1Thoughts on Defense of West Point, July 1779 (Washington Papers)
The Enemy may operate four ways if they have received any considerable reinforcement—which they will choose, is difficult, at this moment, to decide on. viz. They may attack the Fort, & consequently the Army, which is here for its defence. or, If the Army is their object, it may be struck at as unconnected with, & independant of, the Fort. in any situation, & under every Circumstance. or. If...
2General Orders, 31 July 1779 (Washington Papers)
John Davidson Esquire of the 2nd Maryland regiment and eldest Captain in the 2nd Maryland brigade is appointed Brigade Major to the same ’till further orders, vice Captain Selman whose ill state of health prevents his doing that duty; and is to be obeyed and respected accordingly. The Inspector General is requested to review the levies that have already arrived from the State of Massachusett’s...
3From George Washington to George Measam, 31 July 1779 (Washington Papers)
I duly received your several Letters of the 6th—7th & 25th Instant. The Batallion Hats mentioned in the first, may remain at Springfield for the present—as I would not wish any more stores to be with the Army than are absolutely essential—and the number is so small that a distribution of them would rather serve to excite uneasiness. It will be well, if you can, to procure more. The Commissary...
4From George Washington to Isaac Schultz, Moses Gale, and Leonard D. Nicoll, 31 July 1779 (Washington Papers)
I was favord with your letter by Esquire Nicoll —It gives me pain at all times, to put the inhabitants of any part of the Country to an inconvenience—nor is it ever done but from necessity & a regard to the Public good—In the present instance—I can only say that if you can point out proper places for the accommodation of the sick—that may be approved by Genl Greene & the director Genl of the...
5From George Washington to Lieutenant Colonel Anthony Walton White, 31 July 1779 (Washington Papers)
General Washington presents his compliments to Colo. White and thanks him for the Bridle, Stirrups & Spurs which he obligingly presented him with. The workmanship does great credit to the artisan. and is a demonstrable proof of the perfection to which this manufactory is brought. ADf , DLC:GW ; Varick transcript , DLC:GW .
6General Orders, 30 July 1779 (Washington Papers)
The following officers are to superintend the several works herein assigned them. Lieutt Colonel Howard with Lieutt Hugo as his Assistant, the redoubts assigned to General Smallwood’s brigade. Lieut. Colo. Williams with Captain Gosner Fort Putnam and Fort Webb. Colonel Tupper with Captn Drew the works at the Point. Captn Hall & Captn Tatum the works on Constitution Island. Major Throop with...
7From George Washington to Major General Horatio Gates, 30 July 1779 (Washington Papers)
I inclose you a letter for Capt. Clarke late of Col. Greenes Regiment, in answer to one from him, on the subject of the allowance to supernumerary Officers —I have informed him that he is intitled to it and that I should request you on application to order payment. His claim is founded in justice and authorised by a resolve of Congress of the 22d May 79 of which I now send you a copy. Nothing...
8From George Washington to Colonel Christopher Greene, 30 July 1779 (Washington Papers)
A variety of indispensible business has hitherto suspended my answer to your letter of the 7th of May. With respect to the arrangement you propose for your regiment, the matter had been previously determined on the former arrangement and the commissions issued by the board of war. Though I should be happy to do every thing in my power for the relief of a deserving and unfortunate officer; yet...
9From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 30 July 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have received your letter of this day—Capt. Hopkins conduct really deserves applause and shows a spirit of enterprise that does him honour—I beg you, in your next, to present my thanks to him. In what, I said to Col. Harrison respecting a work to be erected in the gorge of the mountains I did not mean to confine you to any particular spot; but to leave it to you to choose the most...
10From George Washington to Major General Benjamin Lincoln, 30 July 1779 (Washington Papers)
Some days since Major Rice delivered me your letter of the 5th of June last—I am sorry to hear that Col. Laurens received a wound so soon after his arrival with you; as it prevented his following the dictates of his zeal and rendering the service for which he is qualified, at a moment very interesting to his Country and to his own feelings. But I am happy to hear it was slight & that it will...
11From George Washington to Brigadier General Anthony Wayne, 30 July 1779 (Washington Papers)
Your favor of this date came duly to hand —I shall certainly not undertake any thing (capital) without your knowledge—I wish for your opinion as a friend—not as commanding Officer of the light Troops—whether another attempt upon Stoney point by way of surprize, is eligible—(In any other manner under present appearances, and information, no good, I am sure, can result from it). Lord Cornwallis...
12General Orders, 29 July 1779 (Washington Papers)
The following is the detail for fatigue agreeable to yesterdays orders as assigned to the several works, to be divided into four relieves: The first to work from gun-firing ’till nine in the morning—The 2nd from nine to twelve—The 3rd from twelve to three & the 4th from three to twilight in the evening. Smallwood. 412—Relief 103— { At the redoubt near } the Maryland line. Gist 300—ditto— 75. {...
13From 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...
14From 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...
15From George Washington to Brigadier General John Glover, 29 July 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have received Your favor of the 24th Instant upon the subject of the Massachusetts Arrangement. I regret the necessity that obliges good Officers to leave the service. It should be pressing indeed to induce them to such a measure at any time; but particularly at this stage of the Campaign. I have inclosed a discharge for Major Bradish, as I had no hopes of prevailing on him to continue from...
