91To George Washington from Major General Alexander McDougall, 5 June 1779 (Washington Papers)
Yestarday Evening, I was honored with your Favor of the 3rd Instant. The Enemy is on Verplank’s Point, without Tents or Marquees, and their Shipping are all at the Ferry —It is doubtfull whether he has brought up any apparatus for a Seige—If he has not, he is waiting for it—A Deserter who came in last Night, says General Knyphausen is on the west side of the Ferry with Troops, and that some...
92To George Washington from Brigadier General John Neilson, 5 June 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have to acknowledge the Honor done me by your Excellency’s Letter of yesterday which I received in the Evening—Nothing has transpired at this place since my Last tho’ I have been very Industrious to obtain Intelligence. I have wrote to Governor Livingston acquainting him with your Excellency’s directions about the Beacons and other Signals by which the Militia may be collected with the...
93To George Washington from Brigadier General Samuel Holden Parsons, 5 June 1779 (Washington Papers)
In Answer to your Question by Cpt. Christie of 3d Pensylvania Regt I have deliver’d him a general Information of the State of this Garrison which will be explaind by the Proper Key The Garrison is in high Spirits and are very desirous to receive the Enemys Attack. I cannot promise the Post will be defended, but I am certain every Exertion will be made by the Troops to secure the Possession of...
94General Orders, 6 June 1779 (Washington Papers)
The Pennsylvania division is to take post at June’s or in the Vicinity according to the situation of ground &c. & send a light party of three or four hundred men into the passage of the mountain, at the cross roads, where Colo. Malcom is, there to remain ’till further orders. The Virginia division to move to Smith’s tavern —Baron De Kalb’s division (except the two companies of Light Infantry...
95From George Washington to the Board of War, 6 June 1779 (Washington Papers)
I am this moment honored with your favour of the 2d instant. The arrangemen⟨t⟩ of Proctors corps cannot be confirmed as it now stands. The principles held up in my former letters on this subject are such as must be adhered to, and upon this plan only can I request the Board to issue Commissions. If Congress think proper on account of incapacity in Major Holmer to promote Major Forrest it will...
96To George Washington from Brig. Gen. James Clinton, 6 June 1779 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found : from Brig. Gen. James Clinton, 6 June 1779. GW wrote Clinton on 10 June: “I have received your two favours of the 28th of May and 6th of June.”
97To George Washington from Major General Nathanael Greene, 6 June 1779 (Washington Papers)
There must be some method fallen upon to examin the baggage and seperate the superfluous from the necessary. The Teams are failing and the Waggons breaking hourly. In this situation it will be impossible to replace them and therefore it is necessary to attempt a seasonable remedy. Each Regement has a greater number of Waggons than ever has been allowed to the Troops for the baggag and yet...
98From George Washington to Brigadier General William Irvine, 6 June 1779 (Washington Papers)
I just now received your letter; I am happy to inform you that our supplies, of provision are rather promising; every exertion has been used to forward them on this side; many waggon loads are not far off; and I flatter myself from the accounts handed to me that if necessary we may draw on the magazines over the North river. With respect to spirits I have, also given the necessary orders to...
99From George Washington to John Jay, 6 June 1779 (Washington Papers)
On the 3d I had the Honor to address Your Excellency from Middle Brook and Morris Town—and to transmit you all the intelligence I had then received, respecting the movements of the Enemy on the North River; and of the measures I had taken and was about to pursue in consequence. I am now to inform you, according to the advices I have obtained since, that on the 2d in the morning the Enemy...
100From George Washington to Major Henry Lee, Jr., 6 June 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have received your favour of yesterday. You will proceed with your corps with as much expedition as you can without injuring your horses, to the vicinity of Suffrans. Baron De Kalb is directed to have two companies of light infantry formed to join you there and act with your corps. He is to endeavour to have a junior officer to you to command it, that the whole may be under your direction....
101To George Washington from Major General William Phillips, 6 June 1779 (Washington Papers)
Captain of the Troops of Convention will probably have the honour of delivering your Excellency this letter—I have obtained permission from Governor Henry and Colonel Bland for his going to Philadelphia to effect his exchange which Sir Henry Clinton has signified to me he intends to settle with your Excellency as well as for Captain Edmonstone who will set out in a few days he being at present...
102From George Washington to Major General Arthur St. Clair, 6 June 1779 (Washington Papers)
There is a road leading from King’s ferry to Junes through the Mountains, by which it is possible the enemy may intercept our line of march—You will be pleased to send a good subaltern and a party down that road to find his patroles as near the enemy as he can with safety and communicate the earliest intelligence of any movement— You will for this purpose furnish him with a few horse. If some...
103To George Washington from Lt. Col. Benjamin Temple, 6 June 1779 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found : from Lt. Col. Benjamin Temple, 6 June 1779. GW wrote Temple on 28 June: “I have received your favour of the 6th.” For two sentences from Temple’s letter, see GW to Charles Scott, 28 June.
104General Orders, 7 June 1779 (Washington Papers)
The Army is to encamp ’till further orders in the following manner as nearly as the situation of ground will permit. The Virginia division near the road leading from June’s to the Forest of Deane —The Maryland division near the road leading from Earl’s and the Pennsylvania division near the road leading from the Widow Van-Ambra’s, both, to the same place—Each division will furnish such pickets...
