1General Orders, 20 October 1776 (Washington Papers)
Varick transcript , DLC:GW .
2From 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...
3From George Washington to Joseph Trumbull, 20 October 1776 (Washington Papers)
This is designed to inform you of our alarming situation on account of the state of our provisions. From the best intelligence I have been able to obtain, there are not more than Fifteen hundred Barrells of Flour here and at our posts on the Island of New York (including three Hundred that came from the Jersey’s last night) and about Two Hundred Barrells of pork; nor do I learn that there are...
4General Orders, 19 October 1776 (Washington Papers)
Varick transcript , DLC:GW .
5General Orders, 18 October 1776 (Washington Papers)
As the Brigades of the Army now move at such distance from each other, that a punctual attendance, at Head-Quarters, for Orders, cannot be expected—One Brigade Major from each Major General’s division, is to attend, as early in the day as he can—the several Brigade Majors, or Adjutants who act as such, are to attend him at a stated hour, and then distribute the Orders through the several...
6From 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...
7From 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.”
8From George Washington to Samuel Washington, 18 October 1776 (Washington Papers)
Your Letter of the 26th Ulto intended to have come by Captn Thomas Rutherford was delivered to me by Mr Vale. Crawford who will also be the bearer of this Letter to you. I wrote you last Week under cover to Lund Washington (who I desired to forward it by a safe hand) a long Letter, containing a full Acct of our Matters in this Quarter; to this, & the bearer, I must refer you for further...
9General Orders, 17 October 1776 (Washington Papers)
There are a number of priming-Wires and Brushes in the Commissary’s Store, near Genl Spencer’s Quarters, and at Kingsbridge; in the latter a number of Pouches, which are to be distributed among the Brigades. The Brigadiers are desired to send to those places, where they may receive priming-Wires and Brushes; the Pouches are to be divided, and each Brigadier is to send for his proportion, as...
10From 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...
11From 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...
12From 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...
13General Orders, 16 October 1776 (Washington Papers)
Varick transcript , DLC:GW .
14From George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 16 October 1776 (Washington Papers)
I have been favored with your several letters of the 11th and 13th instant with their enclosures. The first I received would have been answered sooner had I been able to have furnished the necessary intelligence respecting the Enemy’s Ships of war in the Sound above Hell Gate. This induced me to detain the Express a day, in expectation of gaining a more certain information of this fact than...
15General Orders, 15 October 1776 (Washington Papers)
Col. Joseph Reed’s Regiment is to join Genl McDougall’s Brigade and Col. Hutchinson’s (when the Work he is ordered to execute is finished[)], is to join Genl Clinton’s Brigade, at present under the Command of Col. Glover. Sergeant’s, Ward’s and Chester’s, regiments, and the regiment commanded by Lieut: Col. Storrs, are to form a Brigade & be under the Command of Col. Sergeant. Col. Storr’s and...
16From 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.”
17From George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 15 October 1776 (Washington Papers)
I was last night favored with your letter of the 6th instant with the return of Prisoners in your State for which I thank you—It is properly made out —Every day’s intelligence from the Convention of this State informs of Plots and Conspiracies that are in agitation among the disaffected. The enclosed copy of a letter which I received yesterday from Robert R. Livingston Esqr. one of the Members...
18General Orders, 14 October 1776 (Washington Papers)
Col. Bailey’s regiment is immediately to join Genl Clinton’s Brigade, at present under the Command of Col. Glover—Col. Lippets Regt is to join Genl McDougall’s Brigade—Each of these regiments are to take their Tents and Cooking Utensils, and to lose no time —The two Connecticut Regiments, under the Command of Col. Storrs and Major Greaves, (not upon York Island) are to be in readiness to march...
19From 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...
20From 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...
21General 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...
22From 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...
23From 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)...
24General 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 .
25General 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...
26Recruiting 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...
27From 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...
28From 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...
29From 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...
30General 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...