1To George Washington from Nicholas Cooke, 19 October 1776 (Washington Papers)
Your Letter, requesting an Account of the Prisoners in this State, I have duly received; and ordered the Sheriffs of the several Counties to make Return to me of the Number of Prisoners in their respective Counties, and of their different Stations, which Return has not been yet made. I also wrote immediately to Governor Trumbull of Connecticut, to know where their Prisoners were to assemble,...
2To George Washington from Jonathan Trumbull, 19 October 1776 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 19 Oct. 1776. On 22 Oct. Robert Hanson Harrison wrote to Trumbull: “I have the honor, by his [GW’s] command, to acknowledge his receipt of your several favors of the 19th & 21st instant” ( Ct : Trumbull Papers).
3To George Washington from Brigadier General Hugh Mercer, 16 October 1776 (Washington Papers)
General Green has informed your Excelleny that a party pass’d over last night to Staten Island with a view to attack the Enemy, at the east end near the Watering Place—as we advanced towards Richmond Town information was given, that some Companies of British & Hessian Troops, were stationed there—surprising them was therefore the first object, which was effected this morning at break of...
4To George Washington from Major General Philip Schuyler, 16 October 1776 (Washington Papers)
I am honored with your Excellency’s Favor of the 10th & 11th Instant; I am very confident the Manner in which you have treated the Cayuga Sachems, will be attended with very salutary Consequences. By a Person from your Camp, who left it since the Ships of War passed your Cheveaux de Frize, we were informed that all the Craft that could be procured, were employed in carrying Stone to compleat...
5To George Washington from Major General Philip Schuyler, 16 October 1776 (Washington Papers)
Inclosed you have Copies of Letters from Generals Gates and Arnold, announcing the total Destruction of our Fleet on Lake Champlain. I shall write to every State nearest me to march up their Militia to support our Army as the Enemy will doubtless very soon attack it, and do every thing in my Power to prevent their penutrating into the Country, should our Army be obliged to give way which I...
6To George Washington from Colonel Jacob Bayley, 15 October 1776 (Washington Papers)
I was determined to have waited on your Excelencey befor this but am detained here being a Member of the Convention of this State I Send by the Hand of Mr William Wallace an account of the Expence of the Road from Newbury to St Johns. untill we retreated with the Stores Provided to Compleat the Same which were moved on the road thirty Miles I only Charge what was Expended until our return the...
7To George Washington from John Hancock, 15 October 1776 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from John Hancock, 15 Oct. 1776. On 18 Oct. GW wrote to Hancock : “I was Yesterday morning honoured with your favor of the 15th.”
8To George Washington from Richard Peters, 15 October 1776 (Washington Papers)
The Board of War have endeavoured to form an exact Acct of Ordinance Stores, in the several Departments, as well as of those in the Magazine under their immediate Notice here, But from the Want of accurate Returns they have not yet been enabled to accomplish their Design. If these Returns were made monthly the Board would be enabled in some degree to anticipate the Wants of Amunition in the...
9To George Washington from Lieutenant Colonel Henry Beekman Livingston, 14 October 1776 (Washington Papers)
Last Wednesday I had a Conference with Governour Trumbull at New Haven, I laid before him the Plan I had formed for our Expedition, which was as follows, we were immediately to engage fourteen Hundred Ton of Vessels, Seven Hundred of which being Sufficient to carry our whole Detatchment, were to be Stationed at Oysterpond Point, with Instructions to wait till farther Orders from us unless...
10To George Washington from Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 14 October 1776 (Washington Papers)
By Capt. Tinker, am inform’d of the Misfortune and Situation of the Row Gallies sent into the Continental Service from this State —and as Circumstances are alter’d respecting them, since my last to you on the Subject of dismissing their Crews and Arms, must again request your Attention to that Matter —That the Crew of the Crane , Capt. Tinker, who escaped, may be dismissed and admitted to...
