27181To Benjamin Franklin from ——— Olivier Baronne de Mahuet, 24 January 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society <Pont-à-Mousson in Lorraine, January 24, 1778, in French: I am sending you, open, a letter that I beg you to forward to Salem. It concerns, you will see, a relative that I believe I have there, and I should be glad to know how he stands and what he is doing; I hope you can get the letter to M. André Olivier. The bearer is the marquis de Potterat, captain of...
27182To Benjamin Franklin from Louis-Pierre Dufourny de Villiers, 24 January 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Je n’ai point cru qu’a l’époque déterminée par nos moeurs, ce fut un devoir de souhaitter des années à celuy qui s’est assuré l’immortalité; mais j’ai senti qu’en tout tems, le pouvoir irrésistible de la vertu, nécéssitte le voeu que je fais, de vous voir jouir longtems par anticipation, des sentiments de la Postérité, pour laquelle vous existerez toujours,...
27183General Orders, 24 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
Three days provision to be issued to the troops on Mondays & four days provision on Thirsdays ’till further orders. Varick transcript , DLC:GW .
27184From George Washington to John Clark, Jr., 24 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have been favored with yours of the 13 Inst. I hope you will determine without delay, whether you will accept the appointment of auditor, and if you do, that you will repair as soon as you possibly can to the Army to enter upon the duties of it. An office of this nature has been long thought expedient, and for want of it, I am persuaded the Public have suffered greatly as well as many...
27185To George Washington from Maj. Gen. Horatio Gates, 24 January 1778 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Maj. Gen. Horatio Gates, 24 Jan. 1778. On 27 Jan., GW wrote Gates : “Your Two Letters of the 24th Instant came to hand.” GW indicated that the first of Gates’s letters of that date referred to the detention of British officers carrying clothing to their prisoners in American hands.
27186To George Washington from Major General Horatio Gates, 24 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
By the enclosed Papers your Excellency will see the Designs of Congress in forming the Plan of an Irruption into Canada. Their political Motives for appointing the Officers to conduct the Expedition need not be mentioned, as your Excellency must be struck with the Propriety of the Measure. The Board have carefully avoided weakning the Army under your immediate Command, as they well know the...
27187To George Washington from David Grier, 24 January 1778 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from David Grier, 24 Jan. 1778. In his letter to GW of 19 Mar. , Grier referred to “my letter of the 24th January in which I mentioned the Injustice done me as to Rank by some mistake or inadvertance of the Board of General Officers.”
27188From George Washington to Joseph Spencer, 24 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
Your Favor of the 7th Inst. has this day come to my hand inclosing a Return of the force of the Enemy at Rhode Island—I have for some time understood that Lord Howe sail’d for Rhode Island with more than 100 Transports in order to Winter there which must be those mention’d by you—I am concern’d to find that the want of Money in that Department has put you to so many inconveniencies, & that the...
27189To George Washington from Colonel Edward Stevens, 24 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
The Situation of my private Affairs, obliges me to enclose you my Commission. It gives me concern that I ever accepted it. As I find from my present situation, I can’t (all at the same time) continue to do Justice to my Country, Family and others whom I have been concerned with. I in some measure shudder at the thoughts of laying myself any ways open to the censure of my Country. But conscious...
27190Lieutenant Colonel Tench Tilghman to Major General Stirling, 24 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
As His Excellency is very busy in preparing matters to lay before the Committee of Congress and Board of War, he commands me to acknowledge your Lordships favor of this day, inclosing a very melancholy letter from Colo. Spencer. The want of cloathing is a thing which is much to be regretted but not remedied just at this time. A considerable quantity upon public account ought to have been here...
27191To George Washington from Major General John Sullivan, 24 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
I do myself the Honor to Inclose your Excellency the Result of The General officers Respecting the Market which I hope will meet your Excellencys approbation. I was Desired to mention to your Excellency that The people at Germantown have Large Quantities of Leather in ⟨Fuls⟩ which they are Daily taking out & Carrying to Philadelphia for Sale. Some of which Tis Said our Commy General of Hides...
27192From George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 24 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
I am honored with yours of the 14th instant and am much obliged for your promised attention to the compleating of your Regiments, and I hope your exertions will be attended with the desired success. I am also to thank you for your care in providing cloathing for your Troops—If the Coats should not be cut out before this reaches you, instead of the usual Regimental Coat, I would recommend a...
27193To George Washington from Charles Young, 24 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
Mr Mease being much Indisposed, has directed me to acquaint your Excellency of the Arrival of a quantity of Linens, Cloths &c. from Virginia at this place, They were long detain’d at the Susquehannah, & with much risque and difficulty, were brought over on Sleds, Thursday last, The chief of the goods from which in unloading, were greatly injur’d by being wet; Indeed their situation is beyond...
27194VIII. Resolution of the House of Delegates respecting the Claims of Thomas Johnson and Others, [24 January 1778] (Jefferson Papers)
Resolved, That the Consideration of the different propositions of the Senate and this House for defining the precise meaning of the term money Bill in the Act of Government, ought to be refer’d to the next Session of Assembly: and that in the mean time the several persons interested in the claims suspended in consequence of amendments by the senate shall receive on account thereof the sums...
27195To John Adams from Elbridge Gerry, 25 January 1778 (Adams Papers)
I have attended to your Sentiments on the Subject of Money and am equally unhappy with You “to see Injustice, both to the publick and Individuals so frequent”; but how to remedy it, “hic Labor, hoc Opus est.” The Mode proposed by an Act allowing Depreciation or Appreciation on Specialties may releive a few, but I fear, that it would not have a general good Effect. The comparative Value of...
