25981To George Washington from Richard Peters, 11 November 1777 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Richard Peters, 11 Nov. 1777. On 27 Nov. GW wrote Peters : “I was duly favd with yours of the 11th inst.”
25982From George Washington to Brigadier General James Potter, 11 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
I do not wish you to hurry the March of the Militia mentiond in my former Letter. on the contrary, if you can employ them to any advantage, you have my free consent to detain all that are now with you—or such part as may answer your purposes. It would be a great, and glorious thing, if you could disturb (admitting no more was done) the Enemy upon Carpenter’s Island; especially while they are...
25983To George Washington from Brigadier General James Potter, 11 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have Just Received Intelagance of 38 Sail of the enemey fleet coming up the Rivers the latters was wrote five oclock yesterday evineng altho the are dated as of this day the fiering yesterday was from the enemys Battereys on province Island near the River Banks I Beleive the have dun little damige if any I Recved your excelanceys of the 10th of Novr as for my doing any thing that can be of...
25984To George Washington from Brigadier General James Potter, 11 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
yesterday I sent Col. Rankan and Capt. Livis to Give me an account of the fiering Rankan is Returned, and Says that about eight OClock there was an Attact maid on Rid Bank which continued one hour and a half about 1 oClock the 2 Attact Began and Continued upwards of one hour, and about 3 oClock the attacted again and Continued about 3 Quarters of an hour about one quarter after 3 oClock the...
25985From George Washington to Major General Israel Putnam, 11 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have your favr of the 7th and am glad to find that you had determined to detain Warners Militia. At whatever place Govr Clinton and yourself determine to throw obstructions and Batteries upon the River, I imagine it will prove satisfactory, for no person is supposed to have a better knowledge of that Country than the Governor. For the very same Reasons that Genl Howe is reinforcing himself...
25986From George Washington to Major General Israel Putnam, 11 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
Since I wrote to you this morning Mr Young deputy Cloathier has arrived from peekskill and informs me that you stopped 400 of the Blankets & one Cask of Shoes that were coming on for the use of this Army. You cannot conceive how these stoppages by the way disappoint and disarrange our plans; The Cloathier General endeavours to give each their share, but by such proceedings those that are...
25987From George Washington to Brigadier General James Mitchell Varnum, 11 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
Your Favors of 9th & 10th Instant, I have duly received. I think we may reasonably hope, that from the good disposition of the Troops in your Quarter, & the Zeal & Activity of the Officers & men, Join’d to the present very advanced & cold Season, which must greatly retard if not prevent the Operations of the Enemy; Matters may terminate with you agreeable to our Expectations—this must have the...
25988To George Washington from Brigadier General James Mitchell Varnum, 11 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
Capt. Treat of the Artillery and one Man besides was killed this Morning. The Enemy have battered down a great Part of the Stone Wall: The Pallisades and Barracks are prodigiously shattered. The Enemy fire with Twenty four and thirty Two Pounders. Upon these, and other Considerations, Colo. Smith is of Opinion that the Fort must be evacuated. A Storm would not be dreaded; But, it appears...
25989To George Washington from Brigadier General James Mitchell Varnum, 11 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
I am this Moment returned from Fort Mifflin—Every Defence is almost destroyed. Poor Colo. Smith is on this Shore, slightly wounded—I have ordered the Cannon, least in Use, to be brought off—Lt Colo. [Giles] Russell of Colo. Durkee’s Battalion, commands. I have ordered the Garrison to defend at all Events, ’till your Pleasure can be known. Nothing shall be wanting to support them, which we can...
25990I. Petition of Thomas Johnson, [before 11 November 1777] (Jefferson Papers)
To the Honl. The Speaker and Delegates of the Common Wealth of Virginia. The Petition of Thomas Johnson Jun. humbly shewith that your petitioner was appointed a Captain in the County of Louisa and raised his quota of men and when he was about to march to Join his Ridgment, was obliged to hire a Cart and two Stears of Charles Yancey to carry his mens baggage &c. as far as Carrs bridge and after...
