1From John Adams to Horatio Gates, 18 March 1780 (Adams Papers)
The Marquis de la Fayettes Brother, the Viscount de Noailles tells me, he should be glad to take Letters to America, and I dont know to whom I can give him a Letter with more Propriety than to the General of Saratoga. I should be proud to return any Civilities you may shew him to any of your Friends, who may travell to Paris. I want very much to know, what Scope the Ennemy have from New York,...
2From John Adams to Horatio Gates, 13 August 1776; 18 August 1776 (Adams Papers)
Your Favours of 24 June, and 17. July, are before me. I wish with all my Heart that you were Dictator at Ticonderoga, as much as it was intended you Should be, in Canada. Not for the sake of promoting Mr. Rice, nor any other particular Person, but for the good of the Service in general. Let me ask you however, by the Way, whether, Rice would not do for a Judge Advocate in that Department? I...
3From John Adams to Horatio Gates, 18 June 1776 (Adams Papers)
We have ordered you to the Post of Honour, and made you Dictator in Canada for Six Months, or at least untill the first of October. — We dont choose to trust you Generals, with too much Power, for too long Time. I took my Pen, at this Time, to mention to you the Name of a young Gentleman, and recommend him to your Notice and Favour. His Name is Rice. This Gentleman is the Son of a worthy...
4From John Adams to Horatio Gates, 23 March 1776 (Adams Papers)
I had the Pleasure, a few days ago, of your Favour of 8th. Instant, for which I esteem myself under great obligations to you. We rejoice here at the Prospect there is of your driving the Enemy from Boston. If you should Succeed in this I hope effectual Measures will be taken to fortify the Harbour, that the Navy may never enter it again. I think the Narrows may be So obstructed that large...
5From John Adams to Horatio Gates, 27 April 1776 (Adams Papers)
Your Favour of the Twenty third, I received Yesterday, and it put me into a good Humour, the Benefit of which I feel to this Moment, and shall continue to experience a long Time. Was you idle enough to read the Tales in the London Papers and Magazines, a few years ago concerning the Cock Lane Ghost, and the others concerning a Man of Six feet high who leaped into a Quart Bottle and corked...
6From Benjamin Franklin to Horatio Gates, 5 March 1780 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I embrace this Opportunity of the Marquis de La Fayette’s return to the Army, to Salute you, my dear old friend, and to present you with my best Wishes for your Health and prosperity. He will deliver you a Book lately published by General Burgoyn to explain and account for his misfortune. The perusal may amuse you to make the work compleat— Methinks he ought to have...
7From Benjamin Franklin to Horatio Gates, 28 August 1776 (Franklin Papers)
Transcript: Harvard University Library The Congress being advised, that there was a probability that the Hessians might be induced to quit the British service by offers of land, &c., came to two resolves for this purpose, which, being translated into German and printed, are sent to Staten Island to be distributed, if practicable, among those people. Some of them have tobacco marks on the back,...
8From Benjamin Franklin to [Horatio Gates], 2 June 1779 (Franklin Papers)
LS : New-York Historical Society I received your obliging Letter by the Chevalier De Ramondis who appears extreamly sensible of the Civilities he received at Boston, and very desirous of being serviceable to the American Cause; his Wound is not yet right, as he tells me there is a part of the Bone still to be cut off. But he is otherwise well and chearful, and has a great Respect for you. The...
9To George Washington from Major General Horatio Gates, 24 September 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have the Honour to inclose for Your Excellency’s Determination, a petition I have just received from the Canadian Soldiers in Col: James Livingston’s Regiment. Baron Stuben assured me, he would make such Report of that Regiment to your Excellency, as would induce some orders to be taken thereupon, the most Beneficial to the public Service; at present they are a very unprofitable Corps to the...
10To George Washington from Major General Horatio Gates, 29 April 1778 (Washington Papers)
The Board have been favoured with your Excellency’s Letter of the 27th instant relative to the Laboratory at Lebanon. It has been with no small Concern that we have percieved the Affairs in the Commissary General’s Department exceedingly deranged. We cannot find any Neglect in the Gentleman at the Head of it as we believe him to be an active & good Officer. But the same Discontents &...
