George Washington Papers
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To George Washington from Major General Nathanael Greene, 24 March 1777

From Major General Nathanael Greene

Philadelphia [24] March 1777

Dear Sir

I receivd your letter of the 21st I was with a Committee of Congress who had the business of the Cartel and other matters under consideration when your Excellencies letter was deliverd me—I had explaind the matter fully to the Congress & Committee I was two hours before the former and two Evenings with the latter—I believe the business of the Cartel will be settled agreeable to your wishes—that is, General How acknowledgeing General Lee a prisoner of War and holding him subject to exchange when ever we have an Equivalent to offer—the full execution of the old Cartel to take place—as your Excellency & General How can agree—with full powers to annex such further conditions as may be thought necessary to promote the comfort & happiness of the unfortunate.1

I explaind fully the State of the Army to the Congress—but I fear they can do but little more than has been done—there has gone from this City about 700 men within a Week past a thousand more will be ready in eight or ten days—The Congress have wrote to Governor Johnson to forward the Maryland Troops and to the Governor of the three lower Counties2—the Maryland Delagates which arrivd in Town last Night said their Regimts are above half full upon an Average—It is reported with some degree of confidence that the Nine North Carolina Regiments are on their march this side of Virgina—but I have no sufficient foundation for the Report to give full credit to it.

I believe the Congress thinks the alterations of the rout of the Massachusets Troops exceeding judicious—I explaind to the House your Excellency’s Ideas of the next Campaign—it appeard to be new to them—however they readily admited the probability from the reasons offerd—I yesterday went to View the forts & fortification below the City—I think them quite insufficient for the purpose without a very strong opposition—I have road round the City and up the Scuylkill and give it as my Oppinion that it cannot be fortified to advantage—The approaches may be made so many ways that it would take a greater number of Troops to defend the Works—than would be prudent to have shut up in the City—However I think an advantageous line may be drawn from the Schuylkill to the Delaware—begining at Morris Seat on the Schuylkill & runing from thence to Shippens Hubleys & Dickasons Country Seat over to the Delaware—these posts would be elligible upon the Enemies geting possession of the City.

Inclosd is a return of the situation of the Quarter Master Generals department the Waggons spare Carriages & so not mentiond in the return are in great forwardness General Mifflin informs.3

Col. Flours returnd yesterday from Carlille the place for the Laboratory. he has contracted for the Ground provided materials & orderd the necessary buildings to be erectd as soon as possible—There is cast at this place one 12 lb., two Sixes & Two five inch Howitzers—that are good—they will continue to cast about two a Week. Col. Flowers is makeing out a return of the State of his department if he compleats it before this letter goes, I shall inclose it. I am told by the Congress the pay and establishmt for the light Horse is compleated and forwarded.4

I have impressed upon the Congress in the strongest manner I was capable the necessity of keeping the pay master fully supplied with Cash—the House requested the estimates—I told them I could not furnish any but the demand would be great—at the opening the Campaign to pay off the old reareages & satisfy the new demands.

There is so much deliberation and waste of time in the execution of business before this Assembly that my patience is almost exhausted. I cannot get the resolve respecting the Cartel past so soon as I want it I know your delicate Situation and the Anxiety you must be under.

I think it is uncertain yet whether General Gates will serve as Adjutant General—I have directed General Fermoy to repair to Camp—What measures the Congress will take respecting the rank of General Officers appointed by the States I cannot pretend to say—the subject has been fully explaind to them and the injury that may arise from things continueing in their present situation.

Colonel Cox is gone out of Town—whether he will accept the appointment of Commisary of Prisoners or not—I cannot tell—I shall write him upon the subject.

A Brigg arrivd this day from Nantz her Cargo consists of 272 Chests of Arms containing Six thousand Eight hundred muskets Sixty Chests of which not being prouved—the Capt. sais he cannot so fully engage for their goodness—but the remaining 212 Chests are very fine provd Arms—Also 1500 excellent double bridled Gun Locks—When this Vessel left France there were great preparations in that Kingdom & Spain for war—which was expected to be general through out Europe.5

Another Vessel has Just past up the River from Hispanolea—deep Laded her Cargo unknown.

Major Conner by land from Charles Town S. Carolina advises of a Ship belonging to that State arriving there 8 Days before he left that place with a number of Arms Ammunition &c. & 12 brass Cannon from France.

Nothing could have happend more seasonable than these Arms as the Congress have none in Store—Colo. Flours has about four thousand out of repair—and about 400 that are fit for use—The secret Committee have given me to understand that a large quantity of Arms Ammunition & brass Cannon are dayly expected.

I shall stay to day & tomorrow in Town and then set off for Camp unless I am detaind by the Congress. I am with the greatest respect your Excellencies most Obedient & very Humble Servant

Nathl Greene

ALS, DLC:GW. This letter is undated, but its context indicates that it was written on 24 Mar. 1777 (see note 5).

1After the committee of the Continental Congress that was appointed to confer with Greene brought in its report on 24 Mar., Congress resolved to authorize GW to proceed with an exchange of prisoners if the British would acknowledge “Major General Lee to be a prisoner of war, and entitled to be treated and exchanged as such” (JCC description begins Worthington Chauncey Ford et al., eds. Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774-1789. 34 vols. Washington, D.C., 1904–37. description ends , 7:197). The committee consisted of eight members, five of whom had been appointed to confer with General Gates on 13 Mar., Daniel Roberdeau, Lewis Morris, Roger Sherman, William Whipple, James Lovell (ibid., 175), and three additional members, appointed on 21 Mar., James Wilson, Samuel Adams, and John Witherspoon (ibid., 189).

2The committee appointed to confer with Greene wrote to Maryland governor Thomas Johnson on 22 Mar. expressing its “wish that the new levies in your State may be forwarded with the utmost expedition possible: so that they may either join our troops already in the Jersies, or at least be at hand to arrest the enemy at the Delaware, in the supposed attempt to pass it” (Smith, Letters of Delegates description begins Paul H. Smith et al., eds. Letters of Delegates to Congress, 1774–1789. 26 vols. Washington, D.C., 1976–2000. description ends , 6:478–79).

3This return has not been identified.

4Col. Benjamin Flower’s return has not been identified. For Congress’s actions on 14 Mar. 1777 concerning Continental cavalry officers and their pay, see GW to Hancock, 17 Mar. 1777, and note 1; see also JCC description begins Worthington Chauncey Ford et al., eds. Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774-1789. 34 vols. Washington, D.C., 1904–37. description ends , 7:178.

5For the arrival of the brigantine Sally in Philadelphia on 24 Mar. 1777 after a voyage of nearly three months, see John Adams to James Warren, 24 Mar., and Samuel Adams to James Warren, 25 Mar., in Smith, Letters of Delegates description begins Paul H. Smith et al., eds. Letters of Delegates to Congress, 1774–1789. 26 vols. Washington, D.C., 1976–2000. description ends , 6:484, 485, Nathan Rumsey to William Rumsey, 18 Mar., in Naval Documents description begins William Bell Clark et al., eds. Naval Documents of the American Revolution. 12 vols. to date. Washington, D.C., 1964–. description ends , 8:690–91, Hancock to GW, 26 Mar. 1777, JCC description begins Worthington Chauncey Ford et al., eds. Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774-1789. 34 vols. Washington, D.C., 1904–37. description ends , 7:197, and the Pennsylvania Gazette (Philadelphia), 26 Mar. 1777. The Sally was commanded by Capt. Hugh Stocker.

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