1From George Washington to John Hancock, 29 March 1777 (Washington Papers)
I last night had the Honor to receive your Letter of the 26th Instt accompanied by sundry Resolves of Congress & some other papers. The arrival of the Arms—Locks & Flints you have been pleased to mention, is a most fortunate & happy event. I join you most sincerely in congratulations upon the occasion. I have not yet obtained a certain account of the expedition against & destruction of Peek’s...
2From George Washington to John Hancock, 29 March 1777 (Washington Papers)
Since I had the Honor of addressing you this morning by the Return Express, the Eastern post arrived. The Intelligence he brought, is agreable and interesting, as you will perceive by the inclosed Letter from Mr Hazard which I do myself the pleasure of transmitting you. I am happy to say, the arrival of the Ship at portsmouth, and the capture of the two prizes, is confirmed, by other Letters...
3From George Washington to John Hancock, 31 March 1777 (Washington Papers)
Captain Desheild of Mr Buchanans Ship from Baltimore who was taken by the Enemy and carried into York made his Escape from thence on Saturday Evening. He informs, that three thousand Troops, British & Hessian, embarked about Ten days ago from the City & Staten Island on board Transports which were laying at the Latter when he came away, he adds that the Enemy have built & are building a number...
4From George Washington to John Hancock, 2 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
Since I had the honor of writing to you last, I have recd the inclosed from Genl Mcdougal which contains a full account of the late affair at peekskill. Every prudential step appears to have been taken by the General, and as good a disposition made as his small Number of men would admit of. I have heard nothing further respecting the embarkation of Troops which I mentioned in my last, I am in...
5From George Washington to John Hancock, 5 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
The inclosed from Monsr le Chevr de Dreudhomme de Borre, with the papers annexed to it, were received this day by the Eastern Mail —It appears that by an agreement with Mr Dean he is to have the Rank and Pay of a Brigadier General in our service—I imagine by this, that he is a Man of real Merit—If you think proper to confirm Mr Dean’s appointment, be pleased to inform me of it, and return the...
6From George Washington to John Hancock, 9 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
I am honoured with yours of the 4th inclosing sundry Resolves of Congress from the 29th March to the 5th instant. I am extremely glad to see the Resolve for the immediate removal of Military Stores from Baltimore and Annapolis, for altho’ I do not imagine that the Enemy intend an expedition of any great Consequence in Chesapeak Bay, yet while the Stores lay at the above places, they were...
7From George Washington to John Hancock, 10 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
I was just now honored with your Letter of the 9th Instant, covering Sundry Resolutions of Congress. Those for regulating the Hospital and medical department, I trust, will prove of the most salutary consequences. It is only to be regretted, that this necessary and liberal institution had not been gone into and compleated at an earlier period. The Honors Congress have decreed to the memory of...
8From George Washington to John Hancock, 12–13 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
I am honoured with yours of the 10th accompanied with one from the Committee of Congress, to whom I have wrote very fully upon the subject of the Resolve for forming an Army upon the West side of Delaware and to which I refer you. I wish I could see any prospect of an Army, fit to make proper opposition, formed any where. You will perhaps be surprized at this, after the public Reports of the...
9From George Washington to John Hancock, 18–19 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have nothing of importance to transmit Congress, no Event in the Military line having happened since my last, except the Surprizing a Small picquet guard of the Enemy on Monday night at Bonam Town & bringing off Thirteen prisoners by One of our parties. An Enterprize of a similar nature was formed against that at Amboy, in which, the party sent to effect it did not succeed so well, though...
10From George Washington to John Hancock, 21 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
I was this morning honored with your favor of the 20th inclosing Sundry proceedings of Congress. The removal of provisions &c. from the Communication between Brunswick and Trentown, has been pretty well effected already. It was an Object early attended to, and what I recommended to the Assembly of this State, as deserving their interposition and aid; but finding it had not their immediate...
