54511From George Washington to Ephraim Blaine, 31 October 1781 (Washington Papers)
By applying to Major Generals St Clair and Lincoln, you will know the destination of the American Continental Troops, and make your provision for them accordingly. I have engaged (if it shall be required) to supply the Flag Vessels bound for New York, with the Paroled Officers, with Biscuit and Salt provision (out of the Magazine which was found in the Garrison) provided Lord Cornwallis will...
54512From George Washington to Antoine-Jean-Louis Le Bègue de Presle Duportail, 31 October 1781 (Washington Papers)
General Duportail, Commandant of the Corps of Engineers, having signified his desire of obtaining leave to go to France, for the arrangement of his domestic Affairs—It is with the greatest satisfaction I embrace this oppertunity of testifying the sense which I entertain of his distinguished Talents & Services. His judgment in Council, and well conducted valour in the field, claim the highest...
54513From George Washington to Jean-Baptiste de Gouvion, 31 October 1781 (Washington Papers)
From the particular recommendations of General Du Portail—and from my own particular observation—I feel the highest pleasure in rendering justice to the distinguished military Talents of Lt Colonel Gouvion, and his indefatigable perseverance in the most valuable services—his Decisive judgement and spirit of enterprise have been conspicuous on all occasions—particularly in the late siege of...
54514To George Washington from François-Joseph-Paul, comte de Grasse-Tilly, 31 October 1781 (Washington Papers)
Je vois la reclamation que le Lord Cornwallis fait de deux especes de parlementaire que j’ay arrêté, l’un Sortant de la Riviere de James, et l’autre qui étoit chargé de differents officiers et de quantité de malades. Ces Batimens étant Sans papiers en regle, ils Sont non seulement confiscables; mais même dans l’exactitude ils pourroient etre regardes comme forbans et traités comme tels,...
54515From George Washington to Nathanael Greene, 31 October 1781 (Washington Papers)
I wrote you the 24th instant, which went on thro’ the Hands of Genl Sumner in No. Carolina—previous to which I had permitted Colo. Lee to inclose to you a Copy of the Articles of Capitulation, which were dispached, with an Injunction that they should not be printed. I have delayed writing further, waiting the Return of Colo. Lee, who I am informed has taken a Tour to Port Royal. It now...
54516From George Washington to Thomas McKean, 31 October 1781 (Washington Papers)
I do myself the Honor of transmitting to your Excellency, a Letter from General Duportail, in which he explains the motives of an intended Application to Congress, for permission to go to France, & for the promotion of himself and other officers of his Corps. I should conceal Sentiments with which I am very strongly impressed, & do injustice to very conspicuous Merit, if I did not upon the...
54517To George Washington from Thomas McKean, 31 October 1781 (Washington Papers)
It affords me ineffable pleasure to present to your Excellency the Thanks of the United States in Congress assembled, for the distinguished services you have rendered to your Country, and particularly for the conquest of Lord Cornwallis and the British Garrisons of York and Gloucester, and the wisdom and prudence manifested in the Capitulation. You have herewith inclosed a copy of the Act of...
54518From George Washington to Stephen Moylan, 31 October 1781 (Washington Papers)
In addition to my orders of the 26th I have to desire that you will prepare as large a body of Horse as you possibly can, and join (at such time and place, as Major General St Clair shall appoint) the detachment which he is marching to the Southward. In this I do not mean to include Colo. Armands Corps, as it will have a particular place of Rendezvous appointed it—but the Infantry of the...
54519To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 31 October 1781 (Washington Papers)
An unexpected demand is made of 40 Waggons & 200 horses, to transport artillery & military stores to the Southward exclusive of what are attached to the troops destined thither. To that number are to be added probably six waggons for quarter masters stores—There is no possibility of furnishing them without taking both horses & waggons from the troops going to the northward. If your Excellency...
54520From George Washington to John Rutledge, 31 October 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have to acknowlege your Excellencys two Favors of Septemr & 5th instant—and am not surprized at the Urgency with which you express your Sentiments on a Subject of so much Importance to yourself in particular, & to the general Interest of the United States—I have only to Lament that it is not in my Power to give you that Satisfactory Reply, which your fond Hopes would lead you to expect. I...
