31From George Washington to Timothy Pickering, 6 August 1783 (Washington Papers)
I wrote to you from Saratoga on the 26th Ulto to have all the Boats fit to be used in the western Waters repaired for that service; but since my return from the Northward I am informed the number will be very inferior to my expectation, especially as I directed early in the year to have them got in repair, and recollect no Counter-Order since that time. I have therefore to request that One...
32From George Washington to Timothy Pickering, 6 November 1797 (Washington Papers)
Since writing to you a few days ago, I have been favoured with your letters of the 26th and 30th Ulto. If you should have occasion to write to Mr Parish of Hamburg, you would oblige me, by thanking him in my behalf, for his very polite & friendly offer of sending me any thing I might have occasion for from that place. It would be more formal than necessary, to introduce Mr Bucknall’s...
33From George Washington to Timothy Pickering, 10 February 1799 (Washington Papers)
Your letters of the 24th of the last, and 2d of the present Month, have been duly received; for which, & their enclosures, I thank you. I am not surprised that some Members of the Ho. of Representatives should dis-relish your Report. It contains remarks, and speaks truths which they are desirous should be unknown to the People. I wish the parts which were left out, had been retained. The...
34From George Washington to Timothy Pickering, 27 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
There was never any regular formation of the department of Geographer to the Army, but to the best of my recollection Mr Erskine’s pay was to have been four dollars per day and that of his Assistants two dollars per day—Chain Bearers half a dollar per day and an allowance for the contingent expences of travelling when out of reach of the Magazine of the Army and for the purchase of the...
35XIV. George Washington to Colonel Timothy Pickering, 22 November 1780 (Washington Papers)
You have been directed to furnish the Commanding Officer of the Boats with materials for muffling the Oars. to pay particular attention that they are in good order—well provided with oars—mounted on good Carriages and in such a manner that they cannot be injured—that the Horses are with them by Thursday 12 OClock—that they are then removed through the Notch below the Mountain, there to remain...
36From George Washington to Timothy Pickering, 5 August 1796 (Washington Papers)
Private Your private letters of the 29th & 30th have been received. If Mr Churchmans account respecting the broken seal of Mr Monroes letter, to the Department of State be true, it bespeaks the man of candour, and does him credit; but I do not see why, when called upon, he should require time to consider whether he should relate the truth—or “give a certificate that might excite suspicions of...
37From George Washington to Timothy Pickering, 29 December 1782 (Washington Papers)
You will please to take immediate measures to dissolve the chain of Dragoons, and discharge the Expresses stationed between this and Boston; assuring them and the People who have furnished Provisions & Forage that the Accounts will be paid as soon as they can be sent to Philadelphia and the Money obtained—Sheldon’s Dragoons are to join their Corps. An accurate state of the Expences properly...
38From George Washington to Timothy Pickering, 24 December 1782 (Washington Papers)
The bad state of affairs in your Department, is such as makes your presence indispensably necessary with the Army; The complaints of all, from the Major General to the lowest Staff Officer entitled to keep a Horse, are agravated to the highest possible degree, on account of the continual want of Forage—As a specimen of the distress, which has fallen under my own observation, you may be...
39From George Washington to Timothy Pickering, 31 July 1795 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 27th instant was received by the last Post to Alexandria. I thank you for the information contained in it; as I shall for any further communication of the sentiments of the people respecting the treaty, which you may be able to obtain, and think worthy of transmission: for, as it is an interesting subject, on which mens minds are a good deal occupied, I should like, as far...
40From George Washington to Timothy Pickering, 22 June 1778 (Washington Papers)
I was honored yesterday with the Boards Letter of the 19th Instant. From the apprehensions of the public of an Indian war in the western department, and the earnest applications of General McIntosh for Troops, I was induced the 15 of the month to detach Durkee’s & Ransom’s companies for that command. I am told by Lt Buck that they are halted at Lancaster. As they are detached from this Army,...
