We had the Pleasure of receiving your Favor by M r Barclay of the 11 th Instant and beg you to be assurd that we shall always be ready to facilitate your Command and support your applications for Assistance. The Commander in Chief has spent some time here with a Committee of Conference. He is vested with the fullest power to take every Department & Detachment of the Army, under his own...
Your letter of the 7th. instant to his Excellency fell into my hands. He has been very much indisposed for three or four days past, insomuch that his attention to business is pronounced by the Doctor to be very improper; and we have made a point of keeping all from him which was not indispensibly necessary. I detained your express a day in hopes of a convenient opportunity to communicate your...
I have received your favor of the 4th, and shall with pleasure communicate the intelligence we have at Head Quarters. On the morning of the 3d. one hundred and eight sail of vessels sailed out of the Hook, supposed from the best calculations to contain 7 or 8000 men. They first steered to the Eastward; but soon after changed their course and bore S.E with the wind at NW. The general accounts...
4From Alexander Hamilton to Colonel Alexander McDougall, [17 March 1776] (Hamilton Papers)
Newyork. March 17th 1776. Recived of Col. McDougall Seventy three Pounds, Nineteen Shillings and a Penny half penny for the Pay of the Commissioned Non-Commissioned officers and privates of my Company to the first Instant for which I [have] given three other receipts. £73.19.1 ¾ DS , New-York Historical Society, New York City. Alexander McDougall, prominent Revolutionary War general, gained...
5From Alexander Hamilton to Colonel Alexander McDougall, [4 April 1776] (Hamilton Papers)
New York April 4th, 1776. Received of Colonel McDougall one hundred and seventy two pounds, three shillings and five pence half penny, for the pay of the Commissioned, Non commissioned officers and privates of my company to the first instant, for which I have given three other receipts. £172.3.5½. ADS , New-York Historical Society, New York City. This receipt appears at the end of “Pay Roll of...
6From Alexander Hamilton to Alexander McDougall, [1774–1776] (Hamilton Papers)
It is with the utmost chagrin I am obliged to inform you, that I am not able to return you all your pamph[l]ets; and what is still worse the most valuable of them is missing. I beg you will not impute it to carelessness; for I assure you upon my honor the true state of the case is this—I put your pamphlets in the case with my other books; and some person about the College got into my room...
7From John Jay to Alexander McDougall, 23 March 1776 (Jay Papers)
When the Clerk of the Congress gave me the printed Papers which I enclosed you, he told me they contained the Navy Establishment. Whatever Deficiencies there may be in them as to that Matter will I hope be supplied by the Extract now enclosed. As to continental Colors, the Congress have made no order as yet respecting them, and I believe the Captains of their armed Vessels have in that...
8From John Jay to Alexander McDougall, 11 April 1776 (Jay Papers)
Whether my last letter has reached you or not is uncertain. From your Silence I sometimes suspect it has not. However as I know you must be perpetually engaged in matters of more Consequence, I cannot expect to hear from you so often as when you enjoyed more Leizure. I could wish to be informed of the Number of Troops now employed in New York, how your Levies go on, & whether there is a...
9From John Jay to Alexander McDougall, 4 December 1775 (Jay Papers)
The Congress have at Length determined against the Tea holders— a Measure in my opinion neither just or politic. The objections offered to the Prayer of the Petition, were merely ostensible & consequently frivolous. I fancy you may easily discern the things on which this strange Decision turned. There is no Tea southward of this Place but what has paid Duty. &c. &c. I mentioned to the Congress...
10From John Jay to Alexander McDougall, 27 April 1776 (Jay Papers)
Accept my Thanks for your friendly Letter of the 16 th Ins t . and its Inclosures, which contain useful as well as agreable Information. I am glad to see New York doing something in the naval Way, & think the Encouragement given by the Convention to the Manufacture of arms, Powder, Salt Petre and Sea Salt, does them Honor. Many of the Reasons you alledge for delaying Taxation are weighty, & I...
