51From George Washington to Timothy Pickering, 5 November 1781 (Washington Papers)
It is to be hoped that Forrage will be provided at proper places on the Rout by which the Army will march from hence to the Northward, to support the Waggon s & others Horses which will be necessary— to this Matter however you will pay early attention— If your Endeavours should not succeed in obtaing the necessary Supplies from the several States thro’ which you are to pass— You are hereby...
52From George Washington to Timothy Pickering, 14 December 1781 (Washington Papers)
Upon a supposition that this may reach you upon the North River, I am induced to recommend to your particular attention the collection and preservation of the Boats, if steps have not already been taken for purpose. You will consult with General Heath upon the number that will be wanted for the different services of the Garrison and all the remainder are to be deposited in a proper manner in...
53From George Washington to Timothy Pickering, 8 February 1782 (Washington Papers)
As your continuance at the North River was considerably longer than I expected, I have not had an opportunity of being so explicit as I could have wished, respecting the preparations which will be necessary to be made in your Department for the ensuing Campaign. I wish now to be informed what Arrangements you have made with the Secretary at War on the Subject—And that Copies of the Returns of...
54From George Washington to Timothy Pickering, 10 February 1782 (Washington Papers)
Upon a view of the difference there will be in the expences between hiring & purchasing Ox Teams for the service of the next Campaign, exhibited in your Estimate; I am cleary of opinion they ought to be purchased if it is practicable—but it will be necessary for you to arrange this matter with the Superintendant of Finances; as well as to take early & effectual Measures to procure the number...
55From George Washington to Timothy Pickering, 21 February 1782 (Washington Papers)
I have attentively considered the several matters contained in your Letter, Returns, Estimates, & Proposals of the 8th 15th & 16th Inst. You already have, in my Letter of the 10th, my opinion of purchasing Ox Teams & hiring Drivers for them. I am glad to find our prospects of Tents and Camp Equipage for the ensuing Campaign are so favorable—Any deficiencies of knapsacks, Camp kettles &c. ought...
56From George Washington to Timothy Pickering, 23 February 1782 (Washington Papers)
I have your favor of this day before me. Altho I am not certain the Teams will be wanted so soon as the Middle of May, yet I think all things considered, it will be expedient to make your Arrangements so as to have them either in Camp at that time, or in such a situation as that they might be brought in immediately if necessary. I am Sir with great regard Your Most Obedt Servant DNA : RG...
57From George Washington to Timothy Pickering, 4 March 1782 (Washington Papers)
In reply to your letter of yesterday I have to observe. although I am not so particularly acquainted with the different uses & conveniences of different kinds of water craft, as to be able to judge with accuracy of their respective utility from my own knowledge, yet from the reasons you have given, I am induced to believe that the advantage of Pettiangers over Batteaux & flat bottomed boats,...
58From George Washington to Timothy Pickering, 18 March 1782 (Washington Papers)
I have to acquaint you that I propose leaving town on Wednesday or Thursday next, & as I would wish to have you at the Army as soon as you have made the necessary arrangements for your department, I must desire you to acquaint me when you think you will be able to follow me. I am Sir, &c. MHi : Papers of George Washington.
59From George Washington to Timothy Pickering, 28 March 1782 (Washington Papers)
Upon the application of the Magistrates of Morris County in 1780, soliciting that repairs should be made to the Court House, which had been made use of as a Guard House, and considerably injured by the public service, I gave them encouragement that the damages would be examined into, and such compensation should be made as justice required, and the state of the public Finance would admit of—I...
60From George Washington to Timothy Pickering, 1 April 1782 (Washington Papers)
I received on my way from Philadelphia your favor of the 23d of March respecting the allowance of Servants to Officers in Your Department; I have taken the earliest opportunity of communicating to the Secretary at War my sentiments on the subject, and am with great regard Sir Your Most Obedt Servant DNA : RG 93—Manuscript File.
