121To George Washington from Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 4 May 1777 (Washington Papers)
The Attention of the Enemy appears of late to be much turned upon this State, We have for some time been repeatedly advised of it, & now realize it, a few days since They landed at Fairfield to the number of near three thousand it is said, under Genl Erskine & made a forced march to Danbury about twenty two miles & there burnt & destroyed 1700 barrels of Pork, 50 Do Beef, 700 bushels of wheat,...
122To George Washington from Brigadier General Alexander McDougall, 19 May 1777 (Washington Papers)
I am honored with your favors of the 10th & 11th Instant and a Visit from Generals Green & Knox, we have viewed the passes and different Routs on this Side of the River, which lead to the Mountains, and are of Opinion from the strength of Ground, that its unnecessary to make any works; For if the Troops will not defend strong Defiles, they will not any works that we can finish in the probable...
123From George Washington to Maj. Gen. Thomas Mifflin, 9 June 1777 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: to Maj. Gen. Thomas Mifflin, 9 June 1777. Mifflin wrote GW on 11 June : “I was honord with your Letter of Monday [9 June] and of Yesterday.”
124From 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...
125To George Washington from Colonel Samuel Blachley Webb, 19 May 1777 (Washington Papers)
My returns of the 16th Instant amount to 234 Including Dead & Deserted upwards of 50 have already marchd for Peeks Kill agreeable to orders received from Brigadier General Parsons, the others I shall forward on as they leave the Hospital, The Assembly of this State are now setting—and are adopting very spirited measures for immediately filling the Nine and a half Battallions, as your...
126To George Washington from Maj. Gen. John Sullivan, 9 June 1777 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Maj. Gen. John Sullivan, 9 June 1777. Richard Kidder Meade wrote Sullivan on 10 June: “The Genl [GW] was favor’d with your letter of yesterday” ( DLC:GW ).
127From George Washington to Major General Charles Lee, 1 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
I am to inform you, that Congress not perceiving that any advantage would be derived either to yourself or the public Interest from an interview between you and a part of their Members, could not consider ⟨them⟩selves at liberty to comply with your request. At the same time I am to assure you, that every ⟨means⟩ will be pursued to provide for you⟨r safety and⟩ the attainment of your liberty....
128From George Washington to Colonel Joseph Ward, 21 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have looked over the Resolutions of Congress relative to the appointments, and Duties of your Department; and find myself at a loss, in the present unassembled State of the Army, to prescribe (as you desire) any immediate rule for the government of your Conduct. At this time, few of the Continental Troops have Assembled, and those which are, we find in so disjointed, and broken a state, as...
129General Orders, 2 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
Varick transcript , DLC:GW .
130To 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...
131From George Washington to Colonel Joseph Trumbull, 12 May 1777 (Washington Papers)
General McDougall’s frequent complaints of the Mismanagement in your department, that fall within his notice, have induced me to address this to you on the Subject—As Consequences of the last Importance are involved in the fate of our Provisions, I hope that the following Extracts of his letters will immediately produce the desired and indispensably necessary reformation. Extracts. Peck’s kill...
132From George Washington to Brigadier General Alexander McDougall, 18 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
Just after I had wrote very fully to you this Morning I recd yours of the 17th. By the inclosed Resolutions of Congress, which came to hand this day, and which are additions and Amendments to the former Articles of War, you will find that every Continental General has a right to carry the Sentence of a General Court Martial into execution in the State in which he commands. And I shall esteem...
133From George Washington to Maj. Gen. Israel Putnam, 9 May 1777 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: to Maj. Gen. Israel Putnam, 9 May 1777. Putnam wrote GW on 10 May : “I just receiv’d your favour of yesterday.”
134Instructions to Lieutenant Colonel Jeremiah Olney, 28 May 1777 (Washington Papers)
Your detachment is to remain at Morris Town till further orders, with which, and the Militia now here, you are to Guard the Stores of different kinds, in the most effectual manner you are able. Endeavour, as far as it is in your power, to Strengthen the works already begun upon the Hill near this place, and erect such others as are necessary for the better defending of it, that it may become a...
135From George Washington to Brigadier General Nathaniel Heard, 19 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
I find it necessary to make a new disposition of the forces in the Jerseys—You will please to march all the Militia under your command immediately to this place—upon the Eight[h] Pensylvania Battallion arriving to occupy the Posts you now hold—they have orders for that purpose —Let no time be lost in the execution of this change of disposition. As soon as your troops are ready to march you...
