91George Washington to Samuel Huntington, 25 June 1780 (Hamilton Papers)
Whippany [ New Jersey ] June 25, 1780 . Describes movements of the two Armies. States doubt concerning enemy’s objective, but believes that it is probably West Point. Df , in writing of H, George Washington Papers, Library of Congress.
92From George Washington to Samuel Huntington, 25 June 1780 (Washington Papers)
Since I had the honor of addressing Congress on the 20th the following movements have taken place on the part of the Enemy and on our part. The conduct of the Enemy and our intelligence giving us reason to suspect a design against West Point, on the 21st—the army, except two Brigades & the Horse (left under the command of General Greene to cover the Country and our stores) was put in motion to...
93From George Washington to Samuel Huntington, 6 July 1780 (Washington Papers)
I have the honor by this morning’s Post, to acknowledge the receipt of your Excellency’s dispatches of the 25th Ulto which have been presented to me by General Lincoln. The several objects to which they extend, will have my consideration, and I shall do myself the honor of informing Congress of the result. Since the Enemy left Jerseys, their main body has proceeded into the County of West...
94From George Washington to Samuel Huntington, 10 July 1780 (Washington Papers)
I have, with great pleasure, seen the very laudable association of the Merchants of Philadelphia, for procuring a quantity of provisions and Rum for the Army. I am well persuaded, that the same spirit exists in those of the other considerable trading Towns, who, perhaps, only want being made acquainted with the distresses of the Army, in Articles almost as essential as those of provision, to...
95From George Washington to Samuel Huntington, 10 July 1780 (Washington Papers)
I now beg leave to inform Congress that since my Letter of the 4th, I have attended to their dispatches of the 25th Ulto by General Lincoln. At this time I do not think that the circumstances of the Campaign would admit, at any rate, an enquiry to be gone into respecting the loss of Charles Town, but if it were otherwise, I do not see that it could be made, so as to be completely satisfactory...
96George Washington to Samuel Huntington, 14 July 1780 (Hamilton Papers)
Bergen County [ New Jersey ] July 14, 1780 . Informs Congress of arrival of the French fleet off Newport. Encloses plan for inspector general’s department. Df , in writing of H, George Washington Papers, Library of Congress. A draft of this plan in H’s writing dated July, 1780, is found in the Washington Papers, Library of Congress. According to Fitzpatrick ( GW John C. Fitzpatrick, ed., The...
97From George Washington to Samuel Huntington, 14 July 1780 (Washington Papers)
I have the honor to inform Congress that I have this moment received a letter from Major General Heath dated Providence the 11th informing that the afternoon of the 10th the French fleet arrived off Newport—that the signals of recognizance had been made and the fleet was standing in to the harbour when the express came away. I congratulate Congress on this important event, and entreat them to...
98From George Washington to Samuel Huntington, 15 July 1780 (Washington Papers)
The New York paper of the 14th announces the arrival of Admiral Greaves on the 13th with, as they say, “a formidable Squadron of Capital Ships to reinforce Vice Admiral Arbuthnot.” My private information makes this Squadron to consist of the six following Ships. London 90 Guns Resolution 74 Bedford 74 Royal Oak 74 Prudent 64 America 60. The arrival of this naval Armament has not induced us to...
99From George Washington to Samuel Huntington, 15 July 1780 (Washington Papers)
Doctor Cochran, Physician and Surgeon General of the Army in the Middle Department, will have the honor of presenting this to Your Excellency, and of explaining to you the distressed situation of the Hospitals for necessary Stores, even at this time, when the number of sick are exceedingly few. From present prospects of the operations of this Campaign, we must expect to have a considerable...
100From George Washington to Samuel Huntington, 15 July 1780 (Washington Papers)
I have the honor to transmit your Excellency, in Two packets, the proceedings of the Court Martial in the case of Doctr Shippen, Director General of the Hospitals, for the approbation or disapprobation of Congress. The trial having taken place in consequence of their order, this circumstance and the Doctor’s station in the Army have induced me to think it most proper to refer the matter to...
