1To George Washington from Arthur St. Clair, 5 May 1774 (Washington Papers)
Tho. I am an utter Stranger I have taken the Liberty to write to you and request your Advice and Assistance for the Bearer Mrs Fraser the Widow of Mr John Fraser late of Bedford in this Province. Mr Fraser has in his life time often mentioned to me a great loss he met with at the Battle of the Meadows, and amongst his Papers, after his Death, an Account of it was found—The Colony of Virginia...
2To George Washington from Maj. Gen. Arthur St. Clair, 15 April 1777 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Maj. Gen. Arthur St. Clair, 15 April 1777. GW wrote St. Clair on 18 April: “I am favd. with your of the 15th.”
3To George Washington from Major General Arthur St. Clair, 17 July 1777 (Washington Papers)
Your Excellencys Letters of the 12th & 13th instt to General Schuyler have been by him communicated to me. Considering that my Letter to him of the 5th the day before I left Tyconderoga was not delivered, and one I wrote to him whilst on the March to this Place has miscarried, and that Your Excellency has had no Intimation of the Motions and Destination of our Army, I do not wonder that you...
4To George Washington from Major General Arthur St. Clair, 25 July 1777 (Washington Papers)
In my Letter to your Excellency of the 17th I believe I made a mistake with regard to the quantity of provisions at Tyconderoga, when I had the notice of the Enemy’s approach: I think it should have been twenty days, instead of ten. I am certain it did not exceed that; but the Commissary’s return, on which the Calculation was made, is, with many papers of consequence to me, fallen into the...
5To George Washington from Major General Arthur St. Clair, 17 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
Two Gentlemen, one from General Varnum and the other from the Fleet with Dispatches for your Excellency having this Moment arrived, we took the Liberty to open them—from their Contents I fear that our Journey will be to no great Purpose, but it is the general Sentiment that we proceed; and we shall endeavour to take such Measures as may be most conducive to the public Good, and return as soon...
6To George Washington from Major General Arthur St. Clair, 5 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
As you were pleased to desire my Sentiments upon sundry Matters, I have thrown them together upon the following Sheets without Method as they occurred to me—if they should happen to fall in with your Excellencys, it will be to me a convincing proof that I have not been mistaken. It has appeared to me that the Quarter Master Generals Department has been for some time very ill executed, from...
7To George Washington from Major General Arthur St. Clair, 15 November 1778 (Washington Papers)
I am sorry to inform you that Congress have not yet entered into the Consideration of my Court Mar[s]hal and that it will probably be three Weeks or a Month yet before they will take it up. This Delay is exceeding irksome but I am obliged to submit. one Reason given for it is that they cannot with any propriety go upon that untill General Lees is determined and it appears to me that they will...
8To George Washington from Major General Arthur St. Clair, 31 May 1779 (Washington Papers)
Your Excellencys Letter came to hand about seven OClock last Night at this Place. Colonell Hubley will set out to Day, and by him I shall write to Governour Reed about the Appointment of the necessary Officers after having consulted with the Gentlemen commanding Regiments; I believe they find some Difficulty in getting such Persons to serve as they would wish to recommend, which is the Reason...
9To George Washington from Major General Arthur St. Clair, 31 May 1779 (Washington Papers)
Previous to the Receipt of your Excellency’s Letter of this Day, (which arrived about four Hours ago) whilst I was examining the Ground pointed out for the Division to take Post in, I met with Coll Ogden, who informed he had seen a Person, (from New York last Night, that might be depended upon) who informed him that the whole of the Ennemy’s Army were marched towards White Plains. that a...
10To George Washington from Maj. Gen. Arthur St. Clair, 1 June 1779 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letters not found : from Maj. Gen. Arthur St. Clair, 1 June 1779. GW wrote St. Clair on 2 June: “I duly received your two Letters of Yesterday.”
11To George Washington from Maj. Gen. Arthur St. Clair, 2 June 1779 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found : from Maj. Gen. Arthur St. Clair, 2 June 1779. GW wrote St. Clair in a second letter of this date: “I have received your letter of this date ½ past eight.” GW also wrote St. Clair on 3 June: “I received your favor of yesterday at 10 OClock last night.” For a likely extract from this unfound letter, see GW to John Jay, 3 June (first letter), and n.2 to that document.
