24961To George Washington from Brig. Gen. William Maxwell, 2 September 1777 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Brig. Gen. William Maxwell, 2 Sept. 1777. GW wrote in his first letter to Maxwell of this date : “I have your two favs. of this date,” and in his second letter to Maxwell of this date, GW wrote: “I am just favd with yours of this Evening.”
24962From George Washington to Brigadier General William Maxwell, 2 September 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have your two favs. of this date. In consequence of the remonstrance from the Inhabitants near Elk I have commanded Armands Corps to repair immediately to this place. If any of the people who have been injured can point out the particular persons either Officers or Soldiers they shall be made Examples of—As several accounts seem to agree that the Enemy mean to come out tomorrow Morning, I...
24963From George Washington to Brigadier General William Maxwell, 2 September 1777 (Washington Papers)
I am just favd with yours of this Evening. I do not know where the Sign of the Buck is, I therefore cannot say whether it will be proper for you to leave your present post to go and attack the party that is said to be thereabouts. If it is upon your left as I suppose it is, it will be by no means proper, because while you were gone down, the Enemy might advance from Grey’s Hill to Christeen...
24964From George Washington to Brigadier General Thomas Nelson, Jr., 2 September 1777 (Washington Papers)
By Yesterday mornings post, I received Your favor of the 22d. Ulto. It gave me great pleasure to hear of your Appointment, and I wish you to accept my Congratulations upon the occasion. The want of Military experience, you mention, is no Ob[s]tacle to your serving your Country in the Capacity in which you have undertaken. In our infant state of War, it cannot be expected, we should be perfect...
24965From George Washington to Major General Joseph Spencer, 2 September 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have duly received your favour of the 15th of last month. The frequent captures you make with your little parties have a very good effect and ought to be encouraged. With respect to the exchanges you propose, it is not in my power to interfere in the matter. Elias Boudinotte Esqr. has been appointed Commissary General of prisoners and every thing relating to them must pass through his hands....
24966To George Washington from Brigadier General Anthony Wayne, 2 September 1777 (Washington Papers)
I took the liberty some days since to Suggest the Selecting 2′500 or 3′000 of our best Armed and most Disciplined Troops (exclusive of the Reserve) who should hold themselves in Readiness on the Approach of the Enemy to make a Regular and Vigorous Assault on their Right or Left flank—or such part of their Army as should then be thought most expedient—and not wait the Attack from them. This Sir...
24967To John Adams from Andrew Henshaw, 3 September 1777 (Adams Papers)
I this day had the pleasure to converse with the Hon. Mr. Warren who appears desirous to serve me. He informs me the present Establishment for the Navy Board is only one Clerk. I would not presume to dictate, but beg leave to suggest that the Business must be very extensive and whether there will not be ample Employ for both a Secretary and Clerk. Several Gentlemen of Character have spoke to...
24968To John Adams from Joseph Nourse, 3 September 1777 (Adams Papers)
The Resolves of Congress, directing every board to deliver into the secretary’s Office, all original Letters referr’d to them address’d to Congress, I have with the advice and direction of Mr. Peters deliver’d in all Papers up to the 1st. Instant. Mr. Houston is arranging them, and preparing to have copies made out for the Committee, and desires me to inform you, he will be happy to see you,...
24969George Washington to Brigadier General William Maxwell, 3 September 1777 (Hamilton Papers)
Wilmington [ Delaware ] September 3, 1777. Discusses possibility of British attack on Maxwell by enemy party sent to Bohemia, Delaware. Orders Maxwell to send information about enemy in that area. In postscript, orders Maxwell to retreat to Christiana Bridge. Df , in writing of H, George Washington Papers, Library of Congress.
24970From Benjamin Franklin to George Washington, 3 September 1777 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Library of Congress M. Gontier de Biran, who will have the honour of delivering this into your hands, is strongly recommended to me by Persons of Merit and Distinction at this Court, as a Gentleman of Family, and of excellent Character for his Morals, Prudence, and Attention to the Duties of his Profession as a Soldier. He is desirous of improving himself in that Profession, under...
