121To George Washington from Major General John Sullivan, 13 September 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have nothing new in this Quarter Since my Last The Pilots who waited on Count D Estaing call for Six Dollars pr Day I Should be glad to know whether the Sum ought to be allowd or whether I am to pay them or Send them to the Count. Many officers of Jacksons Detachment want to Resign as there is a great Surplusage of them I think it would be no Injury to the Service. I think also that if the...
122To George Washington from Major General John Sullivan, 10 September 1778 (Washington Papers)
I can only Inform you at present that the Enemy have Left Bedford but are Still Hovering Round the Shore they have Burnt ten Dwelling Houses all the Stores & all the vessels but one in Bedford Sir Henry Clinton Left them at New London & Returned to New york in a Frigate Major General Gray Commands the Party which Consists of one Regt of Light Infantry & one of Granadiers of Six hundred men...
123To George Washington from Major General John Sullivan, 6 September 1778 (Washington Papers)
Letter not found : from Maj. Gen. John Sullivan, 6 Sept. 1778. On 9 Sept., GW wrote Sullivan : “I am favd with yours of the 5th and 6th.”
124To George Washington from Major General John Sullivan, 5 September 1778 (Washington Papers)
Since my last, Two N. Hampshire Volunteers (who were capturd in Rhode Island & since exchangd) have brought out a Newport Gazette containing the following Intelligence—“That Sir Harry Clinton with the Troops arrivd there on Tuesday last & saild again on the 2d Instant[”] —I have it likewise from General Cornell who is station’d at Tiverton, that the British Fleet had saild passd Newport & were...
125To George Washington from Major General John Sullivan, 4 September 1778 (Washington Papers)
I am sorry to inform your Excellency of a Disscontent which at present prevails among the Officers of Webbs and Sherburnes Regiments—They have lately been so clamorous as to verge towards quitting the Service, & I am really apprehensive, that we shall lose many valuable Officers by Resignations if a speedy Redress is not had for their Grievances. Their uneassiness seems to have arisen from...
126To George Washington from Major General John Sullivan, 3 September 1778 (Washington Papers)
I had Last night the honor of Receiving your Excellenceys Favor of the first Instant & impatiently wait your Excellenceys Sentiments on The Steps I have taken Since the 29th ult. an Account of which has been Transmitted by Major Morris. The Justice of the observations in your Excellenceys Letter Respecting the Departure of the French Fleet are So obvious That if a Consciousness of my Duty to...
127To George Washington from Major General John Sullivan, 2 September 1778 (Washington Papers)
I am informed by Genl He[a]th & the Council of B⟨os⟩ton that an English fleet has anchord off the Harbour of Boston & from the accounts you gave me of Lord Howes Fleet suppose it to be the same sent in to block up Count Destiang that the Reinforcement detachd to the Relief of Rhode-Island might meet with no Interruption in its passage —What seems to give credibility to the Supposition is, that...
128To George Washington from Major General John Sullivan, 31 August 1778 (Washington Papers)
In my last I promisd your Excellency to particularize such commanding Officers and Corps as more particularly distinguished themselves in the Action of the 29th Instant. I with pleasure comply with that promise. The advancd Corps under the Command of Colonels Laurens Fleury & Major Talbot Colo. H: B. Levingstones light Troops consisting of Jackson’s Corps and a detachment from the whole...
129To George Washington from Major General John Sullivan, 29 August 1778 (Washington Papers)
A Retreat to the North End of the Island having been deemd adviseable (from our great diminution of Numbers) by the determination of a Council of War held the 26th Instant—I last evening gave the necessary orders for and effected a well timed & regular retreat without losing any part of my Baggage, Stores, or heavy Ordinance. The Enemy was apprizd of the Movement sometime in the Night—they had...
130To George Washington from Major General John Sullivan, 23 August 1778 (Washington Papers)
The Fates have Decreed that you Shall receive nothing but Disagreable Intelligence from this Quarter. Major General Green & the Marquis Returned the night before Last from the French Admiral. my Letter their Intreaties & General Greens written Remonstrance Drawn up on Board the Languedoc have only produced the Letter which I Inclose. it Seems That the Captains of the French Fleet are So...
