27001From George Washington to Benjamin Rush, 12 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have been favd with yours of the 26th December. Soon after the Rect I had an opportunity of communicating the substance of it, and one from Govr Livingston on the same subject, to the Director General. It is to be regretted, that a department for which such ample provision has been made, and on which so much depends, should yet be inadequate to the ends proposed. If the present medical...
27002From George Washington to Brigadier General William Smallwood, 12 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
I am favd with yours of the 10th: My order to you to have the Baggage removed to this place was founded upon information that there was a much greater quantity than there turns out, but as it proves otherwise you were right in detaining it, till you represented the matter to me—I wish the Gentlemen who drew up and signed the representation had attended more closely to my letter. They would...
27003To George Washington from Major Benjamin Tallmadge, 12 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
At the Request of Colo. Sheldon, who sets out this morning for Fishkills to forward the accoutring those of his Regt in that Departmt, I write this—Am to inform that we want a considerable number of Horses to complete the Regt, to the procuring & disciplining of which we should be glad to attend, as soon as your Excellency’s pleasure can be known. I am, as Commanding Officer of the Regt in...
27004To John Adams from James Lovell, 13 January 1778 (Adams Papers)
First and foremost, become a reconciling advocate for me with your dear lovely Portia, who, from the most rational tender attachment to you, is as angry with me as her judiciously patriotic Spirit will allow, upon a foundation which I hope you have been acquainted with, long e’er this day. This hint must pass for an acknowledgement of the receipt of her letter of Decr. 19th. and for all the...
27005Franklin and Silas Deane to [Ferdinand Grand], 13 January 1778 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Connecticut Historical Society We desire you would continue to honor Mr. Williams Draughts to the Amount of two hundred thousand Livres in Addition to the Five hundred thousand for which a Credit was before given him. We have the Honor to Remain with much Esteem Sir Your most Obedient &c. &c. This note was BF ’s and Deane’s reaction to Lee’s letter above, Jan. 10. Their colleague, they...
27006To Benjamin Franklin from Ralph Izard, 13 January 1778 (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society Mr. Izard’s Compliments to Dr. Franklin, and returns him the Newspapers he was so obliging as to send him. Mr. Izard encloses the Gazette Extraordinary, which gives an account of the evacuation of Mud Island, and Red Bank. Howe’s Letter gives us reason to expect news of very great importance soon. Addressed: A Monsr. / Monsr. le Dr. Franklin / a / Passy...
27007To Benjamin Franklin from William Lee, [13 January 1778] (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I presume you have seen the London Gazette Extraordinary of Friday last, saying that Mud Island and red Bank were evacuated. Howe says a forward movement against the Enemy would immediately take place which he hopes would be successful. From this we are to conclude that Howe himself conceives that all his movements before were retrograde . His last date...
27008To Benjamin Franklin from ——— Cullet de Pugieu, 13 January 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society <Lyons, January 13, 1778, in French: I write to ask how I go about getting to America. I was born near Lyons and educated there. My father left seven children at his death; my eldest brother inherited everything, as is the local custom, and I was left with a pittance. After an unsuccessful venture into commerce here I got a financial post with the...
27009General Orders, 13 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
The Honorable the Congress having been pleased to call Coll Pickering to a seat at the Board of War, have appointed Coll Scammell, Adjutant General in his Room who is to be obeyed and respected as such. At a General Court Martial of which Coll Swift was President, held 5th instant Captn Powell of 3rd Virginia Regiment charged with “insulting Lieutt Davis when on his guard and arresting him...
27010To George Washington from Major John Clark, Jr., 13 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
Your kind letter of recommendation, I had the honor to deliver to His Excellency the President, who laid it before congress in my absence. since which, they have appointed me an Auditor with Mr Clarkson to settle & adjust the accounts of the main Army—whether I am equal to the task assigned me, or not, I cannot presume to say; but shou’d I accept The appointment, I flatter myself under your...
