1From John Adams to Horatio Gates, 18 March 1780 (Adams Papers)
The Marquis de la Fayettes Brother, the Viscount de Noailles tells me, he should be glad to take Letters to America, and I dont know to whom I can give him a Letter with more Propriety than to the General of Saratoga. I should be proud to return any Civilities you may shew him to any of your Friends, who may travell to Paris. I want very much to know, what Scope the Ennemy have from New York,...
2From John Adams to Horatio Gates, 13 August 1776; 18 August 1776 (Adams Papers)
Your Favours of 24 June, and 17. July, are before me. I wish with all my Heart that you were Dictator at Ticonderoga, as much as it was intended you Should be, in Canada. Not for the sake of promoting Mr. Rice, nor any other particular Person, but for the good of the Service in general. Let me ask you however, by the Way, whether, Rice would not do for a Judge Advocate in that Department? I...
3From John Adams to Horatio Gates, 18 June 1776 (Adams Papers)
We have ordered you to the Post of Honour, and made you Dictator in Canada for Six Months, or at least untill the first of October. — We dont choose to trust you Generals, with too much Power, for too long Time. I took my Pen, at this Time, to mention to you the Name of a young Gentleman, and recommend him to your Notice and Favour. His Name is Rice. This Gentleman is the Son of a worthy...
4From John Adams to Horatio Gates, 23 March 1776 (Adams Papers)
I had the Pleasure, a few days ago, of your Favour of 8th. Instant, for which I esteem myself under great obligations to you. We rejoice here at the Prospect there is of your driving the Enemy from Boston. If you should Succeed in this I hope effectual Measures will be taken to fortify the Harbour, that the Navy may never enter it again. I think the Narrows may be So obstructed that large...
5From John Adams to Horatio Gates, 27 April 1776 (Adams Papers)
Your Favour of the Twenty third, I received Yesterday, and it put me into a good Humour, the Benefit of which I feel to this Moment, and shall continue to experience a long Time. Was you idle enough to read the Tales in the London Papers and Magazines, a few years ago concerning the Cock Lane Ghost, and the others concerning a Man of Six feet high who leaped into a Quart Bottle and corked...
6From Benjamin Franklin to Horatio Gates, 5 March 1780 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I embrace this Opportunity of the Marquis de La Fayette’s return to the Army, to Salute you, my dear old friend, and to present you with my best Wishes for your Health and prosperity. He will deliver you a Book lately published by General Burgoyn to explain and account for his misfortune. The perusal may amuse you to make the work compleat— Methinks he ought to have...
7From Benjamin Franklin to Horatio Gates, 28 August 1776 (Franklin Papers)
Transcript: Harvard University Library The Congress being advised, that there was a probability that the Hessians might be induced to quit the British service by offers of land, &c., came to two resolves for this purpose, which, being translated into German and printed, are sent to Staten Island to be distributed, if practicable, among those people. Some of them have tobacco marks on the back,...
8From Benjamin Franklin to [Horatio Gates], 2 June 1779 (Franklin Papers)
LS : New-York Historical Society I received your obliging Letter by the Chevalier De Ramondis who appears extreamly sensible of the Civilities he received at Boston, and very desirous of being serviceable to the American Cause; his Wound is not yet right, as he tells me there is a part of the Bone still to be cut off. But he is otherwise well and chearful, and has a great Respect for you. The...
9From Alexander Hamilton to Major General Horatio Gates, 29 August 1777 (Hamilton Papers)
Your two favours both of the 22d came to hand yesterday. His Excellency had been all the day out reconnoitring the country and did not return home ’till late in the evening; this morning he again went out upon the same business, and has desired me to acknowlege the receipt of your letters. The signal advantages gained over the enemy by Generals, Stark and Herkemar at so gloomy and distressing...
10From Alexander Hamilton to Major General Horatio Gates, 5 November 1777 (Hamilton Papers)
By inquiry, I have learned that General Patterson’s brigade, which is the one you propose to send is, by far, the weakest of the three now here, and does not consist of more than about 600 rank and file fit for duty. It is true there is a militia regiment with it of about 200, but the term of service for which this regiment is engaged is so near expiring, that it would be past by the time the...
11From Alexander Hamilton to Major General Horatio Gates, 4 September 1779 (Hamilton Papers)
[ West Point ] September 4, 1779 . Requests that Gates forward letter from Conrad Alexandre Gérard to Baron von Steuben. ALS , New-York Historical Society, New York City.
12From Alexander Hamilton to Major General Horatio Gates, 12 September 1778 (Hamilton Papers)
His Excellency commands me to inform you, that he has received advice, that the enemy, who had made a debarkation at Bedford, after burning the little town, had reimbarked their troops and were hovering about the Coast. He does not think it expedient that you should advance too far from the army and therefore desires, that you will halt near Bedford ’till you hear further from him. I am Sir ...
