1To George Washington from Brigadier General John Lacey, Jr., 6 June 1778 (Washington Papers)
the Millitia are free and leaves this tomorrow Morning except thirtten men from Bucks, and about ten from Phila. County just arived; application is made by the President of Bucks County Sessions for a party of men to Bring the Prisoners, sent to Eastown, by the Majurtry of that County to Plumstead Township, where June Court is to be held Next Week, I have thaught proper to order these two...
2From George Washington to Brigadier General John Lacey, Jr., 11 May 1778 (Washington Papers)
Brigadier General Potters return from the Westward, affords me an opportunity of releiving you in the command of the pennsylvania Militia, which must have been fatiguing, considering the smallness of your numbers, and the constant motion which you have consequently been obliged to be in. As General Potter is in a great measure a stranger to the Country and to the people among whom he is to...
3From George Washington to Brigadier General John Lacey, Jr., 3 May 1778 (Washington Papers)
I received yours of yesterday giving me an account of your misfortune. You may depend that this will ever be the consequence of permitting yourself to be surprised, and if that was owing to the misconduct of the Officer who was advanced, you should have him brought to trial—It is not improbable that the Enemy, flushed with their success, will soon be out again, if you keep a strict watch upon...
4To George Washington from Brigadier General John Lacey, Jr., 2 May 1778 (Washington Papers)
My Camp was Surrounded Yester Morning by Day Light With a body of the Enemy who appeared on all Quarters my Scouts neglected the Perseading night to patrole the Roads as they were ordered, but lay in Camp till Near day. one of the Scouts met the Enemy Near two Miles from the Camp, the officer who Commanded Says he Was So Near the Enemy before he Espide them, that he thaught it dangerous to...
5To George Washington from Brigadier General John Lacey, Jr., 27 April 1778 (Washington Papers)
Inclosed is a return of the Militia under my Comand. I hear that more are on their way to join me. I moved from Norwales, (where I had retired to discharge the Northampton Militia) last Saturday about twelve oClock. on hearing a party of the Enemy had filed off from the Germantown Road toward the York Road. I proceed as far as edge Hill hoping to fall in with them, but found on my Arival to...
6To George Washington from Brigadier General John Lacey, Jr., 20 April 1778 (Washington Papers)
I inclosed in a letter Dated the 12th Inst. to your Excellency for your aprobation the Proceedings of a Court Martial, the tryal & Judgment against John Burk, Confined in my provo. this morning about four oClock he made his escape out of the Guard I expect he will make Directly to the Enemy. parties are Sent after him, but I have not the least expectation they will over take him. my Scouting...
7To George Washington from Brigadier General John Lacey, Jr., 12 April 1778 (Washington Papers)
I received your Excellencys favour of yesterdays date last evening. as several of the Prisoners who have been tryed live in the Vicinity of Philada, and from their general Character, I have not the least hope or incouragement to believe they will refrain from their evil ways, and I cannot learn their friends or connections are more reputable than themselves, unless they are with the Enemy, I...
8From George Washington to Brigadier General John Lacey, Jr., 11 April 1778 (Washington Papers)
I recd yours of yesterday inclosing the proceedings of a Court Martial against sundry inhabitants for supplying the Enemy with provision, and a Return of your Brigade. When you have gone thro’ the trials of the whole, I would recommend it to you to send such, as you think dangerous and who would join the Enemy if released, to the president, with a desire to confine them or put them to labour...
9To George Washington from Brigadier General John Lacey, Jr., 9 April 1778 (Washington Papers)
About two oClock in the morning of the 8th Instant Capt. Humphreys with a small party of Continental Troops were surprised at Smithfield by a body of the Enemy supposed to be about 300 the greatest part of which were Refugees and new Levies, Capt. Humphreys narrowly made his escap out of a house where he was lodging, got part of his men out of another House by the back way just as the Enemy...
10From George Washington to Brigadier General John Lacey, Jr., 4 April 1778 (Washington Papers)
Commissioners from me are to meet others from General Howe on Monday next at Newtown to settle a Cartel for a general Exchange of prisoners. During the sitting of the Commissioners none of our parties are to enter the Town, and you are therefore to give immediate notice to all the Officers under your command to pay strict obedience to this order. The British Commissioners will probably come...
11From George Washington to Brigadier General John Lacey, Jr., 31 March 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have received your Letter of the 29th and in answer to your Plan of removing all the Inhabitants in the vicinity of the Enemys Lines, with a view of stopping the communication between the city and the Country—have to observe that the measure is rather desirable than practicable—if it could be carried into execution, it would undoubtedly put an end to the pernicious illicit Commerce which at...
12To George Washington from Brigadier General John Lacey, Jr., 29 March 1778 (Washington Papers)
I had the pleasure to be with General McIntosh the 23d Instant at the Spring House Tavern in Philada County, when the Genl Several field Officers and myself, was of the Opinion that were the Inhabitants who live near, or between, our and the Enemies Lines on this side the Schuylkill; to move Back into the Country, that it would be of the Utmost utility to the publick cause; General McIntosh...
13To George Washington from Brigadier General John Lacey, Jr., 21 March 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have just recd your favour the 20th Inst. I have ordered my Horse some days since (which is fifteen in number) on the different Roads, to keep pretty low down, in order to prevent the Quakers going into the City, I have ordered them, if they refuse to stop when hailed to fire upon them, and to leave their Corps laying in the Road —I shall detach other parties of foot immediately on the...