131To George Washington from Major General John Sullivan, 21 August 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have within this hour had the honor of receiving your favor and am happy in having it in my power to relieve your Excellency from the state of anxiety you are in for the Counts safety. He last evening appeared of this harbour & I was soon after surprised with the inclosed letter from Count d’Cambis who was dispatched in a frigate by the Admiral for the purpose of more speedily conveying the...
132To George Washington from Major General John Sullivan, 19 August 1778 (Washington Papers)
I am honored this day by the receipt of your favor of the 16th Inst. Wherein you complain of my want of attention in giving you more frequently an acct of my situation and progress of my operations and in answer can assure your Excellency that want of interesting matter not of inclination has given rise to the suspicion—I can recieve no greater satisfaction than what arises from contributing...
133To George Washington from Major General John Sullivan, 17 August 1778 (Washington Papers)
Notwithstanding the train of misfortunes (mentioned in my letter of the 14th Inst.) sufficient in number and aggravation to drepress even the spirits of fortitude and damp the ardor of enterprise, I have by the interposition of heaven and unabated industry nearly recovered from the deplorable situation of which my last contained but an imperfect description—I have by sending for supplies to...
134To George Washington from Major General John Sullivan, 13 August 1778 (Washington Papers)
In my last I had the honor to inform your Excellency of my being in possession of the enemies works on the North end of this Island, and of the arrival of a British fleet the moment we had landed, with the addition of Count d’Estain’s sailing in pursuit of them. As this last unfortunate circumstance deprived me of the assistance I had reason to expect from the French troops, I found it...
135To George Washington from Major General John Sullivan, 10 August 1778 (Washington Papers)
The Count De-Estaing and myself were by Agreement to land our Forc[e]s here this Morning but I having received Intelligence early Yesterday Morning that the Enemy had abandoned the north End of the Island entirely in Consequence of the French Fleets coming up the River thought it best to push over without Loss of Time the whole of my Troops which accordingly was done —immediately after our...
136To George Washington from Major General John Sullivan, 6 August 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have the honor to inform your Excellency that some time since three of the enemy’s frigates quited their former stations—sailed to the North end of Rhode-Island and anchored between Dyers Island and Bristal ferry—Count d’Estaign on the 4 Inst. meditated an attack upon them, and on the 5th issued orders that two of his ships should turn the North end of Connanicut Island and give them battle....
137To George Washington from Major General John Sullivan, 1 August 1778 (Washington Papers)
It is with pleasure I inform your Excellency that our preparations in this Department are as forward as Circumstances will admit, or Industry and application could make them. I submitt’d the Plan of Operations (sometime since communicated to your Excellency) to Admiral Count D. Estaign & was happy in its receiving his approbation & concurrence. Upon his proceeding to put part of them in...
138To George Washington from Major General John Sullivan, 27 July 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have the pleasure to Inform you that we have already Collected a Magazine amply Sufficient for all possible Demands. The French Fleet has not yet arrived the Marquis will be in on the 29 as he writes me and we Shall be in perfect Readiness My numbers I trust will be Sufficient for the purpose if a few more old troops had been Sent on it might have been Better but Even as it is I have not a...
139To George Washington from Major General John Sullivan, 26 July 1778 (Washington Papers)
By a former Letter Sent by Express I acknowledged the Rect of your Excellenceys favor of the 17th Instant which arrived only the Evening of the 22d & Colo. Laurens arrived with your Excys favor of the 22d on the 24th Inst. two of Clock afternoon—This gave me but Little time to prepare I however Endeavoured to improve it in the Best Manner & have the pleasure to Inform your Excy that Every...
140To George Washington from Major General John Sullivan, 24 July 1778 (Washington Papers)
I had Last Evening the honor of Receiving your Excellencys favor of the 17th Instant & Shall immediately make Every preparation mentioned. I had previous to the Receipt Sent two Expresses Informing your Excy of the Reinforcements Sent by the Enemy to Rhode Island & Inclosed you the Intelligence I had obtained Those Letters must Reach Yr Excy before this. by the Last of which you will find that...
