1To John Adams from George Washington, 7 January 1776 (Adams Papers)
You will excuse me for reminding you of our conversation the other Evening, when I inform’d you that General Lee’s departure for New York is advisable upon the Plan of his Letter, and under the circumstances I then mentioned, ought not to be delayed. In giving me your opinion of this matter I have no doubt of your taking a comprehensive view of it. That is, you will not only consider the...
2To John Adams from George Washington, 15 January 1776 (Adams Papers)
I am exceedingly sorry I did not know that you were in this place today. Our want of Men and arms is such, as to render it necessary for me to get the best advice possible of the most eligeble mode of obtaining of them. I adjourned the Council of Officers today, untill I could be favourd with your opinion (together with that of others of the General Court) on these heads. They meet again...
3George Washington to the Board of War, 29 July 1776 (Adams Papers)
At length I have been able to comply with the first part of a Resolution of Congress of the 27 Ultimo relative to a return of the vacancies in the Several Regiments composing that part of the Army under my immediate command. I thought to have made this Return much sooner, but the dispersed situation of our Troops—the constant duty they are upon—the difficulty of getting returns when this is...
4To John Adams from George Washington, 22 October 1781 (Adams Papers)
As the Transmission of the inclosed paper through the usual Channel of the Department of foreign Affairs would, on the present Occasion, probably be attended with great Delay—and recent Intelligence of Military Transactions must be important to our Ministers in Europe at the present period of Affairs—I have thought it would be agreeable both to Congress and your Excellency, that the Matter...
5Warrant to Captain Alexander Hamilton, 29 September 1776 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Harlem Heights, New York ] September 29, 1776. In George Washington’s “Warrant Book No 2” an entry for this date reads “To Capn Hamilton for his Co Arty. Aug–774. 3/72 [dollars].” D , George Washington Papers, Library of Congress.
6Warrant for Captain Alexander Hamilton, [19 December 1776] (Hamilton Papers)
[ Bucks County, Pennsylvania ] December 19, 1776. In George Washington’s “Warrant Book No. 2” an entry for this date reads:”To Capn Alexr Hamilton his pay for his Coy. Arty from 1st Sepr to 1 Decr—1562 [dollars].” D , George Washington Papers, Library of Congress.
7To Alexander Hamilton from George Washington, [20 January 1777] (Hamilton Papers)
[ Morristown, New Jersey, January 20, 1777. A statement in George Washington’s letter to Lieutenant Colonel Robert Hanson Harrison of this date reads: “Be so good as to forward the Inclosed to Captn. Hamilton.” Letter not found. ] Before the Revolution, Harrison, who was a native of Maryland, was a lawyer in Alexandria, Virginia, where he met Washington and became his occasional legal adviser....
8General Orders, Appointing Alexander Hamilton Aide-de-Camp to General Washington, 1 March 1777 (Hamilton Papers)
Alexander Hamilton Esquire is appointed Aide-De-Camp to the Commander in Chief; and is to be respected and obeyed as such. Facsimile, Hamilton, Intimate Life Allan McLane Hamilton, The Intimate Life of Alexander Hamilton (New York, 1910). , 37. H’s copy of the General Orders has not been found. Washington’s General Orders of March 1, 1777, are printed in GW John C. Fitzpatrick, ed., The...
9George Washington to Lieutenant Colonel Archibald Campbell, 1 March 1777 (Hamilton Papers)
Morristown [ New Jersey ] March 1, 1777. Seeks to mitigate severity of Campbell’s imprisonment. Df , in writing of H, George Washington Papers, Library of Congress. Campbell, a member of the 71st Regiment of the British army, was a prisoner in Concord, Massachusetts.
10George Washington to Major General Horatio Gates, 1 March 1777 (Hamilton Papers)
Morristown [ New Jersey ] March 1, 1777. Orders investigation of fraudulent recruiting returns. Requests inoculation of two Virginia regiments. Df , in writing of H, George Washington Papers, Library of Congress.
11George Washington to Brigadier General Benedict Arnold, 3 March 1777 (Hamilton Papers)
Morristown [ New Jersey ] March 3, 1777. Discusses Arnold’s proposed attack against Rhode Island. Notes that Arnold’s name was not on list of newly promoted major generals. Df , in writing of H, George Washington Papers, Library of Congress. Arnold was at this time in Providence, Rhode Island. On May 2, 1777, Arnold was promoted to the rank of major general. On August 8, 1777, he was given a...
12George Washington to Brigadier General George Clinton, 3 March 1777 (Hamilton Papers)
Morristown [ New Jersey ] March 3, 1777. Asks Clinton to decide location of cannon on the Hudson. Places choice of men and officers for Clinton’s forces in Clinton’s hands. Df , in writing of H, George Washington Papers, Library of Congress; LS in writing of H, George Washington Photostats, Library of Congress. Clinton, a brigadier general in the Continental Army, was at New Windsor, New York,...
13George Washington to Major General William Heath, 3 March 1777 (Hamilton Papers)
Morristown [ New Jersey ] March 3, 1777. Orders Heath to relieve Major General Artemas Ward. Df , in writing of H, George Washington Papers, Library of Congress. Heath, who was in command of the Hudson River posts, was appointed Artemas Ward’s successor as commander of the Eastern Department on Ward’s resignation.
14George Washington to Major General Joseph Spencer, 3 March 1777 (Hamilton Papers)
Morristown [ New Jersey ] March 3, 1777. Requests that proposed Rhode Island venture be undertaken only if success is certain. Discusses inoculation of troops. Df , in writing of H, George Washington Papers, Library of Congress.
