1From George Washington to Captain Thomas Nelson, Jr., 18 August 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have been favoured with your Letter of the 7th Inst. You plead so powerfully and urge so many reasons to leave the ⟨Ar⟩my, that I cannot refuse your request altho it is with regret I see a Gentlem⟨an⟩ go out of it. The principal cause of your Application, However, you have no⟨t⟩ expl⟨icit⟩ly ⟨s⟩tated, But yet I p⟨res⟩ume my Conjectures respecting It, are just and right. I suppose it is your...
Wilmington [ Delaware ] September 2, 1777. Discusses danger of stationing large forces at Yorktown and Hampton. States that plan to stop shipping on rivers is not effective. Recommends use of light companies. Describes position of enemy. Sends information concerning battle of Oriskany and retreat from Fort Schuyler. Df , in writings of Robert Hanson Harrison and H, George Washington Papers,...
3From George Washington to Brigadier General Thomas Nelson, Jr., 2 September 1777 (Washington Papers)
By Yesterday mornings post, I received Your favor of the 22d. Ulto. It gave me great pleasure to hear of your Appointment, and I wish you to accept my Congratulations upon the occasion. The want of Military experience, you mention, is no Ob[s]tacle to your serving your Country in the Capacity in which you have undertaken. In our infant state of War, it cannot be expected, we should be perfect...
4From George Washington to Brigadier General Thomas Nelson, Jr., 27 September 1777 (Washington Papers)
I this morning received your favour of the 12th—from the present face of things, I am inclined to think General Howe’s Object is so fixed that Virginia will have but little cause to apprehend any Invasion this Campaign, and I suppose it highly probable, that the fleet or the greatest part of it, which went into Chesepeak Bay will come round to Deleware. If my Conjectures on these heads are...
5From George Washington to Brigadier General Thomas Nelson, Jr., 8 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
Your favour of the 26th Ulto came to my hands yesterday, & merits my warmest acknowledgements: The Idea’s you entertaind of our force was, unhappily, but too well founded; and I now wish I had given more into your generous proposal; but the distance, and uncertainty of keeping Militia in Service any length of time were obstacles which seemed too great to be counter balanced by the advantage of...
6From George Washington to Brigadier General Thomas Nelson, Jr., 10 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
I had the pleasure of receiving yours of the 21st ulto on Wednesday last, but such has been the Situation of the two Armies since, that I have not had an opportunity of answering it before this time. Genl Howe had been for several days making great preparations for a move which they did not scruple to say was intended against this Army, threatning to drive us beyond the Mountains. On Thursday...
7From George Washington to Thomas Nelson, 19 December 1777 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: to Thomas Nelson, Jr., 19 Dec. 1777. In his letter to GW of 20 Jan. 1778 , Nelson writes “Your favor of the 19th Ultimo should not have remain’d so long unanswer’d.”
8From George Washington to Brigadier General Thomas Nelson, Jr., 8 February 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have been favoured with your Letters of the 24th. of Decmr. & 20th ulto. & thank you for the several articles of Intelligence contained in them. Altho it is devoutly to be wished that Soldiers could engaged for three years, or the war, yet I am perswaded it would not be consistent with good policy to attempt it at this time—consequently, that the plan of drafting for twelve months only, is a...
9From George Washington to Brigadier General Thomas Nelson, Jr., 15 May 1778 (Washington Papers)
By last nights post I received your favor of the 5th Instant. I thank you for your exertions to raise a body of Cavalry for reinforcing and relieving those belonging to the Army, which by the severe service of the last campaign are much reduced. As motives of generosity and duty bring your Corps to the field, I flatter myself they will render essential services; and that their conduct will be...
10From George Washington to Brigadier General Thomas Nelson, Jr., 22 July 1778 (Washington Papers)
I had the pleasure of your favor of the 30th Ultimo by the last post. I am sorry to find such a backwardness in Virginia in the service of the army. Perhaps it is fortunate for the cause, that our circumstances stand in less need of the great exertions of patriotism than heretofore, from the changes in foreign councils, and the open interposition of the French in our favor. But I am convinced...
11From George Washington to Brigadier General Thomas Nelson, Jr., 20 August 1778 (Washington Papers)
In what terms can I sufficiently thank you for your polite attention to me, and agreeable present? and, which is still more to the purpose, with what propriety can I deprive you of a valuable, and favourite Horse? You have pressed me once, nay twice, to accept him as a gift; as a proof of my sincere attachment to, and friendship for you, I obey, with this assurance, that from none but a Gentn...
