151From 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.
152From 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...
153From 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....
154From 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...
155From 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,...
156Bill 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...
157Lieutenant 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...
158From 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...
159From 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.
160From 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...
161From 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...
162From 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...
163General 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.”
164From 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...
165From 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...
166Council 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.
167From 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...
168From 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...
169From 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 .]
170From 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...
171From 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...
172From 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...
173From 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...
174From Alexander Hamilton to Major General Horatio Gates, 13 November 177[7] (Hamilton Papers)
Since my arrival in this quarter, I have been endeavouring to collect the best idea I could, of the state of things in New York in order the better to form a judgment of the probable reinforcement gone to General Howe. On the whole, these are facts well ascertained, that New York has been stripped extremely bare; That in consequence of this the few troops left there and the inhabitants are...
175From Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, 15 November 1777 (Hamilton Papers)
I arrived at this place last night and unfortunately find myself unable to proceed any further. Imagining I had gotten the better of my complaints while confined at Governor Clinton’s & anxious to be about, attending to the march of the troops, the day before yesterday I crossed the ferry in order to fall in with General Glover’s brigade which was on its march from Poughkepsie to Fish Kill. I...
176From Alexander Hamilton to George Clinton, 22 December 1777 (Hamilton Papers)
During my stay in this place, I have received intimations that certain officers high in command in this quarter have been guilty of practices, equally unjust, disgraceful to the Army, and injurious to the common cause; I mean seizing the property of the inhabitants of this State, and converting it to their own use, without any compensation either to the right owners, or to the State. A...
177Account 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...
178From Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, [before 29 January 1778] (Hamilton Papers)
There are still existing in the army so many abuses absolutely contrary to the military constitution, that, without a speedy stop is put to them, it will be impossible even to establish any order or discipline among the troops. I would, therefore, propose the following Regulations; submitting to His Excellency the Commander-in-Chief, to distinguish such as may be published under his own...
179Receipt to George Washington, 29 January 1778 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Valley Forge ] January 29, 1778. Receipt for payment of $100 by Washington to Hamilton for Hamilton’s expenses at Morristown. DS , George Washington Papers, Library of Congress.
180Remarks Concerning the Office of Inspector General, [January–March 1778] (Hamilton Papers)
[ Valley Forge, January–March, 1778. ] Describes purpose and proposed organization of the department of inspector general. Recommends Baron von Steuben for inspector general and suggests other men as assistants. D , in writing of H, Papers of the Continental Congress, National Archives. This document is found undated among the letters of April, 1781. Fitzpatrick dates it January, 1778, and...