25991From Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, 12 November 1777 (Hamilton Papers)
I have been detained here these two days by a fever and violent rheumatic pains throughout my body. This has prevented my being active in person for promoting the purposes of my errand, but I have taken every other method in my power, in which Governor Clinton has obligingly given me all the aid he could. In answer to my pressing application to General Poor for the immediate marching of his...
25992From Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, [12 November 1777] (Hamilton Papers)
[ New Windsor, New York, November 12, 1777. Letter not found. ] “List of Letters from General Hamilton to General Washington,” Columbia University Libraries. Two letters from H to Washington on November 12, 1777, are listed. One of these letters is printed in PAH Harold C. Syrett, ed., The Papers of Alexander Hamilton (New York and London, 1961– ). , I, 360–62.
25993To Benjamin Franklin from James Babson, 12 November 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : National Archives This Days post from Nantes brought me the Disagrable a Counts of the sea prises tacking by me and Capt. Kendrick to be Condemed to yours [use] of the King France. I Cannot se on what grounes or authority thay have for so Doing, as I had agood Commision for tacking of saiad Shipes; I Neiver thought of their Doing aney thing futher than sanding them out again &c. I Cant...
25994To Benjamin Franklin from Francois Gianolio, 12 November 1777: résumé (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society <Turin, November 12, 1777, in French: I have long wanted to establish commercial contact with America, but am unable to go there; so I am asking your assistance. Congress, I know, has established agents in Europe for importing American and exporting European products; and I should like to be added to this fortunate group. America has plenty to offer...
25995General Orders, 12 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
The Honorable Continental Congress have been pleased to pass the following resolve, concerning the opinion of the Court of enquiry, published in General Orders, the 16th Ult: relative to General Sullivan. Resolved—That the result of the Court of enquiry into the expedition of Staten-Island, so honorable to the character of General Sullivan is highly pleasing to Congress, and that the opinion...
25996Sonnet from Domenico Bertini, of Florence, 12 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
A Sua Eccellenza il Signor Washinton Generale delle Colonie Americane Sonetto ADS (in Italian), DLC:GW ; translation, DLC:GW . The sonnet and translation both are undated. GW docketed the translation “Letter & Sonnet from Dominec Bertini, 12th Novr 1777.” Bertini enclosed this sonnet in a letter to James Lovell written in Italian at Florence, Italy, on 12 Nov., and Lovell apparently forwarded...
25997To George Washington from the Board of War, 12 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
Colo. Flower having applied to the Board to fill up a Commission as Colonel as he alledges he is entitled to that Rank by the Arrangement of the Artillery the Matter is referred to Genl Washington as he is the best acquainted with the Circumstances. ADS , DLC:GW . For GW’s earlier decision that Benjamin Flower should be granted the rank and pay of a lieutenant colonel, see GW to Richard...
25998To George Washington from William Buchanan, 12 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
I am favoured with yours of the 5th. It is much to be lamented that from many unfortunate concurring Circumstances, there is sufficient Ground for General Heath’s Remonstrance—I have not been inattentive to that Quarter, but I have not the appointment of Agents. The Assistant Commissaries are all appointed by the Depy Commissary General of Purchases for the District, and Congress, with whom...
25999To George Washington from Major John Clark, Jr., 12 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
This will inform you I left New Castle Yesterday Evening, at which place there lay about one hundred sail of Men of War & Transports, chiefly of the later, one large Ship of Force at the mouth of Christiana—Day before Yesterday thirty five sail of Transports hove in sight & soon after taking advantage of the Flood, moved up & joined the Fleet at Chester—The Inhabitants say they had no Troops...
26000From George Washington to the Continental Navy Board, 12 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have your favr of the 10th and am only sorry that I did not sooner know my request of sinking the Frigates had been complied with. The delay of the Resolve of Congress, from the time you first applied for their advice, was what led me into a mistake, and I am obliged to you for the genteel manner in which you excuse me. I am perfectly satisfied with the measures which you have taken to...
