121From George Washington to John Hancock, 10 December 1776 (Washington Papers)
Since I had the honor of addressing you Yesterday, nothing of importance has occurred. In respect to the Enemy’s movements, I have obtained no other information, than that they have a number of parties patrolling up and down the River, particularly above. As yet they have not attempted to pass, nor do any of their patrols, though some are exceedingly small, meet with the least interruption...
122From George Washington to John Hancock, 18 March 1777 (Washington Papers)
The difficulty, if not impossibility, of giving Congress a just Idea of our situation and of several other important matters requiring their earliest attention by Letter, has induced me to prevail on Major General Greene to wait upon them for that purpose. This Gentleman is so much in my confidence—so intimately acquainted with my ideas—with our strength, and our weaknesses—with everything...
123From George Washington to John Hancock, 9 September 1777 (Washington Papers)
The Enemy advanced Yesterday with a seeming intention of attacking us upon our post near Newport. We waited for them the whole day, but they halted in the Evening at a place called Mill Town about two Miles from us. Upon reconnoitering their Situation, it appeared probable that they only meant to amuse us in front, while their real intent was to march by our Right and by suddenly passing the...
124From George Washington to John Hancock, 30 April 1776 (Washington Papers)
I mean thro you Sir to do myself the Honor of laying before Congress, a Copy of an Address transmitted them some time agoe by the Assembly of Rhode Island, which Governor Cooke favoured me with in the month of January, at the same time requesting me to Interest myself in procuring a body of forces on the Continental establishment for the defence of that Colony. I doubt not but the Address &...
125From George Washington to John Hancock, 14 July 1777 (Washington Papers)
I arrived here this Afternoon with the Army after a very fatiguing March owing to the Roads which have become extremely deep and miry from the late Rains. I intend to proceed in the Morning towards the North River, if the Weather permits; At present it is cloudy and heavy and there is an Appearance of more Rain. By the Express, who will deliver this, I just now received a Letter from Genl...
126From George Washington to John Hancock, 16 August 1776 (Washington Papers)
I beg leave to inform you that since I had the pleasure of addressing you Yesterday Nothing Interesting between the Two Armies has happened. Things remain nearly in the situation they then were. It is with peculiar regret and concern that I have an Opportunity of mentioning to Congress the Sickly condition of our Troops. In some Regiments there are not any of the Field Officers capable of...
127From George Washington to John Hancock, 20 May 1776 (Washington Papers)
Your favour of the 16th with several resolutions of Congress, therein Inclosed, I had not the honor to receive till last Night. before the receipt, I did not think myself at liberty to wait on Congress, altho I wish’d to do it; and therefore, the more readily consented to General Gates’s attendance; as I knew there were many matters which cd be better explaind in a personal Interview than in...
128From George Washington to John Hancock, 17 September 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have been honored with your two favours of yesterday and their inclosures; to which due attention shall be paid. The enemy seem now to be straining every nerve to accomplish their purpose; but I trust, whatever present success they may have, they will ere long experience a reverse of fortune. If they have four thousand men in the Jersies, it is probable, they have something more serious in...
129From George Washington to John Hancock, 4 September 1776 (Washington Papers)
Since I had the Honor of addressing you on the 2d Our affairs have not undergone a change for the better, nor assumed a more agreable aspect than what they then wore. The Militia under various pretences of sickness &c. are daily diminishing & in a little time I am persuaded, their number will be very inconsiderable. On Monday night a Forty Gun Ship passed up the Sound between Governor’s & Long...
130From George Washington to John Hancock, 5 May 1776 (Washington Papers)
I am honoured with your favor of the 30 Ulto and observe what Congress have done respecting the Settlement of the Paymasters accounts. This seems expedient as he is out of office, and I am certain will be attended with but little, if any difficulty, nothing more being necessary than to compare the Warrants with his Debits, and the receipts he has given with his Credits. I wish every other...