61From George Washington to Timothy Pickering, 12 May 1782 (Washington Papers)
You will be pleased to settle with the Engineer what Number of plank & other materials will be necessary for the proposed Operations of the Campaign—and as soon as this is ascertained you will make immediate & effectual provision for obtaining them in the earliest & best Manner. You will also take Measures to inform your self what Number & kinds of public Boats there may be remaing in any part...
62From George Washington to Timothy Pickering, 15 May 1782 (Washington Papers)
If you are not detained in Philaby unavoidable Means, and for valuable purposes, is it much my Wish that you should repair to this place as soon as it can be done conveniently. I am in total Ignorance of your powers and prospects of carrying the Army into the field—and indeed of many other Matters essential for me to know. The hourly Expectation I have had of seeing you with the Army, has...
63From George Washington to Timothy Pickering, 5 September 1782 (Washington Papers)
I enclose you Extracts from the Observations of the Auditors and Clerks of Accounts, respecting the Issues of Provisions in your Department (transmitted to me by the Secretary at War), and request you to consider them and give me your Sentiments. I have the Honor to be, Sir, your most obedt Servt DNA : RG 93—Manuscript File.
64From George Washington to Timothy Pickering, 14 November 1782 (Washington Papers)
I expect Mrs Washington now is, or soon will be, on her way to this place; I therefore put a letter to her, under cover to you; to be delivered on her arrival at Philadelphia. I perswade myself that no assistance which may be in your power to afford, either for her own, or the benefit of her Horses, will be wanting while she is in the City, or to expedite her journey to this place after she...
65From George Washington to Timothy Pickering, 24 December 1782 (Washington Papers)
The bad state of affairs in your Department, is such as makes your presence indispensably necessary with the Army; The complaints of all, from the Major General to the lowest Staff Officer entitled to keep a Horse, are agravated to the highest possible degree, on account of the continual want of Forage—As a specimen of the distress, which has fallen under my own observation, you may be...
66From George Washington to Timothy Pickering, 29 December 1782 (Washington Papers)
You will please to take immediate measures to dissolve the chain of Dragoons, and discharge the Expresses stationed between this and Boston; assuring them and the People who have furnished Provisions & Forage that the Accounts will be paid as soon as they can be sent to Philadelphia and the Money obtained—Sheldon’s Dragoons are to join their Corps. An accurate state of the Expences properly...
67From George Washington to Timothy Pickering, 27 January 1783 (Washington Papers)
I have to request you will as soon as possible, give me an Estimate of all those things in your Department, (noting the expence of each in the best manner you are able) which will be requisite to enable the Army to take the field and to prosecute vigorous operations, in case the War should continue another Campaign; in this Estimate I would have comprehended particularly, the means of...
68From George Washington to Timothy Pickering, 26 July 1783 (Washington Papers)
A nNumber of Batteaux will be wanting to transport the necessary provisions and Stores to the Garrisons which may be kept on the Western Waters . I must therefore desire that you will retain all such as are suitable for that purpose and have them put into repair. I am Sir Your very Obedient humble Servant P.S. They need be put in no other repair than what is necessary to transport them to...
69From George Washington to Timothy Pickering, 6 August 1783 (Washington Papers)
I wrote to you from Saratoga on the 26th Ulto to have all the Boats fit to be used in the western Waters repaired for that service; but since my return from the Northward I am informed the number will be very inferior to my expectation, especially as I directed early in the year to have them got in repair, and recollect no Counter-Order since that time. I have therefore to request that One...
70From George Washington to Timothy Pickering, 10 August 1783 (Washington Papers)
A Detachment of about 500 Men is to be sent to garrison the western Posts—A supply of Camp Equipage, also a considerable number of good Axes & Hatchets, with a few setts of Blacksmith’s, Armourer’s & Carpenter’s Tools will be wanted for the Troops, which may be employed on this Service—I must request you will immediately have these things provided, or repaired in the best manner, together with...
