31To George Washington from Robert Howe, 4 October 1781 (Washington Papers)
Accept my Dear General my warmest Congratulations on the Glorious Events which have taken place & which as they resulted from the wisdom of your measures & the noble manner in which you Executed them reflects a lustre upon your Conduct which must rejoice your Friends & entitle you to the applause & gratitude of the present & of future generations. As among the officers sent from the southward...
32To George Washington from Robert Howe, 19 September 1781 (Washington Papers)
One of my friends in Congress having informed me that the Delegates of the State of Georgia had moved Congress that an Enquiry might be made into my Conduct as to some military Transactions which happened in December 1778 & that your Excellency would be directed to order this Enquiry when Circumstances would admit of it, I take the Liberty to request that if it should take place, it may not be...
33To George Washington from Robert Howe, 25 August 1781 (Washington Papers)
Every circumstance militates to confirm me in opinion that your Excellency intends marching with the army under your immediate command to the Relief of Virginia, the two Carolina’s & Georgia. I wish you Dear sir in that , as in all other Cases from the Bottom of my soul success, Honour, glory and safety. The wisdom of the measure deserves the highest applause and I anticipate the deliverance...
34To George Washington from Robert Howe, 22 June 1781 (Washington Papers)
The Inconvenience that must arise to service by retarding the Works necessary to our aking he Field, should the artificers detaild from the Line march with their Regiments, has induc’d me to order them to remain until your Excellency’s Pleasure is known upon the Subject, which please give me by the Express Boat which I send on Purpose. Your Orders respecting the Flag have been punctually...
35To George Washington from Robert Howe, 21 June 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have a Letter from an Agent who says that the Troops on Lloyd’s Neck were under marching Orders, but had not march’d the Day before Yesterday—That he was inform’d the Hessians were under Marching Orders also. I should not have sent on Purpose to convey this, as I expect to hear further, but as I inclose your Excellency some Papers which came by a Flag, it was opportune to carry it—Please Let...
36To George Washington from Robert Howe, 20 June 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have just received the inclos’d Letters. I think the measures taken by Colo. Scammel are all that are requisite upon this information. I have acquainted him that General Persons will be Tommorrow in advance—and that if the movements are real and of so serious a nature to make further support necessary, that he will ask it of General Persons. not however omitting to Transmit me the Earliest...
37To George Washington from Robert Howe, 18 June 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have recd Intelligence that the Enemy are incamping at East Chester in Force. The Mode by which it comes tho’ not absolutely authentic is credible. I therefore think it my Duty to Transmit it. with the greatest Respect I am Dear Sir your obedient Servant DLC : Papers of George Washington.
38To George Washington from Robert Howe, 13 June 1781 (Washington Papers)
We feel ourselves much obliged to your Excellency for having communicated to us the Plan of Operations concerted between Yourself and the Count de Rocham beau for the ensuing Campaign; and in Compliance with your Excellency’s Request, we shall, you may be assured, through the whole Course of its Operations, give you our Opinion and Advice, either collectively or individually, with that Freedom...
39To George Washington from Robert Howe, 12 June 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have just this Minute received the inclos’d Letter, which I transmit your Excellency & should be glad to have sent Directions thereupon. I am with great Respect your Excellency’s most obedient humble Servant DLC : Papers of George Washington. Since I wrote you yesterday, I have such intelligence, as I rely on;,that the enemy are making preparation, to come with considerable force, to this...
40To George Washington from Robert Howe, 11 June 1781 (Washington Papers)
Major having requested the Loan of my Barge to bring some of his Acquaintance to see West Point, I take the Opportunity to inclose your Excellency the Report of a Board of Officers appointed to inspect Provisions, & in Case any was damag’d by Negligence to fire if possible the Neglect—upon the proper Reasons—By their Proceedings as far as they have gone We find the Provisions reported unfit...