11From John Jay to Alexander McDougall, 13 December 1775 (Jay Papers)
Your Letter of the 8 th . Inst. is now before me. did you know how much Satisfaction a Line from you gives me, you would not think of apologizing for the frequency of your Letters. I am much obliged to you for your Hints respecting the Command of a certain Post. They are useful and will determine my Conduct, tho some folks here may not coincide with me in opinion. I must confess that I think...
12From John Jay to Alexander McDougall, 22 December 1775 (Jay Papers)
Few Things have for some time past given me more Pleasure than the address with which you managed the Gov rs . Letter on the Subject of Lord Norths motion. It occasions however both Surprize and Concern that the Sin of Fear (as Lewis Morris calls it) should operate so powerfully on some of your Patriots, as it seems to do. The Provision for the Delegates I imagined Would be similar to that of...
13From John Jay to Alexander McDougall, 23 December 1775 (Jay Papers)
Since writing my last to You, I find the Congress will not adjourn even for the Holy days, They have not indeed so determined but that seems to be the opinion of the majority of the members Where does M r . Alsop stay—should any Thing happen to one of us the Colony would be unrepresented. For my Part I wish some of the absent Gent. would return, we but just make a Quorum—Did not this...
Your Letter M r Averys Certificate & M r Troup’s Information gave me much Satisfaction. You always shared my good Wishes, & I have often lamented, y r . putting it out of my power to be useful to you. If you are not dec d . in y r . Opinion of the Stability & Permanence of y r . present Resolutions, you yet may be a respectable & usefull Member of Society. But remember that old Habits are not...
15From John Jay to Alexander McDougall, 26 October 1775 (Jay Papers)
I have rec d . your Letter by M r . Clough and you may rely on my paying due Attention to your Recommendation M r . Fine has a Letter from us to your Convention inclosing a Resolve of Congress enabling them to ship on their Account Provisions &c. to the Foreign West Indies for the Purpose of purchasing Ammunition &c. Under this Resolve I apprehend you may avail yourself of M r . Fine’s...
16From John Jay to Alexander McDougall, 13 March 1776 (Jay Papers)
Had your Letter been sent by the Post it would ere this have come to my Hands. I am now retired to the Lobby to answer it without Delay. I have many things to say to you and upon many Subjects. The enclosed Articles will furnish Answers to the Questions you ask relative to Seamans Wages &. A Model of a Pike shall be sent you— The Resolution of Congress restraining military officers from...
17From John Jay to Alexander McDougall, 21 March 1776 (Jay Papers)
I have at Length procured a Pike for you which will be sent by the Stage. Your fitting out an armed Vessel on the Colony—account does you Honor. I am at Liberty to inform you that the Congress have passed a Vote for privateering, by which I hope the Losses of some of our Friends will be repaired. It is expected that vigorous measures will be taken in preventing such as may be inimical to the...
18From John Jay to Alexander McDougall, 27 March 1776 (Jay Papers)
As M r . Willet leaves this Place in the Morning, I shall commit these few Lines to his Care, and tho they contain nothing important will nevertheless tend to manifest my constant Attention to the Province as well as to the Person for whom they are designed. I am sorry no Provision has been made for M r Willet, from every thing I can learn, he has Merit, and I hope when we shall be informed of...
19From John Jay to Alexander McDougall, 8 December 1775 (Jay Papers)
Accept my Thanks for your Letter of the 6 th . Ins t . which I rec d . yesterday. It gave me great Satisfaction to find you had at length made a Convention, my apprehensions on that Head occasioned much Anxiety, and am still grieved that the People of our Province have so little Firmness as to be duped by the Artifices of Men whose Views are obvious, & of the Rectitude of whose Intentions...
