1To George Washington from Colonel Elias Dayton, 10 July 1777 (Washington Papers)
A Schooner just now arived here from New York for the family & goods of Doctor Peterson. It appears from a paper shewed me by Mrs Peterson that on the 22d of May liberty was granted to remove within one week from that time. He however delayed the matter & appeared undetermined till lately when he went to New York hardly in a fair way, & has now sent for his family. Altho’ neither he nor his...
2To George Washington from Colonel Elias Dayton, 10 July 1777 (Washington Papers)
Since my last, a person has returned from New York; that has been, four days, at that place, observing the motions of the Enemy. He says, Tuesday last, three Transports sailed, up East-River; with a number of Troops on board; but what number he could not determine; that he heard a number of people talk of them: some said, they were only going to deceive Mr Washington: others said, they were...
3To George Washington from Col. Elias Dayton, 19 July 1777 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Col. Elias Dayton, 19 July 1777. In his letter to Dayton of 19 July, GW writes: “Yours of this morning has just reached me.”
4To George Washington from Colonel Elias Dayton, 11 August 1777 (Washington Papers)
I yesterday removed with the two Regiments to this place for the sake of provisions and beer which I am told may be procur’d much easier at this place than at Peramus. I send the Pay Master to Head Quarters for money as both officers and soldiers are much in want of it. The necessaries of life are so very high in the Country that their pay is scarcely sufficient during the month. Your...
5To George Washington from Colonel Elias Dayton, 13 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
I beg leave to inform your Excellency of the situation of John & Baker Hendricks & John Meeker who it is said have forfited their lives, by a law of this State, in consequence of their being employed by me and others, to bring inteligence from the enemy while at New york and Staten Island, according to your Excellencys direction. The fidelity of those persons I am well convinced of, and the...
6To George Washington from Colonel Elias Dayton, 20 February 1778 (Washington Papers)
Confiding in your known and admired candor I beg leave to address you on a subject of great delicacy and to me very interesting & important. Sensible that your Excelency has been frequently interrupted with resignations from the Officers under your command ’tis not without reluctance that I pray your attention to a subject of this nature. With the greatest sincerity I say it—I could never be...
7To George Washington from Colonel Elias Dayton, 6 April 1780 (Washington Papers)
I have just now received certain intellgence of the sailing of the brittish fleet out at Sandy hook yesterday morning, they consisted of ten ships and seven brigs, the troops that my informent knew to be on board were the 42 Regt one Battallion of the guards the Anspeck Regmt Lord Raudens Brigade and Simcoes foot but their is not Any Horse gone on board, they are convoyed by the Rainbow, the...
8To George Washington from Colonel Elias Dayton, 4 May 1780 (Washington Papers)
By intelligence received this Morning it appears that the enemy have a number of boats in readiness to move from N. york this evening probably with about 1500 men their Object supposed to be our provision at Brunswick, as Capt. Ross who commands the armed sloop in the Kils mentioned to a person I sent over on Monday last he then expected our stores in Brunswick were in their hands. In...
9To George Washington from Colonel Elias Dayton, 15 May 1780 (Washington Papers)
By intelligence I have just received it appears, that the fleet which has been laying at Sandy hook for some days past, sailed last Thursday, That the enemy have a great number of Vessels loaded with Stone to be sunk in such parts of the channel as may best answer their purpose. Flour it is said is becoming scarce in New york and that the Inhabitants are much distressed on account of the...
10To George Washington from Colonel Elias Dayton, 19 May 1780 (Washington Papers)
I have received your excellency’s favor of the seventeenth—should have been more explicit in the letter alluded to, had I not when I last had the pleasure of seeing your excellency given a particular account of the vessels laying at the hook, prepared for a criuze, of which the fleet I mentioned to have sailed on thursday were composed. From what I can since learn I suspect that they were only...
11To George Washington from Colonel Elias Dayton, 28 May 1780 (Washington Papers)
From New York I understand they are in daily expectation of a French fleet upon the coast—They are busily employ’d in building a large fort at Cuyler’s hook —the naval force very small not more than one frigate and three or four privateers in the harbour. The Galatea on tuesday last brought into the harbour, the privateer ship Harrison and sailed again the day before yesterday on a cruise....
12To George Washington from Colonel Elias Dayton, 30 May 1780 (Washington Papers)
Lying Rivingtons account of the reduction of C. Town was Sent of[f] by Col. Stewart without my knowledge. Least it should give your excellency as much pain through the night, as it did me for one hour, I have Sent this & I do venture to assert it to be one of Lying Jemys Aberations; within this hour I have received three diffirent accou[n]ts of its not being beleived in N. York, A variety of...
