51From George Washington to John Hancock, 4 May 1782 (Washington Papers)
I find myself arrived at that period, at which I hoped to have seen the Batallions of the several States compleated to their Establishment, in conformity to the requisition of Congress of the 19th Decr last. The inclosed returns of Recruits, which I have caused to be made up to the 1st Instant, will shew how totally short of my expectation the exertions of the States, have fallen—from your...
52From George Washington to John Hancock, 14 November 1776 (Washington Papers)
I have the honor to inform you of my arrival here Yesterday and that the whole of the Troops belonging to the States which lay South of Hudsons River and which were in New York Government have passed over to this side, except the Regiment lately Colo. Smalwoods, which I expect is now on their march. That they may be ready to check any incursions the Enemy may attempt in this Neighbourhood, I...
53From George Washington to John Hancock, 14 August 1776 (Washington Papers)
Since I had the honor of addressing you on Monday Nothing of Importance has Occurred here, Except that the Enemy have received an Augmentation to their Fleet of Ninety Six Ships—some Reports make them more: In a Letter I wrote you Yesterday by Lieutt Colo. Reed, I advised you of this, but presuming It may not reach you so soon as this will, I have thought proper to mention the Intelligence...
54From George Washington to John Hancock, 28 February 1777 (Washington Papers)
No military Operation of any consequence has occurred since I had the honor of writing to you last, except, that on Sunday, I recd information that the Enemy were advancing in a manner, and in numbers so much greater than usual, that it look’d like a prelude to an Attack upon our posts, which were immediately put in the best preparation to receive them. It turned out to be only a stronger...
55From George Washington to John Hancock, 21 May 1777 (Washington Papers)
Inclosed I have the Honor to transmit you a General Return of the Forces in Jersey. It is regimentally digested and will shew the strength of each Corps. I should not have sent it so particularly made out, had I not conceived the conveyance, by which it goes from hence, entirely secure. I have nothing material to add respecting the Enemy. I have the Honor to be with great respect Sir Yr Most...
56From George Washington to John Hancock, 9 July 1777 (Washington Papers)
The inclosed Copy of a Letter from the Commissary General of provisions & the information you will receive from Majr Hoops will convince Congress of the distress & confusion prevailing in that Department. Without something is done in aid of Mr Trumbull immediately, this Army must be disbanded—If the present difficulties continue, it is impossible it can exist. I entreat Congress to take the...
57From George Washington to John Hancock, 25 July 1777 (Washington Papers)
I do myself the Honor to transmit you a Copy of my Letter to Genl Howe of the 16th Instant, proposing an Exchange between Genls Lee and Prescot. I dispatched it early the next morning and presume it got to hand on the 18th. As yet, I have not received his Answer. The amazing advantage the Enemy derive from their Ships and the command of the Water, keeps us in a State of constant perplexity and...
58From George Washington to John Hancock, 18–19 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have nothing of importance to transmit Congress, no Event in the Military line having happened since my last, except the Surprizing a Small picquet guard of the Enemy on Monday night at Bonam Town & bringing off Thirteen prisoners by One of our parties. An Enterprize of a similar nature was formed against that at Amboy, in which, the party sent to effect it did not succeed so well, though...
59From George Washington to John Hancock, 7 October 1776 (Washington Papers)
Dr Skinner having been very urgent and pressing to go to Philadelphia, in order to procure medicine for the sick of his regiment, I could by no means refuse my assent to his proposition; By him I beg leave to inform you, that the applications of the Regimental Surgeons, are very frequent and importunate; & it is not in my power to satisfy their demands; their situation will be fully made known...
60From George Washington to John Hancock, 21 August 1777 (Washington Papers)
I am this moment honored with yours of this morning containing several peices of intelligence of the Fleet’s having been seen off the Capes of Virginia on the 15th instant. I shall in Consequence of this information halt upon my present ground till I hear something further. Colo. Pinkney of South Carolina paid me a Visit two days ago, he informed me that the Military Stores in Charles Town and...
