30961From George Washington to Colonel William Malcom, 11 August 1778 (Washington Papers)
Captain John Stevens who will deliver you this, I find was properly authorized to project a Machine in the river, at West Point, for the purpose of setting fire to any of the Enemy’s Shipping that might attempt a passage up it. He represents that, for the want of hands, he is unable to carry it on—being totally unacquainted with the circumstance, I have taken the opinion of some Gentlemen who...
30962To George Washington from Brigadier General Thomas Nelson, Jr., 11 August 1778 (Washington Papers)
Will you pardon a liberty I am about to take with you. I have been inform’d that you have had the misfortune to lose your favorite Horse & that you are not mounted at present as you ought to be. The Liberty I am about to take with you, is that of sending you a Horse that will suit you better than any one in Am[e]rica. But then I must insist that he be accepted as a present, for his value...
30963To George Washington from William Palfrey, 11 August 1778 (Washington Papers)
Letter not found : from William Palfrey, 11 Aug. 1778. On 17 Aug., Congress read GW’s letter of 11 Aug., “enclosing one, of the same date, to him from William Palfrey, Esq. pay master general” ( JCC , 11:802).
30964From George Washington to Alexander Spotswood, 11 August 1778 (Washington Papers)
A few days ago I received your favor of the 16th Ulto, which Colonel Lee was so obliging as to transmit. From the regard I had for you and the estimation in which I held you, as an Officer, I wished your continuance in the Army; and considered your departure from it a loss to the service. This you will readily believe, as you well know my persuasions had been used to prevent it’s taking place...
30965From Benjamin Franklin to R. Parsons, [on or after 12 August 1778] (Franklin Papers)
ALS (draft): American Philosophical Society I did truly tell Capt. Hickey as you mention that I had never given Mr. Parsons the least Encouragement to go to America. Your good Opinion of your Husband, which is very natural and laudable, induces you to think there is some Mistake in this, and you express your Doubt in these Words, “ If IN REALITY he has never had any Countenance from you ,” &c....
30966To George Washington from Major General Nathanael Greene, 12–13 August 1778 (Washington Papers)
Letter not found : from Maj. Gen. Nathanael Greene, 12–13 Aug. 1778. On 21 Aug., GW wrote Greene : “On Wednesday afternoon I re⟨ce⟩ived your favor of the 12th & 13th Inst.”
30967From John Adams to John Bradford, 12 August 1778 (Adams Papers)
Your favour of 17 June is before me. I thank you, sir for your kind Congratulations on my safe arrival at Paris. Before this arrives you will have learn’d that War is commenced in Earnest between France and England. Never was a Nation in higher Spirits than the French, or lower than the English. The Events of War, it is true are always uncertain, but there have been few Conjunctions in human...
30968From John Adams to Samuel Cooper, 12 August 1778 (Adams Papers)
Your kind favour of July 1st. is before me, and I feel myself much obliged to you for it, as well as for your generous Endeavours, to console my dear Mrs. Adams under her anxiety. Our Ennemies discover the Meanness of their Souls in nothing more than in the low Lyes they make and propagate merely to distress, private Families. A very great Number, have been fabricated, Simply to afflict that...
30969George Washington to Comte d’Estaing, 12 August 1778 (Hamilton Papers)
White Plains [ New York ] August 12, 1778 . States again that British fleet has left “the Hook.” Df , in writing of H, George Washington Papers, Library of Congress.
30970James Moylan to the American Commissioners, 12 August 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society The forgoing is extract of a letter I this day received from Lisbon dated 21st July. It may happen, the information may be of some utility to you, which is the reason I forward it, being with due respect Honorable Gentlemen Your assur’d humble Servant Addressed: The Honorable / Plenepotentiary Ministers / of the United States of / America / at / Passy...
30971To Benjamin Franklin from R. Parsons, 12 August 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I hope you will Pardon a liberty which nothing but the deepest distress cou’d induce me to take. I feel the indelicacy of importuning a Perfect stranger to afford that relief, which I have no right to demand, and which goodness of heart alone, can Prompt you to bestow; but indeed, Sir, a Situation such as mine, is an excuse for any impropriety there may be...
30972General Orders, 12 August 1778 (Washington Papers)
The Brigade Commissaries are daily to deliver the hides and tallow at the Magazines of Provisions. Varick transcript , DLC:GW .
30973To George Washington from Silas Deane, 12 August 1778 (Washington Papers)
I had the pleasure of receiving your polite & Freindly Letter of the 25th Ulto but Three days ago, and Col. Bannister informing me, he should set out in a Day, or Two, for the Army, prevented my instantly writing to tell you, how happy I am to find that my Conduct has met your Approbation, & how much I consider myself honored by it. next to the satisfaction which rises from a consciousness, of...
30974From George Washington to Vice Admiral d’Estaing, 12 August 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have just received a second letter dated the 10th from General Maxwell, confirming the intelligence of the departure of the British fleet from the Hook, with some further particulars, which it may not be useless or unsatisfactory to you to know—an extract from which I do myself the honor to inclose. The state of the winds for two or three days past makes me hope this communication may not...
30975To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 12 August 1778 (Washington Papers)
Yours of the 24th June and 3rd July Came to hand by this Days Post. where they have been so long detained I cannot Conceive, as they Contain Several Peices of Intelligence of the then motions of the Enemy—had they Come to hand in the Usual Time would have gratifyed the Publick exceedingly; be pleased Sir to accept my warmest acknowledgements of Gratitude and Thanks for the Honor Done me in...
