311To George Washington from the Board of War, 28 July 1780 (Washington Papers)
In Consequence of your Excellency’s Letter on the Subject of the Jersey Arrangements the Board (fully sensible from Experience of the Justice of your Observations on the Impropriety of the individual States interfering in such Cases) reported the Matter to Congress in Hopes of an Alteration in the System being produced. But we are this Day informed that Congress have been pleased to negative...
312From George Washington to Board of War, 5 August 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have been honored with your favors of the 17th and 26th ulto the first enclosing three plans for filling the present Vancancies and making future promotions in the Medical Line and which you were pleased to submit to my opinion—That I might obtain as extensive a knowledge as possible of the sentiments of the Army upon this matter, I committed the plans to the General Officers and desired...
313To George Washington from the Board of War, 27 May 1779 (Washington Papers)
The Board have recieved the Order of Congress, on the Subject of Baylor’s Regt, enclosed. We have no other Objection to the directing the Horses to be purchased but the excessive Price. It will cost near sixty thousand Pounds Currency to purchase the Numbers of Horses required. Yet on the Consideration, that the Men are provided with every other Article necessary to enable them to take the...
314From George Washington to the Board of War, 14 March 1780 (Washington Papers)
In answer to Your Letter of the 4th Instant which I had the Honor of receiving the 12th—I beg leave to inform You, that from the diminution of our force at Fort pitt by the expiration of the Men’s inlistments and the impracticability of replacing them from hence there is no prospect of our undertaking shortly any offensive operations in that Quarter. I would not wish this however to delay the...
315To George Washington from the Board of War, 9 October 1779 (Washington Papers)
We have been honoured with your Excellency’s Letter of the 2d inst. & are extremely concerned at the Want of Shoes. We hope some Relief may be drawn from the Commissaries in the Vicinity of the Army & we will put in Motion all the Shoes there are in the Hands of those more remote. Mr Henry is now in Town & will exert himself as much as possible. He has about eight thousand Pair which were...
316To George Washington from the Board of War, 25 May 1779 (Washington Papers)
We have been honoured with your Excellency’s Letter of the 22d. We will report the Affair of Genl Irvine to Congress. He will doubtless think it hard that because he was taken Prisoner & could not be promoted in Season he should suffer as to his Rank. But the Reasons your Excellency offers are so forcible that it should seem impracticable to comply with Genl Irvine’s Wishes without very...
317To George Washington from the Board of War, 20 March 1780 (Washington Papers)
The board do themselves the honor to inclose copies of some letters which they have recd on the subject of the Supplies of the Army. They are exceedingly concerned that the prospects from some of them, are so unpromising. And are much alarmed for the consequences; nor can they conjecture what may be the event, unless the late regulations in the finances produce a favorable change in our...
318To George Washington from the Board of War, 13 October 1779 (Washington Papers)
We have been honoured with your Letter of the 8th and have communicated to Mr Murray and Major Stein the mode of procuring the Exchange of the latter for Major Murray as pointed out by your Excellency and which we think very just and right both as to the Thing itself and the manner of conducting it. We will enquire into the Numbers of Men of the marching Regiments detained as Artificers. These...
319From George Washington to the Board of War, 27 May 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have had the Honor to receive Your several favors of the 23d 24th 25th & 25th Instant. I have spoken to the Quarter Master General upon the subject of Waggons and he has written, I believe, both to Mr Pettit & Mr Mitchell to use every possible exertion to obtain a supply. I am exceedingly pained—that we are so deficient in point of Arms. As to the demands you mention to have been made by...
320From George Washington to the Board of War, 23 November 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have been honored with yours of the 12th and 15th instants, in consequence of the latter I dispatched Copies of your letters to Mr Skinner deputy Commissary of prisoners who was not at Elizabeth town to repair thither to take the necessary paroles from Majors General Philips and Riedesel and the Officers accompanying them previous to their going into New York—The paroles taken by Colo. Bland...
