1To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 25 June 1781 (Washington Papers)
Inclosed is the return of boats which I mentioned this morning. I recd it last evening & have not had opportunity to take a copy. which I shall be glad to do in a day or two. I am very respectfully yr Excellencys obed. P.S. Those mentioned to be laid up at Wappins Creek Mr Sheafe expected to have repaired by this day. DNA : RG 93—War Department.
2To 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.
3To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 19 March 1782 (Washington Papers)
I was honoured with your letter of yesterday’s date, desiring to be informed when the arrangements yet to be made in my department would admit of any return to the army. The Secretary at War being arrived, I expect every matter will be so adjusted as to admit of my leaving town in ten days: it will make me happy if I can sooner follow you. I have the honour to be very respectully Your...
4To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 13 March 1779 (Washington Papers)
Letter not found : from Timothy Pickering, 13 March 1779. GW wrote to Pickering on 20 March : “I have the honor of yours of the 13th instant inclosing a Copy of a letter from Colo. Brodhead with an estimate of the Stores necessary for an expedition against Detroit.”
5To 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...
6To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 9 February 1782 (Washington Papers)
The estimates & information required by your Excellency’s letter of yesterday, I am preparing, and will lay before you in the afternoon, so far as they can be immediately furnished. I have the honour to be with great respect your Excellency’s most obedient servant DLC : Papers of George Washington.
7To George Washington from Colonel Timothy Pickering, 9 February 1781 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found : from Col. Timothy Pickering, 9 Feb. 1781. On this date, GW’s aide-de-camp Alexander Hamilton wrote Pickering: “The General has anticipated the subject of your letter of this day” (see Pickering to GW, this date , source note).
8To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 4 May 1781 (Washington Papers)
Mr Tilghman favoured me to day with the act of Congress relative to a barrack master to the french Army; agreeable to which I have made the enclosed appointment for Colonel Champlin. If your Excellency shall deem any alteration in the form of the Warrant to be expedient, I beg to be favoured with your sentiments thereon for my direction. I am with great respect your Excellencys most obedt...
9To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 5 March 1779 (Washington Papers)
Letter not found : from Timothy Pickering, 5 March 1779. GW wrote Pickering on 10 March : “I had the honor of your letter of the 5th Inst. with its inclosures.”
10To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 14 May 1782 (Washington Papers)
General Hazen has applied to the secretary at war for the articles necessary to equip his regiment. For what regards my department, he is referred to me. I have no difficulty in ordering a supply of every article, tents excepted, which must be brought from the North river; nor should I hesitate about these, if the regiment were certainly to continue any length of time at Lancaster: for they...
11To George Washington from Colonel Timothy Pickering, 7 May 1777 (Washington Papers)
I had the honour to receive your Excellency’s letter by Col. Lee, conferring upon me the office of adjutant general: And since, notwithstanding all my objections, ’tis your Excellency’s pleasure, I am happy to declare my acceptance of it. At the same time I am constrained, from my real feelings; again to express my fears that I shall fall short of your Excellency’s expectations. Few people are...
12To 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...
13To George Washington from Colonel Timothy Pickering, 11 August 1780 (Washington Papers)
You will doubtless ere this reaches you, have been informed that Congress have been pleased to appoint me quarter master general. This was so totally unexpected, that it will take me some days yet before I can get ready to proceed to camp. In the mean time I shall make some necessary arrange⟨m⟩ents for conducting the business of the de⟨pa⟩rtment in this state and the other states s⟨ou⟩thward...
14To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 4 November 1782 (Washington Papers)
To render it practicable to support the horses indispensably necessary with the army, I beg leave to suggest the expediency of sending to a distance in the Country the surplus riding horses without delay. My ability to provide forage is not increased, but lessened, by the non-payment of the bills of exchange put into my hand for that among other purposes. I submit to your Excellency’s...
