1To 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;...
2To George Washington from Brigadier General Benedict Arnold, 6 November 1776 (Washington Papers)
I beg leave to recommend to your particular Notice, the following Gentlemen, who were taken at Quebec, and lately returned on their Parole vizt Major Lamb, and Captain Lockwood of the Artillery Lieutenant Colonel Oswald, and Captain Morgan the two Last went with me from Cambridge; they have all distinguished themselves for their Bravery and Attachment to the Public Cause, and will I make no...
3To George Washington from Colonel Jacob Bayley, 21 October 1776 (Washington Papers)
I recved your Excelencys Favour by the hand of Mr Wallace, by which I am Informed and think it Just that Vou[c]hers Should be had and Should have Sent them but was Informed that only an abstra[c]t was needfull and also I determined to have waited on your Excelency my Self as I was desired by the committee and by the State of Newhampr. to Continue the Men I had Imployed on the road to fortify...
4To George Washington from Lt. Col. George Baylor, 1 January 1777 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Lt. Col. George Baylor, 1 Jan. 1777. On 9 Jan. GW wrote to Baylor : “Your Letter of the 1st from Baltimore came to my hands this day.
5To George Washington from the Board of War, 8 November 1776 (Washington Papers)
Mr Lewis (a Brother Deligate) has given Congress Information that Application had been made to your Excellency by a Flag from Genl Howe to permit Mrs Watts & Mrs Barrow the Pay Masters Wife to go to their Husbands in New York and at the same Time requested Congress to assi[s]t him with their Authority to obtain the Release of his Lady whom the Enemy would not permit to come out—the House...
6To George Washington from the Board of War, 14 November 1776 (Washington Papers)
The Congress having received Information that a considerable part of the Enemy’s Fleet had sailed from Sandy Hook to the Southward, & judging that immediate Steps were necessary to be taken for the preservation and Defence of this City, were pleased to vest us with all their powers to effect this important Business —As Genl Mifflin has a considerable Influence in this place, the Board judge it...
7To George Washington from the Board of War, 18 November 1776 (Washington Papers)
The Hancock and Adams, loaded from France with military Stores and other Articles for the Use of the Continent, was taken by a Rhode Island Privateer, and carried into the Port of Dartmouth in New England. The Muskets, Powder, Lead and Gun-flints are to be delivered, by Virtue of the enclosed Resolution of Congress, to the Order of this Board. We have wrote to the Committee of Bedford, in...
8To George Washington from Col. John Cadwalader, 24 December 1776 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Col. John Cadwalader, 24 Dec. 1776. GW wrote in his first letter to Cadwalader of 25 Dec. : “I have yours of Yesterday.”
9To George Washington from Colonel John Cadwalader, 26 December 1776 (Washington Papers)
The River was so full of Ice that it was impossible to pass above Bristol, where I intend[ed]—and therefore concluded to make an attempt at Dunks’s Ferry—as soon as it was dark I sent down all the Boats I could muster, & mar[c]hed down about 8 O’Clock—I embarked a few men to line the River & prevent any person escaping to give Intelligence to the Enemy; and these were followed by a part of the...
10To George Washington from Colonel John Cadwalader, 31 December 1776 (Washington Papers)
A very intelligent young Gentleman is returned, just now, from Prince Town—he left this yesterday Morng & got in about 12 or 1 O’Clock—He would have returned last Night but General Lesley, who commands, & Col: Abercombie would not suffer him to go off —He made his Escape this Morng early, & informs, that from the best Information he could get, there were about 5000 men—consisting of Hessians &...
11To George Washington from Colonel John Cadwalader, 27 December 1776 (Washington Papers)
As I did not hear from you this Morning, & being prepared to embark, I concluded you was still on this Side & therefore embarked & landed about 1500 men, about two miles above Bristol—After a considerable number were landed I had information, from the Paymaster of Col: Hichcocks Brigade, that you had crossed over from Trenton—This defeated the Scheme of joining your Army—We were much...
12To George Washington from Colonel John Cadwalader, 28 December 1776 (Washington Papers)
We arrived here about 1 o’Clock—the advanced party about ten —I have sent Horse-men to reconnoitre & from every Information the Enemy left Allen Town about 8 o’Clock this Morng—If I had been happy enough to have cross’d at Dunks’s Ferry we should have compleatly destroyed the Army in this Quarter—I am informed that the Hessians went off in the utmost confusion—I am sorry some of the Troops...
13To George Washington from Colonel John Cadwalader, 15 December 1776 (Washington Papers)
I recd your Dispatches to day & have sent Capt: Alexanders Company to Philada. Mr Symes (Lt in R. H. Emigrants who now acts as Asst A. De Camp to General How) came over from Burlington this Morning with a Number of Officers & privates to be exchanged—he says that General Lee was taken by Surprize last Friday Afternoon by about 30 Light Horse. Capt: Murray one of the Prisoners, informs me that...
14To George Washington from Colonel John Cadwalader, 26 December 1776 (Washington Papers)
We are now perfectly prepared, & would cross immediately, but the Troops lost their Rest last Night—We have determined to pass over to the Neck of Land a little above Bristol at six in the Morning, proceed to Bussel Town, the Square, & from thence to Bordenton—I imagine, if a part of your Army was to take possession of the other side of Crosswix Bridge, which is a pass easily defended, and the...
15To George Washington from James Caldwell, 4 December 1776 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from James Caldwell, 4 Dec. 1776. In his letter to Hancock of 6 Dec. , GW referred to “a Letter of the 4th Inst. from a Mr Caldwell.”