41From George Washington to Timothy Pickering, 3 March 1799 (Washington Papers)
Confidential Dear Sir, Mount Vernon 3d March 1799 The unexpectedness of the event, communicated in your letter of the 21st Ulto, did, as you may suppose, surprise me not a little. But far, very far indeed was this surprise short of what I experienced the next day, when by a very intelligent Gentmn (immediately from Philadelphia) I was informed that there had been no direct overture from the...
42From George Washington to Timothy Pickering, 8 October 1783 (Washington Papers)
When I last wrote you on the subject of providing for the Garrison of West Point I mentioned 500 Men as the number which Congress would probably think proper to keep in that Garrison during the Winter—I have been long waiting their determination on this subject but so far from coming to any such decision, the Members with whom I have conversed seem unwilling to lessen the force now existing...
43From George Washington to Timothy Pickering, 7 July 1797 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 1st instant was brought to me by the last Post. The Journals of the 1st 2d & 3d Sessions of the first Congress, I have, & no later. These are in folio—one volume of the Senate, and another of the House of Representatives. If no complete set can be had, either in folio or octavo, it would be useless to obtain a copy of what I now possess: but if they are to be continued in...
44From George Washington to Timothy Pickering, 19 October 1796 (Washington Papers)
The letter from Mr King to you, is herewith returned. In your dispatches to him, he ought to be instructed to remonstrate in strong terms against those arbitrary & oppressive Acts of the B: Ships of War & Privateers, of which we have so often complained to little effect; and to press for redress. The moment for doing these is favorable: self respect and justice to our Citizens (especially our...
45From George Washington to Timothy Pickering, 14 October 1793 (Washington Papers)
The numerous & various reports which I have received from people who were not possessed of any accurate information with respect to the state of the malignant fever with which Philadelphia is so unfortunately afflicted, and my intention being to return thither, or to it’s neighbourhood about the first of next month, have induced me to ask this information from you—and I beg you will advise me...
46From George Washington to Timothy Pickering, 7 October 1795 (Washington Papers)
Your communications of the 2d Inst. have been duly received. General Wayne will, I hope & expect, leave the Garrisons in his advanced Posts sufficiently respectable. In the present uncertainty of what may be the final result of the treaty with Great Britain, and from the intimations of Captn Brant, we ought not in my opinion to œconomise at too Great a hazard; nor build too much in the present...
47From George Washington to Timothy Pickering, 10 August 1783 (Washington Papers)
A Detachment of about 500 Men is to be sent to garrison the western Posts—A supply of Camp Equipage, also a considerable number of good Axes & Hatchets, with a few setts of Blacksmith’s, Armourer’s & Carpenter’s Tools will be wanted for the Troops, which may be employed on this Service—I must request you will immediately have these things provided, or repaired in the best manner, together with...
48From George Washington to Colonel Timothy Pickering, 1 February 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have in contemplation a journey to Rhode Island, but previous to it, stand in need of a few articles from Philadelpa—which if obtained at all, must come soon. Is it in your power therefore, by the Morning, to provide me an Express on whose fidelity & dispatch I can absolutely depend? and can he, for the purpose of dispatch get fresh Horses on the communication? I am Sir Yr Most Obedt Ser....
49From George Washington to Timothy Pickering, 31 July 1797 (Washington Papers)
Your favor of the 25th was received by the last Post. Mr Monroe’s application is nothing more than a continuation of the old game, in a new form; and as I presume he means to play it with all the advantages that are to be derived from his auxiliaries here I will thank you for the whole of what will come before the public—now, or then, according to circumstances. I would thank you also for...
50From George Washington to Timothy Pickering, 1 July 1796 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 27th ulto is received. I am sorry Mr De Witt, from the competency of his abilities to discharge the duties of the Office of Surveyor General, declines accepting it. Colo. Tinsley’s recommendations, go more to the respectability of his character, than to his scientific knowledge. The first is essential, but not sufficient without the other. I will obtain the best information...
