1To George Washington from Major General Benedict Arnold, 27 July 1777 (Washington Papers)
I arrived at Camp Fort Edward the 21st Instt and should have done myself the honor of writing your Excellency imediately on my arrival, but was informd by Genl Schuyler that he had communicated every intelligence in his Power, by an Express sent off the day before my Arrival; The day after my coming here the Army was divided into two divisions & Head Quarters moved to Moses Creek three Miles...
2To George Washington from Major General Benedict Arnold, 12 September 1780 (Washington Papers)
Last Night I had the Honor to receive Your Excellency’s Favor of Yesterday inclosing a Copy of a Council of War held the 6th. I will endeavour agreeable to Your Excellency’s request, to transmit my Opinion, on the Matters submitted by the Time required: I sincerely wish the Situation of our Affairs would admit my giving it with more Decission, than I am able to do at present. The Order...
3To George Washington from Major General Benedict Arnold, 22 June 1778 (Washington Papers)
Your Excellency’s favour of the 21st respecting the Militia, I received at 3 oClock this evening, and immediately, had as many Inhabitants collected at the Coffe House as I could Notify, Fifty Volunteers have engaged to go with General Cadwalader, who this minute Informs me He expects to collect a considerable Number more in the morning, in the City; I cannot flatter myself with procuring many...
4To George Washington from Major General Benedict Arnold, 22 July 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have the honor to Inclose to your Excellency Two Letters which I received last evening from Mrs Washington, who was well when the Express came from Virginia. There is no news here of any Importance, We have not heard from Count D’Estaing these Two days, when He wrote last his Pilots had Just returned from Sounding the Hook, & reported there was not water Sufficient to Carry over his Ships,...
5To George Washington from Major General Benedict Arnold, 1 October 1780 (Washington Papers)
The Polite attention shown by Your Excellency and the Gentlemen of Your Family to Mrs Arnold when in distress, demand my grateful acknowledgement and thanks which I beg leave to present. From Your Excellencys Letter to Sr Henery Clinton, I find a Board of General Officers have given it as their Opinion that Major André comes under the description of a Spy: my good Opinion of the Candor, and...
6To George Washington from Brigadier General Benedict Arnold, 13 January 1777 (Washington Papers)
Yesterday I arived here, haveing previously done all in my power, to forward on the Militia, from the Massachusets Bay, and Connecticut, upwards of six Thousand of which I hope are in the Jerseys, before this Time. There is at this place & in the Vicinity, about Two thousand Men, part of six Thousand Ordered from the New England States, The others are on their March, & expected in, in a few...
7To George Washington from Major General Benedict Arnold, 30 July 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have this minute the honor receiving your Excellencys favour of 27th Inst. Colonel Hartleys Regt was ordered by Congress from this City the 14th Inst. to the Frontiers of this State, except a Party of Sixty Men who, Guarded a Number Prisoners to Elizabeth Town, & were afterwards Ordered to East Town—Inclosed is a return of the Troops in Town who are barely sufficient to do the Garrison Duty,...
8To George Washington from Major General Benedict Arnold, 6 August 1780 (Washington Papers)
On my arival at this Post I found every thing thrown into great Confusion, by the Troops removing from hence, and the Militia coming in. Colonel Malcomb had ordered returns to be made of the Militia, Provisions, and Stores of every kind, which I expect this morning, and will transmit a Copy to your Excellency. I believe a Sufficient Number of Militia have arived to replace those of this State,...
9To George Washington from Benedict Arnold, 5 December 1778 (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Benedict Arnold, 5 Dec. 1778. On 13 Dec., GW wrote Arnold : “Upon my arrival here I found your favor of the 5th.”
10To George Washington from Major General Benedict Arnold, 6 March 1780 (Washington Papers)
I am requested by the Board of Admiralty to Inform your Excellency, that they have in Contemplation an Expedition with several of their Frigates, which will require Three, or four, hundred Land Forces to Act in Conjunction, and who may Act as Marines when on Board, which will obviate the great dificculty of procuring Men for the Ships—They wish to be informed If the Men can be Spared From the...
