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,...
2To George Washington from Major General John Armstrong, 26 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
I cannot yet learn whether the Enemy are return’d to Philada—a person from thence, tells me the Citizens were extreamly alarm’d at the little Noise of the evening before last & it was thought the Ravagers wou’d return as of yesterday —As to persons passing in & out of Town, I see that may be done in oppo[si]tion to all we can do to prevent it, nor can every degree of Marketing be fully Stoped,...
3To George Washington from Major John Clark, Jr., 26 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
I wrote you yesterday at one o Clock P.M. , informing you the Enemy had moved towards Chester, after which, I took a circuit round them, their design appeared only to disperse our light parties, to make room for their Waggons to hall the remainder of the Hay from Tinicum Island, & the Hook, My Spy from the City has just arrived, & informs me General Knyphausen commands in Philada, & has but a...
4From 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...
5To George Washington from William Livingston, 26 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
I am quite content to have Lieut. Boskirk, Lieut. Earle & Surgeon Hammel treated as Prisoners of war, being fully convinced by your Excellency’s observations on the Subject of the Propriety of the Measure—They therefore wait your order, being now confined in Trenton Gaol—If you think it for the good of the Service to have Browne treated in like manner, I shall have no Objection after his...
6To George Washington from Benjamin Rush, 26 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have delayed troubling your Excellency with the State of our hospitals, in hopes you would hear it from the Director General whose business it is to correspond with your Excellency upon this Subject. I beg leave therefore at last to look up to you, and through you to the congress as the only powers that can redress our greivances, or do us justice. I need not inform your Excellency that we...
7From 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.”
8To George Washington from Major General Stirling, 26 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
I wrote your Excellency yesterday at Noon, the light horse Man whom I sent with it, is not yet returned. As most of our troops are Constantly out on Duty and two of Colonel Proctor’s men deserted to the Enemy the Night before last, and Cannon of no Use here, I thought it most prudent last night to send the four peices of my Division back to the Artillery park. I have this morning seen a...
9To George Washington from Major General Stirling, 26 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have Just received your Excellencys letter of this date by Lt Col. Davidson, I have sent the three feild down to Col: Morgan to take Command of the three divisions of the 15 detachments according to An Arangement I made of them this Morning & according to their Several States. In answer to your Excellency’s Querie, I do not see, that any Attempt can be made with a proba[bi]lity of Success...
10To George Washington from Major General John Sullivan, 26 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
Agreable to your Excellenceys Directions I have Consulted Some of The General officers which I Thought most Capable of advising upon the proper Steps to take in our present Circumstances —They Say that they can by no means advise for or against an Attack they are fully Convinced that General Howe has his whole Force with him That if your Excellencey thinks your force Sufficient to Cope with...