321From George Washington to the Board of War, 22 May 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have been honoured with your favor of the 17th Instant. Besides the absence of General Hand and the want of a state of his claim—the Resolution of the 4th of February only authorises me to settle the rank of Officers under the degree of a Brigadier —and therefore at any rate the case between him and General Irvine could not be taken up without special authority for the purpose; which has...
322From George Washington to the Board of War, 3 August 1778 (Washington Papers)
I had the honor of receiving your favour of the 27th Ulto on the 1st instant, inclosing sundry resolves of Congress and other papers respecting two expeditions meditated into the Indian Country one from the Southward and the other from the Northward. I have since the receipt of it been endeavouring to collect the necessary information concerning the means already provided, or to be provided...
323To George Washington from the Board of War, 8 November 1779 (Washington Papers)
The Board have been honoured with yours of the 2d instant relative to the Massachussetts Line. The Commns were delayed by some Embarrassments thrown in the Way by the Government of the State who had made Appointments clashing with the Arrangement as made at Camp & as now confirmed by Congress agreeably to a Report of the Board. These Difficulties being removed the Commissions are now ready &...
324To George Washington from the Board of War, 10 December 1779 (Washington Papers)
The Committee of Congress appointed for the purpose having met the board this morning, after a full consideration of the subject, the following route was agreed on for the march of the Virginia troops to South Carolina; viz. Those troops to embark at Trenton with their baggage & proceed to Christeen, & cross to the Head of Elk; there to embark again & proceed down the bay to Williamsburg,...
325From George Washington to the Board of War, 21 August 1779 (Washington Papers)
On the 19th I received the Honor of Your Letter of the 9th and knowing how very essential harmony is to promote our Affairs and to bring them to a happy conclusion—I was much concerned to find, that there was a cause of difference between You and General Sullivan. I inclose a Copy of a Letter of this date which I have written to Congress in consequence of your Letter upon the subject, in which...
326To George Washington from the Board of War, 3 March 1781 (Washington Papers)
The Board have to acknowledge the Reciept of your Excellency’s Letters of January 10th, 31st & Feby 19th & 23d. The two first should have been answered sooner but the first was mis laid & we waited to have the Determination of Congress on the Subject of the second which is not yet recieved. It is a standing Instruction to the Commissaries of Hides to make Leather Caps out of all Leather which...
327From George Washington to the Board of War, 5 July 1780 (Washington Papers)
I have the honor to transmit You the arrangements of Jackson’s—Webbs & Moylans Regiments—and also a List of promotions to be made in Spencers & the Three Regiments belonging to Jerseys. The want of Commissions in these several instances, is a subject of pressing application, & in many of them, of great dissatisfaction and complaint. I entreat that the Board will have them made out and...
328From George Washington to the Board of War, 16 May 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have been honored with your two favors of the 12th Instant. If the provisions and stores, which are in the Southern States, can be transported by water, it will without question be infinitely more eligible, than the present mode of conveyance, which is and must be attended with great delay and vast expence. The vessels to be employed in this business, I should suppose, ought to be small and...
329To George Washington from the Board of War, 17 February 1781 (Washington Papers)
There are about four hundred of the Oneidas & Tuscaroras in & about Schenectady who from their Attachment to the Cause of the United States have been under the Necessity of abandoning their Settlements & taking Refuge under the Protection of the United States. These People are extremely wretched being destitute of Clothing & but precariously supplied with Provisions. It is unfortunately but...
330From George Washington to the Board of War, 14 May 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have been honoured with Your Letters of the 7th & 10th Instant. With respect to the matters submitted by the first—The Commissary General of Military Stores has certainly a right to direct in every thing relative to the execution of the public works, under his care—and every Officer stationed at the Laboratories is bound so far, to follow his directions. The rank of Lieut. Colonel which he...
331From George Washington to the Board of War, 5 September 1780 (Washington Papers)
I have received Mr Stoddart’s Letter of the 28th of August, with a Copy of the Resolution of the 12th, to which it refers. I see, for the reasons mentioned, that there will be a good deal of difficulty in making out the List of the Officers directed by the Act—and I am sorry that I have it not in my power to give the Board the assistance I could wish; but such as I can render they shall most...
