3361To George Washington from the Pennsylvania Council of Safety, 15 December 1776 (Washington Papers)
General Mifflin sent three hundred Suits of Cloaths to Neshamini Ferry, with orders that they Remain there, untill your Excellency should direct them to be sent forward—On the representation of the Commanding Officer of the Pennsylvania Regiment that his Men are greatly distress’d for want of Necessary Cloathing at this very inclement season of the Year, we have order’d the said Cloaths to the...
3362To George Washington from Colonel David Chambers, 16 December 1776 (Washington Papers)
herewith I send your Excellency 4 prisoners that we took last evening 2 being Regulars—one of the others by name Jno. Vandyke a Malitious Active Tory, and is said to have let some prisoners out of Millstone Goal and assembled and spirited the Negroes against us And as I am Informed was about a week since taken prisoner in Company with some light Horse by our people and confin’d who says he was...
3363To George Washington from Major General Horatio Gates, 17 December 1776 (Washington Papers)
General Arnold this moment received from me Your Excellencys Letter to Him of the 14th Instant—From Intelligence, which he thinks authentic, Rhode Island has been some time in possession of the Enemy, and so considerable a Force from Connecticut had Assembled Opposite to Bristol Ferry, as to render any Further attempt of the British Forces impracticable in that Quarter. upon mature...
3364To George Washington from the Pennsylvania Council of Safety, 17 December 1776 (Washington Papers)
We lament the loss of General Lee both as it relates to the public and to a General whom we so highly esteem & respect—yet we hope it may be in the power of your Excellency to close the Campaigne with honour to yourself and to leave General Howe in a situation which may afford him little reason to boast—We assure you, sir, this Council will not suffer any thing to abate their exertions, but...
3365To George Washington from Maj. Gen. Israel Putnam, 17 December 1776 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Maj. Gen. Israel Putnam, 17 Dec. 1776. GW on 21 Dec. wrote Putnam : “I have been favoured with your Two Letters of the 17th and 19th Instt.”
3366To George Washington from the Pennsylvania Council of Safety, 18 December 1776 (Washington Papers)
We have to acknowledge the receipt of your Excellencys favour of the 16th & 17th instant, and shall be attentive to the subjects recommended. Yesterday Captain John Rice commander of a Look out Vessel which we Stationed at Cape May arrived here from his Station and informs us that Five of the Enemys Ships with three Tenders are in our Capes, The Roebuck and Fowey are of the number, the names &...
3367To George Washington from William Gordon, 19 December 1776 (Washington Papers)
I have been for some time past in pain for your Excellency, but still in hopes that You would receive a reinforcement sufficient & soon enough to prevent the enemy’s crossing the Delaware, or marching down by it on the Jersey side towards Philadelphia. Accounts yesterday relieved us from our anxiety, & have given us reason to conclude that the regulars have left Brunswick & gone down by water...
3368To George Washington from Brigadier General Alexander McDougall, 19 December 1776 (Washington Papers)
The Rheumatism and other disorders detained me at Haverstraw and seperated me from my Brigade. Eight days since I found myself much better; and followed General Lee’s divission to Morris Town; where I arrived the day after he was unfortunately taken. This Catastrophy determined me by the advice of Friends not to proceed unless I had a Guard. The three Regiments from the Northward under Colonel...
3369To George Washington from Maj. Gen. Israel Putnam, 19 December 1776 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Maj. Gen. Israel Putnam, 19 Dec. 1776. GW on 21 Dec. wrote Putnam : “I have been favoured with your Two Letters of the 17th and 19th Instt.”
3370To George Washington from the Captains of the Second New Jersey Regiment, 20 December 1776 (Washington Papers)
The Captains of the late Colo: Maxwells Regiment in Behalf of their men—have thought it necessary to lay before Your Excellency—The Charge brought against them of Cartouch Boxes, Cross Belts, Tomhawks, Haversacks, Priming Wires & Brushes, Canteens, Gunslings, Camp Kettles & Canada Caps—the men have been taught to belive that they would not have to Pay for those things enumerated—Genl Gates...