26001To George Washington from Captain Fleury, 12 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
in my quality of engineer in chief at fort mifflin i think that my duty obliges me to informe you of the present situation of the fort. the fire of the enemy has been successful enough to spoile our three Block houses, and dismount the canon of all, except two. the great lockes of which we had covered them are not strong enough to preserve the inside of the block houses, and we have none...
26002To George Washington from Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Hamilton, 12 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have been detained here these two days, by a fever and violent rheumatic pains throughout my body. This has prevented my being active in person for promoting the purposes of my errand, but I have taken every other method in my power, in which Governor Clinton has obligingly given me all the aid he could. In answer to my pressing application to General Poor for the immediate marching of his...
26003From George Washington to James Mease, 12 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
I am favd with yours of the 4th inclosing Returns of the Cloathing that has been delivered, and which you are now sending on to Camp. If I understand you, it is all that you have on hand made or unmade. If this is so, our prospects are melancholy indeed, except considerable quantities are expected from abroad, or are on some other part of the Continent. Of this I shall be glad to be informed...
26004To George Washington from Pierre Penet, 12 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
permit me to address these few lines in Congratulation of your late success against the Troops of Great Brittain, as we have just had the agreeable news by post of the arrival of a Packet at St Malo’s in this Kingdom, whereby we learn you have drove them & prevented their schemes against the Southern Colonies—I have taken the Liberty of sending you a pair of Shoulder knots & a sword knot, also...
26005To George Washington from Brigadier General James Potter, 12 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
I Receved your Excelanceys favour of yesterday at 10 oClock last night. I was out Reconnitring, the Shiping are com up the number of soldiers I cant assurtain. as to the marching of the Militia the were all at Head Quarters before I Recd your Letter, as for my Harressing the Enemy the sitation of the pleace is such that I can do Little, and my numbers so Trifling, that I cant prevent there...
26006To George Washington from Brigadier General James Potter, 12 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
I am sorey to Inform your excelancey that Last night in the night the enemy got two Briggs and one Sloop up past the Island on the side next the Islands and this day they were unloading them at the Lowast ferrey in Schulkill, there has been a verey hevey fiering this day at the fourt from the Battreys on the Islands the fourt Seldom Returned the fier the Galleys went lower down the River then...
26007From George Washington to Lieutenant Colonel Samuel Smith, 12 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
I last night received your Favor of the 10th Instant, and am sorry to find the Enemy’s Batteries had played with such Success against our Works. Nevertheless, I hope they will not oblige you to evacuate them. They are of the last importance, and I trust will be maintained till the latest extremity. I have written to Genl Varnum to afford you immediate succour by sending Fresh Troops to releive...
26008To George Washington from Lieutenant Colonel Samuel Smith, 12 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
I yesterday unfortunately recd a Contusion on my Hip & left Arm both which give me much pain. I imprudently went into my Barracks to answer a Letter from Gen. Varnum & A Ball came through the Chimney & Struck me on the Hip So forcibly that I remain’d senseless for Some time. however I am happy to find myself much less hurted than I at first imagin’d & Hope in 5 or 6 days to be again fit for...
26009From George Washington to Brigadier General James Mitchell Varnum, 12 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
I am sorry to find from yours of Yesterday, that the fire of the Enemy had made so great an impression upon the Works of Fort Mifflin, that you thought an evacuation would be necessary. As I have not yet heard that the measure was determined upon, I hope it is not carried into execution. If it is not, it is the unanimous opinion of a Council of General Officers now sitting, that the Fort be...
26010To George Washington from Brigadier General James Mitchell Varnum, 12 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
The Garrison holds out; tho’ the Enemy continue to batter with great Success upon the Works, but few Men are killed and wounded. The Troops are extremely fatigued. I shall send one Hundred fresh Troops this Night, &, all that I have tomorrow Night, if the Fort should remain defensible—The most fatigued will be taken from the Garrison. Colo. Smith will be unable to return to his Command for...