13From Alexander Hamilton to Major General Horatio Gates, [8 September 1778] (Hamilton Papers)
His Excellency desires me to inform you that having received information of the enemy’s being out advanced this side of Wards House, He thought it prudent to put the troops quietly under arms and has sent orders to the several Brigades for this purpose. This is the second note, I have written, the first the horsemen lost. I am Sir Yr. most Obed servant ALS , New-York Historical Society, New...
14From Alexander Hamilton to Major General Horatio Gates, 13 November 177[7] (Hamilton Papers)
Since my arrival in this quarter, I have been endeavouring to collect the best idea I could, of the state of things in New York in order the better to form a judgment of the probable reinforcement gone to General Howe. On the whole, these are facts well ascertained, that New York has been stripped extremely bare; That in consequence of this the few troops left there and the inhabitants are...
15[From Thomas Jefferson to Horatio Gates, 14 December 1780] (Jefferson Papers)
[ 14 Dec. 1780. Epistolary Record: “Th: J. to Gl. Gates. merely friendly & private.” Not located. Probably this letter expressed TJ’s cordial feelings toward Gates at the time of the latter’s quitting his command in the South.]
16From Thomas Jefferson to Horatio Gates, 4 October 1780 (Jefferson Papers)
My Letter of Sept. 23d. answered your favours received before that date, and the present serves to acknowledge the receipt of those of Sept. 24th and 27th. I retain in mind and recur almost daily to your Requisitions of August; We have as yet no prospect of more than one hundred Tents. Flour is ordered to be manufactured as soon as the Season will render it safe, out of which I trust we can...
17From Thomas Jefferson to Horatio Gates, 28 October 1780 (Jefferson Papers)
Your Letters of the 14th, 20th, and 21st are come to hand, and your dispatches to Congress have been regularly forwarded. I shall attend to the caveat against Mr. Ochiltree’s bill. Your Letter to Colo. Senf remains still in my hand as it did not come till the enemy had taken possession of the ground on which I know him to have been, and I have since no certain information where a Letter might...
18From Thomas Jefferson to Horatio Gates, 4 August 1780 (Jefferson Papers)
Your several favors of July 19. 21. and 22. are now before me. I have enquired into the state of the Cartouch boxes which were sent from our magazine. The Quarter master assures me they were in very good order. I must therefore conclude that the 300 complained of by Genl. Stevens were some sent from Petersburg by the Continental Quarter master or that they were pillaged of the leather on the...
19From Thomas Jefferson to Horatio Gates, 10 November 1780 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favour of the third instant Enclosing Colo. Preston’s Letter, came to hand on the eighth. The proposals mentioned in the colonel’s Letter for sending volunteers to you were accepted and put as was necessary into such precise form as that all parties might know what they had right to expect. In doing this two circumstances happened to interfere with what had been expected. 1. We required...
20From Thomas Jefferson to Horatio Gates, 3 September 1780 (Jefferson Papers)
I am extremely mortifyed at the Misfortune incurred in the South and the more so as the Militia of our State concurred so eminently in producing it. We have sent from Chesterfield a week ago 350 regulars, 50 more march tomorrow, and there will be 100, or 150 still to go thence as fast as they come out of the Hospital. Our new recruits begin to rendezvous about the 10th: inst. and may all be...
21From Thomas Jefferson to Horatio Gates, 14 December 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
I have received your friendly letters of Aug. 2. and Nov. 15. and some of the gentlemen to whom you wished them to be communicated, not being here, I have taken the liberty of handing them to some others so as to answer the spirit of your wish. It seems likely to end as I ever expected it would, in a final acknowlegement that good disposition, and arrangements will not do without a certain...
22From Thomas Jefferson to Horatio Gates, 15 October 1780 (Jefferson Papers)
I am rendered not a little anxious by the Paragraph of yours of the 7th. Inst: wherein you say ‘it is near a Month since I received any Letter from your Excellency; indeed the receipt of most that I have wrote to you remain unacknowledged.’ You ought within that time to have received my Letter of September 3d. written immediately on my return to this place after a fortnights Absence; That of...
23From Thomas Jefferson to Horatio Gates, 4 November 1780 (Jefferson Papers)
Richmond, 4 Nov. 1780. This letter is almost identical with TJ’s letter to Samuel Huntington of 3 Nov. , q.v., except that it lacks postscript. RC ( DLC ); in a clerk’s hand, signed by TJ; endorsed (in part): “Recd 11 Novr. 80.”