24971To Benjamin Franklin from William Day, 3 September 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society It is with the Greatest pleasure I embrace this Conveyance, per Monsier Rochette who says he has the Honour of being personally Known to You, and has promised to deliver my Letter himself. The Thought that it was my duty (to inform You of the Occurrences of my Cruize) must appologize for my Freedom of troubling a Gentlemen of Your Character with a scrawl,...
24972To Benjamin Franklin from the Abbé Vicomte de Tarride, 3 September 1777: résumé (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society <Pau in Béarn, September 3, 1777, in French: The vicomte de Tarride, a young man of twenty-two, was réformé after three years’ service and decided to join the Americans. About a month ago he sailed from Bayonne on a Boston ship. I hope I may ask for him your protection and letters to your countrymen. If you think proper, I will send the duc du Châtelet’s...
24973General Orders, 3 September 1777 (Washington Papers)
John Parker Esqr. is appointed paymaster to the 8th Pennsylvania regt in the room of John Boyd Esqr. resigned. As the enemy’s motions will be sudden, and perhaps rapid, the General positively orders the commanding officers of corps to keep their men in camp, by no means suffering them to ramble about, out of the verge of it—The discharge of two field pieces is to be considered by the...
24974From George Washington to the Continental Congress Intelligence Committee, 3 September 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have the Honor of yours of Yesterday with a Number of Hand Bills giving an account of our successes to the Northward. They shall be distributed among the Soldiery, and I doubt not but they will answer the good End which is intended by them. Every peice of favorable News circulated in this manner thro’ the Camp will certainly inspirit the Troops. I refer you to my letter to Congress for the...
24975To George Washington from John Hancock, 3 September 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have Nothing in Charge from Congress at this Time, but to transmit the enclosed Resolves, to which I must refer your Attention. General Sullivan’s Expedition on Staten Island having ended in the Loss and Defeat of a considerable Number of the Troops under his Command; the Congress have directed a Court of Enquiry to be instituted relative to the Expedition. You will please to order Colonel...
24976From George Washington to John Hancock, 3 September 1777 (Washington Papers)
I this minute returned to Head Qrs, where I found your favor of this date with the Resolves respecting Genl Sullivan and Colo. Richardson’s Battallion. I had conversed with Genl Sullivan upon the Subject and observed to him, that it was necessary an inquiry should be had relative to the Affair of Staten Island, as his conduct was censured & much dissatisfaction prevailed. He was sensible of...
24977From George Washington to Thomas Johnson, 3 September 1777 (Washington Papers)
The late Resolution of Congress for sending Genl Smallwood and Colo. Gist from this Army, to arrange and command the Militia of Maryland, now called to the Feild, and the frequent applications I had, before the arrival of those Gentn at this place, to send Officers to the Eastern Shore to take the direction of the Militia assembling there, give me reason to beleive, that the regulations, in...
24978To George Washington from William Livingston, 3 September 1777 (Washington Papers)
I was just now honoured with your Excellencys Favour of the 1st Instant, as I arrived at this place to meet the Assembly. I am surprized at Mr Troup’s pretension of his leaving the Enemy to come into this State with design of taking the Benefit of our Act of Grace, & of referring in Proof of that Assertion, to Philip Schoop & his Mother, for the three following reasons, which I think render it...
24979To George Washington from Brig. Gen. William Maxwell, 3 September 1777 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Brig. Gen. William Maxwell, 3 Sept. 1777. GW wrote Maxwell on this date : “Yours of three oClock this morning, I have received.”
24980From George Washington to Brigadier General William Maxwell, 3 September 1777 (Washington Papers)
Yours of three oClock this morning, I have received. I do not think you have much to fear from the party that has been sent over to Bohemia, who lie greatly to the Southward of you & too remote from where you now are, easily to injure you. It is im[a]gined the design of their going there is to extend across from Bohemia river to Apoquiminy, by which means, they will prevent the Eastern shore...
