31George Washington to Joseph Reed or Colonel Cornelius Cox, 7 April 1777 (Hamilton Papers)
Morristown [ New Jersey ] April 7, 1777. Orders release of “Mr. Smith” who had been acting as a spy for the Americans and was mistakenly arrested by Major General Benjamin Lincoln. Df , in writing of H, George Washington Papers, Library of Congress. Joseph Reed had resigned as adjutant general and was residing in Philadelphia as a private citizen.
32From George Washington to Joseph Reed or Colonel John Cox, 7 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
I am informed, there is a certain Mr Smith, who has been lately taken up by General Lincoln as a spy & sent to Philadelphia under that character. I believe for several reasons that he is the man who was imployed by you to act for Us, in that capacity, and that the apprehending him is a mistake, which may be attended with ill-consequences. Lest he should be precipitately tried and punished, I...
33From George Washington to Joseph Reed, 11 June 1777 (Washington Papers)
Your favour of the 4th was given to me by Jos. Arrowsmith just as Mr Peters inform’d me, he was about to set out for Phila.—I could not resist the Inclination however of detaining him long enough to write you a short Letter to thank you, as I do most sincerely, for the friendly and Affectionate Sentiments containd in yours of the above date towards me, and to assure you, that I am perfectly...
34From George Washington to Joseph Reed, 23 June 1777 (Washington Papers)
Your favors of the 12th and 18th Instt are both before me; and, on two Accts have given me concern; first, because I much wishd to see you at the head of the Cavalry, and secondly by refusing of it, my arrangements have been a good deal disconcerted—As your motives for refusing the appointment are, no doubt, satisfactory to yourself, and your determination fixed, it is unnecessary to enter...
35From George Washington to Joseph Reed, 2 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
If you can with any convenience let me see you to day I shall be thankful for it—I am abt fixing the Winter cantonments of this army, and find so many, & such capitol objections to each mode proposed, that I am exceedingly embarrassed, not only by the advice given me, but in my own judgment, and should be very glad of your sentiments on the matter without loss of time. In hopes of seeing you,...
36From George Washington to Joseph Reed, 15 June 1778 (Washington Papers)
I thank you very much for your friendly favor of this date, and your polite attention in submitting the draught of your Letter to Govr Johnston to my perusal —I return it again, but before you transcribe a fair copy I would wish to see you upon the subject of it. perhaps there are some parts of it which might receive a small alteration—In the present situation of things all corrispondence of...
37From George Washington to Joseph Reed, 6 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
I had the honor of receiving three days since your letter of the 30th of September; and should have answered it at once but was delayed by being separated from my papers, a recourse to which was necessary to assist my memory. I recollect, that in a conference with the Committee of arrangement on the subject of inlisting prisoners and deserters, I gave my opinion explicitly against the...
38From George Washington to Joseph Reed, 23 November 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have the honor of transmitting the Committee of arrangement the inclosed from Colonel Cadwallader. It is in answer to my letter at the white-plains, which accompanied one of the committee’s on the same subject. I could wish the committee to consider, if there is any method, yet remaining, by which his scruples might be removed, and the affair settled in a conclusive and satisfactory manner....
39From George Washington to Joseph Reed, 27 November 1778 (Washington Papers)
I am upon the eve of my departure for Winter Quarters, but shall not quit my present roof untill I acknowledge, and thank you for your obliging favor of the 25th Ulto. Unless the Officer who commanded the dispersed Dragoons of Baylor’s Regiment was directed by Mr Caldwell to Trenton, he was not only guilty of an unpardonable piece of indiscretion, but disobedience of Orders; for he was...
40From George Washington to Joseph Reed, 12 December 1778 (Washington Papers)
Your favor of the 7th Instt by Mr Laurens came to my hands a day or two ago; previous to which, I should have done myself the pleasure of congratulating you (which I now do very sincerely) on your late election to the government of Pensylvania, had not Sir Harry’s late extra Manœuvre up the North River kept me upon the March, & counter-march, from the 5th till yesterday; when I arrived at...
41From George Washington to William Livingston and Joseph Reed, 17 December 1778 (Washington Papers)
To prevent as far as possible the intercourse between the inhabitants of these States and the enemy in New York, I have given positive orders to Genl Maxwell, who commands at Elizabeth Town, to permit no persons being inhabitants of or coming from any of the States to pass to Staten Island or New York without permission has been first obtained from their respective Governors or legislative...
42From George Washington to Joseph Reed, 24 December 1778 (Washington Papers)
I had not the honor of receiving your Excellency’s favor of yesterday till late in the evening. I am very sensible of the high mark of esteem and attention intended me by the Supreme Executive Council, and I shall be happy to receive the honor of their visit at 11 o’clock this morning. I thank you for the polite manner in which you have been pleased to convey their desire for that purpose, and...
43From George Washington to Joseph Reed, 27 December 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have had the Honor to receive Your Excellency’s Letter of Yesterday—and I am extremely sorry that it is not in my power to inform the Council, with precision, in the several points of their inquiry. The State supplies of Cloathing hitherto sent to Camp, have been but small and partial. These, I believe, have been generally issued by Officers appointed by the respective states—and comformably...
44From George Washington to Joseph Reed, 9 February 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have the honor of your Excellency’s favr of the 5th instant inclosing sundry Resolves of the Executive Council respecting the Conduct of Major General Arnold during his command in the City of Philada: previous to the Rect of your letter, General Arnold, who had arrived at Head Quarters the day before, had shewn me a letter from the Council to him accompanied by a Copy of the same Resolves,...
