31To George Washington from Major General Benjamin Lincoln, 5–6 January 1779 (Washington Papers)
On the evening of the 25th ulto I received information, at Charles-Town, that the enemy had arrived with upwards of twenty ships at Tybee, near the mouth of the river, Savannah, and in a harbour south of the river. The few troops at Charles-Town were immediately put in motion, and marched for Georgia; On my way, I met an express, from General Howe, who was in Georgia, informing that on the...
32To George Washington from Major General Benjamin Lincoln, 28 January 1779 (Washington Papers)
I mentioned in my last the loss of Savanna and some of the particulars of that affair, the weakness of our post, deficiency of supplies &c. —for a particular and minute state of all these matters I beg leave to refer your Excellency to General Howe, who doth me the favor of carrying this: He hath given me every assistance in his power. I am happy in reflecting that you will find him a sensible...
33To George Washington from Major General Benjamin Lincoln, 7 February 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have the honor to enclose your Excellency a return of all the troops here except the militia of this state whose numbers are so uncertain that I know not what return to make of them, indeed I hardly know in what light they are to be considered, for though the state declare they are in the pay of the Continent and are to act in conjunction with the regular forces, yet they are not to be...
34To George Washington from Major General Benjamin Lincoln, 5 June 1779 (Washington Papers)
I had the honor of receiving your favr brought to this State by Colonel Laurens but have not had the pleasure of seeing him, nor an opportunity of showing him those civilities, to which your recommendation so justly entitles him, he being wounded in the flesh part of his arm almost immediately upon his arrival here which occasioned his removal to Charlestown. I wish I had it in my power to...
35To George Washington from Major General Benjamin Lincoln, 7 July 1779 (Washington Papers)
Since I did myself the honor to address you on the 5th Ulto by Major Rice, the enemy have evac⟨u⟩ated their posts, at Stono-Ferry and on John’s Island; have sent I hear their sick and wounded to St Augustine; part of them are returned to Savannah, and the other are in their vessels and on the Islands of Port-Royal and St Helena; By the latest information they do not mean to take post there,...
36To John Jay from Benjamin Lincoln, 5 September 1779 (Jay Papers)
I have the pleasure to congratulate Congress on the arrival of Count D’Estaing’s Fleet off Savannah—but am sorry to inform them that his stay on this coast will be but short and the aid we can afford him very inconsiderable— The Count has sent one of his Officers on shore to establish a plan of operations— He returns immediately with Dispatches on that head— All the Troops are ordered to take...
37To George Washington from Maj. Gen. Benjamin Lincoln, 22 October 1779 (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Maj. Gen. Benjamin Lincoln, 22 Oct. 1779 . GW wrote Lincoln on 12 Dec. : “I had the pleasure of receiving yours of the 22d October.”
38To George Washington from Major General Benjamin Lincoln, 7 November 1779 (Washington Papers)
I had the honor of your very obliging favor of the 28th of September the last evening—I wish it was in my power to give you such an account of matters in this department, as would afford you some satisfaction in the perusal—but unfortunately for me, and perhaps it may soon be more so for the public, I cannot do it—We remain unsupported by troops, unsupplied wt. many essential articles, and...
39To George Washington from Major General Benjamin Lincoln, 23 December 1779 (Washington Papers)
I write by this opportunity rather from a desire to embrace it, than because I have any particular news to communicate. Since my last an exchange of prisoners has taken place, our private soldiers have been all liberated, and but few of our officers remain in the enemy’s hands; among them is Colo. Elbert of the 2d Georgia battalion. The enemy claim a Brigadier for him, he was appointed...
40To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Lincoln, 7 January 1780 (Jefferson Papers)
I am informed that the Virginia Line are ordered from the Main Army to reinforce the one here. Unless they have more than a common stock of shoes and socks, they will soon be barefooted, which will at this inclement season, prevent their continuing the march. I have, therefore, to request that these articles may be provided for the troops and supplied them, if necessary, on the march. And as...
