1General Orders, 26 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
A General Court Martial is to sit at the House of Wiley Bodles, near the provost, at nine o’clock, this morning, for the trial of all prisoners which shall be brought before them —Colonel Scammell is appointed president of this court; and a Captain from Muhlenberg’s, 2nd Pennsylvania, Glover’s, Paterson’s, Huntington’s, & McIntosh’s brigades, and a subaltern from Weedon’s, Woodford’s, Scott’s,...
2From George Washington to Henry Laurens, 26 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
The reason of my troubling you at this time is to request that Congress will defer their decision on Genl Woodfords claim of rank for the present. I find that the Gentlemen affected by it are much averst to it, and therefore shall direct the whole to state their Objections, which I shall transmit by the earliest Opportunity, that Congress may be fully possessed of the subject and apprized of...
3From George Washington to Major General Stirling, 26 December 1777 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: to Major General Stirling, 26 Dec. 1777. In his second letter to GW of 26 Dec. , Stirling wrote that “I have Just received your Excellencys letter of this date.”
4General Orders, 27 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
Mr Berryman Greene at present Quarter Master is appointed Pay-Master, to the first regiment of Light Dragoons, and to be respected as such. Mr John Hughes, Quarter Master Serjeant to the 6th troop, is appointed Quarter Master to the same regiment in the room of Quarter Master Greene, and to be respected as such. All the troops are to draw and cook provisions for to morrow. Notwithstanding the...
5From George Washington to Patrick Henry, 27 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
On Wednesday I had the Honor to receive Your Letter of the 9th Instant. I have directed a Compleat state of the Virginia Troops to be made, which if done and I expect it will, I will transmit by the Next post. From it you will be able to discover the amount of the Whole—their deficiency—How many Men of the Old Regiments have reinlisted &c. I do not recollect ever to have heard, that Genl...
6From George Washington to Robert R. Livingston, 27 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
I was a few days ago favd with yours of the 8th instant. I am sorry that any undue promotions should have disgusted your Brother, but as I do not know the instances to which you allude, I can say nothing to the justice of his pretensions to rank in preference to them. The only dispute that has come to my knowledge, is that between him and Colo. Cortland, and in that, I must say, Colo. Cortland...
7From George Washington to Colonel Henry Emanuel Lutterloh, 27 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
As we have more than probably taken a position for the Winter, and every exertion in the different departments should be made to prepare for the next Campaign: I take this early oppertunity to remind you of the necessity of providing Common Tents—Bell Tents for Arms—Ammunition Waggons—& such other essentials in your Line as you know will be wanted for the use of the Troops next Campaign. A...
8From George Washington to Major General Israel Putnam, 27 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
I am favd with yours of the 16th instant from the Sawpitts. I am glad to find that matters are not as represented in Colo. Drakes memorial, and my only wish is that the people may be protected as far as circumstances will permit without detriment to the public cause. I am exceedingly sorry to hear of the misfortune that has befallen Colo. Webb and Colo. Eli, and I can only hope that our loss...
9From George Washington to Major General Stirling, 27 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
Your Lordships Letter of yesterday arrived late last night —with respect to the proposed Attack upon the detached body of the Enemy, it appears from Major Clarks account of their Situation whom I sent for to consult upon the Subject—that they can be so easily and readily reinforced from the main body as to render any attempt upon them abortive —The business of your inclosed Letter has been in...
10From George Washington to Brigadier General Anthony Wayne, 27 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
I receiv’d your favor of Yesterday, & immediately sent one of my Aids to represent the Subject of it to the Commissary of Forage & Quartermaster Genl as far as it related to them—they declare that nothing of the Kind has happen’d within their knowledge, but say, they cannot be answerable for the conduct of many of their Deputies as they are not to be depended on, & it is out of their power to...
11General Orders, 28 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
All the troops are to draw and cook provisions for to morrow. Two Captains of General Wayne’s division are to be detached to aid Lt Col. Bayard in the business committed to his charge —The Assistant Commissary General (Mr Chaloner) will inform the captains where Col. Bayard may be found. Varick transcript , DLC:GW . For GW’s orders to Lt. Col. Stephen Bayard to collect flour, grain, cattle,...
12From George Washington to Major General John Armstrong, 28 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have this Morning receiv’d your Favor of 26th Inst. The Method you have adopted for preventing the Intercourse & Supply of Marketting from the Country, I think is a good One, & I expect will have the intended effect, though I fear it is impossible to put a total Stop to it even by the greatest exertions of the Officers, as there are many Avenues to Town which it will be found difficult to...
13From George Washington to Colonel Clement Biddle, 28 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
As the Season advances when falling weather and the badness of Roads will be almost insurmountable obstacles to the transporting forage from any distance—you are without delay to form magazines for our winters Supply contiguous to the Rear of the Camp—and to take every favorable opportunity of keeping them amply furnished—so that even in case of a series of bad Weather there may be no...
14From George Washington to William Buchanan, 28 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
As the Season advances in which bad weather and broken Roads will render the transporting provision from any distance, for the most part subject to considerable delay, and sometimes impracticable—it becomes indispensibly necessary to form with all possible expedition ample magazines for our Winters Supply contiguous to the Rear of the Camp—and to embrace every favorable opportunity of keeping...
15From George Washington to Major General Stirling, 28 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have received your Letter dated this day at noon and the pieces of Intelligence inclosed in it—your Lordship will act according to circumstances—I altogether approve of what you propose to be done with respect to those persons who have been detected in traiterously furnishing the Enemy with Provisions—the Punishment falling upon one or two Individuals of note will probably strike a Terror...
