26071To George Washington from Major John Clark, Jr., 16 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
I am sorry to acquaint you of the disagreeable News of the evacuation of Fort Mifflin—I’ve just seen two persons from Philadelphia the news of the Fort being taken was bought by three Light Horsemen into the City at 12 oClock—the Enemies Lines are compleat from Delaware to Schuylkill—They were at a quarter of a pound of Beef allowance ⅌ Man—great Betts were held of their quitting the City—an...
26072To George Washington from Brigadier General Thomas Conway, 16 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
The hopes and appearance of a french War, along with some other reasons, have induc’d me to send my resignation to Congress. as soon as the tryal of General stephens is over, I hope your Excellency will permitt me to Depart the army, in order to return to france as soon as possible. I return thanks to your Excellency for the civilitys you have shew’d me while I had the honour of being under...
26073From George Washington to Brigadier General Thomas Conway, 16 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
In Answer to your Favor of this date: It remains with Congress alone to accept your Resignation. This being the case, I cannot permit you to leave the Army, till you have obtained their consent. When that is done, I shall not object to your departure, since it is your inclination. I thank you much for your wishes for the liberty of America & the success of our Arms, and have only to add, that...
26074To George Washington from Brigadier General Thomas Conway, 16 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
I Begg Leave to observe to your excellency that I am in actual service in france, that I have not a furlow of two years as the artillery officers and engineers have obtained, that a Longer stay in this country will much endanger my rank and my hopes of promotion in france. congress is not a stranger to my generous Way of acting with Mr Deane, and I am pretty sure will have no objection to my...
26075To George Washington from Lieutenant Colonel Adam Hubley, Jr., 16 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
In consequence of Instructions from your Excellency, to Colo. Johnston & Broadhead, for the purpose of purchasing & gathering Cloathing, for the Use of our Army. I, with several other Gentlemen, by virtue of your instructions, to the above Gentlemen, were ordered to Act under them, and received Copies of the instructions, with powers from them to Act, and exert ourselves, as much as possible...
26076From George Washington to William Livingston, 16 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
I am honored with yours of the 11th—I am sorry tha[t] any of Genl Dickinson’s plans should prevent him from taking the command at Red Bank, as I fear the presence of an Officer of Spirit is wanted among the Militia in that quarter. The Enemy made a vigorous attack upon Fort Mifflin yesterday, from their Ships and floating Batteries, but I do not yet certainly know the issue. I have the honor...
26077From George Washington to Brigadier General James Potter, 16 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
I desire you will immediately set all your people at work to making fascines. let them be about eight feet in length, about two feet in circumference, tight bound and composed of small wood. I am &c. Df , in Tench Tilghman’s writing, DLC:GW ; Varick transcript , DLC:GW .
26078To George Washington from Brigadier General James Potter, 16 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
I am sorey to be the mesenger of Bad news last night at Ten oClock our Breve Garreson at fort Mifflin set fier to the Barrecks and set off to Rid bank—this Intiligance I have by my express that Brought me the in Closed —I see my self that our Barricks are Burnt and the enemys ships Veglint and a sloop are leying a long side of the Island this moment I Recived your favour of this day and will...
26079To George Washington from Joseph Reed, 16 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
General Green will give you so perfect an Idea of what he has seen here as to make any Remark unnecessary from any one else. I hope & beleive it is not yet too late to give the Forts some effectual Releif but every Moment is precious in The present advanced Season & after the Injury so heavy a Cannonade must have done them. As I know you are pleased with having the Sentiments of every Person...
26080To George Washington from Lieutenant Colonel Samuel Smith, 16 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
Gen. Varnum will have inform’d your Excelly of the Evacuation of fort Mifflin. I am extremely Sorry for the Circumstance. Major Thayer defended it too bravely. My party taken (as your Excelly knows) from the picquet, think they have done their Tour of duty, & hope for your Excellys permission to join their respective Regiments, who (they Say) want their immediate Attention. the Officers have...
