151To George Washington from Maj. Gen. Charles Lee, 20 November 1776 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Maj. Gen. Charles Lee, 20 Nov. 1776. GW wrote Lee on 24 Nov. : “I have received your favor of the 20th.”
152From George Washington to Major General Charles Lee, 21 November 1776 (Washington Papers)
It must be painful to you as well as to us to have no News to send you but of a melancholy Nature. Yesterday Morning the Enemy landed a large Body of Troops below Dobb’s Ferry & advanced very rapidly to the Fort called by your Name. I immediately went over & as the Fort was not tenable on this side & we in a narrow Neck of Land the passes out of wch the Enemy were attempting to sieze directed...
153From George Washington to Major General Charles Lee, 24 November 1776 (Washington Papers)
By the negligent and infamous conduct of the post rider, the Eastern Mail of Friday was brought to Heckensec and there stopped to fall into the hands of the Enemy. Supposing it may have contained some Letters from you of a public nature, I have thought it proper to give you the earliest notice, that you may guard against any advantages the Enemy may expect to derive from the Accident. I...
154From George Washington to Major General Charles Lee, 24 November 1776 (Washington Papers)
I wrote you this morning of the probability, that some of your letters, to me, had fall’n with the mail into the enemy’s hands; My apprehensions on that head, have been since confirmed. By direct intelligence from their camp, I am informed that a letter from you, is confidently said to have come to their hands, & that measures are taking to intercept your march; To prevent them from effecting...
155To George Washington from Major General Charles Lee, 24 November 1776 (Washington Papers)
I have received your Orders and shall endeavour to put ’em in execution, but question much whether I shall be able to carry wth me any considerable number, not so much from a want of zeal in the men, as from their wretched condition with respect to shoes, stockings, blankets, &c which the present bad weather renders more intolerable I sent Heath orders to transport two thousand men across the...
156To George Washington from Major General Charles Lee, 26 November 1776 (Washington Papers)
It never was my idea to leave the Highlands unguarded but only for expedition sake that Heath shou’d detach two thoushand of his Corps immediately over the River and to replace these two thoushand by the same number the most lightly accoutred from this Body here ’till the main Body with their baggage Cannon &cc. coud move—I conceiv’d this movement cou’d be attended with no risk as He has now...
157From George Washington to Major General Charles Lee, 27 November 1776 (Washington Papers)
I last night received the favor of your Letter of the 25th. My former Letters were so full and explicit as to the necessity of your marching as early as possible, that it is unnecessary to add more on that Head. I confess I expected you would have been sooner in motion. The force here when joined by yours, will not be adequate to any great opposition, at present it is weak, and it has been...
158From George Washington to Major General Charles Lee, 29 November 1776 (Washington Papers)
I this morning received your favor of the 26th: Your Letters to Governor Trumbull for a reinforcement of Militia were exceedingly proper, though I doubt much whether they can be obtained, as they have suffered many inconveniences in the course of the present Campaign; Nor was the application to Mr Bowdoin for Cloaths &c. less necessary. I am happy to hear the Men discover so much readiness to...
159To George Washington from Major General Charles Lee, 30 November 1776 (Washington Papers)
I receiv’d yours last night dated the 27th from Newark—You complain of my not being in motion sooner—I do assure you that I have done all in my power and shall explain my difficulties when We have both leisure—I did not succeed with Rogers and merely owing to the timidity or caution of the Enemy who contracted themselves into a compact body very suddenly—I am in hopes I shall be able to render...
160From George Washington to Major General Charles Lee, 1 December 1776 (Washington Papers)
The Enemy are advanci[n]g & have got as far as Woodbridge and Amboy, and from information not to be doubted mean to push to Philadelphia. The force I have with me, is infinitely inferior in number and such as cannot give or promise the least successfull opposition. It is greatly reduced by the departure of the Maryland flying Camp men and Sundry other causes. I must entreat you to hasten your...
