1From George Washington to Richard Henry Lee, Henry Laurens, and Thomas Burke, 5 May 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have the honor to transmit to your care an Open Letter for Brigadr General Scott, by which you will perceive that I have directed the Levies in Virginia to be formed into three Batallions and to be officered & marched under his command, to reinforce the Southern Army, as soon as circumstances will possibly permit. I give you this trouble, lest these directions should interfere with any...
2George Washington to Richard Henry Lee, 30 April 1779 (Hamilton Papers)
Middlebrook [ New Jersey ] April 30, 1779 . Agrees that troops are needed in southern states. Discusses proposals to procure more men. LS , in writing of H, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California. Lee was a delegate from Virginia to the Continental Congress.
3From George Washington to Richard Henry Lee, 28 October 1777 (Washington Papers)
The report of Genl Conways promotion was so prevalent, and came from such authority—among others from Baron Kalb, who told me, that by some Members of Congress he was informd that it either had, or would take place—that I had not a single doubt remaining upon my Mind of the Fact. what I said in my last, was with no design to injure General Conway—nor with a view to serve any individual—I then...
4From George Washington to Richard Henry Lee, 6 March 1777 (Washington Papers)
I am anxious to know whether Genl Arnolds non promotion was owing to Accident or design—& the cause of it. Surely a more active—a more spirited, and Sensible Officer fills no department in your Army—Not seeing him then in the list of Majr Genls, and no mention made of him, has given me uneasiness, as it is not to be presumed (being the oldest Brigadr) that he will continue in Service under...
5From George Washington to Richard Henry Lee, 8 November 1775 (Washington Papers)
I mean but to acknowledge the receipt of your obliging favour of the 22d ultimo; for, as I expect this letter will be handed to you in Philadelphia, to recite the contents of my letter to the Congress would be little more than idle repetition. I should be very glad if the Congress would, without delay, appoint some mode by which an examination into the captures made by our armed vessels may be...
6From George Washington to Richard Henry Lee, 18 May 1776 (Washington Papers)
In great haste I write you a few lines to cover the Inclosed—they came in the manner you see them, and as explaind in Captn Langdens Letter to me—I hesitated sometime in determining whether I could, with propriety, select them from the rest considering in what manner they came to my hands, but as there are somethings in each which may serve to irritate I concluded it best to send not only the...
7From George Washington to Richard Henry Lee, 1 June 1777 (Washington Papers)
By your favour of the 22d Ulto I perceive my Letter of the 17th has been expressed in too strong terms. I did not mean by the words, “to get rid of importunity” to cast the smallest reflection; indeed the hurry with which I am obliged to write the few private Letters I attempt, will not allow me to consider the force & tendency of my Words; nor should I have been surprizd if the fact had...
8From George Washington to Richard Henry Lee, 12 June 1784 (Washington Papers)
Unsolicited by, and unknown to Mr Paine, I take the liberty of hinting the Services, and distressed (for so I think it may be called) situation of that Gentleman. That his Common Sense, and many of his Crisis[e]s were well timed and had a happy effect upon the public mind, none I believe, who will recur to the epocha’s at which they were published, will deny. That his Services hitherto have...
9From George Washington to Richard Henry Lee, 14 December 1784 (Washington Papers)
The letter which you did me the honor to write to me on the 20th of last Month, only came to my hands by the Post preceeding the date of this. For the copy of the treaty held with the Six Nations at Fort Stanwix, you will please to accept my thanks. These people have given, I think, all that the United States could reasonably have asked of them; more perhaps than the State of New York conceive...
10From George Washington to Richard Henry Lee, 19 July 1787 (Washington Papers)
I have had the honor to receive your favor of the 15th Instt and thank you for the ordinance which was enclosed in it. My sentiments with respect to the Navigation of the Mississipi have been long fixed, and are not dissimilar to those which are expressed in your letter; I have ever been of opinion that the true policy of the Atlantic States would be, instead of contending, prematurely, for...