332From George Washington to the Board of War, 29 July 1776 (Washington Papers)
At length I have been able to comply with the first part of a Resolution of Congress of the 27 Ulto relative to a return of the vacancies in the Several Regiments composing that part of the Army under my immediate command. I thought to have made this Return much sooner, but the dispersed situation of our Troops—the constant duty they are upon—the difficulty of getting returns when this is the...
333To George Washington from the Board of War, 8 November 1776 (Washington Papers)
Mr Lewis (a Brother Deligate) has given Congress Information that Application had been made to your Excellency by a Flag from Genl Howe to permit Mrs Watts & Mrs Barrow the Pay Masters Wife to go to their Husbands in New York and at the same Time requested Congress to assi[s]t him with their Authority to obtain the Release of his Lady whom the Enemy would not permit to come out—the House...
334From George Washington to the Board of War, 12 October 1780 (Washington Papers)
I beg leave to inclose You the Commissions of Lts Emerson & Baxton of the 11th Massachusetts Regiment which it seems are wrong. Mr Emerson is intitled to rank, it is reported, from the 7th of November 1777 and Mr Baxton also as a Lieutenant from the same date. It seems unfortunately that there are many Errors in the Captains & Inferior Officers Commissions in this line, occasioned by the...
335To George Washington from the Board of War, 5 January 1780 (Washington Papers)
We have the Honour to enclose an Extract of a Letter from Mr Henry of Lancaster on the Subject of Hides whereby we find little good Effect has been produced from the Order you were pleased to give at our Instance for 2,000 to be sent to Philadelphia. The general Account of the Hides in Mr Hatfield’s Care deserves serious Attention & Enquiry as, if it be true, great Mismanagement must appear on...
336To Thomas Jefferson from the Board of War, 16 November 1779 (Jefferson Papers)
The Board, from a variety of circumstances, think it probable that the British army may intend some Offensive operations against this State the ensuing Winter. Not only the exposed position of this Country, and its particular situation so favorable to the plans of predatory warfare, lead them to this opinion, but they are Strengthened in it, by the unsuccessful Attempt on the Savannah, and the...
337From George Washington to Board of War, 23 March 1781 (Washington Papers)
Upon my return from Newport three days ago, I found your favor of the 3d. I look upon the procuring shoes and Accoutrements to be so much more essential than that of Caps that I would not wish the matters carried into execution while there is the least danger of its interfering with the manufacture of those necessary articles. I recommended the measure upon a presumption that there would be...
338From George Washington to the Board of War, 18 April 1780 (Washington Papers)
I have the Honor to transmit You the Arrangement of Harrison’s—Lamb’s, Crane’s & proctor’s Battallions of Artillery, on which You will be pleased to issue Commissions. The Relative ranks of the Field Officers & of all Captains as well those belonging to separate Companies as to the Battallions are set down after the Regimental arrangements, with the proper numbers against each, by which their...
339From George Washington to the Board of War, 15 April 1779 (Washington Papers)
I am honored with your favours of the 7th and 9th. It is infinitely to be lamented, that the Clothiers department still remains on so undecided and precarious a footing—The Board’s observation on the present expedient is evidently just. Our prospects for the future supply of cloathing from every thing that has come to my knowlege are truly deplorable. I am happy in the measures persuing to...
340To George Washington from the Board of War, 18 October 1780 (Washington Papers)
When Capt. Joel was committed to our Charge we thought it proper to examine him & among a Variety of Matter of an unimportant Nature he informed us of there being a Major General in the Service of America who was in British pay. As we conceived this to be a Tale calculated to magnify his Importance or to extract Money from the public we contented ourselves with mentioning the Circumstance to...
