1From George Washington to an Anonymous Officer, 21 October 1776 (Washington Papers)
My Lord Sterling Complains, & so justly, of the want of Tents, & the Baggage belonging to his Brigade that I would have you enquire particularly into the matter and endeavour to have it sent on to the sevl Regiments now suffering at the White Plains for want of it. Tell Genl Mifflin & Colo: Reed (in short let the Genl Officers below know) that some expedient must be fallen upon to bring off...
2From George Washington to Brigadier General Benedict Arnold, 14 December 1776 (Washington Papers)
Having recd Advice from Govr Trumbull of the 6th Inst. that a large Fleet of the Enemy’s Men of War and Transports had appeared off New London, without doubt with an Intent to make a Descent either there or some part of the Coast of New England, and he desiring that some General Officers might be sent to take the Command of the Militia who were assembling. I must desire that you would...
3From George Washington to Colonel Samuel John Atlee, 21 November 1776 (Washington Papers)
I am favoured with yours of the 9th Instant. I can so well conceive the Desire that persons in Captivity must feel for Releasment, and a Return to their Friends, that I do not wonder at your anxious Endeavours to procure your own. If Mr Thomas Irving Receiver Genl of South Carolina (who I do not look upon in the military Line) can receive any Assurance from Genl Howe that he will exchange you...
4From George Washington to Major Theodorick Bland or the Officer Commanding the Virginia Light Horse, 30 December 1776 (Washington Papers)
I am informed that you are on your march from Virginia, to join the Army under my Command and that you have the Charge of the prisoners who were ordered up to be exchanged. As this must delay your march very much, and as I do not think it expedient for the prisoners to come on just at this time, I desire you will leave them at the most convenient Place; there to remain till further orders from...
5From George Washington to the Board of War, 15 November 1776 (Washington Papers)
On Wednesday evening I received the favor of your Letter of the 8th Instt; in consequence of which, I stopped the Flagg that was going in with the Ladies you mention, pointing out to them the necessity of the measure and recommending them to write to their Husbands & connections to obtain Genl How’s assurances for the release of Mrs Lewis & Mrs Robinson & her Children with their baggage, as...
6From George Washington to the Board of War, 8 November 1776 (Washington Papers)
I have been favoured with yours of the 31st Ultto by monsr Laytaniac and must take the liberty of referring you to my former Letters upon the subject of providing for the French Gentlemen who shall incline to enter the service of the States. to me there appears that One of two modes must be adopted—they must either be appointed to places in some of the Regiments, or formed into a distinct...
7From George Washington to the Board of War, 15 November 1776 (Washington Papers)
Having given my promise to Genl Howe on his application, that Peter Jack, a Servant of Major Stewart, who was sent to Philadelphia with the Waldeckers and, other Prisoners & who has nothing to do in the Military line, should be returned to his Master agreable to the usage of War in such cases, I must take the liberty to request the favor of you, to have him conveyed to Genl Greene by the...
8From George Washington to the Board of War, 30 November 1776 (Washington Papers)
I am to acknowledge the Rect of your Favors of the 18th 19th and 23d Instant, which, from the unsettled Situation of our Affairs, I have not been able to answer before. That of the 18th incloses a List of Stores taken in the Hancok and Adams Continental Ship, and carried into Dartmouth in New England, with a Resolve of Congress to deliver the Muskets, Powder, Lead & Flints to my Order. As the...
9From George Washington to James Bowdoin and the New Hampshire General Court, 22 December 1776 (Washington Papers)
The accounts received from New York respecting the distresses of our Prisoners, induce me to recommend to your Honble body, that measures should be taken to effect an Exchange as soon as possible & as far as circumstances will admit of. Ever since the Cartel has been settled between Genl Howe & myself, I have been endeavouring to accomplish it; but my attempts have not been attended with but...
10From George Washington to James Bowdoin, 18 December 1776 (Washington Papers)
I this morning received the Honor of your favor of the 8th Instt and beg leave to return your Honble Body my warmest acknowledgements for their early attention to my requisition, and assurances of such Support as shall be in their power. Circumstances having varied much since I addressed them upon this Subject, & being far removed myself from the rendezvous intended for this reinforcement when...