11From George Washington to Richard Henry Lee, 26 December 1775 (Washington Papers)
Your favour of the 6th Instt did not reach this place till Saturday Afternoon. the Money which accompanied it, came seasonably, but not (as it was so long delayed) in quantum Sufficit—our demands at this time being peculiarly great for pay, and advance to the Troops—pay for their Arms—Blanketting &ca Independant of the demands of the Commissary & Quarter Master General. Lord Dunmores Letters...
12From George Washington to Richard Henry Lee, 16 October 1777 (Washington Papers)
Your favour of the 5th Inst. as also that of the 11th by Baron Kalb, are both to hand —It is not in my power at present to answer your quere respecting the appointment of this Gentleman; but Sir, if there is any truth in the report which has been handed to me, viz.—that congress has appointed Brigadier conway to be Major Gen[e]ral in this Army, it will be as unfortunate a measure, as ever was...
13From George Washington to Richard Henry Lee, 25 May 1778 (Washington Papers)
If any thing of greater moment, than declaring that every word contained in the Pamphlet you were obliging enough to send me, was spurious, had occurred, I should not have suffered your favor of the 6th Instt to have remained so long unacknowledged—These letters are written with a great deal of art—the intermixture of so many family circumstances (which by the by wanted foundation in truth)...
14From George Washington to Richard Henry Lee, 17 May 1777 (Washington Papers)
Under the previledge of friendship, I take the liberty to ask you, what Congress expects I am to do with the many Foreigners they have, at different times, promoted to the Rank of Field Officers? and by the last resolve, two to that of Colonels. In making these appointments, it is much to be feared that all the Circumstances attending; are not taken into consideration—To oblige the adventurers...
15From George Washington to Richard Henry Lee, 27 November 1775 (Washington Papers)
Your favour of the 13th with the Inclosures (for which I thank you) came to this place on Wednesday Evening; part of which—that is the Night—I was engaged with a party of Men throwing up a Work upon A Hill called Cobble Hill; which, in case we should ever be supplied with such things as we want, may proove useful to us, & could not be delayed, as the Earth here is getting as hard as a Rock...
16From George Washington to Richard Henry Lee, 13 October 1775 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: to Richard Henry Lee, 13 Oct. 1775. On 22 Oct. Lee wrote to GW : “I thank you for your obliging favor of the 13th.”
17From George Washington to Richard Henry Lee, 15 April 1794 (Washington Papers)
I have been favored with your letter of the 8th of March from Chantily. It did not, however, (by the Office mark thereon) leave Westmoreland Court House until the 16th of that month. Previously to the receipt of it, the nomination of Mr Lawrence Muse to the Collectorship of Rappahannock had been made, consequent of strong testimonials in his favor. The manners of Mr Fauchet, and Mr Genet, the...
18From George Washington to Richard Henry Lee, 24 October 1793 (Washington Papers)
Your favor of yesterday the 23d was handed to me upon my return from my usual ride, & almost at the moment I was setting down (with company) to dinner, which prevented my acknowledging the receipt of it by your servant. I am sorry I shall not have the pleasure of seeing you & your Lady before I return to the Northward, and regret the cause. On sunday, if I can previously arrange some business...
19From George Washington to Richard Henry Lee, 20 February 1787 (Washington Papers)
Dear Sir—Your favour of the 15th, with the seed of the honey locust came safe to hand, and claims my particular thanks. I have but one doubt of its forming the best hedge in the world; and that is, whether it can be sufficiently dwarfed. If this cannot be effected, the other purpose mentioned in your letter, and a valuable one too, of subserving stock, is alone sufficient to induce the...
20From George Washington to Richard Henry Lee, 29 October 1775 (Washington Papers)
As you will be fully informed of every matter and thing relative to the army, by your own Committee I should not have given you the trouble of a Letter at this time were it not on Colo. Reeds acct—He is, as I presume you may have heard, concernd in many of the principal Causes now depending in the Courts of Pensylvania and should those Causes be press’d for tryal by his brethren of the...
