1To George Washington from d’Annemours, 6–7 June 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have the honour to Communicate to your Exelency a letter Which I intend to Send to the Persons I mention’d to you at moris town, when I had the honour to wait upon you there. I have not translated it in English Because I am conscious Colonel hamilton will do it (even verbally) Better than I Could have done in writing. I have Spared none of the Reasons that are able to Determine them to Come...
2To George Washington from Brigadier General John Armstrong, 8 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
The bearer Mr Saml Kersley is One under the Nomination of a Captain in the minute I left yr Excely an assiduous & every way well disposed Young man—who after laying out what money he had of his Own in recruiting & coming to this City to be replenished (for which I thought my Certificate expressly grounded on your Authority wou’d have been Sufficient) Congress will not grant nor admit a...
3To George Washington from Colonel George Baylor, 14 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
My indisposition for three weeks past has prevented my writing as you have directed, and I am inclind to do, by every post. Our situation is nearly the same now, as it was then; we have only forty men here, of Capt. Smiths, Lieut. Jones, Lieut. Pages and Cornet Baylor’s, and seventy eight Horses, which are pretty well traind. Most of the officers have got some men, and a few of them have...
4To George Washington from Colonel George Baylor, 13 May 1777 (Washington Papers)
Your favor of the 25th of april came to hand by the last post, it’s not requireing an immediate answer, I defer’d it until the present opportunity, flattering myself that by this time, our Assembly would of done something towards filing up our Regiments, with which I should of been pleas’d to of informed you, They have done nothing towards it as yet. it is now the only method left to compleat...
5To George Washington from Col. George Baylor, 2 June 1777 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Col. George Baylor, 2 June 1777. GW wrote Baylor on 19 June : “Yours of the 2d Instt I received by Yesterdays Post.”
6To George Washington from Elias Boudinot, 5 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have received Intelligence this Evening from a person of undoubted Veracity (who has followed me for that purpose) that a Woman who has a Son in Goal in this State (Pennsylvania) has been sent in to the Enemy, with Letters of Advice from a Club in the County of Bucks, so secreted about her person, that it would be almost impossible she should be discovered. That she had, or was to get a pass...
7To George Washington from Elisha Boudinot, 29 March 1777 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Elisha Boudinot, 29 Mar. 1777. GW wrote Boudinot on this date “I recd yours of this day.”
8To George Washington from Colonel Daniel Brodhead, 17 May 1777 (Washington Papers)
Inclosed I send a list of the Subaltern officers of my Regiment with their Rank as settled by Ballot, Also an Extract from a Letter I have just received from the Chairman of the Board of War —I beg leave to mention to your Excellency that some of the officers are by no means qualified for the Rank they hold in the Regt, whilst much better and decenter officers must submit to their Command—A...
9To George Washington from Captain Bartholomew Burke, 16 May 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have some days Agoe Wrote to You to request You would Permit me to Joyn Colonell Pattens regimt now raising in this City the loss I have met with by Desertion and what I am likely to meet with has Obliged me to Waite on their honours the Congress for the same Purpose they have thought Proper to order that General schuyler should put it in Publick orders that I should Joyn Colonell Pattens...
10To George Washington from Lieutenant Colonel Zebulon Butler, 29 May 1777 (Washington Papers)
Persuent to Orders reced from your Exelency by the Hand of Majr Genl Lincoln I have Marched with the three detachments from Connecticut Regiments; Part of the Westmoreland Independant Companies have Joined me as was Ordered and more will be in this day. I am Now Encamped upon the Heights between Chatham and Springfield—Genl Stevens had Left this Place before my Arival & I am destitute of any...
11To George Washington from Lieutenants William Clark and William Norcross, 19 May 1777 (Washington Papers)
Morristown, 19 May 1777 . Ask GW to discharge them from the 3d New Jersey in which they recently had been commissioned second lieutenants after serving the previous campaign as ensigns. “Our Reasons Are, that Gentlemen Are Appointed First Lieuts. Over Us, that have not Born Rank in the Army nor Seen Service, we Therefore Are of Oponion That if That Body [the New Jersey general assembly] did...