15George Washington to Major General Artemas Ward, 3 March 1777 (Hamilton Papers)
Morristown [ New Jersey ] March 3, 1777. Accepts Ward’s resignation. Appoints Major General William Heath to succeed Ward. Df , in writings of H and John Fitzgerald, George Washington Papers, Library of Congress.
16George Washington to Brigadier General William Woodford, 3 March 1777 (Hamilton Papers)
Morristown [ New Jersey ] March 3, 1777. Discusses Woodford’s loss of seniority. Urges Woodford to accept promotion to brigadier general. Df , in writing of H, George Washington Papers, Library of Congress.
17George Washington to Lieutenant Colonel Robert Hanson Harrison, [4 March 1777] (Hamilton Papers)
Differences in opinion having arisen, between General Howe and myself, respecting the construction of a proposition, made the 30th. of July and acceded to the 1st. of August last, for the exchange of prisoners, whereby it was stipulated, that officers should be given for officers of equal rank, soldier for soldier, and citizen for citizen; for the accommodation of these differences, and to...
18George Washington to Brigadier General Alexander McDougall, 6 March 1777 (Hamilton Papers)
Morristown [ New Jersey ] March 6, 1777. Requests a return of troops. Questions validity of some returns and suspects fraud. Orders McDougall to have troops in readiness at Peekskill. Df , in writing of H, George Washington Papers, Library of Congress LS, in the handwriting of H, the W. Wright Hawkes Collection of Revolutionary War Documents, on deposit at Union College, Schenectady, New York.
19George Washington to Brigadier General William Smallwood, 8 March 1777 (Hamilton Papers)
Morristown [ New Jersey ] March 8, 1777. Instructs Smallwood to order all officers and men not needed for recruiting to repair to camp. Df , in writing of H, George Washington Papers, Library of Congress.
20George Washington to Lieutenant Colonel John Brooks, 11 March 1777 (Hamilton Papers)
Morristown [ New Jersey ] March 11, 1777. Transmits commission for William Hull. Df , in writing of H, George Washington Papers, Library of Congress. Brooks was a Massachusetts doctor turned soldier. Major William Hull, Eighth Massachusetts Regiment.
21George Washington to Major General Thomas Mifflin, 11 March 1777 (Hamilton Papers)
Morristown [ New Jersey ] March 11, 1777. Orders preparations for approaching campaign. Mifflin was the quartermaster general of the Army.
22George Washington to Brigadier General Gold Selleck Silliman, 11 March 1777 (Hamilton Papers)
Morristown [ New Jersey ] March 11, 1777. Discusses British naval feints. Is not apprehensive of an attack on Connecticut and, therefore, refuses to send requested detachments. Df , in writing of H, George Washington Papers, Library of Congress.
23George Washington to Major General Philip Schuyler, 12 March 1777 (Hamilton Papers)
Morristown [ New Jersey ] March 12, 1777. Discusses necessity of concentrating forces. States that Philadelphia is enemy’s object. Weighs advantages of centralizing forces at Peekskill as against Ticonderoga. Df , in writings of John Walker, George Washington, and H, George Washington Papers, Library of Congress. Schuyler was at this time in Albany in command of the Northern Department.
24George Washington to Connecticut and Rhode Island Colonels, 12 March 1777 (Hamilton Papers)
Morristown [ New Jersey ] March 12, 1777. Requests exact return of troops. Orders colonels to send all their men to join the Army. Instructs colonels to remain behind to complete their regiments.
25George Washington to New York Colonels, 12 March 1777 (Hamilton Papers)
Morristown [ New Jersey ] March 12, 1777. Requests exact return of troops. Orders recruits to Peekskill. Instructs colonels to remain behind to complete their regiments.
26George Washington to Pennsylvania Colonels, 12 March 1777 (Hamilton Papers)
Morristown [ New Jersey ] March 12, 1777. Requests exact return of troops. Orders men who have had smallpox to the Army, others to Philadelphia to be inoculated. Instructs colonels to remain in Philadelphia to supply their regiments.
27George Washington to Brigadier General Alexander McDougall, 15 March 1777 (Hamilton Papers)
Morristown [ New Jersey ] March 15, 1777. Approves of McDougall’s decision to order troops to Forts Constitution and Montgomery instead of to Peekskill, New York. Approves stationing of Colonel Henry B. Livingston in Westchester to secure magazines. Urges inoculation when needed. Instructs McDougall to receive Massachusetts troops. Df , dated March 14, 1777, in writings of Robert H. Harrison...
28George Washington to Major General John Sullivan, 15 March 1777 (Hamilton Papers)
Morristown [ New Jersey ] March 15, 1777. Exhorts Sullivan not to imagine slights. Discusses separate commands. States that the only separate command is that of the Northern Department. Df , in writing of H, George Washington Papers, Library of Congress.
29George Washington to John Rutledge, 17 March 1777 (Hamilton Papers)
Morristown [ New Jersey ] March 17, 1777. Discusses proposed expedition against St. Augustine. Df , in writing of H, George Washington Papers, Library of Congress. Rutledge was the chief executive of South Carolina. He was referred to as both governor and president of the state.
30Warrant for Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Hamilton, 21 March 1777 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Morristown, New Jersey ] March 21, 1777. An entry in George Washington’s “Warrant Book No 2” reads: “To Captain Alexr Hamilton for 1 Months Pay of the N. York Artillery to Jany. 1st—420 9/72 [dollars].” Another entry for the same date reads: “To Ditto of Do. For 2 Months Pay to 1st March—766 22/72 [dollars].” D , George Washington Papers, Library of Congress.