61To George Washington from Edmund Pendleton, 12 July 1775 (Washington Papers)
My friend Mr George Baylor will be the bearer of this, who has caught such a Military Ardor as to travel to the Camp For instruction in that Art, I beg leave to recommend him to your Countenance & Favor, not only on Account of his worthy Father, but from my Opinion of his own Merit. He is a Lieutent in our independant Company & has gained great Applause there by his diligent Attention to the...
62To George Washington from the Virginia Delegates, 12 July 1775 (Washington Papers)
Recommend “the bearer Mr George Baylor, not only on Account of the memory of his worthy Father, wth whom you was acquainted, but For his own merit . . . . His Ardor in the noble cause has drawn him to your school for instruction & emploiment as far as his services may be required.” LS , in Edmund Pendleton’s writing, CtY : Pendleton Papers. In addition to Pendleton, the letter was signed by...
63General Orders, 13 July 1775 (Washington Papers)
As the Army will be forthwith form’d into Brigades: The Adjutant General will at Orderly Time this day, deliver to the Adjutant of each Regiment, a Number of printed Returns, one of which, must be immediately fill’d up, and sign’d by the Commanding Officer of each regiment, and sent as soon as possible, to the Adjutant General; by the Adjutant of each Regiment; on the Back of the Return, it...
64To George Washington from Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 13 July 1775 (Washington Papers)
Suffer me to join in Congratulating you, on your appointment to be General and Commander in Chief of the Troops raised or to be raised for the Defence of American Liberty. Men who have tasted of Freedom, and who have felt their personal Rights, are not easily taught to bear with encroachments on either, or brought to submit to oppression. Virtue ought always to be made the Object of...
65To George Washington from Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 13 July 1775 (Washington Papers)
I have to observe to your Excellency, That the Honorable Congress have altered the Arrangement of the Generals appointed by our Assembly, Wish the Order we adopted had been pursued, Fear Generals Wooster and Spencer will think they have reason to complain. They are Gentlemen held in high Estimation, by Our Assembly, and by the Officers and Troops under their Command. There are reasons to fear...
66General Orders, 14 July 1775 (Washington Papers)
As the Health of an Army principally depends upon Cleanliness; it is recommended in the strongest manner, to the Commanding Officer of Corps, Posts and Detachments, to be strictly diligent, in ordering the Necessarys to be filled up once a Week, and new ones dug; the Streets of the encampments and Lines to be swept daily, and all Offal and Carrion, near the camp, to be immediately buried: The...
67From George Washington to John Hancock, 14 July 1775 (Washington Papers)
Since I did myself the Honour of addressing you the 10th Instt nothing material has happened in the Camp. From some authentick & later Advices of the State of the Ministerial Troops & the great Inconvenience of calling in the Militia in the midst of Harvest, I have been induced for the present to waive it; but in the mean Time recruiting Parties have been sent throughout this Province to fill...
68General Orders, 15 July 1775 (Washington Papers)
The Commanding Officers of each Regiment to report the Names of such Men in their respective Corps as are most expert in the management of whale boats. When any Commission’d, or non Commission’d Officer is sent upon any Detachment or Duty of Honor, or Fatigue, or to see the execution of any particular work: He is, so soon as the service is perform’d to make a Report thereof to his commanding...
69To George Washington from Major General Philip Schuyler, 15 July 1775 (Washington Papers)
Since I did Myself the Honor to write Your Excellency from New York Nothing very material occurred until Yesterday, when I received the Inclosed Letters, the Accounts contained in that marked Number 1 are truly alarming in the present defenceless State of the Counties of Tryon and Albany, and Especially as the Assistance I can afford them either of Men or Money is next to Nothing, the few...
70General Orders, 16 July 1775 (Washington Papers)
The Continental Congress having earnestly recommended, that “Thursday next the 20th Instant, be observed by the Inhabitants of all the english Colonies upon this Continent; as a Day of public Humilation, Fasting and Prayer; that they may with united Hearts & Voice, unfeignedly confess their Sins before God, and supplicate the all wise and merciful disposer of events, to avert the Desolation...
71General Orders, 17 July 1775 (Washington Papers)
There is reason to apprehend, that the General orders are not regularly published, to the Non Commissioned Officers, & Soldiers of the army; as pleading Ignorance of Orders, will not for the future be admitted in excuse of any delinquency: It is once more ordered, that the Adjutants of the several Corps, will be exact, in seeing the Orders, read every evening to the Men off duty, of their...
72To George Washington from Patrick Henry, 17 July 1775 (Washington Papers)
Introduces Benjamin Ellery of Rhode Island, who “wishes to visit your Camp.” ALS , MiU-C : Thomas Gage Papers. The document’s location indicates that the British intercepted it before it reached GW. Patrick Henry (1736–1799) of Hanover County, Va., served with GW in the First Continental Congress and was a member of the Second Continental Congress until early August 1775, at which time he was...
73To George Washington from Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 17 July 1775 (Washington Papers)
On the first Instant I met the Honble Assembly of this Colony, to deliberate on the Request & pressing Reasons sent us from the Massachusetts for an imediate Augmentation of Troops from this Colony—our Assembly agreed to augment with two Regiments of 700 Men each, who are now raising to join the Continental Army—It was wished that we could have had the Advice & Direction of the Congress or...
74To George Washington from Hunking Wentworth, 17 July 1775 (Washington Papers)
Encloses on behalf of the Portsmouth committee of safety “an authenticated copy of a vote pass’d by them for preventing the admission of our Inhabitants into the Camp, upon speculation, without a recommendation or pass first had and obtained from them, Their Inducement to this measure arises from their Fears that some may be too freely and incautiously admitted who are suspected of a want of...