105To George Washington from George Clinton, 7 June 1779 (Washington Papers)
It is with infinite Regret I inform your Excellency, that in Consequence of some Violent outrages lately committed in County of Cumberland and which the Resolutions of Congress (Copies of which I do myself the Honor to transmit) do not in my opinion tend to remedy the Duty I owe to the State will soon constrain me to quit the Field, in Order to convene the Legislature, and to make the...
106From George Washington to Lt. Col. Udny Hay, 7 June 1779 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found : to Lt. Col. Udny Hay, 7 June 1779. GW’s aide-de-camp Alexander Hamilton docketed Hay’s letter to GW of 5 June: “acknowld 7.”
107To George Washington from Jean Holker, 7 June 1779 (Washington Papers)
I take the Liberty of inclosing to your Excellency a letter to Mr Pintard agent for the american prisoners in New york: as the purport thereof is of an important Nature, I take the Liberty of Requesting that you’ll please to recommend it to some proper persons, so as it may be safely handed to Mr Pintard, whose good offices are also necessary on this Occasion: I Beg pardon for troubling your...
108To George Washington from John Jay, 7 June 1779 (Washington Papers)
Since my last, I have been honored with two Letters from your Excellency of the third Inst., with the papers they covered. Herewith enclosed are two Acts of Congress of the 5th Inst., One ascertaining the Rank of Coll DuBois, the other Revoking the Commission of Major Powell, & assigning a Rule for settling the rank of the other Officers of the 11th Pennsylvania Regiment. The Extract of a...
109To George Washington from Col. William Malcom, 7 June 1779 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found : from Col. William Malcom, 7 June 1779. GW’s secretary Robert Hanson Harrison wrote Malcom on this date: “His Excellency has been favoured with Your Letter of to day & thanks you much for the information transmitted. He hopes he shall have the pleasure of seeing Governor Clinton to morrow, when he will speak to him, respecting the Militia. The General is exceedingly obliged...
110General Orders, 8 June 1779 (Washington Papers)
Returns of shoes actually wanted by the troops on this ground to be made forthwith to Head-Quarters. The officers will see that their men clean & refresh themselves this day. When multiplicity of business prevents the Sub-Inspectors from attending for general orders, the Brigade Majors of the division will alternately carry them to the officers commanding divisions. All the Axxes in the...
111To George Washington from Major General Horatio Gates, 8 June 1779 (Washington Papers)
In Obedience to Your Excellency’s Commands of the 26th Ulto, I immediately forwarded The inclosed Letter to General Heath; His Answer went from hence Yesterday forenoon by the Express who was The Bearer of Your Excellency’s packets; Lieutenant Castaing wrote by the same Express to General Du portail, to acquaint The General, of his intention to repair to Head Quarters the instant he is able to...
112To George Washington from Maj. Henry Lee, Jr., 8 June 1779 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found : from Maj. Henry Lee, Jr., 8 June 1779. GW wrote Lee on 9 June: “I recd yr favor of yesterdays date.”
113To George Washington from William Livingston, 8 June 1779 (Washington Papers)
In answer to your Excellencys Favour of the 3d of June, I really do not know what Dispositions General Dickinson has made to facilitate the militia’s coming out on an Emergency tho’ the Beacons I believe are all fixt & as I conceive his presence will be very necessary on such an occasion, I have desired his return into the State, & expect him daily. The contents of your Excellencys Letter on...
114To George Washington from Philip Schuyler, 8 June 1779 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found : from Philip Schuyler, 8 June 1779. GW wrote Schuyler on 13 June: “I received last night your favour of the 8th Instant.”
115General Orders, 9 June 1779 (Washington Papers)
A detachment of five hundred men from the Virginia and Maryland divisions, with three days provision & their blankets unincumbered with any other baggage, to march tomorrow morning at four ô clock to relieve the detachment under Colonel Stewart—Colonel Williams to take the command and call this afternoon at Head-Quarters for instructions. Major Webb to be joined to this detachment. The...
116From George Washington to the Board of War, 9 June 1779 (Washington Papers)
The hurried and moving state of the Army would not permit me the Honor before, of acknowledging your several favors of the 21st 25th 27th & 27th and 29 Ulto which were duly received. Your favors also of the 3. 4 & 5 Instant have come safe to hand. I will obtain as soon as I can, the dates of the appointments of the Field Officers in the pensylvania line, which have not been already...
117From 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...
118To George Washington from George Clinton, 9 June 1779 (Washington Papers)
I intended to have done myself the Pleasure of waiting upon your Excellency To Morrow but am now prevented by unexpected Business. The Necessity of attending to Agriculture will render it not only difficult but, extremely injurious to the Country to detain the Militia at this Season much longer in the Field unless the public Service shod render it indispensably necessary Colo. Malcolm who was...
119From 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...
120From George Washington to Patrick Henry, 9 June 1779 (Washington Papers)
Among the various difficulties that have occurred in the Army—there have been few more distressing or more injurious to the service than the disputes about rank—and those which have arisen from irregular promotions. A case has lately happened of this nature between John Allison & John Lee Esquires respecting the Lieutenant Colonelcy in the 1st Virginia State Regiment. The inclosed paper...