15To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 21 August 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have sent a person to examine the roads on the routes mentioned by Genl Hand, & urged his returning as soon as possible. I have sent an express to go with him as far as Ogden’s iron works (without crossing the Ramapaugh) to bring back his report whether that route be practicable for carriages. The inspection of the roads will then proceed as far as the two Bridges & return by Dods thro’...
16To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 14 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
The inclosed extract of a letter from Colo. Neilson I beg leave to lay before your Excellency, and to request your direction relative to the artillery huts at Pluckemin. If they are not necessary to be preserved for any military purposes, the reasons given by Colo. Neilson require that they be sold without delay. Congress have determined on a reform of Colo. Baldwin’s regt files among the...
17To 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...
18To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 3 March 1782 (Washington Papers)
Your Excellency has been pleased to refer to my determination what boats, besides batteaux & two gun--boats, will be necessary on the Hudson. I shall be happy, nevertheless, to be favoured with your opinion on the arrangements I have had in contemplation relative to this business. The common batteaux being built with pine boards, are of course very tender, and altogether unsuitable for the...
19To 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...
20To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 6 May 1781 (Washington Papers)
I find that one great cause of the failure of transportation of the salted provisions from Connecticut has been the general want of forage; of private forage I mean. The farmers there in general have not a lock of hay for their own stocks. Your Excellency’s wishes are anticipated. Colo. Hughes went off yesterday from Fishkill by one o’clock for Danbury (which I assure myself he reached last...
21To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 23 March 1782 (Washington Papers)
Your Excellency being vested with authority, by the resolve of Congress of the 11th of March 1780, to make the necessary regulations relative to the servants of officers of the army; and the general orders of the 18th of January last not comprehending any officers in my department, I request you will be pleased to extend your consideration of the subject, and fix the number of servants to be...
22To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 25 October 1782 (Washington Papers)
The left wing of the army, commencing its march at seven o’clock to morrow morning, will proceed by the Continental Village to Nelson’s Point, where on Sunday boats will be in readiness to carry the troops to West Point; from whence they will march over Butter Hill in the road leading to Murderer’s Creek. On their descent from the Hill, the quarter masters of brigades will join and conduct...
23To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 26 September 1782 (Washington Papers)
Since your Excellency spoke to me yesterday relative to the movement of the army,I have more maturely considered of the means of effecting that movement, and the time requisite for collecting the horses and oxen to Verplank’s Point. In consequence of the orders given the 23d instant, I expect all the public horses and oxen on the west side of the river will have crossed over at Newburgh, one...
24To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 9 May 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have just received from Colo. Hughes a letter of which the inclosed is an extract. Mr Pomeroy (the bearer of it, brother to the D.Q.M.) informs me that the towns who were called on early in March to send forward their salted meat, got themselves excused by the government, under pretence that the roads were impassable, promising to turn out when the roads were good. But when called upon, the...
25To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 12 May 1781 (Washington Papers)
I was at Fishkill this morning4 & from Mr Stevens’s account of provisions received from Connecticut, compared with Mr Josiah Pomeroy’s, I am apprehensive your Excellency has been informed of larger quantities of salted provisions being put up in the towns westward of Connecticut river than were in fact provided. By Mr Stevens’s acct it appears, that from the 6th of February to the 11th inst....
26To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 30 April 1782 (Washington Papers)
On the 23d instant I had the honour of writing to your Excellency; and mentioned my expectation of leaving town the last week. But Mr Morris is not yet prepared for my departure, and he desires me to stay yet longer. I suppose he has informed your Excellency of his embarrassments, in consequence of the states witholding their taxes. I expect that Colo. Miles will send from hence, by the 15th...
27To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 29 June 1781 (Washington Papers)
Major Platt having signified to me his intentions to quit my department, I immediately sought for a suitable character for the office of deputy quarter master to the main army; and after due inquiry, have fixed on lieut. colo. Dearborn. He has consented to serve: but being in the line of the army, he cannot be taken from thence without your Excellency’s approbation, which I now solicit. The...
