31General Orders, 28 October 1776 (Washington Papers)
Varick transcript , DLC:GW .
32To George Washington from John Hancock, 28 October 1776 (Washington Papers)
This moment Dodd the Express from the State of Massachusetts, who Took your Dispatches to Congress on Saturday last, Arriv’d at my house, and informs me that this Day about 12 oClock he put up at one Bissinett’s a publick house in Bristol, where he open’d his Bundle to deliver a Letter to be forwarded over the Ferry to Mrs Reed, & leaving his Bundle in the Barr Room while he Stept out, on his...
33To George Washington from Lieutenant Colonel Henry Beekman Livingston, 28 October 1776 (Washington Papers)
After having with the greatest Impatience waited the Arrival of the Whale Boats and Vessels that were to have been employed in the Long Island Expedition I find myself at Length disappointed. Colonel Mc: Intosh having Marched two of the Regiments that were allotted for the Purpose to Head Quarters so that the Original Plan must of Necessity fall through as the Force we have left is Inadequate...
34General Orders, 29 October 1776 (Washington Papers)
John Eustace Esqr: appointed Aide-De-Camp to General Lee; and Adjt Bradford of Col. Hitchcocks Regt is appointed temporary Aide-De-Camp. The representation made of Col. Webb’s regiment yesterday by Genl McDougall, appearing to be a mistake, and that they kept the post assigned them, notwithstanding a severe Canno[n]ade; The General takes the first opportunty to make it known, to prevent any...
35To George Washington from Major General Nathanael Greene, 29 October 1776 (Washington Papers)
Colo. Lasher burnt the Barracks yesterday morning three oClock. he left all the Cannon in the Fort. I went out to examin the ground and found between two and three hundred Stand of small Arms (that were out of repair) about two miles beyound Kings Bridge, a great number of Spears, Shot Shells & so, too numerous to mention. I directed all the Waggons on the other side to be employd in geting...
36To George Washington from Major General Nathanael Greene, 29 October 1776 (Washington Papers)
Inclosed is an Estimate made of the Provisions and Provinder, necessary to be laid in, at the different Posts, between this and Philadelphia, to form a communication; and for the support of the Troops, passing and repassing from the different States. Your Excellency will please to examine it, and signafy your Pleasure. Shoud the Estimate be larger than is necessary for the Consumption of the...
37Enclosure: Estimate of Provisions and Table of Distances for New Jersey Magazines, 29 October 1776 (Washington Papers)
An Estimate of the Magazines to be laid in at the following Posts for the Subsistance of the Troops and for the Horses in Waggons and Artillery. bbl Flour Beef & Pork Tons of Hay Bushl Grain 2000 Men at Fort Lee for Five Months 3100 3100 300 10000 At Hackinsack for the Use of the Hospital allowing fresh Provisions to supply the rest 1000 300 150
38Lieutenant Colonel Robert Hanson Harrison to John Hancock, 29 October 1776 (Washington Papers)
The situation of our Affairs not permitting his Excellency to write himself, I have it in charge to inform you, that on Yesterday Morning about Ten OClock the Enemy appeared in several large columns in our front, and from their first movements, seemed, as if they meant an Attack there; However halting for a little time, their Main body filed off to our left, and presently began a most severe &...
39To George Washington from Major General Philip Schuyler, 29 October 1776 (Washington Papers)
Your Excellency’s obliging Favor of the 22d Instant, I had the Honor to receive Yesterday—I read with sensible Satisfaction your judicious Remarks on the Militia—I assure you they are reallized in this Quarter and if General Gates was not so very importunate to have them at Tyonderoga, I should certainly dismiss many of them, as they move with much Reluctance, and will neither assist in...
40To George Washington from William Shippen, Jr., 29 October 1776 (Washington Papers)
The Winter approaches; the sick will suffer more, nay will perish, unless timely care is paid to provide for them proper winter appartments. The Congress have desired me to attend to those sick that are on this side of Hudsons river—But Dr Morgan has directed his officers to follow his directions till they recieve written orders from him or your Excellency to the contrary. I pray you will...
