1From George Washington to Colonel Jacob Bayley, 17 October 1776 (Washington Papers)
I have yours of the 15th Inst. by Mr Wallace with an Acct of the Expence incurred in cutting a Road from Coos to St Johns, the Amount of £982.16.5½ lawful Money. There are some few Errors in casting out the different Articles but they may be easily rectifyed when a Settlement is made. I have it not in my power to make Objections to any part of the Account, as I cannot but suppose that it is...
2From George Washington to James Bowdoin, 14 August 1776 (Washington Papers)
Your favor of the 30th Ultimo in behalf of the Honorable Council of the Massachusetts State is duly Received, thro you I beg their Acceptance of most hearty Thanks for their readiness in undertakeing the late Treaty. I likewise congratulate them on the Success with which it was attended, and wish an early arrival of such of their Tribes as intend Joining Us in the present Controversy, The four...
3From George Washington to William Bradford, Sr., 29 September 1776 (Washington Papers)
I have been honoured with your Two favors of the 14th & 23d Instt and am to return you my thanks for the measures you have taken to forward the Two Continental Batallions from your State. In respect to the exchange of the persons you mention, I apprehend it cannot be effected, till a General one takes place. This I am trying to carry into execution as well in the Naval as the Land service and...
4Orders to Brigadier General George Clinton, 30 September 1776 (Washington Papers)
Take with you Lieut. Colo. and proceed immediately to Fairfield and there in Consultation with General Lincoln of the Massachusets Bay, Mr Hobart of this State and Lieut. Colo. Livingston if you can meet with him, concert an Expedition to Long Island for the purpose of aiding the Inhabitants removing or destroying the Stock, Grain, &ca which must otherwise fall into the Hands of the Enemy....
5From George Washington to Brigadier General James Clinton, 12 September 1776 (Washington Papers)
I have before me your two Letters of the 8th and 10th Inst. the first inclosing Returns of the Number of Men and Ordnance and Artillery Stores at Forts Montgomery and Constitution; the last, Copies of two Letters from the Convention of the State of New York, by which it appears they had ordered in 600 Militia as a Reinforcement to the two posts, and which I hope will put them in a proper State...
6From George Washington to Brigadier General James Clinton, 14 August 1776 (Washington Papers)
Head Quarters [New York] 14 August 1776 . Forwards Clinton’s commission as brigadier general in the Continental army. “As the Post you are now at is an Object of great importance, & I am unacquainted with the Officers under you, must request you will remain there, till you hear farther from me.” LS , in Tench Tilghman’s writing, CSmH ; LB , DLC:GW ; Varick transcript , DLC:GW . The cover of...
7From George Washington to Brigadier General James Clinton, 8 September 1776 (Washington Papers)
I have this day wrote to the President of the Convention of New York requesting that an Aid of Six hundred Militia may be sent to you from the Counties of Ulster & Orange or any other that is more proper and convenient, for the purpose of assisting you either in the defence of the Highlands in Case they should be attacked or of constructing New Works and Fortifications, by which they may be...
8From George Washington to Brigadier General James Clinton, 5 October 1776 (Washington Papers)
Your Lettr of the 1st Inst. enclosing one from the Committee of New Windsor and a Deposition against Mr Conner is duly Received, they say the Butter was intended for this Army I would therefore advise its being immediately sent to Colo. Trumbull Commissary General who will pay the Current Price, this Step cannot but be agreeable to Mr Conner if he is Innocent of the Charge if otherways will be...
9From George Washington to the Continental Congress Committee of Conference or Edward Rutledge, 11 September 1776 [letter … (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: to the Continental Congress Committee of Conference or Edward Rutledge, 11 Sept. 1776. In a letter of this date to GW, Rutledge , who was a member of the committee, refers to “your Favour of this Morning.”
10From George Washington to Nicholas Cooke, 17 October 1776 (Washington Papers)
On Monday last I was honoured with your favor of the 5th Instt and beg leave to inform you, that the reasons which you assign for countermanding Colo. Richmonds march appear to me strong & substantial; As to the expedition to Long Island, it is impossible for me to give any direction about it, It must be governed by a variety of circumstances; nor will it be in my power to appoint any person...
11From 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...
12From George Washington to Nicholas Cooke, 17 September 1776 (Washington Papers)
I received the honor of your favor of the 6th Inst. by Messrs Collins, Babcock & Stanton, and should have acknowledged It before now, had I not been prevented by the peculiar Situation of our Affairs. I communicated my Sentiments to those Gentn upon the Subject of your Letter and the several propositions that were before me, who I doubt not will make a full and due report of the same to you...
