1From 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...
2From George Washington to Major General Horatio Gates, 21 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
I am just now favoured with your letter of this instant. The motions and movements among the enemy still continue to point the same way with the late information which I transmitted. I am Sir Your most obt servt LS , in James McHenry’s writing, NHi : Gates Papers. See GW to Gates, 20 October .
3From George Washington to Major General Horatio Gates, 30 September 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have received advice, that a considerable body of the enemy, in addition to those already in the Jerseys, had crossed the North River on the morning of the 28th and landed at a place about two miles from Orange Town. There are rumours, that they were marching towards Kakeate and had detached a party to take possession of the Clove; but these want confirmation. They have surprised and cut off...
4From George Washington to Major General Horatio Gates, 7 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of yesterday reached me in the night—Your observations on the probable intentions of the enemy are forcible—The capture or destruction of the French fleet appears to be the most important object they can have on the continent; and it is very possible they may have it in contemplation, though the time they have lost since they have had the superiority at sea and the advanced season...
5From George Washington to Major General Horatio Gates, 5 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
I am much obliged to you for your several communications of the 3d and 4th Inst. The relation of the two deserters is certainly of a serious complexion, could we confide in its reality. But the reasons for denying it any great degree of credit are not a few. Of the different observers in New-York and those places proper for attending to the motions of the fleet, not one has made any return of...
6From George Washington to Major General Horatio Gates, 10 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
I recd yours of yesterday by Majr Marshall who delivered the prisoners Farnsworth and Blair to the provost. The Crime of passing counterfeit Bills of Credit, by which our currency has been extremely depreciated, added to the strong suspicion of their being both Spies, will render it necessary to have them executed according to their Sentences. I shall direct a sensible Clergyman to get as...
7From George Washington to Major General Horatio Gates, 3 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
General Mcdougall forwarded Major Grays letter to you, to me. I have no account from General Scott of any troops having lately gone from New York to the Narrows. The party that went to Jersey were reinforced, and perhaps that might have occasioned the mistake. I do not apprehend any attempt agt this Army, but to be prepared for contingencies, I am to desire, if the Enemy should make a...
8From George Washington to Major General Horatio Gates, 11 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
Your favour of yesterday was handed me in the afternoon—I thank you for the communication of Major Gray’s letter. I have received a correspondent account from another quarter, with only this difference, that there is said to have been forty instead of twenty five sail in the Sound. I am assured by the Gentlemen who are charged with procuring intelligence in the Jerseys, that the English fleet...
9From George Washington to Major General Horatio Gates, 25 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
In my last of the 24th, I advised you of the sailing of a fleet from the hook on the 19th and early the 20th supposed to contain those troops which we had repeatedly heard were embarked. I have just received advices thro’ different channels, and which cannot but be certain and authentic, that there were none but invalids and officers of reduced corps on board—and that the troops which had...
10From George Washington to Major General Horatio Gates, 27 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
I received last night your two favours of the 25th with their inclosures. The intelligence from Major Gray corresponds in many respects with the general tenor of my advices—The circumstance of the Merchants packing up is what I have not yet obtained any satisfactory account of and is what I am particularly desirous to have ascertained, as it would be decisive of the enemy’s intention to...
11From 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...
12From George Washington to Major General Horatio Gates, 24 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
A fleet of about one hundred and sixty sail supposed to contain 7, or 8000 men having left the Hook the 19th and early the 20th; I Yesterday morning, put three Brigades, Nixons, Parsons and Huntingtons in March, under Major General McDougal to join you at Hartford. You will be pleased to open a correspondence with Generals Heath & Sullivan, in order to obtain from them instant information of...
13From George Washington to Major General Horatio Gates, 18 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
I imagine General Poors Brigade is by this time in motion agreeable to the determination of the Council on Friday. I desire that the next Brigade in course may follow, with directions to the commanding Officers to proceed by very slow marches to Harford, where they are to halt for further orders. Be pleased to impress upon the Officers the necessity of keeping up the strictest discipline upon...
14From George Washington to Major General Horatio Gates, 20 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
Since I wrote to you last I have recd accounts from New York which I think may be depended upon that the greatest part if not the whole of that Garrison are upon the point of embarking. A considerable number had embarked. Upwards of one hundred sail of square rigged Vessels besides a great number of Sloops and schooners fell down to the Hook on the 16th and 17th. Under these circumstances I...
15From George Washington to Major General Horatio Gates, 29 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
Colo. Harrison transmitted you by my direction yesterday, together with some dispatches to yourself from Congress, the copy of a Resolve inclosed to me, directing you to repair to Boston and take the command in the Eastern district. On the departure of the fleet which sailed from the Hook the 19th and 20th, I recommended to General Heath to call out a body of Militia from the vicinity of...
16From George Washington to Major General Horatio Gates, 1 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
I do not find that the Enemy are advancing on the West side of the River. From the latest accounts they were at the liberty pole and at the Newbridge near Hackensack; and from many circumstances and the conjectures of the Officers in their Neighbourhood, it would seem that foraging is the principal object of their expedition. I was very apprehensive that they would possess themselves of some...
17From George Washington to Major General Horatio Gates, 15 September 1778 (Washington Papers)
You will early to morrow morning with the division under your command, begin your march from Bedford —and proceed by easy marches to Danbury—near which place you will take a position—in the choice of which, regard is to be had to two capital objects—1st the maintaining a communication with the divisions between you and the North River, for mutual support and the security of the Posts in the...