1To 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...
2To 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...
3To 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.”
4To 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...
5To 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...
6To 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,...
7To 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...
8To George Washington from Colonel Henry Beekman Livingston, March 1777 (Washington Papers)
I just Received Your Orders of the 12th Instant Accordingly have sent You My Return enclosed being a true State of the Regiment Orders Are already issued for Assembling the Recruits at Peeks Kill the Greatest Part are Collected and ready for a March at any warning a Sufficiency of Officers have been left for the Recruiting Service And Your Excellency May depend that no Pleas for Delay will be...
9To 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...
10To 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...
11To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 1 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
This will be handed to your Excellency by Monsieur Mauduit de Plesis, who lately arrived here with the French General De Borre—He has represented to the Council of this State, that he is charged with Dispatches to the Honble Congress—The Council have desired me to assist & forward him. I take the Liberty to enclose Copy of a Letter from Col. Wayne dated at Ticonderoga the 25th of March 1777,...
12To George Washington from Brigadier General James Mitchell Varnum, 1–4 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
Your Excellency’s Commands of the 3rd March last, I received the 18th of said Month; Agreeable to which I called upon the Colos. for a Return of their Battalions; I have finally got them. On the 28th ultimo your Excellency’s orders of the 6th of the same Month was received. The Troops who have had the small Pox will march on Monday next, about one hundred and forty or fifty as appears by the...
13To George Washington from Colonel Samuel Blachley Webb, 1 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
Want of proper intelligence from my recruiting Officers has been my principle reason for not giveing your Excellency a proper return before this, and I am yet unable to do it with that accuracy I wish, the whole of my returns amount to One Hundred and Thirty four, a number of the Officers out a considerable distance from this, have yet made me no returns, that I cannot but hope my number is...
14Paper from Lieutenant Colonel William Walcott, 2 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
Whereas General Washington did in his Letter to General Howe, bearing Date the Thirtieth Day of July 1776, declare that he was authorized to propose, and he did in the said Letter accordingly propose a general Exchange of all Prisoners of War in the Manner & upon the Terms following; viz: “Officers for Officers of Equal Rank; Soldier for Soldier; and Citizen for Citizen.” To which Proposal His...
15To George Washington from Colonel James Livingston, 3 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
Inclosed you have a Copy of a Resolve respecting my raising a Regiment in the United States, by which your Excellency will perceive the Commander in Chief in this Department, was to recommend proper Officers under me to Congress—The List of Officers was accordingly made out and sent to Congress by General Schuyler the 18t. of Decr last, & in Consequence of which, I got Orders to recruit, and...
16To George Washington from John Hancock, 4–8 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
The enclosed Resolves of Congress, which I have the Honour of transmitting, will naturally claim your Attention from their great Importance. The Regulations relative to the Payment of the Troops and the Department of the Paymaster General, will I hope be the Means of introducing Order and Regularity into that Part of the Army; where, it must be confessed, they were extremely wanted. General...
17To George Washington from William Livingston, 4 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have to acknowledge the Receipt of your Favor of the 1st Instant by General Forman. I apprehend your Excellency mistakes the Clause in our Militia Act respecting the Appeal in Case of a Fine. You seem to represent it as if the Delinquent was excused from paying the Fine till the Determination of the Appeal against him—But that is not the Case—The Act is however extremely deficient; and it...
18To George Washington from Colonel David Mason, 4 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
Your Orders of the 12th of March last came to hand this Day The contents of which I Duly Notice and shall to the Utmost of my Power comply with; The State of my Regiment I cannot give your Excellency an exact account of at this time, but will inform you of the Number of Men that marched from this Station to day and Tomorrow, which will be about two Hundred and eighty, and I hope to have at...
19To George Washington from Brigadier General Samuel Holden Parsons, 4 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
some of The Troops of this State began their March to join the Army Yesterday. they probably will arive at the North River about next Tuesday or Wednesday, the Number I am not able to inform your Excellency as they march from distant Parts of the State & are to rendezvous at Danbury where I expect Lt Col. Butler will take the Command of the Party; I shall be able by next Post to give the...
20To George Washington from Colonel Thomas Price, 4 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
I received your Orders dated Morris Town March 12th this day and have Accordingly inclosed you a return of the State of my regiment and am very Sorry it is not in my Power to send you a much better one you will I make no doubt be much Surpriz’d when I tell you I have not more than four Commissioned Officers belonging to my regiment which are myself and three Lieutenants the others Commissioned...
21To 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...
