1To George Washington from Brigadier General Joseph Spencer, 25 November 1775 (Washington Papers)
The Bearer hereof Capt. Sumner in Colo. Wyllys’s Regiment, has a Lieut. on Command with Colo. Arnold—whereby the Birth is at present vacant: Roger Hooker an Ensign belonging to the same Regiment a likely young Officer—and the only one who is willing to serve another Campaign, of the Company he at present belongs to—is desirous to serve in the Birth of the absent Lieut.—as likewise Capt. Sumner...
2To George Washington from Brigadier General Joseph Spencer, 16 December 1775 (Washington Papers)
Camp at Roxbury , 16 December 1775 . Recommends Stephen Keyes for a vacant first lieutenancy in Col. Samuel Holden Parsons’s regiment. LS , DLC:GW . For background on this letter, see Keyes to GW, this date . For another recommendation of Keyes, see Jedediah Huntington, Samuel Wyllys, and Samuel Holden Parsons to GW, this date .
3To George Washington from Brigadier General Joseph Spencer, 18 December 1775 (Washington Papers)
Camp at Roxbury 18 December 1775 . Recommends William Peck for adjutant of Col. Jedediah Huntington’s regiment. LS , DLC:GW . William Peck served as Huntington’s adjutant until 23 June 1776 when he became brigade major to Gen. Joseph Spencer. Peck was appointed one of Spencer’s aides-de-camp on 14 Aug. 1776, and on 17 July 1777 Congress named him adjutant general to the militia and state...
4To George Washington from Brigadier General Joseph Spencer, 22 February 1776 (Washington Papers)
22 February 1776 . “Certifies that the Revd Nathl Eells at present the Chaplain of the 10th & 19th Regts engaged for four Months from the first of Jany last.” DS , DLC:GW . Although this document is not specifically addressed to GW, it was apparently sent to him as were other certifications of chaplain appointments about this time. See Nathanael Greene to GW, 21 Feb ., William Heath to GW, 22...
5To George Washington from Brigadier Generals William Heath, Joseph Spencer, Nathanael Greene, and Lord Stirling, 27 June … (Washington Papers)
In Considering the Several Matters which your Excellency has been pleased to referr to us; we do with regard to Long Island and Staten Island think it absolutely Necessary for the Safety & defence of this Colony that all the Stock of Cattle and Sheep (Except such as may be requisite for the present Subsistance of the Inhabitants) be removed to a distance from the Sea Coast and that this be...
6To George Washington from Maj. Gen. Joseph Spencer, 11 January 1777 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Maj. Gen. Joseph Spencer, 11 Jan. 1777. Spencer wrote GW on 30 Jan. : “I wrote to your Excellency the 11th Instant.”
7To George Washington from Major General Joseph Spencer, 12 January 1777 (Washington Papers)
Your Excellency’s Orders of the 14th I did not receive untill the 23d of Decemr; at that Time no Militia had arrived from New England. I had heard a Day or two before that some belonging to the Massachusetts State were on their Way as far as Litchfield. I set out on my Journey the 24th day of Decemr met no Troops untill I had passed New Haven, between N. Haven and Providence, I met some...
8To George Washington from Major General Joseph Spencer, 30 January 1777 (Washington Papers)
I wrote to your Excellency the 11th Instant which has doubtless Arrived before now; I design’d then to have wrote Weekly, but haveing no opportunity for conveyance unless by Express, have neglected untill now; On the Receipt of your Excellencys orders to me of the 22d ultimo directing, me to hasten forward, instead of Returning back any troops that were by their Respective states destined for...
9To George Washington from Major General Joseph Spencer, 16 February 1777 (Washington Papers)
Yesterday I Receivd your Excellencys favour, of 1st and 6th Instant and am Happy to find that the Steps I have taken meet with your Excellency’s approbation, I have proceeded in no matters that Incur Expense (except what is necessary for the subsistance of the army) without the Consent and advice of all the Genl officers in this army, I have applyed to the Several New England States to Supply...
10To George Washington from Major General Joseph Spencer, 2 March 1777 (Washington Papers)
we have made the necessary preparations for making a Descent on Rhode Island in almost Every perticular and Should have soon proceeded if we had not been Intirely Prevented for want of men, I was in hopes of having troops Sufficient for that purpose after I have permission from your Excellency to Call in some Continental troops so as to have made the tryal before the troops now at this place...
11To George Washington from Major General Joseph Spencer, 26 March 1777 (Washington Papers)
I Receiv’d your Excellency letter of 11th Instt and have carefully Observ’d the Contents Shall Endeavor faithfully to attend your Excellency’s advice therein given. We are but poorly prepar’d to defend the country here with the present Army, But I imagine that there is Great Reason to believe that the Enemy are about to leave Rhode island soon—Sundry people have lately made their escape from...
12To George Washington from Major General Joseph Spencer, 14 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have rec’d your Excellency’s Letter of the 3d of April instant, and in Answer thereto take Liberty to observe, that by the late Appearances there is no probability that the Enemy will soon evacuate Rhode Island, as your Excellency has apprehended and as we have heretofore generally expected in these parts: the Ships that were haul’d off when I wrote last, being thirty three Square rigg’d...
13To George Washington from Major General Joseph Spencer, 30 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
Opportunity presenting, I readily improve it, to write by the Bearer who is Colonel Michael Fabricy a Kováts—A Gentleman from the Prussian Service, bound on a Tour to Visit your Excellency; though I have at the present, not much to write about—yet conclude it to be my Duty to Inform as nearly as may be of the State of the Enemy’s Army in this State, as well as Our own. Within a few Weeks past,...
14To George Washington from Major General Joseph Spencer, 11 July 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have the pleasure to Congratulate Your Excellency on the Success of Lt Colo: Barton, who with the Number of forty, Including Capts: Addams & Philips & some other brave Officers, last Night went on Rhode Island and brought off Majr Genl Prescot and one of his Ad. de. Camps and the Centry at the Genls door all that was at the Genls Quarters—this was done with such prudence that no Alarm was...
15To George Washington from Major General Joseph Spencer, 15 August 1777 (Washington Papers)
The Enemy at Rhode Island remain as they were when I wrote last to your Excellency, as I am Informed by Six deserters who came from them the week before last, four Hessions and two British from the 54th The Enemy last week Landed about 2,00 Men from Cananicut on Boston Neck designing to take a guard and Some Stock &c. this Occasioned a Considerable Alarm but they did no other damage, than to...
16To George Washington from Major General Joseph Spencer, 7 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
The strength of the Land Force of the Enemy at Rhode Island, remains much as it has been, for several Months past; they have Fortifyed Latterly Considerably, and Especially, near New Port; I have obtaind a Return of four Regiments, in October last, which I Enclose adding the other two Hession, and the 22nd Brittish Regiments, together with the Grenadiers, and Light Infantry of the 54th and the...
17To James Madison from Joseph Spencer, 28 February 1788 (Madison Papers)
The Federal Constitution, has it Enimyes in Orange as well as in other parts, Col. Thos. Barber offers as a Candedit for our March Election, he is as grate an Enimy to it as he posabley can be, & if not as grate as any it has, as grate as his abiliteys will alow him to be, which if our County men admired his Politickes no more then I do, the Constitution would have but Little to fear from that...