51George Washington to Brigadier General Anthony Wayne, 21 September 1779 (Hamilton Papers)
West Point, September 21, 1779. Asks Wayne to investigate complaint against Major Henry McCormick. Df , in writing of H, George Washington Papers, Library of Congress.
52From George Washington to Brigadier General Anthony Wayne, 21 September 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have recievd the inclos⟨ed repre⟩sentation of some violences said to be commited in your corps against Young Gecock an inhabitant and a child of the Widow Garrison —By a verbal state of the affair more intelligible than the written one, I understand that some men of the light Infantry had made a practice of plundering the farms of the complainants—that a party of these marauders was...
53George Washington to Brigadier General Anthony Wayne, 24 September 1779 (Hamilton Papers)
[ West Point ] September 24, 1779 . Refuses to countermand the order for the trial of Major Henry McCormick. LS , in writing of H, George Washington Photostats, Library of Congress.
54From George Washington to Brigadier General Anthony Wayne, 24 September 1779 (Washington Papers)
I am very sorry that the painfulness of your leg prevented my having the pleasure of seeing you this morning; and I hope it will soon be so far abated as to put it in your power to favour me with the visit you intended. I should not think myself justified in countermanding the trial of Major McCormick, as in the execution of orders ever so proper, there could be no necessity for violence to a...
55From George Washington to Brigadier General Anthony Wayne, 26 September 1779 (Washington Papers)
General Knox and Genl du Portail are to go down to night, or early to-morrow to reconnoitre the enemy’s post at Stoney point. I have directed them to call upon you. You will be pleased to take proper measures by such a party as you may think necessary to cover them during the execution of their object. The less there is said about this matter the better. I am Dr Sir your most obt hble servt LS...
56From George Washington to Major General Anthony Wayne, 28 September 1779 (Washington Papers)
I do not at present see any objection to your taking the position you mention in yours of this morning, but I cannot undertake to determine fully, untill I have received a Report from Generals Knox and Du portail of their reconnoitering yesterday. If you are not engaged tomorrow I shall expect the pleasure of your Company at dinner when we will settle the above. I am with great Regard Dear Sir...
57George Washington to Brigadier General Anthony Wayne, 29 September 1779 (Hamilton Papers)
West Point, September 29, 1779. States that Lord Stirling has been ordered to cooperate with Wayne if necessary. Sends general instructions. Df , in writing of H, George Washington Papers, Library of Congress.
58From George Washington to Brigadier General Anthony Wayne, 29 September 1779 (Washington Papers)
It is agreeable to me that you should move with the light corps to the vicinity of Stoney-point on the principles proposed in your letter of yesterday. But as I should not be entirely without apprehensions for your security, the enemy having it in their power secretely to reinforce their garrison, and make an attempt upon you—I shall write to Lord Stirling, directing him in some measure to...
59George Washington to Brigadier General Anthony Wayne, 30 September 1779 (Hamilton Papers)
[ West Point ] September 30, 1779 . Has referred Wayne’s request for two light field pieces to Brigadier General Henry Knox. Describes how the boats under Wayne’s jurisdiction should be distributed. LS , in writing of H, George Washington Photostats, Library of Congress.
60From George Washington to Brigadier General Anthony Wayne, 30 September 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have just received your letter requesting the addition of two more light field pieces —I have not the least objection to it, and will give Genl Knox directions to have them sent to you. The guard boats that are under your direction you will be pleased to mention to Genl Putnam, who will keep them employed in the same service —The Whale Boats & others, you will have delivered to the Quartr...
61George Washington to Brigadier General Anthony Wayne, 2 October 1779 (Hamilton Papers)
West Point, October 2, 1779. Instructs Wayne to guard West Point. Df , in writing of H, George Washington Papers, Library of Congress.
62From George Washington to Brigadier General Anthony Wayne, 2 October 1779 (Washington Papers)
There is one observation which I must make to you that I omitted in my last —it is, that the position of your corps and the disposition of your guards and patroles ought as much as possible to have referrence to the security of the camp: otherwise we shall be oblig’d greatly to multiply our guards below and diminish the number of men for carrying on the works proportionably, an inconvenience I...
63George Washington to Brigadier General Anthony Wayne, 3 October 1779 (Hamilton Papers)
[ West Point ] October 3, 1779 . Orders Wayne to cooperate with Brigadier General Du Portail in reconnoitering Stony Point. Df , in writing of H, George Washington Papers, Library of Congress.
64From George Washington to Brigadier General Anthony Wayne, 3 October 1779 (Washington Papers)
General Du Portail proposes tomorrow to reconnoitre a second time the post of Stony point and to ascertain the distances from the En[e]mys works to the places proper for establishing batteries —He will arive there precisely by eleven oClock—You will therefore please to have a reconnoitring party consisting of a Regiment ready at the second place to which you went the other day, not the high...
65From George Washington to Brigadier General Anthony Wayne, 6 October 1779 (Washington Papers)
I recd yours of yesterday last Evening. It was intirely owing to the idleness of the Express that the letter informing you of the intended reconnoitering party did not reach you in time. I send you by the Dragoon the Theodolite taken at Stoney point. There is no Chain belonging to it. You must supply that deficiency with a Rope. Paramus was not in my opinion the proper position for the whole...
66From George Washington to Brigadier General Anthony Wayne, 10 October 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have your favr of yesterday inclosing a sketch of the bearings and distances of the Grounds contiguous to Stoney point. It is not to our Interest to disturb the enemy at that or any other detached post just now. Under present circumstances we should endeavour to keep them as much separated as possible, for if part of my plan, recommended to the Count, can be carried into execution, we shall...