22To George Washington from Major General Charles Lee, 5 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
It is a most unfortunate circumstance for myself and I think not less for the Publick that the Congress have not thought proper to comply with my request—it cou’d not possibly have been attended with any ill consequences, and might with good ones at least it was an indulgence which I thought my situation entitled me to—but I am unfortunate in all things and this stroke is the severest I have...
23To George Washington from Colonel Robert Magaw, 6 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
By Major Williams I beg leave to represent to your Excellency the distressed Situation of many of the Officers now Prisoners of War on this Island[.] the distance from their Freinds, the loss of their Baggage at the time they were taken, & the length of their Captivity has rendered a number of them destitute of Common necessaries—their Circumstances must soon be extreamly disagreeable & even...
24To George Washington from Brigadier General Samuel Holden Parsons, 6 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have recd your Letters of the 6th 12th 20th & 29th of March. The first Detachment of the Troops from this State will march from Danbury on Tuesday Morning, under the Command of Lt Colo. Butler of Wyllys’s Regt, Nothing has been or shall be wanting on my Part to forward to Camp every Person who is able to March, from my Soul I ardently wish & desire your Excellency may receive every necessary...
25To George Washington from Colonel John Patton, 7 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
Inclosed is as particular a State of my Regiment as I can at present obtain. I have Several parties now on their March for this place from the Country, and am provideing Cloths, Arms &c. for them, in about ten days I Shall have one full Compy ready to March. The Recruiting Service goes on very slowly. My Officers are gone to all parts of the Country where I thought there might be a...
26To George Washington from Nathaniel Sackett, 7 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
Emediately upon my appointment I Repaired to the State of New york where I entred on the Bussines⟨s⟩ assigned me but as it was of a Secret nature and knowing that either the Bussiness or any Circumstances attending it that would have a Tendency to Give a Clue to the Enemy would Render the whole abortive made the Execution of it exceeding Difficult and found my self und⟨er⟩ a Necessity of...
27To 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.”
28To George Washington from Major John Thornton, 7 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
I received your favour of 20th March and am truly sensable of the Honour intended Me & shall with pleasure serve to the best of My knowledge in any Post you[r] Excellency pleaseth to appoint Me The publick good & not promotion has & I hope ever will regulate My conduct if the Officers are appointed in proper places which I doubt not the Men may still [be] raisd the Orders or instructions its...
29To 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...
30To 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...
31To George Washington from Joshua Loring, 8 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
Since I wrote You last his Excellency Sir William Howe has had a further Examination respecting the Rank of the Canadian Gentlemen, and it is determin’d that the four persons You mention are the only Gentlemen that [are] entitled to any Rank viz. Captain Duchesnay, Lieut. Hertel, Lieutenant Schmit, Lieutenant La Magdaleine, and even those at that time were serving as Volunteers, This...
32To George Washington from John McKinly, 8 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
The General Assembly of this State having adjourned to a distant day some time before your favour of the 4th Ult., I could not have their assistance in the nomination of the Officers wanting in the Battalion of this state, which you were pleased to refer to me. I therefore called upon my Council with whose concurrence I made the appointment[s] specified in the enclosed list. My ardent wish to...
33To George Washington from the Massachusetts Council, 8 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
Your Excellency on the 22nd of December last wrote a Letter recommending that Measures should be taken to Effect an Exchange of Prisoners, as soon as possible and as far as Circumstances will admit of advising that all the Prisoners in this State should be sent to the Commanding Officer of the British Troops on the Island of Rhode Island, This Business has been hitherto delayed as the...
34To George Washington from Brigadier General Samuel Holden Parsons, 8 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
Since mine of the 21st of March I have receivd your Excellency’s Letters of the 6th 12th 20th & 29th of March that of the 6th came to Hand not till the 28th; by the Length of Time between the Date & my receiving it; The Seal not being such as I had ever before seen from Head Quarters; The Direction on the Cover very different from the handwriting of the Letter writer, and the omission of the...
35To George Washington from John Hancock, 9 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
Yesterday Evening the Congress compleated the Business of the Medical Department, and on so large and liberal an Establishment that we may rationally expect the most beneficial Effects will flow from it. Every Encouragement is given to Gentlemen of Skill and Reputation in that Art to enter into our Army, and a Variety of Regulations adopted to carry the Plan more effectually into Execution. As...
36To 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...
37To George Washington from Colonel Timothy Pickering, 9 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
I esteem it a singular honour done me by your Excellency in offering me the post of Adjutant General, and it pains me sensibly that I am obliged to decline it. ’Tis an honour to which I did not aspire, because I did not account myself equal to the important business of the office. Your Excellency does not mistake my attachment to the interests of the United States; ’tis sincere & unalterable....
