1General Orders, 28 March 1777 (Washington Papers)
The Execution of Serjt Porterfield is suspended, by order of the Commander in Chief, ‘till Friday the 4th of April. Varick transcript , DLC:GW . For Sgt. John Porterfield’s conviction of desertion and sentencing to be shot, see General Orders, 21 Feb. 1777 .
2From George Washington to Colonel George Baylor, 28 March 1777 (Washington Papers)
I am glad to discover by your favour of the 26th Ulto that You have a prospect of getting your Horses. We want them much—Inclosed is a Letter to Mr Finnie the Depy Quart. Mast. Genl directing him to supply you with the Continental Rations for Horse. Mr James Mease of Philada, the Clothier General, will furnish you with Cloathing whenever You call upon him & send for them—I presume the Men will...
3To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 28 March 1777 (Washington Papers)
yesterday I received the Honor of yours of the 13th Instant and immediately gave Orders Accordingly. Brigadiers General Nixon, and Glover with Colonels Greaton, Sheppard, Nixon, Putnam, Wigglesworth, Alding, Bigelow, and late Pattersons, Regiments I have Ordered to Peeks-Kill, Brigadier General Patterson, with Colonels Marshall, Brewer, Bradford, Frances, Bailey, Wesson & Jacksons Regiments to...
4From George Washington to Captain Allen McLane, 28 March 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have certain information that Lord Cornwallis returned from Jersey yesterday, and ’tis said they intend an attack upon this army with their joint force before Genl Green can rejoin us. I therefore depend upon your keeping a very good look out upon their line, and gaining every intelligence from people coming out of Town, that I may have the earliest notice of their movements or intentions I...
5From George Washington to the Pennsylvania Council of Safety, 28 March 1777 (Washington Papers)
I am glad to find by your publication in the pennsylvania Gazette of the 19th instant that you have compleated your arrangement of Feild Officers, by means of which I hope the recruiting of your Battalions will go on more briskly than it has done heretofore. By the promotion of Major Butler and death of the Colonel and Lieut: Colonel, the eighth Regiment of your State is left without a Feild...
6From 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...
7From George Washington to Captain Francis Wade, 28 March 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have yours of the 25th inclosing sundry Letters and papers respecting some of the most notorious of the disaffected in the County of Monmouth. It is to ⟨be⟩ lamented that the States will not pursue the proper Methods to root out all such dangerous Enemies from among them, it is not in my power to do it at present, having sufficient work upon my Hands to watch the common and more powerful...
8To George Washington from Brigadier General David Wooster, 28 March 1777 (Washington Papers)
I herewith forward The Proceedings of A General Court Martial, held at Fairfield for the Tryal of William Stone, and Alexander Fulton. As They are now confined in Fairfield Goal, which is much surrounded with Tories, and threatned with a visit from Long-Island, I must beg Your Excellencys answer, and farther directions as soon as possible. There being no Judge Advocate, in this part of The...
9General Orders, 29 March 1777 (Washington Papers)
Varick transcript , DLC:GW .
10To 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.”
11From George Washington to Elisha Boudinot, 29 March 1777 (Washington Papers)
I recd yours of this day and am much obliged to you for the pains you have been at to obtain intelligence. I highly approve of your plan to gain more, and enclose you a Sketch of such Matters as it will be proper for your Spy to report to deceive the Enemy. If he can do us no harm by reporting what is intrusted to him—You may add what you please, only taking care to keep a Copy and send it to...
12From George Washington to Col. Philip Burr Bradley, 29 March 1777 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: to Col. Philip Burr Bradley, 29 Mar. 1777. Robert Hanson Harrison docketed Bradley’s letter to GW of 24 Mar. in part: “Ansd 29th within.”
13From 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...
14From 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...
15From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 29 March 1777 (Washington Papers)
The Situation of our Affairs again compells me to call upon you in express and positive Terms to hasten the Troops of your State (those inlisted for the continent I mean) to Peekskill and Ticonderoga, in such proportions as I have before directed, without one Moments loss of time. The Enemy have lately, taking advantage of our weakness at Peekskill, made a descent there, burnt the lower...
16To George Washington from Patrick Henry, 29 March 1777 (Washington Papers)
I am very sorry to inform you that the recruitting Business of late goes on so badly, that there remains but little prospect of filling the six new Battalions from this State voted by the Assembly. the Board of Council see this with great Concern; and after much Reflection on the Subject, are of Opinion, that the Deficiency in our Regulars, can no Way be supply’d so properly, as by inlisting...
17To George Washington from Colonel Henry Beekman Livingston, 29 March 1777 (Washington Papers)
Since I received Your Favour we have had a Visit from the Enemy at this Post abot 500 in Number after waiting untill they were Landed Colo. Courtlandts Regiment and my own being all the Men that were present were Orderd to a Hill Back of Mrs Mandeviles House —the Enemy Drew up Opposite on an Eminence fronting us about 400 Yards Disstant when we received Orders from Genl McDougal to Retreat...