161From George Washington to Maj. Gen. Charles Lee, 2 December 1776 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: to Maj. Gen. Charles Lee, 2 Dec. 1776. GW wrote Lee on 3 Dec. : “Having wrote you fully both Yesterday and to day of my situation, It is unnecessary for me to add much at this time.”
162From George Washington to Maj. Gen. Charles Lee, 3 December 1776 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: to Maj. Gen. Charles Lee, 3 Dec. 1776. GW wrote Lee on this date : “Having wrote you fully both Yesterday and to day of my situation, It is unnecessary for me to add much at this time.”
163From George Washington to Major General Charles Lee, 3 December 1776 (Washington Papers)
I was just now favoured with your Letter of the 30th Ulto. Having wrote you fully both Yesterday and to day of my situation, It is unnecessary for me to add much at this time. You will readily agree that I have sufficient cause for my anxiety, and to wish for your arrival as early as possible. In respect to instructions or your Route, you must be governed by circumstances, this has been the...
164To George Washington from Major General Charles Lee, 4 December 1776 (Washington Papers)
I have receiv’d your pressing letter —since which intelligence was sent me that you had quitted Brunswick—so that it is impossible to know where I can join you—but ⟨a⟩ltho I shou’d not be able to join you at all the service which I can render you will I hope be full as efficacious[.] the Northern Army has already advanced nearer Morris Town than I am—I shall put myself at their head...
165From George Washington to Maj. Gen. Charles Lee, December 1776 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: to Maj. Gen. Charles Lee. Lee wrote in his second letter to GW of 8 Dec. : “Major Hoops has just deliver’d to me your Excellencys letter,” and on that same date GW wrote Hancock: “I have no certain intelligence of Genl Lee, although I have sent frequent Expresses to him and lately a Colo. Humpton to bring me some accurate Accounts of his situation. I last night dispatched...
166To George Washington from Major General Charles Lee, 8 December 1776 (Washington Papers)
Colonel Hampton will give you a return of the Militia already assembled and of those (if it can be call’d a return) expected—the whole will as it is said make by tomorrow morning one thousand—my Corps that pass’d the N. River will amount (for We are considerably diminish’d) to seven and twenty hundred—in fact our Army may be estimated at four thoushand—If I was not taught to think that your...
167To George Washington from Major General Charles Lee, 8 December 1776 (Washington Papers)
Major Hoops has just deliver’d to me your Excellencys letter —I am extremely shock’d to hear that your force is so inadequate to the necessity of your situation—as I had been taught to think you had been considerably reenforc’d—your last letters proposing a plan of surprises and forc’d marches convincd me that there was no danger of your being oblig’d to pass the Delawar in consequence of...
168From George Washington to Major General Charles Lee, 10 December 1776 (Washington Papers)
I last night received your favor by Colo. Humpton & were it not for the weak and feeble state of the force I have, I should highly approve of your hanging on the Rear of the Enemy and establishing the Post you mention; But when my situation is directly opposite to what you suppose it to be, and when Genl Howe is pressing forward with the whole of his Army except the Troops that were lately...
169From George Washington to Major General Charles Lee, 11 December 1776 (Washington Papers)
Your favor of the 8 Inst. by the Light Horseman reached me last night. Having wrote you fully respecting my situation just before it came to hand, it is unnecess[ar]y to add much now; I shall only say that Philadelphia beyond all question is the Object of the Enemy’s movements and that nothing less than our utmost exertions will be sufficient to prevent Genl Howe from possessing it. The force...
170To George Washington from Major General Charles Lee, 11 December 1776 (Washington Papers)
We have three thoushand Men here at present but They are so ill shod that We have been oblig’d to halt these two days for want of shoes—seven Regiments of Gates’s Corps are on their march but where They actually are is not certain —General Lee has sent two Officers this day—one to inform him where the Delawaer can be cross’d above Trenton—the other to examine the road towards Burlington as...
