101To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 18 January 1783 (Washington Papers)
Your Excellency had but just left my quarters, this evening, when a deputy sheriff of Ulster arrested me. He shewed me a writ of which I beg leave to inclose a copy. To prevent any injury to the public, by taking me from my office, I gave bail; and have wrote to an attorney to defend the suit. I thought it my duty to apprize your Excellency of this event. The plaintiff is a Melancton L....
102To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 29 January 1783 (Washington Papers)
I received yesterday your Excellency’s letter of the 27th inst. directing the estimates for the ensuing campaign to be prepared. They shall be made out with all possible expedition & laid before you. I have the honour to be with the greatest respect, your Excellency’s most obedt servant DLC : Papers of George Washington.
103To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 31 January 1783 (Washington Papers)
To-day major Campbell handed me a letter from General Knox relative to the collecting of timber for bomb proofs in the four redoubts back of West-Point. I beg leave to inclose a copy of it, and of my answer. In reading Genl Knox’s letter, two things very naturally occurred: One, That if all the other works so materially depended on those redoubts, and they were not tenable for half an hour,...
104To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 5 February 1783 (Washington Papers)
The inclosed estimate is calculated on the supposition that the army under your Excellency’s command, will be composed of 9 major generals 10 brigadiers 30 regiments of 1 Hazens infantry, of 500 2 N. Hampshire men each exclusive 8 Massachusetts of officers, viz. 1 Rhode Island 3 Connecticut
105To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 7 February 1783 (Washington Papers)
The conductor whom I sent to Albany with blankets for Colo. Willet’s regiment is returned. He arrived there the 4th before sunset; and has delivered the blankets to Colo. Willet, together with ten guineas which I sent to prevent any little difficulties and delays, which even so small a sum of money might obviate. He has brought no letters for your Excellency. I am, very respectfully, Sir, Your...
106To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 10 February 1783 (Washington Papers)
I have received from my Counsel in Woolsey’s action, a special bail piece, which he says I with my bail must acknowledge before Judge Barber of Wallkill. I have proposed to go to-morrow and return by evening, if your Excellency has no commands to prevent it. I have been some time anxiously waiting for money from Philadelphia, to enable me to complete the payment of debts for which I am daily...
107To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 10 February 1783 (Washington Papers)
By the Bills brought in to my office in some cases, I find very large quantities of wood burnt by officers not hutted with the troops, quantities quite disproportioned to the allowances in Philadelphia, as formerly regulated at the War Office. The latter, it is true, are evidently insufficient for this climate & the quarters generally occupied. What they are your Excellency will see, if you...
108To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 1 March 1783 (Washington Papers)
The committee of Congress on the late regulations for the quarter master’s department, on account of the numerous amendments which they appeared to require, reported their total repeal, and a substitution of others in their stead. This kept me in a state of suspense. But no decision having yet taken place, I beg leave, agreeably to the direction of those regulations, to lay before your...
109From Timothy Pickering to Jonathan Trumbull, Jr., 10 March 1783 (Washington Papers)
In answer to your favour of this date just handed me, relative to the standards for the army, I have to inform you, that they came to the store at this place in a box with other articles, directed to Mr Frothingham field commissary of military stores, who opened the box & took out some of the articles, but left the standards, saying he would send for them: how ever, there they are yet. This is...
110From Timothy Pickering to Benjamin Walker, 22 March 1783 (Washington Papers)
In answer to the questions in your note of this date, you will be pleased to inform the commander in chief. That last May Saml Ogden Esqr. of Booneton contracted to make and deliver 1500 camp kettles in a very short time. From the 6th of July to the 23d of October he had delivered 1205—295 are still due, for which he has been importuned. On the 13th of February his Clerk wrote that they were...
111To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 26 March 1783 (Washington Papers)
The Brigadiers and commanding officers of Brigades have reconnoitred the environs of the cantonments, but find no place sufficient, in its present condition, for the manoeuvring of a large body of troops, indeed of any number exceeding a brigade. Capt. Nichols’s plantation, with the land eastward of it, towards Murderer’s creek, is spacious enough; but a growth of young wood covering many...
112To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 22 April 1783 (Washington Papers)
You was pleased to ask my opinion of the military establishments proper to be adopted by the United States, on the conclusion of the war. As it is a subject of the first consequence, I have considered it with attention: and now submit to your Excellency my thoughts upon it. In order to form a just judgment of the military institution necessary for the safety of a State, we must consider the...
113To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 26 August 1783 (Washington Papers)
On the receipt of your Excellency’s letter of the 6th instant relative to the measures necessary for taking possession of the posts on the frontiers, I considered the nature of the service, and made such inquiries as appeared necessary to enable me to form an estimate of the expense. The next day I waited on Mr Morris, who desired me particularly to state my ideas on the subject. These I laid...
114To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 28 August 1783 (Washington Papers)
It is now time to deposit at West-Point as much wood as will be necessary for the use of the garrison the ensuing winter. If it be practicable to determine, at this time, what shall be the strength of the garrison, and the number and ranks of the officers, I will lay in forage, as well as wood, in proportion, as soon as I am favoured with your Excellency’s decision thereon. The wood I propose...
115To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 29 August 1783 (Washington Papers)
The chain at West-Point has already suffered considerably by the rust, and will be daily growing worse. If it is to be kept for future use, it cannot too soon be housed; and in this case it is said it may be preserved from rust by painting. If it is not necessary to keep it, the sooner it is sold the better. It would probably fetch about two thirds the price of bar iron. The chain contains...