26081From George Washington to Brigadier General James Mitchell Varnum, 16 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
I imagine from yours of last Evening by Major Ballard that the Fort was totally evacuated last night. As Major Fleury is wounded, you may probably want an Engineer below. I have therefore sent Monsr L’Aumois the Bearer of this. He is recommended as a Gentleman of Abilities in his profession. I am Dear Sir Yr most obt Servt P.S. It is not intended that Monsr L’Aumois should interfere with Capt....
26082To George Washington from Brigadier General James Mitchell Varnum, 16 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
Agreeable to what I wrote you last Evening, we were obliged to evacuate Fort Mifflin. Major Thayer returned from thence a little after two this Morning. Every Thing was got off, that possibly could be. The Cannon could not be removed without making too great a Sacrifice of Men, as the Empress of Russia, alias Vigilant , lay within one Hundred Yards of the Southwest part of the Works, & with...
26083From George Washington to Henry Laurens, 17–18 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
I am sorry to inform you that Fort Mifflin was evacuated the night before last, after a defence which does credit to the American Arms, and will ever reflect the higher honor upon the Officers and Men of the Garrison. The Works were intirely beat down, every peice of Cannon dismounted, and one of the Enemy’s Ships so near, that she threw Grenades into the fort, and killed the men upon the...
26084Monday. Novr. 17. 1777. (Adams Papers)
Rode Yesterday from Logg Jail, Willis’s, breakfasted at Hoffmans, at Sussex Ct. House, and supped and lodged at David McCamblys, 34 miles from Willis’s.—The Taverners all along are complaining of the Guard of Light Horse which attended Mr. H ancock . They did not pay, and the Taverners were obliged to go after them, to demand their Dues. The Expence, which is supposed to be the Countrys, is...
26085From Benjamin Franklin to [La Rochefoucauld], 17 November 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Bibliothèque Municipale de Besançon I return the Carolina Constitution which I have carefully perused. I have the Pleasure to inform you that the Amphitrite is arrived at l’Orient from Charlestown, which she left the 21st of September. She has brought us a good Cargo of Rice and Indigo, but no News, except that one of our Fregates in a Cruize of 5 Days from that Port had brought in 4...
26086General Orders, 17 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
Some officers yet remaining untried, and many prisoners in the provost—Brigade Courts martial are to be had for trying them without delay. No pass is to be given to any one to go into Philadelphia, but by the Major General of the day, who will not grant them without due examination, and upon the most reasonable and necessary occasions. At the request of Colo. Price, a Court of enquiry into his...
26087To George Washington from Major John Clark, Jr., 17 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
This moment I have seen a Gentleman (a Friend) who left the City Yesterday Evening, the report of the evacuation of Fort Mifflin was generally believed by the Citizens—’twas also said the Troops on board the Transports at Chester wou’d immediately land in the Jersey shore and march to attack red bank—a Captains Guard are on the West side Schuylkill—on the East, the seventy first Regiment and a...
26088To George Washington from Major John Clark, Jr., 17 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
Col. Tilghmans Letter I have received. The Enemy are gone over to Jersey I will endeavour to get an exact account of the numbers & transmit you in haste I am your Excellency’s Obedt Hble servt a Gentleman of credit says they marched in a solid Column & were an hour & half crossing Derby Bridge, without any impediments. ALS , DLC:GW . Although this letter is undated, its context suggests that...
26089To George Washington from Captain Mauduit Du Plessis, 17 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
if his excellency has desseing to attack in one monts, the british in the province’s island, the fort read-bank is to be kept, and defend’d until the last extremity. for, if the general Wasington take possession of the province’s island, it will be Difficult to take the fort-Mifflin, when the ennemy will be in possession of fort read-bank, and in my opinion, if his excellency take the...
26090To George Washington from Colonel Christopher Greene, 17 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
Your Excellency I dare say has been informd of the evacuation of Fort Miflin, and the Gallant defence there made by Major Thayr. The evacuation of that Fort The removal of Our Navy. The movements of the British Fleet, and our own situation at present has put it wholly out of my Power to answer those important purposes for which your Excellency was pleased to order me to this Command. Our Fleet...