171From George Washington to Major General Charles Lee, 14 December 1776 (Washington Papers)
I last night received your Letter of the 11th Instt by Major Dehart. I am much surprized that you should be in any doubt respecting the Route you should take after the information you have had upon that Head as well by Letter as from Majr Hoops who was dispatched for the purpose. A large number of Boats was procured and is still retained at Tinnicum under a strong guard to facil[it]ate your...
172From George Washington to Major General Charles Lee, 29 December 1776 (Washington Papers)
I have the pleasure of enclosing you a Letter from your Freind Robt Morris Esqr. with a draft on Major Small for £116.9.3. S⟨tg⟩. It will afford me the highest satisfaction to receive a Line from you, informing me of the State of your Health and your Situation, in both of which I hope you are as happy as a person under your Circumstances can possibly be. Such further Supplies as you may have...
173To George Washington from Major General Charles Lee, 9 February 1777 (Washington Papers)
As Lord and General Howe have given me permission to send the inclosd to the Congress, and as the contents are of the last importance to me and perhaps not less to the Community, I most earnestly entreat, My Dr General, that You will despatch it immediately and order the Express to be as expeditious as possible —They have likewise indulgd me with the permission of sending for one of my Aid de...
174From George Washington to Major General Charles Lee, 16 February 1777 (Washington Papers)
I received the favor of your Letter of the 9th Instt on Friday night about 10 OClock. It was accompanied by One for the Congress & by several Others, the whole of which were transmitted by an Express the next morning, whom I directed to proceed without delay. Mr Eustace being in Virginia and Mr Bradford at Rhode Island, I cannot comply with your request respecting them. Mr Morris who was your...
175To George Washington from Major General Charles Lee, 26 February 1777 (Washington Papers)
I am extremely glad that Morris is so far recover’d that there is a probability of his leaving Philadelphia Where I left him (as I thought) in a very bad way from the effects of his Southern expedition—I have the sincerest love and affection for him—his excellent qualities, his good sense and integrity must endear him to evrybody who knows him—Eustace I consider as my adopted Son. considering...
176From George Washington to Major General Charles Lee, 1 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
I am to inform you, that Congress not perceiving that any advantage would be derived either to yourself or the public Interest from an interview between you and a part of their Members, could not consider ⟨them⟩selves at liberty to comply with your request. At the same time I am to assure you, that every ⟨means⟩ will be pursued to provide for you⟨r safety and⟩ the attainment of your liberty....
177To George Washington from Major General Charles Lee, 5 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
It is a most unfortunate circumstance for myself and I think not less for the Publick that the Congress have not thought proper to comply with my request—it cou’d not possibly have been attended with any ill consequences, and might with good ones at least it was an indulgence which I thought my situation entitled me to—but I am unfortunate in all things and this stroke is the severest I have...
178To George Washington from Major General Charles Lee, 7 June 1777 (Washington Papers)
Multiplicity of busyness the miscarriage of letters or some accident has prevented you from doing what really is in my opinion an act of justice—I mean clearing up to the world the charge brought against Lord Drummond for a breach of Parole; after having read all the Papers relative to this subject, his letters to you, yours to him, Capt. Vanderputs and the Parole —I declare solemnly that it...
179From George Washington to Major General Charles Lee, 4 July 1777 (Washington Papers)
I received your favour of the 7th June, in which you enter into consideration of the breach of parole imputed to Lord Drummond; and give it as your opinion, that his conduct has not been such as to justify the imputation. It can answer no valuable purpose to enter into a discussion of the particulars of this affair, which would probably end as it began and leave his Lordship and myself in the...
180To George Washington from Major General Charles Lee, 30 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
As I have the strongest reason to flatter myself that you interest yourself in whatever concerns my comfort and welfare I think it my duty to inform you that my condition is much better’d—it is now four or five days that I am on my parole, have the full liberty of the City and its limits, have horses at my command furnish’d by S’r Henry Clinton and General Robinson—am lodg’d with two of the...