91From George Washington to Patrick Henry, 5 October 1776 (Washington Papers)
Your Obliging favor of the 20th Ulto came duly to hand, and demands my best acknowledgments. I congratulate You Sir most cordially upon your appointment to the Government & with no less sincerity on your late recovery—Your Correspondence will confer honor and satisfaction, and whenever it is in my power I shall write to you with pleasure—Our retreat from Long Island under the peculiar...
92From George Washington to Lord Howe, 17 August 1776 (Washington Papers)
Being authorized by Congress, as their Commanders in every Department are, to Negociate an Exchange of Prisoners, and presuming as well from the nature of your Lordships command, as the Information Genl Howe has been pleased to Honour me with, that the Exchange in the Naval Line will be subject to your Lordships direction, I beg leave to propose the following mode of Exchange for your...
93From George Washington to Major General William Howe, 6 October 1776 (Washington Papers)
I beg leave to inform you that in consequence of my directions founded on your favor of the 21st Ulto, Governors Browne & Skeene are arrived within the Neighbourhood of this place and will be conveyed to morrow between the Hours of One & two to one of the ships of War in the North river, when it is hoped that my Lord Stirling will be permitted to return, as also Mr Lovell if he has come from...
94From George Washington to Major General William Howe, 17 August 1776 (Washington Papers)
I do myself the honor to transmit the Inclosed Letter from Major French, & at the same time to inform you, that his Exchange for Majr Meigs, whose parole I am advised you have, will meet my approbation—I would take the liberty also to propose an Exchange of any Captn you may chuse for Capn Dearborn whose parole I have heard was delivered you with Major Meig’s. Give me leave to assure you Sir,...
95From George Washington to Major General William Howe, 19 September 1776 (Washington Papers)
I have the honor to advise you, that in Consequence of Genl Sullivan’s Information, first by Letter and afterwards verbally, that you were willing to exchange him for Maj. Genl Prescot, and Brig. Genl Lord Stirling for any Brigadier of yours in our possession; I wrote to Congress to send Genl prescot to some convenient place from whence the proposed Exchange might be made. And supposing that...
96From George Washington to Major General William Howe, 23 September 1776 (Washington Papers)
I yesterday evening received the favor of your letter of the 21st by your Aid de Camp, Capt. Montresor, in consequence of which I this morning dispatch’d an express to Elizabeth town, with orders that Majr Genl Prescott, should be permitted to return in the boat that carried Genl Sullivan over to that place. I most readily concur in the proposition, you are pleased to make for the exchange of...
97From George Washington to Major General William Howe, 6 September 1776 (Washington Papers)
By a letter from Majr Genl Sullivan, while on Long Island, & which he acquainted me was wrote by your permission, I was inform’d it would be agreable to exchange that gentleman for Majr Genl Prescott, & Brigadr Lord Stirling for any Brigadr of yours in our possession. In consequence of this intelligence, I have wrote to Congress, requesting that Genl Prescott may be sent here, that this...
98From George Washington to Frederick Jay, 16 August 1776 (Washington Papers)
In Consequence of my Orders, the undermentioned persons have been apprehended and are now under a Guard at New Rochelle or its Neighbourhood. As the sending a Guard thro’ to Govr Trumbull with them would be attended with much Inconvenience to the public and cannot be agreeable to the Gentlemen Upon their giving you their Word & Honor to proceed to Lebanon to Govr Trumbull I am satisfyed to...
99From George Washington to Col. Henry Knox, 19 August 1776 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: to Col. Henry Knox, 19 Aug. 1776. GW wrote to William Heath on this date : “I have wrote to Colo. Knox this morning.”
100Orders to Major General Benjamin Lincoln, 7 October 1776 (Washington Papers)
As I am credibly inform’d that the inhabitants along the Sound carry on a frequent communication with the Enemy on Long Island, you are hereby instructed to collect all the boats, & other small craft on the sound, from Horse Neck downwards to any extent you shall think proper, & convey them to any place you shall concieve to be most convenient. Givn under my hand at Head Quarters this 7th...
101From George Washington to Major General Benjamin Lincoln, 30 September 1776 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 28th Instt noticeing Me the forwardness of the Troops under your Command was this day handed Me by Majr Turner, on Receipt of this you’ll please to Halt your Men till a Conference with General Clinton who waits on to advise with You, and determine on a Secret Expedition to Long-Island—which if properly conducted I have no doubt will be attended with Success and be...
102From George Washington to Lieutenant Colonel Henry Beekman Livingston, 4 September 1776 (Washington Papers)
In answer to both your favours just receivd by Lieut. Smith I can only say, that circumstanced as we both are at present it is not in my power to give you any other instructions for your Conduct than that you pursue every step which shall appear to you necessary & judicious for annoying & harrassing the Enemy, & to prevent their forraging, & while those measures are in any degree effectual I...
103From George Washington to Robert R. Livingston, 20 October 1776 (Washington Papers)
I wish I had leizure to write you fully on the subject of yr last Letter —the moving state of the Army, and the extreame hurry in which I have been Involved for these Eight days, will only allow me time to acknowledge the receipt of yr favour, and to thank you (as I shall always do) for Any hints you may please to communicate, as I have great reliance upon your judgment; & knowledge of the...
104From George Washington to Walter Livingston, 15 August 1776 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: to Walter Livingston, 15 Aug. 1776. Livingston’s letter to GW of 7–9 Aug . is docketed “An[swere]d 15. 1776.”