16From George Washington to Major General Stirling, 28 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
When you shall have received certain intelligence of the Enemys retiring to Philadelphia—it will be expedient to march your Division and the different parties that were detached to join you with all convenient speed back to Camp—that they may as soon as possible be refreshed and provide for their Winter Shelter—this was intended to have been mentioned in this mornings Letter—but was omitted —I...
17General Orders, 29 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
The Commander in Chief earnestly exhorts the officers of every rank to use their utmost exertions to have the huts completed as soon as possible, that the troops may get comfortably lodged. He also directs a gill of spirits to be served this afternoon to each non commissioned officer and soldier. And as officers may find it difficult and expensive to procure spirits for their own use in camp,...
18Circular to the States, 29 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
I take the liberty of transmitting you the inclosed Return, which contains a State of such of the New York Regiments, as are in the Army immediately under my command. By this you will discover how deficient—how exceedingly short they are of the compliment of Men, which of right according to the establishment they ought to have. This information I have thought it my duty to lay before you, that...
19From George Washington to the Board of War, 29 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
Capt. Sullivan who will deliver this was bearer of a Letter to me from Col. Gibson Commanding Officer at Fort Pitt, in which the Garrison is represented as exceedingly distressed for want of Cloathing and I am sollicited to give such directions as may facilitate the procuring a Supply —I have in consequence written to you on the subject, and have no doubt that every thing on your part will be...
20From George Washington to Colonel John Gibson, 29 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
Capt. Sullivan has deliverd me your Letter of the 5th Instant inclosing a Return of the Garrison at Fort pitt—and desiring me to give such directions to Capt. Sullivan as may facilitate the procuring a Supply of Cloathing for that part of the 13th Virginia Regimt which is with you—I am sorry that I can do no more in this business than represent the distress of the Garrison to the Board of War...
21From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 29 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
Major Blacckden of Colo. Sheldons Light Dragoons goes to Boston to procure Cloathing and Accoutrements for the Regiment against the ensuing Campaign. As the prices of many articles have risen from there being too great a number of Bidders, I have directed the Major, if there are any persons purchasing for the Continent, not to interfere with them, but to apply to them for such Articles as he...
22From George Washington to Brigadier General William Smallwood, 29 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
I was yesterday favd with yours of the 27th as I was with those of the 22d and 25th: I imagine the Ships you saw going down were only empty transports and Victuallers for which having no use, they think it safer to send them aw⟨ay tha⟩n let them lay crouded in the docks of Phila⟨da⟩ where a single Vessel taking fire might prove destructive of the whole. The Enemy, who were only out upon a...
23General Orders, 30 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
Great numbers of prisoners are now in the Provost, suffering extremely from the severity of the season. Brigade General Courts Martial are to be appointed for to morrow, and to sit daily, ’till all the prisoners belonging to the respective brigades are tried. Varick transcript , DLC:GW . Brig. Gen. George Weedon’s orderly book adds the following passage to the general orders for this date: “a...
24From George Washington to Major Samuel Blackden, 30 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
Being appointed by Colo. Sheldon to procure Cloathing and Accoutrements for the Regiment agt the ensuing Campaign, you are to repair immediately to Boston as the most probable place of furnishing yourself. Upon your arrival there, you are, thro’ General Heath, (to whom I have written) to apply to the persons purchasing Cloathing for continental use, for as much as will be sufficient, and as...
25From George Washington to Major General Thomas Conway, 30 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
I am favor’d with your Letter of yesterday, in which you propose (in order to loose no time) to begin with the instructions of the Troops. You will observe by the Resolution of Congress relative to your appointment, that the board of War is to furnish a Sett of Instructions, according to which the Troops are to be Manœuvred—As you have made no mention of having recd them, I suppose they are...
26From George Washington to Lieutenant Colonel Benjamin Flower, 30 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
Instructions for the Commissary of Military Stores— All the Continental Arms that are out of order are to be collected without delay, that they may be repaired and render’d fit for Service as speedily as possible. Every Workman that can possibly be engaged is to be employed for this purpose—and in proportion as the Repairs are completed the Arms are to be packe⟨d⟩ in proper Chests, which are...
27Instructions to Officers of Light Dragoons, 30 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
As you are appointed to retire from the immediate duty of your Regiment in order to provide Accoutrements &ca to Equip it for the next Campaign—You are to observe that it will be necessary to enter into some agreement with the Officers of the other Regiments of Dragoons who go for the same purpose, that you may not interfere with each other in applications to Tradesmen, or the Purchase of any...
28From George Washington to Richard Peters, 30 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
Captain Jones of Coll Baylers Regt of Light dragoons has a troop of Men inlisted and accoutrements compleat, but not having been able to procure Horses at the limited price, the Men are as yet dismounted. I am informed that there are a number of horses at Lancaster and Carlisle which were purchased for the North Carolina light dragoons but tis said they have neither proper Arms or...
29From George Washington to Major General Stirling, 30 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
The bearer presents the horse to you, which I offered in exchange for your black —In the Summer, when I first got him, he had the appearance of a fine, and handsome horse—at present (by neglect at Bethleham) his appearance is altered. He was purchased for me by Colo. Moylan as a horse of Six yrs old, & I believe him to be sound, knowing nothing to the contrary. he goes rough, equal I believe...
30General Orders, 31 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
Varick transcript , DLC:GW . Brig. Gen. George Weedon’s orderly book includes the following general orders for this date: “DETAILS the Same as yesterday only Poors furnishes a Captain instead of Glovers. In order to procure a certain supply of shoes for the Troops The respective Brigadiers and Officers Commanding Brigades are as soon as possible to see Mr. Ewing Commissary Genl. of hides and...