1From George Washington to Brigadier General Charles Scott, 14 December 1779 (Washington Papers)
I am glad to find by yours of the 16th ulto that you had nearly surmountd the difficulties attending the march of the troops from Petersburg —I have no objection to you proceeding yourself to the southward, which I hope will afford that releif to your disorder, which you expect—You will give the most pointed orders to the Officer who shall be left to bring on the Rear, not to lose a moments...
2From George Washington to Brigadier General Charles Scott, 25 September 1778 (Washington Papers)
Your Letter of yesterday 9 Oclock is just come to hand; & by the Officer you will receive twenty five Guineas. I earnestly entreat, that you will endeavour to get some intelligent person into the City, & others of his own choice to be Messengers between you and him, for the purpose of conveying such information as he shall be able to obtain & give. It is of great consequence to the French...
3From George Washington to Brigadier General Charles Scott, 17 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have three of your letters now before me; two of them of the 15th and the other of the 16th Inst. I inclose you a letter to Colonel Bland respecting the re-inlistment of his Regiment which you will please to have delivered. The measure you have mentioned I believe must be put in practice, in case the men cannot be induced to continue in the service by the common means—The corps is too...
4From George Washington to Brigadier General Charles Scott, 15 September 1778 (Washington Papers)
The General and Field Officers of the day, have orders to withdraw the pickets at day-break to morrow morning—Previous to that, you are to assemble Major Lees Corps, and the rest of the Cavalry under your command, and distribute them on the different Roads leading to the Enemys lines, directing them to advance with a view of discovering whether the enemy intend any forward movement—that the...
5From George Washington to Brigadier General Charles Scott, 27 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
I am favor’d with yours of yesterday. We have been much deceived as to the fleet that sailed from the Hook the 20th inst. I have certain intelligence that there were no other Troops on board that fleet than the invalids bound for Europe. The transports, that actually have the troops that have been embarked, remained in the Bay of New York the 23d: It is possible that the British Guards, who...
6From George Washington to Brigadier General Charles Scott, 7 November 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have your favr of yesterday. I had not the least conception that Colo. Gist’s Comm[issio]n was older than Colo. Henley’s and I yet think there must be some mistake. But be it as it may, I never had any intention of giving him the command when you quit it. If Gist will not be satisfied where he is at present, I must recall him. As Colo. Henley will have the command, you may begin immediately...
7From George Washington to Brigadier General Charles Scott, 25 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
I recd yours of Yesterday inclosing Capt. Walls Report —Be pleased to direct your Spies who go into the City to be very observant of what is doing there—whether the packing up of Goods seems general or only a few people—whether any magazine of Wood or forage is forming and whether they are constructing any works round the City or any where upon the Island. I am of opinion if they intend to...
8From George Washington to Brigadier General Charles Scott, 19 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have received your two letters of yesterdays date; if you think the intelligence of the evacuation of Kings bridge and the intermediate posts between that and New York, may be depended upon—it will be proper to order A respectable detachment of horse to move down that way—in order to make more particular inquiries and discoveries of what is going forward—the officer commanding this party...
9George Washington to Brigadier General Charles Scott, 24 June 1778 (Hamilton Papers)
Hopewell Township, New Jersey, June 24, 1778 . Orders Scott to Allentown to harass enemy. Df , in writing of H, George Washington Papers, Library of Congress.
10From George Washington to Brigadier General Charles Scott, 14 November 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have to acknowlege your favor of yesterday, and one by Colonel Grahams. When Colonel Grahams was up here I received from Count d’Estaing a number of declarations to the french inhabitants of America, addressed to them in the name of his most christian majesty Each of The gentlemen who were at table got one of those declarations—As I do not think it proper they should be made public by me in...
11From George Washington to Brigadier General Charles Scott, 17 August 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have been favd with yours of the 20th & 26th ulto. You will find the several matters contained in the former sufficiently answered in a letter which I wrote to you upon the 27th July. I am pleased to find by your last that you had at length a prospect of getting the remaining Troops equipped, and I hope that the account of the Enemy having left Charles Town will not damp your exertions nor...
12George Washington to Brigadier General Charles Scott, 31 October 1778 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Fredericksburg New York ] October 31, 1778 . Is doubtful about plans of the British. Asks Scott to obtain information concerning British plans for forage and wood. Regrets Scott finds it necessary to resign. Df , in writing of H, George Washington Papers, Library of Congress.
13From George Washington to Brigadier General Charles Scott, 25 May 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have received your favour of the 12th informing me of the enemy’s incursion into Virginia and the measures you were about to take in consequence at the request of the Governor, which I entirely approve—Before this, you will have been informed that your destination with the new levies and reinlisted men is to reinforce the Southern army—This appears to me a point so essential that I would not...
14From George Washington to Brigadier General Charles Scott, 7 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have received your two letters of yesterdays date, one of them last night, inclosing the accounts of the deserters, the other this morning. In your next I would wish you to be as particular as your information will admit of respecting the number of flat bottom boats—the number of transports, and vessels of force in the river, as well as their exact situation. We should know all these things...
15From George Washington to Brigadier General Charles Scott, 8 November 1778 (Washington Papers)
I received your favor of the 7th with its inclosure last night thro’ the hands of Cornet Wells with whom it was sent. I think you had better advise the person who communicates to withold his name from his letters or else to assume a false signature. But I do not see the necessity of any name so long as the writing is known by the parties. The letter which accompanies this will procure the stay...