71From George Washington to Timothy Pickering, 17 August 1783 (Washington Papers)
I have been greatly disappointed in not seeing you before my departure from this place—in consequence of your absence I have been obliged to send one of your Assists to the Northward to make provision for garrisoning the Western Posts—as that business could be delayed no longer—I need not say how much more satisfactory it would have been that the execution of this important business should...
72From George Washington to Timothy Pickering, 29 August 1783 (Washington Papers)
In consequence of intelligence just received from the Northward, that General Haldimand would not enter into any negociations with the Baron Steuben for delivering up the Western Posts, I find it proper to put a stop to all operations which are carrying on for the purpose of transporting Garrisons & Stores to them, this Fall; You will be pleased therefore to give directions for suspending all...
73From George Washington to Timothy Pickering, 4 September 1783 (Washington Papers)
To the several points mentioned in your Letters of 28th & 29th ulto, I answer, that I am at present totally ignorant of the strength of the Garrison which will be destined for West Point, the ensuing Winter, not having as yet had any conference with the Committee of Congress on that subject; I should think however, that a supply of forage and fuel for a Corps of 500 Men, will be sufficient,...
74From George Washington to Timothy Pickering, 8 October 1783 (Washington Papers)
When I last wrote you on the subject of providing for the Garrison of West Point I mentioned 500 Men as the number which Congress would probably think proper to keep in that Garrison during the Winter—I have been long waiting their determination on this subject but so far from coming to any such decision, the Members with whom I have conversed seem unwilling to lessen the force now existing...
75From George Washington to Timothy Pickering, 8 October 1783 (Washington Papers)
The dayly expectation of one of the two events which I designed should put an end to my Public Services has nothing more to fix it to a period now, than there was several Months ago, and, as to carry my Papers home by Land (for I never could think of trusting them on the Ocean or Bay) was the only inducement for requiring Waggons to be retained for this service, I have, to avoid further...
76From George Washington to Timothy Pickering, 10 October 1783 (Washington Papers)
I inclose you the Copy of a resolve of Congress passed the 26 Septr but which did not reach my hands untill yesterday. Should there be in your Department any more Officers than are necessary for the Troops remaining in service I have to request you to grant them furloughs in compliance with the resolve. I am Sir Your most Obedt Servt NN .
77From George Washington to Timothy Pickering, 3 November 1783 (Washington Papers)
I am favored with your Letter of the 27 October. As Congress have by their Proclamation discharged all that part of the Army which were before furloughed I am to desire you to continue to discharge such Officers of your Department as become supernumary instead of furloughing them as directed in my last. I am Sir Your Most Obedt Servant DNA : RG 93—Manuscript File.
78From George Washington to Timothy Pickering, 4 September 1790 (Washington Papers)
In the public letter which accompanies this you will receive such instructions for your conduct in your mission to the Seneca Tribe of Indians, as may without impropriety be communicated to them—Some others shall here be added more peculiarly proper for your own ear. It is particularly desireable that they be made to understand that all business between them and any part of the United States...
79From George Washington to Timothy Pickering, 31 December 1790 (Washington Papers)
I have the pleasure to enclose for you the Report of the Secretary at War upon the papers which were referred to him, relative your transactions with the Seneka Indians in November last. To this satisfactory Report I am happy to add my entire Approbation of your conduct in this business—and am, With very great esteem & regard, Sir, Your most Obedt Servt LS , MHi : Timothy Pickering Papers;...
80From George Washington to Timothy Pickering, 20 January 1791 (Washington Papers)
I have had the pleasure to receive your letters of the 8th and 15th of this month. I feel myself much obliged by the trouble you have taken, in the former, to detail your ideas with respect to introducing the art of husbandary and civilization among the Indians. I confess, that your plan, or something like it, strikes me as the most probable means of effecting this desirable end, and I am...