27011To George Washington from Colonel Elias Dayton, 13 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
I beg leave to inform your Excellency of the situation of John & Baker Hendricks & John Meeker who it is said have forfited their lives, by a law of this State, in consequence of their being employed by me and others, to bring inteligence from the enemy while at New york and Staten Island, according to your Excellencys direction. The fidelity of those persons I am well convinced of, and the...
27012To George Washington from Elbridge Gerry, 13 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have waited some time, in Expectation of informing You with the Sense of Congress on the several Subjects mentioned in your agreable Favour of the 25th Decr; but am not yet fully able to answer my Purpose. a Committee is appointed from Congress & the Board of War, who in Concert with your Excellency have full Powers to form & execute a Plan for reducing the Number of Batalions now in the...
27013To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 13 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
This will be handed to your Excellency by Mr Francis, a french Merchant belonging to the House from which we have received our ample Supply of Ordnance, Ordnance Stores, Fire Arms &c. He is come over to secure his Remittances, and will I am confident receive that respect from our Countrymen that his assistance afforded at a time of need justly merit. Part of the Cannon and Stores which arrived...
27014From George Washington to Major General Robert Howe, 13 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
I had the pleasure of receiving your favs. of the 2d and 3d of Novemr by Genl McIntosh who arrived very opportunely to take the command of the North Carolina Brigade, which had wanted a Brigadier very much since the Fall of Genl Nash. The account you give of the numbers of Indians in the Southern Tribes far exceeds any thing that I had an Idea of, and it therefore behoves us the more to...
27015To George Washington from Major General Lafayette, 13 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
I Schall make use in this particular instance of the liberty you gave me of telling freely every idea of mine which could strike me as not being useless to a better order of things. There were two gentlemen, same rank, same duty to perform, and same neglect of it who have been arrested the same day by me—as I went in the night around the piquets I found them in fault, and I gave an account of...
27016To George Washington from Lieutenant Colonel La Radière, 13 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
A council called for fixing the place to be fortifyed on Hudson’s River has decided Last night that west point is the best place—this post is on the west Shore of the Nort River over against fort Constution Six mile Higher than fort Montgomery 8 mile below New Windsor. we will bar the River with a chain. this Council was called at my request. I have read before these gentlemen a Memorial...
27017From George Washington to Henry Laurens, 13 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
This will be deliver’d to you by the Chevalier de Mauduit du Plessis, who was among the first French Officers that joined the Army of the United States—the gallant Conduct of this young Gentleman at Brandywine, German Town, and his distinguished Services at Fort Mercer, where he united the Offices of Engineer and Commandant of Artillery, entitle him to the particular notice of Congress—he made...
27018To George Washington from William Livingston, 13 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
Upon frequent Complaints that Capt. Kennedy’s Residence at his Farm was injurious to the State, & occasioned great Clamours from the People in This Neighbourhood, the Council ordered his Attendance on the Board—they at the same time desired a Gentleman near the Spot, to procure what Affidavits he could respecting Captn Kennedy’s Conduct—He sent us by return of the Express three Affidavits with...
27019To George Washington from Major General Israel Putnam, 13 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
I am favd with yours of the 27th Ulto, and am happy to find that Your Excellency is Convinced, my Conduct has not been such as Represented by Col: Drake—I have ever paid the Utmost attention to the Protection of the Inhabitants; and am Vain enough to think, that they Conceive the Army to be as good Neighbours, as Col: Drake. General Parsons has not Yet Return’d, Tho is soon expected; and till...
27020From George Washington to Brigadier General William Smallwood, 13 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
Since writing to you this morning on the subject of the prize Brig Symetry, the Regulations of the Feild Officers of the division for conducting the Sale and disposing of the Cargo was laid before me with a letter from the Regimental Surgeons and Mates to Docr Cochran. These Gentlemen feel themselves so much hurt by the discrimination made by these Regulations between them and the Officers of...