3371To George Washington from the Pennsylvania Council of Safety, 20 December 1776 (Washington Papers)
The pressing Necessities of our Troops induced the Council to send persons round the City of Philadelphia to demand Blankets and Stockings for their Use with Authority to take them when refused, paying a reasonable price for the Same—should your Excellency approve of the Measure, we would recommend it to you to send out detachments through the Counties of Bucks and Philadelphia and take...
3372To George Washington from Brigadier General Philemon Dickinson, 21 December 1776 (Washington Papers)
Two Persons returned Yesterday from the Jerseys, who inform me, that there is a very great body of the Enemy in, & around Brunswick, but they could not ascertain the Number—one of them say’s, they were sending off Provisions &c., towards N. York. They made strict enquiry about Boats, but could not hear, of any preparations of the kind. Another Person from Crosswicks informs me, that he saw a...
3373To George Washington from Azariah Dunham, 21 December 1776 (Washington Papers)
21 December 1776 . Gives a detailed account of his service since 12 June 1776 as a deputy commissary general in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, and he complains of having “been put to unnecessary Dificulties” by a shortage of funds. “I am nearly £6000 in advance for Supplying the Army from the best estimate I can now make a very trifle in hand have no oppertunity of communicating my case to the...
3374To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 21 December 1776 (Washington Papers)
I have received the Honor of yours of the 16th & 18th Instant. I have the Pleasure to acquaint your Excellency that on the 19th Instant a Detachment of our Troops Consisting Partly of Continental Troops and Partly of the Militia of Orange and Ulster Counties, having marched Down to the English Neighbourhood in the night Deceived the Sentinel and Surprised the Out Guard of Colonel Buskirks...
3375To George Washington from Robert Morris, 21 December 1776 (Washington Papers)
Notwithstanding there are several British Men of War cruising in our Bay, the Continental Sloop Independance Commanded by Lieutt Robinson has pushed through & got up here yesterday afternoon There is onboard 856 Blankets which were intended with many others now expected in, for the use of the new enlistments, but the inclement weather and the severe duty the Troops now under your Command have...
3376To George Washington from Brigadier General Alexander McDougall, 22 December 1776 (Washington Papers)
I was happy to find that your favor to Col. Vose directed him to Stay in this State. But I am extreamly Chagrined, that the object of that order is not likely to be Effected. This State is totally deranged, without Government, or officers civil or military in it that will act with any Spirit. Many of them have gone to the Enemy for Protection, others are out of the State, and the few that...
3377To George Washington from Colonel Joseph Reed, 22 December 1776 (Washington Papers)
Pomroy whom I sent by your Order to go to Amboy & so through the Jersey & round by Princeton to you returned to Burlington yesterday—he went to South Amboy but was not able to get over—upon which he came up to Brunswick pass’d on to Princeton—& was prevented going to Pennington—upon which he returned to Burlington by Way of Cranberry. His Intelligence is that he saw no Troops, Baggage Waggons...
3378To George Washington from John Hancock, 23 December 1776 (Washington Papers)
I do myself the Honour to acknowledge the Receipt of your several Favours of the 12th 13th and 15th inst. in the Order of their respective Dates, and to inform you that they were duely laid before Congress. As Genl Lee by the Fortune of War, has become a Prisoner in the Hands of our Enemies, the Congress are anxious to afford him all the Relief in their Power during his Confinement. They have...
3379To George Washington from Robert Morris, 23–24 December 1776 (Washington Papers)
I had the honor to receive your obliging favour of Yesterday by Colo. Moylan, the Contents give a most mellancholly aspect to our affairs and I wish to Heaven it may be in our power to retrieve them, it is useless at this period to examine into the causes of our present unhappy situation, unless that examination wou’d be productive of a cure for the evils that surround us, in fact those causes...
3380To George Washington from Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 23 December 1776 (Washington Papers)
I am honoured with your favour of the 12th Instant, It gives me great Satisfaction to find that the Plan we have adopted for Supplying the new Army with necessaries meets with your approbation. I fully agree with you in Sentiment as to the Importance of having a Sufficient regular force in the Spring—am Informed the Inlistments for that purpose in the Corpse under General Spencer is in danger...