67From George Washington to Brigadier General Anthony Wayne, 14 October 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have your favr of the 13th by Colo. Wood. As the Road which Colonels Butler and putnam have traced will be so easily opened, there will be no need of working upon it untill we know certainly whether we shall want to use it—A deserter from the Vulture sloop the day before yesterday informs that Sir Henry Clinton, Colo. Robinson and several other Officers came up the River the day he came...
68From George Washington to Brigadier General Anthony Wayne, 15 October 1779 (Washington Papers)
I received last night your favor of the 14th and am glad to find you have got so good and secure a position. The Carolina Troops have returned and Major Murfree will resume his command in the Infantry. This circumstance makes it unnecessary for Lt Colo. Vose or any other Field Officer to be sent down. I will give orders for the Artificers and Tools you mention—& for a conductor and Ammunition...
69From George Washington to Brigadier General Anthony Wayne, 17 October 1779 (Washington Papers)
By intelligence I have just received from Elizabeth Town Colo. Webster left N. York on the 13th with three Regiments—and came up the River. The ostensible reason is to relieve the Troops at Stony & Verplanks points; but as they may have it possibly in view to attempt some thing—I have thought it necessary to communicate the intelligence to you by a Return Express. that you may be on your...
70From George Washington to Brigadier General Anthony Wayne, 18 October 1779 (Washington Papers)
Should we undertake an operation of consequence in conjunction with the Count D’Estaing we shall stand in need of a considerable quantity of Facines—Gabions and pickets. You will therefore be pleased to set the Troops under your command at that work. The following [are] the dimensions which the Engineers have given for each. Gabions 4 feet high—3½ feet wide. Facines as long as possible ten...
71From George Washington to Brigadier General Anthony Wayne, 21 October 1779 (Washington Papers)
In consequence of yours of the 19th I gave your Qr Mr an order for 500 pair of shoes which, considering the stock on hand, is a full proportion for your Corps. I have directed all the Commissaries of Hides to collect and send in all the shoes they possibly can procure, and I am not without hopes that we shall in a little time have a sufficiency. It is not in my power to grant the request of...
72From George Washington to Brigadier General Anthony Wayne, 21 October 1779 (Washington Papers)
Since writing to you this morning I have received accounts from deserters which seem strongly to indicate a speedy evacuation of Verplanks & Stoney Points—There is some reason to think that Verplanks was left last night. The deserters add that the Grenadiers were embarked and laying off against Fort Washington and that two other regiments were under orders to Embark at a moments warning. If...
73From George Washington to Brigadier General Anthony Wayne, 22 October 1779 (Washington Papers)
I recd yours of yesterday late last night—I had, previous to the arrival of it, heard of the evacuation of the points, from the other side of the River. I purpose going down early tomorrow morning—Be pleased therefore to order a covering party of 100 Men to be upon Stoney point tomorrow morning by eight OClock—at which time I shall be glad to meet you there. I am Dear Sir Yr most obt Servt LS...
74From George Washington to Brigadier General Anthony Wayne, 26 October 1779 (Washington Papers)
There will be a necessity of throwing up a small Work at Stoney point to protect the communication by Kings ferry. Colo. Gouvion will go down tomorrow to lay it out. When that is done, you will be pleased to furnish a party from the Infantry to assist in executing it. I have wrote to General Woodford to furnish a party from the Virginia line also. You had best see him and detail agreeable to...
75From George Washington to Brigadier General Anthony Wayne, 27 October 1779 (Washington Papers)
Yours dated 1, OClock this morning reached me at 7—You will probably be soon informed more certainly of the real strength of the Enemy and what seems to be their intention. Should you find it more than a hasty forage, you will endeavour to collect the Militia lately ordered out, some of whom I suppose are by this time at their rendezvous at Pompton, and many more undoubtedly at their place of...
76From George Washington to Brigadier General Anthony Wayne, 29 October 1779 (Washington Papers)
I recd your favr of the 27th in due time. Before this reaches you, you will undoubtedly have heard that the enemy have returned to Staten Island. I think you may as well take post with the Infantry, for the present, in the neighbourhood of paramus inclining towards Kakeate, and draw your forage as much as possible from the lower part of Bergen. You will be in a good situation to gain...
77From George Washington to Brigadier General Anthony Wayne, 4 November 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have received information of the Guards (and some add other Troops) advancing to Kings Bridge—This though on the contrary side of the river, is in the vicinity of your Camp. Boats hid at Spiten devil and which can be brought up Harlaem river may under cover of Night land Troops at the Slote—Nyack or the Hook before Ten OClock without discovery unless a very good look out is kept They have...
78From George Washington to Brigadier General Anthony Wayne, 5 November 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have your favr of yesterday. I can hardly suppose that a total evacuation of New York can be in contemplation at this time. but it is not improbable that they may endeavour to throw a Body of troops over to the West Indies, and the preparations you observed and have heard of may be for that purpose. However, be it a partial or total embarkation, a very little time must discover it. I am Dear...
79From George Washington to Brigadier General Anthony Wayne, 5 November 1779 (Washington Papers)
Since mine of this morning, I have seen a letter from Governor Livingston to Genl Sullivan of the 2d in which he mentions the enemy’s having assembled on Staten Island in force, and from their preparation of Boats another incursion was apprehended. I imagine the Governors information is the same as that communicated to you by Colo. Seely, but as I would not wish to be behind hand with them in...
80From George Washington to Brigadier General Anthony Wayne, 9 November 1779 (Washington Papers)
I rode down to this place to see General Sullivan and to be in the way should the enemy, by their late preparations upon Staten Island seem to threaten any thing serious. But having heard nothing to make me beleive that they will come over in any considerable force I shall return part of the way to West point this Evening. From a variety of circumstances, but particularly for want of Water to...