12To George Washington from Brigadier General George Clinton, 18 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
Being from Home when your Excellency’s Letter of the 31st Ultimo was left at my House prevented my Answering it by the Return of the Express & till now I have not had any other Opportunity —Before the Receipt of it I had (in Consequence of Powers given me by the Convention of this State) ordered out about 1200 of the Militia of this & Orange County 500 of them to releive Colo. Pawling at the...
13To George Washington from Brigadier General George Clinton, 1 May 1777 (Washington Papers)
Immediatly on the Receipt of your Excellency’s Letter of 23d Ultimo I ordered one third Part of the Militia of Orange County to guard the Passes of the Highlands on the West Side of Hudson’s River to co,operate with the Militia, under Genl Heard if the Enemy shoud make any Attempts in that Quarter; but I am unhappy to find by a Return I have just received from Lieutenant Colo. Cuyper (who...
14To George Washington from Brig. Gen. George Clinton, 4 June 1777 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Brig. Gen. George Clinton, 4 June 1777. GW wrote George Clinton on 8 June : “Your favor of 4th Inst. I receiv’d this Morning.”
15To George Washington from Major Colerus, 1 May 1777 (Washington Papers)
It is very unhapy, that with the sincerest desire to be useful to my Country, I see myself so forgotten. I flattered me, that deserving under your and General Lees eyes in the last campaign, and having conducted myself in the manner to deserve your and His esteem, I should be distinguished from the croud of the strangers, who I see every day loaded with honours and advantages, without having...
16To George Washington from a Committee of the Continental Congress, 10 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
In obedience to an order of Congress we do ourselves the honor to inform your Excellency of the reasons and principles that have governed Congress in their resolution for forming a Camp on the west side of Delaware. The repeated information that hath been received of the enemies movements, and it being the opinion of your Excellency, as well as of many other General Officers, that this City...
17To George Washington from the Continental Congress Secret Committee, 2 May 1777 (Washington Papers)
We are obliged to trouble your Excellency with the enclosed letter for Mr Boudinot containing a remittance of Six hundred pounds Sterlg for the use of the Continental Prisoners in New York as we do not know Mr Boudinots address & we have left the letter unsealed for your perusal, We preferred Mr Franks’s bills as they are drawn on the Contractors in England, & may probably be the more readily...
18To George Washington from Nicholas Cooke, 14 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
Your Excellency’s Favors of the 14th ult. and of the 3d instant are now before me. In Pursuance of your Recommendation Mr Hutchinson, and Governor Shirley’s Son are permitted to go to Rhode Island. I have made Enquiry after the Mulatto Lad, Thomas Rogerson, but can as yet gain no Account that is perfectly satisfactory. I believe he was brought into this Place, and very soon after sailed for...
19To George Washington from Lieutenant General Cornwallis, 6 June 1777 (Washington Papers)
Lt Col: Sterling of the 42d Regt wishes to send an Officer with money & necessaries to the men of that Regiment who are confined at Philadelphia & Lancaster: I am to desire that you will please to let me know whether you chuse to comply with Lt Col: Stirling’s Request. I am, Sir, with due Respect Your Most Obedt Servt LS , DLC:GW . The closing and address are in Cornwallis’s handwriting....
20To George Washington from Lieutenant General Cornwallis, 2 June 1777 (Washington Papers)
I understand that Lieut: Martin when surrounded by a Party of Hessian Cavalry did not ask quarter, but on the contrary wounded one of the Hessians, when they were close to him, which so exasperated the others that they immediately cut him down with their Sabres; When a man is kill’d in that manner his body must of course be mangled: But the Hessians gave the strongest Proof that they were not...