101From George Washington to Samuel Huntington, 20 July 1780 (Washington Papers)
I have had the pleasure of a communication from Comte de Rochambea and Chevalier Ternay, since their arrival at Rhode-Island, and take the earliest occasion to inform Congress of their force and situation. The succour destined for these States, for particaular reasons, were thrown into two divisions. The first (that arrived) consists of 7 sail of the line, and one of 64, converted into a...
102From George Washington to Samuel Huntington, 20 July 1780 (Washington Papers)
Since I had the honor of addressing Congress this Morning by post, I received a Letter from Brigadier General Maxwell, requesting me to accept his resignation and assigning his reasons for the same. Having never acted on an application of this sort from an Officer of his rank, I beg leave to lay the matter before Congress & to transmit them a Copy of his Letter, by which they will be more...
103George Washington to Samuel Huntington, 22 July 1780 (Hamilton Papers)
Preakness [ New Jersey ] July 22, 1780 . Has sent “definitive proposals of co-operation to the French General and Admiral.” Is proceeding on assumption that the states “will ultimately consult their own interest and honor; and not suffer us to fail for want of means which it is evidently in their power to afford.” Reiterates need for transportation. Df , in writing of H, George Washington...
104From George Washington to Samuel Huntington, 22 July 1780 (Washington Papers)
The Committee has done me the honor to communicate a copy of their letter of the 18th to Congress containing a state of the measures they had taken & of our present prospects. The knowledge I have of facts perfectly coincides with their representation & the consequences they draw are so just & important that they ought to engage—& I am perswaded will engage the closest attention of Congress. I...
105From George Washington to Samuel Huntington, 22 July 1780 (Washington Papers)
I beg leave to acquaint Congress that I have been informed by a letter from Governor Jefferson to their Committee in Camp, lately received, that the Legislature of Virginia had a Bill before them, when His Excellency wrote, for raising Five Thousand Men for Eighteen months to supply their Battallions; and that by a Letter, with which he was pleased to honor me at the same time, he requested...
106From George Washington to Samuel Huntington, 26 July 1780 (Washington Papers)
Having recd information that there were considerable numbers of Cattle and Horses in Bergen Neck, within reach of the enemy, and having reason to suspect that they meant shortly to draw all supplies of that kind within their lines, I detached Brigadier Genl Wayne on the 20th with the 1st and 2d Penna Brigades with four peices of Artilley attached to them, and Colo. Moylans Regt of Dragoons to...
107From George Washington to Samuel Huntington, 27 July 1780 (Washington Papers)
By advices received last night from the Count de Rochambeau, I am informed that the British Fleet were off Block Island on the 22d instant. I have at his request transmitted this intelligence to the Minister of France —I have also received intelligence from New York that a number of troops were embarked on board Transports in the Sound. It is given out that Sir Henry Clinton is determined upon...
108George Washington to Samuel Huntington, 30 July 1780 (Hamilton Papers)
Paramus [ New Jersey ] July 30, 1780 . Requests Congress to take measures to induce Major General Nathanael Greene and other officers of the quartermaster department to continue their services. Explains that unless this is done “we not only must cease the preparations for the campaign; but shall in all probability be obliged to disperse, if not disband the army for want of subsistence.” LS ,...
109From George Washington to Samuel Huntington, 30 July 1780 (Washington Papers)
The Honorable The Committee address Congress by this opportunity to inform them of the most disagreeable crisis to which our affairs are brought in the Quarter Master Generals department. I think it my duty to assure Congress, that I intirely agree with the Committee in opinion; and that unless effectual measures are immediately taken to induce General Greene and the other principal officers...
110George Washington to Samuel Huntington, 3 August 1780 (Hamilton Papers)
Peekskill [ New York ] August 3, 1780 . Informs Congress that Sir Henry Clinton has returned. Describes resultant movements of Army. Df , in writing of H, George Washington Papers, Library of Congress.