16From George Washington to John Jay, 29 July 1779 (Washington Papers)
In mine of the 24th I had the honor to inform Congress that a considerable embarkation of the enemy had taken place on the 21st— This intelligence I received through Major Lee, a channel in most cases, good; but from all my subsequent inquiries I have reason to believe he was mistaken in this instance. The movement among their Shipping going down the river to New York, and some stir among the...
17From George Washington to John Jay, 29 July 1779 (Washington Papers)
In my Letter of the 9th in answer to Your Excellency’s of the 30th Ulto upon the subject of Doctor Morgan’s charge against Doctor Shippen—I informed Congress, that the situation of affairs would not permit his trial to be entered upon for some time—and that General Arnold’s would of course precede it, which had been and still was necessarily suspended. Since this I have been honoured with Your...
18From George Washington to Colonel James Livingston, 29 July 1779 (Washington Papers)
I duly received your letter of the 25th of June which hurry of business has prevented my acknowleging sooner: Your Pay Master will have informed you of the reasons that prevented a settlement of your recruiting accounts. I am sorry for the uneasiness and desertion which you mention to have taken place in your regiment, on account of the superior advantages possessed by other troops; but as to...
19From George Washington to Joseph Reed, 29 July 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have a pleasure in acknowledging the receipt of your obliging favor of the 15th Instt, and in finding by it, that the author of the queries “Political & Military” has had no great cause to exult in the favourable reception of them by the public. Without a clue, I should have been at no loss to trace the Malevolent writer; but I have seen a history of the transaction, and felt a pleasure...
20From George Washington to Colonel Charles Stewart, 29 July 1779 (Washington Papers)
I am to desire you will exert yourself to lay up in the vicinity of this post (at New Windsor &ca) at least a fortnights supply of provision before hand for the whole Army to be constantly kept up exclusive of the quantity in store for the garrison —I hope you will lose no time in making your arrangements to this purpose. I am Sir Yr Most Obet servt LS , in Richard Kidder Meade’s writing, MH :...
21From George Washington to Major General John Sullivan, 29 July 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have been duly favored with your letter of the 10th, the contents of which are of so serious a nature, with respect to the Quarter Masters and Commissary’s departments, that I thought it my duty to communicate them to General Greene and Col. Wadsworth —If there has been neglect in either department, the delinquents must be reponsible to the public and these Gentlemen ought to be acquainted...
22General Orders, 28 July 1779 (Washington Papers)
The extreme importance of having the works and defences at and about West-Point on both sides the river completed with all possible dispatch is so obvious that the General conceives it totally unnecessary to use arguments in proof of it—In the present unfinished state of them they are a restraint upon every operation and movement of an Army and must continue to be so until they are put in such...
23From George Washington to Major General Robert Howe, 28 July 1779 (Washington Papers)
You will be pleased without delay to repair to Ridgefield and take your quarters with that part of your command—This will comprehend Glovers brigade the cavalry Armands independent corps and the militia in service in that part of the country—The primary object of this command is to cover the country and prevent as far as possible the depredations of the enemy; but this is not to be done at the...
24From George Washington to Major General Stirling, 28 July 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have been deceived I beleive, in the information of a considerable Embarkation of Troops in the North River—no subsequent intellige⟨nce⟩ from deserters & others speak of such an event, but all agree that the present position of the enemy is from Phillips’s to East Chester—Tryon and his burning crew streching up the River towards Dob⟨bs’s⟩ Ferry. The foundation therefore of the March of your...
25General Orders, 27 July 1779 (Washington Papers)
The troop, ’till further orders, to be beat at seven ô clock in the morning. Varick transcript , DLC:GW .
26From George Washington to Colonel Theodorick Bland, 27 July 1779 (Washington Papers)
I received Your favor of the 10th by Yesterday’s post. I cannot at this time permit any of the Officers of the Convention Army to go to Canada by Land. But, if there is a necessity for it, Two of them may proceed in the first instance to New York and from thence to Quebec by Water. For this purpose I will furnish a passport upon request for their and the safe conduct of the Vessel in which...
27From George Washington to the Board of War, 27 July 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have the honor to inclose you an extract of a letter which I have lately received from Major General Gates, on which the Board will be pleased to direct the necessary measures—I have requested General Knox to send a proper person to inquire into the administration at Springfield; and to have the abuses rectified, so far as it may be done without interfering with the establishment of the...
28From 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...
29From George Washington to Brigadier General Charles Scott, 27 July 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have duly received your favour of the 29th. I can only still lament the difficulties and delays you encounter and wish them at an end—The troops with you could they have arrived in time would have been a most valuable reinforcement to the Southern army and the want of them may be attended with very disagreeable consequences. Charles Town seems to be in a most critical situation and its fate...
30From George Washington to Major Benjamin Tallmadge, 27 July 1779 (Washington Papers)
Your Letter of the 25th came safe—the Ink I sent a day or two ago by Colo: Saml Webb who I hope has delivered it safe e’re this. I shall examine your dictionary the moment I am at leizure thanking you in the mean while for the trouble you have had in preparing it. I am Dr Sir Yr Most Obedt ALS , in private hands. GW signed the cover of this letter and addressed it to “Majr Talmadge Light...