41To George Washington from Robert Howe, 7 June 1781 (Washington Papers)
Mr Kirkland has requested me (with Earnestness) to apply to your Excellency in behalf of one King a soldier under sentence of Death, as he Relates the mans Case there are Alliviating circumstances in it which may Probably claim attention, beside which he offers another man in the Room of King, to serve out his time if his Inlistment is temporary, or to serve a Year should he be for the War,...
42To George Washington from Robert Howe, 5 June 1781 (Washington Papers)
The inclosed Returns of the Provision Endowments of each Work would have been sent your Excellency yesterday had I not hoped for the Honor of seeing you—The Quantity is too small, but our Magazine will not admit of a farther supply at present—The Moment it can be done, it shall. I have examin’d the Magazine & the Ammunition is much expos’d to Injury—I am sorry to add that our Work is at a...
43To George Washington from Robert Howe, 4 June 1781 (Washington Papers)
The inclos’d Extract of a letter from Captain Pray to General Paterson will give you the intelligence he sent up, I, as yet, have heard nothing—I am sorry it was not in your Excellency’s power to Honour me with your presence to day. But hope to be favored with it some other time & should be happy to see the Duke when he will do me the Honor and with your Excellency if you think it proper. It...
44To George Washington from Robert Howe, 17 May 1781 (Washington Papers)
I was honourd the night before last with your Excellency’s favour & should have set out as to day but both my servants were and are yet so ill that they are not able to attend me. They are not however in such a way that they can I persuade myself proceed by Sunday or Monday when I shall set out for camp or sooner if they can possibly Travel. The loss of the Confedracy with our Clothing is an...
45To George Washington from Robert Howe, 19 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
In the letter I did my self the Honour to write your Excellency from New Hampshire on the 12th Instant, I Expressd an intention unless service Forbid it to Visit some of those Parts of that state which were worthy of Observation; But a Gentlman arriving from Boston and saying, that it was Currently & Credibly reported & believ’d, that the Whole Army was in motion, & movements of importance...
46To George Washington from Robert Howe, 12 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
I arriv’d Yesterday at this Place and intend taking a View of th ose Parts of this country worthy of Observation, unless some Circumstance of service should make my return necessary, which should it do I rely upon your Excellency’s Goodness to recall me without the least attention to any suppos’d disapointment it may Occasion me, for nothing however interesting to me Could Compensate for the...
47To George Washington from Major General Robert Howe, 17 February 1781 (Washington Papers)
The orders given & heavy drafts made from the Army induce me to think that Some movements are intended, and tho’ I hinted to your Excellency yesterday in a short letter I did my Self the honour to write you, that I wished not to be Suffered to proceed to the Eastward if Service could be aided by me here, yet as that letter was dictated in a hurry And with a croud about me, (the french...
48To George Washington from Major General Robert Howe, 16 February 1781 (Washington Papers)
I was honoured with your Excellency’s favour of the 15th about half hour Since. My earnest wish was, and is, to have the honour of attending you to Newport. the uncertainty of the time of your departure alone would induce me to Set out before you, but as this is not possible to be ascertained I would proceed with your leave to Hartford, where a visi[t] to Mr Web’s family long Since due might...
49To George Washington from Major General Robert Howe, 2 February 1781 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found : from Maj. Gen. Robert Howe, 2 Feb. 1781. On 5 Feb., GW wrote Howe : “Your favor of the 2nd with the enclosures have just been received.”
50To George Washington from Major General Robert Howe, 29 January 1781 (Washington Papers)
I unluckily missed of a letter from Col. Barber Sent me express. the purport of it however I fancy Can be pretty well ascertained, as it was brought by an intelligent officer acquainted with the occasion of it who met with Col. Sprout. The enemy had taken post at Staten Island with intention to Support the Jersey insurgents. they Sent out a Spy with a proclamation offering the Same terms to...