54521From George Washington to Benoît-Joseph de Tarlé, 31 October 1781 (Washington Papers)
Impressed with a sense of your important services in the department over which you preside—and the critical aid which your foresight and resources have enabled you to give on particular occasions to the American Army—I embrace the opportunity of an order which I am giving for a return of the supplies with which you assisted us—to express to you my warmest thanks for those Seasonable...
54522From Alexander Hamilton to Vicomte de Noailles, [November–December 1781] (Hamilton Papers)
You have read with astonishment in several American papers, that a man who in various actions of this war has owed his success to his valour, who in the field has been rather the first soldier than the General of his army, has, during the siege of York-Town, entirely lost his reputation of bravery and ability. You inquire of me as of a person too well acquainted with Lord Cornwallis to add a...
54523To Benjamin Franklin from John Temple, [before 21 December 1781] (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society I had the Pleasure to write to you by Mr. Knox on the 2d Nov. last, to Acquaint you of my safe Arrival, and to congratulate you on the Glorious & Important Events of the last Campaigne. Events which I hope & trust will cause an Almost immediate Peace; concluding, as I do, that the English Ministry cannot be quite so distracted as to think of...
54524To John Adams from Nathaniel Nazro, November 1781 (Adams Papers)
As a Citizen, of the Commonwealth, of Massachusetts Bay, and an individual, of the United States of America (in Captivity) I beg leave to address your Excellency being flatterd, with a hope, of meeting, your countenance and favour, in consequence of your Known goodness towards the distressd of mankind in General, Particularly those whose merit, and distinguish’d Services in the Cause of our...
54525From Alexander Hamilton to Colonel Hugh Hughes, [November 1781] (Hamilton Papers)
[ Albany , November, 1781. “Mrs. Hamilton begs me to assure you how much she is indebted to you for your obliging offer. She requests the favour of you to let the waggon, on its way to Albany, call on a certain duchman a tavern Keeper at Rynbeck for some apples and cyder purchased by him for General Schuyler.… If you do not leave this side of the river tomorrow, we shall be happy to see you at...
54526To Benjamin Franklin from Nathaniel Nazro, November 1781 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society As a Citizen of the Commonwealth, of Massachusetts Bay, and an Individual of the United States of Amera. (In Captivity) I beg leave to Address you, being flatter’d with a hope of your countenance, and favour, in Consequence of your Known goodness, towards the distress’d of mankind in general, Particularly, those whose Merit, and Distinguish’d, services, in...
54527From John Adams to the President of Congress, 1 November 1781 (Adams Papers)
It is still as problematical as ever, what is the political System of this Republick, and indeed whether it has any System at all. They talk much and deliberate long, but execute nothing. By the Violence with which they speak and write of each other, a Stranger would think them ripe for a civil War. In the Assembly of the States of Guelderland, held to consider of the Requisition of the King...
54528General Orders, 1 November 1781 (Washington Papers)
For the Day tomorrow Major General St Clair Lieutenant Colonel Adams Major Reid Brigade Major Williams General Gist’s brigade for duty tomorrow. DLC : Papers of George Washington.
54529From George Washington to Charles, marquis de La Rouërie Armand Tuffin, 1 November 1781 (Washington Papers)
You are hereby authorized to draft from the several Corps and in the proportion specified in my letter of the 25th Fifty men whose terms of enlistment are for three yrs or durg the War—provided it can be done with the consent of the persons. You will proceed from hence as speedily as possible to Charlotteville, where your Legion is to be quartered, and to remain until it has acquired...
54530From George Washington to Horatio Gates, 1 November 1781 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 7th of October was received at a time when I was wholly occupied in the seige of York, which will plead my excuse for not answering it by return of Mr Blue who was the Bearer. Your letter of the 22d May last, alluded to in your favor, not being with me at this place, I can only reply from memory. If my recollection is right, that letter informed me of the Resolution of...