21To George Washington from the Council of General Officers at Peekskill, 17 May 1777 (Washington Papers)
We have examined the Obstructions in the North River, and beg leave to observe that the object is too important to be trusted to its present security. If those obstructions in the River can be rendered effectual, and the Passes into the Highlands be properly guarded, which can be done with about four or five thousand Troops, the rest of the Army will be at liberty to operate elsewhere. To...
22Council of War, 2 May 1777 (Washington Papers)
At a Council of General Officers held at Baskenridge the 2d day of May 1777. Present His Excellency the Commander in Chief[,] Majors Generl Greene[,] Ld Stirling[,] Stephen[,] Lincoln[,] Brigadrs Maxwell[,] Knox. His Excellency, the Commander in Chief, stated to the Council, the situation & strength of the Army under his Immediate command at the several posts in Jersey, laying before them...
23To George Washington from James Craik, 13 May 1777 (Washington Papers)
Your Affectionate & very freindly Letters I have the pleasure to Acknowledge And cannot too much express my gratitude for the freindship shewen me on all Occasions This fresh instance of it when so much taken up with affairs of the Utmost consequence And so many waiting for Offices lays me under the greatest Obligations. The freindly, and pointed manner in which the proposal is made to me,...
24To George Washington from Colonel Theunis Dey, 22 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
Yesterday I had part of our regiment together and they turned out 46 men as volunteers for a scouting party for 1 month and several more are expected to enlist very soon. those that turned out, did immediately proceed to choose their officers, viz. Mr Peter R. Fell for their Capt. & Joste Zabriskie for their 1st Lieut., John Van Allen 2nd Lieut. and James S. Bogart Ensign. their choosing so...
25To George Washington from Brigadier General David Forman, 10 June 1777 (Washington Papers)
Last Evening I rode to Shrewsberry and this Morning Mounted my Horse at Two OClock and rode Down to the Heights of Middle Town to Examin into the State of the Enemies Ships at Sandy Hook, At Amboy and Princus Bay. I recd Information that fifteen Ships Come from amboy Last Evening and Come to in Princus Bay under Stratin Island—With my Glass I Counted them Very Distinctly laying At Anchor—What...
26To George Washington from Col. David Forman, 11 May 1777 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Col. David Forman, 11 May 1777. GW wrote Forman on 15 May : “I am favd with yours of the 11th.”
27To George Washington from Major John Grizzage Frazer, 20 May 1777 (Washington Papers)
Philadelphia, 20 May 1777 . “I am offered the Deputy Adjutant Genls place in the Northern Army, provided Genl Gates had not already appointed some one, which he had power to do. I shall set out for Ticonderoga on Wednesday Morning with a Letter from the President of Congress to Genl Gates requesting him to appoint me in that department, if it is still vacant, but I have some reason to think...
28To George Washington from Major General Horatio Gates, 19 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
I had the Honour to receive your Excellency’s Letter of the 5th Instant from Morris Town; and wish I could say, any of The Troops expected to Arrive at Kenderhook, Claverack, or Red Hook, had reached either of those places; when I am acquainted therewith, Your Excellency may be Assured of my strictly fulfilling your Commands. I have directed the Commissary to purchase, and send in the Vessels...
29To George Washington from Major General Horatio Gates, 13 May 1777 (Washington Papers)
Last Night I had the Honour to receive Your Excellencys Letter of the 7th Inst: from Morris Town; Upon my Arrival here, I dispatched without any delay, Your Excellency’s first Letter to General Wayne; he immediately repaired to Albany, and is gone from hence, whether to Morris Town, or Philadelphia, I cannot say, as he did not seem determined. Major Troup, upon being disappointed in procuring...
