26391To George Washington from Brigadier General Enoch Poor, 4 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
In answer to the question Recevd by note from your Excellency yesterday —a winters Campain I am Sure it will be attended with the Graet loss of our numbers as to the Militia troops their is but little Dependence upon them in Case you make an Asolt upon Philidha besides if the Rivers Should be froze over the Enemy Doubless will Contract lines & make their Situation nearly as Strong as it is...
26392To George Washington from Brigadier General James Potter, 4 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
your excelancey by your letter of yesterday Requested my sentements on two points. first the advisabelity of a winter Campaign secondly the Practicability of an Attact upon Philadelphia —Ass to the first of these points my Sentiments is that a winter campaign is Practable—I confess the verey thought of a winter Campaign in our Sercumstances appeers dredfull But it is liek meny other Evels,...
26393To George Washington from Brigadier General Casimir Pulaski, 4 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
I made a report to your Excellency immediately on receiving intellegence of Mr Zulinski’s affair. The same dragoon who was witness to what happened I sent with my Report, with respect to Mr Zulinski’s behaviour on the occasion. It was not as Mr Moylan has represented. The encounter was accidental. Neither had Mr Zulinski any other design than to retaliate on Col. Moylan in the same manner that...
26394To George Washington from Joseph Reed, 4 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
Tho’ the Consideration of a Winters Campaign, & Practicability of an Attack on Philada have been so lately proposed, every Gentleman who extended his Views beyond the present Hour, must have turnd his Thoughts upon these Subjects so as to be able to form something more than a sudden Opinion. There cannot be any Person, Sir, either on a publick or private Account, upon whom the Motives for a...
26395To George Washington from Brigadier General Charles Scott, 4 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
I recd Your Excellencys letter of Yesterday. I well remember the proposition made. I then thaught there was a probability of Success in Such an attempt, but after Your Excellency returnd from Reconoitring the Enemy’s Lines and hearing Your oppinion with regard To their Strength, I lost every Idea of a Winters Campaign. I must confess I never Promised my self any Certainty of Success In it. But...
26396To George Washington from Brigadier General William Smallwood, 4 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
It will be unnecessary to point out the sufferings of the Continental Troops, from their various hard Duty, & distresses for want of Cloathing, particularly in the Articles of Blankets, Shoes, Stokings, the most essential part to enable them to encounter the severity of a Winter Campaign, and the improbability of procuring those necessary Supplies, without which our prospect of success in an...
26397To George Washington from Major General John Sullivan, 4 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
Agreable to your Excellenceys Directions I have Considered upon the Advisability of making a winters Campaign and the practicability of making an Attack upon Philadelphia with the aid of a Body of Militia to be Called in for that purpose. Though The Attacking & carrying Philadelphia is an object much to be wished yet as the attempt carries with it an Idea of a winters Campaign I must give my...
26398To George Washington from Brigadier General Anthony Wayne, 4 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
I am not for a Winters Campaign in the Open field—the Distressed and naked State of your Troops will not admit of it. But if taking post at Willmington & the Villages in it’s Vicinity—or Hutting at the Distance of about Twenty Miles West of Phila. (which will not only support the Honor & Reputation of Your Army in the eyes of the Enemy—and the States of Europe —but will give Confidence to...
26399To George Washington from Brigadier General George Weedon, 4 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have from the first moment it was Suggested to your Excellency, “that an attack on Philadelphia this winter with the aid of Militia was practicable and promised success,” kept in mind the desirable Object; have compaired and viewed it in every light, and on every ground I could place it, and after Mature consideration on the matter cannot promise a single Advantage that would justifie the...
26400To George Washington from Brigadier General William Woodford, 4 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
I did not recieve your Excellency’s Letter till my return from Head quarters last Evening, or I should have comply’d with your requisition sooner. I have before given my reasons for being against exposeing this army to a Winters Campaign in their present condition. I would add to them the present Temper of the Soldiery, who I am convinced are very generly against it. The practicability of an...