54531From George Washington to William Irvine, 1 November 1781 (Washington Papers)
During the Time of my being occupied in the Seige of York, I received a Letter from Colo. Gibson commandg at that Time at Fort Pitt, inclosing sundry Proceedings of Courts Martial held at that post—among which are two Capital Cases, on which Sentences of Death are decreed by the Court. Being informed by Congress, that you have been ordered to the Command of that post—I have to inform—that the...
54532From Jonathan Trumbull, Jr. to Benjamin Lincoln, 1 November 1781 (Washington Papers)
From some recent Intelligence from the Northward, His Excellency grows very anxious for the Departure of the Troops—The General therefore wishes you as soon as possible to consult with Mr Ross Agent for this State—& the officers of the Vessells offerd for the Service what Number of Men it will be necessary for them to take—& have the Men on Board & the Vessells Dispached, as early as can be....
54533To George Washington from Stephen Moylan, 1 November 1781 (Washington Papers)
It is my duty to Lay before your Excellency the situation of my Regiment as it consists of three field officers—Six Captains and five Lieutenants—they have 94 men to Command. one field officer, one Capt. & two Lieutenants with 48 men are gon to Carolina, the remainder are taking care of some of those capturd horses which will not be fit for Service these four months—if ever—Pensilvania, to...
54534From George Washington to Stephen Moylan, 1 November 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have received your letter of this date, containing the state and distribution of your regiment—and expressing your desire to return to philadelphia with a view of engaging the executive of pennsilvania to exert themselves in favor of this part of their quota. I cannot conceal from you sir, that it is with pain I see my instructions answered by applications of this kind—the journey to...
54535To George Washington from Stephen Moylan, 1 November 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have by no means neglected the instructions received from your Excellency but have assiduously attended to them—there are three field officers appointed to go with the Detachment to the Southwd and if your Excellency wishes that I shoud also go, I will march with them as far as I can, the representation I have made you of my State of health, is absolutely the truth, if I had thought myself...
54536To George Washington from Adrian Provaux, 1 November 1781 (Washington Papers)
May it please your Excellency to attend for a moment to the present Application of a Continental Officer, who takes the Liberty of laying his Distress before you. I am Sir, a Native of the Island of Hispaniola, and a Frenchman, and entered so early as the Year 1775 into the American Army, in the second South Carolina Regiment. In this Corps I served from that period and was Captain of a...
54537To John Jay from the Secretary for Foreign Affairs (Robert R. Livingston), 1 November 1781 (Jay Papers)
Your letter to Congress of April last having been read & answered by Congress, tho’ not so minutely as I would wish, I forbear making any remarks upon it, because I am not yet perfectly acquainted with their sentiments (& would not risk any which might interfere with them) having just entered upon the office, in consequence of which I open this Correspondence, tho’ long since appointed. I beg...
54538To Benjamin Franklin from ——— Le Grand de Castelle, 2 November 1781 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : University of Pennsylvania Library Permettez que j’eus L’honneur de vous ecrire ces lignes pour vous presenter mes respects et vous informer que Monsieur Le colonel george de Mercer d’amerique est tombé malade ici et quil a perdu entierement L’esprit; etant lié D’amitiez avec lui depuis environ trois ans jai pris Le Soin de lui donner un medecin et de faire generalement pour lui tout ce...
54539To Benjamin Franklin from Robert R. Livingston, 2 November 1781 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: National Archives It is with peculiar pleasure that I obey the directions of Congress in making Communications, which shew their Sense of the Exertions of their Ally, & the merit of the Officers She Employs. The Confidence inspired by the first, & the Esteem Excited by the last, form new bonds of Union between Nations whom reciprocal Interests had before Connected. In this View I flatter...
54540General Orders, 2 November 1781 (Washington Papers)
For the Day tomorrow Major General Lincoln Lieutenant Colonel Harmar Major Cummings Brigade Major Cox Colonel Ogden’s and the first New York regiments for duty Tomorrow. The Commander in Chief has been informed there are a number of public horses in the hands of the Officers of the light infantry—they are required to deliver them immediately to the Quartermaster General. The officers appointed...