12From George Washington to Brigadier General Thomas Nelson, Jr., 15 March 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have to thank you for your friendly letter of the 9th and for your obliging, tho unsuccessful endeavours to procure the Horses I am endebted to my Country for. At present I have no immediate call for them, as we find it rather difficult to support the few we keep at Camp, in forage. It gives me very singular pleasure to find that you have again taken a Seat in Congress; I think there never...
13From George Washington to Thomas Nelson, Jr., 26 October 1779 (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: to Thomas Nelson, Jr., 26 Oct. 1779 . GW wrote Nelson on 28 Nov. acknowledging his “kind favor of the 26th of last Month.”
14From George Washington to Thomas Nelson, Jr., 4 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
The Bearer Monsieur Camûs, an Officer in the Navy of France, goes to take the command of an armed Vessel in York River. Being a stranger, he may want advice and assistance to enable him to prosecute the business on which he is sent by the Chevr des Touche, you will therefore oblige me by rendering him every service in your power. I am Dear Sir Yr most obt and hble Servt DLC : Papers of George...
15From George Washington to Thomas Nelson, Jr., 7 August 1781 (Washington Papers)
Among your numerous friends, none will be found when congratulations on your appointment to the Administration of the Affairs of Virginia, are offered with more cordiality & sincerity than mine. It is long since I had the pleasure of writing to, or receiving a letter from you, but as I am conscious that the silence on my part is not a consequence of diminished friendship, I am equally ready to...
16From George Washington to Thomas Nelson, Jr., 27 August 1781 (Washington Papers)
At the same time that I acknowledge the receipt of your first favour since you was appointed to the Seat of Government, suffer me to congratulate your Excellency on that appointment, and to anticipate the pleasure and advantage of your future official Correspondence and assistance. A variety of Circumstances having concur’d to induce me to change the plan of operation, which had been concerted...
17From George Washington to Thomas Nelson, Jr., 10 October 1781 (Washington Papers)
The Count de Grasse has written to me very pressingly for a further supply of Pilots. I shall therefore be glad to know whether your Excellency has received any answer from Gloucester on that subject, or whether you have any other prospects of procuring them. I have the honor to be most Respectfully Yr Excellency’s obt and humble servt There is a Gentleman from the Fleet now waiting an answer....
18From George Washington to Thomas Nelson, Jr., 14 October 1781 (Washington Papers)
From a representation made to me by Colo. White of the miserable condition of the Men of the 4th Regt of Dragoons for want of Cloathing, I am constrained to apply to your Excellency to know whether it will be possible to procure any for them, even of the commonest kind, as Docr Rose, the Regimental Surgeon, assures me one hundred of the Men are literally naked at this advanced season—Could...
19From George Washington to Thomas Nelson, Jr., 27 October 1781 (Washington Papers)
As the Assembly of your State is now sitting, I cannot omit so favorable an occasion to suggest to Your Excellency, some measures which I conceive our present circumstances & prospects require should be immediately adopted. To recruit the Regiments, assigned as a quota of this State, to their full establishment, and put them on a respectable footing, is in my opinion, the first great object,...
20From George Washington to Thomas Nelson, Jr., 3 November 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have the honor to inform your Excellency that 467 of the British and German Convalescents marched this day from York under the Escort of Courtlands New York Regiment, which will conduct them as far as Fredericksburg—of this I have apprised General Weedon, and directed him to prepare a sufficient Guard of Militia for the purpose of relieving the Regiment above mentioned, and recieving the...
21From George Washington to Thomas Nelson, Jr., 4 November 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have to inform your Excellency that it is concluded to form a deposit, of all the Arms & Ammunition for Musquetry brought with me from the Northward, and taken from the Enemy, at Westham in this State, or in its neighbourhood, from whence supplies may be formed for the Southern Army, or issued to the State in case of another invasion: If proper deposits for establishing this Magazine can be...
22From George Washington to Thomas Nelson, Jr., 3 August 1788 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 19th Ulto came duly to hand and could I have been of any service in the affair to which it refers no apology would have been necessary for requesting it. I have no white Ditcher with me at present but a Dutch Redemptioner —Nor has there ever lived with me one—to the best of my recollection—of the name of Clarke. Last year I employed a man who called himself James Lawson—He...