51From George Washington to Timothy Pickering, 10 September 1796 (Washington Papers)
The enclosed is approved, and if there is any Authentic ground to go upon, it ought to be extended to the case of Captn Jessup by strong & solemn expostulation or remonstrance. This conduct of G. Britain cannot, must not be suffered with impunity. ALS , ViMtvL . See Pickering to GW, this date . After receiving GW’s reply, Pickering wrote a second letter to Rufus King, U.S. minister to Great...
52From George Washington to Timothy Pickering, 28 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
The necessity of getting forward what Flour is upon the communication urges me to a measure which I would not wish to adopt could it be avoided. It is, to make use of a part of a sum of Money sent to the pay master General by the State of Massachusetts purposely for the payment of the troops of that line. You will in consequence of this receive a Warrant for 9000 Dollars of the new emission,...
53From George Washington to Timothy Pickering, 13 July 1796 (Washington Papers)
(Private & confidential) Yesterday, I was informed by a Gentleman from Richmond, that Mr Dawson was gone on to Philadelphia in order to embark for France; and about an hour ago, I received a letter of which the enclosed is an extract from a well informed acquaintance, & a stanch frd to his country. What, or whether any thing can with propriety be done in consequence of this information, must...
54From George Washington to Colonel Timothy Pickering, 19 November 1780 (Washington Papers)
I have just received advice from Otis and Henley of Boston that they had, thro’ the interest of the State, procured upwards of forty teams which they had loaded and sent forward with Cloathing. They do not say how far the teams are to proceed, but, in all probability, no farther than Springfeild; at which place there is also a considerable quantity of Cloathing much wanted by the Army. The...
55From George Washington to Timothy Pickering, 10 February 1782 (Washington Papers)
Upon a view of the difference there will be in the expences between hiring & purchasing Ox Teams for the service of the next Campaign, exhibited in your Estimate; I am cleary of opinion they ought to be purchased if it is practicable—but it will be necessary for you to arrange this matter with the Superintendant of Finances; as well as to take early & effectual Measures to procure the number...
56From George Washington to Timothy Pickering, 26 October 1795 (Washington Papers)
Not doubting but that the statements, contained in the enclosed letter to Mr Pinckney, are grounded on facts, it appears to me to be as proper as it is spirited. Transcript, MHi : Pickering Papers. The transcript was certified as “A true copy” by Octavius Pickering, 22 Feb. 1866. The transcript of Pickering’s docket reads in part: “Approves the letter to Mr Pinckney of Oct. [22] relative to...
57From George Washington to Timothy Pickering, 5 March 1795 (Washington Papers)
Congress having closed their late session without coming to any specified determination with respect to the Georgia sale of Lands and the application for the extinguishment of the Indian rights to those Lands; and not having expressed any sentiment respecting the nature of the predatory war between the southern Indians and the southern & southwestern frontiers of these United States, and the...
58From George Washington to Timothy Pickering, 21 October 1796 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 15th came duly to hand. Fortune seems to have declared for us, hitherto, in the Election, or more properly Selection & ballotting, for the odd Commissioner, under the Treaty with G.B.—But something must be done, & I presume immediately, to supply Mr Trumbull’s place as Agent in the other business, to which he was appointed. I wish most ardently that the flames of war were...
59From George Washington to Colonel Timothy Pickering, 5 February 1781 (Washington Papers)
I enclose you a Copy of the Resolution of Congress of the 23d Janry on the subject of remounting the Regiments of Dragoons. It will be necessary to observe, that the Horses purchased for this service ought to be in size, strength, figure, & fleetness, capable of performing the duties for which they are designed. Otherwise the purchase Money will be thrown away, as has sometimes been the Case....
60From George Washington to Timothy Pickering, 3 November 1799 (Washington Papers)
Your private & confidential letter of the 24th Ulto came duly, and safely to hand. Its contents, I confess, surprised me. But as men will view the same things in different lights, I would now , fain hope that the P——has caught the true one; and, that good will come from the Mission, which is about to depart. These are my wishes, and no one is more ardent in them; but I see nothing in the...