341From George Washington to the Board of War, 25 June 1780 (Washington Papers)
I have been honoured with Your several Letters of the 17th—19th & 20, which the constant movements of the Army have prevented me from answering till this time. With respect to the subject of the first and of the Letter it inclosed for General Howe—I beg leave to inform the Board it had long since claimed my particular attention and every measure had been taken by me that appeared practicable...
342To George Washington from the Board of War, 27 July 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have the Honour to enclose several Resolutions of Congress relative to two Expeditions intended to be undertaken against the Indians. Had our Affairs permitted an earlier Attention to this Business or our Abilities in the Articles of supply enabled us sooner to proceed in it much Distress to the Inhabitants of the Frontiers would have been avoided. But as the principal Armies were our...
343To George Washington from the Board of War, 22 February 1780 (Washington Papers)
The board do themselves the honor to forward returns of Maj. Lee’s Corps, Von Heers Corps, Schots Corps—& of five Companies of the German Regiment, which are all the returns they have, of those requested in your Excellencys favors of the 15th & 18th instant. Col. Armand is now in the City, & is directed to have a return of his Corps prepared; which will be forwarded as soon as finished—but...
344To George Washington from the Board of War, 9 May 1780 (Washington Papers)
I do myself the Honor to transmit your Excellency, copies of sundry Letters from south Carolina, giving intelligence of the Military operations in that quarter. I have the Honor to be with the highest respect Your Excellency’s Most Obedient and very Hble Servt ALS , DLC:GW . Board of War secretary pro tempore Joseph Carleton apparently enclosed copies of three letters: Maj. Gen. Benjamin...
345To George Washington from the Board of War, 3 December 1779 (Washington Papers)
We beg leave to inclose to you copies of two letters to Congress from Baron Steuben & Mr Galvan, the originals of which have been referred to this board. Baron Steuben & Baron de Kalb have written to us on the subject of those letters; and we have seen your Excellency’s certificate relative to Mr Galvan. From the whole, as well as from our own observation in repeated conversations, we are...
346From George Washington to Board of War, 30 March 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have been honored with your favor of the 22d instant inclosing the heads of two plans for the incorporation of the departments of Qr Mr General and Commissaries General of purchases and Issues and that of the Commissary of prisoners in some degree, the whole to be under the direction of the Quarter Master General—If there is an absolute necessity for such a reform, I do not hesitate in...
347From George Washington to the Board of War, 19 February 1781 (Washington Papers)
I was duely honored with your favor of the 23d of January —The disturbances in some lines of the Army, and the remote situation of others, prevented the new arrangements from coming to hand so early and regularly, as they would otherwise have done—they are now chiefly got in, and you will find, under cover, those of the New Hampshire—Massachusetts—Rhode Island—Connecticut—New York—New Jersey...
348To George Washington from the Board of War, 3 September 1779 (Washington Papers)
We have been honoured with your Excellency’s Letter of the 26th Ulto. Our Information to you on the Subject of Col: Humpton’s Orders for Boots & Shoes was not intended to be the Occasion of giving you so much Trouble. We are however obliged by your State of the Matter as it will enable us to judge of the Propriety of any future Applications under similar Circumstances. If our Stock of Leather...
349From George Washington to the Board of War, 4 April 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have had the Honor to receive your favors of the 30th & 31st Ulto and two of the 1st Inst.—with the several papers to which they refer. If Lieutenant Colo. Mebane was the oldest Lieut. Colonel in the North Carolina line when Colo. Hogan was promoted to the rank of a Brigadier, he unquestionably according to the principles of rank recomd should be appointed Lieutenant Colonel Commandant —and...
350Enclosure: Major General Steuben to the Board of War, January 1780 (Washington Papers)
Delivered to the Board of War by Major General steuben on Friday Jany 28th 1780. The incomplete state & Extreme inequality of our Regiments of Infantry, against all good Order and regular formation, induced me last Campaign to present to H[is] E[xcellency] the Commander in Chief a Plan of formation for an Order of Battle, in which I joined Two and three Regiments together in Order to form a...