13To George Washington from Colonel Elias Dayton, 3 July 1780 (Washington Papers)
I have the honor to enclose to your Excellency a late New york news paper, together with a letter just received from a person Sent to N. york for the purpose of gaining intelligence. From another person sent for like purpose I have a certain account that one night last week nine villains crossed from Staten Island to Amboy, for the purpose of assassinateing governor Livingston and every person...
14To George Washington from Colonel Elias Dayton, 7 July 1780 (Washington Papers)
Their is not the least doubt but that the British in New Yrk have certain accounts of the Approch of a french fleet, as A number of large Ships Are now Moored between the east and west bank for the purpose of Sinking to stop the passage or render it as difficult as possible. I have a boat laying up North River I propose to direct A man to run away with her to New York and get into the servuce...
15To George Washington from Colonel Elias Dayton, 11 July 1780 (Washington Papers)
The enclosed is from the old correspondent in New york. By a person from the city two hours before its recept, I gained information very nearly agreeing with the contents of the enclosed letter—I am positive, that the Jamaica fleet which had fallen down to the hook and were just sailing out were Stopped on Sunday morning last, and the passengers returned to town where they expect to continue...
16To George Washington from Colonel Elias Dayton, 16 July 1780 (Washington Papers)
I am very well convinced from many different accounts, that the force under Admiral Greaves, consists of six ships of the line only and that no troops came with him. They are very industriously impressing seamen, to mann their ships; upon which, they declare, that they intend to find and fight the french fleet—tho’ suspected by some, that they rather intend to sail for the West Indies. I...
17To George Washington from Colonel Elias Dayton, 17 July 1780 (Washington Papers)
The enclosed is the copy of a paper I have just received from New york, which I beleive to be nearly just, excepting five or Six of the Smallest Vessels which are constantly kept out cruising, the fleet is now at anchor just without the hook nearly in the same manner Count DEstaing was in august 1778. If your Excellency has any hard money for the public serveice should be glad to have some...
18To George Washington from Colonel Elias Dayton, 18 July 1780 (Washington Papers)
By a person from Staaten Island I am informed that a report prevails there, that the British fleet had sailed this morning, which from the number of signal guns I have heard, I am rather inclined to suspect as true. They have taken on board one Regiment to serve as marines and fifteen hundred volunteers have joined them from New York. It is said their object is the french fleet if so, they are...
19To George Washington from Colonel Elias Dayton, 21 July 1780 (Washington Papers)
I have this morning received the following important intelligence which may, I believe, be depended upon—viz.—That the fleets under Admirals Arbuthnot and Greaves had sailed on wednesday morning —that fifty sail of transports had gone up the sound, expecting to take troops on board at white stone, from whence ’tis said, they are immediately to proceed to Rhode Island. They declare it to be...
20To George Washington from Colonel Elias Dayton, 24 January 1781 (Washington Papers)
On Sunday morning I was alarmed with an account that the Jersey brigade had revolted, were directing their march this way and were in the neighbourhood of this place. I immediately desired the officers of the detachment upon this station to sound the sentiments of the men under their immediate command, who soon discovered that they had no inclination to join with the seditious part of the...
21To George Washington from Colonel Elias Dayton, 17-20 February 1781 (Washington Papers)
I had the honour to receive your Excellencys letter of the 7th instant four days since. I am sorry to acquaint your excellency that my health is not yet as well established as I could wish, being at present exceedingly troubled with a swelling in my thigh, which has confined me closely for a fortnight past, it however bears a favourable appearance & I expect to be able to join the troops in a...
22To George Washington from Elias Dayton, 29 January 1784 (Washington Papers)
I have been honored with your Excellency’s letter of the 28th Ult. appointing Philadelphia to be the place of meeting for the general society of the Cincinnati. I have since been particular in complying with your Excellency’s request, by making that appointment known to the representatives of the society of this State and by urgeing in the most expressive terms, their punctual attendance. With...
23To George Washington from Elias Dayton, 5 May 1789 (Washington Papers)
I take the liberty of introducing to the knowledge and notice of your Excellency, my son, who will have the honor of presenting this. He wishes to be so happy as to obtain the approbation & nomination of your Excellency to the appointment of Collector of imposts or duties for New Jersey. Motives of delicacy prevented my mentioning this matter either by letter or in person in the course of your...
24To George Washington from Elias Dayton, 17 August 1789 (Washington Papers)
I am informed that the bill providing for the organization of the Judiciary department is now on it’s passage thr’o the houses of legislature, & that, among other things it directs the appointment of a Judge for each of the eleven districts into which the United States are parcelled. As it is probable that it will in a short time receive the sanction of the different branches & of course...
25To George Washington from Elias Dayton, 9 March 1781 (Washington Papers)
Three persons upon whom I very considerably depended for for the discovery of every important movement or transaction of the enemy are apprehended and closely confined in New York, and I am just informed are sentenced to die. As it has become more dangerous, from the late great jealousy and circumspection shewn by the enemy, so it has become more difficult to find such as will undertake to...