24From Thomas Jefferson to Horatio Gates, 19 November 1780 (Jefferson Papers)
The vessel which had been sent by Genl. Leslie, to Charles town as we supposed, returned about the 12th. inst. The enemy began to embark soon after from Portsmouth, and in the night of the 15th. compleated the embarkation of their whole force. In the morning of the 16th. some of our people entered Portsmouth. They had left their works unfinished and undestroyed. Great numbers of negroes who...
25From Thomas Jefferson to Horatio Gates, 15 August 1780 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of Aug. 3. is just now put into my hands. Those formerly received have been duly answered and will no doubt have reached you before this date. My last letter to you was by Colo. Drayton. I spoke fully with you on the difficulty of procuring waggons here when I had the pleasure of seeing you, and for that reason pressed the sending back as many as possible. One brigade of twelve has...
26From Thomas Jefferson to Horatio Gates, 23 September 1780 (Jefferson Papers)
I have empowered Colo. Carrington to have twelve Boats, Scows or Batteaux built at Taylors Ferry and to draw on me for the cost. I recommended the constructing them so as to answer the transportation of Provisions along that river, as a change of position of the two Armies may render them unnecessary at Taylors Ferry, and I am thoroughly persuaded that unless we can find out some Channel of...
27From Thomas Jefferson to Horatio Gates, 17 February 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
The situation of affairs here and in Caroline is such as must shortly turn up important events one way or the other. By letter from Genl. Greene dated Guilford C. house Feb. 10. Ld. Cornwallis rendered furious by the affair at the Cowpens and surprise of George town had burnt his own waggons to enable himself to move with facility, had pressed on to the vicinities of the Moravian towns and was...
28From Thomas Jefferson to Horatio Gates, 11 September 1780 (Jefferson Papers)
Your bill for £54,712 in favor of Mallett has been duly honoured. That for £95,288 we shall also discharge. Another bill (which being delivered back to be presented at the end of the ten days, I cannot recollect either the name of the holder or the sum) has been accepted. We are now without one shilling in the treasury or a possibility of having it recruited till the meeting of the Assembly...
29From Thomas Jefferson to Horatio Gates, 22 October 1780 (Jefferson Papers)
The Letters which accompany this will inform you of the Arrival of a large fleet of the Enemy within our Capes, and that they have begun their Debarkation. We are taking Measures to collect a Body to oppose them; for which purpose it seems necessary to retain such Regulars Volunteers and Militia as have not yet gone on to you. We have left the Counties of Lunenburg, Mecklenburg, Halifax, and...
30From Benjamin Walker to Horatio Gates, 16 February 1783 (Washington Papers)
His Excellency wishes you to take the opinion of the board of General Officers on the following question A General Court Martial sentences an Officer to be suspended for a given time. Q. in what manner does the suspension Operate? Is the Officer suspended not only from Command but from Pay and the other Emoluments of service? and if so Is he totally Detached from Service during the suspension?...
31From George Washington to Major General Horatio Gates, 7 May 1777 (Washington Papers)
The inclosed, to General Wayne, requires him to hasten to me as speedily as he can, after the receipt of my letter. His presence in this quarter cannot be dispensed with. The Pensylvania troops, daily coming in, are without any General officer of their own state, to command them; and my intention is, as far as circumstances will permit, to arrange the different troops, under the respective...
32George Washington to Major General Horatio Gates, 14 July 1778 (Hamilton Papers)
Paramus [ New Jersey ] July 14, 1778 . Informs Gates that Army is marching to Haverstraw. Df , in writing of H, George Washington Papers, Library of Congress.
33From George Washington to Major General Horatio Gates, 13 September 1778 (Washington Papers)
As it is more than probable that the road Leading to Danberry is out of order, I would wish you to send a party under a proper Officer to repair it, as far as that place, that should you receive orders to move on, you may have as little hindrance as possible. I am Sir Yr Mo. Obet Sert LS , in Richard Kidder Meade’s writing, NHi : Gates Papers; Df , DLC:GW ; Varick transcript , DLC:GW . Brig....
34From George Washington to Maj. Gen. Horatio Gates, 5 April 1777 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: to Maj. Gen. Horatio Gates, 5 April 1777. Gates wrote GW on 19 April : “I had the Honour to receive your Excellency’s Letter of the 5th Instant from Morris Town.”
35From George Washington to Major General Horatio Gates, 18 July 1780 (Washington Papers)
I have been informed by a Letter, with which His Excellency Governor Jefferson has just honoured me, that the Legislature of Virginia had a Bill depending before them, for raising Five Thousand Men to serve Eighteen months, for supplying their Battallions; and I have been requested by him to make some provision for Officering them. No mode has occurred to me more proper for the present, than...