11To George Washington from Major General Horatio Gates, 24 June 1778 (Washington Papers)
In a Letter I have lately received from Colonel Hughes, is the following paragraph. “I am to acquaint You that a Regiment of Foreigners are stationed at Springfield, by Order of General Heath. They are Commanded by a French Colonel; but I cannot help thinking them very dangerous at that post, as most, if not all of them, were lately under General Burgoyne.” I imagine this must be Colonel...
12To George Washington from Major General Horatio Gates, 23 September 1778 (Washington Papers)
Inclosed is a Letter I received Yesterday by the Bearer Doctor Johnston, from General Stark —From intelligence from different places, corresponding with each Other, there is the Strongest reason to believe, that The Enemy meditate an Attack, both by Sea, & Land, upon Boston, and The French Fleet; indeed, they can now, have no Other Objects; in my Letter to Congress of the 3d June last, I...
13To Thomas Jefferson from Horatio Gates, 27 September 1780 (Jefferson Papers)
Inclosed is a Copy of a Letter I received Yesterday Afternoon by Colonel Senf, it deserves immediate Notice, and Attention, for unless the Troops, when they are assembled and Equip’d are enabled to march forward, it will cause a most injurious Delay to the Public Service. If Bills at Sixty Days sight, upon the Treasuries of Virga. and Maryland will supply the necessary and unavoidable Expences...
14To George Washington from Major General Horatio Gates, 16 July 1776 (Washington Papers)
Inclosed is a Copy of the Letter with which I have charged Mr Lewis to the president of The Honourable The Continental Congress; it is too disagreeable a Tale to dwell on, I shall not therefore enlarge upon it; I beg the Favour Mr Lewis may have your Orders not to Delay in New York, but proceed immediately to Philadelphia. General Sullivan has probably by this Time seen your Excellency, he...
15To George Washington from Major General Horatio Gates, 9 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
At five yesterday evening, I had the honour to receive Your Excellency’s Letter of the 7th: Inclosed is the proceedings of a General Court Martial held upon two Men, suspected to be Spies; they are sent to Your Excellency under the care of Brigade Major Marshall, who has a quantity of Counterfeit Money to deliver to Your Excellency, that was found upon the delinquents. The Prisoner,...
16To Thomas Jefferson from Horatio Gates, 9 February 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
When Men, like Women, go astray—there is no knowing where they will Stop. One act of folly, or Wickedness, brings another after it and down right Prostitution is the Consequence.—Our Feds: began with the Project of putting up Burr against You, and this on the Hollow principle with respect to him, that he would be lost to the Republican Party, and that at another Election he could be set aside...
17To Thomas Jefferson from Horatio Gates, 16 August 1784 (Jefferson Papers)
Inclosed is a Letter from our Valuable Friend Colo. Monroe who went from hence up the North River Thursday last, and purposes going by Montreal, through the Lakes Erie, and Ontario, and so by presque Isle to pitsbourg, from whence he is to proceed to Trenton by the meeting of Congress, the 26th: October next. His remarks, and Fravels History, you will receive by the First packet after his...
18To George Washington from Major General Horatio Gates, 19 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
Having most attentively examin’d the several important Objects, which Your Excellency recommended to the consideration of each Member who Composed the late Council of War, I find from the uncertainty of Your Excellencys intelligence, respecting the Designs of the Enemy; That two opinions are to be Given. The One; in Case The Fleet, & Army now in, and near New York, & upon Rhode Island, should...
19To George Washington from Horatio Gates, 17 August 1782 (Washington Papers)
General Lincoln has in his letter of yesterday acquainted me that it is your Excellencys desire to know, if I wish to take Command in the Army this Campaign. I beg your Excellency to believe that I am always ready to Obey your Commands, and shall be most happy when I can execute them to your satisfaction; I have but to entreat, that no attention to me, or my Rank , may interfere, or break in,...
20To George Washington from Major General Horatio Gates, 22 June 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have the pleasure to Own the receipt of Your Excellency’s Letter of the 12th, Instant, and find the Enemy (although ready to remove) had not then evacuated Philadelphia. Some great decisive Stroke in War, or politicks, must immediately determine the Line of Conduct the Commissioners resolve to take. I am only vexed, so much precious time is lost upon our Side, by those whose duty it is to...