18To George Washington from Brigadier General Alexander McDougall, 29 March 1777 (Washington Papers)
It is very mortifying to me to be under the Necessity of informing you, that I was obliged to quit this Post on Sunday last. To be the instrument of demonstrating to the Enemy, the weakness or supiness of this Country, must be grating to the feelings of any man of sensibility, but more especially to the Soldier. But when I reflect, on the many insults the Commander in Chief has suffered,...
19From George Washington to Brigadier Generals Samuel Holden Parsons, Enoch Poor, and James Mitchell Varnum, 29 March 1777 (Washington Papers)
The Situation of our Affairs again compells me to call upon you in express, and positive Terms to hasten the Troops of your State (those Inlisted for the Continent I mean) to Peeks Kills, or head Quarters, without one moments loss of time. I do not mean by this to interupt the Inoculation of them; but, that nothing which can facilitate the March of the whole, or part (under proper Officers)...
20From George Washington to Lieutenant Colonel Nathaniel Ramsay, 29 March 1777 (Washington Papers)
After returning my most sincere thanks to you & the other officers of your Battalion for your services, since your arrival in this State, I am under the Necessity however painfull to me of requesting you to remain at your present Post a few days longer, (not having it in my power at present to relieve you.) I am Sensible of the Disadvantages which must of course Accrue to you & many of your...
21From George Washington to Capt. John Paul Schott, 29 March 1777 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: to Capt. John Paul Schott, 29 Mar. 1777. Tench Tilghman docketed Schott’s letter to GW of 24 Mar. in part: “Ansd 29th with orders to march the Men inlisted immediately to Morris Town—sent him a Warrant for 300 Dollars.”
22From George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 29 March 1777 (Washington Papers)
I am honored with yours of the 21st by Express, and return you my most sincere thanks for your ready compliance with my request for two thousand Militia—A late Maneuvre of the Enemy convinces us of the necessity that there is for an immediate march of this body of men to Peekskill. I imagine upon information of our weakness at that Post (the Eastern Militia having just left it) and that there...
23General Orders, 30 March 1777 (Washington Papers)
Varick transcript , DLC:GW .
24From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 30 March 1777 (Washington Papers)
Since mine of yesterday, I recd your favor of the 16th: The fortunate arrival of Arms at portsmouth will remove all difficulties which you laboured under for want of them, and I therefore hope that your next will inform me that some of your Troops are on their march to peekskill as well as to Ticonderoga. You will see the Necessity of sending part to peekskill, as quick as possible, by my...
25From George Washington to Colonel Timothy Pickering, 30 March 1777 (Washington Papers)
The Office of Adjutant General being vacant by the resignation of Colo. Reed, and the power of appointing a Successor with me, I am induced from the good opinion I entertain of your attachment to the interests of the United States and your Military character, not only to make a tender, but most heartily to wish your acceptance of it. It will give me much pleasure if the Offer meets your...
26General Orders, 31 March 1777 (Washington Papers)
The General Court Martial held at Woodbridge the 28th Inst:, whereof Col. Martin was President, for the trial of Capt: Will: Work of the 12th Pennsylvania Regt accused of “Misbehaviour and Cowardice, in an Action with the Enemy, on Carman’s hill, near Bonum-Town, on the 8th Instant”—The Court after mature consideration, are of opinion that the prisoner is Guilty, and sentence the said Capt:...
27From George Washington to Brigadier General George Clinton, 31 March 1777 (Washington Papers)
A Captain who escaped from New York on Saturday Evening and who arrived here this morning, informs, that about Three Thousand Troops (British & Hessians) were embarked from the City & Staten Island when he came away. It was generally said, they had in contemplation an expedition to Chesepeak Bay and to make a descent on the Eastern Shore. There were some who conjectured, they mean to go up the...
28From George Washington to Lieutenant Colonel Benjamin Flower, 31 March 1777 (Washington Papers)
The great waste and embezzlement of Public Arms, and the difficulties arising from thence make it necessary, that the utmost precautions should be used to restrain such infamous practices and future losses. I know no way so likely to effect it, as that of putting on them some mark indicating ’em to be public property, and therefore request that you will have all belonging to the States, as...
29From 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...
30From George Washington to Brigadier General Alexander McDougall, 31 March 1777 (Washington Papers)
I am much surprised at never having received any regular account from you, of the late Affair at peekskill. I am yet intirely at a loss to know the Quantity, Quality or Value of the Stores that were lost. A Captain of a Tobacco Ship taken and carried into New York, left that place on Saturday last, he informs that three thousand Men were embarked and laying on Board Transports at Staten...