20From John Jay to Alexander McDougall, 28 March 1779 (Jay Papers)
I have the Pleasure of acknowledging the Rec t of your Favor of the 21 st : Instant. Your Sentiments on the Subject of it coincide perfectly with my own. Great Prudence is necessary & Care should be taken in what is committed, to Paper.— Accidents & Discoveries may & often arise from ^ Letters meeting with ^ Accidents which the most cautious ^ wisest ^
21From John Jay to Alexander McDougall, 17 October 1775 (Jay Papers)
I am much obliged to you for your friendly Letter by M r Fine—his Business will soon be determined— The Hint you give is by no Means pleasing—I wish your Apprehensions were without Foundation tho ’tho I have too good an opinion of your Discernment to entertain Hopes of your being mistaken. You will much oblige me by a few Lines now & then—I need ^ not ^ caution you to be careful by what Hands...
22From Jonathan Trumbull, Jr. to Alexander McDougall, 4 August 1781 (Washington Papers)
I am directed by the Comandr in Chief to acquaint you, that Information has been conveyed to Head Quarters that a certain Person is employed by the Enemy to come out in the Guise of a Spiy to make his Observations on the Works at West Point & to obtain Knowlege of our Strength & Situation at that post—The Person is discribed to have a Mould under one of his Eyes & a Scar on one Temple—& will...
23From Jonathan Trumbull, Jr. to Alexander McDougall, 30 June 1781 (Washington Papers)
A Memorandum was sent you this Morng-- for a Captain 2 Subs-- fifty Men of artillery, with two light Pieces to be sent to this Place—The General now desires you will let one of the Peices be a Twelve Pounder. I am most respectfully sir Your most Obedt Servt DLC : Papers of George Washington.
24From George Washington to Brigadier General Alexander McDougall, 22 September 1777 (Washington Papers)
I wrote you on Friday last requesting your earliest arrival with the Troops under your command to join me. This I must repeat, and have sent an Officer on purpose to deliver my Letter, to whom I refer you for the particulars of our Situation & that of the Enemy at this Time. I shall only observe respecting them, that the main body of their Army lay last night, near French Creek Bridge about...
25From George Washington to Alexander McDougall, 15 July 1781 (Washington Papers)
I received your’s with the returns enclosed. I have desired General Schuyler to forward to West Point with all possible dispatch, the boats that are at present fit for Service. Immediately upon their arrival at your post, I wish you to have them safely moored in some convenient Cove, and Guarded in such a manner, as will effectually prevent any person from useing them (or the oars, plank &c....
26From George Washington to Brigadier General Alexander McDougall, 19 September 1777 (Washington Papers)
The exigency of our affairs makes it necessary, you should use all the diligence and dispatch in your power to join this army, with the troops under your command. The enemy are making the most vigorous efforts to succeed in their attempt upon Philadel: and it will require our utmost exertions to disappoint them. We shall this day cross the Schulkill at Parkers ford about thirty miles from...
27George Washington to Major General Alexander McDougall, 25 March 1779 (Hamilton Papers)
Middlebrook [ New Jersey ] March 25, 1779 . Acknowledges meeting Elijah Hunter. Advises using caution in dealing with double spies like Hunter. LS , in writing of H, George Washington Photostats, Library of Congress.
28From George Washington to Major General Alexander McDougall, 6 April 1778 (Washington Papers)
The presence of Colonel de la Radiere, rendering the Services of Mr Kosciousko, as Engineer at Fish kill, unnecessary—you are to give him immediate orders to join this Army without loss of time—Inclosed is a Packet for Col. Hay Deputy Quarter Master, which you will be so good as to forward immediately by express. I am with great regard and esteem Dear Sir Your most obedt Servt however desirous...
29From George Washington to Alexander McDougall, 28 June 1781 (Washington Papers)
The Commissary Genl of Issues is directed to take the most effectual measures to furnish the Armey with a Quantity of Hard Bread—for this Purpose, Six Bakers will be given him from here—You will be pleased to afford him every Assistance in your Power, that he may need—to accomplish this necessary Work. I am with much Regard sir Your most Obedt servt P.S. I find, that unless vigorous Measures...