16To George Washington from Matthew Cantine, 11 December 1776 (Washington Papers)
I am directed by the Convention of the State of New York to transmit to your Excellency the enclosed Resolves, by which it will appear that we have made every exertion in favour of our Sister States which our present Situation will admit. But we are extreamly Sorry to find by a Letter received last Night from General Heath, that he is ordered over to the West Shore; by Reasons of which the...
17To George Washington from the Captains of the Second New Jersey Regiment, 20 December 1776 (Washington Papers)
The Captains of the late Colo: Maxwells Regiment in Behalf of their men—have thought it necessary to lay before Your Excellency—The Charge brought against them of Cartouch Boxes, Cross Belts, Tomhawks, Haversacks, Priming Wires & Brushes, Canteens, Gunslings, Camp Kettles & Canada Caps—the men have been taught to belive that they would not have to Pay for those things enumerated—Genl Gates...
18To 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...
19To George Washington from Colonel David Chambers, 16 December 1776 (Washington Papers)
herewith I send your Excellency 4 prisoners that we took last evening 2 being Regulars—one of the others by name Jno. Vandyke a Malitious Active Tory, and is said to have let some prisoners out of Millstone Goal and assembled and spirited the Negroes against us And as I am Informed was about a week since taken prisoner in Company with some light Horse by our people and confin’d who says he was...
20To George Washington from Major John Clark, Jr., 29 November 1776 (Washington Papers)
The Bearer of this a Private in Colo. Rawlins’s Regiment made his escape from the Enemy in New York yesterday, he is an intelligent Fellow, and brings information that upwards of ten thousand of the Enemy embarked on Sunday last, under the Command of General Clinton, the place of their destination uncertain; some of them informed him they were gone to Carolina, others say to the Eastward....
21To George Washington from Nicholas Cooke, 6 November 1776 (Washington Papers)
The General Assembly of this State have ordered Two Battalions to be immediately raised agreeable to the Requisition of the Hon’ble Continental Congress signified to them in a Letter from the President of that August Body. Congress recommended that a Committee should be appointed to repair to the Army, and there appoint the Officers, but as your Excellency was pleased to inclose in your Favour...
22To George Washington from Nicholas Cooke, 8 December 1776 (Washington Papers)
It is with great Concern that I give you the disagreeable Intelligence that the Enemy with a Fleet consisting of 78 Ships of War and Transports entered the Harbor of Newport Yesterday. We had about Six hundred Men upon Rhode-Island who were Obliged to evacuate it with the Loss of about 15 or 20 heavy Cannon, having taken off the Amunition and Stores & the greatest part of the Stock. The Enemy...
23Council of War, 6 November 1776 (Washington Papers)
At a Council of War held at Head Quarters White Plains Nov. 6. 1776. Present. His Excelly Gen. Washington[,] Major General Lee[,] Puttnam[,] Spencer[,] Heath[,] Sullivan[,] Lincoln[,] Brigr Genl Ld Stirling[,] Mifflin[,] Nixon[,] McDougal[,] Parsons[,] Scott[,] Clinton. The late Movements of the Enemy having made it necessary to consider what may be now proper for this Army to do the General...
24To George Washington from Richard Dallam, 24 December 1776 (Washington Papers)
The time of the Flying Camp will be up in a few days (for which Department I was at first Perticularly appointd for.) As I expect they will immediatly go off for Philadelphia and Apply for their pay to the Treasurer, I think it necessary I should be their to settle their Accounts As sums of money have been paid on Account to Many of the Officers & Men, I think it my Duty to Mention this to...
25To George Washington from Richard Dallam, 5 December 1776 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Richard Dallam, 5 Dec. 1776. On 5 Dec. GW wrote to Dallam : “I have yours of this Morning from Bristol.”
26To George Washington from Major William De Hart, 27 December 1776 (Washington Papers)
In Consequence of your Excellencys Orders And Request by Genl Maxwell I have this Day begun the Recruiting Service of the first Jersey Regt And Shall Expedite it with All Possible Speed, Had I been Determin’d to Remain longer in the Jersey Service I Should long before have done it, And Nothing but your Excellencys Request & this Critical Period of time Should have Induced Me to have done it...
27To George Washington from Lieutenant Colonel Nathan Denison, 1 January 1777 (Washington Papers)
After Orders came to hand that the two Companies raised here Should march & Join your Excelency: it was Conjectured by many here that your army were much Weak’ned by Reason of the monthly mens Times being up. I was therefore desired by a Number of Respectable Neighbours to Inform your Excelency that if they Should be needed, they Would Turn out two months as a Company of Volunteers (provided I...
28To George Washington from Brigadier General Philemon Dickinson, 21 December 1776 (Washington Papers)
Two Persons returned Yesterday from the Jerseys, who inform me, that there is a very great body of the Enemy in, & around Brunswick, but they could not ascertain the Number—one of them say’s, they were sending off Provisions &c., towards N. York. They made strict enquiry about Boats, but could not hear, of any preparations of the kind. Another Person from Crosswicks informs me, that he saw a...
29To George Washington from Brigadier General Philemon Dickinson, 24 December 1776 (Washington Papers)
I have this moment dispatch’d a proper Person over the river, to make the followg enquires, (& to return tomorrow morng, at which time a Horse will be provided for him, to wait upon your Excellency, with such Information as he may obtain) Viz: what Guards are posted upon the different roads leading into Trenton, the number on the Mill-bridge, where the Cannon lay & what number; to ascertain...
30To George Washington from Azariah Dunham, 21 December 1776 (Washington Papers)
21 December 1776 . Gives a detailed account of his service since 12 June 1776 as a deputy commissary general in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, and he complains of having “been put to unnecessary Dificulties” by a shortage of funds. “I am nearly £6000 in advance for Supplying the Army from the best estimate I can now make a very trifle in hand have no oppertunity of communicating my case to the...