6951To John Adams from Nathanael Greene, 2 May 1777 (Adams Papers)
Your favor of April 22d. came to hand a few days since. General Lincoln is deservedly acquited from any blame. It is as you observe impossible to guard against the intrigues of the Tories and the Negligence of the Militia. However I hope with you that few such surprises will take place. I most sincerely lament the great inattention and indifference that appears among the People in general...
6952From Benjamin Franklin to ――― Adoubeden with a Covering Note to ―――, 2 May 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (two drafts): Library of Congress It would be a pleasure to me if I could comply with your Request to place your Son in our American Army. But it is absolutely not in my Power. Some old experienc’d Engineers and Officers of Artillery have been desired from Europe, but they have long since been engag’d and gone. And we have so many young Gentlemen, Natives of our Country, who are desirous...
6953The Committee for Foreign Affairs to the American Commissioners, 2 May 1777 (Franklin Papers)
Two LS : American Philosophical Society; three copies: National Archives On April 17, 1777, Congress renamed the committee of secret correspondence the committee for foreign affairs, and we adopt the new title at the beginning of this volume. The commissioners, however, did not learn of the change for months to come, because they received no word from the committee until September. The present...
6954To Benjamin Franklin from [David Hartley], 2 May 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society We have striven, to the utmost of our limited powers, for reconciliation between Great Britain and America. If that is become impossible, let us, at least, not relax our endeavours to obtain peace . Upon what ground wou’d it be possible to establish peace? By your letter to Lord Howe, which has been lately published here, as well as from all other accounts,...
6955General Orders, 2 May 1777 (Washington Papers)
Varick transcript , DLC:GW .
6956Council of War, 2 May 1777 (Washington Papers)
At a Council of General Officers held at Baskenridge the 2d day of May 1777. Present His Excellency the Commander in Chief[,] Majors Generl Greene[,] Ld Stirling[,] Stephen[,] Lincoln[,] Brigadrs Maxwell[,] Knox. His Excellency, the Commander in Chief, stated to the Council, the situation & strength of the Army under his Immediate command at the several posts in Jersey, laying before them...
6957From George Washington to Brigadier Generals George Clinton and Alexander McDougall, 2 May 1777 (Washington Papers)
The necessity of having regular Magazines of Provision for subsisting the Army, wheresoever It may act, and the late destruction of the Stores at Danbury, have induced Congress to take the matter into consideration & to come into the Resolves which accompany this. By these you will perceive, that One object of their deliberation was, to have immediate measures taken for the removal of the...
6958To George Washington from the Continental Congress Secret Committee, 2 May 1777 (Washington Papers)
We are obliged to trouble your Excellency with the enclosed letter for Mr Boudinot containing a remittance of Six hundred pounds Sterlg for the use of the Continental Prisoners in New York as we do not know Mr Boudinots address & we have left the letter unsealed for your perusal, We preferred Mr Franks’s bills as they are drawn on the Contractors in England, & may probably be the more readily...
6959From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 2 May 1777 (Washington Papers)
I was this morning favoured with yours of the 21st and 22d instants, containing the pleasing accounts of the late arrivals at Portsmouth and Boston. That of the French Ship of War with Artillery and other military Stores is a most valuable acquisition. It was my intent to have all the Arms, that were not immediately wanted by the Eastern States, removed to Springfeild, as a place much safer...
6960To George Washington from William Livingston, 2 May 1777 (Washington Papers)
In pursuance of your Excellency’s Requisition of the 29 ult’mo (which I had the honor of receiving last night,) for ordering 1000 of our militia to join General Heard at Pompton, I have this morning directed General Winds to detach 600 from Morris Sussex Hunterdon & Sommerset, & General Newcomb 400 from Gloucester Salem & Cumberland to continue in Service 4 weeks from the time they join the...