121From Alexander Hamilton to Major General Horatio Gates, 29 August 1777 (Hamilton Papers)
Your two favours both of the 22d came to hand yesterday. His Excellency had been all the day out reconnoitring the country and did not return home ’till late in the evening; this morning he again went out upon the same business, and has desired me to acknowlege the receipt of your letters. The signal advantages gained over the enemy by Generals, Stark and Herkemar at so gloomy and distressing...
122From Alexander Hamilton to Colonel Timothy Pickering, 29 August 1777 (Hamilton Papers)
Wilmington [ Delaware ] August 29, 1777. Sends extract from General Orders of June 18, 1777, stating that “Timothy Pickering Esquire is appointed Adjutant General in the Armies of the United States of America.” ADS , Pickering Foundation, Salem, Massachusetts. Before his appointment as adjutant general, Timothy Pickering had served as colonel of a Massachusetts militia regiment.
123From Alexander Hamilton to Major General Israel Putnam, 29 August 1777 (Hamilton Papers)
By command of His Excellency, I am to request you will immediately send on Major Blackden & the detachment that came with him to join this army. I am Sir Your most Obed serv ADfS , George Washington Papers, Library of Congress. The date reads either 28 or 29, for one set of numbers has been written over the other. Lieutenant Colonel Samuel Blackden or Blagden, Second Continental Dragoons.
124From Alexander Hamilton to Gouverneur Morris, 1 September 1777 (Hamilton Papers)
Agreeable to the intention of the Council I have delivered their inclosed letter to His Excellency who after perusing it has sealed and forwarded it to Mr. Hancock. The relieving Fort Schuyler is a very happy and important event, and will concur with the two happy strokes given by Harkemar and Stark to reverse the face of affairs and turn the scale against Mr Burgoigne. I hope Capt...
125Receipt to Captain Caleb Gibbs, [2 September 1777] (Hamilton Papers)
paid at Mr James in Cecil Aug 26th for Lodging &c &c £6 Amt. the within 6.6.6 £12.6.6 Wilmington Sept. 2. 1777 Received the above of Capt Gibbs ADS , George Washington Papers, Library of Congress. Gibbs was an aide-de-camp to George Washington and captain and commander of Washington’s Guards. Having embarked from New York on July 23, 1777, with fifteen thousand troops, Sir William Howe...
126From Alexander Hamilton to Colonel Charles Stewart, 5 September 1777 (Hamilton Papers)
Inclosed in your letter to Mr Ludowick you will find one from His Excellency confirming your orders. We expected you to call here this morning; but as you have not done it, I send you the letters, that they may be immediately forwarded by express. No time should be lost in the matter as it is a point of the most urgent necessity. I am Sir Your most Obed serv ALS , Harvard College Library....
127From Alexander Hamilton to John Hancock, [18 September 1777] (Hamilton Papers)
If Congress have not yet left Philadelphia, they ought to do it immediately without fail, for the enemy have the means of throwing a party this night into the city. I just now crossed the valleyford, in doing which a party of the enemy came down & fired upon us in the boat by which means I lost my horse. One man was killed and another wounded. The boats were abandon’d & will fall into their...
128From Alexander Hamilton to John Hancock, [18 September 1777] (Hamilton Papers)
I did myself the honor to write you a hasty line this Evening giving it as my opinion that the city was no longer a place of safety for you. I write you again lest that should not get to hand. The enemy are on the road to Sweedes ford, the main body about four miles from it. They sent a party this evening to Davesers ferry, which fired upon me and some others in crossing it, killed one man,...
129Bill for Expenses of George Washington’s Staff, [21 September 1777] (Hamilton Papers)
paid at Christiana for family’s breakfast, horses &c.— £6.5 paid on the road from thence to Wilmington for lodging &c— 6. paid for breakfast the morning we crossed brandywine— 1.12 pd. 1.12 15.9 Received the above from Capt Gibbs ADS , George Washington Papers, Library of Congress. Town on creek of same name, which flows into the Delaware near Wilmington. I.e., Washington’s staff. The...