41To George Washington from Major General Benjamin Lincoln, 8 January 1780 (Washington Papers)
I was a few days since honored with your Excellency’s favor of the 26th October last by Lieut. Colonel Ternant. I am too fully convinced of the utility of the new regulations not to afford him every countenance and assistance in my power, and it will be my greatest attention to have the troops in this Department formed on the plan adopted for the order & discipline of the army of the United...
42To George Washington from Major General Benjamin Lincoln, 23–24 January 1780 (Washington Papers)
I had a few days since the honor of your favor of the 12th Ulto by Colo. Laurens—announcing that the Virginia line were ordered to this department, than which nothing could be more acceptable, saving that of their not being needed—their speedy arrival is an event most ardently wished for. By our late accounts from Philadelphia, and from a large ship being seen off this bar on the 10th with...
43To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Lincoln, 24 January 1780 (Jefferson Papers)
By a vessel decoyed in here yesterday bound from New York to Savannah we learn that she sailed from the Hook the latter end of December in company with a fleet of about 90 sail, bound to Georgia, with Troops on board, the number uncertain or who commands, of which 6 were line of Battle ships besides one 54 one 40 and one frigate, and that she parted with them off Cape Hatteras in a storm. It...
44To George Washington from Major General Benjamin Lincoln, 28–29 January 1780 (Washington Papers)
Since I did myself the honor to write you on the 24th instant, I have received a letter from the Presidt of Congress and a resolve of that Body, empowering me to correspond with the Governor of Havanna, and with him, to plan, adjust, and carry into execution, measures for the reduction of Georgia, and then to extend our operations to the conquest of East Florida —When this passed Congress, I...
45To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Lincoln, 30 January 1780 (Jefferson Papers)
Since I did myself the honor to address your Excellency on the 24th. our frigates have returned from a short cruize. By what they discovered, and the information of the Prisoners taken on board two sloops, part of the fleet with about 45 Dragoons on board, (their horses were shipped in the same Vessels, but were all lost on the passage but two) which were brought in by them, the enemy are now...
46To George Washington from Major General Benjamin Lincoln, 11–12 February 1780 (Washington Papers)
I have received information that on the 3rd instant the enemy landed about 8000 troops commanded by Sir Hy Clinton—if this is true, we may soon expect them before this town—for they probably know that we soon expect reinforcements. 2 o’clock P.M. I have just received information that a large fleet is off—matters are fast ripening, and will, I think, soon become very serious. 8 o’clock, I am...
47To George Washington from Major General Benjamin Lincoln, 14 February 1780 (Washington Papers)
In my last I had the honor of informing your Excellency that the enemies fleet had arrived in North Eddesto —since that they have landed their troops on Simmons’s Island & marched part of them to the North East end of Johns Island. I have not been able yet to learn, with any degree of certainty, their numbers for although we have frequent information from Savannah yet as the troops were keept...
48To George Washington from Major General Benjamin Lincoln, 22 February 1780 (Washington Papers)
The last time I did myself the honor to address Your Excellency, I mentioned that the enemy were landed on John’s Island —from that place some have crossed Stono-ferry, and now possess the works which they threw up last summer —I am exceedingly at a loss to know what are their views in taking post there—if, thereby, they mean to cover the landing of their cannon and stores, they will...
49To George Washington from Major General Benjamin Lincoln, 4 March 1780 (Washington Papers)
Sir Harry seems to be collecting his force on James Island, and is there throwing up some works—one among the ruins of Fort Johnson, another a little to the westward of it—it is said that he is also throwing up a Bomb-battery opposite the Town; drawing his principal force to this Island, hawling his Gallies, and other armed vessels, of small draught of water, near the mouth of Wappoo,...
50To George Washington from Major General Benjamin Lincoln, 24 March 1780 (Washington Papers)
Since my last the enemy have very unexpectedly brought over the ships mentioned in the enclosed paper —it has been thought there was not water enough for a 64 gun ship—Before they came into the harbour it was determined to form a line of battle across the channel with our ships, to act in conjunction with Fort Moultrie—but afterwards, as the enemy were so vastly superior to our force, it was...