24981To George Washington from Brigadier General Caesar Rodney, 3 September 1777 (Washington Papers)
Yesterday morning I took Post at this place between two and three miles from Middleton. I have kept my Light-Horse, about seventeen or eighteen in number, out beating up the Enemy’s Quarters ever since and gaining what intelligence I could of the Enemy’s movements. Last night a little after dark they were close in with the Enemy at Carson’s Tavern where they encamped exchanged some shott and...
24982To John Adams from Joseph Ward, 4 September 1777 (Adams Papers)
Yesterday a severe skirmish happened between a party of seven hundred of our Troops and two or three thousand Barbarians , it is said we lost forty or fifty and the Enemy more, but the superiority of their numbers obliged our men to retreat; the Enemy advanced and are now encamped three or four miles below Christiana Bridge, with the greatest part of their Troops. These accounts I receive from...
24983To John Adams from James Warren, 4 September 1777 (Adams Papers)
I thank you for yours of the 12th. and 18th August which came safe to hand. I am much Gratified by seeing some Account of your plans, and Operations Abroad. Your good Lady Obliged me with A Sight of A Letter of A similar kind She received from you some time since. I think on the whole they are as well as we could Expect, and perhaps in A better way than our Enemies ever had An Idea of. I shall...
24984George Washington to Brigadier General Edward Hand, 4 September 1777 (Hamilton Papers)
Wilmington [ Delaware ] September 4, 1777. Orders Hand to send forward officers of Colonel Daniel Brodhead’s regiment. Sends news of Fort Stanwix (Schuyler). Df , in writing of H, postscript in writing of Caleb Gibbs, George Washington Papers, Library of Congress.
24985From Benjamin Franklin to George Washington, 4 September 1777 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Library of Congress The Gentleman who will have the Honour of waiting upon you with this Letter is the Baron de Steuben, lately a Lieutenant General in the King of Prussia’s Service, whom he attended in all his Campaigns, being his Aide Camp, Quartermaster General, &c. He goes to America with a true Zeal for our Cause, and a View of engaging in it and rendring it all the Service in...
24986To Benjamin Franklin from Jean-François Fournier, 4 September 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Pour répondre a l’honneur de votre demande des cinquante livres de caracterres d’imprimerie que vous m’avez faites le jours de la st. Louis lorsque j’ai eu l’honneur de vous parler étant avec mon épouse et ma fille, je n’ai pas fait la reflexion de vous repondre que vous ne pouviez pas faire grand choses avec si peut du caracterre dont vous avez gardé...
24987To Benjamin Franklin from Paulze, 4 September 1777 (Franklin Papers)
LS : American Philosophical Society Je viens, Monsieur, de faire acheter à Londres et à Glascow 6000 Boucauds de Tabacs. Vous sçavés que suivant l’acte du 27. Septembre 1660 toutes les denrées et marchandises d’Angleterre ne peuvent être expédiées que par des Navires Anglois et je tenterois sans succès de faire charger ces Tabacs sur des navires français; Mais on me fait craindre que les...
24988General Orders, 4 September 1777 (Washington Papers)
As a full supply of hard bread cannot at present be obtained, all that now is in, or shall come to, the hands of the regimental quarter masters, is to remain there, and not be distributed, but upon the most pressing exigency, and when the troops are about to march, and then not without orders from their Brigadier. In the mean time the army is to be furnished with soft bread, or flour, which...
24989From George Washington to Brigadier General Edward Hand, 4 September 1777 (Washington Papers)
Colonel Broadhead of the 8th Pensylvania regiment has represented to me, that several of his officers sent to Westmoreland with large sums of public money, for the purposes of recruiting men for his corps & recovering others who had deserted from it, were detained by your influence and countenance from their regiment. I know not what foundation he may have for this assertion; but if the fact...
24990To George Washington from Thomas Johnson, 4 September 1777 (Washington Papers)
I recvd your Letter of the first Instant and was happy in having it in my power to converse with General Smallwood on the Contents of it. I see several Vessels in the Harbour which I think might well be applied for the purpose you mention and believe I could get Men who would at least endeavour to go through it but I am apprehensive it could not be conducted with Success we have very little...