30976To George Washington from Colonel John Lamb, 12 August 1778 (Washington Papers)
I am extremely sorry to inform your Excellency, that, a dispute has arisen between Colo. Harrisson of the Artillery, and myself, respecting Seniority; As I came into the Service, a Capt. in the Artillery, on 30th June 1775, and had the honor of being appointed (by Congress) to the sole Command of the Artillery in the Northern Department, with the Rank, and Pay of Major 1st Janry 1776 (at the...
30977To George Washington from the Council of Maryland, 12 August 1778 (Washington Papers)
Lieut. Colo. Smith by his Letter of the 26th last, informs us that he is desired by the Officers of the second Maryland Brigade to apply to us for Money to inlist the nine Months Men, many of whom they have inlisted for three Years and the greatest Number of whom may be before their Time has expired; that the Money, which they will frequently want, will induce them and, he conceives an Order...
30978To George Washington from Maryland Officers, 12 August 1778 (Washington Papers)
Letter not found : from Maryland officers, 12 Aug. 1778. On 13 Aug., GW’s secretary James McHenry wrote to Col. John Gunby and other Maryland officers: “Colonel Price has been transmitted a copy of the charges against him in your letter to his Excellency of yesterday that he may prepare for tryal. When the evidence you think necessary to carry on the prosecution are collected, you will be...
30979Arthur Lee and John Adams to Sartine, 13 August 1778 (Adams Papers)
Your Excellency s Letter of the Twenty ninth of July, inclosing a Plan for a System of Regulations for Prizes and Prisoners, We had the Honour of receiving in due Time, and are very Sorry it has remained, so long unanswered. In general We are of opinion that the Regulations are very good, but We beg leave to lay before your Excellency the following observations. Upon the second Article We...
30980George Washington to Colonel Peter Gansevoort, 13 August 1778 (Hamilton Papers)
White Plains [ New York ] August 13, 1778 . Instructs Gansevoort to hold Samuel Gake, who has been found guilty by a court-martial, as a witness against Major Jury Hammell. LS , in writing of H, George Washington Photostats, Library of Congress. Gansevoort was a colonel of the Third New York Regiment.
30981George Washington to Henry Laurens, 13 August 1778 (Hamilton Papers)
White Plains [ New York ] August 13, 1778 . Encloses a letter from Major General John Sullivan. Asks for papers concerning Major General Arthur St. Clair, whose trial is about to commence. LS , in writing of H, Papers of the Continental Congress, National Archives.
30982The American Commissioners to Sartine, 13 August 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; two copies: National Archives <Passy, August 13, 1778: We are sorry for the delay in answering your letter of July 29. We are of opinion that the regulations are very good but wish to make the following observations. We propose that judges of admiralty in America because of the size of their jurisdictions be permitted to delegate their authority....
30983From Benjamin Franklin to William Lee, 13 August 1778 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): American Philosophical Society You left a Trunk in my Care seal’d up, and took my Receipt attested by four Witnesses, wherein I promis’d to deliver that Trunk to you or your Order in the same State wherein I receiv’d it. This I am ready to do whenever you please. But I am not willing to have any Concern in the Opening of it, or in examining and Sorting as you desire, the Papers it...
30984To Benjamin Franklin from Jean-Rodolphe Perronet, 13 August 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Mr. Perronet assure de son Respectueux attachement Monsieur Francklin et lui envoy un Plan du Combat Entre la flotte anglaise et l’Armée du Roy, persuadé qu’il pourra lui faire plaisir. This is the only letter we have to BF from his fellow member of the Académie royale des sciences. Perronet (1708–94) was the leading engineer in France: Schelle, Œuvres de...
30985To Benjamin Franklin from Richard Peters, 13 August 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Let me beg of you to endeavor at sending the enclosed Letter to my Father if he be still in England. I fear all Letters to him are examined at the Post Offices and therefore presume you can contrive the Matter so as that it shall not pass thro’ them. It contains Information of absolute Necessity to him but perhaps it might be of Disservice to him if...
30986General Orders, 13 August 1778 (Washington Papers)
Two Colliers from each Brigade are to be constantly employed under direction of Colonel Baldwin in burning Coal for the use of the Army. All the Teams attached to the different Brigades fit for service are to be turned out daily by the Waggon Master General to be employed by the Commissary General of Provisions and Forage in the Invirons of Camp except so many as may be necessary for Camp...
30987To George Washington from Lieutenant Colonel William Butler, 13 August 1778 (Washington Papers)
Letter not found : from Lt. Col. William Butler, 13 Aug. 1778. On 24 Aug., GW wrote Butler : “I recd yours of the 13th instant dated at Schohary.” Butler wrote New York governor George Clinton on 13 Aug.: “I have wrote to his Excellency Genl. Washington informing him of my situation &c. of the same date” (Hastings, Clinton Papers , 3:632).
30988From George Washington to Colonel Peter Gansevoort, 13 August 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have received the proceedings of a Court Martial held by your order respecting Samuel Gake. As neither the articles of war, nor any resolves of Congress authorise the constituting General Courts Martial by any others, than the commander in chief, the commanding officer in a separate department, or a General-Officer commanding in a particular state, I should have been under the necessity of...
30989From George Washington to Colonel John Lamb, 13 August 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have been favoured with your Letter of ⟨yes⟩terday. A Board of Officers cannot sit at this time upon the point in question between you and Colo. Harrison; but you may be assured, that as soon as circumstances will permit, I will order One, as there is nothing that I wish for more than an adjustment of disputes about rank. In the mean while I request, that you will transmit me a full state of...
30990From George Washington to Henry Laurens, 13 August 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have the honor to transmit you a letter from General Sullivan, which, from the tardiness of the expresses, is but just come to hand—I suppose it gives Congress the same information communicated to me; but lest there should be any particulars mentioned in his letter to me, which may not be contained in the one to you, I am induced to accompany the latter with a copy of the former. The papers...