26To George Washington from Elias Dayton, 15 March 1781 (Washington Papers)
The fleet of which I gave your Excellency advice in my last, set sail & left the hook the day before yesterday about ten oClock. The account which I transmitted of the number of sail, of troops and the horses embarked was, I believe strictly true. Two frigates only sailed out with them, but I could not learn with certainty whether any part of Arbuthnot’s fleet were to join them on their way....
27To George Washington from Elias Dayton, 18 March 1781 (Washington Papers)
I enclose for your Excellency’s perusal a New York paper of the 16th which was handed to me last evening. As I conceived, the undoubted proofs it contains of a rupture between England and the States of Holland might be of essential importance to us, I have thought proper to forward it to your Excellency by the most expeditious mode of conveyance. A vessel just arrived in New York brings an...
28To George Washington from Elias Dayton, 26 March 1781 (Washington Papers)
In my former letter I acquainted your excellency with the difficulty which attended the sending any persons to the city. Those difficulties & indeed greater still subsist, no one within a fortnight haveing been admited to go their & return, very few of the inhabitants of Staten Island are suffered to cross & not even those without a particular permission from the commandt. The fleet which I...
29To George Washington from Elias Dayton, 30 March 1781 (Washington Papers)
By a person from New york 28th inst. it appears the british fleet were then laying at the hook with the troops on board, The enemy have again vissited Elizabeth Town but have gained little by the excurtion as appears by Capt. Scuders letter inclosed—I have also inclosed the New york account of an action between the french & english fleets by which I think it does not appear the english have...
30To George Washington from Elias Dayton, 7 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the fourth with the annexed duplicate came safe to hand—The original was no doubt taken into New York, as I see by the papers, that the post was carried there. On recollection, your Excellency will remember a plan suggested at Morris town in December last which I was desired to execute. Lieut. McMichael who was the person in view I have ordered to be taken from a flag of truce,...
31To George Washington from Elias Dayton, 14 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
I received your Excellency’s letter dated the 11th last evening. I believe without a doubt that another embarkation is in great forwardness and that in every point it will be more respectable than that of the last under General Phillips. I have enclosed a letter from Capt. Scudder commanding at Elizth Town, which is in a great measure confirmed by my private intelligence from the city. How...
32To George Washington from Elias Dayton, 20 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
Soon after I received your Excellency’s letter, the person who was the subject of it communicated to me the following intelligence. Colonel Conolly with his corps to proceed to Quebec as soon as possible, to be joined in Canada by Sir John Johnson with a number of tories and Indians said to amount to three thousand. His rout is to be by Buck island, Lake Ontario and Venango and his object is...
33To George Washington from Elias Dayton, 9 May 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have received your Excellency’s letter of the 1st Instt and shall do every thing in my power to comply fully with the requisition contained in it, altho’ I have of late experienced much greater difficulty in gaining good intelligence from the other side than formerly. I am in daily expectation of having an interview with the person mentioned lately, when I have effected which, I hope to be...
34To George Washington from Elias Dayton, 16 May 1781 (Washington Papers)
In my last I informed your Excellency that the British fleet had sailed the 8th Inst. I have since discovered that the mistake took its’ rise from the circumstance of a great part of it having fallen down below the watering place on that day. I would now acquaint your Excellency that the fleet really sailed on Sunday, convoyed by six ships of the line. Their delay thus long has I imagine been...
35To George Washington from Elias Dayton, 25 June 1781 (Washington Papers)
On the morning of the 21st a body of the enemy, said to amount to fifteen or twenty hundred men landed at shoal harbour near Middletown point and on the evening of the same day, which was the latest intelligence I have had, they had taken a position within four miles of Monmouth court-house. By the accounts from New York of their having carried with them tents, baggage &c. I am inclined to...
36To George Washington from Elias Dayton, 26 June 1781 (Washington Papers)
The enemy, who I informed your Excellency in my last had landed in Monmouth, returned the next day having burned two or three private houses and carried off a small number of cattle—They had four or five men killed and a considerable number wounded with several deserters; upon the whole it appears that they gained very little by their expedition. Arbuthnot’s fleet two days since, lay off Sandy...
37To George Washington from Elias Dayton, 30 June 1781 (Washington Papers)
In my last I acquainted your Excellency with the return of the enemy from Monmouth—On monday night a party consisting of one hundred men landed in Rahway and carried off near fifty head of cattle, about the same number of sheep with fifteen of the inhabitants prisoners, and on thursday night they landed eighty men, three miles south of Elizth Town, which took off with them thirty cattle. They...
38To George Washington from Elias Dayton, 8 July 1781 (Washington Papers)
As soon as your Excellency’s orders were received, to march the Jersey Brigade, no time was lost for calling the parties at Sussex, Pompton and the Clover the last of them arrived the 6th but we were under the necessity of sending a party into the country to procure cattle, as we have not had any meat for some time past, except what we have been obliged to take in that way—This together with...
