1From George Washington to Major General John Sullivan, 27 September 1778 (Washington Papers)
I am favd with yours of the 22d 23d and 24th instants. I cannot conceive what transports those can be that have come into Newport Harbour, except they are those from Hallifax. None have lately gone from New york—It will be very material to know with certainty from whence they came and whether they had any troops on board. If they are those from Hallifax, and empty, it gives weight to an...
2General Orders, 9 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
Particular Brigade returns to be made to the orderly Office on Monday next agreeable to a form which will be given by the Adjutant General. Regimental Returns to be delivered in the same day by the Brigade Majors containing every Article of Cloathing in Possession of the non commissioned Officers and soldiers discriminating the good and serviceable from the bad and unserviceable; These returns...
3From George Washington to John Parke Custis, 21 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
The Inclosed came to my hands by the last Post. The Enemy have been very busy since their return from the Jerseys in Imbarking Troops—Nine Regiments are compleated to their full establishment by drafts from some others which are reduced, & these I am perswaded are destined for the West Indies—Whether the rest of the Troops will remain in New York—return to England—or go to Hallifax is yet...
4From George Washington to Brigadier General William Maxwell, 6 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
Mr Crowels recent violation of the usages and laws of flags render it necessary to adopt some measures, that may prevent similar procedings in future. For this purpose you will immediately fix upon a certain number of places for the reception of flag-boats, and advise the commanding Officer on Staten Island, of the places, and that no flag boats will be received any where else without a...
5From George Washington to George Clinton, 19 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
I last evening recd the inclosed from Congress with a request that I would take measures for carrying the plan recommended by Colo. Hartley into execution. The advices which I have just recd from different quarters bear the strongest marks of an immediate evacuation of New York. These considerations induce me, should it be deemed expedient, to make an addition to Colonel Cortlands command by...
6From George Washington to Major General John Sullivan, 29 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
I last night received your favour of the 26th with the inclosed paper of intelligence—Every thing that tends to show the state and expectations of the Garrison at Rhode Island is highly interesting at this eventful juncture. You will have found by my last, that the fleet which sailed from the Hook did not contain the embarkation as was supposed—These troops still lay in the bay by my last...
7From George Washington to Brigadier General William Maxwell, 19 September 1778 (Washington Papers)
I received your favor of the 17th Inst. yesterday evening. No certain conclusions can be drawn of the enemy’s designs on the Jersey from the fitting up of their flat bottomed boats. If part of them are going to the West Indies they will want them there. It will not therefore be altogether advisable on the present appearance of things to call out the militia—But in order to guard against the...
8From George Washington to George Clinton, 2 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
Capt. Machin has been employed since the year 1776 in the engineering Branch, without ever coming to any regular settlement for his Services. He does not chuse to fix any price himself, and I am really ignorant of what is just and proper. You have been a witness of a good deal of his work, and he is willing to submit the matter to your decision. Captain Machin holds a Commission in the...
9General Orders, 15 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
A Court of Enquiry whereof Lieutt Coll Carrington is appointed President will sit at one oClock this afternoon at the President’s quarters to enquire into a complaint exhibited by Charles Proud a soldier in the Artillery against Captain Wiley—Two Captains from each of the Connecticutt Brigades to attend as Members. Varick transcript , DLC:GW . No report of this court of inquiry has been...
10From George Washington to Brigadier General Casimir Pulaski, 19 September 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have been favoured with your Letter of the 15 Inst. by Monsr Segond. I think it will be proper for you to join the Army with your Corps, as there yet remain more than Two months in which the Enemy may operate in the Field; However, you are not to proceed with it till you receive orders from Congress or the Board of War for the purpose. If Congress or the Board of War direct you to join the...
11From George Washington to Major General John Sullivan, 11 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have just recd advice that on the evening of the 9th about forty sail of Vessels were seen off Stamford standing to the Eastward. The weather was then, and has been since, so thick, that it could not be discovered whether they had troops on Board or how many of them were ships of War. It is more than probable that they are intended for Newport. You will therefore endeavour if they put in...
12From George Washington to Samuel Washington, 22 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
This Letter will be delivered to you, I expect, by Colo. Thruston; from whom you will be able to receive a more circumstantial Acct of the situation of Affairs in this Quarter than can be conveyed well, in a Letter. We have been kept in an anxious state of Suspence respecting the designs of the Enemy; nor are we able, at this time, to form any precise Ideas and judgment of their ultimate...
13From George Washington to John Parke Custis, 12 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have now—at your request—given my full consent to the Sale of the Lands wch I hold in right of Dower in a Tract in the County of York—to a Water Grist Mill thereon—To Lotts in the City of Williamsburg—and others in James Town—As also to your Renting, or otherwise disposing, of the other Dower Lands & Slaves which I am possessed of in the County of King William upon the terms which have been...
14From George Washington to George Clinton, 25 September 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have been honoured with yours of the 20th and 24th instants; the latter by Mr Harkermir who gives a melancholy account of the distresses of the inhabitants at the German Flatts. To defend an extensive frontier against the incursions of a desultory Enemy is next to impossible; but still if you think the addition of another Regiment, ill as I can spare it, or a change of position in the troops...
15From George Washington to Brigadier General Charles Scott, 25 September 1778 (Washington Papers)
Your Letter of yesterday 9 Oclock is just come to hand; & by the Officer you will receive twenty five Guineas. I earnestly entreat, that you will endeavour to get some intelligent person into the City, & others of his own choice to be Messengers between you and him, for the purpose of conveying such information as he shall be able to obtain & give. It is of great consequence to the French...