30To George Washington from Major General Horatio Gates, 30 May 1777 (Washington Papers)
Late last night the Inclosed from General poor, was brought me Express from Ticonderoga. I also inclose Your Excellency a General Return of the Garrison at that post dated the 24th Instant, by which You will perceive the shameful deficiency in the Numbers proper for it’s defence. Artillerists are likewise much Wanted; I always expected Six Companies: Two, is as many as can be said to be there....
31To George Washington from Major General Horatio Gates, 24 May 1777 (Washington Papers)
Your Excellency’s Letter of the 15th Inst. from Morris Town is now before me. The Barracks at Ticonderoga, and Mount Independence, will not Contain more than One Thousand Officers and Men; the Hutts that were built last Campaign, might for ought I know, contain One Thousand more; but these being made of Earth, and flimsily put together, are mostly in Ruins. But Neither the Huts, or Barracks,...
32To George Washington from Major General Horatio Gates, 2 June 1777 (Washington Papers)
The Inclosed from Brigadier General poor, is this moment come to Hand by Express. I never thought it was possible, for the Main Force of the Enemy to come so early up The Lake; unless Tory intelligence had induced them, when the Garrison of Ticonderoga was very weak, to have made an extraordinary effort to reduce that post. Inclosed is the Commissary’s Return of provissions now at Ticonderoga....
33To George Washington from Capt. Caleb Gibbs, 23 April 1777 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Capt. Caleb Gibbs, c.23 April 1777. GW wrote Gibbs on 3 May : “Mr Harrison having lost, or mislaid your Letter from Newtown, I have no Acct of what you did, or meant to do, respecting our Baggage.”
34To George Washington from Capt. Caleb Gibbs, 6 May 1777 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Capt. Caleb Gibbs, 6 May 1777. Gibbs docketed GW’s letter to him of 3 May in part: “Answerd. 6th May.”
35To George Washington from Capt. Caleb Gibbs, 27 April 1777 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Capt. Caleb Gibbs, 27 April 1777. GW wrote Gibbs on 3 May : “Your Letter of the 27th Ulto is now before me.”
36To George Washington from Capt. Caleb Gibbs, 4 May 1777 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Capt. Caleb Gibbs, 4 May 1777. Gibbs docketed GW’s letter to him of 1 May in part: “Answerd. 4 May.”
37To George Washington from Colonel Mordecai Gist, 26 May 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have to acknowledge the receipt of yours under cover to General Smallwood requiring a return of the State of my Regiment, which was Immediately forwarded to him in order that the same might be transmitted to your Excellency—agreeable to your orders, which I make no doubt you have receivd. from the Insurrection of some Tories in Somerset & Worchester Counties of Maryland in Feby last—the...
38To George Washington from Brigadier General John Glover, 1 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
I recd your Excellys esteem’d favour of the 3 Ulto Adviseing that by a Resolve of the Honble the Continental Congress, they were pleas’d to promote me to the Rank of Brigr General. I esteem it, a mark of grate respect & Honor don by that August body—unmerited by me. I Could wish myself Qualified, but when I Consider my owne inabilities, & inexperience, I Cannot think myself in any Degree...
39To George Washington from William Gordon, 10 May 1777 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from William Gordon, 10 May 1777. GW wrote Gordon on 29 June : “I am rather asham’d to be so long in debt for your favor of the 10th Ulto.”
40To George Washington from Colonel William Grayson, 1 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
I return’d the day before yesterday from Maryland, & am sorry to inform you that the recruiting service in that quarter does not by any means answer my expectations or wishes; Mr Smallwood & Mr Jones will I think (from present appearances) succeed; but Mr Tilly & Mr Brown have not got a man; the latter has resign’d his commission & return’d the bounty money for that reason; I wrote you by the...
41To George Washington from Colonel William Grayson, 22 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
I reciev’d your letter dated the 12th of March, from Morriss Town, yesterday, & am heartily sorry, there exists such a necessity for men, & that there is such an inability on my part to remove it. When I delivered recruiting commissions, I directed the officers, who were remote, to send their recruits to this place, that I might forward them whenever I collected a number to Head Quarters. This...