11From George Washington to Col. John Cadwalader, 30 December 1776 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: to Col. John Cadwalader, 30 Dec. 1776. Cadwalader wrote GW on 31 Dec. : “I recd your Letter last Night, by Express.”
12From George Washington to Colonel John Cadwalader, 25 December 1776 (Washington Papers)
Notwithstanding the discouraging Accounts I have received from Col: Reed of what might be expected from the Operations below, I am determined, as the night is favourable, to cross the River, & make the attack upon Trenton in the Morning. If you can do nothing real, at least create as great a diversion as possible. I am Sir your most obt Servant Copy, in John Cadwalader’s writing, PHi :...
13From George Washington to Colonel John Cadwalader, 24 December 1776 (Washington Papers)
Fix with Colo. Griffin on your Points of Attack—In this, as circumstances must govern, I shall not interfere; but let the hour of attack be the 26th, and one hour before day (of that Morning.) I have wrote to Colo. Hitchcock to join his Brigade to yours, and cooperate therewith. If you should be successful (of which I have the highest hopes) move forward if possible, so as to form a junction...
14From George Washington to Colonel John Cadwalader or Brigadier General Thomas Mifflin, 1 January 1777 (Washington Papers)
Some pieces of Intelligence renders it necessary for you to March your Troops immediately to this place —I expect your Brigade will be here by five O’clock in the Morning without fail. at any rate do not exceed 6. I am very sincerely Yr Most Obedt Sert Bring your Baggage—at least let it follow under a guard. ALS , owned (1994) by Mr. Joseph Rubinfine, West Palm Beach, Florida. Although the...
15From George Washington to Colonel John Cadwalader, 11 December 1776 (Washington Papers)
From the Movement of the Enemy downwards, I think it highly necessary that the Post at Dunks’s Ferry should be guarded. I therefore desire that one of the Battalions of your Brigade may immediately march, and take post at that place. If it is agreeable to you I would chuse—the 3d Battalion under the Command of Lt Colonel Nixon. The other two Battalions should be under Orders to march at a...
16From George Washington to Colonel John Cadwalader, 25 December 1776 (Washington Papers)
I have yours of Yesterday & have no doubt of your doing every thing in your Power to Promote the Enterprize which I wish you may do as far as you see consistent with Propriety. If nothing more is adviseable a Diversion may facilitate the attempt above—The Dover Militia you may keep to assist you —Genl Putnam will have Instructions how to dispose of the rest, I wish Colo. Reed may see Colo....
17Orders to Colonel John Cadwalader, 12 December 1776 (Washington Papers)
You are to post your Brigade at and near Bristol—Col. Nixons Regiment to continue where it is at Dunkes ferry—but if you find from Reconnoitering the ground or from any movements of the Enemy that any other disposition is necessary youl make it accordingly without waiting to hear from me, but to acquaint me of the alterations and the reasons for it as soon as possible. Youl establish the...
18From George Washington to Colonel John Cadwalader, 7 December 1776 (Washington Papers)
As your Troops (from Philadelphia) can be better accomodated in this place than at Princeton, where Quarters are scarce, I would have you remain here till the whole of your Brigade comes up. In the meanwhile, keep me regularly advised of their arrival that I may endeavour to time other matters thereby. If they are not already properly arranged no time should be lost in doing of it. nor in...
19From George Washington to Colonel John Cadwalader, 27 December 1776 (Washington Papers)
I was just now favoured with your Two Letters of the 25th and 26th Instant and regret much the cause that prevented your passing the River. had it not been for this accident, I am persuaded our Plans would have been accomplished to our utmost wishes. The same Obstacle hindered Genl Ewin from giving his aid and cooperating in the attack on Trenton. could we have had his force to have secured...
20Instructions to Ezekiel Cheever, 10 November 1776 (Washington Papers)
As the Army (at least part of it) is near the period of its dissolution, you are to exert yourself to the utmost in recovering all the Arms & other Stores which have been issued by you to the several Corps (whether Continental or militia) in the Service of the United States—Such of the Arms as are unserviceable & cannot be repaired by the Armourers of the Army are to be packed in Chests with...