41General Orders, 30 October 1776 (Washington Papers)
The frequent, indeed constant complaints of the men, for want of provisions upon any Move, which is necessary for them to make, induces the General once more to desire, the commanding Officers of Regts and Corps, to see that they are never without three day’s provisions ready dress’d by them. All Detachments and Parties are to parade, wherever ordered, with their Packs and Provisions, that...
42To George Washington from John Augustine Washington, 30 October 1776 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from John Augustine Washington, 30 Oct. 1776. In a letter dated 6–19 Nov., GW wrote to his brother John : “Your Letter of the 30th of Octr was delivered to me a few days ago.”
43General Orders, 31 October 1776 (Washington Papers)
The General positively forbids any person going down to the lines, and firing upon the Enemy, without an Order from a General Officer—proper scouting parties are to be kept out by each Major General, for intelligence. The General, in a ride he took yesterday, to reconoitre the Grounds about this way, [was] surprised and shocked to find both officers and soldiers, straggling all over the...
44To George Washington from Landon Carter, 31 October–2 November 1776 (Washington Papers)
By Lieutenant Beale of our 5th Regiment I am endeavouring to lead my trembling pen, to the duty of sincerety in friendship, and with a line of respect to ask you my Dr George the momentous question at these times, How do you do? This bearer, if report has not Stationd the Corps he belongs to at Philadelphia, will deliver this letter to you. You will find in him more resolution and modest...
45From George Washington to Maj. Gen. Nathanael Greene, 31 October 1776 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: to Maj. Gen. Nathanael Greene, 31 Oct. 1776. Greene’s first letter to GW of 29 Oct. is docketed “An[swere]d 31st.”
46To George Washington from Major General Nathanael Greene, 31 October 1776 (Washington Papers)
The Enemy have possession of Fort Independance on the Heights above Kings Bridge, they made their appearance the night before last. We had got every thing of Value away, The Bridges are cut down and I gave Colonel Magaw Orders to stop the Road between the Mountains. I should be glad to know your Excellency’s mind about holding all the ground from Kings Bridge to the lower lines—If we attempt...
47Lieutenant Colonel Robert Hanson Harrison to John Hancock, 31 October 1776 (Washington Papers)
Since I had the Honor of addressing you on the 29th Instant, no event of importance has occured. The Enemy are throwing up some Lines and Redoubts in our Front with a view of Canonading as soon as they are ready, and at the same time, are extending their Wings farther by our right and left. It is supposed, that one of their Objects is, to advance a part of their Troops and Seize on the Bridge...
48To George Washington from Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 31 October 1776 (Washington Papers)
Am to acquaint you that this State considering the near approach of the Enemy and the critical Situation of the Continental Army and the Danger of haveing the Communication cutt off, have thought proper to send a Reinforcment from our Militia, includeing all the able bodied Effective Men that can be raised out of four of our Militia Regiments, which probably will amount to about four hundred...
49General Orders, 1 November 1776 (Washington Papers)
Peter Buise under sentence of death, and to be executed this day, is reprieved until Monday 11 o’Clock. The General Court Martial whereof Genl McDougall is President, to sit to morrow, at the house above Genl Lee’s Quarters, for the trial of Col. Graham—Col. Foreman of Genl Heard’s Brigade, and other Witnesses to attend. The moving state of the Army will occasion some irregularity, but the...
50Lieutenant Colonel Robert Hanson Harrison to John Hancock, 1 November 1776 (Washington Papers)
I am directed by his Excellency to acknowledge his receipt of your favor of the 28th Ulto which came to hand Yesterday Evening and to transmit you a Copy of the Letter I had the honor of writing you by the Boston Express by his command. Had the Express been charged with no Other Letter, the loss would not have been attended with any material injury to us, or advantage to the Enemy, provided it...
