11To George Washington from Lt. Col. Samuel Smith, 31 October 1777 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Lt. Col. Samuel Smith, 31 Oct. 1777. GW wrote Smith on 1 Nov. that “I have this moment receiv’d your favor of Yesterday.”
12To George Washington from Lieutenant Colonel Samuel Smith, 30 October 1777 (Washington Papers)
I received your Excellency’s favor of the 28th. I am happy to hear of a sufficient reinforcement. If they arrive in time I have no doubt we shall keep the fort. The enemy have been afloat for three days. The weather must have done them much harm. Their bridge on Schuylkill broke, and we secured 12 of their boats with the planks on them which composed part of the bridge. This must stop,...
13To George Washington from Lieutenant Colonel Samuel Smith, 26 October 1777 (Washington Papers)
I recd your Excellys Order to remain in the Garrison & Shall obey it, when I wrote I expected there would not have been that Occasion for my being here which I now See there will, Baron d’Arendts ill State of Health will oblige him to retire to Red Bank for three or four days perhaps more, whether Coll Green or I are to Command I know not, I presume I am to have the Command untill an express...
14To George Washington from Lieutenant Colonel Samuel Smith, 20 October 1777 (Washington Papers)
I received your Excellencys favor of the 19th in which I observe you have thought proper to send the Baron d’Aranot to take the command of this Garrison. There will, therefore, be no further occasion for me here, as the party of Infantry left, of what I brought here, does not now exceed 80 men, which will scarce be a command for Maj. Ballard, and farther draft must be made for the artillery. I...
15To George Washington from Lieutenant Colonel Samuel Smith, 18 October 1777 (Washington Papers)
I wrote your Excellency the Second day the enemy open’d their batteries; they have since continued a fire from their two Bomb Batteries and red hot balls from their works at the Port [pest] houses, as yet without much damage. Yesterday an unlucky shell fell in a barracks where the soldiers had gone contrary to orders, which killed one and wounded 3 others, two of them very slightly. They have...
16To George Washington from Lieutenant Colonel Samuel Smith, 16 October 1777 (Washington Papers)
The Enemy have open’d three Batteries on us. one in front of the pest Houses which with Recache rakes the whole Garrison, from whence they throw Red Hot Balls, as yet without Success. Another in Rear of our N. W. Block House in which they have Some Royalls an 8 In. Howitz. & 1 p[ai]r Artillery 12 p[ounde]r. I believe the other in Rear of the Mud Battery in which as yet they have but one 8 In....
17To George Washington from Lieutenant Colonel Samuel Smith, 14 October 1777 (Washington Papers)
I wrote your Excellency the 12th Instant on which night the enemy threw up a long Breast Work on the high ground at province Island, which Enfilades our principal Battery. I got some small assistance from Colo. Green Yesterday and threw up a blind on the platform which with two others I intend throwing up to day, will in some measure make the men who work the Guns secure. I presume they have...
18To George Washington from Lieutenant Colonel Samuel Smith, 12 October 1777 (Washington Papers)
I wrote you this day giving an Accot of the Enemies having erected a Battery in the Rear of our Northwest Block House close to the Banks of the Meadow, in which we took 56: Soldiers & 2 Officers, An Officer with a party came down under the Sanction of the flag & took & kept possession of it. we have made two or three fruitless Attempts to Storm it, in the last of which we had Some few kill’d &...
19To 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...
20To 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...