541From George Washington to Henry Laurens, 23 September 1778 (Washington Papers)
Since I had the honor of addressing you on the 12th Instant, I have received your several Favors of the 10th—12th & 16th with the Resolutions, to which they allude. I transmitted the British Commissioners the Resolve of the 4th Instant, respecting the Convention Troops, the morning after it came to hand; and also wrote to Sr Henry Clinton upon the subject of passports. I have not received his...
542From George Washington to Major General John Sullivan, 4 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
This will accompany a letter from the Board of War to you and two others to the Clothiers at Boston and Providence. You will perceive there is one point in particular, which is referred to my decision—whether the Continental troops with you shall be cloathed in the articles of Coats Jackets and breeches out of the imported ready made cloathing which has been ordered on to Springfield and...
543From George Washington to Captain Josiah Stoddard, 17 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
I received your letter of the 15th Inst. respecting a reprieve for Elisha Smith a deserter from your company. It is far from my inclination to encrease the number of unfortunate sufferers, or to sign a warrant which does not appear indispensibly necessary for the preservation and safety of the army. Smith has been represented to me as an object worthy of punishment—and as a proper example to...
544From George Washington to Colonel Goose Van Schaick, 27 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have recd yours of this date, and was a few days ago favd with a letter from Genl Clinton inclosing a Brigade Court Martial upon Jno. Yeomans of your Regt by the sentence of which he is capitally convicted. The Judgment of the Court appears very proper and the Offender from his Crimes suitable to make an example of; but as I have been under the necessity of inflicting the punishment of death...
545Circular Enlistment Instructions to Brigadier Generals and Brigade Commandants, 16 September–21 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
With the money you have drawn from the pay master General, you will use your best endeavours to inlist the Drafts from Virginia & such of her Old Troops, whose present inlistments will expire before the last of May next, to serve for three years or during the War, in the Army of these United States. To facilitate the Inlistments, you will put the money into the hands of such Officers as you...
546From George Washington to Fielding Lewis, 9 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: to Fielding Lewis, c.9 Oct. 1778. GW wrote Benjamin Lincoln on 9 Oct. : “If you should go thro Alexa., you will also pass Fredg—I have therefore given you a Letter to a Brother in law of mine in that Town.”
547From George Washington to Colonel Rufus Putnam, 9 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have perused your Report of this day to Genl McDougall. You will continue your examination of the different roads, and reconnoitre the most convenient halting places on each—allowing the interval of an easy days march from one to the other—and make a report of the whole to me, that I may be enabled to regulate the different routes. The Road towards Litchfield appears from your account of it...
548From George Washington to Major General Stirling, 19 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
Between Eight and Nine OClock last night, I received your Lordship’s favor of the 16th Instant, accompanied by another inclosing Two papers. The intelligence you conveyed is very interesting, and it appears the more so, as the late accounts from Genl Scott, though not so particular as those given by Captain Clunn, correspond with it. I shall expect to hear from you frequently, as every...
549From George Washington to Brigadier General William Maxwell, 2 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
I am favd with yours of the 29th Sepr. Lord Stirling who is now in Jersey, and has the general command of the troops there, will be a better judge than I am of the necessary and proper dispositions to be made. You will therefore implicitly obey him, and either remain where you are at present with your whole Brigade, or detatch such a part of it as His Lordship may direct. He mentions the...
550From George Washington to Brigadier General Charles Scott, 15 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
The magistrates and select men of Norwalk have entered a complaint against two privates of Capt. Stoddard[’s] company, for violences offered to one of the inhabitants—and for the rescue of Gershom Dorman by Capt. Stoddard, whom a constable had in arrest. you will be pleased to deliver to the civil authority of the State the said Gersham Dorman of Capt. Stoddar[d]s Company and direct Capt....
551General Orders, 30 September 1778 (Washington Papers)
In future the Captains and Commanding Officers of Companies are allways to insert in their Muster-Rolls the time when the sick absent and those on Furlough left their Companies—No man is to be borne on the Muster-Roll before he has joined his Company. The General Court Martial whereof Major General Lincoln is President will assemble tomorrow morning nine ôClock at the Presidents quarters and...
552From George Washington to Edmund Pendleton, 12 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: to Edmund Pendleton, 12 Oct. 1778. Pendleton wrote GW on 22 Dec. 1778 : “I thank you for yr esteemed favr of Octr 12th lately come to hand.”
553From George Washington to Colonel William Malcom, 23 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
I recd yours of the 14th inst. inclosing the weekly Return and an Account of two wounded Officers. The application must be to the Director General Docr Shippen. I am told there has been a Resolve of Congress passed for making provision in such cases, but I have never seen it. Inclosed you have an order upon the Cloathier at Fishkill for Blankets and Cloathing for the persons you describe. The...
554General Orders, 13 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
The General Court Martial whereof Coll Patten was appointed President will sit tomorrow morning nine ôClock at General St Clair’s quarters. At a General Court Martial held at West-Point September 28th 1778—Lieutt Coll Burr President Elisha Painter Major of Artificers was tried for absenting himself from the Garrison & neglect of duty found guilty of the charges exhibited against him and...
