1General Orders, 24 September 1776 (Washington Papers)
The Qr Mr Genl, and the Chief Engineer, are to mark the grounds, to morrow, on which the Barracks, and Huts, are to be built this side Kingsbridge—They are to call upon the General, previous to their setting out upon this business, for directions. When the ground is marked out, the Quarter Master General is to cause the materials for building to be laid thereon as quick as possible. The...
2From George Washington to Maj. Gen. William Heath, 17 August 1776 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: to Maj. Gen. William Heath, 17 Aug. 1776. Heath’s letter to GW of this date is docketed in Joseph Reed’s writing: “Major Genl Heath Kingsbridge Aug. 17 1776 Answerd do.”
3To George Washington from Lieutenant Colonel Henry Beekman Livingston, 11 September 1776 (Washington Papers)
Since my last by Lieutenant Smith I have been able to collect no assisstance, the Malitia of Southold about one Hundred and fifty in number deserted me at the River Head on my way to Huntington haveing heard that long Island was given up to the Enemy, Colonel Mulford was gathering the Malitia of South and East Hampton when this Report (industriously Circulated by our Enemies) was spread among...
4From 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...
5From George Washington to the New York Convention, 17 August 1776 (Washington Papers)
When I consider that the City of New York will in all human probability very soon be the scene of a bloody conflict: I can not but view the great Numbers of Women, Children & infirm persons remaining in It with the most melancholy concern—When the Men of War passed up the River the Shrieks & Cries of these poor creatures running every way with their Children was truly distressing & I fear will...
6Council of War, 12 September 1776 (Washington Papers)
At a Council of War held at Gen. McDougals Qua⟨rters⟩ Sept. 12. 1776. Present His Excelly Gen. Washington. Major Gen. Puttnam[,] Heath[,] Spencer[,] Green[,] Brigr Gen. Mifflin[,] Parsons[,] McDougal[,] Nixon[,] Wadsworth[,] Scott[,] Fellows[,] Clinton. The General read a Letter signed by some general Officers proposing that there should be a Reconsideration of the Matter determined in Council...
7To George Washington from the Massachusetts Council, 5 October 1776 (Washington Papers)
In consequence of the measures taken by this Government to Engage a number of Indians of the Penobscott, St Johns and Mickmac Tribes in the Service of the united States of America agreable to the desire of your Excellency, Seven of the Penobscott Tribe have Inlisted for the Term of one Year, and have arrived here on their way to New York. As they were very poorly Cloathed, and would not...
8From George Washington to Abraham Yates, Jr., 6 September 1776 (Washington Papers)
I have now before me your letter of the 4th Instt inclosing the report against ordering out any more of the militia from the counties of Orange, Dutchess, West Chester or Ulster—The reasons alledged by the Commee, to whom this matter was referred, are entirely satisfactory to me, and therefore I do not expect a compliance with that part of my letter which respects this matter. I have the honor...
9From 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...
10To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 26 August 1776 (Washington Papers)
I have just had the Honor to receive your’s of this day’s Date, & shall continue in the most perfect readiness, the Detachment designed for your Aid if Occasion should require it—I will further confer with the Brigadier Generals & Engineers, on the Probability of the Fire Rafts answering the Purpose of a floating Bridge, It is my own, as well as Genl Clinton’s Opinion that they will, and it...
11To George Washington from Joshua Wentworth, 26 August 1776 (Washington Papers)
I have the pleasure to advise the arrival at this Port a Prize Ship named the Nelly Frigate, (Lyonel Bradstreet mastr) from the Bay of Honduras, for London, Lading with a Cargo, of 120,000 feet Mahogany Logs and Forty Tons chip’t & unchipt Logwood, sent in by the Hancock Capn Tucker & the Franklyn Capt. Skimmer, in the Service of the United Colonies the Vessel & Cargo the property of...
12To George Washington from John Hancock, 24 September 1776 (Washington Papers)
You will perceive by the enclosed Resolves of Congress, which I have the Honour to forward, that they have come to a Determination to augment our Army, & to engage the Troops to serve during the Continuance of the War. As an Inducement to enlist on these Terms, the Congress have agreed to give, besides a Bounty of twenty Dollars, a Hundred Acres of Land to each Soldier; and in Case he should...