130Lieutenant Colonels Alexander Hamilton and John Laurens to Major General John Sullivan, 21 September 1777 (Hamilton Papers)
We have just received your favour of Yesterday, desiring from us a Testimony of your Conduct, so far as it fell under our Observation, the day of the Battle on the Brandywine. As we had not the pleasure of seeing you in the fore part of that Action when the Line at large was Engaged, We are unable from our own Knowledge, to say any thing of your Conduct at that time. But we can chearfully...
131From Alexander Hamilton to John Hancock, 22 September 1777 (Hamilton Papers)
I left camp last evening and came to this city to superintend the collection of blankets and cloathing for the army. Mr. Lovel sends to inform me there is an express going off to Congress, and I do myself the honor to communicate a brief state of things, when I left camp. The enemy moved yesterday from where they lay opposite to valley forge &c. higher up the river on their old scheme of...
132From Alexander Hamilton to William Livingston, 22 September 1777 (Hamilton Papers)
I am in Philadelphia on some business of great importance to the army; to execute which I stand in need of a party of about 100 men which are not readily to be procured here. If Your Excy. will be pleased to order over such a party under good active officers, you will equally serve the public & oblige. Yr. Excy’s Most Obed servt. ALS , Massachusetts Historical Society, Boston.
133From Alexander Hamilton to ———, [23 September 1777] (Hamilton Papers)
by Virtue of powers from His Excellency General Washington I do hereby Authorise you to require from the inhabitants, contributions of Blankets and Cloathing of every kind and to take whatever materials you know will be useful to the Army that you may find in the Stores keeping an account of the same and giving receipts. ADS , sold by Stan V. Henkels, March 9, 1904, Lot 1150. Text taken from...
134From Alexander Hamilton to Lieutenant Colonel Anthony Walton White, [23 September 1777] (Hamilton Papers)
In consequence of orders received from His Excellency General Washington, I desire you will press all the horses in this city & neighbourhood in order to be conveyed thence to some place more remote from the present seat of the war, except such as come under the following description: Those which are the property of poor needy persons, whose livelihood depends upon them, and those which belong...
135From Alexander Hamilton to Count Casimir Pulaski, [2 October 1777] (Hamilton Papers)
Son Excellence vous desire d’assembler toute la cavalerie le plutot possible prés de ses quartiers, ou vous trouverez de place propre pous les accommoder, ceux qui sont utilement employé excepté. Vous informerez son Excellence dés le moment de votre arrivé. I’l n’y a pas du temps a perdre. J suis Votre serveteur tres hum ALS , Maine Historical Society, Portland. Count Casimir Pulaski, a...
136General Orders, 3 October 1777 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Worcester Township, Pennsylvania, October 3, 1777.] Describes order of march for attack on Germantown. D , in writing of H, George Washington Papers, Library of Congress. Although the manuscript is undated it is endorsed by George Washington “Order of March and Battle German Town 4th Oct. 1777.”
137Instructions to Colonel Christopher Greene, 8 October 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have directed General Varnum to send your regiment and that of Colonel Angel to Red bank, by a rout which has been marked out to him. The command of that detachment will of course devolve upon you; with which you will proceed with all expedition and throw your self into that place. When you arrive there you will immediately communicate your arrival to Col: Smith, commander of the Garrison at...
138From Alexander Hamilton to Brigadier General Silas Newcomb, 10 October 1777 (Hamilton Papers)
I am desired by His Excellency, to inform you that, on a second consideration, it has been thought inexpedient to send as many Continental troops to Red-bank, as was at first intended; and that the number, now on their march for that place, will be rather insufficient for the defence of it. He therefore requests you will, in addition to the Continental troops, furnish from a 100 to 150 of your...
139From Alexander Hamilton to Colonel Christopher Greene, 15 October 1777 (Hamilton Papers)
His Excellency is persuaded by intelligence from different Quarters that the Enemy are determin’d to endeavour, by a speedy & vigorous effort to carry Fort Mifflin, and for this purpose are preparing a considerable force. Their attempt will probably be sudden & violent as they are hardly in a situation to delay a matter so essential to them as that of removing the River obstructions. It is of...