28To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 5 October 1781 (Washington Papers)
It may be proper that I report to your Excellency the circumstances & events of my late journey to Williamsburgh. I was unable to leave camp the 2d inst. till late in the afternoon, which prevented my reaching Williamsburgh till the evening. I immediately waited on the Intendant with Count Chastellux’s letter, reciting the agreement he had made with me respecting the future employment of the...
29To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 8 June 1781 (Washington Papers)
I was honoured with your Excellency’s letter of yesterday. The military stores ordered from hence are all gone, together with near twenty (I think) casks of flints which some of the ox teams had brought on from Springfield. The whole were a few days ago advanced as far as Sussex Court House, and are under the care of Ebenezer Brannon conductor of military stores. Lest there should not be...
30To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 3 August 1781 (Washington Papers)
In the inclosed proposition for general orders, I have these objects in view: To ascertain the quantity of forage consumed in this county, by knowing the numbers of cattle fed there—To find who are possessed of public horses—To see who keep horses to whom public forage is not allowed, or who keep more horses than are allowed them, or than your Excellency shall judge necessary; that what are...
31To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 13 May 1781 (Washington Papers)
Agreable to your Excellencys orders, we have consider’d of an arrangement of Colonel Baldwins regiment of artificers, and are of opinion That all the non commissioned officers & privates should form one company under the direction and command of Capt. Patten and Lieut Lears Artillery Artificers at the Park, and one lieutenant to be taken from said regiment, the whole to do duty at present at...
32To 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...
33To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 7 May 1781 (Washington Papers)
Orders will be given forthwith to have a vessel got ready to carry a 100 barrels of flour to Albany. The necessary orders have been given, & in the most pointed terms, relative to the flour on the communications between this & Pensylvania; & as (other means failing) actual payment is to be resorted to, I cannot entertain an idea of disappointment. An express will go to-morrow for Boston. I...
34To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 5 March 1782 (Washington Papers)
In the plan for regulating the quarter-master’s department, there is a list of officers to whom forage shall be allowed; but the enumeration is very defective. Many officers who had very just claims to forage were omitted; but to whom either their stations, or the nature of the duties required of them, rendered the issuing of forage apparently proper. All the characters marked with an o were...
35To George Washington from Colonel Timothy Pickering, 25 January 1781 (Washington Papers)
I wrote last evening to Mr Humphrys, & gave him an account of my expectations respecting forage. The uncommon badness of the roads (either very rough or very miry) has prevented the farmers bringing in the forage the Justices of Ulster & Orange agreed to furnish & have in fact assessed: The present snow will enable them to come in. For instant relief to your Excellency’s horses I directed Mr...
36To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 7 November 1782 (Washington Papers)
Capt. Walker has shewn me a letter of this date from Genl Gates to your Excellency, representing that quarters are not yet provided for him. It is very true, yet I have spared no pains to provide for him. This day one of my assistants rode twenty miles from house to house, to find quarters for the director of the Hospital that he might quit Ellisons, but return’d without success. All former...
37To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 18 May 1781 (Washington Papers)
The return of boats of which your Excellency has a copy, is dated the 2d of April. At that time there appeared to be 60 batteaux at Wappon’s creek that were repairable. On the 29th of April there were eight batteaux there under repair, & fifteen more repairable, but very old. The residue, of consequence, of the 60, had been repaired & taken away. But I do not know of any repaired elsewhere;...
38To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 16 June 1778 (Washington Papers)
General Gates has written to Congress describing his distressed situation from the want of men, money, arms, provisions &c. We were surprized at the mention of arms ; for by a return made in February it appeared that better than 2000 stands were then at Albany, fit for service; and the board have never given any order respecting them. Colo. Malcom says a quantity were sent from thence lately...
39To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 25 April 1779 (Washington Papers)
yours of the 22d inst. came to hand yesterday evening. I immediately sent orders to the Clothier General to send on to camp without delay all the shirts, over-alls & blankets in his possession, reserving only so many as were necessary to answer the orders given for supplying Colo. Proctors & Colo. Hartley’s regiments. The Clothier General informs me there will then remain but about 150...