51General Orders, 2 November 1776 (Washington Papers)
The General expressly forbids any person, or soldier, belonging to the Army, to set fire to any House, or Barn, or Barn, on any pretence, without a special order from some General Officer. Varick transcript , DLC:GW . Robert Hanson Harrison writes in a postscript to his letter to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., of this date that “His Excellency [GW] is busily employed in reconnoitring the Country...
52To George Washington from Lieutenant Colonel Ethan Allen, 2 November 1776 (Washington Papers)
Having Procur’d the favour of Writing a few Lines to your Excellency, I Cherfully Exbrace the oppertunity and Entertain fond Hopes Shortly to pay my compliments to your Excellency Personally; The Kings Officers Incourage me that it will not be long before I am Exchanged, and I doubt Not but that your Excellency will Promote it, the more so, as I have suffered a long and sevear Imprisonment;...
53To George Washington from Brig. Gen. Samuel Holden Parsons, 2 November 1776 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Brig. Gen. Samuel Holden Parsons, 2 Nov. 1776. The Continental Congress on 6 Nov. read “a letter, of the 3, from R. H. Harrison, enclosing a letter from Brigadier General Parsons of the 2d” ( JCC Worthington Chauncey Ford et al., eds. Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774-1789 . 34 vols. Washington, D.C., 1904–37. , 6:928; see also Robert Hanson Harrison to John...
54General Orders, 3 November 1776 (Washington Papers)
The General is sorry to find, that there are some Soldiers, so lost to all Sense of Honor, and Honesty, as to leave the Army, when there is the greatest necessity for their services: He calls upon the Officers of every rank, to exert themselves, in putting a stop to it, and absolutely forbids any officer, under the rank of a Brigadier General, discharging any officer, or soldier, or giving any...
55Lieutenant Colonel Robert Hanson Harrison to John Hancock, 3 November 1776 (Washington Papers)
By command of his Excellency, I have the honor to inform you, that our situation is nearly the same, as when I had the pleasure of writing you last; It is altered in no instance, unless in the number of our Troops, which is every day decreasing by their most scandalous desertion and return Home. The Inclosed Letter from Genl Parsons who is stationed near the Saw pits, and which his Excellency...
56To George Washington from Major General Philip Schuyler, 3 November 1776 (Washington Papers)
I do myself the Honor to inclose you Copy of a Letter, which I received Yesterday from General Gates, with Copy of a paper inclosed. If Sir John Johnson did actually begin his March at the Time mentioned by the Deserters, he must have met with such Difficulties as has obliged him to return, for he could not have subsisted so long a Time in the Woods; but least he should have delayed his...
57From George Washington to William Shippen, Jr., 3 November 1776 (Washington Papers)
I am favd with yours of the 29th last Month. Altho’ by the Resolutions of Congress you are appointed to the Director Generalship of the Flying Camp in New Jersey, and Doctor Morgan to that of the Continental Army which has lain on this side the North River, yet I never imagined it meant to exclude either of you from the power of establishing Hospitals on which ever side of the River you...
58General Orders, 4 November 1776 (Washington Papers)
The General desires, in express and positive terms, that the Brigadiers, and Colonels commanding brigades, see every regiment, respectively belonging to them, paraded to morrow (but not at the same instant)—the Rolls called over, and every officer and soldier satisfactorily accounted for, or sent after; their Arms also to be examined, and a report thereof to be made—Where the Brigadiers are...
59General Orders, 5 November 1776 (Washington Papers)
Some Barracks having been already built at Peeks-kill, and others erecting for the reception of the troops at that place, the General directs, that the Major Generals do select from their several divisions, all their Convalescents and others not entirely Fit for duty , and have them sent up there under proper officers. Those men who have been sent into the Country to recruit, are to be...
60To George Washington from Major General Horatio Gates, 5 November 1776 (Washington Papers)
I have The Honour to send your Excellency a Copy of my Letter by the Bearer Major Stuart to the president of The Congress. General Schuyler has this morning inform’d me of the Rumour of an Action near the White plains, I hope soon to Felicitate Your Excellency upon Having conducted Your Campaign in the most Brilliant and Triumphant manner. I am Sir Your Excellencys most Obliged & most Obedient...