42To George Washington from Colonel William Grayson, 29 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
Dumfries [Va.] 29 April 1777 . “I have nothing new to inform you of relative to this regiment, since my last, except the resignation of some of the officers, from their inability to raise men. The inclos’d is from Mr Montgomerie of this town, which I take the liberty to transmit to you. ” ALS , DLC:GW . See Grayson to GW, 22 April . In the enclosed letter to Grayson of this date, Thomas...
43To George Washington from Colonel William Grayson, 8 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
I wrote you by the two last posts respectively, and hope that my letters have safely got to Head Quarters. Since the date of my last, Dr Alexander has applied to me, to know, whether I would purchase his medicines; He has assured me, the principal part of them, have been imported within these two years; the assortment consists in general of useful medicines, & with the assistance of a proper...
44To George Washington from Major General Nathanael Greene, 24 May 1777 (Washington Papers)
Your Excellencies favor of Yesterday this moment came to hand. I am perfectly satisfied with the exchange of Hazens Regiment for the Barron Arends—I am by no means attach’t to any particular Regiment—nearly an equal distribution of the forces will be entirely satisfactory to me. I only wish to stand upon an equal footing with other Officers—then if I dont execute my duty as well I am willing...
45To George Washington from Major General Nathanael Greene, 27 May 1777 (Washington Papers)
This moment the Commisary reports to me that the Provisions & supplies fall short and that its out of his power with his utmost exertion to procure a sufficient supply. I wish your Excellency would order the Commisary at Morris Town down here as soon as possible to the assistance of this. We must take Sheep & Cattle about the Country to supply the present deficiency. I think Trumbull should...
46To George Washington from Major General Nathanael Greene, 17 May 1777 (Washington Papers)
Inclosed is the opinion of the General Officers at this Post and General Wayne who has had a very good opportunity to view the River & the fortifications upon the same —Agreeable to your Excellencies instructions I have given the necessary orders to carry the further obstructions in the River into execution —I am going this day up to New Windsor to view the Obstructions there & the passes...
47To George Washington from Major General Nathanael Greene, 25 May 1777 (Washington Papers)
I find a great want of Tents in several Brigades—General Maxwell sais he has none neither has he had it in his power to get any. I shall endeavor to get a more particular state today and will notify your Excellency upon the subject. A small detachment of Col. Lewis Regiment came in last Evening without Blankets or Tents and sais there were none to be had at Philadelphia. If that be true we...
48To George Washington from Captain Francis Grice, 6 May 1777 (Washington Papers)
I Arived Heair this Day with 19 Flat Bottom Boats that will Carrey one 100 men Each and three Artillarey Flats or Scows that will Carrey Two field Peeces with thair Horsis and Stors and the Compeney thair To Belonging Each and I am Apinted Captn over the hole of them By Ginrel Mifflin who Desird me To Rite To Your Honner For forther Instructtishun: How To Porseed which I Shall Be much oblige...
49To George Washington from Captain Francis Grice and W. Masters, 30 May 1777 (Washington Papers)
Agreable to directions of General Mifflin, we are to informe your Excellency of ower safe arival at Corrells, wth a Continental Fleet consisting of eight flat bottom boats, fixed on Carrages; we expect a reinforsement of twelve by friday next all wch when arrived shall agreable to your Excellency’s order be kept on the Carrages untill further Order. The bearer Capt. Grace informes us of a...
50To George Washington from Colonel Richard Gridley, 10 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
I acknowledge your favour of the 9th of January last. By desire of Mr Guild I have inclos’d his account of Ordnance Stores Cast at Stoughtonham Furnace, & deliver’d at Boston, for the Service of the Continent; he desires Your Excellency will please to Order him payment; and as the Furnace is now in Blast, if your Exy wants any more Stores to be made, he will make them faithfully & as cheap as...