1To George Washington from Patrick Henry, 17 July 1775 (Washington Papers)
Introduces Benjamin Ellery of Rhode Island, who “wishes to visit your Camp.” ALS , MiU-C : Thomas Gage Papers. The document’s location indicates that the British intercepted it before it reached GW. Patrick Henry (1736–1799) of Hanover County, Va., served with GW in the First Continental Congress and was a member of the Second Continental Congress until early August 1775, at which time he was...
2From the Virginia Delegates in Congress to George Washington, 26 July 1775 (Jefferson Papers)
With the most cordial warmth we recommend our Countryman Mr. Edmund Randolph to your patronage and favor. This young Gentlemans abilities, natural and acquired, his extensive connections, and above all, his desire to serve his Country in this arduous struggle, are circumstances that cannot fail to gain him your countenance and protection. You will readily discern Sir, how important a...
3To George Washington from Patrick Henry, 31 July 1775 (Washington Papers)
Recommends “the Bearer Mr Frazer,” who “means to enter the American Camp, & there to gain that Experience, of which the general Cause may be avail’d. It is my earnest wish that many Virginians might see Service. It is not unlikely that in the Fluctuation of things our Country may have occasion for great military Exertions.” ALS , DLC:GW . The bearer was apparently John Grizzage Frazer, a...
4To George Washington from Patrick Henry, 20 September 1776 (Washington Papers)
After a long & Severe Illness, I am now but just able to come hither in Order to discharge as I may be able, the Dutys of my public Station. Will you pardon me for asking the Favor of a Correspondence with you? Besides the pleasure it will give me, I shall be taught by your Ideas, to form more correct Opinions, of those Movements that may be proposed for the general Defence in this Quarter. It...
5From George Washington to Patrick Henry, 5 October 1776 (Washington Papers)
Your Obliging favor of the 20th Ulto came duly to hand, and demands my best acknowledgments. I congratulate You Sir most cordially upon your appointment to the Government & with no less sincerity on your late recovery—Your Correspondence will confer honor and satisfaction, and whenever it is in my power I shall write to you with pleasure—Our retreat from Long Island under the peculiar...
6From George Washington to Patrick Henry, 24 February 1777 (Washington Papers)
Mr Walker has, I doubt not, informed you of the situation in which I have placed him, in Order that he may obtain the best information; and, at the same time, have his real design hid from the World; thereby avoiding the evils which might otherwise result from such Appointments, if adopted by other States. It will naturally occur to you, Sir, that there are some Secrets, on the keeping of...
7To George Washington from Patrick Henry, 29 March 1777 (Washington Papers)
I am very sorry to inform you that the recruitting Business of late goes on so badly, that there remains but little prospect of filling the six new Battalions from this State voted by the Assembly. the Board of Council see this with great Concern; and after much Reflection on the Subject, are of Opinion, that the Deficiency in our Regulars, can no Way be supply’d so properly, as by inlisting...
8From George Washington to Patrick Henry, 13 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
I yesterday Evening had the honor to receive the favor of your Letter of the 29th Ulto. It gives me much concern to hear, the recruiting service proceeds so slowly in most of the States; That it is the case in Virginia affects me in a peculiar manner. I feel myself much obliged by the polite respect your Honorable Board of Council are pleased to shew to my Opinion, & am under the necessity of...
9From George Washington to Patrick Henry, 17 May 1777 (Washington Papers)
When I had the honour of addressing You on the 13th Ult. I flattered myself that, tho’ the recruiting Service did not succeed to our Wishes, a sufficient Reinforcement would ’ere this have enabled me to open the Campaign in such a manner as to have recommended the Service to the lower Class of People, and thereby to have removed the necessity of compelling them to inlist. But that Hope has...
10From George Washington to Patrick Henry, 31 May 1777 (Washington Papers)
I This morning received information, which I beleive is not to be doubted, that on Saturday last, A large fleet consisting of a Hundred Sail, left New York & stood out to sea. Whither they are destined, or what they had on Board, remains to be known. If possessing Hudson’s River, should not be Genl How’s first object I should suppose his Operations will be against Philadelphia, and that this...