11To George Washington from Captain Richard Varick, 14 October 1776 (Washington Papers)
I do myself the Honor to inclose Copy of a Letter from General Arnold to General Gates transmitted by the Latter from Tyonderoga & this Moment received in General Schuyler’s absence who is now on his Way to Saratoga. The Lead arrived at Fort George on Saturday last and was immediately forwarded —The powder left this on the same Day and is probably now at or near Fort George, where it will not...
12To George Washington from William Fitzhugh, 13 October 1776 (Washington Papers)
I had the Honor to recieve your favr of the 5th Inst. & am much Oblig’d to you. I hope you will forgive the trouble I have Given, & may Hereafter Give you by recommendations, & Shew no more regard to them, than you think, or may know they Deserve, As in my Scituation, I have many Applications, which might be thought unfriendly to reject, you may However, be Assur’d, That I will not Name to you...
13To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 13 October 1776 (Washington Papers)
I would have wrote your Excellency Earlier this morning, But have waited to have Intelligence from the Two Regiments near frogs Point, which I have but Just Received, a Large number of vessells, Ships, Brigs, Schooners, Sloops Lighters &c. Saild through Hell gate yesterday afternoon, and Came to anchor last night off Frogs Point, where they still remain, during the night, Lanthorns were...
14To George Washington from Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 13 October 1776 (Washington Papers)
Since mine of the 11th Instant by express have Received pretty Sure Intelligence that a plan is forming by the Noted Majr Rogers a famous Partisan or Ranger in the last Warr now in the Service of Genl How on Long Island where he is Collecting a Battallion of Tories with Such as he can procure from the Main many of which we understand have lately Stole over to join him and who are perfectly...
15To George Washington from the Board of War, 12 October 1776 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from the Board of War, 12 Oct. 1776. On 22 Oct. Robert Hanson Harrison wrote to the Board of War: “I am directed by his Excellency, whose business has called him from hence, to acknowledge his receipt of your Favors of the 12th and 15th Instt, and to inform you in Answer to the first, that he will mention the case of the French Gentn to Genl Lee, and obtain his Opinion as to...
16To George Washington from Major General Nathanael Greene, 12 October 1776 (Washington Papers)
I am inform’d a large body of the Enemies Troop have landed at Froggs point. If so I suppose the Troops here will be wanted there. I have three Brigades in readiness to reinforce you; General Clintons Brigade will march first. General Nixons next and then the Troops under the command of General Roberdeau. I dont Apprehend any danger from this quarter at present[.] if the force on your side are...
17To George Washington from Robert R. Livingston, 12 October 1776 (Washington Papers)
I should do injustice toward the politeness & attention with which your Excellency has been pleased to listen to the crude opinions which I have some times offered if I did not (without any appology) deliver my sentiments on the present alarming state of this Colony & submit to your Excellencys better judgment such measures as will (in my Idea) be most likely to eleviate the evills I...
18To George Washington from Colonel Joseph Phillips, 12 October 1776 (Washington Papers)
The Address of Joseph Phillips, Colonel of a Battalion of Jersey Levies, Sheweth: That your Excellency’s adressor, hath viewed with infinite regret, the Enemies Ships of War passing by us up the North River, opposite Mount Washington, with impunity: owing in a great measure, he humbly conceives, to the bad Construction of some of our Batteries, & the want of others in more suitable places: To...
19To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 11 October 1776 (Washington Papers)
I have Just Received the Honor of yours of this Day’s date, and am fully Convinced that a Work should be thrown up without the Least Loss of Time at the mouth of Spiten devil—If Colonel Putnam and Colo. Knox Can be spared a few hours I wish Your Exellency would please to Send them Here in Order to Trace out a Proper Work, and Determine what Ordnance will be necessary to be Mounted at the Mouth...
20To George Washington from Edmund Randolph, 11 October 1776 (Washington Papers)
I congratulate your Excellency, as a Friend to the Reputation of Virginia, and the Interests of the Continent, that Colo. Harrison is again restored to the Councils of America. During his Absence at the Northward, he had been appointed one of our privy Council, but refused to qualify, as such. This afforded him an Opportunity, to vindicate himself from those malicious Insinuations, which first...