45From George Washington to Joseph Reed, 12 February 1779 (Washington Papers)
In my last I omitted to answer that part of your Excellency’s letter of the 5th inst. respecting Capt. Campbells proposal of attempting to bring off our Officers prisoners upon parole on Long Island. Was the measure justifiable, of which I have my doubts, it would in my opinion be impolitic. We could not hope to be compleatly successfull, and strict confinement would certainly be the fate of...
46From George Washington to Joseph Reed, 27 February 1779 (Washington Papers)
It is very probable, that necessity or choice, may induce us, to undertake some offensive operations against the Indians this summer in case the situation of affairs on the Sea-board will admit of any thing of this kind. At all events it will be necessary to obtain such information of the country and the avenues leading into it, as may be advantagiously applied under favourabl circumstances—I...
47From George Washington to Joseph Reed, 3 March 1779 (Washington Papers)
The President of Congress has transmitted me the instructions of the Assembly of your state to their delegates, founded on a representation of the distresses of your western frontiers—and farther the opinion of a Committee of the house on the subject of their defence—together with the two Resolves made in consequence. I am therefore to inform your Excellency that offensive operations against...
48From George Washington to Joseph Reed, 4 March 1779 (Washington Papers)
Inclosed is a letter which I had written your Excellency, previous to the receipt of your favor by Mr Keen —If Congress have not given you official notice of their intentions relative to the defence of the Western frontier—You will be pleased to regard my letter on the subject in the light of a private and confidential intimation. I am with great regard and esteem Your Excellencys most obedt...
49From George Washington to Joseph Reed, 26 March 1779 (Washington Papers)
I lately recd, from Colo. Proctor, a Return of the Names and Ranks of the Officers of his Regiment, which I called for in order to endeavour to settle the relative Rank of the line of Artillery —I observe that Colo. Proctor stiles his Regt “The pennsylvania State Regt of Artillery.” from whence I am led to imagine that the Regiment may have been, by some late act of Congress, returned to the...
50From George Washington to Joseph Reed, 28 March 1779 (Washington Papers)
The enemy have some enterprize in view—New London, on Acct of the Frigates in the river, and because Boats have been preparing at the East end of long Island, and Troops for sometime past drawing thitherward, is supposed to be the object. Probably it is so —but as the Season is now approaching when either Negociation, or vigorous exertions must take place; and General Clinton doubtless will,...
51From George Washington to Joseph Reed, 29 March 1779 (Washington Papers)
Since mine of yesterday, I have received the inclosed extract of a Letter from General Maxwell at Elizabeth Town; which I send lest the suggestion contained in my letter should have made a deeper impression than I intended; which was no more than to hint at the advantages which might result from a systematical plan of assembling the Militia at certain points, on any sudden exigency & with more...
52From George Washington to Joseph Reed, 5 April 1779 (Washington Papers)
Your favr of the 29th March reached me a day or two ago—I cannot conceive from whence can arise the antipathy of Colo. Proctor and His Officers to the Uniform adopted by all the other Regiments of Artillery. In every service, it is customary to distinguish Corps by particular Uniforms, and as Black and Red has been pitched upon for that of the American Continental Artille[r]y, it is...
53From George Washington to Joseph Reed, 8–9 April 1779 (Washington Papers)
Your favor without a date, acknowledging the receipt of my letters of the 28th & [2]9th ulto came to hand a day or two ago. Colo. Patterson (as he is called) was a stranger even in name to me, till he came here introduced by Colo. Cox as a person capable of giving the best information of the Indian Country between the Susquehannah and Niagara of any Man that was to be met with; and as one who...
54From George Washington to Joseph Reed, 19 April 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have been honored with yours of the 14th instant. I shall not fail to recommend to the Officer, who will command upon the Susquehannah, the cultivation of a good understanding between the setlers at Wyoming and the inhabitants of Northumberland County. Upon estimating the Force necessary to be employed upon the intended Expedition, so as to give the most probable assurance of success, I find...
55George Washington to Joseph Reed and the Pennsylvania Council, 26 April 1779 (Hamilton Papers)
Middlebrook [ New Jersey ] April 26, 1779 . Announces postponement of Major General Benedict Arnold’s trial. Df , in writing of H, George Washington Papers, Library of Congress. Reed was president of the Supreme Executive Council of Pennsylvania.
56George Washington to Joseph Reed, 27 April 1779 (Hamilton Papers)
Middlebrook [ New Jersey ] April 27, 1779 . Discusses arrangements for Major General Benedict Arnold’s trial. Regrets that only a small amount of Pennsylvania Militia will be available for Indian expedition. Discusses defense of Pennsylvania border. Df , in writings of George Washington and H, George Washington Papers, Library of Congress.
57From George Washington to Joseph Reed, 27 April 1779 (Washington Papers)
In a line of yesterday, as I did not think it proper to detain the express & delay the notice then given till I could prepare a more explicit answer, I only briefly acknowledged the receipt of your two letters in Council of the 24th and 25th inst, to which I should have added that of the 26th —I am now to enter into a particular consideration of their contents, and to offer such explanation as...
58George Washington to Joseph Reed, 8 May 1779 (Hamilton Papers)
Middlebrook [ New Jersey ] May 8, 1779 . Discusses plans for Major General Benedict Arnold’s trial. Df , in writing of H, George Washington Papers, Library of Congress.
59From George Washington to Joseph Reed, 8 May 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have delayed acknowledging the receipt of your favor of the 1st in expectation that it would soon be followed by an official one which would enable me to take final measures on the subject of the trial. The explanation with which you have obliged me gives me pleasure in the same proportion as the disagreeable inferences I had drawn gave me pain—It wounds me sensibly to see appearances of any...
60George Washington to Joseph Reed, 15 May 1779 (Hamilton Papers)
Middlebrook [ New Jersey ] May 15, 1779 . Requests date of Major General Benedict Arnold’s trial. Df , in writing of H, George Washington Papers, Library of Congress.