21From George Washington to John Hancock, 17 March 1781 (Washington Papers)
It would have afforded me the greatest pleasure, had I been able to have extended my late visit to Newport as far as Boston, but the important operations, which may be expected to the southward, made it necessary for me to return as soon as possible to the North River, that I might be more immediately in the way of receiving intelligence, and communicating any, which might be essential to the...
22From George Washington to John Hancock, 21 February 1781 (Washington Papers)
I had the honor of receiving your Excellency’s favor of the 5th by General Warner, to whom I gave every advice and assistance relative to the distribution of the generous donation of the State to their old Soldiers. This well timed gratuity has had, I am informed, a most happy effect, and I have not the least doubt, but if the future supplies of pay—Cloathing and provision, the two last in...
23From George Washington to John Hancock, 19 January 1781 (Washington Papers)
My Aide de Camp Col. Laurens is charged with a commission of the most critical importance from Congress to the Court of Versailles. The Alliance Frigate is ordered to convey him to France, but from the exhausted state of our continental resources in every department, delays which would be fatal to the objects of his mission are to be apprehended unless the influence of yr Exy or assistance of...
24From George Washington to John Hancock, 9 January 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have been honored with your Excellency’s favors of the 17th of November and 22d of December. The first, by some accident, had gone forward to Philadelphia and only reached me, by the post from thence, the 7th instant. Your Excellency will have had good reason to suppose me guilty of neglect, in not answering, sooner, so polite a renewal, on your part, of the correspondence which had been...
25From George Washington to John Hancock, 31 October 1780 (Washington Papers)
Upon the representation of Mr Morey that two Negro Men belonging to him, were detained as Soldiers in the Massachusett’s Line, contrary to his inclination, I gave directions to Brigadier General Glover to appoint a Board of Officers to enquire into the Justice of his claim, and to report the facts with their opinion thereon—A Copy of the Report I now do myself the honor to inclose to You. As...
26From Thomas Jefferson to John Hancock, 19 October 1778 (Jefferson Papers)
In a late conversation with Mr. T. Adams since his return from Congress I find, what indeed might have been well supposed that the state of the Continental finances was not the most flourishing. The establishment of banks in Europe for the purpose of maintaining our credit there, as well as here, and by that means of enlarging our supplies by way of loan may perhaps meet with the attention of...
27From Benjamin Franklin to John Hancock, 4 December 1777 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Library of Congress The Bearer of this, Mr. Holcker, is a Gentleman of excellent Character, of great Credit in this Country, and one of my particular Friends. He can give you good Information of the State of Public Affairs here. I beg leave therefore to recommend him to your Acquaintance, and to all the Civilities you usually show to Strangers of Merit, of which you will find him...
28From George Washington to John Hancock, 2 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
Your Favor of the 25th I received on Monday Afternoon. You have my warmest wishes for your recovery, and I shall be happy, if your recess should be attended with benefits superior to your most sanguine expectations. Your exertions to promote the Genl Interest I am well convinced will be unceasing and that every measure, the situation of your health will permit you to pursue will be employed to...
29From George Washington to John Hancock, 24 October 1777 (Washington Papers)
I do myself the honor of transmitting to Congress the inclosed copies of sundry letters just now received, and congratulate them most sincerely on the important intelligence which they contain. The damage the Enemy have sustained in their Ships, I hope will prevent their future attempts to gain the passage of the river, and the repulse of the Troops under Count Donnop and his Captivity, I...
30George Washington to John Hancock, 22 October 1777 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Whitpain Township, Pennsylvania ] October 22, 1777 . Regrets that Hancock is forced to retire as President of Continental Congress because of poor health and the pressure of private affairs. LS , in writing of H, George Washington Photostats, Library of Congress.
31From George Washington to John Hancock, 22 October 1777 (Washington Papers)
It gives me real pain to learn, that the declining state of your health, owing to your unwearied application to public business, and the situation of your private affairs oblige you to relinquish a station; though but for a time, which you have so long filled with acknowledged propriety. Motives as well of a personal as of a general concern make me to regret the necessity that forces you to...
32From George Washington to John Hancock, 21 October 1777 (Washington Papers)
I last night had the honor to receive your Letter of the 17th Instant with its several Inclosures. I heartily wish the States may feel the importance of filling their Batallions, and may, in consequence of the Recommendation of Congress, adopt such measures as will prove effectual for the purpose. I cannot but think that heretofore, there has been a want of attention in this instance, and that...
33From George Washington to John Hancock, 18 October 1777 (Washington Papers)
I do myself the honour to transmit you the inclosed most interesting and agreeable intelligence which I have this moment recd from Genl Putnam. I can scarce doubt but Genl Gates has sent you an Express, but lest he, from the important Business in which he was engaged, should not have done it, I have immediately forwarded it, that you might not be debarred from so great a pleasure an instant...
34From George Washington to John Hancock, 16 October 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have been duly honoured with your Favors of the 12th & 13th Instant, with their several Inclosures. In respect to the Resolution, directing a flag to be sent to Genl Howe, I am inclined to think, that the information upon which it was framed was without foundation. The Letters which have come from our Officers, who have been lately taken, generally mention that their treatment has been...
35From George Washington to John Hancock, 13–14 October 1777 (Washington Papers)
Since I had the honor of addressing you on the 11th Inst., nothing material has happened between our Army and General Howes. The inclosed Copies of Commodore Hazelwood and Colonel Bradfords Letters will shew the situation of affairs in the Navy and at Fort Mifflin on the 11th which are the latest accounts I have received from thence; But there has been a warm Canonade since, which continued...