141To George Washington from Major General John Sullivan, 22 July 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have the Honor to Inclose you the Intelligence reced from Rhode Island Last night which is not only from Good Authority but is Corroborated by Intelligence Received from various other Quarters. Three Regiments of the Enemy Encamped yesterday on Connannicut Island Three more came out & Encamped in the North part of Rhode Island next Bristol: They may have Some Design upon us but I Rather...
142To George Washington from Major General John Sullivan, 20 July 1778 (Washington Papers)
I beg Leave to Inform you that about four Days Since twenty one Sail of Large Transports from Newyork arrived at Rhode Island with about two Thousand troops on Board They were at first Said to be Invalids but it Now appear that they are Effectives But mostly Foreigners They have Now about five Thousand Troops on the Islands & have Seven vessels of War Sloops & Small Frigates only they have in...
143To George Washington from Major General John Sullivan, 26 May 1778 (Washington Papers)
I beg leave to inform your Excellency that on the night of the 24th Inst. about six or Seven Hundred British & Hessian Troops at Rhode Island, embark’d on Board two Ships of War, two Tenders, & about Thirty Flatt Bottom’d-Boats, pass’d up the River & Landed before Day between Warren & Poppasquash Point; at the appearance of Day light, they march’d in Two Bodies, one for Warren, & the other for...
144To George Washington from Major General John Sullivan, 1 May 1778 (Washington Papers)
I Should have Long Since wrote your Excellencey was there any thing in this Quarter worth Ingaging your attention. I found upon my Journey Home that there was not the Least probability of the Enemys attempting to Rescue Genl Burgoine & Army: I therefore went to New Hampshire where I tarried about twelve Days upon my Arrival here I found no Troops worth mentioning & by the Inclosed Return your...
145To George Washington from Major General John Sullivan, 1 May 1778 (Washington Papers)
In my Letter of this Day I mentioned the State of this Post: I Expect the Troops will be Soon here, if There is any Spirit Left in the New England States: but when they Arive I Shall have only one Brigr viz. Brigr Genl Cornell to assist me in taking Care of Troop So Scattered as mine must be, viz. from Point Judith to Providence on the west, & from Providence to Seconnet Point on the East;...
146To George Washington from Major General John Sullivan, 2 March 1778 (Washington Papers)
I Remember to have Troubled yr Excy Last Summer with Solicitations in favor of Capt. Sullivan begging your Excys influence in his behalf with Congress —at white Marsh I was informed by General Knox & by the Commissary of prisoners that Capt. Bliss was paid off that if my Brother would Come to Camp there would be no Difficulty in his receiving his money—I wrote him & he has at a most amazing...
147To George Washington from Major General John Sullivan, 2 March 1778 (Washington Papers)
Nothing can be more painful to me than the Repetition of a request which is known to be Disagreable to a Commander to whom America in General & myself in particular Stand So much indebted—after So polite a Refusal as I have once had I Should have Remained forever Silent upon the Subject: did not pure necessity which knows no Law Compell me to repeat my request —I Sincerely Lament my being...
148To George Washington from Maj. Gen. John Sullivan, 26 February 1778 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Maj. Gen. John Sullivan, 26 Feb. 1778. GW wrote Sullivan on this date : “In answer to yours of this morning.”
149To George Washington from Major General John Sullivan, 21 February 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have The Honor to Inclose yr Excellencey a pitiful Letter from My Man of The Intelligent Countenance by which appellation he was well known Last Campaign & gave us the best Intelligence we Ever had. I beg your Excellencey to Let me know what answer I am to give him & whether any Thing is to be Done for him. I have heard from various Quarters that the Enemy are about Embarking & Say they are...
150To George Washington from Major General John Sullivan, 14 February 1778 (Washington Papers)
After combating with all the elements and contending with every disappointment and misfortune I have so far completed the bridge that little remains but what may be done in two or three days after the plank is ready and the weather will permit. It will be of no use to keep the carpenters longer at the bridge until the weather is favourable and the plank is prepared. The erecting and securing...