555General Orders, 26 September 1778 (Washington Papers)
Varick transcript , DLC:GW .
556From George Washington to Major General Stirling, 17 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have recd your favs. of the 14th and 15th instants. I have undoubted intelligence that a very considerable embarkation is making from New York. It is of the utmost importance that we should ascertain the numbers as near as possible—their destination—the time of their sailing—and above all how they are convoyed as to number and force of Ships of War. Upon this, and a certain account of what...
557From George Washington to Richard Henry Lee, 23 September 1778 (Washington Papers)
Your favor of the 6th Instt did not get to my hands till the 18th —It found me at our Posts in the Highlands, on my circuit to this place—& at a time when I had neither leizure or oppertunity to write to you. I am so thoroughly impressed with the necessity of reinlisting the Army, that you may depend upon it nothing in my power to effect it, shall be left unessayed. Instructions, and Money,...
558General Orders, 5 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
Varick transcript , DLC:GW .
559From George Washington to Colonel Philip Van Cortlandt, 17 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
As your Regiment is to be employed in an expedition against Anaquaga—you are immediately to give the necessary orders—to the Officer next in command, for proceeding with your Regiment to Poughkeepsie—by water—and apply to Col. Hay the Q. M. who will provide boats for the purpose—in the mean time dispatch a careful officer to Head Quarters with an accurate Return of your whole Regiment...
560From George Washington to Major General Stirling, 28 September 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have just received letters from Generals Maxwell and Winds, that the Militia of Jersey are ordered out in very considerable force. A part has already collected. Besides the Militia, there will be two Continental brigades under Generals Maxwell and Woodford. This makes it necessary there should be some officer of higher rank than any now there to take the direction of the whole. Your knowlege...
561General Orders, 20 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
Doctor Cochran during the absence of Doctor Burnett is to do the duty of Physician & Surgeon General in the Army in the Eastern Department. Varick transcript , DLC:GW . The general orders of this date in Richard Platt’s orderly book for 22 July–31 Oct. 1778 read: “Doctor Cochran is to do the Duty of Phisician & Surgeon Genl in the Eastern Department, in the Absence of Doctor Burnet gone to...
562From George Washington to Vice Admiral d’Estaing, 31 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have had the happiness of receiveing your Excellencys letters of the 23 and 26th. I thank you for the extract of Mr Boubees letter, which Yr Excellency so obligingly communicates. His particular enumeration of the vessels of war which sailed with the fleet he mentions, corresponds with the advices I have received; but You will have been informed before this, that the supposed sailing of a...
563General Orders, 3 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
Varick transcript , DLC:GW .
564From George Washington to Brigadier General William Woodford, 15 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: to Brig. Gen. William Woodford, 15 Oct. 1778. GW’s aide-de-camp John Laurens wrote on the third page of Woodford’s letter to GW of 13 Oct. : “Answd 15th—thanking him for the intelligence—and desiring instant advice of every interesting event—as every day brings us nearer to an important juncture.”
565From George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 23 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
By the inclosed Resolution you will find the determination of Congress to remove the Troops of the Convention from the State of Massachusetts to Charlottville in Virginia, should not the conditions therein required have been complied with. I have directed Genl Heath, should it be found necessary, to put those troops in motion as quick as possible, as the Season is already far advanced, and the...
566From George Washington to Vice Admiral d’Estaing, 13 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
Inclosed I have the honor to send your Excellency the British account of the late engagement between the two Fleets respectively under the command of Monsieur D’orvilliers and Admiral Keppel, contained in a letter, published by authority, which I have just received from New york. The insipid terms of this letter—the frivolous pretext assigned for not renewing the engagement—the damage...
567From George Washington to Vice Admiral d’Estaing, 24 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
The coincidence between Your Excellencys sentiments respecting the Marquis de la fayettes cartel, communicated in the letter with which you honored me the 20th and those which I expressed to him on the same subject; is peculiarly flattering to me—I am happy to find that my disapprobation of this measure, was founded on the same arguments which in Your Excellencys hands acquire new force and...
568To George Washington from Colonel George Baylor, 26 September 1778 (Washington Papers)
Since my last to you I have been out to make what discoveries I could of the Enemy’s position & numbers. they are encamped from the new Bridge on the Hackingsack River, to the foot of the hill opposite to Fort Lee; in bush Huts. they are fortifying a very commanding Hill a little on this side of the new Bridge, which appears to be extensive. they have also thrown up small intrenchments across...
569From George Washington to Colonel Goose Van Schaick, 6 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have received your favour of this day, and thank you for the precaution you have taken in removing the boats at Kings ferry—Nothing ought to be left there which is of any use to us or might be to the enemy. I shall rely on your giving me instant advice of any further movements you discover and I should wish you at the same time to communicate them to General Putnam—at Robinson’s near West...
570From George Washington to Major General Horatio Gates, 26 September 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have been favoured with your Letter of the 23d Inst. That the Enemy have a movement in view seems more than probable—but whether they mean to leave—or still to act on the Continent, is a point difficult to determine. If they move from New York and the latter is their plan, I think with you, that they will direct their force to the Eastward. The french squadron under Count D’Estaing, is an...