131Lieutenant Colonel Robert Hanson Harrison to John Hancock, 14–17 October 1776 (Washington Papers)
His Excellency having gone this Morning to visit our posts beyond Kings bridge and the Several passes leading from Frog’s point and the Necks adjacent, I have the honor to inform you by his command, that no interesting event has taken place since his Letter by Yesterdays post. Every days intelligence from the Convention of this State, holds forth discoveries of New plots, and of new...
132From George Washington to John Hancock, 10 July 1777 (Washington Papers)
I this morning received a Letter of the 7th Instant from Genl Schuyler, a Copy of which and of it’s inclosure, I herewith send you. The intelligence, which they contain, is truly interesting, supposing it just; But it differs so widely from what we had reason to expect from the Accounts mentioned in General St Clairs Letters to Genl Schuyler, Copies of which you would receive in his Letter,...
133From Thomas Jefferson to John Hancock, 25 March 1792 (Jefferson Papers)
The bearer hereof Mr. Ciracchi, a celebrated sculptor from Rome, proposing to go to Boston to explain the device of a monument which he wishes to erect for the United States, I take the liberty of introducing him to the notice of your Excellency, persuaded that it is desireable to you to have strangers, of particular merit, particularly made known to you. The things which he has done here...
134From George Washington to John Hancock, 12 August 1776 (Washington Papers)
This will be handed you by Colo. Campbell from the Northern Army, whom the Inclosed Letter and proceedings of a Genl Court Martial will shew to have been in arrest and tried for Sundry matters charged against him. As the Court Martial was by Order of the Commander in that department—the Facts committed there—the Trial there, I am much at a loss to know Why the proceedings were referred to me...
135From George Washington to John Hancock, 9 May 1789 (Washington Papers)
I am taking the earliest occasion of acknowledging the receipt of the letter, which you did me the favor to address to me by Mr Allen; and to thank you for your kind congratulations on my appointment to the Presidency of the United States. Mrs Washington is not here, but is expected in the course of this month; on her arrival I shall not fail of executing the friendly Commission of Mrs Hancock...
136From 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...
137From George Washington to John Hancock, 7 May 1781 (Washington Papers)
Your Excellency will oblige me by having the inclosed delivered to Major General Howe should he be in Boston, or forwarding it to him should he be in the neighbourhood or in New Hampshire—The letter is of consequence, and I therefore hope you will excuse the liberty I have taken in addressing it to your particular care. I have the honor to be with very sincere Regard Yr Excellency’s Most obt...
138From George Washington to John Hancock, 25 June 1775 (Washington Papers)
Upon my Arrival here this Afternoon I was informd that an Express was in Town from the provincial Camp in massachusets Bay; and having seen among other papers in his possession a Letter directed to you as president of the Congress I have taken the Liberty to open it. I was induced to take that Liberty by several Gentlemen of New York who were anxious to know the particulars of the Affair of...
139From George Washington to John Hancock, 3 August 1781 (Washington Papers)
I this day receiv’d a Letter from the Count Rochambeau, a copy of which is inclos’d, respecting the Militia from the State of Massachusetts, that were some time since requested for the Rhode Island Department; as they have not arrived agreeable to my expectations, I have to request your Excellency to forward them with the utmost dispatch, as it is of the greatest importance that that post is...
140From George Washington to John Hancock, 5 October 1775 (Washington Papers)
I was honoured with your Favour of the 26th ult: late the Night before last, and a Meeting of the General Officers having been called upon a Business which will make a considerable Part of this Letter, I took the Oppy of laying before them those Parts of yours which respect the Continuance, & new modelling the Army—the Fuel, Cloathing & other Preparations for the ensuing Winter. They have...
141From George Washington to John Hancock, September 1775 (Washington Papers)
A Gentleman this Instant ⟨put the⟩ Inclosed Gazette (containing ⟨the Addre⟩ss & Petition of the Lord Mayor, ⟨Aldermen⟩, & Commons of the City of London) into my hands, desiring I would forward it to you. I accordingly ⟨do⟩ so, and am with very great ⟨regards⟩ and esteem, Sir Yr Most Obedt & Most Hble Serv⟨t⟩ ALS , PHi : Conarroe Collection. The manuscript is torn in several places. This is...