36From George Washington to John Hancock, 10–11 October 1777 (Washington Papers)
On Wednesday Evening, I received the honor of your Letter of the 7th with its several Inclosures. The providing of suitable Quarters for the Troops during the Winter, demands our Attention; but I confess, it is difficult to say, where they will be. Sundry circumstances may occur in the course of the Campaign, to render any Provision, which might now be thought of altogether improper. In...
37From George Washington to John Hancock, 8 October 1777 (Washington Papers)
As General How’s Operations are in this Quarter & his Object in all probability fixed for this Campaign, I am induced, to submit it to the consideration of Congress If the Whole or a part of the Regimt of Artillery commanded by Colo. Harrison, should not be immediately ordered to join this Army. In the late Actions, the Corps under Genl Knox has suffered severely, and it is so reduced by the...
38George Washington to John Hancock, 7 October 1777 (Hamilton Papers)
Near Pennypackers Mill [ Pennsylvania ] October 7, 1777 . Reports American losses at Germantown and estimates British losses. Intends to rest the men and wait for reinforcements. Reports on naval forces on the Delaware. Asks for more general officers. Recommends Brigadier General Alexander McDougall for promotion. Urges speedy completion of inquiry into Major General Arthur St. Clair. Reports...
39From George Washington to John Hancock, 7 October 1777 (Washington Papers)
Since I had the honor of addressing you on the 5th I have obtained a Return of our loss in the Action on Saturday, by which it appears to be much more considerable, than I first apprehended, tho I always imagined myself, that it was greater, than it was generally supposed to be. The Copy of the Return inclosed will shew the amount as it now stands, but I hope, many of those who are missing...
40George Washington to John Hancock, 5 October 1777 (Hamilton Papers)
Near Pennypackers Mill [ Pennsylvania ] October 5, 1777. Describes the “unfortunate” attack on Germantown. Df , in writings of Robert Hanson Harrison and H, George Washington Papers, Library of Congress.
41From George Washington to John Hancock, 5 October 1777 (Washington Papers)
Having received intelligence through Two intercepted Letters, that Genl Howe had detached a part of his force for the purpose of reducing Billingsport and the Forts on Delaware, I communicated the Accounts to my Genl Officers, who were unanimously of Opinion, that a favourable Opportunity offered to make an Attack upon the Troops, which were at & near German Town. It was accordingly agreed,...
42From George Washington to John Hancock, 3 October 1777 (Washington Papers)
Yesterday afternoon, I had the honour to receive your Favours of the 30th Ulto with their Inclosures. I was much obliged by the Accounts from the Northern Army, tho’ in general they had reached me before, and I flatter myself we shall soon hear, that they have been succeeded by other fortunate and interesting Events, as the Two Armies by General Gates’s Letter were encamped near each other. I...
43From George Washington to John Hancock, 29 September 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have the honor of yours of the 26th inclosing letters for Comodore Hazelwood and Capt. Alexander which I have forwarded to them. Lt Colo. Smith must have arrived at Fort Mifflin two days ago, as I heard from him at Ancocus Creek in the Jerseys. Colo. Nichola was in the Fort with about 60 of his Regt of Invalids and two Companies of Artillery of thirty each, and I advised him to withdraw what...
44From George Washington to John Hancock, 23 September 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have not had the honor of addressing you since your adjournment to Lancaster, and I sincerely wish that my first letter was upon a more agreeable subject. The Enemy, by a variety of perplexing Maneuvres thro’ a Country from which I could not derive the least intelligence being to a man disaffected, contrived to pass the Schuylkill last Night at the Flat land and other Fords in the...
45From Alexander Hamilton to John Hancock, 22 September 1777 (Hamilton Papers)
I left camp last evening and came to this city to superintend the collection of blankets and cloathing for the army. Mr. Lovel sends to inform me there is an express going off to Congress, and I do myself the honor to communicate a brief state of things, when I left camp. The enemy moved yesterday from where they lay opposite to valley forge &c. higher up the river on their old scheme of...
46From George Washington to John Hancock or Any Member of the Continental Congress, 22 September 1777 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: to John Hancock or Any Member of the Continental Congress, 22 Sept. 1777. Elbridge Gerry in his letter to GW of 24 Sept. referred to “your Letter of the 22d directed to the President or any Member of Congress.”
47From George Washington to John Hancock, 19 September 1777 (Washington Papers)
I was honoured this Morning with your Favors of the 17th & 18th, with their Inclosures. I am much obliged to Congress for the late instance of their Confidence, expressed in their Resolution of the 17th, and shall be happy if my conduct in discharging the Objects, they had in view should be such as to meet their approbation. I am now repassing the Schuylkill at Parkers Ford, with the Main body...
48From Alexander Hamilton to John Hancock, [18 September 1777] (Hamilton Papers)
If Congress have not yet left Philadelphia, they ought to do it immediately without fail, for the enemy have the means of throwing a party this night into the city. I just now crossed the valleyford, in doing which a party of the enemy came down & fired upon us in the boat by which means I lost my horse. One man was killed and another wounded. The boats were abandon’d & will fall into their...
49From Alexander Hamilton to John Hancock, [18 September 1777] (Hamilton Papers)
I did myself the honor to write you a hasty line this Evening giving it as my opinion that the city was no longer a place of safety for you. I write you again lest that should not get to hand. The enemy are on the road to Sweedes ford, the main body about four miles from it. They sent a party this evening to Davesers ferry, which fired upon me and some others in crossing it, killed one man,...
50From George Washington to John Hancock, 18 September 1777 (Washington Papers)
Your favor of the 17th I had the honor to receive last night with Governr Livingston & Genl Dickinsons Letters. It is out of my power to do more, than I already have for checking the Enemy’s progress in Jersey, and I should hope, that will be the case as soon as the Troops ordered from pecks Kill arrive to reinforce the Militia assembling under Genl Dickinson. I observe, that All the...