140From Alexander Hamilton to Colonel Charles Stewart, 24 October 1777 (Hamilton Papers)
His Excellency desires me to acknowledge the Receipt of yours of yesterday, and thank you for the intelligence contained in it. He hopes you will soon be able to send him a confirmation with more certain particulars. I am Dr Sir Your most Obedt ALS , Mrs. Cecily Symington, Cooperstown, New York. Stewart was commissary general of issues from June 18, 1777, to July, 1782.
141Council of War, 29 October 1777 (Hamilton Papers)
Whitpain Township [ Pennsylvania ] October 29, 1777 . Hamilton recorded the minutes of this meeting. D , in writing of H, George Washington Papers, Library of Congress.
142Account of Expenses of Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Hamilton and Captain Caleb Gibbs, 30 October 1777–20 January 1778 (Hamilton Papers)
Account of Expences of. Colo. Hamilton. & Captain Gibbs. to Albany & back again—set off from Skippack road, 15. miles from Phila: Returnd. to Valley Forge— Sent by His Excelly. Genel. Washington on public service. 1777. October 30th. Cash paid at Corrells. ferry Lodgg—Sup. horses— £1.19. 6 31 at Crossroads N. Jersey 6. 6 Novr— 1— at Chester.— 1. 17.4—2d at N. Windsor ferry 8/6 2. 5.10 4 at...
143From Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, 2 November 1777 (Hamilton Papers)
I lodged last night in the neighbourhood of New Windsor. This morning early, I met Col: Morgan with his corps about a mile from it, in march for Head Quarters. I told him the necessity of making all the dispatch he could so as not to fatigue his men too much, which he has promised to do. I understood from Col: Morgan that all the Northern army were marching down on both sides the River, and...
144From Alexander Hamilton to Major General Israel Putnam, 5–8 November 1777 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Albany, November 5–8, 1777 . On November 9, 1777, Hamilton wrote to Putnam : “I wrote to you from Albany.” Letter not found .]
145From Alexander Hamilton to Major General Horatio Gates, 5 November 1777 (Hamilton Papers)
By inquiry, I have learned that General Patterson’s brigade, which is the one you propose to send is, by far, the weakest of the three now here, and does not consist of more than about 600 rank and file fit for duty. It is true there is a militia regiment with it of about 200, but the term of service for which this regiment is engaged is so near expiring, that it would be past by the time the...
146From Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, [6] November 1777 (Hamilton Papers)
I arrived here yesterday at Noon and waited upon General Gates immediately on the business of my mission; but was sorry to find his ideas did not correspond with yours for drawing off the number of troops you directed. I used every argument in my power to convince him of the propriety of the measure, but he was inflexible in the opinion that two Brigades at least of Continental troops should...
147From Alexander Hamilton to Major General Israel Putnam, 9 November 1777 (Hamilton Papers)
I cannot forbear Confessing that I am astonishd. and Alarm’d beyond measure, to find that all his Excellency’s Views have been hitherto flustrated, and that no single step of those I mention’d to you has been taken to afford him the aid he absolutely stands in Need of, and by Delaying which the Cause of America is put to the Utmost conceivable Hazard. I so fully explaind to you the Generals...
148From Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, 10 November [1777] (Hamilton Papers)
I arrived here last night from Albany. Having given General Gates a little time to recollect himself I renewed my remonstrances on the necessity and propriety of sending you more than one Brigade of the three he had detained with him, and finally prevailed upon him to give orders for Glover’s in addition to Patterson’s brigade to march this way. As it was thought conducive to expedition to...
149From Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, 12 November 1777 (Hamilton Papers)
I have been detained here these two days by a fever and violent rheumatic pains throughout my body. This has prevented my being active in person for promoting the purposes of my errand, but I have taken every other method in my power, in which Governor Clinton has obligingly given me all the aid he could. In answer to my pressing application to General Poor for the immediate marching of his...
150From Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, [12 November 1777] (Hamilton Papers)
[ New Windsor, New York, November 12, 1777. Letter not found. ] “List of Letters from General Hamilton to General Washington,” Columbia University Libraries. Two letters from H to Washington on November 12, 1777, are listed. One of these letters is printed in PAH Harold C. Syrett, ed., The Papers of Alexander Hamilton (New York and London, 1961– ). , I, 360–62.