11From George Washington to John Hancock, 23 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have the honor to transmit you the inclosed pieces of intelligence, which I received this day from Genl Stephens, who, by my desire, employed persons to go into New York and Brunswick. I do not put intire confidence in the whole, but the principal reason of sending the intelligence forward is that proper measures may be fallen upon to find out and apprehend Thomas Long, mentioned in General...
12From George Washington to John Hancock, 26 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
I was last night honored with your Letter of the 25th with sundry Resolves of Congress. Such of them as are necessary for my government & conduct, I shall strictly attend to. The Money and Bills for our prisoners, had better be transmitted to Elias Boudinot, Esquire, to whom I shall give directions, to adopt ways and means for sending the same, and for a proper appropriation and distribution...
13From George Washington to John Hancock, 28 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
I last night received the favor of your Letter of the 26th with the Resolves to which it alludes. The views of Congress in sending General Officers to the Eastward, to hasten on the Troops, have been long anticipated. Genl Poor is in New Hampshire for the purpose; General Heath in Massachusets Bay, with Brigadrs Nixon, Glover and Patterson; General Varnum in Rhode Island, and Genl Parsons in...
14From George Washington to John Hancock, 30 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have been waiting with much anxiety to hear the result of the expedition against Danbury, which I never was informed of ’till this Minute. The inclosed Copy of a Letter from Genl McDougal and of Several Others, which he transmitted, will give Congress all the intelligence I have upon the Subject. I have only to add, and to lament, that this Enterprize has been attended but with too much...
15From George Washington to John Hancock, 3 May 1777 (Washington Papers)
I was yesterday honored with your Letter of the 29th Ulto, inclosing Sundry Resolves. Agreable to the directions of Congress, I have written to the States of New Hampshire and Massachusetts, and urged them to compleat and forward their Troops, destined for Ticonderoga, with all possible expedition. The Brigadiers gone there for the present, are Fermoy—Poor—Patterson & Learned. Nixon & Glover...
16From George Washington to John Hancock, 5 May 1777 (Washington Papers)
I was this morning honored with your letter of the 3d Inst., with its inclosures. General Arnolds promotion gives me much pleasure; he has certainly discoverd in every instance where he has had an opportunity, much bravery, activity and enterprise; But what will be done about his Rank? he will not act most probably under those he commanded but a few weeks ago. I trust the appointment of Mr...
17From George Washington to John Hancock, 9 May 1777 (Washington Papers)
This will be delivered you by Colo. Conway, an Irish Gentleman, in the service of France, who came passenger, in the Amphitrite and was introduced to me Yesterday, by a Letter from Mr Deane & One from Genl Heath, Copies of which are transmitted. This Gentleman waits on Congress, to obtain an appointment in the Army of the States, & from Mr Dean’s recommendation, is an Officer of merit. He...
18From George Washington to John Hancock, 9 May 1777 (Washington Papers)
The inclosed is Copy of a letter which was handed to me by M. Mottin de la Balme from Silas Dean Esquire: For a more particular account of his Merit and Services, I must refer you to himself. I have sounded him, as to his expectations, and find that nothing under a Lieutenant Colonelcy of Horse will content him. If you should, from his own account, or from what you can collect from others,...
19From George Washington to John Hancock, 10 May 1777 (Washington Papers)
Since I had the Honor of addressing you on the 5th Instt nothing material has occurred. Inclosed, you will be pleased to receive a General Return of our Forces in Jersey, the 6th Instant, which is the first, I have been able to obtain with any degree of accuracy. I have not heard from Genl DeHaw’s since his promotion. As soon as I was informed of it, I wrote & requested him to repair to Camp,...
20From George Washington to John Hancock, 12 May 1777 (Washington Papers)
I was this Morning honored with your Letter of the 10th Instt accompanied by the proceedings of Congress of the day before. The conduct of too many Officers, in withholding the pay of their Soldiers, I am persuaded, is reprehensible, and has been the cause of uneasiness & of many desertions. Every measure in my power, will be exerted to prevent such Abuses in future, and every aid given to...
