1To George Washington from Lieutenant Colonel Samuel Smith, 26 September 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have the pleasure to inform your Excellency that I have just arrived here, with my party, & expect to throw myself in to Fort Mifflin this night, the want of provisions has detained me much, & the men not being properly chosen for such an expedition has been a great stop to our march, Few of them have Shoes or Stockings, many of them without Coats or Blankets & scarce any who have more than...
2To George Washington from Lieutenant Colonel Samuel Smith, 27 September 1777 (Washington Papers)
I last night threw myself into this Garrison, where I am sorry to inform your Excellency that I find every-thing in the utmost Confusion, not as many Cartouches as will last one day, & the very necessary Cartouches for the Block houses not sufficient for an hour: 60 untrained Militia, are all the artillery men in the Fort, the provisions almost out. The Militia refused obedience to Capt. Treat...
3To George Washington from Lieutenant Colonel Samuel Smith, 2 October 1777 (Washington Papers)
Colo. Nichola with the advice of the Officers in Garrison withdrew his Invalids before the Arrival of your Excellency’s Letter so that the Command remains with me. The Enemy yesterday landed a number of men (below Billingsport and encampt last night within nine miles) some say 400. others 600. my Opinion is the first as we had intelligence of that number having march’d from Willmington for...
4To George Washington from Lieutenant Colonel Samuel Smith, 3 October 1777 (Washington Papers)
I sent yesterday an express to your Excellency with an account of the enemies having landed near Billingsport, which place they have now possession of, Our Militia evacuated it after bringing off all the stores and Spikeing up the Cannon. This event as I foresaw struck the fleet with much Panic, last night five Officers and 18 Men Deserted and a great part of the rest only wait for...
5To George Washington from Lieutenant Colonel Samuel Smith, 3 October 1777 (Washington Papers)
This will be delivered you by Majr Boyce who has reconnoitered the enemy now in Billingsport and reports their strength to be 1500 men at least 1300 of whom went from Phila. he will inform you of particulars. This evening the enemy have been reconnoitering us from the Meadows, what they intend I know not. Certainly their force scatterd in this manner must weaken them much. Their Shiping have...
6To George Washington from Lieutenant Colonel Samuel Smith, 6 October 1777 (Washington Papers)
From the best Intelligence the Enemy have withdrawn all their men from Billingsport (the night of the fourth Instant) except two hundred who seem much discourag’d, Your Excellencys Success (on which I sincerely congratulate you) has been of the utmost service, we have now no more Desertions, on the contrary some who went from the fleet have returnd. Had we a few men to sport on we might with...
7To George Washington from Lieutenant Colonel Samuel Smith, 7 October 1777 (Washington Papers)
Yesterday Evening the Enemy entirely evacuated Billingsport after having destroy’d our works, burnt the platforms, Houses[,] Gun Carriages &c. they have left all our own guns, one of which a twelve pounder they had taken out the spike and left it open. The works they threw up are entire We shall destroy them. The Commodore engag’d their Shiping last night and chas’d them down to Chester, where...
8To George Washington from Lieutenant Colonel Samuel Smith, 9 October 1777 (Washington Papers)
I Receiv’d your Excellencys Letter of the 7th and have read it to the Officers of the Navy which assists not a little to keep up their Spirits. Yesterday a large Scow was brought down the Schuylkil which we secur’d, after wounding One of their Men. Our Intelligence informs that Six Boats were ready to come down from the lower ferry and in the evening we heard that a large Body with 20 ps. of...
9To George Washington from Lieutenant Colonel Samuel Smith, 10 October 1777 (Washington Papers)
The Enemy have just crossed & are crossing in very considerable numbers to Province Island already they have begun to throw up Works & tomorrow morning I suppose will open on us which will oblige me to withdraw my men out of the Fort & Cover them the best in my power, they have about 20 Boats & if the Number we have seen on the opposite Shore are to cross there must at least be 800 or 1000, If...
10To George Washington from Lieutenant Colonel Samuel Smith, 11 October 1777 (Washington Papers)
Last Night the Enemy threw up a Battery in the rear of the Fort close to the Banks of the Meadow within Musket shot of us & had already got one piece of Artillery in it. We attacked it with the Floating Batteries[,] Block houses, Gallies, & 32 Pounder from the Battery & in short time obliged them to hoist the white Flag, as We were bringing off the prisoners another party ran down which the...