21To Thomas Jefferson from Horatio Gates, 15 April 179[3] (Jefferson Papers)
In compliance with your request, I have Inclosed you all The Letters I was Honoured with from you, during my Command to the Southward; and during your Administration of The Government of Virginia; Those from me, To You; shall, as soon as they can be Transcribed out of my Letter Book, be forwarded in like manner to your Hands: Mrs: Gates Joins me in Compliments and in the Hope, that you will be...
22To George Washington from Major General Horatio Gates, 3 September 1780 (Washington Papers)
I had the Day before Yesterday the Honor to receive your Excellency’s Letter, dated the 8th August from Orange Town. It gave me infinite Satisfaction to find, you had baffled Sir Harry Clinton’s Designs, and was to all Appearance in so prosperous a Situation. Heaven grant you the greatest Honor and Success. As to the Situation of Affairs here, since my last Letter to Your Excellency of the...
23To George Washington from Maj. Gen. Horatio Gates, 4 March 1778 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Maj. Gen. Horatio Gates, 4 Mar. 1778. On 9 Mar., GW wrote to Gates : “I have been this day favd with yours of the 27th February and of the 2d 3d and 4th instants.”
24To George Washington from Major General Horatio Gates, 7 November 1778 (Washington Papers)
I had the Honor to receive Your Excellency’s Letter of the 1st Instant, with the intelligence from Lord Stirling inclosed; being then at Springfield, I sent an Express to General Poor, immediately, with Copies thereof. I arrived here Yesterday Morning, and find General Heath has indulged the Convention Troops, to remain until Monday Morning in their present Quarters, as they hourly expect...
25To Benjamin Franklin from Horatio Gates, 7 December 1775 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I did myself the Pleasure to write you upon Monday by Express. I now inclose to you, a Copy of General Lees Letter lately sent to General Burgoyne which if you approve of it may be publish’d in the News paper. I long to send you Lees and my Opinions of the measures to be pursued in Consequence of the Conquest of Canada, that is the Military Measures, somany...
26To George Washington from Major General Horatio Gates, 14 February 1778 (Washington Papers)
Some new piece of Tyranny & Barbarity is constantly turning up on the part of the Enemy. The Board have received information of one in which they request your E[x]cellency’s assistance. A Colonel Daniel Heister Jr of this State an active good whig who in the association formerly existing here had a Regiment of Militia, applied to the former Board of War in the course of last June for...
27To George Washington from Major General Horatio Gates, 13 July 1778 (Washington Papers)
This morning early, I was honoured by the receipt of Your Excellency’s Letter of the 11th—dated from pyramus Church. In Obedience to Your Excellency’s Commands, to give my Opinion of the Disposition to be immediately made, of the Troops marching with Your Excellency, I presume to say, that I perfectly approve of Your Excellency’s keeping the Right Wing, & Second Line of the Grand Army, upon...
28To George Washington from Major General Horatio Gates, 23 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
I am just now honour’d with the receipt of Your Excellency’s Letter of the 14th Instant, from White Marsh. I have never entertained the smallest Idea, that General Burgoyne should be permitted to Change the port of Embarkation, or that the least variation of the Spirit, and Letter of the Convention, would be indulged to the Troops under his Command. There is no doubt, but the British Regiments...
29To George Washington from Major General Horatio Gates, 17 December 1776 (Washington Papers)
General Arnold this moment received from me Your Excellencys Letter to Him of the 14th Instant—From Intelligence, which he thinks authentic, Rhode Island has been some time in possession of the Enemy, and so considerable a Force from Connecticut had Assembled Opposite to Bristol Ferry, as to render any Further attempt of the British Forces impracticable in that Quarter. upon mature...
30To George Washington from Major General Horatio Gates, 8 November 1779 (Washington Papers)
Thursday Night I had the Honour to receive Your Excellencys Letter of the First Instant and immediately gave Orders for moving the Continental Troops over the Bay to Greenwich, but the Weather proving so very Stormy the whole day, that could not be Effected before Saturday Evening; I came myself that Night to providence, and Gave Orders for Jacksons Regiment, Station’d here, to March this...