11To George Washington from Patrick Henry, 5 September 1777 (Washington Papers)
Edmund Randolph Esqr. communicated to me that part of your last Letter to him, in which you are pleased to take Notice of your Ladys Reception at this place. I beg you to be assured that every Expression of Regard, falls short of that which I feel, & shall retain thro’ Life, for such distinguished Merit. You are pleased also to observe that you have not recd any Answer from me to your two...
12To George Washington from Patrick Henry, 8 September 1777 (Washington Papers)
The Defence of this Country now rests upon the Militia, our regular Troops being absent. As the Enemy may possibly visit us unexpectedly, & the Militia cannot be long kept embodyed, the Necessity of having the earliest Notice of the Enemys Embarkation, is apparent. In order to be furnished with that Intelligence upon which the Safety of the State depends, I have directed Capt. peirce to wait...
13From George Washington to Patrick Henry, 3 October 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have been honored with yours of the 5th and 8th ⟨Septemr.⟩ As you are pleased to make allowance for the great variety ⟨of⟩ Business that engages my attention, I must plead that in ex⟨cuse⟩ for not acknowledging the rect of your favors sooner. Had any thing in the motions of the Enemy seemed to indicate an attack upon Virginia, I should not have delayed one moment in giving you proper...
14To George Washington from Patrick Henry, 23 October 1777 (Washington Papers)
The Militia from Culpepper County were promised by their Colo., that they should be releived by the last of this Month; and as it is impossible to march a like Number from Virginia in Time to comply with that Engagement, I trouble you with this requesting that you will be pleased to discharge them at the Time they were promised Releif, unless they chuze to serve longer. With the highest...
15To George Washington from Patrick Henry, 29 October 1777 (Washington Papers)
The Regiment of Artillery commanded by Colonel Charles Harrison, is yet in this State. They have been detained here under leave of Congress to do Duty at Portsmouth and York, near which Plaice the Enemy’s Ships of War have been long hovering. At present, seven Men of War & three large Transports or provision Vessels, are in and near Hampton Road. The Troops of the State are so few, that the...
16To George Washington from Patrick Henry, 30 October 1777 (Washington Papers)
My great Anxiety for the Success of the american Arms under your Command, induces me to trouble you with this. Accounts from the Camp are so various & contradictory, that I know not what to rely on. If the Weight of public Affairs, under which you hav so long labor’d will permit, a few Lines will be most welcome to me. Altho’ it seems impossible to inlist continental Recruits here, yet the...
17From George Washington to Patrick Henry, 13 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
I was, two days ago, honored with your favs. of the 29th and 30th October. I wish it were in my power to keep up a more regular Correspondence with the different States, but being exceedingly pressed by a variety of Business, I am often under the necessity of being deficient in that respect. Since the Engagement at Germantown no material alteration has happened in the Situation of the two...
18From George Washington to Patrick Henry, 13 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
I shall beg leave to refer you to a Letter of mine which accompanies this, and of equal date, for a general account of our situation and wants. The design of this, is only to inform you, (and with great truth I can do it, strange as it may seem) that the Army which I have had under my immediate command, has not, at any one time since General Howe’s Landing at the Head of Elk, been equal in...
19To George Washington from Patrick Henry, 22 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
It was with equal Surprize & Concern that I received Dispatches from Congress, informing me that the Army under your Excellency’s Command, was in so great Want of Necessarys. In order to give the most effectual Releif in the power of this State, Application has been made to several Merchants by our Commissary of Stores, & an Agent sent Southwardly, to purchase Goods. About 3,000 yards blue...
20To George Washington from Patrick Henry, 6 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
Inclosed I have the Honor to transmit you an Accot of Necessarys sent off in nine Waggons, for the Virginia Regiments in continental Service. The goods have been deliver’d Colo. Finnie the Quarter Master, & he has put them under the Escort of Leiutent Mennis & a party of Soldiers, who I trust will deliver them safely. It is my Wish that the Troops of Virginia shall have them. I also send a...