40To George Washington from Colonel Timothy Pickering, 26 January 1781 (Washington Papers)
Of the seventeen teams impressed by Justice Chandler for the artillery, tents & intrenching tools, five only came in, & those too late to draw the artillery, which I completed with Continental horses by breaking up three double teams. The five single teams which came in I have caused to be loaded with two horsemans tents—75 common tents—& 75 axes besides two crow bars. These will go about six...
41To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 29 May 1782 (Washington Papers)
I have been favoured with your Excellency’s letter of the 15th instant, which would have been acknowledged by the subsequent post, had I not been made to expect a small supply of money the same week, by the bearer of which I meant to write to your Excellency: but in this expectation also I was disappointed. My long continuance here has distressed me exceedingly; but it appeared to me that the...
42To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 16 January 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have the happiness to inform you that the box, containing the orderly books & some returns, which has been so long missing is found. It was carried to Reading, from whence it was lately brought to this city with Genl Mifflin’s papers. ’tis now at the War Office, & waits your orders. I am desired by the board to remind your Excellency of their request to know your sentiments relative to the...
43To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 8 February 1782 (Washington Papers)
I am honoured with your Excellency’s letter of this date respecting the preparations to be made for the next campaign. The reason of my stay at the North River I mentioned in a letter from thence. As soon as I obtained the returns in that quarter I came away. A general return is forming, which, from the multiplicity of articles, will be voluminous; but as soon as possible I will complete and...
44To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 23 February 1782 (Washington Papers)
I was yesterday honoured with your Excellency’s letter of the 21st, to the several directions in which I shall pay due attention. Yesterday I received a letter from Major Claiborne dated the 12th instant informing me “that the two expresses stationed at the Bowling Greene, had left it some days for want of support." As Colo. Carrington had comprehended in his estimate for Virginia one charge...
45To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 16 February 1782 (Washington Papers)
The pay & Subsistence of divers officers in the quarter master generals department being deemed inadequate to their services, & no provision made for some necessary officers, the following view of the present appointments and of those proposed, is respectfully presented to the consideration of the Commander in Chief. chart The condition of the Southern States compelling the army there to draw...
46To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 10 June 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have been honoured with your Excellency’s letter of this date, and will pay due attention to the contents. I had no notice for the demand for planks till Gl Knox mentioned it today: He will inform your Excellency how I proposed to obtain a part of them. I shall send an express to Colo. Hughes at Albany to morrow morning on that account; and one for Boston to morrow afternoon on the score of...
47To George Washington from Colonel Timothy Pickering, 25 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
This morning it occurred to me that very little if any of the cloathing at Springfield had been sent forward to the main army; and that as six brigades will perhaps remain here or in the neighbourhood for some time; or at least may not return soon to the westward, it may be best to order a sufficiency of the cloathing for them to be stopped, which will save an expensive carriage of a hundred...
48To George Washington from Colonel Timothy Pickering, 9 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
I esteem it a singular honour done me by your Excellency in offering me the post of Adjutant General, and it pains me sensibly that I am obliged to decline it. ’Tis an honour to which I did not aspire, because I did not account myself equal to the important business of the office. Your Excellency does not mistake my attachment to the interests of the United States; ’tis sincere & unalterable....
49To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 6 August 1782 (Washington Papers)
The prices at which forage would be furnished thro’ the agent of the state of New-York (as appears by the papers transmitted me by Colonels Lutterloh & Hughes) being much higher than the cash prices, Mr Morris has refused his assent to either of the modes proposed. Instead thereof he has put into my hands a number of his draughts, which will be negociated with the receivers of the public taxes...
50To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 9 November 1782 (Washington Papers)
Capt. Palmer, an old seaman, has examined Murderers Creek to find a place suitable for hauling up the batteaux for the winter, and can find none. Afterward he examined the shore from thence to two miles above Newburgh, but discovered no place adequate to the reception of more than thirty boats together. Yesterday I went myself with him to view Murderers Creek and all the other places he had...