30George Washington to Major General Alexander McDougall, 4 July 1779 (Hamilton Papers)
New Windsor [ New York ] July 4, 1779 . Instructs McDougall to fire thirteen cannon to celebrate anniversary of Declaration of Independence. Df , in writing of H, George Washington Papers, Library of Congress.
31From George Washington to Major General Alexander McDougall, 25 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
Notwithstanding the large fleet that sailed on the 19th & 20th—and the reasons we had to conclude, that the Regiments were on board—which we had repeatedly heard were embarked—I have just received advices through different Channels—and which cannot but be certain and authentic—that there were none but Invalids & Offi cers of the reduced Corps on board; and, that the Troops which had embarked,...
32From George Washington to Major General Alexander McDougall, 12 July 1778 (Washington Papers)
I am very desirous of seeing you, and request that you will be with me, as soon as you can, without injury to your health or overfatiguing yourself. I am Dr Sir with great regard & esteem Yr Most Obedt servt LS , owned (1996) by Mr. Joseph Rubinfine, West Palm Beach, Florida. GW signed the cover, which was addressed to McDougall at Peekskill, New York. McDougall’s docket on the letter reads,...
33From George Washington to Major General Alexander McDougall, 1 April 1779 (Washington Papers)
Be pleased upon the receipt of this to order Colonel Malcoms and late Pattons Regiments to march as soon as possible to the Minisink settlement, and upon their arrival there to take their orders from General Hand, or the commanding officer. Their most expiditious route will be to New Windsor by water, and from thence across to Minisink, which is not more than 40 miles. When the corps march,...
34From George Washington to Major General Alexander McDougall, 4 July 1779 (Washington Papers)
To day being the anniversary of independence you will be pleased to have it taken notice of by discharging thirteen peices of cannon at one oClock. I wish we had it in our power to distribute a portion of rum to the Soldiers, to exhilerate their spirits upon the occasion; but unfortunately our stock is too scanty to permit. I am Dear Sir Your most Obedt servt P.S. Major Beauman told me...
35From George Washington to Major General Alexander McDougall, 3 June 1779 (Washington Papers)
I last night received your three favours, One of May the 31st and two of June the 1st. I am happy to find your Affairs seem to be in good train. You mention the return of the Detachment from Virginia—This may have happened; but it has not been announced by my intelligence. Perhaps it is designedly given out by the Enemy. Their design is now apparently against the Forts and these certainly...
36From George Washington to Alexander McDougall, 24 August 1782 (Washington Papers)
I have to acknowlege your two favors of the 23d. Your resolutions respecting the prosecution of Major General Heath are very agreeable to me—your reasons are good, & do honor to your own Heart. I am much obliged by your sentiments on the mode of getting Wood for the Garrison of West point; your observations, founded in knowlege & experience, will prove usefull. My attention has been for some...
37From George Washington to Alexander McDougall, 15 October 1783 (Washington Papers)
By the last Post I was favord with your Letter of the 5 Instantand I take the earliest opportunity to acquaint you of my compliance with your request. Tho’ I have ever been averse to Officers going to New York on every slight pretext, I was always ready to grant my permission when real business required their presence. With great regard am Dr Sir Your Most Obedient Servant NNGL .
38George Washington to Major General Alexander McDougall, 14 August 1779 (Hamilton Papers)
[ West Point ] August 14, 1779 . Asks McDougall to accompany Brigadier Generals Henry Knox and Louis Le Bèque Du Portail “to ascertain the number of cannon.” Df , in writing of H, George Washington Papers, Library of Congress.
39From George Washington to Major General Alexander McDougall, 25 March 1779 (Washington Papers)
I duly received your favour of the 20th instant—Mr H—— has just delivered me that of the 22d—The letter and inclosures referred to in it have not yet come to hand. I have had a good deal of conversation with Mr H—— He appears to be a sensible man capable of rendering important service; if he is sincerely disposed to do it —From what you say—I am led to hope he is; but nevertheless, if he is...