16From George Washington to Lieutenant Colonel Ebenezer Gray, 27 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
Last nigh[t] I received from General Gates one of your letters to him containing such intelligence as you had collected respecting the enemy and their motions —While I wish you to keep up your communication with the Genl I am to desire you to transmit me in the first instance every information which you may receive [in] the most expeditious conveyance. If Gen. Scotts station is the nearest...
17From George Washington to Gouverneur Morris, 4 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
My public Letters to the Presidt of Congress will inform you of the Wind that wafted me to this place —nothing more therefore need to be said on that head. Your Letter of the 8th Ulto contains three questions & answers—to wit—Can the Enemy prosecute the War? Do they mean to stay on the Continent? And is it our interest to put impediments in the way of their departure? To the first you answer...
18From George Washington to Brigadier General Charles Scott, 17 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have three of your letters now before me; two of them of the 15th and the other of the 16th Inst. I inclose you a letter to Colonel Bland respecting the re-inlistment of his Regiment which you will please to have delivered. The measure you have mentioned I believe must be put in practice, in case the men cannot be induced to continue in the service by the common means—The corps is too...
19From George Washington to Brigadier General Charles Scott, 15 September 1778 (Washington Papers)
The General and Field Officers of the day, have orders to withdraw the pickets at day-break to morrow morning—Previous to that, you are to assemble Major Lees Corps, and the rest of the Cavalry under your command, and distribute them on the different Roads leading to the Enemys lines, directing them to advance with a view of discovering whether the enemy intend any forward movement—that the...
20From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 25 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have just recd intelligence from two different quarters that the Fleet, which sailed on the 19th and 20th instants from the Hook, contained only the Invalids of the Army bound for Europe—the Officers of the reduced Regiments, and the families of several public and private Gentlemen. perhaps all outward bound Vessels might have taken the benefit of Convoy, which may have swelled the fleet to...
21From George Washington to Major General Alexander McDougall, 25 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
Notwithstanding the large fleet that sailed on the 19th & 20th—and the reasons we had to conclude, that the Regiments were on board—which we had repeatedly heard were embarked—I have just received advices through different Channels—and which cannot but be certain and authentic—that there were none but Invalids & Offi cers of the reduced Corps on board; and, that the Troops which had embarked,...
22From George Washington to Major General Horatio Gates, 28 September 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have yours of this date inclosing the proceedings of a Court Martial upon Colo. Brewer. General Scott was directed to send you intelligence, if the Enemy made a serious advance; but as they have hitherto kept their main Body upon Valentines Hill, and only sent out Foragers as far as the plains, he has thought there was no occasion to trouble you. The party in Jersey lay still in Bergen...
23From George Washington to Major General Benjamin Lincoln, 9 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
I am sorry I happened to miss you yesterday. I waited till two Oclock p.m. in expectation of your arrival, and then divided my family upon difft roads—but all of us escaped your Tract. conceiving that this might happen, I left a few introductory Letters (for you to some of the first Gentlemen in Carolina) with Baron Kalb, and would now inclose you others to my friends in Virga if I knew what...
24From George Washington to Burwell Bassett, 30 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
By Mr Custis I took the liberty of requesting the favor of you to set a value upon the Stock of every kind belonging to me at Claibornes except the Horses & Plantation Utensils which I gave him —I have since wrote to him (of this date) proposing that he shd take all the Corn, wheat, & Provender for the Cattle, so soon as it can be ascertained, at such prices as you shall affix; and if he...
25From George Washington to Brigadier Generals Peter Muhlenberg and William Woodford and Colonel James Wood, 19 September … (Washington Papers)
I have herewith troubled you with a Warrant for the purpose of reinlisting the Virginia Troops in your Brigade, and when you send it to the Paymaster Genl if you will direct the Officer who may carry it to call at Head Quarters, I will transmit you the necessary instructions or if an earlier opportunity offers I will do it then. I am Sir Yr Mo. Obet Servt p.s. Do not delay a moment in sending...
26From George Washington to Major General John Sullivan, 19 September 1778 (Washington Papers)
I had the pleasure of your letter of the 15 Inst. last night and another of the 14 the day before. By a resolve of Congress lately passed all horses killed in action are to be paid for by the Quarter Master General on the oath of the party, a sum not exceeding 500 Dollars. We have pretty authentic intelligence of Lord Howes return with his squadron to New york—and a large fleet of transports...
27From George Washington to the Magistrates and Selectmen of Norwalk, Connecticut, 15 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
I this morning received your application, and I can assure that I am sorry any individual of the army should have violated the rights of a citizen, or that an officer should insult the authority of the State in an instance where it seems to have been particularly concerned—But that this matter may be brought to a legal issue, I inclose you a letter to General Scott who commands near Bedford,...
28From George Washington to Alexander McWhorter, 12 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
There are now under sentance of death, in the provost, a Farnsworth and Blair, convicted of being spies from the enemy, and of publishing counterfeit Continental currency. It is hardly to be doubted but that these unfortunate men are acquainted with many facts respecting the enemys affairs, and their intentions which we have not been able to bring them to acknowlege. Besides the humanity of...
29From George Washington to Major General Johann Kalb, 23 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
The Quarter Master General has an immediate occasion for 250 Men with a proper number of Officers to assist in getting forage down the North River while the Navigation is open. You are to furnish that number from the two Maryland Brigades and put them under the direction of Colo. Hay Deputy Qr Mr Genl who will assign them to their posts and duties. The fatigue will be extraordinary and the Qr...
30From George Washington to Captain Josiah Stoddard, 25 September 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have received your letter of the day before yesterday, on the subject of contraband goods seized by your order. As the person accused of the illicit commerce & in whose hands they were taken—is committed to the custody of the civil magistrate; and will probably have his trial in due course—the Sentence passed on him, will determine the fate of the goods—in the mean time, to prevent loss or...