11To George Washington from Major General Benedict Arnold, c.18 April 1779 (Washington Papers)
Agreable to your Excellencys advice to me when at Camp, I requested of Congress to appoint a Committe to Examine into the Charges aledg’d against me by the Presdt and Council of this State; my request was complied with, the Report of the Committe I have taken the liberty to Inclose, after peruseing it Your Excellency will doubtless be suprised to find Congress have directed a Court Martial to...
12To George Washington from Major General Benedict Arnold, 11 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
The want of News agreable or entertaining, with Indisposition, will I hope apologize to your Excellency for my long Silence. The third Instant I was inform’d that the Enemy meditated an Attack on little Egg Harbor, where there were several Privateers and fifteen or twenty Sail other Vessells, with a considerable Quantity of European and West India Goods. Coll Procters Regiment was ordered to...
13To George Washington from Brigadier General Benedict Arnold, 7 February 1777 (Washington Papers)
Your favour of the 24th Ulto I had not the pleasure of receiveing untill the 3d Inst.—am sorry to hear the Militia of the Southern States, have not yet suffered enough to excite them to rise in their own defence and expel their Inhuman Enemies from the Country, I am not however, without hopes your Excellency will be able to finish this Campaign, with great honour, & Advantage to Our Country....
14To George Washington from Major General Benedict Arnold, 13 July 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have been anxiously waiting a long time in expectation that the situation of the Army would admit the Court Martial to proceed on my Trial, as a part of the British Army are gone down the North River, I hope the time is now arived; If it can be done without prejudice to the service I beg your Excellency to appoint as early a day as posible, the Cruel situation I am in will apologize for my...
15To George Washington from Major General Benedict Arnold, 5 May 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have been honor’d with your Excellencys two Letters of the 26th and 28th April, and am extreemly sorry to find It should be thought there was a necessity of postponing my tryal to so late a Period as June, or July, from no other Reason than the Presidt & Council of this State “representing that the Period appointed for the purpose and the previous Notice given were too short to admit of the...
16To George Washington from Brigadier General Benedict Arnold, 14 January 1776 (Washington Papers)
I make no Doubt you will, soon hear, of Our Misfortune, on the 31. Ulto, and be very Anxious to know Our Present, Situation. Our loss, and repulse struck an Amaseing Panick, into both Officers, & Men, and had the Enemy improved their Advantage, Our affairs, here must have ben Intirely ruined It was not in my power to Prevail on the Officers to Attempt, saveing, Our Mortars, which had ben...
17To George Washington from Major General Benedict Arnold, 30 June 1778 (Washington Papers)
I received your Excellency’s Favour of yesterday, at 10 oClock this morng with the Letter Inclosed for Mrs Washington which I dispatch’d immediately by Express, I beg leave to present your Excellency my Congratulatory Compliments on the Victory you have obtained over the Enemy, and to assure you nothing could have given me a more Heart felt pleasure, than to hear of your excape, we are...
18To George Washington from Colonel Benedict Arnold, 25–27 September 1775 (Washington Papers)
My last of the 19th Inst. from Newbury Port, advising of the Embarkation of the Troops I make no Doubt your Excellency received. The Same Day we left Newbury, and arrived safe in the River next Morning except a small Vessel which run on the Rocks, but is since off without Damage, & arrived safe. I found the Batteaus compleated, but many of them smaller than the Directions given, & very badly...
19To George Washington from Brigadier General Benedict Arnold, 25 June 1776 (Washington Papers)
By this express, you will receive advice From Genl Schuyler of our evacuateing Canada, an event which I make no doubt (from our distressed situation) you have some time expected, the particulars of Genl Thompsons repulse, & Captivity, as nearly as could be ascertained, have ben transmitted, you. on advice of which, very direct Intelligence that the Enemy were greatly superior to us In numbers,...
20To George Washington from Major General Benedict Arnold, 16 September 1780 (Washington Papers)
Last Evening I was honored with Your Excellency’s Favor of the 14th. I have given Orders for the Guard requested As also to the Quarter Master to furnish Forage at Mr Birdsall’s for the Number of Horses mentioned in your Excellency’s Letter. My Answers to the Questions proposed by Your Excellency to the Council of War, I will do myself the Honor to deliver in Person. I am, with sentiments of...