51To George Washington from Major General Robert Howe, 29 January 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have this moment got the letters design’d for me last night & mention’d in my Express of to day & tho’ I See not much cause to alter my determination expressd in that letter yet I Shall wait here your Excellency’s orders. Colo. Barber has detain’d the artillery & the New Hampshire detachment. I am Dear Sir with the Sincerest Respect your Excellency’s Most humble & most obedient Servant. P.S....
52To George Washington from Major General Robert Howe, 27 January 1781 (Washington Papers)
In obedience to your Excellency’s Commands I arrived at this place yesterday evening and found that the Mutineers were returning to their huts. Col. Dayton had offered them pardon for their offences provided they immediatly would put themselves under the Command of their officers and would behave in future consistent with that Subordination So essential to Military discipline. To this they...
53To George Washington from Major General Robert Howe, 25-26 January 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have been endeavouring ever Since I arrived here, I.E. about one o’clock, to learn with Certainty the Motions and designs of the Insurgents, They were assembled at Chatam, and from thence are Said to be returning to their huts, where, they mean to Negotiate, for tho’ they profess to be inclined to open a treaty, they have, by no Means, adopted those Subordinate Ideas which alone can give...
54To George Washington from Major General Robert Howe, 25 January 1781 (Washington Papers)
I arrived here with the detatchment of Massachusets Troops after Surmounting great difficulties in crossing the mountain, from the extraordinary depth of the Snow. The men however in high spirits have proceeded on their march to Ringwood. Gl Heath has assured me he will hasten on the Conecticut and New hampshire detatchments—the artillery I have not yet heard of, but imagine it is on its way....
55To George Washington from Major General Robert Howe, 17 January 1781 (Washington Papers)
I was honoured with your Excellency’s favour of yesterday and am obliged to you for the pleasing information of the insurgents having moved on to Trenton and given up the british emissaries, from which good effects must certainly derive. how happy Should I be, My Dear General, if Congress can fall upon measures to accommodate this unfortunate affair with dignity to them Selves and without...
56To George Washington from Major General Robert Howe, 16 January 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have by every Means in my power endeavoured to find how far the fears entertained of the disaffection of the Massachuset troops to the purposed Service was well or ill founded, and not content with my own personal efforts, I have desired officers of address and abilities to exert themselves also. It appears to be the opinion of Putnam, Vose, Sprout, Brooks, Porter, Trescot and many others...
57To George Washington from Major General Robert Howe, 2 November 1780 (Washington Papers)
By the Informations your Excellency did the Board of General Officers the Honor to give them the Day before Yesterday, it appears that the Detachments made by the Enemy to the South’ard are not much superior in Numbers to the Reinforcements recently received, & that consequently their Strength in this Quarter can have sustain’d no very sensible Diminution —Added to this, when I reflect that a...
58To George Washington from Major General Robert Howe, 10 October 1780 (Washington Papers)
When the Movements of the Enemy made it much more than probable that an immediate Attack upon West Point was intended, the Garrison was unfortunately almost without Provisions of any Sort—& it became requisite by every Method to obtain Supplies in the most expeditious Manner—In this Situation, & at a Crisis so critical & important, I was compell’d to fall upon Measures extraordinary perhaps in...
59To George Washington from Major General Robert Howe, 26 September 1780 (Washington Papers)
How poignant is my Anxiety my Dear General that a Man of a Character so exalted, to whom by all Accounts his Country owes so much, & from whom so much more might have been expected (as of Arnold) should to the Ruin of his own Glory, the Disgrace of the Army, & the Disbasement of Human Nature, sink into a Degree of Treachery so black that Expression has not Colouring to paint it properly. I...
60To George Washington from Major General Robert Howe, 9 September 1780 (Washington Papers)
Inform’d as I was, that our generous Allies intended to aid us with a Number of Troops, & a Fleet superior to that of the Enemy, I suppos’d We should be able to act offensively, & thought it my Duty to meditate what Objects ought to excite our Attention—Those which presented themselves as the most capital, were—Quebec, Hallifax, New-York, & the Recovery of South Carolina & Georgia—but against...