27021VII. Draft of a Resolution concerning Money Bills, [before 13 January 1778] (Jefferson Papers)
That bills relating solely to the raising or disposing of public money in any way whatever are not amendable by the Senate. That in other bills if some clauses or sentences relate to the raising or disposing of public money, and others relate to other subjects, the said clauses or sentences so relating to the raising or disposing of public money are not amendable by the Senate; but such other...
27022Bill for Sequestering British Property, [13 January 1778] (Jefferson Papers)
Whereas divers persons, subjects of Great Britain, had, during our connection with that Kingdom, acquired estates real and personal within this Commonwealth and had also become entitled to debts to a considerable amount, and some of them had commenced suits for the recovery of such debts before the present troubles had interrupted the administration of Justice, which suits were at that time...
27023Draft of a Resolution concerning Money Due British Subjects, [ca. 13 January 1778] (Jefferson Papers)
And whereas his Britannic majesty did on the day of 1775 undertake by the strength of his fleets to shut up the several ports and havens of the American states and to intercept all commerce between the said states and other parts of the world, to which proceeding the British parliament had previously given their sanction by an act entitled an act whereby the monies belonging to the subjects of...
27024To Benjamin Franklin from ——— Arnold “Dit Renault,” 14 January 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society <Metz, January 14, 1778, in French: My dear brother went to America during the late Anglo-French wars, and remained at Quebec as secretary to the British governor of Canada. I heard from him several times until your war broke out; since then he sent me two letters by a bearer who, about to be searched at sea, threw them overboard, and could only tell me...
27025To Benjamin Franklin from La Rochefoucauld, [14 January 1778] (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society Le Duc de la Rochefoucauld fait bien des complimens à Monsieur franklyn, en lui envoiant le paquet cijoint qu’il s’est chargé de lui faire passer de la part de M. l’Abbé Rozier. Il le prie de vouloir bien lui mander s’il y a quelque chose de vrai à la nouvelle qui se répandoit hier, que les forts de Mud Island et de Red Bank avoient été pris les 20. et 23....
27026From Benjamin Franklin to La Rochefoucauld, 14 January 1778 (Franklin Papers)
AL : Bibliothèque municipale, Mantes Mr. Franklin presents his respectful Compliments to M. the Duke of Rochefoucauld; with Thanks for his Care of the Pacquet. The English Gazette which came yesterday gives a particular Account of the taking of those petty Forts about the Time you mention. ’Tis a wonder they held out so long. After sustaining a Days continual Battery from the Cannon of the...
27027To Benjamin Franklin from William Lee, [14 January 1778] (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society Mr. Lee presents Compliments to Dr. Franklin. He received the Louis. The London paper is inclosed. That with the Boston papers were sent by Mr. Deane to Mr. A. Lee who carried them out with him yesterday as Mr. W. L. tho’t to leave them at Passi, but it seems he left them with Mr. Izard. They will be sent for today and return’d immediately. Mr. L. is just...
27028General Orders, 14 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
The Majors of Brigade will deliver a list of the Field Officers in the several brigades to which they belong tomorrow at orderly-time. The Court-Martial which was to sit this day, to sit tomorrow ten ôClock at the Bake-House near Head-Quarters. Varick transcript , DLC:GW . Brig. Gen. Edward Hand’s orderly book for this date includes instructions for a fatigue party of fifty-four men “to parade...
27029To George Washington from John Parke Custis, 14 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
I am really ashamed of my long Silence: which has been owing altogether to the Want of Meterials worthy of communicating to you, the same Cause still subsists; but the Fear of your imputing my Silence to the Want of regard & respect; compels Me at present, to intrude a few Lines upon that short Moment, you are allowed by the Multiplicity of your Business, to devote to Freindship, and Society....
27030To George Washington from Henry Laurens, 14 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
Since the date of my last the 5th Inst. I have been honoured by the receipt of Your Excellency’s Several Letters of the 2d 4th 5th & 9th all which, together with Copy of a Letter to Major Genl Gates have been in course reported to Congress—a Sealed packet under Your Excellency’s direction to Genl Gates, I forwarded to day to Reading where I expect it will meet the Genl. Your Excellency will...