21To George Washington from Brigadier General Benedict Arnold, 27 February 1776 (Washington Papers)
I wrote you the 14th Ulto of Our Situation and prospects, since which nothing of Consequence has Occured, here, The Enemy to the number of abt five hundred have twice Sallied out at Pallace Gate, with Design of seizeing our Field peices, (near the Nunnery) but On Our Troops, Advanceing to Attack them, they made a precipitate retreat, under Cover of their guns—Desertions from the Garrison are...
22To George Washington from Colonel Benedict Arnold, 20 November 1775 (Washington Papers)
My last was of the 14th Instant from Point ⟨Levi⟩ —the same Evening I passed the St Lawrance without Obstruction, except from a Barge, on which we fired & killed three Men, but as the Enemy were apprised of our coming, and the Garrison augmented to near seven hundred Men, besides the Inhabitants, it was not thought proper to attempt carrying the Town by Storm, but cut off their Communication...
23To George Washington from Major General Benedict Arnold, 11 September 1780 (Washington Papers)
Yesterday I had the honor to receive your Excellencys Letter of the 7th, and am very happy to hear such favorable Accounts from the Southward, I hope our affairs in that quarter will soon wear a more pleasing aspect than ever. Colonel Sheldon Complains to me that his Horses are much worn down, and the Inhabitants of Wt Chester complain that the Country is not sufficiently guarded against the...
24To George Washington from Colonel Benedict Arnold, 27 September 1775 (Washington Papers)
I have ordered, James McCormick, the Criminal condemned for the Murder of Rueben Bishop, on board the Schooner Broad Bay, Capt. Clarkson, with Directions for him to be delivered to Capt. Moses Howell, at Newbury Port, who has orders to send him to your Excellency—The Criminal Appears to be very simple & ignorant, and in the Company he belonged to, had the Character of being a peacable...
25To George Washington from Brig. Gen. Benedict Arnold, 1 February 1777 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Brig. Gen. Benedict Arnold, 1 Feb. 1777. In his letter to GW of 7 Feb. , Arnold says: “My Letter of the 1st Inst. by Cpt. Mansfield, I hope your Excellency has received before this.”
26To George Washington from Major General Benedict Arnold, 16 August 1780 (Washington Papers)
Your Excellency’s Favor of the 13th I had the Honor of receiving the last Evening, I have ordered particular Inquiry to be made into the Treatment of the Prisoners and every Abuse to be remedied. No Complaint had ever reached me on the Subject previous to your Excellency’s Letter. Inclosed is a Return of Provisions on Hand, the daily Issues and a Copy of a Letter from Mr Stevens D. Commy...
27To George Washington from Major General Benedict Arnold, 12 August 1780 (Washington Papers)
I am this Instant favored with your Excellencys Letter of Yesterday, On the 10th I received Advice from Col. Sheldon that the Enemy were embarking Troops & heavy Artillery, at White Stone and New York, which I thought would justify me in detaining the New York Militia, untill I received an Answer to my Letter of the 8th especially as very few of the Massachussetts & New Hampshire Militia have...
28To George Washington from Colonel Benedict Arnold, 5 December 1775 (Washington Papers)
My last of the 20th ultimo from Point aux Trembles, advising of my retiring from before Quebec, make no Doubt your Excellency has received. I continued at Point aux Trembles until the 3rd Instant, when to my great Joy General Montgomery joined us with Artillery and about 300 Men. Yesterday we arrived here, and are making all possible Preparation to attack the City, which has a wretched motley...
29To George Washington from Major General Benedict Arnold, 1 October 1780 (Washington Papers)
I take this Opportunity to Inform Your Excellency, That I Consider myself no longer Acting under the Commission of Congress: their last to me being among my Papers at West Point You Sir will make such use of it as You think proper. At the same time I beg leave to Assure Your Excellency that my Attachment to the true Interest of my Country is invariable, and that I am actuated by the Same...
30To George Washington from Major General Benedict Arnold, 18 June 1778 (Washington Papers)
Answers to His Excellency Genl Washington’s Questions in Council June 17th 1778. Answer to Question first. By no means. Answer to Question Second. That the Army by all means remain in their present Position untill the Enemy evacuate Philada and their Route is known. Answer to Question third. Five or Six hundred Light Infantry, with as many Cavalry as can be spared, be immediately Detach’d to...