136From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 10 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have, within these few days, received an application from the honorable Messrs Sever and Cushing, for arms and blankets, for the use of the Massachusetts regiments, destined for Ticonderoga. Surely those troops are not, at this day, to begin their march, for that post! And sorry I am to observe, that nothing now will content that government, but the new arms lately arrived there, which will...
137From George Washington to Brigadier Generals Nathaniel Heard and William Winds, 7 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
Inclosed I transmit you a copy of a late resolve of Congress, by which you will perceive that in bringing the militia into the field, strict regard is to be had to the number of men, and only a due proportion of officers, both with respect to rank and number, is to be called out to command them. More than these will not be paid, as it would impose an unreasonable burthen on the public. There...
138From George Washington to Brigadier General John Glover, 26 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
After the conversations, I had with you, before you left the army, last Winter, I was not a little surprised at the contents of yours of the first instant. As I had not the least doubt, but you would accept of the commission of Brigadier, if conferred upon you by Congress, I put your name down in the list of those, whom I thought proper for the command, and whom I wished to see preferred....
139To George Washington from John Langdon, 16 May 1777 (Washington Papers)
Your favour of the 3d Inst. I had the Honor to receive two days since & is now before me—to which I beg leave to answer, am happy you wrote to Congress respecting the Stores at this place, expect their Orders soon (⅌ return of Express). I misapprehended the matter relative to the three Thousand Arms, did not understand it as your special Order to send them on to Springfield; tho’t it a...
140General Orders, 6 June 1777 (Washington Papers)
General Lincoln’s division is to furnish the guards for the Quibbletown and Lincoln’s pass (or Mount pleasant) and to be execused from furnishing men for the other guards. And, as it would be inconvenient for the Generals and Field officers of the day for the line, to visit those guards—Genl Lincoln and his officers are excused from doing duty by Roster with the other divisions of the army....
141To George Washington from Col. Alexander Spotswood, 7 April 1777 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Col. Alexander Spotswood, 7 April 1777. In GW’s letter to Spotswood of 8 April , he refers to “your Letter of yesterdays date.”
142To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 26 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
This will be handed to you by Colonel Conway lately arrived from France & engaged by Mr Dean to enter the Service of the United States of America —He is accompanied by Two other Gentlemen viz. Capt. Balme and Monsr Danmours —The Three appear to be Officers of Abilities—They inform me that Mr Dean promised them that their Expences should be born to Philadelphia &c.—I must confess I scarcely...
143Circular to the Commanding Officers of Various Pennsylvania Regiments, 16 May 1777 (Washington Papers)
When I wrote you on the 12th March (to which no answer is yet received) directing a return of your Battalion, the inoculation of your men who had not had the small pox, and the sending immediately to the Army such as had it under proper Officers, I hoped to see a considerable part of your Battalion in the Feild before this. But the last return of it, now at informs me that I was mistaken. Our...
144From George Washington to Colonel Joseph Trumbull, 28 March 1777 (Washington Papers)
I cannot, upon any principle whatever, Accot for, your inattention to my repeated requests to come forward to the Army, and regulate the business of your department, in this Quarter; The expediency alone of the measure, would, I expected, have prompted a visit; this not happening, I desired Captain Wadsworth to inform you, in my name, of the necessity there was for your attendance—and since...
145To 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.”
146From George Washington to Major General Israel Putnam, 1 June 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have now before me your Two favors of the 27th and 30th Ulto. I thank you for the information contained in the latter; I had the substance of it, transmitted before in a Letter from Genl McDougal. In respect to the Rhode Island Detachment, you will have received Orders for their march to join Colo. Olney at Morris Town. I do not agree with you in Sentiment, respecting the Quantity of...
147From George Washington to John Augustine Washington, 1 June 1777 (Washington Papers)
I think I stand Debter to you for your Letters of the 22d of April and 11th of May, which are all that have come to hand since my last to you from Morristown. I am now Assembling the Troops of this State, and those Southward of it, at this place which lays about Seven Miles from the Enemys principal post at Brunswick and convenient for following them either to Philadelphia or to the Eastward....
148To 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...
149General Orders, 4 May 1777 (Washington Papers)
Varick transcript , DLC:GW .
150From George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 23 May 1777 (Washington Papers)
I was yesterday honored with your letter of the 18th inst. As I could only repeat the observations contained in my letter of the 11th upon your request for two Regiments to remain in Connecticut, I must beg leave to refer your attention to them, and to a few more which I shall now subjoin—If the several Battalions designed to compose the Army, were compleat, I should then hope, a few Troops...