1From 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...
2From 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...
3To George Washington from James Mease, 18 May 1777 (Washington Papers)
I had the pleasure of writing your Excellency, the 12th Inst., which missing the post, was delayed some days, Since which, your Excellencys favors of 9 & 12, are come to hand, The former of which surprized, & paind me very much, The paragraph from Mr Youngs letter to Mr Kemper, respecting the sending forward some Shirts & stockings, which seems to have given your Excellency cause of offence, I...
4From George Washington to Colonel Samuel Blachley Webb, 7 June 1777 (Washington Papers)
By Mr Turnbull who is just past this for Philadelphia I am informd that you have lately drawn 500 Hunting Shirts—500 Waistcoats—& 500 Overalls, in addn to the Cloathing you obtaind sometime ago—By a late return from Genl Putnam who Comds at Peeks kill, dated the 31st Ulto it appears that of your Regiment, he has only 21. Men at that Post—And, by a Return from Genl Parsons of the 13th of the...
5To George Washington from John Mercereau, 28 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
Agreeable to your request have proceeded—at Coryell; the river is C15 L75 wide and five and a half feet Deep—at Smiths where they attempted crossing last winter—is C7 L25 wide—at Samuel Pettets 2 mils below; the water is five and a half foot Deep—and at Pool’s Cove is the narrowes place only C6 L75 —this and Smiths are the most Likely to cross if they pass on brid⟨ge⟩s—the fording places below...
6Instructions to Colonel Armand, 19 May 1777 (Washington Papers)
Desirous of making our Service as agreeable to you as possible, and of furnishing you with every Opportunity in my power of acquiring Honour, I have consented to the request you made me of raising and commanding a Partisan Corps. You probably will have it more in your power, to distinguish yourself at the head of a body of Men that understand the French Language, than of any others, Wherefore...
7From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 8 June 1777 (Washington Papers)
I am this day favor’d with yours of the 27th & 29th of May. I am surprised at the accounts you give me of the want of Cloathing for the Troops of Massachusetts. I took it for granted that they had been sent forward when it was intended that all your Troops shou’d go the Northward, & that they wou’d meet them at Peekskill. My reason for this was, that the Cloathier General repeatedly assured me...
8From 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...
9From George Washington to Major General Adam Stephen, 20 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
The horseman delivered your favour of this date—You will be pleased to order Lieut. Bradford under Arrest, that he may answer the Charge of the Court of Inquiry immediately—Capt. Russell must be called upon to account for his long Absence from his Regimt as well as for having inlisted his Men but for a year —I lament Capt. Conway’s loss; but tho’ my Indignation at such ungenerous Conduct of...
10To George Washington from the Pennsylvania Board of War, 31 March 1777 (Washington Papers)
By Appointment under the new frame of Government established in this State, we succeed the late Council of Safety in the Military Department, of course your Excellency’s letter of the 28th Inst. came before us, and from our knowledge of the late Council, we can assure your Excellency that it was thro’ inadvertency that they infringed upon the powers invested in you by Congress, and not by...
11To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 21 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have received the honor of yours of the 10th. In my last I mention’d to your Excellency having sent to Portsmouth, to forward 3,000 Arms to Springfield —Major Barber the Commissary of Artillery Stores, whom I sent for the purpose informs me that upon his Arrival there—the Honble Mr Langdon, the Continental Agent informed him that Three Thousand Arms had been just sent on to Connecticut, but...
12From George Washington to Major General Horatio Gates, 7 May 1777 (Washington Papers)
The inclosed, to General Wayne, requires him to hasten to me as speedily as he can, after the receipt of my letter. His presence in this quarter cannot be dispensed with. The Pensylvania troops, daily coming in, are without any General officer of their own state, to command them; and my intention is, as far as circumstances will permit, to arrange the different troops, under the respective...
13To George Washington from James Lovell, 26 May 1777 (Washington Papers)
This will be delivered to you by a German Officer who expresses much inclination to enter into the army under your command. The trouble which your Excellency receives from Foreigners commissioned by Congress has made the Committee, appointed to examine their pretensions, averse to offering any resolutions for places above the rank of subalterns. The Bearer speaks english very well, and has an...
14To 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...
15To George Washington from Colonel Timothy Pickering, 7 May 1777 (Washington Papers)
I had the honour to receive your Excellency’s letter by Col. Lee, conferring upon me the office of adjutant general: And since, notwithstanding all my objections, ’tis your Excellency’s pleasure, I am happy to declare my acceptance of it. At the same time I am constrained, from my real feelings; again to express my fears that I shall fall short of your Excellency’s expectations. Few people are...
16General Orders, 27 May 1777 (Washington Papers)
One Sub.—one Serjt and twenty privates, of Lieut. Col. Olney’s detachment to do duty as Artillery Men, under Lieut: in Morristown, ’till further orders. Varick transcript , DLC:GW . For the general orders regarding the establishment of guards and patrols to protect the new camp at Middlebrook, N.J., that Gen. Nathanael Greene issued on this date, see “Muhlenberg’s Orderly Book,” 33:259; see...
