31From George Washington to Henry Champion, Sr., 4 June 1779 (Washington Papers)
Our affairs are now at a most interesting crisis—The enemy appear to be bending their whole force in a vigorous operation against the Highland posts. We must take such positions as will render it impracticable to subsist the army, unless the most strenuous exertions are at once used to throw a very considerable quantity of Cattle on this side the river. You will instantly take every possible...
32From George Washington to Ezekiel Cheever, 14 July 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have appointed Colo. Thomas Nixon to receive and forward to Camp the Recruits coming from the Massachusetts’ State; and I request that you will deliver on his order or receipt whatever number of Arms and Accoutrements complete he may require for them. I do not know what number of Men there will be, or I should ascertain the quantity to be delivered. I am sir Yr Most Obedt sert Df , in Robert...
33Instructions to Captain James Chrystie, 4 June 1779 (Washington Papers)
To proceed immediately to West Point To inform the Garrison where we are—two divisions at Pompton—one near Mr Lot’s about ten miles in the rear of the others—the whole to move this night at moon rising—by way of Ringwood & to press forward with all possible diligence. To assure them that I am determined at the utmost hazard to support the fort and that I expect it will hold out to the last...
34From George Washington to Oliver Clarke, 29 July 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have received your favour of the 29th of June which a multiplicity of business has prevented my answering before. There can be no doubt that you are entitled to the year’s pay allowed to supernumerary officers—This is expressly provided for by a resolve of Congress of the 22d day of May 1779; agreeable to which I have requested General Gates to order you payment on application — I am only...
35From George Washington to George Clinton, 14 July 1779 (Washington Papers)
I yesterday evening received Your favor of the 13th and thank you for transmitting me a copy of Your Brother’s Letter. I am happy to find the Troops are in such health and Spirits. Major Gibbs inclosed you Yesterday the Charles Town papers of the 29th of May and 4th of June, which would shew Your Excellency all the operations in that quarter to those dates; and that matters are far short of...
36From George Washington to George Clinton, 10 June 1779 (Washington Papers)
I am honored with your Excellency’s favour of yesterday by Colo. Malcolm, who has communicated to me the particulars with which you charged him —I beg leave to refer you to my letter of yesterday which I hope you have received. In that, sensible of the inconvenience of keeping out the militia at this season of the year, I anticipated your wish for their discharge, with my warmest...
37From George Washington to George Clinton, 24 June 1779 (Washington Papers)
That I might be more convenient to the Works at West point, I removed my quarters to this place on Monday last. I have only to add upon this subject, that I shall be happy to see Your Excellency here, as often as your leisure will permit. There has been no Official account received from Charles Town as yet that I know of; but I have no doubt but that there has been an Action there, and that...
38From George Washington to George Clinton, 28 June 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have the honor to inclose you an extract from my letter of the 21st to Genl Sullivan by which you will perceive I have informed him that Lieut. Col. Pauling with a part of his command will join Genl Clinton at Ononquaga and proceed on the ulterior operations of the expedition. As you left the matter to my determination whether the party should return or proceed on the western service after...
39From George Washington to George Clinton, 9 June 1779 (Washington Papers)
Having considered our own force—the situation and circumstances of the enemy—and the inconveniences which must result to the militia from detaining them longer in the field, from the sudden and unexpected manner in which they came out. I beg leave to inform your Excellency, that, I should hope they may be dismissed and permitted to return to their homes for the present, without any great...
40From George Washington to George Clinton, 27 June 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have received your two favours of the 24th and 25th. I am sorry for the accident, that has befallen the Militia. Some days since I directed General McDougall to send an hundred infantry to join Sheldon’s regiment of dragoons —and Col. Moylan has also been directed to join him with his regiment of cavalry —This corps I hope will be able to answer the purpose of countenancing the militia and...