21From George Washington to John Hancock, 12 May 1777 (Washington Papers)
This will be delivered you by General Arnold, who arrived here to day in his way to Philadelphia. He seems to be anxious to settle his public Accounts, which are of considerable amount, and waits on Congress, hoping they will appoint a Committee of their Body, or of such Gentlemen, as they shall judge proper, to take the matter into consideration. This he considers, the more necessary, as he...
22From George Washington to John Hancock, 13 May 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have reason to apprehend, from the information I have received, that desertions from some of the Virginia Regiments, now on their March, will, in all probability, be not less frequent, than they have been from some from Pensylvania, which are in Camp. There is cause to fear, they will be more common & certain. I am told, that Convict Servants purchased from their Masters by the Recruiting...
23From George Washington to John Hancock, 16 May 1777 (Washington Papers)
Your Letter of the 15th, I had the Honor to receive last night, at Eleven OClock. The Commission inclosed for Monsieur Armand, I shall deliver him, as soon, as I see him. Agreable to your request, I will give Commissions to the Brigadiers, and will ascertain their Rank by their Original Commissions, when I obtain them. The inquiry directed, respecting Major Campbell, shall be made and that be...
24From George Washington to John Hancock, 21 May 1777 (Washington Papers)
Inclosed I have the Honor to transmit you a General Return of the Forces in Jersey. It is regimentally digested and will shew the strength of each Corps. I should not have sent it so particularly made out, had I not conceived the conveyance, by which it goes from hence, entirely secure. I have nothing material to add respecting the Enemy. I have the Honor to be with great respect Sir Yr Most...
25From George Washington to John Hancock, 24 May 1777 (Washington Papers)
I beg leave to inform Congress, that immediately after the receipt of their Resolve of the 26th of March, recommending the Office of Adjutant General to be filled by the Appointment of a person of Abilities, and unsuspected attachment to our Cause, I wrote to Colo. Timothy Pickering of Salem, offering him the post in the first instance, and transmitting at the same time a Letter for Colo....
26From George Washington to John Hancock, 28 May 1777 (Washington Papers)
The inclosed, is a Copy of a Letter, received yesterday from Genl Howe. Congress will perceive by referring to the Copy of his Letter of the 21st of April, transmitted in mine of the 26th, that he persevered in his demand for an equal number of prisoners to be returned, for those sent out by him, and which have been the Subject of Controversy between us. As General Howe has called upon me...
27From George Washington to John Hancock, 29 May 1777 (Washington Papers)
I this morning had the Honor of your Letter of the 27th with its Inclosures. I shall pay the strictest attention to the Resolutions transmitted me; However I am not without apprehensions, that the Regulation lately adopted, respecting Chaplains, will not answer. I recollect when One was assigned, in the course of last year, to Two Regiments, the prevailing Opinion was, and that founded on a...
28From George Washington to John Hancock, 31 May 1777 (Washington Papers)
Monsr Coudré is just arrived at Camp, and proposes to set out to Morrow for Philadelphia. What his views are, I am uncertain, having had no conversation with him upon the Subject; but I find, an Idea prevails, that there is an Agreement between Mr Dean & him, that he shall have the cheif command of the Artillery. How well founded this Opinion may be, I cannot determine; but if it be true, it...
29From George Washington to John Hancock, 31 May 1777 (Washington Papers)
Since I did myself the honor to write to you the 29th I have recd the inclosed intelligence. As it comes from a person of Veracity, and one who is much in the confidence of the Enemy, I have no doubt as to the fact of the two Brigades having come over from New York to Amboy, and also that a Number of Waggons have been brought from Staten and Long Island. These accounts are corroborated by...
30From George Washington to John Hancock, 2 June 1777 (Washington Papers)
The Inclosed Copies of Genls Gates & Poor’s Letters, which just now came to hand, contain the latest advices from the Northern Army. These, I thought it proper to transmit, as I am not authorized to conclude, that Genl Gates had written to Congress upon the Subject of their Contents. I wish our Accounts from that Quarter may be happy, if Mr Carlton makes an Attack. The shameful deficiency in...