1To George Washington from Brigadier General William Smallwood, 27 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
A Fleet of 59 Ships, inclusive of a Frigate of 28, & a Sloop of 16 Guns came down the River Yesterday, & Anchor’d of[f] the Mouth of Christiana Creek in the Evening, & from the Number of Boats attending them, & stopping short of the Admirals Ship, when both Wind & Tide favored, I was induced to think the Enemy had in View an Attack on this Post last Night, but the Weather proved too...
2To George Washington from Brigadier General William Smallwood, 28 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
The march of the troops down here through the frosty roads, has cut out their shoes, & by being barefoot they are rendered unfit for duty, to remedy which, I have contracted with a gentleman here, for 200 sides of sole, & 200 sides of upper leather, for which he is to receive raw hides in exchange at the same rate on which the commissary of hides exchanges raw hides for dressed leather. I have...
3To George Washington from Brigadier General William Smallwood, 30 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have just been favor’d with yours of yesterdays Date, & the Requisitions therein shall be stricktly complied with—I wrote some Days ago by Colo. Gist (who informed he had your Permission to retire to settle his Regimental Accts) to Governor Johnson, to forward the Cloathing to this Place, & have taken Measures to comply with the Resolution of Congress respecting the Stock. I have no...
4To George Washington from Brigadier General William Smallwood, 1 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
We have recovered our Sloop which I wrote concerning the other Day, & no other Damage sustained by the Tories retakg her, than a few Barrells of Flower, & some Pork, our Party havg surprized & drove them of[f] whilst unloading her. The Brig is like to be much more valuable than was at first supposed, there appears to be a great Quantity of Arms, Baggage & some Cloths, Ammunition Rum & Wine,...
5To George Washington from Brigadier General William Smallwood, 10 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
I received your Favors of the 7th Inst., & am peculiarly embarrassed, by a Proposition, which I am induced to think you did not mean to extend to an absolute order, as in that Instance you wou’d have been more pointed & precise, & must beg your excuse for not complying wth it, till the following Considerations were submitted, & your further Direction taken. I am persu[a]ded it wou’d be the...
6To George Washington from Brigadier General William Smallwood, 26 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
I hope your Excellency will excuse the Delay in not answering your favors of the 12th & 13th Inst. before. I have been so pester’d this 10 Days past, that I need not tell, for you will readily perceive I am scarce yet in my proper Senses, nor do I believe I shall ever get clear of the Echo of Rank in the Line , of the Staff, Furlough, Recruiting, Resignation, Desertion, disaffection, pass into...
7To George Washington from Brigadier General William Smallwood, 10 February 1778 (Washington Papers)
I am much obliged by your favor received last Evening, and shall take every necessary precaution to obviate any design formed against this Post—but I am induced to think the Information was groundless, as we have now seve⟨n⟩ Prisoners taken on the Evening of the 7th, part of them taken by the mouth of Derby Creek going up with Provision, & the others above that, coming down from Philadelphia...
8To George Washington from Brigadier General William Smallwood, 15 February 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have sent you as ⅌r the Inclosed List, such Goods as you wrote for, so far as the Prize wou’d furnish (escorted by Serjeant Sprig —& Guard all trusty Men) which I hope will suit, as they are the best in Quality in the Prize. There were but two steel mounted small Swords (& none other tolerably genteel) these are small & rather short, however I think them genteel, & have sent them both, that...
9To George Washington from Brigadier General William Smallwood, 21 February 1778 (Washington Papers)
I received your Favor of the 16th Inst. by Capt. Lee, who came here on the Evening of the 17th; I dispatch’d him very early the next Morning, with four very active officers, well acquainted with the Country, and best adapted to aid him in the Execution of the design , I also wrote to the President, General Rodney, The Purchasing Commissary, & Capt. McLane, all now at Dover, requesting that...
10To George Washington from Brigadier General William Smallwood, 27 February 1778 (Washington Papers)
On Wednesday Evening the Enemy in a Sloop of war, one Galley, and about 40 Boats fell down the Delaware, and Anchor’d off this Place at Dusk: The Boats were full of Troops & upwards of 30 said to be flat Bottomed from the best intelligence I received, cou’d not distinguish from this Place, as they came down under cover of this shore, and at Dusk made over to the Jersey Shore, & came to an...
11To George Washington from Brigadier General William Smallwood, 28 February 1778 (Washington Papers)
By return of a Party of Dragoons who I had detatched for that purpose, I have just received Intelligence of some of the Enemys Movements, & have inclosed the Ltrs for your perusal & satisfaction, from which it will appear (tho these Views are not absolutely demonstrated) they have intended to intercept General Wayne, & his collected supplies, and that they have had & may still have a design...