26091To George Washington from Captain Bartholomew von Heer, 17 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
A Representation to the Commander in Chief of the American Army. The Commander in Chief I understood he was Informed by a certain Noble Gentleman in the Army that it was of great Necessity of the Good of the American Army and for the Publick of the United States of America to Raise a Core of Marishosy which as such Core is used in every power in Europe in time of Warr and peace to Support the...
26092Orders to Major Generals Arthur St. Clair and Johann Kalb and Brigadier General Henry Knox, 17 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
Instructions for Major General St Clair, Major General Baron Kalb, and Brigadier General Knox. Gentlemen You are to proceed with all convenient expedition to Fort Mercer, where by conferring with Brigadier General Varnum, Commodore Hazlewood and such other Officers as you may think proper to consult—and from your own view of the ground and river, you will investigate the following Points. 1....
26093From George Washington to Brigadier General James Potter, 17 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
Your favor of yesterday covering Col. Greene’s letter I received prior to which I had the Account of Fort Mifflin being evacuated. The Fascines which you were to make may still be wanted tho’ the Army is not to cross the Schuylkill for some little time; you had best not collect them all at any one place as they might become an object of the Enemy’s attention and occasion an attempt to destroy...
26094To 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...
26095To George Washington from Brigadier General James Mitchell Varnum, 17 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
In Consequence of the Enemy’s arm’d Vessells laying at Fort Mifflin, their Provision Vessells pass unmolested, up to the Mouth of Schylkill, between mud Island and Province Island. A Considerable Number of Shipping have moved up this Day & anchored off Billingsport. It is probable they may intend landing the Troops from New York, w’ch in Addition to those already there, (I mean Billingsport)...
26096Tuesday Novr. 18. 1777. (Adams Papers)
Lodged at Brooks’s, 5 Miles from the North River. Rode to the Continental Ferry, crossed over, and dined at Fish Kill, at the Drs. Mess, near the Hospital, with Dr. Sam. Adams, Dr. Eustis, Mr. Wells, &c. It was a feast—Salt Pork and Cabbage, roast Beef and Potatoes, and a noble suit Pudding, Grog and a Glass of Port. Our best Road home is through Litchfield and Springfield. Morehouses is a...
26097To John Adams from James Lovell, 18 November 1777 (Adams Papers)
It appears by Returns this day received from Genl. Gates that Burgoine must have destroyed his Standards and almost every other military Trophy during the Capitulation. Not one Musket fit for use was delivered, not one Scabbard to a Bayonett or Cutlass. We are told that instead of piling the Arms the Enemy chose to ground them, that the Waggons might more certainly crush them. Gates does not...
26098Charles-Guillaume-Frédéric Dumas to the American Commissioners, 18 November 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society; letterbook summary: Algemeen Rijksarchief, The Hague J’ajouterai à l’incluse pour Mr. G——— Grd. (que je laisse ouverte, pour que vous la lisiez aussi), quelques anecdotes, qui pourront plus ou moins vous servir. On m’a assuré qu’il se forme en Zélande (l’une de ces Provinces), une Compagnie de Marchands pour négocier directement avec le Continent de l’Am....
26099J. Rocquette, T. A. Elsevier, & P. Th. Rocquette to the American Commissioners, 18 November 1777 (Franklin Papers)
LS or ALS : Connecticut Historical Society Give us leave to make you, under cover of our most Intimate Friends Messrs. Fco. and Ads. Dubbeldemuts, the offer of our most devoted Services, nothing Should be more flattering for us, than to Enter into correspondance with you and to be favour’d with your commands. Be assured that your intrest, or that of the congrés, cannott be placed into better...
26100To Benjamin Franklin from Reculès de Basmarein & Raimbaux, 18 November 1777 (Franklin Papers)
LS : American Philosophical Society La grande etenduë de nos opérations avec le continent, lie d’une maniére si intime nôtre sort au sien, que nous avons adopté le parti suivant pour nous procurer des nouvelles avec une certaine exactitude. Nous faisons construire plusieurs paquebots dont l’objet sera de porter et de rapporter nos dépêches. La petitesse de leur volume, et la Bonté de leur...