1To 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...
2To 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...
3To 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...
4To 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...
5To 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...
6To 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...
7To 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...
8To 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...
9To 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...
10To 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...
11To 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...
12To George Washington from the Massachusetts General Court, 24 September 1776 (Washington Papers)
The Board have received your Favour of the 19th instant, and are much obliged to your Excellency for the particular Account you have favoured us with, relative to the Attack and retreat of the Continental Troops from Long Island as also of their Evacuating the City of New York, We are glad to hear the retreat was Effected with the loss of but three or four Men. We shall have been Well pleased...
13To George Washington from Brigadier General William Livingston, 21 August 1776 (Washington Papers)
In the utmost Haste, I must inform you that very providentially, I sent a Spy last Night on Staten Island to obtain Intelligence of the movements of the Enemy, as many Things apparently new was seen from our Lines—He has this Moment returned in safety—The Substance of his Information I must give you in short—He went on the Island about Midnight and got undiscovered to the House of the Person...
14To George Washington from Brigadier General Hugh Mercer, 18 September 1776 (Washington Papers)
At the same time that I ordered a Reinforcement to Powlis Hook I wrote to Col. Derkee to know the State of that Post as to force —For tho Col. Humpton had been but a few days ago on that Spot to bring me an exact Return—such is the ever fluctuating State of our Melitia and infamous Desertion—that we are not at any one Post two days in the same State as to Numbers—Your Excellencys Letter was...
15To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 19 September 1776 (Washington Papers)
Three Troops of Light Horse, making about 90 Men in the whole, have already got in, & others are nearby—Col. Douglas & Col. Stores’s Regiments of Militia are at West Chester—Col. Williams’s have not reached this as yet, but will move forward as soon as they come in—Col. Stores acquaints me that about 4000 Militia may be expected soon; what will be done with them I cannot tell—They have neither...
16To 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,...
17To George Washington from the Continental Congress Secret Committee, 14 August 1776 (Washington Papers)
You have annexed an extract of a letter we have just recd from Messrs Clarke & Nightingale Merchts in Providence Rhode Island, this letter was laid before Congress who ordered this Committee to inform your Excellency of the Powder therein mentioned & to desire you woud take possession of it granting a receipt for the same to those who have it in keeping in order that we may Account hereafter...
18To George Washington from John Augustine Washington, 1 September 1776 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from John Augustine Washington, 1 Sept. 1776. On 22 Sept. GW wrote to Washington : “I have had no Letter from you since the date of my last saving the one of Septr the 1st.”
19To George Washington from Commodore Esek Hopkins, 2 September 1776 (Washington Papers)
I am Order’d by the Marine Committee to get the Valuation of the Stores that I brought from New Providence, and as part of them was sent to Newyork by your Order should be glad you would Order Mr Knox, or some other of your Officers to put a Value on them, and order them to transmit such Valuation to me as soon as Convenient. Sir Should be extremely oblig’d to you if you have Settled a Cartell...
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 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...
22To George Washington from Robert Morris, 7 September 1776 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Robert Morris, 7 Sept. 1776. On 12 Sept. GW wrote to Morris : “I have been honored with your favr of the 7th Inst.”
23To George Washington from Major General Artemas Ward, 6 October 1776 (Washington Papers)
Yesterday I received from Mr Glover, Agent at Marblehead, a Box of broad Swords, which he lately found in the Scotch Ship Ann, that was taken some time since. Also received from Mr Bradford, Agent for Continental prizes, the inclosed Invoice, of articles which he has in his hands. The reason he gave for delaying it so long, was, the plaids were infected with the small pox, and he thought it...
24To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 27 August 1776 (Washington Papers)
By Express this moment, I am Informed that Two Ships and One Brig are Just Come to Anchor above Frog Point near the New City—I have Instantly Detached Colo. Graham with his Regiment with orders to prevent their Landing to Pillage or Burn, I Imagine that more ships will follow them—But whether their Plan is only to Block up the Sound or to make a Diversion on this Side, Time must Discover, I...
25To George Washington from Lund Washington, 14 August 1776 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Lund Washington, 14 Aug. 1776. On 26 Aug. GW wrote Lund Washington : “Your Letter of the 14th is now before me.”
26To George Washington from Brigadier General James Clinton, 8 September 1776 (Washington Papers)
Inclosed I Send you A Return of the Number of men at Each of the Fortifications in the Highlands And A Return of the Artillery Stores and Ordinance at Each place. we are at Present Buissily Employed in Fortifying the Post on the South Side of the Pouplops Kill we have four twelve Pounders Mounted there and Expects Soon to have More we are Likewise Employed in Building three Barracks Viz. one...
27To George Washington from Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 2 September 1776 (Washington Papers)
Since my last of the 31st ultmo have resolved to throw over upon Long Island a Thousand or fifteen hundred Troops, and the necessary orders are accordingly gone forth—and expect the same will be immediately Effected —have likewise wrote to Governor Cooke to afford what Assistance in his Power for the same purpose —Thought it expedient to give your Excellency the earliest Intimation of this...
28To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 1 October 1776 (Washington Papers)
Yesterday at Ten oClock A:M. a Sloop or Frigate Came through Hell Gate and Came to Anchor near L[a] Brune where she remained untill about Twelve when She Came to Sail and Stood to the Eastward, and was Soon out of Sight Just at night another Ship Came through Hell Gate, and this morning is at Anchor in Harlem River, not far from Montizure’s Island—These movements seem to indicate an Intention...
29To 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...
30To George Washington from Major General Horatio Gates, 28 August 1776 (Washington Papers)
Yesterday I had the Honour to receive your Excellencies Letter of the 14 Instant which is all I have been favoured with since that of the 19th of July. I have at length the Satisfaction to send a pretty correct General Return of the Army in this Part of the Northern District of America; a Copy of my last Letter to General Schuyler, which is in the Packet, will explain the Return to your...