21From George Washington to the Chiefs of the Passamaquoddy Indians, 24 December 1776 (Washington Papers)
I am glad to hear by Major Shaw, that You Accepted of the Chain of Freindship which I sent you last February from Cambridge, & that you are determined to keep it bright and unbroken. When I first heard that you refused to send any of your Warriours to my Assistance when called upon by our Brothers of St Johns I did not know what to think; I was Afraid that some Enemy had turned your Hearts...
22Orders to the Colonels of the Bucks County Militia, 19 December 1776 (Washington Papers)
The Honble the Council of Safety of the State of Pensylvania having by a Resolve passed the 17th day of this Inst. December, authorized me to call forth the Militia of the County of Bucks to the assistance of the Continental Army under my Command, I hereby require You immediately to issue Orders to the Captains of Your Regiment, to summon the Officers & privates of their Companies to Meet on...
23From George Washington to the Commanders of the Connecticut and Massachusetts Militias Marching to Peekskill, 24 … (Washington Papers)
The Necessity of collecting a Body of Troops to supply the places of those whose term of Inlistment expires on the first of next Month, obliges me to press you to march forward with as much expedition as possible to this place or wherever my Head Quarters may be, with such part of the Troops under your command as may be judged expedient, and agreeable to the Orders I have already lodged with...
24From George Washington to the Commanding Officer at Morristown, 30 December 1776 (Washington Papers)
I have the pleasure to acquaint you that the Continental Regiments from the Eastern Governments have to a Man agreed to stay Six Weeks beyond their Term of Inlistment which was to have expired the last day of this Month. For this extraordinary Mark of their Attatchment to their Country, I have agreed to give them a Bounty of Ten dollars ⅌ Man, besides their pay running on. I hope this noble...
25From George Washington to Nicholas Cooke, 21 December 1776 (Washington Papers)
I have been honoured with your favor of the 8th Instt. The loss of the Island of Rhode Island gives me much concern, though an event that could not be well guarded against. I am happy that most of the Stock had been removed and wish the Cannon had been also brought away, our want of ’em by reason of our late losses, being great. Nothwithstanding this descent and the intelligence of more Ships...
26From George Washington to John Parke Custis, 26 October 1776 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: to John Parke Custis, 26 Oct. 1776. The Custis Papers at the Virginia Historical Society include a “List of Washington’s letters sent to B[enjamin] Lossing,” one of which is a letter to John Parke Custis of “26 Oct. 1776” written at New York.
27From George Washington to Richard Dallam, 5 December 1776 (Washington Papers)
I have yours of this Morning from Bristol. As the most considerable part of the Army is like to be in this Town and its Neighbourhood, I think you better remove the Treasury as near as possible on the pennsylvania Side of the River, when you have fixed upon a House, a proper Guard shall be appointed. It is very inconvenient for Officers to go for Money, which is wanted every Moment for one...
28From George Washington to Major William De Hart, 1 January 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have yours of the 27th last Month from Morris Town and am glad to find that you determine to remain in the Service at my Request. I am told that there has been a great deal of uneasiness in your Regiment on Account of the Appointment of Colo. Newcomb to the command of it. I beg you and the other Gentlemen will make yourselves easy upon that head, as by late powers vested in me by Congress, I...
29Orders to Brigadier General Philemon Dickinson, 12 December 1776 (Washington Papers)
You will post your Troops at Yearleys ferry or some where near it—find out the fording place there and have a Redoubt thrown up immediatly[.] You and General Ewing must divide the Ground between Trenton falls and your post and establish the Proper Guards and Patrols to watch the Enemy motions, You will Spare no pains or Expence to Obtain inteligence—all promises made or monies Advanced shall...
30From George Washington to Colonel Arthur Erwin, 9 December 1776 (Washington Papers)
I expected upon my Arrival here to have found the Militia of Bucks County ready to have joined me, and to have kept the Enemy from setting a Foot in the province of Pennsylvania, but to my great Surprize not a Man has turned out, tho so glorious an Example has been shewn them by the Citizens of Philadelphia. I was altogether at a Loss to account for so extraordinary a Conduct, but Colo. Hart...