1To George Washington from Lieutenant Colonel Rufus Putnam, 11 February 1776 (Washington Papers)
You have Inclos’d a Chart, of some, of the most Important Posts and Riseing ground in and near Boston, which is as Exact as I am able to make from the little Leisure I have had to take Surveys of them, by this Draught it Appears that the Enemies works on the Neck is nearer the Causway going to Dorchester Point, than Bunker Hill is to the Cover’d way going on Leachmoors Point, therefore if a...
2To George Washington from Colonel Rufus Putnam, 3 September 1776 (Washington Papers)
according to your Exelencies order I have Reconnoitered every part about the Island of New york and the main as Farr as Frogs point and on a full Vew Find the Enimy have Such a Veriety of places to Chuse out of that its Imposable to prevent there Landing When they please they have Such guides and Intiligence of our movements that they Can always avoid or Surprize any parties that are Posted to...
3To George Washington from Colonel Rufus Putnam, 26 September 1776 (Washington Papers)
I Hope the Importence of the Subject will be a Sufficient appollogie for the Freedom I take in adressing your Exelency at this time. I have long Wondered that no Corps of Engeneers was yet Established. the Number of Works to be Executed; the Nesesity of Dispatch in them; the Imposability for a Common hand to be made at once to Comprehend what they ought to do. with out a Core of Engeneers is...
4To George Washington from Colonel Rufus Putnam, 3 October 1776 (Washington Papers)
the following Establishement of artificers &c. are in propotion to the 88 Battallions of Infentry as one Compeny to 5½ Battallions which I think is as Small a propotion as will answer the Ends proposed the Battallions in general may give 50 Each for the Works the Miners and Sappers are in propotion to these nearly as 1 to 10—the Carpinters Will not Exceed if we are to Consider they have in...
5To George Washington from Colonels Henry Knox and Rufus Putnam, 6 October 1776 (Washington Papers)
Agreable to your directions, we view’d the hill, East of Mount Washington, & the camp in general, & beg leave to make the following report Viz. That the highest part of said hill, be secured by a fort, principally made of the timber now standing there, strengthened with a good abattis, form’d of the tops of the trees, which are to be cut down; And that on the North part of the hill, a redoubt...
6To George Washington from Colonel Rufus Putnam, 19 November 1776 (Washington Papers)
Sence your Exelency left this place I have Ben to Antonies Nose & I Beleve there is no danger of the Enimys attempting to possess it Nor will it Be Nesessary we Should occupye it. I have also Ben a Toure up peaks kiln Hallow about Eleven mile N. Eastward then through the High lands Into the Fishkiln Country and down to the North River then Returned by the Poast Road which I found to be good...
7To George Washington from Colonel Rufus Putnam, 10 February 1778 (Washington Papers)
I find myself under the Necessity of Applying for my Commission as Engineer, which I Neglected when Opportunity Offered with more Conveniance than at present while in New York, after the Evacuation your Excellency had such a Multiplicity of Buisiness on hand and of more Importance, and still Omitted Applying, untill being seperated and find a great III Conveniance attends my not haveing it. By...
8To George Washington from Colonel Rufus Putnam, 12 March 1778 (Washington Papers)
Agreable to your Exellencys orders of the 8 of February I have Caused Rolls (agreable to a form sent by the Council of the Masschusetts State with the Addition of a Collemn for the Time Inlisted for) to be made out; of the Several Massachusetts Regiments in Genl Nixons Brigade, at this Place, to be forwarded to the Assembly of that State, A Duplicate of which is herewith Inclosed, I have Also...
9To George Washington from Colonel Rufus Putnam, 30 August 1778 (Washington Papers)
Haveing seen a list of the Massachusetts line of Colos. said to be arrangment made by a board of General Officers as they are in future to Rank, together with the Committee of arrangment being arrived in camp, I hope your Excellency will consider as a sufficient apology for my addressing you at this time on the subject of my own Rank. In your letter of 11th April last you say the...
10To George Washington from Colonel Rufus Putnam, 15 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
Imediately after writing to Genl McDugle the 9th Instant I Sat out for Major Grovenors Party on the Road to Farmington by Woodbury and Waterbury and Returned Yesterday to New Milford by Litchfield where Col: Hail Delivered me your Excelencys Letter of the 9th Instant; had I Recd this before I Sat out from Lt Col: Hales Camp I Should have ben more Perticular in Noteing the most Convenient...