13From 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...
14To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 18 September 1776 (Washington Papers)
Upon the receipt of yours on Yesterday I immediately sent an Express to West-Chester, with the Letter directed to Col. Williams, & a Line from myself for his immediate march to Mount Washington—The Express informs that Col. Williams with his Regiment was not arriv’d, but hourly expected—The Major of the Regiment is at West-Chester, and will as soon as the Regiment reaches that place deliver...
15From George Washington to the New York Convention, 17 October 1776 (Washington Papers)
Judging it a matter of the utmost importance to secure the passes thro the Highlands, I have sent up Monsr Imbert, a French Gentlemen, who has been placed in the Army as an Engineer by Congress, in order to take your directions respecting the passes & such Works as you may esteem necessary to preserve them. As the situation of Affairs in this State is rather alarming, I would beg leave to...
16From George Washington to Major General Philip Schuyler, 21 August 1776 (Washington Papers)
On Monday I received your Favor of the 16th inst. with Its several Inclosures. The Time You were in Treaty I can readily conceive, was sufficiently irksome & disagreeable. However, If the Good Consequences Which You meant should be produced from It, You will think It was extremely well spent. General Carlton’s Orders for their Indecent, Illiberal Scurrility, are equal If not superior to any...
17From 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...
18From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 1 September 1776 (Washington Papers)
I received your favor of this date and Intend this Evening to go to Harlem and see whether the situation of Things will admit of the several Detachments and Dispositions you mention, so that every place necessary to be maintained should have measures taken for their defence. I should suppose that Hutchinsons Regiment & the 300 Men you say are at Mount Washington, will do to Garrison It for the...
19To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 30 September 1776 (Washington Papers)
By a Letter Just received from Colo. Harrison, I am Informed that it is your Excellency’s Pleasure, That Such of the militia belonging to General Saltonstalls Brigade as have not been ordered to move Forward, should now march and take Post opposite to Head Quarters on the Morrisania Side of Harlem River & c. I beg leave Just to represent to your Excellency, That this Brigade Consists of nine...
20General Orders, 2 September 1776 (Washington Papers)
The General hopes, after the inconveniencies that have been complained of, and felt, that the commanding Officers of Corps will never, in future, suffer their men to have less than two days provisions, always upon hand, ready for any emergency—If hard Bread cannot be had, Flour must be drawn, and the men must bake it into bread, or use it otherwise in the most agreeable manner they can. They...
21From George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 30 September 1776 (Washington Papers)
Having received authentic advice from Long Island, that the Enemy are recruiting a great number of men with much success, and collecting large quantities of Stock, throughout the Island, for their support, I have directed Brigadier General Clinton forth with to repair to Fairfield to meet Genl Lincoln on his march hither with a part of the Troops lately voted by the Massachusetts State to...
22From 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,...
23To George Washington from Edward Rutledge, 11 September 1776 (Washington Papers)
Your Favour of this Morning is just put into my Hands —in Answer I must beg Leave to inform you that our Conferrence with Lord Howe has been attended with no immediate Advantages—He declared that he had no Powers to consider us as Independt States, and we easily discover’d that were we still Dependt we would have nothing to expect from those with which he is vested—He talk’d altogether in...
24From 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...
25To George Washington from Abraham Yates, Jr., 17 August 1776 (Washington Papers)
I am directed to inform your Excellency that immediately upon the receipt of your favor of this morning respecting the Women, Children and Infirm persons remaining in the City of New York—The Convention appointed a Committee for the purpose of removeing and provideing for such persons—I inclose a Copy of the Resolves for that purpose and hope you will soon be releived from the Anxiety which...
26From 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...
27To 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...
28From 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...
29To George Washington from Major General Philip Schuyler, 6 October 1776 (Washington Papers)
By Mr Bennet, who arrived Yesterday, I was honored with your Excellency’s very obliging Favor of the 30th Ultimo. I should have been much happier than I am if the Resolutions of Congress of the 25th Ultimo had not put it out of my power to be in Sentiment with you on the Resolution of the 14th of the same Month. Without advising me that I am no longer in Command, they resolve that “Mr Stockden...
30Lieutenant 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...