105From George Washington to William Livingston, 5 October 1776 (Washington Papers)
The Congress having directed me, by a Resolve of the 26th Septemr to procure as soon as possible, an Exchange of the Officers and Soldiers taken on Long Island for the same Number of British Officers and privates, now prisoners in the united States, it becomes necessary for me to be informed of the Number and Ranks of the prisoners in the different States, in order to carry the same into...
106From George Washington to Brigadier General William Livingston, 21 August 1776 (Washington Papers)
⟨I a⟩m much obliged to you for your Favour of this Date—The Intelligence is important, & I shall take every necessary Measure to avail myself of it. Should any new Intelligence arrive you will please to forward it with the same kind Expedition you have used on this. We have made no Discovery of any Movements here of any Consequence. I am with much Regard Sir Your most Obed. Hbble Sert LS , in...
107From George Washington to the Massachusetts General Court, 19 September 1776 (Washington Papers)
I was honored the night before last with your favor of the 13th Inst. and at the same time that I conceive your anxiety to have been great by reason of the vague & uncertain accounts you received respecting the attack on Long Island, give me leave to assure you that the situation of our Affairs and the Important concerns which have surrounded me & which are daily pressing on me, have prevented...
108From George Washington to the Massachusetts General Court, 29 September 1776 (Washington Papers)
Genl Howe having signifyed to me, a desire of making a General Exchange of Prisoners both Officers, and privates, it becomes necessary to have an exact Return of the Numbers in our possession. You will therefore be pleased to have all the Continental prisoners of War, (belonging to the Land Service) in the different Towns in your State, collected and brought together to some convenient place,...
109From George Washington to Colonel Thomas McKean, 13 August 1776 (Washington Papers)
In answer to that part of your Letter of the 10th Instt “whether, when a Brigade is drawn up, and the oldest Colonel takes the Right, his Battalion is to be on the right with him; that is, whether the Colonel gives rank to the Battalion” I shall inform you, that to the best of my Military knowledge a Regiment never looses its Rank, consequently can derive none from its Colonel, nor loose any...
110From George Washington to Brig. Gen. Hugh Mercer, 14 August 1776 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: to Brig. Gen. Hugh Mercer, 14 Aug. 1776. In a letter to GW of 15 Aug. , Mercer refers to “your Letters of 13 & 14.”
111From George Washington to Brig. Gen. Hugh Mercer, 18 August 1776 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: to Brig. Gen. Hugh Mercer, 18 Aug. 1776. In a letter to GW of 19 Aug. , Mercer refers to “your Excellencys Letter of yesterday.”
112From George Washington to Brigadier General Hugh Mercer, 26 September 1776 (Washington Papers)
If the Troops at this Post can be prevailed upon to defend it as they should do, it must cost General Howe a great many men to carry it if he succeeds at all—If this should happen to be his Opinion there is scarce a Doubt but that he will turn his thoughts another way, as inactivity is not to be expected from him—Whither his operations may be directed is uncertain—perhaps an irruption into the...
113From George Washington to Brigadier General Hugh Mercer, 11 September 1776 (Washington Papers)
I have received your favour by Colo. Weedon. As it seems every day more Probable that the Posts at Kingsbridge will be occupied by this Army & the principal defence made there, I have orderd Colo. Bradlys Regiment to move from Bergen. As that Post does not seem to be an Object of the Enemys Attention I am in doubt whether it is necessary for you to replace this Regiment or leave it to the...
114From George Washington to Brig. Gen. Hugh Mercer, 18 October 1776 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: to Brig. Gen. Hugh Mercer, 18 Oct. 1776. Mercer’s letter to GW of 16 Oct. is docketed in part “Ansd 18th.”
115From George Washington to Brigadier General Hugh Mercer, 3 September 1776 (Washington Papers)
From the present complexion of our Affairs It appears to me of the utmost Importance & that the most Salutary consequences may result from our having a strong Encampment at the post on the Jersey side of the North River, opposite to Mount Washington on this Island—I therefore think It adviseable & highly necessary that you detach such a Force from Amboy & Its dependencies under the Command of...
116From George Washington to Brigadier General Hugh Mercer, 8 September 1776 (Washington Papers)
I have received your letter by Genll Roberdeau of the 8th of Sept., and am sorry to hear of your indisposition, which however I hope will in a Short time be removed; There has nothing very material pass’d in this Quarter since you were here; still matters wear so critical an aspect, that I have determined to Call over Colo. Ward’s regiment from the post Opposite mount Washington; you will...
117From George Washington to Brigadier General Hugh Mercer, 5 September 1776 (Washington Papers)
I have been favoured with your Two Letters of the 3 Instt and observe what you have done in consequence of my Instructions. When I wrote for Troops to be sent to the post opposite Mount Washington, I did not Immagine you would have so many to spare —About a Thousand under Genl Ewen [Ewing] in addition to those already at the post, I think will be fully competent to Its defence & such works as...
118From George Washington to Brig. Gen. Hugh Mercer, 15 October 1776 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: to Brig. Gen. Hugh Mercer, 15 Oct. 1776. On 16 Oct. Mercer wrote to GW : “Your Instructions of October the 15th I shall immediately set about observing.”
119From George Washington to Brig. Gen. Hugh Mercer, 13 August 1776 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: to Brig. Gen. Hugh Mercer, 13 Aug. 1776. In a letter to GW of 15 Aug. , Mercer refers to “your Letters of the 13 & 14.”
120From George Washington to Robert Morris, 12 September 1776 (Washington Papers)
I have been honored with your favr of the 7th Inst. upon the Subject of Tents for this Army. That you might receive proper Information of the Number wanted, I directed the Quarter Master General to return you an Estimate, whose Office it is to provide them. His Report you will find in the inclosed Letter which I beg leave to refer you, and requesting that the greatest Dispatch may be used in...