151To 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...
152To George Washington from William Livingston, 14 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
Collo. Duyckinck has preferred a Petition to the Governor & Council of Safety of this State for a hearing being under terrible apprehensions of the approaching warm Season of the year in the place of his Confinement —As the Judicature he has addressed, is competent to release him from confinemt or order his Imprisonment in this State, for an Offence against the municipal Laws, it is on the one...
153To George Washington from Colonel Stephen Moylan, 14 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
On receipt of your Kind favour of the 8th instant, I had fixt on this day, for my Setting out for Maryland, but the hostile appearances in this Bay are Such, that I have given up the thought of going there, and have wrote to Major Washington to repair to Baltimore, and take the part of the Regiment raiseing there under his Command, I have reccommended him to push them forward as Soon as...
154From George Washington to Colonel John Patton, 14 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
Your favor of 7th Instt with a Return of your Regiment came to hand two days ago, & am sorry to find that your Officers are so slow in the Recruiting Service—The Company you intend to March in a few days you will order directly to head Quarters, unless countermanded. The Expences that necessarily arise to recruiting Officers I believe is much increas’d, but at same time cant help remarking,...
155To George Washington from Colonel Timothy Pickering, 14 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
I sent by the express an answer to your letter respecting the office of adjutant general, & gave what appeared to me sufficient reasons to excuse my declining to accept it; but have since been uneasy, lest you should deem them otherwise; & that I was too willing, under the civil offices I sustain, to shelter myself from the dangers & fatigues of war. An opinion which, if it has taken place, I...
156To George Washington from Major General Joseph Spencer, 14 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have rec’d your Excellency’s Letter of the 3d of April instant, and in Answer thereto take Liberty to observe, that by the late Appearances there is no probability that the Enemy will soon evacuate Rhode Island, as your Excellency has apprehended and as we have heretofore generally expected in these parts: the Ships that were haul’d off when I wrote last, being thirty three Square rigg’d...
157To George Washington from Major General Adam Stephen, 14 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
Inclosd I send your Excellency a Return of the men of my division, exclusive of General Maxwells Brigade, of which I have got no return yet. I go on the Out posts to day, and do not approve of the mens being so dispersd as not be Able to support one Another—The troops at Quibble town were kept in Awe by Appearances yesterday; had they happily reinforcd their pickets a little; or Shou’d some...
158General Orders, 15 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
Serjt Keener of the 11th Pennsyl: Battn and Serjt Berns of the 10th tried at a General Court Martial, held at Samptown, of which Col. Shreve was president, on a charge of “Intending to desert” The Court find Serjt Keener guilty of the above Crime, and sentence him to be reduced to the ranks, and receive 100 Lashes on his bare back—The Court acquit Serjt Berns of the Charge against him. John...
159From George Washington to Landon Carter, 15 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
Your favour of the 22d of Feby I have had the pleasure to receive; but the other Letters alluded to, have never got to hand; and may be adduced among many other proofs of the villainy you suspect in the Post Offices. I should have been very happy in seeing your Grandson inlisted under the Banners of his Country and under the care of so good, and brave a Man as Baylor—But a Mothers tenderness...
160To George Washington from Colonel Jedediah Huntington, 15 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
I am favoured with your Excellency’s Letter of the 3d inst. & observe your Desire that I march my Men fit for Duty immediately to Peek’s Kill. Since the Date of your Letter, the Governor & Council have resolved forthwith to make a Draft of Men to fill up the continintal Battalions, upon which I think my Stay here very necessary & shall therefore presume it to be your Pleasure untill further...
161To George Washington from Brigadier General Samuel Holden Parsons, 15 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
Two detachments from the Regiments of this State have marchd for head Quarters, another will march this Week; I hope some time next week a Considerable Body may be ready to leave the Colony; the Small Pox has been very heavy upon them, they are much reducd by it, & about Twenty have faild; this is one Reason of the Delay—About 150 from Rhode Island and some from Massechusetts Bay are on their...
162To George Washington from Maj. Gen. Arthur St. Clair, 15 April 1777 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Maj. Gen. Arthur St. Clair, 15 April 1777. GW wrote St. Clair on 18 April: “I am favd. with your of the 15th.”
163General Orders, 16 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
Varick transcript , DLC:GW .
164To George Washington from John Hancock, 16 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
The enclosed Resolves will convey to you such Information of the Proceedings of Congress as may be necessary for your Direction and future Conduct touching the same. In the present Situation of the British Army, it is extremely to be wished, that an Attack could be made upon their Troops in Rhode Island, which, tho’ it should not prove successful, would, in all Probability, cause a Diversion...
165To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 16 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
Since my last I have received the honor of yours of the 30th ultimo and the 1st Instant & this moment that of the 5th. The Troops mention’d in my last as nearly ready have since marched, as have also about 60 of Col. Crane’s Regt of Artillery, who are now pushing their way to join your Excellency—A Second Division of Col. Bailey’s marches to morrow for Ticonderoga—The Hospitals are now opened...
166To George Washington from Richard Henry Lee, 16 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
Your letter to the Committee was immediately laid before Congress, and in consequence thereof, Gen. Schuyler was ordered to carry your ideas into execution with all possible dispatch. The Troops are therefore ordered to Bristol without delay, and thither will go all such as come from the Southward. You have only to order them from Bristol to Head Quarters at your pleasure. The inclosures now...