16From George Washington to Brigadier General Charles Scott, 31 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have received your two favours of the 29th and 30th with their inclosures. All the intelligence I can get from every quarter still leaves me in absolute doubt as to the intentions of the enemy. There are two points which would decide more than every thing else, and which are yet quite unascertained—though, they appear to be of such a nature, as to admit of an easy discovery. These are—the...
17From George Washington to Brigadier General Charles Scott, 10 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
I received yours of yesterdays date with its several inclosures this morning. I really begin to have my fears respecting the safety of Captn Leavensworth—I wish his zeal may not have carried him too far into the enemy’s tract. The sentance of death passed by the Court on Elisha Smith of Colo. Sheldons Regiment seems sufficiently clear and well founded—you will therefore be pleased to direct...
18From George Washington to Brigadier General Charles Scott, 14 August 1778 (Washington Papers)
With the detachment of light troops under your command you are to take post in front of our camp and in such a position as may appear best calculated to preserve the security of your own corps and cover this army from surprise. For the better execution of these purposes you will make yourself master of all the roads leading to the enemies lines. You will keep up a constant succession of...
19From George Washington to Brigadier General Charles Scott, 18 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have received your two letters of yesterdays date—intelligence becomes more interesting as every day brings us nearer to an important juncture—too much attention therefore cannot be paid to the choice of persons employed in collecting advices of the enemys transactions and designs—and to the directions given them—for governing their inquiries—an enemy is always supposed to be secret as to...
20From George Washington to Brigadier General Charles Scott, 22 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have been favd with yours of the 20th and 21st. The Serjeant is intelligent and proves beyond a doubt that a large Body of troops have been embarked. The Fleet left the Hook the 19th and 20th. It now remains to find out whether they mean a total evacuation this fall or to garrison New York. let the attention of all your intelligencers and Spies be turned to these points. If they intend to...
21George Washington to Brigadier General Charles Scott, 28 June 1779 (Hamilton Papers)
New Windsor [ New York ] June 28, 1779 . Discusses problems faced by Scott in preparing troops for the march to the South. Df , in writing of H, George Washington Papers, Library of Congress.
22George Washington to Brigadier General Charles Scott, [25 May 1779] (Hamilton Papers)
Middlebrook [ New Jersey ] May 25, 1779 . Affirms that it is essential for Scott to proceed to the South. Df , in writing of H, George Washington Papers, Library of Congress.
23From George Washington to Brigadier General Charles Scott, 27 July 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have duly received your favour of the 29th. I can only still lament the difficulties and delays you encounter and wish them at an end—The troops with you could they have arrived in time would have been a most valuable reinforcement to the Southern army and the want of them may be attended with very disagreeable consequences. Charles Town seems to be in a most critical situation and its fate...
24From George Washington to Brigadier General Charles Scott, 27 September 1778 (Washington Papers)
I received yours of yesterday late last night. There are one or two facts with respect to the enemys affairs of great importance to be known which I would wish to have communicated as soon as possible. you will therefore ascertain with certainty and precision whether the forage which they have drawn from the Jersey and by means of the party from Kingsbridge has been stacked in their yards or...
25From George Washington to Brigadier General Charles Scott, 8 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
I learnt with equal chagrin and astonishment from your letter of yesterdays date, of the new disgrace which has happened to Sheldons horse—these surprises can only be attributed to the unpardonable inattention of Officers—and their scandalous sacrifice of every other consideration to the indulgences of good Quarters—the frequency of them becomes intolerable and demands some exemplary...
26From George Washington to Brigadier General Charles Scott, 22 September 1778 (Washington Papers)
I received your letter of yesterdays date this morning. The security of your command makes it in my opinion perfectly expedient to take post five miles above Claps tavern—you should if possible be out of surprizing distance, while your scouts may be made use of to watch the movements of the enemy—I would have you to keep a constant look out on the Sound from the commanding hights near Claps...
27From George Washington to Brigadier General Charles Scott, 28 June 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have duly received your several favours of the 18th & 27th of May one without date and one of the 10th instant —At the same time that I am satisfied your best exertions have not been wanting I cannot but lament the difficulties you have met with. The services of the men at this critical period are so essential, that every moment is precious and every possible step ought to have been taken to...
28From George Washington to Brigadier General Charles Scott, 29 September 1778 (Washington Papers)
I received your letter of the 28 Inst. late last night. You will continue your information of the enemys progress; and by those means which you have set on foot, for the obtaining intelligence from New-york, endeavour to learn as much as possible of their naval force—their number—their sailing—or detachments—All facts of this kind are of the utmost importance to the Count d’Estaing, and every...
29From George Washington to Brigadier General Charles Scott, 8 July 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have received your letter of the 20th of June —I can only repeat my chagrin that so much delay attends the preparations for the troops under your command—Such a reinforcement to the Southern army at this instant might give a decisive turn to the fate of affairs in that quarter—The want of it may perhaps involve very affecting consequences—I rely upon your utmost activity to get the troops on...
30From George Washington to Brigadier General Charles Scott, 29 May 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have duly received your favour of the 15th Inst. dated at Williamsburg. In my Letter of the 25th I have given you my sentiments on that line of Conduct which I thought most expedient in the present aspect of our Southern affairs—I have nothing more perticular at present, and would refer you to that Letter. I am sir your most humbe servt Df , in Caleb Gibbs’s writing, DLC:GW ; Varick...