12To George Washington from Major General Arthur St. Clair, 3 June 1779 (Washington Papers)
Colonel Burr arrived here about 3 oClock, from General McDougal, and brings Intelligence of the Surrender of the Fort on Ver Planks Point yesterday, about eleven oclock by Capitulation. The Garrison are Prisoners of War, and the Officers have Liberty to wear their side Arms. I have no Letter from General McDougal, but he is clearly of Opinion the Ennemy mean to attack the Posts (at least Fort...
13To George Washington from Maj. Gen. Arthur St. Clair, 3 June 1779 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found : from Maj. Gen. Arthur St. Clair, 3 June 1779. GW’s secretary Robert Hanson Harrison wrote to St. Clair on this date, 11:30 P.M. : “General Woodford has transmitted His Excellency Your favor of this morning dated at ½ past ten A.M. ” ( DLC:GW ; see GW to St. Clair, this date, and the source note to that document).
14To George Washington from Major General Arthur St. Clair, 3 June 1779 (Washington Papers)
This Moment Mr Smith the Bearer of this arrived at my Quarters with a Letter to your Excellency from Colonell Hay which I opened as I wanted exceedingly Intelligence from the River. I find nothing in it that should induce me to alter the Design I had formed to move from this Ground to Night towards New Windsor, leaving my Artillery and Baggage, and Tents standing, of which I should have...
15To George Washington from Major General Arthur St. Clair, 3 June 1779 (Washington Papers)
On receiving your Excellencys Favour of this Day which came to hand about seven this Evening I thought it prudent to take the Advice of the Field Officers on the Movement I had proposed to make to-night, and they were unanimously against it—it is therefore laid aside; and the more readily that I am far from being satisfied with respect to the Ennemys Designs. The more I think upon it, an...
16To George Washington from Major General Arthur St. Clair, 4 June 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have this Moment received the inclosed Letter from Colonell Malcom, which has occasioned me some regret that I did not March last Night as I had purposed. I have no Accounts from the River to Day, but there is nothing extraordinary or I should have heard from the Parties, and I have seen a Person from the Neighbourhood of Kings Ferry, who says things are in the same Situation as when I wrote...
17To George Washington from Major General Arthur St. Clair, 13 July 1779 (Washington Papers)
Colonell Craig waits upon your Excellency to solicit leave of Absence for some Time for the Recovery of his Health—He has been for a considerable Time afflicted with the Scurvy and the Physicians advise him to go to the warm Springs in Virginia and he has requested me to signify to Your Excellency my Approbation of his Application. I cannot have any Objection to it as I am certain nothing but...
18To George Washington from Major General Arthur St. Clair, 27 July 1779 (Washington Papers)
As your Excellency has desired my Opinion with Respect to such offensive Operations as may be undertaken against the Ennemy, taking into Consideration the Strength of both Armies, and the State of our military Stores, I am very free to give it that our Position admits of no considerable Change, untill the Works here are finished, or so nearly so, as to leave the Completion of them in the Power...
19VI. From Major General Arthur St. Clair to George Washington, 4 October 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have been revolving in my Mind the Matters your Excellency had under Consideration last Night, and beg leave to submit my Sentiments upon them. They are however only broken hints as I have a very imperfect knowledge of the Local Situation, not having been upon the Grounds for many Years, and then not having viewed them in a military Light. From Fort Washington to the high Grounds at the...
20To George Washington from Major General Arthur St. Clair, 28 January 1780 (Washington Papers)
I arrived at Colonell Hazens Quarters the Night before last and Yesterday, with him, visited the several Posts, which I found to be Raway, Cranes Mills, Connecticut Farms, Elizabeth Town, and New Ark. Elizabeth Town and New Ark are occupied by small Detachments only, and Guards are posted at DeHarts and Halsteds Points—a small Guard is also kept at the new blazing Star, from the Post at Raway....
