21To George Washington from Lieutenant Colonel Samuel Smith, 9 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
I receiv’d your Excellency’s favour of the 4th I presume you must have mistook Major Fleury’s meaning. he has since he arrived acted fully in his department of Engineer, when I proposed any thing he has generally been so polite to approve it. he writes and I presume will acknowledge that his Ideas have been adopted as far as the strength of the Garrison would permit. The enemy since I wrote...
22To George Washington from Lieutenant Colonel Samuel Smith, 9 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
About the 20th Instant if we are not attacked sooner I am of Opinion we shall have put this Fort in a good posture of defence, at which time the Officers of the Virginia Regiments and my party hope your Excellency will relieve them and their men. Your Excellency will see the propriety of this request when I assure you that out of 200 Men compleatly Officer’d which my party consisted of, there...
23To George Washington from Lieutenant Colonel Samuel Smith, 10 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
This morning the enemy open’d their Battery in the Rear of our Nort. West Block House, about 500 Yards distance from it of 6 pieces of Cannon 18 to 32 pounders, and one eight inch howitz, one other eight inch howitz opposite the right of our Battery. they were so fortunate to strike one of our 18 pounders in the two Gun Battery on the Muzzle, by which, she is rendered useless; their Shott from...
24To George Washington from Lieutenant Colonel Samuel Smith, 12 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
I yesterday unfortunately recd a Contusion on my Hip & left Arm both which give me much pain. I imprudently went into my Barracks to answer a Letter from Gen. Varnum & A Ball came through the Chimney & Struck me on the Hip So forcibly that I remain’d senseless for Some time. however I am happy to find myself much less hurted than I at first imagin’d & Hope in 5 or 6 days to be again fit for...
25To George Washington from Lieutenant Colonel Samuel Smith, 15 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
My Arm will this Night or tomorrow Night permit me to take the Command at fort Mifflin. I was there last Night. it is now one Heap of Ruin & must be defended with Musquetry in Case of Storm. I presume the Enemy will Continue to Cannonade for four or five days & then they will be oblig’d to Storm. when they do, I am of Opinion they will Succeed. with 600 Men I think we could defend it as an...
26To George Washington from Lieutenant Colonel Samuel Smith, 16 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
Gen. Varnum will have inform’d your Excelly of the Evacuation of fort Mifflin. I am extremely Sorry for the Circumstance. Major Thayer defended it too bravely. My party taken (as your Excelly knows) from the picquet, think they have done their Tour of duty, & hope for your Excellys permission to join their respective Regiments, who (they Say) want their immediate Attention. the Officers have...
27To George Washington from Samuel Smith, 2 July 1779 (Washington Papers)
I Had the Honor to recieve your Excelly permission to resign, the obliging Expressions & Honor you do ⟨me,⟩ in which I shall ever esteem myself indebted to you for. I reg⟨ret⟩ my Incapacity of ever being able to repay your politen⟨ess⟩ or I should have been happy to have remain’d in a situation ⟨ mutilated ⟩ I might have indeavour’d to merit it. I ever shall regret ⟨my⟩ being oblig’d to leave...
28To Benjamin Franklin from Samuel Smith, 2 September 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I take the Liberty to trouble you with a few Lines, which hope you’ll excuse, on seeing the immediate Necessity of my writing— I embark’d from Philada: for France & was unfortunately taken, haveing at the same Time with me a Sum, in Loan Interest Bills drawn on the Commissioners for the Thirteen United States of America at Paris, which was oblidg’d to...