81From George Washington to Timothy Pickering, 12 August 1791 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: to Timothy Pickering, 12 Aug. 1791. Timothy Pickering wrote to his brother on 12 Aug.: “this day the President sent me a note, desiring to see me” ( Upham, Pickering, Octavius Pickering and Charles W. Upham. The Life of Timothy Pickering . 4 vols. Boston, 1867–73. 2:496).
82From George Washington to Timothy Pickering, 14 October 1793 (Washington Papers)
The numerous & various reports which I have received from people who were not possessed of any accurate information with respect to the state of the malignant fever with which Philadelphia is so unfortunately afflicted, and my intention being to return thither, or to it’s neighbourhood about the first of next month, have induced me to ask this information from you—and I beg you will advise me...
83From George Washington to Timothy Pickering, 17 Feb. 1795 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: to Timothy Pickering, 17 Feb. 1795. On this date Pickering wrote to GW: “I have been honoured with your note of this morning.”
84From George Washington to Timothy Pickering, 5 March 1795 (Washington Papers)
Congress having closed their late session without coming to any specified determination with respect to the Georgia sale of Lands and the application for the extinguishment of the Indian rights to those Lands; and not having expressed any sentiment respecting the nature of the predatory war between the southern Indians and the southern & southwestern frontiers of these United States, and the...
85From George Washington to Timothy Pickering, 18 March 1795 (Washington Papers)
On considering that part of your letter of the instt which relates to the establishment of a Post at Presqu Isle I have no hesitation in giving it as my opinion that the position is eligable, in several points of view, & that the United States ought to fix one there. The doubt I have is, from whence, in the reduced, & reducing state of the Legion, and the uncertainty of the negotiation of...
86From George Washington to Timothy Pickering, 6 April 1795 (Washington Papers)
Having fixed on monday the 13th instt to commence my journey for Virginia—& made arrangements to do business in the federal city on my way down accordingly —It is my desire that ⟨the⟩ Instructions for Genl Wayne’s government at the treaty which is proposed to be held with the Western Indians in June next, may be laid before me without delay, that I may have time to consider them. It is my...
87From George Washington to Timothy Pickering, 7 April 1795 (Washington Papers)
I have perused the Bill which you sent me for laying out a town &ca at Presqu-Isle. The portion of land allotted for a fortification at that place by the 4th section, is much too small for the object; for if ever the work is assailed, the houses and other obstructions within range of its shot must be removed, or the artillery therein would be ⟨ren⟩dered useless & of course the defence...
88From George Washington to Timothy Pickering, 13 April 1795 (Washington Papers)
It would be eq⟨ua⟩lly imp⟨roper⟩ (on acct of the expence, & other incon⟨venien⟩ces which would attend the measu⟨re) to⟩ continue the militia army in the wes⟨tern⟩ counties in this state, longer ⟨in service⟩ than the nat⟨ur⟩e & exigency ⟨of the case may⟩ require; or, under the reports wh⟨ich pre⟩vail of threatnings ag⟨ainst the Collectors,⟩ & other indications of latent disco⟨ntent,⟩ to disband...
89From George Washington to Timothy Pickering, 27 July 1795 (Washington Papers)
On Saturday morning I received your letter of the 21st instt; with its enclosures. The Post of tomorrow from Alexandria is the first by which I could answer it. If the meeting of the Commissioners, appointed to treat with the Onondagoes, Cayugas and Oneida Indians took place at Albany on the 15th instant, as was expected by the extract of Genl Schuylers letter to the Governor of New York; any...
90From George Washington to Timothy Pickering, 31 July 1795 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 27th instant was received by the last Post to Alexandria. I thank you for the information contained in it; as I shall for any further communication of the sentiments of the people respecting the treaty, which you may be able to obtain, and think worthy of transmission: for, as it is an interesting subject, on which mens minds are a good deal occupied, I should like, as far...