39To George Washington from Elias Dayton, 12 July 1781 (Washington Papers)
I arrived at this place at 8 oClock this morning with the Jersey troops, excepting one subaltern and twenty men whom I ordered yesterday towards the new bridge for the purpose of seizing for our use some fat cattle of which we were in great want and which were most probably designed for the enemy. Enclosed is a letter I received from the Revd Mr Caldwell since we marched; I take the first...
40To George Washington from Elias Dayton, 14 July 1781 (Washington Papers)
Enclosed is a return of the men now at this place. I have reason to expect that their number will soon be encreased, as four hundred & fifty men are directed by a law of the state to be immediately enlisted, and, as an encouragement for this purpose, each recruit is to receive a bounty of Thirty two silver dollars. When we marched from Morris, public waggons were not to be had we were of...
41To George Washington from Elias Dayton, 23 July 1781 (Washington Papers)
By a person from Newark I am just informed, that a number of heavy cannon have been lately sent from New York to the narrows, at which place, they say, a French fleet is shortly expected. The accounts from New York which appear to have some foundation are, that the Regiment of Anspach with the British light infantry are ordered to return from the southward. I have heard from Colonel Seely, who...
42To George Washington from Elias Dayton, 28 July 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have just received the intelligence from below, of the arrival of a large fleet at the hook on wednesday last. It is said to contain near four thousand men and generally supposed to be the army under Lord Cornwallis. Should there be any foundation for the above, I have reason to expect every hour, a confirmation of it, by an officer whom I sent to Newark the day before yesterday for the...
43To George Washington from Elias Dayton, 27 December 1781 (Washington Papers)
Enclosed is an account of their present force in New York and its dependencies, handed to me by a person who I believe is well informed. Unluckily for me, on sunday night a party of militia from second river, crossed over to Bergen and went into a house near the fort where they made prisoners a Capt. Harding and McMichael—the former was paroled, but the latter being known and demanded by one...
44To George Washington from Elias Dayton, 12 January 1782 (Washington Papers)
I had the honor of writing to your Excellency the 27th Ultimo and enclosing some returns &c. in which I mentioned some particulars respecting a persone whom I then had, confined in Irons. Bruin, who first gave notice of Sir Harry’s correspondence with the Pensylvanian revolters, and whom they have held in irons since that period in New York, I have got enlarged. And McMichael has been...
45To George Washington from Elias Dayton, 9 February 1782 (Washington Papers)
I received safely the letter which contained your Excellency’s orders for the relief of the Garrison at Wyoming—as the men now there are, by reason of age lameness & other infirmities, fit persons for Garrison duty only. I would ask your Excellency’s permission to relieve the officers only . I have reason to think that the men now there will be contented to stay with a new set of officers and...
46To George Washington from Elias Dayton, 22 February 1782 (Washington Papers)
Enclosed is the proceedings of a court martial held on a deserter from the second Regiment of Jersey, he was taken from a party of British sailors on their way from Philadelphia to New York to be exchanged, his Officers say he is a very bad fellow—Three days since two frigates with twelve sail of transports left N. York and it is publickly said they are gone to bring all the troops from...
47To George Washington from Elias Dayton, 9 March 1782 (Washington Papers)
Last night I received the enclosed and as it contains intelligence that may be of consequence to the states, I have taken the liberty of forwarding it to your Excellency by the first opportunity. I am informed that the British are actually at work in erecting lines from North to East River, particulars of which I shall have soon, a number of ships are said to have just arrived at Sandy Hook. I...
48To George Washington from Elias Dayton, 15 March 1782 (Washington Papers)
Altho’ the officers of the Jersey line are in want of every species of cloathing, and altho the Pay master generals notes would be a considerable relief, yet they are induced from motives of prudence & policy unanimously to decline accepting them. Necessitous as our circumstances are, we conceive it far more eligible to make this sacrifice than to hazzard the affects which our receiving the...
49To George Washington from Elias Dayton, 6 May 1782 (Washington Papers)
General Clinton gave orders three days since to all the troops under his command to desist from any farther offensive operations against the Americans, without his particular and express orders for the purpose. The Accounts from New York say that vessels are detached to order in all those which are cruising upon our coast, but I have not seen any official confirmation of it. A fleet is now...
50To George Washington from Elias Dayton, 14 May 1782 (Washington Papers)
I have received your Excellency’s letter of the 7th with the proceedings of a court martial enclosed, which proceedings the court were of opinion from the nature of the oath they had taken, they could not communicate to any person untill the commander in chief’s pleasure shuld be known, they therefore dispatched them to Head Quarters without my knowledge when your Excellency returned them to...