21From George Washington to Richard Henry Lee, 15 July 1781 (Washington Papers)
The moving state in wch the Army was, at the time your letter of the 12th Ulto came to hand—the junction of the Allied troops, which was upon the point of being formed—and a variety of matters which have occurred since that period consequent of this junction rather than a disinclination to continue a correspondence the benefits of which have been in my favor must plead an excuse for my long...
22From George Washington to Richard Henry Lee, 2 August 1789 (Washington Papers)
The extreme hurry in which I have been thrown for several days, to compare the merits and pretensions of the several applicants for appointments, under the Revenue Law (in order that the nominations might speedily follow the passage of the Collection Bill) has prevented my acknowledging the receipt of your favor of the 27th Ulto until this time. Mr Charles Lee will certainly be brot forward as...
23From George Washington to Richard Henry Lee, 23 September 1778 (Washington Papers)
Your favor of the 6th Instt did not get to my hands till the 18th —It found me at our Posts in the Highlands, on my circuit to this place—& at a time when I had neither leizure or oppertunity to write to you. I am so thoroughly impressed with the necessity of reinlisting the Army, that you may depend upon it nothing in my power to effect it, shall be left unessayed. Instructions, and Money,...
24From George Washington to Richard Henry Lee, 10 July 1775 (Washington Papers)
I was exceeding glad to receive a Letter from you, as I always shall be whenever it is convenient, though perhaps my hurry, till such time as matters are drawn a little out of the Chaos they appear in at present, will not suffer me to write you such full and satisfactory answers, or give such clear, and precise accts of our Situation & views, as I could wish, or you might expect. After a...
25From George Washington to Richard Henry Lee, 18 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
Your favour of the 7th Instant should not have remained so long unanswered, but for the uncertainty of Colonel Pickering’s acceptance of his new Appointment. He has now determined to do this, which leads me to say, that I am really at a loss to recommend a proper person as a Successor to the Office of Adjutant General. The Gentleman I named to you some time ago will not, you say, answer. I...
26From George Washington to Richard Henry Lee, 30 April 1779 (Washington Papers)
I was duly honored with your letter of the 28th in behalf of the Committee for Southern affairs, with the inclosed copy of one from the Lt Governor of S. Carolina. The situation of affairs in that quarter has an aspect truly alarming; and though our force here after the troops intended for the Indian expedition are detached will be reduced so low as to afford cause of uneasiness; yet as the...
27From George Washington to Richard Henry Lee, 21 October 1773 (Washington Papers)
Your favour of this date, is this instant put into my hands (at Weedons & almost dark) the mode you propose of determining the claim, upon Colo. George Lees Estate, will be perfectly agreeable to me; but as my Brothers are as much concernd in the matter as I am, I would choose to have there concurrance before I did any thing final & should be obligd to you to for mentioning of this matter to...
28From George Washington to Richard Henry Lee, 4 April 1776 (Washington Papers)
Your favour of the 26th Ulto came to my hands last Night by the Post, but as I am upon the point of setting out for New York (by the way of Providence and Norwich) I can do little more than acknowledge the receipt of it, and thank you for the Proceedings & Ordinances of the Virga Convention which came safely to hand. At present, the Lakes are in an Impassable State, neither being clear of Ice,...
29From George Washington to Richard Henry Lee, 22 June 1785 (Washington Papers)
I stand indebted to you for your favors of the 3d 7th & 29th of last month, & feel myself exceedingly obliged to your Excellency for the communications, & inclosures therein. It gives me pleasure to find that an Ordinance of Congress has passed respecting the Western Territory. A little longer delay of this business, & I believe the Country would have been settled, maugre all that could have...
30From George Washington to Richard Henry Lee, 10 August 1778 (Washington Papers)
A few days ago I received your favor of the 26th Ulto, inclosing one from Colo. Spotswood, for which I thank you. The reputation which this Gentn had acquired, of being an attentive Officer and good disciplinarian, was justly founded; and I considered his leaving the Army a loss to the Service. The supposed death of his Brother, it is natural to believe, had a painful influence upon his...