17To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 9 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
Yesterday I received pr Col. Johonnot the honor of your’s of the 29th ultimo—and observe your Excellency’s pressing & positive Orders for hastening the Troops—This I have been doing with unremitted Assiduity—and the moment a Detachment is equipped I order them to march—There are now on the march to Peeks-kill, a Detachment of Col. Greaton’s Regt upwards of One Hundred fine Fellows well armed...
18To George Washington from Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 22 May 1777 (Washington Papers)
As it may be of Consequence for you to be acquainted with every Movement of the Enemy, would inform your Excellency, that by a Letter this day receiv’d from Govr Bradford Dated the 20th instant, have Intelligence that, on the forenoon of that day, twenty seven Sail left New Port and appear’d to be bound up Sound—and that they learnt by some Deserters before that Time that two Hessian Regiments...
19From George Washington to Maj. Gen. Horatio Gates, 5 April 1777 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: to Maj. Gen. Horatio Gates, 5 April 1777. Gates wrote GW on 19 April : “I had the Honour to receive your Excellency’s Letter of the 5th Instant from Morris Town.”
20To George Washington from Brigadier General William Smallwood, 24 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
On my arrival here at Christmas I found the Regular & flying Camp Officers in general much disgusted by the Appointments of the Commissioners, in which indeed there were irregula[ri]ties and Improprieties which no established Mode cou’d justify, many being below, others promoted above their Rank, & many more not appointed at all; which induced me, as the Appointments were incompleat, to make...
21From George Washington to Brigadier General David Forman, 15 May 1777 (Washington Papers)
I am favd with yours of the 11th with the proposition for exchanging Capts. Campbell and Harrison for Messs. Richard McKnight and Thomas Little. This I can by no means assent to, as it would be establishing a precedent of a dangerous Nature in its consequences. For then, whenever any of their provincial Officers fell into our Hands, they would send out parties and pick up some of the...
22From George Washington to Major Henry Emanuel Lutterloh, 4 June 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have reciev’d your favor proposing a plan for the formation of a corps of light infantry. It wou’d be difficult for you to recruit such a Corps, & experience has fully taught us that it will never answer to employ deserters or Prisoners. Generally speaking no confidence can be placed in them. Deserters are for the most part without principle sufficient to insure their fidelity, and prisoners...
23From George Washington to William Livingston, 5 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have the honor of yours of Yesterday. I ⟨may⟩ have been mistaken in my interpretation of you⟨r⟩ Militia Law, but it however leaves open a door ⟨for⟩ much litigation and delay. As you must certainly be best acquainted with the Circumstances of your own State, I intirely acquiesce with any mode which you may think most expedient in regard to calling out your Militia ⟨at⟩ this time. I think the...
24To George Washington from John Augustine Washington, 11 May 1777 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from John Augustine Washington, 11 May 1777. GW wrote his brother Jack on 1 June : “I think I stand Debter to you for your Letters of the 22d of April and 11th of May.”
25From George Washington to Patrick Henry, 31 May 1777 (Washington Papers)
I This morning received information, which I beleive is not to be doubted, that on Saturday last, A large fleet consisting of a Hundred Sail, left New York & stood out to sea. Whither they are destined, or what they had on Board, remains to be known. If possessing Hudson’s River, should not be Genl How’s first object I should suppose his Operations will be against Philadelphia, and that this...
26From 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...
27General Orders, 1 June 1777 (Washington Papers)
The General directs the following rules to be invariably observed throughout the army; and as he is apprehensive they will meet with great obstacles, in the carelessness, and indolence of some officers; he thinks it necessary to declare, that he will not overlook any neglect, or breach of them, that shall come to his knowledge. Each regiment to be paraded at troop and at retreat beating—the...
28From George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 12 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
As Mr Fornandez an Officer just released from Captivity by an exchange, informs me, that large and weekly supplies of fresh provision are brought into York, which, he was informed by a Friend of ours, came from Connecticut, but whether by Water or by Land he does not know—This information I have thought proper to transmit to your Honor by the earliest opportunity, that you may adopt such...
29General Orders, 3 May 1777 (Washington Papers)
Major Painter is to superintend the Artificers, and Works, in and about Morristown, until further orders. Varick transcript , DLC:GW . Congress on 18 Jan. 1777 resolved that Elisha Painter (d. 1781), whom it had appointed major of Col. Seth Warner’s Continental regiment on 5 July 1776, “be removed from any command” in that regiment because a dispute about his right to be major threatened to...
30General Orders, 13 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
William Wilcocks Esqr. is appointed Aide-De-Camp to Major Genl Lord Stirling, and to be obeyed as such. Varick transcript , DLC:GW . Stirling wrote Alexander Hamilton on 12 April: “I wrote to his Excellency [GW] on Thursday last [10 April] about the Appointment of Wilcocks, If he is approved of I wish you would get both McWilliams & him in Orders, & that you would be so good as to write him to...