351To George Washington from the Board of War, 19 November 1779 (Washington Papers)
We have the Honour to enclose Copies of the Letters passed between Council & the Board relative to the Pennsilvania Cloathing. By these Enclosures your Excellency will perceive the State of that Bussiness. We beg your Excellency will be pleased to inform the Board of the Number of Troops detached for the Southward under the late resolution of Congress that we may order the Means of...
352To George Washington from the Board of War, 3 January 1780 (Washington Papers)
The Board have a Plan of Intelligence accompanied with some other Matters of which we will hereafter inform your Excellency & which being communicated to a Comittee of Congress has been approved by that Comittee. To carry this plan into Execution we have employed Major Howell late of the 2d Jersey Regt commanded by Col. Shreve. Major Howell desires that, to facilitate the Measures we have...
353Enclosure: Major General Johann Kalb to the Board of War, 20 June 1780 (Washington Papers)
I had the honour to write to you from Petersburg the 6th Instant that I was to march the Second Brigade next day, but I could not effect it untill the 11th for want of the most neccessary Waggons. I shall march the first Brigade and Colonel Harresson’s Artillery to morrow towards Hillsbourough where I shall be joined by the Secd Brigade under Genl Gest, and by Colonel Porterfield who has with...
354To George Washington from the Board of War, 20 December 1779 (Washington Papers)
We have received from Colo. Sheldon a letter and return of cloathing for his regt—of the latter a copy is inclosed. The Commissions he requests we shall send him, except his own & capt. Hoogland’s, which will be suspended until their dates are settled by your Excellency. The cloathing demanded being for a complete regiment, upon the expectation of recruiting to the full complement, we declined...
355From George Washington to the Board of War, 22 July 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have now to acknowledge the Honor of Your Several Letters of the 28 Ulto and of the 10th 11th 14th & 15th Instant with the several papers & Commissions to which they refer. With respect to the Baron De Geismar’s application, I should be very happy to have his Exchange effected; both because it has been uniformly my wish to promote exchanges, and because it would give me pleasure to...
356From George Washington to the Board of War, 25 March 1780 (Washington Papers)
I have been honored with your favors of the 10th 15th 17th and 20th Instants. The Resolve of Congress empowering the Board to order General Courts Martial occasionally had never been transmitted to me, to which account I hope they will place my former doubts upon the propriety of the measure—There is an error in dating the Copy of the Resolve with which you were pleased to furnish me, it now...
357From George Washington to the Board of War, 2–3 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
Your several Letters of the 23d, 24th & 27th Ulto have been recieved. Agreable to your request I shall communicate to Genl Howe the information you have recieved respecting Captn Dick and the other American Officers, with your determination to retaliate on an equal number of their Officers, till Captain Dick &c. are relieved from their cruel & unjustifiable treatment. It would be a happy...
358From George Washington to the Board of War, 24 December 1779 (Washington Papers)
General Arnold, whose trial is now going on, has represented that the Evidence of Colo. Mitchell is so material that he cannot dispense with it—and that without it—his Trial cannot be brought to a conclusion. I had on the application of the General, summoned him to attend, but by a Letter from him of the 17th he has deferred coming till he should receive farther directions, alledging “that the...
359From George Washington to the Board of War, 23 June 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have been honoured with Your favors of the 11 & 12 Instant. The point with respect to Monsieur Garanger shall be determined as soon, as opportunity will permit. I transmit the Board a General Arrangement of the Officers in the York line to the Captains inclusive—and a particular arrangement of each Regiment; also an Arrangement of the Field Officers in the Pensylvania line and of the 4th P....
360From George Washington to the Board of War, 10 February 1780 (Washington Papers)
I have, agreeable to the Resolve of Congres⟨s⟩ of the 12th Novemr, formed a regimental arrangement of the eleven Companies of Artificers at pres[ent] acting in a detached manner under the direction of the Quarter Master General —who I have consulted on the occasion, as being better acquainted with the merits of the Officers, and the nature of the service, than I could possibly be. —I have...