1To George Washington from Colonel Rufus Putnam, 3 September 1776 (Washington Papers)
according to your Exelencies order I have Reconnoitered every part about the Island of New york and the main as Farr as Frogs point and on a full Vew Find the Enimy have Such a Veriety of places to Chuse out of that its Imposable to prevent there Landing When they please they have Such guides and Intiligence of our movements that they Can always avoid or Surprize any parties that are Posted to...
2To George Washington from Colonel Rufus Putnam, 26 September 1776 (Washington Papers)
I Hope the Importence of the Subject will be a Sufficient appollogie for the Freedom I take in adressing your Exelency at this time. I have long Wondered that no Corps of Engeneers was yet Established. the Number of Works to be Executed; the Nesesity of Dispatch in them; the Imposability for a Common hand to be made at once to Comprehend what they ought to do. with out a Core of Engeneers is...
3To George Washington from Colonel Rufus Putnam, 3 October 1776 (Washington Papers)
the following Establishement of artificers &c. are in propotion to the 88 Battallions of Infentry as one Compeny to 5½ Battallions which I think is as Small a propotion as will answer the Ends proposed the Battallions in general may give 50 Each for the Works the Miners and Sappers are in propotion to these nearly as 1 to 10—the Carpinters Will not Exceed if we are to Consider they have in...
4To George Washington from Colonels Henry Knox and Rufus Putnam, 6 October 1776 (Washington Papers)
Agreable to your directions, we view’d the hill, East of Mount Washington, & the camp in general, & beg leave to make the following report Viz. That the highest part of said hill, be secured by a fort, principally made of the timber now standing there, strengthened with a good abattis, form’d of the tops of the trees, which are to be cut down; And that on the North part of the hill, a redoubt...