3381To George Washington from Maj. Gen. Artemas Ward, 23 December 1776 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Maj. Gen. Artemas Ward, 23 Dec. 1776. GW wrote Ward on 20 Feb. 1777 : “I acknowledge the receipt of yr two favours of the 23d Decr & 17th January.”
3382To George Washington from Col. John Cadwalader, 24 December 1776 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Col. John Cadwalader, 24 Dec. 1776. GW wrote in his first letter to Cadwalader of 25 Dec. : “I have yours of Yesterday.”
3383To George Washington from Richard Dallam, 24 December 1776 (Washington Papers)
The time of the Flying Camp will be up in a few days (for which Department I was at first Perticularly appointd for.) As I expect they will immediatly go off for Philadelphia and Apply for their pay to the Treasurer, I think it necessary I should be their to settle their Accounts As sums of money have been paid on Account to Many of the Officers & Men, I think it my Duty to Mention this to...
3384To George Washington from Brigadier General Philemon Dickinson, 24 December 1776 (Washington Papers)
I have this moment dispatch’d a proper Person over the river, to make the followg enquires, (& to return tomorrow morng, at which time a Horse will be provided for him, to wait upon your Excellency, with such Information as he may obtain) Viz: what Guards are posted upon the different roads leading into Trenton, the number on the Mill-bridge, where the Cannon lay & what number; to ascertain...
3385To George Washington from the New York Committee of Safety, 24 December 1776 (Washington Papers)
⟨S ir : We were honoured with your Excellency’s favour of the 15th instant,⟩ and most readily ac⟨cept your apology for not answering ours of last⟩ month, since we are not ignorant of ⟨the straits into which our temporary inlistments⟩ have thrown you, and have found in the dif⟨ficulties which your Excellency had to contend⟩ with, no small addition to those under which we ⟨labour. You will see...
3386To George Washington from the Pennsylvania Council of Safety, 25 December 1776 (Washington Papers)
The present divided State of the Enemys army and the confidence they have gaind by their late successes, are well known to your Excellency, but we think it our duty to acquaint you likewise that there are several Companies of our back Country Militia that have applied to us for Liberty to act as scouting parties of irregulars—this mode of waging war they say is more adapted to their genius and...
3387To George Washington from Colonel John Cadwalader, 26 December 1776 (Washington Papers)
The River was so full of Ice that it was impossible to pass above Bristol, where I intend[ed]—and therefore concluded to make an attempt at Dunks’s Ferry—as soon as it was dark I sent down all the Boats I could muster, & mar[c]hed down about 8 O’Clock—I embarked a few men to line the River & prevent any person escaping to give Intelligence to the Enemy; and these were followed by a part of the...
3388To George Washington from Colonel John Cadwalader, 26 December 1776 (Washington Papers)
We are now perfectly prepared, & would cross immediately, but the Troops lost their Rest last Night—We have determined to pass over to the Neck of Land a little above Bristol at six in the Morning, proceed to Bussel Town, the Square, & from thence to Bordenton—I imagine, if a part of your Army was to take possession of the other side of Crosswix Bridge, which is a pass easily defended, and the...
3389To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 26 December 1776 (Washington Papers)
yesterday General Wadsworths Brigade went Home leaving the Stores without a Guard Untill I sent one Down. The Militia of this State are Coming in—None have as yet arrived from the Eastward, Brigadier General Warner was at Danbury the Last night with 4 Companies Only—more are Hourly Expected—General Lincoln is on the Road, I have Sent your Excellency’s Letter by Express to meet him. I have...
3390To George Washington from Robert Morris, 26 December 1776 (Washington Papers)
I have just received yours of yesterday and will duely attend to those things you recommend to my consideration, at present I have to enclose you a letter from Congress which I suppose Contains their resolves of the 20th Inst. but as the President does not say in his letter to me that they are enclosed to you & as it is necessary you shou’d have them, I take the liberty to send herewith a Copy...