61From George Washington to John Hancock, 13 September 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have been honoured with your favor of this date. I heartily wish the Works on Delaware were compleated, but I think, and in this Opinion my Officers concur, that the service will be injured, if any part of the Continental Troops were now to be employed about ’em. If we should be able to oppose Genl Howe with success in the Feild, the Works will be unnecessary; If not, and he should force us...
62From George Washington to John Hancock, 10 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
I was just now honored with your Letter of the 9th Instant, covering Sundry Resolutions of Congress. Those for regulating the Hospital and medical department, I trust, will prove of the most salutary consequences. It is only to be regretted, that this necessary and liberal institution had not been gone into and compleated at an earlier period. The Honors Congress have decreed to the memory of...
63From George Washington to John Hancock, 21 June 1776 (Washington Papers)
This will be delivered you by the Chevalier de Kermorvan, and Monsieur de Vermonet—they are French Gentlemen just arrived in this Place, who have made Application to me, to be received into the Continental Service—They bring Letters to Dr Franklin and some other Gentlemen of the Congress—I suppose it will better appear from these Letters, than from any Information I can give, whether it will...
64From George Washington to John Hancock, 30 October 1775 (Washington Papers)
The Information which the Gentlemen who have lately gone from hence can give the Congress of the State & Situation of the Army would have made a Letter unnecessary if I did not suppose there would be some Anxiety to know the Intentions of the Army on the Subject of their Re-inlistment. Agreeable to the Advice of those Gentlemen & my own Opinion, I immediately began by directing all such...
65From George Washington to John Hancock, 14 July 1776 (Washington Papers)
My last of friday evening which I had the honor of addressing you, advised that Two of the Enemies Ships of War & three Tenders had run above our Batteries here and the Works at the upper end of the Island. I am now to Inform you, that Yesterday forenoon receiving Intelligence from Genl Mifflin that they had past the Tanpan Sea and were trying to proceed higher up, by advice of R. R....
66From George Washington to John Hancock, 8 September 1776 (Washington Papers)
Since I had the honour of addressing you on the 6th Instt I have called a Council of the General Officers in order to take a full & comprehensive view of our situation & thereupon form such a plan of future defence as may be immediately pursued & subject to no other alteration than a change of Operations on the Enemy’s side may occasion. Before the Landing of the Enemy on Long Island, the...
67From George Washington to John Hancock, 23 April 1776 (Washington Papers)
That I might be in readiness to take the Field in the Spring, and prepared for any Service Congress should think proper to send me upon this Campaign, I desired Colo. Reed when he left Cambridge in the Fall to get me a Sett of Camp Equipage—Tents—and a Baggage Waggon made at Philadelphia under his own Inspection and sent to me. this he informs me is now done & ready to come on—I have therefore...
68From George Washington to John Hancock, 12 August 1777 (Washington Papers)
General Newcomb having informed me, that he had collected a body of about five hundred Jersey Militia at Woodberry, I have desired him to endeavour to keep them together while matters remain in their present uncertainty and suspense, and to employ them in whatever works may be carrying on at Bilingsport, or Redbank, for the defence of the river. I mention this, that if it shall be thought...
69From George Washington to John Hancock, 27 June 1776 (Washington Papers)
I this morning received by Express Letters from Genls Schuyler & Arnold, with a Copy of one from Genl Sullivan to the former and also of Others to Genl Sullivan, of all which I do myself the honor to transmit you Copies. they will give you a further account of the melancholy situation of our affairs in Canada, and shew that there is nothing left to save our Army there, but evacuating the...
70From George Washington to John Hancock, 20 February 1777 (Washington Papers)
Monsieur Fanueil, who sometime ago laid a plan before you for raising and officering a Corps of Frenchmen, waited upon me yesterday. His success, as I expected, has been small in inlisting or rather engaging Canadians, I cannot find that he has met with more than thirty or forty who would be willing to serve with him. He is now upon another Scheme, that of raising, arming and cloathing a...