75General Orders, 18 July 1775 (Washington Papers)
As the Chevaux-de-Frise are not in readiness; The Officers commanding the different Lines and Redoubts are, as speedily as possible, to provide a sufficient number of Gabions, which are to lay empty at the Entrances of their respective posts, in order to be filled up as occasion may require. Gen: Putnam will forthwith order his post to be furnished with a large quantity of Fascines. The...
76From George Washington to Nicholas Cooke, 18 July 1775 (Washington Papers)
You will please to accept my Sincere Acknowledgments for your favor delivered me by General Green, on my Appointment to the chief Command of the American Army—The Voluntary Choice of Freemen contending in the great Cause of civil Liberty, & the concurring Approbation of the wise and good, at the same Time that they confer the highest Honour upon the Object of that Choice, demand the utmost...
77To George Washington from Lewis Morris, 18 July 1775 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Lewis Morris, 18 July 1775. On 4 Aug. GW wrote to Morris : “I have been favoured with your Letter of the 18th Ulto.”
78To George Washington from Major General Philip Schuyler, 18 July 1775 (Washington Papers)
I do myself the Honor to inform Your Excellency of my Arrival at this Place early this Morning; and, as a Person is just going to Hartford, I sit down to give you the little Information I have procured. A Canadian, who twelve days ago left St Johns, advises me that General Carlton has about four hundred men at that place; that he has thrown up a strong intrenchment, covered with Chevaux de...
79From George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 18 July 1775 (Washington Papers)
Allow me to return you my Sincerest thanks for the kind Wishes & favourable Sentiments exprss’d in yours of the 13th Instant: its the Cause of our Common Country calls us both to an Active & dangerous Duty, I trust that Divine Providence which wisely orders the Affairs of Men will enable us to discharge it with Fidelity & Success—The uncorrupted Choice of a brave & free People has raised you...
80From George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 18 July 1775 (Washington Papers)
It is with no small Concern that I find the Arrangement of General Officers made by the Honourable Continental Congress has produced Dissatisfaction. As the Army is upon a general Establishment, their Right to controul & supersede a Provincial one must be unquestionable: and in such a Cause I should hope every Post would be deemed honourable which gave a Man Opportunity to serve his Country. A...
81General Orders, 19 July 1775 (Washington Papers)
Varick transcript , DLC:GW .
82To George Washington from John Hancock, 19 July 1775 (Washington Papers)
Introduces the bearers, “Mr Ogden & Mr Burr of the Jerseys,” who “Visit the Camp not as Spectators, but with a View of Joining the Army & being Active during the Campaign. . . . Your Dispatches Reach’d me last Eveng. I shall forward you the Papers immediately. The Results of Congress you shall know as early as possible.” ALS , DLC:GW . The address includes the words “Favd by Mr Burr.” Matthias...
83General Orders, 20 July 1775 (Washington Papers)
Certain Drums in, and near Cambridge, very improperly beat the Revellie this morning before day; Although the Troops are ordered to be under Arms, half an hour before day light; it does not follow the drums are to beat at that time. The Reveille is to beat when a Centry can see clearly one thousand Yards around him, and not before. All Aids-de-Camp, and Majors of Brigade, are to keep regularly...
84From George Washington to Lund Washington, 20 July 1775 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: to Lund Washington, 20 July 1775. In a letter of 15 Oct. 1775 to GW , Lund Washington referred to GW’s letter of “July . . . 20th.”
85From George Washington to Samuel Washington, 20 July 1775 (Washington Papers)
Agreeable to your request I am now set down to write to you, although in the first place I have scarce time to indulge an Inclination of the kind, and in the next place do not know how or whether it may ever get to your hands. I came to this place the 2d Instant & found a numerous army of Provencials under very little command, discipline, or order—I found our Enemy who had drove our People...
86General Orders, 21 July 1775 (Washington Papers)
Varick transcript , DLC:GW .
87From George Washington to John Hancock, 21 July 1775 (Washington Papers)
Since I did myself the Honour of addressing you the 14th Instt, I have received Advice from Govr Trumbull, that the Assembly of Connecticut had voted, & that they are now raising two Regiments of 700 Men each, in Consequence of an Application from the Provincial Congress of Massachusetts Bay. The Rhode Island Assembly has also made an Augmentation for this Purpose: these Reinforcements, with...
88From George Washington to John Hancock, 21 July 1775 (Washington Papers)
I am particularly to acknowledge that Part of your Favour of the 10th Instt wherein you do me the Honour of determining to join the Army under my Command. I need certainly make no Professions of the Pleasure I shall have in seeing you—At the same Time I have to regret that so little is in my Power to offer equal to Col. Hancock[’s] Merits & worthy his Acceptance. I shall be happy in every Oppy...
89From George Washington to John Hancock, 21 July 1775 (Washington Papers)
Since closing the Letters which accompany this I have received an Account of the Destruction of the Light House, a Copy of which I have the Honour to inclose & of again assuring you that I am with great Respect, Sir Your most Obed. Hbble Serv. P.S. I have also received a more authentick Account of the Loss of the Enemy in the late Battle than any yet receivd. Doctr Winship who lodg’d in the...
90To George Washington from Benjamin Harrison, 21–24 July 1775 (Washington Papers)
I received your very acceptable favor of the 10th Instant by express, your Fatigue and various kinds of trouble I dare say are great, but they are not more than I expected, knowing the People you have to deal with by the sample we have here, the Congress have taken the two Regiments now raising in Conecticut into service, which with Rifle Men and Recruits to your Regiments will I hope make up...