21To George Washington from Patrick Henry, 9 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
An Act of the general Assembly passed last Year empowering me to appoint some proper person to reinlist the Virginia Troops. I did appoint General Stephen, & several Letters passed between us upon the Subject, and by an Extract of a Letter from him to me which I inclose, it appears considerable Progress was made by him in that Business. I have heard that General Stephen is no longer in...
22From George Washington to Patrick Henry, 10 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
I was honored with yours of the 22d ulto on Wednesday last, but the Situation which the Army has since been in has prevented me from answering it before—Genl Howe had been for some time preparing for a move which every account from the City informed me was intended against this Army. On Thursday Evening he advanced as far as Chesnut Hill and in the Morning he appeared upon the Heights about...
23From George Washington to Patrick Henry, 19 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
On Saturday Evening I was honored with your favor of the 6th Instant, and am much obliged by your exertions for Cloathing the Virginia Troops. The Articles you send shall be applied to their use agreable to your wishes. It will be difficult for me to determine when the Troops are supplied, owing to their fluctuating and deficient state. However I beleive there will be little reason to suspect...
24From George Washington to Patrick Henry, 27 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
On Wednesday I had the Honor to receive Your Letter of the 9th Instant. I have directed a Compleat state of the Virginia Troops to be made, which if done and I expect it will, I will transmit by the Next post. From it you will be able to discover the amount of the Whole—their deficiency—How many Men of the Old Regiments have reinlisted &c. I do not recollect ever to have heard, that Genl...
25From George Washington to Patrick Henry, 3 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
Colo. Innes having staid a few days longer than he expected, it affords me an opportunity of inclosing you the Returns of the Virginia Regiments which I promised in mine of the 27th December. I refer you to Colo. Innes for more full information, than I have given you by letter, of matters relating to the Virginia line. A valuable prize has fallen into General Smallwoods hands at Wilmington, I...
26To George Washington from Patrick Henry, 28 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
By the second Clause of the Act of Assembly, which I have the Honor to inclose to your Excellency, a Bounty of Twenty Dollars is directed to be paid to the soldiers composing the Virginia Corps under your Command, reinlisted. I beg the Favor of your Excellency to inform me of the most effectual Method of managing this Business, which I wish to conduct in the Manner most acceptable to you. With...
27George Washington to Patrick Henry, 19 February 1778 (Hamilton Papers)
Valley Forge, February 19, 1778 . Describes distressing situation of Army. States that unless effective measures are taken, another campaign may prove impossible. Requests Henry to send all available supplies to Army. Df , in writing of H, George Washington Papers, Library of Congress. Henry was governor of Virginia.
28From George Washington to Patrick Henry, 19 February 1778 (Washington Papers)
The melancholy prospect before us, with respect to supplies of provisions induces me, reluctantly to trouble you on a subject which does not naturally fall within the circle of your attention. The situation of the Commissary’s department and of the army, in consequence, is more deplorable, than you can easily imagine. We have frequently suffered temporary want and great inconveniences, and for...
29To George Washington from Patrick Henry, 20 February 1778 (Washington Papers)
you will no Doubt be surprized at seeing the inclosed Letter, in which the Encomiums bestowed on me are as undeserved, as the Censures aimed at you are unjust. I am sorry there should be one man who counts himself my Friend, who is not yours. Perhaps I give you needless Trouble in handing you this paper. The Writer of it may be too insignificant to deserve any Notice. If I knew this to be the...
30To George Washington from Patrick Henry, 5 March 1778 (Washington Papers)
By an Express which Colo. Finnie sent to Camp, I inclosed you an Anonymous Letter, which I hope got safe to Hand. I am anxious to hear something that will serve to explain the strange Affair which I am now informed is taken up respecting you. Mr Custis has just paid us a Visit, & by him I learn sundry particulars concerning Genl Mifflin, that much surprize me. ’Tis very hard to trace the...