111From George Washington to Samuel Huntington, 3 August 1780 (Washington Papers)
Having received accounts, that Sir Henry Clinton had embarked the principal part of his force for Rhode Island, I put the army in motion the 29th of July and the 31st formed a junction in the vicinity of this place with the troops in this quarter. Had Sir Henry prosecuted what appeared to be his design, my intention was to attempt New York in his absence. Our preparations were made for this...
112George Washington to Samuel Huntington, 20 August 1780 (Hamilton Papers)
Orangetown [ New York ] August 20, 1780 . Thanks Congress for increase in powers. Describes situation in Army. Discusses position of Great Britain both here and abroad. Reviews European situation. Argues for establishing a draft either for duration of war or for three years. Reiterates need of “ample and equal provision for the Army.” Repeats need for half-pay provision for officers. Urges...
113From George Washington to Samuel Huntington, 20 August 1780 (Washington Papers)
I have been duly honored with your Excellys letters of the 3d 5th & 7th instt with their Inclosures. I have a grateful sense of the confidence of which these Acts are expressive, and shall labour to improve it to the utmost extent of the means with which I am entrusted. I sincerely wish our prospects were more favourable than they are. The inclosed copy of a letter to the Honorable The...
114From George Washington to Samuel Huntington, 24 August 1780 (Washington Papers)
I am now to acknowledge the Honor of Your Excellency’s dispatches of the 9th, which I received four or five days ago, and which I have been prevented answering before, by a variety of pressing business. With respect to the exchange of Officers—I beg leave to refer Congress to the Inclosures No. 1.2.3.4.5 & 6 which comprehend the correspondence which has passed of late between Us & the Enemy on...
115From George Washington to Samuel Huntington, 28 August 1780 (Washington Papers)
The day before yesterday we compleated the Forage of which I had the honor to advise Congress the 24th instant, the product of which has been, as was apprehended, very inconsiderable. The Army is now reassembled at this place and will remain here a day or two to consume the forage remaining in the neighbourhood, after which we shall probably return to our former position. The intelligence...
116From George Washington to Samuel Huntington, 6 September 1780 (Washington Papers)
I had the honor to receive your Excellency’s Letters of the 24th & 28th Ulto, on the 1st & 2d Instt with the resolutions to which they refer. The latter have been announced to the Army in Orders—and I hope that they will quiet many of the complaints which have existed. I cannot forbear expressing my wishes for the sake of harmony, which our affairs essentially require, that the business of...
117George Washington to Samuel Huntington, 8 September 1780 (Hamilton Papers)
New Bridge [ New Jersey ] September 8, 1780 . Asks Congress to explain resolve of August 5, 1780, concerning Washington’s powers. Inquires about Congress’s ability to furnish currency, about North and South Carolina’s ability to supply provisions, and about measures to replace men whose terms of service end in January. Df , in writing of H, George Washington Papers, Library of Congress.
118From George Washington to Samuel Huntington, 8 September 1780 (Washington Papers)
Since the letter which I did myself the honor to write Congress the 20th Ulto, I have been more attentively considering the import of the resolution of the 5th of August, and am at a loss to satisfy myself as to the precise extent—whether it be meant to authorise me to extend my views beyond the present Campaign and even to apply to the Ministers of France & Spain in Europe—or only to concert...
119From George Washington to Samuel Huntington, 9 September 1780 (Washington Papers)
I have been informed that large quantities of Goods, proper for the use of the Army, have lately arrived to the Eastward, in the prizes captured out of the Quebec Fleet. The disappointment of not receiving the Cloathing expected from France by the Alliance Frigate, and the uncertainty of the safe arrival of the Ariel, on board of which it is said it was afterwards to have been shipped, (but...
120From George Washington to Samuel Huntington, 13 September 1780 (Washington Papers)
This will be presented to your Excellency by Captain Hendricks Solomon of Stockbridge who with about Twenty of his Tribe have been serving as Volunteers with the Army since the beginning of July —They have been generally attached to the Light Infantry and have conducted themselves with great propriety and fidelity—seeing no immediate prospect of any operations in this quarter in which they can...