14From George Washington to Brigadier General John Lacey, Jr., 20 March 1778 (Washington Papers)
Sunday next being the time on which the Quakers hold one of their general meetings, a number of that society will probably be attempting to go into Philadelphia. This is an intercourse that we should by all means endeavour to interrupt, as the plans setled at these meetings are of the pernicious tendency. I would therefore have you dispose of your parties in such a manner as will most probably...
15To George Washington from Brigadier General John Lacey, Jr., 11 March 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have made two attempts to destroy the forrage in the p[o]int, the party was one time disappointed by the Pilot and the other by a party of the Enemies Light horse I Cannot learn their is any forrage of consequence left in it, I have destroyd a Quantity of forrage between the red lyon and Dunkses Ferry. I have moved over into this Quarter to join Colo. Nagle but find he has Returnd to Head...
16To George Washington from Brigadier General John Lacey, Jr., 3 March 1778 (Washington Papers)
I reced your Excellencys favour of the 2d Instant at Seven oClock this evening. it is true I refused the Drover a Guard for the Cattle and the reasons were on Account of the Smallness of my Numbers. four Hundred troops Newly Arived from Cumberland and York Countys but only One Hundred of them at that time had reced any Arms, and near half of them was without Flints. About fifty of Chester...
17From George Washington to Brigadier General John Lacey, Jr., 2 March 1778 (Washington Papers)
I yesterday recd yours of the 27th Feby. I had heard of the loss of the Cattle before it came to hand, and I am sorry to say that the loss is imputed to your having refused to let the drovers have a guard when they applied for one. I shall be glad to know whether it is so, and if true, what could be your reason for refusing. I desire you to send a party of 150 Men, under a good Officer, well...
18To George Washington from Brigadier General John Lacey, Jr., 27 February 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have now under Confinement Twelve persons all taken going into Philada at Different times with small parcels of Marketing on their Backs. I have Just reason to Suspect the Greatest part of them, (as they are Young fellows) are going to join the Enemy, in Capt. Thomas Company of Refugees, as they call themselves. I am informed that parties are now out in Bucks County Collecting as many of...
19From George Washington to Brigadier General John Lacey, Jr., 21 February 1778 (Washington Papers)
I received your Favors of the 19th & 20th Instant. With respect to the three Men you mention to have taken, when going to Philadelphia, I wish you to examine them & the Witnesses on the subject and to punish ’em in such manner, as they may deserve. If there is any of them, who appear to be great Offenders, & to be proper Objects for Capital punishment, you will send them to Head Quarters with...
20To George Washington from Brigadier General John Lacey, Jr., 20 February 1778 (Washington Papers)
My people have taken Several persons going to Market Some of which is now Confind in my provo. three Young Fellows in perticulal, who were going to the Enemy with an entent to Stay with them, they had Meal on their Backs, which they Confess was for Market, they were flying to escape their fines in the Militia. if your Excellency would Direct I would be glad, to try and punnish them here, as it...
21To George Washington from Brigadier General John Lacey, Jr., 19 February 1778 (Washington Papers)
I Reced Your favour of the 8 Instant. I am well acquainted with the Horrid Intercorce kep up between the Country and City, but, I am Sorry I have it to Say, my Strength heretofore has been So weak as Rendered it impossible for me to put a Stop to it. My numbers begin to increase, and I expect in a few Days to be in a Condition to incamp Nearer the City, at present I have out of Better than Six...
22From George Washington to Brigadier General John Lacey, Jr., 13 February 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have yours of the 11th informing me of the reduced State of your Militia. I have wrote to the president on the Subject, and have let him know that unless the number of Men (one thousand) which Genl Armstrong promised should be kept up, are regularly and constantly in the feild, it will be impossible to cover the Country on the other side of Schuylkill. Except such proof can be obtained...
23To George Washington from Brigadier General John Lacey, Jr., 11 February 1778 (Washington Papers)
I must again trouble you with an account of my Inability, on account of my Numbers which is Redused to between Sixty and a hundred, I have informed the Presidend of the State of my Situation, but have not Yet Recd any Relief, or answer. I have in Conjunction with Major Jamosons party of Horse—Rendered the gratest part of the Mills Near the City intirely useless. one John Dennis of Bucks County...
24From George Washington to Brigadier General John Lacey, Jr., 8 February 1778 (Washington Papers)
The communication between the City and country, in spite of every thing hitherto done still continuing, and threatning the most pernicious consequences; I am induced to beg you will exert every possible expedient to put a stoop to it. In order to this, to excite the zeal of the Militia under your command and make them more active in their duty, I would have you to let every thing actually...
25To George Washington from Brigadier General John Lacey, Jr., 26 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have received your Excellency’s favor of the 23d inst. My numbers are reduced so low, that I thought it most prudent to move my Camp a few miles back into the country, till I received a fresh supply of men. I received a letter from the President and Council, dated the 9th inst. advising me of seven classes being called out, and forty Light horse from Philadelphia and Bucks counties, to be...
26From George Washington to Brigadier General John Lacey, Jr., 23 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
I received your favor dated the 21st Instant & must request that you will exert yourself to fulfill the intention of keeping a body of Troops in the Country where you are posted. Protecting the Inhabitants is one of the ends designed, and preventing supplies and intercourse with the Enemy is the other, this, perhaps with the utmost vigilance cannot be totally effected, But I must intreat you...
27To George Washington from Brigadier General John Lacey, Jr., 21 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
Since General Potter Left me, Dozens of the Inhabitants of Germantown and the Neighbourhood are applying, to Carry Flour Beef &c. to that Quarter; I would be Glad to know what Quantity to Permit them to Carry or weathr any. I Learn from Philadelphia that the Prisonrs are Bad off, for Beding If your Excellency pleases I would propose Sending them, one or two Waggon Load of Straw. The Fatigues...