71From George Washington to John Hancock, 17 July 1776 (Washington Papers)
I was this morning honoured with yours of the 15 Instt, with sundry resolves. I perceive the measures Congress have taken to expedite the raising of the Flying Camp and providing It with Articles of the greatest use. You will see by a post[s]cript to my Letter of the 14th I had wrote to the Commanding Officer of the pensylvania Militia, ordering them to be marched from Trenton to Amboy, as...
72From George Washington to John Hancock, 30 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have been waiting with much anxiety to hear the result of the expedition against Danbury, which I never was informed of ’till this Minute. The inclosed Copy of a Letter from Genl McDougal and of Several Others, which he transmitted, will give Congress all the intelligence I have upon the Subject. I have only to add, and to lament, that this Enterprize has been attended but with too much...
73From George Washington to John Hancock, 3 September 1777 (Washington Papers)
I this minute returned to Head Qrs, where I found your favor of this date with the Resolves respecting Genl Sullivan and Colo. Richardson’s Battallion. I had conversed with Genl Sullivan upon the Subject and observed to him, that it was necessary an inquiry should be had relative to the Affair of Staten Island, as his conduct was censured & much dissatisfaction prevailed. He was sensible of...
74From George Washington to John Hancock, 18 August 1776 (Washington Papers)
I have been honoured with your Favor of the 16th with Its Inclosure and am sorry It is not in my power to transmit Congress a Copy of the Treaty as they require, having sent It away with the Other papers that were in my Hands. The Resolution they have entered into respecting the Foreign Troops, I am persuaded would produce Salutary Effects, If It can be properly circulated among them. I fear...
75From George Washington to John Hancock, 18 April 1776 (Washington Papers)
Permit me through you, to convey to the honorable Congress the Sentiments of gratitude I feel for the high honor they have done me, in the public mark of approbation contain’d in your favour of the 2d Instt, which came to hand last Night. I beg you to assure them, that, it will ever be my highest ambition to approve myself a faithful Servant of the Public; and that, to be in any degree...
76From George Washington to John Hancock, 23 February 1777 (Washington Papers)
Congress having resolved that Several Regiments of Cavalry should be raised to form a part of their Army, I beg leave, through you Sir, to lay before ’em, the inclosed List of Officers which appear necessary to be appointed to each Corps, and which they will be pleased to establish. At the same time I should suppose it highly expedient to fix their pay and that of the privates. There is now...
77From George Washington to John Hancock, 16 September 1782 (Washington Papers)
The present superiority of the British Fleet upon this Coast, naturally makes the Marquis de Vaudreuil apprehensive for the safety of that under his command in the Harbor of Boston. Should the enemy make an attempt upon him, a land force, superior to what he possesses, will be necessary for his defence, and for that he must depend upon the Militia in the neighbourhood of Boston. I am certain,...
78From George Washington to John Hancock, 30 September 1775 (Washington Papers)
The Revd Mr Kirtland the Bearer of this having been introduced to the Honle Congress can need no particular Recommendation from me: But as he now wishes to have the Affairs of his Mission & publick Employ put upon some suitable Footing, I cannot but intimate my Sense of the Importance of his Station, & the great Advantages which have & may result to the United Colonies from his Situation being...
79From George Washington to John Hancock, 8 July 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have not been honored with an answer to my several letters of the 24th and 25th of May and of the 2d 4th 15. and 25th of last Month, and am of course unable to form any certain estimate of what may be expected in consequence of my requisitions—this puts me in rather an awkard situation, as I can not give His Excellency Count Rochambeau, who has formed a junction with me, that official...
80From George Washington to John Hancock, 3 December 1776 (Washington Papers)
I arrived here myself Yesterday Morning with the main Body of the Army, having left Ld Stirling with two Brigades at princetown and that Neighbourhood to watch the Motions of the Enemy and give Notice of their Approach. I am informed that they had not entered Brunswic yesterday Morning at 9 OClock, but were on the opposite Side of the Rariton. Immediately on my Arrival here, I ordered the...