36George Washington to Major General Horatio Gates, 11 August 1779 (Hamilton Papers)
West Point, August 11, 1779. Asks Gates to cooperate with Baron von Steuben. LS , in writing of H, New-York Historical Society, New York City.
37From George Washington to Major General Horatio Gates, 20 March 1778 (Washington Papers)
I am honored with yours of the 7th 11th & 14th instants. As soon as General Green enters upon the Office of Qr Mr General he will attend to the Stores at Reading and have all, that are not immediately or soon wanted for the Army, removed to a place of greater safety—I am obliged for your attention to the Article of Paper with which I hope we shall be in future better supplied —I do not think...
38From George Washington to Major General Horatio Gates, 30 June 1779 (Washington Papers)
Yours of the 25th was delivered me an hour ago. Inclosed you will receive a duplicate of mine of the 27th least there should be a miscarraige. If you have not detached any troops from your command before this reaches you, you will be pleased instantly to dispatch Glover’s Brigade to Join this Army; with direction to make as much expedition as they can without injuring the troops. This order is...
39George Washington to Major General Horatio Gates, 14 February 1778 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Valley Forge ] February 14, 1778 . Regrets inability to “ratify” sentence of court-martial held by Gates’s order, but will leave ultimate decision to Gates’s judgment. Df , in writing of H, George Washington Papers, Library of Congress. Gates was at this time president of the Board of War.
40From 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...
41George Washington to Major General Horatio Gates, 24 October 1778 (Hamilton Papers)
Fredericksburg [ New York ] October 24, 1778 . Reports that troops have been ordered eastward. Orders Gates to area threatened by British in the event of a British landing. Df , in writing of H, George Washington Papers, Library of Congress
42From George Washington to Brigadier General Horatio Gates, 17 June 1775 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: to Brigadier General Horatio Gates, 17 June 1775. On 22 June Gates wrote to GW : “Last night I was Honourd by the receipt of your Obliging Letter of 17th Instant.”
43From George Washington to Major General Horatio Gates, 1 November 1779 (Washington Papers)
Major General Greene communicated to me on friday last a letter from Mr Bowen D.Q.M.G., giving an account of the total evacuation of Rhode Island, on the night of the 25th Ultimo. Not hearing from you on this event, I have concluded that your express must have met with some accident; and under this idea I communicated Mr Bowen’s advice for the satisfaction of Congress. I am anxious to learn...
44George Washington to Major General Horatio Gates, 7 May 1777 (Hamilton Papers)
Morristown [ New Jersey ] May 7, 1777. Encloses letter to Brigadier General Anthony Wayne, who is needed at Headquarters. LS , in writing of H, New-York Historical Society, New York City. Gates was in command of the Northern Department.
45From George Washington to Major General Horatio Gates, 16 November 1779 (Washington Papers)
I wrote to you on the 13th desiring you to continue your march to Peekskill or Kings Ferry. We have since that time recd advices of a disagreeable nature from the Southward. The following is the best account which I have been able to obtain from Major Clarkson, and which I give you for your private satisfaction only—as perhaps the official account may be somewhat different. Much more time...
46From George Washington to Major General Horatio Gates, 17 April 1779 (Washington Papers)
I shall be under the necessity of drawing away a part of the troops now under your command to be employed elsewhere—You will therefore be pleased to direct General Glover’s Brigade to hold itself in readiness to march at the shortest notice—I hope the powerful aids of Militia, which you may call in on any emergency, in conjunction with the force still remaining and the 1500 troops to be raised...
47From George Washington to Major General Horatio Gates, 22 October 1779 (Washington Papers)
I was, in due time, favd with yours of the 15th I very much approve of your intention of marching immediately to Har[t]ford, with the Continental and State troops under your command, should the evacuation of Rhode Island take place. I will not undertake to decide upon the propriety of throwing a Garrison of Militia into Newport, because, it in a great measure depends upon the pleasure of the...
48From George Washington to Major General Horatio Gates, 2 May 1778 (Washington Papers)
The inclosed from Doctr Gordon, came under cover to me in the order you will receive it. immediately upon the receipt of your Letter of the Ulto, I sent it to Genel Green, who informs me that he hath written very urgently to Mr Hughes to continue in Office, but hears, or fears, he will not do it. The Letter for Genl Lee you will please to forward, or deliver, if he is expected soon. I am Sir...
49From 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 .
50From George Washington to Major General Horatio Gates, 19 May 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have just recd yours of the 13th which is in a great measure answered by one which I wrote to you on the 15th But I cannot help taking notice of some expressions in your letter, which appear to me like an imputation of partiality in favr of this Army, to the disadvantage and inconvenience of the Northern. Can you suppose, if there had been an ample supply of Tents for the whole Army, that I...