40From George Washington to Brigadier General Alexander McDougall, 23 May 1777 (Washington Papers)
I, yesterday, had the pleasure of your’s of the 21st instant. I wish every Gentleman in the army could appeal to his own heart and find the same principles of conduct, which, I am persuaded activate you; we should experience more consistency, zeal and steadiness, than we do, in but too many instances. A disinterested attachment to the cause, we are ingaged in, can alone produce that line of...
41From George Washington to Major General Alexander McDougall, 11 May 1778 (Washington Papers)
I am favd with yours of the 6th instant inclosing a Return of the Troops under your command. From the accounts which I had received, I expected that the Connecticut Regiments had been much fuller. That the persons who are draughted should procure substitutes of any kind to releive themselves is not to be wondered at; but that the Officers who are appointed to receive the Draughts should suffer...
42From George Washington to Major General Alexander McDougall, 22 April 1778 (Washington Papers)
I am favd with yours of the 13th instant. I am perfectly satisfied with your delay of the enterprise proposed to you, as I am certain it has been founded upon substantial reasons. Congress having, by their Resolve of the 15th inst., directed Genl Gates to resume the command of the Northern department and to repair forthwith to Fishkill for that purpose; I imagine he will proceed immediately...
43From George Washington to Alexander McDougall, 1 April 1782 (Washington Papers)
Major General Heath has made no application for leave of absence. The other parts of your Letter, of this date I shall be better able to decide upon when the reasons and charges, which are proposed as the subject of another letter, are exhibited. I am Sir Your very hum. servt NSchU .
44George Washington to Major General Alexander McDougall, 31 May 1779 (Hamilton Papers)
Middlebrook [ New Jersey ] May 31, 1779 . Sends news of British movements and advises McDougall to move supplies at Fishkill. LS , in writing of H, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.
45From George Washington to Major General Alexander McDougall, 14 July 1779 (Washington Papers)
The arrangement you have made with respect to the detachment from Nixon’s brigade is agreeable to me. But I would have Major Hulls light infantry to join General Wayne, at all events, this evening or tomorrow morning early—Orders have been given for the execution of the enterprise tomorrow night; and though the want of tents is an objection to those with you going down, I have several reasons...
46George Washington to Major General Alexander McDougall, 23 June 1779 (Hamilton Papers)
[ New Windsor, New York ] June 23, 1779 . Has directed Major General Israel Putnam to advance a brigade to the “Forest of Deane.” Asks for information as soon as it is received. Df , in writing of H, George Washington Papers, Library of Congress.
47From George Washington to Major General Alexander McDougall, 23 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
You are immediately to proceed with the brigades of Nixon, Parsons and Huntington—by the route which will be delivered to you by the Quarter Master General—as far as Hartford—where you will wait for farther orders. I am persuaded that no attention on your part will be wanting for the maintenance of discipline, and preservation of the Health of your troops—and that no precaution will be...
48From George Washington to Brigadier General Alexander McDougall, 25 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
Yours of yesterday came to hand late last Night. As I have heard nothing further of the Troops that embarked on the 20th I can only recommend it to you to keep a vigilant look out for them. The detatchments that are to come on need not bring Camp Kettles with them, if they are wanted with you, as we have a sufficiency here. I am so well convinced of the Justice of your Remark upon the...
49From George Washington to Major General Alexander McDougall, 3 May 1779 (Washington Papers)
I duly received your favors of the 28th and 30th ultimo. Under the circumstances you mention I think it will be best to retain the masons, till you have completed the works, at which you mean to employ them; when they may be returned to their corps. The moment Gen: Parsons’ brigade arrives, or any part of it comprehending a regiment; you will immediately detach a regiment from General Poors,...
50George Washington to Major General Alexander McDougall, 14 July 1779 (Hamilton Papers)
New Windsor [ New York ] July 14, 1779 . Approves of arrangements for Brigadier General John Nixon’s brigade. States that an attack will be made against Stony Point. Df , in writing of H, George Washington Papers, Library of Congress.