91From George Washington to Oliver Wolcott, Jr., and Timothy Pickering, 12–18 August 1795 (Washington Papers)
At what time should Mr F——ts letter be made known to Mr R——? What will be the best mode of doing it? In presence of the Secs & A: Genl. If the explanations given by the latter, are not satisfactory, whether, besides removal, are any other measures proper to be taken? & what? Would an application to Mr A—— to see the paragraphs in Nos. 3 & 6, alluded to in F——ts letter, be proper? These might...
92From George Washington to Timothy Pickering, 9 September 1795 (Washington Papers)
I had no time yesterday morning to look into the gazettes; nor did I know until the evening, that the French frigate Medusa had slipped her Cables & put to Sea on the 31st ulto; and was followed in a few hours by the Africa. This circumstance, be the result what it may, I regret exceedingly; & because the effect of the order as it relates to the British will be the same as if the Africa had...
93From George Washington to Timothy Pickering, 11 September 1795 (Washington Papers)
The extreme badness of the Roads prevented my arrival at this place until nine oclock this morning, of course too late for the Mail of this day—Monday therefore being next Post day, which will occasion a delay of three days—and this probably the loss of a passage to Europe of one of the setts of Letters, herewith enclosed, I have thought it best to return them by Express; and have accordingly...
94From George Washington to Timothy Pickering, 16 September 1795 (Washington Papers)
If, when this reaches your hands, there should be no contract or other obligation existing on behalf of the U.S. for the purchase of land on the Potomac, intended for the public Arsenal—I should wish all further negociation in this business to be suspended until proper inquiries can be made and information obtained respecting the property at the junction of the Potomac and Shanandoah Rivers in...
95From George Washington to Timothy Pickering, 16 September 1795 (Washington Papers)
Monday’s Mail brought me both your letters dated the 11th instant —The one containing an extract from Majr Craig’s letter, relative to the conclusion of the treaty with the North western Tribes of Indians, was very acceptable. and I pray you to dispatch Seagrove, & impress strongly upon him the necessity, & the earnest desire of, the government that he would, without delay, effect if it can be...
96From George Washington to Timothy Pickering, 18 September 1795 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 11th with two others from you dated the 14th instant, were received yesterday. The summary of the dispatches from Governor Blount, was more agreeable to me than complete transcripts of his letter with the enclosures; and the same practice where information only is intended, may govern in other cases. I am very glad to find that the Creeks are so well disposed for peace with...
97From George Washington to Timothy Pickering, 23 September 1795 (Washington Papers)
Two letters from you, dated the 18th instant, were received yesterday. For the reasons you have assigned, I think it best that Mr Boudinot should fill the Directorship of the Mint; and request he may be informed so. At the same time, urge him to come forward, if for no other purpose than to arrange matters with the present occupant—and derive from him all the insight into the business his...
98From George Washington to Timothy Pickering, 27 September 1795 (Washington Papers)
Your private letter of the 21st instant, did not reach me until yesterday. A late letter of mine to you, will have fixed the Directorship of the Mint upon Mr Boudinot —The application therefore of Majr Jackson, however fit he may have been for the Office, is too late. But besides the reasons assigned in your letter against such an appointment at present, I should have preferred a character...
99From George Washington to Timothy Pickering, 28 September 1795 (Washington Papers)
Two letters from you, dated the 21st instant, and one of the 23d, came to Alexandria by the Post on Friday. I will immediately set on foot an enquiry relative to the prospect of obtaining the lands sufficient for an Arsenal at the confluence of the Rivers Potomac & Shenandoah. From what I have heard of this site, and partly from what I know of it, it must be the most eligable spot on the whole...
100From George Washington to Timothy Pickering, 2 October 1795 (Washington Papers)
Your letters of the 25th, and two of the 28th Ulto have been duly received—one of them accompanied with a copy of the Treaty with the Western Indians—which I shall retain until my arrival in Philadelphia—presuming, if no accident happens, that the original will be with you as soon as the copy could were I to send it by the mail of tomorrow. In one of your letters of the 28th the proceedings of...