27196To Benjamin Franklin from ——— de Franval, 25 January 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Mon frere inquiet de ne point recevoir de Vos nouvelles en reponse a une lettre qu’il a eu l’honneur de Vous écrire de Versailles il y a trois semaines, me charge de Vous demander si Vous l’avés receue; cette lettre renfermait le receu du capitaine du vaisseau dans lequel il est revenu, pour pareille Somme contenüe dans le billet que Vous avés de mon frere....
27197To Benjamin Franklin from Erhard Christian Hechtfischer, 25 January 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society <Ickelheim near Windsheim, January 25, 1778, in German: I write to express my joy at your countrymen’s success; may God establish their freedom. I am a former citizen of Ansbach. My compatriots are fighting in America against their will; even when they embarked at Oschenfurt the infantry exchanged fire with the jägers. The clergy must have prayed in vain...
27198To Benjamin Franklin from J. B. Janek, 25 January 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society <Luxembourg, January 25, 1778, in Latin: He and others agreed to emigrate to America, and apparently inquired about ways and means from an aide of Prince Ferdinand of Brunswick [?: “bernuensis” in the MS ] who seems to have encouraged them about getting a tract of land and setting up an iron foundry, but did not tell them whether their Roman Catholicism...
27199General Orders, 25 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
At a Brigade Court-Martial whereof Lt Coll Ballard was President Jany 10th Captn Zane of 13th Virginia Regt tried for acting in a cowardly manner when sent on a scouting party 12th December last by ordering his men to retreat when he had a considerable advantage over the Enemy, found guilty & sentenc’d to be discharged from the service. The Commander in Chief approves the sentence & orders it...
27200To George Washington from Colonel Clement Biddle, 25 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
On a Review of the Waggon horses belonging to the united States and those impressed or on hire in service with the Army, such numbers have been found unfit for Service that the Army will not only suffer for want of an immediate Supply of Provision, & forage but those horses belonging to the States now will be unfit for Service on the Opening of the Campaign—A number of private Teams have been...
27201To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 25 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have been duly honored by the receipt of yours of the 29th December & 9th Instant. Every assistance in my power shall be afforded to Major Blackden, and I am happy to find that he will obtain most of the Articles which are necessary without much difficulty or delay. General Steuben having grown impatient to proceed to the Army, had set out before the arrival of your Excellency’s Letter which...
27202From George Washington to Lieutenant Colonel La Radière, 25 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have your favr of the 13th instant. As the majority of the Council were for erecting the new works upon West Point in preference to the place upon which Fort Clinton was built, I desire that they may be carried on with all dispatch. If we remain much longer disputing about the proper place, we shall lose the Winter, which is the only time that we have to make preparations for the reception...
27203To George Washington from Henry Laurens, 25 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
The 22d Inst. I had the honour of writing to your Excellency by Lieut. Colo. duplessis whose assurances induces me to beleive he has travelled as expeditiously as any of our post Riders. Inclosed your Excellency will receive an Act of Congress of yesterday relative to the Legal distribution of prize Money arising from Captures made on the Water by detachments from the Army, & in a seperate...
27204To George Washington from Brigadier General Casimir Pulaski, 25 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
I am altogether disappointed in my plans—not only the Country is laid waste, but there are people every where who have the right of first Comers. Magazines are formed to the right and left—the great quantity of Waggons belonging to the Hospital, make a great Consumption of forage—the Inhabitants of themselves are not inclined to supply us as they are not paid—I send the Letter of Major Clough...
27205From George Washington to Major General Israel Putnam, 25 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
I was yesterday favor’d with your Letter of 13th Instant inclosing a return of those taken from Colo. Webbs & Ellis’s Regiments. I begin to be very apprehensive that the Season will entirely pass away, before any thing material will be done for the defence of Hudsons river—You are well acquainted with the great necessity there is for having the Works there finished as soon as possible, & I...
27206To George Washington from Lieutenant Colonel William Stephens Smith, 25 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
Inclosed I have the Honour of transmitting an Order sent to me from the Board of War which Last Night I executed. the Gent. are now in Town Prisoners. they are treated with all the Dellicacey their Situation will admit of ⟨&⟩ their Behaivour on the Occasion has been unexceptionable. I should be happy to receive your Excellency orders concerning them. Inclosed I also send a Letter from Doctor...
27207To George Washington from Major Thomas Smyth, Jr., 25 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
The Confusion of the Business of the 5 Maryld Regt which I now command obliges me to lay before your Excellency a State of it. In April last about one hundred and twenty men from the different Companies of the Regiment were sent to Camp under the Command of Captains Henry and Cosden, the remainder of the Regt were station’d in Sussex, on Delaware—as there was no Muster Master in that place,...
27208To Benjamin Franklin from Louis-Laurent-Joseph de Gain de Montagnac, 26 January 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Permettez-moi d’avoir l’honneur de vous adresser le prospectus d’une histoire du marechal de turenne que je viens d’achever, et que je publierai le plutot possible j’ai voulu auparavant avoir vôtre agrément pour la dedier au general vashington que je regarde comme le heros du siecle; je vous envoye l’épitre dedicatoire afin que vous y changiez ce que vous...
27209To Benjamin Franklin from Van den Yver & Cie., 26 January 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society <Amsterdam, January 26, 1778, in French: Although you doubtless have good correspondents in this country, we offer our services in carrying out commissions to purchase or sell, hiring ships and arranging insurance, and handling bills of exchange; if you want to know about prices of goods, we should be glad to oblige. Parisian firms with which we are in...
27210General Orders, 26 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
A board of General Officers having recommended that a Sutler be appointed in each Brigade—whose liquors shall be inspected by two officers appointed by the Brigadier for that purpose and those liquors sold under such restrictions as shall be thought reasonable. The Commander in Chief is pleased to approve of the above recommendation & to order that such Brigade Sutlers be appointed, and...