21To George Washington from Major General Arthur St. Clair, 29 January 1780 (Washington Papers)
Your Excellencys Letter enclosing one to Doctor Mallet came to hand too late for that to be sent to new York to day; it shall be sent tomorrow and the Answer forwarded as soon as it arrives. The Troops are at present pretty comfortably quartered, but, in order to make it as easy to the Inhabitants as possible, they necessarily take up much Ground, which would still be the Case were the Houses...
22To George Washington from Major General Arthur St. Clair, 31 January 1780 (Washington Papers)
In consequence of your Excellencys wish to have a small Body of Horse engaged during the Ice’s remaining passable, I came here to consult with Mr Caldwell upon the most proper method of carrying it into Execution—He is of Opinion that it may be done, but with some difficulty: and that it can scarcely be expected that they will provide their own Forage—however we shall make the Attempt; and...
23To George Washington from Major General Arthur St. Clair, 2 February 1780 (Washington Papers)
I received your Excellencys favour of Yesterday but was at New Ark when the Messenger arrived here, and as it was Night when I returned; detained him untill this Morning least I might have something to communicate. The Intelligence I obtained at New Ark was of little Consequence—but the Person repeats that the Numbers upon Staten Island and at the Hook are as he before informed from all that...
24To George Washington from Major General Arthur St. Clair, 2 February 1780 (Washington Papers)
The Attack upon Buskerque as we have digested it, will be conducted in the following Manner—Colonell Hazen with two hundred pickd Men will pass at Halsteds Point and march across the Country, avoiding if possible every House, untill he arrives in the Rear of Donglasses House, which is, as we are informed, near the lower part of the Cantonement, and is to make the Attack—Colonell Willet with...
25To George Washington from Major General Arthur St. Clair, 4 February 1780 (Washington Papers)
The Enterprise intended against Buskerque’s Corps, the Night before last, I was obliged to give up after every thing was ready for the Execution —The Column that was to have been led by Colonell Hazen would have had seven or eight Miles to march thro’ the Woods, and, as the Night became very dark, and the Air thick, he was unwilling to trust altogether to the knowledge of the Guides without...
26To George Washington from Major General Arthur St. Clair, 7 February 1780 (Washington Papers)
Nothing Extraordinary has happened here since my last, neither have I received any Intelligence of Consequence—My Man from New-York not yet being returned; I expect to see or hear from him this Evening—It is said that in consequence of the Report of some Deserters who got in to Paulus-Hook from Connecticut Farms, the day before the Detachment was relieved, that Post is reinforced every Evening...
27To George Washington from Major General Arthur St. Clair, 10 February 1780 (Washington Papers)
The Author of the enclosed Letter to yourr Excellency has been waiting at Elizabeth Town for some time past in Expectation of receiving Permission from New York to go in —He is tired out, and wishes to run all hazards rather than be longer detained—His Permission from Governour Reed I have seen. My Messenger that went in to New York is not yet returned —The easterly Storm that happened two...
28To George Washington from Major General Arthur St. Clair, 11 February 1780 (Washington Papers)
The Enemy made an incursion into this State this Morning about an hour before Day, in three different places from Staten Island, and one from Paulas Hook—A par⟨ty of a⟩bout three hundred commanded by Colonel Simcoe ⟨lan⟩ded at Woodbridge—A small party in Raway Neck, & the most considerable Body at DeHarts Point, and marched to Elizabeth Town—The Guards at Elizabeth Town and Woodbridge were...
29To George Washington from Major General Arthur St. Clair, 20 February 1780 (Washington Papers)
The Ennemy made another Attempt last Night, about eleven oClock, to surprise the Party at New Ark and plunder the Town, but being happily discovered on their Approach, by the Patroles, the Guard, and the Inhabitants were alarmed and obliged them to retire without their effecting any thing, except carrying of[f] two Men, one of whom is supposed to have purposely thrown himself in their...
30To George Washington from Major General Arthur St. Clair, 22 February 1780 (Washington Papers)
Soon after I parted with your Excellency I met with the Horseman from New Ark—The Person I had sent over was in Paulus Hook, and reports that Horses passed on the Ice, to and from New York, on the twentieth, and it still appeared to be strong— That the Hook is entirely open to the River, except the Redoubts, Block House, and a little Fort of an oval Form next to the Barracks, which he says...