13From George Washington to Joshua Davis, 12 September 1776 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: to Joshua Davis, 12 Sept. 1776. The letter that Davis wrote to GW on 10 Sept. is docketed in part “Ansd 12th.”
14From George Washington to Lord Drummond, 17 August 1776 (Washington Papers)
I have your Lordships Favour of this Day, accompanied by Papers on Subjects of the greatest Moment, & deserving the most deliberate Consideration. I can allow much for your Lordships well meant Zeal upon such an Occasion, but I fear it has transported you beyond that Attention to your Parole which comprehends the Character of a Man of strict Honour. How your Lordship can reconcile your past or...
15From George Washington to Comte d’Ennery, 7 October 1776 (Washington Papers)
I yesterday had the honor of receiving your Letter of the 4th Augt and I take the earliest Opportunity of testifying the pleasure I have in complying with your request, by immediately ordering the Release of Monsr Dechambault. He shall be accommodated with a Passage in the first Vessel that sails from Philadelphia to the French Colonies in the West Indies. Had it not been for your...
16From George Washington to William Fitzhugh, 5 October 1776 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: to William Fitzhugh, 5 Oct. 1776. On 13 Oct. Fitzhugh wrote to GW : “I had the Honor to recieve your favr of the 5th Inst.”
17From George Washington to Benjamin Franklin, 18 August 1776 (Washington Papers)
I have been honourd with your favour of the 16th, and the several Inclosures contained therein, which are now return’d with my thanks for the oppertunity of perusing them —I also Inclose you a Letter from Lord Howe, sent out (with others) by a Flag in the Afternoon of yesterday. with it comes a Letter for Lieutt Barrington, who if not among those who broke their Parole, & went of for Canada,...
18From George Washington to Major General Horatio Gates, 14 August 1776 (Washington Papers)
I yesterday morning received your Letter of the 29 Ulto by Bennet the Express and am extremely sorry to find the Army is still in a sickly and melancholy State—The precaution taken to Halt the Reinforcements at Skenesborough, which are destined for your Succour, is certainly prudent—they should not be exposed or made liable to the Calamities already too prevailing, Unless in cases of extreme...
19From George Washington to Colonel Fisher Gay, 4 September 1776 (Washington Papers)
Whether you do not get the General Orders, with that regularity which is to be wished or whether (which is hard to suppose) you do not attend to them, I will not undertake to determine; But it is a melancholy truth, that Returns, essentially necessary for the Commanding Officer to govern himself by, & which might be made in an hour after they are Calld for where care and Order are Observed,...
20From George Washington to Elbridge Gerry, 16 August 1776 (Washington Papers)
Your favours of the 3d & 6th have come duly to hand, and Mr Adams’s return affords me an oppertunity of acknowledging the receipt of them, & thanking you for the attention paid to the several matters I took the liberty of mentioning as you passed this place. The Enemy have given us much time to collect our Strength, and erect the necessary Works of Defence—The Militia from Connecticut are...
21From George Washington to Colonel John Glover, 17 September 1776 (Washington Papers)
On the receipt of your letter communicating the intelligence from Col. Durkie, respecting the desertion of the militia from Powles hook, I have ordered Col. Williams regiment of militia, amounting to about five hundred men, to march immedy, as a reinforcement to Col. Durkie; Col. Knox will direct what shot & shells, are to be sent over, & I shall give orders that boats be prepared to transport...
22From George Washington to Colonel John Glover, 18 September 1776 (Washington Papers)
Sir: The inconveniences Col. Baldwin’s regiment must of necessity be exposed to, for the want of tents, is a circumstance I can only lament but cannot remedy; to supply them from this place is altogether out of my power, as one half of the brigades from here are in the same situation; all I can say on the subject is to recommend to you, the building of huts in the most convenient manner the...
23From 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...
24From 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...
25From 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...
26Lieutenant 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...
27From George Washington to John Hancock, 18 October 1776 (Washington Papers)
I was Yesterday morning honoured with your favor of the 15th with the Resolutions of the 11th and 14th. the latter by which Congress have authorized me to appoint Monsr Pennet a Brevet Aid De Camp, claims a return of my acknowledgements. Last night I received a Letter from Mr Varrick, Secretary to Genl Schuyler, inclosing a Copy of One from Genl Arnold to Genl Gates. The Intelligence...
28From 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...
29Lieutenant 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...
30From George Washington to John Hancock, 25 September 1776 (Washington Papers)
From the hours allotted to Sleep, I will borrow a few moments to convey my thoughts on sundry important matters to Congress. I shall offer them with that sincerety which ought to characterize a Man of candour; and with the freedom which may be used in giving useful information, without incurring the imputation of presumption. We are now as it were, upon the eve of another dissolution of our...