38To George Washington from Major General Stirling, 9 April 1777 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Major General Stirling, 9 April 1777. In a letter to Stirling of 10 April, Tench Tilghman acknowledges on behalf of GW “the Rect of your agreeable favr of last Night” (NN: U.S. Army, 1775–89).
39To 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...
40To George Washington from John Hancock, 10 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
Your favr of yesterday’s Date I have just Rec’d by the Return Express and shall be laid before Congress to morrow morning. I have only time to Inclose you sundry Resolutions pass’d in Congress since my last, to which I Request your Attention, I also inclose you a Letter from the Come of Congress. I have the Honour to be with Esteem, Sir Your most Obedt Servt I have Sent four Bundles of printed...
41To George Washington from Francis Lightfoot Lee, 10 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
I am very sorry that I was not in this City when General Green was here; nothing cou’d give me greater pleasure, than to have an opportunity of shewing every respect & civility, to a Gentleman who so justly possesses your esteem. It gives me pain, that you are joined by so few of the new levies. there are great complaints to the southward, against the recruiting officers, which I fear are too...
42To George Washington from Richard Henry Lee, 10 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
The resolves of Congress, that you will receive by this Messenger, you may be assured, are not intended, by any means, to obstruct your views a single moment. If your judgement should incline you to think that the Troops had better march on to Head Quarters quick as possible, you have only so to order it, and it will give pleasure to every good man here. The business of speedily reenforcing...
43To George Washington from Major Jacob Morris, 10 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
I find by several Gentlemen lately from Camp, that I am much censured for not accepting the Commission offer’d by the State of New York, & am greatly concern’d to hear that some people have been ilnatured, & ungenerous enough to impute my refusal to General Lee’s persuation—this is a reflection upon both that Gentlemans Character, & my own that distresses me exceedingly; & I will venture to...
44To George Washington from Major General Stirling, 10 April 1777 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Major General Stirling, 10 April 1777. Stirling wrote Alexander Hamilton on 12 April: “I wrote to his Excellency on Thursday last about the Appointment of Wilcocks” ( DLC : Hamilton Papers).
45To George Washington from Lieutenant Colonel James Hendricks, 12 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
I this moment received yours respecting the Situation of 6th Virga regiment, which imply’s a Censure I think I by no means deserve, it gives me much pain sr to think a regiment of which I had in Some measure the regulation of, Shou’d be more Neglected than others from the Same State, and much more if I was conscious any part of the neglect happen’d with me, Early in February I had the promised...
46To George Washington from Major General Benjamin Lincoln, 12 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
I am inducd to write you in consequence of a [letter I] have just receivd from Lord stirling acquainting me that some troops from Virginia were on their march to join the army and that he had directions to quarter them between Baskenridge, and the first ridge of mountains next to Boundbrook as thereby in case of necessity, they would be well situated to march to the assistance of either...
47To George Washington from Brigadier General Alexander McDougall, 12 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
I was honor’d with your favour of the 2nd Inst. I am happy in your good Opinion of my conduct. Since I came to this Post, I caution’d the Asst Commissary against increasing the Stores at this Place, which I believe he has observ’d; a few Days, as I wrote you, would have greatly reduced them. The loss of the Rum, Wine, Sugar and Candles is much to be regreted for the reasons you mention. I take...
48To George Washington from James Mease, 12 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have the honor of your Excellencies letter of 10 Int. informing of an application from the State of Massachusetts for a share of the Blankets arrived at Portsmouth from France. I have not yet given any directions respecting any distribution of those goods further than the general orders to the Agents to forward all the supplies they possibly can to Head Quarters. There is no invoice of the...
49To George Washington from Maj. Gen. Benjamin Lincoln, 13 April 1777 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Maj. Gen. Benjamin Lincoln, 13 April 1777. In his letter to Hancock of 12–13 April, GW writes: “13th I have this Moment recd a line from Genl Lincoln informing me that the Enemy attempted to surprize him, early this morning, at his post at Bound Brook, but he made good his Retreat to the pass of the Mountains just in his Rear, with trifling Loss.”
50To George Washington from Brigadier General Lachlan McIntosh, 13 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
Altho’ I am just going off for East Florida with our Troops, & have not any Returns by me now, as I have hitherto regularly Sent th[e]m to General Lee, & Since his departure to Brigr General Howe in Charles town, I cannot avoid this opportunity of giving you some account of our present Situation & Circumstances in this state. Our present Military Force is between Seven & Eight hundred Men. the...