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 9–10 October 1776 (Washington Papers)
Agreeable to your request and the promise contained in my letter of yesterday I beg leave to transmit you the enclosed list comprehending the names of such Gentlemen as are recommended by the General Officers from your State, as proper Persons to be promoted in the Regiments you are about to raise, with the ranks which they conceive they ought to hold. Sensible that the very existence, that...
54General Orders, 10 October 1776 (Washington Papers)
If the weather is favourable to morrow morning, the General purposes to visit the troops at their Alarm-posts. Commanding Officers of regiments, and others, are desired to make themselves well acquainted with their Alarm Posts, and the best ways to them; And also with the Ground in general, upon which they may be called to act, so as to avail themselves of every advantage. If Officers do not...
55To George Washington from William Bartlett, 10 October 1776 (Washington Papers)
I once more take the Liberty to write your Exelly which at this time when you are so deeply ingaged against Our unatural Enemies would Gladly Omitt did I not think it my duty therefore beg you’ll Excuse it. I wrote your Excelly some time Sence Concerning those Prizes taken by Commo. Manly Viz. the Ordinance Brigr Nancey Ship Concord & Ship Jenny Genr. Miffilin having Recd a Part of Each Cargo...
56To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 10 October 1776 (Washington Papers)
Upon being Informed yesterday in the afternoon that a party of the Enemy had Landed at Dobbs’s Ferry, and had Posted Sentries in the Road, I Ordered Colo. Sargent with 500 men and 40 of the Light Horse to march and Dislodge them, at Two oClock this morning he Sent an Express Informing me, that he had reach’d The Ferry, & that there was no Enemy Landed, at that Time, and that the Ships were...
57To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 10 October 1776 (Washington Papers)
Col. Sargent has just return’d from Dobbs’s Ferry—he informs that the Enemy’s Ships, took Two of our Gallies on Yesterday near that place which were run on shore—our men got out the small Arms & Baggage—That the Enemy sent Four Boats from their Ships, three to the Gallies & one on Shore, the men in the latter landed & broke open a Store, & plunder’d many Articles, & Stove the Remainder, & set...
58To George Washington from the New York Committee of Safety, 10 October 1776 (Washington Papers)
We received from Mr Tilghman an Account of the enemies Ships having gone up the River—and have dispatched Expresses to General Schuyler and General Clinton agreable to your Excellency’s request. Nothing can be more alarming than the present situation of our State; We are daily getting, the most authentic Intelligence of bodies of Men enlisted and armed in order to assist the Enemy⟨.⟩ We much...
59From George Washington to Major General Philip Schuyler, 10 October 1776 (Washington Papers)
I am now to acknowledge Your Favor of the 1st Inst. & to inform You, that the two Sachems of the Cayugas, with Mr Deane the Interpreter, have been with me & spent three or four Days. I shewed them every Civility in My Power & presented them with such Necessaries as our Barren stores afforded and they were pleased to take; I also had them shewn all our Works upon this Island, which I had...
60From George Washington to John Hancock, 8–9 October 1776 (Washington Papers)
Since I had the honor of writing you Yesterday, I have been favoured with a Letter from the Honble Council of Massachusetts bay, covering One from Richard Derby Esqr., a Copy of which is herewith transmitted, as it contains intelligence of an important and interesting nature. As an Exchange of prisoners is about to take place, I am induced from a Question stated in a Letter I received from...