41From George Washington to George Clinton, 13 June 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have been duly honored with your Excellency’s favor of the 7th. The high respect I bear to the State would make me silent upon a subject of such delicacy as that you have been pleased to communicate, did I not view the event which you suppose probable as pregnant with very unhappy consequences. I should regard it as one of the most unfortunate that could happen in our present circumstances—I...
42From George Washington to George Clinton, 28 June 1779 (Washington Papers)
I just now received your favor of to day. The Enemy are now indebted to us on the Score of privates and have been for a considerable time—or at least ever since last fall. This circumstance puts it out of my power to send in any new prisoners; but I shall cheerfully consent to apply the Militia taken the other day, to the credit of their Account if they will release them, and I will direct the...
43From George Washington to George Clinton, 16 July 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have the pleasure to transmit Your Excellency the enclosed copy of a letter from Brig. Gen. Wayne, which this moment came to hand. I congratulate you upon our success—and what makes it still more agreeable, from the report of Capt. Fishbourne who brought Gen. Wayne’s letter, the Post was gained with but very inconsiderable loss on our part. I have not yet obtained the particulars of the...
44From George Washington to George Clinton, 19 July 1779 (Washington Papers)
I this morning received your favor of the 18th when returning from Stony point. Being very much fatigued and not having obtained a detail account of the Action yet, I cannot comply with your Excellency’s request. However for your private information—I believe the Garrison at Stony point amounted to about 500 rank & file—of which between Twenty & thirty might have been killed—about Forty...
45From George Washington to Brig. Gen. James Clinton, 1 July 1779 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found : to Brig. Gen. James Clinton, 1 July 1779. James Clinton wrote George Clinton on 6 July that he had received a letter from GW “dated the first Instant in which his Excellency expresses his Surprise at my taking so much Stores with me when it was determined that all the Supplies of the Army should come up with Genl Sullivan and that nothing more shou’d be brought with me,...
46From George Washington to Brigadier General James Clinton, 27 June 1779 (Washington Papers)
I yesterday received your letter of the 19th and the day before a copy of yours of the 22d to His Excellency the Governor. I find by the great quantity of stores and provisions you are transporting to the lake, that there has been a misapprehension with respect to that matter which I fear may be attended with bad consequences. The large Magazines directed to be formed at Fort Schuyler were...
47From George Washington to Brigadier General James Clinton, 2 June 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have to acknowlege your favor of the 23d May. The taking of the two light three pounders in place of the artillery of the brigade, as you propose will depend entirely on the place of your junction with General Sullivan. If on the Susquehannah there will be no necessity to carry any artillery whatsoever, as General Sullivan has made adequate provision. If the other route is determined on I...
48From George Washington to Brigadier General James Clinton, 13 June 1779 (Washington Papers)
The Honourable the Congress have decided the affair of rank between Colonels Van Courtlandt—Gansevoort & Dubois upon their respective Memorials, against Colonel Dubois, as you will perceive by the inclosed Extract from General Orders, which contains their Resolution upon the occasion. You will be pleased to publish the Extract in your Brigade Orders—or communicate it to the parties in any way...
49From George Washington to Brigadier General James Clinton, 10 June 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have received your two favours of the 28th of May and 6th of June —I hope before this you will have received instructions from General Sullivan, respecting the precise line of conduct you are to observe. Whether your destination shall be up the Mohock River or to form a junction in the first instance with the main body at the Head of Susquehannah, is a point I have left to him to decide and...
50From George Washington to the Continental Congress Marine Committee, 1 June 1779 (Washington Papers)
This will be delivered you by Major Blodget, who has served with reputation in the army since the commencement of the war in the capacities of Brigade Major & Aide De Camp to General Greene—The late arrangement of the army unavoidably places the Gentlemen in this line, of former appointment on a footing comparitively so disadvantageous as in addition to other motives to have determined Major...