142From George Washington to John Hancock, 23 June 1776 (Washington Papers)
I herewith transmit you an Extract of a Letter from Genl Ward which came to hand by last nights post containing the agreable Intelligence of their having Obliged the Kings Ships to leave Nantasket road, and of Two Transports more being taken by our Armed Vessels with Two hundred and Ten Highland Troops on board. I sincerely wish the like success had attended our Arms in another Quarter, but It...
143From George Washington to John Hancock, 15 July 1776 (Washington Papers)
This will be handed you by Mr Griffin who has also taken upon him the charge and delivery of Two packets containing sundry Letters which were sent to Amboy Yesterday by a Flag, and forwarded to me to day by Genl Mercer. The Letter addressed to Governor Franklin came open to my hands. I was this morning honoured with yours of the 13 Instant with Its important and necessary Inclosures, and in...
144From George Washington to John Hancock, 2 August 1776 (Washington Papers)
Your favor of the 30th Ulto with Its several Inclosures, I was honoured with by Wednesdays post. Congress having been pleased to leave with me the direction of Colo. Wards Regiment, I have wrote to Govr Trumbull and requested him to order their March to this place, being fully satisfied that the Enemy mean to make their Grand push in this Quarter, and that the Good of the service requires...
145From George Washington to John Hancock, 12 October 1775 (Washington Papers)
I am honoured with your several Favours of the 26th, & 30th September, & 5th October. The Contents of which I shall beg Leave to notice in their respective Order. Previous to the Direction of Congress to consult the General Officers on the best Mode of continuing, & providing for the Army during the Winter, I had desired them to turn their Thoughts upon these Subjects, & to favour me with the...
146From George Washington to John Hancock, 6 June 1777 (Washington Papers)
I this morning had the Honor of your Letter of the 5th with its inclosures. The Resolution of the 30th of May, respecting the French Gentlemen, who came passengers in the Amphitrite, reached Camp before your Letter and has excited much uneasiness in the Artillery Corps. The inclosed Copy of a Letter from Genl Knox will convey their anxiety upon the Subject, & which I think it necessary to...
147From Benjamin Franklin to John Hancock, 20 January 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS and copy: National Archives; copy: British Library The Bearer Capt. Balm is strongly recommended to me, as a very able Officer of Horse, and capable of being extreamly useful to us, in forming a Body of Men for that Service. As he has otherwise an excellent Character, I take the Liberty of recommending him to my Friends as a Stranger, of Merit, worthy of their Civilities, and to the...
148From George Washington to John Hancock, 29 March 1777 (Washington Papers)
Since I had the Honor of addressing you this morning by the Return Express, the Eastern post arrived. The Intelligence he brought, is agreable and interesting, as you will perceive by the inclosed Letter from Mr Hazard which I do myself the pleasure of transmitting you. I am happy to say, the arrival of the Ship at portsmouth, and the capture of the two prizes, is confirmed, by other Letters...
149From George Washington to John Hancock, 17 August 1777 (Washington Papers)
Col. Portail for himself and in behalf of the Gentlemen with him has made different applications to me for horses and servants; and I have been in a manner under the necessity of furnishing them by way of loan till they can be otherwise provided. They expect these things to be found them at the public expence, and informs me that the matter is now before congress, whose determination they look...
150From George Washington to John Hancock, 14 July 1781 (Washington Papers)
General Heath, in a letter of the 4th inst. informs me that the state have about 52 Pipes of Teneriffe Wine, which they are willing if it will answer as well to send forward to the army in lieu of Rum—as he thought it more than probable that he would have left Boston before my answer could arrive, he desired me to make it to your Excellency—wine cannot be distributed to the soldier insttead of...