21To 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...
22To George Washington from William Bartlett, 10 October 1776 (Washington Papers)
I once more take the Liberty to write your Exelly which at this time when you are so deeply ingaged against Our unatural Enemies would Gladly Omitt did I not think it my duty therefore beg you’ll Excuse it. I wrote your Excelly some time Sence Concerning those Prizes taken by Commo. Manly Viz. the Ordinance Brigr Nancey Ship Concord & Ship Jenny Genr. Miffilin having Recd a Part of Each Cargo...
23To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 10 October 1776 (Washington Papers)
Upon being Informed yesterday in the afternoon that a party of the Enemy had Landed at Dobbs’s Ferry, and had Posted Sentries in the Road, I Ordered Colo. Sargent with 500 men and 40 of the Light Horse to march and Dislodge them, at Two oClock this morning he Sent an Express Informing me, that he had reach’d The Ferry, & that there was no Enemy Landed, at that Time, and that the Ships were...
24To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 10 October 1776 (Washington Papers)
Col. Sargent has just return’d from Dobbs’s Ferry—he informs that the Enemy’s Ships, took Two of our Gallies on Yesterday near that place which were run on shore—our men got out the small Arms & Baggage—That the Enemy sent Four Boats from their Ships, three to the Gallies & one on Shore, the men in the latter landed & broke open a Store, & plunder’d many Articles, & Stove the Remainder, & set...
25To George Washington from the New York Committee of Safety, 10 October 1776 (Washington Papers)
We received from Mr Tilghman an Account of the enemies Ships having gone up the River—and have dispatched Expresses to General Schuyler and General Clinton agreable to your Excellency’s request. Nothing can be more alarming than the present situation of our State; We are daily getting, the most authentic Intelligence of bodies of Men enlisted and armed in order to assist the Enemy⟨.⟩ We much...
26To George Washington from John Hancock, 9 October 1776 (Washington Papers)
The enclosed Resolves, which I do myself the Honour to forward, will inform you of the ample Provision the Congress have made for the Support of both Officer and Soldier who shall enter into the Service during the War. The Pay of the former is considerably increased, and the latter is to receive annually a compleat Suit of Cloaths, or in Lieu thereof, the Sum of twenty Dollars, should he...
27To George Washington from Lieutenants Jeremiah Putnam and Nathaniel Cleaves, 9 October 1776 (Washington Papers)
this is a Coppey of the preceding⟨gs⟩ On Bord the Galley Independance On the 8th Coll Tupper sent Orders On Bord for Capt. Baker to prosceed On shore and that there Was no further Buisness for him On Bord On the 9th at about 7 A.M. We Observed the ships Below to Be moving We Imeadetly Cauld all Hands, after seeing the Other Galley Under way We hove Up and stood Up the river after them and When...
28To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 8 October 1776 (Washington Papers)
Being Posted at Some Distance from The other General Officers of the State of Massachusetts Bay, I have found it very difficult to Obtain their Opinion of the Field Officers Proper to be Recommended, to that State, to Serve in the Army in future, General Nixon was at my Quarters on Yesterday, General Fellows was on Duty and Could not attend. I did with General Nixon arrainge The Officers for...
29To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 7 October 1776 (Washington Papers)
Inclosed is the Disposition which I have made of the Troops of this Division which is to be observed in Case of attack —Colo. Knox has a map of new York & its vicinity by which your Excellency may Determine if the Disposition is properly made[.] I did not See the map untill the Disposition is properly made[.] I did not See the map untill the Disposition was Compleated—I have this Day ordered a...
30To George Washington from Major General Philip Schuyler, 7 October 1776 (Washington Papers)
I am to acknowledge the Honor of your Excellency’s Favor of the 4th Instant. I have long since written to Congress for a Supply of Nails, all I can procure in this Quarter are insufficient for the Works at Tyonderoga, so that I fear no Barracks will be built in this Quarter, unless a speedy Supply arrives from Philadelphia—We have Nothing new in this Quarter worthy communicating. I am Dr Sir...