51From George Washington to James Craik, 25 June 1779 (Washington Papers)
I received Your Letter to Mr Harrison. As nothing can be more disagreable—or more injurious to the public service than disputes and differences between the Army and people—I would wish to avoid them in every possible case. In the present instance—as the Inhabitants do or soon will, want their Barnes—and have applyed to the Governor & Council to have the sick removed; I wish that they may be...
52From George Washington to Simeon DeWitt, 14 June 1779 (Washington Papers)
The inclosed letter and the map which accompanies it came to Head Quarters the day before yesterday—I wish them safe to your hands. I could wish you as soon as possible to furnish each of the Genl Officers with a draft of the Country in this neighbourhood, rough ones will answer the purpose fully. I thank you for the draft sent last—the one for the Engineers, was delivered to them. I am Sir Yr...
53From George Washington to Colonel Theunis Dey and Others of Bergen County, N.J., 26 June 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have received your petition, upon the subject of Nathaniel Brackitt’s remaining where he is, to discipline a party of Horse. I should be very happy to promote a measure of the sort whenever in my power; but Serjeant Brackitt cannot be employed in the business at this time—nor can he be capable, if circumstances would admit, of rendering any material service. I am Gentlemen with respect Yr...
54From George Washington to the Director of the Military Hospitals, 3 June 1779 (Washington Papers)
You will be pleased to direct the removal of the sick from the hospitals at Sommerset to the huts of the Artillerists at Pluckimin. This is not intended to be executed immediately, as it would draw off from the Army the waggons which may be now employed —but as soon as proper assistance can be procured from the Quarter Master General for this purpose. Such sick of the Army as remain on the...
55From George Washington to Volckert Pieterse Douw, 29 July 1779 (Washington Papers)
I last night received the favour of your letter of the 27th on the subject of the restoration of the Onondaga prisoners. It appears to me that the propriety of giving up these prisoners without an equivalent will in a great measure depend on the proportion of the Onondaga nation now on friendly terms with us. If the body of the nation is with the Oneidas, and they are admitted into our...
56From George Washington to James Duane, 9 June 1779 (Washington Papers)
I had several days ago the Honor to receive the Board’s Letter of the 18th Ulto which I should have acknowledged long since, if I had not been prevented by the hurried and moving state of the Army. I am persuaded Mr Auditor Johnston’s report has but too much foundation and that many Officers have left the service without having previously settled their accounts. This however, has not been with...
57From George Washington to Brigadier General Duportail, 27 July 1779 (Washington Papers)
You will be pleased to make an arrangement of the officers who have presented themselves for appointments in the companies of Sappers and Miners, which I will transmit to the Board of War to obtain their commissions —The numerous drafts that have [been] made from the line for different purpose⟨s,⟩ would make it inconvenient at this time to take out others for the purpose of forming these...
58From George Washington to Bryan Fairfax, 30 June 1779 (Washington Papers)
If a multiplicity of business is to be admitted as a sufficient excuse for delay in answering letters, few men can plead it with more propriety than myself. good or bad, it is the best I can offer for suffering your favor of the 14th of Jany to lye dormant so long. When my Sentiments respecting the discharge of the Sterling debt to Mr Custis were communicated to you, I was totally uninformed...
59From George Washington to William Fitzhugh, 25 June 1779 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 19th Ulto found me at my Winter quarters at Middle brook, but so much occupied in preparing to take the field, & for my March hitherwards as to put it out of my power to acknowledge the receipt of it sooner. The inclosure for your Son went by a Flag in 48 hours after it came to my hands, and I can assure you no letter of yours to him was ever with-held from the enemy’s lines...
60From George Washington to Colonel Frederick Frelinghuysen, 5 June 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have been informed that you are out with a party of Militia. I request that you will let me know where they are stationed—what their number is—and whether they would join the Continental troops in case their aid s⟨hould be⟩ found material, to act against the Enemy who appear to be meditating an attack with their whole force upon the Highland posts. Besides the Militia, which are now with...