167From George Washington to William Livingston, 16 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
I am honored with yours of the 14th. I dont know whether Colo. Duyckink comes under the Civil or Military Jurisdiction, but from the following State of the facts on which I ordered him to be secured, you will be able to form a Judgment, and if you think, he falls within the line of civil Authority, I will most cheerfully give him up to you. Colo. Duyckink, some time in the Winter came...
168To George Washington from Major General Philip Schuyler, 16 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
On the Intelligence received by Congress that nine of the Enemies Ships of War had got into Deleware Bay, and that a Number of Transports were seen in the offing, the Continental Troops in this City amounting to 563 Rank and File were ordered to Fort Island to assist in compleating the Fortifications there, which are in a very defenceless State, and to throw up a Work on Red Bank to prevent...
169To George Washington from Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 16 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
I am favourd with your Excellencys Letter of the 23d ulto—also with those of 29th & 31st of same Month which came safe to Hand—Yesterday received your Proclamation relative to Deserters—& have sent it to the Printers —In mine of 21st March I informed you of the Order given for marchg 2,000 Militia to Peekskill agreable to your Request & that Brig: Genll Wadsworth would take the Command—Want of...
170General Orders, 17 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
The Sentence of the General Court Martial whereof Major Harmar is President, against Lt Costagan of the 1st Jersey Battalion; accused of “Behaving in a scandalous, and infamous manner, unbecoming an officer and a Gentleman, for pressing a Horse, the property of John Kidd Esqr. of Bucks-County, (Pennsylvania) appropriating him to his own use, and when required by Col. Biddle D.Q.M. Genl, to...
171From George Washington to the Commanding Officer of the German Battalion and the 1st and 12th Pennsylvania Regiments, 17 … (Washington Papers)
On looking over the last Return of the German Battalion, there appears to be Fifty three privates Sick and absent—and Seventeen on Furlough. Almost four months have expired since orders were given for collecting the sick, and yet there are as many absent as if no such had issued. Such disobedience can no longer be pardonned in Officers. I do therefore in the most peremptory manner command that...
172From George Washington to Brigadier General Alexander McDougall, 17–18 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
Your favor of the 12th Instt was delivered me last night by Mr Trumbull. I am much surprized to hear, that the innoculation of the Troops had been countermanded, or the least Hint suggested of the sort. I have never done or said anything countenancing such a measure, on the Contrary, I have pressed & urged the necessity of it in every instance, and I must request, that not a Moment may be...
173To George Washington from Brigadier General Alexander McDougall, 17 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
I was honored with the receipt of your favors of the 12th and 13th Instant, containing information against sundry Persons wickedly engaged in the service of the Enemy. You may rest assured no pains will be wanting to secure those miscreants. It’s probable Van Wagoner is secured; a person of his Character, being lately taken with a Number of Recruits for the Enemy. The late resolution of...
174To George Washington from Colonel David Mason, 17 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
I take this opportunity of Acquainting your Excellency that I reach’d this place on Tuesday last and by order of Brigadier Genl Weedon have with my Men been Innoculated. The number of Men I have with me is contained in the inclosed return, which is short of what I had hopes of being able to March with when I wrote you last—Having very few Troops from the Northern Counties which in the...
175From George Washington to Brigadier General William Maxwell, 17 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
That the Enemy are upon the point of opening the Campaign can scarce admit of a doubt—where, or in what manner, is yet uncertain; it behooves us however to be as well prepard as possible, & keep every thing in such order as to move at an hours warning—one step towards this is, to have the number of our Posts reduced—the Men drawn a little more compactly together—and Scouts to supply the places...
176From George Washington to James Mease, 17 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have your favr of the 12th by Colo. Campbell. All the Cloathing that has come from the Eastward within a few days is forwarded to you unopened, except a sufficient Quantity for Colo. Formans Regt of which they were in immediate want. I have directed the Colo. to have the heavy woolen linings taken out of the Coats and sent down to you, and I think if you have time, you had better have the...
177From George Washington to Major Jacob Morris, 17 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have been favour’d with your Letter of the 10th Instt, and not having leizure to answer it fully, shall content my self with asking a question or two by way of Information—It being the only trouble I mean to give you at this, or any time hereafter, on the subject of your resignation. Were you not informed then, before I saw you at Genl Sullivans (a day or two preceding your going into New...
178From George Washington to Richard Peters, 17 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
I am directed by a Resolve of Congress of the 10th Inst. to transmit to the Board of War a list of the Appointments made in Consequence of the powers with which I am invested by Congress, together with a Copy of all Commissions originating from and issued by me. I have made no appointments out of the Military line, but James Mease Esq: Cloathier Genl with a Salary of 150 dollars ⅌ Month. And...
179To George Washington from Captain William Scott, 17 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
I Was appointed by your Excellency to raise a company of rangers & according to a provision made by the honourable the continental congress, I was impower’d to offer each man so to be inlisted six pounds bounty, a suit of cloaths annually, & 100 acres land should they serve the term of three years, but upon coming to new England where I purposd to raise my company, I find a much larger bounty...
180General Orders, 18 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
All the Continental Arms, those in possession of the troops, as well as those in Store, to be marked immediately. Commanding Officers of Corps to see this Order put in execution—they will get the Brand by applying to the Commissary of Military stores. Varick transcript , DLC:GW .