1From 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...
2From George Washington to Henry Laurens, 1 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have been duly honored with your several favors of the 23d 24th and 25th ulto with the enclosures to which they allude. In my letters of the 22d and 23d of last month, I mentioned the difficulties which the Service laboured under for want of a Qr Masr Genl and as I am induced to beleive that a new nomination has not been made since Genl Mifflins resignation, because Congress could not fix...
3From George Washington to Henry Laurens, 2 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
I take the liberty of introducing Major John Clark, the Bearer of this, to your notice. He entered the Service at the commencement of the War and has for some time past acted as Aid de Camp to Major Genl Greene. He is active, sensible and enterprising and has rendered me very great assistance since the army has been in Pennsylvania by procuring me constant and certain intelligence of the...
4From George Washington to Henry Laurens, 2 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
I take the liberty of transmitting to you the Inclosed Copies of a Letter from me to Genl Conway since his return from York to Camp, and of Two Letters from him to me, which you will be pleased to lay before Congress. I shall not in this Letter animadvert upon them, but after making a single observation submit the whole to Congress. If General Conway means by cool receptions mentioned in the...
5From George Washington to Henry Laurens, 4 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
Unwilling as I am to add any thing to the multiplicity of matter that necessarily engages the attention of Congress, I am compelled by unavoidable necessity to pass my answer to Genl Gates through their hands. What could induce Genl Gates to communicate a copy of his Letter to me, to that Honble Body, is beyond the depth of my comprehension upon any fair ground; but the fact being so, must...
6From George Washington to Henry Laurens, 5 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
I yesterday Evening had the honor of your Favor of the 1st Instant with it’s several Inclosures. The Letter you allude to from the Committee of Congress and Board of War came to hand on Saturday morning; But it does not mention the Regulations adopted for removing the difficulties and failures in the Commissary line. I trust they will be vigorous, or the Army cannot exist. It will never answer...
7From George Washington to Henry Laurens, 9 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
I yesterday Evening had the honor to receive your favor of the 5th Instant with its Inclosures. The power Congress have been pleased to vest me with for appointing Aids de Camp, I shall use with œconomy, and I will not appoint more at any time, than shall be necessary & essential to advance the public interest. Any future appointments that may be material, will be made out of the line of the...
8From George Washington to Henry Laurens, 12 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
As I do not recollect with precision, whether any or what Resolutions have been made by Congress respecting Captures by the Army or Detachments of It, and not having all their proceedings with me, with which I have been honored from time to time, to assist my inquiries upon the subject, I must take the liberty to request, that they will determine and favor me with their decisions upon the...
9From George Washington to Henry Laurens, 13 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
This will be deliver’d to you by the Chevalier de Mauduit du Plessis, who was among the first French Officers that joined the Army of the United States—the gallant Conduct of this young Gentleman at Brandywine, German Town, and his distinguished Services at Fort Mercer, where he united the Offices of Engineer and Commandant of Artillery, entitle him to the particular notice of Congress—he made...
10From George Washington to Henry Laurens, 23 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
Inclosed you will receive Copies of Letters in favor of Messieurs de la Neuville from the Marechal Merlet and the Marquiss de Bouillej to me, together with a certificate signed by the Baron de Wurmser—all my knowledge of these Officers who are sollicitous of employment in the American Service, is derived from these papers and what I have seen of them during their short Stay in Camp—their...
11From George Washington to Henry Laurens, 31 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have been honored with your several favors of the 14th 19th 22d & 25th Inst. in due order with their Inclosures, which shall have my attention. My application in preparing and digesting matters for the consideration of the Committee who are now in Camp prevented me acknowledging them before. The packet for Governor Livingston which accompanied the first Two, I transmitted him the next day by...
12From George Washington to Henry Laurens, 31 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
I this morning received your favor of the 27th Ulto. I cannot sufficiently express the obligation I feel to you for your friendship and politeness upon an occasion in which I am so deeply interested. I was not unapprized that a malignant faction had been for sometime forming to my prejudice; which, conscious as I am of having ever done all in my power to answer the important purposes of the...
13From George Washington to Henry Laurens, 3 February 1778 (Washington Papers)
On the Ulto I had the honor to receive your Favor of the 27th with the Copies alluded to. As the proceedings of Congress in this instance seem to imply, that our Unfortunate people in the hands of the Enemy are to be victualled by us, I have only to wish that the Supplies may be constant & plentiful. I have transmitted your Letter to Mr Boudinot who is out of Camp, and have requested his most...
14From George Washington to Henry Laurens, 8–14 February 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have been duly honored with your Favor of the 3d Instant and with its Inclosure. As General McDougal’s late severe illness and present feeble state will not permit him to proceed on the intended incursion into Canada, Baron de Kalb will follow the Marquiss agreable to his wish and the direction of Congress. According to the promise contained in my last, I take the liberty of transmitting you...
15From George Washington to Henry Laurens, 19 February 1778 (Washington Papers)
I am to acknowledge the Honor of your Letter of the 13 Instant with its Inclosure. The recommendation & authority to the several States in the Instances pointed out by the Resolve, if they are duly attended to, will produce many valuable consequences. The abuses complained of are but too prevalent, and require a reform. I have the Honor to be with great respect Sir Your Most Obedient servant...
16From George Washington to Henry Laurens, 27 February 1778 (Washington Papers)
I am now to acknowledge the Honor of your several Favors of the 18–19 & 21st Instant, which with their respective Inclosures have been duly received. In compliance with the Resolution of Congress of the 5th Inst., transmitted in your Letter of the 7th—I was about to take measures for appointing a Court Martial and bringing on the Trials, which they direct; But on recurring to the papers, you...