51To George Washington from Major General Benjamin Lincoln, 9 April 1780 (Washington Papers)
The enemy crossed the Ashley, in force, near the ferry on the 29th ultimo, and the next day moved down, and encamped about three thousand yards from our Lines—before this they had transported their heavy baggage, Ordnance, and Stores, from out of Wappoo across land about two miles, to Old Town creek on the West side of the river opposite their encampment. In the morning of the first instant we...
52To George Washington from Major General Benjamin Lincoln, 11 August 1780 (Washington Papers)
I was yesterday honored with your Excellencys favor of the 26th ulto covering a letter from Sir Henry Clinton to me I cannot but hope you have a little misapprehended him and that it was not his intention to make my exchange depend absolutely on the exchange of the southern Army—did I fully believe this to be his meaning I should suppose no advantages would result from my meeting Major General...
53To George Washington from Major General Benjamin Lincoln, 11 August 1780 (Washington Papers)
Hingham, Mass, 11 August 1780. “Could a consciousness of having the fullest intentions to serve my country and a sincere attempt to have executed such intentions have so availed me as to have discharged the debt of responsibility to the public for my conduct while their servant, and especially to you my dear General, as my commanding officer, I should have saved you the trouble of this long...
54To George Washington from Major General Benjamin Lincoln, 25 September 1780 (Washington Papers)
I take this early opportunity to inform your Excellency that in the late interview no exchanges took place; and that I see little prospect that any will be effected while the idea remains that officers only are to be the subject of it. In the course of conversation with General Philips (for nothing more took place between us relative to a general exchange of prisoners, as I early informed him...
55To George Washington from Major General Benjamin Lincoln, 25 November 1780 (Washington Papers)
I was yesterday honored with your Excellencys favor of ⟨the⟩ 8th instant announcing my ⟨ex⟩change—an event extrem⟨ely⟩ felicitating. The General Assembly of this commonwealth, is now sitting, the first on our new c⟨on⟩stitution. Had I arrived fro⟨m⟩ camp a few days sooner, I shoul⟨d⟩ probably have been honored wi⟨th⟩ a seat among them. Though I am happy to inform your Excellency, that the...
56To George Washington from Major General Benjamin Lincoln, 28 November 1780 (Washington Papers)
The committee on ways and means have now before them the resolves of Congress of the 4th instant in which part of the necessary supplies for the next campaign are apportioned on the several States—as also their circular letter calling in the most rational and energetic terms for a speedy and punctual compliance. It is with pleasure, I can assure your Excellency, that this State convinced of...
57To George Washington from Major General Benjamin Lincoln, 25 December 1780 (Washington Papers)
I was in the evening of the 23d honored with your Excellencys favor of the 11th. No measure has been left untried to save the question for filling up our battalions for the war; but every attempt of its abettors for that purpose, and many there were in the assembly, proved abortive. The following short anecdote will point your Excellency to some and I think the principal reasons, on which the...
58To George Washington from Major General Benjamin Lincoln, 7 January 1781 (Washington Papers)
Nothing My dear General very new or material has taken place, since I did my self the honor to address your Excellency under the 26th. However I cannot omit so good an opportunity as offers by this express, to inform you that the recruiting service goes on well, and that there is good reason to hope our battalions will soon be filled up. The matter of clothing the army is of such importance,...
59To George Washington from Major General Benjamin Lincoln, 17 January 1781 (Washington Papers)
I had last evening the honor of your Excellencys favor of the 9th. Our people were thunder struck by the accounts brought by General Knox. I hope they and the several States seeing the evils which will necessarily result from the revolt of the Pennsylvania line will be induced to pursue such measures as shall prevent the like in future by removing in time every just cause of complaint from the...
60To George Washington from Major General Benjamin Lincoln, 25 January 1781 (Washington Papers)
As General Knox, who well knows the state of our affairs here, will be with Your Excellency as early as this can reach you, I may omit many matters which otherwise I should think it my duty to mention. I am informed that Congress have acceded to a general exchange, and that it is left with Your Excellency to carry it into effect, at such time as you shall think proper. I know too well Your...